Of Phobias Two

 

 

 

Of the myriad phobias

There are two that are right here:

Islam and homosexuality

These two bring me much fear.

 

And they are on the increase

In numbers and in strength

And to accomplish all they desire

They will go to any length.

 

Only just the other day

I came across a brand-new fear

Islam-a-phobia was its name

And someone said it’s here.

 

 

So just imagine this:

These two fast growing fears

Islam-a-phobia and homophobia

And both of them are here.

 

The difference in these two

From the phobias that I know

Would be their very subtle deception

And the rate at which they grow.

 

They can sneak in the backdoor

In very undercover ways

And their appeal to tolerance

Do on our mind plays.

 

Nothing’s wrong with either

Is the unenlightened comment

Plus, the stigmatizing of all persons

That in any way resent.

 

 

I desperately try to understand

The agendas of these two

And they both seem set of coercing

All and sundry to their view.

 

 

I follow both across the world

In places where they are like towers

And their status in some countries

Has given them great power.

 

Yes, I hear you loud and clear,

“Why should they be a worry?”

And my answer to such a query

Comes out in many a story.

 

Stories in many places

Where both have stormed ahead

Leading to many disillusioned families

And many more that dread.

 

The dread of that initial lure

Like a fish that’s drawn to the bait

That struggles to escape its hook

But alas, it is too late.

 

And therein lies my fear

Call it a phobia, if you like,

The truth of the matter strikingly is

For many, it is a fright.

 

And the backing they have

Both financially and otherwise

Says they will be around for a while

Up front and in disguise.

 

 

Of phobias two

Only to the enlightened that fear

For there are many that don’t

And to me that is clear.

 

At first, they appear harmless

Until they get a “foot in the door”

But thereafter they take over

After one has taken the lure.

 

Many a daunting phobia

Is a fear and nothing more

But these two that I have mentioned

Have much more in store.

 

 

They both decimate the family

By weakening its building blocks:

One through its jihadists,

The other at nothing stops.

  

One takes a community’s adults

The other inhibits birth,

Islam and homosexuality

These two phobias in the earth.

 

Stewart Russell © September 23, 2021

 

Jesus Is Winning

 

 

For the earth shall be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea.

 

Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 14

Is the biblical address

Of this enlightening portion of Scripture

Upon which we can rest.

 

Some argue it is outdated

 In this “quote unquote” post-Christian era

But I stoutly stand on the Word of God

And unequivocally shout, “Never!”

 

Never will the Word be outdated

It shall stand forever,

Relevant to every age and era

The Word shall endure “forever”.

 

Heaven and earth will pass away

But the Word will always stand

Irrespective of Satan and his minions

Or whatever the dissidents plan.

 

 

“For the earth shall be filled”

Does not speak of the end

But to the post Pentecost period

And not just around a bend.

 

The poem says Jesus is winning

But how do we know?

Go to the end of His Holy Word

And there it clearly shows.

 

The fact that Jesus wins in the end

Tells me he must be winning

And thousands are being transformed

From dying to living.

 

Don’t judge by your community

Where nothing might be happening

But take a wider view of the world

Where to Jesus souls are coming.

 

 

I am sure you’ve taken up a novel

And after just a few pages

Checked to see how it ended

By skipping the between stages.

 

And having found it ended well

You read on to your heart’s content

Aware that whatever transpires

You knew of the author’s intent.

 

Yes, Jesus is definitely winning

Regardless of the outlook,

That is exactly what he has promised

Throughout his Holy Book.

 

There is scarcely a country

That the Gospel has not reached

And faith is coming by hearing

The blessed Word being preached.

 

It shall never return void

The promised the Lord has given

And whoever acknowledges the Saviour,

His sins will be forgiven.

 

 

And the earth shall be filled

With the knowledge of God’s glory

As Christians everywhere

Tell of salvation’s wonderful story.

 

Not a fairy tale or Anansi story

Not a fictional novel or myth,

But the story the angels heralded

When they announced the timely gift.

 

The people that walked in darkness

Have seen a radiant light,

That light of the world is Jesus

That gives to the blind their sight.

 

It will stand the test of time

Be it the LGBTQ, Islam or Judaism,

The knowledge of God’s glory is filling the earth

And tearing down schism after schism.

 

    Stewart Russell © November 29, 2020

Salvation in No Other

Some people set store by a given day

Some in an organization or denomination,

Some in a church movement or association,

Some by some creed or by indoctrination.

Some may put trust in the Pope

Or in some other very illustrious apostle,

Some prefer their prophets and religious gurus

While others just want to be someone’s disciple.

Some pull passages from the Bible

And upon these will build their doctrine,

Some will make the Bible secondary

And then set store by what is in the discipline.

Some believe it’s in what they do and say

While some trust in their tithe and giving,

Some hold up their self-righteous acts

As though salvation results from one’s living.

A myriad of qualifications are proffered

Concerning the obtaining of salvation

And for some only a minuscule selection

Will avoid the fires of damnation.

Little is said about the Christ of Calvary

And the price he paid for sin

And when mentioned it is so very erroneous

As though everybody will just be gathered in.

Sin is played down on every hand

And sermons about hell not often heard,

God sent Jesus to die for the world

So all and sundry will get to see the Lord.

It is true that all will get to see the Lord

But not in the way that some believe

For some he will be their Saviour

But others his fierce judgment will receive.

You see the path is marked out in blood

The shed blood of the glorious Christ

And only those who come by way of the cross

Will benefit from the Saviour’s sacrifice.

It is not in Mohammed, Buddha or Haile Selassei

In Judaism, Islam or even Christianity,

It is not in Hinduism, Sikhism or Animism

But only through Jesus who is from eternity.

For God so loved the world, the Bible says

That He gave His only begotten Son

And it’s only by the precious blood of Jesus

That a penitent sinner can be won.

And so the Bible makes it crystal clear

That there is salvation in no other,

Jesus is the only name given under heaven

And to trust any other would be a bother.

So if you should hear his voice this day

I entreat you to harden not your heart

For in the coming day of judgment

You do not want to hear “from me depart”.

To all those who believe that for them

It is adherence to some religious guru,

Remember it this same Jesus you will face

And your religious guru will do so too.

He for himself and you for you

For none can stand in another’s place

When the Judge of Heaven sits in His court

And all stand before His face.

The one question I am sure he will ask

Will not be how well you have lived your life

But whether or not you had trusted in him

To deliver you out of sin’s strife.

At that point any other would be a waste

Of your time, your effort and your plea,

For the truth of the matter will come to light

That Jesus is the only Saviour for you and me.

No other name I say

No other name I repeat

Whereby a man can be saved

For all others spell defeat.

Stewart Russell © 2017