Inn Keeper’s Soul
It was late when the rap came at the door;
“Was there room for two, maybe three, more?”
A man with honest face and callused hands,
(But did I see a touch of distant lands?)
And his lovely, young wife, lovely but tired;
Whose time for childbearing had all but expired,
Stood waiting for an affirmative nod.
I wish I could have let them in my inn,
(To not do so seemed almost like a sin.)
But every room had been sold out that night
Long before the sun had slipped out of sight
And I had no corner, I had no room.
(I was sleeping between the mop and the broom.)
Briefly I too waited, praying to God.
Then like a flash I remembered the cave.
My eyes rolled upward – Thanksgiving I gave.
Then lead them through the most silent of nights
And left them there with two candles for lights.
I was, I thought, the best thing I had,
But though best, it was unspeakable sad
That a Baby should be born under sod.
Later, I could see them in my mind’s eye;
Though I never formally said Good-bye.
And much later I learned a Son was born
Between the time I left and the morn.
A Son for whom Religion had no room;
A Son Who will be the church’s Bridegroom –
Every worthy of Praise, Glory and Laud! – eab, Dec 1993
The devil has convinced some that he does not exist. But he has another lie
Others (nearly as deceived) think they do NOT have a Will. The Almighty gave you a will.
Do not deny it. It’s a precious GIFT, more precious than any talent/ability that you have!
– eab, 1/25/17
TIME LINE
Remembering our Lord’s birth,
Human form, made man on earth,
Recalling He was killed–
Roman hands doing as Jews willed,
Reading of an empty grave;
To death, His was not a slave!
Reaching first and last,
Into days important but all past,
These to some are
All the heights of religion’s devotions.
Thank God He was born,
Into a world so forlorn
And thank God He died one day–
Paid sin’s ransom, paid our way
And rose the Victor o’er all hell;
We’ve that story to tell
We need all of these, need all they cost,
Without them we’re lost
Bear with me as I go on,
Don’t give me hot emotions.
Christ lived, He died, He rose,
Is that as far as it all goes?
Has the pure Biblical,
Fallen prey to mere cyclical?
Earthy religions galore,
Have their cycles–nothing more
One day they honor This,
Another day its That they kiss
Honoring, paying homage,
Visiting; shallow motions. – eab, Dec 1997
In case you hadn’t figured out, I’m a “country boy” (south-central Ohio). There as a kid or somewhere along life’s trail, I picked-up an expression “Hit dog hollers” (HDH). If you throw a rock into a pack of canines the one hit, is the one who yelps. Sometimes a post receives more attention than it ought because HDH. Friends wouldn’t know you were sensitive about “x” if you simply scrolled past. (You’re allowed to do that. J I do it many times.) When you jump in & defend a practice (even sin) it may show “HDH.”
– eab, 2/16/17
“…Be not moved from your steadfastness either by names or numbers.
To judge of truth by popularity is absurd.”
– John Fletcher, Works, vol 1
Some insist “sports build team-work” & some church (even holiness) people have accepted that “being a team player” is good. By contrast God speaks of “2 or 3” being gathered in His name. There’ve been a number of 2-3 man “teams” (preacher-singer) (senior-junior missionary) the Lord HAS blessed. The Bible has many a solitary man who was yoked with God & God alone. I fear the modern idea of “team-work” is borrowed from the world & reflects our connection with sports, more than with Spiritual renewal.
– eab, 2/22/17
Pro 11.2
“When PRIDE cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
In a past we said, “I like Ike” speaking of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. However many forgot (or never knew) he alerted us on 1/17/1961. Ike warned of the “Industrial-Military-Complex” (his term) & he was so right. Too many of our industries make “machinery” (very broad word) for military “usage” & – – – (ready for this?) the military “has to use them” so the industry can make more, so American workers have jobs. Then the military uses the new patch. It’s a vicious cycle.
– eab, 12/12/17
Separate-Holy 