Veteran Day  Poem

"Not for the dead but for the living"

We lay the rose on the graves of those who can neither smell, see or hold it. We call it a memorial day, yet for the living we've sent no flower while they are 6'ft up,until they are 6'ft under. Then we write songs of their exploits long after they're gone and can not hear'em, yet never a tune for the living when they could sing'em. How we travel afar to visit a grave where they're laid, when seldom if ever we visited them where they stayed. A photo of them, but not one with them, around the neck a cherished relic, but their hand, when last you had you held it? When they were sick did you pray that  God would heal, yet when they were well, when last did you share a meal? Oh yes indeed we love  to value our Dead, but should not at first, while they're living we kiss their head. So no more tears on the tombs where they lie, let them hear your laughter while yet they are still alive. They'll share their stories and you'll share yours. It's on this side of life's memories we form our fondest Joy. For  we were all on Earth together until here, we're each No More.

Happy Veterans Day!

- Steve Gooden -

 thank you for the Memories

Sing with me 

Songs to and of HIM

Joshua asked a question in the Book of Joshua chapter 24 choose you this day whom you will serve so I ask you who's on the Lord side Moses pose that question to Israel on the banks of the Red Sea who's on the Lord's Side only came down from the mountain with the Commandments of God they were worshipping a golden calf he called out to the tribes who's on the Lord's Side I asked all of you who's on the Lord's Side

Prayer changes things

Too many young people have become disillusioned and disconnected, dissatisfied and disappointed with their lives and the illusions of what they were told or promised life would be, therefore they are discouraged,  disengaged and disenfranchised from their responsibility and response as to the role their to play.

What do they do as a result of this disembodied isolation? They remove themselves from the fight the faith the failure and the struggle of survival and turn selfishly inward to their own self prescribed self medicating inducements. Inoculating themselves against the emotions of empathy and sympathy that would otherwise motivate them to get up everyday and run into the fires and battles of life , facing these challenges head on. Anesthetic intoxication by the easy path of lonely medications or opioids and cannabis, only serves to  prevent you from stepping up to your rightful role in History. Play your part do your duty, but dont run away from the troubles and the troubled. Go where they are and comfort them. Treat them, heal them, help them carry their Cross and if and when neccessary, sacrifice so to make this world a better place, not because you hide from it or run away from it, but because you yourself are in it, apart of it and are determined by the grace of God to do something about it, no matter how small or great. Leave this world being able to say you made it better than you found it

Men have never been as preoccupied with any and everything as much as now. Void of Vision and Dreams 

 a triumphant victory the baby has arrived

Being Born

The gift the giver and the receiver