THE OPEN ROAD

WE GATHER TOGETHER

11/25/2020

We gather together
To ask the Lord's blessing
He chastens and hastens
His will to be do be done

   The wicked oppressing
Now cease from distressing
Sing praises to his name
He forgets not his own

Beside us to guide us
Our God with us joining
Ordaining, maintaining
His kingdom divine

So from the beginning
The fight we were winning
Thou Lord, wast at our side
All glory be thine

We all do extol thee
Thou leader triumphant
And pray that thou still
Our defender will be

Let thy congregation
Escape tribulation
Thy name ever be praised
O Lord, make us free

(First published in 1626 in
the Netherlands, author unknown)

Please ponder these verses carefully.
They certainly apply to America, today,
especially this Thanksgiving, 2020)
g

THANKSGIVING 1620-2020

11/24/2020

THANKSGIVING 1620-2020

Four hundred years ago
a band of Pilgrims left
England, set sail aboard
the ship, Mayflower, and
eventually landed at Plymouth
Harbor, Massachusetts.

A year later, the Plymouth
Colony held a dinner and
gave thanks to Almighty God
for his guidance and protection
through the previous year.

Thus, coupled with the Virginia
Colony at Jamestown (1607),
the beginning of the settlements
of what would eventually become
America, was established.

How blessed and thankful we are
for this great land and its peoples,
who have given so much good for
for the millions living in America,
and around the globe these past
four centuries.

May we count our blessings for
this country, America. Truly a
beacon light of liberty and
freedom for all.

For this country, we give thee
thanks, O Lord.

(Written and published on November 24, 2020)

AMERICA (1975)

11/22/2020

   AMERICA (1975)

                                America...We've just have to sing
                                of you...
                                of your high mountain peaks
                                of your silken shining shores
                                of your fertile verdant valleys
                                of your steeples tall
                                of your children small...and
                                trusting

Never in the history of mankind has
                                any nation ever given so much
                                of her wealth...and of herself...
                                to others

                               Let church bells chime
                                Let poets rhyme
                                At this Thanksgiving time
                                Let us give thanks
                                With words sublime
                                For America...our God-given,
                                Native clime

(First published on June 8, 1975)
                               Note: My paternal grandparents
   legally immigrated to the United States
   just prior to the beginning of the 20th
   century. I am glad they did. I also know
that I can write these lines because other
   men and women sacrificed their lives
for their country, for you, and for me.
   Therefore, you will never see me disrespecting
   the American flag or our National Anthem.

THANKSGIVING 2020

11/15/2020

    THANKSGIVING 2020

This was the year of Thanksgiving
that almost wasn"t. The COVID-19
Pandemic was in full force, spreading
the Coronavirus to every continent
and clime. Some U.S. governors
imposed stay-at-home lock downs.

Many of our citizenry became irritated
and angry, especially when one of their
family-members, or friends contracted
the virus and died.

O mighty God of the universe. We know
you have traveled with us throughout the
travail of this past year, comforting and
consoling each one of us

We continue to cry out for thy warm hands,
  that they may touch us all for that needed healing
of bodies and souls.

Instill in us the joy of repentance as we ask
of thee forgiveness and relief.
Help us to use this time of trial to advance
our spiritual lives toward thee.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

(Written and published on November 14, 2020)

WHEN WINTER COMES

11/15/2020

WHEN WINTER COMES

It's hard not to want to be
a child again, when winter comes
When cares were small
and the world was young
and Christmas carols were sung
and there was hope and joy
within our hearts as we began
to grow amid the encircling snow
As the angels sang and the church bells rang
and Dobbin churned beneath the moonlight's glow
And thus we ask ourselves, where did the time go
Oh, where did the time go, when we were young

(Written and published on November 15, 2020)

BUTTON, BUTTON

11/15/2020

   BUTTON, BUTTON

Many years ago, the following notice
appeared in the Sunday program of the
Scotch Presbyterian Church, Scotland...

"Will those of you who have been putting
buttons in the collection basket, kindly put
in your own buttons, and not those from the
church upholstery."

While it is true that much honest criticism
could be aimed at our religious institutions,
much criticism could also be avoided, if perhaps,
we who occupy the pews were to pray
  more positively, praise more expectantly, give thanks,
  more abundantly, and glorify God for all the blessings,
yet to come, and for those blessings which our churches
  actually provide.

   Then, perhaps we could soon see the day when
we might burst our spiritual buttons with holy
love and sacrificial service.
Ah, button button, who's got the button?
Why, we have, of course.

   (First published on November 15, 2012.
Revisions made on November 15, 2020)

PSALM 100:1,2,3,4,5

11/7/2020

PSALM 100:1,2,3,4,5

Make a joyful noise
that the Lord
he is God

It is he
that hath made us
and not we ourselves

We
are his people
and the sheep
of his pasture

Enter into his gates
with thanksgiving
and into his courts
with praise

Be thankful
unto him
and bless his name

For the Lord is good
His mercy is everlasting
And his truth endureth
to all generations

THANKSGIVING (1976)

11/7/2020

   THANKSGIVING (1976)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Once again we gather with family
and friends to honor thee and give
thee thanks...

For this past year in which...

Many hearts have been healed
Many minds have been refreshed
Many souls have been uplifted
Many lives have been changed

For the coming year in which...

New friends shall be acquired
New covenants shall be honored
New powers shall be released
New faith shall be desired

For this present moment in which...

We may glorify thy holy name
We may gather loved ones home
We may kneel and pray and love
We may live and breathe for thee

In the name of the lamb of life,
even Jesus Christ. Amen.

INSIDE JOB

11/7/2020

INSIDE JOB

    To change the face of a person,
or nation, we first have to change
the character of the inner man.

To apply new economic programs
or social reforms as a balm to our
national ills is merely treating surface
symptoms.

To solely blame industry, business,
education or politics for our country's
woes is to simply skirt around the real
culprits...you and me.

Everyone has the responsibility to
continually re-examine themselves and
their motives...to ask, "What is my
moral direction, where am I going?"

Walt Kelley was right, you know,
when he had his possum, Pogo, exclaim
"We has met the enemy and he is us."

   (First published on November 21, 2012)

WIDE ENOUGH

10/31/2020

  WIDE ENOUGH

                                                            Wrote Lawrence Stern, an 18th Century
                                                            clergyman, "This world surely is wide enough
                                                            to hold both thee and me."

                                                            Indeed, there is plenty of room on this earth...

                                                            For diversity
                                                            For unity
                                                            For every color
                                                            For every creed
                                                            For disagreement
                                                            For compromise
                                                            For old truths
                                                            For new insights
                                                            For giving
                                                            For living

                                                            The shortages on this earth exist not because
there is "the lack of space" as some would contend.
                                                            Rather, our deficiencies are primarily due to a
                                                            scantness of Spirit in the hearts of men.

                                                            Wide enough, wide enough, yes, this world is
                                                            wide enough for both thee and me.

(First published on November 4, 2012)