It's going to be an Obama Christmas

The policies of the federal government have trickled down to the lowest levels and now they have reached me.  I am looking at an Obama Christmas this year.  We now have trickle down poverty brought to us from the highest office of the land.  Hang up your stockings with visions of food stamp cards dancing in your heads.  Instead of snow piles we have deficit spending piling up around us.  And this year Santa looks a lot like Obama, he laughs and says "Blame George Bush" instead of "Ho Ho Ho".  The sleigh has been replaced by the Chevy Volt built by Government Motors.  But it has been catching on fire so make sure you don't leave any toys in it.  Well, if there were any toys that is- seems all the money went to subsidize solar energy companies that went bankrupt shortly after getting the money.  But that's OK because we have plenty of gasoline, at 4 bucks a gallon I guess it isn't selling as fast as it used to.  At least we still have public transit on the East coast so people don't have to buy that expensive gas.  Well we did until Hurricane Sandy.  But that was good because it gives Obama another quick chance to show how much he cares by promising a few hundred billion or so dollars for reconstruction right before the election.  Not too sure where this money is coming from, but certainly the 1%'ers can afford it.  So before I head on down to the unemployment office to see if I can get an extension, let me wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! --Rick Momney.

PS don't forget to vote for my good friend Mitt Romney on election day!

God's story not our story

When we took Daniel back to Wheaton College in early August for the football kick off meeting and dinner Coach Swider gave his inspirational start of the season talk.  He talked about the difference in "our story" and "God's story".

He said one year when the football team took its annual missions trip to Senegal, a young Senegalese boy was so impressed with the team that he decided to get enrolled and accepted at Wheaton so he could be on the team too.  Coach said he didn't know how his family did it, they were not well off, but he got accepted, came to Wheaton and joined the team.  He wasn't a good football player so he never played in a single game, but he was on the team for four years  and while he was here he became engaged to be married.

The day before the wedding, the young man was running on the sports track at Wheaton and he fell down and died immediately.  I'm guessing he had a bad heart.  The father was in route from Senegal at the time to attend the wedding and when he arrived he found that instead of attending his son's wedding the next day he would be attending his son's funeral.

The Coach was just heartbroken and could not imagine the sorrow the father would feel when he arrived and was told what had happened.  At the memorial service for the young man, the Coach talked to the father and this is what the father said.

We have a story for our lives, we make plans and carry them out to live our our story.  God also has a story for our lives, and in the end it is God's story that prevails.  And this was God's story for my son's life.

These sad events in the life of this family from Senegal impresses me first of the faith and trust that the father of the boy displayed in accepting God's will in his son's death.  Secondly it made me think of the story of Calvary Church.  I remember how we moved into the new location with high hopes and great expectations 12 years ago.  How we collectively had "our story" for Calvary Church.  We anticipated great growth in the size of our congregation. There were plans for future additions of a worship center, church offices, nurseries, adding more classrooms, even the hope someday of senior and missionary housing.  The hopes were high and well meaning.  But this was not to be "God's story" for Calvary Church.  God's story has us leaving the new location with all of the hopes and plans it had entailed and sharing a building with a gracious group of believers on the other side of town.

So we leave "our story" behind but like the father of the Senegalese boy, we go with faith and trust that this is "God's story" for our Church.  We go knowing that God's has changed us to be more of a servant Church to the world than a Church to serve ourselves,  We are more aware of our need to love the world we are called to minister to rather than to love the pleasures this world has to offer.  We have learned that we must love our fellow members and not let division separate us again.

We are saddened by the loss of "our story", but we know that in the end it is "God's story" that prevails and we want to be as much a part of His story as we can be.  May His story and our story blend together into a beautiful story.

A dying man's request

Please take me to the window though my eyes are getting dim
I want to look for Jesus 'cause I've got some faith in Him

I want to see His blazing eyes inset in radiant skin
with flowing hair that shimmers from the fire He has within

I want to see His brilliant horse as it gallops through the sky
with Jesus riding on it's back together do they fly!

I want to see His robe of white as it dazzles in the sun
see it flowing out behind him as the horse begins to run

I want to see the secret name Jesus has across His thigh
my poor old eyes will strain to read it in the moment that I die

Put me by that window for my hearing's not so well
When I see my Jesus coming I want to hear what He will tell

Though His visage is like lightning His voice will sound so sweet
He will call my name softly and I'll stand up on my feet

Then my body will go weightless as I leave this world of care
He will swoop me up upon his horse, no saddle- we ride it bare!

I will wrap my arms around him and embrace his warm strong chest
we'll fly through countless galaxies not till Heaven do we rest

So doctor stop the morphine I want my mind to clear
when my Jesus comes to get me I want to know when he is near

I heard the doctor talking to the nurses in the hall
how the old man in this room isn't doing well at all

Then my family came to see me for one final tearful look
and it's got me thinking strongly of the things in God's good book

Please move me to the window cause this earth is getting dim
I want to see my Jesus I just want to be with Him

Good and Evil as I know it

How Evil lurked and hide from view

Amongst the Good I never knew

I can’t comprehend the fact

the light of Good didn’t push it back

and shine so brightly on the Evil

that a creature some call Devil

could quietly amass an army

a third of Heaven he was charming

Was the Good all knowing Being

acting like he wasn’t seeing?

so when the rebellion on him was thrust

the Good would  know who he could trust?

Then with a sweeping fiery hand

the Good flung out this evil band

The Devil streaked across the sky

a burning comet he did fly

his angels followed close behind

like falling stars of every kind

They landed on a barren Earth

before the Good had given it worth

they set up camp and all they had

was cursing Good and praising Bad

In time their focus came to be

upon a garden with a tree

a new creation there was formed

and most intriguing- Man was born

Created from the dust of Earth

Man breathed the breath of Good at first

Good loved the Man, the Man loved Good

They walked the garden in brotherhood

Evil eavesdropped near the garden

-never looking for a pardon

He planned to strike again some day

but harder stronger was his way

and now the thought that Man and Woman

could join his fight to conquer Heaven

filled the Evil one with glee

He tripped them up so wickedly

soon they were cursing Good with him

not knowing they were chained to sin

they thought that they were more alive

enlightened now they were so wise

The Good was taken back by Man-

Not one bit! Good had a plan

a daring rescue fueled by love

was coming down from Good above

The Good would send his very Son

to rescue Man- restore the one

whom he had formed from dust of Earth

and breathed in him his breath at first

So the Son came from the Good

He lived and loved just like he should

Evil told his wicked band

"let's kill the Son and ruin the Plan"

Evil danced upon the grave

of the Son who was so brave

the ground beneath the tomb did shake

the Evil one began to quake

the stone that once had sealed the dead

rolling- struck the the Evil's head

From that time and from that tomb

the Light of Good on Earth resumed

Evil saw the risen Son

but wouldn't believe the battle's done

he went on with wounded head

a crippled serpent not yet dead

he keeps charming Man to sin

His unlocked prisons keep Man in

He chains  to sin, he chains to pride

he chains man to worldly knowledge glorified

the love of money, power, pleasure

keep the Man from  finding true treasure

-which is the Son's redemption from above

the only way to restore love

between the Good and Man you see

is to come to Good on bended knee

and humbly turn from Evil's way

live like the Son by faith each day

Like a dove the Good sends down

a Spirit of Himself around

to settle in amongst the Men

who dare to leave the Evil's den

this Spirit teaches Man the way

of love and truth by gentle sway

these new Good Men they lurch and jerk

for in them both Evil and Good work

but mostly upward do they climb

seeking for the Good sublime

traveling to a higher ground

reaching for a Heavenly crown

a hope that doesn't fade away

but also isn't clear as day

But Evil still is plotting war

Hording dead more and more

for someday battle lines will form

when Evil once again will storm

the Good of Heaven to overthrow

with resurrected dead from below

rotting bodies he will patch

together pieces- no need to match

He'll give them life enough to move

but not enough to think or love

those who don't love the Son

are force to fight for the Evil one

this zombie army he will lead

against the Son on brilliant stead

The Son in shining robe of white

will lead his Faithful to the fight

the Faithful have no need to fear

the battle front will not come near

the Son will simply need to say

words of truth to Evil slay

then Evil will long last be dead

a blow of truth will crush his head

Evil's captives next will die

their second death- how sad they cry

The Faithful look at Good again

and know at last he is their friend

but Evil first had to be banished

before the healing could be finished

with no gulf between the Man and Good

they'll live in sinless brotherhood

once again the Man will breathe

the breath of Good and Man will leave

all pain and sorrow far behind

and enter into endless time.

I didn't buy a gift this year

I didn't buy a gift this year
as Mother's day came near.

I didn't join the shopping throng
because this year my Mom is gone.

I didn't have to try to buy
a gift that passed her frugal eye.

No need to lie about the price
to make Mom think the gift was nice.

For she would fret and stew
if dollars spent were more than few.

So now that game is at an end
of buying and lying and pretend.

Do you think since Mom's not here
she could be causing trouble there?

Would she say the Streets of Gold
are too costly? Has God been told?

Would the Feast of Celebration
find her threatening starvation?

Food that comes from Heaven's deli
is too rich for her poor belly.

She prefers the Dollar Store
-better prices -get lots more.

Would she feast on gingersnaps
and save her money for some tacks
to hang some funny little things
in a palace built for kings?

Puzzled angels look to see
bright fake flowers by a tree.

And what's that hanging from a branch?
a Halloween ghost?  Not a chance!

-But that's what it looks like the angel said
it must be a hanging robe, but- why does it have a head?

So we make adjustments here
because we lost our Mother dear.
 
They also make adjustments there
to fit Mom in and show they care.

Now if you die and go to heaven
and see a clock stuck on eleven
You will know it came about
Cuz Mom wouldn't let them throw it out.

The wine and feasts won't taste the same
as they did before she came
the food keeps heating on the stove
Mom says it never will get old.

The robes of white she has to dye
to match the shoes she had to buy

So if you think that Heaven's worse
then what you thought that it would be
it's all because Mom got there first
and set in place austerity.

I really do have a hobby

All my adult life I have been painfully aware that unlike other men, I have been hobby less. From my 20's to the 50's I have seen my friends, relatives and acquaintances hunt, fish, ride motorcycles, race cars, collect stamps, guns or knives. Some have become fans to college and professional sports teams. But alas, there was never a hobby that worked for me.

But I have good news now! It finally came to me that I DO have a hobby and I have been busy with my hobby for years. I just never called it a hobby.

My hobby I finally realized, is that I buy used cars that I think are roadworthy vehicles that will require little more than gas and oil to sustain them for years of trouble free driving only to find that my vehicle of choice no matter what color when I buy it quickly starts to turn a bright shade of lemon yellow as soon as it is parked in my driveway.

So then the fun begins- I've replaced many engines, transmissions, drive axles, brakes, and even fuel pumps that can only be removed after the gas tank is dropped out of the vehicle- a special treat for anyone who has not been initiated in removing rusty gas tanks.

Not only have I spent countless hours pursuing my hobby, but I have spent thousands of dollars also. This hobby is not for the faint of heart or the pauper.

Some would say I should just buy better cars- but then what would I do with all my idle time and where would I spend all my excess money? This hobby has filled my life with physical and financial challenges. What more could I ask?

Now, Daniel is coming home soon, I just keep thinking that the little blue 1989 Volvo DL240 that is sitting at Joe's junkyard would be a great summer car for him. I think it would be very reliable....

Three Angels came last night

Angels came into Mom's room last night,
They'd come a long way—were a terrible sight.

Jesus had sent them to bring home His child,
But the Devil was watching and he was just wild.

He strutted and danced and pounded his chest,
He cussed and swore and was doing his best,

To keep them from passing and getting the one,
That Jesus had told them was weary for home.

"She's mine! she's mine! I'm taking her home!"
He shrieked and the words chilled to the bone.

"Look at her body! Look at her face!
she's crippled and gnarled she belongs in my place!"

"I've worked long and hard for death and disease!
Don't rob me now of the prize I will seize!"

They fought him and wrestled—that Devil is strong.
The three of them battled him half the night long.

Finally, so weary they took out the Book,
To show him her name, the Devil wouldn’t look.

With clawed fingers he grasped at the pages to tear,
He wickedly flailed in raging despair.

"I hate those words-they mean nothing to me!
Only what I say is how it will be!"

They pulled back the book away from his grasp,
Then the three of them painted a scene from the past.

The Devil, he howled and he covered his face,
He saw they had painted the Cross and God’s grace.

They told him again how he’d acted that day,
Long ago when he thought he had captured his prey.

How he'd strutted and cursed and screamed, “Christ is dead!”
…til the stone rolled away, crushing his head.

With that- the Angel's words held him at bay;
and once they had passed he slithered away.

Soon they arrived from their long delayed flight,
Weary and worn from a terrible fight.

We let them come in—our Mother had died,
While they had been fighting, we’d prayed by her side.

They brushed off their robes and straightened their wings,
And said not to worry about anything.

Soon they were busy with flowers and jewels,
They fashioned it all without any tools.

Some how they made her pretty again,
With flowing black hair and baby soft skin.

With flowers and jewels woven into the robe
she was all the more beautiful sight to behold.

They lifted her gently, for she was asleep,
To take her to Jesus, the first one to meet.

After that meeting she’d see all the rest,
And be with them there forever and blessed.

We thanked the dear angels and fell to our knees,
They quickly said, “Stop! Don’t worship us, please!”

Then they painted a scene of the Cross and God’s grace,
And gently took Mother asleep from her place.

We kissed her goodbye with tears on our face,
and watched as it seemed they just vanished in space.

Then turning our gaze to the Cross and God's grace
We said "Thank you Lord Jesus" with uplifted face.

Mom

I watched you live
I watched you die
I saw the things that made you cry

When I was just a little boy-
always wanting some new toy
you took me to the Goodwill store
for there your money bought you more
But more than shopping for a toy
for you the outing brought some joy

Potatoes peeled each day to cook
was it a bushel that it took?
from steaming pots with mismatched lids
came endless meals for hungry kids

And laundry running wild it seemed
you tamed it with an old machine
I stood by the wringer tub
my hand upon the spinning hub
Thus whiled away the lazy day
till kids came home from school to play

But Mom, you wanted us to nap
And I could never see
the reason why a napping you
required a napping me

You had a goodness and a charm
that kept your tongue from doing harm
What others learned in God’s good book
you seemed to know without a look

Time went on you lived a life
the ups the downs some fun some strife
Most things in you I saw and learned
while other things I vowed to spurn

A funny thing this sneaky life
some things we spurn we end up like
So part of you is part of me
no matter how I want to be
But there is one thing I can say
in which I went the other way
This statement I will say to you
because I know that it is true-

My children watched me live
someday they’ll watch me die
but Mom you have to know-
they didn’t see me cry