Saturday, October 06, 2007

All Fail

Over and over
these are stories of comfort
comfort in the telling, the retelling
over and over
that we all fail, all fall short,
all need the saving grace of Christ
ready and waiting for our call
asking for that relationship
that communion,
which seals the breach
from the beginning of time

October 6, 2007 2:12pm

Friday, October 05, 2007

In Supplication

Falling to our knees
we offer prayers in the sanctuary,
in our rooms, in our hearts
in supplication before Your throne
Oh Lord, our Creator, our Savior
we fall, abasing ourselves,
asking for forgiveness, for mercy
for Your hearing of our petitions,
each day, in prayer,
in supplication

October 5, 2007 1:42pm
1 Timothy 2:1-7

Intercessory

Intercession, for another
prayer for the leaders,
for the children,
for the others,
in their time of need,
for guidance, for wisdom,
for unselfishness,
praying for someone else,
on their behalf
to have their petition heard,
through our mouths
our voices joining their prayers
lifting them up to God,
to be heard in His Court
interceding, as we should
for all to be saved


October 5, 2007 1:39pm
1 Timothy 2:1-7

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Why

Lamentations, petitions to God
for those who lose faith, doubt
doubt the hand of God, over their lives
feeling lost, abandoned, alone
wondering why they are in pain,
why loved ones struggle
why evil exists,
words of the people,
alone and together
why

October 5, 2007 12:01

Where

A search on the computer
for poetry with “where”
in them, falling into thoughts
of the question “where are you God”
so often heard, contemplated, poured out
in the words of the Scripture, holy words,
of a person, a people, Your People
saints and sinner alike, wondering where
to look, to turn, to see Your face,
feel your touch, where oh where
to be safe, to be loved,
to feel Your comfort
Where

October 5, 2007 11:54

Thursday, October 04, 2007

A Hobbesian Choice

To put your child
in harm’s way
to subject them to the
whim of bureaucracy
to let them care
for your loved one
when they are wrong
just to check off a box
a hurdle to access
to justice. That cannot be.


October 4, 2007 12:48pm
Oral Arguments, Board of Education
of the City School District of the City of New York v.
Tom F., on Behalf of Gilbert F., a Minor Child, 06-637,
October 1, 2007 (1st Monday in October)
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/06-637.pdf

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Litmus Test

Subjecting yourself, your child
to an inadequate plan, a failure of law,
of implementation, or fiat at its worst
That we must submit, turn loved ones
over to the well-intended; but wrong
to let them suffer a failed plan
even for a day. Impossible.
That can’t be the measure of our law
the rights so long held dear
Failing FAPE without feeling
Submitting to failure
cannot be the answer


October 4, 2007 12:45pm
Oral Arguments, Board of Education
of the City School District of the City of New York v.
Tom F., on Behalf of Gilbert F., a Minor Child, 06-637,
October 1, 2007 (1st Monday in October)
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/06-637.pdf

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Windowbox Treasure




All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

One Cookie for Me, and One for You

Aw Man, … or at least
I thought I could hear their thoughts
as Pastor Lori told them all,
all the children in Children’s time,
that they could have 2 cookies
at the fellowship hour after church;
but, if they took 2 cookies,
they had to give one away.
An object lesson in sharing,
aw man!

October 3, 2007 8:11pm
Children’s Time and Sermon,
“It’s All About Sharing”, by
the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH, 9/30/07
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Psalm 107, Psalm 37:4,
Hebrews 6:19


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Living the Christian Life

Paul’s letter, a handbook, a manual
on living the Christian life,
of living a holy, faithful life,
letting your heart’s desire be
a closer walk with the Lord,
showing your awareness, your love,
your knowing of the gift of saving grace
by joyfully living a life worthy
of that awesome gift from God


October 3, 2007 8:08pm
Sermon, “It’s All About Sharing”, by
the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH, 9/30/07
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Psalm 107, Psalm 37:4,
Hebrews 6:19


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The True Anchor

Rudderless, adrift,
no more, no longer buffeted,
pulled about by the wind
the confusion gone
if we but turn toward the tug
of the true anchor



October 3, 2007 8:01pm
Sermon, “It’s All About Sharing”, by
the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH, 9/30/07
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Psalm 107, Psalm 37:4,
Hebrews 6:19


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,750+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Capsized

Capsized in the bay
caught on the sandbar,
buffeted by the wind,
caught off guard,
moving, without rudder,
caught by the current
so are so many
when we lose sight
of the prize, the purposes
of our life, our good works
lost, adrift, when we stray


October 3, 2007 7:58pm
Sermon, “It’s All About Sharing”, by
the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH, 9/30/07
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Psalm 107, Psalm 37:4,
Hebrews 6:19

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Big Boat, the Big House

We strive so much, so often,
for that big house, the big boat,
the toys, the excess of the world
gold, where the heart is, all too often
losing sight of the important, the worthy
the calling we have, to live as Paul said,
as he told Timothy, the young priest
to live, to live a life, worthy
to be as God would be,
as love would dictate
with faith like Abraham,
righteous, under the law,
and the good news

October 3, 2007 7:54pm
Sermon, “It’s All About Sharing”, by
the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH, 9/30/07
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Psalm 107, Psalm 37:4,
Hebrews 6:19

It’s a Talisman

Statutory interpretation
sparing over the meaning,
the import of precision,
of a bit of administrative law
boiled down to the pith
the singular exchange,
the Chief and the Advocate
“It’s a talisman” then,
the magic of being in the system
even for a day, some time
in the process,
hyperbole to check, to prove,
to punch the ticket,
to test the argument,
the thread of thought
teasing the meaning again
of the words, the phrase
the condition,
in oral arguments again

October 3, 2007 16:18
Oral Arguments, Board of Education of the City School District of the City of New York v. Tom F., on Behalf of Gilbert F., a Minor Child, 06-637, October 1, 2007 (1st Monday in October)
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/06-637.pdf, page 35 of 68, line 16 (Paul G. Gardephe, Esq.).

Your Usher

Leading us to our seats,
watching the congregation,
caring for the flock
from the back of the sanctuary,
from the aisles,
sharing the joy of worship
the community of believers
one bulletin, one smile,
one greeting, one handshake
at a time



October 3, 2007
About Al Leavitt, who stepped down
as one of the ushers of our church,
Wesley United Methodist Church, Concord, NH,
on 9/30/07, after serving 62 years

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,770+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

So Who is this Nick Character

So the sermon had a hook, so to speak;
no, she hadn’t said the sky was green.
She said she was going to share something
something of her personal life
And she did. Stories of a 26 foot sailboat,
a sea turtle, a buoy, and a sandbar
And a guy named Nick. Off the coast
of Wellfleet, the Cape, …
Hmmm, …
So then we heard talk of the winds of life
life’s challenges, the ups and downs,
the currents, the winds, the storms
that distract us from our purposes,
that tug us to and fro, here and there
Woven artfully, with Paul’s letter
to his protégé, his apprentice
so long ago, telling a human story
But who was Nick?


September 30, 2007
1 Timothy 6:6-19


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Snap of the McIntosh

Out in the orchard,
before the first apple
placed gently in the bag,
snap of the McIntosh
to my bite, sweet fragrance,
taste of Fall, cascade of memory
in the first bite. Red ripe fruit
yielding to my grasp
Thick heavy branches,
like bunches of grapes
A full bag, alright two,
in a matter of moments
Apples for a month,
on their way home


October 2, 2007 2:11pm


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,770+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Simmering Bones

The house awash in the smell
of last night’s dinner,
now the stuff of soup,
the simmering bones
of the whole chicken,
bubbling away
yielding to the heat,
the relentlessness
of the boiling broth,
permeating the air
the succulent nectar
enticing the pallet
can’t wait to add the
ingredients, to make the soup
warm for a fall afternoon


October 2, 2007 2:03pm


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 22,340+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

First Contact

Oh how well I remember
the butterflies, the excitement
driving to your house,
to spend some time with you
get to know you better,
that fall morning
three years ago

Reading the directions,
not wanting to get lost
Happy for the time together
quiet chatting with you
A fluster of commotion
soon to arrive;
but now a bit of peace

A few hours not enough time
ask you for a date
but other plans
for the moment
So we’ll have to wait
but not too long


------------------------------
edited July 14, 2019
First Contact – v2


October 2, 2007 1:49pm
First Contact
about the 1st time I came over
to Ruth’s house, our home now

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 50,720+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

butterflies, Christ, creator, Driving, Faith, Family, God, home, hope, house, New Hampshire, Poetry Where You Live, Ruth,


#butterflies #Christ #creator #Driving #Faith #Family #God #home #hope #house #NewHampshire #PoetryWhereYouLive #Ruth

1,600 poems

The site now has over 1,600 poems, more than half about my faith.

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,770+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Petitioning God

Moses, on the mountain,
petitioning God, once more
to spare the people, the ones He saved
who are turning away from Him
spare them His holy wrath,
His anger, at their idolatry,
their unfaithfulness
before the covenant in stone
the words of the law
given to them
mediating already
in the breach of our failure
arguing for mercy
when wrath was justified


October 2, 2007 1:24pm
Exodus 32:1-14

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 20,750+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Refining in the Fire

Like their gold jewelry,
we are melted down,
refined, reformed, changed
in the fire, the crucible,
the wrath of God
for our iniquities
the judgment of our failings
oh what a fate,
if that were the end of the story
But, we have a mediator,
a high priest, a Savior
who argued our case,
substituted himself
for our condemnation
became man, and servant,
because lamb and sacrifice
for us, stepped into the flame
the cauldron, the pit
Vanquished the flames
the despair, Death
Rose so we can rise
Amen


October 2, 2007 1:19pm
Exodus 32:1-14
Malachi 3:1-20


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Plead for Mercy

Moses plead for mercy
for the wayward children
before he descended with the law
he was the mediator,
the go between,
between the one God
and the forgetful people,
impatient for tomorrow
not appreciating today

October 2, 2007 8:42am
Exodus 32:1-14

Processes of Creation

Processes of the land, of the water, the air
of plants, of animals, of man
natural processes, those of man,
within the ordered world
regulated change

Laws of attraction, of entropy
the falling down, the falling apart,
the cycles of life, of nature
the aggregating, the separating,
the dying and the renewal,
the way of things,
balanced and in equilibrium,
for the most part, on the earth.

Land changed by tunneling ants, by grazing sheep
growing plants, roots deep into the soil
Uplifting frost heaves, flooded rice paddies
Deforestation in the Amazon jungle, Irrigation ditches
Glaciers scowering the earth, retreating in their melting

Changing from hunter-gatherers to the beginning of farming
the domestication of animals, agribusiness harvesting
moving to industrialization, urbanization

Desertification, Fire
the cycle of river to beaver pond to marsh to bog to field to forest
Reforestation in the New England woods

We see erosion of the rock, the land, by wind,
by water in the sea, the lake, the river,
by the action of ice and rain, changing the land

Continental drift and subduction,
earthquake and volcano, renew and alter the
surface, the face of the earth


started 8/1/07, added 8/19/07, 8/24/07, 8/26/07, 10/2/07

God Spares Israel

His wrath was cooled,
set aside, by the words of the mediator
the petition to spare His people
the wayward and forgetful children
the sheep needing direction,
a shepherd, ready and in their midst
His wrath did not rain
on the people, at least not yet

October 2, 2007 8:35am
Exodus 32:1-14

Melted Down

Their baubles and bangles,
their earrings and bracelets,
were all melted down,
their shining things, their gold
poured into the mold
a new idol to sculpt
Their eyes, their obedience
to man, not to God
and for that, they would atone

October 2, 2007 8:31am
Exodus 32:1-14

A High Priest and Mediator

No, God spoke not with Aaron,
the high priest, the appointed line
of the tribes. No, God did not
receive a petition from him,
no offering on an altar.
This was the role, the duty
of the mediator, the one
to bring them out of the land
of slavery, of the Pharaohs,
The one who would bring the law
down from the mountain.
But before he would do that,
he interceded for the people
once more, to spare them
for the price of their sin;
as the Son did
the new mediator
and high priest

October 2, 2007 7:56
Exodus 32:1-14

Forgetful Children

How soon they forget,
when the watchful eye
of the parent, the babysitter
is turned from their gaze;
how soon the people forget
the mighty deeds, the acts
done for them, in their lives
how soon we all forget
turn away, from the path
to other gods, other idols,
other self-medication
forgetting the care, the love
of the parent, the Creator,
the Sustainer, the Savior.

October 2, 2007 7:52am
Exodus 32:1-14

Aaron Buckles

Like so many who would follow
the priest falling, caving,
buckling to the will
of the congregation, the people
when they were impatient,
fearful, lost
He gave them what they asked for
which wasn’t what they needed

October 2, 2007 7:47
Exodus 32:1-14

Pruning Time

Seasons of life, of the church
of nature, metaphor and allegory
parable and tale, woven with wisdom
with truth, for all
Time for pruning, time for blooming
a time to lay dormant,
a time to grow
Pruning time, may be our call,
before the full flowering
of our vision
I pray we will be
a worthy harvest
summer fruit

October 2, 2007 7:40am

Monday, October 01, 2007

Words to Live By

We sat with rapt attention
to the sheet on the table,
our bibles open to the passage,
the instruction, admonition
the teaching of Paul
to his student.
We are to be pursue
righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, endurance, gentleness
to be good Christians, or so
Timothy was told
But what do these words mean,
to be godly, to strive to be righteous,
to show faith, to love,
to be gentle, and to endure
Words worth spending time
exploring, teasing their meaning
from experience, history,
from scripture, and from reason
to see what he was being urged to do,
how we can emulate, live these words
immersing ourselves
in Your living Word

October 1, 2007 22:06
1 Timothy 6:6:19, especially verse 11

Anthropogenic

Anything can be altered by the hand of man
Nowhere on the planet is immune
The trees were cut down for grain fields
Hectares were burned in the Amazon
Renewable resources still change the earth
Omniscient we are not, omnipresent maybe
Pollution of the air, the water, the land is our legacy
Open pit mining, scarring the surface
Greenhouse gasses abound
Environmental cleanup needed
Nuclear waste for the ages
Industrial age accelerated the changes
Climate change rearranging

October 1, 2007 21:58

Poet of the Month - http://www.christianpoetry.org/

Christian Poetry from Cross Way Publications, run by Jerry Hoffman (http://www.christianpoetry.org/) has blessed me by designating me their Poet of the Month. Thanks be to God for this gift of poetry and this opportunity to glorify Him through these words!

Adrift with the Wind

So many, blown off course,
adrift with the winds of life
buffeted and capsized, tumbling
blowing across the waters, the desert
the wilderness places,
estranged and separated
from the Son, the Father
Repoint your compass,
turn to your heart’s desire
to be in communion once more

October 1, 2007 12:39
1 Timothy 6:6-19