Seems like nobody can keep a secret. And when just one person lets the cat out of the bag, so to speak, it’s not long before everybody knows about it. Then, Katie, bar the door.

About 2000 years ago, a man named Paul traveled all around telling the very same secret I’m about to share with you. The big difference was that he shared a secret nobody had ever heard before. In fact, he called it a mystery.

It was a mystery because God CAN keep a secret.

But Paul wanted everybody to know the answer to the mystery. You might wonder how Paul found out about it. Well…Jesus told him.

Yep, Paul heard all about this special secret directly from the Creator of the universe.

So, of course, what he discovered was true? Jesus never lies. And He wanted Paul to go tell everyone the news. At first Paul wasn’t sure if he could believe his eyes and ears. But Jesus proved He was real and that Paul could trust Him. Once that happened Paul was filled with joy and courage. He began to tell anybody who would listen about Jesus.

But Paul didn’t just tell everybody what kind of a person Jesus was. He told everybody why Jesus came to earth. And why He had to be killed and rise from the dead. And the secret was that Jesus did all that so we could all know Him like a personal friend.

God had kept that secret for thousands of years. Before anybody knew about Jesus, the only way to get to Heaven was to keep ALL the rules that God gave Moses to present to His people.

But nobody was ever able to keep all those rules. The Jews tried. But they just couldn’t do it. They were just like you and me. We want to be good all the time, but somehow we just can’t do it.

I know I can’t. I’m sure you can’t either.

Well, thanks to God choosing not to keep a secret hidden, you don’t have to be good all the time. And you don’t have to follow all those rules from the Jewish people from thousands of years ago.

No, the good news, the secret, is this: believe in Jesus. He lived here on earth in the same world as the rest of us. And He never did anything wrong. And He kept all the rules. He lived a perfect life. And He showed us perfect love by paying the price for sin so you and I wouldn’t have to.

Here’s a rhyme so simple even kids can remember…

The best secret ever told was just for you
And everybody on the planet, too.
Share the secret, let it out. Jump into the air and shout…
Trust in Jesus and there’s nothing else to do.

If you can keep a secret, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

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It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Stay tuned,

The post Keep a secret or not? Is this what you thought/ appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Because those traits are important, Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth and said: “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.”

And that’s how I like it, too. Simplicity and sincerity.

I know those aren’t the buzzwords these days. Most people like to share the words “genuine” and “authenticity.” But I’ve noticed how often, even when they say you should keep it simple, it takes them anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to describe that. But, then again, that’s just there idea of authenticity.

Seth Godin, a well-known marketing “guru” answered an interviewer’s question about authenticity in a way I really appreciated. He said something like, “Forget about authenticity. Instead, focus on consistency.” And then he explained how showing up consistently, by default, reveals your so-called authenticity.

I don’t recall if he ever addressed sincerity. But my guess is, if he did, that would also be included in showing up consistently. Because think of it this way, if you were there for your friends consistently, don’t you think they will take it for granted that you’re doing it with sincerity?

The apostle Paul was able to prove his sincerity with his letters to the different churches in his day. And his message, when you boil it down, was simple. Love your neighbor.

And that comes directly from Jesus.

He certainly knew the cause and effect of simplicity and sincerity. That’s why, in His new message of grace, he said all the commandments could be boiled down to two. Love the Lord your God. And love your neighbor as yourself.

I dare you to find anyone, in all of history, who’s even remotely as sincere as Jesus. But don’t accept my dare. Because I’m sure your life is too busy to go chasing futility. Especially when you can keep it this simple…

Would you like to live forever
Under Heavenly skies?
Then go get some understanding
In God’s word and be wise. © 2016 TF

If you like it simple and sincere, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

Get Rhyme and Reason delivered to your inbox for free.

It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Stay tuned,

The post Simplicity and sincerity should never be a rarity appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Many times, in sports, you’ll hear an announcer say something like, “Man, he really gave his all.” Or you might hear “Wow, she gave all she had to get to this event.” Well, have you ever said “I give you all” to anyone?

You should love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.

And there’s a place in the New Testament where it says that. But do you do it?

I don’t.

It brings me no pleasure, in fact, it pains me to say it. But I don’t give my all to God. And that’s in spite of the fact that I love my Creator. I’m blessed and thrilled to know that I have a Risen Savior. Jesus was totally innocent of all crimes. But He was still put to death in a horrible way. For me. And for you. But I know I don’t put all my heart, soul, strength, and mind into loving Him on a full-time basis. I bet you don’t either.

He made the ultimate sacrifice for us. And all He asks for in return is love. But all of us puny humans focus more on ourselves and the things of this world. Wouldn’t it be great to know why that is?

Well, Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (that’s you unless you’re a Jew), gave us clear insight into this problem. He used himself as an example. He talked about how the right things he wanted to do, he didn’t do. And the wrong things he didn’t want to do…those he did. Then he explained that “…in my flesh, nothing good dwells“.

If something is truly good…not merely good according to the low standards of this world…then it should lead to eternal life. Your flesh doesn’t do that. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a 1:1 ratio of births to deaths in the world. No one escapes the “wages of sin“. But you can escape having to pay for them forever. That’s gonna require some humility. But if you want eternal life you can look forward to with complete assurance, just tell Him…

I Give You All

You gave my heart
A way to touch you, Lord.
You gave my eyes
A gift to see and recall.
And You gave me stars…
To guide me through my lonely fear.
I give you all…I give you all.

You gave me words,
And they can reach the sky.
And You gave my soul
Salvation out of the fall.

You gave me dawn,
To savor all you gave me, Lord.
I give you all…I give you all. (chorus)

I give you all…my worries and my fear.
I give you all…and I can feel you near.
And I give you all…you dry up every tear.
I give you all…I give you all.

You gave me nights…
That shine your silver stars.
You gave me time,
To change my ways and stand tall…
You gave me hope,
That in my weakness I am strong.
I give you all…I give you all. (Lyrics © 2009 Cristina Miller)

That song is one of eleven original songs I recorded and produced when I was the praise and worship leader at a small Denver church. Download the whole collection with a link in the handy, useful songbook journal you’ll find here: https://www.TonyFunderburk.com/rtpsongbook (paperback available, too)

Stay tuned,

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