The Church Looking Back
By Larry Linville
“The church is different,” you hear them say.
“It’s not like it was in my younger day.
“We have strayed so far from the Lord,” they said,
“spirituality is really dead.”
They said the church had played serious games
with that new translation from old King James.
Martin Luther tried to straighten things out
but he couldn’t rid the church of it’s doubt.
Science gave a challenge to get us on track
but the church was fighting to turn the clock back.
Old time religion we ask God to give
just like they sang when we wish we could live.
God must be hoping we’d just look ahead
and sorry we keep looking back instead.
God must believe that the church will grow
but knows that our looking back makes it slow.
Just imagine if we followed God’s lead
how much more the church would truly succeed.
If we could just see God’s vision today
the things Jesus showed would come into play.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Balloons And Life
Balloons And Life
By Larry Linville
A little child has a yellow balloon
so happy because it looks like the moon.
He bats it like it’s a small volley ball
back and forth on the big bedroom wall.
It hits an object that’s so very small
and it pops so the child begins to squall.
Tears from his eyes like a big river flowed
from the time he saw and hear it explode.
A little girl’s party being held outside
with gas filled balloons so carefully tied.
She picks her favorite color to hold.
It is part red with some blue and some gold.
She runs and she jumps and she smiles with glee.
It slips from her hand and now it is free.
She cries so hard like she’s lost her last friend
as she watches it so slowly ascend.
Life seems so much like a balloon to me.
It brings so much joy you’ll have to agree.
But joys sometime explode in our faces
and they put us in unwanted places.
Sometimes they escape and cause us much grief
and steal from our lives like a common thief.
But when this sorrow causes us to crack
there’s always another one in that sack.
By Larry Linville
A little child has a yellow balloon
so happy because it looks like the moon.
He bats it like it’s a small volley ball
back and forth on the big bedroom wall.
It hits an object that’s so very small
and it pops so the child begins to squall.
Tears from his eyes like a big river flowed
from the time he saw and hear it explode.
A little girl’s party being held outside
with gas filled balloons so carefully tied.
She picks her favorite color to hold.
It is part red with some blue and some gold.
She runs and she jumps and she smiles with glee.
It slips from her hand and now it is free.
She cries so hard like she’s lost her last friend
as she watches it so slowly ascend.
Life seems so much like a balloon to me.
It brings so much joy you’ll have to agree.
But joys sometime explode in our faces
and they put us in unwanted places.
Sometimes they escape and cause us much grief
and steal from our lives like a common thief.
But when this sorrow causes us to crack
there’s always another one in that sack.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
My Musical Beginning
My Musical Beginning
By Larry Linville
I started in music, don’t you know,
during a very wet spring.
I never played any instrument
although I could always sing.
The rains came heavy day after day.
The rivers started to rise.
The water rose up to our ankles
and then on up to our thighs.
When it finally flooded the house
and nothing else could be said.
I accompanied on the piano
my brother who was on a bed..
Because he floated on that big bed
sheet music we had to play.
I play the piano when it starts to rain
up to this very day.
By Larry Linville
I started in music, don’t you know,
during a very wet spring.
I never played any instrument
although I could always sing.
The rains came heavy day after day.
The rivers started to rise.
The water rose up to our ankles
and then on up to our thighs.
When it finally flooded the house
and nothing else could be said.
I accompanied on the piano
my brother who was on a bed..
Because he floated on that big bed
sheet music we had to play.
I play the piano when it starts to rain
up to this very day.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Nostalgic Trip
Nostalgic Trip
By Larry Linville
Suddenly I returned to
forty years ago.
The old family farm
on the gravel road with
grass growing between the ruts
and a rusty mailbox leaning
in the old rusty milk can.
Freshly mowed hay
sending its scent to my nose.
Newly born calf
cries hungrily for his mom
who sadly joins in the duet.
Chickens scratching the front yard
in a ritual of welcome
as we climb the steps
to the old porch with the swing
moving back and forth
from an aunt rising
to great us –
her apron string caught between the slats.
Inside the house
the smell of freshly separated milk
gave way to the fried chicken and apple pie.
The unique odor from the pig pen
entered when the wind was in the right direction
and it always was!
Relatives laughed
and cried
and something glared
as they whispered
while looking at another relative.
We ate so much the hogs were jealous
and went back for more.
We kids rode imaginary horses
across the pasture.
I was on Trigger
my cousin on Buttermilk.
The sun sank in the west
as cars departed
and we followed the gravel road
By Larry Linville
Suddenly I returned to
forty years ago.
The old family farm
on the gravel road with
grass growing between the ruts
and a rusty mailbox leaning
in the old rusty milk can.
Freshly mowed hay
sending its scent to my nose.
Newly born calf
cries hungrily for his mom
who sadly joins in the duet.
Chickens scratching the front yard
in a ritual of welcome
as we climb the steps
to the old porch with the swing
moving back and forth
from an aunt rising
to great us –
her apron string caught between the slats.
Inside the house
the smell of freshly separated milk
gave way to the fried chicken and apple pie.
The unique odor from the pig pen
entered when the wind was in the right direction
and it always was!
Relatives laughed
and cried
and something glared
as they whispered
while looking at another relative.
We ate so much the hogs were jealous
and went back for more.
We kids rode imaginary horses
across the pasture.
I was on Trigger
my cousin on Buttermilk.
The sun sank in the west
as cars departed
and we followed the gravel road
Saturday, June 21, 2008
transitions
Poems have been in hiding for a few days. They can flow like the waters of the flooding Mississippi at times and then be as scares as water in the Sahara at other times. I've learned to avoid trying to force them. In my files are a group of poems I've started. One of these days I will look at them and they will jump off the pages to me.
Tonight I will join a friend who has an extra ticket to see the T-Bones. We will be the guests of an investment company and will sit in their suite.
Sunday is the day I preach a sermon to help North Star move our next step in the transition between our pastors. I feel like I am ready. I will preach from Exodus 17:9-13. In that passage the Israelite army was successful as long as Moses help the staff he had used to part the sea in the exodus. When his arms became tired, Moses and Hur (yep, that's spelled correctly) held his arms so the Israelites could win. I want to use my 48 years as a pastor to help our people understand how they can help hold up the arms of our new pastor. Here is the list:
1. Pray for him and for the church daily.
2. Remember -- he is NOT Brian. Be receptive to his different style.
3. Share only positive comments with him and about him.
4. Wear your name tag. I can't understand why people don't want to do this. It is especially importan since he has all these people's names to learn.
5. Volunteer to do things in the church.
6. Send cards and notes to the pastor and family from time to time just to encourage them.
7. Gifts. Once in a while give him a little something: gift certificate to restaurant, movie, etc.
8. Respect his day off and see that he takes it. Don't call him at home unless it is a REAL emergency.
9. Encourage him to take vacation and study time.
10. Be involved in things that will help us grow in our faith.
11. Invite people to church to "come hear our new preacher."
Tonight I will join a friend who has an extra ticket to see the T-Bones. We will be the guests of an investment company and will sit in their suite.
Sunday is the day I preach a sermon to help North Star move our next step in the transition between our pastors. I feel like I am ready. I will preach from Exodus 17:9-13. In that passage the Israelite army was successful as long as Moses help the staff he had used to part the sea in the exodus. When his arms became tired, Moses and Hur (yep, that's spelled correctly) held his arms so the Israelites could win. I want to use my 48 years as a pastor to help our people understand how they can help hold up the arms of our new pastor. Here is the list:
1. Pray for him and for the church daily.
2. Remember -- he is NOT Brian. Be receptive to his different style.
3. Share only positive comments with him and about him.
4. Wear your name tag. I can't understand why people don't want to do this. It is especially importan since he has all these people's names to learn.
5. Volunteer to do things in the church.
6. Send cards and notes to the pastor and family from time to time just to encourage them.
7. Gifts. Once in a while give him a little something: gift certificate to restaurant, movie, etc.
8. Respect his day off and see that he takes it. Don't call him at home unless it is a REAL emergency.
9. Encourage him to take vacation and study time.
10. Be involved in things that will help us grow in our faith.
11. Invite people to church to "come hear our new preacher."
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Changes
No poem today!
My life has been full of changes and big events recently.
Thelma and I were married 46 years ago yesterday (June 16).
We celebrated big. We shared a Triple Chocolate Meltdown at Applebee's.
Sunday was the farewell service for my pastor, Brian Roots. He was the founding pastor at North Star and has been a great pastor. This was unusual for me because this was the first time my pastor has left me since 1960.
I'm gearing up to serve a church after having a year off. I will be sharing the pastoral duties with another retired pastor at Paradise United Methodist Church. This will give me the opportunity to preach but still not be completely tied down. I'm looking foward to this experience. God keeps sending me new experiences.
This Sunday, June 22, I will preach at North Star. It will be between the sermon of our outgoing pastor and our incoming pastor. Pray that I will be able to help the congregation move forward in our transition.
I am now in my 49th year as a pastor. Wow!
I guess the lesson in this is that change happens. We can either fight it and complain about it or we can embrace it and look at where God is leading. I think I'll do the later.
One final comment. I was greatly grieved at the sudden death of Tim Russert of "Meet The Press." What a witness he has made. He has been given well-deserved tribute by so many. Only Fox (we might expect) said negative things about him. As I watched the tape of his son standing at his empty chair on the set and hearing him say he would keep the chair, it reminded me of the "Old Metal Desk." I know that chair will bless him as much as that desk has blessed me.
Larry
My life has been full of changes and big events recently.
Thelma and I were married 46 years ago yesterday (June 16).
We celebrated big. We shared a Triple Chocolate Meltdown at Applebee's.
Sunday was the farewell service for my pastor, Brian Roots. He was the founding pastor at North Star and has been a great pastor. This was unusual for me because this was the first time my pastor has left me since 1960.
I'm gearing up to serve a church after having a year off. I will be sharing the pastoral duties with another retired pastor at Paradise United Methodist Church. This will give me the opportunity to preach but still not be completely tied down. I'm looking foward to this experience. God keeps sending me new experiences.
This Sunday, June 22, I will preach at North Star. It will be between the sermon of our outgoing pastor and our incoming pastor. Pray that I will be able to help the congregation move forward in our transition.
I am now in my 49th year as a pastor. Wow!
I guess the lesson in this is that change happens. We can either fight it and complain about it or we can embrace it and look at where God is leading. I think I'll do the later.
One final comment. I was greatly grieved at the sudden death of Tim Russert of "Meet The Press." What a witness he has made. He has been given well-deserved tribute by so many. Only Fox (we might expect) said negative things about him. As I watched the tape of his son standing at his empty chair on the set and hearing him say he would keep the chair, it reminded me of the "Old Metal Desk." I know that chair will bless him as much as that desk has blessed me.
Larry
Friday, June 13, 2008
Happy Father's Day To My Late Dad
Happy Father’s Day To My Late Dad
By Larry Linville
Father’s Day has been different
for far too long it seems.
Forty-three years ago he left
as did his many dreams.
My faith has helped me to adjust.
My spirit now is fine.
But father’s day is not the same
my eyes will shed some brine.
My wife’s dad did what he could
which meant so very much.
But I still miss his still small voice
and miss his tender touch.
My kids all call to share their love.
That always feels so good
and I remember him each year
because he understood.
It may seem silly that each year
I am a little sad.
I see his image in my mind
and thank God for my dad.
© 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.
By Larry Linville
Father’s Day has been different
for far too long it seems.
Forty-three years ago he left
as did his many dreams.
My faith has helped me to adjust.
My spirit now is fine.
But father’s day is not the same
my eyes will shed some brine.
My wife’s dad did what he could
which meant so very much.
But I still miss his still small voice
and miss his tender touch.
My kids all call to share their love.
That always feels so good
and I remember him each year
because he understood.
It may seem silly that each year
I am a little sad.
I see his image in my mind
and thank God for my dad.
© 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.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Shriners' Convention
Shriner’s Convention
By Larry Linville
At a church conference the other day
we sang many hymns and had time to pray.
We saw old friends we’d not seen for a while
with some we shared tears, with others a smile.
Then to the motel to be recliners
but our rest was cancelled by some Shriners.
At midnight they were going in full swing
and at three and four was still the same thing.
I looked for one of the Shriners to blame.
His fez was familiar but not his name.
I sat at our meeting on the next day
but I can’t tell you what they had to say.
I kept dozing off and having a dream
in which I planned a sinister scheme
which was not Christian I must admit
but my praying didn’t help me to quit
seeing myself driving my little car
while a couple of bikes went flying far.
But I’ve prayed to God to please forgive me.
The prayer was answered and now I am free.
Next year when making my reservation
I will ask if there’s anticipation
of hosting next year’s Shriners’ convention
at which I’ll change my housing intention.
© 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.
By Larry Linville
At a church conference the other day
we sang many hymns and had time to pray.
We saw old friends we’d not seen for a while
with some we shared tears, with others a smile.
Then to the motel to be recliners
but our rest was cancelled by some Shriners.
At midnight they were going in full swing
and at three and four was still the same thing.
I looked for one of the Shriners to blame.
His fez was familiar but not his name.
I sat at our meeting on the next day
but I can’t tell you what they had to say.
I kept dozing off and having a dream
in which I planned a sinister scheme
which was not Christian I must admit
but my praying didn’t help me to quit
seeing myself driving my little car
while a couple of bikes went flying far.
But I’ve prayed to God to please forgive me.
The prayer was answered and now I am free.
Next year when making my reservation
I will ask if there’s anticipation
of hosting next year’s Shriners’ convention
at which I’ll change my housing intention.
© 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.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Seein' As How
Seein’ As How
By Larry Linville
Seein’ as how! what does that mean?
I hear it said and it must be keen.
Does it go well with Bein’ as how?
Is it OK to say that now?
Is “How” the name of a certain guy?
Or is it twins? Oh me, oh my.
Why would their folks give them this name?
Were they trying to gather great fame?
Is it a guy we should emulate
with vision as a special trait?
Are we to try to look like him
from our head to every limb?
Or are we to see things from his view
so we’ll know the right thing to do?
Does he help us see wrong from right
from early morning ‘til late at night?
We must “see as how”, I’m sure it’s true
if we “be as how” in all we do.
We can be until we’ve seen
does anyone know what I mean?
© 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.
By Larry Linville
Seein’ as how! what does that mean?
I hear it said and it must be keen.
Does it go well with Bein’ as how?
Is it OK to say that now?
Is “How” the name of a certain guy?
Or is it twins? Oh me, oh my.
Why would their folks give them this name?
Were they trying to gather great fame?
Is it a guy we should emulate
with vision as a special trait?
Are we to try to look like him
from our head to every limb?
Or are we to see things from his view
so we’ll know the right thing to do?
Does he help us see wrong from right
from early morning ‘til late at night?
We must “see as how”, I’m sure it’s true
if we “be as how” in all we do.
We can be until we’ve seen
does anyone know what I mean?
© 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.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
It's Off To Annual Conference
To: all my friends who don't know much about the United Methodist Church and those who do.
Subject: Annual Conference is the yearly meeting of our churches of the state of Missouri.
We hear reports, conduct business, set the budget and end with the appointment of our pastors to their churches for the next year.
I attended my first Annual Conference in 1960. A lot of changes have been made down through the years. The thing I anticipate the most is to see persons I haven't seen for a while. I will not be in much of the business sessions. I will attend the retirees luncheon on Saturday. I will spend a lot of time at the booth for the Credit Union (I'm on the board). I'll probably have a number of my poetry books with me!!!! I anticipate attending the ordination of the pastor who is coming to the church I attend.
After a year not serving a church, I will be appointed to serve a small church along with another retired minister. I'm surprised I said "Yes" but having met the leaders of that church and talking to the minister with whom I will be working, I'm excited about the opportunity. I won't be tied down every Sunday and I really, really enjoy the entire process of preaching.
I don't have a laptop so I will not be updating the blog until the first of the week. This would be a good time for you to log in and read some of the old poems again. Do you suppose I might write several poems while I'm at Conference? Probably. Right now I'm working on a poem about "seein' as how."
Subject: Annual Conference is the yearly meeting of our churches of the state of Missouri.
We hear reports, conduct business, set the budget and end with the appointment of our pastors to their churches for the next year.
I attended my first Annual Conference in 1960. A lot of changes have been made down through the years. The thing I anticipate the most is to see persons I haven't seen for a while. I will not be in much of the business sessions. I will attend the retirees luncheon on Saturday. I will spend a lot of time at the booth for the Credit Union (I'm on the board). I'll probably have a number of my poetry books with me!!!! I anticipate attending the ordination of the pastor who is coming to the church I attend.
After a year not serving a church, I will be appointed to serve a small church along with another retired minister. I'm surprised I said "Yes" but having met the leaders of that church and talking to the minister with whom I will be working, I'm excited about the opportunity. I won't be tied down every Sunday and I really, really enjoy the entire process of preaching.
I don't have a laptop so I will not be updating the blog until the first of the week. This would be a good time for you to log in and read some of the old poems again. Do you suppose I might write several poems while I'm at Conference? Probably. Right now I'm working on a poem about "seein' as how."
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Down Two Cents And Up A Dime
Down Two Cents and Up A Dime
By Larry Linville
There's a rock in my hand I want to throw
I am so angry most all of the time.
When I pull in to fill up my gas tank
it is down two cents then up a dime.
The local dealer is not the real cause.
His profit's not what makes it climb.
He's not to blame as he changes the sign
it is down two cents then up a dime.
The fat cats and execs are prospering
and living their lives so sublime.
While I get more angry every day
it is down two cents then up a dime.
Congress tells us there is nothing to do.
They don't really think there's a crime.
All I know is my billfold's getting thin
it is down two cents then up a dime.
So here I walk with that rock in my hand
watching the prices as they climb.
My car is sitting with an empty tank
since it's down two cents and up a dime.
© 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.
By Larry Linville
There's a rock in my hand I want to throw
I am so angry most all of the time.
When I pull in to fill up my gas tank
it is down two cents then up a dime.
The local dealer is not the real cause.
His profit's not what makes it climb.
He's not to blame as he changes the sign
it is down two cents then up a dime.
The fat cats and execs are prospering
and living their lives so sublime.
While I get more angry every day
it is down two cents then up a dime.
Congress tells us there is nothing to do.
They don't really think there's a crime.
All I know is my billfold's getting thin
it is down two cents then up a dime.
So here I walk with that rock in my hand
watching the prices as they climb.
My car is sitting with an empty tank
since it's down two cents and up a dime.
© 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.
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