If There Were No God

 

 

If there were no God

How would you live?

Would you still be a servant?

Would you still give?

 

If there were no God

Would you help a brother?

Would you still do good?

Would you help a sister?

 

If there were no God

How would you spend a day?

Would you live differently?

Would selfishness be the way?

 

If there were no God

Would you still do right?

Would you still follow the Bible?

Would you walk in its light?

 

If there were no God

Hints that there must be one,

He must be just as real

As every passing dawn.

 

For we have the evidence

When a new day is come,

We are assuredly convinced

When we see the rising sun.

 

I am particularly awestruck

At the evidence for God,

It is though all nature stands

And this very fact applauds.

 

Order and design, how intricate!

How similar yet different!

A mere peep at all of this

Evidences a mental intent.

If there were no God

Would humans have a mind

To deliberate on all this

Across the expanse of time?

 

If there is no God

From whom came the mind?

Though it cannot be touched or seen

We use it all the time.

 

Evolutionists have an answer

For every tangible fact,

Give them billions of years

And they will find its track.

 

But concerning the intangible

They do not have a clue,

Their science is loudly silent

Their minds appear so too.

 

The intangible explains God

And the mind perceives that fact.

Science is the observable

The mind is on a different track.

 

If there were no God

There could never be the mind

Neither would there be matter

Nor even space or time.

 

 

If there were no God

There could never be you

And continuing that same thought

There would be no me too.

 

If there were no God

Nothing would have existed,

No Big Bang or what caused it

To have some minds so twisted.

 

If there were no God

This poem could never be

So with that I rest my case

And leave the rest to the Almighty.

 

Many have passed to eternity

With their no-God notion,

 I entreat you before you do

To give Him your devotion.

 

Stewart Russell © October 2018

Not in Heaven

 

 

I looked for my wife in heaven,

On earth we had a grand time

But wherever I searched in heaven

I couldn’t find that wife of mine.

 

I remember when she was buried

They told me I would see her again

And at that time, I must confess,

This helped to ease my pain.

 

Searched and searched I did

Yet, I could not find my wife,

I wondered how I would survive up there

Without the joy of my life.

 

 

I looked around for my children:

My precious bundles of joy,

I searched throughout all of heaven

But found neither the girl or boy.

 

I knew I had left them on earth

Since I passed on before them both

But in heaven I could find neither

Yet, I searched from coast to coast.

 

I looked for my mother in heaven

Surely, she would have to be there

But after searching till I stressed

I could find my mother nowhere.

 

My mother was a lovely Christian

I am sure she was born-again,

Tell me, why couldn’t I find her in heaven?

Why must I endure this pain?

 

I searched heaven for my father

O, how I had loved that man!

He was a most upstanding father:

He had to be in heaven’s plan.

 

 

But though I searched and searched

Nowhere in heaven could I see

That loving father of mine,

Where, O where could my father be?

 

My family, my friends on earth,

I longed to see them again

But my diligent search through heaven

Became a search in vain.

 

I was told I would see them,

That this was the Christian hope

And as I had processed their homegoing

This truly helped me to cope.

 

I had looked forward with joy

To see all of the fore mentioned

But nowhere in heaven, I tell you,

Could I find even one of them.

 

I know they could not be in hell

So, maybe they were not really dead

But wherever they were I was sure

Should have been heaven instead.

 

Don’t expect me to say I woke up

And that this was only a dream

But go and study the Bible

And see what from it you can glean.

 

 

There is no marriage in heaven

Other than the Lamb and his bride

So, whatever we are looking forward to

We must let this be a guide.

 

Family and friends will be in heaven

In fact, we all will be family

But concerning all the details,

That will take an eternity.

 

Whatever it will be in heaven,

It will be infinitely better than on earth

So, with that to look forward to,

Let’s be grateful for our new birth.

 

Stewart Russell © June 13, 2021

 

Politics Is A Carpet

 

 

Politics is a carpet

Plush and swollen,

Manufactured by politicians

With myriad problems.

 

Swept under this carpet

Day in and day out

Are issues galore

And many a doubt.

 

It is nothing new

Though some will disagree,

Just lift the carpet end

And you will see.

 

There was a certain test

That caused an uproar,

Under the carpet it was swept

To be heard of no more.

 

A report was called for

And its findings to be revealed

But so far it is still hidden

And very well concealed.

 

It is classified information

Upon which we walk

Yet very few know about it

Though there is talk.

 

Some unions were adamant

About a significant increase

But offered a paltry one-off payment

Their effort suddenly ceased.

 

 

Apparently, the tax stick

Was held over their head

And the workers unions capitulated

As though they were dead.

 

Three percent this year

And three percent the next

And then up came a condition

That made teachers vex.

 

With all on their plate

They must now also oversee

What the school children are eating

With regularity.

 

Some rumbling from within

But then “We will try”

And again, the unions hang out

The poor teachers to dry.

 

Swept under the carpet

Every one of these!

This is my observation

If you please.

 

The Bajans’ nine-day wonder!

After this they are mute

And it does not really matter

The gravity of the dispute.

 

A promise to raise the age

Before demanding a medical

Re the renewing of drivers’ licenses

For our ‘over-seventy’ people.

 

Nothing more on this-

Under the carpet it went

Now more money for the doctor-

Yes, more money to be spent.

 

Senior citizens matter, though-

The impression that is given

Yet, when it truly matters to them,

They are invariably forgotten.

 

I will end with this one

Not that this is an exhaustive list

But please, if you will,

Wrap your mind around this.

 

 

The QEH is in trouble

And has been for a long time

And “What if I become gravely ill!”

Is plaguing my mind.

 

Critical equipment is lacking

And procedures are being delayed

Whereby more often than not,

Outsourcing is the way.

 

So that, having paid for services

The tax payer must pay again,

This too is swept under the carpet

As part of the unexplained.

 

I said that would be the last

But like the politicians, I lied,

This one is very close to my heart

But in you I will confide.

 

It’s about old age pensions

That are being double taxed:

Taxed when you were working

And now the second tax.

 

Taxed when you were paying

And taxed when receiving:

Taxation upon taxation-

This is almost like stealing.

 

Penalties if you cannot pay

And interest added to that:

Even the old age pensioners

They are killing with tax.

 

This too is swept away

And hidden under the carpet,

Not to mention the prorating of pensions

That they remembered to forget.

 

 

Don’t ask me about the last one

Check under the carpet!

I have no doubt you will find it

Right where it has been swept.

 

Stewart Russell © May 3, 2023

 

Is It Asking Too Much?

 

Is it asking too much

To have an explanation

Into some of the goings-on

Of activities in this Nation?

 

Is it asking too much

To request an account

Into the millions borrowed?

Such an enormous amount!

 

Is it asking too much

Considering we pay taxes

And government has a responsibility

To report on its practices?

An account of the tax

Collected at the petrol pumps

And the disbursing

Of the entire amount.

An explanation of recovery

In terms of the economy

In a matter of months

Given COVID-19’s ferocity.

An account of loans engaged

And how disbursed

Re: this excessive borrowing

As a matter of course.

Why NIS is added to pension

To increase taxable income,

For old age pensioners

Whose work days are done.

 

Pensioners have paid their dues-

Some for over forty years,

Is it asking too much

That they be allowed to enjoy

Their retirement years?

 

Morning and evening words

Are invariably different

And we the tax payers deserve to know

How come we buy the house

And still must pay rent?

 

Is it asking too much

To have some light shed

On this darkness that engulfs us?

Enough said!

 

Stewart Russell © May 4, 2023

 

Making Sense of Nonsense 2

 

 

Three and one-half years in

A general election was called,

As far as I can see, fellow Barbadians,

This must have taken some gall.

 

I assume that the tendency is

To map out a five-year course

But I guess all the goals were achieved

So, a new mandate was enforced.

 

It will be five years this month

Since the 2018 election

But we are in the 2^nd year of a 2^nd term

And seemingly without a reason.

 

Why was an election called

With about a year and a half to go?

Madam Prime Minister of Barbados,

I surely would like to know.

 

You see, Madam PM,

Of this nonsense I am trying to make sense

And I must confess, Madam PM,

I genuinely mean no offense.

 

I know COVID-19 arose

And this was quite unexpectedly

And you had little or no wriggle room

But to decree an emergency.

 

This is why while still in COVID

I just could not understand

Why you would call an election, Madam PM,

In the midst of an emergency plan.

 

Were you scared of something else

Besides the COVID pandemic

Or was this another strategic move

So prevalent in politics?

 

Given your own policy, Madam PM

To always keep us well informed,

I must admit this one was quite a baffling

Departure from your norm.

 

I had heard some rumours

Which back then, I refused to believe

About some within your party

Questioning your right to lead.

 

To me that was such nonsense

That I dismissed it right away

Since you are an advocate for transparency

As I have heard you say.

 

And that is the reason why

Like Lieutenant Columbo I have been baffled,

Trying to make sense of that nonsense

Has been a humongous struggle.

 

Perhaps you could ease my discomfort

And simply tell me the reason why

But I do not intend to hold my breath

For this is the surest way to die.

 

 

 

And I would like to live

For one day the reason will come out

When I will make sense of this nonsense

And that is without a doubt.

 

Stewart Russell © May 3, 2023

 

Making Sense of Nonsense

 

 

“Impossible!” you say,

“It’s no way such can be done,”

But I say that we definitely have to,

Given how things are being run.

 

That is, if it's really true,

For I believe it cannot be

But if on the other hand it is true

Sooner or later we shall see.

 

Here of late, I coin the phrase,

I am “too dumb to be impressed!”

And this means I don’t understand

And won’t even bother to guess.

 

What is 400% interest

Especially on foreign loans?

Was it that ridiculous in the first place

Or over time has grown?

 

Clearly it is not simple interest;

But both compound and complex,

And if someone had done this to me

I would be violently vexed.

 

I thought I had heard recently

About loans at 1% interest

But 400% interest is a quantum leap

Hence, my present stress.

 

If it is growing at a frenetic pace

We need to quickly pay it off

If not, I tell you Madam Prime Minister,

We are in for a gigantic loss.

 

I note it is presently a concern

To you and your financial team

But please tell me how we got here

Coming off the COVID scene?

 

Were the loan terms, Madam PM,

Not clearly enumerated

Or did it appear to be such easy money

That common sense evaporated?

 

 

Bear with me, if you will,

As I try to make sense of nonsense,

I do not mean to be disingenuous-

Madam PM, I mean no offense.

 

I know the hold you have

On supporters local and foreign

And the lack of dissent among your team

Says to me there is a problem.

 

For one of them should have seen

This oncoming hurricane

And warn the rest of your Cabinet

The light is an oncoming train.

 

Is there a plan, I ask, Madam PM,

To settle this quadruple loan?

For this astronomical 400% interest growth

Is clearly out of our zone.

 

And, what is your expectation Madam PM,

If this matter is not addressed soon?

Will Barbados still belong to us

Or to some international tycoon?

 

Daily I am hearing rumours

Of countries being swallowed up

And I am sincerely hoping, Madam PM,

That such is not our cup.

 

 

 

Be it China or India or Africa

Or even Trinidad in the Caribbean,

Friends of all and satellites of none

It’s back to the Barrow scene.

 

Uh can’t make sense, I must conclude,

Of the enormity of this interest nonsense,

400% interest on foreign loans is staggering!

Madam PM, I mean no offense.

 

Stewart Russell © May 2, 2023

 

Immaculate vs Incarnate

 

 

Two words I shall deal with

That are not even nearly alike

Yet some believers confuse them

And don’t get them right.

 

One of these is immaculate

While the other is incarnate:

They make good rhyming words

But let’s get it straight…

 

They are not synonyms

And I mean, not by a long shot,

For some I might be nitpicking

But I can’t let this drop.

 

Immaculate means perfect

And while this is very true

It is not the same as incarnate

As is some people’s view.

 

I would be the first to agree

That neither is in God’s Word

But please follow me carefully

Before calling me absurd.

 

Some hold the virgin Mary

In very high esteem

And I could not disagree with this

When I review the nativity scene.

 

Jesus’ birth was on this wise

In Bethlehem’s town

As angels announced to shepherds

With glorious sound.

 

Emmanuel was his name

Meaning God is with us:

God reconciling the world to Himself

Through His Son, Jesus.

 

Thus, the incarnation:

Almighty God is come in the flesh!

To which the birth of His Son

Undoubtedly attest.

 

 

In the incarnation

The emphasis is on the Christ

And this looks forward to the time

Regarding his sacrifice.

 

His cradle preceded the cross

On which he would die,

There for the sins of the world

He was crucified.

 

Joseph was by the angel informed

Fear not to take Mary to wife

For it was the Holy Ghost

That in her had placed that life.

 

This was spoken of Jesus

And not of the virgin Mary

Who, by the way, the Bible shows

Could not be a virgin perpetually.

 

 

Mary had sons and daughters

After Jesus was born

So, all who claim perpetual virginity,

Please be warned!

 

Mary was not under sin’s curse

Some denominations hold

But are unable to show in the Bible

Where this unfolds.

 

We know she was a virgin

For she had not known a man

But she too, as the Bible implies,

Needed redemption’s plan.

 

 

She was not perfect

As the word immaculate implies

And even the mother of Christ

For her too he was crucified.

 

Stewart Russell © May 17, 2021

 

It’s May Already!

 

 

Can you believe it?

It’s May already

The year having just begun!

And before we can settle

Into the month

May will be already done.

 

It may or may not

After all it is May

And ‘may’ speaks to uncertainty

But rest most assuredly

That June will arrive,

Even if not for you or me.

 

The first day of May

Is called “Labour Day”

Though not for "women in labour"

So, don’t call the Union

If you know of such a one,

There’ll be no such favour.

 

Enjoy your day

As I shall enjoy mine

For it will be over in a flash!

This year is slipping by

At such a tremendous rate,

It’s more like a 100m dash.

Just a short poem

On this special ‘May Day’

As we start this month of May,

Have a great day!

Be safe and be blessed

As you go about your way!

 

Stewart Russell © May 1, 2023