Words and Music Archives - Tony Funderburk

Imagine yourself walking up to two big doors one cold morning in January. The door on the left is pure craftsmanship. It’s a rich, cobalt blue with pure silver handles and hinges. There’s a leaded crystal, mirrored window just high enough that you can only see the top of your head. The door on the right appears to be made of old, cracked, and peeling barn wood. The hardware is rusted,...

He showed up with a servitude heart. And that was no small detail. Because he was actually a king. No, that’s not quite accurate. He was THE king. Of the whole universe, in fact. But He showed up here in our dirty, little world with a mission to make things right. And His actions, over and over, proved He came here to serve, not BE served. The ultimate model of a servitude heart. And it make...

I hope you avoid the boomer pharmacy like the plague (How do you like my ironic twist of a phrase, there?). If you’re not a boomer, then obviously that reference doesn’t apply to you. But no matter. Because whatever Gen this or Gen that you are, I hope you also avoid the pharmacy trap. My guess is, you won’t. Tragically the boomer pharmacy already has too many members. And I say...

Every year, there are highly effective assassins paid off roughly 500 million, in your tax dollars, to make sure innocent, preborn babies never see the light of day. Yeah, that group is well- organized, well-funded, and well-equipped to kill over 300,000 little children every year. Let’s face it. They get the job done. So, why would anybody wanna rock that boat? Especially when it means men...

Biblical knowledge is available to anyone who’s interested in finding out more. And the key points, and truth, of the Bible are easy enough to understand that even a child can learn about the love of our Creator. And that’s more important to know and understand than anything else anyone will ever learn. Good thing Biblical knowledge isn’t being kept under a basket somewhere. Thankfully, Biblical k...

What I’m about to share probably isn’t for you. But I can almost guarantee it’s good for someone you know or care about. It’s something I shared with others a few years ago. And I asked them this question: If I told you to leave your troubles behind and move forward, what would you do? Get mad at me and say “NO!” Would you tell me I can’t possibly understa...

It was about 2,000 years ago. And today doesn’t mark the exact day and time. But that’s another topic for later. Nevertheless some shepherds were on the job, whatever day and time it was. And their job was to watch over their flock of sheep. As they stood under the night sky, a host of angels appeared and told them to follow that curious light, they had noticed in the sky, to where it...

Your government’s budget (and every other part) is NOT operating on or in a just and wise system. And if you ran your household like politicians run this country, you’d be a dead duck already. Dead duck. That’s kind of a weird thing to say when you think about it. I read, somewhere, that Andrew Jackson first used the expression, dead duck, in the 1840’s to describe a politi...

Twenty-six years ago I remember hearing somebody say how corrupt our government has become. And they said it felt like people who want to stand up for truth, justice, and the American way (to quote from the old Superman TV show) just face impossible odds. Of course, it can feel like that. These days it can feel like that way more than back then. But I mentioned, then, and I’ll say it again....

Another painful day of anxiety. And the effects, of it, range from silent crying to freaked-out scenes in public places to even assaults. Day after painful day after day. Oh, maybe I should clarify. I’m not talkin’ about me. Good heavens, no! I trust that Jesus Christ loves me and that He’ll never leave me nor forsake me. So, I’m covered by the Creator and source of Life. N...

Nations and empires fall because of it. Governments become tyrannical and then crumble because of it. And families are torn to shreds because of it. And it’s something you can’t detect with your five senses. But you WILL still suffer because of it. And the “IT” I’m talking about is selfishness. The cruel selfishness that leads some people to want to steal, lie, cheat,...

It’s truly your lucky day! Because, even though I didn’t think I’d ever share this secret again, I’m gonna show you the main ingredients you need in order to be master of the universe. And despite what you might have thought, up until this moment… You are NOT already the master of the universe. But I’m here for you. You’re my digital neighbor. And the Bibl...

The anchors, the weather and sports reporters, the investigative reporters, and the editorialists all talked a blue streak night after night. So, it was ironic when Theo felt something like the stroke of a paintbrush across his heart. Because it wasn’t the same feeling as a physical paintbrush stroke. It was more like a blue streak of cool light. And it happened as he listened to a late nigh...

Hey, hey, it’s May and May Day. So, what do you say? I say hey! Let’s talk about the May birthstone. And in case you didn’t already know, it’s the beautiful emerald. Emerald for a May birthstone makes sense when you learn more about it. Because the emerald is considered a symbol of rebirth. And superstitious people believe it has the power to grant the owner foresight, good...

Being a parent, especially one with a baby or young child, can be isolating. That was a headline that caught my eye this morning. And maybe it’s just me (I doubt it), but that kind of parent seems like the selfish type. But the article included some reasons why being a parent can be isolating. Now, hold on to your hat. Because there are some terrifying things parents do that bring on this pr...

I saw a headline that I had to check out. It said: A prominent doctor asks Democrats: “If abortion is healthcare, my question is: what disease are you treating?” And I say Kudos to the good doctor for the “what disease” question. So, the doctor’s name is Monique Wubbenhorst. And, according to an article clip I ready, she’s “a renowned medical professor and...

My brother and I had a two-week booking in Erie, Pennsylvania. And we had just arrived. We unloaded our music gear and clothes and took them into the hotel. But I left a few boxes and assorted items in the back of my pickup. Because it was our first night in town. And we were tired from a long drive. Plus, the truck was parked inside the hotel’s “secure” lot for guests. So, no pr...

Your whole life here on earth is only the beginning. The fullness of eternity opens up to you, clearly, once you die. That’s the point of no return. Or, as the band, Kansas, said, the Point of Know Return. Anyway… If and when you choose to trust your Creator, you wouldn’t want to return anyway. And when you see what’s in Heaven, I doubt seriously if you’ll have any lo...

Forgiveness without repentance is selfish and unwise. How’s that for an opener? But I only said it because it’s true. Forgiveness without repentance kills dogs. Not just people. Yeah, if you won’t apply the proper way to forgive, to and for you, won’t you at least save the little puppies. And before you think I’ve gone completely bonkers, let me show you an example of...

I don’t fly the unfriendly skies anymore. Because I don’t wanna be stuck in an unsanitary tube, soaring through the air at 35000 feet up, with a passenger list that includes people who hate each other and God. But, hey, that’s probably just me. Anyway… Here’s why I bring up my aversion to airline travel (the same is true for just about any mass transit). Whatever happens in this world is temporary...

This dreadful message is dark. Too dark for the front page news and prime time. So, you won’t see or hear it unless you tune into channels where people share the truth even when it’s unpopular. I’ve shared that kind of truth for decades. And I haven’t enjoyed even one day of it. Not even before I lost most of my “friends” because I dared to speak up this way. Thankfully, these days, I can create m...

Before I get into what a mess you are, let me first say Happy Super Tuesday. I have no clue what that means. But apparently there’s some holiday being celebrated, and that’s what they call it. Now, where was I? Oh yeah. You’re a mess. I know you are. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. And I know it because it’s a human condition. Bad choices. And a strong tendency toward selfishness. Trouble is, there’s...

Who wants to listen to (much less, sing) a bunch of  old songs with a bunch of thee’s, thy’s, and thou’s? I mean, not only is that stuff not cool, it just sounds weird. Yeah, the old hymns lyrics say stuff that nobody even understands anymore. Right? Well, old hymns lyrics might be hard to understand. But not impossible. Most of the old hymns lyrics talk about a living, loving Fa...

I think about what she said, more often, these days. I’m talkin’ about what my Grandmother said, as I sat on her front porch snapping green beans with her. It was during a couple of years when my brother and I lived with our Dad’s parents while he worked on setting up a new home life. Dad and Mom divorced when I was about four and my brother was two and a half. Since he was given custody of us, he...

I can hardly believe it’s already been almost 4 years. But the calendar doesn’t lie. And the metadata in the documents I saved doesn’t either. Yeah, almost 4 years since I produced rough cuts to several new songs. And I have a couple of main reasons why I call them “rough cuts.” One of those songs is called “I Can Do.” And, yes, it’s one of the many songs I’ve written where I swim upstream against...