POVERTY
POVERTY
BY
FRANK A VOLLMER
FRANCIS
SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE INDIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD TODAY. PEOPLE DIE OF COLD IN
THE STREETS BECAUSE OF THIS INDIFFERENCE: “IF IN SO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD
THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOTHING TO EAT, THAT'S NOT NEWS, IT SEEMS NORMAL.
IT CANNOT BE THIS WAY! YET THESE THINGS BECOME THE NORM: THAT SOME HOMELESS
PEOPLE DIE OF COLD ON THE STREETS IS NOT NEWS. IN CONTRAST, A TEN POINT DROP ON
THE STOCK MARKETS OF SOME CITIES IS A TRAGEDY. A PERSON DYING IS NOT NEWS, BUT
IF THE STOCK MARKETS DROP TEN POINTS IT IS A TRAGEDY! THUS PEOPLE ARE DISPOSED
OF, AS IF THEY WERE TRASH. CONSUMERISM HAS LED US TO BECOME USED TO AN EXCESS AND
DAILY WASTE OF FOOD, TO WHICH, AT TIMES, WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO GIVE A JUST
VALUE, WHICH GOES WELL BEYOND MERE ECONOMIC PARAMETERS,” (POPE FRANCIS)
ONE OF THE MOST PERSISTENT HERESIES
ESPECIALLY IN MODERN TIMES IS THE SEPARATION OF FAITH FROM DAILY LIFE
IT INFECTS EVERYONE FROM CLERICS
HIDING PEDERASTY, POLITICIANS WHO PUT BEING REELECTED OVER MORAL JUDGMENTS,
DOWN TO YOU AND I
AN ECONOMIST HAS SAID IN RESPONSE TO
THE POPE’S STATEMENT
THAT CAPITALISM CAN CURE POVERTY
I ASK IF THAT IS SO WHY DOES IT
STILL EXIST
IS IT BECAUSE OF LACK OF WILL.
THOSE IN CHARGE ARE COMMITTED TO THE
WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE.
ALL OF US ARE DESTINED TO ASK THE
QUESTION
WHEN WERE YOU HUNGRY
NAKED OR POOR
CAN WE LIVE WITH THE ANSWER
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THE TEACHING STORY GOES
SOMETHING LIKE THIS
THERE WAS A GORILLA
AND HER CHILD
WHO WENT TO THE WATERHOLE FOR A
DRINK
WHILE THERE THEY HEARD A THUNDERING
SOUND
AS A HERD OF HIPPOS STAMPEDED
FRIGHTENED THE CHILD REACHED FOR HER
MOTHER
GRASPING THE FUR ON HER BODY
SHE CLAMBERED ABOARD
MOTHER AND CHILD SCURRIED TO SAFETY
THERE WAS A CAT
ALONE
AT HOME WITH HER KITTEN
A FIRE BROKE OUT
SHE GRABBED HER KITTEN
BY THE SCRUFF OF ITS NECK
CARRYING KITTEN
SHE JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW TO SAFETY
THE MORAL OF THE STORY
IS TO WHAT IS
AND ISN’T
GOD’S GRACE FOR HIS CREATION
GOD’S LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN
IN THE GORILLA STORY
THE CHILD ASKS FOR HELP
THE MOTHER RESPONDS
IN THE CAT STORY
MOTHER GRABS THE CHILD
AND FLEES
THE CHILD IS NOT CONSULTED
THE CAT STORY
IS GIVEN TO US AS A MODEL OF GOD’S
GRACE
IT BOTHERS ME
IT IS TRUE THAT GOD’S GRACE
IS ALWAYS CALLING US TO GOODNESS
GOD’S GRACE SUSTAINS US IN
GOODNESS
BUT IS WE HAVE NO CHOICE
AS THE KITTEN DOESN’T
WE ARE ROBOTS
I DON’T THINK GOD WANTS ROBOT LOVE
BUT FREELY SAYING
I WILL
THIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CONTRADICTIONS
THAT IS ME
THIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CONTRADICTIONS
TRYING TO SOAR
WITH FEET STUCK IN THE MUD
THIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CONTRADICTIONS
GIVEN FREEDOM OF CHOICE
THIS PERSON LOVED BY GOD
TO THE POINT OF DEATH
ASKS ME TO BE THE PERSON
HE CREATED ME
TO BE
SO TO ME
THERE MUST BE A I WILL MOMENT
GOD ENCOURAGES ME
TO THE MOMENT OF DECISION
THE I WILL MOMENT
GOD SUSTAINS ME
AFTER THE I WILL MOMENT
BUT IN THE I WILL MOMENT
THE CHOICE IS MINE
I CAN RAISE MY HANDS FOR HELP
OR I CAN RUN AWAY
IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT THERE IS AN ENDLESS
SUCCESSION
OF DECISION MAKING
LIKE AN ELECTRIC LIGHT
THE POWER IS THERE
THE SWITCH MUST BE THROWN
IF GOD FORCED THE DECISION
THEN WHY HASN’T HE FORCED THE
DECISION
EVERYWHERE
SHOULD THERE BE POVERTY
HUNGER
WAR
IF GOD COULD FORCE GOODNESS
WHERE THEN IS FREE WILL
AND LOVE FREELY GIVEN
I DO NOT CLAIM TO BE RIGHT
BUT QUESTING
PERHAPS I DO NOT HAVE THE WORDS
OR INSIGHT
KNOCK AND IT SHALL BE OPENED
ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE
THEY REQUIRE
AN I WILL MOMENT
A LEAPING INTO THE DARKNESS
TRUSTING
THAT GOD WILL CATCH US
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THE SOCIAL GOSPEL
IS NOT AN APPENDAGE
TO CHRISTIANITY
BUT THE ESSENCE OF IT
WE LABOR OVER THE DIFFERENCES
BUT DO NOT REMEMBER
THE COMMON THREAD
THE COMMON THREAD
THROUGH OUT THE TESTAMENTS
LOVE GOD
LOVE NEIGHBOR
WHEN CHRIST WAS TASKED
TO GIVE THE FINAL SACRIFICE
HE WENT
THOUGH HE WAS AFRAID
HE WENT
ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROPHETS
PROCLAIMING GOOD NEWS
TO ALL PEOPLE
NOT REGARDING
SOCIAL STATUS
SOCIAL STATUS
INTELLIGENCE
WEALTH OR POVERTY
POWER OR IMPOTENCE
WE SHOULD REMEMBER ONLY
THAT CHRIST HAS DIED FOR ALL
THEREFORE EVERYMAN
HAS DIGNITY
HAS DIGNITY
IS ENTITLED TO ALL
THE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE
THE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE
TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR
WITHOUT HUNGER
WITHOUT THIRST FOR CLEAN WATER
TO SEE HIS CHILDREN THRIVE
SLEEP IN A WARM BED
HAVE A FUTURE
A MINISTER HAS RECENTLY SAID
THAT HE EXPECTS
TO SEE GANDHI IN HEAVEN
WHICH CREATED A FIRESTORM
AMONG THOSE CHRISTIANS
WHO SAY
OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
THERE IS NO SALVATION
THERE IS NO SALVATION
THEIR IDEA OF CHURCH
IS SO NARROW
THAT IT PUTS A LIE
TO JOHN 3:16
THAT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD
HE SENT HIS SON
TO DIE FOR IT
WHERE DID THESE
GATEKEEPERS OF THE KINGDOM
GATEKEEPERS OF THE KINGDOM
GET THE POWER
TO BUILD A FENCE
AROUND THOSE
WHOM CHRIST WOULD SAVE
GOD’S CHURCH
IS BIGGER THAN CREED
GOD’S CHURCH IS BUILT
ON THE SOCIAL GOSPEL
WE WILL BE JUDGED
BY OUR CONDUCT
BY OUR CONDUCT
WE WOULD DO BETTER
TO BUILD THE KINGDOM
THE WAY GOD WANTS
RATHER
THAN RESTRICT MEMBERSHIP
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WHEN PAUL
SPOKE OF A
THORN IN HIS SIDE
HE USED THE
GREEK WORD SKOLOPS
WHICH AT ITS
ROOT MEANS SHARPENED STICK
LIKE SPEAR
OR STAKE FOR IMPALEMENT
MUCH MORE
THAN THORN
HE DID NOT
MEAN
A TAG ON
YOUR CLOTHES
THAT BOTHERS
YOU
OR A PIN
LEFT IN A NEW SHIRT
A REAL PROD
THAT HE PRAYED
TO BE RID OF
TO NO AVAIL
JUST AS ALL
OF US HAVE PRODS
THAT WE PRAY
TO BE RID OF
TO NO AVAIL
TO BE RID OF
THESE PRODS
WOULD DENY
US THE JOY OF LIVING
BUT THERE
ARE OTHER PRODS
TO THE BODY
OF CHRIST
FAMINE IN
AFRICA
POVERTY IN
LATIN AMERICA
BILLIONS IN
WEAPONRY
PENNIES FOR
MEDICINE
RACIAL
HATRED OR BLINDNESS
AFTER TWO
THOUSAND YEARS
WE SHOULD BE
DOING BETTER
WILL GOD’S
HEART WOUND EVER HEAL
IF WE STAB
IT CONTINUALLY
IF WE PAY NO
HEED TO HIS TEACHING
WHAT YOU DO
TO THE LEAST OF YOUR BRETHREN
THAT YOU DO UNTO
ME
PROD US
FATHER
MAY YOUR
KINGDOM COME
NOW
AS IT IS IN
HEAVEN
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.
WTC
THOUGHTS OF
9-11 ON CHRISTMAS MORNING
WHEN THE
STORIES FELL
WHAT STORIES
TO TELL
WHAT STORIES
TO TELL
UNTOLD
UNSUNG THE
SONG
THAT WAS YET
TO BE SUNG
UNWOVEN THE
LIFE TO BE LED
AND IN THE
SILENCE
THAT
FOLLOWED THE ROAR
THE ECHO OF
NAMES
MY LAI
AUSCHWITZ
BIAFRA
SUDAN
THE STARVING
MOTHER
SUCKLING HER
CHILD
WITH A TEAT
GONE DRY
WHAT CHILD
IS THIS
WHO LAID TO
REST
AGAINST A
TEAT
GONE DRY
WHAT CHILD
IS THIS
WHO LAID TO
REST
BY GUNFIRE'S
RHYTHMIC CHATTER
ALL IS CALM
ALL IS
BRIGHT
DON'T COME
DON'T COME
EMMANUEL
THERE IS NO
ROOM FOR YOU HERE
HEROD'S MEN
WILL SEARCH YOU DOWN
DON'T COME
DON'T COME
EMMANUEL
IN THE BLEAK
MID WINTER
DO NOT COME
THE LULLABY
OF NAMES
CONTINUES
JIM CROW
BIRMINGHAM
SELMA
MARTIN
LUTHER KING
COME ALL YE
FAITHFUL COME
PASSING
HOMELESS IN THE STREETS
SHUT THE INN
THEY CANNOT
COME IN
THEY HAVE
NOT HEARD THE ANGELS SING
WE STAND
AROUND AN EMPTY CRIB
WONDERING
WHERE THE BABY IS
HE IS NOT
HERE
HE IS
RESTING ON HIS MOTHER'S BREAST
AGAINST A
TEAT GONE DRY
HAVE I NOT
SUNG THIS SONG BEFORE
BUT NEVER
WITH SUCH MIXED EMOTIONS
OH COME LORD
JESUS
FOR WITHOUT
YOU
THERE IS NO
JOY AT ALL
WHERE SHALL
I FIND FOOD FOR SO MANY
WHERE SHALL
I FIND FOOD FOR MYSELF
HOW SHALL I
TURN SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS
BUT CHRIST
IS BORN AGAIN
LIKE WHEAT
THAT SPRINGETH GREEN
LIKE A ROSE
THAT BLOOMS IN WINTER
ON A TENDER
BOUGH
I SHALL NAME
A NEW NAME
FORGIVENESS
I SHALL SING
TO THE HUNGRY CHILD
A WORD THAT
WILL NOURISH HIM
FOR TODAY
I WILL TRY
TO FORGIVE MY ENEMY
AS YOU HAVE
FORGIVEN ME
WHEN I
FALTER
LET ME HEAR
THE WORDS OF
THE LULLABY
HUNGER
POVERTY
BIGOTRY
COME LORD
JESUS
COME AGAIN
BRING THE
WHEAT
AND GENTLE
RAIN
COME AGAIN
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Labels: BOOK
posted by Unknown @ 6:25 PM
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