Insight

When Jews think of Christians, it’s Catholics they see;
When Catholics see others that Protestant be,
It’s liberals and fringe-groups of many a stripe;
When mainline view fringes, they think they are right.

But here in the heartland of “blood, shame, and cross”,
“Evangelist’s fervor” and “Count it all loss”,
There’s hair-splitting insights defining each group;
To others appearing like vegetable soup.

Sure, carrots, and parsnips, potatoes, and beans,
Are different – together it’s soup that it means;
So who cares what flavor each brings to the soup,
Just be what you are, for you’re part of God’s group.

So process, and structure, and fine points of thought,
All rise to the surface as basis for plot
Of sagas played out in each greenhouse for growth,
Where power and cash are the signs of true worth.

“For God at the center’s no fun here at all –
If I seize the power, and brandish my call
To maintain position, bid folks bring their cash,
Then I’ll be like God – they will do what I ask.

“For God has the power to do what He wills;
Resources-a-plenty – those cows on the hills;
So as I collect those, then I can play God,
With power and giving this side of the sod.”

But then we find freedom to wander around,
We cross border fences, till treasures are found;
We bring from our pantry both things new and old,
Like Kingdom-trained Rabbis, each insight like gold.

We let go of power, see new life spring up;
He does heavy lifting in tasks which are tough;
When God’s at the center His power flows out,
Resourcing with treasure this life all about.

Then sounds of our praises reach up to the sky;
We stop heeding boundaries of what, when, and why,
And enter with joyful spontaneous praise,
The realm of God’s kingdom throughout all our days.

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