On the occasion of my 38th wedding anniversary yesterday,
I dedicate this poem to my good and loyal wife:
In sickness and in health
In poverty or wealth
Commitment I have made
Firm covenant was laid
Living love makes it sure
By God's Spirit made pure
The harder times become
More strength to overcome
Not in us two resides
With tempting, troubling tides
The strength to soldier on
With practice kindness hone
I don't know what to say
My actions hurts betray
To quiet service go
When good feelings don't flow
But you make no mistake
There's far more here at stake
God's will and His glory
Bound up in our story
I love you more each year
Troubles make it more clear
Losing you would be hard
Like a painful glass shard
And now we onward trudge
No one but God our judge
Work and love together
Nothing our joy tether
Be more affectionate
More kind, compassionate
Consideration grow
Keep irritations low
How can we do these things?
When all hell at us flings
Troubles and trials each day
Our hearts and flesh fillet
I'll tell you beloved spouse
The love that's in this house
Comes from our God above
Spirit of peace and love
I'll never cease to care
To grow in love and dare
To strengthen what is ours
'Til all see love flowers
We hope for better things
Our future with joy rings
With hope that ever clings
Until our spirit sings
In heaven we will be
Where God's face we will see
Not married at that time
But love will be sublime
Archive for the ‘Poem’ Category
Always
Posted in Covenants, Family, General, Marriage, Poem, Relationship, tagged Anniversary, Covenant, Love, Marriage, Perseverance on December 21, 2019| Leave a Comment »
D-day Poem
Posted in America, Beach, Freedom, General, Poem, Struggling, War, tagged D-Day, Freedom, Liberation, Normandy, Poem, Sacrifice, World War II on June 6, 2019| 2 Comments »
Storm the beaches
Drop from the sky
Normandy’s far reaches
Every angle try
Rain of bullets
Take cover or die
Blood is freedom’s droplets
Shed in full supply
Wrench from tyrants
All sorts of slaves
All that conscience supplants
Against reason raves
Surge forward now
Pill boxes defeat
Start liberation now
Rescue not complete
Push over fields
Free every town
Freedom to no man yields
Made them renown
Always has been
Good and evil fight
Freedom will at last win
Wrong bow to right
For my thoughts on D-Day, see “D-Day Remembrance of Freedom”
Jesus Helps Me
Posted in Faith, General, Grace, Guidance, Poem, Work of Jesus, tagged Faith, Grace, Help, Jesus, Poem on May 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »
During prayer time this morning I was convicted about the extent of my failure in relationships over the years. Rather than mope I asked God to heal relationships and continue to change me. After a short season my prayer was interrupted by the words of the first verse of the following poem. Over the next hour, as I began planning for my students, I came back to the poem until two more verses appeared.
I am not who I will become
Or who I should be
But I am not who I once was
Jesus changes me
Each day I choose for right or wrong
Reaping what you see
By His grace I can do what’s right
Jesus sets me free
Today I’m here, tomorrow there
God knows where I’ll be
Best not fret or scheme or worry
Jesus directs me
Owning the “O” Word
Posted in Experience, General, God Thoughts, Hike, Old, Poem, Praise, Remembering, Wisdom, tagged Old, Poem, Strength, Wisdom on April 13, 2019| Leave a Comment »
I awoke this morning with a number of thoughts rolling around in my mind. Of the ones that rose to the top, I skimmed off the following in a poem that came fairly quickly:
Running fast was once a thing
But now I have grown old
Working ’til the break of dawn
But now I early fold
Once I walked with heavy pack
Many miles in a day
Now I sit in rocking chair
Recalling hard won play
Recovery was quick then
Endurance that would last
Injury slight problem when
Healing would come so fast
Now there is strength in wisdom
Knowing when best to stop
Working smarter not harder
No need to be on top
Much there is I’ve yet to learn
New vistas I would see
But lack of energy
Means that I am not free
My good days are not done yet
Though now I slow the pace
My hope is not in sprinting
But finishing the race
If it were in my own strength
Long since I would have failed
For God is my provision
Or long since I’d have bailed
As life begins to wind down
Vigor begins to wane
Glimpses I see of heaven
Through a dimly lit pane
One day before God I’ll dance
I’ll sing and serve and praise
In His strength forever there
His glories I will raise
Functional Not Fancy
Posted in General, Poem, Random thoughts, tagged Functionality, Poem on April 11, 2019| Leave a Comment »
I took more time convincing myself to do a chore than I used doing the chore. Why? I knew that I didn’t have the skills, tools, or experience to do a very good job. But that has rarely stopped me before, so why the hesitation? Well, the results are quite visible and frequently so, too. I consoled myself by saying that it would be functional if not fancy. The repair rescued the object from deteriorating into uselessness. The result of my repair was adequate and I am mildly satisfied with the result. There is nothing wrong with something looking good and functioning well. And if you can have a better look without excessive money or time or pride, I’d say go for it. But not everything you own has to look “just so”. Functional will do.
My short poem that resulted from these thoughts took a turn from my consideration of the project I did. I don’t know if they quite correlate, but I think the thoughts in the poem are worth considering.
Functional not fancy is the way to go
Enduring not faddish I do prefer so
Beautiful not fashionable, better you know
Prudent not frivolous, the best seed to sow
In so doing no good advice away throw
Not reap consequences of wild oats you sow
Not wasting life on what may glimmer and glow
Savoring peace in your heart to spread and grow
Business on Parade
Posted in Cultural commentary, General, Influence, Photo, Poem, Random thoughts, tagged Art, Business, Corporate, Poem, Sarcasm on January 22, 2019| 1 Comment »
While sitting quietly the other day, I noticed once again a print of an ink stippling on my wall. It was given to me by the artist, Paul S., over 35 years ago. I offer my students the opportunity to interpret its meaning each semester. They have little context for understanding what the picture could mean. As you read the poem by which I tried to interpret it, consider three details: when it was drawn, over 40 years ago; the fact that the wind up key was not in the original drawing (added to soften the message); the driver is a self-portrait of the artist:
Business on parade
Corporate charade
Self-importance stance
Condescending glance
All dressed to impress
Picture of success
Lean and hungry look
Sales castling rook
Off to war we go
Corporate G.I. Joe
Competition war
Watch our profits soar
Take seriously
Capitalist free
Make a better place
Of our world and race
Bosses all are we
We work for a fee
All cogs in the wheel
We stagger and reel
Get on the bus
That’s left even us
Once to camp and play
Now late at work stay
Thus we bid adieu
Commitments renew
Now hard on the track
Taking business flak
Take Your Time
Posted in General, Hurry, Learning, Poem, Random thoughts, tagged Hurry, Patience, Poem on January 18, 2019| Leave a Comment »
My students were preparing to take their big semester test. Besides trying to calm some of their nerves and instill confidence, I also wanted to persuade them to not rush either for reasons of nerves or apathy. After my little speech, this poem began to come to me.
Take your time
Please don’t hurry
Do it right
Don’t end in a flurry
Patience now
‘Tis a virtue
Hand to plow
Follow through
Carefully
Wisely proceed
Clearly see
Then the deed
Measure twice
Cut but once
Planned it thrice
Prevention’s ounce
When you’re done
As you should
Quite the run
It was good
Caught How
Posted in Cultural commentary, General, Learning, Poem, Truth, Wisdom, tagged Learning, Poem, Truth, Wisdom on January 17, 2019| Leave a Comment »
It shall not grow if the soil is not prepared. It shall not be caught if there is no net in the air. No reason, no logic based in truth will occur without the moral component.
What is not caught is not taught
So they say
Lead them to water add salt
Make it play
But how do you break the hard pan
Unfriable soil
Minds for which learning is ban
Refuse slightest toil
Closed to logic and reason
Parroting thought
Flocks of birds out of season
Nothing new sought
Where are those seeking learning
Knowledge sponge
Understanding discerning
For truth lunge
True wisdom comes from above
Two-sided gift
Truth one side, the flip side love
Between no rift
Embrace the Gray
Posted in Faith, General, Poem, Problems, Remembering, Trials, tagged Faith, Poem, Trials, Winter on January 15, 2019| Leave a Comment »
As I have mentioned several times recently, and as anyone in my area will attest, there have been more than usual number of days with gray skies and fewer of sunshine than normally. On just such a day yesterday, I began to consider.
Snow on the mountain
Wind in the trees
Frost on the pasture
Chilled by degrees
Gray sky overcast
Sun seldom guest
Trees in dark profile
Season of rest
All is damp and cold
The days are short
Food scarce for creatures
Few birds report
In this bleak season
Emotions wane
Foreboding reason
Given to pain
Now the time for faith
Let the truth ring
After these dark days
Then will come Spring
Sun seldom guest
Trees in dark profile
Season of rest
The days are short
Food scarce for creatures
Few birds report
Emotions wane
Foreboding reason
Given to pain
Even wintertime
Has its beauty
Seek out what is good
Fulfill duty
Embrace these gray days
Count it all joy
Draws you to Jesus
And sins destroy
In His Life and Death Is Our Hope
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Praise, Salvation, Work of Jesus, tagged Life of Jesus, Poem, Salvation, Work of Jesus on January 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »
The first advent we celebrate
As babe in flesh we can relate
Without a sin He lived His life
Through all temptation, pain, and strife
Miracles He performed with ease
Controlling nature as He please
To His deity these pointed
And with the Spirit anointed
Taught us of the Father’s kindness
Of religious leader’s blindness
God’s kingdom come in hearts of men
Of wrath to come, the cost of sin
His most amazing, gracious toil
His death that sin and death did foil
For those who believe and submit
Eternal life He will commit
He rose from the grave on day three
From sin’s power He set us free
Now we serve Him with joy and peace
Seeking for others sweet release
He returns that glorious day
His mighty power on display
The dead are raised to life anew
Trailing the Master in full view
So with Him forever to reign
His was the price, ours is the gain
With joyful hearts we’ll worship Him
The saints singing eternal hymn
In His life and death is our hope
Eternal in extent and scope
What assurance it is to know
The One from Whom all blessings flow
Another Year is Dawning
Posted in Blessing, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Grace, Hymns, New Year, Poem, Salvation, Work of Jesus, tagged Blessing, Faith, Hymn, New Year, Poems, Work of Jesus on January 1, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Frances Havergal wrote the following poem for New Year greeting cards in 1874, which later became a hymn:
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.
Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.
It is a time to reflect on the past, take stock of the present, and aspire to a better future. Much if not most of life is beyond our control, but she clearly pleads God’s provision, not for an easy time, but for a fruitful time in belief and service to God. I ask that my Christian brothers and sisters be blessed with just what this poem requests, “another year for Thee”.
There are others of my friends and readers who do not yet know God through His Son, Jesus Christ. I plead with God to choose you in this new year to be His child. Though He is the one who chooses, in some mysterious and yet simple way we must choose Him as He enables us to. The offer is there; knowledge of God and life eternal awaits. Trust Jesus to take away the guilt of your offenses against God by the sacrifice He made on the cross. It is not a complex choice, but it is a definite one. Do not reject Him for some misguided sense of fairness:
“Give us fairness,” said many voices.
“You don’t want fair,” he said,
“For then we would all be dead.”
Grace that will set you free,
Mercy to pardon, can’t you see?
You have no other choices.
And why would we all be dead? “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) There in the same sentence with the bad news and death, is the good news and eternal life.
May your New Year be blessed with the knowledge of God and joy in serving Him.
I Need You
Posted in General, God Thoughts, Grace, Poem, Sustaining on September 6, 2018| Leave a Comment »
My Lord, I need you in so many ways
In this moment and all of my days
For You give me purpose and hope that stays
Help and direction when I pray
There is no other God besides You
All that You are, do and say is true
Why do we make idols and them pursue
When our glorious God is in view?
How so, you may ask, can we see Him?
With eyes of faith that are not dim
From what He’s made His unseen attributes
Through His Word and salvation He imputes
So I will ever serve this kind and mighty Lord
And seek to make Him known and His grace afford
Cling to Him when by difficulties floored
Follow after Him to blessings and reward
You need Him, too. You just may not know it at this time. I pray that you will come to serve Him. We all serve a master; there is no true autonomy. We either serve the devil and his world system resulting in death or we serve the God of heaven through His Son Jesus resulting in life. Plead with God to save you; He will. He is a kind and gentle Master.
To God Who Salvation Brings
Posted in Blessing, General, God Thoughts, Grace, Poem, Salvation, Song, tagged Poems, Salvation, Song, Sovereignty on September 3, 2018| Leave a Comment »
I wanted to write a song of praise to God about
how His character secures our hope of salvation.
Given the meter of 8.8.8.8 in each verse, which is long meter,
there should be a several good hymn tunes that would fit.
Following is a tune I have written for it.
To God who does create all things
His Chosen ones salvation brings
Be praise from all He made and reigns
From all He blesses and sustains
What God determines and intends
What He ordains and He begins
Cannot be altered, none condemns
Orders all things by His commands
And yet within God’s sovereign plan
Alters outcomes by prayers of man
Enlightens, directs, and protects
Encourages, instructs, corrects
All knowing and almighty He
As blessed saints secure are we
Goodness and grace toward us are pure
That prove to us His love is sure
When paths are steep and days are dim
Recall His Word and cling to Him
God’s promises will hold you fast
As they have helped saints in the past
In heaven when before the throne
We worship God, His goodness known
His power, wisdom, and His might
Have brought us to this wondrous sight
Joined to God
Posted in Blessing, Family, General, Grandchildren, Photo, Poem, Relationship, tagged Blessing, Family, Grandchildren, Photos, Poems on August 15, 2018| 1 Comment »
Levi Bean had a start so fragile
May your body and mind be agile
As this world and His Word you explore
May God’s strength be yours forevermore
Bring Levi* near for He shall be Mine**
Shall teach Your people of the Divine
Observed Your Word, kept covenant#
May Levi help preserve the remnant*#
May Ezekiel again “God strengthen”+
May his impact and years God lengthen
Show the ‘Son of Man’ to believers
A witness silencing deceivers
May Mr. Bean be ever friendly
To strangers and kin ever kindly
A man of his word, a friend to trust
Husband and father loving a must
*Levi means “attached” or “joined” (Genesis 29:34) **Numbers 3:5-12 #Deuteronomy 33:9-11 *# Malachi 3:3-4 +The meaning of Ezekiel; “Son of Man”- title for Ezekiel (used 95 times) pointing to Christ (Daniel 7:13)
Our sixth grandchild has arrived. I write these poems for each new grandchild with the intention that they may be blessings spoken over the the child’s life. Circumstances have not allowed me to spend significant time with my grandchildren, but I can pray for them and bless them. Perhaps God will allow me to spend more time with them when they get older. Please pray for this young one, who has many challenges ahead with heart surgery around 3-4 months. God is good to provide and protect a posterity. May they be a godly one.
Check out the picture of L and Sis
I’d Rather Be
Posted in Beauty, Cultural commentary, General, Kindness, Poem, Random thoughts, tagged Beauty, Humility, Kindness, Poems, Random thoughts on June 4, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Over the weekend my neighbor came over to share a photo album of his recent vacation. Several relatives took him to the beach, a pier to fish, a battleship, and out to eat several times. He was very excited explaining in his broken, repetitive speech about the beach and waves, a fish he caught, the large shells and big guns of the ship, and pancakes he had. You see, my neighbor has an IQ of around 80. His experience of life is very simple and concrete. (He is also the best neighbor that I have ever had.) The thought occurred to me as he talked that his excitement sounded very similar to that of a young child. Subsequently, I considered that me or some very intelligent person is little different compared to God’s infinite intelligence, perception, and power. We are all enjoying the beach like young children in our level of perception compared to God. But are we all enjoying it with the simple excitement and thankfulness of this neighbor of mine? As I considered it further this morning, I thought about the 4 things our society values: riches, intelligence, beauty, and athletic ability. Those are gifts to be thankful for, but frequently they bring their own problems because we think these gifts somehow come from us. We would be best off without these gifts if we are going to misuse them. And we would be best off not alive if we don’t know God through His Son.
I’d rather be a bear of little brain
Thankful, content, and partially sane
Than one of high intellect and profane
Ungrateful, unbelieving and inane
I would rather be an ugly duckling
Humble and kind, always listening
Than one gorgeous, proud peacock strutting
Self-absorbed and manipulating
I’d rather be a spastic water boy
Team player, play maker, full of joy
Than the stud and star that’s all a ploy
To be in the lights, a lonely alloy
I would rather be poor and struggle hard
Thankful and content though often jarred
Than be filthy rich and on my guard
And by greed and retribution marred
I’d rather be a believer in God
A servant, humble though roughly shod
Than a skeptic agnostic, oh so mod
Separated eternally from God
American Woman
Posted in Beauty, Cultural commentary, General, Poem, Relationship, tagged Beauty, Encouragement, Expectations, Modesty, Poems, Rejection, Relationship, Respect on June 1, 2018| 2 Comments »
The following poem may be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made on this blog. It could draw some significant ire. However, if those who read it, read it carefully and understand its intent, it may help someone reconsider how they are doing things. The poem came as a result of a conversation I had with a decent young man who at present has no prospects for marriage. What he said could be interpreted as so much sour grapes, but I don’t think so. He wants to be a godly husband and is waiting for a godly spouse, but inside and outside the church, young women seem suspicious and disinterested in commitment to young men. (Switching gender in this statement is sometimes true as well.) One statement he made struck me as instructive: “The American Woman (I’ve decided to call her) expects that a man meet all of her emotional needs, but she sees it as optional to meet his physical needs.” I thought several things after he said this: 1) The full pendulum swing from the man as ruler of his house to the fully liberated woman has occurred. 2) Neither extreme is biblical and both are damaging to all parties involved. 3) This statement illustrates the age old difference and misunderstanding of differences in needs of the two genders.
This society belittles males as nothing more than animals, blathering, hormonal driven fools. What we expect and inspire is what we get. We need to change our expectations and encouragement of boys and men.
American woman why do you flounce?
Look on with disapproving eyes
Every male reject and renounce
Belittle in jest and despise
You practice no modesty before guys
In speech and action or in dress
Putting out honey will draw flies
Complicit are you in this mess
(Now it’s true that men should not lust for girls
Treat them as objects, as mere tools
But made in God’s image, real pearls
Honoring her, not acting like fools)
So build up young men; don’t tear them all down
Declare to them their great value
Help them step up to be renown
Sober of mind and always true
Thus the benefit for all and for you
Respect your man and serve him, too
Modest in dress says you are true
He will arise, protect, love you
Beautiful But Broken
Posted in Beauty, General, Glory, God Thoughts, Poem, tagged Beauty, Corruption, Creation, Nature, Poems on May 20, 2018| Leave a Comment »
My pastor abbreviates the condition of Creation as “beautiful but broken”, a deeply descriptive phrase for what we observe in nature. I got to thinking about it one day after church and the following began to come to me.
Beautiful but broken
This world that He made
Of His nature a token
But hastening to fade
Beauty marred by man’s sin
Caused death and decay
So all who are Adam’s kin
To God’s Son, no delay
Though all Creation groans
In futility
Slave to corruption it moans
One day will be set free
The sons of God revealed
Creation restored
We and it too be glorified
Through both God will be praised
On Resurrection Day
Posted in General, Glory, God Thoughts, Poem, Resurrection, Sustaining, Work of Jesus, tagged New Life, Poems, Resurrection, Salvation, Worship on April 1, 2018| Leave a Comment »
On Resurrection Day
God’s power on display
No better way to say
Death’s sting has gone away
Great exchange took place
The Pure One for the base
Elect ones of the race
Will meet Him face to face
Now I have been set free
From death, sin’s penalty
Live no longer for me
For God and His glory
Death to life He will bring
Sinless life enabling
All Creation will sing
Saints with praise rejoicing
Reflect on His goodness and grace on this Resurrection Celebration Day. We have been made alive; we have hope; we have a purpose and a message to share. Rejoice!
Signs of New Life
Helping the Weak
Posted in General, Outdoors, Poem, Random thoughts, tagged Nature, Poems, Random thoughts, Relationship on March 12, 2018| Leave a Comment »
It was time for Monday morning parking lot duty again (for more see “Marvelous Mondays“). “We shouldn’t even be here, it’s snowing.” I had my full rain suit on with a little less than comfortable amount of clothing underneath. That slight discomfort added a bit to the melancholy of the streetlights and angled snowfall that resulted in light splatter sounds on my hood. Water droplets flashed like Advent lights on tree branches and pavement as their moving form refracted the artificial light source. I always station myself at the center of the parking lot under six trees planted there a mere eleven years ago. They have produced their own microcosm. The birds love to come early and sing from their branches and feed on insects under the shrubs below them. I am constantly amazed at how lively the little space is. I have long observed the disparity of growth among these six trees, but the stark and beautiful scene of this morning caused me to contemplate their survival and interaction in a rather curious way.
CreatorWorship 
Knowledge to Understanding to Wisdom
Posted in Cultural commentary, Education, General, Influence, Poem, Prudence, Truth, Understanding, Wisdom, tagged Discernment, Education, Knowledge, Prudence, Truth, Understanding, Wisdom on June 9, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Time to graduate some students. It is a time for smiles and celebration and happy tears. The education we give our young is too focussed on knowledge and understanding devoid of moral evaluation, too lacking in wisdom for living and discernment for awareness of various dangers. I hope that I may be a mentor in thoughtful and careful living.
Knowledge leads to understanding
This path will serve you very well
To your mind and heart rewarding
In interactions it will tell
Acquire wisdom in your youth
Always prudent to do what’s right
Acting kindly along with truth
With wisdom overcoming might
Many deceived by false knowledge
Seek that you may discernment find
That at home or work or college
By truth delivered, sharp of mind
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