Just Can’t Remember

 

 

I went back inside

For what, I can’t remember

And this happens daily

From January to December.

 

It has to be important

Though what, I cannot say

And believe me when I tell you

It happens every day.

 

Those two appliances

I mix up all the time:

The microwave and refrigerator

Always come to mind.

 

One is near the other

And that could be why

But I check myself at the very last

And I’m still getting by.

 

If you lose something

First check your hand,

Friend, it’s not a laughing matter,

Not even nearly, fam.

 

If you miss your phone

Why not check your ear?

That’s where it could well be;

I just hope you hear.

 

 

What is your name?

I can’t recall it now,

I know we’ve been friends a while

But I’ve forgotten somehow.

 

It happened recently

But I can’t remember who,

You can laugh at me all you want

But it happens to you too.

 

I am still driving

And I still do so at nights

And I do not have any problem

With oncoming lights.

 

I fight fire with fire

And I have bright lights too,

Keep your bright lights in my eyes

And mine will affect your view. 

 

 

 

The lights are no bother

But often I don’t recall

And the land marks I see in the day

At night aren’t there at all.

 

They simply disappear

Or go into hiding

And don’t come out to direct me

At night when I’m driving.

 

And those roundabouts!

At night they confuse me

Especially those far-out ones

Not negotiated recently.

 

Even the Internet

Where I spend much time,

Sometimes I just can’t remember

Something I want to find.

 

But I remember my name

And my address too

And if I forget either of these,

I can ask you.

 

 

And I remember family

At least for the most part,

And I still remember the one

That’s closest to my heart.

 

I can still write a poem

With relative ease

Whether it is an important topic

Or just to tease.

 

And most of all,

I still trust in God

And I do remember and declare,

He is my all in all.

 

Stewart Russell © November 30, 2024

 

 

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