Not Enough Ink in the Ocean- Real Grace Reflection #21

The following is my latest reflection on L.O.M.T.'s theme for 2015, REAL GRACE.

Not Enough Ink In The Ocean

Not enough ink in the ocean
Not enough stars in the sky
Too many apples falling on your head
Makes you hungry for some pie

Come, run with me and call the name
Of one who understands
Come, dance with me, what song? you ask
I'm not sure what is planned

Not enough heat in the summer
Not enough bees in the hive
Too much wear on your bathing suit
Makes you hesitant to dive

Come, leap with me and look out for
The love that has no shame
Come, hesitate if you must
He will hold onto your name

Not enough days in a week and
Not enough weeks in a year
Too many over bookings
Makes you leave your date book clear

Come, sing with me and give a voice
To what is in your heart
Come, brave the fall with me
And let his catching make its start.

c2015 Mike Tauser

He must be blind, deaf...and dumb-Real Grace Reflection #20

I'm sure that most of you who read this post are constantly surrounded by people who you get along with, people who inspire you, people who behave the way you expect them to.  This post, which includes a reflection on L.O.M.T.'s theme REAL GRACE, is not for you.

This post is for the small minority of you who encounter people who rub you the wrong way, people who push all your buttons, people who make you pull your hair out.  On those rare occasions that you encounter such a person(even if the person annoys you is you), I hope this post can serve as a reminder that with REAL GRACE, they are loved, even if not by you.

He Must be Blind, Deaf and Dumb

Jesus loves you, so it's said
Even though you're a butthead
I don't know how he stays true
To someone as bad as you

Yes, Jesus loves you
Head to toe loves you
Yes, Jesus loves you
Completely through and through

Jesus loves you, even though
Your bad side is all you show
He still reaches out to you
Which it seems no one should do

Yes, Jesus loves you
Head to toe loves you
Yes, Jesus loves you
Completely through and through

Jesus love you.
Is he blind?
You're so often far from kind
A role model you won't be
Yet, he loved you
To the tree

Yes, Jesus loves you
Head to toe loves you
Yes, Jesus loves you
Completely through and through

c2015 Mike Tauser

A Brief note about the title:  When I was writing the poem, one of the couplets that ended up on the paper was:  "He must be blind, deaf and dumb, to love such a smelly bum."  It didn't really fit in the poem itself, but I thought part of it would be a good title.

Skeeters Leap into First Place Tie

What a difference nine days can make.  After last Friday, June 5, the Sugar Land Skeeters trailed Southern Maryland Blue Crabs by 5 1/2 games in the race for the Atlantic League's Freedom Division First Half Championship. Now, heading into an off day Monday, the two teams are tied heading into the home stretch of the first half.

How did it happen?  Most importantly, the Skeeters won 10 straight games.  The completed a perfect eight-game homestand on Sunday afternoon.  At the same time, Southern Maryland lost five of nine contests.

Starting Tuesday, Sugar Land plays 19 games in 19 days to wrap up their first half schedule.  Their final two games of the first half are scheduled for July 3 and 4 at Southern Maryland.

Cat on a Hot Stone Table- REAL GRACE Reflection #19

I've recently had occasion to re-read C.S. Lewis's tale The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Reading that story led to my latest reflection on L.O.M.T.'s theme, REAL GRACE.

Cat on a Hot Stone Table

Cat on a hot stone table
Will he land on his feet?
Will he stay who he is e'en when
His foes turn up the heat?

Magic needs appeasing
Lone traitor's turn to die
Feline steps into the fray
The witch just wonders why

King takes the throne for all to see
And there, surrenders all
Cat on a hot stone table
Keeps his promise. Takes the fall

c2015 Mike Tauser

The Unfading Tattoo- Real Grace Reflection #18

This reflection on L.O.M.T.'s 2015 theme, REAL GRACE, is a spin-off of The Unyielding Gaze , a song which I wrote when I worked at Camp Lone Star years ago.

The Unfading Tattoo

Still waiting on me

That’s how you spend your day

With a love that will not fade

Any away

Still looking out for me

To run to your side

With a gaze from which I find

That I cannot hide

Still calling my name

Every breath that I take

Right there, you’re beside

Every move that I make

Relentless, unyielding

Persistence times three

Outwalking the stumbling steps

That make up me

Still seeking me daily

No matter how far

Still shining through darkness

With your morning star

Still lighting the way,

You are each day’s new start

You tattooed my name

On the edge of your heart.

C2015 Mike Tauser

The Unyielding Gaze- Real Grace Reflection #17

This REAL GRACE reflection was actually written almost two decades before L.O.M.T. decided to use REAL GRACE as its annual theme. "The Unyielding Gaze" was composed during preparations for the summer of 1996 when L.O.M.T.'s theme was SOMEHOW, LORD, YOUR LOVE STILL LOOKS FOR ME.

I decided to post it here since L.O.M.T. is gearing up to for another summer season, which kicks off this Sunday, June 7.

If you'd like to play this song for others, you can find the lyrics and chords at this link.