poems

Machine + For the Broken Ones

I performed a combination of two pieces at The Worship Conference NorCal this past weekend. I was asked for the text of the piece. So if you are interested, here it is. He told me "We're very proud of the ministry we have here." "We have worked very hard to build a well-oiled machine." He went on to describe what I could only assume to be parts of his machine and turned to ask if could see myself as a part of his ministry, and I wish he hadn't asked.

You see, some people build ministry like a well-oiled machine. They put in all their time, money, and people in hopes that the machine will produce the right produce, the right person, the right number beware when your ministry becomes a well-oiled machine for machines have not hearts

And some people build ministry like a well-oiled machine that keeps breaking down. They put in all their time, money, and people and the machine will not produce. Take courage, my friends; it is still a machine and machines have not hearts

Machines have no need for miracles they only ask for miracles and then operate in ways to make miracles unnecessary Machines are built with big budgets and bigger buildings and I wish I could write these words in braille so someone could feel what I'm saying

You don't need God to build a machine

But worship is for the broken ones smart enough to know how foolish they are It is for those who have tried and found life lacking but are not content to confess that 'this' is all there is

If is for those wearied of wondering if our crying hearts might drown us but know that our tears are telescopes to heaven looking through trembling lenses for hope and deeper senses of home

It is for those who don't need church to be a menagerie of saints but an emergency room for sinners it is for those whose shadows are faint from finding too much light

Worship is for those who will step out onto nothing hoping to land on something because accepting that you are accepted is a perception of yourself not everyone can afford it is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who have let loose the luxury of denying a handout of amazing grace

It is for those who chose a path though straight and narrow is still rugged and beaten you are still on the right path

Worship is for phobic confessor who could never match the projections of the pious but know that perfection is a gangly wire no one could ever walk

It is for the child who holds that heaven is full of five year olds sparing themselves the futility of proving themselves to people who will never speak your language of half cartoon, half boo boo, half "Daddy, I love you." Three halves make one more than whole

Do not accept yourself as you should be but as you are because you will never be as you should be Quit rinsing your filthy rags in gas station bathrooms as if hand soap and make believe will make them believe you belong; but you belong. You belong to a kingdom belonging to people not trying to cleaner than they are You belong

Worship is for the sin-soaked and the broken who are loved and outspoken knowing unworthy is not the same as worthless

It is for the paupers who have made peace with their flaws It is for those who have prayed in silence but have never ceased to pray

Worship is for you do not for one second take your gift for granted make sure it is contagious because while it is yours to have it is only valuable in its giving away

be sure your every conversation leaves a sensation of love because this is where the mighty descend and the lowly rise to comprise what we all crave

Worship is standing on the lip of the Grand Canyon with a contagious tour guide tell you to "Look at THIS! Look at THAT! Look at THIS! Look at THAT!" and if the Grand Canyon is only a faint shadow of God's glory you have to wonder, "What must HE be like?"

You are not a worship singer, a backup vocalist, a drummer a guitarist, a basist, or a sound tech You are a worship leader You are a tour guide to God's glory So stand and shout for all who will listen "Look at THIS! Look at THAT! Look at THIS!"

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kEW1WRJTpM&w=560&h=315]

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But it was on SALE!!!

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Early this year I put out a spoken word poetry EP. I had been charging $4 which was $1 a track, but I think that is ridiculous. I have marked the entire album down to $1. WHAT?!?!

Yeah! $1

You can pay $1 for the entire EP, or truth be told, you can download each track by naming your own price. You can name your price at $0.00 and its all yours. I only ask that if you take it for free, you please click like or tweet it. If you're going to take it, please share it!

[bandcamp album=1107388974 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

Throw away story [poem]

he nearly threw away his lifethe book about the pacific war a gift from grandma but more than a book

the note attached to the back beckoned not to throw it out

as you read this book you will see your grandfather throughout this is not garbage it is a barrage of you and your story

this poem is this reality

do not throw it out pay attention to the things around you

your story is being written this is all your story

you can learn a bit about yourself

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Permission to worship [poem]

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You have been granted permission to worshipworship as if God actually hears you as if your thoughts are words to God

Worship as if the sky were a funnel to filter only your words to His ears

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Favorite Poet[s]: Commoners and Kings

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I love the written and spoken word. I try to soak up as much of it as I can. A while ago I came across Commoners and Kings on a podcast I frequently listen to. I was unable to find a lot on them to share, but recently I revisted their facebook and found a stream of videos they call "Street Series" of different impromptu poets they film performing on the streets of Southern California. This is one of the videos which happens to be one of the Commoners and Kings. Enjoy!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1JC5skwRsw&w=560&h=315]

New Poet: Hillary Kobernick

I have been trying to listen to more from Hillary Kobernick, though it is difficult to come across more of her material. I have only found two videos online to share. This is my favorite of the two, but my favorite piece I have heard from her is called "An Open Letter to Pat Robertson" (audio of which you can find at her site above) It is both incredibly well-informed and equally cutting. Enjoy! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVs1KQACTgI&w=560&h=345]

Archived Poetry

I went back to an old site I had created to post all the poetry I wrote in college and before. No, I will not divulge the address to this site. I will share small glimpses of different phrases I can still appreciate today. Mismatch fractions of old pieces. -----

For if this were a movie, I’d fast-forward to the end. Then rewind back And slo-mo through again.

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Play with the metaphors around you for you are surpassing the literal and catching a glimpse of God

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The sun is liquid. I can see the puddles on the branches. Sunshine drips through naked trees, refracting straight toward the ground.

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If I placed my heart on the line would you be there to pick it up?

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It's the way your eyes are so big I could never find my way out of them.

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