A Stroll with a Difference

I was out walking one day

A leisurely stroll you may say

When I happened on a gated community

Not quite out of my way.

It was walled almost all around

But its gates were opened wide

So having much time to spare

I thought I would venture inside.

I was impressed with the arrangement

Of the residences inside,

So particularly were they ordered

To a design definitively prescribed.

I strolled along the avenues

Inspecting each one as I went

While all the while I was thinking,

“What was the designer’s intent?”

They were mostly the same size

A few were different though

And from the elaborate edifices

One could determine the high and low.

Some appeared to be very old

While others were freshly built,

I could tell by the earth around them

There was a mixture of rocks and silt.

It was all quiet and peaceful

As though they were in for the day

Or perhaps the adults were out to work

And the children at school or play.

No one was one around to question

So I decided to explore some more,

Up and down the avenues I walked

To see what else was in store.

In some cases special care was taken

As to make the habitat the best

And I must certainly confess

That I was extremely impressed.

  

Some of the boundaries were walled

With wrought iron as the finish

While others were open to all

More like the kind I would relish.

The flowers and shrubs were plenty

Presenting a most delightful sight

And the birds, butterflies and bees

Were back and forth in their flight.

My mind shifted from the residences

To the residents that were within,

Who were they I wondered

And whether they were saved from sin.

I wondered about their contribution

To their community and the Nation

And their obligation to themselves

Particularly regarding their salvation.

And what about their children

And those of whom they were given charge

Were they just taken up with themselves?

Or looked out for the community at large?

Not far away was a church

And not too far from that was another,

I wondered how many attended either

Or whether they never bothered.

Today our lives are so fast paced

And we are so keen to stay in the race

That many go by unnoticed

And suddenly they vanished without a trace.

Here I was in this community

Preoccupied with the plight of its residents

Wondering about its adults and children

And what were their purpose and intent.

Eventually I was back at the gate

Fortunately it was still flung open wide,

Still preoccupied with I all I had seen

I proceeded to the outside.

I walked away a little

In the direction from which I had come

Then I stopped and looked back

Towards the setting sun.

It appeared far different from earlier

When I first started out on my stroll,

From white it was now orange coloured

And the evening was becoming cold.

It vividly reminded me of life

With the vibrancy and vigour of youth

And then as the sun begins to set

We come face to face with the truth.

The truth regarding our destination

Is not to be confused with our destiny

For as we close our eyes in death

Preparation is made for another community.

This community is our destination

It is where we are interred at death

But our destiny is much different

And goes far beyond our last breath.

It is really about an eternity

Either with God or without

And in the case of both communities

There is no chance of a turn about.

You see I had strolled into a community

From which I was able to walk out,

The difference between me and its occupants

Was that this life still gives me some clout.

Now I could come and go as I pleased

They no longer could do the same

But some future time should the good Lord tarry

In such a community I too will rest my frame.

There too most homes will be alike

Except for the pillars others will erect

But these won’t matter to those interred

Whether rich or poor death has no respect.

A stroll with a difference I would say

And particularly morbid I would add

But if you should enter without Jesus Christ

There will come a day most sad.

Stewart Russell © 2017

Anonymous

 

I won’t tell who I am

But by the end you’ll know my name

For there will be no doubt in your mind

Regarding my popularity and fame.

I have been around a very long time

How long I wouldn’t even mention

Understand though as you read this

I was before the first invention.

Did I say before the first invention?

Well that is not exactly accurate

Fig leaves came just before I arrived

And then after I had my first date.

I have seen skirmish after skirmish

And I have never missed a war

And the things that you like about life

I most definitely abhor.

I walk among the rich

And I keep company with the poor

With me kings and queens affiliate

Stick around and I’ll tell you some more.

People just love to hate me

And I am blamed for every lost

Insurance companies dare not disregard me

To them I am a significant cost.

I fear no woman, I fear no man

I am not intimidated by girl or boy

The very things that advance their lives

Are often in my employ.

I am older than the oldest man

More relevant than today

And in most of the cases I have tackled

I have mostly had my way.

Young and old are acquainted with me

I have been to every home

I am at ease with the biggest crowd

But I am just as comfortable alone.

It would appear I am omnipresent

And your nature is suited to me

I revelled in hatred and anger

And in human hostility.

I reside in every country

Not a single family escapes me

I have no time to sit on thrones

For I am too busy bringing misery.

I have flown on many a plane

I have crossed every single sea

I have traversed the densest jungles

And the deserts have not escaped me.
 

I make it my business to bring fear

Separation is my portfolio

I am the Minister of distress and harassment

And presided in many an overthrow.

I interrupt the best-made plans

And institute operations of my own

I make mock sport at their projections

From time immemorial my business has grown.

Occasionally I encounter failure

But success is just around the bend

And before you can say cock robin

There is another funeral to attend.

My ads are in every country’s paper

In some tabloids page by page

You’ll never read your name there though

It doesn’t matter your age.

Which brings me to the significant point

That I have never missed a funeral

Some have been simple, some elaborate

Depending on the status of the people.

I am often the talk of the town

For some I guarantee a generous income

Particularly them who live off others dying

But they too have their course to run.

One thing you could say for me

I do not favour or discriminate

There is no amount that you can pay me

And when your time comes you will be the late.

I never take a bribe and I do not grudge

For such I have no need

In any case my quiver is always full

On account of man’s avarice and his greed.

I recall it was the very first spring

And I was privy to a certain conversation

The instructions were clear as clear can be

But the recipients followed another's direction.

From that era until the present time

Every day has been a field day

I have never lacked for victims

For invariably they come my way.

In any endeavour there are highs and lows

And my greatest high was my premiere low

For a moment there I had the Prince of Life

But I was forced to let him go.

Three days I held him in the belly of the earth

I was so sure that he was mine

But suddenly he was no longer there

That experience is difficult to define.
 

I have had two partners throughout time

And we really felt the victory was ours

But my sting was removed and their victory short lived

Swallowed up by His infinite power.

I am the resurrection and the life

The Creator of life once said

And those who put their trust in Him

Will one day be delivered from the dead.

In the meantime I shall continue my business

Working with partners two and three

And taking consolation in the very fact

That I will be around for eternity.

For those who die in the Prince of Life

Will be gathered together with him

And those in him at his return

Will over me the greatest victory win

But those who reject the Prince of life

Will be mine for ever and ever

Eternally separated from their Maker and Judge

Eternal separation from the Saviour

Stewart Russell (@) 2016

Don’t Be Deceived

 

Don’t be

So naïve

To conceive

That you can receive

Jesus

If you don’t believe

That he died

Your soul

To retrieve;

From such

There is

No reprieve.

For one

Must believe

That Jesus

Was conceived

Of the

Holy Spirit

To receive

Eternal salvation

And not

Be deceived

To believe

Salvation is in any other.

For they

Who believe

Are they

Who receive

Jesus

Whose souls

Are retrieved

From destruction

And who

Are reprieved

And finally relieved

Of the body of death.

So let

Faith arise

Having been apprised

Of the impending

Demise

For they who

Wouldn’t realize

And they who

Who consistently

Despise

The salvation

In which hope lies.

For without

This hope

You’ll have to cope

With the

Slippery slope

And the suicidal

Rope

You place around

You neck

Having eloped

With the enemy

Of your soul.

One final word

In case

You haven’t heard

Or you are still

Bent on being absurd;

Your sins confess

Your penitence express

Acknowledge your distress

Let Jesus

Sort your mess

And at his behest

Accept his rest.

Stewart Russell © 2016

I Am Amazed

 

Please read right to the end before forming an opinion.

 

I am amazed

 At how we treat our children

Forcing them to like our stuff

And if they don’t

We get rough

And we get tough

I am amazed

At how we train our children

Forcing them to like our fashion

And if they don’t

We get in a passion

And treat them with aggression

I am amazed

At how we bamboozle our children

With our religion

That we know so little about

And how we shout

When our children opt out

I am amazed

At how we say no to our children

When it would be so much easier

To say yes

And give them our best

To relieve their stress

I am amazed

Why we make it hard for our children

In telling them to wait

Just for one minute

As a regular habit

And they see us like a cynic

I am amazed

When we criticize our children

Especially in their wrongdoing

Rather than smile

All the while

And encourage their style

I am amazed

When we try to guide our children

In the way of the Bible

Even in this modern day

Rather than let them have their say

In just how they want to stray

I am amazed

At how we regard our children

Not recognizing

They are far brighter than we are

Or ever will be

In spite of our jealousy

I am amazed

At how we try to control our children

Denying them their freedom

And their so-called rights

To do as they please

And sail through life with ease

I am amazed

At how we try to stop our children

From falling where we fell

And making our mistakes

So that in this life

They can get an easier break

I am amazed

At how we educate our children

By sending them to schools

With traditional standards and rules

To acquire the necessary tools

So they won’t be anybody’s fools

I am amazed

At how we treat to our children

As parents and not as buddies

When it would be far better

To be like their friends

And share the dividends

I am amazed

How we chastise our children

For our archaic and outmoded perception

Attributing to them rudeness and disrespect

Rather than introspect

And come to grips with what to expect

I am amazed

At how we reprimand our children

Spanking and punishing them

Instead of giving rewards

Despite their deviant behavior

That does not meet with our favour

I am amazed

At how we try to rob our children

Of their independence and uniqueness

Of the intrigues of this life 

Though seemingly weird

Classifying the same as strife

I am amazed

That we force church on our children

Making them angry and resentful

And then wonder

Why they are what they are

And with progressive minds not on par

I am amazed

That as we raise our children

That we cannot see eye to eye

With the proponents of the new ideologies

Their schisms and philosophies

Their tomfoolery and devilry

I am amazed

That in spite of having us for their parents

They are still blossoming and growing

They are radiant and glowing

They are reaping what they are sowing

Isn’t this mind blowing?

I am amazed

At the amazing strides

Our amazing communities are amazingly making

Because of our amazing children

And how amazingly

We have raised them

And if you are not amazed

Then I am amazed

That there are still

Some amazing old-fashioned parents

Numbered in an amazing minority

Who still have respect for God’s amazing authority

Our children still need our guidance

As they traverse life’s deceptive maze

We cannot afford to abandon them

As they process each critical phase

As amazing as it may seem

God still holds parents accountable

Even in this postmodern age

For raising up a godly people

Stewart Russell © 2017