Somebody's before Somebody

 

 

Yes, there is a difference

Between these two:

Somebody’s and Somebody

‘Tis very true.

 

I am somebody’s

Before I am somebody,

This is so both physically

And socially.

 

I am somebody

Because I am somebody’s,

Were it not for my parents

I’d be nobody.

 

There is nobody

And there is a nobody:

The former has never existed

And the latter is socially.

 

 

If one is a nobody

That one is frowned upon

And more often is regarded

As a nobody’s son.

 

Lacking in status,

The lowest of the lows

And in dress and behaviour,

This is likely to show.

 

However, though,

He is still somebody

Due to the unmistakable fact

He is here physically.

 

Born of a woman

Thus, the seed of a man,

But very unlike Jesus Christ

In redemption’s plan.

 

 

Jesus the God-Man

Was the seed of the woman

Only in so much as to effect

Salvation’s plan.

 

I am somebody’s

Before I was somebody,

Not only physically and socially

But also spiritually.

 

Possessed by Christ

And born of the Spirit,

I am spiritually somebody

Though not by merit.

 

Bought back

By his atoning blood,

Jesus did for depraved me

What no one else could.

 

Being God’s child

Makes me not only somebody’s

But in Christ Jesus

I am somebody.

 

Born again

Not of the will of man

But of the blessed Holy Spirit-

The Triune plan.

 

I am somebody’s:

Owned by the Trinity

And this makes me somebody

Because of Christ in me.

 

 

 

Redeemed by the Father

Redeemed through the Son,

Kept in the Holy Spirit-

They Three-in-One.

 

Somebody’s, I am God’s,

Somebody in Christ,

Possessed by the Holy Spirit,

They three suffice.

 

Somebody's before Somebody

A physical and spiritual fact,

Born of the flesh and of the Spirit

Let's give thanks for that.

 

Stewart Russell © March 18, 2024

 

Guess Who These People Are

 

 

Welcome to the Lodge Road church

These are some of its members

Perhaps you will be able to spot them

If for a moment your mind can linger.

 

This one is of a fairly light complexion

CEO of this long-standing assembly

Multi-talented and quite devoted

And his ten years here should be noted.

 

He is well supported by his lovely wife

And his two daughters the pride of his life

The older, a leader in her very own right

As she leads the youth in this worthy fight.

 

This person almost lives here in this building

And she too helps care for the perishing

Dark skinned unlike the one before

And often gets here to open the church door.

 

The board comprises a fairly mixed crew

One handles the money and all that’s due

Another writes like it’s going out of style

And all church business she has to file.

 

Slim and dark deals with Sunday school

Now assisting a new member in the pool

Two years she has served as its CEO

But this year decided that she has to go.

 

A certain young man who is an usher

His wife is now the Sunday School Super

Last conference a member raised her hand

So now the Sunday school she must command.

 

 

Watch out for this particular person

That likes to beg during the Christmas season

The end of her name is the opposite to come

When she begs it’s for a very good reason.

 

This man could be the tallest man around

A man among men, his history is sound

A very bright fellow I consider is he

Well known in the Lodge Road community.

  

This one sounds like bajan but is Guyanese

May stutter sometimes but aims to please

He majors on the positive side of vice

And as a chairman he is absolutely nice.

 

This young man’s name rhymes with shovel

But not the kind of person you’d see grovel

Upright, though short, and a little plump

Always a pleasant smile and never a grump.

 

The above are the members of the board

Try to remember them don’t be absurd

Let’s work along with them all year through

And make Lodge Road the church with the view.

 

 

A few more members I would like to highlight

As we press forward in this spiritual fight

Time would not allow me to name everyone

So just a few more and then I am done.

 

Like this person who sits in a particular seat

And comes on Friday nights to give us a treat

Her spouse lacks inches and he must be here

So he faithfully comes and does his share.

 

She is an usher, a cook and shrewd organizer

Like another lady she is an exquisite dresser

The Friday night act comes under her domain

She is responsible and takes much of the strain.

 

There’s a light-skinned girl, she’s like a queen

On every Friday night she too can be seen

As well as a certain girl who play she could act

Up to this morning she was displaying that fact.

 

This one likes much food even though he’s lean

One wonders where he puts it for it can’t be seen

And I seeing now the new SSS is an actress too

Showing off her skill with the advertising crew.

 

This particular lady lives out in Wotton

She lives in the top part not the bottom

She is a Friday night person and grills the fish

She fries a mean “fries” too, if that is your wish.

 

 

There are others too who help in this cause

And this time is as good as any to take a pause

To thank all of them for a job well done

And say to all you won’t regret if ever you come.

 

This particular family can have a business

There are four sons and that is established

Four sons would give them two funeral homes

We can trust their caskets and not pay the loans.

 

 

Daily she climbs up to the Mount of Praise

I hope for Christmas that she gets a raise

It is not my business to call out her name

Only to tell you that it rhymes with grain.

 

Oh what a voice! A voice so sweet and so clear

Listen to the strains so pleasant to every ear

Getting older but yet still it’s getting sweeter

Attend 7 a.m. service and you’ll surely hear her.

 

This member is neither pretentious nor vain

His complexion just does not suit his name

But he’s cooperative and fits into any slot

And is one of our members that works a lot.

 

 

Ryan Brathwaite is known for a certain race

In a family here there is more than a trace

St Philip they come from and there return

Guess who they are or from one of them learn.

 

Then that little group we call them youth

Thrown in at the deep end and that’s the truth

But help them along and watch them grow

And before long we’ll be reaping what we sow.

 

There’s one who shows off on the keys

She won’t mind if I continue to tease

But the old gentleman and I make a pair

When I lead worship and he’s here to play.

 

There’s somebody with a longish name

It’s very high sounding, nothing lame

Of our prayers there’s none that is bolder

So for prayer make sure you can hold her.

 

By no means is this person less counted

Though her name starts the line above

She is faithful and regular in her attendance

And she speaks out of a heart that is full of love.

 

 

New year’s morning a certain person testifies

And talks about the God on whom he relies

Now in his eighties I am expecting again

He will do so another time in Jesus’ name.

 

I like this girl so much; she gives me sweets

On Sundays, Wednesdays, that is such a treat

She is bubbly and always with a ready smile

Whenever she steps out she does so in style.

 

These two short people are husband and wife

She is short and sweet not given to strife

He is a little rotund just around the waist

A little more exercise and there’ll be no trace.

 

I know these two sisters, one with a stick

I can’t remember a time they were sick

One of them even comes to youth meetings

And both are pleasant, this needs repeating.

 

Give me a break and I’ll soon be through

Take a long look at the person beside you

If it’s not me then it’s not your best view

I know you expected me to talk about me too.

 

Last but not least is a group I must mention

Who do all they can to make visitors welcome

Theirs is the face that represents this assembly

And gives visitors a taste of our hospitality.

 

As promised this is where I shall end

If I left you out you’re still my friend

Time will not afford me now to write about you

You all know me well and you know that is true.

 

 

To the director of music and chief song planner

To all of the poets and songsters who minister

To the Pastor, board and all of our members

Thanks to the Triune God our greatest Giver.

 

Stewart Russell © 2014

 

 

Guess Who These People Are

Welcome to the Lodge Road church

These are some of its members

Perhaps you will be able to spot them

If for a moment your mind can linger.

This one is of a fairly light complexion

CEO of this long-standing assembly

Multi-talented and quite devoted

And his ten years here should be noted.

He is well supported by his lovely wife

And his two daughters the pride of his life

The older, a leader in her very own right

As she leads the youth in this worthy fight.

This person almost lives here in this building

And she too helps care for the perishing

Dark skinned unlike the one before

And often gets here to open the church door.

The board comprises a fairly mixed crew

One handles the money and all that’s due

Another writes like it’s going out of style

And all church business she has to file.

Slim and dark deals with Sunday school

Now assisting a new member in the pool

Two years she has served as its CEO

But this year decided that she has to go.

A certain young man who is an usher

His wife is now the Sunday School Super

Last conference a member raised her hand

So now the Sunday school she must command.

Watch out for this particular person

That likes to beg during the Christmas season

The end of her name is the opposite to come

When she begs it’s for a very good reason.

This man could be the tallest man around

A man among men, his history is sound

A very bright fellow I consider is he

Well known in the Lodge Road community.

  

This one sounds like bajan but is Guyanese

May stutter sometimes but aims to please

He majors on the positive side of vice

And as a chairman he is absolutely nice.

This young man’s name rhymes with shovel

But not the kind of person you’d see grovel

Upright, though short, and a little plump

Always a pleasant smile and never a grump.

The above are the members of the board

Try to remember them don’t be absurd

Let’s work along with them all year through

And make Lodge Road the church with the view.

A few more members I would like to highlight

As we press forward in this spiritual fight

Time would not allow me to name everyone

So just a few more and then I am done.

Like this person who sits in a particular seat

And comes on Friday nights to give us a treat

Her spouse lacks inches and he must be here

So he faithfully comes and does his share.

She is an usher, a cook and shrewd organizer

Like another lady she is an exquisite dresser

The Friday night act comes under her domain

She is responsible and takes much of the strain.

There’s a light-skinned girl, she’s like a queen

On every Friday night she too can be seen

As well as a certain girl who plays she could act

Up to this morning she was displaying that fact.

This one likes much food even though he’s lean

One wonders where he puts it for it can’t be seen

And I seeing now the new SSS is an actress too

Showing off her skill with the advertising crew.

This particular lady lives out in Wotton

She lives in the top part not the bottom

She is a Friday night person and grills the fish

She fries a mean  “fries” too, if that is your wish.

There are others too who help in this cause

And this time is as good as any to take a pause

To thank all of them for a job well done

And say to all you won’t regret if ever you come.

This particular family can have a business

There are four sons and that is established

Four sons would give them two funeral homes

We can trust their caskets and not pay the loans.

Daily she climbs up to the Mount of Praise

I hope for Christmas that she gets a raise

It is not my business to call out her name

Only to tell you that it rhymes with grain.

Oh what a voice! A voice so sweet and so clear

Listen to the strains so pleasant to every ear

Getting older but yet still it’s getting sweeter

Attend 7 a.m. service and you’ll surely hear her.

This member is neither pretentious nor vain

His complexion just does not suit his name

But he’s cooperative and fits into any slot

And is one of our members that works a lot.

Ryan Brathwaite is known for a certain race

In a family here there is more than a trace

St Philip they come from and there return

Guess who they are or from one of them learn.

Then that little group we call them youth

Thrown in at the deep end that’s the truth

But help them along and watch them grow

And before long we’ll be reaping what we sow.

There’s one who shows off on the keys

She won’t mind if I continue to tease

But the old gentleman and I make a pair

When I lead worship and he’s here to play.

There’s somebody with a longish name

It’s very high sounding, nothing lame

Of our prayers there’s none that is bolder

So for prayer make sure you can hold her.

By no means is this person less counted

Though her name starts the line above

She is faithful and regular in her attendance

And she speaks out of a heart that is full of love.

New year’s morning a certain person testifies

And talks about the God on whom he relies

Now in his eighties I am expecting again

He will do so another time in Jesus’ name.

I like this girl so much; she gives me sweets

On Sundays, Wednesdays, that is such a treat

She is bubbly and always with a ready smile

Whenever she steps out she does so in style.

These two short people are husband and wife

She is short and sweet not given to strife

He is a little rotund just around the waist

A little more exercise and there’ll be no trace.

I know these two sisters, one with a stick

I can’t remember a time they were sick

One of them even comes to youth meetings

And both are pleasant, this needs repeating.

Give me a break and I’ll soon be through

Take a long look at the person beside you

If it’s not me then it’s not your best view

I know you expected me to talk about me too.

Last but not least is a group I must mention

Who do all they can to make visitors welcome

Theirs is the face that represents this assembly

And gives visitors a taste of our hospitality.

As promised this is where I shall end

If I left you out you’re still my friend

Time will not afford me now to write about you

You all know me well and you know that is true.

To the director of music and chief song planner

To all of the poets and songsters who minister

To the Pastor, board and all of our members

Thanks to the Triune God our greatest Giver.

Stewart Russell © 2014