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!

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

rep Heaven's Holy Harvest

Work place toil without God
    un-alters
Heavens Harvest

Till desert seasons
    reveal your role
as a Jr. Partner

Man's preparations, plans and purpose
    can not PROFIT
The One we forgo

Reconcile our bottom-line
    with God as CEO

------------------------------------

Repatriate corporate identities
    to serve among the Least of These
acknowledge any insecurity
    can be re-shaped by Devine Trinity

Then boldly move into Authority
Humbly sharing your Testimony
and prayerfully lay hold of an Eternal Destiny

------------------------------------

As we become the TRUTH we are taught
    Let our hearts seek as He first sought

And Presence The One
    doing as He'd done
By devoting our home-work-life ministry
    to Christ
- His Son

Let us rebuild the nations gone askew
    ... though the laborers in numbers are few

Exchange earthly ROI
    by accepting manna from on-high

and sowing services - practiced best
    every business venture re-purposed...

for Heaven's Holy Harvest

Ralph Steinlein Tribute

What is true in this life
- yes, we are promised strife...

Witness to - his brief - walk on earth
- to these words - today - lets each give birth
Like lyrics to sing
- to Ralph - my brother
- now running heavens wing

First, Props to His Parents:
Oom Hans much more than a dad
- my first coach
- a life mentor
- mad skills that man had!!!
And Tante Doreen, a loving mother of four
- graciously welcomed my presence
- with each knock at her door
   
Ralph was more than a brother
- or cousin
- or a teammate playing his role

Practice weekdays
Then Quakes games
on Saturday night

Stopping and scoring
(both girls,
 and some goals)
He always had my back in a fight

I introduce Ralph
- to his bride number one
- and Jana gave us Matthew
- their first born son 

Soon our lives came unwound
- for no fault
- or known cost
So how sweet to reclaim
- a friendship once lost
- to take up again
- where last we'd left off

Not only TalkNsoccer
- we compared, just - how - tough
- to raise sons' n daughters'

We stopped allowing miles
- to stand in the way
- and amidst trials
TOGETHER we'd face
- all that God threw at us

It is - now - His will
- for us NOT
- to just get by

Remember lessons taught?
Or are you still asking why?

Because character
- isn't forged by strife
Your formed by what's caught
- during challenges in life 


So to The Timberwolves and us Lions
- in your pack or our den
- claim victory when
- we compete EVERY TIME
- to honor the memory
of Coach Steinlein

Now let's head back
- and step out on the pitch
Where
- sweat
- spit
- dirt... and tears
- are all in the mix
And send balls heaven bound
... where Ralph roams the sticks 

True Freedoms Neighborhood

His Promise:
We'll DO even Greater than HE!?!
... to the lock shackled mind
      who've yet Eyes that can see
Untrustingly DOing
      when He'd rather we BE

Separated:
Self-reliance
... masks uncertain fear
Known by Spirit-Creator
      The I-AM Dwells HERE

Our Holy Land
Seventh Heaven
True Freedom's neighborhood
... entered joyously by children
     whom choose servitude

Faith in ACTION is trusting
Complete Acceptance bridges both:
The Maker and His Creation
... within thee - thy Holy Host

GRATEFUL

Grateful for this day born
 Stirred awake to early mor'n
Once cut from a mothers cord
 New bonds shapened - take worldly form

Love Struck - maternal - in early years
 Nourished, protected from uncertain fears
Your hand swept-up each fallen tear


Set afoot away from home
 Heading not your plan - life unfolds
At stake the virtue of my soul
 Cleaved away my flesh from bone

Deep inside - a still small voice is heard
 Righted now by your word
Forsaken not by The One
 Reborn anew unto Your Son

Wide is the Gate
 for those who take
a view kaleidoscope

When beliefs are a plenty
  we forsake The One
Who gave all creation hope

The Secret is not innocent
 deception with malintent 
Such wide paths take a great toll
 Ballast shifts within a pure soul



An Examined Life
 reveals through our strife
whom truly worship do we

In times of duress
 I still must confess
The mess I had made out of me



Our Father does know
 in our hearts what we sow
T'was not He alone whom I sought

Neither did I manifest
 prosperity when times seemed best
Seek of He at present I stopped

I gave Him no mind
 let go of the vine
A spiritual malady
 to pursue only salary
And trample upon
 any thought of religion

Pride exclaimed it was all about me...
 

Yet sorrows seasons
 usurps the unreasoned
reduced to meakness was thee

Then He gathered up
  this black sheep amok
our fruit now fallen and bruised

Made Whole - Yes RESTORED
 Pure Love He Outpours
Thank God for Heavens Good News!

UNITED

Windows - Water - Time

I watched and wondered before
~ a window's slice of time
to adventures beyond that seen
~ embrace what could be mine

because reflection felt unclean
~ a certain present, i had not
idealized a future dream
~ fortune, acclaim i sought

I leaned deeper into the sill
~ inner voice a murmur
unwanted thoughts anew grew ill
~ fogging vision further

Along creek beds skipping stones
~ slow waters crystal clear
The quite stirs - unsettles rocks
~ view clouded now through tears

Currents push memories along
~ like the leaves submerge in shallows
Patiently await vision from God
~ whom alone I seek to follow

His narrow path toward us does bend
~ when eyes and thoughts held tall
His creation peace and grace does lend
~ when upon our knees we fall...

TOWARD YOU

Dawn awakens
 Grey skies part
I seek a path
 Unto Your heart

Set upon a path to find
 Surrender from a labyrinth mind
Quieted now I strive to hear
 Your truth and will as I draw near

Toward You as my center
  No longer lost
Oriented now
  By the sight of Your cross

As my journey turns and I twist away
 By faith and grace God's work displayed
Certain only for this day
 Lead me in each step today
Let me hear You Lord - dare I pray
 
A lone carpenter's saw
  cuts my sin of past
A door now heard - suddenly open
 Through it I walk - at long last

Foot steps paced - now open stride
 heart beat pounds
His arms held wide
  In His Glory we'll reside

Let your LOVE for those un-known
 though our live's NOW be shown
Moved us from chaos toward content
 All shining jewels before Your throne


 - Composed at The Stone Labyrinth Walk, 1st Congressional Church San Jose

DEVINE INSTANT


In that moment
 when our eyes met
you've since said
  a plan was set


Two spirits
  Kindred
Chaos
  Survived
a Coupleship entered
  our lives collide


Vows shared
  Tender
Wedding rings
  Exchanged
Trials
  Prevailed
True Love
  Remains


Grace
  Understanding
Patient
  Kind
Passion then contentment
  Loving You
Sublime


Outside ourselves
  beat hearts
a Daughter
  and Son

Two Devine Instants
  Weld our souls into one


Happy Birthday Kitten!

uRloved