GENESIS

GENESIS


IN CREATION MYTHS
A COMMON THEME
HAS GODS
INVOLVED IN SIBLING SEX
RAPE
MURDER
TURF WARS
BUTCHERY
STRUGGLES FOR POWER

THE WORLD MADE
BY THEIR CHILDREN’S BODIES
OR PARTS THEREOF

A CREATION STORY
AS CONCEIVED BY MEN

BUT WHEN THE JEWISH SCRIBES
SURROUNDED
BY BABYLONIAN IDOLATRY
DROWNED IN FOREIGN GODS
TO WHICH THE JEWS
WERE SUSCEPTIBLE

REWROTE AND EDITED
THE GENESIS STORY
TO GIVE THEIR DISPLACED COUNTRYMEN
HOPE
AND VISION

THEY INCORPORATED OF COURSE
SOME OF THE OLD BABYLONIAN TALES
SUCH AS THE FLOOD
AND THE TOWER OF BABEL

BUT WHEN IT CAME TO CREATION
THEY DID A HUNDRED AND EIGHTY

NO STRUGGLE
NO CONSTANT SEX
AS THE EGYPTIANS
DID WITH THE BROTHER AND SISTER
EARTH AND SKY

GOD SIMPLY SAID
BEGIN
AND IT WAS SO
GOD SAID
IT’S GOOD

NOW WHETHER IT TOOK
AN INSTANT
OR MILLENNIUMS
FOR FRUITION

IT DOESN’T MATTER
GOD SAID BEGIN
AND IT WAS

OUT OF NOTHING
IT WAS

BUT WHEN IT CAME TO MAN

THE SPIRIT THAT BROODED OVER THE ABYSS
BREATHED INTO HIM A SOUL
AND MADE HIM THE CAPSTONE OF HIS CREATION

AND GOD SAID
THAT’S GOOD

AND THE JEWS KNEW THAT MAN WAS SPECIAL
MADE
NOT FROM THE SWEAT OF BATTLE
THE BLOOD DROPS OF WAR
THE SEMEN OF SEX

GOD SAID BEGIN
AND IT WAS

GOD SAID
LET US MAKE MAN
AND IT WAS SO

AND IT WAS GOOD

NO STRUGGLE

OH GOD TOLD A FISHERMAN’S JOKE
WHEN HE ASKED JOB
IF HE COULD CATCH A WHALE ON A HOOK


BUT THE JEWS KNEW
EVEN THOUGH
THEY WERE FOREIGNERS
IN A FOREIGN LAND

THAT THEY
AND EVERY MAN WAS SPECIAL
NOT MADE BY ACCIDENT
BUT A DELIBERATE CREATION

THAT GOD
THEN
NOW
AND ALWAYS
WOULD HOLD THEM IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND


FRANK A VOLLMER

GARGOYLE

FROM: SONGS FOR A FRIEND

GARGOYLE

GARGOYLE HOWLING IN THE WIND
SPEWING WATER AND WITH EYE DISTENDED
SCOWLING
WHAT AGONY OF ARTIST DRONE THE CHISEL
WHAT tNJUSTICE BORNE WITHOUT HOPE OF REMEDY
HOW MANY MEN ARE GARGOYLE MADE
BY FORCES OUT OF THEIR CONTROL
BY WAR BY RACE BY POVERTY
CONTINUAL NOISE IN A CROWDED ROOM
CHISELS CARVING PAIN
PRECARIOUSLY PERCHED THE GARGOYLE SITS
IN THE RAIN SPEWING PAIN
AND WITH EYE DISTENDED
SEARCHES FOR THE SUN



Frank a vollmer

FLIGHT TO EGYPT

FLIGHT TO EGYPT

THERE WERE TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS
A BABY'S CRY
AND ARMED MEN LOOKING FOR A VICTIM

THERE WERE SHEPHERDS AND WISEMEN
A BABY'S CRY
AND ARMED MEN LOOKING FOR A VICTIM

THERE WAS FLIGHT THERE WAS PANIC
A BABY'S CRY
AND ARMED MEN LOOKING FOR A VICTIM

THERE WAS A GARDEN A KISS
A YOUNG MAN'S SIGH
AND ARMED MEN LOOKING FOR A VICTIM

THERE WAS A CROSS THERE WAS NIGHT
A YOUNG MAN'S CRY
AND ARMED MEN LOOKING FOR A VICTIM
THERE IS YOU THERE IS I
A NEED TO DEFY
THE ARMED MEN LOOKING FOR A VICTIM

AS CHRIST CAME ONCE HE COMES AGAIN
IF HE COMES NOW WOULD WE TRY
WOULD WE MAKE A SHIELD
OR JUST STAND BY
IGNORING FOOTSTEPS AND A BABY'S CRY
THE ARMED MEN AND THE VICTIM


Frank a vollmer

FIVE THOUSAND

FIVE THOUSAND

AND HE HAD COMPASSION ON THEM

THEM
BEING THE CROWD
THAT FOLLOWED HIM
HUNGRY FOR THE GOOD NEWS
THEY WERE TRULY HUNGRY NOW
HOT
TIRED
DIRTY
LIGHT HEADED
FROM FATIGUE
AND NO FOOD

HE’D HEARD ABOUT JOHN

HE CRAVED SOLITUDE
SILENCE
SOLACE
HE NEEDED TO GRIEVE

BUT THEY FOLLOWED HIM
WOULD NOT LEAVE HIM ALONE
HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM

HE TOOK BREAD
FISH
AND FED FIVE THOUSAND

THE POOR
SHARING WHAT LITTLE THEY HAD

IN ANOTHER PART OF THE KINGDOM
FIVE THOUSAND
HAD LABORED
TO SUPPLY A FEAST
WITH FOOD
SILK GARMENTS
JEWELS
OINTMENTS
SOAPS
FINE WINES

A FEAST FOR A FEW

THE SERVANTS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT
LIKE DOGS AROUND THE TABLE
THEY WAITED
NO CONCERN GIVEN THEM

THEY WAITED
SO THEY COULD EAT
LEFTOVERS

THERE WAS ALSO
MUSIC
DANCING
AND MURDER

THE ROARING TONGUE OF CONSCIENCE
WAS SILENCED
BUT NOT QUIET
IN THE ECHOES OF HIS MIND
RANG THE WORDS
UNLAWFUL
UNLAWFUL
UNLAWFUL

AND JESUS
WAS SADDENED
BY THE DEATH
OF HIS FRIEND
AND THE WAY THE WEAK
WERE TREATED BY THE STRONG

MY FATHER DID NOT CREATE THE WORLD
THAT THERE SHOULD BE HUNGER
PREFERENCE
OR MURDER

BUT JESUS
SETTING AN EXAMPLE
TOOK BREAD AND FISH
WHAT LITTLE HE HAD

AND FED
FIVE THOUSAND
FRANK A VOLLMER

FIRST SERMON

FIRST SERMON






LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.
MOST OF IT IS TRUE.
THE REST IS A PARABLE.

JESUS TOLD PARABLES.
THEY WERE
AND ARE
STORIES TO TEACH A LESSON.

JESUS
FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE
.
GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE.

AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE
AND JOY
IN HIS MESSAGE

BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE

AND THE WEALTHY AND IMPORTANT
FELT THREATENED

HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH
AND HE AND HIS MOTHER
WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE.

AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.
MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN
BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED.

AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT
ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE.

AROUND THEM SAT
THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE.

THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED
THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.
IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID
THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED
RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.

THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN
AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT
.
HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER
THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY
.
THEY SAID
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A GENTILE
.
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A WOMAN
.
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A SLAVE.

THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.
IT WAS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HE
OR HIS FATHER WANTED.

LATER PAUL
IN GALATIANS
WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER
WITH A NEW ONE
THAT REFLECTED
WHAT JESUS THOUGHT
WHEN HE WROTE

AS MANY OF YOU
AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES
WITH CHRIST.

THEREFORE
THERE IS NO LONGER
JEW OR GREEK
,
THERE IS NO LONGER
SLAVE OR FREE,

THERE IS NO LONGER
MALE AND FEMALE;

FOR ALL OF YOU
ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN
AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED
.
BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY
JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY
.
AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY
HE IS SADDENED
THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED
SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM
.
HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES
AND READING FROM ISAIAH
HE DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE

THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER
FOR HIS PEOPLE.

TODAY HE SAYS
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME

HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO BRING GOOD NEWS
TO THE POOR.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES
HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.
TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED

AND TO TELL
ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW.

JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.
LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,
LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE
LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER
AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN
WHO DID NOT COUNT
AND SAYS

TODAY

THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED
IN YOUR HEARING
MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE
WAS NOW
AND FOR THAT REASON
JESUS WAS PREACHING.
AND CALLING US TO MISSION



I HOPE MY SERMON
IS BETTER RECEIVED
THAN JESUS' WAS
BECAUSE WHEN JESUS WAS FINISHED
HE WAS CHASED OUT OF TOWN.
BUT THAT'S NEXT WEEK SERMON
SO TUNE IN.

BUT THE RICH MEN AND THE IMPORTANT MEN
AND THE LEADERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE
THOUGHT
WHY WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT.
ABOUT THOSE WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING.
THE OTHER MEN WONDERED
WHY THE FUSS,
LIFE IS GOING ON OK FOR ME.

IT TOOK PAUL
AGAIN IN TODAY'S LESSON
TO PUT WORDS TO JESUS' DREAM
WHEN HE WRITES IN CORINTHIANS.
THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
IS LIKE A BODY,
MANY PARTS
ONE BODY.

AND THAT THAT
BODY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

AS PAUL WRITES
FOR IN ONE SPIRIT
WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED
INTO ONE BODY.
NO MORE JEW OR GREEK,
SLAVE OR FREE
BUT ONE BODY.

AND IN THAT BODY
IF ONE PART SUFFERS
THE WHOLE BODY SUFFERS.
JUST AS IF
ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HONORED
THE WHOLE BODY IS HONORED.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.
THIS IS JESUS' DREAM
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
AS IF HE WERE CHRIST.
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
BECAUSE HE IS ONE WITH US
IN CHRIST'S BODY.

SO JESUS LOOKING AT THE WORLD
THROUGH OUR EYES
AND SEEING
THAT IT IS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HIS FATHER
OR HE WANTS.
ASKS US TO SAY WITH HIM
AS HE SAID IN NAZARETH ON THAT DAY.

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY
TO CAPTIVES
HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.
TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED
TO TELL ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME
FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW. SO I ASK YOU
(PUT IN NAME)
WILL YOU HELP JESUS
TO MAKE THE WORLD
THE WAY HE WANTS IT

RESPONSE
I WILL AND I ASK GOD TO HELP ME.

FRANK A VOLLMER

fig

FIG



MY NAME IS FIG
CAN YOU DIG
MY LAST NAME IS NEWT
KIND OF CUTE
TOGETHER THEY SAY
FIG NEWT ON WHICH YOU CAN RELY
THEY CALL ME A FIRE BELLY
THEY CAN CALL ME A JELLY BELLY
AS LONG AS THE FOODS ON TIME
I HAVE FUN AND I FROLIC
I’M JOLLY AND GAY
I’M REALLY QUITE BUSY
IN A LETHARGIC KIND OF WAY
I’M GENEROUS TO A FAULT
I’LL GIVE ANYTHING AWAY
TAKE A FOOT OR A TAIL
IT’S YOUR FOR THE GRASPING
I’M KIND OF GENEROUS
THAT WAY


FRANK (you should be ashamed to say you wrote it) VOLLMER

WINSOR - FAMILY REUNION

WINSOR
FAMILY REUNION


WE ARE A BOISTEROUS
NOISY
BRAYING
PEOPLE

THINGS ARE DONE AT HIGH VOLUME
WITH MUCH LAUGHTER
AND HUMOR
AND SLY DIGS

WE ARE RELATED
WE BELONG

AS WE RELATE THE FAMILY STORIES
THE GIANTS GET BIGGER
THE MONSTERS MORE FEARSOME

IF WE CATCH THE SMALL ONES BELIEVING
IT’S EVEN MORE FUN

I AM THE PATRIARCH OF THE BUNCH

A TITLE
NOT SOUGHT
BUT BESTOWED BY YEARS

WE VISIT THE GRAVES
AND VILLAGES OF OUR TRIBE

WE ARE RELATED BY BLOOD
DESCENT
LAW

THROUGH OUR VEINS
BY FACT OR FANCY
RUNS THE SEA

WE ARE SAILORS
SEAMEN
FISHERMEN
SEALERS
WHALERS
HANG-A-SHORES
DREAMERS

ALL OF US ARE FISHERS OF MEN

ALL OF US DREAM
OF THE LONG GREAT WAVE
THAT WILL TAKE US HOME
WE GO UNAFRAID

WE HEAR IN THE QUIET OF OUR MIND
THE WIND IN THE RIGGING
THE WHISPER OF THE SEA

WE CARRY AN HONORABLE NAME
AN HONORABLE HERITAGE
LET US WALK IN PRIDE
AND DIGNITY


FRANK A VOLLMER