2025-12-01

people swamped by storms & massive flooding…




Oh God of Abraham (who trusted you)

we’ve seen you act to help him rectify

his family caught, enslaved, delivered to

some enemies. Please now do help us die


to our own comforts (as our guiding lights)

and ease the weather for your kids to shine

your attitude towards the folk in plights

beside them in that country all the time…


and give the spirit of your child to them.

A child who trusts implicitly his Dad,

and lives the fam’ly values from tree-stem 

out to the branch where he can rightly add


expressions that are tailored for that time

and place within your world where they have lived,

to show the fam’ly thriving as aligned 

to root of fam’ly tree of life as sieved


out to the world now through this avenue

of your fam’ly, with motives of its source

and start, as at its heart - the heart of you,

once broken by our failures and the course


we’ve taken as we walked away from you,

and fell asleep, or died (which-ever one),

our flesh now has not strength enough to do

the things impossible that are not fun.


We need a way to team up yet again,

with that creative love that thought and made

a world for children to grow up, be sent

to waft the fam’ly scent within its shade.




2025-11-30

sore affected




My Abba I love you, show you my hurts,

my arm that’s aching, my shoulder that stabs

whenever I use it, or put on my shirts,

lean on my elbow, or clean up or dab


something in front of me. But I recall

this body’s a gift from you to me now.

You mentioned another more permanent thrall,

a body that will serve better somehow!


I love that you made this whole world - and dust.

It matters to you, and me more-so as 

your child so small, learning  largely to trust.

And so, we’ll grow - as our big brother has!


Unlike a brother who tried to secrete

things for himself, and would not let eyes meet

with others in openness sharing his loss

with all the world as Christ shared in our cross.


Here is my pain, and un-comfort as well.

Here are the fears - that I won’t play much more,

let alone work. I’ll be “crangry” and yell.

Push people away. God, oh help - it’s sore!


So thank you for each chance to look and see 

your goodness dancing with great energy,

and sometimes to speak out, even to sing

of good that’s present, though evil’s a thing!


I’m learning to trust you, and to speak truth 

out of the HESED love (that sources youth,

as well as wisdom, and beauty forsooth),

that what I say will match, and has some cooth.



 

2025-11-27

to raise^ a child*




The spark of genius that is this Christ's

who takes up death by cross so willingly,

who warns folk that no sign would quite suffice

unless it’s Jonah’s quite “Will-’e? Nill-’e!” 


edge, with a disappearing - out of sight;

& burried underneath the surface bling

of world, where happenings of hist’ry might

be known by all (with secret suffering).


Where love brings birth, but at a cost - that’s paid

by someone paying forward in the past,

because of that creative love which made 

the world from the beginning - to the last.


It pays the price which love alone can pay.

For no-one who’s impelled by less will want

to do something that gives, when there’s a way

to get control, to have acclaim. Their font


has guise of ’munication, but in fact

it seeks t’impress, to note-a-riot-y

as end it really wants, behind each act.

A mother/ father’s kind society


is seed-bed for a human being born.

The method that’s from love means suffering.

The blood of birth, a badge that may be worn

with pride, when it’s not getting, but would bring


an offering of love, to bless, not bind,

unless with chords of only love itself.

A Song of Serving One° can only find

the lonely, who have lost their hope & health.



Footnotes:


^ note Christ’s repeated prophecies warning his disciples that the Son of Adam must be “Handed over, made to suffer, killed, (buried,) raised!!” Note also his repeated reference to being “lifted up”, which drew both concepts together of “raised”, and “crucifixion” (a physical being made higher, but as a mockery of the person themself).


*  Note that “unless you change and become like a little child, you cannot enter the reign of heaven”; “The reign of heaven belongs to such as these (little children?)” etc


° see Isaiah’s several  “Servant Songs” e.g. Isaiah 42:1–9; 49:1–13; 50:4–11; 52:13–53:12 which are possibly mirrored by the later  “Songs Of The Annointed Saviour” e.g. Isaiah 59:15-60:22; 61:1-9; 61:10-62:12; 63:1-6  recounting the one who comes from YHWH God, to the people of God as one who serves & suffers with & for them, to lead them into real right relating with their God, with eachother, & with those around (and with the  newly-made-right whole world)?

2025-11-23

to grow up more like YOU!




Please teach me your ways Lord! Please grow me up

to learn to love, as Christ displays down here.

He trusts his shepherd to fill up his cup;

as Dave before him sang+ -  trusting he’s near.


So don’t “forget the nearness of your Lord”*;

He’s close, and I’m made up to link with him!

Thus I can never get what they call “bored”.

To conduit love from source has nothing dim


about it, many-coloured “goods” abound

within that coat which goes on over all^.

Creative in existence love has found

a way to make the world, not just a wall


or fence to keep our other neighbours out,

demarking bound'ries, minimise confus-

-ion, clarify somehow. But folk still pout,

and feel excluded, ‘coz they didn’t choose


to invite whom they’d like, and have them come

to their place, so to share life in a meal, 

a cuppa, or a walk, or talk, or some

way that life can be shared, a deeper deal.


I s’pose that must be friendship at its core,

we keep our word to each and carefully

consider what we say, to not say more,

or less than what is helpful$. Speak slowly#.


And “slow to anger#” too is just like you,

Yahweh the GOD who IS, who gives us breath.

And quick to listen#, tune to helpful$ too.

To show more of you here, before my death.



Foot Notes


+  (Psalm 23)


* “Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times. Have a reputation for gentleness, and never forget the nearness of your Lord.”(Philippians 4:5 look at footnote of NLT)


^ “ As, therefore, God’s picked representatives of the new humanity, purified and beloved of God himself, be merciful in action, kindly in heart, humble in mind. Accept life, and be most patient and tolerant with one another, always ready to forgive if you have a difference with anyone. Forgive as freely as the Lord has forgiven you. And, above everything else, be truly loving, for love is the golden chain of all the virtues.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you.

16-17 Let Christ’s teaching live in your hearts, making you rich in the true wisdom. Teach and help one another along the right road with your psalms and hymns and Christian songs, singing God’s praises with joyful hearts. And whatever you may have to do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him.” (Col3:12-17 translated by J.B. Phillips, link show Greek & also other translations which can be changed)

$  All things you choose to do may be legal but not all are helpful. (See 1Cor 6:12; 10:23)


Exod 34:5-8; James 1:19-27



2025-11-10

“Communicating with kids!”




Book Club for parents and for humans who

do have an interest in what’s in this book 

by Steph’nie Davies-Arai, so we’d do

it. But we're finished now, our faces look


not only sad, but happy to have won.

We finished what we started months ago.

We worked hard, and we’re lucky to ‘ve had fun

along the way with open sharing so…


God, thanks for such a mazing job as this.

We sometimes feel quite lost, and seem to be

a-going round in circles, lost in biz-

nus of the jobs you gave us (and that we


would love to do well too - the way you made

us, to be quite a lot somehow like you).

Yet we know that you are amazing shade,

protection and revealing what to do


as it is needed, necessarily,

and we can be amazed, & still learn trust

and grow in wisdom, understandingly

as you allow (who knows that we are dust).


Our first job might just be to speak in love,

while acting out of creativity

to form some space and time, down from above,

where living/ moving ones like you and me


might then attain a life increasingly, 

as we share what your hopes and dreams might be

by living into our identity-

a nature nurtured in your family.




2025-11-09

Full of Life



It’s been a busy day dear Lord.

We drank some coffee in that park,

we heard some stories told by Mark,

we walked through places that were dark.

It’s been a busy day dear Lord!


It’s been a busy day dear Lord,

we (some) went home and had a sleep,

and clubbed a book* to life, to keep

what’s true and loving, growing deep.

It’s been a busy day dear Lord.



Notes


*  Thinking of the opposite of clubbing baby seals to death for their furs, we finished today a book club discussing (one a week - over wine and cheese)  the eleven chapters of Stephanie Davies-Arai 's book “Communicating with kids”. A life-giving exercise, that all of us (probably) would like to repeat with other friends. We had wood-fired pizza together today after a late, last Book-club meeting. A busy day, dear Lord. What else would I spend this life doing? Good things - with you!



2025-11-01

Tripsy daisy ..




Mate, thanks for sending those pictures that whet

my appetite to hear the stories which

go with them so their memories then get

unlocked and meaning compounds, while the kitsch


remains to always hang about with us!

To move into the changes, holding hands

seems like the stuff ADVENTURES which build trust

are made of, till one fine’ly understands


each loved one in a hopeful, open way.

Adventure* pokes its head out as we do

what’s needed (even in the stuff we say)

to build up good for ev’ry thing/one who


we have to do with - where we BE that day.

It looks a great adventure you're all on!

Hope friendships in the fam will grow, not fray.

Connecting to creative love brings song!


So I will sing this ditty now to you.

Please prosper with - the language that you learn;

relating with the others in your group;

and spreading more creative love in turn


to those “outside”, you do not understand.

And speaking of the day that’s past, at night

or in the morning (not just what is planned),

to savour and to process, thank, delight,


each heart, and too creative love itself!

And what a start - to more to come each day

for each small life we live (sickness or health)

as ships (made for this passage) berth. Hooray! …




Notes


*  “Inconvenience is only adventure wrongly considered.” Or was it “Adventure is simply inconvenience rightly considered”; not sure… I think that one or both quotes, or ones very like them, are from G.K.Chesterton.





2025-10-31

A Hallow'een tweak to Progress, Re-incarnation & Karma..

( three wells )



Get to know well, so that you can Remember well who owns you! .. and then use this self well, today! 


Part of the Backstory: 

The “given” you is 'on loan' (SHŌMA), & this life (in this body, in this world) is your chance to be involved in the creation of a new permanent version, and to choose some of its capacities.. in the service of pro-found ‘creative love’, or simply ‘control’ (as another cog in the machine where ‘machinery’ and ‘desire’ are its only impetuses).




2025-10-19

That Prayer




His glorious, unlimited resource

is such that as he speaks a world begins

and I’ve been made a messenger with laws

beyond this universe. A power that wins -


in ways that folk who gain internally

the impetus to act and move and live

from just desire of their biology

(don’t know much love, to grieve or to forgive)


will never know, unless they let that love, 

(creative and continuous) express

itself through them as it comes “from above”,

because they stand beneath it, and would bless


as much as they are able to, they pray

for others too, that love might give the strength

inside them in their spirit ev’ry day

em-pow-er-ing them so that then at length 


the Christ will make his home within your hearts

as you trust him to come, and then to do

it, rooting you in God’s love ’s how it starts

(it doesn’t stop) and it will keep you too. 


And may you have the pow’r to understand, 

as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, 

how high, and deep is this great love expand-

ing more than this whole Universe in song.


May you ex-per-i-ence the love of Christ, 

though it’s too great to fully understand. 

Then you’ll be made complete & fully spliced 

into the life and power that God has planned…



Notes:


Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT :


¹⁶I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.


+  To see Eph 3:16-19 in Greek, & other English translations NTIME, GNT, NRSV, & NLT- you can also choose other translations too!)


2025-10-18

That Prayer’s Prelude




To shine out, and to show, and thus convey

his great intention from “back in the day”

when all of this world came out ‘coz he Said

(by God! He Saw what was Good, in his head);


The point of this all was humanity

that’s thriving, right with  world, & carefully

still looking over it, knowing it well

(not “just to use it” which brings out more hell),


to help appear the reign of the heavens,

make it quite clear, infecting as leaven’s

small influence does one grain at a time

(his spirit’s presence starts whistling and rhyme).


Humanity anointed by the God -

was called Jesus, the Christ - led Way for lot

to enter room of throne, and gladly now

fall on knees, or then raised up we bow,


or run to our “Papa”, father, it’s he

who loves us, wants that all  his children be

so open up, to learn from his leading:

to speak as he did, maybe with pleading,


and all of this must be after looking

& list’ning, hearing, then knowing the thing.

The Way of Christ makes open quite a lot.

To follow him we gladly throw out rot,


and clarify who’s boss (because it's true),

and enter love’s great loss in  death’s dark hue,

to find that all that’s timed has been renewed

in joy, dramatic song, we come to YOU…



Notes:


Ephesians 3:9-12, 14-15 (NLT plus Greek “explained” word by word when verse number is link-ified) 

I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. ¹⁰God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹²Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 

¹⁴When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, ¹⁵the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 3:9-12, 14-15 NLT)


Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT: I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

+  (Eph 3: 9-19 Greek, NTIME, GNT, NRSV, NLT)



2025-10-14

Love's leading - 7




Love* leads & I would follow  as a living sacrifice,

but also as one buried and entombed,

until I'm resurrected - and this life’s to dramatize

the bigger story outside of this womb.


Each day take up my cross, buried then raised, 

and when I’m walking round about the world,

I dramatize up close (his name be praised)

the new creation’s energies unfurled.


For I am in this Christ and too his life,

his spirit, goals and impetus as well,

have breathed and entered (as husband does wife),

a branch that’s in its tree will start to smell


quite like a “cedar”, or a “gum”, or “pine”, 

or “camphor”, or a “dead-meat” I suppose.

for sap and cells are energized divine-

ly by the tree itself as it just grows.


And all the branch does is keep in the tree, 

or vine that is its kind and essence true,

depend, remain, stay, live  “yourself in me”

is what he said*, repeated then by Jude*.


And let his words live deep inside me too, 

and let them wash me clean as he gives them 

their meaning, through his life and proverbs - new

new parables, and metaphors that hem


and give a stronger edge that won't wear through,

the clothing that we wear within his world.

We’ll “put it on” like new clothes, when we do,

reminding us of our new job uncurled.. 



e* - the biblical concept of love often involves “tender devotion to”, but also another edge. HESED is the English transliteration of the Hebrew word חֶ֙סֶד֙ , used in the Hebrew Bible to communicate something like "covenantal love", steadfast love, family love, loving kindness, love that is based on your own word. It has been said (repeatedly) that the Love of YHWH  is a core attribute of God (Ex 33:19-34:11) & endures forevermore (Psalm 118; Ps136 etc). This leads me to speak of God as both creator, but as love itself too. So creative love might be an apt family name for God. Indeed when this concept of Love is translated into Greek in the New Testament it is expressed as ἀγάπῃ (transliterated in English as agapé) and that is then the word used in the Greek New Testament to express this kind of attitude, impetus, spirit, mindset of God himself, and therefore of his true children. It is the single verb in both the greatest command & the second command - just like it), as well as the initial impetus for all true actions, and the first fruit mentioned of the very spirit of God being displayed in a human life, and the top of the ladder of things to work with God on fruiting in human life. It turns out (as Eirene Gruber used to say) that the greatest sin is to miss the greatest command ( Matt 22:35-40; 24:12; Luke 6:31-36; John 3:16-21; 5:19-42; 13:1-17, 33-35; 14:1-7; John 14:15-31; 15:9-17; Rom 8:38-39; Eph 3:14-19, 5:1-2; Col 3:10-17; 1Cor 12:31-13:13; 1Pet 4:8; 2 Pet 1:1-9; 1John 4:7-19; 2John 1:1-7 ).


d* - John 15


e* - Jude 1:20-25


2025-10-13

Love's leading - 6




Love leads & I would follow where it walks,

and how it walks - on water, or on land,

and why it walks, and acts, and thinks, & talks;

its ends & means I’ll try to understand.


And simply trust it to enable this

small child of that creative love which breathes

its life, and wisdom, love through ev’ry kiss

to raise a kind of animal that sheaths


creative love itself displaying it

to all the rest of God’s creation here

on Earth, but maybe too in hea’en a bit,

the Lamb that’s Worthy made deeds here appear


which fleshed out love as verb of time & space,

which makes all matter, energy to be

and move about, creating more a place

called home, right here within the world we see,


while also trusting that creative love

embodied in Yeshua to do more

as Senior Partner to bring “from above”

a new creation growing well before


it’s quite apparent to the world at large,

for now is its confinement in the womb -

a secret place where God’s great entourage

encounters life on earth, thus ev’ry tomb.


And so each day we take our cross up and

then follow in the footsteps of our Christ -

true Son of Adam, we must understand,

but no less follow - as the sacrificed. …



* HESED is the English transliteration of the Hebrew word חֶ֙סֶד֙ , used in the Hebrew Bible to communicate something like "covenantal love", steadfast love, family love, loving kindness, love that is based on your own word. It has been said (repeatedly) that the HESED of YHWH (creative love that simply IS) is a core attribute of God (Ex 33:19-34:11) & endures forevermore (Psalm 118; Ps136 etc) when this concept is translated into Greek in the New Testament it is expressed as ἀγάπῃ (transliterated in English as agapé) and that is then the word used in the Greek New Testament to express this kind of attitude, impetus, spirit, mindset of God himself, and therefore of his true children. It is the single verb in both the greatest command & the second command - just like it), as well as the initial impetus for all true actions, and the first fruit mentioned of the very spirit of God being displayed in a human life, and the top of the ladder of things to work with God on fruiting in human life, and it turns out that the greatest sin, bringing down the greatest judgement, is to miss the greatest command ( Matt 22:35-40; 24:12; Luke 6:31-36; John 3:16-21; 5:19-42; 13:1-17, 33-35; 14:1-7; John 14:15-31; 15:9-17; Rom 8:38-39; Eph 3:14-19, 5:1-2; Col 3:10-17; 1Cor 12:31-13:13; 1Pet 4:8; 2 Pet 1:1-9; 1John 4:7-19; 2John 1:1-7 )





2025-10-11

Love's leading - 5




Once love led & I followed  (’stead of spearned).

Not my truncated, altruism, which

devolves the word to cover what’s been earned,

a contract-like agreement been arranged


to benefit the self at final  ends,

and minimise its suffering as well.

But love, creative, suffering, depends

on using its life here to absorb hell..


no matter what the suffering will be

for self, at heart it pays the sacrifice

itself. Just think of parents with baby.

A structure set to lead us like the Christ:


“My children..” he says to his followers.

That HESED* kind of love, which keeps its word -

that’s even to its own hurt, as though spurrs 

were turned upon itself, not on a hurd


of horses, bullocks, bisen, elephants,

and trusts creative love that made the world

and put his children here to wear the pants,

and learn to understand, before they hurled


a word out in command, much less a stone.

Love makes distinction, and so too will I,

between those here in need (for them atone),

and those who here would like to lead, or try


to, that’s where suffering will come to live

and share their life more intimately for

they’ll have to learn quite truly to fore-give

from source of Universe and so much more.



* HESED is the Hebrew word, used in the Hebrew Bible to communicate something like "covenantal love", steadfast love, family love, loving kindness, love that is based on your own word. It has been said (repeatedly) that the HESED of YHWH (creative love that simply IS) endures forevermore (Psalm 118; Ps136 etc).



2025-10-10

Love's leading - 4




Oh God I see a certain serpentine

mindset in me that thinks not of the one

I would allow my thoughts or words to shine

out to; it only thinks of things begun,


not of the process being helpful too.

It is truncated, like an exercise.

A practice time to clarify, argue

a concept or idea. I’m not wise


as serpents are, nor harmless as a dove.

I’m often harmless as a serpent, and

about as wise as dove (strutts, coos it's love -

but doesn't see with depth or understand).


If I am understanding this at all, 

I'm very hopeful, ‘coz you seemed to say 

(quite clearly, I might add - this is no small

and incidental thing) that you would pay


attention to our words and looks, requests 

and  gladly will share wisdom - which is acts 

of understanding, insight, skill that bests

opponents, makes them fearful, hides, distracts


them from your re-al purposes and aims,

from comprehending modus operand-

-i, all the while you understand their trains

of thought, de-syr’s which they live by, demand..


So, if it’s true that I can go to you, 

creative love, and you won’t cease to be

yourself, but gladly share. Then I now do

that: (eating) “You’re my wisdom, knowledge tree”.




2025-10-09

Love's leading - 3




So clean up what I can, and ask for help

where I can’t reach alone, or job’s too big.

And focus on my partner’s hopes, each yelp

of joy, or groan of pain or grief, and dig


down deeper to respond where I can join

in what our partnership is meant to be.

But don’t let me devolve to then purloin

things for myself, as though I’ll soon be “Me”;


that’s on my own without a need for love.

For that might be my one necessity.

And who I’m with is truly “from above”

beyond my expectations, they know me!


And love me anyway, have plans & hopes,

and don’t seem unrealistic in their pleas.

They plan for me to join, to really cope 

with hardships - and my immaturities.


And knowing I’m a “small child” and my thoughts

and mind is immature, to say the least,

creative love itself has done all sorts 

of timing & developing, not ceased


to work to make Truth concrete, personal,

organic’ly connected to a Way

of Life that shines with love whose arsenal

(creative) is persistent, ev’ry day


to welcome suffering, & loss of pow’r

because it trusts its very self to one

much greater in their knowledge, yet not sour,

& that’s when Life that’s Real has just begun!




2025-10-08

Love’s leading - 2




So Love, creative, and eternal too,

we need your help to now un-strangle* you.

We’re stuck in mechanistic ways to see,

and don’t know how to change* our view*, so we


come to the only one who could affect

a change in us to save us from neglect 

(neglecting sunlight* on our solar cells*

which plunges us beneath to certain hells*).


Please clean us up, so your light can pass through

to land on surfaces reflecting you

somehow, and which then brings an energy

to what is dormant there deep within me*.


This brings alive a past amazing world

of love which can just start again, uncurled,

and functioning, with light as motive force.

It only didn’t function then because


it wasn’t opened up to light and cleaned,

and focussed where those rays would, un-demeaned,

just do their job of visioning*, give death*

to certain viruses that use no breath,


and make up basic food for all the plants,

when captured, in those chloroplasts which dance

around within a cell with “see-oh too”

and just ol’ basic water. Then renew-


-al comes into the ecosystem here,

and its long hibernation then appears

to be aborted and fresh life ensues

from energy which love, through life, embues.



Notes


le* - the “feeling/ lived-experience” of love being rendered “ineffective & unproductive” in my experience of a partnership   (which had been, at least at some time in the past) based on love, but may in fact have been set up to be a seedbed for love.


ge* - thinking of the quote from some children at a party to a trusted adult (mentioned in the interview below): “We’re being naughty, & we don’t know how to stop.”


ew* - thinking of the interview entitled “Change your Way of Seeing”, yet the inability of the Left Hemisphere to see what it cannot see (e.g. metaphors, depth perception in vision etc), & how it might just come down to the Left Hemisphere being itself & living “under” the greater relational view of the Right Hemisphere, where a living allegiance just works!


ht* - problem experienced from sunlight differentially not passing through dirty glass as well as it passes through clean glass. Thinking of C.S. Lewis’s observation : “When you come to knowing God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show Himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him. And, in fact, he shows much more of Himself to some people than to others -- not because He has favorites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favorites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as a clean one.”(Mere Christianity, I think).


cells* - thinking of the above quote with respect to a photovoltaic cell, instead of a mirror… & recalling the Skyward series of novels by Brandon Sanderson where Spensa finds sets of ancient asteroid-like war machines all set up and ready to go with some kind of (solar?) energy that is available but must simply be tapped. (& cf. chloroplasts within a plant cell)


hells* - thinking of some ancient Buddhist concepts of frozen Hells.


me* - one part of a solution I can see for the problem outlined in Note ht*  above, (but, as also mentioned above, thinking of a photovoltaic cell, instead of a mirror).


ng* - one of the functions of sunlight. It simply allows us (who have functioning eyes) to “see”, to build an new internal picture of reality, 


th* - one other helpful function of sunlight is its disabling of “germs” living, dormant or viral (simply mechanical/ informational ?).



2025-10-07

re: s'pondings





Oh Lord, we seek to see the openings 

where your bright glory/ serendipity

shines in and through, and so life truly sings -

responding to your creativity!




Love's leading - 1




So Love will win out, and I have a chance

to fight upon its side, with sword, or lance,

on horse back, or else on foot as its man.

For Love will win the day, as just love can.


This Love will win out! And now I can fight 

with all that I am, for this love, that’s light

& life (that's worthy of the “human” tag).

For all who Love, are God’s kids - “in the bag”


all-ready to fight on as Love has spurred, 

with personal identity confirred-

- not by some earning process or accounts

but by heredity and birth we bounce


into love’s world to be led so to win

our fight with rock, & tooth & nail, & skin

and all we have (as well as who we be),

our means includes all our technology


(not just what’s physical, but social too -

technology that’s personal, renewed,

relational - just think of Star Wars’ FORCE, 

and understand that PRAYER tunes greater laws)


And Love won’t ever just change, for it's not

at all like all desires that we’ve got -

our passions (angerjealousy, or greed), 

our laziness, or else pride that dain't bleed


(for it is not a boasting in some-one

but pride of place, relating that’s not fun

for both sides). Now I have a chance to let 

love be embodied in me, un-forget!


         So help me God. . .



2025-10-01

a reflection on.. (receiving &) reflecting on ..(seeing, hearing, processing, speaking)..

If we are like “radios made able to tune in to YAHWEH (Reality, Personality, And Love That IS)” [cf C.S.Lewis in Mere Christianity]...




Recall the words spoken into God’s world by Jesus in his often repeated phrase before & after his parables (which were most commonly not-understood by his own disciples): “Let, those who have ears to hear, hear”; 


Recall what happened the second time to the man who was NOT healed by Jesus’s fingers rubbing his blind eyes the first time, yet after that, when he began to join with Jesus’ work by begining to “look-intently/ try-hard- himself-to-see”... then … in his mind’s eye people took focus, and became more than “trees walking around”.


Recall also Jesus’ words to the man who was dumb (& “deaf”, it turns out) - after putting his fingers in the man’s ears, and touching his tongue, he said to the man  “Ephatha!” which the gospel writers then translate from Aramaic into common Greek for us, & tell us means “Open up!”

(For further reflection: Notice connections to the servant song/prayer/psalm: Isaiah 50:4-11, especially verses 4-5,  and sing the blue version of a morning prayer/song to the tune suggested above it) 



…then use our whole being: spirit, heart, soul, mind, and body, all our chosen, un-chosen, and developed responses to events in God’s world coming to be on our retina, tympanium, skin nerves, emotions, imaginings, etc… to tune to what God’s heart is, his will, his wants, & his “desires”, treating them as worth more than, and choosing them over ours. 





Can you see anything? What do you pick up, see, hear, perceive?


How do you interpret that? What do you understand that to mean? What implications come from that?





To me as I drove along, I came to see that I must :


  • Live above that “poverty mindset” which pre-judges things as static, numbered, limited… [a mindset which is true (in the sense that it corresponds to reality) without God]... and recall that I need never live that way again, and that WITH GOD all things are possible, nothing shall be impossible, I am given life, overflowing, springing up within me. (And I have started to try to understand this better via looking at it from different angles etc, & teasing it out here, or in this blog here)


2025-09-27

when personal worlds collide




Oh God! You made up wonder as a way

that we might have some feedback (like feelings)

on meshing with you, sharing time of day

(although it’s messy too, like other dealings


that are not just transactions, but a kind

of kindness that’s superfluous to some),

a way of well relating. Brings to mind

a word that is not spoken but has come,


is taken, and received, & understood.

And in that meeting, two worlds have come near,

or maybe more “dimensions”, which are good,

and present to each other, but appear


to casual eye to not be present to

the other. Thus we think that if we die,

then we might go to heaven, up to you.

Forgetting that you’re present, though we try


for getting you or even for giving.

You are not present as each other is.

For this relationship - all those living

connected to the source - time is a fizz


and not so constant as we thought it was.

And secret stuff can just be being done

between each one belov'd and lover ‘coz

those things are just enjoyable and fun


for those in love, but not for anyone

who won’t be so committed in themselves.

It is reserved for those who chose the sun,

for others stay inside, or on the shelves.


Draft 1: Audio 

2025-09-26

poverty-mind-...



an old habit to get out of (Part 1 of more)



I choose today to live above, beyond

that “poverty mindset” which “thinks it knows”..

It makes its judgements, finds propond-

-erance of evidence to back them up. It shows


the things that point to its conclusions drawn

before the good hard work of finding out

and sifting through detritus like a prawn

does (at the bottom level - true - no doubt!)


So, in the end, it does its judgement by

appearances of things, as they present.

It wouldn’t waste it's time of life, or try

too hard, or stop to wonder why it's sent


- for purposes of love (know “God is love!”).

It hardly understands the Duke of York,

and his ten-thousand men - weren’t just above 

if they were not below, as people talk.


It seems to just forget that verbs exist.

It thinks in terms of nouns and adjectives,

of definitions from the past, a twist

and tweak just here or there. It hardly lives.


Or so it tells me, as I live along..

long-side it, it says “Life is hell, for me!”

I used to think it couldn’t sing a song,

I think it thinks that song’s hypocrisy,


for mostly songs have movement, ups & downs,

they can’t be static (that would be just “noise”),

they have a heart-like beat, & feel (like clowns)

- reminds you of those little girls and boys.



Download Draft Audio Spoken, & sung.





Live above that “poverty mindset” which pre-judges things as static, numbered, limited… [a mindset which is true (in the sense that it corresponds to reality) without God]... and recall that I need never live that way again, and that WITH GOD all things are possible, nothing shall be impossible, I am given life, overflowing, springing up within me.





2025-09-24

not "wanting to" skip..


Txt2Me: ...big day tomorrow filling skip!!!


Response: Wow. 



God help that lady there with all that stuff

to have your wisdom as to what to do

with ev'ry task, in questions asked, and tough

decisions; thanks that she is there WITH YOU..





2025-09-23

start of the day prayer/hymn…



Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go,
My dai­ly labor to pur­sue;
Thee, on­ly Thee, re­solved to know
In all I think, or speak, or do.


The task Thy wis­dom hath as­signed,
O let me cheer­ful­ly ful­fill;
In all my works Thy pre­sence find,
And prove Thy good and per­fect will.


Preserve me from my call­ing’s snare,
And hide my sim­ple heart above,
Above the thorns of chok­ing care,
The gild­ed baits of world­ly love.


Thee may I set at my right hand,
Whose eyes mine in­most sub­stance see,
And la­bor on at Thy com­mand,
And of­fer all my works to Thee.


Give me to bear Thy ea­sy yoke,
And ev­ery moment watch and pray,
And still to things eter­nal look,
And hast­en to Thy glo­ri­ous day.


For Thee de­light­ful­ly emp­loy
Whate’er Thy boun­te­ous grace hath giv­en;
And run my course with ev­en joy,
And close­ly walk with Thee to Heav­en.



Above, an old Charles Wesley hymn. 

Below, found on the net edited by someone(s) to be slightly modernized, with Paul Walker strongly editing verse 3, and adding verse 7. ( Can be sung to the rollicking tune of  "What shall we do with a drunken sailor?")


          Am
  1. Forth in your name, O Lord, I go,


          G 

my daily labor to pursue,


          Am 

determined firstly you to know


          C.         G.            Am 

in all I think or speak or do.


  1. The task your wisdom has assigned,
    O let me cheerfully fulfill;
    in all my works your presence find,
    and prove your good and perfect will.


  1. Preserve me from ignoring you

         while following good purposes.

         That I might follow good right to

         its source, and treasure all it says.


Hooray! Up she rises! x3   
Earl-i-e in the Morning

  1. May you be found at my right hand;
    your eyes see truly what I do.
    I labor on at your command
    and offer all my works to you.

Hooray! Up she rises! x3   
Earl-i-e in the Morning

  1. Give me to bear your easy yoke
    and ev'ry moment watch and pray
    and still to things eternal look,
    and hasten to your glorious day.


  1. For you I gratefully employ
    whate’er you in grace have giv’n:
    I run my daily course with joy
    and closely walk with you to heav’n.


  1. With you I'll use the open ears

          you’ve given me to listen well,

          past what is known AND what appears;

          to play my part, against all hell!


Hooray! Up she rises! x3   
Earl-i-e in the Morning

Draft Audio of above version put here when available.



Newer (ten sylables per line) version:



  1. Out in your name, O Lord, today I go,

to do my jobs, & labor to pursue,

determined my first job is you to know

in all I (even think, or) speak, or do.


  1. The task your wisdom has to me assigned,
    O let me strongly, cheerfully fulfill;
    in all my works your very presence find,
    and prove your truly good and perfect will.


  1. Preserve me from my own ignoring you

while following some great, good purposes.

That I might follow all that’s good right to

its source, and then to treasure all it says.


  1. May I find you right at my own right hand;
    your eyes see truly ev’ry thing I do.
    I labor on at your gracious command
    and offer all my words & works to you.


  1. Give me the chance to bear your easy yoke
    and ev'ry moment learn to watch and pray
    and still through this to things eternal look,
    and thus to partner with  your glorious day.


  1. For you I set myself to fully use
    ev’rything that you in grace have given:
    I run my course down here with you, and choose
    to closely share this life with you in heav’n.


  1. With you I'll use the very open ears

you’ve given me to learn to listen well,

past what is known, past all that here appears;

to play my part, down here against all hell!



Draft 2 Audio recording of last version above entuned to be sung


Draft 3 Audio recording of tune for verses 1-3 & 5-6 along with variation for verses 4 & 7.



2025-09-20

Christmas-break kid's program

Brad's brief outline of the Christmas break kid's program he is inviting us all to help with:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y7n9QJu-DH2Vi7N0-RS5zZNH3bmYA-Np/view?usp=drivesdk

Raised Above - through trust, expectation, & love.



Our next chapter in Stephanie Davies-Arai’s book “Communicating with kids” is Chapter 6: Responding to Negative Feelings.


I expect Katrina's & all your openness to God's wisdom will help you make sense of what may at times feel like contradictory strands... In a two dimensional world... The third dimension of wisdom is what resolves the apparently paradoxical advice of this chapter ..


Hope it is a good time together.



God, please give wisdom to these folk to raise

(as you did with your Christ) the children you

have given them as just one cell in space,

to grow more to reflect the Christ to view.




Cross purposes




That secret weapon Christ claimed as a tool

when taken from the pow’rs that dominate,

coerce, control, make others’ plans look fool

-ish; just by letting them, and then await


-ing love’s creative deep capacities

and trusting all his self to its judgement,

above, beyond all pow’rs of enemies,

enlisting “deeper magic” as it’s sent


out ev’ry day, as rain falls on the fields 

of good and bad alike, and gives to each

a joy and pleasure, which helps each heart yield

somehow to love’s big purposes to teach


us how to shine it back in kind, good hearts

to shine the light, in universe so dark

unless there was a light, that truly starts

all life off, just as fire can come from spark.


They wanted more machines, so used up men

& women as machines to serve their “need”.

He wants God’s children, now, as well as then

to raise them up, by following his lead -


to grow through all potential ways when let..

that great love, which keeps this whole world in place

(if not for all eternity, I bet

it’s for confinement time, until there’s traced


a coming out of elements & stone…

and wood would do the job of raising love

above desire (to feel good, or atone).

And tree limbs could help raise us up - above.




2025-09-19

start to spring

Busy… following through with plans from the past and commitments to connect…

Txt2Me:Sounds like a start to spring


Text from me: Yes..


What is it that keeps life full springing forth

from dormant, or dead-looking sorts of forms?

What is it that points magnets to the North,

impelling love to venture past the norms?




2025-09-18

medical procedure




God, please give all the team your wisdom in

the carrying of this procedure out

or in to my friend's body where blood's been

a-coming from. We know you care about


these things which mean our body's vul'nrable.

But that is just what you made that was good,

and meant for us to have as use-a-ble

to get us on the ground as Jesus could


& did, to serve this world you made - to serve

your little children as their home sweet home.

This lovely house (or tent) helps us have nerve

to follow him who taught us how to roam.




2025-09-16

three days dead outside front door


I know Paul John & I weren't close, but we knew of each other's lives by what his parents & my parents passed on. And it felt like we were kept open to each other that way. And that possibilities were kept open, that may not (or may well) be there now... (@ least short-term).




God rest his soul, in arms that he has known

when child, and at times as he grew up too,

and help return both he and we (as shown

by Jesus) to the grave-womb that Christ knew.


And if we will again as children come,

he said that he would not turn us away.

Though we live in this time where we see some

things, we are glad you, God, said what you say...


through your own chosen and anointed one,

and know the Judge-of-all will know the facts,

and we are not that Judge, but the true Son

said more is told by (not our words, but) acts


and that there are surprises still in store,

for all of us, in that reality:

The smallest weakest may be that much more,

and first may be the last. Soon we'll all see.



Memorial Service: Sent by Dad, just before I talked with Aunty Glenna at ~10am



2025-09-14

talk about...

Txt2Me: ..".. had planned to meet with the JWs and talk about Jesus .."



Reply:


Please God make o-pen-ings because your Christ

is such a leader that all humans can

quite gladly follow. Your voice has sufficed

to stamp on him your honour as THE MAN.


Collapsing into each day as your child

without the cares of property and rent,

or food or drink, or shelter is the wild

"untamed" way, you showed us life could be spent


as one great pilgrimage throughout your world,

with fam-i-ly (& you, our LORD, and GOD).

What high adventure - so to be quite hurled

into (for us) an unknown, as we've got


here, ev'ry day. And this day is no freak;

you lead in triumph (though through way of death).

And looking to our end (you gave a peak)

in those times that they ate with Christ, when breath


of Christ (the High King Over All)⁹ was sent

to be embodied here again in flesh

and bones as we have now. He never went

back. His "right spirit"* will renew, enmesh


& tangle all of life up in your way

of love & service in your world of folk

from ev'ry corner of the world, today.

This is a kind of lovely riddle/ joke! 


Please help us to retain the punch-line clear,

not telling it in such a way it's lost

on any truly open kind of ear..

please help us in repast and in reposte.



 *  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. (Psalms 51:10-12 NRSVUE)



2025-09-13

Boasting*




I’ll boast in all my weaknesses, & shame, 

my difficulties, death & troubles, too;

the active conquering, winning love that’s named

Yeshua, who can save both me & you


from our own faults and immaturities,

our falling-short of what we’d like to be,

our missing of the mark (that would so please

us, as we grow to Christ’s maturity).


The kind of grown-up-ness that he displayed

throughout his life when folk made fun of him -

he’d trust himself to One who this world made,

& know that love could never more shine dim,


though it might look like it was blotted out,

exhausted, or be-nighted, overcome.

But that’s like sun shine “stopped” by banks of cloud,

or rain that falls down here on ev’ry one,


because of love’s own wish to convince us

to let it help (because we're made for such).

Brain hemisphere that’s Left on own might fuss

but if it’s joined up with the Right, then much


could be achieved; once partnership is prized,

but also living under leadership.

So not as Ciaphas had Christ despised,

but as ol’ Nicodemus made his quip*.


I’ll boast of love of God, in Christ, displayed

those days by their own partnership lived out

in taking up a cross, where men were made

or else unmade, as they caved in to  doubt.




Notes:


g*  2Cor 12:9-10; Romans 5:3-4; Galatians 6:14


p*  “ 51‘Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?’(John 7:50-51 NIVUK)





2025-09-12

Less spruiking, more list’ning .. at meetings on Earth.




God, help your boys (and me), to have the grace

to ask good questions of the others round,

and listen carefully to every face

(and body) that would speak, as we have found


that language isn't all about the words

that make up speech or get writ down in text.

We learn from you* (and those in packs and herds*)

that acts and body-placement are less vexed..


well, ..methods of communication which

(especially when it comes to) show off love -

are fuller, more consistent, they don't ditch

and leave folk high and dry. They're "from above"*.


As James remembered his big brother* for

the sake of helping little brothers* round

to follow in his footsteps; he said more

to listen, less to speak. Anger be found


less quickly to rise up within our selves,

if we were to please God - to make his day!*

Thus not left high & dry up on some  shelves

with 30 years & future CROSSed a WAY*!


And here & now, he calls to follow him.

from this place in the world, on dusty streets,

to please what makes a mate be  fairdinkum -

(by being it - with ev’ry mate he meets!)


And strangely, taking up our own cross too*,

and dying by that tree (that brings on  death)

to all our hopes for glory in this zoo,

this womb, as though we don’t need ev’ry breath*.



Notes

ou*:

ds*:

e"*:

er*:

rs*:

y!*:

AY*:

oo*:

th*:



2025-09-10

tough day at school...

Wednesday,10Sept2025



“Today we’ve moved along the track..” (I wink)..

“I tried to do some drawings when folk worked,

and tricked some kids to listen up & think.

But sometimes they did act out - quite berserk.”


And this is not a problem in itself,

it’s more the consequences for the group.

How can a child who asks for special help

be given it when others then throw food,


or paper sheets, scrunched up into tight balls.

The kids who come from backgrounds that grow guts,

persistence, perseverance, through the falls

of life, and bleeding from the paper cuts


of bureaucratic systems, or the want

of cats that might appear just stretching legs

with claws extended, yawning, nonchalant-

ly, doing what might hurt or harm which begs


to differ just because it then feels best.

It’s jealous and it doesn’t like to lose. …







2025-09-08

god-child



God make this blessed man a blessing true

to people as they live out there at Forbes

and may they understand more of how you

would like to see life done within our orbs


around the sun, as year turns into years,

and as this human project runs along

the track that you had hoped (when we have ears)

to join in with your purposes & song..



2025-09-05

in trouble ... in bubble



God, wisdom please! And patience too. And joy

in deeper, unseen stuff than even this

whole world (where we now live, as girl or boy

in Mummy's tummy). To grow up - not miss-


miss-take the situation we're now in

as though this were the proper grown-up stage,

yet let the exercise of stuff we've been 

here given, still grow habits which engage


our muscles, sinuses, tendons and the like,

with nerves and "bones" beginning to become

of use, though we could hardly see, or hike

that far, or even understand what some


might think the basics of life "on the out"...

So look and listen as much as we can.

We don’t have much worth-while to say, or spout..

But doing as we need, will build the man,


or woman we are meant to be one day.

That day is coming, when our “night” has passed

and we come to the outside world the way

that Christ moved to the heavenly - world-classed


achievement (that was claimed for Caesars, say,

collecting somehow credence for the next

as “SON OF GOD”, but) his move ‘gainst the snake,

well for the source of life, not just the text,


the label, or the stamp; but true at core

to what is real and permanent, in love.

We’re dropping words and taking up what’s more

important in that life that’s “from above”.





2025-08-27

toddler tumult




Oh God, please help that Mum with squeamish boy,

to have wisdom to see what's going down,

to play the part of parent, full of joy,

and praying as she gives thanks on this ground.


But maybe, as I think some later on,

there might be need for anger in this  world..

It might not be too bad a note in song;

at the right time, not quickly as if hurled.


They say that God is slow to anger and

abounding in that HESED (loving kind-

-ness) and James says quick anger can not stand

& carry righteous living forward - mind...


This doesn’t play the part of nounish thought

to bring the world to heel, to me, myself.

That kind of rule makes sep'rate things be wrought

to do the will of who’s in charge, has wealth.


The way of HESED works by teaming up,

a covenant, or partnership’s the thing.

And in that context truth won’t just corrupt

because who’s fitted best for job must bring


that to the table, love must need sometimes

to have a small & weak one soaking up

more love into this world, to then make rhymes

perpetuating how one might erupt.


And that CREATIVE HESED is the WAY

to forward move, to live, to love, in truth.

And now I see it, I must further say

it is the way to all eternal youth.


Amen




mind set

Determinations



Oh “Dadda” here I am. I am your child.

Your little child, who must look up throughout

the day at ev’ry lovely thing or wild

adventure, or some trouble, or some doubt,


to share the whole with you, to learn to see

each one of these aright, with feelings which

are meant to come along, and add, and be

mixed in with all I call experience.


So here, I’m starting off today, this way

by looking up, out window t’wards the sky

(the curtain, blue or black, or white, displayed

with colours of the rainbow, as light shines,


from where we get our rain that sucours life,

from where shows sun and moon to help us see,

from where our biggest dangers could be rife;

yet overseen by who made gravity)


I know you're there and look down from above,

with HESED, Hebrews called your cov’nant love

which sees the other, not as thing to shove,

but fam’ly, to be handled with kid glove.


I treasure all your friendship, thoughtfulness,

provision for my day, and tasks, and self.

And want to live together and redress

my immaturities, and lack of health-


-y motives, and responses, ends & means.

I’m glad to have your presence, though I’ll not

be seeing you as well as those seeings

I’m s'posed to give attention to, by God!




2025-08-25

Put up with each other…*




In learning to put up with folk around

about me here I’m given a good run.

For I must learn to see life as it’s found

by others, not by me. I feel undone.


Oh help me God to be true in myself

to what is kind, not just what’s right by me.

To act in ways that maximize the health

and well-being of those around who’ll be


a little inconsistent, maybe more,

in what they want, and ask for, and then give.

That need not be my licence to keep score,

& not to start to stop trying to live


myself in ways that could display some grace.

Oh God I need the grace that’s in your eyes.

Your view of us allows that grace a place.

And I want to reflect it, not despise


it, or, ignoring it, build up on Earth

technologies that might replace mercy,

gratuitous they come not from re-birth,

but from the call to live, and breathe, and see.


And we tell we are chosen by that fruit

of choosing here to do the will of God

within a place where we can choose just who

refering to, we learn from, and to what


extent, what ends and means can be used and

the God says we are not to try to rule..

rule over others. Carrying’s not banned.

So bearing his own cross, he wain't no fool.




Notes


*   Col3:13

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)


ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων καὶ χαριζόμενοι ἑαυτοῖς ἐάν τις πρός τινα ἔχῃ μομφήν· καθὼς καὶ ὁ ⸀κύριος ἐχαρίσατο ὑμῖν οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς· (SBLG)



*  John 19:17


So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. (RSV)


καὶ βαστάζων ⸂αὑτῷ τὸν σταυρὸν⸃ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς ⸀τὸν λεγόμενον Κρανίου Τόπον, ⸀ὃ λέγεται Ἑβραϊστὶ Γολγοθα, (SBLG)




2025-08-22

Moving (forward) mindset




Therefore, as God’s picked people, in this world,

made holy for the purposes he chose,

and set apart (equipped) as one who's  curled

in foetal fashion, dearly loved. The clothes


you put upon yourself, see that they  serve

those purposes - en-a-bling you to show

off what your God is like. See you don’t swerve

from deep compassion, kindness, & the go..


like humble-ing yourself (a Jesus-deed),

then gentleness and patience, puting up

with others*, and forgive as folk have need -

just as the Lord forgave you, filled your cup.


to flowing over all these - put on love, 

which binds them all together in the way

such proper growth is meant to “from above”.

The one-ness of a thriving garden space. 


The garden of the Christ must be the rule 

within your hearts, since you are all a part 

of that whole ecosystem. Don’t be fooled,

remember you’re one body, no upstart.


You’re called to thrive together, that’s shalom. 

So thankfulness describes the overall..

..the process, where the message of Christ comes

& dwells among you richly as you fall


in step with one another. Help & teach 

each other with all wisdom through the psalms, 

& hymns, and songs the Spirit sings through each

back to the God with gratitude in arms


raised with your hearts. And everything  you do, 

in deed or word, do all as though his child,

who bears the name of Jesus deep in you, 

and thanks the God and Father as Christ  styled.



Notes


Colossians 3:12-17 


[12] Ἐνδύσασθε οὖν ὡς ἐκλεκτοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἅγιοι καὶ ἠγαπημένοι, σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ, χρηστότητα, ταπεινοφροσύνην, πραΰτητα, μακροθυμίαν, [13] ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων καὶ χαριζόμενοι ἑαυτοῖς ἐάν τις πρός τινα ἔχῃ μομφήν· καθὼς καὶ ὁ ⸀κύριος ἐχαρίσατο ὑμῖν οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς· [14] ἐπὶ πᾶσιν δὲ τούτοις τὴν ἀγάπην, ⸀ὅ ἐστιν σύνδεσμος τῆς τελειότητος. [15] καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ ⸀Χριστοῦ βραβευέτω ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν, εἰς ἣν καὶ ἐκλήθητε ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι· καὶ εὐχάριστοι γίνεσθε. [16] ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ· διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς ⸀ψαλμοῖς, ⸀ὕμνοις, ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ⸀ἐν χάριτι, ᾄδοντες ἐν ⸂ταῖς καρδίαις⸃ ὑμῶν τῷ ⸀θεῷ· [17] καὶ πᾶν ⸂ὅ τι⸃ ⸀ἐὰν ποιῆτε ἐν λόγῳ ἢ ἐν ἔργῳ, πάντα ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου Ἰησοῦ, εὐχαριστοῦντες τῷ ⸀θεῷ πατρὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ. (SBLG)


or


12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (NIVUK)



(Plus see Col 3:23-24)


 
* “Bear with each other”, or “put up with each other”; what does this mean? And how do you do it rightly, in the way of love? A poem & an exploration






2025-08-21

Last period at school…




This afternoon at school our class went sour

when some folk in the habit of regard

-ing others with less honour in this hour, 

continued to say things that were quite hard


to handle for another in the room,

& then enjoyed a laugh at their expense. 

The teacher in my class saw we were doomed 

but couldn't turn the tide (in his defence)-


the videos that might have helped us out 

would not be accessed - yet they took a while

to login to to watch the i-view. Gout,

or suffering alike, was on the dial


of most within the class this per-i-od

of time where we were all together in

the room, though each as separate different bod.

were trying to be one there. Did we win?


Well, probably, we didn’t much. Let’s see …

But, if we learn from this, if each takes on

a piece of what could be done diff’rently…

then this might be the first line in a song


that gets a diff’rent tune as it goes on,

becoming sweeter, drawing us all in.

I think I like that metaphor. Be gone! -

that dooming voice that paints all life as “sin”.


I’ll learn the bit I can. I’ll try it out.

I think I'll need some help along the way.

Creative positive regard, no doubt

I'll need your help to do a diff’rent day!




2025-08-18

the cake




YOUR WORD goes out, &, is kept!



Oh God I love the way your word is more 

than what we often mean as we might  show

by words, we have the pow’r to let states form,

and living/moving things be, come, and grow.


Your word’s the message, spoken into life

as we now know things: history and such,

but also through our culture’s gifts (and strife),

how we could war; confronting or just touch-


ing people. They’re full loved - as parents do

a wee small child who’s joined the family.

Such parents bring their kids right full into

a situation where they can live free


of being run, or bound, by what they want.

To please a bigger will than just my own

is paradoxic’ly the needed font,

the style, or way of life that is full-grown.


And now I hear you say to me. You fraud!

So you claim that you’ve got the cancer cure?

Well, I say Caesar, Putin, Trump’s not Lord

in biggest way, and our needs still endure.


We need a Lord, such as that ONE that came

responding fully to creative love,

& spending life on earth, with all its shame

as though it's currency from up above,


and his investment was this very thing:

The people round about who loved to do

the truth, to make it shine in suffering,

and making friends with folk like me, & you*.




* In the light of Mark 2; the stories of Jesus very willing to fight theological battles with leaders who were keen to lock horns on heady issues (in their power-mongering ways); but not more willing than we was to display the core creative love of the universe to the most marginalised and in the normal celebratory stuff of life.



2025-08-17

bothered?



There is a part of me which I now see

that really can’t be bothered ‘bout all  this..

..this partnership with God that sets me free

to grow up and mature, just like Jesus.


It wants to grow in pow-er, so to get

all my de-syrs fulfilled. That's just as though

my model world (that’s built inside its head),

needs a Big god to vanquish ev’ry foe.


Auditions for this job were taking place…

right when I woke up in my bed today,

and in my mind the only one to face

that board of one, was me, so “What ya say?”


I got the job! And now I am a god!

In charge of this whole world within my head.

And so I get to choose and focus what

I’ll do, say, think, before this mortal’s dead.


The part of me that made this model world

is truly its creator, thus its god.

But this truncated foetal god that’s curled 

around it has to grow up quite a lot.


And so it needs much mentoring, and tasks

to work on right beside the God who IS.

As small boy wants to work with Dad so asks,

and might be given real jobs then as his.


So meaning, purpose, filters down to me

from source and pioneer, creative love,

when as a little child I’m bound to be,

and do as I am told, here from above.