Building Down and Up (poem)

(Sometimes) annual reflection. :-)

Building Down and Up
(poem by Nathan Ludwick; copyright 6/1/2015)
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Habakkuk 1:5, Psalms 127, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 3:1-4, Galatians 2:20, John 12:20-26, Luke 6:46-49, Hebrews 13:12-16, Philippians 3:7-20, Luke 14:25-35, Philippians 1:21, Matthew 6:25-34, Proverbs 24:3-4, Proverbs 1:7, Job 13:15, Isaiah 2:22, Genesis 11, Matthew 7:12-14, Luke 9:23, John 6:68, John 14:6, John 10:10)

Thirty-three on the tree
For a life of debris
What a feat of carpentry!
A way of life made a way of death
But that death made The Way of Life
The straight and narrow Way of Life
That only a few ever find
The crossbeams of its firm foundation laid by Christ
The Lord is the Master Builder and Code Inspector
Without Whom the laborers build in vain
A vain tower of Babel
Built of all that man's capable
A towering monument to ill-placed confidence
And it seems the older you get the less sure of things you get
Every day I grow more sure that I'm not sure of anything but one
I put no trust in man who has but a breath and I put trust in God who gives the breath
The rubble of old towers and old dreams seem to be the same material
The material and substance of things hoped for of impermanence
Down goes what came up and down goes the day- like the old refrain- nothing gold can stay
Midas' touch can't touch this one gold thing that does stay
The Carpenter's luminescent streets- the real life yellow brick road I will one day say hello to in time
The only hope for the future that helps me move past the past and present myself to The Father's present for me
And what a present it is to have reached the same years of struggle our Lord endured
Together with Christ in His glory and Resurrection but first in His suffering
And shall I not accept both good and bad from The Lord's hand?
But let me only fall into the hands of The Lord-
The hands that wound and heal are the only ones I trust
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him
One day I will also be together with Christ in death
Knowing that because of Him I am always with Him in Life.
Both seeds' and dreams' deaths bring much growth
And the suffering is not worth comparing to the glory to be revealed in the new coming.
The former things have passed- all is made new through the Catalyst of soils' and souls' contents.
The stuff of earth still competes for my allegiance but it joins me thirty-three on the tree
Dying to live and living to die daily- all only for Lord Jesus, my best thought.
Be Thou my vision, mission, blueprints, building and foundation- firm forever holding me together.

"Calling All Humans" (song)

Throughout human history, man has been on a philosophical search for meaning and significance. In all generations, a call has gone out for something greater than ourselves- someone bigger than us to intervene in our affairs. "Call on your god!" the captain exhorted Jonah in Jonah 1:6. Everyone seems to agree that the world is in a sorry state- something has gone horribly wrong from what it's supposed to be and we need help to make things right. Man has looked so long and futilely in so many places for guidance- from his inner self to community to social implementations and reordering to the stars and the creatures of higher intelligence that may dwell there.
"You wrote that the world doesn't need a Savior. But everyday I hear people crying for one."- Superman to Lois Lane in "Superman Returns"
        It's undeniable that people have cried out for a savior over the ages to so many places. And it seems invariably that we have long had a fixation on the cosmos and the possibilities of a U.F.O. and alien beings coming to save us all. It's kinda crazy how we are willing to look to the remote possibility of alien beings coming to save us, but we ignore the great salvation provided to us by the one real God who stepped into our world and became one of us. He worked as a carpenter and fully identified with us in facing all the temptations we do- and yet was without sin. And the day He died to pay for our sins is the day the earth stood still- and suddenly everything was changed forever. With the Resurrection, we knew that we were never alone and that we could have the possibility of new life through our Savior. He has been revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. And He's calling all humans to Himself: "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." (Revelation 22:17)

"Calling All Humans" (parody of "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day)" by Klaatu, as performed by Carpenters; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 4/21/2015)
(Psalms 135, Jonah 1:6, Isaiah 2:22, John 1:1-18, Acts 17:30, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:43, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Romans 10:9-13, John 3:16-21, John 8:12, John 8:31-32, John 15:18-19, John 18:36, John 10:10, John 14:6, John 17:14-19, John 5:39-47, John 5:24, 2 Peter 3:8-9, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 1 Timothy 6:20-21, John 10:14-18, Hebrews 4:16, Jude 1:8, Jude 1:10, Jude 1:21-25, Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 1:17-19, Revelation 19:11-16, 1 John 5:13-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Philippians 3:18-21, Colossians 1:11-29, Revelation 3:20, Revelation 22:16-21)

In The Christ you have the access key to God's throne
To teleport messages to The Lord of Hosts!
Please close your eyes and start to pray
Without ever ceasing
For those in hesitation, hear the doubters' plea:

"Calling occupants of interplanetary craft
Calling occupants of interplanetary, most extraordinary craft
Calling out for help, O interplanetary craft!
Come and offer us your interplanetary pact!
Come and rescue us with interpersonal peace, most extraordinary craft!"

"We've been observing our Earth
And we'd like it saved
By contact with you."

- They need our Friend

Calling all humans- it's in 2nd. Peter 3:9
Calling all humans- in Acts 17:30- all are wanted- God seeks

He's been observing our Earth
And one night became
A human like you
He is our Friend

All in Chapter One
of John- The Word became flesh; we beheld His glory- yeah!

Believe and receive- we beseech you
Showed us His Love- Jesus beaten
Our Lord lay there crucified
Third day come, He's risen!

E.T., Heaven's Gate and the Starman
Oh, the unidentified
Flying object
Where they seek rescue

- They need You!

By design, we have ability to choose
We submit to God, "Thy will be done here on earth too"
Else God says, "Thy will be done" to you
In Heaven or fiery lake?
2nd. Corinthians 6:2 declares, "Today get saved!"

Calling all humans- God's intervened on our behalf
Calling all humans- salvation plan's 10:43 Acts
Calling all humans- to enter Paradise through Christ's complete work on Calvary's cross

Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!

Calling all humans
Calling all humans
Calling all humans- Lord Christ's the transporter beam; engage 2 verse 38 [three eight] (in) Acts!

He is our Friend!
.........................................................................