Jack Pelham

The thing most hated about Jesus was surely that
He told people the truth about their sin and error.

And to this day, that heavenly act of kindness
Still divides people into their true colors.

Funny—
How some people look funny
But it wouldn’t be funny
If you looked like them, too.

There’s a popular Facebook manipulation that goes something like this:

“You people who are upset about this thing should be upset about that thing instead.”

Jesus is so much more than we ever discover in this life—
Where we would be the exception to get even the half of it right.

I had hoped we could learn to pronounce nuclear,
But discovered that some simply do not care.

I’m changing my pronouns from he/his to his/he.
I hope that everyone will honor my choice
Even if they think it’s really stupid.

I used to be in charge of just me,
But now I identify as one who is
In charge of everybody.
So naturally, you all have to do what I say.
And if you don’t, I will be forced to
Identify you as very bad people.
And you all know I can.

Somebody told us Christians that we should
Mostly just wait around for Jesus to come back.
And most of us thought that sounded like a fine idea.
Obviously, he doesn’t want us to make this world better
While we’re here—and we can prove it by this smart reasoning:
If he did want it, he would come down here himself and show us how.

Knowledge has its limits,
For knowledge alone cannot make one do
What he knows he should do.
No, it’s the the human will that
Is necessary for that to happen.

It’s either a stupid person
Or someone trying to manipulate stupid people
Who messes with the meaning of words.

There is the most fascinating phenomenon
Ever in play in this troubled world—
Darkened as it is by its own choice
And deserving its darkness.