NEW YEAR'S EVE

What a way to end the year,
Gathered with friends that we hold dear!
Thanking God we made the drive tonight.
Through good and bad, happy and sad,
Sometimes a tear, but mostly glad,
Looking toward tomorrow's dawning light.
We never know how long we'll be,
How many days that we will see.
We'll rejoice and we'll be glad today!
Still we long for Paradise.
We're not rich in human eyes.
Contented, hopeful while to God we pray.
So to God our praises give,
Grateful, too, for where we live.
Bless our families while we laugh and sing!
So to close this year right now,
Guide us all. To You, we bow.
Bless us all, Dear Lord, our Priest and King.
Keep us out of Satan's path,
So that we won't see Your wrath.
Living true and never as pretend.
Watch us. Love us as we leave,
Finally now this New Year's Eve.
This we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

- by Netagene, in about an hour today -

Sunday

In all of our lives, there are some special days,
Celebrated at times in familiar ways.
The day you got glasses so that you could see,
Or hearing aids - "Listen! I hear birds in the trees!"
It's special when you got an "A" on a big test,
Then the college degree when you've done your best.
The birth of a child is usually nice, or
The day that a soldier paid the ultimate price.
The anniversary of when you married the love of your life,
Celebrating times through good things and strife.
But to God, there's no one special day in the year, (1)
Not one day to celebrate, not one to hold dear. (2)
Some always worship - they regularly go twice,
But two times a year is no sacrifice. (3)
Christmas nor Easter will keep us in line,
But one day remembered yearly, 52 times.
The empty tomb - the stone rolled away - (4)
Christ tells us to remember. That's what we obey. (5)
Christ rose from the dead the first day of the week. (6)
Every week has a first day, so that's what we keep. (7)
The same words are used for the collection, too. (8)
Most churches want money, so here's what they do:
They take the Lord's Supper twice, three or four,
But taking up money? They do that much more.
Our lives here are vapor. We're gone in a puff. (9)
After that, good and bad are separated by a gulf. (10)
Saved by God's Grace? Yes, but we still must obey, (11)
So you feel it's too much to remember Him every first day?

1: 2 Pet. 3:8; 2: Gal. 4:7-11; 3: Rom. 12:1; 4: Mt. 27-28, Mk. 15-16, Lk. 23-24, Jn. 18-20; 5: Lk. 22:14-20, 1 Cor. 11:17-26; 6: Mt. 28:1&6, Lk. 24:1-6; 7: A. 20:7; 8: 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 9: Js. 4:13-14; 10: Lk. 16:20 ff; 11: Eph. 2:4-10; Jn.6:27-29.

- by Netagene, December ?-28, 2009

IF THERE IS GLOBAL WARMING, THEN WHY ...

... am I cold! A few mornings ago, it was 20 on my porch when I left for work. Later in the day, outside was almost 60! Recently Steve preached about "global warming", which is something I don't believe there is anyway. His comments were 1: We are to be good stewards of everything anyway. 2: What can we really do about the weather anyway? 3: Last but not least - God is in control.

DECEMBER 24 & 25

I had to work all day last Thursday. Jeff, my morning driver, got me a little before 6 even though I was the only one riding inbound. His other 4 regulars after he gets me either took the day off (the man who has CP and works the VA), or where they go was closed (AIDB, ARC-way). He had no others after me either because his other regulars go to UCP. I don't have to be at work until 7:30, so he stopped at Arby's and bought a bit of breakfast for both of us. We sat on the bus about 10 minutes and ate in case the dispatcher called him. I got to work before 7. The front gate was still locked but the back gate was open. And Jeff was the one to take me home, which was unusual, but nice. It takes a certain caring personality to drive paratransit.

I was home alone Friday. Nice! God gave Adam and Eve things to do even before they sinned, and tells us later that if we want to eat, we must work. Still - it's nice to have a day alone at home.

MY CHRISTMAS STORY

I'll tell you my Christmas story, my thoughts about this "holy" day
Maybe you want insightful words - some Bible stories to light your way.
The very first thing I will tell you at this time of the year:
It's unscriptural to put Christ in Christmas,
though I doubt that's what you want to hear.
Secular writings tell the origin of Christmas, the debates and even if it should be,
But God is silent on such festivities, and that's what's important to me.
There were feasts at winter solstice, when pagans worshipped the sun.
Some folks decided to tie that in with the day that Jesus had come.
Candles and tinsel and evergreen boughs, gift giving and Santa Claus
Are all part of various traditions, and are nowhere found in God's Laws.
I know you think, "God will like it! A birthday party for Jesus is good!"
But God tells us not to be presumptuous. He tells us not to add to His Word.
I may think something is special, but God's thoughts and mind is higher.
I am not to add or take from His Word. I want Heaven, not eternal fire.
Some nations don't celebrate birthdays, since everyone starts as a child.
The distinction is how a person lives - a good life or one that was wild.
The Bible does not tell us when Jesus came to the Earth.
The Bible tells us some of the details, but it doesn't tell us to celebrate His birth.
God tells us to celebrate the Last Supper -
Christ's perfect life, that He suffered and died.
Remember that He arose from the dead. Now He sits and reigns at God's side.
To me, this isn't "holy day" season - just extra time with family and friends,
So I hope you won't think me a hypocrite when I give gifts to you at year's end.
Thanksgiving is always my favorite day,
with friends, laughter, food, and good cheer,
So please don't consider this a "holy day" gift - just
HAPPY THANKSGIVING and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

- by Netagene, Nov. & Dec., 2002 - I put a copy of this with the few presents I gave, including at work. I got reprimanded by the boss who, in a veiled manner, threatened me with my job. It was the old double standard: things were OK as long as I agreed with him. -

JESUS' BIRTHDAY - NOT!

There are reasons I do not celebrate December 25, or any other date, as Jesus' birthday. In a nutshell, both the Old and New Testaments say that we are not to add to God's Word nor take from it (Deut. 4:1-2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6; 2 John 9; Rev. 22:18-19). We are told to remember the Messiah's death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 22; 1 Cor. 11:22-26). We are not told when He came in human flesh, nor are we told to celebrate that occasion. The Bible is silent. To "speak as the Oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11) is to be silent where it is silent.

I don't ...

I
don’t
decorate
for
Christmas,
or any other
time. I do well
to wash the
dishes, and clean
up any grime.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve rarely been
excited about holly
and mistletoe, or
shedding trees and
pine boughs. And I don’t
want it to snow!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Any day off work is
pleasant, in winter,
spring, or fall. What’s
special about December?
Why “spruce” things up at all?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t like “forced” gift
giving. “Dirty Santa” has
caused some fights! I “gift” to
those I want to. I don’t “groove”
till late at night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So much money spent for nothing –
and the sin of gluttony – Too much
food and fussing during times for family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One nephew gets real greedy. A sister sits and
whines. Old grandpa hates the others. You call that
“good times”?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celebrate all you want to, lavishly in style. Isn’t it great
that we have choices! – each doing what makes us smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nope! I don’t decorate for Christmas. That’s fine, then. I’m a
grouch. You can party and spend your money. I’ll snooze on my couch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Netagene
November 27, 2007

HOLIDAYS & REUNIONS

I wish I could choose my relatives like I can choose my friends.
I don’t like drunks or smokers, or loud-mouths or phony grins.
I don’t like anyone nosy. I don’t like opinionated bores.
I don’t like being “preached” to, making me dash for the door.
Some are talkaholics. They can’t stand any “dead air”.
Others sit aloof, mutely, so you hardly know they are there.
Someone is usually a bully. Someone’s “pet” winks to have her way.
That fits adults as well as children, who are used to having their say.
One wants to watch a ballgame. Another wants to watch a “soap”.
One starts to play the piano. Another calls someone a dope.
Someone moans of arthritis. Politics causes a fight.
Another begs for money. I just beg for some quiet!
Someone insists on bringing a puppy. Another brings a toddler who whines.
Someone’s language is salty with cursing. It takes effort to have a good time.
At least there’s only a few holidays, and reunions where everyone comes.
There’s food enough for an army. You eat ‘til your body goes numb.
Sometimes it’s hard to be civil when with family, you are forced to attend.
Dear God, help me love my relatives, like I really do love my friends.

- by Netagene, written in a few minutes, November 23, 2009. This is a compilation of a co-worker's and my thoughts about some family get-togethers! -

HOLIDAY WORK SONGS

I've worked in clerical at ALDOT almost 4 years. Here's 2 songs I wrote for us.

2009 to the tune of “Up on the House Top”

We – are the transportation crew. We – try to make the roads like new.
Win-ter or summer, cold or heat, No – desk for us; we’re on our feet.

CHORUS:
Ho, ho, ho! That’s what we do – Fixing the roads for me and you.
Taking our lives in our own hands – Out on the roads, we take our stands!

When – there is ice, we spread the salt. So – you can drive on dry asphalt.
Go – shopping now for Christmas time – Safe there and home, all warm and fine!

Ho, ho, ho! Gifts brand new! San-ta can drive his sleigh all through.
Interstates or roof tops, he can go. We’re Santa’s elves! We make it so.

Ho, ho, ho! Holiday cheer! Transportation crew sings “Happy New Year”!
Helping everyone to do things right!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

- by Netagene, December 3, 2009 -

2008: to the tune of "Jingle Bells"

In the district yard – Ready, get set, roll!
The highway crews are bundled up to work out in the cold.
It’s almost Christmastime. Some dress in red and green,
But still they wear reflective vests so that they can be seen.

CHORUS:
Oh, driving slow to find potholes. The work is never done!
Wintertime or summer, freezing or in sun!
Inside or out, where work’s about, what we get paid to do.
Let’s have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, too!

They don’t like office jobs. They’d rather work outside.
And most of them like ballgames so go Tigers! Go Roll Tide!
Then there’s an office crew, who don’t like wind and sleet.
They’d rather sit inside and work where they can have some heat!

Oh, driving slow to fix potholes. The work is never done!
Wintertime or summer, freezing or in sun!
Inside or out, where work’s about, what we get paid to do.
Let’s have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, too!
… and a HAP-PY NEW YEAR, too!

- by Netagene, written in about 10 minutes, December 1, 2008 -

COLD WEATHER

We had our first snow of the season last night, more than a dusting, tho' it will be gone later today. 26 on my front porch at 8 a.m. Thankfully only 2 more weeks until the days start getting longer.

Bundling up for a drive to some folks’
To play dominoes, checkers, swap lies, and tell jokes!
Boots taken off and left by the door.
There’s logs on the fire, thick rugs on the floor.
Hot chocolate and marshmallows in this chilly weather,
Or a mug of spiced tea brings friends close together!
Each one brings a dish – maybe soup, maybe stew,
Maybe napkins or cups – what each one can do!
We straighten clothes hangers for wiener kabobs –
Add other chunk food, and roast corn on the cob!
Dig out a movie – something funny or light –
Shake up some popcorn, and snuggle up tight!
The talk starts unwinding – kids sprawled everywhere –
A few hours of blessings when we haven’t a care.
The feast is near over. The yawning begins.
We hug our goodbyes as the good party ends.
Wearing parkas and caps, we brace for the drive
Back to our home. We are blessed! We’re alive!
It’s frosty outside, and maybe will snow,
But the warmth of good friends keeps our hearts all aglow.
It’s good to shake off worldly cares for awhile.
The best things are not things, but are friends with a smile.
Make time for friends. Thank God for them, too.
They’re there when you’re happy. They’ll help when you’re blue.
Tonight’s party is over, and so we go home,
But with God, and with friends, we are never alone!

- by Netagene, January 2 & 3, 2008, posted in the American Council of the Blind's “Braille Forum”, February, 2008 -

PUBLIC PREACHING

Since I can't preach from the pulpit, or pray a public prayer,
Nor lead songs in front of the church, some people think it's unfair.
God gave men the authority to take the active part,
But every Christian can do things. You just need to know where to start.
You don't want to teach any error. You want to keep on the "Good Fight".
You do more that just read the Bible. You study to handle it right.
Women can teach the children. Women can even teach some men.
Women can invite people to worship, and women can use their pen.
So that's my choice for teaching, my way to spread the Good News –
Writing letters and articles and poems, hoping they'll be of some use.
Sometimes a line will hit me. Sometimes an idea or thought –
Sometimes a question or sermon cause words to come in an onslaught.
God gives everyone some talent, and writing's my blessing, my gift.
I'm glad I don't do public speaking. I'm glad what I write gives a lift.
What I write, I pass on to others, if they're happy or sick or just drear -
"Happy Birthday!" or "get well" or encouragement –
Just a note or some hope or some cheer.
I want others to know I'm a Christian. The songs and poems God gives to me
Are one way I can tell about Jesus, though I can't preach publicly.
I'm thankful for the gifts that God gave me.
I can write – no need to preach it aloud.
I don't fret that I'm not "Worship Leader", or that
I don't stand at the front of the crowd.

"The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary ..." - Isaiah 50:4.

- by Netagene, September 19, 2008 -

WINTER MEMORIES

Bare trees in winter – limbs stretched to the sky –
Leaves falling, falling covering ground where they lie.
Dark pines and cedars – skyscraper spires –
Multi-green colors midst harvest bonfires.
Sparks float like fireflies – aroma of food –
Bundled, encircled with friends – Life is good!
All sing together – “Thank you, God!” we pray.
Dusk fades to darkness, enfolding this day.
Snow-blanketed, dreaming, waiting for morn –
Like a chrysalis opens, to be changed and reborn!
Bare trees in winter point to God’s sky.
Springtime is Heaven where we never will die.

- by Netagene -

Sitting on my front porch about noon, tootling one of my Native American flutes. Weather about 50 degrees. I could see tops of deciduous trees, bare branches like fingers reaching heavenward, the spires of evergreens, the sunny, near-cloudless sky. The first couplet came unbidden, the rest in about 10 minutes, except for the next-to-last couplet, which whirled like snowflakes, just out of reach until this same evening. What we know here as a cedar, is actually a juniper. It usually grows 40-to-50’ tall but can reach 100’. We have a variety of pines, some reaching well over 100’.

THANKSGIVING BURGERS

Mother is 92 and lives 2 miles from me. My nephew got me about 10 a.m. and brought me home about 3. He fixed burgers, but not just any burgers. He ground some beef tips with Vermont sharp cheddar and McCormick hamburger spices, and cooked them in a cast iron skillet with little cocktail sausages, letting all the juices blend. Cornbread with butter and sorghum, and iced tea to drink! Um-um, good! With the cornbread, we did not need any dessert. Because he cooked, Mother and I did the dishes, then Mother and I dug around in an old cabinet, scrounging for the few ornaments she still has, many which she made. She wants a Christmas tree this year. We finished with Mother and me both settling in with something to read. She now reads large print books, which my sister gets from the library. Like me, in addition to the Bible, she prefers the light romance novels and westerns by Christian writers. I am thankful that her mind is still good, and that she still enjoys reading, and I am thankful that I have a nephew who enjoys cooking, and for burgers and cornbread for Thanksgiving!

"I HAVE Everything!"

This morning, Steve preached about being thankful. He read this: "When the late author Erma Bombeck was struggling with breast cancer, she met 8-year-old Christina who had cancer of the nervous system. Erma asked the child who was bald due to chemotherapy what she wanted for her birthday. Christina thought hard for a moment, then said, “I don't know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I HAVE everything!”

GLADNESS

Even though I've gotten a lot done today, this has been a day when I've had to make a diligent effort to remember that being "glad" is not really an option. I rarely have a pity party, but sometimes I am more like the people written about in James 4:9. I'll let you look that up. But Psalm 118:24 says: "This is the day the Lord has made. We WILL rejoice and be glad in it".

I am THANKFUL

… for the best parents anyone could have …
… that my parents and grandparents were Christians …
… for friends …
… that I live in the United States of America where I can worship as GOD commands …
… that I have more than enough food …
… for heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer …
… that I have a roof that does not leak, over my head …
… for indoor plumbing and hot water …
… for clean, whole (not “holey”) clothes …
... that I have a job ...
… for good health, and …
… for God’s gift of knowledge to doctors when my health isn’t good …
… for the ability to think and to read and to write down thoughts such as these.

- by Netagene, November 20, 2007 -

CROSS or EMPTY TOMB

Isn’t it odd that a cross is the world’s symbol of Christ? You can buy jewelry, key chains, paperweights, T-shirts, and so on in the shape of a cross or imprinted with a cross. Yet thousands of thousands of people were put to death on crosses. What made Jesus THE CHRIST is not the fact that He was crucified, but the fact of the Empty Tomb, that fact that He rose from the dead, never to die again!

- by Netagene, January, 2001 -

SOME DAY

I’ve studied God’s Word. I guess that it’s true. Depending on self usually will do.
I live fairly well. What more can I say? I’ll follow this Jesus – SOME DAY.
There’s all kinds of sins, some big and some small,
like little white lies that don’t matter at all.
I’m sure you’ll agree that the end’s a long way. I’ll follow Jesus – SOME DAY.
Sure, I sometimes curse, and tell dirty jokes.
I am what I am, not like hypocritical folks.
I’m hurting no one. I do what I may. I’ll follow Jesus – SOME DAY.
I cheat on my taxes, sometimes cheat on my wife.
Everybody does it. That’s part of life.
I’m loose when I work, intense when I play.
I’ll follow Jesus – maybe – SOME DAY.
I don’t know if it’s “God”, or just “something” out there.
I don’t worry about that. I haven’t a care.
I’m all that I need, so why should I pray? I’ll follow Jesus – SOME DAY.
I smoke and I drink, get rowdy and yell, but
never robbed a bank, no one have I killed.
I’m living high. My mind you can’t sway. I’ll follow your Jesus – SOME DAY.
I’ve lived a long life, always got by, grabbed all the gusto, reached for the sky -
Had to slow down. My hair has turned gray. Jesus? Well, maybe – SOME DAY.

EPILOGUE:
He lived a low life, but he thought, “I live high!
There’s plenty of time. Maybe I really won’t die.
I’ll change later on from this life where I stray.
Oh … hello, Jesus. I didn’t expect You TODAY”

OBITUARY:
Like the rich man in Luke, the old fellow died –
Tormented in flames, for water he cried.
His “SOME DAY” is gone – too late to obey.
Will you follow Jesus? “SOME DAY” is today.

~ by Netagene, April 17 & 18, 2003 ~

This is one that “wrote itself”. I was driving home from work, listening to a “Southern gospel” music radio show. The DJ said “Jesus is coming back some day”. Something “clicked”. The song came so fast that I had to pull off the road to write it down. I almost could not write fast enough. If I changed any words after I got home, it was very few. I printed it in the church bulletin. One man used it as the “invitation” at church. Another used it where he was preached in Georgia. I heard that it was also printed in some other church bulletins.

THE KING WITHOUT A CROWN

The King without a crown – a foretold virgin birth (1).
He learned from a human father, a carpenter of the earth (2).
The great kings over Israel – He from Judah and Jesse did rise (3).
He’s in the lineage of King David, and King Solomon, the Wise (4).
God spoke to His earthly parents (5). They listened. They did not stray (6).
God knows each person’s heart (7). He spoke, and they obeyed.
The family was not rich. We know from their sacrifice –
A pair of little doves (8) – not a lamb to pay the price.
He grew in earthly stature, and in favor with God and with man (9).
From a royal but humble beginning (10), He is The Great I Am (11).
He ne’er dressed in regal garb, nor ever owned a home (12).
He had no bejeweled crown, nor had He gilded throne.
He often stayed with friends (13). He rejoiced at a wedding feast (14),
In sorrow (15), sometimes wept (16) – He’s our compassionate High Priest. (17)
He often was alone (18). He went to a garden to pray (19) –
Rejected here on earth (20) – Worldly rich turned Him away (21).
By Him the worlds were made (22). Through Him, we are reborn (23) –
The King without a crown – yet Divinity – crowned with thorns (24).

1: Mt. 1:22; 2: Mt. 13:55; Mk. 6:1-4; 3: Is. 11; Rev. 5:5; 4: Mt. 1:6-16; 5. Mt. 1:18ff; 2:12; Lk. 1:26ff; 6: Mt. 1:24; 7. Heb. 4:12; 8: Lev. 5:6-7; 14:21-22; Lk. 2:21-24; 9: Lk. 2:52; 10: Lk. 2:7; II Cor. 8:9; 11: Jn. 6:58; 12: Mt. 8:20; Lk. 9:58; 13: Lk. 10, Jn. 11 and 12; 14: Jn. 4; 15: Mt. 26:38; 16: Jn. 11:35; 17: Heb. 2-4, esp. 4:15; 18: Mt. 14:23; Mk. 6:46-47; Lk. 9; 19: Mt. 26; Mk. 14; 20: Lk. 17:24-25; 21: Lk. 6:24; 18:23-24; I Tim. 6:9-17; 22: Jn. 1:1-3; 23: I Cor. 15:22; II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 2:10; 24: Mt. 27:29; Mk. 15:17; Jn. 19:2-5.

- by Netagene, November 6-7, 2009 – I read the line, “A king without a crown”, in a blurb in the newspaper on Friday, November 6. It was about Matisyahu (Matthew Paul Miller), the only Hassidic Rasta Man. “King without a Crown” is the title of one of his songs. This one gave me a headache, trying to get just the right words and verses. I also think that it's silly or stupid to cry at something I wrote, but I did, at this poem. Reminds me a little of the people in the Bible who made idols from trees and rocks, then bowed down to them.