Tag: Poem

“This Generation Seeks Me With Their Lips”

“This generation seeks me with their lips

“But not with their hearts.

“They change the prophet’s words in order to confound him

“And say, ‘he will neither notice, nor take care.’

“Who, I ask you, Who brings the sun through its course?

“Who waters the lilies, and causes the wetlands to dry up?

“Who causes the rains to fall in one place

“Upon the forests, and yet they do not bear their leafs?

“I, the LORD your God.”

I heard this and sat in wonder,

Seeing the almighty acts of the LORD

Who to this day was good to me

And has not filled my heart with sorrows.

The nations bray and burst into laughter

When they hear the awesome wonder of our God.

But, I say, it is they who are deceived.

Does not rain fall in one place

And not another?

Does not the warmth shine in one place

And not another?

Is there not cold in places where it is warm,

And warmth where it should be cold?

Do the nations truly deceive themselves

To consider that they truly understand this?

For it is the wrath of the LORD,

And no thing else

That causes my lands to dry up.

I watch, and am sore vexed

As pools of water fill the gullies

But where are the budding flowers?

Are they not in Shevat?

Why then do the nations say,

“Aha! Our idols have told us so!

“We are sore vexed, let us fix it by making the nations even more poor!”

Yet it is because of your idolatry,

And nothing else.

For your dishonoring the Sabbaths

And violating the workers’ rights.

For, one man is deathly ill

And you provoke him to come in and do his task.

Another is healthy, but he does not come into work.

One man says, “I wish to have off on the Sabbath.”

And the nation laughs him to scorn.

On your holidays, yes, even these,

All men go about their business

Buying and selling, and having no rest.

Therefore the land has no rest,

And it mourns.

 

Do the flowers bloom in Shevat?

Do they not sleep?

Do the little animals frolic in the winter?

Why then, do you wander to and fro

Looking for you food, and do not take wonder

At the strange thing the LORD has done?

For you wish to place Baal at every street corner.

Must I be like a diviner

And tell you what is not true?

Tell you strange enchantments to get you to listen?

Must I talk to the flowers

And pretend like they listen?

No, for the LORD has told me.

He is sore wroth at this generation

Who has not the rest of the LORD.

To and fro they go,

Therefore, the forests are become a desert.

And the deserts a forest.

The peoples who have not known His name

Shall know it, and the peoples who honor Him

With their lips shall stop taking the name of the LORD on them.

For they are deceitful.

Do not the nations know that the LORD is God?

Yes, they do know, but they stiffen their necks.

Who is it, I ask you, that brings the rains?

Who brings the circle of the earth to bear

And brings light in due season

And shuts up the light in due season?

Is it not the LORD Who created man and the earth?

Why then are you so mad?

Why do you drive your wagons to and fro

Going place to place

Roaring like a lion fed in the wildernesses?

 

This people dishonors their God

And they take the name of the LORD falsely

Upon their lips.

This prophet shall be at rest.

He shall eat, shall he not?

And even if it is not so,

He shall rest, knowing the wrath of the LORD

Is upon this nation, and he will sleep

And know that the LORD is God.

The evidence is all around you

Why do you not look?

Did you seek God?

Is this why you said, “I cannot see Him.”

Is this why you offer incense to that shameful thing Baal?

“Come together, and let us reason,

“Though you sins were red as scarlet

“Yet will I make them white as snow.”

Yet, men said to themselves,

“My sins are not scarlet

“They are mine, and mine to bear.”

Therefore, you must bear them

Shameful nation of the Philistines.

Had not the LORD spoken

Yet the prophet sealed the vision?

It was sealed for your hardheartedness

Yet none speak the Words of the LORD

Which are loving-kindness to the generations that seek Him. Selah.

 

Therefore, repent, and throw from yourselves the idols you carry.

Throw them into the waters,

Like the priests of Rome.

For even they, whom the whole world scorns

Know the LORD is awesome and mighty.

They fear Him, whom Israel says, “These are sinners worse than us.”

Are they Israel? Is not Judah suffering from an unrighteous king

And yet the priests perform the rituals, and they throw away the abominations?

They live poor, and they minister like workers to cleans the sinners?

What does Israel do, but call the police on the innocent man for a word?

What does Israel do, but band together and stiffen their necks against the prophets?

Yet, I say to you, greater woes come if there is no rest.

This prophet will return to his LORD with an ill report about this generation

Who had not liberated him,

But rather loved to have him poor.

“How have we not liberated him?”

By words accountable, you had not laid accusations

Against the government that did this.

Which professes “Freedom” when there is none.

For this, you band together with arms

Which is just what Satan wanted!

No, I say, repent, in dust and ashes.

You grow worse with every folly

And you grow more cold with every sin.

Rather, a man’s work is to be eaten from

And where is this prophet’s work?

It is spoiled by Jackals

And you all know just who they are.

Yet you say, “Let us fight!”

No… For then you will lose.

The Assyrian will be broken by the sword

And by the exorcise of laws.

Yet, my people would not have it.

Therefore, this prophet will rest.

What will you do?

Continue to go to and fro

Eating and drinking,

Marrying wives and blessing children.

Mixed wine is in your cups.

Therefore, the nations who have not known the LORD

They shall seek Him and they shall find Him.

Woe to the generation who rejected the LORD their God

Mighty to save and compassionate to a thousand generations.

 

Was not my command to you that you be charitable?

Yet, you say, “Charity is weak.”

Is charity weak? Is it an abomination

To give to those less fortunate than you?

Must you, in your vanities

Perform the service of healing,

Yet heal it superficially?

The daughter was violated

Yet you say to her, “Be still, for it is of none affect.”

The man was falsely accused,

Yet you say to him, “It will be alright. Be at peace.”

Yet, with what little abundance they had

They gave to the poor, therefore they will be at rest.

What of you, nation of hypocrites?

Your offerings were to the priests

But what of the poor?

The poor you cast off your stoops.

The poor you called “Degenerate”

“Liar”

And “Lazy.”

Must I prophesy to you?

Is Esdras in your holy scripture?

Is there not prophecy in it?

Is there not prophecies all around you

To testify the power of the LORD Almighty God?

Does not God show Himself through these things?

How you judge a prophet for a little error of wording

Yet you, by your great abundant hypocrisies

Speak foolishness to thousands?

You tell them, “God loves the powerful one.”

You tell them, “God is with the one whose arm has brought him all things.”

Yet, to the poor digging through your  garbage you say,

“Get away! Even our garbage is too sacred for you beggars.”

When will this generation learn?

Did not the prophet set examples for you?

When to follow laws,

And when not to?

When to give, and what to give

And how did he give of his sustenance what he could afford?

You call him lazy, yet he works every day

Silently finding the truth, seeking his God

Finding wisdom, and telling it to you?

If he has one  fault

And LORD knows what it is,

What faults do you have?

If he has spoken falsehood

It shall fall upon his head,

Yet why do you listen to him

Secretly in his bedchambers?

Is this the light of God?

To spy upon the innocent

And lay to bear his every word

Like you yourselves were God?

Hypocrites!

For the nations are filled with wrath

And the poor man is still not fed.

 

Was there not one commandment given to you

Above the rest? Who clothed Christ? Who fed Christ?

Who visited Christ in Prison? Who healed Christ when he was sick?

Who had comforting words for Christ? Was it any of you?

Yet you call yourselves greater than this man who speaks to you,

Who did all these things.

You call him a liar for speaking words in utterance hastily.

While you bring it to pass.

Hypocrites. Idolaters. Thieves. Jackals. Serpents.

These words mean nothing to you

Therefore, a new generation will serve the Almighty

And you will altogether go to the pits.

Debating an Athetriangleist

Me: “A triangle has three sides.”

Atheist: “But I don’t believe in triangles. How do you know they have three sides?”

Me: “Because when you draw a shape with three sides, it is a triangle.”

A: “How can you know that it has three sides?”

Me: “Because it does.”

A: “Well, I want proof that a triangle has three sides.”

Me: “Well, there is this philosopher named Euclid, who discovered the principle of what’s possible in geometry. And the first principles were triangles, which have three sides.”

A: “Philosophy isn’t scientific.”

Me: “Yes. Yes it is.”

A: “Well, how can you prove that a triangle has three sides? What if it had four?”

Me: “Then it’d be a square.”

A: “You’re a square.”

Me: “Can we please keep to the topic? If it has three sides, it is a triangle.”

A: “Well, I’ve heard of a shape like that, but it cannot be determined how many sides a triangle has.”

Me: “Yes. A triangle has three sides.”

A: “You say that, but can you offer proof?”

Me: “No. I cannot offer proof that a triangle has three sides. You just have to know that.”

A: “Well, then a Triangle doesn’t exist.”

Me: “I’ll draw one for you.”

A: “Sure.”

I proceed to draw a triangle.

A: “That doesn’t prove that a triangle exists.”

Me: “If it doesn’t prove that a triangle exists, then I’m afraid it cannot be proven. It just has to be accepted on faith that it is a triangle.”

A: “See, I can only believe in what I see.”

Me: “Well, you can see this shape. It is called a triangle.”

A: “But that’s not proof enough. I need more proof that triangles have three sides.”

Me: “You can count them.”

A: “No… I want you to prove that a triangle has three sides.”

 

Substitute God with “A Triangle” and “Three Sides” with Morality.

Use your imagination to make the actual debate.

Because if you can’t, I don’t believe you.

 

This is how atheists sound when they argue about God’s existence.

I Know What a Fallacy Is

I know what a fallacy is.

Do you know what a fact is?

 

In logic, there’d be an infinite regress of deductions

Without evidence.

 

On this evidence I base my belief in God.

Morals. Because men can’t create them.

Language. Because two people do find truth without knowing each other.

Miracles. Because impossible things do happen.

Evil. Because it exists. You don’t get to determine what it is or isn’t.

Good. Because it exists. You also don’t get to determine what it is or isn’t.

Pleasure. Because it exists. But it is the root of all evil, and how you obtain it is paramount to who you are as a human being.

Judgment. There must be something that holds bad people accountable, and rewards good people.

Chance. Evil people can live their whole lives, and be happy. Good people can live their whole lives, and be miserable. Often this is the case. Someone must hold them accountable.

Nature. Orion has a sling. Cassiopeia looks like a virgin. The Summer Triangle has a cross, an arrow that points to that cross, and an old man pointing to the arrow. Birds fly. Fish breath under water. Animals can look exactly like a leaf—if you think natural selection can do that, you’re crazy.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Self Control, Faithfulness, Goodness: This is good.

What harms someone cannot be determined by you, because often you hurt people without even realizing it.

 

It’s obvious to me that this all proves God’s existence. Where is it, now that the culture does not believe in Him?

 

There are no morals. Moral relativism.

Language is incomprehensible. Because you’re a fool.

Miracles don’t exist. Because you’re blind.

Evil is relative.

So is Good.

Pleasure is all that matters in life.

There is no judgment.

Chance determined everything. So what prevents you from being evil?

Nature will be gone some day, so you’ll never see it as a proof.

Love, Joy and Peace are just chemicals. Kindness is weakness. Gentleness is weakness. Self Control is arrogant. Faithfulness is imprudent. Goodness doesn’t exist.

Harm… There are a lot of things that you say, “Won’t hurt anyone.” They do.

 

I’ve tasted your values. It’s disgusting.

 

Debating an Athetriangleist

Me: “A triangle has three sides.”

Atheist: “But I don’t believe in triangles. How do you know they have three sides?”

Me: “Because when you draw a shape with three sides, it is a triangle.”

A: “How can you know that it has three sides?”

Me: “Because it does.”

A: “Well, I want proof that a triangle has three sides.”

Me: “Well, there is this philosopher named Euclid, who discovered the principle of what’s possible in geometry. And the first principles were triangles, which have three sides.”

A: “Philosophy isn’t scientific.”

Me: “Yes. Yes it is.”

A: “Well, how can you prove that a triangle has three sides? What if it had four?”

Me: “Then it’d be a square.”

A: “You’re a square.”

Me: “Can we please keep to the topic? If it has three sides, it is a triangle.”

A: “Well, I’ve heard of a shape like that, but it cannot be determined how many sides a triangle has.”

Me: “Yes. A triangle has three sides.”

A: “You say that, but can you offer proof?”

Me: “No. I cannot offer proof that a triangle has three sides. You just have to know that.”

A: “Well, then a Triangle doesn’t exist.”

Me: “I’ll draw one for you.”

A: “Sure.”

I proceed to draw a triangle.

A: “That doesn’t prove that a triangle exists.”

Me: “If it doesn’t prove that a triangle exists, then I’m afraid it cannot be proven. It just has to be accepted on faith that it is a triangle.”

A: “See, I can only believe in what I see.”

Me: “Well, you can see this shape. It is called a triangle.”

A: “But that’s not proof enough. I need more proof that triangles have three sides.”

Me: “You can count them.”

A: “No… I want you to prove that a triangle has three sides.”

 

Substitute God with “A Triangle” and “Three Sides” with Morality.

Use your imagination to make the actual debate.

Because if you can’t, I don’t believe you.

 

This is how atheists sound when they argue about God’s existence.

Fallow the Earthen Vessels of

Fallow the earthen vessels of

Our words; the potter’s clay which turn

To the hand of our smooth wheel’s ink.

 

I, I can make the plane good-smoothed;

I can layer ceramic sheen;

I can inlay the prism paints

To have the bird, tree and wood-house.

 

I can smooth so there are no prints

Of my fingers upon planed clay.

I can make exactly an inch

Of my thumb for each flowered rim.

 

I can paint the portrait of the

Lady of the house, and fire the

Kiln to the perfect heat-degree

So to lay smoothest enamel.

 

I can make the earthen, red jar

With warbs and wobbles on each side.

I can make the water pots, peach

Like the skin of Caucasian men.

 

I can so make the Doyle plates

Though my heart does not want to make

Them, the most popular design

Made by machines more than a man.

 

I can make them funny, so mar

The clay I use, that ink blackened,—

So to make white plates with rivets

That every man will go to use.

 

I can make gold inlayed leaf, shaved

Twenty-four carat purity.

I can, too, measure with my thumbs

To make a perfect cone so deep.

 

I can make a bowl, a plate; so

Even know how to shape with tools.

 

Yet, the potter’s wheel is so strange

And often so very cruel.

If I made a thousand vessels

But none were put to use.

Amaris

My doe, White Doe of Rylestone

Whoever “They” are,

Will not… no, they refuse,

To let me eat from this, my labor.

 

Come swiftly, to this land of Inishkea.

 

I would much rather till the soil

Than, as Longfellow said,

Turn the potter’s wheel.

 

I am tired.

I love to write.

It is a joy of mine.

One of the few joys here in Inishkea.

 

My face is not beautiful.

My body is fat.

My hands are soft.

I am not manly.

 

But, my hope is in you.

 

I would make my face beautiful

And thin my body to an iron-flesh core,

I would have my calloused hands,

And I would become manly

 

If you came to the land of Inishkea.

Lauren Daigle II

But, if they didn’t cut you off

If you didn’t sing the lyrics

I heard you building up to it.

Why didn’t you sing it?

 

I’m much more afraid of God

Than my public image.

You should be too.

 

When Xerxes had a prophecy,

He wavered to attack Greece.

The result was his loss at Thermopylae.

 

Lauren, only you know.

Love you all the more…

But be steady in the faith,

And shine the next time.

 

That’s what grace is.

I Don’t Pretend to be Perfect

I don’t pretend to be a theologian.

Maybe I am.

I don’t pretend to be a philosopher.

Maybe I am.

I don’t pretend to be a journalist.

I know I’m not.

I don’t pretend to use perfect grammar.

I definitely don’t.

 

An unlearned man could

Find some ecclesiastical truth.

A man who got a B in philosophy

Could rediscover truth.

A person who doesn’t report on the news

Could find something newsworthy.

A man who makes a few dozen spelling or grammar mistakes

Could possibly be a good writer.

 

A lot of faux intellectuals have posited their claims

Into the meanings of scripture.

A lot of men who don’t know what Existentialism or Platonism are

Could have said, and gotten successful, with their brands of philosophy.

A lot of news journalists could have missed

The blatant facts, and never put them together.

And I know there have been writers who don’t use punctuation.

 

I hope one day to join the conversation

But as a still, little voice

And not a Fabius Maximus on a megaphone.