No One and Nobody

 

 

Follow this argument

With a critical mind

And of course, this would be

If you have the time.

 

No one and nobody

Synonyms perhaps?

But can you picture either

As a tangible fact?

 

No one or nobody

What does it matter?

It could be the former

Or even the latter.

 

Did you see no one

Or did you see nobody?

When you arrived there

Did you look for me?

 

When I arrived there

I saw no one

Meaning I saw nobody;

Everybody was gone.

 

Am I no one

And am I nobody?

Are you trying to tell me

You did not see me?

 

I did not see you

So, you were not there,

I am sure no one or nobody

Ever appeared.

 

 

You can’t see no one

And you can’t see nobody

And that is the reason why

You didn’t see me.

 

How does no one look

Or for that matter, nobody?

Right now, for example,

You can see me.

 

Next time you see no one

Or you see nobody,

Take a picture with your phone

And let me see.

 

If you can do this

You would convince me

That it is actually possible

To see nobody.

 

I cannot do that

You know it’s not possible

Even if the camera

Were ultra-reliable.

 

This was an argument

Between two friends

And for a moment I thought

It would never end.

 

But we say things daily

That to us make some sense

Though not absolutely so,

Please, no offense.

 

It aids communication

Though not an actual fact,

Seeing no one or nobody

Is a case like that.

 

 

“I saw no one”

I’m sure you’ve said that

Or, “I saw nobody”;

This too is a fact.

 

Don’t fret yourself

If it happened to you,

Like me, you are weird-

Admit this is true.

 

It takes a weird mind

To have a weird thought

And so, it was from a weirdo

This one was brought.

 

Stewart Russell © June 10, 2024

Apologetics and Apology

 

 

Apologetics and apology:

Don’t mix up the two,

Some treat them as synonyms

According to their view.

 

Alas, they are not;

They are vastly different

And to show this in this poem

Is my intent.

 

One is a defence

Of a biblical doctrine

Like for example an examination

Of universal sin.

 

 

The other is a regret

For something said or done

With the intention in the future

It would be shunned.

 

Apology is the word

Used for either case

But let me hasten to explain,

To scoff, don’t haste.

 

For some are quick

To pass searing judgment

On matters they haven’t research

But stoutly resent.

 

 

Thus, the need to apologize

For poor apologetics

And misleading the uninformed

With an erroneous mix.

 

On the other hand

No apology is required

By any apologist whose position

Is the Word, God-inspired.

 

So, don’t mix the two,

They are clearly distinct,

Be clear in you presentation

Even when succinct.

 

 

Two meanings of apology

But don’t mix up the two,

One could be a poor presentation

Of an unresearched view.

 

 

As an apologist

In the practice of apologetics,

Be wary of so-called apologists

That are up to tricks.

 

 

 

Stand on the Scriptures

And not on apology,

For that which pertains thereto

Touches eternity.

 

Stewart Russell © December 16, 2024

 

Sovereignty and Free Will

 

 

Concerning Sovereignty

There is only One,

History has its Emperors and kings

But they are long gone.

 

Pseudo sovereignty

Meaning a mere pretense

But never having ultimate control

Whatever their intent.

 

The Emperors of Rome

And the great kings of Israel:

They all suffered irreversible defeat

In their final battle.

 

The Presidents of today

And Prime Ministers as well

Are destined to lose their life battle

After their spell.

 

Death is appointed

For both great and small

And when death dials our number,

None can stall.

 

Pseudo sovereignty

Is all that we have got

And whether Emperor or pauper,

Death is our lot.

 

God is the only Sovereign

And there’s not another,

Don’t you dare consider the devil:

That deceptive usurper.

 

 

 

Now man has free will

Given to him by God

Meaning he has limited choice,

That is all.

 

He is not sovereign

And this is so very clear

For he lives for a period of time

And then disappears.

 

Man may choose

Whether to live or die

And this must be seen in two ways:

One being suicide.

 

Or he can remain dead

In his trespasses and sins

And refuse the gift of salvation

God offers to him.

 

Man can choose to work

Or idle away all day,

He can choose to become muted

Or have a say.

 

He can choose a job

And build a nice career

Or be a recluse and from people

Stay clear.

 

He can have a family,

I mean of his own

Or having been born into a family,

He can go off alone.

 

 

 

A Myriad choices

Are available to all

But understand choice is unlimited

Only to God.

 

God sets the limit

On the choices of man

And we can accept or reject Him

If we so plan.

 

BUT

 

There are consequences

To the choices we make

And these can be very heart wrenching

Like here of late.

 

 

 

Choices by our leaders

And important others

That put harsh measures in place

And cause great bother.

 

Nations against Nations

In skirmishes and war

Choosing weapons of destruction

To show their power.

 

Taking another’s resources

By sheer brute force:

The animals’ survival of the fittest

Now man’s recourse.

 

Changing their gender

As though this is possible

And then actually agitating for it,

Though reprehensible. 

 

Man is not a robot

But then, neither is God

And because He is the I AM that I AM

He is sovereign of all.

 

 

 

Creating Adam and Eve

God gave them a rule:

It was His way or the other way;

They could choose.

 

Think of a world

Without restrictive choice:

Wherein are no rules or regulations:

No regulating voice.

 

No reason, no empathy,

Just all is civil anarchy!

Surely God did not create the world

For this to be.

 

Hence a Sovereign voice

With ultimate control

That can limit the despicably wicked

And put evil on hold.

 

Thus, the reason for death

And the limit imposed,

I AM that I AM is the only Sovereignty

And none other comes close.

 

We can do as we like

But not for as long as we like

For Almighty God is in ultimate control

And will set things right.

 

Free will is limited

And this is without doubt

So, to rulers of countries and nations,

So is your clout.

 

Stewart Russell © November 10, 2025

 

The Snore Catcher

 

 

Everybody snores

I have heard this is true

But I am not so very certain

Tell me, are you?

 

Some argue they don’t

As if they can hear themselves,

If this were possible

I could believe in elves.

 

However, hear this:

I can capture your snoring,

Of course, you’d have to trust me,

You’d have no way of knowing.

 

I tried it with my wife

And she didn’t even know

That I am the snore catcher

That captured her snore.

 

I can prove it too

If you think you need proof,

I have the evidence to show

I am telling the truth.

 

It matters not the snore

Whether high pitch or low,

It could be the recessive snore

Of the one that grows.

 

 

It could be a whisper

Or a tiger-like growl,

It could be the coo of a pigeon

Or coyote’s howl.

 

Whatever the sound

I can capture your snore

And you will have no doubt,

But won’t know for sure.

 

No longer you’ll argue

That you never snore

For I would have captured it

And you will know.

 

Tried and tested!

I am the snore catcher,

Once you give me a chance

You won’t have to bother.

 

Of course, you’d be asleep

And won’t know a thing

Just like you don’t have a clue

When you are sleeping.

 

You can give me a call

At the number below

And I will tell you exactly

Where you can go…

 

To have your snore captured

Then you’ll know for sure

That like everybody else

You also snore.

 

46 86 233

 

 

Grab your cellphone

To understand this code

And with a little commonsense

The place you will know.

 

When you get there

Call me before you sleep

And I will capture your snore

Once your sleep is deep.

 

Shallow sleep won’t work

That I can assure

For if one is having a dream

They cannot snore.

So that number again

If you are willing to trust me,

The snore catcher signing off

46 86 233.

 

Stewart Russell © March 2, 2024

 

Timely Ifs

 

 

O that it were different

And our “ifs” had come before

And the outcome before contemplated

The act would have been no more.

 

But alas, the act preceded the “if”

And the outcome proceeded as planned,

Damage control was ineffective

Regret continued for a span.

 

“O had I known,” but you did,

Post thought to quell the mind,

If only you had thought before

“If” would still be in time.

 

There’s nothing like a timely “if”

Before we commit an act,

An “if” that’s duly thought over

For the act cannot be taken back.

 

 

Sorry and sorrow may follow

And a contrite heart we may manage

But this pales when compared to “if”

When “if” comes before the damage.

 

“If” is an indication of fear

That something could go very wrong,

This attempt to send a message

May bring a whole lot down.

 

If Judas had really thought it over

Perhaps he would have seen the light

But instead his greed and avarice

Landed him in that plight.

 

 

“If” Peter had remembered

Before the cock had actually crowed

Maybe there’d been no denial

And as a consequence, his load.

 

Of course it could not be different

Since Jesus had prophesied

That both these events would happen

So neither could be denied.

 

But we don’t know the future

It’s in the present that we act

So now is the time to consider “if”

And not right after the fact.

 

Stewart Russell © February 2018

 

Worrying

 

 

I am not a worrier

But I worry,

If it doesn’t make sense

It’s an absurdity.

 

This must be one

If you see what I mean,

A worry-less worrier

Is what I deem.

 

A clear contradiction

Is what I see,

It’s either an oxymoron

Or an absurdity.

 

 

It is watertight

But yet it is leaking,

Like someone who is dumb

But yet speaking.

 

Sleepless nights

But I do not worry,

It’s constantly on my mind

But not what I study.

 

Worry brings stress

But I am not stressed

And though I often worry

Stress is not my test.

 

Not making sense?

Well, I do agree,

But Christians say this

Like you and me.

 

 

We are so blessed

We can’t be stressed,

And we are too appointed

To be disappointed.

 

Sounds really good

But is this really true?

Certainly not for me;

How about you?

 

I worry much

But I talk to myself:

Both asking and answering

Is good for my health.

 

When I am afraid

I trust in God

And when I am worried

He’s my all in all.

 

We all worry

At one time or another,

Don’t play let’s pretend,

For that’s a bother.

 

 

But let’s be honest

And deal with worry,

Let us admit it, confess it,

Don’t lag, hurry!

 

Stewart Russell © August 31, 2024

 

The “I Told You So” People

 

 

The "I told you so" people!

We know them well,

They are always in your face

With something to tell.

 

And if it actually occurs

They do "real bad",

Even if it's something undesirable 

They appear glad.

They feel vindicated

For after all "I told you so,

You didn't want to listen to me

But now you know."

 

I told them so

And they wouldn’t listen to me

But I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt

It would happen eventually.

 

It was bound to happen

Sooner or later

But they just ran off at the mouth

Saying, I cutting capers.

 

I told them so

That I had an inside scoop,

But they grudged me from the beginning

Since they weren’t in the loop.

 

 

The “I told you so” people,

Oh, they are very smart

And they can tell you the exact ending

Even before the start.

 

“I did not trust him,

I knew this would happen

But you ignored all my warnings

And now you feel rotten.”

 

The “I told you so” people

Are good at predicting

And somehow, they make it happen,

Somewhat like fixing.

 

They hate to be wrong

Or have their bubble burst

Especially if it is something bad

Or even worse.

 

The “I told you so” people,

Oh, they are very bright

And whether it happens or not

They still got it right.

 

Like modern day prophets

That have no shame,

Despite their “I told you so” fails

They maintain their fame.

 

Not to mention, of course,

Their faithful following

Whom they totally bamboozle

With their guessing.

 

 

And when they get it right

Oh, they prance and parade

Completely forgetting the times

“I told you so” failed.

 

Unabashed and unashamed

In their fun and games

Their giftedness they still maintain

As well as their claims.

 

And so, my final word

To the “not so wise”

The “I told you so” personnel

Are seldom disguised.

 

They want everyone to know

That they told you so

So be on your best behaviour

And let it show.

 

Stewart Russell © June 21, 2025