An Evening By the Lake

This is a poem that ought to be read when one is relaxed and practically about to go to sleep. I didn't actually write this while sitting on the beach though, but instead of waves lapping, I thought of it while out riding, listening to the rhythm of my mule's walk.
So, to properly enjoy this poem, just sit back, and imagine you're sitting on the beach, on a warm summer's eve, the wind blowing softly in your face, the sun setting on the horizon...

An Evening By the Lake

Sitting on the shore
The sun is sinking low
Pink wisps of cloud above
The water laps, laps, laps.

A breeze blows through the trees
A whisper speaking softly
Rustling the leaves
The water laps, laps, laps.

The sun is dying fast
The wind is quiet now
The lake is still as glass
The water laps, laps, laps.

Samson and the Nazirite Vow

This is the essay I wrote for our last Bible Search, in Austin. I didn't place at all with this one, but I figured I'd put it on here anyway.

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In the book of Judges, we read of a Judge named Samson, who, even before he was born, he as made a Nazirite to God, and was to live under that vow as long as he lived. Here, I will describe what the Nazirite vow was, and how it corresponded with Samson’s life.

In Numbers chapter six we read what God had set forth as the law in taking this vow. One, they were to stay away from anything that had to do with grapes, including the fruit, juice, seed and skin. Two, they were not to cut their hair during the time they were under the vow, and three, they were stay away from anything dead. What all of this signified was that they were set apart to the Lord, made holy. The word Nazirite comes from a Hebrew word meaning to separate, consecrate or abstain. By looking at the life of Samson, we see that he did not follow this law as a whole. He didn’t cut his hair, but he did touch those that were dead. In fact, he killed a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey in one instance! However, God was still with him. Of all the amazing things Samson did, they mostly had to do with his strength. This was the gift that God had given him, with which he delivered the Israelites. However, even though God was with him and gave him great strength, he was still human. One of his greatest weaknesses was anger. On several occasions, we read that his anger was aroused. On one time he slew thirty men at Ashkelon, and then later he, out of anger, burned up the Philistines grain, vineyards and olive groves. Many times he allowed his anger to control him, instead of his trusting in God.

Of all these things, it was his over confidence in himself that brought his downfall. In Judges 16:20 we read how he thought he could free himself as at other times, but he didn’t know that the Lord had left him. In the end, it was his selfishness that brought about his downfall.

There are many lessons we can learn from the life of this judge, but one in particular is that we must not allow selfishness to take the place of our pleasing God. If there is anyone or anything that will get in the way of our getting to heaven, it’s ourselves. May we learn from Samson, and always strive to put our trust in the Lord.