QUESTION OF THE DAY #42: What Is Your Favorite Poem?

I don't know if I have a favorite poem, but I wrote one the other night. Poetry forces me to choose each word with care.  This one is called "More than a Dream".   

The dreamer unfurls the downy quilt
and back and forth is slumber-tossed,
and to worlds unnamed does soar,
but in the waking all is lost
and vanished is the thrill of life,
though it were imagined, just.

As clouds cover stars for a time
and allow their mists to clear,
and as the greater light of day
erases the silent drama where
eyes were transfixed for a moment,
visions once held are seen no more.

So sameness would rob those who
are richer than they might know
and steal what is more than dream
as they stretch for what is new
but not so much as they had before
leaving hands opened, slipped through.

So to that one who is apart tonight
but not apart for truly loved
A plea goes forth that angel host
keep watch over them so moved
and fill their heart with warmth
and peace and constancy endued.

I wrote it as I was thinking how easy it is to get bored with the familiar and forget how wonderful it is.  With all the new gadgets coming out, making yesterday's technology obsolete, the effect is only heightened.  I am afraid that we are addicted to change, to the new.  There is much to be said for the tried and true, for warm memories and for the basic joys of life that remain unaffected by "progress."

Even more than that, I'm glad we have a God whose love remains unchanged by passing fancy or fad.  We never have to guess if we're loved.

QUESTION OF THE DAY #41: "What is your favorite cheese?"

There are so many good varieties of cheese.  The names are wonderful, too, like every variety of cheddar, Colby, Havarti, Gorgonzola, blue, Cooper cheeses, Camembert provolone, Swiss, brie, Gouda, Stilton, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Colby-Jack, Monterrey Jack, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Here in Wisconsin we also have string cheese, and best of all, cheese curds!  Yum!

There really is a world of cheese, but  I almost missed out.  When I was younger I had some Parmesan cheese on top of spaghetti.  For some reason I didn't like the texture and decided I didn't like cheese.  Gradually, over time, I began to realize that this simply wasn't true.  Now, I absolutely adore cheese of all sorts, as if you couldn't tell!

I think that many people have their mind made up about Jesus and about Christianity.  Maybe they got a bad taste in their mouth.  For situations like that, I'm truly sad, and don't excuse the behavior that led to that bad taste.  Other people have only witnessed a pale imitation of what it means to believe in Jesus.

As the Apostle Paul spoke about his ministry, he said, "For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ." (2 Corinthians 2:17) When a sincere person of faith shares their faith, it cannot be argued with, for it is not a matter of debate.  As such a person shares the risen and crucified Jesus with others, it is authentic and real.  That is why Paul also said, "we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved." (2 Corinthians 2:15)

Maybe you want to be like that.  I can assure you that by God's grace He is working such a work in you, for He has promised it.  Often, in our weakness, God reveals His strength.  Maybe you want to meet such a person.  I can assure you that they truly do exist, and God will bring them to you.  "Taste" and see that the Lord is good.