Author Archives: jackpelham

Let me be blunt: I submit that the following passage in Jesus’ teaching is widely disobeyed in the churches―and probably by your church, too. Read the following passage carefully, and then ask yourself whether this is your regular habit whenever … Continue reading →

It will surprise him to learn that among the thingsOf which he robustly disapproves in this world,Are some of the righteous things of God.

He didn’t realize it,But as much of his doctrineHad come from his own culture Of psychological copingAs from the Bible. And he would never realizeHow much he had twisted itSimply to make himself feel safer.

America has partied herself to death.And I don’t mean with drugs and alcohol,But with donkeys and elephants, mostly,And all the pundits and labels that go with it.

It rarely happens, But I do meet someFrom time to time Who can put a finger Accurately on the lion’s share Of what ails this country. But not one in ten of those Seem to have any real idea ofWhat … Continue reading →

He does not know how to make a point,But only how to hint at one,After which he may tell himself,If he pleases,That those who don’t get itJust don’t get it.

Having done a good thing,He may impatiently wish it to be celebratedAs the summary of his life,Though it was, in fact,Just one moment of millionsIn an unwieldy saga, So lengthy as to make dubiousAny particular snapshot As a proper icon … Continue reading →

You can make a new ruleEvery time some blockheadTransgresses common senseOr common decencyAnd fouls things up.

He’s long been pretty sure that the other party is incorrigible,So he was glad to join this one.But if he’s like most, he’ll invest a lot of years in this partyWithout ever realizing that it has its own incorrigibilities,And is … Continue reading →

I must have missed that memo from Jesus to the Christians―long revered and frequently alluded to (though strangely, never cited)―where he tells them that they must passively put up with the nonsense of others, and where he explains abashedly that … Continue reading →