Rain falling from heaven
Music to my ear
Singing I have naught
Have naught to fear

RLB

Each new day I greet
Is a gift from God to me
Help me lord to always
The beauty of nature see

Help me lord to listen
Clear my mind of fear
To the sounds of your creation
Help me lord to hear

Your many sweet aromas
Within the air they swell
May I touch the fragrance
Of your breath O  God by smell

It seems I am surrounded
So much by glass and steel
Yet when  I touch a leaf
Your power God I feel

In nature there exist
So many of Gods blessings
Stop to see , hear smell and feel
The peace we are missing

There is peace,reassuring peace
In the quite of natures sound
In the very presence of God himself
Be still and know there God is found

There is peace, reassuring peace
Within the touch of the unseen wind
It washes over ones heart and soul
A peace so true does not offend

There is peace, reassuring peace
In a faith that is bold and strong
When such a faith fills ones heart
Ones heart can only sing a song

There is peace,reassuring peace
When Jesus takes us by our hand
And we trust him to gently lead us through
This dark and weary and fearful land

There is peace, reassuring peace
That only comes from heavens portal
Such a peace so reassuring
Given by God to me a mortal

RLB

JESUS

Every name outside the name of Jesus,
Will to Jesus someday bow,
It matters not how much  power or prestige ,
That you may think you have.

Phillipians 2:10
......at the name of Jesus every
knee shall bow

Why are our minds so filled
With worthless useless thoughts
Things that have no worth
Things we should think not

Why can we not focus
On what is good and kind and right
Think on thoughts that edify
And escape the dark thoughts of night

The things we let into our mind
An image a word a sound
Are sown as seed and planted there
Growing till only those thoughts abound

Be ever mindful of the crop
That in your mind you grow
For what it is we think
Over time we shall surley sow

We write the words we write
So eyes that read will know
Within we are poets
In heart and mind and soul.

RLB

I understand not the power
Of the ignorance and craziness
Of the stupid political term
Political correctness

Political correctness
Influences the feeble minded
Clouds their mind to thinking
And their eyes to truth are blinded

If you stand for what is right
No malice toward none in mind
You are labeled as politically incorrect
And are unjustifiable maligned

To be accepted by the few
Who love political correctness to instill
You must give up your beliefs
And be moulded to their will

Political correctness is a farce
An evil policy of disguise
It truly has no meaning
Just as do the politicians lies

Stand for what you believe
If in your heart you believe it is right
Be done with political correctness
It is an evil blight

Think always for yourself
Make your own decisions
Political correctness does nothing
But cause great division

We do not all think the same
About politics or creation
Let us put political correctness to death
And be a united nation

RLB

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

Talking
To
GOD
Intimately
And
Listening
For
His
Loving
Response

Our lives are quietly passing
Upon this earth that quickly spins
The things we planned to do today
Will we ever have the chance to do again?

We have no words but what we speak
We only posses what we at this moment see
Quietly passing, quickly spinning
Both are true for you and me

The thoughts you had of things to say
In that letter you said you would write
But you are busy and tired now
How quickly the day has turned to night

You say tomorrows sun soon will rise
And give to me another chance
But for many tomorrows sun is never seen
Will you be the one to miss the dance

I'll stop by to visit you
This you tell a friend
Then evening comes and day is gone
And you find you have cancelled once again

Life grows shorter with each breath taken
Each day we are drawn closer to our mortal end
Do today all you had planned
Write and visit your family and friends

For death comes to soon and unannounced
And closes life's open door
Then you can no more speak or write
To friends or loved ones from that distant shore

Death may come first to you
Or to the one that you hold dear
It may be you who cannot speak
Or they that cannot hear

It is in the stillness and the silence
That the saviours voice is heard
If we will only quiet ourselves
We will hear his voiced word

Can we learn to turn?
From the things that draw us away
Could we set aside some moments?
To listen to Christ each day

Is it possible for us as men
To from our busyness turn?
And listen to Jesus speak
Or do his voice we spurn?

There is so much audible confusion
That into our mind is leaking
O, if we could learn to be still in silence
We would find the voice of our saviour is speaking.

I stilled myself,
And in my stillness ,
Knew GOD.

RLB

Within
The
Solitude
Of
Natures
Canopied
Cathedral
GOD
Quietly
Walks

Have you ever stopped to listen
To raindrops falling down
And heard the music made
As they come to rest upon the ground

Instruments of beauty
That can only be played by God
Sent down from heavens throne
To nurish the earthen sod

As these miracles fall from heaven
They play a melody
Upon the highest rooftops
And on the leaves within the trees

A sound so refreshing
To hold within ones ear
Raindrops play a symphony
If you will only hear

RLB

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

How many different voices will speak
What truths will there be spoken
Over my body as it lie still in death
When my soul at last has broken

Will there be words of kindness shared
Of a deed that once I wrought
To one who was then a stranger
Some soul that I knew not

Will there be words of remembrance
Of a once kindly offered smile
Given to one to encourage
As they travelled a long hard mile

Will there be words of sadness heard
At the loss of a cherished friend
One who once was loved
One they wish to love again

From deep within the heart
Will the voices speak sincere
Followed by the gentle falling
Of a grief weighted tear

The words the voices give
I hope to you will tell
The story of a friend called true
And the memories of a life lived well

O how quickly hastens time
The days they turn to years
Like a shooting star across the sky
Then quickly disappears

Moments passed become remembered
Growing sweeter with the time
Just as grapes put to the lips
Taster sweeter from the wine

Time now gone becomes more precious
Valued more than gold or money
Scenes held so dear remain unchanged
Just as the taste of the long kept honey

Then comes the hour our breath is faded
And our eyes no longer see
The memories we held so dear in life
Are then given up to eternity

No more seen and no more known
Just as times alloted wages
Our memory is taken to the grave
And there we are given to the ages

From out of the ashes of the old
A new year has arrived
Out of the many downs and lows
By grace we have survived

This day begins the start
Of a slate that is brand new
A chance to strive for what is right
A chance to renew

A time to let others know
That by you they are loved
A time to forgive a wrong
A new hope for peace and love

Out of the ashes of the old
We have been given another year
Go forth in faith and courage
Leave behind all doubt and fear .
RLB

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

RLB

Behold,
A list of Maxims
Taught me by my father;
1...............
2..............
3.............
4........­.....
5............
6...........
7..........
8.......
9....
10..
­Only empty lines of a legacy from which I have learned ,
Nothing.
Yet ,I learned more than he will ever know ,for in the empty lines there were lessons to be learned.

RLB

I
Was
Going
Under,
I
Reached
Up
To
You,
I
Needed
You
At
That
Moment,
And
You,
You
Let
Me
Drow­n,
I
Thought,
I
Thought
You
We're
My
Friend.

RLB

Never am I hurt,
By those to whom lifes breath is no more giving,
Yet I fall daily wounded,
By ones who walk among the living.

RLB

Looking out across the emerald valley
That today lies hidden under a shroud of grey
I wish for the sun to raise its head
And lift this shroud away

The beauty that hangs from heavens floor
It is concealed from my eye
Yet I know that the blue above
Still paints the shielded sky

The Forrest rest low in the valley far
Though it is but a ghost unseen
It lies painted by the masters hand
In shades of brown and green

There is also beauty in the grey
Though it is harder seen
While looking through the heavy fog
Still there lies the blue and green

The cold grey mist causes me to ponder
The things I hold the dearest
Sometimes it is through the grey
That I can see my life the clearest

Where is it a man must go?
How far must he travel?
To find a place of peace
Free of noise and rattle

It seems I am pressed
Upon each and every side
Mans noise and sound and confusion
My ears can no longer abide

Mingled within the sounds of man
My ears hear the songs of birds
They call me to a quiet place
Where only natures sounds are heard

I look I seek I strive
For a place to clear my mind
Why does it elude me so?
The quiet I hope to find

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

Hope is in the rising sun
On a frozen winters day
Giving to you reassurance
That summer is on its way

Hope is in the thundering clouds
To your ears a fresh refrain
Bringing to a dry cracked earth
The liquid of silver rain

Hope is the song of a robin
Joyfully singing in the morning dawn
A chorus of"There is no need to worry,
For child you are my very own"

Hope is wrapped in faith
The promise of things unseen
Kept within our heart
Peaceful,secure , serene.

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

For the long forgotten days of old
Within my heart I pine
Days now so distant
Left so far behind

Days that seemed much kinder
When right was understood
Days of simple joy
Kind and right and good

Days of simple pleasures
No want of money's things
Computers , phones or TVs
No shining diamond rings

Just treasured days of summer
Offering their wealth of gold
Nightimes gift of silver
In the sky's our eyes behold

The beautiful sound of music
Coming from a robins throat
The peace of a butterfly
As upon the wind he floats

The simplest things of life
Are the things my heart desires
Mountains great and high
And trees that stand as spires

Some beautiful morning
Some beautiful day
Christ will come
To take me away.
Away to my home
Beyond this lifes shore
To live with him
Forevermore .

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

Forgive me lord I pray
When I fail to recognize
The blessings you bestow
Please, help me to relize

So much I have been given
Yet so often I do not see
Your gentle hand outstretched
Reaching down to me

My days so often crowded
With things that hold no meaning
And my failure to know
The process of  your gleaning

Lord please forgive me
That I complain I regret
When the world presses in on me
I pray I not forget.

While watching people I realized
That folks are a lot like squirrels
They don't pay much attention at all
To what's going on in their world

They scurry about to and fro
Doing what it is they do
Digging holes and burying nuts
A lot like me and you

They run aimlessly upon their way
Never looking both ways to cross the street
I guess that's why we see so many
Dead squirrels at our feet

Run to here and scurry to there
He lives within his own little world
Yep, watching people I realize
Folks are a lot like squirrels

A
Heart
Turned
To
Sapphire
Under
This
Worlds
Obsidian
Sky

RLB

I know not nor claim
In this lifes living game
To have all the answers
As to the whys of now or after

Faith is all I posses
Just to live and do my best
Having hope in my heart for tomorrow
For joy to **** lifes sorrow

Life is a street one way
That directs me to a waiting grave
That becomes an opening door
Leading me to forevermore

Laugh and love and learn
Seek and look and yearn
For what tomorrow brings
With its dreams and hopes and stings

Then when life has ended
Know yours was real and not pretended
Live and breathe and dance
Life is lifes only chance

RLB

Why do you hide yourself
Keeping your rays of warmth concealed
How I long for your breaking forth
Your glory once more revealed

To long you have hidden unseen
Behind the curtain of cold and gray
Break Forth Break  Forth Break Forth I plead
Break Forth with light of day

All I touch to my touch is cold
The trees they shiver within the wind
All of nature that breathes is hidden
Waiting for you to perform again

The gray cold curtain has hung low to long
I pine for it to rise
Revealing the performer upon the stage
Majestically lifting up into the sky

RLB
Longing for the sun to shine.

With every tick of the clock
Time quickly steals away
Never giving promise
Of another day

RLB

John 4:14 (KJV)
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow ,for what is your life?
It is even a vapour, that appeareth for
a little time, and then vanisheth away.

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

RLB

The day proclaimed as Thanksgiving
Comes to us each November
A day to count our blessings
A day to recall and remember

All that God to us has given
The great and the small
The things we take for granted
God has given to us them all

Too God above I am thankful
For all I have received
When I begin to count my blessings
I simply cannot believe

My beautiful loving wife
A helpmate always by my side
Our warm and simple home
Where we safely within abide

My two little sisters
My precious loving daughter
Memories of my mother
The presence of my father

A bounty of food upon my table
Work for my hands
The freedoms I enjoy
The beauty of this great land

The love of family
Mans most treasured possession
The truth of Gods word
The promise of a resurrection

So much to be thankful for
Though thanks I do not oft enough say
Shouldent everyday we are given
Be Thanksgiving Day?

There was once a man who worked
Who used neither hammer nor chisel nor clay
Yet, worked from mornings early hours
Till evenings close of day

Creating works of art
For his fellow man to see
A legacy to leave behind
For all of eternity

His tool is the rounded wood
That holds the darkened lead
This is the tool he chose
To create the words we've read

He would work and mold and shape
His art into a ryme
As he etched it upon the paper
To be read by all through time

These works of art he made
Held meaning as he would sow them
And when his piece was done
He called his art a poem

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

The clock is wound for life but once
And it sings it's ticking song
We know not if the song be short
Or if the song be long

With each quickly passing moment
The clocks spring comes unwound
And never can it be wound again
Once the spring runs down

Live life true and do your best
For God and your fellow man
While the clock still sings for you
And on the earth you stand

Some unknown day the clock will cease
And it's tune no longer sing
Do good now, have no regrets
Before runs down the spring

Often my thoughts turn to the Cross
The beautiful Cross of Calvary
Upon which my saviour bled and died
To give eternal life to me

It's wooden beams bear the scars
Of nails that pierced his hands
His precious feet were riven to
And from his side blood and water ran

The Cross has stood over two thousand years
And even today it stands
As a bridge from heavens door
Down to the heart of mortal man

O the precious blood stained tree
That old and rugged nail scarred Cross
I count it as a gift of grace
And all I am as loss

Luke 23:34
And Jesus said,
"Father forgive them
they know not
what they do."

Thank you Lord.

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

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

RLB

Gods love has no border
It is an ocean with no shore
A universe with no ending
An opening with no door

It has no edge to mark
No line where its complete
It is an endless depth
It has no bounds to keep

No wall can hold it back
No river is too wide
Gods love is always reaching
Even through the tears you've cried

Forever it carries on
Into the great abyss
Never has man known
A love such as this

If I held the master clock
And controlled it's turning hands of time
I would add forevermore
To these fleeing days of yours and mine

I would turn your seconds into minutes
Your minutes into hours
Your hours into days
And time would hold no power

Time would be no more
As men know time to be
Time would be known simply
As eternity

No more age and death
No more our bodies worn
All would have the hope
Of a precious babe newborn

No more tears of sorrow
Shed for a loved one lost to death
No more prayers would need be spoken
Pleading for just one more breath

No more of this life's decaying
No more backs heavy laden
No more time now gone
No more memories fading

Man will never hold this power
We are but slave to the tick and tock
The power of time is held in the hand
Of the one who made the master clock

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

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

When I look into the mirror
And I stare into my eyes
Is it me I really see?
Or just a man in a disguise

The mirror shows my reflection
The way I look physically
But it cannot show to you
The state I am in spiritually

The mirror it cannot reflect
The heaviness of my heart
Or the pain it feels within
As if pierced by a sharpened dart

The mirror does not reveal to you
The sadness that abides within
Or the absence of joy that did exist
Will I find it ever again?

The mirror is a great deceiver
For it shows only the outer shell
Where all seems as it should
While hiding the inner hell