Dead in the Water

A nightmare at sea;
Remembering the Voice of the Mariners

Dead in the Water
A nightmare at sea

A dream boat vacation
that never came true
became a huge nightmare
for tourists and crew.

With carnival chaos
and near mutiny,
some four thousand people
were drifting at sea.

The splendor of cruising
was anything but.
No lights. No hot water.
The power was cut.

In darkness, quite hungry
and miles from shore,
the passengers huddled
like prisoners of war.

A voyage from Hades
they won’t soon forget,
complete with a refund
and tons of regret.

And yet if they’re honest
it’s likely they’ll say
their plight on the ocean
taught them all how to pray.

Remembering the Voice of The Mariners
Seattle fans say goodbye to a hall of fame announcer

Dave Niehaus made us feel at home.
His voice was family.
His warm and mellow lilting style
made baseball fun for me.

His play-by-play was upper deck.
Dave called a polished game.
His efforts became recognized.
He’s in the hall of fame.

The Mariners know how to lose.
They’ve proved that through the years.
But now they’ve lost their heart and soul.
Dave’s death has prompted tears.

My, oh, my, this hurts real bad.
What more is there to say
except what he said for home runs…
“So long!” “Fly, fly away!”

Let’s hope that Dave was safe at home.
He could have tagged from third.
A pinch batter hit a sac fly
according to God’s Word.

That substitute was Jesus Christ.
He was our sacrifice.
His sinless life and unjust death
paid our admission price.

Questions for Miss Manners

Accounting for the casualties of an uncivil war

What’s happened to civility?
Miss Manners, where’s our dignity?
It seems our culture’s not inclined
to mind her “P”s and “Q”s.

Those raunchy, ugly campaign ads
were just plain wrong. They made me sad.
By slinging mud and spinning lies,
the winners even lost.

We’re not polite. We’re just plain crude.
We say “That sucks!” or “You are screwed!”
Miss Manners, it’s detestable.
We’re all a bunch of jerks.

We sue instead of work things out.
On cell phones calls we tend to shout
without regard to those nearby.
We litter shamelessly.

Civility is dead it seems.
We’re downright rude and often mean.
Who opens doors for those nearby?
Who offers to go last?

Profanity is everywhere.
It seems most people just don’t care.
The F bomb’s dropped without regard.
It’s an uncivil war.

Miss Manners, can we win this war
that’s left our wealthy country poor?
Is it too late to be polite
regaining what we’ve lost?

Dancing with the Stars (and Stripes)

It’s boogie time with the ballot box;
The Him Behind the Hymn

Dancing with the Stars (and Stripes)
It’s time to boogie with the ballot box

The right to vote is freedom’s gift.
It gives us each the chance
to stand beneath the Stars and Stripes,
kick up our heels and dance.

To vote means leaning left or right,
then waltzing with our choice.
When we embrace what’s dear to us,
our values find a voice.

But tango-ing with campaign ads
leaves most of us worn out.
The dirty dance steps they employ
results in jaded doubt.

The rumba of election day
won’t come a day too soon.
I’m weary of the non-stop spin
each morning, night and noon


The Him Behind the Hymn
Remembering Martin Luther this Reformation Day

“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
was Martin Luther’s hymn
that took aim at the sitting Pope
and at the Vatican.

That German monk expressed his views
about indulgences,
with pen and parchment nailed his point
to sparse and faint applause.

This lonely priest said, “Here I stand!
I can do nothing less.
I will not fleece my faithful flock
and charge when they confess.”

Ah yes, young Martin thumbed his nose
and turned his back on Rome.
Rejecting manmade “rules of God”
the seeds of faith were sown.

And so on Reformation Day
we thank God for a man
who stood up most courageously
with a hammer in his hand.

* October 31st is Reformation Sunday

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Practical suggestions for Pastor Appreciation Month

To be a pastor’s often hard
and while it’s nice to get a card
(expressing thanks for what we do)
would you consider these…?

Find ways to serve our church’s needs
or volunteer as one who leads
or give beyond a simple tithe
so all the bills are paid.

Quit shopping for another church.
You’re needed here. No need to search
in hopes of finding “Willow Creek.”
We are a family!

Pray daily for our kids and wife.
Like you, we deal with stress and strife
as well as envy, debt and doubt
that cloud our faith with fear.

Be quick to offer words of praise
for ones who serve you on Sundays;
the greeters, teachers, those who “ush”
and those who “baby watch.”

Be slow to gripe and criticize
the things some do you think unwise.
Give grace to those who fail “your test”
and take stock of your pride.

In all these ways your love’s expressed.
But, honestly, I must confess
we pastors love to get a note
within a Hallmark card.

A Day of Resurrection

A month of men (plus two) sing Easter praise;
When Hope Collapses Around You

A Day of Resurrection
A month of men (plus two) sing Easter praise

Thirty-three men and one common prayer.
Freedom.

A month of men (plus two)
knew help was on the way,
but they were forced to wait
for what seemed like years
praying rosaries,
playing games,
staying fit,
staying strong
in the midst of the rubble of doubt
that surrounded them.

A month of men (plus two)
knew they had no choice
but to shoulder the wait
with much sweat
and little sleep
deep in the bowels of Mother Earth.

For two months and seven days
rescue workers tirelessly mined
for thirty-three miners
whose mettle is much more notable
than the copper and gold
hiding in the Chilean caves
that might well
have been their graves.

Two months and seven days
after the “mining expedition” began
an Easter-like lyric
punctuated South America’s
transfer of power from winter to spring
(death giving way to life)…

“Up from the cave they arose!”

A month of men (plus two)
vertically ascended
one at a time
in resurrection glory,
freed from the greedy grasp
of the Grim Reaper
and released into the joyful embrace
of familiar arms.

The miners have risen!
They have risen indeed!
Thanks be to God!
Gracias, Señor!

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/13/chile-second-half-rescues/?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

** http://www.aolnews.com/story/with-rescue-miners-private-lives-come-to/1330847*** Tras 70 días de encierro en la mina San José, los mineros decidieron vestirse todos de la misma manera. Una camiseta, que dice “Gracias Señor,” (thank you Lord) y que en la parte trasera se lee “son suyas las profundidades de la tierra, son suyas las cumbres de los montes. A Él la gloria y el honor.”
 English translation: “The depths of the earth are His, the the height of the mountains are His. To Him, glory and honor.” (from Psalm 95)

When Hope Collapses Around You
A call to look up with faith

When it seems like all hope
has been buried alive,
when you’re trapped and convinced
that you’ll never survive,
when your memory fails you
of times you have thrived,
from the darkness of doubt
just look up.

If the source of your joy
has collapsed on itself,
if your future’s in question
because of your health,
if both Wall Street and Main Street
have stolen your wealth,
from the darkness of doubt,
just look up.

Though you struggle to breathe
from the lack of fresh air,
though the walls that you’ve leaned on
cave-in everywhere,
though you aren’t really sure
if the world is aware,
from the darkness of doubt
just look up.