Rhyme and Reason Tony Funderburk

Do you feel like you live in a mighty strange world. If you believe this world, and all living things, were created instead of manipulated by chance, you probably do. At least I hope so. I do.

This is a strange world that’s only getting stranger right now.

If you’re a Christian, you might have heard some say we believers are like strangers in a strange world or strange land. And that’s because we shine too much light in dark places. Or we should. Because people don’t wanna be reminded of where that light originates.

Right now I’d like to encourage you to be bold in your faith. Your faith-based ideas and dreams and plans are essential. So, regardless of your vocation or expertise, use your skills to shine God’s love and light into this strange, dark world.

Start a business. Or at least run a business that’s plugged into a blueprint. A system. I know of a couple of places where you can get some great help. And they’re places run by people who will also encourage you to take that basket off your light.

Yeah, you gotta fortify your own world first.

And that means investing in yourself. Get more tools and skills. And don’t put limits on yourself like age or geography or lack of education. With more age comes more experience (and maybe even wisdom). Geographical boundaries tumble down when you log on to the web. And you can educate yourself for free when you use the web as a learning tool.

You don’t need a Harvard M.B.A. to do it. You don’t even need to rent a big city (or even little town) office. Because you can run a business from the comfort of your own office. And your office can be the desk you keep on one side of your living room or family room. Or on a table in your favorite coffee shop. Or even on your lap in your car.

While the the scorn from this strange world isn’t the most enjoyable thing in the world, it means you’re doing something right. And you’re serving others. Whether or not they choose to eat and drink from the bread and water you offer isn’t your responsibility.

Just offer it.

And that’s what your Creator wants you to do. So, what are you waiting for? If you’re already a Christian who owns or runs a business, let me know. I prefer to support you instead of all those other dark options in this strange place. I’ll even feature you on my Rhyme and Reason Podcast.

C’mon and beat the world, and try to leave a dent,

But don’t regret the time that you’ve spent.

C’mon and beat the world, and try to leave a bruise.

You need to love the life that you choose

C’mon and beat the world.

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Today, America is a messed up vision. A shadow of its former somewhat shadowy self. Because right and wrong is a concept blurred by propaganda. And good and bad are now in the “eye of the beholder.” So, those who run America ( and that’s probably not the politicians) don’t learn from their mistakes. They think they’re wise. But they’re fools.

I talked about this messed up vision years ago.

And I listed 3 major ways humans don’t learn from mistakes.

1. Truth: Those who want to control others cast shadows on the truth. Truth is their mortal enemy. So they have to pound out lies with great resolve until the truth becomes nothing more than a cloudy concept. Truth becomes “whatever you make of it”. Or whatever is “right in their own minds”. Nazi’s believed if you told a “lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually become to believe it”. Do you see that happening all around you today?

2. Morality: This is another area under constant attack by those who want to justify their behavior. When you reduce right and wrong to whatever is “right in their own minds“, you produce a culture where anything goes. Then everything goes…out the window. Who knows where that might lead? You might even find adults killing babies. Well, at least that couldn’t happen here in America…could it?

3. Property: Once people realize they can vote the money away from the wealthy and into their own pockets, then there’s no bottom to that abyss. Politicians run for office (and win) using promises based on redistribution of wealth. It’s not merely wrong. It’s evil, and it destroys lives. But who cares, right? It’s just the way things are. The status quo. I’m gonna get mine as long as the gettin’s good. Does that describe you?

Well, here’s a song about that whole messed up vision.

Nothin’s Sacred Anymore

Take the truth and lock it up, and throw away the key

Winds of change are blowing foul; a dance with destiny

Blur the face of love and sex and say it’s all OK

Tell the child it’s just a choice and melt her soul away

Nothin’s sacred anymore”

Can’t we learn from mistakes when they cut to the core

Nothin’s sacred anymore”

And should we be surprised since we’ve opened that dark, wide door?

Nothin’s sacred anymore

Cast your vote for social growth and then say yes to law

Keep the peace, divide the wealth; the vision Adolph saw

Hedge the bets and ride the fence; the middle road’s secure

Then one day you’re head to head with all you must endure

Nothin’s sacred anymore”

Can’t we learn from mistakes when they cut to the core

Nothin’s sacred anymore”

And should we be surprised since we’ve opened that dark, wide door?

Nothin’s sacred anymore

More space and time”more would be sublime

Someone else can pay”long as I get mine today

Ain’t nothin’ sacred anymore

© 2002 Tony Funderburk

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My wife became a certified health coach several years ago. And one of the key things her instructor mentioned, that hit home with me, was that self care is the best healthcare. There’s a ton of rhyme and reason to that assertion.

And a friend of mine shared a link, in her social media feed, to an article about Walgreen’s and CVS drugstores. The article talked about how those companies will be selling the abortion pill that’s killed millions of babies in the womb.

And the article also said, “Their decision comes after the Biden admin decided yesterday to allow pharmacies to sell the dangerous abortion drug that has killed millions of babies and injured thousands of women. Previously, mifepristone could only be dispensed by clinics, medical offices, and hospitals or under the supervision of a licensed physician.”

But why should’t drugstores get in on all that money-making potential? Right? After all, they’re in the “healthcare” business, too. Right?

So-called “pro-choice” advocates would probably say that pill is self care.

Because they believe it empowers women to be in control of their own bodies. Sadly, it’s not women’s bodies the pill kills. So, there’s no actual care of self involved. And there’s downright hatred for that little life they created and decided to abort/kill.

But the abortion pill, just like abortion clinics, medical offices, hospitals, and most doctors, is just part of the “healthcare” business/industry. And, as I’ve said for decades, calling what they do “healthcare” is a misnomer at best. Because there’s neither health nor care involved anymore.

I talk about health fairly frequently here on my website and on the Rhyme and Reason Podcast. But, just in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not a doctor. And I don’t play one on TV. I’m just a guy who cares about my fellow human beings. Even the tiniest ones still in their mothers’ wombs who need help to live long enough to focus on self care. Because they’re my neighbors, too.

Everyone has a right to life.

A gift from God before it even starts.

Everyone has a right to life.

Your right is wrong when it stops innocent hearts.

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Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

Favor and grace sound favorable and gracious to me. But maybe I’m just being too literal. And maybe those words aren’t conducive to your ability, or willingness, to sharing information about eternity. And maybe I should clarify why I’m bringing this up.

First, here’s a quote from a king who lived a long time ago in a land far, far away. “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Now, contrast that with something that king’s dad (who was also a king) wrote, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

That first quote was from King Solomon. And he’s the king who was given wisdom from God. And you can see a lot of wisdom in his writings. Proverbs especially. In fact, that link, in the quote, will take you to the section in Solomon’s proverbs where he wrote that. But here’s the thing. I don’t know positively, for a fact, but it seems highly likely that Solomon did not go to Heaven when he died.

Because Solomon squandered the favor and grace he had received.

By many accounts he took 700 wives and 300 concubines for himself. (side note: I don’t know how any man could manage more than 1 wife, let alone 700) And I read a blurb, somewhere, that said that many wives and concubines “showed Solomon had intermarried with all the nations, that he had in some way extended his dominion to the ends of the earth.”

In contrast, King David (Solomon’s dad) had 8 wives. And that’s still 7 too many, but I digress. Anyway, the contrast between David and Solomon is evident when you contrast the book of Ecclesiastes with The Psalms.

OK, I guess I still haven’t cleared up why I brought any of this up. And it’s because I’d rather see you, if you’re a Christian, focus more on the goodness and mercy parts and less on the iron sharpens iron parts. Especially if you seek favor and grace from God.

Because the goodness and mercy parts help to foster humility. And those iron sharpens iron parts tend to foster haughtiness. I’ve seen it way too often. And that’s why I wrote a song, back in 2000, called “High Horses.” It talks about the perils of thinking too highly of yourself.

And no one is automatically immune to that kind of pride.

So, anytime you feel the urge to use some of your iron to sharpen somebody else’s iron, pause. And think about whether it truly falls under the “love your neighbor as yourself” category. Make sure it would help you express God’s favor and grace to those who love Him.

We’re riding our high horses.

And we’re wearing our best leather and lace.

We’re riding our high horses,

Hoping to ride them away,

Ride them to favor and grace!

© 2000



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This week, back in 1979, I lived and worked in Houston, Texas. My brother and I had established ourselves as one of the more popular music duos. And we had fans we could depend on to come see us as we performed all around the city. It was quite an experience for me. Actually making a living playing live music.

But my brother and I didn’t remain one of those popular music duos.

Our personality differences drove a wedge between us. And that wedge was eventually filled in with concrete as our worldviews increasingly moved in opposite directions.

To quote from some Bernie Taupin lyrics, “It’s sad. So sad. It’s a sad, sad situation. And it’s gettin’ more and more absurd.” That’s from the Elton John song, “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.” But an apology isn’t what the broken relationship, with my brother, requires. And what it DOES require is something even more difficult.

Humility.

Not the kind of humility that requires one of us to submit to the will or worldview of the other. But the kind of humility that’s required in order to acknowledge where we all came from. And why we’re here. And that this life, here on Earth, isn’t all there is to life.

One worldview says that everything in existence is God or the God force. So, that worldview would have you believe you’re, at the very least, a part of that total God force. And at the very worst, that you and God are one. They’ll give you silly affirmations like “Divine life renews every cell in my body.” And yet each one of them grows old and dies.

The other worldview says the God is the only sovereign, uncaused, uncreated Creator. He is eternal from the past through the future. And He created everything else in existence. From angels to zebras. And He created only humans in His image and likeness. So, only you and I are free to choose whether or not we want to love Him.

Almost all famous music duos prefer the first worldview.

But there was one member of one of those duos who chose the second worldview. And he writes short letters, almost every day, to anyone who wants to read them. There’s a link, below, where you can have those letters come directly to your inbox.

And here’s what that guy says to all those people who choose to teach that first worldview. It’s a quote from the band who had the Number 1 album on the charts this week, way back in 1979. Pink Floyd, in their song, “Another Brick In The Wall,” said this…

“Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone.”

Worldview

Masterplans and incidents

Faster man…more accidents

What does this all mean?

Could be soylent green.

Trolley cars to rocket ships

Honesty…insider tips

Do you catch my drift?

The paradigm did shift.

It’s a worldview that’s not for me and you.

It’s a worldview and no empirical thoughts.

Yeah, It’s a worldview. What’s a humanist to do?

Don’t you see you could be in tougher spots?

You gotta be mindful where you cast your lots.

It’s a worldview.

CrackerJack and Disneyland

Scorin’ crack and lyrics banned

Gets better everyday…just cast those sins away.

Right and wrong? Who thought of that?

Some guys who thought the world was flat?

Now we’ve learned to see…no one’s the boss of “me”.

Chorus

Givin’ up, givin’ in…not a whimper, no shout.

Now the climate is warm, and the fools come out.

Get in touch with yourself and the innermost child…

And the “still small voice” is cast away; exiled.

© 2002

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Cowboys and ranch hands ain’t the only ones who have to mend some fences once in a while. Regular guys who say the wrong thing (yes, it happens) need a good way to do that with their wives or girlfriends, too. So, how do you do it? Well, roses are almost perfect. They’re beautiful, they smell nice, and women love them. Why? Because they’re beautiful and they smell nice. Duh!

And what does it matter WHY they love them. It’s just important to know they DO. Well, it’s important to know, if a loving relationship is important to you. And it BETTER BE.

But I don’t mean one of those lusting kinds of relationships. Nope. I’m talking about your favorite subject. Love.

So, do you need to mend some fences?

Ok, here’s what you need for a stronger, longer-lasting relationship with your wives or girlfriends. Ready?



roses

lyrics

love.



 

That’s it. I know you can take care of the roses and love. And I’ve got you covered with some lyrics. They’re more for YOU than they are for her. So, I suggest you internalize them. And if you see yourself in them, then learn from them.

When I was a singer songwriter in Nashville in the middle 90’s, I was almost always the only keyboard player on showcase nights. One of those nights I took an offbeat song with a key signature played mostly on the black keys. A guitar playing songwriter who sat behind me commented to the audience that he really liked it. And the host for the night had me play it again.

It was a song about roses and how they help mend some relationship fences.

Here are the words so you’ll be fully equipped. If you wanna hear the old song, you’ll have to Subscribe to my Podcast. And look back through the archives. (or email me for a link if you like)

Roses To The Rescue

She says he’s not the boy he used to be.

He slams a door in a fit of disgust.

It’s bitter and crude; they’d better change their attitude

So another statistic bites the dust.

He says he’s sure he’s not the one to blame

And she insists that it wasn’t her.

It’s all by the book; they’d better take another look

So another statistic won’t occur.

They need some”

Roses to the rescue…apologies and candlelight

Roses to the rescue…’cause no one’s wrong and no one’s right.

If you hope to pass this ancient test , you…

Better find you some roses to rescue.

She says that he can just go sleep alone

And he yells that would be just fine.

Well they need to know where this argument will go

“˜Cause another statistic’s on the line

They need some…     Chorus

I don’t know why they have to fight

I only know it isn’t right…it isn’t right

We need some”

Chorus..inst..repeat chorus to end

© 1992-2011

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