Christian books for kids Archives - Tony Funderburk

Anyone who truly knows me might tell you, if cornered, that I’m definitely anti touchy feely ushy-gushy stuff. So, I make it a point to write books for kids with a good balance of love AND strength. And I believe that’s the example you can see in the bestselling life manual of all time. Yeah, God overflows with both love and strength. And I’m confident I’ll be at my best when I’m following the example you can easily see in Jesus. Plus, I think that’s fairly easy to see in my writing. If you think I’m wrong about that, feel free to show me why you think that way. Anyway… I shared all that because of a summary I found of one of my most recent books for kids. The book is called “The Lonely Lilypad.” And, as I said, I believe it shows that nice balance of love and strength. But the summary mentions a bunch of touchy feely ushy-gushy stuff. Here’s what it says: “The Lonely Lilypad” by Tony Funderburk explores several themes, including: Loneliness: The central theme revolves around the feeling of being alone or isolated, as depicted by the lonely lilypad’s initial state in the story. Friendship: The narrative progresses to show how relationships and companionship can transform loneliness into joy, emphasizing the importance of friendship and connection. Hope: The story conveys a message of hope, demonstrating that even in solitude, there’s potential for change and happiness through new relationships or unexpected friendships. Kindness: There’s an underlying theme of kindness where characters help each other, suggesting that acts of kindness can lead to meaningful connections. Community: The story might also touch on the idea of community, where individuals come together, illustrating how a community can support its members, making everyone feel included. Nature: As the setting is in a natural environment, there’s an appreciation for nature and its creatures, subtly teaching about the ecosystem and the beauty of the natural world. And the summary ended with this: “These themes are woven into a narrative that aims to teach children about emotional resilience, the value of friendship, and the beauty of life’s surprises through a simple yet engaging story.” So, how ’bout that? Evidently I wrote a book that emphasized feelings, transformations, more feelings, acts of kindness, community, inclusivity, more feelings, and even lessons about our ecosystem and “natural world.” Wow. I didn’t realize I could be so progressive. But there you have it. In red and yellow (and black and white, so we can keep it inclusive). Now, I’m not even sure I can recommend you to my own book. And maybe I shouldn’t share the link, to get this crazy coloring and drawing book, with my email subscribers. But what the hey. I will. Because I think they’ll understand and forgive me. Now, how did those first lines go…? So, once there was a lilypad that no frog ever used. You wouldn’t think a lilypad could get its feelings bruised. But sure enough, this lilypad cried to itself each night And each day did its very best to stay out of plain sight. Do you have kids, grandkids, or know someone who does? Well, if you’re the forgiving (and inclusive) type, too, maybe you should subscribe to my Tony’s Daily Devotional so you can grab the link to “The Lonely Lilypad.” But, remember I warned you about the ushy-gushy stuff. Stay tuned… The post Love and strength are found in the water, not on ground appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

OK, you’ll enjoy this story much more if you use your best Irish or Scottish accent as you read. Even if you read it to yourself and you don’t read it out loud. You’re already doin’ it. Aren’t ya? Yeah, the way that power of suggestion works is a mystical phenomenon. And speakin’ of a mystical phenomenon. Have you ever heard of the Blue Celtic Cloud? Some say it’s not just a vapor. Not just part of the sky. And some will swear the Blue Celtic Cloud is even more than just a mystical phenomenon. They’ll swear it’s a living, shimmering “entity” that floats above the verdant highlands and rugged coastlines of Eire. In fact, I heard a story about it. And I’ll share the story with you now. Word for word. (by the way, your accent is delightful) Anyway… Rhiannon, a young druidess, was the guardian of the aforementioned Blue Celtic Cloud. She had inherited this sacred duty from her grandmother, Maeve. And Maeve had whispered tales of the cloud’s power into Rhiannon’s ears ever since she was a child. Maeve told her the Blue Celtic Cloud was no ordinary puff of vapor. Not at all. Because it contained the dreams and hopes of the Celtic people. And it could transform those dreams and hopes into healing rain to nourish the earth and all who with open hearts to music. And one crisp morning, during the last few days of Spring, as a mist kissed the heather-covered hills, Rhiannon felt a drop of water on her forehead. The Blue Celtic Cloud was swirling with a luminous energy. Even as the rest of the world was quiet and still. Emerald greens, rich purples, and sunlit golds shined from within. So, Rhiannon chanted ancient incantations she learned from her grandmother. And the Blue Celtic Cloud descended and surrounded her in a soft, glowing mist. A gentle rain began to fall. But the strange thing about it was that Rhiannon didn’t get wet. Because the rain fell directly into her heart. Or at least it felt that way. And she could also feel the dreams and hopes of the Celtic people as beautiful music also found its way to her heart. And, without even realizing it, the song made her smile. It sure was a whimsical, wonderful mystical phenomenon. But sadly, Rhiannon had no one to share the song with. So, she sang it to the Blue Celtic Cloud. And she asked the Cloud to send it to someone, someday, some way, who could and would pass it on to others. And the Blue Celtic Cloud promised to do just as she asked. Finally, hundreds of years later, the Cloud found an unsuspecting, but willing, songwriter to write down the words and compose the song. And that’s how the ninth song on my Lullabye Bye collection of lullaby songs for kids came about. Cross my heart and hope to fly. Listen to a sample of “Blue Celtic Cloud,” as well as all the other songs in the Lullabye Bye collection here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV4pKjLJWgg) And it shouldn’t take a mystical phenomenon for you to jump on over to the Rhyme and Reason Bookshop to get your special kids their very own Lullabye Bye coloring, drawing songbook. And did I mention, there’s a link, in the book, to download all the songs? Well, there is. So, download your Lullabye Bye book in the Rhyme and Reason Bookshop right now. Stay tuned… The post Mystical phenomenon, in this song, goes on and on appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I bet your name is NOT Titus. Because that’s not one of the more common names these days. At least not in English speaking countries. But, according to some information I found, Titus was once “one of the most common first names in the old world.” (HEY KIDS: be sure to read through this whole post. Because, if you do, you can win a chance to get your name in one of my books of Rhymes and Reasons.) I think it’s fair to say uncommon names can certainly make a mark. And there’s a lot of info that says the name, Titus, means something like “title of honor.” Even if you don’t speak Greek or Latin or some other old language, it seems pretty easy to make that connection. Some other connections people have made with the name Titus include: Honor Strength, and Leadership. And some say that people who are named Titus are “thought to be confident, assertive individuals who possess great charisma and the ability to inspire and lead others. They are often seen as natural leaders, with a strong sense of responsibility and a deep sense of duty to those they love.” Maybe those are some of the qualities the Apostle Paul saw in his follower, Titus. And Paul wrote Titus a letter which became one of the “books of the Bible.” The letter/book is pretty short. But Paul wrote it to offer Titus some encouragement and wisdom. And Paul told Titus how to complete his assigned job of establishing elders for the churches under his care. Paul described how these leaders should be. Plus, he wanted Titus to know how all believers should relate to each other. And know how to be and act with nonbelievers, too. All with a base in Grace. So, here’s your challenge. And your chance to get some fame for your name. Even if it’s one of the uncommon names. All you gotta do, is read Paul’s letter to Titus. It’s a very short letter. So, it won’t take you much time to get through it. And somewhere in the letter is the answer you’ll need to fill in the final word that finishes the rhyme below. Think you can do it? If so, be sure to leave a comment with your answer. Here’s the rhyme: Obey the ones who are in charge, And speak no evil when You’re under their authority. Be humble with all ____________ There’ll be other challenges. So, there’ll be other chances to get your name in one of my upcoming books of Rhymes and Reasons. If you wanna get a jump on the competition and know when the next one is, jump on the The TRUTH. That way they’ll come to you, and you won’t have to go lookin’ for ’em. Stay tuned, The post Common names and simple claims appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Gonna talk about truth and mercy right now. So, get ready to take some mental notes. Yeah, put away those silly tablets and other writing accoutrement. Because I don’t want your brain distracted by an urgent need to jot notes. The value of truth and mercy is too important to miss. So, before I go any further, I know your brain is already distracted by the grammar in my headline, “Truth and mercy for what him and her say.” Right? C’mon, admit it. Your first thought was to call the grammar police and report some noun/verb abuse. But, hopefully you remembered I’m Mister Tony, the Rhyme and Reason Guy. And you thought, “Hey, wait a minute. I bet Tony’s using his poetic license to make his headline rhyme.” And I’m so glad none of this caused a ruckus we can’t overcome. So, on to the main point(s). Have you ever been called a loser? I hope not. But if you have, I’m sure you remember how much it hurt. Right? People who call you a loser or some other name have already lost something. I bet you didn’t know that, did you? Yep, people like that have lost 2 things you should never lose. Would you like to know what they are? Keep reading… There are a lot of things in this life you could lose and it wouldn’t make much difference. Your pencil. Your paper. And your bubble gum. But those are just thingy things. You can almost always get more thingy things. But there are other things much more important. And here are the 2 things you should never lose: Truth and Mercy. Did you already guess? If so, you win a big pat on your back. Go tell someone I said to give you one. And you know what mercy is. Right? It’s kinda like telling someone you’re not mad at them for breaking your toy. In fact, instead of getting mad at them, you tell them they can play with another one of your toys. You should try that sometime. You might be surprised to see what a big smile you could put on your friend’s face. Yeah, mercy is a pretty special thing. You should have a lot of it in you. And I bet you know what truth is, too. Right? It’s what you say that can stand any test. And it’s the same for everybody. Let’s say I tell you the sun is bigger and hotter than the moon. Am I telling you the truth? Sure am. And isn’t it true for everybody who lives here on Earth. Sure is. Everybody can see the sun is bigger. And they can feel how much hotter it is. So, if I tell someone those things…I’m telling them the truth. It’s good to know some things are true for everybody. It makes it easier to understand the world. There’s something that ties mercy and truth together. Do you know what that is? It’s love. When you love somebody, it’s much easier to show mercy and say, “You can play with this toy even though you broke that one.” And when you love, you want to know truth…because you might be curious where love comes from. Don’t you think so? Here’s the biggest reason why it’s important to know these 2 things you should never lose. Because when you have those things in YOUR heart, you win a place in God’s heart. And winning a place in God’s heart is the best thing you could ever win because that lasts forever. Go share some Truth and Mercy today. I’m counting on you. And here’s a rhyme to help you remember… Mercy and truth are lighted lamps To help you find your way… So with God’s help, go share your love For others every day. Get some music and a book sent your way real fast. Just jump on the The TRUTH. And join a growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the power of God’s Love. Stay tuned, The post Truth and mercy for what him and her see appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Information inside your cells determined whether you’d have brown or blue or green eyes. And it determined whether you’d have black or brown or blonde hair. AND whether you’d be a boy or a girl (Those are the only choices, by the way). Take a trillion trails of that information, see where it goes, and I believe you’ll come to the same conclusion I did: “Whoa, dude. That sounds complex. My head just exploded.” And that’s just ONE trillion trails. You could take a lot more than that and still remain in the cells of one, single person. Yeah, you’re gonna need to stock up. Because that’s gonna be a long journey. Think about the thoughts and memories you have floating around in your mind right now. Those thoughts and memories have no physical parts. In fact, you can’t feel, smell, taste, hear, or see them. And here’s the thing. They didn’t create themselves. Information can’t do that. It’s too complex. I know I keep saying that, but I just can’t help myself. It’s tru. The information in the DNA of each of your cells is basically equal to a library with 4000 books. It’s like your body isn’t a single star. It’s a whole constellation. So, to say that much data stored in the 37 trillion cells in your body happened by chance mutations is ludicrous (Not to be confused with “Ludacris” although he IS ludicrous). Anyway… Why would you (or anybody) prefer to believe in chance, circumstance, and some sort of mutations dance? And why wouldn’t you (or anybody) prefer to believe in the living, loving God who wants us to live forever? Chance, circumstance, and mutations don’t care whether you live or die. So they certainly don’t care if you live forever. In fact, they only contribute to your hopelessness. Until they eventually erase it altogether. So. Whatcha gonna do with this information? Toss it aside? Make fun of it? Sure, those options are at your disposal. But you could also check out scientific links I’ve shared. Don’t take my word for it. And see if your belief system is challenged. Who knows? Maybe your belief system will change. That happens a lot when people open their eyes to the truth. If it hasn’t already happened for you, I hope it does REAL SOON. Through the trillion trails of starlight Caught up in the constellations Grows a great, galactic garden, Fiery flowers in formations. Watered with the words of wisdom, The Designer deemed to say, With love we can look and listen To the Milky Way Bouquet. © 2017 Milky Way Bouquet is an instrumental included on the popular collection of lullabies called “Lullabye Bye.” Get all the songs, in the unique songbook and coloring and drawing book for kids by the same title, from this link: (https://www.amazon.com/Lullabye-Bye-Tony-Funderburk/dp/B08BWFWSLN) Stay tuned,   The post Trillion trails of information in your personal constellation appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

For a long time I sang for my supper. And breakfast, lunch, and snacks. And I sang for my monthly bills, my gasoline consumption, and even my cool clothes. When you can pay your way as a musician, do you know what they call you? Yeah, somebody who should get a real job. Wait a second! That’s not right. They call you a professional musician. Or professional entertainer. Or something like that. For 25 years I played just about every kind of venue a professional musician could play. And I’d take all the paid bookings I could fit into my calendar. Sometimes the feast would include 7 nights a week and additional day gigs on the weekend. And sometimes the famine would be a weak weekender. But I got to live the life of a professional musician. And I didn’t have to compete with free. But once every Tammy, Jane, and Mary had a computer with the power to rip music off discs and send it all around the globe for free, the professional musician days were changed forever. At first I despised what had become of the world of music. And, on certain levels, I still do. But then, technology began to offer ways for singer/songwriters to keep more of their intellectual property. Of course, it’s a pipe dream to think anyone can hold on to all of their intellectual property any more. But when you can at least offer it up in ways that aren’t so easy to rip and steal, you gotta try. So, in the past few years I started offering my music collections in physical books. I haven’t been actively trying to sell downloads and certainly not discs for a while. And if you’re one of those people who’ve supported my efforts by buying my books, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I want you to know YOU are the kind of person who I want to keep on producing music for. As my circumstances permit, I hope to have more stuff you haven’t heard before. In the meantime, you’ll find my physical music offers in links below. And here’s my ode to the… Invisible Song Machines The times will come in everyone’s life When changes have to occur. The reasons could be obvious, or They might even be a blur. One of those times is happening now. It’s somewhere behind the scenes… Where the melodies quickly become Invisible song machines. Value is lost down deep in a world Increasingly wanting “free.” So, I’m moving my music around To places listeners can see. Places where I think they’ll connect With those who connect with me. If you believe I’ve got it all wrong Then certainly, by all means, Continue to get your free songs from Invisible song machines. © 2019 Use this link (and share it with everybody you know) to jump on the The TRUTH and get my really refreshing rhymes and reasons delivered to you with no chargeroo. Some other complimentary stuff, too. Stay tuned, The post Professional musician times before these reasons and rhymes appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I think about what she said, more often, these days. I’m talkin’ about what my Grandmother said, as I sat on her front porch snapping green beans with her. It was during a couple of years when my brother and I lived with our Dad’s parents while he worked on setting up a new home life. Dad and Mom divorced when I was about four and my brother was two and a half. Since he was given custody of us, he asked our Grandparents to take care of us, most of the time, so he could find another wife and someone who could be the “mother figure” in our lives. This was, of course, before feminism ruined so many households. But that’s another topic for another time. Anyway… Back to what my Grandmother said. And I don’t think enough old people tell young people this stuff these days. I remember it like it was yesterday. Despite the fact that it was decades ago. Grandmother sat on her porch chair, the metal clamshell style, with a large enameled metal bowl, full of green beans from their back yard garden, in her lap. I sat in the other chair with a smaller bowl in my lap. And we snapped green beans. And she talked while I listened. “Enjoy this peaceful, wonderful day, and don’t take it for granted,” she said. “Because, one of these days, you might be my age and most of, or all of, the people you love will be gone for good.” I remember thinking to myself, “Why do old people talk this way?” Of course, being a pre-schooler, I couldn’t have seen how Grandmother was speaking from experience. I was too young to grasp the depth of her advice. But, even a young age, I had enough respect for my elders to listen and pay attention. And for some reason, I enjoyed snapping green beans. Now, let’s fast forward to THESE days. I’m about 10 years older than Grandmother was when she gave me that advice. And as of 2021, the fullness of her prediction came true. All those people I loved, except for my brother, are gone for good. In February, it’ll be three years ago already that Mom was the last to go. They’re all gone. But I’m one of the fortunate ones in this world. Because I have the hope of seeing them again. Because my Grandparents AND my parents believed in and trusted Jesus. I know. At first you thought I was just gonna share a little of my good ol’ Americana story. But then I had to go and spoil it all by saying something about Jesus. (side note: for some reason Frank and Nancy Sinatra popped into my mind) But here’s the thing. I would never have any nostalgic stories to share if it wasn’t for Jesus. And neither would you for that matter. Because He created us. For crying out loud, without a Manufacturer, there are NO manufactured goods. Without a Designer, there’s no design. Without a Creator, there’s no creation. You get the idea. Right? The image of sitting on the porch with my Grandmother came into my head after I read about a Christian brother whose wife died a couple of days ago. And this has recently happened with a couple of my other friends, too. Fortunately, each of them has the hope of seeing their wives again. And that hope is because of their faith in Jesus. If you’re reading this without that kind of hope, I hope that changes for you very soon. Because these days the end of this world is closer than you’ve ever known. You don’t know, for certain, you’ll even make it to lunch. And without the hope of life after death, that uncertainty will only lead to torment. And even though most people in the world ignore the solution to that problem, it’s so easy to avoid. But the solution requires humility. The kind of humility that selfish people don’t wanna think about. Humility that says there IS a God of creation, you’re NOT Him, and He IS the source of faith, hope, and love. Most people who read what I write or listen to what I say already know this. But if you just happened to land on my website, or someone else sent you this message, maybe you need to hear that your problems DO have a solution. And if it makes sense and you want the problems solved, don’t put it off. Remember… “Enjoy this peaceful, wonderful day, and don’t take it for granted. Because, one of these days, you might be my age and most of, or all of, the people you love will be gone for good.” There’s no difference when going first to last. Lord we need you like generations passed. Give us strength for this life. And help us always focus our gaze, With our eyes on the Prize, because these… Are the Bible days. (from the song of the same name) By the way I can always use your support to help me keep the nearly 3000 posts I’ve shared on my website available to the world that needs to see and hear about the one, true, living, loving God of creation. So, see if one of my books suits your fancy. Get one for yourself or for someone you love. Here’s a link to check ‘em out: (https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B008R08LUG/allbooks) Stay tuned, The post These days will be gone. Will you go on? appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

With all the randomness in the universe, and our cute, little solar system, it’s a wonder that we can predict the moon phases with such accuracy. But we’re so good at it (and by “we” I mean earthlings) that we name the phases. And we know when they’re gonna happen. And we even know the best places to view them. Nothing short of miraculous. Because moon phases shouldn’t even exist. Well, not with regularity anyway. But here we are. About to enjoy another Buck Supermoon. (Is it just me, or does that sound like the name for a Saturday morning cartoon hero?) Yep, a Supermoon that occurs right around the time the antlers on buck deer are growing. That’s a phase you can hang your hat on. Anyway… There’s supposed to be a Buck Moon in full view tonight. July 2, 2023 as I write this. And it’s this year’s first supermoon. Depending on how you do the timing, it’s anywhere from this evening to tomorrow morning. But, as I said, we can actually pinpoint the moon phases with such accuracy it’s nothing short of uncanny in this random existence in which we find ourselves. Check out this description from a science website: “The Earth-facing side of the moon will be fully lit by the sun at 6:40 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 3, but it will be best viewed at moonrise the previous evening as it appears in the southeastern sky. It will be in the constellation Sagittarius, and will appear bright and full on the nights of July 2 and 4 as well.” See what I mean? Like how astronomers know that every month, in the moon’s elliptical orbit of Earth, it has a point of perigee and a point of apogee. Just a fancy way of saying when it’s closest to Earth and when it’s farthest away from Earth. And they know the distance between those points ranges from 225,800 to 251,800 miles. So, knowing all that, they can tell you when supermoons will happen. By the way, the Buck Supermoon, this month, is gonna be the smallest one this year. So, if you really wanna be impressed, stick around for the two supermoons in August and one in September. I get goosebumps just thinkin’ about all the miracles of moon phases. In case you can’t tell, or you don’t know me, NO, I don’t get goosebumps because of the miracles of moon phases. Because there aren’t any such miracles. But I AM thrilled to know how dependable those phases are. And how dependable the rest of our cozy solar system is. Because that dependability points to a designed system. Not a result of randomness. No, randomness could never, in trillions of years (much less a few billion) have created the precision we can observe. So, when I look up at a moon that looks bigger than usual, I think about Who put it there. And it reminds me of these words: “Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.” (You can find that in the very first paragraphs of the Bible.) That was the fourth day of creation. Which was a 24 hours day, by the way. Not potential eons of time. And that’s a rabbit trail that leads me to a book for kids that talks about the very first six days. Matter of fact, it’s called The Very First 6 Days. What a colossal coincidence. Here’s a clip, from the book, about the very first day… Before there were created things Like water and fresh air… No world or human beings Were existing anywhere. Then God created earth and sea And all the heavens too. There was no sun, no moon, no stars, And only God shone through. He looked down at the waters And the dark face of the deep. The earth was still and quiet Just as we are when we sleep. He said, “Let there be light” The way a perfect, true God could. And then He saw the brand new light And knew that it was good. Then God divided light and dark, And darkness He called Night. The light would be called Day, And it was pleasing in His sight. That evening and that morning Wouldn’t be the total sum… No, that was just the very first day… Five were yet to come. Get the rest of the book on Amazon. Digital download or paperback. Stay tuned, The post Moon phases and my mind glazes appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

When I was a kid, there was a show on TV called Hee Haw. And every weekend, through the summer, I remember the family gathered around the TV set to watch all that “cornpone” humor. It was hosted by Roy Clark and Buck Owens. And Buck Owens is the guy who sang “Tiger By The Tail.” Now, keep in mind, I’m basically not a country music fan. Especially what’s trying to pass itself off as country music these days. But I was raised in the midwest, mid south, and south. So, there was no way to avoid it all together. And I DO get a kick out some of the old songs. Tiger By The Tail was one of those songs. It was a hit back when songs didn’t always try to have a political message. Or lyrics focused on who’s hookin’ up with who (or is that whom?). In fact, lyrics didn’t have to be deep at all. Just catchy. Like these from the chorus of Buck’s song: I’ve got a tiger by the tail, it’s plain to see. I won’t be much when you get through with me. Well I’m a-losing weight and I’m turning mighty pale. Looks like I’ve got a tiger by the tail. You might not believe this, but whole families used to sit around the TV, together, and listen to stuff like that. And just in case it doesn’t sound cool, get this. Dean Martin, aka: Mr. Cool, had Buck Owens on his TV show, and he sang that song with Buck. You don’t have to believe me. But it’s on YouTube, so there. I took a different spin on the tiger tail idea. In the first song, off my Kiddin’ Around collection of songs for kids, I said “Don’t grab a tiger by the tail.” And I followed that up with “Don’t go dancin’ with a whale.” Yeah, that song is filled with lots of advice on what you shouldn’t oughta do. And I remember how kids laughed when I sang it for them at a Christian school outdoor get-together a few years ago. Now, Kiddin’ Around is a coloring, drawing songbook. Lyrics to all the songs in the collection are on the first pages. Then there are characters to color. And then there are blank pages for drawing. But the best part is the secret link to download all the songs that go with all those lyrics. And right now I have a limited supply of autographed copies of the book. Get one for your kids today: https://www.tonyfunderburk.com/kiddin-around-book And just in case you doubt the Dean Martin, Buck Owens connection, here they are on YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBDezyqHG60) Stay tuned, The post Tiger by the tail and boy that cat could wail appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I just read a short article about a Milky Way black hole problem. And you’d better brace yourself. Because this is a serious problem. Here’s a snippet from that article: “A black hole with millions of times more mass than the sun is hurtling towards Earth and will one day wipe out life as we know it. The black hole is speeding towards us at 110 kilometres per second and is at the centre of the Andromeda Galaxy.” The article made sure you understand that the Andromeda Galaxy is huge. And it continued with this: “Located just 26,000 light-years away. And as we speak, it’s in the process of tearing apart entire stars and star systems, occasionally consuming them, adding to its mass like a voracious shark. Due to the size of Andromeda however, there is only going to be one winner when it smashes into the Milky Way.” So, back to the Milky Way black hole. Because evidently, according to the article, most galaxies have a “supermassive black hole which stars swirl around and helps keep everything in formation.” (side note: I think it’s funny when so-called scientists, who believe the evolution origin theory, use words like formation.) Anyway… Our own Milky Way’s black hole is no small matter. The article I read describe it like this. “And not just any black hole, it’s a supermassive black hole with more than 4.1 million times the mass of the Sun.” Whoa! That’s huge. So it’s gotta have a negative impact on us. Right? If not right away, at least some time in the future. Yeah, writer of that article said, “we are safe for now.” But he added, “Panic will happen when the Milky Way collides with Andromeda in about 4 billion years.” I don’t know about you. But as for me and my household, we’re gonna start freezing a lot more grass fed beef. And we’re gonna add to our solar panel supply. Hey, I was a boy scout. Be prepared is my motto. Because, when the panic hits, it’s every man for himself. Oops. That’s misogynistic and transphobic. Oh well, so be it. Wait a sec. Come to think of it, I don’t believe I’m gonna let all that panic affect me and my household. Matter of fact, I (we) choose to trust in the Creator of all the galaxies in the universe. And He (that would be Jesus) holds the universe together. Science fiction “scientists” don’t have a clue about that glue. So, I (and my household) have confidence, hope, and peace about the Milky Way. Even if it has a supermassive black hole, we’ll never be vacuumed into it. Never. And that’s why I could compose a composed and peaceful lullaby song called “Milky Way Bouquet.” And I confidently included it in a collection of lullabies and put them all in a book. Because I believe, at least for a while longer, our galaxy is stable enough to build, create, and sell books. If you have little ones, you should be playing the Lullabye Bye collection for them at bedtime. And you can get all those songs, in a secret link, inside the Lullabye Bye coloring and drawing songbook. Links to get it on Amazon are below. Order yours today. Prime members get free delivery. Through the trillion trails of starlight Caught up in the constellations Grows a great, galactic garden, Fiery flowers in formations. Watered with the words of wisdom, The Designer deemed to say, With love we can look and listen To the Milky Way Bouquet. Stay tuned, Here’s the funny looking link to Lullabye Bye on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lullabye-Bye-Tony-Funderburk/dp/B08BWFWSLN/ The post Milky Way black hole will never get my soul appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I hope you haven’t fallen into the SNAP trap. Because it’s obviously difficult to impossible to escape. And just imagine the horror you’d face without the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Brought to you by your most benevolent and trustworthy government. So, why do I call it a SNAP trap? I’m glad you asked. That WAS you, right? Anyway. First, it’s made to sound like a program that cares about your health. After all, the word “nutrition” is right in the full name. Second, they want it to sound like it’s just to help those who just need a little boost. After all, the word “supplemental” is right in the full name. And you can supplement something if there’s not something already there to supplement. Can I get an “Amen?!” Third, they want it to sound like they want to HELP you. After all, the word “assistance” is right there in the full name. But, lurking below the surface of that idea, is their belief that you can’t help yourself, those of you who fall into (or jump into) the SNAP trap. This subject showed up on my radar because it was a trending topic on Twitter today. And as I scrolled down through just the first 6 to 12 comments, I noticed how almost nobody recognizes the trap. Here are a few quotes. See if you pick up on what I noticed. I’m days away from 50, I’m widowed and long-term disabled, and I can’t even qualify for SNAP without the new work and commuting requirements. This is my refrigerator, complete w/ burned out bulb (cup of spaghetti-o’s, cup of water, 6 pc. of bread): I hope SNAP and Social Security recipients who’ve been understandably anxious over Republicans’ threatened US debt default learn to NEVER vote for this cruel, extortionist party of saboteurs. GOP raised the debt ceiling 3X under Trump w/ no brinksmanship or budget cut extortion. One point I haven’t seen emphasized about the budget deal is that as far as I can tell, it’s not going to involve a major hit to the safety net for children. The new SNAP work requirements are cruel, but they apply to childless adults in their 50s I’m a single mom on food stamps and this is my fridge today, I don’t get them again until June 10th. This is life on snap and I have a job too. Rep. McGovern is correct no one on snap is laying on the couch eating steak dinners. With republicans cruelty is the objective full stop MAGA Republicans force birth then yank food assistance from those struggling to provide for the baby. They cut SNAP, WIC, and school lunches. But they happily extended tax cuts for the elite. The first quote included a picture of the inside of a refrigerator. I’ll take her word for it. But my guess is she snapped the picture on her smartphone. And last time I looked, those are kinda pricey. Minor details, Tony. The second quote says republicans (and they probably forgot to include democrats) who sabotage government “freebies” are extortionists. Then, the third quote mentions how “work requirements are cruel.” I agree. But not for the reason that person would attempt to justify. They ARE cruel. But that’s because SNAP shouldn’t exist. It’s cruel to provide food to able-bodied people who don’t work for it. Because it shows them you don’t expect much from them. And you don’t believe they can succeed without you. The fourth quote is like the first one. Another shot inside a refrigerator. And probably snapped on a pricey smartphone. And it highlights how many people prefer to emphasize their “single mom” or single dad status. So, of course, they need a nanny. Because who wants to get married and deal with all those headaches? Especially when the most affordable nanny is Uncle Sam. Finally, the fifth quote would be laughable if it weren’t so utterly stupid. In the first place, it’s highly likely that most “MAGA Republicans” don’t have an issue with abortion. So, they certainly won’t (even if they could) force birth on someone. Secondly, if the tax system was fair and just, you’d never need a government program’s “assistance.” And one HUGE way to make the tax system more fair and just would be to eliminate government schools. Because that would eliminate the evil property taxes that ensure you’ll never again own a home in America. And here’s the biggest reason why the snap trap should stop. Because these programs can only exist when the government steals from those who produce and work hard and gives some of what it steals to those who don’t. Key word: “some.” Politicians skim, in one way or another, from ALL the government programs. So, they’re not likely to be motivated to end them. Ever! So, people like you and me, who sell and resell stuff to provide food and shelter and transportation, are pushed to produce and work harder and smarter. On the one hand that’s good. Because that’s how you increase sales and profits. On the other hand, those increased sales and profits are too attractive to the greed-filled powers that be. And, so the downward cycle continues. The solution isn’t to “make your vote count.” If you truly wanna do that, don’t waste your precious vote on either socialist candidate you’ll discover on the next ballot. Instead, seek wisdom from God. Ask for His help to tell others about the importance of knowing what happens when you die. Yeah, lay up treasures in Heaven. Where no politician or corrupt and tyrannical government will ever be able to steal them or give them to someone else. Speaking of working and selling, I’ve been sharing links to one of my collections of songs for kids this week. It’s called Kiddin’ Around. Unless your kid is totally bonkers, he or she (and those are the only two choices) will get a kick out of ’em. So, get the lyric book and all ten songs in one download at this weird-looking link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6MAH2QKHU5J8 Or you can get the physical coloring and drawing songbook version with the link to the songs inside at this weird-looking link: (https://www.amazon.com/Kiddin-Around-Tony-Funderburk/dp/B08BV18T5J) Help make SNAP stand for Support Native American Producers. Stay tuned, The post SNAP trap and why we shouldn’t clap appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

It’s the story of a lilypad, lake, a frog, and a snake. And it shows how what you think about yourself isn’t necessarily what anyone (or everyone) else thinks about you. This lilypad lake story starts out like this: So, once there was a lilypad that no frog ever used. You wouldn’t think a lilypad could get its feelings bruised. But sure enough this lilypad cried to itself each night, And each day did its very best to stay out of plain sight. It’s the latest children’s book from your favorite number 1 Rhyme and Reason guy. No, not him! I’m talkin’ about me. You’re such a kidder. Anyway… The book is called “The Lonely Lilypad.” And you should get the paperback version over at that tiny, online book store. Let’s see. What’s that name again? Hmm. I just can’t remember. Doesn’t matter. You can simply click THIS LINK and get right to the book. OR… If you’re one of the first three, you can Venmo me a tip of $20 (and your address) and I’ll send you a signed copy. Directly from me to you. My Venmo handle is @TonyWrites. And I only have 3 of the signed ones available right now. So, don’t delay. Get one for your little one today. Unless, of course, they don’t like bedtime stories and coloring and drawing books. Especially the kind where you can scan a link, with your phone, and get the audio of me reading the book. Yeah, I suppose there might be some goofy kids who could be like that. And this… Bedtime stories aren’t for me. I’m just too old to sleep. I’ve got better things to do. I just don’t need bopeep. There are planets I’ll go find After you leave the room. And I must protect the house From aliens of doom. Bedtime stories are for kids Who only want to sleep… Silly kids whose eyes will close Because they counted sheep. But I’ll be in my rocket ship And back home before dawn. So, read to all those other kids. I need to leave and…”yawn”. Stay tuned, Here’s the long, ugly link to The Lonely Lilypad on Amazon: (https://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Lilypad-Tony-Funderburk/dp/B0BMSR73XV) Copy and paste it if you don’t see the automatic link. The post Lilypad lake and a frog and a snake appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I’ve enjoyed Dr. Seuss books since I was a kid. In fact, I’m sure his rhythmic and whimsical writing inspired many of my writings for kids. And I’ll even admit that in a court of law if needed. But that still doesn’t stop me from sharing what I’m about to share. You might call me Mr. Grinch after this. But it brings me no joy (and there’ll be none in Whoville) to say how disappointed I am in the good doctor. Because Dr. Seuss missed a prime opportunity to celebrate human life. He lived until September 24, 1991. Almost 20 years after that famous so-called “supreme court” decision on abortion known as Roe V Wade. So, obviously he was around when pro life groups started using a line from his book, “Horton Hears A Who.” The line says, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” And you’d think a guy who acquired a huge pile of money writing for kids would’ve thought that was A-ok. But you’d be wrong, apparently. Here’s something I found in the most trusted earthly authority on the planet, Wikipedia. – The line “a person’s a person, no matter how small” from Horton Hears a Who! has been used widely as a slogan by the pro-life movement in the United States. Geisel, and later his widow Audrey, objected to this use. According to her attorney, “She doesn’t like people to hijack Dr. Seuss characters or material to front their own points of view.” In the 1980s Geisel threatened to sue an anti-abortion group for using this phrase on their stationery, according to his biographer, causing them to remove it. The attorney says he never discussed abortion with either of them, and the biographer says Geisel never expressed a public opinion on the subject. After Seuss’s death, Audrey gave financial support to Planned Parenthood. – So, that’s not completely solid evidence against Mr. Geisel. But it seems to be a window to his soul. It’s sad when you find out people you look up to don’t understand AND support the sanctity of human life. Because, as Dr. Seuss said, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” And what good reason could any person ever, ever, ever have for not allowing another person their God-given right to life? But if you’re part of pro life group, and you think you need or want a good rhyme, then, to quote Doc Holiday in the movie, Tombstone, “I’m your huckleberry (or huckle bearer). No matter how tiny, no matter how small, Right down to conception, the Lord loves them all. They just need some love and a place they can grow. Unborn babies are persons. God knows that you know. Stay tuned, No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can help me spread the Word… Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Daily Devotional (emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree) Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree) Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do. My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers The post Dr Seuss was a goose on a caboose appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

From here to Timbuktu. You’ve heard that expression or something like it. Right? Well, I’m not gonna give you a history lesson on where the expression originated or if it’s even a real place. But it DID inspire a toy store in the Denver area. And so, Timbuktu also, in a roundabout way, inspired a song. It’s one of the 10 fun and silly songs in the Kiddin’ Around collection. When CD’s were still a “cool” way to get music, we sold thousands of them through several kids’ stores across Colorado. One of those stores was named Timbuk Toys. And I wrote a song by that same name to motivate the store owners and employees to keep the CD’s in stock. It worked well. And they sold a bunch of ’em for us. But these days, CD’s have sort of fallen out of favor with most music lovers. So, I created another way you can get these fun songs for kids AND give them a lot more. I published the Kiddin’ Around Singalong, Coloring, and Drawing Book on Amazon. Inside the book your kids get the lyrics to all the songs in the collection. AND they get coloring pages. AND they get blank drawing pages. PLUS they get a super secret link (which you can help them with) to a free download of all the songs in the book. Here’s a clip from “Timbuk Toys”  You can even scan the QR code you see at the top of this page, or in the video or below to go right to the page, on Amazon, where you can order a copy today. And next time you find yourself in Timbuktu, don’t be surprised if you catch yourself humming the Timbuk Toys song. My, my what a stroke of luck… When you wind up in Timbuk. Everything that a kid enjoys… Play all day with the Timbuk Toys. © 2007 Tony Funderburk If you’re not a scanner type of person, here’s your easy, friendly link to the book. Get your special, silly kid the Kiddin’ Around songbook today. Stay tuned, The post Timbuktu much fun to do appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Just about everybody has a bedtime routine. It makes sense. Because humans are creatures of habit. Like brushing your teeth and changing into pajamas. Those activities just become something you do without having to put a lot of thought and effort into them. And then maybe you read a little and turn off the lights. Boom. You’ve got a bedtime routine. Good for YOU. And you might think that’s insignificant or unimportant. But nay nay. It IS important. Especially for kids. According to one source I read, it’s much healthier to make bedtime “as pleasant and calm as possible.” And that source said a regular, predictable schedule is the best option. It also said, “All of the scientific evidence shows us that babies with a consistent bedtime routine sleep better and longer than babies with an inconsistent (or non-existent!) bedtime routine.” It’s good for babies in the womb, by the way. Also, I found out there are actually sleep consultants these days. Yeah, I know. You’d think nobody would need to consult somebody else on how to sleep. But obviously, you’d be wrong. One pediatric sleep consultant said that a good night’s sleep for your child begins with a bedtime routine. She even has a website with online courses and 1:1 coaching sessions. Wow. Who’d’ve thunk it? Anyway,  she recommends parents “sing a song” (preferably the same song, she says) at bedtime. OK, sing a song. But what song? “A calming song, sung in a soothing manner, either while the child is rocked in the parent’s arms or patted in the crib, tends to work well,” is what the expert said. And she added, “The important thing is to keep that last soothing step as similar as possible from one day to the next. Predictability in itself is soothing for infants and young children.” Imagine that. Even the smallest kids love and appreciate dependable, loving care. The article I read said there’s no reason to stress if you don’t know which songs to sing. The little ones just need to hear your voice. And they added a link to a “curated lullaby playlist.” But there’s no need to go anywhere else. Because your ol’ buddy, Tony, has already got you covered. Just in case you’re new around here, I have some original lullabies that thousands of American families (and even some in other countries) have enjoyed for years. Best part is, they’re not cutesy. Like one kids’ store owner said, “They’re not the typical kids songs you hear everywhere else!” I’ve heard good things from parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, store owners, and others. So, I know babies, infants, toddlers, and kids benefit from lullaby songs. That’s why I’ve written and produced so many. The first collection I put together is called “Lullabye Bye.” And I published a sing-along coloring book with all the lyrics to that collection. Best part is, there’s a super secret link, inside the book, where you can download all the songs. So, kids don’t just get a fun book. They also get free songs to go with the lyrics. Click or tap any of the links to get the book for a special kid today. And when those little ones lie down, they’ll Fall Fast Asleep, Rest Easy, and ride a Peppermint Pony through the Blue Celtic Clouds. Then, when they wake up, you’ll enjoy watching them sing-along as they color and draw in this fun book. Works like a charm. Or, as my good buddy, Greg (who has an impeccable bedtime routine) likes to say, “It’s just good science.” Stay tuned, P.S. I know these lullaby songs aren’t necessarily the most appropriate Halloween gift. But somebody said there’s supposed to be another holiday before the end of the year that might be way better. Can’t think of what it is, right now. But I’ll get back to you. Or you can let me know what it is if know.   The post Bedtime routine is that time in between appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

It’s 33 miles in a round trip. And I read where it’s apparently America’s only “urban byway.” And that means it’s a scenic byway (on the National Register) closer to an urban area (Denver) than any other anywhere. And since it’s part of the “old west” it seems appropriate to call it the Lariat Loop. Not so long ago, we called the Lariat Loop just part of the neighborhood. Because part of the loop was only what we called “two hills away” from where we lived. I found an actual html website (yep, they still exist) with a sort of cartoon mockup of the Lariat Loop. You can find it at this link: https://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/lariat.html  And the page hits the high points you’ll see when you take the drive. Basically, if you start in Golden, Colorado, you drive up Lookout Mountain first. Then you wind around the front range foothills till you pass through Evergreen. And you wind your way back down through Bear Creek Canyon till you get to Morrison. And you go north from there past Red Rocks and back to Golden. OK, that’s all well and good. And you’ll have a nice time even if that’s all you do. But we rarely started the loop in Golden. Because, like I said, part of it was literally only a couple of hills away from our house. So, we drove off Green Mountain and crossed over Dinosaur Ridge (where you can see dinosaur footprints in the rocks) to catch the loop right by Red Rocks Amphitheater. That’s a fairly famous “natural concert hall.” Famous enough to have hosted acts from The Beatles all the way to…well…whatever bands play there now. Then, we headed slightly downhill to the town of Morrison. Now, that’s a town you wouldn’t typically blink twice at if you went there at certain times. But Elgielene and I used to enjoy delicious all-American breakfast dishes there as often as we could. Crispy bacon with eggs and the trimmins. Yum. And all from a tiny diner called the Blue Cow Café. From the Blue Cow Café…I mean, from Morrison, we’d drive up the winding road through Bear Creek Canyon. And we drove through the town of Evergreen. Right in the “downtown district” is the Little Bear Saloon. It’s famous, too. In fact, I remember watching blues player, Buddy Guy, rippin’ some leads on a guitar that looked a little like a modified cigar box. Just a little more up the hill, we drove past the classic Evergreen lake. During the winter, it freezes over and looks like a postcard from the 40’s when skaters take to the ice. From there we headed up North through the outskirts, which is where a lot of the new town growth is, and on toward I-70. There was a short jaunt across I-70 to the Genesee exit. And that’s where we’d cross over I-70 to take the rest of the byway. But we didn’t always just keep driving. Because right there, is where we could take pictures of real, live buffaloes. Up close and almost personal. Well, fairly close. And as personal as having a strong fence in between you will let you feel. After watching the buffalo roam, we’d follow the winding road, across the smaller front range mountains. Through some lazy, mountain neighborhoods, till we reached the turn-off for the Buffalo Bill Museum and souvenir shop. I remember the first time I ever went into that log cabin styled museum. There was a big, electric gunfighter in one corner by the stairs. And he had some sort of motion detector built in. Because you could walk by, and he’d “come to life” and say (in kind of a Yosemite Sam voice)… “Ya better reach for the sky, you ornery polecat!” Or something to that effect. As I recall, he could say a few different things to taunt you into a gunfight. And you try your luck. It was an interactive quickdraw game. And if you drew faster, he’s say something like, “Aahh! Ya got me! Looks like I’m gonna be pushin’ up daisies.” Anyway…it ain’t high tech. But it also ain’t dark, bloody stuff like video games these days. Oh yeah, can’t forget…outside the museum, and up the hill a little, are the graves of Buffalo Bill (aka William Cody) and his wife. So, there’s a photo opp, too. It’s pretty much all downhill from there. Literally. Because you wind on down Lookout Mountain. On a road that, with almost every turn, gives you a view of the whole Denver metro area. It’s a couple of thousand feet higher in elevation than the city. So, yeah, grande vistas. (That’s Spanish for big looks. It is. Look it up.) OK, I told you all that for a reason. And that reason is because I want to sell you something. Wait, wait! Don’t go away. Because what I’m gonna sell you is something your little kids are gonna love. It’s a combination songbook, coloring book, and drawing book. And one of the songs, in this Western-themed collection, is “The Lariat Loop.” It’s a fun, musical description of the whole loop I just took you on. And the reason I call it a songbook is because there’s a super secret link to all the songs in the book. You can use that link to download all the songs that go with the lyrics in the book. For fa-ree. If you know a little kid (or kids) who’d love to go to sleep to Western lullabies, the link to get your book is below. Here’s a snippet of the Lariat Loop lyrics… On the Lariat Loop where the blue cows play And the buffaloes smile for the cameras all day Through the Golden skies where the eagles swoop You’ll be dreamin’ tonight…of the Lariat Loop. (from the song, “Lariat Loop” off the Bedtime Buckaroos collection) © 2012 Tony Funderburk Here’s that link: (https://www.amazon.com/Bedtime-Buckaroos-Sing-along-color/dp/B0898WLZ5L) Stay tuned, The post Lariat Loop where the eagles swoop appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Infinitely creative. That’s the way you might imagine somebody who could conjure up designs for the universe and everything in it. And if you found out that the same person could get it all built in only six days, you might start to think, “This is no ordinary person.” And that would be the understatement of all time. Because there’s one who can be infinitely creative. Surely I don’t have to tell you who that is. Right? Oh sure, I know your first thought was probably, “Hey, Tony’s talking about himself. What an arrogant so and so.” But then you remembered, “Wait a minute…Tony’s not infinite. Maybe it’s not him! And then it probably occurred to you, “Oh, I know. I’ll bet he’s talking about God.” Followed by the obligatory forehead slap. Then, it all started flooding back into your mind. All those amazing designs that sprang into existence during The Very First 6 Days of creation. Our tiny minds can hardly imagine how all that could have happened just because God commanded it. He just spoke the words. And the universe appeared. I love letting my imagination wander when I read the story of creation in Genesis. And that’s why I decided to write a rhyming book for kids. So they could hear the rhymes and imagine it, too. I’m sharing the section from the first day. Get the whole colorful paperback, on Amazon, for your kids. It makes the days of creation easy to understand and remember. Because it rhymes. Kids love that. Before there were created things like water and fresh air… No world or human beings were existing anywhere. Then God created earth and sea and all the heavens too. There was no sun, no moon, no stars, and only God shone through. He looked down at the waters and the dark face of the deep. The earth was still and quiet just as we are when we sleep. He said, “Let there be light” the way a perfect, true God could, And then He saw the brand new light and knew that it was good. Then God divided light and dark, and darkness He called Night. The light would be called Day, and it was pleasing in His sight. That evening and that morning wouldn’t be the total sum… No, that was just the very first day…five were yet to come. Stay tuned, Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device. My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt Or how about some music for kids The post Infinitely creative with love that’s qualitative appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Sing along songs for little buckaroos Way back in history…all the way back to the early 2000’s…there lived a seasoned songwriter. And he wrote whole collections of sing along songs for kids. Parents from far and near would buy those songs on little pieces of round plastic called CD’s. And their kids loved ’em. The songwriter sang lots of sing along songs, personalized songs, and lullabies. And one of the most popular CD’s was called “Bedtime Buckaroos.” But you could only listen to the songs on those little pieces of round plastic, called CD’s. Because there were no words included. And parents asked him to come up with a way to share the words, too. So, the seasoned songwriter looked high and low for a solution. And one day he exclaimed to himself, “A-ha! I have it. I’ll publish a book with all the words to the songs. But I’ll also make it a drawing and coloring book. Kids love that. And he started right away. And he began the work of collecting the words, putting them in the right order, and adding pictures. There were songs about ponies, eagles, coyotes, buffaloes, stars, angels, and even a blue-eyed armadillo. It was a lot to gather up. Finally, after days of organizing, he had the pages to the book all ready to publish. Then, he jumped in his digital delivery rocket and zoomed into the Amazon, a big jungle of books from all around the world. And there were so many other books, the seasoned songwriter wasn’t sure if anyone could ever find his. But, he wasn’t the kind of songwriter who’d let that stop him. So, he beamed the words and pictures into the upload portal straight to those gigantic digital bookshelves. Now, the songwriter knew it wouldn’t be right to make people buy the music and the words separately. So, he decided to make it all easy to get in one place. But you’ll have to wait to see where that place is. Because it’ll be a special place only special people will know about. Good news is…you’re one of those special people. And the seasoned songwriter will soon let you know where to find it all. In the meantime… Sing about laughing and smiling today. Don’t let anything get in your way. Remember that you’re a unique design. And singing helps you be a friend of mine. You should jump on the The TRUTH and be part of the growing band of ne’er-do-wells who understand that life has Rhyme and Reason because God made us. Stay tuned, The post Sing along songs where a book belongs appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Don’t do these things “Don’t” is a book with a list of things not to do. The funny thing is…you can’t do these things. Even if you wanted to. There’s also a song about it (which you can hear in the The Power of God’s Love Podcast version of this post) and an illustrated downloadable version. “Don’t make mistakes unless you’re wrong.” A few years ago I was asked to play music for a party hosted by a local Christian school in a suburb of Denver. And the kids ranged, in age, from first grade to 12th grade. But the majority of kids who were there were probably 10 and under. So, I played a wide variety of music. But I started highlighting some of my goofy songs for the younger kids. When I got to my song, “Don’t”, I noticed a couple of little girls laughing. When I finished the song, I asked them what they were laughing at. “That was a funny song,” they said. “Would you play it again?” So, I started playing it, and they got a couple more of their friends to listen. And they all giggled as I sang the words. Then, a few more little kids saw the others laughing and came over. Before the song was finished, there were about a dozen kids laughing along to the words. Of course, I liked that. Because it showed me what worked for a certain age group. And that led to the book by the same name. I got myself some easy illustration software by FableVision, and created the drawings in the book. It shows the same silly looking character, on each page, doing what the book says not to do. Or he’s not doing what you’re not supposed to do. Or…well, you’ll have to get the book to see. https://www.tonyfunderburk.com/rhyme-and-reason-bookshop Stay tuned, Share this link with everybody you know, so they can jump on the The TRUTH (My regular emails about the essentials of life, AND get some music and other good stuff, for Fa-Ree) The post Don’t drink a cola up your nose or put a building on your toes appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Put on Your Music Pajamas There once was a little kid named Meep who didn’t like to sleep. He thought the whole world would disappear while his eyes were closed. Could a simple, silly pair of music pajamas change Meep’s mind about what happened when he closed his eyes? Music pajamas are just a continuation of infatuation. When I was a kid, I had a vivid imagination. I’d watch an old Superman TV show and imagine there must be some way to fly. If I could just figure out the magic combination. Maybe it was the cape. Or some sort of mental concentration. And while I was busy working out the details for flight, I was forgetting the whole bounce bullets off my chest thing. Oh well, I was a kid. What did I know? Something else that always got my mind in conjure mode was music. No one knew (but now you know) how much time I’d spend just pondering the wonders of the universe while listening to music. Especially during those long, hot summer days in rural Kansas. And I didn’t realize, at the time, I was forming the building blocks for my own songs to come one day. And one more thing I can remember, that ties in with this, is how much I loved getting new pajamas for Christmas. There was just nothing like the feel of new pajamas, after a bath, and climbing into clean sheets. Oh man, I could catch me some serious Z’s with that combination. But I still wouldn’t have guessed I’d one day write a song about a special pair of pajamas. Or how I’d publish a book about those magical PJ’s after that. Here’s a short excerpt from the book, “Music Pajamas” “Sure enough…a magical melody started playing. It sounded like butter and honey…no wait…it sounded like ice cream and cake…no wait…well, never mind…it was awesome. And Meep’s mom started singing to the tune” “It’s time…to let the daylight fly…away…but we don’t have to cry…because…another day will dawn real soon.” Get your downloadable book here. Get both the ePub & PDF versions in one download for only $4, and you’ll be able to read “Music Pajamas” on almost any device. Your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Daily Devotional . It comes directly to your inbox so you spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy. The form can be filled in the actual website url. Stay tuned, The post Music pajamas mamas llamas and the Bahamas appeared first on Tony Funderburk.