GATHERINGS

GATHERINGS

A BOOK

BY FRANK A VOLLMER

.

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HEAVEN IS NOT A REWARD FOR BEING GOOD

IT’S AN INHERITANCE

FOR BEING HIS FAVORITE

WE ARE ALL HIS FAVORITE

RUN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

HE WILL PURSUE YOU

HIS LOVE STICKS TO YOU LIKE FLY PAPER

IT TAKES MIGHTY CONCENTRATION

TO GET IT OFF

WHILE GOD LAUGHS

WE CAN’T EARN THIS INHERITANCE

BUT WE CAN SHOW OUR GRATITUDE

BY RIGHT LIVING

RIGHT THINKING

RIGHT ACTION

GOD DOESN’T MIND OUR BABY STEPS

WITH MANY A WHOOPSIE DOODLE

AS LONG AS WE TRY AGAIN

HE ASKS THAT ALL WHO COME OUR WAY

BE TREATED AS CHRIST

WITH ALL DUE REVERENCE

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CHAPTER TEN OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL

CHAPTER TEN OF MATTHEW’S GOSPEL

IS NOT AN EASY READ

IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER WITH REPEATED READINGS

IT CALLS FOR HEROIC VIRTUE

BESIDE WHICH

MY DIME STORE VIRTUE

SEEMS INVISIBLE

THERE USED TO BE SAYINGS

WHEN I WAS YOUNG

AND WAR WAS RAMPANT

SUCH AS GUNG HO

BALLS AND ALL

IN FOR A PENNY

IN FOR A POUND

ALL GAVE SOME

SOME GAVE ALL

ALL OF THEM CALLED FOR A DEDICATION

THAT IMITATED CHRIST ON THE CROSS

AS HE HUNG THERE

POOR

ALL THAT WAS HIS

HE GAVE AWAY

OR WAS TAKEN AWAY

ANOTHER MAN HAD HIS MOTHER

FAMILY HAD BEEN CRITICAL OF HIM

FRIEND FOUND IT BETTER TO BE ABSENT

FOR FEAR OF THE MOB

BUT HIS GREATEST LOSS

WAS WHEN HIS FATHER DREW A VEIL OVER HIS FACE

AN ABYSMAL LONELINESS SEIZED HIS SOUL

HE DIED POOR IN BODY AND SOUL

IN THIS SPIRIT HE CAN SAY

IF YOU PUT ANY PERSON OR THING

AHEAD OF ME

YOU ARE NOT WORTH OF ME

AYE THERE’S THE RUB

(The term comes from lawn bowling, where the "rub" is any obstacle, usually uneven ground, that pushes the ball off course).

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“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I THINK BONHOEFFER KNEW THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP

WHEN HE WROTE

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

I KNOW THAT CHANGING MYSELF

AND SOCIETY

I LIKE CHIPPING AWAY AT AN ICEBERG

WITH AN ICE PICK

BUT WE ARE TASKED TO SOW SEED

THAT ANOTHER WILL HARVEST

BUT I KNOW

BURSTING OUT OF THE TOMB

WITH A FACE SHINING LIKE THE SUN

THE ICE WILL MELT

FOR US THE TASK

IS TO KEEP ON

KEEPING ON

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VESSELS
(CONFIRMATION CAMP)

I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH YOUR NAMES

BUT I HAVE SEEN YOUR FACES

AND YOUR HEARTS

I AM OVERWHELMED WITH THE BEAUTY

THAT I SEE

FRAGILE VESSELS

HOLDING ALL THE GLORY

OF GOD'S LOVE

FRAGILE VESSELS

AS MINE IS FRAGILE

SUBJECT TO ERROR

AND CONTINUOUS LEAKING

BUT NEVER RUNNING DRY

AS LONG AS I AM OPEN

TO THE SHOWER OF GOD'S LOVE

LIKE A GARDEN

ALL YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACES

AND HEARTS

OH THAT I COULD NAME YOUR NAMES

INSTEAD I SHALL CALL YOU

WONDERFUL

GIFT OF GOD

GOD'S DELIGHT

JEWELS BEYOND VALUE

BUT THE GREATEST JOY I HAVE

IS THAT I CAN CALL YOU

FRIEND

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WEDDING IN WINTER

THE SUN HAS STOPPED

IT IS THE SOLSTICE

ALL IS DARK

THE DARKEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

IT IS THE BEGINNING OF HOPE

FOR ALL ELSE HAS GONE AWAY

WE SEARCH FOR SUN

TO GIVE US WARMTH

TO GIVE US LIFE

TO GIVE US LOVE

TO MAKE LIFE WORTHWHILE

PRIMITIVE MAN

NOT TOO FAR FROM US

WORRIED

THAT THE SUN WOULD NOT REAPPEAR

AND PRAYED TO HIS GOD

TO SEND IT BACK

AND GOD DID

 YOUR LOVE

IS A SIGN OF IT

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.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO

WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO

WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO

IT’S BORING

THE SAME STORY

YEAR AFTER YEAR

WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO

THIS FROM A GRANDCHILD

OF PALM AND MISTLETOE PARENTS

WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO

IS THE WORLD BETTER FOR HIS COMING

HAS POVERTY BEEN ELIMINATED

HUNGER

HATRED

WAR

CAN A JEW SPEAK OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY

WITHOUT HEARING THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK

THE BARKING OF DOGS

CAN A HUNGRY BELLY SING HOSANNA

WE CHRISTIANS BOAST OF FULL CHURCHES

AT CHRISTMAS

WHOSE WALLS RETAIN GOODNESS

BUT LETS NONE OUT

BELLS RING JOYFULLY

AGAINST THE SOUND OF BATTLE

A POOR MAN TRYING TO GET WARM

IS SHOWN THE DOOR

BUT LIKE GRASS GROWING THROUGH CEMENT

HOPE SURVIVES

 A CHILD IS BORN

WE COME

MAYBE NOT TO A CHURCH

BUT A HOMELESS SHELTER

HOPE IS REIGNITED

 SURVIVES

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WHY IS IT

WHY IS IT

THAT PIOUS PEOPLE

WHO PICKET ABORTION CLINICS

ARE OFTEN THE SAME PEOPLE

WHO CHAMPION WAR

BOTH ARE KILLING

WHY IS IT

THAT PIOUS PEOPLE

DEFEND THE UNBORN

BUT IGNORE THEM

AFTER BIRTH

WHY IS IT

THAT PIOUS PEOPLE

LOUDLY

PROUDLY

PROCLAIM

THEY’VE ACCEPTD JESUS

THEY ARE SAVED

BUT HAVE NO INTENTION

OF MAKING THE WORLD BETTER

FOR ANYONE

NOT IN THEIR CLUB

I DON’T BELIEVE IN ABORTION

OR WAR

I DON’T BELIEVE

YOU CAN LEGISLATE

MORALITY

I DO BELIEVE

WE MUST BE CONSISTENT

GOD HAS SAID

THERE WILL BE NO KILLING

ON MY HOLY MOUNTAIN

WAR AND ABORTION

ARE KILLING

BUT WE SHOULD LABOR

TO ELIMINATE

THE CAUSE

FOR EACH

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WILDFIRE

PREPARE TO EVACUATE

PREPARE TO EVACUATE

THIS FOLLOWED A KNOCK ON THE DOOR

WITH A POLICE CAR ON THE STREET

ITS LOUDSPEAKER BELLOWING

PREPARE TO EVACUATE

NEVER OUR BEST

AT FOUR IN THE MORNING

WE HASTILY DRESSED

PACKED A CHANGE OF CLOTHES

CAGED THE CAT

GATHERED WHAT WE THOUGHT

WERE IMPORTANT PAPERS

WE THOUGHT

WE’LL GO OUTSIDE THE FIRE AREA

HAVE BREAKFAST

SEE WHAT DEVELOPS

THE WIND CHANGED

THE THREAT WAS LIFTED

WE CAME BACK

WE WERE WARNED TO BE ALERT

THE WIND COULD CHANGE AGAIN

I WONDERED

ABOUT WHAT WE TOOK WITH US

EACH OTHER CERTAINLY

CHANGE OF CLOTHES

PRACTICALITY

THE CAT

EMOTIONALLY

PAPERS

WE THOUGHT

WERE NECESSARY

A COUNT ON ONE HAND

A SHORT LIST OF THINGS

LIFE REDUCED TO A HANDFUL

A LESSON

WE SHOULD REMEMBER

AFTER THE FIRE HAS COOLED

AND WE START COLLECTING

THINGS AGAIN

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WILDFLOWERS

YOU SOMEHOW EXPECT THEM BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

LIKE SOMEONE PUT THEM THERE FOR PRETTY

BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROAD

WHEN YOU SAY TO YOURSELF

I'LL WALK TO THAT TREE OR HILL

OR I'LL WALK STRAIGHT NORTH

AND OFF YOU GO

THROUGH THICKET AND BRIARS

COOL WOODED SLOPES

 THERE YOU FIND THEM

IN PLACES

NOT EASILY REACHED

OR OFTEN PASSED

THE EARLY SPRING FLOWERS

SPRING BEAUTY 

                      VIOLET                      

MARSH MARIGOLD

FIDDLE HEADS OF EMERGING FERN

WHAT A WASTE

WHY NOT SAVE THEM ALL FOR THE ROADSIDE

WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM

BUT HERE IN A HIDDEN CORNER

ARE THEY A LURE

ARE THEY A REWARD

FOR STRIKING OUT ON ONE'S OWN

ARE THEY A GIFT FOR FINDING OUT

WHAT WEALTH INHABITS A BIT OF EARTH

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME

THAT NOW I SEE THINGS THAT I ONCE RUSHED BY

IS IT AGE THE GROWING OLDER

THAT MAKES ME MORE REFLECTIVE

IS IT THE SLOWING DOWN

WHICH MAKES ME THRILL TO SPRING TIME QUICKENING

IS IT THE SLOWING DOWN

WHICH MAKES ME FEEL A KINSHIP TO AUTUMN

I DO NOT KNOW

I ONLY KNOW

I HAVE THIS URGE

TO FIND OUT WHAT IS OFF THE ROAD

OR ON TOP OF THE HILL

OR IN THE VALLEY

AS IF I WERE COUNTING DAYS

AND FOUND THE DAYS NOT QUITE ENOUGH

NOT QUITE ENOUGH HOURS UNTIL SUNSET

WHEN I AM DONE I GO HOME

TIRED 

HAPPY

 A LITTLE SAD

THAT I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME

RUSHING

TO WHERE

I DID NOT WANT TO GO

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WINTER TREE

A WINTER TREE

SHOWS ALL THE AGONY OF GROWTH

HIDDEN IN SPRING

IN SUMMER

BY LEAF FINERY

IN FALL

BY DEATH’S DISPLAY

BUT WINTER

 SHOWS THE PAIN OF GROWTH

AS WRINKLES

ON THE FACE

 OF AN OLD WOMEN

SHOW THE BEAUTY

OF SURVIVING

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WRESTLING WITH GOD

WRESTLING WITH GOD IS NOT A SIN

BUT A TIME HONORED EVENT

AS THAT TIME

WHEN A SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN

SAID TO JESUS

HEAL MY CHILD

HE SAID

BECAUSE SHE WAS A GENTILE

AND A PAGAN

IT IS NOT RIGHT

TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S FOOD

AND THROW IT TO THE DOGS

SHE REBUFFED HIM SAYING

EVEN THE DOGS

EAT THE CHILDREN'S CRUMBS

YOU CAN SEE HIM SMILING

HE'D BEEN BESTED IN AN ARGUMENT

 HE REPLIED GENTLY

GO

YOUR CHILD IS HEALED

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YHWH

EHYEH ASHER EHYEH

SO SAID THE VOICE FROM THE BURNING BUSH

I AM WHAT I AM

EHYEH ASHER EHYEH

A CELESTIAL WAY OF SAYING

NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

IN BIBLE TIMES

TO KNOW A NAME

GAVE THE KNOWER POWER

OVER THE KNOWN

A BIBLICAL FORM OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN

BUT GOD REFUSED TO PLAY THE GAME

HE WOULD NOT BE CONTROLLED

EHYEH ASHER EHYEH

BUT MEN

CONTINUE TO SPEAK

IN GOD’S NAME

TELLING US

WHO WE MAY HATE

 WHO WE MAY LOVE

WHO MAY LIVE

 WHO MAY DIE

WHO IS SLAVE

 WHO IS FREE

WHO MAY EAT

WHO MAY HUNGER

WHO IS WORTHY

WHO IS NOT

WHO IS SAVED

WHO IS LOST

BUT GOD SAYS

DO NOT COME NEAR ME

WITH DIRTY HANDS

DIRTY FROM WAR

GORE AND HUNGER

AND DIRTY

FEET

FROM DOWNTRODDING THE POOR

EHYEH ASHER EHYEH

I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE

I WILL FREE YOU

EVEN IF IT MEANS

PARTING THE SEA

YOU MAY PUT ME IN A TENT

OR TEMPLE

BUT I’LL BE THERE

AND EVERYWHERE

I SAY IT

NOT TO FRIGHTEN YOU

BUT TO GIVE YOU PEACE

AND IF YOU WILL

I’LL GATHER YOU

UNDER MY WINGS

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SEASCAPE

HE WAS SITTING BY THE SEA

OBLIVIOUS TO THE WIND AND STEADY RAIN

WATCHING THE SEA

WATCHING IT DRAW BACK

GATHERING PEBBLES

DRAW BACK AND FLING

DRAW BACK AND FLING

DRAW BACK AND FLING THEM ON THE SHORE

WHY DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND

WHY DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND

I FED THEM ON LOAVES AND FISHES

AND THEY WOULD MAKE ME A KING

I HEAL

AND THEY COMPLAIN IT'S THE SABBATH

WHAT AM I DOING WRONG

JUST THEN A PART OF THE BANK

ON WHICH HE WAS SITTING

GAVE WAY

AND HE HAD TO MOVE QUICKLY

TO ESCAPE BEING THROWN IN THE SEA

SAFE

HE TURNED TO WATCH THE SEA

RENEW ITS ATTACK ON THE SHORE

IT WON'T FALL THE FIRST TIME

OR IN A THOUSAND TIMES

BUT IT WILL FALL

IT WILL FALL

HE WAS SMILING NOW AS HE WATCHED THE SEA

COME ROARING IN

FULL TILT NOT COUNTING THE EFFORT

IT'S A BAD DAY FOR FISHERMEN SAID PETER

YES BUT NOT FOR A FISHER OF MEN

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TSELEM

IN THE HEBREW BIBLE

WHEN GOD SAYS

LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE

THE AUTHOR

USES THE HEBREW WORD

TSELEM

WHICH MEANS COPY

CLOSE BUT NOT THE ORIGINAL

ECHOES OF PSALM EIGHT

YOU HAVE MADE HIM LITTLE LESS

THAN A GOD

HE HAS GIVEN YOU A WORLD

TO RUN

IN A GODLIKE MANNER

TO DO OTHERWISE

IS TO MISS THE MARK

TO SIN

NO HUMAN BEING

IS UNIMPORTANT

GOD THOUGHT HE WAS SO IMPORTANT

HE CREATED THE UNIVERSE

ALL THAT’S IN IT FOR HIM

HOW CAN WE TREAT HIM

AS IF HE WERE UNIMPORTANT

WHEN GOD GAVE HIM DOMINION

OVER THE MOON

 THE STARS

IN THE EARLY STORIES

IN THE BIBLE

GOD SEEMS TO BE A LEARNING PARENT

AS WHEN

A MOTHER AT CHRISTMAS TIME

TELLS HER CHILDREN

DO NOT LOOK FOR PRESENTS IN MY BEDROOM

YAHWEH

PLANTS A TREE IN THE GARDEN

A TREE THAT KNOWS EVERYTHING

GOOD AND BAD

THE FRUIT OF THE TREE IS FORBIDDEN

WE KNOW THE RESULT

BEFORE THE FALL MAN WAS WITHOUT GUILE

BUT WAS THERE LOVE ON ADAM’S PART

NO PAIN ON ADAM’S PART

NO AGONY OR ECSTASY ON ADAMS PART

 MAYBE GOD IN HIS WISDOM

WANTED REAL LOVE

 I SPEAK FOOLISHLY NOW

MAYBE

HE WANTED ADAM TO FAIL

SO THAT HIS LOVE

WOULD BE GENUINE

FREELY GIVEN

ADAM’S FALL

 BROUGHT GREAT EVIL

TO THE WORLD

BUT IT ALSO WAS A FELIX CULPA

A HAPPY FAULT

THAT BROUGHT A SAVIOR

MAN

BECAUSE HE WAS LITTLE LESS THAN AN ANGEL

COULD HATE GOD GREATLY

AND SIN DEEPLY

MAN

 BECAUSE HE WAS LITTLE LESS THAN AN ANGEL

COULD LOVE GOD GREATLY

AND ACT MAGNIFICENTLY

FREE WILL GOD GAVE US

HE HAS PAID THE PRICE

AS A MOTHER

WHO FINDS THE PRESENTS UNWRAPPED

THE ANTICIPATED JOY GONE

BUT WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE

HE LOVES US TO THE POINT OF DEATH

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TWO SONS

ALL OF US AT SOME TIME OR OTHER

HAVE SAID TO THE FATHER

NO

I WILL NOT WORK IN THE VINEYARD

THEN HAD A CHANGE OF HEART

AND WENT

WE CALL IT REPENTANCE

GOD WELCOMES THE REPENTANT SON

THE OTHER

WHO ANNOUNCES HIS LOYALTY

BUT DOES NOTHING

WILL IF HE DOES

ENTER HEAVEN

(WITH THE OTHER PSEUDO GOOD PEOPLE)

WILL FIND ALL THE SINNERS

HAVE GONE IN FIRST

THEY CLAMOR

WHY NOT US FIRST

DO YOU BELIEVE

THAT I AM GOD

YES

THEN WHY HAVEN’T YOU LISTENED TO ME

WHY HAVE YOU NOT COME TO THE VINEYARD

PLEASE TELL MY BRETHREN

THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE

IF SOMEONE CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD

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Mark 4:30-32

The Message (MSG)

“How can we picture God’s kingdom? What kind of story can we use? It’s like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it.”

MUSTARD SEED

THE CITY FOLK OF JERUSALEM

HEARD THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED

SAID

MAKES SENSE TO ME

THE COUNTRY FOLK

HEARD THE SAME PARABLE

SAID

HE’S TALKING GIBBERISH

THE MUSTARD TREE IS NOT A TREE BUT A SHRUB

A WEED

IT GROWS IN THE WILD

NOT IN A GARDEN

IT’S INVASIVE

HARD TO ERADICATE

 IT’S AN ANNUAL

IT WOULD NOT HAVE DEVELOPED

SIZE OR STAMINA

BY THE TIME BIRDS NEST

THE PICTURE

CHRIST WAS PAINTING

DIDN’T MATCH REALITY

HIS AUDIENCE LISTENED

AS THE PREACHER PREACHED NONSENSE

BUT GRADUALLY

AN EARWIG DEVELOPED

IF YOU BELIEVE

YOU CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS

PART SEAS

BREAK OPEN HARDEN HEARTS

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

IS MADE UP OF IMPERFECTS

LIKE YOU

NEVER SAY I DON’T QUALIFY

HE HAS LOWERED THE BAR

THE KINGDOM IS A FREE GIFT

IT’S NOT EARNED BY GOOD CONDUCT

BUT GOOD CONDUCT FLOWS

AS A WAY OF SAYING

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT

IF YOU BELIEVE

THE WORLD WILL BE BETTER

HE SAYS THIS

TO A PEOPLE DOWN TRODDEN

BY CHURCH AND STATE

IF YOU BELIEVE

THE SUN WILL STILL RISE AND SET

TIDES WILL EBB AND FLOW

BUT THERE WILL BE A NEW HEART

WITHIN YOU

BIRDS WILL PERCH ON THE MUSTARD TREE

OF YOUR HEART

AND SING

IF YOU BELIEVE

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MATT 11

A DISPUTE?

THERE SEEMED TO BE A DISPUTE BETWEEN JOHN AND JESUS

DISPUTE MAY BE TOO STRONG A WORD

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION

MIGHT BE A BETTER WORD

JOHN

WHO EARLIER HAD SAID

I’M NOT WORTHY TO TIE THIS MAN’S SHOE

NOW SENT HIS DISCIPLES

TO ASK

ARE YOU THE ONE WE SEEK

OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER

JOHN

WAS A CHILD OF THE DESERT

WHERE THE WIND

MAKES THE SAND SING AT NIGHT

WHERE THE WOLF

SINGS ITS MELANCHOLY SONG

TO THE MOON

JOHN WAS BORN TO ELDERLY PARENTS

 WAS BY NOW A ORPHAN

HE WAS BORN TO BE A ROAD BUILDER

TO BE THE ONE WHO PREPARES THE WAY

HARD TIMES

BREED A HARD RELIGION

WITNESS SNAKE HANDLERS IN APPALACHIA

JOHN

PREACHED A HARD RELIGION

WITH A HARD AND THREATENING MANNER

BUT JESUS

WHO GREW UP IN A FAMILY

WITH PARENTS

AND SIBLINGS

WITH ALL THE TOPSY TURVY

THAT COMES WITH FAMILY LIFE

PREACHED A PEACEFUL GOD

THE DIFFERENCE IN METHODS

PROMPTED JOHN

TO SEND HIS DISCIPLES

TO ASK

ARE YOU THE ONE WE SEEK

OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER

JOHN COULDN’T COME HIMSELF

HE WAS IN PRISON

JESUS REPLIED

LISTEN NOT TO MY WORDS

WHICH CAN BE TWISTED

BUT SEE WHAT’S BEING DONE

THE BLIND SEE,
THE LAME WALK,
LEPERS ARE CLEANSED,
THE DEAF HEAR,
THE DEAD ARE RAISED,
THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTH.

 LEARN THAT GOD IS ON THEIR SIDE.

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HE FED THEM ALL

SOME SAY JESUS FED THE FIVE THOUSAND

BY INSPIRING A WAVE OF GENEROSITY

EACH ONE SHARED WHAT HE HAD

OTHERS

THAT HE PERFORMED A MIRACLE OF MULTIPLICATION

EITHER WAY GIVES GOD GLORY

PRAISE BE HIS NAME

BUT FOR ME IT WAS A TINY THING HE DID

WHICH MOVES ME

HE HAD BEEN SUMMARILY DISMISSED

FROM HIS HOME TOWN

BECAUSE HE WAS A LOCAL BOY

HIS COUSIN WITH WHOM HE HAD A DISAGREEMENT

HAD BEEN MURDERED

WITH ALL THIS ON HIS MIND

HE HAD TIME TO DO A LITTLE KINDNESS

A MITZVAH

THE PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY

HOW SHALL WE FEED THEM

IF GOD CAN TAKE THE TIME TO FEED US

FEED ME

I AM TRULY A LAMB IN HIS FLOCK

I REST BESIDE STILL WATERS

HIS ROD AND HIS STAFF

THEY COMFORT ME

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DANCING ON THE SHOES OF MY DAD

HE WAS MY FIRST LOVE

HE WAS MY CONSTANT LOVE

IN ALL OF LIFE’S VAGARIES

HE WAS MY DAD

I MISS HIM

WHEN THE MOOD HIT HIM

HE’D PLAY A RECORD

THEN WITH AN ELEGANT BOW

HE’D ASK ME FOR A DANCE

I’D CLIMB HIS SHOES

AWAY WE’D WHIRL

SAFE AND SECURE IN MY FATHER’S ARMS

THE MEMORY OF THOSE DANCES

SUSTAINED ME

WHEN THE WORLD WAS COLD

AND UNINVITING

I TREASURED THEM

SO MUCH SO THAT I FANTASIZE

THAT IN HEAVEN

ANGELS ARE LINED UP

TO DANCE WITH MY DAD

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FIREFLIES

FIREFLIES (HOTARU)

IT WAS A OUTDOOR DAY

UNDER THE SUN

RESTING NOW ON THE PORCH

 AFTER DINNER

CONTENT

TIRED

JOB DONE

JOB WELL DONE

WATCHING THE FIREFLIES

 SENDING CRYPTIC MESSAGES

 BEAUTIFUL MESSAGES

 IF UNREADIBLE

IT WAS HYPNOTIC

 WATCHING THEM

 IT WAS HYPNOTIC

UNTIL A HUGE ONE

 FLEW ON THE PORCH

 SAID

 ADMIRING THE VIEW

 YES I SAID

 BUT I CAN’T READ THE MESSAGE

YEARS AGO

THE BUG SAID

WHEN THE WORLD WAS NEW

THE GARDENER GAVE US THE GIFT OF LIGHT

AND A CODE

EXPRESSED BY OUR LIGHT PATTERNS

AT FIRST WE KNEW THE MESSAGE OF THE CODE

IT WAS A PRAISE HYMN

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THE GARDEN

OUR MEMORY WAS WIPED

LIFE BECAME HOSTILE

BUT WE STAYED LOYAL TO THE GARDNER

KEPT UP WITH OUR LIGHT CHANT

IT HELPED TEMPER THE NIGHT

SO I ENVY YOU

PITY YOU

BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING

BUT LIKE A FARMERS HAND

YOUR PRAYER LIFE IS CALLOUSED

HARD

UNFEELING

THE CODE WAS GIVEN TO YOU TOO

BUT HAS BECOME STALE

UNMEANING

BORING

I STARTED TO PROTEST

BUT KNEW IT WAS TRUE

I STARTED…..

BUT THE CRICKETS FLEW OUT OF THE FIELDS

SINGING

MEAN WHAT YOU PRAY

MEAN WHAT YOU PRAY

MEAN WHAT YOU PRAY

A BOOK I WAS HOLDING FELL FROM MY HAND

STARTLED I STARTED TO PRAY

MEANINGLESS WORDS

WORDS WITHOUT FEELING

LIKE THE APOSTLES I SAID

TEACH US TO PRAY

TEACH US TO PRAY

AND MEAN WHAT WE SAY

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WHO SPEAKS FOR CAIN

THE TROUBLE BEGINS

WITH YAHWEH NOT TELLING ADAM’S FAMILY

HE WANTED BLOOD SACRIFICES ONLY

IF HE DID IT’S NOT IN THE TEXT

A TEXT WRITTEN MANY MILLENNIUMS

SINCE THE FIRST MAN

IT’S NOT A TRUE REPORT

BUT A RECOLLECTION OF FOLK TALES

REFLECTING THE TIMES

WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN

A TIME WHEN CRUDE NOMADS

WERE TAKING OVER THE CULTURED CANAANITES

WITHOUT SOME MEANING

THE STORY DOESN’T HOLD TOGETHER

AN ENGLISH TEACHER

WOULD TURN IT BACK

AS INCOMPLETE

SCHOLARS HAVE TRIED TO GIVE IT MEANING

THAT IT WAS FRICTION

BETWEEN HERDERS AND FARMERS

BUT IT’S CONJECTURE

IT’S NOT IN THE BOOK

BIBLICAL FAIRY TALES

HAVE BEEN CREATED

LIKE SATAN SPAWNED CAIN THROUGH EVE

THAT CAIN AND ABEL WERE BORN AS TWINS

THAT EACH MARRIED THE OTHER’S TWIN

BUT IT’S CONJECTURE

IT’S NOT IN THE BOOK

WHICH ISN’T TO SAY

THAT CONJECTURE

AND FAIRY TALES

HAVEN’T BECOME GOSPEL

AND PREACHED AS SUCH

BUT WE ARE LEFT WITH A GOD

WHO APPEARS CAPRICIOUS

FICKLE

PERSNICKETY

BUT IN THE MIDST OF THIS CONFUSION

THERE IS A JEWEL

WHEN GOD ASKS CAIN

WHERE’S ABEL

HE COMPLAINS

AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER

THE ANSWER

THOUGH NEVER SPOKEN

THUNDERS EVEN TODAY

YES

ALL OUR RELIGIOUS THINKING

STEM FROM THAT THOUGHT

THE QUESTION LINGERS

WHEN WE SEE THE INEQUALITY OF WEALTH

WHEN UNJUST WARS ARE FOUGHT

WHEN FAMINE EATS THE HUNGRY

WHILE OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE GO TO THE GYM

THE QUESTION THUNDERS

AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER

THE ANSWER THUNDERS

EVEN IF WE WON’T LISTEN

YES

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THE LOTUS CROSS

WHEN THE APOSTLES

WERE ASSIGNING MISSION FIELDS

THEY GAVE THOMAS

INDIA

THERE WERE JEWISH COMMUNITIES THERE

COURTESY OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

HE WAS SUCCESSFUL

THEY WERE KNOWN AS ST THOMAS CHRISTIANS

IT EXISTS STILL TODAY

IT HAS GONE THROUGH CHANGES

FROM APOSTOLIC

NESTORIAN

CATHOLIC

ORTHODOX

SPLIT OVER IOTAS

BUT ALL ALONG

PREACHING GOD’S WORD

DOING GOD’S WORK

HIS NAME BE PRAISED

IN THE EAST THE LOTUS FLOWER IS IMPORTANT

TO ITS MAJOR RELIGIONS

IT STANDS AS A SYMBOL

THAT MAN CAN TRIUMPH

IT STARTS IN MUD

IN MUDDY WATER

GROWS

TILL IT STANDS ABOVE THE WATER

THEN BLOOMS

DISPLAYING A BUDDHIST SAYING

RISE

ABOVE THE MURK

TO ACHIEVE ENLIGHTENMENT.

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SO STRONG IS THE ATTACHMENT IN THE EAST

THEY USED IT IN THEIR CHRISTIAN LOGO

THE LOTUS CROSS

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
Lacking the effigy of Jesus, the St. Thomas Cross presages the discovery of the empty tomb, glorifying the Resurrection of Jesus

  The four edges of the cross are floral in shape, symbolizing fruition and life.

  The lotus flower beneath the cross is a symbol of Buddhism and India. A cultural adaptation of local imagery, the lotus is the national flower of India and the cross fixed on the lotus would symbolize Christianity in India in the first century. The lotus is also a Puranic holy flower, an offering to God in the Hindu tradition; anything offered on the leaves of lotus is considered to be auspicious.

  The three steps below the Cross represent Golgotha, symbolically referring to the death of Jesus

  Finally, the dove above the cross represents the Holy Spirit, the third aspect of the Holy Trinity according to the Christian tradition. It is this spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and bestows gifts upon the Church's faithful.

THE CHURCH WAS SUSTAINED BY THE SILK ROAD

A TRADE ROUTE KNOWN TO THE ANCIENTS

RUNNING FROM CHINA TO ROME

IT HELPED SPREAD CHRISTIANITY

ALONG ITS ROUTE

CHRISTIANITY OF ALL FLAVORS

WHY DO THEY TREAT THESE PEOPLE AS ENEMIES

WHEN THEY WERE DOING GOD’S WORK

THOMAS THE DOUBTER

REASONABLY

COULD ASK

WHY

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CHILDREN ON A BUS

I DO NOT CLAIM

TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO IMMIGRATION

BUT SOMEHOW

I DO NOT FIND JESUS

PROTEST VIOLENTLY

THE ARRIVAL OF CHILDREN

IN OUR COUNTRY

CHILDREN ARE LEAVING

THE OLD TOWNS

THERE’S NO JOBS

NO FUTURE THERE

THESE CHILDREN HAVE THE SAME DREAMS

CHEAP LABOR

KEPT LOW

FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS

PROMISE NO BRIGHT FUTURE

BUT AS TO IMMIGRATION

I DO NOT THINK THE BIBLE IS JUST HAPPY TALK

BUT A WAY OF LIFE

WE CALL OURSELVES

A CHRISTIAN NATION

WHERE IS THE COMPASSION

IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM

ARE WE WILLING

TO HAVE A HALF A LOAF

SO OTHERS MAY HAVE SOME

CHRIST WAS AN IMMIGRANT IN EGYPT

CHRIST IS AN IMMIGRANT NOW

HOW DO WE GREET HIM

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NOAH

 

MAN HAS BEEN ON EARTH CIRCA 200,000 YEARS

WHICH TRANSLATES TO CIRCA 198,000 BC

WHEN MAN WAS IN THE GARDEN

NOAH LIVED CIRCA 1500 YEARS AFTER ADAM

WHICH TRANSLATES TO CIRCA 196,500 BC

MODERN BIBLE SCHOLARS ARGUE

 WHETHER THE STORY IS FACT

OR FICTION

SO MANY DATES ARE GIVEN FOR WHEN IT OCCURRED

OF WHICH MINE IS ONE

THE FLOOD EPIC

IS COMMON FOLKLORE IN MID EAST CULTURE

SO A FLOOD MUST HAVE HAPPENED LOCALLY

IT BECAME IN MEN’S MINDS

THE FLOOD

LIKE THE WORD TSUNAMI

BRINGS TO MEMORY

THE RECENT FAREAST DISASTER

THE BIBLE IS NOT HISTORY

NEITHER BIOLOGICAL

NOR GEOLOGICAL

IT’S LITERATURE

A BOOK OF MORALS

A BOOK OF TARGETS

WE SO OFTEN MISS

FINDING THE ARK ON A MOUNTAIN TOP

DOES NOT MAKE FOR A BETTER WORLD

BUT RESCUING THOSE

FOR WHOM THE WORLD DOES NOT CARE

WILL

IF WE HAVE THE WILL

THE STORY GOES

THAT GOD WAS DISGUSTED WITH HIS PEOPLE

HE WANTED TO DESTROY THEM

BUT FOR ONE GOOD MAN

HE WOULD HAVE

I WILL GIVE MY CREATION

A CHANCE TO START AGAIN

IT WAS A PLAN

IT DIDN’T WORK

THE NEW MAN BECAME LIKE THE OLD MAN

IT NEEDED A GOOD BOOK

IT NEEDED CHRIST

SO WHETHER IT IS THE ARK

OR THE GOOD SHIP LOLLIPOP

OUR CONDUCT IS MORE IMPORTANT

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RESTORE

MY FRIEND CONFIDED IN ME

THAT HE HAD DONE A BAD THING

HE ASKED ME HOW I FELT ABOUT IT

WOULD I STILL BE HIS FRIEND

WHO AM I TO THROW THE FIRST STONE

OR THE LAST

I’M A SINNER LIKE YOU

 THERE’S THE RUB

WE’VE BEEN FORGIVEN

BUT WHAT’S OUR OBLIGATION

TO CORRECT THE HARM WE HAVE DONE

WE DON’T HEAR THAT FROM THE PULPIT

OR A LEAST I HAVEN’T

THE LIE THAT NEEDS TRUTH

THE THING TAKEN

THAT NEEDS RETURNING

THE PERSON HURT

THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED

 FOR FORGIVENESS

TO FORGIVE SOMEONE

THAT NEEDS FORGIVENESS

THE BOUNDARY MARKER MOVED

THE GOD WHO NEEDS PRIMACY OF PLACE

ABOVE ALL THE BAUBLES OF OUR LIFE

LACK OF RESTITUTION

SMACKS TO ME LIKE CHEAP GRACE

I’M FORGIVEN

CONDUCT DOESN’T MATTER

THE GOSSIP

CAN CONTINUE TO LIE

WITH IMPUNITY

SHE’S FORGIVEN

THE THIEF

HIS SPOIL

THE ADULTERER

HIS PLEASURE

NO NEED TO AMEND

OR OBLIGATION TO AMEND

WHERE WE HAVE MISSED THE MARK

WE FORGET

OR THINK WE’RE EXCUSED

FROM PS 51:1-3

 GENEROUS IN LOVE—GOD, GIVE GRACE!
    HUGE IN MERCY—WIPE OUT MY BAD RECORD.
SCRUB AWAY MY GUILT,
    SOAK OUT MY SINS IN YOUR LAUNDRY.
I KNOW HOW BAD I’VE BEEN;
    MY SINS ARE STARING ME DOWN

TO WHICH WE MIGHT ADD

CALLING FOR RESTITUTION

OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

THREE ARE AGAINST GOD

THEY PROCLAIM HE IS NOT IMPORTANT

IN MY LIFE

SEVEN ARE AGAINST THE COMMUNITY

THEY DESTROY ITS PEACE

TRUE REPENTANCE

CALLS FOR RESTORATION OF THAT PEACE

MOVING THE BOUNDARY MARKER

BACK TO ITS PLACE

FRANK A VOLLMER

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DANCING ON THE SHOES OF MY DAD

HE WAS MY FIRST LOVE

HE WAS MY CONSTANT LOVE

IN ALL OF LIFE’S VAGARIES

HE WAS MY DAD

I MISS HIM

WHEN THE MOOD HIT HIM

HE’D PLAY A RECORD

THEN WITH AN ELEGANT BOW

HE’D ASK ME FOR A DANCE

I’D CLIMB HIS SHOES

AWAY WE’D WHIRL

SAFE AND SECURE IN MY FATHER’S ARMS

THE MEMORY OF THOSE DANCES

SUSTAINED ME

WHEN THE WORLD WAS COLD

AND UNINVITING

I TREASURED THEM

SO MUCH SO THAT I FANTASIZE

THAT IN HEAVEN

ANGELS ARE LINED UP

TO DANCE WITH MY DAD

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