What do we risk in this life
if we stand in the background
if we speak but do not act
when we are timid in our witness
What do we risk each day
hearing the cries of the needy
yet sitting quietly in our pews
not going into the streets
Justice in these troubled times
will not come if we are silent
safely stored away in comfort
in our warm and safe places
Only if we stand with Christ
risking our persecution
then and only then
do we truly live out our purpose.
May 26, 2011
in part inspired by conversations with
the Reverend John Makokha
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=556451505
Riruta United Methodist Church
http://rirutaumc.homestead.com
Other Sheep Afrika-Kenya http://www.othersheep.org/OSEA_CL_Other_Sheep_Kenya.html
Children of Africa Hope Mission Project in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. http://rirutaumc.homestead.com/children_of_africa.html
&
Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep and the Goats
&
Matthew 28:18-20
Great Commission
All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 11,880+ of my poems at Poetry Where You Live.
(Raymond A. Foss)
More Poetry from Raymond A. Foss:
Raymond A. Foss Poems based on Topics: Literature, Poetry, Purposes, Cry- Live Peaceably (Raymond A. Foss Poem)
- Hearing their whispers (Raymond A. Foss Poem)
- Hearing the martyrs, the heroes (Raymond A. Foss Poem)
- Awkward Seasons (Raymond A. Foss Poem)
- Sow Peace (Raymond A. Foss Poem)
- Listening to their grief (Raymond A. Foss Poem)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Cry Poems, Literature Poems, Poetry Poems, Purposes PoemsBased on Keywords: rmnetwork, africa, slums, makokha, conversations, homestead, background, risking, kenya, needy, othersheep