Poetry

Jesus Lives, AMEN

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Death is the great equalizer,
for no one is immune,
and death is the great divider,
for some are not attuned.
For Jesus conquered this enemy
and shattered its mighty power,
therefore some will be on his right,
and others will be left to cower.

Death still runs wild,
threatening to devour.
Death still strikes blows,
trying to exert it’s power.
But Jesus lives and reigns,
thus I will live too.
So take your best shot, Death,
for you will be left the fool.

So when Death comes a knocking,
to claim another life,
just shrug him off with a smirk,
knowing that he is not right.
For my Lord has won the victory,
thus I will live again.
Death can have its moment now,
but Jesus lives, AMEN!

The Pastor -|—

The Cross

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

Staring at this cross on my office wall, this poem/confession started to flow. As I think about what it means to be a church, I can’t help but think that if a church doesn’t have a right understanding of God through Jesus Christ; if they don’t truly know him, then their mission will always be askew.

Picture4.png

The Pastor -|—

Doors

/ The Pastor

Doors open
and
Doors are closed

Sometimes they are slammed shut.
Sometimes they close ever so slowly.
Whatever the case, a closed door signals
mourning
grieving
loss.
A closed door feels so
final
scary
uncertain.
A closed door means we can’t see.
A closed door means we’re
stuck
trapped
confined.

Oh God, I don’t like closed doors
but…

closed doors also signal something

NEW

we just can’t see it
and therefore we need to live by faith.

Oh God,
grant me the faith to trust in you;
to trust that when a door closes
that you’ll open another one.
Grant me the faith to cling to you.
Grant me the patience to wait for the right door to open.

Doors close
and
Doors are opened

“My child, I AM the Faithful Doorkeeper“

The Pastor -|—

The Mystery

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

The mystery is told,
the mystery is this,
through faith in Jesus,
we will live in bliss.

Our bodies will perish,
our bodies will decay,
but at the last trumpet
we’ll go by Jesus way.

Why can we proclaim this?
Why can we be joyous?
Death has been defeated,
and Jesus is for us.

All praises be to God.
All honor be to Him.
The vic’try has been won,
for through Jesus we will win.

The Pastor -|—

For My Friend, Jeannette

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

A void is present
without your life now
and we wish that you were still here.
Life is not the same without your big smile
and so we mourn and shed our tears.

Difficult it is,
to accept your death,
we remember your life so sweet.
Sharing our stories of a life well lived;
knowing that we will again meet.

Cancer took your life;
thinking it has won;
and robbing us of your sweet life.
But cancer’s loud and futile vic’try cry
is swallowed up in Jesus Christ.

And so we thank God
who has won the fight,
through shattering Satan’s strong hold.
So thanks be to God who gives us true hope,
that we too may live a life bold.

Until we meet again, Jeannette…

Praise be to God, always and forever!

The Pastor -|—

Come Far and Near

/ The Pastor

Wise men came from the East;
magicians
astrologers
worshipers of the stars,
seeking a Messiah;
a King.
They knew the prophesies
They heard the stories
but most of all
they saw a STAR;
a STAR created and sent by God.
Don’t try to scientifically explain it;
just give glory to God!

So without delay they left on their journey,
long,
difficult,
dangerous,
and for what; for who?
A BABY.
They sought out the king and the leaders of the land,
but knowledge of the birth
they had none.
Prophesies were told
and the location was known.
So Herod sent them on their way
for he, too, wanted to “worship” this child.

(Don’t believe him, he is lying)

Upon finding this child,
they fell to the floor in worship of the
KING.
They worship the KING through their gifts of
Gold
Frankincense
Myrrh
They worship the KING through their joy.

(Praise be to God!)

But these wise men must leave.
They must return to tell Herod
so he, too, can come and “worship” this
KING
But warning comes;
a warning comes via a dream

“Don’t believe Herod. Don’t go back to him”

So they wise men return by a different Way.
They returned changed.
They returned glorifying and praising God.

Have YOU seen Jesus?
Have you seen the KING?
If so, why are you walking along YOUR way?
Confess your sins and be forgiven;
for Jesus is the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE.

Come far and near and see Jesus.

The Pastor -|—

Christ is King

/ The Pastor

Christ is King
he is the ruler on high.
Christ is King
he is the ruler coming from the sky.

Christ is King
he has defeated death and sin.
Christ is King
we win when our faith is in him.

Christ is King
my life he has saved.
Christ is King
his precepts I will always crave.

Christ is King
for I know not what I do.
Christ is King
his forgiveness is for me too.

Christ is King
I will praise you everyday.
Christ is King
please help me walk in your ways.

Christ is King
to you I long to go.
Christ is King
it is you I long to know.

The Pastor -|—

Rain

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Living out here,
I have learned to walk in the rain
without any concern.
No running for cover.
No umbrella in hand.
No fear of melting.
It’s just water.
It’s almost like I am not getting wet.
The rain falls,
the water puddles,
and I barely notice anymore.

Living in this world,
I see people walking in the “rain”,
without any concern.
No running to You.
No Bible in hand.
No fear of You.
Nothing.
It’s almost as if You don’t exist.
Your Word goes out,
as rain falling in the Northwest,
and people barely notice anymore.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
[Isaiah 55:10-11]

Let Your Word rain down,
oh God,
let Your Word rain down,
for You will not be denied.
May these people, wet with Your Word,
take notice and
seek shelter in You.
And since Your Word will
NEVER
return to You empty,
may I not lose heart.
Let Your Word rain down,
oh God,
let Your Word rain down.

The Pastor -|—

Listen

/ The Pastor

I sit here in a busy coffee shop,
all alone,
hearing muddled conversations all around me.
People talking about this and that,
occasional laughter,
seriousness in voices,
questions,
stories,
complaining.
I then look forward and see the busy street in front of me.
Vehicles flying by,
in a hurry to get somewhere.
Cars,
trucks;
people working,
running errands,
going somewhere.
So much to do,
to many places to go,
but do You, God, even get a glancing thought?
Or maybe its,
blue tooth,
music,
voices,
traffic,
people,
stress,
to-do lists.
Anything and everything accept You.
So much going on,
so many distractions,
so much worry,
and yet You wait;
waiting for Your children to snap out of their busy daze.
I wish I could just wave my hand and stop the busyness,
so people could listen to You.
But would they?
Listen?
May I never be too busy to listen for You.

The Pastor -|—

To Think of You

/ The Pastor

To think of You,
oh God,
is to be reminded of my sinful estate;
my fallen nature;
and my constant disobedience.

To think of You,
oh God,
is to run to You in confession;
to seek Your mercy;
and to fall at Your feet.

[Enter Jesus]

To think of You,
oh God,
is to hear forgiveness;
to know grace;
and to feel Your love.

To think of You,
oh God,
is to know peace in chaos;
hope in despair;
and tranquility in upheaval.

To think of You,
oh God,
is to know everything will be alright;
to be reminded that You are in control;
and to be filled with joy.

To think of You,
oh God,
is to know that I am Your child,
wrapped in Your arms,
and keep safe for all eternity.

To think of You…
🙂

The Pastor -|—