Words Of Hope Enlivened

Bob Tilton got his word one day,
"Enlivened" to him, some would say:
"Speak out and set my people free,
So they can go and live for me."

And so he did – his wacky way,
Through TV shows he had his say:
"Life works for you, just as for me,
Put trust in God and soon you'll see."

He carried on, his mockers laughed,
Made sport of him, in public sassed;
He carried on despite their taunts,
And shared the word with those in want.

They mocked with labels made in jest:
"Prosperity" – "Go for the best";
His speaking out in tongues of prayer
The scoffers mocked as so much air.

No doubt he was a flaky sort,
Christ's body part he played – the wart;
They viewed his plan for miracle
As nothing but hysterical.

His goofy cloths and trinkets sent
To those who on his pathway went
Were viewed by some as gimmicks, ploys –
"Send me your cash for worthless toys".

But what the scoffers couldn't see,
He held out hope to folks like me;
Not hope in magic, "Make God act
On my behalf" – imagine that!

But hope, for me, a different way –
His gifts reversed to mine, I'd say –
Encourager is first for me
And giver-gift my second, see?

But second gift suppressed at first,
Meant I for knowledge had a thirst:
"Just what is giver – financier,
Your strongest gift? – please tell me, sir."

And so he did, each day at nine –
An hour talk, his words sublime
Filled in the gaps – I understood –
From giver-gift, he pulled the hood.

I entered in his wacky way –
Designed some vows, then quickly paid;
Lived out his words of "rhema" type –
The darkness turned to dawn from night.

I found he was First Nations too,
(Old Whitey views us all as fools –
" ‘Disordered personality’
If you don't think as White like me").

But wacky is as wacky does:
A fool for Christ perhaps he was,
But who's the fool in larger sphere,
This flaky guy with words so clear? –

Or is it more the proper type
Who tells us all, "Believe the hype –
That down is up", and "White is black",
"Sell friends for cash", "The best strike back" –

"Design a world economy
To crush the weak", "The point is 'me' ";
"Get all you can, can all you get,
Sit on the top, destroy the rest"?

I could go on – you get the point –
Our crazy world is out of joint –
But Bobby said, "Let's set it right –
God has not finished with us yet".

His way was simple, genius:
He raised his funds amidst the fuss,
Not for himself, but for the poor –
"Yes, listen up – then be a do-er."

His gimmick? "You're attached to cash,
So if you're stuck, toss out your stash
Where you will gain no benefit –
That winches you from where you sit.

"A giver's gift goes out ahead,
Sets free the flow, awakes from dead;
They do not give out from excess –
Their gift's the start of their success".

"Success-n-life", he called his show,
And daily let his people know,
"There is a plan and destiny
For one and all – try it and see".

I did, and learned, I studied hard,
Tried out his words – from inch to yard
My faith increased, the walls fell down,
I moved out from confining ground.

But now the time has come for me
To ask of God, "What word's for me?
Bob heard his word from You that day,
"Seek yours as well" is what he'd say.

So Lord, I want your "rhema" word
("Enlivened" word, as understood),
Not just generic "logos" words,
But tailored to my case, as heard.

You said to him, "In lives stop storms,
Through spoken word to tired and worn";
He did, the storms within my life
Have now been stilled – relief from the strife.

I want to do that sort of thing –
Live out the words You to me bring,
That others also might have life
Here in this town, amidst this strife.

You've helped me see that all of life
Is good and bad, and wrong and right –
A mix – so focus on the good,
Give praise for blessings understood.

You're right, for I have got it made –
My life abounds as gifts You gave
To me throughout its many days –
And now at last I sing Your praise.

Now Lord, I wait to hear Your words
Enlivened in my life – once heard,
Your grace to live them in and through
I'll need, to live this life anew.

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