6/4/2022 During the Civil War the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow spent most of his time visiting the wounded men in the hospitals. He talked with them, wrote letters for them and even helped with nursing care. Over months and years his heart hurt so much for the victims of the war on both sides. His pain and hope can be seen in this well known Christmas Carol.

"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" lyrics

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

 

6/3/2022

Handy Questions to ask

Why am I a Christian?

In the midst of all that is going on why do I remain a Christian?

Why do I go to worship?

What do you see is the state of the congregation you serve?

What do I need to do and learn to have a living relationship with God?

 

6/2/2022 Lately my hope and grace journals have united into one statement for both. Is it because I am lazy (possible), because I hurt (also possible) or could it be because they are so close together and are linked together in me.

For whatever reason I can honestly say hope and grace are very essential to me in the face of all I am going through. The pain fluctuates at times a great deal even in the same day then leaving me exhausted and so, so weary. Do I hope for the pain to go away, reduce or accept it as God’s will? To me the answer is not as clear as it may seem to you. Does God allow pain in our lives? OF COURSE!!! We will never face all Jesus faced for us!!!

At the same time I struggle with my addiction to pornography. Some may see it as a bad thing to struggle but I have found you either struggle against an addiction or you give into it! It is always there and I must prepare so the times of temptation do not grow into times of sin.

Hope and grace are a living current flowing through me to make good possible. Even without a relationship with God we can find hope and grace by gathering with to support and be supported. Hope and grace are real! Hope and grace are real!

This is a combination of my Hope and Grace Journals.

 

6/1/2022

What am I

I was created from dust

My tears made me clay

Fear and anger fired me

I became a broken pot

My pieces God joined

But I broke me often

Over time I lost me

My life always broken

Others get angry at me

My broken me hurts them

The scars god ripped away

I scream in soulful agony

2019

 

5/30/2022 Today is hamburger and hot dog day. There used to be a study that tried to decide whether more hot dogs or hamburgers were eaten during Memorial Day.

Of all we can think about this is very disappointing.

What can you do to make Memorial Day a time to remember those who gave the “ultimate sacrifice”?

Where is the Bible does it talk about greater love?

How can you support the families who gave someone precious to them for us?

How can you support the first responder’s who gave the “ultimate sacrifice”?

I went in the Navy in 1976 and remember we were warned to not wear our uniform during our off time because we would be shouted at and some were even attacked by those who protested for peace. When you see a vet in uniform or with something that shows they served please thank them. Even the ability to protest against war is a gift of those who serve and at times give their lives.

 

5/29/2022 This is Memorial Day weekend and for me it is an amazing day as I think about all those who gave the “ultimate sacrifice”. They gave all their tomorrows, time with their families, the ability to have a family and all they could have achieved. The loss for them is a loss for us all as we are lessened by all they could have accomplished.

There is an old saying, “old men send young men off to die”. I wonder how many wars there would be if the top ten politicians or other power people had to fight until the last man standing was the winner? But wars will continue and now men and women will give their all and Gold Star families will grieve their loss.

 

5/28/2022

Today I feel death all around me

My friend cut in two by plane smiles

The puzzle man calls out to me

Parts man lets me know it is near

The man I beat almost to death points

The dead cry out to me it is time

They let me know it is coming near

Near than it has ever been before

Others cry out more than ever before

Shocked friend give smell of death

Hose man speaks of coming death

The bodies pile and rise to greet me

“The pain will end and life will begin”

The body dies and corrupts away

Will all my pain also corrupt away

I hear them calling me to be free

I have not lost whats left of mind

I WILL NOT TAKE WHAT IS NOT MINE

I wait my Love to Your good time

But let their voices be still for now

I beg of You my Love please

(On Sunday August 14^th I wrote this and God answered me! They quietly wait for me to rest and regain my heart and my mind. Thank You my Love! I am so tired. I am so weary. The mind will not rest, the muscles in the groin and back tensed for four days straight. I am so tired of the pain and the strain. But I will rest my Love. Thank You.) 8/15/16