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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We can all be wrong. Or some can be right and some wrong. But we can’t all be right. And I say the inexplicable universe makes total, logical sense. Because it’s designed by a Creator who is greater than all the ingredients in the universe. His words created all of them. And I just know you agree with me. Right?

Surely you don’t think all the ingredients are like Lucky Charms.

Just magically delicious. And just showed up out of giant explosion. From nothing to something. Oodles and oodles of years ago. Surely (he said, tongue-in-cheek, and eyes rolling up) you don’t believe something that incredibly childish.

No, I know you don’t. Because you’re one of the people who agrees with me and others who say, daz crazy.

Yeah, because your own logic and reason should scream out to you that logic and reason don’t rise up out of any kinds of soup. Least of all the primordial kind.

No, it isn’t arrogant of me to say the irreducible complexity found in a single human cell blows that evolutionary chicanery out of the water. Because all the ingredients in a single human cell had to be there, from the moment it was conceived, in order for it to exist. No part could have been left out. Or else it wouldn’t live.

But if you insist on believing the fairy tale, I wrote this song for you.

What If I’m Right

You think it’s wrong to talk of only one Way.
Live and let live is something you always say.
How could there be a God who no one can see?
When bad things happen, you say “Where can He be?”

You want some proof; maybe a word or a sign
That our existence could be all by design.
I say the proof is in the feel of a song.
But it’s invisible so you say I’m wrong.

But what if I’m right? What if it’s true
All of these things I’ve been sayin’ to you?
What if you die and it’s not the end?
What if your life is nothing you can defend?
You think I’m wrong and that I don’t walk in the light,
But what if I’m right?

So many people living inside a dream
Making a choice that even God won’t redeem.
I say choose Jesus because this life’s not long.
You say it’s nonsense, and you tell me I’m wrong.

But what if I’m right?

© 2008

Stay tuned,

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P.S. Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading 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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Back To The Future. I’d say there’s a good chance you saw that movie. So, you probably remember that certain song by Huey Lewis and the News. The power of Love. It’s catchy. Huey sings it well. And it’s got a good beat.

But the Power of Love song is just a song.

The real POWER of love I’m always harpin’ on is only found in one place. And that place is actually one Person. And that one Person is, let’s all say it together, Jesus. I know I’m preachin’ to the choir right now. But “the choir” needs to speak up more about the whole Jesus. Here’s what I tell people. And I hope you do, too. Of course, you can put your own personality into it and use your own words. But tell them. Because most churches don’t now.

The world (and many Christians) say “God is love.” But God doesn’t say that. He says He is:

  • The way
  • The truth, and
  • The life

I just did a search in His book. And I couldn’t find anywhere in there where He says, “I am love.” No, when God describes Himself, you’ll find a lot of references to the effective power of His love. But no references to Him BEING love. He’s the source of it. But He’s the God of justice AND mercy. Because He loves you.

Yes, that’s completely sensible. Because God understands that in order for love to be true, it MUST be freely given. So, He freely gives His to anyone who will receive it. Yep, you get to choose whether or not you will. Because God gave you your own will.

And the POWER of His love provided (and still provides) the way you can know the truth and receive eternal life. But He never has, doesn’t now, and never will force you to believe in, trust in, or love Him. You are free to be your own little god. The person who is nicer, wiser, and more loving than anyone. I suggest you wise up and don’t choose that option. Because nobody in the whole world has ever done anything to deserve His

Abounding Grace

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.

If this was the last thing I could write…
If this was my final poetry…
I’d still thank the Lord for His word
And His abounding Grace to me.

If this was the last time I could pray…
If this had to be my closing plea…
I know I could say, “I love the Lord
And His abounding Grace to me.”

© 2018

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading 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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It was in the story of The Good Samaritan. And it’s been right here in the good ol’ U S of A for my whole life. And even further back than that. Yeah, the apathy is all around.

And the apathy grows colder and colder now.

I wrote about it in a harsh song about 34 years ago. And the lyrics are more true now than then.

Cold Hard Truth

You face the future like a heart attack.
Your palms are sweaty; you’re a jumping jack.
Can’t believe the world has come this far,
And still we’re living on a dying star.

You put your faith into the promised land.
You feed the dog and still he bites your hand.
Maybe you decide you have no choice,
But you just need to learn to raise your voice.

Be unrelenting like the tiger’s tooth
And face the cold hard truth!

We hear the speeches; see the banners wave.
They sell the dreams of all the lives they’ll save.
But in between the lines are pretty lies.
They seem so right behind that straight disguise.

No reason it can never happen here.
This is the place and time to face your fear.
Financial plans end up rhetorical.
The errors made aren’t simply clerical.

Be never-yielding like the tiger’s tooth
And face the cold hard truth!

Spoon-feed the apathy and watch it grow into the cold hard truth,
And if you never care, then you will never know…
It’s such a cold hard truth…cold hard truth!

You see the party junkies everywhere.
Behind their buzz you’ll find a long, blank stare.
Their windows shut; another right goes by
Without them ever realizing why!

Live for the weekend and the gin and vermouth
And face the cold hard truth!
Endangered species aren’t the only ones who face the cold hard truth.
We’re gazing straight into the paper guns

Through all the cold hard truth…cold hard truth!

instrumental…repeat chorus….end

© 1991

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It connects you with download links to 2 books and 2 songs (and more), right away. Fun for kids AND not too cutesy. So grownups enjoy it, too. Subscribe, today.

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I woke up this morning and saw the same stories in the news again. Too many fires. And too many people with questions. And not many who shared how Living Water is the answer. So, you know what that means.

Too many more fires to come.

But this ain’t about too many fires burning down forests, prairies, or houses. It’s about a focus on problems when you should be focused the solution.

A long time ago, if you wanted to tell God something, you had to follow a bunch of rules. And if you wanted God’s help with your problems, you had to ask a high priest to let God know your request.

But then Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead to make a way to change that. Now, you can pray to God anytime and every time you want, and He’ll listen. It doesn’t matter how many fiery problems are burning across your landscape right now. Because Jesus, who called Himself the Living Water, can help you put them all out.

He loves to hear from you, by the way.

So, try this idea.

Talk to God today and ask Him for some peace and quiet. Then, be still and listen for His word. I should say, that last part works if and when you’ve been in His word and His word is in you. If that’s not quite how it is, then grab yourself a Bible and read Paul’s letters. You can find them way over in the right side of the book. He wrote 13 of them. And they’re the ones from Romans to Philemon.

Paul certainly knew a thing or two about too many fires.

He was beaten with rods. And he received 195 lashes on his back. He was stoned. Shipwrecked three times. Dangerously adrift at sea. Thrown in prison, where he almost died, several times. And he listed a bunch of perils:

  • waters
  • robbers
  • my own countrymen
  • the Gentiles
  • in the city, and
  • the wilderness
  • in the sea, and
  • among false brethren

Wow. Every way he turned. But those weren’t the only issues. He also dealt with:

  • weariness and toil
  • sleeplessness often
  • hunger and thirst
  • fastings often
  • cold and nakedness, and
  • the other daily issues like his deep concern for all the churches

But Paul understood how prayers put your focus on the solution.

And he knew when you focus on all the fires (issues), you just end up with too many fires. So, I hope you’ll follow my suggestion and stop listening to and reading what everyone, who gets their unwise wires crossed, says about it. Forget about all the sky-is-falling people running their potty mouths, full time, about the bad news of the day.

Because the Good News is as close as your thoughts.
And you’re not just one of those programmed robots
Who can only see the fires that result from those crossed wires
Used so foolishly by ignorant crackpots.

Stay tuned,

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P.S. Your email address connects you with download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away. Fun for kids AND not too cutesy. So grownups enjoy it, too. Subscribe, today.

Daily Devotional

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Sometimes I remember better days like this. Lying on a warm sidewalk, in the first week of June. Just a young boy, on Summer vacation, in a small Kansas town, with nothing much to do but enjoy the warm sidewalk and ponder big thoughts.

Yeah, when I remember better days, big thoughts are always included.

Because I always wanted to figure out things like:

  • Why do some rocks sparkle and others only shine?
  • How does blood get down into those ten toes of mine?
  • How do fish breathe in water and birds fly up high?
  • Will I find out the answers or just wonder why?

There’s nothing evil about remembering better days in your past. But I saw something, in the Bible, this morning, that got me back to reality. King Solomon, who lived to regret most of what he did in his life, said this: Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

In other words, he figured out it wasn’t wise to live in the past. And that’s still SO true. Because out of the three times you have in your existence: past, present, and future, it’s the one you can’t do anything about.

I think that’s why the old saying (which older people created) goes: Youth is wasted on the young.

Because you’re only a youngster for a little while.

If only you had enough wisdom, during those years, to understand how valuable that short time was. When you had time to ponder rocks and fish and birds. Because someone else was responsible for clothes, food, and shelter. And if you only had enough wisdom, then, to appreciate how soon those people would be gone.

But I’m not sharing any of this to make you sad. In fact, I believe it’s good news that nobody lasts all that long here on planet Earth. Because it’s a broken, mean world. A world full of rebellious, selfish people. People who probably don’t remember better days the way we do.

So, why would anyone wanna stick around here any longer than necessary?

Well, the rebellious, selfish people wanna live as long as possible because they believe life on Earth is all you ever get. Thankfully you and I know about eternal life in paradise. Right? Because that gives us hope. And that makes for better days NOW.

If you know someone who doesn’t know that, be sure to share where you get your hope and joy.

Is there a day you go back to when you think of better days?
Or do you think that day is somewhere up ahead?
But either way it’s a day when all your cares will melt away,
And then your life will be fulfilling dreams instead.

Well, let me say, I’m for living with that hope inside your heart.
I do believe in looking for a better way.
But cares won’t go until you know your Creator loves you so.
That’s how the better times you need begin today. ~Tony

Stay tuned,

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P.S. Your email address connects you with download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away. Fun for kids AND not too cutesy. So grownups enjoy it, too. Subscribe, today.

Daily Devotional

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It’s such a blast to make music. I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid. I can remember getting a very small metal set of drums for my birthday when I was 5. At least I think it was my fifth birthday. But that’s not the point. The point is that I bet my parents and grandparents regretted giving me that present.

Because a five year old doesn’t make music on a set of metal drums.

Yeah, he makes a lot of noise. But it ain’t music.

Then, I remember when I started to sing. And my stepsisters were impressed enough to keep asking me to sing one Saturday as we all spent some time on the school playground. They told me how much they liked my voice. I was embarrassed. But after some flattering they talked me into it. Once I saw how they seemed to be impressed, I was hooked.

And I’ve been singing my heart out almost all the rest of my life since then.

Then, a few years ago, I discovered that even when you make music (not noise) just for fun, you can actually flip your genetic switches. And you can even “reverse your own genomic stress signature.”

Those are just some high-falootin’ words that mean you can feel better when you play music. Not just listen to it. And I read about a music therapist who built her own healing drum kit to help you beat away stress.

Well, it’s been a long time since I was five. But that still sounds pretty good to me.

Think about it. God designed you with all kinds of rhythm in your own body. You’ve got:

  • heartbeats
  • your sleep cycle
  • brain waves, and
  • even the rhythm of your neurotransmitters firing (when they work the right way)

That’s a lotta rhythm and motion in your body at all times.

Even when you relax and don’t move. Yeah, you can sit on the couch or lie in bed. And your heart still beats out that rhythm. Your blood flows back and forth through your veins. And don’t forget all those neurotransmitters. Especially the ones that fire up your dopamine (That’s the only dope I endorse, by the way). Because it’s the feel-good, healing hormone you need. And healing hormones, and the way they can be turned on with music, are in your body by design.

So, you can make music, or at least make healing sounds, because God created and loves music.

No, your healing powers don’t come from you.
They come from God who designed them to
Work even when you’re not thinking about
What you can and cannot live without.
So beat out a rhythm to heal today.
And be thankful God has made you this way.

Your email address is the key to my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. It’s how you get fun stuff delivered right to your inbox. Spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away. Fun for kids AND not too cutesy. So grownups enjoy it, too.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

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Okie dokie. Get out your comfortable bamboo mat and get in a cross-legged sitting position on the floor in your favorite room. And welcome to Meditation for Beginners. It’s a class for kids from 8 to 80. And after this first lesson, if you’re not ecstatic about how much better you feel, I’ll triple your money back. Are you ready? Great!

Meditation for Beginners: Lesson one.

First step? Forget the bamboo mat and that silly, uncomfortable sitting position on the floor. For cryin’ out loud, make yourself comfortable. Brew up your favorite wake-up beverage. Grab your physical OR digital Bible. And check out what Paul said you should meditate on, in Philippians 4:8-9. And he said it’s how you get the “peace of God.”

Wow. That seems like a mighty nice thing to get from some focused meditation. Right?

There are lots of people who’ll get up in front of an audience and talk about how important focus is. And it is. Because you can achieve your dreams and goals with focus. But that kind of focus is better for temporary things than it is for a lasting, loving relationship with your Creator. Yeah, it’s just meditation for beginners.

And Paul says to meditate on whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having any virtue, and anything praiseworthy. Because those are forever things. You can’t see ‘em right now. But one day you WILL.

Here’s how and why…

Jesus is the reason you can love.
He’s the only reason that you’re here.
If it weren’t for Jesus and His love,
All the universe would disappear.

Jesus is the one way you can live
For a while and then forever, too.
So, start smiling and get up and show
How the fullness of God lives in you.

Your email address is the key to my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. It’s how you get fun stuff delivered right to your inbox. Spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away. Fun for kids AND not too cutesy. So grownups enjoy it, too.

Stay tuned,

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