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Here in Texas we have a sayin
We don't call 911
We take care of things ourself
That way we know it's done

But that sayin ain't exactly true
Why, I've called 911 myself
If I had the time
And felt I need their help

911 will always come
No matter the time of day
If you have a need
Call and they are on their way

There are times their help is needed
Especially when things look dire
Such as a serious accident
Or if your house is on fire

I love the men and women of 911
Those heros do the best they can
But they just can't always be quick enough
To lend a helping hand

There are many circumstances
In which you can call and wait
For 911 to arrive
Though in our mind their always late

But there are as many situations
In which 911 is not an option
And as an individual you are forced
To take or not take action

In these types of situations
We do what must be done
And after we are safe
Then we call 911

So here In Texas friend
Know we do not run
If we can we will call
But we don't depend on 911

RLB
It's just how we do it in Texas.
Don't ask me why today I bought
That little balsa wood airplane
One like many I had when I was a kid
I want to think that I've grown up
But somewhere inside I never did
I saw it yesterday and I just had to have it
Though I don't know why
So I pulled out a few hard earned dollars
And bought this memory that flys
It has a red propeller
That's powered by a rubber band
And two red wheels attached with wire
To help it safely land
I can't recall how many of these
I've pioleted through the years
I'm sure at least a few or more
Way back in my yesteryears
It amazes me sometimes now that I am older
That the sight of such a little thing
Can bring a forgotten memory back to life
Like a balsa wood airplane

RLB
I remember so clearly playing with a balsa wood airplane on many a summer day. If I could go back and be a kid again for just one day I think I'd fly a balsa wood airplane.That little boy from long ago still wants to play sometime, but he's all grown up now.
Wait, I have my airplane and its a beautiful summer day ,"Honey!Ill be outside for a while."
I have within my being
A hurting broken heart
Crushed and beaten down
Ripped and torn apart

Lord,to you I plead
From deep deep within
Take my hurting broken heart
Lord, make it whole again

RLB
Sometimes things happen and we just don’t understand why.
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
A cross alone would not bear
The weight of mankinds sorrows
The pain the grief the tears
That fill all men's tomorrows

It could not hold upon its limbs
Hate and lust and strife
Not bear one dark misery
That steals so much of life

The cross alone has no strength
To hold sins true weight
Under this crushing load
The cross was bound to break

Until God sent us his only son
His purpose to mend the broken beam
Nails driven through his hands and feet
He sealed the broken seam

The cross is now made whole
No more a broken limb
Because of the blood of Christ
The cross is made whole through him

RLB
Death opens
Eternity enters
Angels watch
Time ceases
Home welcomes
A house is made of wood and nails
Some are made of brick and stone
Yet when finished it is just a shell
But when filled with love its home
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
Can't wait for my wife to get back from her four day trip to visit our daughter.
I am lost without her.
Once there walked among men a man
Upon the face of earth
He spoke to each man he met
And told them of their worth

He told all men with listening ear
Turn from sin and come to me
Do not be a slave to fear
Come, I will set you free

He told all men the truth of life
Come unto me I am the way
Wait not for tommorows light
For tommorow may not come your way

This man who spoke invited all
Come and grace receive
A common man yet a king
This man from Galilee
What image fills your vision
When you look upon a fellow man
Is it his need you see
Do you extend a helping hand

Do you see the burdens
He carries hidden within his heart
The hurts that he posses
The pain of poisoned darts

His troubles and his trials
To others are unknown
But aren't the scars he bears
The image of your own

Judge not your fellow man
But seek to be to him a friend
For you know not his story
So compassion to him lend
When my thoughts take my eyes to the cross
Upon which my saviour bled and died
Jesus Christ I cannot see
No matter how hard I try


I behold that old and rugged tree
And the nails that pierced his feet and hands
But my Christ he is not there
Though today the tree still stands

To my soul it brings great joy
The empty cross of Calvary
For I know there he no longer hangs
Upon that bloodstained tree

My eyes can see my risen Lord
But not where he shed his blood for sin
The cross stands bare before an empty tomb
Christ Is Coming Back Again!
It seems in my hand I always hold
An empty pocket book
But I would find that I am rich
If around me I will only look

Looking up into the morning sky
I find a treasure chest of gold
As the rays of the sun shine down on me
And give me warmth from the cold

Then as the sun of day retires
Darkness breaks forth as a rageing river
And gazing up I see the moon
And a million coins of silver

This moon of night provides for me
A light unto my path
And the stars give to me direction
When the gold of day has passed

I want to thank you Lord
For I have only to look
To know that I am rich beyond compare
Though I hold an empty pocket book
As I look upon the image
Of a face I have never known
I ask "What story might I see,
If your life to me we're shown?

Were your sorrows just as mine
Your troubles and your trials
Did the same things bring you joy
And laughter along with smiles

Now you are just a ghost
Yet in this image I can see your face
A life from a distant past
A story from another place

My story to will someday hide
In an image one may behold
As one like me looks into the face
Of a man from long ago
I love an old pocket watch
Hanging at the end of its chain
To look upon its beauty
And to hear the ticking of its spring

To see through its cracked crystal
The beauty of the hands
As they slowly count the moments away
One by one as grains of sand

Painted upon an enamel face
I see the hours that are marked
The hours of ones life
Painted as a work of art

Whose eyes have looked upon you
By whose hands have you been wound
Who brought you to their ear
To hear your beautiful sound

O how I love the music played
So sweet is the watches tick and tock
There is a mystery that I love
In an old pocket watch
From
Beneath
Winters
Numbing
Hold
Spring
Shall
Burst
Forth
Renewed
and
Bold
Looking out my window at the snow covered ground ,knowing that even at this moment spring is on its way.
Will one day be left only
Of all that once I knew
Just some faded photographs
Of what to me was true

Will these paper squares
Of images I hold dear
Be all that is left
Of all that I knew while here

Will these treasured scenes
Frozen forever in time
Be all ones eye will see
Of what once was mine

Some little paper squares
In faded black and white
What value will the antique store
Put on the story of my life?

RLB
Dear precious lord in heaven
Please give unto me your ear
The words in prayer I pray
Please dear Jesus hear

I am so confused
The path I cannot see
Please lord take my hand
And show the way to me

I need you precious Jesus
To take my hand and guide
But it seems I cannot find you
It seems from me you hide

Please my lord who loves me
Take my trembling hand
Guide me lord, direct my paths
As I travel this troubled land

Amen

I was going through a very difficult time
not to long ago in which I did not know
which way to go or what to do.
I prayed this prayer to My father in heaven
And he did guide me through the struggle
and help me through, in his time.
Thank you lord Jesus for hearing my prayer
and providing a way and lifting the burden.
All praise be unto you for ever and ever more.
What has a man gained
What of value does his treasure chest hold
If he die without Christ
And lose his own soul

Matthew 16:26
Feeling regret
Heart heavy
Failure again

RLB
Started out really good this morning,
before failure appeared .
I'm trying.
It's a beautiful morning
It's a beautiful day
The sun is shining
Sending warmth our way

The birds are singing
Their beautiful song
The leaves are dancing
As the wind moves along

The roses are blooming
In the color of red
Their is no sorrow
Their is no dread

It's a beautiful morning
It's a beautiful day
The sun is shining
Sending warmth our way

RLB
It's a beautiful Saturday morning in Texas!
Thank you Lord.
Have I missed the quiet of morning
When the sun begins to rise
And cast its golden light
Across an  endless azure sky

Have I missed the sweetened scent
Of freshly fallen rain
As it falls to the earth from heaven
And nourishes the golden grain

Have I never seen the singer
Have I never heard the song
Of the birds as they preform
Because I to quickly move along

Never does the flowers fragrance
Catch my imagination
Am I much to busy
For such an infatuation

Have I missed the lights of heaven
When the light of day is past
Because of worrying about tomorrow
Am I moving much to fast

We each should stop and take more time
As we travel this earthen sod
To look and see all natures beauty
Be still and know that He is God
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
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
Lord, is it true
You keep the tears I have shed
The ones that fall so heavy
Like the precious blood you bled

Do you keep a count
Of each lonely sad lament
A record written down
Of each feeble plea I've sent

Lord, is it true
You know each mornful wail
Every thought of sadness
Every heart wrenching tale

Lord, I know it is true
Written in the 56:8 of Paslm
Not one tear has ever escaped
The healing of your balm.
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
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.
At the old abandoned depot
Within a misty rain
I hear voices from long ago
Waiting for a train

In the dark of night
Standing by her line
I can hear her in the distance
Coming back from time

Listen very closely
As she rolls this way
Highballing to her destination
To arrive before break of day

Listen close and you can hear
The ghost of this iron rail
You can hear her rumble
You can hear her wail

Can you feel the earth
Tremble beneath the nightime sky?
As this iron ghost
Unseen passes by

Can you hear her clatter?
Can you hear her clang?
Can you hear her whistle,
And her bell that rings?

Listen closely friend
Quickly she will be gone
Past the lonely depot
Never to return

RLB
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
As a man grows older,
Does he lose his mind?
Or does he truly wish,
He was in a prior time,

Does a man grown older no longer think,
As he did when he was young?
Why are the things that used to be,
Now to him no fun?

Are the thoughts that once he had,
The ones he held so dear,
Now just relics of the past,
In this his older years ?

If so , why must it be?
My heart longs for joy of some measure,
And for the thoughts once held so dear,
For they brought to me such pleasure,

Yes, I am much older now,
I'll never again be as quick or as strong,
But I can have in my chest a Lions heart,
If I'll carry in my heart a song.

RLB
My life's book has been good
Not each chapters title has been perfect
Not every turned page has read of what's expected or hoped for
Most have been beautiful
Some very sad
Not every title of every chapter is a title I've wished to read
But each one has been a part of my life
And whatever the title is when the page of the last chapter is turned
I have always made it through to the next chapter
But this new chapter has taken me by complete surprise
It's title is one I wish could be torn out and thrown away
This new chapters title is;
Cancer
I've only had the chance to read the first few pages of the chapter
And what I have read thus far
I do not like
This is a chapter I would love to pass over
But I would not get the complete story if I did
As if I even can
So I continue to read each day
Every morning is a new pages beginning
Where will the story take me
I do not know
But I shall keep on reading.
My father was diagnosed with lung cancer yesterday . This is a road I have never traveled , but like all other journeys I have been on, this one too will be travelled with faith and hope and trust.
Psalms121:1-2
I will lift my eyes to the mountains,
where does my help come from.
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
It seems life is always changing
Taking the things we know
Like a mighty mountains river
As over the rocks it flows

We take so oft for granted
The ones we love and cherish
Then only realize what we possessed
When they move away or perish

Then we are left without them
In their place is left a void
Our eyes now filled with tears
And sadness replaces joy

Life is ever changing
Show those you love you care
For someday the day may come
When they are no longer there
Christ the living saviour
Once died upon the cross
He willingly gave his life
For men like us , Lost

He was tortured , beaten, mocked
Then nailed upon the tree
This great pain he endured
For men like you and me

Upon the cross he hung
A spear ****** into his side
Father please forgive them
Are words our saviour cried

A crown of painful thorns
Was pressed upon his head
His blood flowed down his body
Till the saviour at last was dead

A thief hung on his left
A thief hung on his right
When Christ gave up the ghost
The day was turned to night

Placed into a borrowed tomb
His body laid as if it were froze
Then just as he had promised
On the third day he arose

With victory over death
He came forth from the grave
With victory over death
That men through faith in him be saved

He showed himself to many
Then to heaven he did ascend
An angel said to those present
This same Christ you shall see again

To the earth he shall return
The words written they are true
Christ he is coming back
For men like me and you
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
What happens to our clocks each year
At Christmastime or near it?
Do they get to much Christmas cheer
Or just the Christmas spirit?

The clocks that were the whole year through,
dependable and steady
Tick hours off like mad when you
Have Christmas to get ready.
Yet, strange to say, those very clocks
Delight in hesitating;
They go to sleep between their ticks
When you are young and waiting.

By
Ruth Van Gorder
Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania
Christmas Ideals Magazine
November
MCMLXXXV
Christmas time is here again
I can hardly believe
This year has passed so quickly
Soon it will be Christmas Eve

Time to bring out the decorations
Hang the lights and mistletoe
Hope I can find my coat
For it looks like it might snow

I better build me up a fire
In the old fireplace
So I can warm my hands
And Santa can warm his face

I anticipate the arrival soon
Of loved ones at my door
It's going to be one happy Christmas
With their feet upon my floor

We will spend our time together
Making memories that we will cherish
Talking and laughing with one another
As one by one the moments perish

I can tell its Christmas time
For the air smells of sweets
Sugar cookies ,cakes and pies
And numerous tasty treats

Not much time to get the gifts all wrapped
And set beneath the tree
Gifts to give to those I love
Look! I spy a gift for me

Time to take some time
To think upon and remember
The reason we celebrate
The baby in the manger

As I put another log
Upon a fire that now burns low
Within the glowing embers I see
Visions from long ago

Though I am  separated
By the many years now gone
My memories of those precious days
Within my heart live on

O, just one more time Lord
If all those I love were able
How great a Christmas it would be
To have them each gathered around my table

But I know it cannot be
Those scenes that were so long ago
I count these memories as treasure
Valued much more than gold

Listening I can hear the music
Made by trumpet bell and horn
And it tells the wonderful story
Of the morning Christ was born

All is beautiful at Christmas time
The feelings the sounds the sights
The peace within our hearts
His star that shines so bright

I wish the joy could remain
And within our hearts be always near
This joy of Christmas time
That comes to us once a year

December 2014
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
Some wore a uniform of gray
Some wore the one of blue
They were brothers from north and south
Some were sons and fathers too,

Each one was a soldier
A warrior in a fight
Now they are only ghost
Seen by men with sight,

Once their feet did march
Upon the battlefields grass
Now they are just an image
To be seen within the glass,

Many fell upon the field of battle
Some alone in a place so foreign
Now all that remains of them
Is a face on a sheet of iron,

When I look into the eyes on the faces
Of these men on iron or glass
I see not a ghost
But a man, a soldier from the past,

Though now he be only an image
He was once a soldier that in battle fell
And within each soldiers image
Is held a story he longs to tell.

RLB
Spent Sunday evening looking at some old photographs of soldiers from the Civil War and this came to me.
There's something about old photos of soldiers from the war that draw me, it's as if they yearn to speak to me and tell me their story so that we shall never forget.
Photos during the time of the Civil War were taken on glass,a ambryotype ,or on a thin iron sheet ,a ferrotype.
There was once a raid
On a little Kansas town
All the raiders were killed
All except just one
He lived to tell their story
And to explain the reason why
"We was seeking glory,
We didn't mean to die"

RLB
I'm an old west history buff ,so my wife and I went to visit Coffeyville Kansas this past summer to see where the Dalton Gang was wiped out while trying to rob two banks at one time.
Just so they could make themselves more famous than the James Younger Gang.I guess they should have stayed at home that day.
Majestic
Mountains
Distant
Seen,
Daughter
Grandaughter
Close,
We
Are
Here.

RLB
My wife and I now live near my daughter and grandaughter and son in law in beautiful Colorado:)
It is such a blessing to be able to see those I cherish so deeply any time I want now.No more 14 hour drives.
Thank you Lord .
Help me Lord to set my mind
On things that reign above
So that when you appear in Glory
My life is hidden with you in love

Heavenly Father put to death
These things I do not need
Immorality , impurity, evil desires
Along with idolatry and greed

I know because of these
Your wrath is soon to come
At that time I pray I am hidden
In Jesus Christ the son

Help me rid myself O Lord
Of rage and malice and slander
Help me to put away my Lord
Filthy language and anger

Lord we know here there is
No Scythian , Gentile or Jew
For we are all the same
Securly held by you

Help us to be holy Lord
Making kindness our mission
Help us ** be clothed with humility
Gentleness and compassion

Teach us to forgive
Another's wrongs we see
Let love bind us each together
In perfect unity

Help us Lord to be thankful
As we teach through songs and psalms and hymns
Help us do all in the name of the Lord
Giving praise and thanks to Him.

RLB
My best companions come in twos
Starting with my own two feet
They carry me each day I am given
Too the task that I must meet

Two more friends of mine
Are my two able hands
They help me do my work
While my two legs help me stand

My two eyes let me see
The light of the morning sun
While these two arms of mine
Help my task to get done

With my two ears I can hear
The sounds of the day
My fingers of ten help me count
The hours to work away

With the many task before me
And work that never ends
Sometimes it seems to me
That I am my own best friend
Before
Any
Home
Can
Endure,
Love
Must
Be
It's
Cornerstone .
DAD
DAD
With hands of steel and a heart of love
You fought hard
Your fight was a good fight
Now you can rest in the arms of Christ

RLB
I love you dad and I always will.
Miss you already.
Lost my dad April 26,2016
He had 77 good years of which he shared 51 with me his only son.
See you and moma again soon:)
How long will the waters of lifes river flow
How many more stories as the water rages
Before the racing water stops
And flows no more past present ages

The river of life begins pure and strong
From high and elevated places
Flowing down all it meets is new
Leaving behind its carved out traces

The rushing waters swiftly run
Carrying with them lifes numbered days
Racing down the mountains face
Quickly the waters pass away

My river of life today still flows
But someday for me the waters will cease
And the carved out traces they leave behind
I hope are deeply etched traces of hope and peace.

RLB
Written in Estes Park Colorado on
May 21,2014
At Targent Park
By the river
Can
Anyone
Tell
Me
The
Meaning
Of;
One
True
Friend.
Do you show to others
The love shown to you
Not the superficial
But a love that's true

Do you reach out
Extend a helping hand
To someone who is down
And thereby help them stand

Do you speak the words
That another needs to hear
Or do you remain silent
Because of doubt and fear

Do you forgive another
As you were once forgiven
Or do you condem
For the life one is living

Do you show compassion
To the blind the sick the lame
Show mercy to the poor
Treat all men the same

If we could learn to see
Through the eyes of Jesus every man
Then these things we would do
For then we would understand
In some early mornings dawn
When father time has brought the fall
Have you walked among the hardwoods
And below the oaks so tall

Have you stepped upon the leaves
Of orange and red and brown
Have you felt the breeze so cool
That gently brings them down

Have you heard the morning chatter
Of squirrels in the wind
And the chorus of a cardinal
As the day begins

Have you watched as the sun
Turns the sky from dark to blue
Or the honking sound of geese
As overhead they flew

There is such beauty in a woodland
On a quiet cool fall morning
A perfect place to be
A place to be returning
Just thinking about and anticipating the arrival of Fall,
"Thank you Lord for the changes in the seasons".
My body bares the weight
Of passed and passing time
After time is used
And is no longer mine

I think that it shall be
When I am called to heavens shore
My soul will forever live
As time dies and is no more

RLB
Within the wind
A voice sounds
Telling us
I AM   I AM

RLB

O  if we as men would only listen and hear.
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