Truth Poet

I. Sykes Joshua

Description

Seeking and showcasing truth through poetry, songs and sayings, Truth Poet delves into truth on various levels - some truth is quite hard and controversial, much is exceedingly glorious. Open the pages of this book and you could find material and situations that you or those around you have experienced. View these things from a different lens and spur on your own personal growth. Truth doesn't change. Truth changes people.

Sujets

• Music

Informations

• Publié par: Inspiring Voices
• Date de parution: 19 août 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781462412723
• Langue: English

Extrait

Truth Poet
Truths of Our Fallen World and Glorious God
JOSHUA I. SYKES

 
Copyright © 2019 Joshua I. Sykes.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
 
 
Inspiring Voices
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.inspiringvoices.com
1 [phone]
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-4624-1271-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4624-1272-3 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019906895
 
 
Inspiring Voices rev. date: 08/07/2019
Contents
Acknowledgments
Prologue
POE MS I
The Dance
Poured Out
You Are The Cure
Even a Whisper
Yet
Faith of a Child
Persistent
Please, Jesus
Masterfully Composed
Rock City
Direction: Light the Way
Image Bearer
On My Way Home
Storm the Gates
The Stars Remember
Carry On
American Tyrant
A Country of Dust
Journey
Namesake
Every Day
Patience
Pray for Rain
The Beach
Mine Eyes
Integrity
New
Again
Falling (A Prayer)
The Enemy
Easter Morning Baptism
S ongs
In Due Time (Metalcore)
Justified (Metalcore)
Unconditional (Worship)
Praise (To The Tune of “Frère Jacques”)
Jesus Loves Me – Additions
High and Holy Chorus
Run to The Cross (To The Tune of “Run to The Hills” by Iron Maiden)
Hold On, Let Go (Worship)
Resurrection Day (To The Tune of “Independence Day” by Martina McBride)
Hypocritical Fallout (Metalcore)
Gather ‘Round the Tree (Christmas/Worship)
Freshly Fallen Snow (Christmas)
Without a Doubt (Worship)
Threefold Victory (Metalcore)
Like Romans (Waging War, Victory Song) (Metalcore)
POEM S II
Morning Has Broken
Marathon
Wrecking Ball
Tempest
Redemption
Exhale
Buried Treasure
Beautiful
What’s Your Story?
Lost Sheep I
Lost Sheep II
Take Me Away
Fear Forever Below
Praise Hymn
By Faith: Eradicate These Idols
Echoing Paul
I Don’t Miss You
Speak It Out
Proverbs 7:8-9
1 John 1:9
Commit
Better Way
Holy Broken
Family Line
The Calling
The Christian Life
Memories
Commission
Raise ‘Em Up Right
Proverbial Prose
His Return
Oh Lord!
Filled
Say ings
Insta-Snap-Face-Twit
Like Paul
Free Will
Real Life
Undeniable
Pressing
Scars
Glimpses of Grace
Grace Wins
Galatians 6:4-5
Will Power
POEMS III
Romans 7:24
Romans 6:13
Hearts Cry
Heart Cry
A Weighty Choice
The Word, Spoken
Life in the Flowers
Be Free
Turnpike Royalty
Diaspora
Coming Out: Practical Dialogues In Our Times
Wildfire
A Tale of Two Christmases
In The Bag Or The Delusion of Many
Dear Addict
Addict Breaker
Relapse
Relapse Redeemer
Force Fed
Faithful
For Who?
Revival
Make Room
Counterfeit
Ribbons of Mist
Before The Lord
Jesus
Child of God
National Abuse
Let It Shine
Watered Down
In Life
The Stand
Wonderer
I’m Ready! Is It Time?
Second Coming
On Mission
Gospel
Epilogue
References
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank all my friends, family, and others whose lives and experiences helped inspire the poems in this book. Whether you know it or not – my faith is stronger because of it.
Me? Write a forward to a book of poetry? Can I be honest? I am not a fan of poetry. I don’t use it in my sermons, not even at a funeral. I’ve never written a poem to my wife of 41 years, or any of my daughters. So, why I am writing this forward? Because even though I am not a fan of poetry, I am a fan of Josh. I have been his pastor for about 6 years. I’ve walked with him through some very trying times; cried with him, prayed with him, preached to him. He is an incredible man. He sticks with it no matter how difficult and frustrating the task. He shows up. He executes. He cares. Oh, and he loves the Lord Jesus with a full and unswerving heart.
I always knew that Josh had the heart of a poet. He is sensitive without being wimpy. He is kind and always ready to help. He has empathy. He also works hard whether it is earning a living or doing ministry.
So, when this man with a poet’s heart actually wrote a book of poetry, I had to give it a read. And you know what I found? Poetry. But, as I continued reading it I also found Josh, the man I care for so much. A friend, a fellow minister, a man who loves Jesus and hangs in there.
Turns out I can write a forward to a book of poetry. More than that I can recommend this book. There is something real and fearless and honest in these pages. I think you’ll enjoy it. And I think you may find something else, Josh, a man with the heat of a poet and a love for the Savior. Enjoy!
Rev. Robert B. Goldenberg
Clearfield Alliance Church
Clearfield, PA
Prologue
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. [ 1 ]
What is truth?
What a question that is. It is one we will all ask one way or another in our lives. Pilate did. He asked it to Truth Himself, yet he didn’t even recognize it.
Oftentimes, we do the same thing, trading Truth (Jesus) for truth, or a cleaver lie, or facts (facts do not always equal truth) and we miss real Truth that is there. We live lesser lives because we believe lies.
Through the writing of this book, I was deliberate in incorporating personal experiences or experiences of those around me. Real and relatable lives have been portrayed.
One thing that wasn’t intentional that was brought to my attention during the editing process was how much of this book deals with sanctification and its struggles. Sanctification is the process after accepting Jesus as Savior by which one thinks, acts, and is more like Jesus more and more as they build closer and closer relationship with Him - This is impossible to do without the Holy Spirit’s power.
This extra blessing reiterates what I am trying to convey: Life is hard. But God is always good.
After reading this book, my prayer for you is this: Whether you are a new Christian, a Follower for 50 years, or haven’t met Jesus just yet, that you are more purposeful is seeking and seeing truth, that you are encouraged if going through a hard time, reminded if doing well; in the highs, lows, and in-betweens – Truth remains the same.
POEMS I
“When your conscience is seared,
You can look at truth
And deny reality.”
Pastor Ernie Conley, Lifepointe Alliance Church, Mars, Pa.
The Dance
She looks up
As the tears fall down
And dreams of life
In the cotton candy colored clouds.
The tears fall down,
They fall to the ground,
They soak the earth
And water the grass above her buried spirit.
She put it there years ago,
When her innocence was taken,
When she was robbed of childhood.
She put it below the soil
Of a dark, dark world
And left it there.
Lying in the garden,
She looks up from a world that’s forgotten her,
And gets lost in the cotton candy colored clouds.
She dreams of a family,
A family who loves her,
A father who won’t leave her,
Who’ll take her in his arms
And dance her across the sky blue-pink.
She weeps
Because she knows the world offers no solace;
She’ll never dance across the sky
With a father who loves her.
She believes no one cares
That she is all alone;
She longs for death
And would be glad to welcome it.
She plots it out,
In the light of a fading day,
What she might do
To end her misery.
A quiet roll of thunder fills the sky
And a soft summer rain begins to fall.
Little does she know she does have a Father,
A Father in Heaven,
Who does love her,
Who longs to hold her in His arms
And dance her far beyond where the horizon lies,
Across and eternal sky blue-pink.
He weeps
Because He knows He’ll never leave her.
The rain b