Poetry - First Christian Church

Following are two poems. The first one, entitled "My Friend", has been
around for well over twenty years that I know of. Some of you may have seen it before.
I have no idea who wrote it. When it came to me in the early
1980s, I felt the other side of the story really demands to be heard! So, I
wrote the second poem entitled "The Friend's Response". I trust you will
find them both meaningful...

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MY FRIEND

My friend, I stand in the judgment now,
And feel that you're to blame somehow.
On earth, I walked with you day by day,
And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory,
But never did you tell me the story.
My knowledge then was very dim,
You could have led the way to Him.

Though we lived together on the earth,
You never told me of the second birth,
And now I stand here, condemned,
Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me many things, that's true;
I called you "friend" and trusted you,
But now I learn, when it's too late --
You could have saved me from this fate.

We walked and talked by dawn and night,
And yet, you showed me not His light.
You let me live and love and die,
You knew I'd never live on high.

Yes, I called you "friend" in life,
And trusted you through joy and strife,
And yet on coming to the end --
I cannot call you now "my friend".

Author: unknown

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THE FRIEND'S RESPONSE

My friend, you stand in the judgment now
Knowing you've yourself to blame for how
You've come there by the great broad way,
Never having listened to anything I say.

Whenever I would tell the story
Of the Lord in all His truth and glory,
Your eyesight became oh so dim --
And you didn't want to hear of Him.

I wanted, while we were on the earth,
To tell you of the second birth;
But now you stand there, self-condemned,
Your still proud heart as yet uncleansed.

Oh we discussed some things, that's true,
Like evolution; but you'll rue
Those arguments you gave so fast,
To keep from facing up at last.

We walked and talked by night and dawn --
'Bout most anything you would go on.
Except when it came to things on high,
You'd rather just live, let live, and die.

Yes, I called you "friend" in life,
And tried to teach you joy through strife,
But now, on coming to the end,
I'll have to say, "Goodbye, my friend".

Author: Cleve Bishop

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Rev. Cleveland B. Bishop, Pastor
First Christian Church
Raton, New Mexico 87740
revcbishop@msn.com

Ode to The Lord

by Tawnya (Bishop) Albright

As I was sitting, thinking thoughts

In misty evening gloom

You opened up my mind’s trap door

And brightened all the room

Your smile, it took me far away

With heaven’s radiance shone

Your crystal eyes said, “Worry not,”

“You’ll never be alone”

And from that eve when You first came

My joy can’t help but show

I had to tell You once or twice

“My Friend, I love You so”

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SOUL-MATES

“ …the soul of Jonathan

was knit to the soul of David,

and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”

(I Samuel 18:1)

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The longest day is in June, they say;

The shortest in December.

They do not come to me that way;

The shortest I remember –

You came a day with me to stay,

And filled my heart with laughter;

The longest day – you were away

The very next day after.

(George Birdseye

Century Magazine

June, 1889)

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My Dear, Dear,

Beloved Friend;

My Prayer-Partner;

My Soul-Mate,

I love you

As best as I know how

And with the help of God

More than I have ever loved

Anyone

Or Anything

Short of God Himself.

Ours is not a love

Dependent on conditions

Or circumstances

Or things

Or sex

But on you being you

And me being me

With understanding

And acceptance

And encouragement and support.

Listening, comforting, counseling,

Rejoicing, enjoying, and doing…

For and with one another.

Loving.

Together.

Forever.

In Christ.

(Cleve Bishop)