Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Here’s a quick, short list of blessings I’m thankful for right now. (in spite of socialist politicians)

  1. God gave me life and made a way for me to live forever.
  2. My beautiful wife loves me and encourages my artistic endeavors.
  3. I’m healthy enough to wake up and work every day.
  4. God gave me the gift of words and music, the best personal gifts I could ever desire.
  5. I have a cozy, nicely furnished home where I can enjoy holidays and every day.
  6. I’m a techie with cool gear that allows me to easily share my thoughts and publish them to the world.
  7. America is still (currently) free enough for me to voice an opinion that differs from the masses.
  8. Thousands of people have bought and shared my books, songs, and merch through the years.
  9. There are still opportunities to continue to grow, be inspired, and connect.

And that’s just the short list.

There aren’t enough pages on the internet for the long list. And that’s simply because my blessings will continue throughout eternity. And THAT’S because I believe in and trust the one, true, living, loving God of creation.

You can’t thank a “universe.” It has no soul, no spirit, no personality. And it’s OK to thank other people for temporary stuff. But how did they get here? And it’s silly to thank yourself for your blessings. But there are people who actually sit around a dinner table and do that.

On this Thanksgiving Day 2023, make your short list, and take at least a few minutes to think about your own mortality.

Maybe somewhere deep down inside your heart you sense or feel or detect a connection to immortality. God put that feeling in your heart. Because He wants you to know you’re an eternal being. Not your body. But the actual YOU that you were intended to be. And you’re free to choose where YOU will spend eternity. So, choose wisely. It matters.

Thank God I’m not alone on any day.
Thank God He gave His Son to be The Way
For me to live a life that never ends.
Thank God that He and I are best of friends.

Thank God for every moment you’re alive.
Thank God because, in Him, you can survive
The trials and tribulations when you say…
“Thank God for love,” on this Thanksgiving Day.

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ‘em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other fun stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Sustainable aviation fuel. I just read a couple of short articles, from Forbes and the Wall Street Journal, about the “new” approach to help “reduce the carbon footprints” of airline companies. And, as I read, I thought, “How nice. Big corporations are starting to invest in something that’s been available all along.

Matter of fact, you’ve enjoyed sustainable aviation fuel your whole life.

Yep, you’ve enjoyed it. And you’ve thrown it into the trash without even thinking about it. And just because nobody apparently thought to use it before doesn’t change that.

Here’s a quote, from me, that ties in nicely with the sustainable aviation fuel topic:

“Evolutionary ‘science’ claims it took millions of years to form from algae, plants, and other buried organic material. And that supposedly was the time required for the earth’s heat and pressure to turn it into crude oil.

But according to non-evolutionary science, the right heat and pressure can ‘form oil in ultrashort time periods.’ Naturally, that science also backs up the Biblical account of a worldwide flood. And we certainly can’t have that. Because when you start spreading that news, people might believe God is real. And we certainly can’t have that.

But, back to the crude oil advantages.

Doesn’t it make sense to take advantage of a process that could ensure our efficient crude oil based technology and machinery runs on renewable energy? And since we can grow algae and turn it into crude oil in ‘ultrashort time periods’ that makes it easily and efficiently renewable. AND affordable.

But, there’s the rub. Affordable and efficient and renewable crude oil. Well, that would mean government couldn’t control individual liberties with the flip of a switch. And the control freaks in ‘high places’ certainly can’t have that.”

So, next time you carry out your trash think about this.

You could be throwing away sustainable aviation fuel. Yeah, your cooking oils, animal byproducts, and the rest of your trash, could help save the planet. And some major players, like United Airlines, believe that enough to invest a lot of money and research into it. 

Even if and when they find a way to make affordable fuel out of your trash, I won’t be flying in one of their cool-looking petri dishes. Because that sort of sardine travel doesn’t appeal to my germaphobia. But I think there’s a much better solution to the energy “crisis,” where the world is so sickeningly focused. And that’s the almost endless supply of renewable “green” resources that can power our time-tested technologies.

Of course, no solution will sustain you more than about 75-80 years, on average. Oh wait. There IS one solution that can keep you fueled and running perfectly forever. And that solution is your eternal Creator. Ironically His word is a renewable resource tailor-made for YOU. He says your insides can be renewed daily. Even though your outside isn’t.

It’s powered by 100% sustainable Love.

We want to live in a fat-free environment, and
We want to make sure the ozone is intact,
And so we watch all those service commercials, and
It’s just so easy to sit back and react.

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

(From the song, Cliché, which is included in my book, the Do Right Collection)

Listen to the whole song here: (https://youtu.be/IuTNFMXIbfw)

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Share this link with everybody you know, so they can jump on the The TRUTH
(My regular emails about the essentials of life, AND some music and other good stuff, for Fa-Ree)

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Here’s a short farming quiz. And anyone who misses even one question fails miserably. Not just the quiz. But also at life in general. So, are you ready? Here you go.

  1. Farming is necessary:  Yes___No___
  2. Farmers help keep you alive: Yes___No___
  3. Farms are the biggest contributors to global warming/climate change Yes___No___

OK, only 3 questions in the farming quiz.

And, as I said, you get one wrong and you’re a miserable failure.

But you might think, “Duh, Tony. No one is his (or her) right mind could possibly get a wrong answer on such an easy quiz.” And normally I’d say you’d be right. But these are not “normal” times. Because generations of government indoctrination (aka: public schools) have generated countless foolish feelers. People who are incapable of stringing two intelligent thoughts together.

Case in point: I just saw a short video where a young guy said (on camera) that farming needs to stop. And he said it’s because farming is the single biggest contributor to climate change.

There was a funny reply where a guy said something like, “Uh…no. Because, without farming, you’d be hungry, naked, and sober.” Hilarious. And true.

Ludicrous as the anti farming comment was, it isn’t a singular incident. A young woman was recorded as saying something similar. Her comment was something about how we don’t need “all those farms anymore.” Because we have grocery stores in just about every neighborhood there is.

So, it should be obvious that a lot of people would fail my farming quiz.

This makes me think of a drive I made across part of Kansas on I-70.

It was way back in the 20th century, as I headed to college in Manhattan (the little Apple, not the big one). And every so often I’d pass a sign that said something like, “One Kansas farmer feeds 27 people.”

But nowadays those signs share how a single farmer feeds 257 people.

Unfortunately, American farmers have more and more “powers” working against them.

But I think a lot, maybe even most, of those farmers understand the value of life much more clearly than the rest of the population. Because they’re in charge of so much life on a daily basis. Their own, and their family’s, of course. But also the lives of their animals and crops. Yeah, there’s life in every cell of every living thing. From humans to cows to corn.

And farmers have to be much more keenly aware of the needs of those different lives. Like how much feed to give the animals. How to store enough to get through the winter. And how much water and soil additives for the crops. Because those farmers know that if they don’t do a good job, some people might not have enough to eat.

But have you ever thought about where they get those seeds they multiply?

OK, that’s sort of another question for the farming quiz. And you might be inclined to say they get their seed from local feed and seed stores. And I couldn’t give you a red X for that. But where do those feed and seed stores get their supplies?

And that could get us started in a vicious circle. Because some might say, “Well, the feed and seed stores get their seeds from farmers who grow them.” But then we’re right back to “Where did the farmers get ’em?”

So, how do you get out of that tautological conundrum? (my two dollar words for the day)

The solution is, as always, go to the source.

Go to the one “who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food.”

There are tons of figurative and literal references to seed and seeds in the Bible. And that’s because life is found in the seed. But the life in a seed that can turn into wheat which can turn into bread which can sustain your life is no accident.

That life in an indescribable gift from God.

The moment you were conceived, you were given the indescribable gift of life.

Do you still ponder the age-old question, “What’s the meaning of life?” Well, ponder no more. Because without an uncaused first cause (aka: original source of life), the meaning would be whatever you decide. But that’s problematic because there are billions of other individuals who’d probably disagree with you.

And I probably don’t have to tell you where ideological disagreements lead. Right?

So, of course, the solution to that problem is to have an absolute standard.

Uh-oh. There’s that offensive word.

Absolute.

You’ve probably heard that old (stupid) quote: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Or you’ve heard some version of that. But I called it a stupid quote because it’s not true.

And people who hate God love to use that quote. Because they believe it shows the danger in putting your faith in a God who has absolute power.

But power does NOT corrupt you. Your heart does. Or, at least, it can. And most often does. But God’s heart is holy, pure, and righteous. And He doesn’t wield His absolute power over life arbitrarily and capriciously. (oops, a couple more two dollar words slipped out) In fact, He gives us a choice to multiply the seed of life…or not.

So, what makes God trustworthy? One word.

Love.

His undying love for His creation. You. And me.

It’s that love that supplies the information needed to establish life in even the smallest of seeds. Because the eternal life of, and from, God can’t be contained. And He wants you and me to share that amazing fact with everybody.

So, grab yourself a piece of toast. Slap some grass-fed butter on it. Or sizzle up a sea salt and pepper, savory ribeye. Take a few seconds to be grateful to the farmers who grew the grains and cattle. And thank God for life and love.

Because without them nothing else would matter or even exist.

If you believe in an afterlife,
Where someplace better is
Waiting for us all some day,
Then you might fail the quiz.
A test of faith and evidence
With questions for your soul.
I urge you to look into it.
False ideas take their toll.

© 2020 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

I’m writing to you from the heart of the nation, now. Our respiratory experiment, on the Gulf coast, is finished. And I know the high level of humidity, there, was not the solution. So, after leaving the arid climate of Colorado (which was very difficult because it’s my favorite place) and the humid southeast, we hope the “baby bear porridge” of Kansas will be “just right.” I’ll let you know as time goes by.

But there’s one great thing I can say about the heart of the nation, so far.

It sure reminds me of something I wrote a few years ago. It was a recollection of a country where I used to live, play, work, and dream. I’m gonna share that full article with you now. See if you can relate.

“Long before I ever had even a notion of writing or singing for a living I remember my brother and me traveling with our grandparents through the backroads of a country called America. And I remember our parents taking us for excursions through sections of it called Kansas, and Oklahoma, and Texas. Here are a few more things I think of when I remember America and the good times I had there.

I remember America being a lot like my family.

The local people spoke English like us. They had different accents, but we could understand every word. In fact, when we’d stop for something to eat, the waitress (yeah, that’s what they called servers back then) sounded American. Our whole family marveled at the coincidence. And when Dad would stop at a gas station, a friendly guy would come out, pump gas into the car and ask if we needed the oil checked or windshield cleaned. Most times with a smile on his face.

I always wondered what made those guys so happy.

When we’d drive down the interstates (which were nice roads), Grandmother would challenge us to read the road signs. It wasn’t all that difficult, though, because they were in English. But they zipped by pretty fast…that was the challenge. The roads were smooth, and trash was almost non-existent. And we never saw graffiti…not even on train cars. I know. Hard to imagine. But it’s true.

I remember America had a lot of friendly people.

So many people would smile and say hello when I’d walk with my Grandmother to the grocery store. The local natives would punch in the totals on clunky cash registers, and some guy would put all the groceries in brown paper bags. It was like they didn’t have a clue how inefficient and wasteful that was. They’d just smile and talk and ask about the family, and it took much longer than a kid could stand.

And I remember America seemed to settle down quite a bit each evening.

They had the oddest forms of evening entertainment, too. Sometimes the grownups would sit around in lawn chairs telling stories while someone churned out something called homemade ice cream. Or they’d split open a large, red fruit…I think they called it a watermelon. And everyone would eat and talk until well after dark.

There were no special TV shows or channels of music for kids so guess what they did while the grownups talked. Chase fireflies and put them in a jar. Can you imagine? No one seemed to realize or care how every life (even a bug) is equally valuable.

And those poor folks back then didn’t have all the great ways to make a quick buck. Like:

  • Legalized abortion,
  • legalized pornography,
  • powerball,
  • lotto,
  • ubiquitous pharmaceuticals,
  • marijuana dispensaries,
  • divorce lawyers,
  • serial killers and terrorists selling their stories to movie producers, or
  • should I continue?

All in all America was a nice country to visit.

Even though it was a dorky family-friendly environment filled with bumpkins and simpletons (especially those in the heart of the nation) I’d certainly go back for an extended visit.

If I could just find the way. I guess it’s like the yellow brick road. Just start out. And head across…

The Flats

Drive the flats and see the billboard message
Showing you the way is always clear.
Pay attention to the heartfelt message
Because your last day could soon be here.

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ’em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other fun stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Because it helps burn fat. Yeah, that’s it. That’s the reason. Wait. No. It’s because it can help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Yeah, that’s definitely…uh, wait. Nope, it’s because it can help improve energy levels. Aw, who am I kidding? I just love the ambiance, aroma, and comfort during wakey, wakey time.

But then again, a lot happens after wakey, wakey time, too.

I read an article that shared how the “Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that caffeine increases the maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) and aerobic capacity.” And that leads to “increased fat burn.” And it said, “The results of this experiment led to the conclusion that drinking strong coffee or taking a dose of caffeine thirty minutes before an aerobic activity (such as running or cycling) increases fat oxidation.” So it’s not flakey flakey to wakey wakey with a jolt of java.

But, ubbuduh, ubbuduh, ubbadat’s not all folks. The article also said, “Consuming coffee habitually has a robust association with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.” (not to mention Parkinson’s, which is why I didn’t)

But this is impressive, “Data suggests that drinking coffee reduces the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by up to 30%. Most studies recommend three cups of coffee as the beneficial dose. In addition, some coffee components, such as phenylindane and caffeine combined with EHT (a fatty acid molecule derived from serotonin), have been shown to prevent the formation of the toxic protein aggregates (alpha-synuclein) associated with the development of Parkinson’s.”

Now, that’s a wakey wakey you gotta like. Right?

But that still ain’t all. Because coffee can help:

  • fight depression
  • lower the risk of liver disease and cancer
  • improve cognitive function
  • maintain antioxidant and essential nutrients levels
  • you live longer

But here’s the kicker (pun intended)

A lot of people credit coffee with keeping them happy. And stats, for years, have said how happiness is connected to a long life, and vice versa.

So, here’s what it boils down to (yes, another pun intended). And this was discovered in a “study.” So it can’t be denied.

“Coffee is one of the most healthy, beneficial drinks you can consume. It’s packed with antioxidants. And it has various properties that help lower the risk of certain serious diseases, such as Parkinson’s, liver disease, and depression. As long as you avoid adding tons of sugar and creamer, regular coffee consumption can be a part of a healthy diet.”

So, dat’s why, after one difficult wakey wakey morning, I wrote:

De coffee mocha me happy,
And nevuh latte me down.
My feelings I must espresso,
No blues are found in the brown
Liquidly, lovely libation,
With hints of honey and cream.
It’s like I’m drinking in heaven.
As I wake up in this dream.

© 2023

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ’em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other fun stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Unless you’ve got your hands over your eyes and ears you know there’s a lotta trouble in this world. It’s worse than I’ve ever seen it. But there’s been massive trouble on this planet my whole life. And it was here for all of my parents’ lives. And my grandparents’ lives, too. Et cetera (that’s Latin for “you better believe it, buster).

So, even though a lotta people are posting “startling revelations” about how bad things are in this country or that one or even that other one, it’s the same ol’ story.

Mankind is kinda messed up.

And when I say “kinda messed up,” I mean evil incarnate. Well, for the most part. Darkness rules the day in the entertainment world. And the sad irony of that should be obvious. But it’s not.

So, you know what you gotta do in the face of all that despicable adversity, right? Yep. Throw your hands up, in frustration, and fuggetaboudit.

Not really.

My recommendation is to look up. Remember where your hope originates. And never, ever give that up. Because you’re a child of the one, true, living, loving God of creation. And you know His love has overcome this world. No matter how bad it gets.

So, your hope of what’s to come (eternal life in paradise with Jesus) should propel you forward with daily, renewed optimism. No matter what happens. Because you and I are…

In This World (but not of it)

I’m in this world but not of it.
I like this life but don’t love it.
My Savior rises above it.
I’m in this world but not of it.

This world can beat me up.
But this world is not my home.
I have a finer place where I will forever roam.
This world’s no easy street.
This world is not so nice.
It costs a lot to leave, but my Father paid the price.

So…(Chorus)

This world has lots of love,
But this world is filled with hate.
One day it won’t be so, and so I can hardly wait.
This world has moans and groans.
This world has aches and pain,
But soon even this shall pass,
Jesus the King will reign.

Chorus…inst…chorus 3 times

© 2008

Don’t forget about my upcoming offer that’s not ready yet. You DO know what that is, right?

I’m gonna offer a bundle of books for kids at an amazingly low price. For a short time. Just long enough to get them in time for Christmas. And whether you have kids, you ARE a kid, or you know someone with kids, this is an offer you can’t refuse. Get TonyFunderburk.com or my emails or podcasts for future updates.

Until then, use this link to get my books on Amazon:

(https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B008R08LUG/allbooks)

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Back in the Bible days kids walked to school. And some of us had morning prayer, over the loudspeaker, before we headed out from homeroom into the different classes. We also said the “pledge of allegiance.” And it was the version that included the words “under God.” GASP!

Yeah, those Bible days were way different from now.

I also remember how, back in those days, I traveled the country in my little blue pickup to play music for a living. And I used actual paper maps. Yes, paper! The kind of maps you had to turn on the overhead light, in the pickup, to read. Digital schmigital. Apps schmapps. And the worst part was, you had to fold ’em back together so they’d fit in the glove compartment. Not a task for the geometrically challenged.

Plus, back in those days there were times I’d have to stop to make a phone call from a “booth.” Or, at the very least, a sort of kiosk I could reach from inside my little blue truck. And the call was a quarter. Well, calls started out at a dime. Then went to a quarter. And then they went to fifty cents. Highway robbery.

Oh yeah, none of that included long distance. That’s a whole ‘nother ball of was. Don’t get me started.

Anyway…

Back in the days of yore (no, not your or you’re, and certainly not ur), text messages were handwritten on note paper. And mail didn’t have an E in front of it. Just a postman (yes, man) who delivered to your mailbox, in a uniform that matched his fellow workers. Weird, right?

But then, in other Bible days, computers exploded onto the scene. And they changed pretty much everything. Being “Technical Tony,” I was thrilled. Because I knew they’d somehow lead me to where I am now. Typing out (sometimes even talking out) messages that can go around the world in the blink of an eye.

And other digital recording gear soon followed. So, I could work with people from around the world. And get paid without leaving my fortress of solitude.

Yes, God’s resources have amazing capabilities and potential.

What’s that? You thought I was gonna talk about Jesus? And how God created the heavens and the Earth. Adam and Eve. Or Noah? Maybe Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Or King David and Joseph and Mary.

Well, sure those ARE the best parts of the overall story.

But when you read the entire book, you discover something very interesting. All the way over there, in the right side of the book, there’s something called “The Revelation.” And it does a lot of predicting. About times that haven’t happened yet. Times that are part of the whole story. A story that’s in motion now. And that’s why…

THESE Are The Bible Days

I’m no prophet, but God can work through me.
Willing servants are all He wants to see.
We can learn from the past,
The apostles, and all of their ways,
But we live in the here and now,
And these….are the Bible days. 

Lord, our small hearts are full of love from You.
Help us know what You’d rather have us do.
Help the sheep hear Your call
In this world that’s so full of strays.
As it was when Your Son arose;
Still these…are the Bible days.

When darkness falls…These are the Bible days.
Temptation calls…These are the Bible days.
When right is wrong…These are the Bible days.
The weak get strong…These are the Bible days.
Till every mountain sways, till every debtor pays,
Till every helpless, hopeless, sinner prays…
These…are the Bible days.

There’s no difference when going first to last.
Lord we need you like generations passed.
Give us strength for this life
And help us always focus our gaze,
With our eyes on the Prize,
Because these…are the Bible days.

Chorus
These…are the Bible days.
These…are the Bible days.

© 2010

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ’em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other fun stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I’ve been absent from my writings for a few days. But I have a doctor’s note. So you can’t get mad at me or anything. Seriously. I could show you the info. But I’m sure you don’t need all the gory details. Because you trust me and you know I wouldn’t lie to you unless it was absolutely necessary. Right?

Alright. Now that we’re clear there’s no reason to be mad at me…

I’ll let you in on a little of what went on this past week. And it was painful. Most people who’ve lived a few decades will understand. Because it’s a very common pain. And, of course, I’m talkin’ about a dental visit.

Unfortunately, my experience was exponentially more stressful than “a dental visit.” In fact, it was an excruciating necessity. Because I broke a tooth that was the “victim” of a root canal years and years ago. And I REALLY wanted to man my way through the pain until I could visit a dentist more on my own terms. And those terms include preparations for dental procedures to be safer for my heart defect.

But those pesky nerves that connect teeth to the brain would have none of it.

They didn’t care that a bicuspid aortic valve means antibiotics (in some form or another) are supposed to be administered for a few days before any dental procedure. And apparently when certain nerves get it in their heads (hmm, do nerves have heads?) to pound out a rhythm to their lord of the underworld, they don’t quit.

And for two LONG days, their demonic rhythms pounded out, relentlessly.

Finally, last Friday, Elgielene said, “That’s it. You’re going to the dentist and get that tooth removed!”

And when there’s an exclamation at the end of a sentence spoken by Elgielene, the course of history is changed. Mountains are moved. And civilizations are rendered helpless.

Well, sort of.

Anyway…

I knew she’d probably get mad at me if I didn’t comply. And I couldn’t see any advantage to inciting her anger. So, in spite of the fact that I’d had no round of antibiotics, I went to the dentist and had the tooth pulled.

And in case you think it’s no big deal. Here’s some info that Johns Hopkins shared about BAV.

“Bicuspid aortic valve is a type of abnormality in the aortic valve in the heart. In bicuspid aortic valve, the valve has only two small parts, called leaflets, instead of the normal three. This condition is present from birth. It can occur with other heart defects.

These leaflets may be thicker and stiffer than normal, too. That may cause aortic stenosis. In aortic stenosis, the valve won’t open as easily as it should when the heart squeezes. The left side of the heart has to work much harder than it normally would to get blood out to the body. Over time, this can damage the heart muscle.

Sometimes, the bicuspid aortic valve is leaky. That allows blood to flow back into the heart when the heart relaxes, instead of flowing forward into the body the way it should. This process is called aortic regurgitation. It can also make the heart work harder.

Only a small portion of people have a bicuspid aortic valve. But it is one of the most common heart defects present from birth. It is more common in boys than in girls.”

So, see? It’s nothing to take lightly.

But my dental “adventure” brought back a memory of a rhyme I shared, for the kiddos, a few years ago. And it shows how even in your heartbeat there’s evidence of a Creator. It’s evidence that’s easy to ignore when you’d rather be your own king or queen. And it’s evidence you could dismiss with a casual “whatever,” if you believed the evolution fairy tale.

But it’s evidence of something that’s inside every living human being. Something that a clump of cells or a huge body of accidental ingredients could never have in a trillion years.

And that “something” is Life. Because life can only come from life. Not from death. Or dead stuff. Or inanimate stuff. And certainly not from nothing.

OK, don’t get mad at me when I tell you that life can only come from God. And it’s even right there…

In The Middle of a Heartbeat

In the middle of a heartbeat
Something small stirs
Like the sound that a kitten makes
With pulsing purrs.
Your blood goes whooshing through your veins
From head to toe,
And you might just kinda wonder
What makes it go.
It’s the code down deep inside you.
It’s yours alone,
A gift from the eternal King
On His white throne.
So, hold your breath, be very still,
And then you’ll hear
In the middle of a heartbeat,
A love so dear.

© 2023

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ’em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other fun stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Too bad Neil Young is such a fool when it comes to what’s truly important. Because, over the years, I’ve enjoyed a lot of his music. I remember listening to “Harvest” on my drive back to Texas, after my summer vacation in Kansas and before my senior year in high school. And his song, “Harvest Moon,” really strikes a chord (pun intended) in the ol’ nervous system spectrum.

Speakin’ of a Harvest Moon…

How about the one that just soared overhead a few nights ago? According to sources I’ve read, the first full moon after the Autumnal Equinox can also be called the Hunter’s Moon. But I prefer Harvest Moon. Because that sounds more Americana to me. And it doesn’t conjure up any images of a crackhead and his laptop.

Anyway…

I read that back in olden days of cowboys and indians (aka: “native American tribes and European settlers), they used the full moon’s bright light to hunt. Because they knew they’d need to store up for the winter. And the extra bright light at night meant they had more hours to gather up the goods.

That’s sort of how they came up with “Hunter’s Moon.” Because the bright light helped hunters store up food, too.

But I’m not here to teach a history class on the different moon phases and how they were named. Because I’d rather talk about how perfectly placed the moon is. And how well it helps keep our little, blue planet in balance. But I’m not even here to do that right now.

I just shared all this Harvest Moon info as an excuse to also share the lyrics to one of my songs. And I know you’d rather read those than read my ramblings about Neil Young, road trips, or high school. So, here you go:

Catch The Moon

See the ball of light
In the deep blue night;
Shines like a big white whole note,
On a musical flight,
Floating through space and through time
Like a hot air balloon.

Feel the cool night air
Dancing through your hair.
Laugh right out loud and then watch
Stars light up everywhere.
Look up with your arms open wide,
And you will Catch The Moon.

Catch The Moon, catch The Moon, catch The Moon.

Music fills the skies
As you harmonize.
Lyrics line up and fall down,
And they land in your eyes.
Look up with your arms open wide,
And you will Catch The Moon.

© 2021

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ‘em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other fun stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

The article started out with a picture that included this title: “An artist’s illustration traces the long, cosmic path of a fast radio burst that originated in distant galaxies and reached Earth 8 billion years later.” So, right from the git-go the writer made it difficult to take the report seriously.

“But Tony,” you might say, This “fast radio burst is one of the most distant and energetic ever observed.”

Well, I sit corrected, then. Yeah, it must be 8 billion years old.

Because if it’s fast AND distant AND energetic, then it must be really, really old. Sounds exactly like observable life and circumstances. What was I thinking? OK, I’ve decided to take the article seriously.

So, then the writer followed up the initial, outlandi…oops, I mean scientific paragraph with a name for the radio burst. And I won’t laugh, even though I want to. They couldn’t come up with something catchy like R2D2. Or C Threepio. Nope. They called it “FRB 20220610A.” And it “lasted less than a millisecond.”

But according to a study published in the Journal Science, “in that fraction of a moment, it released the equivalent of our sun’s energetic emissions over the course of 30 years.”

In case you wanna know how “scientists” discover or observe radio blasts, the writer said, “Radio telescopes have helped astronomers trace these quick cosmic flashes. Including the ASKAP array of radio telescopes, located on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia. Astronomers used ASKAP to detect the FRB in June 2022 and determine where it originated.”

So, what do all these radio blasts indicate or tell us.

Aw, who knows? Well, the scientists, that’s who.

They say, “This finding aligns with current theories that suggest fast radio bursts may come from magnetars, or highly energetic objects that result from the explosions of stars.” And they also believe that “fast radio bursts may be a unique method that can be used to ‘weigh’ the universe by measuring the matter between galaxies that remains unaccounted for.”

OK, I know these are “scientists” we’re getting this information from. But that raises a red flag for me. Because if we’re not even sure how big the universe is, how can we know how much matter “remains unaccounted for?”

But that seems to be a quest for them. Here’s an example of why I say that:

“If we count up the amount of normal matter in the Universe, the atoms that we are all made of, we find that more than half of what should be there today is missing,” said study coauthor Ryan Shannon, a professor at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia.

Wait a second. Ryan said something he probably didn’t mean to say. Because my guess is he doesn’t believe in a created universe. And that’s because it would point to a Creator. But Ryan described “normal matter in the universe” as “the atoms we are all MADE of.”

But the word “made” points to a Maker.

And, again, whether the universe was MADE or just happened on its own, how can anyone assert that when it comes to the atoms we are all made of, “half of what should be there is missing?”

It’s just bizarre what comes out of the minds of those who either hate God or deny His existence. And they come up with HUGE numbers because they have to in order to account for all the complexities in life.

Those numbers tend to remind me of that obnoxious, ongoing bus ride song, 99 Bottle Of Beer On The Wall. So, I wrote a pseudo-science verse you can sing to that tune. It goes a little like this. A one and a two and a…

8 billion years made up over time,
8 billion years made up.
You add one more to cover the score,
9 billion years made up over time.

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ’em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other fun stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo