Friday, November 30, 2007

Nativity -- The Donkey

Nativity – The Donkey
By Larry Linville

The journey had been quite a quest
with little time to stop and rest.
A precious cargo on my back
and now we’re in this little shack.
I was told she would birth a king
but I don’t understand this thing.
A king should in a palace be
not with some animals like me.
I sat beside the mom and child
and when I looked at him I smiled.
I had carried them all the way
so he could be born on this day.
I carried the Lord, it is true
and through your life he’ll carry you.
Although I lived so long ago
I feel my efforts help you grow.
Of all donkeys to give the ride
I celebrate with greatest pride.
Next time you hear a donkey bray
remember it’s our way to pray

© 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.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Nativity -- The Cat and the Dog

Nativity – The Cat and the Dog
By Larry Linville

The cat and the dog ran down to the barn
to learn more about some new baby yarn.
The inn was full and folks were turned away
but some poor folks in the barn had to stay.
A new born boy was tucked in a manger
and they wanted to see this new stranger.
They entered the stall and looked all around
and tiptoed in so they’d not make a sound.
The new baby slept so calmly inside
while his parents looked on with greatest pride.
The dog licked the hands so dainty and small
as the cat cuddled warmly like a ball
They guarded this place just like a sentry
to give protection with each new entry.
So the cat and the dog who used to fight
cooperated on that Christmas night.

© 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.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Nativity -- The Spider and the Fly

Nativity Stories – The Spider and the Fly
By Larry Linville

The little barn was all astir
something big about to occur.
What would happen they didn’t know
but there was such a special glow.
A spider spun her web on high
trying to catch a great big fly.
The fly saw the web from afar
in the light from a bright new star.
Those enemies did all they could
and acted in the way they should.
Soon a child laid in the manger
making their actions seem stranger.
The spider used her spinning skills
to spin some decoration frills.
She wanted to fancy the place
to adorn this new special grace.
The fly flew right along beside
to be the spider’s special guide.
Their project gave a special beauty
Made from love and not from duty
This one time weapon was a shrine
Making the barn look very fine
Their project to reach common ends
Caused former foes to become friends

© 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.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Santa Knocks On The Door

Santa Knocks On The Door
By Larry Linville

I’d been in school for only three months
In a one room country school
Light snow covered the wintry ground
And the weather was very cool

The Christmas program was being held
Each student shared a poem or song
Because the enrollment was up that year
The program went very long

When the last recitation was complete
And the teacher took the floor
To thank everyone for being there
We heard a knock at the door

The teacher looked puzzled at this sound
And she looked right back toward me
“Larry, would you go to the door
And see who that could be?”

Honored, I went to the front door
When I opened it I gave pause
And turned and in the loudest voice
And shouted loud, “It’s Santa Claus!”

When things were over some of us kids
Went outside to check out the facts
There was proof right there in the snow
We could see those reindeer and sleigh tracks.

© 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.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Poster Board Nativity

Poster Board Nativity
by Larry Linville

Married just a few months
Christmas drawing near
Student pastor’s salary
Finances were austere
Decorations out of reach
We could cut a cedar tree
But a barren evergreen
Was not a sight to see
A pattern in a hobby book
For a wooden nativity
Gave me a big idea
Of a project nearly free
A piece of poster board
Just plain white will do
We cut out the silhouette
Of Joseph and Mary, too
The manger scene was soon cut out
And scotch taped to the glass
Of our big picture window
For everyone who’d pass
Pull the shade and set a lamp
To outline this event
Mary and husband Joseph
And the baby who was sent
To all the lowly of the earth
To the rich and to the poor
And this handmade project
Became a priceless décor
When school was over
And income finally grew
This homemade simple scene
Was there for all to view
Although we had bright lights
And decorations galore
It was a yearly reminder
Of those precious years before

© 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.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Why Not Happy Holidays?

Why Not Happy Holidays?
By Larry Linville

In days when I was being raised
I felt that God was truly praised
even when we said in a voice so gay
“Have a happy holiday!”

But in our day the word police
have tried to smear this phrase with grease.
They want us to feel you’re an atheist
if you don’t use words on their special list.

Christmas is not just the words we say
but the actions we perform each day.
You can say Xmas and be very giving
and say Christmas and be evil living.

Yuletide should not be an exclusive season.
Respecting others is a very good reason
to widen you greetings to those who say
their generosity in another way.

Happy Hanukah said to Jewish friends
brings good feelings that never ends.
Happy Holidays will cover this too
so you are blessed while blessing a Jew

Happy Holidays at this winter time
should not be thought of as a crime.
It includes Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day
and the other greetings you don’t know how to say.

Can I possibly deny my Jesus and Lord
by spreading peace and love in a word?
Those who complain help bring to an end
the peace on earth and good will to men.

So this year let’s please don’t use Jesus to fight
about words we use on Christmas night.
Let our greetings be more by the actions we take
and allow his love to make us fully awake..

© 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.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Thanksgiving Day Prayer
By Larry Linville

Take a few moments this thanksgiving day
To pray to God in a different way
When you think of the problems you’ve endured
Remember, as well, the good you’ve secured
When your kinfolks gather round the table
Pray for those whose families are unstable
As you see the love your family has shone
Pray for all those who are eating alone
As you see the clothing everyone chose
Pray for those who do not have many clothes
When you’ve eaten plenty and want to shout
Pray for all those who are doing without
When you relax in front of the TV
Pray for workers who protect you and me
Firemen and cops and the soldiers at war
Pray that they soon will be back on our shore
May God fill the void of that empty space
And give them an extra serving of grace
If this was your prayer when you are at rest
I know that you’ve feel how much you’ve been blessed

© 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.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Our First Thanksgiving

I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving and I pray that you will take time to look at all your blessings. You've been blessed so many times this year and you may not have taken time to remember them. There are also those blessed memories from years gone by. I share this poem with the hopes it will help you remember some of those prices times in your live.

Our First Thanksgiving
By Larry Linville

We’d been married in the month of June
And thanksgiving rolled around real soon.
My wife’s family as well as mine
Came to our place for a meal so divine.

On the night before the turkey roasted
For this giant dinner we hosted
The turkey came out all done, good and brown
And with full plates our families sat down.

My clan of nine and wife’s clan of five
Dug in and ate like they’d never survive
There were second helping and sometimes three
As we all enjoyed vast this eating spree

None of our families had much back then
But next year we met and did it again
The years caused yearly this practice to cease
But the memories still bring much peace

Even though our families are apart
That first thanksgiving still fills our heart
We eat our meals though we are parted
But we treasure that one which we started

© 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.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Remembering Mr. Whipple

Remembering Mr. Whipple
By Larry Linville

Dick Wilson, Mr. Whipple of old
Seemed so shy and yet so bold
As he protected that Charmin
From squeezes he though harmin’
He has died after all the years
Perhaps we should shed some tears
As we lift to him our joyous cheers
For commercials that expressed his fears
Let us remember him today
And repeat again what he would say
“Please, don’t squeeze the Charmin, my friend”
If we keep saying this the commercial won’t end
In his honor let us go to the store
Where we have often gone before
And let us stand and make an issue
When someone reaches and squeezes the tissue.

© 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.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Special Thanksgiving Meal

Special Thanksgiving Meal
By Larry Linville

Thanksgivings were meager on our farm.
Never a turkey dinner with its charm.
Nine mouths to feed a chicken dinner.
In those days I was so much thinner.

The duck migration crossed our little farm,
but without a gun we caused them no harm.
One day our father saw a strange new sight.
A duck walked by who was injured in flight.

The hunter hadn’t been very good,
but he provided our thanksgiving food.
My father chased down that injured creature,
knowing he’d be our thanksgiving feature.

We built him a pen in which he could stay,
until the approaching Thanksgiving day.
On this one holiday we were in luck,
our special meal was not chicken—but duck.

© 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

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Jesus Couldn't Be Elected President

Jesus Couldn’t Be Elected President
By Larry Linville

Jesus couldn’t be elected today
His words would not be what we want him to say
Swords into plowshares would not get it done
Turn the other check cause us to run
Since he said nothing to condemn the gays
A lot of voters he’d lose these days
He commuted the sentence of the woman’s stoning
With a effort to bring about a larger atoning
Feeding the hungry was high on his list
But it would get him called a socialist
Our eye-for-an-eye we try to agree
That he would replace with a leftist policy
Loving your enemies just doesn’t work
After all, you don’t know where this scum lurk
If they don’t look and believe just like us
We know he would want us to cuss
Their differences with which we disapprove
And we should make them from our country to move
Although he has changed lives for two thousand years
He can’t bet elected because of our fears
His greatest opponents in his campaign
Would be those with so much to gain
If they would begin to see things His way
And listen to all he has to say
We’d have to place more allegiance in him
Than in what the loud voices shout out so grim
His slogan would be peaceful and loving
Instead of the violence message we’re shoving

© 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

Friday, November 16, 2007

Catching Up

I cannot believe how busy I have found myself. Now, I think this is good to a degree. I think too many people retire and just sit around. I don't think that is good. I will not let that happen for me. So here are some of the things I'm doing --- in case you're interested.

1. I go to the gym four mornings a week to get exercise. That is important for my diabetes control but it's also important for my overall health.

2. I work at the computer with my poetry and a short story about a dog who communicates with me through the computer. Since March I have written over 150 poems. I've probably written a dozen episodes of the dog story. I have a manuscript for a book of 60 poems at the publisher right now.

3. I have filled pulpits. I've preached at 7 churches since July 1. I will be preaching at the church I now attend, North Star, on Nov. 25th and I will be preaching at Turney on Dec. 16th and 23rd and lead a Christmas Eve service on the 24th.

4. I help at my own church. I enjoy hearing my pastor's sermons. I have also worked with the Children's Church one Sunday and I will be working with the Confirmation class in December. I'm also working with the formation of groups.

5. I continue to attend the lectionary study on Tuesday's at noon even though I don't write a sermon each week. This is a source of keeping my mind occupied and it is a time of fellowship.

6. When Thelma quit working we started a part-time business. We are trying to help people have legal protection at an affordable price. Most of us can't afford to just call a lawyer with a question. Many of us don't have a will. We are working with a company that makes this available at no additional charge over the membership fee. We are excited to be able to help people and put a few dollars in our pockets. If you find this worth checking out, I invite you to visit my webpage: wwww.prepaidlegal.com/hub/larryrlinville.

7. Thelma and I actually have time to do things together after all these years of chasing our separate jobs. Besides our times with the business, we are able to attend family events more and be at things our children and grandchildren are doing.

I was going for ten things. God seems to think in tens but God also did a lot of sevens so I'll let that do it. Because of all these activities, my poetry output has slowed so I may have to blog about other things. BUT DON'T WORRY -- I'll still have plenty of poetry. I'll be posting a poem about why Jesus Couldn't Be Elected President and I also am working on a poem about Mary's call to give birth to Jesus.

May you have a good day.

Larry

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Left At The Park

Left at the park
By Larry Linville

We had a big church picnic at the city park
We’d been there all afternoon and it was getting dark
I’d been at the playground overwhelmed by the fun
As our car drove off and it was too late to run

My parents thought I was there as they drove away
And I was left there standing in my great dismay
I don’t know how far they went before they turned around
But my father wasn’t happy and thus he wore a frown.

I was the age of Jesus when he was left behind
He seemed to deal much better and keep calm in his mind
His parents were embarrassed when he wasn’t there
My parents tried to calmly help me with my scare

Jesus sought his Father’s will -- I was just playing
Pleasure I was seeking -- he was truly praying.
Our motives were different on our fateful day
But the same God was watching to keep us both okay

© 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.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

A Poetic Moment

When I started this blog back in April, I had a backlog of poems. I remember that I even posted more than one a day. As the time has gone by I have come to a time when I post less often. I have been extremely busy with events in my life. My fear is getting to the point that I post less often and then you quit looking. I don't want that to happen. And it won't.

I have been fully retired for a little over 4 months. During that time I have filled pulpits 8 times (which I really enjoy doing). I am trying to volunteer at the church I attend -- North Star United Methodist Church. Thelma has retired and we are adjusting to our schedule together. I also have a manuscript of 60 poems at a publisher. I also have a little story going on from a "communicating dog" named Phydoux. I haven't posted them here --- yet. I wanted to keep this poetry, but perhaps I'll change my mind.

Thelma and I have also begun a network marketing business on a part time basis. We are excited about being able to help common people have affordable legal services which are normally reserved for the wealthy. It also gives Identity Theft protection -- which is a growing problem in our world. I just read that Kansas City is 35th highest in identity theft in the nation. That's frightening.

So, I'm taking time today to let you know that I may not post every day, but stick with me because my poems come in bunches. Let me illustrate this will be latest poem:


A Poetic Movement
Larry Linville

I write my poems everywhere
Could be here and could be there
No matter if I’m fresh or tired
I have to write when I’m inspired
If not then I will forget
And set around and stew and fret
I always have paper and pen
‘cause it may not come back again
Now that it’s written, I have to rush
please excuse me while I flush

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Didn't Know What I Was Doing

Didn’t Know What I Was doing
By larry linville

Most of the stuff that I have done
I didn’t know what I was doing.
When I first had food in my mouth,
without teeth, I just started chewing

I didn’t know what to do at school
when I arrived on that first day.
But I bluffed at everything I did
so they would allow me to stay.

When my report card was given me
at the end of the year, I gasped.
‘cause I saw that inscription
that let me know I had passed.

This ritual was the same each year
I always feared that I would fail.
But every year I received good news
so I could travel on down the trail.

With seminary degree in hand
I went to serve some churches,
never knowing all I felt I should
to successfully face what lurches.

Now that I’ve retired from my work
and my life enters another stage.
I still don’t know what I’m doing
because I’ve never been this age.

© 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.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Redneck Girl

Redneck Girl
By Larry Linville

She’s a red-neck girl with a dress of blue
she got at Goodwill for a buck or two
She’s eatin’ some ribs at the bar-b-cue
And washin’ it down with a local brew.

Multi-colored hair braided on one side
Her hair spray comes from a can that says “Pride.”
Her mascara is at least a week old
and I’m thinkin’ it is starting to mold

she says “you’uns” and also “sho’ nuff”
as she gives that Marlborough one last puff.
When in trouble she will never say quit
She’ll clear her throat, and cough, and then she’ll spit.

When it appears she is all out of luck
She jumps into that rusty pick up truck
And loads up hogs in back and dogs in front
And heads to market as you hear them grunt.

© 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.