Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber The Simple Truth The Christian faith is based on one thing and one thing only…the simple truth that Jesus is the only way to eternal life in Heaven. And His love wins out over all the sins of every person who ever lived or will live. A loving Christian will want y ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Music and Arts When you put a forward slash between numbers, they can become a fraction. For example: 3/4. But the language I love the most makes different use of that arrangement of numbers. In music and arts composition, 3/4 time means there’s a beat missing…so ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Be fruitful and multiply Even if you’re not a Christian or Jew, you’ve probably heard the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. And you might remember how God told them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Change the world today Have you ever thought you could change the world with some of your ideas? I hope you have. This world could certainly use some changing. If you’re a Christian, I’d love for you to do much more than simply have ideas. It would be great if you ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Recalling thoughts on the sanctity of life A few years ago, on another website I used to own I shared a song about the sanctity of life. And I mentioned how many people say they celebrate tolerance and diversity. But they don’t include Christians in their diversit ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Do you have a positive outlook on life? There are plenty of reasons to be positive about things in this world and in your life. Still…it’s good to face reality and take it head on even if it doesn’t agree with your positive outlook. The “news” is a perfect example ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Crazy mama is so mean. Don’t understand her routine If you live in Florida (or several other states in America), you might be familiar with Bahama Breeze. It’s an island-themed restaurant with live island music. They used to have a couple of their restaurants in t ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber This t shirt design is mine Earlier this year I was approved to upload designs and sell t shirts on Amazon. It was a pretty big deal to me. But why am I sharing that with you? Because, if you think you can come up with a winning t shirt design, you could have your ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber We win when we choose the right team Back in 2009 I was in the middle of my three years as a music leader for a small Denver area church. It was (and is) a church with a strong, abolitionist, pro life foundation. And they were leading the charge to establish the p ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Your light shines bright – Right? Have you ever known someone who just loves to talk about himself (or herself)? Especially somebody who’s achieved celebrity status and wants us all to know how much they sacrificed to get there. Gimme a break. Sacrifice? Are you k ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Toxic masculinity – a cunning, conniving label Some would say…check that…many would say…check that…most would say, if given the opportunity, I suffer from toxic masculinity. That’s a label, until recently, I hadn’t heard before. And it’s a clever (translate: cunni ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber He is not a she and never will be. An article popped up on my radar this morning, and I couldn’t help but believe how farfetched it would have sounded just a few short decades ago. The whole piece centered on “acceptable” pronouns we can or can’t use for others. A ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Grace to me almost unbelievably This is gonna be about me. But…if you’re looking for some answers for your own life, you should keep reading. Because when it comes to needing answers, solutions, and hope, I’m just like you. My life has not been the picture of perf ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber I might be right. Hey, I’ve been right before. Any time you and I disagree on something, there’s the possibility (even if it’s only a tiny one) I might be right. At least from our limited human perspectives that’s true. You might think I’m wrong about something. A ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Backwards and forwards – it’s all so confusing If you’re like most humans…and you are…then you like things to make sense. You don’t like it when life gets all backwards and forwards and discombobulated. (I love that two dollar word) And it makes total sense that y ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Don’t trust your heart Let me be clear. I’m not talking about that dark red muscle, in your chest, pumping blood all day and night. When I say don’t trust your heart, I’m talking about your very core. The inner YOU that only God knows. He says “The heart is deceit ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Once Upon A Time Have you ever thought about those four words together? Once upon a time. They don’t make any sense under close examination. But they make total sense to kids and people who read and write to kids. Or basically to anyone who’s ever been a kid and h ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Drifting sands are rhythm in my hands This morning, like too many mornings this year, I woke up before getting enough sleep. And I’m dealing with some issues that restful, recuperative sleep would help. So, of course, I decided to wallow in my misery and make a li ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber One Day Soon I remember, when I was about five years old, snapping green beans on the porch with my Grandmother in Oklahoma. She would almost always find a way to talk to me about God, Jesus, and time. On this particular day she was making sure I understood how sh ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber I’ve Got Things To Do I wouldn’t mind stopping all of the wars. I’d be a diplomat, If I could know for sure in my heart That it was simple as that. But peace will have to wait. I can’t just change my life around. I’m in the middle of something That has me helpless ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Thinking about thinking Now, there’s a thought for you. Thinking about thinking. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past few minutes because of what I read in a book called “In The Beginning” by Dr. Walt Brown. It’s THE best science book you’ve probably never rea ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber There is no greater love than this…. …that a man be willing to lay down his life for his friends. Do you have a love like that living in your heart? It doesn’t mean that you have to be killed in order to prove you love your friends. It means you’d be willing to do ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber A great young man found the end of the road this week Imagine you’re sixteen. You’re just beginning to look like the adult you’re becoming. You have your whole life ahead of you. Now, imagine you’ve just been told that your whole life might be only another year. M ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Living technology – Yeah, it’s a real thing! For the past week or two, each morning when I’m waking up with my first cups of coffee, I’ve been watching hummingbirds outside the front windows. They’re one of the smallest, yet one of the most amazing, birds around. ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber What do invisible attributes have to do with God’s wrath? How can you see something invisible ? I mean, after all, it’s invisible. Right? So, what in the world did the apostle Paul mean when he said God’s “invisible attributes are clearly seen“? And if we can’t se ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber What was the highest price ever paid for anything? It wasn’t that nearly billion dollar airplane or that $4.5 billion luxury yacht. And it wasn’t even that $15 billion building in Saudi Arabia. None of those even come close to being a tiny fraction of the highest ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Music makes me happy. How ’bout you? Like the picture says, I promise this ain’t gonna be sappy. But it’s true. Music makes me happy. I don’t mean it forces me to be happy. And I don’t mean ALL music. Some music, of course, is written from a sad or troubled heart ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Drawn to You – the story behind the song In late 1986 I wrote the lyrics to a song about a girl I hoped to meet. I called it “Drawn to You”. After working and reworking the music a few times, I finally decided to record the song in 1989. And I was in a tiny motel ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Morning Star…is that what you are? Yeah, before you get all puffed up thinking I must be talking about you, I’ll just say I’m not. I’m sure you are a nice person. But Morning Star?! Come on. That title can only truly fit one person. And He earned that description ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Hey Christians – Are you admonishing one another? And not only that, but are you doing it with a song? A little while back I wrote about how singing with grace in my heart is part of my “job description”. And I shared the Bible verse that backs me up on that. In t ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Can you think no evil? Have you ever tried to think about nothing? You can’t do it. Go ahead and try. I’ll wait. See? You just can’t do it. But how about this…can you think no evil? Hmm…that might be do-able. But you sure wouldn’t think it was possible if you only ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Jeremiah Thomas – abolitionist, fighter, teenager As far as I can tell, Jeremiah Thomas is about 16 as I write and record this. During those few years, he has been a courageous voice for unborn children. He has understood that every human being is created in the i ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Bugs and drugs – this ain’t gonna be pretty Yeah, you know when the headline mentions bugs and drugs, the story is gonna be a little creepy. And toss in some foul-mouthed thugs, and you’ve got a story only a criminal could love. But I’m just makin’ a quick observa ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Envy and greed – evil twins out to get you When I think about envy and greed, I can’t help but remember a uniquely special man. He wasn’t envious or greedy. But those evil twins ultimately killed him. And the thing about envy and greed is…they can’t even exist wit ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Are you getting what you deserve? I hope not. Sometimes getting what you deserve is not a good thing. For example, when I was a kid, I remember getting some spankings I deserved. But I wasn’t glad about it. Quite the opposite. I’m sure you can think of a time in y ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Who doesn’t love liberty and freedom? I’ve been watching America decline into self-loathing and self-induced slavery for the past couple of decades. And I’m amazed at how quickly so many people are willing to sell their liberty and freedom to the highest bidder. ( ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Is Christian Cool…cool? I’ve been thinking over some “real” stuff lately. As cool as I think the digital world is (or can be), it doesn’t hold a candle to the real world. And by that I mean people. And by people, I especially mean Christian people. But not the one ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Frankincense and Myrrh – not just token gifts Quite a few years ago, my wife and I enjoyed a special Christmas presentation put on by some little kids in our church. Our favorite part was when one of the kids, dressed as a wise man, made his gift-giving speech for ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber The mind of God – probably not what you think It’s all part of God’s plan. How many times have I heard that…from Christians? And it makes me cringe. Every. Single. Time. They’ve fallen for the Platonic view of God rather than what God actually says about Himself i ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber There is no i in TEAM How many times have you heard that said on TV, in movies, or on the sidelines at sporting events? There is no i in team – And have you noticed how many movies are starting to put teams together to solve a problem? Action movie heroes and anti ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Double Trouble Recently I told you about the “one Gospel” found in the Bible…in Paul’s writings. But I wasn’t being completely truthful with you. Paul was, but I wasn’t. So, I’ve got double trouble for you today. Especially if you think the one Gospel Paul talked ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Relaxing Music – it ain’t just for sleepin’ The vast majority of the time I listen to music, these days, it’s on my iPhone using either my Apple music app or Pandora. While I do love some power-up music for fun, a lot of my listening is relaxing music. Either to g ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Only One Gospel Will…Make You Ask How Long Till Below are the lyrics to the song in this episode of the Rhyme and Reason Podcast. Tune in and discover why it’s important to know there’s only one real Truth for the whole world. And see why if that’s not true, I’m s ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Here’s the step-by-step formula for how to blend in and not stand out when you advertise. This is a short excerpt from my upcoming book on audio branding. When used properly, it works pretty much 100% of the time. And I suggest you freely share it with all your co ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Can poets and writers be action igniters? In a word…Yes! Words and music have been at the center of my life for as long as I can remember. There’s nothing more satisfying than writing a new book, poem, or song, playing it for someone for the first time, and gettin ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber It makes a bigger difference than you might think. Match your music and sounds you’re using in your business to your brand. Take a giant leap in front of your competition because they’re probably still just playing the radio. Stay tuned, Music affects behavior and ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Here are the lyrics to the song I’m featuring in this episode of the Rhyme and Reason Podcast… Crazy Mama’s So Mean That crazy mama’s so mean… Don’t give me rice with my beans. I was a fool for those eyes; Bluer than Mardi Gras skies. But she’s hidin’ something I ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Here are the lyrics to the song I’m featuring in the Rhyme and Reason Podcast. Everybody’s Got One Jesse says he wants equality; says we’ve got goals to reach Jimmy’s war is with iniquity; says he’s got souls to teach Norma claims that it’s her right to make her o ...…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Tune in to the Rhyme and Reason Podcast, episode 206, with your host, Tony Funderburk. Discover how music is just plain good for the brain. Jump on the one-of-a-kind Rhyme and Reason Bandwagon Stay tuned, Rhyme and Reason Podcast 206…

Tony Funderburk - Rhyme and Reason author, singer songwriter, podcaster, youtuber Gotta Say Wow…Can you hear me now? In this episode of the Rhyme and Reason Podcast I’m sharing a powerfully compelling update on my studio. (tongue-in-cheek) I’m asking the question, “Can you hear me now?” because my whole studio is in a state of transition. I’m a ...…