Beliefs Impact Dreams

 

 

Based on my belief

I often dreamt of Jesus’ return,

I was absolutely convinced

It would be during my sojourn.

 

My night sleep would be filled

With visions of the rapture

But I would suddenly awake

To face reality’s picture.

 

It could be a nightmare

Where I would be left behind

Or caught up in the clouds

At another time.

 

I still recall that time

When I was awakened by a snore,

It was my mother’s trumpeting

That I hear no more.

 

I was steadfast in my gaze

Upon the starry sky

Expecting the Lord would return

And take me on high.

 

By the way, I still do

Though much has been rearranged,

After reading the Word

Quite a lot has been changed.

 

“After reading the Word?

What was he doing all the time?”

I took off the denominational lens

And I disabused my mind.

 

It is amazing how we study

In the light of what we think

And, therein my brother and sister,

Is the denominational link.

 

The denomination we joined

Shapes what we believe

And that influence is what we see

When the Bible we read.

 

We see what we want to see,

It is a denominational thing

And it is even further established

In the songs that we sing.

 

It jumps off the page

Whether it is there or not,

Since for years we have read it

It becomes our lot.

 

We read the pictures presented

Like we did in primary school,

Thus, the concept is cemented

And the denomination rules.

 

We live it out in the daytime

And we dream about it in the night

And as far as we are concerned

It is the only thing that’s right.

 

 

A little brainwashing, perhaps,

Hopefully not the dangerous kind

But at the end of the day,

It is what saturates our mind.

 

Now I read for myself

I no longer have those dreams

And I do not read into the text

What my denomination gleans.

 

I still dream, mind you,

But interestingly, not like before

And the Bible is becoming clearer

As I read it more and more.

 

Stewart Russell © March 21, 2021

 

Why Are We Still Here?

 

 

Why are We still here?

By now we should have left,

I am speaking of the rapture

I don’t mean death.

 

There was a time I believed

That I would not die

And that I would see Jesus return

Some day in the sky.

 

Maybe that is still possible

But I am not so sure,

The word soon is a little confusing

As the event is yet to occur.

 

From as far as I can remember

Jesus was coming soon,

We even sang in the song

Morning, night or noon.

 

And before my time

My parents and grandparents too,

There was an urgency about the return

Before the night was through.

 

 

I experienced it in my dreams

When I slept at night

And often I would come awake

Immobilized with fright.

 

I would then lie in bed

Wishing for morning to come

And afraid to go back to sleep

Because I was so frightened.

 

I seldom have that dream

Since the soon has worn off

Though concerning Jesus’ return

I would never scoff.

 

For I believe that he will

Though I do not know when

But to be honest with you

For me, that is no problem.

 

However, given the fact

That soon was the time

I believe that we have missed it

Though not left behind.

 

  

 

Hence, the question I asked:

 Why are we still here?

For soon was a long time ago

And not necessarily near.

 

That soon could not be for us

Thousands of years hence,

It is time my brother, my sister,

We shift our defense.

 

I recommend Matthew 24

And the book of Revelation

As well as Mark 13 and Luke 21

For more information.

 

Pay close attention

To “soon” in these Scriptures,

Do not mistake which generation

And you will get the picture.

 

Stewart Russell © May 2020

 

Relieved by My Mom’s Snore

I jumped with a start

There was fear in my heart,

It was early morning

And still quite dark.

 I sat up in my bed

Weird thoughts in my head,

Could it have happened?

The very thing I dread?

Then I heard the sound

Of a person in sleep,

It was my mother’s snoring

Her slumber was deep.

Her snoring was annoying

It could keep you awake,

Hence that was something

That I just could not take.

It was like a death rattle

Like soon she’d be no more

And that thought alone

Scared me to the core.

But on that occasion

It was like music to me,

Mom had not been raptured,

What a welcomed reality!

It was in my late teens

Or perhaps early twenties

And all like back then

The rapture frightened me.

I was afraid it had happened

And I had been left,

I was more afraid of the rapture

Than I was of death.

My mother is a Christian

Of that I am sure,

I knew it had not happened

When I heard her snore.

That’s the teaching I received

As I grew up in the church,

I must prepare for the rapture

Or be left in the lurch.

It is critical we be ready

For some rapture will occur,

We know Jesus will return

Though as to how we differ.

My mother is still alive

But I live with her no more,

Still I remember that early morning

When I was relieved by her snore.

Stewart Russell © October 2018