I am not necessarily endorsing the book, since I've never read it.

No Mail Today

car accident on the way home

glad i missed that one

mother crossing the street
making sure her children are safe
a dead dog lies on the side of the road

hmm i wonder if that's the one

on the missing dog posters?

there's the guy that runs

every night after work

what is he running from anyway?

hope i miss the red light this time

then i won't have to look

in that homeless man's face again

probably spend the money on beer anyway

if i was thoughtful i could of at least brought a sandwich

oh boy, my car is filthy

but it's too late to go to the car wash

maybe i could pay the homeless man to wash it

nah too much trouble

i'll just go home, get the mail

like i always do

wait, it's a holiday

which one is it? oh yeah

Veteran's Day

i almost forgot

11/13/10

Copyright © 2010

Written in remembrance (a little late) of the freedom we have been given to live lives that allow us to think of mundane things while others live or have lived days/years wondering if they had another minute to live.

I don't know how you feel ... but I feel sunshine

How can I ever know

How can I ever see

the depths

the love

haunting me

like the sunshine

warming my face

I smile at your presence

and I never want to

leave this place

but your warmth

is not for me

the sun is for the world

your beauty

is for all to see

CHORUS:

but I don't know

what it feels like

to be you

to be you

maybe someday

I could be like

the moon

reflecting your sunshine

showing your grace

maybe I'm in love

with your pain

that makes me

feel

a thousand sad days

forgiven

maybe it's that smile

that lights the stars

that gives twinkle

to the eyes

of the blind

CHORUS:

but I don't know

what it feels like

to be you

to be you

10-15-10

"Las Vegas logs 5 murder-suicides -- in two weeks!"

This is the title I read tonight from a news article. I am tired of reading headlines like this. It seems it is almost everyday that I read or hear about a killing locally or nationwide. What sadness and hopelessness people must be facing to murder and then take their own life! Life is precious and God-given. The devil goes about destroying, seeking whom he may devour. I find myself throwing pity parties and stressing over life, yet I have the Lord of Life living within my soul. People are truly hopeless without God. Why do I crawl back to the same pit of sorrow? Why do I not hold the rope of hope, held by faith and the grace of God? We have a hope that is sure. We have a tower to run to that will not move. As David told himself, "Soul, hope in God!". Maybe we need to tell ourselves to quit focusing on our troubles and to "hope in God!". Our flesh wants to take comfort in covetousness, hobbies, music, food, etc. etc. We worship at the altar of ourselves, confessing ourselves as gods. Oh Father, forgive us! Lay hold on our hearts once again and rend the heavens. Pour down your mercy like rain. Let Your Holy Spirit blow upon Your people and revive us once again! We face many dangers, but the most difficult is our old man. We are born again and no longer are chained to sins leading to death. The chains are broken and He holds the key. Be not bound again with chains of this world. Look to Freedom and Live! We truly are murderers at heart, but You have given us a new heart! Save our Souls. This world is dying. Our hearts are sighing. People are crying and we focus on our own tears. Give us power through Your Word to help the helpless. We are helpless O Lord. You are our Helper. Help us that we may help them. Change us that we may change this world. Blessed is the nation who's God is the Lord. Take back our nation O God. Let us be under Your reign once again. Let us have life, liberty and happiness as we seek to glorify the God of the Universe. Sin brings death. Your law brings life. Let Your Word Reign.

It's been 12 years

This is before we got married. Allison hasn't changed much. I like to think I look more "distinguished".

Love Provident

Twins at birth
one grips the sword
one embraces the shield
one pulls the bow
one plucks the harp
freedom matures
bearing a dynasty
building towers
rising to Hope
laying bridges
bowing to Peace

8-12-10


Copyright © 2010

Awakened Soul

i saw the universe
for the first time
as if i was there
the day of creation
when all was black
i now see the heavens
for you have created life
let worlds collide
for i have seen the beginning
and i am ready for the end

7-8-10

Copyright © 2010

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

his mind is pagan
yet he thinks himself a god
he speaks fluent animosity
but to him it is eloquence
his hands are blood stained
but to him it's only a color
he drowns the innocent
yet only sees his reflection
there is no need to defend
for the mirror will be his end

7/18/10

Copyright © 2010

Face the Nation

sign of the times of normality

bleeding in the dreams of reality

won't you sit down and have tea with me

cheers to us living and dying free

breathin' in freedom like a drug of choice

playing the card of a restricted voice

tied to the pole of the northern ice

tombs of the fallen who paid the price

running up debt from a perplexing view

endless pit from red China accrue

Russia envisions no dollar standard

U.S. deserving of being financially slandered

our children are bound to face a nation

one of taking arms or escaping as a vocation

unless we stand like Liberty herself

and take our heritage back off that dusty shelf

7/15/10


Copyright © 2010

.38 Caliber

spin the cylinder
cock the hammer
slow pressure
building
six reasons
to quit
six reasons
to stay

7-8-10

Copyright © 2010

Sunflower and Spring

Sunflower

Wilting Sunflower
From days gone by
Slowly reminding
Of the fall to come

Snow covers
Holding it down
Yielding to sacrifice
of all

What comes forth
Shall be seen…
Spring will
Come again.



I wrote Sunflower in the midst of some personal struggles.
Several months later my daughter wrote a poem called "Spring" that absolutely cheered my heart (and still does). It makes me happy every time I read it.

Spring

Flowers bloom
Leaves bud
Spring is finally here

I hear the birds
As if they're trying
to shout "Hooray!"

Green grass
Green leaves
They all seem happy

Copyright © 2009

Lyrics

I feel it
You don’t
You Analyze
I familiarize
Antagonize
For what I perceive
The flow
The jive
It’s groovy man
Sensations
Unexplainable
Your emotions
Are black and white
Like day and night
You explain away
I feel

6-19-10

Copyright © 2010

World Cup - World Peace or World War? (A creative writing submission)

I don’t like wars, because people have to die. However, I do like swordplay and shooting guns. Maybe if our soldiers were trained to stab and shoot so as not to kill, then I would like wars better. These would truly be elite soldiers. Although, we would need to enlist a lot more nurses and doctors and I really don’t think we have enough…so I guess they would die anyway. Some desire to die by the sword, but most die from cancer. What if we just had nurses and doctors carry guns?

One war I can say I like hands down is Star Wars. Maybe it’s because these wars are fought in another galaxy so far away that it almost seems unreal. This brings up the question of using Drones. Are we OK with killing people from a video screen? Have we been desensitized by video games and movies that it doesn’t seem real. This is a serious subject and I’ll leave this conversation alone for now.

Star Wars is good, because you are killing robots most of the time and we all know what happened in the final Terminator movie. We must bring the war to them before they take over. However, I think we should let C3PO and R2D2 live, as long as we came up with a good contract for them to sign. This would prevent them from ever developing a Union of robots. Our President is for Unions, so I think secretly he is for a robot nation.

I know some of you are thinking, “but they do shoot humans in Star Wars”. However, you forgot one important part in the movie…these are drones. So the real question is, should we shoot drones? Are they real people? Maybe we call our unmanned killing machines drones to desensitize us for drone people that Obama is creating at this moment on some planet no longer in our solar system records. Remember the key is to look for gravitational pull.

The other good part about Star Wars is the Force. You might have never thought about this, but the Force allows us to manipulate machines and we might need to do this someday. Machines cannot use the Force and this would give us the upper hand. The thought that keeps me up at night is if machines ever learned how to manipulate the Force through some unknown mathematical equation that we never thought possible. But I guess we will never know the answer and I am afraid to even ask this question of a machine, less they figure out the answer. Because you know machines always think they have the answer and when they don’t, they either explode or develop server farms with Google to store all information in the world to eventually come up with a solution to rule the world.

Soon about half the world will be watching the World Cup. I think machines have already figured out that this is the best time to take over the world. Most people would let the machines begin their uprising as long as they could still watch the game on TV. The machines would know that the United States is the only nation that would be aware of their surroundings during this time, so I believe they would start their mutiny in Brazil or maybe South Africa. But honestly I have no idea what countries are most involved in Football, because I’m from America. Americans pretend to be interested by calling a game you usually use your hands as “Football” and the game you must always use your foot as “Soccer”. Maybe this is why we tackle, to get our frustration out that the rest of the world doesn’t consider our game “Football”. Perhaps we thought we could trick the rest of the world into believing that we love “Football” just like they do. Did you ever notice we don’t have “Football” moms in America and only “Soccer” moms? That’s because women are the ones who will bring peace and they would never offend the rest of the world by being a “Football” mom when in reality they hate Soccer.

At any rate, I think the World Cup will bring either world peace or world war someday. My secret mission is to get machines to enjoy Soccer…I mean Football. I just hope I don’t mess up and have to go back into the future to fix everything, because it’s embarrassing traveling naked.


6/12/10

Copyright © 2010

Hello Again

Hey, I've actually been writing a lot of poetry, but just haven't been posting them. I wasn't sure if my Company was going to post my blog address in their quarterly magazine, so I've been sort of hanging around. If they did post my blog, I was going to gear it more evangelistically. My Company did do a full-page insert on my Haiti trip, but did not include the blog address. Please pray the Lord will use the story of this trip to further His purposes.
At any rate, I am planning on posting again more frequently. Check back more often. Hope you like the new layout.

Brian

Legend of the Knight

The knife awakens his mind

to emerge a sharper man

Weapons of fate that seal his destiny

Walking bloody paths

Fossilizing footprints

Leading to the way of the warrior

Fighting his own sins

Singleness of mind

Strategizing the movements

Of his chosen opponents

Desperately wanting to die

At the reflection of his sword

6-11-10

Copyright © 2010

Is Everything Ones and Zeros?

This is a very long and probably a boring segment to most of you. However, I would encourage you to listen from 3:36 to 7:51 and if you are really brave then on through 12:35. I think it shows how this concept that all things are information only invites more questions that point to our insignificance and a necessity that there must have been an original Creation. I do believe that all things contain information that points to our Creator. As a physicist and author, the man in the video (Vlatko Vedral) does have a humbleness about him that I appreciate.
This sort of helped me to meditate again on the fact that God cannot be figured out. If we could (which is an insane assumption) understand God, then He would not be God. A finite man trying to understand an infinite God who created man's existence and continually sustains him, well the notion is absurd is it not!? Even though He allows us to obtain more information that points to His reality, it seems to only bring more questions. Our brains could literally be driven crazy if it weren't for faith and hope. Some people simply refuse to believe based upon the fact they can't understand or answer a question. I believe that God is infinite, omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. My heart and mind except this and thus all questions are siphoned through these realities bringing peace by not allowing mere questions to take precedence.

I want to add that I don't promote everything Mr. Vedral says. He has created an excuse in his mind (randomness) to explain what his mind does not understand, thus allowing for the creation of laws. I more or less find this intriguing, because it gives you an insight into how the mind works when it cannot understand something. I find myself many times looking for an answer to satisfy my questions. When in reality the answer I am looking for can become of higher importance that the reality I already know. I must let my mind rest in the fact the our Creator has infinite wisdom. I am a child trying to understand ways that are so far above my ways that a thousand lifetimes would not be enough to calculate the realities. 

Is this not also what we do for our sin? We are masterful at coming up with reasons to allow our flesh to obtain what it wants. We create in our minds a reality that allows us to be comfortable with breaking God's laws. This is exactly what the minds of those who deny God attempt to do. Those who believe in God and original creation of all things, find these "creations" that men come up with to explain a universe without God, as foolishness. Thus a simple man is more wise than the smartest man on earth. The smart man creates an alternative universe that looks absurd to those who believe in the universe of reality. "Professing themselves to be wise they become fools".

THE PATIENCE OF FAITH - Oswald Chambers

Because thou hast kept the word of My patience.

Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says - "I cannot stand any more." God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. For what have you need of patience just now? Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him."

Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him. Shipwreck occurs where there is not that mental poise which comes from being established on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the heroic effort of your life, you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God.

God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of those spots in Jesus Christ's life, and there are to be none in ours. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee." The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvellous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.

Revelation 3:10

Shane just returned from his third trip to Haiti a couple weeks ago. He is compiling video from all three trips to be used in a video in the future. Check out a clip that he recently posted. Voodoo Priest Converted

Reverse

A friend sent this video. You must watch it to the end. Very powerful. This is the same concept as my True Winter Solstice poem.

Here is a second video from another ministry I've been following. I am hopeful that through these orphans a new and better nation will arise.

Rescue Haiti's Children: Haiti's Orphans Get a Mountain-Top Memorial Service For Their Parents from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

One Cup of Rice Water Does Matter

Thursday night on the way home from work I got hit with a sickness. It hit me like a ton of bricks. As soon as I arrived home and turned the car off it began. My teeth started to chatter. I thought maybe I had gotten use to the heat in the car after traveling an hour from work. I opened the car door and walked to the house. I became so cold I could barely stand it. I shook uncontrollably. My teeth chattered even harder. I felt like I just fell through ice into a freezing lake. My chest tightened up and I could barely breath. I grabbed my heaviest winter coat (and believe me it is about the heaviest you can find...I am originally from Michigan you know). I had a hard time just putting it on, I was shaking so badly. My breathing became more pronounced like I had been running a marathon. Thank God my winter hat was in my coat pocket. I put that on and the thick hood from my coat over that. This seemed to do nothing. I grabbed two heavy comforter blankets and laid on the couch. My wife got another pair of socks and put them over the pair I already had on. It seemed like eternity, (but must have been 2 hours I laid there) teeth chattering...cherishing each breath of air. My teeth finally stopped chattering and my body was exhausted. After making all the necessary preparations for missing work the next day, I immediately fell asleep. I basically only awoke to go the bathroom or try to drink chicken broth for the next 24 hours. My wife diligently looked for ways to help. She found some kind of concoction out of her trusty health remedy book and asked me if I wanted to try it. It took a lot of strength just to say "yes" in agreement (this is no exaggeration). I won't go into details, but I visited the bathroom frequently in that 24hrs and had probably lost all nutrients that would give me any kind of strength. (OK Don't lose me now, this story does have a very good point). My wife put together her rice water concoction and I mustered the strength to take a few sips. This was the turning point. I've never felt anything like it. I literally could feel my body absorb the nutrients from this "magic" potion.

I thought about that first day I noticed my wife at college. I would go to breakfast most mornings as soon as the doors would open for the campus meals. There would usually be maybe 5 to 10 other people throughout all the campus that would be willing to go that early to eat a campus breakfast. One of those people was my future wife sitting there several tables away, with a guy friend of hers. She had the best posture I had ever seen and I think I even remember pointing that out to a friend of mine one morning at breakfast. There was something very intriguing about her and I could not deny her long red/brown/blond hair was about the most beautiful I had ever seen. Little did I know that years later I would be laying on a couch and she would be giving me a drink to save my life. (OK that one might be a little exaggerated) So maybe my wife put something else in this concoction of hers? : )

This was the beginning to my recovery, although it took another 24 hrs just to have enough strength to actually get up without it being a huge task. I really appreciated my wife helping me in any way she could to make me comfortable. I was so dependent and desperate for help that even one glass of her rice water concoction made a difference. This got me thinking about those in Haiti. They got hit suddenly with a disaster that caused them to be dependent and desperate like never before. I couldn't shake this thought of how desperate they must have become. Do you remember being this sick or desperate? Remember how much just a small glass of apple juice or soup was so important and appreciative? That one cup of rice water did matter to me! I will never forget it. So to, others who are in desperate need will not forget. One act of kindness will not go unappreciated! Better yet, the God of Heaven says, "Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".

We are so blessed here in America that I think it is hard for us to contemplate the importance of one glass of water. Remember the next time you are sick and think about how important that help is. Additionally, when you drink your next glass of water or eat your next meal think about how precious that would be to someone else. I am still recovering from my sickness and am thinking about how nice it would be to eat a meal. Don't wait until you're sick to contemplate the same thing. Think of the most desperate times in your life. Maybe it is was a sickness, a death, a disease, or some other tragedy. One cup of rice water does make a difference. One cup of rice water does matter.

It happens to be my mother's birthday today. I must say that she has given me that "one cup of rice water" many times and I have never forgotten. I have seen my Mom do this for many other people too, without ever getting much in return. Thank you Mom. I love you and have a Happy Birthday!

No More

Three drips of blood
Fall to the ground
Red eyes and broken hearts
College applications and new starts

Rice and beans
Are precious things
Dirt pies and cloudy skies
Smell of death and swarms of flies

People leaving
They’ve done their part
They’ve quenched the thirst
Within their heart

I gave something
Is what they say
Now let me live
For it’s another day

It’s too much effort
To sacrifice more
I have to build bigger barns
To put more in store

What can I do
When the cable bill is due
The internet and electric
The gas and ooh ooh…I just remembered
There’s a steak on the grill

Sorry I have to go
I have to entertain my friends
Send me some pictures
Some ideas you recommend

Maybe later
when I have more time to spare
And I can save some more money
Give me time to prepare

Meanwhile the blood keeps dripping
And rain falls to the ground
Staining the applications
Of children who have drowned

2-20-10

Copyright © 2010 Brian Jackson All rights reserved

This is not directed at anyone, but it is written in the hope that we don't forget. I don't think we should feel guilty if we eat food or buy things that those who are poor may not be able to. There will always be great needs in this world. We are very spoiled here in America and sometimes I think we need to step back and remember how blessed we are. We do have plenty to spare. I am not only talking about money. We have been given much...let's give like it. "To whom much is given, much is required."

I Will

I will pose a question

I love you

I will write a sentence

I love you

I will feel a feeling

I love you

I will deny my feelings

I love you

I will state a paradox

I love you

I will say a statement

I love you

I will be silent

I love you

I will hold your hand

I love you

I will push away

I love you

I will tell the truth

I love you

I will endure pain

I love you

I will die

I love you



And this is love…I will

For love is action

Love is a choice

And this is my choice
To love you


And I will


2/18/10

Copyright © 2010 Brian Jackson All rights reserved

A Mother's Love - A Son's New Beginning

Rescue Haiti's Children: The Rescue of an Orphan from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

Please at least watch this video beginning at 3:30

Haiti Blog

If you would like to see a thorough review of the Haiti trip, please check out Shane Ison's blog. I haven't really shared much info., but Shane is very good about remembering and communicating details.
http://shaneison.wordpress.com/
Shane and his wife Crystal have done a great job of blogging the trip. More importantly they are keeping everyone up to date with the developments and communications from Christian brothers abroad.
Please continue to pray and give as the Lord leads.

ARE YOU READY TO BE OFFERED?

I have been contemplating as of late my position in life...even more so, after returning from Haiti. My personal temptation is not as much to increase in power or make a lot of money, but rather that I do exactly the thing it is that I want to do. I believe it's alright to work to be in a particular position that you desire, but maybe God has other plans. He has an eternal view. He may want us to be unnoticed, maybe ridiculed, or perhaps even persecuted. It pleased God to bruise His own Son. Why then would He not do the same to you and I? If God did not bruise His Son, then where would we be? We can not see into the future, but if God so chose to bruise us what eternal changes would this bring? How does this help those around us and generations to come? It may even please our Father to not show us any reasons for the path we trod. Would this not take a deeper more committed faith? What about our Haiti brothers and sisters that may struggle their whole life only to die in the same condition? The second we die, these questions will no longer matter...for then we will see Christ. All things will be revealed in God's timing. He is the Story Writer and each person has their part to play, even though they may not agree. Why would an ant question the destruction of a piece of land? He only sees what is happening in his little world. The destruction may be to build a beautiful building, but the ant would never understand or care. We are the building of God. He may choose to tear us down, but is it not to build up a beautiful building? All things work together for good to those who love God right? Maybe our problem is our idea of beauty and our temporal earthly mindset. Like the ant, many times we only see what's around us. Many times the struggle is because we think we must understand something before we can except it. The Christian life is not of sight and it is not of blindness, but it is of faith. We see God! This is not a blind faith! For though we may stumble, though we may not see clearly, we are held and guided along by the hand of God. Lay aside our doubts. Lay aside our demands. Lay on the altar. Are we ready to be offered? After contemplating these thoughts, I "happened" to read the following quote from Oswald Chambers....


ARE YOU READY TO BE OFFERED?

Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.

Are you willing to be offered for the work of the faithful - to pour out your life blood as a libation on the sacrifice of the faith of others? Or do you say - "I am not going to be offered up just yet, I do not want God to choose my work. I want to choose the scenery of my own sacrifice; I want to have the right kind of people watching and saying, 'Well done.'

It is one thing to go on the lonely way with dignified heroism, but quite another thing if the line mapped out for you by God means being a door-mat under other people's feet. Suppose God wants to teach you to say, "I know how to be abased" - are you ready to be offered up like that? Are you ready to be not so much as a drop in a bucket - to be so hopelessly insignificant that you are never thought of again in connection with the life you served? Are you willing to spend and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work and remain saints because it is beneath their dignity.

Philippians 2:17

Live and Let Die

Words that poor(I spelled it this way on purpose)on paper are rich in emotion, yet fall to the ground. How can I hug you in words? How can I express emotions that need to be screamed or touched? AHHHHHHH!! Do you feel my frustration? : ) Even AHHHHH! can be taken in so many different ways. I do like that words can be interpreted in different ways by different people and thus the intrigue of poetry I suppose. However, sometimes you want to smack someone in the face with the exact words and emotion you intend to give. To some point I'm sick of words. It's like saying and not doing, like teaching and not living. Words are important, but if you can't feel the expression then what profit does it have? Intellect is not enough. Maybe this is why we need to be a living word. Take it in and spread it out. Live it. I guess I'm venting a little bit with the frustration of not being able to express in words the thoughts of my heart. Maybe if you come by I can just give you a hug, but then I have to explain what that hug meant right? The closest I think a person can come to expressing true emotions is through music and lyrics. I pray the Lord leads me to someone who can help in this manner. Someone who could express exactly what I attempt to convey only in word. Music transcends the mind and reaches the emotion like no other media. Maybe someone out there can help me? I am busting at the seems desiring to express in ways beyond a written word. At any rate, here is a writing that poorly expresses emotion that needs to be felt and heard. This is written from the perspective of true love. This is not written with any particular person in mind, but rather for humanity as a whole. Love that should be given to friends, family, and even foes. Love looks for the success of the one loved. Love is the embodiment of self-denial. Well I won't go on, just read I Cor. 13. One of the most difficult things for me to say is "I love you". With this comes a commitment of extreme proportions. If you truly mean that you love, then you must be willing to embrace the costs of love...even to the point of death. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lays down his life for his friend. This is beyond a simple emotion and must come from Love Itself. Consider the next time you say "I love you" and hold your tongue if it is a selfish, shallow or temporary love. Ah!..and my God said and meant "I love you"! He expressed this love in the living Word. Forgive me as I express in word an ill attempt at love.

Can you set aside your thoughts
just for a moment?
Set aside your problems
Set aside your worries
Set aside your fears
There is no tomorrow
but this moment right here
No other time to consider
but now
in this moment
Can you feel it?
This moment of release?

Hold this moment
Don’t let it go
I have something
to tell you
Hold your breath
and take this in
Nothing else to consider
but these words…
I
Love
You
yes…
I Love You
Absorb this into your soul
This is true
and I will show you, my friend

Don’t let this moment go yet
I need you to understand
Don’t back away in fear
Don’t put up your fences
Don’t consider ulterior motives
I mean this with all my heart
I may not be able to show you
enough to convince you
but someday the time may come
and yes
I will die for you.
I will die for you
and then you will understand
I will have no hesitation
I will embrace the moment
for this is the opportunity
I’ve been waiting for
My last great chance to show you

But for now, let me live
Lets take down our fences
and live
Live without hesitation…
But alas, this moment is over
You put up your fences
and I put up mine
One day I will show you
One day you’ll believe
But for now I stand beside you
and with love I will proceed
1/29/10

Copyright © 2010 Brian Jackson All rights reserved

Cold as Hell

It’s snowin'
Hearts are frozen
Hell hath given
a frozen flame
Burning with pride
hot with sin
they are not
the one to blame

Tongues are waging
war of worlds
only their state
is vital
Forgetting the hurting
forgetting the dying
nothing matters
but their title

I can speak
but it doesn’t matter
my tongue is stuck
to a frozen pole
All they hear
is a bunch of mumbling
they see my face
but not my soul

As I tire
I stop
my talking
look at the icy sea
I see my reflection
in this ocean
and I realize
the problem is me.

1/28/10
Copyright © 2010 Brian Jackson All rights reserved

I have seen hearts hardened to the tragedy in Haiti. It seems as if they are watching a movie with a sad scene and then go unto another movie. I do not say this with pride, for I only went because the Lord burdened my heart to go. Quite honestly my heart was cold and only awakened by a tragedy. What was I doing before this?...not much. I don't necessarily see a hero in someone responding to this tragedy. The humble person was already reaching out to those in need secretly and quietly without world coverage. Let me ask you as I ask myself...What are we doing in our own little worlds? Are we feeding the poor? We have our friends and family over for dinner, but what about a person in need? Yeah I know we are in America and I don't recommend to pull someone off the street. America has soup kitchens, mission homes etc. I am asking, do we look for true needs to meet, or do we need to see an emotional demonstration on television? God's heart is for the poor, the fatherless and the widows. Haiti truly is a tragedy and I don't want to down play it. I had a hard time just functioning today at work when I know people are in desperate need in Haiti. It's a need that we can see with our physical eyes. Brethren, let's open our spiritual eyes and see that an earthquake has hit America. Dead bodies are laying everywhere. The stench of our sins has risen to heaven and our God is just to destroy. Thank God for His long-suffering. See the bodies trapped in the rubble. Reach out to them in love. Love is what we need. Love to see, love to care, love to pray, love for the sinner, love for the saint. Love is the fulfillment of the law. Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself. May God grant us this love.

Look to the Sky (the third heaven)

The silence of death

Broken by the cries of life
Takes out the beating heart
without a witch's knife

They have looked to the ground
To the sky they now see
The powers of demons
From the Great Power they flee

The ground is cursed
but the sky it is free
Look to the heavens
and then you will see

The world is nothing
but a drop in the sea
The heavens declare His glory
at His decree

It is His power
that you must obey
If you will not
then the earth will say

It will move exactly
as He commands
It will not make excuses
It will not make demands

The rocks will cry out
and cover the sin
that plagues His creation
and ensnares the poorest nation

Turn from your black magic
Look to the white sky
Your hope is in Jesus
This is why He did die

I have not much to offer
but take my hand
Repent of your sin
and let's repair this land

1/24/10

Copyright © 2010 Brian Jackson All rights reserved

I wrote this poem today on the road to Santo Domingo from Haiti. This is only one part of my meditation on this situation and I am very tired, so hopefully it turned out OK. I have seen and heard many things during this trip. The people are in need of many things, but an eternal view causes me to focus my prayer efforts firstly for my brothers and sisters in Christ and secondly to the spiritual needs of the lost. The Haitian culture is deep into Satanic worship through the means of Voodoo. I don't know all that the Lord is accomplishing through this earthquake, but it is very evident from the few Haitians I was able to talk to that they truly believe this was the power of God. Shane and I witnessed to some of the young men (maybe in their early 20's) in the streets that know English. One particular young man (refer to picture above...the guy in the middle facing the camera with his left hand on his side) told me that many believed in the power of voodoo before this earthquake, but now that they have seen the power of God, many pray in the streets at night to God. (I continued the conversation explaining the Gospel) I pray God will use the seeds that were planted to reap a harvest. Maybe later when I return home from the Dominican Republic, I will share the details of the trip.

Haiti Trip

Well, it seems the Lord worked everything out. My friend (Shane) and I will leave tomorrow for a layover in New Jersey. Wednesday morning we will leave for the Dominican Republic. We are truly excited to be sent off by true and godly praying churches. Oh what a joy it is to go forth in God's service with praying warriors behind us!
Sorry if I didn't get a chance to talk with some of you, but it has been a crazy hectic couple of days. I am very tired, so I won't go into any details. Just to give you a taste of what is going on I copied an email below. In my heart and mind I can hear the cries of my brothers and sisters in Christ and I am eager to go help them. Please pray for their safety. Pray their physical, psychological, and spiritual needs will be met. Indeed please pray the same for Shane and me.


Dear Friends,



Felix and I are on our way to the border town of Jimaní. There is chaos in Haiti, so we have heard that the airport now was taken over by the Americans to control it. They are not allowing commercial flights.



Yuniel, the Cuban Pastor who was in Haiti during the earthquake, decided to come across the border illegally because of the unstable condition in the country. Thousands of dead bodies, aftershocks every 20 minutes, etc.



I heard the first assessment report from the team that arrived from Port Au Prince, Haiti, and they have inform us that what we see in the news is 10% of the reality of Haiti. Two team members were inside Port Prince two days trying to contact the Pastors and churches and sadly this is the report: Around 70 Baptist Pastors died when their buildings collapsed. They were working with Guillomettre Herode from Missions Door and the Haitian Baptist Convention.



Also the biggest Baptist Church in Haiti who had around 500 people in the moment of the Earthquake, has around 400 dead.



We just got a phone call from our friend Victor Hugo Arias, who works with World Vision and spent the day there has informed us that the situation is bad, 75% of the important buildings are destroyed and there are dead bodies lying everywhere.



Please Pray that we get permission to enter the country because they are only allowing relief organizations.



Blessings,



Joaquin Vargas

A Glass of Water

She barely lifts her head
while slowly opening her eyes
Like a flower opening to
sunshine
yet wilted by the sun
Remains of destruction
cover her face
hiding the tears beneath
I must hold my breath
just to take in the stench
of her pain

The look of terror
from a God of love
That brings justice
for sin to offer
life from above
Ironic I’m the
one standing above
Now my choice is
do I offer my love?

As I contemplate
I look in her eyes
She but needs
a glass of water
or else she dies
If I give her water
is it not to the Sun?
Will it burn up
for nothing
or will it bring
life from above?

While I contemplate
I hear other screams
The voices of death
The sound of
bad dreams
What should I do?
I have but one glass?
Then I think of the
loaves, the fish
that did last.

Ok Lord...here is what I have
I’m nothing special
but your Word...it will last

Let It feed the thousands
let them never thirst again
Open their eyes
break their heart of sin
I will give out what You
have given
Take this poor wretch
that you have forgiven
Use these hands
like they are not mine
That Your glory will reign
and Your face will shine.

This is all I have
but You are much greater
To the Wind be my voice
and be my Translator
Whatever happens
It will surely be
I just ask You now
to somehow use me.

1/16/10
Copyright © 2010 Brian Jackson All rights reserved

True Pain

This is a haunting image (I got this from the Drudge Report). Thousands of Haitians are feared dead. I can't pretend to know the reason for this destruction, but I see this person looking up from the depths of Hell. Who will tell them? I am horribly disconnected from those around me and especially from those abroad. I go about my daily life, while millions look up with pain from the depths of their soul and I pass by while secretly holding the answer. Lord raise your chosen upon a hill to light those in darkness. May they see Christ and not our filthy hands that reach out to help. What problem did you have today, this month or year? How does that compare to a soul bound for an eternal death? Look at her eyes and tell her your pain. Now shut up and BE. (I'm talking to myself)

The Benchwarmer

He was sitting on a bench

wiping his mouth of crumbs

what looked to be

pieces of chicken nuggets

He used his ragged sleeve

to “clean” his mouth

Just then he began to whistle…

phwe phwe to phou to phee

phou phou to phou to phwe

“this is the life for me

sitting watchn’ the birds and bees”



The mind of a child I wonder?

Stuck on the times of instruction

Afraid to look like a filthy

mouth piece of messed up ideas?



My curiosity draws me closer

I sit down next to him

………

………

Smack!

He hits me on the back

“Son, don’t ever look back…

carry on and on (he keeps hitting me on the back)

I’m a benchwarmer

A filthy piece of chicken mess

I keep looking back

I can’t look forward

Rise up now boy!

Run away from here!

Is this what you want to be?!

Be bold - be strong

Clench your fist

It won’t be long

Turn now and face your fears

rise up and wipe those tears

Take the challenge and run

with grace

Take your medicine

with a determined face

You must not turn

back again (he grabs my face and holds it forward)



Look!

Can you see the horizon?

It’s not far!

You must run now my friend!

Go now and never look back!”


Without hesitation

I run with all my might

towards the light

with his voice slowly

fading in the background…

“don’t ever look back!

don’t ever look back!

don't ever.....”

1/11/10
Copyright © 2010 Brian Jackson All rights reserved

My Daughter Abigail's Poems

Recently my daughter has taken an interest in writing. She usually likes to write stories, but she decided to also start writing poems. Sometimes she will sit by me and ask for me to read her a poem I wrote. Maybe this has simply given her something to relate to her dad with, but I definitely enjoy it. Today she handed me a poem that she wrote about me and of course I loved it! She then showed me another poem that she wrote recently about Spring. Her Spring poem is actually a great answer to my Sunflower poem. Spring does come again! I think this poem was very well written and I can't stop reading it...I'll share both poems below. (I left the spacing and wording exactly as she wrote it...just changed a couple misspelled words)

Daddy

My dad loves me so much
Just one tender touch
He is so bright and clear
He makes me want to cheer
He loves his child
He makes me want to smile


Spring

Flowers bloom
Leaves bud
Spring is finally here

I hear the birds
As if they're trying
to shout "Hooray!"

Green grass
Green leaves
They all seem happy

Who Am I?

Who am I?
Why am I
The King’s Son?
What have I done
to merit this grace?
Why is Your face
towards me?

It’s not Who am I
my son, but
Who I AM
I AM the One
Who Is
I AM
I Was
I Shall Be
I never change

A man chooses his bride
for the love he receives
I chose my bride
for the love I give
This is Who I AM
I freely give
Freely receive
Free to believe
To free from sin
Free then to hope
Freedom to be
What pleases Me

My son, you are now
Free to Love
Free to laugh
and shed a tear
Free to embrace
and face your fear

There are no boundaries with what I can do
and I can do all this through you

-Let us reason together-

So what you are
it does not matter
but rather what
I can do
Therefore surrender all
To Me submit
Your sins and iniquities
you must admit

Say not
what you are
what you are not
For
I AM
and it matters not

Bring what you have
and lay it down
Bring what you don’t have
Take up your crown
You are the King’s son
Now rise up and walk
Open your mouth
and I will talk
Like Moses
you need not fear
For I have a purpose
Though it may not be clear

So trust in
Who I AM
and not
what you see
Change the question
of who you are
and then
you’ll be free

1/5/10

Copyright © 2010 Brian Jackson All rights reserved