The Voice

To the Love of my Life:

"Sacred doing." That is the root definition of "sacrifice," it is written. Some suppose to sacrifice is to be willing to relinquish our most esteemed treasures--gold, property and even kin, in order to be rewarded with something even greater. Others conclude it is to forfeit our comfort and health, honing our senses by starving and inflicting ourselves in sackcloth and ashes. There are also many who, as righteous sacrifice, yield their wills to that of a higher power (following with exactness the whispered commands).

I will not point a finger of scorn or accusation at those who offer in sincerity a pound of flesh or gold. I will not disparage the ones who have audience with gods and angels. They have made sure something which I can only hope for.

But, my love, I have circled through these things for long enough to learn. While I became stronger I also grew ever dizzier, as a horse who grinds the mill, chasing the carrot dangling just in front of him but never quite reaching the prize.

So I must stop now and consider...What is most holy and sacred to me?

It is the piercing gaze of your azure eyes.
It is the soft, gentle touch of your compassionate hands.
It is a journey with you through the green groves and meadows.
It is the warm consoling embrace of your arms.

There is no crown so gilded, no promise so enduring, no reward so vast that I would exchange what we already share for kingdoms, powers or dominions.

For a season, I have sung like David, psalms in the language of the muses. Few have listened, but no matter. It was what my heart desired. Now it is time to leave the few for a time, with hope for them in my heart, and turn my sacred doings towards you. Which means pausing the song and closing the books for an intermission. It may have all been a whimsy and with the wind it will fade to nothing. Even so, the fruit tasted so delicious along the way!

Look at yonder tree, there is more to be had! Come, Dearest, let us go undertake our sacred works together!! That is the desire of my heart.

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And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity for the House of Israel. "For thou hast manifested the rock of salvation unto the Gentiles, through the Holy Ghost; and thou hast blessed those who curse thee and caused it to rain on the just and the unjust alike. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father."

And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: Behold, there has been a great work in the land, even among the Gentiles, for their folly and their abominations have been manifest in the eyes of all people. I have shown them their weakness, and have shown unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me the fountain of all righteousness.

Hearken O ye Gentiles to the voice of the Lord which has been manifested unto you. Spend not in vain the talent which has been given unto you, but make your weaknesses strong and build your house upon the rock of your Redeemer.

He that believeth the things which the Lord hath spoken, him has he visited with the manifestations of his Spirit, and he does know and has born record to you. And the Lord said: remember, whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words which have sounded in your ears will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.

Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. Believe and follow that which has been written upon your hearts. Speak not stout words against me, but think upon my name that ye may be immovable in the time of desolation. Then in that day when I make up my jewels I will spare you Gentiles as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts.

Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be immersed in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name. And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath manifested it unto the Gentiles. Amen.

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We've been taken back to school
To learn and love the golden rule
Now I lay it on the line
To sing the music one more time
Oh, let me tell you again
Can you feel it
I will tell you again
Tonight

Every gentile heart it seems
Is carried by a world of dreams
Each and every rising sun
Is lifted by the Holy One
Oh, let me tell you again
Can you feel it
I will tell you again
Tonight

'Cause out on the ocean of life my loves
There's so many storms we must rise above
Can you hear the Spirit calling
As it's carried across the waves
You've so long been falling
It's calling you back to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're no longer falling
The one that it's calling is you!

Make a promise take a vow
And trust your feelings it's easy now
Understand the voice within
And feel the changes already beginning
Oh, let me tell you again
Can you feel it
I will tell you again
Tonight

And how many words have I got to say
And how many times will it be this way
With your arms around the future
And your back up against the past
You've so long been falling it's calling you
On to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're no longer falling
The one it's calling is you!!

Every gentile heart it seems
Is being shown a world of dreams
Look and see the rising sun
You'll find the kind and loving One
Oh, let me tell you again
Can you feel it
I will tell you again
Tonight

The Shield

"Go away, you pesky imps!" was the man's daily mantra. "I shield myself from your vile influence!" Yet, the unclean spirits still bothered, still wreaked their havoc. So every day he continued his prayer.

Finally, as men will do, the man passed away. As he was walking from here to the unknown Beyond, he caught a glimpse of the vexatious disembodied and decided that he must inquire of them.

"Why did you torment me so? What did I ever do to you?" he stopped and asked. The man caught the attention of a particularly sinister-looking devil who crept his way over and faced him directly.

"I s'pose it won't do no harm ta say now tha'cher one of us..." scowled the hellion. "Here's the secret, mate, to sinkin' yer teeth into the souls of the livin': We wait fer them to cry out against us, casting us off with their mean words. If they didn't make such a ruckus, we could hardly even see 'em! Sure, sometimes we hook onto those who don't deserve it, but they can get borin' fast, unless they start gettin' riled up... then it gets int'resin'!

"We have to leave fer a minute when they yell at us like that, but make no mistake, we come back, mad as hell. If they get to be so noisy t'wards us, why shouldn't we get to have some fun with them? It's only fair, ya know! They are always so forceful when they talk to us!"

"Now there was that time quite a while back when we were really goin' to town on this poor fella. He was so messed up that he ran around buck naked like a loon! But then we came across the One, who talked to us much nicer than any other folk. He had every right to cast us off, 'cause we had been pretty nasty with the man. But He talked to us and let us move on the way we wanted instead of pushin' us out to the Great Empty."

"If yer livin' brothers were to deal with us like that, I s'pose that we'd have nuthin' to do, 'cause we can attack those who accuse us. The One said so. But we got no int'rest in the Skinned who don't wanna play."

The man absorbed the words then carried on his way. As he walked, he heard a call from the demon, "Hey! I'll see ya soon, mate!"

The Song of Elijah

Got a rock and roll ditty
from the ones we should pity
at a country lane far away.
Drums are beatin'
and the bass repeatin'
but we're still asleep just the same.

Asleep! Comforted, warm!
(Who cares, they're all gone.)
C'mon, it won't take long,
we should be singin' Elijah's song!
Singin' Elijah's song!

We got a prophet says, "Daddy
will be made so glad if we
go lookin' for His comforting arms,"
and to go findin' His face
whatever our place,
but all the while they wait
for us to think about their fate.

Asleep! It's all well and good
to try to find Who we should.
Hey, it's time for leavin' the 'hood!
we should be singin' Elijah's song!
Singin' Elijah's song!

The idol of our fathers
is here.
We won't ever leave this place
I fear.
While we're wanderin' 'round
there's a song that they left in our head.

Dream, (that's what we do).
Dream, this dream'll come true.
Now that we're big and strong
let's remember Elijah's song.
Remember Elijah's song!
Remember Elijah's song!!
Remember Elijah's song!!!


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And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.

And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity for My People.

Your Turn at the Bat

So on the stricken multitude grim melancholy sits.
How can an earnest Gentile troop go on a "saving blitz?"
A mystery so hidden up Isaiah might well ask:
"Are these the ones I prophesied are up to head the task?"

But wait! A clue is given in the pages of a book
which people read so often that they quickly overlook
a story of some missionaries meeting in the field,
and how united efforts did produce a bounteous yield.

The brothers were familiar with a wicked sort of state:
A life of such iniquity that they had sealed their fate.
But rather than consigning to an endless gulf of woe,
The Lord saw fit to bless the men and snatch them from below.

Although they were His enemies, great mercy was allowed--
so much, they all repented and their sins were disavowed.
The foursome (and another) saw the pattern of the Lord:
to serve those who oppose us. From evil, grace restored.

The thousands who converted, in kind did follow through--
they laid their swords beneath them and charity pursued.
What storm can now defeat them? What rain can snuff or douse?
As children of the Holy One, how sturdy is their house!

So now I testify the thing which never was revealed
(At least our clouded vision kept the common knowledge sealed)
Feel free to spread the word to all the fellowships and souls
whose hopes of wond'rous miracles do match the Brothers' goals.

Behold, there is no natural man who knows the subtle ways
of Zion's operandi and how God's love to praise.
This is the holy order and the mark upon the head,
The heav'nly invitation and the feast of wine and bread:

To not accuse the enemies of man or even God,
but serve them with great diligence, although they might be flawed.
The promise is quite obvious to those who walk the path:
Great multitudes will see the light and shake Justice's wrath.

Although you're not commanded, will you take the righteous dare
to gather in a circle and recite a worthy prayer?
A plea for the oppressors and a cry for evil ones
will make you Holy Daughters and Consecrated Sons.

And do not slow your litany of blessings to impart;
pray for them unceasingly with all your might and heart.
Then do the works which evidence your supplicated speech,
take the action requisite to practice what you preach.

Your fruit will ripen speedily and God will clearly see
that your desires match the orbs which grow upon His Tree.
This promise is extended forth to all the sons of men
that through their choice and agency they'll come to Him again.

The worth of souls is great, you know, and saving even one
will bring a person endless joy when all is said and done.
And if the luscious fruit is sweet with just a single soul
Envision how ten thousand lives will make your spirit whole.

My friends, go out and prove Him to authenticate His vow;
you'll find fruit so abundant that it almost breaks the bough.
He'll open Heav'nly windows and protect your sacred wheat.
No insect will devour all the harvest at your feet.

He'll crown His holy temple with the jewels of Ephraim's toil
and heal the once forgotten with His Consecrated Oil.
All nations then shall call you blessed--a pure delightsome land;
the Lord of Hosts has spoken it and witnessed through His hand.

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Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children sing;
for there'll be joy in Zion! (when Gentiles do their thing).