Tick Tock

O God,
we've plod
where trod
poor sod,
with tick,

which now
somehow
burrow,
won't go
so quick!#

This hales
more tales:
old rime*,
"that time..",
they're thick!

And brings
mean-ings,
new. Must!
To "Just
a tick.."


#  We went for a bit of a walk through the bush Thursday morning... Next morning one of the family found a tick on their body... then someone else found one.  (These are either larvae or adult stages of a spongy beetle-like critter that normally gets blood from native animals. Now that we are natives, to planet Earth, & to this part of the planet, I s'pose  we're part of the ecosystem. Makes you feel some sort of solidarity with the local kangaroos & wombats.) These disposed of we headed for home... next morning 2 txt's from different family members: one saying they'd found 3more, one found another...


* see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rime_of_the_Ancient_Mariner

On B & B's birthday.

Dear father & mother,

Walkers, Bevan & Beth,

there's not many other

folk who, like you, invest

in friends who'll be, with mirth,

in centuries coming,

not stuck in this old earth,

who hear the new humming..

hum-m-m-m-m-ming

of the cre-a-tor's song

helping us all to sing,

or at least hum along,

like those been inspired

to look past mechanics

to the spirit quiet -

 (well, who never panics)

- even when loud or fast,

or crying or grieving,

laughing (not only last),

or with sorrow heaving.

For love's not passionless,

and neither are you two

(it can seem fashion-less;

at times that's what you do).

That great sense of humour,

that sparkle & “ïdea”,

Love calls “a twirp", (you Ma),
with no con-tempt or fear..

...sees to the source of all
goodness, light, loyalty;

loses itself to fall

before who “gives us free”¹.

From the son you named “Paul”.

[See also the related “Storyof a ppaling life [PART 1]”, below]

1The statement chanted by the slaves in “The Amistad” [the story of a slave ship of newly made slaves captured in American waters after it was made illegal to make slaves (though current slaves could still be kept legally), this was part of the spark that lit the fuse that led to the American war of independence. In this case their very ineptitude with the sounds of English helped to show they were not born in slavery, and worked with their baristers case to argue for their freedom. In the process, they understood something of the work that these others had done on their behalf, & were very grateful. It is a tragic human story, but one involving love & loyalty in the face of despair. If only the ending could have been better than “now they were free to join current American society or return to a dead family & ruined village life in Africa”, ... can you imagine any better? That's the direction..]

On Brother’s Birthday[1]

God bless you my brother.

Thought of you through today,

tried to write another

poem-ish thing: What to say?

It's still on my clip-board,

I'm in bed (at the coast),

someone near me just snored,

you're so old, you don’t boast.

You've prob'ly “hit the sack”

some time ago, I know.

Still you might get a whack,

- not turning your sound low.

A whack or two's not bad,

in more than 45

years; with wife, & as dad,

-it proves that you're alive.

So now, before midnight

I'd better send this text

(the screen seems very bright),

before my wife's too vexed.

The years seem now to fly

(I'm close to old as you),

I'm glad this life is like

our baby teeth that "do"...

..until the "permanent"

teeth push the "babies" out,

the baby ones were meant

for fairies' cups no doubt...

Good - night, and this next year,

to you ol' Craigeo,

don't you give in to fear,

when things get wobbly-o.

Paul-eo.

[& to add to that, from another time (but celebrating this birthday anniversary of Craig R. Walker)...]

Craigeo, Baigeo!

now grows a bit older.

Is he more daigeo[2],

or more like a soldier?

Craigy the baby now

has travelled far beyond

most baby Walkers. Bow!

(- this is how to respond)

“A baby” you tell me;

-older than forty-five-

can NOT stay a baby

if it grows well, alive!

Craigy the baby(-faced)

- to all of his siblings

(who per chance were born first)

is past all these quiblings.

To him [& the one there,

who when not, he Missus;

along with their Pigeon-Pair]:

X, X, come these kisses!

Pauleo. 

---

[1] Sent about midnight 6/7/2012 (but it decided to change it to an mms & took about 5min to send)

[2] Daigeo= a friendly form of “daigo”- from another culture/  a less common form of “daggy”,

Oh God, why this distance?*

* At Maccas at Bendigo, 3 May 2012, left wife & daughter in bed saying they’d just stay at home to talk or to  just sleep…. Feeling like I wanted to tune in with God, off to Maccas, then went to order a tea, saw a meal deal for ~$3.45, was charged ~$4.15, asked why… was told that my adjustment from "cappuccino" to "tea" must have made it dearer, so I changed back to a cap (then saw that the other lady had started to pour the tea), only to find that the price was more again, then we realized that the cheaper price was “burger only”, so I went back to the cheaper “tea” (then noticed that by this time the lady had started on the Cap (half full). Felt bad. Like I was a gluttonous blob that leaves my family to go to Maccas to pig out, rather than relate and wastes stuff on top of that… etc… so got out notebook, (then felt like a gluttonous blob… that hides behind computer screens & is caught up in technology) then started to type this… (Thank you for your help my Father) Paul.

... then remembering that leader of God's people (whom Jesus drew to his students' attention - at the end of Mark 12) - a widow lady ( in a time with little social service)...

Oh, God.

My God.

Why have I forsaken you?

I start with real yearnings

for intimacy with you

I get side-tracked so quick

- don’t know what to do.

But as I just said that, I knew,

& knew that I was doing   it too.

That gives me hope a-maze-singly.

Though I can’t see you leading me;

you none-the-less are.

And I love you,

with all this small heart.

My biggest prayer

as I remember you are there,

is to have a bigger heart;

that it might grow could be a start,

to love you with it all (not part).

And now I recall that widow lady

in that temple long ago

you didn’t think that she was shady

just ‘cause she was bent so low

and you knew

what she was giving,

drew your stu-

-dents attention to her leadership

of the “people of God”;

when all the men

who led, back then,

gave back a part of their own heart

but she whose heart was broken

and who mourned, and was comforted

not by a religious “dot” or token

but by that LOVE from the very start,

was done with all that stuff (just) spoken

of. Oh, give me her leader’s heart!

What can I do

for you -

who loves me true?

What-ever you bring to (me);

whate’r  I should eschew,

or bend and start anew,

these very things – just do!

-and keep re-membering too,

linking it in to the grand story.

Becoming a weaver, a spinner of tales,

helping people (like me) swallow truth (not whales),

stitches to a tapestry, & a chapter add,

linking actions  with story

I think I see enough to do, my Dad.

(this was then followed by my ACT of SURRENDER)

simple time management tool...

Have a look at this..  http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/book.html , it can be paper based...(with downloads (free) on the above website), or... there are many apps that help to do it...

Makes sense to me, & seems to be a general tool, rather than one tied to any particular job. Though it may only be suitable to some kinds of jobs. Seems like it will be good for me doing tax invoices & assignments. I guess we'll learn what it is applicable to, as we go.

Thanks, Lord, we'll use

such simple tools,

since now you choose

us to be "fools".

Fools for the Christ,

the childlike one,

with whom sufficed

Father's "Well done".

To use well his

time, & his stuff,

knowing it is

never enough

for this broken

world to love and

to hear, folk can

not understand,

what he made clear-

"He is no fool,

who lives quite near,

under God's rule"

For Love's great game

turns wishes to

commands, the same

as genie's lamps do.

I think we'll see

how tomato

timers can be

part of "the show".

Paul W.,

Cornerstone Comm-

-unity, who

points where we're from.

Head where He led

re. a brother whom we are trying to help reach his potential, to use well what God has planted inside him well. One aspect may be to pursue some training in Accounting..

Lord, help us please

to hear from you,

that we release

potential due

to grow from Matt

& to serve well

in this moment

the fight 'gainst hell,

and hellishness

that "finds... itself"

(self-centredness),

not hev'nly wealth.

Yet to funnel

this earthly stuff

for eternal

friendship's enough.

Amen.

member to full-fill leadership council

Lord, please grow your love
& truth in me more.
Your grace from above,
to shine out for sure.

That like Samu'el,
I, instinctively
might do my job well
in praying for the

people under me,
& those over too,
that they will clearly
honour & love you.

Then the ones between,
they still need you God,
so not small & mean,
they go where HE trod.

Trip to scarey spot

Trip for family
to unstable spot,
now we finally see
might work, but
might not.

Lord, this trip & we

are in your hands, to

do with as you see

fit; & "We love you!"

Whichever way things

go with it, we'll not

complain that this brings

chaos, for that's rot.

Our lack of trust in

you who shone the light

on dark & brooding

Earth, & breathed your life-

-breath into us would

be a treacherous act,

for we know (or should)

that you made a pact,

a cov-en-ant New,

through blood, sweat, & tears

of him who called to

us with "Have no fear!"-

-"For it is I" who

(seems to you some ghost)

walks through this storm to

bring God's will (no boast)!

But we will learn to

boast in nothing else

than this God/Man who

passed through death & hell's

great sep-ar-a-tion

to call dead to LIFE;

the reparation

of all curse & strife.

We are glad to say

like him, "Your will be

done" and every day

we'll rejoice in HE

who, won the battle,

has the victory,

is Light of the World,

and makes blind to see.

Amen.

out & about

God is "out & about" - all over the country-side!
My job is to enjoy the benefits of his work, & war, & "watch" for god (make use of the lens of the scriptures), & to pray;
to not fall into temptation.

He (like a wise parent) is leading me out (of my very small womb-world), one step/centimeter at a time! Trust him, oh, my soul, and do the next little thing he has given me. So that one day I really will be able to live in & control a permanent body.

God,

In all your world

your flag's unfurled,

joy sings hurray,

& life is hurled

into deserted

spots where hurted

Truth wins the day

though it's blood spurted..

& help me too:
to honour you
in what I say,
& what I do,

& how I be;
that in all three
more of your way
will shine through me.

                      Amen. 

a mate doing a job

Well Lord, you're the boss.

We want your honour

through our gain or loss.

Raise your flag on a..

..pole for all to see -

a brass-snake lifted

that works against he

who snakes his shifted

path down broad & wide

to other kingdoms,

on the other side,

You are our vision,

& in you we pride!

Please give your wisdom,

and a lis'ning ear,

to John, & vision,

to use well your gear.

Amen.

Sue’s Muse

My daughter Milly was back home on holidays for a few days. After we sent the school “kids” off & made a few phone calls, we realized that we'd missed community devotions this morning. So, we decided to have our own together in front of the heater. Milly read that story (from the end of Luke) about Jesus being taken before Pilate & accused etc. ..

• about the leaders of the people of God losing their integrity & concern for truth (in having already “bought” Judas & then) using the structure (meant [by god] to back up justice) in order to back up their jealousy & keep their power base intact...
•  about Mary & her friends who had seen 2 angels who had asked “Why are you looking for “THE LIVING ONE” in a cemetery?” & then said: “He is not here but raised up. Remember how he told you… Then they remembered Jesus’ words”
• about Jesus walking on the road to Emmaus with those two disciples, & calling them foolish & slow of heart to believe all that the prophets has spoken, & opening the scriptures to them, then feigning to go on walking. Would he have? (I asked. Milly said) “I think he actually had them wrapped round his little finger”
• about the two running back into town excitedly to tell the others, but too late, for they find the others just as excited & wanting to tell them that the Lord “has risen, & has appeared to Peter”, then Jesus appeared to them all as they puzzled & wondered & laughed & awed; so that then they also looked, & felt, & puzzled scars, & laughed etc…

Then, in the middle of our wonderment at their wonderment, a lady (Sue Hodge, whose husband is the Dean of our Burrabadine Mission Community) knocked on our door in gladness to pass on the happy news that she had found the key (to the yellow "ute") that was lost, (& which a number of us has searched for the day before). Sue announced that Russ had already gone off to his work..then she went off to work in town. It all coalesced into what I could call

“Sue’s Muse”

“Rejoice with me

I found the key;

looked for by the

comm-un-ity”

Rejoice with us

that key won't rust

or be quite lost

it's made reposte!

To those who sought

his death, & bought

his friend; life's fraught

with probs., & short!

So act, & buy

& shut your eye

& let the fly

in ointment lie...

But these who grieve:

sorrow won't leave,

yet they feel torn

to even mourn..

for 'twas his speech

& acts that reached

from years before

to now (& more)..

..and Hope was waked

of Life (Death slaked),

& from above

has shone his love.

Rejoice & trust!

The key found us..

so without fuss

I'll (work/team) with Russ!

tonight I received an email from the Strathalbyn Cornerstone Team in which one of the women asked us to please ... "

• pray that I may become a godly woman

• pray that I may become a key bearer of the kingdom for others."

God, help her please
to find those keys,
bear them with ease,
same way that Jes-
-us showed us how
for those about,
not with a pout,
clear as a shout!
Amen.

Oh U my Lord

Oh U my Lord,

U R adored

by all who've soared,

& have not stored

a treasure (fraud)

on earth4sord-

-id gain, but more d-

-id C they poured

their life & hoard

2 what's of gawd.

They won't B bored (!)

nor B ignored,

even through flawed.

He's our reward!

He gives a broad

(& sharpened) sword,

since we've implored

his help, & awed

(in 1 accord),

we stand (insured).

He now has roared!

My Lord, & Gawd!

with a future & a hope!

with a future & a hope! [1]

“At the cross-roads, there's Temora[2]

on the way down South” they mutter.

“It’s just an hour before a

place that sounds like it’s a stutter:

“Wagga”, with it’s own echo[3];

& Temora’s just above it,

five forty clicks from Melbourne’s show,

but the folk, around here love it.

It’s even less from Sydney’s town;

& right between Can-ber-ra’s mugs[4],

& Griffith (where Mackay went down

in history for exposing drugs[5]).

[At the cross-roads, there's Temora

on the South Highway to Melbourne,

between Griffith & Canberra

if you're from here you’re “well-born”.]

So it’s got a fair few choices

as to what road it’ll go down:

to join with Can-ber-ra’s “noises”[6] -

- to “pucker up”, & then to frown,-

(At the cross-roads, there's Temora

on the North Highway from Melbourne,

between Griffith & Canberra

if you're from here you’re “well-born”)

else get & serve the young folk, ‘n

expose what “stuffs up”, before a-

-nother generation’s broken -

- the WAY, for “A new Temora”!

---

[1]    Written on a visit to the  NSW township of Temora (pop. Approx. 6,000), where Laurie & Elvita McIntosh have retired (for now), after Laurie’s 30yrs of being the National Director of the Australian Christian Mission Order - Cornerstone Community, during the 2012 Cornerstone Members’ Men’s conference. By Paul Walker.

[2]    On the N-S Highway between Brisbane & Melbourne, with Canberra about 2 hr to the E & Griffith about 2 hr to the W. Temora has many well-to-do retirees, with choices about how to live the last years of their lives.

[3]    Properly called “Wagga Wagga” and about 100km south of  Temora

[4]    The naïve, self-serving “politicians”(this is in contrast with men like Donald Mackay), not any honest leaders who do give their all.

[5]    1977 saw Donald Mackay murdered by the Mafia, for exposing the drug scene in & around Griffith. (a shock to many Australians who could not believe that we could have stooped so low & have given the Mafia such a stronghold.) Interesting to note who could (& did) step up to the task of following through, even to their own disadvantage, in serving others who were more vulnerable than themselves. They followed a prior model.

[6]    Those who spruke about leading us into the future, yet who treat their own inherited understanding of “life” (as something which only makes sense in the context of a bigger dimension) as something they are embarrassed about, & as superfluous to the new generation who are dying for the lack of it. In Manning Clark's words, he implied that when we throw off the kingdom of God, we  “become bored survivors on Bondi Beach, citizens of the kingdom of nothingness”. 

thinking of a faithful man

SMS to a blessed brother who has been faithful to his wife and sons & people around him, to reflect the life and attitudes of the Lord Jesus. Just thinking of him.

____, go well2day;
with Ur sons&wife,
acquaintances may
share with U God's life,
under heaven's view
as the story goes,
under Jesus 2:
Love's Rule2disclose