tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52842511952375094472024-03-05T09:24:05.108-06:00Revelations And ReactionsThere's everything you know and what you've yet to learn. Life's about what you care about and the things you don't. Truth is, hate is closer to love than indifference. I simply expect that you are fascinated by, and care about words.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-47229360721122927682016-09-16T12:56:00.000-05:002016-09-16T12:57:51.741-05:00<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Why do so many of you fly your flag everywhere, and all the time?"</span></b></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Flag Says "You're Free" </h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="webkit-fake-url://31dc6031-9bd1-4c37-8303-aa863c0a5e04/imagejpeg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A friend from another country asked, "Why do so many of you fly your flag everywhere and all the time? You guys are oddly patriotic." I put quotes around that, I suppose the friend didn't use exactly those words, but close. I said that unless you are a people who have been constitutionally charged with governing your own country, and given the freedom to stand with each other as leaders of a United States of America, you will have difficulty understanding. I added that citizens of the United States are charged to express and protect citizen rule by teaching and inspiring each other to remain involved as free people, and a free system...Americans by that definition are logically and necessarily (italics) patriotic. Furthermore, freedom inspires hope; Hope for each individual, hope for each tribe, town, city, county, state, and nation. Freedom inspires activity and action, that we are not only righted by, but charged with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Any one in any system that is not established as free and uniquely citizen ruled must only celebrate with rituals inspired to celebrate a country, or a royalty, or some other meaning-making effort. Americans are charged with the right to celebrate each other, to respect the others' unified rule, and to trumpet freedom as high and low as one can...without it freedom dies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Freedom will not die by my hand. Yes, we fly our flag, and we are lifted to stand before the first note of our anthem sounds. We raise our flag, and settle it at half-mast because the constitution mandates, we show respect for heroes and each other, and because a free person has no shackles by which to justify him or her to remain seated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We raise our flag, daily and by the might of those rattled by death, and overtaken by terrorism. When terror happens we are reminded by we together can take up our arms and defend ourselves. I will not hesitate to defend you, my free people with whom we rule. What reason has a man to stand than by freedom's call? No other has borne such a mandate. You and I cannot fail to raise her. You and I cannot fail to stand by the names of the fallen, and by all affected...which means you and I as well. We are all affected by the dawn of new terror, and instead of giving ourselves and our liberties away, we must take them up and stand, and stand hard. Only then do we honor the fallen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Those who seat themselves in high power honor no one. By defying the oath and creed of a free citizen, you tarry the sword against the repressed, not for them. Only by standing can you take up the call of a free man and honor the repressed, and continue your effort for them. Because freedom is light, responsibility, expectation, and hope. Anything less is merely living. Because freedom means something. I carry my flag proudly because I am a ruler with you. Those we've chosen to represent us have learned the temptation of power wielded by one, rather than power restrained by the many free. You must not allow them such prowess. They have forgotten the joy of ruling amongst the free. Remind them on a day such as today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few days ago my daughter Alyssa poignantly wrote, "15 years ago Americans discovered a deeper level of freedom and patriotism. Let's not forget what happened that day. Honor those who have died, survived and continue to fight for liberty and justice for all." "Liberty," she said. You're going to hear words bandied about like "democracy," and "unity," to sway you. These words without Liberty firmly attached to them can mean many things that are not free...and often do. Take heart, and firm your grip on freedom, because you are and will be summarily dismantled from the inside out if you don't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Understand that your freedom only happens when you take your place as a giant cooperative of citizens who govern, and who are supported by a self-limiting government. That is how to be American, and that is how to honor whom we honor today...the citizens who were viciously and maliciously wiped from this earth on their own turf, and those citizens who rent their lives for their sake on that day, and on days and years after. I am not tepid by my call to unity in freedom, no. I club that bell with all my might, and give you my all. For I am a free man. I am an American.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why do we fly our flag? The flag says, "You're free."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">American? Act like it.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-40324310112197916362013-10-19T00:15:00.000-05:002013-10-24T12:29:07.466-05:00I Am<b>I am</b> the strength of a new name, my own name, courageous and empathic, that I shall not disparage.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I am</b> a story of the adventurers heart of the midwest fervor, where pheasant's calls like liberty and children lie in wait for them, leearning to hunt by well aimed finger shots, and travel to fantastical places in cloud chariots.<br />
<br />
<b>I am</b> the house of orange, not petty, not stingy, not cheap, but most certainly careful.<br />
<br />
<b>I am</b> by God's own hand, and I know in whom I have believed, and I know that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day.<br />
<br />
<b>I am</b> the life of stories bathed in the alacritous notes from pipes and players playing with experience meant for them, and retold by me.<br />
<br />
<b>I am</b> whetted by tulips and Beethoven, and the ethereal spirit birthed from a rock-n-roll soul rising from the dirt and pitts of the lowlands, and low hearts.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-10327795542848462712013-09-14T15:34:00.000-05:002013-09-14T15:41:50.104-05:00Fork in the Road<br />
Feels like I've been awake for all of it. One day you're three, swaying about the beginners ballet floor, or popping around the corner off the sidewalk into the driveway on your green machine big-wheel, and the next you're...I don't know, hurting with experience and wisdom.<br />
<br />
I'm in this meadow. I remember arriving but I don't remember the fork in the road. There must've been one, For some of those that I remember aren't here. <br />
<br />
I sometimes can't remember if I travelled in the interstate or the back gravel, or which way was most unique to me. I think people laughed a bit, warmed by fire and wine. But then why does skin yellow and flowers die? Eventually what's left is a pot and a coffin.<br />
<br />
I don't remember the fork in the road. I walked through the forest, and even hiked a few. I wonder if the cliff-sides turned me away or was it the fear? When difficult choices slithered into my sphere of influence, I feel as if I opted for different modes of transportation. One only recognizes the path against the sky where there seems to be none were it not for life up there tracking one through the sky.<br />
<br />
Do we lack imagination? Emotional philanthropy means a willingness to emote by either rote, note, vote, or remote. But the mechanical, the anecdotal, the confidence, and the distant good intentions will taunt me and you. only that the life between tutus and tardives proved that I trusted something, and that others are here. <br />
<br />
Once I reached the place called "roots" I turned. I had not wondered what I missed until then. I'd eaten the golden fruit, and remembered the taste but little else. God had given me secrets I dared never to share, for fear of tears spilt onto rocky soil. So I buried them, and could fairly say, hid them surreptitiously. It seems I even left my memory there.<br />
<br />
Until someone shook my hand and thanked me. The job wasn't difficult, but I was there. And then another, and another. I turned toward a path I thought had been a hike into the uncharted and unnoticed. I looked at cartographer's record and compared them with the man I'd helped. His map was similar to mine, to my chagrin. Oh, there were differences, and there were territories I had discovered. Turns out I showed others my own territory, and even allowed them to till my land. There had been moments of terror, and others of joy.<br />
<br />
I remembered. I remembered more of the path. I remembered animals, and flowers, and stuff that was unnameable, and became nothing more than lollygags and dooperbugs. <br />
<br />
I named my own star. But I still don't remember the fork in the road. I just remember how many footprints I saw on my path tread. I remembered more. Forbidden fruit made me sick. Made me look at myself without the forest and the road. I thought I was the capacitor for my own light. I shook someone's hand, and thanked them. I thought about that. Maybe I had chosen something, but my path seemed a series of planned accidentals.<br />
<br />
Ah, faith. Accidents are really no more than a stubbed toe that probably led to something significant. Anything seemingly worse arose as no accident at all, but periods of growth and anger.<br />
<br />
I named a star, I think I told you that once before. I remember the name, "Narciss" I called it, because it always forced me to look at myself. I can't remember where the star is anymore, I've moved on. An arrogant star with a name shines somewhere, just as it always has. <br />
<br />
Maybe looking up, into the infinite was a way to avoid the fork in the road. I learned that the infinite includes up and out. Prayer works I suppose, and sometimes wishes on my star wojuld come true. <br />
<br />
Prayer is a fork in the road. It proves that God is still faithful either way. Prayer keeps us looking out and up. Is the capacitor and the light. I know that now.<br />
<br />
I looked for the golden fruit, and realized it was gone. My bag was empty. How could this be? What's mine is mine! But another shook my hand, and I happened to notice his bag was empty. I failed to understand then what I know now. I worried about the fruit because it sustained my own pursuits. But the reason we were all so happy upon that meadow at the end of the path was the realization that they, we could not have foreseen this meadow, and therefore could not have foreseen any of it.<br />
<br />
I realized my name. Narciss. I had become a fire that had been consumed within itself, and threatened its life. But I could not have foreseen the path and a I smiled. I wondered how we all had come to this meadow, with laughing daffodils, and whispering grass. My muscles were taut and painful. Man, I'm tired. Man I'm tired. It's been a hell of a thing. I just want to sit down.<br />
<br />
Problem is I believed my story mattered to me and those I could persuade to see me. <br />
<br />
I felt a hug, and a rub. Someone behind me, I tried to turn, but was prevented. I simply enjoyed this holy massage. I smiled again. There were forks in the road, but I was never alone.<br />
<br />
I wished upon another star. "Grace." The star shone bright, but it's illumination turned out to be her. My star was again not of my own devices, but an adoption gift. She stepped outside the tendrils of a star and took my hand.<br />
<br />
Faith and meadows, a marriage of love and salvation. She took my hand, and as always the meadow winds changed and a new path emerged. <br />
<br />
We now tread, sometimes carefully. But suddenly there is a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. I can look around and stretch my hand to the wonder along the path. My skin has softened, joined by grace, and my eyes are opened, brushed by the holy. Her hair is now my constant meadow, her hands my security, and our our faith is our hope, and is His confidence and his promise.<br />
<br />
I now look to the stars, the hills, and the path. I can hear my feet scratch the dirt worn by a new path. Our breath. Our breath. Others are there too. A calling perhaps. <br />
<br />
Until a new meadow, I have my grace.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-23595364298559922262013-09-07T11:26:00.000-05:002013-09-07T15:56:44.166-05:00Midwest<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Midwest</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">a poem by richard j. elgersma </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you <i>seen</i> the plains of the midwest?
I have. I have. Rolls of hay match the
natural sway of the land full of wheat, barley
and corn touched golden by the midwest sun,
a different kind of sun than anywhere in the world
if you ask me. Because my sun drips honey dew across the grasses and every living thing. A full warm, familiar, and comforting honeypot tips over the horizon; Sweet abundance garnished with strawberry red and clementines. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I lived where the streets, full of bicycles and kids
and safe laughter somewhere outside the worry
of their parents who seem mostly satisfied that
they're ok. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I live in pain and dusted memories, sometimes fresh
and afoul, and sometimes drowned in the pheasants
cry, and the geese clamoring above in their original peloton. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">God eyes and angels visit this place, all unawares
until you've pressed this land for all she's got,
leaned into her aggressive hills, wrestled with
the hearts of her hard-working souls. And like the honeybee sunk in colorcaves and pollen
rest, you lie pillowed on your back in prairies,
counting sheep and inventing worlds in clouds.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-34662952180898599322011-07-08T10:47:00.003-05:002011-09-09T10:06:14.124-05:00CottonwoodsFloating cotton fields<br />
Perspired July cottonwoods<br />
Curvy summer windsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-74292863118532629242011-06-16T14:45:00.004-05:002011-06-17T17:37:10.110-05:00Rarin' to Roll<div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dad got his 1985 250cc motorcycle running after sitting in the garage for more than 25 years. He was knocked over by a ferocious German Shepherd on his way out of the driveway one morning on his way to work. That dog was more than a pain in the neck. He was bloody mean. And I guess he hated motorcycles and didn't like dad much either, making him less of a dog in my eyes. I don't remember that he rode it again. He came back into the house a little bloodied, his hands shaking. I think I remember that he didn't get too excited. I think he always sensed that his wife and his family needed his surety, even when he should be freaking out. The bike lay there on the dirt. That Shepherd held dad at bay for awhile. Eventually he got the bike moved to the garage, and there it sat, a bit tainted, but ready nonetheless. The motorcycle became more a dusty fixture than anything. That's the way of things sometimes. Maybe we needed to forget for awhile. Maybe he couldn't afford to fix it. A man's allowed his reasons. It's all good. By faith and time, wiles and dreams, some hard work, wisdom and a little integrity, some times things come full circle.</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here we are, a good ways down 2011 and his classic 250cc Honda motorcycle is finally fixed, and my Dad is back on the bike! Maybe enough time has past, maybe they can afford it. Doesn't matter really. The courageous don't just get back on the horse, so to speak. They hop on with spurs on. I remember sitting on that bike as a boy thinking I wanted to ride it, needed to ride it, so I could be just like my dad. I doubt I'll ever have to dust off my dad. He gets hurt sometimes, but never stops. Some guys stop. They quit. He'll never be a cranky chained, stiff wheeled old man, my dad won't. At sixty-something he's slower maybe. He smells a few more roses these days. But he paces himself. I don't crank my bike hardly ever. Best way to ruin something is to go full tilt all the time. Takes wisdom to keep it cool. </div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I guess I'll never be just like my munificent dad. But, I am my father's son. When I finally ride it someday soon, I'll feel proud to have the privilege of sharing a part of his life on that little red dream. The German Shepherd's dead. But it's hard to keep a good man and his ride down. The bike, my dad and myself are alive, ready and rarin' to roll.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-2592839612017682712011-05-30T10:20:00.017-05:002011-06-05T14:14:56.857-05:00Thank You for Serving<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Both my dad and my wife's dad came home one day after a long 'bout in Vietnam. They returned to a country that seemed either to hate him or that wasn't aware he'd come home, maybe wasn't even certain he was ever home in the first place. They were, like immigrant America, tired and poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free. These were the homeless and tempest-tossed we'd sent, some of them more homeless than ever because we did. Some, we'd not yet earned their trust and yet they defended us. My lungs well with thankful heaves. For Americans of every journey, America's not a land, it's a mindset, a way of life. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Was a quiet day when our camo-covered dads landed back on our soil. I'll forever salute our dads and be grateful that they returned home. I'll forever cross my heart and sing loudly and proudly for the ones who couldn't make it home. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Turns out my birth defect called Spina Bifida has something to do with Agent Orange. Agent Orange was not a Dutch super-spy, although it certainly fell from aircraft...was much less elusive though. Agent Orange, the mighty jungle obliterator, the weaponized pesticide, has much to do with when dad served the United States in Vietnam. The U.S. spread that stuff--thought it would help--tried to keep the war out of the jungles by killing the jungle. Lasting effect though is more an example of types of friendly fire. That and everything about war is a lot to sacrifice and a lot to deal with in a lifetime. Few soldiers dream for death and war and Agent Orange, but they go when called on. No one truly understands the powerful motives for war, the cause of cause, the paradigms or what it is about their nation that's worthy, always worth the defense, but they serve and defend anyway. Few truly understand the courage and strength that is the current and currency of a soldier facing the tip of a gun, or the switch of an IED, potentially laced with sarin, or stand in the breach for those whom they love within a nation that is theirs; for they who huddle in homes nestled on a fuzzy line between right and wrong. <br />
<br />
I suppose we could relate a bit of what it is to stand in the breach for another; we'd resist opposition to great lengths for our children, for our friend. We'd honor them with our lives wouldn't you think? </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">I know soldiers; intrepid but welted soldiers, flew home to open arms of family and friends who'd in poignant ways gotten used to life without them...had to just in case they couldn't return. Some sons or daughters waited whom hadn't even met their own dads yet. That sacrifice straps to the servant soldier's back one-hundred pounds at a time; geared up men and women who form, who run, who crouch who lie. They return home to open arms of family wishing for a large dose of love and a little of what was, and getting large or small doses of PTSD and at the very least...scars. War makes life harder to love sometimes. War makes it difficult to mow the lawn, paint the walls, go out to eat or watch the kids perform some kind of thing...any kind of thing. Scars make or break families.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">These men and women know these soul-traps are coming and yet they bind themselves to ships and guns and aircraft ready to defend what they love. Duty requires these men and women to look into the faces of other men and women from other places, other nations and hold their own people, the immigrant home, richly in their heart; for they must look upon full-on men and women and then fight them. <br />
<br />
War. A sometimes necessary, sometimes penurious, impoverishing experience.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">We've heard stories of oppression and suppression and extreme cruelty to people of other lands, and we've heard of cruelty on our own soil and these evils must expect push-back, must accept the righteous torrent that seeks evil's erasure. These evils--they're worth eradicating, worth pushing back. The faithful desire besting monsters. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">There are long histories of boogeymen under the bed. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">A caveat: The people of God are no strangers to monsters--we know. Sometimes those who call themselves the people of God are the monsters. It's sometimes difficult to speak for, let alone hear the voice of God. We just can't be perfect people, even as we constantly wish we were. We know there's something about freedom that's easier to explain than reveal, even as it's revealed anyway. It takes certain people of faith to stand for the others, with the others and by the others; takes certain people to hold people safely on their path. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Good men desire peace--yearn for it. Sometimes oppression must be quelled so that peace ensues. But peace does not need a cause to call itself peace. Darkness is not the opposite of light, for light is something. Darkness needs the light for those to understand they've been in darkness, not the other way around. The American people--we're not perfect--have many flaws. But I know one thing. We seek a free people wherever we send you soldier. That knowledge alone can lift a man covered in soot, jungle, rock and sand.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">I don't know what you saw my friend, I don't know what you experienced or how. I know you served humbly the freedom cause. And I know it wasn't silent the day you returned because there were many of us with open arms, hoping you were ok, hoping you could now survive this life, and you will. Because our arms will never close to you, only around you. <br />
<br />
It was a loud and joyful day when you returned home brother and sister, we're mindful that while you are safe, you might not feel secure. And it was and is with great pride that we receive you, and by an eternity of gratefulness we now protect you. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Thank you for serving soldier. A free people welcomes you home. God bless you.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-66049823572037672982011-01-25T10:29:00.001-06:002011-01-25T10:51:18.680-06:00To Thee We Raise<div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><u>To Thee We Raise </u></b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a poem by r. elgersma</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Drops of rain slide</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">From eye to cheek</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A path like war,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A realist’s version</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Of those who fall</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where they love.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Like, the heavily dusked,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And thinly layered moon</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A resting reflection of another’s light</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And a husband to her.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The righteous man forebears honesty</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And the foolish continuously repairs it.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Even a love’s loss finds it again,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Where unctuous abuse knows love not.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Submission and servanthood,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">One whole, and the same,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And there I am where you fall,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And rise again.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A woman’s submission</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">is not subservience</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Or weakness, nor her will dominant,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And a man’s headship is not </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Overpowering or abusive,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Nor his will dominant.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A wife submits and loves when she allows </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Her husband to lift her, </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Perfect, before the Lord,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And a husband provides and loves </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When he proves the servant’s </span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Strength and humility to lift her.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I am grateful not to be alone,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And that you are part of where I am.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For the beauty of the earth</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And the glory of the skies.</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 11.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For the love which from our birth</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Over and around us lies.</span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Lord of all, to Thee we raise,</span></div><div style="font: 11.0px BiauKai; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This, our hymn of grateful praise.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-41759891560581623672011-01-17T17:20:00.004-06:002011-01-20T12:55:07.297-06:00Recessed in Ritual<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I understand differences in how people prepare for worship. I find verbal and non-verbal cues to be important in many, if not most cases. But views about worship settle into God as audience, and man as performer, giver or prompter (the term "prompter" should be given proper citation to my dad-in-law Joh who writes his own blog at http://joh-corrie.blogspot.com/). I believe God is audience--but he's also in our midst, directing, proving, probing, teaching, prompting, revealing and so on. I don't believe we can restrict God's roles to audience in worship, and I don't believe we can relegate, for instance, the Praise Team to a one dimensional prompting role.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, I'm wondering if Christians don't just misplace values on worship tasks? Martin Luther King Jr. once said, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." I'd like to squish that quote smack in the middle of historically religious stigma. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Historical verbal or non-verbal cues regarding rightful value placements were how the church developed the hierarchal pedestal complex value toward pastors and priests who were often seen as more holy than anyone else. And someone down the line decided that musicians who do extra work other than lead the congregational singing, should deem their solo work as "special music." The greater church have become riddled with titles for tasks, and have become confused as to whether something is more or less special, a performance, a prompt or something else, and thus have become confused as to how to respond to it. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've seen too many great musical or non-musical performers walk off stage met by legalistic silence-ridden congregants afraid of an unrighteous applause</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Furthermore, when the values are not adequately met in whatever scenario, the semantic worshipper blames their experience on someone else, and a blame-game ensues.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quality of the sound, or music, or sermon should not shatter or shudder the joy of a group of people who can't wait to be together as children of God, knowing that God is with them. Worship unbridled from mis-tokened titles frees audience response to song and sermon and resounds joyfully regardless, simply because God is. In fact, in that environment, people are amazingly unshackled and allowed to burst into relational qualities previously unheard of, and that had previously felt uncomfortable. For instance, a participant could then learn to enjoy the performer, performance, prompt, and the praise all from and by the same person. Sometimes, when someone does a great job, they're afforded a bonus, or a promotion. When a performer does a great job, they in kind, are afforded excellent applause, if not because they were great, but also then because they're God's. And so applaud the performer and praise God. Both are simultaneously good reasons to clap your hands. A confident performer is upheld by the encouragement and appreciation just as many others are glad to be appreciated or responded to based on their own actions or generosity.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worshipers shouldn't run willy-nilly into a worship experience. Form and function matter. That church leaders, workers and musicians are healthy and prepared for their task, absolutely; Most situations in or out of church are met by people whom expect good jobs out of each other. Yet, I hope you'll flee from legalism, pietism and dogma recessed in rote ritual.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engage in massive, infinite worship. Sometimes we need to release our value placements from the experience. Maybe God is our audience, but he's also the director and prompter I suppose one could say--he directs and also reminds us of our lines. I do like that image (again see Joh Huizinga's blog). Furthermore, a good director requires practice, and requires you to be ready to take joy in all things because He is, thereby freeing you to clap at a moments notice.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's my view that when Christ said that if an action (feeding the hungry, dressing the naked) was done to the least of men, it is also done to Him (Matthew 25:40), his broader message was, "I love a cheerful giver, give to my glory, do not expect the seat of honor, allow it to be given to you and then enjoy it, and be generous to all men for my glory." This means that by praising a someone for an excellent performance, by enjoying a sermon, by appreciating an intuitive point, and by thanking or rewarding someone for their excellent work, one also acts as a man or woman who's every intended regard is to the glory of God.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-46136039746163694382011-01-16T13:45:00.002-06:002011-01-17T14:37:26.670-06:00Light and Worship"Did you think that being a Christian means you need to live a bland and boring life? Never! Christ calls us to be spicy!" That's the quote on my church's website. I love the church. I believe that we are one body, many locations; my church makes no qualms about saying exactly that. <br />
<br />
My friend's waiting for a flight at the Denver airport. He texted me saying, "I guess I get to do worship on my own. I have several sermons on my phone." He went on to say, "There are a lot of people in my church that would not consider that worship." <br />
<br />
There's so much worship out there. Pastor Mike asked us when was the last time we simply stopped confounded by some amazing creation moment. I drove into my driveway a few days ago and a doe skirted in front of my car and ran past. I drove into the garage, walked out of my garage, and there she was, a few feet off my driveway, watching me. I stood and watched her--truthfully, I talked to her. It was silent, it was night, I stopped confounded; I worshipped. That a God constructed a confounding creational moment coerces me to fall, trembling, and raise my joyful hands simultaneously. Paradoxical maybe, but God is.<br />
<br />
There's infinite worship out there. Not much light streams into places that can't accept a man who would worship by a headphone sermon. Not much light streams into their tiny, austere little religious holes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-29085229175365836902010-11-23T09:45:00.006-06:002010-11-23T13:44:37.291-06:00Candy Sticks<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Candy Sticks</span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">a poem by richard elgersma</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">God loved on the day a strong, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">social, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">welcoming and responsive</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">helpmate </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">filled </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">a cracked </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">man </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">on the fault line.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The man quaked and she mended.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">He gave hope to him</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">when He gave him the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">strength</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">to see you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Four words and the experience</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">of an honest, honorable </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and tough woman covered him</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and laid an entire foundation </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Beneath a man </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">who might one day</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">serve with her to become</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">the same for the fractured.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Four words,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"I believe in you"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">she said.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I believe in you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Now, she is sweet,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and he yearns for her</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">as if a wondering child,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">dips his hand </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">into the jar </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">To grasp eagerly</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">and taste the cacophonous </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">striped rainbow candy stick</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">as if his soul depends upon it.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-5434325693883239712010-11-19T12:39:00.005-06:002010-11-28T20:38:22.278-06:00Who is opposite of Lucifer and the Angels?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm writing to those who understand that the Christian bible, the words of God, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. I'm writing </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to those who believe that Salvation comes by the will of God the Father, through the blood of God the son Jesus Christ, revealed and sealed by the power of God the Holy Spirit, and that the three are one.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The challenge says, "I'll give you a word and you give me the opposite of the word given." The one will say "night" and the other will say, "day" and so on. So what does one say if the word was, "God"? Would you automatically say "Lucifer" or "Satan"? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You would be wrong.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The opposite of "Lucifer" might be, "Michael" but is most definitely not "God." God has no opposites. Angels were most definitely created. Angels awe God, fear God, and worship God, do not know when the day of the Lord will be and do not understand the salvation of man. Lucifer is extremely power and intensely beautiful, but can by no means oppose God with any type of finality, and thus could never be His opposite. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore, we verbalize Lucifer oddly and wrongly. I've written about angels before. Angels are not cute winged babies pinging arrows off of would-be lovers and they're not a frenetic, lanky gathering of sweet choir members. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But they are created beings. The angels were created by God. Psalm 104 gives us a small picture about the order of the creative act. The next act after the creation of the cosmos is the creation of the Angels after which God laid the foundations of the earth, meaning the entirety of the Angel population was created in and around what Genesis said was the second day. </span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's also true that Satan is not red, not ugly and does not have grossly enhanced horns. Lucifer is the son of the morning, an angel of light. The meaning of Eden means "delight" and God calls the created Lucifer "eden" in Ezekiel 28. Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost writes:</span></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Musical instruments were originally designed to be means of praising and worshiping God. It was not necessary for Lucifer to learn to play a musical instrument in order to praise God. If you please, he had a built-in pipe organ, or, he was an organ! That’s what the prophet meant when he said, “The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes....” Lucifer, because of his beauty, did what a musical instrument would do in the hands of a skilled musician – bring forth a psalm of praise to the glory of God. Lucifer didn't have to look for someone to play the organ so that he could sing the doxology – he was a doxology. (<i>Your Adversary the Devil</i>, p. 16, about Ezekiel 28)</span></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: white;"></span>This was, I believe, the indelible impression of the serpent Lucifer by Adam and Eve when confronted by Lucifer. The serpent was, for some reason, awe inspiring (Adam and Eve seemed to be mesmerized by the serpent), and undeniable. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">F. C. Jennings writes:</span></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word for “serpent” in Hebrew is <i>nachash</i>, which may come from the root, to hiss; or, as Dr. Taylor Lewis writes, “is far more likely to have had its sense from the secondary meaning of that root – to shine, whence brass, the shining metal.” This gives, as the first thought in the word for serpent, “splendor,” “glistening,” “bright,” “shining,” either from its glossy appearance, or, more likely, from the bright glistening of the eye. The first impressions of mankind in regards to the serpent were of the splendid and terrible kind – beauty and awe. (<i>Satan, His Person, Work, Place, and Destiny</i>, p. 15)</span></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lucifer's perfectly created duty was to watch over the earth, to tend to it (Job 38:4-7), and so to be thrown to the earth to be viewed by all the rulers of the world was a great punishment. Lucifer had a great and mighty duty, and the loss of the duty was a loss to the nations of the earth, a great tragedy (Isaiah 14:12). It's clear that Lucifer's sense of overreach and sense of duty were still at conflict when he came to Jesus in the desert to tempt him. He teased God with the duty that God Himself had originally given to him. God was approachable to Lucifer as he did when Job was tormented. Therefore, it was little surprise that he would approach God in the desert. Jesus knew He was God, and there's no difficulty understanding that Lucifer understood this as well. Many other fallen angels during Christ's ministry were unquestioning as to Jesus's identity (Mark 3:11). Jesus knew Himself being in the very nature, God. He did not consider it even a question that He was God, therefore because He acts according to His perfection, part of God's nature is humility and is justice, as evidenced by Christ's fulfillment to His Covenant with His people by His death and resurrection. Lucifer has no real need to understand God in this way because mankind is not qualified by the existence of an Angel. Lucifer is no less in a battle with God, but not in the matter of taking sides as it were--Satan still truly believes he has more power than he does, and he has truly distorted the charge over the earth that God gave him (Ezekiel 28). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bible makes no claim to the equal position of the Angels with God. In fact, God says through His scriptures that they have no idea about the time of the day of the Lord (Matthew 24:36-37), that the Angels fear God (James 2:19), that the Angels are servants of the Lord, and lastly that the Angels do not understand the idea of the salvation of God (I Peter 1:12). They have little idea about the conception of the plan of God. Therefore, Satan couldn't understand why Christ died but instead, I believe he knew that God had not gone away, but was very much...God. Furthermore, because Angels, including Lucifer, cannot understand Salvation, I also believe that Satan is not trying to "wreck" the salvation of man. While they are in charge of the Judgement (read Revelation), they are most certainly not in charge of judging. Lucifer does want to devour man, devour creation (I Peter 5:8). Lucifer does want to convince man to separate himself from God in the same manner that he himself did (Genesis 3:1-10) because he believed and believes that the human creation could (and can) separate himself from God. And if he could convince man to do so by his own power, that he would be poised to usurp the power to rule for himself, and in such Lucifer's dominion would be complete--or so he thought. Angels were created with many different purposes than man; in part they were created to tend to all of creation, specifically man himself. God created Angels with powers and abilities man could not conceive of, and at the very least, Satan understood his basic powers were no match for man. Satan illegitimately believes he can act independently of God (Job 1:6), can thwart God, and continues to this day to aspire to more power than he could possibly grasp. In regard to man, Lucifer proves jealous, having seen God walk with Adam -- I believe it's more possible that Lucifer and the fallen angels simply seek to devour because they're furious with God and jealous of him, not because they intend to remove the rite of salvation from man, as if it was creation's choice to do so in the first place. It's not possible that Satan wants man to go "to be with him" (in hell) because Satan only understands that he was given dominion over the earth, and doesn't grasp anything beyond that particular reality. I'm not sure that Lucifer comprehends that man can be saved or lost; instead I believe that he suffers from the age old delusion that he can assume God's position.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels, nor man himself, can expound on God's glory; any man who has come close falls over dead and any angel who tried was thrown out of heaven. By getting thrown out of Heaven, Satan did not suddenly achieve the status of cosmic and equal opponent of God. Do not get in the habit of worshipping angels, nor wishing upon their work (Col. 2:18).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels do not age and do not spend time trying to earn their wings. Humans do die and do not become Angels. God's Angels exist eternally as they were created, and humankind exist in the same manner. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels start with all of Creation: Col. 1:16 says for by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible or invisible, thrones, dominions, principalities or powers--all things were created by Him. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I might be wrong about these things, and I most certainly did not exhaust the study of angels within this blog entry. But I wanted to open this study to you, in hopes that you might be strengthened and emboldened. I believe that Christians fall vulnerable to the wiles of evil in part because of our false perception that God has an opposite, and that somehow God, by being amongst us, potentially falls prey to whom we perceive is his opposite. By no means was this ever true. </span><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-57878121622257578842010-11-09T11:10:00.010-06:002011-01-18T16:05:58.583-06:00Judge retention, politics and God<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">I need the ear, or the eyes as it were, of Christians and the non-religious alike. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">Many Americans often vote according to a candidates views about one or two specific issues such as military benefits or taxes or abortion, and some vote straight-line Republican or straight-line Democrat because that's what their family has always done. But I've met very few haters--I have met a few--but only a few. The recent Iowa vote proved interesting not because the candidates that were chosen was an unpredictable vote, but because three Iowa Supreme Court justices were voted out of their jobs. Their positions had come up for a retention vote. A judicial retention vote differs from a regular election. Voters can't vote between a list of judicial candidates and the judges do not have opponents. Rather, the voter chooses to elect incumbent judge(s) to a further or not the judge's term in office. Iowa retains judges if ballots cast in favor of retention outnumber votes against. In 1962, Iowa voters approved constitutional reform replacing the judge selection by popular vote with a merit selection and retention election process. The process intends to select the best qualified applicants and judicial accountability and protects public oversight, a nation of the people, by the people and for the people. Why must the people be involved? Because the judicial nominating committee by the nature of the committee itself won't be impartial--like everything they need checks and balances.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">The 15 member committee, as I understand it, is balanced by gender and a number of other factors, but is not balanced by political affiliation. Currently, the board is 86% Democrat. Of the Judges Democrat Governors appointed 5 of the judges, and none of the 7 judges are or ever have been registered Republicans. Judge Baker, although claiming to be independent gave thousands to the Democrats. There are others who've donated to the Democratic party over the years including Wiggins, and Appel, the latter donated tens of thousands to Democratic party.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">My point is that all of these people, including past Governors have implemented their rights within the process. It's easy to over-politicize the system based on prejudices, but I'm alright with a process based on the rights within a system. Does that mean the system is fair? I don't think this process is entirely fair or impartial, but it's still a system that protects and expects judicial impartiality, and does a good job of it. I suppose I just muddied the idea of "good", but there's nothing new there -- For example, I did good yesterday, even though I probably didn't do everything quite right. There's another post in that sentence alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">I voted to retain the judges, and many did not. In the end, they were not retained. I voted to retain them because they made many hundreds and probably thousands of decisions and many (probably not all, they are human) of them were just decisions, meaning they performed exactly as the system requires them to perform and beyond. Thousands of times they did exactly as the citizens of the state of Iowa and the United States of America expected them too. Some decisions fell well outside of popular opinion, but they were just and, according to them, the Constitution experts, constitutional. I agree the majority of Iowans said that they did not want something, and the Judges, said "too bad, we have to go against you on this one." I personally can't say whether or not their political agendas biased them--I have a feeling they did--everyone has leanings. Their political leanings probably helped usher the issue to the front of the line, and they were pleased to proceed unrestricted, but that doesn't mean they made an unconstitutional decision. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">I personally do not want the Judicial branch to become politicized. I don't want them to have to campaign for an impartial job. They do not necessarily have to cater to the will of the majority because they don't act as legislators, they act as guardians, unmeasured by popularity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">But the people are the last check in the balance system, and I'm for that. We are a partial people, for one idea, against another; most of these yeses and nays are based upon partial nurturing. I'm not afraid to tell you that I'm against abortion and by saying that I oppose legislators that are for abortion. That vote alone doesn't make me against women or against families or against men because anyone who knows me, knows better. None of us can be pigeonhole by the vote. I'm inconsistent because I'm partial and by no means does that make me a bad person. I'm partial to military families and so Rep. Boswell (D) falls on my positive list some of the time. I was against some of the things Grassley (R) did, but I love his affiliations to Camp Hope and so he falls on my positive list some of the time. Sometimes I vote for something because I'm against another something, and sometimes I vote for something because I'm conservative and sometimes I vote because I want to protect something. My partiality is one reason why Judges should be protected from my politicizing them because they voted for or against something, and I disagreed with them. And yet the people need to protect their constitutionally driven right that the system works because of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">But, while I'm concerned about decisions, no political decision changes the message. I believe God is despite the politicization of what we've decided God wants. Sometimes we try to put words in God's mouth, and by doing so often shoot the wounded, and maim the sick. Therefore, my message of salvation doesn't change, won't ever change whether you put me in prison for my beliefs or not. If you're willing to politicize whomever you decide you need to protect, you're willing to put someone else in jeopardy by that very politicization. History reveals many bad laws that allowed for the persecution of Christians, laws that allowed the genocide of the Jews, and laws that prepare eight year olds for war. Please don't be willing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">All I'm asking you to do is come and see what I believe about God, about Grace, about the blood of Christ. We are made of imperfect people who need God. But I'm also certain that the majority of the Christians I've ever come in contact with, and that have become my friends are not haters, in fact most of them love more genuinely that most other people. But they're afraid of losing the value system that they believe has held this nation together, and in some ways, they're right. Studies show that Christians are generally happier, live longer, are sick less often, are less bitter; and yet tunnel vision sets in and Christians settle into their recessed vision of morality with the belief that these set of principles are how we can wrest this nation from the hand of the devil <i>for </i></span><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">God, as if God is not already intimately involved in the process of history, present and future. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">The Christian morality does, in fact, intend life's beauty to be engaged abundantly. We don't have to compromise others because of our faith because politics doesn't change the message. We can promote Christ to them, and God will change those whom hear us speak (II Corinthians 5:14-18) Our politics becomes our law-ridden sacrifice, when God asked for our obedience. I fear that many of the religious, Christian or not, bend to politicizing their beliefs, or at the very least allowed professional, impassioned politickers, to influence them. Politickers are often good people--they are--but they're also experts at knowing what information influences constituents, and it works because most constituents don't have the time for due diligence. But these politickers are also willing to vilify someone in order to deface him or her or them. A Christian must read Romans 13 before the process begins again in another year. <i>So many Christians, so many of the religious in general, and also the so many of the non-religious believe that politics will save their religion, save their beliefs.</i></span><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;"> We're asked to hate sin, we're asked to hate injustice--even judges are prone to error sometimes, and they must be held accountable. Iowans had a right to make their own decision and I am pleased that the process again meted its voice, based on its own merits. The people, all people have a right to decide what they believe would be best for their societies. But don't engage because you think you're holding the system in check for God. The message of God can come from a politician. I'm a Christian statesman, I can't be anything but Christian. I'm also for upholding the Declaration that all men of every taste have a right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness according to their sense of what that means, as long as we're not every man for him/herself. You can't ignore me, and thus I won't ignore you. God hears and listens and acts. I'm not trying to put words in God's mouth. Rather, God puts words in mine. Your rights do not change my message that you need a savior. Despite how you wish to live, it's a simple thing to believe that Christ died for your sins and rose again securing for your salvation. It's a simple thing to believe that God reigns and simply, is. More difficult, scary and mortifying is to believe that we're random. You say I sound crazy, I say I sound more sane than the impossible fixation on another cause. In the end, there is no other way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">You can try to legislate against me for that belief, you can even kill me for it. Conversely, I can attempt to make you act Christian by political promotion. Neither succeeds in the end. The problem with trying to politick God is it's never right to make God relative to one's politics. One Christian's methods, actions and word choices might deem different than another Christian's methods, actions and word choices. Inject yourselves into politics, of course! Misguided as we are sometimes, doesn't mean we shouldn't fully vet ourselves into the American political system. I'm not afraid to be right, and neither should you be. Remember, God is neither Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent. Therefore, your politics spewed without love is only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol (I Corinthians 13). You want an ordered and Christian-like political system--but you sacrifice so many by your feelings of what that should look like (II Corinthians 5:16 NLT). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">Look--God does not need to imbibe your politics. He doesn't derive power from an external source, as if he needs a good weight lifting session in order to flex his muscles. I know the words of God through Scripture and I understand what it is to guard my heart and I am fully aware of the gift of faith that streams through me. But I live in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Judgment is God’s. All of you are welcome at my table. I'm not a Republican or a Democrat--I have my leanings--I am conservative, and I understand why I am conservative, and I appreciate the conservative point of view--and yet many of you on any side of a table has influenced my paradigms and I am better for it. Either way, my politics and my country require me to be generous to all, allowed to love on you, allow you to pursue your rights, allow you to be an amazing person (II Corinthians 5:16 NLT); but my bent or yours is merely that. I'm not saved by my political affiliation; I'd only be disappointed if I were.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Optima-Regular;">As always, my ideas aren't always the right one, but in the same way, just because someone whom doesn't think like me says something is just, doesn't necessarily make it so. What is truth though is that you and I still need a Savior. Come and see.</span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span></div></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-56710961863592478142010-11-03T09:32:00.004-05:002010-11-04T16:11:32.355-05:00Tattoos and HopeI understand why some people ink tattoos into their skin. Well, I understand many of the reasons people ink tattoos into their skin. Most tattooees want to remember something meaningful about their life, want to give an event such significance that serves as a constant memory driven banner. Of course tattoos bear a tougher, more gritty, more fashionable aura than say, a string tied around around a finger.<br />
<br />
We saw an old WWII war ship retired on the Ohio River on the banks of an Illinois town. She now serves patrons as a museum and a gift shop. I suppose, like a tattoo that, while none of the most important technology even exists on the ship anymore, being forever classified, that the ship serves as an American tattoo of triumph and tragedy. I'm not sure the appeal an old but furious gun ship that grips onlookers. If you were honest, when she was in full service you would not have wanted to be close to the ship. Some get the tattoo, others the scar of war.<br />
<br />
I'm slightly offended that a man's work aboard that ship, any ship, can be reduced to souvies and treats. I guess monuments such as a stripped down ship offer people hope of triumph, for what it's worth.<br />
<br />
And so there she was, proud, strong and dormant. I suppose she still echoes with the scars of deep waters; we all do in our own way. I turned from the big ship and I and my friends drove away still wondering what there was to remember. Earlier we'd taken a walk down a path along the Ohio river to a visitor center nearby. A flag rope clanked against a flagpole near the center and hanging from it was an old, tattered, ripped up American flag--looked more like a rat hanging from a pole. I was offended and I told someone that I was. I tell you I'm not a people of rats. The flag did not inspire hope.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure the old retired ship did either. I get that people fight, but I hate that death remains the only way to save a people.<br />
<br />
That's how it was with Christ. I'm glad I'm safe, but I'm not glad that he had to suffer like he did. I wish humans hadn't needed such sacrifice. But a person willing to go out and save his people seems like something to honor, even if you're not glad about it. Their wounds are our tattoo, our honor are theirs. <br />
<br />
And so yesterday, the triumphant waved banners and promised balanced budgets, integrity in the office and new ways of thinking. The last night's speeches rang triumphant, but hinted toward an uppity tremor of supremacy and leaned into disdain. I heard the same disdain, even cruelty four years ago when the Democrats won the House, the Senate and then two years ago, the Presidency. The winners bore their Visigothic chests. I think people hoped that leaders lived their message, that being hope, unity and fairness, but instead gained division and more disdain. The same has been heard all over the world for as many years as the world's existed. But I'm here <i>now</i>. This means something to me <i>now</i>. <i>Now</i> some new folks are in D.C., and last night, more triumph with a slightly distasteful edge. I know what I don't like. I don't like abortion, testing from aborted children, high taxes and big government. I have my vote, but friends, neighbors and Americans alike certainly do not have my disdain. <br />
<br />
And I heard little last night about those of us who were on other lands striving for freedom within the longest engaged war effort in U.S. history. They desire that their leaders ink another honored tat on their hearts, but were instead, virtually ignored. I think we need less disdain. A kind word turns away wrath says the Proverbs. Civil disobedience can do as much harm as all out war. But maybe we should be thankful for sacrifice and want less death, less suffering. By one death, many are often saved. <br />
<br />
Maybe one party or another can triumph with grace.<br />
<br />
I do have hope. I think it's worth flying a clean flag. I'm gonna get a tattoo sometime soon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-18620120052474389272010-11-02T11:06:00.007-05:002010-11-16T19:20:45.425-06:00War and ShadowsYou know what? Today's election day. I suppose one might call it an off-election because the leader of the land won't be elected for another two years. I believe today are the most important elections however. These are the real days when the checks and balances become done or undone. These are the days when the people test their turf against the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches, exactly as the Constitution of these United States intended.<br />
<br />
Today is more than a memorial of the fallen--this is war out of the shadows, a day no one is fallen, but a battle waged. Freedom is more than the will of the people; even the people need to be checked and balanced. Today you and I work to maintain the balance against unlimited power by any citizen, by all citizens. You may be a President or a legislator or a judge. You might teach or preach or heal. One must wonder about the days when our freedoms were declared, a day when we became unique. Fall back to the day when the entire central America was purchased in a landmark deal called the Louisiana Purchase. They were men who needed to be united, but united under the idea that they or anyone else restricted themselves; were unwilling and disallowed to usurp any more than what their constitution gave them.<br />
<br />
I encourage you not to vote to protect your entitlements or your ideas about the class structures or your thoughts about the rich. Don't begrudge the rich their riches or the poor their freedom or the religious their joy. Limit yourself to engage in their freedom today. By their freedom you can be most generous with resources and love. There are many who expanded our freedom by limiting their life for your good. I wrote about it and presented it to two men who entered into the battle long ago. It's oft said they went to war, but theirs was a healing adventure--they fixed the wounded, and tended the sores of freedom. Hopefully you get that today. It wasn't always that way. We've pursued types of freedom for others all around the world. Freedoms mean greater things for all men, greater advantages and greater opportunities. Your government is trying to tell you they need more and more from you. Today you get to demand that the American dream was never the big house. The American dream was inexhaustible freedom, but checked and balanced freedom, and a government was established that would model exactly that dream. You used to have your backs turned when military servicemen returned home. You were too busy worrying about issues other than what they meant to secure for you. These days many welcome our military service men and women home exuberantly, and I'm glad of that. But today let me share with you the poem written for two very special men, but now also shared with you to remind you what foundations are set, that today might happen.<br />
<br />
It's called <b><u>War and Shadows</u></b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="position: relative; z-index: -2;"><span style="height: 642px; left: 27px; position: absolute; top: -75px; width: 515px;"><img height="642" src="file://localhost/Users/richardelgersma/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_image003.png" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="515" /></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve been in the shadows but never in the hole.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve never faced my enemy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">twixt a bullet and some steel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve never left the Green Latrine <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">With guns in hand,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">From salty beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve never hung off highway one,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Last chance my son,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">You duck, you done.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Rare have any of us, bewitched by cause<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">strove through our enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">and the fated deaths those that sustained us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">I can retell the stories heard but could never relive <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">jungle rotted footsteps, atrophied wills.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">And I could never duplicate the yellow in a man’s eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 15px;">after scores of days amidst holes and shadows,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Behind the steel and fatigues, behind the pale of war<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">behind the fire, is a man used to death.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Yellow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Freedom’s costs are those with discolored souls,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">marked well through their eyes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Yellow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Strength built in them are freedom’s price.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Liberty’s quest never ceases; her requirements fierce;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Freedom must be paid, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">and by you she beckons,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Crimson.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">The only shot above my head were my father’s honorable,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">alacritous words, held strong deep in holes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">bullets nigh,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">“Medic!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Crimson blood. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Man dies, under God’s eyes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">and in saying so – you might, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -116.1pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">should you need of our way of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">For what I stand for,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -84.6pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">as a soldier, as a parent, as a sibling and as a friend<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">I also live and die for.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Courageous and terrible choices formed the free path you and I tread today. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">The rockets glared red above them… And I live free.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Trust enough not to rely on outcomes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Trust enough to allow a broken heart<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Your spouse is freedom and you loved her well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve never felt the furrowed shadows<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">of a silent home,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">a living grave,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">a deep hole<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">a cloistered fox<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">But in the shadows the cracked freedom bell rung,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Each bullet being freedom’s clapper and the ring.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Freedom lives beyond my breath<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">For liberty welcomes all<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">And even cracked freedom bells always, if not faintly, ring.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">I know you’re tired brother.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">But take the tong and strike the bell, brother<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">And she will yell with us: “Welcome home!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Rings the call,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">my salute;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Welcome home, brother.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro'; font-size: 11pt;">Welcome home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-21874236697168486912010-10-22T10:42:00.000-05:002010-10-22T10:42:38.514-05:00Life and WearyWhy are adventures<br />
and journeys consistently<br />
firm against gale winds?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-45216943658556906142010-10-16T08:23:00.019-05:002010-11-04T13:27:55.348-05:00Kansas Speedway and Back-street Hoodlums<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyiBD-H5f3PwYNIVUiV2kr1q17jXy4wMFhdmg2Rytd_k5swqCr2efJ4EjWRaIqMR4KIYaN6M_Ks0bMnk4vP' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can experience the racing life. One-hundred bucks and you've gained access to three laps at one-hundred and sixty miles per hour. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Why 160?" asked my wife, "Why not 180?" </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Twenty miles per hour is the difference between completely out of control and only slightly out of control" said Sandy of the K-Love Christian radio sponsored Nationwide racing team number 81. Their car spreads the message "I am second" meaning God is first. We spent enough time with them to understand that the team believed it--the message rallied them.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monique and I spent a weekend at Kansas speedway watching Nascar's best drivers and teams do what they do. Baker Curb Racing granted us garage/pit passes via my professor Dr. Shane Merritt, also part of Baker Curb racing. Baker Curb runs two cars, but we were there under the #27 racing team. The team had lost their primary sponsor, but the team's spirit seemed undiscouraged, including the significantly charming driver Drew Herring, hired to drive for only the third or fourth time this year. Team 27 were serious about racing but allowed us access to just about every inch of the trailer and garage, even finding time to allow us a fantastic barbecued meal. At race time, they're focused. We spent our time viewing the race from every angle we could. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One-eighty sounds fast on T.V., but at the track, looks fast, super fast, inspiringly fast...intentionally fast.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Practice. The drivers love practice--the pits are wide open, no speed limits off race day. They turn off the garage area and nail it. The noise comes at one like the second coming, but feels wholly exuberant. I know they're working out there. Crew chiefs, mechanics and drivers talk talk talk. The drivers listen to the road and their cars and communicate back, the crew chiefs help the driver understand marks, and the mechanics plan their strategy for when the driver rolls into the garages.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The garage--a frenetic pile of full crews, sponsors and some fans, although not many. We felt privileged to be back there. There's order to the mess but there's also an invisible safety net, one where guys like Rusty Wallace can hang out with whomever, and enjoy a good story. I thanked him for designing the Newton Iowa track, a 7/8 mile short track that races like a massive speedway. After that, my brain was due for some de-icing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure team members miss their families. A couple of the guys said so. A few guys are away for a long time. Sometimes the brightest days seem foggy when you miss someone. And yet the team can't wait to get their car to the track. When lulls approach they're comfortable, but they're pacers. We didn't meet anyone who was seriously wound up though. They all seem like fish <i>in </i>water. Pit crews checking tires and gear and talking to mechanics, drivers like Drew Herring stroll here and there, obviously nervous, but obviously calm--I perceived Herring's satisfaction to be driving one of Nascar's super cars. He had something to prove after crashes and mistakes gave the #27 car a bad day the previous week. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tools clank and knock and ring. Monique and I hung out in the garages and watched them work. They bend the metal on the left side of the car inward, and also turn the tire somewhat inward. They do this to compensate for deep turns and powerful side force...actually improves aerodynamics. Awesome.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, even the spectator feels intensity watching men and women drive at super-speeds. The average driver feels the intensity, they must. They lick up the track like fire and wind. Drew Herring, humble, grateful Drew Herring said "we look good, but we're all half crazy." Maybe he wanted to give me a good quote, but maybe he didn't think twice about telling me like it is. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet these guys--these race teams are class-at least the teams we met, they're friendly and sweet, and most of them taller than I am. Racing legend Bill Elliot is 6'3 for cryin' out loud. I didn't know. Some of these guys carry sacks of money to the bank I'd guess. But some we met don't tarry amongst the wiles of the super rich. In fact, most of who we met and saw were simply the best of the back-street bible-belt Johns itchin' for a race.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And race they did, every horse in the complex motor ran their legs off. They wear speed like old comfortable shoes that've been perfectly broken in. Except turn four; turn four tested the famous, the infamous and the non-famous alike. Some drivers came into the turn too hot and were tight on exit. But the cars, they're not simply safe, they're 3500 pounds of bars, belts, hans devices and body tight seats. They're not as nervous that the cars will crush them, they're nervous about the 169 mph blur of a three-wide run into turn-four. They're nervous about hitting their passing mark one-hundred yards ahead of turn one.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the pit-crews, they're hard on themselves. Tenths of seconds matter and if a teammate lags or screws up, they're bent. Racers lose several spots on a two-second mistake. But they're fun to watch. The gas guys are massive, and they should be. They've got to move lightening fast into the fuel-tank of a hot race car with 95 pounds of flammable super-juice.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These teams and their cars are trend setters--you find some of their ideas on Buicks, Chevys, Fords and Dodges. But these guys aren't headed to a party on some gravel road. Trunk-space has been used up with more tubes and lines and bars. Of course the average Joe doesn't pay half a million dollars per car built. But these cars gleam like artwork and that's exactly what they are, fine-tuned, fantastically sophisticated sculptures. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Y'know, some guys are Ph.D's in something flashy, and some guys are less educated, but as knowledgeable; all of them know racing better than they know their own behinds, short of a few fart jokes from time to time. But they're just guys. They literally use the same bathrooms as everyone else. I almost had a pee with Joey Logano. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't imagine what they feel like on the corner of Main and 4th street. I don't have the capacity to understand. They're probably a tick away from a neighborhood burnout, a flash away from another adrenalin rush, maybe. Maybe they get it all out on the track. Maybe they simply do their jobs. But in some ways you get the feeling that race day is like hitting fast forward on a video of a group of kids cruisin' the loop in shiny, detailed cars off highway something-or-other around streets rife with Americana.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure how any given person describes experience. I suppose I'd say that some experience must be like arranged marriage, it is for better or for worse and ya live with it. Some experience wears one out like force and gravity and time. And some experiences indelibly invigorates new inspirations that live with a person forever. That's us. We weren't merely close to the action, we were part of the action. That's how we deal with that race-weekend and that's why we'll never forget. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some day, I'm going to spend a hundred-bucks for three laps. I'm going to test the boundaries of this side of eternal life.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfhhfcivgWpj280KZ6qpx1YDeQJb2GpBcTJ0tfPyg0ucqpuLZHcEhNVwLArzxVXy_-2o8vdrTmj-m64QesVhMeck-xXXiWlZYXHezK8bO_M52WIMTUg6dZLd4PnXSYwuG451tu173BoRt/s1600/MICHIGAN_99_118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfhhfcivgWpj280KZ6qpx1YDeQJb2GpBcTJ0tfPyg0ucqpuLZHcEhNVwLArzxVXy_-2o8vdrTmj-m64QesVhMeck-xXXiWlZYXHezK8bO_M52WIMTUg6dZLd4PnXSYwuG451tu173BoRt/s320/MICHIGAN_99_118.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were Gatorade stations all over the pits! Sweet Perk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv6zgW3zuhAIYfQQyipeWgAhdYiBBBN4TmEiMX5LYlZoGDkGRhIFuFare9qAqj54Utk4CpPPIgIvcdjqM_z4XcdgXoxJtufGkF1oXJfzTrCSSnHmnmlSiO6I6VQ677XtxXArX4ckwFu_K/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv6zgW3zuhAIYfQQyipeWgAhdYiBBBN4TmEiMX5LYlZoGDkGRhIFuFare9qAqj54Utk4CpPPIgIvcdjqM_z4XcdgXoxJtufGkF1oXJfzTrCSSnHmnmlSiO6I6VQ677XtxXArX4ckwFu_K/s320/IMG_2371.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, ya have to start somewhere right? She's already in winner's circle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9vd0sipvMWNMsqK6I4PP51S1nvRSgFAnOhr4NW5PimHy3S4S1IZ6VGTMJb1YKGBKGzTypUCpEgt6NePhv8ic79NlRmqO2QVKGJPVN4h6pkBbsPL__j6Ds227CkjrdTDNexpuPaFchVXv/s1600/IMG_2342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9vd0sipvMWNMsqK6I4PP51S1nvRSgFAnOhr4NW5PimHy3S4S1IZ6VGTMJb1YKGBKGzTypUCpEgt6NePhv8ic79NlRmqO2QVKGJPVN4h6pkBbsPL__j6Ds227CkjrdTDNexpuPaFchVXv/s320/IMG_2342.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's A.J Almendinger--Monique's favorite driver! I think she just likes to say his name.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ6cBUGb2gLj_Sw-nS3z_IpFx5hlHf4CMVsC0AJx3Qwno4OnchUzYhFeeh-W_ExoqSY9O0TmLf0SqTwsFzAUNllkArLr-wszOegzeunh0G1SN84IgRjStYfguSXGIptzeJug1NPuMo8OM/s1600/MICHIGAN_99_5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ6cBUGb2gLj_Sw-nS3z_IpFx5hlHf4CMVsC0AJx3Qwno4OnchUzYhFeeh-W_ExoqSY9O0TmLf0SqTwsFzAUNllkArLr-wszOegzeunh0G1SN84IgRjStYfguSXGIptzeJug1NPuMo8OM/s320/MICHIGAN_99_5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-65801993703719741942010-10-10T14:01:00.001-05:002010-10-10T14:01:33.994-05:00Autumn Rain<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Autumn Rain</span></u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I crave warm and beautiful</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">but the rain gets in the way.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">One day I realized the rain creates the vivid</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">warmly and beautifully.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Listen. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Leaves crack from branches.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-49471072803730599762010-09-27T12:31:00.002-05:002010-09-27T12:31:35.052-05:00Discipline the Righteous: Hebrews 12.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why the night time God?</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Remove darkness from home God.</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why the night time God?</span></span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-49250013897454288942010-09-20T19:36:00.000-05:002010-09-20T19:36:42.334-05:00Joy--an haiku by rje<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's no greater joy</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">than when life requires a man</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to tend to his wife.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-53680304872707727492010-09-17T07:57:00.007-05:002010-09-22T17:33:43.328-05:00Humans and Perfection<div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><u>The Great Adultery</u></span></span> </b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> a poem by rick elgersma</span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We thought we'd control life</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But discovered our willed life</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doesn't tell the entire story.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our light isn't our own light.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The truth says,</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the moment of discovery</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Human’s desperate attempt</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To cover up in front of their beloved</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remains constant.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life, randomly beautiful</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because desperate measures</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most often loiter in our dreams</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A titillating environment untouched</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By reality and yet provides </span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dreadful fuel </span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To our very real temptations.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it cheating to remain quiet</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About our fears and temptations?</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it unfaithful to oblige modesty</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the wake of guilt?</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was one day long ago</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That man hid from his beloved</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first great adultery</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And they covered themselves</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The moment of discovery</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Desperately covered up</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The unrequited irony</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uncovered to the whore</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And modest before the beloved</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their faces pierce the darkness</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of our dreams and enticement</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The want of good and evil</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And controlling neither of them</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the whisper of a thought</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is heard by the beloved</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because the beloved knows</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their heart unsown.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guilt stares</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fury wails</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadness burns</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And only struggle and blood</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stitches and yet no blank, no space,</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No emptiness and no void</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are filled without love unconditionally tender.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even rivers dry up sometimes.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And fists pop the music grows loud</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fire grows and Lucifer</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Satan screams into the microphone</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like fuel venom flows the flair of </span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Delicious pleasure teems onto the heads</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of the adulterer</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel so sure of myself</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But ask the dust to which </span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We must return and you’ll</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find the consequence of guilt</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The great adultery</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For in every grain of dust,</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adam.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Except for One drop of blood</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The river flows</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The abyss find the ground</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The darkness lithely lighted…</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has always been that</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the moment of discovery</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Human’s desperate attempt</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To cover up in front of their beloved</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remains constant.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The curse of good and evil unanswered</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By human minds except that we are saved</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the knowledge that God was witness</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the Great adultery.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A play we rewrite each day</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A touch we re-enact</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And God remains witness</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And our eyes always look to the hills</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Avoiding the dust that are my bones</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because the Hill's rivers, blood</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That shed, rushes like mountain rivers,</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washes, fills our souls</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glory that was never housed nor hid</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the help we’re not desperate for</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because our souls have not been ours</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For such a long time</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The battle on my desert heart</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and still but one I am forbid to fight.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My one punishment for the great adultery</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is that I, man am restricted from my own power</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone else’s blood drips, flows onto my heart</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And creates the soul that turns my desert into oasis.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adultery—deception’s creative history</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We thought we could control life</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But life turned and discovered</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was not all it should control</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every word spoken </span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the great adultery</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Was an attempt to gain more from life</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or give it away.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Impossible dreams</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything we dreamed</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Became frenetically unrestrained</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it has always been that.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The truth says,</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the moment of discovery</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Human’s desperate attempt</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To cover up in front of their beloved</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remains constant.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The moment of discovery</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Desperately covered up</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The unrequited irony</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uncovered to the whore</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And modest before the beloved</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I yearn for the day when I might finally</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be uncovered before my love</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And hidden to the whore.</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to see the garden.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-85910176094732467502010-09-13T15:23:00.006-05:002010-09-14T19:19:01.570-05:00Riders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHdSE2JMOVEFYUxCIVGC15R0ymkwjM8TXOa2hxwP02qLRG1JYhOHmIEPIjQ39iJLnPfTlbYHvs0Y2_C65bcjH30-uIMqVXypzQWyYQigpZeUGRmkVbT9JxxIIEcQNZtBWdKt3sjLKulkn/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHdSE2JMOVEFYUxCIVGC15R0ymkwjM8TXOa2hxwP02qLRG1JYhOHmIEPIjQ39iJLnPfTlbYHvs0Y2_C65bcjH30-uIMqVXypzQWyYQigpZeUGRmkVbT9JxxIIEcQNZtBWdKt3sjLKulkn/s320/IMG_1956.JPG" /></a></div>She's a wind of a different sort, my wife is. I don't gear up and she's dragging me to the road, rubbing my face into the asphalt and selling my bike on Craigslist. She's no blowhard, no flash of hot air, no; she's wind. She calls Iowa a "natural selection state" meaning one doesn't wear gear, they're closer to the front of the line with those waiting for Grim Reaper's signature. Gear spelled looks like this "r-i-d-e-r", from another point of view looks like, "f-r-e-e-d-o-m" and from her side looks like "l-o-v-e."<br />
<br />
She settles in unavoidable, and carries through me like Spring storms; forever Spring. <br />
<br />
Wind dashed against my helmet, blurred the world, roads like bent trees. Relentless breath as unending as the motor beneath me, and the love behind me.<br />
<br />
Four-hundred and two miles ridden yesterday. Gear does not make a motorcyclist, but it does help maintain them. Motorcyclists are lovers <i>and</i> fighters; the entire package. The wind is their joy and the other's lives their freedom. They're one giant cumulous cloud rising stratospherically, and only a friendly wave away. They've the power to yank another from their docker's and polo lives, turn the heavenly fan to "high" and send them out. <br />
<br />
She's a different kind of wind, my wife is. She pats my helmeted head and says, "let's ride baby." My gloved hands pull the clutch, release the brake, and turn the throttle; the shifter receives a quick tap and we're off. The road rises up to meet us, the wide open envelopes us, and my loving wind, my graceful yet firm freedom, my blessed wife, pats me on the helmet and blows me down yonder.<span id="goog_1363349940"></span><span id="goog_1363349941"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-71895257664667480912010-09-09T08:07:00.001-05:002010-09-13T07:25:33.122-05:00Generosity<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b><u>Thought for the day:</u></b> So many people criticize, illegitimize or disparage another's church, life, career choices or habits to justify their own existence. They can't seem to enjoy, glean or understand another's church, life, career choices, habits or hurts. When a person does enjoy another, they're offered opportunity for generosity, showing respect for a friend, connecting each other's existence, and quite possibly growing from the experience and/or joyfully enhance or improve someone else's environment. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Furthermore, when someone ails, there is not a single support method. Excellent and varied ways exist that unconditionally uphold and support another. So many believe they deserve to be seen, deserve reward for their action or generosity--Better are those ways you joyfully serve them without being seen, without asserting merit for an action--I assure you believer, your reward will be in Heaven. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Better would be to more broadly define servanthood as the opportunity to take joy of someone in their own environment according to their own needs and to take joy in that experience. Find and then take advantage of the opportunity to be generous.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-87020912337507273772010-09-07T10:31:00.002-05:002010-09-07T10:32:18.959-05:00Seasonal Dress-Up<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seasonal Dress-Up</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">an haiku by richard elgersma</span></span></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer's torrid dust</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blows spryly in Autumn gale</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melted ice re-formed</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5284251195237509447.post-58857092479933098802010-09-06T20:19:00.001-05:002010-09-06T20:20:17.341-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Best Intentions:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">an haiku by rick e.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Smokin' chrome and wind</span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">motorcycles and sunlight</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">damned deliberate.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961377191597126990noreply@blogger.com0