On Silverwind

The sunset set no more upon the land
   In twilight dimming at the end of day,
Because the Light did glitter and expand
   To fill the sky and drive the night away.
The air just shook with mighty chords of praise
   As saints and angels sang unto the KING;
In solemn righteousness He then did gaze
   Upon His Bride: His Love for Her—His suffereing!
  
     Dear Lord, Oh! this vision of beauty:
        I thank You for the promise of Home—
     Where the streets are of gold and of rubies—
        Vivid!  so vivid a land unknown!
     
   Take me O Morning Star on Silverwind to that Place far, far away
   Where You are the Lamp like a Sun—Giver of Eternal Day!

- D. Benning

This was written sometime in 1980 or 1981 when I was still in junior college and had just found the music of a group call Silverwind.  They were very '80s sounding and were a little bit early Euro-techno even though it wasn't called that yet.  One of the singers escaped from communist controlled Bulgaria and had an incredible story to tell how he came to believe in Jesus Christ. 

Long story made short: I bought a cassette tape of their album and was fascinated by this one line on the cover under their name, Silverwind:

Take me, O Morning Star, on Silverwind to that Place far, far away.

I was in the midst of my exploring sonnets and  the "sprung rhythm" of Gerald Manley Hopkins, so I suddenly, on a whim, decided that I should incorporate that line into a full-fledged poem.  The above is the result (with slight edits here some thirty-five years later).

In case you're curious what that group sounded like, here is their "Taking the Narrow Street."

The Apple of His Eye

"Touch not My people here,
   raise not your hand against them;
The apple of my eye endeared—
   They are My treasured dear gem."

Treasured possession! What honored place!
   Treasure possession! O, what love!
He watches o'er with infinite grace,
   And mercy cascading down thereof.

That God is treasured by His own
   Should cause no wondering eye to question;
But that He should bring us to His throne
   Is Love's highest joy and expression.

A Mighty God delights in us
   And holds us close to His own heart;
Remember though the trials be thus,
   Nothing can ever cause us part.

- D. Benning

1 Chr 16:22
Dt 32:10;    Zech. 2:8

A New Twenty-Third Psalm

My Lord, my God, my Shepherd Guide,
   My good maintains—He's at my side;
Through pastures green and gentle streams
   Such truth rests easy as our theme.

But when the way is choked with cares,
   When troubles come with fears, despairs,
When heartaches rock life's fragile boats,
   When prayers grow dry and stuck in throats,
You must recall His promise well:
   He came to earth to take your Hell,
That you might be a child of Heav'n—
   His presence everlasting giv'n.

Thus you may hold His hand, dear child,
   Though storms and waves may rock you wild;
Through Valleys of Death's Shadows trek,
   His loving hands upon you check
And quell all doubts, your qualms, your fears,
   His Word to you will bring you cheer.

Though thousands then might fall around,
   Your stores run low and foes confound;
Though death looms large and sounds its knell,
   He vows in Heav'n with Him you'll dwell.

- D. Benning

Based on a reflection upon Ps. 23

Keep Away From Wicked's House

Keep away from wicked's house and lair,
   from sin, from pride, from lust and hate,
   from everything that is not straight,
   from contrarian dare
        and evil flair
and following crowds through that wide gate.

For there that door is but a road to hell,
   though fun and bliss with joy and kicks
   are promised with the spice of tricks—
   with the pride of sell
        and the thrill of fell;
yet no satisfaction, peace or fix.

Soon your wealth and health will while away
   your heart, your joy, your toil and sweat,
   in utter ruin about you yet—
   then shall you pray
        with doleful bray,
"I foolishly ignored God's threat."

- D. Benning

Based on Proverbs 5:1 - 14

Let the Glory of Your Name Be the Passion of the Church

Let the glory of Your name be the passion of the Church
Let the righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns
Let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives
We believe You're all to us.      Chris Tomlin, full lyrics

This is so correct.  This is what we should all aim for.  What is our passion?  What animates and kindles our fires?  If we are honest, we would have to say that we are aroused, motivated, enraptured by things: earthly things, common things and even sinful things.  Things that are passing away.  We do not see that eternity is but a heart-beat away and it will last forever.  We are insensitive to the reality of the all-holy, all-mighty God, transcendent yet present everywhere in His creation.  We are completely clueless that next to our puny 3-Dimensions, Heaven lays open as a vast, immeasurable country where thousands upon thousands are joined together in rapturous song and worship as they surround the Throne with praises.

So, let us make sure that our passion is the glory of God's Name.  What does that mean?  One example is Phinehas in Numbers 25.  He saw the disgraceful sin that the Children of Israel were engaged in; he saw leadership start to take action against the sin; then he saw the wickedness continue.  That when he took matters into his own hands: following the command that the Lord gave to Moses (Num. 25:4), he killed the two who flagrantly and publicly violated the Lord's laws.  Note that

•   he acted within the guidelines of the legal code of that time;
•   he was motivated by a sense of zeal for the honor of God's Name;
•   he acted quickly and decisively.

Applying this to our lives, are we quick to cut off known sin from our own behavior?  Do we speak out against those around us who suggest doing something wrong?  We may not stop others, but we can certainly speak and refrain from joining in.

Then, let the Righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns.  These should not be mere, empty, idle words.  God's Righteousness.  That is all the Rightness and Correctness that is the natural out-flowing of being Holy should guide our thoughts and actions so that it figuratively burns up the unrighteousness that is in our lives.

Finally let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives.  How will they know that we are Christians?  By our love.  Not a warm, fuzzy feeling love, but a love first for God and then a love for one another.  But notice how God says we should love Him: with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul and with all our strength:

• Heart—our affections; 
• Mind—our logic and reason, employing our will; 
• Soul—that part which He made alive that can now respond to Him whereas before we were dead and unresponsive; 
• Strength—loving God takes energy and hard work, it is not a "if I feel like it" sort of love, but a laboring with all strength that He gives. 

And how does this love express itself?  By doing what is right and good in His sight.  What is that?  All His Laws and Commands.  We can only measure our love for God by actions.  That is why the Apostle John wrote, "let us not love in word or in talk, but in deed and in truth"  (1 Jn. 3:18).  Deed and truth.  With actions aligned with what is true; and what is true can only be found in God's Word for He alone is True (let all men be liars.)

If we do this in increasing measure, Jesus Christ truly will be all to us.