A Poem of Appreciation to My Pastor

Over twenty years ago in June of nineteen eighty seven
I fell at an altar and got my first glimpse of heaven.
Just a youthful twenty four years old
God felt fit to bring me into the fold.

You see, for me, life wasn’t very grand.
On my own there was no way I could stand.
The world had me in her clutches
and I unknowingly walked on pagan crutches.

From confirmation to communion
in the midst of such dysfunctional disunion
I made my journey through the dismal mire.
my youthful life was abound by carnal fires

Raised up the common American way
I walked too and fro from day to day.
Never really knowing where I was going
moving wherever the wind was ever blowing.

Whenever there was chance for some fun
from responsibility I would run.
Booze, pot, wine, or drugs
I tried to escape reality with a shrug.

From the grip of public education
I became a rebel by acclimation.
Always learning how to break the rules
unknowingly becoming everyone’s fool.

On to college and a higher level of learning
the lust of the flesh just kept on burning
unto heights of empty dreams
always chasing after mindless extremes.

Standing up against any and all authority
I was just blending in with the majority.
Following the crazy multitudes
my life became more crude and more lewd.

While leaning on philosophies so vain
the spirit of living began to drain
in chains of darkness I began to grope
soon losing the passions of my carnal hopes.

So many times I asked my self these questions
is life always full of all this oppression?
Could there be more to life than this?
Or have I observed through teary eyes amiss?

From history to psychology
and politics to theology
The more I seemed to play the game
the more everything stayed the same.

Pink Floyd could not give me the answers
their words and music grew but more cancers.
Famous authors could not find
what I needed for relief in my mind.

No help could be found in television
which left my troubled soul in derision
nor could the stars of Hollywood
bring me anything that was pure and good.

And though I bowed to those great MSU professors
I walked further down the road of chance and guesser.
Taught of Maslow, Pavlov, Jung, and Sigmund Freud,
their answers to life still left me powerless and void.

Tree hugging and zen meditation
I followed without hesitation
and to them their anthems I sung
trying to find solace in them, but always getting stung.

Living on the principles of Darwin’s evolution
did not help me find a solution.
Finally, torment, pain, despair, and confusion
led my heart to a simple conclusion.

All these learned ideas only unfurled
that my answers were certainly not in this world
experience had begun to teach me a lot
and an escape from this world, I began to plot.

I just wanted to know a simple truth
that I had sought after since my youth.
Was there a meaning to this life
or was it nothing but endless pain and strife.

And though I had gone so far and astray
God began to move in my dismay
and though this sounds somewhat bizarre
it all began with my brother’s witness in a bar.

He told me of the Romeo church
and there he said I would end my search.
Though filled with my own intellectual suspicions
I was no longer armed with much ammunition.

Soon after, I was Chicago bound
my brother’s words still my mind did hound
from my past I was still running
beguiled by a serpent that was oh so cunning

but it was only three weeks later
I found Chicago to be nothing greater
I came home one Memorial weekend
to my brother’s house did I apprehend.

And too my pleasant surprise
my brother’s life had seem to arise
his Bible was open on the table
and he told me God was still able.

Needless to say when I saw what I saw
I could do nothing but drop my jaw
His witness to me made one thing clear
whatever had touched him I wanted to hear.

So one spring evening I came to church
to do a little of my own research.
I came as myself, all broken and torn,
deep within my soul did mourn.

The world had me completely deluded
there was no way out I had often concluded.
But one June night that all began to change
and my life, I was ready to rearrange.

As I sat in the pew and began to ponder
at all the years that I had squandered
behind a pulpit stood a rugged preacher
speaking words of no ordinary teacher

I was soon with God’s great spirit drawn
learning quickly that this preacher was no pawn
he preached to me of Namaan’s trouble
and living life within the world’s bubble.

The preacher preached with strength and power
his words I sat and I did devour
on the edge of my seat sat I
not knowing what to do...whether to run or cry.

And at the closing of his sermon
he walked up to me fully determined
to give a dying soul a chance...a hope
of getting off such a slippery slope

The preacher whispered in my ear
words, to this day, I still hold dear
he told me God would fill me with the Holy Ghost
because that was what I needed the most

now being raised catholic I did not know
anything outside of religion’s status quo
and yet I knew that deep within
I was done with all the sin

the preacher’s words led me to an altar
there...hot in prayer I would not falter
and in my ear I did hear
it’s between you and God son...do not fear

so with no holds barred holding nothing back
I put it all on the line and went on the attack
I gave God my sin, sickness, and despair
and within moments He made everything so crystal clear.

In just one moment He loosed my mind
in just one moment I was no longer blind
there heaven and earth emerged.
And at a one God altar my heart was purged

and so this scripture to me is so endearing
that faith cometh only by hearing
and hearing by the Word of God
which quickly cuts through the world’s facades

and though I knew no scripture verse
God still delivered me from this wretched curse.
Through the preacher’s preaching of the gospel
came the breaking of the devil’s tainted spell.

With raised hands and on my back I did fall
like all the disciples and the apostle paul
I began to speak in heavenly tongues
and within me a well of joy had sprung.

Now full of the spirit I was soon led
down in the water to bury the dead
I was baptized in Jesus name
and have since, never been the same

Yes, this was over twenty years ago
and today I still want my preacher to know
because of you, I know Jesus and His way
and from holiness I refuse to sway.

Because of you, my preacher and my Pastor
my life has been freed of impending disaster
from One God, Godliness, and the beast
I have sat at a table of a continual feast.

So today, I am honored to give you thanks
and I have no problem with being quite frank
on earth, you are the greatest man I have ever met
and what you have done for me I will never forget

and though I know these days, that talk is cheap
and shallow words, in times past, may have caused you to weep
behind you and this gospel, my family and I will continue to stand
founded upon the Rock you taught us, and not sinking sand

So keep preaching the truth of His Word
for there are still those, who like me, have not heard
and if given a fair shake and a choice
would be willing to hear and follow the master’s voice

and in just one moment at the breaking of the dawn
at the last trump we will be gone
and a crown of righteousness we will wear
all because a preacher would not bend or spare.

So thank you Pastor for preaching to me
do not back down, and do not flee
because without you I couldn’t see
and how would other captives ever be set free?