Please read

To each and all of my readers.

I am a recovering drug addict, clean by the grace of God, for almost 3 years.

The poem

"Ice and Cocaine"

is just one instance which occurred prior to my first attempt to walk away from my drug abuse which had lasted for 17 long years.

It is by the grace of Jesus Christ ALONE that I am still alive to bear witness to the TRUTH of who He is

and who I am because He SAVED me from a life which was leading me to my death.

My prayer is that each of you will find Him, as well.

ALL PRAISE BE UNTO HIM

MY LORD AND SAVIOR

JESUS CHRIST

9:36 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

ice and cocaine

We had been sitting there for hours

my friend Jeff and I

doing cocaine and "ice"

when for some strange reason he asked

"Why do you believe in God?

Cause I don't

And I died!"

In utter shock I lifted up my head

from the "line" I was about to do

and said

"What?"

He said it again

"Why do you believe in God?

Because I know that you do."

I didn't know what to say at first

I was more or less astounded by his outburst

but I raised up and said

"Ok.

You died.

So what is it that you want me to say?"

and he told me that he knew about my faith

my belief in Christ

and he wanted to know what it was that made me so sure

because not once but TWICE

ha had lost his life

to overdoses

this in and of itself was no surprise

but I could see the turmoil he was suffering

the lost confusion within his eyes

so I said

"Yes, I am a Christian

even though most of the time

I wonder myself

if I am worthy of forgiveness

if any of us are worthy.

I think not."

Just then I caught myself almost crying

for it was at this moment

I realized

that it was Jesus who was speaking to me

by way of someone so lost

that I knew He wanted me

again to see

just what it was that He had placed me here for

not in service of self

but as a witness to those in the dark

a guide to open the door

for those who were seeking the key

to the gate of salvation

those who had never heard the

TRUTH

so once again I asked him to tell me

what had happened to him

and he said

"I'll tell you.

One night I overdosed on methamphetamines and cocaine

they took me to the emergency room

where they were unable to revive me again

but I didn't go to Heaven or Hell

didn't see any tunnel

or darkness

or light.

So tell me

why is it that you believe in God

why do you believe in Jesus Christ?"

I thought for a moment and asked him

because I knew his words were true

"If you were dead

and I believe you were

why do you think you saw nothing?

Do you think that God doesn't exist?

That there is nothing that awaits you?"

He said, "No.

I do not believe there is anything,

for in those long moments before I returned to my body,

I saw no angels

I saw no Jesus

I was alone

and I felt  EMPTY.

Like I was going nowhere

becoming nothing

as if there was nothing here or anyplace else

for me

that my existence was all but

OVER."

so I said to him,

"Was it?

Was there ever a time that you felt as if you were not alive?"

"NO

I WAS JUST ALONE"

and at this point  he almost cried

so I reached over to him

and said

" Jeff,

You have been given a second chance

one which most are never blessed to receive.

God allowed you to die

He allowed you once again to live

He allowed you by grace

to SEE

that there is more to this existence

than most will ever bring themselves to admit.

And now you can choose to accept or reject

this TRUTH

find salvation or damnation

within it

You can recognize just who Jesus Christ really is."

But I could see that he had rejected

every word that I was saying

so he bent down and did another "line"

and right then I started praying

and thanked my Father

my Lord and Savior in Heaven above

for within this one conversation

He had revealed to me

the truth which had escaped me for so long

For I had turned my back on my beliefs

because I couldn't understand

WHY?

it was that so many would see Hell

how they were less deserving than I

but now I know

and it was Jeff that showed me

that no matter what it is that God does for so many

they will NEVER believe the TRUTH of who HE is

but our lives are still His

and it is our CHOICE

to receive or reject Him

there isn't ANY other answer to the question

which for so long had destroyed my life

and this He gave me

my gift

my answer

within a question

my Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ

All praise be unto Him

Amen

8:38 PM - 0 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Religion

Religion

A word that harbors many conotations

one which evokes beautiful memories or nightmares

new beginnings or dead ends

and each of them leaves me filled with joy

as well as frustration

for the TRUTH is simply this...

Jesus never spoke of "religion"

He came to save us from ourselves

offer Himself as a sacrifice

that we might find SALVATION

so I get upset sometimes when I am asked

what "religion" are you?

for I AM NONE

I am a Christian saved by His grace

that of my Father within His Son

Jesus Christ

who simply stated

"I am the Way

the Truth

and the Life.

No man shall come unto the Father

except through ME."

How much easier could He have made it?

Why is it so many still refuse to see?

I ask this question

even though inside I know the answer

because of a man made institution

which has infected this world

much like CANCER has corrupted our bodies

the shortcoming of man

 has corrupted our souls

but within Jesus we are forgiven

although undeserving

we can be made WHOLE

so in the future if you ask me

what "religion" it is to which I belong

I will smile and say this

"I AM A CHRISTIAN"

a child of Jesus Christ

It is within HIM

that I am made strong

within Him...

I am redeemed

Amen

8:07 AM - 9 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Why do I come here?

Every day

I try to come here

and express upon these pages

the TRUTH within these words I've been given

the truth handed down throughout the ages

to any and all who would simply listen

to His voice from up above

the voice of our precious Savior

and His Father

Jehovah Yahweh

the voice of love

and I read the thoughts of others

trying to understand their pain

why is it that they suffer?

what is it that will make them whole

once again?

I try to listen when no others will hear

comfort their hearts

restore their souls

give them refuge from the fears

which would otherwise consume them

crush their spirits

swallow them whole

why do I do this you might ask?

most assuredly it is not for me

but for Him

that they might see the value of their souls

the worth which Jesus sees

within them

for  without thought or reservation

He willingly laid down His life

not just for some

 but ALL

and within this sacrifice He paid the price

for our redemption

while His body

beaten to the point of death He willingly gave

looked to His Father

and said

" forgive them..."

and upon this rock

our salvation

and His bride

the church was made

so that mankind

although lost and undeserving

could walk with Him

into eternity

through Heaven's gate

So yes,

I continue...

even though at times it seems as if it serves no purpose

but I know in whom I believe

and that by grace

He is always with us

so I strive on...

in His name

the name of Jesus Christ

He alone

 it is

 I worship

Amen

10:23 AM - 12 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

For Undyeing Love of poetry

2:14 AM - 6 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

What’s going on?

As you watch the news each night

what is it that you think you are seeing

just another repeat of history as the nations war with one another

continue the incessant "bleeding"

of the souls of each and ALL of us

is it just the way things are?

do you disregard them as

"normal"?

tucked away in your bed at night

at peace underneath the stars

or do you see these times

for exactly what they are?

the fulfillment of prophecy

the beginning of the end of mankind

or is that something

much too far

out for you to comprehend?

just a tale

that someone older told you once

as a child

or is it the

TRUTH

that the Revelation has in fact begun?

Look not to your own understanding

to explain away these times

for it is not just a figment of your imagination

but a result of all the "crimes"

which man has committed throughout history

and for each of them

we must pay

all praise be unto the Father

and the Son

for He has given each of us

THE WAY

to rise above all this judgement

this pain

this suffering and strife

for all those years ago

upon an old rugged cross

Jesus

laid down His life

for you and for me

for every human being that ever was

is

or shall be

and within this salvation

we shall be delivered

swept away from the insanity which IS TO COME

make no mistake my brothers and sisters

for in fact IT HAS BEGUN

but by His grace we are redeemed

within the sacrifice of God's

ONLY

Son

All praise be unto HIM

Amen

12:11 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

The Hotel

When he called me from the "hotel"

I didn't place it at first

exactly where he was calling from

that it was one of the worst

crackhouses in the city

so as usual

I went to get him

half of me wanting more "coke"

the other half out of pity

for him

he always seemed to end up in places like that

half jacked up

half pilled up

not really sure himself where he was at

so I went once again

to retrieve my "brother" of a friend

laughing

with suppressed annoyance

at the thought of coming to his "rescue"

as I had time and again

before

but I digress

so onto the rest

of the story

so that you might understand

why it is I am telling this tale

for when I reached my destination

it was anything but a "hotel"

and realizing at once exactly what I had been drawn into

I yelled at him

"Kenny

get your things

NOW

all your drugs

all your money.

I am going to the "john"

and you better be ready when I get out!"

But the moment I stepped inside the bathroom

my strength gave way

and a voice came out

of nowhere

...it said

"Don't move."

and I was paralyzed

unable to walk

my arms and legs were frozen

and once again

I heard Him talk

"Don't move!"

was all the voice did say

and for quite a few moments time

I was unable to do anything

to walk

to hear

but I DID vaguely hear Kenny say

"CLIFF!"

I was unable to respond

the only thing I could manage was to listen

to him shout once again

"CLIFF!"

and all of a sudden I was set free

from the chains which had kept me bound

the ropes which had

ensnared me

kept me safe

unable to be with him as it occurred

for while I was held hostage within this place

2 men had walked into the room

robbed Kenny of his drugs

his money

the look of fear on his face

was astonishing

and he asked me

"Couldn't you hear me?

Why didn't you come out?"

And I understood in a flash just what my paralysis

had been all about

for I was dressed in my usual clothes

that I wore

at my job in the club

black combat boots

fatigues

in my back pocket

a high caliber pistol

my "favorite" gun

and I knew...

if I had taken one step out that door

it would have been my last

even though I never would have known

what was in store

what was waiting

for it was DEATH

this I now know

with no hope of debating

that an angel was sent to bind my hands and feet that night

so that I might "live"

find redemption

spend the rest of my life

bearing witness to the grace

by which each and ALL of us stand

I am a witness

to the mercy of my Father

my Savior Jesus Christ

protected and SAVED

by HIS nail pierced hand

and to this

I will bear witness

FOR THE REST
OF MY LIFE

Amen

8:41 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment