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Loosing the Belt
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Loosing the Belt |
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Stephanos
since 2000-07-31
Posts 3618Statesboro, GA, USA 
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Hey guys. I've been away for awhile. I'm usually very busy and can only pop by from time to time. Good to see you again. Please forgive the length of this one. It is hopelessly long. But I wrote what the Lord layed on my heart. Maybe you can read a little at a time to digest it. It's more like a large meal than an hor d'oeuvre. Loosing the Belt Our Southern and Midwestern states are privileged by God blest and saturated with a knowledge of his word, equipped with much external that might benefit and grow all souls which hunger after him with true desire to know. His mercies time and time again have fallen to the south, honey in the land of Dixie flowing from his mouth. As Paul asked of a people “What advantage has the Jew?” Much in every way.” When culture typifies what’s true and freezes in formality a likeness of the good, life must spread upon it’s frame as gold on shiitim wood. But wood apart from gold is little more than hay and stubble. Temples without sanctity have always slid to rubble. But if he understands the cues from ceremony’s stage the Jew gets past the acting and transcends his present age and sees the Law in clearer light as school master to lead. Things dead apart from Spirit were intended as a seed. And like the Jew, the southern gent inherits much the same. Imbedded in his folkways are inflections of the name, the only saving name for man to which all fear is due, made common through an apathy which glibly holds it true. Esteemed more as a custom than conviction that is real, The Bible-belt is mostly worn for southern comfort feel, and for the sake of mothers and their mothers who were churched. Though truths abound we have not many Fathers who have searched. And so another hemisphere must hold the Southern cross or aloft in vernal pines we place it either way our loss. For who ascends to bring Christ down when no man’s spirit flies? Or who descends to raise him up when no one even tries? And not to say we even should for the word of faith is near. But to have it in our mouths and not our hearts we ought to fear. Knowledge makes accountable and brings increasing guilt. Blueprints hold our masons to the structures they have built. It’s not enough to say “The Lord has blessed and given grace”. His nature is to give. Yet his command was “Seek my face and walk in true obedience not just the outward form”. Altars can be quenched and cold. It’s living coals that warm by burning truer sacrifice for fragrancy in Heaven. True bread must fall unto the world without the trace of leaven. And these tell of a priesthood and a kingdom that is more than customary motions of religion turned to lore. Our God intended us to be a teacher of the rest, a light to guide the nation, an exemplar of what’s best. But the measure of our progress always converse to our pride tells us we have loved our lives. But shouldn’t we have died? We’ve raised a generation that is careless for the cause listless and with little love indifferent to his laws, but fervid toward this reeling world which fast dissolves away. Responsive to it’s faintest call, they’ve loved a different way. Seeing Christ as painted in the colors of our choosing, they turn from him because of us not knowing who they’re losing. Now if they hated us because of him they’d own the blame. But many yet may love him when he vindicates his name and extricates his honors from the idols we have raised. Despite the puzzling alloy gold emergent will be praised. As fires swept Atlanta raging heat will come again to burn away our trappings and convict us all of sin. But it won’t be to destroy us if we’ll listen to his voice. Losing levity we’ll find real causes to rejoice. This belt must represent to us his discipline and scourge, stars and stripes for higher good, a chastening to purge. A trumpeting for righteousness will startle every ear, shaking more than just our land. But trembling earth is near. Let those who keep traditions having lost their vital roots question all their practices performed in Sunday suits, and seek to have a deeper faith if there be faith at all. The voice of John is crying. Who has ears to hear his call? Lord, Turn us from captivity less obvious than when the southern tribes of Judah were delivered for their sin to a strong and feral people stirred to ravage psuedo-peace. The cruelest wolves are not without. The felling of the fleece was necessary business to reveal to blinded eyes who they were inside themselves. Should fools proceed as wise? We are vassals, though unwittingly, to darkness we can’t know until the light is shining and the winds of judgment blow. If the compass of our spirit turns we won’t be swept away. "Gone with the wind" is said of chaff in the coming threshing day. His hand will loose this belt someway. (note- the word "shiitim" above is not spelled correctly... it is actually spelled with one "i" and two "t"s. It is the type of wood that was used to make the ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. When I spell it correctly the PIP filtering system ****s out the portion of the word which spells... well you know. Just wanted to explain. lol) [This message has been edited by Stephanos (edited 11-02-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Stephen Douglas Jones - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Songbird Member Elite
since 1999-12-15
Posts 2184Missouri |
I had no trouble reading all of this, every line is truth and pardon the expression.. "you aren't just whistling Dixie" A true relationship with God has to be our own, not something passed down from previous generations. Glad you took the time to post..and comment on my poem. Thanks |
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Trillium
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098Idaho, USA |
A huge subject to cover but you did it very well! The length didn't bother me at all. It was too interesting to even think about that! Betty Lou Hebert |
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ellie LeJeune Member Elite
since 2000-01-10
Posts 4156King of Prussia, PA USA |
I was mesmerized from beginning to end by this magnificent epic poem of truth and inspiration. Flowingly poetic and incredibly full of the woven wisdom that our hearts are where God must ultimately dwell. Bravo! Ellie A friend hears the song in my heart, and sings it to me when my memory fails. |
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Joyce Johnson
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912Washington State |
Dear Stephanos, glad to see you back. I found your poem very interesting and I think it also applies to us northerners, some of whom go through the motions but need to be struck with new religious fervor. I will read this again. It is deserving of further study. Joyce |
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Wanda Member
since 2001-10-23
Posts 461 |
Stephanos; Bravo..You have said some things that truly need to be said. May God bless you, and continue to use this marvelous talent to honor Him. Well done. Wanda |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
I like your analogy of the two belts.... the Bible belt and the one around our mid-sections. Very profound in my opinion. I appreciate your call for a higher service and commitment to our GOD. Your poem reads almost prophetic. ....and I agree with some of the other responses in that your poem is not limited by any certain demographics but is a call to whomever has ears to hear. Your poem does present a feast of spiritual meat that does require some chewing before it can be digested and ultimately stretch our peripheral belts. Thanks again and God bless you. -Bob |
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aries_luv_ppl Senior Member
since 2001-09-20
Posts 1448Universal Mind |
You worded it very well! I agree with the replies b4 me. Love, |
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