Looking down at my hands – v8

These words of Christ Jesus,
to the ones challenging His piety,
His challenge to cast the first stone,
knowing only He was worthy,
the only One without sin,
choosing not to stand in judgment,
to stone her for adultery, her sin,
her blood in His hands…
 
Standing there, convicted,
with all of the others,
looking down at my hands,
unable to look in Christ’s face,
dropping my stone to the ground,
shame for my acts, my sin,
no longer standing in judgment,
her blood in my hands…
 
So aware of my shame, my sin,
my unworthiness to judge,
to condemn, to convict her,
to stand in His shoes,
to pretend I am God,
not made of earth, of clay,
not standing in judgment
her blood in my hands…
 
Turning, walking away,
leaving my stone behind me
so aware of my sin, not judging,
wanting no part of this,
wanting her to live,
not standing in judgment,
repenting of my own ways,
my blood in my hands…
 
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Edited August 5, 2024
Looking down at my hands – v8
 
Edited August 5, 2024
Looking down at my hands – v7
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/looking-down-at-my-hands-v7.html
edited March 2, 2014
Looking down at my hands – v6
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/03/looking-down-at-my-hands-v6.html
(editing original again)
Edited September 25, 2013
Looking down at my hands – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/looking-down-at-my-hands-v5.html
Edited September 19, 2013
Looking down at my hands – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/looking-down-at-my-hands-v4.html
Edited September 18, 2013
Looking down at my hands – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/looking-down-at-my-hands-v3.html
(editing original again)
Edited September 13, 2013
Looking down at my hands – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/looking-down-at-my-hands-v3.html
June 13, 2011
Looking down at my hands
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/looking-down-at-my-hands.html
&
Edited September 7, 2013
“Making the secular Holy – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/making-secular-holy-v2.html
new poem September 7, 2013
“Making the secular Holy”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/making-secular-holy.html
https://www.facebook.com/StandWithFrank/posts/324730717671030
----
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
http://www.concordwumc.org
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
http://www.unitedmethodistreporter.com/2013/09/rcm-another-clergy-member-facing-church-trial/
and Rev. Thomas Ogletree
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=13119911
and  Rev. Steve Heiss
http://www.rmnblog.org/2013/08/rev-steve-heiss-.html
&
Edited September 7, 2013
For Offering Love – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/09/for-offering-love-v2.html
June 22, 2011
For Offering Love
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-offering-love.html
&
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
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss 
Suncook United Methodist Church
June 26, 2011
Second Sunday in Pentecost
&
note of Cynthia Good
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000252694374
on Keith Olbermann Special Comment
http://www.towleroad.com/2011/06/olbermannmarriage.html
and
Passage of gay marriage bill in New York last night
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/gay-marriage-vote-a-milestone-in-new-york/2011/06/24/AGTGZrjH_story.html?fb_ref=NetworkNews&fb_source=home_oneline
&
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,
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
http://www.rmnetwork.org/amy-delong/
&
John 8:1-11
&
June 23, 2011
Able to Breath – unedited
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/06/able-to-breath-unedited.html
&
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
&
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
 
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, 2019, 2020, 202 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, Faith, God, Christ, love, grace, purpose, calling, servant, Love Prevails, law, messenger, caring, service, judging, LGBT, equality, empathy,
 
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