the iron horse
Rock n' Roll Doggie
Sunday Dispatch #227
new agendas
...and the church had
its annual meeting
there was a good feel in the air
it had been a good year
report after report
seemed to confirm growth
the new building was done
a fund drive for a new organ was about to begin
the Sunday school had its best year
the choir bought new robes
the budget was larger than ever
the Bible conference made a deep impact
in the midst of the progress
a young man arose
from the back of the room
and quietly began to read
a passage of scripture
"I can't stand your religious meetings.
I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice--oceans of it.
I want fairness--rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want."
~Amos 5:31-24 (The Message)
when the young man was finished
he sat down
it was very quiet in the room
as if a car had been shifted into reverse
while it was still going forward
or as though death had invaded the party
the alert minister
asked for a period of silence
for everyone to pray to God
then he asked the young man
to read the passage again
~Harv Oostdyk
new agendas
...and the church had
its annual meeting
there was a good feel in the air
it had been a good year
report after report
seemed to confirm growth
the new building was done
a fund drive for a new organ was about to begin
the Sunday school had its best year
the choir bought new robes
the budget was larger than ever
the Bible conference made a deep impact
in the midst of the progress
a young man arose
from the back of the room
and quietly began to read
a passage of scripture
"I can't stand your religious meetings.
I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice--oceans of it.
I want fairness--rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want."
~Amos 5:31-24 (The Message)
when the young man was finished
he sat down
it was very quiet in the room
as if a car had been shifted into reverse
while it was still going forward
or as though death had invaded the party
the alert minister
asked for a period of silence
for everyone to pray to God
then he asked the young man
to read the passage again
~Harv Oostdyk