a poem for Topeka Bible Church
Migration throughout the nation
And across waters.
We are constantly moving
Roaming to the next endeavor.
And I must wander
To my next journey.
Step by step, mile by mile,
Pressing On
To the higher call of my Lord.
What will I miss as I move away from the place….
Where I have often felt stuck, as though walking through muck, struggling to face the reality that I am here for now?
My first year here, I thought how has it been a year?
My second year, I thought the same.
At ten years now, I feel much older
Than when I came.
How can I name this feeling?
What name,
What name,
Perhaps gratitude.
My Church,
Topeka Bible Church….
This gathering of believers,
Growing to baptism and greater devotion to the Lord
Is what has brought me hope in dark despair.
And these people have pointed me back to the Word;
When I’ve strayed on paths of chaos
And embraced sin within…
Still the grace of God was lived out
And Truth spoken with Jesus’ love.
When I’ve needed rebuke, loving friends
Have rebuked me.
When I’ve needed encouragement,
my heart has been illuminated with hopeful words.
When I’ve needed healing,
People have walked with me through pain.
When I’ve felt cold and distant from God,
A lady who served many years in Brazil encouraged me
At a prayer time and hymn sing.
When my voice was lost,
And I could not stand fast–falling, leaning, crawling;
When I found any kind, gentle-hearted girl beautiful
And didn’t have discernment–flirting, keeling, idolatrous;
When I lashed out,
And weakness was my food–projecting, perturbed, provoking;
There was a love that did not come from people.
The source was of God.
How could this kind of love exist without the loving relationship of the Father, Son, and Spirit?
How could a pastor serve for more than 30 years without the forgiveness of the Savior?
How could strangers be greeted with warmth and kindness?
How could the brokenhearted find balm?
How could those formerly in chaos find calm?
How could the weak be strengthened?
How could the proud be broken?
It is only by the Word and the Spirit, spoken;
Truth in Love.
There was a man
Who serves with his hands,
And showed me how to build up others
And prioritize building them more than the building in progress.
Projects and figures;
Figuring out….
Patience and Kindness
Are more precious than a large 401K.
Cousin camp,
What joy these kids have
As they seek the Lord!
How is this kind of fellowship possible?
How can grace have this kind of picture?
Why is this special?
What makes a family?
What makes a fellowship?
A heart….
Yielded to God,
An older man, retired, and full of years….
Spent his time sharing Jesus
In Neighborhoods.
There is No Place Left
Noted Paul where the Gospel of the Kingdom had not been preached during his time.
And we also follow this goal of No Place Left
Where the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection has not been proclaimed.
What is a church?
Is it a building?
No, the people!
Who are the church? What do they do? Why?
Questions like these percolated in my soul,
And brought a fulfilling peace and rest.
Two guys,
Helping widows,
Ladies who need helping
And whom it is our honor to serve.
Drills, nails, guardrails, lamps, gutters, lights,
And other things.
To see the smile light up on her face
It brought me back to a feeling of home,
And instead of feeling lone-some,
And wondering what my purpose is,
I could rejoice in what God already done,
The Father’s love displayed on a Rugged Cross
Through His Only Begotten Son.
I could find steadfast hope in His,
In His unfailing love,
The unfailing love we have never earned,
Yet we cannot lose it.
Wages are what we earn in work,
Yet our wages for sinning are death.
Wages are what we earn,
Yet our position is unearned, by grace!
Our condition, our fellowship, can wane and sway;
But our position stands firm like a cornerstone stands fast.
May this house, Topeka Bible Church, continue to be blessed.
As I ponder the past,
I know that many who think they are first
Will be surprisingly………………………….last.
And just as I was forlorn about ending up in this crime-ridden, homelessness-stricken, boring Topeka town,
Perhaps I had not seen the potential that God did for transformation to be found.
The mundane may also be sanctified,
Consecrated for God’s work and His power.
Perhaps God has brought you right here, for such a time as this
For this minute, for this hour,
Cannot you tarry for just one hour?
An hour in prayer?
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Lord, bring us deeper into Your heart in prayer.
Thank you!
I’m no longer fighting against Calvinism, Arminianism, and all the other ideological -isms.
Now, I take joy in Christ, and I find meaning in my suffering.
Although I still stumble, I stumble forward.
Thank you for helping me find what I am fighting for; who I am fighting for, why the good fight is even worth fighting and more.
You’ve rekindled my love of the Trinity,
Helped me to embrace intellectual curiosity.
At times I got lost in the bigness until I found love and fellowship in the smallness,
At times I got focused on what I wasn’t doing instead of finding gratitude for what God was doing,
At times I compared, and envied, and wished…..that I could do what that singer dude does,
Or that I had a title.
But we are only here for a little while.
For the Kingdom, not ourselves.
You are the One who saves sinners from Hell.
You are the One who pulled me out of the fire of chaos,
Out from bondage of sin, out of bondage of control, and to be
Bound to You, the Loving Master, striving towards healing and whole-ness.
You, Who is Worthy of All Praise!
Who is worthy of all praise, like you, oh God, entirely commendable?
There is none like You, worthy of honor, praise, and glory!
While I am thankful for Topeka Bible Church,
The only reason this group of people exists
Is because of You, the Triune God,
Who is worthy of all worship,
Worthy of all praise,
And who receives all the glory for all eternity.
Many people groups will gather
And sing to you for endless ages.
Many little ones, scholars, sages,
and even the simple…….
People we often do not prioritize
Will have places of honor
They are people whom You prize!
We will worship you on Your Glorious Throne
You and You Alone.
The Song of the Lamb,
The Conquering Lion,
We long for Your Coming, oh Lord!
When You will make everything whole,
Bringing Your Eternal Shalom.
Holy Shabbat,
You will reign, all will be restored!
And we will honor Your Name,
Yes, we will honor Your Holy Name.
All nations will proclaim, the wonder, joy, peace, and love found in You,
Praise
Him!
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Even to those of us below.
Praise Him for His love endures forever!
