God's Love a fire in my Life

Written in 2001:

God's Love a Fire in My Life

There is within me true and bright
A love for You Lord that is pure and right.
Your love has filled my soul with fire,
You have become my heart's only  desire.

Charles Powell
All rights reserved, copyright 2001

Awareness by Mark Kane

Mark Kane and I were friends for several years and the characteristics that made him what was unique eventually caused his death.  I was not allowed to go to the funeral because I didn't belong to their sect.  He wrote this and gave me my copy a short while prior to the above events.  Listen!  There is wisdom here for all of us.

"Awareness"  by Mark Kane, 2-7-88

I got rid of some bad stuff this week,
So why do I feel angry, afraid and bare?
It's because the things disposed served as threads,
A security blanket I used to wear.

Wake up, Mark, Wake up!
You've obviously been dreaming.
Those comforting words and games of childhood,
Now reveal their true and sinister meaning.

"You're not a game player any more" my family tells me,
"Must be a phase you're going through".
No, it's just that I am tired of waking in the morning,
Feeling trampled, black and blue.

"But we want the old Mark back;
Indeed, I discovered what they're all about,
If they refuse to change with me,
My only alternative is to say "I want out".

I feel like a river meeting its gorge;
A swift and rough descend.
Yet, there must be a tranquil swimming hole
Awaiting me just around the bend.

                Mark Kane
                2-7-1988 Portland, Oregon

Coach Charles

The Bridge Builder

The Bridge Builder

Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"
The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth, whose feet must pass this way."
"This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

Another blog

Sinapup

Genesis of this blog on disciple making

In light of the command that Jesus issued in His last few words, to "as you go, MAKE DISCIPLES."

This is fully what I intend to do.  The idea of "Forth Generation" comes from Paul's letter to Timothy where he indicates that there are four generations of disciples in the process of creating an ongoing movement. 

Paul>

              Timothy>

                                     faithful witnesses>

                                                                          others also. 

"...and that you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."                      --2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

Pertinent to this is the exhortation in Colossians 1:28,29 Phillips: ^"So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. This is what I am working at all the time, with all the strength that God gives me."

So, with this in mind, I send this forth, for the forth.

Charles