Lamb Ent

When anger & frustration rise up and

disturbances and grief come piling on,

when loss & then hypocrisy demand

a clean up, as a sign “Corruption's gone

for long enough!” & will be dealt with when

the dealer has dealt all the cards to each,

but may demand the same cards back again

to clarify if there is any breach.

Not as a rule, but more “each eye has seen

quite clearly all the scales that have been just.”

And ev'ry person knows all good that's been

reflecting God's own “goods & services”

to all creation that has ever lived.

Not one good deed untested or unshown.

For evil is a hole with good “un-gived.”

No person overlooked. All will be known.

The lamb who went full knowing to that “tree”

to let all lacks, and hellish holes be filled,

to shed “unguilty blood” quite willingly

not crying out that murderers be killed,

but surely leading all who'd follow him

to take their cross themselves, in self-denial;

& trust this God (who loves upon a whim)

to make a new creation, single-file,

and bring all trees alive to dance and sing

to clap their hands & wave with mountains tall

to bow before their coming future king,

may then allow laments to grow quite small.

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Work in progress

God, you’re a safe and pow’rful rock, or wall,

that gives protection, refuge, safety too!
And you’re a proven help in times troubled -

available whenever we need you!

Our hopes come to reality through trust -

foundational to building what's longed for.

Thus faithfulness is evidence that must

show these realities - unseen before.

When times I feel the spirit moving in

my heart, by blue of sky, or light of day,

or problems, troubles I'm perceiving in

the world a-round-about me, I will pray.

I will look up to you, and then look down,

from your own vantage point upon my world.

And take your gift of presence, not as frown-

ing, evil, and malicious one who's hurled

my problems, diff-i-cult-ies, down on me.

In truth, I hear from James, why you've allowed

them is because my problems clearly be

adventures in disguise, and you are proud-

ly wanting to go on one - with your child,

together do what's deemed “impossible”

(you are at heart not tame, but very wild).

I'd love to share with you, life to the full!

Since you began your great, & glorious work

in me, I'm sure you'll finish off your job

‘til you unveil Lord Jesus (not this jerk).

Please keep on training, sculpting, raising up!

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God, you are such a safe and powerful place to find refuge!!

You are a proven help in time of trouble- always available when we need you!! Psalm 46:1 (PM Version)

Faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.  Hebrews 11:1 (PM Version)

Any time I feel the spirit moving in my heart I will pray. (Bobby McFerrin, "Spirit-you-all")

I am fully convinced that the one who began a great, glorious work in you, will faithfully continue the process, and will put his finishing touches to it, until the unveiling of the Lord Jesus Christ!!  Philippians 1:6 (PM Version)

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the faith of Christ

Is faith in God (or faithfulness) a proof,

or evidence that God is with us here?

Does unconditional, and positive

regard for fellow humans make things clear

-  well clearer than things were before we saw,

in living life, an actu'l specimen

of something “mythical” we had ignored?

Well, categ’ries become unsettled, when

I think of certain kinds of people, I,

I have some doubts as to just where they fit.

And then I can't as eas'ly, even try

to make my labels stick. Why that is it!

When faithful people come into my world

it's like they break a spell of unbelief,

or like a clown-magician who's uncurled

in circus act, they bring on some relief

and open “other” possibilities.

Good comp’ny, who help me to laugh at things,

are o-pen-ing old avenues of grace:

to laugh instead of cower also brings

a model, or a way, to now retrace

my previous i-de-as, turn around.

Instead of owning truth, let truth replace

my ownership conceptions since this ground

(I've found) is owned by it, which has a face.

This truth brings on stability and hope.

The face of Christ brings kindness, glory's traced,

in words, and healing pow’r, to thrive and cope!

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cope in dry times

How do we cope with dry times when they start?

I now remember: what you said about
how you de-si-re truth in inward parts;
& psalms that speak of ugly things, & SHOUT;

and learning to be real with-in myself;
continuing to meet with others too;
and list-en-ing to truth which brings on health;
and practices (creatively) that do

express the facts as I see them to be
at this-here time and place, in bag of skin,
the flesh and bones of this your sanctu’ry
with worship true & spiritu'l within.

And then there are the songs that come at night

(or day), that move us to a different beat

for when we let them move us (not in fright),
we find our mind and body at your feet,

& sometimes crying out in loss and grief

(and then we share a bit of your own heart),

but also in your company we leave

our burdens on your shoulders. Then we start

to know the moisture that comes out of love,
the salty tears evaporated up,

that fall as dew or rain down from above,

and helps a fresh green tincture to erupt.

But all of this is just a way to say

that running to "Our Daddy*" is a must,

to “Open up” (Ephatha!^) is the way

made forward by Yeshua, for “dry crusts”!

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*   Mark 14:36; Rom 8: 15; Gal 4:6

^  Mark 7:31‭-‬37 GNTD

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Singing Psalm 96

A new song sing to Yahweh, all the earth,

as well as all the peoples whom he made,

yes join the stars, wind, trees, each babe at birth,

and sing with joy & praise his name; proclaimed

not only our creator, but our save-

yah who redeems, he saves us day by day.  

Declare among the nations, let flags wave,

yeah shine his marvellous deeds. All peoples, (hey!)

you have become "his own", so now be known!

Creator's greater than all gods we've made,

most worthy of our praise; as can be shown

since ev'ry good we've known, has come, as bade

by him whose voice and word the waters stirred.

All other gods are nothing, next to him.

Just images of gods, who never heard,

or saw, or made, except to make light dim.

The source of light and majesty hang out

around him, strength and glory emanate.

Acknowledge who's the ‘Lord’ without a doubt,

all fam-il-ies of nations, get this straight!

Ascribe to God, the Lord, the glory due

to his name. Who'll afford an offering

and come into his presence (the one who

is truly splendid, and is profering

a holy unique-ness)? Tremble before

him, all the earth.  Among the nations, say:

‘The Lord reigns’, so the world is firm, and more -

it can't be moved; he’ll judge in ev'ry fray -

the peoples with an equity unmatched.  

Let others yet rejoice and too be glad!

The heavens & the earth will yet be hatched;

and let the sea resound, and all it's had.

The fields be jubilant, and all their horde;

let all the trees of forests sing for joy.  

Let all creation dance before the Lord,

for HE comes, with judgement that's unalloyed.

He’ll see the world is judged rightly himself,

and all the peoples (in his faithfulness)

will be connected to their greatest wealth.

The world rid fin-al-ly of wraith-full mess!

[...Oh praise him, halleluyah! My delight and my reward!

Everlasting, never failing! My Redeemer! My Lord!]

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Psalm 96

Learning to love - in practice...

"So try this during May, the coming month."
She intimated. God, please help me learn
to love with actions in this world, where none
that truly are, can be, unless they turn

potential into act-u-al-it-ies.
These have a pow-er more than just what might
can do, or what might be, for if it freeze-
es, it can stop, but only what's in sight...

Sure, might might make quite scared and then to fear
in servile fashion, seeking for one'self
to minimise the suffering and tears
& then to choose one's way to "pow'r and wealth".

Well, weirdly "pow-er to coerce and make"
some people to do what we'd like them to,
instead of making world's, manipulate-
ing matter to serve people, so like you

they have real choice, (connected to the vine)
they really can produce the kind of fruit,
that smells and tastes like vintage, real good wine.
Direction then empow'rment makes life beaut.

This pow'r without the training to raise up
the heart, & soul, & mind and strength of love,
is dynamite, compared to what erupts
volcanoes, supernovas up above.

So God, thank you, for lavishing your love
on us, on me, before I knew the fact,
And help me dare reflect your zun above
as he sent out your light, each word, each act!

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I might need to spend a couple of days on each one?!

For more of the Love Dare, see this link.

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WACA (Paul & Dave)

Well God, it's 30 years ago we met,

there's lots of heartache that we've both gone through,

and lots of good; you say there’s better yet,

so we’re real grateful. Thanks for all you do.

Especially for our kids, we thank you heaps.

They help us see the world through your own eyes,

and sometimes we are sure that we get peeps

into your very heart, we won't despise

a thing like that, we’ll see it as a gift.

But with those accusations that distress

we look to you for help. Please will you lift

our spirits and please help us in our mess.

There's nothing more that comes to mind just now.

The day is gorgeous and the sky is blue.
But Dave is smiling knowingly, somehow,

I think my mate is feeling like that too

at least a bit; there's lots still happ-en-ing.

So thanks for friends who help, and for our kids

and thanks for lunch & coffee; and no “slappening”

from Dave to Paul; 'n that we're not “on the skids”.

“We're done!” he says, ’coz maybe he is bored,

but I don't think we are, ‘coz you're around.

And thanks for our two women. We have scored!

Unless you gave us them, we would have drowned.

Yes, thanks for “mates” and people who just give

like Tim and John with movies and the rest,

and work and income that helps us to live.

And just to tell you; “We think you’re the best!”

Amen.

by Paul Walker & Dave Acason

Beware unfair things bear on crosses where…

To do the good you can, even when mocked;

this is the calling you received from Christ

who made the way through suffering unblocked^,

for you to follow in his steps. His tryst

is made in shade of cross that he took up,

not ’coz he needed to himself, but they

had need of him to lead them lest abrupt-

ly they would turn and run right clean away.

And I am still in need of his exam

-ple. His disciples are still us today.

The prophet’s insight to his life is am-

ple to help us not vilify, degrade,

and otherwise just do a double take,

by saying "He must be so very bad,

for God has never suffered, and won't make

his willing son do anything the lad

would find to be quite difficult and hard."

‘For he committed no sin, no deceit

was found within his mouth’*  I think he’d guard

his heart°, and when they hurled insults complete

at him, he’d not retaliate at all;

and when he suffered, he himself made no

big threats to take revenge, he would not call

his curses down upon them, he would show

the heart of God for his lost stolen kids.

Instead, he trusted himself to the One

who's Father and Life-Giver, he whose lids

are never closed, and who cannot be shunned.

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*  Isa 53:9

°  Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your heart. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and healing to your whole body! Guard your heart with all diligence, for it determines the course of your life!!  Proverbs 4:21-23 (PM Version)

^  Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body has finished with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.  1 Peter 4:1‭-‬2 NIVUK

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For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 1 Peter 2:21‭-‬23 NLT

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It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips. When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge. 1 Peter 2:21‭-‬23 GNTD

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To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:21‭-‬23 NIVUK

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Learning to communicate with people

from Jesus and his ambassadors

Div Thanks to God for dem, and what dey've done.

Conduit Appreciation so they've heard,

by letting dem know Dat and having fun.

Bles-sing them, in both action and in word.

Ask THEM good questions, think about them well

(the kind that are appropriate each time).

This is not feeling that you have to Tell

them off, or what to do. It is benign.

                0. “What did you mean by that? Could you repeat

                      that please? (I think I missed it, sorry mate.)

                      What evidence helped you to draw complete

                      conclusions like these? Stories that relate?

1. “What opportunity seems now to be

the greatest glowing in the world just now?

2. “What do you see to be the greatest need

or problem that should be addressed somehow?

3. What think you of conceptions that a close

and big need in the world ’sfor leadership -

that sees itself as minding it for those

who are not “we ourselves”, whom we can gyp.

4. And what would that true leadership look like?

What qualities would need to be a part

of who they are, since they were just a tyke,

Describe them for me, with science or art.

5. You ever seen a leader in your life

who lived a bit like that? What did they do?

(The story, with the background stuff, and strife,

might help us to appreciate your view.)

6. "What do you know of others who were so?

(Not just from me-di-a reports - to get

more “Likes” on them; that you can say you “know”.)

And are there commonalities? - that set

the life of such a one, that makes them “shine”,

and might help us to see the way ourselves

and follow up, till their likeness is mine?

To make this world a little less our “hells”.

7. What do you know (of leadership like that)

from Joshua that ancient Jewish lad

who in an occupied terit'ry sat

and said to hate their enemies was bad

his option for a human was to pray

for them - a blessing from their father God.

He hung around enough to act and say

things that to Empire pow'red ears sound odd!

Be careful then, to hang around myself

(with wisdom from above, to know the time)

to Listen to them, in sickness and health,

to all their feedback, not just words that rhyme..

Creatively respond like Jesus to

these people, with that kindness that brings life,

in desp'rate sit-u-a-tions, for he'd choose

to lose his life on Earth and trust what's rife

of God's good purposes, that go beyond

horizons that we see from where we are.

For he knew that his God was “rather fond”

of every person that he'd seen so far!

'dExpect good seed to grow; but know there is

an enemy about who also plants

the seeds of weeds to make the crop a fizz

competing for the nutrients. Per chance

they MAY have a good purpose in the world,

it's just that here and now does not “go there”.

I'll need an access to what God has hurled

about of knowledge, wisdom, and repair:

to know explosions don't have to bring dearth,

but only use them where they'll “helpful” be

(reactions that sustain all life on Earth

if closer than the sun, might kill the sea).

HAPPY COUPLE*

There's Sonja and Nathaniel who today

have “thrown in” all their pers'nal happiness,

to bring birth to a TWO-MAN* which will stay

as long as God (& they) grant life and breaths.

It's born of love between two human be'ngs,

a woman and a man who give their lives

and breaths, so air of archetypal queens

& king's, might visit Earth from heavens “hives”.

For humans do not come from a human,

well any more than milk comes from the shop.

They come from Heaven, t'Earth through a TUMAN*,

each TWOMAN* comes from humans, doesn't stop!

The birthday of a T'WOMAN* - a wedding,

will celebrate a fragile, living thing,

though tough as na-ils, still soft as bedding,

a breathing creach, invisible, with wings,

that lasts as long as its two humans love

& live on Earth, denying their “own selves”.

And who would guess it starts with taking up

your cross to die, undignified as hell's

own picture of a hell (it's got no art).

And follow close to who would lead in love,

to show us how to die to self-ish parts.

Like backyard poetry, come from above,

a symbiotic partnership that grows,

I lichen it to what can grow on rock.

It's tough and gnarly, as a knower knows.

Though delicate, its love can be a shock!

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* COUPLE, TWO-MAN, TUMAN, T'WOMAN, TWUMAN, all variations on a theme. Different pronunciations or spellings for the same entity.

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