Choosing the Cross - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

In the words of the sermon,
the words of love on the mountainside
the seeds of the words, his actions,
his choosing the cross
the savior loving his enemies,
those who would persecute,
knowing the weight of his sacrifice
the healing he could make

Choosing the pain, the shame
the nails on the cross
bringing reconciliation, life eternal
hope for all of mankind
Choosing to love
even those who would spit in his face
an example for the ages
to all who claim his name

January 18, 2009
the message, “It’s not just a dream but a reality”
on the sign in front of church,
the story of Moses and Joshua,
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
and on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
along with
Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 5:43-48
the sermon, “Love Your Who???”,
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church, Suncook, NH,
and the hypothetical put to Eric Holder, nominee for Attorney General,
by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) on the use of waterboarding,
January 15, 2009, during his Senate Confirmation Hearings,
see http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/15/cornyn-holder-waterboard/