Month: January 2012

The Lord Remains Our Light

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

When the power goes out (and worse)

When Mother Nature’s winds blew strong,
they toppled trees. It seemed so wrong.
They stole our power, sapped our strength
and rendered us in need.

But God our Father calms the storm
the day we die or when we’re born.
When we’re afraid, He calms our fears
and whispers “Peace! Be still!”

Amazingly, He gives us grace
for trials we are called to face.
When darkness falls and faith grows dim,
the Lord remains our Light!

* This was written to honor a friend who died in the recent snow and icy storm in Seattle (that caused a power outage for nearly a half-million people). Philip Gregory Barber was moving his ATV out of the garage when a tree fell on him killing him instantly. Ironically, his daughter-in-law gave birth to little Macy (his second granddaughter) the day of his death. As you read this, please pray for Greg’s widow Irene and their family. Check out Greg’s obituary at http://www.flintofts.com/

** A neighbor of the Barbers has written about Greg in his blog. I commend to you the writings of Michael Wolf at www.mkwolf.com

Avoiding a Shipwrecked Faith

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

Spiritual lessons from a capsized cruise ship;
A Race to Nome

Avoiding a Shipwrecked Faith
Spiritual lessons from a capsized cruise ship

Much like that grave ill-fated cruise
that captivates the evening news,
we run the risk of capsized faith
if we ignore God’s charts.

They point to what will do us in.
Those submerged boulders He calls sin.
The jagged crags of lust and greed
just cannot be ignored.

Yes, unseen rocks can tear a hole
and scar the lining of the soul.
The reef of sin will ruthlessly
destroy the joy we seek.

We’d best steer clear of Satan’s lies.
If not, we’re likely to capsize.
And shipwrecked faith is fraught with fear
and doubt that steals your hope.

A Race to Nome
A tag-team rescue then and now

In Nome in 1925
they wondered if they would survive.
A January shortage
found them scurrying for help.

Without a much-needed supply,
both old and young would surely die.
But just in time sled dogs came through
and serum reached the town.**

And now (as then) they prayed and hoped.
Without reserves, they’d never cope.
Another shortage (like before)
meant Nome was in the news.

In what seemed both absurd and cruel,
a Russian tanker had their fuel
but couldn’t ply the Bering Sea.
The ice was 8 feet thick.

So near and yet so far away!
The folks in Nome still hoped and prayed.
And as was true in ’25,
a tag-team raced ‘gainst time.

The Coast Guard’s Healy broke the ice
and paved a way that would suffice
to let the tanker fin’lly reach
the isolated town.

Through teamwork Nome received black gold
and now is brighter and less cold.
And as was true in ’25,
God answered just in time.

** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_serum_run_to_Nome

A Prayer for Lawmakers and Others

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

Asking Divine guidance for those who make decisions

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
I call on You for guidance
as this new legislative session commences.

Forgetting those things that are behind
and straining forward to toward those things that are to come,
I ask You to help these men and women press on to serve those
who look to them for leadership.

In this month when we as a nation
celebrate the sanctity of every life
and pay homage to a King
(whose reign was all-too brief)
may their efforts be crowned
with compassion, justice and mercy.

In this challenging economy,
as the deposit slips of state revenue
reflect less than they hoped they could bank on,
compound their interest in finding creative solutions.
Give them the ability to resist the temptation
to pass the buck.
Allow the currency of the time they spend
to be consistent with those four familiar words
engraved upon our history and our dollars…
“in God we trust.”

And when they are called upon to make change,
may they be tellers of truth
as well as cashiers of compromise.
May the bottom line of decisions made in this House
make sense to those who make them
and to those who will be impacted by them.

And though taxing at times,
may this session be marked by an adequate reserve
of respect and humility
as well as a windfall of gratitude
for the privilege You have allowed them
in their calling as public servants.

In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen.

* I delivered this prayer on Monday, January 9, 2012 in the State House of Representatives in Olympia, Washington at the opening of the 2012 Legislative Session. The prayer can be viewed online at the following link:

http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2012010055
 

About ten years ago I was asked by a friend serving in the Illinois State Senate to pray at the opening of the session in Springfield, IL. I had no idea that one of the Senators hearing my prayer that day would be elected President of the United States several years later. My friend is also residing in Washington, D.C. today. The Honorable Peter Roskam was elected to Henry Hyde’s seat in Congress after the veteran Congressman retired.

Although the prayer was written with state lawmakers in mind, the essence of the prayer applies to those in leadership in local municipalities, churches, synagogues and school districts. It is a prayer that invites God’s intervention in our pursuits. It also makes ourselves willing to accept His help that we might work effecgtively with others with whom we may not always agree.

The New Year’s Day Visitor

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

Calling out an uninvited guest at the family table;
Lessons From the Blender Lid

The New Year’s Day Visitor
Denouncing an uninvited guest at the family table

A stranger showed up unannounced
at brunch on New Years Day.
He sounded off (without respect)
when Grandpa tried to pray.

When Mom served up the cheese souffle
he said “Let’s play a game!”
“Hey, wait a minute,” Dad exclaimed.
“Excuse me. What’s your name?”

“I’m called a Smart Phone,” he replied.
“No doubt you’ve heard of me.
I Facebook, email and much more
as you can plainly see.”

‘I’ve heard of you,” my grandma said.
“But you’re not welcomed here.
Our family table’s sacrosanct.
It’s time you disappear.

“I’m sure you’re helpful Mr. Smart.
There’s so much you can do.
But this is not the time or place
to host the likes of you.”

Lessons from a Blender Lid*
How the Lord spoke to me on my morning walk

When it feels like life’s a blender
and you’re spun out of control,
don’t try to cap the chaos
(though that seems a worthy goal).

When you hold-in what you’re feeling
and refuse to let it out,
hope clogs and leaves you wondering
if your faith has turned to doubt.

Lift the lid on what concerns you
as you brace for what’s in store.
Let your stressful circumstances
catapult you toward the Lord.

* This past week while going on my three mile walk, I came across a black object discarded on the side of the road. As I stooped down and pick it up, I discovered it was a brand-new lid to a kitchen blender. Holding it in my hand, I pondered what to do with it. Should I leave it? Should I take it to the nearest trash bin? Should I take it home? At once an inner voice seemed to say, this object is a visual aid that communicates how I want you to deal with stressful circumstances in your life. Don’t put the lid on and hold your angst in. Uncap your stress and let it fly to me through prayer. I wrote this poem as a way of capturing the truth of this insight.