Like water chiseling stone

Persistently, slowly, relentlessly,
God changes our hatred into love,
even love for our enemies,
like water chiseling stone.
 
God softens our hard places,
our edges, the danger of our emotions;
God reshapes, God reforms our clay,
our bodies Into God’s image.
 
---------------
Edited January 7, 2024
Like water chiseling stone
 
Edited January 7, 2024
Like water chiseling rock – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/like-water-chiseling-rock-v2.html
January 7, 2024
Like water chiseling rock
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/like-water-chiseling-rock.html
Edited January 7, 2024
In His Ministry – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/in-his-ministry-v4.html
edited January 20, 2015
In His Ministry – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-his-ministry-v3.html
(editing version 1 again)
January 21, 2013
In His Ministry – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-his-ministry-v2.html
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
and his final speech before his assassination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk&feature=youtu.be
and Inauguration of the President
Barack Hussein Obama
Invocation
by Myrlie Evers-Williams
http://bcove.me/ugv9l9qy
Inaugural Address
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/president-barack-obamas-2013-inaugural-address-full-text-86497.html
&
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-just-dream-reality.html
&
several poems written in 2009
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/search/label/Martin%20Luther%20King
on the juxtaposition of the
80^th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
January 18, 2009
In His Ministry
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/in-his-ministry.html
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
&
edited January 19, 2015
Changing the Wind – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-wind-v3.html
(merging edits to original and version 2)
Edited July 22, 2013
changing the wind – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/changing-wind-v2.html
December 7, 2007
changing the wind
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/changing-wind.html
Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on
Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/jimwallis/index.shtml
He was talking about whether to change politicians
or change the wind, to change the public opinion
which guides politics. He used the example
of President Johnson’s statement to the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would
take 5 years for a voting rights bill but
it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,
after the March in Selma.
 
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, 2021, 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, America, Barack Obama, dream, faith, Family, God, hope, joy, Joshua, justice, love, Martin Luther King, MLK, Obama, prayer, President Obama, savior, Moses, Inauguration,
 
#poetry #America #BarackObama #dream #faith #Family #God #hope #joy #Joshua #justice #love #MLK #MLKDay #PresidentObama #Moses #Biden #Trump
 
----------------
poetry, God, Christ, Savior, America, dream, faith, Family, hope, justice, love, prayer, Martin Luther King, MLK, Moses, Joshua, Obama, Biden, Trump,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #savior #America #dream #faith #Family #hope #justice #love #prayer #Joshua #Moses #MLK #MLKDay #Obama #Biden #Trump

Like water chiseling rock – v2

Persistently, slowly, relentlessly,
God changes our hate into love,
even love for our enemies,
like water chiseling rock.
 
God softens our hard places,
our edges, the danger of our emotions,
God reshapes, God reforms our clay,
our bodies Into God’s image.
 
---------------
Edited January 7, 2024
Like water chiseling rock – v2
 
January 7, 2024
Like water chiseling rock
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/like-water-chiseling-rock.html
Edited January 7, 2024
In His Ministry – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/in-his-ministry-v4.html
edited January 20, 2015
In His Ministry – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-his-ministry-v3.html
(editing version 1 again)
January 21, 2013
In His Ministry – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-his-ministry-v2.html
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
and his final speech before his assassination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk&feature=youtu.be
and Inauguration of the President
Barack Hussein Obama
Invocation
by Myrlie Evers-Williams
http://bcove.me/ugv9l9qy
Inaugural Address
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/president-barack-obamas-2013-inaugural-address-full-text-86497.html
&
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-just-dream-reality.html
&
several poems written in 2009
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/search/label/Martin%20Luther%20King
on the juxtaposition of the
80^th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
January 18, 2009
In His Ministry
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/in-his-ministry.html
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
&
edited January 19, 2015
Changing the Wind – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-wind-v3.html
(merging edits to original and version 2)
Edited July 22, 2013
changing the wind – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/changing-wind-v2.html
December 7, 2007
changing the wind
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/changing-wind.html
Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on
Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/jimwallis/index.shtml
He was talking about whether to change politicians
or change the wind, to change the public opinion
which guides politics. He used the example
of President Johnson’s statement to the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would
take 5 years for a voting rights bill but
it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,
after the March in Selma.
 
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, 2021, 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, America, Barack Obama, dream, faith, Family, God, hope, joy, Joshua, justice, love, Martin Luther King, MLK, Obama, prayer, President Obama, savior, Moses, Trump, Biden,
 
#poetry #America #BarackObama #dream #faith #Family #God #hope #joy #Joshua #justice #love #MLK #MLKDay #PresidentObama #Moses
 
 

Like water chiseling rock

Slowly, relentless, persistent,
changing hate into love,
even love for our enemies,
like water chiseling rock.
 
Softening the hard places,
the edges, the danger,
reshaping, reforming our clay,
our bodies Into God’s image.
 
---------------
January 7, 2024
Like water chiseling rock
 
Edited January 7, 2024
In His Ministry – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/01/in-his-ministry-v4.html
edited January 20, 2015
In His Ministry – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-his-ministry-v3.html
(editing version 1 again)
January 21, 2013
In His Ministry – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-his-ministry-v2.html
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
and his final speech before his assassination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk&feature=youtu.be
and Inauguration of the President
Barack Hussein Obama
Invocation
by Myrlie Evers-Williams
http://bcove.me/ugv9l9qy
Inaugural Address
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/president-barack-obamas-2013-inaugural-address-full-text-86497.html
&
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-just-dream-reality.html
&
several poems written in 2009
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/search/label/Martin%20Luther%20King
on the juxtaposition of the
80^th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
January 18, 2009
In His Ministry
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/in-his-ministry.html
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
&
edited January 19, 2015
Changing the Wind – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-wind-v3.html
(merging edits to original and version 2)
Edited July 22, 2013
changing the wind – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/changing-wind-v2.html
December 7, 2007
changing the wind
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/changing-wind.html
Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on
Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/jimwallis/index.shtml
He was talking about whether to change politicians
or change the wind, to change the public opinion
which guides politics. He used the example
of President Johnson’s statement to the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would
take 5 years for a voting rights bill but
it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,
after the March in Selma.
 
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, 2021, 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, America, Barack Obama, dream, faith, Family, God, hope, joy, Joshua, justice, love, Martin Luther King, MLK, Obama, prayer, President Obama, savior, Moses, Inauguration,
 
#poetry #America #BarackObama #dream #faith #Family #God #hope #joy #Joshua #justice #love #MLK #MLKDay #PresidentObama #Moses #Inauguration
 
 

In His Ministry – v4

In his ministry, echoes, reflections,
mirroring the Savior’s words
the path that the Christ walked,
living out the words proclaimed
on the mountainside in his sermon
the words of love, even for our enemies,
even those actively tormenting, persecuting us,
those who would harm us, for being who we are.
 
These words, guiding his steps, his ministry,
his non-violent response, to the violence,
to the oppression, that right would triumph,
that the just God would watch over
all of God’s people, that we as a nation,
would overcome the legacy of hate,
that Christ’s love, His example,
preached on the mountainside,
would transform the world, finally,
enemies no more, living together,
together walking across that divide,
into a promised land of peace.
 
Struggling when there was darkness,
continuing in the work of our brother,
bringing hope into the dark world,
never giving up, always trusting in God,
ever honoring the Master’s call,
changing hate into love,
even love for our enemies,
like water chiseling rock.
 
=====
Edited January 7, 2024
In His Ministry – v4
 
edited January 20, 2015
In His Ministry – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-his-ministry-v3.html
(editing version 1 again)
January 21, 2013
In His Ministry – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-his-ministry-v2.html
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
and his final speech before his assassination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk&feature=youtu.be
and Inauguration of the President
Barack Hussein Obama
Invocation
by Myrlie Evers-Williams
http://bcove.me/ugv9l9qy
Inaugural Address
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/president-barack-obamas-2013-inaugural-address-full-text-86497.html
&
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-just-dream-reality.html
&
several poems written in 2009
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/search/label/Martin%20Luther%20King
on the juxtaposition of the
80^th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
January 18, 2009
In His Ministry
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/in-his-ministry.html
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/
&
edited January 19, 2015
Changing the Wind – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-wind-v3.html
(merging edits to original and version 2)
Edited July 22, 2013
changing the wind – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/changing-wind-v2.html
December 7, 2007
changing the wind
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/changing-wind.html
Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on
Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/jimwallis/index.shtml
He was talking about whether to change politicians
or change the wind, to change the public opinion
which guides politics. He used the example
of President Johnson’s statement to the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would
take 5 years for a voting rights bill but
it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,
after the March in Selma.
 
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, 2021, 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, America, Barack Obama, dream, faith, Family, God, hope, joy, Joshua, justice, love, Martin Luther King, MLK, Obama, prayer, President Obama, savior, Moses, Inauguration,
 
#poetry #America #BarackObama #dream #faith #Family #God #hope #joy #Joshua #justice #love #MLKDay #PresidentObama #Moses #Inauguration
 

Claiming Martin - v4 (repost)

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/claiming-martin-v2.html

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

and his final speech before his assassination

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk&feature=youtu.be

and Inauguration of the President

Barack Hussein Obama

&

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-just-dream-reality.html

&

several poems written in 2009

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/search/label/Martin%20Luther%20King

written January 17, 2009

Claiming Martin

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/claiming-martin.html

on the juxtaposition of the

80^th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

and the inauguration of Barack Obama

as President of the United States of America

&

edited January 19, 2015

Changing the Wind – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-wind-v3.html

(merging edits to original and version 2)

Edited July 22, 2013

“changing the wind – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/changing-wind-v2.html

December 7, 2007

“changing the wind”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/changing-wind.html

Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on

Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/jimwallis/index.shtml

He was talking about whether to change politicians

or change the wind, to change the public opinion

which guides politics. He used the example

of President Johnson’s statement to the

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would

take 5 years for a voting rights bill but

it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,

after the March in Selma.

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, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at <a href="mailto:raymondafoss@gmail.com">Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)</a> for usage. See all 40,710+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

America, Barack Obama, dream, faith, Family, God, hope, joy, Joshua, justice, love, Martin Luther King, Obama, prayer, President Obama, savior, Moses, Inauguration, UMC, United States

#America #BarackObama #dream #faith #Family #God #hope #joy #Joshua #justice #love #MLKDay #PresidentObama #Moses #Inauguration #Inaug2013 #UnitedStates #mantle

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 and 2021. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Share the Light

#Share the #light
the #holy #fire
#winds of #change #burning
ablazen with you #Love
All of us #equal
#flawed yet #perfect
all lives matter
both black and white.

#poem #poetry #hope #Pentecost #BLM #BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #MedgarEvers #MartinLutherKingJr #prayer

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

sowing seeds of the kingdom

#sowing #seeds of the #kingdom
in the #fields #Christ has prepared
#commissioned as He was
to share #God's loving word;
sent to be a #blessing
to offer #love #hope
sent into the fields, the #vineyards
#beloved #children of #God.

#John17:18
#poem #poetry

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

commissioned for a purpose

#commissioned for a #purpose
made in the #image of #Christ
sent into the world as He was
a #mortal #child of #God;
sent to be a #blessing
to #shine the light of #Christ
sent, commissioned
a #beloved #child of #God.

#John17:18
#poem #poetry https://t.co/ZQF43Nux4W #GeorgeFloyd

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

what we sow

what we #sow we will #reap
first #fruits of our efforts
where we sow our #seeds
our #time, our #energy, our #resources
sowing seed into ourselves, the world
or sowing seeds for the #Kingdom

#poem #poetry #hope @PastorRuthFoss https://www.facebook.com/groups/2096806100400276/permalink/3022791087801768/

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

we are sent by Jesus

we are sent by #Jesus
to be His #love, His #Light
we are sent as He was by the Father
our #Creator, our #God
we are to be His #witnesses
His Hands and His Feet
we are to be the voice in the wilderness
cring for #justice in the streets

#COVID19 #BlackLivesMatter #poem #poetry #hope

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

we must be the change

a prayerful reminding
binding us in worship
living out the dreams
of Martin, of our elders.

we must be the change
the hopes of our people
the change we want to see
no exceptions, no dividing walls.

everyone, anyone, welcome
part of one circle
our nation, our family,
one nation under God.

6/7/20
we need to be the change

Followers of the Way
sermon by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://www.facebook.com/groups/343150586366899/permalink/553577121990910/


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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

we need to be the change

a prayerful reminding
binding us in worship
living out the dreams
of Martin, of our elders.

we need to be the change
the hopes of our people
the change we want to see
no exceptions, no dividing walls.

everyone, anyone, welcome
part of one circle
our nation, our family,
one nation under God.

6/7/20
we need to be the change


Followers of the Way
sermon by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://www.facebook.com/groups/343150586366899/permalink/553577121990910/
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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Words are dangerous – v3

Cavalier, careless, unthinking

shot from our mouths

the sword of our tongues

Seeking gain, advantage

at the expense of our neighbors

A constant battle, raging,

our approach to discourse

Words are dangerous, a rapier,

when grounded in the world

the stuff of the earth, the flesh;

We are called to a different way

of love from our musings

to offer Christ to all

a light to the whole earth

Let Love inform our language

let Jesus guide our words

our struggles for justice

may we hear the words of old

Calling us to be God’s servants

to offer love to all, the other,

all the people on the earth

The guiding of our Savior

lived out in His journey

of offering love, forgiveness,

even when we were persecuting

when we denied our Maker

when we pierced our Brother’s hands

lifting Him on the tree

Christ forgiving, words uplifting,

at the moment of His anguish

abandoned and dying

that we would be free

Bearing witness

the power of that example

a light to the nations

hope for the whole world

====

edited August 30, 2019

words are dangerous – v3

edited January 20, 2015

Words are dangerous – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/words-are-dangerous-v2.html

January 17, 2011

Words are dangerous

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/01/words-are-dangerous.html

edited January 20, 2015

Thinking Before We Speak – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/thinking-before-we-speak-v2.html

January 17, 2011

Thinking Before We Speak

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/01/thinking-before-we-speak.html

edited January 20, 2015

Christ forgiving – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/christ-forgiving-v2.html

January 17, 2011

Christ forgiving

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/01/christ-forgiving.html

edited January 19, 2015

Words can Destroy – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/words-can-destroy-v2.html

January 17, 2011

Words can Destroy

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/01/words-can-destroy.html

edited January 20, 2015

Words to Edify – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/words-to-edify-v2.html

January 17, 2011

Words to Edify

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/01/words-to-edify.html

The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr._Day

&

Isaiah 9:1-4

and

Upper Room Disciplines for 2011

http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=831781

for January 17 to 23, 2011

“Carrying God’s Light”

by Cathie McFadden

for January 17, 2011

read January 17, 2011

&

Isaiah 6:1-8

&

Isaiah 49:1-7

John 1:29-42

Worship Theme: “Called by God to . . .”

and sermon, “A Light to the Nations”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/01/sermon-light-to-nations-by-pastor-ruth.html

by Pastor Ruth Foss

https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss

http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss

http://www.pstruthsermons.blogspot.com

sermon blog

http://www.pstrruthfoss.blogspot.com

meditation blog

http://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/

“God’s Whisper” blog

Suncook United Methodist Church

Suncook, NH

January 16, 2011

Second Sunday after Epiphany

Human Relations Sunday

http://www.umcgiving.org/site/c.qwL6KkNWLrH/b.3833821/k.5074/Special_Sunday__Human_Relations_Day__Overview.htm

&

edited January 19, 2015

Changing the Wind – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-wind-v3.html

(merging edits to original and version 2)

Edited July 22, 2013

“changing the wind – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/changing-wind-v2.html

December 7, 2007

“changing the wind”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/changing-wind.html

Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on

Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/jimwallis/index.shtml

He was talking about whether to change politicians

or change the wind, to change the public opinion

which guides politics. He used the example

of President Johnson’s statement to the

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would

take 5 years for a voting rights bill but

it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,

after the March in Selma.

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 51,700+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Faith, God, Christ, love, grace, Methodist, Upper Room, Isaiah 9, light to the nations, calling, God’s purpose, Pastor Ruth Foss, Isaiah 49, Martin Luther King, MLK,

#Faith #God #Christ #love #grace #Isaiah 9 #light to the nations #calling #purpose #Isaiah 49 #MLKDay #MartinLutherKingJr

Changing the Wind – v8

A strategy of resistance

of standing for justice, a movement

A groundswell of mercy, of caring

comes from changing the wind.

Giving new direction for the weathervanes

politicians with their wet fingers up in the air

catching the wind and where it points.

Changing the wind, the dialogue, the language

altering the compass heading, the pole, the goal

changing the wind, bending the arc of history

standing true to the one cause of justice.

-----  

edited August 30, 2019

Changing the Wind – v8

edited January 16, 2017

Changing the Wind – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/01/changing-wind-v6.html

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2017

(editing original)

&

edited October 15, 2015

changing the wind – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/changing-wind-v5_15.html

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/changing-wind-v5.html

(editing version 2)

edited January 23, 2015

Changing the Wind – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-wind-v4.html

(editing original again)

edited January 19, 2015

Changing the Wind – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-wind-v3.html

(merging edits to original and version 2)

Edited July 22, 2013

“changing the wind – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/changing-wind-v2.html

December 7, 2007

“changing the wind”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/changing-wind.html

Based on the comments of Jim Wallis on

Speaking of Faith, November 29, 2007

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/jimwallis/index.shtml

He was talking about whether to change politicians

or change the wind, to change the public opinion

which guides politics. He used the example

of President Johnson’s statement to the

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that it would

take 5 years for a voting rights bill but

it actually took 5 months to pass the Voting Rights Act,

after the March in Selma.

&

edited January 14, 2017

Changing the World – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/01/changing-world-v6.html

(editing version 3)

two days before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and

six days before the end of the Obama Presidency

edited October 31, 2015

Changing the World – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/changing-world-v5.html

(editing original)

edited February 2, 2015

Changing the World – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/02/changing-world-v4.html

(merging edits to version 3 and version 2)

edited January 20, 2015

Changing the World – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-world-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 21, 2013

Changing the World – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/changing-world-v2.html

January 18, 2009

Changing the World

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/changing-world.html

edited December 3, 2015

Words in Quotes – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/words-in-quotes-v5.html

(merging edits to version 2 and version 4)

edited December 1, 2015

Words in Quotes – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/words-in-quotes-v4.html

(editing version 2)

edited October 31, 2015

Changing the World – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/changing-world-v5.html

(editing original)

edited February 2, 2015

Changing the World – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/02/changing-world-v4.html

(merging edits to version 3 and version 2)

edited January 20, 2015

Changing the World – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/changing-world-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 21, 2013

Changing the World – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/changing-world-v2.html

January 18, 2009

Changing the World

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/changing-world.html

edited January 20, 2015

Power in His Words – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/power-in-his-words-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

Fighting Evil – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/fighting-evil-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

Love Liberates – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/love-liberates-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

The Power of His Words – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-power-of-his-words-v3.html

edited January 20, 2015

Living Christ’s Words – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/living-christs-words-v3.html 

edited January 20, 2015

Not Words of Weakness – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/not-words-of-weakness-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

Hatred – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/hatred-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

Radical Words – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/radical-words-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

Understanding this moment – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/understanding-this-moment-v3.html

edited January 20, 2015

Forty Years – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/forty-years-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

Seeing Joshua – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/seeing-joshua-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

Choosing the Cross – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/choosing-cross-v3.html

(editing original again)

 edited January 20, 2015

Before Martin – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/before-martin-v3.html

edited January 20, 2015

Echoes of the Desert – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/echoes-of-desert-v4.html

(editing version 1 again)

edited April 8, 2014

Echoes of the Desert – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/echoes-of-desert-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

In His Ministry – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-his-ministry-v3.html

(editing version 1 again)

edited January 20, 2015

The Question – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-question-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

Always Torture – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/always-torture-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

The Hills of Zion – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-hills-of-zion-v3.html

(editing version 1 again)

edited January 20, 2015

Is He Joshua – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/is-he-joshua-v3.html

(edited version 1 again)

edited January 20, 2015

Lofty Words – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/lofty-words-v3.html

(editing original again)

edited January 20, 2015

understanding a moment – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/understanding-moment-v3.html

(editing version 1 again)

edited January 20, 2015

Words in Quotes – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/words-in-quotes-v3.html

(editing version 1 again)

edited January 20, 2015

Words that Bind – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/words-that-bind-v3.html

(editing version 1 again)

edited January 20, 2015

Words chosen for a nation – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/words-chosen-for-nation-v3.html

(editing version 1 again)

&

edited January 21, 2013

Power in His Words – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/power-in-his-words-v2.html

edited January 21, 2013

Fighting Evil – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/fighting-evil-v2.html

edited January 21, 2013

Love Liberates – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/love-liberates-v2.html

edited January 21, 2013

The Power of His Words – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-power-of-his-words-v2.html

edited January 21, 2013

Living Christ’s Words – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/living-christs-words-v2.html

edited January 21, 2013

Not Words of Weakness – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/not-words-of-weakness-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Hatred – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/hatred-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Radical Words – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/radical-words-v2.html

edited January 21, 2013

Understanding this moment – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/understanding-this-moment-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Forty Years – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/forty-years-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Seeing Joshua – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/seeing-joshua-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Choosing the Cross – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/choosing-cross-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Before Martin – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/before-martin-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Echoes of the Desert – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/echoes-of-desert-v2.html

January 21, 2013

In His Ministry – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-his-ministry-v2.html

January 21, 2013

The Question – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-question-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Always Torture – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/always-torture-v2.html

January 21, 2013

The Hills of Zion – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-hills-of-zion-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Is He Joshua – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/is-he-joshua-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Lofty Words – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/lofty-words-v2.html

January 21, 2013

understanding a moment – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/understanding-moment-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Words in Quotes – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/words-in-quotes-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Words that Bind – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/words-that-bind-v2.html

January 21, 2013

Words chosen for a nation – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/words-chosen-for-nation-v2.html

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

and his final speech before his assassination

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk&feature=youtu.be

and Inauguration of the President

Barack Hussein Obama

Invocation

by Myrlie Evers-Williams

http://bcove.me/ugv9l9qy

Inaugural Address

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/president-barack-obamas-2013-inaugural-address-full-text-86497.html

&

several poems written in 2009

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/search/label/Martin%20Luther%20King

on the juxtaposition of the

80^th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

and the inauguration of Barack Obama

as President of the United States of America

January 17, 2009

understanding a moment

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/understanding-moment.html

January 17, 2009

Words in Quotes

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/words-in-quotes.html

January 17, 2009

Words chosen for a nation

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/words-chosen-for-nation.html

January 17, 2009

Words that Bind

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/words-that-bind.html

and the Presidential Oath, from the

US Constitution, Article I, Section 1, Clause 8,

repeated verbatim by the presidents. The only language in quotes

in the Constitution, unlike the general principles elsewhere.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully

execute the office of President of the United States,

and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend

the Constitution of the United States."

January 18, 2009

Lofty Words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/lofty-words.html

January 18, 2009

Is He Joshua

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/is-he-joshua.html

January 18, 2009

The Hills of Zion

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/hills-of-zion.html

January 18, 2009

Always Torture

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/always-torture.html

January 18, 2009

The Question

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/question.html

January 18, 2009

In His Ministry

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/in-his-ministry.html

January 18, 2009

Echoes of the Desert

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/echoes-of-desert.html

January 18, 2009

Before Martin

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/before-martin.html

January 18, 2009

Choosing the Cross

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/choosing-cross.html

January 18, 2009

Seeing Joshua

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/seeing-joshua.html

January 18, 2009

Forty Years

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/forty-years.html

January 18, 2009

Understanding this moment

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/understanding-this-moment.html

January 18, 2009

Radical Words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/radical-words.html

January 18, 2009

Hatred

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/hatred.html

January 18, 2009

Not Words of Weakness

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-words-of-weakness.html

January 18, 2009

Living Christ’s Words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/living-christs-words.html

January 18, 2009

The Power of His Words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/power-of-his-words.html

January 18, 2009

Love Liberates

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/love-liberates.html

January 18, 2009

Fighting Evil

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/fighting-evil.html

January 18, 2009

Power in His Words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/power-in-his-words.html

&

the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-just-dream-reality.html

on the sign in front of church,

the story of Moses and Joshua,

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Joshua 1:1-9

along with

Micah 4:1-4

Matthew 5:43-48

the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,

by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,

Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,

and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,

by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,

January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,

see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/

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 51,700+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

America, Barack Obama, dream, Faith, Christ, God, hope, Inauguration, justice, love, Martin Luther King, MLK, Obama, prayer, President Obama, savior,

#America #BarackObama #dream #faith #Christ #God #hope #joy #Joshua #justice #love #MLKDay #PresidentObama #Moses #Inauguration  #calling #witness #purpose