Down to the sea

After John 6:1-21 

Down to the sea we went,

down to the shore

down to the sea to sail,

to sail to Capernaum once more.

 

Dark it was, and stormy,

waves crashing at our ship;

we rowed against the waves and wind,

expecting we would flip.

 

Waves were smashing, winds were thrashing,

as misery gives way to fear,

and then we see him walking

on the sea, drawing near.

 

Do not be afraid, he says,

as he steps into the boat;

the winds die down, the waves subside,

once again we’re gently afloat.

 

Photograph by Forrest Moreland via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Lord of Earth, Thy Forming Hand – poem by Robert Grant at Kingdom Poets (D.S. Martin).

 

The Death Culture of the UK – Stephen McAlpine.

 

O For a Closer Walk with God, by William Cowper – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

Divine Epigrams by Richard Crashaw – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

A hillside Passover

After John 6:1-21 

We are on the hillside

by the Galilean sea,

a respite from the work,

a time to listen and to be.

 

As was always happening,

people come to seek 

healing, teaching, feeding

for the desperate, sick, and weak.

 

We all see them coming,

at the hour it’s time to eat; 

perplexed at what to feed them,

dismayed by such a feat.

 

A boy arrives with food,

five loaves and two fish,

to feed so many with such a meal

is someone’s ridiculous wish.

 

Have them sit, the teacher says,

as we stare at him in shock;

anyone else but him and

we’d be prone to mock.

 

Five thousand sit upon the hill,

waiting to be fed;

he tells us to serve the food

two fish, five loaves of bread.

 

The crowd is fed, and fed so well,

that everyone is sated;

we see our future tied to him,

our life and death are fated.

 

Photograph: Sea of Galilee by Yoav Aziz via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

The Idol of Popularity – Tim Challies.

 

“The Flower,” poem by George Herbert – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

Is Seminary Worth the Cost? – Guy Richard at Ligonier.