One of the most interesting pieces of literature that I came across during the holiday season was a book called WE WERE THERE by Eve Bunting. It is a children's story book that recounts the nativity in the eyes of all these animals that you don't usually see in a nativity story or for the most part in any story. Scorpion, Spider, snake, toad, cockroach. Suffice it to say the undesirable animals in the eyes of many. Anyhow, the following poem is inspired by that book.
The Least of These
I am just a spider
Who spins webs of deceit
Yet, the savior brought me near, me and my eight feet
I do not soar like SpiderMan, I'm often on the ground
While crawling on the dirt and trees
I hear the lovely sound
The least of these, the smallest ,
those who no one wants to see
All those who are unlovable
He loved them from the tree
I am a rat, a vermin
With a fairly longish tail
My list of friends is short, Yet Jesus loves me without fail
The sight of me makes many apt
To scream and run away
But I know He has brought me near
And promises to stay
I am a cock-a-roach and scurrying
Is what I do
Despite my fear, I know there's one
Who loves me through and through
I must admit a light switch
Causes me to run and hide
Yet I rejoice, He's brought me near
And stands right by my side.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Turn Your Ear
This is another song I wrote over the summer for kids at Camp Lone Star. I think I'm going to sing it with the first stanza as a refrain
Turn your Ear(Based on Psalm 88)
Turn your ear to hear my cry
All my strength is gone
Day and night I call to you
You carry me on
Darkness is my closest friend
My eyes cannot see
I call out in morning time
Light the way for me
I am overwhelmed by you
You are everything
I call out with nothing left
Let your mercy sing
I am clinging to your hope
With both hands I strain
I cry out, Lord, be my life
Until I cry again.
Turn your Ear(Based on Psalm 88)
Turn your ear to hear my cry
All my strength is gone
Day and night I call to you
You carry me on
Darkness is my closest friend
My eyes cannot see
I call out in morning time
Light the way for me
I am overwhelmed by you
You are everything
I call out with nothing left
Let your mercy sing
I am clinging to your hope
With both hands I strain
I cry out, Lord, be my life
Until I cry again.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
The Ballad of Stan N. Scola II
Well, here it is one month to the day before Christmas. Wanted to share a Christmas gift with all of you. As I approach Christmas, my favorite part is remembering Jesus' birth. My favorite hymn... The Little Drummer Boy. My wife gets a chuckle whenever I hear the Bob Seger version on the radio. I'm not a drummer, but I often feel the poems/songs I write are my drumbeats that I play for the newborn baby.
The elephant in the room for me at Christmas is often Santa Claus. I am never really certain how helpful this tradition has become, especially in our culture. Anyway, I decided I can't really do much about what St. Nicholas has become good or bad. However, I decided the best thing I can do is put my two cents worth out there about the whole thing.
The Ballad of Stan N. Scola II
The first thing I noticed were boots of black
He propped them up while he ate a snack
In the office of a local mall
He relaxed before his post-lunch call
As I stood with my note pad and studied his face
My thoughts turned to what brought me here to this place…
“There’s some guy at the mall who has been Santa fifty years.
We need a picture and a quote, filled up with Christmas cheer.”
With that my boss showed me the door and sent me on my way
I wasn’t happy, “Santa Claus??” but I had dues to pay.
“Stan N. Scola the Second’s my name, he arose
I suppose that you’re looking for me”
He reached out his hands and he warmly grasped mine
With an openness friendly and free.
He gave me a wink and he bade me sit down
Then offered hot cocoa to drink.
“Just water is fine”, I replied as he smiled
And carried a glass to the sink.
With the holiday crowds waiting outside the door
I knew this dialogue must be quick
So I opened my pen without any ado
And began interviewing Saint Nick.
I pulled out question one, “How long have you been Santa Claus?”
He smiled and took my question in, then after a brief pause,
“I’ve been cast in my favorite role for 50 years this year
I’ve acted at some other malls, but mostly I’ve been here”
I jotted down his answer, took a sip of H2O;
Then once again sought what my readers want or ought to know.
“You say this is your favorite role to play, “Please tell me why.”
He chuckled out a Ho! Ho! Ho! Then started his reply:
“I wondered if you’d catch that line. Your ears must be tuned well.
It’s ‘cause I love the challenge in the tale I have to tell.
You’re confused at what that tale might be. I see it in your face.
I’ll try to clarify this, so your bafflement is chased.
“As a child, I learned of Christmas from a very early age
Of the baby in a manger’s first appearance on this stage. My family sang the carols, acted in the Christmas shows
And worshipped Christmas Eve within a candle-lighted glow.
“But my December memories are strongest of the days
When Dad would don the outfit and perform a Santa Play.
“My Dad, as Santa, told us of the man that he had been
One Nicholas of Myra who lived ‘round the year 310.
He gave up all his money and his days to help the poor
And often brought the things they needed right up to their door.
“ ‘It was my aim each day I walked to give myself away
For I knew Jesus gave himself for me,’ my dad would say.
‘I hope that all my deeds point to our Father who is true
And that my life reminds you that the Savior loves you too.’
Each Christmas upon Christmas, Dad would share with us this tale
And Santa pointed to the cross of Jesus without fail.
“His monologue completed, Dad would stay where we could see,
Then took his costume off and sipped some cocoa by our tree.”
His ending left me with some lines to catch up with my pen.
He sat there fully costumed with a most-contented grin.
Once I was finished writing, He refilled my water cup
Then frowned a bit, “I’m sorry, but it seems my time is up”
I thanked him for the interview. He walked back to his chair.
I took some pictures of him sitting with the children there.
I headed for the exit, but an elf called out my name.
She said, “This is from Santa”. She gave me a candy cane.
“He gives a cane like this to every child that he sees here.
And this handwritten note attached, each child, every year.”
I stashed the candy in my coat
And headed back to write
My story to complete
I’d start my holiday tonight.
I wrote it, and I filed it with ample time to spare
It surely wasn’t my best work, but it was well past fair.
I shut down my computer, “Merry Christmased”, waved goodnight.
Then headed to the airport, for my home-bound red-eye flight.
Before I drifted off to sleep, the plane far off the ground,
I tossed and turned and from my coat, I heard a rustling sound.
I sucked upon his candy cane while sleep approached my head
My eyes lit on the note he’d writ and this is what it said,
“In the spirit of Nicholas, I give this to you.
For he gave in the Spirit of Christ.
I pray that this gift points your heart to the cross,
Where the Lord, paid the ultimate price.”
The elephant in the room for me at Christmas is often Santa Claus. I am never really certain how helpful this tradition has become, especially in our culture. Anyway, I decided I can't really do much about what St. Nicholas has become good or bad. However, I decided the best thing I can do is put my two cents worth out there about the whole thing.
The Ballad of Stan N. Scola II
The first thing I noticed were boots of black
He propped them up while he ate a snack
In the office of a local mall
He relaxed before his post-lunch call
As I stood with my note pad and studied his face
My thoughts turned to what brought me here to this place…
“There’s some guy at the mall who has been Santa fifty years.
We need a picture and a quote, filled up with Christmas cheer.”
With that my boss showed me the door and sent me on my way
I wasn’t happy, “Santa Claus??” but I had dues to pay.
“Stan N. Scola the Second’s my name, he arose
I suppose that you’re looking for me”
He reached out his hands and he warmly grasped mine
With an openness friendly and free.
He gave me a wink and he bade me sit down
Then offered hot cocoa to drink.
“Just water is fine”, I replied as he smiled
And carried a glass to the sink.
With the holiday crowds waiting outside the door
I knew this dialogue must be quick
So I opened my pen without any ado
And began interviewing Saint Nick.
I pulled out question one, “How long have you been Santa Claus?”
He smiled and took my question in, then after a brief pause,
“I’ve been cast in my favorite role for 50 years this year
I’ve acted at some other malls, but mostly I’ve been here”
I jotted down his answer, took a sip of H2O;
Then once again sought what my readers want or ought to know.
“You say this is your favorite role to play, “Please tell me why.”
He chuckled out a Ho! Ho! Ho! Then started his reply:
“I wondered if you’d catch that line. Your ears must be tuned well.
It’s ‘cause I love the challenge in the tale I have to tell.
You’re confused at what that tale might be. I see it in your face.
I’ll try to clarify this, so your bafflement is chased.
“As a child, I learned of Christmas from a very early age
Of the baby in a manger’s first appearance on this stage. My family sang the carols, acted in the Christmas shows
And worshipped Christmas Eve within a candle-lighted glow.
“But my December memories are strongest of the days
When Dad would don the outfit and perform a Santa Play.
“My Dad, as Santa, told us of the man that he had been
One Nicholas of Myra who lived ‘round the year 310.
He gave up all his money and his days to help the poor
And often brought the things they needed right up to their door.
“ ‘It was my aim each day I walked to give myself away
For I knew Jesus gave himself for me,’ my dad would say.
‘I hope that all my deeds point to our Father who is true
And that my life reminds you that the Savior loves you too.’
Each Christmas upon Christmas, Dad would share with us this tale
And Santa pointed to the cross of Jesus without fail.
“His monologue completed, Dad would stay where we could see,
Then took his costume off and sipped some cocoa by our tree.”
His ending left me with some lines to catch up with my pen.
He sat there fully costumed with a most-contented grin.
Once I was finished writing, He refilled my water cup
Then frowned a bit, “I’m sorry, but it seems my time is up”
I thanked him for the interview. He walked back to his chair.
I took some pictures of him sitting with the children there.
I headed for the exit, but an elf called out my name.
She said, “This is from Santa”. She gave me a candy cane.
“He gives a cane like this to every child that he sees here.
And this handwritten note attached, each child, every year.”
I stashed the candy in my coat
And headed back to write
My story to complete
I’d start my holiday tonight.
I wrote it, and I filed it with ample time to spare
It surely wasn’t my best work, but it was well past fair.
I shut down my computer, “Merry Christmased”, waved goodnight.
Then headed to the airport, for my home-bound red-eye flight.
Before I drifted off to sleep, the plane far off the ground,
I tossed and turned and from my coat, I heard a rustling sound.
I sucked upon his candy cane while sleep approached my head
My eyes lit on the note he’d writ and this is what it said,
“In the spirit of Nicholas, I give this to you.
For he gave in the Spirit of Christ.
I pray that this gift points your heart to the cross,
Where the Lord, paid the ultimate price.”
Thursday, November 1, 2007
I'm Thankful
This summer past(since Houston has had almost a week of quasi-Fall weather, I can refer to the summer as past), I wrote lyrics for numerous kids from our church who went to camp. The lyrics were sent to them while they were at camp, and one of the staff guys there added music to them, to create a souvenir of the camp trip. The following lyrics were one of this batch of songs. It seems appropriate to me to post it here as we begin November.
I’m thankful that our Lord became a man
I’m thankful that He was a babe who learned to crawl and stand
If He had never come here, this song might as well not be
I’m thankful He was born for you and me
I’m thankful that He died upon a cross
I’m thankful that He somehow took for us the biggest loss
If He had never suffered, this song might as well not be
I’m thankful that He died for you and me.
I’m thankful that our Lord is dead no more
I’m thankful that He opened up and walked right through that door
If He had never risen, this song might as well not be
I’m thankful that He rose for you and me.
I’m thankful that our Lord became a man
I’m thankful that He was a babe who learned to crawl and stand
If He had never come here, this song might as well not be
I’m thankful He was born for you and me
I’m thankful that He died upon a cross
I’m thankful that He somehow took for us the biggest loss
If He had never suffered, this song might as well not be
I’m thankful that He died for you and me.
I’m thankful that our Lord is dead no more
I’m thankful that He opened up and walked right through that door
If He had never risen, this song might as well not be
I’m thankful that He rose for you and me.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Drink of Him addendum
Previously I posted Drink Of Him, which includes the line "Bring A Red Canoe"...which is a line I put in there because it was written with Camp Lone Star in mind. They have red canoes there. I got to thinking about that line and the possibility of an alternate lyric. Specifically, "bring a worn out shoe." Definitely a worn out shoe is less appealing to drink out of than just about anything else mentioned in the song. However, the beauty of drinking the living water of Christ is that He makes whatever vessel we bring to Him a great cup from which to drink. That logic clinches it: "bring a worn out shoe" is now officially an alternate lyric to Drink Of Him.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Drink Of Him
The following lyrics were written during the summer of 2007. A guy in Austin wrote a melody to use with them at Camp Lone Star in LaGrange, Texas during that summer. I've put together my own melody to it as well. It lends itself to a Power Point presentation. I actually created one to use whenever I lead it as part of our church's confirmation class. If you are interested let me know.
Drink of Him
Bring a jug, bring a pitcher
Bring a slurpee cup
Fill what you have to the brim
Bring a glass, bring a pail
Come and fill it up
Drink, drink, drink of him
CHORUSHis water is overflowing
His grace is spilling out
It’s a creek, It’s a river, It’s a great big lake
Take a drink and shout
Bring a straw, bring a bottle
Bring an old coke can
Fill what you have to the brim
Give your barrel, give your thimble
To the Waterman
And Drink, Drink, drink of Him
Bring a pot, bring a pan
Bring a tablespoon
Fill what you have to the brim
Grab a few friends, bring a big lagoon
Drink, drink, drink of Him
Bring a jar, bring a bowl
Bring a cistern, too
Fill what you have to the brim
Bring a five gallon bucket
Bring a red canoe
Drink, drink, drink of Him
Drink of Him
Bring a jug, bring a pitcher
Bring a slurpee cup
Fill what you have to the brim
Bring a glass, bring a pail
Come and fill it up
Drink, drink, drink of him
CHORUSHis water is overflowing
His grace is spilling out
It’s a creek, It’s a river, It’s a great big lake
Take a drink and shout
Bring a straw, bring a bottle
Bring an old coke can
Fill what you have to the brim
Give your barrel, give your thimble
To the Waterman
And Drink, Drink, drink of Him
Bring a pot, bring a pan
Bring a tablespoon
Fill what you have to the brim
Grab a few friends, bring a big lagoon
Drink, drink, drink of Him
Bring a jar, bring a bowl
Bring a cistern, too
Fill what you have to the brim
Bring a five gallon bucket
Bring a red canoe
Drink, drink, drink of Him
Friday, September 28, 2007
Another Rich Fool?
I've mentioned previously a bible study on the Parables of Jesus. This week (9/30) we are looking at the Parable of the Rich Fool. It is in Luke, chapter 12. The following has somewhat come from looking at and thinking about that parable. If it is a song, it would be in the Springsteen sense. For example, Wreck on the Highway(some Springsteen fans may know that song), where it is just some seemingly common occurence made into a song.
Another Rich Fool?
An Autumn day in Texas, a Thursday afternoon
With lunchtime in my belly...
Is my nap coming soon?
Up at the light, a man is hungry
At least, so says his sign
My eyes avoid and glance down at the doggy bag of mine.
His barns were filled to full. His silo's lid could hold no more.
He settled in to rest
He had it all within his door.
I passed right by at ten to one, at least my body did.
The window of my car stayed closed
As did my boxed food lid
If he's hungry, he deserves it, the debate began to wage
You have far more than you need, the opposition took the stage.
His barns were filled to full. His silo's lid could hold no more.
He settled in to rest
He had it all within his door.
My foot propelled me homeward
The hunger drew me back
I wanted to keep going---
He needed my backtrack
Here comes the turn which I can take to go back to that sign.
Or straight I can continue holding on to what is mine.
His barns were filled to full. His silo's lid could hold no more.
He settled in to rest
He had it all within his door.
Another Rich Fool?
An Autumn day in Texas, a Thursday afternoon
With lunchtime in my belly...
Is my nap coming soon?
Up at the light, a man is hungry
At least, so says his sign
My eyes avoid and glance down at the doggy bag of mine.
His barns were filled to full. His silo's lid could hold no more.
He settled in to rest
He had it all within his door.
I passed right by at ten to one, at least my body did.
The window of my car stayed closed
As did my boxed food lid
If he's hungry, he deserves it, the debate began to wage
You have far more than you need, the opposition took the stage.
His barns were filled to full. His silo's lid could hold no more.
He settled in to rest
He had it all within his door.
My foot propelled me homeward
The hunger drew me back
I wanted to keep going---
He needed my backtrack
Here comes the turn which I can take to go back to that sign.
Or straight I can continue holding on to what is mine.
His barns were filled to full. His silo's lid could hold no more.
He settled in to rest
He had it all within his door.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Priceless Prize
Recently, I've been part of a Bible Study on Sunday mornings at Gethsemane Lutheran Church led by Kenneth Koehl. We have been looking at the parables for the last six weeks. Next week's lesson(September 23) is on the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin found in Luke 15:1-10. This song was written on the swing in our backyard after reading the parable and the lesson for Sunday.
Reading these parables reminded me of a story I wrote when I was in Japan(1992-95). It told about a man who lost his coin under a vending machine(Vending machines seemed to be omni-present there...I even saw a few places where you could buy beef in a vending machine) and the lengths he went to to get it back. If I remember correctly, the story was translated by a member of the church where I worked-Shirone Lutheran Christian Church- and run in the national Lutheran Church's newsletter.
Feel free to translate the following as necessary...
Chords and melodies avaialable on request.
PRICELESS PRIZE
Seven million dollars in a great big sack
Nine diamond rings in a fanny pack
An Honus Wagner baseball card from way back when
A folder full of stocks you purchase now and then
Put them all together add a cup of milk
Stir ‘em up in a hat
Pull ‘em out and add ‘em up
A hundred times
You’re still worth more than that.
MY HAND WILL REACH OUT TO YOU
WHENEVER YOU TURN AWAY
I HAVE GIVEN EVERYTHING
SO THAT YOU CAN STAY…
RIGHT BESIDE ME, WALK WITH ME
NO MATTER YOUR SHOE SIZE
FOR WHEN I LOOK AT YOU, MY CHILD
I SEE A PRICELESS PRIZE
The vase that you were given by your mother’s aunt
A circus with a least a dozen elephants
The guitar on which Hendrix first played “Purple Haze”
A manuscript of one of Shakespeare’s early plays
Put them all together add a cup of milk
Stir ‘em up in a hat
Pull ‘em out and add ‘em up
A hundred times
You’re still worth more than that.
CHORUS
A mansion in the mountains with a heated pool
An education from the nation’s finest schools
A Lamborghini Countach that’s brand spanking new
A dairy farm with several hundred cows that moo.
Put them all together add a cup of milk
Stir ‘em up in a hat
Pull ‘em out and add ‘em up
A hundred times
You’re still worth more than that.
CHORUS
Reading these parables reminded me of a story I wrote when I was in Japan(1992-95). It told about a man who lost his coin under a vending machine(Vending machines seemed to be omni-present there...I even saw a few places where you could buy beef in a vending machine) and the lengths he went to to get it back. If I remember correctly, the story was translated by a member of the church where I worked-Shirone Lutheran Christian Church- and run in the national Lutheran Church's newsletter.
Feel free to translate the following as necessary...
Chords and melodies avaialable on request.
PRICELESS PRIZE
Seven million dollars in a great big sack
Nine diamond rings in a fanny pack
An Honus Wagner baseball card from way back when
A folder full of stocks you purchase now and then
Put them all together add a cup of milk
Stir ‘em up in a hat
Pull ‘em out and add ‘em up
A hundred times
You’re still worth more than that.
MY HAND WILL REACH OUT TO YOU
WHENEVER YOU TURN AWAY
I HAVE GIVEN EVERYTHING
SO THAT YOU CAN STAY…
RIGHT BESIDE ME, WALK WITH ME
NO MATTER YOUR SHOE SIZE
FOR WHEN I LOOK AT YOU, MY CHILD
I SEE A PRICELESS PRIZE
The vase that you were given by your mother’s aunt
A circus with a least a dozen elephants
The guitar on which Hendrix first played “Purple Haze”
A manuscript of one of Shakespeare’s early plays
Put them all together add a cup of milk
Stir ‘em up in a hat
Pull ‘em out and add ‘em up
A hundred times
You’re still worth more than that.
CHORUS
A mansion in the mountains with a heated pool
An education from the nation’s finest schools
A Lamborghini Countach that’s brand spanking new
A dairy farm with several hundred cows that moo.
Put them all together add a cup of milk
Stir ‘em up in a hat
Pull ‘em out and add ‘em up
A hundred times
You’re still worth more than that.
CHORUS
WHERE I BELONG
The following song was written as part of a curriculum for pre-confirmation retreats held in September and October 2007 by Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas. The theme for the retreat was WHERE I BELONG centered on the Bible verse, Romans 1:6. The three basic points of the Bible Studies and Devotions also reflected in this theme song were: 1) Jesus is calling me because he loves me, 2) He is calling me to belong to Him, 3) He is calling me and longs to make me the best I can be...
Chords and melody are available if you contact me...
WHERE I BELONG
Where I’m beloved is
Where I belong is
Where I long to be
I am beloved to
Him I belong He’s
Everything to me
When I am awake, asleep
I am always on His mind
Wherever I’m hiding
He will always seek to find
When I’m joyful, He is too
When I’m glad, He gives a cheer
When I’m lost He holds my hand
When I’m sad He sheds a tear.
Refrain
He has given everything,
Given all good things to me
Brought me near made me one of His
I am in His family
All I have I offer Him
To Him all my days belong
I will keep my eyes on Him
While He makes my life His song
Refrain
Chords and melody are available if you contact me...
WHERE I BELONG
Where I’m beloved is
Where I belong is
Where I long to be
I am beloved to
Him I belong He’s
Everything to me
When I am awake, asleep
I am always on His mind
Wherever I’m hiding
He will always seek to find
When I’m joyful, He is too
When I’m glad, He gives a cheer
When I’m lost He holds my hand
When I’m sad He sheds a tear.
Refrain
He has given everything,
Given all good things to me
Brought me near made me one of His
I am in His family
All I have I offer Him
To Him all my days belong
I will keep my eyes on Him
While He makes my life His song
Refrain
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