Two Bananas & a Hot Dog 1-29-14

(A true story poem that took place Jan. 28, 2014 in southern Wisconsin)

With temp-er'-ture near zero and although it was the norm,

my fingers were so icy cold.  I shivered to stay warm.

I stopped at a convenience store to warm my frigid feet.

I browsed a couple aisles there to find what I might eat.

With hunger pains excessive and some water in a cup,

a hot dog looked delicious and it sure would warm me up.

I didn't have much money, so I had to budget some.

I bought two ripe bananas, then I added up the sum.

With hot dog and bananas now to cure my hunger pangs,

I waited patiently in line near where the candy hangs.

I'd wait until I got back home to eat and warm my toes -

but made a quick decision then to say some quick hellos.

Well, Tom is in his seventies.  His mom's one hundred one.

So I decided I would chat with Clara and her son.

I drove up to their farm house but, I had an afterthought -

that my warm hotdog would get cold- so grabbed what I had bought.

I hurried up to their front door, with my lunch safe in hand,

I knew right then, this isn't right- they wouldn't understand.

I started having second thoughts as feet slid on the ice.

I cannot eat while visiting.  Now that's not very nice!

But I was just a little late.  Tom opened up the door.

Too late to take my dinner back.  I stepped in on their floor.

Said I, then without thinking- "Hey, I brought you two a treat.

For each, a ripe banana..." as Tom offered me a seat.

I sat at kitchen table and said, "Here's your hot dog Tom."

And then the 'kidder' that I am, said "How you doing 'mom'?"

I really didn't need to ask.  She looked just fine to me.

So spry and energetic too- as far as I could see.

They lived alone together there and got along quite well.

And we had quite a lengthy chat before we said farewell.

The moral of the story is "Don't be a stingy beast"

for Tom and Clara are the best ...and I had quite the feast!

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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There are two types of people in this world- those who love others and those who love themselves.

Tom and Clara are definitely in the first category.  Tom has helped myself and others numerous times refusing to be paid and Clara is the best cook ever!  Clara recently turned 101, does not look or act it- and no one can ever top her delicious apple pies that she serves with her warm, genuine smile.  Happy Birthday Clara!

Hanging By A Thread 1-23-14

Can I not find a single leaf
that hangs upon a twig -
on hidden tree with millions more
within this valley, big?

Can I not find a single bird
that's nestled with the rest -
way deep inside a big ol' world,
protected in its nest?

Can I not find my Comforter
who's there when e're I fall -
who Jesus sent to bring me peace -
if I would only call?

Can I not find a Savior who
had walked around with men -
who was my perfect sacrifice,
so perfect without sin?

Can I not find the God of all -
Creator of all things -
and have my heartstrings failed to break
when one small girl sings?

Can I not find my purpose now
outside my selfish door -
that 'great commission' filled with love
that God has called me for?

Can I not seek beyond my wants,
beyond my worldly place -
beyond the tip of my long nose -
beyond my pretty face?

Can I not find one tiny soul
who begs and cries for aid -
who's needing someone just like me -
yet I have only prayed...?

Can I not help one tiny child
who's hanging by a thread -
in such a place of hopelessness,
with many others dead?

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 25:40 (NASB)

The King will answer and say to them,

‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine,

even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

Kindness 1-18-14

(a true story)

A stranger asked if he could help.

I said, "...not going far."

(I'd tie this big old cab'net down

on top of my old car).

Insist, he did, that he should help.

He saw that I was stuck.

Twelve miles he drove out of his way.

He hauled it in his truck.

He backed up to my little shack.

He helped me take it out

and then said "God will bless you too"

without an ounce of doubt.

I said, "Thank you" repeatedly.

I had no cash that day -

but he just waved with widest smile

as he drove off, away.

When someone new in Christ is met

joy's tears begin to flow,

for kindness is the only gift

that some will ever know.

Aside from grace, his kindness was

the best that I've been given,

and pray again, another time

to thank him up in Heaven.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Flower Bud 1-15-14

(This poem is based on Jellee's true story in Liberia, Africa)

The child is very precious. She smiles and so enjoys

to play with sticks and little stones, because she has no toys.

She lives inside a little hut of thatch, palm leaves and mud.

Appreciates, she does, so much a little flower bud.

She tries to educate herself. She cannot spell or read.

She questions other villagers determined to succeed.

Her time is not eventful and a schedule, none to keep.

Each day is like the other ones until she goes to sleep.

The sounds at night are scary so she spends much time in prayer.

In Africa, it's not the same. There's terror everywhere.

The rebels have machetes and they do what they will.

Disgusting things and ugly things, they terrorize and kill.

And then one day it happened. They came with knives and guns.

And many had machetes, killed fathers, mothers, sons.

They even killed the little girls. How many, she's not sure.

They tortured, killed her parents while they were holding her.

She screamed and cried and screamed some more. They threw her to the ground.

but then this girl escaped them all with rebels standing 'round.

She did survive two bullet wounds (left ankle and right side),

but many, many, many more cried painfully and died.

Now only God protected her in coma for two weeks -

so she can tell the rest of us life's answers that we seek.

We often do not listen though- for ignorance is bliss,

but we are so mistaken. What matters most is this:

Please choose the day you change your wish to live a life of ease

to focus on our Lord's command to help the "least of these".

Do not forget that Jesus spilled, for us, his blood.

So choose the day and help another precious 'flower bud'.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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This is a condensed version.

I spoke to her again earlier this month.  She's been living in the US for a few years now..

The full poem is lengthier and called "Blooming From Roots" and can be seen here:

http://www.ganderpoems.org/2013/04/blooming-from-roots-4-10-13.html

Our Constitution Stands! 1-10-14

Down under our waving stars and stripes

and under our fallen men -

we continue to fight in ev'ry way,

preserving it all again.

Although foundation's truth is firm,

deception will always knock -

and tries to pry in every way

through its amendment's lock.

But there's no key to open it,

to thieves who will tarry there -

for it is safe, the truth's intent -

for everyone to share.

Down under the rule of politic
and ev'ry weapon's tool -

we challenge all other deceptive cults

under our court's firm rule.

We persevere through all the bombs

that ev'ry last foe can throw -

for love and truth shall shadow us

wherever we may go.

So firmly on the rights of all

and ev'ry last liberty -

our great Creator gives to us

our freedoms faithfully.

Support, we do, each other here.

We never will fight alone,

on nation's firm foundation now

which God has laid in stone.

With fond respect, defend we those,

on far and foreign sands -

but here in our own U S of A,

our Constitution stands!

Down under our waving stars and stripes

and under our fallen men -

we continue to fight in ev'ry way,

preserving it all again.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Beautiful Faces? 1-6-14

Oh, who's the fairest of them all?
Sometimes we think we are.
But there is one more beautiful
than any movie star.

One face is like a flower that,
survives a stormy gale;
exquisite until trampled on,
near wide and well-worn trail.

One face is like a landscape that
is powdered so much drier;
as if the flames had licked it up
right after forest fire.

One face is like a photograph,
so simple, black and white;
with dog-eared corners broken off
and faded from the light.

One face is like a masterpiece
so perfect, bright, awake;
no cracks or dusty framing but,
so counterfeit and fake.

One face is like a sunlit sky
with warming sunshine's ray;
until it's clouded up with 'self'
on dark and dreary day.

Another's like a sunset that,
without a single cloud;
can't throw its brilliant colors out,
nor draw a single crowd.

Still, I have yet to tell you of
the face that is the best;
(though some say I'm more beautiful,
much more than all the rest).
But sin continues aging us.
Our pride has pulled us down.
No matter all the makeup worn,
it covers not, the frown.

Yet beauty, God had seen somehow
before we were forgiven.
He gave His very Son for us
despite how we were livin'.
For God loves all creation.
Me just as much as them;
and He knows I am beautiful,
because He said I am.

In eye of the beholder, oh,
what did our Master see?
Christ died an awful, ugly death
because He first loved me.
I thought I was the 'fairest' - yes!
That's why He had to die;
with face so bloodstained ugly yet,
more beautiful than I.

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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1 John 4:7-21 (NASB)

God Is Love

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

Judgment Day 1-3-14

You float above your body,
ascending to the sky.
You hear the angels singing
but really not sure why.
You hear them a Cappella,
for just a song or two -
and then the instruments chime in
which take your breath from you.

Tall, massive sculptured columns
hold alabaster beams -
so high above your vantage point.
It, overwhelming, seems.
The granite steps are pure as glass
which reach the massive doors.
They open up, reveal in full,
the warmest parquet floors.

A light so bright just draws you in,
down through the polished halls.
You hear those massive doors go shut.
The hollow echo calls.
But you have done no walking here.
You simply float along -
until you enter room that holds
ten thousand angels strong.

With bulging eyes, your jaw now drops.
You hear a piercing "boom"!
Intimidated, you've become
in center of the room.
The ceiling seems a mile high,
with walls a mile wide!
There is no time to make amends.
There is no place to hide.

The gong still echoes in your ears -
You see God on the throne!
Possessions?  Not a single one.
You're naked there alone.
You knew that judgment day would come -
but why was it so soon?
Vacation days were not used up.
It wasn't even noon.

Your earthly life, you quick relive.
Oh, what did you achieve?
Exposed, you're feeling guilty now.
Just who did you believe?
Wide and open, hangs your mouth.
There's silence, not a squeak.
And then you start to wonder when
and if the Lord will speak.

Bright lightning cracks with thunder and
you think it all so odd -
but then you understand it all.
It is the voice of God!!
You knew this time would one day come.
You knew with certainty.
If only you had one more chance...
but it will never be.

---

How consequential is this world
which passes quickly by?
Are you prepared to see God now?
Are you prepared to die?
Does Jesus knock on your heart's door
or have you seized control?
Why not allow Him in right now
so He can make you whole?

For wide, the gate, that leads to death
because of selfish sin.
More difficult, the narrow gate
where few will enter in.
Not even you can be so bad
that love escaped your heart.
For Christ has died for everyone -
including you, so start.

Begin confessing all your sins,
Repent of every wrong -
and if it's not just all pretend
you'll cry out loud and long.
Then ask Him to forgive you too.
He will if you're sincere.
When you obey and humbly do,
your guilt will disappear.

Now God does not want someone who's
too proud to shed some tears.
So don't be like a 'macho' man
who thinks he's great, but fears -
that someone might poke fun of him -
that friends might think he's odd.
Don't put your popularity,
ahead of your own God.

God's grace is something you can't buy.
It's offered to you free -
but only if you put Him first
and follow faithfully.
Don't be dismayed if tears should come.
It's only natural -
to shed a tear for what you've done
(the pain and cross and all).

Two thousand, plus some years ago,
it took a real man
to sacrifice Himself for you.
Repent in tears.  You can.
You'll soon wake up on judgment day.
It's then, you'll really care.
Will it be Jesus or your friends
who stand up for you there?

©2014 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 24 (NASB)

10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.


James 1 (NASB)

11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass;

and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed;

so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;

for once he has been approved,

he will receive the crown of life

which the Lord has promised

to those who love Him.