THIS YEAR ... FOREVER

I was a person when first conceived,

though some don't think that – some don't believe.

Once we're all started on our race,

we go different directions, each our own pace.

Each one different size, each a different shade,

but our blood is the same, because we are God-made.

I may be happy, I may be sad,

Most times I'm good, but sometimes I'm bad.

I obey God or not during my life here below.

God gives me a mind to choose how I go,

But one thing is certain, indelibly sure:

God wants me to live right, no matter how long I endure.

I'll live forever, on earth: short or long, 

but my place is in Heaven. That's where I belong.

In choosing my life, it's Heaven or Hell.

How I live here is how I'll ever dwell.

I'm too old to die young, but I don't know the day.  

You don't know either – better walk in "The Way".

Choosing to live righteously is a real endeavor.

Breathing our last here is when we are severed –

But it happens to all – can't say it's never.

It's this year, or next year, or sometime – forever.

- by Netagene, August 28, 2013 -

I read the line: "This year, next year, sometime, never", in a novel. An Englishman was counting the cherry pits on his plate. As he touched each with his spoon, he said those words – that it’s sort of like "loves me, loves me not".

I tried to work in that line ... thinking of when each person passes from this life, that it may be this year, or next year, but it WILL be sometime, and it will be forever (NOT that it will NEVER happen). I read the line about midnight, and wrote this in 20 or so minutes.

Fancy profile picture, aboard a ship!

The new profile picture was made on July 12, the day of the "formal" pictures, on board the "Golden Princess" while at sea in Alaska. One of our group of about 120 people made the picture there in the ship's atrium. I am wearing an over-top that I crocheted. I was 69 years old in May. The trip was arranged through the PR and Alumni office of Florida College near Tampa, Florida, which I attended beginning in August, 1962, though nowhere near everyone with our group was an alumni nor associated with the college. We all met at a hotel in Seattle, then were bused on Sunday morning, July 7, to the church of Christ in Burien, Washington, then to the ship. When the ship got back to Seattle early July 14, buses were also arranged to take some to the airport for early flights, and others of us to morning worship. We also had daily devotions and information meetings on the ship. It was definitely the trip of a lifetime, and one that I enjoyed more than a trip to Hawaii in 2006.

WHEN I WORSHIP

When I worship, I want to be sure
that all that I do is good and pure.

I want my actions to have chapter and verse
so that I am right, and not accursed.

The slightest of doubt, and I'll back away,
so I'll see Heaven on that Great Judgment Day.

                                    I'd rather miss things on this spinning ball,
                                    than to miss Heaven ... and miss it all. 


- by Netagene. I wrote that in maybe 5 minutes on August 20, 2013 -

WHAT WILL IT MATTER?

If someone passes me by, and doesn't speak,

in a few years, what will it matter?

If I sometimes cry because I had a bad week,

in a few years, what will it matter?

If I trip and hurt myself, because I missed the door ...

Of a vase falls off a shelf, and becomes a mosaic on the floor ...

If I lose everything because my house burned down ...

If I sing and pray, or if I smile or frown ...

In a few years (or less), what will it matter?

If things go well for days, no matter what I do ...

If I am daily blessed, and feel I'm born anew ...

So what befalls me, physically, for good or bad while here on earth,

It's how I've acted, what I've done, that's the thing that has some worth.

That's what matters ...

God's gift for me is salvation. I know I'm saved by grace,

but I still have to reach and take it - I have to run the race.

How I've treated others, the road that I have trod ...

And if I've studied the Bible, and if I've obeyed God ...

That's all that will matter ...

- by Netagene. I wrote that off and on August 18 - 20, 2013 -