MOTHER’S EMBROIDERY

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By Ken Blue

Mother gathered her embroidery tools next to the old rocking chair;
And like a skilled surgeon, she laid out each item, insuring all was there.

She’d ironed a pattern on the cloth; she’d stretched on embroidery hoops;
Threading the needles with various colors; began her stitches and loops.

I sat on the floor observing each move and contentment on her face.
I could not see the pattern above; she was following with skill and grace.

But from where I sat, I could see no beauty, only frayed ends and knots;
The pattern, to me was without a scheme, and the plan I understood not.

She patted my head and patiently said, “When I’m finished, you’ll soon see.”
With reassuring voice she said what she did, she was doing just for me.

So as I look upward, from down below, His pattern I cannot see.
But with reassuring words, He whispers and says, “it’s all for you; trust Me.”

And as skillful hands follow a pattern, unseen by mere mortal man,
We can be sure while we are down here; for us, He has a purpose and plan.

When mother was finished she lifted me up, where I could see;
And what she embroidered I now understood, and she did it just for me.

SIGNS WITHOUT MEANING

by

Ken Blue

The_Cheshire_Cat_by_chri77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently I saw a sign in a church, and I ask a lady what I meant. She paused for some time, and then said, “I don’t have a clue.” I find this to be the norm in most churches.

When I was sent to Virginia Mason Hospital to determine my disease, I saw once again that the world has more wisdom than the church in many of its decisions and actions. I was directed down the hall to a room that had a sign over the door; Blood Lab. I went in and they drew several vials of blood.

After that I was sent to another building for an MRI. The room was marked X-ray and MRI. There, I had an MRI. On another occasion I was sent to the Physical Therapy room. The equipment and treatment matched the sign.

But, what about churches, do their signs have any relevance to what goes on in the room, or has someone simply pulled a name out of a hat? For instance, a sign in the parking lot pointed toward a two story building which read Education Building. Since I wanted to be educated in God’s Word, I concluded that was the way to go. The sign said so.

But when I was inside, the confusion became evident. The first door had a sign which read, Gideon Class. Since I knew nothing about Gideon, I figured I would search further down the hallway. The next door said Berea Class. This was a foreign language to me, so I moved on. Finally, a gentleman in the hall saw that I was lost, and ask if he could help.

I told him that I was a new believer and would like a class that taught New Testament and Old Testament survey or a class on how to rightly divide the Bible. He said, “We don’t have any classes that teach those subjects.” Then I ask him if I would learn about Gideon if I attended that class. He blushed, and said “no, that is just a name of the room. The signs do not indicate what they are teaching.” I ask, “What are they teaching?” He told me he did not have a clue.

And so it is with church signs, purpose statements, yearly themes, and sermon titles. It is evident that very little thought has gone into them. About the only thing that matters is, does it look and sound good? What they say has no bearing or impact on what goes on inside.

Pastor, take a long look at the signs in and outside your church and ask yourself, what do they really mean? In reality, do the signs reflect the action going on in the room or in the church?

THE FADING LEAF

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CIMG0367
(The General Store)

By Ken Blue

In early spring, within each bud, lie hopes of the unseen.
The earth awakes to a canopy of red, of yellow, and of green.
Summer passed; its beauty was captured and stored in my mind.
Winter came taking all away; memories only were left behind.

These abide in living color; they never fade away.
I joyfully replay each captured scene, reliving each yesterday.
By providence I returned, where I’d captured childhood scenes;
And discovered all had faded and died; nothing remains as it seemed.

People I remembered were not there; not a soul was in sight.
Buildings were decayed, all had faded away; briers now occupy their site.
And as I mused on what I saw, I sat in stark unbelief;
Reminded that living things must die; and we all do fade as a leaf.

Stores were all gone, no merchandise; only their ghosts remain,
Post Office and depot had disappeared; no children awaiting the train.
The school house upon the hill, where chatter and laughter rang;
Is now silent and cold, a monument only; nothing is the same.

My heart cried as I looked around, realizing all was gone.
Time had taken everything away, and only the memories lived on.
And as I relived those fleeting years, in a moment brief;
I realized winter comes to all, and we all do fade as a leaf.

“…and we all do fade as a leaf..”. Isaiah 64:6

THANK YOU LORD

by

By Ken Blue

Thank You for this land where freedom is the prize.
Thank You for those securing it, laying down their lives.
Thank You for liberty where dreams are realized.
For these, we thank You Lord!

Thank You for my family; children and wife.
Thank You for the joy and purpose they give to my life.
Thank You for helping us through all our daily strife.
For these, we thank you Lord!

Thank You for the water, the food, and the air.
Thank You for giving shelter and the clothing we wear.
Thank You for a pillow; I lay my head down there.
For these, we thank You Lord!

Thank You for using me in your ministry.
Thank You for making us more than we could ever be.
Thank You for the countless believers now serving Thee.
For these, we thank You Lord!

Thank You for the comforts, of another day.
Thank You for Your presence upon life’s pilgrim highway.
Thank You for Calvary’s love; what more can we say?
For these, we thank you Lord!

Thank You for Your Word, creating faith within.
Thank You for a sure hope that will never, never end.
Thank You for Your great love that paid for all our sin.
For these, we thank You Lord.

THE COMEDY WITHIN FUNDAMENTALISM

by

Ken Blue

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

One of the ways a church gauges its conservative posture is by holding to traditions of the past and ensuring that fellow pastors are not upset with them. Some are confused about traditions and allude to them as the “ancient landmarks” established by the Lord. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus accused the religious leaders in His day of, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” Mark 7:13. Their second problem was their desire for praise and approval. Therefore, they must conform to those with the perceived power and authority.

For those of you who fear the brethren and think you have not “moved the ancient landmarks” we submit the following. The men listed below would have nothing to do with the fundamentalism of today.

Spurgeon said, “… What a degradation to supplant the intelligent … by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and pipes. We might as well pray by machinery as praise by …strings and pipes… We do not need them. That would hinder rather than help our praise…” (Charles Spurgeon, Commentary on Psalm 42.)

Wesley said, “I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 685)

Luther said, “The organ in the worship is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.” (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong’s Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762)

Adam Clarke said, “… Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”

I am not opposed to new music or musical instruments in church. What I am opposed to is that group who think they hold no traditions; that they live by the “ancient landmarks,” and that they and their little crowd are the only spiritual bastion remaining.