Stop Stepping on the Cracks

Trust in Your Redeemer

I went without a job for two months.  I thought God was not acting fast enough, but the truth is I had a lot of pride turning down several jobs that I probably should have taken.  I was too blind to see the hand that God was offering me at this time.  In due season, I will reap a bountiful harvest if I don't give up.  God has provided for me in ways I never expected when money was tight, including a late tax return that turned out to be right on time.

Often in life we moan and complain
about how we can't take the pain
Life's too hard, no one cares
On and on we whine instead of share
Don't bellyache to mere mortals
Who for death are mere morsels
Instead bring your burden to He
Who bore the world's sins at Calvary
His shoulders are broad and wide
And His heart burst from the inside
Carrying your ills and infirmaries
Burying all in the depths of the sea.
By His stripes He purchased our debt
Why now should we be so upset?
The proof of His love marks Him forever
His death brings God and man together.

Isaiah 53:5 reminds us:

New International Version
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

CAN YOU REALLY WALK ON AIR? JOURNEYS OF FAITH

Crossing Bridges Rather Than Burning Them

Here I am again
crossing this same old pit
balancing on little more
than a collection of sticks.

I have seen many claiming to walk in faith
only to fall straight to their doom
where does foolishness end and faith begin
Why must so many dreams pop

Chasing bubbles over abysses
is no way to live
I will choose my next step carefully
and trust I too can be saved.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
主を恐れることは知恵のもとである、聖なる者を知ることは、悟りである

Lady Wisdom vs. Lady Folly 1/22-28

Dear Lady Folly

I can't believe I let you kiss me

with those poison lips

The fates warned me about you

with signs too obvious to miss.

I hang on your every word

As wind propels the bird

So I let your every whim

carry me until I had lost home.

You will not be adding me

to your endless list of victims

I will stand with wisdom

and enjoy a good homecooked meal.

I got this image from the imagery of Proverbs with folly being a woman who devours the innocent.

 

Young men (and women) are supposed to avoid the temptations that lure in the simple.  There is a price for the pleasure.

Folly says,

 

To those who have no sense she says,
¹⁷     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!”
¹⁸ But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

Jan 14-20 The Not So Generous Accountant

The Not So Generous Accountant

We all rejoice when people we love
take their challenges and rise above
but if we are honest with ourselves
We often feel like we have been shelved.

Why won't success come and visit me?
Why do some prosper and others fail miserably
 We often let jealousy crept inside a door
 We had left open for souls far more poor.

Life never seems to be a generous giver
But sour souls will not be delivered
Only those who accept their amount
Will see that time evens all accounts.

Recently a friend of mine experienced something that I am wanting.  I am happy for him but I must be patient and not passive.

Week 2 (January 8-13)

Rise of the Victorious 

You give me my every breath
Yet I cling to what is left
A lump of clay lacks the vision
to question the Master's decisions
You alone sit on the throne
You alone are my King.
Your promises are enough
to keep me when the going's tough
Why should I bow my head
to a foe that is already as good as dead.
As you were with Moses
so You shall be with me
No man can withstand
The might of your hand
Unfurled at Calvary.

Poetry Slam week 1 (Jan 1-7)

I have decided to post my poems here on my blog.  I rediscovered this blog I made about a year ago.  I will update it weekly with new poems written in English.  Please leave comments.

I have several goals this year:

1. Learn to speak Spanish
2. Learn to speak Japanese
3. Write a poem once a week
4. Get healthy

Please tell me what you think about my poems.  I welcome criticism.

Noxious Dreams by Thomas Daniel Rogers

Time steals what it can't kill
As the raging river pours every drop of strength
into the gaping maw of a bottomless sea

Looking up at the stars hurts my neck
As I strain to see the faintest twinkle
The trails of dust leave me with a cough.

This heart is shackled by impossible dreams
Its beat slows under the growing weight
of eternity.

The sweetest of wines has become a poison
Kissing the lips before biting the belly.
It tempts you with promises of ending the pain.

Groaning I cut the chains of the past
As I raise my hands to block the sun
I throw my into today, pushing one load at a time.

Hajimemashite (Nice to meet you)

WELCOME TO THE TEA PARTY!

I have always liked Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland,  The strange logic of the book worked its magic on me and made me wish there were better sequels than Through the Looking Glass.  Now when it comes to Asia and my love for Asian culture and languages, I feel a bit of out place like Alice.  I try to enjoy the party going on, even if I don't all of what is happening.

I am dedicating this blog to my love of languages and my passion for Asian pop culture.  I will be posting Kpop, Mandarin pop, and Jpop reviews, as well as recommending movies and anime for people to watch.

I have a 12 year plan.  I plan to learn Spanish first, then Japanese and Korean, and finally Mandarin by the time I am 50.  I try to study a little bit each day, just enough to have fun.  I highly recommend websites like memrise.com for learning words and phrases, and www.lang-8.com for blogging in a language you are learning.  For cheap tutoring through Skype, I use www.italki.com.  Some of the tutors only charge 6.00 for a hour session.  The Spanish lessons are cheaper than the Korean lessons, but it is possible to find Korean lessons starting at $10.00.

Want to see something reviewed?  Know something cool about another culture that few people know?  Feel free to email me and I might feature it in my blog.