I sat there sipping coffee, pencil tucked behind my ear
Taking a short Sabbath from the world
The shop was quiet, but I knew the time had almost come
When hordes of thirsty savages attack
Latte and biscotti, fellow patrons of the arts
We watched intently as the curtain rose
First there came a tough guy, cigarette behind his ear
Strutting in defiance of the world
He winked at the barista, but if overcharged a dime,
He would kill in a minute, she could tell
Arrogant, intimidating, cocky to the core
His pittbull eyes were white-hot spheres of coal
The door chimed, and in walked a suit, phone bluetoothed to his ear
Preparing for his conquest of the world
His voice was like a siren, and his smile photoshopped
His Ken-doll hair was untouched by the wind
His low-fat macchiato was slipped in a cardboard sleeve
And off he charged in lust for blood and gold
My eyes turned toward a teenage slug with headphones in his ears
Deliberately closed off from the world
His eyes and thumbs imprisoned by electronic cocaine
The touchscreen temptress wouldn't let him go
He chose to be an ignorant, consuming parasite
Society in need, his dying host
He sat there sipping coffee, pencil tucked behind his ear
Passing poet's judgment on the world
Pharisaic hypocrite, self-righteous, bitter soul
Why can't he see the plank in his own eye?
There was a wise man once who said, "Pride goes before a fall"
And like a scone, pretension goes with coffee
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
J.R.L.
Dear Son,
I've been waiting to meet you for a long time. You are a very cute, very sweet little boy, and I'm so happy to finally have you with us. I hope you like the name we gave you. It's not an extremely popular name, but Mommy and I love it, and it has a lot of meaning behind it. When you get older, you'll probably ask "Why?" about a lot of things. So for you and anyone else who wonders why your name is Jude Robert Lancaster, I offer the following:
Jude
Let's begin by addressing the obvious: your dad is a Beatles fan. I can't deny it. The Beatles are one of the most innovative and influential bands in the history of rock and roll - of course I'm a fan. By the time you're able to read this, you'll be well aware of the fact that the only immediate frame of reference most people will have for your name is their song "Hey Jude". I'm sorry if you get tired of hearing people tell you not to "make it bad" or that you should remember to let some girl under your skin - you can blame me. However, even though most people who know my tastes in music will assume that your name comes from that song, and that I would have named you Sergeant Pepper if your mom would have let me, that is not why we named you Jude.
We wanted you to have a name that would be classic without being common, unique, but not bizarre. We liked Bible names, but didn't feel attracted to James and John or to Ephraim and Manasseh. We think Jude is perfect: it's not completely unheard of, it's easy to say, and it doesn't sound Amish, but you're not going to share your name with three other kids on the soccer team either. It's a very cool name. It could be the name of a poet or a cowboy - or a really cute little boy (and I hope your heart has a bit of all three in it).
The coolest thing about your name, though, is its Biblical legacy. I love you, Son. I also love the Jude of the Bible, and I would love for you to aspire to some of his qualities:
Quality #1: Humility
Jude is one of the least familiar New Testament authors. The book that bears his name is very short and easy to overlook in the fog of sensation and controversy surrounding its apocalyptic neighbor. You won't hear very many sermons on this little book, and you'll never see a Veggie Tales story based on the author's life, but I don't think he would have minded any of that. Although scholars disagree about the identity of Jude, the best explanation seems to be that he was the son of Mary and Joseph - Jesus' little brother (well, half-brother I guess). I'm sure he could have been a big celebrity in the early Christian world if he chose to capitalize on his blood-relationship with God, but he didn't. In fact, in his letter (his only work of ministry we know of), he doesn't even introduce himself as Jesus' brother, but as "Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James," who was also a brother of Christ (v. 1). Jude wasn't concerned with his own notoriety - as a "bond-servant" of God, whom he humbly acknowledged had lived in the person of his big brother, his only concern in ministry was the faithful communication of the Gospel. Even though he originally intended to write to churches about the salvation they shared, Jude was submissively obedient when the Spirit inspired him to write about something else instead (v. 3).
Jude was a man committed to service over self, and I hope your life is marked by that kind of humility. As your dad, I would love to see you accomplish great things and be recognized for it, but I know that that isn't always God's plan. Sometimes God uses people like you to do small things - things that won't get made into a Veggie Tales story, but that are still important in His eyes. You could grow up to be a blue-collar factory worker and still be a hero if you love the Lord, respect others, serve the church, lead your wife, and teach your children to do the same.
It's possible that God will call you to a place where heroism is more easily recognized - you might be a scientist, an athlete, a musician, or a writer - I mean, Jude the brother of James wasn't as famous as Peter and Paul, but he did write a letter that ended up being canonized as Holy Scripture! Even so, he did not seek to draw attention to himself through his writing, but to the One who called him to write. So, whether you end up pastoring a congregation of thousands or stocking shelves at Walmart, live your life for the glory of God, rather than the approval of men - and always know your dad is proud of you.
Quality #2: Wisdom
Jude was a wise man: a man who had great knowledge and could practically integrate and apply that knowledge toward helping others. We can tell just by reading his letter that he was well-educated. He expresses himself with focus and clarity, and he uses the wisdom of the past to support his thoughts. In the epistle's twenty-five verses, he makes nine historical references, drawing on various parts of the Old Testament and certain apocryphal sources (which, by the way, is why the book of Jude has sparked a fair amount of controversy in the past - wisdom is often controversial).
Your mom and I want you to be wise. During the first eighteen years of your life, we're going to make sure you're well-educated, but you don't necessarily have to be an academic. There are many wise people who are not bookish, but there is one Book that you must read. You must read it over and over again. You must always seek to understand it better. You must apply its teaching to your life and speak its truth to others:
Having characterized Jude as a humble scholar, I do not want you to get the impression that he was some kind of soft-spoken, non-confrontational, Starbucks-loving Mac user - he was not. Now, I do want you to know that it's ok to be introspective, it's ok to be introverted, and it's certainly ok to be a peacemaker, but being quiet is not the same as being soft, and being humble is not the same as being permissive.
This man was firmly set in what he knew was true. He made no apologies. He showed no signs of weakness. He defended his faith boldly and aggressively. In his letter, he compares false teachers to slave-driving Egyptians (v. 5), perverse citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7), murderous Cain (v. 11) - he even compares them to demons (v. 6)! He calls them "unreasoning animals" (v. 10), "clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever" (vv. 12-13). That's strong language - the kind of language that can get you in trouble. It got Jesus in trouble, but that's how strong men talk. Strong men speak the truth.
Don't get the wrong idea here, Son - I don't want you to be a jerk. I've spent a lot of time being a jerk, and I don't want that for you. Your heart should be filled with God's love and grace for people who think differently than you do, but that doesn't mean agreeing with or even respecting their false beliefs or their sinful actions. Jude loved God's Truth and God's people, and he fought for them when they came under attack. Not everything is worth fighting for, but we're responsible for defending God's Truth and His people, especially those who are close to us. Be humble, be wise, but be strong.
Robert
Your middle name has a legacy too. From courageous leaders like Robert the Bruce and General Lee to creative geniuses like Robert Plant and Bob Dylan, you share this name with a lot of important men. The man you're named after, though, isn't someone you'll ever read about in a history book or Rolling Stone. He died young, but he left a permanent impact on the people he loved. He was my uncle, Bob Wilson.
Uncle Bob was sixteen years older than me, and I idolized him throughout my childhood. When I was really young, I remember him letting me play his Nintendo (the 1980's kind - I'll have to show you sometime), taking me places in his blue pickup truck, and giving me cheap little toys from his job stocking those quarter vending machines you see at the store. I remember him buying me a book on "How to Draw Marvel Superheroes", and showing me pictures of heroes and villains he had created. Another time, he gave me a Star Wars Monopoly game for no special reason, with a note inside that said something like:
"I saw this and thought you should have it. The little pewter lightsabers were bent when I opened mine, so you might need to warm them up with a hairdryer or something to bend them back into place. I warmed mine under my armpit."
Uncle Bob and I shared a love of imaginative stories and offbeat humor. He introduced me to The Lord of the Rings, Marvel comics, Calvin and Hobbes, and The Far Side. Even after I went to college and started to appreciate a wider variety of music and movies, I'd come home for Thanksgiving or something and find out that he already liked a lot of the same stuff. Whether debating the latest Star Wars controversy or exchanging favorite Dumb and Dumber quotes, we always had something to talk about once we got started.
Like everyone else, my uncle dealt with doubts, pain, and bad choices, but he had a loving heart. He loved imagination, he loved people, and, even though he struggled with God sometimes, he loved Him too. The last time I saw him before his body surrendered to cancer, your sister was three months old. He kissed her on the cheek, I hugged him, and we said we loved each other (the only time I can remember us doing that). I can still see him in his sons, and since he was such an influence on me, there will probably be a bit of him in you too. I can't wait to introduce you someday!*
Lancaster
Regrettably, I don't know a lot about our family history. According to the internet, our last name is Old English for "Roman fort by the river", so apparently, we came from England originally. One thing led to another, and we ended up settling in the Missouri Ozarks. I do know something about two of your ancestors, and, as far as I'm concerned, they're probably the most heroic anyway.
Your Great-Granddad Bill Lancaster is an even-tempered gentleman who's never known a stranger. Even though he was too young to serve in World War II, I still consider him part of the "Greatest Generation". He grew up on a farm, drove a gas truck until he retired, and he exemplifies what I referred to earlier as a humble, blue-collar hero. He's always served "behind the scenes" at church, driving elderly folks in the church van, singing quietly in the choir, and supporting his wife's weekly piano playing.
The most selfish thing I've ever seen him do is try to open his Christmas presents before his turn when he thinks no one's looking. He's a good man, and he raised good children, which brings me to the second Lancaster whose blood you should be proud to share: your Grandpa Dennis.
If the quality of Jude most evident in your great-granddad's life is humility, it's wisdom in your grandpa's.** A lover of history, philosophy, and people, your grandpa has spent his life learning and teaching. As a professor at a local university, he has had a profound effect on many students, motivating them to really think about how they live and what they believe, in an environment where the prevailing attitude seems to be, "What do I need to do to get the grade to get the degree to get the job I want and move on?" His conversational lectures and open-ended assignments defy this attitude, requiring what many do not: careful reading, reasoning, and introspection. My siblings and I might make fun of our dad's "Facebook groupies", but the fact that so many of his current and former students intentionally keep in touch affirms his character as a wise and caring teacher. He also taught a Sunday school class for many years, and has recently started an at-home Bible study, where he has applied his giftedness to opening the complexities of the Book that is often (tragically) subject to rote and cliche.
King Solomon, the wisest teacher who ever lived said:
Jude, each of your names has a history, and each of them says something about the kind of man I believe God wants you to become, but I also believe that God has a present and a future in mind for Jude Robert Lancaster that hasn't been written yet. Your mom and I are praying that you meet Jesus early and do your best to follow the path He's cut for your life. Maybe someday people will be naming their sons after you.
I love you, buddy
Daddy
* Read what your grandpa wrote about Bob here.
** They're not mentioned here, because you don't share a name with them, but if you're looking for a model of strength, you have two great examples in your Papa Mason and Great-Grandpa Wilson
I've been waiting to meet you for a long time. You are a very cute, very sweet little boy, and I'm so happy to finally have you with us. I hope you like the name we gave you. It's not an extremely popular name, but Mommy and I love it, and it has a lot of meaning behind it. When you get older, you'll probably ask "Why?" about a lot of things. So for you and anyone else who wonders why your name is Jude Robert Lancaster, I offer the following:
Jude
Let's begin by addressing the obvious: your dad is a Beatles fan. I can't deny it. The Beatles are one of the most innovative and influential bands in the history of rock and roll - of course I'm a fan. By the time you're able to read this, you'll be well aware of the fact that the only immediate frame of reference most people will have for your name is their song "Hey Jude". I'm sorry if you get tired of hearing people tell you not to "make it bad" or that you should remember to let some girl under your skin - you can blame me. However, even though most people who know my tastes in music will assume that your name comes from that song, and that I would have named you Sergeant Pepper if your mom would have let me, that is not why we named you Jude.
We wanted you to have a name that would be classic without being common, unique, but not bizarre. We liked Bible names, but didn't feel attracted to James and John or to Ephraim and Manasseh. We think Jude is perfect: it's not completely unheard of, it's easy to say, and it doesn't sound Amish, but you're not going to share your name with three other kids on the soccer team either. It's a very cool name. It could be the name of a poet or a cowboy - or a really cute little boy (and I hope your heart has a bit of all three in it).
The coolest thing about your name, though, is its Biblical legacy. I love you, Son. I also love the Jude of the Bible, and I would love for you to aspire to some of his qualities:
Quality #1: Humility
Jude is one of the least familiar New Testament authors. The book that bears his name is very short and easy to overlook in the fog of sensation and controversy surrounding its apocalyptic neighbor. You won't hear very many sermons on this little book, and you'll never see a Veggie Tales story based on the author's life, but I don't think he would have minded any of that. Although scholars disagree about the identity of Jude, the best explanation seems to be that he was the son of Mary and Joseph - Jesus' little brother (well, half-brother I guess). I'm sure he could have been a big celebrity in the early Christian world if he chose to capitalize on his blood-relationship with God, but he didn't. In fact, in his letter (his only work of ministry we know of), he doesn't even introduce himself as Jesus' brother, but as "Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James," who was also a brother of Christ (v. 1). Jude wasn't concerned with his own notoriety - as a "bond-servant" of God, whom he humbly acknowledged had lived in the person of his big brother, his only concern in ministry was the faithful communication of the Gospel. Even though he originally intended to write to churches about the salvation they shared, Jude was submissively obedient when the Spirit inspired him to write about something else instead (v. 3).
Jude was a man committed to service over self, and I hope your life is marked by that kind of humility. As your dad, I would love to see you accomplish great things and be recognized for it, but I know that that isn't always God's plan. Sometimes God uses people like you to do small things - things that won't get made into a Veggie Tales story, but that are still important in His eyes. You could grow up to be a blue-collar factory worker and still be a hero if you love the Lord, respect others, serve the church, lead your wife, and teach your children to do the same.
It's possible that God will call you to a place where heroism is more easily recognized - you might be a scientist, an athlete, a musician, or a writer - I mean, Jude the brother of James wasn't as famous as Peter and Paul, but he did write a letter that ended up being canonized as Holy Scripture! Even so, he did not seek to draw attention to himself through his writing, but to the One who called him to write. So, whether you end up pastoring a congregation of thousands or stocking shelves at Walmart, live your life for the glory of God, rather than the approval of men - and always know your dad is proud of you.
Quality #2: Wisdom
Jude was a wise man: a man who had great knowledge and could practically integrate and apply that knowledge toward helping others. We can tell just by reading his letter that he was well-educated. He expresses himself with focus and clarity, and he uses the wisdom of the past to support his thoughts. In the epistle's twenty-five verses, he makes nine historical references, drawing on various parts of the Old Testament and certain apocryphal sources (which, by the way, is why the book of Jude has sparked a fair amount of controversy in the past - wisdom is often controversial).
Your mom and I want you to be wise. During the first eighteen years of your life, we're going to make sure you're well-educated, but you don't necessarily have to be an academic. There are many wise people who are not bookish, but there is one Book that you must read. You must read it over and over again. You must always seek to understand it better. You must apply its teaching to your life and speak its truth to others:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.Quality #3: Strength
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV)
Having characterized Jude as a humble scholar, I do not want you to get the impression that he was some kind of soft-spoken, non-confrontational, Starbucks-loving Mac user - he was not. Now, I do want you to know that it's ok to be introspective, it's ok to be introverted, and it's certainly ok to be a peacemaker, but being quiet is not the same as being soft, and being humble is not the same as being permissive.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.Jude wrote his letter to urge his Christian brothers and sisters to "contend earnestly for the faith" (v. 3). "Contend" means "fight"! At the time of this letter's writing, as it is in our day, true Christianity was being attacked by "ungodly persons who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ," persons who had "crept in unnoticed" and were spreading their false theology throughout the church (v. 4). Jude's message to his readers, past and present, is: "Fight these people! Stand up to them - don't listen to their anti-biblical garbage, and don't let anyone else be taken in by their seductive lies!"
- 2 Timothy 1:7 (NAS)
This man was firmly set in what he knew was true. He made no apologies. He showed no signs of weakness. He defended his faith boldly and aggressively. In his letter, he compares false teachers to slave-driving Egyptians (v. 5), perverse citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7), murderous Cain (v. 11) - he even compares them to demons (v. 6)! He calls them "unreasoning animals" (v. 10), "clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever" (vv. 12-13). That's strong language - the kind of language that can get you in trouble. It got Jesus in trouble, but that's how strong men talk. Strong men speak the truth.
Don't get the wrong idea here, Son - I don't want you to be a jerk. I've spent a lot of time being a jerk, and I don't want that for you. Your heart should be filled with God's love and grace for people who think differently than you do, but that doesn't mean agreeing with or even respecting their false beliefs or their sinful actions. Jude loved God's Truth and God's people, and he fought for them when they came under attack. Not everything is worth fighting for, but we're responsible for defending God's Truth and His people, especially those who are close to us. Be humble, be wise, but be strong.
Robert
Your middle name has a legacy too. From courageous leaders like Robert the Bruce and General Lee to creative geniuses like Robert Plant and Bob Dylan, you share this name with a lot of important men. The man you're named after, though, isn't someone you'll ever read about in a history book or Rolling Stone. He died young, but he left a permanent impact on the people he loved. He was my uncle, Bob Wilson.
Uncle Bob was sixteen years older than me, and I idolized him throughout my childhood. When I was really young, I remember him letting me play his Nintendo (the 1980's kind - I'll have to show you sometime), taking me places in his blue pickup truck, and giving me cheap little toys from his job stocking those quarter vending machines you see at the store. I remember him buying me a book on "How to Draw Marvel Superheroes", and showing me pictures of heroes and villains he had created. Another time, he gave me a Star Wars Monopoly game for no special reason, with a note inside that said something like:
"I saw this and thought you should have it. The little pewter lightsabers were bent when I opened mine, so you might need to warm them up with a hairdryer or something to bend them back into place. I warmed mine under my armpit."
Uncle Bob and I shared a love of imaginative stories and offbeat humor. He introduced me to The Lord of the Rings, Marvel comics, Calvin and Hobbes, and The Far Side. Even after I went to college and started to appreciate a wider variety of music and movies, I'd come home for Thanksgiving or something and find out that he already liked a lot of the same stuff. Whether debating the latest Star Wars controversy or exchanging favorite Dumb and Dumber quotes, we always had something to talk about once we got started.
Like everyone else, my uncle dealt with doubts, pain, and bad choices, but he had a loving heart. He loved imagination, he loved people, and, even though he struggled with God sometimes, he loved Him too. The last time I saw him before his body surrendered to cancer, your sister was three months old. He kissed her on the cheek, I hugged him, and we said we loved each other (the only time I can remember us doing that). I can still see him in his sons, and since he was such an influence on me, there will probably be a bit of him in you too. I can't wait to introduce you someday!*
Lancaster
Regrettably, I don't know a lot about our family history. According to the internet, our last name is Old English for "Roman fort by the river", so apparently, we came from England originally. One thing led to another, and we ended up settling in the Missouri Ozarks. I do know something about two of your ancestors, and, as far as I'm concerned, they're probably the most heroic anyway.
Your Great-Granddad Bill Lancaster is an even-tempered gentleman who's never known a stranger. Even though he was too young to serve in World War II, I still consider him part of the "Greatest Generation". He grew up on a farm, drove a gas truck until he retired, and he exemplifies what I referred to earlier as a humble, blue-collar hero. He's always served "behind the scenes" at church, driving elderly folks in the church van, singing quietly in the choir, and supporting his wife's weekly piano playing.
The most selfish thing I've ever seen him do is try to open his Christmas presents before his turn when he thinks no one's looking. He's a good man, and he raised good children, which brings me to the second Lancaster whose blood you should be proud to share: your Grandpa Dennis.
If the quality of Jude most evident in your great-granddad's life is humility, it's wisdom in your grandpa's.** A lover of history, philosophy, and people, your grandpa has spent his life learning and teaching. As a professor at a local university, he has had a profound effect on many students, motivating them to really think about how they live and what they believe, in an environment where the prevailing attitude seems to be, "What do I need to do to get the grade to get the degree to get the job I want and move on?" His conversational lectures and open-ended assignments defy this attitude, requiring what many do not: careful reading, reasoning, and introspection. My siblings and I might make fun of our dad's "Facebook groupies", but the fact that so many of his current and former students intentionally keep in touch affirms his character as a wise and caring teacher. He also taught a Sunday school class for many years, and has recently started an at-home Bible study, where he has applied his giftedness to opening the complexities of the Book that is often (tragically) subject to rote and cliche.
King Solomon, the wisest teacher who ever lived said:
Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love.and
- Ecclesiastes 9:9a
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.After God, family comes first. Your grandpa taught me that by the way he led our family. From ice cream and TV Land on weeknights, to homemade pizza on Fridays, to cutting firewood and renovating our Frankenstein farmhouse on Saturdays, our family spent a lot of time together, and I could tell that home was his favorite place to be. When your Aunt Kori was a little girl, afraid to go to bed at night, he would sit up and sing to her until she fell asleep. He worked hard so your grandma could teach us at home, and when I got older, he'd pick out my assignments - usually reading books he thought were important. After high school, I got to take a few of his college classes, which was really cool, and we would talk about what I was learning and thinking outside the classroom too. He's still one of the few people, besides your mom, with whom I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts. I hope you and I can have a relationship like that someday.
- Psalm 127:3
_____________________________________________
Jude, each of your names has a history, and each of them says something about the kind of man I believe God wants you to become, but I also believe that God has a present and a future in mind for Jude Robert Lancaster that hasn't been written yet. Your mom and I are praying that you meet Jesus early and do your best to follow the path He's cut for your life. Maybe someday people will be naming their sons after you.
I love you, buddy
Daddy
* Read what your grandpa wrote about Bob here.
** They're not mentioned here, because you don't share a name with them, but if you're looking for a model of strength, you have two great examples in your Papa Mason and Great-Grandpa Wilson
Saturday, January 21, 2012
A Belated Christmas Present
This is the text portion of a video I made for our church's Christmas Eve service:
In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was with God
And the Word was God (John 1:1)
The earth was formless and void (Genesis 1:2)
By Him all things were created
Both in the heavens
And on earth
Visible and invisible
All things have been created by Him
And for Him (Colossians 1:16)
God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27)
And blessed them (Genesis 1:28)
In Him was life
And the life was the light of men (John 1:4)
And the light shines in the darkness (John 1:5)
And behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31)
But the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:5)
We rejected Him
And deified ourselves
We abandoned Him
Objectified His own
We perverted Truth
Gave up on Faith
Abused His Grace
Defiled Love
Our lying, greedy, murderous souls
Created here a world of pain
His holiness required wrath
His love desired mercy
"Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion
For behold, I am coming
And I will dwell in your midst," declares the Lord (Zechariah 2:10)
"Behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch" (Zechariah 3:8)
"A virgin will be with child and bear a son
And she will call His name Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14)
"His goings forth are from long ago
From the days of eternity" (Micah 5:2)
"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32)
"And this One will be our peace" (Micah 5:5)
"For it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21)
Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5)
Who, although He existed in the form of God
Did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6)
But emptied Himself
Taking the form of a bond-servant
And being made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7)
He humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8)
And she gave birth to her firstborn Son
And wrapped Him in cloths
And laid Him in a manger
Because their was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7)
"Let us go straight to Bethlehem
And see this thing that has happened" (Luke 2:15)
"Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people" (Luke 2:10)
"For today in the city of David there has been born to you a Savior
Who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11)
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son
That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16)
"We have seen His star in the east
And have come to worship Him" (Matthew 2:2)
In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was with God
And the Word was God (John 1:1)
The earth was formless and void (Genesis 1:2)
By Him all things were created
Both in the heavens
And on earth
Visible and invisible
All things have been created by Him
And for Him (Colossians 1:16)
God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27)
And blessed them (Genesis 1:28)
In Him was life
And the life was the light of men (John 1:4)
And the light shines in the darkness (John 1:5)
And behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31)
But the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:5)
We rejected Him
And deified ourselves
We abandoned Him
Objectified His own
We perverted Truth
Gave up on Faith
Abused His Grace
Defiled Love
Our lying, greedy, murderous souls
Created here a world of pain
His holiness required wrath
His love desired mercy
"Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion
For behold, I am coming
And I will dwell in your midst," declares the Lord (Zechariah 2:10)
"Behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch" (Zechariah 3:8)
"A virgin will be with child and bear a son
And she will call His name Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14)
"His goings forth are from long ago
From the days of eternity" (Micah 5:2)
"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32)
"And this One will be our peace" (Micah 5:5)
"For it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21)
Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5)
Who, although He existed in the form of God
Did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6)
But emptied Himself
Taking the form of a bond-servant
And being made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7)
He humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8)
And she gave birth to her firstborn Son
And wrapped Him in cloths
And laid Him in a manger
Because their was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7)
"Let us go straight to Bethlehem
And see this thing that has happened" (Luke 2:15)
"Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people" (Luke 2:10)
"For today in the city of David there has been born to you a Savior
Who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11)
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son
That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16)
"We have seen His star in the east
And have come to worship Him" (Matthew 2:2)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Boston
"Put it around your neck and... wrap it around twice... wait. Let me go get one. I think I have to do it before I can describe it."
"OK."
It was pretty embarrassing having to call your dad in the middle of your honeymoon to ask how to tie a necktie, but he had to get this right. They were heading to a restaurant that was way more upscale than any place either of them had ever been before, and if he was going to pay fifty bucks for a bowl of soup and a piece of fish served on a block of wood, he figured a tie was pretty much mandatory.
She was in the bathroom doing whatever girls do before a big date like this.
"I hope you don't mind - I hope you don't mind - that I put down in words - how wonderful life is - now you're in the world."
They had watched Moulin Rouge! while eating omelets and packing until 3:00am the night before, and that song had been in her head ever since. He wasn't a big Elton John fan, but that night, that song, the way she sang it... he didn't mind. Life was wonderful.
"All right, Son. Wrap the fat end around the skinny end twice, then poke the fat end through the gap you made."
"OK."
"You might have to keep trying a few times to get the length right."
"All right - I think I've got it. Thanks."
"No problem. Have a good time, Son."
"See ya later."
"Bye."
She came out of the bathroom, smiling at him.
"Did you get it figured out?" He smiled back.
"Yeah. Wow, you look great!"
She did look great. She was wearing a silky, cream-colored dress with a brown sash that matched his shirt. She was elegant and sexy, and he was undeservedly blessed by God.
They had an incredible week together. They ate lunch at a cute little pizza place, they toured eighteenth-century churches, they saw a play about Judy Garland (her favorite actress), they took a ferry to Lovells Island, where they explored a World War I fort, and did a lot of walking and talking. It didn't matter that neither one of them knew how to catch a taxi, or that it rained while they were on the island, and they had to spend the first day there playing "Twenty Questions" in their tent, or that their flight home was delayed overnight, or that they ended up being separated by a fat guy who wouldn't trade seats on the plane, or that they only made it home with sixteen dollars - the exact amount they needed pay to get their vehicle out of the airport parking lot. They were finally married, they were very much in love, and at that moment, that's all that mattered.
...
He opened the back of his delivery truck and sighed. Time to unload the empty totes from route #1 and load up for route #2. He wasn't having a horrible day, but it wasn't a good day either. He had overslept that morning for the third time in as many weeks and still felt dead tired. Apart from a quick "I love you" and an even quicker goodbye kiss, "I hate my job" had been the last thing he said to her. He knew it bothered her when he said things like that, but he hadn't really cared at the time. It was sunny and eighty degrees out, which really irritated him, being October and everything. The warehouse guys were listening to some chick station that seriously had no business in a manual-labor type environment.
He sighed again and started pulling totes out in stacks. The song on the radio changed. It sounded kind of familiar, but he was toning it out. Despite this effort, some lyrics broke through, and all of a sudden, he was back in Boston.
"I hope you don't mind - I hope you don't mind - that I put down in words - how wonderful life is - now you're in the world..."
Omelets and Moulin Rouge!, the hotel, the island, "Twenty Questions", that cream-colored dress... it all came back to him like a favorite movie. And he thought about her...
They had an incredible life together. They had a beautiful two-year-old daughter and a son due in four months. It didn't matter that he had gotten a frustrated voicemail from his manager that morning, or that she had class that night, or that they were low on groceries, or that they'd been borrowing her brother's car for the last six months. He was still married to the girl of his dreams, they were very much in love, and at that moment, that's all that mattered.
"OK."
It was pretty embarrassing having to call your dad in the middle of your honeymoon to ask how to tie a necktie, but he had to get this right. They were heading to a restaurant that was way more upscale than any place either of them had ever been before, and if he was going to pay fifty bucks for a bowl of soup and a piece of fish served on a block of wood, he figured a tie was pretty much mandatory.
She was in the bathroom doing whatever girls do before a big date like this.
"I hope you don't mind - I hope you don't mind - that I put down in words - how wonderful life is - now you're in the world."
They had watched Moulin Rouge! while eating omelets and packing until 3:00am the night before, and that song had been in her head ever since. He wasn't a big Elton John fan, but that night, that song, the way she sang it... he didn't mind. Life was wonderful.
"All right, Son. Wrap the fat end around the skinny end twice, then poke the fat end through the gap you made."
"OK."
"You might have to keep trying a few times to get the length right."
"All right - I think I've got it. Thanks."
"No problem. Have a good time, Son."
"See ya later."
"Bye."
She came out of the bathroom, smiling at him.
"Did you get it figured out?" He smiled back.
"Yeah. Wow, you look great!"
She did look great. She was wearing a silky, cream-colored dress with a brown sash that matched his shirt. She was elegant and sexy, and he was undeservedly blessed by God.
They had an incredible week together. They ate lunch at a cute little pizza place, they toured eighteenth-century churches, they saw a play about Judy Garland (her favorite actress), they took a ferry to Lovells Island, where they explored a World War I fort, and did a lot of walking and talking. It didn't matter that neither one of them knew how to catch a taxi, or that it rained while they were on the island, and they had to spend the first day there playing "Twenty Questions" in their tent, or that their flight home was delayed overnight, or that they ended up being separated by a fat guy who wouldn't trade seats on the plane, or that they only made it home with sixteen dollars - the exact amount they needed pay to get their vehicle out of the airport parking lot. They were finally married, they were very much in love, and at that moment, that's all that mattered.
...
He opened the back of his delivery truck and sighed. Time to unload the empty totes from route #1 and load up for route #2. He wasn't having a horrible day, but it wasn't a good day either. He had overslept that morning for the third time in as many weeks and still felt dead tired. Apart from a quick "I love you" and an even quicker goodbye kiss, "I hate my job" had been the last thing he said to her. He knew it bothered her when he said things like that, but he hadn't really cared at the time. It was sunny and eighty degrees out, which really irritated him, being October and everything. The warehouse guys were listening to some chick station that seriously had no business in a manual-labor type environment.
He sighed again and started pulling totes out in stacks. The song on the radio changed. It sounded kind of familiar, but he was toning it out. Despite this effort, some lyrics broke through, and all of a sudden, he was back in Boston.
"I hope you don't mind - I hope you don't mind - that I put down in words - how wonderful life is - now you're in the world..."
Omelets and Moulin Rouge!, the hotel, the island, "Twenty Questions", that cream-colored dress... it all came back to him like a favorite movie. And he thought about her...
They had an incredible life together. They had a beautiful two-year-old daughter and a son due in four months. It didn't matter that he had gotten a frustrated voicemail from his manager that morning, or that she had class that night, or that they were low on groceries, or that they'd been borrowing her brother's car for the last six months. He was still married to the girl of his dreams, they were very much in love, and at that moment, that's all that mattered.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Man Wearing Flannel
The man wearing flannel
Looks older than he is
Grey whiskers like buckshot
In his thin beard
He's been in the weather
But looks better for it
His lips are dry and cracked
With apathy
His hands and eyes are brown
First hard, the latter soft
What brings him happiness
If anything?
Is he an outdoorsman?
Does he smoke tobacco?
Does he enjoy music?
Is he well-read?
Is he a communist?
Was he at church Sunday?
Does he love a woman?
Is she still there?
What wars has he fought in?
What mistakes has he made?
Is he a good father?
I'll never know
Looks older than he is
Grey whiskers like buckshot
In his thin beard
He's been in the weather
But looks better for it
His lips are dry and cracked
With apathy
His hands and eyes are brown
First hard, the latter soft
What brings him happiness
If anything?
Is he an outdoorsman?
Does he smoke tobacco?
Does he enjoy music?
Is he well-read?
Is he a communist?
Was he at church Sunday?
Does he love a woman?
Is she still there?
What wars has he fought in?
What mistakes has he made?
Is he a good father?
I'll never know
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