(Luke 19:28-48 - Palm Sunday)
What a parade!
or was it a charade?
This is the exception not the rule,
A messiah riding on a mule.
Jesus stared at the holy town.
He foresaw its collapse to the ground.
What's next is hard to describe
A God who actually cried.
Then His tears turned into anger
toward the Temple moneychangers.
What happened next tested every Levite's sanity,
A God who turned into a vigilante.
Then the ruling class convened
to discuss the actions of the Nazerine.
And their agenda was driven by fear -
How do you make a God disappear?
4.17.2011
Home is where you hang your head
Luke 15:17-24 (Prodigal Son)
Humbly I come down the road,
And I see him approaching fast.
Running as fast as he can,
Boy, he's gonna kick my sorry ass.
Can't blame him a bit,
I lost it all including a piece of my soul.
I promise to pay it all back,
Yeah, the years in the world will exact its toll.
Did I hear him say, "Son"?
I start my speech but he tells me to stop.
In his headlock, I taste his tears,
but I also can smell that pig slop.
I can't hear what he's yelling to the help,
probably, "Start digging my grave."
He's dragging me toward the house,
As I tell him I'll be his slave.
"Stop this nonsense," he said,
"You're my boy and always will be.
We're gonna clean you up,
butcher the fatted calf
into some fine ground round.
And will someone fetch big boy
and tell him the piece of my heart
that was lost
has now been found."
Humbly I come down the road,
And I see him approaching fast.
Running as fast as he can,
Boy, he's gonna kick my sorry ass.
Can't blame him a bit,
I lost it all including a piece of my soul.
I promise to pay it all back,
Yeah, the years in the world will exact its toll.
Did I hear him say, "Son"?
I start my speech but he tells me to stop.
In his headlock, I taste his tears,
but I also can smell that pig slop.
I can't hear what he's yelling to the help,
probably, "Start digging my grave."
He's dragging me toward the house,
As I tell him I'll be his slave.
"Stop this nonsense," he said,
"You're my boy and always will be.
We're gonna clean you up,
butcher the fatted calf
into some fine ground round.
And will someone fetch big boy
and tell him the piece of my heart
that was lost
has now been found."
I'll leave the light on for you
You should be known for the beauty that comes from within,
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is so precious to God. (1 Peter 3:4)
Of all the places He could go,
Jungles oh so dense,
Or galaxies yet unnamed,
Even check out Vegas.
Yeah, God lives in heaven,
but vacations in my soul.
Of all the things He could do,
Surf the ocean on the leviathan's back,
Workout the pale horse in thirty-five and breezing,
Whisper "I bless you," after someone finishes sneezing.
Yeah, God lives in heaven,
but vacations in my soul.
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is so precious to God. (1 Peter 3:4)
Of all the places He could go,
Jungles oh so dense,
Or galaxies yet unnamed,
Even check out Vegas.
Yeah, God lives in heaven,
but vacations in my soul.
Of all the things He could do,
Surf the ocean on the leviathan's back,
Workout the pale horse in thirty-five and breezing,
Whisper "I bless you," after someone finishes sneezing.
Yeah, God lives in heaven,
but vacations in my soul.
What a mess You left behind!
(The last week of the Christ)
God so loved the world
that He gave
His one and only Son
that whoever believes in him
shall not perish
but have eternal life. John 3:16
What a mess You left behind!
A dead fig tree.
Pissed off merchants.
Pissed off merchants.
A criminal was set free.
Ripped the Temple curtain from top to bottom.
A suicide.
The man with the keys to the Kingdom went fishing.
Your body was not prepared for burial.
We hastily placed You in a tomb,
with a promise to fix it up first thing Sunday.
And when I return
What do I find -
The rock is knocked over.
Jesus, what a mess You left behind!
4.13.2011
Winter Baptism Haiku
Winter Baptism Haiku
Under the water
and out of the gusting wind
God, this is freedom.
4.11.2011
Holy
Accept Me.
Love Me.
Let Me
work
in your
life.
Accept them.
Love them.
Let Me
(through you)
work
in their
lives.
Talk to Me.
Be honest.
Let Me
hear
your heart.
Talk to them.
Be honest.
Listen
to
their hearts.
Do these things
for
I AM
holy.
And
please believe it
My precious one -
you are too.
Amen.
Love Me.
Let Me
work
in your
life.
Accept them.
Love them.
Let Me
(through you)
work
in their
lives.
Talk to Me.
Be honest.
Let Me
hear
your heart.
Talk to them.
Be honest.
Listen
to
their hearts.
Do these things
for
I AM
holy.
And
please believe it
My precious one -
you are too.
Amen.
4.03.2011
Follow Me
Follow Me
with your cross.
And I don’t understand why,
but you can hang your baggage
from it
if you want.
Follow Me
with your empty purse.
And
No, I won’t sign
a waiver of liability.
Follow Me
and you can fish for people.
“So, we’re angling for souls.”
Oh, you’re so funny.
Follow Me
after you sell everything you have
and
pay off your credit cards.
Follow Me.
You hear
and recognize My voice.
No, friending Me on Facebook
Ain’t gonna cut it.
Follow Me.
I don't apologize
that
I love you.
I am sorry,
That's the way I am.
Follow Me.
And until you do,
there is no
Amen.
4.02.2011
The Right Stuff
A meditation on Matthew 7:7-8
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Seek the right stuff,
I AM your map.
Ask for the right stuff,
I AM your man.
And if I,
the Easter One,
requests your presence,
(with all your stuff.)
Don’t knock.
I AM home.
Come on in.
Amen.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Seek the right stuff,
I AM your map.
Ask for the right stuff,
I AM your man.
And if I,
the Easter One,
requests your presence,
(with all your stuff.)
Don’t knock.
I AM home.
Come on in.
Amen.
3.27.2011
Our Little Secret
Meditation on Matthew 6:1-18
When (not if) you give,
Let your charity be hidden.
It will be our little secret.
When (not if) we have a dialogue,
Let your prayer be private and simple.
It will be our little secret.
When (not if) you fast,
Refrain from telling all from what you abstained.
It will be our little secret.
Give.
Pray.
Fast.
It will be our little secret.
So the world will know who I AM.
When (not if) you give,
Let your charity be hidden.
It will be our little secret.
When (not if) we have a dialogue,
Let your prayer be private and simple.
It will be our little secret.
When (not if) you fast,
Refrain from telling all from what you abstained.
It will be our little secret.
Give.
Pray.
Fast.
It will be our little secret.
So the world will know who I AM.
3.21.2011
Bread and Water
I hunger for this daily bread.
Not the loaves that Satan wanted from stones.
Not the piece that Judas dipped in Your cup.
Not the grease soaked ones that I had for lunch.
I hunger for the Bread of Life.
I thirst for this living water
Not from where the pigs cliff dived to their death.
Not from the basin where Pilate washed his hands.
Not from the sugar filled can that I had for lunch.
I thirst for Your living water.
Amen.
Not the loaves that Satan wanted from stones.
Not the piece that Judas dipped in Your cup.
Not the grease soaked ones that I had for lunch.
I hunger for the Bread of Life.
I thirst for this living water
Not from where the pigs cliff dived to their death.
Not from the basin where Pilate washed his hands.
Not from the sugar filled can that I had for lunch.
I thirst for Your living water.
Amen.
3.14.2011
An Irish Blessing
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
When Will This Service End?
“For we are co-workers in God’s service”
1 Corinthians 3:9
After confessing our faults,
Singing His praises,
Hearing His Word,
Eating the bread,
Drinking from the cup,
The final Amen is said.
Not signifying the
end of the worship
but
the beginning of
our service
in our homes,
at work,
in the marketplace,
and in the world,
for another week
of our lives
on earth.
1 Corinthians 3:9
After confessing our faults,
Singing His praises,
Hearing His Word,
Eating the bread,
Drinking from the cup,
The final Amen is said.
Not signifying the
end of the worship
but
the beginning of
our service
in our homes,
at work,
in the marketplace,
and in the world,
for another week
of our lives
on earth.
3.07.2011
The Prodigal People
At the beginning of the story
God calls a nation together
Frees them from bondage
and saves them from recapture.
But after awhile
They replace their God with the culture’s gods.
God is heartbroken
and wishes they would come to their senses.
Then later on
God calls a church together.
Frees them from the bondage of sin and death,
and saves them with the indwelling of His Spirit.
But after awhile
They replace their God with the culture’s gods.
God is heartbroken
and wishes they would come to their senses.
At the end of the story
God sends for those who were faithful.
Frees them from those who ridicule their uniqueness,
and saves them by being forever present in their lives.
But God is still heartbroken
for those who never came to their senses.
God calls a nation together
Frees them from bondage
and saves them from recapture.
But after awhile
They replace their God with the culture’s gods.
God is heartbroken
and wishes they would come to their senses.
Then later on
God calls a church together.
Frees them from the bondage of sin and death,
and saves them with the indwelling of His Spirit.
But after awhile
They replace their God with the culture’s gods.
God is heartbroken
and wishes they would come to their senses.
At the end of the story
God sends for those who were faithful.
Frees them from those who ridicule their uniqueness,
and saves them by being forever present in their lives.
But God is still heartbroken
for those who never came to their senses.
3.06.2011
Ash Wednesday (2011)
After I receive the black stamp of repentance,
I sense His presence
as He asks me to go with Him
in the wilderness.
To sacrifice,
to pray,
to learn,
to love,
and to practice the art He has perfected -
Resurrection.
I sense His presence
as He asks me to go with Him
in the wilderness.
To sacrifice,
to pray,
to learn,
to love,
and to practice the art He has perfected -
Resurrection.
i am a little church
i am a little church (no great cathedral)
far from the splendor and squalor of hurrying cities
i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest,
i am not sorry when sun and rain make april
my life is the life of the reaper and the sower;
my prayers are prayers of earth’s own clumsily striving
(finding and losing and laughing and crying) children
whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness
around me surges a miracle of unceasing
birth and glory and death and resurrection;
over my sleeping self float flaming symbols
of hope, and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains
i am a little church (far from the frantic
world with its rapture and anguish) at peace with nature
i do not worry if longer nights grow longest;
i am not sorry when silence becomes singing
winter by spring, i lift my diminutive spire to
merciful Him Whose only now is forever;
standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence
(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)
e.e cummings 1958
far from the splendor and squalor of hurrying cities
i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest,
i am not sorry when sun and rain make april
my life is the life of the reaper and the sower;
my prayers are prayers of earth’s own clumsily striving
(finding and losing and laughing and crying) children
whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness
around me surges a miracle of unceasing
birth and glory and death and resurrection;
over my sleeping self float flaming symbols
of hope, and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains
i am a little church (far from the frantic
world with its rapture and anguish) at peace with nature
i do not worry if longer nights grow longest;
i am not sorry when silence becomes singing
winter by spring, i lift my diminutive spire to
merciful Him Whose only now is forever;
standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence
(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)
e.e cummings 1958
2.28.2011
Thoughts on a Unitarian God
Is it good to be a lonely God?
No one who can create with Him.
No one who understands Him.
No one who can be intimate with Him.
Some days would He shout:
"Eli Eli lama sabachthani?"
No one who can create with Him.
No one who understands Him.
No one who can be intimate with Him.
Some days would He shout:
"Eli Eli lama sabachthani?"
Two Celtic Christian Trinity Poems
O Father who sought me,
O Son who bought me,
O Holy Spirit who taught me.
Above a Triscilion
Three folds of the cloth,
yet only one napkin is there,
Three joints in the finger,
but still only one finger fair,
Three leaves of the shamrock,
yet no more than one shamrock to wear,
Frost, snow-flakes and ice,
all in water their origin share,
Three Persons in God;
to one God alone we make prayer.
Triscilion--a figure composed of three usually curved or bent branches radiating from a center
O Son who bought me,
O Holy Spirit who taught me.
Above a Triscilion
Three folds of the cloth,
yet only one napkin is there,
Three joints in the finger,
but still only one finger fair,
Three leaves of the shamrock,
yet no more than one shamrock to wear,
Frost, snow-flakes and ice,
all in water their origin share,
Three Persons in God;
to one God alone we make prayer.
Triscilion--a figure composed of three usually curved or bent branches radiating from a center
2.20.2011
In my deal with God
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(If Donald Trump was saved)
(2 Corinthians 1:21-24 NIV)
16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
(1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NIV)
In my deal with God
I went from the landlord of me
to a tenant of the Almighty.
In my deal with God
my real estate was rezoned
from commercial to worship.
In my deal with God
my security was now
provided by Him.
In my deal with God
He had to evict some of
my former tenants.
In my deal with God
my mentors were not books or teachers
but the Holy Spirit.
In the deal with God
my rent was that my entire heart, mind,
soul and strength
now belongs to Him.
In my deal with God
He said if I break this arrangement
There would literally be
Hell to pay.
2.14.2011
Lean on Me (Holy Spirit)
Rested on Bezalel so he could furnish the Temple.
Rested on Samson so he could kill a lion with his bare hands.
Rested on and then departed from Saul.
Rested on and then refused to go away from David.
Rested on Isaiah’s promised Messiah.
Rested on the previously dry bones in the desert.
Rested on the chosen virgin.
Rested on the baptized Jesus.
Rested on the Gospel writers.
Rested on Paul.
and
Today
The Spirit forever
Rests on us
so we may let go of the world
and live in the grace
of the Trinity.
Amen.
Rested on Samson so he could kill a lion with his bare hands.
Rested on and then departed from Saul.
Rested on and then refused to go away from David.
Rested on Isaiah’s promised Messiah.
Rested on the previously dry bones in the desert.
Rested on the chosen virgin.
Rested on the baptized Jesus.
Rested on the Gospel writers.
Rested on Paul.
and
Today
The Spirit forever
Rests on us
so we may let go of the world
and live in the grace
of the Trinity.
Amen.
2.08.2011
Faith (is love in action)
To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance,
and that you are now doing more than you did at first. (Revelation 18a,19)
I believe
therefore I will do
what the Master asks.
What the Master asks
is sometimes beyond my ken
yet I must do it.
Yet it only appears beyond my ken
because the Master has prepared me for the task.
Therefore in faith I will trust Him.
The ways the Master has prepared me
are by actions I couldn’t imagine.
Therefore I will believe in what the Master has planned.
The actions I couldn’t imagine
become more and more evident as
I work on what the Master commands.
And the more and more
I abide in the Master’s desires
My faith translates into love in action.
Today on earth
and
Someday in Paradise.
Amen.
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance,
and that you are now doing more than you did at first. (Revelation 18a,19)
I believe
therefore I will do
what the Master asks.
What the Master asks
is sometimes beyond my ken
yet I must do it.
Yet it only appears beyond my ken
because the Master has prepared me for the task.
Therefore in faith I will trust Him.
The ways the Master has prepared me
are by actions I couldn’t imagine.
Therefore I will believe in what the Master has planned.
The actions I couldn’t imagine
become more and more evident as
I work on what the Master commands.
And the more and more
I abide in the Master’s desires
My faith translates into love in action.
Today on earth
and
Someday in Paradise.
Amen.
1.31.2011
I confess
I confess
You are Lord
You alone are to be adored.
I confess
You are Lord
Through You alone I am restored.
I confess
You are Lord
You alone can make my spirit soar.
I confess
You are Lord
You alone can not be ignored.
I confess
You are Lord
You alone can defeat the sword.
I confess
You are Lord
You alone can grant the eternal reward.
You are Lord
This I know
Help me change my status quo.
I won't look back anymore
I left the people that do
It’s not the chase that I love
It’s me following you. **The Avett Brothers
1.22.2011
Salvation Questions
If I am redeemed,
why don’t I follow my dreams?
If I am converted,
why do my goals get perverted?
If I am an adopted son,
why do I act like a lost orphan?
If I am born again,
do I really want to go against the grain?
If I am saved,
why I am so concerned about the grave?
If I am committed,
why do I feel I won’t be acquitted?
Is the definition of Salvation
to invite God to vacation in your soul?
It sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Imagine the servant being driven around by the Master!
Amen.
why don’t I follow my dreams?
If I am converted,
why do my goals get perverted?
If I am an adopted son,
why do I act like a lost orphan?
If I am born again,
do I really want to go against the grain?
If I am saved,
why I am so concerned about the grave?
If I am committed,
why do I feel I won’t be acquitted?
Is the definition of Salvation
to invite God to vacation in your soul?
It sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Imagine the servant being driven around by the Master!
Amen.
Atonement
Come home prodigal.
Come home sinner.
Come home for dinner.
Come home brother and sister.
Come home those who are heart sick.
Come home quick.
Refrain:Oh, I am lonesome for my precious children.
They live so far away.
Oh, may they hear my calling, calling
And come back home some day...
Come home to the Father.
Come home all who are lost.
Come home by the way of the cross.
Come home where love lives.
Come home those in pain.
Come home and out of the rain.
Refrain:Oh, I am lonesome for my precious children.
They live so far away.
Oh, may they hear my calling, calling
And come back home some day...
Refrain - Calling My Children Home (Trad.)
Come home sinner.
Come home for dinner.
Come home brother and sister.
Come home those who are heart sick.
Come home quick.
Refrain:Oh, I am lonesome for my precious children.
They live so far away.
Oh, may they hear my calling, calling
And come back home some day...
Come home to the Father.
Come home all who are lost.
Come home by the way of the cross.
Come home where love lives.
Come home those in pain.
Come home and out of the rain.
Refrain:Oh, I am lonesome for my precious children.
They live so far away.
Oh, may they hear my calling, calling
And come back home some day...
Refrain - Calling My Children Home (Trad.)
Putting new wine in old wineskins
Inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst. (Job 32:19 (NIV))
Joseph thought
what anguish this voice had brought.
Put the Law of Moses aside
and make Mary my bride.
“Oh Lord, forgive my doubt.
How is this going to turn out?”
Nicodemus thought
what anguish Jesus’ answer brought.
Put the Law of Moses aside
and let the new be born and the old denied
“Oh Lord, how can this be?
I thought only through the Law are we free.”
Peter thought
what anguish His Lord’s statement brought.
Putting Israel’s expectations aside
saying the Messiah will have to suffer and die.
“Oh Lord, You’re describing a pariah
not Israel’s Messiah.”
Thomas thought
what anguish their statements brought.
Putting all known science aside
saying that He is alive.
“Oh Lord, if this is true,
what is the world going to do?”
like new wineskins ready to burst. (Job 32:19 (NIV))
Joseph thought
what anguish this voice had brought.
Put the Law of Moses aside
and make Mary my bride.
“Oh Lord, forgive my doubt.
How is this going to turn out?”
Nicodemus thought
what anguish Jesus’ answer brought.
Put the Law of Moses aside
and let the new be born and the old denied
“Oh Lord, how can this be?
I thought only through the Law are we free.”
Peter thought
what anguish His Lord’s statement brought.
Putting Israel’s expectations aside
saying the Messiah will have to suffer and die.
“Oh Lord, You’re describing a pariah
not Israel’s Messiah.”
Thomas thought
what anguish their statements brought.
Putting all known science aside
saying that He is alive.
“Oh Lord, if this is true,
what is the world going to do?”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)