DEVELOPING IN SIN: Arrested Development

I Met Salvation
On The Way
To Committing Sin
AND
I Met Comeuppance
On The Road To
That's Not The Way To Walk In!

I Had Walked Right
In My Own Sight
Leaning
Unto My Own Understanding
AND

I Paid Homage To
Do What Thou Wilt
AND
Soon Found Out That
My Soul Was Fair To Dying!

I Was Vain!
I Was Petty

AND
Pretty Arrogant 'Tis True
BUT
I Was No Different
From Harry Sally And Lou-Lou
Who
Talk Right
Live Wrong
Speak Lovingly Of The Lord
AND
Drink Of Life
With That Vile One
Gone Wrong
Who Works For The Very Devil
While Strenuously Conducting The Sanctuary Choir
At The Quarterly Service Of Song!

It's Amazing When You Don't Eat Pork
BUT
You Sell Your Pigs
To Fine Market
When You See Ada
Pushing Bread-Cart
AND
Fallen From Grace
Stepping High
Like Nothing Wrong
With Her Hand In
I Got This' Right Side Back Pocket
AND
Insult To Injury
You, Yourself, Realize
That Sam Couchie And The Duppy Doomed
Because
The Sermons Long Preached At Fancy Church
Was Lamb's Milk
Laced

With Magic Mushroom!

Well, Well, Well!
What A Fine Pass
We Have Arrived At
Going Real Fast
Forward
In A Vehicle
Apparently
With No Brakes
Or Reverse
BECAUSE
Brother Fuzzy
Sister Squeeze
AND
Hold Me Tight
Liked To Frequent Jezebel's Amply Stocked
To Overflowing
Spiritual Fornication Table
Which Always Sent Out Doggie Bags
To Regulars' Friends
Family
AND
Of Course
All The Members Of The Members' Churches
Whether In The Church Physical
On Video, Internet
Radio Or Cable!

Wait A Minute!
I Thought We Talking 'bout You?!

We Were
AND
We Are!
It Is All Pertinent!

Do You Know
How Far The Wind Can Reach?!

Huh?! No ...!

All You Know
Is It Passed By You
Sitting In A Motor Vehicle
42 Months Ago Last Spring
AND
"The Message" Still Getting Air-Play
For It Has Got Rhythm
AND
Nebuchadnezzar's Sound Of Music
Is Riotously
Thrillingly
Pulsating!

Wow! The Wind Does Indeed Talk!
Live And Learn!
Live And Learn!

I Don't Know About You
BUT
I Was Once A Fool
Who, In Essence, Said
Acted
Pretended
That There Is No God
But
In The Day With Comeuppance
First Words
Out Of My Mouth
Were:

God Help Me!
Please, God?! Help Me!
I'm Dying!
My Life Is Going South!

Isn't It Amazing
When Party Lights Are Illuminating
That Your Life Is On A Chill Pill
AND
On The Groove
Your Heart Is Pulsating
That When Apparent Death
Is Toward You Walking
You Automatically Know
That It Is
The Light Of Life
For Help
You Should Be Calling!

Been There!
Done That!
I Had A Season Ticket
To Death By Degrees
AND
Found Out
The Hard Way
That Sin ... The Disease
Does As It Darn Well Does Please
UNLESS
AND
UNTIL
Christ The Cure
Knocks At Your Heart
AND
You Willingly Open
AND
Invite Him
To Enter Through Your Unblocked Front Door!

I Know!
He Knocked!
I Answered!
We Sat Down To Eat!
It Was A Simple Supper
BUT
God Be Praised
It Was Sweet, Sweet!

There Were No Babylonian Wines!
No Pharisee Leaven!
No Look-Back Salt-Licks
AND
No Fig Trees Around Found Barren
BUT
There Was
Bread Of Heaven
AND
Water
Flowing Freely
From The River Of Life
AND
The Touch Of The Master's Hand
AND
The Comfort Of The Holy Spirit Thereafter
AND
The Protection Of The Holy Angels
Because
I Had Set The Table For Our Meal
With Choicest Confession
AND
Repentance!

I Suddenly Found That

I Had No Time For Hold Out
Hold Back
Nor Keep It In!

I Served Up Of-Sin: A Gully Washer
AND
Christ The Cure
Provided Full Cleansing
Made Up Of
Pardon For Sin
Peace That Endureth
Grace For The Day
Faith For The Way
Love Without Limit
Mercy For Me
AND
A Drop Of The Blood
Of The True Sacrifice
The Son Of The Father
Jesus The Christ
The Only One Holy!

And, Then ...

There Was Rejoicing In Heaven
The Strains Of Which
Man Has Never Heard
Over The Lost Sheep
Found
Repentant
Returned
To The Safe Fold Of God!

I Will Say This
Brother, Sister
It Was All Done
Not A Moment Too Soon
For
Liar The Lion Was Raging
Licking His Lips
For
Hell Had Mutton Stew
Fresh Killed
On Decimation Mankind's
Unchangeable Price Fixe Menu!
He Was Aiming For His Fill!

Too Bad For Him!
I Was Safe
In The Arms Of Jesus!

Sooooo ...

What's Happening Now, My Friend?!

I Read Old King James
For My Self -
A Thus Saith The Lord
Is My Guide!
God Said It!
I Believe It!
In Heavenly Love
I Sincerely Abide!

I Offer Up Myself
A Living Sacrifice ...!

... I Know! Right On!

... It Is My Reasonable Service!
I Worship The Lord Of Life
With Delight
AND
My House
- No Longer On Sand -
But On The Sure Foundation
Is Being Rebuilt
In A Peaceful Glade!
I No Longer Sing The World's Favorite Song!

Storms Of Life
Winds Of Strife
AND
Calls To Flesh
Come In Abundance
BUT
Truth Is Bought!
I Sell It Not
AND
Wisdom
Is My Shop Attendant!

The Grace Of God
Constrains Me
To Not Become Self-Willed!
I Stand Up For Jesus Christ
I Obey
I Trust My Life
To The One Who Gives
AND
IS
Life
AND
By Striving For The Mastery
Praying - Spirit Leading -
I Cannot
By Powers
Principalities
Wickedness In High Places
Nor Satan Himself
Be Overthrown!

In Jesus
I Shall Not Make Shipwreck Of Faith
For
There Is Waiting For Me
- In Heaven -
A Sure And Certain Place!

Thank God For Grace!

Thank GOD For Grace!