The longer you are consumed with you

The less likely I will be concerned with you

I'm weary of being needed

To simply feed your abusive bent

You are a pretty flower

Whose heart is full of thorns

It's beginning to look like I hate myself

Three or four wives ago

I had grandeur on my mind

Fine house, fine cars, and a flock of kids

The blissful life was mine

Two or three wives ago

I had stability on my mind

My kids, her kids, a simple home

Her two jobs and mine

One or two wives ago

I had survival on my mind

Her kids were grown and almost gone

I never talk to mine

My last wife left me penniless

I almost lost my mind

I’m hoping someone will take me in

It won’t be one of mine

After my father’s funeral

Friends and family gathered at his modest home on the bay

He had lived there over forty years

I placed his urn on the lowest step of the dock

So, those who wished to, could say a final goodbye

I went first, and using Daddy’s favorite coffee cup, I scooped up a mug of him

And poured him over the place we had put my mother a few years before

Several others took their turn

And then it was my cousin John’s turn

He reached into the urn and captured my father’s heart in his hand

As the ashes spilled slowly through his fingers, the breeze carried them gently to the water below

He was likely remembering every laugh, and joke, and every drink that they had ever shared

Up until that moment

I never realized how close they were

She said

It was one of the best weekends she’s had in a long time

She spent it with her sister

Her sister, whom she loves

The same sister that took her husband

And with him, ten years of her life

And she struggled with the offense

But with the help of God, she finally forgave

And this same sister, whom she loves

Will very likely

Never hear of the offense again

For the rest of their lives

Don't Feed the Bears

Bears in your garbage

Bears in your hair

Bears on the road signs

Bears everywhere

Bears are in the neighborhood

" Get outa here, bear!!"

The rule when you see one

Don't feed the bears!

They come out of the woods at night

They come out in the day

They come to chase your dog around

They come out just to play

They'll come to watch your garden grow

They'll see you standing there

They'll ask you for a carrot

But don't feed the bears!

They dine on fruits and berries

They dine on soda cans

They love a piece of pizza pie

They'll take it from your hand

When they camp out in your backyard

Waiting for you there

Stay inside and lock the doors

And... DON'T FEED THE BEARS!!

We first met when I was very young. You probably don’t remember, but I do. It was a very exciting day for me. Since then, I have had many occasions to see you at a distance. Finally, yesterday, we were formally introduced and once again, it was a very exciting day for me.

Mr. Money, if you will let me work for you, I will become your most loyal employee. I will spare nothing of myself or what I have to help you grow your business. I am very happy to begin at an entry level position and am completely certain that you will notice my contribution immediately.

Eagerly awaiting your affirmative reply,

Sincerely,

Me

P.S. Thank you for taking your valuable time to read my application

Rushing Around was a temperamental child

Always on the edge of an explosion

When he and his friends got together awhile

The air was always filled with emotion

Days would come and go with lightning speed

Months would disappear in a blur

Always too busy to stop and see

If his efforts ever had any worth

One day Rushing ran into his brother

Amidst all his rushing around

He discovered his parents had passed away

But he was nowhere to be found

So, Rushing did what he always did

And rushed to where his parents used to live

He found his old home was abandoned

No sign of the life he had lived

He was struck with a thought that made him stand still

A rare thing indeed for the boy

His parents had urged him, take life by the reigns

Get all that you can and enjoy

When the holidays came they invited him home

But he was too busy to come

He was too busy, being busy alone

His folks said goodbye and were gone

Rushing sat down and he thought for awhile

What was his life all about

With all of his getting and rushing around

He had left the best part of life out

He determined right then, that a change would be made

Things just couldn’t remain the same

He would call up his brother and the ones that he loved

He even thought of changing his name

So, Rushing rushed home and got down on his knees

He knew he needed help with his plan

And his life started over that very afternoon

As he took the Savior’s nail pierced hand

Now, Rushing Around is Rushing NoMore

The boy has become a new man

His brother and his friends are amazed at the change

Since he took the Savior’s nail pierced hand

Rushing realized what we must realize

We can be driven or led

Driven by the illusion that we know the end

Surprised when we end up dead

Or led by our Maker who flaunts His wares

Declaring that He has a plan

Urging us yield from the depths of our hearts

And be led…by the nail pierced hand

Jimmy always was a restless boy

Wouldn’t take time for boyhood toys

Wanted to be big like boys he knew

And do all the things that big boys do

He loved to watch the big boy games

But there was one, his favorite thing

When Joe met Sally, they’d talk and smile

Then go off together for a little while

Joe would come back with a shine in his eyes

A swagger in his step when he told the guys

How he conquered Sally and made her beg

Sent her home smiling every single day

Young little Jimmy started early, though

Found himself a girl just a little bit slow

She took the bait, believed his line

But Jimmy’s little Jimmy couldn’t stop in time

Little Jimmy ran away like little boys do

Left a pregnant little girl singin’ the blues

He tried to grow up before his years

Leaving trouble in his wake and a million tears

Jimmy lived his life on the wild side

Took a couple of his buddies for a wild ride

Took a turn to fast and crossed the line

Drunk little Jimmy couldn’t stop in time

Jimmy was sent a thousand miles away

To a prison full of Jimmys with plenty to say

Jimmy chimed in with a piece of his mind

Jimmy, poor Jimmy, couldn’t stop in time

He grew up hard and he grew up fast

His prison time finally past

On the outside Jimmy found a simple way

But he lived regretting every single day

One day Jimmy heard a preacher call

“Jesus Christ is Lord of all”

But Jimmy had his own thing far too long

Left the preacher standin’ there singing his song

The day of Jimmy’s death came quite by surprise

The darkness closed in, he couldn’t open his eyes

But his mind woke up and panic set in

He realized something was up, right then

Jimmy heard a voice say, “I’ve got bad news”

“I sent an alarm, but you hit the snooze

You could have been forgiven, but you turned away

Jimmy, oh Jimmy, now you gotta pay”

His life flashed before him, all he had done

All the good, all the bad, every single one

Every moment, every hour, flooded his mind

But Jimmy, poor Jimmy, couldn’t go back in time

He couldn’t go back and turn it around

The day he rejected that Holy Ground

When God was there inviting him, “Come!”

And Jimmy said, “No!” to the Risen Son

Now, Jimmy’s gone to where Jimmys go

When they turn to God and say, “Thank you, no!”

And reject the resurrected Love lit sign

Every Jimmy there wishes…he could...stop in time

I wish I had a rocket launcher

For every single left lane driver

Dragging their stupid slow ass

Along the long long length

Of the passing lane

They think they the road

And have the right to lug their load

And disrespect the twenty drivers

Of the cars piled up behind them

Boom

Boom, Boom

Enjoy the wheelchair races, sucker!

(feel the love...)

Hello Hell

I didn’t think you were real

I heard you were just the figment of

Some religious zealot’s zeal

Now we’re up close and personal

And I don’t think I like you

I could tell from our very first acquaint

All the stories I heard were untrue

Why wasn't I properly informed

About all this misery

Or the depths from which my cries would come

Someone should have told me

I heard of Hell, I used the word

It was nothing but a word

Who would’ve guessed it was more than that

Who would’ve guessed the worst

One would think a place like this

Would’ve been known about by someone

Why would anyone keep a place like this

A secret from even anyone

It’s not enough I’m all alone

But I can’t even die

I would beg God, “Please have mercy!”

But I can’t quite catch His eye

I can see them all, they’re all right there

Who used to drive me nuts

With their incessant preaching

They were into that Jesus stuff

Especially just before I died

It’s like they stepped it up

I’ll bet my wife was behind all that

She changed when she joined up

Jesus this and Jesus that!”

It was Jesus everyday

“If you fall in love with Jesus

He’ll turn your darkness into day!”

It seems I heard it all the time,

“He gives eternal life!”

It seems to me, I remember now

It caused a bit of strife

I wasn’t in the mood for it

All that happy, “He wants you!”

I finally told her, “Just shut up!”

I had other things to do

I was surprised, she really did

Then her preacher happened by

He told me I was on their prayer list

I couldn’t figure why

I remember now

What that preacher said to me

“Believe it or not, this isn’t all there is

Don’t wait to die to see.”

He said, “The Bible’s the only book like it

And time has proven it true

There’s a real hope for heaven

That is offered for me and you

There’s also a dark and scary place

That you don’t wanna to go

May I come by and talk sometime?”

I remember I said, “No!”

So here I am Hell, and whaddaya know

I’m dyin' everyday

Over and over, all day long

I think I’ve learned to pray

I heard one time that Jesus was

The Living Water valve,

“Come unto me and drink for free…”

I wish I had some now

I now conclude this saga sad

Please, don’t come here with me

Save yourself and all you can

Don’t wait to die to see

Seek for Christ with all your heart

The Bible story’s true

I can see Him sending people out

Telling folks like me and you

If you cross paths with them today

Don’t let your heart be cold

There’s more to life than meets the eye

And Hell get’s real old…fast!