VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: CHRISTIAN: - Tofu!

A Week Ago Last Tuesday
I Met A Good Christian!
He Said That His Name Is Tofu!
Thyme And Parsley Were His Coverings
AND
Powdered Seasonings Were His Shoes!

Three Days Later
I Saw A Good Christian!
He Said That I Knew Him! - His Name Was Tofu!
He Looked Different!
Barbecue Sauce Was His Covering!
AND
Pepper Flakes And Garlic Were His Shoes!

Hmmmm ...!

Today
I Met Up With A Good Christian
Calling Himself ... You Guessed It
Tofu!
AND
I Became A Bit Perplexed
For
His Clothing ... Again
Was New!

I Wondered ...
Is This A Chameleon?!

Clothed In
Potatoes Carrots
Sweet Pepper Thyme Onion
Scallions
Apple Cider Vinegar
Garlic Clove
Paprika
Hot Pepper Sauce
His Clothing Was Best Called A Melange!
His Fragrance Was Quite Aromatic
BUT
Fresh Thyme Sticks Were Between His Toes!
He Was Not Wearing Any Shoes!

I Asked:
Christian? Who Are You?

He Said: 
I Am Just Bland Tofu!

I Replied:
Tofu? Who Are You?
You Seem To Roll With The Times!

He Said:
Of Course!
I'm Bland By Myself
BUT
Put Me With Flavor-Full
AND
I Absorb Their Contents!
I Adapt To My Surroundings
So
My Host Is With Me
Ever Content!

I Gasped!
My Eyes Flared!
My Ears Burned!
My Stomach Churned!
I Closed My Eyes!
I Groaned
AND
I Shook My Head!

Tofu!
Don't You Know Whose You Are?!
Have You No Head?

Not Really!
You See
I Am A Pale Crushed-Pea Block
Organic 'Tis True - That Makes Me Special
But
I Am Not Much Of A Chew
Until
Someone Squeezes My Guts
And All The Water Comes Out
And They Slice Me
And They Dice Me
And They Sear Me On A Hot Dry Pan
Until A Tan On Me Sides Show Through!
I Don't Like It When They Do That
So
When They Put Me With Nice Things
I Hurriedly Grab Hold
So That Someone Would Take Me In
Laying Me Out On Plate
Or
In A Bowl!

But ...

Tofu!
You Are A Christian!
You Belong To The One!
The Creator Of The Aromatics
So
You Should Not Be Running Around
With Sriracha And Ground Black Pepper Corns!

The Master Has Called You!
Be Wise
AND
Accept The Offered Place
For It Comes With Mercy's Clothing
AND
Love
Manufactured By Available Grace!
You Get An Infusion Of Hope
AND
Oil Of The Holy Spirit
AND
You Get Influenced By Holy Angels
To Walk In The Truth
Spreading Light!

Really!? Truly?!

Yes!
Did You Not Know?

No!
I Though I Had To Act
According To My Nature
AND
Run With Whomever
Invited Me With Them To Go!

No, Tofu! No!
You May Have Been Bland Tofu - A Christian
But Now
You ... REBORN!
You Are
Last Name: CHRISTIAN
First Name: Tofu

Wear Your Last Name Proudly!
Respond To Christian Loudly!
Speak What The Master Gave To You -
It Is Your Reborn Birth-Right!
AND
Dismiss All Those Hangers-On
AND
Live Right 
In God's Eyesight!

If You Are Going To Be Eaten
Make Sure That Whoever Eats You
Knows
You True Flavor's Taste!
Absorb The Good
AND
Perfect Gift Of Blessings Of 
The Master
AND
Leave The World On A High Note
Making All Regret
That There Is No More Of You Left
For Another Sweet Mouth Taste!

Take The Grace!
Don't Be A Tasteless Disgrace!

Thanks For The Tip!
Time To Turn Me!
Give Me A Gentle Flip!

Tofuuu!

CHRISTIAN: Tagged Or Living!

I Refuse To Be Tagged
A Spiritual Gangster!
I Refuse To Be Marked
A Jesus Fanatic!
My Preferred Appellation Is:

Jesus Christ-Following

Bible-Believing 

Fundamentalist

Who Loves And Trusts The Unseen God

And

Lives Faithfully

In Hope-For-Heaven Bliss!

A Fanatic Is Insane!
A Gangster Is A Crook!
I Am Neither
By Nature
Nor Nurture
For
I Stand Upon The Good Book!

I Am Faithful To Jesus Christ
BECAUSE
With My Whole Heart
I Believe That He Is Real!

I Trust In The King James Holy Bible
BECAUSE
I Believe It Is The Preserved Word 
Not The Word Profaned!

I Live In Hope-For-Heaven Bliss
BECAUSE
I Believe That Almighty God
The Unseen And Eternal God
Is True To His Word!

My Faith Has Belief
And Love
And Trust
And Obedience
BECAUSE
I See His Hand
AND
I Feel His Care
For
The Holy Spirit Guides And Chides Me
AND
I Am Protected By Holy Angels
So That I Do Not Walk This World In Fear!

The God Of The Holy Bible
Is Faithful And True
AND
He Sacrificed His All
To Save Me
AND
To Save You
AND
I Accept The Sacrifice
That Is My Salvation Free
AND
I Tell Good Words
To Everybody
Of What A Friend And Savior
Jesus Christ The Lord Is
To Me!

Never A Gangster!
Never A Fanatic!
BUT
A Christ-Follower
A Teachable Sheep
Following The Good Shepherd
Who Searches For
AND
Finds 
AND
Carries Home
Crying Lost Lambs!
I Am Satisfied With My Jesus
For
Sheltered In His Bosom
My Faith Firms
AND
My Heart Is Made Calm!

I Am Living The Name!

What About You?!

When God Is Displeased!

Almighty God
Gave His Law Unto Man
Saying:

This Is My Law

Keep It In Thy Right Hand!

BUT ...

Man Was Presumptuous
Walking In His Own Way
Saying:

God Does Not See Me
I Will Run All About
And Every Which Way
I Shall Play!

God Was Displeased ...

First Came The Warnings:

You Are Not Walking In The Right Way!

Man Simply Ignored The Warnings
AND
Continued His Bad Play!

Second Came The Counsels:

You Are A Wayward Child

So I Shall Again Teach You My Ways!

Walk Faithfully In Them

And Don't Forget To Pray!

But ... Man 

Was Presumptuous
AND
Continued Walking 
In His Own Self-appointed Way!

God Was Displeased ...

And Next Came The Reproofs:

My Children, I Love You

And

You Need To Understand The Truth

That

Disobedience Has Consequences

And

I Will Not Permit You

To Run Around Unchecked

Wild And Loose!

Look To Yourselves
And Seek After Your Creator
And Change Your Ways

For 

The Time Is Soon Coming

When I Will No Longer You Reprove!

BUT ...

Stiff-necked
AND
Defiant
AND
Seeking Always To Satisfy Self
Man Became Hard-hearted
AND
Placed The Living God
On The Old Curiosity Shelf

AND ... God

In Compassion
In Love
AND
Blessed Fatherhood
Having Sent Forth Many
"Change Your Ways" Messages
In The Habit Of A Strict Disciplinarian
Stood Up

IN MERCY 

And Poured Out Real Judgments
Guaranteed To Bring The Hardest Heart
To Its Knees
Such That The Recalcitrants
Vocalized Their Great Hurts
Lamenting:

Father, This Pain Truly Hurts!

It Is More Than We Can Bear!

Forgive Us Our Trespasses!

Keep Us In Your Safe Church!

We Indulged In The Sin Of Presumption!

We Walked In Idolatrous Ways!

We Became God

And Left You As The Servant

And Our Lot Has Us Sitting

Quite Dazed!

Have Pity!

Forgive Us!

Bring Us Back Into The Fold!

We Are Your Willing Servants

And

Walking In Your Way

Is Now And Forever Our Goal!

AND ... GOD 

Forgave Them!

I Am Sure That You Know The Story!
Repentance Didn't Long Last
For
When You Mold God
Into Your Own Image
Judgment's Die
Is Known Cast!

God Forgives!
He Will Hear Us!
Call On Him 
AND
Get Your Personal Answer
Now!
Today!

So ...

Go On
AND
Give The Old Devil
The Heave Ho
AND
Watch God Bless You
As On His Business
You Diligently Go!

The Pleasing Of One's Self

Denies Us The Ability

To Please

The Holy God!

Preaching The Mnemonic Jesus

The Servant Of God
Stood Up For To Preach
AND
In The Time Allotted
He Did Quite Scholarly Teach!
He Was Greatly Commended
AND
Feeling Quite Pleased With Himself
To The Congregation Did Say:

I Hope You Have Been Blessed
For
For That Teaching
My Mental Faculties
Were Greatly Stressed!

A Buzzing Was Heard
An Anxious Moving As Of A Restless Herd
BUT
It Was God's Flock Of Faithful People
Being Seriously Disturbed
As Proved By A Quietly Loud Voice
Filled With Hurt And Still Command
Who Pointedly Asked The Intellectual Preacher:

Do YOU Know The Feel Of The Lord's Hand?

Sir,
This Is Not A Science Project
Nor Other Intellectual Pursuit!
These Are Life And Death Matters
Which Need No Poseur
In A Brooks Brothers Suit!

You Preach An Intellectual Jesus!
You Teach A Physical Lord
AND
Therewith My Brother
You And The Bible Are
Not In Accord!

Pray Tell Us ...

Do YOU Personally Know Jesus?
How Has Jesus Changed You In Your Life?
Is Jesus Christ Your Savior
Or
Is He Just A Teaching Preaching Device!?

Your Teaching 
Was Intellectually Stimulating
BUT
I Could Not Feel Your Heart
For
In My Heartfelt Opinion
Of God's Grace
You're Just Shooting In The Dark!

I Beseech You!
I Am Pleading!
Show Us What The Lord Has Done For You!
Get Real With Your Teaching
AND
Tell Us 
By Your Witness
How Jesus Christ Has Personally Saved You!

If You Are A Workman
In The Lord's Vineyard
Your Credentials Should Be Experience Based
BUT
Your Talking About A Theoretical Jesus
Gives No One Of Jesus
A Sweet-Food Taste
Which
- Upon The Tasting -
Should Encourage One
A Full Meal To Purchase By Prayer!

The Food That You Served
Which We Did Today Taste
Is For The Party Goers Palate
AND
Not For One Seeking To Avoid
An Unrepentant Sinner's Fate!

I Came Here From The Desert!
I Desire The Water Of Life!
I Expect The Bread Of Heaven
Not Jesus The Mnemonic Device!

I Want Jesus!
I Need Jesus!
I Desire His Life!
So,  Please
Let's Do This Over!
Show Us How A Life Is Changed
After Experiencing
The Free Grace Of Jesus Christ!

And So ...

The Preacher Bowed His Head
AND
Prayed Aloud To The Living And Eternal Holy God:

Dear Father, 

Up In Heaven

I Thank You For The Rod!

The Rod Of Correction

That Brought Me Out Of Sin's Fog!

I Thank You For Your Blessing

Your Blessings That Fall On Me

Blessings That I Did Not Know I Needed

Until They Were Touching The Heart Of Me!

Dear Father,

I Plead For A Word Of Comfort

For These Children Of Hope!

Help Me Dearest Father

To Show Them How You Got Me Off 

The Old Devil's Dope!

Bless Me, Lord

To Bless Your People!

Help Me From Truth Not To Shy Away

Help Me To Lift Up The Holy Jesus

Who From Sin

Drew Me Away!

Help Me To Be Honest

Help Me Truth To Confess

Help Me To Help Others

Who Through Sin

Are In Mortal Distress!

I Love You

I Bless You

Help Me To Honor You Today And Always

And Help Me, Dear Father

To Forget Self

And Lift You Up

For The Rest Of My Days!

Thank You, Lord, For Your Mercy

Please Accept In The Name Of The Holy Jesus

Your Trembling Servant's Prayer!

The Congregation 
In Unison, Said:

Glory! 
             Hallelujah! 
                                    Praise God! 
                                                            AMEN!

Where's Your Faith?!

I Was Given A Great Gift!
It Was A Measure Of Faith!
I Touched It!
I Kissed It!
I Tried It Out Once
AND, THEN
I Put It High Up
On The Treasured Items Shelf!

One Day
I Had An Experience!
That Experience Called Into Question My Faith!
I Said To My Self:

"Hey! We Have Faith!"

BUT
Then I Remembered, And Said:

"Ohhh! But It Is At Home
On The Treasured Items Shelf!"

I Got Over That Experience!
Or So I Thought!

Time Passed

And Then ...

Astoundingly
One Experience
AND
Another Experience
Boldly Showed Up
This Time
Right Inside My Front Door!

The Nerve Of These Experiences!

Shocked
Dismayed
Shaken
AND
Nerves Frayed
I Reached For My Gift Of Faith
Only To Realize
Belatedly
That I Had Securely Tucked It Away!

"Oh, Faith!
Where Are You?
I Need You Right Now!
Wherever You Are Hiding
I Command You
To Come Out Right Now!
I'm Having A Conniption
A Calf
AND
A Cow!
Oh, Lord!
Please Help Me!
Lord, Help Me!
I Vow
To Keep Faith With You!
To Keep My Faith
On With Me
Starting ...
Starting ...
Starting ... RIGHT NOW!

I Learned A Hard Lesson!
Faith Is Not For Show!
Faith Is For Exercise!
One Must Let Faith Grow
For
Faith Unused
Is Faith That Is Dead
AND
Unused Faith
Is As Useful As
A Feather Made Of Lead!

From That Day Till This Day
I Have Bound My Faith
To My Life!
I Have To Daily Exercise My Faith
For
Living
In This Life
Is Constant Constant Strife!

I Say My Prayers
To My Father
Humbly 
In Jesus Christ' Name
Exercising The Faith
That He Gave Me
Vowing Daily
To Use This God-Given Measure of Faith
Until I Enter The Day I Enter The Grave!

I Have Needs!

Without Faith

In Jesus Christ

My Faith Is Fruitless

My Striving Is Useless

AND

Salvation For This Sinner Saved

Is Profitless

AND

Waiting For The Trumpet Call Of God

Is Pointless!