My main site can be seen at www.ganderpoems.org Thank you! Enjoy! ~louis

Saturday, May 30, 2009

I'm Rich! 5-30-09


I feel your pain, I do declare,
I know life isn't fair.
You work hard and sacrifice -
I know you've paid the higher price.

I cry for you, and say a prayer.
I know life isn't fair.
You still run in circles and
will never, ever understand.

I feel for you. You're in despair.
I know life isn't fair.
You're poor beyond all measure -
but listen closely, there's a cure.

You're bound to gold, yet unaware.
You're lost - yet in my prayer.
It seems you can't let go of -
an idol which - can never love.

But God so loved - and told us so,
If we choose Him, we'll never owe.
I have all my hearts desires -
while you'll be poor when life expires.

The first is last - so don't succumb,
for rich reward is God's Kingdom.
You're a slave to futile greed -
but I am His - and rich indeed.

2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Friday, May 29, 2009

A Vibrant Rose 5-25-09

Why doesn't God care?
Is He even there?
I hide inside my little room
and sulk in deep despair....

Why doesn't God care?
Is He even there?
My heart ripped out - then entombed
and stomped on, so unfair....

Why doesn't God care?
Is He even there?
I'm shredded up in pieces
yet no one is aware....

Why doesn't God care?
Is He even there?
My pain intense, increases -
there's nothing to compare....

Why doesn't God care?
Is He even there?
He never understands me
or hears my feeble prayer....

Why doesn't God care?
Is He even there?
Or is He busy fixing up
my heart that's in repair?

He uses tools quite bizarre -
sends rains in torrents from afar.
Storms, they pummel deep within,
beyond all hope, emotions are.

I let Him work with little room,
points He, life's path, to doom and gloom -
but says, "Believe, in Me confide.
Rest and see My flower bloom."

So push me Lord, I'll go without -
despite the storms, despite the drought.
Life's path has torn me inside-out.
A vibrant rose is so devout.

2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Titus 1:7-9 (NASB)
7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,
8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Faithful Footsteps 5-20-09


Okay, here's a 'twist'.
The word that rhymes is not in this poem.
I've inserted another word.
(just for fun)
Can you guess all the rhyming words?
(no peeking, they're at the bottom)

---

An old man lived on the outskirts of town,
wore an old suit that was tattered and
gray.

His hair, snowy white, was always unkempt.
Because kids made fun, he was full of con-
sideration.

When he was in school, he too made mistakes.
He once, on her desk, put poisonous -
mushrooms.

Now he didn't know that the mushrooms were bad.
and when she arrived, she got really -
pleased,

because she liked mushrooms on all types of things,
pizza and pasta - and on chicken
soup.

But then she noticed - removed them from sight.
She knew about mushrooms and knew these weren't -
edible.

She asked who had done it. This very young child,
didn't admit it - but sat there and -
felt guilty.

Despite good intentions he misunderstood.
He couldn't admit it, now tell me, who
is he?

His conscience held hostage, he couldn't ignore,
Was this still a child that mom could -
forgive?

Though all his emotions were torn far apart,
he learned a good lesson and made a new -
Friend.

He started to give and help out the others,
helping with strangers, sisters and -
with their needs.

Just when we think that we've figured life out,
We let out our holler and let out our -
chest.

I learned that humbleness Satan will thwart,
and with good intentions, we still will fall -
far,

far from Gods promise, far from above.
Once sacrifice fixed it but now it's His -
grace.

He later admitted to teacher, Miss Laurie,
"I thought they were good ones, I am very -
wrong."

Well, she understood and the story ends here.
He learned a good lesson and had a good -
education.

Wisdom was gained far back in his childhood,
He wasn't perfect but he knew he was -
bad.

Will Heaven we see, if we're very proud?
Will our pride cripple? Will we be -
dead?

Jesus gives life! Don't let Satan deceive,
for we are forgiven if we'll only -
have faith.

For even the demons - they're shuddering still.
Do they believe, and do His good -
commands?

Yes, Jesus proves faithful, time after time,
so follow His footsteps and you'll always -
rhyme!

2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Just in case you're unsure of some of the 'rhyming' words... here they are:
Brown
Contempt
Snakes
Mad
Wings
Right
Smiled
Would
Adore
Start
Brothers
Shout
Short
Love
Sorry
Year
Good
Allowed
Believe
Will
And of course the last word "rhyme" is correct

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Liars & Crosses 5-19-09

(house of cards)

When liars write their legal laws,
and push agendas high -
then pull the rug from under us,
what all does this imply?

When everyone's against us,
when laws ignore the lies -
and when we've been convicted, then
what all can we surmise?

It doesn't pay to play by rules?
It doesn't pay to fight?
It doesn't pay to honor truth?
Assume their 'wrongs' are 'right'?

The liars and deceivers
can build their castles high -
but it won't take them very long
to topple from the sky.

Governments shall come and go
as this one surely will -
for lies cannot be building blocks
for laws up on 'the Hill'.

I was lied to - this is true,
so many, many times -
by bureaucrats in government
convicted of no crimes.

What happens when the liars
in government have risen?
You can bet we honest folk, will
rot away in prison!

Deceptive tongues, lying lips
shoot off their gnashing jaws -
but our clear eyes must peer above
their superficial laws.

My only consolation
that's true and always free -
is this:  that God's no liar and
He sent His Son for me.

Constant are His promises,
(as gravity and time) -
but all dead words from mortal man
aren't worth a blessed dime.

Know always - we're not alone
for God still loves us so.
Faith owns the straight and narrow and
to Heaven we will go.

For Jesus wore our very shoes
those many years ago -
and did not only drag His cross
...but carried ours also.

2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Saturday, May 16, 2009

HOMER 5-16-09

I am taking the liberty of not posting a poem this time.
This is a true story that I felt compelled to post.
It's true - as I witnessed it personally.
I pray that you enjoy 'HOMER'.
-
Homer.
A 'special' person?
Successful?

Few would call him that today.
He was not an 'important' elected official.
He was not a 'well-known' celebrity.
He was not a 'CEO',
nor did it seem he was even 'needed'.

In the mid 50's
after heart trouble
needing a warmer climate
and wanting to do mission work-
he moved to Texas - Weslaco, Texas.
He knew no one there.
And of course,
Mexico was just across the river.

The Mexicans were very poor.
I suppose most of us knew that -
but few really noticed.

I visited him once.
He drove me around
and showed me places -
and I remember seeing
a very young girl playing
naked in front of
a small square shack (her home).

Homer saw a need -
but few noticed.

Homer lived in a trailer.
He didn't have heat
and it got cold at night -
but few noticed.

The border patrol got to know Homer.
They trusted him.
They knew him
as they saw how he lived,
and the work he was doing.
We crossed the border
into Mexico and back,
easily -
without being checked.
He prayed, then delivered food.
He prayed, then delivered clothes.
He prayed, then delivered hope.
He prayed, then delivered change -
to their lives.

For years he delivered their needs
and the Good Word -
but few noticed.

He didn't pastor a big church.
He didn't pastor a small church.
He didn't pastor any church -
but I remember once
at a Wednesday night prayer meeting -
(during one of those rare times
he returned to Wisconsin)
several men stood up
and gave their testimonies.
I can't remember
what any of them said.
But then Homer stood up.
He didn't say anything spectacular.
He just told of how poor his 'new friends' were
and how he was trying to help them.
He spoke for awhile and asked if
we might be able to share or donate anything -
clothes, food...
and then started to sit back down.
But everyone wanted to hear more
- so he continued.
He spoke for the full service.

There was no "prayer meeting" that evening.
No one left early.
The pastor never spoke either -
but few noticed. 

His faith was big
but he did small things.

Few noticed.

Decades later
as he got older,
he moved in with us -
back in Wisconsin.
I owned a few rentals
and charged him nothing.
He insisted on paying, though -
so he did,
$40 per month
which covered the utilities.
He could afford that.
He stayed in that small lower unit
a number of years.
I learned a lot -
as I saw him daily.
I was not a benefit to him,
but rather, he was a benefit to me.
You might say that we
were one, big happy family.
We seldom knocked.

I remember once
walking in on him
and saw him in his bedroom
on the floor
on his knees
at his bedside,
praying.
He didn't hear me
or see me
so I quietly backed out.
He was a man of prayer.

He read his Bible continuously.
We spoke often.
He carried his Bible everywhere -
and rarely left home without it.
He walked to the other end of town and back
twice a day, for exercise.
He loved Gods world -
but few noticed.

He continued his normal routine,
his daily Christian walk -
but few noticed.

One day
as I was driving down main street,
on the far sidewalk,
I saw him.
As I stopped for a red light,
there he was - up ahead,
walking the same direction as I.
Who could forget that distinctive walk?
A little hunched over,
but a deliberate walk -
as if he always knew
exactly where he was headed.
Few noticed.

As I got closer -
as I looked closer -
of course, at his side,
under his arm,
in his hand
was that same familiar Bible.
He didn't see me.
I didn't sound my horn to wave.
I just looked ahead
and smiled, thinking...
'that's Homer'.

On the sidewalk
were other passers by.
I wondered if they, too, saw his Bible.
Few noticed.

Now maybe Homer
was not a 'special' person in our world,
but he was a special person to me -
and a very 'special' person to God.
A great believer,
A 'special' person for sure -
though few noticed.

Are we 'special' to those around us?
How will people remember us?
And more importantly,
how will God remember us?

Homer passed away in 1991
at the age of 95.
A few people in Weslaco, TX
or in Mexico
might still remember "the nice man".
The children that he fed and clothed then
should be in their 40s or 50s now.

Homer McDermott
1896-1991
He died poor -
but few noticed.

If every American
in this nation -
prayed as hard as he did -
worked as hard as he did -
gave as hard as he did....
if every American
in this nation -
proved their love as he did -
to our neighbors here,
and around the world -
then America, once again, would be
that "shining city on a hill"
Reagan spoke of in Dallas in 1984.

And God would be defined to the world
through pure Christian living -
not through theology books
sold in bookstores,
or by
(allow me to say it this way)
"make-believers".

Homer didn't "make-believe".
Homer didn't 'act' like a Christian.
Homer was a Christian -
though few noticed.

Homer never worked for his salvation,
nor did he worry about his salvation,
nor did he charge
for his Christian service -
and few noticed.

Few people knew Homer -
but God did.
Few people noticed Homer -
but I did.

Tears pour from my eyes
when I think of how far I fall short
of Homer's great love and faith -
in life,
for others,
for God.

Homer -
a very 'special' person?
I guess that's for each one of us to decide,
depending on our goals in life -
but as for me - yes, absolutely.

Homer McDermott,
a most humble man -
a man of faith -
a man of most unselfish love,
with the greatest, most worthy testimony.

And though few noticed
my grandfather, I did.
~louis gander

2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Hope Soap! 5-12-09

Hope?

Bad hope?
Good hope?

What is hope?
And why hope?

Is hope for real?
Do hope we feel?

Is hoping smarter?
Does hope now differ?

When can we begin to cope?
When do we have real hope?

Hope for a reason?
Hope for a season?

Where is true hope?
What good is hope?

What's true hope?
Who's for hope?

Great hope?
Real hope?

Hope?

If nothing here is going wrong,
when everything is going strong -
Where's hope?

And if our days are so a'hurtin',
because in sin we are a'flirtin',
Where's hope?

Through streets, the serpent pulls and drags
as we become his filthy rags,
Where's hope?

And if, without humility
we know ourselves we can't cut free,
Where's hope?

We seek above the clouds for aid -
without repentence we still prayed,
Where's hope?

Faith in works does not suffice
but rather Christ who paid the price,
There's hope!

Grace can't clean unless we choose
faith in 'salvations soap' we use.
Hope Soap!

©2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Monday, May 11, 2009

Needed Change 5-11-09


Change -
something desired -
when troubled skies turn gray.

Change -
something wanted -
when we're in disarray.

Change -
something needed -
when money slips away.

Change -
something demanded -
so we seek a better way.

Yet 'change' is so misunderstood.
(it isn't always real 'good').
For true foundations always stand
when guided by Gods Holy hand.

Look at Job - change turned life bad,
though not his fault, lost all he had.
Skies were dark and not too sunny -
lost his children - all his money.

But give up? Job did not quit -
nor lose his faith? No, not one bit -
for God was there right by his side
and Job knew God would soon provide.

Our world falls in one big splat
to 'crisis' after 'desperate'.
Our courage runs from whim to whim
as we all scream, "Let's vote for him!"

Greed will always wear its frown
and turn our smiles up-side-down.
Oh, there's no doubt that we seek change
but where we look is really strange.

When blaming others for our seed,
we only have one real need.
Our sinful souls seek latitude -
but needed change is "attitude"!

©2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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JOB 42: (KJ)
"5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning..."

Nervous? 5-11-09


Are you nervous about classes,
a report card - or a test,
a landlord, an X-ray, a dentist,
professor - or the rest?

Why should we pay attention to
our little worldly worth -
and why are we so nervous 'bout
the finite things of earth?

Goodness flows through all of us
and evil is but frozen,
for we, with faith in Him above
are His, as He has chosen.

So walk in reverent footsteps of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus -
for God created, retains control,
and He is leading us!

©2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

For God So Loved 5-6-09


(same tune as: America the Beautiful)

O beautiful, our God above,
to those who seek His face,
as repentance and forgiveness
both share His loving grace!
For God so loved, He sent His Son!
then shed His blood for thee -
so focus towards
the Lord of Lords,
from sea to shining sea!

O beautiful, whose missions' feet
whose great steadfastened root,
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
across the world, fruit!
For God so loved - He sent His Son!
then died for you and me -
commanded us
that we profess,
to those across the sea!

O beautiful, His soldiers are
in liberating strife,
who more than self their Father love
and souls so more than life!
For God so loved - He sent His Son!
may God our wealth define -
now let us sing
to God our King,
and hold His Name divine!

O beautiful, salvation's dreams
beyond the 'here and now'
my alabaster Heaven gleams -
This world I disavow!
For God is love - He's coming back -
prepared a place for me...!
as I've confessed
in humbleness,
I give all praise to thee!

©2009 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org

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America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

My Mom 5-3-09


My Mom,
who hugged me after painful birth,
who loved me more than all this earth,
who tucked me in when I was cold,
who, though crying, she would hold,

who stayed up nights, looked over me,
who put me first, instead of 'she',
who didn't sleep - rocked me instead,
who kissed my tiny, warm forehead,

who proved her love time and again,
who never quit through thick and thin,
who, for days, awake would keep,
who held me 'til I'd fall asleep.

who fed me, bathed me, clothed me too,
who taught me, spanked me 'til I grew,
who knew my treasures on my shelf,
who knew me more than me, myself,

who told me, "Don't your brother taunt."
who gave advice I didn't want,
who knew behind my ears was dirt,
who gave instruction 'til it hurt.

Mom won't make our history book,
but if she did, no one would look.
Though she knew scripture inside-out,
there's nothing I could write about.

Was Mom so special? Not to you,
for she had me - then followed through.
Moms fall short of explanation -
but they built this very nation.

Mom, I love you -
(and all Moms everywhere....)

©2009 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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