Blog Archives

IN THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT

10/30/2019

   IN THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT

In the darkness of the night
You may hear a snowflake fall
Or hear the beating of the heart
of a loved one lying by your side
Beating softly, quietly, still

In the darkness of the night
You may hear a baby cry
with purity and the joy of life
slicing through the darkness
with simple pure delight

In the darkness of the night
You may witness the vast eternity
that lies before your dim lit eyes
and recognize God's majesty in
every star that brightly shines

(First written and published on
October 30, 2019)

ISAIAH 63:7,8

10/28/2019

     ISAIAH 63:7,8

I will mention the lovingkindnessess
of the Lord, and the praises of the
Lord according to all that the Lord
hath bestowed on us,

   and the great goodness toward
the house of Israel,which he hath
bestowed on them according to
his mercies, and according to
the multitude of his lovingkindness

For he said, surely they are my people,
children that will not lie, so, he was
their Saviour

TASKS SO IMPORTANT

10/27/2019

    TASKS SO IMPORTANT

In writing on how to cope with despondency,
Harry Emerson Fosdick made the following
suggestion...

"Remember that some tasks are so important
that they must be gone through with whether
we are depressed or not."
When we, at first, think of "tasks so important,"
we might think of some deeds that are highly
heroic or that are terribly dangerous to our
physical well being or our emotional security.

But, we would suggest two "important tasks"
that are daily commonplace in their occurrence...

One is...earning a living and the second is...
keeping a home.
These two are with us most of our days and are
"tasks so important" that we cannot, dare not,
avoid them regardless of our moods or our mental
dispositions.

Our moods and thoughts change continually and,
whether melancholy or happy, our "tasks so
important" still remain.

(First published on November 21, 2012)

LORD OF ALL 236

10/27/2019

LORD OF ALL 236

"In certain trying circumstances, urgent
circumstances, desperate circumstances,"
wrote Mark Twain, "profanity furnishes
a relief denied even in prayer."

We'd like to paraphrase and re-arrange Mr.
Twain's remarks just slightly, if we could.
(It's a good thing Mr. Twain has passed on,
or he probably would have objected to any
re-arrangement of his words, laced with a
little profanity.

We think from a Christian viewpoint, that
the following would be much more appropriate...
"In even the most trying of circumstances,
prayer furnishes a relief usually denied by
profanity."

When you are discouraging
And your patience flies away
And your troubles drive you
To your knees
Don't bother getting up too soon
Just remain awhile and pray

Carry all your burdens
Whether great or small
To Him who always listen
And answers every call
And you will soon discover
That He is Lord of all

(First printed October 31, 1976)

ISAIAH 63:1,2,3

10/19/2019

ISAIAH 63:1,2,3

Who is this that cometh
from Edom, with dyed garments
from Bozrah, this that is glorious
in his apparel, travelling in the
greatness of his strength?
I that speak in righteousness,
mighty to save.

Wherefore art thou red in thy apparel,
and thy garments like him that treadeth
in the winepress?

I have trodden the winepress alone,
and of the people there was none
with me, for I will tread them
in my fury and their blood shall
be sprinkled upon my garments,
and I will stain all my raiment.

FREEDOM TO CHOSE 611

10/18/2019

FREEDOM TO CHOSE 611

Over the past two decades
many politicians have avocated
and proposed "Right to Work"
laws.

Perhaps these laws should
actually be labeled, "Freed to
Choose" laws

I believe that a person who
procures a job should have
as much right to choose not
to join a union as he does to
join one. Any less freedom
than that...is less freedom.

The Constitution guarantees us
the pursuit of happiness with or
without the aid of any organization,
regardless of how well intentioned
their aims.

As Americans, we should be willing
to defend every person's freedom
to choose.

    (First published on April 24, 1979)

MORE OF YOU , LORD 606

10/18/2019

MORE OF YOU, LORD 606

When our hearts
are full of fear
and hope is hard to find
It becomes quite clear
We need more of you, Lord
We need more of you

In this age of high finance
When our empty pockets
Won't let us dance
We need more of you, Lord
We need more of you

When our souls
are feeling blue
don't know which way to turn
what to do or what to say
We need more of you, Lord
We need more of you

(First published on April 12,1979)

THE POX AWARD 604

10/13/2019

THE POX AWARD 604

  The demon instigators of virulent diseases have
officially declared March, 1979 as "Chicken Pox Month"
at our home.

As recent recipients of the "Pox of the Mouth"
award, our family feels dubiously, but undoubtedly,
humbled on this auspicious occasion.

   Mathew, Billy and Heather each qualified for
the "Don't Scratch You Scab Award." Only Tammy,
our oldest daughter, failed to receive one of these
awards, although she did receive one many years ago.

(Tammy informs us that she is more than happy to
forego any of these honors this time around.)

Donna and I also received the prestigious
  "Dutiful Symptomatic Reactions to the Pox
  While Under Stress and Strain" award.

While painful and trying, these experiences have
had their blessings, while, at the same time, teaching
  us spiritual lessons, and drawing us closer together
  as a family.

(First published on April 8, 1979)

ISAIAH 62:10,11,12

10/12/2019

ISAIAH 62:10,11,12

Go through, go through,
Go through the gates
Prepare ye the way of the people
Cast up, cast up the highway
Gather out the stones
Lift up a standard for the people

Behold the Lord hath proclaimed
unto the end of the world,
Say ye to the daughters of Zion,
Behold, thy salvation cometh;
Behold his reward is with him
and his work before him

And they shall call them,
the holy people,
the redeemed of the Lord
And thou shall be called out,
Sought out,
A city not forgotten

GOODBYE TO SUMMER 534

10/6/2019

GOODBYE TO SUMMER 534

We ride the surf
No more
Nor dive beneath
The breakers
Nor tumble
Toward the shore

We leave behind
The friendly sand crab
To burrow
In the soft, silky sand
All alone

Rusty buckets
And tiny trusty shovels
Gone for another season
Good times
Fun Times
Gone
But not forgotten

(First published on October 3, 1978)