Ted for Eternity

 not-guilty verdicts

pepper my vision of field.

how they prey on brothers

  brings back2mine 

how they killed my cousin

tho he wore a shield.

“Friendly”

fire

shot

dead

Couldn’t allow that Ted light to shine

Wait,

why’s

a cadet

not equipped

with a vest?

 - used live rounds

in a simulated fire fight

not considered

 a practice that’s best.

For the now single Mom no longer a wife

unpurchased armor

a debt more costly than a life.

now - urged by suffering

from recalling

 too

   many

     lives

       simply  

          dismissed.

Preparing

WE Rise up

NOW

Take right action

for a time

such as this.

Like David’s

we face giants

that shapeshift

to follow greed.

blood for dollars

boils over

doesn’t protect

speeds the bleed.

follow the money

for profit prisons

root sources

long revealed.

Citing case law

and media complicity

quickly

dismissed

lost on appeal.

God,

we,

in

TRUST

... through US make

ALL things NEW.

advances

diminished

... our workers?

too few.

Bring leaders’

to bear

burdens

heaped upon

the LEAST

of these.

And Teddy would smile

calmly

saying:

With YOU

I-AM

well

pleased.

Conquering Love

Often times – or so it seems

   circumstances may conspire

Or could it be a brilliant scheme

  by Our Creator to simply re-inspire?

Another Growth-Opportunity is being taught

   at present

or does this Lost-Cause (or so we thought)

   lie behind each of my new resentments?

For Crazy Love is juxtaposed

   by those - supposed
to turn the other cheek

Yet with arms by sides and eyes cast down 

  I’ve pushed aside the meek

Reaching towards a blessing are we

  who bear and grin it with

The Least of These

In these times of disrupt

   ask instead

whom do we lift-up?

So please don’t miss (and Ms and Mister too) dismiss 

 - His invitation to become

a fragrant offering to we who’ve come undone

Lets all – en mass - just drop the veil

   of Holier than Thou

Goodness, joy and encouragement should not be stale

   share it fresh - beginning now

As this our hearts desire will be:

  ≈Conquering Love... flows through you and me

Conquering Love (Philippians 4:11-13)

Three C's of Camping - CampSunset Contest-submission

 

While stewarding a young family of four

 - Life Lessons by Camping we thought

By Sharing our THREE C’s of living outdoor

 - a mantra we repeat till it’s caught

… and winning Camp Sunset will confirm

    - even better life-hacks are still to be taught

We feel camping’s an extension of home

 - where hospitality stands out by design

Under my roof or amidst God’s Creation

 - lets ensure our time together’s sublime

By CONSTRUCTING a camp-site you endorse

 - to print and web-published acclaim

While CONSERVING earth’s natural resource

 - to ensure their future’s proclaimed

 - not a bet

We’ll remain joyfully CONTENTED

 - while feasting upon each delicious Sunset

The Ingredients

As I share this love poem for The Bride and Groom... 

... let it be a prayer offering and confirmation for the eternal bonds have been spoken into existence today.

The inspirational verse from God's word for this poem comes out of:

Mathew 5:6    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.

THE INGREDIENTS:

Whilst romance draws us near
... and passions summon our heart's still farther

Today we witness
and celebrate
... a Love that glorifies
(besides The Bride)

Almighty God
... Our Father

For PaPa's hand
leads our walk
... each step in life IS numbered

Two lives
... presented

As a holy offering
... United

Intention:
... The Embodiment of Christ-likeness and Holy Spirit Power

Two faithful shepherds
... stewarding lives

Immersion Experience
... as a calling

His promise is
... for joy complete

Descends
... like manna falling

For His plan to heal
... reconciles those
Whose out-streched arms ... pulls others close

The ingredients for Life Abundant:
To only name a few:

- Desiree Maxine

- Nicole Renee

- Natilee Juliette

- Sara Marilyn

and a son,
- Brian Ascher
... now too

These Families
- once shaken
... and yes, stirred

Are now Blended
- Perfectly

For Our Creator
- Whom We Faithfully Serve

________________________________

Now as we raise our glasses in a toast for the Bride and Groom, I quote an amazing witness and Brother - Natchi Lazarus:

"Never forget that 50 percent of your wisdom comes from your spouse"

... pretty sure his wife told him that!

Love Like Les

So much's been said
    of this well lived-out life
what I add here today
    ... seems only a trife

But better to speak
    of these truths
While we're able

By honoring HIS Humility
    we may increase its value!



a Yogi - an Artist
a Snowboarder (quite RAD)
    Head shakes at the memories of the mad skills of this Lad

a Coach - a Trainer
an Author - a Sk8r
    ... a GEEK

a Traveler - a Guide
    ... and a friend
Damn list'll get longer had you waited a week!!!



My Friendship with Les
    was True from the Start

... most impressive to me
from that Day One
 Weren't business deals or achievements won

... but His Presence and The Process of His Servant Heart

- its so rare when you meet someone who
- genuinely connects to the passion in you
- who's stoke lights even higher that fire anew
- when HIS Belief in YOUR Dream lifts The Hope in US too!



To each of us Les is either
- a Cousin
- a Nephew
- a Husband - Father
- a Son also GRAND!
.... so let's all live in tribute to this profound stand:

When You Love Like Les - It Is Really MORE





06/24/1983 to 06/14/2014

JZ UNLEASHED

A Families woe's
 - if left untold
may claim a
strangle hold

So better we
 - whom do
take heed
Surrender our sorrow
 - to Thee

And in doing so
we lift-up
 - our love for
Jimmy Z



A Son
A Brother
An Uncle
 - a Friend
Pure Love for us
 - had he

Yes, us!
"The Least of These"

THIS Humble
Servant heart's desire
 - was to
simply please



A Contractor
A Carpenter
 - his business
was a ministry

Transformed houses
 - into homes
while impacting lives
 -  for The Throne
James did so!
WILLINGLY



He shared His
Experience
Strength
And Hope
 
Helpfuly led
any newcomer
  - still struggling
to cope

and like his smile
  -  bursting forth
You'd learn to work it
  - 'cause of your WORTH

His personal investing
(in us)
was such a Blessing



And finally a Waterman
 - who's stoke today we honor
Taken too soon
 - yes?
Nor should we question our Heavenly Father

A decision made
 - at The Lane
To paddle or to hitch?

This proud man
 - followed God's
perfect plan
 - and never considered which

For Surfers know
 - when pushed
below
Up His Leash
 - we must climb
And as we cling
 - to The Vine
Through our Strife
God's hand
WILL
 - lift us to
Eternal Life



So like James
We should each
keep growing
 
In Christ likeness
 - as did he

And be certain
of your future
 - knowing
 
Jim has been
 - gracefully
set free

lifted and gifted

__________________

lifted into new life

  Holy Spirit - dwells - in me

Earthly pulls causing strife

  died to self - now set free

he lifts my head

  I praise him for
and ask his will
   with knees on floor

Yahway proclaims - be about our Fathers business 

  outstretched arms towards the least of these
His strength perfects my obvious weakness
  when Spirit lead words that you place

    roll from my tongue to show your grace

from my heart
   a bridge you'll make
To my head
   this journey take

Ten Thousand turns around the Sun
  Now Christ in me - we love As One

__________________