Rhyme and Reason

Tony Funderburk
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  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Tony Funderburk is a Christian Author Writer and Publisher who shares the rhyme and reason and power of God’s love in every episode. He’s the author and publisher of more than 100 books (and counting) for adults and kids, thousands of articles, and hundreds of songs. Get some free songs, a rhyming book for kids, and more, when you subscribe to his Daily Devotionals, today, at TonyFunderburk.com

  1. Jun 15

    Small voice song is a singalong

    I wrote and produced a small voice song. But it was based on the greatest life in the universe. Yeah, God doesn’t need the destructive forces of nature to show His power. He doesn’t create the chaos in the world to display His majesty. In fact, He communicates most effectively with a still small voice…with anyone who’s willing to listen. And God’s voice, in these times, is more of a thought in your head. Notice the Bible doesn’t describe it as “a small voice.” Or “a voice”. No, the voice is still. Some dictionaries define the adjective form of the word “still” like this: not moving or making a sound – She sat very still, her eyes closed. He lay still, unable to move. So, God’s still small voice is like a song that doesn’t actually make a sound. Picture this. The Bible is a collection of writings from prophets, teachers, and apostles. And all those words. perfectly illustrate the power of the still small voice from God. He inspired all the writers to tell a history of the world. And even more importantly, He shows us, through His words, what an awesome, eternal future anyone can have. All you gotta do is believe and ask Him to show you. That’s why His word says “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” But I should warn you. When you do believe and ask God to save you and give you eternal life, you might hear that still small voice on a regular basis. And it might make you uncomfortable at times. But it means He cares about you enough to let you know when you’re messing up. And maybe you’ve noticed, we humans mess up a lot. But God’s grace is sufficient to cover it all. Here are the words to a song I wrote about it. You can hear it in episodes of The Power of God’s Love Podcast. Still Small Voice Gotta go make some noise and go drinkin’ out with the boys. And maybe I’ll watch TV. It all really sounds good to me. And where’d I put my guitar? In the back of my muscle car. I’m gonna rock some rock n roll… Jam the music into my soul. ‘Cause I hear a voice all day, and it just won’t go away. Ain’t no place I can hide from that still small voice inside Cheerin’ for my football team on the high def satellite stream Yellin’ when they mess up bad. Got a runnin’ bet with my dad. Saturdays in my yard, you can see I really do work hard. And then I buzz to the video store And rent maybe two or three more. ‘Cause I hear a voice all day, and it just won’t go away. Ain’t no place I can hide from that still small voice inside Still small voice inside me sayin’… Boy you know you’re only playin’. Still small voice inside me askin’… What’s with all the pain you’re maskin’? Still small voice inside me killin’… Everything that once was thrillin’… No, there ain’t no place to hide From that still small voice inside.    © 2009 TF Now, maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok, let’s change that. Get to know more about me and my worldview. Be the next believer to… Get my Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away. The form can be filled in the actual website url. Stay tuned, The post Small voice song is a singalong appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

    8 min

  2. Jun 14

    Is the moon smaller by that much? Yes, thanks to the Master’s touch.

    Is the moon approximately 400 times smaller than the sun? Yes. And that’s not just cool. It’s also on purpose. Because the Son of God made it that way. And not only is the moon smaller by that much… It’s also about 400 times closer to the earth than the sun. And again that’s on purpose for the same reason I mentioned before. Check out what the apostle John had this to say about how everything was made: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Lots of people, for some reason, get stuck on that “nothing was made that was made” part. They “feel” like it’s talking in a circle. But that’s not what’s going on. It’s a description of what’s made and WHO isn’t. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, was not made. And God, The Son, made everything else. So, the sun, the moon, the stars, Earth, and all the creatures on the earth are all made. And not like some random act of creativity either. Our beautiful solar system, galaxy, and all the universe function more precisely and more dependably than any clock ever created by human beings. And my guess is, it pleases God to surprise and delight us. He could have designed the Earth and moon to simply work together efficiently and left it at that. But God loves to throw in the fireworks, add the concert, and raise the spectacle. Why? Well, maybe it’s because He’s the ultimate good and loving father. And maybe it just delights Him to see the looks on our faces. And which direction do millions of faces point during the eclipse of the sun? Yeah, UP! Why? Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? Why is the sun gold? What does it all mean? Why is the air clear? Why is the ground brown? Why does the earth float and never fall down? Cause God made skies. He made them blue. He made the world for me and you And all because it pleased Him to. God loves us through and through. Why is a horse fast? Why is a snail slow? Why does it get cold when Northern winds blow? Why is the sea green? Why is the sand white? Why is the day day? Why is the night night? Cause God made creatures big and small, And sand and seas; He made them all. And even if we trip and fall God helps us to stand tall. God’s love is always there. His love will never die. And so you can trust in Him For all your questions why.    © 2008 TF If this landed somewhere good with you, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how: Get my Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away. Stay tuned, The post Is the moon smaller by that much? Yes, thanks to the Master’s touch. appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

    7 min

  3. Jun 13

    Knowing God is real is a really good deal

    Knowing God is real helps me make sense of the world, the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe. I can only imagine the sense of hopelessness inside the hearts and souls of atheists. The sense of time running down and out. Life coming to an end. A black hole of nothingness in the not-too-distant future. No. Thank. You. If you think there’s no way of knowing God, I encourage you to reconsider. And if Christians are like fingernails on a chalkboard to you, at least consider actual evidence. And when it gives “the appearance of having been designed for a purpose”, just ask this question: “Hmm, I wonder if it was?” And, as you wonder, you’ll use one of the strongest pieces of evidence for the complexity in life coming from an even more complex designer. Yeah, that’s your brain. If you’ve never wondered how complex life could have come from nothing, plenty of people have. And that includes famous scientists, philosophers, and even atheists. One noted (and boldly affirmed) atheist, Richard Dawkins said this about life: “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.” (The Blind Watchmaker, page 1) He’s not the only one who at least acknowledges “the appearance” of design. Plenty of Darwinian scientists agree with that much. After all, they have powerful microscopes. And they can see a complex design doing amazing things inside a single cell. But most Darwinian scientists say no to the complexity of life affirming a designer. So, instead of knowing God, they ignore where the evidence appears to lead. And they choose to go where they’d prefer the answer to be, based on false assumptions. That’s not science, by the way. It’s a religion. It requires faith. And a blind adherence to that faith. For example, to say even a single cell could have emerged from proteins, even if the whole world was full of proteins, ignores how each cell in your body is a “membrane-encased, self-reproducing, self-repairing, metabolizing” unit. Every part in one single cell had to be there from the beginning in order for the cell to function. Every part! That means it had to be completely assembled at one time by a highly intelligent assembler. It couldn’t have worked any other way. Scientists, who deny the existence of the Creator God, have been trying for hundreds of years to show how life could have come from non-life. Yet, they’ve never been able to demonstrate how even one cell could have formed from proteins without some outside help. If you enjoy knowing God, or would like to, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how: Get my Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away. The form can be filled in the actual website url. Stay tuned, The post Knowing God is real is a really good deal appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

    7 min

  4. Jun 12

    Child of God sings about the perfect things

    It’s the only family that will last forever. So, there’s that. But there’s so much more to it that it’s difficult to even wrap your mind around it. And that’s pretty cool because as a child of God, the one, true, living, loving Creator of the universe, you’ll get to spend eternity discovering more and more about your original Father. Many, if not most (or all in some way), families are dysfunctional. The simple definition of dysfunctional is: not operating properly. And that certainly describes most families. As little kids, my brother and I had to deal with the consequences of our parents’ divorce. So I know more than a little about dysfunctional life. When you have to travel a long distance across three states to leave one of your parents and go see your other parent, that’s definitely a family “not operating properly.” A child of God can look forward to an eternity of perfect function. I’ve actually heard people say they believe if everything is gonna be perfect, then Heaven will be boring. Are you kidding me?! To quote a character from the movie “The Princess Bride”… “I do not think that word means what you think it means.” If something is perfect, then according to the dictionary it has “all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be” and it’s “free from any flaw or defect in condition or quality; faultless” So there. If you can’t take God’s word for it, then at least take the dictionary’s. And if something is perfect, it can’t be boring or have any other fault. Perfect function in your home in Heaven and in your forever family means you’ll never have to deal with the destructive, dysfunctional issues of life ever again. And that ain’t all. You’ll also never have to deal with death and dying and decay. Imagine living forever in a place of perfect love where disease and death doesn’t exist. There’s only one Father who can make a home like that for His family. Now, tell the truth…wouldn’t you rather be a child of God instead of stewing in your own private universe with a population of one? I wrote a song about it…and sang it with a sweet, little girl a few years back. I’ll add the song on The Power of God’s Love Podcast. And, in the meantime, here are the lyrics… Child of the Living God I am not a silly chance… Not a random circumstance. I am not a lucky dance In an accidental place. I am not a spark of light That evolved from darkest night. If you say I did, I might Have to make a funny face…’cause… I am a child of God…child of the Living God… The One who spoke and made the universe. I am a child of God…child of the Living God… The One who saved me from my sinful curse.  (repeat) I did not come out of slime. That would take way too much time. You can clearly see that I’m A whole lot more than simple dirt. Take a closer look and see Information runs through me From The One Who sets me free. Listen now to my alert…Chorus   © 2010 TF If this made you wanna be part of the family (or glad that you are), let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how: Get my Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away. The form can be filled in the actual website url. Stay tuned, The post Child of God sings about the perfect things appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

    11 min

  5. Jun 7

    God's love and grace has made the perfect place

    Just about everywhere you look or go people seem to be mad about something. And a lot of them don’t seem to have any problem letting that anger, inside, out for everyone to see. But when the anger inside comes out, so does the ugliness of sin. People are walking around with chips on their shoulders. That’s what we used to call it anyway. Or you could say they’re carrying grudges in their hearts. And that would be bad enough. But at least it would be invisible to just about everyone. Trouble is, they don’t stop the anger inside from coming out. And a lot of it even leads to escalated physical harm. But I’ll let you in on a little secret about the root cause. Selfishness. Yeah, selfishness is at the heart of almost all anger issues. It’s difficult to manage your anger, when all you care about is how he or she or the whole world wronged you. And you find a way to justify your own anger, when you don’t take responsibility for your actions. I’ve been dealing with this with someone I’ve known for a very, very long time. He believes I’ve wronged him in the past (issues from 20 years ago and beyond). And he has told me I’ve never apologized or shown any remorse. I’m not gonna share the whole sob story. But I can say with a clear conscience that this person has ripped me off multiple times, left me in the lurch multiple times, and F-bombed Jesus in my house. And, to this day, he’s never once apologized or shown any remorse for his actions. Some say this is narcissism. And I don’t disagree. But again, the root cause is selfishness. And rebellion against God. The person I’m talking about doesn’t care what God says about anger. But, to quote from Paul’s writing in Ephesians, “be angry and do not sin.” And when Paul wrote that, he was actually quoting from one of King David’s Psalms where it said, “Be angry, and do not sin, Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.” But people obsess over problems, challenges, and obstacles in everyday life. That makes it easy to form a tunnel vision where the tunnel always leads to SELF. And that leads to projecting those problems onto others. And that leads to self harm. Physical, mental, and emotional harm. You might not realize the full negative consequences of letting the anger inside out while you’re young and strong. But they’ll show up eventually. And the older you are, the more harmful the consequences. There are even studies that say anger encourages cancer. I’m not saying those studies are absolutely true. But it might be more than coincidence that the rising rate of cancer in the world happens at the same time there are more angry people than ever. So, what about you? What rules in your life? Anger? Or joy? I wrote this rhyme about it years ago… If you’re angry, just don’t sin. Open up your heart and let God in. He can help you work it out. And He’ll show you what it’s all about. Life is better, when you trust The One who is Holy, right, and just. Give it up, and I know… You’ll be glad where God will help you go. If this didn’t make you mad, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how: Get my Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away. The form can be filled in the actual website url. Stay tuned, The post Anger inside out can take a harmful route appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

    15 min

  6. Jun 4

    First true love that was SO far above

    My first true love lasted about four and a half years. Even though I thought it would be the rest of my life. But the relationship didn’t endure a separation that happened when I moved to Texas to be there for my dad who was suffering from terminal kidney failure. So much for the first true love. And after “getting over” it, I discovered I could actually love again. Another multiple year relationship developed, blossomed, went sour, and ended. So, that’s when I decided to “play the field.” And see what all the “lotsa fish in the ocean” notion was all about. Because, in spite of my Christian background, I vowed that no other girl was gonna rope me in. Nope. Enough was enough. And I used my professional musician platform (a stage) to impress and woo the opposite sex. Yeah, I vowed that, if any heart was gonna get broken, it dang sure wasn’t gonna be mine. That worked out great! Not! Because then came the pesky consequences. Guilt. Shame. Conscience. A still, small voice would confront me each time I did what I shouldn’t do. I was able to ignore that voice for a few years. But it was there each time anyway. Oh man. Why wouldn’t that voice let me have my fun?! Why did it have to be there? Every. Single. Time. Eventually I discovered that’s how my actual first true love works. Confrontation when I needed it. Instruction, deconstruction, accomplishments, and even failures. And most of all, a light on the darkest parts of my heart. And that’s because my actual first true love was God’s enduring love. I discovered His love is bigger than problems. It’s more valuable and dependable than “feelings.” His love has endured every stupid mistake I’ve made. And there have been more than I care to admit. Now, that’s amazing Grace. Thankfully, the consequences of love from God include eternal life. I’m so grateful and thankful God never left me. He never gave up on me. And He still works on me when I stumble back into my self. There’s a comfort and joy in His love that no human being can even remotely match. All you gotta do is ask Him for it, and you’ll get it. It’ll last forever. And it’s more real than any heartbreak or loss you’ll you’ll ever experience. After studying evidence for decades, I’m more convinced than ever of the reality of our one, true, living, loving Creator. Nothing and no one else could explain love. Love didn’t evolve. It’s a gift from God. Because I Can Love What made You think That I was worth the risk You took? What made You take the time To write Your Holy Book? I don’t believe I’d give myself a second look, But You did because You love. You made a world That was as perfect as could be, But then I broke it When You gave it all to me… By going through the gate You made to set me free. This You did because You love…me. Because You love me so…in spite of all You know… Because You did the most that You could ever do… And because I clearly see…evidence of You in me… Because I can love…I do love…You! You put a life And a will inside my soul. You knew true love Would be to give me full control. But knowing You is all that ever makes me whole. I trust You because You love…me. I can live because You live! I can love because You love!     © 2010 TF Listen up for that song coming up in The Power of God’s Love Podcast. And if you love (or even like) what I shared, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how: Get Tony’s Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away. The form can be filled in the actual website url. Stay tuned, The post First true love that was SO far above appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

    20 min

  7. May 31

    Creator of the universe can save you from a fiery curse

    As I write this, it’s Sunday. So, time for a Bible study. And, now, anyone who’s still here, I’ve got this question for you. Why is it so difficult for most people to admit the Creator of the universe is real? After all, the actual Creator of the universe left evidence literally everywhere. It’s simple really. When you look at a building, you know automatically that someone built it. Or when you spot a painting on a canvas, immediately you know someone painted it. And when you’re driving somewhere, you have no question in your mind of how cars got here. Or roads. You simply know someone built it all. So, why is it so difficult for so many people to look at the complexity and variety of life on our planet and agree there must be a Creator of the universe? And let’s just talk about your eyes for a sec. No, not YOURS personally. Eyes in general. They’re WAY more complex than any building, painting, or car you’ll ever see. But so many people blindly believe (pun strongly intended) they just happened by chance. You know. Because, like, well, everything evolved, dude. Oh yeah? Well, splain this to me, then. Each of your eyes has a muscle, known as the Superior Oblique muscle. And it’s attached to the top of the eye AND threaded through a tiny sling. That tiny sling is known as the Trochlea. But why does that tiny muscle go through that sling instead of just attaching directly to the forward part of your eye? Well, it solves space requirements and improves things like angle of torque. And those are design considerations. Evolution or natural selection would require at least a little bit of the design to already be working in order to “evolve” further. And, as they say in certain circles, that don’t make no sense. But I’ll tell ya what DOES make sense. All things were created by Jesus. Uh-oh. I just went and done it, didn’t I? Because most fools, uh folks, believe it’s a silly, outdated, and dogmatic notion to believe the whole world was created by a “science fiction” character named Jesus. But, since this is a Bible study I’m sharin’, I’m here to say it’s a silly, outdated, and dogmatic notion to believe all the complexity in the universe evolved from nothing. Because you can’t get everything from nothing. No matter how much you might want it to be true, it just isn’t possible. Even if you believe all you can know is what your five senses tell you, none of your five senses will detect something from nothing. Logic and reason (which are not part of your five senses, by the way) should lead you to admit design requires a designer. And, in the case of the universe, that designer is Jesus. Like I started out saying…it’s simple really. Unless you don’t want to answer to the Creator of the universe. That’s not you, is it? All of Creation All of creation points to the Savior. We are all here by design. All the environment and complex behavior… The Glory of God makes it shine. All of creation holds information… Encoded within every cell… All of the best minds in each generation Won’t banish what Christians know well… That all of creation is here by the Word of God. All of creation mirrors His mind. All of creation is saved by the Love of God And all of creation…Jesus defined. If you agree with the evidence for the existence of God, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how: Get my Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, when you send me your email address, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. So, don’t wait another minute. Here’s the form. The form can be filled in the actual website url. Stay tuned, The post Creator of the universe can save you from a fiery curse appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

    6 min

  8. May 24

    Everlasting and everywhere and this love is nothing rare

    God is everlasting and everywhere He wants to be. You and I are SO not like that. But if you could take a minute to try and see yourself from God’s perspective, you can get a better understanding of how much trouble He’s gone through to bridge that gap. And that’s true because of one thing, and one thing only. The power of God’s everlasting Love that’s available everywhere. OK, fair warning. This is gonna be a little bit of a Bible study. So if you’re not into it, drop out now. In case you didn’t know, there was a guy named Paul who wrote a letter to the Romans, about 2000 years ago, telling them (the ones who were interested) about the Grace of God. And God’s grace is synonymous with His everlasting love. Paul wrote this in his letter: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” You might look at that second question and answer, “Well, almost everyone is against us.” But the point Paul is making with that question is that even if everyone IS against us…none of it compares with God who is FOR us. And God is for you the moment you trust in His Son as your savior. That’s a crucial and key point. Because His Son took your punishment. Paul’s letter continues, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? See? There’s that love again. Jesus came to earth as a man to offer everlasting life to anyone who would trust Him. He put His life where His intentions were…and are. And He allowed Himself to be “conquered” by His captors so that we could be more than conquerors. Are you with me so far? Continuing with his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Wow. That’s amazing. You have an advocate whose everlasting love makes everlasting life a reality for you. And when you choose to believe and trust in Jesus, the deal is sealed… “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Here’s a list of physical obstacles unable to separate you from God: “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.‘ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” And here’s a list of non-physical obstacles unable to separate you from God: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“ Are you starting to see how important it is to trust Jesus? When you do, your eternal life is sealed and secured. But, like I always say…it’s YOUR choice. No one can make the choice for you…not even God. He lets you freely choose. If you haven’t already, why would you let another day pass without choosing? You might not have tomorrow. More than conquerors, Or even world-beaters. More than warriors Or non retreaters… We are loved with an Everlasting Love. Everlasting and Everywhere I want the Everlasting Work Of Art, Not just on canvas, but engraved in the heart. I need the Everlasting Scale Of Worth. That’s the only Way to perfect peace on earth… Everlasting and everywhere… He’s Everlasting and everywhere I look for Everlasting holy clues To steel myself through all this negative news. I dream the Everlasting wide-eyed stuff, But I’m still aware that dreaming’s never enough.   Chorus You  seek the answers to the mysteries of life. But how much truth can you handle. And as for me, well, there is only One Fire That lights the flame on my candle.   Chorus I look to the Everlasting Guiding Star To make my path straight as I travel so far. I sing the Everlasting song of man; Teach us to understand our place in the plan. Chorus…inst…chorus…bridge…chorus…modulate up and repeat  2 verses and choruses to end    © 1992  TF If this landed somewhere good with you, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how: Get Tony’s Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away. The form can be filled in the actual website url. Stay tuned, The post Everlasting and everywhere and this love is nothing rare appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

    11 min
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About

Tony Funderburk is a Christian Author Writer and Publisher who shares the rhyme and reason and power of God’s love in every episode. He’s the author and publisher of more than 100 books (and counting) for adults and kids, thousands of articles, and hundreds of songs. Get some free songs, a rhyming book for kids, and more, when you subscribe to his Daily Devotionals, today, at TonyFunderburk.com

Information

  • Creator
    Tony Funderburk
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    699
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tony Funderburk 2000-2026
  • Show Website
    Rhyme and Reason