SENSITIZE (Substitute)
Jonathan wrote numerous PoHymns–the blending of poetry and hymns.
Here is a PoHymn he recorded, entitled “For Awhile”
The B. S. M. G. Report
Jonathots Daily Blog
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When God is touted by the fool
We quickly lose the Golden Rule
BAD
Yellin’ grandmas and spittin’ grandpas.
This week I stood back in awe over people my age and much older who have relinquished their gravitas and dignity in pursuit of appearing to be common street brawlers.
Yes, elected humans who would never think of being volatile in front of their grandkids for fear of passing on a horrible impression decided to throw fits on national television under the guise of being “tough.”
It is fascinating to me that at no time in my growing up years did any teacher, principal, minister or counselor suggest that the solution for dealing with a bully was to imitate his or her practices.
We need grandmas and grandpas out there who can calm the seas instead of stirring the waters.
Shame on our politicians and national leaders for thinking they convey strength by being abusive or rude.
I am looking for individuals who will stop yelling, take the power of good cheer, and in a clever way make their biting points … without using teeth.
SAD
When you move the stopping place, we no longer know where to cease.
In every argument there is a juncture where words are no longer communicating. Instead, insults and even fists offer their forceful alternative.
In a civilized society, we are responsible to stop and walk away before our physical bodies try to solve emotional problems. Over the past twenty years, we have lost the ability to identify the stopping place.
Do we continue to discuss? Or has the discussion become a prideful rant?
Do we object? Or might we depart until another day?
Do we impeach the President? Or do we simply replace him?
We’ve lost our stopping place.
It is sad that we refuse to comprehend that in losing our stopping place, we also have lost our power.
MAD
This is what makes me mad. It isn’t reality. I can handle the truth, even when it’s not to my liking.
Let me make this clear:
There is no such thing as an innocent “Islam” or a merely zealous “Zionist.”
There isn’t a “concerned” condemning Christian.
Or a well-meaning bumbling Buddhist.
And it isn’t open-minded to tolerate a hapless Hindi.
Any religion which has a leader who promotes his own tribe is worthless.
This is true of both Islam and Judaism.
Any religion that allows for segregation, gossip and Crusades cannot be given a free pass, as we have granted Christianity.
Buddhists who insist that the path to Nirvana is through quelling one’s emotions certainly don’t know humanity.
And for the record, considering Hinduism—nobody’s coming back as a cow.
As long as we allow religions to propagate myths, foolishness, prejudice, anger, segregation and anti-human philosophies, we will be at the mercy of their superstition.
Ragtag religion is hurting us. It’s time for us to look at all religions and make one simple demand:
Come back when you have something to help the human race. Stop complicating the hell out of our lives.
GLAD
I am glad, joyful, impressed and overwhelmed with Charles Wesley.
You might not know who he is.
He didn’t kill, steal and destroy, so the history books don’t contain a lot about his life.
He is a man who, along with his brother, John, led a revival of great social and spiritual significance in England.
He wrote 6,500 hymns.
Now, I consider myself to be a composer. I have quite a catalogue. But even in my more “braggart modes,” I would claim three or four hundred musical compositions.
6,500 is not only super-dedicated, but supernatural.
This week I was glad for Charles Wesley. Because as I sat in my living room, staring at my beautiful Christmas tree, from my radio, a choir sang, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
The music is by Felix Mendelssohn, but the lyrics are from Charles Wesley.
When I heard the last verse, the words swept over my soul and nearly took my breath away, leaving me like the saved, lost man I truly am.
Hail the son of righteousness
Light and life to all he brings
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of Earth
Born to give them second birth.
Yes, I cried.
I wept over the concept of having a Savior come to me, a son of Earth.
And I especially thanked Charles Wesley for confirming that Jesus came to give me second birth.
PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant … July 11th, 2018
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Every Winner
by Jonathan Richard Cring
Don’t look for me down the road just yet
I’m reveling in this particular spot
Don’t insist my feet need to be more wet
I’m really learning a lot
The race you run is exhausting to me
I like to stop–enjoy what I see
So speed on, dear friend, just let me be
I’m enjoying the power of free
I really lost my single soul
Trying to be the “Best in Show”
Teaching the old dog takes its toll
Yes, the bite is worse than the bark
I’m not a philosopher, nor a king
Not a possessor of all that’s wise
I want to wear simple shoes
And avoid the nasty lies
My feelings were raw and full of hurt
Frightened to make a start
So give me time to sense again
And open up my heart
God means nothing if I feel small
So I relax, peaceful, awaiting my call
There is no hurry, there is no worry
No need to toil and spin
Slow down the race and find my place
Perhaps I still can win
For today has come to keep me busy
Making my logical case
For every winner is still a sinner
Pursuing amazing grace
Today’s reader is Jerrod, who lives in Florida and works as an executive technician at 3G Productions, residing with his wife and two daughters
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PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant … September 6th, 2017
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Z or P
Rising from my bed
I really wasn’t dead
Just somewhat fond of sleep
Like Bo-Peep with her sheep
I considered a roll to the right
To continue my blissful night
But there within my sight
Was a splash of morning light
So groan I did
Close my lid
And lie there very still
My toasty form
Is cuddly and warm
Not wishing a morning chill
But as I pause
For my sleepy cause
Reality stirs in me
I GOT TO PEE
And not just a wee bit
But a raging sea-fit
Threatening like tingling ants
To drown me in my pants
It comes to me
What shall it be?
Perhaps continue to snooze
And maybe then I’d lose
Control of me bladder
A very embarrassing matter
Nature certainly has her ways
To get us involved in our days
If we want the night
And fight the determined light
The sun will surely win
So Little Boy Blue
Blow your horn
Sloth–it be a deadly sin.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant … May 31st, 2017
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A Stinky Job
I am not God
You are not God
Who would want to be God?
It’s a stinky job
You have to tell the truth.
Even though it eventually sets people free
In the meantime it makes them pissy
So those who worship you are also constantly a little angry
Because you are God but won’t be just their God
And their God alone
When you are God, you say,
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of me.”
“There is none righteous–no, not one.”
“Except you repent, you will perish.”
“Your righteousness is like filthy rags.”
Filthy rags??
Please lighten up
How about just a dirty t-shirt?
So God says He loves people
Then we sing, “You are an awesome God!”
Yet we privately wonder why He doesn’t kill some people to help us out
Couldn’t God be nicer–just to us?
We come to church
We’re in the praise band
We once memorized two whole chapters of the Gospel of John
What does He want?
Maybe if He just phrased things more gently
Changed “sinners” to “winners in training”
Instead of “damnation,” call it “escaping the oops zone”
God, why don’t you just say “mistakes?”
And since we all make them, let’s call these little flubs “journey-markers”
Listen, God, I could love you so much more if you wouldn’t lord it over me
I need encouragement
I’m a kitten that requires exaggerated petting
But since you won’t do your God job
With some tenderness
Then I look for tenderness to become my God
Are you feeling lonely?
And you wonder why you have grumpy praisers
Even though I am not God
I could give you some pointers
Would you listen?
Or–because you are all-knowing–do you have to be a know-it-all?
But where can I go?
Movies don’t move me
Drinking makes me drunk
Weed creates need
Which will only feed my greed
And poli-ticks me off
I got nowhere to roost
Of course, you know that
STOP SMIRKING AT ME
Go ahead
Tell me the truth
But stay a little while–sweetly
Because honest to God, it helps.The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
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To our friends at Roseland: click the piano for information on Cring & Clazzy
PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant … January 4th, 2017
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Step Careful
If the bugs ever organized
We would surely be dead
Executed for war crimes
Against their fallen kinsfolk
If the sky could speak
Would we hear great remorse?
Of being ignored for beauty
Then cursed for the rain
If a door might complain
Would it question our sanity?
In and out, back and forth
Please decide, scatterbrain
Yes, a horse would demand
We get off its back
A fish would certainly quibble
“Let me off the hook!”
And a road would order,
“Just keep movin'”
It is very easy to offend
More tough to amend
So be kind as you …
Step, look, open, close, ride, fish and journey
May your living bring life.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
Don’t let another Christmas season go by without owning Jonathan’s book of Christmas stories
Mr. Kringle’s Tales …26 Stories ‘Til Christmas
An advent calendar of stories, designed to enchant readers of all ages
“Quite literally the best Christmas stories I have ever read.” — Arthur Holland, Shelby, North Carolina
Only $5.99 plus $1.25 shipping and handling.
Good News and Better News… November 7th, 2016
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Autumn reminds me of getting older. It occasionally offers memories of the warmth of earlier days, but things start falling off your limbs.
As I woke up and drove to Trinity United Methodist Church in Mansfield, Ohio, it was a beautiful, sunshine-blessed fall morning–invigorating to the body and soul. I think other people felt that as well, because Pastor Bob and the congregation shared a gentle and kind greeting.
I was also blessed to have my nephew and sister-in-law show up for the gig, and we had a few minutes in my green room to catch up and rediscover why we like each other (even though we’re related).
Then it was time for the service. I’m always intrigued by the fact that we pursue the traditions of religion without considering whether they are adequate for the needs of humans. What is the purpose of God putting together a ceremony which does nothing to enrich the lives of the participants?
What do we need from church?
First and foremost–good cheer.
Fortunately for us, Jesus said “he came that our joy might be full.” For after all, we cannot survive another experience that leaves us contemplating without rejoicing.
The second thing church should give us is fellowship.
Once again, God looked ahead and saw our need. Jesus proclaimed, “By this you shall know my followers–that they have love for one another.”
After good cheer and fellowship, we all desperately need forgiveness.
Jesus warned us that “except we repent, we shall perish. But if we do repent, “God is faithful and just to forgive us.” This pardon makes us a little bit more willing to consider being gracious to others.
So you can see, what we need out of church is also what God expects out of church.
Passing off the traditions of men and calling them the commandments of God is what really pissed off Jesus.
So the good news is that if we offer hope and cheer, fellowship and forgiveness, we will not only be doing God’s will, but we will be presenting an atmosphere which is conducive to the growth of human beings.
The better news is that it is a lot more pleasant to do this than arguing over hymns, trying to stay awake during sermons, and bickering over the color of the carpet in the vestibule.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Don’t let another Christmas season go by without owning Jonathan’s book of Christmas stories
Mr. Kringle’s Tales …26 Stories ‘Til Christmas
An advent calendar of stories, designed to enchant readers of all ages
“Quite literally the best Christmas stories I have ever read.” — Arthur Holland, Shelby, North Carolina
Only $5.99 plus $1.25 shipping and handling.
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