Saturday, January 26, 2008

Peter – haiku - 1

Rock; stumbling block
passive – aggressive, follow
hide, run, walk by faith

January 26, 2008

Superbowl Haiku - 2

Nineteen and zero
Just win one more, Patriots
Team of Destiny!

January 26, 2008
http://www.onlyagame.org/

Superbowl Haiku

Superbowl haiku
Patriots, Patriot score
Undefeated, Yeah!

January 26, 2008
http://www.onlyagame.org/

He Called Me

There I was, with my partners, my brother
working, as we had for years, toiling in our boat
on the Sea of Galilee, fishermen,
that is what we were, until that day
He was the one, baptized by John
in the Jordan, or so was the story
about this man, Jesus
He called me, Me,
to follow Him,
to be fishers of men,
no longer in my boat
doing what I had always known
He called Me
And I followed Him

January 26, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

The Weight of the Dove

He was forever changed,
the weight of the dove, the spirit of God
resting upon him, still upon him
its impression visible, transforming
as he walked the shore, as he called the brothers,
the brothers in labor, in ministry to come
the fishermen, James and John,
Andrew and Simon, the rock
Before the ministry, before the transfiguration
at the very start, his life changed
with the weight of the dove upon him

January 26, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Following the Master

Before he was known, before he was seen
healing, teaching, he walked the shore
fresh from his cleansing, the anointing by the Spirit
the weight of the dove still upon him
He saw brothers, fishermen
There on the shore, he called them
to follow him, to walk with him,
to fish for men, the hearts of men
to turn them toward God,
a right understanding of love
of heavenly righteousness
He called them, and their lives changed
no longer were they fishermen
on the shore, in the boats, mending nets
hauling their catch
They were called to different work
following the Master

January 26, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Just how far have we come?

In this week when we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I am forced to wonder aloud, “Just how far have we come”, as a nation, as a people, in reaching Dr. King’s dream?

I observed a troubling scene this morning. I was just an on-looker. I do not know what was in the hearts of the children. Any conclusion is merely my own, based on how it appeared.

Two young boys, one tow-head white and one ebony-black, likely a refugee child from Africa who may not yet speak English, were waiting in line to go into school. The black boy was ahead of the white boy in line. The white boy was just a few inches taller, heavier. He was facing the other boy. He had his right hand held on the front of the other boy’s throat. It looked to me like the way a pit-bull, or other similar dog or a big-cat grasps its prey, immobilizing it. The other boy, facing me, did not move. I was struck by the scene. It may have been about 10 seconds, at most, before I stepped in to stop it.

The staff moved in at the same moment, moved the attacker, and kept him separated. The teacher was alerted to what happened.

The school did the right thing, as far as I could tell, responding quickly.

But what of the two boys? What lessons have they been taught that led to this assault? What lessons did they learn on the playground this day? What supports will they get? How far have we come as a people, to achieve Dr. King’s dream? How color blind are we?

And, aside from the different colors of the children, there is the disturbing issue of bullying that continues to be seen in schools, even with laws and policies on the subject.

Our society has not become the kind of place Dr. King dreamed of where all would be treated equally.

We can only hope and pray that in small incremental steps, individual lives can be changed for the better, and that we all will act when we see injustice. I hope that both the aggressor and the victim in this incident get the love, care, support, and learning they need so that this never happens again.


&
edited January 19, 2015
Changing the Wind – v3
(merging edits to original and version 2)
Edited July 22, 2013
“changing the wind – v2”
December 7, 2007
“changing the wind”
Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on
Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007
He was talking about whether to change politicians
or change the wind, to change the public opinion
which guides politics. He used the example
of President Johnson’s statement to the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would
take 5 years for a voting rights bill but
it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,
after the March in Selma.



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 35,260+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

In My Arms

The savior of the world, the one we had hoped for,
the Messiah we prayed for his coming,
held in my arms, falling into the water together
baptized with water,
right next to me, as we came up
out of the water, the Jordan
the Spirit of God shone down from heaven
tearing the curtain, heaven and earth one
Alighting on him, the Spirit of God
Wake the neighbors, the Savior Lives!

January 23, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Ruby Slippers

A pair of ruby slippers
sequined and well-worn
Old friends gingerly placed,
lovingly left for another day

I don’t know their owner;
but I have seen the smiles, the glee
I can imagine, from my own princesses
and their joy in dress-up
time when their wonder, magic
rubs off on me

Oh, I can imagine her so well
and the giggles that erupt
each time she slips them back on

January 22, 2008


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 39,020+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Casting Their Nets

Casting their nets into the sea
seeking their food, their livelihood
dropping their nets, their lives
at the word of the carpenter
offering them bigger game, bigger stakes
if they would follow him

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:18-20

Repent – haiku – 7

Repent, confess sin
washed clean in the river
new creatures in Christ

January 22, 2008
Repent – haiku – 7
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:18-20

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 32,900+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Repent – haiku – 6

Shed your old skin, self
be a new creation, live
joy in the morning

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 5 – v2

Reverse the course, path
follow a new direction
the straight and narrow

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 5 – v1

Reverse the course, flow
embark on a new pathway
the straight and narrow

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 4

Love God, not mammon;
be born anew, adopted
Turn from your old self

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 3 – v2

Wash with the Spirit
Be made clean in your true heart
set your trust in God

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 3 – v1

Wash with the Spirit
Be made clean in your true heart
set your sight on God

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 2 – v3

Change your direction
change your ways, your life, your heart
change your steps to God

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 2 – v2

Change your direction
change your ways, your life, your heart
change your sight to God

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 2 – v1

Change your direction
change your ways, your life, your heart
change your path to God

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

Repent – haiku – 1

Turn around, reverse
turn away from your past, sin
turn toward the Lord

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
Matthew 4:17

They Went With Him

The shoreline, the world
was different in that instance,
a page turned in human history
His ministry truly begun
when the disciples left their nets, their boats
their lives behind to follow the Christ
His earthy journey truly begun
in those acts of faith, that trust
Starting a course that led to the cross,
the grave, the resurrection, to Pentecost;
but even in the sudden purposeful rising
from the shore, their nets
They marked a change in the world
the Messiah had come, and they
they would be his nets

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

He Didn’t Ask

They followed
when he said to follow
not a request, not a question.
He didn’t ask, “will you follow me?”
He made a promise, a pledge,
giving purpose to their lives,
lives spent fishing, mending
They would now fish for human hearts
“Follow me,” the Master said
and they left all to follow him

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

In the Boat, Left

They left, to follow him
to be his fishers of men;
he and the hired hands
were left behind, in the boat
to carry on without them.
They were called
to another way

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

They Followed

Seemingly without further thought
without question or doubt
they stood when he called
left their homes, their lives
their nets on the shore
and moved with him
into the countryside
to begin their work
with him; but
all because he called them
to follow him,
to be fishers of men

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

The Master Called

They were doing their work
sitting by the sea, mending their nets
what they had always done
the task at hand
He came to them, called them
out of their lives, to another calling
to fish for people, for the human heart
to bring us into a relationship
with God. But He didn’t say all of that
Those things would come later
He merely said to follow me
I need you, I have called you
and they left all
and followed him

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Fishers of Men – haiku - 6

be like they were, then
ready to leave all behind
become fishers too

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Fishers of Men – haiku - 5

Nets, family, sea
Left behind, following him
Our story foretold

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Fishers of Men – haiku - 4

Leaving the shore, the nets
all they had ever known for him
to spread the good news

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Fishers of Men – haiku - 3

followed his call
left all to go with the Christ
believed in him

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Fishers of Men – haiku - 2

They were seeking men
to bring us to God, to save
reconcile us all

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Fishers of Men – haiku - 1

Fishers of humans
casting other nets, waters
messengers of hope

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23

Mending Their Nets

They were busy, unproductive,
preparing, mending their nets
on the shore of the lake
waiting, seeking, ready.
He called to them, to step up
to leave all, to go with him
to be fishers for people,
casting different nets
for different quarry,
They left all, to follow him
leaving unmended the nets
that didn’t matter to them any longer
leaving the day to day
for an unknown future
with boldness
they would need later

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
John 1:29-42

Marking Time - 1

Biding their time, mending their nets,
sitting on the shore of the lake
Fishermen tending to their work,
between fishing, sitting on shore
Marking the turn of the sun, the march of time
waiting for the one, to change the world
Answering the call, immediately,
dropping the day to day, the normalcy
the work-a-day world
Following when they were called
and going another way

January 22, 2008
Matthew 4:12-23
John 1:29-42

Fishermen - 2

To be called to be fishers of men
casting nets, casting a single line
out into the sea, the rolling sea
to find the stocks, the untapped harvest
to be the ones bringing them aboard
into the belly of the ship
into the storehouses, the temple,
the synagogue
into the pews,
casting the words
out into the multitude
to reach the urgent ear, the willing heart
to change the life of the faithful
those waiting to be found
hoping for a different, better way
a way out of the darkness
to that way home
gathered in by the fishers of men
to the harvest, to the flock
to the shepherd, the carpenter, the king

January 22, 2008

Leaving John

The left him in the river
baptizing as he had
to follow the Christ,
the living Messiah,
the fulfillment,
not of the prophesy alone
The fulfillment of the hope of a nation
the embodiment of countless prayers,
of dreams for a better tomorrow,
opening now before them.
Following him, leaving John.

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

He has Come

The one, the one foretold
the one for whom I have been called
to make the way clear
Has come!
He is here, in my arms,
walking among us
falling into the water
rising clean, anointed,
prepared for his ministry
right here and now!
The savior came!

January 22, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

A Voice Crying

His was the prescient voice,
crying in the wilderness, proclaiming the coming
of the Messiah, coming to baptize
What a wondrous moment
to see the fruit, the living Messiah
there in his arms, falling into the water
the Spirit falling on Him
anointing the king, right there
A ministry fulfilled in that instance
a life changed, ready to be witness
to the miracle, the coming of the Messiah
the Lamb of God, blessed by the dove
Look everyone – It is Him!

January 22, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Disciples – haiku – 1

the first disciples
followers of John, Baptist
Follow Jesus now

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

They Followed Him

They belonged to John
watching him in the desert, the wilderness;
But they left him
To follow the Christ,
the Messiah incarnate
Leaving all they knew
for the unknown journey ahead

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Witness – haiku – 5

Tell the disciples
the Messiah has come nigh
wade in this water

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 28,960+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live. 

Witness – haiku – 4 – v2

Seeing the Spirit
the dove descending on him
tell the nation, world

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Witness – haiku – 4 – v1

Seeing the Spirit
the dove descending on him
tell all the people!

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Witness – haiku – 3

water – wilderness
cleanse, repent, sins removed
new creation; being

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Witness – haiku – 2

Stand in the river
baptize with water; witness
anointing spirit

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Witness – haiku – 1

seeing, testify
speak in details witnessed
Proclaim anointing

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

One Who Sees – haiku – 1 – v2

witness to power
fulfillment of prophesy
anointing spirit

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

One Who Sees – haiku – 1 - v1

witness to power
fulfillment of prophesy
anointing water

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Not on the Stand

His testimony, not on the stand,
no court of law.
He stood in the river,
on the riverbank
proclaiming his witness
to the anointing of the Son
by the spirit of God.
Telling all who would hear,
who would stop and listen
that He was here, among them
The anointed one walking
the dusty roads of earth
ready to baptize with the Spirit
the same spirit of God
which rested upon him

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

A Witness

Excited language
a witness to history
a singular moment
the anointing of the new king
by the Holy Spirit
descending like a dove
Proclaiming with shouts,
exclaiming the sudden, good news.
The Messiah has come!

January 21, 2008
John 1:29-42 and sermon,
“Witness”, by Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH 1/20/08

Sunday, January 20, 2008

The Fall – haiku

Choices bear ripe fruit
good and evil struggle within
free will legacy

January 19, 2008

The Garden – haiku

made for our pleasure
with rules, wonders, delights, costs
consequences still

January 19, 2008

A Mustard Seed – haiku

metaphor for faith
a depth of trust quantified
enabling action

January 19, 2008

A Seed – haiku

a seed grows within
growing inside each person
to be wheat or tares

January 19, 2008

On the Cross

While yet on the cross
Christ foregave those killing him –
a model of grace

January 19, 2008