Saying the truth.
Is it so hard?
Why does everything
Have to come out backwards
Or in double speak?
Why all the games?
Maybe it’s because many people
Don’t want the truth.
They’d rather be told lie after lie.
Maybe many people would rather
Live in a fantasy land,
Where everything they’re afraid of
Is exaggerated and twisted,
And everything they yearn for
Is offered free and easy.
Just offer your mind, body and soul,
And we’ll give you what you want.
Later that same week, on Sunday, Amy and her family headed to church, like they always did. When Amy’s Dad drove their car into the parking lot, there weren’t a lot of cars there, so Amy could see most people as they walked into the church. Amy was shocked to see one particular person getting out of his car. It was the man she saw in her neighborhood on Tuesday morning. He said, “Good morning,” to Amy’s Dad, with a smile. “I’m afraid I gave a scare to your daughter the other day,” he said to Amy’s Dad. “I didn’t get a chance to apologize.”
“My name’s Bradley Coulder,” he said, with an outstretched hand. Amy’s Dad put out his hand and offered a smile. “I’m Darren Green,” he said. “I’m sure it was a misunderstanding,” Mr. Green said, smiling at Bradley, then at Amy. Amy was mortified. How could her Dad so easily accept this guy? She looked down and walked into the church, not looking back. Amy wasn’t going to reject her instincts on this man, even if her Dsd liked him. Amy’s family usually sat towards the front of the sanctuary, in the second or third pew on the right. Amy sat there, refusing to give in to her curiosity about Bradley, who seemed to have taken a seat towards the back of the church.
Life flowing from my heart
Is cut down by rivers of doubt.
The rushing water wears down
My early oaths and affirmations,
Slowing my faith to a halt.
My simple plan to ditch the man of the gospels,
Runs into blockades along the way.
Nests of love, peace and grace
Call me away from my solitary journey.
I sometimes fight the current,
Or allow myself to rest,
But naturally I am carried away
By the fantasies and delusions
Of my silly imagination.
With a battering ram strapped to my forehead,
I push through the glistening walls of the great cathedral.
But for what?
Has this victory won me anything of value?
After all, the war has already been won by my adversary,
And this stub in the toe is no big loss to him.
My screams in the darkness win me no favors,
Gain me no pity, although he may shed a tear.
Shall I continue to throw stones through stained glass windows,
Knowing I am only hurting those I love and who love me?
Whom am I fighting, anyway, if not myself?
Reaching out.
Waves crashing,
At my feet.
Love crushing
The air
Out of my lungs.
What is to be
Expected
From my great God
Next?
Joy is pulling out
My fingernails.
Peace is knocking me
Unconscious.
What can I give
To board the train
Going up the hill?
What can I say
To bring mercy
To my body
And soul?
Grace
Is beating me
To a pulp.
Jesus,
Save me
From your church!
Save me
From society!
The powerful
And the rich
Hover above
My bleeding body,
Like vultures.
How can I escape?
Smile lack so sad smooth life is not that weep for the end is near the beginning is coming the satisfaction of all will be found on the mountaintop.
Close the door (the end is near) but don’t fear for god is here. Womb shallow river pour out on this congregation of ne’er do wells and corrupt citizenry and ghost town revelers.
So much to leave behind a simple backpack is all I carry a sack with no lunch nothing but a cup to fill with water when I can.
Can you find the ancient ruins beneath the supermarket? The burial ground under the rollercoaster? What’s new? I don’t have a clue.
I like endings. Beginnings, not so much. I like meandering and intoxicating and flurries on a cool night. I like rivers and hills and dead man’s curve.
Do you see the end coming? It’s near, I tell you! Really close but doubt comes closer and I believe in doubt. I like to humor doubters and double crossers and hooligans.
How many doubts does it take to make a faith? How many truths does it take to make a scripture? So many confusing sorts of dreams and all kinds of visions and stalactites and frosting.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, but if he’s almighty, why doesn’t he stop crime, hunger, murder, rape, theft, abuse, neglect, war?
Maker of heaven and Earth, but why did God make the world? Was he lonely? Was it a mistake? If not, why the flood?
And in Jesus Christ, his son, our Lord, even though Jesus never directly proclaimed to be the Son of God,
Conceived by the Holy Spirit, but how does that happen?
Born of the Virgin Mary, ???
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, yep, sadly,
Crucified, dead and buried, again, sadly,
In three days he rose from the dead, but the witnesses weren’t recorded until long after, and by people other than the witnesses,
He ascended into heaven, ???
And sits at the right hand of God the father almighty, no witnesses for this, of course.
From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead, sooner or later, at the end of time.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, some evidence like evidence of the wind. You can’t see it, but you can see it’s effects.
The holy universal church,the church is holy, but not due to its own state, actions or deeds, but by Jesus saving grace, boasting nothing but God’s grace and mercy.
The communion of saints, this happens every Sunday, does it not?
The forgiveness of sins, we trust and hope this happens,
The resurrection of the body, simply a matter of faith, not science, which is okay.
And the life everlasting, we can only hope.
Our Father, the best father imaginable, and if not imaginable, the best Mother, or Brother, or Sister, or Friend;
Who art in Heaven, that place that isn’t a place, the perfect state of being, of existing, of living; that paradise of another dimension;
Hallowed be thy name, holy, righteous, special, divine, separate, perfect, lovely, beautiful, worthy of worship by all, Daddy, Momma, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, Friend, Confidante;
Thy Kingdom come, a world where God’s love and holiness is the guiding principle for all, an experience of grace that exists right now, anytime, is accessible to all, no matter where they live or what state their life is in;
Thy Will be done, a state of purpose that comes only from God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit; A goal that has already been achieved on the Cross, by paying the sacrificial debt for the sins of the world, from the beginning to the end of time; The perfect obedience and righteous existence that comes from God’s gift to humanity;
On earth, as it is in heaven, can you imagine everyone on the earth following God’s will? Can you imagine anyone obeying 100% of the time? Well, it happens sometimes, which is a miracle in itself;
Give us this day our daily bread, give us physical, emotional and spiritual sustenance , whatever is necessary to do God’s will, God provides it, and all we have to do is ask;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, grace that only God can give to pardon us from our shortcomings, provided we are as charitable with those who hurt us, loving our neighbor as well as even our enemy;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, God protects us from so much temptation that we could not handle. And when we need deliverance, he’s right there to save us;
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, all goodness and great things belong to God. They are only possible with his grace and power;
Forever and ever, from the beginning of time to the end end of time, god with his grace, power and love exist and are provided to those who ask.
Amen, all this is true.
I want to get closer,
But I’m afraid.
I want to pray,
But I’m not sure
Who I’m praying to.
So many different images
In my mind,
Competing for my
Attention.
Who are you,
And what do you
Want from me?
Can I trust you?
I look at all
The imperfect people
In my life,
And I struggle
To understand
Words like
Perfection,
Love,
Righteousness,
Holiness,
Sanctification,
Charity,
Divinity…
The list goes
On and on.
Can you tell me:
What is true,
And
What is a lie?
I’m lost.
Shine on, seeker.
Bundle your doubts,
Prepare for the journey.
You may find,
In a reflecting pool beside the road,
Something of a hint of truth.
Be not convinced so easily!
You have much to experience
Before you are justified
In making up your mind about anything!
Take these truths,
And put them somewhere safe,
So you can return to them later.
Stumbling along the sidewalk 