Make no mistake,

freewill

is never free.

To live or die,

eternally,

an awesome price

all must pay

for choice,

So choose one path:

the crowded broad way

of this day,

with pleasure

or

life’s narrow path,

from creations moment,

with treasure,

incorruptible.

Choice always

has its price,

present and future.

jfrancis©

november 20, 2003

(among the living)

Controversy,

a cultural phenom

among ruins

of ancient Israel.

Poor James, no peace

even

in second-hand burial

and designer bone box.

Digging the past

is both

art and science,

yielding a plethora

of voices

from the plentiful earth,

speaking languages

even of Babel tongues.

"James, son of Joseph,

brother of Jesus".

No small statement

in Israel,

where ‘Messiah’ is future,

not history.

jfrancis©

november 16, 2003

The thread of G-d’s favor,

woven with mercy,

colors this statement of

Red

White

Blue.

The blood of sacrifice

nourishes freedom

and purity white crosses

growing beside poppies

in Flanders’s field.

Fidelity and heaven’s blue

guided our states

and stars

through M’Henry’s

shelling skies,

where labor and pain

by rocket’s glare

birthed a nation

and flag

whose thread is woven

through the fabric

covering this land.

jfrancis©

november 23, 2003

(or Heaven)

No clue.

The doomed

walk this earth with

ordinary appearance

and intent,

hurdling through space

to destinations shrouded

in the fog

of worldly distraction.

Stations of Life

line this track

for pause and willingness

of Repentance and Grace.

jfrancis©

december 7, 2003

(is Christmas)

Death

ransomed

freewill,

Time

and its fullness,

for Love

and

the abundance

of creation.

jfrancis©

december 7, 2003

The G-d most high

owns

no middle ground.

Love G-d.

Love Israel.

Those who tread

middle ground

walk from Light

through shadows

to darkness,

burying their dead there.

jfrancis©

december 14, 2003

The power

of your simple presence

brings Light

to shadows of darkness.

G-d’s Spirit

dwells in right

so dark

cannot

enter the Light.

jfrancis©

december 14, 2003

History’s precedent

commissioned by G-d

for security

and His loving care,

opposed by all

who oppose safety

in the streets

of Jerusalem.

Each stone replaced

with care and mortar

of personal safety

by those who live

where danger lurks.

Strong walls are

the buckler and shield

of strong leaders.

jfrancis©

nehemiah 3,4,5,6

january 4, 2004

has its extremes,

and between,

territory

ruled by the world.

The battles are fierce

for control

and high ground

with Choice

a winding path

from broad plain

to mountain terrain;

upward,

the heartbeat,

downward, retreat.

Salt and Light,

flavor and illumination

come

with a new heart.

jfrancis©

january 4, 2004

The answer turns

on a heart bent

by reverent fear

and obeisance,

opening

G-d’s storehouse

of unlimited knowledge

where honor

rewards humility

and a seeking spirit.

By Wisdom

we appropriate

the mind of G-d

at his will.

jfrancis©

january 14, 2004

(G-d)

The enemy of corrupt minds,

does not decay,

has its life

and being

lived out in those

whose names

are written

in the Lamb’s

Book of Life.

jfrancis©

january 19, 2004

The best

of the first,

from Israel

to the wine,

grain and oil

of the land,

harvested

for the Kingdom,

Law

and Grace.

jfrancis©

january 25, 2004

Death comes:

by misfortune,

Divine providence,

one’s own hand,

end of days.

For the remnant,

grief

gleans the field,

pain

closes the wound,

anger

strengthens the fabric.

Life is a shepherd

guiding His sheep

through desert climes

over Jordan times

to the milk and honey

of G-d’s eternal care

and Jerusalem.

jfrancishill©

january 30, 2004

(by passion)

The passion of hearts

for one another

separates man

from all creation.

We are spirit,

imprisoned

by mortal bodies,

endowed with passions

and a choice of wills

elevating our likeness

upward

toward the image

of Creator

with knowledge,

hope and faith

releasing the imprisoned

to be like Him

in His passion.

jfrancis©

february 1, 2004

(the poem)

A condition

of the heart

torn apart

by violent intrusion

of sacred places

with assaulted emotions,

as innocence

takes flight

on wings

of healing’s might

for G-d delivers

his children

in the swaddling cloth

of righteousness

and values His own

above the cares

of this world.

jfrancis©,the book

february 7, 2004

As varied

as the sands

along the seashore

and the breaking wave

rushing to meet the beach.

G-d’s great seascape

paints power

on the face

of His earth.

jfrancis©

february 8, 2004

The Roman gift

to physical beauty

takes center stage,

transforming the plain

into beautiful,

and the smile

into bouquet

and roses.

jfrancis©,Jennifer

february 8, 2004

Angel tears

of white and fluff

to scrunch the step

and catch the face

of fallen grace.

Snow is—

the lace

of winter days

and holly berries,

a doily

to cover life

and the sleeping lawn

for April’s resurrection dawn.

Snow is—

Nicer

than a frozen pond

or slushy street

and perhaps

August heat.

jfrancis©

february 15, 2004

A state of being

held captive

by bars

of flesh and blood,

adorn with wrinkles

of grief and laughter

frozen in time

and Wisdom’s

Solid Rock,

G-d’s eternal plan

for

changing the guard

of humanity.

jfrancis©

february 15, 2004