Saturday, March 01, 2014

in his created – v3

in his created
a piece of himself
something of God
a shard, a spark
a bit of the Spirit
within each one
in the rocks
in the ground
in the animals
in each other
very good
God’s grace
giving us a piece
a bit of the Creator
in each of the created


edited March 1, 2014
in his created – v3
(editing original again)
Edited August 19, 2013
in his created – v2
August 16, 2013
in his created
Worship Service in the Park – 8/11/2013
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+3%3A17-19&version=NIV
17 
Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.”
and sermon “There Is Hope In Community”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
&
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (rewritten by me, one version)
17 Though the mills may be shuttered
and the forests are empty,
though the fields do not provide
their bounty, their harvest,
though the young are departing
for greener pastures,
18 yet I rejoice in my God
I will be joyful in Christ my Savior.
19 The Creator of the universe is my rock
I am like the deer, its hooves
steady on the Mountain.
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
August 11, 2013
&
Jeremiah’s Corner
Jeremiah 29:11
led by Ellen Alward Dickinson
presentation:
“The Power of Making Good Choices”
by Lois Flewelling
from Empowering Life Ministries
&
opening prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
August 5, 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, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 28,180+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Call of the Good Shepherd – v3

The test of our lives
the scales to be balanced
the call of the Good Shepherd
in His story of the end times
in the sheep and the goats

Those who will be gathered
for the kingdom, for heaven
those for the fire, for the pit
the words, as to the Rich Man
no space in between

The test of our lives
the scales to be balanced
the call of the Good Shepherd
God will be watching
as we walk here on earth

The way we treat others
our sisters and our brothers
those who would be rejected
those needing someone
healing in their lives

We are to be sheep
not goats defiant, stubborn;
helping one another
living out God’s commands
walking the way of Jesus

Serving humbly,
cherishing mercy
lovingly giving
offering our gifts
in the service of our God


edited March 1, 2014
The Call of the Good Shepherd – v3
Edited December 25, 2013
The Call of the Good Shepherd – v2
October 25, 2011
The Call of the Good Shepherd
Worship Theme: “Risk-Taking Mission and Service”
Matthew 25:31-46 (The Message Bible)
Luke 6:32-36 (Common English Bible)
Psalm 99:1-3, 9 (Common English Bible) (Call to Worship)
Unison Prayer
Prayer of dedication (GBOD 2011)
and sermon, “Out on a Limb”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 23, 2011
Nineteenth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Fourth of Six part sermon series on
“Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations”
and the book by the same name, by Robert Schnase,
http://methodistthinker.com/2009/01/14/bishop-robert-schnase-on-the-five-practices/, bishop of the Missouri Area of the United Methodist Church
&
Worship Theme: “Intentional Faith Development”
Acts 2:42-47 (The Message Bible)
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (Common English Bible)
Psalm 103:1-5 (Common English Bible) (Call to Worship)
Unison Prayer:
“Loving God, we thank you for this day. Thank you for
your Word that guides and sustains us. As we hear
your Word may we rejoice in your loving-kindness and goodness;
may we draw ever closer to you.
We pray for eyes to see you in the world,
ears to hear your whisper on the wind, and a heart that is
moldable in your hands. All this we pray in the
name above all names, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Prayer of dedication (GBOD 2011, prepared for 10/9/2011 service)
and sermon,
“Equipped for the Journey”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 16, 2011
Nineteenth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Worship Theme: “The Practice of Passionate Worship”
Psalm 84:5-12
Psalm 84:1-4
Psalm 25:1-2a, 4-5 (Call to Worship)
Unison Prayer (GBOD 2011)
A Prayer for World Communion Sunday
by Safiyah Fosua
Prayers of Dedication (GBOD 2005)
and sermon, “I Give You My Heart”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 2, 2011
Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost
World Communion Sunday
&
Worship Theme: “The Practice of Radical Hospitality”
Romans 15:1-7 (NRSV Bible)
Romans 15:1-13 (NRSV Bible)
James 1:22-25 (Common English Bible)
Psalm 118:28-29 (Common English Bible)(Call to Worship)
Sermon: “That’s Radical Man!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
September 25, 2011
Sixteenth Sunday of Pentecost

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 28,170+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

to be children – v2

to truly be children
of our Father in heaven
forgiving our neighbors
and following Jesus

to be His children
to act as His children
following Christ
His sacrifice

loving all people
without condition
loving our neighbors
our enemies in life

praying for them
truly loving
being His children
while here on earth


------
edited March 1, 2014
to be children – v2
February 24, 2014
to be children
Matthew 5:43-48
“Love All People” (NCV)
-         pray for those who persecute you
(part of Matthew 5:38-48)
Upper Room Disciplines for 2014
for February 23, 2014
read February 23, 2014
February 17, 2014 to February 23, 2014
“Making It Plain”
by Ouida Lee
&
Matthew 5:38-42
“Don’t Fight Back” (NCV)
“An Eye for An Eye” (NIV)
“Love Your Enemies” (The Message)
Exodus 21:24-25
Proverbs 20:22
Leviticus 24:20
Deuteronomy 19:21
Upper Room Disciplines for 2014
for February 22, 2014
read February 22, 2014
February 17, 2014 to February 23, 2014
“Making It Plain”
by Ouida Lee

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 28,150+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

one wakes within us – v5

woken from slumber
more powerful, urgent
a rider, a beast
a mammal,
or more ancient

a rider awakens
our masters within
deep and abiding
connected to nerve endings
fight or flight

alive within us
usurping power
the snake, the monster
taking control
of our bodies

woken from slumber
more powerful, urgent
the rider driving
raging within us
deep in our souls


edited March 1, 2014
one wakes within us – v5
(editing version 2)
edited July 3, 2012
one wakes within us – v4
edited July 2, 2012
one wakes within us – v3
 (adding fifth verse)
started writing after reading
“one wakes within us – v2”
July 2, 2012
at the Poet’s Corner
monthly poetry readings
Suncook Senior Center
edited July 1, 2012
&
June 29, 2012
Chapter Two of book ,
A General Theory of Love
entitled “Kits, Cats, Sacks, and Uncertainty”
with Gene Wolfe quote
&
written after attending
and beginning to read the handouts from
NH Bar Continuing Legal Education seminar
“PRACTICAL NEURO-LITERACY”
Where Divorce Practice,
Neuroscience, and Legal
Conflict Resolution Intersect
with Pauline H. Tesler
June 14, 2012
&
triune brain
&
mirror neurons
&
Amygdala hijack - wikipedia
&
subliminal persuasion
priming
video – “Derren Brown - Mind Control”
&
It Takes a Village
&
It Takes a Family

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 28,150+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

a bottomless emptiness – v2

devoid of dimensions
a bottomless emptiness
abject nothingness
the earth without end
a voice would pierce the Dark
God spoke Light
all coming into view
Day from the Night


------
edited March 1, 2014
a bottomless emptiness – v2
February 4, 2013
a bottomless emptiness
Genesis 1:2
Genesis 1:1-5 (The Message)
Revelations 22:21
Upper Room Daily Devotional
 “In the Beginning”
by Mary Ann Keuren
for January 30, 2013
read February 3, 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, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 28,150+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Even Jesus – v2

Even Jesus, unwilling
the only one righteous
choosing not to judge
though He alone was worthy
without sin, unblemished
showing compassion
to her, for us, truly
sharing for us a mirror
of our own lives
cautioning us to be humble
in our walk, in life


edited March 1, 2014
Even Jesus – v2
June 13, 2011
Even Jesus
Edited February 28, 2014
&
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
&
Growing Like a Garden – v5
(editing original again)
Edited November 23, 2013
Growing Like a Garden – v4
(editing original again)
written after conviction and sentence against Rev. Frank Schaefer
&
Edited November 16, 2013
Growing Like a Garden – v3
Edited September 18, 2013
Growing Like a Garden – v2
June 28, 2011
Growing Like a Garden
Reverend Janet Wolf
Sermon, Hymn, Poem - June 23, 2011
Reverend Amy Delong
Love on Trial,
the case against the Reverend Amy DeLong,
&
June 12, 2011
A time to come together
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 Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
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.”
&
June 23, 2011
Able to Breath – unedited
&
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, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 32,970+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In the Flesh – v2

May we know Christ
may we believe fully
as if we had walked with Him
on the journey of faith
in the flesh. living
made of clay, as we are,
that the Words themselves
alive, Christ with us
the words He spoke
as if speaking to us now
alive with us, today
on our walk of life
here with us, eternal
on this good, good earth


edited March 1, 2014
In the Flesh – v2
April 17, 2011 (Palm Sunday)
In the Flesh
John 20:30-31
John 21:30-25
and the book, The Sanctuary for Lent 2011
for April 14, 2011
read April 14 and April 17, 2011

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 28,150+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Kneeling before the Master – v2

Abraham’s example
utter submission, faith
kneeling before the Master
Creator of heaven and earth
falling to the dust
his face in the ground
his eyes lifted up
faithful to his covenant
father of all of us


edited March 1, 2014
Kneeling before the Master – v2
February 28, 2012
Kneeling before the Master
Genesis 17:1-7
Upper Room Disciplines for 2012
February 27, 2012 to March, 2012,
“Movement toward Covenant”
by John Indermark
scripture and meditation for February 27, 2012
read February 27, 2012

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 28,150+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.