And In The End Dear Skeptic

And in the end dear skeptic, what do you have?
I have a promise of a full life to come
an assurance no one can take
you have nothing
save in the memories of those who will also one day pass

I have seen beyond the veil and looked at my High Priest
you think you have no high priest
and worship no one else
but deception reigns
for you serve one who fell because of his pride

Faith has cost me everything
for I have willingly surrendered all
my rights, my desires, my rebellion
my ability to make the rules
yet His bounty in return has far exceeded my loss

Being master of yourself will cost you everything
solely in return for the lusts of the mind and body
these will age as you do
the body and mind turn to dust
someone else will tell your tale

Each day I live in awe of my Master's work
the beauty and complexity of matter
the inspiration and sweet guidance of His Word
how He calms my stormy seas and hears my pleas
worship and obedience are a joy

You see the math but not the Math Maker
and thinking you are wise you believe lies
told by one who hates everything pure and holy
who gets you to blame the Most Pure and Holy
for all the ills cause by rebellion and sin

There are many gods and many paths
but in the fullness of time the true Father
sent us His only Son - Jesus
who lived, who shed His blood for the sins of all
who rose and now sits at the right hand of the Father

There are many gods and many paths
much tried and true wisdom abounds
yet all are man's efforts to make himself righteous
there is only One who died so that you may live
in the end dear skeptic, choose life

The Woman and The Dragon

This week on September 23, for the first time ever, will be an alignment with the constellation's Virgo and Draco which is talked about in Revelation 12. Here is a poem inspired by that.


The Woman and The Dragon


The Woman

Who is this woman
sun at her head
moon at her feet
crowned with twelve stars?

A King has been in her womb
after forty-one weeks she will give birth
to a male child who will rule the nations
with an iron rod.

The Dragon

Red and fierce waits the one
with seven heads and ten horns
and seven crowns upon his heads
for the woman to deliver so that he may devour.

His powerful tail
sweeps away
a third of the stars
casting them to earth.

The Woman

When she gives birth her child is caught up to the throne.
Angry, the dragon sends out a flood to destroy her.
The wings of an eagle carry her away to a wilderness
where the ground opens up to swallow the waters.

The Dragon

The woman's protector engages the dragon and his forces in war.
Weak and no longer having a place the dragon is thrown down.
He becomes enraged and goes off
to make war with the rest of her children.

A voice cries from above:

Rejoice heavens, for the one who accuses
day and night has been thrown down.

Woe to you earth, for the dragon knows
his time is short.

Knowing God

It was all a mystery
too big to comprehend
too vast in the smallness
and in the invisibility of it all
how could I stake a claim

For many nights I lay awake
trying to understand the smoke and mirrors
Death, or more simply, fear of Death
the awareness of no more awareness
that was the common denominator
in all religions

OK, if that was it then that was it
I could live without all the fear trappings
do my best, live peaceably, don't rock the boat

But then one day I met her
full of life, full of faith, and best yet
she laughed at all my crazy jokes
but her family had this strange belief
that when they prayed about something
they actually expected to be heard

But I could not claim something out of nothing
believe what I could not grasp
walk on choppy waters

It started with a thought
logic presented this argument
If there was a God, what ever that meant
and If that God was in the vastness and the smallness
and If that God in some way created, or designed or knew me
then it only followed that this God must have a will for me
and that life would work out much better
if I knew what that will was

Thus I challenged the confounding emptiness
reveal yourself and I will follow
I waited and got what I expected - NOTHING

And yet - in the next few months - my world shook
He began to speak to me though testimonies of divine power
each time I had a question it was answered in the strangest way
the word began to speak and the depth of joy began to pull
and I could see the path but knew not how to walk it

Again I challenged
reveal yourself and I will follow
I waited, this time full of hope
then sighed a deep sigh at the nothingness

At this point friend, He took me by the hand
which opened His word, which spoke to the deepest part
showing the soft gate to the endless trail

Now, on my knees, I confessed all my rebellion
and promised allegiance to the still invisible something
and asked that He would renew my heart
fill me with the power of His Spirit
and be the Lord of my life

As I began to yield my tongue to a new language
His presence filled me to the deepest part
and I knew, for the first time, so sure
I could never doubt or question the reality
that God, in all His unsearchable majesty
knows me, loves me, and is worthy of my praise

Nineteen seventy-two has long passed
His presence remains and my greatest joy
is found in being lost in worshiping the One
who has proven faithful at every corner
through the joys of life and the despairs of death
who still holds my hand and gently leads me on