Poems

Spanish – English So very much of our conversation belies our true nature and convictions. We say we love God, we speak of thanking and praising Him when we “are in church” or in a religious setting trying to impress others but let the guard down and listen to the words of our mouths and our hearts. Now these hearts are supposed to be the new ones we received in our “new birth.” With one set of words we proclaim we are new creatures, thankful to God in all things. With another set, we let others know where we really stand. Often, the arm raised in praise has a clenched fist and the lips of thanksgiving conceal gnashing teeth. Because conditions are never perfect, the spirit of complaint can never be stilled or appeased. Our ceasing to complain cannot hinge therefore on a change in conditions but must come solely by change in spirit and attitude. The source or cause of complaint is never the circumstances but always the subject in same. At any given time our lives can view from either of two perspectives, positive or negative, like two sides to a coin. Each side truly exists and we are right either way but we become what we behold. Therefore must we decide what to behold. Isn’t it awful? Isn’t it hot out? It’s enough to fry one’s brains! It’s so dry and dusty…. If only we had a little rain. You want rain? Plan a picnic! Where did all these terrible flies come from? Sure it’s raining…just washed my car! If it doesn’t rain, it pours! Is it ever muggy out! ...

English - Chinese Things are seldom as they appear – if ever. This is because two factors obscure the reality. Firstly, the object of the observation seldom conducts itself outwardly as it really is within or behind the scenes. Secondly, the ability on the part of the observer is limited at most times so that he is not able to see as he ought to. And woe to the one who tries to acquire that which he desires by trying to give the appearance of either getting it or already having it. Truth in the inward parts is not only the desired end but the means to that end. “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” Child of fullness and plenty, have you any idea How empty you may be? Your stomach is filled With emptiness. You laugh Your laugh is hollow. Child of laughter and merriment have you any idea How sad you are? Your heart has a notion Of sorrow on the way. You scoff; You scoff at you know not what. Child of scorn and scoffing, have you any idea How the arrows you shoot reverse? Your own conscience tells you Of condemnation imminent. You despise That which you do not understand. Child of pride and knowledge, do you have any idea Of your ignorance and foolishness? You know it all But not as well as you are known. You pray For mercy – you have none. Child of prayer and fasting, have you any idea How full you will yet be? You are now empty On the way to fullness. You cry; Your tears are not in vain. Child of weeping and sorrow, have you any ...

[worthy of those addressed] It has occurred to me that if there ever was a lie, if there ever was anything so unscientifically accurate, if there was anything so preposterous, if there was anything so utterly stupid and incredibly farcical, if there was anything that made supposedly educated and intelligent men look like babbling idiots and pea-brained morons, it is the theory (or even more so, theories, each proving the other wrong!) of evolution. Taught as fact, contradicting truth, and while in some cases and ways trying to accommodate God somewhere in their schemes, these men have denied Him and rather than coming from monkeys, have made monkeys of themselves. Yet they will not believe me when I tell them creation is regressing.   Madness, are you an accident? In all your incredibility, can it be possible That you came from a mere explosion of gases? Madness, you have so many forms! One form is to believe that so many forms Have been an accident. Bang! And there you began. And you grew and grew and grew And grew and flourished And spread! Madness, could as much as you Come from so little? How can a genius as great and powerful as you, Reigning as you do over the hearts of the wise, Come from a mere bang?   The world raves in you; You have evolved much farther than they. Those you call accidents are your subjects; You make monkeys out of them. Leave me out of it. More than that, I’ll speak to them… Without your help or your hindrance. &...