VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Excelsior! Really!?!

Philippians 3:14 KJV

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Bandy, You Should Be Feeling Quite Silly Right About Now! 

Why!?! 

What Did I Do!?! 

Exactly! 

Huh!?! 

You Didn't Do A Thing And That Is Your Problem! 

Oh, Brother! 

Tommy, If You Could See Your Way To Tell Him What You're Talking About 

And Stop Having It Be So Obscure

Perhaps He Could Defend Himself! 

Okay, Rudy! 

Alright, Bandy! 

Where Do You Work!?! 

I Work Right Here At Excelsior! 

And What Are You Always Talking About!?! 

I Talk About Excelsior! 

Yes, Bandy! 

Excelsior This, Excelsior That, Excelsior Will! 

Do You Know What Excelsior Means!?! 

Why Would I! 

It's Just A Name! 

Bandy, You Real Pitiful, You Know! 

Why!?! 

Because I Ain't Swallow A Dictionary Like You!?! 

Nope, Bandy! 

I Say That You Are Pitiful Because You Profess That 

You Are A Committed Christian

And 

You Are Always Belaboring Our Ears 

With The Topic Of Climbing The Ladder To Glory

Apostle Paul And Aiming For The Prize Of The Upward Call 

And Not Looking Back To What Was

But Focusing On What Will Be! 

Strangely, Though, You Have Not Seen Fit 

To Associate Your Christianity With The Meaning Of 

The Name Of Your Workplace! 

Tommy, Please Pardon Me For Asking

But How Do These Two Things Correlate!?! 

It's Simple My Young Friends: 

Apostle Paul Is Seeking The Prize Of The Upward Call 

And

Excelsior Means "Ever Upward!" 

Lord, Have Mercy! 

He Will! 

You All Refuse To Listen When I Tell You To Read A Book 

And To Understand That Nothing Is As It Appears! 

Tommy, You Are Right! 

I Feel Real Silly Right Now! 

No Need, Bandy! 

You Finally Got It Straight! 

Remember This Though:

Man Can Never Outrun The Lessons Of The Living Word! 

I Hear That! 

Peace! 

https://youtu.be/qjZxb0N3QFA?si=HlOt1-kpGtvT05qZ

Tested Sin?! Taste Salvation!

I Know What Sin Looks Like
AND
More Particularly
I Know Its Taste
AND
I Know
Through The Grace Of Christ's Faith
That It Is A Death That
- Summarily -
Will Be Replaced!

Let Me Tell You ...

For Me

It All Started
With A Lil' Some'ing Some'ing
Followed By A Tall Glass Of Gimme More
Topped Off With A Gateau
From Randy Andy
AND
Culminated With
Got To Spread The Spores!

Sin Is A Pool Side
Bed Side
Table Side
Service
Designed To Meet Eaters
In
AND
At
Every Desire
AND
That Desire
Never Ever Leans Toward
Get Less
For
It Is Stuck On The Gear ... Get More!

I Would Be Tired Always Wanting More!

You Speak Truth
BUT
Sin Is A Saddled War Horse
Opinionated
Cultured
Wild
Greedy
Beautiful And Deadly
BUT 
It Ever Acts Nice
Before It Does The Nasty
AND
Turns You
On To
AND
Into
Spiced Vice Full Of Lice!

You Are Making Me Itch!

Stop Talking About That!

I Can't!
I Must Speak The Truth
For Sin Would Have Completely
Wrecked Me
Were It Not For Dear Grace
Who Came 

AND

Stopped
Checked Me!

Mercy!

Mercy Was There
AND
So Was Love
Who Called Me
Calmed Me
AND
More Particularly
Caringly
Held Me ...!

Oh, What Love!

He Spoke!
I Listened!
I Blubbered!
We Cried
AND
He Left Me Holy Spirit Comforter
After Saying That
For Me
He Was Tried
He Had Bled
AND
Cruelly Died!

I Was Hurt
AND
I Was Sorry
For My Sin
AND
For Hurting Him!

I Was Hurt
Yet
I Was Made Happy
For His Hurt
Allows Me Repentance
So That
By Faithful Surrender
To Him
I May Into Holy Heaven
Through The Pearl Gates
- Right Gained -
Walk In!

Sin Calls One To Always Live In The Now
In All Ways
BUT
It Doesn't Last Forever
For
It Has No Root
In The Rock
- The Rock Of Salvation -
That Lasts Forever
AND
Ever!

I Had To Choose!
Salvation
OR
Sin!
Sinful Pleasure Now!
Damnation Later!
OR
Saintly Self-Denial Now!
AND
Everlasting Joy
With Christ The Lord
Later!

Which Did You Choose?!

I Chose To Believe
- Big Word Coming Up -

The Preponderance Of The Evidence
AND
When Sin And Salvation
Were In The Balances Laid
I Saw With My Own Gritty Eyes
Felt With My Own Creeped-Out Skin
Knew In My Own Scarred Hurting Heart
That I Had Been
By Satan And Raw Sin
Sucker-Punched
AND
Roundly Played!

I Had Nearly Died

BUT

On That Very Day
I
- Spiritually Edified -
Got Out Of The Bed With Sin
AND
Leaving Everything
- Better Called Nothing Worthwhile - Behind
I Had Answered The Knock At The Door
Of My Heart
AND
Eagerly Invited In The Beautiful Caller
AND
The Pest
- The Now-Unwanted Sin -
Had No Choice
BUT
From Me To Depart
 For He, Sodden
No Longer Thrilled My Heart!

I Prayed ...

Oh, Father

I Heard Your Voice

And

Moved By Your Spirit 

And

Finally Convinced 

Ready To Change

Truly Convicted

And

Actually Acknowledging My Need

And

Pain

Honestly See Myself

And

- Desiring Free Salvation

Which Can Only Come

From You, God Divine

The Only One True Faithful Kind - 

Invite You In!

Please Hold Me! 

Keep Me

Forever

Please Stay!

Please Make Me Clean!

 

I Don't Want 

My Homemade Bread Anymore!

Please Feed Me Yours

From Heaven's Stores!

Before You, Lord 

I Am Shamefaced Naked! 

Clothe Me In Your Righteousness 

For I Am Now Yours!

I Was Blind

But Your Eyesalve Gives Me Healing

So That I Can Clearly See Thee!

Bless You, Lord!

My Old Name Is Dirt O. Damnation

And

In Revulsion 

I Wittingly Willingly Lay It Down! 

Give Me Your Name, Lord! 

Your Love Lifts Me

And

I Desire To Wear Your Ownership! 

I Desire To Wear The Family Crown!

He Heard ... Me!

He Answered ... Me!

AND

In That Instant

New Life Began For ... Me!

That Is, Indeed
Amazing Grace!

PRAYER: Father, Help Me To Pray With Diligence ...!

Father,

I Come As A Child!

Please Hear My Prayer

For

By And In Jesus Christ's Faith

I Choose To Follow After Thee

Because

I Do Not Desire To Face

A Rolling Stone's Destiny!

I Desire, Lord

A Place Of Rest

An Anchor

A Shelter

In That Place Of Honor

Where Believing Souls

Are Truly Blessed!

Father,

Help Me This Day

To Live In Your Light

Finding Heavenly Love

Joy's Laughter

And

Grace's Delight!

Let Knowledge Of Your Word

Bring True Wisdom

And

Understanding

And

Help Me Not To See Myself

As One Flying High

For, Lord

I Fear Folly's Crash Landing!

Father,

Help Me To Pray With Diligence

For Your People

That You Promised Are In Other Flocks

To Pray For The Advancement

Of The Words Of Life

That They, Too

May Find The Love Of The Lord Christ

A Fulfilling And Heavenly Delight!

Lord,

Help Me To Speak Kind Words

To Bridle My Tongue

To Extend A Helping Hand

To Give A Genuine Smile

And

Not To Ever Display

An Off-putting Selfish Man's Frown!

Oh, Lord

I Pray For The Former Rain

That Causes Seeds To Bud!

I Pray For The Latter Rain

So That There Is A Great Harvest

For Our Holy God

The King Of Love!

I Pray For The Loud Cry

To Go Forth

Calling The Sheep

Who Know My Lord Christ's Voice

And

I Pray For The Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit

So That There Will Indeed Be

A Joyous Celebration

In Glory Land

Where The Holy People

Will

Immortalized

Praise God

And

Rejoice Unendingly!

Lord,

When You Shall

In Your Eternal Kingdom Come

Remember Me

And

All Who Call Upon That Name

In Faith

With Hope And Love

Trusting

That The Oracles Of God

Are Sacrosanct

Truth

Walking In Obedience

Moment By Moment

Believing In The Promise 

Of The Newness Of Life

And

Living By Christ's Faith

Not Trusting In Man's Sight!

Almighty God,

You Who Is The Only One Faithful

Please Increase Our Faith!

You Who Is The Only One Just

Please Lead Us Home

By Your Promise To The Just!

Help To Live Right

Not Spoiling For A Fight

So That We

As Children Of The Peace-Giver

Will Live Godly

By Doing Right

And

Not Grandly

By Abusing Might!

Please Forgive Us

Who To You

For Forgiveness Do Pray

For We Love You, Lord

And

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name

We Humbly Plead!

AMEN.

COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION : Go To The Ants!

Ski-Per-Di
Met
Ants
AND
It Is Love
No Matter The Sight!

Holding Them Together Is
One Little
Called Grain
AND
Their Commitment
To Moving The Little Grain
Makes Feats Of Impossible Engineering
All Over
To Be Exclaimed!

They Are A Wonder To Behold!
Their Works Cannot Be
Begged
Bought
Bartered
Nor Sold
BUT
They Can Be Destroyed
BUT
Not By Just Any Old Puff Of Wind
For
The Builders Are Always
In The Mode Called
Preparing!

Who Or What Is That
Skiperdi Thingy With The Ants?!
I've Not Have Heard That Name Before!

Ski-Per-Di
Is A Composite Word
Of The Genus Adjective!
Ski - Skillful
Per - Persistent
Di - Diligent

I Like That Play!
It Must Be Interesting Inside Your Mind!

Hmm .... Yes!
I Like Playing With Words!

Moving Along ...

Man Can Learn A Lot
From Ants
Among Whom
Won't Be Found
That Big Word 
CAN'T!

Can't Ain't An Ant

For He Is Wearing Purple Pants

And

Is Sporting An Apostrophe

Like A Bouffant

And

Is Always Acting Indignant!

Ants Are Industrious
With Nary A Boss
AND
They Never
- For Even A Moment -
Think
That Hope Is Lost
When Big Feet Stamp
When Big Rain Falls
When Wild Wind
Winding
Wailing
Writes
Of What Will Be Wasted
Lost In A Toss!

Ants Trust In God's Providence
AND
Ants Prepare
Gathering
Building
Storing
AND
All That
Without Hesitancy
Or Fear!

Ants Have Lessons
For Sluggards
Who Would Do Well To Observe
That Ants Get
When The Getting Is Good
And Yet ...
They Carry No Purse!

Consider The Ants' Ways
AND
Be Wise
AND
Let Not The Thought Of Labor
Make You Use Laziness For A Disguise!

Labor Is Not Dirt
That Can Fall Upon You
AND
You Kill
So ...
Pick A Position
AND
Lavishly Labor On
AND
You Will Shelter Your Head
AND
A Hungering Belly Soon Fill!

Let Not Your Size Determine Your Ability!
Be Wise Unto Salvation
AND
Jesus Christ
As Your Personal Welcoming King
- Not Your Judge -
You Will 
Undoubtedly 
Soon See!

Let No Man Tell You

That Honest Labor Is A Load

For

If You Look Closely

You Will See That

Vile Satan

Is Using That Man ... As A Goad!

PRAYER: Lord, Tell Me The Story

Lord,  Please Hold My Hand

And Tell Me Again The Story

Of How  And Why You Left Your Glory

To Come To Earth

To Live As A Mere Man!

Tell Me Again The Story

Of Your Anointing By Baptism

When The Father And The Spirit

In Reality

The Godhead At Once

At The Occasion Were All Present!

Tell Me Again The Blessed Story

Of The Curse That Took You To Calvary

To Be Poured Out

So That I Could Be Brought Up

Reconciled

To The Heavenly Father Again!

Tell Me, Dear Lord

Of Your Anointing

As The High Priest Of My Confession

Interceding

In The Most Holy Place

In The Sanctuary In Heaven

Pleading Your Merits To Cover My Sin

Indeed Pleading Your Blood

That Showers Me In Eternal Love!

Tell Me,  Lord

Tell Me

Of The Place For Me

That You Have Prepared

In Your Father's Great House

And

Show Me

How To Live

How To Love

How To Honor You

And

Help Me To Grow

In Your Grace

Through Your Mercy

Ever Obedient

As I Go Along The Lonesome Way

Praying For Grace

For Every Day

Thankful

For The Salvation Plan

That Let's Me Reach Out

To Hold Your Hand

Holy

Scarred

Body Marred By For Me

Giving

Ever Giving

Voice Calling Me To Be Like Thee!

Lord,  Tell Me The Story

Of Your Love To Me

For I Desire To Live For

And Be Like Thee!

I Love You, Lord.

AMEN