FERNS

I LIKE FERNS

I LIKE THEIR OPENNESS

THEIR GRACEFUL LINES

HOW THEY SURVIVE

IN GOOD OR BAD CONDITIONS

NO CONVOLUTED FLOWER SHAPE

NO PISTILS

STAMENS

SIMPLE IN SHAPE

COMPLEX IN DESIGN

THEIR DESIGN SHAPE IS CALLED VASE

LIKE A BUNCH OF CUT FLOWERS

IN A CONTAINER

A FRIEND OF MINE

KNEW I LIKED FERNS

SO SHE DUG

AND PLANTED

A GARDEN OF THEM

STANDING OVER THEM WHEN SHE FINISHED

SWEATY

DIRT STREAKED

SHE SAID

I HOPE THEY LIVE

WHETHER THEY GO TO DUST

AS ALL MUST

THE KINDNESS OF HER ACT

IS LIKE A CANDLE IN A DARK PLACE

IT MAKES THE NIGHT LESS FRIGHTENING

ITS GLOW MAKES ONE FEEL WARM

IT MAKES A MEMORY

TO CHERISH

AND LOVE

FRANK A VOLLMER

WITH THANKS TO PAM

WHO DUG THE GARDEN

DONKEY AND A CARROT

 I OFTEN THINK

THAT CHRISTIANITY

REDUCES ITSELF

TO THE PICTURE

OF A DONKEY

CHASING A CARROT ON A STICK

THAT HEAVEN IS A REWARD

FOR GOOD CONDUCT

THAT WE SOMEHOW MERITED IT

GOOD CONDUCT

IS FAITH IN ACTION

DONE

 BECAUSE

IT IS THE PROPER THING

EXPECTED

OF ONE

WHO LOVES GOD

NOT FOR REWARD

BUT OUT OF LOVE

LIKE THE ISRAELITES

WHO SERVED GOD

WITHOUT A HOPE OF RESURRECTION

WE GAIN NO MERIT FOR GOOD CONDUCT

IT IS THE FRUIT OF OUR FAITH

ABIDE WITH ME

I AM THE VINE

YOU ARE THE BRANCHES

ABIDE WITH ME

YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT

FRANK A VOLLMER

You are always on their lips

You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.
Jer. 12:2b

I IT WOULD BE NICE
IF FAULTFINDERS
LIKE MYSELF
WERE FAULTLESS
BUT I MISS THE MARK OFTEN

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS
THAT LOOM LARGER THAN MY FAILINGS

AMONG WHICH
ANY CHILD WHO IS STARVING
JOBS
AT DECENT WAGES
AND CONDITIONS

POLITICIANS WHO PRATE MORALITY
LIKE A PARROT
WITH AS MUCH SENSE

TAXES ON THE POOR
WHILE THE RICH PAY LITTLE

A MAN JUDGED BY RACE OR RELIGION

CHRIST DIED FOR ALL OF THESE
CAN WE NOT HONOR HIS DEATH
BY DEALING WITH THEM
JUSTLY

FRANK A VOLLMER

MUD

IN HIS CONSTANT DARKNESS

HE GROPED HIS WAY TO THE POOL

AIDED BY THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

IT WAS NOT HIS NORMAL PLACE OF BUSINESS

HIS PARENTS

WOULD DELIVER HIM

TO THE TEMPLE CONFINES

WHERE HE BEGGED

FROM THE GUILTY GOING IN

THE JUSTIFIED COMING OUT

PEOPLE ANXIOUS TO PERFORM A MITZVAH

LIKE THIS PERSON

WHO HAD JUST SPOKE TO HIM

HAD SPOKEN AS IF TO AN EQUAL

THE THOUGHT WAS

THAT SALIVA

HAD HEALING PROPERTIES

SO JESUS SPAT ON THE GROUND

MADE MUD

COATED THE MAN’S EYES WITH IT

TELLING HIM

GO WASH IN THE POOL

OF SILOAM

WHICH MEANS SENT

AS JESUS WAS SENT

TO BRING LIGHT

HE PLUNGED INTO THE POOL

NOT GRACEFULLY

BUT A FULL BELLY FLOP

THEN STOOD UP

WATER STREAMING

THE MUD WASHED AWAY

SAW A FUNNY FACE

RIPPLES DISTORTING THE IMAGE

GRADUALLY THE WATER STILLED

A BEAUTIFUL IMAGE EMERGED

HE WEPT

AND PRAYED

NOW LORD

WHEN I LOOK AT THE HEAVENS

THE WORK OF YOUR FINGERS

THE MOON AND THE STARS

THAT YOU HAVE MADE

WHAT ARE WE

LITTLE ANTS

THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF US

YET YOU HAVE MADE US

A LITTLE LOWER THAN GOD

CROWNED US WITH GLORY AND HONOR

AND GIVEN ME A BEAUTIFUL FACE

I SHALL SERVE THIS SON OF MAN

THIS HEALER

CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS HEALING

BUT MORE

HE SPOKE TO ME AS AN EQUAL

FRANK A VOLLMER

BASED ON A SERMON BY PASTOR MOODY