Liberty 8-27-16

It's a slippery slope

on which there's no hope

from the peak of pure liberty.

And just one exception

brings great tribulation

that most of the masses can't see.

Just one politician

that's on twisted mission

can push us down slippery slope.

And not one Republican

or Democrat can

throw out a life-saving rope.

For once we are thrown

out there on our own

there's no one who cares- not a whit.

When they start the fights

to take away rights -

we'd better climb back and not quit.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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In God I Trust 8-20-16

I thank you Jesus, for my birth

and all this beauty on Your earth -

for me to see.

Oh thank you Jesus, for these eyes -

though tears run down my cheeks from cries -

in thanks to thee.

I thank you Jesus, for soft song

when all the children sing along -

angelic grace.

And thank you Jesus, for these ears

as music soothes, then disappears

all I embrace.

I thank you Jesus, for my age

that's numbered here on final page

I can't oppose.

I thank you Jesus, for each breath

that You've blessed me up to my death,
as Heaven knows.

I thank you Jesus, for my life -

though others' sins that brought me strife

was so unjust.

But thank you Jesus, I'm restored

through grace and peace within You Lord.

In God I trust.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Just Like Them 8-13-16

I was a feather floating free

with all my friends and family.

I followed them.

I learned to fly.

I learned to lie

and blow around this empty sky -

...just like them.

In wind, I did a somersault -

was told that nothing was my fault.

I followed them.

Without a care,

I learned to swear

and then accepted any dare -

...just like them.

The wind had tossed me to and fro,

first left, then right you'd see me go.

I followed them.

I learned to think.

I learned to drink,

precariously on the brink -

...just like them.

The gusty wind had taken toll.

I found myself in deep, black hole.

I followed them.

Like feather in

the wayward wind,

but learned that day that I had sinned -

...just like them.

©2016 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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From Humble Root 7-30-16

A green and fragile leaf, was she

and unimportant she would be.

She was depressed.

For she was small, not very big

attached so lightly to a twig -

so she was blessed.

A small and simple twig was he

which held the leaf that waved so free.

He too depressed.

He feared, with wind he'd be detached,

yet to a branch, he was attached -

so he was blessed.

A small, but stable branch was there

which seemed to bend but didn't care.

It too depressed.

Afraid of wind, its life was grim

and so unlike the larger limb -

yet it was blessed.

A large and stable limb it was,

but it, unhappy too because,

it was depressed.

It exercised.  It was a 'hunk'

but wasn't an enormous trunk -

yet it was blessed.

A giant of a trunk was it?

It had opinions so unfit.

It too depressed.

It stood unmoved with haughty face

there over root on its own space -

so it was blessed.

Now root was happy.  It could sing.

It fed and nourished everything -

up to the leaves.

And it was not presumptuous

when it supplied its sustenance

to all the 'least of these'.

That root was humble under sod

and faithful to creation's God -

and it would thrive.

But then wind timbered trunk and tree!

Oh, what had happened?  Could it be

the root's alive...?

...to grow another tree, no doubt.

From humble root, a humble sprout.

Do you now see?
Take care then where your faith is at
so you do not end up like that
ol' timbered tree.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Study Notes for pastors & Bible Study groups:
The leaf, the twig, the branch, the limb and the trunk were not blessed because of what they were attached to - but rather because of the nourishment they received from the unseen root.  We are not blessed because of who or what (spouse, church, political party, elected officials, possessions, money) we are 'attached' to but rather we are blessed because of our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.  If our faith is in man or things, then one day we find ourselves on that ol' timbered tree.

ALL Children 7-23-16

Please help the little children Lord.

Bless each and ev'ry one.

Protect them from a world of hate,

from anger, sin and gun.

Resentment boils up from hell

and terrorizes earth

as wars break out like wildfires,

around another birth.

We clamor for position Lord,

we care for our own thirst.

We focus on our status, but

our blessings have been cursed.

You once had blessed America.
when we had trusted You.
But we have failed the "least of these"
and we all know it's true.

Please strip away our selfish pride

and fill us up with love -

and let us prove our charity

that we keep speaking of.

Why do we think that our kids are
much better than the rest?

ALL children are from You dear Lord -
the poor, the weak, oppressed.

Please help the little children Lord.

Bless each and ev'ry one.

Protect them from a world of hate,

from anger, sin and gun.

©2016 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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