Here Comes January: A Spoken Word Reflecting On 2010

Here's a Spoken Word I just wrote titled "Here Comes January". It is a both a reflection on the events of 2010 (for a list see HERE) and a lookin' forward to those of 2011. Enjoy!

Advent: A Spoken Word Poem

Here is a brief little "Spoken Word" that I wrote for Advent 2010. (*Update: I have also added an audio-only version below*)



(Audio version)

An Ode To The Body

Oh body, I know I take you for granted

I complain about you incessantly and

I grow weary of your weariness

I don't take care of you

But I still expect so much from you

I loathe your pains and

I seek your pleasures

I search for your comforts but

I get tired of your problems

When you ache I sleep

When you suffer I whine

When you need more of me

I give up on you

Oh body

My hands

My feet

My mind

When will I ever realize

That you've not yet given up on me and

When will I ever realize

That I should not give up on you

When will I realize
That to ignore your cries is to ignore the cries of others

When will I realize

That to be part of the Body

The Body of Christ

Means to love you more than I love myself

And means

To build you up instead of beating you down

When will I realize

That baptism cancels out narcissism

And that the many parts

Make up this one beautiful body

-TMWH (2008)

A Limerick On The Lord's Day

(Inspired by Mk. 1.29-34.)

There once was hungry lad named Peter
Whose mother-in-law got a crazy high fever
When she couldn’t make him supper
He had Jesus come touch her
She arose and fired up the egg beater

A Limerick on the Lord's Day

Haven't done one of these in a while, so, I thought I'd give it a go. (Based on Mk. 1).

There once was a baptizin’ gent
With an affinity for the word “repent”
He dipped locusts in honey
His breath smelt funny
And so did his lumberjack scent

God Looks, Thinks & Acts Just Like Me

(An off-rhythm, off-the-cuff poem)

If you traveled through time and
Through many places
If you were looking for Jesus
You’d see a man of many faces

If you asked an ancient Roman
They’d say He was a crook
If now you asked a little child
They’d say a character in their book

If you asked a group in Africa
They might say that Christ had dreads
If you went into a white Church
Well, they’d put blonde hair upon His head

If you asked someone who’s poor
They might tell you Christ was just like them
If you asked a well-to-do
They’d tell you: “He’s my best friend”

If you spoke to someone who’d been attacked
They might speak of Christ the judge
If you asked Mr. Middleclass
He might tell you Christ is love

If you spoke to Michelangelo
He’d paint a picture of bearded might
If you spoke with a conservative
They’d say Jesus is on the right

If you spoke with a Baptist
Then you’d know what Jesus was like
If you spoke with the Christian Church
Then Jesus was a Campbellite

If you spoke with an artist
Then they’d say that God’s “Creator”
If you talked with special interest groups
Then you’d learn that God is just a hater

If you spoke with an atheist
Then God would be nowhere
If you spoke with a contemplative
Then God would be now here

If you spoke with a believer
They’d say Jesus held their beliefs
If you proved that concept wrong
Still many would not concede

If we were to take just a moment
To travel on within
If we’d be honest with ourselves
Then, and only then,

We’d realize that we make God to be like us
That we create Him in our image and likeness
That we shape Him into the spiritual replica of our ideal selves
That we’ve concocted so many answers to “Who do you say I am?”
That we have fashioned for ourselves a God we can relate to, our very own God
That we’ve had the tendency throughout time and the world to do this
That we think, when compared to all others, we’ve got a corner on God
That, perhaps, we need to reconsider, just who God is

--TMW Halcomb (2008)

Is Genesis 1 Poetry?

The notion that Genesis 1 is poetry has been around for a while now. I must say, I'm not totally convinced that it is poetry but there may be a number of reasons to think that it is. Of course, this is much easier to discern in the Hebrew than in any other text; if it is poetry, English definitely does it injustice! Here are a few reasons to think it might be poetry (to listen to me pronounce these words/phrases, click on the button that follows them):

1. Alliteration - Gen. 1.1 begins with two "B" sounds: בראשית (sounds like: bey-ra-sheet) and ברא (sounds like: bah-rah).

2. Repetition - Gen. 1.1 repeats a number of sounds. For instance, it repeats the "ra" (and "b") sounds in the first two words (see above). Of course, the two definite-article markers sound exactly the same: את (sounds like: eight). Towards the end of 1.1 we find the conjunction ו (sounds like: vay), which shows up only a few spaces later at the beginning of verse 2. Then we have the last word of verse 1 which is the same as the first full word of verse 2: הארץ (sounds like: ha-er-ets). In verse two, there is also the repetition of to phrase צל-ףני (sounds like: al-pan-ay).

3. Rhyme - The third and fifth words rhyme: אלהים (sounds like: El-o-heem) and השמים (sounds like: ha-sha-my-eem). These two terms, coupled with both uses of את also create a nice sounding rhyme. Something very similar happens towards the end of verse 2, there we find אלהים (sounds like: El-o-heem) again and then, המים (sounds like: ha-meem). In verse two, we also have the nice rhyme of תהו (sounds like: toe-hu) and ובהו (sounds like: va-bo-hu). To listen to my reading of verses 1 and 2, cick the button.

I could offer more on this but I do not feel the need to do so. From a textual point-of-view, it seems that at the very least, it is possible that the first two verses could be poetic. Indeed, the verses have a number of poetic features. But here's the thing, if these verses are poetic, does that mean that they are empty-and-void (nice wordplay, I know) of historical meaning? To put it differently, does the fact that this is poetry (if it is) mean that it cannot be describing an actual historical event? I think not. I mean, we eulogize historical events via poetry and song all of the time. Think of the Star Spangled Banner. It is very mythic and poetic but it is based on a historical event.

The reason I bring this up is because many people play the "poetry" card on Gen. 1.1 to negate the fact that it is historically based. What I'm suggesting is that one cannot turn to the poetry argument to try to make this point. I find it quite humorous that Darwinists and Evolutionists often pull out the poetry card in an attempt to strengthen their case. In fact, if one wants to poke holes in that their argument, they need only cite some of Darwin's own work. Here's some poetry from Darwin, pertaining to the creation of the world found in his 1792 work, The Economy of Vegetation (HT: sah):

"When high in ether, with explosion directions
From the deep craters of his realms of life,
The Whirling Sun this ponderous planet hurl'd,
And gave the astonish'd void another world."

Here's yet another one of Erasmus Darwin's poems, this one was penned in a work of his titled The Botanic Garden:

"Organic Life beneath the shoreless waves
Was born and nurs'd in Oceans pearly caves;
First forms minute, unseen by spheric glass,
Move on the mud, or pierce the watery mass;
These, as successive generations bloom,
New powers acquire and larger limbs assume;
Whence countless groups of vegetation spring,
And, breathing realms of fin, and feet and wing."

My point is that in every case where poetry crops up in the Bible, one cannot appeal to the argument that there is no historical basis behind it. This is a patently flawed argument. Indeed, there exists poetry in the Bible with no historical basis behind it at all (especially in the Psalms) but there is also poetry rooted in history. If Genesis 1.1 and following is poetic, then it seems we have to take the latter route. So, it is time to quit trying to play the poetry card to discredit the history that lies behind the opening verses of Genesis. And really, Darwin could have told us that!

A Limerick On The Lord's Day

(based on Acts 9.43ff)

There once was a man from Joppa
Who owned a leather shoppa
When he tanned the hide
It reeked of urine inside
His neighbors said, “Oh, please stoppa”

A Poem On Rejection, Forgiveness & Moving On

When Forgiveness is Rejected

To offer forgiveness
Well,
It means that you’ve been hurt
And to say, “I’ve moved on”
Well,
It means that you’ve been burnt

Recently, I offered forgiveness
For,
I had bottled up my hurt
And the one whom to whom I offered it
Well,
He just wouldn’t accept these words

Expectedly, he offered rejection
Like,
He’d never been in the wrong
“Forgive me for what?” he asked
For,
These were still the lyrics of his song

“I offer you forgiveness,”
“For,”
“All of the emotional pain”
“And I offer it graciously”
But,
He just shook his head in disdain

I offered grace
And,
I offered it as best as I knew
I offered my heart upon sleeve
But,
That was rejected too

I didn’t offer another chance
For
This taker to take any more
He came close as he could
As,
If to widen the sore

I offered with boldness
To
My invader, a meek "No!"
I offered forgiveness
And,
I spoke firmly with grace
I realized reconciliation
Wasn’t,
Able to take place

Some will not offer
And,
Some will not accept,
Some will not own up,
And,
Acknowledge their debts

When we offer forgiveness
And,
That forgiveness is made cheap
And that forgiveness is declined,
Well,
We’ve turned the other cheek

But offering to turn a cheek
Isn’t,
Offering a blind eye
And letting an abuser,
Continue,
Isn’t admirable or high

So, if you offered forgiveness
Only
To find it shunned
You’ve done you’re part
Now,“Shake the dust off and move on”

--TMW Halcomb, 10/07

A Limerick on the Lord's Day

(based on Mk. 7.24-30)

There once was a woman from Tyre

She had a daughter with demons inside her

She saw Christ and fell down

Then He called Her a hound

Good thing she wasn't a biter

A Limerick on the Lord's Day

(based on Mk. 8.22-6; in collaboration w/my lovely wife Kristi)

There once was a man with no sight
Jesus spit and his world became bright
“Now I can see,
But the men look like trees”

Tried to climb one but got in a fight

A Limerick on the Lord's Day

(based on 2Kgs. 2.23-5)

Elisha was made fun of 'cause he was bald

But when it happened, on bears he called

Like when the youth group made fun

And then quickly turned to run

The sight was grizzly, those kids were mauled

A Limerick on the Lord's Day

Jonah! The man just wouldn't relent.

Nope, he was making a statement!

Fleeing fast, die being cast,

God-harrassed then puked on grass.

But in the end He did hear God repent!

Tendencies: A Spoken Word Confession

Tendencies

Some things
We just don’t like mentioned
Like when I
Turn my blind eye
To the world’s suffering
And why?
To remain a comfy closet Christian!

I convince myself
That I aint meant to meddle
In the middle
Of this mess
I’ll simply sit and settle
Relax and dismantle
While millions out there peddle

To this end
I just defend
How I’m con-de-scend
-ing
Yep, I con-serve
I’m mister right wing
That’s my think-ing
But am I not thieving?
And can you follow my reasoning?

Am I stealing from God?

When this hungry sister’s
Starving heart whispers
When this war torn land
Devastates this man
And…
I’m gone
Vanished…like footprints in the sand
Am I a man
Of God
Or a thief?
A selfish steward
Whose faith is putrid?

See
There’s a tendency
To keep
The heart from the head
And the head from the hands
So, personally
And socially
We can be
At the same time
Lazy
Yet unholy
And consequentially
Still act like we’re free…in Christ
But that’s a vice
A deadly sin
So, who are we kiddin’?

We need caught by a vision
To be men & women fishin’
We’re commissioned
To live in
Relation not religion
Our hearts cut like circumcision
And what I’m saying yo, it’s relevant
It might be obvious, like a room with an elephant
But we need sold on this truth & I be sellin’ it
From roof top to top, straight yellin’ it

Yep, it needs told
Needs believers who are bold
Who’ll march the tough roads
And someone who’ll hold
The young and the old
The rich and the po’
Cause you know
It’s hard to keep your hands warm
When the fire has no coal
But…
We know
That, what bread is to hunger
Jesus Christ is to the soul
So…

Let’s tally the score
And leave open the doors
Cause what’s done in here
Can’t be hidden no more
We need
Men & women of integrity
Good deeds for all the world to see
To be
Exemplary
And to simply
Do honest ministry
That’s the need of the century
In this age where they’re censuring
The voice that carries density
The voice of truth

See
Me
I’m seeking life after life
Where we win, not lose
But this truth
It’s been banned from the radios and the news
But since I
Since I
Regard the truth as sacred
I take the truth as truth
Cause there’s no other way to take it

So men
And women
Listen
We don’t need a revolution
No, what we need is a conclusion
Where we worship, serve and live like the saints

Instead of yawning in communion

--TMW Halcomb

Vengeance is Mine

Vengeance is Mine

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the cheated
“I’ll get you back,”
“Revenge is what is needed”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the spurned
“You’ll get what’s coming,”
“Reprisal in return”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the jealous
“What goes around comes around,”
“My fury is zealous”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the politician
“I’ll make you pay,”
“Here comes retribution”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the defeated
“You’ll see how it feels,”
“You’ll get mistreated”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the tough
“I’ll settle the score,”
“Until I’ve wounded you enough”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the leader
“We’ll devastate your nation,”
“On destruction you’ll teeter”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the writer
“I’ll smear your reputation,”
“And your hope will expire”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the ungodly
“Retaliation is a must,”
“My justice is upon thee”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the religious
“An eye for an eye,”
“My resolve is your sentence”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the wicked
“Punishment is deserved,”
“Pain must be inflicted”

“Vengeance is mine,” thus saith everyone
“No pardon or freedom,”
“No mercy for anyone”

“No! Vengeance is mine,” thus saith the Lord
“In me, you’ve been forgiven,”
“So don't hate but forgive forevermore”

--TMW Halcomb