In decades past in New Zealand, as in many countries I guess, it has not been the right thing for a ‘real man’ to be seen to be writing poetry, (except perhaps when trying to woo a lady!) so most of us haven’t. I can’t say that over the years I ever really had the inclination either, except for a couple of ‘moments of weakness’ when I was really feeling down and rhyming lines came into my mind.

All changed however at the dawn of the new millennium. I remember well, sitting at my computer, when the radical rhymes just flowing from my mind, through the keyboard and, almost magically it seemed, appearing on the screen. God was releasing a whole new dimension in my life. He never ceases to amaze me! It was the last thing I would have thought of doing myself!

Since then I have had lots of fun doing them, from time to time as the inspiration hits. Most take about a day to complete – 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, as is the rule in most things of life. I trust you may also derive a little pleasure from reading them too!

WIIIIIIIINTER
The weather has changed.....

THE CROOK CHOOK!
A meal gone wrong

INSPIRATION ZERO!
The title says it all! Deadline approaches!

LIFE IS FUN
Depression and loneliness are big problems today.

BLANK
My mind.

EASTER
The meaning?

DAY COMES, DAYS GO.....
Time speeding up?

THE MISSION
What is your lifes mission?

'Q'
Two major earthquakes in 17 days.

WORDPLAY
Words are both fun and meaningful.

WE CHOOSE
All too often we don't consider the long term consequences of our choices in life.

MY MUM IS 90!
The celebration of a monumental milestone in our family took place this weekend!

LOST AND FOUND
In God

ROGER
The big '0'

non(SENSE)
Mind abuzz!

U 2?
Not the band!

BUSY, BUSY
What is our priority?

CAN YOU WAIT?
Patience is a virtue

CHOICE
Today's choices affect our eternal destiny.

TO GO OR TO STAY?
Know not to outstay our welcome.

I WILL
A declaration.

CREATIVE!
Well, maybe!

NON-SENSE
Nothing to write!

LIFE
What to write?

CHOICES
Life's choices have consequences.

2009
A look ahead.

TICK TOCK
The clock stops for no man - or woman!

'USING'
Playing with words.

WHAT 2 WRITE?
Sometimes writing is not easy!

THE BUILDING
A story of waiting patiently for the Lord to act.

THIS WEEK
Not a good one!

DAVID'S RAMBLINGS
Brain getting rusty!

WAITING
We are not too keen on this in today's world!

GONE!
Death and grieving are part of life.

PLANNING AHEAD
What lies ahead in your life?

YES IT'S TRUE, GOD LOVES YOU!
An ode to those in ministry. (That's all of us!)

A PSALM
Of David (Tait) A cry of despair, trust and victory, during a time of difficulty in life.

MR BUMBLE
How can the bumble bee fly?

LIFE'S ROSES AND THORNS
Life is a challenge.

THE QUANDRY!
Have run out of ideas!

IN A HURRY!
In too much of a hurry?

LORD - HELP ME!
In difficult times we need to let the Lord have his way in our life!

NOT SURE I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN ANY MORE!
... if it's going to be like the church on earth!

TOMORROW
... inspiration will come.

CHRISTMAS TIME
... comes but once a year

LIFE!
It's funny how!

MUSING ABOUT MUSING
Musing can be hard work!

...EPT
Words ending in...

A DAVID MUSING
Very short

A MATTER OF TIME
A valuable commodity

A MINUTE IS A LONG TIME IN GOD
If we are listening.

ON THE WAY - NEARLY!
So much to do at the last minute.

FAITH
Learning to trust the Lord.

WHEN BAD THINGS ARE GOOD
Something to remember when things go wrong.

BASIL
A friend dies of cancer.

FAITH
A challenge to us all!

VICTORY!
In the journey of life.

DAYS OF ‘CHUNDER’!
36 long hours sailing upon the ocean.

BESIDE ME
A tribute to Kathy – my first poem ever!

BODY ‘Not So’ BEAUTIFUL?
The ravages of time strike us all.

LIFE WITH THE WIFE
Could fill the book! Abridged version.

YOU’RE STILL THERE
Even when the going’s tough!

DRIPS AND DROPS
A lesson from nature.

‘GRUTS’
A very private matter – all is revealed!

THE PATH
Slowed to a walk to learn this lesson.

GOD IS GOOD!
A tribute to my Dad.

ON THE RUN
Knew runners were mad? This proves it!

THE SHEEP AND THE GOAT!
All in the day’s work of a writer.

LIFE’S A LAWNMOWER, MATE!
The story of our family – warts and all!

SEVEN TIMES SHED FOR ME
What my Jesus did for me.

TO BEARD OR NOT TO BEARD?
The saga of the whiskers.

A GOOD MAN GOES TO HEAVEN?
Doesn’t he?

A FRIEND IS THERE
In a time of need.

'TIS ME'
A little about the unique mind of David.

Another Bowentown adventure. It is amazing how the Lord communicates with you
when you are genuinely seeking Him. I am one of those strange people who enjoys
running – well, most of the time anyway. This poem shows how the Lord is not 2000
years behind the times, but communicates with us in ways that are relevant to our
circumstances and life.


ON THE RUN

Running down the beach, exhausted I was feeling,
Reaching the end, before long I would be keeling.
So I stopped, taking some time to look around,
It was perfect, sea beaten rocks there did abound.

Stark cliffs, forcefully thrusting through the sand,
So powerful there, showing God’s mighty hand.
But from wee crags, big trees were able to grow,
A loving God too, one who we can get to know.

I sat down on a rock to rest my weary legs,
The water is close by, my attention it begs.
As I watched the meandering of the sea
The Lord said, "It has a meaning for thee."

So I looked through the rocks at the lip of a wave,
Rolling gently towards me, as though through a cave.
"Was the tide going out or was it coming in?"
"It could it be the Spirit", I thought with a grin.

I watched the waves, resting on my perch of ease,
Flitting in, sliding out, look at us! they did tease.
"What is it Lord, you’re trying to show me here?"
"Bide your time, my son, no need to shed a tear."

Patiently I waited as the waves lapped on the beach,
The Lord had a lesson, me he was trying to teach.
Yes, the tides coming in – no, maybe it’s going out,
My decision making process, churned all about.

I can see it now, for the water’s coming close,
An answer revealed, before I become morose!
"But what does it mean Lord, please reveal it to me,
This incoming tide, the meandering of your sea."

"Now I have your full attention, the time is here,
For in the right direction, you I will now steer.
The waves are those of My Spirit, my son,
With the tides of life, in and out, they do run."

Yes now I see, how the waves ebb and flow,
Like moves of the Spirit, they come and they go.
But the longer I sat, the more persistent they became,
Greatly increased in power, it was no longer a game.

The Lord said, "This is what happened, over the times,
For My Spirit is always with Me, He perfectly rhymes.
My Spirit’s tide was out, for many hundreds of years,
But now is coming in, will put to rest, man’s fears."

His Spirit’s tide returned in a captivating flow,
First it would come in, then out it would go.
Sometimes in more, then sometimes less,
But always seeking, God’s people to bless.

As I sat on my rock, His words became clearer,
Then a picture of my life, the waves ever nearer.
For I’d sat back and watched The Spirit, oh so long,
Did I need Him in my life, was it right, was it wrong?

Sitting there, the waves lapped playfully round my feet,
Ever closer now, for The Spirit’s coming, me to greet,
Then suddenly my special, bigger wave came,
Engulfing me, so I would never be the same.

When it happened in my life, came as a great shock
To myself and others. Thought I would never unlock
My heart to the wonders of The Spirit you see,
No, there was no hope for a stalwart like me!

So onto the top of my rock, did I hop,
There was no way now, I could stop,
For the wonders of scripture, I was eagerly seeking to behold,
Standing on the rock of Jesus, He would me, start to mould.

Standing on the rock gave a new perspective,
For of new truths, I was ever more receptive.
As I looked down there, into the water,
Seeing the tide flow, allowing no quarter.

First there was the sand, a myriad of it you know,
Pushed about by the tide, not seeing where to go.
For there are many Christians just like that sand,
Drifting with the flow, not knowing how to stand.

In the water too, were many plants a bobbing,
So painful, one could almost hear them sobbing!
For they had grown initially, but their roots were short,
Overcome by the troubles of life, their God they did abort.

But the saddest of all to me, in the now seething cauldron,
Were the dead leaves floating, no protection to call on,
Even as I watched one, broken, smashed into a rock,
Yes a Christian, but the Spirit’s power, he did mock.

My heart lifted, looking at the rocks out there,
For them, the turmoil all around did not scare.
But as I looked closer, I could see rough edges worn away,
For The Spirit was moulding them, they were there to stay!

I realised then, the value of ‘The Rock’ in my life,
For he protects me, from the effects of the strife
That surrounds me. Christians, so hard to believe!
Refusing the mighty power of The Spirit to receive!

I jumped off my rock, now surrounded by water,
It’s time to return home, for I must not loiter,
My lessons for the day so moving, never to be spurned,
But more was to come, still more wisdom to be learned.

By this time, my body would hardly canter,
Kept going only, by pretending joyful banter,
For I knew the end of the pain would be,
When I reached the base of that fallen tree.

I thought I had reached the limb of my choosing,
Only to find, it was now my mind I was loosing!
So I plodded on, until my tree was found,
My energy levels, now at zilch were around!

Oh Lord, please help me up this path,
For I want to go home to a hot bath. (Shower actually!)
I’ve not the energy to do this myself,
Please lend to me, a little of thyself."

"Reached the end of yourself, that’s good to see,
For that is how I want you, permanently to be!"
Words spoken gently but with firmness by He,
"Yes Lord, I will try then, to give you all of me."

I walked up the path, past the Sewage Station,
It so reminded me so, of the state of the nation,
As I breathed in that foul, decaying smell,
God prompted me, "How many will rot in hell?"

A few drops of rain started to fall around,
Seen in the puddles but not on the ground,
But symbolic to me, His hand making me wet,
Today my own efforts did not raise a sweat.

"Drops of anointing," He let me know,
"And as your faith continues to grow,
The spots will increase, to a heavy stream,
That is, if what you say, is what you mean."

As I sit reviewing what is written,
My heart with wonder, it is smitten.
It is ironic, for when I woke up today,
No poem could I see, coming my way.

I know the Lord has called me to warn the lost,
To repent now before they are forever tossed
Into the pit of hell, from which there is no way out,
Many souls out there, don’t know what it’s all about.

Also to warn the church, before it is too late,
That many of you too, will meet the same fate,
If you don’t teach Biblical Christianity,
Instead of a godly form of Humanity.

For the Lord is calling us to holiness today,
This is now his call, that we must obey,
To take part in his Tabernacle Church,
Or be left outside, forever in the lurch.

His call is yours, His call is mine,
No longer acceptable, no longer fine,
Another Laodicean Church, us to be,
Lukewarm, not red hot, in seeking Thee!