It’s more than just a board game

The game of Life can be quite fun
until (at last) it’s finally done.
And then when we’ve had one last turn
it all goes in the box.

Much like Monopoly is played
we buy and sell and sometimes trade.
And even when we’ve earned a lot,
it goes back in the box.

Like Scattergories and Taboo,
life’s filled with Risk for me and you.
We can be Sorry when the pieces
go back in the box.

It’s Trivial Pursuit at best.
We haven’t got a Clue unless
we get a Yahtzee just before
it goes back in the box.

But life is more than just a game
and that is why the Savior came
so we can know the final score
before we’re in a box. 

Remembering the remarkable ministry of Dr. Robert Schuller

He helped me turn my scars to stars.
He taught me how to dream.
Though far from perfect, Dr. Schuller
gave my best thoughts wings.

He said, “A shoe should not dictate
how large a foot can grow.”
He showed me how to grow my church
and fast when growth was slow.

The Christmas pageants he put on
had camels and the like.
The flying angels seemed quite real,
their wires out-of-sight.

And Easter he would bring to life
much like a passion play.
A life-size cross, an empty tomb
and a stone that rolled away.

Near Disneyland Doc Schuller’s church
gave ears to hear God speak.
His Hour of Power televised
a message for the weak.

A life of possibilities
he challenged me to see.
He helped me open doors locked shut
by showing me the key.

That key was faith. The very key
Bob clutched with baited breath
as he heard Jesus call his name
and closed his eyes in death.

What Muslims, Jews and Christians have in common

We’re children of Abraham,
daughters and sons,
seeking what leads to
what makes us all one.

We’re Eden’s descendants,
children of peace,
praying to one God
that wars will soon cease.

The prophets envisioned
the day we’d be one
when children of Abraham
bow to God’s Son.

But now in the meantime
we seek to be friends
resisting extremists
and making amends.

May love be our motto.
May kindness prevail.
May hate speech be silenced.
May evil plots fail.

Mother Nature’s annual Easter sermon; Blackberry Jam

The Gospel According to Spring
Mother Nature’s annual Easter Sermon

It was as if somebody died.
For three months we have grieved.
We’ve mourned for flowers dead and gone
and trees that lost their leaves.

The gloom of winter gripped our hearts
as Boston caved to snow.
Our frozen lawns were lifeless brown.
Our plants refused to grow.

Death’s shadow fell across the land.
We sorrowed for our loss.
The toll of winter just won’t quit
exacting quite a cost.

But come this weekend life bursts forth
from winter’s icy grave.
Spring is creation’s metaphor
for One who came to save.

Spring pictures resurrection truth.
Yes, death has been defeated
because God’s plan to prove His love
outrageously succeeded.

Blackberry Jam
Hilary’s not-so-smart phone use

Hilary is in a jam.
Her Blackberry’s to blame.
Her hands are stained and now the gloves are off.
The media has picked a fight.
Both parties have joined in
and Mrs. Clinton’s found the going rough.

Her knees are buckling jelly-like.
She stands, but can she run?
This email scandal could derail her dream.
Her smart phone tactics were quite dumb.
She put us all at risk.
No wonder her chief critics are quite steamed.

Looking back at Selma fifty years later

When Barry was a boy of three
the Selma March made history.
Our nation’s first black President
could not have then conceived
how much that Bloody Sunday nailed
the plight of those unjustly jailed.
Barack would only later see
the milepost it was.

That march would help to bridge a gap
in which young gifted blacks were trapped.
It blazed a trail through “no man’s land”
to reach a voting booth.

The march of progress has been slow
and there is still so far to go.
In spite of strides we all have made,
God weeps at what He sees.

Yes, after half a century
a King’s dream of equality
remains a nightmare haunting those
who long for righteousness.

Through what I do and what I say,
Lord, may I be a bridge today
providing love the means to walk
with freedom, grace and hope.

* In case you didn’t get to watch our President’s speech in Selma, here’s a link. What “Ask not what your country can do for you” was for JFK, Selma was for Obama.