Driving Under the Influence

 

 

He was clearly inebriated

Or so it appeared

For he was all over the road

Without a care.

 

I was driving behind him

Out of necessity,

It was the way to my destination

So, naturally.

 

Mostly on the left side

Sometimes on the right,

At times right down the middle;

Do note it was night.

 

If he were not inebriated

Then he must be old

And that he should stop driving,

He should be told.

 

It did not occur to me

I was doing likewise,

Every time he ducked in and out

He became my guide.

 

 

 

Both of us were inebriated,

Both of us were drunk

But I was not given to alcohol

So, this I quickly debunked.

 

Under the influence

But not of alcoholic spirits,

For neither he nor I was drunk

But were shunning pits.

 

A pit here and a pit there

Pits were everywhere,

To find a road that is free from pits

Is becoming very rare.

 

I am calling them pits

Because of their depth

And no doubt they are responsible

For some of the wrecks.

 

“Potholes” is the name

They internationally go by

And in Barbados you can’t shun all

No matter how you try.

 

So, if you drive at night

You might get a D.U.I.

Simply because you avoid potholes

Just to get by.

 

Driving under the influence

Naught of spirited wine

But of Barbados’ array of potholes

On which we nightly dine.

 

  

Our roads are terrible

‘Tis time something be done,

Driving on our roads at nighttime

Is surely not fun.

 

One Minister made a promise

To a not-yet MP,

She said funds are already allocated

For that constituency.

 

To fix the many bad roads

That are pothole riddled,

And this, while already sitting MPs

Continue to struggle.

 

“Who de cat like….”

Need I finish this saying?

Of course not, almost every Bajan knows

Election coming.

 

My sympathy goes out

To all the other parties,

Some emerging from the wreckage

That is the DLP.

 

‘Tis not potholes this time

That caused these rifts,

But they are under some influence

If you get my drift.

 

Stewart Russell © January 2, 2026

 

What the Gospel Is Not

 

 

The Gospel is not legalism;

It is not the Law

And this of course does not mean

The Law had a flaw.

 

The Law was a precursor

To point us to Christ:

The central figure of the Gospel

And his sacrifice.

 

It is not antinomianism;

It is not anti-Law:

It regulates our moral conscience

On which we must draw.

 

It is not Sabbath keeping

As some seem to think

And neither is it a particular diet

That we eat and drink.

 

It is not going to church

By which some set store

Or even a particular denomination

As we hear the more.

 

It is not sectarian

Steeped in men’s tradition:

Forbidding this and forbidding that

As a means of salvation.

 

The Gospel is not tithing

Or sacrificial giving,

Neither is it abundant prosperity

Nor modest living.

 

It is not prayer and fast

Or missing a staple

Or stipulating a particular time

For them that are able.

 

It is not abstention

From meats or shell fish

Or in the case of liberated saints,

Eating what you wish.

 

It is not doing miracles

Or speaking in tongues

Or even prophesying the future

To an eager throng.

 

 

 

It is not saying out loud

A set sinner’s prayer

Neither is it one’s sacrificial giving

To give another care.

 

It is not the altar call

After a preacher’s homily,

With threats of raging hell fire

For all eternity.

 

It is not Bible study

Or scheduled prayer time,

It is not even as some may think,

Having a pure mind.

 

It is not water baptism:

Sprinkle or immersed

And it is not reciting catechisms

That one rehearsed.

 

It is not confession

Made to a Catholic priest

And it is certainly not the keeping

Of Jewish feasts.

 

It is not doing penance

Or keeping sacraments,

It’s not abstention from eating meats

With sincere intent.

 

It is not righteous living

Without fear or doubt

And it is not knowing the Scriptures

From inside out.

 

It’s not an eschatology

Regarding Christ’s return,

Neither preterist, futurist or idealist

Or any other learned.

 

 

 

None of the above

Is the Gospel of Christ,

Keeping any one or all of them

Will never ever suffice.

 

In and of themselves

These things are not bad

But the Gospel is not what we do

Or feelings we’ve had.

 

The Gospel is Jesus Christ,

His person and his work

And not a list of “dos and don’ts”

Or joining a church.

 

Stewart Russell © October 23, 2025

 

Not with Observation

 

 

Luke 17:20-21

 

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,

When the kingdom of God should come,

He answered them and said,

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here!

Or, lo there! for, behold,

The kingdom of God is within you.

 

“The kingdom of God cometh

Not with observation:”

It is important that all understand

This piece of information.

 

Jesus was not speaking to us

But rather, to his generation,

And to be more precise, the Pharisees,

Who were in constant opposition.

 

They were keen to know

When the kingdom would come

For they were expecting much hoorah

Instead of God’s Son.

 

 

 

Not a location

As in the case of Bethlehem,

Neither a “lo here!” or, a “lo there!”

He had said to them.

 

Some are yet awaiting

For the kingdom to come

And this event they are anticipating

In the return of God’s Son.

 

Some believe otherwise

That he has already come

But this, in the coming of Holy Spirit

To vindicate the Son.

 

However, Jesus made it clear

The kingdom had come

And that kingdom is synonymous

With himself, God’s Son.

 

Once when he was accused

Of using Satan’s power,

He made it clear to his accusers

In that very hour.

 

He showed them the folly

Of their conflicting analogy

That if as Satan, he cast out Satan,

Such would be silly.

 

Matthew 12:25-26

 

And Jesus knew their thoughts

And said unto them,

Every kingdom divided against

Is brought to desolation;

And every city or house divided against itself

Shall not stand.

And if Satan cast out Satan

He is divided against himself;

How shall then his kingdom stand?

 

Matthew 12:28

 

But if I cast out devils

By the Spirit of God,

Then the kingdom of God

Is come unto you.

 

 

Why do we yet pray

“Thy kingdom come”?

God’s kingdom has come

In Jesus, His Son.

 

Why do we look for that

Which has already occurred

And when it has been clearly stated

Right in God’s Word?

 

But where is the kingdom

If it has already come?

Where did you get such an idea?

Where did it come from?

 

From Jesus, of course,

From his infallible word

And it’s to Luke chapter 17 again

To which I refer.

 

 Journey back there with me

If you have the time

And if you argue that you haven’t

Then you need to unwind.

 

For it means you are hooked

With things not nearly as critical

As this very important matter

That’s necessary for survival.

 

 

The kingdom has come

And is within you,

Meaning everyone that’s born again

And has been made anew.

 

Luke chapter 17

And verse number 21:

“The kingdom of God is within you.”

Once you are reborn.

 

The exact words of Jesus

As stated in the KJV:

Go to that location right now

And you will see.

 

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here!

Or, lo there! for, behold,

The kingdom of God is within you.

 

Stewart Russell © January 2, 2025

 

Inundated!

 

 

Here is a word

That was hitherto unknown

But with social media platforms

It’s become my norm.

 

Inundated!

Not with work or rain

But the torrent of information

Is a mighty strain.

 

YouTube, WhatsApp,

Linked-in and Instagram,

Twitter now X and TicToc reels,

Information like sand.

 

And by the way

There is also Facebook

And several other social media

At which we look. 

 

Inundated!

Regarding the senders

And those who do not respond

Become offenders.

 

‘Tis almost impossible

To respond to all

So careful, selective prioritizing

Must be the call.

 

 

Inundated!

You see what I mean?

Such brain overload and fatigue,

One could scream.

 

All of this information

To daily assimilate

Can sometimes create an attitude

Of love and hate.

 

Loving the apps

But hating the exchange

Especially relating to the senders

That appear deranged.

 

Inundated!

And having to sift through

Inordinately lengthy articles

Is not easy to do.

 

How else to know

If it’s important or not

If one does not pay some attention

To the whole lot?

 

 

Inundated!

Overwhelmed and drugged

And no hope in the near future

For being debugged.

 

For what would we do

Without these apps

That make information as quick

As thunderclaps?

 

Inundated!

For the “want-to-know”

For whom knowledge is power

To have on the go.

 

Little time to sift

And to aptly respond

Thus, this inundation goes on

And unrelentingly on.

 

Inundated!

With incoming info:

The good, the bad and the ugly;

All levels on show.

 

And this is every day

For hours on end

Sifting through information

From stranger and friend.

 

I am fortunate

Since I am a retiree

But think of all those people

Who work daily.

 

 

 

From local politics

To the region and beyond,

To religious and social issues

It’s like a storm. 

 

A tumult as it were

Bombarding the mind

And even for retirees like me,

Such little time.

 

See what I mean?

I am inundated

And to take time off responding

Is not appreciated.

 

I wish I could stop

But I know I cannot

For I am addicted to information;

Yes, the whole lot.

 

Inundated!

Overloaded, overwhelmed!

Only send me what is important

If you are my friend.

 

Not only what’s serious

But the occasional joke

And send me encouraging articles

That give me hope.

 

If I do not respond

You can nudge me again

But regarding harsh criticism,

Please refrain!

 

 

Inundated!

Not with work or rain

But the torrent of information

Is a mighty strain.

 

Stewart Russell © October 13, 2025

 

We’ve Made It

 

 

We’ve made it

Through another year,

By God’s mercy and compassion

We are here.

 

We’ve made it

Though oft encumbered,

With life’s many aches and pains

And constant danger.

 

We’ve made it

Despite the naysayers

And we owe this to Jesus Christ

Our Saviour.

 

Who shepherded us

All along life’s way

And brought us back to himself

Those times we strayed.

 

 

 

We’ve made it

And conscious of it too,

We’ve got a lot to be thankful for;

Both me and you.

 

We’ve made it

God being our helper

For without him we can do nothing

Now or ever.

 

We give Him thanks

For bringing us through

And we ask His continual help

In all we have to do.

 

 

 

So, Happy New Year

To both friend and foe

Bearing in mind if considered foe

I wouldn’t know.

 

To me you are friend.

 

Stewart Russell © January 1, 2026

 

On the Threshold

 

 

Standing on the threshold

Of a brand-new year,

Lord, we offer up to you, thanks

In this prayer.

 

It is because of you

That we are not consumed,

Daily we receive of your mercies

And daily we bloom.

 

Many have passed on

During this current year

And we thank you for their mark

Though no longer here.

 

Their legacy remains

Upon which we can draw

But their passing reminds us all

We are but straw.

 

Unstable in the wind

But for your mighty hand

And your constant revelation

Regarding your plan.

 

 

 

The bigger picture

Regarding all the called

And all those that trust in you

As their God.

 

Thank you, Lord

For such assurances

And for imputing to your children

Christ’s righteousness.

 

For ‘tis in you we live,

Move and have our being

And without the Spirit’s guidance

None would be seeing.

 

 

 

Thank you for your care

In this closing year,

And for reminding us in our peril

We need not fear. 

  

 Just as in this year

So, in the one to come,

Teach us Lord to number our days

And not before you run.

 

Thanks for marking

The way we should go

And for the light of your Word

That makes it glow.

 

And as we close out

This remarkable year,

We thank you again dear Father

For your Divine care.

 

Stewart Russell © December 31, 2025

 

 

Is It Possible?

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the word

When so tasked?

 

Can it be done

Without added help

Of theological interpretations

Based on what is felt?

 

And Holy Spirit,

Tell me, what is his role?

Can he truly lead us into all truth

As we’ve been told?

 

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the word

When so tasked?

 

How do I know

Who’s right or wrong

Especially as a young born-again

When not yet strong?

 

Can I trust the Word

As it is plainly put

Or do I have to faithfully lock into

A denominational rut?

 

Is a world view key

In understanding

And is it absolutely necessary

To stop me falling?

 

How do I know

Which is right or wrong

Especially as a young believer

And not strong?

 

 

 

I have a Bible

Which I read daily,

Can I truly, definitively depend

On its accuracy?

 

What’s fundamental

That I need to know

And please tell me, if you can,

Does it show?

 

Do I need to know

Hebrew and Greek

To be able to understand concepts

Considered deep?

 

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the Word

When so tasked?

 

Third iteration

If you are following,

Can you tell me if there is a way

Of knowing?

 

 

 

I’d like to know

Given what I’ve heard

If I need some specialized input

To grasp the Word.

 

For whom, I ask

Was it actually written?

Must I read it from cover to cover

To be forgiven?

 

 

 

And the doctrines?

Must I know them fully:

Like covenants and dispensations

Assuredly?

 

 

 

It seems like a lot

To keep in one’s mind

And there’s a lot of minors’ emphasis

Recently, I find.

 

Major on minors

At the majors’ expense

And the critical Gospel message

Is lacking defense.

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the Word

When so tasked?

 

Stewart Russell © December 28, 2025