The sun is out, shining down, and the snow is almost gone,
Melting quickly beneath the rays, reavealing grassy lawn.
I step outside to feel the warmth, my first thoughts are of you,
The promise of spring, soon to come, like us, remaining true.
And as I gaze about I see flowers budding from the ground,
Wind whispering through the new-grown leaves, such a precious sound.
Robin chicks, chirping loud, from nests among the trees,
Soon to learn to use their wings, to float along the breeze.
New-born bunnies hop along, nibbling tender blossoms,
God's presence in this blooming world, of Spring, is truly awesome.
And though a time of storms will come, mingleing with our tears,
The Master's grace will soon prevail, and wash away our fears.
For Spring is a time of happiness, with no time for pain or sorrow,
Let us spend these days together, forget about tomorrow.
In time His will shall come to pass, and what will happen will,
But we shall pray with fervent hope, that we'll be together still.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
There is a Better Way to Live Your Life
So you're Lost:
You had a home but couldn't stay,
You tried to run but lost your way.
Nobody loves or cares about you,
You're burdened by fear, remorse, doubt too.
But don't go, there's a man who's been searching for you,
He loves the fainthearted, the lost, destitute.
So you're a Slut:
The guys all think you're really hot,
So many lust for what you've got.
But be careful what you choose to wear,
Watch how you talk or toss your hair.
Your body is your sacred temple,
Take care to follow the Good Example.
So you're a Flirt:
Now "slut" and "flirt" are not the same,
Of flirting do not be ashamed.
Be wise, though, you may mislead some,
These "some" are weaker, sometimes dumb.
Though it may not all be your mistake,
Cut the act, avoid the wake...
So you're Running:
In a moment of anger, a slip of the tongue,
Or a terrible crime, putting you on the run.
Your situation is now out of control,
Wherever you turn puts you deeper in the hole.
But stop all this running, there's no need to hide!
There's a man here named Jesus, who so loved you He died!
So you're Gay:
You naturally just like the guys,
They get you feeling oversized.
You can't help what turns you on,
But listen, Bud, that's simply wrong.
These thoughts and acts are abominable,
Change your ways or lose your soul.
So you're a Whore:
You enjoy having to share your bed,
You don't have dreams to ever be wed.
Something inside your body seeks,
You feed it pleasure until it peaks.
Someday down the road, you'll see,
That's not what you need to be happy.
So you're a Druggy:
Addicted and high, you feel just one need,
You light up another, and smoke some more weed.
You lie there, indulging a blissful mirage,
Til it fades; you're left puking up in your garage.
What if I told you that you could get higher?
On a love that saves people like you from eternal fire.
So you're a Failure:
Nothing you attempt to do seems to turn out right,
You're wondering if there's anything that's really worth the fight.
They say that you're not good enough, why should you get a repeat?
What's the point in trying again if you're already set for defeat?
But listen now, I know of One, who'll give you a second try,
He'll forgive you of the wrongs you've done, it was for our mistakes that He did die.
You had a home but couldn't stay,
You tried to run but lost your way.
Nobody loves or cares about you,
You're burdened by fear, remorse, doubt too.
But don't go, there's a man who's been searching for you,
He loves the fainthearted, the lost, destitute.
So you're a Slut:
The guys all think you're really hot,
So many lust for what you've got.
But be careful what you choose to wear,
Watch how you talk or toss your hair.
Your body is your sacred temple,
Take care to follow the Good Example.
So you're a Flirt:
Now "slut" and "flirt" are not the same,
Of flirting do not be ashamed.
Be wise, though, you may mislead some,
These "some" are weaker, sometimes dumb.
Though it may not all be your mistake,
Cut the act, avoid the wake...
So you're Running:
In a moment of anger, a slip of the tongue,
Or a terrible crime, putting you on the run.
Your situation is now out of control,
Wherever you turn puts you deeper in the hole.
But stop all this running, there's no need to hide!
There's a man here named Jesus, who so loved you He died!
So you're Gay:
You naturally just like the guys,
They get you feeling oversized.
You can't help what turns you on,
But listen, Bud, that's simply wrong.
These thoughts and acts are abominable,
Change your ways or lose your soul.
So you're a Whore:
You enjoy having to share your bed,
You don't have dreams to ever be wed.
Something inside your body seeks,
You feed it pleasure until it peaks.
Someday down the road, you'll see,
That's not what you need to be happy.
So you're a Druggy:
Addicted and high, you feel just one need,
You light up another, and smoke some more weed.
You lie there, indulging a blissful mirage,
Til it fades; you're left puking up in your garage.
What if I told you that you could get higher?
On a love that saves people like you from eternal fire.
So you're a Failure:
Nothing you attempt to do seems to turn out right,
You're wondering if there's anything that's really worth the fight.
They say that you're not good enough, why should you get a repeat?
What's the point in trying again if you're already set for defeat?
But listen now, I know of One, who'll give you a second try,
He'll forgive you of the wrongs you've done, it was for our mistakes that He did die.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
An Exciting Summer Adventure
OK, well, this is my very first attempt at blogging..I figure since I've got this blog..hey! why not post something?? The following short story is a recount on my summer adventures, taken from the journal which I was keeping at the time...
Originally, I planned to recount the entire adventure of our camping trip day by day, but it grew to be quite lengthy and we didn't have wireless for the first week of our trip. So instead, you shall hear only of the most exciting and enthralling happenings, taken from the journal of Rhom Wert.
"Day Seven"
Part I
"The following story I am about to tell you is a true story, every word of it. Today began much like yesterday: with an obnoxious bird screaming outside my tent. Fortunately, it was at a more reasonable hour, around 8:30 am. By the time I had dressed, nearly everyone else was already out and about.
After a quick breakfast, we all gathered around the table to discuss the day's schedule. The grandparents had planned to take everyone to Mount Washington, a mountain nearly 6,000 ft. in height. They wanted to take the train to the top. The average temperature at the top of the mountain in the summer was 49 degrees with occasional blasts of wind peaking at 231 mph. Though this did sound like fun, I had wanted to do some real hiking.
I asked my mom if there was any chance of me being permitted to hike another mountain. She was very hesitant at first, but after we called and talked to my dad, she said it was alright. We decided that the best way to find a place to hike would be the camp office. There we asked for ideas on the best place for a hike. The desk clerk had several suggestions, the most appealing of which was Eagle Cliff. Although Mom tried to find another, more gentle sounding hike, I had already decided that I wanted to take on the cliff.
As we walked back, it was beginning to sprinkle. Everyone else was already in the car ready to leave for Mount Washington, so I separated my things, taking out everything I wouldn't need. Then I too climbed into the car. The plan was that I be dropped off on the way to Mount Washington.
On the way there, my mom went over the rules again.
"Be careful, don't do anything that might be risky."
I already knew this, but I acknowledged her once again. At last, at the base of Eagle Cliff, they dropped me off. I was dressed in jean pants, a thick hooded sweatshirt, and a thin T-shirt underneath. We said goodbye, agreeing to meet back here at 5:30 pm. So it was at 12:40 pm that I took to the trail, under a dark and drizzling sky....
The trail started at the base of Eagle Cliff and wound it's way around the base to a lookout point that was also at the base. There was no path higher than the forest floor with which to crawl the face of the mountain. I walked along the trail for about a quarter mile until I passed two teenage hikers. I asked them if they knew of any way to hike Eagle cliff, but having never heard the name before, they couldn't help.
So I kept going. I told myself that when I reached the highest part of the trail I would break from it and start my climb.
And so I did.
At the top of the trail, there was a rocky stream bed in which trickled the water running off the mountain. It was a relatively steep climb and very slippery on the rocks. A little ways up, I picked up a sturdy stick to help with the ascent. Though it did prove useful for a little while, the rocks were growing steadily larger and I had to start climbing. So I discarded it and continued trekking upward.
As I neared the top of the stream bed, the rocks grew more scarce. This made the climb much slower, but I was able to pull myself through the dense pines. After nearly half a mile, the trees gave way to an open and dangerously steep hill. The hill was made up of small rocks and mud with an occasional boulder.
Every now and then, while I was climbing this hill, the ground under my feet would give way and start sliding. As the rocks and mud slid downward, I would watch as a miniature land slide followed. After clearing the muddy hill, the way was again filled with small pines and scattered birch.
The climb was again becoming rocky, but it was also filled with holes hidden by patches of settled leaves. This made the going still slower and more dangerous. And though I did my best to avoid suspicious looking rocks and innocent patches of leaves, more than once my foot sunk into the ground when I least expected it.
I was about two-thirds the ways up, and it was only 1:45 pm. I knew I should start back at 3:00 pm at the latest just to make sure I had time to get back, with some spare time in case something happened. The trees started to thin and I began to forge through the tangled underbrush, while stepping carefully around nearly invisible holes.
I was completely soaked, every single inch of me. I was also very worried that this same journal might be ruined from water. As the trees and foliage cleared, I came to a wall of rock that rose straight up to the top of the cliff. To make matters worse, the rain was also becoming steadily more torrential....
I managed to haul myself up over the first wall of rock, but it was by far the easiest, though still far from being easy. When I saw what the second wall looked like, much higher than the first and barren of handholds, as well as slick from the pouring rain, I set to thinking: It was only 2:00 pm so I still had a considerable amount of time before I needed to head back. But was it worth it? After all, it was just a mountain. Yet if I turned back now, it would just be that much easier to turn around the next time I faced a mountain, real or symbolic...(I was taking this one deep)
Then I thought of all my family and friends. How would they feel if heard that I had taken a tumble off a cliff? I was really gambling with a lot of things here, not all of which were mine. I decided I would press on, but I would be as careful as I could.
Though there was no way to climb up the all of rock in front of me without equipment, I thought I might have a chance if I could edge around to another side of the cliff where there was more shrubbery. So I slowly inched my way along the face of the cliff, clinging to any and every rocky crevice, tree or grass clump I could with my hands. My feet, meanwhile, were resting on mere inches of muddy soil pressed into the rock, beneath which there was nothing....
Part II
As I rounded the right corner of the cliff, I saw a deep crack in the rock from which sprouted several hardy pines. Further up the face, small birch trees were nestled on ledges jutting out from the cliff. I carefully made my way to the crevice and began hoisting myself up the side of the cliff. Each tree was the size of a small tree branch, roughly an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. They were, however, very sturdy, and held as I used them to gain leverage. Still, I made sure to test their security before entrusting my life to them.
At one point, I had pulled myself up to a small nook and was attempting to climb up to an area with more trees to use for handholds. I reached high above my head and far to the right to grab a small pine. I managed to securely grasp the tree and I pulled myself up into a crouch against the cliff. Again I reached high, leaning even further to the right, stretching to grab a patch of thick grasses. I caught them and began to shift my weight off of the tree and onto the grass. However, as I leaned away from the pine, the grasses tore away from the rock, leaving me with only a fist full of turf. Caught off balance, I swung downward...
My left hand, still loosely clasped around the trunk of the pine, was the only thing that kept me from falling off the cliff. I plummeted momentarily downward, before swinging around in an arc, until I slammed back first into the rock. I hung there, only able to hang on, dazed, just shaking my head for a moment. When I could focus my eyes, I saw that beneath me there was absolutely nothing but open air(I was actually high enough above the fog or mist taht I couldn't see the ground at all). It was a straight drop downward until the cliff rolled into the hill below.
Carefully, I twisted around so that I was again facing the cliff. I then pulled myself up, for the second time, so that I was able to reach another, smaller tree. I then continued to clamber another thirty-five feet up the cliff before I came to an almost impossibly impassible section of solid rock wall. I was only about forty feet from the top, but there was no sane way to climb the rest of the cliff. There were no trees, no grasses, only shear rock the rest of the way up.
Disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to reach my goal, I took a few pictures with my mom’s cell phone and started the climb back down. It was 2:25, and the sky was pouring rain. I had climbed so high up the cliff that I couldn’t even see the ground where I had started from. Everything was hidden by the clouds.
I began my descent, climbing down the same way I had come up. Several times I got off on the wrong side of the tree (it's a joke, and yet..literal) to find myself at a dead drop. Even with the wrong turns and slippery conditions, I was able to make it back down to the tree line within fifteen minutes (it's much easier to give ground than it is to take it).
From there I half stumbled, half slid down the steep hill. I made sure that every time I took a step I had one hand behind me fastened onto a pine branch and the other hand in front of me clasped around the trunk of another tree. Still, at one particularly steep and muddy part of my “trail,” my feet were ripped out from under me and before I could even recover my breath, I had slid fifty feet down the natural mountain slide. I managed to grab onto a tree to stop myself, but it had all happened so fast that it couldn’t have taken more than three seconds.
Without letting go of the tree, I got to my feet and looked myself over. I wasn’t anymore soaked than I had already been, but now I was completely covered in piney mud too.(:P) My hands stung from digging into the dirt in a futile attempt to halt my speedy descent. The mud had forced itself under my finger nails until the front of the nails were black. My sack had also been filled, although to a lesser extent, with the dark mud. More than ever I dreaded the destruction of this book...
I kept on moving down the mountain, and by 2:40 I had reached the stony mud hill that I had clambered up nearly an hour and a half ago. Now it was even more treacherous as the mud had become as loose as the rocks. I managed to descend safely by leaning back, to the point where I was almost parallel to the ground, and planting my feet sideways to avoid slipping. Beneath me, rocks and mud pulled free from where they had lain and tumbled down the hill. Fortunately, I reached the bottom of the hill after only a few short minutes, and I was once again forging my way through he dense pines....
Part III
Ahh!!! I'm out of time for now!! But let me know if it's worth finishing.
Originally, I planned to recount the entire adventure of our camping trip day by day, but it grew to be quite lengthy and we didn't have wireless for the first week of our trip. So instead, you shall hear only of the most exciting and enthralling happenings, taken from the journal of Rhom Wert.
"Day Seven"
Part I
"The following story I am about to tell you is a true story, every word of it. Today began much like yesterday: with an obnoxious bird screaming outside my tent. Fortunately, it was at a more reasonable hour, around 8:30 am. By the time I had dressed, nearly everyone else was already out and about.
After a quick breakfast, we all gathered around the table to discuss the day's schedule. The grandparents had planned to take everyone to Mount Washington, a mountain nearly 6,000 ft. in height. They wanted to take the train to the top. The average temperature at the top of the mountain in the summer was 49 degrees with occasional blasts of wind peaking at 231 mph. Though this did sound like fun, I had wanted to do some real hiking.
I asked my mom if there was any chance of me being permitted to hike another mountain. She was very hesitant at first, but after we called and talked to my dad, she said it was alright. We decided that the best way to find a place to hike would be the camp office. There we asked for ideas on the best place for a hike. The desk clerk had several suggestions, the most appealing of which was Eagle Cliff. Although Mom tried to find another, more gentle sounding hike, I had already decided that I wanted to take on the cliff.
As we walked back, it was beginning to sprinkle. Everyone else was already in the car ready to leave for Mount Washington, so I separated my things, taking out everything I wouldn't need. Then I too climbed into the car. The plan was that I be dropped off on the way to Mount Washington.
On the way there, my mom went over the rules again.
"Be careful, don't do anything that might be risky."
I already knew this, but I acknowledged her once again. At last, at the base of Eagle Cliff, they dropped me off. I was dressed in jean pants, a thick hooded sweatshirt, and a thin T-shirt underneath. We said goodbye, agreeing to meet back here at 5:30 pm. So it was at 12:40 pm that I took to the trail, under a dark and drizzling sky....
The trail started at the base of Eagle Cliff and wound it's way around the base to a lookout point that was also at the base. There was no path higher than the forest floor with which to crawl the face of the mountain. I walked along the trail for about a quarter mile until I passed two teenage hikers. I asked them if they knew of any way to hike Eagle cliff, but having never heard the name before, they couldn't help.
So I kept going. I told myself that when I reached the highest part of the trail I would break from it and start my climb.
And so I did.
At the top of the trail, there was a rocky stream bed in which trickled the water running off the mountain. It was a relatively steep climb and very slippery on the rocks. A little ways up, I picked up a sturdy stick to help with the ascent. Though it did prove useful for a little while, the rocks were growing steadily larger and I had to start climbing. So I discarded it and continued trekking upward.
As I neared the top of the stream bed, the rocks grew more scarce. This made the climb much slower, but I was able to pull myself through the dense pines. After nearly half a mile, the trees gave way to an open and dangerously steep hill. The hill was made up of small rocks and mud with an occasional boulder.
Every now and then, while I was climbing this hill, the ground under my feet would give way and start sliding. As the rocks and mud slid downward, I would watch as a miniature land slide followed. After clearing the muddy hill, the way was again filled with small pines and scattered birch.
The climb was again becoming rocky, but it was also filled with holes hidden by patches of settled leaves. This made the going still slower and more dangerous. And though I did my best to avoid suspicious looking rocks and innocent patches of leaves, more than once my foot sunk into the ground when I least expected it.
I was about two-thirds the ways up, and it was only 1:45 pm. I knew I should start back at 3:00 pm at the latest just to make sure I had time to get back, with some spare time in case something happened. The trees started to thin and I began to forge through the tangled underbrush, while stepping carefully around nearly invisible holes.
I was completely soaked, every single inch of me. I was also very worried that this same journal might be ruined from water. As the trees and foliage cleared, I came to a wall of rock that rose straight up to the top of the cliff. To make matters worse, the rain was also becoming steadily more torrential....
I managed to haul myself up over the first wall of rock, but it was by far the easiest, though still far from being easy. When I saw what the second wall looked like, much higher than the first and barren of handholds, as well as slick from the pouring rain, I set to thinking: It was only 2:00 pm so I still had a considerable amount of time before I needed to head back. But was it worth it? After all, it was just a mountain. Yet if I turned back now, it would just be that much easier to turn around the next time I faced a mountain, real or symbolic...(I was taking this one deep)
Then I thought of all my family and friends. How would they feel if heard that I had taken a tumble off a cliff? I was really gambling with a lot of things here, not all of which were mine. I decided I would press on, but I would be as careful as I could.
Though there was no way to climb up the all of rock in front of me without equipment, I thought I might have a chance if I could edge around to another side of the cliff where there was more shrubbery. So I slowly inched my way along the face of the cliff, clinging to any and every rocky crevice, tree or grass clump I could with my hands. My feet, meanwhile, were resting on mere inches of muddy soil pressed into the rock, beneath which there was nothing....
Part II
As I rounded the right corner of the cliff, I saw a deep crack in the rock from which sprouted several hardy pines. Further up the face, small birch trees were nestled on ledges jutting out from the cliff. I carefully made my way to the crevice and began hoisting myself up the side of the cliff. Each tree was the size of a small tree branch, roughly an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. They were, however, very sturdy, and held as I used them to gain leverage. Still, I made sure to test their security before entrusting my life to them.
At one point, I had pulled myself up to a small nook and was attempting to climb up to an area with more trees to use for handholds. I reached high above my head and far to the right to grab a small pine. I managed to securely grasp the tree and I pulled myself up into a crouch against the cliff. Again I reached high, leaning even further to the right, stretching to grab a patch of thick grasses. I caught them and began to shift my weight off of the tree and onto the grass. However, as I leaned away from the pine, the grasses tore away from the rock, leaving me with only a fist full of turf. Caught off balance, I swung downward...
My left hand, still loosely clasped around the trunk of the pine, was the only thing that kept me from falling off the cliff. I plummeted momentarily downward, before swinging around in an arc, until I slammed back first into the rock. I hung there, only able to hang on, dazed, just shaking my head for a moment. When I could focus my eyes, I saw that beneath me there was absolutely nothing but open air(I was actually high enough above the fog or mist taht I couldn't see the ground at all). It was a straight drop downward until the cliff rolled into the hill below.
Carefully, I twisted around so that I was again facing the cliff. I then pulled myself up, for the second time, so that I was able to reach another, smaller tree. I then continued to clamber another thirty-five feet up the cliff before I came to an almost impossibly impassible section of solid rock wall. I was only about forty feet from the top, but there was no sane way to climb the rest of the cliff. There were no trees, no grasses, only shear rock the rest of the way up.
Disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to reach my goal, I took a few pictures with my mom’s cell phone and started the climb back down. It was 2:25, and the sky was pouring rain. I had climbed so high up the cliff that I couldn’t even see the ground where I had started from. Everything was hidden by the clouds.
I began my descent, climbing down the same way I had come up. Several times I got off on the wrong side of the tree (it's a joke, and yet..literal) to find myself at a dead drop. Even with the wrong turns and slippery conditions, I was able to make it back down to the tree line within fifteen minutes (it's much easier to give ground than it is to take it).
From there I half stumbled, half slid down the steep hill. I made sure that every time I took a step I had one hand behind me fastened onto a pine branch and the other hand in front of me clasped around the trunk of another tree. Still, at one particularly steep and muddy part of my “trail,” my feet were ripped out from under me and before I could even recover my breath, I had slid fifty feet down the natural mountain slide. I managed to grab onto a tree to stop myself, but it had all happened so fast that it couldn’t have taken more than three seconds.
Without letting go of the tree, I got to my feet and looked myself over. I wasn’t anymore soaked than I had already been, but now I was completely covered in piney mud too.(:P) My hands stung from digging into the dirt in a futile attempt to halt my speedy descent. The mud had forced itself under my finger nails until the front of the nails were black. My sack had also been filled, although to a lesser extent, with the dark mud. More than ever I dreaded the destruction of this book...
I kept on moving down the mountain, and by 2:40 I had reached the stony mud hill that I had clambered up nearly an hour and a half ago. Now it was even more treacherous as the mud had become as loose as the rocks. I managed to descend safely by leaning back, to the point where I was almost parallel to the ground, and planting my feet sideways to avoid slipping. Beneath me, rocks and mud pulled free from where they had lain and tumbled down the hill. Fortunately, I reached the bottom of the hill after only a few short minutes, and I was once again forging my way through he dense pines....
Part III
Ahh!!! I'm out of time for now!! But let me know if it's worth finishing.
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