Examine the Third Commandment; another in the Ten Commandments series...

The strength of this poem is in the thought of examining what it means to take the Lord's name in vain. This leads to what is it that the Lord's name means to us. It is hallowed, as in "hallowed be thy name." It is an entry point to prayer, "Dear Lord..." And it stems from the ancient prohibition of the Hebrew people to keep the name of God holy.

Examined by the Third Commandment...
by Peter Menkin

Entertaining the mystery
of God:
Doing as prayer says,

Hallowed be thy name,
Examined by the Ten Commandments
Are some of the ways.
Oh, Third Commandment

of mystery and cloud,
so says the Lord, You
Shall not
take the Name of the Lord,
in vain.

So direct; yet we contemplate the many
spiritual dimensions
that light the way to know the will of God
brought by Moses.

The Second Commandement, another in a series on the Ten...

Bear with me as I again offer a poem about The Ten Commandments. For some, an out of fashion series of Laws from God. For others, a still living statement from God. For me, the living statement continues.

Man makes idols in the stars and below...
By Peter Menkin
The personal side
of the Second Commandment:
Man is near the stars,

(how far we fly)
but really by God's grace;

we admire this creation
(and make gods of our efforts)
celestial-the stars, no idol for worship.

You shall make no graven image,
nor likeness of anything in heaven.
(Where is a height so admired?)
The word of God.

God is larger and more vast
(my mind cannot grasp)
than the stars in heaven.

You shall make no graven image,
nor likeness of any thing in the earth
(what dwells so deep, unknown)beneath.

Is this something from another
world, evil, or mysterious
(legion of forgotten and fallen)
as a devil?

What is so earthen
that it lacks the hand of our Triune God?
A tree, it's roots in the earth--
how it reaches upwards
(this by God's generosity)
and gives pleasure to the eye.

This is God's work, as are the efforts
of man at his labor
(we make idols of our work,
yet it is ours to do for the bread of our day).

Even to the depths of a mine, or deep
at sea. Make no likeness of any thing
that is in the water under the earth.

The Lord God is a jealous God.

The first in a series on The Ten Commandments: Number One

Here is the First Commandment, of the Ten. Most likely, it isn't necessary to capitalize all the words in "First Commandment," yet I do anyway. And when referencing them all, as in 10, I also write "Ten." Shows you something about my attitude and what I have been taught.

In Thunder and stone...
by Peter Menkin

To be set free
by stones:

First Commandment:
Have no other Gods but me.

Could the thunder
on Mount Sinai have
said something when

Moses came down?
I am your God,
you are my people.

Did trumpets sound?
Light was there around
Moses. Let me say
the words,

Friend of God.
Living words.

One of a series on the Ten Commandments, this poem tells of the Fifth...

A few summer's ago I spent time reading about the Ten Commandments, books about it (about five). It was a summer project, probably done the summer of 2002. One result was a series of ten poems about the Commandments, all with a similar tone. I post this poem, part of the series, not because it has an instructional nature, but in the interest of recognizing all ten Commandments. I was not able to find a way to deal with the subject without being serious, and certainly was unable to remove some of the tone the Commandment offers as a lesson from God Almighty. I hope I have done the word of God justice.

Poem on the Fifth Commandment...(revise)
by Peter Menkin

We ponder wisdom.
God is on the childrens' side.
Hold my soul dear.
We are children
all our lives

to parents, and as adults;
God gives
good advice:
Honor thy father and mother

.Our mutual gifts embrace.
God's wisdom, man's
understanding of living.

Do good, honor God,
live in the land,
seek happiness.

The path to friendship
with the Lord is written.
Honor,
as in hold dear,

special: remembrance
and inner conversation.
In mind and memory.
Ancient of words.

Moses was a special man, friend of God,
for he brought this simple
lessonfrom a mountain

hidden by cloud.
This is the presence
of God, for which we yearn.
Available to us in Ten Commandments,
a way of examining our lives.

What the spirit of Church does: transformation, move to humility...

This more recent poem describes humility, an experience and outcome of Church. I have thought about what Church means to me, and also what I mean to Church. Not so much in the greater sense of the entire Church, but how my Church I attend has brought the experience and teaching to me in the spiritual sense. This as a part of the larger Church, which indicates some truths about the engagement and its relationship.

I hope this isn't too heady a way of discussing the subject. The poem is more direct and simple.

The hope humility brings…
By Peter Menkin

Humility born of Communion;
As the day goes,
Goes the work of knowing
God. Sunday is a time of celebration
And coming back to the Lord.

Coming back, to the self.
All day, wait on the love,
Recognizing relationship--
Self to man, self to others,
To the self with God.

This newness brings hope,
Where one embraces
Hope, the soul is fed
By this God who changes not.
Creation is.

I had a dream about getting older, and mostly about being young...

Once in a while my dreams are vivid, and I can remember them. Now I am older, not too old, but still youth is gone at my age. I dreamt about youth, and I thought about God, and I remembered and looked towards life everlasting. A poem.


An event of getting older
By Peter Menkin

The surprising thing about
the abrupt recognizeable
landmarks of our lives comes
with speed; please quicken me
to fulfill, enriching for all
around me. I recall the dream--

my youth speaks: youth, your moments
remain in a comraderie. Remain
remain, oh, friendship with
which I sleep fill me in good.

About this I talk with God, He
absorbs me with an embrace
and I know You Christ are wisdom timeless.

In a dream there comes an angel.
Behold, an angel of the Lord: say yes.
This is on the bones, in marrow
by grace the beauty brings
memorable tidings of youth,
gifts of life.

Alas, grasping this promise of time
brings me to know resurrection is sure.
I wanted it, this youth, to last forever.
My mind declares, I know there is more.

Here, let us receive the bounded
and unbounded changes of another birth.
Renewal is the season, electric. Stay
awake for we know not when. Soon.
See you there then, again. Singing.