The Invisible Ones - An Ode To Underground Travel

The invisible ones sit
And stare,
Pretend, above all else
That no one else is there.
Two more stops and I'll hop off,
Back into the land of the living.
Life underground
is so peculiar...

Are we nearly there yet?

are we nearly there yet?
The cry came from the back seat
How far have we got to go?
How many miles? How many feet?

are we nearly there yet?
And can I play a game?
Maybe He’s not coming
And nothing’s really changed.

are we nearly there yet?
In the twinkling of an eye
The car halts! The balloon pops!
And lightening fills the sky.

are we nearly there yet?
Could be hours, could be days
There’s no way of telling how,
Could happen in a moment
In fact it could be…

Memories of the Future

I remember
In the hut out back
The world shut out
The shout of the day
Far away from my ear -
I remember feeling your breath
Your presence near

The clear sight
The high flight
Fighting the good fight
Walking toward the future bright
I remember singing
Through the night -
Climbing stars to take a look
The glowing pages of the holy book

The fire inside
The rising tide
The way the light and dark collide
And then I remember you’re on my side;
No where to hide
Nothing to prove
All to win
And none to lose

Oh those moments
Intense and sweet
The way your love sweeps me off my feet
So here
In my heart
I keep
Memories of the future.

The Blanket Prayer

5.30am

Bzzzzzzzzzz!!!

The alarm blared

bleary eyed I blinked and stared,

"5 more minutes, Lord," I plead

"Zzzzzzzzzz" (I snore)

The Lord answers my prayer

with lightening speed.

"A" Men

"A" is for apple

"B" is for busted

"C" for Christ, the Cry, the Cross

and "D" for done and dusted!

"Gimme" - The Materialist's Prayer

Gimme a "G"

Gimme an "O"

Gimme a "D"

on second thoughts -

Just gimme...

The Agnostic's Prayer

I pray...

or do I?

Absolutely - the Atheist's prayer

I absolutely believe that

there are absolutely no

absolutes to believe in.

Absolutely.

Denial

What I want to know is,

what I want to know.

Heavens Customs

I bowled up to the officers at customs. "You'll have to surrender your self reliance", they informed me, "and any hope of earning or deserving any entrance." Placing my motheaten garment on the scanning machine I walked through to the other side, waiting for its appearance as it rolled along the conveyor. Out it came, but...
"This is not my coat", I protested. My coat was soiled, ragged and torn." What I now held in my hands was a perfectly white robe.
"You could never fit in that", my internal judgements still rang, yet when I slipped my arms through, never had a garment fitted so comfortably. "It was made for me!" I thought, "or...was I made for it?"

"Step this way sir" said a somewhat glorious guardian, "10,000 times 10,000 remain to claim their inheritance."
"Enjoy your stay" said another, and with that I took my first steps into what can only be described as...home. Finally, I was home.

Forgiven

I step

with childlike wonder

into the forgiven life.

Me

A sinner

no more.

Awaken my heart

Staring at the
Black blanket night
Before me
The pinhole light
Of morning
Caught my eye -
I paused
In His presence
And the breath of dawn
Awoke my heart.

Moving Forward

Change comes
Without
Any announcement,
With no warning;
Just barges through
Life’s door
And pushes you
Into the next phase -
A chapter opens
And on the page
Your days are written
In large type
For all to read.

As a kid I konsidered

As a kid I konsidered
when I grow
I wanna know
what I'm gonna be

I thought I'll be successful
I'll be rich, famous, a celebrity
I'll be top of the charts
and win the world's hearts
with all my works of charity

I'll be a fireman
policeman, doctor
cowboy, chemist, stunt man
I'll be a chef in the army
cooking pasta and ham

I grew old
and now I know
All these things are only what I do
They don't make what's me or you
I grew wise(er)
and now I see

The only thing I really want
is learning Just to be!

Patience

I am the still air of dawning
waiting for the day
I am the breath baited
waiting for the worrds
I know I need to say
I am the moment before
the essential question asked
I am the borderland
between the future and the past.

Coming Out of Hiding

For far too long

we've lived far too small

Far too close to imaginary walls


Faith speaks,

Obstacle.

What obstacle?

Leaps and laughs

as we do the impossible!

Here To Hear

Here to hear
My ear
Inclined
My purpose
Defined -
To know that I know
And to go
When You show
Make clear
The path
I should steer

The Call, The Culture, The Commission

"He brought us out" "To bring us in"
"saved us from" "to save us for"
"died and suffered" "to rise and live"
"lost it all" "that we might give"
"Accused and silent" "so we could shout"
"He called us in" "To send us out"
"The Call, The Culture, The Commission"

I just liked these words...

You are pouring out the perfume of Your Presence,

    The sweet savour of Your sacrifice
Just one kiss of Your lips
   Just one glance of Your eyes
And I am forever Yours.

Bustin the Birthday Blues

Gonna bust the blues

On birthday time

flies when you’re having fun

So we say come

Rejoice

The old day’s done

And God has sent His only Son.

The ultimate present

Unexpected and undeserved

Given with love to a hostile world.

For this is the hour for a rhythm that’s new

Goodbye to the repetitive drum beats of despair

Grace that’s encased in a melody of hope

And countless responding in true celebration.

A mighty occasion none would forget

Stories told through generations

Keeping the excitement, the enjoyment alive.

And now the birthday is over

But I will carry the memories forever

The joy of this day will carry me through

The times of grief and turmoil

All the year long I will remember

Until the time comes again

To celebrate the life you have given.

Thoughts on Eternity by Wes Zinn

Eternity

To live is Christ.  To die is gain.
How can life compare to eternity?
Eternity is NOT an extension of life or time or existence.
            That is only infinity.
 
Eternity?  What is it?
Is life a window into eternity?
Is eternity you, God?
Is the word of God eternity?
Is eternity infinitely big and infinitely small?
 
Is eternity what Jacob contended for?
Is eternity what Esau was unwilling to contend for?
 
Eternity is holy, pure
It has to be, because anything impure, unholy, tainted
leads to decay, death
 
Is Jesus marked by the cross for all eternity?
Is eternity love, or is love eternity?

Vivacious by Fiona Smith

Awash with your presence
Bathed in your love
Accepted, designed, created
Unlike any other, unique
 
What is in store, my Lord
The next step in your plan
I long for your presence
For your Spirit, give me more
 
I dance in your presence
Angels sing their heavenly chorus
The throne room bathed
In a Heavenly light
 
Precious stones, clear and bright
Emeralds, rubies and sapphires
Reflected from each facet
Sparkles dance around the room
 
I bow before your presence
In reverence twirl round and round
A dance filled with love
And adoration of you
 
Take me higher, take me deeper
Filled with your awe
I soar up and over
Twirling round in the air
 
I rise, swoop, and soar
As the music sweeps the room
Magnificent heavenly melody
Unlike sounds heard before
 
Sounds full of beauty
Adoration of our Lord
He is worthy, oh so worthy
Full of glory

Stillness

I hear the shrill call
of the morning bird,
The silence sliced
by her song
I stretch my senses
to see the invisible
and consider the sound of silence.
In the stillness
To know
That You are God.

Pursuit by Danica Issell

In a heartbeat

Reckoning

Breaking down the in-between

A glimpse, a touch

Carried higher

Journey on through water; fire

Choosing, chasing

Feet meet earth

Spirit woos, a second birth

Hopeful eyes in

Earnest face

Hanging tight to truth and grace

 

Closer - just a little

Closer

 

Distant trumpet

Shofar speaks

A call to war; a call to peace

Moving forward

Can't retrace

Ever on to see Your face

 

Deepest joys and

Midnight cries

Building, building greater ties

Running after

Mysteries

Everything will be revealed

 

Closer - just a little

Closer - just a little...bit...

Closer

I AM

I AM …

I am... the sunshine in the pouring rain

I am... your laughter in the midst of pain

I am... the hope that drives away your fears

I am... the happiness that dries your tears

I am... the warmth in the coldest night

I am... the midnight candle, burning bright

I am... always there in times of need

I am... the sacrifice of a selfless deed

I am... your courage in the face of danger

I am... the kindness in the smile of a stranger

I am... the guiding light that will never end

You ask me my name? 

...my name is friend

Wanted by Danica Issell

WANTED

Sinner Seeks A Saviour:

Wanted for redemption
Desperate for water and
A future home in Heaven
Sheep after a shepherd
(Forgiveness is a must)
Somebody who truly understands
The nature of flesh and dust
        (Perfection required.)

Saviour Seeks A Sinner:

Wanted for His Kingdom
Hearts of flesh for hearts of stone
To any who will bring them
Grace is offered freely
Daily bread provided
Eternal promotion guaranteed
Be loved, challenged and guided!
    (No qualifications necessary.)

Calling!

We’re calling for

The new
Revolutionaries of the cross
Over
To the promise displayed
Calling on You
In the black chill night
In the sweat dust day
To stand
To speak
To say, “Arise
Behold, Become
And run with the call.

We’re calling you all
Arise, Behold, Become
And run
To win the prize
To look in HIs eyes of burning flame
To say again,
“WE DECLARE YOUR NAME!
Oh God, we call
From beating heart pure
To turn our land is sick
And You the only cure.
Send your labourers
Workers in the field
Yielded vessels full of Christ
Emptied of the selfish life
Lord of the harvest time
Is NOW
Here we are Lord
Hand to the plough
Send us nation changing, broken, brave
To heal, to free, to love, to save.

I walk with Jesus

We walk together

Jesus and I

For Him I live, for me He died

seems strange

in a world so disjointed

that in its midst

walk a company

whose companion

stands unchanging through the ages

We walk together

Jesus and I

Here’s here for sure

invisible to the eye

Believing is seeing I heard a movie once say

and here today

as the centuries fly

I walk with Jesus

by and by.

I will join HIm on the streets He treads -

Gold

RIght now he walks with me through city streets

red

with the blood of mothers children

and as we walk we weep

longing once again to be together.

Fully Human

How powerful the person

  without hang up or shame
Unstoppable souls
  free from guilt; passing blame.
How boundless the possible
  who’s heart has been healed
Unquenchable potential
  with confidence unsealed

No looking for an ok
  from the stranger next door
No seeking affirmation
  from the crowd on the floor
No hoping mum and dad will see
  worrying what they’ll think of me

But
healed and whole
A fully fixed soul
A new creation
A revelation
of what we’re called to be
with an ear that loves to hear
and an eye that loves to see.

A person fully human
  outshining like the sun
The glory of God
  embodied and clothed
the new man risen, the old man gone.

In Christ we are that person
  A new life walking Word
written loudly on the days page
  ready to be heard!

Pilgrim

Pilgrim -

Searching -

Looking for somewhere to rest.

Pilgrim -

Yearning -

Living in the world, but feeling like a homesick guest.

Pilgrim -

Walking -

Each step closer to home.

Pilgrim -

Sleeping -

Bethel’s dreamer with a pillow made of stone.

Pilgrim -

Writing -

Postcards from a strange strange land.

Pilgrim -

Reading -

Hoping that you will understand.

The Idea Factory

I took a quick trip to the idea factory
where colours are conceived and music is made
The Creator sat on the throne
His heart and mind ablaze
A spark leaped from His person
and cracked across my mind
before a thought could understand
my inner eyes were opened, He ripped away the blinds
and with fervour born of loving thanks
I began to write these lines...

(Why not add a few lines to this poem in the comments box...)

Stripped!

Stripped!

Exposed!
Clothes torn from flesh.

I am
bare

behold my body
Tear open my chest, peel back the skin
beneath the garment
deep within
The heart of the universe
crying for men bound in sin
for the very ones who strip me

naked.
shamed.
shamelessly
loving the unlovable
that their dark garment of sin
might be stripped
away
and together
unashamed
we might walk
dignified
into a new day -

I, the naked Christ,
The Truth, The Life, The Way.

Thirsty! for all those who struggle to pray...

In no man's land

the divide
the in between
lie strewn the disillusioned
the discouraged,
the Journiers who began
with blazing intention,
and fell
when intention could not bridge the gap.

On the other side
voices champion
the brave
and the foolish
to span the expanse;
"Come," they call
and everywhere
crawl the weary
hoping to reach
that sometime distant shore.

A thin veil
seen / unseen
masquerades -
"I AM A GREAT VALLEY!"
It booms to the army discouraged,
"Try to cross and I will CRUSH you alive!"
Nevertheless I dive
and discover
the distance between
the Ask and the Answer
the Seek and the Find
the Knock and the Open
is only an innocent step of trust
beyond the spot on which I stand.

I reach out
a trembling hand
holding no more that a hope;
the someday
somehow
maybe
that we carry carefully
in the pocket of our heart -
"Take this," I say,
"today it is all I can offer."
and as my hand passes
through the membrane
The Christ
grabs my hand
pulls me to Himself
tearing all protocol
ignoring
despising
religious PC
and violently
passionately
loves me
just for who I am.

I my hand
the dreams turn to substance,
food for the journey.
I return
open my eyes
and feel the familiar coldness of solid,
but in my breast burns a new resolve:
"Today I will live!
Tomorrow will take care
of its own concerns,
but Today
I will live!"

I reach into my pocket
as I slide through the door
to face
to embrace the days challenge -
To savour the flavour of faith.

With a skip,
fearless
I pass over
and look the hour square in the eye.

Today I am winner!

Tommorrow's Children

The nations rage
Like a violent ocean
Ideologies clash
and the violence splashes
into innocent homes -

Streets run red
and mother’s children
tremble in their beds...

(please complete...)

The Day The Past Stole The Future

There I was, standing, facing destiny like a friend. Suddenly, from behind, a mangy hand crept across my shoulder. “Not so fast”, whispered the voice attached to those persuasive fingers, “I’ve got a few things to say before you change partners.”

My buts began vigorously, but protest was soon silenced. Hanging my head  I sadly agreed, as I had done so many times before. Wasn’t he right? After all, I didn’t have a good upbringing. Born at the wrong time in the wrong place. I knew all the wrong people, and with the way I had lived, well…
Maybe this destiny thing wasn’t for me after all.
Turning despondently to the future, I shook his hand somewhat limply, and made my apologies. “The past insists.” I said. He says I can’t.

The future looked me deep in the eye, and slowly asked the question I have been pondering ever since. “Why not?” He asked.

Perhaps one day the answers I give to that small question will sound more convincing, but honestly, right now, I’m still searching for a reason. Perhaps if I call him, the future may be willing to make another date to continue our discussion…

Behind the mask

Peeling back the
Plastic smile
A tangle of conflicting emotion.
Beneath the surface
A brood of bruises
In need of healing lotion.

The Argument

The silence

Was deafening

She wouldn’t speak

Nor would I

It was a matter of principle.

As the hours passed

Stolen glances

And bruised egos clashed

Slowly crumbled

And attitudes stashed

Were secretly set aside.

We

Made

Our way

Climbing step

By reluctant step

Toward communication,

Grunting appreciation for a coffee made,

A table laid.

Then lips collided

Long delayed -

Fear flew

And we realised afresh

The glory of forgiveness!

CitiLife spontaneous Psalm

As part of our worship experience on Sunday we each wrote a line or two of a Psalm (a song or poem of praise to God). We wrote our line, folded the paper and then handed it to the next person in line. Afterwards we unfolded the finished product and here it is...

In the beauty of holiness

My soul finds the King of peace

Praise Him, His grace grows like

forests of fruit around the lives

of the faithful

Your smile shines to the ends of the earth

His love endures forever

He is tender toward us

His mercies never fail

You know me better than I know myself

My God who MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH

God, if You had not caught me

I would have fallen in the mud and chewed dirt

But You stood me on my feet, strengthened my wobbly legs

and called me daughter.

Praise be to God!

And all I want to do is be flying with You

All because of Your love for me

Be redeemed in me, for I am Your strength

Seek wisdom beyond all else and do what is just

I long to praise You all day with my being

Help me, Oh Lord, to declare Your glory

Your love is joy in my soul

Your holy light causes me to grow

Lord, You chose me, You chose me

and the family, all the family

Your love enfolds me, surrounds me, makes me complete

I love You, Lord

Joy to the Lord, His faith has come

He loves us forever.

The Perfect Gift by Danica Issell

Autumn leaves are gone

And winter's cold won't be so long

Then the world will stop, for once

And lift its voice in Christmas song

A joyful song for One

An ancient life that's just begun

One who gave it all for love

A gracious Father gives His Son

And I think about if I were there

I don't have frankincense or myrrh

Or wine that's fit for a King's table

If I had the chance to kneel before Your cradle

Whatever would I bring?

Emmanuel is here

Though soon death's shadow will appear

For one Man dying on a hill

Holy victory is near

All the things my hands have brought me

Pale beside this gift of mercy

My earthly gain I count as loss

If I had the chance to kneel before Your cross

Whatever would I bring?

Now looking forward to

A place where I can be with You

To glory beyond former times

Jerusalem shall be renewed

What do I have that can compare

To all the treasure waiting there?

I don't have gold or precious stones

When I have the chance to kneel before Your throne

Whatever will I bring?

© Danica Issell, 2007

a small request from a BIG GOD

a small

request from a

BIG

God

To see and experience

Your Kingdom coming

To know, for You to show

Your will being done-ing -

To be filled!

For You to spill

Your Spirit from above-ing -

To immerse and traverse

The length, breadth, depth and height

Of your loving!

To be ready for You now

And ready at Your coming…

This is my request.

A Broken Birdsong

A slow dark thought

creeps upon my mind

Climbing the long stairwell

from the pit of my stomach

Menacing the host of hopes I held a moment before

Uninvited it pushes through the door.

It points its bony finger in my trembling face

and dashes me down

Puts me in what the world considers

to be my proper place.

I know what to do

The shoulds and the oughts

But I am like a deer in the headlight

Stunned in my thoughts

Still - Stone -

I stand in the light of dark

It pierces my heart

dashed as I begin the long journey back toward hope.

And on this journey

My certain companions on whom I rely-

The love that never fails

The faith that as surely as day follows night

This broken bird will fly.

A World Without Wings

What of a world

Without image or song?

The days feel like weeks

And the hours too long.

Words

Words paint pictures

Words are packages

Full of surprise

Words are mindscreen wipers

To clear the eyes

Words are telescopes

To help see further

Good for the teacher

Good for the learner

Unwrap these words

And you will see

Hidden behind

Is the heart

Of me.

Pilgrim Dancer

I am the Pilgrim Dancer
Empty space the canvas on which I paint
Colours called forth
By the sweeping of my arm
And then from wildness,
Calm.
Moments enshrined as I…
 
 
S t i l l     m y s e l f,
 
 
and move again …    and       …         strain        …            to           …               reach…
The place beyond the bounds of time
I touch Him, feel Him, call Him mine
What is this Love,
This fire
Divine
This higher
life fits like a glove
And I am reminded as I twist and twirl
I was never made to be of this world.
 
 
I am the Pilgrim Dancer
My body a perfect pen
Written upon the empty spaces
Between the words of men
Take a look
And you will see
Between the lines of present time
Eternal Kingdom coming
Where we are free, we’ve crossed the line
 
I am the Pilgrim Dancer
Flesh of flesh and bone of bone
One with You
And now
Together
I dance with Jesus
I am
Home.

David Martin