EASTER Query 3-23-08

Pride is where all evil lurks.
Where is grace and where are works?
Where is Caesar and his men?
Where does history start again?

Where's the silver - thirty pieces?
Where is faith when it all ceases?
Where's Barabbas? Where's the Christ?
Where's the root of evils' price?

Where's the elders and chief priests?
Where's the first and where's the least?
Where's the charge and what's His stance?
Where's the truth and what's its chance?

Where is Pilot? Where's the fault?
Where's the anger and assault?
Where's the sin and where's the quiet?
Where's the screaming and the riot?

Where are those with lying lips?
Where's their words and where's the whips?
Where were Peter, James and John?
What was said (when came upon)?

Where's the mob and where's the scourging?
What had brought the crowds emerging?
Where's the robe of fancy scarlet?
Where's the reed and every threat?

Where's the thorn upon His head?
Where's the king who reigned instead?
Where's the cross and all sins weight?
Where was Simon? Where's the wait?

Where's Golgotha? Where's the thrill?
Where's the blood which had to spill?
Where's the insults and abuse?
Where's the final, last excuse?

Where's the path where He was led?
Where's the charge above His head?
Where's the robbers - left and right?
Where's the rope that bound them tight?

Where are those who took commands?
Where's the nails that pierced His hands?
Where's the nail that set His feet?
Where were Angels, His retreat?

Where are those that took the lead?
Where are those who made Him bleed?
Where are those who blasphemed, mocked?
Where are those in awe and shock?

Where did Jesus take the cup?
Where were His prayers offered up?
Where's the last breath when He died?
Where's the sword that pierced His side?

Where's our sins that He could take?
Where's the thunder and the quake?
Where's the veil that tore in two?
Where's the many - and the few?

Where's the place where Jesus died?
Where's the place of all who lied?
Where's the stone and where's the tomb?
Where's the linen and perfume?

Where's the stone that rolled away?
Where's our thoughts of Him today?
Where's the seal upon the stone?
Where's the truth of the unknown?

Where's their teaching? Where's its flaw?
Where is grace and where is law?
Where's the cross where He was nailed?
Where's the past? Who has prevailed?

Where's the evening and the dawn,
and where's our risen Savior gone?
Where is death and where's its sting?
Where's the past and everything?

Where's the Easter of that day?
What's the Easter we portray?
Where's the hope in Easter eggs?
Where's my strength within my legs?

Except for He who reappeared,
where's the things that disappeared?
Where's the things of rot and rust?
Where's the people - turned to dust?

Where's the aged? Where's the youth?
Where's our thoughts of every truth?
Where's His grace and its reply?
Where's my faith and where am I?

©2008 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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TRUE HUMILITY 3-20-08

.

How many times do I regret

decisions that I make,

then seem to think I know what's right -

and make one more mistake?

How is it I so oft' forget

the friends I have so near?

Why is it that I lose sight of

the ones I should hold dear?

I live in full deception for

I know what lies ahead,

and humbleness will conquer me

right after I am dead.

Yet if I focus on God's love

and what He's done for me,

it's only then that I can live

with true humility.

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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ONE WAY 3-19-08

It's my job to make a living -
rise up and not digress;
The owner wants my very best,
and him I must impress.

If I'm to take up my own cross,
if I'm to be like Him;
then I should do a wee bit more
than sing my favorite hymn....

On one hand I'm to follow God,
on the other, pay my bills.
Have I been so conditioned that -
I forgot abortion kills?

Does Jesus shed a little tear
for every child who dies?
And what was I so busy at
I failed to hear the cries?

Some day I must ask myself,
“Who IS my real boss?”
What pieces do I still take up -
the silver or the cross?

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

(NASB) Matt. 27:

3 Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."

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The FULL Armor Of GOD 3-18-08

Every time sins news comes out it throws me to my knees,

and there you'll hear me praying, Lord, help me if you please.

Sin has caused vast famines, lost hope and cursed disease,

but God has always answered clear - to help the least of these.

I ponder sins endurance - throughout the world today,

Greed and shootings, terrorists - all obvious decay.

Often times I only want to hide in my dismay -

but finally put my armor on. It is the only way.

I wrap around my feeble loins the TRUTH of God's decree,

and RIGHTEOUSNESS, my breastplate, is certainly a key.

My feet are shod in Gospel PEACE which makes me ever free,

clasping to my shield of FAITH, I deflect all life's debris.

The Helmet of SALVATION is firmly on my head -

and in my hand the SPIRIT's sword - I read it as I tread.

As He protects the sparrow, and blazed the path ahead,

I follow in His footsteps and trust my Lord instead.

We ponder sins endurance. There's nothing to discuss.

We either do what's in God's will or make a big ol' fuss.

We say that we're too busy - have work, investments, trusts....

Do we really focus on God's will - or selfishly on us?

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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What do we VALUE? 3-10-08

We love money to extreme - and to get more we plan our scheme.

Expectancy has blinded us - yet in excitement, hear us scream.

Where's our faith? Can we not see? The stars can't blind a single flea.

Possessions should not steal the heart for that is where our God should be.

We love sports to the extreme and know the players on each team.

Predictions grip has deafened us - yet when the game starts, hear us scream.

Where's our trust? Can we not hear? Noise can't conquer day or year,

Screaming will not change God's time and soon our echoes disappear.

We love sales to the extreme, the malls and such can fill a dream.

Foresight makes us worldly, dumb - yet in excitement, hear us scream.

Where's our mind? Are we not real? The smallest spokes connect the wheel.

Touch the nail prints on His hands and tell me Jesus cannot feel.

We love life to it's extreme and love our time (so it may seem).

Anticipations make us squirm - yet water's nothing to the cream!

Ponder this if you should care - that spears can't conquer any air.

Several things can break our knees - but can they bend for any prayer?

and what is our WORTH?

Some say God is too profound - He can't be known, He can't be found.

It's then that I must ask myself if my priorities are sound...

"Have I loved the "least of these", as Jesus did (to God's degree)?

And do I now "so love the world" or do I love, but only me?"

"Can I not see my Savior bleed? Do God’s commandments I not heed?

Have I been focused on myself? Am I even worth one mustard seed?"

We all know that - Gods grace is free, but He knows not - the worldly.

Mustard seeds can never boast, yet God lifts you and He lifts me.

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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The Ol' Barn 3-3-08

There was a barn once painted red
which stood on grandpa's old homestead –
and built so very long ago,
a sorry sight - I told him so.

As a boy I often wondered
why it hadn't ever timbered.
I heard the sagging rafters yawn
with half its several shingles gone.

I stepped in (the barn doors missing) -
found it home for sparrows singing.
Though the birds flew around freely
the floors were filled in man's debris.

No matter which way I'd be glancing
dust in sunlight rays were dancing.
Warning cobwebs seemed to sketch -
between the timbers they would stretch.

Foundation laid in cobblestone
but its sure footing wasn't known.
Between some stones were gaping cracks
that could not hide the basic facts.

Every post in building leaning,
wall to wall had needed cleaning.
Winter winds would whistle through.
That big ol' barn had lost, I knew.

Its sole purpose couldn't render -
so it offered full surrender.
Weather's sin had taken toll
and wind and sleet had found its soul.

That ol' barn is much like us
and in our need we make a fuss.
Our sagging souls are so uncouth
that we no longer seek the truth.

Deceit flies in our open door
and we care little anymore.
We’d rather compromise instead
as cobwebs fill our empty head.

Our minds are filled with sins' debris
with anyone whom we agree.
The love is lost between our bones
and leaves us cold, loosened stones.

Will our convictions stand together
or now yield to stormy weather?
Are we responsible inside
or has our character also died?

Over these years the time has lapsed
and long ago that barn collapsed.
Now as I look at its demise,
I listen to the worlds last cries....

©2008 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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