“How Much?” (#1 of Stephie Playlist - 9:42 Q1 Series)

This line I cannot cross, O Lord,
For deep within its of Your Word
To me these many decades since
We met that day of future hints.

I've been down roads to hell and back;
’Midst toil and trouble had no lack;
You carried me ’till Kingdom-layer,
Then taught so much ’bout life from there.

You guided me through thick and thin –
First, rescued me from life of sin;
Then taught me step-by-step to know
Your will, then showed where I should go.

So Father-God, Lord Jesus Christ,
O Holy Spirit, Your advice
To men and women of the flock
Brings me up to this wall of rock.

Which blocks advice of old Sun Tzu,
As You untwisted chapter two
Verse four to six – no problem there –
But living it’s a different fare.

Like Buffet said, "Pick up one K,
And carry it around all day;
It surfaces one’s crappy thought,"
Of which, alas, I’ve had a lot!

So what am I to do, O Lord?
To follow (or “obey”) Your Word
Takes me in places I don’t know
’Cause's mom, and her dad, said, “Don’t go”.

And that's one line I dare not cross;
Leave mom and dad, her dad as boss,
Is more than I can do, O Lord,
For culture's inter-twined with Word.

“Stu, that's where ‘dad’, ‘third culture kid’
Bring in new ways to now be rid
Of stinking thinking ’long that vein,
Take up that torch, to live and gain.”

Lord, spell that out for me this day;
I don’t know how to this hand play;
“Stu, think about it – Bible gift
From dad and mother – how to sift –

“It for the parts to feed today,
And let the rest just wash away,
Had blend of faith from two streams there
Plus TCK – ’cause dad was there.

“Then photographing was from both,
But father was where that awoke;
His daughter’s gift of Brownie pix
Was base for his much better clicks.

“Sure, Grandpa’s vision as the Dean
Had photo-teaching he had seen;
But father said "Prophetic, son,
You are, hence journey there’s begun.

“And Barb who liked the ‘Punchy Pics’,
You knew from father’s work to fix
The agribusiness, co-op scene,
With Credit Union meetings seen.

“Exposure to First Nations’ world
’Midst economic-power's swirl,
Was ’cause your dad walked that way too,
And as he did, included you.

“ ‘Church of our Savior’ – way beyond
Your mother's father’s ‘crossing pond
With complications, sorted out’,
Gave place to go, with little doubt.

“For Bob helped you to people see,
But intellect you're dad set free
To rise above the mean and mean
Admixed with Spirit (power) seen.

“So Stu, it's okay you are where
I want you now, as you prepare
To shift into new island-scene
(Five months from tarmac landing seen).

“You’ll be okay – two years to learn,
Not just a pile of mullah earn;
The latter’s flimflam – what it’s for
Is context where you'll learn some more.

“To be objective in the mix’
Like buffalo in that guy’s pix,
Is model for you – ‘blood and dust
As horde descends – close view of musk’.

“It’s taken years to set you right;
For some (adjustment’s from the right),
Has been reverse of yours, but hey!
You both arrive at start of day.

“Then take the Jews, and Mennonites,
The Scottish economics-types,
They're all from father – MRD
Was based on his theology.

“So mom’s imperative alas
Was heavy-handed – best of class,
But not for you; I sent you there
To have that aspect best prepared.

“I told you to expect a shift
Then guided you, set you adrift
On saving ocean when the storm
Hit land-based folks, sight quite forlorn.

"So, that and many, many, more
Are ways and means we used to score
Some points along your way as well,
Lest satan laugh from where he dwells.

“How much?” like Peter and that sheet
You lowered down – then said to Pete –
“Hey Peter, do not call unclean,
The things designed for human beings.

“So take and eat – it’s something new;
There's work ahead I give to you;
A man will come requesting aid
Don't call him vile – for him I’ve made.

“Your cultured base has had its place;
Your leaving it is no disgrace;
But head must clear to walk into
This task ahead, which you’re to do.”

Okay Holy Spirit thanks for that.

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