Looking at what God has done We become baptized in the Son The details have some meaning In burying the wrong of our being
Stepping into being taken into a new life We take on the peace by putting away strife Searching for meaning in the Word of The Book We find in Acts how to walk our new look
The early church faced down a few odds It was a bumpy path in following God Saul became Paul to lead from being an enemy Showing how a soul turns into a hero to the contrary
Despite Paul's wrong reasons, God gets it right Turning Saul to His purposes with a blinding light Ananias healed Paul into God's chosen instrument Rendering deadly intentions to the love of God's intent
It was, as it often is, a radical expression of grace As Paul rose to the occasion and took his rightful place Acting with audacious purpose, Paul made his life real As the bearer of the Good News gifted with Christian zeal
Faith is demanded of all of us to our very last breath This is how the victory of Christ defies the finality of death This is the ministry that provides the path to set us free As we face the contest and accept the righteousness of ministry
Though the Earth's foundation might tremble and shake It's important not to be taken as we might be mistaken In my spirit, it is well to put on the ways of glory That are often shown in illustrating God's holy story
Every life is filled with challenges and takes its hits But as we are redeemed, we are given the Holy Spirit And as we take the spirit on, we take on a victor's mentality Until it shines our purposes as part of God's instrumentality
Worship reminds us of the relationship of God's divinity As we are trained toward letting love and trust be our theology Through our praise and prayers, we faithfully possess the keys As we put on Godly ways shared to share and to live to please
Putting off the shackles of our dirty little sins We are shaken to and shaped into goodness once again Let's remember not to lose ourselves to darkness and fear And be reminded always, that where we are God is also here
(c) June 3, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” – Alexander Hamilton (1775)
As though a knight eager on his quest I, as a father, find little need to rest Instead, I eagerly undertake a two-hour drive Glad to teach my daughters and feel alive
Though I wish I could take them to the shore Where perhaps it is true that they'd learn more I think a thing or two is observed through the glass And that life, as it is, is an enjoyable class
Some of these lessons can be learned in museums Others, though are in the enjoyment of the aquarium Watching my daughters joke and laugh together As they accidentally learn, it cannot be had better
Than in the gentle traces of the Newport Aquarium They learn more than they would at lifeless museums And the best of what they learn is that they share In common between themselves and all for which they care
Two hours there and then another two hours back While I'm alive, there is nothing for which they'll lack And it is worth it as I am paid by their beautiful smiles All the time and distances are worth their miles
I encourage each of my daughters in all that they see And through jokes and love, teach them of their possibility Following wherever their imaginations might lead It is their imaginations that are quietly allowed freed
Though maybe the ocean would be my best-favored preference Places like aquariums and nature reserves offer experiences That maybe would not be felt or had in places others shared And maybe most important is that they'll know how much I cared
At closing time, though, the lights might begin dimming There is still more to learn as they watch the fish swimming The oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers, and quiet, distant streams Offer a world of beauty, diversity, and the very best dreams
Maybe there's a shared joke about the value of keeping swimming However challenging life can be or the lights quietly dimming And in learning this through an abundance of princess smiles All of this is beyond the worth of driving endless miles
In the end, if something I have done has taught them well And they remember in their minds some worthy bit of a tale Then I will have known that I have served their love well And passed the lessons of the Newport Aquarium to be revealed
(c) June 1, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from when we came.” – John F. Kennedy, in a speech given at the America’s Cup Dinner, on September 14, 1962
Drowning in an ocean of you Following my heart because it's true Pull me under these covers, please don't stop I'm riding this love to the top
Tell me, who has time to sleep These emotions keep running deep All the deceptions practiced put aside This love pushes past all my pride
Let's be awkward in our own ways This is the secret of lasting all days I'm happily watching as we become one I cannot help but admire the work our God has done
From unknowing to a force irresistible We are becoming something indivisible Cupid has hit a pure kind of bullseye That I will never question why
Ten out of ten; you're so damn beautiful This is something past feeling wonderful It's time to completely let go of my ego In doing this, I become better than my flow
Until I met you, I didn't know real love However much I'm guided by our Father above It seemed as if my best wasn't good enough But you've shown me I'm worthy of the right stuff
The way you are keeps me feeling emotional Your kind of love feels completely unconditional The changes have come in my feelings and attitude It comes down to knowing I owe you my gratitude
(c) May 31, 2024 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
Heading out of Australia to escape this Aussie winter. First stop Japan, then UK/Ireland and if work doesn't call me back, onto Chicago. I will make it up as I go along
