Darkness
Jesus beckons
Come, follow Me
His path leading to
Light
Selfish
Sinful heart
Trusting our Lord
Creating new, clean heart
Restoration
God’s
Divine passion
Caring and transforming
His Son’s atoning sacrifice
Salvation
In the United States, the “Pledge of Allegiance” has been recited countless times in school classrooms, at the beginning of meetings, sporting events, and other instances. The original 29 words were inspired by the writings of Francis Bellamy (from 1892) and became official in 1923. In 1954, the words, “under God” were added. These 31 words mean much more than just a mere collection of words.
We the People, commit to stand
With loyalty across this land
Stars and Stripes shall forever fly
Old Glory standing proud and high
Solidarity, stand as One
United, never be undone
A more perfect Union shall spring
Shining democracy will ring
Tested, resilient, and upright
Faithful courage, nation’s birthright
Built upon God’s eternal love
Divine guidance comes from above
Inseparable and lasting
Forged by trial and fire’s casting
Covering this land of the free
Freedom from sea to shining sea
Conquers inequities with care
Truth and righteousness come to bear
I have posted this video before, but it is worth a second look. Here is American comedian, Red Skelton, sharing his interpretation of the words’ meaning in the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
From Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
Accepting life’s ongoing gifts
Filling wonder, never adrift
Marveling at heavens above
Inspiring vastness of God’s love
Walking in righteousness with God
Comforted by His love, unflawed
Looking ahead, with peace and hope
Holding tightly to God’s firm rope
Treating others with words which say
Sharing compassion’s rich bouquet
Gathering strength for life’s travels
Trusting God, nothing unravels
Listening to deepest feelings
Surveying each moment’s healing
Receiving mid-course corrections
Hearing God’s faithful directions
Sailing in darkness, never cursed
Navigating by God, headfirst
Achieving goals, each passing day
Tasting our Lord’s hope-filled buffet
Tackling challenges without fear
Taking risks, with God set to steer
Stepping forward beyond life’s dreams
Following each path as God deems
From 1 Corinthians 10:16: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?”
Mirror’s morning view
Witnessing facial laugh lines—
Wrinkles . . . never mind!
Five seconds to go
Dropping a slice of pizza—
How clean is the floor?
Some parts left over
Backyard gym now assembled—
Who needs instructions?
This poem reflects upon the journey of a young boy who has the opportunity to travel on a train back in the late 1960s. I will always remember this trip with my father. Originally written in December, 2018, the poem has been updated for both content and style.
Lying awake in bed on hot, sultry summer nights
Young boy listens to moving trains, far out of sight
Dreaming of riding passenger trains, brings thrills
Reliable North Coast Limited quickly travels at will
Riding the Northern Pacific Railway’s pride and joy
Father takes son on his first-ever train trip—oh boy!
Sitting together in the comfy coach car, so much fun
Experiencing all that connects a father with his son
Shuffling down the aisle, steward offers snack foods
Restaurant in Glendive soon satisfies hungry moods
Making its journey to Montana’s “Gateway City” today
Hustling train passes many small towns along the way
Flashing quickly by—Custer, Hathaway, and Terry
Steady North Coast Limited acts as trusted ferry
Feeling safe with train’s constant rocking motion
Son’s eyes soon close, sleeping to its locomotion
Waking up, train slowing for a scheduled stop
Town of Forsyth, pausing for quick eavesdrop
Picking up steam, locomotive continues on its way to the East
Yellowstone River runs alongside, train powers up like a beast
Finishing this exciting journey and reaching their destination
Glendive will serve as today’s ending Montana train station
Accompanying his father as he takes care of his affairs
Enjoying dinner and staying overnight without any cares
Returning back home to Billings the very next morn
Son believing train travel should be his new norm
Sitting in cozy dining car, both treated quite well
Elegantly set table makes pancakes taste swell
Moving up to the observation car, enjoying beautiful views
Autumn’s harvested farm fields, lining up straight and true
Hurtling by more towns—Rosebud and Fallon go past
It’s much too bad this captivating journey cannot last
Remembering again those images and sounds of the train
Memories of the North Coast Limited shall always remain
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
Our Father’s goodness
Glory, God and King
Bless and praise His name
Mighty greatness sings
Through generations
Honor His great deeds
Infinite goodness
God’s faithful Word leads
Glorious splendor
Kingdom never ends
Eternal, Holy
Wondrous works, God sends
From Psalm 145:8-9: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and His compassion is over all that He has made.”
His greatness declares
Lord everlasting
Praising righteousness
Mercies broadcasting
Cries, our Father hears
From darkness, redeemed
He stands, always near
God’s goodness, esteemed
Truth, call upon God
Grace, freely given
Love, witness a Cross
Sins, now forgiven
From the words of American pastor and Christian author, Charles Swindoll: “There are four words I wish we would never forget, and they are ‘God keeps His word.'”
Alone and isolated
Empty calendar pages
Absent family and friends
Life walking in Dark Ages
Hour’s darkest shadows lengthen
Day’s hope missteps and stumbles
Sudden tears, any moment
Faith now tumbles, then crumbles
Day awakens, same old drill
Memories fade, bit by bit
Miles from nowhere, so alone
Silence fills heart, not close-knit
Few good days dwarfed by bad ones
Sunny smiles becoming few
Lonely heart needs titan’s lift
Shining light makes its breakthrough
Make it a point today to reach out to someone who could use a warm hug, a trusting smile, or a kind word. Lonely hearts fill many people with emptiness; share your light.
Listen
Life’s surroundings
Hearing God’s peace
Sharing blessed, warmest transitions
Faith
Precious
Holy moment
Holy Child’s birth
Holy Father’s glory revealed
Gift
Promised
Holy Spirit
Sin’s righteous judgement
Steering us to follow
Truth
Words used every day
Little or much to say
Used in positive ways
Conveying life’s essays
Mindful, powerful voices
Daily, humble choices
Impacting other lives
Celebrate with high fives
Disciplined purpose speaks
Positivity seeks
Sharing tender kindness
Truthful, without blindness
Careful to help and heal
Offering a square deal
Words paying it forward
True and straightforward
Thoughtful expressions said
Weaving with tender thread
Replace evil with good
Words plain and understood
Honest lyrics in song
Carried through all day long
Life unfolds from our text
Watchful where words go next
This poem was written several days before January 6, 2021. Its intention was to praise and encourage the positive power of words. The events taking place in Washington, DC on January 6 showed the negative power of words. How will our future words speak?
From Romans 6:6: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.”
Today’s world fills with darkness
Hiding earth’s moral decay
Needing to live as Christ lived
Removing evil, God’s way
Dying and rising in Christ
Baptized into Jesus’ death
Raised up like Him from the dead
Walk in newness of life’s breath
Sinful nature saved through Christ
Vanquished through body and blood
Walking away from the flesh
Carried far from sin’s sour flood
Accepting our Savior’s love
No longer walking in sin
Past selves redeemed at the Cross
Chains of sin’s power grow thin
Like wearing a worn-out shoe
Dark, sinful life doesn’t fit
Living as new creations
Trusting Christ, His love acquits
From Colossians 3:1-2: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Big Sky Buckeye 