POTPOURRI
BY
FRANK A VOLLMER
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Revelation 8
8 When the Lamb ripped off the seventh seal, Heaven fell quiet— complete silence for about half an hour.
Blowing the Trumpets
2-4 I saw the Seven Angels who are always in readiness before God handed seven trumpets. Then another Angel, carrying a gold censer, came and stood at the Altar. He was given a great quantity of incense so that he could offer up the prayers of all the holy people of God on the Golden Altar before the Throne. Smoke billowed up from the incense-laced prayers of the holy ones, rose before God from the hand of the Angel.
THE ANGELS FILLED THAT VOID
WITH SILENT VOICES
TELLING OF THE MANY WAYS
MAN REFUSES TO HONOR GOD
FROM ATHEISTS
TO RELIGIOUS FANATICS
THEN GOD SAID
INCENSE THOSE WHO DO MY WILL
IN THE SPIRALING SMOKE
LIFT ALL MY ELECT TO ME
FOR THAT SILENCE
PARALLELS THE SILENCE
BEFORE I CREATED ALL
FROM NOTHING
I GIVE YOU A LAST MINUTE CALL
FOR YOU TO SEEK FORGIVENESS
IF YOU CANNOT BELIEVE MY WORDS
BELIEVE WHAT I CAN DO
HAVE DONE
FOR THERE WILL BE A NEW HEAVEN
A NEW EARTH
WHEN THE SEVEN TRUMPET BEARING ANGELS
DO THEIR WORK
GOD WILL WIPE THE TEARS FROM THE EYES OF THE ELECT
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THE FOLLOWING POEM IS BASED
ON A POST BIBLICAL LEGEND
WRITTEN IN THE FOURTH CENTURY A.D.
WHEN GOD DECIDED TO CREATE A WORLD
HE NEEDED WORDS TO SAY BEGIN
SO FROM HIS HEAD HE SPEWED OUT LETTERS
TO FORM THE WORDS
IMMEDIATELY
THEY BEGAN TO ARGUE
WHO WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT LETTER
IN THE CREATION PROCESS
TAV WAS FIRST TO SAY TO GOD
PICK ME
FOR I BRING THE TORAH
NO
SAID GOD
(THE ORIGINAL TAV WAS WRITTEN AS AN X)
IT IS THE SIGN I PUT ON CAIN
SHIN STEPPED UP
PICK ME
FOR YOUR NAME BEGINS WITH SHIN
SHADDAI
NO SAID GOD
FOR SHIN BEGINS SHAW AND SHEKER
LIE AND FALSEHOOD
THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED
THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF THE TWENTY TWO LETTERS OF THE JEWISH ALPHABET
DISCARDING THEM FOR SIMILAR REASONS
TILL THERE WAS ONLY TWO LEFT
ALEF AND BET
BET AND ALEF
ME SAYS BET
FOR I BEGIN THE BIBLE
I START THE STORY
AND GOD AGREED
BUT THAT ALL SHOULD BE HUMBLE BEFORE GOD
HE GAVE FIRST PLACE TO ALEF
BECAUSE HE DID NOT PROMOTE HIMSELF
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Acts 10:34-36
The Message
. Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open
I LOVE THIS PASSAGE
IT SEEMS TO SAY
WHEREVER GOOD IS FOUND
THERE GOD IS
IT BREAKS ECCLESIASTICAL BOUNDARIES
IT PUTS THE LIE TO THOSE WHO SAY
OUTSIDE OF US YOU’RE DEAD
IT RESTORES BENEVOLENCE TO GOD
WHO WOULD LOVE A GOD
WHO ONLY PRACTICES HARM
THOSE WHO PRACTICE GOODNESS
ARE GOD’S CHILDREN
THOSE WHO ARE NOT SO GOOD
ARE GOD’S CHILDREN
THOSE WHO ARE DELIBERATELY EVIL
ARE GOD’S D CHILDREN
ALL BEING DRAWN
BY THE SAME MAGNET
GOD’S LOVE FOR THEM
WHO ARE WE
HIS CREATURES
TO TELL HIM
WHO MAY COME INTO HIS KINGDOM
WHO ARE WE INDEED
A QUESTION
IF THERE WAS NO KINGDOM
WOULD YOU STILL SERVE GOD
OUT OF THANKS FOR YOUR CREATION
LIKE CHILDREN
BEING GOOD
FOR A LOLLYPOP
SHOULDN’T WE BE BETTER THAN THAT
AND MAKE OUR LIVES
WORTHY OF HIS CREATION
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AMOS 8:4-7
4 Hear this, you who trample the needy
and do away with the poor of the land,
5 saying,
“When will the New Moon be over
that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
that we may market wheat?”—
skimping on the measure,
boosting the price
and cheating with dishonest scales,
6 buying
the poor with silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
selling even the sweepings with the wheat.
7 The Lord has
sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything
they have done.
ARE THE WORDS OF THE BIBLE TO BE BELIEVED
OR THEY JUST HAPPY TALK
LISTENED TO BE EARS THAT DO NOT HEAR
UNABLE TO PENETRATE OUR HEARTS
THE WORDS OF AMOS
WRITTEN OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO
TRANSCRIBED INTO MODERN TIMES
WOULD READ LIKE TODAY’S HEADLINES
WHILE THOSE WHO DO IT
PRATE PIOUS PLATITUDES
THE LORD HAS SAID
HE WILL NOT FORGET THEIR ACTIONS
LORD WE HAVE WANDERED FAR
FROM OUR FATHER’S HOUSE
WITH A RIGHT SPIRIT RENEW US
MELT OUR HEARTS TO HEAR
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JOHN’S APOCALYPSE
IS NOT SOME FUTURE THING
HOOF BEATS IN THE DISTANCE
HE WROTE IT FOR NOW
HIS NOW
AND ALL THE NOWS
TILL NOW
WHEN IF EVER
HAVE THE FOUR HORSEMEN
BEEN CORRALLED
HAVE WE ANY LACK OF LEADERS
MARCHING TO VICTORY
ON THE BROKEN BODIES
OF THE DIFFERENT SIDES
ON A SPIRITED WHITE HORSE
SAYING TO THE WOUNDED
AND THOSE LEFT ORPHAN
AND WIDOWED
WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SACRIFICE
AND THEN HIDING THEM
AS SOMETHING EMBARRASSING
HE DID NOT MIND THE CARNAGE
OR DESTRUCTION
HE LEFT THAT
FOR THE RED HORSE
AND ITS RIDER
WHO RODE THROUGH A FOREST
OF BROKEN TREES
DECORATED WITH ENTRAILS
ON LAWN
COLORED RED WITH BLOOD
PAST PILES OF BONES
PAST BLIND PEOPLE
VICTIMS OF AN EYE FOR AN EYE
MOTHERS KILLED SON
AND FATHERS DAUGHTERS
THE OLD NEGLECTED
AND THE INFIRM LEFT
NO ONE WAILED
BECAUSE NO ONE CARED
THOSE WHO WERE LEFT
THE HAVES
AND THE HAVE-NOTS
WHERE SOON BESIEGED
BY THE WHITE HORSE
AND ITS RIDER
AND A VOICE CRYING
A QUART OF WHEAT
FOR A DAY'S WAGES
AND THREE QUARTS OF BARLEY
FOR A DAY'S WAGES
AND DO NOT DAMAGE
THE OIL AND THE WINE
THOSE WHO EAT WELL
WILL STILL
EAT WELL
THOSE WHO DO NOT
WILL BARELY SURVIVE
DIVES WILL DINE IN STYLE
BUT LAZARUS
WILL DINE WITH THE DOGS
THEN COMES PESTILENCE
ON A PALE GREEN HORSE
CRYING BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
WELL IN THE MORNING
STIFF AT NIGHT
ANIMALS RAID GRAVEYARDS
FOR THE MEAT
VULTURES CANNOT FLY
BECAUSE OF GLUTTONY
GOD WEEPS IN HEAVEN
FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIS CREATION
THIS IS NOT MY WILL
HOBBLE THE HORSES
THE POETIC VISION OF JOHN
IS IF MEN DO NOT CHANGE
I WILL IT SO
MY WILL BE DONE
DO WE SAY IT MECHANICALLY
OR DO WE MEAN IT
WE ARGUE ABOUT ANGELS ON A PIN
AND DO NOT HEAR THE CRY FOR CHANGE
ARE WE HYPOCRITE IN OUR PRAYERS
THE THUNDER OF HORSES
IS ALL AROUND US
IT IS OUR TASK
TO CORRAL THEM
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TO BEGIN WITH THERE ARE NO HEROES IN THIS STORY
THE STEWARD IS AN EMBEZZLER
THE DEBTORS ARE CO-CONSPIRATORS
THE MASTER PRAISES THE STEWARD FOR BUSINESS ACUMEN
THE EVIL ONES OF THE WORLD
ARE BETTER IN THEIR INFAMY
THAN THE SONS OF LIGHT
IN THE PURSUIT OF GOODNESS
WOULD THAT WE COULD PURSUE GOODNESS
WITH THEIR INTENSITY
THE SONS OF THE WORLD
ARE NOT USUALLY EVIL
BUT DISTRACTED
BY ALL THE SHINY OBJECTS
WE ARE MEMBERS OF BOTH FAMILIES
REGARD THE ACTIONS
OF A CROWD AT A SOCCER GAME
VERSUS AN HOUR AT CHURCH
OFTEN RELUCTANTLY GIVEN
WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH MASTER TO SERVE
WE ARE TOLD THAT WITH FAITH
WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
IF WE PURSUED THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT
AS WELL AS WE PURSUE
THE THINGS OF THE WORLD
WE COULD MOVE MOUNTAINS
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1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
IS NOT THE CUP WE SHARE
A MAKING OF US ONE
IS NOT THE BREAD WE SHARE
A MAKING OF US ONE
ONE WITH CHRIST
AS FOOD BECOMES
ONE WITH OUR BODIES
HOW CAN THERE BE DISSENSION
IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
BUT THERE ARE THINGS
WE MUST DO
IN THAT BODY
WHICH WE DO NOT WANT TO DO
THERE ARE THOSE
WE MUST LOVE
IN THAT BODY
WHICH WE ARE UNWILLING TO DO
CAN WE SAY
I ONLY WANT A PERCENTAGE OF CHRIST
IN ME
OR RATHER
I ONLY WANT A PERCENTAGE OF ME
IN CHRIST
I WANT HIM AS A SPECIAL ASSISTANT
BUT NO MORE
I DON’T WANT THE NIGGLING THOUGHT
DO BETTER
FOR WHICH HE IS FAMOUS
I ONLY WANT HIM
WHEN I’VE FOULED MY NEST SO HORRIBLY
I NEED OUTSIDE HELP
IT’S THEN I KNOW
WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE POOR IN SPIRIT
AS THE HARVEST OF THE WHEAT
AND THE WINE ARE CYCLICAL
SO CHRIST COMES CONTINUALLY
SAYING
THIS IS MY BODY
THIS IS MY BLOOD
TAKE AND EAT
AND BE ONE
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CONFETTI
SOME SAY IT SNOWED ON
THE DAY OF HIS FUNERAL
RATHER I SAY
IT WAS A JUBILANT GOD
THROWING CONFETTI
REJOICING IN THE
RETURN OF ONE OF HIS OWN
SCATTERING THE
DANCING SNOW
WHIRLING IT IN THE
WIND
COVERING ALL
FORGIVING ALL
WELCOMING ALL
ESPECIALLY HIM
FOR WHOM THE FIELD ON
LOOKING BACK
HAS NO FOOTMARKS TO
MARK HIS FAILINGS
ONLY A FIELD REMADE
BY GRACE
AND THE WIND WAS A
LAUGHING GOD
TELLING OF ANOTHER
SAVED
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BAPTISM
HOW
OBSTINATE IS GOD
HOW
CONTINUOUS HIS EFFORTS
THE
CHANGING OF SEASONS CALLS FOR A CHANGE IN OUR L1VES
THE
BURSTING OF GREEN TO SCATTER WINTER'S DESOLATION
THE
THAWING OF ICE ... A BROOK RUNNING FREE
A FLIGHT OF GEESE ... A WEATHER VANE FOR THE
SOUL
AND YOUR REBIRTH IN CHRIST BY WATER ON A WINTER'S DAY
IS SUCH A SIGN
THAT
DEMANDS FROM ME
A
NOBILITY OF ACTION FAR BEYOND MY WORTH
I CANNOT
MATCH YOUR INNOCENCE NOW
THOUGH
ONCE LIKE YOU I WAS REBORN
BUT YOU
ARE TO ME A PROD
TO BETTER
MY DESTINY
A THORN
IN MY SIDE
TO MAKE
ME NOT CONTENT
WITH
WINTER GREY THAT SEEPS INTO OUR LIVES
BECAUSE
OF YOU... I PROMISES RE-MADE
YOU
CHALLENGE ME
I THANK
YOU
FRIEND
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BUSY-NESS
BUSY-NESS
I SUPPOSE IT WILL ALWAYS BE SO
FROM
I KNOW NOT MAN
TO THE BABY LEAPED WITHIN MY WOMB
MY SOUL REJOICES
ALL SHALL CALL ME BLESSED
FROM PINNACLE
TO
I CANNOT MARRY YOU
YOU HAVE BEEN UNFAITHFUL
TO THE DREAM
TO THE WEDDING
TO THE TRIP TO BETHLEHEM
TO NO ROOM AT THE INN
AND THE BABY
TO A MOMENT OF GLORY
AND THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT
NO TIME TO HAVE A BABY
BUT BABIES WILL COME
AS GOD WILL COME
WHEN WE ARE UNPREPARED
FOR HE IS A GOD WHO WILL FILL
ALL OUR LONELY
ALL OUR EMPTY MOMENTS
WHO WILL TAKE WHATEVER WE CAN GIVE
AT THE MOMENT
AND LET IT BE SOIL
FOR SEED TO GROW
THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH TIME
TO PREPARE FOR GOD
ALL HE ASKS
IS THAT
IN ALL OUR BUSYNESS
WE TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE
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DAVID'S DAD
DAVID’S DAD
EVEN IF YOU HAD LIVED TO RIPE OLD AGE
AND DIED PEACEFULLY IN YOUR BED
I COULDN’T HAVE LOVED YOU MORE
THERE WOULD BE MORE MEMORIES
BUT REPEATS OF THE SAME
A FATHER’S LOVE FOR HIS CHILD
WE DO NOT KNOW
HOW LONG THE STRING OF OUR LIVES WILL BE
OR WHEN THE MEASURING ANGEL
SNAPS THAT STRING
SO IN MEMORY
I OFTEN STAND IN FRONT OF YOUR TOMB
AND CRY
LAZARUS COME OUT
KNOWING IT WON’T BE SO
BUT LATER IN MY MIND’S EYE I SEE
FORGETTING THEOLOGY FOR A WHILE
MY MOM AMD DAD REUNITED
AND HIM SAYING TO HER
YOU TOOK A WHILE
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SELF EVIDENT NOT SELF FULFILLING
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS ARE SELF EVIDENT
THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL
NOBLE WORDS
THAT LAUNCHED OUR NATIONS
NOBLE WORDS ARE SLOGANS
NOBLE ACTIONS ARE NOT
IN SO MANY CASES
WE HAVE MISSED THE MARK
WE COUNTED SLAVES
AS THREE FIFTHS OF A MAN
DISPOSSESSED THE LOCAL PEOPLE
THEN DESPISED THEM FOR HOMELESSNESS
WE ARGUE
HANG THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN A PUBLIC PLACE
NOT THINKING OR CARING
THAT TO DISENFRANCHISE A PERSON
IS TO STEAL HIS BIRTHRIGHT
WE MARCH OUR YOUTH OFF TO WAR
HAVE THEM DO HORRIBLE THINGS
WITNESS HORRIBLE ACTS
RETURN MAIMED IN MIND AND BODY
ORDERED TO KILL FOR QUESTIONABLE REASONS
YOU SHALL HONOR YOUR FATHER
AND MOTHER
ALL LIVING THINGS
WE ARE A GOD FEARING PEOPLE
AND HIS NAME BETTER BE
JEHOVAH
NOT ALLAH
G*D
BRAHMA
BUDDHA
GREAT WHITE SPIRIT
KAMI
EXCESS PROFITS
AT THE EXPENSE OF WORKERS WAGES
LIMITING THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
THE RICH HAVE PRIVILEGES
AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR
THE STRANGER IN OUR MIDST
IS OSTRACIZED
WIDENING GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR
I LOVE MY COUNTRY
BUT NOT BLINDLY
TO IGNORE HER FAULTS
IS TO DO HER NO SERVICE
ANY OF US WHO DO NOT LIVE UP
TO HER STANDARDS
DO HER NO SERVICE
WE HAVE MUCH TO BE PROUD OF
BUT IF IT DOESN’T INCLUDE ALL
IT’S A LIE
IT DOESN’T LIVE UP TO OUR FOUNDING WORDS
ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL
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