Rhyme and Reason

What if you reached your prime, let’s say around 33, and someone told you that you look old? It wouldn’t exactly make you feel great. Even if you’re totally confident in who you are, and in your appearance, you don’t wanna look old before your time. And I bet mother Earth doesn’t like all this talk about her ancient age either. I mean, c’mon man…show a lit...

God? Or environmentalists? Where is your trust? Let’s say God told you something like, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”Would you believe Him? Or do you put your faith in those who’ve been incorrectly predicting “the end” of humanity for decades? Um…I’ll take “t...

Ah, yes. Diversity, equity, and unabashed tolerance. That’s what you get when you mix a whole lotta different kinds of people together in one place. Right? And you just better brace yourself for gobs of group hugs, too. Because peace, love, and joy overflow where masses of people go. (cue the record scratch and bubble pop sound effects) Uh, get real. Because this is about murder, mayhem, and...

Apparently a lot of people go online to find out what can cause stress. And that makes sense. Because a lot of people (if not most) are stressed out. But I seriously don’t think you need to ask Google or some social media crowd what can cause it. Well, not if you’ve got at least a little wisdom. Because wisdom will show you life without God is what can cause stress. And, yeah, that eve...

Music and mercy aren’t synonyms. Except that, they kind of are. Well, at least in one way they are. And I have that one example for you. But first, let me share a little story. During my freshman year in high school, I was an introvert’s introvert. Didn’t want attention. I had just gotten my first pair of glasses during the preceding summer, and I was still in accelerated classes...

If you were a “climate change” advocate, or some sort of “global warming” proponent, what would be the best way to express your beliefs? Show of hands? OK, Susie. What do you think the answer is? “Um, buy a half a billion dollar yacht?” That’s right, Susie. Of course, that’s only for the super-smart, super-rich people. But you’ve got the right...

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...

I watched a well-made movie, starring Robert Duvall, the other night. And he’s a very good actor who can keep you engaged. I wish he’d learn how stupid he sounds as he takes God’s name in vain in just about every character he plays. But I’m not sure Mr. Duvall understands how that relationship is key. In the movie Mr. Duvall’s character, Felix Bush, is a hermit who&#8...

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...

In 2008, I was part of a pro life group in Colorado that actively advocated for the abolition of abortion. And, believe it or not, that’s not the general consensus in the “pro life movement.” Typical pro life organizations have become compromising cash cows. And their policies have created complicated schematics for how to kill unborn children. Because they forget that unborn chi...

Empty the ocean with a spoon? Yeah, that was a thought that rushed into my head one day back in the 1970’s. Because I was thinking about all the people in the world who give up too easily. And, at the same time, I thought about all the people in the world who would never give up. And I wanted to make sure I’d always be in that second group. At the time, I wasn’t as aware of what...

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...

Something is either right or wrong. And, it goes without saying (but I’m saying it anyway) some of those right or wrong things are more important than others. And some are of great importance. But the foundation of the statement remains the same. Because right or wrong can mean the difference between joy and torment. For example, I’ll share a snippet of conversation I had with someone...

It’s fascinating how little snippets of memories can flash into the front of your mind. Sometimes the flash comes out of nowhere. And sometimes it’s because you simply stopped and thought about it. And I recommend an occasional pause to ponder the past. Don’t live in it. And certainly don’t rehash the bad stuff. But remember. Consider. Be thankful. When you ponder the past,...

I remember singing what we called “old spiritual songs” way, way back when I was in choir in high school. One, that always comes to mind, said “soon ah will be done uh wit da troubles of da world. Goin’ home to see my Lord.” And my high school was composed of 99.99% latte toned people. I can only recall one or two chocolate toned people in the whole four years of high...

A fairly impressive milestone slipped by me this past week. And that’s even though I told myself to not let it slip past me. What was the milestone, you ask? Well, thanks for asking. Right here, on my humble little website…my humble little blog…there are over 2000 posts now. And I was gonna make some sort of a special deal. But it’s too late now. So, I’ll just share 2...

Even if you’re not a Christian believer, you should read about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Because it’s the kind of story Hollywood movies attempt to tell. But they almost always fail miserably for the same reason King Nebuchadnezzar failed. They stand on feet of clay. Here’s a sneak preview of the story about ol’ King Nebby’s dream… “And the king said t...

If you’ve been following along with me here at TonyFunderburk.com for a while, you might recall that I spent a year in Nashville. Yeah, the one in Tennessee. Elgielene and I went there, after a couple of years on the road, because I wanted to make the songwriter rounds. And, as it turned out, Nashville had (and probably still has) a lot of what they call “songwriters in the round.&#822...

246 years ago, this month, some guys with a British accent figured they’d bully some Americans around. But things didn’t go quite according to their plan. Because a knight in shining armor foiled their plans. And, of course, I’m being a bit facetious, because there weren’t any actual Americans at that time. Because there wasn’t an actual America at that time. But thos...

Back when I was about 12 or 13, in the mezzaluna phase of the twentieth century, my Mom forced me to endure unfathomable torture. She drove me to a quiet hillside, out on the backroads of Eastern Kansas. And she turned off the ignition to the ’48 Chevy pickup, opened the driver’s door, stepped outside, and said, “OK, slide over behind the wheel.” (for the sake of accuracy,...

Here’s a little something from nineteen ninety nine in nineteen eighty two. “Cuz they say two thousand zero zero party over, Oops out of time – So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.” Just in case you forgot, or something, I’m quoting from that famous philosopher, Prince. Or is it the artist formerly known as Prince? Or is it Skipper? Hey, I’m no...

Back in the day (as they say) there was a short expression to describe somebody who could run fast. It went like this, “Man, he can really move it.” Do they still say that? I don’t know. But I probably do once in a while. Because when something works, you keep it. Despite the so-called trends and fads. And sometimes when something doesn’t work in one place, you move it to a...

Life is full of up’s and down’s. But that’s part of what makes it so interesting. Because it’s not the easy stuff that makes you stronger. It’s the tough stuff. And if you’ve lived longer than a couple of decades, you’re at least starting to see what I mean. Right? Tough stuff is available everywhere. I remember way, way back in the 1980’s, I lived i...

It’s been a weird April this year. And I’m in a particularly contemplative way as I think about what the past 7 days included. A second drive to Kansas, in the past couple of months. But not for fun. Because on April 17 a group of family and friends memorialized my Mom. And just two days later was the anniversary of my Dad’s birthday. And he died over 35 years ago. So, yeah. I dr...

The short speeches were over. The room was put back in order. And the leftovers, sound system, and other ceremonial items were carried out, packed into cars, and driven away. So, all that was left of this celebration of my Mom’s life was the spreading the ashes part. My younger brother suggested “the old farm” where our family had lived decades before. And the rest of us agreed t...