When I ceased writing my prayer journal I stopped getting good things done, so, I started a new one. At the top of the first page I wrote, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of… Continue reading Nothing fancy but substantial

      I like the pride of life So, I can fall for lies First, a sucker acting loose Then, I’m running back to you But that’s just on my mind You know what’s in my heart I like to speak my mind And I fail tests, those times When I get outside myself… Continue reading If you wake up on a Saturday morning, and you have a cup of coffee, and you’re worshiping your God, and you’re in a lovely comfort-zone, and your cat starts acting funny, and you realize you have an unwelcome intruder changing your home into a danger-zone, may it only be a fly

    Several days ago, a mechanic asked me who changed the oil on my car. He showed me the oil filter which was covered with oil. It was loose, and oil was leaking out of it. The engine could have seized-up, but God blessed me.   The very next day I followed an SUV… Continue reading I showed my love to you, and so, we’re both alone

  Hello friends and new subscribers. Thank you for visiting here. At my website, I try to be a good friend, but I’m not the greatest. Jesus said that only God is good. Still, I’m going through a difficult time, right now, and I think many of you are, too. And maybe you think you… Continue reading God’s ways are higher than ours. So, his peace passes all of our understanding and can make us stand in the midst of a crumbling and suffering world

  Hear the beautiful songs of the birds in the morning as the rebels fight, all day long See incredible sights, like the rain, busy falling as the desert-dry scratch and claw Wouldn’t it be a better world if people respected each other? It would be a better world if people respected the Lord I’ve… Continue reading The Biterrestrials

  I got to look to the future My life will never, ever end Because I’ve found a good route there Because I’ve found a perfect friend I want to keep to myself, some just like the Amish, our old friends And like a soldier in battle will let the sergeant go ahead My perfect… Continue reading My Perfect Friend

  There’s an agenda and ambition here at war with service and obedience I’ve brought a friend out, on this mission since it’s boring and sometimes quite tedious The nights are long but when the birds awake I’m so encouraged by the songs they sing A sign of hope that seemed so far away? Or… Continue reading Not the most excellent sonnet

  See the flower in the warm sun’s light And the flower in the shade Closing up for the entire night Opening wide for drinks of rain So pretty and sweet, she was the girl next door It would be so much more Lesley Gore Hear the singer reach the highest highs And the woman… Continue reading Dedication

  The Pilgrims left England for freedom but many died sailing to Plymouth God’s children raised food all through Autumn to get them all through the cruel Winter Forgiven, the Pilgrims lived on The brave were as good as the best, yet were starving and found some food, hidden They ate it but knew it… Continue reading With Forgiveness

  Lately, I’ve been dreaming, often of forgotten ways of life Like the change to George (Magnificent) Amberson’s Midland City, in its slide Till I sit under your stars where I can sweetly sing lovely songs Come and strum on your guitar and we can, somehow, again, belong Take me to the Mississippi it’s a… Continue reading Some are just travelling through here, on their way to their new home. They have to accept that they won’t be able to enjoy things, here, and are redirected toward their home

  Iron cage! Iron cage! I’m a bird in the iron cage Without love the designers must like it But they’ll die here I’m on fire and I’ll fly far from here Iron cage! Iron cage! I’m a bird in the iron cage But some day I will fly away High above the Designer stands… Continue reading Fly from the iron cage!

  It’s ironic that I opened the Bible the other night to Psalm 70 and wrote song lyrics about it when I wrote, just last week, that Jesus might return, imminently, because it’s been seventy years since Israel has been a modern state. Not just words, but every number in the Bible, like seventy, has… Continue reading Encouragement from God in discouraging times

  Mother’s Day is celebrated this year around the time of the seventieth anniversary of the statehood of Israel, on May 14th, 2019, which could be the day that Jesus returns to earth and makes things new, again, because seventy years, like the seventy years of the Babylonian Captivity of Israel, is a biblical number… Continue reading Birth Pains

  Sure, you’ve got all your rules And I’ve had to change Costs of following you I’ve learned to obey More and more things to do not just rearrange Life would break me in two and I screamed your name What can I say about you? What can I say! If you could make even me a… Continue reading Super Forgiving Love

  At home I have a Claude Monet print called “The Path”. It’s a print, not a painting. I want to make that perfectly clear or somebody might want to steal it. Once, I told my boss I owned that Monet print and he had corrected me. “You own a Monet print,” he said. “If… Continue reading Claude Monet’s painting, “The Path”, is wonderful fine art because there are many things it does so well

  What is in our future? Things could end so quickly Who should we be trusting? Should we look to history? Trust is an issue, these days And you’ve led the way Love how you’ve lived it Once, we all shared values Once, most were good neighbors Values were let go of Now, most are… Continue reading Love the trust

  Heart surgery… is a hard thing Stop worrying! I can hardly stand it                                                                                  Heart surgery… open-heart, too Start working to trust the operation Attention! all sisters we’ve got a lot of things to do And, brothers we’ve got a job to do: our true responsibilities Heart surgery… This was not planned Stop worrying! Trust… Continue reading Ties

    There’s a lot of business to conduct in life and love. What does anyone have, to give to me? And, on the other hand, what is anyone going to take from me? It doesn’t always work out very well. We have to be strong, and brave, and wise, but we still have to… Continue reading I admire all who have qualities that I do not have. You could say that I get excited, enthusiastic, and appreciative, or that I get jealous, envious, and covetous. But, if you don’t have any qualities I’d want to have, why would I like you? Why would I want to be with you?

  Let’s face it, we’re not making this place a really great place. But we can’t make anything great without cooperating with friends. I think we’ve lost track of the important things in life because we’re so distracted, and tempted. We have to get back to the basic things in life, like respect.   Friends,… Continue reading Make America Great – with Friends

  Things have been going so badly, lately, that I had to examine my life. I found I was not giving money (tithe) to God. I took out my Bible concordance and looked up all of the places “tithe” is in the Bible. One of them is in the Bible’s Old Testament Book of Malachi,… Continue reading The Grateful

  The heart is so deceitful above all on the earth The garden’s full of weeds but the wheat has found great worth The Sarge has brought some peace here to people in his camp The heart of costly freedom’s still beating in this land While I’m obeying, completely but he keeps taking things away… Continue reading While she is often in confusion, the Captain’s golden rose is blooming

  Humility Pride   “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High.”   God Satan   Giving Taking   The Prince of peace The prince of the power of the air   Institutions… Continue reading The humble and the proud

  I don’t want to go outside in the storm but I want to stay inside where it’s warm From what I have read online snow will fall And tonight’s the coldest night of them all Help me, Lord I’m a cell and I talk to other cells in the war It is always hurry-up… Continue reading The Sergeant is valuable because he can lead soldiers into “harm’s way”

  …and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.   Like eagles in the paths of the sky men and women are sent for lessons Our spirits will be filled with good things we’ll receive if we get to heaven The road’s our home if we’re soldiers who pray The way’s… Continue reading And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them…

    Happy Thanksgiving on the road Happy Thanksgiving from New Jersey Happy Thanksgiving in the home Oh, Happy Thanksgiving in all lands So, remember to have an open mind and hold your fork and knife with trembling fingers and careful hands   I’m so busy, my head’s spinning with the things that I have… Continue reading This is a good place. There’s nothing bad about it because no one lies to each other here. And no one strives with each other, either. There’s thankfulness, so, there’s love. A sanctuary it is…

  Rich Somerville’s mainly a working class town with government places where lawyers swing ’round religion’s still practiced and ethics abounds and middle class neighbors are poorer, somehow There’re chain stores on Main Street and many small shops and restaurant tables where servers are stars with India, China and Italy’s charm in Somerville station New… Continue reading See where we are living

  Hey bro! Do you know I’m your brother? His love made my heart melt like butter Thanks, bro, I said Yes, sir, he said Having a thankful heart this Thanksgiving as the world falls apart Getting rid of fear, letting people near And each time warms my heart Well, I ate a big meal… Continue reading Some foods are better than others; as some drinks; and some rests; for our tests

        Trials have been intense, lately, but this is what we go through to learn that God is everything for us, for him to have his proper place. Then we learn to go to him, only, for support. I’m learning to survive. I start each day by praying to God for direction and… Continue reading Don’t be scared of tough times

    I had to learn that I shouldn’t expect that they would change for me. They’re only human. So, I grew-up a little.     I hate stop signs but I love to stop for them In my car I always want to watch for them I’m in order at the corner I don’t need… Continue reading Years ago, when I complained about people in my office to my friend and his wife, his wife said, “I’ve been listening to you talk about them and I’m beginning to think that all of them can’t be wrong, maybe it’s you…”

  When will you return? When the drama has ended? After I’ve suffered extensively? Come back! ahead of time You take care of everything When will you return? When I need blinders and ear plugs? When I need a straitjacket and a muzzle? Come back! ahead of time You take care of everything How can… Continue reading I hope you’re not forgetting we’re all just flesh and blood

  Because I have something good to say.     I don’t have everything I want, but I have everything I need.     Let men do the stupid things they do that won’t matter Let them have the crazy things they want I’m still happy I’m loving you! You’re what I’ve got and all… Continue reading This is a website of praise

  But are they cute-enough to stop rush-hour traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike? You bet they are. That’s what happened the other day. And it wasn’t the first time. And it won’t be the last. I was in a line of traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike in the Meadowlands when a mother duck… Continue reading Baby Ducks in a Row

  Hello! I’m back again, to see you I hope you’re well You know that I’m the friend who meets you with stuff that helps All the world over there are so many treacherous people but I’m consistently honest, as you’ve already seen here Who takes the time to know a person just like we… Continue reading We shouldn’t always believe what other people say. We should take the time to judge for ourselves

  Every soldier’s got a chink in their armor Every pilot wants to fly so much farther Fly by night! Fly by day! But fly all the way Every monkey wants to climb so much higher Every pleaser wants to be much-admired Fly by night! Fly by day! But fly all the way to your… Continue reading Freedom to Fly

  I should be leaner! I should be cleaner! I should be kinder! I should be finer! I should be taller! I should be stronger! I should be nicer! I should be wiser! Misleading people’s wrong, I was weak to need belonging Because I was so young then is no excuse for dumbness No joke,… Continue reading Stand-alone Power

  I wish I could be with her… There’s little vision there, in the trenches Not much to live for (till war has ended) And she’s a private, and not the General She’s often tired, he’s not much better No going out now, stuck in the barracks Her stomach’s growling so she has crackers She’s… Continue reading Distant soldiers in the ancient war

  He left our school to go work a farm down in Carolina just like his papa But drink and drugs grew two rebel arms that took his young life so unlike his father He started well but couldn’t finish It’s ending well that makes a winner I made the team but I couldn’t function… Continue reading Sometimes, I miss my friend…But who is a friend in the end?

  This Thanksgiving may we find things to be thankful for.    

  Real monsters: cancer, earthquakes, lay-offs – we don’t need the fake kind… I survived a root canal the other day. The dental assistant said, “You were good!” I said, “Because you guys did well, I did well!” And she said, “We’re a team!” Here’s a secret: never look at the needles.   I love the… Continue reading First, the Check Brake dashboard light came on. Then it went off. Then it came on, again. I tried putting the parking brake on and then the car alarm went off. My car is a chamber of horrors…

  Will mistaking a bright green scarf for bright green hair be a source of contention in the future? Because there’s fighting everywhere… His story repeats itself. (The defintion of history is God’s story.) The Bible’s II Chronicles 20 has verses about a battle that apply today: “It came to pass after this also, that the… Continue reading The other day I thought I saw a woman driving a vehicle wearing a bright green scarf and thought it was a Muslim woman. As I looked carefully it was an American woman, not a Muslim woman. It wasn’t a green scarf but it was her hair..

  When I called my father he didn’t answer his phone. He had surgery, and I was concerned, so I called my mother. “He’s taking too long to come out of anesthesia,” she said. “I’m waiting for the hospital to call me. Call me back in an hour.” “How long has it been?” I asked.… Continue reading My father took a long time to come out of anesthesia after surgery

  Yesterday, my supervisor was letting us listen to his young son say “Mama” for the first time on his phone. Needless to say, he was excited and proud of his son. It’s great to have a proud dad. Yesterday, I also treated my dad to dinner, and he was glad. This morning, I’m listening… Continue reading Happy Father’s Day to (I think you’ll agree) – by far – the Greatest Father in the world

      Shooting stars… Falling stars… Superstars… There are many kinds of stars… We have a star at work. He has a lot: he’s competent, and he’s popular. Every company probably has at least one star. They are leaders. I wish I were like our star. But if he ever left, people would be… Continue reading The Star

  Working with customers is hard work. You patiently helped that couple choose some beautiful jewelry to take home with them. Watching you standing on your feet (like you have to do all day) and showing them jewelry while talking to them to understand their wants and needs I wanted to take you home with me!… Continue reading You were so attractive helping that couple at the jewelry store. You looked so good that I couldn’t help staring at you…

  Jobs! with titles! Cars, like diamonds Something to hang your hat on Homes, for sharing! People caring Everything that’s worth having All this great stuff! But nothing for me Love! Romancing! Fun! And dancing Someplace to go have fun in Influencing! Money-lending People to go have fun with All this great stuff! But nothing… Continue reading Narrow is the way

    Well, my childhood was the best I was free as free could be as my mom made-up our beds for a while I could be me But I can’t go back Yet I can’t stay here No, I can’t go back But I can’t stay here Rode my bicycle so far but they… Continue reading In battered cars we travel far

  My father wanted me to do exactly what I thought I should do: buy Italian food and come over and watch the Giants…   The world out there’s in need of help but it’s probably better helping those close to you. You know them better, so you should help them first. After you get good… Continue reading When you’re feeling bad, go and help somebody else. It’s the opposite of what you want, but it’s a good feeling doing something good

  Friends don’t get upset at you if you cry…   Some friends are silent; others forgive, and help, a little; and some infinitely help us…   Books are like simple friends that give messages. Good books are part of literature, which, like music, schools, science, government and religion, are institutions we depend too heavily upon. People are more complex… Continue reading A good thing about reading a book is that if you cry at the end no one sees you…

  “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10    

The automobile age was like the legs of recent history. It took us places (good and bad). Artificial Intelligence (AI) is like the head of history. And we’ll see what happens. Of course, the mind rules the legs, and the rest of the body. According to James Barrat’s “Our Final Invention” about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence… Continue reading The let-down after Christmas is like losing our best friend. But he’ll return, and it’ll be better than ever

  How can I help her? Maybe she’d like to talk I’ll sit and listen I’ll show what listening’s for Say what you want to say and I’ll love you, anyway One love for another and not a big production A sister or brother and my idea of loving How can I help him? Maybe he’d… Continue reading Initiative

  Cover your eyes cover your ears cover your mouth cover your tears but covering-up is far from healthy Cover-ups have left scars on our body Cover your butt Cover-up files Cover-up cheating Cover-up’s what violent people do The opposite is pleasing others Covering-up is one of the biggest problems in this country Run from all… Continue reading Truth and Lies

  Do you believe in perfection? Do you hope to be perfected? Do you have an open mind?   If your answers are YES to any of the questions, you’re ahead of the pack, and you should read the rest of this blog. Many people do not believe there is perfection in this world, even though it’s all around us. The… Continue reading Do you have an open mind?

  We’re living in uncertain times but one thing you can be sure of: day after day, you can always pray Pray to survive Pray to say ‘Hi’ Pray to your god Pray for your car Pray to be safe Pray for your day You can always pray Pray for your Ma Pray for your… Continue reading You can always pray

  As if we’re the only ones in the universe…   It’s pretty arrogant to think we’re the only ones…   Do we listen to the crew? Or the Captain of the ship?                                            … Continue reading These days, we have to prove how much love we have for humans, but not how much love we have for God…

    Long ago, dinosaurs lived on one side of the world                                                      and humans lived on the other                                                                                             Now, new dinosaurs live on one side of the world                                                                       and we live on the other    

That explains a lot…   That is why atheists, agnostics, people of other faiths, and others don’t believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. But the Bible explains that we must study it and wait for God. And the Bible is the only place we can meet God, it says.    

      When I’m with my Daddy, even the big kids are afraid of me!    

  God, please bless America                                                                                                              And, the rest of the world                                                                                                                  It’s a mess, like America                                                                                                                 God, please bless all the world From the seniors                                                                                                                                    to the infants                                                                                                                                       The adults to                                                                                                                                      boys and girls God, please bless America                                                                                                               And, the rest of the world For the people                                                                                                                                who’ve been given                                                                                                                                 all your gold and                                                                                                                                   all… Continue reading God, please bless America

  I think I’ll go back to the old pillow. At least I’ll get to work on time…    

  I thought…   But did not say…    

    Handsome-Sam… He was all-black with the a little bit of white on his breast, that you can see, here, and on his stomach. Samuel was an eight month-old stray kitten from Newark when I got him around 1998. He was chasing some other cats around a friend’s sister and brother-in-law’s house in Westfield, New Jersey when he came over… Continue reading My boy died this morning. He was eighteen and a good boy…

      Life is the ruin of this, the beauty of that. Who cares! The question is: Do we love God?     When we are on our own we can get into trouble When we are far from home when we are all alone we are in a strange country   ‘Cause we are like… Continue reading I knew I wouldn’t win a Pulitzer or a Nobel Peace Prize because of the nature of this website. I always knew who I was dealing with…

  We’ve made a lot of progress since then. We still have horses, but now people ride to work in cars and trucks – and even planes. I’d like to buy a new vehicle but I wouldn’t get a lot of money for my old one. I wouldn’t be able to get anything fancy. I might be able to afford a… Continue reading John Adams rode his horse at a leisurely pace through the snow near Boston during the American Revolution. His feet were frozen but he kept going…

  Did I mention it’s pathetic?    

      I was a star…with my friends today                                                                                                     I was a star…with my family                                                                                                                 I was a star…in life’s wilderness                                                                                                         Who’s left to impress? Except you                                                                                                  And you’re never impressed                                                                                                              So, I hate you    

      Stuck here in the trenches of this nasty war                                                                        Watching all my steps as planes above us roar                                                                                 I have been encouraged, so I’ll do the same                                                                              Don’t you ever worry, just call out my name Call my name    

♫ ♪ ♫ ♪   But I’m old, short, stupid and deaf, so, for all I know, she was singing: “Get out of here, old, dumb guy…’cause I don’t like your kind: short, skinny, weak…” ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫   ♪             I wish I could sleep through this life, like a future… Continue reading A friend was singing a song near me: “Keep that song in your heart,” I said. “Oh! You like it?” she asked. “No. I mean sing it to yourself.” “Oh.”

  It’s cold outside.     But it’s warm in here.      

      “What time is it, Larry?” “You tell me!” I’ll tell you… And he pressed upon them greatly: and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city,… Continue reading “Hey, Larry!” I said to a friend. “What’s your REAL name? Larold?” “Lartholemew.” “That would have been my next guess…”

  People who value things differently than other people cannot impose their values on them if they don’t agree. They should agree to disagree, and leave it. And go their separate ways. But what happens if there aren’t anymore places to go to? People with differing values who live in peace is a beautiful thing. Why don’t… Continue reading True story: Recently, I made pictures for my blog at the library. I searched and found a narrow, four-foot table with three chairs under it and put fifty pens and pencils, a drawing pad and my backpack on it and was ready to begin. Then, a man with earphones and an iPhone appeared. “Can I sit here?” he asked. “No,” I said. But he sat down anyway. I didn’t want anybody using me as an iPacifier to distract me from my work so I went to see a librarian. She told him I needed the table to work. He claimed there was no other place to plug-in his unit and she told him he could plug-in anywhere. “This is harassment,” he complained. That sent chills down my spine. Eventually, the librarian said there was nothing she could do for me. I didn’t say a word and went back to the table, packed my things and walked out of the building. I was just glad he didn’t follow me outside…

  They want to find another god who’ll be a little less godly and accept them on their terms… Or else they can’t live with themselves…     We’re bound for nowhere, in particular, now Few of the passengers would care, anyhow Most think we’re going to Mars, or heaven-bound Of course, the Captain has been walking around Making… Continue reading Some are looking for life on other planets… Isn’t the life good enough for them here? Some are looking for another habitable planet. They want to ruin another perfectly good one…

    Four Christian brothers and sisters visited a castle. They were two black sisters and two white men, and they attended a Bible study together. The castle was a state-park castle, and it was around Halloween, so there were a lot of childish bats and mannequins of people who lived in the castle a hundred and fifty years ago dressed in… Continue reading Remember when Halloween was only for children? It still is…

  I love all the people where I work so it’s easy to do a good job but that’s not what love is… LOVE MAKES BAD THINGS GOOD!       Make yourself available Try to be agreeable And don’t be unreasonable Don’t be lazy with me Or get crazy you see I just can’t… Continue reading I can’t do anything right: I got new clothes, a new place, a new car, and a new razor that I pressed so hard with when I shaved that I became the first metrosexual redneck…

  In the “twinkling of an eye” everything will be made new; so no one will know the old when made new. Nothing to be embarrassed about…ever again.       Great performing violinist Niccolo Paganini, may we all be like him He had a good attitude in his act Minus one string, two strings,… Continue reading I know you’re a jealous God, but do you have to be with me every minute of the day? Even in the bathroom? And with all of those angels around. Come on!

          Dear sister, I’m patient with you, and it’s a miracle We’re not alone in the universe, you know as evidenced by how we spend our time… Who you hang around with is who you’re like        

  I’m going to the city. But not to see the Knicks…         I love the National Basketball Association, but my favorite team is the San Antonio Spurs. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are their star players, and they have role-players on their team who play smaller roles, but they all play… Continue reading “Are you doing anything special this weekend?” a co-worker asked me. “I’m going into the city,” I said. “Me, too!” he said. “I’ll look for you.”

  Not really. I look worse!    

  Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Brandenburg Concertos” is on my i-Pacifier. His music was rejected by a sovereign for Telemann’s music that is long forgotten…    

  “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.” (Matthew 4:3-4)    

  No fighting for two years. That’s not too much to ask…    

  This weekend I had nothing scheduled (except to watch the World Cup Finals) and I was too tired to do anything so I just rested, and did nothing. I did nothing, all weekend. What an experience! I did nothing and, surprisingly, I was inspired with plans and fun things to do I couldn’t have thought of… Continue reading It pays to be poor: Since my favorite radio station was sold, and not broadcasting anymore, I’m now listening to a jazz station – and actually liking it! I once told a friend that I thought jazz sounded frivolous, but this stuff is good! But I’m as stubborn as the next guy so I wouldn’t have found this music if I had tons of money and could listen to whatever I wanted…

We could ask…