VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The Hopscotch Board

When I Was A Child
Beneath The Age Of Consent
Running Hopscotch
Was A Thing
Where Much Time Was Spent!
Mommies And Daddies
Would Join In On Moonlight Nights
AND
Soon Everybody On The Street
Was Playing!
Oh, What A Delight!

The Goal
Was To Get From The Bottom No. 1
To The Top No. 9
AND
Return
Without Losing One's Balance
AND
Falling
For
The Master Of The Board
Was The One Who Could Reach
The Highest Number
For The Start
AND
Return
AND
Dismount From Your Number Start
Again Without
On Your Face
Falling
AND
Giving Everybody Else Observing
Playing
Something To Laugh And Shout About!

It Was Easy!
It Was Hard
AND
It Was Fun
But The Passage Of Time
Soon Made The Game A Discard!

UNTIL ...

In Adulthood
In Life
AND
In Faith
Hopscotch Returned
Forcefully
AND
Placed Me
In A Rather Peculiar Place!

If You Look
At The Hopscotch Board
You Will Note
That There Are Two Places Where
A Person Is Straddling
Two Numbers For Sure
BUT
You Will Also Notice
That
As You Start
So Do You End
In Singular Position
With No Hope
For Straddling
Even If Is You
Who
The Board Drew!

Straddling May Give Time For Rest!
Straddling May Give Time To Reflect!
Straddling Does Not Make
A Way Of Life
For
For
OR
Against
One Must A Firm 
And Upright Position
Realize!

So In Faith!
So In Belief!
Man Cannot Have Faith In Jesus Christ
AND
Expect
AND
Believe 
A Dying Mortal Man Like Himself Can
Our Life's Stresses Relieve!

Take A Good Look 
At The Fence To Be Straddled
AND
Look At Your Position 
Relative To Same
AND
Think Hard About The Position
In Which You Will Fall
When The Earthquake In Your Life
Causes You
- With Malice -
Aggressively To Fall!

If God Is God
Serve The Loving Lord Jesus Christ!
If The Devil Is God
Serve Satan Of Demonic Device
For
You Can't Wholeheartedly Embrace The Holy One
AND
Wholeheartedly Embrace The Evil One, Too
AND
Then Run Happily 
Contentedly
With All Two
For The King James Says:

Decisions Must Be Made!
BUT
Coined Heads Or Tails Cannot Be Played!
Being Wise Unto Salvation
With Mortal Head In Jesus Christ's Firm Faith 
Held High 
Above Firmly Set Shoulders
PLUS
Abiding
Obedient Love 
For Him Who Is In Everlasting Command
Is The Only Way To Reach Zion
To Forever Reside With
The Glorious Son Of Man!

Our Faith
Must Join Our Belief
AND
Educated Consumers We Must Be
OR ELSE
In The Great Shaking
- No Faking -
A-quaking
We Will Be!

So, Remember ...

Like A Game Of Hopscotch
Every Human Life Has An End
So
Be Sure Of Your Position
AND
With Wise Ways
Make Firm Provision
For Where You Will
Eternity 
Spend!

God Made!

God Gave!

God Gives!

God Forgives!

and

God Receives!

So Don't Be A Laodicean!

Go Humbly To God 

... And Truly Live!

Real Weapons Of Mass Destruction + Prayer: Lord, Let Me Be Grateful

Whine
Manipulate
AND
Demand
Are The Real Weapons Of Mass Destruction
Used To Move 
Accessible Mama For A Nipple
AND
Laboring Dada For A Trifle
AND
The World For An Owing
BUT
The Users Of Such Weapons
Are Never Willing To Be Thankful For 
The Grace Of God
Over Themselves
AND
Over All The Living People!

This Son Blazingly Rages
AND
That Daughter Ragingly Despairs
For
The Love Of Instant Gratification
Is Causing Contentment
To Be Forcefully Displaced!

Greed For Gain
Makes The Never-Contented Children Of Men 
Drink
The Whine Of Discontent 
Which Is Not Of The Sort  Of Wine To Be Used
For The Stomach's Sake
BUT
Is The Bitter Dripping Of Acid
On What Should Have Been
An Impermeable Core Of Contentment
For
It Is Well Known That
Almighty God Provides
Whether We Are In Families
Or We Walk Lonely And Alone
AND
Have No Place To Call Home!

The Demanding Spirit
- Never Of The Cooperative Sort -
Thinks Itself The Cat's Meow
When It Opens Its Mouth
Uttering
The Attack Dog's Bark!
Fear Of Its Bark
- Ever The Herald Of Its Destructive Bite -
Gets For It Its Never-Need
Its Ever-Want
Because To Argue Against It
- Like Paper Against A Scissors -
Has Not Even Close To A Strong Point!

Manipulation
Is The Mead Of Wickedness
Used
Like A Balm Of Helpfulness
BUT
Covers A Careless
Coreless Conscience 
Made Accessible By
Ever-Lubricated Bat-Wing Doors
AND
Proving
Self Is A Whore!

In Consort
- Just Like Revelation's Triad Of Unclean Spirits Like Frogs -
Whine
Manipulate
AND
Demand
Those Undeniable Weapons Of Mass Destruction
Godless
Conscience-Less
Guiltless
AND
Beguiling
AND
Just Like Their Damned Originator
Pulse
Undulate
Titillate
AND
Obfuscate
To Decimate
Because
My-Want Trumps My-Need
Because
My-Greed Is The Speed
Through Which
Me
My-Self
AND
My-Eyes
Get A Feed!

Little
With Contentment
Provides Great Gain
For A Contented Soul!

A Lot
- With Licorishness For A License -
Never Knows That A Little
AND
Enough
Are More Blessed Than 
A Wasted Lot!

So ...

When Two 
Too Deep 
Pool Eyes 
Fill 
A Liter To A Stretched-Out One Gallon Slow-Belly
Know
Of A Sure Surety
No Matter What King Covetous
Unto Granny Eve Did Say
Death - Though Slow
Is Ever Coming
For
Eyes Always Have
AND 
In All Ways Possible
Will Make The Body
AND
The Belly 
Dearly Pay!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

Let Me Be Grateful

For What I Have In My Hand

For There Are Those

Who Have Not

And

Would Greatly Appreciate

Receiving Much Of The Good

That I Wickedly Discard

Into My Trashcan!

Let Not My Stomach

Prepare A Feast For Me

Which

At The Eating

Renders My Soul Captive

Unto Him Who Dearly Hates Me!

Let My Eyes Be Focused

On The Lord Jesus Christ

Knowing That

In The Fullness Of Time

I Will Enjoy A Perpetual Feasting

In The Heavenly Paradise!

Lord, Remember Me

And

Help Me To Always Remember

And

Love

And

Honor

And

Trust

And

Obey You!

Amen.

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Church:- Professing! Processing! Progressing!?!

Bacchanal Was In Progress
AND
The Wicked
The Wild
The Wasted
The Wanton
Were Out And About In Full Force
AND
So Were The Other Creatures ...!

Church Was In Progress
AND
The Bold
The Beautiful
The Bought
The Blessed
The Bright
The Brainy
The Believing
AND
Those Other Creatures
Be-Angry
Let's-Sin
Constant Carping
Vile Affections
AND
Give-Place-To-The-Devil
Were In Attendance
AND
At Full And Attentive Alert
Readily
Boldly
Constantly Whispering
Not At All Sweet
Somethings
Into The Ears Of  

• Those With Chips On Their Shoulders
• Those Angry At God
• Those Bitter At Life
• Those Willing To Be Aggrieved
• Those Stressed
• Those Soul-Weary
• Those Tired Weary Wanderers
• Those Hopeless
• Those Helpless
• Those Prone To Sin
• Those Striving For The  Mastery Of Self
• Those Burdened For The People Of God
• Those Who Refused To Submit To God
• Those Frightened To Submit To God
• Those Longing For A Closer Walk With God
• Those Walking Toward The Kingdom Of God
• Those Who Pray Prettily
• Those Who Plead Piously

AND

• Those Who Humble Themselves Before God By Prayer And Supplication Nothing Wavering

AND

• The Pastor And The Church Board

In The Midst Were The Excellent Spirits
Peace
Hope
Help
Healing
Love
Humble-Thyself-Before-God
Sin-Not
AND
Give-No-Place-To-The-Devil
Along With Angel's Excelling In Strength
Pushing Back Those Wicked Spirits
Hate
Envy
Greed
Lust
Lies
Wasting
AND
Others As Previously Mentioned
And Many More Of The Horde!

It Must Be Said
That The Host Of Heaven
Is More Than The Horde Of Hell
AND
The Fact That
That There Were Many Times The Two Or Three
Gathered In The Lord's Name
Meant That The Holy Spirit Was There In Attendance
AND
Blessing
Comforting
Chiding
Abiding
Correcting
Teaching
AND
Leading
Those Who Would
By Personal Choice
Be Lead Of The Living God!

If Only The Congregation
Could See Beyond The Veil!

It Is A Good Thing

That They Cannot!

This Congregation Has Two Pastors:

One Is Ancient
Acknowledging
AND
Acceding To The Old Way Marks
Passionate For God
Pleading For Souls
Sacrificial By Spirit
Long-Winded
AND
King James All The Way!
"Thus Saith The Lord!"
Is Ever His Play!

The Second Pastor
Is Young
AND
A Risen Star
At The Top Of The Game
With The Set Car
The Entourage
AND
The Bodyguards
AND
Is A Best-Selling Author
Humanistic In Spirit
Ecumenical In Deed
Activated By Greed
Never Had A Need
That A Special Offering Couldn't Feed
Never Sang A Hymn That A Rock Guitar
Couldn't Make Into A Reel
AND
Always Preaches Sermons Given Over To Earthly Goals
AND
Constant Feels
To The Point Where
If You Were A Stranger In The Midst
You Were Given The Impression That
Constant Feels Was His Kept Mistress!

The Congregation Is In Turmoil
Because Of The Constant
Haul And Pull Of
The Desire For The Gains Of
The Hauler For Hell
AND
The Desire For The Pleasures Forevermore Of
The Pull Of The Paradise Of The Peace-Giver!

It Is Because Of This
Halting Betwixt Two Opinions
That The Sounds Of War In The Camp
Can Be By All Heard!

Today
Both Ministers Are Scheduled To Speak!

The Young And Sharp Minister
Spoke First
And Did So
Swiftly
Smoothly AND Sweetly
AND
He Got A Standing Ovation!
Truth Be Told
It Was As Though Jesus Christ
Himself
Had Been In That Very Room
AND
The Emotional Had Been Energized!
Only Problem, Though
Not A Call To Worship The King Had Been Uttered
OR
Utilized!

It Is Now Time
For The Pastor
Old And Stable To Speak
AND
He Chose Joshua's Words
Elijah's Expedition
Jeremiah's Lament
AND
The Whoredom's In Hosea
AND
King David's Prayers And Songs Of Praise
To Paint The Picture
Of
AND
FOR
The Church!

He Said:

Joshua Said: "Choose!"
And He, Himself
Chose God
For His Portion
AND
He Rested 
In God!

Elijah Was Valiant
In The Service
AND
For The Word
Of The Living God
AND
At The End Of It All
Almighty God
Ordained
That He Would Not Taste Death
AND
The Very Chariots Of God
Descended The Heights
AND
Took Him Bodily To God's Home
As The Great Reward
For His Faithfulness!
Elijah Represents Those Of Us
Who Shall Never Taste Death
For They Will Be Still Alive
When The Lord Comes!

He Spoke Of ...

Jeremiah's Lamentations
For The Church-Nation In Apostasy
Serving The Useless Gods
Of The Heathen-Unbelieving Nations
Warning
Ever Warning
Of The Judgment
For Apostasy Against God
AND
The Subsequent Delivery
Into Exile
Separation From God!

He Proceeded To Stress Heavily
That There Is Restoration
To Almighty God
To Be Found
By Confession 
AND
Repentance Of Known Sin!

The Faithful Steward
That Faithful Under-Shepherd
Of The Lord's Flock
Spoke Of
The Commission Given
To The Prophet Hosea
To Enter Into A Marriage
Of Fidelity
To A Whoring Woman
Who
Though Loved
Protected
AND
Provided For
By The Ever-Faithful Husband
Sought The Forbidden Pleasures Of Stolen Fruit
AND
Foolishly Gave Erroneous Credit To The Practice Of Sin
For Her Daily Provision!

That Kindly Shepherd 
Spoke 
Of Love - Himself
Readily Going After His Wife
Who Had Chosen The Life Of Whoredom
Over The Life Of Peace And Rest
AND
Loving Companion!

He Further Spoke Of
The Hand Of Care And Comfort
Being Despised
For The Love Of
Heady Emotionalism
AND
Still
God aka Love Going After
The Bride Of His Heart
The Beloved
Buying Her Out Of Her Slavery To Sin
Imploring Her
To Return To Him
To Be Faithful To Him
That Her Children
May Be Called
God's Children
Beloved
AND
Blessed
To Live In Eternal Peace!

In Tears ...

The Faithful Old Preacher
Spoke
Of The Nation-Church
United Under The One God
Worshiping
Praying
Praising
As Under
David The Shepherd King
- The Type Of Christ -
Able
- Even In Persecution -
To Give God Praise
Believing
Knowing
Trusting
The King Of Heaven
In All Ages AND Stages Of Life
AND
Finally
Stating Clearly AND Carefully
Of And For Himself
That:

As For Me

I Will Behold God's Face In Righteousness

I Will Be Satisfied When I Awake

With God's Likeness!

There Was
A Great Quiet In That Place
For The Very Presence 
Of The Lord
Could Be Viscerally Felt There!

Souls Were Convicted!
Hearts Were Convinced
AND
Converted
AND
Hard Faces Were Made Soft
By The Moving Of The Spirit Of Truth
From The Court Of Light!

An Awakening Had Revealed Itself!

Suddenly ...

Unexpectedly ...

A Voice
Newly Confident
Clearly Sang Out:

I Am Delivered!

Praise The Lord!

I Am Delivered!

Glory To His Name!

I Was Lost In Sin

In The Valley Of Death

I Am Delivered!

Praise The Lord!

As The Old Pastor Moved To Re-take His Seat
He Could Be Heard Saying:

Even So, Come
Lord Jesus!

The Young Pastor Loudly Cried:

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

PERSONAL PUZZLER: Link Between Cross and Cash

One Lovely, Lovely, Day
I Walked Along A Lonely Road
AND
Came Across A Puzzle!
I Saw For Myself - My Own Self
A Cross 
AND
Some Cash
AND
My Heart and My Eyes
Were Fair To Quite Dazzled!

The Cross!
AND
The Cash!
Make A Rash Move
AND
I Shall Crash
For Lovely Cash Now
Means
Cruel Cross Later

BUT ... 

Cruel Cross Now Means ...
Gold Later!?!

What's A Body To Do?

The NOTICE 

On The Roadside

BOARD

Reads:

The Cross AND The Cash 

In Their Diversity 

Contain All Your Instructions!

Find The Clues 

And 

Then

Make Your Best Decision!

All The Clues 

Are Here Hidden

In Plain Sight!