The T and nothing but the T 9-25-07

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The T is not a score -
that changes in its core.
It IS the whole, nothing less and also nothing more.

T is not a history,
that lives a mystery.
God KNOWS every detail and through them He can see.

Now do not make a fuss.
This poem is for us.
Nothing we can do or say will change so don't discuss.

What's in your little head -
the universe instead?
What pride has taken you on down the 'primrose path' instead?

You believe you know it all.
Don't holler as you fall.
Only One can see your feeble fate and make the real call.

So we feel not at all,
That love that stands so tall.
We've axed God down with our own pride - glad to see Him fall.

Our boasting sure can part.
Our hearts so far apart,
And the truth from every niche - from the center of our heart.

T is not a big 'ol fish,
that grows from eager wish,
T is just the little one that hardly filled the dish.

Like drops in the bucket,
We really are all wet.
The ocean is the real truth. We're nothing as of yet.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ganderpoems.org

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The Answer 9-20-07

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The dictionary's filled with words,
Not one defines the singing birds.
Is God too wise to answer?

As wind blows past my stressed out face.
No peace unwinds my rapid pace.
Is God too slow to answer?

And when I act - in such disgrace,
No honest act will close the case.
Is God too hurt to answer?

My broken heart - I can't replace.
No love explains His precious grace.
Is God too great to answer?

My pain's great. Like a shattered vase,
No glue can mend without a trace.
Is God too sad to answer?

As tears run down my wrinkled face.
Words dissolve - without a trace.
Is God too far to answer?

Should I invoke, what I want done -
Though God Himself has not begun?
Is God too late to answer?

Is God too big? Am I unseen?
Or do I shake up God's routine?
Is God too dazed to answer?

Does He care for everyone?
The very old and very young?
Does God relay the answer?

Protecting sparrows all year long,
God answers prayers our whole lifelong.
Might pride not hear the answer?

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ganderpoems.org

Job 35:11-13 (NASB)
11Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?'
12"There they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil men.
13"Surely God will not listen to an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.

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The True Foundation 9-15-07

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A wee, little babe was born in her arms,
I owned all her love and her precious charms.
She leaned down often to kiss my soft cheek.
That life I began was built week after week.

Spoiled in love but not having a clue,
What I didn't get, I could always add to.
I read to learn and I learned to choose,
And built my life over all my views.

With knowledge, each moment, stone upon stone,
I built and I built - and I did it alone.
Mortared between them, opinions were thick,
But I built it on upward and did it quite quick.

Over the land, I knew from up there,
Above all opinions, I never could err.
Vain hope in knowledge that I had possessed,
Living inside me - that life I professed.

For any old question, the answer I'd add,
But knowledge had trampled what love I had had.
The knowledge of knowledge put me in the sky,
I thought that I had it - but lived a great lie.

What can I say? I died on that day -
Beneath a great pile of stubble and hay.
Buried in knowledge and burned up alive,
Without the great love, I could not survive.

Those precious stones, that wood, hay and straw,
Will never surpass the great wrath of God's law.
And all will burn up with the silver and gold,
If our complete love for our Father grows cold.

We live only one life - there is only one,
But without foundation, we have not begun.
By fire we're tested - we burn up unless,
Our foundation is Christ - nothing more, nothing less.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ganderpoems.org

1 Corinthians 3:(NASB) 11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.

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One Week To Live 9-13-07

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If I had but only, one week to live,

Would I be discouraged - or ready to give?

Would I selfishly ponder all that I'd missed,

Or earnestly pray for those in my midst?

On the first day:

Would I know that life was not fun and games,

(There's a Heaven and Hell and its wicked flames).

And know I'd be wrong - if I didn't tell you,

All of God's mercy - how He can save you?

On the second day:

Would I ask forgiveness from those I had hurt,

In sinful, cold actions which cannot revert,

And knowing there's nothing that I can do now,

But asking forgiveness that they might allow?

On the third day:

Would I be forgiving to all who wronged me,

From each Godly soul to my last enemy,

Searching the endless curved rainbow of views,

And putting myself in their very own shoes?

On the fourth day:

Would I be so thankful for each day God gives,

And faithfully proving that Jesus still lives,

Who forgave me fully with grace so immense,

Each day I first loved Him and from this day hence?

On the fifth day:

Would I be so loving (so long overdue),

To all God's creation - especially you,

Praying that some day you might understand,

His vast awe and power He holds in His hand?

On the sixth day:

Would I, on my knees, now so humble myself,

Discarding all needs and my wants on the shelf,

To whisper a prayer and ask God to begin,

A still, small voice in your heart deep within?

On that final day:

On that very last day, would I still be in prayer,

Until sunset comes - with twilight not there?

Yes, God will call swiftly - take you away too,

but don’t be excited - you know it's all true.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Out Of The Rut 9-5-07

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His yoke is easy. His burden is light.
until we come in and say we are right.
Just like the Pharisee’s that had the right answer,
deceiving them selves like death from a cancer.

There are songs about Jesus. Many more of His love,
but to us are meaningless - if not looking above.
There are songs about God. Many more of His grace.
Again, all are meaningless - if we can't see His face.

We dig our rut in knowledge and follow it for years.
The answers few - but dig we do - as questions bring more tears.
We plow down deep for meaning and sing our merry song,
confused - and not amusing - for us who are so wrong.

But we continue digging, with blinders on our head,
plodding forward fervently - with selfish want unfed.
We dig and dig from college on. We earn a new degree,
but can't believe, nor have that faith, without humility.

Opinions and beliefs are ours - the former to the latter.
We believe what ‘ere we want. All else just doesn't matter.
After all, we know it all. We've learned it all in college....
but nothing replaces a childlike faith. That God will acknowledge.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ganderpoems.org

Matthew 11:25 [ Rest for the Weary ] At that time Jesus said,
"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."

Matthew 18: 2) He called a little child and had him stand among them.
3) And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4) Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5) And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

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The Great Reward 9-1-07

In Jesus' day (some time ago),
there were no toys or balls to throw.
There were no bikes or baby chairs,
erector sets or teddy bears.

No strollers rolled down dirt streets.
No snacks to munch on for their treats.
No marbles, checkers, kaleidoscope -
yet every child learned to cope.

They didn't have those spinning tops,
nor ice cream cones or lolly pops,
no toy soldiers, dolly names,
movie shows, computer games.

They never missed their favorite show.
They never saw a night light glow.
They didn't feel the least depraved
when pizza wasn't micro waved.

They didn't ski, go out for sports,
have special shoes, designer shorts.
Suspenders held their trousers up.
They said, "yes sir" and never "yup".

Words weren't written on their shirts,
or on their shorts right where it hurts,
but in their heart's most inner core,
so non-existent anymore.

They didn't own a motorboat -
but had their cow, their hen, their goat.
Our pets today eat so much better.
They're not used for coat or sweater.

They didn't know they acted "cool".
No dirt bikes then ran out of fuel.
Before they learned what dirt could yield,
they pulled by hand the rocks from field.

They didn't have to mow the lawn
or pull the weeds 'til they were gone -
though at times they might be fickle,
cutting hay with father's sickle.

No birthday cakes with frosting glitter.
Those veggies really weren't so bitter.
Now don't forget the outdoor "john".
All summer long, no AC on.

And faucets just did not exist.
They carried buckets in their fist.
Kids learned to work just like an ox -
and often without shoes or socks.

They worked to learn and did their best
and had no cushy couch for rest.
No Frisbee’s, yoyo's, or a sled -
but so content to go to bed.

On cold nights, they got a chill.
No doctors came when they got ill.
So now you know what kids had then -
yet thanked the Lord and said "Amen".

They learned their Bible inside out
and really didn't go without.
Rewards were great - not like today,
when kids had much more time to pray.

©2007 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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