He That Hath Ears
'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.'-
St. John the Divine.
The Spirit says unto the churches,
'Ere ever the churches began
I lived in the centre of Being-
The life of the Purpose and Plan;
I flowed from the mind of the Maker
Through nature to man.
'I sleep in the glow of the jewel,
I wake in the sap of the tree,
I stir in the beast of the forest,
I reason in man, and am free
To turn on the path of Ascension
To the god yet to be.
'I was, and I am, and I will be;
I live in each church and each faith,
But yield to no bond and no fetter,
I animate all with my breath;
I speak through the voice of the living,
And I speak after death.'
The Spirit says unto the churches
'The dead are not gone, they are near;
And my voice, when I will it, speaks through them,
Speaks through them in messages clear.
And he that hath ears, in the silence
May listen and hear.'
The Spirit says unto the churches,
'So many the feet that have trod
The road leading up into knowledge,
The steep narrow path has grown broad;
And the curtain held down by old dogmas
Is lifted by God.'
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Stars and Lampstands
John, while on the island of Patmos, saw a vision of The Lord of Hosts,
Seeing The Lord of our Salvation, John penned the Book of Revelation.
John saw, held in The Savior’s Hand, a mystery, for men to understand,
Seven stars were in his right hand, along with seven golden lampstands.
The stars were seven angels for, the seven Churches of Christ our Lord,
The lampstands are seven Churches, that, The Lord loves and searches.
John would write down all he saw, watching and hearing The Lord of all,
And writing down Christ’s very words, John would pen all that he heard.
To the Church found at Ephesus, a church known for its Faith and trust,
They were warned by Christ above, that they’ve forsaken their first love.
To the faithful Church of Smyrna, through John’s writing they’d learn of,
Persecution that they would endure, but get a crown of life by The Lord.
In the body of Pergamum believers, there were a few spiritual deceivers,
Teaching believers of Christ’s Way, evil doctrines causing many to stray.
In Thyatira they’d tolerate Jezebel, leading some men into the pit of Hell,
Believers were told to stay their path, to not receive with Jezebel, Wrath.
To those in Sardis it was said, they appear alive but are spiritually dead,
And told to consider true belief, or Christ would come to them as a thief.
Believers in Philadelphia, filled with love, had not denied the Lord above,
They’d be kept, since they endured, from that hour of trial, by their Lord.
Laodicea was found to be lukewarm; not a cold or hot faith for the Lord,
Truly needing Christ’s Righteousness, to cover their spiritual nakedness.
These were all churches of that day; Christians who believed in The Way,
Churches from Ephesus to Laodicea, can all apply to Churches we see.
He who has an ear, let him hear, for today the Spirit of Christ is so near,
Standing and knocking at the door, is Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
Blessed are all who hear the Word, that those early Churches had heard,
And open the door to Jesus Christ, to receive from Him Everlasting Life.
(Copyright ©12/2007)
Bible in Poetry: Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus:
1'To angel of the Ephesus’ church, you write:
These are the words of Him who holds
The seven stars in His right hand
And walks ’mongst seven gold lamp-stands:
2 I know your deeds and your hard work
I know your perseverance too.
You tolerate not wicked men,
You’ve tested those ‘false’ apostles.
3You’ve persevered a lot on earth
You’ve endured hardships in my name,
And haven’t grown weary until now.
4Yet I hold this charge against you:
You have forsaken your first love.
5 Rethink the height from which you’ve fallen!
Repent and do things as earlier.
If you do not, I will come to you,
Remove your lamp-stand from its place.
6 The point in your favor is this:
You hate the Nicolaitans’ work;
I also hate their practices.
7 He who has ears, let him then hear
What Spirit tells the churches now.
To him who overcomes, I’ll give
The right to eat from Tree of Life,
Which is in the Paradise of God.
To the Church in Smyrna:
8'To the church in Smyrna angel write:
These are the words of Him who is
The First and Last, who died, arose
And came to life again third day.
9I know your afflictions too well
Despite your poverty, you’re rich!
I know the slanderous ones who say
But really, they are not Jews,
But are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Don’t fear of your sufferings ahead!
The devil will put some of you
Into prison to test you faith,
For ten days, you’ll suffer like this.
Be faithful, ev’n to point of death,
And I will give you crown of life
11He who has ears, then let him hear
What Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes will not be
Hurt by the second death at all.
To the Church in Pergamum:
12'To the church in Pergamum’s angel write:
These are the words of him who has
The tongue like sharp, double-edged sword.
13 The place you live has Satan’s throne.
Yet you remain true to my name.
You didn’t renounce your faith in me,
Even in days of Antipas,
My faithful witness, who was killed
In your city—where Satan lives.
14 I have a few things against you:
Some people teach about Balaam,
Who taught Balak to entice all
Israelites to sin by food
That was sacrificed to idols
And by sexual immorality.
15Likewise you also have those that
Who teach of Nicolaitans there.
16Repent therefore or Otherwise,
I’ll come and fight against them son,
With sword that is within my mouth.
17 He who has ears, then let him hear
What Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes, I will give
Some of the manna that’s hidden.
I will also give him a white stone with
A new name written upon it,
Known only to him who gets it.
To the Church in Thyatira:
18'To Thyatira church’s angel write:
These are the words of Son of God,
Whose eyes look like blazing fire,
And whose feet look like burnished bronze.
19I know your deeds, your love and faith,
Your service and perseverance,
You’re doing more than earlier.
20 But still, I have this against you:
You tolerated Jezebel,
Who calls herself a prophetess.
Who teaches misleading servants
To sexual immorality,
And eating foods, idols’ offered.
21I have given her time to repent
But she is unwilling to change.
22 I’ll cast her on bed of suffering,
I’ll make those who commit with her,
Adultery with her suffer much.
Unless they repent of her ways.
23I will strike her children dead at once.
Then all the churches will know that
I’m He, who searches hearts and minds,
And I’ll repay each of you
In accordance with your own deeds.
24 I say now to the rest of you
In Thyatira, who don’t teach well,
And haven’t learned Satan's deep secrets
(I’ll not impose burdens on you) :
25 Hold on to what you’ve till I come.
26 To him who overcomes these things
And does my will until the end,
I’ll give him power o’er nations—
27'He’ll rule with an iron scepter;
He’ll dash them to pieces like pottery'—
As I’ve received authority,
From my dear Father in Heaven.
28I will also give him the morning star.
29 He who has ears then let him hear
What Spirit tells the churches now.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 7-13-2007
poem by John Celes
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Lines on Methodist Union
Sept. 1883, whereby the whole of the churches of that denomination
were united into one body.
A pleasing sight to-day we see,
Four churches joined in harmony ;
There difference was but trivial,
But strove each other to outrival.
In friendship now they do unite,
And satan only do they fight ;
And they'll plant churches in North-West,
Where they can serve the Lord the best.
poem by James McIntyre
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Church or Truth
Many people embrace a church; and in that pew, I will not perch,
They embrace the rules of men, where I, in Christ am Born Again,
Born of God’s Spirit from above, teaching all that God spoke of,
As God’s Holy Spirit teaches me, God’s Truth on life and eternity.
Truth some churches do not teach, as for Truth they don’t preach,
For they teach a works salvation, which is opposed to Revelation,
God’s Holy Truths, revealed to us, through The Lord, Christ Jesus,
Revealed to all, in these latter days; True Revelation, to His praise.
Salvation is through Christ alone, fact, many churches do bemoan,
Teaching we must work our way, to Heaven, before Judgment Day;
But Jesus Christ, for me, did it all, redeeming me from Adam’s fall,
Finishing my salvation on the cross, cleansing me from sin’s dross.
Many churches add to The Word, ignoring passages they’ve heard,
As they take from and add to, The Revelation given to me and you,
But warnings come to these men, their practices God will condemn,
By adding to the words of Christ, they won’t be in the Book of Life.
But, all who believe in Christ alone, are marked by God as His own,
So by God’s Spirit we are sealed, until our Redemption is revealed;
But churched people remaining lost, in the end, will all pay the cost,
As The Rapture, they will miss, not found in Christ’s Righteousness.
(05/2011)
Ephesus
Thus saith the Lord to Ephesus,
And thus he speaks to some of us;
Amidst my churches, lo, I stand,
And hold the pastors in my hand.
Thy works, to me, are fully known,
Thy patience, and thy toil, I own;
Thy views of gospel truth are clear,
Nor canst thou other doctrine bear.
Yet I must blame while I approve,
Where is thy first, thy fervent love?
Dost thou forget my love to thee,
That thine is grown so faint to me?
Recall to mind the happy days
When thou wast filled with joy and praise;
Repent, thy former works renew,
Then I'll restore thy comforts too.
Return at once, when I reprove,
Lest I thy candlestick remove;
And thou, too late, thy loss lament;
I warn before I strike, Repent.
Hearken to what the Spirit saith,
To him that overcomes by faith;
The fruit of life's unfading tree,
In paradise his food shall be.
poem by John Newton
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Spirit
I can see my destination
I can hear my call
No more hesitation, mmm
This time I'm goin' for all
'Cause I know where this road leads to
And therefore I will rise
I know this dream will come true, mmm
And I will soar the sky
(Spirit, spirit)
Would you guide me? Oh
(Spirit) oh (spirit)
Stand by me
Come on, Come on, Come on
Set me free
I can feel the penetration
Of a strong wind movin' me, mmm
I feel can the elevation, mmm
Of an angel lifting me, mmm
'Cause I know where this road leads to
Therefore I will rise
I know this dream will come true, oh
And I will soar the sky
(Spirit) spirit (spirit) spirit
Would you guide me? Ohh
(Spirit) spirit (spirit) spirit
Standin' by me
Come on, Come on, Come on
Set me free
(Oh spirit)
Now that I've found my way home
I've got to get there, get there (get there)
Though one step seems one mile long
Your bridge before my face (your bridge before my face)
I will take the leap of faith (I will take the leap of faith)
(Spirit) spirit (spirit) spirit
Would you guide me? Oh
(Spirit) spirit (spirit) spirit
Stand by me, oh
(Spirit) spirit (spirit) spirit
Set me free...
(Spirit) spirit (spirit) spirit
Spirit, set me free
(Spirit) help me find my way (spirit) stand by my side
Spirit take my hand and be my guide
(Spirit) run free (spirit) run free
Run free, run free
(Spirit) run free (spirit) run free...
song performed by by R. Kelly
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bible in Poetry: Revelation 1
Prologue:
1The revelation of Jesus
Christ, which God gave John to show all,
His servants, of what must take place.
He made it known through his angel,
To his beloved servant John.
2 John testifies to things he saw—
The word of God, the Father and
Testimony of Jesus Christ;
3Bless’d is the one who reads the words
Of prophecy that’s here-in writ,
And blessed are those who hear it,
And take to heart whatev’r is writ,
Because the time is very near.
Greetings and doxology:
4John, to Asia’s seven churches:
Grace, peace to you from Him who is,
Who was, and who is to come soon,
And from the seven spirits that
Reside before the throne of God,
5 And from Christ Jesus, our Savior,
Who is the first-born and witness,
The ruler of the kings of the earth,
Who resurrected from the dead.
To Him who loves and has freed us,
From sins by His blood-shed on cross,
6 And has made us part of His kingdom
And priests to serve His God, Father—
To Him be glory and power,
For ever and ever! Amen.
7 ‘O look, He comes within the clouds,
and every eye will see Him well,
And even those who pierced Him then;
and all the peoples of the earth,
Will mourn because of Him.’ Amen.
8'I am the Alpha, Omega, '
The Lord God says, 'Who is, who was,
And who is to come, Almighty.'
One like a Son of Man:
9 John, your companion and brother,
In the suffering and kingdom
And patient endurance in Christ,
Was on the island of Patmos,
Because of God’s word and Jesus.
10 On the Lord's Day, I, in Spirit,
Behind me heard a loud voice like
A trumpet,11 which said: 'Write on a scroll
Whatever you see and send it
Over to the seven churches:
To Ephesus, Smyrna, Sardis,
Pergamum, and Thyatira,
Philadelphia and Laodicea.'
12 I turned around to see the voice
That spoke to me in majesty.
And when I turned I saw seven
Golden lamp-stands, all in array!
13 And among the lamp-stands was someone,
'Like son of man, ' dressed in a robe,
That was reaching down to his feet
And golden sash, around his chest.
14 His head and hair were white like wool
Snow-white, and his eyes blazed like fire.
15 His feet like bronze glowed in furnace,
Voice sounded like rushing waters.
16 In right hand, he held seven stars,
Out of his mouth, there came a tongue,
That was like sharp, double-edged sword.
His face shone like a brilliant sun.
17 When I saw him, I fell down flat,
At his feet as though I was dead.
He placed his right hand on me, said:
'Don’t be afraid. I’m First and Last.
18 I’m the Living One, Who was dead,
Behold I am alive forev’r!
I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 'Write down, therefore, whatev’r you’ve seen,
What’s now and will take place later.
20 The mystery of the seven stars,
That you had seen in my right hand,
And seven gold lamp-stands is this:
The seven stars are God’s angels
Who guard the seven churches,
Seven lamp-stands are the churches.
poem by John Celes
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Anomalous
What hath a mind
If it hath not a choice
What hath a man
If he hath not a voice
What is a man
If the voice the man hath
Is that of another
On a surrogate path
Rather I say
Inimitably give
Make each moment yours
Expectations, outlive
Bring no shame upon
How you sound or appear
Speak loud, proud,
Conscious, and clear
You're not born with a voice
It forms over time
Just speak for yourself
You'll turn out sublime
poem by Brandon McConnell
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To Know The Word of the Spirit Original 01 16 2011
TO KNOW THE WORD
OF THE SPIRIT:
Original 01 16 2011
To know the word as motive
Know that God speaks the nous
Between his will and knowledge
Prerogatives of vision and reason
To know the word as verbal
Know that God speaks transcendent
Nous -to know the word as noun
Know God speaks the tone of you
To know the word as poem read
To know the word as pronoun
Know that god does not speak
Of you god speaks to you
To know the word as adverb
Know that God does not speak
About you God speaks through you
To know the word as adjective
Know that God speaks by you
To know the word as preposition
Know God speaks from the heart
To know the word as poem write
To know the word is off the table
Know that God knows who sops
And all that was [was] forgiven
To know word as free verse
To know the word as parable
Know that God speaks nous
To know that God has spoken
Know pain and pleasure in spirit.
Lee Mack copyright 2009. ISBN # 0615318347. Do not reproduce without permissions.
poem by Lee B. Mack
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The fault seems to me to have been that men have taken ancient country churches as their models and have failed to discover that between them and churches in towns there ought to be a most distinct and marked difference.
quote by George Edmund Street
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I think our failure in the production of good town churches of distinctive character must have struck you often, as it has me, when contrasted with our comparative success in country churches.
quote by George Edmund Street
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Spirit or The Flesh
Friend are you filled with the Spirit or are you living in the flesh?
For one life leads to Eternal Life and the other to Eternal Death.
Friend God is not mocked and whatever a man sows he will reap,
And this present life will soon end but God offers life you can keep.
If you live to please the Spirit you shall reap Eternal Life friend,
If you live to please the flesh eternal destruction will be your end.
However, walk in the Spirit you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh,
This leads to Eternal Life and you won't be hurt by the second death.
The flesh is the sinful nature that ruled before you truly believed,
It is propagated by Satan who had you blinded and totally deceived.
The Spirit filled life is the goal for all who have truly believed.
Then your life's direction changes lead by the Spirit you received.
It was the sinful nature that darkened the old path you used to trod,
And everyone who lives like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit, for the Church creates a holy oneness,
This life leads to Heaven through Christ's blood and Righteousness.
God does not speak above you my friend but is quite frank and level,
And He says that if you continue in sin you're a child of the devil.
But when we walk in the Spirit of Truth filled with His joy and Love,
It's God's mark that we are children of God, truly born from above.
Copyright ©11/2003
VANAMIKA – ‘the lily of the forest’
A pregnant Christian mother
Ran for the forest’s shelter
To save two lives!
And in the forest’s coolness
And in the light with darkness
Was born her child!
She named her ‘Vanamika’
(‘The lily of the forest’)
– A mother’s joy!
This happened in Orissa
Where Christians were driven out
To the forest!
Churches have been vandalized;
Most Christian homes have been burned;
Some burnt alive!
Work of Hindu fanatics
Who loot and burn and destroy
All things, Christian!
‘You can change a person’s mind;
You can kill the body too,
But you can’t touch the soul! ’
Christians are followers of Christ;
Soldiers of Christ Jesus;
Children of God.
The Holy Spirit within
Keeps Christians from every sin;
They always win!
O God of Heaven, save us,
From orgies of hell on earth,
Unleashed by men!
Bring back peace to Orissa;
Rebuild churches, homes destroyed;
Spread the Love of Christ!
Send an angel, God, we ask,
For the miraculous task;
All evil-doers unmask!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 10-01-2008
poem by John Celes
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There is a continuum of values between the churches and the general community. What distinguishes the handling of these values in the churches is mainly the heavier dosage of religious vocabulary involved.
quote by Peter L. Berger
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Highway 13
Traveling eastward on highway 13, alongside
uninhabited-it seems- railroad track
Quickly passing quaint white churches,
steeples humbly making signs of the cross.
Looking down at her black skin, and wondering
Why not one white church is followed
by a single colored one…Hmm?
god's design or man's...
white churches, colored churches...Hmm?
The poetic architect quickly dismantles such thoughts
and centers her mind on nature's creation:
The confiers bearing brown cones,
neddles dropping off
brown grass dead asleep.
the evening progressed
as we pressed on passing
life's winter.
Passing by red, green, and white illuminated homes;
luminous reindeers and round-belly Santas,
Seeming to announce a Ho, Ho, Ho, and a Merry Christmas!
Unawakening the sleeping children in the back.
We continued eastward…
Merry Christmas everyone!
December 27,2007
poem by Almedia Knight Oliver
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Staffa
Not Aladdin magian
Ever such a work began;
Not the wizard of the Dee
Ever such a dream could see;
Not St. John, in Patmos' Isle,
In the passion of his toil,
When he saw the churches seven,
Golden aisl'd, built up in heaven,
Gaz'd at such a rugged wonder.
As I stood its roofing under
Lo! I saw one sleeping there,
On the marble cold and bare.
While the surges wash'd his feet,
And his garments white did beat.
Drench'd about the sombre rocks,
On his neck his well-grown locks,
Lifted dry above the main,
Were upon the curl again.
'What is this? and what art thou?'
Whisper'd I, and touch'd his brow;
'What art thou? and what is this?'
Whisper'd I, and strove to kiss
The spirit's hand, to wake his eyes;
Up he started in a trice:
'I am Lycidas,' said he,
'Fam'd in funeral minstrely!
This was architectur'd thus
By the great Oceanus!--
Here his mighty waters play
Hollow organs all the day;
Here by turns his dolphins all,
Finny palmers great and small,
Come to pay devotion due--
Each a mouth of pearls must strew.
Many a mortal of these days,
Dares to pass our sacred ways,
Dares to touch audaciously
This Cathedral of the Sea!
I have been the pontiff-priest
Where the waters never rest,
Where a fledgy sea-bird choir
Soars for ever; holy fire
I have hid from mortal man;
Proteus is my Sacristan.
But the dulled eye of mortal
Hath pass'd beyond the rocky portal;
So for ever will I leave
Such a taint, and soon unweave
All the magic of the place.'
* * * * * *
So saying, with a Spirit's glance
He dived!
poem by John Keats
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We Speak Often
we speak often...
of revolution, yet
we almost never speak,
of the old woman left alone,
her husband dead two years...
who sits in the dark,
and sometimes eats,
and cant see to clean her house.
we speak of peace,
and send troops to liberate,
teaching seperation in our churches.
we speak of hope,
yet horde all we can,
and keep our revolvers loaded.
we speak of justice
in terms of 'i' and 'they'....
and applaud wordplay in our courtrooms...
we speak of equality,
then call each race by name,
and demand that they speak english.
we speak of god as holier than thou...
never understanding dialogue and dissolution....
we speak a lot, yet cannot listen...
what fools we are!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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A Human Statement!
i dont do churches
with stained glass windows
and pews, and copper plates
held by hands beckoning salvation...
my church is lined by trees,
with great rolling hills,
wild animals roam freely,
birds fly overhead!
i dont do dogma,
hellfire and damnation....
we speak compassion
with silent voices!
our prayers are hands,
reaching out to help,
with eyes that see sameness,
and hearts that have ears....
knowing that we are what
we do and have done....
there is no coincidence,
nothing happens by chance.
if you want to know that
God is real, if you want
to see God...
look in the eyes
of another human being!
the path to salvation,
the path to being human!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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The nations were awakened from the sleep of death, as the words of eternal life flowed from the Apostles' lips, - the temples of superstition were shut or destroyed, and churches were planted in every part of the civilized world.
quote by John Strachan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Eleanor II
301 churches registered in Ghana from 'January to July 2003'!
But read your Scriptures well to learn from it;
For the dance of the monkeywill not impress me who have seen the beautiful dance of the snake! !
But, who is ready to teach the masses?
Wolves in sheep skins,
Of a country of plenty where many are still hungry! !
But, a naked man knows no shame over here.
I am Eleanor and i know what i do see around me!
But to eat my breakfast like a king and my lunch like a prince;
For, i will always aim at my goals and be very active towards them! !
But when the wind blows, these churches will be exposed to their so called doctrines.
Paying attention to both the surface and the facts within,
For the fragrance of the lavender is now mixed up with their deeds! !
And there are churches everywhere today (2012) in Ghana,
But, have they been able to change the morals of the people at large? !
Tell me if you know.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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