Sunday, December 9, 2018

the STONE




The STONE



Slumbering peacefully in the warm depths of the Earth,
He spoke and we became, molten, His energy our mirth.

But, pressures soon began to force us apart.
We soon cooled, and hardening began to start.

Granite, bedrock, such names we would be called.
Mountains, whole ranges, the nations we walled.

Fallen creation would groan and would quake.
And, many of us, from the rest we would break.

Fragments, down from the heights, into the darkness did roll.
Far away from the sunrise, no purpose, no glory, no goal?!

Then came the children, “king of the mountain” on me they’d play!
But, then came sons of Adam, “this stone here cannot stay! Take it away”

With chisels and hammers, they cut and whittled me down.
Like a shorn lion, just cold and gray and smooth and nearly round.

What are they doing? For a tomb?!  Am I nothing more than a door?
Banished, abused, tossed away, forgotten, barely a stone anymore!?

Once long ago, a stone followed them along, providing much needed water.
One he called the “Stone,” of his closest, one of the Twelve, known as Peter!

Some selected, as part of an altar, Adam’s sons through blood to be reclaimed.
Another a pillow, then memorial, for one who wrestled all night, by an angel renamed.

Oddly, I once heard “the stone they rejected” was one of His names?!
And, He said that if need be, we stones His glory would shout and proclaim!

But, the One who calmed the seas, was behind me entombed, with a Roman seal.
And, the guards wrestled me into place and whispered, “stone, be still.”

Three dreary days slowly had passed, and this stone, unbelievably, rolled away.
The cold One on the slab, with a hint of a grin, whispered, “Today is the Day!”

This old stone, from some forgotten crag, with creation’s deep impulse, then rolled UP the hill.
Though the angels reached out, their Maker to obey; their hands I did barely even feel?!

The disappointments, the isolation, this seemingly abused life is my story.
It has all been leading to that moment:  around, down, then up, all to His glory!

My place is secured in the story of the followers of the Cross.
Even if my exact place on this Rock has now been seemingly lost.

This story is not about places nor things nor relics to which they cling.
It is all about, ever, always and only about Jesus,  the Heavenly King


One of his Twelve wrote of this Rock melting with fervent heat?!
Maybe, we will start over, and as before, feel the tread of His feet?

But, what seemed like forever, centuries, even eons, waiting so long.
This stone’s witness is now written down, even lately recorded in song!






























.
Glorious Day (Living He loved me) ~Casting Crowns –

Songwriters: Michael Bleecker / Mark Hall

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One bringing
My Savior Jesus is mine

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
Glorious day
Oh glorious day


(mad, midnight musings of a messed-up mind   spurred by a line in a hymn, this morning)

Saturday, August 4, 2018

the Serpent's Hiss-s-s-s


The Serpent’s Hiss-s-s-s


Before Your holy throne we ever come as sinners.

The best of us are but weak, shortsighted strugglers.

Sadly, many have ceased; into the void they settled.

Yet, a few proudly, defiantly proclaim to be “sanctified”?!



Just how are we possibly ever going to even survive?

This snake-pit is dark, deep, demonic and is strong!

Our sinful hearts are split asunder, and severely soiled!

How can our journey through this valley ever succeed?





Jesus, the Snake’s head You surely must stomp!

You alone ever will be our sanctuary and salvation!



The demons back to Hell, You can with a word dismiss!

Our only hope to conquer and thrive, will always be this,

Our feeble efforts engendered and enlivened by Your Spirit!

You alone are our hope, our life, our Lord, our only assurance!



Sunday, July 29, 2018

TRIBULATION

TRIBULATION

Let there be celebration.
Not just hopeless toleration.


Tumbling into consternation,
Pushed toward my destination?!


Turn to Him in desperation,
Thanking Him for maturation.


Let it be for my education.
A higher plane of elevation.


Then to Him give all adoration.
He is working my sanctification.


Soon will be my glorification,
arising to Him, above tribulation!


Celebrate, not just tolerate.
Let it educate and elevate.


Be not stressed; pass the test!

Thursday, July 5, 2018

ANGER

ANGER

"19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." (James 1)


ANGER is... (an ode to wrath)

No matter my choice, somehow there is anger.
Somebody is shaking their head and giving me the "fanger"!
Make a bad turn in traffic, and there is now danger.
You now have an enemy, who before was a stranger?!

Anger is insidious.

On my new, unblemished truck there is now a ding!
Some fool in the parking lot cares not how that stings?!
Isn't life really about me and all of my things?!
The answer is surely known by Google, or maybe Bing?!

Anger is pandemic.

I am a conservative, and you are a liberal.
Cross me again, and it might be your funeral!
Far from the Garden, we yet suffer from the Fall.
Right or left, white or black, angry are we all?!

Anger is pervasive.

Take a deep breath, and for a moment, step back.
Ask, "for my part, what is it that I lack?"
With no Wind in our sail, how can we change our tack?
Where are we headed?  Calm seas, or into the black?

Anger is destructive.

Is it greed or poverty causing all the stress?
Maybe I just need contentment, with much or less?
With His grace I have already been overly blessed!
Now, how shall we respond to what may be His test?!

In our anger, biting and clawing, will we all be consumed?
I fear lest we change we are all surely doomed.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

40 YEARS

40 YEARS

Wandering around forty years in the wilderness,
Without faith they had sorely failed the test.
Back to bondage in Egypt they thought they'd go;
What He was doing, they stubbornly just did not know.

Forty years ago, together, we this journey began.
All I can say is "I would love to do it all again!"
In faith we have watched Him cause the waters to part.
Providing and guiding, we were always, ever in His heart.

Like father Abraham, we left family to a land unknown.
Like two sparrows, by the Wind we were ever blown!
Yes! His eye was upon us, always,  wherever we went.
Though, sometimes His guidance was barely a whispered hint?!

Friends we have made all along the winding way.
Without them we would not be the same today?!
Many, many are the memories, both joys and tears.
But, O, so quickly have slipped by the years.

A new child came, every time the anchor we'd hoist!
Thinking of them now, only makes my eyes moist.
Along came a princess, and then, next came two prophets.
Now they have grown and flown, with their own little eaglets.

Long ago, You planned these forty years of bliss,
With us journeying on, collecting "what is this"!
We have picked up grace, mercy,  and forgiveness for starts.
Two becoming one; the whole greater than the parts.

Decades ago, I nervously reached for your soft hand.
Later, though foiled, a stolen kiss was my wishful plan!
So far, forty years we have thankfully been given.
Two decades more? Maybe! But, forever together, beside you in Heaven!

For ever and ever!
Melanie and Jerry.

Thank you, Jesus.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

SOMETIMES

SOMETIMES

Sometimes, I almost touch the unreachable.
Sometimes, I almost hear the silence of eternity.
Sometimes, I almost see the invisible.
Sometimes, I almost comprehend the mystery.
Sometimes, I almost taste that for which I hunger, but cannot obtain.
Sometimes ... moments of ...  glimpses of the secret ... sometimes ...

O Father,
Lift me up to unattainable heights, craggy aeries! beyond the starry constellations! into your very Throne Room!
Whisper in my ear what even angels cannot hear.
Open my eyes to visions of the other.
Wrap my mind around fathomless truth.
Seat me at your banquet table and let me ever feast.
Not sometimes, but always and forever!

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

REGRETS

REGRETS
1. All the books not read.
2. The novels I never wrote.
3. All the lost untold.
4. Places not seen.
5. Time wasted.
6. Sins indulged.
7. Insights eluded.
8. Love unexpressed.
9. Friends neglected.
10. Opportunities squandered.
11. Hungry unfed.
12. Destitute unhelped.