Nothing left but a bag of same old rhymes. Beating time on the front of old trousers. Hollering as if I’d seen the moon for the very first. Night’s so dark I cannot remember. All of the nice things that we were in such hurry to leave behind.

As the world refused to stop watching. I found the courage to sing from the hidden places. So many faces luring my eyes to days that should never have been forgotten. Some filled with dream some normal as rainy day blues.

And time called my name to the riches wrapped so deeply. Swimming in the cool deep comfort or tears and triumph. The smart things that so few uttered. And the pearls muttered in the green silent mornings of falls approach.

The tip of my tongue clicking out beats that matched the waves approaching. Reminiscent of the mysteries I had youthfully gambled. A mind of wonder and a heart full of sunshine and possibility. Purposely never pondering what lay beyond the sky.

Simple days and weeks in splendor. Sleeping mind free of burdens shared. Conflicts so swiftly forgotten or never visited. As the well of the world tasted sweetly at each short sip. Thinking slowly for ideas never ventured. No worries renewed.

A top the chest my keys and random pictures. A Pile of knickknacks infrequently sorted. Never enough to lead them to the relevant clues. For the depth of the forest must never be measured. As with love it must age and be sampled for a lifetime.

Lost in the pulsing sway in the voice of a child long departed. Competing with the birds to paint a picture I saw in God’s Eye. The golden victories of a man searching each experience for whispers of courage and valiant hope. Marking Time upon the counter top.

Oh what warm, welcomed breath in the light, oh light. Steps and mind clear, battle hardened and ready, yet compassionate to those fallen, giving them honor, succor and hope of prolonged existence. Greens without taupe or grey, all bright formative and fixated in the brilliance and back drop. These wings touch the sky as if hand to married hand.

No worry, wander or fear in the labyrinthine dark. No more slippery footfalls and wet hands grasping the moss and stone. Look beyond the hills and stars to miracle and wonder. Hope plainly now reveals the hope of storm’s side and mountain’s flushing. Prelit the dawn of men of cheer marching to the cadence of Trump and sounding reign.

Free the hearts of men once slain by terror and fearful plunder into cavernous pitch. Falling forever it seems into the well of everlasting mire, awaiting sadness my only friend. Now the hues and spectrum harmonize calling us to miraculous splendor as the glorious and the unknown appear to each beyond the lens of myopic expectation.

Crimson born and snow blinded in sheer joyous madness of emergence upon horizon. We wrought delight at the fading nightfall, never to be remember or forgotten, simply erased from memory as the beams and presence of God Almighty light the star absent sky with dreams and possibility. We walked away from all fear-found memory.

Welcoming contortion of emotions and accepting deception, stacking the lies in datasets with normal memories, such that we are transformed by our library of recalled perceptions. Convincing ourselves of loves that never existed, wealth that never filled our banks or holdings and victories that were never won, perhaps never even ventured.

Is there a level of expectant doubt that is built into the system or are we thoroughly convinced by some lever of control to accept the unreal as actual? The whispers become suggestions that become consideration that become norms in some measure compelled to complicity. What urgency or desire must be tied to a piece of persona that evades the security of self?

What is real, if not the things that you believe to be true? Even if those things have been planted, manufactured, augmented or in the case of most sponsored by a need to believe. Do I really love God because I go to church eight times a week? Do I love Him if I never exceed to His testimony, trials or commands? Do I love a woman if I have a end state of that relationship that I am pursuing that has nothing to do with her care but rather a set of expectations that could have been programmed into my brain housing?

What then is the evidence of the objective? What form or face of reality may be determined over all other similar or matching frames of reason to be considered untainted, original, Sovereign? There must be a product or convention an outcome or set of emerging events that are consistent with the reliance upon it being “The Single Voice of what is Real? There must be demonstrative fruit of the vine of life lived with the parameters of definition.

Therefore, faith upon a thing may be proven incorrect or improperly placed. A love may have been simple adoration or interest. A solid invariably a gas and an idea actually found inconsequential. Love seems the most likely to face contortion as all need and want it or have convinced themselves in an odd twist of deprivation that they never wanted it. The Love of God is proven in life, in pain, in joy and in laughter or tears.

We are given promise only when we believe the parameters and ordinances of the Sovereign authority of Almighty God. A reliance upon that set of truths such that our behaviors in choice and action match that which God said would happen if we did or didn’t’ do a certain set of things. But Love, what is the test of God’s Love for a created thing? Are we to believe we are loved simply by having taken this last breath?

We had to have been given a tablet of things that were inconsistent with operating within the reasonable expectations of humanity. We had to see ourselves tainted, ill, of poor human posture in order to realize the depth of our dilemma. Don’t you find that odd? That we had to be told what was wrong in order to know that we were not right? We forced God to give us a mirror in commandments so that we could see the depth of human depravity and trespasses against Him and each other. Shouldn’t we have known if we have any capacity at originality and reason.

And much worse once seeing our wounds we then chose to make up a world inconsistent with the objective in order to accommodate our version and desire to live outside the real. Now it is quite normal this understanding that God requires proof of our love for Him and His will for humanity, that proof being Faith, a reliance and consistent thought/action as evidence of our willingness to comply with the objective truth. Certainly we may invent our own version but in so doing we fail to provide God the evidence of our Love and thus cannot hope to please Him.

Each of you has perfectly shown me the encouragement of promptings of chastisement for which the Lord has sent you into my life. Why was Nathan so effective with David? These views, understanding and regret available to those who have heard from them close, are gifts for our own salvation, walking in fear and trembling, working this out for ourselves. I will not admit that all of that which you have given is pleasurable, in fact many of the people sent in to my life are those who have chosen Satan or who have yet to consider surrender to Christ Jesus. Loving them requires that I never blame, hate or remove them from my life for the lessons they were given to deliver. However, having done the work of God and pursuing a life without God as their impetus, sometimes it is the best choice to exercise my only power of simply stepping away from the interaction. I will admit that many who live in fear of the inherent danger of human love will often choose to avoid deep relationships believing themselves safer within the self designed parameters and false power of being alone.

This is frailty and fear in using the distance between myself and others as a self-defense mechanism. This is theft from Divine Intention, as we are meant to have interaction with humans as the only method of demonstrating the example of God has for them through each of us. I cannot tell people about Christ Jesus unless I am willing to overcome my own fear of the potential for heart pain to tell them the Gospel message as God commanded. Yes, there are opportunities for discernment and choice for not every relationship is meant to be pursued as the perfect mate God may be offering, but rather as the opportunity for Divine intervention through that sustained relationship. Nor am I to hate the disobedient for their lack of spiritual site or searing of conscience. They too are making choices that have been Divinely distributed, and if they wish to spend eternity in Hell than barring a good discussion through the Holy Spirit and the commensurate demonstration of love I have no other tool to offer and Pray that the HOLY SPIRIT do miracles in their lives.

I am not saddened by failure but invigorated by my next meeting in the throne room with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore I am grateful for your prompting to take it to the Lord in prayer and sorry to you for any angst my trespasses have caused you. Thank you for heeding God’s direction in courageously offering me His lessons for which you’ve been sent.

Pulling punches because I love you. Is this how you would have me treat my enemies or just all people in general. It is not my job to be up in your business, nor is it my responsibility to sit here and watching you destroy the blessings God gives you and not utter a word. The only power of a disciple when people will not listen to the Gospel is to step away. Just as I would not bash you over the head with shortcomings or my version of how you should live your life, I cannot lend a listening ear to folly forever.

God gave us the opportunity to escape the judgment the entirety of humanity deserved. Yes, in my case every slight, every transgression every step taken away from God was taken by my own volition and perambulation. I walked, I talked, I balked when having been told to work the fields I remained in a lazy state or decided to travel the steps of my own reasoning or desire. Salvation is not something to take lightly. Having been set free from imprisonment, slavery and service to sin, guaranteed death and separation from God forever because of it, I ought not take it lightly when reviewing the nature of my deliverance.

That does not mean that I get to holler at you about your missteps or deliver the recommendations of God in an offhand manner. I am to be gentle and long suffering as His character demands, however, there is a point where we must understand the cost of not listening to advice or seeking wisdom and what we are left with in outcome. I love you, am your friend, Pastor and even deeper than that your Brother in Christ Jesus walking through this life to the time of our entrance to eternity. Perhaps a commitment to act that way now would allow me to encourage rather than correct?

You have been given tremendous gifts, blessings and opportunities regardless of how your attachment to a victimization mentality portrays them. I would venture to claim that the tests, trials and calamities you’ve faced have been a tremendous gift as they are evidence that God is never going to leave you alone to your own destructive intentions. I am sorry you don’t value the attention and you are not in awe that the Sovereign God of the universe has your number and loves you so much He has a plan to ready you for the work before you and the eternity He has prepared for you.

You claim that you want to serve His will. Where is the evidence, the fruits? You claim that you want to good Godly relationships with people who in their Godly nature take things seriously and offer you blessings of growth alongside them. Where is your respect for these blessings in the modification of your mouth, behaviors and songs? You claim that you want to learn and be ready? Where is the practice the intention and the meditation upon the instruction of God? What are you writing upon your heart except the same old evidence and the same old statements that you are right and no one has the authority to change that?

Who is God, and who are you? Consequently who does that answer make me?

August heat with flies and bees as the world seemed too loud to overcome. No space, fast pace and so many requirements to be allowed into the circle of love for garden parties. A child sat in the window seat overlooking to deeper woods. No storms today but a heat born anger sparked conversations seeking revenge and glory. Nothing good would come of those seeking quiet this afternoon.

They raged with clenched teeth and sweaty fists balled up like swelled wrinkled balloons. Arguing over the next important nothing just to say that they’d attended and won points within the bracket. It was hard to reckon that this was family often referred to in reference to Christ’s Body and all they could do with joyous position was fuss about this and yammer about that as if two drunken roommates contesting over the last warm beer.

No one’s girlfriend was slighted no one’s Mother offended just arguing about doctrine that stood written in the Good Book way before they’d ever shared their first breath, thought or step. Both so sorry for lacking compassion yet the thought of losing a contest in front of the gang was infinitely less pleasing. During the brief repose the young boy turned to see when they weren’t looking.

Did they know that Christ was among? Did they remember the part about wherever two or three were gathered, No, certainly not just as with the Apostles while Jesus listened they argued about which of them was superior in the hierarchy of God. Forgotten they were all just servants and somehow that should be enough for those serving their Adopted Father in the Coming of His Eternal Kingdom.

What do you see now that was previously beyond your vision? Is now the time of spiritual purpose? Am I to remain within the frustrations of a world that is caught in the limitations of its entropy? Is that what they claim to seek in their grand enlightenment or to maintain dominion over those who struggle with eternity?

I am done in the employment of tools, talents and thinking that has repeatedly demonstrated its inadequacy for participation in the realm beyond the temporary. What then indicates a tether to that which is beyond a man’s antiquated reason? Do I look or emit an aura as many would argue commensurate with this transformative man?

Or, is it simply in the absence of historical action that I am recognized as not being of this timeline? Is my relationship to the eternal found in the newness of my reformation? Is it even noticeable through the lens of men ascending to the promontory of tempor-reality? Have we the spiritual vision necessary to even comprehend the data outside mortal reason?

Is it found in acquisition of knowledge as was made evident in the garden? Is simply knowing about a position of transcendence the necessary componentry to obtaining this state or capacity of reason? Is there a fruit that may be imbibed to elevate transition? This is the battle for hearts and minds in which we find ourselves embroiled.

One side believes it is something to acquire, download or ingest an ownership of relic, scroll or magic igniting us to stellar purpose. The other that it is only found in surrender to the Sovereign aspirations and commands of God Himself. Is that stubborn quality to place ones faith in works of science, song or effort the gate guard of opportunity?

That is the newness and import of all reason. Once found all shroud falls to the ground around our feet made new to step upon a path previously beyond vision. Love, pure love given in the realm of understanding that we alone may make a choice of which path to venture forever. One a quest to find the answer, the other surrender to the way.

What faith shall I place in man? In Myself. I know my heart and fortunately am willing to see and declare the wickedness therein. Salvation from death is the realization that sin is what caused our death. Remaining in sin is assured death. Therefore any rational, aware, enlightened man sees in himself the desire for ruin and turns away, known as repentance.

From what I am repenting, the enemy’s control over my life in deception, suggestion and lure to commit the same sins I myself have maintained? This life is my responsibility and that acknowledgement demands either I accept continuance in this faith in myself or desperately seek any avenue toward redemption and release from this abomination of a life lived foolishly.

Tell me, what is your boulevard to freedom from this self-perpetuated and inclined dedication to my own destruction? What is the imaginary or the vain? Who holds the keys to my own pursuits adhering to an immolation of all for which I quest? You would have me look to magic or to science in my rational pursuit of a way our of perpetual labyrinthine discovery.

Tell me what man made or crafted road leads to the eradication or cleansing of my sin? Trial by reincarnation of a thousand lifetimes does not free me but instead makes me worthy of an end to this travesty. No one declares the only path to a situation mandated and fed by my own volition as the self-provided freedom to a problem I could not conquer in a lifetime. That freedom has to come with aid from Divine intervention.

That promise of freedom and rebirth is only found and repeated on one path to emancipation, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Grace received by gift. If you wish for me to follow another path, where is the promise but in service to the darkness I have already admitted in my own heart. Frailty is not strength, buy the realization of my own inadequacy to free myself from that which take my life is perhaps the greatest surrendering frailty found in salvation.

I cannot hope to be free without acknowledging God as the source, the answer, the Way. In that acknowledgement I find the keys to hell, death and the permanent escape from sin by rebirth of a seed beyond the original fault of denying the perfection of creation. Eve’s wanting more opened the door to deception. Adam’s wanting it his way acknowledged his lack of Love and Respect/reverence of God Almighty.

He may only save me if I acknowledge the need for salvation. That salvation being from my own thinking or lack thereof. I stepped into darkness with the rest of humanity, a slave to the Father of Lies in that shadow of the man I was meant in creation. Now I follow the image of the Divine, born again to a new life only found in the seed of Christ’s suffering on Calvary’s Cross. I will never put faith in man again, but in the Twain man who gave all that I may be free from my own vain imagination. In Jesus’ name.

I see that which You through this pain have shown me. You are my first Love. Nothing, no matter how consequential to this life is worthy of that position. You alone are God. To say that I am sorry for placing anyone, any thing or any idea in that position frightens me in the humility of a man who knows the One who gave me and saved me so many times. There is no excuse, no reasoning and no explanation for my actions except spiritual laziness and self-service in the face of a Spiritual call to purpose.

Father, take away the dais from the Church, take away the altar as You have given everything in sacrifice, none be further made. My worship must be true for You alone and never be used for alternate purpose. I am no different than any man, especially those Brothers of Your Body, regardless of place for worship/membership. Let those true to you see the danger of placing organizations, individuals and man made rules/rituals in place of direct privilege in the Throne Room of God.

Lord may my heart return to its rightful place be the spark that rekindles the flame and awe of service to Your Plan for this life and the next. There is no good to come from backsliding away from our relationship and Your commands for my service to the Coming Kingdom of Christ Jesus, that shall never end. Thank you for showing me true and false love allowing me to see that investment in anything other that the Love with You and the Body is fruitless. The Love I give this world is that they may come to know You.

Lord I am a man of God, no titles needed, no self or audience elevation sufficient. The fact that I may be referred to as Shepherd, Preacher, Teacher, Evangelist or otherwise is acknowledgement of my duty to Your Will. I want no reward and am thoroughly fulfilled in Knowing You. To look upon anything or anyone with the humility and love that I have for You should only be done when You have directed it. I love these sheep Lord, I love those who have yet to know You Lord and I will love anyone You give me who will praise Your name having begun to know You by that Love You have shown through me.

Forgive me Lord, Revive Lord, strengthen and direct Lord to the things You have named precious. Never let me or those in this body veer from the skinny path, the only path to everlasting found in relationship with You. May You acknowledge each of us in Heaven that we may be certain, safe and saved in the Blood of Jesus Christ the King. May we grow as new born citizens of Heaven to bring glory, honor and praise to You. In Jesus’ holy name.

Walking around the tired bend with one good shoe. Mouth is dry, wrist against my hat soaked forehead. Trying to distinguish the Sunlight from the land up ahead. Casually, I rest upon my laurels, thinking old thoughts, surprised how slow I move onward. What day is this, as if it matters, asking myself to put at least one thought in this lousy old head.

Dancing circles round the moon, inviting it to call us captive. Befriending daisy’s of indifference, turning their blossom to whomever gives them sugar. I wanted to ask you something then I remembered it didn’t matter anymore, Cause time just chooses who it wants to shine, sometimes theirs infrequently mine. All decks lean toward London.

Emptied the cannons because the sea never hears. As if anyone cares that fifty odd rusty old kilos joined the deep in the secrets never told. She had stalks of hair a hay bale of a noggin. Trying to intervene without a scratch of throwing my back out sideways. She looked up at me with the crooked little smile and waited, presumably for me to say something worth hearing.

But the Cairo train was early so I caught a ride and sat against vinyl wishing my sweat were not so sticky. Applauding everyone who called me and willing to marry any who would feed the little man hidden deep inside. Which avenues of fury ferry in those who mean no well to anyone? Running lazy circles til the cows got dizzy, I dust of my pancho waiting for Jesus to arrive.

Alive and incendiary hoping something pounces so I can set its heart aflame. Taking seriously the requests of evening to introduce the morning. Tears and smiles alike we took our dusty bags and walk ol’ Heaven’s mile. Too afraid to scramble and much too tired to swim, we decided just to dally in the nonchalance hoping that someone would ask us the proper time.