Category Archives: Tony Funderburk

Tony Funderburk is THE Rhyme and Reason author, singer-songwriter. He’s written and published 30+ books for kids and adults in addition to scores of articles. And he’s composed hundreds of songs (and a couple of books) for businesses and loyal listeners.

Tens of thousands of families have enjoyed and supported his recorded music and live performances for many years. Tony believes our existence is a beautiful gift from God to each of us, including our gifts and talents.

So, we should use them to create and serve others. When you tune in to Tony Funderburk’s The Power of God’s Love Podcast, you’ll get rhymes, reasons, and songs delivered to your inbox for free. AND click here to get free songs and a book right away. And Click here to learn more about Tony’s story.

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I’ve shared with you before how it’s not always wrong. But lying is bad for the most part. Especially when you do it to cover up something you’re gonna do or have done that is obviously wrong.

I’ll show you an example of how lying is bad using some famous lyrics.

And I can’t tell you how many times I have personally sung these lyrics in front of audiences all over America. But I do know it’s at least hundreds of times. And I wouldn’t exaggerate that because, as I said, lying is bad. Plus, there’s no need to exaggerate the truth.

Anyway…

There’s a fairly obscure band you probably never heard of. You and I know them as The Eagles even though there’s evidence in some article articles, I’ve read that said they only wanted to be known as Eagles. It seems a little weird to leave out the word The because it makes it sound goofy to say you’re going to a concert to see Eagles. That makes it sound like you’re going to see our national bird. Well, what do you expect from a bunch of long-haired, dope, smoking, hippies?

But I digress. Kinda.

What do you say we dive into those lyrics I mentioned? And see how lying is bad? OK, these are from their song Lyin’ Eyes. And it starts out with an idea that certain girls (young women) get an early start in the business of lying.

City girls just seem to find out early
How to open doors with just a smile.

The songwriters set up how city girls discover, early on, how much they can get away with using their looks. And then the writers follow it up with a little plot-thickening…

A rich old man and she won’t have to worry
She’ll dress up all in lace and go in style

Yeah, you gotta dress apart if you wanna get the “right” results. But why would a city girl, or any girl for that matter, even get started down that deceptive road?

The answer to that comes in the next verse…

Late at night a big old house gets lonely
I guess every form of refuge has its price
And it breaks her heart to think her love is only
Given to a man with hands as cold as ice

OK, so there’s the justification. Now comes the lying. And it IS bad.

So she tells him she must go out for the evening
To comfort an old friend who’s feelin’ down
But he knows where she’s goin’ as she’s leavin’
She’s headed for the cheatin’ side of town

Yeah, have you ever noticed there are certain kind of lies you can tell certain people that just don’t fly? Because those people know you too well. And they can tell when you’re lying. And I think that’s why The Eagles (that’s right, I said the) sang these lyrics in their chorus…

You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you’d realize
There ain’t no way to hide your lyin’ eyes

It’s crazy how humans tend to double down on the lying.

At least they do once they justify why they’re doing what they’re doing. Because when your flesh desires to be served, it takes a lot more than willpower to overcome it. And most of the time there’s no effort to overcome it anyway. As you can clearly see in the next couple of verses…

On the other side of town a boy is waiting
With fiery eyes and dreams no one could steal
She drives on through the night anticipating
‘Cause he makes her feel the way she used to feel

She rushes to his arms, they fall together
And she whispers that it’s only for awhile
She swears that soon she’ll be comin’ back forever
She pulls away and leaves him with a smile

The songwriters give you a little bit more backstory there.

But they also show how the lies expand to support the original lie. I seem to recall a term for that. Let’s see. What was that again? Oh yeah, ” Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” And after the flesh is served, then the conscience starts working on the perpetrator…

She gets up and pours herself a strong one
And stares out at the stars up in the sky
Another night, it’s gonna be a long one
She draws the shade and hangs her head to cry

She wonders how it ever got this crazy
She thinks about a boy she knew in school
Did she get tired or did she just get lazy?
She’s so far gone she feels just like a fool

I love how the songwriters add one more verse that sort of plays the part of the voice of the conscience. It isn’t like a a finger in the face or a poke in the chest. It’s a bit more subtle. But it drives home the point very nicely…

My, oh my, you sure know how to arrange things
You set it up so well, so carefully
Ain’t it funny how your new life didn’t change things
You’re still the same old girl you used to be

Of course, the song ends by repeating this reminder:

You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes. And the way the words are sung makes me think they come from the guy who was wronged. Because it says, “I thought by now you’d realize, you just can’t hide your lyin’ eyes.”

Now, I know you would never justify doing what the city girl from that song did. Right? But I also know it’s most likely that you have justified a lie in your life even though you know lying is bad. I’ve done it. And I am most definitely not proud of it. But facts is facts. And it does no good to try to sugarcoat the reality that you need a savior because you can’t hide these truths. It’s best to just be humble, admit it, and ask God to save you from yourself. The government can’t and won’t do it. Your boss can’t and won’t. Neither will your loved ones.

Only Jesus can.

How about that? I just used the lyrics from a famous secular band’s hit song to point people to their need for the love and forgiveness only their Creator can provide. The songwriters themselves would probably never do that. I don’t know any of them personally. But from what I’ve been able to determine through articles and research, it doesn’t seem likely they would.

So, that’s yet another reason why you should…

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I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

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It grows from ignorance and selfishness. It spreads, like kudzu, in the minds of fools who claim that hate only exists in others. I’m talking about hypocrisy. Unfortunately hypocrisy tends to be invisible to the hypocrite. And that’s partly why hate grows, like a weed, in this world. OK, now that I’ve rained on the parade, I’ll share some positive news.

God’s love is greater than all the hatred of the world.

His love overcomes and endures forever. His love made a way for you and me to live forever, too. Now that’s awesome news!

Need some proof He loves you like that? OK, He made you a person with your own will. You’re not His robot who can do nothing except His bidding. That’s important to keep in mind. Because it means you get to choose whether or not you want to live with God forever. He loves you and wants to show you eternal paradise. But He won’t force you there if you don’t want to go. And that’s just a tiny fraction His love.

It’s THE positive news that should help you shun the hate in the world.

But maybe you doubt God even exists. So, you develop a worldview bias based on what only your five senses can tell you. Or maybe you know someone like that. If so, I have a couple of questions. Which of your five senses contain love or hate? Which of your five senses contain your thoughts?

I encourage you to re-think your decision to turn your back on God if you have. As long as you have breath in you (and your brainpower) it’s not too late to change your mind and accept His love. He’s made it easily available. All you gotta do is ask. Because He already made the Way to receive it. And in the entire history of the world, that’s the most positive news EVER.

But, do it before the dark and dreary hate in the world chews you up and spits you into hell.

Give Me The Whole Jesus

Oh give me love…give me justice…
Give me Grace and the strength to endure.
When the world comes against me,
Give me Your Spirit steadfast and sure.

Yes, Give me words…give me courage…
Give me time and a powerful voice.
And when many still may hate me,
Give me Your love and I’ll always rejoice.

Give me the whole Jesus;
The whole Good Lord…
The One who shields the child…
The One who wields the sword.
Give me the whole Jesus
Son of God and man…
‘Cause only Jesus saves…
And only Jesus can! Only Jesus can! Only Jesus can!

Then give me dreams…give me wisdom…
Give me peace at the end of my days.
And give me life…everlasting…
In Your world and in Your higher ways.

Chorus

© 2010 Tony Funderburk

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaldelivered to your inbox for free.

I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Stay tuned,

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“Gotta pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues. And you know it don’t come easy.” If you’re old enough, you might remember those lyrics from a song that Ringo Starr made famous. And another verse said,

“I don’t ask for much, I only want trust. And you know it don’t come easy.”

Those lyrics popped up in my brain this week when I thought about how God tells us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Because I see Islamist people doing despicable Islamist things. And I see illegal aliens, also known as illegal immigrants, doing other despicable illegal things. Then I see black Americans doing despicable things to white Americans. And white Americans doing despicable things to black Americans.

And I used the word despicable because it’s a very effective word to emphatically inflect audible disdain. Another great word is contemptible. So, I might use that as I continue. Because human beings seem hell-bent on making it impossible to love your neighbor these days.

So, it’s more important than ever to know how.

Love doesn’t mean you have to be a doormat, always turn the other cheek, or simply keep your mouth shut. In fact, most of the time, doing those things can show how you don’t love your neighbor as yourself as much as you think you do. Yeah, like I said, it don’t come easy.

The main thing to focus on, when it comes to loving someone you don’t feel like loving is how your words, deeds, and actions will affect them. And you do that by keeping an eternal perspective first. Everything else is secondary to that. After all, what’s more important? 80 years of living here on earth, with all its chaos and confusion? Or an eternity of perfection with the one true, living, loving Creator of Heaven and life? (here’s a hint…go with the second choice)

When you have an eternal perspective, you’ll understand how important it is to make sure your neighbor understands there IS a God, there IS a Heaven, and there IS a choice to be made here and now. If God wishes that “none should perish”, we should too. But to love your neighbor as yourself means you’re willing to share the whole Truth. Not just the peace, love, joy, and forgiveness.

You don’t do your neighbor a favor to automatically forgive him of something.

Not when he doesn’t even show remorse or ask for forgiveness. Remember, if Jesus doesn’t do it that way, you and I shouldn’t either.

You don’t truly love your neighbor, when you watch him drink himself to death. don’t be selfish. Speak up when you get the opportunity.

And you don’t truly care about your neighbor if you never say anything to him (or her)about Jesus?

If you truly want to do what God asks you to do, you have to truly love your neighbor as yourself. You don’t want your self to go to hell. So you shouldn’t want that for them. But, as I said, it don’t come easy. Because there are so many, let’s call them people for now, who could not care less what the one true, living, loving God of creation says or requires.

And that means they won’t care what you say either.

So, you can fully expect to stir up the demon soup when you tell them there is only one way to live forever in paradise with God. Just say the name, Jesus, and it will be like you just dumped a box of hot coals on their head. But here’s the thing. When they stand before God one day, and they will, they will be fully aware that someone showed them compassionate love and they despised and rejected it.

And you might hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

The truth is worth the risk.

So go ahead and pay your dues. One day you won’t have to sing the blues.

And from the song, Beat The world…

Every time you see the morning news
They talk about another killing.
It’s beyond my power to comprehend
How the taking of life could be thrilling.
Banish the dark side; live in God’s light.
Rise and shine and you can win this fight.
That’s the only way to beat the world at its own game.

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaldelivered to your inbox for free.

I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Stay tuned,

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Baby boomers, or boomers (spoken with great disgust in the tone of your voice, as you hear all around the Internet these days), or just too old to learn something new. Yeah, facts is facts. I mean, those must be the facts. Because there are so many brilliant young people these days who believe that. And what did they say about a lie? Oh yeah, if enough people believe it, it becomes the truth. Right?

Well, right there is an opportunity to learn something new.

The actual quote is more like, “A lie is still a lie, even if everybody believes it. And the truth is still the truth, even if nobody believes it”

See? Isn’t it liberating to learn something new? Yeah, makes you almost feel like a new man. Or woman.

Here are some real world examples of learning something new. See if you can relate.

Do you apply your creative mind or your analytical mind or your marketing mind to everyday situations? And do you dig deeper into information to find a story you can apply to your life, or your business, or your creative endeavors?

If so, then you discovered that you actually CAN teach an old dog (if that’s what you wanna call yourself) new tricks. And that’s true if your “old dog” self has a mindset to turn “new tricks” into productive habits.

I never fell for the idea that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks anyway. In the first place, most people, who use that phrase, apply it to people. And people aren’t dogs. And in the second place, I’ve seen actual old dogs learn new tricks. Now, I’ll be darned if I’m gonna let an old dog outlearn me.

And above all that is something someone said about putting on “the new man.”

Hmm, now let me see. Where did I hear that? Or was it something I read? No wait, I remember now. I know you’re gonna think this is crazy. But the author of the best selling book of all time inspired a guy named Paul to write a letter to the Christian church in the city of Colossae (it was in Phrygia which was southern Asia Minor… look at you learn something new). And God inspired Paul to tell the Christians there to put on the new man who is “renewed in knowledge (translate: Learn Something New) according to the image of Him who created him.”

I’m gonna make a wild guess and say God wouldn’t inspire somebody to write that if He knew it couldn’t be done.

So, think of it this way. Everyone eventually grows old, if circumstances and health permit. When you do, will you give up? Or will you look forward to and rise to meet the challenges? You ain’t no dog. You’re a human being made in the image and likeness of God. And since he says you can learn something new, all you gotta do is believe and make it so.

And the choir jumped in on the chorus singin’

I gotta get shakin’…ain’t no mistakin’,
Can’t be no fakin’ changes I’m makin’
And it can’t be proven while a mountain needs movin’
So, I’m gonna go move it. Yeah, I’m gonna go move it.

And while you’re movin’ move your cursor to the form below and…

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaldelivered to your inbox for free.

I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Daily Devotional

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For as long as I can remember, there’s always been this expression that boys will be boys. And of course, that got extended into men will be men. And it’s always meant that boys are gonna do boy stuff. So, naturally, men will do men stuff. And boy, how discombobulated everything is now. Right? Because nowadays the media would have you believe men will be whatever they feel like being.

And that proves what the Bible says men will be eventually.

Just in case you’d like a quick reminder of what it says, the apostle Paul wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy, that men will be:

  • lovers of themselves,
  • lovers of money,
  • boasters,
  • proud,
  • blasphemers,
  • disobedient to parents,
  • unthankful,
  • unholy,
  • unloving,
  • unforgiving,
  • slanderers,
  • without self-control,
  • brutal,
  • despisers of good,
  • traitors,
  • headstrong,
  • haughty,
  • lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

Yikes! That’s a terrible sounding list that I never wanna be on. But in just the past week alone, I’ve seen video examples, on social media, of just about every one of those descriptions. The most recent example, a few minutes ago, was a young woman, who was proud of her abortion, talking with a woman who was on a campus trying to show young women they had alternatives to abortion. You could see the defiance in the young woman’s face as she said, “Yeah, I’m ending my bloodline. And I’m proud of that.” Then she and a friend high-fived each other.

Just that one person alone fit several of the descriptions from Paul’s letter.

Another sad point to that is how, in these latter days, men will be very anti-God, but so will women. That’s right here in America…

In the land of the fees,
And the home of the slave,
Where the Savior still sees
And still says to be brave;
‘Cause the time will still come,
And it just might be soon,
When it all ends for some,
The astute and immune,
Who believe in the Truth
That still strengthens and frees,
And will free us, like Ruth,
From this land of the fees.  © 2022

Till next time…

Did I hear someone say, “Hey Tony, I don’t know you well enough to buy something from you.”

Ok, let’s change that. Get to know more about me and my worldview.

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaldelivered to your inbox for free.

I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

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Even if you’re a Christian, you might have found, at least a time or two, that you were unable to pray away your frustration face. You know, that face you make when it seems like everything is working against you.

I’m not talking about the run-of-the-mill frustrations like dropping your grocery bag as you try to unlock the front or back door of your house. I’m talking about the frustration that comes from working and working and working on a problem without getting it solved. Attempting every possible solution you can think of only to discover you’re no closer than when you started hours ago. And even though you pray, the problem still stares you down.

If you could see yourself in the mirror right then, you’d see your frustration face.

And I can’t imagine that you would think it would be a good luck on you. I’ve actually seen my frustration, face, by accident. And let’s just say, it was a look I would prefer you never see on me. But how can we mere mortals avoid it?

I have a couple of ideas, and you can tell me if you’ve ever tried ’em.

First thing I suggest is…loosen up. Unclench your jaw. Or relax your shoulders. Or sit back in your chair. In other words, whatever part of you is holding onto the stress, loosen it up.

Next thing is, remember, this to shall pass. It really will. There’s absolutely no doubt about that. Sure, I know it might not feel like that’s gonna happen. But after living all these decades and experiencing frustration more times than I care to count, I can say from experience this is true. And I’m paying attention to these words as much as I hope you are, by the way.

Finally, even if you’ve prayed to God for help, say one more prayer. Tell Him thank you. Even if your problem is resolved or if you’re still dealing with the feeling of intense frustration. Even if some part of you doesn’t believe your problem will be resolved today. Thank God. Not for the problem. For being with you. Tell Him you’re so glad He’s there for you to talk to. Thank Him for listening. Thank Him for being able to talk directly to Him without needing a “high priest.” And thank Him for giving you a brain that works well enough to even try to solve your problem. Then, thank Him for creating you. Get the point? Just thank God for everything you can think of.

After that, get back to work. You’ll work it out and live to fight life’s other battles.

What do you think? Can you do it? I’m rootin’ for you. And I can be in your corner even more, when you…

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaldelivered to your inbox for free.

I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

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I’ve been encouraging anybody who would read what I write and listen to what I say to remain optimistic in tough times. But I don’t just say the words. I also share why it’s not just good advice. It’s important to your health down to the marrow of your bones.

Remain optimistic in tough times because the alternative should be unthinkable.

The subject came up in my thoughts this morning for a particularly personal reason. Today, April 17, 2026 marks the one year “anniversary” of a stroke that challenged me to follow my own advice. But I believe I can honestly say that, despite challenges, I never dreamed I would face, I have remained optimistic in the tough times of the past year.

I won’t tell you what all the challenges were/are. But they include a left arm and hand that won’t hold things very well without wavering in the air. And a left leg that refuses to take normal steps during a walk. Plus most things on my left side operate with much less efficiency than they did a year ago. That includes my left lung and blood circulation on that side. And probably the weirdest thing that happened was the development of a neurogenic bladder.

Most of the information you’ll find on a neurogenic bladder deals with incontinence, urgency, etc. But what happened to me is something they call an under active bladder. And that means the nerves that alert you to the need to go and allow you to start a stream and go don’t work now. So, I have to insert a catheter four or five times a day, to empty out. Not my idea of a fun time.

And I’ve only shared this personal information with you because I hope it helps somebody understand how crucial it is to remain optimistic, even during rough times like what I described. I know it isn’t always easy. But it’s always necessary. And it’s always doable when you remember that, if you believe and trust in Jesus, one day, sooner than you might imagine, you will see Him…

Face To Face

When we’re born into this world,
We’re empty-handed.
We can’t speak, and we can barely even see.
As we grow we see this life,
In which we landed…
Is a thread of well-designed complexity.

Each and every one of us
Had a beginning…
And, so very small, a spark of life sufficed.
Then we turned away from God
And started sinning…
And that put us face to face with Jesus Christ.

Face to face with Truth…face to face with Life.
Yeah, the Way to paradise is face to face
With the One who died and who lives inside.
Jesus Christ even loves us face to face.

When we leave this world, we’re
Leaving empty-handed.
We can go to that eternal, perfect place.
When we make the choice of Life,
We won’t be stranded.
And we’ll get to see our Savior’s loving face.   © 2020 TF

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