CONTROVERSIAL TREASURE gospel poems and thoughts by Doug Blair
CONTRARY VIEW that Jesus might give them eyes... copyright Doug Blair, 2016, Waterloo, ON
Obliteration
I’m watching as my sand runs out I’m living to the full I gather all the good times up I strive and push and pull. I like the pace, oh yes I do And many call me blessed It’s like a nose and grindstone thing I seldom get to rest. But then last night I turned the dial And got a preacher’s rant That Jesus was the only way But man, I won’t… I can’t. The end is just the end you see I mean to put it off And gather all the chips I can Before this frame I doff. And nothing-ness is my next step No pain and no regret No Golden City for the saved No flames of wrath I bet.
And when my last breath leaves the show That guy says I will wake With endless wails and God elsewhere With Truth I failed to take.
First Corinthians Four
9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You aredistinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
It’s My River
My river is mine own and I have made it for myself (Ezekiel 29:3)
How ridiculous the prophet thinks. A man in Egypt, Pharaoh a supposed god-king. He is attributing all of his glory and success to his own doing. He, like the fabulous Nile beside him, alone is worthy of worship and credit. He is the only god or arbiter of record! And he is about to be immeasurably humbled by the God of angel armies.
This Egypt and its attitude had been a stumbling block repeatedly for the children of Abraham. When facing an adversary the cry had been issued to “go back to Egypt” for
reinforcements. God through other spokesmen had insisted that such unbelief would only strengthen the enemy against them.
We stumble today with the same pride and false hope: “Yep, all of this good fortune has come about because of MY good work ethic and MY nose to the grindstone. Difficult for a while, but then the sunshine came through gloriously. I have lived by this rule of thumb.”
Friend you have lived in ignorance listening to the spirit of the world (1 John 2: 15-18). A merciful God may put you flat on your back for a while; to realize your true source and Providence.
The Church would do well to preach Providence and Sovereignty at least as much as it preaches faith, miracles and “successful” Christian living.
Judas Departs
I can’t believe, I won’t believe, That this is how it goes. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, A victim of his foes! The man who won the crowds with food, With talks of realms of peace, A fool, who should have used such power To gain the Jews’ release! For Rome could not have proved a match For quickened Hebrew zeal, The kind that often sparked their eyes,
While he would teach or heal. But he is fixed upon a path Of suffering and shame; And says that such may be the lot Of those who bear his name. Pathetic! Just a mendicant! No current house or trade! Depending on the charity Of friends, recently made. And now he bids us share his feast In Passover retreat… Behold, the Master strips himself To wash and soothe our feet! A common slave would do the task In any other case, But Jesus still perversely seeks The lowly servant’s place. It is enough! I can’t go on; Hence, I have seized a plan To set the stage for his arrest, And merchandise the man. Jesus, you proved a dreamer That the times can ill afford. I can’t believe; I won’t believe; And so I leave, M’Lord.
What's the Sense of It?
I hear people express their resentment at the thought that they are accountable to a sovereign God. "Nope don't give me that guilt and making amends stuff. I have always done the best I can my own way. I just don't buy the idea of an uncreated First Cause of all there is. Bible thumpers obviously hate any serious considerations of science. They check their brains at the front door of their church. I believe that we have what we make of it." Now place these individuals in the squeeze of some serious dilemma, hardship or sickness and they will be the first to say, "I just don't understand it. If God is so powerful and so full of love, how could he allow such a terrible thing to happen. I just couldn't submit to such a one and call Him the best." Well isn't that interesting. In the first instance they sound like die-hards for free will. In the second instance they want God to be Master Puppeteer pulling all the right strings. They seem to leave no room for the wicked actions or decisions of others; neither do they consider ongoing corruption in a planet soiled by sin. Any way you look at it they just don't want God. Nevertheless the day will come, and perhaps too late, when they will have to acknowledge that He is Lord and His Son is Messiah.
A Look at Madam Bubble
(Taken from Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan) STANDFAST: Aye, aye, I saw Heedless and Too-bold there; and for ought I know, there they will lie till they rot. Prov. 10:7. But let me go on with my tale. As I was thus musing, as I said, there was one in very pleasant attire, but old, who presented herself to me, and offered me three things, to wit, her body, her purse, and her bed. Now the truth is, I was both weary and sleepy. I am also as poor as an owlet, and that perhaps the witch knew. Well, I repulsed her once and again, but she put by my repulses, and smiled. Then I began to be angry; but she
mattered that nothing at all. Then she made offers again, and said, if I would be ruled by her, she would make me great and happy; for, said she, I am the mistress of the world, and men are made happy by me. Then I asked her name, and she told me it was Madam Bubble. This set me further from her; but she still followed me with enticements. Then I betook me, as you saw, to my knees, and with hands lifted up, and cries, I prayed to Him that had said he would help. So, just as you came up, the gentlewoman went her way. Then I continued to give thanks for this my great deliverance; for I verily believe she intended no good, but rather sought to make stop of me in my journey. MR. HONEST: Without doubt her designs were bad. But stay, now you talk of her, methinks I either have seen her, or have read some story of her. STANDFAST: Perhaps you have done both. MR. HONEST: Madam Bubble! Is she not a tall, comely dame, something of a swarthy complexion? STANDFAST: Right, you hit it: she is just such a one. MR. HONEST: Doth she not speak very smoothly, and give you a smile at the end of a sentence? STANDFAST: You fall right upon it again, for these are her very actions. MR. HONEST: Doth she not wear a great purse by her side, and is not her hand often in it, fingering her money, as if that was her heart’s delight. STANDFAST: ‘Tis just so; had she stood by all this while, you could not more amply have set her forth before me, nor have better described her features. MR. HONEST: Then he that drew her picture was a good limner, and he that wrote of her said true.
MR. GREAT-HEART: This woman is a witch, and it is by virtue of her sorceries that this ground is enchanted. Whoever doth lay his head down in her lap, had as good lay it down on that block over which the axe doth hang; and whoever lay their eyes upon her beauty are counted the enemies of God. This is she that maintaineth in their splendor all those that are the enemies of pilgrims. James 4:4. Yea, this is she that has bought off many a man from a pilgrim’s life. She is a great gossiper; she is always, both she and her daughters, at one pilgrim’s heels or another, now commending, and then preferring the excellences of this life. She is a bold and impudent slut: she will talk with any man. She always laugheth poor pilgrims to scorn, but highly commends the rich. If there be one cunning to get money in a place, she will speak well of him from house to house. She loveth banqueting and feasting mainly well; she is always at one full table or another. She has given it out in some places that she is a goddess, and therefore some do worship her. She has her time, and open places of cheating; and she will say and avow it, that none can show a good comparable to hers. She promiseth to dwell with children’s children, if they will but love her and make much of her. She will cast out of her purse gold like dust in some places and to some persons. She loves to be sought after, spoken well of, and to lie in the bosoms of men. She is never weary of commending her commodities, and she loves them most that think best of her. She will promise to some crowns and kingdoms, if they will but take her advice; yet many has she brought to the halter, and ten thousand times more to hell. STANDFAST: Oh, said Standfast, what a mercy is it that I did resist her; for whither might she have drawn me! MR. GREAT-HEART: Whither? nay, none but God knows whither. But in general, to be sure, she would have drawn thee into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1 Tim. 6:9. ‘T was she that set Absalom against his father, and Jeroboam against his master. ‘T was she that persuaded Judas to sell his Lord; and that prevailed with Demas to forsake the godly pilgrim’s life. None can tell of the mischief that she doth. She makes variance betwixt rulers and subjects, betwixt parents and children, betwixt neighbor and neighbor, betwixt a man and his wife, betwixt a man and himself, betwixt the flesh and the spirit. Wherefore, good Mr. Standfast, be as your name is, and when you have done all, stand.
PSSSST, We Win!
First Corinthians Four: 9-14 (cited above)
People in the Church read these verses and almost despair. They bemoan the disappearance of prayer from public gatherings, the roadblock to the Gideon mission of Bible distribution to the public schools, the scarcity of Bethlehem images on the decorated windows. They suggest that if we do not speak out against such discrimination against the faith, perhaps in a generation or two Christ will be a stranger to Canada. The inference is that if "We" do not act or witness in holy zeal, God's plan will be compromised. Just STOP IT! He has limitless agents, words planted, refrains overheard, shining incidents of love shared and sacrifice offered. Peter even says in his first letter that godly women may win over the commitment of their errant husbands, "without the word" by their testimony of meek, reverent, gracious living. The sovereign plan of a sovereign God is on track. The life-begetting influence of the Word is still in circulation. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit is still softening. Now I am not saying that the Church is to stand by in idleness. Only this morning again in service I was reminded of "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things." (Romans 10:14,15) I am just exhorting all to refrain from fretting over the state of things. If you are overwhelmed by surrounding callousness, unbelief, profanity, cynicsm or haughtiness you need only read again the message of Psalm 37 and FRET NOT. I remember our children reading in home school a novel entitled "Martyrs of the Catacombs". Author unknown. Apparently it was found in a sea chest on a commercial vessel at port. Ancient Roman times. Authorities exasperated by the new influence of Christ followers, and rooting them out for public humiliation and death. The protagonist, a soldier of middle rank, has been given the assignment to discover these hidden ones and their strange ethic, and to
gather them for public sport in the arena. What he finds is simply that which was predicted by Jesus, that the love of the brethren for each other would convict the world that God the Father had sent the Son (John 17: 22, 23). The fellowship of the believers, their courageous martyrdom, the mutual respect in their gatherings, their harmlessness, the calm of their leaders. All such influences work upon the soldier, changing him from antagonist to brother in the faith, ultimately at the cost of his own life.
The Gospel of love and of peace is unstoppable.
Degeneracy
Recently I was pleased to rediscover an old book which I had given to a friend. It is entitled "Thirsting for the Springs"(@1907) by J.H. Jowett. I find many helpful hints in it concerning the development of a right spirit of devotion. Conversely warnings are given to avoid tendencies to coldness, indifference and contamination. The third message (there are 26 of them) is entitled "The Degeneracy of a Soul". It examines the course of declension summarized in Psalm 12. The warnings are doubly true for this disconnectd society of a century later. Hear the following: "This Psalm marks off the steps of social degradation. The steps of transition are clearly indicated. We can see the progressive descents from the worship of God to the exaltation of vileness. Sense after sense is benumbed ; nerve after nerve is atrophied ; perception after per ception is impaired ; until the entire body of human relationships, which was intended by God to be the home of all manner of refined
and delicate sympathies, becomes a mass of hard and callous selfishness, in which all the ties of rarer communion are destroyed." The entrance to this dark cave is a cooling off of the sense of reverence. "The decay of the sense of reverence. 'The godly man ceaseth.' The beginning of de generacy is to lose touch with God. We lose our touch of God when we cease to 'feel after Him.' It is the effort to feel, that preserves the sensitive touch. The intense effort to dis cern a thing through the finger tips gives the blind almost a new sense, and the intense striving to feel God, endows the soul with the powers of fine apprehension. It is here that so many of us fail in the attainment of a lofty spirituality. We only exercise ourselves in 'feeling', in the crisis and emergencies of life, and as these are only of rare occurrence, our exercisings are infrequent. Men who are to become spiritual experts in apprehending God, must feel after Him through the common places of the ordinary day. They must feel after Him in their daily bread, in the humble duty, in lowly affection, in the little ministries of the obscure way. They must feel after Him in prayer, in aspiration, in meditation. They must 'practise the presence of God', that in the persistent groping after Him, they may attain unto a sensitiveness of touch that per ceives Him everywhere. If we give up the practice, if we only feel after Him in the great contingency, in the hour of sorrow, in the shadow of bereavement, in the heavy disap
pointment, and if we are indolent and sluggish in the long level road of the commonplace, we shall lose our touch of God, and shall inevitably become ungodly." I will stop here. I recommend heartily any of the books of Pastor Jowett. Another good one is "The High Calling" (Philippians).
Peculiar Person
Someone out there today needs to hear that you are not intended to fit in. The pain can come at the workplace, school, neighbourhood, family gathering or corner store. The Church is a body "called out" of something...the trends, the popular news, the cheeky humour, the gossip, the idols and vain interests. We have a stink about us. One of the epistles claims that it is a savour of life unto those being called to Christ, and a stench of death unto those not being drawn by the Gospel. One of the most evidently "born again" characters in the Bible, Peter, the Big Fisherman puts it this way: First Peter 2: 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Not too long ago I was indulging in a pity party about circumstances. Like the comedian Rodney Dangerfield, I heard myself saying, "I don't get no respect". But then the Spirit interjected with a word as to my true situation: Ephesians 6: 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Now I know that this is not news to most of you, but it bears repeating. You are valued, and the half has not yet been told.
Church Behind Chain-Link
I’ll have to think about it. Something is happening here. This morning, H Block’s exercise period, East-side fitness yard. Usual pick-up basketball, Games of catch, Half-hearted aerobics. Twenty minutes out. Kipper got into trouble. Dealer Kipper, old-timer,
The Joint’s entrepreneur. Smokes, bandages, magazines, canned treats. (No rumours of hard stuff.) Went long for a pass. Still pretty fit. Lost track of where he was; Barreled into Dutch’s corner. Dutch, the Man. Protection boss. Double-lifer. Hand in every trick in the Joint. Favours, payments, or else. No love lost between the two. (Something about a disputed “tariff”.) Dutch’s corporals, Lonzo, Turk and Kruger Slammed him against the chainlink. Flurry of arms, feet and Shimmering steel. Kipper, down, motionless, Twisted in frightening posture. Bleeding from the nose, throat, shoulder. Hands on the abdomen. “Doc, get over here, now!” Call me Doc. (Short stint as a para-medic In Philadelphia. Before the armed robbery career.) The scene, heavy: Guts spilled, shoulder perforated. Expert shiv work. Tower guards not moving. Kipper, unresponsive to my efforts. Five terrible minutes. Buddy pressing torn jacket against open wounds.
No vital signs; plodding C.P.R. Somewhere behind me Voices- the guards? Sounds like praying. Parson Eddy on the scene With his hallelujah bunch. Bible class-“born-againers”. I step back. Circle of prayer moves in: “We rebuke death. Devil, Kipper will not be taken! Raise him, Lord, raise him. For your glory.” Variations on this rap continue. Hands on our fallen friend. Three guards, Ed, Nelson and Donny At the periphery, With the stretcher, Watching. “Devil, you have already lost. Our Lord whipped you at Calvary. We rebuke you, in Jesus’ name. We plead the blood of Jesus. Lord, now, like Lazarus. Bring him back.” And then it happened. I swear it. Kipper inhaled. Long and beautiful. A smile graced the bloody lips. The rascal-eyes blinked open. Alive! Jesus! Had to be thirty-five men around, Between us and Dutch’s
Dark corner. Bible class will never be the same. Stretcher work underway. Eddy’s hand placed on my shoulder: “Check out John Chapter Eleven, Doc, John Chapter Eleven.”
Somewhere a Rooster Crows
I’ve read the Gospel story The miracles and such The preaching from the hilltop The crowds He loved so much. The fish and bread For thousands The girl raised from the dead The stormy sailor crossings The supper when He said
His death was at the doorway His blood a new life paves And none would dare stand with Him When Evil rants and raves. And Peter e’er the leader Would cringe, deny his Friend. A fear he thought beyond him Would break him at the end. And I can see the limits To what this story proves That God is good And God is just And hurting ones He loves. But do I need salvation? I try my best ya’ see And over-much religion Is sure to hamper me. A business has me running With corners cut to gain. And friends would soon be shunning If I proclaimed His Name. And pain would come large measure If I turned right around And changed my speech And changed my paths For mercy I had found. No, I must draw the limit For history’s matchless Christ He’s not my Lord
He’s not adored I just won’t pay that price. And surely all these drawbacks Each modern person knows. …What’s that? I hear out yonder Somewhere a rooster crows.
Note: The good news is that some of the “Peters” of this world receive the rebuke, repent and enter into the life of joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8). Given time many see that the systems of men have their own inbred corruption and insanity and that the advertised standard is plagued with falsehood. The truth of the Carpenter from Galilee becomes more and more compelling, and the family that Mercy bought thankfully grows.
LIGHTS COME ON a sampling of Gospel upheavals copyright Doug Blair, Waterloo, ON, 2016
The Concerted Search
This thing never ends And I have a responsibility. Waking in this hotel room Well into days of business. The dream was filled with awe And forewarning. A place without shafts of sunlight Without singing of birds Or laughter of very small children All pink and perfect. Undercurrents of grief Of abandonment On a road irreversible. Hopelessness beyond words Or circumstance. And not about to end. No babies. No new Life. No happy families. The manger Child Came into view. And the bowing of all Eastern wisdom before Him. The happy noises Of the carpenter shop And a Father’s focused coaching. The wanderings of hillside And meadow and marketplace. Heaven’s touch constantly Brought to His mind. The browsing of sacred scrolls And emergence of the Mission.
Seeking, hurting people Relieved at side of Lake By His simple touch or message. Power figures Recoiling and hissing. Their bankruptcy exposed And games of sin manipulation. (Sunday school images all.) The rest followed quickly: The debates, the treachery, The cowardly arrest The ridiculous trials And postures. And a crowd turned animal As if a single unit Beneath the bleeding And beseeching of The One Good Man. Cross-bound‌ In that mutinous unit I saw myself Howling like the rest. Disgusted at the sufferings. Not knowing their import. Until His gaze fell upon me. Not condemning, but reassuring That I could do better. Would do better. There was still time. I awoke. One full minute before The front desk’s calling. I reached out. The bedside drawer held
One of those Gideon Bibles. A concerted search Had been birthed Out of merciful terror And longing. I would become That New Creation. In Christ. The greatest of businesses Now very clear.
Surgical
Procedure is being WELL HANDLED Staff serious, skilled Sensitive All vitals watched throughout Incision precise To the trouble spot Clean white sheets cover All but the place of business Life as we know it Put on hold Others sustain the pulse Size up the enemy Being contested Offer up snip-its of prayer Sweat mopped away Senior practitioner
Senses the weight The responsibility Been there before To good avail Monitors, lights Blip and sing So do the angels (Watching from the Gallery) ...All sewn up Thank you. You're welcome.
Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
The Prize*
She has been gaining on us Our hold heavy With burdensome loot Our riggings pock-marked From the shot of exchanges And the stress of this South Sea.
Duties never change Sometimes lightened with song But many a time On our knees scrubbing. Or hauling sheets Or scampering aloft. We know our lowliness Those skeletons of drink, darkness And debauchery ashore. Captain reads us Psalms Many a morn But the images are so foreign Like an exotic verdant isle Not yet landed. And this other bonnie ship Gaining this late afternoon All sails full and profiting This might be the last Of our nights for this flag. Close watch to lights and breeze We reckon. And who are they? And whose Crown? And will we be shackled Below decks? Or given happy privilege To serve and strain And sing yet again? For a different Captain Headed for a different land? With what seems Totally different purpose.
(* Salvation starts with total despair of self, leading to an overthrow, a boarding, and a subjugation with ultimate gladness to a different Captain and King.)
The Convicting Aspect
In Luke chapter five we have the incident of Jesus instructing Peter to set out again in the morning after a night of futile fishing. A number of possible interpretations have been offered for Peter's response: 'Lord, we have been at this all night to no avail; nevertheless at thy word we will launch out.' The extraordinary yield of fish which followed caused Peter to say "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man." Here is the rabbi, obviously inexperienced in the ways of fishing, showing some supernatural knowledge or authority concerning the fish. Perhaps Peter had responded in sarcasm or in doubt as to Jesus' prospects of success. The Lord's calm, sincere and hopeful demeanour had a convicting effect. It is likely that anyone who got within range of the Master's words or extraordinary deeds would respond in like fashion. In am reminded of one of the Psalms which states, "But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." (Psalm 130: 4) Later in the same chapter of Luke Jesus has healed and forgiven the palsied man lowered through the roof, has incurred the wrath of the scribes and Pharisees for absolving sin, and has gone to dine at the house of Matthew, straight from the publican's bench. His comment is very revealing as to his mission: Luke 5: 31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. These days I hear a lot of talk about mimimizing doctrine and right orthodoxy and maximizing the winsome nature of the Man of Galilee. (See the appended You Tube video with Jan Sjoerd Pasterkamp. His point is that the quest for truth should never surpass the quest for unity. But what about the quest for intimate knowledge of the real Jesus and the real love which only He imparts?) Man hopes to behold the totally righteous One and yearns for an opportunity to unload his sin. Time and again it is shown that Messiah attracts, wounds by the evident contrast of His nature and then ministers healing and a fresh start. In one place in Acts the Gospel is described as "repentance unto life" (chapter 11:18).
Divine Softening
Beneath Thy Cross AM I a stone, and not a sheep, That I can stand, O Christ, beneath thy cross, To number drop by drop Thy Blood's slow loss, And yet not weep? Not so those women loved Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee; Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly; Not so the thief was moved; Not so the Sun and Moon Which hid their faces in a starless sky, A horror of great darkness at broad noon--
I, only I. Yet give not o'er, But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock; Greater than Moses, turn and look once more And smite a rock. By Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
False Guilt
A radio broadcast by Charles Stanley was provocative. He was attempting to help listeners who are debilitated by condemnation and guilt which are not from God. The kind of inner message which suggests, "Ah, you will amount to nothing. You are really of no value. Living a sham. Unlikely to attract any real friends. Nasty. Can't get ahead. Wasting your days." This kind of message is a total put down without specifics. The work of Satan and not of God. Any rebuke from the Father will give you specific ground from which to repent. Weren't the Old Testament prophets always specific? Wasn't Jesus? (Look at Matthew 23) In the case of any such true correction, the proper response is Godly repentance. Take a look at 2 Corinthians 7: 9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear,
yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
But with false guilt there is no hope of recovery short of discerning the Enemy's devices. You will be left feeling unworthy, unsuccessful in prayer, hindered by fear, driven to distracting measures to bury the guilt, restless and never satisfied, motivated by duty and never by honest love. There will be no release, as with true repentance and forgiveness. You will have become the Devil's unwitting "canal horse". Be warned! You must not become the victim of false guilt. A fleeting temptation is not the same as a program of repeated engagement in known sin. Pray for the Spirit's discernment to know the difference. Do not waste another day. Where clearly necessary, repent and be done with it. Jesus has other things in mind for you. He does not expect perfection. Only a heart that intends to move forward on the road with Him.
Not Optional
It seemed like the cream-puff option A trip to my knees Petitions launched upward To Someone, Somewhere While life and duty Pressed forward and inward And anger and self-pity Almost room-mates. But that Saturday In the workshop Knuckles rapped by a slipped wrench
Curses uttered The “one day off” Becoming tiresome. Then two words Out of nowhere “Listen Son” “Whassat?” I couldn’t pass them by Not just foolish imagination And a strange sense Of a Presence. Then it seemed my own thoughts Had the podium ‘You complain Never content Self-pitying Blaming many others Marriage faltering Job on thin ice Never a new day Faced fresh.’ And again, “Listen Son And we’ll talk some.” That was the beginning Workshop turned cathedral Time that I never calculated Turned holy. And He was there for me and mine The Glow returning.
And I started To lift up others.
The Road Home
The land looks much the same And the peaceful country lane, Winding gently past the fields my youth had known; And again I feel the breeze, Hear the birds, smell the trees; But I wonder if a welcome waits at home. Much too long ago it seems, I had yielded to false dreams And embarked a self-sufficient prince, I thought; On a pleasure-seeking quest, With a yearning for life’s best. Oh what woe and waste my birth-right soon had bought! All the women and the wine And the friends I thought were mine Quickly stripped my purse and pride down to the bone,. Then, quite destitute of aid In the mire my ways had made, I remembered bye-gone family times, alone. How the father of my youth Had displayed a love for truth, And for righteous work and ways to chart one’s course.
And no doubt reports had come Of the folly of his son, Of the family riches lost without remorse. Could I somehow still return? Could I live and lose and learn? Could I yet retrieve the joy which I once had? But, unworthy as a son, Let me just return as one Who will toil at servant’s chores and still be glad. As I pace the final mile, I am haunted all the while By the thoughts of how to say what must be said. It seems much too much to me To expect their sympathy, And the look upon my father’s face I dread. But my homecoming is this! First my father’s hug and kiss And his ring and robe placed on my wasted frame. Ere I barely can repent, All the house-servants are sent To prepare a lavish feast held in my name. Oh, the depths of mercy shown By my father for his own; And what patient faith and prayers had led to this. I just had to turn around And abandon wayward ground To receive such sweet forgiveness and such bliss. (What had started out so fine But had left me tending swine
Was a selfish heart beguiling me to roam. Thank you, Father God above For the chastening of your love, That I might find celebration in your home.)
Controversy with David's Psalm (37)
Whadya mean “fret not�? Can't ya see all The wickedness Manipulation Outright oppression Slippery talk Unjust gain Pain and grief Ignored By rogues who Could easily help? Even the King Sold over To darkness. And you say...fret not. Ha! But you say more
Don't you. “Trust” That's a good one Trust others? Trust family, myself? That's pretty shaky. Oh, trust you Lord. But I hardly know you And can you be known? You say “delight” Easy perhaps for the shepherd With the psalms And fresh air and liberty. ...Oh but that shepherd Became the hunted animal Despised and tracked And nearly trapped But got through somehow. And that was you right? Well I've had some Narrow misses too. Should I be thanking you Looking higher for provision And protection? HHHMMM... Obviously that shepherd “Delighted” in you Got to see really That there was No other Source. “Committed” his ways And hopes unto you. Found that he could “Rest” in a mighty confidence Found only in Another. Made the conscious quality Decision to “cease from anger And forsake wrath”. Started to realize That nothing, absolutely nothing Could better the newfound process Of “waiting” upon your majesty Your timing, agenda and pathway. But all that is really Just for your special anointed No? “The steps of a good man are ordered...” Could that ever be me? “You forsake not your saints
They are preserved forever.” Could that ever be me? “The meek shall inherit the earth.” Could that ever be me? This process of delightful dependence? Surely such a God Is all Giver and not Taker. And I think I am beginning to see And I praise you For your justice and mercy And sing out my thanks. Starting now.
Psalm Forty-Eight
Zion is all glorious A testimony sure A dwelling-place for righteousness Befitting God so pure The earthly roads Go elsewhere Reserved for pomp and trade And tinsel tyrants Tremble As brilliant towers are laid. They seek to stop The progress of pilgrims Lifting praise They fear another King Prevails To bless for endless days. His judgments all Are worthy Despondent ones Now cheer. As yet I breathe Lord grant me leave To help the hurting hear.
A New Love
Hear me Child Every time I speak And you attend Love issues forth My love Not the one Learned in Mother's embrace Nor at a nuptial altar Nor lifting up Comrades at arms But my nature Enjoyed eternally With Son and Spirit Embracing all existence Honestly addressing Good bad and Deferred. Offering you Direction and courage Selfless currency For blessing Such as you never Realized before. Even my Son Would not quickly Reveal it to you The Golden Rule Was still an expression Couched in you first “As you would have It done unto you...� That's what He preached Remember? And listeners thought They heard it true. But the better was Still pending Took a capture And a helplessness Strenuously endured By Father and Son And prophesies rang true And Son was glorified And Spirit was sent.
And you have heard that Spirit is love, joy, peace. Long-suffering, faith And other things Truly novel to the planet. Thus love arrived Vibrant and unprecedented Accepting the unlovely Or strenuous or humiliating All for mercy's sake And for fellowship And reproduction Yielding Triune wonders and Birthing joy as never before Consolation's new currency Spreading like Happy milkweed aloft In spring's radiant morn.
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