Past "Poems Of The Month"

Hold high the torch!
You did not light its glow--
'Twas given you by other hands, you know.
'Tis yours to keep it burning bright,
Yours to pass on when you no more need light;
For there are other feet that we must guide,
And other forms go marching by our side;
Their eyes are watching every smile and tear
And efforts which we think are not worthwhile,
Are sometimes just the very helps they need,
Actions to which their souls would give most heed;
So that in turn they'll hold it high and say,
"I watched someone else carry it this way."
If brighter paths should beckon you to choose,
Would your small gain compare with all you'd lose?
Hold high the torch!
You did not light its glow--
'Twas given you by other hands, you know.
I think it started down its pathway bright,
The day the Maker said: "Let there be light."
And He once said, who hung on Calvary's tree--
"Ye are the light of the world."...Go!...Shine--for me.

The "holy season" it is called by books and Christmas cards--
This time when lights and holly are gracing homes and yards,
When anxious Christmas shoppers are thronging store and street,
Rejoicing that the credit card the Christmas bills will meet.
But in spite of lights and holly, of wreaths and gorgeous trees,
My inner man refuses to be satisfied with these.
And sad to say, this season brings the carnal out in me
When money, time and patience are taking wings to flee.
I find myself frustrated when tradition lets me down
And instead of peace and joy I often wear a frown.
And so each year I learn the lesson all should know,
That days and seasons never cause the inner man to glow.
True holiness comes from above where Christ must still entreat,
"Father, let Thy weak one know in Me she is complete."

You Say I Have No Choices?

A few years ago I attended a meeting related to care facility work, and the young speaker made the comment that she had no intention of ever living in a nursing home. Her reasoning was that all of a person’s choices are taken away when they go through the doors of the facility. At that moment, a vision burst into my mind of so many of the nursing home residents whom I have come to know and love in the course of the ministry God has allowed me to share in. They feel all of their losses deeply, but they maintain their high character and grace, even in the worst of circumstances. Invariably, I find that their strength lies in the many years they have labored faithfully for the Lord. As the speaker made her point, the first few lines of this poem began to flow in my mind. While she continued her speech, I quickly penned this poem to honor these sweet, faithful Christians.

It is the cry of my heart to see the Christian community . . . all Christians . . . take up their responsibility and do their part to encourage and strengthen the hands of these precious saints now living in care facilities, often forgotten by the religious public.

I don’t set my own alarm clock,
    Haven’t seen it for many days.
The open curtain at my window
    Lets in unwanted rays.
I guess my roommate is a sweetie
    But she sure does have her ways.
I’ve forgotten my dear home address:
    Good memories now a haze.
A lotta neat people pop in to visit
    But no one ever stays.
No need to fuss about the noise at night,
    I found it never pays;
And the rigmarole to get my prune juice
    Is a daily, tangled maze.

Oh yes! I let go of many things:
Choices . . . and control of my own fate!
But there’s choices I won’t surrender
In this lonely, forgotten state:

I choose to keep my smiling face:
    Won’t let depression take my heart.
I’ll pray for the crying souls at night:
    While nurses struggle I can do my part.
When my children call, I’ll make small talk
    When they don’t have much to say;
I’ll make them laugh and giggle;
    I’ll understand when they cannot stay.

I’ll choose to keep my patience
    When the shower is too cold.
I’ll not complain or grumble
    When the burger’s three days old.
I’ll talk to poor Miss Sally in the hall
    Though she never talks to me.
I’ll wait with a real sweet smile for that nurse
    Who comes so grudgingly.

I still have my choices!
This power you cannot take.
My attitude is still mine to mold . . .
And I’ll mold it for Heaven’s Sake!

The rain begins to fall. At first it bounces off the hardened, thirsty earth as if it were Ballerinas leaping in time to passionate rhyme.

As each one jumps, they then return to earth to lay down their life that others may live.

In the distance, the seed hears the pitter-patter of Ballerina feet that dance the dance of life and sing forth the song of hope for new life to the buried seed below.

The seed is yearning; filled with passionate anticipation of the coming resurrection, fully persuaded that it will come, yet finding itself clothed in the angst of its longing for new life that seems so close yet so far away.

Ah, this music has played before! The pitter-patter of Ballerina feet has touched emotions deep within that beckon the desire for new life yet hopes have been dashed as its life giving purpose never reached the seed.

“I have a purpose, yet it seems just beyond my grasp, just beyond my understanding!”

And the Ballerina’s dance and the long awaited promise of life they bring begins to permeate the surface.

“Saturate me that I might die and new life spring forth like a Pheasant flushed from the brush.”

And though the seed is dead, it instinctively anticipates life for it was created with this craving deep in its heart.

It awaits the freedom that it instinctively knows is its own. It instinctively knows that it was created to burst through the hardened earth to display the glory of the One who created it. It instinctively knows that its new life is to nourish many yet it has yet to experience its purpose.

Lord, remember when I rebelled and didn't do Your will,
And convinced myself it was no big deal?

Before, I wouldn't have been hard to convince.
I wasn't totally on Your side; I was straddling the fence.

You Word says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
And your plans will succeed," and I know that's true.

So, Lord, I ask forgiveness for not following Your directions.
Please forgive my disobedience and my willful rejections.

Help me as I continue to search for You,
Knowing You are "near to all who call on You in truth."

Please help me to see with enlightened eyes,
"To run the race," and win the prize.

If you have gone a little way ahead of me,
Call back -
'Twill cheer my heart
and help my feet along the stony track;
And if, perchance, faith's light is dim,
because the oil is low,
your call will guide my lagging course
as wearily I go.
Call back and tell me
that He went with you into the storm;
Call back,
and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn;
and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up
and held you when the very air was still.
O Friend, call back and tell me,
for I cannot see your face;
They say it glows with triumph
and your feet bound in the race;
But there are mists between us,
and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory,
though I long for word of Him.
But if you'll say He heard you
when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you'll say He saw you through
the night's sin-darkened sky,
If you have gone a little way ahead,
O friend, call back -
'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.

Give me a mind to work, O Lord, until the job is done.
Though the task be meek or small, and the labor void of fun.
You know the hills and the obstacles that wear me down each day;
Keep me on the path You've chosen that leads me in Your way.
Forgive my heart from sinning as I whine and challenge You
For all the thankless tasks I have everyday to do.
Teach me how to offer them - a sacrifice of praise -
And put them on the altar as a fragrance of Your grace.
Not by sense of duty drive me to complete my tasks,
But from a heart o're flowing as the days fly past.
"Contentment" is the virtue that wears blisters on my hands,
And "Peace" the compliment to the chores that Christ demands.
Willfully submissive to my Master's call,
Let me be the one who gives You my all in all.

Jesus Christ from the Father sent
Delivered us from the curse of sin.
He is the virgin-born Son,
The Only Purely Begotten One.
Fully God, fully man.
He is omnipresent,
In the person of the Holy Spirit today.
Jesus Christ lived on Earth in such a way
That man might see
Who God is in reality.
He demonstrated how much love
His Father has for all mankind.
Leaving His royal throne above,
Leaving the Glorious Realm behind,
He came and paid the awful price
That we deserve for sin and vice.

Folks like you and I
Spoke and talked with Him,
Folks like you and I
Touched Him and walked with Him.
Some hated, some envied, some questioned why.
But Jesus lived a perfect life
In the sight
Of The All Seeing Eye.

In the Father’s appointed time,
His religious enemies arrested The Light.
And convicted Him – in darkness, blind –
Turning Him over to Roman Might
Taunting God the Son to give them a sign,
Mocking His Name, killing Love in spite.

The Father brought Christ back to life
By the Holy Spirit’s power
In the early morning hour
As He promised, on the 3^rd day:
Darkness could not put Him away.

By hundreds He was seen
Before ascending thru the cloudy screen
Returning to the Heavenly palace pristine.

All receive Him in their heart who believe it
Thru the same resurrecting power of the Holy Spirit.
We must humble ourselves before Him,
Admit our rebellion, repent of our sin,
Believe and keep on believing in Him,
And welcome His Holiness to live within.

As His obedient children
Thru His Written Word following Him,
Taught and assured by His Spirit within,
We live totally new ways of living
Embracing His promise of eternal life
And forgiveness of sin.

The Tempest

A highly complicated psycho swirl:
The Tempest screaming 'round our storm swept head.
The maze of living in this hard core world:
Relations, temptations, confusion bred!

Relationships breed fear of our fellow man;
Temptations, fed by lusts, bite our own hand;
Confusion fed by doubt is sinking sand:
This psycho-tempest-maze is a la-la-land!

Relations sick make us harlots from fear.
Temptations bred make us rebels in deed.
Confusion's lies make us deaf in the ear.
Our being surrenders to lies' deadly seed.

Let all your relations be ruled by Love;
Free temptations with the Law from Above.
Wash confusion with the Word of the Dove:
Let it always be Truth you are thinking of.

Your Word, Lord, says, "Be anxious for nothing."
I assume You believe that it's possible to be.
Your Word says, "I can do all things through Christ."
and You simply say you strengthen ME.
Your Word says, "All things work together for good..."
at least for those who love You, Lord.
Your Word says, whosoever believes in You
Will not die but live forevermore.
Your Word says that everybody You set free
No matter what, is really free indeed.
Your Word says, "...all things, that we ask in prayer,
BELIEVING, we shall receive."

It goes on and on, Lord: all of these absolutes.
How can I experience these things
With so few degrees from higher learning institutes?
What wise old sage can I sit under?
What book can I read that will help?
For you know, in faith, I'm a pauper,
In courage, I'm just a whelp.
I believe You know what You're talking about
But to apply it all...Dear Father, I really need Your help!!!

Jesus is in my presence during the day
And He is the essence of who I am
When the pain seems to gain,
Even with the medicine, I cry out in pain,
The Lord reminds me that He bore it on the Cross for me
And the pain surely wanes.

During the still of the night as I lay alone,
I have my nightlight to look at, at the end of the bed.
And it's my Savior holding the one sheep of the ninety-and-nine.
And as I lay in bed, I feel His arms about me, holding me;
And as I nod off to sleep, I Know
I am one of the ninety-and-nine.

Than be humbled by the mighty hand of God!
Why think I it better for my health
To live in denial, shame and stealth
Than to kiss the Father's measuring rod?
Oh! far better to trust His Chastening Grace,
Receive His crushing Will with full embrace,
Than believe the Deceiver's winking nod!
For satan pumps me full of sweet affirmation
As long as I'm given to prideful reservation

Is “chance” the only help we get?
Is “success” just a better bet?
Can I honestly concede no regret?
If not, am I really learning yet?
For the Truth’s not foggy, it is set:
Mercy and Truth – on the Cross in me – have met.

31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. 1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. 3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. 4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. Proverbs 15:31 - 16:4

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Ps 85:10

Oh, how full of wonder,
how full of beauty:
when the Body of Christ
bathes in the glorious light
of loving unity
in the fellowship of the Trinity!

It is sweet anointing oil
flowing down
from head to toe
soothing every member,
washing away every woe.

It flows from the Spirit of Life
Pouring out the veins of Christ
Springing from the Heart
Of the Father of Lights:
The precious dew of fellowship
Soaking lonely parched souls
No longer doomed in the desert
Of isolation, fear and unbelief.

Oh, YES!!!
In the swirling glory and pleasure of
Intimacy, friendship and love
in God's sweet presence...
There the King commands
The ultimate blessing,
For the Body of Christ;
There the Almighty
Gives
Eternal Life

Copyright, 2006 by Gerald T. Johnson. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

All the past,
With all it's conglomeration of memories and experiences
Like enmeshed vapor trials in the sky,
Like sand castles washing away in the surf,
Like scars marking memories of a lot of bloody pain and danger,
Like the breathless dog exhausted from chasing his just-out-of-reach tail,
Like recurring dreams about passing the point of no return....
I mean ALL of the past:
What we think is good,
What we think is bad,
What we think is important,
What we think is insignificant;

All the future,
With all it's jumbled expectations
Like buckets of sweet morsels in the candy store nagging at our insatiable appetite,
Like proposing to tight-rope over Niagara on a wet noodle,
Like volunteering for first flute when we really don't know which end to blow,
Like buying a pair of very expensive new shoes that we can't try on first,
Like planning on going to a bully's birthday party without a present....
I mean ALL of the future:
What we look forward to,
What we dread,
What we think we can control,
What we know we have no control over;

All of it
Has meaning,
worth,
and good fruit
RIGHT NOW

What tear of yesterday
or want of tomorrow yet,
can hold fast the peace found
in this moment Lord,
but none.
For Your Presence Holy
softens the harshness,
lightens the burdens,
and changes the perspectives
in which one becomes entangled.
Delighted in the freedom
of being who I am,
and feeling the radiance
of Your Love,
lifts me above my worn-out jeans
and ratty sneakers,
for you still take my hand
and grasp it in that way that only
You can.
You show me the daybreak
as no other,
and the sunset,
and all that the world holds
between the two.
And it is You I call
in those starlit hours
when sleep escapes and I cannot.
Blessings abound
since that day I awoke
with a heart anew and opened eyes,
and even in life's trials
Your Presence never fails
to leave my breath lacking
and my sorrows with comfort.
You are my joy complete and my reason.
Let me sway then to the
rhythms of this life
till tomorrow
for the music I hear
is Thine,
and the prelude sweet.

Faith is an issue for all of us. As humans, doubt is a greater part of our nature than we would like it to be! But why?

FAITH

I wonder why, when 'faith' is an issue,
So often then, we reach for a tissue,
To mop up the tears of doubt you see,
That assail us now, both you and me.

For on the one hand, we trust God with our all,
On the other, human doubt, our faith does stall!
"Will He or wont He?" we are wont to think,
Our faith, once so strong, begins to sink.

"You've always proved faithful to me, my Lord,"
While former blessings, I wish I could hoard!
Each new level requiring greater trust in Him,
Memories of past successes faded, now so dim.

If today's faith was the same as in the past,
Our belief in Him, just simply wouldn't last.
It would just be our own strength that had won,
Not that of our Lord, Jesus Christ the Son.

Now, today's challenge is to break new ground,
Then our faith in Him, it will be truly found.
Oh Lord, please help me in my unbelief!
You've come through again - what a relief!

Put simply, it's the way God's faith works,
Though to our human spirit, it still irks!
So if now, we are to mature and grow,
Trusting Him's, the only way to go!

NOT SURE I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN ANY MORE!

Not so sure I want to go to heaven any more!
For what I see here, shakes me to the core.
What if heaven was to be the same?
Who would there be to blame!

Not so sure I want to go to heaven any more!
When all I see is raging arguments to the fore.
What if heaven was to be the same?
Who would there be to blame!

Not so sure I want to go to heaven any more!
For we fight on earth and resentments store.
What if heaven was to be the same?
Who would there be to blame!

Not so sure I want to go to heaven any more,
Down here, splits and divisions are folklore.
What if heaven was to be the same?
Who would there be to blame!

Not so sure I want to go to heaven any more!
Disagreement's so rife, just become a bore!
What if heaven was to be the same?
Who would there be to blame!

So maybe I should go to go to heaven now,
To see how God deals with our sacred cow.
Surely heaven can not be the same?
There would only be God to blame!

So how about building His Kingdom on earth?
There's a radical thought, has some worth!
Surely church wouldn't be the same?
When God's kingdom, to earth came!

My friend, we simply have the choice,
To disagree, or speak with one voice.
To defend to the end where we come from,
Or get on with it, and build His Kingdom.

His Kingdom now, has is to be within you see,
Comes as we let Him deal with you and me.
When we go on to seek His heavenly will,
Division and strife, His will, will kill!

The kingdom that disagreement sows,
Is built by treading on other's toes.
But the heavenly kingdom that God does see,
Is founded upon co-operation and unity.

Will you help ease God's frustrations,
By taking the gospel to the nations?
Putting aside, that which does now divide,
The salvation message, others to provide.

Not one has entered through division and strife,
For words spoken in anger do not bring life.
Theological argument hasn't saved a single soul,
Nor a dearly held doctrine made a seeker whole.

But what works every time is a witness of love,
Putting aside the jackal to become the dove.
Yes, as we build His Kingdom on earth you see,
Together, we can all look forward to eternity.

©David Tait, 21 July 2004. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Browse other poems by Bro. Tait at his extensive Christian website: http://www.wwj.org.nz/waxing.php

The shoes were not my own,
but when You asked me
to slip them on,
I did.
My feet fairly swam
in the enormity...
and when I tried to walk,
well,
You know what happened.
I was awkward to say the least,
my gait clumsy,
unsure, and painfully slow.
And blister they did,
from the incessant rubbing
of the fit not quite so.
And oh, at times I walked
right out of them,
found myself
upon the pavement... hmmm,
but then to my surprise,
I missed those shoes,
and scurried to put them back on,
with a deep sigh of contentment.
What was the growth
that made them right,
when did it happen,
and how?
I was fully grown when those shoes
were placed in front of me,
or so I perceived,
but the gift of the shoes,
and they were a
splendid gift
by the way,
changed the way I thought,
the way I felt,
about You,
and about the world I was existing in.
Yes, I was existing.
Tomorrow I may awake to
a new pair of shoes,
and though I still may look
upon them with a degree of trepidation,
I'll look at them and know
they are a gift.
I shall put them on, and yes, perhaps,
stumble about foolishly
for awhile.
But I know now Lord,
the shoes You place
before me,
shall always, be a perfect fit.

A tug-o-war for territory strains
the rugged resolve.
Desperate determination gives way to
oh
so
familiar
and frightened hooves of heartbeats
that trample tested affection.

At once the pull places my heart
in the reception line of grace.
Tugged again, outside I wait, doors closed
and soundproof, excluded and dazed.

My feet dig in mud,
hands scraped, blood-caked, resist,
groan, gain and lose. I won the day,
lost the night, not gaining more than
yesterday's daybreak.

Tired, tired, sweat and crying,
when best has failed, failure's best.
I'd trade my trying for a brighter
day or surrender to quit the game.

But did I forget, facing the game alone.
Teammate and triumph sure surround
the One who calls.
I face foes solo
and fall all too soon.
True.
Quit the trying,
tried the crying,
called to One who joins my joy.
The rope released, the game now ceased,
His hand in place of mine.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

Lord, teach me what it means to "let!"
What it means to allow what's inside to get
To the surface for others to see...
To see the love You give so free
By Your Spirit living in me.

Teach me what it means to "let!"
Without the legalistic strain and sweat,
What it means to allow Thy light to shine;
May it glow, this little Light of mine,
Not for my glory, for all is Thine!

Teach me what it means to "let!"
Free to release Your selfless mindset
Over my thoughts to rule and reign
That the humble Cross I might gain
Never minding the sorrow or the pain.

And wherever he went - into villages, towns or countryside - they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed." Mark 6:56

What sorrow would fill your
cup this day,
and spill with tears thus shed...
as sobs, not withheld
engulf your heart?
The earth, though wondrously
filled with gifts divine,
spares not its rod on those
who walk its face.
Within the imperfections
of one's life,
there dwells the source
of perfect love and grace.
He whose cloak we're free to touch,
whose soulful eyes implore
of us to seek Him out,
be not a figure reached by
saintly men alone.
The dust upon your face,
He sees beyond;
the heart that bleeds for
what He holds...
its yours;
hence bleed no more.

not only may your fingers
brush its silk...
He'll take it off
and warmly wrap the soul
that trembles so;
for all He has...
He gives to you, with joy.

"Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building." Ezra 4:4

The face of discouragement, and fear,
lie intertwined in the thicket
of life.
Disguised at times as
practical advise,
that which would keep you
from being a fool...
or would it?
The Lord's destiny
is not of this world,
for this world lay fallen.
Is that which be upon your heart,
of His word...
test the spirits,
discern the will of your Maker
and boldly go forth.
He will send the affirmations,
only as needed.
When your steps wobble,
the Hand will be there...
look for it,
it won't be far,
and in amazement,
found within the peace
upon your heart...
you will know.
Wait then, in patience,
and think not that He has
deserted you,
or the plan,
for both are alive
with the fire of the Spirit.
At the eleventh hour
He rides upon
the chariot,
and all will be well...
yes, all will be well.

Bernard of Clairvaux (?) d. 1153
Translated by Charles Porterfield Drauth, 1870
edited for Christian Concourse by J. Johnson

Wide open are Thy hands
Paying with more than gold
The awful debt of guilty men,
Forever and of old.
Ah, let me grasp those hands,
That we may never part,
And let the power of their blood
Enflesh my stony heart.

Wide open are Thine arms,
A fallen world to embrace;
To take to love and endless rest
Our whole degenerate race.
Lord, I am sad and poor,
But boundless is Thy grace;
Fill with Thy transforming Spirit
For which I seek Thy face.

Draw all my mind and heart
Up to Thy throne on high,
And let Thy sacred Cross exalt
My spirit to the sky.
To these, Thy mighty hands,
My spirit I resign:
Living, I live alone to Thee,
Dying, alone am Thine.

God feels

The nest we build for the Turtledove

A soft resting place for the Lord:
The sweetness in our heart,
The sincere love,
The patience and the kindness,
And all the goodness
That emanates
From what we do on our part
With the Grace He bestows
From Above.

Or,

A turbulent, troublesome home for Him:
The bitter attitude
Of unforgiveness,
The habit of being rude,
The stark selfishness of pride,
Presuming on Him for a free,
Unqualified ride,
Trampling on His Son's blood
Dripping from the tree.

So, don't you see?

God feels

New wine in old skins?
It simply cannot be;
New wine must have new skins
To be active, fresh and free.

New wine in old skins
Will burst through rigid bounds
And wine and skin together lay
Wasted on the ground.

New life in worn out rites?
Confined by man made bars?
Eternal life in static rules?
What fools we mortals are!

New life demands new creatures,
Cleansed, elastic, free,
Eager to expand and grow;
Father, work this change in Me!

"Men do not put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out, and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins and both are preserved." Matthew 9:17

Tomorrow's mountaintop,
amidst the meadow of blessings,
is inspired not
within the imagination,
but upon the Promise.
Perseverance to one's call,
amidst strife,
and within the confines
of the dark world,
is discovered to be limitless
at His hand.
Possibilities abound,
and chains that bind are found
to be no more
with eyes that truly see.
The heart beats not of
flesh and blood only,
but in a strength and fortitude
of the One it lives for,
as His ways
are discovered with wonder
and delight.
The prince of darkness steps back,
as if in shock...
defeated,
and the land,
pristine and new,
lies before you.
Make your way upon it
for the Lord.
He awaits the first footsteps
of a deepened faith.

Jesus, the Conqueror Reigns

by Charles Wesley

Jesus, the Conqueror, reigns,
In glorious strength arrayed;
His kingdom over all maintains,
And bids the earth be glad.

Ye sons of men, rejoice
In Jesus' mighty love;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
To Him who rules above.

Extol His kingly power;
Kiss the exalted Son,
Who died, and lives to die no more,
High on His Father's throne.

Our advocate with God,
He undertakes our cause,
And spreads through all the earth abroad
The victory of His Cross.

In yesteryear when things moved slow
And life was simple here below,
There lived nearby a country town
A dear old dame named Betty Brown.

She had not much, but anyhow
She got along, she and her cow,
This bovine beast could oft annoy
But still was Betty’s pride and joy.

On Sundays it was off to town
In feathered hat and finest gown,
She loved God’s word and naught would do
But Sunday find her in her pew.

She loved to hear the pastor preach
And listened breathless when he’d teach
But the thing that really made her day
Was when she’d hear her pastor pray.

His words of warning and earnest pleas
Could bring a sinner to his knees
But the crowning moment of Betty’s day
Was when the pastor said, “Let’s pray.”

When strangers she would chance to meet
While walking down her hometown street
She’d smile, greet them, and always say,
“Come, hear my pastor preach and pray.”

One wild and windy winter night
Poor Betty’s heart was filled with fright.
Her cow got tangled in her rope,
Almost strangled, little hope!

She called her pastor, the good man came
Wishing to please this dear old dame.
He viewed the scene that before him lay,
While Betty pleaded, “Pastor, pray!”

Now Pastor knew not what to do,
Praying for cows was something new,
But as she put him to the test
He promised her he’d do his best.

He closed his eyes and bent his head
And these are the words the pastor said:
“You poor old beast, you look so bad
And your poor old Mrs. looks so sad.
If you live, you live; if you die, you do,
And that will be the end of you.”

The pastor left, the cow got well
And ever after Betty would tell
Of that winter night, explaining how
Her pastor’s prayer had saved that cow.

Time marched on and then one day
No pastor at church – to Betty’s dismay!
He had an abscess, very bad,
Poor old Betty, felt so sad.

She made her way to Pastor’s house,
Where she was met by Pastor’s spouse,
Who led the way to Pastor’s bed
Where Betty grasped his hand and said,

“Oh, Pastor, I remember now
When I needed you for my sick cow,
I never really learned to pray
But I learned the words you said that day.

“They worked for my cow and saw her thru
I’d like to say them now for you.”
She cleared her throat and bent her head
And these are the words that Betty said,

“You poor old beast, you look so bad
Your poor old Mrs. looks so sad.
If you live, you live – if you die, you do,
And that will be the end of you!”

A chuckle started in his belly
His whole frame shook like a bowl of jelly.
He laughed until he thought he’d choke
And all at once his abscess broke!

Betty left – Pastor got well
And ever after he would tell
How in his hour of pain and strife
Betty’s prayer had saved his life!

The Lord called Herm Haakenson home in 2002. He leaves the ongoing nursing home ministry of The Sonshine Society behind as his legacy. This is a great resource for affordable nursing home ministry tools! Large print hymn books, large print devotional books, a book of Bible lesson plans, large print scripture books and pamphlets, large print tracts and greeting cards. Contact them at: P.O. Box 327, Lynnwood, Washington 98046-0327 (Founded 1976). Phone: (425)-353-4732. Website: http://www.sonshinesociety.org.

1:1
The Apostle Paul, in the regions beyond,
    Had heard of the Romans' faith,
How, with zeal abounding, they had preached the Word.
    Till it was heard in every place.
Then, his heart set aglow by their love for Christ,
    He resolved to stablish them more.

So, a visit he planned, and a letter he wrote,
    That from him it should go on before.
This letter we read, and in it we find
    That the Gospel is fully explained.
So lets study it now as the Spirit reveals
    The Truth that is in it contained.

Paul's greeting comes in seventeen verses
    And he tells of his setting apart.

1:3-5
Then a word of the Son by whom the Gospel came,
    And of the longing he has in his heart.

1:17
He gives his text "The just shall live by faith"
    With accent on the "just".
Paul learned it by living it
    And thus learn it we must.

1:18
Of God's wrath against sin the Apostle then speaks
    And reveals some excuses by which man fairly reeks:

1:19-32
First, "I know not God" some might declare;

2:1-16
Then "I am better then heathen", others might dare;

2:17
"I am beloved of God" the Jews might aver;

3:19
But they keep not the law so their plea is not fair.

Their excuses are false, can be seen without fail

3:20
And all shall be lost if works must avail.

3:21-23
But a way without Law God's plans do entail
    And thanks be to Him, His Word must prevail.
Since the broken Law's penalty we must fulfill.
    The Son did it for us according to God's will.

3:24-28
By accepting in faith His work for us
    We can stand before God in righteousness.
This God calls being justified
    For behind the Lord Jesus our sins doth He hide
Nevermore to look on them
    For His Dear Son has cancelled our sin.

3:29-31
For both Jew and Gentile it doth avail
    And for all eternity it must prevail.

4:1-5
Some examples we have now to help us more
    And these we find in Chapter Four.
The Jews counted much on Abraham --
    Was he saved by Law, or like any other man?
Well, as we read in Genesis
    His faith in God was his righteousness.

4:6-8
David also tells us this:
    Showing -- without works -- a righteousness;

4:9-18
Now Abraham shows that it is for all --
    Not just for those who under Law did fall;

4:19-25
And for us Abraham's great faith is shown:
    That it is all we need to be made God's own!

5:1
In Chapter Five we have some things
    That our grand position brings:
Peace, grace, hope of glory, and mercy for the path,
    God's love in our hearts, and salvation from wrath.

5:12-21
Another thing is now expounded,
    For by Adam the human race was founded.
And as Adam thru sin received death as his due,
    So we, his children, were born dead to God too.
But now -- by God's grace and free gift in His Son --
    We live eternally by the obedience of One.

6:1
So have we new life which the Son for us bled,
    Thus a new path we must evermore tread,

6:2-7
For God doth now see our old man as dead,
    And we must ever now by the Spirit be led.

In Chapter Six we see these things God doth give,
    And blest are we if in them we will live;

6:8-14
As unto sin once Christ's life did He give,
    And now unto God He forever doth live:
So we being dead with Him can claim the same blessing
    And live unto God in Whom we are resting.

6:15-23
Now of a warning the Apostle doth tell
    And heed it we must if all will be well!
If we yeild unto sin then we are its servants we see,
    So to live unto righteousness we very careful must be!

7:1-24
In Chapter Seven we learn of the grandeous things
    That Christ's work for us, in great goodness, brings;
How, freed from the Law by the body of Christ,
    We now serve Him, risen together, in newness of life!
How the Law was good -- but it was only given
    To show sin as the cause that from God we are riven.
And, even now the old nature tries to keep us from living
    By God's way for us, as in His Word given.

7:25
Paul shows us two ways that we can take
    It is up to us the choice to make

8:1-13
If we walk in the Spirit, vict'ry we'll have over sin;
    But if after the flesh, mis'ry we'll have within.

A cluster of blessings is now set before us!
    How our poor hearts should sing as in a great chorus.

8:14-15
If God's Spirit is leading us His children are we
    And heirs of His glory, O wondrous to see.

8:16-17
He witnesses in us, teaching us all
    That God is our Father and thus Him to call.

8:26-34
And when we are burdened and His blessed face seek
    The Holy Spirit helps us, and for us will speak.

8:35-39
And now, blessing of blessings, our poor hearts do praise
    A God who is faithful where our faiths' eyes do gaze:
For we learn that once saved we can never be lost;
    For our God ever keeps us regardless of cost.

9:1-30
Paul's burden for Israel is next brought to mind:
    In Chapters 9, 10 and 11 tis the Jews that we find.
Not all who are Jews can call Abraham father;
    Only those with his faith can around him thus gather.
There can be no complaint about God showing mercy:
    He is absolutely soverign without controversy.
And out of all Israel He has saved a few,
    But not only Jews: He saves Gentiles too!

9:31-33
For the rest sought salvation by the works of the Law
    And thus they did at that Stumbling Stone fall.

10:1-24
Of the righteousness of God the Jews did not know,
    They sought to work out their own and this with great show.
The Apostle then shows that all that they need
    Is just simply unto God's Word to give heed.
For that Word does explain very simply indeed,
    The truth about Christ, their Messiah -- David's seed;
And that the Gospel is not for the Jews all alone.
    But both Jew and Gentile, whoever will come.

10:15-21
But first the Glad Tidings must in their ears ring,
    For the Prophets of old had told of these things.

11:1-3
And this Good News, this Gospel of Grace,
    Israel refused and with God lost their place.
Although, God must be to His promises true,
    Not casting away, those He foreknew:
But always thru the years, He has a remnant kept,
    And even now there are Jews among the elect.
How wondrous are the riches of God's knowledge and wisdom:
    Israel's fall was so Gentiles could come into God's kingdom!
Unbelief's branches were broken from Israel's olive tree,
    And Gentiles' wild olive branches we in place of them see.
So the Gentile has the blessing for Israel intended,
    Till that day comes when their blindness is ended.
And when, in God's time, Gentile fulness has come
    The Deliverer shall appear and the Jews will come home.
Then will Israel's branches be back in the tree
    And all thru this world great blessing will be!

12:1
The Apostle now turns from exhorting the Jews
    And speaks to all who have received the Good News.
He exhorts that in view of all of God's grace,
    To give our bodies to His service is surely our place.
In the work that He gives us let us therein abide,
    And let not our hearts be lifted in pride.
But rather let us live together in love
    And manifest to the world we are born from above.

For us to do this, there are a number of things
    That the Apostle now before us brings:
Personal things that we must let grow
    Paul would first have us to know.

13:1
Then, how the Christian reacts to the laws of the land.
    Or how each one of us must take our stand.
We learn that God has the civil powers ordained
    Thus our hearts must be ever in obedience maintained
For they are God's ministers for the good of all,
    And if we do evil upon us their wrath must fall.

And love is the greatest thing of all:
    For if we have love we fulfill all the Law.
Let us now realize that salvation is near
    And the time at hand when the Lord shall appear.
Let us walk them as children of light
    In the lusts of the flesh let us take no delight.

14:1
Now a word about fellowship and the brother whose faith is weak:
    Tho he hasn't full knowledge yet, to receive him is meet;
It isn't right for us to judge him for his master we are not
    For all of us have one Master, and Christ's Judgment Seat our
        common lot.

For whether our brother sees as we do or not
    Let us not before him put a stumbling block:
For the main thing in God's Kingdom is
    In the Holy Ghost to have peace, joy and righteousness!
And let us remember no matter what state we're in
    That whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

15:1-7
Now Christ, to the Jews, their Scriptures He fulfilled
    And of both Jew and Gentile His Church would He build.
And Paul was Christ's minister this work to perform
    And of these things he would the Romans inform.

Now of some personal things he has to say
    And beseeched the Romans that for him they would pray.

16:1-16
Then the love Paul has for the saints in Rome
    Is seen as by name he salutes each one.
And lastly a warning to the faithful Church
    To mark those who would God's doctrine besmirch.
For they are Satan's agents sent to deceive
    And keep the saints from God's Word to receive.

With a prayer and a promise the Apostle closes
    This letter, which for the saints, God's blessings discloses.
And O! reader, a final word to you:
    Be zealous to study and God's Word to do;
For many a blessing is lost to us
    Thru indolence or just plain laziness.

Wallace Evans graduated in 1993 to his reward in Heaven.

This story is true;
although it would not be true to you
in any world other than the real world
(not the world we are lying in)
(not the world we are dying in).

There are briar patches that move about
and inflict wounds and bruises on one another
as they jostle and hustle and bustle about --
aimlessly, though with great sincerity
at times
and professing the most important and lofty signs
of purposes and goals and reasons and rhymes.

Inside each briar patch is a rabbit.
A little fearful infant rabbit
living in each briar patch
trying to figure it all out,
cut, bleeding, scratched,
and making a crying sound
with all the roughhousing going on around.
And all the little rabbit wants to do
is just get close to
the other rabbits known to be hiding out
in the briar patches around about----
But the thorns and the twisted briars
all around on the outside,
and smiley face masks over wounded liars
all around on the inside
(all the bad rabbits' habits
of the little fearful infant rabbit
slapping and flapping
like incessant rain on the brain)
just make the rhyme and the reason of it
all too confusing
to possibly understand and figure out and overcome.
So...sooner or later the little fearful infant rabbit,
unjust,
hides mostly
and darts out
only when absolutely
necessary
and even then
sometimes not at all.

Then there's the snake -
cunning and wise
to the rabbits' habits,
just loped over a tree limb
just outside of the rabbit hole in a briar patch
just waiting very patiently
just blended in real well
just knowing that the rabbit will not come out
unless there is nothing
for the little fearful rabbit to be scared about.

So, eventually,
the rabbit comes bouncing out
suspecting nothing
and turns into an oyster.
That's right!
A perfectly good gross slimy smelly oyster
with a hard rough ugly shell
outside the briar patch.
And the snake drops
unexpectantly
and harmlessly
upon the oyster
and turns into a dove
before he hits the ground
and lights silently,
almost unperceptively
beside the oyster
and slips a small piece of sand
in the shell of the oyster:

"Jesus loves you.
He gave His life in ransom for your soul.
Trust Him with your life.
Cast all your care upon Him for He cares for you.
Ask Him to forgive you of your
offensiveness to Him -
He will forgive you and clean you of
all the offensive sin
and come into your soul
and heal you
and teach you
and feed you
and give you gifts."

So the sand of the sea
begins to annoy
and irritate
and stimulate
a lot of soul searching
and questioning
and wondering
and longing...

The Greatest Science Fiction Motion Picture Production
Of all that Hollywood has produced
Is less than the nothing of pot smoking pipe dreams
Compared to the simple, plain, unadulterated Gospel Truth

Found myself in hopeless plight:
Deaf, dumb, numb and without sight!
Killed by wrong and killed by right!
Longed for day and loved the night!

I sure could not save myself
Lump of clay on Potter's shelf

He slowly stirred my senses
Eroded my defenses
Uncovered my pretenses
Then covered my expenses

Gave me ears to hear Him speak
Talks to me, He's, oh, so meek
Shows the Way for me to seek
He is strong, for I am weak

By His will I stand today
With His strength: trust and obey
Slowly growing come what may
In my heart He's here to stay!

This poem is taken from "Our Hymn Book" - part of our Handbook for Nursing Home Ministry - which you can browse at Christian Concourse - Our Hymn Book

1. Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay!
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

2. Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence, humbly I bow.

3. Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8

Pregnant with praise,
Christ's church is in the birthpangs of worship
Preparing to deliver the seed of glory to God.
The Sword Of Kindness penetrates through
The callous and tough skin of rejection
And causes the church to bleed with acceptance.
Bursting with purity,
The Holy Ghost marshals His troops into battle formation,
Preparing them for the rough road ahead.
Obstacles are everywhere
And only the Spirit's power knows the way home.
Because of blind foolishness
Many will fail to receive the sight of deliverance
Offered by God.
Crippled by sin and faithlessness
(Instead of putting the flesh in the coffin of repentance
And conducting funeral services over dead works),
Many continue in the darkness.
Don't be without sight and light
Or you may find yourself in the pit of despair
In these troublous times ahead.

Pray unceasingly
And be alert.

with the Master walking along,
every Word of His a song,
to the aeroplane of the King
for the trip longer than a lifetime long

awaiting there is Agelessness
awaiting there is Painlessness
Death defeated, without sting
awaiting there is Tearlessness

i am OH SO happy with Him...just to be...
...what an endearing personality!
have no doubt He can fly the thing
that wings me out of time into eternity

MY GOD i LOVE YOU!
i fail...and grieve. You are ever true!
let the angels teach me to spirit-sing
the ancient ode of love that's ever new

and who will pay the priceless fare
to break the bonds of sin's despair
to boldly board His aeroplane to wing ?
Who indeed! The loving Lamb so fair!

to the aeroplane of the King
Death defeated, without sting
have no doubt He can fly the thing
let the angels teach me to spirit-sing
to boldly board His aeroplane to wing

I was a wand'ring sheep,
I did not love the fold;
I did not love my Shepherd's voice,
I would not be controlled.
I was a wayward child,
I did not love my home;
I did not love my Father's voice,
I loved afar to roam.

The Shepherd sought His sheep,
The Father sought His child;
He followed me o'er vale and hill;
O'er deserts waste and wild.
He found me nigh to death,
Famished and faint and lone;
He bound me with the bands of love.
He saved the wand'ring one.

Jesus my Shepherd is;
'Twas He that loved my soul,
'Twas He that washed me in His blood,
'Twas He that made me whole.
'Twas He that sought the lost,
That found the wand'ring sheep,
'Twas He that brought me to the fold,
'Tis He that still doth keep.

No more a wand'ring sheep,
I love to be controlled;
I love my tender Shepherd's voice,
I love the peaceful fold.
No more a wayward child;
I seek no more to roam;
I love my Heavenly Father's voice;
I love, I love His home!

Blithely presuming on God,
Numb to His Son's intercession,
Indifferent to the daily presence of the Holy Spirit,
The redeemed soul trips along in the morass of its faithless state.

Patiently, the Father works in her life,
Lovingly, Christ calls to His wayward wife,
Skillfully, the Holy Spirit wields the Surgeon's knife:
Unselfishly, God sustains her thru the fruit of doubt and strife.

To the perfect will of God Almighty
There is not an acceptable, logical alternative;
But the slimy, lusty, subtle serpent entices relentlessly
For her to focus on, grasp at anything short of His plan for her.

Oh soul, the tenacity of Satan is nothing
Compared to the longsuffering of your loving Christ!
He has great designs for you, like a diamond in the rough!
Though you falter and fail and shrivel with fear when things get tough.

You will see one day the glory that you miss
When He suddenly shows Himself with a loving kiss!
Just that real, the Holy Spirit waits to reveal to your thirsty heart
That all you seek and strive for, all you long for you will find in His embrace!

O safe in the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine would I be;
Thou blest "Rock of Ages," I'm hiding in Thee.

In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow's lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o'er me its power;
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest "Rock of Ages," I'm hiding in Thee.

How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea-billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.

    The wind blowest where it listeth,
And thou hearest the sound thereof,
    But cans't not tell whence it cometh,
And whither it goeth:
    So is everyone that is born of the Spirit.
                                                  John 3:8

    I chased the wind for many years -
Sought in vain, with puzzled tears.
    The wind was real - I heard its sound,
But whence it source? And whither bound?
    I saw its mark on radiant faces
But feared to claim its gentle graces.
    I'd rather search in things of earth
Like homes and lands and noble birth.
    But when at length I quit the chase
And fell, exhausted, to my face,
    Despairing of all human worth,
Ready at last, for Spiritual birth -
    That wind I'd sought, I now could see
Had been, mysteriously, seeking me!
    My soul revived, my search could end
Amazed I stand - I've caught the Wind!

To cover the scars of the human race;
To cleanse man's sins, his wasted life.
Divine pardon from the great disgrace!
All we need is the Cross of Jesus.

His blood to cure the plague of sin:
The blighted rot without, within
The dying souls of sinful men.
All we need is the Grace of Jesus.

His love to lift our feverish hopes
To show what life is all about;
To harmonize discordant notes.
All we need is the Light of Jesus.

His glory will shine in our dying hour;
Will show the way when we're beyond
All earthly hope or human power --
All we need is the Way of Jesus.

His way is ours in the loom of time;
Heaven's splendor will forever shine.
God's truth is yours as well as mine:
All we need is the Word of Jesus.

Come unto me, I am the way;
The night is coming, this is the day.
No time to waste, please don't delay;
Salvation is found in Jesus!

I saw, as in a movie screen,
The wolverine-like beast
With two sets of black bat-like wings,
Red beady eyes,
Sharp, hand-like eagle talons on all four feet,
Snarling and drooling
Thru vicious needle-sharp teeth.

The beast flew down out of the movie
Snatching from somewhere
A little, defenseless baby bunny,
Flew back into the movie
To nonchalantly do

Gripping the little bunny
By the nape of his neck
It sunk a set of talons
Into his exposed chest.

It ripped flesh and bone with twisting talons
Just enough
To inflict the most pain and torment,
But not kill the furry ball.

With no remorse or reason,
With no emotion,
It dropped the wounded bunny
Like wasted tissue
In the garbage can!

It flapped its four black wings again,
Down out of the movie:
Returned again
With a little baby fuzzy, duckling.

He did the same, merciless thing again:
Maiming innocent little creatures senselessly;
Over and over and over
In the movie.

I "willed" myself into the picture screen.
I "willed" a dagger into my determined fist...
...As fast as I could move...
...Was extremely slow motion.

It just ignored me
As I struggled dreadfully slow with the knife.
When I finally got the point to the beast's chest
I plunged it in with all my might.

I pulled the blade out
presuming some success.
BUT,
I might as well have pushed my finger in a pillow!
And the mauling beast just disregarded me
As it continued on its horrible way.

"It's not your job to go against the devourer.
That's My job.
It's your job to help the rabbits."

This I saw in the movie,
and I
testify of
The power of God
And His redeeming love,
And His everlasting mercy:
Spread abroad through our hearts
To the downcast
The broken
The weak and wounded souls,
The Jobs that God allows into our lives.

I watched him there in denim,
his old boots all worn and scuffed;
Just a common sort of guy,
but a diamond in the rough.

I saw him at his labor,
for his work was lowly stuff;
But I heard no squawk nor whine
from this diamond in the rough.

His pay was only av'rage,
but he claimed it was enough.
"Wealth's not found in earthly things,"
said this diamond in the rough.

If other guys got nasty
he just calmly took their guff.
One who sparkled while he served,
was this diamond in the rough.

For underneath the denim,
though some thought of him as gruff,
Was a man in tune with God,
a real diamond in the rough;

A man who knew his weakness,
one who never tried to bluff.
Would God there'd be more like him,
more of diamonds in the rough.

O, could I speak the matchless worth,
O, could I sound the glories forth
Which in my Savior shine,
I'd soar and touch the heavenly strings
And vie with Gabriel while he sings
In notes almost divine.

I'd sing the precious blood he spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt
Of sin and wrath divine!
I'd sing his glorious righteousness,
In which all-perfect heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine.

Soon the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home,
And I shall see his face;
Then with my Savior, Brother, Friend,
A blest eternity I'll spend,
Triumphant in his grace.

Buried beneath the rubble
that once was my heart
Your precious Word lies.
A valuable artifact,
once discarded like
a dirty sock at the end of the day.
A valuable artifact,
now needed more that ever.
The Holy Spirit: God's Archaeologist
digs through the many layers of rubble
so that His precious Word
may be rediscovered within me.

Christian Concourse

by Jerry Johnson

These things that God invites us to:

The fellowship,

The other's burden bearing,

The one another caring,

The confessing of our sins,

Loving in word AND deed

(enemies and friends),

The teaching that we need,

All the gifts to exercise,

The "Body Life" to realize,

His special presence in our midst,

The hospitality,

The generosity;

They all are a call

to every lamb

For whom He paid THE PRICE:

Come. Gather.

Join regularly

On the Concourse of Christ.

You Say I Have No Choices?

The Seed Cries Out

Jesus, the Conqueror Reigns

by Charles Wesley

A Dear Old Dame