In the Face of Each Stranger – v2

The face of the Christ

our Risen Savior

the One who gives us life

when we die with Him

who raises us up

on wings like eagles

who is preparing a place for us

when He comes again

The face of Jesus

in the face of each stranger

everyone we meet

all made like us

the Master in the stranger

those who appear different from us

yet all of us children

children of the Living God

Calling us to love

to share His message

to go to the ends of the earth

making disciples in His name

how can we do this if

we focus on the differences

when we are all unworthy

and need Him to live

Edited November 23, 2013

In the Face of Each Stranger – v2

July 31, 2010

In the Face of Each Stranger

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/07/in-face-of-each-stranger.html

When Christians Get it Wrong trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY

AbingtonBooks

http://www.facebook.com/AbingdonPress

by Adam Hamilton

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastor-Adam-Hamilton/338460008965

&

my comment posted to this post:

“This is a very powerful message and one that needs repeating. We as Christian deny Christ when we do not live out the Great Commission by creating barriers, stumbling blocks to Christ. We must be sowing joy, not judgment, love not division, hope not condemnation, agape love not the values of the world. Only in this are we fulfilling our call, using our gifts for God's glory.”

&

Matthew 5-7

Sermon on the Mount

&

Matthew 25:31-46

the Judgment

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 26,570+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In the Face of Each Stranger

The face of the Christ
our risen savior
who gives us life
when we die with him
who raises us up
on wings like eagles
who is preparing a place for him
when he comes again

The face of Jesus
in the face of each stranger
everyone we meet
all made like us
the master in the stranger
those who appear different from us
yet all of us children
children of the living God

Calling us to love
to share his message
to go to the ends of the earth
making disciples in his name
how can we do this if
we focus on the differences
when we are all unworthy
and need him to live


July 31, 2010
When Christians Get it Wrong trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY
AbingtonBooks
http://www.facebook.com/AbingdonPress
by Adam Hamilton
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastor-Adam-Hamilton/338460008965
&
my comment posted to this post:
“This is a very powerful message and one that needs repeating. We as Christian deny Christ when we do not live out the Great Commission by creating barriers, stumbling blocks to Christ. We must be sowing joy, not judgment, love not division, hope not condemnation, agape love not the values of the world. Only in this are we fulfilling our call, using our gifts for God's glory.”
&
Matthew 5-7
Sermon on the Mount
&
Matthew 25:31-46
the Judgment

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 19,210+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Easier to Judge

So much of the failing
the estrangement from the church
the institutions of our faith
because it is easier to judge
to separate from one another
harder, far harder
to look past our differences
to see our sister, our brother
all of us the same to God
each of us a sinner
redeemed by the savior
made worthy by his sacrifice
able then to claim the name
all of us together
sisters and brothers under the skin
all of us children of God


July 31, 2010
When Christians Get it Wrong trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY
AbingtonBooks
http://www.facebook.com/AbingdonPress
by Adam Hamilton
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastor-Adam-Hamilton/338460008965
&
my comment posted to this post:
“This is a very powerful message and one that needs repeating. We as Christian deny Christ when we do not live out the Great Commission by creating barriers, stumbling blocks to Christ. We must be sowing joy, not judgment, love not division, hope not condemnation, agape love not the values of the world. Only in this are we fulfilling our call, using our gifts for God's glory.”
&
Matthew 5-7
Sermon on the Mount
&
Matthew 25:31-46
the Judgment


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 19,210+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Hidden Rules

Hidden rules
secret handshakes
whether we say “debts”
or “trespasses”,
how we do this or that
whether you may participate
or remain a guest
all of these
the way it is done
closing others out,
whether we know it or not,
that they may not be friends
missing Christ’s point
his command
to love one another
that all may enter in

July 31, 2010
When Christians Get it Wrong trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY
AbingtonBooks
http://www.facebook.com/AbingdonPress
by Adam Hamilton
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastor-Adam-Hamilton/338460008965
&
my comment posted to this post:
“This is a very powerful message and one that needs repeating. We as Christian deny Christ when we do not live out the Great Commission by creating barriers, stumbling blocks to Christ. We must be sowing joy, not judgment, love not division, hope not condemnation, agape love not the values of the world. Only in this are we fulfilling our call, using our gifts for God's glory.”
&
Matthew 5-7
Sermon on the Mount
&
Matthew 25:31-46
the Judgment


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Different from Us

So easy, to focus on differences
how we are not alike
on the outside alone
forgetting how we all
are loved children of God
how we are to care
for all of God’s creation
all of our neighbors
even our enemies
worthy by the Christ
grace to save the whole world
embracing each one
our brothers and sisters
deep under the skin


July 31, 2010
When Christians Get it Wrong trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY
AbingtonBooks
http://www.facebook.com/AbingdonPress
by Adam Hamilton
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastor-Adam-Hamilton/338460008965
&
my comment posted to this post:
“This is a very powerful message and one that needs repeating. We as Christian deny Christ when we do not live out the Great Commission by creating barriers, stumbling blocks to Christ. We must be sowing joy, not judgment, love not division, hope not condemnation, agape love not the values of the world. Only in this are we fulfilling our call, using our gifts for God's glory.”
&
Matthew 5-7
Sermon on the Mount
&
Matthew 25:31-46
the Judgment


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 19,210+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

But He’s not wearing a tie

Have you ever heard the comment
noticed the body language
someone different
maybe not in “church” attire
the eyes saying, maybe,
at least he came to church;
“But he’s not wearing a tie”

Have you ever thought that baby
in the fourth pew, being loud
the five year old
fighting with their sibling
maybe they should be in the nursery
before the children’s message
maybe they don’t fit

So many examples
when we fail to be Christians
so sure of ourselves
forgetting his message
the example of Christ
God emptying himself
to live humbly on the earth
his words in the Beatitudes,
his Sermon on the Mount

So different than ourselves
and the original twelve
too quick to judge others
as the Pharisees had done
ready to use rules, tradition
our sense of right and wrong
setting ourselves apart
causing lasting harm

What would Jesus do
if he entered into our midst
dressed with his robe and sandals
not a newly pressed suit
unshaven, from the dusty road
coming into our midst
would we welcome him
to sit next to us in our assigned pew?

July 31, 2010
When Christians Get it Wrong trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY
AbingtonBooks
http://www.facebook.com/AbingdonPress
by Adam Hamilton
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastor-Adam-Hamilton/338460008965
&
my comment posted to this post:
“This is a very powerful message and one that needs repeating. We as Christian deny Christ when we do not live out the Great Commission by creating barriers, stumbling blocks to Christ. We must be sowing joy, not judgment, love not division, hope not condemnation, agape love not the values of the world. Only in this are we fulfilling our call, using our gifts for God's glory.”
&
Matthew 5-7
Sermon on the Mount


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

When Christians Get it Wrong trailer

This is a very powerful message and one that needs repeating. We as Christian deny Christ when we do not live out the Great Commission by creating barriers, stumbling blocks to Christ. We must be sowing joy, not judgment, love not division, hope not condemnation, agape love not the values of the world. Only in this are we fulfilling our call, using our gifts for God's glory.
July 31, 2010
When Christians Get it Wrong trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY
AbingtonBooks
http://www.facebook.com/AbingdonPress
by Adam Hamilton
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastor-Adam-Hamilton/338460008965


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 19,130+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.