The man fell to the battlefield
face to the dirt
and just lay there
amongst the dead
The battle raged on
men fought hard
and died valiantly
all around him
but he felt numb
oblivious to it all
Or perhaps he thought he was safe
if he just "laid low"
either way
he just lay there
uninjured
without will to wield the weapons at his side
without passion to fight
without a worthy purpose for being on a battlefield
as good as dead
for all the good he did his fellow man
Sunday, June 19, 2011
the battle
I stand and watch
as my friendships become dust
and I wonder
I wonder
why do I write
when silence is easier
why do I fight
and let peace escape like a tear
why do I say the words
I know will make you walk away
why do I lie down to die
and let them crucify
when everything within me screams,
"I want to live!"
"Because there is a battle to be fought!"
cries something outside of me
or Someone within
"Must I?"
I wonder
plead
beg for reprieve
sometimes bleed
But I must fight
I know that I must
Even when the hand slips from mine
even when their eyes look hard and cold when they meet mine
even when they say I must go
I know I must fight
And so I fight
evil
enemy
friends
family
myself
I just fight to keep fighting
Why?
Because this life
is a battle
for my soul
and yours
Don't you see, dear friend?
I fight my heart
that I might fight for your soul
I fight my hopes
that I might fight for your soul
I fight you
all the while the tears fall
but I must fight for your soul
lest my own perish
because I loved not
as my friendships become dust
and I wonder
I wonder
why do I write
when silence is easier
why do I fight
and let peace escape like a tear
why do I say the words
I know will make you walk away
why do I lie down to die
and let them crucify
when everything within me screams,
"I want to live!"
"Because there is a battle to be fought!"
cries something outside of me
or Someone within
"Must I?"
I wonder
plead
beg for reprieve
sometimes bleed
But I must fight
I know that I must
Even when the hand slips from mine
even when their eyes look hard and cold when they meet mine
even when they say I must go
I know I must fight
And so I fight
evil
enemy
friends
family
myself
I just fight to keep fighting
Why?
Because this life
is a battle
for my soul
and yours
Don't you see, dear friend?
I fight my heart
that I might fight for your soul
I fight my hopes
that I might fight for your soul
I fight you
all the while the tears fall
but I must fight for your soul
lest my own perish
because I loved not
Friday, June 17, 2011
all for nothing
The young men take the stage
the children gather to listen
an epic story is to be told, for sure
of foes subdued
of challenges conquered
of the secret to their victories
The people walk away happy
like children fed candy, they will return
and return
and return
The young warriors take to the podium
swords in hand
as if ready to fight
but it is all a show
for the enemy lies within their hearts, still
ready to deceive
ready to poison
ready to kill
The people walk away excited and sure and ready to follow
in the footsteps of the young warriors
for they know not where this path leads
its end, they cannot yet see
"All for nothing!"
said the man whose treasure was burned
"All for nothing!"
said the woman whose children perished
"All for nothing!"
at last, said a young warrior
as he surveyed the masses
and wept
This summer
like many summers past
you will hear the thrilling tales
of two young men
who will offer you what may simply be termed an inoculation
This summer
like many summers past
you will be told that you can have it all
success, prestige, worldly acclaim, wealth, your best life now
and eternal life
This summer
like many summers past
you will be challenged to believe
that love of the world and love of God can co-exist in your heart
that what Jesus commanded is hard — but not so difficult nor impossible as some say
This summer
you will be presented with a false message, a half-truth
that will inspire you, but not save you
that will instill within your soul a love for the things you should forsake
you will be asked to work hard, where Jesus would call you to come and die
This summer
the cheap "gospel" is being sold in your town
the kind that offers you the world, not Christ in His fullness
the kind that promises life, without death
the kind without a real, rugged cross which you must carry and upon which you must hang
This summer
you are being invited to join the company of those
who hear not God's Voice
who speak of His Will but do it not in full when He requires that which is truly difficult
who pay little for what little they have and yet charge you for what God said should be free
This summer
for the low, low price of $30-40
you can be inoculated against that which would require your life, but save it
or for free you can pick up a Bible and read it
take up your cross, let go all other loves, answer the call of the One who requires your all
Many, I know
would rather pay a few dollars than give everything right down to their very life
for the "same 'gospel'"
who would buy a "product" for $500,000,000 when it's being offered for $40 by well-dressed traveling salesmen
unless they knew that one would save their life and the other was only worth as much as it cost
"All for nothing!"
the people said
who finished their race first, second, third place
only to find themselves in hell
only to find that they had run the wrong race
"All for nothing!"
the man said
who had once inspired others to do their best, to try their hardest
for all his efforts now proved useless, worthless, and empty
without the love that believes, counts all lost, grasps the rough wood of that inimitable torturous cross, obeys the Voice of the One who calls, follows, bleeds, hangs, dies, and declares it freedom
the children gather to listen
an epic story is to be told, for sure
of foes subdued
of challenges conquered
of the secret to their victories
The people walk away happy
like children fed candy, they will return
and return
and return
The young warriors take to the podium
swords in hand
as if ready to fight
but it is all a show
for the enemy lies within their hearts, still
ready to deceive
ready to poison
ready to kill
The people walk away excited and sure and ready to follow
in the footsteps of the young warriors
for they know not where this path leads
its end, they cannot yet see
"All for nothing!"
said the man whose treasure was burned
"All for nothing!"
said the woman whose children perished
"All for nothing!"
at last, said a young warrior
as he surveyed the masses
and wept
This summer
like many summers past
you will hear the thrilling tales
of two young men
who will offer you what may simply be termed an inoculation
This summer
like many summers past
you will be told that you can have it all
success, prestige, worldly acclaim, wealth, your best life now
and eternal life
This summer
like many summers past
you will be challenged to believe
that love of the world and love of God can co-exist in your heart
that what Jesus commanded is hard — but not so difficult nor impossible as some say
This summer
you will be presented with a false message, a half-truth
that will inspire you, but not save you
that will instill within your soul a love for the things you should forsake
you will be asked to work hard, where Jesus would call you to come and die
This summer
the cheap "gospel" is being sold in your town
the kind that offers you the world, not Christ in His fullness
the kind that promises life, without death
the kind without a real, rugged cross which you must carry and upon which you must hang
This summer
you are being invited to join the company of those
who hear not God's Voice
who speak of His Will but do it not in full when He requires that which is truly difficult
who pay little for what little they have and yet charge you for what God said should be free
This summer
for the low, low price of $30-40
you can be inoculated against that which would require your life, but save it
or for free you can pick up a Bible and read it
take up your cross, let go all other loves, answer the call of the One who requires your all
Many, I know
would rather pay a few dollars than give everything right down to their very life
for the "same 'gospel'"
who would buy a "product" for $500,000,000 when it's being offered for $40 by well-dressed traveling salesmen
unless they knew that one would save their life and the other was only worth as much as it cost
"All for nothing!"
the people said
who finished their race first, second, third place
only to find themselves in hell
only to find that they had run the wrong race
"All for nothing!"
the man said
who had once inspired others to do their best, to try their hardest
for all his efforts now proved useless, worthless, and empty
without the love that believes, counts all lost, grasps the rough wood of that inimitable torturous cross, obeys the Voice of the One who calls, follows, bleeds, hangs, dies, and declares it freedom
Thursday, June 16, 2011
the secret
"Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death."
-Psalm 107:17-18
The man gave his life for his friend
the son for his father
the father for his son
the righteous for the enemy
the slave for the free
the oppressed for the oppressor
You see, it's all true
no matter what they tell you now
There was once a time
when there was a people
who were known for their love
just as Jesus said they would be
There was a time
when God's Church
was not thought to be confined and contained and sought and found
within stuffy buildings
amongst selfish, self-righteous, serpent-tongued, coldhearted men
There was a time
when disciples of Jesus
were those who walked like Him, talked like Him, healed like Him, forgave like Him
were those who knew Him personally
were those who were not ashamed of the full and costly truth
There was a time
when men died
and lived
bled, hung, wept, gave all
for friend
for foe
for even the least lovable
There was a time
when "Christianity"
was not going to a social club once a week
putting on conferences
writing books that garner little praise-filled blurbs from all one's little friends
There was a time
when "Christianity"
was a costly, painful, blood-spilling death
There was a time
when "Christianity"
was not costless
painless
crossless
because it meant following after Jesus
being like Him
not "better" than Him —
well-educated
a more peaceable communicator with those who disagree
acceptable to the religious
There was a time
when the "Christianity" of the faithful few
sounded just like what I now know
Now you claim to be the faithful few
but I look at your lives, your friends, your families, your churches
and it's all so different
What's the secret to your "Christianity"?
May the world know
Thursday, June 9, 2011
the only way
"What's the best way to share the Gospel?" many people wonder, and many people offer to teach us. Answers range from 3 easy steps to 5, from tracts and pamphlets to CDs and DVDs of sermons, songs, and even hip-hop raps. Some people quote Jesus' words, analyzing His methods of speech and usage of parables.
"How can I save them?" I wondered, prayed, studied, read countless books on the topic. I underestimated the people. And I underestimated God. I should have known that their response is always the same. I should have known that His is, as well.
In the end, after valiant speeches and tear-stained pleadings, I just stretched my arms wide, closed my eyes, and prayed. In the end, I could do no better than Him. In the end, I, too, felt the nails tear through my flesh. In the end, my heart, like His, was broken, and then pierced through by the people. Just as He promised those whom He would send, all truly sent by Him, I was hated, mocked, spit on, raised up in shame and with great pain for all to see, and crucified.
In the end, I found no better way, no easier or swifter or tidier means to save a person. In the end, every word He said to His disciples was true for me. In the end, only by the cross would men be saved, only by that kind of Love would truth prevail. So I spread my arms wide, and let them crucify me, like He let them crucify Him.
Just like God's chosen people of old, mere priests and pastors and human mediators cannot atone for you nor pronounce you saved nor cover your shame come judgement day. Just like God's chosen people of old, you hear the prophets, who speak God's perfect words, and believe yourselves to be right before Him, then you go your own way. Just like God's chosen people of old, you speak truth and talk of God, but you know Him not — no, not truly.
But He offers you one more chance, just as He offered Israel of old — one more chance to know Him, to obey Him, to believe on Him, to love Him, to be saved by Him.
"One more chance?" you ask. "But I already know Him!"
Friend, if you knew Him, you would not have crucified me.
Touch the scars. God is Love.
"How can I save them?" I wondered, prayed, studied, read countless books on the topic. I underestimated the people. And I underestimated God. I should have known that their response is always the same. I should have known that His is, as well.
In the end, after valiant speeches and tear-stained pleadings, I just stretched my arms wide, closed my eyes, and prayed. In the end, I could do no better than Him. In the end, I, too, felt the nails tear through my flesh. In the end, my heart, like His, was broken, and then pierced through by the people. Just as He promised those whom He would send, all truly sent by Him, I was hated, mocked, spit on, raised up in shame and with great pain for all to see, and crucified.
In the end, I found no better way, no easier or swifter or tidier means to save a person. In the end, every word He said to His disciples was true for me. In the end, only by the cross would men be saved, only by that kind of Love would truth prevail. So I spread my arms wide, and let them crucify me, like He let them crucify Him.
Just like God's chosen people of old, mere priests and pastors and human mediators cannot atone for you nor pronounce you saved nor cover your shame come judgement day. Just like God's chosen people of old, you hear the prophets, who speak God's perfect words, and believe yourselves to be right before Him, then you go your own way. Just like God's chosen people of old, you speak truth and talk of God, but you know Him not — no, not truly.
But He offers you one more chance, just as He offered Israel of old — one more chance to know Him, to obey Him, to believe on Him, to love Him, to be saved by Him.
"One more chance?" you ask. "But I already know Him!"
Friend, if you knew Him, you would not have crucified me.
Touch the scars. God is Love.
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