Much Ado About Nothing

 

 

I have written at length

On the reality of nothing

Only to realize when nothing is used

There is something.

 

Nothing is something

That is not clearly defined

And oft leaves a lasting impression

On everyone’s mind.

 

Nothing’s in the pantry,

Nothing’s in her purse,

What is it that you have done?

Nothing is rehearsed.

 

Even the little child

When asked what he’d done

Would adamantly reply nothing

And then he’d run.

 

Nothing is something

We are often told

And many scientists do believe

It’s billions of years old.

 

As a matter of fact

You might have heard

That nothing created the world,

Though absurd.

 

In the beginning

Was absolutely nothing

And through the power of nothing

We have everything.

 

So, if you have nothing

You really have everything,

So, relax and just take it all in stride;

And in the meantime, sing.

 

What caused Big Bang?

It was nothing, of course,

Nothing is like nothing, you see,

When nothing’s the force.

 

 

Nothing is the cause

That caused everything,

And without nothing, I dare say,

Would be not a thing.

 

A weird rendering

Of John chapter 1 verse 3

Replacing Jesus with nothing,

How can this be?

 

All things

Were made by nothing;

And without nothing was not anything made

 That was made.

 

Much ado about nothing

We have often stated

But never in reference at any time

To things created.

 

It blows my mind

And absolutely so

Regarding the absurd lengths

To which people go.

 

Failing to believe

In the omnipotent God,

They argue nothing is first cause;

Nothing created it all.

 

 

Genesis is a myth

And should not be believed

Whereas nothing is more credible

And should be received.

 

Why is there something

Rather than nothing?

Because of nothing, dear Watson,

Nothing’s everything.

 

Nothing, you see,

Is greater than God

So, who needs a fictional creator

When nothing is all? 

 

Nothing, you see,

Is greater than God:

This statement is true and false;

Please, no applause.

 

True for the creationist

And false for the atheist

Depending on where nothing comes

On either one’s list.

 

Nothing is greater

Than the Almighty God,

This most certainly must be true

Since God created all.

 

Nothing is greater

Than the Almighty God,

For the atheist this must be false

Since nothing is first cause.

 

Be content with nothing

For nothing is gain,

Power to all who have nothing

Has to be insane.

 

Be satisfied, I urge you,

With nothing from now

And you will be sure to get through,

I guarantee somehow.

 

 

Note my sarcasm

Regarding getting through,

Falling would be a better expression;

What think you?

 

Stewart Russell © July 28, 2025

 

Integrity Legislation

 

 

Integrity legislation was promised

By successive governments

And their many passionate speeches

Spoke of genuine intent.

 

It was felt that thievery

Had to be brought to a halt

Since the very last Government

Was mostly at fault.

 

They had done their utmost

To become filthy rich

And in their obsession with wealth

They hadn’t missed a trick.

 

Thus, the current Government

Like the two before

Promised to do much better but since,

Has done no more.

 

 

 

Two bites at the cherry

And two thirty-loves after

There is still no integrity legislation

Bar scorn and laughter.

 

No public declaration

Certainly, as far as I know,

Therefore, like all the ones before them,

They are a no-show.

 

Prior to Elections 2018

A promise was made

To bring to justice those found guilty

But this, to no avail.

 

The USA did even better

Regarding a certain allegation

And a former DLP Cabinet Minister

Was actually imprisoned.

 

But nothing was uncovered

By the present Government

And the proposed integrity legislation

Is still an elusive event.

 

 

 

From the Tom Adams era

And that of Arthur and Stuart,

I have no doubt integrity legislation

Influenced the vote.

 

    One public declaration

Was a private one

Declared to the then Prime Minister

Who is long gone.

 

 

 

Another PM declared his,

Raising some doubts

But his MPs did not follow through,

Showing some clout.

 

They did not have to

Since it wasn’t the law

And the info omitted by the PM,

Only he saw.

 

 

 

Hundred-day promises

Also went abegging

And up to now in twenty-twenty-five

Legislation is still lagging.

 

When will it come about?

Hold not your breath

For holding one’s breath too long

Is flirting with death.

 

Who will guard the guards?

Hopefully, the Law,

But a law that is yet to be passed,

Only highlights a flaw.

 

 

 

Integrity legislation

Is really about integrity,

If one has something one wants to hide,

It will cause one misery.

 

What other reason

Can anyone come up with

For integrity legislation still lacking

And so far, is a myth?

  

Two bites at the cherry

With a third drawing nigh,

If you favour this legislation, say “Yea”

And “Nay” if it you decry.

 

My wish for Independence

Anniversary number 59 is:

Please bring the integrity legislation

Promised a long time.

 

Stewart Russell ©November 18, 2025

 

The Unfolding of a Plan

 

 

The unfolding of a plan

From inception to completion,

The narrative, not the myth,

Of man’s redemption.

 

From Eden’s perfection

To that horrendous fall

But thank God, in His agape love,

That was not all.

 

Thus, came offerings

That were only types:

Of the symbolic and ceremonial

But weren’t quite right.

 

Until Shiloh came

That was to be the Light

Shining out of gross darkness

And blackness of night.

 

From a stone as a pillow

To a pillar of stone,

Angels ascending and descending

Showing God’s throne.

 

From a stone to an altar

With many a stone

Bearing the sacrificial offerings

Whereupon burn.

 

To a crudely looking tent

But heavenly designed

Where man approached God

At an appointed time.

 

 

To tabernacle with man

Though not in fulness

But symbolic of what was to come

In man’s eternal rest.

 

To an impressive edifice

Built by David’s Son,

The third king of mighty Israel,

Who was King Solomon.

 

But this was not all;

These were mainly types

Signifying greater was to come

In the form of the Light.

 

This centre-piece temple

Became the wherewithal

And just like in Eden’s Garden

Denoted another fall.

 

Destroyed then rebuilt

By Nehemiah and Ezra

It later became a sight to behold

When refurbished by Herod.

 

Monumental in significance

It was to the Jews

When in relation to its future

Jesus gave terrible news.

 

It was the Jews ultimate

But to God: part of a plan;

A plan that was steadily unfolding

In the redemption of man.

 

Destruction was coming,

Its time near at hand

And soon very little would remain

Of this temple grand.

 

The unfolding of a plan

From inception to completion,

The narrative, not the myth,

Of man’s redemption.

 

 

From a stone to an altar,

From an altar to a tabernacle:

All bespeaking itinerancy

Before the temple.

 

Then came the temple:

A more permanent stay

But then that was removed

And Jesus is here.

 

And now we, lively stones,

Are built up into him,

Pardon of our transgressions

And relieved of our sin.

 

No longer strangers

From Israel’s Commonwealth

But one in the Lord Christ Jesus

Growing in spiritual health.

 

 

The plan has unfolded;

“It is finished!” said Christ,

He is our temple and we, his,

No more sacrifice.

 

Our bodies are temples

In which Christ dwells,

It’s a wonderful transformation

Of which we can tell.

 

We have come to Mt Zion

Leaving Sinai behind,

Never to return to that mountain

Now or at any time.

 

 

The unfolding of a plan

From inception to completion,

The narrative, not the myth,

Of man’s redemption.

 

Stewart Russell © January 5, 2025

 

His Story

 

 

Do note the title!

It is two words and not one,

It is a prophetic history

Not totally gone.

 

It is a history written

And its end already declared

By God who established it

In Christ who did appear.

 

People look for flaws

And for contradictions too,

And seek to confuse many

Like me and like you.

 

But His story is flawless;

No errors you will find,

Any contradictions that exist

Exist in our mind.

 

His story is about a plan

And, also a man,

One needs to recognize this

To better understand.

 

 

From Genesis to Revelation

Redemption is its theme,

Jesus is central to His story

In every unfolding scene.

 

It starts out with the creation:

The origin of the universe,

All was declared good

But then sin emerged.

 

In a corner of creation

There was the garden of Eden

Where the first married couple

Committed the forbidden.

 

Adam and Eve were real:

Not a mere legend or myth

As some would want to say,

If you catch my drift.

 

If Adam and Eve is a myth

Then so was the crucifixion,

There was no coming of the Christ

And definitely no resurrection.

 

No ascension,

Hence, no coming back again,

If the beginning is a myth

Then none has a claim.

 

The cleric who believes this,

What does he teach?

For, if there is no Saviour

Of whom does he preach?

 

Thank God, my friend,

This is so far from the truth,

His story is history

Substantiated by His proof.

 

For the woman’s seed

Did bruise the serpent’s head,

The crucifixion proved

Just what in Genesis is said.

 

Thousands of years after

This event was prophesied,

The woman’s seed, Jesus,

Was crucified.

 

 

His story was unfolding,

It was all coming true,

Jesus came and he died

For me and for you.

 

So, if Genesis is a myth,

The Church’s preaching is in vain

So, what is this cleric doing

Preaching in Jesus’ name?

 

It’s a contradiction of sorts

Or a confused state of mind,

No wonder such clerics get it wrong

Each and every time.

  

His story is still unfolding;

The end is already written,

There is the reality of salvation

For all of the forgiven.

 

For the creator of the beginning

Is the establisher of the end,

Man make talk his foolishness

But God is God, my friend.

 

 

Whose report will you believe?

His story or man’s?

Will you believe the Devil’s lie?

Or trust redemption’s plan?

 

All of the Holy Bible, I repeat,

Is centred on a man

And that man, I reiterate,

Is central to salvation’s plan.

 

There is no Saviour

Other than the Saviour, Jesus Christ,

And the salvation he offers

Is the only one that will suffice.

 

Tell my friend, that cleric,

He must revisit the Word

For the one that he now teaches

Is absolutely absurd!

 

Stewart Russell © February 13, 2022