Steve Haarman

Somewhere the people cry for water

This early morning the thunder cracked

And rumbled bringing us a downpour.

Now we have fog, clouds, and spindrift.

Having enough we pray for dry weather

While others are praying for rain. It is

Mystical in a way that we do not

Understand. Some are praying for Jesus

While others are persecuted for belonging

To Him. There is always a catch. Sacrifice

Must be made and we may not take anything

For granted. Those who can must give to

Those in need and meet their needs. Without

This participation no progress will be made

We do insane things in order to be liked.

We have a dictator address our congress and

Watch the Vice-President and the Speaker

Compete to see who can stand the quickest

To applaud his every word. Your giving us

Billions is not a gift, he says, but an investment.

We give him our flag all wrapped in a glass

Framed triangular box, with an engraving, so

He won’t forget how he screwed us. He is given

Applause as he leaves. He hadn’t mentioned how

He has closed down places of worship in his country,

Even as the enemy has destroyed churches. He is one

To watch carefully.

Stanski

August 23, 2023, ^

The calls keep coming.

Every day, day after day.

For this candidate or that

Always to harp on the qualities

Then the asking for money

Thein a processing fee and

Then a tip for the effort

Then money for another candidate

They all want to win and

Think they have a chance

With twenty running it can

Add up fast and drain you.

So you quit giving then

They call or e-mail and

Ask if you have quit the team.

I wish they were as relentless on

The opposition as they are with me

We have a great country and do

Great things, but have shifted gears

Trying to influence children’s minds

On history and gender and proper

Behavior. Does anyone care or realize

What effect this will have as we go forward.

Maybe classrooms should be monitored

By parents who care. Is the secretary of

The navy a man or a woman. You tell me

Stanski

August 22, 2023, ^

Another day comes along with no expectations.

One can only do so much.

The laundry is going and soon the dryer will sing.

We are lucky to be living in a free country.

I don’t know how long this will be as

There are some who want to go to Marxist Socialism.

It is difficult to understand them unless their need

For control supersedes common logic

If those in power tried we could lead the world

And be an example of how to treat other people

We have heard that America is the greatest, but

It seems to be slowly losing that title. There is no

Reason except that the power mongers want to control

If we fail for whatever reason the whole world will

Spiral out of control. On television we see ads on how

To lose weight and then pictures of people dying of

Malnutrition. We need ethical leaders who cannot be

Bought off. We neglect our border to our own demise

While sending money to other countries to defend their

Borders. We neglect the obvious and back it up with lies.

There will be a price for these basic violations.

Stanski

August 21, 2023. 6

Today is gray and cloudy

The waves lumber in

Accepted by the shore

Which appears to be in slumber

It looks cool but is almost 80

No one is out walking

Too busy for this luxury

Thay are at home talking

About how they use to love

Being on the beach all alone

Except for a casual traveler

They talk about what they did

Why it was so exciting

But not they have had their fill

And almost go into hiding

If someone stops by to see them

They are very cordial

Offer drinks and treats with

Plenty of conversation

The guests finally leave and

The bottles thrown away

In the recycle bin

This is just their way

Then they decide to nap

Before you know it

The day goes by

Sunday is over, Monday is near

Another week gone by

Yesterday was World Humanitarian Day

They will make it up this week

Contribute in some sort of way

They like to do their part

Know that it is important

No matter what others do

Their path is for certain

They know the words of the master

And follow Him, they do

Know there is always need

For them and for you

So they live their life

Although sometimes frivolous

Stanski

August 20, 2023, ^

I love the sound of rain

It is then I think of Jesus

Especially when I am in pain

How He suffered and died for us

Walking through the woods

When the soft drops call

I walk by the bubbling creek

Hoping that I won’t fall

It is not easy to escape

So I resolve to endure

I think of the heavy cross

And how you did not cower

I sit on a wet, old log

Which had fallen to the ground

I pray and at the same time wish

For a small fire with You around

We could sit together and sing

Hymns that are full of hope

I think of how our voices would ring

Calling out for help to cope    

You say that You must go

I try to understand why

There are many who need you, so

I bid farewell with a sigh

You are always on my mind

I continue to walk very slow

I know I have plenty of time

You have spoken to my soul

Your voice reverberates in my heart,

I think of the long journey home

I look above at the cover if leaves

They appear as a golden dome

I continue to listen to the rain

They play the music of a song

Music I love to sing and hear

Heaven is where I belong

Stanski

August 19, 2023, ^

Sound asleep. The music had stopped.

Suddenly a crake and flash outside my

shaded window. I woke up to more

flashing and thunder. This was no

Ordinary storm. I pulled up my blinds.

The sky was full of lightning from the

Shore to beyond the horizon. I went to

The kitchen trying not to touch anything

Metal. I poured a cognac and went to

The living room to watch the brilliant

Display. I was in Milwaukee, once, at the

Italian Fair. They put on a fireworks display

That went for a half hour. It was continuous.

Tonight’s storm was reminiscent and I

Settled in my chair to watch it. The thunder

Made me jump more that once but I was

Careful not to spill any cognac. The lightning

Went on and on as though it were here to

Stay. It was without doubt the most

Magnificent storm I have witnessed. Then

The electricity was out and you never know

How long it will take to fix the problem. The

Wind was wicked and we had lost a tree

Earlier in the summer. I finished my drink

And carefully went back to bed. The storm

Was letting up, but still amazing. I slept

through its remnants. No damage was

discovered the next morning.

Stanski

August 18, 2023, ^

A group of friends were driving

around to find a place for a picnic.

We came to this lot where a lot of

tents were staked down in front

of an old house. We stopped and

talked and found that the space was

Their homes. They were homesteading.

We talked for a while and found that

the house could use some Improvements.

We decided to help and had a meeting

with those living there. We could fix up

and add on to the house and improve

the parking. We would get various

churches involved and make this place

a community shelter. This world be a huge

task, but we got the permits and began.

We had skilled workers in our group

and the money came from individuals

who cared, and the churches came

through with enthusiasm. We formed

a legal corporation and insured the house

and the corporation. More churches

got involved and before long we bought

additional property, needed to meet

the needs of the community. It was

a praise God moment and we collectively

prayed to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This interdenominational church effort

gave shelter to those in need, until they

could be on their own. We were able

to train those who wanted in the

industrial arts. Some went on to start

their own businesses and hired workers

from the shelter. It was a great dream

and we never did have the picnic

but had several celebrations.

Stanski

August 17, 2023, ^

The Holy Spirit is with us.

He will keep us calm along the path.

Although the journey is arduous,

We have the tools to continue.

We do not know where it will end.

It is not for us to know.

We keep our eyes focused on victory.

The enemy keeps us on our toes and aware.

Some will never learn and are content.

They do a hip-hip-hooray for their side.

Ready to follow them over the cliff.

I ask about their critical thinking.

They are big fish in a small pond.

They feel good about their position.

Others eat out of their hand.

They are always ready to deny the truth.

They succeed under false pretenses.

They are admired for their success.

There will be a day for reconciliation.

We have read about it in the Bible.

Many have forgotten about,

The sermon on the mount.

This lapse will not be accepted as an excuse.

Good and gentle people have the edge.

They have struggled and succeeded with joy.

They have honored their Savior with love.

They have helped their fellow man with service.

They have not looked for acclaim from anyone,

And have not waived the flag of victory,

But the one that says to serve the Lord.

Although ragged they are happy, for they

have landed a room in the Fathe’s house.

Stanski

August 16, 2023, ^

It is difficult waiting for the sign,

But we must have faith.

Jesus taught us all we must know,

and we must have faith in His words.

It is a great thing to have faith and trust.

Not everyone is blessed with that ability.

What do we have to lose and what is there

to gain. When we have true faith and trust

we live following the precepts the Jesus

gave us to follow. We live a humble life

but accomplish much, usually by giving

ourselves to others who cannot for various

reasons help themselves. The ones who

are hindered by the authority of others

are especially in need of our help. Also,

those who are refugees and are hungry

and thirsty could lash out at the One they

believed would protect them. For them

it is difficult to be patient. We must keep

that in mind as our efforts do not improve

their condition. No one said it would be

easy and to give up would show the flaws

in our beliefs and character. We must

continue our love to the very end and

never give up. We may appeal to the

 Holy Spirit for help.

Stanski

August 14, 2023, ^

Here and elsewhere there is complaint.

The lake water is cold and gray and

And rain clouds hang steady overhead.

North at Lake Superior the wind is gusting

and keeping people looking for cover.

Fire in Hawaii, in Canada and in California.

In Washington D.C. political fire and hot air

is insuring that the country is not at rest.

Open borders are the cause of havoc and

death from drugs, murders, and sex slave

trafficking. The president is taking another

vacation in Delaware. He isn’t sure, but

That is most likely the place.

Nigeria is insane with internal conflicts.

All over Africa there are refugees trying

to escape from tyranny and the Russian

Ukraine war has brought a condition of

starvation and death to the refugees

who do not seem to be welcome in the

NATO countries. Land and religion are

the cause of devastating wars and those

in charge and other leaders are ignoring

or keeping silent as their part of the condition.

Some say it is part of the end time spoken

about in the bible, but more likely it is

the result of poor leadership. Peace is a

delicate thing and it doesn’t take much

to break agreements and shatter hope.

Our answer is to pray and offer financial

support to the organizations that are

helping those in need of shelter, food,

and water. It seems like an old story

but we must keep it fresh in our minds

and efforts to help.

Stanski

August 13, 2023, ^

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