Parables – haiku – 2 – v2

Simple stories told

deep, rich meaning profound;

God’s Spirit in Law

--------------------

edited December 19, 2015

Parables – haiku – 2 – v2

February 3, 2009

Parables – haiku – 2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/02/parables-haiku-2.html

&

edited December 19, 2015

Parables – haiku – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/parables-haiku-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited July 13, 2015

Parables – haiku – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/parables-haiku-v2.html

January 4, 2009

Parables – haiku

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/parables-haiku.html

Matthew 13:10-17, Mark 3:10-20, and Luke 8:9-10

1 Corinthians 14:13-19 and sermon,

“Speaking in Language I Can Understand”,

by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,

Suncook United Methodist Church,

Suncook, NH

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 40,410+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Parables – haiku – v3

Lessons, simple words

God’s promise, God’s love for us

in words we can hear

======

edited December 19, 2015

Parables – haiku – v3

(editing original again)

edited July 13, 2015

Parables – haiku – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/parables-haiku-v2.html

January 4, 2009

Parables – haiku

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/parables-haiku.html

Matthew 13:10-17, Mark 3:10-20, and Luke 8:9-10

1 Corinthians 14:13-19 and sermon,

“Speaking in Language I Can Understand”,

by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,

Suncook United Methodist Church,

Suncook, NH

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 40,410+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Parables – haiku – v2

Lessons, simple truths;

Rich meaning, God’s love for us;

Words we understand

======

edited December 19, 2015

Parables – haiku – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/parables-haiku-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited July 13, 2015

Parables – haiku – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/parables-haiku-v2.html

January 4, 2009

Parables – haiku

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/parables-haiku.html

Matthew 13:10-17, Mark 3:10-20, and Luke 8:9-10

1 Corinthians 14:13-19 and sermon,

“Speaking in Language I Can Understand”,

by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,

Suncook United Methodist Church,

Suncook, NH

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 40,410+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Healed by God – v2

Ten were sent to the priests

to be made clean;

but one was healed, saved of his sins

by returning and praising God,

who had healed Him

the others ungrateful

missing their chance

they were not healed

because of their arrogance

----

edited June 25, 2014

Healed by God – v2

October 9, 2007  6:30am

Healed by God

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/10/healed-by-god.html

Luke 17:11-19

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 30,720+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Boldness of the Spirit – v2

Four books of sheep, Gospel, Good News

these timid, unsure followers

fearful and obtuse about the incredible journey

their role, these fishers of men

The first to hear the Master’s voice,

the Good Shepherd, the narrow gate,

the light of salvation

burning within

Lifted by tongues of fire

infused with power

emboldened with the will to speak,

to bear witness, to life

With new-found wisdom

and backbone of the Spirit

coursing through their veins

transforming sheep to shepherds

Followers into disciples

boldly proclaiming the Good News

to the ends of the world

inexplicably, without hindrance

Continued by each new generation

in its own terms, in its own time

for us in this place

to shine God’s grace

----

edited June 11, 2014

Boldness of the Spirit – v2

Acts 2:1-21

Pentecost

5/28/06 8:51pm
Boldness of the Spirit

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/05/boldness-of-spirit.html

Acts 2:1-36 and 4:8-31

Pentecost

and the bold preaching of the original disciples

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 30,320+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

God Came Again – v2

The babe in the manger

was not the first time God

walked on the earth,

shared breath with creation,

with mortal man

It was the Garden, the holy garden

when God and Adam and Eve

were together, able to see

and be seen, to feel the warmth

of God with them in person

Before the fall, the shame,

the stain of the first sin

Breaking the bond

the iniquity plain

Never the same, shattered

until the Father was the Son

and Jesus was born in Bethlehem

Come to save us

to heal the breach

Edited April 23, 2013

“God Came Again – v2”

after Austin Masterson

included the original in a student assignment

Roswell, NM

December 14, 2006 21:54

“God Came Again”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/12/god-came-again.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 23,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Our Brothers and Sisters

Those like the unclean man
possessed by some demon
different than us
maybe not dressed right

Late into the night
people coming to the curbside
looking for something
out of the pile of trash

Urged by the writer
considering these people
our brothers and sisters
sitting next to us in the pews

What would we do
if they sat down beside us
different than us
some possessed still by demons
needing a place too
in the family of God


June 20, 2010
yard sale
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
June 19, 2010
after we left all the remaining items
on the curb for free

&
Luke 8:26-39
and
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=645177&whichBarItem=excerpt&category=&sub_category=
Upper Room Disciplines for 2010
for June 14, 2010 to June 20, 2010,
“Divine Communion, Divine Community”
by Karla Kincannon
for June 20, 2010,
read June 20, 2010




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 21,090+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Taming the Winds

Roused from his peace, his slumber
the panicked disciples
failing to trust
Taming the winds
calming the waters
Christ alone
can give us true peace


June 20, 2010
Mark 4:35-30,
as the scripture for the day was misidentified,
as the story was about Luke 8:26-39
and
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=645177&whichBarItem=excerpt&category=&sub_category=
Upper Room Disciplines for 2010
for June 14, 2010 to June 20, 2010,
“Divine Communion, Divine Community”
by Karla Kincannon
for June 20, 2010,
read June 20, 2010




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 21,090+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

My Clay

Praying, in the quiet of my heart
my clay, giving myself
my heart, my all
becoming a vessel
worthy for God’s purposes
filled with God’s love
His living water
pure, refreshing
waters for the soul
Let me pour them out,
sharing them, my clay still wet
dripping with the waters of your love


September 19, 2009
Alive Now daily reflection for September 19, 2009,
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-september-14-20/
the poem, “A Vessel”, by Roberta Porter
and the prayer for the week
and suggested scripture,
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Psalm 1:1-6
Luke 9:57-62
Acts 9:1-9
and
Romans 5:1-12
Romans 5:1-5
Jeremiah 2:1-13
Jeremiah 2:13
Call to Worship
Unison Prayer
& sermon, “Human Limitations and Unlimited Grace”
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
http://www.suncookumc.org/
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
9/13/09

Casting the Starfish

Into the sea, the starfish
casting them back into the living waters
giving them a chance, an opportunity
a choice of life
in the loving arms
the warm embrace
the seas of the father
Spreading the message of the son
the grace of the trinity
living within us
Casting starfish into the sea


August 24, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009
and
visit on August 6, 2009
to Beavertail Lighthouse
and rocks below
Jamestown, Rhode Island
www.beavertaillight.org

A Widow’s Gift

Out of love
out of the depth of her faith
more pleasing to God
than all the others, all the powerful,
the pious, the rich,
not to its value
but for its worth, its holy worth,
the meaning in the way she gave
when compared to theirs
She gave out of her poverty, all she had,
they from their wealthy, a meager portion indeed
She gave all, all she had
they gave only a proportionate share

updated October 11, 2008
November 19 and November 23, 2007 5:48pm
Luke 20:45-21:4
The scribe and the widow’s offering
part of the sermon, “The Widow’s Might”,
by the Reverend Peter Hey,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH, November 18, 2007
October 15, 2008
Blog Action Day, poverty

People of the Waters

Spiritual beings, on an earthly journey
peoples of the waters,
missionaries on the dry land
finding those in pain
those thirsty for the waters
calling them, bringing them
showing them the way
back into the waters of life


August 16, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009
and
visit on August 6, 2009
to Beavertail Lighthouse
and rocks below
Jamestown, Rhode Island
www.beavertaillight.org

Stars on the Beach

Metaphors of our lives
choices we each must make
living in relationship
people of the water
the living waters of Christ

Stars on the beach
people wandering in the world
lost, unconnected with the creator
Reach for the stars
cast them back into the sea
Reach out to our neighbors
tell tem of God’s grace
welcome them into the family


August 15, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009
and
visit on August 6, 2009
to Beavertail Lighthouse
and rocks below
Jamestown, Rhode Island
www.beavertaillight.org

At the Water’s Edge

At the water’s edge
the tides licking at the stones,
the rocks, shells, the sand
lessons of the sermon
real, present, immediate
Starfish, cast by the tides,
hanging tight, held to the rocks
the marginal land
between the air and the water
Choosing, acting
to return them to the sea
to send the wayward back into the waters
life and death
at the water’s edge


August 15, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009
and
visit on August 6, 2009
to Beavertail Lighthouse
and rocks below
Jamestown, Rhode Island
www.beavertaillight.org

Cupped in my hand

Alive, moving in my hands
the arms stretching, turning;
already warmed, by the sun above
a starfish, pulled from the rocks
beyond of the water’s edge,
shortly after low tide ebb

Setting my footing
on the sand, the barnacles,
the smooth sand-polished shale
watching for my audience
casting the starfish
out into the sea

Another starfish, found by the girls
another rescue to complete
returned to the sea
the weight of the starfish
the reminder of our choices
to make a difference
to be an actor in the world


August 9, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009
and
visit on August 6, 2009
to Beavertail Lighthouse
and rocks below
Jamestown, Rhode Island
www.beavertaillight.org

The Weight of the Starfish

Called by the girls, to their shape
the starfish beyond the water’s reach
in the shrinking pools
the rocks drying in the air
the rust pink of the starfish
alive outside the sea

The weight of the starfish
nestled in my hand
Feeling the message, the lesson
alive in my hands;
casting the starfish
back into the sea.

Repeating the scene
for three more starfish
returning them to the ocean,
each caught in that in-between place
the warming stones
before the cooling of the waters


August 9, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009
and
visit on August 6, 2009
to Beavertail Lighthouse
and rocks below
Jamestown, Rhode Island
www.beavertaillight.org

As we eat the bread

As we eat of the bread
prayerfully aware,
The single loaf,
the one way
the bread that gives life
His body, given for us
broken and shared
offering us a way
back to the Father,
the creator who sent him
whom he alone has seen
Mortal and divine
the son, our brother
the savior of all


August 5, 2009
John 6:35, 41-51
and Alive Now Daily Reflection
for August 5, 2009
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-august-3-9/
John 6:24-35
Alive Now Daily Reflections
for July 30, 2009
http://alivenow.upperroom.org/daily-reflections/daily-reflections-for-july-27-august-2/
and
John 6:24-27
The Upper Room Disciplines 2009
for July 30, 2009
and
John 6:35a, Revised Standard Version
John 6:35a, New Century Version
John 6:28-35
The Upper Room Disciplines 2009
for July 31, 2009
Communion
Matthew 26:14-30
Matthew 26:26-28
Mark 14:12-26
Mark 14:24-26
Luke 22:1-30
Luke 22:14-23
Luke 22:14-20
John 6:53-59
John 13:1-30
John 13:21-30
John 13:27-30

My Starfish

Like the man, the star thrower,
reaching down, into the warm skin of the water
touching the warming sand,
throwing star fish into the sea
returning them to the living waters
not walking by, not ignoring their fate
to die in the receding tide

His calling, his urging,
to save those he can
to act, not just observe
following his purpose
his special gift

Like the man, each of us
a special calling, a part of God’s plan
to reach down, to lift up,
to serve one another
to offer God’s love,
as we are especially able

Words on the page,
an image of grace, agape love;
a picture conjured in the mind’s eye
these are some of my starfish
cast into the ocean of the web
out into the world,
sharing the hope, the assurance
the certainty of God’s hand
resting upon the waters, upon our lives
God doing a new thing, out of his infinite love
seeking us, pursuing us, offering himself for us
his limitless gifts, even in our times of struggle
offering hope for a future
beyond our comprehension


July 29, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009

Hope for the Future

The future, a new thing
God’s hand ever upon us
a hope for the future
in the prophet’s words
the words assuring
the people, the nation
God, the actor, doing a new thing
at work in the world
bringing His love, His grace
His message, the Good News
alive and among us
creating a hopeful future
for all of His people
the sheep of His flock
the workers in the vineyard


July 28, 2009 and July 29, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009

Giving Words of Hope

In the midst of their exile
the people scattered, suffering
The prophet, speaking
giving words of hope
to the people of the law

More than comfort, words to uplift
a promise for the future
grounded, rooted
in the creator’s faithfulness
the unmerited love
everlasting grace
over and over
the history of the people

There with them
through the waters
within the fires
a prophecy, a promise
a future assured
the covenants fulfilled
God making a new thing
revealed in His time.


July 28, 2009
Psalm 92:1-4
Isaiah 43:18-21
Luke 12:54-56
and sermon, “The View from Seven Decades:
The Power and Danger of Paradigms”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 19, 2009
and
Psalm 100
Luke 4:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Isaiah 43:18-21
and sermon, “The Power of Vision”,
by the Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
including, The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker,
inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley,
Suncook United Methodist Church
July 26, 2009