"The Pattern Shatterer"

Inspired utterances—more than a smatter
High, high hopes, e'en from pitter-patter

His preaching made the hatters madder:
"The least yeast makes the better batter"

Rumor mills and flattering chatter
Cousin's head served on a platter

Palms and coats and praises slathered
A right-now king they would rather

Closest friends, their feet he lathered
Then one betrayed, one denied, and all did scatter

His body crushed and torn to tatters
Climbed a tree without a ladder

Drip-drop, drip-drop, red holy splatter
Conquering death's venom spitting adder

Now he's dead and now we're sadder
Two days pass: Mary, what's the matter?

Fifty more, then we'll gather
To glorify Him, our pattern shatterer

"Across From Jericho"

What's that?

Milk and honey

Been here before?

Only saw it then
Time to claim it
Time to taste it

Gotta fight for it?

Yes
Lay down your sword

What!?

That's right
Just obey the Lord
When we cross over
We'll march
And march some more
Silent as a stone
Then we'll march
And march some more
And lift up a shout
The wall will fall

The wall will fall?
That's crazy
I'm staying here

Your loss
Me?
I'm following Josh
Hooah!

"Dear Aunt Linda"

I have some things I’d like to share
About a man who laughed and loved and cared

He taught me about the lights in the sky at night:
The differences between a star and a satellite

Baseball? I knew a little about the game
But after Wrigley, it was never the same

He bought me a cap when the Bulls were gung-ho
(I gave it away—to a boy in Mexico)

I remember holidays when we honored the Lamb
And a Thanksgiving with a turkey and a ham

I think he was there when I tried a snow sled
I’m very blessed to have seen him when I wed

It has been way, way too long
And now, our beloved Bruce is gone

Please forgive me for not being by your side
While you grieve and mourn and celebrate his life

Many a person called him Boo
And for this poem, that’ll have to do

After all, nothing rhymes quite right with Orange

"An Exclamation Of Praise"

Hallelujah!
Jesus is alive!
Hallelujah!
He has made me right!

Hallelujah!
Daddy loves me!
Hallelujah!
He paid to set me free!

Hallelujah!
He took away my sin!
Hallelujah!
Now I live for Him!

Hallelujah!
Jesus loves you!
Hallelujah!
You can know Him too!

"Esau"

The hairier of the pair
Was selected to be heir
He had the right of birth
But his mind was e'er on the earth
Thus, he was quickly and easily duped
For naught but a single cup of fresh-made soup