Tuesday Devotion: Martha
Follow my heart? My heart always leads back to the youth. It would be easy to believe that I'm trying to make up for something, that I'm fulfilling some deep psychological need, filling in some scar of childhood, of high school...
But really, it's not the harsh words, the fear, or the derision that springs to mind first and foremost when I think of that time in my life, that liminal, painful, self-finding time called adolescence.
No.
What comes to mind is going to church after school on Tuesday afternoons for choir practice. I remember my pastor telling me that he too was awkward and lonely at my age. I remember Silver Lake where more hearts and souls than I can count brushed up against mine and subtly let me know that it's good to be Josh
Jesus is already happy with me
just the way I am.
That's what I knew in my heart, and that's what I learned in those days. And it's been such and important revelation in my life that I must share it.
So my heart leads me to serve God, to serve the youth in His Name. It's a lot of hard work, with insane hours and little pay.
But I love you, and I love what I do, and I couldn't have it any other way.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
From Raye
When no one is looking,
when no one knows,
I can make a rose grow out of nowhere,
on a bare bush by the trail.
When I stand by the lake,
I can see can see an old sailing ship,
rising out;
its crew shouting for me to come aboard.
Without a single person's perception,
I can tie a thousand colored ribbons
on a tree without use of my hands.
At night, when everyone's asleep,
I make a thousand comets shoot through the air,
and the moon turns blue,
and a cow jumps over it
I can see snow in summer, by the campfire.
I can hear my family now, billions of miles away, thier wishes and hopes and dreams.
I can make my sister grow goat ears.
I can hear ducks sing in English!
And what's more, I'm not even crazy at all!
I'm just thinking, 'cuz I'm in my fantasy.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
From Emmi
Pre-Storm
Face to the sky, I pray.
Yellow tinged cloud-dark
sky, hot wind spirals, powerfully
pulls petals from dogwood. White
and pink blossoms mix with raindrops
as thunder sounds close.
I breathe pure energy.
Face to the sky, I pray.
Yellow tinged cloud-dark
sky, hot wind spirals, powerfully
pulls petals from dogwood. White
and pink blossoms mix with raindrops
as thunder sounds close.
I breathe pure energy.
From Rebecca
A Friend
A friend gives you a shoulder to lean on
Especially when you really need one
A friend is close to you, like a sister or brother
They share all their thoughts and feeling with eachother
When you're nervous, a friend will encourage you
A friend won't like, they'll tell you what is true
If you lose your pencil, a friend lends you theirs
Friends are always together, they travel as a pair
When you're in trouble, a friend will help you out
A friend will reassure you when you are in doubt
When you have fallen, a friend will help you off the ground
When you are lost, that's when a friend is truly found
Too Late
One minute you here
The next, you are gone
Doesn't anyone see my tears?
Don't you notice something's wrong?
Things used to be rightWe were really close
Now no more talking 'till midnight
There are things you still don't know
Do you know how much I smiled
When I even heard your name?
But I can't keep acting like a child
Life's not some silly game
Now you have a girl
I don't know how you didn't see
I can feel our connection starting to unfurl
And it's too late for you and me
A friend gives you a shoulder to lean on
Especially when you really need one
A friend is close to you, like a sister or brother
They share all their thoughts and feeling with eachother
When you're nervous, a friend will encourage you
A friend won't like, they'll tell you what is true
If you lose your pencil, a friend lends you theirs
Friends are always together, they travel as a pair
When you're in trouble, a friend will help you out
A friend will reassure you when you are in doubt
When you have fallen, a friend will help you off the ground
When you are lost, that's when a friend is truly found
Too Late
One minute you here
The next, you are gone
Doesn't anyone see my tears?
Don't you notice something's wrong?
Things used to be rightWe were really close
Now no more talking 'till midnight
There are things you still don't know
Do you know how much I smiled
When I even heard your name?
But I can't keep acting like a child
Life's not some silly game
Now you have a girl
I don't know how you didn't see
I can feel our connection starting to unfurl
And it's too late for you and me
From Spork
Abide Within
Sitting on my own, In solitary still
Mama and babies, one and two
emerge from their cool wooded home
meander across our roads
they know we will not hurt them here
munch our grass, no harm will come
others have been seenpassing through all week
this place is safe for them, this place is safe for me
no one here to whisper, behind my turned back
no one here to bar entrance
by me,or deer
this is, our safe place
Sitting on my own, In solitary still
Mama and babies, one and two
emerge from their cool wooded home
meander across our roads
they know we will not hurt them here
munch our grass, no harm will come
others have been seenpassing through all week
this place is safe for them, this place is safe for me
no one here to whisper, behind my turned back
no one here to bar entrance
by me,or deer
this is, our safe place
From Britt
Subject/Predicate Exercise: The lawyer ran across the highway during rush hour with a blindfold on.
"There is no way I will ever agree to that!" Screamed Mrs. Grayson as she stormed out the door. She and her almost ex-husband wre attempting to settle their divorce with Lawyer Kefner. Mr. Kefner was running short on patience with the Grayson after days and days of negotiation with no end in sight. "I give up! What am I supposed to do if you two aren't going to cooperate?" He said. The next morning, the couple arrived very worn and tired from obvious arguments. They spent another session without getting anything done. However, both of the upset parties agreed that Mr. Kefner had been no help. They left his office with their files and drove to the highway. It was about five or six o'clock and the highway was packed. But before they left his office, they forced him into the backseat and blindfolded him. The couple worked together for the first time in months and threw the files across the highway as well as pushing Mr. Kefner out of the car. The lawyer frantically ran across that highway with his blindfold on to get the files. The couple was able to reunited and bond in their mutual enjoyment of taunting the lawyer.
The World is Calling
Don't cry, baby girl,
The world's in front of you.
So much to see,
Don't close your eyes.
Don't hide.
Open up,
The world is calling.
Girl
Break my heart.
Just do it.
You know that will make you happy.
I'm just a girl.
Only a girl.
Torn to Pieces
I miss you more than anything.
When you left, you took a part of me.
I'm not the same and I never will be.
I want you to come back.
I know you can't.
You are better off.
I'm just torn,
Torn to pieces.
Gone
I'm in pain.
I've been destroyed.
What happened to the little girl who was always smiling?
She is gone.
I am gone.
I don't belong here.
Why can't I disappear?
Untitled
Broken soul
Lying alone
Abandoned by a heartless body
No love
No comfort
Just broken
"There is no way I will ever agree to that!" Screamed Mrs. Grayson as she stormed out the door. She and her almost ex-husband wre attempting to settle their divorce with Lawyer Kefner. Mr. Kefner was running short on patience with the Grayson after days and days of negotiation with no end in sight. "I give up! What am I supposed to do if you two aren't going to cooperate?" He said. The next morning, the couple arrived very worn and tired from obvious arguments. They spent another session without getting anything done. However, both of the upset parties agreed that Mr. Kefner had been no help. They left his office with their files and drove to the highway. It was about five or six o'clock and the highway was packed. But before they left his office, they forced him into the backseat and blindfolded him. The couple worked together for the first time in months and threw the files across the highway as well as pushing Mr. Kefner out of the car. The lawyer frantically ran across that highway with his blindfold on to get the files. The couple was able to reunited and bond in their mutual enjoyment of taunting the lawyer.
The World is Calling
Don't cry, baby girl,
The world's in front of you.
So much to see,
Don't close your eyes.
Don't hide.
Open up,
The world is calling.
Girl
Break my heart.
Just do it.
You know that will make you happy.
I'm just a girl.
Only a girl.
Torn to Pieces
I miss you more than anything.
When you left, you took a part of me.
I'm not the same and I never will be.
I want you to come back.
I know you can't.
You are better off.
I'm just torn,
Torn to pieces.
Gone
I'm in pain.
I've been destroyed.
What happened to the little girl who was always smiling?
She is gone.
I am gone.
I don't belong here.
Why can't I disappear?
Untitled
Broken soul
Lying alone
Abandoned by a heartless body
No love
No comfort
Just broken
From Emmi
Summer Storm - Haiku
Gusts quicken, leaves turn,
branches shimmy as trees bend,
first fat drops appear.
Whistle, rumble, wet,
no horizon, darkened world
downpour consumes day.
Warm filtered brightness,
steam rises from the pavement,
gray returns to green.
Gusts quicken, leaves turn,
branches shimmy as trees bend,
first fat drops appear.
Whistle, rumble, wet,
no horizon, darkened world
downpour consumes day.
Warm filtered brightness,
steam rises from the pavement,
gray returns to green.
Zach's Word Poem
THE WRITTEN WORD
It happend quite recently.
you may not of herd.
of a group as spectaculare.
as the written word
every day we would wake .
exactly at seven .
and fall asleep .
somewhere near elleven.
despite breakfast lunch and dinner .
we all seemed to grow thinner.
with swim time and ropes both high and low .
the bond between us did grow.
and mosts nights .
in our journales we would write .
and have prayer with josh and emmy.
who touched soo many.
It happend quite recently.
you may not of herd.
of a group as spectaculare.
as the written word
every day we would wake .
exactly at seven .
and fall asleep .
somewhere near elleven.
despite breakfast lunch and dinner .
we all seemed to grow thinner.
with swim time and ropes both high and low .
the bond between us did grow.
and mosts nights .
in our journales we would write .
and have prayer with josh and emmy.
who touched soo many.
From Britt
Dream
Make a wish
Grab a star
Dream bigger than ever before
Nothing is impossible
Light
Bright sky.
Wondering why.
I am not in the mood for this.
Rain, fall loud,Just a big gray cloud.
Help me see the light,
Just once.
Untitled
Open me from this black.
Color my world again.
I can't take this attack.
Bring me back.
Not me, but before.
I still cry.
It still hurts.
I hope you know that.
Rock By the Stream
Rushing water
Wind blows through my hair
Nothing, yet everything
Solitude at first glance
But never truly alone
Make a wish
Grab a star
Dream bigger than ever before
Nothing is impossible
Light
Bright sky.
Wondering why.
I am not in the mood for this.
Rain, fall loud,Just a big gray cloud.
Help me see the light,
Just once.
Untitled
Open me from this black.
Color my world again.
I can't take this attack.
Bring me back.
Not me, but before.
I still cry.
It still hurts.
I hope you know that.
Rock By the Stream
Rushing water
Wind blows through my hair
Nothing, yet everything
Solitude at first glance
But never truly alone
Monday, July 14, 2008
From Amber
RESIDING FEARS
I fear not death, for I have come to peace with the fact that I must go.
However, my fear resides in my death impacting the lives of those around me.
My faith survives not on proof and sight,
but rather on belief without seeing.
I want my life to be judged not by where I am when I die,
but the sacrifices made to get there.
With every breath I take,
I don’t fear it will be my last,
but I fear the amends not made if it is.
The dark does not frighten me,
but rather the absence of light.
A world with hatred does not scare me,
but instead,
a world vacant of love
I fear not death, for I have come to peace with the fact that I must go.
However, my fear resides in my death impacting the lives of those around me.
My faith survives not on proof and sight,
but rather on belief without seeing.
I want my life to be judged not by where I am when I die,
but the sacrifices made to get there.
With every breath I take,
I don’t fear it will be my last,
but I fear the amends not made if it is.
The dark does not frighten me,
but rather the absence of light.
A world with hatred does not scare me,
but instead,
a world vacant of love
From Emmi
High-Rise Viscera
Most opt for elevators
with effortless rides, soft music, crisp
corners and lustrous knobs.
I choose the stairs.
Layers of thick gray paint hastily applied –
dripped dry - shiny lumps that grate
my fingers as I climb, my hand
slides along the rail past pipes
and valves in shadowed corners.
Colorless, barren, overlooked,
this place is vibrant – a connection
between worlds - the center – windowless,
bright with eerie fluorescence. Sound
bounces - bare cinderblock and steel. My
oxford-clad footsteps rebound
from floors, ceilings, steps.
Smells and sounds drift, mingle,
linger – popcorn burns on floor three,
wafts from basement to roof – a cart
squeaks down the hallway of two - heard
distinctly on the landing of six.
A door creaks open - not
seen, yet close somehow.
I am not alone –
another clicks stilettos
through a flight of stale air, opens
a numbered exit and disappears.
I turn a handle and step back
into a scene of smooth peach
papered walls, muted blue industrial
carpet and delicate landscaping
seen through large glass panes.
Most opt for elevators
with effortless rides, soft music, crisp
corners and lustrous knobs.
I choose the stairs.
Layers of thick gray paint hastily applied –
dripped dry - shiny lumps that grate
my fingers as I climb, my hand
slides along the rail past pipes
and valves in shadowed corners.
Colorless, barren, overlooked,
this place is vibrant – a connection
between worlds - the center – windowless,
bright with eerie fluorescence. Sound
bounces - bare cinderblock and steel. My
oxford-clad footsteps rebound
from floors, ceilings, steps.
Smells and sounds drift, mingle,
linger – popcorn burns on floor three,
wafts from basement to roof – a cart
squeaks down the hallway of two - heard
distinctly on the landing of six.
A door creaks open - not
seen, yet close somehow.
I am not alone –
another clicks stilettos
through a flight of stale air, opens
a numbered exit and disappears.
I turn a handle and step back
into a scene of smooth peach
papered walls, muted blue industrial
carpet and delicate landscaping
seen through large glass panes.
From Zach
BLISTERD FEATHERS
a blisterd drama...
a smoldering past...
feathers of truth...
not to last...
this truth
this truth...
threatend to blow round...
got to find
to find...
my feet.....
before i fall down
STEEL COLD KISSES
weapons made from kisses
steel in the form of words
and tears are falling
but alls fair in love and war
and now i see
the truth in your lies
but why.... does this come as such a surprise
INSANITY
insanity...
you may call me insane but is there trully somthing wroung with me ?
you may call me different
but am i so different from the minority?
you may call me odd weird the filth of humanity but how dare you question my sanity!
you have no right! no grounds! to call me insane not when the plighyt of humanity loams directly infront of your pomtchouse face... a
nd yet you do nothing ....
with full capabillity to act to respaund you do nothing ....
when some1s in pain ... you do nothing
when you see the lines of tears apon your freinds faces you ignore them
when you see a thing of beauty a precious thing something to be cherished you walk away
when some1s new you stray awaye when some1s freindy you ask your self why?
and when some1 refusses to stay in the so called high arcky that is life you deem your self fite to put them in there place?
worst of all through all of these tragic truths you sit there quiet doing nothing just sitting there ore worse aflicting humanity with your actions
your so called actions that make up the wroungs of the world yet unseen through your clouded eyes
now even though i know you've past the stage where you had the capabillity to feell emotion for another human being
another liveing breatheing soul i want you to try
i want you to try for some remourse
some caring
and some action to replace the filthy years you have spent rotting in your mothers basement believing the bs thats been portrayed as the written word of cultchure
i want you to try..
to love
to care
to respect
i want you to pray...
pray for your own souls sake and for the souls of every liveing thing that you dared to deminish with the discusting state of your heart and though
i want you to try
i want you to try
i want you to try.......
and i want you to see that there is no such thing as insanity
a blisterd drama...
a smoldering past...
feathers of truth...
not to last...
this truth
this truth...
threatend to blow round...
got to find
to find...
my feet.....
before i fall down
STEEL COLD KISSES
weapons made from kisses
steel in the form of words
and tears are falling
but alls fair in love and war
and now i see
the truth in your lies
but why.... does this come as such a surprise
INSANITY
insanity...
you may call me insane but is there trully somthing wroung with me ?
you may call me different
but am i so different from the minority?
you may call me odd weird the filth of humanity but how dare you question my sanity!
you have no right! no grounds! to call me insane not when the plighyt of humanity loams directly infront of your pomtchouse face... a
nd yet you do nothing ....
with full capabillity to act to respaund you do nothing ....
when some1s in pain ... you do nothing
when you see the lines of tears apon your freinds faces you ignore them
when you see a thing of beauty a precious thing something to be cherished you walk away
when some1s new you stray awaye when some1s freindy you ask your self why?
and when some1 refusses to stay in the so called high arcky that is life you deem your self fite to put them in there place?
worst of all through all of these tragic truths you sit there quiet doing nothing just sitting there ore worse aflicting humanity with your actions
your so called actions that make up the wroungs of the world yet unseen through your clouded eyes
now even though i know you've past the stage where you had the capabillity to feell emotion for another human being
another liveing breatheing soul i want you to try
i want you to try for some remourse
some caring
and some action to replace the filthy years you have spent rotting in your mothers basement believing the bs thats been portrayed as the written word of cultchure
i want you to try..
to love
to care
to respect
i want you to pray...
pray for your own souls sake and for the souls of every liveing thing that you dared to deminish with the discusting state of your heart and though
i want you to try
i want you to try
i want you to try.......
and i want you to see that there is no such thing as insanity
From Steev
Welcome to the blog of the Written Word
The time is now, let your mind be heard
It starts with a thought, a trickle or two
Then picking up speed, let the words spew
Once and again, the lines they come
Growing and flowing, like the beat of a drum
You can't stop it now, it's already to late
Creativity takes over, begins painting your slate
Longer and stronger the story does grow
It bobs and weaves, like a basketball pro
It twists and turns like a fairytale should
The plot gets thicker, man this is good
The climax is here, what will take place
Do the bad guys run? Do the cops give chase?
Only you can decide, this is your story
So submit your magnum opus in all of its glory
Emmi and Josh, will post your work
This is the time to write, don't just lurk
And thank the lord every day,
For the Written Word, is here to stay!
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