While trusting in God’s only Son

The ancient land of rising suns
still waits for dawn to finally come.
The nightmare of that afternoon
continues without end.

A quaking earth and monstrous waves
destroyed her dreams creating graves
for countless mothers, dads and kids
who died that dreadful day.

The cherry blossoms mask the fact
that everything is not in tact.
Whole villages have been destroyed
and hope’s been washed away.

Mt. Fuji silently looks on
and weeps to realize what’s gone.
Untapped potential, precious life,
the chance to say goodbye.

O God, give grace to these perplexed
who in their grief must face what’s next.
Please penetrate their broken hearts
with that which pride prevents.

Be known as One who freely gave
His only Son who came to save
a world destroyed by death and sin
and human suffering.

The homeless man with the golden voice is learning to let God lead

A homeless man held up a sign
that begged for help (not beer or wine).
The words upon that cardboard sheet
betrayed Ted Williams’ heart.

His is a heart that longs to change,
to make amends and rearrange
the values that have marked his life
and caused him endless pain.

Ted’s more than just a gifted voice.
He’s Heaven’s child who has a choice
to dance with change and let God lead
while learning steps of grace.

Ah yes, there are twelve steps of grace
for everyone who dares to face
tomorrow’s gift that is unwrapped
by choosing life today.

So, here’s to Ted and all the rest
who humbly face that daily test:
accepting what they cannot change
and changing what they can.

Why Charlie’s “winning” is really losing

Charlie Sheen has lost his luster
More than that, he’s lost his job.
He’s a loser plain and simple
and he looks just like a slob.

He’s addicted to his ego.
He’s enslaved by drugs and booze.
He makes love like some make popcorn.
All in all he’s bound to lose.

Bob and Max have lost their daddy.
And for him we’ve lost respect.
Lost in space, he’s lost his bearings.
Charlie Sheen’s a derelict.

What was it his show was titled?
Two men and a half-a-one?
Guess we know who is the “half-a.”
Sadly, his career seems done.

Falling stars have tragic endings.
They just plummet from the sky.
Hell-bent comets from the heavens
leave us speechless wondering why.

Exploring the aftershocks in both; Lessons from a Stammering Monarch

Christchurch and Christ’s Church
Exploring the aftershocks in both

Christchurch, New Zealand has collapsed.
An earthquake rocked its soul.
And aftershocks reduced its pride
to chaos, grief and woe.

There’s loss of life, despair and tears
and haunting memories.
What once were viewed as normative
are abnormalities.

Christ’s Church is, too, on shaky ground.
That isn’t really new.
What once stood tall for holiness
has crumbled. Yes, it’s true.

The tremors started long ago
as God’s Word was attacked
when some church leaders deemed His Book
as fiction more than fact.

The quaking grew much stronger
when their views on Jesus changed.
Some claimed He’s but one way to God.
To them that wasn’t strange.

And neither is the way that truth
is redefined at will.
It’s relative and up for grabs.
God’s voice is often stilled.

Christ’s Church foundation will give way
without its cornerstone.
Without commitment to what’s right
it’s left to die alone.

Lessons from a Stammering Monarch
Takeaways from “The King’s Speech”

A star-studded portrayal
of a stuttering king
should land Colin Firth
that gold first-place thing.

King George VI was slow of speech.
He struggled with his words.
But thanks to one played by Geoff Rush
he soon was self-assured.

The King’s Speech is a brilliant film
deserving Oscar’s nod.
But more than that it celebrates
a principle from God.

We are not meant to live alone.
Companionship’s God’s gift.
There’s nothing like a friend’s advice
to give a needed lift.

We fail to reach all we can be
when we go it alone.
We stammer, flustered prone to fail
by trying on our own.

We only can annunciate
and speak with eloquence
when we let others draw us out
with words they never mince.

Spring training is a picture of grace; The Speed of Life

A Season for Starting Over
Spring training is a picture of grace

As mounds of snow begin to melt
some other mounds appear.
The spell of winter’s wearing off.
Spring Training’s finally here.

Though base paths still are mostly mud
and infield grass is brown,
I think that I can almost hear
those most amazing sounds…

The slap of leather, crack of bat
and feet stomps in the stands.
The vendors’ cries, the ump’s “yeer out!”
and cheering of the fans.

And though my team was bad last year
and finished up dead last,
with spring a new day dawns with hope.
Regrets are in the past.

And that is what the Bible says….
Grace offers brand new starts.
The old has passed. The new has come
with clean, forgiven hearts.

* “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

The Speed of Life
We’re moving much too fast!

We’re moving at the speed of life.
There’s way too much to do.
Our mates have plans. The kids have needs.
Our aging parents, too.

Yes, multitasking finds us frayed
much like a stretched-out rope.
We juggle countless balls at once
except that one called “cope.”

Our President’s proof positive.
His salt-and-pepper hair
is case in point of how life’s speed
breeds wrinkles, stress and fear.

We go, go, go and go some more.
A death sentence for sure.
While nouns once punctuated life,
we’ve given way to verbs.

The speed of life is much too fast.
O, God, please slow us down.
Create some speed bumps in life’s road.
Replace our verbs with nouns.