Posts Categorized: Pastor’s Ponderings

TAPS   They made war- We made war- And called it the war to end wars.   They made new weapons- We made new weapons- Horrible, deadly weapons.   Sixteen million people died, Millions soldiers, Millions not- Killed, Buried in the ground, And mourned. We prayed for peace But they kept on dying. There was… Read more

Who were the saints, Those folk in the windows of my memory, Who twinkled in the light of God?   They were too close to me To seem like saints- Their faults in full view, Their humanity all too real.   But they persevered And time pulled us apart, Some gone now forever, And like… Read more

Fear not Is the most frequent commandment And for the most part I don’t, Though there are hours, days, Years at which I worry About how to live, Respond responsibly if the worst happens, Daily aware that it quite well could, And this sudden awareness that my confidence rests In my faith in democracy And… Read more

It is days like this- Overcast, cool, breezy- That make me think of the potato soup Grandma made before we left town, And of us hunkering down at the table. Even Uncle Phil came In from the barnyards.   Our journey that night was long, That winter was cold, The world changed And not all… Read more

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.   Five- The number of young men, 5, arrested In Martin last week- LAST WEEK- For beating their wives or girlfriends.   How many the week before- How many last year- How many in our lifetime- How many MORE?   Lord, have mercy- And Lord, have fury On us… Read more

There are those afternoons When I walk into a room and immediately Feel the pain of a rejection, And seem to recall EVERY rejection, Whereupon I ponder Every failing, Every error, Every shortage of graciousness Upon my part.   In those cursed moments I find my shelter in the knowledge I am baptized I am… Read more

MY PRAYER FOR US   Lord, we ask your forgiveness Because we are not praying together Nor working together. You know, Lord, how jealous We grow of another’s success. You know, Lord, how angry we get At another’s opinion. You know how stubborn we are And how insecure And how we like to feel good,… Read more

Have mercy on us, LORD, For there is a lot to do To undo what we have done- We could pray all day long, And yet not name it all. But pray we must, So gracious God, please Help us pray.   Help us pray for responders- First, and second, and all who follow Where… Read more

Last week, Trinity Presbyterian Church was awarded the Martin Beautiful award. Many thanks to the facilities committee for their faithfulness and diligence to our home.     The recipe for success Is a long road in a different direction: Start with a plan you are willing to scrap, if God wills, Willing to amend and… Read more

Walking on the blistering pavement On the hottest day of the summer On the hottest year in decades, I discovered Thriving in the split concrete of the walk Some sort of flowers, minuscule, That only God could have planted And only somebody looking straight down Would have noticed. They thrived there, And bloomed, When they… Read more