REVEALING CLOTHES

Lycra and spandex  ... Mesh and see-through ...
Bold and blatant,
No "pay per view".

Emphasize features, Straight or some clumps ...
Both men and women,
Shapeless and bumps.

A strong color solid, A bright flashy print ...
Made for attention
Is such clothes' intent.

A plunging "V" neckline, A slit up to "here" ...
Treasures are hidden
If we hold them dear.

"Clothes make the man" Or woman, by fashions' fad.
You must ask if it's decent?
Then you know it is bad.

Immodesty outward Comes from inside;
A body for Satan
You'll wish you could hide.
 
Young looks will not last, You know from the start.
God sees the real you.
God sees your heart.


... written by Netagene, noon Saturday, August 15 - early Sunday, August 16, 2020. This is the way most of the women dress, no matter if skinny or fat, who I see near my house. The men aren't as bad.

"... I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument. Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God." --- I Timothy 2:8-10, CSB

BUTTERFLY WINGS

 BUTTERFLY WINGS

I never know how far I'll go
or where the future wends.
I only know where once I was
when first my life begins.

Influenced by so many ones,
a multitude of blends ...
some are good and some are bad,
blood kin or school or friends.

A hundred apples in a seed,
bright trills a sparrow sings ...
a ripple from a far-off wave ...
a dance of butterfly wings.

The new-mown grass around my feet
faint moves with every step.
I brush against so many ones,
and pray that I can help.

Not racing like an ocean wave,
loud crashing to the shore ...
like ripples of the ebbing tide,
soft words accomplish more.

A drop of dew upon the grass,
I know not how it clings.
My influence must be just and good,
like gossamer butterfly wings.


... written by Netagene, July 23 - August 4, 2020 ... "Remember how far reaching your influence can go ... Like the song about how many apples in a seed ... or butterfly wings that eventually reach everywhere." --- my comment to TimCottonWrites, on Facebook, July 21, 2020

LIGHTS OUT

AS THE LIGHTS GO OUT

Wandering in the woods

Near the close of day,

Refreshing my mind

From the work-day's drought.

Srrolling along

Away from the fray,

Untangling my thoughts

As the lights go out.

Sundown glows red,

Then fades to gray,

Unraveling the webs

Of my musings and doubt.

Confident, certain,

So I no longer sway,

I'm sure-footed now

As the lights go out.

And now as I near end

My body of clay,

I go toward a new dawn

And a joy-filled shout.

I see opened arms,

For me, that I pray.

I'm welcomed home

Where the lights don't go out!

... written by Netagene, just after midnight, July 4, 2020.

I got the idea from the title of a novel, "When the Light Goes Out", by Larry McMurtry. ... and still with sweet friend, preacher, song leader Mark A. Etheridge's passing on my mind. He also helped start the church in Fayetteville, Georgia. He had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He and his wife moved from Sevierville, TN, to their daughter's in Aurora, CO, in 2019, for Mark to have stem cell surgery. He was 67 years old.

Am I Martha? Am I Peter?

Am I Martha?

Am I Peter

Saying Christ is God's own Son?

Someone asks if l have faith

When trials hit me 'til I'm numb.

Both were servants.

Both had problems,

Yet they still sat at Jesus' feet.

Human frailties, through the ages

But their example, I must repeat.

Yes, I believe that Christ is God.

Yes, I'll confess it. I am proud

To know He suffered, died for me,

Just one of many in a crowd.

I am unworthy, yet God's grace

And my obedience to His call

Gives me a home reserved in Heaven ...

Make earthly trials worth it all.

Bible verses: John 11:27; Matthew 16:16

... written by Netagene, April 2, 2020. I got the idea from something in our Bible class, by participatory conference phone call-in, the night of April 1. Paddy Kendall-Ball is the teacher and makes our lesson sheets. Since Sunday, March 22, the Huffman church of Christ has had such because of the corona virus quarantine. We have almost an hour worship on Sunday, a 30+ minute Bible class on Wednesday night, and a short devotional on Tuesday and Friday mornings. We are able to sing together, etc., and have announcements.

WINTER WEATHER

WINTER WEATHER

Today is chilly and drizzly,
Breezy and blue,
But I'm still above ground.
Now how about you?

My hands are now stiff
But I still hold a hook.
I'm blessed that I still
Turn pages of a book.

I'm often off-balanced
When I stand or step.
But I still get by
With almost no help.

Wish my hair would decide
If it's gray or it's brown.
It really won't matter
When I wear a crown.

Yes, I'm still above ground
Though my body will fail.
No matter the weather,
One day I'll be well.

By Netagene, off and on between 9:40am December 16, and 1am December 17, 2019. The very last line refers to the poem I wrote on November 14, 2018 (and posted here) which 2 friends turned into a song: "I Will be Well". The hook I mention in verse 2 is a crochet hook, a hobby which I do almost every day. My paternal grandmother taught me to crochet when I was about 7 years old.

OLD FEEBLE GREY MARE

OLD FEEBLE GREY MARE

I'm an old grey mare and I feel feeble,
Like the toy that's called a wobbly weeble.

Feel like I've aged about 20 years
In less than 2 months of worries and tears.

Mousey hair suddenly has some white.
Seems like it happened overnight.

Aging means naps any time of the day.
But now more often. My body is clay.

God is the potter, after all.
Prayers to Him, whatever the call.

Surgery was good. Results were the best.
I'm an old feeble grey mare, but I'm so very blessed.

Written by Netagene, December 22, 2018, about 3½ weeks after having had surgery (November 27) for endometrial cancer. Thankfully Dr. Kerri Bevis and her team got it all. I had planned to say no if chemo or radiation had been suggested.

The GREAT I AM

The GREAT I AM

​Heavenly Father, the Great I AM.
I know You are watching little me.
My life is as vapor, drifting away.
(But) You lift me upward, heavenly.

Blessed Redeemer, the Great I AM.
I know You hear my constant prayer.
Example to others, in all that I say.
(But) You are with me, everywhere.

Righteous Counselor, the Great I AM.
I know You are merciful, full of grace.
I'm thankful You guide me by Your Law.
Your hand leads me on in my Heaven-ward race.

Written by Netagene, September 24, 2018

THE LIES THAT BIND

THE LIES THAT BIND

Many people say they love
The Bible, but they look
At only red gold edges,
And ne'er open The Book.

They'd rather someone tell them things ---
Good stories are inside.
They'd rather not be told about
The sins of lust and pride.

And if we choose to read God's Word,
We'll surely come to know
That what's inside those pages
Will help us live and grow.

Why be one who is lazy,
Or maybe lose our zeal?
Why tie to smiling preachers,
Whose soft soap isn't real?

Sure, much is in the Bible
About God's love and grace.
But all things have a shadow,
Some evil we must face.

The devil has his army,
And some don't realize
That many in that army
Are friends who tell us lies.

The Bible can be understood.
Yet many are spiritually blind.
They rather hear false teachers
Who tell them lies that bind.

Written by Netagene, begun just after midnight, October 13, 2019

I Will be Well

Here is the sheet music to the song I co-wrote November, 2018. Tony Kite wrote the words to the chorus. He wrote the melody, and Aneva Peirce wrote the harmony. It is free for you to copy and use.

IN the MIRROR

In the mirror (7 to 70)
Women's version

What she sees in the mirror is frilly and small –
Little ponytail and her baby doll.
Little boys ignore her as they run by,
But even now she's coy with her nose held high.

What she sees in the mirror is cute, demure –
A petite young lady – boys go for her.
With curly hair and a twinkle in her eye –
She's the high school princess and the boys all sigh ...

She's the head cheerleader, sings soprano in the choir –
An honor roll student who wants to go higher.
Boys see her confidence, a sunny breeze!
They dream of her: "O, marry me please!"

In college she strolls with a purposeful air,
Then marriage and family and God and prayer.
A blest life and happy, even with some woes,
Then suddenly it's winter. How fast the time goes!

What she sees in the mirror – how time has passed by!
Now the former cutie has tears in her eyes.
She's passed the age of three-score and ten --
Nearer to God than she's ever been.

What sins she's committed! Friends come and lost –
Impetuous acts, now paying the cost.
She repented of wrongs, and God forgave.
She's doing OK, thanking God she's saved.

Written by Netagene, November 21, 2014. I was 70. The original was a men’s version, which I posted a few years ago.

LONELINESS COVERS ME

A sweet embrace is now long past.
We didn't know 'twould be our last.

Like blackbirds hide the sun's warm gold,
sadness hovers, drifts, enfolds.

Hard choice to make -- stay or divorce,
Efforts fail -- must change my course.
Still -- loneliness covers me.

Some choose no mate. Some choose bad.
Alone with another is just as sad.

No matter whose fault, no matter the dirt,
The house is quiet. I’ll always hurt.

Separation or single, or miles between,
personalities change, events unseen.

God in Genesis made a wife
to complement Adam for all his life.

Ecclesiastes says two are better than one* --
to encourage each other, to get things done.

My own poor company -- Oh, how I ache, but
even God's wise ones made mistakes.

Think of King David, King Solomon, too --
Even God's blessed ones were lonely and blue.

Death or divorce, or miles apart --
Separation's bad; it breaks my heart ...
and loneliness covers me.

I don't know a thingin this whole wide world that's worse than being alone** …
and loneliness covers me.

Written by Netagene, January 19-22, 2016

* Ecclesiastes 4:9-12;
** a line from the song, “Where No One Stands Alone", written by Thomas Mosie Lister (September 8, 1921 – February 12, 2015)

Song: I WILL be WELL!

I will be well

When I leave the boat.

I will be well

Though I cannot swim.

I will be well

When I touch His coat.

I will be well

When I go to Him.

I will be well

When I lose my wrath.

I will be well

Even when l'm old.

I will be well

When I'm on His path.

I will be well

In the Shepherd's fold.

I will be well

When I am so ill.

I will be well

When I cannot see.

I will be well

When my body's still.

I will be well

For God walks with me.

Chorus:

I will be well

In my Savior's love.

I will be well,

Here or heav'n above.

I will be well,

For He's telling me,

"You will be well, child.

You walked with me."

I wrote the 3 verses on November 14, 2018. On November 16, I got the diagnosis that I had endometrial cancer. I posted the poem on a couple of Facebook walls. On November 18, Anthony Harlen "Tony" Kite, one of the directors of the Texas Normal Singing School, in Abilene, which I'd attended on a full scholarship a few months previously, added the chorus, and wrote a melody. He and another friend-in-person, Aveva Peirce, added the harmonies. I and a couple of other friends changed a couple of notes. I am adding a picture of the sheet music here, and separately. If anyone wants it, please contact me. We sang it at the Huffman church of Christ, Birmingham, Alabama, a few times. It has also been sung by a church in Connecticut and by one in Vermont, that I know of ... and possibly by others.

Tim Stevens led it a few times when he was at Huffman, May 3-5, 2019. He had Romans 15:13 on rhe screen.

Other applicable Bible verses, for each verse of the poem/song: Matthew 14:26-30; 9:20-22 (the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' coat); Proverbs 15:1 and Job 5:2, about being angry; Leviticus 19:32 and Proverbs 16:31 about getting old; Jeremiah 6:16 (walk in the old paths); Psalm 23:5, John 10:14, 1 Peter 5:4; Matthew 10:8 and Luke 7:2; Ecclesiastes 12:3 and Matthew 11:5; John 11, the story of Lazarus; Psalm 23:4

AVERAGE TEPID TEA

Are you drinking from a cup of tepid tea?
Is your life on hold in mediocrity?
Friend, let me tell you, it could be worse ...
You could be stuck in reverse.

Do you think that "average" is a-ok?
That your so-so attempts will pave your way?
Friend, let me tell you, that isn't so!
Backing up is a "no show".

Stalled in neutral, going nowhere.
Quicksand of life ... why don't you care???
Example to others. They watch all that you do.
Yearning for help to pull through.

Not hot or cold, a lukewarm bath ...
Not aiming is aiming a sorry path.
Satan's the enemy, holding you back.
What do you lack?

Work as for God, with His all-seeing eyes.
Aim for the goal. Run for the prize.
Be a servant to others. Do your best.
Heavenly eternal rest.

By Netagene, June 12, 2018. Tried something new in changing the meter of each last line.

I got the idea from the title of a book I read about while reading another book. In "Lessons from a Third Grade Dropout", Dr. Rick Rigsby mentioned "An Enemy called Average", by John Mason.

TIRED but WIRED

I'm tired but I'm wired.
I don't count sheep.
I talk to the Shepherd when I can't get to sleep.

I'm tired but I'm wired.
Have you been that way?
My pendulum mind is starting to sway.

I'm tired but I'm wired,
Like a fast, windy flame.
My heart slowly settled, and rest finally came.

I'm tired but I'm wired.
I've decisions to make,
But with the Shepherd's help, I'll be fine when I wake.

Written by Netagene, February 19, 2019

FORSAKING

Welcoming, greeting Old friends and new.
Encourage each other, Hospitable, too.
Showing our love When we gather as one.
Singing and praying 'til our life is done.

I miss so much when I fail to attend.
Meeting with others As each week begins.

No reason I have for My absentee state.
One miss, another, then I've sealed my fate.
Fellowship missing is Done gradually.
Travel or working Is now priority.

Satan rejoices as I now backslide.
Then comes God's judgment. I've no place to hide.

God says,
"Well done, good servant, While in My employ.
You've faithfully obeyed. Welcome into My Joy!"

Lackadaisical, lukewarm,
Apathetic and lost.
Too late to repent
Now I'm paying the cost.

Written by Netagene, April 21-22, 2019

CONCERNED but NOT WORRIED

Concerned but not worried As life passes by.
The same heart that smiles Sometimes will cry.

God, The Creator, Cares for us all.
Omniscient forever But still we must call.

Concerned but not fearful. God's on my side.
God is my fortress. His Word is my guide.

Encourage each other. Show that we care.
Specifically mention Someone in our prayer.

Concerned but not worried. Christ cares for me.
Let's care for each other, And Barnabas be.

Written by Netagene, July 3, 2017 ... Psalm 118:10-12; 144:2; Matthew 6:30; Romans 8:31; Philippians 4:6

NOT DEAD! OLD AGE and FEEBLE

I may be old
but I am bold.
Don't put me on a cold
slab
Just hold
me. Don't stab
me.
Autopsy not yet
or you'll regret.
I ain't dead yet.

So I am blind
but I am fine.
So I am deaf
but I've not left
my worldly fate.
I'm doin' great.
I compensate,
eat what's on my plate,
and I would date
someone who'll participate
and help me walk
and sing and talk.

Don't write me dead
or I'll have your head!
Autopsy not yet
or you'll regret.
I ain't dead yet.

written by Netagene, in a few minutes on April 20, 2018. Inspired by ZdoggMD, who has a lot of good ones on YouTube. I emailed this poem to Dr. Zubin. He's an actual MD who also writes songs, some with rap in them. Look him up on YouTube, or his website. He's hilarious, and says a lot of things that I like. And all his things are captioned. Maybe he'll do something with my poem. Likely it is incomplete.

Life is Uncertain

I need to downsize.
You're doing the same.
Memories are good,
but best is a good name.

Far above rubies
is a life that's well lived.
Loving and serving --
I'm sure you're fulfilled.

I would send you flowers,
but they'd wilt and fade,
and definitely no “yarnings”,
nor doodads I've made.

Life is uncertain,
so I'm here to say
I love you. God bless you,
prayers you have a good day.

~ written by Netagene, for Eunice K. Davis, “just because”, on March 27, 2018. She was 94 in January, and for a few years, has been my #1 driver to and from worship. I have yet to come up with a title. I posted it on Facebook, as well as mailed it to her.

What did Swallow Jonah?

What did Swallow Jonah
(to the tune of “Who Will Follow Jesus?”

What did swallow Jonah,
Running from the Right?
Hiding from Jehovah.
It is a sorry plight.
Listening for his orders,
Tried to slip away.
What did swallow Jonah?
Should not disobey.

Chorus (sing it whenever you want to):
What did swallow Jonah?
Something in the sea!
One of God's creations,
Glad it's not for me.
What did swallow Jonah?
Something God had made!
Better to obey God!
What a price he paid.

What did vomit* Jonah?
Sent him on his way.
Trudging on to Nin'vah,
There to preach and pray.
What then was the outcome?
Much to his chagrin!
Thousands left their idols,
Turned their lives from sin.

What did swallow Jonah?
Was the lesson learned?
Didn't like what happened.
Wanted Nin'vah burned!
Made himself a tent to
Sit and pout awhile.
Even when God sp-oke,
Jonah wouldn't smile.

~ Written by Netagene, off and on between November 8, 2017 (when Carl Peterson posted something on a Facebook wall), until midnight March 16/17, 2018. If you don't like the word “vomit” (which is used in the KJV), you can substitute “up-chuck”.

DENIAL

DENIAL! No, that cannot be
The Son of God! Deity!
God's far above. We cannot see
How spirit becomes humanity.

Denial! Yes, He's just a man!
I saw things, too. I touched his hand.
He fed a crowd? Made lame to stand?
A magician does the things He can.

Denial is what I will say.
I know He walked here on this clay.
He made a path, said it's His way.
I won't kneel down. I'll never pray.

Denial … changed into belief
When it's too late, I'm at His feet.
When I'm in hell, there's no relief.
He tiptoed in just like a thief.

Denial still? Or have you learned
That Christ is God, the One you spurned.
You cannot tell the day or hour.
You now affirm God's mighty pow'r.

Denial? Oh, but you can change
While yet you've time to rearrange
Your life, so you might never fall.
Today's the day. Obey God's call.

Written by Netagene, March 1-5, 2018; probably finished. Posted on Facebook.