Working, not shirking..

God thank you for the goodness sharing life

with you, and with your children, though they're young

and im-mat-u-re, still get into strife,

and sometimes are quite baby-ish, among

other things, but I guess that's the purpose

of foetus's within a womb, they grow

from creatures, single celled (just usurpers?),

to full on sons and daughters whom you know...

---

I will replace your heart of stone with flesh. Will you allow me?

That's him! That's just like him - to help us bite

the bullet that's about to shatter us.

To state the obvious, that no-one might

quite sanely disagree with (without fuss);

then act to do it, time and time again,

until we've every hope to really trust,

and grow our faith till we are like that MAN,

who's still the model for the whole of us.

And quell our un-believing hearts that won't 

believe what's good & true, though they are quick

to quite believe much evil and to moan

tomorrow's woes, and worry ourselves sick!

And help us see the way ahead ourselves,

and better still to turn that stony thing

Into a living organ that then wells

with life, and health, and love and other things!

Ok Lord. I will!

---

The Lord says "I will get you out of any trouble, I'll give you the best care. Just put all your trust in me" Psalm 91:14-15

---

good woman in (shooting/ erratic) pain

My dearest one I see you in this pain,

chaotic - doesn't follow any rules.

Without the bigger story we might name

as King, this Chaos; we his subjects, fools.

And when I see you put all else aside

in order to maintain your very soul,

I see a sea of chaos open wide

it's monster mouth to swallow you up whole.

And monsters I must face then just as well,

for somehow we are bound within this vale,

a valley between waves in wat'ry hell,

or else a womb - within it's wat'ry pale.

And when this chaos monster claims it's prey,

the light within their eyes goes right on out.

The Boogey Man says he likes it that way,

for light dispels the darkness without doubt.

Appearances are just the surface stuff,

they have some place within reality.

Reality is deeper and more tough,

for it can be both heard, and touched (and seen)!

But when those yappy dogs mauled dear ol' Mum,

or Jesus on the cross "misunderstood" -

apparently a failure that he'd come

to teach and show of God - "That he is good(!)"

I see that we are now in for a ride.

We're going deeper, learning to love true.

To learn to love & openly, not hide-

ing bits, returning Eden to us too.

---

that's by the special kind of pow'r Christ gives ...

Well, summing up my brothers & my friends,

do fill your minds with those things that are good 

deserving praise, and which work to good ends,

things that are true, & noble, right, & would

be seen as hon'rable, or else lovely,

by ten men good and true who knew the facts.

Put into practice what you learned from me, 

both from my words and also from my acts. 

If you receive from me what I can give,

the God who gives us peace will be with you.

More bless'ed than his gifts of life to live,

and thriving peace, is he himself who's true.

And in my life in union with the Lord

it's joy to me that after so long time

you once more had the chance to not be bored,

of showing that you care for his (& mine)... 

I don't mean that you'd stopped your care for me—

you had no chance to show it, as things were. 

And I'm not saying this because I be

or feel neglected; for, this I have learned 

a satisfaction with my things and stuff. 

I know what it is to be here in need,

and what it is to have more than enough. 

I've learned this secret (that's to counter greed):

contentment, so that hungry now, or full, 

and anywhere, at any time or spot

(that's whether I've too much or too little),

I have the strength to face each one, the lot!

---

In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.

Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.  In my life in union with the Lord it is a great joy to me that after so long a time you once more had the chance of showing that you care for me. I don't mean that you had stopped caring for me—you just had no chance to show it. And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.  Philippians 4:8‭-‬13 GNTD

---

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.  I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.  Philippians 4:8‭-‬14 NRSV

---

they ask quite sweet, to pray for that retreat...

God, please help these your children now to seize
these gifts in time, these opportunities
to spend time with each other in the breeze
(or gale) of your good spirit, yet not wheeze,
but hear your hopes in  rustling of the trees...

and then to be enabled to join in
in ways that if unstable are not sin,
thus we would ask for them (& too, ourselves)
to learn to walk so when they talk these smells

of heaven that are wafting round about -
in speech, and too in lofty thoughts, and doubts,
and songs and chants concomitants in time,
to be the smells of hominids sublime.

As I recall, and think about you mate

Oh boy! You've carried grief throughout your life.
Your Dad was not much there in growing up.
Your Pop was more a mentor in your strife,
And you were like a boofy gangly pup!

You've been a keeping private, these sad things. 
Now, also taking steps to tell them out.
Good on you mate. I think you're growing wings,
that grace you found within God's eyes, now doubt.

To hear your ol' man died 6 weeks ago,
brings te-ars to my eyes, and makes me think,
and realize how hard it is to know
and share another's life. How hard to drink

the cup that we've been given for ourself.
And yet I see you've been taking it down.
And glad to hear you reached him in un-health,
and we're just there as friend right on the ground.

It's good to hear you spoke that night as friends 
and that he was so mentally ok.
It's good to hear you talked of means and ends
And got to share the news that love will stay.

It seems so stark, to pull the tubing out,
and turn a few machines off, so he dies.
"A bit odd" 's understating it, no doubt.
And then the job of telling to his wife…

I'm glad that you were with him as he died,
in morning hou-rs - 1:30 a.m.
I'm glad that you were Jesus by his side.
Well done! A son of God, who loves that man.

---

Nov-em-b-ah child

Well this November Milly and Ah-Bell

are still some sisters, yet they're married off.

No bubs are on horizons (that they tell),

and yet they can not bring themselves to scoff.

Not thirty yet, and one not twenty five.

And each have brought a good man to our "fam".

We've sent them off, they come back more alive.

Their Mum is lucky, and that's what I am!

And we are glad they still see us as friends.

We hope that we can be that too, and more.

They're moving with God's "means" as well as "ends",

each wife already, maybe too, mother.

You've both played games like soccer well & good,

and keep yourselves as fit as you now are.

You're lovely ladies, friends to whom you could

be friends, you just continue near & far.

And so we'd like to wish you both the best,

in diff'rent places of God's world for now.

You'll each one have your own peculiar tests

but God has promised his presence - somehow!

And sometimes he is present in your skin,

that's even when it feels a scratchy bit,

and each of you is who he's living in

to be to your own sister some of it…

his care, his thoughts, 'n' love for this his child,

his sense of humour (just enough to smile),

his help with text/reminders ev'ry while,

and hug, and listen, then to scratch ya dial!

---

Paul Walker November 2019, Orange, NSW, Australia.

God - is a funny man!

For God himself's our dwelling place, and our...

.. our hope & strength and help to come on time.

His sense of humour, sense of adventure,

have been passed down to us along the line.

There is that river, that brings life and joy.

There is that food, en-cultured as it is,

the bread & wine of God, and of his boy,

that's stronger, better, than a lavish feast.

There is our staple food, and drink from cup,

he gives to us, then says it is himself.

A lot of paradoxes coming up,

when we deal with this God who's like an elf.

But giving of himself to help and serve,

to teach his kind of love that strong as fire

if only we would not lose all our nerve,

his Sun of love will "trump" our most desire.

But many of this race already know

a tiny bit of what this love is like

that's even if we've taken quite a blow

we've tasted at some place, or had a strike

-  of gold found in a commonplace on earth

and somehow had the intuition that

it's just a kind of paving (still of worth!)

within the world we're made for. Time to bat,

at least get off the bench and have a shot.

Or better still get coaching while we can!

And learn to play the game, enjoy this lot -

the folk that we are playing with. This man!

---

God is our hope and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

So will we never fear, even when the earth quakes and moves, and the hills crumble in to the sea.

For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves (and bushfires and droughts) cannot erode our faith in you!!

There is a river, that brings joy to the city of God, a holy place that we can call home- our holy dwelling place. 46:1-4 (PM Version)

---

Looking at my Master

While looking at my Master, I can see
a man of skilful mind, far more than me,
who runs rings round the teachers that then be,
yet clings not to his mind-pow'r, he is free!

While looking at my Master, light in me
shines so that I am well, a slave who’s free!
And his call when he said “Come, follow me!”
brings with it legs to walk with, - on the sea!

While looking at my Master: “Who is he?
God’s spirit brings to mind, through stormy sea.
For he controls with po-wer easily,
the wind & waves, and fever, and a tree.

While looking at my Master, I then see
a man who loved and would set zombie’s free.
Their way of death could never capture he
who is the source of all good life-story.

While looking at my Master, I am free
to not react (as I am want to be),
and choose the way “on track”, as too did he,
for building God's good rule, using story!

Oh you, my Master, open eyes to see
and give a mind which follows logic’ly,
with intuition, serendipity,
and open mouths to boldly speak, clearly.

You are the one whom I will follow free-
ly, not “constrained and chained”,  but lovingly,
for greater good, of all (and thus of me).
You manifest God's love, our dignity.