A Child's Christmas Prayer

A Child’s Christmas Prayer
By Larry Linville

Dear Jesus,
I’m just a little kid.
I’m not so old you know
but I just keep wonderin’
how your star has such a glow.
You could have stayed in heaven
but you came down to this earth
and made the greatest sacrifice
though I have no special worth.

When you had a birthday party
each and every year
did you know I’d celebrate it
as I sing Christmas songs right here?
Did you get many presents
besides frankincense and gold
and did you have a happy toy
you could just sit and hold?

I wish I could have been there
with shepherds and their sheep
to look upon your sweet face
as you laid there fast asleep.
But since I could not be there
I just ask and pray
that you will be here with me
on this special Christmas Day!
Amen

© 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.

Seduced Labor

Seducing Labor
By Larry Linville

She approached with her face one big smile.
She had great news she wanted to say
so she spoke so loud everyone could hear
no matter if they stood far away.

“I’m a grandma for the first time,” she said
and she looked with great pride at her neighbor.
“They took my daughter to delivery
and they carefully seduced labor.”

It would have been wrong for me to comment
or correct the wrong work she used.
So I just congratulated her
and did not reveal I was amused.

“Did they put a HyVee in her arm?”
I asked in my best orneriness.
Unaware I had said anything wrong,
“As a matter of face,” she said, “yes!”

© 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.

Garth Brooks and Worship

Garth Brooks and Worship
By Larry Linville

I dreamed I went to worship
in a great big concert hall
with seats as far as you can see
and the ceiling was so tall.

Then the music started loudly
and the lights began to flash
as Garth Brooks came running
while I heard the cymbals crash.

The crowd stood and waved their arms
as they sang on every song
at full volume each one sang
and they never got it wrong.

Then my dream took a crazy turn
as only in dreams it could
and Jesus Christ was standing
where moments ago Garth stood.

I began to see excitement
that worship seldom reveals
with people showing the depth
of where every person feels.

“Friends in Low Places” seemed to
explore our lives lived in sin
but “We Shall Be Free” gave us
the joy to smile, shout, and grin.

“The Dance” reminded us of joy
when we surrender all our cares
and recall when things are unclear
as he sings “Unanswered Prayers.”

“Thunder Rolls” reminds of power
when Jesus died on the cross
“If Tomorrow Never Comes”
helps us survive every loss.

We feel how the disciples felt
when the tomb was all sealed up
but our joy returned when we heard
“Ain’t Goin’ Down til The Sun Comes up.”

© 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.

Memories of Children's Pageants

Memories of Children’s Pageants
By Larry Linville

Watching children’s pageants
down through all the ages
with programs all printed
in thousands of small pages.

They are always different
and yet so much alike
from the red-haired freckled lad
to the high-pitched squeaking mic.

Some dress in fancy clothing
reflecting the latest styles.
Others ill-fitting costumes
which bring us many smiles.

Haloes made from hangers
with tinsel of bright gold
on angels extremely shy
and others very bold.

Bathrobes on the shepherds
almost covering their clothes.
Little girl lifting her dress
while picking at her nose.

Cute little sheep on all four,
how quickly each one crawls
while they had long floppy ears
on caps glued with cotton balls.

Virgin Mary dressed in blue
held Jesus very near
as winged angels sang to her
and told her not to fear.

Some songs were known to us.
We’d heard them many times
but others were different
with modern sounding rhymes.

Some sang the tunes off key
and others softly sang.
Those who had no stage fright,
O how the rafters rang.

When the last words were spoken
and the last song was complete
with tears of joy inside
we sprang up from our seat
to cheer our friends and offspring
for every song and word
and no one could convince us
it’s not the best we’ve heard.

© 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.

Dasher and Dancer

Dasher and Dancer
By Larry Linville

Dasher and Dancer
the first two reindeer
have a unique story
that you ought to hear.

Brother and sister
when they were born
a pair of twins
on that Christmas morn.

Dasher was first born
at the rise of the sun
and he got his name
by showing up on a run.

Dancer was second
or so it would seem
moved to the music
she heard in her dream.

They were Santa’s first choice
when he first got his sleigh.
He wanted to start out with
those who would play.

Dasher was chosen
to move things along
and Dancer gave them
great movement with song.

Year after year
their names were called first.
If they had worn buttons
for sure they would burst.

Once they asked Santa
why he made all this fuss.
So he told the story
of Christmas and us.

He held up a dolly
and told of a child
born in a manger
as sweetly he smiled.

And Mary and Joseph
journeyed so far
to stay in a stable
out under a star.

He told of the donkey
on which Mary rode
proud he had been
to carry his load.

He told of the sheep
who stayed in a field
as angels arrived
and their message revealed.

With all the animals
involved in this story
they seemed so honored
to share in the glory.

So every Christmas
as they lead Santa’s sleigh
they see their task
as both work and play

© 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.

Little Known History

Little Known History
By Larry Linville
I heard it said so it must be true
about William Penn and so I’ll tell you.
His father’s sisters were nice ladies
but their business was often shady.

They hired these fellows who rode in ships
and committed crimes up to their hips,
stopping every ship that sailed the seas
unloading their cargo with great ease.

They became famous both far and wide.
Their business and ethics would collide.
When they were nabbed there was a great dance
for they had the Pirates of Penn’s Aunts.

© 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.

Paper Not Colored On

Paper Not Colored On
By Larry Linville

Her wisdom in words far exceed her years.
She spoke in uniqueness one seldom hears.
People besides her parents amused
at the creative language this child used.

“I feel like a piece of paper,” she blared,
“That’s never been colored on” she declared.
From out of nowhere this gem was stated
like other sayings she had created.

I laughed loudly and then I had a thought
that this young lady had just said a lot.
If all of us start life as a blank page
what is found on it is kind of a gauge.

A life which is lived alone and unused
is often a life which is very confused.
But life which is filled with activity
has multiple colors that all can see.

© 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 Shack

A few months ago I saw some clergy friends reading a book titled, "The Shack" by William P. Young. My thoughts were, "It's another of those fad books." They all talked about how good it was but I knew it would run its course and soon would be replaced by another book. Then a friend sent me a copy. I started reading and soon I was absorbed in the book.

Let me be quick to say that I'm not an avid reader of "recreational" reading. By the time I do the reading I need to do to prepare for sermons and to keep up on the latest new I need to be an effective pastor, I've done a lot of reading. It is not relaxing to just sit and read. I confess that even though it might sound anti-intellectual. Sorry!

This book captured my attention and challenged my concepts. It also touched my emotions. I started losing control of my emotions when I was in my 30's. At that time I found tears in my life when it was inconvenient -- like in a worship service or a wedding or a funeral. I even moved to the point that I cried at movies. After a long time I accepted the fact that I could still be a "manly man" and show my emotions.

This is the only book I can remember reading that caused tears.

It would be wrong to tell all about the book. You need to experience it yourself. Let me say that it helps me to see God's grace in a way I've never seen it before. There is so much judging done by those who call themselves "religious". This book sheds a new light on it.

I highly recommend this book for your reading. If you're like me -- not much of a reader -- it will be worth turning off the TV and spending some time reading.

God will bless you.

Questions for John the Baptist

Questions For John The Baptist
By Larry Linville

Oh John, who in the world were you,
where did you look to get your cue?

Tell me, was your clothing from God
or did you enjoy looking so odd?

Who put you on a diet like that,
were you afraid of getting real fat?

What’s the appeal for locusts, my friend,
or was that just all you had in the end?

What did you hear when you were a child
that made your manhood so very wild?

Did your mother tell of this cousin you had
when you were still such a young lad?

Had your paths ever crossed and did you talk
and did the two of you take a long walk?

Who convinced you he was the One
whom the world would know as God’s special Son?

© 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.