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