Category: General

Authority and Love

Jonathan leaned on Jesus’ breast
And breathed in out a sigh
And on his friend’s behest, he asked
The question that no other could get by.

And Jesus spoke no mystery
No story did he tell
And though plain, ‘twas secretly
So none would know, save those who know him well.

Mirriam rose when she was bid
And came before her Lord.
She said in quiet, a few still words
He had already heard before.

And Jesus wept, cried bitterly
At the pain that he had caused
He saw her heart, that loved him dearly
And knew no other law.

The others left.
The Magdelene, she stayed
And though she shuddered silently
Her heart was not afraid.

A gardener’s voice:
The victor spoke her name
He put off triumph that he might touch
The life he died to save

The Rain

 

“Henry, come away from the window. It’s time to get back to work.”

Mrs. Jennings pushed her mottled brown glasses back toward her mottled brown eyes and dusted chalk off of her sleeve. Henry sighed, turning back to his desk, and pulled out his MacMillan Reader. Outside, the rain was coming down in little sheets of grey and white that danced and braided in the wind. It was hard to tell, with the water on the glass, but Henry thought he could just make out the shadows of his little town folding out against the sky. Continue reading “The Rain”

Memorandum

A woman lived in Jesus’ time. A whore
(Some called her so), caught in flagrante, dragged
By all her former lovers, to the chant
Of cries for stoning, to the temple door
Where Jesus sat. He looked at them and wrote
Some figures in the dirt, and asked which one
Was not the one who’d used her for his fun.
Her demons left her then. She stood with hope

And followed Him–believed him when he said
He’d die a shameful death, and planned a way
To give him all the honor due his name.
So, with an ointment, to his meal she fled,
And braved the stares of men who’d called her ‘dox‘,
Then stood and broke her alabaster box.

Beyond Eternity

Few people know where I have gone
But they may see it when they look on sea
Or when the clouds come misty down
upon the open green

But the ocean portal doesn’t always open
And the fog sometimes oppresses
instead of setting free
It’s a window, not a doorway
into the place I love to be

But I can go when e’er I want
Just lay my heart aside
Spread wide my arms and I am lifted
To a place beyond eternity

I hear some people talk of heaven
like the gulls that cry on shore
They believe they know the water
but the dark eyed fish knows more

You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get

You never know what you’re gonna get
Don’t get me wrong
It’s not always bad
But if you see it comin
Don’t hold your breath

You never know what you’re gonna get
It’s like a slow fire
burnin’ you down
Just when you think you’re flyin
You’re fallin here comes the ground!

You never know what you’re gonna get
so please quit your sighin
Throw your worries away
Grab onto your kitestring
And let the sun make the day

You never know what you’re–gonna get
So lay down your dice
Set your soul on the move
How you think you’re gonna win
if you got nothin to lose?

Your Love Never Fails

Your kindness is everlasting
Your faithfulness never fails
Your heart of grace shines like the sun
Lifting me up to gaze on You
Like the lilies of the field wait for the morning

And all I want is to be to You
Like the moon is to the sun
Shining Your light onto the earth
In a place where there is darkness…
‘Cause Your love never fails

Your mercy is like water to me
Your tenderness restores my soul
Your living love falls like rain
Causing my soul to be made new
Like the streams transform the desert

And all I want is to be to You
Like the seas are to the ocean
Where one begins—and the other ends
No man could ever tell…
‘Cause Your love—never fails

* * *
Righteousness and peace have kissed
I saw it in the morning
The beauty of the Lord has come
I saw it in the middle of the day
The judgements of the Lord are good
I learned it in the evening
I cannot wait for You to come again
For what will You bring at midnight?

‘Cause your love—never fails

A Day’s Journey

“Lord, You lead like a drunken man.”

The dust picked up again under the crunch of sweat-soaked feet. Carolina Snibbs was walking. Outside the city gate and up toward the hills, his mouth was dry again. Another city turned away. Another dry day. And comes the wind.

“You always tell me step one and step ten. Never mind that step five is West and step seven is North when my path is heading South. Never mind that. I’m following Your rhythms. And You lead like a drunken man. Continue reading “A Day’s Journey”

Silly Story

 

When the king set on his throne, a very tired and lonely man, he was, at that moment, ready to die. Had someone stepped up to him and told him that that day would be his last to live, he would have smiled, almost grimaced.

“My eyes have grown cold, and so have my hands. My heart, that beats soundly enough, but everything has grown so cold within me,” He wheezed to himself, more amused than distressed. Distress would have cost too much caring, a substance he had run very poor on long ago. He thought he must have a small bottle of the stuff saved up somewhere.

He supposed he ought to find the stuff and use it up on something useless before it went to waste. Tiresome stuff. A wonder the young had so many uses for it.

Just then a mouse scampered up to the arm of the throne. Mice were generally not allowed in throne rooms, but the king had not much kept up with that of late.

“My master, please: a bit of cheese!” squeaked the mouse. Continue reading “Silly Story”