When we’re in the throes of disgrace
We need to stare God in the face
As Christ on the cross
Makes gold from our dross
And trumps all our shame with His Ace
Tag Archives: grace
1/14 Poem: Pure Mercy
StandardSometime we show Mercy from Fear
Because our own judgement is near
Sometimes we show Mercy from Pride
To boast we have nothing to hide
To those who receive it’s the same
As long as they stay in the game
1/1 Poem: Favor-ite
Standard2023: Our Year of the Lord’s Favor
I want to be known as Your favor-ite
Celebrating how we two are tight
12/21 Poem: Dividual
StandardA fruitful individuality
Transforms both my self and community
I cannot just go with the flow
I must learn the power of “No!”
Yet contrary words won’t suffice
I must learn to judge myself twice
12/13 Poem: 123…4giveness
StandardThere’s a process to being forgiven
That changes the way we are livin’
But is it a skill we can learn
Or a reward we must earn?
12/12 Poem: Deturn Pain
StandardWhen we feel a pain
That we did not earn
There’s part of our brain
That begins to burn
12/10 Limerick: De-Tired
StandardThe secret to getting de-tired
Is letting our hearts be inspired
When we face our pain
Christ rewrites our brain
By giving us what is required
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest — if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
11/11 Limerick: Un-Wound
StandardWhen wounds of the past leave us bound
Grace helps our hearts be un-wound
Old layers of sin
Are where we begin
Learning how crosses are crowned
11/8 Limericks: Grace Dominous
StandardContinue reading“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
Romans 6:14 NKJV
11/5 Poem: My Stery
StandardMy story is a mystery
Where I don’t know the end
Or even the beginning
Of why He called me “friend”
10/28 Poem: Ill-Legalist
StandardThe legalist earns our respect
For reasons we ought to inspect
He’s willing to hold up the wall
Without which our culture will fall
10/23 Limericks: Adam’s Unnamable Fear
StandardWhen Adam gave each thing its name
Back then he had no word for “shame”
It could not be taught
Til he had been caught
And felt what it feels like to blame
10/8 Limerick: Re-Main-Ing Sin
StandardTo deal with our sin that’s remaining
We must plug the holes that are draining
By facing our shame
Thru power of The Name
‘Til only His Grace is left reigning
Limerick: Obey Deep
StandardWhen we obey Christ with whole hearts
That’s when deep redemption can start
As we see His face
We’re filled up with grace
And what divides us falls apart
Poetry Slam: Pro-Dem-Nation
StandardIn a world filled
with condemnation
Could His Bride become
a pro-them-nation?
Limerick: Loving Enmity
StandardWe’d much rather they’d bought the farm
(those Others who do to us harm)
Or at least find a way
To do as we say
Lest they be led off by gendarme!
Poem: Gospel Flywheel
StandardThe gospel flywheel
Transforms what’s real
Frees the world from sin
As I’m changed within
Divorcing the War on Marriage
StandardIn the conservative Christian circles I live in, we often talk about the war on marriage: how the laws of our culture must uphold the biblical pattern against those who would seek to redefine it.
While that may be true, we seem to be ignoring a painful reality. The church lost that same war decades ago: on the issue of divorce. Maybe we should take the time to understand why before we make the same mistakes all over again.
Continue readingLimerick: Disowned Will
StandardChrist Kingdom becomes most effective
When each of us owns our Perspective
And yet our own Will
We’re willing to kill
To live His collective directive
Honoring Bill Johnson
StandardBill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding is truly one of God’s greatest gifts to the 21st century church. At a time when many (perhaps most) Christians unthinkingly accept the brokenness of this world as “just the way things are”, He has both preached and practiced the vital truth that Christ came to give us victorious life.
He has led Bethel for decades with humility, integrity, and compassion — including a perhaps unprecedented openness to raising up and blessing other leaders. I wish more leaders were like him.
But to be honest, sometimes he drives me crazy.
Continue reading
Radically Happy 
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