S7E2 Jesus, Our Friend and Cornerstone

Poetry of Christian Faith

61,7-2, SHOW NOTES & COPYRIGHTS, (6/23/2022)

Today is all about God’s Rhyme, poems from the first book, God’s Rhyme first published in 2015.

The first part of the book has poems I wrote in the 1970s and 80s for The Jesus Poems. I submitted the manuscript for publishing in 1983. It was accepted for publishing, but I could not afford it at the time.

The introduction:

“The Jesus Poems”

We all know that Jesus

Is the Son of God

& the Holy Spirit completes the Trinity

From the beginning of time & even before,

Jesus, as God, with the Holy Spirit

created the earth & all we know as good.

So, though not always mentioned as Jesus,

this book is dedicated to Him

to whom we relate in human form.

May this glorify His Holy Name.

& may it also bless you

as He has blessed me

in knowing Him better.

An experience of growth,

which even now continues,

it, therefore, is offered incomplete.

Reflection:

In 1978 my wife, Mary Lou, and I attended a Marriage Encounter weekend, a retreat to make good marriages better. We were led through the weekend by two couples and a priest. It was a weekend filled with revelations about each other, and others and God. The priest whose name was Larry Dunn was a Jesus filled man. As we found out that weekend and for many years to follow, to be with Larry was to be with Jesus. Larry was the priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in our home town. And that is where we started attending church regularly.

Many of the poems from "In the Beginning" were written during those years we attended Guadalupe. It was a time and place where Jesus was celebrated; where everyone was hugged during the sign of peace; and the music, so full of joy, got you through the week.

Discussion:

This was the beginning of my journey which has taken many twists and turns and led to the following poem also in God’s Rhyme

MY FRIEND JESUS (pg. 5)

Take my hand

as we walk this land,

feel the sand

as time drifts away,

hear what I say,

just be what you may

with my friend Jesus.

A little boy, a baby girl;

sometimes the days

like a waterfall swirl

until I feel the sun’s rays

& I know it’s the Son,

Who, tho blinded to some,

is Who I will follow.

A walk thru a field

& I find I must yield,

give of myself, die to my wants.

I opened the door

& found Him waiting there,

wanting no more

than that breath of fresh air.

I found the way.

As people had said,

it’s not what you say

or the thoughts in your head.

It’s not just the grace of an evening meal.

It’s something you always feel,

something that starts deep in you heart.

Take my hand

& walk with me;

There is so much to be.

Together we can stand,

not just the two of us,

because we are three

with our friend Jesus.

Discussion:

Jesus became approachable to me in at this time in my life. Not only was he part of the Holy Trinity, he was a friend, someone I could talk to freely. My prayers and worship revolved around Jesus as my Savior.

MY SWEET JESUS (pg. 10)

Oh Jesus, sweet Jesus,

I pray that when you lay

me down for my final rest

it is in Your arms, I pray.

But for now, let me live

such that in all I do

in my life is to give

as You have to me.

In this life I am living

may I pass on to others

the way of gentle forgiving

You have given to me.

May the weakness

in this life

give way to meekness

everlasting with You.

Living here today,

maybe gone tomorrow,

Your word shows me the way,

the path I must follow.

Reflection:

During a second Marriage Encounter weekend I remember sitting in the auditorium of an old convent surrounded by other couples when suddenly I felt a peace within my body that I had never experienced before. After that weekend the sky was bluer, the air clearer, the snow whiter, life absolutely enjoyable.

Discussion:

Let the word (spoken by) the Christ, the Messiah,

have its home (in your hearts and minds) and

dwell in you in (all its) richness, as you teach

and admonish and train one another in all insight

and intelligence and wisdom (in spiritual things

and sing) psalms and spiritual songs, making

melody to God with (His) grace in your hearts.”

Colossians 3:16 Amplified

MAKE MELODY TO GOD (pg. 41)

We sing Your Word

which we have heard

with our ears

throughout the years.

We sing

& the words ring

of what You have done

thru Jesus Your son.

Psalms & hymns

sung of Him

Whose life is praised,

from death he was raised.

Living

for years

knowing

life’s fears

crying

hurt tears

Then,

believing

without sight

accepting

now the light

living

thru His might.

We sing even more

of His glorious splendor,

of the life He has given

unlocking the gates to Heaven.

Psalms, hymns & spiritual songs

of His righting our wrongs,

we sing of His glory

that all may hear His story.

May our living be a melody

to God & His Son’s body.

May we sing with His grace

In our hearts in faith.

Discussion:

The next poem I know was written for a reason.

THE EVERY MAN (pg. 114)

Is that me sitting in the pew?

Is that you on bended knee?

Those few I see, they are we.

Waiting, do I hear of Your Good News?

The every man is everywhere;

he’s rich, he’s poor,

he’s at the door,

never knowing what is there.

What is there for him?

He may sing a hymn,

he may recite a psalm,

he may appear calm.

But the inside

and the outside

don’t always meet

while in the seat.

Oh yes, he hears.

And like you

he has fears,

unknown to him,

that salvation was won

but the race we must run.

He may hear the spoken Word,

he may hear the sermon,

he may hear the children,

but what has he heard?

Then he is home again

not thinking of sin.

He is thinking of gain

of winning the game.

Years of fears,

fears and tears

of hiding, not confiding;

one cannot find when one is blind.

It was me, was it you?

There are more than a few

who occupy the pew

and have not a clue.

There is clutter

and people mutter

words without meaning,

but with a definite leaning.

So the every man

sits and prays,

does what he can

but never stays.

Never stays because

he has not heard of Jesus’ love,

and how He died

that every man might survive.

He is there every day, including Sunday,

needing someone to reach out and touch,

a tap on the shoulder that reaches his soul,

so that for salvation he does pray.

We need him as much as he needs us.

By reaching out he makes us stronger.

By showing him the faithful love of Jesus

his journey becomes shorter, not longer.

Sitting in a pew,

more than a few.

What do we do,

are we still the few?

Reflection:

This goes back to the days when I didn't want to explain the kids why Dad didn't take communion. As the kids grew we were involved in school, Catholic school. PTA, coaching, festivals (no, not Old testament festivals). I saw many dedicated men helping others in church. their dedication to helping others was much greater than mine. But one thing I wondered about was, in spite of their good relationship with the church, did they have a true relationship with Jesus.

I finally realized that there were more that the dads that might not have that relationship. One Sunday We walked into church with a couple that had been members of the church long before we were, I'll never forget this; the woman said, "I hope I have done enough good things to get into Heaven." Yes, there are more than a few.

Discussion:

We’ll end with The Cornerstone. (pg. 122)

THE CORNERSTONE

The cornerstone, the first block laid,

upon which the foundation is made,

in which the line is straight and true,

the beginning holding the clue.

A clue of the temple

A view of the house

A pew of His church

The few

The blessed

The meek

The poor

The Spirit

The Son

The Father

All found in . . .

the cornerstone.

Old and new, we can read testaments

of the blocks which rest on the cornerstone;

so perfect in line, lest we lament,

lest we reject, lest we build on our own.

Jesus, the cornerstone on which we build our lives;

a temple, we as one become a church

building on His perfection we strive

through His life, we end our search.

Building on the cornerstone

we are no longer a stranger,

we no longer build alone,

not since that birth in the manger.

“We are members of His household,

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

With Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2: 19, 20, NIV

Before the beginning and beyond the end,

Jesus, our Savior, is our cornerstone;

building on a life, a death that God did send,

the house He builds becomes our own.

(Yes, He was the cornerstone the Psalms tell us the builders rejected.

But for those who believe, He is the cornerstone for all that is good.

In Him we have our faith, our hope, our joy, our eternal salvation.)

Rreflection:

This is about the church I started attending while in Bible study. In researching "cornerstone" I was amazed how many songs have been written about it. I just wanted to express my gratitude for finding the Cornerstone.

Discussion:

AS WE CLOSE IN PRAYER, MAY WE CONTINUE IN PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father we come to you in prayer as we end today’s podcast. Dave and I thank You for Your leading us through the day and into tomorrow. We pray that today has been pleasing to You and honors Your glory.

We pray for our listeners and viewers; for their needs, healing and the salvation of those who have not yet accepted the gift of Your grace by faith.

We pray, Lord, for this world in which we live. Father, as Christians lead us to proclaiming the gospel where ever we are. May we do so in a loving way. Lead us to the truth of the days we are living in. We pray for the nation of Ukraine and its people; its leaders, those who have fled the country to find safety, those who are still trying to leave the country and those who are staying to fight the invading army of their enemy. May their faith and determination be an example to the entire world.

Dear Lord, prepare us and our listeners and viewers for the coming week. We pray that it is You we live for and You who leads us. As we walk with you this week, may it be Your hand clasped around our hand so we may feel the grasp of Your love.

We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer.

Amen

4/3/2022

If you give

Him the times

As you live

His word rhymes

And don’t forget, “We are the Kings kids and you will never get rid of us for we are His with Jesus.”

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