Eternal Summer

Anxiety threatened to steal my day
Oppressed me like the mourning
A freight train whistled
Delivering me to
The eternity of an Indian summer

For the Love of Elaine

Do you know how much I love you?
Does my embrace speak sweetness?
Do my caresses convey love's depth?
Do my kisses whisper my heart's beat?
Does my goofy love struck grin give you an inkling
As my tears start trickling?
My love for you is a honeyed tickle
My love for you makes bottomless my heart
It is sweet to me as communion wine
And as mystical as the bread

Cross in the Woods

At the worlds largest crucifix. 55 ft high made from a redwood tree with a 7 ton crucifix.

rain falls like tears
from your great eyes
consolation
as big as a redwood
seven ton love

Listening to God

Vibrations.

Words uttered before time,

Out side of time

Strike the ear of my soul

At just the right time

In the nick of time

You are speaking to me

In the tone of the air

In the timbre of the soul

An angelic voice

Sweet and crystal
Clear bell tone

I hear you around me

Penetrating me - Pervasive

But only gently persuasive

The vibrations pass through me

Like gamma rays

And unseen ways

I hear you when I listen

When I miss you

When I don’t resonate

The crystal goes dead

The tone of my life dying
On my own senses relying

I hear you play your song

On the strings
Of other souls

My heart follows along

Resonating, joining
Undulating, harmonizing,

Strengthening in harmonic bends

As the feedback loops our souls
Back onto you

Tradition

For people in Assembly of God circles, tradition means death. Tradition is what we threw out. It is the obstacle to saving and fresh experience. Tradition is religion and religion is no religion at all but rather something to isolate us from God. All the while we have our own tradition. Birthed out of beautiful and effervescent experience of our grandparents, quickly our tradition became a substitute for the reality and a check against anything new and creative. Truly this is the story oft repeated. The story has itself become tradition as one Church has given birth to gossamer denominations. Tradition gives form as a gift to people, some where along the way they drink the life from the form and nothing is left but an empty shell. The empty form of tradition goes along until someone give it back its soul, or moves on to a new form.

“In reappropriating the best of Christian tradition, we discover a feast for hungry hearts. Indeed, I might caution against a temptation to gluttony! The sources are rich and need to be taken in small bites.”

To discover God, true life, through the wonders and mysteries found in that richness, is indeed a fearful thing. That is not to say I’m particularly anxious about it, except for the loss of every moment I’m not immersed in his crushing depths, but I have this feeling down in the deep that persuades me that to truly find him means to die. I meet this feeling not with timidity, but with eye burning resolve. Come what may, I want your depths lord.

Batter my heart, three person'd God; for, you

As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;

That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee,'and bend

Your force, to breake, blow, burn and make me new.

I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due,

Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,

Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,

But is captiv'd, and proves weake or untrue.

Yet dearley'I love you,'and would be loved faine,

But am betroth'd unto your enemie:

Divorce mee,'untie, or breake that knot againe,

Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I

Except you'enthrall mee, never shall be free,

Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.

If it brings more glory to you that I burn in hell, put me there immediately. If my life can bring you more glory then may I live a shining life in your presence.

My soul within me cries to you, my chin quivers and my eyes burn hot with tears! Oh to know you more dearly! Oh to give you more pleasure and glory, even if that were to mean my own death or separation from you! And thank you that it doesn’t, that you want to be near me. And that thought breaks the dam and my tears fall, weeping, washing away tradition's stone, filling her again with soul and life.

Espresso fueled poetry

Contemplation of your beauty is like
The cold mist
It refreshes
And it bites
It tingles my nostrils
And empties my body of it's flame
Like the prick of coming tears
It widens my lips and glosses my eyes
Contemplation of your mystery is like
The cool fall
It enfolds me like a turtleneck
And transforms me with its colors
It makes me feel dashing and handsome
And warms my hands with coffee and apple cider and cocoa
It is perfection
And it is gone

Psalm 119 Nun

A Meditation on Psalm 119:105-112

In the dark night of the sou, your word shines bright. Continually, I promise to follow the beam.  I suffer much of my self and your promise is still faithful.  I praise your with my mouth. Let me praise you with my walk along the beam.  Every day I take my life upon myself again. Temptation assails me and threatens to take it.  The letters of your law are my heritage forever. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.  Help me for my flesh is not so set.

N

Night of the soul is ever dark

Light of very light, your words shine

Never, I say,  will I leave

The path of your beam lies before me

Now and always I suffer much of my self

You are faithful anyway 

Near my ear oyu whisper your laws

Let me praise you with body and soul

Now again I take my life upon myself

Temptation assails and threatens to take it

Not knowing where I've come from or where I go

Your word is where my foot prints can be found

Now I have a rich heritage in your word

I never looked for it but your joy is mine

Never leave me

I need your help

Psalm 119 Mem

A meditation on Psalm 119:97-104

I love your word.  I like to think about it all the time.  They show me wise as I obey your wisdom.  The people with out your grace are blind.  Your word is the stuff of my dreams.  I love it.  My teachers' brilliance is dull next to my love for your word.  I love obeying your word.  I am excited about it and I run around my elders rejoicing. My feet dance avoiding the wrong path - all so I can obey your word.  I love it when you teach me.  Your lessons are my double glazed honey ham!  I love the understanding my dinner brings.   It is so good I'll never leave your table!

M

Mind over matter they say

I just love your words

My mind drinks your word

Filled with it I glow

More than the geniuses

Your words shine

Man can't contian me

When I think about your word

More and more I love your words

Savory and powerful

My feet dance around all ills

To rush to my dinner

Mmm good.

I dream about your words

My mouth waters

I love the understanding it brings

Written at Buckaroo and Straight Arrow field day, Pillager, MN

Psalm 119 Lamedh

A Meditation on Psalm 119:89-96

The sky is blue into the infinite heavens, Lord you made it and it lasts.  Just like your words, nothing you say falls to the ground and is lost.  Con todo poder, you spoke the worlds into existence and millennia haven't threatened them. Your words are faithful. Just like you ordered the universe, so you are faithful to order my steps! If I wasn't yours, where would my feet take me? Now they take me to your breath and fall in your every syllable.  Your words have salvaged my life and enlivened me.  Your words are eternal, and eternally they will be my food.  Your words are perfect and with gentle violence they make me perfect.

L

Land appeared at the vibration of your vocalization

Created it shook - then stood

Lost words aren't a part of your economy

Every syllable races through eternity

Life bouncing here and there

Echoing through lost ages

Life giving words, never lost

Give life to my weary bones

Lasting words can be true

True to my feet

Lead my feet to that place

True perfection in crazy timing

Let my shape be new

With gentle violence

Looking forever, nothing is perfect

Except my dinner - your words

Psalm 119 Yodh

A Meditation on Psalm 119:73-80

With wonderful power, your words created me. Speak again the power to obey your commands. Fierce and wonderful and awful are you! May people see the power of your word spilling from my eyes. My eyes that see the melody of your voice and melt in peace and comfort. Oh fearful God, let your mercy come to me before the weight of your whisper crushes me. What an awesome weight - those who refuse you can never stand. The song of your words rings in my head continually. May the singers of your song and the hummers of your tune look and me with a smile. Let the power of your word create again a clean relentless heart, and I will growl after you.

Y/J

Your words created me with wonderful power
speak again giving power to obey your commands

Your words are awesome and wonderful
you are fierce and powerful

Your words are filled with power
may people see them spilling from my eyes

Your words melt my heart
in peace and comfort I gaze

Jewels of mercy give me
so that I can stand under the weight of your whisper

Jumbo weight so great
anyone who resists that whisper is crushed

Jingling songs fill my ears and clean my heart
relentless growling heart

Just people sing your songs
may they look to me and hum along

Psalm 119 Teth

A Meditation on Psalm 119:65-72

What you do is Good. You are the author of Good. "Teach me!" I cried. To be taught, I had to die. It hurt but even your pain is good. Let me suffer - teach me your ways. Let me experience your heart. Let me love you through your afflictions. Hopelessness and pain are all around me. By your power let me be your beating heart to them. Let me learn your word through hard experiences. I love your word more than feeling good, and more than life.

T

Tell me of your goodness
all you do is Good

Teach me your ways with your sorrow
make me feel pain like your children feel

Teach me I cry!
your word brings hope

To be taught I must die
all your ways are good

To many walk around with no hope
they neglect your word

Tell me how to reach them
to touch their death

Truth is found in your words
is learned by hard experiences

Tell me of your goodness again
the words are better to me than feeling good
better to me than life

Psalm 119 Heth

A Meditation on Psalm 119:57-64

Daddy, for my inheritance I do not ask for riches or wealth. I don't ask for health or prosperity. My reward is you. Let me see your face. I run after it down the path your voice has laid out. Even though I may be poor and looked down on, your word is all I want! I'll get up from my sleep and in the dark hours just to give you thanks. Your word is everything to me. My heart is enlarged for all who look to it. The whole world hears your voice and all the universe shakes at your glory.

X

Experiencing your word is my only care
you are my reward

Expecting you to speak
I turn and listen

Exposing my ear
I strain for your commands

Examined ways are changed
they turn at your slightest breathing

Expectation rises by the hour
your word is my dream

Exalting you at midnight
my love for your word steals my sleep

Expanse cannot contain my heart's longing
the words praising your loving letters

Psalm 119 Zayin

A Meditation on Psalm 119:49-56

At sunrise and sunset your voice calls me to the table. Every day you draw me to the pasture of your word. There is hope there. There is peace in that place. All around is confused and changing. In your presence I long to stay. I am torn with the thought of those who ignore your voice... your reality. Your words are my song and sonnet. If I go to the meeting house you are there. If I go to the coffeehouse you are there. Every time I sit and meditate, wondering at your word. It's my routine, my comfort.

Z

Zebum, Zebum, the rhythm goes
your voice calls every morning

Zebum, Zebum, it comes again
at night I hear your comforting song

Zeglug, Zeglug, There is hope where you bring me
though all changes your word doesn't

Zeglug, Zeglug, Your heart beats to me your peace
though I am confused, your word isn't

Zing zang zebu, my heart breaks
people ignore your voice

Zing zang zip, your words are my song and sonnet
even though people don't know how real you are

Zip zalu along my path you're always there
in the meeting house and the coffeehouse

Zip zalu everywhere I sit and talk with you
it's my comfort, my routine

Psalm 119 Waw

A Meditation On Psalm 119:41-48

Woo me Jesus. May the romance never die. Your love overflows in my heart like a hot spring. Sit across the table and lets talk. Don't pull your words off my tongue or I'll die. They last forever and as long as I can hold them on my tongue, I'll live forever and celebrate obedience. I dance in the freedom of your righteousness. I can testify in front of the Grand Poobahs of the world. I love you. I adore your words. I will relentlessly seek you and dream about your word.

W/V

Woo me Jesus
may our romance never die

Write your name on me
I trust you

Voice your love for me
like a hot spring in my soul

Watch my face with your word on my tongue
when its there I can live and obey forever

Waltzing in you freedom
of your righteousness

World leaders will be amazed
as I show them your words

Words of life sing to me
their song I love to hear

Wonder is mine as I think
I love your commands

Blind

Reflections on the Giver

I drink in the color of your love
The gift of Beauty you have made my soul
Blind - darkness is the soul's killer
You are light in my closed eyes
Aimlessly they wander
They know nothing, see nothing, die.
Startling. Blazing. Painful. Colorful.
You came

And died

For light

Dreams

I can dream vast worlds apart
I can dream power and glory and warmth
I can dream to the highest heaven
I can dream and flail and fall

You can dream vast worlds - they form
You can dream and every image reigns all glory
You can dream the tiniest atom
You can dream and save a soul

Your dreams are the tissue and sinew of creativity
My dreams are creature crying to be like creator
Your dreams are wonder and adventure to me
Dream your dreams in my head

Psalm 119 Hei

A Meditation on Psalm 119:33-40

Lord, let me hear your voice! If I only knew your desires, I would run to do them. I'm lost. I don't understand where you are taking me. Lead me, let me see down the path your eyes have laid out for me. Turn my heart to your word again. Lord, I am tired of doing things that don't mater. Let hear your word so I can serve you. Powerfully coerce me. Teach me to fear you as you decieve me. Let my footsteps fall only in the whisper of your word.

H

Hearing your voice is my coffee
it warms my insides and gives me life!

Hand my your words on burlap
and I will run to consume

His! I scream to the clouds
I'm His and His word I'll obey

Hold my feet on the path of your words
so I wont fly into space

Heart Beat - every pulse loves your word
with purple smoke pushing me to serve

Hep cats will fear you when they see what you've done
the way you lead me.

Hand me the rope tied to the bumper of your will
put it in drive and go!

Hear my devotion
slay me with your love!

Psalm 119 Dalet

Not-Pastor Chris A Meditation on Psalm 119:25-32

Lord, I am a criminal, my shame and sorrow are a fountain of tears. My feelings deceive me, but your words comfort me. They are all that bring me strength. I must repeat your words to the people. I long to follow you, long to turn at your correction. I will run down the path of your commandments for by your grace you have set me free.

D

Dirt, I feel like dirt for my shame
Give me life like your word talks about

Dead, I confess my sins and you forgave
Teach me all your ways

Deed is done. Speak to me
So I can wonder at your words again

Dreary from sorrow, and tears run dry
Your word is my only comfort

Deceitful feelings pull at me
But your word is a gracious teacher

Dear words from your mouth are on my tongue
I must speak them to the people

Deal with my ways according to your word
Don't let me be put to shame

Delighted, I run down the path of your word
for your have set my heart free

In Your Presence

Laid at your feet.
I love you
all that my pregnant lips afford
Glory to vast Glory
Wave upon mounting wave
My tears are all that have voice

Psalm 119 Gimel

A Meditation on Psalm 119:17-24

Lord, Don't hide your thoughts from me. Whisper your desires, dreams and directions gently in my ear. Lord, may they tingle. Your voice is sweeter in my one life than than honey in ten. Friends offer me their opinion of my direction. Your opinion is the one I hear. Though the culture around me sit in judgment, I am righteous by your decree; lead me!

G

Gold is worthless!
every syllable of your word, a treasure

Glitter is without luster
your voice shines brighter than diamonds

Grand are your dreams
they are what I seek

Give me the map
lead me to the path of your desire

Good advice from men is as trickery
your direction is all I listen to

Gently speak your discipline
correct my ways

Geeks don't like my desire
I desire your ways more

Grace you have proclaimed
I am not condemned by my enemy