PIECES THE KINGDOM II



A Second Repertoire of

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN



To...

The Children of Israel

...with love.


Acknowledgements:

My humble gratitude to the Holy Spirit who inspires me to this end, to the Word who abides
in those who love Him and to our Father who is in paradise cultivating and attending the
needs of His children and to my wife Shelley who stands by me always.








CONTENTS

Come Word of Life
Adorning the Cup
Fly Out Babylon
I consider Your hand
You Broke My Cup
Gathering for Harvest
Coming of the Lord
The Shepherd's Work
Good Shepherd Sonnet
Cankerworm
Determined to Restore
Doting Live
Jerusalem
The Song of Peace
Comfort in Prayer
On Seventh Avenue
Call of the King
Tabinacled
Seven by Seven
Perfect Attendance
Fire of God
Patience
Alertness
Two soldiers
The Lion and the Lamb
In Bethlehem as Prophesied
Man of the Rainbow
Providence in Perspective
Vision of Faith
Evangelism
Proclaiming the Message
Painting the Truth
Elizabeth & Mary
Fall of Man
Torment Calls You Mine
Destiny Kingship
Into the Fire
Why Does the Poet Write
Mount Up On Wings
Why does the Poet Write
longing for a home
The Businessman
Exhortations
Hope in a New Day
He Is




Introduction

I have wondered why I must experience and know the heart of so many problems, but then when a new piece of writing comes out of my troubles I can be thankful to God. I'm joyful because His Spirit is leading me and I arise and shine and illuminate the world around me. Each of these pieces are portrayals of the scenes I see from heavenly perspectives. They are spiritual paintings who's brush is the word. The life of a watchman is not an easy one but is made precious by a truly deep loving affection for Almighty God through His son Jesus Christ. Being a watchman is a side effect of the desire for closeness with God in prayer and will wax and wane with our own willingness to draw near. Let what has happened to me be an encouragement to your walk with God. I place Pieces Of The Kingdom II in your hands, it contains the Spirit which resides with me. I pray that your meditation upon these pieces brings you closer to the one true living God. If indeed I am the messenger; what would they say if I did not deliver the message?
























Come Word of Life

The Spirit is sighing in me
The Spirit groans in my soul
My mood is despair
my heart is heavy
without satisfaction
I am lonely for the word of God
for the word of the Lord of life
I am no more than chaff
I am but clay waiting to be moulded
My cup is unmade at the wheel
as though the world is lost
and time is blowing away before me
What do I account myself before God?
Am I but dust and clay before Him?
I languish like the withered flower
and fade like the grass
My heart yearns for satisfaction
my body dies without conversation
words of wisdom and comfort
true words of light and life
My heart knows I am not justified
that my time is being eroded
slowly stolen by triviality
while all the while men lay dead
and I who am able withhold my hand
as I go about lesser works and deeds
though they are best attended
yet they deprive men of life
and Myself of life.
Come Word of Life...









Adorning the Cup

Should a cup adorn itself
with badges of other men
like some soldier
who has fought campaigns
and carries medals on his chest
proud of the knowledge he has attained.
Am I some gatherer of words
and a man of quotes from other lands
or will I be a stream flowing
directly from the chamber of God?
My clothes are they the rags
of a desert dweller
a man who has courted the living word
and married himself to wisdom?
For I walk in great company
and I peruse the pages of holiness
my eyes glean not mans accumulation
but knowledge in heavenly scenes
I shall look towards the holy mountain
and gather sticks for my fire
to kindle warmth in heavenly flame
I shall be one who has walked with God
and bear as I do the holy badge
the one and only outward mark
of my Holy anointing of God
If I build myself I am lost
If I yield to being built of God
I will stand before His throne
even to sit beside my pal
for He surely has become that
my own dearest teacher and friend








Fly Out Babylon

Fly out Babylon
for I am coming
Shake at your foundations
because My word is here
and you are pale and painted
and dressed in the blood of My people.
You are the very vile
and stench of the earth
for under your stolen clothing
is a disgusting sight
which no man can look at and live.
You are the very darkness of this world
and I know who you are and did so
from the very day of your birth.
Make no mistake
you are the determination
of the end of the world.
It is by your hand
that the earth cries out
to Me every second.
You make Me sick
so that My judgement
falls onto the land
for from My mouth
comes your punishment
by these words will you
eke out your existence
from now until the end of time.











I consider Your hand

I consider Your hand Lord
I consider the pain
and wretched marks You bear
and see the great
and awesome works You do.
You have built
out of worthless dust a man
who can hardly comprehend
the things You do.
From my heart the
longing cord reaches
the deep cord of our rhythm
humming as it does our song of songs
my soul strums its tune for You
O my God how I love you.
I consider my path
in the ways I have walked.
I consider our mutual
hand in hand vibrations
of our walking to and fro
upon this earth and
I can hardly hope to understand
why it is You have done so with me.
I consider Your love
Your precious love
I consider the depth
You reached into me
and I conclude You love me
like none has done
and because You
devoted Yourself to me
I could do no less
than devote myself to You.






You Rebuilt Me

You broke my cup O God
I was a shattered man
I had willfully
wandered my own path too long
You gathered up my broken pieces
You rebuilt a strong man of me
You reinforced me with fillets of iron
took the worthless fragments of clay
and moulded them again to Your pleasure.

I will remember Your Spirit toward me
for You have rebuilt me with love
Your Spirit resides where
You have imprinted
My glaze shall be perfected
My hews subtle to the eye
My cup overflows with Spirit
and those who set their eye toward me
shall drink of Your perfecting always.

I will stand in Your mantle
set aside from the world and free.
I will be all that You wanted of me
because You O God have rebuilt me
You have cast away the foundation of greed
and shattered the power of self
You have made of me a fortress
and a tower of strength
My buttress' are solid
my walls are unbreakable
You have formed me on truth
and bolstered me with love.






Coming of the Lord

Like the wind across a parched land
blowing dust across its bow
and in its wake a sand storm
like a rustling breeze
changing the shape of trees
tearing away its leaves before the storm
and making it bare as
the bones of those long dead
like a hurricane lashing at the shore
of some unknown Island
uprooting trees in its path
bringing low the habitation of men
this is the day of
the coming of the Lord.
While men sleep
in peace and assuredness
He comes as a thief
and reeks destruction on their home
They are cast from comfort
into the arms of poverty
they are found out
in the day of the Lord
For the Lord sees through
their mock clothing
He knows the heart of men
and their deceitfulness.
"Have mercy!" they cry.
"Have mercy O Lord of lords!"
They now know
the wrath of God was no idle promise
as the storm strips from them
their false clothing
they are without hope
in the day of light.
Like the lightening in the east
truth unveils the lost
Truth like a mighty ray of light
pierces their hardness
as a sword cuts
to the heart of the lost.
Like a mighty thunder
the truth about God is known
who can deny Him
when He is revealed?
Who can say it is not God
but our own imagination?
Who will not repent
who know the Lord?



Good Shepherd Sonnet

Daintily delicately tripping with ease
like a deer upon the mountain tops
is one who almost hurts but stops
then quietly falls upon his knees
to pray with spiritual eyes and sees
how to gently turn the rusted lock
to open doors for those who knock
and proclaim the captives free.
How beautiful upon the mountain steep
and nimble as the deer of feet
is one who never causes strife
but reconciles his flock to life
shearing sheep to shed their fleece
clipping feet in shoes of peace.














The Shepherd's Work

The Lord is our Shepherd
It is He who shall gather the flock
It is the Lord who
will teach them His way.
For the Lord is the good Shepherd
It is He who calls the sheep by name
It is He who knows His sheep.
For they are in the palm of His hand
the sheep love the Shepherd
who cares for them
and it is the Shepherd
who defends them.
He gathers them like pearls
and binds them together
on threads of silver and gold.
It is the Lord
who calls out of Zion

‘Come My sheep I am calling you
Come together like pearls on a string
I will wear you like a necklace
I will carry you about My neck
I adorn Myself with you
For you are My sheep
and I am your shepherd
You know My voice
and I know my sheep.
Come I call you
and gather you
I collect you out of far places
I bring you to Myself
and you will be bought out
of your scattering.
From far away
I gather you together
The lost and the lonely
The outcast and discontented
I gather you to Me
like a clutch of precious children
I nurture you
with my love and protection
I sweep you out of the clutches
of tyranny and oppression
I am jealous after My children.’


The Cankerworm

The word is inside of me
like grains of corn
in the storehouse
And the canker worm
has come out after the word
it eats away the word inside of me
Like an army they destroy
Like a plague they devour
the word in me
Woe is me because of the worm
because of the caterpillar devouring.
The harvest is ruined
surely it is ruined
if I can not stop this plague.

O Lord of Hosts Father of Spirits
I plead with you to halt this attack.
I must be fortified against the plague.
O Lord You are my strength and shield
You are the storehouse who surrounds me.
Who has breached our walls?
How did the destroyer come in
where we were kept?
I am undone because of doubt
I am undone if I do not believe
for the Lord is to be believed
and I can not survive in doubt.
Lord preserve Your own word
Father protect Your own son
for the word is truth
and the truth must survive.

Determined to Restore

‘The day of judgement
is nigh at hand
even at the door
for those who are lost
are claimants of death.
But those who are found
are separated in Love
They are set apart from judgement
by their actions
believe me they are saved.
I will cause to return to Me
those who once thought little of Me
because I have shown My hand through you
and in these deeds
will lift up multitudes
who will turn to love Me
and again strive to obey
and be obedient to Me
to do the will of Him who created them
to obey commandments set for them
from the very beginning of time
to set them above the base of the earth
and make them like Me
so that they might shine on the earth
and take dominion over it
for the good of mankind.
I shall never lack a king
to rule the earth
as long as you obey
there shall be peace and prosperity.
But if you disobey
there is calamity and destruction
for they are waiting in the wings
for the disobedient
ready to take charge
of the foolish of the earth.
My hand is upon you
to bring in the new life of peace
to usher in the time of plenty
and bring to remembrance
He who created all of this for you.’

Blessed be the Lord
on who's hand I am carried.
Blessed is my God
and friend who teaches me.
For it is He who
gently persuades me of the truth
and in His time encourages me
when I am down.
He picks me up and He puts me down
upon the hights I am seated to listen
and in the valleys I am placed a sign.
It is the great deliverer
who has done this.

I am his vessel
only a potters work.
If I carry a glaze
it is by His hand.
If I last at all
it is because of Him.
If I am admired
it is God who did this.
I am only a pot
and He is my Maker.














Jerusalem

Jerusalem. Ah! Jerusalem
how great a city you are
No other land could be bought
that can satisfy my heart
No wonder you are the Holy city
possession of peace your name
Gladly I abandon the world
to sleep beneath your star.

Jerusalem Ah! Jerusalem
battles were fought so proud.
They all wanted to abide within
the walls of your Holy shroud
Little did they understand though
thinking you stone and clay
rather than this possession of peace
which abides in Jesus Day.

Jerusalem Ah! Jerusalem
Holy and so perfectly pure
bestowed precious gift of God
tidings of great joy for sure
Glory to God in the highest
sing the multitude in heaven
On earth peace "Jerusalem"
good will toward men.













The Song of Peace

Peace perfect peace
serenity of body and mind
tranquillity of heart and spirit
these things have become mine.
Freedom from strife and anxiety
liberty of the soul afford.
Harmony between God and man
two bound simply by accord.

Calm waters placid sea
country air to breath
the glow of afternoon sun
a gentle summer breeze.
Lay me down in the clover
retiring beneath the trees.
Resting amiably in gratitude
praise the song of peace.

Peace perfect peace
whispering voices in the sky
carry me away with you to
your heavenly abode on high.
Then might I pass on
carried away in time
to rest in eternity
with the Author of my song.













On Seventh Avenue

On seventh Avenue
called the righteous way
God called man to heed Him
He called him there to pray
God called him to obedience
to the things God would say
but it's there on seventh avenue
that man chose to disobey
There on seventh avenue
grew this hallowed vine
a branch of righteousness
doing good works all the time
Preaching teaching earnestly
encouraging men to climb
assuring God would answer
they ask of Him a sign
In heaven the angels heard
and passed the prayer by mouth
Through Jesus came the plea
so the Father looked Himself
But when the heart was searched
the cupboards shelf by shelf
the soft and mellow tune they played
had a chorus line of self.
There on seventh avenue
people wondered what the cause
why God did not seem to care
why so long He would pause
But heaven knew all the time
the problem was all because
of a log of wood in their eye
and disobedience to the cause







Called Out

O Spirit of holiness
You have made me
like a love sick doe
I pine for my stag
who will cover me
My heart is aflame with passion
I can not go about my duty
I am humbled and love sick

I feel You near to me
my heart caught Your scent
and search as I might
I only catch the merest
hint of Your passing
In the blink of my eye
like the passing of a notion
I missed your fleeting by

My heart caught the breeze
my senses gathered and drip
tantalised by love and mercy
Your mercy anointed my ear lobes
and caresses through my hair
it caught me unawares
and I fell, doting I fell

Return my graceful stag, cover me
let me be filled with You
My passion has been aroused
my season is upon me
my time is ripe in the womb

Do not leave me barren
and do not neglect me in my time
I drip with eagerness
I perspire with expectancy
I have caught Your scent in my heart
Please do not forget me
in my season
Surely I will die
if You do not come
surely I will die

I wait in my darkened room
Surely He must come to me
when I am prepared for Him
Surely He would not forget me
in my season
My eyes drip with longing
I do not know where my love is
My stag He is upon the mountains
He steps above the valleys
His scent is on the wind
His fragrance upon the breeze

I look to the distant mountains
but it is hopeless
I can not see Him
He calls me
but I can not come
I hear His roar above the wind
"Come out!" He trumpets
"I await you
We shall be together
upon the mountain tops"

His banner rides
with the chariots of heaven
across the sky
He proclaims His love
Yet He is elusive
He will not come into captivity
He is a King
He rules from His royal throne
His crown is magnificent
His antlers beyond compare
He is my stag
and I am His doe
I am His love sick doe

I am caught like grapes on the vine
My love for Him oozes like wine
like red wine from me
as though my very blood itself
falls to the earth and cries out
I must break from my captivity
I must go to Him on the mountains
I must stand with Him
I am His doe

I am bruised by the keepers
my heart is tender and bruised
The carers have become keepers
The tenders have become warders
They have bruised the grapes
they have spoilt the wine


Tabernacled

Draw me a tabernacle O Lord
Outline its edges for me to see
Draw for me the finer points
Of Your love and mercy on me.
Radiant glory of Shekinah
Entered and seated with me
Cherubin graceful in witness
Covering wings of mercy.
Enter in with your ark O God
If you find my tabernacle clean
I gladly lie down for you Lord
If You'll make Your home in me.
Show me the symbols of our tent
Point to every sign they see
Reveal to me O God of David
the wings which stand over me.




Seven by Seven

If there are seven hills
that formed the world and
separating the mighty oceans
then there sitting upon the lot
as queen atop her dragon steed
is the blood drenched harlot
and blasphemy called greed

If there are seven forces
within the universal body
that separates it from
the miracles of Almighty God
they'd be unbelief, corruption
lovelessness, fear and death
hypocrisy and compromise

If there are seven internal
strengths of man that
kept him apart from God
they'd be rebellion
arrogance, assertiveness
pride, lust and stupidity
and distractions from the way

If there are seven fruits
that bare witness of the tree
to tell us whether the enemy
or Almighty God it be
there grace, humility
love, mercy, patience, peace
and joy we would see

If there are seven plagues set
for those who disobey
and the depth of them manifest
in Revelations for today
then stepping off the narrow way
trespassing there on satan's ground
promises cruel dismay

If God, day seven declared
blessed and set aside
and a day of sacredness
when God and man abide
then can the blessing also come
to those who themselves
then another day decide

If when the seven trumpets blast
and the Kingdom call sounds
where will you stand then
when satan is thrown down
are you anointed and bowed
to the name above all names
of Jesus the King of renown



Perfect Attendance

Perfect attendance
I wonder what God thinks of me
Surely that I'm a good girl
and because of this He loves me

Yes I am good because I come
this my teachers perceive
Every sunday I present myself
to this God I can not see

Perfect attendance
God wants me here they tell me
I come every time I'm faithful
and for this they have awarded me

I wonder about my wayward eyes
does He see the things I see
Sometimes I look when I shouldn't
does that mean He still loves me

Perfect attendance, ah!
But inside their eyes can't see
the things of the heart of God
but the conflict of my eyes in me

I wish my eyes would behave
and not seek the things I see
I wish You could train them Lord
in perfect attendance to thee

Perfect attendance ha!
What outright hypocrisy
I wonder if they know that
I've looked pornographicly

O Lord won't you help me
with the things that I see
Please God, I feel wretched
please change the way in me

Perfect attendance
Lord please deliver me
When I close my eyes
those scenes I still can see

Thank you Lord of spirits
You really do understand
You so quickly forgive me
then allow me to stand

Perfect attendance...
Lord this belongs to You
When I cry out for help
You come shinning through

Now it's really up to me
to stand against their guise
to remember perfect attendance
whenever it comes before my eyes



Fire of God

There is a patch of clay
a land that bears my name
and a stone which will one day
proclaim the whereabouts of the same
Folks may come there to talk to me
but therein I will not be
for His Holy Spirit guides me
a man of God I am born free

My flesh God gave that I exist
and my bones that I might stand
He gave me muscles to walk and talk
that in me He might move man
He gave me eyes that I might see
and hands that I might touch
He gave me ears that I might hear
the pure voice of God as such

God gave to me to search inside
the wondrous truths of life
He rendered my heart to love
and He shed from me strife
He placed a sword within hand
to pen for earth's fraternity
wondrous things inscribed in stone
to live on for all eternity

So inscribe this word on that stone
above the clay which holds my bone
The Fire of GOD came inside
The Fire of GOD did reside
The Fire of GOD will decide







Patience

What we hope for in faith
what we wait for in time
what is the price of life
only patience will find

The time between promise
and the fulfilment to come
is paid by patience
a most princely sum

Testing the saints
it tempers our faith
squeezed of our fruit
the essence of grace

Tolerating the wait
wrought by endurance
striding towards eternity
while suffering existence

What is heaven then
that she demands this test
that we may reside there
amid all the blest

In patience we are refined
according to God's accord
to possess our soul then
be patient for our reward










Alertness

"You have lost your alertness"
came the voice in the morn
came the bright and morning star
for the word praise my Lord
Yes, I have waxed away
my ears have become dull
and my eyes grown dim
No more do I stand attentive
at my watchman tower
though I pray still
and I groan for my Lord
I have lost the edge
the finely ground edge
of my Lord's knowledge
and the brightness
of His light upon my life
I have abandoned my post
I have not returned to my parapet
I have waned from my task
and no watchman stands in my stead
I come back to my task
in this word I return
so easily I was knocked from my post
and I lay grieved in my bed
I shall stay at my post
and watch for the holy ones
I shall remain alert
and I shall be attentive
for I know my task at hand
and the reward which awaits me
in the home prepared for me
I am feeble but life is tenacious







Soldiers Differing

Soldiers of confrontation
wielding sword in hand
conquest of the nation
to take the promised land

Soldiers fighting strong
battling heartily for man
trying to change the wrong
sinners repent and stand

Soldiers desperate to win
urging the lost to change
praying God save from sin
grant a heart exchange

Soldier of reconciliation
maturing fruit of the vine
restraining his determination
luring souls through time

Soldier fighting spiritual
submitting to God in trust
battling to tame his will
though desire be to thrust

Soldier enduring relentless
peace attracts not strife
practicing in righteousness
the prize eternal life

Your footsteps are proving
what kind of soldier you are
should it be peacefully
or like a fallen star

If you can't conquer
your own imagination
who can you conquer then
in this congregation

Tread gently young christian
softly walk your path
make haste within kindness
and love will make it last

Gently does it christian
God will draw them in
show our faith beautiful
they will leave their sin.


The Wayward Lamb

The Lion is roaring
once again he is roaring
it is time to hunt
a time to kill

The earth shakes at his voice
all who hear go on the alert
He stirs his great body
He lifts himself once again
to prowl to and fro upon the earth

What is this I hear
coming from afar off
do I hear the voice of a sheep
even the voice of a little lamb
he is lost, the little one
His cries go unheeded
He is abandoned in the wilderness

Does his mother hear him
Does she run to his rescue
Alas she is deaf
and she does not know
She has been asleep
and does not know her loss

The lion has pricked his ears
yes, with the wind a scent
he shapes for the stalk
he quickly positions for the kill

The lamb still calls
for his mother
Still she does not come
Is that her in the grasses
Is my mother coming
I will go to meet her
surely this is my mum

Every muscle tensed and ready
the lion waits to pounce
as if to set a banquet
the lamb walks into his mouth

"You fool, you little lamb
has nobody ever told you
the woods are full of evil lurking
behind every shadow a mouth

As if the lamb ran out of cord
abruptly he stops short
His master plucks him up
from the lintel of death itself

O little one
how that I would mould you
only don't wander off in the dark
for the lion is on the prowl










In Bethlehem As Prophesied

Immanual all meek and mild
To virgin Mary was born a child
In a cattle stall a humble heir
In Bethlehem as prophesied
Shepherd's hear the manger sign
Glory to God the Angel's line
Peace on earth good will toward men
In Bethlehem as prophesied

Wise men east follow His star
Bestowing gifts from lands afar
Fell they and worshiped Him King
In Bethlehem as prophesied

One crying in the wilderness
Spirit of Elijah paved the way
For the Holy Child lamb of God
In Bethlehem as prophesied

Came the bread and the light
The way the truth and life
Came the word in flesh for men
In Bethlehem as prophesied

A Rod from the stem of Jesse
From David grew The Branch
Tree of life bearing gifts of God
In Bethlehem as prophesied

Behold I am coming quickly
I am the Bright and Morning Star
Orchestrating like the nativity
In Bethlehem as prophesied






Man of the Rainbow

I see a wooden boat large
as a ship fitted for long voyages
and there a man simple and old
organising the work of construction
Commanding men here and there
placing boards across its bow
laying decks up to its prow
filling joints with tar
making her seaworthy
for a voyage yet far off

Times are difficult
The old man is perplexed
Everyone jeers at him
and scoffs at his efforts
You fool, they shout
You silly old man
why don't you get on
with proper work
instead of wasting time
building so large a boat
in this a desert land

Am I crazy to do this thing
all these years I've toiled
and my sons with me
barely finishing the hull
years of interior
still yet to complete
All the people wonder at me
doing such a strange thing.

I have preached truth
and I have struggled
with their wicked ways
but my actions reveal
truth working in me
even though they in truth
do not believe

I wonder just what
future generations will
think of this strange
gray old bearded man
a preacher of righteousness
a boat builder in the desert
a man called Noah

We remember you Noah
whom we would follow
We remember you Noah
man of the rainbow.









Bread of Heaven

Bread of heaven my guiding word
The orders come for me to serve
Lessons like butterflies fall
Nudges to assist me in my call.
Bread of heaven fresh each day
I listen close to what You say
Each morning I rise up to stay
To eat fresh manna for the day.









Providence in Perspective

If believing in God
meant certain prosperity
man would believe
for love of the benefits
rather than the love of God
Be thankful therefore
for providence which
in its way is pruning you
and helping to prove
your great love for Him

Be thrilled therefore
the wine-dresser comes
with his knife to prune
for He loves the vine
caring for your growth
And be happy when
after your perspective
has wandered waywardly
your growth is pruned
and you may again flower

So then flower as a branch
solidly rooted and abiding
in the vine and do not
worry about the fruit
else spoil the wine
For the vine does bear
fruits of love and joy
and peace faith kindness
gentleness humility patience
and inner control.







Vision of Faith

Vision is the beginning of faith
like a seed that sends down roots
and grows a shoot towards heaven
to flower and set seed a hundred fold
to shower upon the earth for men
to put down roots and grow shoots
and multiply a hundred fold again

Endurance is the testing of faith
like the wind which blows so cold
and bends the leaf as if to scald
which tries to break the leaf and stem
but toughens and fortifies its hold
by roots well laid down I'm told
upon the rock of rocks for men

Promises of faith are benefits of man
for from one single pod of seed
that falls upon the soil and dies
there grows a whole field of wheat
which germinates to loaves of bread
and feeds the thoughts inside the head
of a hundred thousand men asleep.

You've been given a whole new life
God is engineering your future
If you drag your old life before others
you'll destroy the image God has made.











Evangelism

So many are trying
to raise an egg
and pluck a chicken
that isn't dead
or make a meal
of something said
when really alls required
is shake your head
or nod and smile
and let the breeze
blow awhile
'cause man knows best
what words will test
the very heart
of those not blest
and yet they
in their eager way
are lost and will
never learn to stay
close by God
for His will
to just say
what really will
make lost men pray
the bring singing
their soul into
heaven to stay.












Proclaiming the Message

We post our stamps upon the wall
and hope men will see and call
here in our mission hall
and seek then discuss and
sit a spell and pray with us

A hill somewhat distant
where life stands tall
as a banner of hope
for those bodies who fall
along deaths sideway

Eat heartily wayfarers all
the highways and by-ways call
beckon men in the marketplace
hail come hither to feast
for our portion we share

Love calls humbly afresh
not a silent unfruitfulness
but a message in herself
a voice of utter sweetness
whispering out of meekness

A statement in the heavens
"Watch and admire My hand
I have moulded and engraved
and set forth My will
upon this distant hill."










Painting the Truth

If I had a brush in my hand
and an easel standing before me
loaded with a prepared canvas
I'd paint in oils a wondrous scene
one which man would look at in awe
I'd paint of leaves falling in the autumn
and branches listless against the sky
I'd show stark references to things I know
I'd show the land as it really is
how dead it lies before me
like skeletons on a battle field
long since the war was won
and the earth scorched bare and gray
like ashes from a grass fire
I'd paint such truth that man would run
for his heart could not bare the truth
of how lost and barren he makes the world
if he only knew the truth.
I'd blow up a whirlwind across this scene
with my brush of gold
and I place before you turbulence
as the bones writhe so slow
the anguish they still proclaim
though death had its way
never will they forget their sin
and their stupid ways of old
Ay, now you see the view
as clearly I have painted it for you
see the bleak fortune that is in store
for the lost of this earth.

Paint a lonely land
one which leaves every man separate
paint a lonely land of disgrace
Paint a picture of desolation
paint it with bright colours
paint me a picture of disgrace
Paint me a river without water
and a land without flowers
paint it without grass and trees
Paint me a land desolate and forgotten
with many colours to see
paint me golden sand dunes
and blue pacific oceans
but do not paint marram grass
or ships in motion
Paint me a sky cloudless and blue
not a bird or insect flying through
paint me a land desolate and barren.

If I paint a picture of nature
you look to her and judge
by the likeness.
If I paint a picture of heaven
how is it that you will believe
and change your ways.









There are two ways
to deal with a tender heart
one is to build a wall against
all that might threaten you
but you shut out love
the other is to give yourself
to God's supernatural love
where you'll feast protected.







Elizabeth & Mary

Coming down from on high
an angel told me I'm with child
I didn't know what to do
this is why I've come to you.

Mary Mary it must be difficult
you unmarried and all the guilt
but now my baby leaps inside
Must be that God is nigh.

Elizabeth your face becomes radiant
and your complexion intense
what manner of revelation comes
that this should be so.

Blessed are you Mary among women
blessed is the child in your womb
why has the mother of my Lord come
you have believed so it shall be done

The soul of Mary hallows His name
I rejoice in Holy flame
God has considered humbleness
and generations will call me blessed.

Pure and lovely Mary you are
holy is the vessel and star
So perfect a tabernacle none has made
to house the Lord of this handmaid.

Mercy to them that fear His name
My God has showed His arm
Scattered the proud who contrive
lifting the low and downing might

Exalted are you Mary indeed
For God chose you for His seed
what manner of perfectness be
that in such a way you concieve

When the angel Gabriel delivered
stating "You are highly favoured"
My heart could hardly contain
that the Lord inside of me remains

How frightening that must have been
the brightness and glory of him
Gabriel bestowing blessings of kings
upon such as Israel has never seen

I was troubled and shook with fear
never before had an angel come near
or spoken words of greeting like this
that almighty God with me might kiss

And you to Joseph betrothed
what thought this might have chose
desiring all pure and white
now to be wed out of sight

Then the angel raised my head
said "Fear not you're in good stead
for behold you will indeed conceive
and Jesus your son's name shall be"

Oh! Mary what fear must come
your heart taking in what's done
for you to face the difficult
dashing hopes of purest silk

He shall be great the angel blessed
will be called son of the Highest
he shall reign on David's throne
His kingdom forever His alone

But how did you conceive
blessed bride of God Mary
let us know what happened
to bring to man the Lord of heaven

It was as the angel did understand
for I had known no man
the Spirit of Holiness came over me
and the power of God did I see

Mary how is it you contained yourself
for I would scream and shout
my fear might take control
but you have made peace of soul

My peace was of God inside
a holiness so softly plied
for the Spirit was of gentle fruit
a most loving and tender suit



























Torment Calls You Mine

Come brush let us paint anew
Some piece to illustrate the view
I see upon this earth this day
when in heaven my ears do pray.
Sunny as the world all seems
Yet the clouds gather in my scene
And man who is upon the earth
Lies like dry bones in mirth.
Laugh aloud hearty men of sin
Make the most of this day within
The grace of heavens great might
You walk and talk and delight.
Make merry, yes shout and sing
Make the most of everything
within your grasp in this time
for our years of freedom decline.
Cover up your sorrows neat
Hide behind windows of deceit
And make the most of yourself
Lest old age robs your wealth.
Come delight and carry on this way
Lie and cheat and be carried away
And drink all the best red wine
So that torment will call you mine.
Yes you'll be my bedfellow now
Wallowing soul of misspent vow
And we'll live in eternal disgust
As you comfort my sodomite lust.
Fear not you we won't be content
For here our feeling shall be pent
Up in regret of our folly and mirth
Of us who yielding to self on earth.







Fall of Man

In the beginning
God and man could talk
everything man needed
God created for him.
man was given the earth
to have as his dominion
and all of the blessings
God created in it
were freely given to him.
God made one condition
for all of this providence
man must love the word
of the one who created him
by accepting another's word
however man separated himself
from his creator and provider
and toil became his existence
because he lost his authority
and kingship on the earth.
If we can not overcome
the battles of our spirit
then the body which
imitates the spirit
will manifest the wounds
of the war above.














Destiny Kingship

O how the world press'
on us who would be kings
The world has its way
mirrored upon those gone before
to press oneself ever onward
against the tide of competition
against the warning drums of doom
and the shrug of disbelief
To blindly forge ones way ahead
into the land of human logic
where another is appointed king
where no hope of mastery
is apportioned you its slave
grappling tortured rejected
unfulfilled in ones destiny
when all the time the crown
of ones own glory goes wasted
in the hights of some unclimbed mountain.
O that I could see this hill I stand upon
where my destiny finds an easy climb
and mastery is within my heart
though logic has no place apportioned
And where the seed stored within
will find ground prepared
and open gates upon fertile fields
where neither crow nor briers frequent
and the mighty harvest awaits
within the promise of nourishment.
Grand though ones thoughts might be
Ones only hope lies in destiny
the plan outlined before our birth
on the drafting boards of heaven
beneath the hand of divine decision.
One must await however hard it be
upon chance some might say
though in truth our window in time
for every thing has its season
and know within that if it can
the world would tempt you and
contrive to shackle you in mammon yokes
enslaving ones heart inside despair
and frustrating the flesh with toil
while robbing you in your season
because all hope seemed forever lost.
Though not an educated fellow at all
because he loved pressed on until the top
where he soured on the hights of the world
and there took his appointed throne
and sat stately forever beneath his banner
which marked the cause for which he fought
A noble cause not often fought by men
but this was no ordinary man in the least
no for this was one who had knowledge
of rare and mystical heaven sent things
which man had long discarded as trash
and taken himself to imagining of self
No, one would do well to search deep
into the refuse gates of mans city streets
for they are the gathering gates of heaven
of the holy city which comes down from on high
What man rejected heaven gladly gathers
for one mans rubbish is another's treasure.


















Into the Fire

How much I love the fire Lord
How much closer to you it brings me
To give the fire life, light and warmth
Something has to continually die
Stick by stick into the fire
A tree is consumed in time
That the flame merrily dance
Flickering light around the hearth
Stick upon stick just in time
Lest the warmth fade in its heart

The word is a fire
and my flesh its fuel
I yield and you dance
I hold back and you die
O but how hungry you are
How demanding your need
I give and we glow
I yield and we speak
But when I withhold you die
And I die though I live
To live is to die
And to die is to have life
God what a paradox this life.

Now the flame is out
The coals glow with last life
Soon only ashes will lay
In the bed of the night
The tree is gone
No more does he stand
Stick upon stick given up
Burnt up is the flesh of man
But lo if you close your eyes
You'll see a flicker here and there
With a charred blackened coal
As the flame dances clear

The flesh wrote and wrote
'neath the light in his heart
And out of the ashes
Pieces of script were unearthed
About a man and God and fire
That sparked other trees to yield
To give warmth and light
With the fire of God's might
Long live the fire here inscribed
While I sleep with delight


Books I Have Read

Many books I have read
they made me strive to achieve
they fired me up
without a place to go...
Some books had me bend at the knees
some made me cry
and reflect awhile...
Some were just lies
and I put them aside.

I've seen this
that there are spirits in books
like flies on a carcass
they point to the source.
Some books honestly advocate
what the author believes
and though he be mistaken
this is what the reader sees
His credentials elevate his words
though in truth they are absurd.

As for me I have no credential
save one I have listened
and I have passed on
what I heard and gleaned
as truth stood my tutor.
May this Spirit reside in you.

Why Does The Poet Write

Why does the poet write
Why does the preacher speak
of'times strolling lonely paths
Sometimes walking heavens street

Dying to the flesh while
His thoughts are taking form
An embryo outside created
His mind travails and it's born

Birthed out of ponderings
And painting word philosophies
Gathering ashes into life
To breath forth prophecy's

Why does the poet write
In the beginning the dictate
The paper his only audience
In the end she becomes his mate

Wisdom says do not give mankind
All of the secrets you know
Lest the snake tempt him
And he eat his own death blow

Publish only what you want to be
Preach only what you really belive
For in the end spirit you will be
And that because of what others see.










Longing for a Home

Cradle me in your arms again
Let me suckle at your breast
Then indeed I shall feel content
Nourished in your loving nest

I have searched high and low
In the mountains and beneath the sea
I have wasted myself in search of you
In whose arms I can not be

Call out the winds both east and west
Ride me upon your chariot cloud
Wisk me into her loving arms
O thunder shout my plea aloud

Set my quest like a spark of fire
Like lightning fracturing the sky
As day I shall see though it's night
Her waiting there with arms out wide

Those demure, gentle, cradling arms
Secure, loved and nourishing deep
This is the plea of the heart of man
Who would glide on clouds of sleep















The Businessman

There was a man
who went into business
he built up his business
with all his might
day and night he worked to build it
rising early and staying late
he became wealthy
and with his money did great deeds
he purchased a great building
and fitted it with finery
then his eyes were drawn
to build bigger and better things
to make for himself a name
that he would be established forever
then one day in his conference room
while sitting alone amougst the chairs
a voice came to him saying
"that which you give your life too
will surely take your life"
And so he began to think
of what he'd given his life too
and what would take his life in the end
He looked around at all he had built
the beauty suddenly drained out of it
from the walls dripped his own blood
across pictures of his family
and he knew his efforts were in vain
because of the pool forming on the floor
where ebbed hours of work and worry
that had come to nothing but pride









Exhortations

Fellowship in the Spirit
and in everything rejoice
giving thanks to God.
Let the Spirit have His Holy way
let His purity have dominion
and allow the Word to change you.

Do not despise prophecies
nor quench the fire of the spirit
but test things by their fruit
hold fast to what is good
earnestly pursue things of God
abstaining from all evil.

Surely God's Word is a fire
the fire will burn away all
that is not born of the Word
and engineered by the Word
and built layer by layer
upon the Word of God.

May the fire of the Word
burn from you the dross
bring peace and one accord
comfort to the faint-hearted
and strength to the weak
and patience to all.












Hope in a New Day

Can you see the sun rise
the dawn of a new day
God has things in store
adventures in what He's doing
The setting sun has gone
and it will come again
But O look at the dawn
of this bright and new day
We can look to the past
and learn so much from it
But hope is in the future
where God is doing things
Look to the new horizon
the dawn illuminating its shape
Its hills and valleys shadowed
being exposed by the light
Look the sun exposes a river
flowing peacefully from the source
Its banks cradle life and
trees along its sides bare fruit
Journey we must from our walls
to explore its shallows and depths
To clamber over rapids and falls
and lay eyes on its mystery source
Jehovah - Jireh God our provider
source of all that is good
Enable us to see the hope
and feel the wondrous joy
which nestles entwined in this day
Cause us to step beyond these walls
and catch the Spirit of Adventure
that will draw us to seek and to find







He Is

God lives
He Said "I AM"
To me He spoke
God exists
He is

Christ lives
"This is My Son"
God spoke of Him
witness' heard
He is

Holy Spirit lives
witnessing God in me
He teaches me
comforts me
He is

Satan lives
accusing the saints
He contends
He lied to me
He is

I live
I know by pain
I am tested
heaven trains
I am