Soft Crosses 9-27-13

I'm under the leaves of tall coconut trees,

(on trunks that are warped in a curve).

They rustle up high in the oft windy sky.

Enjoying the shade, I observe...

...the Heavens above that are filled so with love

and grace only God can bestow -

from free virgin birth for the people on earth.

I ask, "Have I failed Him so?"

Am I like the leaves that everyone sees,

that wave to and fro in the wind,

drawing attention as if I'm important?

Could that, my dear friends, be a sin?

His sheep, under wool, must be fully faithful -

not warped as the coconut trees.

How is it fitting if I am still sitting -

not helping the poor "least of these"?

How disconcerted am I that Christ suffered?

I hold my small cross close to me.

Genteel, I'm living, but what am I giving?

Are soft crosses not meant to be?

Oh, should I be stunned if my cross isn't cushioned?

I'm carefree- and comforts I seek!

Is love, au contraire, to this cross that I bear

as others are hungry and weak?

Our God sits above and He fills us with love.

We're blessed with His soft, gentle breeze -

on tropical islands with soft, idle hands,

enjoying a lifetime of ease.

I'm under the leaves of tall coconut trees,

(on trunks that are warped in a curve).

They rustle up high in the oft windy sky.

Enjoying the shade, I observe...

2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 6:24 (KJV)

"No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one, and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Grandpa's Wisdom 9-24-13

Homer 1896-1991

Before the jets, before the planes,

before the cars and traffic lanes,

before genetics changed our corn,

before the IRS was even born,

before CD's and movie stars,

before the rover got to mars -

was born a man, a little tot,

who endured much, but learned a lot.

His life saw many swinging doors

including two hard world wars.

Depression great.  Its pain would gnaw -

and many other things he saw.

I knew him well and we were close.

At times he'd offer me a dose -

of wisdom gained along his way.

I'd listen close to what he'd say.

The years passed by as he grew old

but many truths he had foretold -

respect would lack, expensive gas...

It seems it all has came to pass.

Now, it's not hard to peer beyond

a lack of faithful family bond -

where babies know their father not -

and debt would bury quite a lot.

Where morals lack, great pain will be

and little things called bankruptcy -

yet we can wipe our whole slate clean

and make it so it's never seen.

But when amiss at what we're taught,

when our responsibilities are naught,

when we're in need of steak or ham

we'll ask for more from Uncle Sam.

It seems we do not want to pay
for all the things we have today -
nor want to ever pay, when due,
the moral debt we're going through.

But unlike others 'on the lamb’,

my grandpa was a faithful man -

who read his Bible inside-out

and knew what life was all about.

Oh, one day man will find it out,

(make no mistake and have no doubt),

after kings have misbehaved,

after money buys their slaves,

after parents kill and die,

after homeless babies cry,

after we've lived life our way -

and after death on judgement day.

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

(if you enjoyed this poem, you may enjoy reading more about 'Homer' here):
http://www.ganderpoems.org/2009/05/homer-5-16-09.html

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Revelation 21:8 (KJV)

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers,

and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,

shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:

which is the second death.

Morning Light 9-15-13

From ancient times, the church bells chimed

to open up our eyes,

with predawn light from Heaven's might,

to bold and brighter skies.

Above the crops and mountain tops

and score of evergreen -

this fleeting night sees hints of light -

though sun is not yet seen.

On baby blue an amber hue

now glows on fringe of clouds.

So few will glean this wondrous scene

throughout earth's massive crowds.

And here, in flaw, I stand in awe

as I stretch high my hands!

I want to touch - I do, so much -

but life has such demands.

I need some clothes, yet glad for those

who need be highly viewed -

and scarcely live that I might give

so others have some food.

My insides ache, for goodness sake,

for those who have to cope.

Oh, there's no gain from earthly pain

for those who have no hope.

I never knew what I could do -

for I am just a man.

But it's not strange that God can change

the heart that He began.

So now today, I see a ray

as clouds bright edges glisten.

A still, small voice is still the choice

if only we would listen.

Through fervent tears, beyond my years,

I see the birds are singing.

I harmonize now ears and eyes

as church bells keep on ringing.

From ancient times, the church bells chimed

to bold and brighter skies.

Now morning light from Heaven's might,

has opened up my eyes...

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Those Nail Scars 9-12-13

Must we see it to believe it?
Must we ask the Lord if we
may touch His prints to get some hints
of what has come to be?

A 'doubting one' had seen God's Son.

He saw our Master's hands.

Did Thomas learn and then discern

mere facts to understand?

Are we to seek and take a peek
for proof so we might know?
Are we remiss within our bliss

that our faith fails to grow?

Those nail scars were never ours.

Pure sin had seized those crowds.

But in the end, Christ did ascend

up through the yielding clouds.

So many view, but there are few

who understand 'the fall'.

Through burdens' weight, our Lord was great -

then rose above it all!

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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One More Day 9-9-13

My life is not worth one red cent
for I was never innocent.
I chose to live my selfish way -
and lived it every single day.
So soon prepared, rectangle hole.
They'll close the casket on my soul.
"For all have sinned" and it will be
that I had wished I'd lived for thee.

And when they lay me down to sleep -
they'll dig that hole and dig it deep.
Lost soul, forever, under sod
who lived for 'self' instead of God.
If I had known grace can't be bought,
if I had given life more thought...
If God would grant me one more day,
I'll be sincere and this I'll pray:

"Please humble me, I quote the hymn,
"without one plea...", "just as I am..."
Please grant me faith instead of grief
and save me as you did the thief
who humbled self, who was a man,
who did repent as I, too, can.
Forgive my debts, forgive my sins,
then help me boldly tell my friends."

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Know It All 9-5-13

While robins sing, alarm clocks ring -

and our whole day is planned.

Birds perch steady.  We get ready.

We settle in quicksand.

The leopard lurks while we're at work.

It seeks its fragile prey.

Important though, our Savior know -

yet we still fail to pray.

Forgetting cross, we please our boss,

while truth is right at hand.

God's loving face and lasting grace -

yet we don't understand.

Do you know what?  Our minds are shut,

when we hear Jesus call.

A life of ease - and then Hades.

We think we know it all.

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Your Word 8-31-13

Why can't I write one poem, Lord,

that gathers people 'round,

that opens eyes and opens hearts

to all Your truths I've found -

among the pages of Your Book,

which tells me how to live -

which tells life's truths, both good and bad -

and how I should forgive?

Why can't I write one poem, Lord,

that brings the people 'round,

and opens hearts so they forgive

so that Your peace is found -

Your peace of dulcet harmony

which flows from day to day,

which brings us closer to Your Word -

and shows us how to pray?

Why can't I write one poem, Lord,

that calls all wicked, wild,

the selfish men, bad women too -

and every sinful child -

who desecrate Your garden, Lord,

who desecrate Your laws,

who desecrate Your truth and love...

and then wait for applause?

Why can't I write one poem, Lord,

that brings the people 'round,

so they'd forgive the other folks

and hopefully be found -

sitting on the many pews

inside these hallowed halls,

inside our humble churches where -

a still, small voice still calls?

Lord, You are much greater than

my sorted words can brag,

coming from this shaky hand

attached to this old rag.

But maybe this reminder here

can make us humbly look -

at not a bunch of rhyming words,

but rather at Your Book?

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Beheaded 8-22-13

What could it be?  They tortured me

as others stood around.

They seized me tight.  There was no fight.

They threw me to the ground.

There was no ease, down on my knees.

And then I overheard,

Kill him!  Kill him!  It was grim.

They shoved my head forward.

Through their disgust, I tasted dust -

my face against the dirt.

I felt the weight of all their hate

and then I heard them blurt,

Deny! Deny! - or you will die!

With that, one raised his sword.

In dampened eyes I shared my cries,

"Oh, please forgive them Lord!"

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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The war against those who love others continues.

There is violence against many loving Christians

who have never hurt anyone- but only helped others-

the sick, the elderly, the children.

The killings and church burnings continue.

We, the people, either stand up for

the peaceful, the meek, the humble and the innocent,

or we stand against them.

There is no in-between.

There is no 'sitting on the fence'. (Rev. 3:16).

Educate yourself,

then pray, then help, then vote.

Every minute matters.

If, indeed, you love others,

please give to your local church missions,

print this out and pass it on...

Thank you!

The Straight and Narrow 8-20-13

Celestial grace pours down on me.

Your love has filled my heart.

Rejoice, I do, when I'm with You,

but life tears me apart.

I pray, "Dear Lord, please give me strength.

Sometimes I can't go on...

Does Your sparrow not have shelter

from things it comes upon?

"Yea, though I walk through the valley,

where evil so abounds,

I did not know that Your path Lord,

would have such 'ups and downs'.

They take my house, possessions too,

but You say 'follow me'.

So faithfully, I stumble on.

Was this all meant to be?

"Yea, though I walk the shadow through,

which covers all the grounds...

I did not know that Your path Lord,

would have such 'ups and downs'.

The future's dark, so go, how I?

Oh, what am I to do?

I often find it slippery

as I reach out to You.

"Yea, though I walk through horrid death,

I hear its helpless sounds...

I did not know that Your path Lord,

would have such 'ups and downs'."

---

His way is seldom easy,

and downright serious -

but yet I know it's not as hard

as nails that held Jesus.

His way is met with 'ups and downs'.

It's often slippery.

Sometimes I feel incapable -

and tempted so, to flee.

But it is then that I recall

that He protects the sparrow -

so faithfully I drag my cross

here on the straight and narrow.

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

Matthew 10:30-32 (KJV)

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Much More Courage 8-15-13

I got no dad that I know of.

My mama's scarcely seen.

My aunt takes care of all of us.

Her boyfriend's really mean.

There's danger on my city street,

there's danger in my school,

there's danger at my local store -

if I'm not lookin' cool.

I've come too far to turn back now,

I've come too far to change.

I've come too far inside the gang -

you prob'ly think I'm strange.

If I don't have the tattoo'd marks

with gang I'm runnin' in -

If I don't have my gun and knife,

there's no way I will win.

I've learned my lesson, know it well.

and if I have to chance -

I'll use my gun if there's a need.

The fittest will romance -

and start the cycle once again

to bring another child

into the war zone I'm in now

where hate and anger's wild.

Ya' think God's Ten Commandments here

will do us any good?

Our culture isn't going to change

from here within 'the hood'.

"Thou shalt not kill", "thou shalt not steal" -

Who listens to them words?

And even your Supreme Court said

those words are 'for the birds'.

No, I grew up in culture where

there is no safe escape -

where sirens fill the midnight skies

and morning finds bright tape -

surrounding yet another scene

where one more body lay -

where each one has an answer for -

...but has nothing to say.

I cried when I saw sister there -

my little flower bud -

her smiling face, forever gone

inside her pool of blood.

It's not a 'group' that must be saved,

but individuals -

and I pray now that God would shake

their thick and stubborn skulls.

Some good old-fashioned discipline

is needed once again.

Respect is needed - and despite

the color of the skin.

And every individual

must learn it from God's Son.

It takes a real man to love.

It starts with only one.

Am I the one to lead this gang

that they be real men -

where we can live in full respect

and humbleness again?

Some think they're tough when they can hold

a gun to garner fear -

but now I know it takes more guts

to shed one loving tear.

©2013 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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(This poem was written not to judge but rather to save lives and souls.

It involves ALL cultures to some degree or another because
we all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.

The culture is obvious to all of us.  The 'fault' is not to argue.

America's "melting pot" MUST have ingredients that melt and God MUST be in that mix.
The ONLY solution to gang violence is our confession, our repentance,
our forgiveness and our faithfulness through God's grace.

If respect is lost, there is no obedience to the parents, the teachers or the law.
REAL discipline does not embarrass the child in public (find a quiet place),
nor does it hit, slap, yell, denigrate the child or show disrespect -
but rather understands, uplifts, reasons, educates, loves and is most always mixed with tears.)