Monday, October 31, 2011

THE GORILLA AND THE CAT

THE TEACHING STORY GOES
SOMETHING LIKE THIS

THERE WAS A GORILLA
AND HER CHILD
WHO WENT TO THE WATERHOLE FOR A DRINK

WHILE THERE THEY HEARD A THUNDERING SOUND
AS A HERD OF HIPPOS STAMPEDED

FRIGHTENED THE CHILD REACHED FOR HER MOTHER
GRASPING THE FUR ON HER BODY
SHE CLAMBERED ABOARD

MOTHER AND CHILD SCURRIED TO SAFETY

THERE WAS A CAT
ALONE
AT HOME WITH HER KITTEN
A FIRE BROKE OUT
SHE GRABBED HER KITTEN
BY THE SCRUFF OF ITS NECK

CARRYING KITTEN
SHE JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW TO SAFETY

THE MORAL OF THE STORY
IS TO WHAT IS
AND ISN’T
GOD’S GRACE FOR HIS CREATION
GOD’S LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN

IN THE GORILLA STORY
THE CHILD ASKS FOR HELP
THE MOTHER RESPONDS

IN THE CAT STORY
MOTHER GRABS THE CHILD
AND FLEES
THE CHILD IS NOT CONSULTED





THE CAT STORY
IS GIVEN TO US AS A MODEL OF GOD’S GRACE
AND IT BOTHERS ME

IT IS TRUE THAT GOD’S GRACE
IS ALWAYS CALLING US TO GOODNESS
AND GOD’S GRACE SUSTAINS US IN GOODNESS

BUT IS WE HAVE NO CHOICE
AS THE KITTEN DOESN’T
WE ARE ROBOTS

I DON’T THINK GOD WANTS ROBOT LOVE
BUT FREELY SAYING
I WILL

THIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CONTRADICTIONS
THAT IS ME

THIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CONTRADICTIONS
TRYING TO SOAR
WITH FEET STUCK IN THE MUD

THIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CONTRADICTIONS
GIVEN FREEDOM OF CHOICE

THIS PERSON LOVED BY GOD
TO THE POINT OF DEATH

ASKS ME TO BE THE PERSON
HE CREATED ME
TO BE

SO TO ME
THERE MUST BE A I WILL MOMENT

GOD ENCOURAGES ME
TO THE MOMENT OF DECISION
THE I WILL MOMENT

GOD SUSTAINS ME
 AFTER THE I WILL MOMENT

BUT IN THE I WILL MOMENT
THE CHOICE IS MINE



I CAN RAISE MY HANDS FOR HELP
OR I CAN RUN AWAY

IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT THERE IS AN ENDLESS SUCCESSION 
OF DECISION MAKING

LIKE AN ELECTRIC LIGHT
THE POWER IS THERE
THE SWITCH MUST BE THROWN

IF GOD FORCED THE DECISION
THEN WHY HASN’T HE FORCED THE DECISION
EVERYWHERE

SHOULD THERE BE POVERTY
HUNGER
WAR
IF GOD COULD FORCE GOODNESS

WHERE THEN IS FREE WILL
AND LOVE FREELY GIVEN

I DO NOT CLAIM TO BE RIGHT
BUT QUESTING

PERHAPS I DO NOT HAVE THE WORDS
OR INSIGHT

KNOCK AND IT SHALL BE OPENED
ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE
THEY REQUIRE
AN I WILL MOMENT

A LEAPING INTO THE DARKNESS
TRUSTING
THAT GOD WILL CATCH US


FRANK A VOLLMER

Friday, October 28, 2011

SUNDAYS OF LENT (SERIES B)


DUST –(ASH WEDNESDAY)





DOES THE WIND KNOW
THE VALUE OF THE DUST
IT WHIRLS INTO A COLUMN

IS IT TRYING TO MAKE A MAN

IF IT SUCCEEDED
WOULD IT BLOW ITS CREATION AWAY
ON A WHIM

WOULD IT LOVE ITS CREATION

WOULD IT DIE FOR HIM

WOULD IT HOVER OVER HIM
LIKE A MOTHER HEN
FUSSING FORGIVING

TIME AND AGAIN
FOLDING HIM TO HER BOSOM
OR WOULD IT

AS SO MANY GODS HAVE DONE
FADE FALTER
AND GO AWAY











RAINBOWS (Genesis 9:8-17) WEEK ONE



EACH MAN SEES HIS OWN RAINBOW

BASED ON THE OBSERVER’S POSITION

AND THE PLACE OF THE SUN



ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING PERHAPS

THAT GOD WANTS TO HAVE PEACE SO MUCH

HE GIVES IT TO EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY



THE BOW OF THE RAINBOW IS AWAY FROM EARTH

PROTECTING THE ONE BENEATH

FANTASY PERHAPS

BUT NOT TOO FAR FROM THE POETRY THAT IS GOD



PEACE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WAR

LOVE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HATE

WHERE DOGMA BRINGS DEATH

CAN WE NOT SAY WITH ASSURANCE

WE'VE GOT IT WRONG




GENTLE REBUKE (Mark 8:31-38) WEEK TWO


SO QUICKLY HAD HE SPOKE
IMPULSIVE PETER
SO QUICKLY HAD HE SPOKE
THE WORDS WERE OUT
BEFORE HE HAD TIME TO THINK
BUT OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR HIS FRIEND
AND THE IMPACT
OF THE WORDS HE HAD SAID
I MUST GO TO JERUSALEM AND DIE

HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND JESUS
AND DREW HIM TO HIMSELF
SHELTERING
AND SAID
IT MUST NOT BE

AND JESUS HEARTBROKEN
BECAUSE PETER
STILL
WAS UNAWARE OF HIS MISSION
SAID SOFTLY
GET BEHIND ME SATAN

GET BEHIND ME SATAN
ADVICE GIVEN A CHILD BY A PARENT
DON’T STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY
THERE’S NO FUTURE
LONG HOURS
AND LOW WAGES
SHELTERING THE CHILD

OR THOSE
WATCHING BOX CARS
RATTLING ACROSS EUROPE
FILLED WITH HUMANITY
AND SAYING NOTHING

OR PREACHERS
PREACHING BROTHERHOOD
IN A SEGREGATED CHURCH
WHILE LAZARUS
IS UNDER THE TABLE
BEGGING CRUMBS

OR WORKMEN
AFTER YEARS OF SERVICE
FINDING NO PENSION
WHILE CEOS MAKE MILLIONS
WHERE IS THE CRY FOR JUSTICE
MUTED BY THOSE WHO HAVE

AND JESUS SAYS
GET BEHIND ME SATAN
UNLESS A MAN
IS WILLING TO TAKE A STAND
AND SUFFER WITH ME
HE IS NOT WORTHY OF ME

JESUS SAYS
GIVE ME PEOPLE
LIKE MOTHER TERESA
MAHATMA GANDHI
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
DOROTHY DAY
DANIEL BERRIGAN
JOHN XXIII

TAKE YOUR ARM FROM AROUND ME
I AM NOT A TOY
OR PRETTY FEELING
TO BE SHELTERED FROM THE STORM


I KNOW YOU LOVE ME
BUT YOUR ARM AROUND ME HINDERS ME
I NEED TO STRETCH
MY ARMS OUT
FOR THE CROSS
I AM YOUR FRIEND
WHO DOES NOT SHIRK
FROM EMPTYING HIMSELF
AND DYING ON A CROSS

















DOVES (JOHN 2:13-22) WEEK THREE


HE WOULDN’T HURT THE DOVES
HE TOLD THEIR SELLERS
TO TAKE THEM FROM THE TEMPLE
THE BEASTS
USED TO ROUGH TREATMENT
HE DROVE FROM THE TEMPLE
ALONG WITH THEIR SELLERS
AND THE MONEY CHANGERS
BUT HE WOULDN’T HURT THE BIRDS

YOU HAVE MADE MY FATHER’S HOUSE
A SLAUGHTER HOUSE
A PLACE TO EXTORT THE POOR
KEEPING THE PRICE OF SACRIFICE HIGH
NO ALLOWANCE FOR THE WIDOW
OR THE WIDOWS MITE


BUT I AM TIRED OF YOUR BURNT OFFERINGS
THE SMOKE OF WHICH
NO LONGER PLEASES ME
IT’S JUST RITUAL
WITHOUT SUBSTANCE
BUYING GOD WITH A BURNING COW

I HAVE COME TO END SACRIFICES
WITH ONE GREAT SACRIFICE
MINE

TEAR DOWN THIS TEMPLE
AND I WILL REBUILD IT
IN THREE DAYS
WITH FLESH AND BLOOD

TEAR DOWN THIS TEMPLE
AND OLD WAYS CEASE

THE LAW IS LIFELESS AND COLD
BUT GOD’S LOVE IS WARM


SOCIAL GOSPEL (John 3:14-21) FOURTH WEEK




THE SOCIAL GOSPEL
IS NOT AN APPENDAGE
TO CHRISTIANITY
BUT THE ESSENCE OF IT

WE LABOR OVER THE DIFFERENCES
BUT DO NOT REMEMBER
THE COMMON THREAD

THROUGH OUT THE TESTAMENTS
LOVE GOD
LOVE NEIGHBOR

WHEN CHRIST WAS TASKED
TO GIVE THE FINAL SACRIFICE

HE WENT
THOUGH HE WAS AFRAID

HE WENT
ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROPHETS
PROCLAIMING GOOD NEWS
TO ALL PEOPLE

NOT REGARDING
SOCIAL STATUS
INTELLIGENCE
WEALTH OR POVERTY
POWER OR IMPOTENCE

WE SHOULD REMEMBER ONLY
THAT CHRIST HAS DIED FOR ALL
THEREFORE EVERYMAN
HAS DIGNITY

IS ENTITLED TO ALL
THE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE

TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR
WITHOUT HUNGER
WITHOUT THIRST FOR CLEAN WATER

TO SEE HIS CHILDREN THRIVE
SLEEP IN A WARM BED
HAVE A FUTURE

A MINISTER HAS RECENTLY SAID
THAT HE EXPECTS
TO SEE GANDHI IN HEAVEN

WHICH CREATED A FIRESTORM
AMONG THOSE CHRISTIANS
WHO SAY
OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
THERE IS NO SALVATION


THEIR IDEA OF CHURCH
IS SO NARROW
THAT IT PUTS A LIE
TO JOHN 3:16

THAT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD
HE SENT HIS SON
TO DIE FOR IT

WHERE DID THESE
GATEKEEPERS OF THE KINGDOM
GET THE POWER
TO BUILD A FENCE
AROUND THOSE
WHOM CHRIST WOULD SAVE

GOD’S CHURCH
IS BIGGER THAN CREED

GOD’S CHURCH IS BUILT
ON THE SOCIAL GOSPEL

WE WILL BE JUDGED
BY OUR CONDUCT

WE WOULD DO BETTER
TO BUILD THE KINGDOM
THE WAY GOD WANTS
RATHER
THAN RESTRICT MEMBERSHIP





































FOUND OUT (JOHN 12;20-33) WEEK FIVE






THE GOSPEL FOR THIS SUNDAY
I FIND CONFUSING
NO NEW THING THERE

FIRST GREEKS COME TO SEE JESUS
THEN DISAPPEAR

LET ME TELL YOU
WHAT I THINK
NOT WHAT I KNOW

WHEN THE GREEKS APPEARED
JESUS SAYS
THE WORLD HAS DISCOVERED ME
MY HOUR HAS COME

I MUST AS A GRAIN OF WHEAT
DIE
AND MY DEATH
WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT

MY FOLLOWERS
IT WILL BE A ROUGH ROAD
THINK MUCH
BEFORE YOU START ON IT

WE WILL WALK THE ROAD
TOGETHER

I SPEAK NOBLY
BUT I AM AFRAID
SHALL I ASK TO BE SAVED FROM THIS HOUR
NO
IT IS THE PURPOSE
FOR MY BEING




FATHER
FOR YOUR GLORY
I DIE

LIKE THUNDER
HEAVEN SPOKE
AMEN
AMEN
AMEN

I DIE IN BATTLE
THAT THE ENEMY BE VANQUISHED

WHEN I AM LIFTED UP IN DEATH
I SHALL DRAW
ALL PEOPLE
TO MY SELF

AND THE HEAVENS RUMBLED
AMEN
AMEN
AMEN
























Isn't it sad, that in a time when we face so many devastating problems – poverty, HIV/AIDS, war and conflict – that in our Communion we should be investing so much time and energy on disagreement about sexual orientation?" --Archbishop Tutu



I don't preach a social gospel; I preach the Gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person. When people were hungry, Jesus didn't say, "Now is that political or social?" He said, "I feed you." Because the good news to a hungry person is bread.





--Archbishop Tutu







PALM SUNDAY





WHEN JESUS RODE INTO JERUSALEM

ON A DONKEY HE’D BORROWED FOR THE OCCASION



HEARING HOSANNAS

AND SEEING THE PALM BRANCHES

STREWN IN HIS WAY






HE HEARD UNDERNEATH

THE SNICKERING OF SOME

TEACHER GET YOUR DISCIPLES UNDER CONTROL



IT’S UNLAWFUL TO BE JOYFUL



IF I SHOULD QUIET THEM

THE VERY STONES WOULD SING



BUT THE HOLY PEOPLE

THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS

THE GOOD PEOPLE

CALLED OUT

SEEING THE JOY OF THE CROWD

CRIED

IT’S OUT OF CONTROL

IT’S A STAMPEDE



WE WANT THEM WORRIED

ABOUT RELIGIOUS MINUTIAE

NOT THE FREEDOM HE TALKS ABOUT




HE MUST BE STOPPED

BEFORE ALL WE STAND FOR DIES



IT WOULD BE NICE TO SAY

THAT THE PROPHECY IS TRUE

THAT THE PHARISEES ARE DEAD

BUT THEY ARE STILL WITH US

WORRYING ABOUT MINUTIAE



WHILE CHILDREN STARVE

WHERE IS OUR SENSE OF VALUES



WHILE JESUS RIDES TO HIS DEATH

AND THE MOOD OF THE CROWD WILL CHANGE

YET HE RIDES TO BRING ABOUT OUR SALVATION

AND ASKS US TO MAKE HIS SACRIFICE WORTHWHILE










FRANK A VOLLMER