Poetry Where You Live: 10/06/2013

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 25,990+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

poverty, God, injustice, crime, greed, hate, America, decline, hope, love, mercy, human rights, Blog Action Day, justice, racism, despair, education, sports, sexism, oppression,

When I sin – v6

A crushing weight

the truth of my failing

washing over me as a wave

my cheeks flushing

an ache deep inside

when I sin, when I rebel,

when I reject the word of God

turning from his path

the course for my life

spitting on my Savior’s face

as if driving in the nails

mired in my clay

turning from his grace

stuck in the mud

wandering, I am lost

when I follow my own path

my back to the Lord

lost in this world

when I sin, selfish

I am lost in my clay

Edited October 12, 2013

When I sin – v6

Edited October 6, 2013

When I sin – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/when-i-sin-v5.html

Edited September 29, 2013

When I sin – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/when-i-sin-v4.html

(editing original)

Edited September 19, 2013

When I sin – v3

January 28, 2012

When I sin

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/01/when-i-sin.html

Mark 1:21-22 (The Message)

Mark 1:21-28

Upper Room Disciplines for 2012

http://bookstore.upperroom.org/cart/upperroom/p-17131.htm

January 23, 2012 to January 29, 2012,

“Words of Authority”

by Nell Noonan

scripture and meditation for January 28, 2012

read January 28, 2012

1 Corinthians 8:7-13

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Upper Room Disciplines for 2012

http://bookstore.upperroom.org/cart/upperroom/p-17131.htm

January 23, 2012 to January 29, 2012,

“Words of Authority”

by Nell Noonan

scripture and meditation for January 27, 2012

read January 27, 2012

1 Corinthians 8:1-6

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Upper Room Disciplines for 2012

http://bookstore.upperroom.org/cart/upperroom/p-17131.htm

January 23, 2012 to January 29, 2012,

“Words of Authority”

by Nell Noonan

scripture and meditation for January 26, 2012

read January 26, 2012

John 8:1-11

Samuel Thompson’s

http://www.facebook.com/#!/keleayon

Inclusion Essay

shared at the New England United Methodist Church

Annual Conference

http://www.neumc.org/pages/detail/195

in response to call by Reconciling Ministries Network

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

for essays describing, “My vision for an inclusive church”,

June 10, 2011

Love on Trial,

http://www.loveontrial.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-On-Trial/190582754298364

the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000572962166

which begins on June 20, 2011

http://www.rmnetwork.org/amy-delong/

in part inspired by conversations with

the Reverend John Makokha

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=556451505

Riruta UMC

http://rirutaumc.org

http://www.rmnetwork.org/

Other Sheep Afrika-Kenya http://www.othersheep.org/OSEA_CL_Other_Sheep_Kenya.html

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

America is Broken – v2

the dream remaining

but America is broken

lost, wallowing,

in greed and self-loathing

lost in the muck

the mire of our fiction

that we are the greatest

exceptional as a nation

we have fallen prey

to our own good fortune

believing the lies

of our own creation

we must regain our focus,

our common purpose

standing with our neighbors

in a united land

we must reclaim the dream

the hope of creation

the genius of our freedom

one from many nations

Edited October 12, 2013

longer clip from “The Newsroom”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKrV_waE-Fs

America is Broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/america-is-broken-v2.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I cry for the children – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-cry-for-children-v2.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I love her but she is broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-love-her-but-she-is-broken-v2.html

October 12, 2013

We pray for our nation – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/we-pray-for-our-nation-v5.html

Edited October 12, 2013

not in a nation state

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/not-in-nation-state.html

Edited October 12, 2013

the goodness and mercy of God

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-goodness-and-mercy.html

Edited October 12, 2013

lost in our delusions

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/lost-in-our-delusions.html

http://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/

Edited October 12, 2013

What should we tell them

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-should-we-tell-them.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I cry for the children

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-cry-for-children.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I love her but she is broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-love-her-but-she-is-broken.html

October 12, 2013

America is Broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/america-is-broken.html

“Why America is NOT the greatest country in the world, anymore” video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs

watched after reading the post by my college friend Jim Thibeau

https://www.facebook.com/jim.thibeau/posts/10202102681666789

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/12/american-decline/

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-america-is-not-greatest-country-in.html

Edited October 10, 2013

we pray for our nation – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/we-pray-for-our-nation-v4.html

edited July 4, 2012

we pray for our nation – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-pray-for-our-nation-v3.html

July 2, 2012

we pray for our nation – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-pray-for-our-nation-v2.html

extract of Prayers of the People

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6437456#editor/target=post;postID=5705129811262611669

second of a worship series on:

“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

Theme - Where do we put Jesus in our lives?
Mark 5:21-43 (GOD’s WORD Translation)
Psalm 130 (Common English Bible)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NIV)

Call to Worship(Abington Worship 2012)(Psalm 130, Mark 5)

Unison Prayer

Prayer of Dedication (Mark 5:21-43) (2 Corinthians 8, Mark 5)

(adapted from GBOD 2012 and Abington Worship 2012)

Communion, UMH page 9
Sermon - What Jesus Means to Me!

by Raymond A. Foss

Suncook, NH

July 1, 2012

Fifth Sunday of Kingdomtide

I cry for the children – v2

standing in the classroom

standing by their beds

before the children

trying to find words sufficient

the hope of our nation

the dream of America

in decline, in our striving

to step on our fellow man

I cry for the children

for what might have been

a nation truly free

lifting our neighbor instead

so much a lie, exceptional

when we are in the pack

not leading from the front

but exhorting from the back

our nation in decline

no longer the best

lagging behind the others

striving after greed instead

not sharing a common burden

nothing to unite us

striving for our own pleasure

ignoring the rest

Edited October 12, 2013

longer clip from “The Newsroom”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKrV_waE-Fs

America is Broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/america-is-broken-v2.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I cry for the children – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-cry-for-children-v2.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I love her but she is broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-love-her-but-she-is-broken-v2.html

October 12, 2013

We pray for our nation – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/we-pray-for-our-nation-v5.html

Edited October 12, 2013

not in a nation state

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/not-in-nation-state.html

Edited October 12, 2013

the goodness and mercy of God

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-goodness-and-mercy.html

Edited October 12, 2013

lost in our delusions

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/lost-in-our-delusions.html

http://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/

Edited October 12, 2013

What should we tell them

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-should-we-tell-them.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I cry for the children

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-cry-for-children.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I love her but she is broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-love-her-but-she-is-broken.html

October 12, 2013

America is Broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/america-is-broken.html

“Why America is NOT the greatest country in the world, anymore” video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs

watched after reading the post by my college friend Jim Thibeau

https://www.facebook.com/jim.thibeau/posts/10202102681666789

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/12/american-decline/

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-america-is-not-greatest-country-in.html

Edited October 10, 2013

we pray for our nation – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/we-pray-for-our-nation-v4.html

edited July 4, 2012

we pray for our nation – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-pray-for-our-nation-v3.html

July 2, 2012

we pray for our nation – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-pray-for-our-nation-v2.html

extract of Prayers of the People

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6437456#editor/target=post;postID=5705129811262611669

second of a worship series on:

“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

Theme - Where do we put Jesus in our lives?
Mark 5:21-43 (GOD’s WORD Translation)
Psalm 130 (Common English Bible)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NIV)

Call to Worship(Abington Worship 2012)(Psalm 130, Mark 5)

Unison Prayer

Prayer of Dedication (Mark 5:21-43) (2 Corinthians 8, Mark 5)

(adapted from GBOD 2012 and Abington Worship 2012)

Communion, UMH page 9
Sermon - What Jesus Means to Me!

by Raymond A. Foss

Suncook, NH

July 1, 2012

Fifth Sunday of Kingdomtide

I love her but she is broken – v2

the words of fiction jarring

his words were laced with expletives

but the invective spot on

the state or our nation as it is

the dream remaining

but America is broken

lost, wallowing,

in greed and self-loathing

lost in the muck

the mire of our fiction

that we are the greatest,

exceptional as a nation

we have fallen prey

to our own good fortune

believing the lies

of our own creation

I love her but she is broken

I cry for my children

living in a world where we are

lagging behind the nations

not caring for each other

dividing our neighbors

haves and have nots

sharing nothing in common

We may once have been

the light upon the hill

but we are living in the shadow

of what might have been

Edited October 12, 2013

longer clip from “The Newsroom”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKrV_waE-Fs

America is Broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/america-is-broken-v2.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I cry for the children – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-cry-for-children-v2.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I love her but she is broken – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-love-her-but-she-is-broken-v2.html

October 12, 2013

We pray for our nation – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/we-pray-for-our-nation-v5.html

Edited October 12, 2013

not in a nation state

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/not-in-nation-state.html

Edited October 12, 2013

the goodness and mercy of God

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-goodness-and-mercy.html

Edited October 12, 2013

lost in our delusions

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/lost-in-our-delusions.html

http://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/

Edited October 12, 2013

What should we tell them

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-should-we-tell-them.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I cry for the children

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-cry-for-children.html

Edited October 12, 2013

I love her but she is broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-love-her-but-she-is-broken.html

October 12, 2013

America is Broken

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/america-is-broken.html

“Why America is NOT the greatest country in the world, anymore” video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMqcLUqYqrs

watched after reading the post by my college friend Jim Thibeau

https://www.facebook.com/jim.thibeau/posts/10202102681666789

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/12/american-decline/

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-america-is-not-greatest-country-in.html

Edited October 10, 2013

we pray for our nation – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/we-pray-for-our-nation-v4.html

edited July 4, 2012

we pray for our nation – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-pray-for-our-nation-v3.html

July 2, 2012

we pray for our nation – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-pray-for-our-nation-v2.html

extract of Prayers of the People

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6437456#editor/target=post;postID=5705129811262611669

second of a worship series on:

“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”

by Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

Theme - Where do we put Jesus in our lives?
Mark 5:21-43 (GOD’s WORD Translation)
Psalm 130 (Common English Bible)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NIV)

Call to Worship(Abington Worship 2012)(Psalm 130, Mark 5)

Unison Prayer

Prayer of Dedication (Mark 5:21-43) (2 Corinthians 8, Mark 5)

(adapted from GBOD 2012 and Abington Worship 2012)

Communion, UMH page 9
Sermon - What Jesus Means to Me!

by Raymond A. Foss

Suncook, NH

July 1, 2012

Fifth Sunday of Kingdomtide

Blowing, Drifting – v3

The snow, blowing, drifting

stinging my face, the swirls

bringing my throw, shovelful,

back at me, boomerang

filling my beard, my scarf

laughing, smiling to myself

of earlier days, long ago

when this would be for fun

a fort or just to toss in the air

watching the snow fall as the wind willed it

the yard now dunes of snow, ridges,

white sand, with waves, furrows

of blowing, drifting powder

the changing beach of my lawn

Edited October 12, 2013

Blowing, Drifting – v3

Edited October 6, 2013

Blowing, Drifting – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/blowing-drifting-v2.html

January 1, 2009

Blowing, Drifting

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/blowing-drifting.html

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 25,980+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Seeing the Words – v5

For me, for my spirit, my muse

writing is so much about a moment

inspiration more than perspiration

a gift more than a craft, working

capturing the lightning, the sparks,

seeing the words, the constellations,

points of light against the black sky,

the mind’s eye of unconsciousness

dreams retained, written, scribed,

knitting the words into the tapestry,

the fabric they were meant to be

gossamer wings and steely gravitas

blended or plucked from the ether

The ether collected, as if in a net

the liquid of the moment, the words

gaining form, substance before me

gathered upon a permanent page

saved for eternity, a purpose

the words God has already chosen

such is the process of inspiration

finding the words, already stitched together

written in heaven, upon stones

woven tight with strong bonds

phrases and thoughts tied together

already formed, ready to be discovered

seen and scribed, printed onto the page

-----

merged / edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v29

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v29.html

(merging edits to version 28, version 15, version 16, version 17,

version 18, version 19, version 20, version 21 version 22, version 23,

version 24, version 25, version 26, and version 27)

==============

edits of individual poems

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v28

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v28.html

(editing version 14)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v27

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v27.html

(editing version 13)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v26

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v26.html

(editing version 12)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v25

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v25.html

(editing version 10)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v24

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v24.html

(editing version 9)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v23

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v23.html

(editing version 8)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v22

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v22.html

(editing version 7)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v21

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v21.html

(editing version 6)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v20

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v20.html

(editing version 5)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v19

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v19.html

(editing version 4)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v18

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v18.html

(editing version 3)

edited January 9, 2016

seeing the words – v17

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v17.html

(editing version 2)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v16

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v16.html

(editing original)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v15

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v15.html

(editing version 11)

edited April 10, 2015

seeing the words – v14

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/seeing-words-v14.html

(editing version 10)

edited January 31, 2015

seeing the words – v13

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/seeing-words-v13.html

(editing original)

edited January 31, 2015

Seeing the Words – v12

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/seeing-words-v12.html

(editing original and version 11)

edited May 28, 2014

“Seeing the Words – v11

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/seeing-words-v11.html

edited February 15, 2014

“seeing the words – v10”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/seeing-words-v10.html

(editing version 4)
Edited October 26, 2013

“seeing the words – v9”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v9.html

(editing version 7)

Edited October 25, 2013

“seeing the words – v8”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v8.html

(editing version 3 again)

Edited October 23, 2013

“seeing the words – v7”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v7.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 19, 2013

“seeing the words – v6”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v6.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 12, 2013

“seeing the words – v5”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v5.html

(editing version 4)

Edited October 11, 2013

“seeing the words – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v4.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 5, 2013

“seeing the words – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v3.html

(editing the original again)

Edited July 22, 2013

“seeing the words – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/seeing-words-v2.html

December 4, 2007 12:25pm

“seeing the words”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/seeing-words.html

about writing poetry, when it is a gift of God,

transcribing the words God already wrote

All of my poems and photographs 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 (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,600+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Pages

Saturday, October 12, 2013