Category Archives: Words and Music

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Exvangelical deconstruction. Now, there’s a term you probably don’t hear every day. I hadn’t heard of it before today. But apparently it’s a “thing” in the ranks of people leaving the Christian “church” these days. And I put quotations around “church” for a reason.

Because exvangelical deconstruction is a self-indulgent activity.

No surprise there, right? Selfishness was the original sin. And it’s still at the root of all sin.

And the reason this is on my radar, today, is because of (wouldn’t you know it) an apparently well-known “musician” who called himself an exvangelical on a social media channel. I’m talkin’ about Kevin Max from DC Talk, a band that I saw described as a “3 piece rock-n-rap” group.

Admittedly, I’m not familiar with their music. So, I did a quick scan of some of their songs on YouTube. And they won’t be getting any support from me…which, I’m sure they won’t miss in the slightest. But I’m just not a fan of grinding grunge and rap. And I’m sure they wouldn’t be a Tony fan either.

Since I hadn’t heard the term “exvangelical” before, I did a little snooping around. And I found an article  that said – some of those people leaving the Christian church have begun referring to themselves as the ‘nones’ and are promoting a movement called ‘deconstruction’ translated as “deconstructing one’s faith and leaving the church.”

So, once again, self-indulgent activity.

When you deconstruct your Christian faith and call yourself a “none,” you’ve just exed yourself out of hope.

And that puts you in the fools camp.

I wrote a song, way back, about the people in the world who decide to trust in self. And the lyrics are just as appropriate for the “nones” who are leaving the church. This is from “King of Hearts.”

Dreaming it up, they keep on scheming it up,
And then they’re blowing it up in unsuspecting faces
Groundwork is laid; they’ve got it made in the shade
But there won’t be lemonade in some eternal places

Closing their eyes; they walk right into the lies
But every person who dies will have their eyes wide open
By then it’s too late for all the people who wait
You just can’t enter The Gate with all your earthly hopin’

(chorus)

With all their best laid plans they still just come to this.
I guess they’ll remain where they are while their ignorance is…

Bliss

© 1998 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

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Or how about some music for kids

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

If you regularly listen to or watch the morning news, it can give you the impression there’s no such thing as lasting hope. And it can give you the impression that the only way to “beat ’em” is to “join ’em.”

So skip the morning news.

At least skip all the opinion stuff. All that point, counterpoint, and other synthetic, so-called “news.”

Because, when it comes to real life, you’re gonna need wisdom to deal with reality. And you’re gonna need wisdom to be able to detect lies and manipulation.

Sounds like a fun day. Right?

I certainly don’t wanna rob you of your good mood. Quite the opposite, actually. But it’s more important, now, than it’s ever been in your whole life, to understand how this world hates you. Or, let’s put it this way, it hates you if you’re someone who says Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

If you tell the truth, like that, the world (people who hate God), WILL hate you. Because the world hates God and anyone who loves Him.

Oh sure, they’ll do their darnedest to deflect and make you look like the hater. In the name of tolerance and diversity. But their hypocrisy stands out like a sore thumb when you increase your wisdom. And I can guarantee your wisdom won’t increase by listening to or watching the morning news.

Go ahead and get the weather report (there’s an app for that). And check your investments (there’s an app for that). And even follow your favorite sports team, if you must (there’s an app for that).

(at’s a lotta apps)

But you’ll do yourself a favor when you get a Bible app (I recommend the Logos . Because no other app, book, or resource of any kind contains even a fraction of the wisdom you’ll find in the Bible. And, with wisdom, you can take these words to heart…

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.

Those are lyrics to the third verse in my song, “Beat The World.” It’s from my “Do Right” CD which is now officially vintage. Because I recorded and released it 25 years ago.

I have just a few dozen of those original CD’s left. And I have a special request. Would you prayerfully consider buying one to help support a pastor’s wife who just lost her husband in September? I call this offer the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package.

It’s $20 for this stout-hearted, vintage music. And all proceeds, minus shipping costs, will go to help Cheryl and her family as they deal with the loss of a husband, father, pastor, and provider. If you already have the music, but you know somebody who might enjoy it (and helping out), send them the link, below.

And thank you from the bottom, top, and middle of my heart,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package Here

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Back in 1974 I paid for (and enjoyed, immensely) an America holiday. Because it was an excursion into the best parts of musical imagination. And…what? You think I misspelled it? Oh, I see. You think it should have been American with the n at the end. Yeah, I get it. But no.

I got it right. America Holiday.

But maybe I should clear up the mixup. I should have added “album.” I paid for (and enjoyed, immensely) an America Holiday album. Whew. Thank goodness we got that straight.

Anyway…

Back then, when you bought an album, you actually got an album. On vinyl. And typically the album contained lyrics and other tidbits of info inside the cover. So, you didn’t just “stream” a song. You listened to it. And you read the lyrics as you listened. Or, at least, I sure did.

And since I had gotten a lot of classical voice training in high school, I greatly appreciated when the pop/rock groups of the day incorporated classical instrumentation into their songs.

So, two songs on the Holiday album, from the band, America, piqued my musical imagination right away. And there’s classical music influence through the whole album. And that’s thanks, mainly, to the production work of George Martin. Maybe you’ve heard of him? He also produced for an obscure band from England…the Beatles.

If you’ve never listened to the Holiday album, and you’ve got about 36 minutes to spare, check it out. Or, at the very least, skip the commercials (of course) and listen to Miniature/Tin Man

But there’s something else that’s even better.

Dan Peek, one of the founding members of America, left the band in 1977 because he was tired of all the travel, recreational drugs, and groupies. I read that he “renounced drugs and alcohol” and “renewed his Christian faith.” And he became a “pioneering artist” in the Christian pop music genre.

He did a remake of the hit song “Lonely People” and changed some lyrics to reflect his Christian faith. Instead of singing the lines: “And ride that highway in the sky” and “You never know until you try” he sang “And give your heart to Jesus Christ.”

Sadly, Dan died 10 years ago today. November 1, 2011. He was only 60. But he shed the Tin Man and put on the New Man. So, I’ll bet he’s singing brand new songs now.

Stay tuned,

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Sign up for my Rhyme and Reason emails. (good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I don’t live in a safe place. Six years ago, a guy walked down a street, here in Colorado Springs, and randomly murdered people. Yeah, on this the most holiest of days. Halloween. If you heard about it or read about it, you know the story I’m talking about. If you didn’t, go look it up. I don’t wanna waste more space on my website about that murderer.

Oh, by the way, you don’t live in a safe place either.

Because there’s no safe place on Earth. Sure, there ARE safer places than others when it comes to crimes like murder and stealing. But our planet is wicked. In fact, there was only one time in history it was ever wickederer (that’s a typo, on purpose, for effect). And that’s when God was sorry He even made human beings. So, He broke the planet and killed all but 8 people.

And that was really for the sake of only ONE of those people.

And that was because God has a “big picture”perspective of His creation.

Since He has that kind of perspective, it’s vitally important for you to have a better understanding of that big picture. Here’s how it goes. You WILL exist forever somewhere. You can live in the fullness of life with your Creator in paradise. Or you can exist totally separate from Him, forever.

Option 1, God’s Kingdom, is the only safe place.

Option 2, your “kingdom” is not safe. And, in fact, it is eternal torment.

But you get to choose. Because God loves you so much He won’t even force you into paradise if you don’t wanna go there. I hope you consider Option 2.

Safe And Sound

Down on our luck but not out of the game
We both go the distance and cover some ground.
And still our love is safe and sound.
We learned to be part of each other’s dreams.
Some time was lost but look what we found;
Knowing our love is safe and sound.

We laugh like there’s no tomorrow.
We’re touched by the hand of God.
So what if there’s no new sunrise.
So what if the world won’t spin around.
We’re safe and sound.

Miles have gone by; we dared to go see
The wide open space and seldom we frowned.
Look how our love is safe and sound.
Deep in our hearts and inside our minds
We capture the words and they keep us bound;
Saying our love is safe and sound.

We laugh like there’s no tomorrow.
We’re touched by the hand of God.
So what if there’s no new sunrise.
So what if the world won’t spin around.
We’re safe and sound.

So many give up when one knee is down.
But we’re down on both and now we’re safe and sound.

© 1993 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Sign up for my Rhyme and Reason emails. (good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

What do you call someone who uses banal, hackneyed, and overworked phrases to shove their agenda in your face? Cue that Jeopardy music. And we have a winner. Susie said, “A politician.” Tell ’em what she won, Johnny!

Yeah, zing ’em with in-your-face clichés.

And tell those lies loud and often. And before you know it, bam. The world is a better place for everyone. Full of peace, love, and joy. Because everyone knows truth comes by saying. And saying by clichés.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Settle down, Tony. Everything’ll be alright.”

And it’s true. Everything WILL be alright. But, for now, everything is far from alright. And far, far from what’s right.

So, what’s got me all fired up about this?

Have you listened to the news of the day? It’s like tuning in to a radio program, back in the 1930’s, and hearing that Earth has been invaded by Mars (that really happened by the way). But it’s worse. Because now we can SEE the liars lie…and the clear evidence for the lies. And yet, millions of Americans eat it up and beg for more.

Democrat AND Republican politicians have zero wisdom.

Or at least so little wisdom it seems like zero. So, they’ll say whatever needs to be said in order to maintain their status and (so-called) power.

Back in 1996, before smartphones, I wrote a song about what’s going on in the world. It’s called Cliché´. And I’d like to say things have gotten better. But, of course, the opposite is true.

I looked at the lyrics I wrote 25 years ago. And it’s kinda eerie how well they fit what has happened since then. Check this out. I’ll share the first few lines of the song…

  • “We want the answers to all of our questions…”
    (Hmm…sounds like a Google search engine thing.)
  • “We want the world in the palm of our hands.”
    (Yeah, can you say SmartPhone?)
  • “We want to live in a fat-free environment.”)
    (Look how many more fat people we have, thanks to fat-free.)
  • “We want to make sure the ozone is intact.”
    (So-called “climate change” is now part of government agendas.)
  • “And so we watch all those service commercials.”
    (Now they’re everywhere, not just TV)
  • “It’s just so easy to sit back and react.”
    (Can you say “news commentators?”)

 

Cue the bridge and turn up the volume.

As you can see, the words to the songs on my first Christian compilation of music aren’t the typical sugar-coated, lollipop lyrics found in most contemporary Christian music.

And I knew that once I started writing songs from a rightly-divide-the-word-of-truth Christian perspective, I’d never build a large audience for my music. Because your average community church Christian doesn’t want the meat message of God’s word.

But if that’s not you (and I hope it’s not), then I’d like you to consider getting a copy of the CD this song is on. And I have a special reason why.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of that CD: Do Right. And I’d like to use the occasion to help out a preacher’s wife. Her husband died just last month. And she’s a very special woman who loves God and her neighbor.

So, all the proceeds, from the sale of the last few dozen original CD’s I have left (minus shipping), will go to her. And I’m calling it the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package sale.

The price is $20. And these are “brand new” 25 year old disks. But there’s way less than 100 of these original, first-run Do Right CD’s. After they’re gone, that’s it.

Get your copy, today.

And help support a woman who deserves your help more than you might know.




Is it just melodrama…for me to feel this way?
I wonder…is it just me?
Or does it all sound so cliché?

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

There it is. In black and white. It clearly says, “pray for all men.” And it’s right there in Paul’s letter to Timothy, his protégée. But hold on a second. Are those words actually in Paul’s letter? And do those words mean what you think they mean?

No. And…probably not.

If you own a New King James Bible, you can clearly see the words in bold and larger font. A headline…

Pray for All Men

But wait a second. Those words are an actual headline. And they were added by publishers. Not Paul. Hmm, so what did Paul actually say on the subject? Well, this…

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Yeah, you could misconstrue that and believe you’re supposed to pray FOR (meaning not against) all men. But if that’s what Paul meant when he wrote it, then he might have wondered why David wrote, in Psalm 109:8,

“Let his days be few, And let another take his office.”

Call me naive, but that sounds like a prayer against men. And David was called a man after God’s own heart. So, I don’t think he was at odds with God when he wrote that.

Yeah, if you examine what Paul wrote to Timothy, a little more closely, you’ll see he’s telling you and me that we pray for all men in a way that helps us have peace and quiet. So, do NOT pray FOR men who absolutely refuse to let us have peaceable, quiet lives.

Pray AGAINST them.

Make intercession AGAINST them. Pray that their “days be few.” And get someone a real man in their office. A real man who WILL help you and me lead quiet and peaceable lives. Then, pray FOR that man to do what is “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”

And pray AGAINST all men who will not do that.

Or be willing to suffer at the hands of fools.

You say you’re feeling empty.
And it doesn’t go away.
You live for your tomorrow and suffer in today.
You need to blow your trumpet,
To tear down all the walls,
And keep your heart wide open to hear God when He calls.

(from Impossible Odds, off the Do Right collection of songs)

And you can get Impossible Odds and 12 more songs when you get the limited edition 25th Anniversary Do Right for Cheryl care package CD. You’ll help a pastor’s wife who lost her husband. The link is below.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get your limited edition copy of the Do Right CD here

 

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

It’s an unwavering truth that love is everlasting. And even though I’m typing these words, alone in my office, and you’ll read them in similar circumstances, I can almost see you shaking your head, “No. Love is definitely not everlasting.”

But I say yes. And I can prove it’s an unwavering truth.

But, here’s a caveat. I absolutely can NOT prove that love does not waver if you refuse to listen to reason. Yes, reason. And logic. Not feelings.

First…

You love yourself. Right? Sure you do. And that’s why you go out into the world to work. So you can interact with people and buy the things you need. And so you can eat, drink, and be comfortable.

And you love your family. So you make sure they have food, clothes, and a safe roof over their heads. You love your parents. So you visit them to see if they need anything.

Love helps you navigate the unknown. Love helps you to help others. And love is the only “thing” in all of existence that grows in you as you give it away.

Yeah, hate might conquer the day…now and then…or even way more often. And hate might destroy your country and its populace. It might even destroy the world one day. But it doesn’t conquer all.

And it won’t last forever.

Only love conquers all.

Here’s how I ‘splained it years ago, right here on the ol’ TonyFunderburk.com website…

“Love created this planet. Love made the green trees, grass, and herbs of the fields. And love designed an atmosphere ideal for both plants and creatures. Plus, love made sure that both the intake of oxygen and the exhale of carbon dioxide would occur and be optimally functional.

Love planted a paradise with an open door and then made a way for us to enter in again after we so foolishly walked out.

So, love understands our exercises in futility and yet stands waiting with open arms to comfort and reassure us.

And…

…love does not exist apart from God.”

He risked it all when He gave us our own will. Yet, being the master planner, calculator, and designer…God knows some of us will choose to love Him in return. He’s willing to give His love to everyone who ever lived for the sake of the relatively few who’ll respond to it.

If you’re one of those who simply won’t believe until you’ve actually seen…

One day you will.

In fact, everyone will. The Creator of the universe (and everything in it) will come back to Earth one day. And He’ll cast aside the rulers of this world and of darkness, and show once and for all…

…true, living, everlasting love conquers all.”

You  seek the answers to the mysteries of life
But how much truth can you handle
And as for me, well, there is only One Fire
That lights the flame on my candle

Everlasting and everywhere”
He’s Everlasting and everywhere

(And that’s the unwavering truth)

And speaking of Everlasting and Everywhere, that’s another song on the CD I’ve been talking about for a couple of days. Now, I’m calling it the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package sale. And it’s to help a woman (a pastor’s wife for over 20 years) who just lost her husband. I only have 79 first-run CD’s left of my first Christian CD called “Do Right.”And you can see more about it and get your limited edition copy at the link below.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get your limited edition copy of the Do Right CD here