Tony Funderburk Archives - Page 29 of 159

Posted on October 22, 2025 by TonyOctober 23, 2025

Milkman hours were tough and the time was not enough

My Dad worked hard. And for most of his life he worked milkman hours, back in the days when a milkman delivered dairy products door-to-door.

I remember those milkman hours first-hand.

Because dad took me with him on a LOT of Saturdays. So, when I say he worked hard, I know what I’m talking about from personal experience. First, you get up around 3 a.m. to be at the dairy plant way before daylight. Because you gotta have the milk truck loaded with cases of gallons, half gallons, and quarts of milk, juice, butter, and more. Then, you hit the road by 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. in order to deliver to customers before breakfast.

Dad worked two routes each week. One was his Monday, Wednesday, Friday route. The other was Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. He delivered milk in some neighborhoods in Texas near NASA. In fact (as a side note) several of his customers were some of the first well-known, “right stuff” astronauts.

And that brings up another side note (and true story).

Dad made sure, on one of those Saturdays I worked with him, I got to personally hand deliver a half gallon of ice cream to Neil Armstrong. For those of you not born in the 20th century…Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon. And little ol’ me handed him a container of Dutch chocolate rocky road ice cream! (I think that’s what it was)

Anyway…

Even on those long Saturdays, when I was helping Dad deliver milk, he spent lots of time with me. And not just telling me what to do. We also had conversations about the more important things in life. Things like what I had learned in math, science, and language classes. Other topics included boats, fishing, family, and where I was going someday when I die. Yeah, even that.

Those one-on-one times with my Dad were my favorites. And I wouldn’t trade a second of them for all the cool technology in the world.

Dad died when he was only 51.

There were tough times with my Dad, too. He was a strict disciplinarian. And when I failed to do the right thing once in a while, sometimes there were serious consequences. But those times never overshadowed the fun times with him. He also showed me how to use tools. And work on lawnmowers, bicycles, and even my first car. He built (yes, built, not bought) go-karts and mounted lawnmower motors to power them up. And my brother and I would test drive them around the block. Sometimes successfully. Sometimes not so much.

Dad also showed us how to fly kites attached to the line on our saltwater fishing rods and reels. He’d throw the football with us, in the street, during football season. He taught us the finer points of throwing a baseball with either hand. I remember even getting him to play tennis with me when I started up that sport in high school. And I remember it was the first sport where I could beat him. Guys might identify more with me on that…how it feels to first beat your dad at anything. Right?

My Dad was only 20 years older than me. That means he’s now been gone longer than he was around during my life. And I still think of him and so many of those special moments almost daily.

I’m not sure if he knows, right now, how important a role he played in my life.

But I AM sure he knows, without a doubt, what the more important things in life are. He was (and is) a Christian. So, I know my Dad is “present with the Lord” right now. And I’m confident that Dad has experienced, firsthand for almost 40 years, the ultimate relationship. It’s an awesome and incredible HOPE I have…to know I’ll see him again someday. And to know we’ll be eternal brothers in the presence of the one, true, living, loving Creator.

That’s why I encourage you to interrupt temporary with eternal.

As you go through your day today…as you check your texts, instant messages, social media accounts, YouTube and Instagram videos, and even your eCommerce stats…take a pause. Look up. Look around. Pay attention to the ones you love. Talk to them. Embrace. Laugh. Enjoy the time. They won’t be here forever. You won’t either. Be you’ll all be somewhere forever. Talk about that. And be sure where you’re going. It matters more than any other message you’ll receive from any other source.

I hope you’re tapped into the power of God’s love. Because there ain’t no other security that even comes close.

Subscribe to 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.

Stay tuned,

Posted on October 20, 2025 by TonyOctober 21, 2025

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……….

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.

Stay tuned,

Posted on October 19, 2025 by TonyOctober 26, 2025

Here are the links to the flashes of light, from the week of October 13-19, 2025 I shared in the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and on the Rhyme and Reason PodcastEpisode 1009:

Get 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.

Stay tuned,

Posted on October 17, 2025 by TonyOctober 17, 2025

A man named Solomon once said there’s nothing new under the sun. When you read his story, you’ll see he was someone with authority on the subject.

But I say there’s not nothing new under the sun.

Even though I’m not a king, and I don’t play one on YouTube, I have more authority on the subject than King Solomon had. So, you can quote me.

“There’s not nothing new under the sun.”

I know them there’s some mighty bold words for a gimpy words and music guy. But I done said it. And I ain’t takin’ it back. And you can’t make me.

‘Cause even if I ain’t got a PhD, I know what a double negative is in algebra and grammar. And I know it turns a negative sounding statement into an actually positive statement and two negatives, in algebra, to a positive.

So, when I say there’s not nothing new, that actually means there IS something new. Ya folla? And that something new should be you. Something created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Now, watch as I take that idea and turn a negative into a positive when I say…

Nothing New

There’s nothing new to say today,
Not even this.
So, I’ll just go outside and play.
Ignorant bliss.
You’ve probably heard it all before
So many times.
And nothing gives you cause to snore
Like simple rhymes.
But maybe this will flash a light
Inside your brain,
A spark of hope so you just might
Avoid some pain.
Now, even though there’s nothing new
To say today,
I know you’ll find some peace when you
Can see the Way
God did the deed you could not do.
And so I pray
For words to write and songs to sing
My whole life long.
To simply not say anything
Would be so wrong.
But will you pay attention to
These words I share?
Or will you say, “It’s nothing new,
And I don’t care.”
You’ll see, one day, you had a choice
Of where you’d be.
If you choose God, you will rejoice
Eternally. © 2020 TF

Subscribe to my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional.

It’s 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.

Stay tuned,

Posted on October 15, 2025 by TonyOctober 15, 2025

The good times will outlast your present and past

The good times will definitely outweigh and outlast the bad. I know this beyond the shadow of a doubt. Because I’ve chosen to follow the only person who ever was, or is, or ever will be good. And because I made that choice I’m eventually gonna live in a perfect place.

And the good times will last forever there.

How do I know? Simple. Because it’ll be perfect.

Yeah, I’ve actually heard people say that perfect would be boring. But that statement is self-refuting. Because by definition, perfection has no flaws. So, it couldn’t be boring. Yeesh, some people apparently have nothing better to do than to manipulate misery from the jaws of joy.

There’s an old hymn that encourages Christian believers to “count your blessings.” And I believe that if you pay attention, you’ll see that you’re literally saturated with blessings. And that’s why you’ve got…

No Right To Sing The Blues

I hear the windchimes, they ring in the good times.
Sweet breezes drift through my heart.
And I hear no wrong words in songs from the songbirds.
Each one is singing its part.

So, I know I’ve got no right to sing the blues.
And I guess I’ll go put on my happy shoes.
If the dark thoughts try to tempt me, ‘ll refuse.
‘Cause I know I’ve got no right to sing the blues.

I catch the sound waves like echoes in deep caves
Sweet music flows through my soul.
Joy overtakes me, I love how it makes me
Dance like l’m out of control.

Once again l’ve got no right to sing the blues.
And I’m glad that I put on my happy shoes.
I’m the Captain of my own creative cruise.
And I know I’ve got no right to sing the blues. © 2020 TF

Subscribe to the 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.

Stay tuned,

Posted on October 13, 2025 by TonyOctober 15, 2025

Time limit here on Earth and what you are worth

I’m not a scientist. And I don’t play one on TV. And I’m not a physicist or alchemist or biologist. I’m a Christian writer and poet. A words and music guy. A guy made up of as much carbon as anyone in those other professions. But I’m a guy, who like those other guys, has a time limit on my LIFE here on earth.

And when my time limit is up, my carbon will still be here.

So my life did not arise from or depend on carbon. And true science (not the pseudoscience you see on TV) shows the undeniable complexity in human DNA. The code in a just one of your cells contains volumes of design information.

Yeah, you have your own unique DNA. So does everyone else. My finite mind can barely apprehend (and certainly not comprehend) the implications of that. But I can say this without hesitation. DNA clearly shows we’re information based, not carbon. And without information this whole world. would be lifeless. So, that certainly begs the question, “Where did all that information originate?”

Well, I believe in the unpopular idea that it didn’t all come from nothing.

Of course, when I say “unpopular,” that doesn’t mean hardly anyone agrees with me. In fact, millions and millions of people agree with me. But there are billions who disagree. And I predict eventually that will not go well for them.

I wish scientists who trust in carbon would get real and go where life’s information leads. Because I believe they get a much better understanding of life, love, and design. And they might even learn to trust in the Designer. I’ll just go ahead and say it, Jesus is that designer.

Secret Mission

In the first ray of light there was a message
That no one else, but me, could even see.
And I had to squint my eyes to decipher
A secret mission plotted just for me.
There were no dots or dashes or impulses.
No man-made codes and no neurology
Could infiltrate and then translate the mission,
The expedition meant for only me.
Then a voice, filled with thunder, in a whirlwind,
Spoke to me about peace and sanctity.
And my soul realized the secret mission
Is for everyone and not just for me.
I appeal, with an urgency of purpose,
To your heart where you’ll find eternity
Written down, as a not so secret mission,
To share God’s love for all with eyes to see. © 2025 TF

Subscribe to 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.

Stay tuned,

Posted on October 12, 2025 by TonyFebruary 26, 2026

Tony Funderburk

Your Life Has Rhyme And Reason Because God Made You