Bible study Archives - Tony Funderburk

Got some health challenges? Or other physical obstacles? How about emotional or relational problems? And let’s not forget your mental well-being. Have you discovered you’re not as young as you used to be? And wouldn’t you like to know why bad things happen to “good” people? Well, I can tell you why. You did it. “Wha?! I did it?!,” you ask incredulously. Or...

I know that you know that words can be deceiving. When I was a kid, we had a rhyme to thwart something somebody might say about us. It went like this: “Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words will never harm me.” But people are even meaner these days. And they have more complex weapons. And words can be deceiving you in spite of what you “see.” Or they can at leas...

How about this expression? “The bad apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” You’ve heard that, right? Hmm, maybe that’s acorn. Or lemon. Doesn’t matter. The point’s the same. But there’s another expression, too. “One bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch.” That, of course, originated from the Jackson Five, where the wise and glimmeri...

Throw away your daytimer (does anybody have one of those anymore?). Toss out your to-do lists, your notes to self, your calendar apps, and your reminders. Because everything has already been painstakingly planned out for you. You just need to get your research hat and glasses on. And discover the details of that plan. And how they apply to you. But there’s a snag in that approach to life. Go...

I’m happy to celebrate when a church moves in the direction of rightly dividing the word of truth. But you almost never see that anymore. In fact, most establishments calling themselves churches move in the opposite direction. Sometimes the move is speedy. And often it’s slow enough to be almost unnoticeable. Like when a report says a church moves by the hand of God. On the surface tha...

Yes, God does have a plan. A MasterPlan. But He most definitely does not have a plan for your day. As I’ve said many times…He’s far too brilliant a designer than to create a bunch of humans who can’t do anything apart from Him. So, if you’ve been one of those Christians who says things like, “I’ve just got to remember, God’s in control,” stop t...

I had my eyes examined (no, not my head) a couple of weeks ago. And this week I got my new glasses. Plus, this is my 2020th post here on TonyFunderburk.com . So, those two things, and a couple of other unnamed things, got me thinking about that expression, “hindsight is 20 20.” From what I’ve been able to figure out, with only a little research…because I don’t wanna s...

You and I should cling to what is good. Not because it’s some kind of law. But because there’s much benefit to it. Sometimes eternal benefits. But you can’t do it. And I can’t either. We just can’t do it. Because it doesn’t jive with our human nature to cling to what is good. And that sounds bad. Right? (tongue only slightly in cheek) And it sounds bad because i...

I just saw three weak references to time by Christians. And all three of them talked about when time shall be no more. Sadly, those Christians are perpetuating an impossibility. Because there will never be a time when there is no time. See, how it even sounds silly when you put it that way? To say time shall be no more is the same as saying God shall be no more. But this notion of timelessness doe...

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” You’ve heard that more than once I bet. And it sure applies to Christian doctrinal differences. Because I see it more and more, with each passing year, how Christians put words and actions into God’s mouth and hands that He didn’t (and doesn’t) do and say. In other words… There’s a ton of what...

Do you speak Psalms? And how fluent is your Hymns? Or what about Spiritualese? What’s that you say? You don’t speak any of those languages? And you don’t even believe they ARE languages. Well, I guess, technically, they aren’t languages. But you could speak to me in any one of them if you’d start with a melody in your heart. But you can’t speak to me that way if...

This comes from back in the days of knights and lords and ladies. Apparently it was customary for a knight to wear the name of a certain lady during a tournament. And it was typically the lady he loved…or would compete to impress. In other words, he was laying it all out in the open. These days, when you wear your heart on your sleeve, you’re probably revealing your innermost thoughts....

47 years ago? Can it truly be that long? But you know what they say. Math don’t lie. And the numbers add up to (or subtract to) 47 years. I’m ramblin’ on about it because 1974 was the year, and today was the day (March 19), the band, Jefferson Airplane, became Jefferson Starship. And it was 1975 when they had a big hit with their “Miracles” song. And I can’t tel...

“Alright. We ain’t talkin’ no politics or religion around here. See? And I better not catch you playin’ the stool pigeon, or you’ll be wearin’ a pine overcoat. See?” Yeah, those gangsters, from the movies of the 30’s and 40’s really knew how to get their points across. And that’s back when men could be manly in movies, and audiences ate i...

The good ol’ American can do attitude. Remember that? If you’re only a couple of decades old (or less), you might not. But it’s what truly made America a force to be reckoned with. Because when you have a nation of people who believe most anything, do-able, is possible, watch out. That’s why it’s so sad, to me, to look around and see so many people so scared of life....

If you’ve spent even a little bit of time online, you’ve probably noticed a common “item” in the world of internet marketing. And you might have taken advantage of it more than once. I have. In fact, I have one of these on the opening page of TonyFunderburk.com. Of course I’m talking about the almost ubiquitous free offer. And marketers use it all the time for one sim...

OK, kids. Gather ’round. Because I’m gonna tell you a story that’s true, even though it sounds like a fairy tale. “Once upon a time, when I was a kid, my whole family would sit down in the same room and watch television shows together. That’s right, the same shows…together.” Yeah, that sounds like a fairy tale these days. But it was true. And a news story...

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to be selfish? And how difficult it is to be merciful, kind, patient, and humble? And it all starts when you’re a little kid. Don’t believe me? Then, I’d say you either don’t have kids or you’ve never seen them together in a room full of toys. You’re more likely to see them pitch a fit than put on love. And that’s becau...

OK. I’m gonna give you the keys to self-empowerment today. And they’re found in these four words. Forgive everyone for everything. Do that, and you’ll be a god. But… Forgive everyone for everything and you won’t be like God. Because, just in case you’ve read the Bible and somehow believe God forgives everyone, here’s news hot off the analog and digital pre...

There’s a fast-growing cancer just under the surface of this world. It used to be held in check by a country known as the land of the free and the home of the brave. But the cancer is spreading like the western wildfires even in America. And there seems to be no cure. But I’d like to suggest that maybe God is the answer.   It sounds old-fashioned. But maybe God IS the answer. And when...

Did you see the movie “Ghost”with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore? The silly plot to the movie was that Patrick’s character was murdered but he didn’t immediately leave the planet. And he didn’t go to Heaven or hell. Because, according to the plot, he had to make sure his true love, Demi’s character, would be safe. But one thing that stood out, to me, was how when...

Some say the way you write says a lot about you. And I don’t mean the words you choose. I’m talking about the way you push your pen. I recently read an article that said if you write with an irregular style, you’re dealing with chaos in your life. And if you use a lot of circles, you’re feeling defensive. But I didn’t find anything in the analysis charts that talked a...

OK, I’ll admit it. I’m human. And at least a part of me doesn’t like to be told I’m wrong. Sure, I’m the only person in the world who feels this way. Yeah, right. But the truth is…Truth needs to (and will) win out over feelings. Even mine. If and when they disagree with Truth. So, that’s why it’s crucial to be able to take criticism and rebuke. Other...

Before I say anything else right now, I want you to know I don’t deny miracles exist. But there’s a long list of things people mistakenly claim as miracles. And I’m talking especially about Christian people. Examples of things that are NOT miracles include: newborn babies, car starts, weather phenomena, a sole survivor of a plane crash, finding the one true love, headaches or too...

Who doesn’t like to break stuff for fun? C’mon, admit it. And if you could make a six figure income just for breaking stuff, wouldn’t you have the perfect job? But who wants a job you gotta show up for when you can break stuff any time, day or night (especially night) without clocking in anywhere?   When I hear people say the Bible is just a dusty, old, irrelevant book, I know th...