Say Your Prayers!

I Passed An Old Cross
Battered, Bloodied And Worn!
I - Sin-Bruised And Weary -
Queried Its Purpose
And Asked:

"How Was This Used!?"

The Answer Came Softly:

It Bore  The Lord

The King Of Life Who

Died To Redeem The Fallen

To Give Repentant Sinners

Respite From Strife

And Then

Eternal Life!

I Accepted The Answer
AND
I Searched For The Lord
Whom I Found
AND
Was Blessed By
As The Way, I Started
AND
Stayed Upon
As - In Faith -
I, To Life, Climbed!

The Way
Was Rugged Rutted
Lonely
Often Devoid Of People Who Cared
But Always
I Was Attended
By Him
Whose Suffering For Me
I Shared!

I Was Satisfied With Jesus
The King Of Life To Me
AND
I Wanted No Other
No Matter How Pleasant
The Other Was Painted To Be!

Time Passed Slowly ...

One Day
I Became Weary
For
I Had Not Uttered A Faith Prayer
AND
As Was To Be Expected
The Devil Did Appear!

I Came Upon The Old Cross
BUT
It Was Now Brand New!
It Was No Longer Rugged
AND
It Had Cushions 
AND
A Pew!

The Nails Were High Tech Bracelets
So As
No Suffering 
No Anguish
To Cause!
The Crown Of Cruel Thorns
Was Sponge-Lined
AND
He Who Was The Sacrifice
Bore Of Suffering 
No Trace
For
He Was A Rambling Gambler
Who
For The Living God
Had No Place!

I Reeled!
I Fell Back!
I Was Heart-Sore
AND
Sorely Repulsed
For
This Was The Counterfeit
Built
Published
By The Disgust!

I Was Offered ...

Faint Comfort!
I Was Encouraged To Dawdle
AND
Not To Redeem The Time
To Wander
To Ever Want
AND
To Perpetually Gather
AND
To Indulgently Recline
Indulging
Folly And Fantasy
Whatever And Wish-Craft 
AND
Greed
AND
To Be Petty
AND
Unkind
AND
To Find Escape In Hypnotic Drugs
AND
To Gratify My Need For 
Transporting Speed!

In Fear 
AND
Deep Distress
I Cried:

Father God
Have Mercy!
I Need You!
I Am In Need Of Rescue!
I Beseech You - Lord, Save!
I Have Been Foolish!
Forgive Me!
Satan Is Trying To Again
Make Me A Sin-Slave!

Come Home, Dear Child!

Come Home

 And

Rest!

Confess And Repent Of Your Sins

And

You Will Be Blessed!

Praying Brings Power

And

Hope For Rescue!

I Am Your Father!

Call On Me Always

And

I Will Always Answer

And

Lovingly Provide

For You!

I Did An About Face
An 180-degree Turn!
I Looked At My Master
AND
My Heart For Him Did Burn!

Brethren,
Listen To Me
I Beseech You!
Take Not The Easy Way
For
Therein Is Disaster
AND
The Rush To Hell
Where For Own-Sin
One Must Surely Pay!

The Mannish Majority Is Never Right!
BUT
God With Man ... IS
So
Pick Up 
AND
Keep
Your Rugged Cross
AND
Reject
Satan's High-Tech Counterfeit!

Christ Suffered
- How He Suffered -
To Make For Us A Way
So
Do Not Dismiss His Pain
Because
You Want To Give Him A Better Way!

Do Not Ever Forget
To Say
AND
Plead
Your Daily Prayers!
Position Is Not Key!
The Heart Inclined To God's Glory
Christ
Ensures
Salvation For Me And Thee!

The Old God Of Our Salvation

Is Perfect

For What Ails The Human Soul

But

The New God-For-The Current-Sages

Is Going To Take Adherents

To Outer Darkness

For

They Will Be Playing

The Reject-Jesus Card!