Jesus Upset My Table

My book is available on line at the website to the right -- under the picture.

Jesus Upset My Table
By Larry Linville

The great Passover time was drawing near.
A very profitable time of year.
My chance of making much money was great
so I sold everything to improve my fate.
Hundreds of pigeons at my temple stall
made it look like I was at a big mall.

The early crowd came with money in hand.
My profits were growing just like I planned
when this guy burst in and started to yell
upsetting my table and raising hell.
He shouted words about a den of thieves
and freed my pigeons and rolled up his sleeves.

My pigeons all flew to freedom out side.
My anger boiled up and made me decide
I would follow him as he was leavin’
and find a time when I could get even.
I followed after him throughout the week
listening to every word he did speak.

He said that anger can ruin one’s life
and he said that love could help in our stife.
But I joined those with their fists in the air
shouting “Crucify him! Kill him I swear.”
Up to Golgotha I followed this guy
and he looked right at me and said, “Don’t cry!”

Just then I looked up and there in the sky
where my pigeons had just started to fly.
Somehow I felt he sent them all my way
for some message he had wanted to say.
A second chance he was giving to me
so just like my pigeons I could be free.

Down from Golgotha I led all the birds
following as I said special words.
Out in the open I watched them go free
and a new freedom was given to me.
I took all the things I heard that man say
and lived my life a different way.

© Copyright 2008 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.

I Gave My Linen Cloth To Jesus

My book can be order at the website under the picture to the right.

I Gave My Linen Cloth To Jesus
By Larry Linville

For a linen cloth I spent a great treasure
and each time I looked it gave me much pleasure.
I didn’t know how I would use it some day
but I knew it was more than just for display.

A crowd was assembling just outside of town
to celebrate a man who had great renown.
On a donkey he rode like a winning king
all the people lifted their voices to sing.

I thought this must be the occasion for me
to bring out that linen cloth in my great glee.
I threw it in front of that donkey he rode
where among the branches it’s great beauty glowed.

After he had passed I took it to my house
and thought I could make from it a special blouse.
A blouse that had been laid out on the highway
but the events took a bad turn by Friday.

I ran to the cross with my cloth near my heart
at the right time to see his spirit depart.
I knew that this cloth wouldn’t dwell in my room
so I gave it for him to wear in his tomb.

I gave that which was the most precious to me
to the one who suffered so I could be free.
If you give to Jesus what you cherish best
your life will always be eternally blessed.

© Copyright 2008 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.

I Made The Three Nails

My book is available at the website under the picture to the right.

I Made The Three Nails
By Larry Linville

A Roman soldier came into my shop
and told me that I must come to a stop.
He had a big special order for me.
Make the roughest nails and he wanted three.
He said to be sure they were very rough
for this guy who hadn’t suffered enough.
I must admit that I’m good at my craft
and I could help give this fellow the shaft.

Later in the day I went out to see
the guy who would suffer because of me.
I watched as they drove my nails in his skin
and some of his blood gushed out on my chin.
Just at that moment his eyes looked at me
and his forgiveness was all I could see
I stood with people and watched him die
and constantly wiped a tear from my eye.

“forgive them they don’t know what they have done”
was his prayer I heard and wanted to run.
My legs wouldn’t move so I looked above
and his eyes seemed to tell me of his love.
Both hurting and healing at the same time
I grieved that I was part of the crime.
By my good work he was nailed to a tree
but his death gave true life to you and me.

© Copyright 2008 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.

Elijah And Lent

My Book is available at the website listed below the picture on the right.



Elijah and Lent
By Larry Linville

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:16

Fasting in reverse was Elijah’s flair.
He ate and then went to Mount Horeb where
he waiting forty long days there on high
and was filled with blessings as God passed by.

He ate before hunger covered his bed.
At that time he was spiritually fed.
His hunger was turned away from all food
and he was in a God-searching mood.

God comes to us in a mighty way
when physical hungers are put away
and we place ourselves in the path of God
where patiently wait to be deeply awed.

© Copyright 2008 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 BOOK IS AVAILABLE!!!!

My book is available on line. You can order it at the following website.

http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=48894

I am so excited.

Check out the site and read about the book. I'm sure you will want to be the first on your block to have a copy.

The Flood and Lent

The Flood and Lent
by Larry Linville

Scripture: Gen. 7:12

God saw the world was full of sin
and wanted to start over again.
Noah received a special mission
to build a boat that wasn’t for fishin’.

He loaded up animals two by two
and set off in his big floating zoo.
Forty days and forty nights it rained
but Noah’s family was sustained.

The church is symbolized by a boat
which the Holy Spirit keeps afloat.
We can get closer to God at Lent
when more time with the church is spent.

Our forty day Lenten journey can lead
to overcoming things that impede
in our efforts to start over anew
and do the things we know we should do.

© Copyright 2008 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 Spies and Lent

The Spies and Lent
By Larry Linville

Scripture: Numbers 13:25

Moses sent twelve young men into the promised land.
It took forty days for this shaky little band.
Ten of them came back with a real negative view.
The others felt that their God could help them get through.

When we enter our lent quest toward a promised land
our success is set up by our positive stand.
We can side with the ten and fall on our face
or follow the two and improve the human race.

Lent is a time to consider all of our odds
and where we have been following other gods
as we turn our thoughts to what God can do with us
as He turns our negative lives to a big plus.

© Copyright 2008 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.

Goliath and Lent

Goliath And Lent
By Larry Linville

1 Samuel 17:16

That giant strutted out each day
his sadistic way to play.
Morning and evening he appeared.
Each time all the people feared.

Forty days Goliath taunted
the Israelites were feeling haunted.
His egotism matched his size
unaware of his big surprise.

It only took one little stone
by a shepherd standing all alone
to bring that giant down to size
and walk away with the prize.

The forty days of Lent my friend
helps us, like David, to ascend
against the strutting giants we face
and win the battle with God’s grace.

© Copyright 2008 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.

Giving Up or Adding To?

Giving Up or Adding To?
Larry Linville

What are you giving up for Lent
they ask with great expectation.
Such a negative question
leaves me with a great frustration.

They give up candy and other sweets
and even things they hate to eat.
The more they hate these dreadful foods
the more they are sure not to cheat.

What’s to gain by this silly approach
that helps us to grow during Lent
running around telling everyone
about giving up things we lament?

Wouldn’t it help to grow in our faith
if we added good things to our life
like doing those kind acts to others
which seems to bring end to much strife?

An act of kindness to others around
should help our devotion to grow
with our hearts doing useful things
which allow God great love to flow.

Don’t ask me what I’m giving up
but ask what extra I’m doing
and pray as I tackle my list
of kind acts I am pursuing.

© Copyright 2008 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.

A Gift Passed On

A Gift Passed On
By Larry Linville

The home made sign said he needed some food.
I passed like others but felt very rude.
The cold weather made him shiver and shake
standing by his bike and he was no fake.

I entered the door of the big golden “M”
trying to keep from thinking of him.
I took the gift card that was given to me
but his old whiskered face was all I could see.

Back out in the cold I went with alarm
and reached out and touched the old man on the arm.
“Could you use this?” I asked the old man.
He reached out and said, “You bet I can!”

“It has six or seven dollars,” I said.
He tucked it away in his coat that was red.
Two men were fed on that very cold day.
I watched the other when he pedaled away.

© Copyright 2008 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.

Moses and Lent

Moses and Lent
By Larry Linville

Moses led God’s children
toward a great promised land.
When they finally got there
they found it was so grand.

The forty years they traveled
required great dedication
before they reached the blessing
they went through great frustration.

Lent is a forty day quest
with much sacrifice and search.
Instead of living in a desert
we spend much time at church.

They followed Moses each day
through all the thick and thin.
We follow just as they did
with a promised land to win.

The manna and the quail
sustained them on their quest
just as God provides for us
as we daily face each test.

© Copyright 2008 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 Book is in the works.

Well, it won't be long. My book of poetry is in the works.
I have placed a picture of the book cover to the right. How exciting!
I'm expecting it to be available in a few weeks.
If you'd like a sneak preview, you can find it on line.
Go to Authorhouse.com.
When the page comes up, click on bookstore at the top.
Next go to author search and put "Larry Linville."
You'll see the cover and a little bit of an article about it.
It says, at the right, coming soon.
When it is ready, you'll be able to order it through this source.

The picture on the front cover of the book is the actual desk of my first poem.
I love that picture.
When you get the book and look at the poems,
you'll find that the title of each poem is in a font like an old typewriter.
I think that gives it a special touch.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday
By Larry Linville

That smudge on my head is special to me.
It may look like dirt when other folks see
the palm branches from last season were dried
and ground to dust so it could be applied.

Confession was shared with others in prayer
as this holy moment we each went to share
our aim to commit our lives during Lent
to follow closely the One who was sent.

© Copyright 2008 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.

Under the Weather

Well, I've been unproductive this week.
Monday evening I coughed all night and Tuesday I was feeling pretty tough.
Wednesday I finally went to the doctor.
Influenza!!!!
Expensive medicine.
Stay at home for five days.
Call the nice young police officer to tell her I wouldn't be able to attend her wedding Saturday.
I'll miss my oldest granddaughter's performance in honor band at Lawrence, Ks.
It would be great to be at home, expect it doesn't feel great to be at home.

I think I'm getting better.