Category Archives: Bible study

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

If you can’t trust the king, who can you trust? That’s a good question. Well, it’s at least an interesting question. Especially since so many people seem to prefer no kings at all. In fact, they’ll go to any length, including the exclusion of men who aren’t kings.

In a way, history is filled with examples of why you can’t trust the king.

Because there have been more corrupt monarchs, male and female, than decent ones. That’s even true with the examples you find in the Bible. What?! Say it ain’t so!

OK, it ain’t so for the one true, living, loving King of kings. The only one who was not only incorrupt but also good. And since no one is good, but God, I’m sure you can guess who I’m talking about. If you can’t, check out just about any of my other thousands of posts for more clues.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and venture guess that those “no kings” people include the one and only incorrupt one, too. At least the vast majority of them do. Because the vast majority of them hate God. And truth.

They’re free to do so. But, tragically for them, that decision will not go well in the end. One day they will meet the one they hated and rejected. And they will discover that all their options and freedom to choose to hate God have taken them to the one place where they can be free from Him.

That place will be their eternal destination. And their eternal torment. And all it would’ve taken to avoid that hopeless situation was humility and a willingness to love, and…

Trust The King

You might win a few things in this life,
And you might even win a whole lot.
But you’ll lose everything if you don’t trust the King
Who has given you all that He’s got.

Know that nothing is too hard for God.
He can help you through all of your fears.
If your gold turns to rust, or your diamonds to dust,
Only God can dry all of your tears.

Make the most of the moments you have.
They fly by in the blink of an eye.
Don’t waste time in the dark, jump inside of the ark
Of God’s love. Kiss the old life goodbye.  © 2015 TF

Subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, the ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Most people, if they even think about it, wonder why people like me (Christians) read the Bible over and over. But in their current condition, they can’t possibly understand how the word is alive. In fact, they probably look at a statement like that and ask,

“The word is alive? Don’t you mean the words ARE alive?”

And, grammatically, they’re sorta correct. But the question illustrates their inability to understand how the Word is alive, was alive, and always will be.

Of course, a key thing to note (at least in the written form) is how I capitalize the W in the word, Word.

Uh-oh, Tony’s going off into the nether world of language again.

No. I just wanna clear up a point. Christians (followers of Jesus) always want to emphasize the deity of Jesus. So, we not only capitalized his name, we tend to capitalize the first letter of every word that describes Him. See? I even capitalized the W in the word, Him. Because He (there I go again) is beyond worthy of that kind of respect. And the Bible even calls Jesus, or the Son of God, the Word.

Yeah, it says “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

And that’s one example of how I can say the words alive. And it’s also part of why I’m always talking about the power of God’s love. Because my knowledge and recognition of that love drives me to keep going every day in spite of physical or mental challenges or other obstacles. And it helps me connect it to…

The Power of the Word

So, you’ve been thinking that you’ve got a whole lot to fear.
And you keep asking, “What on earth am I doin’ here?”
Well I wouldn’t tell you it’s as gloomy as you’ve heard.
You just need the power of the Word

I know you’ve heard that if at first you don’t succeed,
Just keep on trying and you’re bound to fill the need.
But you don’t believe all that stuff applies to you.
And without the power what can you do

Well the power of the Word takes an ordinary bird
And it gives him songs to sing and wings to soar.
With the power of the Word, even when your vision’s blurred,
All your dreams will be fulfilled forevermore.

Numbers are crunching and seconds are ticking on.
Your hopes are fading until you wonder where they’ve gone.
But you wouldn’t worry that your life could be deterred,
If you had the power of the Word

Chorus

And if you’re asking, “What’s in it for me?”
Well, give up your soul and I think you will see…

Eternity…eternity…eternity……….

instrumental…repeat chorus to end © 1993 & 2011 TF

Subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, the ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Forgiveness is divine. And I’m very picky where I give mine. And that’s biblical by the way.

Yeah, it’s in the Bible. So forgiveness is divine. But not everyone gets it..

Nope. You’re not supposed to forgive everybody? It’s true. And that’s in the Bible, too. So that’s how you can know it’s true. The only one who has the brain power and authority to offer forgiveness to everybody is God. And as you already discovered, if you’ve been paying attention to my stories, you and I are not God.

I shared some insight on this with kids a few years back. This is what I said…

Here’s a secret, that’s not a secret.

Even God doesn’t forgive everybody. Uh-oh! Does that sound right? Well, it’s true. He makes sure forgiveness is available to anyone who wants it. But here’s the key. You gotta ask for it. Anyone who asks God for forgiveness can get it from Him. Now you know how to forgive and be happier. Right? Wanna know more? OK.

There’s a place in the Bible where it says you need to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.” It sorta sounds like you’re just supposed to do it, no questions asked. Right? But it’s important to read the very next 7 words. They say, “even AS God in Christ forgave you“. So you’re supposed to forgive others the way God forgave you. Do you remember what you had to do for God to forgive you?

Yep, that’s right. You had to repent and ASK.

So, if somebody does something wrong to you, it’s a good idea to let them know what they did that hurt you. Maybe they didn’t even realize they had done it. That’s why it’s good to go right to them and tell them. Then, you know what they should do? They should ask you to forgive them. And if they ask, you should forgive them. That’s how God, through Jesus, forgives you.

Ain’t that cool? When you do things God’s way, they can work so much better. When you choose to do things your own way, you can get mean, bitter, mad, and downright evil. Not cool. Wouldn’t you rather be happier instead of meaner? Yeah, me too.

How about it? Do you think you could learn how to forgive someone today? The way God forgave you? Try it out and I think you’ll see how it’s a better way to forgive. When you do, let me know.

And here’s a rhyme to help you remember…

Learn how to forgive and be happy
Knowing it’s what God wants you to do.
Don’t go through your life being snappy
At the ones who love and cherish you.
Learn how to forgive and be happy.
It’s a way to make the good Lord smile.
Share this good idea with everybody.
Forgiveness is what makes this life worthwhile.

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, the ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Jade green. That color has always been stored in my mind ever since I was a little boy. Because my grandmother had a beautiful jade plant in her house that captivated me for some reason.

And every time I see a Jade green stone, I think of that plant.

But I also have a jade green memory from just a few years ago. And that memory was captured in some pictures at Pensacola Beach in Florida. There’s a whole section of the floor of panhandle known as the Emerald Coast. So, it’s not rare to be able to photograph Jade green water. I think most people prefer to get pictures of the blue or aquamarine colors. But the greens are beautiful too.

I took some pictures below one of the piers that stand along the beach. And when I get home, where I could see the pictures better, I was delighted to find some emerald water shots. I added a short poem to one to create a card of sorts that I gave to Elgielene. Other people enjoyed the picture too. And here’s the poem…

No mirrors.
No smoke.
Just an
Emerald cascade
Reflecting
The moments
Which,
Too quickly, fade.
Dive into
The memories
Soon after
They’re made
While gazing
At pictures
Of liquified jade.   © 2017 TF

I thought I remembered Jade being mentioned in a place or two in the Bible. But in the version I use, it’s not there. Some people say that it is mentioned in Exodus 20:17-21.

But my Bible says this…

“And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;  and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.”

That passage is talking about designing a breastplate for armor. Can you imagine going in the battle with all those stones sparkling in your enemy’s eyes? It sounds dazzling. But I don’t see Jade. An emerald is in there. But that’s not the same thing. Do you see Jade in your version of the Bible?

This isn’t the most important thing you’re gonna deal with all day of course. It’s just something that popped into my head. And I hope it entertains you and inspires you to find beauty and the small things around you.

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, the ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

It was a picture of a rainbow that had appeared as stormy skies headed for the horizon. And there was a flock of geese flying in the opposite direction. The photographer titled the picture as Faith Over Fear. And I’m sure that’s because Christians should remember what God said about rainbows after He flooded the whole world.

And “stormy skies” is a metaphor for troubles.

And just in case you didn’t already know this, but I’m sure you did/do, you’re gonna have troubles in this life. So, that means you’re gonna have stormy skies. But, thankfully, when you trust in the power of God’s love to help get you through those skies, you’re also gonna have rainbows.

Here in America, it seems as if almost everyone is trying to live trouble-free and pain-free. And so many are so willing to take drugs, or drink in excess, or do something else like that to just numb it all away. The problem with that is… it never works. In fact, it almost always makes things WAY worse.

Yeah, your Creator (aka: Jesus) even says “you will have tribulation” (aka: troubles). But right after He says that He says, “but be of good cheer…”

What?!

You read that right. Be of good cheer. So you’re gonna have problems, but don’t worry, be happy? How in the world can He expect you and me to do that? Well, He says it’s because…

“I have overcome the world.”

A-ha! And I believe that’s where the faith over fear part comes in. Yeah, your faith that Jesus is telling the truth when He says He has overcome the world helps you overcome fear.

That section of the Bible, where Jesus says those things is a time when He prays for Himself, then He prays for His disciples, and then He prays for all believers. So obviously prayer, which is a conversation with God, the father, is an important and powerful faith tool.

I encourage you, and me, to put that tool to use. Every. Single. Day. And let’s keep our…

Faith over fear,
Like a rainbow, landed here.
As I navigated through the stormy skies.
I could feel eternal love
From the One, so far above,
Who created such a painting for my eyes. © 2022

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, my ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I read the phrase, works of the law, this morning, and the theme song from the TV show COPS popped into my head. Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?

Bad boys need to know works of the law ain’t the way to go.

By the way, according to Jesus Himself, all boys are bad boys. In case you didn’t already know, works of the law is just another way of saying things you do or good deeds. Or in street talk, you might hear stuff you does with the word stuff being replaced by filthy language, of course.

And the reason I say those so-called good deeds ain’t the way to go is because that’s exactly what Paul said when he wrote a letter to the Galatians. Here’s a direct quote:

“…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

That’s a crystal clear statement.

So, why do many, if not most, Christians seem to prefer the bondage of the law? I’ll tell you why I think they do. Because then it takes the responsibility of their sins off their own shoulders and sloughs it off to God.

But maybe you disagree with that. Maybe you believe that getting baptized, tithing your 10%, and doing good deeds in your community is somehow a “necessary” extension of your faith. It isn’t.

Those things certainly aren’t evil. And they won’t get you banned from Heaven. But they won’t get you into Heaven either. And calling them an outer expression of your inner commitment doesn’t change those facts at all.

So, my recommendation is to read Paul’s letter to the Galatians again. And be sure to ask the good Lord to open your eyes, fully, to his message. You might even see the Bible’s plot, twist and find…

Freedom

Faith working through love…
Let’s praise God for our liberty…
Christ paid off our debt…
Only in Him are we truly free.

Love leads into joy…
Law leads back into slavery…
God gave us The Way.
Just believe, and we’re truly free.

Freedom from the law that kills,
Freedom with our own free wills,
Freedom from the world of sin…
Just let Jesus in, let the joy begin
Share a hopeful grin, with the Lord “We Win”!
Praise God for what we can become
With our freedom.

What law couldn’t do
Jesus did with finality.
He rose up from the dead
And promised the same life for you and me.

So we have…

Chorus…instrumental…chorus twice    © 2010

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, my ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website go right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

You do go through fire in this life. No matter who you are. No matter how much or how little money you have. And no matter how many connections in high places you have. Nobody gets out of it. The important thing is, where do you end up after the fire?

And you WILL end up somewhere after the fire of this life burns out.

I know you already know that. But I also know, if comments on social media are any indication, that even many Christians appear to be confused and filled with negativity. And they pray, and ask others to pray for God to clean house. But that kind of prayer fails to remember something called the Body of Christ. You might recall how Paul described and defined the role of the Body of Christ in this dispensation of Grace.

As members of that Body, you and I called upon to share that amazingly beautiful and free gift of Grace with anyone who is willing to listen to it. Plus, you and I have a fantastic guidebook to help us be more effective with that message. In fact, that guidebook is where we got the information that tells us we have a choice to make and a limited time to make it.

And lots of people you know (maybe most of the people you know) don’t already know they have a choice and that time is running out.

So here’s my suggestion for the day. You can pray and ask God to take away your problems. And you can wait until after the fire in your life burns out before you try to help someone else avoid it. Or you can do this…

Instead

Don’t try to pray away all the pain.
You could be disappointed, disillusioned, disenchanted.
Don’t ask God to save you from the hurt.
You could live to see that the prayer has not been granted.

Instead…give thanks for all His love.
Instead…be glad for all He’s done.
Our sin could torture us forever.
Instead…He gave His only Son.

Don’t be so quick to ask for an end
To the hard times, rocky roads, and fire and rain.
Don’t cry out for a wonderful sign
And when it doesn’t appear, throw your hands up in vain.

Instead…give thanks for all His love.
Instead…be glad for all He’s done.
Our sin could torture us forever.
Instead…He gave His only Son.

There will be trials…and tribulation,
In every life…in every nation.
You could give up…but bow your head
And thank your loving Lord instead.

© 2010 Tony Funderburk

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, your Daily Truth Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website go right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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