Don't Drive Your Children Away

You didn't care how your children suffered
Nor how they cried in pain
You didn't care how their lives were smothered
You cared about your name

You thought they would find their way in the world
They could have stayed at home
They left one by one as their plans unfurled
They didn't need to roam

Only one in each generation came
A son and grandson too
The only ones with the family name
Not daughters and their crew

Grandsons were sad and one by one they left
Daughter granddaughters too
The son got it all, the rest were bereft
How will they all get through

So Biltmore did it the very same way
One inherited all
But land taxes that man just couldn't pay
And so he sold it all

Another family that I once knew
Gave each an equal share
They are united by family glue
And they share the farm's care

So don't drive your children away like this
Treat them all just the same
Think first of all of your family's bliss
Not preserving your name

Rest

We've got to take a Sabbath rest
On Sunday, Thursday, any day
One day in seven is the best
Rejuvenation and some play

And there's one rest that we all need
A rest not found in any day
To rest in Jesus we should heed
Rest our souls and take time to pray

Should You Robe or Naught

Should you robe or naught
Pastors may ponder
Advice is my thought
What's local culture?

In a formal church
A robe is called for
So let us research
Just a simple chore

In rural settings
A robe's out of place
They give their blessings
And they're robed with grace

She Lies

She lies and says she's fine
She's treated second class
She won't get out of line
She's such a patient lass

Family treats her bad
Cinderella is she
Her brother and her dad
The tears they just don't see

She just wants to be free
With me retirement too
Away over the sea
Forget what she's been through

We both try to forget
The pain and how we grieve
Forgive the hurt and yet
The best thing is to leave

The Family Sin

How destructive is the family sin
Everything is his who's chosen to win
The chosen one
The favored son
How unfair it is. Where shall I begin!

How the daughter feels is not even asked
A father's ideals, laid down hard and fast
Wealth for the boy
The girl no joy
He kicks up his heels; She is so downcast

So please don't treat your children in that way
And try to be sure to be fair today
That what you choose
Does not abuse
Your children's trust or drive them all away

Abandoned

They all abandoned him one by one
His friends and family
Life sucks at Christmas. It's just no fun
He's no anomaly

What really pains his wife is the greed
Un-favorite children hurt
She feels she's treated just like a weed
All for a piece of dirt

Some really hate Christianity
He's despised, rejected
Some turn their backs, use profanity
Avoided, neglected

At Christmas he's alone with his wife
The only friend he's got
He wonders what's the use of his life
He's sad and sighs a lot

How Long Should a Funeral Be?

How long should a funeral be?
Asked the man of us
Is there a rule or a decree?
Should I make a fuss?

With all the pomp and pageantry
And communion too
A funeral with majesty
Takes hours to get through

Long eulogies and preaching too
Music in between
'round 60 minutes you'll accrue
So use the latrine

But if you're smart and don't waste time
You're quick to the punch
A shorter sermon's not a crime
Finish before lunch

Alyssa

There was a girl named Alyssa Kay
She played the cello all of the day
She had her own room
A princess costume
And a place where she knelt down to pray

Joseph Lucas her younger sibling
Was not fond of fighting and quibbling
Like all little boys
He played with his toys
Until he found joy in his singing

Ryan Norris the youngest of all
He was always playing with a ball
Or a truck or a train
A rocket or airplane
He'll play songs in a musical hall

Travel

I wanted to see the Great Wall
They said it was crowded
And not very pleasant at all
Go and be surrounded

I'll go and see Mona Lisa
Surely she's worth a look
The leaning tower of Pisa
I'm trapped; I'm on the hook

And then I saw the crowds around
And people ev'rywhere
Perhaps I should remain housebound
And save the big airfare

I saw the wall, the painting too
On TV where it's free
And got to know some people who
Are friends eternally

The best thing about travel is
The people I meet there
The tourist traps, the scamming biz
Of them I will beware

Diversity

Diversity within God's plan
Is a wonderful thing
But rules and traditions of man
Can have a hollow ring

Diversity outside God's plan
is sin and hurts us all
And some ideas of modern man
Lead straight to our downfall

So when they shout diversity
Be careful what you hear
It might be just perversity
And joy will disappear

Be loyal to the Word of God
Be careful not to stray
Don't give their heresies a nod
And don't become their prey

Please Don't Send me to America

Please don't send me to America
where crime, pollution, cancer rule
Please don't call me weak and delicate
I had to go for school

I married a gal from Maryland
We had four boys, and now they're grown
Our sons are very special and
They've children of their own

When I'm at home in America
I long to hear the magpie's call
When I'm home in Australia
Parking spots are too small

Now we've children on two continents
And eight grandchildren that we miss
Of travel that's a consequence
And so we reminisce

Government

Government protects our freedom
and it educates our children,
gives our city sanitation,
funds our roads and transportation,

GPS, communication,
Mail and nuclear power stations,
Welfare and not destitution,
Safety, health administration,

Funding research and the weather,
Clean water and clean air as well,
Military all together,
And satellites in space propelled,

So next time that you drive upon
The road and pass a school bus there
Be thankful for the road you're on
and GPS and say a prayer.

For government and all its faults
Has done a lot for our nation.
Police protect us from assaults
And deserve our affirmation.

Government is far from perfect
And no one pays their tax with joy,
But they do good too; have you checked?
Too bad they are our whipping boy!