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Archive for the ‘Poem’ Category

Ichthus (ichthys or ΙΧΘΥΣ) Rhyme

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, tagged , on January 10, 2011| 3 Comments »

The Christian fish symbol was made popular on bumper stickers so many know of it.  As a result quite a few know of its use by persecuted believers.  But far fewer know its meaning.

ICHTHUS: Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior.

http://gospelgifs.com/clips/clips3/art1115.htm

And here is a good youtube explaining the eight spoke wheel and letters www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydx3OMNzfP8

Jesus Christ God’s Son our Savior    Mt1:21,16:16; Lk1:35; Jn1:41
By His blood we have found favor                    Heb 9:11-14; Eph 1:7
Undeserved, so more we savor      I Cor 6:20; Rom 5:2,8; Tit 3:5-7
And sin appears all the graver                           I Tim 1:15
 
Jesus is the name of power                                Phil 2:8-11
Help in trouble, a strong tower              Ps 46:1; Prov 18:10
Demons from this name do cower         James 2:19; Luke 4:33-34
Mighty One, yet pure white flower              Isa 49:26; Song 2:1
 
Christ the Anointed Priest and King                   Zech 6:12-13
Exalt His majesty and sing                                 Micah 5:4; Ps 96:1-6
Spirit came as a dove on wing                                  Matt 3:16
Sacrifices and praises bring     Ps 50:13-15, 9:14; 2 Cor 9:7; Mt 9:15
 
God’s true, only begotten Son                          John 1:14
He is God’s radiance like the sun                      Heb 1:3
Equals in holiness are none                         Isa 40:25; Exodus 15:11
Creation by and for Him done                            Col 1:16
 
Son of God our life’s one true vine                    John 15:1
Abide in Him, bear fruit and wine                      John 15:2-4
Open to Him and with Him dine                        Rev 3:20
Son of Man coming, He is mine!                 Dan 7:13; Song 2:16   
 
 
Savior of those who on Him call                        Rom 10:13
Redeemed from the curse of the Law                Gal 3:13
He paid our sin’s penalty all                              John 19:30; Col 2:14
His presence will our hearts enthrall                   Ps 16:11

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Looking for Better

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged , on December 7, 2010| 3 Comments »

A prayer more than a poem really, but the heart fixed on Jesus
finds reality in it.

 

Looking for better, a longing within,
God is the answer, the place to begin.
Oh, to be like Him, to gaze on His face,
Full joy and longing, to live by that grace.
 
But how the flesh pulls, it tugs on my heart,
Promises good times, it looks like it’s smart.
But, oh, it deceives, it robs you of joy,
Go ahead do it, no harm is the ploy.
 
The Spirit is strong, depend on His voice,
Listen, it’s quiet, His way the right choice.
Overcome the flesh, world, and the devil,
Peace and rest are found, vanquishing evil.
 
God’s Word is a sword, the truth in my hand,
It cuts to my sin, can heal all this land.
When with ears to hear, my cup is filled up,
The lost see Jesus, God is lifted up.

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Ultimate Love Story Rap

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Song, tagged , , on November 21, 2010| 2 Comments »

Yeh, you read it right, rap! You’ll need some bling, yo, ’cause this rap involves some “great and magnificent promises” says II Peter 1:4, “so that you may become partakers of the divine nature…” Yeh, that’s rich!
Begins within the trinity
In the far past eternity
Love expressed to infinity
Through interactive Deity

Refrain:
The Ultimate Love Story told
Love eternal never grows old
Reject it and your life will fold
Receive it for a new life bold

A story of marriage lovely
Of promises kept totally
Same and discontinuity
All patterned with typology

Father loves Son eternally
Loves rebellious humanity
Loves His people distinctively
Loves sinners that they might be free

God loves all providentially
He loves so sacrificially
Perfectly and perfectingly
His own want holy living see

God chooses to love us freely
Because God loves His Son you see
It benefits both you and me
Bring God much honor and glory

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Warn a Sinner from his ways

Posted in General, God's Word, Poem, tagged , on November 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

As I sought to choose hymns for the evening service at church I desired to choose one that suggested the text, II Peter 2:1-9.  I struggled to pick a song that spoke anything signifcantly about judgment. My wife said so simply, “Who wants to sing about that?”  Well, of course she is right, but people of the church did not always fear to sing about death and the consequences of rejection of Christ.  Having laid the foundation for strong faith in chapter one, remembering what makes for salvation and godly living, Peter sets out in chapters 2 and 3 to guard the believers against two threats to strong faith:      one within the church, namely false teachers, and the other outside the church, namely, mockers.  Early in chapter 2 reminds me very much of Jude who says in verse four of his short epistle, “Certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation.”  If their judgment is so certain, I wonder, why should we even discuss it?  It is a warning to others for God says through Ezekiel, “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?” ‘Say to them,”As I live!,” declares the Lord God, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?”‘” (33:10-11)  The following poem comes in lieu of the hymn that I did not find:

From hell to save my Savior came
To raise the dead and heal the lame
He taught of His Father full breadth
Of both eternal life and death

 

Second coming differs from this
Bought ones ascend to heaven’s bliss
While those who refused life in Him
Face an eternity that’s grim

 

Saints, pray and preach to your last breath
Hold them back who stagger to death                      Prov.24:11
O, Sovereign Lord lend us Your aid
Show us ones whose sin debt is paid

 

O, Sinners heed Christ’s pleading call      Ezek.33:11,Rom.10:13
Of rescue that goes out to all
Call for mercy with all your might
Escape your end of flame and fright

 

Jesus is the Savior and Judge
On His justice there is no smudge
Receive from Him payment for sin
Or ever hurt without, within

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Washed, Rinsed, Eternally Clean

Posted in Beauty, General, God Thoughts, Outdoors, Photo, Poem, tagged , , , , on September 12, 2010| 4 Comments »

I made a new aquaintence in church today. We exchanged interests and learned that one was classical music and another was potentially poetry.  He wrote down a poem from memory and gave it to me at the end of church.  At home I sat down to read the poem.  I was really enjoying it, but then I got to the last three lines and felt disappointed.  Perhaps the author did not know the good news that I know, or perhaps his focus was elsewhere. At any rate I include the poem here and two verses that I quickly added (in a different color) to, as they say in music, resolve the dissident chords, caused in me at any rate. In defense of both Dr. Stidger’s thoughts and mine, I remind you of what it says in John 13:10: “Jesus said to him, ‘He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.'”  I believe Jesus means both that Judas was unclean and that His disciples can pick up dirt from this world, that though they are clean, “needs only to wash”.  Oh, how glorious, I’m clean!

  

 

I saw God wash the world
     by Dr. W. L. Stidger                                   

Junco

 
I saw God wash the world last night
With His sweet showers on high
And then when Morning came
I saw Him hang it out to dry
 
He washed each tiny blade of grass
And every trembling tree
He flung His showers against the hill
And swept the billowing sea
 
The white rose is a cleaner white
The red is more red
Since God washed every fragrant face
And put them all to bed
 
There is not a bird, there is not a bee
That wings along the way
That was a cleaner bird or bee
Than it was yesterday
 
I saw God wash the world last night
Ah, would He had washed me
As clean of all my dust and dirt
As that old white birch tree!
 
But oh, He has and cleaner yet
But not with rain and wind
He washed me in the blood of Christ
And I’m completely cleansed
 
Yet I will have dirt settle on me
As indeed will flower and tree
But my soul is cleansed of all its sin
And could not cleaner be

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The Word Before Your Face

Posted in General, God's Word, Poem, Sustaining, tagged , , on September 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I was encouraging my healthcare provider and Christian brother  who turned and encouraged me even more by several comments he made.  The one that struck me most was him holding his palm before his face and saying, “If we keep the Word before our face it keeps changing us.”  We listen rather than work because our sanctification is by grace through faith as surely as our initial salvation experience.
 

 

Keeping the Word before your face
Concept and meaning ever trace
Continual changes in you
Please God and better run the race
 
Setting your mind on things above
The things of God you learn to love
Cleansing your heart so it is true
Undivided heart like a dove
 
Eternity within the heart
Begun in Christ and not depart
When I’ve sinned and turned away too
By His Spirit I may restart
 
Learn to live life by faith alone
No schemes and planning on your own
By His Word guided by each clue
To heed the Spirit’s call be prone
 
When in danger for Him you call
Secure in Him never can fall
Peace with God is ever in view
Assurance of heaven’s bright hall
 
The Word before your face again
Best deterrent to prevent sin
Knowing that all to God is due
Forgiveness, glory, life you’re in

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Glory of Christ revealed in His trial

Posted in General, God's Word, Poem, tagged , on August 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Last Sunday the pastor preached a Bible-based, convicting and practical sermon. The text was John 18:12-27.  Early on he said the theme of this intertwined story was “the glory of Christ in His trial; the sinfulness of Peter in his denial.”  As the sermon progressed this sentence kept working on me.  It rhymed and it showed great contrast. I began to think there was a poem here that might help me remember the sermon ideas reflecting the text.

Glory of Christ revealed in His trial
Peter’s sinfulness in his denial
Contrast Christ abiding in the Father
With Peter wandering, to then falter

  

Not shrinking from truth in the face of death
Fearing man when expectations a myth
If I spoke “rightly, why do you strike Me?”
One of His disciples? Not I, said he
 

 

Dependence on God and Christ is the way
Reliance on self will bring much dismay
Cohorts, commanders, courts could not dissuade
A slave-girl side-tracked allegiance once made

 

“I have spoken openly to the world”
Not a cold heart while warming hands unfurled
Boldly speak of Jesus the Son of God
Or rooster crow pierce your heart like a rod

 

Trust in the Father through Jesus the Son
Don’t shift allegiance to serve number one
Return to your first love, know of His grace
Don’t wander and falter, finish the race

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The Fall Abbreviated

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, tagged , on July 25, 2010| 2 Comments »

What happened?  In a moment from life to death, from intimacy to estrangement, from bliss to dread.  Oh that we, the beloved, might imbibe the last state of our soul as readily as the former.  His grace shines in the latter all the more in the light of our former. He has rescued us as “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21) 

Temptations rife
Hazard all
Indiscretions, fall
Shame, strife
 
Blame wife
Cover all
Oh the gall
Death not life
 
Pay the fife
Lost all
Darkness fall
Sorrows rife
 
Took the knife
Once for all
Order tall
Gave us life

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Energy Intertwined

Posted in Beauty, General, Poem, Science, tagged , , on July 6, 2010| 1 Comment »

I am far from being a materialist but God has ordered a material world which is fascinating. It shouts of deep complexity and beautiful simplicity.  He is intimately involved and yet He set it to work. Oh, what a wonderful Creator and Sustainer is He!

Sunlight on the grass and trees
Photosynthesis within the leaves
Glucose stored in chloroplast
In the food web first, but last

 

Consume producers all day
Cell respiration at work and play
Glucose energy that may
Be used to keep death at bay

 

Up the chain energy flows
‘Eat or be eaten’ the saying goes
Predator and prey each knows
Watchfulness precludes dire woes

 

Top dog on a nonstop binge
Top of the food chain has its challenge
On catching the food will hinge
Life and on offspring impinge

 

Death comes to all in their time
Decomposers recycle the grime
The world would be full of slime
Life’s web would lose all its rhyme

 

In and out energy goes
Though inefficient transfer, life grows
From sunlight to plants it flows
Animals, then decompose

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May the Blessing of God

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Song, tagged , , on June 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 Click on

May the Blessing of God   for an original song speaking blessing over you.

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First Cause

Posted in Beauty, General, God Thoughts, Outdoors, Photo, Poem, Science, tagged , , on June 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Bee on flower in mutual dance

Mare with colt on a beautiful prance

Sword fishes school marshal every lance

Not a chance

 

Four main forces balanced precisely

Fingers on key board glide adeptly

Sun, Moon, and stars trace paths exactly

Not likely

 

All of life programmed in DNA

Beauty and function have interplay

Complex fossils in low strata lay

Hey, no way

 

Unless an all sufficient first Cause

Transcendent of effect, without flaws

Made it all, His rule the written clause

Let give pause

Bumblebee on Woodland Sunflower?

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Pain and Pleasure

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Sustaining, tagged , , on June 5, 2010| 2 Comments »

I seem to be in an extended season of difficulty.  This time around I wondered what I could have done to cause the problem.  How had I strained my ankle?  Rain and responsibility had kept me from doing much activity for several days before the swelling and pain.  It turns out that it was not structural at all but rather inflamation.  It is yet another time to reflect on God’s goodness and man’s condition. 

Pain and pleasure juxtapose
First grow thorns and then the rose
Why these two rise side by side
One we cherish one deride

 

Must it be that we suppose
Foulness comes with the sweet dose
Neither so before the Fall
Nor in heaven eternal

 

Better does it good disclose
More thankful now more repose
By suffering our wants end
God does good superintend

 

Now I enjoy more the rose
Beauty of its top stem pose
Thorns diminish all one day
In His presence I will stay

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Good Promise to Israel and Us

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, tagged , on May 20, 2010| 1 Comment »

This poem does not feel complete to me, but it is all that I know to do with it now.  We are all saved by grace but I believe that God has and is dealing with us through different adminstrative dispensations.  This poem attempts to touch on that theme but as I say needs much “filling out”.

Set up for praise, honor, and fame
This good promise to Israel came
Nations are not treated the same
For the sake of God’s holy name
 
Obey His commands was required
Know your God and Him be desired
Never in idol worship mired
Not in doing the good be tired
 
It was by Him sovereignly planned
Blessing or curse on Israel’s land
And offspring few or like the sand
Obey and trust His gracious hand
 
We are the people of the Lord
By Christ’s blood salvation afford
Love Him well, keep His word the sword
In trusting Him comes great reward

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A Servant’s Ambition

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Remembering, tagged , , on January 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Like most anyone else I have experienced ambitions to succeed at this or try that or do the other.  As the years have passed my thoughts of ambition have continued to some small degree though experience has quelled the impulse to apply action to those desires.  The desires to do something noteworthy that have most bewildered me are those I thought to be directed at glorifying God.  Evidently all too many of them were colored by personal ambition I did not understand.  As I reflected on God’s goodness, my failure to take ahold of Him to the degree I desired or serve Him in the way I thought desirable, I saw in my mind’s eye what my ambition should be.  I possess because of His gift a most precious resource.  I don’t want misunderstanding of my poem so consider that holding the jug means to possess the gospel while raising it refers to witness, that is, offering the gospel, and pouring would equate with praying with someone to receive Christ:
Only a lowly servant holding a water jar
But oh, refreshing contents rescued the very same
Now to offer water to travelers near and far
Brings joy to him and to his Master fame
 
Standing by the seated Master pouring on command
As one by one thirsty souls file past the servant there
Water offered unto all, received by those pre-planned
Await the Master’s nod, then pour with flare
 
Why so rarely raised the jug Master offers to all?
Servant holding back more for self that supply not fail?
The joy is more when raised or poured, not one drop will fall
Every single draught will for sin avail
 

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Jingle Talk

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, Random thoughts, tagged , , on January 23, 2010| 1 Comment »

My family and I have watched a 12 part BBC series on the Charles Dickens comedy Pickwick Papers.  Many scenes are funny and others sobering.  And since it is evidently true to the book, I could recommend either.  Without giving away the story, there is a despicable character named Mr. Jingle whose oddity is speaking in one to three word phrases with dramatic intonations and short pauses.  There is a complete economy of words and yet a rich and clearly understood meaning to all that he says.  I do not encourage his actions but his speech compels me to want to learn this mode.  While reflecting on this speech the other day I attempted to write a poem in that form.  I will know if I have succeeded if you understand the poem.  If you know the subject about which the poem speaks, comment your knowledge below:
 
Temptations rife
Hazard all
Indiscretions, fall
Shame, strife
 
Blame wife
Cover all
Oh the gall
Death not life
 
Pay the fife
Lost all
Darkness fall
Sorrows rife
 
Took the knife
Once for all
Order tall
Gave us life

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May I have a Word with you?

Posted in General, Poem, Random thoughts, Remembering, Strength, Sustaining, tagged , , , on January 23, 2010| 2 Comments »

One of the ways that God has given us to communicate with people is through words.  Body language and acts of kindness, hatred, or neglect are other ways.  Not only kind, encouraging words, but constructive criticism words and instructive and insightful words that build someone up and demonstrate concern are helpful.  As the Proverbs say, “Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad,” (12:25) and “A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word,” (15:23) and “Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” (27:6) and “Heed instruction and be wise,” (8:33) and “the tongue of the wise brings healing,” (12:18), and “he who forsakes reproof goes astray,” (10:17) and many more good words. 

But I have observed that though the eargate be open and the volume be sufficient and distractions be few, many good words are not heard.  In fact, the emotional baggage and relationship histories can shut a mind down to where it not only refuses to accept good words, rejecting them or twisting them to have some nefarious meaning or intentions, but such a mind can deny before witnesses that the words were ever spoken.  Though this is an amazement to me, I have both observed it and commited this crime of unkindness to the speaker.  So, I am resolved to hear better and attribute intentions as purer to words that are of benefit to me while understanding that discouraging or untrue words may well come from a speaker who does not fully understand the source of their own intentions.  To this end I have composed a poem:

What is the need for a stern word
From loved ones, colleagues, or stranger
A cautionary note not absurd
When it rescues one from danger

 

What is the use of a taught word
Is it something you need to know
Keep you from running with the herd
Help your mind continually grow

 

What is the goal of a wise word
Of discernment that penetrates
So that on your life you may gird
Tools for living, such worthy traits

 

What is the help of a kind word
With regular sincerity
Just like a beautiful song bird
A seasonal sound rarity

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Painful Teacher

Posted in General, Poem, Strength, Sustaining, Why?!, tagged , , , on October 15, 2009| 2 Comments »

Pain is a teacher unlike the rest
Mastery through continual test
Speaks loud and clear the nerves to molest
Difficult friend and unwelcomed guest

 

Told to rejoice through various trials
How so when all comfort it defiles
Raises high fears deep emotions riles
Makes a few steps seem as many miles

 

The answer comes through what is induced
Frivolous pursuits greatly reduced
Priorities from limits deduced
Perseverance and faith both loosed

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Behind Your Questions

Posted in General, God Thoughts, Poem, tagged , , on August 30, 2009| Leave a Comment »

What do you aspire to do?
What motivates and drives you through?
Is it comfort, security or ease of pain?
Power, influence, life in the fast lane?

Why do you work hard, or at other times sit idle?
Why do you follow rules, but then rear your head without bridle?
Are there goals, a plan, or reasons behind?
Fears, ambitions, or answers to find?

Do you know why the questions never cease?
Why all the efforts but no peace?
Would you want to know if you could be told?
Or shrink back in fear and your spirit fold?

If the answer is Jesus will you reject Him out of hand?
Will you still turn away if your reasons won’t stand?
Do you want peace and purpose, a plan you’ve sought?
Security, comfort, and answers that can’t be bought?

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Room 417

Posted in Beauty, Cultural commentary, General, Poem, Random thoughts, tagged , , , on June 10, 2009| 4 Comments »

On the hallway wall next to the door is posted “Room 417 Storage”.  In this fairly new facility it is used as an occasional office.  The majority could not tell you where it is or for what purpose it is utilized.  I was assigned to sit in silence in Room 417 with three other people for two and a half hours.  I’m a teacher; you figure it out.  Here are my impressions of the space, the activity, and our path.

In a claustrophobic room
Painted white no decor there
Neither flower nor mind could bloom
Though florescent lights and vented air

 

 White noise from conditioned air
Abundant plastic, metal too
Nothing the senses would find fair
Though clean and bright and also new

 

Sanitized of all that harms
Disease, sharp corners, tanning rays
Not a thing the spirit alarms
Though emergency exits map ways

 

Thus the danger to our lives
All is well but dead inside
No awareness that life never thrives
Except in Sonshine and change of tide

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Just Sayings

Posted in Cultural commentary, General, God Thoughts, Poem, Strength, tagged , , , on February 5, 2009| 2 Comments »

Some old sayings recycled and rehashed for the

days we are in:

Desperate times require desperate measures

          So the old saying goes

But are we willing to take the cure

          Before we’re in the throes

 

If it were a snake beside the path

          We’d all been bit for sure

But will we extract the poison there

          So each one can be pure

 

Pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps

          Cannot happen nor would

Since Eve was deceived, Adam rebelled

          We can’t do what we should

 

Problem older than Methuselah

          Recent as your last breath

If not rescued by the Redeemer

          You have no hope but death

 

Right as rain, pure as the driven snow

          Our sin gone by His blood

The Christ has made His beloved so

          By grace’s abundant flood

 

Imitation’s th’best flattery

          Be pleasing in His sight

Now we will and can live for Jesus

          Evidence of His might

 

Oh, lost ones know that the gig is up

          Unless you trust Him too

He died on the cross to rescue you

          And give you life anew

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