Luke 16:19-31

You have been warned. Word has been sent.
Beware, take to heart what the message meant.

Long, long have prophets foretold of this:
in helping the poor do not be remiss.
Do not dress yourself richly and overeat
while right before you stands one in need,
in rags and hungry. Do not turn away
and leave him consoled by one tail-wagging stray.
Do not harden your heart, saying, "I am just one,
there is so much need; what can be done?"
saying, "Go get a job - you look like you're able,"
deny him spare change and spare crumbs from your table.

There once was a rich man who died and looked back
in regret of his greedy and self-centered track.
His late-caring heart made of God one request,
saw his rich brothers' need, could now see what they missed.
He asked that his brothers receive special word,
a sign they would notice, which could not be misheard.
And God, his ears full from the cries of the living,
even heard the dead rich man, and could not keep from giving:
"They'll listen to one who came back from the dead."
The word has been sent. May it not be misread.
-HJ April 2010

Never again would he look the same,
or look in quite the same way again
at beggars or strangers called unclean,
at madmen. Or listen to visions they’d seen
in quite the same way. He’d listen with care;
you’d look in his eyes and see someone was there.
He sat on his throne but he leaned towards the crowd
come to see crowned again the head once sadly bowed.
How strange all the turns this man’s life had taken.
First king of vast empires, then suddenly shaken
with the palsy of poverty, mad as a hatter,
wandering aimlessly, spouting sad chatter.
And all shook their heads at the loss of a king
once so proud, now insane and suffering.
He came back to himself, in his right mind and clear,
when he raised his eyes up to find heaven near,
gave honour to God and praised his name.
And King Nebuchadnezzar was never the same.
-HJ Apr. 20, 2010

“Every time exhilarated Christians burst out with a new hymn of praise in words or in life, they participate in the songs of the 144,000 before the throne.” -Marva J. Dawn, Joy in Our Weakness

I’m one of those who stand around the throne
to sing a hymn of praise unto the Lamb.
I count among the dozen dozen thousand
who behold the worthy One who overcame.
We are the counted ones past human number
united in our worship of our God.
We bring the incense of our prayers for justice
and painful were the paths we each have trod.
Our voices join with multitudes of angels
to offer praise and honour, glory, power.
To the One who reigns we voice our songs for ever,
though still within the grip of earthy hour.
Then whether word or deed be my expression,
may praise be all my theme without cessation.
-HJ Apr. 11, 2010

may you be gifted to desire
to long for, to aspire
to feel the need for searching,
the need to hear an inner voice

may you find a grand fulfillment
reach a perfect knowing moment
be brought home in peace full satisfied
be contented and rejoice

-hj apr 4 2010

5 a.m. revival

When I endure a poverty of spirit
Wilt Thou surely pour out on me
That promised abundance, that shower of blessing
Thou spakest of on the mount.
When I hunger and thirst so my soul is parched
And I find no sustenance here
Wilt Thou take my hand and lead me on
To Thy great and endless fount
Where the healing waters flow ever on,
Thou soul satisfier, Thou faithful friend,
Thou redeemer of the lost and sorrowing,
Thou blesser beyond all count.
Then one more boon I ask of Thee, Lord,
For it is Thy nature to give:
On the ones I love, in their time of need,
Pour that same abundant amount.

-HJ 5am, Mar. 27, 2010

I want to be more like Jesus
but most of the time I'm not.
If life is a web of temptations
then most of the time I'm caught.
Held by sticky strings of self love,
entangled by stubborn pride,
and I cannot escape to find freedom
as long as I keep myself tied.
I want to be more like Jesus
but that would mean letting go,
admitting my needs and addictions
I hesitate to show.
Oh, to be kinder and gentler,
more able to see others' needs.
Oh, to be able to see beyond self,
to be wise and to let love lead.
I want to be more like Jesus
and walk as He said to walk,
but find I would much rather sit here
and enjoy a comfortable talk.
But that's not the life I am called to,
or rather, it's only a part.
So, oh, to have more faith and courage,
and, oh, to have Jesus's heart.
-HJ 2010

I have felt the cold that burns I have seen the light that blinds
I have known the truth of wisdom I could never understand
To be in a world of beauty surrounded by a sea of pain
To have felt the deepest sadness and one day found joy again
All the signs speak of a mystery, of the paradox of life
Pointing to a deeper meaning than appears to our first sight
Time and chance will touch each one of us as we go on our way
Yet all things happen for a reason and we will be satisfied one day.
-HJ 2009

Fill us
with Your Spirit.
Speak Your Word;
help us hear It.

Plant Your seed
deep within us.
By Your love
do You win us.
By our fruits
will they know us;
may we pass on
the love You show us.
-HJ March 2010

Red Bird Dream

Red Bird Dream
I was walking in the pasture
in the clearing of the pasture
oak trees all around the clearing
on a small shrub of the hawthorn
many small birds perched in silence
and in silence fluttered upwards
and began to fly away
One a red bird separated
from the flock of many small birds
separated in its beauty
brilliant red with touch of black
fluttered nearer hovered over me
in its brilliance and its redness
and a small hope was born in me
and I lifted up my arm
and I lifted up my finger
as the bird descended to me
and it landed on my hand
the beauty became weight
and the weight of it did frighten
so my eyes closed as it landed
so beautiful so heavy
on my lifted awkward hand
I knew that I must see it
while I had such beauty near me
but afraid of claw and beak
I hesitated in my dark
The hope of seeing beauty
and the knowledge of its beauty
touched me and convinced me
and I opened then my eyes

-Mar. 3, 2010

If it wasn't for the fact that I know God is omniscient,
all wise, all good, and perfect in completeness
I might have a question, might venture a suggestion
or two about the nature of this beautiful horrible world.

Could it be a possibility, I ask with all humility,
to conceive a kinder gentler form of the necessity called free will?
Or again, all due respect, if that idea holds some defect
could God make us nobler creatures choosing God's way by default?
But Lord, we scramble weakly, too blind and poor to seek Thee,
short on sympathy for fellow creatures, short of worship for I AM.

Still I hold onto the fact that I know God is omniscient,
all wise, all good, and perfect in completeness,
and there is the crowning thought we poor creatures are the sought
by the God of love and mercy, none more worthy of our trust.
-HJ Feb. 22, 2010