Difficult to Swallow

 

 

Occasionally I have a dream,

I find particularly strange,

I am trying to swallow but can’t

Though I strain.

 

My mouth appears full

For whatever reason

And though you may laugh,

This isn’t fun.

 

What is even stranger

Is that I do not think to spit,

This should give some ease

But I do think of it.

 

Fortunately, I would wake

Before I choke,

May I remind you, my friend,

This isn’t a joke.

 

It is like whatever it is

Is just lodged in your throat,

Sometimes it happens in real life

And we should take note.

 

There is the physical form

Similar to my dream

Only that in real life experience

It’s a terrifying scene.

 

 

Help is urgently required

To stop that one from choking

And again, I remind you,

I am not joking.

 

Then there is an argument

That just doesn’t wash

In which the opposer is adamant

That it should be squashed.

 

It is difficult to swallow

It just does not make sense

But when explained to the proposer,

He or she takes offence.

 

I will give you an example

Straight from the Bible

In which words mean the opposite

According to some people.

 

Take the book of Revelation

Where certain words are used

Then examine the interpretation

Which some people choose.

 

Must shortly come to pass

For some means 2000 years hence,

I do not mean to be ridiculous

Do not take offence.

 

For the time is at hand

Means a very long time off,

If I say it has already happened

I know some will scoff.

 

Then there is ‘quickly’

Found seven times in this book,

For your own satisfaction

Go and take a look.

 

 

Some interpret quickly

As how fast it will happen

But the context of each passage

Says when it will be done.

 

Which must shortly be done

Cannot mean how fast,

To make this phrase say such

Is a phenomenal task.

 

It is imminent

Even at the door!

Not two thousand year later

But two thousand before!

 

It is difficult to swallow

It was for me too

But I let the Word speak for itself,

You should do so too.

 

Don’t be too quick to interpret

Before noting what the Bible says,

Must shortly come to pass

Can’t be 2000 years.

 

Stewart Russell © September 10, 2023

 

Breaking the Bible

I heard of a man that broke the Bible

To get his daily word,

Whether true or not I do not know

But I find it most absurd.

Breaking the Bible is not like Moses

Who broke the Ten Commandments,

Back then he was angry, shockingly angry

When he saw the people’s bent.

Breaking the Bible is allowing the book

To fall open at whatever page,

By this, this man would get his word

I trust you have passed that stage.

 

Matthew 27:5

One day he did but was quite amazed

At the page the Bible opened,

“And Judas went out and hang himself.”

At this, he was frightfully uncertain.

 

Luke 10:37

“Not that!” he said and tried again

But a second surprise was in store,

“Go thou and do likewise!” The word had said,

So he decided to try once more.

 

John 13:27

“That thou doest, do quickly!”

Was the third instruction sent,

Well you guessed right, this too he refused

And decided on a final attempt.

 

Revelation 1:3

It had worked before on the very first try

Maybe this fourth time would be it,

“The time is at hand,” is the instruction he saw

And with that he decided to quit.

A word to you Bible breakers out there

It is time that you also quit,

For as you can see, as this man found out.

This is a dangerous habit.

It is best, I suggest, to study a word

And keep it within context,

You’ll learn a lot more from this approach

And it is considerably less complex.

Breaking the Bible, like you have seen,

Is never a good thing to do,

Unless of course, you are breaking the word,

Which is a completely different view.

Stewart Russell © October 2019