Following God

Following God
By Larry Linville
O, Abraham,
you are comfortable in Ur
with family, possessions and friends.
Security blesses all your life
and your prosperity never ends.
Interruption enters your life
and to an unknown land you must go.
To a place you’ve never heard of
and a destination God will show.

O Moses,
you’ve run away from your people
to a distant land you herd some sheep.
Your back is turned on your family
and there is no way you hear them weep.
Interruption enters your life
in the form of a bush that is strange.
Go back to Pharoah to speak for God
and follow Him now for a change.

O Fishermen,
you’ve spent all your life on the sea
just fishing and mending your nets.
You really don’t have a future
and your life will just end with regrets.
Interruption enters your life
as a kind looking man walks the shore
“Come fish for humans,” he calls to you
“and your life will be blessed to the core.”

O Christian,
you may be wandering through life
spending self on things that don’t last.
Your candle may be going out
as you’re trying to live in the past.
Interruption enters your life
as you get up and follow the Lord.
You find that in serving others
the fullness of your life is restored.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

The Majestic Heavens

The Majestic Heavens
By Larry Linville

I stood in my yard in the dark of night
through the darkness I saw the stars so bright.
They shined in the same place the were before
hanging in beauty for me to adore.

They were in the same place where David peered
--a sight that little shepherd boy revered.
He used the word “majestic” to express
deep feelings he felt compelled to profess.

The awesome sight displayed something so new
as the lights of a flying plane flew through
and I waited some more on that crisp night
as across the sky flew a satellite.

What are we humans that God cares for us
even though we seem to fight and to fuss?
You’ve made us a little lower than You
and accepted our imitations too.

“When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place-- What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them?” Psalm 8: 3-4


© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Old Gospel Singers

Old Gospel Singers
By Larry Linville

Watching gospel singers with smiles on every face
looking very happy-- singing at rapid pace.
The joy they sing about is not for us today
It is waiting for the day that we all pass away.

This world is not my home I’m just a passing through
My treasures and my hopes are all beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

I love gospel music it’s always served me well
But Jesus promised joy in this world where we dwell
God’s joy is for today for those who follow him
Serving others fills our cup clear up to the brim.

O Lord you know I have no friend like you
If Heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

This world is now my home I’m not just passing through
My treasures grow right here when I share God’s love with you.
Serving other people gives joy to us galore
And we can feel at home in this world all the more.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Never Too Old

Never Too Old
By Larry Linville

For most of my life I did all I could
to work for peace, for hope and brotherhood.
I gave every effort my very best
and tried to leave other’s lives fully blessed.
I believed, down deep, there would come a day
when my life had said all it had to say.
I could retire and take my needed rest
with contentment proudly filling my breast.

At this time God gave me a new thesis --
we’re never too old to work for Jesus.
As I prepared to just let my life coast
without any desire to brag and boast
about the successful things I had done
just trying to live as a loving son
God brought from my life an inactive seed
to write poetry for others to read.

Although my story may seem to be small
God plans to use it together with all
who also use their story to proclaim
by generous actions done in His name.
Though poetry was given late to me
I’ll spend it on others since it came free.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Pearl Harbor And Me

Pearl Harbor and Me
Larry Linville

Her young face had that special glow
She counted the days ‘til the birth.
Six months down and three more to go
As her stomach increased in girth.

Her twenty-first birthday was near
Their first baby was on the way
Shocking news was soon to occur
On that dreadful Pearl Harbor day.

Did her brother survive that day
The news was so slow to arrive
How long would it be ‘til she heard
The word that he was still alive?

Stress effects the body they say.
How did it make her body stir?
And how much did this stress impact
that little baby inside her?

That answer we may never know
And probably will never see
No matter what the answer is
It has placed its impact on me.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Wanting

Wanting
By Larry Linville

Wanting something too much
is the best way of losing it.

Your obsession with it
leads you to abusing it.

Check your motivation
in your choosing it.

Hanging on too tight
might cause your bruising it.

Your sense of values may
cause your confusing it.

“Those who try to make their life secure will lose it,
but those who lose their life will keep it.” Luke 17:33 (NRSV)

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Hope Shattered

I have made a big announcement about getting a book published. After this announcement was made, I learned some things about the publisher which are not good. I'm searching for another publisher, so I still have hope. When I learned of the problems, I wrote the following poem.

Hope Shattered
By Larry Linville

I fell from a very high shelf last night
much higher than I've ever been before.
I started out under the bottom shelf
lying comfortably there on the floor.

My life was going along so plain
Then I wrote a poem six months ago.
It was about an old gray metal desk
I was surprised how the words seemed to flow

As a pastor I seldom wrote a verse
just some sermons for nearly fifty years.
They have heard a lot of prose as I preached
but no poem had touched on any ears.

One after one every reader approved
giving me more confidence in my self.
As the compliments began to amass
I would climb up to yet a higher shelf.

The view felt great as I looked from above.
A publisher’s mail brought me great delight.
They’d publish the book – how hard to believe!
As I weightlessly soared up to that height.

A helpful friend I have trusted so much
delivered the words I needed to hear
which brought me down from my roost on that shelf.
Things are not always the way they appear.

Today I stumble back down on the floor
I’ve tried my broken spirit to gather.
I’m not defeated and I won’t give in
I’m already in search for another.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

My Cousin, Carol

My Cousin, Carol
By Larry Linville

Our family was doing without
during those days of war.
The things which they could not ration
were valued so much more.

Into this stark world of turmoil
two babies came to live
in a world where death brought it’s pain
we were both here to give

I came first but you joined me soon
as the center of life
and just by our very presence
we helped during their strife.

A special bond was established
and we had no control
as we took our place in this world
we were joined in our soul.

Through the years we have been parted
by distance but not heart
so when we have been together
it was like we’d not been apart.

So I sit here on your birthday
wondering what to do
I think I am going to thank God
For someone special – you!

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

The Scrap Book In Your Head

The Scrap Book In Your Head
By Larry Linville

I’ve watched as people use their skills
and go to classes and workshops
to master the ancient yet new pastime – a hobby –
we call it scrap booking.

It used to be a simple task
to throw some pictures in a book.
No preparation, no planning, no special art
just fit those pictures on a page
and glue them in.
We learned to write a line on each page
identify the persons, places, and times,
to help us when we look back years later
with the question, “Who’s that?”

I've watched as the scrap bookers have mastered the skills
and have made their books more attractive
with the beautiful borders and brilliant colors
to enliven the treasures left by memories of the days gone by.

Then I recall another scrap book that is personal beyond compare.
It’s a book that you can’t show to others
because it’s there in your head.
This scrapbook doesn’t have a fancy cover
and it doesn’t have special pages.
It’s tucked away in your fabulous mind
and it’s contents never changes.

Those special events that you share with someone
be it family and stranger or friend
are suspended in time and space
and you can turn to them when
you need to recover to a treasure
that will never end.

This scrap book doesn’t need all the colors and shapes
because they’re already filled to the brim.
You can see each event in all of its color
and even hear the words very clear.

So when you are blue and you need to recall
the treasures you’ve had in your life.
Just sit down and open the book in your brain
and thank God for giving you so perfectly
the scrapbook you have in your head.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Birth Of A Song

The band at North Star sang a song this morning which touched me in a special way. I sent some words to our song leader and she put them to music --- making the needed changes to find the music. I heard it for the first time this morning and the only way I could express myself was with these words:

Birth Of A Song
By Larry Linville

Anticipation was high
I could hardly wait
to hear a song for the first time.
I was new at poetry
but its reward were many
and now I took a new risk
to test the limits.
My pastor’s new series announced --
a challenge I tried to resist
I wrote a few words
then I put them away
but something just kept tugging
at my vulnerability.
I took that big step --
the words were sent
to a friend who understood music.
She could have laughed
at my childish attempt but instead
she searched for a tune.
An invitation to be there
as they worked on the song
was declined because of a previous call.
So this morning I sat there
with my pulse speeding up.
I soon would hear that song.
The announcement was made
how this song came to be
my pressure continued to climb.
The intro was played
and the tune filled the air
as joy made my heart flutter
and my eyes started to tear
something was happening
which I would never have dreamed.
I felt as if God was filling me
with the love Jesus spoke of so many times
and the Spirit gave new life
to this spirit of mine.
There’s no way to express
what this did for me
except to write these words
for others to see.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

The Donkey And His Cross

The Donkey and His Cross
By Larry Linville

(based on the Legend of the “Little Gray Donkey.”)

A story is told many years ago.
It is a legend I think you should know.
A little gray donkey gave Mary a ride
as Joseph walked bravely right by her side

Bethlehem was where they both had to go
And the donkey had to struggle so slow.
He traveled with very much donkey pride
for the treasure Mary carried inside.

That donkey’s descendant wasn’t so calm
as he bore Christ on the day of the palm.
He saw people cheer and he saw them shout
as he followed the Jerusalem route.

Later in the week he was standing near
on Calvary’s hill and he heard them jeer.
His heart was sad and it ached to the core
knowing he had not fulfilled his chore

The cross wasn’t something for Christ to bear.
He reasoned “I should have carried it there.”
He grieved as he turned his back to the sight
and bowed his head as he felt so contrite.

In honor of his loyalty and love
Christ looked on him from his perch up above.
He caused a shadow to fall on his back
to leave an image of the darkest black

If you look at a gray donkey today
you’ll notice this honor is there to stay
as a mark to remind us of the great love
which that donkey received from God above.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Singing Unacompanied

Singing unaccompanied
By Larry Linville

A soloist stood up to sing
so beautifully his voice would ring
unaccompanied and error free
his voice so crisp and right on the key.

The audience just sat to admire
‘til a truck passed going to a fire --
siren was in a different pitch
and it caused his untrained ear to switch.

Most hadn’t caught what it was about
then outside they heard a person shout
you guessed it – he changed key once again
which was noticed by most of the men.

It seemed smooth sailing until a clock
chimed and produced still another shock
by this time the people were aware
and each one of them started to stare.

Before he finished singing the song
he knew that he had sung much to long,
he had to drop his voice very low
when the old fog horn began to blow.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

The Heat Wave

The Heat Wave
By Larry Linville

Like a mighty army
the air conditioning compressors
sound their struggling cadence.
With each laboring step
their rhythm struggles
to maintain the same tempo
as if they can barely stay together.
Thermal weapons
emit hot winds
like the blast from a fiery furnace.
One wonders if the dryness
of everything within sight
is approaching its kindling point.

Day by day the marching
increases to the decibels of war
and the steam from the weapons
give a haze to the cloudless skies.
Dust from the parched earth
blends with the perspiration
on our wrinkled brows
giving us the appearance of
soldiers returning from the battlefield.

The icy water we consume
quickly seeps through our pour
sand seems to shout
“more water, please.”
The white flags of surrender
are the handerchiefs
which have long ago become soaked.

Experience tells me
this too shall pass.
The school busses will arrive
with horns sounding like the bugles
of the rescuing cavalry
chasing off the enemy.
The bouncing footballs at high schools
under Friday night lights
join with the bright colored leaves
which will soon drop to the ground.

All of this reminds us
of the changing seasons
both of climate and of life.
The Creator established order
to this magnificent handiwork
which continually sings praises
to its God.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).

All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work

It Seems Like Yesterday

It Seems Like Yesterday
By Larry Linville

I went to a funeral the other day
and watched as the minister stood up to pray.
My mind was transported back some forty years
When we both were young bucks among all our peers.
During the years so many things have transpired.
Now we both are listed among those retired
It was so long ago but it seems like yesterday

I had waited all my life to attend school.
That was long before it was “in” to say “cool!”
My teacher was scheduled to stop to get me
so I was waiting out in front by a tree.
In the distance her car appeared to my eye
but she just waved and smiled as she drove right by.
It was so long ago but it seems like yesterday.

The day of my wedding had at last arrived.
That terrible rehearsal I had survived.
I shopped everywhere all morning to acquire
a replacement spare for my odd-sized flat tire.
Then the maid of honor was running so late
that we tried to decide how long we could wait
It was so long ago but it seems like yesterday.

Today is a new page in your book of life.
Events which seem simple may someday be rife.
Time will pass quickly but seem to pass so slow
like yeast at work in a rising loaf of dough.
Someday you’ll sit there as you slow down your pace
and recall these things with a smile on your face.
It was so long ago but it seems like yesterday.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.