Appointment for Pain

a Petrarchan sonnet

Today a pile of money I have spent;
Paid to a man who's known for causing pain.
Yet, still, I went to see him, just the same;
A needle, first thing, in my gum he sent.

You say seems rather unintelligent?
It's worse! (You may decide I have no brain.)
I even scheduled to see him again,
And thanked him when upon my way I went.

His instrument rotated round and round
While grinding on enamel covered bone
Protruding from the mandible of me.
The stress was in the turning, and the sound;
He couldn't just leave well enough alone.
A dentist, otherwise, he could not be.

Thomas E Stone, DDS, is actually very good with the needle; I scarcely felt it when it was inserted. He can be reached (in Springfield, MO) at 417-881-1195.

HAMBURGERS (The Finest Cuisine)

Verse 1.
When I was a kid and money was short
We ate from the garden, and the fish Daddy caught,
But when Mom went all-out, and we had a treat,
She’d break out the grill, and we had burgers to eat.

Chorus
Hamburgers ... the finest cuisine:
A pleasure to the palate, if you know what I mean.
For the sake of my health, many things I cut out.
But a burger’s a staple I cannot live without.

Verse 2.
Since money was short, we seldom bought a school lunch
And truthfully told, I didn’t miss ‘em that much.
But every Friday, with a gleam in my eyes,
I’d shell out my buck for a burger and fries!

Repeat Chorus:

Verse 3.
Even now as an adult – you know what I want
When I’m going out to a fine restaurant.
A hamburger might be a social mistake,
But just change the name, and I have a chopped steak!

Repeat Chorus:

written for the Wendy's Search for Sizzling Sounds contest in 2000. Dave did not choose me as the winner :(

On Behalf of My Brother

a prayer
(meter 9.8.11.8 D)

I plead on behalf of my brother,
A brother who's walking in You,
A brother whose diligence plainly is seen,
Whose labor provides daily food.
In this he spends, weekly, long hours,
Oft having to work late at night;
But as he considers his dear family,
A high price he pays to provide.

For they often lay down for sleeping
Ere his truck arrives home at night.
He grieves with awareness that this shouldn't be,
And yet, he is called to provide.
Oh, God, it is all in Your doing.
O'er all, you rule sov'reign as Lord!
Thus I plead with you to provide for him work
Where he can be home so much more.

And, Lord, while awaiting your answer,
I ask that he will not lose heart.
I pray that you'll strengthen with courage, so that
With anticipation, he'll start
Each new day; with diligence, pressing,
Until you provide this for him.
I ask for Your glory. I ask for his good.
In Jesus' strong name! and AMEN!

If you know my friend, pray for him now. If you don't, pray for someone you know who is pressed between the responsibilities of providing material needs, and providing spiritual leadership.
Thank you.

Postie's Jig

Another vig'rous dance we did,
My partner was the birthday girl;
It had me panting ere the end,
We'd dip 'n' dive and swing and twirl.

I think this is a dance that was,
For Post-mill congregants, designed.
It's in the name, it's vigorous,
Designed to last a long, long time!

The corner post, we're helped around,
Centrif'gal force to modify;
By elbow or forearm slowed down
Lest we, into the next set, fly.

Much like the Dog Branch (see elsewhere),
I like the part where we can swing.
Exhilaration fills the air!
We utilize much energy.

And I would be remiss, if I,
Did not, a final comment make,
'Bout how we finished up the night
When dancing time, to its end, came.

The ev'ning ended "marvelous"
In joyful four-part harmony;
The saints, with great exuberance,
Sang unto God: Doxology!

Amen!


Thoughts generated by the barn dance (in a gym) celebrating the birthday of Naddy, the Settler's daughter.

Dog Branch

A novice starts with empty head
When he attempts a dance to learn,
But after failures and missteps
Excitedly, he waits his turn.

I now refer to the Dog Branch
In which you swing incessantly;
Indeed, it is a boist'rous dance,
It's round and round, repeatedly.

You do-si-do your corner, and
Your partner, do the same, also.
You form a line, go up and back;
You circle left; return, then, home.

The trouble is, the couples are
Denominated ones and twos;
If you forget which one you are,
You'll be engaging in wrong moves.

What I remember most, I've found,
When one's or two's are called to swing,
You and your partner: round and round
Most certainly exhil'rating.

Just be for certain: stop and think;
Ask, "am I one, or am I two?"
'Cause if you, at the wrong time, swing
The set will have a laugh on you.

Despite this hazard to my pride,
I must acknowledge this is true:
Of all the dances that there are,
I most enjoy this dance with you.

Thoughts generated by the barn dance (in a gym) celebrating the birthday of Naddy, the Settler's daughter.

Let Us Exalt His Name Together

The voices float toward the realm of heav'n.
Also, the instruments in sweet accord,
Resounding to the glory of the LORD,
Rejoicing in the fulness God has giv'n.

Yes, even little children, with delight
Lift voices in a soaring melody,
While others blend and flow in harmony;
The praise of God pours forth into the night.

Whence did the music sung originate?
How did it, in their souls, take such a grip?
Why do they, under guidance, blossom so?
A thousand generations celebrate
And lift the praise of God from thankful lip
When God, in faithfulness, endues their soul.


this sonnet was written in response to
An Evening of Music to the Glory of God
Presented by the
Orchestra and Choirs
of Grace Classical Academy
(Springfield, MO)
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Friday, January 20, 2006

From the opening strains of This is My Father's World co-mingled with All Creatures of Our God and King, through J. S. Bach, G. F. Handel, A. Vivaldi, interspersed with hymns and spirituals, and a stunning cello solo of Saint-Saens The Swan, the music was exquisite.

We Beg You to Defend

God, in Isaiah 49,
Says, near the chapter's end,
Concerning who contends with you:
"With him I will contend.
As for your children? Them I save!
And those who would oppress?
Their own blood they will drink as wine,
And will eat their own flesh."

Great Father, this, Your promise made,
We bow now and we claim:
This saving of the children, and
We ask in Jesus' name.
You far surpass the tyrant, and
You've promised to contend,
So by the power of your might
We beg you to defend.

We ask you to set things aright,
In Jesus' Name, Amen!


written New Year's Day evening, 2006.

based on Isaiah 49, God answered this prayer Monday, January 9, 2006.

Isaiah 49 (ESV)
24Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? 25For thus says the LORD: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children. 26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the LORD your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

A Long Night's Celebrating

written in response to this description of New Year's Eve and Morning

You wrote of this august event
With long elaborating,
And I, as one participant
In this night's celebrating
Must add my hearty affirmation
To your grand description;
Such revelling in what God gives
Could lead to an addiction.

And though I did not make the part
Where pancakes were ingested
(For I had laundry to complete,
And food prep ere I rested),
I nonetheless affirm you in
Your chiding strong derision
Of wicked, ancient heresy
We know as gnosticism.

And when, despite, the lack of sleep
We gathered Sunday morning,
And gladly sang our Psalms and hymns
So helpful and heart-warming,
Why scarcely any snoozed despite
The prior ev'ning's lateness
When we received sermonic challenge
From our Elder Davis.

An Humble Request

A maid of honor once approached
The castle of her King.
With deference, she there intoned,
"Long live the king and queen."
The bodyguard, who faithfully
Kept watch around the throne,
Cried "Who goes there", to which the maid
Replied "Tis me, alone.
A maid of honor, I desire
An honorable man."
The guard replied, with wisdom great,
"The good King understands."
The girl cried, "My heart, reasons has,
To reason, though, unknown."
The guard gave counsel, "Watch and see
What issues from the throne."
"I want a man who's spiritual
And certainly no fool,
A brave man, one without reproach,
Without doubt, self-controlled.
I do not want a man depressed,
No simpleton for me."
The guard broke in, "Reliable,
Instead, and trustworthy?"
To which the girl, rejoicing, said,
"Yes, now you understand!"
Again, the guard, with wisdom, gave
A caution, "Understand
You seek a good thing; don't in haste
Accept less than you should,
For, in a land of blinded fools,
A one-eyed man sounds good."
"Indeed, 'tis so", conceded she,
To which the guard replied,
"Just trust the King, He'll meet your need;
He'll answer in good time."
"Please tell me one more time that He
Has heard the cry I make."
To which the guard, then, in response
Said, "God, your King, will save."
The words she echoed joyously,
"The Lord, your King, will save."
And with a final parting word
He sent her on her way:
"Good lady, Soon, I'm sure 'twill be
That you'll again be seen."
And she, departing, did exclaim,
"Long live the king and queen!"
And as she left, she thought about
The last thing he did speak,
Rejoicing, she recalled his words:
"Honorable lady!"


this poem was based on a French dialog posted by MyBelovedIsMine. It expresses the angst of patiently waiting and trusting God, when one is ready for God's timetable to move along. The poem can also be found here as originally posted. The original French dialog was subsequently removed.

Storming Gehenna's Gates

Sitting in the back seat of a
Fifteen person van,
Bound for Monroe, L A as a
Conf'rence caravan,

Hearing young folks talking
In the seats in front of me,
Speaking of eternal life,
And of the Trinity.

Delving into C S Lewis,
Chesterton, and such,
With discourse on FV authors
Wilson, Leithart, Lusk;

Seeing passion in their faces,
Hear it in the voice,
Looking down the road a piece
I suddenly rejoice.

Things it's taken years to learn
At my unsteady pace,
They already wrestle with in
His astounding grace.

Families, I can envision
From these twenty-somes;
Fam'lies blessed with faithful daughters,
Fam'lies blessed with sons.

Fam'lies started with a strong
Foundation at the start.
Christ and his affections and
His knowledge fill their hearts.

Knowing how, at Kidderminster,
Baxter labored long;
After nearly twenty years
The streets rang with the Psalms.

Like that, glorious blessing I see
Waiting to unfold:
Covenant communities
With place for roots to grow.

Though I weep for barren years
Which mar the church's past,
Full of hope I look ahead
To see God's work at last.

Semper reformanda:
We are always to reform,
Taking ev'ry thought as captive
To our Saviour Lord.

Such reform I weekly see,
And that in younger saints.
Led by godly elders, they will
Storm Gehenna's gates!

The Greatest Love

Though He was King of Glory incarnate,
He condescended to be known by men.
Indeed, more: He referred to some as "friend"
And said that, His lead, they should imitate.

And then one ev'ning, after they all ate,
He gave instructive summary to them,
And said that they'd be known as His, to men:
When to each other, love, they'd demonstrate.

Indeed, this is the greatest love that is,
That someone lay his life down for a friend.
The next day, with this love, His life He gave.
Though often failing, His church walks in this:
As, writing, Tertullian cites pagan men:
"Look! For each other, such a love they have."

a Petrarchan sonnet

John 13:34-35
John 15:12-15
Romans 5:6-8

Cold Turkey

Cold turkey, I, just yesterday,
Began, some habits, to rein in,
How old the first I cannot say,
But one's of recent origin.

The first, a bev'rage, nasty stuff
Like caffeine, sugar, chemic-ills;
These soft drinks helped me to wake up,
But would result in doctor bills.

The other drug, I took 10 days,
And when I ceased, I did not know
That it would leave me rather crazed:
Depressed and listless, full of woe.

So caffeine deprivation add
To endorphin deficiency;
That should explain why I've gone mad
And spent a day in misery.

I guess, then, that I will be glad
When I've kicked this dependency.