I have been thinking, praying too
often these last two days
the throw-away expletive
His counsel, this officer of the court
His taking of the savior’s name
an exasperation, a common swear,
blurted into the air, setting quite an example
A moment of witness, lost there, by me
a clumsy fumbled response, catching him; but weak
Oh to be stronger, to state my faith
to claim the offense of that casual,
that all too real sin, another nail,
another striking, the nails of the cross;
to claim my savior in those moments
these moments of witness, to call out
a light in the darkness, the coarseness
the crassness of our times.
To be the voice of John, and uncomfortable witness,
standing in the cold waters
out in the wilderness, urging repentance, a change of heart
to be certain enough, sure enough
standing up, at the reckoning
speaking out – blasphemer!
That is my king! Your savior too,
if you will but claim him, as your own.
Let me never miss, let me be counted
Give voice to the right, to the spirit
even in the casual, throw-away moments of faith
Teach me Lord to fight, to speak your glory
to add salve to your wounds
Not meekly allowing another blow on the nail heads.
To catch his hand as he swings the hammer;
Saying, No, that is not okay, whatever your view.
March 6, 2009
written at Agape Café,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Against the Winds
Standing, ever standing
against the winds,
the mighty sequoias, standing;
but not in solitary defiance
No they are standing, together
a faith community, a congregation
their roots not deep,
knitted together instead
these mighty titans
standing against the winds
through the eons
because of their dependence
the strength in the connection
the communion, the reliance
of the forest, one to another
March 6, 2009
written at Agape Café
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
against the winds,
the mighty sequoias, standing;
but not in solitary defiance
No they are standing, together
a faith community, a congregation
their roots not deep,
knitted together instead
these mighty titans
standing against the winds
through the eons
because of their dependence
the strength in the connection
the communion, the reliance
of the forest, one to another
March 6, 2009
written at Agape Café
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
passionately half finished
so much, truth in the line
cut from his words, his musings, a phrase, a thought
so real, acknowledged, our existence
our lives, thoughtless, lived
moving too fast, unplanned
exuberantly, passionately half finished
more yet coming, more unwritten
string unwinding, the tapestry
as if knitted with unseen hands
pregnant though, not yet birthed
March 6, 2009
written at Agape Café
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
based on a scrap of words from poems
read by Tucker,
a MFA in Poetry student at
New England College, Henniker, NH
cut from his words, his musings, a phrase, a thought
so real, acknowledged, our existence
our lives, thoughtless, lived
moving too fast, unplanned
exuberantly, passionately half finished
more yet coming, more unwritten
string unwinding, the tapestry
as if knitted with unseen hands
pregnant though, not yet birthed
March 6, 2009
written at Agape Café
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
based on a scrap of words from poems
read by Tucker,
a MFA in Poetry student at
New England College, Henniker, NH
To the Potter’s Hands
Giving myself, my life
to the Potter’s hands
Feeling the imperfections,
the rough spots, the blemishes
the dead parts, no longer pliable
Giving to his will, the living water,
to the Potter’s hands
Making something worthy,
a new creation, a vessel
holding the spirit, the breath of the potter
Turning the wheel, molding me
me the clay, giving my all
to the Potter’s hands
to the Potter’s hands
Feeling the imperfections,
the rough spots, the blemishes
the dead parts, no longer pliable
Giving to his will, the living water,
to the Potter’s hands
Making something worthy,
a new creation, a vessel
holding the spirit, the breath of the potter
Turning the wheel, molding me
me the clay, giving my all
to the Potter’s hands
March 6, 2009 20:48
To the Potter’s Hands
written at Agape Café
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
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 32,100+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Pandora’s Box
So much, the law, the issues
the facts, the players
that old, old story
that bit of mythology
Pandora’s box, opened without thought
without a true awareness, the consequences
when the box is empty
and the contents are loosed into the world
to go where they will
whatever the intent,
whatever the cost
March 6, 2009
written at Agape Cafe
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
the facts, the players
that old, old story
that bit of mythology
Pandora’s box, opened without thought
without a true awareness, the consequences
when the box is empty
and the contents are loosed into the world
to go where they will
whatever the intent,
whatever the cost
March 6, 2009
written at Agape Cafe
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
Living Cold
Cold, falling down, from the snow banks, still too high
rimming the lot, cold, palpable
like a wave, like a fog, a presence
moving down, out, across the wet blacktop
Rising to me, a kiss of cold
brushing my cheek, seeking my face
the smell of cold, a living fragrance
wrapping round me, urging me on
tongues of cold, enticing, certain
Stop, feel them, moving dunes,
crest, fall, dancing in the early night
before the turning of the season
March 6, 2009 20:10-20:25
written at Agape Café
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
about walking from my car to the fellowship hall
rimming the lot, cold, palpable
like a wave, like a fog, a presence
moving down, out, across the wet blacktop
Rising to me, a kiss of cold
brushing my cheek, seeking my face
the smell of cold, a living fragrance
wrapping round me, urging me on
tongues of cold, enticing, certain
Stop, feel them, moving dunes,
crest, fall, dancing in the early night
before the turning of the season
March 6, 2009 20:10-20:25
written at Agape Café
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH
about walking from my car to the fellowship hall
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Without a Word
Instantly, immediately
their nets, their families, their lives
left, abandoned, without a word
when he but said, “rise and follow me”.
That they, though imperfect,
could answer the master’s call
so we, like them, called
to follow them, to follow him still
to be like them, his witnesses,
his messengers of hope
his light, to shine, out into
the darkness of the world
Rise, go, without a word,
to the ends of the earth.
March 1, 2009
Closing hymn,
“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
United Methodist Hymnal, #358
(especially verse 2)
March 1, 2009
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
their nets, their families, their lives
left, abandoned, without a word
when he but said, “rise and follow me”.
That they, though imperfect,
could answer the master’s call
so we, like them, called
to follow them, to follow him still
to be like them, his witnesses,
his messengers of hope
his light, to shine, out into
the darkness of the world
Rise, go, without a word,
to the ends of the earth.
March 1, 2009
Closing hymn,
“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
United Methodist Hymnal, #358
(especially verse 2)
March 1, 2009
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
From Earth to Heaven
Rising from the ashes, from the dust of earth
rising to heaven, the court of the Lord
So is this journey, from the burnt palms,
a sign of the cross, marking us, on our skin, our lives
coming, a journey, faces to Jerusalem,
to that rising at Easter morning
to the ascension into heaven
Slowing our lives, joining the steps of our savior
traveling with him, witnesses, to his ministry
to his teachings, his prayers, his suffering
his choice of servanthood
being with him on the mountain
on the sea, in the desert, on the path
on the road to Jerusalem, to the cross, to the grave
Walking these forty days, traveling back
to those ancient days, so real
walking with the disciples, with Peter, with James,
with John, even with Judas, the weight of his trial
the choices each of them would make
on the way to the Upper Room,
to the Garden, to Calvary
Spending time, with the risen Christ
his mark upon us, from the ashes to the empty tomb
From the parade into the city, the solemnity of a new covenant
betrayal, the mocking in trial
the weight of choice in the Garden, sweat like blood
the despair of the cross, the cold of the tomb
To the glorious rising, death, sin vanquished.
March 1, 2009
Lent, from Ash Wednesday
to Easter morning
rising to heaven, the court of the Lord
So is this journey, from the burnt palms,
a sign of the cross, marking us, on our skin, our lives
coming, a journey, faces to Jerusalem,
to that rising at Easter morning
to the ascension into heaven
Slowing our lives, joining the steps of our savior
traveling with him, witnesses, to his ministry
to his teachings, his prayers, his suffering
his choice of servanthood
being with him on the mountain
on the sea, in the desert, on the path
on the road to Jerusalem, to the cross, to the grave
Walking these forty days, traveling back
to those ancient days, so real
walking with the disciples, with Peter, with James,
with John, even with Judas, the weight of his trial
the choices each of them would make
on the way to the Upper Room,
to the Garden, to Calvary
Spending time, with the risen Christ
his mark upon us, from the ashes to the empty tomb
From the parade into the city, the solemnity of a new covenant
betrayal, the mocking in trial
the weight of choice in the Garden, sweat like blood
the despair of the cross, the cold of the tomb
To the glorious rising, death, sin vanquished.
March 1, 2009
Lent, from Ash Wednesday
to Easter morning
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 27,390+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
To Jerusalem
The wandering, the itinerancy, over;
his face set to Jerusalem
knowing the road, the way
the cross before him
The shame, the suffering, the sheep to be scattered
Fully aware, choosing the nails
humble savior, servant-king
going, purposefully, forward
knowing what was to come
submitting himself nonetheless
choosing the thorns, the way, the cross;
his face set toward Jerusalem
the same steps we follow still
in remembrance of his mighty acts
leading us, with him, with them
from ashes to heaven
February 1, 2009
Luke 9:51
Luke 9:51-62
Luke 9:51-19:27
and Upper Room devotional
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=3&day=8&year=2009&x=107&y=1
his face set to Jerusalem
knowing the road, the way
the cross before him
The shame, the suffering, the sheep to be scattered
Fully aware, choosing the nails
humble savior, servant-king
going, purposefully, forward
knowing what was to come
submitting himself nonetheless
choosing the thorns, the way, the cross;
his face set toward Jerusalem
the same steps we follow still
in remembrance of his mighty acts
leading us, with him, with them
from ashes to heaven
February 1, 2009
Luke 9:51
Luke 9:51-62
Luke 9:51-19:27
and Upper Room devotional
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=3&day=8&year=2009&x=107&y=1
Timid Believers
Scared by the storms, the sacrifice
stuck in the boat, on the shore perhaps
surely not ready, prepared
to step onto the waves
Comfortable, safe within the boat
within the pews alone
inside the walls of the sanctuary
safe within that which we know
We are called, out of our comfort
our of our tradition, to try anew
going, when we are called, onto the water
out into the uncharted world
To bring the message of grace
the unmerited gift of salvation
to all those in needed,
to the ends of the earth
March 1, 2009
stuck in the boat, on the shore perhaps
surely not ready, prepared
to step onto the waves
Comfortable, safe within the boat
within the pews alone
inside the walls of the sanctuary
safe within that which we know
We are called, out of our comfort
our of our tradition, to try anew
going, when we are called, onto the water
out into the uncharted world
To bring the message of grace
the unmerited gift of salvation
to all those in needed,
to the ends of the earth
March 1, 2009
To Do Lists
So much like Martha, lamenting
our minds so busy, cluttered,
to do lists calling, attention, focus
pulling us away, from stillness,
quietude, from listening
Needing to be like Mary
falling at the master’s feet,
listening, his spirit stilled
choosing to spend time
the master in her presence
Sit and listen, Martha
pull up a mat, fold your legs
let go of the work, the broom
The work will be there, presently
Sit and spend time with the Lord
March 1, 2009
Psalm 84
Luke 10:38-42 and
Sermon, “Christian Spiritual Disciplines: Listening”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
March 1, 2009
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
our minds so busy, cluttered,
to do lists calling, attention, focus
pulling us away, from stillness,
quietude, from listening
Needing to be like Mary
falling at the master’s feet,
listening, his spirit stilled
choosing to spend time
the master in her presence
Sit and listen, Martha
pull up a mat, fold your legs
let go of the work, the broom
The work will be there, presently
Sit and spend time with the Lord
March 1, 2009
Psalm 84
Luke 10:38-42 and
Sermon, “Christian Spiritual Disciplines: Listening”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
March 1, 2009
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
Listening
So much to learn, like Mary
sitting at the feet of Jesus
listening to the voice of God
in silence, a message to share with us
Like Martha, feeling the pull of the day
the work waiting to be done
Slowing instead, choosing a better part
remembering He is in our presence
He is here now with us, if we call on his name
Sit, for awhile, drink in the master’s words
speaking to us in that stillness
if we but let him in (Martha)
Pray waiting for the words of the spirit
waiting for words of God
to could out of the quiet
to our listening ear, like Mary
March 1, 2009
Psalm 84
Luke 10:38-42 and
Sermon, “Christian Spiritual Disciplines: Listening”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
March 1, 2009
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
sitting at the feet of Jesus
listening to the voice of God
in silence, a message to share with us
Like Martha, feeling the pull of the day
the work waiting to be done
Slowing instead, choosing a better part
remembering He is in our presence
He is here now with us, if we call on his name
Sit, for awhile, drink in the master’s words
speaking to us in that stillness
if we but let him in (Martha)
Pray waiting for the words of the spirit
waiting for words of God
to could out of the quiet
to our listening ear, like Mary
March 1, 2009
Psalm 84
Luke 10:38-42 and
Sermon, “Christian Spiritual Disciplines: Listening”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
March 1, 2009
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
Rainbows
Rainbows are but one of the signs
covenants of the creator
The order of the world
His faithfulness to us, his children
whether deserving or not
In the turning of the seasons,
the words of the scriptures
the story of his boundless love
The gift of life, born of clay,
The breath of God
Our salvation, the offering of the son
birthing us anew, raising a church
with him who was risen
And his spirit, shining within us
the still-burning fires of Pentecost
emboldening the believers
from the first, to the present day
March 1, 2009
Genesis 9:8-17
covenants of the creator
The order of the world
His faithfulness to us, his children
whether deserving or not
In the turning of the seasons,
the words of the scriptures
the story of his boundless love
The gift of life, born of clay,
The breath of God
Our salvation, the offering of the son
birthing us anew, raising a church
with him who was risen
And his spirit, shining within us
the still-burning fires of Pentecost
emboldening the believers
from the first, to the present day
March 1, 2009
Genesis 9:8-17
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