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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Here are the links to the flashes of light, from the week of September 22-28, 2025 I shared in the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and on the Rhyme and Reason PodcastEpisode 1007:

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.

Daily Devotional

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Through the course of my life, as a poet, I’ve written lots of pieces with no rhyme or reason to them. Well, I guess I can’t say no rhyme. Because I like the poetry to rhyme. But it’s a figure of speech meaning I just wrote them to have fun writing them. There was no underlying or covert motive. Just pure enjoyment.

And that’s exactly how the poem I’m about to share with you came to be. I read an article that used the word homunculus. And I hadn’t heard that word before. So I looked it up. And that was all it took to motivate me to write a short story rhyme with homunculus in it. But I decided that it wouldn’t be the focus word for rhyming. In fact, because of something else, I read in that article I decided to use words that rhyme with swoosh.

If you’re not into quirky poetry, this might not be your cup of tea (or coffee, or hot chocolate, or whatever). But if you can appreciate fun for fun’s sake, and the inner workings of a brain designed by our creative God, maybe you’ll get a kick out of this one for…

No Rhyme Nor Reason

The light revealed the interstice,
Through which he would debouch.
This slender, blue homunculus,
Who wore a red tarboosh,
Was undeniably annoyed
As he tied his babouche
And straightened up his sweater
Made of ibex shahtoosh.
He blinked three times and ran to catch
A burgundy barouche.
And once inside he opened up
His journal and cartouche
To write a sonnet of his love
For Rosalinda Ruesch
And her delectable dessert
Of citrus croquembouche.
And now you have enjoyed one tale
Of Lazlo Link Latouche.   © 2022 TF

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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Where we are right now, in the heart of the heartland of America, mother nature is putting on her Autumn attire. Fall officially started yesterday. So it’s still too early for the colors to be vibrantly on fire. But there are hints of the beautiful shades to come all around.

The so-called autumn attire is an annual reminder, too.

You probably recall what Jesus said, in the book of John, when he talked about death that brings life. He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Side note: When he said “he who hates his life in this world,” it’s actually an expression of someone who urgently desires eternal life and realizes how this life here now doesn’t compare at all to that.

Anyway…

I wrote a short rhyme about it, inspired by a beautiful photograph of a small cabin, surrounded by and autumn attired forest. It all looked quite cozy. So I wrote….

Nestled In Nature

Nestled in nature, in evergreen fire,
A small cabin sits in its Autumn attire.
Some leaves have fallen and many remain
For just a while longer, to sing a refrain
Whispering breezes have brought to this place.
It’s so solitary and so full of Grace.
A scene so serene you might wonder why
The world goes berserk in the blink of an eye.
Answers are simple, and life can be, too.
Your Creator wants to restore it in you.
Silence and music, in sync and in tune,
Reveal His love from this burnished doubloon. © 2022 TF

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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As I write this, the last gasp of summer, officially, is taking place. Tomorrow marks, the autumnal equinox, also known as the first day of autumn or first day of fall. My favorite time of year.

It sounds funny to say last gasp of summer.

But that’s the kind of phrase lots of people use to describe when something is on its way out. Of course seasons are just measurements of time. Not entities that feel or do anything human like. But we humans like to put our own personalities on things like animals, inanimate objects, and basically just about anything. Because we’re creative. And that’s just what we do. No biggie.

The great thing about autumn taking over, after the last gasp of summer is expelled, is that the new life of spring will rise up from the dying plants and leaves. It’s a great design. Jesus showed how glorious new life can practically explode out of old life passing away.

A social media friend of mine shares a lot of beautiful seasonal photographs. And a few years ago, she shared one that highlighted the beauty in the colors of autumn. Reds, oranges, yellows, and other colors in between practically lit up the trees and the forest. It was the kind of scene that inspires painters, quilters, songwriters, and just about anybody who enjoys the glories of nature. I wrote this following rhyme based on her title…

Mosaic

Winter is an etching,
Alabaster and blue.
Spring’s a watercolor
Swirled in every new hue.
Summer’s an oil painting,
A sunshine waterfall,
And Autumn’s a mosaic of them all © 2022 TF

Take advantage of this last gasp of summer and 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.

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Heaven holds a place for everyone who wants to live with, and love, the one true, living, loving creator of the universe. There another place for everyone else. And I recommend avoiding that place with all your heart, mind, and soul.

I remember a guy who visited a church I attended in the Denver metro area years ago. As I recall, he ran a camp where young kids and teenagers from broken homes could ride horses as a form of therapy. And I was impressed by how well young people could bond with those amazing animals. Horses are some of God’s best designs. And I think they find a favor with Him too. They are highly regarded in the Bible.

Anyway…

Hearing that man talk about his camp, inspired me to write a song about the bond between a horse and its owner for rider. And I sent a copy of the song to him, and I know for a while it was on his website. I didn’t do a fancy full production of the song. Just a quick recording with a simple beat and minimal instrumentation. I’ll share the song in an upcoming podcast episode. In the meantime, here are the lyrics to…

My Horse

Heaven holds a place for my horse
Standin’ straight and strong and tall.
All the trails we’ve taken; even when her legs were achin’,
She never lets me down at all.

God was great when He made my horse…
Perfect since she was a foal.
Ranchin’ skills to master; no horse learned ’em faster
There’s a bonfire in her soul.

So, Lord don’t take my horse too early.
We’ve got lots of work to do.
Chasin’ cattle, lots of ropin’, and it’s silly but I’m hopin’
I can ride her all the way to You.

I’m at home when I’m on my horse.
Across the prairies we will fly.
With her nostrils flarin’ and the people starin’
We could race into the sky. © 2008 TF

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.

Daily Devotional

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You could even have the right stuff and your ideas could still bomb out. So, now that I’ve inspired you with that little tidbit, go out and make it a great day.

But wait a sec. One time even the right stuff didn’t have the right stuff.

I’m talking about the movie that was released in 1983 about the original American astronauts. I thought it was a hit. But today I found out it didn’t do well in theaters. Here’s what Wikipedia says about it:

“The Right Stuff was a box-office bomb, grossing about $21 million (domestically) against a $27 million budget. However, it received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for eight Oscars at the 56th Academy Awards, four of which it won. And the film was a huge success on the home video market. In 2013, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.’ The film was ranked #19 on the American Film Institute’s most inspiring movies.”

None of that stuff makes a difference one way or the other with me. Probably you too. And, for me, that’s because I know no one is truly made of the right stuff. There was only one person, who ever lived (the One who has always lived), who’s not only right, but perfect. And He is your only chance of having what it takes to make the grade and not bomb out.

He’s the one who can give you the courage and strength to be a doer; a person who shares love with…

More Than Saying

Saying you love someone is easy to do,
But showing your love should be, too.
Starting today, with the words that you say,
Share all the best parts of you.
Saying you love someone is not quite enough
And backing it up might seem tough,
But make it your plan, I’m sure that you can
Because you’re made of the right stuff.  © 2022  TF

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.

Daily Devotional

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This is what AI says about it: A moon illusion occurs when the moon appears larger as it’s near the horizon compared to when it is higher in the sky. This effect is due to how your brain perceives the moon’s size in relation to surrounding objects and the horizon. And that’s even though its actual size remains constant.

You’ve seen that happen. Right? It’s pretty cool, even if it isn’t really happening.

I believe it’s just another one of millions and billions of examples of how God designed things to delight, inspire, and light up our imagination. Yeah, when you know that Jesus is your best friend, common occurrences and every day things transform into reasons to remember how incredibly blessed you are.

And that’s despite the fact that you don’t deserve any of it. In fact, we should look for opportunities to thank God we don’t get what we deserve. And for the fact that we have minds that can appreciate and apprehend complex beauty, even if we can’t fully comprehend it. Knowing that is what helps me to look at a photograph and compose a thankful rhyme like…

Moon Illusion

The moon illusion caught my eyes
As the wings of butterflies
Fluttered past the dandelions in the yard.
The gentle breezes through twilight
Coaxed the crickets, out of sight,
To compose a rhythm synced to that postcard.
As it unfolded to full view,
With moonbeams in every hue,
Well, my mind could barely even comprehend.
And so I simply sat and sighed,
Knowing what I know inside;
Every bit of it was made by my best Friend. © 2024 TF

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.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

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