The brain is a wonderous thing...especially during that time between waking and sleeping.
Upon Waking Easter Morning, 2008
It is so tired in here
That I am trying to rhyme "broccoli" and "spinach",
Relating each to presidential race '08:
Does McCain eat his broccoli?
And--in perfect reason--to musicals:
Moses supposes his toeses are roses,
But Moses supposes erroneously...
6:30
is too early
for anyone but the poet in me
apparently
the poet thrives on four hours of sleep
© H.D. Mar. 23, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Christ (and Politics?) Alone
On this blog, I do my best to transcend trifling subjects. That is, I do not wish to simply put down events that have happened, but rather to show their significance in this wide world, to point people (myself, most of all) to a higher reason for them--for which reason must often be thrown out the window. So reluctantly, but necessarily, I must discuss the current buzz of the political world; necessarily so, because my heart and soul are hurting for the state of our nation and the state of the souls of men.
Lately, being home most every day, I have been listening to talk radio, which I do enjoy. It keeps me up to date on current events, which I feel I need to be following more closely than I've done in the past.
And on the radio (and elsewhere, of course), Barak Obama has been taking quite a hit because his pastor, Jeremiah Wright (it pains me to say "Reverend"), has been recorded vehemently spouting "anti-American," racist sentiments. Moreover, Obama replied to the angry masses with an historical speech on race, proceeding the next day to use the phrase "typical white person" in an interview, therefore taking yet another hit. So in summary, I've been hearing quite a bit of opinion from various Americans regarding this issue. Church-goers and others alike are astounded by the words of these men, and they should be, for the most part.
On the other end of the spectrum (sort of), I was sent an email containing a link to a YouTube video in which a black pastor in New York was preaching against Obama, basically calling him an agent of the devil. At one point, he even directly called Obama a "freak." So one black pastor sings Obama's praises in a bigotted way, and another black pastor condemns him in a bigotted way.
Now, I understand that sound bites can definitely take things out of context and, furthermore, perhaps I have not searched deeply enough, but...um, I'm having a little trouble finding people who are righteously outraged that these preachers are using the pulpit to bring forth anything other than Christ. I imagine that if Christ Himself could hold His nose long enough to walk into these churches, He would overturn the pulpits (one complete with a "Jesus is Lord" banner), for they certainly seem to be dens of robbers--robbing people of the truth that is Christ alone.
I am reminded "not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven..." Though in that same passage (Matthew 7) is the "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" verse, so do understand that I am not saying these men aren't actually Christians; it is obviously not my place to make that call. I simply want to know: What happened to pastors preaching Christ? Is the word of God so powerless as to need the help of man's viewpoint?
Christ is the supreme example of love (a love not of ourselves but of God, and love for others out of that love for God!), but I see no love in the words of these men. Jesus did not love certain groups of people, he loved all people, and that includes Hillary, Barak, McCain, Bush...every politician that ever made you appreciate or detest politics. They are all humans with souls, and slandering them will not save them. (Are you listening, right-wingers?) It will not save this nation either, as if we could slander the "bad" presidential candidates right out of office, then pat ourselves on the back for it.
God says, "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:13-14) The more I listen to the news, the more I feel that we are in a spiritual drought, that armies of demons are devouring the hearts of man, that a plague of un-common sense is killing us off by the thousands. And that impresses on me the very great importance of a humble heart in prayer.
1 Peter 4:7-8 and 17-18: "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins...it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, 'If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'"
So get angry, America. So angry that you trade your "humble opinions" for humble hearts; so angry that you cry out for the One that can bring real change, change not of human policies but of the human condition from the inside out. Love as Christ would love. And let it begin in me.
Lately, being home most every day, I have been listening to talk radio, which I do enjoy. It keeps me up to date on current events, which I feel I need to be following more closely than I've done in the past.
And on the radio (and elsewhere, of course), Barak Obama has been taking quite a hit because his pastor, Jeremiah Wright (it pains me to say "Reverend"), has been recorded vehemently spouting "anti-American," racist sentiments. Moreover, Obama replied to the angry masses with an historical speech on race, proceeding the next day to use the phrase "typical white person" in an interview, therefore taking yet another hit. So in summary, I've been hearing quite a bit of opinion from various Americans regarding this issue. Church-goers and others alike are astounded by the words of these men, and they should be, for the most part.
On the other end of the spectrum (sort of), I was sent an email containing a link to a YouTube video in which a black pastor in New York was preaching against Obama, basically calling him an agent of the devil. At one point, he even directly called Obama a "freak." So one black pastor sings Obama's praises in a bigotted way, and another black pastor condemns him in a bigotted way.
Now, I understand that sound bites can definitely take things out of context and, furthermore, perhaps I have not searched deeply enough, but...um, I'm having a little trouble finding people who are righteously outraged that these preachers are using the pulpit to bring forth anything other than Christ. I imagine that if Christ Himself could hold His nose long enough to walk into these churches, He would overturn the pulpits (one complete with a "Jesus is Lord" banner), for they certainly seem to be dens of robbers--robbing people of the truth that is Christ alone.
I am reminded "not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven..." Though in that same passage (Matthew 7) is the "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" verse, so do understand that I am not saying these men aren't actually Christians; it is obviously not my place to make that call. I simply want to know: What happened to pastors preaching Christ? Is the word of God so powerless as to need the help of man's viewpoint?
Christ is the supreme example of love (a love not of ourselves but of God, and love for others out of that love for God!), but I see no love in the words of these men. Jesus did not love certain groups of people, he loved all people, and that includes Hillary, Barak, McCain, Bush...every politician that ever made you appreciate or detest politics. They are all humans with souls, and slandering them will not save them. (Are you listening, right-wingers?) It will not save this nation either, as if we could slander the "bad" presidential candidates right out of office, then pat ourselves on the back for it.
God says, "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:13-14) The more I listen to the news, the more I feel that we are in a spiritual drought, that armies of demons are devouring the hearts of man, that a plague of un-common sense is killing us off by the thousands. And that impresses on me the very great importance of a humble heart in prayer.
1 Peter 4:7-8 and 17-18: "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins...it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, 'If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'"
So get angry, America. So angry that you trade your "humble opinions" for humble hearts; so angry that you cry out for the One that can bring real change, change not of human policies but of the human condition from the inside out. Love as Christ would love. And let it begin in me.
Good Friday
On this Good Friday, we are compelled to ruminate on the death of our Lord. Not a pleasant subject on the one hand, but certainly a subject that sings all the pleasantries possible in this temporal life, should we believe on Him.
After all, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 4:25-5:1-8)
Oh, Lord, how great is Your love!
from "East Coker" by T.S. Eliot:
The wounded surgeon plies the steel
That questions the distempered part;
Beneath the bleeding hands we feel
The sharp compassion of the healer's art
Resolving the enigma of the fever chart.
Our only health is the disease
If we obey the dying nurse
Whose constant care is not to please
But to remind of our, and Adam's curse,
And that, to be restored, our sickness must grow worse.
The whole earth is our hospital
Endowed by the ruined millionaire,
Wherein, if we do well, we shall
Die of the absolute paternal care
That will not leave us, but prevents us everywhere.
The chill ascends from feet to knees,
The fever sings in mental wires.
If to be warmed, then I must freeze
And quake in frigid purgatorial fires
Of which the flame is roses, and the smoke is briars.
The dripping blood our only drink,
The bloody flesh our only food:
In spite of which we like to think
That we are sound, substantial flesh and blood--
Again, in spite of that, we call this Friday good.
After all, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 4:25-5:1-8)
Oh, Lord, how great is Your love!
from "East Coker" by T.S. Eliot:
The wounded surgeon plies the steel
That questions the distempered part;
Beneath the bleeding hands we feel
The sharp compassion of the healer's art
Resolving the enigma of the fever chart.
Our only health is the disease
If we obey the dying nurse
Whose constant care is not to please
But to remind of our, and Adam's curse,
And that, to be restored, our sickness must grow worse.
The whole earth is our hospital
Endowed by the ruined millionaire,
Wherein, if we do well, we shall
Die of the absolute paternal care
That will not leave us, but prevents us everywhere.
The chill ascends from feet to knees,
The fever sings in mental wires.
If to be warmed, then I must freeze
And quake in frigid purgatorial fires
Of which the flame is roses, and the smoke is briars.
The dripping blood our only drink,
The bloody flesh our only food:
In spite of which we like to think
That we are sound, substantial flesh and blood--
Again, in spite of that, we call this Friday good.
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