MARY AND MARTHA (LUKE 10:38-42)

ONCE

WHEN I WAS

LEADING A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

DURING A DISCUSSION PERIOD

ONE WOMAN SAID

I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO A MOUNTAIN TOP

DESERT ISLAND

MONASTERY

AND DISCOVER MYSELF

A WORKING MOTHER SAID

I’M JUST HAPPY

FOR THIS WEEKEND

MARY AND MARTHA

ARCHETYPES

NEITHER QUITE UNDERSTANDING THE OTHER

SOMETIMES TO THE POINT OF IRRITATION

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER SAYING TO ME

GET YOUR NOSE OUT OF BOOK

GO OUT AND PLAY

DO SOMETHING

REALLY SHE SAID

IN HER NEWFOUNDLAND BROGUE

GO OUT AND BLOW THE STINK OFF YOU

BUSY MOTHER

APPARENTLY IDLE CHILD

MARY MARTHA

THINKER AND DOER

GOD GIVEN TRAITS

WE DO WELL TO HONOR

JESUS

ON HIS WAY TO JERUSALEM

TO CONFRONTATION

NEEDED A MOMENT OF QUIET

MARY WAS GIVING HIM THAT

MARTHA THE ORGANIZER

WANTED TO GIVE HIM THE ROYAL TREATMENT

BUSY IN THE KITCHEN

ARRANGING SLEEPING QUARTERS

TIDYING

BUSY

MARY HAS CHOSEN THE BETTER PART

SHE SATISFIES MY NOW NEEDS

MARTHA

YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU

AND HONOR YOUR WORK

I WILL NEED YOU EVEN MORE IN THE FUTURE

BUT FOR NOW THE QUIET OF THE TOMB AWAITS ME

AND I WOULD BE QUIET

FRANK A VOLLMER

FIRE (LUKE 12:49-56)

 I HAVE COME TO BRING FIRE TO THE EARTH

TO BURN AWAY THE DROSS OF SIN

INCINERATE THE RESIDUE OF SIN

TO DESTROY SIN

AND ITS CLUTCHES

I WAIT EAGERLY TO STRIKE THE MATCH

BUT FIRST THERE ARE DUES TO PAY

I MUST BE OVERWHELMED BY SIN AND DEATH

MY HUMAN SIDE MUST GO TO THE END AND BEYOND

I MUST BE PLUNGED INTO THE PIT

I MUST GO TO THE LAND OF SHADES

AND THERE BUST THE GATES OF HELL

SET CAPTIVES FREE

I THINK FOR ENGLISH SPEAKING CHRISTIANS

THE LITERAL TRANSLATION OF THE GREEK WORD BAPTISMA

INTO BAPTISM

SIGNIFIES SACRAMENT BY WATER

A CLEANSING

BUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A BAPTISM OF BLOOD

WE HAVE BEEN WASHED IN THAT BLOOD

WE HAVE BEEN RANSOMED AT GREAT PRICE

CHRIST KNOWS THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP

IF FOR NOTHING ELSE EXCEPT I SAVED YOU

I MUST BE FIRST

I ACCEPT NO OTHER RIVALS

NO OTHER IDOLS

MONEY

SEX

POWER

NO OTHER IDOLS

THE CHOICE HAS BEEN MADE FOR YOU

IF YOU CHOOSE ME

AT THE CROSS ROADS YOU FOLLOW ME

NO MATTER WHAT SIREN LURES

 CALL FROM THE OTHER PATH

I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD

YOU SHALL NOT PUT OTHER GODS BEFORE ME

FRANK A VOLLMER

VIGNETTE (LUKE:35-48)

IT WAS LIKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME

GOING FROM PHILLY TO MAINE

FROM LATE SPRING TO LATE WINTER

FROM THE PROMISE OF LIFE

TO THE PROMISE OF DEATH

CRYSTAL COME

YOUR DAD'S HAD A STROKE

HE WANTS YOU TO COME

ARE YOU SURE

YES HE WANTS YOU TO COME

SO DISTANT DAUGHTER

IS FLYING DOWN THE ROAD

TRYING TO NARROW ONE FORM OF DISTANCE

NOT KNOWING IF THE OTHER DISTANCE

WILL EVER BE BRIDGED

MY PRAYER A MANTRA

IN TIME TO THE WIPERS

BRUSHING THE RAIN FROM THE PANE

HOLD ON DADDY

OH DADDY HOLD ON

ODD TO BE PRAYING FOR A MAN

WHO WAS AT PEACE WITH GOD AND HIMSELF

FROM A WOMAN WHO HAD REJECTED THE SURENESS

WHO NOW HAD ALL THE ANSWERS

AND HAD NONE

OH DADDY HOLD ON

COME CRYSTAL COME

AND I RUN

CAN A GIRL EVER LOSE HER LOVE

FOR HER FIRST LOVE

HER DADDY

COME CRYSTAL COME

THIS FROM HIS SECOND WIFE

FROM WHOM I WAS DISTANT

NO FAULT OF HERS

SHE BELONGED TO HIM

THAT MADE THE GAP

SO LONG AGO I'D WANDERED FROM MY FATHER'S HOUSE

ANGRY

WITH SET JAWS ON BOTH SIDES

SHE'D MADE HIM GENTLE

THIS NEW WIFE

MY SIBLINGS HAD SAID SO

BUT I HAD WANTED TO HOARD MY PAIN

IT WAS MY SORE TOOTH

AND I SUCKED IT REGULARLY

COME CRYSTAL COME

HOW BLEAK THE LANDSCAPE HAD BECOME

HOW MATCHING TO MY SOUL AND SPIRIT

UNTIL FINALLY THE HOSPITAL WAS REACHED

MY FAMILY AND GRACE

AROUND THE BED

HOLDING HIS HANDS AND THEIRS

WATCHING THE MONITORS FOR ANSWERS

WATCHED THEM AS MY BROTHER SAID

REST EASY DAD

WE ARE ALL HERE

GRACE IS HERE

BEVERLY AND I ARE HERE

AND CRYSTAL IS HERE

HE SQUEEZED MY HAND

IN THE PLAYFUL GRIP

HE USED TO DO WHEN I WAS A CHILD

AND WENT

WENT DOWN THE ROAD AS FLAT AS THE MONITORS

A GREATNESS LEFT THE ROOM

AND SORROW FILLED THE SPACE

AN EMPTINESS WAS IN MY HEART

BUT I KNEW

SOMEHOW I KNEW

AS IF MY FATHER TOLD ME

THAT SPRING WOULD COME

AND WITH IT HAPPY MEMORIES

KNOWING THERE WAS NO DISTANCE AT THE END

GRACE THANK YOU

FOR TAKING CARE OF HIM IN HIS LATER YEARS

PERHAPS HIS DEATH WILL TEACH ME HOW TO LIVE

THE FAMILY AROUND THE DEATH BED

CRYING

HOLDING HANDS

SHARING LOVE AND WARMTH AND MEMORIES

AS DEATH ONCE MORE

TRIED TO TEACH US LIFE

Frank a. Vollmer

LILIES OF THE FIELD (LUKE 12:13-34)

THE STORY GOES

THERE WAS A DONKEY

TETHERED BETWEEN

TWO PILES OF HAY

HE STARTED FOR ONE

THEN CHANGED HIS MIND

THE OTHER LOOKED BETTER

THEN CHANGED HIS MIND AGAIN

AND AGAIN

AGAIN

AND AGAIN

HE WORE A DITCH

BETWEEN THE PILES

AND DIED IN IT

HUNGRY

POOR DUMB DONKEY

TO LET DESIRE

RULE HIS LIFE

TILL DEATH

POOR DUMB US

WHEN WE DO THE SAME

OH I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT

THE NORMAL DESIRES

FOR LOVE

FOOD

SHELTER

MEANINGFUL WORK

AND REWARD

WHAT I MEAN IS DESIRE THAT WARPS

THAT TWIST A PERSON’S VALUE

THAT

I WANT

SUPERSEDES

BLINDS HIM

TO THE NEED OF OTHERS

LIKE A GENERAL

SURVEYING A BATTLE FIELD

WITH ALL THE DEAD

AND DESTRUCTION

WITH A VICTORIOUS SMILE

SAYS

LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE

I’M TEMPTED TO QUOTE

THE LILIES OF THE FIELD

IF WE THINK

GOD WILL PROVIDE

HE’S DONE A BAD JOB

BUT IS NOT GOD’S POWER THWARTED

BY MAN’S DESIRE

FOR POWER

THE NEED TO HAVE IT AT ALL COSTS

WE SUPPLANT GOD BY THINKING

I

AM THE GREAT

I AM

I THINK GOD WILL PROVIDE

IF WE LET HIM

IF WE DO NOT BLOCK THE SUN

SO THAT LILIES FADE

AND BLOW AWAY

FRANK A VOLLMER

WHEN YOU PRAY…(LUKE 11:1-13)

WHEN YOU PRAY

SAY

OUR FATHER

MOTHER

KEEPER OF THE DAWN

GATE OPENER FOR THE SUN

HE WHO WALKS BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS

HE WHO WATCHES THROUGH THE NIGHT

HE WHO DWELLS IN OUR HOME

FATHER

MOTHER

EVER THERE

TO WHOM OR WHAT

CAN WE GIVE GLORY

CAN ANYTHING WE DO

ADD TO YOU

YOU ARE SELF CONTAINED

WITHIN YOURSELF

BUT IN A SPECIAL WAY

YOU ARE INCOMPLETE

WITHOUT US

SO TO YOUR COMPLETENESS

WE ADD OUR LOVE

AND WE SING

HOLY HOLY HOLY

IS YOUR NAME

SHOW YOUR POWER

AND ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM

SHOW YOUR POWER

AND ESTABLISH YOUR WILL

BUT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE

FOR IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS

THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM

THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR WILL

ON EARTH

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

GIVE US TODAY

FOOD FOR TODAY

MINDFUL OF OTHER'S NEEDS

MINDFUL THAT EVERYMAN

IS OUR BROTHER

MINDFUL THAT FOOD STORED

MAY NOT LAST

MINDFUL THAT WE SHOULD SHARE OUR SURPLUS

THAT WE SHOULD TRUST YOU FOR TOMORROW

GIVE US TODAY

OUR DAILY BREAD

DO NOT PUT US TO THE TEST

FOR OFTEN WE HAVE FAILED THE TEST

LIKE MOSES WE TAP THE ROCK TWICE

UNLIKE MOSES WE TAPPED IT MORE THAN TWICE

WHEN WE REMEMBERED TO TAP IT AT ALL

UNLIKE JOB

WE OFTEN CURSE

AND QUESTION

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL

BUT ALSO WHERE WE FIND EVIL

LET US RESIST IT

FOLLOWING THE DICTATES

WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS

TO ALL THE ABOVE

WE SAY AMEN

FRANK A VOLLMER

JERICHO TRAVELER (Luke 10:25-37)

WHEN HE STARTED OUT HE WASN'T POOR

OR HURT

OR MAIMED

OR SULLEN FACED

WITH A LAUGH AND A WHISTLE HE'D STARTED OUT

WITH A LAUGH AND A WHISTLE AND A HAPPY AIR

THEN WHAT HAPPENED ON THE JOURNEY

WHAT BROUGHT HIM TO THIS PLACE

WHAT BLEW THE CANDLE OUT

SO THAT HIS EYE REFLECTS THE SUN

BUT LETS NONE COME IN

WHO TOOK THE AIR HE BREATHED AND MADE IT FOUL

WHO MUFFLED SONG BIRDS EARLY SONG

WHO CRIED OUT "NIGGER" IN THE NIGHT

WHO CUT HIS BRAIN WITH MANY SCARS

WHO THEN COMPLAINED WHEN ANGER CAME

WHO LISTENED WHEN HIS CHILDREN CRIED

RAT BITTEN IN A COCKROACH BED

WHO CARED WHEN THOSE SAME CHILDREN DIED

LAID TO REST IN SEGREGATED BED

WHO TOOK THE BRIGHT PROMISE OF HIS FACE

AND CHISELED OFF HIS SMILE

WHO TOOK THE LAUGHTER FROM HIS LIPS

AND CANDLE FROM HIS EYE

WHO PRAYED FOR HIM WHEN HE BEGGED FOR BREAD

WHO GAVE HIM BREAD WHEN HE WANTED LOVE

WHO STOPPED LOVING HIM WHEN HE MISBEHAVED

WHO TAUGHT HIM VIOLENCE AND WAR

WHO CRIED WITH HIM WHEN LONELINESS

CAME CREEPING IN LIKE EVENING FOG

WHO DUG THOSE FURROWS IN HIS BROW

WHO CARVED THOSE LINES OF LONELINESS

WHO TAUGHT HIM BITTERNESS AND HATE

AND THAT BROTHERHOOD'S A LIE

WHO.. WHO...

OH HELL... WHO GIVES A DAMN

FRANK A VOLLMER

ADVANCE MAN (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20)

MY FATHER WAS AN ADVANCE MAN FOR MGM

IN 1928

HE’D TRIED THE STAGE

BUT VAUDEVILLE WAS FAILING

AND HE WAS A MARRIED MAN

AN ADVANCE MAN WAS PART OF SHOW BUSINESS

SO HE SWITCHED

WHICH IS WHY I WAS BORN IN ST LOUIS

WE WERE ON THE ROAD

MY FATHER WAS ADVANCE MAN

FOR A FILM

THE LAST COMMAND

WE WERE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE CIRCUS

WE’D SHOW UP WITH A PAPER MACHE FLOAT

DEPICTING THE MOVIE

AND A CAGE HOLDING LEO THE LION

A TIRED

OLD

CIRCUS CASTOFF

WHO THRILLED THE CROWD

WHEN HE YAWNED

WE’D PAPER THE TOWN

GIVING FREE TICKETS FOR DISPLAYING POSTERS

OUR JOB WAS TO MAKE A SPONTANEOUS CROWD

COME SEE THE MOVIE

IN THOSE DAYS A MOVIE WAS LIKE A STAGE SHOW

IT STAYED IN TOWN

UNTIL THE AUDIENCE LESSENED

BEFORE THAT WE’D BE IN THE NEXT CITY

EVERYTHING WAS HYPERBOLE

EVERYTHING WAS FRESH FISH

THE GREATEST

THE ADVANCE MAN HAD TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THE PRODUCT

JESUS SENT 70 ADVANCE MEN

THEY WENT OUT ENTHUSIASTIC

THEY CAME BACK ENTHUSIASTIC

THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT JESUS

AND HIS MESSAGE

AND THE MESSAGE WAS SIMPLE

LOVE ME AND MY CREATION

NO NITPICKING ABOUT DIFFERENCES

TO THE JEW

A GENTILE WAS A SINNER

BECAUSE HE BROKE THE LAW

WITHOUT KNOWING IT

DIETARY

HYGIENIC

SABBATH

FOR THAT HE WAS A SINNER

JESUS SAID

WHAT GOES IN A MAN’S MOUTH

DOESN’T DEFILE HIM

WHAT COMES OUT DOES

LOVE ME LOVE MY CREATION

THEY MET UP WITH INDIFFERENCE

BUT KEPT UP TRYING

I THINK

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE CHURCH TODAY

IS

WE ARE NOT EXCITED ABOUT JESUS

WE LOOK FOR HORRORS IN THE RAPTURE

JUDGE THAT THE POOR MUST BE BAD

GOD IS PUNISHING THE WORLD FOR HOMOSEXUALITY

WHILE REMAINING SILENT DURING THE HOLOCAUST

ALL THE HOLOCAUSTS

JESUS IS A PRETTY PICTURE

THEN FORGET

WE HAVE NO ENTHUSIASM FOR HIS MESSAGE

RACHAEL MOURNS HER CHILDREN

THERE IS NO ONE TO COMFORT HER

FRANK A VOLLMER

LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD (LUKE 9:51-62)

I HAVE A RELUCTANCE

TO DWELL ON THIS READING

I THINK IT’S BECAUSE

OF HOW MUCH

I MISS THE MARK

I REMEMBER

AS A YOUNG MARRIED FATHER

I WAS ASKED TO GO WATER SKIING

I TURNED IT DOWN

MY REASONING

WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY

IF I WAS HURT

THAT LINE OF REASONING

IS WHY

SOME MEN WON’T TAKE A STAND

NOW JESUS SETS A HIGH BAR

FOR THOSE WANTING TO JOIN HIS SERVICE

BUT MOST OF THE TIME

HE HAS TO SETTLE

FOR SOMETHING

LESS THAN HIS STANDARDS

FIRST HE SAYS

MEASURE THE COST

BE WILLING TO THROW YOURSELF

AS BONHOEFFER SAYS

UNDER THE WHEELS OF INJUSTICE

TO STOP IT

LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD

ODD SENTENCE

SEEMS A WORD IS MISSING

OR WRONG

COMMENTARIES

SHOW DISPARATE INTERPRETATIONS

HERE IS MINE

IN BIBLICAL TIMES

BURIAL SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN A DAY

MEANING IF THE ELDEST SON

WAS AT A DISTANCE

HE COULDN’T BE THERE

HOWEVER A YEAR LATER

ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURIAL

THE TOMB WOULD BE OPENED

THE REMAINING BONES

WOULD BE PLACE IN AN OSSUARY

OR BONE JAR

THIS SECOND BURIAL

WOULD HAVE A FIXED POINT IN TIME

AND COULD BE SCHEDULED BY THE ELDEST SON

THIS I THINK

IS WHY THE DISCIPLE

IS ASKING FOR LEAVE

THIS I THINK

WAS ONE OF CHRIST’S PROBLEMS

THE JEWS

HAD SURROUNDED THEMSELVES

WITH TRADITIONS

THAT HAD BECOME LAW

LIKE WASHING HANDS BEFORE SHUCKING CORN

OR HEALING ON THE SABBATH

I THINK WHAT CHRIST IS SAYING

WHEN THE MOLD IMPEDES THE KINGDOM

BREAK THE MOLD

SO HE SAID TO THE YOUNG MAN

LET THE DEAD TO CHANGE

BURY THEIR OWN DEAD

BUT YOU GO

AND PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD

TO THE OTHER YOUNG MAN HE SAID

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL

USING A FARMING ADAGE

YOU CAN’T PLOW A STRAIGHT ROW LOOKING BACK

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL

JESUS

I AM IMPERFECT

BY YOUR STANDARDS

TAKE ME

A BROKEN

DULL EDGED TOOL

AND USE ME

AND HELP ME

TO REMEMBER

THAT LOVE OF YOU

IS MORE IMPORTANT

THAN SCHOLARLY PURSUITS

FRANK A VOLLMER

MADMAN OF GERASENES(Luke 8:26-39)

THE LAST THING THAT I REMEMBER

WAS SEEING MY FATHER SLAIN

THEN MY MOTHER AND SISTER

RAPED AND SLAIN

THE SOLDIERS COMING AFTER ME

FRIGHTENED

I RAN AWAY INTO OBLIVION

THE NEXT THING THAT I REMEMBER

IS TO SEE PIGS

HURLING THEMSELVES

OFF A CLIFF

INTO THE SEA

MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME

BETWEEN THESE POINTS

I HAVE BEEN TOLD

THEY TOLD ME I DWELT AMONG THE DEAD

THAT I ATE THE SYMBOLIC FOOD

LEFT FOR THE DEAD

OCCASIONALLY SOMEONE’S CHARITY

THAT I WAS CHAINED TO A ROCK

WHICH CHAIN I WOULD OFTEN BREAK

I REMEMBER FEELINGS OF GREAT RAGE

I REMEMBER

FEELING LIKE A ROBOT

RESPONDING TO VOICES

NOT MY OWN

I REMEMBER

STARING AT WALLS

REMEMBERING THEIR DEATHS

FEELING ANGER AND HOLLOWNESS

THEN THE STRANGER CAME

SPOKE TO THE VOICES WITHIN ME

WHAT IS YOUR NAME HE ASKED

MOB THEY REPLIED

LEAVE HIM

DO NOT SEND US TO THE PIT

SEND US TO THE PIGS

HE DID

AND THEY SWAN DIVED OFF THE CLIFF

I OFTEN WONDER

WHY HE CROSSED THE SEA TO SAVE ONE MAN

BECAUSE THE VILLAGERS ASKED HIM TO LEAVE

HE WAS BAD FOR BUSINESS

I WOULD GO WITH HIM

HE SAID STAY

TELL YOUR STORY

BE A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS

MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD

IF THEY WON’T BELIEVE MY WORDS

TELL THEM WHAT I HAVE DONE

FRANK A VOLLMER

SIMON THE PHARISEE (Luke 7:36–8:3)

WHAT DID HE EXPECT

THIS ITINERANT PREACHER

WHAT DID HE EXPECT

TO BE TREATED LIKE EQUALS

LIKE ANOTHER OF THE PHARISEES

WHAT DID HE EXPECT

I INVITED HIM TO A MEAL

LORD KNOWS HE LOOKED LIKE HE NEEDED ONE

AT FIRST

ALL WAS

AS IT SHOULD BE

HE ATE

AND ENJOYED HIS MEAL

IT WAS THE WOMAN

THAT STARTED THE RUCKUS

WOMEN ARE GOOD FOR TWO THINGS

HOUSE KEEPING AND BED

WHICH IS HOW SHE GOT IN UNANNOUNCED

THEN SHE

WHO UNDER OTHER CONDITIONS I WOULD ENJOY

EMBARRASSED HERSELF AND ME

BY POURING PERFUME OVER HIS FEET

COVERING THEM WITH TEARS

DRYING THEM WITH HER HAIR

SCANDALOUS

TO LET SUCH A WOMAN

APPROACH YOU IN A PUBLIC PLACE

TOUCH YOU

CONTAMINATION

AND HE PURPORTING TO SPEAK FOR GOD

HAS GOD DESCENDED TO THE PIGSTY LEVEL

THEN HE HAD THE AUDACITY

TO GIVE ME A LESSON ON MANNERS

AND A PARABLE ON BIG AND SMALL FORGIVENESS

THEN TO CAP IT ALL

TO TELL HER

HER SINS WERE FORGIVEN

IT’S TOO EASY

BUT HE’S A DREAMER

LIKE ALL THE OTHER REFORMERS

WHAT’S SHE GOING TO DO NOW

A WOMAN

WITHOUT A MAN

OR A TRADE

WHAT A USELESS PIECE OF BAGGAGE

PERHAPS HE’LL TAKE HER WITH HIM

I HEAR HE HAS A HAREM

AS FOR THE PARABLE

FORGIVE A DEBT

NEVER

GRIND THEM DOWN

MAKE THEM PAY

GOD REWARDS THE WEALTHY

THE POOR HE HAS NO USE FOR

WHO KEEPS THE TEMPLE

THE WIDOWS MITE

WELL I’VE HAD MY CURIOSITY SATED

I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL THE BOYS AT THE CLUB

IT COST ME A MEAL AND AN EVENING

IT’LL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING

IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME

FRANK A VOLLMER

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

SO DECLARED OUR FOUNDING FATHERS

TO THE EXTENT WE HONOR THEM

WE ARE TRUE TO OUR HERITAGE

AND CAN CALL OURSELVES AMERICAN

TO THE EXTENT WE FEEL THE ARE CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS

AND TRY TO LIVE UP TO THEM

WE CAN CALL OURSELVES CHRISTIAN

WHAT GOOD IS IT TO HAVE GOD ON OUR MONEY

PRAYER IN SCHOOL

IF THERE IS

GREED IN THE MARKET PLACE

CHILDREN HUNGRY

THE IMMIGRANT NOT WELCOME

UNENDING LINE OF YOUNG MEN

DYING IN BATTLE

GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR

BETWEEN THE PRIVILEGED FEW

AND THE MAJORITY

HOW CAN WE SAY WE ARE A CHRISTIAN NATION

WHY ARE PROFESSED CHRISTIANS

KNOWN MORE BY WHAT THEY HATE

RATHER THAN WHAT THEY LOVE

IF WE TRIED TO LIVE UP TO OUR IDEALS

AND FAILED TRYING

IT’S UNDERSTANDABLE

WE ARE A SINFUL PEOPLE

BUT LACK OF EFFORT

OR LIVING IN A RELIGIOUS COCOON

BENEFIT NO ONE

WHEN A POLITICIAN

TRIES TO HANG THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

IN A COURTHOUSE

AND CAN’T RECITE THEM

WHAT HYPOCRISY

ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY

WE HAVE MUCH TO REMEMBER

AND MUCH STILL TO DO

TO MAKE THE DREAM

A REALITY

FRANK A VOLLMER