How much of our reality is just our perception? How often do we ignore what we don't like or what is difficult to accept because the "truth" is just too hard to live with?
What is Truth?
(Matthew 7:21)
“I promise I will tell the truth,”
the cowboy told the judge,
then proceeded to regale the court
with details of the grudge
that ended with a shouting match
and punches being thrown
by black and blue combatants
who’s motives were unknown.
“I promise I will tell the truth,”
the barmaid told the court
but her story contradicted
what the cowboy did report.
“I promise I will tell the truth,”
another witness swore
but his story differed greatly
from the two that came before.
So many of us think the truth
is what we want or feel.
But that’s just our perspective
and often, it’s not real.
Truth is Truth, no matter what.
It can’t be bent or swayed.
Truth is simple; black and white.
It can’t be slightly grayed.
Those who don’t acknowledge
God live this pastel lie;
You have your truth and I have mine.
But then they wonder why
the people we depend upon
are those who rob us blind.
And then they cry for justice.
But justice, they will find
requires some rules for right and wrong
that stem from what is true
and what is fair for everyone
not just a group or two.
Even some with faith in God
turn blind eyes to what’s true
because they can’t imagine God
will really follow through
on promises of punishment
for those who don’t believe.
They think that God will change His Truth
to fit what they perceive.
But the God who made the universe
did it with a plan
including what we call free will.
Just so you understand
that means we get the chance to choose
what’s easy or what’s true.
Too many pick the easy path
and if that’s true of you
be warned that your decisions now
will have eternal weight.
Believe and witness to the Truth
and do not hesitate
because our God has made it clear
in Truth, there’s just one way
to guarantee eternal life.
Accept Jesus Christ today.
Jeff Hildebrandt © 2010
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Regrets
I wonder if I'm talking to myself or if this might touch a sensitive spot in you as well.
Regrets
What would you do
if you only knew
what happens an hour from now?
What would you say
if you knew that today
would be your last chance somehow?
What would you do
if it came down to you
to witness and gather a stray?
Would you truly confess
if you knew it would bless
some soul that had lost its way?
What would it take
for you to forsake
your cozy and comfortable place?
Who would you tell
to keep them from hell
and show them the way to God’s Grace?
What would you do
if it really were true
God’s harvest would happen today?
So what makes you think,
in the time of a wink
their life won’t be taken away?
What would you feel
if those what-ifs were real
and you never did witness or pray?
Would you always regret
the chance you’ll never get
to help them avoid judgment day?
What will you do
knowing God expects you
to be bold and to speak without fear?
Will you speak up in love,
share the Truth from above?
Cause the truth is, God’s judgment is near.
Jeff Hildebrandt © Sept 28, 2011
Regrets
What would you do
if you only knew
what happens an hour from now?
What would you say
if you knew that today
would be your last chance somehow?
What would you do
if it came down to you
to witness and gather a stray?
Would you truly confess
if you knew it would bless
some soul that had lost its way?
What would it take
for you to forsake
your cozy and comfortable place?
Who would you tell
to keep them from hell
and show them the way to God’s Grace?
What would you do
if it really were true
God’s harvest would happen today?
So what makes you think,
in the time of a wink
their life won’t be taken away?
What would you feel
if those what-ifs were real
and you never did witness or pray?
Would you always regret
the chance you’ll never get
to help them avoid judgment day?
What will you do
knowing God expects you
to be bold and to speak without fear?
Will you speak up in love,
share the Truth from above?
Cause the truth is, God’s judgment is near.
Jeff Hildebrandt © Sept 28, 2011
Have Buns Will Travel
I shared this with my pal, Johnny Western, who wrote the Ballad of Paladin. (you can sing along at the end of every episode of Have Gun Will Travel on Encore Westerns) He thought it was funny so I'll share it with you.
HAVE BUNS WILL TRAVEL
Have buns, will travel
reads the side of his van.
a chef on a mission
in a hungry land.
His buns raising higher
and his icing's thin.
The warm, gooey goodness
oozing down, down, down your chin.
Sticky Buns, Sticky Buns
Latte's with foam.
Sticky Buns, Sticky Buns
Please, take some home...
Jeff Hildebrandt © Oct. 11, 2011
HAVE BUNS WILL TRAVEL
Have buns, will travel
reads the side of his van.
a chef on a mission
in a hungry land.
His buns raising higher
and his icing's thin.
The warm, gooey goodness
oozing down, down, down your chin.
Sticky Buns, Sticky Buns
Latte's with foam.
Sticky Buns, Sticky Buns
Please, take some home...
Jeff Hildebrandt © Oct. 11, 2011
Tombstone Tale
Tombstone Tale
I went to Tombstone one July.
Folks shake their heads and ask me why
I’d visit that forsaken spot
especially when it’s so darn hot?
I have no adequate answer except to say
I grew up watching tales of old;
of outlaws and of heroes bold;
like Wyatt Earp, who came to town
and settled everybody down.
While driving through the vast expanse
of creosote and cactus plants
I felt a sense of awe and wonder
at legends launched with 6 gun thunder.
Arroyos gouge this short scrub land
so deep they’d hide a horse and man
who’d sit and wait to pounce and prey
on anyone who chanced their way.
Their ghosts must ride this desert still.
What else explains the tingling chill
and goose bumps on my arms and back
while traveling in this sun baked track?
But even stranger on that day;
the feeling seemed to go away
as I got closer to the town.
The spirits just were not around.
Wyatt’s ghost, some locals say
still keeps the evil souls at bay.
But there are stories, late at night
of the unexplained and out of sight
that thump across the Bird Cage floor,
walk to the cribs and close a door.
The old west days have long since gone.
But with each Arizona dawn
its clear that Tombstone will survive
by keeping history alive.
We saddle our imagination
and ride to visit each location,
from Boot Hill to the Oriental.
We’re drawn by something sentimental;
just to walk where legends did
and live the dreams we had as kids.
There’s more there than the gunfight scene
from movies, books and magazines.
It’s the stage where real life drama played;
the weak went east, the sturdy stayed.
Its where you learn that cowboy means
more than boots and starched blue jeans,
more than Colts and campfire food.
Cowboy is an attitude.
Those old time cowboys were about
taking all that life dished out
and sticking till their job was done,
from day’s first light to setting sun.
It’s a lesson we can teach our kids;
live like those old cowboys did.
Work honest, hard and lend a hand.
Ride for the Boss, Ride for the Brand.
So maybe now you know just why
I went to Tombstone in July.
I changed my “can’t,” to “yes I can,”
in that Arizona frying pan.
Jeff Hildebrandt © 2005/2011
I went to Tombstone one July.
Folks shake their heads and ask me why
I’d visit that forsaken spot
especially when it’s so darn hot?
I have no adequate answer except to say
I grew up watching tales of old;
of outlaws and of heroes bold;
like Wyatt Earp, who came to town
and settled everybody down.
While driving through the vast expanse
of creosote and cactus plants
I felt a sense of awe and wonder
at legends launched with 6 gun thunder.
Arroyos gouge this short scrub land
so deep they’d hide a horse and man
who’d sit and wait to pounce and prey
on anyone who chanced their way.
Their ghosts must ride this desert still.
What else explains the tingling chill
and goose bumps on my arms and back
while traveling in this sun baked track?
But even stranger on that day;
the feeling seemed to go away
as I got closer to the town.
The spirits just were not around.
Wyatt’s ghost, some locals say
still keeps the evil souls at bay.
But there are stories, late at night
of the unexplained and out of sight
that thump across the Bird Cage floor,
walk to the cribs and close a door.
The old west days have long since gone.
But with each Arizona dawn
its clear that Tombstone will survive
by keeping history alive.
We saddle our imagination
and ride to visit each location,
from Boot Hill to the Oriental.
We’re drawn by something sentimental;
just to walk where legends did
and live the dreams we had as kids.
There’s more there than the gunfight scene
from movies, books and magazines.
It’s the stage where real life drama played;
the weak went east, the sturdy stayed.
Its where you learn that cowboy means
more than boots and starched blue jeans,
more than Colts and campfire food.
Cowboy is an attitude.
Those old time cowboys were about
taking all that life dished out
and sticking till their job was done,
from day’s first light to setting sun.
It’s a lesson we can teach our kids;
live like those old cowboys did.
Work honest, hard and lend a hand.
Ride for the Boss, Ride for the Brand.
So maybe now you know just why
I went to Tombstone in July.
I changed my “can’t,” to “yes I can,”
in that Arizona frying pan.
Jeff Hildebrandt © 2005/2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Thank God for Geezers
A few days ago, I saw something listing a number of positives about old people. I know, "Old People" is not politicaly correct but that's what it was titled. So many ethnic and special interest groups have changed their names, I think it's time those of us with advanced maturity consider a switch from Senior Citizen to Administration Target.
Thank God for Geezers
Thank God for Old Timers who still respect the cause
that brought an end to tyranny and helped set up the laws
to benefit all people, not just a chosen few.
Thank God for the ones who fought; protecting me and you.
Thank God for the Geezers, reminding us what’s right,
reminding us of past mistakes and turning on the light
of freedom that shines bright enough to keep us on our way
toward a better future with help from yesterday.
They stand for the National Anthem
and proudly sing along.
They show respect for others
and fix things that are wrong.
They don’t like what they hear and see
nowadays in movies or TV
You can hear them say they’re sorry
if they bump you on the street
and they’ll extend a greeting hand
everytime you meet.
They have courage and integrity
and wisdom they can share.
If we take time to let them
they will show how much they care.
So, thank God for Old Fogies who tell it like it was
but spare the gory details. They only share because
they know that it will help us all to learn from their mistakes
and find ways to improve our world for every body’s sake.
Jeff Hildebrandt © June 15, 2011
Thank God for Geezers
Thank God for Old Timers who still respect the cause
that brought an end to tyranny and helped set up the laws
to benefit all people, not just a chosen few.
Thank God for the ones who fought; protecting me and you.
Thank God for the Geezers, reminding us what’s right,
reminding us of past mistakes and turning on the light
of freedom that shines bright enough to keep us on our way
toward a better future with help from yesterday.
They stand for the National Anthem
and proudly sing along.
They show respect for others
and fix things that are wrong.
They don’t like what they hear and see
nowadays in movies or TV
You can hear them say they’re sorry
if they bump you on the street
and they’ll extend a greeting hand
everytime you meet.
They have courage and integrity
and wisdom they can share.
If we take time to let them
they will show how much they care.
So, thank God for Old Fogies who tell it like it was
but spare the gory details. They only share because
they know that it will help us all to learn from their mistakes
and find ways to improve our world for every body’s sake.
Jeff Hildebrandt © June 15, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
We Got Troubles, 2011
The mighty Mississippi
just couldn’t be contained,
the more they built the levies up,
the more upstream it rained.
Across the heartland cyclones ripped
and wrecked their twisted death
then more tornadoes followed up
before they caught their breath.
Last year saw the Gulf Coast reel
and floods hit music city.
This May folks from South to North
need more than just our pity.
Charity begins at home
then moves on down the block
so let’s make sure these neighbors
have some hope when they take stock
of what they lost and what survived
and how they’ll start anew.
They need to know that God still cares.
It’s up to me and you
to help them cope and not lose hope;
feed body, soul and heart.
Donations thru your local church
are one good way to start.
So, make a contribution,
do what you can today.
And keep them in your daily prayers,
cause that’s the cowboy way.
jeff hildebrandt © May 25, 2011
just couldn’t be contained,
the more they built the levies up,
the more upstream it rained.
Across the heartland cyclones ripped
and wrecked their twisted death
then more tornadoes followed up
before they caught their breath.
Last year saw the Gulf Coast reel
and floods hit music city.
This May folks from South to North
need more than just our pity.
Charity begins at home
then moves on down the block
so let’s make sure these neighbors
have some hope when they take stock
of what they lost and what survived
and how they’ll start anew.
They need to know that God still cares.
It’s up to me and you
to help them cope and not lose hope;
feed body, soul and heart.
Donations thru your local church
are one good way to start.
So, make a contribution,
do what you can today.
And keep them in your daily prayers,
cause that’s the cowboy way.
jeff hildebrandt © May 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Great Escape
Local police are reporting today
that a con man they nabbed has gotten away.
He’s vertically challenged.
Fortune telling’s the charge
they say he’s a Small Medium... at Large.
Jeff Hildebrandt © May 17, 2011
that a con man they nabbed has gotten away.
He’s vertically challenged.
Fortune telling’s the charge
they say he’s a Small Medium... at Large.
Jeff Hildebrandt © May 17, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
