Noah and the Flood

Noah and the Flood

Genesis 6.11-22; 8.6-12

 

Watery death sentence, a remnant raft to build;

Those close to Creator’s wrath scramble to obey.

Building storm clouds warn, get survival packs filled.

Afloat will escape come, all air breathers’ water will slay.

 

Tied to creation, our day faces global consequences real.

Rising seas, congested skies, empty food pantries abound.

Creator’s globe our fine craft, needs tending with honest zeal.

Neighbors bring care across each street, love resounds.

 

Scatterer’s fear binds up the easy gait.

Selfish egos prevent extended hands.

Nationalist cultures don’t help but wait.

Survival needs lead to marauding bands.

 

Spirit ever leads down the path of abundant love.

Wisdom comes from Creator’s attention to detail.

Word Become Flesh brings reviving grace from above.

Servants of The One reach in loving song to the wail.

 

Natural, logical consequences teach life’s lessons true.

Healthy politics serve individual, greater good.

A strong message comes for all not just a few,

Together we can live in peace, a choice not a ‘should’.

 

Friends, together we ride across our galactic sea.

Shall we keep our craft well, trim its’ ecological sails?

Eight billion travelers can benefit from grace free,

A vital conversation regarding survival, all it entails.

 

Noah released his peace dove, reconnoitering his trip.

Our satellites don’t see boundary lines but blue Mother Gaia.

Now’s the time to make loving arrangements not those that rip;

Gathered ‘round our life’s future in hope not false betrayal;

 

Soon arrives the Prince of Peace, manger snoozing.

Angels announce ‘cross the fields Creator’s, Spirits’ joy.

Every day folk make uplifting lives, Satan’s bonds loosing.

We await with active hands Word Become Flesh, a little boy.

 

The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.

4 December 2013

Eve, Adam, Naked, Loved

Eve, Adam, Naked, Loved

Genesis 3.1-24

 

Earliest scene, clearly a dramatic life;

Adversary, center stage, smiling a toothy grin;

Slithers up to our lovely female, whispers strife;

Undermines promises; lifts egos; enters creation: sin;

 

Lush, inviting, flowering fruit tree at the center.

Benison of joy beheld at a distance or in its’ shade.

‘Til now Lord God functions solely as creation’s mentor.

Another force works out its effect, selfish motives obeyed.

 

Creator embraces all, includes: evil, good, life eternal.

Spirits’ counsel heeded includes the power of choice.

Word Become Flesh brings to earth the gospel supernal.

Overarching One wants relationship, created gets its voice.

 

Open eyed amazement, this pair looks about.

Discernment’s price: innocence forever gone;

Self-aware new statuses: shame, guilt, pain shout.

Too soon the garden rejected, no more its lovely song.

 

Immediate the blame-game expresses its tawdry truth.

‘Who me? Not I Lord! ‘Twas the Devil made me do it.’

Each actor receives an outcome, ultimate forsooth.

The Honest One holds accountable creation, never to rue it.

 

Scatterer must ever know isolation, ignominy, not fitting in.

Woman consumed by cares, womb pain births, daily chores.

Man toils to provide, can’t escape a life that includes sin.

Creation risen from its’ dusty inception, returns to origins’ cores.

 

Amazingly Creator, Spirit, WMF coalesce in loving care.

Brokenness, separation, banishment all present, not in power;

Light and shadow; Joy and pain; Peace and wrath; laid bare.

Tree of Life intermingled with Good and Evil, a single bower.

 

Wrap your simple garment about you.

Fear not the demands this day will bring.

Cling to eternal hope beloved child, be true.

From the first day love and grace we sing.

 

The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.

3 December 2013

The Birth of LIfe

The Birth of Life

Genesis 1.24-28

 

Creator, by definition creates all.

Embraces nothing, Creator extends love.

Creator chose co-creation to include the fall.

Creator alongside Word Made Flesh, Spirit dove.

 

Reflect this moment upon all that is.

Numbers continue to mount, the limit: infinity.

Our faith reach extends to Creator, the Whiz.

Knowledge of God’s ways will pass beyond eternity.

 

Curiously there exists some order, some logic.

Honest science includes mystery, unknown areas.

Life itself can be embraced if one is strategic.

Inclusive means reaching around not making barriers.

 

Each person, a solar system complete,

Creator’s sun surrounded by complexity;

Family systems each a constellation replete,

Double star creating new nebulae of perplexity;

 

Scriptural witness captures celestial beginnings.

Creator touches every aspect, makes all life.

Dynamism at the heart of the opening innings,

Joy, wrath, peacefulness, pain, loveliness, strife;

 

Ecology links all creation, consequential, profound.

Each element affects its neighbor, has its place.

Freely journeying humanity walks upon holy ground.

We, Co-creators, can skew the plan but not erase.

 

Pronounced ‘Good’, created-ness ever central focus;

Culture constantly spins the meanings, usually selfish.

Servants of the One make loving justice the locus.

Word Become Flesh transformed all, at Spirit’s wish.

 

May our presence be a blessing for all to see.

May our society bring support, love, care.

May thankful bodies, spirits, hearts make justice free.

May life’s adventure be everything we might dare.

 

The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.

2 December 2013



The Jesse Tree

Advent 2013

The Jesse Tree

1 Samuel 16.1-13

 

Bare branch, stark statement of Fall

Reminder of past growth, remnant true,

Our new year begins with the prophet’s call.

Culture gathers its’ gifts, we answer, the few.

 

Young David, seventh of seven sons, a symbol.

Each baptized one set aside, ministry to do.

Daily chores continue, Spirit dances as a lamb does gimbal.

This season daily calls for faithful witness, love, justice shew.

 

Shrug on the Advent garment, simplicity, quiet expectation.

Pause to reflect on blessings rich, relationships a many.

Morn through nightfall, list’ to Word Made Flesh’s contemplation.

Out of humble beginnings, Creator fashions with hands most canny.

 

Each believer supported by faith community diverse,

Begins the trek to the manger, ‘midst cacophony ‘mazing;

Clear spirit, body, mind, heart, schedule from busy-ness perverse.

Focus upon the coming gift, find strength, distraction razing.

 

‘Tis helpful to set a Jesse branch out for all to see.

Each day a new ornament of faith on a limb tie;

With angelic touch, create a home for love’s clear plea;

This evolving aide will the Scatterer defy.

 

As Samuel asked Jesse to parade his sons,

Spirit strengthens our resolve to walk simply this path.

Note the moments that come with response not just funds;

Fill the day with kindness, compassion, joy, resist reactive wrath.

 

Child of Creator’s joy, you have been selected ‘mongst all.

No else can share your hearts’ touch, your soul’s delight.

Each beloved needs acknowledgment, love’s wondrous call.

Make this season a time of calm, Word Made Flesh the highlight.

 

Express the song Spirit calls out from deep within.

Sing with abandon, sigh with expectant hope full.

Our universe has been redeemed, ‘tis not bound by sin.

Gently press down the path, God’s blessings to mull.

 

The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.

1 December 2013



Mythos ala Melver

Mythos ala Melver

 

Ballard High School recognized both as grads.

The ‘30’s their coming of age decade in Seattle.

Choral Union car trips never evoked ‘the sads’.

Being a couple came from love, seldom a battle.

 

Brought together by Spirit, at Ballard First they began.

The ‘Elsie and Roald show’ had a 1944 flourishing start.

Farmstead on Finn Hill gave shelter as marriage they ran.

Ducks, a goose, a cow blessed their Norwegian family heart.

 

Curious, Elsie would find her time constantly full.

A church home, neighbors dear, community builders.

Location: a base of operations, keep the wheat, cast the hull.

Without hesitation a new neighborhood found, logic bewilders.

 

War ending, Ronald came in ’45, John followed in ’48.

Bundled up, kept well, the ‘boys’ represented children at home.

Family Melver an island of nurturing love, just two their fate;

Puget Sound homes the most selected area to roam.

 

Lutheran heritage sounded its grace message clear.

Faith community not a nominal activity for the four;

Worship, service, committees, potlucks, never fear;

The Melver touch would make contact to the core.

 

School made itself known, Elsie, the active mom.

Each teacher knew support would come in person.

Twelve years, seven schools for Ron, six for John.

Each young scholar adjusted, else lessons worsen.

 

Grange folk, salt and pepper of the earth;

Scout packs, troops gathered the prepared.

Snoqualmie cabin provided a lovely alpine berth.

Extended family activities a full calendar shared.

 

Home provides a safe harbor from which to wander.

Family means those close; spare siblings; elders too.

Faith includes all cultures, religions, beliefs to ponder.

Community, a broad gathering including most, excluding few;

 

Each day one can find riches to explore.

Gather up possibilities, seldom polish or refine.

Take a break to drink in the view, Creator to adore.

Trust Spirit to guide, grace’s cross the central sign.

 

The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.

18.11.13

Christ at the Center

Christ at the Center

Psalm 119.81-82

 

Keeper of Soul, you have found my heart.

Word Become Flesh, a safe refuge you bring.

Spirit, you have knit me from the start.

Oneness eternal, it is your song I sing.

 

No fear need be felt regarding true self.

Outward semblance oft belies hidden treasure.

Unique, one of a kind, not another from the shelf,

Each one given full attention, Creator’s full measure.

 

Can trust be placed in this moment of time?

‘Next on the agenda’ spurns truth’s presence;

Need I ever strive for outcomes sublime?

Shall life be met in its’ harshness, pleasance?

 

Alone at my center, all else becomes drear.

Isolated ego makes for companionless drudge.

Shunning Spirit’s enticing touch, results incessant fear;

Life’s best ingredients need the Baker to make fudge.

 

Creator has high regard for the consequential life.

Time reminds: steps taken a journey make.

Best start from the heart perch, sidestep strife.

Each moment complete, a drop in eternity’s lake.

 

Life lived from the center has balance, panache.

Spiritual ecology joining all to the grace of the One;

Spirit, our best GPS, treks with us, helps avoid a crash.

Ego, limited, ever present, never like the One’s fun;

 

A satisfying fullness results when life begins at the center.

Wholeness of being means knowing love, mercy, truth, joy.

 Real self, like old growth, happens with Creator as mentor.

Wondrously collaborative, Spirit our every gift will employ.

 

Open; become vulnerable; bring fear, doubt out into light.

Word Become Flesh, our best ensample, a brother ever true.

Soul’s Innkeeper welcomes each moment, lies take flight.

May we be a hearty servant band, God’s grace to imbue.

 

The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.

14.11.13