Sheepdogs of Rhythm ( A Poem to the Pastors of my Church)

God stirred your hearts to do what was right
To take all you experienced and church plant
Miami’s darkness was yearning deeply for God’s light
Jesus knew so he turned the answer to can instead of cant

The souls of the community deeply burden you
As each morning rises this is where your prayer starts
Much like a doctor tending to a child with the flu
With Jesus we know the only way to heal is through their hearts

You have listened carefully to the Sheppard’s command
As Satan desires to sift us as wheat
All alone his desire has us hopeless, as if in quicksand
But our sheepdogs of Rhythm keep us safe from that defeat

We hear of Pirate Island Theology
Oh and how our worship times mend our souls
Though you are apologist you make no apology
Knowing without a doubt Christ has conquered Sheol

Your desires and passions are rooted for this city
Christ shines through each of your talents and smiles
You love us whole to keep us from focusing on self pity
Our feelings, many times “Justified”, enduring our life trials

Each of you turn your hearts to God
Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you
The acceptance that everyone, but Christ is flawed
Has empowered Rhythm these years of Divine breakthrough

There are problems and obstacles that truly reveal
That Rhythm is human and always in need
However, our Sheepdogs have no fear to pray, bow and kneel
For it is their number one desire for Christ Almighty to succeed

Next Breath

We take each one of our breaths for granted
Just as every single beat of our heart
Pretending we live a life enchanted
Not realizing our next breath could be the final depart

Living to be free and in peace
Is far from what we achieve
The busyness of our lives never seems to cease
Then with that last breath everyone chooses to grieve

Reconnect with souls from the past
Because fear of your last breath becomes real
Now you cannot even remember the last time you asked
If they would like to come over for a meal

Then someones next breath becomes their last
Our hearts skip as we remember their smiles
When we look at the years they have gone by so fast
OH! if we only knew how we have all endured many trials

No matter if our next breath becomes our last
With Jesus that breath will be with a calm release
Though they will mourn they will accept we have passed
Though broken and hurt they will say with no regret ” Rest In Peace!”

Conflicted

I want my desires
It is my life to control
My flesh shrivels and slowly expires
Never paying attention that I am rotting my soul

I serve you and I pray
Haven’t I deserved this right to sin
Amazing how subtlety from Him we sway
Woe’s me to how drudged and dirty I have been

It is plain for myself I truly do not care
Taking risk in my life that should have had huge cost
Imprisonment and death in this life would have been fair
However, God pours His mercy on me, His son, who is lost

I claim to be found in Him
That I accept His sacrifice for me
Yet my life of wickedness overflows the brim
Now, today, every night for the rest of my life I am on bended knee

Why do You pour your mercy
You have chosen to show me favor
“My desires” cause chaos and controversy
Yet ALL of scripture claims you want to be my Savior

I am so conflicted in my soul
This conflict, mind you, is of God design
Repenting of childish ways and relinquishing my illusion of control
That I may be led by He who turned water into wine