Tony Funderburk

So many so-called pro athletes, movie stars, musicians and other artsy fartsy freakazoids are full of angst and aggression these days. And I’m not saying they don’t have a good reason. But I DO say their angst and aggression sure sounds stupid most of the time. And I’m talking about the ones who make millions of dollars for just playing with a ball, or … Read the rest... The post...

It grows from ignorance and selfishness. It spreads, like kudzu, in the minds of fools who claim that hate only exists in others. I’m talking about hypocrisy. Unfortunately hypocrisy tends to be invisible to the hypocrite. And that’s partly why hate grows, like a weed, in this world. OK, now that I’ve rained on the parade, I’ll share some positive news. God’s love is … Read...

“Gotta pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues. And you know it don’t come easy.” If you’re old enough, you might remember those lyrics from a song that Ringo Starr made famous. And another verse said, “I don’t ask for much, I only want trust. And you know it don’t come easy.” Those lyrics popped up in my brain this week when … Read the rest... The post It don’t come easy espec...

I’ve been encouraging anybody who would read what I write and listen to what I say to remain optimistic in tough times. But I don’t just say the words. I also share why it’s not just good advice. It’s important to your health down to the marrow of your bones. Remain optimistic in tough times because the alternative should be unthinkable. The subject came … Read the re...

Yeah, your life is your own, and it’s unique. No one else who ever lived, is living now, or will ever live will have the same life as you. But your life is no different from anybody else’s either. Confused? I’ll explain. The DNA found in every cell of your body is incredibly complex and singularly yours. The chances of it existing by chance … Read the rest... The post Your life is your own b...

It’s true. Tomorrow is a concept. Not a reality. If someone came to you asking for a ride because their car broke down, would you tell them to come back tomorrow? Probably not. Right? What if they needed to borrow money, and you have plenty you could lend? Would you tell them to wait until tomorrow? Hmm, that’s a little different. Or is it? … Read the rest... The post Tomorrow is...

Healthy life. Peaceful life. Wealthy life. Joyful life. Do any (or all) of those describe you in your life? If not, my first question is: Do you love your neighbor after you love yourself first? Yeah, I said after you love yourself first. I started thinking about something I wrote somewhere around 10 years ago after I read the second half of Paul’s letter … Read the rest... The post Love you...

Just because some authoritative power makes a rule doesn’t make the rule a good one, a just one, or a fair one. In fact, many rules, policies, and laws are downright bad. But you gotta think and ponder and examine to know which rules are good and which are bad. Before you decide to break rules you’d better be sure you’re on the right … Read the rest... The post Break rules...

By the Grace of God I’ve enjoyed a life filled with music, singing, and songwriting. I’ve been all over the country because of my ability to carry a tune. And I say by the Grace of God because I’ve been a miserable failure in so many other ways…so many times. God never saw fit to take my gifts away. For some reason He still … Read the rest... The post Grace of God for...

Yeah, maybe you never thought about it this way. Because maybe you don’t think about how God hates. I know most Christians wanna focus on how much he loves. And that’s fine. Well, ironically His love is why He hates. And here are 7 things God hates: A proud look A lying tongue Hands that shed innocent blood A heart that devises wicked plans … Read the rest... The post God hates while His lov...

Let’s say you’re gonna write a book about what subject where you might be considered an expert. Or maybe you’re going to paint a work of art in a medium where everyone considers you the number one artist. In other words, you’ve got a project that you want to make as awesome as it can be. And you’ve got six days to get it … Read the rest... The post 6 days of cre...

We’re all alone in the dark universe. When you read that, does it bring on anxiety, depression, and a deep, drowning sense of dread? Yeah, me neither. I’ve never felt that way a day in my life. Because I have a secret weapon. I bet you do too. And I know how special our little, blue planet is. Sure, we’re alone in the dark … Read the rest... The post Alone in the dark is a...

I read how some Finnish, American, and British researchers (I’ll call ’em the FAB team) used a technique called sonification to “hear” how certain proteins function. Those researchers believe “listening” to proteins, and how they work, might help doctors discover and treat diseases more effectively. Sonification occurs when composed music and mathematical algori...

I’ve shared the story before how my younger brother and I lived with my grandparents, my dad’s parents, for a little while. This was way back closer to the middle of the last century. In Norman, Oklahoma. And my parents were getting divorced. So my dad made sure my brother and I had a stable home to stay in while they went through the … Read the rest... The post Peach preserves a...

I saw this headline on a social media platform today: Podcast Host Calls White Evangelical Christianity a Cancer – And I could not believe how badly they misspelled the word blessing. I mean, cancer doesn’t even remotely look like blessing. So how could they mix those words up so badly? Because I’m sure they meant to say white evangelical Christianity is a blessing. At … Re...

Have you ever read the list of the perils of Paul? It’s an epic list, to say the least. And it was because he shared the unvarnished, hard truth. About the only peril preachers, in probably 99% of American churches, face these days is obesity. And my guess is, that’s not because they’re sharing that same unvarnished, hard truth in God’s word. Here’s the … Read t...

Here are the links to the flashes of light, from the week of Dec 29 – Jan 2, 2025, I shared in Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaland on the The Rhyme And Reason Podcast Episode 1022: Harry Houdini loved magic and was still tragic Get wisdom and understanding and change where you’ll be standing Pelican landing memory brought to you by me Get … Read the rest... The post Houdi...

Here are the links to the flashes of light, from the week of Dec 29 – Jan 2, 2025, I shared in Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and on the The Rhyme And Reason Podcast Episode 1022: Happy new year 2026 and cheers to getting your kicks Spotify stats and dot com back pats Two days one night now to do what is … Read the rest... The post Old year new year and God’s love is st...

If there is no God, then I’ve spent most of my life hoping for something that doesn’t exist and it will never be a reality for me or anyone else. Yeah, there’s no hope for the world, if there is no God. Plain and simple. Because without the hope of at least some sort of access to eternal life, there’s not even a good … Read the rest... The post If there is no God then...

A lot of people still wish for it, hope for it, and pray for it. And the ironic thing is, peace on earth actually began about 2000 years ago, give or take. But soon after peace on earth began, it ended. Another ironic thing is that even when there was peace on earth, it wasn’t a peaceful place to live. But how is that … Read the rest... The post Peace on Earth began when God became a man. ap...

OK, we’ve only got a few Christmas spirit days left. Then everything gets turned off again for another eight or nine months. Oh sure, there’ll be a few leftovers. But pretty much once December 25th is done, the lights go out, and that sparkly holiday cheer turns into just another year. Sorry to throw a wet blanket on your Christmas spirit days. I’m sure … Read the rest... T...

Here are the links to the flashes of light, from the week of Dec 8 – Dec 14, 2025, I shared in Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and on the The Rhyme And Reason Podcast Episode 1018: All the good things that real hope brings All things are pure to the pure and that’s for sure Stringed instruments and my rhyming sentiments Get … Read the rest... The post Hope pure things an...

Here are the links to the flashes of light, from the week of Dec 1 – Dec 7, 2025, I shared in Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and on the The Rhyme And Reason Podcast Episode 1017: Lifetime membership and benefits will never dip Number 3 you can see is about more than even me December 5 comes alive when these facts arrive … Read the rest... The post Rhyme and Reason Podcast1017...

Here are the links to the flashes of light, from the week of Nov 24 – Nov 30, 2025, I shared in Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and on the The Rhyme And Reason Podcast Episode 1015: Geometry spot where your brain will not rot Too late for regrets as you pay off the debts Active not passive makes your faith more massive … Read the rest... The post Rhyme and Reason Podcast1016 a...

Here are the links to the flashes of light, from the week of Nov 17 – Nov 13, 2025, I shared in Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and on the The Rhyme And Reason Podcast Episode 1015: Lives in the balance so I use my talents Charts and graphs and lotsa laughs Take me out past the roundabout Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason … Read the rest... The post Rhyme and Reason Podcast101...