A poem I wrote

[Luke2427]

The Purpose
By: luke2427

Twas not some need in God that moved his sovereign hand
To build the universe… so vast, complex and grand.
It was not loneliness within the Triune God,
That drove him to create man from earthen sod.
Perish the thought from earth that God could ever be,
Dissatisfied within His self-sufficiency!
Father, Son and Spirit throughout eternity,
E’er basked in glowing joy of each other’s company.
In time preceding time, before creation’s birth,
When naught but Godhead was, God was filled with mirth.

Nor was the reason that God sought the unique thrill,
To make a creature which possessed complete free will.
One that could choose to serve as well as choose to sin,
As if true love needs such to be called genuine.
If true love required power of contrary choice,
God’s love would not be true, for he e’er but can rejoice
In unrelenting love he has for his dear Son,
His love is such that it can never be undone.
The greatest love is not possessed within free will,
Purest love burns so hot that it can never chill.

What purpose was it then for which he made the world,
Whence against the velvet skies the sparkling stars He hurled?
And why erect the mount and shore up the mighty sea,
And fill the earth with life and breathtaking beauty?
Why save for very last, the making of the man,
Declaring him the peak of God’s own master plan?
Man in God’s own image, would be the means whereby
Each of the Trinity, would the other glorify.
Father, Son and Spirit, through creation would express,
To each other honor, exalting holiness.

From start to finish all fulfills a divine plan,
The fall, cross and triumph; the redemption of man.
God planned it all in love his Son to glorify,
For Father-love the son would enter it and die.
The Son would show the worth of God upon the cross
The Father would exalt his Son who’d bear such loss.
The Spirit would partake in each step along the way,
Always putting the Son and Father on display.
The Son as God would rise, conquering death to declare,
That God alone is life and to Him none compare.

To think that we were made for such a glorious aim
The Trinity by us, their attributes acclaim!
The regenerate heart will forever rejoice,
Exulting in God's plan with heart soul, strength and voice.
But the self-centered man, he can never see,
Naught but man as focus of all eternity.
But God is God-centered as God must ever be,
Putting aught before himself would be idolatry.
God’s love for man is best, when God keeps himself first,
For only in God alone can man's soul e’er quench its thirst.

 

[saturneptune]

The poem is a remarkable work. I have no artistic talent and admire those who express their innermost thoughts like this. Besides the message being so wonderful, the mystery to me is how does one come up with the tempo, wording, and rhyme to come up with the poem? Is this something that comes from your inner self naturally, like a talent from birth, or is it something you learned over the years?

Whichever, I appreciate reading the post, and enjoy the talent. I think back to school, and the subjects I had trouble with was related to the arts and humanities. Math, science, and history came much easier to me. My first experience with not being artistic was an assignment of drawing the three ships Columbus sailed over to the New World in, the Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria. Some of the students drew quite detailed images, the masts, rigging hulls, etc. My drawing was a triangle for the sail, and a rectangle for the hull connected by a line three times for the three ships. They actually called my parents for the feeble effort and ended up with a D for the course. In future years, I had a dislike for literature like Shakespeare, novels like Great Expectations, and courses in the arts and architecture of Europe in the same era. I also hated the plays I had to be a part of to graduate from high school.

Over the years, I grew to appreciate the subjects, and finally realized that they can be enjoyed without having any talent. When this talent is mixed with Scripture, like the Psalms, it is indeed a priviledge to read.

Thanks again for the post. Besides the artistic talent, your theology shows a great understanding of the love, grace, and mercy of our Lord and Savior.

 

[convicted1]

I have no artistic talent.

I wholeheartedly concur.

The mystery to me is how does one come up with the tempo, wording, and rhyme to come up with the poem?

Well, you DO live in Ky, so that should tell you why you can't.

I think back to school, and the subjects I had trouble with was related to the arts and humanities.

Remember, one must go to school for more than a total of 5 days to learn anything/something Brother.

Math, science, and history came much easier to me.

Was this after you got your first job at 21,and subsequently returned to 5th grade, so that you could pay someone to do you classwork and homework for you?

I also hated the plays I had to be a part of to graduate from high school.

No wonder. You being 35, and in the 12th grade, I'd be embarrassed, too. Plus, there was no girl in the HS for you to take to the prom. Even the teachers were too young for you.

Over the years, I grew to appreciate the subjects, and finally realized that they can be enjoyed without having any talent.

Over how many years? You started kindergarten at 12, and graduated HS at 38....so that's 26 years.


Boy, "cut and paste" is fun to do......:laugh: :wavey: :flower:


J/K with ya....I'm sure you know this.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Is this a Hatfield/McCoy thing going on between you two?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The Purpose
By: luke2427

Twas not some need in God that moved his sovereign hand
To build the universe… so vast, complex and grand.
It was not loneliness within the Triune God,
That drove him to create man from earthen sod.
Perish the thought from earth that God could ever be,
Dissatisfied within His self-sufficiency!
Father, Son and Spirit throughout eternity,
E’er basked in glowing joy of each other’s company.
In time preceding time, before creation’s birth,
When naught but Godhead was, God was filled with mirth.

Nor was the reason that God sought the unique thrill,
To make a creature which possessed complete free will.
One that could choose to serve as well as choose to sin,
As if true love needs such to be called genuine.
If true love required power of contrary choice,
God’s love would not be true, for he e’er but can rejoice
In unrelenting love he has for his dear Son,
His love is such that it can never be undone.
The greatest love is not possessed within free will,
Purest love burns so hot that it can never chill.

What purpose was it then for which he made the world,
Whence against the velvet skies the sparkling stars He hurled?
And why erect the mount and shore up the mighty sea,
And fill the earth with life and breathtaking beauty?
Why save for very last, the making of the man,
Declaring him the peak of God’s own master plan?
Man in God’s own image, would be the means whereby
Each of the Trinity, would the other glorify.
Father, Son and Spirit, through creation would express,
To each other honor, exalting holiness.

From start to finish all fulfills a divine plan,
The fall, cross and triumph; the redemption of man.
God planned it all in love his Son to glorify,
For Father-love the son would enter it and die.
The Son would show the worth of God upon the cross
The Father would exalt his Son who’d bear such loss.
The Spirit would partake in each step along the way,
Always putting the Son and Father on display.
The Son as God would rise, conquering death to declare,
That God alone is life and to Him none compare.

To think that we were made for such a glorious aim
The Trinity by us, their attributes acclaim!
The regenerate heart will forever rejoice,
Exulting in God's plan with heart soul, strength and voice.
But the self-centered man, he can never see,
Naught but man as focus of all eternity.
But God is God-centered as God must ever be,
Putting aught before himself would be idolatry.
God’s love for man is best, when God keeps himself first,
For only in God alone can man's soul e’er quench its thirst.

Very cool Rick!:thumbsup:

 

[convicted1]

Is this a Hatfield/McCoy thing going on between you two?

Yup....wanna make sumptin' of it? LOL

 

[Aaron]

From start to finish all fulfills a divine plan,
The fall, cross and triumph; the redemption of man.
God planned it all in love his Son to glorify,
For Father-love the son would enter it and die.
The Son would show the worth of God upon the cross
The Father would exalt his Son who’d bear such loss.
The Spirit would partake in each step along the way,
Always putting the Son and Father on display.
The Son as God would rise, conquering death to declare,
That God alone is life and to Him none compare.

That's it right there. All things were created by Him and for Him, and without Him was not made anything that was made—even the wicked for the day of judgment.

 

[Aaron]

The Purpose
By: luke2427

Twas not some need in God that moved his sovereign hand
To build the universe… so vast, complex and grand.
It was not loneliness within the Triune God,
That drove him to create man from earthen sod.
Perish the thought from earth that God could ever be,
Dissatisfied within His self-sufficiency!
Father, Son and Spirit throughout eternity,
E’er basked in glowing joy of each other’s company.
In time preceding time, before creation’s birth,
When naught but Godhead was, God was filled with mirth.

Nor was the reason that God sought the unique thrill,
To make a creature which possessed complete free will.
One that could choose to serve as well as choose to sin,
As if true love needs such to be called genuine.
If true love required power of contrary choice,
God’s love would not be true, for he e’er but can rejoice
In unrelenting love he has for his dear Son,
His love is such that it can never be undone.
The greatest love is not possessed within free will,
Purest love burns so hot that it can never chill.

What purpose was it then for which he made the world,
Whence against the velvet skies the sparkling stars He hurled?
And why erect the mount and shore up the mighty sea,
And fill the earth with life and breathtaking beauty?
Why save for very last, the making of the man,
Declaring him the peak of God’s own master plan?
Man in God’s own image, would be the means whereby
Each of the Trinity, would the other glorify.
Father, Son and Spirit, through creation would express,
To each other honor, exalting holiness.

From start to finish all fulfills a divine plan,
The fall, cross and triumph; the redemption of man.
God planned it all in love his Son to glorify,
For Father-love the son would enter it and die.
The Son would show the worth of God upon the cross
The Father would exalt his Son who’d bear such loss.
The Spirit would partake in each step along the way,
Always putting the Son and Father on display.
The Son as God would rise, conquering death to declare,
That God alone is life and to Him none compare.

To think that we were made for such a glorious aim
The Trinity by us, their attributes acclaim!
The regenerate heart will forever rejoice,
Exulting in God's plan with heart soul, strength and voice.
But the self-centered man, he can never see,
Naught but man as focus of all eternity.
But God is God-centered as God must ever be,
Putting aught before himself would be idolatry.
God’s love for man is best, when God keeps himself first,
For only in God alone can man's soul e’er quench its thirst.

Not bad. Now, can you do it in iambic pentameter, 16 lines and a rhyming couplet at the end?

Me neither.

You would love John Donne:

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town to another due,
Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov'd fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy;
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
​

 

[psalms109:31]

That's it right there. All things were created by Him and for Him, and without Him was not made anything that was made—even the wicked for the day of judgment.

That is why they are to repent and live, it amazes me how scripture like this can be used for what it was never meant for. What is meant to bring people to Christ others use to show they can't

 

[Skandelon]

I can do Calvinistic poetry too:

"Roses are Red, violets are blue, God chose me, and forgot about you..."

Just kidding, that was actually pretty good Luke! :thumbs:

 

[Luke2427]

Thank you all for your kind words.

:wavey:

 

[SovereignMercy]

Thanks Luke.

 

[HeirofSalvation]

Beautifully written poem....we obviously have some minor disagreements about the sum-total of all of God's designs with his creation of humanity and his gospel....but it was truly nice to read, worshipfull even....even though I don't necessarily accept all of the assummed premises in toto....It was VERY nice....Actually, if you have more...I would love to hear them!!!! Nice work :thumbs:

All of my bestest buddies are actually Calvinists....except for one...and we used to jokingly sing:

"Jesus loves the little children,
all the children of the world..

Red and yellow black and blue....Jesus loves me more than you..."!!!:type:

All in good fun, of course.


Aaron....

Studied that Holy Sonnet by Donne in High School:
It immediately became my favourite poem of all time....I LOVE that one. Great taste!!:godisgood:
next to Blake's "The Lamb"....Donne's Holy Sonnet is the best poem ever written:

The Lamb

By William Blake 1757–1827 William Blake

Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee


Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.

Gotta Love great Poetry....I listened to Ravi Zacharias challenge the assumed cliche' "A picture is worth a thousand words"...last week. He used THIS example by POPE to disprove the idea:
(referrencing Christ's turning the water into wine)

"The water looked up at it's master, and blushed..."

He then said something like:......"Paint That"!!!!

 

[Luke2427]

Beautifully written poem....we obviously have some minor disagreements about the sum-total of all of God's designs with his creation of humanity and his gospel....but it was truly nice to read, worshipfull even....even though I don't necessarily accept all of the assummed premises in toto....It was VERY nice....Actually, if you have more...I would love to hear them!!!! Nice work :thumbs:

All of my bestest buddies are actually Calvinists....except for one...and we used to jokingly sing:

"Jesus loves the little children,
all the children of the world..

Red and yellow black and blue....Jesus loves me more than you..."!!!:type:

All in good fun, of course.


Aaron....

Studied that Holy Sonnet by Donne in High School:
It immediately became my favourite poem of all time....I LOVE that one. Great taste!!:godisgood:
next to Blake's "The Lamb"....Donne's Holy Sonnet is the best poem ever written:

The Lamb

By William Blake 1757–1827 William Blake

Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee


Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.

Gotta Love great Poetry....I listened to Ravi Zacharias challenge the assumed cliche' "A picture is worth a thousand words"...last week. He used THIS example by POPE to disprove the idea:
(referrencing Christ's turning the water into wine)

"The water looked up at it's master, and blushed..."

He then said something like:......"Paint That"!!!!

But you can't fully appreciate that poem without the poem he wrote as it's companion- The Tyger.

It really communicates a great truth about the Sovereign God.

He is not just the God of puppies and kittens and lambs.

He is also the God who designed a world to be filled with crocodiles and tigers.

Blake understood this difficult but eye opening truth when he wrote:

The Tyger

Tyger Tyger. burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes!
On what wings dare he aspire!
What the hand, dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger, Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

I hasten to add that I am not saying that Blake was a Calvinist. Blake might not have even been a Christian at all. But that he understood what I think the Arminian dismisses. That is all I am saying.

Regardless, both are beautiful and powerful poems.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

My tastes in poetry run the full gambit....however Tennyson, Browning, Yeats & Dylan Thomas I have a special place for. :love2::thumbsup:

 

[HeirofSalvation]

But you can't fully appreciate that poem without the poem he wrote as it's companion- The Tyger.

It really communicates a great truth about the Sovereign God.

He is not just the God of puppies and kittens and lambs.

He is also the God who designed a world to be filled with crocodiles and tigers.

Blake understood this difficult but eye opening truth when he wrote:

The Tyger

Tyger Tyger. burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?


In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes!
On what wings dare he aspire!
What the hand, dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger, Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

I hasten to add that I am not saying that Blake was a Calvinist. Blake might not have even been a Christian at all. But that he understood what I think the Arminian dismisses. That is all I am saying.

Regardless, both are beautiful and powerful poems.

If Blake were a Calvinist....and, if I were a betting man, I would actually probably argue that he was (merely given the time of writing and prevalent Theology extant at that time and what-not)...Hey, I don't care. I liked your poem Luke ( and I am fully aware of where we disagree on some things, it was still a beautiful and Christ-honoring poem...I also like Blake's poem. (You will forgive me if I think that despite your obvious talent....Blake was better)... "The Lamb" is (considered in a vacuum a better poem), but, apparently, Blake didn't write it in a vacuum did he, since it appears he referenced his own work with this one....They seem to work in tandem don't they!!!:thumbsup: Just make's Blake pretty good huh!!!

I will take issue with this much, though....I truly believe that I can confindently say that there is no man capable of writing as Blake does, who is NOT a Christian. I would wager on it. I doubt quite seriously, that he could have (just IMO) written as he did, if he weren't saved...even though I think him probably a Calvinist...Of, course, being a poet at heart, I think he probably could have cared less (as the artistically gifted are usually too smart to waste their lives bickering sematics as the likes of you and I would). :thumbsup:

Ultimately though....I think you know full-well I have ZERO objection as an "Arminian" to Blake's poem about the Tiger....I think this was a well-meant riposte...and again, I say, well-played. I've never read that poem before, It makes me like "The Lamb" all the more!!!!! 'Course...Biblically, Jesus is not, technically, a "Tiger" but rather a "Lion" and what-not <<<-------:smilewinkgrin: I think you hold no REAL illusions that we (Arms) can't or don't truly delight in that "Lion of Judah" facet of our Omnipotent and Sovereign Almighty God, who is capable of being the humble lamb as well....Good poetry Luke, good poem indeed!!!!:flower:....................You don't really think that we "dismiss" this, though, do you?...I doubt it.

 

[Luke2427]

If Blake were a Calvinist....and, if I were a betting man, I would actually probably argue that he was (merely given the time of writing and prevalent Theology extant at that time and what-not)...Hey, I don't care. I liked your poem Luke ( and I am fully aware of where we disagree on some things, it was still a beautiful and Christ-honoring poem...I also like Blake's poem. (You will forgive me if I think that despite your obvious talent....Blake was better)... "The Lamb" is (considered in a vacuum a better poem), but, apparently, Blake didn't write it in a vacuum did he, since it appears he referenced his own work with this one....They seem to work in tandem don't they!!!:thumbsup: Just make's Blake pretty good huh!!!

I will take issue with this much, though....I truly believe that I can confindently say that there is no man capable of writing as Blake does, who is NOT a Christian. I would wager on it. I doubt quite seriously, that he could have (just IMO) written as he did, if he weren't saved...even though I think him probably a Calvinist...Of, course, being a poet at heart, I think he probably could have cared less (as the artistically gifted are usually too smart to waste their lives bickering sematics as the likes of you and I would). :thumbsup:

Ultimately though....I think you know full-well I have ZERO objection as an "Arminian" to Blake's poem about the Tiger....I think this was a well-meant riposte...and again, I say, well-played. I've never read that poem before, It makes me like "The Lamb" all the more!!!!! 'Course...Biblically, Jesus is not, technically, a "Tiger" but rather a "Lion" and what-not <<<-------:smilewinkgrin: I think you hold no REAL illusions that we (Arms) can't or don't truly delight in that "Lion of Judah" facet of our Omnipotent and Sovereign Almighty God, who is capable of being the humble lamb as well....Good poetry Luke, good poem indeed!!!!:flower:....................You don't really think that we "dismiss" this, though, do you?...I doubt it.

Not you, brother.

You and Skan are two of my favorite Arminians on earth- I think a great deal of you both.

And just for the record- I love Arminians. I don't think they are heretics or ungodly or any such thing.

I hope I can be like Whitefield who was a staunch Calvinist but had the utmost respect for his good friend Wesley who was a staunch Arminian.

There are things, believe it or not, that matter to me a great deal more than the Arm/Cal issue- a GREAT deal more.

Like whether or not one is passionate about the Great Commission.

I, quite frankly, had rather work with a Great Commission minded Arminian than an "us four and no more" Calvinist ANY DAY!!!

 

[HeirofSalvation]

Not you, brother.

You and Skan are two of my favorite Arminians on earth- I think a great deal of you both.

And just for the record- I love Arminians. I don't think they are heretics or ungodly or any such thing.

I hope I can be like Whitefield who was a staunch Calvinist but had the utmost respect for his good friend Wesley who was a staunch Arminian.

There are things, believe it or not, that matter to me a great deal more than the Arm/Cal issue- a GREAT deal more.

Like whether or not one is passionate about the Great Commission.

I, quite frankly, had rather work with a Great Commission minded Arminian than an "us four and no more" Calvinist ANY DAY!!!

Does it make sense to say to you that....even though I think you set out to "state" or "prove" some things in your O.P. poem, that "technically" I might take issue with....I still REALLY LIKED your poem....

I didn't "propositionally" completely "Agree" with all of it's assumptions per se....but, you know what??? I don't really care either....I thought that what I read was a heart truly devoted to God's glory (if only slightly mis-informed, in my mind) and....I seriously didn't care....I knew the Spirit, at least, with which you wrote it...and it was simply Christ-honoring....and also pretty objectively well-executed.

Maybe God is an Arm....and he thinks you were somewhat mistaken with your poem....I guess I am saying that he would have loved it anyway, as I did....and maybe he is a Calvinist, and he knows your are intellectually accurate on all points....I think that what HE loved, was the artistic expression of one of his children doing their dead-level-best (always insufficient anyway) to honor him....

I liked the poem, I was........
In major disagreement at points...and yet, moved. Therefore, I have nothing but good things to say about it....It was actually pretty plum-good :thumbsup: Thanks LUKE!!!!:love2:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

IF.... R. Browning

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!


Just curious... Is this too Idealistic for todays man to live up to?

 

[Skandelon]

You and Skan are two of my favorite Arminians on earth- I think a great deal of you both.

Awwww, now I'm feeling all verklempt... :laugh: