Goats and Lambs

THE GOATS WERE BROUGHT INTO THE BARN

AFTER THEIR DAY IN THE FIELD

THEY COULDN’T STAND THE COLD

BUT THE SHEEP REMAINED OUTSIDE

WARM IN THEIR COAT

MILKING THE GOAT WAS WOMEN’S WORK

A DEBAUCHED WOMEN WAS CALLED A GOAT

THE GOATS WERE BLACK

THE SHEEP WOOL WHITE

THE GOATS WERE PROMISCUOUS

THEY SHARED THEIR MATES

THE SHEEP DID NOT

OUT OF ALL THIS FOLKLORE

JESUS SPUN A TALE

USING IMAGES THE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD

HE STARTS BY SAYING

THE KING COMES IN GLORY

SO CRITICAL IN THE EAST

THE DEMAND FOR RESPECT

SO HE COMES IN GLORY

AND SITS ON THE GLORY THRONE

COMMANDING RESPECT

AS BEFITS A KING

AND TELLS A COMMON STORY

OF SEPARATING SHEEP FROM GOATS

SEPARATING THE GOOD

FROM THE INDIFFERENT

THEY WERE NOT COMPLETELY BAD

THE GOATS

THEY WERE INDIFFERENT

AND SAID TO THE SHEEP

WHO WERE CARING

AND HUDDLED TOGETHER FOR WARMTH

COME INTO THE KINGDOM

I HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU

AND I’LL SHALL BE YOUR SHEPHERD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Carcer

THE WORD CARCER IN LATIN

MEANS PRISON

TO INCARCERATE

MEANS

TO SEND TO PRISON

THE EARLY CHURCH

KNEW WELL

WHAT CARCER MEANT

EARLY ON THE PRISONS

COULD NOT KEEP THEM

CHAINS FELL OFF

DOORS WERE OPENED

THEY WALKED FREE

BUT LATER

CARCER MEANT

A DOORWAY

TO HEAVEN

IN FACT IT WAS A FATE

THAT MANY SOUGHT

TODAY

WE HAVE MANY

WHO WILL DIE FOR A CAUSE

WE SCOFF

FORGETTING

THAT THE CHURCH

IN ALL ITS FORMS

HAS MANY MARTYRS

SO WHERE

DOES IT END

HOW DO WE JUDGE

WHEN IT’S RIGHT

WHEN IT’S WRONG

TO PARAPHRASE PAUL

IF WHAT YOU DO

HAS NOT LOVE

THEN THE ACT

IS A CLANGING BELL

THAT IS OUT OF TUNE

BELIEFS

WHICH SHOULD

BETTER MAN

BELITTLE HIM

BETTER A WASTELAND

THEY THINK

THAN LET ANOTHER

SURVIVE

THE CHURCH

HAS A POOR TRACK RECORD

OF LETTING THE OTHER SURVIVE

IF WHAT WE DO

HASN’T GOT LOVE

MANY THINK

IT’S NAMBY-PAMBY

BUT TO LOVE ANOTHER

AT COST TO ONESELF

IS LIKE PETER

MEETING CHRIST ON THE ROAD

ASKING

QUO VADIS DOMINE

THE ANSWER

LED PETER

BACK TO ROME

TO DIE

FRANK A VOLLMER

I Have a Daughter

I HAVE A DAUGHTER

OF WHOM I AM EXTREMELY PROUD

WHEN IT WAS NOT POPULAR

OR FASHIONABLE



SHE SIDED WITH THE POOR

THE DISPOSSESSED

THE UNIMPORTANT



A WAR THAT WAS WRONG

DICTATORS

WHO WERE OUR FRIENDS

BUT NOT TO THEIR PEOPLE



GRAPE PICKERS

LETTUCE HARVESTERS

FARM WORKERS

MIGRANT LABOR

ANYTHING WHICH DEGRADED A MAN



CALLED A SAINT

IF SHE FED THE POOR

A COMMUNIST

IF SHE ASKED

WHY



THROUGH IT ALL SHE SANG

WE SHALL OVERCOME

THOUGH OFTEN IT SOUNDED

LIKE A LONELY VOICE

IN A LONELY PLACE



THOUGH THE BATTLE

IS FAR FROM OVER

WITH A BRIGHT DAWN COMING



WE CAN SAY

WE HAVE OVERCOME

AND WORK TO KEEP IT THAT WAY







FRANK A VOLLMER

The Talents

HIDE OR BURY YOUR TREASURE

THE RABBIS SAID

DON’T LET YOUR MONEY

BE TOO FAR FROM HAND

BUT JESUS COMES SAYING SPEND

AND HE DOESN’T MEAN MONEY

SO OFTEN GOOD PEOPLE

HOARD THEIR GOODNESS

SO THAT THEY’RE NO EARTHLY GOOD

AND CHURCHES HAVE NO PLACE FOR SINNERS

HE PRAISES THOSE

WHO WOULD EXPEND THEMSELVES

AND SCOLDS THE CAUTIOUS

THE TEN VIRGINS

SHOULD SHARE THE OIL

TILL ALL RUNS OUT

AND THE GOOD MAN SHOULD WORK

TILL DARKNESS OVERTAKES HIM

LIBERALLY GIVING HIMSELF AWAY

FRANK A VOLLMER

Plant A Tree

IN THE EARLY CHURCH

THE FEELING WAS

THAT CHRIST WAS COMING SOON

MARK SAYS

THIS GENERATION

WILL NOT PASS AWAY

UNTIL ALL THE THINGS

HAVE TAKEN PLACE

SO EITHER WE HAVE A BAD TRANSLATION

OR A BAD INTERPRETATION

BECAUSE

IT DIDN’T HAPPEN

WE HAVE PEOPLE

SEEING THE END OF THE WORLD

AT EVERY BEND OF THE ROAD

THEY SERVE A GOD WHO IS ANGRY

WHO DELIGHTS IN PUNISHMENT

A BOOGIE MAN FOR THE AGES

SUCH A GOD

I WOULD FIND IT HARD TO LOVE

BUT LET’S READ MARK AGAIN

THE MASTER IS GOING AWAY

HE LEAVES HIS SERVANTS IN CHARGE

HE SAYS IN EFFECT

MAKE ME PROUD

BE WORKING WHEN I COME BACK

THAT’S THE ADMONITION FOR END TIMES

BE WORKING WHEN I COME BACK

IT’S LIKE THE FOLK TALE ABOUT LUTHER

IF I KNEW THAT TOMORROW

WAS THE END OF THE WORLD

I WOULD PLANT AN APPLE TREE TODAY

THE KEY WORD

IS STAY AWAKE

AND WORKING

HE HAS LEFT US

IN CHARGE OF HIS KINGDOM

AND WE HAVE TREES TO PLANT

FRANK A VOLLMER

What Did You Go Out to See?

THE BAPTISM JESUS RECEIVED

WAS NOT THE SAME AS THAT BAPTISM

WE RECEIVED

WHEN MOST OF US WERE CHILDREN

BAPTISM WAS RESERVED IN THE JEWISH FAITH

FOR THOSE

NOT BORN JEWS

BUT CONVERTING

THOSE SINFUL PEOPLE

NOT BORN A JEW

THE JEW BELIEVED

THAT BEING A SON OF ABRAHAM

HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION

AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW

HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION

SO HE HAD NO NEED FOR RITUAL CLEANING

BUT THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN JUDEA

IN JESUS TIME

THAT THE NATION HAD LOST THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS

THE NATION HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME

THE PEOPLE

WERE DESPERATELY WAITING

FOR THE MESSIAH

TO FREE THE LAND

THEY FELT THAT GOD WAS ANGRY WITH THEM

ANGRY WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE

THEY FELT

THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHANGE

THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CLEANSING

THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPENTING

SO THERE WENT OUT INTO THE LAND

THOSE CALLING FOR CHANGE

SOME WERE CALLING FOR POLITICAL CHANGE

OTHERS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ESSENES

WERE CALLING FOR MORAL CHANGE

AND THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE

WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING

OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER

BUT THE CANDIDATE HAD FIRST TO STATE

HE WAS SORRY FOR HIS SINS

AND WOULD TRY TO AMEND HIS LIFE

JOHN'S MESSAGE OF REPENT

AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE

WAS BEARING FRUIT

MANY WERE FLOCKING TO JOHN

FOR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM

UNDERLYING THIS MOVEMENT

WAS THE THOUGHT

THAT IF THEY CHANGED THEIR LIVES

THE MESSIAH WOULD COME

BUT THEY WANTED A POLITICAL MESSIAH

WHAT THEY WOULD GET

WAS A SERVANT

FRANK A VOLLMER

A Voice

THE DRY SOUNDS OF THE DESERT

THE CEASELESS BLOWING OF SAND

THE VOICE

OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS

MAKE STRAIGHT THE PATH

LEVEL MOUNTAINS

AND FILL UP GAPS

THAT THE KING OF GLORY MAY COME IN

TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ANEW

HIS WAY WILL BE ROUGH ENOUGH

MAKE LEVEL HIS PATH

HIS WAY IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER

SECURE HIS PATH

HIS ENEMIES MACHINE WILL CRUSH HIM

THROW YOURSELF BENEATH THE WHEELS

DO NOT LET THE APPEARANCE

OF THE MESSENGER

DETER YOU

THIS WILD MAN

WHO EATS LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY

WHO WEARS CAMEL HAIR FOR A CLOAK

WHO WON’T LET US BE COMFORTABLE

DO NOT FIND FAULT WITH THE MESSENGER

HIS MESSAGE IS TRUE

TOO OFTEN WE FIND FAULT WITH THE MESSENGER

AND DO NOT FOLLOW

LIKE

KING

BERRIGAN

BONHOEFFER

IT’S TIME TO ADMIT

WE HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE

NOT ROAD BUILDERS

BARRICADE BUILDERS

NOT ROAD BUILDERS

WALL BUILDERS

THAT IMPRISON

THOSE WHO BUILD THEM

AND WHEN THEY FALL

THE JACKAL HOWLS AT THE MOON

AND THERE IS NO ANSWER

FRANK A VOLLMER

Fear Not

IT WAS THE EVENING

A COOL BREEZE WAS BLOWING

WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE SUN

THE BIRDS

HAD SETTLED

FOR THE EVENING

PERCHING ON TREE AND HOUSE

SHE WAS FINISHING HER PRAYERS

WITH

MAY MESSIAH COME

WHEN SHE HEARD A SOUND

AS IF

A LATE ARRIVING BIRD HAD COME

SHE SAW AN ANGEL

SHE HEARD A VOICE

SAYING

GOD’S CONSTANT GREETING

BE NOT AFRAID

THE CHOICE WAS HERS

THE CHOICE IS OURS

TO LET GOD SWELL WITHIN US

WHEN WE SAY SON OF MAN

WE MEAN JUST LIKE HIS FATHER

WHEN WE SAY SON OF GOD

WE MEAN JUST LIKE HIS FATHER

GOD WAITED

LIKE AN ANXIOUS SUITOR

FOR A YES

GOD WAITS

LIKE AN ANXIOUS SUITOR

FOR US TO SAY YES

AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

FRANK A VOLLMER

Coin

WHOSE IMAGE IS PRESSED UPON THE COIN

A MAN’S HE ANSWERS

HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH

THEY ARE ALL VALUED THE SAME

HOW CAN THAT BE

THEIR MAKER DETERMINES THEIR VALUE

GIVE TO CAESAR HIS DUE

BUT GIVE TO GOD FULL VALUE

ANYTHING WHICH DIMINISHES A MAN

IS WRONG

ANYTHING WHICH DEBASES THE COIN

IS WRONG

THE COIN’S IMAGE

IS AN ECHO OF GOD’S FACE

BUT WE ARE ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE

THE REST OF THEM ARE RABBLE

YOU ARE ALL OF THE SAME VALUE

BUT…BUTBUT..BUTBUTBUT…

IS YOUR EYE JEALOUS

BECAUSE I AM GOOD

HOW DARE YOU CALL INFERIOR

WHAT I HAVE MADE

HOW DARE YOU

TRY TO CHEAPEN

ANOTHER’S COIN

IF YOU TRY

YOU ARE ONLY HOARDING DUST

AND YOUR WEALTH

IS ONLY SAND TRICKLING THROUGH YOUR FINGERS



FRANK A VOLLMER

Reformation

I’VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE REFORMATION



THE MORNING STARS THAT PRECEDED IT



LIKE HUS AND WYCLIFFE



ABOUT NOBLES WHO KEPT A HOUSE PRIEST

WHO AFTER DALLYING WITH THEIR MISTRESS

WOULD CONFESS

AND BE RIGHT AGAIN



ABOUT HOW MANY MOVEMENTS

BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

CALLED FOR ITS RETURN

TO EARLY POVERTY



SO THAT CHURCH LIFE

MIGHT MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLE

PEOPLE’S LIFE



AND BE TAUGHT THEM IN A LANGUAGE

THEY COULD UNDERSTAND



BUT AFTER THE BREAK

ARE WE ANY BETTER



DO WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR

AS OURSELVES

IF HE IS DIFFERENT



IN FAITH

RACE

NATIONALITY



DO WE PREACH LOVE

AND PRACTICE HATRED



IF CHRIST CAME

WOULD WE KILL HIM FOR BEING A JEW



AS WE KILLED SIX MILLION CHRISTS



AND THE CHURCH WAS SILENT



MILLIONS OF AFRICANS

ARE DYING NOW

SO FEW CARE



WE’D RATHER INVADE A COUNTRY FOR OIL



BUT WHEN CHURCH AND STATE ARE JOINED

WE HAVE LUTHER BETRAYING THE PEASANTS



OR COUNSELING THE PRINCE

TO PRACTICE ADULTERY

QUIETLY



AND FINALLY

AGREEING TO DIVORCE



WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BROKEN LANDSCAPE

OF THE CHURCH



EACH ONE LOOKING AT THE SHATTERED SHARD

OF THE MIRROR



SAYING

THEIRS IS THE TRUE REFLECTION



HOW MANY FACES HAS THE TRUTH



BUT ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING

WE’VE HAD DISSENSION



WE’VE HAD

PAUL VERSUS PETER

JEW VERSUS GENTILE

PURE VERSUS IMPURE FOOD



WOULD NOT A BETTER LITMUS TEST BE

NOT WHAT WE BELIEVE

BUT WHAT WE DO



DOES KNOWING THE HYPOSTATIC UNION

MAKE ONE HOLY

IS IT NOT BETTER

TO LIVE THE WORD





AND WHAT IS THAT WORD

WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS



LOVE GOD

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

THE REST IS COMMENTARY

FRANK A VOLLMER

For more poetry see our blog at http://camploony.blogspot.com/.

All Saints ((1 Corinthians 12) )

WHEN I WAS IN JAPAN
THERE WAS A WEEK LONG FESTIVAL IN AUGUST
CALLED OBON

WHICH IS A FESTIVAL FOR THE DEAD

DURING THAT TIME
THE JAPANESE BELIEVED THE DEAD CAME BACK
TO VISIT THEIR FAMILIES

THERE WERE PLACES SET AT THE TABLE FOR THEM.

EACH NIGHT THERE WERE BONFIRES LIT

AND EVERYONE WHO LIVED IN THE VILLAGE
DANCED AROUND THEM
BUT IT WAS A SPECIAL DANCE

BECAUSE THE STEPS RESEMBLED THE MOTIONS
PEOPLE MADE WHILE WORKING

SO THERE WERE MOTIONS FOR FISHING
OR DIGGING OR SEWING OR COOKING

THESE MOTIONS IMITATED THE LIVES OF THE DEAD
WHEN THEY WERE LIVING

I LEARNED THE DANCES.
AND MY JAPANESE FRIENDS AND I
WOULD DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

THEY WERE HAPPY THAT I WAS WITH THEM

BUT MORE ESPECIALLY THEY WERE HAPPY
THAT THEIR BELOVED DEAD WERE VISITING THEM


AT THE END OF OBON
CANDLES WERE PLACED ON TINY RAFTS
AND FLOATED OUT TO SEA

THEY WERE TO SHOW THE DEAD
BACK TO THEIR RESTING PLACE

IT WAS A TENDER BEAUTIFUL MOMENT

TO FEEL THEIR LOVE
FOR THEIR ANCESTORS

AND TO SEE THE THOUSANDS OF CANDLES
MAKING THE RIVER A GOLDEN PATH

ANY READER
OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
KNOWS THAT FESTIVALS OF THE DEAD
ARE COMMON TO ALL CULTURES.

MANY OF THE FESTIVALS ARE KIND AND GENTLE
AS IN JAPAN
THE DEAD ARE NOT FEARED.
IN OTHER CULTURES
THE DEAD ARE THE GHOSTS
THE GOBLINS THE WITCHES
THE THINGS TO BE FEARED IN THE NIGHT

IN EUROPE
AS THE PAGANS THAT LIVED THERE
WERE CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY
THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM
THIS FEAR OF THE DEAD

THE CHURCH TO COUNTERACT THIS FEAR
INITIATED THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
FOR NO ONE WHO HAS DIED IN CHRIST
SHOULD BE FEARED


THERE ALSO EVOLVED
THE CONCEPT
OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
WHICH IS PART OF THE CREED
WE SAY ON SUNDAYS
SIMPLY PUT
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS MEANS
THAT ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY CHRIST'S BLOOD
BELONG TO ONE BODY.



THOSE WHO REST IN HIS BOSOM
AND THOSE OF US
WHO ARE STILL PILGRIMS ON THE WAY

THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
ARE ONE BODY
ONE COMMUNION,
ONE COMMUNITY

REMNANTS OF FEAR OF THE DEAD
LINGER IN THE COSTUMES WE WEAR
ON HALLOWEEN
GHOSTS GOBLINS SATAN

HALLOWEEN MEANS ALL HALLOW'S EVE
OR THE NIGHT BEFORE ALL HALLOWS DAY

HALLOWED AS IN THE LORDS PRAYER
MEANS BLESSED
.
SO ANOTHER NAME
FOR THIS FEAST DAY
WOULD BE
ALL THE BLESSED ONE'S DAY

AND WHO ARE THESE BLESSED ONES.
THEY ARE OUR PARENTS
GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS, RELATIVES,
SPOUSES,
SOMETIMES SADLY OUR CHILDREN


THEY ARE RULERS OF THE WORLD
THEY ARE THE POOR.
THEY ARE THE BRIGHT
THEY ARE THE ILLITERATE.
THEY ARE THE BOLD
THE BASHFUL
THE SAINT OCCASIONALLY
BUT MOST OFTEN THE SINNER
BUT THEY ARE ALL JOINED NOW
AND HELD SAFELY IN GOD'S HAND

THEY ARE YOU
AND I
WHEN OUR PILGRIMAGE ENDS

BUT BEFORE OUR PILGRIMAGE ENDS
WE MUST LIVE OUR LIFE.
WALK THE ROAD BEFORE US
IN SUNNY OR RAINY WEATHER,
ON FLAT GROUND OR UP A MOUNTAIN
OR EVEN DOWN INTO A DEEP VALLEY.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL WALK WITH FRIENDS
OR LOVED ONES

BUT EVEN WHEN WE WALK ALONE
THERE WILL BE TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS
BECAUSE JESUS IS WALKING THE ROAD WITH US,

AND JESUS GAVE US A CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR THAT ROAD
THEY ARE CALLED THE BEATITUDES.


AND THEY ARE

HOW HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THOSE WHO DO NOT CRAVE
MONEY
POSSESSIONS
POWER
BUT USE
WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM
GENEROUSLY

JESUS SAYS
HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT,
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

HAPPY THE GENTLE
THEY SHALL HAVE THE EARTH
FOR THEIR HERITAGE

HAPPY
THOSE WHO MOURN
THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED



HAPPY THOSE WHO HUNGER
AND THIRST FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED

HAPPY THE MERCIFUL
THEY SHALL HAVE MERCY SHOWN THEM

HAPPY THE PURE IN HEART
THEY SHALL SEE GOD

HAPPY THE PEACEMAKERS
THEY SHALL BE CALLED
CHILDREN OF GOD

HAPPY THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED
IN THE CAUSE OF RIGHT
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

IN THIS SEASON
THE SEASON OF AUTUMN
AS THE DAYS GROW SHORTER
AS THE COLORS OF THE TREES
GO FROM GOLD TO BROWN TO BARE
AND THE WIND HAS A BITE TO IT
THAT GOES THROUGH US,
WE ARE REMINDED
OF THE FINALITY OF OUR LIVES


IN THIS SEASON
THE SEASON OF AUTUMN
WE ARE ALSO ASKED
TO REMEMBER OUR DEAD

IN THE TV. SHOW "ARCHIE BUNKER"
AFTER EDITH HIS WIFE DIED,
AFTER THE FUNERAL
ARCHIE SPIES HER SLIPPER
UNDER THEIR BED AND HE CRIES
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE





.
WE ARE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY THIS DAY
TO DO THAT
TO SAY WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THE LOVE THEY GAVE US
FOR THE EXAMPLE THEY GAVE US
FOR THE LAUGHTER AND THE TEARS
THEY GAVE US.

NOT THAT THEY NEED TO HEAR IT.
THERE IS NO PAIN WHERE THEY ARE.
BUT WE
NEED TO SAY IT.

THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU MEANT TO ME.
THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU MEAN TO ME.
MAY I BE WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE.

AND IF THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE
WITH WHOM
THERE WERE ANGRY WORDS
NEVER CALLED BACK
NOW IS THE TIME
FOR FORGIVENESS
AGAIN NOT THAT THE DEAD NEED IT
BUT WE NEED IT.



WE NEED TO SEND FORGIVENESS
IT WILL GO FROM US
LIKE A CANDLE
ON A RIVER
MAKING THE RIVER GOLD.

FINALLY
THERE IS IN MOST OF OUR LIVES
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED
HAVING LIVED A LIFE
THAT WE FEEL
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
AND THAT THOUGHT
LIES UNEASY
ON OUR HEARTS

LET US REMEMBER
THAT GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY
IS FAR GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY
TO COMPREHEND IT

ON THIS AUTUMN DAY
CLOSE TO WINTER
MAY GOD'S LOVE
KEEP US WARM.



AMEN

FRANK A VOLLMER

It Bothers Me

IT BOTHERS ME
WHEN PEOPLE USE THE BIBLE
TO FIND DIRE PREDICTIONS
ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD
WITH AN ANGRY JESUS COMING TO SMITE THE SINNER
AND INNOCENT ALIKE

IT BOTHERS ME
WHEN THEY SAY
THEY ARE USING A SECRET CODE
BASED ON NUMEROLOGY
ASTROLOGY
OR SOME OTHER OLOGY

IT BOTHERS ME
WHEN PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT SECRET KNOWLEDGE
AS IF WE HAD TO PASS A TEST
AND WOE THE FAILURE

IT BOTHERS ME
TO THINK
THAT PEOPLE THINK
THAT GOD IS MEAN
VINDICTIVE
PLAYS WITH THE WORLD
LIKE A LITTLE BOY
PLAYING WITH AN ANT HILL

WE SEARCH THE PROPHECIES
LOOKING FOR DOOM
WHEN MOST OF THEM
ARE LIKE A MOTHER
SCOLDING HER CHILD
PROMISING PUNISHMENT
IF HE DOESN’T BEHAVE

THE CHOICE IS THE CHILD’S
THE CHOICE IS OURS

AND IF AN UNHAPPY PARENT
MUST DISCIPLINE THE CHILD
ARE NOT BOTH
PARENT AND CHILD
UNHAPPY


FRANK A VOLLMER

Meaning What We Say

IF WE VOTE FOR A MAN
BECAUSE HE’S LIBERAL
CONSERVATIVE
THAT’S A MATTER OF CHOICE

IF WE VOTE FOR OR AGAINST A MAN
BECAUSE OF RACE
THAT’S A CONTRADICTION

WE EITHER MEAN THE LORD’S PRAYER
OUR FATHER

OR WE DON’T

WE CANNOT SAY OUR FATHER
AND BE PREJUDICED

IF WE JUDGE SOMEONE TO BE SOMEHOW LOWER
WE DO NOT HEAR CHRIST SAYING
WHAT SO EVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS
THAT YOU DO UNTO ME

CHRISTIANS GIVE RELIGION A BAD NAME
WHEN THEY DON’T PRACTICE THEIR BELIEFS

WHEN THEY JUDGE A NEIGHBOR UNFIT
WHEN THEY SEE A FACE
AND NOT THE PERSON

WHEN WERE YOU HUNGRY
NAKED
OR POOR
WHEN DID I DENY YOU HONOR

THAT YOU DID UNTO ME


FRANK A VOLLMER

Amazing Grace

IT WAS AN EARWORM
A MELODY
THAT PLAYED OFTEN IN HIS HEAD
IT WORE AWAY AT HIS HEART
LIKE WATER DRIPPING ON A ROCK
IT WAS A LAMENT

SPEAKING OF SEPARATION
AND LOSS

IT WAS A LAMENT
SUNG BY SLAVES
CHAINED IN THE HOLD
0F THE SHIP

HE KNEW WHAT THE SONG MEANT
THOUGH HE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND THE WORDS
IT WAS A LAMENT
A PENTATONIC LAMENT

IT APPEALED
TO THE CELT IN HIM

IF THEY COULD FEEL SUCH DEEP EMOTION
ARE THEY MUCH DIFFERENT FROM ME
DO THEY NOT BLEED WHEN HURT
AND CRY WHEN SAD
ARE THEY NOT WORTHY OF DIGNITY
RATHER THAN COWERING
FROM WHIPS
AND THE POINT OF A GUN

IS THERE SOME SUPERIORITY
THAT BEING CHRISTIAN
ALLOWS ME TO ENSLAVE PAGANS
DID CHRIST NOT DIE FOR THEM TOO

IT TOOK AWHILE
LIKE WATER DRIPPING ON A ROCK
BUT FINALLY GRACE BROKE THROUGH
AMAZING GRACE

AND SO HE WROTE THE SONG
AND GRAFTED IT
TO THE LAMENT

IT STARTED
BY BEING NICE TO THE SLAVES
IN HIS CARE
BETTER FOOD AND SANITATION
IT ENDED WITH ABOLISHMENT
OF SLAVERY

BUT THE NEED FOR GRACE
AMAZING GRACE
CONTINUES

FRANK A VOLLMER

Peter

THE FIRST WORDS OF JESUS
TO SIMON PETER WERE
COME BE MY DISCIPLE

HIS LAST WORDS TO PETER WERE
COME FOLLOW ME

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
BETWEEN THOSE TWO CHALLENGES
PETER NEVER FAILED TO FOLLOW

EVEN THOUGH HE OFTEN STUMBLED

IN MATTHEW
WE SEE PETER
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

BRAVE ENOUGH
TO WIELD A SWORD
AND CUT OFF
THE EAR OF THE HIGH PRIEST'S SERVANT

BUT LATER

PETER
STANDING IN THE HIGH PRIEST'S COURTYARD
WITHERS UNDER THE SCORNING GAZE
OF A SERVANT GIRL

WITHERS TO THE POINT
THAT HE SWEARS
THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW THE MAN

PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAITH
WILL NEVER ASK
WHO WILL GO UP TO HEAVEN
TO BRING CHRIST DOWN

NEITHER WILL THEY ASK,
WHO WILL GO DOWN
INTO THE WORLD OF THE DEAD
TO RAISE HIM TO LIFE

ALL WHO ARE ACCEPTABLE
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH
SIMPLY SAY

THE MESSAGE IS AS NEAR AS YOUR MOUTH
OR YOUR HEART

THE MESSAGE THAT GOD WALKS AMONG US
LAUGHS WITH US
CRIES WITH US
TRIES TO INSPIRE US
SO THAT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
MIGHT BE BETTER


THIS PETER KNEW
SIMPLE IMPULSIVE PETER
WHO AT THE VOICE OF JESUS
LEAPED FROM THE BOAT
TO WALK ON WATER

WHO WALKED ON WATER
UNTIL HE THOUGHT
HE WAS DOING IT HIMSELF

THEN HE SANK
AND CRIED
LORD SAVE ME

BUT JESUS REACHED DOWN
AS HE DID SO MANY TIMES WITH PETER

AS HE DOES SO MANY TIMES WITH US
AND SAVES US

AND WE ARE ASKED
TO BE WILLING
TO LEAP FROM THE BOAT IN FAITH
KNOWING GOD WILL SUSTAIN US

AND BRING US SAFELY HOME


FRANK A VOLLMER