Frankly Speaking

Reflections on Easter Week

2026-04-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well, if you like holidays, there is always something to celebrate. For instance, just this week we had "Take a walk in the park day, "Bunsen burner day," "Fun at work day," "World party day," and "Walk to work day." I'm not kidding, even if it sounds like it. And, if you’re into religious holidays, this is certainly a red letter week. We had Palm Sunday last weekend. Today is Holy Thursday, followed by Good Friday and Easter. And, of course, we had April Fools Day yesterday. Religious holidays, while good reminders of the truth, can often cloud it as well. We are so easily distracted by the food, the fun, the ritual and social aspects of any holiday that it’s easy to leave God out of such a day - even a religious event. All celebrating, church services, egg dying and palm waving aside, I would like to redirect our focus to the person of Jesus Christ, whom we truly celebrate this week. This is the week that dozens of prophetic scriptures were fulfilled through His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), his eating of the Passover, His betrayal, His mock trial, His death on the cross, and finally His resurrection. We must remember, amidst all the other hoopla, that Jesus is the Son of God, that He actually lived, actually died for our sins, and actually rose from the dead. If any of those facts are untrue, then everything else we celebrate this week is pointless and we might as well sing our hymns to the Easter Bunny. If we do not accept Jesus as our Savior and Messiah, then we are all April Fools and that would be the only relevant holiday. Let us come back to the person of Jesus Christ. A lot of dramatic and public things happened during this, the last week of His life. However, I am most deeply moved by that quiet moment after the Last Supper, and just prior to His betrayal, when Jesus knelt in the garden of Gethsemane and prayed. In that scene of anguish and compassion I most clearly see the Son of God choosing to suffer and die for me personally. Easter is a time to celebrate God’s victory over death through the resurrection, but the foundation of that victory is His great mercy and the sacrifice of His only Son on behalf of an undeserving world. If you have further interest, I have pasted below a partial list of prophesies fulfilled by Jesus during the final week of His life. And if you still have questionss, feel free to email me at fcarpenter505@gmail.com. Have a happy Easter and don’t be an April Fool.

Gethsemane
Jesus knew his time was drawing near
On the eve of that final day
With the weight of the world upon his heart
He came to the garden to pray
He alone knew His Father’s will
And understood His redemption plan
And though He was truly God incarnate
Still, He was fully a man
He knew that pain and suffering
And betrayal were moments away
As He pleaded with God and wept He knew
There simply was no other way
There, in the garden, that fateful night
With the lights of the city in view
Jesus, the Son of God, considered
All that He must go through
The tears of His sorrow freely flowed
That night in Gethsemane
For He understood his path must lead
To the cross at Calvary
He was Christ, the Lord, the King of Kings
Yet, He knelt upon human knees
And willingly chose that night to die
Because of His love for you and me.
By Frank Carpenter ©

Partial list of Prophesies Fulfilled During the Final Week of Jesus’ Life:

Triumphal entry in Jerusalem on a donkey Zechariah 9:9, Mark 11:7–8, John 12:13–15
Betrayed by a friend Psalm 41:9, Mark 14:10, 43–45
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver Zechariah 11:12, Matthew 26:15
Betrayal money returned for a potter’s field Zechariah 11:13, Matthew 27:3–10
Accused by false witnesses Psalm 27:12, Matthew 26:60–61, Mark 14:57
Offers no defense Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 26:62–63, Matthew 27:12–14
Struck and spat upon Isaiah 50:6, Matthew 26:67, Mark 14:65, John 19:1–3
Hated without reason Psalm 109:3–5, John 15:24–25
Soldiers divide His garments and gamble for His clothing Psalm 22:18, Matthew 27:35
Pierced through hands and feet Zechariah 12:10, Luke 23:33, John 20:27
Executed with malefactors Isaiah 53:12, Mark 15:27–28
Agonized in thirst Psalm 22:15, John 19:28
Given gall and vinegar Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, 48, John 19:29
No bones broken Psalm 34:20, John 19:32–36
His side pierced Zechariah 12:10b, John 19:34
Buried with the rich Isaiah 53:9, Matthew 27:57–60
Deserted by His followers Zechariah 13:7, Mark 14:27,Matthew 26:56
Resurrection Hosea 6:2, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15, Luke 24:6–7
Ascension to Heaven Psalm 68:18, Luke 24:50–51, Acts 1:11, Ephesians 4:7–10

** and miscelaneous holidays courtesy of: timanddate.com/holidays/fun/

Not All Who Wander

2025-09-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

So much of our lives are so planned out, but sometimes it can do a soul good to wander aimlessly for a while. Ever tried it? You don't have to go far. In fact, you hardly have to go anywhere. Just try not being on such a mission to accomplish things like you usually are. I gave this a try recently, and here is my report:

Not All Who Wander

If I don't have a clear destination

As I wander along my way

Then it matters little where I go

Amid this unstructured day

Far too often live requires

A rigid schedule or routine

Of errands and obligations

With hardly a moment between

But this one of those mornings

And today is one of those days

When none has a claim upon me

And I can wile the hours away

I can sit and stare at the ocean

Take a walk in the redwood trees

Drive down scenic highways

All of the above, aimlessly

What's next in my open agenda?

Not sure what the hours will bring

Today, the world is my oyster

And that is a beautiful thing

By Frank Carpenter

The Stomp Pole

2025-01-03T23:31:00.001-08:00

Back in the early 1980’s we lived on a cattle ranch in Northeastern Oklahoma for a few years. That was near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capital of the Cherokee Nation. In a remote location on the ranch there was a tall pole sticking out of the ground. When I asked about it, I learned that it was a stomp pole where Cherokees used to come and have traditional dances there at night. When I asked around, a few older people told me that they remembered coming to stomp dances there with their parents when they were young. At one point we noticed that the old pole had fallen over and I asked the guys on the ranch to put it back up, which they did. Some years later I returned to visit the ranch and when I was out on a walk I came upon the old stomp pole. It had fallen over again and become overgrown by brush and green briars. For some reason that made me very sad, like something culturally important had been lost. I’m not Cherokee, nor had I ever seen a stomp dance. Yet, the moment was strangely emotional for me. I sat down on the forgotten pole and wrote the following poem.

It's a reminder that culture, even someone else’s culture, has value and connects us with shared heritage. If you’ve ever been to a stomp dance I’d love to hear from you. Either way, I offer the following as my personal take on the loss of a small cultural icon that likely meant something to people at one time. Maybe we should all be on the lookout for the things that connect us to the past, and to the pasts of others. But for now … the stomp pole is down, and the voices are gone.

The Stomp Pole

How long has it been since my people and I

Came to this place when the moon was high

Came to this place to dance and sing

Our children, our songs and our hearts we'd bring

How long has it been since those nights of old

When the tribal legends and stories were told

When the forest would ring with our ancient tongue

When our hearts and minds were heavenward flung

Around the stomp pole, we were a tribe

And the spirits of old were still alive

And as long as the pole was standing still

So would our heritage and our will

I'd wander back every now and again

On a moonlit night to that quiet glen

To dance by myself beneath the trees

And hear voices of old singing on the breeze

Now it's been years since I passed this way

And I came to stomp pole again today

But the wind and rain and the demons of time

Had toppled the pole and been unkind

Green briars held it fast to the ground

And cattle had trampled the spirits down

Long I listened for voices upon the wind

But the voices had fled and would not begin

The ageless thickets of cedar and oak

Did not remember the fire's smoke

The stones were cold, the stars were dim

The forest was silent, the moon was thin

I sat there alone on the long-fallen pole

No dance or song could be found in my soul

The still earth accepted my sorrowful tears

As they rolled off the stomp pole and over the years

Watering memories that in my heart would live on

But the stomp pole is down and the voices are gone

By Frank Carpenter ©

You Know Me

2024-11-24T07:52:00.007-08:00

I was thinking of Psalm 139 this morning, where it says, “Oh Lord, You have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, Oh Lord.” Psalm 139:1-4

This could be a little overwhelming, like we don’t have any privacy from God. However, it also means we don’t need any ice breakers of introduction with God. We just start talking, and He’s already fully engaged in the conversation. We can explain things, for our own benefit, but He already understands how we feel and what we’re going through. We don’t have to dance around a subject because He gets it. God gets us.

We also don’t have to search for God physically. Churches and mountaintops and sunsets and retreats can make Him seem closer … to us. But He’s right there, right here. We live in His presence, or at least on the edge of it, at every moment. We can save a lot of petrol by understanding that we don’t have to go look for God. He’s here. We just have to acknowledge him. One of the names for Jesus from the book of Isaiah is actually Emmanuel, which just means, “God with us.”

Does all of this seem a little too intimate, too “in your face,” too “give me a little space, for heaven’s sake?” Maybe sometimes. Yet it’s also beautiful and miraculous and encouraging. And true. And if God’s right here with me, ready to listen and encourage and lead and participate, it kind of changes everything. It changes my humdrum, lonely, little life into something holy and powerful. It makes you and I participants in God’s kingdom and plan. It brings heaven near and makes eternity now.

God being with us isn’t just something that happened to Old Testament prophets and New Testament disciples, or priests and monks. It’s real, and we are right here in the middle of it. “Hey, God, good morning. Thanks for being here. What shall we do today?”

Saint James

2024-06-18T20:07:00.002-07:00

There are certainly all kinds of people, and I seem to spend time around a lot somewhat boisterous type A personalities. Yet, among all those noisier folks I’m also blessed to know a man of a different sort. He has a quiet and gentle spirit. Being, “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” in the words of the apostle James. His name, coincidentally, is also James. He’s definitely the strong, quiet type, who can seem a little imposing to the uninitiated since he is rather tall. But beneath that imposing and ruggedly handsome façade there beats a heart of pure gold. He teaches high school math, coaches a youth mountain biking team, has his own adult sons and is the servant of all. A man of few words, but the first one to show up in your time of need. He’s also a man of humble prayers that often humble me. And he is the only person I know who still occasionally uses the word “knuckleheads.” However, in his case it really is a term of endearment. It means those who could use a little extra help … or a lot. But rather than being the old guy who might generally proffer such and archaic term as knucklehead, he responds and jumps in to help. In his case, after the words “slow to speak and slow to get angry” you might also add “quick to help.” He’s a great encouragement to many people, and certainly to me. So I offer the following poem to my friend Saint James, whom I have dubbed the patron saint of knuckleheads.

Saint James

It seems there is a patron saint

For most every kind of folk

Who need someone to watch over them

And whose name they can invoke

Soldiers, travelers and sailors

Beekeepers, cobblers too

Whatever hobby or profession

There’s a saint for what they do

And there’s a saint for ne’er do wells

Who at times have lost their way

On bike trails or their math skills

And he walks with them each day

He offers wisdom and encouragement

Kind words, and hope to those

Who seem to fall a bit behind

And he loves them, heaven knows

He dusts them off and nudges them

When they have fallen back

He prays for them wholeheartedly

And guides them to the narrow track

Those who need assistance

Can call on him by name

Most think of him as Mr. May

But he truly is Saint James

He’s the apostle of encouragement

No finer man this earth has tread

Than Saint James, the encourager

The patron saint of knuckleheads

By Frank Carpenter ©

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." James 1:19

For the Dads

2024-06-16T10:09:00.003-07:00

I was blessed with a great father, an amazing step father and a father-in-law. It's Father's Day and I penned the following poem as a tribute to all of them as I sat in church this morning. I thank Gid sir all of my dad's, and this one is for them.

For the Dads

I was blessed with three dads

Who helped me on my way

A father, step dad, a father-in-law

I celebrate them all today

Each of them had a season

Each one had influence

Each helped shape the man I am

And helped my life make sense

I was blessed with earthly fathers

Who blessed and encouraged me

Who showed me how to live and love

And unravel the mysteries

Each of my fathers offered

The wisdom so dearly bought

Through struggles and trials lived out

When they suffered, failed and fought

Each of them gave me a blessing

Each showed they believed in me

None left me with guilt or oppression

But left me feeling strong and free

These men are all in heaven now

But they left their impression on me

So I thank God for all of my fathers

And I am their legacy

By Frank Carpenter

Proud of You

2024-06-10T23:03:00.004-07:00

This one goes out to my granddaughter Aubree May Carpenter for her 14th birthday and her junior high graduation. We are so proud of you every day, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you in the years to come.

Lots of Love Always, Pops

Proud of You

Fourteen years old and moving

To high school from junior high

A girl on the brink of womanhood

That no one can deny

With a faith to move the mountains

Plus a smile so warm and bright

You seem to light up every room

And fill others with delight

In this summer of transition

Between seasons, between grades

Between childhood and adulthood

Between dreams and plans you’ve made

We stand by you and celebrate

All you’ve accomplished, all you’ve done

Friends you’ve made and love you’ve shared

How you bring joy to everyone

How you inspire others

With your faith and how you live

With the open-handed way

That you encourage and you give

And from this moment forward

It’s important that you know

Our hopes and prayers go with you

Wherever you may go

Wherever God may lead you

We carry you within our hearts

Through this big wide world of wonder

As we have right from the start

So dream farther than your comfort

Pray bigger than you dare

Reach for the very brightest stars

Always, always love and care

Trust in Jesus to walk with you

Every day, your whole life through

Happy birthday and graduation

Aubree, we’re so proud of you

By Frank Carpenter ©

Unforgettable

2024-05-26T09:03:00.007-07:00

Some unusual thoughts today about a few possible futures I've mulled over after bumping into a friend who lost her husband to Alzheimer's. That's rare, but we've also had our own serious car accident. And a variety of other events in our wider circle of contacts reminds me that life just doesn't come with a guaranty. So it's become my philosophy never to neglect saying the important things both early and often to the people I love. I never want there to be any doubt about how I feel ... or felt. So to that end, I offer the following reminder to my bride of how much she is loved and how blessed our life has been. I hope we never need these words, but if we ever do at least they have been said.

Unforgettable

Whatever the future holds for us

Whatever may come our way

I reaffirm the love and commitment

That we share every day

Everything seems so perfect

So many ways we're blessed

So this poem is a touch stone

In this season when things are best

Because we know that circumstances

Could always turn on a dime

At anytime in this last third

Of our precious years and time

If our financial situation

Or my heart or memory

Should suddenly take a left turn

I want you to hear from me

That I've loved you with all my heart

From that first June day we met

That we've built a love and life

I would never want to forget

If we swerved off the road again

Or end up in the ICU

If cancer or Alzheimer's mar our path

I'll still be filled with love for you

Whatever the decades bring us

All that hasn't quite happened yet

Lies beyond our vision or control

So I ask you to never forget

All the beauty, wonder and laughter

Kids, friends, vacations and fun

This life of faith and blessing

Every good memory, ever one

If somewhere in the future

I'm somehow less me than before

Remember our love here and now

Know you're the one I always adore

Know that I believe in forever

In case I should forget someday

I have cherished our life together

And nothing could take that away

By Frank Carpenter

And one final thought. On the same subject, here is the chorus of a song I hope never to have to finish writing:

I hope you will remember

In case I should forget

What happened that September

I never could regret

All the years we shared together

They mean everything you see

So in case I can't remember ...

Don't give up on me

The Times I Almost Died

2024-05-15T23:51:00.000-07:00

The Times I Almost Died

There are those rare occasions when we end up thinking to ourselves, “Whew, that was close!” Most of us have had one or two such moments. As for me, I can think of at least four of those times: One dicey health scare, and three driving incidents. And in each of the driving ones I was completely surprised and not at fault. The point is that no matter how careful we may be, things just happen, and they are often beyond our control. If we’re fortunate, they turn out to be near misses. When they are, we can be left wondering, “How did that happen?” Yet, with the way my heart and mind work, I’m more likely to ask, “Why didn’t that happen?” Why indeed. And here’s where your world view makes all the difference, because I happen to believe that there is a God who cares about us and has a plan to work things for good. Following that train of thought, if I’ve lived though all those close calls then I’m just assuming that God’s not done with me yet. In fact, I’m pretty sure that once God is done with us, we assume room temperature. So if I’m still here after all those close then I have to believe that I’m here for a purpose, that I should live in such a way as to be available for discovering and fulfilling that purpose. I may not know for certain what it is just yet, but I can still be inclining my heart and life towards God in order to be open to fulfilling it. Sure, I almost died a few times … but I didn’t. So I’m going to make the most of this extra gift of life God bestowed on me … on multiple occasions. Ever wonder why you’re also still here too. Apparently, God has a plan for each of us. Let’s go live it.

The Times I Almost Died

Jesus, why have you kept me here?

When you could have done otherwise

When I swerved too close to disaster

To danger and compromise

When the tires began to lose traction

Or the lines on the EKG

Dragged me to the edge of oblivion

Lord, why did you rescue me?

I can only conclude, my God

That you had other plans in store

That I still wake up every day

Since I was meant for something more

So Lord I offer up my life

And open up my heart

To whatever plan you have for me

I’m ready for it to start

Use me as your instrument

Sweep away my fear and pride

And do whatever you saved me for

On those times I almost died

By Frank Carpenter ©

Countless, Worthless, Priceless Treasures

2022-07-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

I have the good fortune to be married to a woman who understand the intrinsic value of things. She sees the beauty and wonder that God scatters upon the path in front of her, and takes the time to stop and enjoy it, living so much more in the moment than me. One of her favorite pastimes is looking for sea glass and shells when we’re walking on the beach. To her, a piece of polished sea glass is a precious stone. Precious is, after all, in the eye of the beholder. Consequently, we have quite a collection of various detritus from a host of favorite shorelines. That’s just fine with me, because she gets more joy from a rare and perfect piece of sea glass than many other people seem to derive from diamonds or emeralds. I’m not saying that she doesn’t deserve those as well, yet her perspective provides a commentary on how we assign value to the other things in our lives. The richest people aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest jewels. Rather, they are the ones with beautiful memories and various keepsakes that remind them of those memories. That’s what sea glass is to us. Not so much precious stones as touch stones. This also begs the question of what we fill our lives with … and why? In the meantime, I’ll keep hauling home the pockets full of sandy treasure that my beloved finds joy in collecting. After all, it’s not just about the glass. I think she’s actually collecting joy … and that is a treasure indeed.

Countless, Worthless, Priceless Treasures

Wherever the water kisses

The sand, you’ll find her there

Wandering happily down the shore

Wet feet and windblown hair

Oblivious to tide and time

As the lazy hours pass

She scours the shore for shiny stones

And odd pieces of sea glass

Tucking the treasures in her pocket

Whenever they appear

And wandering down the sunlit shore

As she has throughout the years

So we have a vast collection

Of such trinkets from the shore

Countless, worthless, priceless treasures

That she collects and she adores

And why not, we know so many folks

Who pay a fortune for the things

That they think will make them happy

Yet no greater pleasure bring

Perhaps the wisest of us all

Is she who wanders happily

And finds her joy in simple treasures

From the Great Lakes and the sea

By Frank Carpenter ©

A Rock and a Hard Place

2022-05-29T19:09:00.005-07:00

Last week I was just walking from my car to my office when

a small yellow flower caught my eye. It was really just a little weed which had contrived sprout between the asphalt of the parking lot and the cement of the curb. Yet, the instant I saw it and a common phrase leapt into my mind: “Stuck between a rock and a hard place.” How many times have we heard that in reference to people who find themselves in difficult situations? Here was the personification of that phrase blooming just underfoot. I took the attached photo of that brave little plant with the idea that I’d return to the subject and explore it later. I eventually wrote this poem to accompany the photo and I take the liberty to share it with you today. You might ask why I even care about such an undignified little weed, clinging to such an unlikely spot. Well, truth be told, I have several people in my life right now who resemble that flower. Their circumstances of life have left them feeling like they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, and they are just trying to find a way to bloom in the midst of difficult situations. Have you ever felt that way, or are you feeling that way even now? Sometimes it seems like life is literally squeezing the life out of us. It could be health or financial issues, family or marriage problems or a host of other things. If you’re there, or know someone who is, I know things can feel pretty overwhelming. I’ve certainly been there myself and I clearly don’t have all the answers, but I do have one answer. Jesus. By all means listen to the doctors, see a financial advisor, confide in wise friends and be willing to seek professional counseling if it’s warranted … and maybe think about praying as well. It sounds so cliché, but Jesus really does love you. Whoever we are and wherever we gotten ourselves, He’s ready to meet us right where we are and help us through life. Are you stuck between a rock and a hard place? Good news … Jesus knows just what that feels like, and he’s no stranger to that address. So, once again, maybe think about praying. Those first words can be a little awkward, but they open up your heart to the comfort and strength of a loving God. Feel free to reach out to me as well. My email is fcarpenter505@gmail.com . Don’t give up hope, and remember that little flower in the desolation of the parking lot by my office. Even if you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, you can still find a way to bloom.

A Rock and a Hard Place

Sometimes it seems we’re out of options

Like the tide is rising over us

When we’re overwhelmed and feeling hopeless

It shakes our faith and makes it hard to trust

When we find our backs are up against a wall

Drained of joy and peace and even grace

And we can’t see a path to a solution

Stuck between a rock and a hard place

In that moment when we’re lost and desperate

And we can’t imagine there is a way out

Jesus meets us right where we are stranded

To melt away our brokenness and doubt

He bears the burden of the broken hearted

Forgives what seemed so unforgivable

Loves us with a love beyond conception

And pours himself into us till we’re full

If you feel between a rock and hard place

Take heart, friend, and take the time to pray

God will meet you right where you are standing

And walk with you each step along the way

By Frank Carpenter ©

Into the Night

2022-04-08T06:57:00.008-07:00

Earlier this week I had a night to myself and ended up taking a long walk on one of my favorite beaches. The tide was low so there was lots of beach to enjoy. And it happened to time so that I got to experience the whole transition from the bright of day to the dark of night. It turned out to be one of those perfect moments when everything aligns and you’re just glad to be alive, and be there to enjoy it. Just beautiful. Part way up the trail back to the car I paused to record the moment in the below poem, which I feel speaks for itself. While driving home I reflected upon the experience and was stuck by

the fact that I could have sat in front of a computer screen, or worked in the garage or watched TV for the evening. Instead, I got out and did what I love … and was rewarded with, literally, perfection. In truth, the rest of this week has been a whirlwind of work and meetings and obligations. Yet, because I paused for a few hours on Monday night, everything has been different. I have been different. It’s a reminder that sometimes we get too busy with life to actually stop and live. So this is my reminder to take a little time out and do what you enjoy.

You won’t regret it.

Into the Night

The sun is slipping below the sea

As I wander along the shore

Traversing familiar beaches

As I have so often before

The light fades on the horizon

As nighttime smothers the day

But my steps are sure upon the path

For my heart knows the way

I pause a while upon the trail

Which climbs from the beach below

To etch this moment in my mind

These touchstones I love and know

Just enough orange left in the west

To silhouette the island I love

Just enough thumbnail moon to light

The pale ocean from above

A couple of sailboats creep along

Gliding back to the harbor tonight

Where the bell buoy beckons

With its gong and flashing light

The darkness comes, enveloping me

A chill seeps into the air

The waves roll in contentedly

Washing away all my cares

At last I turn and make my way

Up the path, away from the sea

As the song of the waves begins to fade

A peace descends upon me

By Frank Carpenter ©

Dads, Grandads and Crawdads

2021-12-04T07:39:00.002-08:00

During the summer I went on a little field trip with my son and grandson. It was to a familiar little ravine near my childhood home that I hadn’t visited for 50 years. Just a trickle of a waterfall into a muddy pool that time had forgotten, but when I viewed it once again, through my grandson’s eyes, the wonder of my own youthful memories came flooding back. My adult son had been visiting this spot with his kids for a couple of years, coming to catch crawdads with bits of bacon tied to fishing line, and that’s what we did as well. It was pretty darn fun. We filled a bucket with the fascinating creatures, played with them for a while, and then let the whole lot go again before we left. It was strictly catch and release, since it wasn’t the kind of water you would want to dine from. Nonetheless, it was the good old fashioned Tom Sawyer kind of fun that I’m not sure people get enough of these days … the kind of fun that grandpas should have. My son is the master of planning this kind of little adventure that creates fun times, doesn't cost a dime and makes awesome memories. I was reminded of how often I’m too busy or distracted to pursue such simple pleasures in life.

And there’s another whole essay to write about how the stubborn crawdads latch onto the bait and let themselves be captured and destined for ruin because they’re too greedy to let go. That has all kinds of application to our modern lives of comfort and distraction. But that can wait for another day.

In the meantime, let me encourage all of us to step out of our routines and seek out the simple activities that can bring so much joy with so little cost or trouble. We’re always striving for the big, shiny experience that seems to promise the greatest reward. However it’s the little things, the simple things, which often matter so much more in the big picture of life. When I think about such experiences, it’s pretty hard to do better than the classic mix of dads, granddads and crawdads. Besides the fact that it’s just fun to say, there’s pure magic in such a recipe for fun.

The Coral Street Pier - Revisited

2021-11-02T07:54:00.001-07:00

My first date with the love of my life was in June of 1980, an evening that ended with our dancing on a pier in Newport Harbor. Somewhere along the way I wrote a poem about that evening and eventually posted it here in 2004. More recently, I revisited the focal point of that first date once again and took a few moments to reflect on the past 40 years since then. The following poem is what happened while I was there. It’s a reminder that my poetry not only tells the story of my life, but also serves as a touchstone to important memories which have helped to defined me. This gift also helps me to celebrate those moments while preserving them for posterity.

Some moments are truly worth remembering, and that evening all those years ago is one of them. It was my last first date, and that is something worth celebrating … and remembering.

The Coral Street Pier, Revisited

I don’t speak of it very often, but

I wander back here time and again

To this touch stone of all our blessings

Or, perhaps, to remember when

Since what happened on that night

By this ancient, familiar shore

Changed the trajectory of my life

And is etched in my heart evermore

I couldn’t say it was love at first sight

For we were only friends, after all

But something took root that evening

Even though it may have been small

A movie, a dance, a little starlight

Some providence, or destiny

And that tiny seed we planted

Has grown into a beautiful tree

I have never forgotten that moment

Nor has it faded with passing years

That first date, when long ago

We danced on the Coral Street Pier

By Frank Carpenter ©

Let Me Hear Your Voice

2021-10-21T21:01:00.002-07:00

Earlier this week, I took a night off to step away from my usual routine and spend a few quiet hours alone. Even though that was in character for me, it was actually a homework assignment from the Convene business group that I am a part of. A month ago, we had reviewed some content together

regarding self-care, and one of the takeaways was that folks need to occasionally step away from their normal distractions and take time to reflect. That was our challenge, but it was loosely framed, allowing the group to explore what worked for each of us. Often, when I think about being alone for a few hours, I gravitate towards the beach or some other scenic place to walk because nature and the outdoors have a calming influence on me. Yet, for a variety of reasons, I wanted to be indoors that night and I ended up at a nearby mall. That may sound strange, but I truly enjoy the comfortable anonymity of public spaces so long as they offer a comfortable place to sit. And other than just showing up to reflect I didn’t really have an agenda.

For how empty the mall was on a Monday night, there turned out to be a surprising amount of ambient noise; people talking, music playing, pots and pans banging somewhere in a nearby restaurant. All of that got me thinking about how many distractions we are bombarded by in the course of our daily lives. I also reflected on how the quiet voice of God is so easily drowned out by all the other things clamoring for our attention. It occurred to me that perhaps the secret to connecting with God might not be hiking to a mountain top or cloistering ourselves in a monastery. Maybe we just need to be better at filtering the distractions in order to concentrate on listening to Him … wherever we are. Why force the God of the universe to meet us only in the rare quiet corners of our lives which are so difficult to carve out. Sometimes I feel like we relegate our time with Jesus to the equivalent of Maxwell Smart’s proverbial cone of silence. No, God is everywhere, so we need to develop ways to focus on Him wherever we are. I actually like the white noise of life, and sometimes find myself more distracted by a single soft sound that can barely be heard. Either way, my experiment in public solitude was a success and I was able to reflect, pray and even write a little poetry, which is how I often respond to emotional and spiritual moments.

So I offer the follow poem, which I wrote during the aforementioned evening. Poetry is how I work things out. Rhyme and meter help me to make sense of complicated issues and then capture how I really feel. Others will respond in different ways. When we want to be alone, we all gravitate to various sorts of places and respond to different stimuli, or the lack thereof. Your experience would likely look completely different than mine. Yet, I would challenge you to block out a few hours and go someplace, anyplace, to be alone for a while. It can be anyplace that allows you to disconnect and give your mind the opportunity to wander. There is something in us that responds to moments of peace, and I believe there is great value in just pausing to listen. We can listen to ourselves, to the wind in the trees or the surf upon the shore, to city noises or the soft whispering of a garden. In those moments I also listen for God to whisper something as well. He rarely speaks audibly, but His quiet voice can still be heard throughout creation. One thing is for sure. If you want to hear something, anything, the first step is to listen. And sometimes that requires a little effort. You’ve heard about my experiment. I encourage you to try one of your own. At the very least you can relax a little … but you never know what might happen.

Let Me Hear Your Voice

Oh Lord, let me hear your voice

In the midst of everything

Part the seas of distraction

Which are always clamoring

Let your peace descend on me

When it seems that there is none

May my eyes pierce through the haze

To alight upon your Son

Show me how to walk the path

When so many others call

To filter the cacophony

To hear your voice, still and small

Lord, show me how to trust you

When doubt and fear are sown

Even where I least expect it

May I be yours and yours alone

When this world would woo me

May my heart and mind be true

For I know you are a jealous God

And I would serve none but You

A thousand other voices beckon

They whisper, laugh and tease and sing

But let me hear your voice, oh Lord

In the midst of everything

By Frank Carpenter ©

The Journey to Hope

2021-03-21T20:27:00.006-07:00

I’m going to try something a little different today. It’s not uncommon, especially in the more difficult seasons, for me to write a group of poems that document the journey through a season. I often use poetry to work things out in my heart and mind, to deal with issues. This sometimes leaves me with a suite of poems which belong together, because they journal a spectrum of emotions through the passing of time. So I take the liberty of sharing the following suite of ten poems which were written over roughly that many days. They detail my emotional journey last year from the confirmation that out new grandson would be born with Down Syndrome through my reconciliation of that fact with God. When we get many kinds of news it can seem like the worst news in the world until you become accustomed to it. Those seasons are like experiencing the different stages of grief. And because I’m a person of faith, part of that process involves working out the details with Jesus and trusting Him with them completely.

I’d like to brag that I always see things with an eternal perspective. Yet life is rarely that simple. Sometimes all we have to begin with is a cry for help, or what soldiers refer to as a foxhole prayer. Then, at least in my case, I often have to ease into a total trust that God is actually in control and He’s somehow going to work things out … and maybe even turn them into something beautiful. In this particular instance I’m choosing to call my process “the journey to hope.” Either way, I’m laying my emotions bare here so you can see how Jesus works in my life and heart at least. The difference with me is that sometimes we end up with a written record of the process like this batch of poetry.

The most important thing is that there is hope, that Jesus does love us and care for us, that we are never truly alone. Whether you’re facing good news or bad news, or walking through those things with others, there is hope beyond the emotions and situations that threaten to overwhelm us. That hope is there, like a life ring, waiting for us to take hold of it. Some of us may do that slowly. So to all of you I offer my personal journey to hope.

Help Me, Jesus

Help me Jesus, help me Jesus

I’m not sure how to feel

We have to wait upon the tests

Before we know what’s real

It’s like I’ve walked into quicksand

And I’m slowly sinking down

Sliding, imperceptibly

Until I feel as if I’ll drown

I was confident and in control

And fine, then suddenly

I stepped from solid ground into

This mire of uncertainty

There is a shadow closing in

Which I’m unaccustomed to

Help me Jesus, help me Jesus

My only hope is you

By Frank Carpenter ©

Spiraling

Yesterday my life was perfect

Everything was going fine

Work, faith, friends and family

Counting my blessings all the time

Suddenly, joy has eroded

And toppled from my pedestal

I’m spiraling into darkness

The weight of fear upon my soul

Help me, Lord, have mercy

Your servant, whom you have blessed

Is now awash in waves of grief

Lost in an ocean of distress

Maybe this will be alright

Maybe the medical tests

Will show we needn’t worry

And things will work out for the best

But for now I’m lost in limbo

Mired in despair and pain

Hoping for miraculous test results

Praying that joy may come again

Help me, Lord, have mercy

Shine your light through darkness here

Draw me into your arms of comfort

And help me to know you are here

By Frank Carpenter ©

Your Will

I don’t pretend to know your will

Nor the fullness of your mind

I know that I should trust you

Yet in this season now I find

I’m struggling with where we are

Along this path of sovereignty

Because the weight of this week

Feels as if it’s crushing me

Lord, I want to trust You

Trust the wisdom of your plan

But it’s too much, Lord, it’s too much

And I’m not sure how I can

My heart is filled to bursting

With the weight of what we face

In the coming weeks and months

In this new and grief-filled place

Lord, forgive my faithlessness

In this season of despair

Have mercy on your servant

And hear this unworthy prayer

Reach down into the darkness

Where we find ourselves today

Pierce this veil of helplessness

And help us find our way

I beg you, Jesus, intervene

Amidst our brokenness and pain

Give me faith and wisdom

To fully trust in You again

I can’t understand your purposes

For all we’re going through

Have mercy on us in this hour

And help us to trust in You

By Frank Carpenter ©

I Need Someone to Tell Me

I need someone to tell me

That everything will be alright

So I can look my family in the eye

And say that to them tonight

I need to know there is a light

Still shining somewhere up ahead

That hope and joy exist somewhere

Beyond this pain and dread

I need a vision of the future

I can still look forward to

Some way to quench the helplessness

Where there is nothing I can do

Another wave of pain has broken

And washed over me tonight

And I need someone to tell me

That everything will be alright

By Frank Carpenter ©

Unshakeable

God, today more than ever

I need to believe the bible is true

I need to believe in everything

I’ve come to know about you

I’m clinging to You desperately

Nowhere else to turn today

Need your strength and steadfastness

To hold me on the narrow way

I need to know you will be there

Whenever, wherever I go

I need to trust in You and your word

Because he bible tells me so

Lord, at this moment I’m shaken

To the very depths of my soul

So I cling to your power and mercy

Because only you are unshakeable

By Frank Carpenter ©

Every Step Along the Way

There is nothing you could do

No choice that you could make

Which could diminish my approval

Or I would label a mistake

I am always for you

I am always on your side

I have only love for you

Nor could you wound my pride

I am praying for you

Through ever hour of the day

Asking God for peace and wisdom

And His light upon your way

I believe in both of you

And I trust you implicitly

I will encourage and support you

Wherever you may be

Wherever you may find yourselves

Along this journey you are in

Though you feel lost in darkness

Though your faith is wearing thin

If your heart if broken

Then my heart is broken too

Your joy and pain are mine as well

And I will be there for you

I am walking with you

Every step along the way

Yours are my love and my blessing

Both now, and every day

By Frank Carpenter ©

He Will Find a Way

In this moment of your life

It’s difficult to understand

How God allows such things to happen

Or where is His mighty hand

We know we have a loving God

Who deeply cares for us

A God all-knowing and all-powerful

In whom we should place our trust

But where oh where, in all of this

Could our loving Savior be?

When we’re crying out in our distress

It can be difficult to see

His hand in what befalls us

In this broken world we share

We have only faith to cling to

And the promise that He cares

But God knows things that we don’t

He sees what we can’t see

His plan is bigger than our pain

And He still holds eternity

Whatever we are going through

Though it shakes us to the core

God can use it for His glory

In ways we’d never guess before

God can use the deepest pain

He can redeem the darkest hours

Spin the chaff of sorrow into gold

Through His creative power

We may feel as if the sun

May never shine again today

But God is with us, God is working

And He will find a way

By Frank Carpenter ©

Nonetheless

However the medical tests turn out

At the end of the wretched day

Whatever the future has in store

I shall not turn away

However You deal with my prayers

Whatever may yet befall

Though it shakes me to the core

I shall call you Lord of all

Whatever sorrow or sacrifice

Though the darkness is complete

I shall worship with my dying breath

Praise You with my last heartbeat

Crush me, I shall serve You still

Blear the narrow way with tears

I shall choose it nonetheless

To tread for all my years

Lord, I’m begging for a miracle

That may turn darkness into light

But if your will is otherwise

Give me strength to fight the fight

By Frank Carpenter ©

This Day

Not sure if we’ll find out anything new

We heard what the doctors had to say

But we’re waiting for that final test

To come back to us today

The path ahead is shrouded

In a fog of uncertainty

But give us ears to listen, Lord

Give us eyes to see

Whatever you are saying

In this season of distress

And show us how you’ll use it

To encourage and to bless

We still beg for grace, Lord

In all we’re going through

So we lay this day before your feet

And trust our hearts to you

By Frank Carpenter ©

Hope

I was walking in a darkness

For a week, or maybe two

As we processed all the news

And heard all you were going through

We were overwhelmed with sorrow

And disappointed to the core

Shattered pieces of our broken dreams

Strewn underfoot upon the floor

But Jesus wrapped His arms around us

As we came to Him in prayer

Enfolded us with tender mercies

In His arms of love and care

And as our tears began to dry

Through the course of weary days

Jesus cultivated joy

And shone light upon a way

Which we never would have chosen

Or imagined as our own

A path of blessings to be gathered

Where the seeds of pain were sown

We must never underestimate

What God may choose to do

In the midst of all the trials

We find ourselves going through

Even when the tide of hopelessness

Seems to well up all around

Jesus whispers quiet words of hope

Which could not otherwise be found

He showed us how our brokenness

Becomes the fertile soil that He

May use to lift us up

And guide us to eternity

For those who wait upon the Lord

Who lay their burdens on His Son

Know peace that passes understanding

And find hope where there seemed none

By Frank Carpenter ©

A Historical Perspective

2020-11-16T22:05:00.000-08:00

I have just finished reading a biography entitled “We Were the Lucky Ones,” which traced the experiences of single Jewish family in Poland through the Second World War. And while it specifically told the story of an individual family, it also recounted the atrocities they lived through. Prior to this book, I read another family story related to the atrocities perpetrated in China during that same time period. While I write from the isolated comfort of my middle class, seaside home in 21^st century America, I at least have the benefit of hindsight and historical perspective and countless reams of documentation regarding those conflicts.

My first and foremost observation is that Germany, Japan and their allies were responsible for the deaths of as many as eighty million people during the 1930s and 1940s. I’m also very clear that some of the atrocities those nations committed are unthinkable, and arguably unforgiveable. Untold people from many countries were conquered, oppressed and slaughtered based upon principles of ethnic, cultural and military superiority, not to mention pride, greed and hate. If there were true “eye for an eye” justice in the world those two aggressor nations, and probably a few others, should have been utterly depopulated and wiped off the face of the earth. Fortunately, our better angels prevailed and the world chose only to directly punish the worst leaders and offenders.

I’m an American, and before I spout too much about our being the good guys who entered the war in order to save the day for everyone else, I acknowledge our own history also has to be considered. Our experiment with the atrocities of slavery and the four hundred years we spent dispossessing the North American continent of its previous inhabitants is no less ignoble. Both chapters in our own history were based upon those same principles of ethnic and military superiority. Having acknowledged that fact, I return to my previous discourse by paraphrasing legendary Arthurian ethics and reminding us all that the historical perspective continues to show us that might doesn’t actually make right.

I remember growing up in the 1960s and 1970 being so proud of my German heritage. And, in my defense, all of my German relatives immigrated here long before World War II. Nonetheless, even my relatives who fought against Germany in the 1940s instilled that cultural pride. Cultural pride is a good thing, but with the wisdom of hindsight I now know that those lessons of cultural pride needed to be tempered with some wisdom regarding the sins of the previous generations. No one ever told me what the Germans did to Europe in the previous decades. No one in my family ever inferred anything negative about others who were Jewish. I was just told to be proud of being German.

From that standpoint, I was a cultural innocent. However, with a blissful and in some ways a blissful ignorance as well. Perhaps time heals all wounds, and historical grace has its place in preventing inherited hate, but we sometimes forget too quickly. We clearly need to forgive, but it’s dangerous to forget entirely … and one generation is not enough time to forget such devastation and atrocity. We need to own our past. We need to talk about our past. We need to do so in order to inform our future. You can’t just extinguish eighty million lives and chalk them up to the collateral damage of history. We owe it to their memories that they shall not have died in vain. We owe it to their children and grandchildren, to our children and grandchildren, to learn from our past in order build a better future. Only then, will we be prepared to meet the societal challenges of the future.

My challenge to you is to speak with the oldest members of your family and capture their memories of World War II before they are lost forever. We owe it to our future to reconcile the past we all share. If we don’t, then we are destined to repeat it.

To Accomplish Nothing

2020-09-20T21:53:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I just needed a little time by myself. Life had gotten a bit hectic and I felt like it was time to totally disengage for a few hours. It seems like a small thing, and perhaps others are better at unwinding than I am. Either way, I drove down to Balboa Island, purposely locked my cell phone and Fitbit in the car, took a short ferry ride … and then proceeded to wander aimlessly in my favorite wandering grounds for a few hours. My goal, for once, was to simply accomplish nothing. I did write a few poems, including this one, which is a true story. And yes, arguably, that could be categorized as accomplishing something. But if I hadn’t, then you wouldn’t be reading this right now. So enough of my rationalization. I’ll let the story tell itself. However, before I lapse into verse, I would challenge you to take an evening or a day off. Call it “me time.” Call it Sabbath. Call it whatever you like, but sometimes it can be a beautiful thing to step off the treadmill and see where your feet and your heart lead you. And if you end up accomplishing nothing? Well that’s alright.

To Accomplish Nothing
Seems like I’m always on a mission
Lists to check and things to do
From one task to another
And my work is never through
Always something to accomplish
We just can’t let up the pace
When we’re not at work we exercise
So even leisure is a race
I needed to break the cycle
And climb off the old treadmill
So I made an evening of it
Since I had some hours to kill
I set out to accomplish
Hardly anything at all
To wander randomly about
As these were my hours, after all
It’s strange how walking changes
When you don’t have a goal to meet
Without counting steps or minutes
And you can turn down any street
Try out every park bench
Follow a cat or butterfly
Stop and talk with strangers
Stare at the water or the sky
I jotted down some verses
For a poem or maybe two
Sat a while with my eyes closed
Just to listen for something new
In short, I lived a life of leisure
In its purest form of ease
If only for an hour or two
Just as carefree as you please
I set out to accomplish nothing
Which is a good place to begin
Hoisted the sails of happenstance
And drifted on the wind
Was it an evening wasted?
You be the judge, my friend
But here I am at peace and happy
At my random evening’s end

By Frank Carpenter ©

Southern Cross

2020-06-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one more poem about some special stars. We’ve already established that I love to gaze up at the heavens, and often find some meaning there. I have a long relationship with Polaris, the North Star, which features prominently in the sky … and in my thoughts. In the northern hemisphere it’s the pole star, remaining roughly in the same position while the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia and the rest of the constellations dance slowly around it. For this reason, it’s been a friend to navigators for thousands of years. And it just happens to be the first thing I see when I walk out my front door in the evening, a reliable companion in a seemingly ever-changing world.

When we began traveling to visit our daughter’s family in New Zealand some years ago we had to leave the North Star behind because it’s only visible from the northern hemisphere. Yet we were also introduced to the Southern Cross, which is only visible in the southern hemisphere and features prominently in the culture there. It even graces the flag of New Zealand. I Immediately struck up a friendship with this new constellation, and as a sailor and navigator it had a particular meaning for me as well. Throughout my life I’d frequently relied upon the North Star to find my way or get my bearings. However, it was clear that I needed to point my daughter towards the appropriate celestial companion to take her own bearings on. She has her own family and her own life, and her own broad expanse of sky … and she needed different stars to point the way to her chosen home.

Back here in north America, with Polaris looking over my shoulder, I’m unable to view the Southern Cross. Yet, I know where to find it. Broad oceans may separate us, but the Southern Cross is etched indelibly upon my heart and I know it’s watching over those whom I hold so dear.

Southern Cross

As I walk out of my front door

Each night I’m greeted by

My old friend, the North Star

Hanging ever in the sky

But down under it is different

My North Star is out of view

So I must trust the Southern Cross

To keep watch each night on you

You can find it in the south

To the left of your driveway

And it can be a beacon for you

When you lose the light of day

Even though the Southern Cross

Dwells below where I can see

It will always be there for you

And I hope you’ll think of me

Our horizons may be different

And six thousand miles and more

Of empty blue Pacific

May separate our shores

But you are always on my mind

And we won’t feel far apart

If you look up at the Southern Cross

And know I hold you in my heart

By Frank Carpenter ©

Shooting Star

2020-04-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of nights ago I rose at 04:00 AM and set up a chair in the driveway to watch the Lyrid meteor shower. There several such events each year and when I happen to read about one it’s not unusual for me to find myself staring up at the sky at some odd hour of the night. I have a soft spot for (very) amateur astronomy and it’s a common occurrence for the late night dog walking neighbors to catch me just standing in the driveway and gazing up into space. The stars simply fascinate me. They always have. Even though I can only identify a handful of stars and constellations, they hold a certain explainable wonder that I’ve carried with me since childhood.

Which brings us back to the other night. It was supposed to be the best of several nights of viewing the Lyrid meteor shower and the popular websites promised as many as 10-15 shooting starts per hour at its peak. So there I was, bundled up and sitting forlornly in the driveway … probably looking like my wife had kicked me out of the house. But I was there on purpose. However, the promised celestial show just wasn’t happening and after an hour or so of shivering in the dark I was just about to close up shop and hit the shower. But suddenly I was rewarded with an awesome shooting start that was both bright and right where I was looking. And here’s the thing, I was completely satisfied. So often in life I feel like people want to be wowed by abundance. They want to be grandly entertained, and then stack their stack their piles of memories like so much firewood stacked on the side of the house. But the sky isn’t like that. The sky is big and beautiful and miraculous, but pretty slow from the standpoint of pleasing a pleasure seeking crowd.

So much of life is like that as well. It’s less like an action movie and more like the night sky. If you expect to be constantly entertained you find yourself just feeling bored or disappointed. Yet, if you understand that life is beautiful and amazing all time, punctuated by occasional moments of perfection, then you’re much better oriented to fully enjoy the show. That’s just how I felt a few nights ago when I was finally rewarded with that single perfect shooting star. And it was enough.

One Perfect Shooting Star

I rose in the dark of the morning

Donned my coat and hat and gloves

Dragged a camp chair out to the driveway

And directed my eyes above

I was up for the meteor shower

Of which I had read about

Wrapped in a blanket against the cold

Of a night with no moon out

I was welcomed by a starry sky

And as I waited patiently

A pair of satellites came and went

But shooting stars eluded me

Then, just as I was giving up

A single blaze filled the sky

And the shooting star I’d waited for

Greeting my wondering eyes

I had hoped for more last night

Yet, as I pondered upon

That fleeting moment of perfecting

Which had so quickly come and gone

I realized I found joy enough

In the wonder that was mine

At observing stardust set afire

For even so brief a time

For who indeed could ask for more

As we gaze at the heavens afar

Than to start their day

With the priceless gift

Of a single perfect shooting star

By Frank Carpenter ©

Beyond the Whale

2019-11-13T07:42:00.003-08:00

Our church has been studying the book of Jonah lately and that story touches on so many issues. Jonah is clearly a reluctant prophet, and one of the themes is what God can and will do in spite of our response to him. It’s about God’s love and compassion for people and cities, even when they have turned against him and are deserving of judgement. It’s also about how God’s will may be done and how he finds a way to accomplish it. There’s a personal story about Jonah’s hardened heart and disobedience and how God still chooses to use him. One of the themes I appreciate today is how God continues to surprise us even when we think our story is over.

Jonah runs from God, ends up in a terrible storm, is thrown overboard and is swallowed by a large fish. Let me pause say that it doesn’t matter whether it was a fish or a whale or a shark (which is technically neither). The story is miraculous regardless of what noun you swap into it. The point is that Jonah is utterly lost and should have died, which is what he wanted and expected. No air, no light, no hope … no Jonah. But God had other plans for him, so God intervened in a miraculous way.

And I think that’s the message for our lives. So many of us feel lost, and like we’re sinking into an unquenchable darkness. We may be depressed, or alone, or broken … or feel utterly lost like Jonah. But here’s the thing. God meets each of us right where we are and He almost always has another story in mind for us. God loves us and has compassion for us and He’s right there beside us even when we think we may have sunk beyond all hope of rescue. The fact is that God does some of His best work in those situations.

And what I want to tell you today is that your story isn’t over, it isn’t defined by what is overwhelming you right now. God has something better in store for you. Say that first awkward prayer, then reach out your hand and let him pull you out of the depths. The darkness you’re drifting through at this moment isn’t your final destination, and it may in fact be the very thing which prepares and qualifies to you to serve others in a way you may have never even imagined.

So look up, take heart and keep swimming. Because there’s a light at the end of the tunnel … and that light is God. And He still has something amazing for you beyond the whale.

Beyond the Whale

So often we are in darkness

Lost in the depths of the sea

Thinking our story is over

And that was our destiny

And in that moment it’s tempting

To sink into despair and regret

But as long as there’s breath within us

God isn’t done with us yet

He meets each of us where we are

No matter how deep we have gone

He draws us from the murky depths

And offers us grace to carry on

Our God is a light in the darkness

No matter how black it may be

And He can redeem any story

If we turn to Him wholeheartedly

He’s reaching into the depths right now

Extending His hand to you

Ready to pull you out of the water

If you will only ask Him to

Like Jonah, you may be sinking

But that need not be your tale

God has something amazing in store

For you ... beyond the whale

By Frank Carpenter ©

The Height of Vanity

2019-09-02T09:33:00.003-07:00

We live in a society which is slowly becoming more progressive and humanistic. Whether you call it postmodernism, or subjectivism or relativism, we continue to elevate the self-importance of human existence, accomplishment and thinking. Yet, we are mere specks in the broad expanse of the universe, mere blips in the endless march of time, and little more than a tiny footnote in the history of this beloved sphere. Whether created, transplanted, or the fortunate winners of an evolutionary lottery, we humans seem to have a constantly eroding layer of communal humility in light of our brief tenure here on earth. We have convinced ourselves that we are, at least figuratively, at the center of the universe … as if it was our destiny not only to exist, but to rule this planet. This haughty approach to our tenuous toehold on this little rock in the abyss of time and space should be a bit embarrassing. Because whatever your world view may be, we humans are just plain lucky to be here at all, let alone to be blessed with all that this world has to offer our species.

Now it would be disingenuous not to disclose that I’m one of those supposed narrow-minded, fundamentalist religious people who actually believe there is a God who had a hand brining about this world and continues not only to take an interest in our existence, but to actively interact with us lowly humans. How crazy is that? I would argue about as crazy as thinking some combination of warm, murky water and chemicals could swirl together into a functioning life form and eventually grow into us. Is the idea of God creating man from dirt really any more far-fetched than nothing creating man from dirt? Even the most basic bacteria, despite its simplicity, still contains a highly developed cell structure with a variety of interactive parts which are required for it to exist as a legitimate life form. No matter how much you cook or swirl chemicals together, or bombard them with cosmic rays, you just can’t get the kind of amino acids or building blocks of life to actually build life from what is lifeless; let alone the intricate, interdependent biological processes which support life as we know it. However, we simply refuse to accept that maybe, just maybe, a God might be involved. But never fear, scientists are still working around the clock all over the world with hopes of proving that God wasn’t necessary and, therefore, God doesn’t exist. To date, however, the theory that there is no God is still supported by less evidence than the theory that there is a God. If you like, we could just agree that the jury is still out. Or do you believe that your theory is absolutely and unequivocally right and that we shouldn’t even allow any conversation about a God or creation. If so, I believe that would make you a narrow-minded fundamentalist as well. Funny how that actually works both ways.

But all that being said, even if we merely evolved and boot-strapped ourselves to the top of the food pyramid, that would only make us the smartest animals so far. Or to quote Lilly Tomlin, “Even you win the rat race, you’re still just a rat.” We might be the best rats invented to date, but that would be all we’re qualified to brag about. In fact, based upon the theory of evolution, better rats will eventually evolve who may supplant us as rulers of the earth. Better rats who would out-compete us or out-produce us or out-think us, and who might even eat us. For to assume that we are the pinnacle and purpose of evolution, or that we have any kind of divine right to remain on the throne of nature indefinitely runs counter to the vaunted principals of natural selection. Any discussion of rights or purpose, or even meaning, would bring us back to some kind of truth that might point to a God or higher power. If we cling to evolution, then we have to toss art and science and philosophy and morality and music and literature out the window because our sole reason for existing is to pass the genetic baton onto the next, and hopefully better, generation so that they can do the same. That’s all there is. Evolution says that you’re only the king if you have bigger teeth or a bigger brain, and that another king will eventually eat you and take your place. If you don’t believe that, you may need to believe in God.

Either way, it’s still the height of vanity to assume that we’re actually something special … unless we were created in God’s image and that counted for something. But even then we’d be wise to remain humble in the face of eternity. Let’s keep these conversations going, because there’s much to talk about and discover.

The Height of Vanity

In this postmodern world we share

Every effort has been made

To remove the Lord from everything

We think and do each day

We’ve driven him from government

From schools and conversation

From intellectual gatherings

In every corner of our nation

We’ve blotted out the name of God

Wherever it was found

From every corner of our culture

Where once it did abound

For political correctness

For fairness and tolerance

We think that Jesus and the church

Must be hemmed in behind a fence

Of philosophical obscurity

Where subversive thoughts are sent

So that science may reign supreme

Throughout the social establishment

Then we wonder why there is unrest

Hate and violence and divorce

We ask what’s wrong with this world

And how things have taken course

But no wonder if we’re spiraling

Into darkness and decay

If the world is getting worse

Year by year and day by day

Can we remove the earth’s Creator

Who understands all things unknown

Can we dethrone the King of heaven

Who placed each continent and stone

Can we eradicate eternal truth

Or the source of morality

And make everything subjective

To the whim of humanity

It’s madness to assume that we

Could cast God from the world he made

And place ourselves upon the throne

Which was before creation laid

We simply can’t un-God this world

And it’s the height of vanity

For man to claim the crown of God

And supplant his majesty

By Frank Carpenter ©

40th Spiritual Birthday

2019-08-30T09:39:00.000-07:00

August 5, 2019

My 40^th Spiritual Birthday

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to you because I’d like you to share an important milestone with me. Forty years ago today, on August 5th, 1979, I asked Jesus into my heart and gave my life to Him. It happened without much fanfare. Although it was a Sunday morning, I was lying in bed just thinking when, suddenly, it all made sense. That moment was the culmination of a three year journey of attending high school and college groups at Mariners Church, many conversations with caring and patient friends, reading the bible, God’s strategic placement of spiritual mentors in my life, a lot of people praying for me, and countless nights sitting on the cliffs above Big Corona just staring at the ocean. It was just a simple and probably awkward little prayer, but it altered the course of my life … quite literally forever.

So many of the blessings in my life have come as a result of the spiritual journey that began that day. Obviously, that decision was the pathway to reconciliation with God, forgiveness of my sin, and the promise of an eternity in heaven. As a bonus I also met Nancie through church and we truly believe that the faith we share is at the core of our nearly four decades of happiness and successful marriage. Chris and Cassie also both accepted the Lord through church and their faiths are still going strong today, along with being shared with believing spouses. That legacy of faith and hope is now something I'm praying for in the lives of our grandchildren, Aubree, Kasen, and Olivia. We have made many life-long friends through church and bible studies as well who are still walking this path with us, even decades later, and the community they represent continues to be a comfort, a joy, and a source of strength for us. We're looking forward to growing old (as slowly as possible) with all of those friends.

And while I certainly want to look back and celebrate the life and relationships faith has brought us thus far, I would be remiss not to look forward as well. We have a promise of eternal life, but that's not just something that happens when we die. For those who believe, eternal life has already begun. In short, it's right here and right now, and we need to live accordingly. Especially in our affluent southern California it's easy to become complacent and comfortable. But God wants so much more for us, and from us. In my heart of hearts, I feel like one of the reasons that God put me on this earth is to remind folks of that; to remind us that God has uniquely gifted each of us to serve him, and that He has a plan and a calling for each one of us. I hope that you will be praying about this and listening for His response.

I'm 58 and I've been at this Christian thing for forty years now. And while I do foresee a time of vocational retirement, there doesn't seem to be any biblical mandate for spiritual retirement. So I hope that you’ll continue on this journey with me for many years to come. And I hope and pray that we will all hold one another accountable to keep walking the walk and living the life we are called to. Or as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4, "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Let's all stay in the game and keep making a difference in this world where we were called to be both salt and light. Sometimes it's surprising to remember that God's secret weapon to change the world ... is actually us. So we cannot, we must not, shy away from that calling.

If you're receiving this it's because I consider you a friend and I want to thank you for sharing your part of this journey with me. It's also my fondest hope that I've had some impact on your life as well. We're all works in progress, but it's so obvious to me how God has used the people in my life to bring blessing and help me become who I am today ... and I know he'll continue to do so. Thank you for being a part of God's work in me, and thank you for sharing my journey in some way so far. It has meant more than you could know. If you’re on this list, you are also on my radar to be challenged and encouraged, and held accountable. And I hope I’m on your radar as well because we’re all in this together. Whether we are seven or seventy-seven, God is not done with us yet. Absolutely not. In fact, he has a “next” agenda item for each of us, and I pray that each of us will be open to what that is. And whether we are around until next week or until we’re a hundred and twelve, I sincerely hope that we will keep living for God every day. That we will keep sharing about Jesus, and striving every day to hold open the door of heaven and invite everyone around us to share in a saving faith and an eternal life with our Lord. Let that be our over-arching purpose because in the end everything else is mere chaff.

I'm looking forward to another forty years of following Jesus and I plan to be "all in" until my last breath. Are you with me? Let me know if you are, and feel free to pass this on as well.

As iron sharpens iron,

Frank

fcarpenter505@gmail.com / 949-812-1145

www.frankcarpenter.blogspot.com / @frankpoet

PS: If you have received this and you don't believe in Jesus, or don't call yourself a Christian ... to you I just want to say that God loves you and He sent His son Jesus to bridge the gap between you and reconcile you to Him. God is real and available and He's waiting for you to respond to his invitation. And eternal hope is just one prayer away from you. If you’d like to talk about that subject I am always available.

Driving Around

2019-07-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, in a very real sense, I had the opportunity to take a little drive down memory lane. There was a season thirty-five years ago when we sometimes had trouble getting our recently born son, Christopher, to fall asleep. As parents, you have to use all of the tools available and we realized pretty quickly that Chris was an outstanding car sleeper. So a few times a week we’d end up buckling his car seat into our 1984 Nissan Stanza and going for a drive around bedtime. For some reason, it became our custom to listen to George Winston’s December album while we drove … on a cassette tape, of course. And we even fell into a routine route that ended up at a park with a view of the lights on the bay. In time that sleep-stage passed, but we often think fondly of that season and the peace those quiet drives brought to our burgeoning family. And certainly George Winston music bring back memories as well.

Fast forward three and a half decades, and we had a dear friend and her baby staying with us this weekend. Her baby, Olivia Grace (same name as our granddaughter), was fighting sleep and when she dozed off in the car we decided to ride that wave and let sleeping babies lie, so to speak. I dropped Nancie off at the house and went for a drive. Feeling nostalgic, I put played some George Winston music to complete the experience. Of course, now it was a Pandora station instead of a cassette tape, but the effect was the same. So I took a few loops around the Back Bay Road and otherwise wandered aimlessly for a while. And I couldn’t help musing that it was now thirty-five years down the road, both literally and figuratively. And that thought made me happy.

Life has a way of circling around on us, and there is a certain comfort in embracing those cherished moments that you get to revisit. I was also reminded of the old fashioned joy of just going for a drive. Whether you have a baby in the back seat, or a loved one by your side, or just feel like spending some time alone, there’s nothing quite like taking a little drive to enjoy the scenery, and maybe some favorite some music as well. And if it helps the baby to sleep … all the better.

Take a drive. And here's a link to our official baby driving album:

George Winston - December

Lucky Day

2019-05-19T17:05:00.001-07:00

Recently I found a sand dollar while I was snorkeling, which was kind of interesting because it was the first I had ever come across in the water. For fun, I texted a photo of it to my kids with the caption that I was one dollar richer. To that, my daughter replied that it must be my lucky day. And that got me thinking. The fact is that I actually feel lucky almost all the time, but I think that is more of an attitude or a choice that I make. So many folks seem overwhelmed by the issues in their lives. They worry and complain about what they don't have, which often indicates a lack of gratitude for what they do have. I could ramble on about this. Instead I'll just let today's poem speak for itself.

Have a lucky day!

Lucky Day

I found a sand dollar down at the beach

Someone said it was my lucky day
As I reflect comes the pleasant surprise
Just how often I feel that way
Perhaps I was born lucky, or so it feels
For mine could be called a charmed life
I live in a beautiful town by the sea
Blessed with amazing children and wife
I have all the things which matter most
Home, faith, family, work and friends
Whatever I lack I can live without
So I thank God again and again
For this life I have the good fortune to live
Where so many good things come my way
This morning's reminder just reaffirms
That it's my lucky day ... every day!
By Frank Carpenter ©