to trade confusion for clarity
to pursue the perfect degree
to marry the man of my dreams
to leave the place i’ve always called home
to travel the world and see it’s wonders
to explore beaches i’ve never laid eyes upon
to go on a wildlife safari
to build an international orphanage from the ground up
to study in the holy lands
to be fluent in a foreign language
to adventure through cities i’ve never heard of
to live freely by detaching from the world
to care for those less fortunate than me
to see revival in unchurched people groups
to excel in my dream job
to know what my dream job would be
to live without limits and constraints
to never feel exhausted or weary
to lead broken people to restoration
to be part of something greater than myself
to love generously
to know my purpose

Leary, dreamy, worn and faint
The saint sat stone-faced and speechless
Flat like unchurched waters
Brought back, brutally attacked and unattached
Flash of lightning rippled through his forehead, malnourished and overwhelmed

Emotions untamed became abridged
Then fringed and kept away for later days

Blank, without consent
Like the Watchman's Shadow

He peers, intently, precisely, maticulously
From his cell window,
High upon a stoney tower
Fixed upon the free, the wide smilers and radiant-eyed, Weeping bitterly until his own eyes wax dry
Alone and aloof, with questioning in mind;
Why?
For rather would he die!

Yet he has already begun
Slowly, pitifully, and sacredly
For it clicks with him as he finds himself again with the only company he has known

So greeting his old familiar freind,
He thanks him for his enduring faithfulness
Bowing in reverent respect
And again paying his ode
To the Watchman's Shadow

By: Cedric McClester

This movie has played out before
And it’s one that we should not ignore
Where the Turks sought to even the score
By openly declaring war
Against a perceived enemy
Who only sought to be free
But were still made to bow their knee
As they did their best to flea

So we can’t call this paranoid schizophrenia
Though back then it was in Armenia
It’s worse than a bad case of yersinia
We’ve seen it played out in Slovenia
They are now moving in on the Kurds
Calling them all kinds of nasty words
But their rationale is for the birds
Who can be counted on to drop their turds

America left them in their lurch
With an alliance that we besmirched
Following a phone call that needs to be researched
By two despots who are clearly unchurched
Now there’s nowhere for the Kurds to hide
From the onslaught or the genocide
But they still fight for their land and pride
And we’ve lost count of how many have died

See the sad part is, it could have been avoided
Before our reputation was exploited
Because our president went and destroyed it
By removing troops that he had voided
To make a move that was so dastardly
Was more than a mistake, it was a catastrophe
And a moral failing if you’re asking me
That now the whole world can see



           Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2019.  All rights reserved.

Here are some possible scripts for the phone ministry I wish to facilitate. They differ based on the tack we would take regarding incentives I wish to propose to draw people in to our grand opening. The proposal is as follows:

First I wish to say that I DON'T want to make this about ME. My talents & abilities. I just happen to have them and wish to use them for the betterment of the Kingdom. I would like to propose an incentive for new people to actually come in. Unchurched people who would NOT ordinarily do so. What better way than the universal language... MUSIC! I have produced a CD with 7 tracks on it. 5 more (including 3 Christmas songs) will be added in order to make a wonderful compilation of 12 songs. Everything from rap to ballads & Country Western. A rock song. All of the lyrics & most of the music was written by me. Most songs are performed by me as well. I have given you sample music. I can't give up the entire collection yet. All but ONE of those CDs are gone. I don't like to part with the last. But it is available to listen to if you wish. At any rate, I would like to offer a CD to each person I talk to over the phone. But they MUST attend our housewarming to receive it. I will have to get the final album up on YouTube so they can hear it. Perhaps you know of someone who can do this for me. That way folks can hear it and desire to receive it.

This will NOT be promoted over the lifepoint church! i want to make this very plain! You will see by my scripts that I "get" the pastor and his Vision. I share this vision and only wish to promote it! The CD is an incentive. Nothing more.

Why am I doing this? Because I love the Lord with all my mind, heart, SOUL & STRENGTH! I don't mind making personal sacrifices. And, as I've said, I have "caught" pastor Andy's Vision. I've been looking for a church family to work for. And i believe I finally found it! The CD would also be for sale. I'm only suggesting this, of course. I will produce the CD and pay all up-front costs myself.


SCRIPT ONE

Hello! What you are about to hear could change your life... FOREVER. YES. I'm calling from lifepoint church. Yep. Uh oh... a CHURCH!  Nope. Not asking for donations. I want to ask you to join us for our housewarming on (date) at (address).

Now I'm just going to tell you a bit about us. Our pastor is Andy Taylor. His intention is in loving people right where they are with God. And to encourage them to bring new people in to hear the message of the Gospel. People of all ethnicities, genders and backgrounds. We are not out to gather a lot of Christians in pews to get tithes & donations to make money. We are a group of authentic people who strive to be more like Jesus. If you'd like to learn more, go to www.azlifepoint.com.

I'd like to see you join us on (date)! And I'd like to give you an incentive to do so. I'm a Christian recording artist. I've written 178 songs for the Lord. 12 of these songs are compiled on a CD called POWER. It hasn't even been released yet. But I will PERSONALLY sign it and give it to you at our opening! You can hear it on YouTube at (YouTube channel info). It has everything from rap to ballads. Country Western to Christmas songs! I've got a Christian rock song on there, too. I hope you like it!

I want to send you a free Christmas poster for talking to me. May I have your address to send that?

THANK YOU! And God bless!


Script two will be like this one, but will leave out the CD incentive.


SCRIPT THREE

Hello! I'm calling from lifepoint church. We're a new, but growing, church in your area. A group of authentic people whose mission is to strive to be more like Jesus. Pastor Andy Taylor is a veteran of 16 years of ministry. He spent 10 of those years growing young Christians at the U of A. His interest isn't in filling pews to get tithes and donations to make money. He wants people who will disciple others. People of ALL races, backgrounds and genders. I can tell you personally... this is a WONDERFUL church! A church NOT made by hands... But HEARTS.

I'd like to see you here at (address) on (date) for our housewarming! We want to give you a free poster for Christmas. It's a poem written and illustrated by yours truly. Could I have your address so I can send this to you, along with an R.S.V.P. invitation? Thank you SO much!

THANKS AND GOD BLESS!


I hope one of these is OK. I'm open to suggestions, of course. My phone number is 520 406 8509. The best time to reach me is mornings or evenings after 7 pm to 10pm (I'm a nightowl! Lol!) Thanks!


Sincerely
Catherine Jarvis

What lie did you tell to get here?

What trick did you need to turn,
to get here…
- who's asking I ask m'self
- here
here where the water's all turned t'wine,
an' not that nasty old Ripple, real wine,
sweet, sweeter than old Mogen David,

boiled down, redis- still, still ness, with a twist,
still says this
is the way this song is sung, first verse.

Second's no worse, could be the chorus,
like breaths of fresh air, in the middle of a cry,

we can sing some sense into someday,
if we get through this night alive.

Memories bid me stay awoken,
jokin' air of jongluers,
I acknowledge, I recall
I played Pressed Rat and Warthog,
on that rosewood recorder,
I gave to that guy doing his duty to God's country,

a couple days after Earth Day One, when we was with
Ol' Pogo, we seen the enemy we was to love,

and my part loved 'em, even then,
yeah, even
then, this was where the road I walked was leading,
otherwise,
I'd be gone, and would have missed, the noise,
around bedtime, real, but similar
to Fifties TV families,
these kids being all PBS+ level average skill with X-box,
these little funny paper people
some times sing silly songs,
that I then learn is K-pop,
but lyrics made up, while
running up two flights of stairs with ten feet
pounding a rhythm in my brain,
pounding we will we will rock you, with
we emphasis, stomping and laughing,
odd these five kids, unchurched, sing together for fun.

To tell the truth, incredible, is the lie, see,
my self, I tested this, I wondered
was it something in the water,
and I found,
if it was, its all been drunk by now,
still, submission to your own peace of mind,
that effort, gentle, easy entreaty, that's
wise enough to call magic… to the nth. Amen.