Saturday, March 29, 2014

I always have considered myself and Evangelical Christian.   Now, I am really, really doubting that.

This week, yet again, there has been a big debate, or controversy over the attitude of the Church in America.

Why?   A group, World Vision, which supports needy children around the world announced that they would hire Gay and Lesbians.   The right Evangelical Church went crazy in condemnation causing thousands of children to lose their sponsors.  It is absolutely heartbreaking and beyond my comprehension.  Whatever, the argument is on that lifestyle what is total incontrovertible is the truth that as Christians we are supposed to love everyone, take care of Children, not judge, be kind etc...   The teaching of Jesus is clear in all this.   I think a reading of the fruits of The Spirit Galatians shows characteristics Christians should have.  What the Evangelical Church showed this week was the antithesis of Paul's teaching.

The definition should be Bible, Christ believing, following Christ's example.   Around the rest of the world this is more the case.  Here in the US it has morphed to a right-wing, political fundamentalism that is unrecognizable from the teaching of Christ.   The sad thing is this is the representation that non-believers in this Country and the world see.   The Bible teaches that those that cause those to leave Christ should will be thrown into Hell and yet these are the ones condemning everyone else.

I don't like labels at all.   That's why I will never say I am a Democrat or Republican for example, but, I've always been proud to say that I am a Bible believing Evangelical Christian.  Now I am embarrassed to use that label.   Now, all I will say I am follower of Jesus Christ, His example of peace, acceptance, forgiveness and love.

-Richard

Monday, March 3, 2014

Saturday


It’s Saturday
Another week gone.
Time to look forward.
To what?

Twelve-fifteen
Time for Grandstand
Anxiously waiting
For the results
A win will mean
A good week ahead.
A loss – unthinkable.

Seven-fifty
Time for the lottery
Hoping, praying, waiting
Will it be me
Then life will be sorted.

Saturday’s over
Tomorrow’s Sunday
Then Monday and another week.

  


25th March 1995, North Acton, London, England.

-Richard
Failing – Again

Open to temptation
So many ways.
Sometimes being strong
Sometimes being weak.
Why we fail
I do not know.
Perhaps tiredness,
Or lack of faith
We should follow
Out Lord and Master
Living within?
And many times
Fought and won
As only God’s Son
Could have done
To go to the Cross
And die for our failings
So at least
When we do fall
There is a way back
Through is love kindness
Time and time again
He forgives
If only we ask
And believe
And try and get it right.



7th March 1995, Uxbridge, England.


-Richard

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Football

It’s called our national game.
But perhaps it should be
Our national disgrace.
We watch in horror
The pictures on T.V.
Of maniacal fans
Tearing Dublin apart
And those fans from Millwall
Marauding across the pitch.

It’s not just the fans that go astray
But, the players, the heroes
For so many young and old alike.
Eric Cantona’s kung fu
In front of children too.
Vinny Jones thriving in violence.
Sport or not
It just shows how much
Societies are crumbling.



18th February 1995, Uxbridge, England.

-Richard
The Library

A stony silence greets
All who enter within
The confines and labyrinths
Of mysteries to be unfurled.

The rows of books look down
Watching and waiting
For a customer to grab and browse
To learn the secret inside.

A girl sits in the corner typing
Confidential information
That only she knows
But, one day her mystery too will be revealed.




10th January 1995, North Acton, London, England.


-Richard
Stock take

The Strong room is opened.
Hundreds of plastic bins
Full of solid residue
Or perhaps a wet slush.
Each one has on it
With an air of dignity
A bright red sticker.
Everyone must be recorded,
Its gross tare and net weight
And given a number:
Its own distinctive place
In this year’s stock take.
                                                In Rwanda and Zaire
                                                            The refugee camps are full
Of thousands of homeless victims
                                                Of war, of genocide.
They are also counted:
The number of people,
The number of corpses,
The number of cholera victims,
The number of orphaned children
In this year’s stock take.


31st July 1994, Uxbridge, England.
Why?

Why,
Can’t a three year old girl
Go to buy an ice cream?
Why,
Can’t a new born baby
Be safe in her mother’s arms?
Even,
Lister (of Red Dwarf fame)
Has been done for rape.
And,
Football players
Are smashing others faces.
How
Can man survive
Without a care of morals?





13th July 1994, Uxbridge, England.

-Richard
Polzeath

A relentless drive
As each wave builds
Growing, growing
Reaching a crescendo
Of Noise,
Of power,
Of Majesty
Trying to destroy all in its way:
Until a crash
Followed by a cascading spray
Leads to its finale,
It’s destruction.
But….
The sea tries again.





                                                4th July 1994, Polzeath, England.


-Richard
Radical Celebration

Many people boppin’
With loud praises ringin’
God’s name celebratin’
In the aisles dancin’
Roof raised with clappin’
Jesus’ name upliftin’
Leaving God’s face a-smilin’.
I can’t wait to get to Heaven.




2nd April 1994, Skegness, England.


-Richard
The Pub

People crowded,
Juke box blaring,
Smoke rings rising,
Drinking,
Waiting.
For a band to show.

People crowded,
Media blaring,
Philosophy rising,
Drinking,
Not waiting,
But, HE will show!!




30th March 1994, Leeds, England.


-Richard
The Wedding

I arrived at the church
A few moments to spare
A crowd already gathered
With a mounting excitement in the air.
The grooms all alone hoping not be left in the lurch.

As the moments tick by
The brides late again.
I’m feeling restless, read the order twice
And starting to think about the bloody rain!
Suddenly a commotion.  “She’s here” they cry.

All the heads turn in unison
To see the glory of the bride
Shining with radiance and beauty
By her side her father swelling with pride.
He’s lost a daughter, but, gained a son.

At last it’s all over, legally wed
As I sit there waiting, the organ grinding away,
A friend turns to me and says with a smile
“Just you wait it’ll be you one day!”
“I doubt it.” I said.

Outside the church the cameras are flashing
Picture after picture so that everyone’s taken.
By now it’s raining again and is very cold
And I’m so hungry that my belly is aching’
I’m definitely not going through this kind of thing.

On to the reception I go.
I’ve never seen such a posh gaff
And to be welcomed as “Sir”
By a poker faced usher I had to laugh
And say “You only reap what you sow!”

There’s so many people milling us around
All seemingly some distant relative or friend.
I don’t want to drink, don’t want to talk:
I just want to eat, will this waiting ever end?
Anyway the toilets much be found.

Sitting down with food at last
An aroma so nice and pleasing to the eye
But, it’s been so long I can only look
A say to my companion with a wry
Smile “Don’t mind me, I’m on a fast.”

The speeches start, some in prose, some in poesy.
I think again “I’m never going through this”.
As the toasts go on I can only think
Of my fear of speeches.  Yes I’ll definitely give it a miss.
“Raise your glasses to the couple, for a future so rosy!”

Three years later and all alone
At the front of a church stomach all churning
So, what I said on that date above,
I look down the aisle, my bride now coming
And suddenly my stomach begins to groan!





23rd March 1994, London, England.


-Richard
The Meeting

Sitting around a table
Arguing to and fro
Meaningless waffle
Trying to get one over.
Where for is get us?
Back to square one.
What do I care?
I want to go to sleep!!!

  

3rd March 1994, North Acton, London, England.


-Richard
The Church Goer

I go to church every Sunday:
Aren't I good?
Looking good?
Singing hymns with a smile
A beautific expression
Impressing those around:
“He is so Holy
Look at his joy”.
That was a nice service
But what is about?
Does anyone care?
I've had a good natter
Done my duty
As I walk out with pride
So others can see
That I’m a church goer.

  


11th February 1994, Uxbridge, England.


-Richard
The Letter

Waiting for a letter to arrive,
The only indication
That you still care
Despite the miles,
Despite the barriers
You’re there thinking of me
Whilst I’m longing for and
Missing you.




19th January 1994, London, England.


-Richard
A Week at Work

Monday.
A new week begins
Leaving the weekend behind
With the singing of hymns
Just to wake up to find
We’re back into the mundane routine
-At work.

Tuesday.
There seems to be no end
Of the tunnel when the alarm
Rings wanting to send
One form a sleeping calm,
To the hassle, pressure and run
-At work.

Wednesday.
A bit more enthusiasm
As we find ourselves crossing
A mysterious chasm
We’re over half way to surviving
In a sane frame of mind a week
-At work.

Thursday.
Four days of an early start
We are starting to feel tired
But, we must show great heart
Or we’re sure to be fired
And what would we do if we didn’t have a day
-At work.

Friday.
The weekend starts here
Time to start living again
For fun without fear
We’re into the sun from the rain
Unless a cloud casts a shadow: Saturday
-At work!




15th January 1994, Uxbridge, England.


-Richard
Christmas in the Salvation Army

Greedily collecting money.
Sparkling instruments,
Joyful Carols,
Bright lights,
Men in dark uniforms,
Ladies in hats or bonnets.
Good King Wenceslas,
Freezing in the street.
Christmas in the Salvation Army.

Old dears serving mince pies,
Timbrels ringing
Father Christmas enters:
The Manger scene?
Gloria!
Christmas in the Salvation Army.




20th December 1993, Greenford, London, England.

-Richard
Winter

A cold dark night
Brings down a hard frost
Just like a heart that’s cold
And freezing fast.

A cold wind blows
Chilling right to the bone
Just like a heart that’s cold
Cuts right through the soul.

The sun can melt the frost
Showing hidden joys
Just like a heart that’s warm
Can give rays of happiness!





21st October 1993, North Acton, London, England.


-Richard
D*******

You must feel that the world is so cruel
It treats you like dirt
A non-entity
A nobody with nothing to offer.
People mock
Behind your back
And to your face
Hurting you, crushing you.
But,
You will show them.
You will succeed
With you head held high.
You've so much to offer;
Beauty, kindness, joy
And abilities in abundance.
Soon,
They will be jealous
As you can look down
From a loftier position
Not with laughing and scorn,
But, with sadness and pride.
Because,
You are somebody,
A very important
Valuable person.
Let them see!
Let them see!




4th September 1993, Colombo, Sri Lanka.


-Richard
Bosnia

It’s all insane
All this grief and pain
Children dying,
Children crying.
Fathers fighting
Fathers killing.
He fired the shell
That made his life hell.
He returned the grenade
So that he could be repaid.





25th August 1993, Uxbridge, England.



-Richard