“When I was young, I was sure of many things; now there are only two things of which I am sure: one is, that I am a miserable sinner; and the other, that Christ is an all-sufficient Saviour. He is well-taught who learns these two lessons.” – John Newton
A Short Story of Jesus, Part 1
by Michael Doyle
A moment taken to learn to see
Beyond the pages kept so orderly.
It might teach to see with a child's eyes,
And in the doing, become all the more wise.
Consequential behavior can upstage,
But it remains a choice in how we engage.
A father's job is telling stories told
Of kings and queens, and knights of old.
Of all the kings of whom to hear,
There is one to love and never fear.
If you'd only take a moment to hear this,
You'd learn a life's lesson in forgiveness.
It's a tale of wicked and jealous kings,
And the King of Kings of whom angels sing.
All right and proper kings kept this one in heart.
Maybe it would be wise to play out that part.
It starts with Joseph and Mary as the tale unfurled
As they were determined to bring a babe into this world.
This was opposed by the forces of this world and in Hell,
But tell it, we must, as there is much to reveal.
A census was being taken, and this included them.
So Joseph and Mary traveled home to Bethlehem.
Try as they might, they found no place to stay
Until they happened on a stable with a manger of hay.
Our king was born into sincere humility.
He was born as Jesus, the Son of the Holy Family.
Glory to God and the holiest of holies toward all men,
Christ the King was born in Bethlehem.
In Jerusalem came the star seeking wisemen
Who told King Herod of the birth in Bethlehem.
Three wisemen, who as minor kings, traveled far
Keeping their eyes searching for Bethlehem's star.
They came bearing gifts worthy of His divinity.
Jesus, the King, hid from Herod, who furiously
Decided to kill every child under the age of two.
This was among many torments that Jesus would live through.
Escaping to Egypt, they quietly fled,
Where Jesus would grow up instead of ending up dead.
Childhood years would pass until at last
Jesus had grown up, and King Hero's reign was past.
They returned to Nazareth, where God shined His light,
And Jesus became a carpenter while God kept Him in sight.
During this time, each year the Passover was observed,
And Jesus learned why thanks to God were deserved.
Teaching and praying at His Father's temple,
It felt right, true, and beautifully simple.
Staying near His father fit His love and divinity.
It was, after all, just where Jesus should be.
(c) December 20, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” – Proverbs 9:10 NIV
“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” – Matsuo Basho
Resistance Begun
by Michael Doyle
There are times of darkness
That leads to nihilism.
There was a time of harshness,
From it arose Nazism.
Banned music played on shortwave,
Kept by some in their secrecy
Dancing on civilization's grave.
Conformity became a form of vanity.
Worship was bent to teach to follow
Those who led in a rote form of rule.
Darkened by the Führer's shadow,
Some stood against this as brave fools.
Willing to stand up for God's way,
While knowing there might be a price.
Thomas Mann was hidden on this day
When staying to fight felt like bad advice.
Some would bravely be true to conviction,
Standing firm as they could against disgrace.
God's voice offered its conscious dictation
For every good German to freely embrace.
It is not subversive to speak one's mind,
Reminding others of what we know to be right.
Writing treatises of freedom might remind
Others in the community to walk in God's light.
Each walks this world with free will.
We must not be crushed into submission.
Instead, some would stand against the baseless thrill
To stand up for the decency of God's holy mission.
Where wrong is being done, they will speak.
Standing up to fight for the change and bring an end.
There is a consequence in being strong or weak,
Choosing to lock together arms, friend to friend.
Quietly, they chose to stand, shoulder to shoulder,
Passing God's message on from one to another.
To a man, they stood up against Hitler a little bolder,
Knowing that Christians or Jews, we are all brothers.
(c) December 19, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth.” – William Faulkner
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” – Abraham Lincoln
What Is To Be Will Be
by Michael Doyle
As the day of celebration approaches,
My thoughts turn to the prayer that encroaches
On every other day and on all my ways.
It is as important as Christmas Day.
The Lord's Prayer is, itself, a revolution.
It teaches our path of spiritual evolution.
I ponder on each line as a separate teaching,
And I pray for all the souls that it is reaching.
The heart of Jesus's mission is the Sermon on the Mount.
If you pay due attention, it reveals what it's about.
Each line is a phrase that is not overly demanding.
If you pour your heart into it, there is understanding.
Walking with aspirations of right attitude,
The believer approaches the rise of the Beatitudes.
Long ago, on this hillside, Jesus began to teach
Seven lessons in one, in the hope that they might reach
The jagged hearts of a crowd of willing believers,
Hoping they might embrace and become conceivers
That our holy Father offers this family freedom
As He invites each of us to belong to His Kingdom.
In Egypt, the Israelites lived in slavery and dread,
And still, hard as it was, they multiplied and spread.
The Nile River's bondage oppressed in its narrow place.
God heard their cries and, as a father, opened His embrace.
The Sinai unraveled Moses' part of this holy story.
A burning bush spoke the truth of God's eternal glory.
Staring into the flickers of the sacred flame,
Whatever will be will be was revealed as God's name.
The focus shouldn't be on a label, but what God can do.
A label is temporary; what unfolds is what is true.
Redeemer, Father, rescuer - wrapped into one.
This is how the Lord's Prayer is begun...
(c) December 18, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John the Baptist
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