One Truth

Jesus answered: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”   John 14:6-7

truth;

when the last breath has been breathed,

when the fantasies and illusions are stripped away,

when the imposters and wannabes have all faded;

what else is there?

truth does not come easy,

it lies hidden among the wreckage

and excess baggage,

simple and plain,

without motive or agenda,

without prejudice or conditions,

no compromise,

no faltering,

no respecter of persons,

truth is not dependent

on belief or imagination,

it stands sparkling and clear,

shining like the sun

in the eyes of a child;

truth stands alone;

many claim truth,

twisting and turning facts,

attempting to fit preconceived ideas,

creating vast empty empires, complete with

testimonies of flesh and blood,

monuments of self-glorification,

exercises in futility,

deceiving themselves and others,

with grand ideas and philosophical babble,

crumbling like dust into the morning mist;

but in the end truth remains,

in the end truth will be all there is,

in the end there is only

one Way, one Life;

one Truth.

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All The Days of My Life

purify me O Lord,

like gold in the refining furnace,

remove the iniquities and impurities,

make me shine like a jewel,

reflecting the glorious light

that comes from You;

fill me with Your precious fire;

help me overcome this body of flesh,

so desperately trying to bring me down,

dragging me back into the filth and perversion

of the dark and lonely prison

from which You have freed me;

praise Your magnificent mercy and grace;

give me victory over this enemy,

who destroys all that is perfect and pure,

save me from the illusions and lies

that blind and deceive those who fall

into his devious snares,

prepare me for the coming battle;

bring me home to You;

teach me O Lord,

Your holy and righteous ways,

lead me down mysterious paths,

mold the desires of my heart,

guide me into the center of Your will,

be my Master and my King,

let me serve You faithfully;

for all the days of my life.

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Slave

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.  Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”  So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.  And all the people were amazed.   Mark 5:18-20

all my life I have been a slave,

all my life I have been lost,

all my life I have served unseen masters,

all my life I have been a prisoner;

sexual perversions and lust,

spiritual darkness and depravity,

financial debt and personal greed,

unjustified hatred and anger,

self-destructive gluttony,

fantasies and delusions of grandeur,

vanity and self-induced egotism,

malicious slander and vicious lies;

sacrificially raped,

silently abused and self-tortured,

steadily stripped of all dignity and self-worth,

repeatedly robbed of confidence and truth,

slowly losing any faith or trust;

then You reached out Your mighty hand,

pulling me from these raging seas,

unlocking the door of this forsaken cell,

delivering me from eternal bondage,

opening my blinded eyes;

no longer a victim,

no longer a slave;

now I wait for the day,

when I will be where You are,

sitting at the foot of Your throne,

basking in Your glory and light;

telling the world of Your mercy and grace,

telling the world what the Lord has done for me.

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A Day At The Mall

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.1 John 2:15-17

He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.   Luke 6:39-40

I look at the latest gadgets,

the coolest toys,

the ultimate possessions;

all I see are things;

pieces of trash,

dead,

useless,

plastic,

lifeless;

my soul yearns for more,

my soul yearns for You;

I have spoken the words

You gave me,

I have shared the truth

You taught me,

I am tired,

I am worn,

there is nothing left,

nothing I desire;

I am ready for what

comes next;

blind guides leading the blind,

in love with the sound

of their own voices,

lost within the illusion,

deceived by their own vanity,

fading fountains of mist,

disappearing clouds of vapor;

here today,

gone tomorrow;

bring me home to You.

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Just a Dumb Jock

not easy to turn the other cheek;

the lies,

the hypocrisy,

the greed,

the self-righteousness;

the inability to see past the

small, little world in which

we live,

unable to accept the insignificant,

little lives that we live;

turning meaningless, man-made

monuments and religions into

works of glory,

celebrating myths which

crumble into dust,

like the mists of vapor

who created them;

worshipers of the creation,

mockers of the creator;

high school drama teachers,

in love with the sound

of their own voice,

poisoning minds,

destroying hope,

you never fooled me then,

you do not fool me now;

I saw you for what you were,

I see you for what you are.

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All My Life

they stand there dancing,

like ghosts upon the midnight mist,

word after endless word,

line upon fathomless line,

some much clearer than others,

some begging and crying,

screaming, “take me, take me,”

others hiding among the shadows,

waiting for the proper moment,

in which to lash out with their spotless sabers,

ripping open huge growing gashes,

from which poisonous venom gushes forth;

loyalty is dead she tells me,

no I tell her,

it is dead only for those

who allow it to die,

but that is only a guess on my part;

for the right price,

anything can be bought;

I see the paintings on the sidewalk,

it makes me wonder who could create such magic,

how fantastic it must be

to perform such things,

pouring your soul into physical images,

sharing visions with fellow travelers,

touching things much deeper than meets the eye;

she makes me aware,

she makes me see,

she holds up a mirror to my face,

reflecting all that there is,

good and bad,

she is my greatest love,

she has become my greatest teacher,

my greatest friend,

my perfect soul mate;

she fills the space

that has been waiting for her

all my life.

.

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poetry

poetry?

so that’s what this is,

all this time

I thought it was just

schizophrenia,

quiet voices,

whispering softly

inside my head,

fragmented thoughts,

coming and going,

so much left unsaid,

must be a fine line,

perhaps the inflection

or tone;

and it comes without years of study

or warm shots of whiskey;

who would have thought it possible?

certainly not my old English teacher.

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.

Teacher

teacher;

where are you now?

teacher;

don’t you have

any wise words now?

are you still enjoying

being an intellectual

SOB;

NOW?

did you have your

mandatory.

mid-life

crisis?

did you go through

your obligatory,

messy

divorce?

tell me

teacher;

do you still

look down

your pointed little nose,

passing judgement,

deciding

who deserves life,

and who doesn’t?

is everybody

still cast

into the roles

of dumb jocks

and cool non-jocks?

I gave you a glimpse

inside my soul,

you tossed it aside

with nothing more

than a glance,

I gave you all there was,

all you gave me

was a D.

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Let All the Earth Sing Praises Unto Him

great is the Lord our God,

His righteousness and justice stand like a mighty mountain,

His mercy flows like a great and powerful river,

His majesty shines like a rare and beautiful jewel,

let all the earth sing praises unto Him;

there is no other like Him,

no other who saves His people from their sins,

no other who defends the lonely and lost,

no other who shelters the fatherless and weak,

let all the earth sing praises unto Him;

in the nighttime darkness,

He is there by my side;

in the morning when I awake,

He is there holding my hand;

guiding me,

teaching me,

disciplining me,

loving me;

showing me the paths

down which I should travel,

providing the strength

to hold on just a little while longer;

let all the earth sing praises unto Him;

He is God almighty,

the holy King of the universe,

the Master of mercy and grace,

the Creator of heaven and earth,

the Beginning and the End;

the Truth,

the Light,

the Way;

Everything;

let all the earth sing praises unto Him.

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Numb

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.   Joel 2:31-32

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”   Romans 10:12-13

the numbness grows,

I fight,

I flex,

I stretch,

I rub,

but still it grows;

it’s like sinking

in quicksand;

I should not complain,

yet still I complain,

I should not criticize,

yet still I criticize,

I should not judge,

yet still I judge,

I should not hate,

yet still I hate,

I should not speak,

yet still I do;

what hope is there

for one such as I?

Your law is light,

Your yoke is truth,

Your garments are righteousness,

Your path is faith,

Your garden is love,

You have taken away

the darkness and despair,

I have called upon Your name

and You have heard;

I was dead,

but now I am alive.

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My Home

we hide inside our houses,

dreaming of the tomorrows,

imagining the possibilities,

running from the darkness,

mystified by the mystery,

trapped within the illusion,

waiting for the destination;

forever seeing,

but never knowing;

forever hearing,

but never understanding;

if it were up to me,

I would stay in this place,

seeking shelter from the storm,

swallowed up by the myth,

drowning in the depths,

growing cold from the emptiness,

guarding Your truth,

like a rare and precious jewel,

but Your grace knows better;

Your will demands more;

I am searching for my home,

but I don’t know how to get there,

so I quietly wait in the wilderness,

running from the ghosts,

hiding from the demons,

praying for a tomorrow;

my home is neither here nor there,

not ahead or behind,

not without or within,

my home is in a land far away,

a whisper on the howling wind,

a flicker in the candlelight glow;

close your eyes and it is forever gone;

my home is nothing,

my home is everything,

my home is all there is.

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For All The Days of My Life

purify me O Lord,

like gold in the refining furnace,

remove the iniquities and impurities,

make me shine like a jewel

standing in the morning sun,

let me reflect the glorious light

that comes from You;

fill me with Your precious fire;

help me overcome this body of flesh.

that so desperately tries to bring me down,

dragging me back into the filth and perversion

of the dark and lonely prison

You have freed me from;

praise Your magnificent mercy and grace,

give me victory,

over the enemy who would destroy

all that is perfect and pure,

save me from the illusions and lies

that blind and deceive,

prepare me for the coming battle;

bring me home to You;

teach me O Lord,

Your holy and righteous ways,

lead me down mysterious paths,

mold the desires of my heart,

guide me into the center of Your will,

be my Master and my King,

let me serve You faithfully;

for all the days of my life.

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I Thirst

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.   Matthew 5:6

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”   John 4:13-14

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.   John 19:28

I thirst O Lord,

for Your wisdom and knowledge,

I hunger for Your love and peace,

I live O Lord,

for Your truth and light,

I seek Your mercy and grace;

Your words,

lie resting within my soul,

like rare and precious jewels,

perfect in every way,

shining brilliant and bright,

worth more than all the wealth

this world has to offer,

providing depth and understanding

beyond my limited comprehension,

opening my blinded eyes,

bringing new vision and hope;

deliver me O Lord,

from the evil of this eternal night,

hold my hand until the end,

help me rise above the moment,

free me from the enemy’s traps and snares,

guide my journey

along these dark and treacherous paths,

forgive my trespasses,

see past my weakness.

allow me to be a witness,

to Your never ending glory,

let my lips praise

Your righteous and holy name;

to You do I belong,

in You shall I remain,

my Lord,

my King,

my Savior,

my God,

my Everything;

I thirst O Lord,

for You.

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Trapped Truth

the sun shines upon only a few,

in this life where all is not known,

and even less seen,

as the fallen come seeking retribution,

for lines crossed in the middle

of this warm hot night,

their souls forever searching and lost,

among shadows of the past,

a mortgage upon tomorrow

without down payment,

a reconciliation,

for which there is no cost;

we have but a short time my friend

in which the song may be heard,

just a soft white light away,

from brighter shinier days of gold,

an end to this cosmic comedy,

where so many hide away

within smiling faces of gracious gratitude;

words that smell of the truth they seek,

are but a stones throw from the edge,

a ripple upon the water of this tempestuous time,

which stretches forth like an endless,

unsettled sweltering tide;

tell them this truth lies not trapped,

even if it could,

tell them it is there,

where it has always been,

waiting for the weary travelers arrival,

like a jewel in the cold black ground;

tell them that there is more,

so much more,

than what stands before these eyes,

these ears,

these senses,

these faces;

these dreams.

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Silent Lover

that which is seen,

is seldom all that there is,

as secrets too dark to tell,

lie hidden in secret depths below;

it is there she sleeps,

a bright and shining jewel,

among midnight dreams,

a soft easy light,

glowing in the early morning sunrise,

unknown by all,

this silent lover,

who speaks louder

than words ever could,

like water to a dying man,

lost in a searing desert,

thirsting for her,

praying for just one drink

from her eternal well;

and she silently waits,

never saying a word,

in this silent world

which no one ever sees;

and never will.

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Indignity

around 4 am it finally comes,

it seems to take longer now,

slower,

deliberate,

more mindful,

this is how it is

when you get older,

the way it was meant

to be;

recovery is never quite

the same;

I remember many things,

things no one knows,

things about which

no one cares,

hot summer nights,

stars shining in the sky

like newly discovered jewels,

fresh and clean,

your skin,

soft and warm,

your touch;

like a long lost friend;

the end draws closer,

not much longer now,

I am ready,

all the bags are packed,

I have been waiting

for such a very long time,

soon the indignity will stop,

the suffering fade;

soon enough,

soon enough;

a quiet, peaceful sanctuary

amidst the storm,

a final sleep

before the breaking dawn.

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.

moving on

dark cold nights,

dark dead days,

impossible dreams,

impossible ways;

sometimes this life

gets it right,

despite great efforts

put forth,

to do

otherwise;

hard to believe,

amidst all this

ugliness and waste,

such tremendous

capacity for

beauty and grace;

you are nothing

but a mirror,

reflecting back

all the images

they desire

to see;

in the end,

you forget,

you move on,

just like

it has always been,

just like

the world

has done

for centuries,

because forgetting

and moving on;

is all part

of the game.

.

.

one year

one year,

in a lifetime

of years

to come;

everyday

it grows,

every moment

it deepens,

until there is no

beginning,

no end,

no yesterday,

no tomorrow,

no wrong,

no right,

only here,

only now;

only us;

from huny hush

to new orleans,

from quiet tears

to silent laughter,

she has become

my soul,

my breath,

my sun,

my moon,

my joy,

my passion,

my life;

this love

grows stronger,

this bond

can never be broken.

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waking up on the front line

I hate that we are

what we are;

tell them

that he remained

true to the cause,

right up till

the very end,

in spite of great

torture and torment

on the part of the enemy;

that he was a loyal

and faithful soldier

through it all,

despite deep personal

and philosophical

differences;

and so the damage

is done,

this war

does take its toll,

on both the

living and the

dead;

sometimes the greatest

battle of them all,

is just waking up

in the morning,

knowing that

it is waiting

right where it left off;

sometimes living

is the hardest option

of them all;

but sometimes,

that is all 

there is.

.

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words

these words;

they are my women.

my bitches,

my strength,

my power,

my sluts,

my whores,

my refuge,

my escape,

I fuck em,

I leave em,

I make em bleed,

I leave em,

and still they are here

waiting,

ready to suck my cock

on demand,

willing to take it up the ass

at a moment notice;

I use them,

I beat them,

I abuse them,

I love them,

I make them smile;

I caress them

like a beautiful child,

I fondle them

like sweet young

breasts,

licking and sucking

their nipples,

as they squeal out

in moans of indescribable

pleasure;

they take me places

far away,

where no one else

could go,

they return me

to a forgotten past,

where no one else

has been;

they speak of freedom

inside prison walls,

while dreaming of forgotten fields

where tomorrow waits;

inside them,

I am inside her;

the final destination,

on a journey

with no beginning

or end.

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.

even Einstein knew that

I’ve learned a few things

in this life,

things that no one else knows

or takes the time to see;

for example;

I know that rock n roll

began in 1948,

in the form of a simple

country blues song

called boogie chillum,

by a man

who would influence

a whole generation,

but never get the credit

that was his due;

and I know,

that I have seen God

walk this earth,

in the shape of a man,

during my lifetime,

and that I have heard his voice,

just as so many others did,

but that no one recognized him

for who he truly was,

but that someday they will;

just like the first time

he came;

I know that this life

is not what it seems,

that it is an illusion,

created to deceive and fool,

a very elaborate illusion,

but an illusion

just the same;

I know that Jesus Christ

was exactly who he said he was,

just as the words of the bible

say precisely what they mean,

and are not hiding

ancient secrets,

or theological mysteries,

despite how many scholars

say they are,

that the truth is so simple,

only the simple

can see it;

whether the rest of the world

wants to believe it

or not;

I know that nothing

in this life

is an accident,

that it was all planned out

from the beginning,

every detail,

every chance encounter,

that the energy

we carry inside,

can never be destroyed,

only changed

or altered in form;

hell;

even Einstein knew that.

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Delusion

For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.   II Thessalonians 2:7-12

the joy does end,

here in this land

of limited sun,

cold hearted and alone,

forsaken and forgotten,

the gate is closing,

the gap is narrowing,

the light is starting to

disappear,

there are things bigger

than life,

bigger than death;

bigger than dreams;

even now they mock,

twisting the truth,

creating monuments of self-glory,

worshiping idols of their own doing,

maligning anyone and everything,

laughing at the misery and suffering,

exploiting the helpless and weak,

drowning in self-proclaimed wisdom,

unable to understand truth,

incapable of anything more

than what they are,

refusing to see past themselves,

seeking life, liberty and the pursuit

of perpetual pleasure,

blinded by their superiority,

wallowing in the fantasy,

delighting in the delusion;

finding comfort in the lie.

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Without Warning

“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”   Habakkuk 1:5

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”   Luke 16:29-31

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.   Hebrews 10:31

today I saw the end,

it came like a flash,

unexpected,

without warning,

without explanation;

unconditional;

the ground work has already been laid,

the time grows short,

it is not what I, or anybody,

could ever imagine;

simple,

pure,

perfect;

most would not believe,

even if I told them,

most would not believe,

even if One rose from the grave

and told them;

most are too arrogant,

caught up in their self-righteousness,

their pre-conceived ideas of how it is

supposed to be,

how they want it to be,

they don’t listen,

they twist,

they spin,

they think they see,

but they are blind;

just like the Pharisees;

in a dream,

I have heard the screams,

I have heard the ‘gnashing of teeth’,

I have felt the power,

crackling, sizzling, searing;

it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God;

it does not matter,

truth is truth,

it does not change,

no matter how hard some

try to bend it,

to twist it,

to make it fit;

truth is truth,

whether it is accepted or not;

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.   Proverbs 3:5-18

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.   Joel 2:32

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Saturday Morning Biscuits

the day begins with biscuits,

sausage and egg,

bacon egg and cheese,

it has become a Saturday

morning ritual,

part of the routine;

looking up,

the mountains call,

standing like ancient sentinels,

whispering like lovers

in the fading, forgotten mist,

beckoning you to travel

along their hidden trails,

a secret society,

a forbidden mystery,

but the growing pain

within your gut

says not today;

perhaps never again;

below, the James

gurgles and flows,

steady and rhythmic,

the frogs creak,

the daffodils bloom,

another spring awaits;

you think about

people and places

you have known,

you wonder where

they all have gone;

does a lifetime of mediocrity,

lessen a moment of greatness?

does not light shine

through the darkness, no matter

where or when it shines?

do careless words speak forever?

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Discernment

“If you want to be happy, do not pray for discernment.” – A. W. Tozer

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”   John 15:5-7

it’s not easy seeing things

others do not,

seeing past the surface,

past the smoke screens,

past the phoniness,

past the lies;

seeing the hypocrisy,

the hidden agendas,

the self-seeking motives,

the falseness,

you begin to see people

in a different light,

you begin to see them for

what they really are;

you see it in others,

you see it in yourself;

it is like talking

to dead bones,

being surrounded by

living corpses,

remaining silent,

even though you want

to scream,

knowing it wouldn’t

change anything,

even if you did;

it is not judgment,

it is not condemnation,

it is a deep, quiet

sadness,

an unspeakable burden,

because you know that

you are just as guilty,

just as undeserving,

just as despicable,

just as failed;

you realize just

how opaque

and pervasive evil

really is,

appearing as an angel

of light,

infiltrating into cracks

and shadows,

you understand just how

manipulative and devious

the enemy truly is;

You are the Vine,

we are the branches,

without You we can do nothing,

through You we can do all things.

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A Dream/Vision

the children of men hold their breath,

a final sigh before the meltdown,

a silent pause within the maelstrom,

hearts fail from fear,

meeting in secret places,

waiting for what is to come;

like a thief in the night

it sweeps them away;

trees smolder and smoke,

bursting into flames as

tires begin to steam,

their rubber melting

to the highway surface;

no where to run,

no where to hide;

like abandoned wells,

their water runs dry,

they sit withering in the sun,

wandering through the wilderness,

lost and alone;

the day is here,

the time is now;

Your mercy endures

to the end,

but who shall hear the message?

who shall accept the grace?

when the Son of Man returns

will he find faith?

.

.

This Dream

the moments come and go,

just a different twist,

a fairer fate,

another turn,

a better choice,

life and death,

darkness or light,

nothing and everything,

something else;

we come so close;

83 dead,

the silence shattered

as the gunman reloads,

Louisville in mourning,

there are things never

forgotten;

who is to say?

who is to know?

does it never end?

the sun rises,

a new day’s heat begins,

suffocating and choking,

flesh melting like

yesterday’s butter,

chard and putrid,

fresh rubber sizzling

like bacon in grease

on the soft asphalt surface,

one more on the road,

out of the frying pan

and into the fire;

another one tastes the dust;

take it away,

let it be no more,

bring about an end,

take it from my eyes,

take it from my mind,

this whisper,

this hush;

this dream.

.

.

Infection

 

Jesus looked directly at them and asked. “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone?’ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”   Luke 20:17-18

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:21-26

“To face what we are in the end, we stand before the light

and our true nature is revealed. Self-revelation is annihilation of self.”

Kathleen Conklin – ‘The Addiction’

we all stand afflicted,

hopelessly addicted,

ravaged and abused,

scourged and inflicted;

infected by the disease;

we choose this road,

because that is who we are,

what we have become,

there simply is no other choice,

no other path;

a leopard cannot change

its spots,

nor can a flea become

a dog;

hopelessly addicted,

infected by the disease;

self-induced delusions,

self-abused illusions,

self-taught dreams,

self-righteous justification;

hopelessly addicted,

infected by the disease.

.

.