Letter To A Stoic Poet

 

 

Letter To A Stoic Poet

First step in the door…welcome.

Nothing warmer than a black hug...love.

 

 No masks…testimony.

 

No structure…prayer.

 

No clock…Word.

 

No constraint…worship.

 

No running for the parking lot…fellowship.

 

Laughter…tears…anger…compassion…healing…pain…justice…mercy.

Close my eyes…lift my hands.

I see Jesus…His love letter in the sky.

My God is sovereign…My God is power...My God is real.

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by...My experience in the "Black Church"...The love of Keystone Baptist-Chicago...God's "Love Letter" to me...1 John 3:16

 

 

 

Pop-up Living

Pop-up Living

Nixon had it bad…I had it worse.

Vietnam…Yom Kippur…Stagflation…unemployment…me…just depression.

Sports…school…The Buffalo River…Vikes...Steelers…an escape from the pop-up life.

Showers in Gym…Hamburger Helper…cold…I want to hit somebody.

A canvas hell…memories permanently etched and erased.

The Cat’s in the Cradle…and Jefferson Airplane disbanded.

God…where are You?

The sky is red and overcast…storm clouds rising.

Knowing how to interpret the skies…but not the signs of the times.

Inspired by...My dad losing his job in the early 70's..."Living" homeless in a Coleman Camper...

Matthew 16

Evil Garden

 

Evil Garden

 

In my mind…the garden beautiful.

 

“Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”

 

Time washing away my life…flooded by the intermittent rain.

 

“Don’t bother me…my children and I are in bed.”

 

Flowers…fruits…herbs…vegetables in my dreams…in my mind totally dead.

“No one to spread fresh seed…too busy building new gardens.”

 

A garden built with wood and brick…what of justice and love?

 

“Teacher, when You say these things You insult us…”

 

Woe to you…you will be held responsible.

 

In my mind…the garden beautiful.

“Do you love Me…follow Me.”

 

Inspired by...my negative view of mega church...Isaiah 61…Luke 11…John 21

 

 

 

Lake Elsie

 

 

Lake Elsie

 

Walks out to the deep…up to his neck…clear…blue…cold.

 

Big…strong…safe…my hero.

 

Do you want to learn to swim?

 

Will you teach me?

 

Flying through the air…deeper water!

No time to… fear…doubt…fail.

No time to…question why.

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by...My dad "teaching" me to swim in Lake Elsie near Hankinson, North Dakota...

Matthew 14:22-33

The Stump

Blake's "Nebuchadnezzar" ca. 1795

The Stump

Religious ghetto… church and all…where what we choose is true.

 

The music plays must make a choice…I’m standing with my crew.

 

Armies…statues…gardens…walls …like chaff they’ll blow away.

Play games with Consuming Fire…I’d rather fry today.

Temptations, trials and good times too…God save me You are able.

Jesus rescues in the heat…your god of pride a fable.

Saw it, heard it, believed it too…you didn’t change the least.

King of Kings will not be mocked…you turn from king to beast.

Believe…repent…rise up and walk…supernatural faith awake.

 God wants the head…the heart…the life…no superficial fake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by...Daniel 4...James 1...William Blake's "Nebuchadnezzar"

 

 

Tasting the Tears

Tasting the Tears

 

My Lord and My God…my eyes are sore and run down with tears.

  Taste of anger, sadness, bitterness…but still of salt!

The Lord’s flock has been carried away captive…sorrow is my food both day and night.

 Taste of guilt, shame, repentance…but still of salt!

Humble me Lord I pray…I weep in secret for our pride.

 

Taste of renewal, hope, love…and very salty!

 

Come…Lead us in The Grand March…to The New Jerusalem.

 

No more tears…no more sorrow…no more pain.

 

 

 

Inspired by...Racial "Harmony"…Nik Helbig's "I Cried For You"…

Matthew 5:13...Jeremiah 13…Psalm 42:3…Revelation 21:4

Dashboard Jesus

 

 

Dashboard Jesus

God and Pabst Blue Ribbon a paradoxical combination…leading me to sure damnation.

 

You are Sovereign so why am I here…driver slow down and hand me a beer.

 

Dashboard Jesus flies by Oh God am I dead …I know you are plastic but stuck in my head.

 

You suffered You bled You died on a tree…from this empty life I want to be free.

Death was so close You picked me to save…You opened my eyes to Your empty grave.

I can’t understand it why I am the one…forsaking all others I now am your son.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by...Getting drunk the night before my brothers confirmation...my friends going through the windshield past Dashboard Jesus...Salvador Dali's "Raphael"...Acts 9:18

Supersize Me!

Supersize Me

 

I come to church expecting nothing…just searching for The Blood.

“Welcome to Mega Baptist…may I take your order?”

Yes…I’d like better parking, traffic cops, a bookstore and some programs for my kids.

“Would you like fries with that…we know you love them so.”

Small "community" groups, website, new buildings too…I’m headed for disaster.

 

“Save room for dessert my friend…we promise you won’t get fat.”

 

The value meal was supersized…but yet I feel so empty.

 

“Come back again, we’ll see you soon…you know we’ve got it all.”

 

I crave the sweets and don’t miss the fruits…but What Would Jesus Do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by...The American-Christian fascination with the "Megachurch/ Church Marketing Phenomena"...

Getting fat on the megachurch/ American Church Model and starving for Jesus...Real Community...Love...

Ovenbird

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v41-hFzfeRs

Ovenbird

Hello stranger…passing through…will you find your lover here?

Basking in the waning sunlight…not much left now.

 

Are you too tired to sing?

Twilight song…Teacher…Teacher…Teacher!

Why are you here…singing so late?

 

Now a shadow and covered in darkness.

 

 

 

 

Inspired by...A migratory Ovenbird singing at twilight in the backyard...

Ecclesiastes 6...Philippians 2

Jazz

 

 

Jazz

 

Hot Music they call Jazz today… in Chicago that September.

 “Nigger Lover” ringing in my ear… the only melody I can remember.

 

The boldness of Chicago hate… is crude and quite depressing.

But, compared to Minnesota Nice… it is really quite refreshing.

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by...Chicago vs. Minnesota Styles of Racism...1988 Chicago Jazz Festival...my first time being called an N-Lover (while dating Mechelle)

 

 

Centurion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t66l03XmQI

 

 

 

Centurion

Unworthy man…fix your eyes on Me.

 

And can it be that I should gain…an interest in the Savior’s blood?

 

My hands…feet…stripes…crown of thorns…My blood.

 

Died He for me, who caused His pain…for me, who Him to death pursued?

 

Consider Me…LOOK IN MY EYES…I understand your weak frame!

 

Amazing love! How can it be…that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

 

LOOK IN MY EYES…love…mercy…majesty…control…LOOK IN MY EYES.

 

Amazing love! How can it be…that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

 

Touch Me…Feel Me…Taste Me…Grow Strong.

 

’Tis mystery all…th’Immortal dies…who can explore His strange design?

 

LOOK IN MY EYES!

 

My chains fell off… my heart was free.

 

 I feel the life His wounds impart…I feel the Savior in my heart.

 

Amazing love!

                                                                                                                      

 

 

 

Inspired by...Mark 15…Hebrews 12…Charles Wesley Hymn...God's Words in Bold Print

Barn Storm

Barn Storm 

Bullet, Satchell, Double Duty…to name a few.

Dark cloud rises in the Eastern sky…Northern Pacific swathing a path through seas of grain.

 

Jamestown…Bismarck…blood, sweat, laughter, tears…Dust Bowl dreams.

 

Horse and rider give chase…God will have His way.

 

Equal…Mr. Plessy you’re welcome here…3 acres of common ground…a very different summer.

 

Fieldwork and chores complete…leather-skinned farm boys throng the “Baseball Blacks”.

Heroes, teammates, friends, men…they throw white lightning at Ol’ Jim Crow.

And somewhere the sun is shining.

Inspired by...North Dakota Barn Storm Baseball...Charles "Bullet" Rogan, Satchel Paige, Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe...Integrated Baseball before Jackie...The "Negro" Church and The White Church...Revelation 19:11ff