Author Archives: jackpelham

I have seen kids afraid.Afraid of me.Afraid of one another.Afraid to think.Afraid to wonder.Afraid to be uncomfortable.Afraid to invest themselves.Afraid to take a chance.Afraid to get it wrong.Afraid to get it right.Afraid to miss out.Afraid to join in.Afraid to love.Afraid … Continue reading →

This world is tiredOf the lessons unlearned—Still before us and signaling our shameAfter all these centuriesOf stubborn neglect.

Where did we ever get the idea thatOur angry complaints about corruptionAre a better use of our timeThan would be actual reform?

Being so poor at reflection asOur culture teaches us to be.Surely, we overlook many thingsAbout that wonderful life in the Garden— And this one glorious differenceBetween our life and theirsOccurs to me just now. They had no market,No ads.No salesmen. … Continue reading →

She was so utterly and absolutely willing To take his word for it.And, as far as we have been told,It never once crossed her mindThat she might verify what he saidBefore choosing to believe it.

He rushes to generalize,Thinking he has not the timeTo determine the exact Truth of the matter.And he does not seeThat this has become for himA way of life.

For most, Christianity is an inherited religion, replete with assumptions that are rarely put to the test. Among them are frequently things like these: The contents of the Bible are all settled as per God’s wishes, and are accurately translated. … Continue reading →

If you were all-in, There’s no telling What we could do. There’s no tellingWhat we could solveAnd what we could overcomeTogether.

I told him he wasn’t listening.And he ignored that, too.

By a stroke of undeserved luck, I knew a very nice lady Who had known this man—At whom we all wonderFor how he made such good useOf the mind God gave him.