Heavy on my mind
Is the thought of what might have been
As I look back on the days
The days of what could have been

At this moment I am breathing
Breaths of what I wish had been
Pondering the thoughts I have
Of what I had hoped would have been

These images plaque my mind
Of what If what I desired had been
What might my life be today
If what I desired had truly been

But what I had hoped is not
I realize now it has never been
And as I have grown much older
I know it never will;
Have been.

Buried down inside my mind
Hidden deep within
Are thoughts I cannot tell
Of hate and lust and sin

Darkness rules this place
Where I often go to visit
A heart that is willing
Is Satans only  requisite

There I meet the demons
The ones that cause me shame
Gropeing all upon me
Yelling out my name

Tempting me to do
Acts I thought I couldent
Thoughts and visions seen
Of things I know I shouldent

I turn to try to run
And from the evil flee
But I cannot  escape
The temptations holding me

At last I break away
It is only a short reprieve
For soon again I'm tempted
By the lies the demons weave

Today comes new,
Untouched.
I hope it leaves,
Well used.

A stranger once asked of me
If I would give to him my thought,
Do you believe there will be anything in heaven,
That by man's hand was wrought?

With a voice of disbelief I said
This I have heard COULD be true
Two things made by man
MIGHT await in heaven for me and you

He looked at me as though intrigued
Asking," What in heaven is made by man"?
You cannot enter through its portals
Unless forgiven of your plaque of sin

I replied that in Heaven many believe exist,
I am told these two things,
Two scars made by nails,
One in each hand of Christ the King

Immeadiatly the man bowed his head,
As he raised his hands up into the air,
Looking I could see the scars,
But then the stranger was no longer there

Alone upon that city street,
I fell upon my knees,
Crying, Forgive me Lord of my plaque of sin,
My Lord I now believe .

RLB

Lord
Thank you
For the blessings
You graciously give, Amen.

RLB

Within our nation today
Political correctness says no moral standard exist
As a Christian I say it does
But this truth the world resist

If there is no moral standard
And no gauge of right or wrong
Is it "Do whatever you wish"?
As through life you travel on

Set your own height of your acceptance
Your own level of integrity
What it be it does not matter
Or even if it contains honesty

It is so sad for our society
And a detriment to our culture
That so many believe in no moral standard
What then will be our future?

I obey the Ten Commandments
And for my wrongs only I am liable
The truth is written for all to see
Our moral standard is set by the Bible

Skin pinkish red
A sparse covering of dark hair
Dark little eyes
Tender lips that turn upright in a smile
Little fingers that can barely wrap around the tip of grandpas
Cheeks as soft as a cottonball
A face of indescribable beauty
Spending the day sleeping in peaceful rest
This is Callie .
Born at 4:07 PM
Jan 12,2016

Looking upon my hands
My heart sees their treasured worth
Hands now bent and worn
From the struggle of their work

I depend upon these hands
For them to do what they do
I ask they a little longer hold their strength
I pray Lord they see me through

These hands to me have been faithful
Hard work has been their task
Lord keep them strong for me
This of thee I ask

My two hands are tired Lord
I know you know their aches and pains
I ask Lord if tomorrow comes to me
Renew their strength again

So that I might do my work
As I have for so many years
Useing these two hands
That know not doubt or fear

I know someday they will fold
In eternal peace and rest
That will be their reward my Lord
For these hands you have blest

RLB

Heavens,
Star Shining,
Angels singing Hallelujah !
The Saviour has come!

Merry Christmas
To all!

RLB

Help me lord to love
Just as you loved me
Help me lord to pray
For others earnestly
Help me lord to encourage
Each one in his task
Help me lord to admonish
The faults that each one has
Help me lord to greet
Each one with a kiss
Help me lord to serve
For even you did this
Help me lord to teach
So that others may learn
Help me lord to accept
That I may show no scorn
Help me lord to honor
Those for whom you died
Help me to bear another's burdens
As I walk with him side by side
Help me lord to forgive
Just as you forgave
Help me lord to submit
To love be a slave
Help me lord to be devoted
To each may I show concern
Help me lord to love
Help me lord to learn

Mankind can no longer discern
Between the night time and the day
There is no black there is no white
Black and white have turned to gray

Isaiah 5:20
Please read this verse and think about what's happening in our world today.

Within these once war torn fields,
Now peaceful ,serene and undisturbed,
Soldiers of blue and gray lie in unknown graves,
Under the grass of Gettysburg.

RLB

The sound of the wind is empty,
When you are gone,
And I cannot hear the joy,
I know exist in the sparrows song,

The sky of blue is hidden,
It's beauty I cannot see,
The earth is dark and barren,
The trees they bare no leaves,

The stars that should shine at night,
They have lost their flame,
The moon has disappeared ,
And the sun has done the same,

The words in the book I read,
They have no ryme or reason,
All in the world is odd and strange,
It is to me an unknown season,

I can feel the wind so haunting,
It is freezing upon my skin,
And the sun it cannot warm me,
Till my love returns again.

RLB

In the struggles of life
Through the sting of death
Into the joy of inseparablness
And so we shall be with the Lord forever.

RLB

A candle stands with untouched wick
In the darkness of the night
Waiting to give its gift to man
So that men in darkness might have sight

The candle wick at last is touched
The wick it turns to flame
Shining forth its light for all
And the darkness is forever changed

Now the candle gives its light
And all who look can see
The candle once hidden by the dark
Is now a guide for you and me

Christ is the candle of which I write
The light that guides our way
It is him alone we celebrate
Every Christmas Day

Why is Jesus condemned ?
Why is he despised?
Why is he rejected?
Why is he belied?
Why is he forgotten?
Why is he treated with scorn?
Why is he viewed as venom?
Why is his character torn?
Why is he detested?
Why is he treated with hostility?
Why is he abhorred?
Why must he suffer such cruelty?
Why is he the bête noire?
Why is he vilified?
Why is Jesus hated?
When for you he was crucified?

RLB

Have you ever looked upon and contemplated
The work of a masters hand
Of a beautifully painted landscape
With an azure sky above the land

A mighty wave of the sea
As it breaks upon a rocky shore
Then rushes back to the ocean again
To rise and return to crash once more

A majestic mountain crowned in white
Casting its shadow low
Upon the silent emerald valley
Where the giant pine trees grow

If ever you have observed nature
Mountains and oceans and trees that stand
Then friend you have seen the beauty
Of the work of THE MASTERS HAND

Have you ever taken notice
Of the direction that nature reaches
In this there must be a lesson
That Gods creation teaches

Look at a mountains peak
It reaches so very high
Up through the ghostly clouds
As if to touch the sky

Look at the pine trees tall
Swaying within the wind
Seeking to grasp a star
As a way to lift and ascend

A flower within a tiny seed
Grows up from the darkened soil
Showing forth great majesty
While reaching up with strain and toil

The songbirds sing their songs of praise
While flying up too the highest limb
Seeking up just as the tree
Hopeing to catch a glimpse of Him?

It seems that Gods creation
Within a world that is so abrupt
Is teaching life's only true meaning
And is always reaching UP.


I wrote this poem last week while my wife and I were on vacation in Colorado . As I looked upon the mountains and the forrest this is the thought that came to me. Shouldent we all be looking , reaching , seeking Up.
Hope you like it

My Child,
Your Prayers
Your Tears
Your Pain,
I Hear
I See
I Know.

I Love You,
GOD

Our flag that freely waves
Up high above our land
Is a blessing to us all
If you will understand

The price that once was paid
By brave and willing men
Some of whom with us remain
Many never to be seen again

They are the men who once did march
In the Army of the Continental
With the belief in their heart
That their freedom was providential

They are the men that once did march
Upon the fields of Gettysburg
Their struggling feed trod also
Upon the soil of old Vicksburg

These are the men that fought
Upon ****** Flanders Field
Struggling , pushing forward
They would not fail nor yield

They also struggled to gain
The beaches of Normandy
They fought at Anzio
Against the soldiers of Germany

On the soil of Korea
American blood did flow
Blood of men who had fought before
Still they volunteered to go

They fought in the darkened jungles
Of a place called Vietnam
Under the tear filled eyes
Of the Great I Am

The American soldier has also marched
And spilled his blood upon the sand
Of a dry and barren place
Called Afghanistan

Do you know what it means?
Are you willing to understand ?
That flag that freely waves
Up high above our land.

RLB
Nov 11,2015
Thank you,
American Soldier
You are the worlds best.

All my yesterday's now,
Gone,
I held them but for a short time,
So many in my yesterday's I loved now,
Untouchable,
I held them but for a short time,
So much joy and laughter in my yesterday's ,now,
Unheard,
I heard it but for a short time,
We were a close family in my yesterday's, now,
Separated,
Close by physical presence for a short time,
Though separated we are bound by love now,
Eternally ,
To be reunited one by one.

RLB

Someday when my life is over
And I cross the crystal sea
My saviours hand outstretched
Will be reaching out to me

Across the field 15,000 gray
Marched into the hellish fire
Over fallen comrades and fallen friend
And over the blood soaked mire

Over the wall into the gates of hell
Where for a moment they held the ****** ground
Only to be forced away in defeat
Torn and beaten down

Misery and pain and agony reigned supreme
From the Union cannons shot
As it sent death through Picketts men
And now his men are not

The gray clouds of defeat hung heavy
For on this day they would no more march
Many brave and mighty souls set free
Such were the men of Picketts Charge

I long to hear the sounds
Of nature uninterrupted
Heard pure and clean and clear
By mankind not corrupted

I long to hear the waterfall
Flowing down the mountains face
To hear the rushing water crash
By no unatural sound disgraced

To hear the gentle winds
Blowing through the mighty pines
Untouched by unatural sounds
Be they yours or mine

To hear the falling of the rain
Colliding with the thirsty ground
The thunder as it roars
No hint of man made sound

To hear the silence of the night
That is ruled by star and moon
The sound of the great abyss
Peace it's only tune

To hear the choir of the feathered singers
Singing their beautiful hymns
Free of outside sounds
From their stage high upon a limb

I long to hear only the sounds
Of the nature that God created
But everywhere I go it seems
They have by the sounds of men been permeated

O Wouldent it be a joy to hear
Natures voice pure and true
With no sound made by man
To tarnish the sound or view

I wear the blue of the Union
You wear the Confederate gray
But there are no colors that separate us
On this peaceful day

The cannons bow in silence
The rifles restrain their danger
We soldiers bow our heads
In honor of the baby in the manger

The battlefield rest silently
No sounds of death are heard
Only the sound of angels singing
As they proclaim the written word

"O come let us adore him"!
I hear a soldier say
With a reply of "Christ Our Lord"!
One wears blue the other gray

They come out in reverent peace
To meet upon the field
With only empty hands
No weapon do they wield

Today there will be no fighting
Today no man will die
All are looking to see his star
Shining brightly in the sky

The day will pass too quickly
Then the guns will sound again
But for now let us rejoice with one another
For this gift of the hope of men.

RLB
Dec 2014

The rain is falling this morning
It is proof of Gods unending love
Sent down from the portals of heaven
That land that is set above

The grass on the ground layed dry
Turning brown from the beating sun
But the grass will again be green
Before its time is done

God himself has sent this blessing
To the earth to nourish and cool
It is a blessing upon each and all
Both the believer and the fool

I watch as the raindrops fall
And crash rapidly into the ground
It is music unto my ear
To me , such a beautiful sound

I can feel the raindrops kiss
Of comfort upon my skin
And as by the rain I am loved
I am kissed again and again

Thank you so much Lord
For this blessing you have sent this morning
This precious blessing of rain
That is the face of the earth adorning

Too tired to hold on,
Too scared to let go.

RLB

Should I cover up my sadness
With a cherry facsimile smile
Should I hide my tears
Caused by my wearily travelled miles

Should I put aside
This feeling of hurt and pain
Let you think all is well
As inside I go insane

Should I talk to you
And say to you all is fine
While within my heart I ache
And anger floods my mind

Should I just be quiet
Endure the pain and slowly die
Or should I become exposed
And let you see me cry

I do not know exactly
What to do or say
I just wish these troubles
I have would go away

I do not like being this way
It's such a burdensome task
To hurt so bad inside
And be expected to wear a happy mask

RLB

Sometimes I ask the question
Why did God give man a tounge
Because most of what man says
When he is speaking comes out wrong

Does man ever think about
The words he is about to say
The damage his words may cause
As they travel on their way

Why do men let emotion
Dictate the words which they speak
A few may overcome this temptation
But most resign themselves to defeat

An unkind word spoken in response
To a really unimportant statement
Only angers the two people involved
And leaves two hearts in lament

We would all be better off
And fewer friendships would be broken
If man could control his tounge
And hold back words not yet spoken

Wishing
I
Had
Something
Kind
To
Write
About
My
Father

How do I remove
The images in my mind
Of the things that I have seen
To which I should have been blind

Scenes to which my eyes
By my lustful thoughts were drawn
Seem to be forever there engrained
Though I wish that they were gone

Will I ever forget
Once my eyes have seen
An image I wished I had not
Or a thought within a dream

Can the scene not be removed
Once through the eye it enters in
Or is it hidden there forever
To only tempt me once again

For once the eye beholds
It will store in memory
And the image will there remain
For good or agony

O how I wish my eyes
To these scenes had been blind
For then I would not carry
The burden of this kind

Daily
Feeding
The
Hungry,
Clothing
The
Naked,
Befriending
The
Friendless.

RLB

From the distance I can hear
The glorious drumbeats roll
Far far away
In the eternal home of my soul

I can feel the air
It is warm as in the spring
I hear the golden bells
As in praise to Christ they ring

I can smell the scents
Of flowers of honeysuckle on the vine
And of the pine trees standing tall
Aromas so divine

I can taste the sweetness
Of water clean and pure
In a land that knows no night
Of this I am sure

I can see the beauty
Of mountains rising high
Piercing through the snow white clouds
Up into the azure sky

Looking into the horizon
I see the things which I seek
My saviour, love and joy
And heavens eternal peace

In the distance I also see
Loved ones that I have known
With JESUS our precious Saviour
In their far away eternal home

These things to me are real
And I cannot wait
For these things I see
Through my eyes of faith

RLB


I was thinking of heaven today and what it must be like there and how I can't wait to see it.These thoughts came to me so I wrote them down in a poem.I know that heaven is far beyond anything I can attempt to imagine or describe, but the things I love I can't help but think will be there pure and untarnished by sin. The thought causes me to think how beautiful heaven must be, and with each passing day I long for heaven more than the day before.
Thank you Lord Jesus.

COME UNTO ME,
I never move nor sway
I remain the same
Each tomorrow and today
ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE,
Ragged and tired and worn
Come, I will cradle you
Just as a babe newborn
HEAVY LADEN AND,
Weak, cast your weakness here
Come lay it at my feet
I will hold you near
I WILL GIVE YOU REST,
From all your daily strife
Come, I will give you comfort
I will give you life.

Grandfather speaks repeatedly
In the same repiticious tone
Repeating the moments away
Till each second he has is gone

Grandfather never lets me forget
The passing of the hour
He sings at his appointed times
As long as he has the power

Grandfather works under a heavy weight
And only when this weight is lifted can he play his song
A sound as cymbals on a drum
Or the beating of a gong

Grandfather talks till his heart winds down
Only then will he stop
Then unlike me ,he will breathe again
When once more is wound my Grandfather clock

RLB

Between the two stood the one
At the place of the skull upon a hill
And the shadow it cast down over man
Across the earth lingers still

Blood stained and spike pierced beams
Held the teacher till he died
Looking up some only laughed
Others bowed their head and cried

On the tree this precious son
Who some by choice never knew
Prayed"Father please forgive them,
For they know not what they do"

Messiah sacrificed on those rugged beams
In three days to rise again
The way the life the truth
An atonement for our sin

When the meaning of the tree is told
My ears attend and receive
I can scarce conceive the cost
And it's meaning to you and me

Behind my eyes I hold these thoughts
Concerning the tree to which Jesus went
The lonely tree of Golgothas Hill
Where hung the saviour from heaven sent

Our sins destroyed life now given
By the blood of one who was only good
He hung in my place where I should have hung
Upon a cross made of wood

What shall I do on Sunday?
Is the question on Saturday asked
I find it is oft repeated
And to give an answer I am tasked

Could the answer be that I
Within my own selfish thought
See myself on Sunday
At home for church is naught

Or could my answer be
Next Sunday I'll make amends
Not knowing that I so mortal
May on the morrow meet my end

Could it be that I shall rest
Sleep Sunday mornings hours away
Then when told "We missed you Sunday"
What is the reason I shall say?

Why do I seek excuse?
To stay away from church
When my absence leaves me a weaker soul
And the heart of Christ it hurts

I shall change my priority
Take Jesus inviting hand
Go with him to church each Sunday
And in His presence stand

No harm can be done
Where the word of God is told
Now each Saturday I have my answer
Tomorrow to church I go

RLB

The wind has for ages blown
Across the earths vast face
Carrying rain and snow and clouds
To every earthen place

It makes the mighty oak to bend
Gently carries the butterfly
And unseen fills that great vast space
Between the earth and azure sky

The wind causes leaves to dance
It makes the prairies  grass to sway
It travels when and where it wants
Be it night or day

It silently climbs the snowy mountains high
And walks through the emerald valleys low
Unseen by the human eye
Wind is present everywhere you go

The wind is cool upon the skin
Of a man who works and sweats
A sweet relief from the heat
When skin and wind have met

It causes ocean waves to rise
Then to crash upon the shore
It causes the windmills blade to turn
To bring up water never tasted before

It may be felt as a gentle hand
Or it may blow so very strong
It may come at a moments notice
Then just as quickly it is gone

It carries ships across the sea
As the sails of the ship harness its power
And it will bring to a thirsty land
A long awaited springtime shower

The wind will sometimes speak to you
With voices from another time
If you will only stop to hear
As around you it runs  and climbs

Spirits from long ago
Ride upon the wind
Seeking to tell their olden story
Will you listen and be a friend

The wind forever remains unseen and free
Uncaptured or held by human hand
And will continue on its eternal journey
Forever over ocean , sky and land

Each breath we  breathe and each word we speak
Even our soul is forever captured by what we cannot see
And carried forth into the future
To remain for all of eternity

An
Empty
Cross
Shadows
An
Empty
Tomb
HE
IS
ALIVE!

Never have I seen
The beauty beyond heavens gate
But still I imagine
While in this life I wait

I know there is such beauty
In heaven I shall see
God has promised in his word
There is a mansion there for me

Streets of gold and precious pearls
These things they will abound
But I look forward in anticipation
To the peace that only there is found

So it is with a happy heart
And excitement that I wait
For the day that I shall see
The beauty beyond heavens gate

Loved ones there mine eyes shall see
In bodies made anew
Singing praises unto God
Beyond the gate where all is new

I pray that you be woven Lord
Into the fabric of my life
That I might always speak of you
Continually both day and night

I pray that you be sewn
Into the hems of my mind
So that I may always see
And never to truth be blind

I pray that you reside
Within each crease and seam
So that you be always with me
That I may from your presence glean

I ask that within my heart lord
Your hand do its binding
So that there I might keep you lord
To be found your word always minding

I ask you do the darning
When I become weak and worn
May your hand gently repair
When my fabric lord is torn

I pray dear lord be the double stitch
That holds my life together
So that when at last this life I leave
I will live with you forever

Lord help me to allow your spirit
To own each fiber of thread
That is woven and sewn into my life
Till that day my body is dead

Take this piece of linen lord
Unworthy as it may be
Weave into it,sew into it and within every stitch
I pray your presence be

I ask that your skillful hands my Lord
Tenderly operate the loom
And as the cloth is made
I pray it is by you consumed

As I look at the world around me
It's present and its past
I ask of you this question Lord
How much longer can we last

Unending pain and hurts
Multiple miseries and dispair
No matter what direction I look
And I see sickness everywhere

I watch and see mankind seeking
Shelter from the calamity
If just a temporary place to hide
From the worlds disparity

Some think they have found the answer
But in reality a peace that's only temporary
Turning from the only Son of God
Believing his help is not necessary

How many more tears must fall
How much more blood to be shed
Before we realize the truth
Of the words of the Christ who bled

How many more men must die
At the hands of mankinds wars
And how long will men still seek
The lies behind the devils doors

Our world is a darkened place
As the devil tempts and tricks
And he laughs when we are splintered
Like so many dried and broken sticks

You are our saviour Lord
In a world of darkness , a light
Our only way to safety
As we continue our earthly plight

We cry out to you Lord Jesus
Help us our burdens to carry
Please come quickly Lord
How much longer will you tarry?

Moments mirror a locomotive
Moving swiftly upon the rail
Or a ship of war upon the sea
Gliding by wind and sail

They are ever racing forward
To meet the end of day
Even there they do not rest
Till they have met the grave

Then the many traveled miles
Will become but a faded scene
Then for forgiveness you did or did not give
You will never have the chance again

The moments will always quickly flee
Carrying us closer to that time of rest
When we can no more speak or do
Because our heart lies still within our chest

James 4:14
.........You are a mist that appears for a little while
and then vanishes away.

The strength of love by God is given
It is placed within the soul
There it grows deep and strong and firm
Where it's roots forever hold

Love cannot be broken in pieces
Though the storm rages all around
Love holds true as a mighty oak
Planted firmly in the ground

Love reaches far beyond our sight
To places we have never seen
Above the mountains and into the sky
Even to the heavenly scene

Our love can touch a loved ones heart
Who now walks upon the golden streets
It gives s promise of joy true
And it gives a peace so sweet

The greatest love ever given
Came down from heavens throne
The son of God came in love
And now counts us as his own

RLB