A MAN CALLED DAD

You are the man called dad

When as a child I cared not

That your soul as mine-lost

GOD to us mattered only little

My thoughts were as a child

Yours the world called dutiful

Life sent me down many path

Some led to times of great joy

Others moments of aching sorrow

You marched confidently on

I became a man of confusion

Sundays being told of GOD

Monday nowhere was he found

Twisted by two competing worlds

Sunday’s GOD Monday’s man

My mother’s willing faith

Father’s rebellious life’s desires

I lived only to survive the day

Awaiting each sunrises wrath

Praying for a nights forgetfulness

Drowning out daylights screams

Darkness consumed my life’s light

My LORD continued to call me

Earthly father didn’t you also hear

You refused to listen to the voice

My life I gave to his Lordship

Now I am called to ask you of you

Will you look at my life present?

Think of my life lived in the past

Know of the sweet voice I heard

Turn from that which holds you

Be consumed by the Master’s love

The dusk of your life arrives soon

Will you await me in his presence?

If the king asks “do I know you”?

Will he then remember my prayers?

Yes you are the man called dad

FOOLISH MAN

Such a Foolish man

Hells flames are burning too close

As you rejoice in their warmth

Laughing at thoughts of such place

Hades legend a simpleton’s myth

Is this world not hell enough

Deaths a sanctuary to be revealed

Satan’s pitchfork a puritan’s ruse

The world offers temporary joy

Does Peace arrive with his entrance?

Follow the deceiver into the depth

Where evil men suffer the abyss

Torment reserved for the hardened

You’ve weighed on man’s scales

No great corruption to be found

A sinner yes, but as are we all

A GOD who loves doesn’t condemn

Grace covers all the sin committed

Hell hath no fury to be feared by men

Heaven no reward to be pursued

You live as tomorrow promised

Your days as passing futures

Time waits for your desires

The Day comes when myths die

How will you answer the King?

Yourself a sinner, Him a sinless judge

Friends of a life will abandon you

Satan of Hades will claim you

God of justice must sentence you

All foolishness is swept away

For on this very night so dark

Your life will be demanded of you

Such a foolish man

BARUCH 2/12/08

ONE YEAR

We’ve walked the pilgrimage path

With our seeing only a short time

Thoughts seared deep into our minds

Wonderment at Holy sites we beheld

Vivid imagery remains even on this day

To linger until death presence arrives

Not all wonders are relics of time

Laughs shared with newfound friends

A gentle spirit comforts a troubled soul

Shoulder given for a sick friend to rest

These are the peaks we strive to ascend

The mountaintops blessed us to arrive

Our hearts soared with each other’s climb

Knowing the Valleys await our return

Time is not merciful to our reminiscence

The new joys return to the old pains

When Memories turn to blurry dreams

Dreams that with silent time have faded

The Determination to serve weakens

Footsteps veer from righteousness path

Did we feed bread to the hungry?

Clothed those who were cold

Tell about the grace of the LORD

The mountain top has become far-away

Distance settles between GOD and us

A month of days have turned to six

A year having now been completed

Tell me what have we become since

We’ve walked the pilgrimage path

BARUCH 022108/

MY BROTHER CAN’T YOU STAY

MY BROTHER CAN’T YOU STAY

Linger for awhile with us men

Your friends savor your presence

Influenced by words you spoke

Lessons learned of your life shared

My BROTHER CAN’T YOU STAY

The men of this table wish to tell

Each of us with a different story

Some men with tears you did share

Others the joy of Heavens laughter

MY BROTHER CAN’T YOU STAY

Is your work here complete?

As the LORD calls you once more

Go to the place I will show you

Again his command you obey

MY BROTHER CAN’T YOU STAY

We ask in our own selfish desire

There is more from you to know

More mountain tops to be reached

Valleys only friends can carry thru

MY BROTHER CAN’T YOU STAY

NO! You must leave us behind

A New life awaits your arrival

GOD’s plan requires you leave

To find another table of men

MY BROTHER CAN’T YOU STAY

The answers rest cold on our lips

Causing sadness in our hearts

For we know what you must say

Goodbye my brothers goodbye

MY BROTHERS I CAN’T STAY

BARUCH 03/21/08

THE CROSS THE CROWN

The Cross comes before the Crown

Darkness attempts to cover the light

Tho coming night is no punishment

Chosen by the LORD,s sovereignty

It is the time to be a light to shine

Now Illuminating steps to salvation

To endure till morning brightness

As Waiting for the sunrise to come

The Shadows cast by the morning sun

There also on this hill it still stands

The Cross refusing to be forgotten

Rough hewn and painful to behold

Radiant from Christ’s Love for us

Offering, pleading, inviting to all

Come see the Lamb sacrificed for all

Understanding the price he did pay

The dear gift of redemptions grace

Forgiveness of sins earthly mistakes

The tragedies of hell to be avoided

Heaven waits with a victors wreath

Given to be received, a king’s crown

So come now to turn toward the hill

Remembering Treasures up in heaven

Gaze upon deaths lonely silhouette

The Cross comes before the Crown

COMPROMISE

Nature cries out with GOD’s authority

See the LORD’s creation and believe

I am perfect all together so wonderful

Natures advocacies was once enough

Then sins influence began to creep

Man soon started his slow compromise

Trees majestic with the voice of GOD

Cut down to be merely a source of heat

Lilies of the valley thought so beautiful

Seen as weeds needing to be destroyed

Babbling brooks running so carefree

Only sustenance to cool a parched thirst

Stars amazing in their nightly brilliance

No longer considered an awesome display

The LORD’s highest creations are blinded

Stumbling aimlessly in the darkness groping

Deliberately searching for life’s answers

Saying to all, GOD we can’t know GOD

Give us proof of this unknown sovereign

Present his Majesty before us on this day

If not leave us to the human gods we know

Before the gods of gold and silver we bow

It’s the world of compromise that we belong

We are responsible to no one but ourselves

A day is coming says the LORD of Host

Terrifying with judgment for the wicked

When evil men’s deeds hidden by darkness

These are given the light of his holy presence

Account of blessings received to be required

Goats and sheep will be gathered right and left

"Then the King will say to those on his right,

`Come, you who are blessed by my Father;

Take your inheritance,

The kingdom prepared for you

Since the creation of the world

Then he will say to those on his left, `

""He will reply, `I tell you the truth,

Whatever you did not do for one of these,

The least of your brothers you did not do for me.'

Depart from me, you who are cursed,

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, `

Into the eternal fire prepared for the devil

With a fearful heart they will beg justification

No one told us, we never heard the truth

Nature cries out with GOD’s authority

See the LORD’s creation and believe

BARUCH 12/22/07

AM I

Am I to praise you O GOD?

How can I find the perfect words?

Who can speak of your majesty?

I am but a corrupt created man

In you they’re no imperfections

Your Holiness shines upon us

Our failures brought to light

Humbling even the most proud

Convicted by you r Holy truth

We stand unworthy before you

Sinful creations deserving death

Yet thru a death our redemption

Lifted up justly before you

Not by our own righteousness

Christ perfection imparted to us

This love for his lost children

The desire that all should come

None being lost to the world

Each one brought up out of sin

Lives forever changed by grace

Changed by a simple act of devotion

A mere bending of one’s knee

Come and kneel at the cross

Accepting Christ redemption offer

The old life is passed away

A new creation is brought to life

A living testament to a loving GOD

Thus on bended knee I proclaim

I am to praise you O GOD

BARUCH 11/29/07