Mom and Dad

In our little house, on our little block,
In our little town, at nine o'clock,
The lights went out, and far too soon,
At least, that is, in my little room.

After dark, Mom and Dad would come alive,
After all the kids, now totaling five,
Were covered up, and settled in,
And their quiet time, could then begin.

From the register in the floor, the upstairs floor,
I could hear the tv, and talking galore.
Through the hole in the floor, the aroma would waft,
As Dad fixed a pizza, and Mom would just laugh.

I was glad they were happy, but for pity's sake,
We never EVER had pizza, when I was awake.
It was tomato soup, saltines, and PBJ's,
At least on Summertime, non-school days.

Now, before I completely drift away,
There are a few more things I'd like to say.
'Til now, I've sounded like a bratty little kid,
Whining about what Mommy and Daddy did.

If the truth be told, about my Mom and Dad,
They gave up almost all they had,
To provide their family's basic needs,
Like a home, clean clothes, and food to eat.

My parents weren't perfect, their flaws made them real,
They showed us up close, the hand life can deal.
And though home was hard at times, I'd do it all again,
'Cause I'd be a different man today, if it hadn't been for them.

Painful Sunday

Don't you hate headaches on a cloudy Sunday?
With nothing but pain, and darkness all around?
A day to worship, and sing out praises,
And all you want, is a day without sound.

Any number of people, are gathered in churches,
Celebrating life, in a number of ways.
Laughing and sharing, in sweet fellowship,
And here you sit, alone, and locked away.

Alone with your thoughts, depression sets in,
It's hard to be joyful, when you just don't care.
You sit, and you think, of all you are missing,
You just want to curl up, and die somewhere.

You take the pills, you rock back and forth,
You pray for relief, with no end in sight.
You know He can heal you, but the pain is so strong,
Your doubt casts a shadow, you can't see the light.

You give up, and go to bed, and hope you can sleep,
You'll trade in the black, for a little bit of gray.
The best you can do, is dream of happiness,
And believe that tomorrow, will be a brighter day.

alone and dark

when i'm down, on the ground, rolling around,
trying to catch my breath,

i start to see, i mean, really see, the real me,
and it makes me laugh.

i don't know why, i laugh, and not cry, as if my lie,
makes it all better,

i know, wherever i go, high or low,
the clouds will gather.

i deal, with how i feel, by taking a pill,
with my morning meal,

it cheers me up, just enough, to deal with stuff,
and keeps things real.

i'm not bitter, and i'm no quitter, but sooner or later,
something has to give,

i've got to find, some peace of mind, and someone kind,
who cares if i live,

or die.

nice try.

goodbye

A Life, So Full

So cold, so lifeless
No sign of ever having been
Just there, so still.

I remember the stories that mouth would tell.
Of wars fought long ago.
Of good times growing up. And sad.
And what it was like getting old. And slow.

Those hands were once strong, laboring hands.
Lifting, pulling, throwing things.
They were always busy. And teaching.
Showing the importance of work. And responsibility.

His eyes, now closed, were once so full of life.
They saw so much, along the way.
Pain and suffering. And joy.
Laughter and love. And loss.

His spirit is finally with the One who made him.
The One he spoke of, so often.
He would smile. And sigh.
He's home now. And happy.

A life, so full.
He gave, as he was given.
At last, he can rest.

One Of A Kind

Take a look in any direction,
As far as your eye can see.
Behold, in all things, big and small,
The beauty of God's majesty.

Look at the insect, that crawls on the ground,
So intricate, and so organized.
Envy the birds, with feathered wings,
Without effort, they traverse the skies.

Notice the trees, that cover the land,
From the soft pine, to the densest oak.
The life giving water, that flows so freely,
From the raging sea, to the babbling brook.

See household pets, long domesticated,
And wild animals, that fight to remain free.
The list could go on, for days and days,
Of the magnificent things to see.

But the greatest of God's Creation, by far,
Is the one that you see every day.
It's the one that He loves, much more than the rest,
So great was the price that He paid.

You are His child, the apple of His eye,
You are always foremost, in His mind.
Out of ALL His Creation, not one compares to you,
For you were wonderfully made, one of a kind.

why yes i am (thank you for asking)

i have unhitched my car from the train of reality
i have unbuckled myself from the booster seat of common sense
i am no longer waiting for decisions to find me
i will search for them on my journey to deeper clarity

what remains of my mind is made up for now
the usual rules don't apply where i'll be staying
a revelation appeared as a flash in my brain
it was suddenly very obvious that i was no longer sane

how or why it happened is ultimately irrelevant
the fact remains i'm sure my brain has stripped its little gears
whether chemical or electrical or physical no longer matters
as far as i'm concerned my brain has turned into pancake batter

i'm sure that some will say they thought i'd always been this way
but i'm sure there will be others who won't handle it so lightly
i'm quite dreading to tell the family i don't know how they'll take it
i suppose i could just stay quiet and try to learn how to fake it

but no i've got to do the last sane thing i'll probably ever do
i've got to tell them all the truth and nothing but the truth
in the end it doesn't matter how my friends and family react though
it doesn't change the fact that i've become a raving wacko

the end

A Young Life Forgotten

On the seventh second, of the seventh minute, of the seventh hour, of the seventh day, of the seventh week, of the seventh year, of my captivity, the stale taste of abuse, and denial, fell on my lips. Unable to stomach the extent of my circumstances, I vomited my horrid memories onto the cheap, flowery, linoleum covered floor of my 'friend'.

Chlorine bleach, mixed with the contents of my young belly, was enough to make me wretch. To this day, the smell of bleach makes me sick. Forced to clean up my 'mess', I cried uncontrollably, until I was told, very forcefully, to PLEASE BE QUIET. I remember Nat King Cole on the radio. He calmed me down. He still does.

How many times, how many ways, how many 'friends', I have no idea. Just faint recollections smells, tastes, sounds. Feelings of helplessness and guilt. Memories of my younger days are gone. All I have are photos of a little boy, looking lonely, lost, shy, afraid. Perhaps it's better that way.

Some memories deserve to die.

An Ode To Bill's Diner

You left us today,
In a most tragic way,
Without even so much as a warning.

One minute you were fine,
The next, you were gone,
We'll feel the pain, come the morning.

We took you for granted,
We kept passing you by,
Assuming you'd always be there.

Now nothing remains,
Of what you once were,
Why does life have to be so unfair?

We'll grieve and move on,
Our memories may fade,
But you'll always have a place in our hearts.

We'll tell the old stories,
And get lost in the past,
Where no fire can keep us apart.

A Life In The Day

Fade from black, as the Day begins,
The Blue Moon is bright, and full.
Eager to get the work day done, and over,
I drive through traffic, like a fool.

The forecast calls for a beautiful day,
Postcard weather for one and all.
The last hurrah, of a turbulent season,
As Summer slowly evolves, into Fall.

Children in school, will sigh their sighs,
Watching a clock, that seems to be frozen.
Looking out windows, at people scurrying,
Whilst they read the story, of a road not chosen.

Most folks will go through this day, not thinking,
Never seeing how blessed, they truly are.
They follow the crowd, like mice in a maze,
Then, go home at night, and stare at the stars.

My goal for the day, is to make the most of it,
To not let a moment, pass me by.
I want to experience, life at its fullest,
To find pleasure in things, that money can't buy.

As Day fades to black, and a cool wind blows,
The highlights of the day, play back in my head.
I rest assured knowing, I did all I could do,
No moment was missed, no words left unsaid.

Selfish Desperation

The pain won't go away,
I can think of nothing else,
It's getting worse every day,
It's absolutely maddening, at best.

Nobody understands me,
They think it's in my head,
Maybe they'll finally believe,
When someone finds me dead.

The thought has crossed my mind,
More than a time or two,
Is everybody blind?
Can't they see what I might do?

I'm trying my best to focus,
I can't do it for very long,
I wonder if people would notice,
If I was suddenly gone?

I've struggled all my life,
To be the kind of man,
That everyone would like,
But, apparently, I can't.

I'm finally finished trying,
I've been lying for so long,
I'm not afraid of dying,
I hope they miss me when I'm gone.

Remember

I remember a day
It was Thanksgiving Day
I went out to play
It was cold, and crisp, and solemn.

I remember the time
My grandpa was dying
Everybody was crying
It was sad, and confusing, and numbing.

I remember events
That don't make sense
But I am convinced
That they are real, and I am sane.

I remember things too
I'm not sure are true
There are quite a few
They disturb me, and bother me.

Life Reborn

A faint glimpse of grey, filtered light,
Cuts through the clouds, of morning/night.
Landing on the field of stunted corn,
It suggests a hint, of life reborn.

So long the dry and hardened ground,
Made no promise, made no sound.
The blistering sun, kept on and on,
Nearly bringing an end, to nature's song.

But, time will tell, how God provided,
The rains came, the drought subsided.
Once again, new growth was seen,
Nature exploded, in shades of green.

And now, with morning, all but here,
The rising sun, makes one thing clear.
Though trouble, like drought, may come to stay,
God's joy, like rain, is on the way.

No More Rain

If raindrops were tears,
From a sorrowful sky,
The clouds above me,
Would all be dry.

For a sky so blue,
Is able to see,
Where you're going to,
When you're not with me.

I thought what we had,
Was real, at one time,
But I made you mad,
Now I'm out of your mind.

My feelings are fading,
Like a daytime moon,
I'm tired of waiting,
I'll be leaving soon.

There's no need to fear,
No need to explain,
I've run out of tears,
There'll be no more rain.

More Than Walking Alone

From the silence of my solitude,
I bask in my self-imposed ignorance.
Comfortable with my limitations,
Content with my meager surroundings.

Misunderstood at every turn,
No efforts made to be informed.
Rumors and gossip pass as truth,
No chances given to explain.

Tolerance is now a one way street,
Traveled only by narrow minds.
Focused on a fixed agenda,
They can't see they're going the wrong way.

Meanwhile, sitting quietly in my garden,
The sun is shining on my face.
Muffled noises trickle in,
It's hard to tell what's going on.

Alas, apathy is but a toy knife,
Against the sharp sword of intolerance.
So I rise, and leave the comforts of home,
Knowing all too well, silence profits very little.

I add my voice, to so many others,
Making even louder, the call to repent.
Banding together, brothers and sisters,
Accomplishes more, than walking alone.

Like Never Before

Today I stand, and stare, and reflect,
On a place, whose time, has not come yet.
It's destination, no map can tell,
It's beauty, unimaginable.

No reason for daily obituaries,
Nor any place for a cemetery.
No hate to dread, nor darkness to fear,
Only light, and life, and love live there.

But, as beautiful as that place will be,
I mustn't lose sight, of the world around me.
Where our families grow farther and farther apart,
Afraid to let anyone, into their heart.

We don't leave, enough time to give,
In the present time, in which we live.
Our love grows colder, day by day,
With everyone going, their own way.

More wars, and rumors of even more wars,
Are just part of what we're heading for.
Designed to cast, a sense of anxiety,
On our already fragile, and paranoid society.

Like never before, we need to be in prayer,
And show our neighbors, that we really care.
For soon, like the grass, we will wither and die,
Time to make a difference, will have passed us by.

And while I long for my home, in the sweet by and by,
There are souls all around me, not yet prepared to die.
With much perseverance, I will strive to win them all,
My mission not complete, til I hear the trumpet call.

My Reason (a poem for Carolyn)

To the love of my life,
You are my reason,
Besides Himself, God gave me all I have,
For you alone.

I have eyes,
To see you in the morning, when your hair is everywhere,
To watch you try on clothes, and give my two cents worth,
To stare at you in the store, like you’re the only one there,
To look at you in amazement, wondering why you would choose to be with me,
To study your features by the light of your cell phone, when we’re saying goodnight.

I have ears,
To hear you talk your baby talk, that melts my heart like chocolate,
To hear you say, “love love love”, which, to me, means so much more than ‘I love you’.

I have hands,
To hold your free hand, whenever we walk, anywhere,
To touch your face, and stroke your hair, just because,
To give you much needed hugs.

I have a mouth,
To kiss you whenever I want,
To eat your wonderful home cooking,
To tell you that I love you.

Help

There are far too many nouns

Tearing society down

People, places, and things

Content to destroy.

No enemy of blood and flesh

To blame for such a mess

But evil hearts and minds

Living in darkness.

The day will come when men

Will welcome the end

But death will prevent them

The satisfaction.

Until that day arrives

We need to live our lives

Our help is on the way

And soon.

Midnight Monster

Evil showed up, one warm dark night,
Fully prepared to glorify his name.
He would show them what he was capable of,
Their lives would never be the same.

When twisted men do, what their kind will,
They can't just keep it to themselves.
Satisfaction comes, when innocent blood spills,
A desire surely born in the flames of Hell.

Like a lion, seeking a lamb to slay,
He lay in wait, til the perfect time came.
Mistakes can be made, in the light of day,
This monster chose midnight to play his game.

He walked in the front door, but not alone,
His demon was with him, pushing him on.
He entered the dark room, looking around,
Surveying the calm, before the storm.

When all felt right, he snuck outside,
To put on his mask, and gather his toys.
He opened the door, and threw the gas inside,
Then came the shooting, the screaming, the noise.

In a panic, some ran, and some tried to hide,
Others simply fell, and started to pray.
All around the room, the wounded ones cried,
Others were silent, having lived their last day.

As soon as he was done, the killer turned and fled,
Surprised that he had made it out alive.
When the horror was all over, a dozen people were dead,
And dozens more, still struggling to survive.

Police caught the coward, and took him away,
Doctors, and Coroners, did their jobs too.
Reporters and cameramen, earning their pay,
Woke us all up, with the grizzly news.

Our sense of security, is now all but gone,
Whether at night, or in the noon day sun.
But until we stand up, and show we're still strong,
The enemy has already won.

Contemplation

My life is a tale, hard to tell,
So many people come and gone.
Some not here, by fate, or choice,
Others remain against their will.

Our lives are shaped, by good and evil,
Decisions made without a thought.
A puzzle containing many pieces,
With no pretty picture on the box.

My story would require a myriad of styles,
The tone changing, from one page to next.
Names would be changed, to protect the guilty,
And spare the innocent, the shame of youth.

Some events wouldn't make the printed page,
Too dark for some timid eyes to see.
Better left in the darkness, in the back of my mind,
Better known to just an unfortunate few.

Most of our thens are lamented, when viewed from our better now,
Every detail extensively mulled over, and over, and over.
We dream up scenarios, saying "if only, if only",
Not seeing the lessons learned through the tears.

Yesterday is fixed, no change can be made,
Tomorrow is a million miles away.
Today is right here, in front of our faces,
A new chapter, waiting to be written.

Our stories are fluid, one line affects the next,
Great care must be taken, when choosing each word.
A life lived by happenstance, is no life at all,
But a series of accidents, all hit and run.

Selfishness brings on loneliness and pain,
For not only us, but also those caught nearby.
A life lived for others, shines light through the rain,
And brings a happy ending, to a once sad story.

New Life Struggle

Somber sonnets of cold, hard days,

Penned to elicit emotion,

Serve to free the pent up tears,

Caged inside for far too long.

Many a poet struggles much,

Searching, searching, every word,

Wanting so to reach perfection,

To place his heart upon the page.

The line is fine between the two,

The soft heart and logical mind,

Stripping one to clothe the other,

Slave is master, then master slave.

Giving, taking, trying, failing,

Starting over, again and again,

Getting ever closer, closer,

The dance goes on, into the night.

At last, peace, balance achieved,

A song of love, lost and found,

A rhythm pounding, off and on,

A new poem, lives, breathes, feels.

Sense of Change

The fog is lifting
The scales are falling
The sun is shining
I see a future.

No more worrying
No more crying
No more sleepless nights
I feel hope.

Ignoring naysayers
Shunning ignorance
Tuning out hatred
I hear only peace.

No bitter attitude
No foul words
Swallowing my pride
Life tastes sweet.

Sins' stench sanitized
No odor lingering
Love fills the air
The smell of eternity near.

The old has departed
And with it fear
The new has arrived
Strong and free.

Your Face

I am dumbfounded, awestruck
Left with no words, no breath
Your photograph has captured my soul

All that is in me, yours for the taking
You have my undivided attention

Though I feel speechless
Words begin to form in my mind

"If time stands still, I want to be,
In front of you, on bended knee,
Looking up, so I can see,
Your beauty, throughout eternity."

A poem of love, only words
Still not enough to describe
The disturbance you create in me

My time of trying is over
Your features burned into my being
My heart beating within your chest

I fall silent, but for these words
Clinging to my lips
I love you.

Heed The Signs

Fall in place of Spring,
Spring in Winter's stead,
Seasons willy-nilly,
Farmers in the red.

Common knowledge moot,
Normalcy on hold,
It fascinates the young,
But perplexes the old.

Nature changing course,
Or simply adjusting,
Or merely mankind,
Still not listening.

God speaks to this world,
In many different ways,
He wants us to know,
We are in the last days.

Earthquakes and famine,
Pestilence and wars,
These are the beginning,
There will be much more.

Neighbor against neighbor,
Parent against child,
Relationships broken,
Society going wild.

When signs are on the road,
You read them, and obey,
God's signs are everywhere,
They're pointing to a day.

Reckoning and judgment,
Await the human race,
All that ever lived,
Will look on Jesus' face.

If He was your Savior,
You will live with Him,
If not, you face damnation,
The sentence for your sin.

No one knows the hour,
You cannot know the day,
It could be in the night,
When you are swept away.

Heed the signs given,
The day is almost gone,
Make your divine appointment,
Make Heaven your final home.

Lord Of All

As I break the bonds of this mortal flesh,
And set free my spirit from gravity's hold,
I set my mind on the Shepherd of Paradise,
To confirm my assumptions, of this One I call Lord.

I start out my journey, on hands and knees,
Slowly crawling through epistles of old,
Hungry, I search for crumbs of wisdom,
To ease the pangs, in the belly of my soul.

Seeking sustenance, for building my strength,
I find a piece of honeycomb, and a broiled fish,
It helped me to grasp, one aspect of Jesus,
Completely a man, but yet God in the flesh.

Now thirsty, I found a woman by a well,
She gave me a drink, then started to cry,
She told me of a well of living water,
A well of the Spirit, that would never run dry.

Departing, wandering, I passed by a tomb,
Open, and empty, folded grave clothes left inside,
Just then, a man approached, tears streaming down his face,
He shouted, "He's not there!, He's alive!, He's alive!"

As I pondered on all I had just seen and heard,
A sense of peace flooded my mind, and my soul,
My contemplative journey, had come to an end,
The God I now serve, is indeed, Lord of all.

My Time To Go

Flowers, candles, beautiful music,
Pictures of me on the wall,
Family and friends, laughing and crying,
Children playing in a room, down the hall.

There are more here than I expected,
I thought there'd be fifty at most,
I won't tell the actual number, though,
It's rude for a dead man to boast.

The mood is somber, as mourners file by,
Some looking, others looking away,
They pay their respects, to my grief-stricken wife,
Then they leave, and get on with their day.

Next day, the funeral, the final goodbye,
Close friends and family, all dressed in black,
The service, at church, per my request,
Most in attendance will never come back.

The preacher delivers a wonderful speech,
Reminding them of where I have gone,
The eulogies are read, sad, short, and sweet,
They want to say more, but it's time to move on.

Again, they file past me, one last time,

The crying much louder than before,

Long lost family take time to reminisce,

Until my casket is rolled to the door.

The cars are lined up, row after row,

Little flags, blowing in the wind,

They'll follow the hearse, to my resting place,

Contemplating their own life's end.

They arrive, they notice the well-kept lawn,

So serene, but sad, just the same,

They make their way, to the freshly dug grave,

They admire the headstone, they notice my name.

The preacher delivers some comforting words,

Quiet sobbing, the only other sound,

They lower my coffin, so careful, so slow,

'Til it comes to rest, in its' place underground.

The service is now over, the crowd is all gone,

My body is resting in the earth below,

My soul has gone on, to be with my Lord,

'Til they're reunited, 'til the trumpet blows.

My wife always visits my grave site,

She comes every chance that she gets,

The boys come with her on Memorial Day,

They all laugh, and tell stories, and reflect.

They are happy.  I am happy.  Amen.

For Heaven's Sake

Why do you worry so?
Why do you fear?
Have you forgotten that Jesus is near?

When life takes a detour,
And you don't have a clue,
He will provide the direction for you.

Ask and He will answer,
Seek and you will find,
Knock and He will open up just in time.

He's ready and willing,
To do just what it takes,
And He'll do it all for Heaven's sake.

No Greater Love ( A Communion Poem )

Grace and mercy, mercy and grace, 

Two words that brighten up my face,

Mercy, not getting what I deserve,

Grace, receiving what I haven't earned.

Why should I, a sinner, be blessed so,

I, by rights, should pay what I owe,

But the Son of God, Who made His tree,

Died on it, to pay my debt for me.

It makes no sense, to perishing minds,

That God should die, to save mankind,

No man, born of woman, could understand,

The height, and depth, of God's perfect plan.

That He made the world, knowing sin would come,

And it would take the life, of His precious Son,

His broken body, and His blood required,

To save a lost, and unworthy world.

So from now, until the end of our time,

Take the broken bread, and fruit of the vine,

Think on the One, Who forgave you of sin,

And do this always, in remembrance of Him..

 

The Day

Ah, my eyes have opened, awake again, "another day", I yawned,

I wonder what is out there, lying in wait for me today.

I roll over and turn off that annoying alarm, it just keeps going on and on,

A necessary evil, (or devil, if you will), that starts me on my way.

I roll out of bed, my feet hit the floor, the cobwebs are fading away,

I mumble a "thank You" to my Father above, for seeing us through the night.

My dog hears me moving, she barks her "good morning", and wags what's left of her tail,

The cats just lay there, not impressed by my arrival, they hate when I turn on the light.

My mornings are full of humdrum rituals, like everyone else, I suppose,

Rare is the man or woman, I would think, who strays from their daily routine.

Creatures of habit, we like the familiar, the sameness, the way that it flows,

We like how things are, and want to keep them that way, running like a well-oiled machine.

Eating and brushing, reading and prayer, my day is moving right along,

And while my body is wrapping things up here at home, my mind is several hours ahead.

With work still miles and minutes down the road, my thoughts are on clocking out and going home,

It reminds me of a saying, I heard long ago, that said, "I shoulda just stood in bed".

Eight hours later, with the work day over, I head out the door, to my car,

Dreading the traffic, but excited for what the night might bring.

Back home, conversation and coffee with my wife, the woman I love and treasure,

Dinner and a movie, together at home, have the makings of a perfect evening.

If today was the day, God called me away, I hope I would leave no regrets,

I've tried to live each day, as my very last one, just in case.

Each day is a gift, from the God that loves us, He always gives us His best,

The least we can do, is give Him, in return, the very best part of our days.

How you live, and how you love, say more about you than you will ever know,

Our character speaks more than our words could ever say.

Be the kind of person to others, that you would want them to be to you,

A smile, and a kind word, are all that it takes, to brighten the darkest of days.

A Much Better Lens

Why must I always see empty, instead of seeing full?

Why must my attitude be so unsure?

I want to start looking through a much better lens,

When life's unexpected moments become a blur.

Are my negative glances noticed by others?

Or have my disguises fooled them all?

In a perfect world, I would show the real me,

Helpless and fragile, as a porcelain doll.

Why don't I have, what everyone else has?

Why is it so hard for me to fit in?

It's impossible to speak, the thoughts in my mind,

It's hard to convey, what you don't understand.

Why can't my few friends, come to my rescue?

Have they already given up on helping me?

I hope they can see, I really want to change,

I want to be the person, God made me to be.

Does God want my life, to be spent sitting?

Does He want me to just watch life pass me by?

Without His strength, I know I can't stand,

And if I can't stand, it may be best to just die.

Is taking my own life, my only way out?

Has my hopelessness truly brought me this far?

The words are electric as they touch my lips,

Just the thought sends a shock to my dying heart.

Was I made a new creation, to merely exist?

Aren't God's tender mercies new every day?

I choose to stop giving the enemy control,

I choose to start living, (God please make a way).

Is this what it feels like, to truly be free?

To know where I'm going, is not where I've been?

I've got a new focus, a new point of view,

I'm looking at life, through a much better lens.

Work, Love, Pray

While we have been sitting on our comfortable couches, wearing our comfortable pajamas and slippers, and watching our shiny, 40 inch, high-definition 'god', the enemy has been busy. While he has been setting up his defenses, we have been bowing at the feet of our American Idols. We can't go to sleep until we find out who the next winner is on our favorite 'reality' show. We have been slowly, and methodically, dumbed down. Most of us are so out of shape, we couldn't fight our way out of a wet McDonald's bag. Or should I say greasy bag. Which leads me to my next point.

Our people, especially our kids, are getting bigger and heavier every year. We consume massive amounts of processed foods, loaded with fat, salt, sugars, and chemicals with names we can't even pronounce. We do this because it's easier. We don't want to take the time to cut up our own fresh vegetables and fruits, and prepare a healthy meal. We might not have time to watch football or something. The people of this country used to work hard, love deeply, and pray often. We don't have time for any of that anymore. We're too busy.

Work hard. Love deep. Pray often. It sounds like a bumper sticker, but it should be part of what we live by. I've covered that we no longer work hard in this country. I believe we don't love like we should either. Our society is FAR more interested in lust. It's everywhere, you can't get away from it. It's in our movies, books, TV, video games, EVERYWHERE. It's no wonder our kids are more sexual than ever. Our kids are having sex at an earlier age, and having babies earlier than ever. We don't even try to teach them NOT to have sex, just to be careful if they do. So sad and disgusting. With fewer fathers in their lives, our kids don't stand a chance. Christian men have GOT to reach out and help these kids.

Lastly, and most important, we come to God. Our country used to come to a standstill on Sundays. Stores were closed. Families went to church in the morning and the evening. In between, we would all gather at a relatives house and have Sunday dinner. Families knew each other, and what was going on in each others lives. Now, we barely know who our extended families are. All because we decided it was more convenient to get to the store on Sunday. The enemy has chiseled away at our faith until its hardly recognizable. Even our President tells the world we're no longer a Christian nation. We MUST get God back into our everyday lives.

The Bible, God's Word, tells us that as the time of Jesus' return draws closer, we should watch and pray. What are we watching? And who are we praying to?

Valleys And Hills

Hills before me, hills behind
Valleys in between,
The destination I've longed to see,
Lies ahead of me.

Moving forward, always forward
No time to turn around,
I can't afford to shift my focus,
To life already gone.

The valleys are hard, they wear me down
I'm parched, and fatigued,
The clouds arrive, they sprinkle rain,
Relief, in time of need.

Another mountain, getting closer
This must be the one,
I try my best to convince myself,
It keeps me going on.

After some time, I reach the top
Excited by what I'd find,
But when I looked, all I saw were more valleys,
And hills I had to climb.

I sat on that mountain, shouting "WHY LORD?"
But He never told me why,
So forward, forward, never discouraged,
I've come too far to cry.

As A Man, I See Clearly

I want You to know
I'll make it crystal clear,
You need to hear the change in my voice,
The change in my speech
The tone of my words;
I spoke like a child, but now as a man,
Since You've been here.

I need You to know
How clear my mind has become,
I'm beginning to see my place in Your plan,
The urgency of the day
The importance of reaching out;
I understood like a child, but now as a man,
Since You have come.

I'd love for You to know
How my thoughts of You have changed,
I always assumed the world revolved around me,
Now my vision is clear
The clouds have disappeared;
I thought like a child, but now as a man,
Since Your sweet Grace.

I had my life planned, before You came along,
But I'm now a new man, once weak, but now strong,
You've given me a purpose, a reason to go on,
I'll praise You Father, with a smile, and a song.

You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life,
My Shield, my Strength, my Guiding Light,
The One Who gives me peace, in a storm-filled night,
My strong Defender, You fight all my fights.

Come quickly Lord Jesus, I ask you today,
This world is growing colder, and colder each day,
As a child, I was blind, I just wanted to stay and play,
But as a man, I see clearly, Lord please don't delay.

The Hardest Year

Warm spring winds are beginning to blow
Through all our favorite places dear,
The winter was mild, yet harsh without you
Its so hard to believe it's been a year.

All your things are still where you left them
I haven't the heart to take them away,
They can't stay forever, I understand
Eventually I'll try, but not today.

I sit and remember your beautiful face
So often I studied its every line,
Concerned you would question my awkward gaze
How could someone so lovely even be mine.

I miss your wit, the way you would laugh
As we cuddled by the light of the fire,
We could talk and talk, for hours and hours
And not even begin to get tired.

Now your laughter is gone, and so is your flame
Nothing left but a cold, quiet space,
The only comfort I have, at this stage of the game
Is, they've told me your in a much better place.

I've got my job, my dog and my family
And some friends, to help me get through,
I could gather all the people in the world, around me
But no one could replace, what I had with you.

The Other Side of Yesterday

You saw your time was coming,
So you started to get ready,
But you didn't get ready fast enough.

You should have gotten ready,
You knew your end was coming,
But you always thought that you were good enough.

Now you're standing on the outside,
Wishing you were inside,
Wondering why you had to be so tough.

Now you wish that you had listened,
When they tried and tried to tell you,
But all you did was shake your head and laugh.

So, the time that you had always taken for granted,
Is now the time that you let slip away,
And the only time that you have left to spend,
Is the time on the other side of yesterday.

My Mission

As I fell asleep, praying for the lost of the world,
I had a dream in which, all of Heaven was unfurled.
The air there was thick with peace and joy,
The singing of praises, the only noise.

The memories of sin, disappear at the gate,
Temptations, jealousies, fear and hate
Are gone and forgotten from here evermore,
No place for such things, in the presence of the Lord.

Words can't describe the beauty I see,
But as much as my view of Heaven thrills me
I look past it all, to search for the One,
Who sits at the right hand of the Father's throne.

The One who laid down His life for His friends,
The One who washed away all of our sins.
Obedient even unto death on a cross,
He came to save us, no matter the cost.

My eyes find His, I fall to my knees,
There's so much to say, but I can't even speak.
I lie down, prostrate, silent, still,
Eternally grateful for Calvary's hill.

A soft hand touches mine, as the Lord says "Come",
An angel is leading me to the Father's throne.
We walk past angels and elders and saints,
All bowing, and shouting, giving Him praise.

As we approach the throne, I begin to bow down,
He says " You'll not be here long, so listen for now,
I need you to go back and tell them Heaven's real,
And remind them of what happened on Calvary's hill.

They need to hear the truth, and they need to hear it often,
Without My Word before their face, their hearts will never soften.
Be bold and never fear, and always live it well,
It hurts to see so many, that are blindly going to Hell."

Then He said, "It's time to go, I'll see you soon My child,
You'll be coming back for good, in just a little while."
With that the angel took my hand, and led me to the gate,
And in an instant, I was in bed, lying there awake.

Whether there in spirit, or in a dream, I cannot truly say,
But the message that He showed me, is still with me today.
This message is my mission, and I mean to see it through,
The world can't live without it, they need to hear the truth.

See The Love Of God

Beauty on the outside
In the eyes of the world,
A perfect example
Devout and pure.

Doing enough to look good
But still falling short,
Your actions speak holiness
But listen to your heart.

Your outward man walks proudly
While your heart is hard as stone,
You're like a painted tomb
Still full of dead men's bones.

You live on your reputation
You rely on your good name,
You love all of the attention
You revel in the fame.

You think you're in control
Of everything you do,
You don't need any help
From the loving God that made you.

But He'll let you live your life
Until you reach the place,
That you realize you were wrong
And you cry, and seek His face.

Now He will get the glory
For the good things that you do,
And the world will see the Love of God
Every time they look at you.