Modern Christian Thought...
it is both the absurdity and the convenience
of modern Christian thought that bewilders me...
the idea that one can place all his/her mistakes
and wrong doings on the shoulders of one man
crucified 2000 years ago, and be totally absolved
of any responsibility...
that with a few prayers and an offering, we are
absolved from the responsibility for feeding the hungry,
housing the homeless, healing t...he sick...
have we not missed the point of the teaching?
does 'Follow Me' not denote just that?
follow, do as he did, live as he lived.
feed the hungry, house the homeless, heal the sick!
get down in the ditches with the common and poor.
do we not each have our own cross to carry?
our own Golgotha... our own crucifixion?
for our sins, and for humanity's sins... the greatest of
which is indifference!
not condemnation, but compassion!
not being set apart, but part of!
is forgiveness not an action? ....
the action of being human!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Related quotes
Thoughts
which is more threatening? the cost of war? or the cost of feeding
the hungry, healing the sick, and housing the homeless?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Words.... (Poetry Itself)
words do not heal the broken hearted,
words do not end wars.
words do not change the face of indifference,
words do not impress god!
words do not feed the hungry,
nor set the captives free.
words do not give shelter to the homeless,
or hope to those ridden with despair.
words do not stop discrimination,
words do not bring justice.
words do not bring forgiveness,
nor do they bring understanding...
words do not fill the empty,
nor erase the scars of love...
words do not define dialogue!
it is only then,
the hands and feet of the human heart...
and poetry itself is nothing more,
than the action of involved compassion!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Prayer for Forgiveness
i knelt down and prayed
this morning for forgiveness
for everything this country is doing
around the world...
for the oil wars,
for the partnerships
with countries that abuse
human rights...
for the dictators we
both prop up and remove...
for the gluttony and the greed
here at home.... for the apathy,
for the self centered path
of destruction we march on...
for those left hungry, homeless,
without medical care, without hope...
and i know i am a part of this...
i take responsibility for my actions,
my inaction, my complacency...
and vow to stand for truth,
and to walk in involved
human compassion!
join me!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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A Prayer of Everyman at Christmas Tide
Do You want to come back a second time?
Your Gospel, Jesus, was in vain,
Your loving kindness is a crime,
And Your followers are quite insane!
Why should we want to be forgiven
And end up in Your boring Heaven?
Come heal our sickness, heal our pain,
And we'll nail You to the Cross again! !
Then if You try a resurrection
We'll finish You off with a lethal injection!
But don't expect our prayers or praise,
We're sick of You and Your 'mysterious ways',
We're not gonna kneel when we hear Your name
Unless You give us cash and fame!
Forget about Love and Compassion,
Forgiveness of sins is out of fashion -
If You can't fulfil our expectations
Or follow our simple explanations,
Then stop messing round with all these rules
And help us win the Football Pools! !
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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One Candle, Tonite!
if we all took one candle,
and lit it tonite....
one candle...
symbolizing peace,
within and without;
celebrating understanding,
and the willingness to understand.
symbolizing compassion,
and the desire to accept
all men and women just as they are...
the dedication to feed the hungry,
house the homeless,
and heal the sick....
one candle...
one humanity, diverse and individual,
praying, working, sweating, loving together....
the dignity of one
defining the dignity of all...
lit one candle,
and put it in the window tonite...
we'd both light the darkness,
and free the slaves....
as hand to hand joins heart!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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The Battle.... (We Have Fought)
the battle we have fought for so long,
as a 'free' society...
in the name of justice, equality, diversity,
responsibility, and freedom...
has reached the point of decision.
we either move forward no matter
what the cost...
believing the dream is worth the price...
or we crawl back into the cave
of self-fulfillment at the cost of all others.
prejudice and discrimination have gone from color
to religion to sex and sexual orientation,
and now to those enslaved by poverty.
we cannot turn our backs on each other...
we cannot allow the few to destroy the world.
we are responsible, we are a part of each other.
when one is hungry, we are all hungry.
when one family is homeless, we are all homeless.
when one person is a victim
of prejudice, hatred, and injustice...
we all are!
when one eats, all should eat.
when one has a chance to work,
all should have that chance...
when one child gets an education,
all should have that right.
this is the time, and this is the place...
it is now that we must choose!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Today... 'God our Saviour
The Almighty God came and lived with man
It was part of His great Salvation plan.
He was conceived in a young virgins womb
and entered a world that found Him no room.
He lived a life of love and servitude
healing the sick and feeding the multitude.
And when the time came to fulfill God's will
He carried the cross and climbed up the hill.
There he bore our sins and He paid the price
and bought our freedom by His sacrifice.
Cried 'Father forgive them' and then He died
For God our Saviour is Christ the Crucified
(see also the additional information in the Poet's notes box)
Our Level Of Responsibility!
our level of responsibility
far deeper than our occasional
stabs at compassion, and truth...
when we sit down to eat, and eat
far more than we need, and throw
the leftovers out... we are
responsible fot the hungry!
when we go to sleep at night, in
houses too big and too plush, we
are responsible for the homeless...
when we drive our SUV's around for
no reason at all, burning excess
gas, we are responsible for the
oil spills...
when we vote people in office,
whose agenda is profit at all costs,
we are responsible for countries
invaded...
when we turn our backs and walk away,
or stick our heads in the sand, we are
responsible for the loss of human rights...
when we allow the banning of books, and
legislation against free speech, we are
responsible for ignorance, and allow
ourselves to be enslaved!
responsible, every thought, every intent,
every action!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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’Tis So Lovely To …
’Tis so lovely to be born a Christian;
’Tis so lovely to be a Roman Catholic;
’Tis so lovely to follow Jesus Christ;
’Tis so lovely to know the one, living God;
’Tis so lovely to read the Holy Bible;
’Tis so lovely to have Christian parents
’Tis so lovely to walk in the shadow of the Holy cross;
’Tis so lovely to spread the Gospel;
’Tis so lovely to obey God’s Ten Commandments;
’Tis so lovely to abide by the precepts of the holy Catholic Church;
’Tis so lovely to receive the Holy Sacraments;
’Tis so lovely to confess sins and gain forgiveness from God;
’Tis so lovely to receive the Holy Eucharist;
’Tis so lovely to be an example of Christ unto others;
’Tis so lovely to be a “Fisher of Souls”;
’Tis so lovely to do miracles like Christ;
’Tis so lovely to heal the sick by prayers;
’Tis so lovely to console the sick and the dying;
’Tis so lovely to live a life like that of Christ;
’Tis so lovely to keep the soul pure;
’Tis so lovely to be filled by the Holy Spirit;
’Tis so lovely to take the road to heaven;
’Tis so lovely to die a holy Christian death;
’Tis so lovely to resurrect after death;
’Tis so lovely to be spared of eternal damnation;
’Tis so lovely to have eternal life;
’Tis so lovely to live in commune with God
Forever in Heaven thereafter!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 12-16-2006
poem by John Celes
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The Next Step
will my next step
help feed the hungry?
heal the sick?
give solace to the lonely?
find housing for the homeless?
help save the rain forests?
help save mountains and rivers
for my children's children?
stop the killing of whales?
the killing of women and children?
help eradicate prejudice?
stand for freedom and dignity?
bring hope to the hopeless?
well... will it?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Children Should Not Have To Be Homeless
There are thousands of homeless children in Beijing in China though that is not suprising to hear
For where there is a huge population there is poverty too 'twould appear
And China to anywhere else is no different the rich getting richer they say
And just beyond the leafy suburb is the suburb of neglect and decay.
There are thousands of homeless children in New York though with that some may not agree
In America the great Land of commerce no such a thing as poverty?
But the facts of course will tell you differently and in a World of inequality
There too are children homeless and hungry in the so called Land of the free.
There are homeless children in London in England as well as in Paris in France
The poor children of the poor suburb in life they do not have a chance
Their parents in Jail for drug abuse they become the kids of the street
They search the rubbish bins for food in dark alleys and what others do throw out they eat.
There are homeless children in Sydney and Melbourne and anywhere else one might name
Though that does not seem to affect us we never reflect on our shame
That many should have to grow poorer for one to become a millionaire
In a truly egalatarian society would never be looked on as fair.
Children should not have to be homeless though born into abject poverty
They should not be punished for the sins of their parents so much for our humanity
And money to some all that matters and money is married to success
Whilst the children of the poor live homeless on the street of the No Fixed Address.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Responsibility Accepted Before Judgement Seat Of God
I accept full complete total responsibility
for all my sins both great or small committed
sins deliberate or sins by error committed
responsibility for all I fully accept before God
responsibility for all I bear as judgement of God
blood sacrifice of Jesus my reparation paid before God
before God I give thanks worship for all eternity.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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The Forgotten Hungry And Homeless
The forgotten hungry and homeless nowadays to be found everywhere
There are millions of them close to a billion in the bigger World out there
The refugees of drought stricken Lands and of warlords and the homeless of Poverty Street
Basic human rights of them are denied shelter from the weather and enough for to eat
In a Human World where everyone is supposed to be equal after all we breathe in the same air
But the poor and the homeless and the hungry cannot feel that life is very fair
The minority those who are too wealthy people with too much of everything
Are people that many look up to though their praises I cannot sing,
In an egalatarian Human World everyone would have a home to live in
And nobody would be without food and well dressed and not ragged and thin
The poor by the day growing poorer and that does seem a sad thing to say
And the refugee camps of the World are all overcrowded today,
'Tis sad to think that from the poverty of many that a minority does stand to gain
And I with enough of food and shelter have no reason for to complain.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Dance Naked #2
pull back the curtains,
tear down the walls!
open the forbidden door,
break the egg, and fly!
hold the child dying
of cholera in your lap.
wash the feet of the leper,
wipe the old man's ass...
kiss the cheek of the boy
who hung himself.
pick up the homeless man,
feed him, take him to a shelter.
clean the old woman's house,
help the single mom with her kids.
pick up the prostitute on the corner,
and offer to take her home!
take the gun away from
the boy strung out on dope.
take the preacher's donation
and give it to the soup kitchen!
plant a tree, plant a garden
leave your car at home, and walk!
give an illegal immigrant some work,
and pay him well!
read the Bible for yourself,
pray with people of different faiths.
take God off of the altar,
and be compassionate action!
feed the hungry, heal the sick,
free the oppressed!
stand in the face of life...
bare your teeht, and howl!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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I Am You (And You Are Me)
i am hungry!
can you hear my cry?
i am sick!
do you know i'm here?
i lost my job!
do you know my name?
i am homeless!
can you see my face?
i am lonely!
do you really care?
i am afraid!
will you leave me alone?
i am human!
are you human too?
for i am you!
and you are me!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Of The Selfish Side Of Humanity
Of the selfish side of Humanity I am only too aware
In a World where the self centred for the have nots one thought don't have to spare
Even in so called wealthy Democratic Countries poverty is not rare
And thousands must grow poorer for every new millionaire
So many Homeless and Stateless people in the bigger World out there
The have nots of Humanity are living everywhere
That all people are equal is born of a lie
But there is more to being Human than living for me, myself and I
In most cases those who talk of life choices do not know what they are on about
If they themselves life's necessities had never had to go without
If they themselves never lived as the homeless poor of Poor Poverty Street
Then their preaching is judgemental and their ideas are obsolete
To be born to poor parents and become Homeless is a thing that none would choose
In a Human World where for a minority to win so many have to lose.
poem by Francis Duggan
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From The Jesus Papers... (Part Two)
'Follow Me...'
can i walk beside You?
i want to see what You do,
i want to be what You do!
i want to get my hands dirty.
feed the hungry, share what i've got....
heal the sick, listen with the heart.
not so much worried about calming the storm,
i just want to stop the wars!
stand up to the political and religious leaders...
i'm with You!
'forgive to be forgiven...'
'let him who is without sin
cast the first stone...'
'the kingdom of heaven
is within you...'
yeah, i knew that one!
'if you do it to one of the least of these...'
same thing! we are all joined!
sweating drops of blood, we've done that.
crucified between two thieves,
i probably know them!
thank Thee for this evening's walk!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Bullets
if all human beings are created in God's image....
and all, as i think, are the bodies of God's dreams....
then the ones we're dropping the bombs on,
the ones hungry, sick, and homeless,
the ones we hate out of fear....
are...
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Tell Me Jesus, How To…
Tell me Jesus, how to
drive Satan away?
follow Thee;
become ‘Fishers of men.’
become clean in body, mind and soul.
be healed;
have great faith;
take heart;
have my sins forgiven.
praise God, the Father in heaven;
get honor from people around;
not doubt;
listen and understand the Word of God.
show compassion on those hungry;
guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees;
have in mind, the things of God;
take up my cross and follow Thee.
not be afraid;
not be rich;
remain righteous in a deceitful world;
pray to God.
heal the sick;
rebuke the evil spirits;
be a servant to all and first with God;
gather treasures in heaven while on earth.
give to God, what is God’s;
not be deceived;
keep the Sabbath holy;
cancel the debts due from others.
be a good samaritan;
be freed of my infirmities;
not make others to sin;
leave my life of sin.
hold on to your teachings;
be washed by you;
love Thee;
Prepare my soul to eat at the feast of the kingdom of God.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 8-10-2008
poem by John Celes
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The link between ideas and action is rarely direct. There is almost always an intermediate step in which the idea is overcome. De Tocqueville points out that it is at times when passions start to govern human affairs that ideas are most obviously translated into political action. The translation of ideas into action is usually in the hands of people least likely to follow rational motives. Hence, it is that action is often the nemesis of ideas, and sometimes of the men who formulate them. One of the marks of the truly vigorous society is the ability to dispense with passion as a midwife of action - the ability to pass directly from thought to action.
quote by Eric Hoffer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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