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Dancing with The Middle Kingdom

December 9, 2019 0 Comments

So the dance continues, but no one rejoices. And no one really believes the detainees “have completed their studies, found stable employment with the help of the government and have improved their quality of life and live a happy life.” (The Guardian)

So instead we shall lament for and with the Uighurs. #Advent

Dancing With The Middle Kingdom

New neighbours were sent to be with us. We 
know they can’t stand us.

Throw your doppas down they told us. Your 
songs are forbidden they told us.

Contempt, it rises like a lunar compass
shackling us both in a silk road conquest.

Home comforts have been taken from us. Our 
children are lost so utterly lost to us. 

Who surveils freedom’s death for us? Who 
hears the child’s cry far from us?

With pork dumplings they torment us. With 
baijiu they seek a ruckus.

Divine irony may make them like us. Swine
flu may make spare ribs as rare as mercy for us.

Empire building requires faces barbarous. So 
according to their hearts they see us.

We are nothing except what they want from us. They 
seek a solution for us, a solution for

Poetry

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Who Reads Poetry?

December 6, 2019 0 Comments

While in a prayer meeting this week this question and the answer came quick. I had started with the question of Isaiah the prophet’s poetry which I suppose we can call the Lord’s poetry. Who reads God’s Word deeply? And then question in my mind “Well for that matter, who reads poetry? Who reads poetry?”

The answer came as a picture first and then as words.

Who reads poetry?

Perhaps those who will 
tarry under trees
‘till their souls
rooted in soil 
breathe
again.

#poetry #slowdown #deeproots #atthecross

Poetry

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Prayer of the People, 1 December 2019

December 4, 2019 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

We cry out to you, 
“Come.” Come and be with us Immanuel   – today, 
In this Christmas season, 
In this exam season.  
Be with us in our struggles and in our joys.

We are waiting for You. Reveal to us the glory of being with you in your  communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We yearn for Your counsel, Your strength, Your guidance, Your peace , Your justice and righteousness.  

And yet we are busy, sometimes too busy to stop and pay attention to Your counsel and to receive Your strength, Your guidance, Your peace, Your justice and righteousness.  

Right now we quietly sit before You to reaffirm our longing for You and our willingness to walk with You.  (pause)

We pray over others who are not paying attention to Your kingdom or are unaware of Your goodness, and greatness, light for life;  Reveal to these dear ones in darkness — Your counsel, Your strength, Your guidance, Your peace, Your justice and righteousness.  

We ask for hope and justice for the patients impacted by the Zimbabwean doctor’s strike, for the doctors and nurses. Grant them your wisdom and generosity.

In many places Peace seems far away and pain seems more powerful. We look for You, the Prince of Peace to show yourself to those impacted by shootings in Mexico, by political changes in Namibia, and by struggles in Iraq and Iran. We need Your guidance to steward the earth so people experience your love and care. Come Lord Jesus, Come.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer —

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, 
forever. 
Amen.

Prayer

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A Father’s Habit

December 3, 2019 0 Comments

“Thus did Job continually.” Job 1:5

Sometimes when a man dies
it’s only his children who knew

The contours of a smile turned up 
when troubles pulled him down

The soft tears of laughter formed
in the crucible of tenderness

The quick retort of a word marked
by pain — the fear that he was not 

enough. But do they know his
prayers? These shall live on

Prayer

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Whispers Seem Louder In Dark Alleys

December 2, 2019 0 Comments

“Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah…”
                                                                                                   Isaiah 8:6

Send me to the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah.
I would flee these tall halls reeking of despair,
where men move like ghastly shadows
and women are chased by whispers in the air.

O, the normal people with eyes that do not see.
They ascend in cages to empty rooms
but are no better — hearts without space for keys
and glassy views staring back with gloom.

Anxiety stalks us equally no matter the hour.
No enemies are required for this disease.
We yearn for an eternal healing flower,
yet no peace is found in a lonely ease.

Whispers seem louder in dark alleys.
Send me to the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah
and I will consider your grace in all my valleys.
I will drink deeply of your spring, Yeshua.

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