The Garden of Eden

When the Lord God created Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden, man was given the commandment to subdue the Earth. This meant that Adam had to use the mind God gave him to manage creation. When the Lord saw that man was alone and that this was not good, God took a rib from Adam’s side and made woman, a helper for the man, so that together man and woman could function as caretakers of the Garden of Eden.

God and humanity working in harmony with one another in a relationship of love. In order to be successful in this work, the Lord endowed Adam and Eve with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. This being proved by the fact that the Bible states that humankind was created in the image and after the likeness of God, male and female created He them. As all believers know, God is by nature good, wise, all knowing, and the very definition of the word love. Going further, the scriptures teach that God himself IS love. So if man was created with the attributes of the all holy, wise, and loving God, just think of the blessed state Adam and Eve shared with their creator before the fall.

But since God's plan for humanity was for us to live on Earth and have dominion over nature, we in turn were given responsibility and accountability. Along with the blessed state of mind, Adam and Eve were given free will and a very famous rule which in its transgression would ultimately change the course of the very nature Adam and Eve were given and the world their descendants were destined to inherit.

The rule God gave Adam and Eve that they would later break was very simple. All fruit bearing trees in the garden were fit to eat from, except for the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil which grew in the midst of Eden. The breaking of the covenant through the subtleties of the serpent, shifted the world into an alienation from life itself. Remember God said, “The day you eat of its fruit you will surely die.” Mankind was created to live forever, but by taking the fruit in the aspiration of becoming wise and to become gods, death entered into the world. Now remember, Adam and Eve were already formed in the image and after the likeness of God, so what would possess them to eat of this fruit that they knew was forbidden and would lead to death?

The answer: Pride, the sin of Lucifer the archangel who in his conceit, desired to take the place of the Almighty, and as a result of his vanity was cast down out of Heaven like lightning and by his rebellion against Holy God, this once beautiful archangel became the father of lies; that age-old serpent, called the Devil and Satan.

So because man chose to listen to the devil over the voice of God, sin entered into the heart of every living man and woman from Adam and Eve to each of us now in the present and to everyone to come after us in the future.

A Look Around

The façade is a cover,
Inside is the Book;
There is magic to discover
If you would just take a look.

The circle is full,
Yet unclear to some;
Wise, then a fool,
And back to square one.

To the man on the street,
To the woman in my bed;
The babies at my feet,
And the thoughts in my head.

When looking all around,
We cannot see ourselves;
Our minds were once sound,
Now our charts are on shelves.

The air is getting hot
While many hearts grow cold;
Today our goods are bought,
Tomorrow our lives are sold.

As compassion heals the heart,
Anger poisons the mind;
Friendship is a good place to start,
For love is a rare and treasured find.

Youth

Remembering my early youth,
Bringing joy unto my mind;
Like the day I lost my first tooth,
And when the bus left me behind.

Getting into fights,
Only to become best friends;
Staying up on summer nights,
Then our vacation ends.

Elementary school and Junior high,
Then on to college and careers;
How quickly the time does fly,
Laughing and shedding tears.

Climbing trees and kicking stones,
Building castles in the sand;
Eating candies and ice cream cones,
Oh how childhood is far from bland.

Playing games and running wild,
All a part of The Master’s plan;
The grace and innocence of a child,
Then the boy becomes a man.

Looking back on my younger days,
I can’t help but to reminisce;
Reflection shaping me in so many ways,
A time and place I will always miss.

Oh Strong Willed Son

Oh strong willed son,
How many steps have you taken?
How long ago you begun;
How sure you weren't mistaken.

You traveled down many a path
And stopped at many homes along the way;
You tasted God's love and His wrath,
But for a time you were led astray.

Was it gold that you sought?
Was it a woman you desired?
All the battles that you fought
Made your soul sick and tired.

Now twilight is dawning
And the day is far spent;
You didn't answer your calling,
And now your heart is for rent.

Sleep now dear brother
And your strength will return…
Take this advice from another,
And in time you will learn.

You see, God has a plan for you,
And this is for certain;
For there is plenty of work to do,
Before you reach your final curtain.

Moses

From the water he was drawn,
By the hand of Pharaoh's daughter;
As the Nile glittered in Egypt's dawn,
He was saved from the Hebrew slaughter.

Later skilled in all the Egyptian arts,
He grew mighty in word and deed;
Acquainted in numbers, letters and charts,
On knowledge his mind did feed.

A prince and heir to the throne,
Was his life and portion;
But when he became fully grown,
His eyes glanced at the land of Goshen.

Love for his brethren filled his days,
Then defying all human will and reason;
He chose to suffer with the slaves,
Than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season.

On his leadership depending,
He interceded for their very life;
While brother and sister contending,
Over Moses' Ethiopian wife.

He led God's people to their emancipation,
Then his holy life came to an end;
Never asking for a cross or consolation,
For Moses was the meekest of men.

Life and Death

As the ladder stretches to the highest height
Only in His light shall we see light
To win this fight we will need his might
Though He is out of sight we must do what's right

Heaven is His throne
The Earth His footstool
To soften the hearts of stone
And to make wise the mind of the fool

Man was formed from the ground on the sixth day
The Lord brain stormed on the waters around
To unite spirit with clay

Into the nostrils of man God did breathe
From the side of Adam came forth Eve
For breaking the fruit from Paradise forced to leave
God clothing them with skins for shame to relieve

Jealousy over the righteous acts of another
Drove Cain to rise up and slay his brother
The cries of Abel’s blood he could not smother
Lamination in the heart of their mother

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away
As man's life is but a day
His flower blooms then withers and fades
All man can do is hope and pray

Markings

How long can one man stand?
For his whole life is but a day;
Leaving footprints in the sand,
Only for the winds of time to blow away.

With olive oil in his lamp,
Hammer and chisel in his hand;
On the walls of life he makes his stamp,
Then his soul departs this land.

Paintings and pictures,
Letters and numbers;
As the artist slumbers,
His mind mixes the colors.

Pen and penknife
Were the friends of Leonardo;
And though he had no wife,
Marble was married to Michelangelo.

To the poet ink and paper,
To the artist brush and canvas;
As the concept begins to taper,
Emotions are birthed from joy to sadness.

So keep writing writer,
And keep painting painter;
For sooner than later
We will meet our maker.

The Crown

Are we living in the last days?
We certainly well may be…
If so we must now change our ways,
For this could be the last century.

And when the heavens are rolled up like a scroll,
And the Master of the vineyard returns,
What can man do to save his soul?
For the Lord seeks the heart that burns.

So let this mind be in you,
Which was also in Christ Jesus;
Doing that which God would have us do,
And not what suits and pleases us.

We all have a purpose and a calling,
To be God's temple and instruments.
But through procrastination and stalling,
We fall from grace in great increments.

In his mercy God delays His coming,
To give us a second chance;
Remember the evil one is cunning,
So we must rise and take our stance.

To get back up when you have fallen down
Is a great lesson to mankind;
So keep striving for that golden crown,
For he who seeks will always find.

The Desert of Unbelief

A barren wasteland
With no oasis,
Mountains of sand
In deserted places…

No water just wind,
Heat from the sun;
No friend or kin,
The mind comes undone.

Walking for days,
With no hope in sight;
Yet for the man who prays,
Everything is alright.

But the man's lip is tight,
For praise to his creator;
Thus the devil takes a bite
And the man falls into a crater.

Desperately he tries to leave
These godforsaken lands;
Time to strengthen the feeble knees,
And take life back into his hands.

Then a good shepherd appears,
And sees his face all full of grief;
So gently he wipes away the tears
And says, “You're in the desert of unbelief.”

The Fields of Righteousness

The Fields of Righteousness
Plowed with a hand that turns not back
A higher plain of consciousness
And a harvest of understanding it does not lack

The rains fell in the spring
The sun shown in summer
All day long the workers sing
For the diligent seldom slumber

Grapes for wine
Olives for oil
If we take our time
Patience won't spoil

The earth was tilled and watered
And in the soil a seed was sown
Yet in its branches no fruit was offered
For the tree had not fully grown

Time and times and half a time
Then a few buds were seen
As God Himself had drawn a line
Through the banks of a living stream

Then the juice of meditation
Ran down to the roots red and ruddy
For the tree had matured through application
Just as a man's wisdom is the fruit of study

The Night Watchman

I've been the son of perdition,
And the son of righteousness;
I've found myself in a condition,
Where I can find no rest.

I've walked in palaces of gold,
Where incense burns and candles are aflame;
Listening to the words of old,
Then to the chalice for which I came.

The ancient ways are gone,
And the sheep have gone astray;
I wait for the final song,
On which the trumpet the angel plays.

One woe is passed, and yet another has come;
How long will we last till the kingdom comes?

Waking up from the past
To live in the now,
An image is cast -
How many will bow?

The Earth renewed and the heavens rebuilt,
So will God's spirit through the universe be filled.
From swords to plowshares will the earth be tilled,
Prophecies and promises forever fulfilled.

Journey Well Maria

Journey well, Maria,
To your casa in the valley;
Hurry, sweet Señorita,
For there is no time to dilly-dally.

Walk quickly down the path,
The one you know so well,
Comforted with Moses' staff,
To cast off the evil spell.

Keep walking my Dear Lady,
Walk swiftly through the trees,
For the forest grows dark and shady,
And whispers are carried in the breeze.

Be careful not to dash a foot
On the rocks, the stones, and pebbles;
For evening falls as black as soot,
And out come the rogues and rebels.

Study Orion's great constellation
To guide you safely on the trail;
The moonlight is for you emancipation,
Your faith in God will never fail.

Lift up your head, O Maiden and Eastern gate,
Look up O Ancient and Holy Door;
Your prayers cleaning the sinner's slate,
O Virgin Queen thou art blessed for evermore.

The Martyrs

They loved not their lives unto death

Unlike mythology's smitten Greek

Like the righteous sons of holy Seth

God's law a lamp unto their feet

Fed to the mouths of lions

Burned at the stake

Pierced with rods of iron
Though their spirit did not break

They did not fear the hottest flame

Nor the threats of evil men

Meditating on that sweetest name
Their faith a precious gem

Like the Holy Forty on the ice

And Constantinople taken by the Turks

The ungodly came with gifts to entice
Yet nothing moved their good faith and works

As gold is tried in the fire

Seven times tested and purified

Living their lives above the mire
Guided by a candle they did not hide

Taken from this life of vanity
Now they pray for our protection

They overcame fallen humanity
By hoping for a better resurrection

Time and Judgment

A window was opened in heaven
For the space of half an hour;
A maiden mixed in her leaven
Until it was kneaded throughout the flour.

The guests were invited,
The mansions were prepared;
The wages of work were decided,
The names in the book were declared.

The hearts of men being weighed
In the balance of life and death;
God's mercy to the ones who prayed
While the wicked took their final breath.

The poor, the blind,
The sick and the broken;
A meal for the mind,
A word well spoken.

The window began to close
For time was gliding on;
The last to make their repose
Sang the words of Moses’ song.

Queen Judgment gave her final warning,
Cutting so deep, time was sent to mend;
Then night changed to a bright morning,
And the beginning turned into the end.

Pentecost

Enduring the pain
As He hung on the cross
Despising the shame
Though he did not count it for loss.

The rocks were rent
The old saints did live
Before the day was spent
Body and blood did he give.

The red sea of Hades was parted
An exodus of those in captivity
The work the Forerunner started
Completed in Christ's divinity.

Appearing in a hidden form
He walked with the ones he chose
As quickly as He rebuked the storm
His earthly ministry came to a close.

Promising them a gift
As He ascended to His throne
His gospel causing the world to shift
His Spirit never leaving us alone.

The faithful filled with power
Glorifying God in a different tongue
The opposite of Babel's tower
All people's becoming one.

Orphans and Widows

I know of a secret place
That lies across the ocean
And it has no spot or trace
Of the worlds intoxicating potion

I visit orphans and widows
And try to ease their pain
We walk through grassy meadows
And dance in the pouring rain

A young boy lost his mother
An old woman lost her man
So I try to be a brother
And do the best I can

We sit and share a humble meal
On our way to the citadel above
Praying for our wounds to heal
Gliding on the wings of a dove

Like pilgrims on their way home
Tired and heavy laden
We look up and see the golden dome
Rejoicing to find the hidden haven

We confess and lay down our cares
At the feet of the Holy King
Then within our heart love flairs
And once again our souls can sing

A Garment Of White

A garment of white,
To wear this is my dream;
A garment of light,
With no corner, edge or seam.

A thin and ethereal sheet
Which comes down from above;
A robe stretching to my feet,
A fabric sewn in love.

As finely tailored suits
Hanging in the wardrobe of my heart;
Like a tree whose strength is in his roots
That no force can pull apart.

The tapestry of Zion,
Bleached in Heaven's uncreated bliss;
The glorious mane of the lion,
Protected from the serpent's subtle hiss.

A cloth of alabaster,
Renewed each day it's worn;
From it blessings come the faster,
As a harvest of golden corn.

Smoother than all of China's silk,
Traveling across the ancient path;
As comforting as mother's milk,
More cleansing than a bath.