Thursday, September 19, 2013

Looking down at my hands – v4


Seeing the stain on my
hands, on my spirit
the shame of my own sin
hearing the words echoing
the words of God speaking
echoing inside of me

The words of Christ
the mirror he held up
seeing myself clearly
a challenge to cast the first stone
only he was worthy
the One without sin

Looking down at my hands
the stain crimson
my hands, my clay
unable to look in His face;
dropping my stone to the ground
shame for my acts, my sin

My unworthiness to judge
to look down on my neighbors
to stand in His sandals
to pretend I was God
as if I am able to stand in judgment
not made of earth, of clay

Walking away, ashamed
aware of my sin
dropping my stone
onto the ground;
wanting no part of this
wanting her to live


Edited September 19, 2013
Looking down at my hands – v4
Edited September 18, 2013
Looking down at my hands – v3
(editing original again)
Edited September 13, 2013
Looking down at my hands – v2
June 13, 2011
Looking down at my hands
&
Edited September 7, 2013
“Making the secular Holy – v2”
new poem September 7, 2013
“Making the secular Holy”
----
This poem is about my wife and me when we got married
in a civil service on December 17, 2004 in Concord, NH in White Park
and then before our church family at
Wesley United Methodist Church in Concord, NH
on April 23, 2005.
----
We celebrate 2 anniversaries because they both mean a great
deal to us, in very different ways.
I grieve for those who are able to marry civilly in so many
states now, such as NH, but are unable to marry in their
United Methodists churches and for the clergy who are put on trial
for choosing to go against the Discipline to marry them.
&
trials of Rev. Frank Schaefer
and Rev. Thomas Ogletree
and  Rev. Steve Heiss
&
Edited September 7, 2013
For Offering Love – v2
June 22, 2011
For Offering Love
&
Matthew 10:40-42
2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16
Psalm 13
Worship Theme: “All Are Welcome”
and sermon: “Ambassadors for God”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
June 26, 2011
Second Sunday in Pentecost
&
note of Cynthia Good
on Keith Olbermann Special Comment
and
Passage of gay marriage bill in New York last night
&
posting on my Facebook page
“my 'heart' sinks with your continued association with the United Methodist church. God's Word clearly says that the Lord’s command is no females are allowed to be leaders. 1 Cor. 14:33-38; 1 Tim 2:12-3:12. Violating God's Word is not a recommended path to follow.”
&
verdict and judgment in Love on Trial,
the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,
&
John 8:1-11
&
June 23, 2011
Able to Breath – unedited
&
John 8:1-11
&
Samuel Thompson’s
Inclusion Essay
shared at the New England United Methodist Church
Annual Conference
in response to call by Reconciling Ministries Network
for essays describing, “My vision for an inclusive church”,
June 10, 2011
&
in part inspired by conversations with
the Reverend John Makokha
Riruta UMC
Children of Africa Hope Mission Project in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. http://rirutaumc.homestead.com/children_of_africa.html
&
Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep and the Goats
&
Matthew 28:18-20
Great Commission

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 25,610+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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