SIGNS

HOW MANY?

The people filtered in
ready for the service to begin
The church was packed
Every seat in the small sanctuary was filled
Everyone was dressed up in their Sunday's best
It was a beautiful picture

The young woman lay in bed
her face was tear stained
She pulled the covers over her head
and wept some more
She had made her choice
and that was that
"But if only . . ."
she thought to herself once more
before rising to meet the reality of today

The people sat quietly
within the small church
listening carefully
to the message that was preached
"Love your neighbor as yourself,"
they were told
They smiled at each other
then rose from the pews
confessed their meager sins
and left for home

The small boy kicked hard
fighting against the pain
he pushed away
and struggled to find safety
but there was none to be found
He couldn't comprehend this terror
what it could mean
or why it had come

And somewhere sat a man
at the dinner table with his family
comprehending the happenings of the times
the leaders that rise to power
and the crimes against humanity
wondering when it will all end
and how he had found himself
in such a world
unfit for his own children
his own priceless treasures

But don't just fold your hands and pray once more,
Man of the hour
Don't just pour more money into larger buildings,
expensive art, and ornate fixings
These will not change the world,
catch the Father's Eye,
or turn His Heart back towards our nation

Think what would

Yes, just think:
How many
lives
could $64 million
save?

Is the Kingdom of Heaven to be found
in all your material possessions
or within the walls of a building enshrined
with your boundless affections?

Or is it to be found
when a life is saved because of a sacrifice made
and within the heart of the young child
who has the chance to welcome the Love of his Creator?

Watch "Schindler's List"

: : :
"Dear brothers and sisters,
what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it
by your actions?
That kind of faith can't save anyone."
James 2:14
: : :

WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?

Upon entering the house
he at once noticed the silence
"Where are the children?"
the man asked his wife
"I don't know -- they haven't come home yet,"
was her response

More than an hour passed
before they were convinced that something was not right
Long moments had passed
as they told themselves
just what they wanted to hear
but now
the truth was clear
something must be done

Call after call was made to the children's friends
without answer
After that
they called the children's schools
along with the parents of the other children
but no information was to be had

Where could the children be?

Close to panic
and already far distanced from the peaceful norm of daily life
the young couple sat side by side on the sofa
eyes brimming with tears
hands clasped together
unsure of what to do
or even what could be said

The young wife began
to tell a story of one thing or another
one of their children had done
just the day before
but before three words were said
she burst into tears
and wept against her husband's shoulder
and for him
it was all he could do
to hold her
as the grief within him swelled within his chest
and drew from him
deep, ragged breaths of anguish

Where are the children?
he wondered again and again
but the moments passed
the hours fell away
the memories haunted him
and slumber overtook him

The next thing he knew
a sudden sound jolted him awake
How long have I slept?
he asked himself as he heard the phone ring again
Leaving his sleeping wife
he grabbed the receiver and walked into the next room
"Hello?"
"We've found your children,"
spoke a gruff voice on the other end
"Where are they?"
"Together"
was the response, nearly whispered
"No, I mean where are they?"
the father asked
trying to keep his voice under control
"What are you willing to pay to bring them home?"
hissed the voice over the line
"What?!"

**

Over 4,000 children huddled together
afraid of what would come next
Why had they been brought here?
Would anyone come to help them?
Did anyone care that they were here?
Wide-eyed with fear
they sat on the floor
knees drawn to their chests
arms wrapped about themselves
as they tried to stay warm
calm
hopeful
Would freedom come?
The men who had taken them captive
had spoken of death
Were their intentions really that horrible?
And if so, who could save them?
No one even knew that they were missing
either that
or they didn't care enough to do anything about it

**

The man stood
shaking from head to foot
receiver still in hand
his face a ghastly shade of gray
when his wife walked in the room
She stopped when she saw him
and wrapped her robe tight around her shoulders
"Who was that?"
she asked him hesitantly
voice wavering with uncertainty
His shoulders sagged as he looked on the face of his bride
and felt the weight of the truth he must tell her
"The children are gone,"
were the only words he could muster
Even to his own ears
they sounded little more than a breath
And worse than his own sorrow
more heart-rending than his own anguish
entirely unexpected to his shocked state of mind
was the look on his beloved's face
in that awful instant of realization

As she sobbed in his arms
and he felt the intense ache of their loss
the previous day's long and anxious moments of waiting
crossed his mind
Punishing blows of what could have been done
pounded his heart
We knew something was wrong
he thought to himself again and again
Why did we not act?
He knew that question
would pierce his soul
and fill him with regret
for the rest of his life

~

Mel, what would you do
in such a case of tragedy?
Or, perhaps I should rephrase the question:
Do you not know
that such a tragedy happens daily
and is that why you do not act?

Over 4,000 children
Mel
Over 4,000 children
That is how many
are ripped from the womb
stolen from their future
cut off from light and hope
killed
each single day
within this country of such promise

Over 4,000 children
What will you pay
to redeem them from the clutches of death?

Over 4,000 children
and yet you wait
you sit
you ponder
you reflect on the good times
you regret the bad
you lie in slumber
as if unaware
of all that you could do to save them

Wake up, Mel!

Do you deny the holocaust?
Then fight it

Do you want your reputation back?
Then purchase their freedom
their right to life
You think you have a right to respect?
You think you deserve love, understanding, compassion?
Why?
What have you done to merit such a reward?
The children die, Mel
and you do not cry out for their sake
Why do you consider yourself deserving to be treated
as worthy of such honor
in a place where children are murdered
and you allow it?
Why do you feel bitterness and not regret?

Do you want to follow God?
Do you desire to serve Him?
Do you seek with all your heart to know Him?
Do you love Him?
Then follow in His Footsteps
take up your cross daily
fellowship with Him in His Sufferings --
yes, even the hatred and ridicule of the people
love those He Loves

Of every 3 children born
into this country called America
1 is killed
Show you care
So many say they do
and yet
the children cry out for hope
struggle for peace
they try to stay warm and safe
they fight for breath
their heartbeats linger on with quiet strength
for a little while
as death stalks close-by
The threats are very real
you know
the intentions of their present "guardian"
entirely murderous

Will help come in time?

Pray you do

Terror seizes more each day

Pray for those who still remain
that they would outlast the cowardice and preoccupations
of our heroes
Pray for them

Pray

Your brother
your sister
the children of our land
they perish
What will you do?
Are we not family?
Are we not human?

The children are missing
Do we fail to notice?
Or do we fail to care?
Why do they still perish?
Why?

What would you think of a man
who would not even lay his own life down
who would not pay all that he had
to save a child
sentenced to death?
And yet
the children die
and you have so much
What would you think of such a man, Mel?

How must the call come
to wake you from your slumber
to bring you to realization
of all that could be done?
How must it come?

Stand now
Stand for them
for innocence and justice
for good and for love
Stand
if not for all that is right
for the sake of your very soul
stand now
Stand!

Peace will not come until you do
For you must ask yourself:
Should peace be yours when it is not theirs?

Time ticks by
and the children's lives
hang in the balance
yet
hope for a hero
rests deep within the soul of each

Time ticks by
and one man's soul
hangs in the balance
but his spirit is awake

Time ticks by
and he cries out
for the Hero of his own soul
but his heart rends in anguish
for he still wields control

Surrender to the Call
to lay it all down
to give up all
to abandon yourself
to the One
who gave it all for you

Time ticks by
and the children's lives
hang in the balance
They wait for a hero
they dream of a promise
they long for life
Will they die without?

Only the future will tell
Only their hero can decide
But how we pray he will stand!

Stand now, friend

Do you want hope for the future?
Do you want a promise to guide you through the storm
the pain
you must endure
to follow God's Call?
Simple:
Protect His children
and He will protect yours

Stand now
the children wait . . .

cry justice   cry freedom   cry action
before it's too late




HOPE FOR THE STORM

A PROMISE IS A PROMISE
BUT WHERE DOES TRUE HOPE LIE?

A PROMISE IS A PROMISE
BUT THE DARKNESS COMES
AND WON'T LEAVE

THE CHILDREN HUDDLE
THEY CHOOSE TO RESIDE WHERE HOPE
DOES NOT LIE
AND YET,
THE STENCH OF WAR APPROACHES
THE YOUNG MOTHER GATHERS
HER SMALL BROOD
TO HER SIDE
WILL SHE BE STRONG ENOUGH
IN THE COMING DAYS
TO SURVIVE?

YOU HOPE TO SAVE A FEW
TO GRAB THEM BY THE SLEEVE
AND PULL THEM
FULL WEIGHT FROM THE CLIFF
THEY OVERLOOK
BUT SOMETIMES, YOUNG MAN,
THEIR PULL IS SIMPLY
TOO STRONG
EVEN FOR A MAN OF LOVE
AND GOOD INTENTIONS

THE CHILDREN FALL BY THE SIDE
SO FEW CARE
EVEN THOSE WITHIN THE WOMB
HAVE SO LITTLE HOPE
FOR THAT ONE DAY
OF SUNLIGHT

COME ON, FRIEND
BIND TOGETHER WHAT YOU KNOW
PULL ALL YOUR RESOURCES TOGETHER
READ THE GOSPELS, MAN
AS YOU SPOKE TO THE INQUIRER
BUT ITS EASIER TO READ
THAN TO IMITATE
BUT DO WE IMITATE
THE GREAT MASTER,
JESUS THE CHRIST?
DO WE, IN ALL OUR FAILURE,
FALSE INTENTIONS, UNHOLINESS
SEEK TO REPLICATE THE SON OF GOD?
PREPOSTEROUS!

AND YET,
HE PROMISES TO LIVE WITHIN
TO ABIDE
TO EMPOWER
TO MAKE HOLY
TO MAKE NEW
TO BRING FORTH LIFE

HOOK IN, SON OF MAN
MEL, DON'T JUST SAVE A FEW
DON'T JUST HOLD THE HAND OF ONE
DON'T JUST . . .
DO IT ALONE!

A CHILD LOOKS INTO YOUR FACE
WORN AND WEATHERED, YOU APPEAR
BUT THROUGH THE EYES
THERE IS LIFE AND HOPE
THERE IS A PRESENCE
THERE IS GOD

ONE MORE STORY
AND FOR THIS
YOU WILL NEED TO ASK THE MASTER
FOR ALL THE SYMBOLISM
FOR IT TELLS A TALE
OF A MAN
FULLY RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
COUNTING HIS BLESSINGS
REACHING OUT TO HELP
BUT STILL, DESPITE ALL EFFORT,
FALLING SO SHORT . . .

There was a man in the land
whose name was "Tiny"
Yes, he was of small stature
but BIG in heart
The children loved to call him "Tiny"
because they knew that even though,
they, too, were small
that they could accomplish great things
as they had heard and seen "Tiny" do

One day, a giant came to the land
His name was "Summer"
He wasn't like a summer breeze
or the sunshine on the blossom
He was more of a giant with huge hands
It looked, as if, he could touch the sky

Summer and Tiny became fast friends
until one day when Summer's true colors showed through
He had become angry with something Tiny had said
and struck him as heat hits a bare sidewalk
Tiny did not fare well
and soon, the children had gathered
to pray and ask for Tiny to be well, again

Summer, no longer angry, bent to pray
over the small man
and wept tears of regret
Why had he struck his friend?
Why couldn't he help him now?
Who could help?

The story ends sadly
Tiny, gone now
Summer only lives with regret
The children of the village
mourn and weep
for their friend now lost

Is it enough to weep for one friend, lost?
Is it enough to care for just one?
Will the village recover their sense of gratefulness
or forever soak in their dread and disillusionment?

There are many in the land
waiting for hope
hoping for love
asking for prayer
How can you reach them all?

For that, dear friend,
you will need to come
Yes, same old story
one without regret
a humble beginning
Anointing to commission
LIFE to give

In the days to come
you will know that it's part of the surrender
nothing more
and yet, no less

You've lost one man
You've held a young girl's hand
Only you will know when it's time to come
The children look for answers
Their hearts fill with FEAR
There is a Plan
A Conqueror, you will be

Save the children, Mel
You know that you must

ISAIAH 51


THE WAR
WILL YOU FIGHT?