Harold...
Harold came of age
during the depression.
Never idle.
No bread lines...
Finally...
Foundry work.
Never groused...
Kept shoveling.
Wry wit,
Winking eye...
Self made,
Slept well.
Short on words,
Tall in humor,
Story teller...
Over and over.
Loved life,
Loved his wife
Lonely in time,
Longing for Heaven.
Once happy...
Happy once more.
....
Harold was a remarkable and simple man. He was humorous, lovable and always joking. This quiet man made a huge impression on my heart.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
You need new strings on your guitar...
"New Strings"
Little adjustments
Force the instrument
To Sing a different song
Strings argue
With me
Fighting back
Sound rings
Notes rise
In tune
Harmony comes hard
With newly born strings
Crying out in pain
Music flows
Over my heart
Past my soul
R D Harris
Little adjustments
Force the instrument
To Sing a different song
Strings argue
With me
Fighting back
Sound rings
Notes rise
In tune
Harmony comes hard
With newly born strings
Crying out in pain
Music flows
Over my heart
Past my soul
R D Harris
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Oil Spill.... and your Heart
The oil spill is beyond comprehension now.
People in the gulf area are suffering, and will suffer in job losses, and in may other ways. We add our prayers to those already engaged in the 'great prayer' for the Gulf. Pictures of the sludge and the dead wildlife are truly heartbreaking.
I don't want to be overly dramatic in using this as an illustration.... but...
Isn't sin a lot like the oil spill? It runs deep underwater and surfaces eventually to create a gooey slime that is dangerous to clean up and continues to stink even after the visible goop is in plastic bags. It also damages the sea floor so that once fertile seafood production areas are now going to be dead for a long time. Sin is gooey stuff!
We don't like to think about it. For the people in the gulf, many can smell the strong, sickening odor every time they go outside... it follows them around- sticks to their clothes. Sin does that too. It follows us around and wants to stick to our clothes! Multiple washings don't do the trick. Hamlet couldn't wash his hands enough either!
OK, so what do we do now.
It is not as easy as 'wishing' the oil to go away. The reaction of some in the government is to want to kick something! But that 'ain't' going to work. It will take something far larger than good intentions and crocodile tears. It will take something BIG to contain this sinful sludge in our hearts. Only the GRACE of God will clean you up and get rid of the odor of sin in your life! It is only reliance upon the Sovereign God to take away my sin that will finally set me free from it's gooeyness. For believing Christians this is a daily exercise in faith and repentance. It is the only way to be clean and whole. By coming to Christ in sorrow for your sin, and faith working in your heart, by his Sovereign grace, we have "peace with God." And our oil spill is contained!
People in the gulf area are suffering, and will suffer in job losses, and in may other ways. We add our prayers to those already engaged in the 'great prayer' for the Gulf. Pictures of the sludge and the dead wildlife are truly heartbreaking.
I don't want to be overly dramatic in using this as an illustration.... but...
Isn't sin a lot like the oil spill? It runs deep underwater and surfaces eventually to create a gooey slime that is dangerous to clean up and continues to stink even after the visible goop is in plastic bags. It also damages the sea floor so that once fertile seafood production areas are now going to be dead for a long time. Sin is gooey stuff!
We don't like to think about it. For the people in the gulf, many can smell the strong, sickening odor every time they go outside... it follows them around- sticks to their clothes. Sin does that too. It follows us around and wants to stick to our clothes! Multiple washings don't do the trick. Hamlet couldn't wash his hands enough either!
OK, so what do we do now.
It is not as easy as 'wishing' the oil to go away. The reaction of some in the government is to want to kick something! But that 'ain't' going to work. It will take something far larger than good intentions and crocodile tears. It will take something BIG to contain this sinful sludge in our hearts. Only the GRACE of God will clean you up and get rid of the odor of sin in your life! It is only reliance upon the Sovereign God to take away my sin that will finally set me free from it's gooeyness. For believing Christians this is a daily exercise in faith and repentance. It is the only way to be clean and whole. By coming to Christ in sorrow for your sin, and faith working in your heart, by his Sovereign grace, we have "peace with God." And our oil spill is contained!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
About the Poem "Lord I Am Thankful"
Addendum to the poem "Lord I Am Thankful" (two post's below)...
This poem was written by Janet Chapman, a dear Saint of God who was a member of my church. I had the privilege of officiating at her funeral, and read this poem that she wrote some years ago. Janet was 80 something and had dementia. She did not speak during the last year of her life, but she sang the old Hymns... every word, every verse... and her voice was sweet and clear. She was very helpful to me and my wife when one of our children had chosen to go his own way a number of years ago. She said at that time "I understand what you are going through... I was a rebellious child, and broke my parent's hearts too". This very deeply spiritual Scottish Presbyterian lady was a person who prayed for not only us, but for everyone in the fellowship.
Upon her death, her dear husband gave me this poem written in her own hand-writing. And I made copies for everyone at church. I am a poet of sorts and can recognize good poetry when I see it, and this is a gem. Allow me to give you some background for this piece.
Janet grew up in a strict Scottish Presbyterian home, where she thought her father was being severe in his desire to raise his children in the way of that communion. (e.g. - no play on the Sabbath; multiple services etc). She rebelled as a teen, and walked far from God. Later she came to realize the truth of the Gospel and became thankful for the training she had as a child.
Later on in life she married an incredible man who loved her as Christ loved the church! Jim treated her like the queen... and although they had no children they adopted and took in numerous Chinese immigrants who needed a sponsor and a place to stay. They had a large extended family of wonderful Chinese who all called them "mother" and "father". What an incredible legacy!
Some time ago Jim was teaching her how to drive, and was in the garage directing her into it. Janet hit the gas instead of the brake and crushed both his legs, which he lost and even now is using prosthetic legs. Jim never blamed her. He was never angry with her, and accepted his disability as "from the hand of God." He never once, ever brought it up again to Janet, or to anyone else. He kept on serving God, legs or no. Janet was covered with the GRACE of God through Jim. For that she was thankful!
How many of us could deal with this situation in a similar way. Even those of us who have a mature faith, it would be difficult. Janet was the recipient of extraordinary Love and Mercy.
Last of all, Jim and Janet had a hobby of tending roses outside their garage. It was a testimony of amazing grace, as those roses bloomed and died, and came back to life each year... a testimony of God's forgivness in Janet's life especially, and she commemorated this in her poem.
I asked for permission to publish the poem, and Jim was glad for this. I hope and pray this explanation of the poem's origin will give you a sense of God's Amazing grace freely offered to you.
This poem was written by Janet Chapman, a dear Saint of God who was a member of my church. I had the privilege of officiating at her funeral, and read this poem that she wrote some years ago. Janet was 80 something and had dementia. She did not speak during the last year of her life, but she sang the old Hymns... every word, every verse... and her voice was sweet and clear. She was very helpful to me and my wife when one of our children had chosen to go his own way a number of years ago. She said at that time "I understand what you are going through... I was a rebellious child, and broke my parent's hearts too". This very deeply spiritual Scottish Presbyterian lady was a person who prayed for not only us, but for everyone in the fellowship.
Upon her death, her dear husband gave me this poem written in her own hand-writing. And I made copies for everyone at church. I am a poet of sorts and can recognize good poetry when I see it, and this is a gem. Allow me to give you some background for this piece.
Janet grew up in a strict Scottish Presbyterian home, where she thought her father was being severe in his desire to raise his children in the way of that communion. (e.g. - no play on the Sabbath; multiple services etc). She rebelled as a teen, and walked far from God. Later she came to realize the truth of the Gospel and became thankful for the training she had as a child.
Later on in life she married an incredible man who loved her as Christ loved the church! Jim treated her like the queen... and although they had no children they adopted and took in numerous Chinese immigrants who needed a sponsor and a place to stay. They had a large extended family of wonderful Chinese who all called them "mother" and "father". What an incredible legacy!
Some time ago Jim was teaching her how to drive, and was in the garage directing her into it. Janet hit the gas instead of the brake and crushed both his legs, which he lost and even now is using prosthetic legs. Jim never blamed her. He was never angry with her, and accepted his disability as "from the hand of God." He never once, ever brought it up again to Janet, or to anyone else. He kept on serving God, legs or no. Janet was covered with the GRACE of God through Jim. For that she was thankful!
How many of us could deal with this situation in a similar way. Even those of us who have a mature faith, it would be difficult. Janet was the recipient of extraordinary Love and Mercy.
Last of all, Jim and Janet had a hobby of tending roses outside their garage. It was a testimony of amazing grace, as those roses bloomed and died, and came back to life each year... a testimony of God's forgivness in Janet's life especially, and she commemorated this in her poem.
I asked for permission to publish the poem, and Jim was glad for this. I hope and pray this explanation of the poem's origin will give you a sense of God's Amazing grace freely offered to you.
Friday, April 30, 2010
It's been a while since my last post, so I am back now.
Life is good. We face all sorts of circumstances in life that create multi-faceted situations that either depress us, or send us 'thru-the-roof' with unexplained joy. Not every day can be a happy day. Things go wrong, things happen... and just 'things.' There are so many variables for whether we have a good day or bad day. Jerry Bridges, a Christian writer talks about this in his books. Whether you are having a "good day" or "bad day" God is still in charge, and He will use you to glorify His Holy Name even though you 'feel' like you will never be able serve him. It's on a "day-to-day" basis for most Christians. And my opinion is that is the way it should be... "daily walking close to thee..." (Just a Closer Walk). We worry too much about how we "feel"... and don't worry enough about living moment to moment. OK, I had a few bad days this month. I felt disconnected and maybe even a little bit 'on my own'. But that 'feeling' is just that - a 'feeling' - a momentary splash of emotion, physical symptoms, and mental attitude. That's what 'feelings' are. They are temporary. It is only God who who is not affected by these fleeting human characteristics. (Except, of course, Jesus in His humanity). So, we accept our human-ness and realize that one day may have more emotional/spiritual/physical challenges than another. But at the same time, we have a supernatural God to intervene and bring us back to reality.
OK, feelings are important - mainly because they are such a large part of our lives. But we need to check our feelings against the backdrop of God's love and mercy. We look at 'yesterday' and rest in God that He will lead us through the crazy forest of life.... and we WILL come into a "wide space".
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
"Lord I Am Thankful...
Lord I am thankful
For Your love that meant the Cross.
For the Plan you had for me before my birth.
For the Parents who taught my infant feet The Holy Way.
Lord I am thankful.
For the love, the forgiveness, the peace
You gave on my return to Thee
For I had rebelled and gone My Way
Lord I am thankful.
For the Husband You had planned for me
For his love, humor and patience
And especially for his zeal for Thee
Lord I am thankful.
For the beauty that is there for eyes that see.
For natures promise of eternity
Seen in the rose that dies only to bud
and bloom another day
Lord I am thankful
Janet Chapman
For Your love that meant the Cross.
For the Plan you had for me before my birth.
For the Parents who taught my infant feet The Holy Way.
Lord I am thankful.
For the love, the forgiveness, the peace
You gave on my return to Thee
For I had rebelled and gone My Way
Lord I am thankful.
For the Husband You had planned for me
For his love, humor and patience
And especially for his zeal for Thee
Lord I am thankful.
For the beauty that is there for eyes that see.
For natures promise of eternity
Seen in the rose that dies only to bud
and bloom another day
Lord I am thankful
Janet Chapman
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas Story
I have always had a place in my heart for the Christmas memories my parents created for us. One of my favorite stories I like to share with people is the time my father pretended to be Santa Claus.
When I was about 3 and my brother 5, my dad decided to play Santa. We really believed Santa existed and we always put cookies and beer on the mantle near the tree, and we hoped he would come this year... my brother was always under the threat of getting coal in his his stocking.
Anyway, my dad put up an extension ladder against the house near our window and jingled a string of real "jingle bells" bellowing out "ho, ho, ho". My brother and I heard that and we whispered to each other to get under the covers before Santa finds out we were were really awake! We then heard this very loud scraping and imagined Santa's sleigh landing on the roof! Then we heard fairly loud crash, which we "knew" was the heavy sleigh landing (not to mention all those reindeer!). Then we heard Santa calling our mother's name "Dorothy.... Dorothy....."
- His ladder had slid across the side of the house and crashed onto the veranda (enclosed porch) and since the ladder was on the ground "Santa" had no way of getting off the roof of the porch!
The cookies and beer were always gone in the morning!
When I was about 3 and my brother 5, my dad decided to play Santa. We really believed Santa existed and we always put cookies and beer on the mantle near the tree, and we hoped he would come this year... my brother was always under the threat of getting coal in his his stocking.
Anyway, my dad put up an extension ladder against the house near our window and jingled a string of real "jingle bells" bellowing out "ho, ho, ho". My brother and I heard that and we whispered to each other to get under the covers before Santa finds out we were were really awake! We then heard this very loud scraping and imagined Santa's sleigh landing on the roof! Then we heard fairly loud crash, which we "knew" was the heavy sleigh landing (not to mention all those reindeer!). Then we heard Santa calling our mother's name "Dorothy.... Dorothy....."
- His ladder had slid across the side of the house and crashed onto the veranda (enclosed porch) and since the ladder was on the ground "Santa" had no way of getting off the roof of the porch!
The cookies and beer were always gone in the morning!
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