The sign cries out
Salvation
come inside for salvation...
so, I went inside
the work of the Lord
to perform...
full of enthusiasm
all the good I can do
for God
EVERYDAY!!!
How exciting!
The job of a lifetime!
Surely my search
was over.
I went inside
there were faceless
robots
people with no names
only numbers
their smiles drained
into a bucket
in the corner...
people never allowed
to get tired
or sick...
No! No! don't stop for a minute
come...let me take your
life
...for a nickel
and a dime....
ALL for the NAME of GOD!
I looked for God
EVERYWHERE
No mention of His name
No music of praise
on the airways.
People would ask...
where am I?
-Goodwill?
-???
when they wrote their checks.
They didn't know...
They couldn't tell.
They couldn't feel His Presence.
Wasn't it supposed to be
ALL ABOUT HIM?
The captains would walk through
never making eye contact
with anyone
tripping over the bodies
crying
I want more! I want more!
As fast as employees came
in the front door
workers were fleeing out the back
while they still had some life in them
they could escape...
I used to hold them
in my arms
I used to cry with them
pray with them
encourage them
it was my great joy to share their successes
my hand was stretched out if they fell
no one was a mistake in Jesus' eyes
And I tried to remember that
and let my patience grow
like God's patience
for me...
and I saw Jesus
come in the front door of that store
He was carrying the Salvation sign
and I saw Him
walking the aisles
tears streaming down His face
looking for a place
for the weary
to sit down.
And all He saw
were the cash registers
and the cold-eyed captains
whipping and barking
GIVE US MORE!  GIVE US MORE!
and the workers
gasping and groaning
and the life draining...
And precious Jesus...
He touched us
one by one
and said, "Follow Me"
out of the dungeon of filth
and despair.
He said...they used My Name
but I was never allowed
in there.
He brought us out
...one by one...
into brightness of life
again...
O Breathe.

I need not ask what time will bring,
While to my Saviour's  hand I cling;
A song of trust my soul can sing,
For step by step He will lead me.

I need not fear, though dark the way,
For Jesus close to me doth stay;
Until the dawn of perfect day;
Still step by step He will lead me.

Off on my path falls golden light,
And blooming flowers greet my sight,
My Saviour's love makes all scenes bright,
And step by step He will lead me.

I shall not have to go alone,
From earth into the realms unknown ;
My Lord doth ne'er forsake His own,
And step by step He will lead me.

Isaiah saw the LORD on high
with seraphs 'round Him praising
and knew that he must surely die
but for God's altar brazen

If not for Jesus Christ the Lamb
we all would face hell's woe
but by His grace alone I am
made holy head to toe

So now my life is not my own
but purchased by the King
to make His gospel message known
and His glory forever sing!

How crazy do I have to be in order to follow you?
I've been thinking about the absurd (those that you have claimed to be your people) and it terrifies me.

I could never **** my son for you...I mean I don't have one.
But if I did...I don't think I could.
Would you be so ludicrous to ask that of me?
I guess I'll have to wait and see.

How could I ever tell people about you speaking to me from shrubbery.
Out of tongues of fire came a discovery of courage and fight, and I don't believe that would have been me on that night.

I don't think my arch could understand that you would need it to march 13 times around a wall, give a shout and watch that cities defenses fall.

You would have a man take his 32,000 down to just 300, so everyone would know that it was God to whom these people were hunted.

I could never be a man with such long hair that would wield an ***** jaw to slay an army while my peers stood in awe.

The fact that you would speak to a boy while he sleeps... to call him into service.
Or have a king shaped like a shepherd, sling a rock that would leave a giants body-less head, peppered.
Even watching your master leave this world in a chariot pinned to a whirlwind of fire...is bonkers!

What of a guy that would rebuild a wall on a pagan kings dollar so that one day men and women gripping palm branches could holler.

Three boys refusing to bow down because they had a faith that was earnest, yet they stood tall when they walked out of that fiery furnace.

You see, all these people have their place (however) there is one that struck a cord...today more than ever.

A man that made his listeners shiver, “prepare ye the way” he would shout from the edge of the river.
“Hairy and howling” was this mans attributes.
Leery and crowding were the peoples contributes.

His fuel was wild honey and mouth full of focus.
What's my prognosis? He was only always ferocious.
On the day of his death he had burning passion for you, until a king took his head because his life was a little askew.

Those that follow are erratic and I'm quickly finding out my life doesn't contain that kind of static.
I can see that in order for me to be sporadic, I need you to do some spring cleaning in my attic.

How crazy do I have to be to follow you?
Easy, crazy enough to believe you can bring me through.
Crazy enough to see that the underlying definition for a believer such as me... is cuckoo.

So many are searching for The Truth.
We scan the heavens in our quest.
We pray to deities
And meditate.

Something to believe in
Is what we seek.
Some clue
As to what we’re doing here.

You can read about
Religions of the world
And Yoga and so forth.
Join a Brotherhood
Or Sisterhood of course.

A lifelong Odyssey awaits us.
But never forget:
The best place to look for Truth
Is within Yourself.

Paul Butters

Once one nation was under God, now we do not know what God is. Once God was invited to all of our activities, now there is no room or him. At time was when we filled the churches, mosque and synagogues , now we worship sports idols instead of the holy one. Where did we go wrong? Where did we get off track? Why do we seek to cast out God, why don't we invite him back? Into our school and homes, into our daily lives. Perhaps if we seek to let him in, we can find peace again in time. For not it is not politically correct to mention his name. What a shame we are casting out God once again.

Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We'll understand this, all by and by

Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man died, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves em' both
We're all cast-aways in need of ropes
Hangin' on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I've seen

Where did I go wrong, I sang along
To every chorus of the song
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates
Leading mice and men down to their fates
But some will courageously escape
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
While walkin' that line back home

So much more to life than we've been told
It's full of beauty that will unfold
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
Go down into the river and let it run
And wash away all the things you've done
Forgiveness alright

Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We'll understand this, all by and by

Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin' for my soul
And I've got no place left go
Cause I got changed by what I've been shown
More glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin' on

Skipping like a calf loosed from it's stall
I'm free to love once and for all
And even when I fall I'll get back up
For the joy that overflows my cup
Heaven filled me with more than enough
Broke down my levee and my bluff
Let the flood wash me

And one day when the sky rolls back on us
Some rejoice and the others fuss
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
That the son of god is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we're the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon

Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We'll understand this, all by and by
JOSH GARRELS

When life has you down-turn to our GOD
When there is not even a glimmer of hope
TURN to our LORD
When your tomorrow does not look promising
Talk to our LORD with the use of prayers
When there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel-
Again confide in the LORD-
Any salvation is feasible with the help of our LORD-
When you feel anquish or anxious seek his guidance-
Allow our LORD  to cradle you in his arms and make you feel
whole again-
May GOD  look over you at all times -until you return home to HEAVEN-
GOD BLESS YOU
FROM RICH SATTANNI/POET

Enoch, prophet of the Living God,
Enoch, walker with God,
Seven generations from Adam,
Prophesied,
"The Lord,
With thousands of holy ones,
Came executing judgment.

"All unjust and ungodly ones
Whose unjustified castigations
Against God Himself
Have reached His ears
Stand now in judgment."

Their motives are exposed;
Their grumbling arrogance,
Their cavilling fault-finding
No longer hide
Their flattering lies,
Their avaricious lusts.

They are exposed.