On the Other Foot

 

 

No doubt you have heard

“But on the other hand!”

Meaning another reasonable position

Upon which one could stand.

 

But what about

“If the shoe were on the other foot”?

This is the matter

That before you I now put.

 

It is amazing to me

How wrong becomes right

And then with a change of leadership

That right disappears from sight.

 

And what is more intriguing

Is that there is a defining law

But the experts and legal luminaries

Always find an escape clause.

 

And while, my friend,

Much is on my mind,

I will not specify any particular event

At this particular time.

 

I will let you do the roaming

Which I know you do well

Like good teachers develop in pupils,

Rather than just simply tell.

 

Developing an inquiring mind

And searching out the facts

Instead of just accepting social media

And lazily sitting back. 

 

 

So, with that, I put to you:

What if the shoe were on the other foot?

Would you take the same position

Or, simply come up with “But…?”

 

But that was a different time

And that was another occasion,

The conditions were not the same

Oh, a totally different situation!

 

Meaning of course, a different party,

Running the ship of state

And what was wrong for them

Has become right here of late.

 

The incorrect associations then

Are now become lifelines

And all that has really changed

Is that this is a different time.

 

It was a time for change

And so, they got kicked out!

And now it’s our time to take control

And the same very laws flout.

 

I submit most definitely

There would be a different outlook

For this ruling party

If the shoe were on the other foot.

 

Whether “B”, “D” or “PdP”

Ask yourself the question:

What if the shoe were on the other foot

What would be your submission?

 

And if you honestly respond

To the question I put to you,

I am sure your response would be

To take another view.

 

A view that is frank and correct

Irrespective of affiliation,

Motivated by conscious integrity

And befitting our constitution.

 

If the shoe were on the other foot

You would feel the same pain

That the current opposition now feels

Like you, when they flew the plane.

 

But of course,

The more things change,

The more they remain the same.

 

Stewart Russell © October 15, 2022

 

Created in God’s Image

 

 

Created in God’s Image

And likened to Him

Now flawed by the fall

Because of Adam’s sin.

 

Fashioned from the earth

God breathed into him life

Felled by Satan’s deception

The beginning of all strife.

 

Hopeless and helpless

Man wandered the earth

But God had a plan

To give him a new birth.

 

In Genesis three fifteen

God first signaled this plan

To usher in a new beginning

And to redeem fallen man.

 

His Son would come to earth

To be be born of a virgin

Implanted by the Holy Spirit

And totally without sin.

 

 

He lived among the people

Teaching the way of the Lord

His was the perfect way

He was the Living Word.

 

The people were overawed

By his many miracles

And even teachers of the law

Were puzzled by his parables.

 

They questioned him often

At times they even ridiculed

But Jesus would not be tempted

To be the devil’s tool.

 

Finally they crucified him

Achieving the Father’s plan

That one would pay the price

For the sins of fallen man.

 

He who was without sin

Died the death of sinful man

To take away sin’s scourge

And fulfil God’s redemptive plan.

 

His life was the example

Of how everyone should live

And he is now the object

The focus we should give.

 

Thus created in God’s image

Man the crowning creation

But saved to conform to Jesus

The purpose of our salvation.

 

 

For whom God foreknew

Them He also predestinate

To conform to the image of His Son

And as His sons we now relate.

 

Be not conformed to this world

But be renewed in the mind

So that as the world looks on

Jesus’ image they would easily find.

 

Stewart Russell © 2016

 

Pretty Disturbed

 

 

Looking for answers

To my many questions:

Questions mounting

But no satisfaction.

 

Problem after problem

Knocking previous out of mind,

Before the prior can be solved

The next comes on line.

 

Little or no help

Well, no more than talk

And even at the explanations

I can no more than balk.

 

A whole lot of pretense

And much mockery

And I am getting the impression

It is aimed at me.

 

Leaders not leading

Both in parliament and church

And mostly the vulnerable

Being left in the lurch.

 

The killing has died down

Hope I’m not speaking too fast

For the last time I thought so

Another came to pass.

 

Promises by many

But few are being fulfilled

And what they are to correct

Are with us still.

 

In fact, getting even worse

Day in and day out,

Obvious to all them

That dare to drive about.

 

Can’t drive on the left of the road

Only on what’s left of the road

And when I saw this today

I thought, that’s quite a load.

 

And it is getting heavier

Almost too heavy to bear

And those who made the promises

Don’t appear to care.

 

Using talk as a cure for all

With a promise to do better

But with no timeline in view

And things getting blacker.

 

“Oh, we’ll put thing in place

So it doesn’t happen again!”

That’s the nature of the apology

To stop the ongoing pain.

 

“Oh, we do understand

Just what you are going through!”

But to tell you the truth

They don’t have a clue.

 

They are on a different page

From the one we are on

And they will be set for life:

Almost every one!

 

 

An election was called

After three-and-one half years

Gratuity and pension guaranteed

Tell me, who cares?

 

No guard to guard the guards

Just like in the past

And integrity legislation

Still to be passed.

 

Officials having oversight

Guilty of oversight

But maybe chose to overlook

Figuring this was right.

 

A new Identification Card

Was finally rolled out

But given its cost and challenges

We are still left in doubt.

 

A Call-in Programme

That has become a soapbox

And a moderator issuing an ultimatum

For a caller to be stopped.

 

“Another caller please!”

Does this sound familiar?

Mr. Producer, if you are reading this,

Don’t call me a liar.

 

School meals frequently late

And nothing much is said,

Ordinarily for such,

The riot act would be read.

 

 

Breaches of the law

But this is no problem,

Compared to the last Government

This is really nothing.

 

Months now as a Republic

But still awaiting a constitution

And international connections

Smacking of prostitution.

 

On this I will say no more

But you should understand,

That is, of course,

If you are not ultra-partisan.

 

The church is deafeningly silent;

Maybe, they are partisan too

But I thought they would speak out,

Maybe you did too.

 

Who is on the Lord’s side

Appears to be either “B” or “D”,

Thus, dividing the church

And this should not be.

 

Morality is on the decline

And I dare say, rapidly so,

And when there is not much sand

Even an ostrich knows.

  

We have become a Republic

But with a welfarism bent,

Of course, this was because of COVID

That such money was spent.

 

Impoverish and empower

Not much difference, is there?

Surely in the minds of some persons

That is how they appear.

 

A fish every single day

And but little else

Is better than catching no fish

And prospective wealth.

 

A struggling middle class

Relegated to the lower,

And a booming upper class

That climbs even higher.

 

A certain utility-company

Granted an interim raise

With the raise debate in session

And its patrons in a daze.

 

“But they only received half,

That is, of what they requested.”

And I feel, not only violated

But also molested.

 

 

Food prices to be brought down

But yet they went up

And a cap on petrol taxes

Did not amount up to much.

 

We are among the top countries

And here is the proof:

Gas prices and the cost of living

Has gone through the roof.

 

A travelling Prime Minister

That is welcomed everywhere,

Internationally she is seen

As the P.M. that cares.

 

Mia Amor Mottley

Or Auntie Mia to some,

Who is another P.M. like her?

I tell you, there is none.

 

Look, let’s play it as we go

Surely appears to be the plan

And I dare say if it were the Internet

This would be spam.

 

An affiliation with the IMF

And with personnel once ridiculed

But let it be known I wised up;

I’m no longer a fool.

 

The many initiatives

That were started and stop,

The transient bandwagons

Upon which so many hopped.

 

The widespread disillusionment

That came as a result

But yet they follow blindly

As though following a cult.

 

A tinkering with this

And a tinkering with that

Promises to be the Constitution:

Sounds like a trap.

 

All kinds of reform

To make us less informed

And no doubt at the end of the day

This will be the norm.

 

I started out pretty disturbed

But now I am more than this,

Actually, I am very disturbed

Give this lengthy list.

 

Ah, a dismal picture,

I hear you say

But unless we wise up

It will be a darker day.

 

Stewart Russell © October 14, 2022

A Sucker for Punishment

 

 

Here is a thought

Just a thought,

Feeling distraught

Over something I bought.

 

It was at a price

A very steep price,

I’m not feeling nice

Given my sacrifice.

 

It worked a while

A very short while,

I detected some guile

But it had style.

 

My money is gone

Definitely gone,

Another gullible one

A losing pawn.

 

So, I am sad

Feeling really sad,

I followed the fad

And that was bad.

 

Would I do it again?

No never again!

After the pain?

Are you insane?

 

I’ve said that before

Oft times before,

About a score

Probably more.

 

Would I do it again?

You ask that again?

I must hold strain

Though I am so vain.

 

I will probably give in

Many times, done in,

It’s my besetting sin

And I will never win.

 

 

Not under my steam

Not enough steam,

I must come clean

And on Jesus lean.

 

He is unlimited support

Genuine support,

An unfailing report

But I must comport.

 

Until the next time

The very next time,

Hope in Jesus find

To handle the daily grind.

 

Stewart Russell © June 2020

 

Ask for the Old Paths

 

 

Ask for the old paths:

The truth is nothing new

If for some reason it is,

It is only new to you.

 

Ask for the old paths

Instructed God’s Prophet,

A direct instruction from God

Through the Holy Spirit.

 

The prophet was Jeremiah

So, this is nothing new,

And, as it was given to the Jews,

It’s also given to you.

 

There is much to confuse us

Especially in these times,

Wizards’ symposia and the like

To bombard our gullible minds.

 

 

But seek out Jeremiah 6

Verse 16 to be precise,

Then read the entire chapter

Rather than surmise.

 

It is of impending trouble

Meaning about to descend,

The people of God were own-way

Just as is the current trend.

 

They were warned to flee,

To flee their precious city

For the city of God had become

The pit of devilry.

 

Abomination after abomination

Despite the goodness of God,

Idol worship and the like

Was in the city and abroad.

 

A Babylonian attack!

The tool of God’s judgment

On His rebellious people

Because of their evil intent.

 

Barbados, for decades now

Have been going astray

And contrary to the opinion of some,

Not ignorant of God’s way.

Being replete with churches

We are fed a diet of His Word

On the radio waves and television

And wherever crusades occur.

 

There are doctrinal differences

But the fundamental is intact

And, regarding the old paths,

We definitely need to get back.

 

Unless we change our anthem

We must heed the 2nd verse,

So-called truth is no truth

And will bring with it its curse.

 

Righteousness exalts a nation

But sin carries a prescribed curse

And given all that’s going on

Barbados is becoming worse.

 

 

Ask for the old paths

In case you have forgotten them

And understand the trouble we face

Is more than an economic problem.

 

More than balancing payments

Regarding those we owe,

It’s really our moral depravity

And I believe our leaders know.

 

Seared consciences are evident

As we plunge deeper and deeper

Into the abyss of moral decline

Though mocked by the grim reaper.

 

Physical and spiritual mayhem

As we wander from the truth

And wherever we look around

There is the clear proof.

  

Ask for the old paths, I repeat,

For there is no new truth,

If for some reason your truth is new,

It is only new to you.

 

Stewart Russell © October 12, 2022

 

Not by Dreams or Visions

 

I used to dream often

About the return of the Lord,

I believe it was based

On my teaching in the Word.

 

I held very firmly

To the teaching of my church

But then I started

To do my own research.

 

I had steered very clear

Of certain prophetic books,

Especially the book of Revelation

Which I basically forsook.

 

 

But then I incurred an injury

That kept me mostly in bed

And with this time on my hand

It was on those books I fed.

 

Daniel and Jeremiah

Hosea and Zechariah,

Ezekiel and Esther

Ezra and Nehemiah.

 

Matthew, Mark and Luke

Regarding the Olivet discourse

And certain links became obvious

Causing me to change course.

 

Revelation with its images

Of beasts and judgments,

With its apocalyptic language

And prophetic intent.

 

Differentiating between

The figurative and the literal

And coming to conclusions

Regarding times and peoples.

I have been captivated

By the dreams and the visions

And seeing the connection

Between Daniel and Revelation.

 

Coming to the conclusion

That most prophecies have passed

And there only remains

The consummation at last.

 

When that will take place

I have no clue,

But I know what born-again believers

Have been called to do.

 

Called to holy living

In a very dark world

And carrying out the Great Commission

That is stated in God’s Word.

 

This has been the mandate

Ever since Pentecost,

Be salt and light in the world

And minister to the lost.

 

To be bold to bring about change

To make the world better,

To bring deliverance to the captives

And the prisoners unfetter.

 

There is an expected result

Regarding Jesus’ sacrifice,

There must be a better world

When people receive Christ.

 

And indeed, there have been

As millions have received Jesus,

Great walls have fallen

With the evangelistic thrust.

 

In our spirits we have resigned

That the world will get worse

And will become more dominated

By sin’s "not so dreaded" curse.

 

And while we talk a lot

About what we should be doing,

We twiddle our thumbs

And await our Lord’s returning.

 

  

We read the tabloids

And pay attention to world events

And within that context

Try to discover prophetic intent.

 

Of having to adjust

Having to tweak and to modify

Because of some unfulfilled prophecy

On which we relied.

 

Getting fat on religion

And arguing among ourselves

And determining how many people

Are on their way to hell.

 

Developing an escapist attitude

Regarding the Lord’s return,

Like, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

It’s for your coming we yearn.”

 

Creating left behind movies

Based on a pre-tribulation rapture

And sharing visions and dreams

Along with much conjecture.

 

I once held to all this

And not very long ago,

But when I search through the Word

Of this, there is little to show.

 

So, I have altered my position

And those dreams have gone away,

I am paying more attention to God’s Word

Than what denominations say.

 

God’s revelation is complete

It needs no human input,

You can share your dream if you like

But I am going by the Book.

God has given us all

That is required for life and Godly living,

Let us tell this lost world

That He is loving and forgiving.

  

That he can bring about change

And make this world a better place

He has done this for many

Through His mercy and grace.

 

Jesus is coming again!

O yes!  The Bible tells me so,

But this should not be our preoccupation

There is much more to know.

 

We should fill this whole world

With a demonstration of God’s love

Until all come to a knowledge

Of the one from above.

 

Not of the visions and dreams

That some often see,

But with the transforming Word of God

To show how life should be.

 

The abundant life begins here

In this very world

And it can only be possible

 Through the revelation of God’s Word.

 

Stewart Russell © June 2020