Take Time To Be Holy

1.Take time to be holy,
Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends of God's children;
Help those who are weak;
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.

2.Take time to be holy,
The world rushes on;
Much time spend in secret
With Jesus alone;
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
His likeness shall see.

3.Take time to be holy,
Let Him be thy guide,
And run not before Him
Whatever betide;
In joy or in sorrow
Still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus,
Still trust in His Word.

4.Take time to be holy,
Be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive
Beneath His control;
Thus led by His spirit
To fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted
For service above.

Lyrics: William Dunn Longstaff

Taking the One for the Sake of Honesty

                The simplicity of life and the complexity of the world around me seem to be in extreme conflict with one anther which leads me into thoughts and actions that often boarder on the impure and Hedonistic. I must take this step out into public confession. I am not as I should be. I am neglectful and often lethargic in my spiritual life. I do not engage in the scriptures as I should. I do not emulate Christ in my every thought and action, and for this I am sorrowful. My spirit should dwell on things of eternity. This is where my mind has been as of late. My experience of cognitive dissonance is leading me into a place where I desire a change from my worldly life to a more Christ centered life. I want to weed out the evil and unnecessary to live a life that is fecund and blessed.  My heart and soul are crying out for more! I need more of Christ and less of me!

GOD!

Give me your heart and spirit;

Give me the will to be a man of integrity for YOUR name’s sake!

For Your name’s sake!

May I be a bringer of your light and graciousness!

May I be a blessing to those who you place in my path!

 May I be a student of your Truth!

Tear me apart, Lord;

Make me feel pain!

It is not the blessing of men that I should seek, but yours!

May I show that you are a God who is still working in this world.

May I be that Holy individual that you have called me to be.

May I be completely and wholly yours.

Back to Nature

I have been very pensive in posting the following poem. It is not that it is controversial, but it is more personal. I have often felt the desire to abandon the world, society, and material possessions for a simple, even monastic life. This piece of work is more about returning to a simple animal-like lifestyle.

I'm getting out of that zone

Leaving behind my creature comforts and returning to the real world

Feeling Animalistic

Back to the Basics

and free

My primeval revival is at hand

Bowing to the clay I press my hands firmly to the cool surface

I scrap my nails against the ground, tearing up my coverless abode

I shed the fur of civilization from my body

I feel the cover of nature as the protection over my now natural form

On this day the beast is all that remains

I have no name

I have no assets

Leaving behind these crushing means of identity I am now peacefully alone

My coat of fabric is now replaced with clay and hair

I miss neither family or friend

in my singular solidarity I am now satisfied

I am feeling animalistic

In my final adaptation I abandon

My words

My Brothers

You say that you have a concern for my soul

You say that the injustice that you see day to day is of great concern to you

You cry to your God, “Break my heart for what breaks yours!” then you leave your churches and continue on with your week unaffected by your emotional experience at your Palace of worship

You have stepped by me each and every day

All the while I am alone and cold

Give me a blanket and cover my nakedness

Give me soup and fill my stomach

Give me a bed and shelter

I am the bastard of society; the illegitimate son of your apathy

You have ignored me and I feel your eyes turn from me

I am humanity at its best description

My bloodshot eyes and shaking palms are crying out for the love of a savior to be demonstrated in MY life

Will you show me Christ through your actions?

Or will you just be another passerby

“Whatever you have done for the least of these, it is as if you have done it for me.”

The Christian Hipster

Cause my demise. Youth, strength, and a belief that nothing can stop me are my weaknesses. I was not made for your social systems. I was not made to envy or desire the most recent commercialized items. I was not made for financial success or even financial security! My leathery soles do not grow weary when forced to traverse cement jungles. My mouth does not crave the poison you entice the masses with through the sensual media. My veins run pure along with my views.
You can't touch me! I was made for more then you. Where you lack I am over cumbered. It is love you lack. The embracing arms of a mother, the kindness of a neighbor and the mercy of a Savior. These are the gifts that I possess! I cannot keep them to myself, despite your threats! I will continue one in my pursuit of a pure public system and a righteous society. I will not keep silent or restrain my gifts. I am so much more then you can handle; you just can't handle this.

I stand in opposition to society, not that I am anti-trend or anti-mainstream, but I am pro-love I refuse to accept the idea that I am incapable of abstaining from sensual society, which deems to us what love is, yet that is in opposition to what the Word of God tells me. I believe that I have been called to something great, through Christ. In that calling I will be given strength to do as Christ has called me, and in that I abandon the hopes of a comfortable life. My comfort is found in Christ. I do not want to bow to society as the standard of which I am to set myself, and I believe that I am called to save people from this society. To show people Christ and the love that He so freely gives is my life's calling, and through that change will come, one life at a time.

Midnight Journey to the Voice of God

I went for a journey late last night; a journey that would take me to places of fear, frustration, emotional tranquility, and spiritual guidance. Now, listen to the story of my expedition.

It was a good night for a walk, as good as any I suppose. I admittedly disregard the weather or time of night when I feel the need to clear my over cumbered mind in a cool night breeze. I had spent my day in my usual form of participating in various activities that serve no consequence or purpose to life or the world around me, often reflecting on issues that leave me stagnant and unable to move forward to a place of purpose. I brought my issues before friends who have gained understanding through experiences of their own and before the Creator who speaks in ways I find so easy to ignore.  Now, I leave my abode to step into the blackness of nightfall.

It was a warm night, far too warm to be wearing the flannel shirt that I had decided to sport. I began my walk surly, as I had a thousand times before. Tonight was meant to be different; I had set out to seek the voice of God. As I trudged to the ocean side walkway I noticed the obvious, it was very crowded for the hour at hand, and the walkway was full of delinquent youth and others of ill-repute. The low, hypnotic thumping that echoed down the streets gave me the feeling of fear. Often, I would find myself throwing a glance over my shoulder as a means of assuring myself of safety. My frustration grew, “How can I find the voice of God in this mess?” It seems, if anything, a prophetic question given the current state of my psyche and soul. As my journey progressed my feet stepped from pavement on the familiar beaten path of the marsh side walkway. At this point I had passed the juvenile crowds and was in a place where only wind and cars created distractions. I crossed the road to have a seat on the stone barrier that kept the sea from the street that scared the coastline. I have little tolerance for the developed world. I would much rather be placed upon a quieter beach with less human interference. I sat and sought.
            I had such a heavy heart. I was torn between the advice given to me by the counsel of the godly and my heart. I needed to hear from the Living God, who indeed has all the answers. Tears wet my face as I began my prayer. I spoke aloud my concerns and questions. It was still noisy. I sat and tried to listen for God’s voice in the wind, or squeal of a tire. I saw in the horizon the rotation of a lighthouse, which I wanted to be a sign from God. I wanted something that would be concrete, something I could hold on too. As I sat there the world grew silent for a moment, the horizon appeared only as a two dimensional painting of a man made creation, and the sound of human creation ceased. All was still, with the sound of wind blowing in my ear and the sound of a lonely seagull who I assume was making his prayers and request known to his Creator as well. I felt God’s gentle caress over my heart in this moment, “My son. I am still here with you. You have sat here with your sorrows and frustrations, crying out to me. I have listened, and I am still here with you. Your questions all have answers, but not answers that you will know right now. Your problems all have solutions, but where would you be if you never worked through your past problems. In your weakness I will make you stronger. Do not fear. I am with you.” As quickly as the quiet had come, it had left.

My journey was over. I returned to my room and digested the events of the evening, understanding that God is still and always with me.

Along my path (a prayer)

I wish to You that I could find your voice in this yelling, crowded mind that is paraded around this all to dark town. I try to listen but am unable to hear past my daily trials. GOD! Pull this knife from my back and dry my tears! Betrayed I have been. Is this how you feel each time I dare neglect the love you have shown me? Forgive my oppressive disregard for you! It is you I strive for and not others. In my striving I pray that doors will continue to lead me down the paths that You, Oh my God, have laid out for my seemingly ineffective existence. Make me lowly, and if that be through pain and frustration then SO BE IT! Kill my body for the sake of my soul if need be. Just don't let me fall into the far to degrading arms of the damned one. He sends out his dogs to nip at my raw, bleeding feet. By Your name, crush them under your feet! I run to your embrace and seek refuge from my trials, even though darkness and pain...You are here.

Sleepy Mind

There is no rest for the weary; no sight for the blind

And no pillow to recline this sleepy mind

There is no box to store thoughts; no ropes for fears to bind

And no pillow to recline this sleepy mind

There is no journey to take; no mountains to climb

And no pillow to recline this sleepy mind

There are no words of hope; no problems resigned

And no pillow to recline this sleepy mind

With only worries in store; with all joys behind

I have no pillow to recline my sleepy mind

I have insomnia, an energy sapping sleep disorder that often leaves me without sleep. It has been four sunrises since I have last realized nights purpose, and to say the least, it has been wearing on me, body and spirit. Its strange to walk around with half your mind awake and the other half in a dream world as a schizophrenic often does. Anyway, that is what this poem speaks of. Often when greeting the dawn I feel that I have failed once again, leaving me down trodden and frustrated. I don't mean to end this post on a sad note, so I will end with a Scripture verse. "Cast your anxieties on Him [Christ] for he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Christ To the World

John 18:4-5a

“Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen asked them, ‘who are you looking for?’ Jesus of Nazareth’ they replied. Jesus replied, ‘I am He’”

These are the final words of Jesus before he was arrested. I don’t know if he was thinking about these words or if it was just his natural response to the question, but we do know that Jesus knew what was about to happen. He was about to be arrested, tried before an illegal court, beaten, nailed to a cross, and eventually he would die. One can say that with this knowledge of the events that were about to take place that presenting your identity as the person in question would be nothing but foolish! The typical person would reply, “I saw him about an hour ago in the town square!” and quickly get out of Dodge. This was not who Jesus is. Jesus is the Son of the Most High, sent to this earth for a specific purpose, “To seek and save those who are lost.”

We are called to continue in that same purpose as his followers. I am sad to say that often the church has failed to fulfill the purpose of Christ, I think back to our history with: The Crusades, Colonization, Slavery, and the likes. Today we have issues of substance abuse, pornography, slavery, sex trafficking, and the cancerous issue of apathy. This final issue is a strong declaration of why these other issues exist. I have to admit that my mind hasn’t always been geared toward social justice, it is in all actuality a more recent development for me, and I now morn for those trapped in issues caused by the apathy I once held, and still find myself caught in at times. It is the apathy that Christ was against, which is obvious from his lack of personal regard when offering his body up as a sacrifice for those who are lost.

Do we find this apathy present in our lives today? Particularly our spiritual lives? “If you are neither hot nor cold I will spit our out of my mouth.” Christ can’t stomach someone who carries his name but holds the disgusting taste of apathy upon them. He finds them useless “If salt loses its saltiness…what good is it?” to fulfilling what he came here to do. Let us be constantly asking ourselves, “Are we apathetic towards the cause of Christ? Does my heart break for what breaks God’s?”

The Spritual Affects of the Daily Grind

It is a pleasant thought to me now, as my day is filled with hustle and bustle. I often wonder if I can retrace my steps to that moment of utter peace and serenity that was found in the arms of my guide. It is mid-day and the worries and concerns and frustrations of the week have come to a head. I am angry and frustrated, without peace. There are no streams of happiness that I can wash my blistered feet in. My heart which was once a fountain of overflowing love is now no more then a festering pool of stagnant refuse. I am wanting nothing more then that moment of tranquility once again. I pause. Breathe.
"I need a respite from the altercation that my spirit is having with the product of fallen Creation!" I cry to my Maker. In a moment of silence amidst the turmoil I am able to see light and breathe air. It is a simple moment, but the affect is overwhelming. Breathe.
I've found my blessed reprieve from the daily grind. It is still and quiet, the kind of silence that would make a conversational glutton terrifically uncomfortable. I lay open my Life's Map and let it guide my spirit down "paths of righteousness". It is here that my distractions dissolve into a dusty cloud. It is here that my daily problems find their resolution. It is here that my spirit is quieted. Breathe.