"I want to thank all those who come from around the world and read the poetry that God has inspired me with to make the world a more pleasant and peaceful place. This site shall always be totally free for everyone with no tracking, pop-up ads & videos or other distractions." ~louis gander

October 26, 2015

Meet My Friend, 'Love' 10-26-15


Hello there!  Meet my friend, 'Love'.
Inside my heart, He lives.
My other friends reside there too,
but my friend 'Love' forgives.

I have not done much for my 'Love' -
as my life was a mess.
And I remember my mistakes.
He loves me nonetheless.

'Love' does not tally up mistakes
that I have made before -
but 'Love' pours grace on all the more
and does not keep a score.

Ashamed, I am, when I think back
and wish I could divert
my thoughts and acts of selfishness
and all who I have hurt.

I often cry when I remember
all of my mistakes,
but 'Love' absorbs my pain and guilt
and does whate'er it takes.

'Love' can't reside in angry hearts
that it finds hard and cold,
but rather in the humble heart,
now whether young or old.

Atrocities of sinful man
just guts my inner soul -
but 'Love' is great and 'Love' is good
and 'Love' is in control.

Though 'Love' allows imperfect man
to make a sinful choice,
He cleared a path of perfect peace
so we can all rejoice.

Words can't express the joy I feel
and all I'm thinking of -
for God's the great creator and
He is the God of 'Love'.

I'm pleased that you have met my 'Love'.
Does 'Love' reside in you?
If you love others as yourself
then 'Love' is your friend too.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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1 John 4:8 (NASB)
8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Mark 12:30-31 (NASB)
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.”

October 20, 2015

To Gardens Yet Unknown 10-20-15


Beneath the calm and quiet sky
two butterflies go drifting by -
as yellow as the sun.
A wild flower bends a bit
as one has temporarily lit.
The other joins in fun.

Then off again they wing with task
but yet, so playfully I ask,
Are they that much in love?
They look to be, or so it seems,
alive inside their unique dreams
which float so high above.

It's if they taunt, it's if they tease
my little world of memories,
of our lives long ago.
Those treasured thoughts of yesteryear
still seem so recent, seem so near,
I'll never let them go.

Their presence here is so worthwhile
I find myself with pleasant smile,
though I sit all alone.
Then finally, they both take flight
to other places out of sight,
to gardens yet unknown.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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October 15, 2015

How Beautiful! 10-15-15


How beautiful, the autumn day!
How beautiful, the trees!
How beautiful, the up-stretched limbs!
How beautiful, their leaves!
How beautiful, the sunlit skies!
How beautiful, the rays!
How beautiful, creation's peace!
How beautiful, the days!

So beautiful, the season's end
when I breathe my last breath.
Because, when I'm at Heaven's door,
how beautiful, earth's death!
You see, this earth was all I knew.
Earth died so I'd arrive
to dreams too unbelievable -
in Heaven's world, alive!

How beautiful when Winter's past!
How beautiful the Spring!
How beautiful the Angels are!
How beautiful they sing!
How beautiful my Jesus is!
How beautiful His face!
How beautiful His perfect love!
How beautiful His grace!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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October 13, 2015

Great Democratic Debate, The 10-13-15


With crowd, ecstatic, you might think
that truth might finally win.
But no, deceptions lingered on
in shallow, selfish din.

The candidates deceive us all.
Pet projects, each discusses.
They came to this, the 'Great Debate'
in jets and campaign buses.

The smiles they wore were painted on.
So sly, those hungry foxes.
And all of them were standing tall
on top of their soapboxes.
---
The 'stomach' growled greedily,
"Hey, I'll do much more taxing.
I'll gouge the ones who go to work
so you can be relaxing."

The 'hand' said, "I will snatch the purse
of ev'ry working man.
I'll give you fruits of their hard work.
Now do you understand?"

The 'tongue' spoke up quite sharply then,
"You've heard me, one and all!
Benghazi, no, is not my fault -
because I don't recall...
I fell down and hit my head
before that legal hearings.
I would've shown up if I hadn't
lost my fav'rite earings.
I'll tell that hearing anything -
and lie, for goodness sake -
Who cares about ambassadors?
What difference does it make?
We need a woman president!
We need a leader NOW!
We need to have a first "first man"
I need you to allow...
me to be a president.  Because I've always wanted
to be since smoking pot in college with Bill..
And I don't care if this rhymes or not
because I JUST WANT TO BE PRESIDENT!!

(The moderator covered this
with manufactured cough.
And when the viewers had enough
they turned their TVs off.)

We do not need a woman.
transvestite, or a man.
We do not need a socialist
but someone true who can.
We don't need someone 'statesman-like'
but rather someone real.
If not, we'll some day be blown up
by bad atomic deal.

Now even if we save the whales
and stop all soil erosion -
global warming we will get
with nuclear explosion.
Yes, 'presidential' they may look
and 'presidential' sound -
but what they do is critical
for answers to be found.

The Constitution has them all -
so maybe we should look.
Love country this time.  Let us not
elect another crook.
The last one you had voted in,
in EV'RY aspect failed -
then violated sev'ral laws!
So why is he not jailed?

Now here's another "great" debate.
With empty words, each shares...
What diff'rence does it really make?
It tells me this:  Who cares?

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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October 10, 2015

I Want To Share 10-10-15


I once thought I was happy 'cause
I had good friends and cars.
And sadly, so mistaken, I
would visit clubs and bars.
Though I was locked in sins distress,
I thought surroundings true.
And nothing said could make me change.
No, nothing else would do.

Sin won its way deceiving me.
Its lies chained me to walls.
I thought my life successful 'til
I heard those whispered calls...
Throughout my life, I heard those words -
but sin allowed no choice.
A question echoed "Who are you?"
I heard in my own voice.
---
Yes, in a rut, I lived my life -
in dungeon, it had seemed.
But nothing changed, no matter how,
how loud that I had screamed.

That cold, dark dungeon seemed to speak -
so then I'd laugh and joke.
But scoffing echoed back at me
each time that I had spoke.

Then through sins darkness, I had heard
a key that seemed to cry.
The lock had turned in agony
but I had not known why.

From dungeon's depth, a creak I heard.
That heavy-laden door
unlocked to let a crack of light
expose me on that floor.

Light filtered through the musty dust
that hung thick in the air.
I, for the first time, realized
how pointless it was there.

And so it was, I saw myself
in my dark world of sin.
I smelled the odor of my life
and felt the filth within.

The shackles, I myself had locked,
weighed heavy on my legs.
But even if, I wanted out -
who'd hear my humble begs?

And then those rusty hinges squeaked -
above the rust rebelling.
"Forgive them Father!" I had heard
against cries, screams and yelling!

I held my hands tight to my ears.
So deafening, the riot!
Then suddenly, a stillness came -
and everything grew quiet.

Then once again, I heard that voice -
yet... no one I could see.
But oh, the freedom I had felt
when chains fell off of me!

I made my way toward ray of light.
So weak, I had to crawl.
As dungeon's door kept opening -
more light of truth I saw.

I then confessed all black and white
and ev'ry shade of gray!
I saw rich colors in His world!
I saw the light of day!

I saw His palms, His nail scars -
then cried through my repentance!
That breath of fresh air woke me up!
It all made perfect sense!

The brightness of His rainbow-ed world
was more than I could bear!
He raised me up onto my feet -
so now I want to share.

I want to share to those I see -
so proud of their new cars -
inviting me to ride with them
to parties and to bars.

There's too much thrill in Jesus' arms
to go back to those chains.
And even through my failures here,
God's love for me remains.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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And Can It Be
Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Music: Thomas Campbell 
Tune: SAGINA, Meter: 88.88.88 with Repeat

1. And can it be that I should gain 
an interest in the Savior's blood! 
Died he for me? who caused his pain! 
For me? who him to death pursued? 
Amazing love! How can it be 
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 
Amazing love! How can it be 
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 

2. 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies! 
Who can explore his strange design? 
In vain the firstborn seraph tries 
to sound the depths of love divine. 
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; 
let angel minds inquire no more. 
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; 
let angel minds inquire no more. 

3. He left his Father's throne above 
(so free, so infinite his grace!), 
emptied himself of all but love, 
and bled for Adam's helpless race. 
'Tis mercy all, immense and free, 
for O my God, it found out me! 
'Tis mercy all, immense and free, 
for O my God, it found out me! 

4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay, 
fast bound in sin and nature's night; 
thine eye diffused a quickening ray; 
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; 
my chains fell off, my heart was free, 
I rose, went forth, and followed thee. 
My chains fell off, my heart was free, 
I rose, went forth, and followed thee. 

5. No condemnation now I dread; 
Jesus, and all in him, is mine; 
alive in him, my living Head, 
and clothed in righteousness divine, 
bold I approach th' eternal throne, 
and claim the crown, through Christ my own. 
Bold I approach th' eternal throne, 
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

October 5, 2015

These Two Short Words 10-5-15


I'm just a short and simple poem with two short words to say
and though forgotten, I will be - these words won't pass away.
They're given to the ages, to people large and small.
They're given to us freely and they're given to us all.

Though I am insignificant - a poem of the hour,
forget my words, but share these two.  They have tremendous power.
Do not expect that I'll depict a nature scene with birds -
for soon you'll see me disappear - so first find these two words.

Now Jesus healed the lost and sick and lame in His good time.
He calmed the sea and fed the crowds, but never did the crime.
Yet still today, man scoffs although He never hurt a soul -
and that's why these two words will live beyond the written scroll.

Yes, you'll forget this little poem and soon forget the rhymes,
and soon go back to other things and entertaining times.
But don't forget these two short words and hold them very near.
For these two words, "Jesus Saves!" shall never disappear.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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October 1, 2015

Arguing With 'Joy' 10-1-15

(arguing with 'joy')

I know that you are kidding me!
I am not a believer!
It's happiness I care about.
You're but a deceiver.

My entertainment is a must.
I want to laugh and joke.
Do you think you can handle that?
Now give me one more 'smoke'.

I want the comforts I hold dear.
I like my TV show.
I want to watch my team play ball -
and I want you to go.

I'd rather be intoxicated
on fine, red berry wine.
I'd rather live in merry bliss
than walking your straight line.

I have a bad hangover now,
so please just go away.
If some day I should be content,
I'll let you, with me, stay.
---
An evil life, man can now live
and he, his life destroy -
but only God has perfect love
which will bring perfect joy.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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