O hear now, Mother of Oppression!
Lend your ear, Sister of Deceit!
From the earliest of my days
You have sought my destruction
You, who are not of my people
Crossing the border into my land
Treading upon my sovereign soil...
With a smile that hides darkness
Why do you try to entice me?
And seek to prove me a fool
Charm me with feminine amenities
And play my feelings as a banjo
Is it a reaction you seek?
Find you any love in my rage?
Antagonism - your big red plastic bat
See how far this perforated ball will soar!
But alas, I am curious
And I see you are too
What’s this all about?
So compelling, yet strange
Is nothing held sacred?
What’s off limits, to discuss or display?
As long as it’s mutual
Does anyone else need to know?
But in time we both grow older
Trading the obvious for that unseen
Your methods become those of shrewdness
No longer brazen, but sweetly cunning
In secret absence I explored you
Never willing to connect with the heart
Now I am just as guilty
And even more so for my part
For I abandoned the path of righteousness
I have denied friendship - basic and true
A coward; I caved to social paranoia
And surrendered to weakness of flesh
Still you crouched in waiting
For the exact moment to pounce
The bait appealed to the sensibilities
Plus a twinge of mystery; need to explore
I was craving a change
And the seasons were shifting
“Won’t hurt to try,” I said to myself
“Besides, she seems so willing…”
Has there ever been such a swift plummet from grace?
As I ravaged unknown territory
And tried in vain to act out my thoughts
Shameless, demented twist of creation!
My armies advanced
Through fields once tranquil
With orders to assess
They’re to gather “intelligence”
But in their wake lay destruction
The landscape disfigured
As they set up encampment
In garrison, awaiting fresh orders
You finally take arms
To protect your vast riches
Guarding that which is precious
Since I’ll do no such thing
For I say, “freedom is mine”
So why would I deny it to you?
The tense epochs to follow
Find brief moments of peace
But militias still skirmish
And guerrillas never rest...
Once the newness fades
And reality sets in
We’re both tired of giving
Oh so empty within
Your problems never cease
No, they multiply with time
Do you ever solve anything?
Deeper, in quicksand, you sink
But do I pull you out?
Offer even an olive branch?
No, for I’m spent of your ways
Yet not ready to leave…
Your desire for completeness
Matched only by you bellicose futility
Frustrates me to no end
With you I can do nothing that profits
Yet I continue my natural way
Austere as always, keeping composure
But, by the same, never improving
You cry for help with actions
Still, your letters tell a sad tale
But ‘tis easier to let a tree fungus rot
Than to scrape it off by toiling
Finally, long sought freedom arrives
Yet I’m deep in despair
For my last pitiful ember of light has died
Giving way to cold stale darkness
I now realize my “plans”
Were never such at all
I had not set wise goals
Just drifting along toward nowhere
Then I turned to my God!
Who understands my failure?
And gives grace to repentance
He rewards those who believe Him
He also set my paths straight
And cleared my confusion
He gave me wisdom and strength
To stand up before the enemy…
As I keep watch by night
My radar surveys the horizon
Be sure, I shall see you coming
Beleaguered jets with idolatrous markings
O Daughter of Perdition!
You Niece of Iniquity!
How your sins multiply in time
Surely perversion deepens with age
Only the foolish try the prepared one
And the stupid die who attack the vigilant
But is there not hope for you?
Indeed, a chance to change your ways -
Repent to a loving God today!
Become His, you creature of beauty
For He created you and loves you
Why do you take arms with His sons?
And try His soldiers with temptation?
All heaven rejoices in the lost sheep’s return
My sister, o lovely child of God
Why must we maintain troops in array?
Keeping battalions posted all day
And artillery poised to defend by darkness
Locked in stalemate; a pointless effort
Have you any chance of victory?
For I realize the truth – yet it’s relevance you scoff
That my battle is not against flesh and blood
And I fight not with woman or man
How the opponent’s warriors are not mortal
That this conflict is but a portion of eternity
A struggle within a greater engagement
Although the rebels mount resistance
The Victor’s army outnumbers them
Surely God has kept His faithful!
Two of His to one of the losers’
Will you join us, my dear one?
Will you lay down your weapon for true love?
For I’ve found the real battle wages inside us
And God sent His Son to win it
To resist Jesus means that we lose
But surrender all to Him…and be won!
For He has shown me the new way
That even I can become your friend
But we both must be on the same page
United in His Spirit by His Blood
So will you bow your heart to Him now?
Have your name written in the Book of Life
Our names will appear there together; joint heirs
United forever beneath the flag of the King!
Now we stand face to face
How’d we get so old?
But you’re really not here
For the familiar falseness screams
A non-answer to my disbelief
You still don’t get it
And I fear you never will…
Take heed, I am well armed for defense
In truth my silos are deterrents
I must aim missiles toward your homeland
And with wisdom point guns at your border
The strife that began so long ago
It has protracted without decision
For weeks, many months, and even years
It continues today in spite of intentions
The impending threat is still real; it saddens me
Because only one of us has surrendered
Bowed to the King of Kings – WHOLEHARTEDLY
And but one has stopped fighting for vain interests
I say once again, let this be a dire warning
To yourself and those alike -
Surely our mutual posture of distrust remains
Till Christ takes His spoils
One way or another
He will win over your heart
But will it be by your own volition?
O, I implore you! Don’t let yourself be…
ATTRITTED!
Lend your ear, Sister of Deceit!
From the earliest of my days
You have sought my destruction
You, who are not of my people
Crossing the border into my land
Treading upon my sovereign soil...
With a smile that hides darkness
Why do you try to entice me?
And seek to prove me a fool
Charm me with feminine amenities
And play my feelings as a banjo
Is it a reaction you seek?
Find you any love in my rage?
Antagonism - your big red plastic bat
See how far this perforated ball will soar!
But alas, I am curious
And I see you are too
What’s this all about?
So compelling, yet strange
Is nothing held sacred?
What’s off limits, to discuss or display?
As long as it’s mutual
Does anyone else need to know?
But in time we both grow older
Trading the obvious for that unseen
Your methods become those of shrewdness
No longer brazen, but sweetly cunning
In secret absence I explored you
Never willing to connect with the heart
Now I am just as guilty
And even more so for my part
For I abandoned the path of righteousness
I have denied friendship - basic and true
A coward; I caved to social paranoia
And surrendered to weakness of flesh
Still you crouched in waiting
For the exact moment to pounce
The bait appealed to the sensibilities
Plus a twinge of mystery; need to explore
I was craving a change
And the seasons were shifting
“Won’t hurt to try,” I said to myself
“Besides, she seems so willing…”
Has there ever been such a swift plummet from grace?
As I ravaged unknown territory
And tried in vain to act out my thoughts
Shameless, demented twist of creation!
My armies advanced
Through fields once tranquil
With orders to assess
They’re to gather “intelligence”
But in their wake lay destruction
The landscape disfigured
As they set up encampment
In garrison, awaiting fresh orders
You finally take arms
To protect your vast riches
Guarding that which is precious
Since I’ll do no such thing
For I say, “freedom is mine”
So why would I deny it to you?
The tense epochs to follow
Find brief moments of peace
But militias still skirmish
And guerrillas never rest...
Once the newness fades
And reality sets in
We’re both tired of giving
Oh so empty within
Your problems never cease
No, they multiply with time
Do you ever solve anything?
Deeper, in quicksand, you sink
But do I pull you out?
Offer even an olive branch?
No, for I’m spent of your ways
Yet not ready to leave…
Your desire for completeness
Matched only by you bellicose futility
Frustrates me to no end
With you I can do nothing that profits
Yet I continue my natural way
Austere as always, keeping composure
But, by the same, never improving
You cry for help with actions
Still, your letters tell a sad tale
But ‘tis easier to let a tree fungus rot
Than to scrape it off by toiling
Finally, long sought freedom arrives
Yet I’m deep in despair
For my last pitiful ember of light has died
Giving way to cold stale darkness
I now realize my “plans”
Were never such at all
I had not set wise goals
Just drifting along toward nowhere
Then I turned to my God!
Who understands my failure?
And gives grace to repentance
He rewards those who believe Him
He also set my paths straight
And cleared my confusion
He gave me wisdom and strength
To stand up before the enemy…
As I keep watch by night
My radar surveys the horizon
Be sure, I shall see you coming
Beleaguered jets with idolatrous markings
O Daughter of Perdition!
You Niece of Iniquity!
How your sins multiply in time
Surely perversion deepens with age
Only the foolish try the prepared one
And the stupid die who attack the vigilant
But is there not hope for you?
Indeed, a chance to change your ways -
Repent to a loving God today!
Become His, you creature of beauty
For He created you and loves you
Why do you take arms with His sons?
And try His soldiers with temptation?
All heaven rejoices in the lost sheep’s return
My sister, o lovely child of God
Why must we maintain troops in array?
Keeping battalions posted all day
And artillery poised to defend by darkness
Locked in stalemate; a pointless effort
Have you any chance of victory?
For I realize the truth – yet it’s relevance you scoff
That my battle is not against flesh and blood
And I fight not with woman or man
How the opponent’s warriors are not mortal
That this conflict is but a portion of eternity
A struggle within a greater engagement
Although the rebels mount resistance
The Victor’s army outnumbers them
Surely God has kept His faithful!
Two of His to one of the losers’
Will you join us, my dear one?
Will you lay down your weapon for true love?
For I’ve found the real battle wages inside us
And God sent His Son to win it
To resist Jesus means that we lose
But surrender all to Him…and be won!
For He has shown me the new way
That even I can become your friend
But we both must be on the same page
United in His Spirit by His Blood
So will you bow your heart to Him now?
Have your name written in the Book of Life
Our names will appear there together; joint heirs
United forever beneath the flag of the King!
Now we stand face to face
How’d we get so old?
But you’re really not here
For the familiar falseness screams
A non-answer to my disbelief
You still don’t get it
And I fear you never will…
Take heed, I am well armed for defense
In truth my silos are deterrents
I must aim missiles toward your homeland
And with wisdom point guns at your border
The strife that began so long ago
It has protracted without decision
For weeks, many months, and even years
It continues today in spite of intentions
The impending threat is still real; it saddens me
Because only one of us has surrendered
Bowed to the King of Kings – WHOLEHARTEDLY
And but one has stopped fighting for vain interests
I say once again, let this be a dire warning
To yourself and those alike -
Surely our mutual posture of distrust remains
Till Christ takes His spoils
One way or another
He will win over your heart
But will it be by your own volition?
O, I implore you! Don’t let yourself be…
ATTRITTED!
