Today I will hold fast to the cross
And loosely to all else
Category Archives: Art
Poem: Status Leaker
StandardWe all want power
We all want fame
We all want to choose
How to win the game
We all seek status
We have our pride
If only to shield
What we feel inside
Poem: Harmonizing Gospel
StandardSober reflections on the recent Supreme Court ruling
What’s taken as good news by one
Another calls evil being done
Whichever way we choose
Someone is sure to be bruised
Redeeming Animism, Part 5: Eagle Sighs
StandardContinued from Part 4
Prologue
After a long arduous climb
With a mouse, dog and snake
We pause at a cave
For a much-needed break
I’m seeking the eagle
That serpents do fear
Hoping he’ll tell me
My quest’s end is near
Will he be heroic
Decisive and quick
Or fat and despondent
Like Thor when he’s “thick?”
Then I hear his cry
Shadow on the wall
And discover he’s not
What I expected at all!
Aquila
Aquila: Ooh, you brought lunch!
Earnest: You’re a girl?!
Yes, the manly eagle I had sought turned out to be a female. And not just female, but a tween girl; some sort of teenybopper.
And I don’t like the way she’s eyeing my companions. Apparently, neither do they.
Sminthus: Eek!
Nehushtan: Hiss!
Qhuinn: I believe the correct canine response is: “Grr, stay away from me and my friends!”
A. Ooh, you can talk. Who’s a cute puppy? Who’s a cute puppy!

Q. I say, stop that. I’m not actually a dog. No, please, not the feathers. I’m really the incarnation of… Ooh! Right there. Ahh…
Qhuinn flips onto his back and starts flailing his legs while she scratches his belly. So much for my fierce protector.
E. Um, excuse me, we’re actually here on a serious quest.
A. Of course you are. Who’s a serious doggie? Are you a serious doggie? Are you enjoying your quest?
Q. Best… Quest… Ever.
I start to interrupt her, but then realize that tickling my friends is vastly preferable to her eating them. I decide to wait it out.
A. Okay, there you go. All done.
Qhuinn mumbles something inaudible from where he is sprawled on the floor. Aquila giggles and slaps him away.
E. What did he say?
A. “Marry me!” [snorting]
This encounter is not going at all like I planned. Sminthus is still too terrified to be of help. I gaze imploringly at Nehushtan. He sighs and raises himself up on his coils to look Aquila in the face.
N. Greetings, fair maid…
Before he can finish, Aquila transforms from dreamy schoolgirl into fierce predator. She lunges into the air and pounces on Nehushtan. One razor-sharp talon pins his head to the ground — facing away from her — while the other hovers a fraction of an inch above his throat.
A. Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh! No lookee-lookees from the snakie. I’m not old enough yet to face all my future fears. [She turns to me and winks] My parents don’t even let me date yet!
E. Oh! Parents. Er, could you perhaps call them? I’m sure there the ones we were supposed to meet. You see, we are on…
A. I know, a really serious blah blah blah save the world blah blah quest. My parents already know all about it. That’s why they sent ME!
The sight of a killer eagle batting her eyelashes is apparently enough to shock Sminthus out of his stupor.
S. My lady… are you really the one meant to help us? Then were you… just kidding about… eating us?
With a flick of her claw, the young eagle casually tosses the massive snake against the back wall of the cave. She walks over to stare out the opening, a heavy weight seeming to descend upon her young shoulders.
She doesn’t meet our gaze. Her voice is soft, almost a whisper, with none of the frivolity she so recently displayed.
A. I… am sorry. I did not realize this would be so hard. Yes, I am here to help you. But you know little of what you ask, and less of how much it would cost me. If I am to survive long enough to be of use to you, you must feed me… a sacrifice.
Cold dread freezes my bones. Could I really sentence one my companions to death, if that’s what it took to achieve my goal?
Well, maybe the snake…
No. That is not the way. At least, not The Way.
E. Eat me.
She turns at looks at me, then giggles. The toss of her head reminds me of Artemis, for some reason.
A. You? You have already laid down your life many times over. You will not get off so easily.
E. You don’t need all of me, right? Perhaps just a.. a part of me? My… heart?
A. You want to give me your heart? Silly man, I told you I was too young to date!
She snickers, then looks at me with a dangerous gleam in her eye.
A. And anyway, your Greek friends should have taught you the proper sacrifice required of those who would share the secrets of heaven to mortal man.
A sick horror overcomes me. I glance down involuntarily at my chest. I begin to shudder.
A. That’s right. I get to eat your liver. Every. Single. Day.
To be continued
Poem: Care More
StandardThe easiest strategy
When faced with other’s pain
Is simply to care less
So we won’t be hurt again
Poem: Fruitful Vintimacy
StandardAmbition is a cruel god
But a wonderful horse
Only knowing the real God
Can keep it on the right course
Poem: Out of Favor
StandardThe kind of relationships
We all savor
Are those that make us
Full of Favor
To know that those
Whom we esteem
Rejoice to see us
Is like a dream
Alas! The mirror
Of that gift
Is mortal terror
Of a rift
Hate Right
StandardThe Right to Hate requires the Right Hate
Whatever we demonize, we do badly
Because we do it reluctantly
As a last resort
Rather than deliberately
As a spiritual practice
Poem: Redemption Value
StandardThe song of the redeemed
Is we are no longer
What we seemed
Our value to this world
Is only what we’ve earned
Trapped inside a rat race
Measured by Law instead of Grace
Poem: Mind Settler
StandardTo set our mind
On kingdom things
Requires a Settler
Who’s a King
Poem: Belong vs Beshort vs Betall
StandardThe first way
We go wrong
Is to try
To Belong
This world
And it’s sin
Is the place
We begin
Where Grief Begins
StandardBy its very nature
Grief feels like The End
Death
Dissolution
Destruction
Loss of connection
Loss of belonging
Loss of hope
The Loss
Is Real
And Final
And yet…
Continue readingPoem: Yoke-I-Bear
Standard[With a nod to Yogi Bear, Yogi Berra, and Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear]
Whose yoke
Do I bear?
In which Kingdom
I share?
How to decide
Where I care?
Immanuel Encounter: KnowsMore Redeemed
StandardThe Safe Space
I am walking onto the shore
Of the lake mirage in Boston
Moonlit
Gentle breeze
Sweet smells of summer grass
Insects buzzing
Jesus walking alongside me
Angels singing afar off
Hymns of praise
Rejoicing over me
Over us
6/12 RSVP: Un-Binding Pharisees
Standard(Active) Listening to Part Of Me
StandardA Few Moments with KnowsMore
Ernest: Hi KnowsMore
KnowsMore: Hi Ernie
E. Thank you for doing this. Ready to begin?
K. Sure. Always happy to answer questions!
Continue readingRequiem for The Flesh
StandardOur flesh is the shame
God built into our genes
To help us survive
Without Him
Mighty Weak
StandardOnly when we are weak
In ourselves
Can we be mighty
In Him
God brings us to the end
Of all that we trust
So Discipling by Him
Begins
Un-Self-Deceived
StandardWe are deceived
By our Self
Because we are deceived
About our Self
We can’t know who we are
Until we know whose we are
Curing Self-Deficit Disorder
StandardThe only cure
For our Self
Is God Himself
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