Worn Out 11-2-08

.
I can see but I can't see.
I can hear but I can't hear.
I can sing but I can't sing.
I can fear but I can't fear.
I can love but I can't love.
I can grow but I can't grow.
I can live but I can't live.
I can know but I can't know.

Like road run over many time,
I wrinkle, crack, become the grime.
For years the world has crushed me down
and turned my innards gritty, brown.

The sin of man with fire's roar,
has burned me to my inner core.
It's sent me on a beaten track
and soot has turned me satan black.

It pulled the flesh right off my skin.
It takes nutrition, makes me thin.
It's thrown my bones both far and near
and tells me I belong right here.

I can see but not Your face.
I can hear but not for hours.
I can sing but not in tune.
I can fear but not Your powers.
I can love corrupted space.
I can grow - not healthy though.
I can live but I can't give.
I can know but I don't glow.

Dear Lord and Savior, hear my plea.
There's really nothing left of me.
Take me home to live with thee.
Help me die that I might see.

Die to self and all that haunts.
Die to "things" and all that flaunts.
Please rip my soul from deep within,
then pave me white - renew again.

I was pounded ear to ear
with traffic noise, I couldn't hear,
Blind from dirt, I couldn't see.
Dear Lord and Savior, forgive me.

Help me see Your splendid face.
Help me hear You every hour.
Help me sing a life in tune.
Help me fear but not to cower.
Help me love that greatest gift.
Help me grow in faith and deed.
Help me live that I could give.
Help me go and spread the seed..

Blot out now the earthly scrawl.
These words cannot explain it all.
You can hear and You can see -
so Holy Spirit - enter me.

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
www.ganderpoems.org/

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Prologue

“I’m not an expert writer
and never claimed to be.

I hold no degree.

Friends suggested that I put
this collection into book form
so I did.

2004 – 2008
Special thanks I give to all my friends -
for their help, support, knowledge and patience with me.

This world is filled with greed, lust, envy, deceit,
hatred, war, and death....

Therefore, I pray that these writings inspire you,
that you would reflect God's love
and reflect Christ's light
in this dark world of sin.

There is no substitute for God's precious gift
of grace through His precious Son, Jesus.

Believe it. Faithfully pray, and live it out.

I have no interest in 30 pieces of silver.
There will never be a penny of profit on any of these poems.
ALL proceeds will go to spreading the Word.

Mark 16:15 (KJV)
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Focused on God, by grace through His Son,
through faith, steadfastness,
and personal love and charity.

~ louis gander

Tickled Ears 11-1-08

We do things in life to make our ourselves happy.

remembering also, our friends and our family.

Sometimes we say things to make someone proud.

If others can hear us we might say them loud.

Compromise happens if jobs we must keep,

even though words come in multitudes, cheap.

Here we might bend - or waver some there,

but why does it matter and why should we care?

Sometimes it goes on for years and for years,

as everyone listens with fun-tickled ears.

But truth must ignore both the wink and nod....

Should we care what man thinks - or rather God?

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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2 Timothy 4:3 (NASB)

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,"

Child-like Faith 11-1-08

You spanked me when I stole or lied,

yet always hugged me when I cried.

When I knew not just what to do,

I trusted you to see me though.

I felt so safe from all the crime,

as you helped me in your spare time.

Remember visits - Grandma's house,

when I spilled Kool-aid on her blouse?

I remember the circus and clowns;

Elephants, tigers – all the sounds.

I love the animals in our zoo,

but mostly mommy, I love you.

Last year, mom, when I was seven,

You spoke of Jesus, God in Heaven.

Please hold my hand, it's dark tonight.

Jesus holds my other, tight.

Your eyes say I won't make it through,

but I know Jesus loves me too.

You're worried, mom, but please don't be -

Jesus has reached down to me.

I see big scars in the palms of his hands.

He must have worked hard on Heaven's plans.

Forgive me mommy when I wasn't good,

because Jesus did. He understood.

Jesus grips my other hand.

I must let go, He tugs me and -

I wish there was another way -

but let go mommy... it's okay.

©2008 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Stale Bread & Smelly Fish 10-29-08

First created in His image - then threw out of Eden.
What dominion was received to plow the seeds of men?

Satan owns deception, and this is his proposal:
"World's tools you cannot use. They're all at my disposal".

But yet, those very tools, that lies could not destroy;
helped Jesus feed five thousand - with food from one small boy.

Now did he pay attention, when he heard Jesus' call?
Or did he wait for someone else’s food to feed them all?

What if no one listened? What if no one shared?
What if no one bothered? What if no one cared?

Did intimidation strike him - with grownups to compare?
What if he stood silent? Would everybody stare?

I'm sure the bread was stale. I'm sure the fish was smelly -
and who made him responsible to feed their hungry belly?

What if doubts were planted - not knowing if he could?
What if faith and fish and bread – seemed so little good?

Was he called to do such things - to worry 'bout the present?
Or was he called to preach the Word? Are words the full intent?

Do we think there's someone else - who God will call by name,
and therefore won't engage ourselves? Who then would be to blame?

But Jesus proved His miracles, with meager food and powers;
God created fish and bread - then blesses us with ours.

Did Jesus sit in synagogues? Was He not salt and light?
And did He reach beyond those doors? Did He not lead the fight?

The "experts" did not like Him. He wasn't keeping quiet.
He questioned all their politic. Their answer then was riot.

Three times disciples fell asleep, so tell me if you please;
Were they really faithful as He wept there on His knees?

Please, can someone tell me, Is faith without works dead?
Was Jesus really faithful when – the thorns cut deep, His head?

Was Jesus really faithful then - with shouts of insults said?
Was Jesus really faithful, when on the cross He bled?

Was Jesus really faithful - our nails, He took instead?
Was Jesus really faithful - when life hung by a thread?

Now tell me - was He faithful when they pronounced Him dead?
And can anybody tell me - that words suffice instead?

Jesus sweat before that cross - but works, did not subdue;
for Jesus did not only pray - He also followed through.

I suppose it's time to ask myself - (regarding that young boy),
Have I sat in idleness - and with it, helped destroy?

What impact do I have today? What is my greatest wish?
Did that small boy surpass me with - stale bread and smelly fish?

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Futility 10-18-08

Futility:
is a cry unheard -
or a star unseen.

Futility:
is a dictionary never opened -
or eyes that cannot read.

Futility:
is a termite encased in a metal box -
or seeds, in a sealed package, never planted.

Futility:
is the worlds most beautiful flower in a forest unseen -
or a forest with no beautiful flowers.

Futility:
is the greatest sermon preached - to an empty room -
or a room full of bodies that a sermon doesn't move.

Futility:
is a microphone unplugged -
or headphones on deaf ears.

Futility:
is a world of envy -
or a state of hate.

Futility:
is deceptiive love -
or worthless riches.

Futility:
is kissing a toad -
or hugging a flag pole.

Futility:
is outside a fancy door, doing nothing -
or opening the biggest door to nowhere.

Futility:
is the hardest worker, with no understanding -
or the greatest mind in a body never worked.

Futility:
is a hole dug - just before caving back in -
or the greatest, tallest mountain of debt.

Futility:
is a king without his subjects -
or subjects without their king.

Futility:
is having been given an unusable brain -
or given a mind which is thoughtless.

Futility:
It's doom, agony, despair, life without purpose -
It's fruitless, full of pain and hopelessness.

Futility:
It's sin, the absence of appreciation -
It’s lacking thankfulness for every blessing.

Futility:
It's death on a cross without sufficient grace -
It’s the great deceptive arrogance of 'works' by man.

Futility.
It comes in many shapes and sizes -
It thrives like a stubborn weed - when faith is weak.

Futility:
It's life without faith in the almighty God -
or lifelessness without His grace, under cold sod.

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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LOST? 10-13-08

Are you listening? Are you troubled? Is anybody there?

Does anybody know your pain? Does anybody care?

I guess you can't be hopeful for the world to understand -

that pain is so immense when clay is formed with potters' hand.

I know affliction pained the God who sent His Son to die,

for us, who spent our time in ways - that lent to Satan's lie.

In seconds, minutes, hours - in years, months, weeks and days,

We've locked up so much precious time - in all our selfish ways.

I know He understands you and - He knows your every pain -

because He's pulled this very clay from each and every chain.

Chains that seemed so innocent and chains that seemed so right,

but chains that I locked on myself and chains that I clasped tight.

Are you listening? Are you troubled? Is anybody there?

Does anybody know your pain? Does anybody care?

We do - your family. I do. Though just a Christian friend,

I know that grace trumps judgment - where guilt and suffering end.

He understands you fully. Its you He wants to heal.

Jesus went before you and He knows just how you feel.

Creations' GOD still cries out loud when molding you because,

the God of Love (who had to send - His Son here) surely does.

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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What Value? 9-21-08

What value are birds - without their wings?

What value is music - if no one sings?

What value is law - without pursuit?

What value are works - without good fruit?

What value are lungs - without the air?

What value are fathers - never there?

What value is wisdom – if not begun?

What value is Christmas - without God's Son?

What value are scythes - without the weeds?

What value is harvest - without the seeds?

What value are ovens - if not hotter?

What value is clay - without the potter?

What value are baths - without the soap?

What value is grace - without the hope?

What value are answers - without questions?

What value are tears – without confessions?

What value is hope - if we're naive?

What value is faith - if we can't believe?

What value is kindness - without the prayer?

What value are actions - if can’t be spared?

What value are judges - if they aren't fair?

What value is Heaven - if we aren't there?

What value is cycling - without fitness?

What value are Christians - who bear no witness?

©2008 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

Matthew 10:(KJV)

32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.... 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Matthew 19:(NASB)

29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

30"But many who are first will be last; and the last, first."

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One Precise Location 9-16-08

There’s one precise location - where lies and truths abide.

It's proven in this big old world where sin and love collide.

With fights and angry battles, with bombs and deadly wars -

yet also acts of kindness - love, forgiveness, open doors.

Now if all wars were ended - and battles could subside,

and wars’ dust finally settled - and guns were set aside;

still sin and love would be at war – battling years and years,

and sin would deceive many - as love would dry the tears.

Deep down inside all soldiers of war torn battled states,

and way down deep inside us all - are two specific gates.

The 'will' that we were given and the trails we would choose,

are sin that shuns, or love that puts - us in our Godly shoes.

Was Jesus much too busy - to heal a withered hand,

to heal the blind or heal the lame - so we might understand?

Jesus loved His enemies – even while on the cross,

and how we love each other is - deep below our gloss.

God still loves the least of these. I cannot answer why,

but when I stumbled on that truth, it made this old man cry.

From one precise location, our Lord was ripped apart.

That very place for our own cross, is deep within our heart....

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 5:44-45 (NASB)

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Jesus 9-13-08

Jesus never hurt anyone.

Jesus never turned away from a need.

Jesus healed.

Jesus fed.

Jesus helped.

Jesus loved.

Yet the world hated Him.

Why?

The world condemned Him.

The world charged Him.

The world judged Him.

The world mocked Him.

The world hung Him.

The world killed Him.

The world still uses His name in vain.

Why?

What kind of reward is that for helping, healing, and loving others?

How do we respond to this truth?

Do we care?

We are - either ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ – not lukewarm.

God so loved the world that He gave.

Jesus so loved that He gave himself.

How much are we willing to give?

What have we done?

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

www.ganderpoems.org

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Matthew 25:40

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,

whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”