The Divine Perspective (full length)

Proverbs 14:12, Mark 8:36

We all adopt philosophies
while passing through the years,
born either from successes
or adversities and fears.
Or possibly, tradition plays
a part—how we’ve been taught
through precept and example,
and advice which we have sought.
We may be right, we may be wrong;
we’ll live and die that way,
then stand before the Judge of all
in joy or in dismay.

Heredity, environment,
both surely play a part
but dare we make excuses? No,
the issue is our heart.
’Tis true, we lost our paradise
when our first parents sinned;
but we can get it back, you know;
through Christ it is regained.
To fit into that paradise,
where God is in control,
calls for a true, whole-hearted love
for Him within our soul.

And this, of course, requires change
in how we think and live.
It’s not within our will nor power;
this grace our God must give.
The choice is ours, we must decide
to take the gift of life,
and turn our backs upon this world
which seems a sacrifice.
But there is peace awaiting, as
we make Christ Jesus Lord,
and let Him have complete control,
submitting to His Word.

It is real peace of mind,
contentment at its best;
the Bible says that there remains
for us and inward rest.
So many voices call to us,
professing that they know
just what it is and how God will
this grace on us bestow.
But take the time to check God’s Word,
it’s precious as your breath;
avoid “the way that seemeth right
to man, but ends in death.”

What shall it profit, Jesus said
(sit down and count the cost),
if you should gain this whole, wide world
and then your soul be lost?
But that’s not all that matters, for
we have a life to live;
and for each moment of that life,
a strict account we’ll give.
Now we’re inclined to magnify
the present, here and now,
and take no thought of that great day,
when to the Lord we’ll bow.

We can invest our lives and claim
tremendous dividends
when we shall meet our Saviour
and our pilgrim journey ends.
Why live for pleasure, selfish gain,
and fame this world affords?
We’ll leave it all behind some day,
like old and rotten boards.
But we can send supplies ahead
which never shall decay,
if we’ll invest our lives for God
unselfishly today.

fpn/1975



Published as poem #50 in Contemporary Psalms. An abridged version was published later.

Picture: depositphotos.com #21171863, standard license

Seeing the Other Side

It’s easy to render snap judgments
and be guilty of gossip—you know!
So often we’ll see only one side,
while sizing folks up in life’s flow.

There’s always a chance some are hurting
or handicapped—body or mind.
It’s best to hold back our opinions;
they can turn out so wrong or unkind.

I passed by a homestead one morning
and I saw what I’d never seen done—
sitting down on the ground in his garden
was a man pulling weeds, one by one.

I had heard of people so lazy—
you could hardly get them to move;
and I figured this fellow could be one;
that I was dead wrong, time would prove.

In the days of the horse and the buggy,
perhaps I’d have stopped for a chat;
but of course in this day of great progress,
we seem to have lost time for that.

But somehow, I kept on a-thinking—
couldn’t get that man out of my mind;
pulling weeds, sitting down in the garden.
“Lazy-bones” is the name for his kind.

When I had transacted my business—
came back in two hours, I’d say,
there, still on the ground, in the garden,
was “Lazy-bones,” working away.

As the warm summer sun was a shining,
quite a patch of the weeds he had pulled;
but I’ll say that I wasn’t quite ready
for the sight I was about to behold.

Determined to make his own living,
(others like him, sell pencils, or beg)
he was tending his crop with his own hands;
for you see, he had but one leg!

Friend of mine, there’ve been times I was hurting;
and I really don’t want to complain;
from the looks of some folks that went by me,
the message came through clear and plain.

How I wished—oh, I wished I could tell them,
and explain—but there was simply no way;
so I went on just tending my business,
pretending that all was okay.

So, I think that I’ve learned a great lesson:
no matter what wells up inside,
I’m going to hold back my opinion,
till I look at a man’s other side!

fpn 11/80



Picture: Free Wallpaper download from quotefancy.com, accessed July 26, 2017

Jesus the Christ

He is the WORD—
expressing God’s mind
and nature on earth,
to the “listening” kind.

His message is peace,
and joy and pure love;
wisdom and grace 
bestowed from above.

He is the LIGHT—
in a sin-blinded earth,
dispelling our darkness,
and granting new birth.

He brings deliverance
from sin and its curse,
frees from depression
and thoughts so perverse.

He is the LAMB—
offered up in our stead;
His holy blood
for our cleansing was shed.

To Him is accorded
final judgment of men;
and we—justified,
with Him, too, shall reign.

fpn/undated



Picture: sustainabletraditions.com, accessed online July 8, 2017

The Divine Perspective (Abridged)

Proverbs 14:12, Mark 8:36

We all adopt philosophies
while passing through the years,
born either from successes
or adversities and fears.
Or possibly, tradition plays
a part—how we’ve been taught
through precept and example,
and advice which we have sought.
We may be right, we may be wrong;
we’ll live and die that way
then stand before the Judge of all
in joy or in dismay.

Heredity, environment
both surely play a part
but dare we make excuses? No,
the issue is our heart.
‘Tis true, we lost our paradise
when our first parents sinned;
but we can get it back, you know;
through Christ it is regained.
To fit into that paradise,
where God is in control,
calls for a true, whole-hearted love
for Him within our soul.

And this, of course, requires change
in how we think and live.
It’s not within our will nor power;
this grace our God must give.
The choice is ours, we must decide
to take the gift of life,
and turn our backs upon this world
which seems a sacrifice.
But there is peace awaiting, as
we make Christ Jesus Lord,
and let Him have complete control,
submitting to His Word.

fpn/1975


This is an abridged version. The full poem was published in Contemporary Psalms, p. 50
Picture: depositphotos.com #21171863, standard license