Long Before I Tell You

I am a follower of Jesus.

Don’t assume you understand

what that means.

It saddens me that

you probably don’t know at all.

Even more heartbreaking,

I know you just got a picture

in your mind that looks very different

from what a follow of Jesus is.

There are far too many people

that you’ve met,

and heard, and seen,

who say they are Christian,

but don’t follow his way.

“Feed the hungry,” Jesus says.

     “Get them off welfare,” they reply.

“Give your money to the poor,” he tells the rich young man

     “Well, he didn’t mean me,” they explain away

“Turn the other cheek, and love your enemies” he teaches

     “I’ll get even,” they respond at work,

     and “torture the bastards”

     they say of ‘enemy combatants’

“Invite the stranger in,” Christ requires of us,

     but their reply is, “What part of illegal don’t you understand?”

“Render unto Caesar,” he spoke,

     “He’s not my president, I hate him,” they proudly proclaim.

“I don’t condemn you,” he told the woman,

     “You’re going to burn in Hell!” their sign says.

He says that his followers

will be known by their love,

but these ones have no compassion

and forgiveness isn’t there

even for others who they claim to be their brothers.

He tells them, “follow me” and to leave

the things of this world behind,

but they bring an American flag and

their political party too,

as if the Kingdom of God

is split into two.

 “He’s my Lord, my very brother

as I’m a child of God,” they declare

while forgetting his words, “My brothers are those

who hear God's word

and put it into practice.”

Jesus gave love and compassion

to the hurting and lost

and he gave nothing but contempt and rebuke

to pompous religious fools

who professed to follow God,

but crushed others with their pride

and judgment and deceit.

What of those today who claim him as their own

but condemn others and live as hypocrites.

I don’t know how they mixed up the messages,

the words are right there

in millions of copied pages.

They don’t know his words

and don’t do his works,

but unfortunately,

arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand

just as the songwriter said.

Why are the worst examples always the loudest ones?

I’m sorry that those are the ones you see on the news,

the ones who preach at you at work,

the ones who condemn you for your sins

while conveniently ignoring their own.

Please know, there are others,

many more than you realize:

the quiet ones who listen,

the faithful who follow,

the busy ones who act,

the selfless ones who serve,

the ones who take his word seriously,

and do his works generously,

who live justly,

and who love mercy,

who walk humbly with their Lord.

Watch for them, they are there,

and ignore the ones who talk

but don’t bother to walk.

Don’t assume that you know what a Christian is

because you’ve seen those others.

A person can claim anything they want,

but you can see right through.

Jesus said you’ll know a person by their fruit

just as you can tell a tree by what it bears;

if their fruit is condescension,

self-righteous judging and rage,

they aren’t bearing the truth

and don’t know his message,

but if their fruit is love and joy and peace,

patience, kindness, and goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control -

well, that’s the right kind of tree

and a message you can believe.

Judge his message by

his followers who really live out their faith,

who serve you and not hurt you

who love you and not hate you

who tell you truth gently and not hate-filled rhetoric

who earn the right to be heard and do not demand it

who are selfless and not selfish

who are like Jesus

and not like those others you've seen.

I am a follower of Jesus,

and I hope you can see him in my life

long before I tell you

I am a follower of him.

The Blacksmith

The Blacksmith

Hammer falls

to strike hot steel

gold-hot sparks fly

and red metal anneals

High heat and pressure

and fire and strain

hard metal shaped

blows rain again and again

Merciless hammer

of iron and oak

beat into new shape

on stroke after stroke

Sword and shovel

nail and screw

the same burning forge

shapes me and shapes you

Trials and losses

struggles and pain

mold us to much more

through striving and strain

Give thanks to the hammer

the anvil, the flame

we grow that much stronger

our beatings no shame

Each sharp blade or strong tool

proud of its purpose and role

began its new life

in the flames of the coal

When now you question

if troubles are vain

remember today’s hurt

will tomorrow be gain.

The blacksmith that forms us

seems cruel in his art

but his loving intention

sets him apart

For the steel stays weak

if no fire and no folding

and we are no better

without his careful molding.

Three Little Sheep + 1

This blog originally posted Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Current mood: quixotic Category: Religion and Philosophy

The Story of the 3 Little Sheep + 1

Three little sheep to church they went
To hear God's word that's heaven sent.
They sit in the pews side by side
But the difference in their faith is quite wide.

You see…
sheep number one he's new to the fold,
Daily telling his testimony in a way so bold
He gives his money his life, and his time
To serve Jesus his Lord and let God's Glory shine.

No, He doesn't have everything right,
Not a bible expert, but he reads it each night
His old friends think its a strange thing
How it's changed his life and this has truth's ring.

They wonder at how he volunteers his time
And is generous with money, every dime
He no longer parties or smokes or drinks
What a strange thing he's got or so they think.

But someday the time comes, when things go wrong
Their lives have problems and before too long,
They remember what changed in sheep number one
And ask questions about God and Christ the Son.

Now Sheep number two he follows God
But he looks at sheep one and thinks him odd
Too loud, too weird you'll scare them away
Sheep two tells sheep one every Sabbath day

Don't get me wrong, sheep two loves the Lord,
But with his faith, he has become quite bored
He usually gives some money in the pot
Just like he shows up for church, just not a lot

He sleeps through the prayer and yawns through the songs
He's looking at his watch if the sermon is too long
He accepted Christ early but his faith ain't his own
He just tries to blend in, another church clone.

His friends, all Christians look and act the same
They've got God and will go to heaven, so they claim.
God wants them to have faith to be enjoying,
But He can't get through to them while they're snoring.

Look at the world and look at sheep two
I can't tell much difference and neither can you.
He'll probably go to heaven, when he has died,
But when God sees him, he'll have no pride.

Sheep number three is the worst of the bunch
When it comes to his faith, he's out to lunch
He looks good at church for service on Sunday
But he looks much different the next day on Monday

He cheats on his taxes and beats on his wife
He lies and he gossips and causes great strife
His employees they hate him, malicious and greedy
Ask his lawyer and his girlfriend, they'll tell you he's sleezy.

But on Sunday he's pressed, all nice and shiny
But deep in his heart he is totally slimy
They pass by the plate and he waves his big bill,
But when they look away drops nothing in the till

The world sees sheep three and it gives them fits
Why go to church "They're all hypocrites!"
When he talks, "Jesus is Lord", that's what he'll say,
But when he walks he shows its just not his way.

When he gets to heaven, he's in for a real surprise
That's not where he's goin' not when he dies
He'll say Lord, Lord, but I'm one of your few
and God will tell him, "I don't know you"

For him the road was wide and nicely paved
But the narrow road is the one for those that are saved
He heard God's word, salvation could've been arranged
Now he'll suffer in hell for remaining unchanged.

Now this story is called 3 sheep plus one
We've seen those three, but now just for fun
Lets look at the last, the single, alone
It's for this one that I've written this poem.

He is the unsaved, the worldly sheep
For those whom Christ died to wake from their sleep
To give them eternal life as his greatest gift
To heal their souls of sins deep rift.

This one, alone, this sheep number four
Lives a life of pain and future unsure
He's destined for trouble and just doesn't know it
Unless sheep one through three meet him to show it.

Sheep number one says God is the way,
Don't rock the boat is what the other two say,
Sheep two says don't be pushy or preach,
Sheep three doesn't bother, no need to reach.

If they have their way, sheep one will calm
And the three of them will at church sing their songs
With no effect on the world, no nothing at all
The last sheep remains outside to take the fall

Three little sheep plus one is my story,
I pray to God and give him all of the Glory
I now ask a question, my challenge is true
Which one are you, sheep 1, sheep 3 or sheep 2?

Is your faith real, has it changed who you are,
Or do you keep it small and stored in a jar
Wednesday and Sunday you come into church
Proud of your deeds, mounted on a perch.

But what of the poor, the meek, the unsaved
Jesus brought them a message they craved
If you aren't being salt or a light
They can't see Jesus and that's just not right.

Praying and study are important no doubt,
But what use is faith is f you don't get it out.
Do what God says and give it a start
Serve others and love all to change your heart.

Heed this warning today so that you will know
Test your faith daily so it will grow
If you close your ears and remain sheep 2 or 3
When death comes, who knows where you'll be.