the Tony Funderburk FunderCast

Tony Funderburk
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the Tony Funderburk FunderCast

Tony Funderburk shares the power of God's love in each podcast episode. He’s the author and publisher of dozens of books for adults and kids. And he's a songwriter with hundreds of songs to his credit. Get some free songs and a book for kids when you become a FunderFan today.

  1. SEP 18

    Now and then I go back where I’ve been

    Now and then, with a keyboard or pen, I go back where I’ve been. That’s what I say now. And “then” I said this: I find it difficult to write anything without trying to make it rhyme in my head. Or without pondering the rhythm of the words. It isn’t obsessive. But it IS almost constant. And dare I make a mention of the need for this attention to words? Oops. I did it again. Well, it’s no sin. Drat! There I go without even trying. You gotta believe I’m not lying when I tell you I don’t mean to. It’s just something that I do. And there’s no lasting purpose to it. I don’t know what makes me do it. When I asked my good friend, Emma to help me with this dilemma, she let out a snicker. Then I wondered “why’d I pick her?” I could solve this on my own and then leave the rhymes alone. But if you have a solution to my rhyming execution, would you send me a note and tell me? A little help, please. Yeah, I guess everybody could use a little help now and then. Maybe your problem isn’t as serious as mine. But when you lay it on the line, it’s important. We’re all here for each other. Every sister, brother, and mother. And father. But so much of the time we’re so disconnected, misdirected, and unaffected. What’s wrong? Where did we shift? What caused this rift? It’s not a matter of some mystical, magical hocus pocus. It’s a simple shift in our focus. We follow our own hearts. And that’s where the trouble starts. Your heart is not a good leader. In fact, it’s often a bottom feeder going for the lowest common denominator. In doing so, it becomes a terminator of wisdom. And wisdom is the key. For you. And for me. For anyone who’d rather benefit from lessons learned instead of getting burned over and over. Is wisdom discovered? Uncovered? Or is it something you’re born with and have to practice? Please, please. It’s none of these. It’s knowing the difference between wrong and right. And seeing the light of truth. OK. Where does truth originate. I don’t mean to agitate. But the answer is God. Without Him, it’s a matter of opinion, and every little minion has one of those. So, in my rhyming way, today, as I do most every day, I’d like to offer a little help. It would be more than nice if you took my advice, but I’ll leave it up to you. Here’s what I suggest you do… Look into God’s word. Don’t just go on what you’ve heard. Discover what He actually says. I believe you’ll find truth you never knew that can completely change you and your eternal destination. And to show my dedication, I promise to help you when I can because God says to help my fellow man. Now and then, if you have any questions, share them with me. And I’ll do my best to help you see… God’s love. 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. Join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the FunderFlash Journal. And enjoy my daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love. Stay tuned…

    9 min

  2. SEP 16

    Thoughts and deeds the wise man heeds

    If you even think evil thoughts, you’ve sinned. How’s that for a cheerful start to your week? I had one main reason why it came up in me to say that. Because of the kinds of things that transpired over the weekend as millions of Americans enjoyed beer and football. Their thoughts and deeds were mostly benign. But the thoughts and deeds of many others were malevolent. Would you believe there were even some people with murder in their hearts? (*gasp!*) I know. It’s unthinkable. No, wait. It’s totally thinkable. Because people have been thinking it almost as long as there have been people. But these days, you and I live in a diluted system and a deluded society. Where cheating, stealing, and murdering are slap-on-the-wrist incidents. So, it’s no wonder the thoughts and deeds of so many turn to whatever devious plans their selfish minds and wicked hearts can devise. Yeah, if you think the owner of a store has too much, and you have too little, then you should be able to go grab a thousand dollars worth of his products and walk out. No questions asked. Because, no harm no foul. So foul. And if you disagree with a political candidate’s views, kill him. Because YOUR view is superior and supreme. Of course, it’s not surprising (to anyone who’s been paying attention for decades) that our world has gotten to this point. Because, for decades, governments (through schools and politics) have taught kids it’s OK to do whatever YOU think is right. “If it’s right for YOU, then it’s right.” And that even includes destroying anyone who inconveniences you. Regardless of age or stage of life. As I read some articles and blurbs about another assassination attempt against Donald Trump, I thought about a news story I read in the Atlanta Journal way back in 1981-82. It was so sad. A young boy had been missing for days. And someone finally found his beaten body next to the Chattahoochee River. Imagine the immeasurable anguish a mom or dad would have to deal with in that situation. But, on the flip side, millions of moms and dads are responsible for a crime even worse. They destroyed their own unborn children. And only because those children were inconvenient. Every person on Earth (and that includes YOU) is guilty enough to receive the death penalty. And every person on Earth will receive it, even if no government carries it out. But, never fear. You know (or should know by now) that I’m a silver lining kind of guy. And the silver lining is that your death sentence CAN be temporary. In fact, you might even be fortunate enough to experience it in the twinkling of an eye. But there’s only one Way to make sure. If you don’t know what that is, find out. If you do, share it today. Because this world is hellbent for destruction. That’s why we’ve had generations of this… Killin’ Spree Way down along the river, Beneath a willow tree, An awful sight in the damp twilight, They found the boy named Lee. His mother can’t believe it. His father can’t be found. There’s his battered face, and his dying place On that muddy Georgia ground. Been forty years in this killin’ spree… It’ll lead to ruin, the undoin’ of you and me. If it weren’t for Jesus’ Grace and Mercy, We’d all be found guilty…in this killin’ spree! Inside a broken promise There lives a shattered dream. A young girl stands with cradled hands. Her tears become a stream. With no one there beside her She walks in through the door. She cannot smile or reconcile Why her heart can feel no more. (chorus) Where we gonna go? What we gonna do? Who can we depend on?

    15 min

  3. SEP 14

    Secret mission is doable because you’re renewable

    It’s not impossible. Although sometimes it can certainly feel that way. And you definitely don’t have to accept it if you don’t want it. So, think it over before you accept or reject your secret mission. Because the fate of the world is in your hands. Well, actually, your secret mission doesn’t determine the fate of the world. But it DOES have some immeasurable consequences for YOU. So, what do you say, Ethan? Does this sound like a secret mission you’re willing to accept? Keep in mind, the “Secretary” will disavow any knowledge of you if you’re caught. But that’s no big deal compared to when your Creator disavows you. “I never knew you” are words you never wanna hear. OK, enough with the Mission Impossible references. But one last comment on that subject. I think Tom Cruise, and his team, did an excellent job of serializing the last two installments of those movies. I’m very interested to see “Dead Reckoning: Part 2.” How ’bout you? Anyway… None of that truly has anything to do with why or what I’m sharing with you this time. The following four verses, in a rhyme/poem called “Secret Mission” was started sometime last year. And as I spent some time clearing my computer’s desktop this week, I found the first two verses in an unfinished Pages document. So, I made it my mission, this morning, to finish it. And my motivation for sharing it with you, today, is that I hope it helps motivate you to share God’s love with someone else as soon as you get a chance. If so, here’s your… Secret Mission In the first ray of light there was a message That no one else, but me, could even see. And I had to squint my eyes to decipher A secret mission plotted just for me. There were no dots or dashes or impulses. No man-made codes and no neurology Could infiltrate and then translate the mission, The expedition meant for only me. Then a voice, filled with thunder, in a whirlwind, Spoke to me about peace and sanctity. And my soul realized the secret mission Is for everyone and not just for me. I appeal, with an urgency of purpose, To your heart where you’ll find eternity Written down, as a not so secret mission, To share God’s love for all with eyes to see. © 2024 Tony Funderburk Maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Well, let’s fix that. Get to know more about me and my worldview when you join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the FunderFlash Journal. And enjoy my daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love. Stay tuned…

    10 min

  4. SEP 12

    Painful day: Fading away? Or ready to slay?

    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. No anxiety here in Funderland. Well, I might get a little anxious if the power goes out while I’m writing this. But even then, I have a backup. The anxiety I described is posted thousands, maybe even millions, of times a day on social media. For example, I’m gonna copy and paste 6 posts off X (formerly Twitter). And there are so many more I couldn’t go through them all if I spent my whole day scrolling. But here’s the 6 samples: ~ I wonder if I’m the same. I had a kind of psychotic breakdown from anxiety and have been on drugs for eight years and feel worse not better ~ Some members of this generation will film themselves crying in the car over social anxiety. It’s all in their heads. Reopen the asylums. ~ Are we too soft on our kids? What’s happening with teen anxiety? Why are so many boys taking medication for ADHD? ~ I don’t like this. I feel like I’m overwhelming her with my anxiety, my unexplainable fear of her doing indecent things behind my back. And I’m fighting my own thoughts. She’s truly a good girl. And I’m the crazy one. I’m afraid that i might push her away with my neediness. ~ A man in the video posted a flag on a facebook post and the UK police showed up to arrest him for causing “gross offense with a menacing character which caused someone anxiety.” ~ Intelligence without courage leads to anxiety because you will spend your time overthinking instead of acting, taking risks, improving your life. The 6th one mentioned an interesting cause. There were also lots of people who showed their concern that most anxiety happens because people are self-focused instead of nurturing a relationship with God. Yeah, I’ve mentioned that right here on my humble, little website, too. And I found another hashtag post that simply stated a cure: Action Alleviates Anxiety I like that one. A lot. In fact, it reminds me of a time, back in 1990, when a particularly tough migraine hit me. I can take a lot of pain. But that painful day was more challenging than usual. So, I wrote a song about it. And I used some indignantly angry personification. Your results might vary… Mister Pain He’ll come and jump into your arms. He’ll stay and try to steal your heart. And he’ll push and make you say his name. He’ll shove ’cause he makes force an art. He’s tough. he turns you inside out. He’s mean; he means to have it all. And he’ll push and make you scream his name. He’ll shove, but don’t you ever fall… For Mister Pain…he can be seen through. Mister Pain…you can be mean to Mister Pain…leave me alone. Oh, oh, oh Mister Pain…he can be lied to. Mister Pain…least that’s what I’d do. Mister Pain…leave me alone. He’ll smile and stab you in the back. He’ll pound when he’s inside your head. And he’ll grab and pull you to your knees. He’ll yell, but you yell back instead. Yell back at… Repeat chorus (bridge) You’ve got a reason to live, A reason to be in this place. Take all the pain he can give, And throw it right back in his face Instrumental…repeat chorus to end © 1990 Tony Funderburk Maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok,

    14 min

  5. AUG 30

    Because of it a lotta people quit

    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, and even murder other people. The bitter selfishness that fuels harsh words between members of a family. And even the fearful, hopeless selfishness that leads to suicide. You can’t control everyone, thank God. So, you can’t do anything about those first two kinds of selfishness. And you and I WILL suffer (in fact, we already suffer) from the side effects of what those people do. But you CAN do something about the fearful, hopeless selfishness. About 10 years ago I share three reasons to be drawn to life. I’ll share them again, here and now. * Your life is real. And it’s the only one you’re ever gonna get. You’re not living in a dream world. When you hear Christians talk about being reborn, they’re talking about your spirit. And your spirit is the only place where true and everlasting life can reside. Have you ever felt a pulling on you from within? It’s a sort of longing to know there’s more to life than what your five senses can tell you. Well, that’s your spirit’s sense of connection to your Creator. He put eternity in your heart. He IS life, and He wants you to be drawn to life. And it’s the kind that lasts forever. * Hope. Without it, you can easily become another sad statistic like the countless, nameless others. The living, loving God of the Bible wants you to know that you’re valuable to Him. And He also wants you to know that life in this current space/time continuum won’t last. Torment, torture, and tyrants will be done away with by the Prince of Peace. So, knowing that He’ll do this AND give you eternal life should provide you Hope. * Eternity is a long time. As I’ve mentioned many times, forever is forever. It isn’t the absence of time. That’s an impossible paradigm. It’s time without end. Time will go on and never, ever end. So, it’s important to give some thought and consideration to where you’ll be during that time. My Christian worldview says you can live forever in paradise with the one, true, living, loving God who created you. Sure, you can exist apart from Him (and therefore apart from life) forever somewhere else. Just know, it won’t be paradise. And it won’t be enjoyable. But the choice is yours. So, there are my three simple reasons to be drawn to life. And I mean the Life of God. You can live forever because of it. In case you’re on the fence about it, here are some lyrics to nudge you along. (hint: subscribe to the FunderCast and you can hear the song, too.) Drawn To You Maybe it’s Your grace.  I don’t know. It could be Your Word.  I’m not sure. But You have a way of refining my thoughts. Your Will is my strength. Your Will is my cure. Anytime it’s me making it up Show me I’m wrong to just forget You. You barely lift a finger, and You change my whole direction. What else can I say?  What more can I do? I’m drawn to You Like a June-bug to the light. I’m drawn to You Like a boxer to the fight. I’m drawn to You

    14 min

  6. AUG 25

    Master of the universe: one is better, one is worse

    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 Bible says to love your neighbor as yourself. So, keep reading. And in almost no time at all your master of the universe status will change. Oh, and by the way, don’t let those scientists who say the universe is expanding throw you off course. It’s do-able if you have the right stuff and never give up. So, are you ready? Good, let’s get to it. First off, you gotta gather up the ingredients to get the universe going in the first place. And you’ll need a rough idea of how long your materials can last and what they’ll be made of. No worries. You can do all the calculations on the handy device of your choice. (note to self: build a master of the universe ingredients calculator app. money in the bank) So, go get yourself some awesome light sources, water, oxygen, and as many of the elements as you can. Remember, you’re gonna build the right kinds of planets, moons, suns, and other heavenly bodies to form a functioning and cohesive universe. This ain’t gonna be some lean-to chicken hut for crying out loud. And you don’t want it to just splatter all over the place. Right? OK, once you have all those ingredients, it’s a good time to pause, at least for a few minutes or so, to ponder your “end game.” And your end game has to be able to answer these two questions… * What’s your “why?” * Who’s your target audience? (or, in this case, who will be serving you?) Alright. Great! You’ve got the ingredients. And you’ve answered the two questions for your end game. I’m sure you’re probably like most people who want to be master of the universe. Your WHY is already answered in your goal. And your target audience is made up of the fairly intelligent creatures you’ll control. All those so-called “people” who’ll tend to the planets, moons, and stars so you can relax. So, it would probably be a good idea to take some of those ingredients you gathered up and see if you could stir them together and make some interactive beings. Personally I think this would be the hardest part of the whole thing. But maybe you’ve already got some good ideas on how you’ll do it. And once you have a couple of those “beings” formed, see if you can devise a way for them to procreate. You certainly don’t want to have to go make new ones every time you turn around or get bored. Am I right? And if they make new ones, that just means you’ll have even more of them to control. Win-Win OK, now you’ve got a bunch of  self-replicating creatures building stuff and working on “their own ideas.” So, move in and show them how it’s all done. After all, they wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you. And they’ll probably just bend over backwards trying to find ways to thank you for controlling their lives. And that’s when you’ll have an irresistible urge to send me thank you gifts. Not necessary. Seriously. I’ve gotta be transparent and tell you something. For the vast majority of people I’ve shared al this information with, it all sounds like too much work. Yeah, I get it. If you’ve gotten this far, you might be at that crossroads, too. If so, there’s another option. You could just leave the whole universe in the hands of someone who ...

    11 min

  7. AUG 23

    Good for the environment statement didn’t make a dent

    I gotta share this story I just saw again today. Maybe you’ve seen some version of it. But it’s about what happened when a young cashier told an older woman “you should bring your grocery bags next time. Because plastic bags aren’t good for the environment.” And the older woman shared some actual good for the environment facts. Here’s the story version I saw: The  woman apologized, “We didn’t have this green thing back in my day.”  The young clerk said, “Your generation didn’t care enough to save the environment for future generations.” So, the woman gave him a firm stare and a hard grin and said… “Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles, and beer bottles. And the store sent them back to the plant to be washed sterilized and refilled. So they could use the same bottles over. They were recycled.  Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags which we reused for numerous things. We walked upstairs because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. And we walked to the grocery and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.  Back then, we washed the baby’s diapers. Because we didn’t have the throwaway kind. And we dried clothes on a line. Not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220 volts. Wind and solar power did dry our clothes back in our day. And kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters. Not always brand-new clothing.  Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house. Not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief. Not an energy draining screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand. Because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded-up old newspapers to cushion it. Not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. And back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working. So we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.  And we drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen. And we replaced the razor blades with a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.  Back then, people took a bus and kids rode their bikes instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room. Not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles in space to find the nearest burger joint. But the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing.” The cashier stood there still and quiet as the old lady found her wallet to pay. Then, the lady turned to leave. But she stepped back and turned toward the cashier. And she said “You have a world of knowledge in that little device in your hand. Pity you just use it to gossip, take pictures, and waste time. It would do you good to search a bit of history before you embarrass yourself like this again. I love that story. I don’t know if I’m as old as the old lady. But I can relate to every example she shared. And, in fact, I can remember living in a house where the cooking was done entirely with a wood-burning stove. For a long time there was an ice box instead of a refrigerator. And we ate food that came from a chicken, cow, pig, or garden just outside the farmhouse doors.

    9 min

  8. AUG 21

    Understatement of the year is maybe right here

    Sure, you could say Tino loves music. If you’re trying to win the “understatement of the year” contest, you could say that. Or another “understatement of the year” could be… “He’s no quitter.” Boy oh boy, is THAT putting it mildly. Because Tino’s efforts in the cutthroat music world were almost legendary. First, he got fed up with traditional gatekeepers who rejected his work. Next, he got sick of “all the fairness” as he called it. And, finally, he took matters into his own hands. He thought to himself, “Hey, why not use the power of the internet? It seems to be workin’ pretty well for some of those YouTubers and Instagramers.” So, he set up an independent music publishing label entirely online. He found an affordable hosting company, DreamHost, where he could serve up a user-friendly website. But he didn’t make it all about him and his music. Tino decided to make his platform a place where hard-working artists could upload their music and communicate directly with their fans. Plus, for a little extra, they could even manage their merchandise sales without the enormous fees that come with traditional labels. Yeah, that could go a long way toward beating that old-school music world. He understood you gotta make money or else it’s just a hobby. So, Tino set up a subscription-based model. For a small monthly fee, fans could subscribe to get exclusive access to new releases, behind-the-scenes content, and live-streamed studio sessions. And that move helped to provid a steady income for the artists. Plus, it helped them build a loyal fanbase willing to support their favorite musicians directly. Without label gatekeepers. Here’s another understatement of the year contender. Tino was an idea guy. Yeah, that’s serious tip-of-the-iceberg stuff right there. Because he used social media channels and digital marketing strategies to promote his artists. He knew how to create compelling content to showcase their unique stories. And built an even stronger connection with their fans and potential fans. And he made sure email marketing was a BIG part of the whole fan connection process. Should I share more of Tino’s world-beating story? How about I just tell you that he made great use of: * Streaming technology * Multiple payment gateways * SEO strategies Tino (and the other artists) loved how it didn’t feel like their pockets were being picked by promoters, publishers, and recording studios and labels anymore. And fans loved the much more direct connection they could make with their favorite singers and bands. In just a few years, Tino carved what looked like a permanent niche for himself in the music world. That’s right. He found that, with the right tools and strategies, artists could indeed beat the music world at its own game. Wow, his story reminds me of the 8th song on my Do Right collection. Beat The World. In fact, check out these lyrics (that Tino didn’t write). ~ Every time you turn your back There’s somebody there to pick your pockets. And so you see there’s more to life, More than love and rockets. ~ And then, there’s this verse: ~ Yeah…every time you make your mark There’s somebody there to erase it. And people say that’s just the way it is And boy you’d better face it. ~ Get the rest of the lyrics, and all the lyrics to ALL the songs when you get your own Do Right Songbook Journal. You’ll also get lots of pages where you can journal, take notes in church, or just doodle if you prefer. AND you can download ALL the songs (at no extra charge) from a s...

    8 min
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About

Tony Funderburk shares the power of God's love in each podcast episode. He’s the author and publisher of dozens of books for adults and kids. And he's a songwriter with hundreds of songs to his credit. Get some free songs and a book for kids when you become a FunderFan today.

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