Trusting Grace

 

 

At first you dragged us

Against our will and into your life

Irresistibly impelling the I 

We were humbled

 

Then you showered gifts 

Washing us with precious promises 

Of life, of good, of blessings to come, even protection from prey

We were inspired

 

So, we did as you commanded

Day after day, studying to preach and pray 

Students on mission, on fire without a cage

We persevered

Life happened

Decades passed

We became as gods

 

Knowing good and evil

Knowing the difference 

Between planting corn and strawberries

Curiosity piqued

 

In our quest of you

Analyzed and perused

Unexamined details sprouted like never before

It was as though, for once, we both reached an impasse

 

Then we each watched each other's tide

Encroach upon our iconic moat and sand castle

While each of us did nothing

 

What happened to the One who saved us?

Where did all the power and sovereignty go?

Will you not do for us what we cannot do for ourselves?

Why the silent treatment now?

 

Nothing but silence, casting doubt

In despair, questioning if you’d ever been there

In loneliness, orphaned and stranded

Why should we care?

A generation of wandering

Around this citadel of sand

And you would not coddle or swaddle us once more

 

Why not drag us, or woo us, or inspire us again?

Why jettison every word of promise?

Convince us to care, if you dare

Then the seed finally died

 

Children abandoned their fathers

Servants betrayed their masters

Fruitless branches pruned from the vine

Because juvenility reigned

 

Only a few learned to increase in likeness and sovereignty

Even fewer took control of this monergistic gift for all

To honor father and mother when they’re no longer needed

And trust this first synergistic word with promise

 

 

Sacramental Potatoes

 

These potatoes represent so much to me

They represent what I imagined us to be

From little spuds to flaky skins

To bring together the best there is

The WHOLE of us together in bliss

Then Satan entered and deceived the kids

May the Lord grant such a time again 

When we can munch on tots as friends

And laugh about how wrong they were

To question the prophet and cause a stir

Celebrating American Jesus

 

Must we?

Dress up like candy canes

Consume lots of sweets, meats, and alchoholic treats

 

Must we?

Open presents one by one in front of all

Even though I brought nothing but myself

And they pretend to know me

 

Must we?

Pretend to be tightly knit

And write checks for simple services

Insisted for free

Impacted

Another year

Another festive funeral service survived

Christ is born—Glorify him, they don’t say

The three stooges just offer their gifts

While eighteen bystanders pretend to enjoy the show

It’s like they participate to please Herod or Caesar

So I did what I do best

Pray boldly and ask forgiveness later

And pray louder than the fools in the tomb

Even an infected ear can hear the difference

Good boy

 

 

I prayed last night

It feels right to draw a line in the sand

I’m not sure if it’s wrong to never cross that line again

Even for artificial peace

 

In the moment it feels more wrong than right

Why should I care about him?

Because that’s what Jesus would supposedly do?

What if he’s a pharisee?

 

Should I pray for Saul to become Paul?

For forgiveness, because he doesn’t know what he’s doing?

Saul repented when confronted

He accepted change

 

And as far as forgiveness goes

It turns out that our Father did not forgive them all

Forty years were offered to repent 

And become children again

 

He doesn’t have that many years left though

He knows he should do something

I prayed he would

Or, at least I think I did

 

Maybe I fell asleep

Before I got to that part

If he does do what is right

Does anyone even know what that would look like?

For yourself

 

None of us were surprised

He came and brought her

And made excuses afterward

 

It was a good time apart nonetheless

Kids puking will become his excuse

To normalize dysfunction

 

He convinced many for a time, times, and half a time

That he really does love us

Just not enough to take us seriously

 

This is because he sees the missing

He knows how nations are discipled

His whole life is one adopted failure after another

 

Old man, you have built very little

Defended quite a lot of your own panache

And sustained absolutely nothing but a reputation

For yourself

John 6.63

 

Profitable is the word I speak and worthy of acceptance

Let us now awake from our sleep, and lift up our hearts and hands toward God in heaven...

Let us observe the appointed time of the glorious bridegroom, so that we may enter with him into his bridal chamber

Let us prepare oil for our lamps, so that we may go forth to meet him with joy

Let us put away and cast from us all uncleanness, and put on wedding garments

Let us trade with the silver we have received, so that we may be called diligent servants

Let us be constant in prayer, so that we may pass beyond the place where fear dwells

Let us purify our heart from iniquity, so that we may see the Lofty One in his glory

Let us be merciful, as it is written, so that God may have mercy upon us

Let there be peace amongst us, so that we may be called brethren of Christ

Let us hunger for justice, so that we may be satisfied from the table of his kingdom

Let us be the salt of truth, so that we do not become food for the serpent

Let us sell our possessions, and buy for ourselves the pearl, so that we may be rich

Let us lay up our treasures in heaven, so that when we arrive we may open them and have pleasure in them

Let us honor the Spirit of Christ, so that we may receive grace from him

Let us be strangers to the world, as Christ was not of it

Let us be humble and meek, so that we may inherit the land of life

Let us be constant in his service, so that he may let us serve in the abode of the saints

Let us pray his prayer in purity, so that it may have access to the Lord of majesty

Let us be sharers in his suffering, so that we may also rise up in his resurrection

Let us bear his sign upon our bodies, so that we may be delivered from the wrath to come

-Aphrahat the Persian