tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60668442012-01-14T20:47:11.346-08:00"BEFORE THE CITY GATES"..... A (Hopefully) Poetic View of the World from the Vantage Point of One Elder in Christ's ChurchJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-78982863328105372112012-01-14T20:44:00.000-08:002012-01-14T20:47:11.357-08:00

ELECTIONBefore the light set bounds on time,No Moon ruled night or Sun the day,Outside of place on which to shine,God's Word beamed forth and lit my name.No man yet formed to sire this son,No mother's womb to nurture me,Set by was I by Three, yet One,The watermark of God's Decree.John Ford2012

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-29568542870883242622009-01-08T14:25:00.000-08:002009-05-17T09:40:31.274-07:00

Gentle Reader:I've been a big fan of Pastor John Piper's Advent Poems for several years now. Each year for the past dozen, I have been blessed to be able to read one or more to the congregation of my church during our Christmas Program. This year I was disappointed to find that Pastor Piper took a sabbatical from writing a poem for each Sunday in Advent, and instead treated his church to a

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-68501855756923859152008-10-01T17:48:00.000-07:002008-10-01T17:49:45.101-07:00

The WatchmanJohn Ford, 2008  You don’t see him.He’s been standing there for years,Alone upon the wall we share to shelter us from fears.This job you gave him some while back that raised him from the flock,Took him too, from hearth and kin to stand out on that rock.But you don’t see him. You won’t see him.Your frolic steals your care,You play and laugh and feast and love, of perils unaware.You

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-27311756320020487452008-09-17T17:52:00.003-07:002009-05-19T14:42:21.769-07:00

Doyle Souser was a dear friend of mine who perished in the tragic Metrolink Train Wreck in Chatsworth, California in September of 2008. His were the very last remains removed from the wreckage. I knew Doyle for nearly twenty-five years. We served together as Elders in Christ's Church, and our families literally grew up together. Doyle's eldest daughter Kelsey is one of my daughter Grace's

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-88359500661387911242008-04-29T19:33:00.000-07:002008-04-29T19:41:44.276-07:00

KALEB SMILESGod Thunders.Heaven trembles,Earth moves,Kaleb wheezes…God Directs.Mother quakes,Doctor reflects,Kaleb weakens…God Speaks.Nurse muses,Father questions,Kaleb decreases…God Conveys.Surgeon plots,Church at prayer,Kaleb clings…God Moves.Surgeon exalts,Morning waxes…Kaleb seizes.God Commands.Elders Pray,Oil Flows,Seizure ceases…God Imparts.Doctor ponders,Church intercedes,Kaleb strives …

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-7384934366143061032008-04-08T14:01:00.000-07:002008-04-08T14:06:37.795-07:00

A Prayer for KalebSuch a small thing for You,But the whole world to herWho bore him in her wombAnd longs to care and nurse.Such a small thing for You,Who made all things from dust,And printed on so fewThe imprint of the Just.Such a small thing for You,But life’s great call for him,And from whose seed You grewHis likeness once mere dream.Such a small thing for You,Whose image we all bearThough dim

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-60008528372171288412007-11-23T08:34:00.000-08:002007-11-23T08:35:36.798-08:00

Cash Advance Loans

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-18086890745718071792007-11-12T13:21:00.000-08:002007-11-12T13:24:15.724-08:00

Of TheresaProverbs 31:10-30Most excellent wife, ‘tis thou found meWhen I dared not to seek.The worth of jewels thou so exceedThat of them I‘ll not speak.My heart so fully trusts in thee,I have no want of gain.My greatest good hast inured theeTo be thy soul’s refrain.Life’s wool and flax thy fingers spinWith skill and willing joy,To craft a mantle fit for kings,yet meant for my employ.Stately as a

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-57046981650014090922007-10-12T19:33:00.000-07:002007-11-12T13:25:37.740-08:00

The Hireling2007, Pastor John FordI’ve often wondered how a man,Filled up with fear and awful dread,No inkling where his foot will tread,Him prone to stumble, slow to standMight be a tool in Father’s hand.God’s mouthpiece hung on fallen headWhose quaking lips the Gospel spread‘Til Son‘s renown has filled the land.To be found lacking, prove his want,Attest his falling, uphold his doubt,And be

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-85889319028857844362007-05-23T09:06:00.000-07:002010-10-11T15:45:42.084-07:00

LEVIATHANJob 41, Psalm 104By John FordMay, 2007Beneath the briny sea he sleeps,him made to reign o’er rolling wave.And through the dark and boding deepsnone can be found more fearful made.His Lord the same Creator‐Godwho makes, sustains, and rules man too,his visage to our eye so oddthat God has hid him from our view.Our proud and fallen nature wouldhim too make tame to bid our will,but God

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066844.post-1154907571702885812006-08-06T16:37:00.000-07:002006-08-06T16:39:31.723-07:00

Summertime, Some Other TimeWhen I was a young man, and still in High School, I was regularly pressed into attending “Summer School” classes that were supposed to help me beef up my transcript. But I suspected that their true purpose was to keep me and my fellows out of our Moms’ hair for another month, or so. I therefore, only grudgingly took whatever classes seemed easy, and were represented

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271397322547648572noreply@blogger.com