Saturday, August 02, 2008

God’s Glory

That which no man could witness
God’s glory, his very face
revealed, God’s radiance
his love made flesh
made human, God’s image
Not the cloud, the pillar of fir
not his hand, over the cleft of the rock
his back, the back of God
God’s glory, in his son, our savior

August 2, 2008
Exodus 33:12-23
Exodus 33:17-23
Exodus 33:18
Psalm 17:15

Holding on for a Blessing

Before they released, parted
holding on for a blessing
Somehow he knew;
He was wrestling with God
this younger twin,
ankle grabbing, usurping,
he strove with God
all through the night
At morning, holding on for a blessing
a blessing from God

August 1, 2008, August 2, 2008
Genesis 32:22-31

Blessing the Food

Before the blessing
meager, inadequate
five loves, two fish

A blessing, bread help up to heaven
suddenly, more than enough
food for all who were there
baskets for the disciples,
the tribes, the months

Enough for all, indeed
blessed by his blessing

August 1, 2008
Matthew 14:13-21
after the feeding of the 5,000,
12 baskets left

Watching the Waves

Looking at, watching the waves
it was then that he fell,
when he began to sink
Gravity, laws of physics
held no dominion over him
while he yet focused on Christ

So we to, must hold our focus
our vision, our lives
on our risen Lord, our savior
with our lives centered on him
extraordinary things are possible
Stop watch the waves
and step out of the boat

August 1, 2008
Matthew 14:25-33;
sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
“Walk this Way”, July 27, 2008,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
and Upper Room devotion
for August 1, 2008
http://www.upperroom.org/Devotional/default.asp?month=8&day=1&year=2008

Friday, August 01, 2008

Cicada molting and getting ready to fly 7/28/08





Mount Up With Wings Like Eagles

Rise up, mount up, into the heavens
leave the world and cares behind
Mount up with wings like eagles
on the love of the Lord

Trust in the one who made
the heavens and the earth
mount up, lift up your sights to heaven
and touch the face of God

Believe in the yoke you carry
heed the master’s voice
mount up on wings of eagles
your fate is your choice

Rise up on wings like eagles
share the love of God
The fields are ready for his message
and yours is the savior’s voice

August 1, 2008
Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV, NIV)
Isaiah 40:21-31 (NRSV)
Isaiah 40:27-31 (The Message)

Mount Up

Mount up on wings of eagles,
climb up on his wings of love
soar above the struggles
hear the master’s call

Walk the savior’s footsteps
heed his call for you
Mount up on wings of eagles
and feel the creator’s love

August 1, 2008
Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV, NIV)
Isaiah 40:21-31 (NRSV)
Isaiah 40:27-31 (The Message)

They shall Run

Not like the others,
not even their youth
The Lord will be their strength
and they shall not be tired

They shall run, oh they will run
they will take on the great calling
they will heed the master’s voice
For their hope is centered on the creator
and that makes all the different

He will bear them up,
he will carry them on
on his robe, on the hem of his gown
like the wings of eagles
on the strength of his breath alone

They will be lifted up, on high,
to reach the ends of the earth
to spread his love, his message
and tell of the savior’s birth

On Calvary they had slain him
and in a borrowed grave he lay
But the story wasn’t over,
as the prophets had foretold

For He like them who followed
was born anew on the wings of the creator
and he rose up to heaven
to prepare a place for them

Now the saints below are toiling
without a care or a doubt
for their time here is fleeting
and the savior is all about

For the grace of the father,
is in each other’s face
and on the wings like an eagle
they shall sail above this place

August 1, 2008
Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV, NIV)
Isaiah 40:21-31 (NRSV)
Isaiah 40:27-31 (The Message)

She will Rise

She has trusted in your calling
in the truth of the voice
she hears in the night
the quiet sureness of this path that she is on
The stumbling blocks fleeting,
the enemy can wait
For her faith is deep
and her path has been made straight

From the pain, the struggle
challenges of her day
She will Rise, rise up
as if on Easter ‘morn
On wings of eagles,
strong, sure wings
she will rise from her toil
and sing songs of your praise

August 1, 2008
Isaiah 40:31

Majestic Wings

As if on the majestic wings,
of the regal bird, the eagle of the sky
rising effortlessly, ascending heavenward
Hope in the Lord; do not tire; do not grow faint
For your hope shall be made real
your faith given life
Your time of testing,
of trial a brief candle’s life
A fight no more, an easy row
a wide path for your journey
You will be lifted up
on strong wings of God’s love
Soar over your land
and sing his praises

August 1, 2008
Isaiah 40:31
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint. (NRSV)

From Her Words – Song

She wondered, noticed,
he was taking notes in the sanctuary
While she was preaching, sharing the parable
treasures found, and their response
What would you give? What would you sell?
To hold the treasure as your own
How would you hold that treasure in your hands?

His hands, writing a hymn, an echo of worship,
the words of the Gospel, her words, blended
a gift of grace, a blessing for us to share
Two days later, a hymn, born of the scripture
of the sermon, of the inspiration of God
What would you sell? Yes, what would you sell?

August 1, 2008
Based on emailed note about new hymn
by F. Richard Garland,
“What Would You Sell”,
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=46574
which was written about Matthew 13: 31-33; Matthew 13:44-52
and the sermon by Reverend Lori Eldredge,
“Buried Treasure”, July 27, 2008,
North Kingstown United Methodist Church
http://www.nkumcri.com/nkumcri/archive12.html

molted Cicada pupae, July 28, 2008



More than Fish, More than Bread

The loaves, the fishes, the feeding of the five thousand
the gathering of the tribes, of the people of the Lord
being fed by his message, his hope,
following where he led, going to where he was
finding him in the wilderness, by the sea, on the mountain
lingering late into the evening, listening at his feed
yearning to hear the master’s voice
A day of hope, a night of blessing
fed by more than fish, more than bread
wonder of heavenly food
shared by grace
with all

August 1, 2008
Matthew 14:13-21

All Were Fed

Beyond human comprehension,
five thousand men,
the women, the children
fed with far too little, not nearly enough
But there was far more to spare,
after the feeding
They were amazed, confused, blessed
a miracle, heavenly provision,
serving them all
with their seemingly meager fare
a limitless supply,
grace on grace
All were fed
as they were by his words
on that mountainside

August 1, 2008
Matthew 14:13-21

Two Hulls, Four Blades

Even from my speeding car,
a half mile or more away
They cut silently
through the skin of the lake
slowly, casually
two hulls, four blades
moving in unison
tandem partners
Without an urgent place to be
mid-afternoon reverie
in their smooth kayaks
down beyond, below
the hurried interstate


July 31, 2008, edits 8/1/08
Little Turkey Pond, Concord, NH
just below Exit 3 on Route 89


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,840+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Letter from Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, July 30, 2008 on waterboarding

July 30, 2008

Dear Mr. Foss:

Thank you for contacting my office and expressing your opposition to certain interrogation techniques, including waterboarding.

I share your belief that methods of torture, including waterboarding, hypothermia, and stress positions, are not an acceptable or humane method of obtaining information. I was proud to be an original cosponsor, with Chairman Jerrold Nadler of the Constitution Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, of the American Anti-Torture Act (H.R. 4114). This legislation would have extended the U.S. Army Field Manual prohibition on torture techniques like waterboarding to all U.S. government agencies. This language was included in the Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) and would have prevented intelligence agencies from engaging in torture. The President objected to this language and subsequently vetoed the Intelligence Authorization Act.

To learn more about current legislation or about my voting record, I invite you to visit the Library of Congress legislative information website (www.thomas.gov). There, you can find the full text of a bill or a summary, who introduced it and when, who is cosponsoring it, and where it is in the legislative process. I also invite you to visit my website (http://shea-porter.house.gov) for more information about bills that I have introduced or cosponsored, and for issue updates, position statements, event announcements, or to sign up for my email newsletter.
Thank you again for contacting my office. It is a privilege to serve you in Washington.

Sincerely,

Carol Shea-Porter
Member of Congress

Monday, July 28, 2008

“F.R.O.G”, sermon by Pastor Ruth L. Foss, Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH 7/27/08

Ephesians 2:6-10

Last week…Huntley talked about God’s grace. He talked about Murphy’s Law and about how it was wrong and about his own life and how things that should have gone wrong didn’t and how things that shouldn’t have gone right went right. He talked about King David who had questionable morals and was a bad father but. . . he was called a man after God’s own heart. We heard about prophets that failed in their work and about a man named Paul who was the founder of the church who had persecuted Christians in his former life. We learned that it was not about Murphy’s Law but about a word called grace…God’s grace. This grace is not anything that you or I can buy on “EBay” or any other place…we can’t even earn it. . . it is freely given to us by God.

Grace, Grace, God’s Grace . . . In Genesis 22:1-19, we have more proof that Murphy was wrong. Here we have Abraham. He was told to take his only son to a place that God told him and sacrifice him. Now prior to this…Abraham was told that God would make a nation from his son and that the world would be blessed through him…now he is being told to sacrifice this gift that was given to him from God. When Isaac and Abraham got to where they were going…Isaac asked where the lamb for the sacrifice was? Abraham told his son that God would provide the lamb. Abraham trusted in God and knew the promise he had been given. Anyone looking at this situation and not know the outcome would think that Murphy’s Law was in play here. Abraham and Sarah had been childless and now they were going to lose their child. But we know the end of the story. . . God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son and provided a lamb for the sacrifice. It was by God’s grace that the lamb was provided.

Abraham Fully Relied On God…in my children’s message this morning I talked about frogs and what they mean to me. By fully relying on God. . . grace has abounded in my life. You see. . . I was told that I would never be successful in ministry. . . never mind being a pastor…I was told that unless my house was in right order and was in line with what God would have it be I would never be able to help others find their way to God. I believed this for quite some time in my life but . . . when I began to fully rely on God, not on myself or others, I became to realize what many before me realized. God uses the imperfect, the ordinary, to do His work here on earth . . . imperfect people to do extraordinary things. By fully relying on God I am able to say, with the Psalmist of Psalm 118:6-9, “The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid, what can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” The Lord is with me . . . I feel His GRACE.

After Huntley’s sermon last week I began to think. I thought about my life and my own “Moses” experience and thought that yes I do fully rely on God but I think that I fully rely on His GRACE even more. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us that “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” It is this grace . . . this gift. . . we are given to share with others. As disciples of the 21st century. . . when we share our talents, our financial resources, our time . . . our gifts are multiplied to help others in our church . . . our communities…the world at large. God can use whatever we “ordinary” people have to do His work in the world. As Romans 8:38-39 states . . . nothing can separate us from the Love . . . the grace . . . of God.

I would like to share a story that was e-mailed to me this week. I am not sure if it is a true story but I like it anyway. It was about a woman who was walking by a shoe store front and saw a little boy there staring into the window. She asked him what he was staring at and he said that he was praying to God for a new pair of shoes. Well . . . this woman took the little boy by the hand and brought him into the store. She told the clerk to bring her a dozen pair of socks for the little boy. She also asked the clerk for a basin of water and a towel (remind you of anyone). . . she washed the little boy’s feet, dried them, and put on a new pair of socks; she purchased new shoes for him and bundled up the remaining socks for him to take home. She patted him on the head and said that he was all set now and should be more comfortable. As she turned to go the little boy grabbed her by the hand and with tears in his eyes (Now this part really got to me) and asked her if she was God’s wife. (Grace…we never know how we will touch lives when we share it.)

God’s grace abounds everywhere. God’s grace can be seen in you and in me as we share that grace with the world around us. This gift of grace needs to be shared so that it can grow to the ends of the earth. It gives me hope that even when I don’t fully rely on God…I can fully rely on Grace. That prevenient, provident, sanctifying grace...You see God loves you and me and showers His grace on us and there’s nothing we can do about it. Praise God!

AMEN

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog

“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, 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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 24,060+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

We Rely

On God’s grace
whether we are aware or not
His grace has already been given
an unmerited free gift
on this we rely

God’s grace is the basis
the hope, the truth of our faith
By grace alone are we, each one of us
all the world, from the beginning of time
to the end of the age, a time known only by God

The wage of sin paid, that sacrifice made
we are atoned, made whole, reconciled to God
Once joined, in relationship once more
Nothing, absolutely nothing can separate
can separate us from our creator, evermore 

-----------------
edited August 28, 2019
We Rely – v2
July 27, 2008
We Rely
Genesis 22:9-13, Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:6-10, and
sermon, “F.R.O.G.”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 51,670+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Abraham, creation, creator, Ephesians 2, Faith, Genesis 22, gifts, God, grace, hope, love, Pastor Ruth  Foss, poem, poetry, Romans 8, sacrifice, sharing, sin, worship,


#Abraham #creation #creator #Ephesians2 #Faith #Genesis22 #gifts #God #grace #hope #love #poem #poetry #Romans8 #sacrifice #sharing #sin #worship

Chasing the Sun

As we allowed, she moved about the seats
from dry bench to wet towels,
it didn’t seem to matter,
chasing the sun around the boat
lingering, dozing, in its warming
longing the sun
out on the water

July 27, 2008
Squam Lake, NH, July 26, 2008
Erica

Swimming Free

She hung on the ladder’s rails
unwilling to leave their safety
out into the lake,
even in my arms

Slowly she gained confidence
grew bolder, little by little

Later, trumpeting triumph
she was swimming free
smiling, splashing, proud of herself
conquering her fears

July 27, 2008
Squam Lake, NH, July 26, 2008
Shanequa

Skeletal Pines

Weathered gray, sparse
even the living limbs
skeletal pines, evergreens stripped of excess
no pretense, essentials only
exposed at the water’s edge
on each point, each inlet
the bays and streams
emptying into the lake

Watching for birds perched
high in the dead gray branches
The gray broken only
by the rust, the café au lait
exposed sinew, where the trees have split
revealing the center;
maybe by spindly needles
holding on against the winds
blowing across the lake.

July 27, 2008
Squam Lake, NH, July 26, 2008

Relying on Grace

Even when we are unaware, even when we ignore,
deny the command, the will of God;
grace is there, with us, watching over us
providing grace, limitless grace
gifts of the creator, the savior the sacrifice
sin without its sting, the stain washed clean
rely on God, trust in his grace
and the world is a different place
Nothing in the way, between us
and the love of our God;
Nothing.

July 27, 2008
Genesis 22:9-13, Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:6-10, and
sermon, “F.R.O.G.”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

Fully Rely On God

By grace alone, not by our works
we are saved, we can do great, extraordinary things
As the people of the bible, modern-day saints
with work to do, enabled by God’s grace
to move and risk, to sacrifice, to toil,
to spread Christ’s message, his example
the love of the father, to the ends of the earth
by grace alone, only grace
unearned, freely given
imperfect people, extraordinary gifts
hope for the world

July 27, 2008
Genesis 22:9-13, Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:6-10, and
sermon, “F.R.O.G.”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

Imperfect People

The bible’s story
imperfect people,
able, by God’s grace,
to do extraordinary things
acts of love, by faith alone,
grace heaped, poured out
lessons for all of us,
made real by imperfect messengers
by unworthy kings, stumbling prophets
timid missionaries, converted ones
saints before us, flawed as you and me
willing to be the vessels of God’s love
by grace alone revealed


================
edited January 14, 2018
Imperfect People – v2
July 27, 2008
Imperfect People
Genesis 22:9-13, Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:6-10, and
sermon, “F.R.O.G.”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 45,960 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Abraham, Acts 2, Bible, church, creator, Ephesians 2, Faith, Genesis 22, God, grace, hope, love, Methodist, Mission, Moses, Pastor Ruth L. Foss, poem, poetry, Romans 8, worship,

#Abraham #Acts2 #Bible #christianpoems #christianpoetry #church #creator #David #Ephesians2 #Ezekiel #Faith #faithpoetry #Genesis22 #God #grace #hope #Isaiah #Law #love #UMC #Mission #Moses #NEUMC #Paul #poem #poetry #praisepoems #praisepoetry #prophet #religiouspoetry #Romans8 #worship

Come, in Prayer

He said, the Lord said
to come, in prayer,
come to me, to the altar rail
Come to me in prayer.
Oh children, kneel before him
share your joys, your fears,
your hopes, your pain
God will listen, God will answer

July 27, 2008
Pastoral Prayer by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

Abraham’s Faith

God would provide
the lamb for the sacrifice;
but would that be my son?
So must the rest of the thought have been
as he spoke to his first-born, his only son
Son of the promise, the promise of God
of him there will be a great name,
in him a blessing
Is he to be the sacrifice, the one on the altar
to prove my faith, my fear, my love of God?
God will provide the lamb,
I must go, where I am led,
prepared to sacrifice him
such was that faith
that day on the mountain,
knife raised for the slaughter.
By grace rewarded
a son spared
blessing fulfilled;
repeated on Calvary
a holy sacrifice
limitless grace of the father
this son not spared the price
living, tangible grace fulfilled

July 27, 2008
Genesis 22:9-13, Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 2:6-10, and
sermon, “F.R.O.G.”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

No Other Lamb

He knew, he believed,
that the Lord would provide the lamb,
the sacrifice for him, that he would not
sacrifice his son, his only son
God did provide, for the grandfather,
father of our faith
A lamb was provided, sparing the first-born,
his only son.

Another time, centuries on
God provided, a lamb for the sacrifice
no other lamb would do, no other lamb worthy
an unblemished lamb, the Son of God,
his first-born, his only son
worthy to atone, to sacrifice
a burnt offering, sin offering
saving us all, even when our faith fails
by the father’s grace, we are saved

July 27, 2008
Genesis 22:9-13, Ephesians 2:6-10, and
sermon, “F.R.O.G.”, by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

Pearls in the Evergreens

Tiny, perfect pearls
hovering on gossamer strands
woven in the evergreens
in front of the church this morning
jewels of nature, of water
held for our eyes
there to be seen
pearl of beauty
in the bushes out front

July 27, 2008
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH

A light above the cross

A cross of annuals,
lovingly cared for,
planted, watered, weeded
on the lawn of the church,
welcoming all
A light above the cross
a sign of our welcome,
the hope of new beginnings
this season of blooming
of flowering of hope anew
A light, a sign,
illuminating our street
our piece of the world, the kingdom
shining in the night, the wee hours
a light above the cross
welcoming all to our doors,
to the hope we share
a light to the world

July 27, 2008

Pine Needle Floorboards

Silence steps, into the chapel
the open-air sanctuary
walking in silence
a mere rubbing underfoot
less than a crunch
pine needle floorboards
of the chapel in the woods
reverent silence
broken by the lapping of the water
of the rocks beyond the pulpit, the cross
silent sanctuary, lost in worship
stillness on the island
the birch cross radiant
a light to us all

July 27, 2008
Chocorua Island Chapel,
Church Island, Squam Lake,
Holderness, NH, July 26
http://www.churchisland.org/

Wild Berries

The joy, the secrets discovered
wild berries, under the leafs,
hidden in the woods, the underbrush
in under the branches,
deep, dark blue,
hidden under the green
warm rich taste, tart and sweet
right off the bush
mmm, . . . more please

July 27, 2008
me and Shanequa
Chocorua Island Chapel,
Church Island, Squam Lake,
Holderness, NH, July 26
http://www.churchisland.org/

Captain and Pilot

They worked well together,
the crew of the boat
The Captain and the Pilot,
each knowing their roles,
the work they must do
Charting the course,
and getting us there
Enjoying the time shared
“their” lake revealed,
at least in part
to we landlubbers, guests
on their floating world
their piece of home
Host and hostess,
generous with their realm
Sharing their secrets,
their joy on the water

July 27, 2008
Squam Lake, NH, July 26, 2008

A Nautical Feast

We ate on the water,
floating with the wind, the waves,
enjoying the bounty, the feast
the sun, the clear skies,
the fellowship
a nautical feast;
Wet towels, smiling faces
friendship and family
rising and falling with the swells
a pickles and cheese sandwich,
veggies and dip,
leftovers for dad;
a gooey snack, a laugh
fun on the water
under the clear blue sky

July 27, 2008
Squam Lake, NH, July 26, 2008