Category Archives: Ephesians

Tony Funderburk writes and sings about the rhyme and reason for your life found in the book of Ephesians.

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Ever notice how easy it is to fool kids? Yeah, as far as they’re concerned, you truly CAN grab a coin from behind their ears. Because their little minds haven’t matured enough to figure things out. So, even Uncle Bill is a skilled magician to them. But the trickery of men and women is a whole different bag of tricks. Right?

Not so fast. The trickery of men and women can be easy, too.

Especially for adults who never grew up in knowledge. Which is most of the world. And, sadly, it’s even a humongous percentage of people who call themselves Christians.

I bring this up because, in the wee hours of this morning, I read a passage, in Ephesians, about this very problem. Paul told the saints in Ephesus to “grow up.” (Wow, he was so mean, wasn’t he?) But why would talk to them that way? Was it because he thought he was all that and they weren’t? Of course not.

Paul wanted them (and us) to know more about the message of Grace so we could share more it more effectively.

When I read the Bible, there’s almost always some sort of words and music going on in the background of my mind. And this morning, as I read Paul’s words, I kept hearing an old song from Sam Cooke. The lyrics say…

Don’t know much about geography,
And don’t know much trigonometry.
Don’t know much about algebra.
Don’t know what a slide rule is for.

Yeah, the person in the song sure don’t know much.

But then he sings about something very important he DOES know…

But I do know that I love you,
And I know that if you love me, too,
What a wonderful world this would be.

And that’s the starting point for anyone who wants to avoid trickery.

Put yourself in the “I” place of those lyrics. And put Jesus in the “you” place. Let Him know you love Him. And ask Him to help you grow up. He will. You can take that to the bank, the one, in Heaven, that lasts forever. But here’s the thing. It’s not a one time thing. It’s every day of your life. Because you’re weak. But He is forever strong.

Here’s what Paul wrote about it…

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head””Christ””from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Stay tuned,

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Whether you’re happy or not, have you spent any time, lately, making melody in your heart? And have you sung with grace in your heart? Not just to hear your voice. But because you love your Creator. You don’t have to feel bad if your answer is no. But you really should consider adding melody and grace to your routine.

There’s no rule about it. It’s not a law. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. But that’s even more reason I say it.

You really should consider adding melody to your routine.

Straight from your heart, they should flow from you to the One who made you. Because, no matter what your circumstances are right now, you are blessed beyond measure. And that goes double for me.

Of course, I realize you might be the person, reading this right now, who believes God has forgotten about you. Maybe it’s because you think He hasn’t heard and answered your prayers. Certainly not within your timeframe. But I heard someone put it this way, “if you don’t feel close to God, who moved?”

Life is full to overflowing with broken dreams, unfulfilled ideas, and obstacles of all shapes and sizes. But even in the midst of that…and even in the middle of political fraud, inflation, pretend pandemics, etc…I see blessings flowing all around.

Just in July I’ve witnessed friends taking vacations. And I’ve seen other friends enjoy large increases in their businesses. Plus, others have been to weddings. And still others have seen new babies join the family. (side idea: just in case you know someone who’s having twin girls, I suggest they name them Melody and Grace)

I know this might all just sound like the rambling of someone known for writing songs and poems. But I’m not the only one who thinks melody and grace should be in your heart. And a part of your regular routine.

Nope…

I’m actually in the rarified company of Paul, the apostle. He told the Ephesians they should be “making melody in your heart to the Lord.” And he told the Colossians they should be “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

So, what do you think? Are you gonna add melody and grace to your daily routine? And don’t worry about your singing voice. No one needs to hear it but the One who created you.

If this was the last day of my life”
If this was the last sunrise I’d see”
I’d still thank the Lord for my days
And His abounding Grace to me.

Stay tuned,

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Do you speak Psalms? And how fluent is your Hymns? Or what about Spiritualese? What’s that you say? You don’t speak any of those languages? And you don’t even believe they ARE languages. Well, I guess, technically, they aren’t languages. But you could speak to me in any one of them if you’d start with a melody in your heart.

But you can’t speak to me that way if you don’t follow THE law.

OK, I’m gonna bring this more into focus. But first, I’d like you to get a feel for my favorite language. And that language, of course, is music. The most profound and passionately perfect language there is. With the possible exception of God’s native tongue…which it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s a form of music.

Side note: as I’m writing this, my wife is doing some of her “chores” in another part of the house. And she loves to listen to music while she works. And right now her phone is playing “Carry On Wayward Son” by the band, Kansas. Love that song. It really rocks! And it’s in my repertoire. OK, back to my point.

Now, you might think a guy like me, who’s always talking about Grace and how you should accept it and get out from under the law, wouldn’t say “follow the law.”

But you definitely should follow THE law.

And THE law I’m talking about is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind…”

Don’t misunderstand me. I didn’t say you MUST follow THE law. I said “should.” It’s your choice.

But when you do, you’ll see the results Jesus promised,

“Do this and you will live.”

Plus, when you follow that law, you’ll almost surely follow the next part and “love your neighbor as yourself.” And your neighbor will be your brother…or sister. And you’ll most likely discover, without even realizing it happened, that you’ll speak fluent Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritualese (aka spiritual songs).

Because those words and languages will flow from the melody in your heart.

How can I explain the numbers in the rain?
I’d like to help illuminate the pathways to your mind.
But I am just a man; I’ll do the best I can
I’ll show you where to look, and I’ll tell you this:
It isn’t behind

It’s a firecracker and a windchime
And it’s a loudspeaker and a street mime
It’s the friction of invisible wind…It’s the living end

(from my song “The Living End”)

Stay tuned,

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Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

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Just think if you lived back in the days of gladiators. And imagine if you had to go out and fight for your king with an invisible suit of armor. Sure, it would be much lighter. So, it would be so much easier to stand up than if you wore that heavy metal armor they had back then. But do you think you’d feel powerful and safe?

I bet you’d be more likely to feel vulnerable. Right?

But what if your king promised you’d win the war and you’d get a mansion for your efforts? Now, it’s starting to sound better. But invisible armor? How’s that gonna work?

Well, you and I don’t have to stand up in the gladiator days.

But if you’re a Christian, then you’re expected to get up every day and put on your invisible armor. General Paul issued the order way back when. And you might recall…he said you should stand…

“having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…”

So, what do you think about that invisible armor now? Does it make you feel less vulnerable to know it’s made of eternal material? It should. Because all that heavy metal stuff turns to rust. And all the weapons formed against God will not prosper. So, that should sort of put it in a better perspective.

But remember, when you wear the armor…and when you shine your light…you could lose friends. And people who tend to condemn “judgmental people” will start judging you. And lots of other people might laugh at you. They’ll probably look for opportunities to mock and ridicule you in public.

But if that happens, you know you’re on the right track. So, bravely put on your armor, smile, and…

Take A Stand

If you take a stand and you stand for the Way,
You might never be rich.
But no gold here beats the treasure in Heaven,
And you’ll know which is which.

Angels are gonna rejoice,
And we’re gonna get to see how
The Lord will judge the ones who wait.
So better take a stand right now.

If you take a stand and you stand for the Truth,
You could lose a good friend.
But if you lose the whole wide world
And keep your soul, you win in the end.

All eyes are gonna look up.
All knees are gonna bow,
And when that time comes it’s too late.
You gotta take a stand right now.

If you take a stand and you stand for Life,
People might laugh and make fun.
And Jesus didn’t say it was gonna be easy,
But you’ll be with Him when this life is done.

No more livin’ like this;
By the sweat of your brow,
And if you want God’s paradise,
You better take a stand right now.

© 2008 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

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Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

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I’ve got a melody in my heart

Back in 1977, on one of my trips to the music store (because digital downloads weren’t invented yet) I picked up the brand new cassette from Kenny Loggins. It was his official first solo album called “Celebrate Me Home.” And if you’ve never listened to that collection, do yourself a favor. Great tunes. But this morning I remembered one of the songs, in particular, as I heard a certain melody in my heart.  

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The melody in my heart is my spiritual art

I’ve Got The Melody (Deep in My Heart)

That was the second track on side two of Kenny’s album. And, of course, it struck a chord with me. Because for as long as I can remember, I’ve always had melodies and rhythms playing in my head and heart. To this very morning (as I write this, it’s not even 4 a.m.) the music bounces through my brain and neurotransmitters.

And I don’t believe it’s an accident.

What possible evolutionary function could a melody in my heart ever have. All that non-physical musical information doesn’t make me more fit…or stronger. So, it serves no survival purpose. At least not from a “survival of the fittest” perspective.

But when you consider how music magnifies the evidence for a Creator who promises eternal life, bam! Now, that’s what I call real survival.

Music and singing play important parts in the Bible.

And Paul even told Timothy to speak “to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…”

And I believe that’s because no language speaks so clearly to so many people more than music.

So, I think God put music in me in hopes I’d use it to talk about Him. But I haven’t always done that. And I remember my Grandmother talking to me about that, shortly after my Granddaddy’s funeral. Because she knew I was earning a living as a musician. But she told me I should be “singing for the Lord.”

Of course, I was full of “youthful wisdom.” And I knew that if I wanted to make a living with my voice, I’d need to sing and perform secular music. And I did that for a long time.

But during a lot of that secular music time I also wrote songs for my own pleasure. And many of those songs at least alluded to my Christian faith.

So, thankfully, I never turned my back on it.

And these days, as I listen to the melody in my heart, or hear the rhythm in my head, I try to focus on how I can share the love of God. Because, as you might have noticed, the world’s quickly becoming a much meaner place. And people who hate God, and hate themselves, are getting bolder. But in the darkest hours is when the light of God’s love can shine brightest.

And God’s love shines brightest in a song.
So, I want to sing my whole life long.
And the music makes the message clear
To the souls who will open up and hear.

Stay tuned,

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Get your free money fast

And get it “while the gittin’s good.” Because if you’ve got any sense left in your brain, heart, and soul, you know it can’t last. Right? Or can it? Maybe I’m just an aging, yet naive, so-n-so who don’t understand the powers of higher economics. (And I know it’s doesn’t instead of don’t…but I’m waxing colloquial.) If that’s the case, then by all means point me to the line where I can get a lifetime of free money fast. After all, who wants to work when they’re giving away money? Wait…could that be a potential problem? Hmm…  

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Free money fast while free supplies last

And notice how everybody wants free money fast?

I mean, when was the last time you heard anybody say this? “I sure wish I could get some free money slow.” Yeah, never. And I think it’s because even knuckleheaded public skool grajits (of which I’m one) know in their hearts it’s a limited time offer. Because it just ain’t real. And reality tends to roll back around…well, at least most of the time, whether anybody admits it or not.

I’m sure, by now, you know I’m referencing those benevolent deposits and checks our federal government has been sending out lately. And I’ll bet you can guess how I feel about it. Right?

Yeah, the money should never have been stolen from us in the first place. That’s right. I said “stolen.” Because when a government taxes its people even 10%, it’s tyrannical. And all the rest of those taxes our government burdens working people with fall under the “thou shalt not steal” category.

So, do I recommend not taking the money if and when you get it from the government?

Certainly not! It was yours first. At least if you’re a productive individual who provides goods and services for payment. And the less of our money politicians have, the less they can spend to buy votes and power. So, get yours back. And invest in yourself and a business.

You’re currently still able to create and produce information, products, and services for your fellow man. But don’t think for a moment there aren’t politicians, powers, and principalities looking for ways to take most or all of that away from you.

So build and serve others today
Before it’s all taken away.
The end could be closer than your local grocer,
And you might be left here to pay.

Stay tuned,

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Grab some Merch

Or how about some music for kids

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How to deal with anger management issues

Have you noticed how almost everywhere you look or go so many people seem to be mad about something? My wife and I have talked about it recently. We were walking in a nice shopping area, enjoying a day off together, and the weather was warm and sunny with a hint of coolness in the air. Sounds great…right? Well, would you believe at almost every turn of the sidewalk we had to sidestep people to keep them from crashing into us? I jokingly commented, “Seems like everybody is dealing with anger management issues, today.” And we both decided to shrug it off and enjoy the day.

But I wondered what was making everybody so mad on such a beautiful day. Of course, I believe I have an answer, and that’s why I’m sharing this with you today. Now, I might not be right. But it’s the only thing that makes sense when you consider the scope of the problem. If those anger management issues had only materialized on that one, isolated day, then I might consider it odd and shake it off. But I see lots of angry people all around me every single day.

People seem to be walking around with chips on their shoulders. Or grudges in their hearts. But I’ll let you in on a little secret about the root cause.

Selfishness is at the heart of almost all anger management issues.

It’s difficult to manage your anger, when all you care about is how wrong the world is treating you. And you can certainly justify your own anger, when obviously no one understands or cares about your personal pain. But it’s almost impossible to reconcile 99% of anger issues with what God says about anger. To quote from Paul’s writing in Ephesians, “be angry and do not sin.” And when Paul wrote that, he was actually quoting from one of King David’s Psalms where it said, “Be angry, and do not sin, Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.” In other words, don’t go to bed mad.

When you focus on your own problems, your own challenges, your own life, it’s easy to form a tunnel vision where the tunnel always leads to YOU. And you’re not only causing problems for everyone around you, you’re doing yourself harm. Physical, mental, and emotional harm. You might not realize the full negative power of your anger management issues while you’re young and strong. But they’ll show up eventually if not right away.

There are even studies that say anger encourages cancer.

I’m not saying those studies are absolutely true, but it might be more than coincidence that there’s a lot of cancer in the world at the same time there are more angry people than ever. So, what do you think? Are my wife and I just imagining things? Was it just a bad day…and maybe we were hyper sensitive to it that day? Or are there lots of angry people walking around? Are you one of them? If so, wanna know how to deal with it once and for all?

If you’re angry, just don’t sin.
Open up your heart and let God in.
He can help you work it out.
And He’ll show you what it’s all about.
Life is better, when you trust
The One who is Holy, right, and just.
Give it up, and I know…
You’ll be glad where God will help you go.

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