“It would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble” – Matthew 18:6
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First Principles: It Would Be Better For Them To Have A Large Millstone Hung Around Their Neck and To Be Drowned In the Depths of the Sea Than To Cause One of These Little Ones To Stumble
Posted in First Principles
Tagged Better, Drown, First Principls, Large Millstone, Little Ones, Neck, Sea, Stumble
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Over the Ending of Years
Over the Ending of Years
by Michael Doyle
Sometimes as we travel over the lighter years
We find ourselves confronted by our dark fears.
Things come along that change our souls
And agonize at how much we are out of control.
It'd be something if we could defeat our deaths
For certain, we will fight it to our last breath.
It's worse if we see its approach as it's coming,
It's a sobering thought and often a bit too numbing.
We think such thoughts, and it becomes a philosophy
About the good and bad of whom we should strive to be.
We can only hope that we will find a way to live until,
We create a legacy that will live forever if it will.
It burns inside us as it gains the release needed,
As if the warning that we wish we had heeded.
Looking for something to might help us to defend
Against the grim reaper, who definitely isn't our friend.
Death, you see, is only a part of life that comes next.
It's the tricky part that scares us but actively connects.
This life is a metamorphosis as we wait for what we'll see.
The best we can do is to accept it with patient dignity.
When the elephants fight, it is felt among the leaves of grass,
But we know that whatever comes, this too shall pass.
We all know it is not the length but depth of life that matters.
It is only the foolhardy who grasp at the fallen tatters.
As if they could stop what is coming in the future of us all.
Perhaps, we all should take a moment to quietly recall.
It is from Heaven and for Heaven that we have served our purpose,
If we have lived out well in our Lord's holy service.
(c) July 18, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Posted in Poetry and Poems
Tagged Agonize, Approach, Dark Fears, Death, Depth, Elephant, Ending, Future, Heaven, Holy Service, Last Breath, Length, Matter, Numbing, Pass, Poetry and Poems, Purpose, Recall, Soul, Tatter, Travel, Years
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First Principles: The Circulation of Confidence Is Better Than the Circulation of Money
“The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.” – James Madison
(See, Judicial Powers of the National Government, [20 June] 1788)
Thought For the Day: For To Be Free Is Not Merely To Cast Off One’s Chains, But To Live In A Way That Respects and Enhances the Freedom of Others
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Chains, Enhance, Free, Freedom, Live, Nelson Mandela, Respect, Thought For the Day
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My Soul Laid Bare
My Soul Laid Bare
by Michael Doyle
I awoke with my soul laid bare,
And knowing how much God cares.
Looking up at the source of all,
I found it easy to recall
That the Lord is always present.
In all of my known intent,
My eyes are focused on His story,
Feeling the power of His glory.
I begin every battle in life on my knees,
Knowing who and why I serve as I please.
My faith focuses my trust,
As I turn to the Lord, as I continually must.
Every question is answered by His power,
Rescued from all dilemmas of this hour.
Our words fall short in our replies,
As we see it all unfold before our eyes.
a hallelujah falls from my broken heart,
Somehow stronger than at the start.
As I praise the holiness I've come to know,
I feel it deeper than my steady roll.
I shout to our kingdom's Heaven with my praise,
Feeling it deeper than the length of my days.
In the roar of the universe's abiding silence,
The love of the Lord overcomes this world's violence.
And I find myself singing into the quietude,
Putting on the faith of known gratitude.
At the heart of my worship is the solace of love.
My hands are outstretched to my King above.
(c) July 17, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Posted in Poetry and Poems
Tagged Bare, Battle, Faith, Focus, Glory, God, Intention, Knees, Please, Poetry and Poems, Power, Present, Soul, Source, Trust, Turn to the Lord
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Thought For the Day: When It Comes To Human Dignity, We Cannot Make compromises
“When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises.” – Angela Merkel
First Principles: The True Foundation of Republican Government Is the Equal Right of Every Citizen In His Person and Property and In their Management
“The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management.” – Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, 1816. ME 15:36
To See Past Query
To See Past Query
by Michael Doyle
Much of life is conjecture and theory.
We take for granted what should be a query.
Like whether it's more beautiful or wise
To look into a sunrise or a lover's eyes.
We look at the wrong things for security.
Always wanting life to consist of certainty.
Thinking of these things as simple as purity,
But being unable to see beyond life's obscurity.
This insecurity is a killer of what is beautiful.
It makes it harder to live life for what is wonderful.
This fear that plagues us makes us hate the unknown.
It's hard to boldly push beyond what's been shown.
Human attraction is something we need returned,
Life has taught us the fear that we have learned.
The fear that sometimes love won't be returned
Is often joined with the inability for it to be discerned.
We must learn to live the life of not knowing,
Looking for the reasons behind whatever is showing.
And to let go of those things that we cannot know
That's how life is best lived in its simple roll.
(c) July 16, 2025 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Posted in Poetry and Poems
Tagged Beautiful, Beauy, Certainity, Conjecture and Theory, Discren, Human Attraction, Inaiblity, Learned, Life, Love, Lover's Eyes, Obscurrity, Poetry and Poems, Purity, Query, Returned, Security, See, Shown, Simple Roll, Sunrise, Uknown, Wise, Wonderful
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First Principles: To Be Good, and To Do Good, Is All We Have To Do
“You have discovered, in your Childhood, a remarkable Modesty, Discretion, and Reserve; I hope these great and amiable Virtues will rather improve, in your riper Years. You are now I think, far advanced in your twelfth Year—a Time when the Understanding generally opens, and the Youth begin to look abroad into that World among whom they are to live.—To be good, and to do good, is all We have to do.” – John Adams to his daughter Abigail Adams, March 17, 1777
Posted in First Principles
Tagged All, Be Good, Do Good, First Principles, Have To Do, John Adams
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Thought For the Day: The Butterfly Counts Not Months But Moments, and Has Time Enough
“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.” – Rabindranath Tagore
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Butterfly, Moments, Months, Rabindranath Tagore, Thought For the Day, Time Enough
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ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 