Bible Stories: Job (Chapter IV)
Spoke Eliphaz, the Termanite:
Will you mind, if we speak to you?
Can anyone not talk to you?
You had advised many people;
You had strengthened their feeble hands;
Your words had helped those who falter.
When in problems, you’re impatient;
When troubles seek you, you’re annoyed;
Is not your piety, your faith?
Is not your steadfastness, your hope?
Do innocents truly perish?
Are upright, really destroyed?
The trouble-sower reaps the same;
The breath of God makes them perish;
The wrath of God consumes them all!
Although the mighty lion roars,
Teeth of young lions get broken!
For want of prey, old lions die;
The cubs get scattered from mother.
I heard a word whispered in ear:
I saw visions while men had slept;
Fear engulfed me, deep in my bones;
A spirit passed as hairs stood up.
Before my eyes, a figure asked,
“Can man be more righteous than God? ”
“Can mortals be like God, blameless? ”
When God can’t trust his own servants,
And can find fault with angels too,
How easily can He, with men
Of clay, living in clay-houses,
Which get crushed worse than any moth!
Morning or evening, men perish;
Pegs of their tents are plucked with ease;
They die without gaining wisdom!
Man is a naught versus God great!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-27-2007
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Clouds of Changes!
Great clouds of changes loom upon the earth;
Like hungry lions, pow’rful nations prowl,
In search of newer prey of recent birth,
To devour by tactics always foul!
But, lions are not always courageous!
They threaten new-born ewes and kids and foals;
They dare not hunt adult beasts treacherous;
At times, they stoop to eat wild-dogs in holes!
Should not such lions question their valor?
Should they not choose equals to challenge then?
Should they keep roaring at beasts in dolor?
A lion should not live out of its den!
Yet, Wild dogs too can chase lions away!
Though powerful, a fool must lose some day.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 1-15-2007
poem by John Celes
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Bible Stories: Job (Chapter X)
I speak with bitterness of soul,
‘I hate my life; don’t prove me wrong.
O God, why do you oppose me?
Does oppression give pleasure, Lord? ’
‘Why spurn the good work of your hands?
Can’t you perceive like how man sees?
Is your lifetime akin mortals?
You know I’m not a wicked man,
And yet you seek my sins and guilt! ’
‘You fashioned me with your own hands
And then, why destroy me, O God?
From clay, you made me very well
Do you want to turn me to dust? ’
‘Like milk, you poured me, made me cheese!
You clothed my bones with flesh and skin;
You gave me grace and spirit too;
You hide your purpose in your heart! ’
‘You watch me sin but suffer guilt;
If I’m wicked, alas for me!
If righteous, what’s the advantage
To live in shame and afflicted? ’
‘A lion-like, you hunt me down
And show your mighty power, Lord;
Repeatedly, you attack me
And harass me, so often, God.’
‘Why out of womb, you brought me live?
I should have died without notice;
Had I ne’er lived, how much better?
From womb, you could have shown my tomb! ’
‘Are not my days on earth just few?
Leave me ’lone to recoup a bit,
Before I go to ne’er return,
From land of darkness and of gloom-
The land where darkness is but light! ’
Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-29-2007
poem by John Celes
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Bible Stories: Job (Chapter VIII)
Bildad, the Shuhite then told Job,
“For how long will you speak such things?
How long will words be strong a wind?
Does God ever pervert judgment?
If your children sinned against God,
He casts them out for transgression;
‘If you would have recourse to God.
And make your supplication dear,
‘If you were pure and upright now,
He would awake and surely make
Your habitation prosperous.’
Although, your beginning was small,
Your future should flourish indeed;
Learn from former generations,
And experience of fore-fathers.
For, we are but of yesterday
Our days on earth are shadow-like!
Shall they not teach and tell you to
Utter words of wisdom from heart?
Can rushes grow without mire?
Can reeds grow without much water?
Yet, in its greenness and uncut,
It withers faster than all grass!
So end, those who forget the Lord,
And hypocrite’s hopes soon perish;
Whose hope is like gossamer thread,
Whose trust like a spider’s web.
One that relies on men can’t stand;
He holds them fast but can’t endure;
He is so green with sap in sun;
His shoots forth beyond garden.
His roots take hold from amongst rocks;
If you disturb him from his place,
It disowns saying, ‘I don’t know.’
And while he rots beside the road,
Out of the earth shall others grow.
Behold, God will not cast away
A righteous man for no reason,
Nor take away the wicked’s hand!
Once more, you will begin to laugh,
Your lips will then rejoice with God;
The ones who hate you, shame shall clothe
The wicked dwellings shall turn naught.”
Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-28-2007
poem by John Celes
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Probing Questions
Is there something more to life, than endless days of toil and strife?
Is there something after all of this; a Hell below or a Heavenly Bliss?
Can there truly be life after death, this when we take our final breath?
That question always asked is why; do innocent people have to die?
Why do righteous people perish, while evil seems to always flourish?
Friend is there truly a Living God, who rules above the earth we trod?
And does God truly care for us; mortal beings that return to the dust?
Can anyone have true peace of mind, in this world that is so unkind?
Why’s there evil darkness everywhere, if He is a God filled with care?
And why would a God full of love, simply sit and watch from above?
These are just a few of many more, questions asked about my Lord,
Questions that you may have asked; some in the not so distant past.
Many questions are Satan’s reproof, to keep many from God’s Truth,
Let none of them keep you from, Christ who from Heaven has come,
With answers to these and more, on questions about Heaven’s Door.
The Spirit leads to God’s Word, with the answers to questions heard,
Eternal answers which you will find, fill your heart not just your mind.
Where God not just answers them, but gives new life to all my friend.
Then all the questions are second to, the Eternal Life He’s given you.
And now an answer in my life, is to Heaven I’m going in Jesus Christ.
(Copyright ©06/2007)
Bible Stories: Job (Chapter XVII)
Job Speaks On:
So broken is my spirit, Lord!
My lamp of life looks extinguished;
Their provocations mount high, God;
My eyes grow dim as I feel mocked;
My burial seems imminent!
Their minds to knowledge are darkened;
They cannot understand therefore.
Evil’s my lot, as they described;
My name to people is by-word;
I am their object of lesson.
Who will stand surety for me?
Grant me one who will pledge for me;
My eyes are blind with anguish, Lord;
My frame is just a shadow, God.
All upright men are astonished;
Yet, righteous hold on to his way;
Clean-handed ones improve in strength;
I find no wise man amidst you.
My earthly days are almost gone;
My plans seem finally all torn;
Such men can change to day, the night;
In darkness, they talk of bright light.
If my dwelling be nether world,
My couch in darkness is enshroud;
If ‘corruption’ be my father,
And maggots- my sister, mother!
About my hope, who does bother?
Where’s prosperity, my brother?
Will they come with me to nether?
To dust shall we go together?
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-1-2007
poem by John Celes
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These men of Faith
These men of Faith, these men of old,
Their lives they lived, they were so bold;
Trusting God, in the face of danger,
But their enemy, shunned them with anger.
We know of one great man, Daniel, was his name,
To Pray at the open window, he always did the same;
Then some jealous men, had him enter lions den,
For his faith in God, and On God he did depend.
Another man was Elijah, who helped so many,
And he had trouble with Jezebel, a life of jealousy;
Also king Ahab, and a wicked and evil king too,
But for their evil doing, they died, oh yes! It's true.
The next great man of Faith, was Enoch,
He lived and spoke only for the Lord God;
He was so very close, he did walk upright,
And God took Him home, he lived by Faith not sight.
One more man of Faith, I need to tell about,
Was Abraham, and to a new home he was sent out;
Also when his son Isaac, was to be offered to the Lord,
But a ram was supplied, his faith shone, it's in His Word.
These men are an example, and we should follow too,
Trust God in the face of Danger, Trust Him thru' and thru';
These men of God trusted and never gave into sin,
Because they loved God so much, He lived within.
poem by Margaret Haig
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Bright Eyes
He really doesn't have a clue,
He's still too young to know!
He does what little lions do,
He's always on the go...
He's scratching backs, he's biting tails!
He's pouncing now and then!
He's challenging the other males!
He wins four out of ten!
His tiny teeth aren't up to much!
His smooth young claws are stubs!
His awesome ears keep him in touch
With antics of the cubs!
He dribbles and he's got no shame!
He's often known to drip...
Though every lion has his fame,
He's hardly cool or hip!
But he'll get better every day
Because he's keen to learn...
That's how great lions find their way,
In time, respect to earn!
One day and his courageous heart
Will grant him everything...
One day, he'll really look the part,
One day, he'll be a king!
Denis Martindale, copyright, July 2010.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Bright Eyes'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot.com
poem by Denis Martindale
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Spirit
An arched bow lined with an arrow sharp
An arrow poisonous aimed to hurt
Words born from tongues arched to pierce
A fragile spirit cracking with the first shot
What's worse than words spewed to hurt
What hurts more than a broken spirit
What's better than an encouraging word
What's more beautiful than a soaring spirit
What's wiser than silence when mad
What's more foolish than insults hurled on one who hurts
What excites more than the fall of the great
What thrills more than the shame of the mighty
What travels faster than gossip which destroys a name
A word's a hammer, a hand, a clay, a sword
You choose with each arching of your bow
To break a spirit
To build a life
To mend the broken or
To pierce the soul
As words created all we see
Words destroy all that be
Speak with ease, with words that heal.
poem by Jenim Dibie
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Thriving
We thrive together
And perish together.
It is comradeship.
We thrive with a leader
And perish with him.
It is monarchy.
We thrive with a master
And perish for him.
It is slavery.
We thrive together
And perish sporadically.
It is the survival of the fittest.
We thrive together
And perish fighting with in.
It is barbarism.
A democracy witnesses
All these sects mixed.
11.07.2006
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Bible Stories: Jonah (Part III)
Chapter 3:
The word of God to Jonah came,
A second time and said,
‘Set out to Nineveh, announce
The message, I give you! ’
So, Jonah went to Nineveh,
As per the Lord’s command;
It was a very large city;
It took him three full days!
And Jonah walked throughout the place,
And told what God bade him,
‘In forty days more, Nineveh
Shall be a destroyed town! ’
When people heard Jonah’s message,
Their faith in God improved;
Both great and small, they wore sack-cloth,
And fasted much and prayed!
The king too sat in ashes, dressed
In sack-cloth and much prayed;
He decreed that none should eat, drink-
No man or any beast!
They called to God in loud a voice,
And vowed to give up sin;
They hoped that God would forgive them,
And let them not perish.
The Lord was pleased by what they did;
He saw their change of heart;
His wrath was put under the lid,
As Jonah did his part!
(4-25-2007)
poem by John Celes
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Lions of the darkness
They...dark men
Working in the great power of night
They never walk by the light
Men who make darkness their joy
Woe to them
By the night they feel the happiest
As a versifier I most say the truth
The lions of the night
When the night comes, they come out of their den
With sounding teeth
And mighty claws
Rearranging the house of man
Lions of the night
Putting panic to the heart of man
Collecting taxes which they never deserve
On a faithful day the lions will be prey
By the almighty moulder
Or by men in khaki
Lions of the night...
Young Explorers
Two young lions surveyed the land
And paused to take it in,
As if the future could be planned,
So they would always win.
With hiding places here and there,
Shade from the burning sun
And danger spots they must beware,
Yet spaces they could run...
Life wasn't always hide and seek,
Life wasn't always bright...
For soon the day would pass its peak
And fade into the night...
Two young lions with lots to learn,
Exploring now and then.
When hunting, they must twist and turn
To help them catch again.
For now, they stood with dignity
And with a sense of pride...
Majestically and mightily,
As brothers, side-by-side.
Two young lions must carry on
The legacy of life,
Aware, they, too, will soon be gone,
Though battling to survive.
Their journey started years ago
When they were cubs at play...
Not knowing who was friend or foe,
Until they found their way...
Two young lions, aware, astute...
At one with Nature's Laws...
To children's eyes, they may look cute,
Yet watch those teeth and claws!
The young explorers hold no grudge
When things are fair and square.
Most of the time, they don't ask much...
They'll take the lions' share...
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Young Explorers'.
poem by Denis Martindale
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Real man
I am a real man
I am real
This world where I am
Is real
In this real world
I am living
This world will not die
This world will not perish
How can I perish
I am made out of this real world
Here there is only truth
And I am truthful
As in ice there is water
In gold ornaments there is gold
In clay-pots there is clay
In iron-weapons there is iron
Look like the world I am strong.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
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Unless Something Has Sprung It
Will the lion roar in forest without any reason? !
Unless it has a prey;
Does a trap spring up out on the earth on its own?
Unless something has sprung it;
But this lion has roared and, who is ready to hear it?
Two legs from the jaws of the lion,
And like your beds and couches;
But the winter houses and the summer houses are closer to you,
For the kings of the lands have fallen like water upon the face of the earth.
The prudent are silent like a raiser of naked sheep!
For there is no end to the treasure of man on this earth;
But where are the dwelling places of the lions?
Plunder the gold, the silver and the bronze! !
And like the whoredom of the seductive harlots;
But trample the mortar and give me hope,
And go to the clay pits and tell me more!
For the lion has roared and, who is ready to hear it?
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Were I A Lion King
Were I a lion king of the pride how proud a lion I'd be
To think that other lions for miles around are very scared of me
In the stillness of the African night I would roar aggressively
I would not be kind to other lions or in ways act neighbourly
Of the prey the lionesses did kill I would be first to eat
The other members of the pride would have to wait for their share of the meat
The male lion who has compassion will never rule a pride
Of any honour in his life by his attitude self denied
If I were a lion king of the pride the lionesses for me would kill the prey
But if's an obstacle that always does get in the way
Human beings need some aggression in life for to succeed
The timid like the timid lion are not destined to lead
Were I a lion king in the African night I'd give a mighty roar
That would be heard by other lions for two miles distant or more.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Wisdom From Above
The Word of God is so very clear, yet, so many men have no fear,
Within their hearts, of The Lord, and so God’s Word goes ignored;
A fear that begins wisdom for all, men everywhere great and small,
Wisdom which opens eyes to see, Truths from the Lord of Eternity.
The Lord revealed Himself to Israel, revealing His Purpose and Will,
And today the Lord’s Revelation, is available to every single nation,
For God spoke through His Son, not just to Israel, but to everyone,
God’s Son was revealed to all men, in a world that was condemned.
My friend, this day as in ages past, only Heavenly Wisdom will last,
A wisdom, which you will receive, when God’s Truth you do believe,
The Wisdom from The Lord above, greater than what men speak of,
Far surpassing the wisdom of men, that, Christ Jesus will condemn.
With this Wisdom, you will heed, the words of Truth which you read,
And as the Spirit opens your eyes, worldly wisdom you will despise,
Embracing Truths of God’s Word, over empty wisdom you’ve heard,
As The Spirit of God does impart, Truth and Wisdom into your heart.
Man’s worldly wisdom my friend, God makes foolishness in the end,
As God frustrates their empty ways, for The Lord’s Glory and Praise;
This all begins through Godly fear, of The Lord, Who is so very near,
And God’s Wisdom, you will see, leads a heart to New Life, Eternally.
(Copyright ©05/2010)
Sonnet: INFANTICIDE
The mother zebra could not save young one!
The hungry lioness had killed it fast;
It turns to watch the gruesome act half-done,
And walks away with sad a heart, at last.
The elephant herd forms a ring around
Their cubs, protecting them from hunting beasts;
They chase the lions with their trumpet sound
And tusks, before their cubs become their feasts!
Yes, mothers must protect their little ones
From harm, from hungry animals that hunt;
They do this duty all their life, not once-
An act of bravery and not a stunt!
Yet, human mothers kill their babes in womb,
Due to ‘unwanted child’ and baby-boom?
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-17-2008
poem by John Celes
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The Hiding Place
See the gloomy gath'ring cloud
Hanging o'er a sinful land!
Sure the Lord proclaims aloud,
Times of trouble are at hand:
Happy they, who love his name!
They shall always find him near;
Though the earth were wrapped in flame,
They have no just cause for fear.
Hark! his voice in accents mild,
O, how comforting and sweet!
Speaks to every humble child,
Pointing out a sure retreat!
Come, and in my chambers hide,
To my saints of old well known;
There you safely may abide,
Till the storm be overblown.
You have only to repose
On my wisdom, love, and care;
Where my wrath consumes my foes,
Mercy shall my children spare:
While they perish in the flood,
You that bear my holy mark,
Sprinkled with atoning blood,
Shall be safe within the ark.
Sinners, see the ark prepared!
Haste to enter while there's room;
Though the Lord his arm has bared,
Mercy still retards your doom:
Seek him while there yet is hope,
Ere the day of grace be past;
Lest in wrath he give you up,
And this call should prove your last.
poem by John Newton
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Bible Stories: Job (Chapter XI)
Zophar, the Naamathite then spoke:
Should not your queries be answered?
Should garrulous be always right?
Should one’s babblings silence others?
Should none rebuke your ridicule?
You mean your statements are correct!
Do you then say, ‘I am so clean! ’
If only God does speak to you
And says, ‘wisdom is far effective! ’
And makes you answer for your guilt.
Can you unravel God’s designs?
You dare vie with the perfect God!
Wisdom is higher than heavens,
And deeper than the nether world;
’Tis broader than the ocean’s span,
And longer than earth’s dimensions.
If God calls you to judgment, then
Can anyone tell Him not to?
He knows the worthlessness of men
And ignores not iniquities.
Can empty man gather wisdom?
Can wild jackass be turned docile?
So, set your heart aright with God,
And stretch your hands to His insight!
Make your conduct free off errors;
Let injustice not dwell in you;
Then, show your face of innocence,
And stand sans fear in steadfastness.
You shall forget your misery;
They would have ebbed out like low-tide;
Your life shall seem brighter than noon;
Its gloom shall appear like the dawn!
And you secure shall live in hope,
And lie in safety paramount,
And rest with none to disturb you;
The wicked shall gape with envy;
Their escape routes shall be cut off;
They shall await their expiry!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-29-2007
poem by John Celes
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Astraea
'Jove means to settle
Astraea in her seat again,
And let down his golden chain
An age of better metal.'
Ben Johnson 1615
O POET rare and old!
Thy words are prophecies;
Forward the age of gold,
The new Saturnian lies.
The universal prayer
And hope are not in vain;
Rise, brothers! and prepare
The way for Saturn's reign.
Perish shall all which takes
From labor's board and can;
Perish shall all which makes
A spaniel of the man!
Free from its bonds the mind,
The body from the rod;
Broken all chains that bind
The image of our God.
Just men no longer pine
Behind their prison-bars;
Through the rent dungeon shine
The free sun and the stars.
Earth own, at last, untrod
By sect, or caste, or clan,
The fatherhood of God,
The brotherhood of man!
Fraud fail, craft perish, forth
The money-changers driven,
And God's will done on earth,
As now in heaven;
poem by John Greenleaf Whittier
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