Hello, friends! I know it has been awhile since I’ve posted on The Fathoms, so I decided to share a short poem I wrote about time.

This poem comes from close to my heart because I’ve been feeling that pull of adulthood lately—the way time seems to move too quickly and I can’t slow it down.

In a way, this is similar to the themes of “Broken Clocks”.

But without further ado, here is the poem. Consider it. Think about it. Ask if you are using your time wisely:

- Buying Time -

---

Life is hardly empty—quite the counter:

ev'ry second holds a mighty purpose.

Waste it not and use it right, don't flounder

in the storm that rages 'neath the surface.

Time's the one thing wealth can never purchase,

though we'd give up all possessions to buy more.

Yet I propose we ought to do this service,

selling all we have to please the Lord.



Perhaps that gives us no more precious Time;

at least we waste it not—invest instead!

If we've not heard the clock's concluding chime,

we have another chance to use our head.

And if that's not the story you've been fed,

then read of Matthew 6:19, my friend,

for Christ the Crucified, in bleeding red,

has stored up for us treasure in the end.

---

Thank you for reading! Always remember that we only have a predetermined and unchangeable amount of time left on this earth. Once it’s up, once we’ve “heard the clock’s concluding chime”, we’ll have to stand for our decisions in Heaven.

Anyhow, until next time…

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Welcome back to The Fathoms, everyone! This week, I will be answering a question from one of my subscribers, , whose inquiry is the subtitle of today’s post.

Should Christians follow the Levitical law?

Must we?

After all, God gave the Ten Commandments and the Torah to the Israelites to establish His standard, right? Why should anything have changed?

To find the answer to this question, we should look at Scripture itself. What does Jesus say about the Law, and what do the Apostles (inspired by Holy Spirit) say about the Law?

— - —

If you don’t want to read this whole article, here’s a brief summary:

• 1. God gave the Israelites the Law for several reasons. First, to establish the fact that it was impossible for anyone to measure up to His standard (Rom. 3:20,23, Rom. 7:7-12, Gal. 3:19,24, etc.). Second, to set the Israelites apart from other nations (Ex. 19:5-6, Lev. 20:26, Deut. 14:2, etc.). And third, to protect them from harm and strengthen their hygiene.

• 2. The Law was part of the Old Covenant. Through this Covenant, humanity received redemption through “the blood of bulls and goats” (Hebrews 10:4), but this was not true redemption. This arrived later, in the New Covenant, when Jesus came to Earth and sacrificed His life for us. Paul tells us that under the New Covenant, the Old Covenant is obsolete. Thus, the Law cannot save anyone, not even the Jews.

• 3. The principles of the Law still remain true, but many of the specific commandments are now irrelevant. For example, the requirement to wear tassels on one’s robes. Additionally, the idea that blasphemers should be punished still remains, but through Jesus there is grace. Jesus’s statements in Matthew 22:36-40 about the greatest commandments show that all the commandments of the Old Testament ultimately roll up under two commands: Love God and love others.

• So, yes, much of the Levitical Law is worth following. But we are no longer saved by the Law, so much of it has no value in being followed (such as the sacrificing of animals).

— - —

BUT NOW, THE MEAT!

First of all, what are the various purposes of the Law? Or, in other words, what types of commands are there?

The Law can be divided into three general categories of commands:

1. 1. Morality

2. 2. Set-apartness (excuse the improper term)

3. 3. Hygiene

What are some examples of these three different commands?

— For morality, we immediately think of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain”, “You shall not murder”, “You shall not steal”, etc. (Ex. 20:7,13,15). These are just a few examples.

— For set-apartness, we think of commandments such as: “They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards” (Lev. 21:5), or the numerous festivals, feasts, and remembrances God ordains throughout the Torah.

— For hygiene, we can look at one of the most central commandments of the Old Testament—circumcision. The Israelites are commanded to circumcise their baby boys in Leviticus 12:3, but also elsewhere. This, while intended to set the Israelites apart and act as a symbol of God’s covenant with Abraham, is also a hygienic practice that reduces the risk of bacterial buildup. See also the commandments of Leviticus 13-15, which involve transmissible diseases.

The New Covenant

When Jesus ate the Passover with His Disciples, he did this:

And likewise [He took] the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” — Luke 22:20 (ESV)

The New Covenant is based on Jesus’ blood, not the “blood of rams and goats” (Isaiah 1:11). Why would God throw out the Old Covenant if it was sufficient to save?

The New Covenant did not void the Old Covenant; it fulfilled it.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” — Matthew 5:17 (ESV)

This means that, in following Jesus and being washed in the blood of the New Covenant, all Believers also fulfill the requirements of the Old Covenant. In clinging to the Old Covenant, however, and neglecting the New, there is NO salvation.

So how does this relate to the main question? Should Christians have to follow any of the Law?

Point 3 of the summary states that the principles of the Law still apply, but not necessarily the specific commandments. Read Romans 7:4-6 (ESV) —

“Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.”

The Law “aroused” our “sinful passions” by placing certain actions as ‘off-limits’ (the Law reveals sin rather than cleansing it). The Human nature, after all, is to always do what we’re not allowed to do. In his directive about the consumption of meat sacrificed to pagan gods, Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, that “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.” He then writes, “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” This is the key, and it lines up with Jesus’ words in the Gospels.

Instead of hundreds of commandments, Jesus gave us two:

And he [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” — Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV)

This sums up all the commandments of the Law. Christians ought to only do things that:

1. Live out love for God

2. Live out love for others

Other things, such as the wearing of tassels, have fallen out of observance because the traditions of society have changed and the wearing of tassels may not necessarily set one apart as a Believer. The Israelites have dispersed amongst the nations and they still observe some of these traditions to make their Jewish heritage obvious. Christ’s followers, however, are not distinguished by their clothing or traditions, but by the way they (we) act. We are “the light of the world”, and this light is not in what we put on our body. It comes from the heart.

Some commandments, such as the quarantining of sick people, are still observed in modern times because they are supported by current medicine. God foresaw this and called the Israelites to follow these commandments for their own safety. These commandments should be followed—not because God commanded the Israelites to do so in the Old Testament—but because they are logical and effective. We now know why quarantining is good, so we do it without God needing to command us. Commands are for the toddlers who have not yet learned that touching a hot stovetop will result in burns.

What truly saves us?

The Law no longer saves us. So what does?

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) says this:

“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Nowhere in the New Testament, after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, are we told that our works will save us. Rather, our works are the living out of the faith that has already saved us. And since faith without works is dead, works are a part of the Gospel message, but not the salvation portion. They are part of the sanctification portion.

In conclusion…

Yes, it is good not to murder.

Yes, it is good not to commit adultery.

By following these commandments, we are loving our neighbors as ourselves. This fulfills the calling of those who are being sanctified, but it does not save us.

—

Yes, it is good to quarantine when one is sick.

Yes, it was good for the Israelites to abstain from eating pork—as they did not know how to properly cure it to kill bacteria.

However, times have changed. We now know that “What God has made clean, do not call common.” (Acts 10:15 ESV) In this translation, ‘common’ is just a different translation of a word that means ‘unclean’.

—

Yes, it can be good to be circumcised.

And, yes, it can be good to not shave the sides of one’s face or wear tassels or all manner of other obscure commands in the Old Testament. But if these become the FOCUS of a Believer’s life—if they judge others for not following such commands—then the following of the commands becomes sin. Jesus never wants His people to sacrifice peace and unity for the sake of following a commandment in a Law that He died to fulfill.

Should Christians follow the Old Testament? Yes, but only insofar as we are following the two GREATEST commandments that Jesus gives us. If following an Old Testament command pulls us away from actually loving God (as occurred for the Pharisees), then we have lost sight of what truly matters.

— - —

Thank you for reading!! I hope that article was interesting for you and potentially opened your eyes to the Scriptures.

Now, what do YOU think? Share your thoughts and alternate views in the comments below!

Until next time…

Hey, everyone! Yes, I am still working on my next article, but I wanted to share something EXCITING with y’all! (At least, exciting for moi 😉)

I have written close to 250 poems. While about a dozen of those poems are already published in two anthologies, I still have quite the sizable amount to publish as a few collections. SO I’M GOING TO BE PUBLISHED AGAIN!! (If God wills 😅)

This first collection will probably be indie-published through Draft2Digital. It’s shaping up to include roughly 75 poems, though that number might decrease if some of my poems are behaving badly and I need to send them to time-out 😁

This collection, the title of which will be released soon (*wink wink*), will include poetry, prose, Bible verses, sketches, and a few QR codes (or hyperlinks, for those who read the collection as an e-book) that link to piano music I have written, to fit the vibes or connect with a certain poem. For example, one poem, The Color Red, includes the phrase “garnet gathering”, so the QR code that will be featured near the poem redirects to a song I wrote, titled Garnet Gathering.

This won’t be your typical poetry collection; I want to spice it up with some unique pieces that make it special!

How will this work?

1. I will follow up with the first seven people who express interest in critique-reading my collection. There will be a few requirements/expectations/hopes/wishes:

   • During this stage, no part of the collection should be shared with anyone. That will take place at a later date, when I announce my street team! I am unafraid to take legal action and come at any wee, sneaky barbarians with my shiny sword!! 😤 I have the receipts and whatnot. This collection will also be copyrighted

   • I’m not looking for a quindecillion surface level comments (such as I liked it! or Super cool! etc.) While I appreciate the encouragement, I want to improve my poetry, not my self-esteem! (Obviously, I am not forbidding you from telling me you liked a poem; I just appreciate comments that I can action to further improve my work!) If you don’t have any comments on a poem, that’s alright! I just want to let y’all know that I am unafraid of your fiercest criticisms!!!

   • I’d like your comments on the arrangement of the poems and other elements. Should I switch the order of certain poems? Where should I put the sketches? And so on.

   • I would like all critique readers to be able to use Google Docs so that you can share comments directly on the document, but if you are unable to use Google Docs we can figure out something different!

   • I also have no idea what to do for a cover, so ALL my subscribers will have to help me with that. But the critique readers will see my initial ideas and decide what the rest of y’all get to vote on!!

   • There will be a couple rounds of drafting/improvement, so I’d like my critique readers to be able to commit to at least a month or so of connection with this project. I’d like to have this collection completed by the start of this upcoming school year, sometime around August 1.

2. What’s in it for YOU?

   • All seven critique readers (if you stick with me to the end 😉) will receive a FREE signed copy of the book, mailed to their address or post office box (or however they would like to receive the copy! I probably won’t drive across the nation to hand-deliver it, though)

   • As a critique reader, you’ll get to see my poems in their vulnerable and unfinished state 🤣. You get the privilege and glory of participating in this project with me! I hold no liability for trauma caused by typos and/or diabolical rhymes.

   • All seven critique readers will be featured at the top of my acknowledgements page, along with QR codes to their platforms, which will be prominently named.

3. How can you express interest?

   • Comment on this post letting me know that you’d like to participate!

   • Email me!

   • If you know me personally, text me!

   • Throw a paper airplane at me!

   • Write alien symbols in the sky!

Thank you, everyone! I look forward to seeing who expresses interest. If you have any questions, feel free to comment! Til next time…

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This blog is about thinking and contemplation, asking questions and finding answers—the way Socrates viewed an ideal society would interact. And conversation requires community, so I’m going to start doing something different. I don’t want y’all to just come here and read a post; I want you to feel like a part of the blog.

This week, I am going to ask my subscribers to comment a question that they’d like to see me tackle in the next post.

And in that post, I will provide my answer, along with a dozen reasons why y’all shouldn’t make me drink hemlock for my opinion (though I can’t well equate myself with Socrates, as he mainly asked questions, while I mainly answer them).

I’ll also ask YOU GUYS what you think. And whoever’s response gets the most likes will be invited by me to do a guest post—poetry, philosophy, theology, honestly anything you’d like.

— - —

So, this is the point where you can comment below a question or a prompt that you’d like to see me tackle, and I’ll do my best! I look forward to seeing everyone’s responses!

Having trouble? Think of a question dealing with the Bible that you’ve always wondered about! Or look at some paradoxes—you can find tons of them on the Internet. Alternatively, you can ask a friend or family member for inspiration.

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Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another week of The Fathoms. This poem I’m sharing is about a fictional story, but it’s something similar to what many of us have experienced.

Death.

No, we ourselves haven’t died. But little pieces of us die any time someone we love passes away.

So without further ado, the poem:

- The Dame and the Frame -

---
Once, in forest dark and vast

there lived a widowed dame.

She split an oak and shaped a frame

to bear her lifeless past.



And in that oaken frame she laid

a portrait of her love:

her man, the gift from up above,

turned cold and dead and grayed.



She hung the frame upon the wall

above the sun-warped door,

and often she'd approach before

she'd lose her grit and call:



"Oh, Heavens, hear my wretched plea,

come give me back my joy!

Return to me my beaming boy,

my heart, my source of glee!"



No angel came to turn an ear

or heed her bleak bequest;

instead, from 'yond the twilit west

she saw the Sun appear.



"Oh, dame," Sun said in softest tone,

"Fear not the grip of Death.

Enjoy the briskness of your breath,

for soon you'll turn to stone."



And then the Sun slipped down again

and cast his shadow's tail.

And in the darkness 'cross that vale

the dame said this: "Amen."



For as the Sun went down for bed,

the dame did just the same.

And in that oaken picture frame,

her man lays down his head.



He's gone, but still within her home;

his mem'ry shall not die.

She'll live, and breathe, and may yet cry,

but knows she's not alone.

---

Thank you for reading! I appreciate you guys so much. Until next week!

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Hello, everyone, and welcome back to The Fathoms! I have a poem for y’all this week, and it’s one that many of my readers have declared as their all-time favorite! (Which is notable, because I have shared over 200 poems with my friends on the Young Writer’s Workshop)

Let’s see what y’all think of it! I have a feeling it won’t be as impactful for those who aren’t avid writers, but perhaps it will be enjoyable.

(the all-lowercase and lack of proper punctuation is a poetic choice. This poem imitates thoughts and I’m pretty sure there aren’t capitals and semicolons in the human head)

- Alphabet Soup -

---

words

are

a

burden to me

(or an obligation, that's better)

appearing like mushrooms after a rain



the lawn in my head

is dotted with them

and the only way

to clear them away

is to make alphabet soup



you'll never starve at my house

but

you might grow weary

of the cooking



if so, slip a little note for me

in the broth you leave behind



poetry is the only time you're allowed to

play

with

your

food,

child



i'm raising you on

homegrown

galaxies

and wistful-thinking



watch me wax poetic

and wake up

not knowing

what i'm talking about

or why,

having forgotten that

there's soup on the stove

and it may be a bit overcooked---

pardon the rubber mushroom caps---

but at least it's food

and it's sustenance for your soul

(it has been for mine)

and maybe someday

this little recipe

will win me an award



but if not,

i'll keep making

alphabet soup

as long as the rains keep coming

and the words keep arriving

and the mushrooms sprout up

like one-hit wonders



i'll write you something you'll

read once

and forget

twenty seconds later

but at least

you'll never starve at my house.

---

Well, that’s it! Thanks for reading! I really do appreciate all the people who read my work. Even though I write for you, it’s nice to know that you guys like it! Til next time…

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The infamous debate.

Socialism versus capitalism.

Well, what should the Christian perspective be? And what does Ecclesiastes have to say?

The Bible speaks very little about economic systems. After all, much of the Bible is descriptive rather than prescriptive. In Biblical times, much of society was run by slaves, but in America, slavery is illegal! Instead of enslaving our criminals, extortioners, and embezzlers, we imprison them. We do not seek to perfectly replicate Biblical economies.

Where do we start? Let’s look at the Acts 2 Church.

Biblical Socialism?

Some in the liberal wing of the Christian Church point to Acts 2 as proof that God supports socialism and Welfare.

Look at Acts 2:44-45 (KJV):

“⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”

At first glance, this may resemble a socialist model, where all property is held equally and resources are distributed to everyone according to their need. There are also verses about a welfare system that was intended to support widows, orphans, and elderly people.

Here’s the thing: In the early church, private ownership was not abolished. Take 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV):

^“6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

God desires for us to give to others with cheerfulness. This is not a tax to fund Welfare. God only asks for our tithes if we give them out of a pure heart—otherwise, He says they are detestable to Him. (Amos 5:21–24)

Socialism does not promote generosity. It forces generosity, which is exactly what God dislikes.

Biblical Capitalism?

Essentially the entirety of the Bible involves business, contracts, and capitalistic investment. Much of this is descriptive rather than prescriptive, though. But perhaps the most notable prescriptive passage of Scripture regarding Capitalism is Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. (NIV) :

“1 Ship your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.
² Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

³ If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
⁴ Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

⁵ As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.

⁶ Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.”

This passage is about trusting God, but it is about capitalism as well—taking business into your own hands and making good use of your resources. Capitalism (entrepreneurship) is good stewardship, which God calls us to because we are temples of His Spirit.

So what’s the happy medium?

There are no Scriptures that explicitly support Capitalism, and neither are there verses that explicitly support Socialism. The Bible does, however, support mindsets that influence both ideologies.

Socialism:

1. Equality

2. Generosity

3. Helping the less-fortunate

(All strong Christian principles)

Capitalism:

1. Stewardship

2. Hard work

3. Wisdom

4. Gratitude (leading to generosity)

(All also strong Christian principles)

I believe the most God-honoring system is Capitalism, because it gives us the opportunity to give out of a pure heart, with authenticity and intentionality. Socialism (and high taxes to fund Welfare programs) steal the blessing of freely giving. With Socialism, there is no incentive to work hard and build wealth so that one can be increasingly generous, whereas with Capitalism, the more you receive, the more you can give. Benevolence is built on Capitalism.

— - —

Thanks for reading! Feel free to share your thoughts down below, and any Scripture you have as well. Until next time…

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If you are confused at the end, look at the comments! Someone else might share the meaning, but I’ll also return with my own explanation!

— - —

- Mnemesis -

---

Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally,

she phoned in sick to work today---

said something about her doctor ordering an operation

before she disappeared from the face of the planet.

My brother Roy hears in color,

but we don't know if he's a genius

or affected by some malady.

My very educated mother just served us nachos

and that cheese sauce might be the source

of Roy's insanity, but we eat like this

in the Biv family all the time.

In fact, my great-uncle, King Henry,

died by drinking chocolate milk.

Dashing King Philip came over for great soup,

but I'm afraid he'll be dead before long too.

Every good boy deserves fudge in our family---

especially me, but nobody ever offers---

because we're related to the royalty

of memory devices.

In fact, it's likely we have some nemesis

hidden in the walls, sprinkling poison

in the air.

He inhabits the school bell

and withholds its ring in the afternoon.

His blood inks the pages of every textbook.

His breath is the scent of sanitizer

on the bathroom countertops.

He's the reason I can't forget my school days,

no matter how hard I try.

---

There you go! Now it’s time for y’all to tell me what you gathered! *evil laugh *

Until next time…

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Hello, everyone, and welcome BACK to The Fathoms! Today I’ll be sharing a poem that I submitted to Randolph Community College for a writing contest this past spring. I won first place, which I’m very proud of since my community college is #1 in the state of NC and one of the best in the nation. So that’s some notoriety, maybe? The theme of the contest was ‘Simple Pleasures’ and this is what I wrote:

- Where Are You Now? -

---
Your only goal was coffee.

Monday morning missed notifications

gradually pushed the arrow on the speedometer

further to the right until it reached

the equivalent number of emails 

you needed to read before noon.



The highway ended and rush-hour began,

lasting far longer than the hour

English had allotted for it.

The arrow on the speedometer

frequently reached the amount of patience you had left---

zero.


As you pulled into the parking lot

of your well-paying prison, 

your pocket vibrated again.



But something was different.



Best Friend.



First text in what felt like centuries.

Was that title even accurate anymore?



"Hey. It's been three years.

Where are you now?"



Where are you now?

You're situating your soul between

white lines painted on the tarmac,

avoiding invisible walls

so you don't collide with

somebody else's life.



But someone's life collided with yours.



"I'm good,"

type your fingers of their own volition.

Are you, though?

"I didn't expect your text today."



"I hope I'm not bothering you,"

she responds.

"I know you have a life too.

I was just reminiscing about the good times,

when the only thing that made us rush

was the twinkle of Fur Elise trickling down

the lane as the ice cream truck drew near."



Your eyes glaze over as you type again,

and two hours pass in the space of seconds.

The simple pleasure loses its simplicity,

but the unexpected text will always

bring a pleasant joy to brighten any day

made dark by the gloominess of monotony.

---

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the poem. Maybe it brought back happy memories to you. I know I find a lot of pleasure in receiving texts from 'long-lost' friends.

Once I receive the link to the magazine that RCC releases, I will put it here!

Anyways, til next time!

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Hey, everyone, welcome back to The Fathoms! Today, instead of a study of Ecclesiastes, I will be sharing a poem that involves theology found in Ecclesiastes. Specifically, the theology of how evil can exist in a world created by a good God.

Enjoy!

— - —

- The Gardener -

---

Death paid a visit to a withered Dame

and asked her by what light and in what name

she scattered her seeds on the garden plot

and this is the answer the asker got:

"I sow by the moon, for its light is soft,

and I plant by the Lord, for He giveth oft,

but I swear by them not, for the moon shan't reign

and I dare not take my King's name in vain."



In a crooked way, for the truth did Death yearn,

and so he, for his part, asked a question in turn:

"If that's true, my dear Dame, tell me, who do you bless

when you sniff a crisp rose and feel joy in your chest?"

"Why, the Lord," said the Dame, "for He made the rose grow."

"Yes, I see," murmured Death. "But this, still, I must know:

When you fondle the rose and its thorn pricks your hand,

tell me---who do you curse? Who do you damn?"



She laughed in Death's face, for his question was brash,

and the words she spoke next were as sharp as a lash:

"Foolish fiend! See you not that the curse is for you?

I can curse not the Lord, for His kindness is true."

"Silly mortal!" Death spat. "Your conscience is torn,

for the God of the rose is the God of the thorn!

If you bless Him for love, you must curse Him for hate.

He crafted them both; He's the King of your fate!"



But the Dame simply smiled. Death was woefully blind,

and the truth was far deeper than words, he would find.

"Take a moment," said she, "and consider your task.

Did you come here to reap, or with questions to ask?"

"To reap," answered Death. "That's the point of this blade."

"Incorrect," said the Dame. "Now your lies are betrayed.

For the Lord made your scythe with no conscience or heart;

'tis a tool, its sole purpose to split things apart.

Your blade would be perfect for harvesting grain,

but you use it for murder and piling the slain.

So the same is a rose---neither harmful nor kind.

The way that it's used is the way it's defined."

---

Thank you for reading! What do you think of the poem? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know!!!

Til next time…

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Enjoyyyy

To Hold a Child’s Hand

A child slipped her hand in mine,
Her fingers fitting round my palm,
As though I were a steady calm
Amidst a troubled world. And I
Who knew the truth, that though I stood
Much taller than the child could,
Was not as strong, and not as brave,
And just as small within my heart.
I felt the echoes bittersweet;
A child’s trust was placed in me.

And suddenly, I was again
A little thing, no more than ten,
The world so wide before my eyes:
A world that held more truth than lies,
More hope than hurt, more smiles than scars.
I felt the tears that blurred my view—
They prickled like a thousand stars.

Oh, how I longed to see the sky
As though I knew only the light!
To see bright diamonds in the rain;
To know a world that cherished change—
A little taller, draw new lines—
But then we wish we had more time.
A little older, once I dreamed,
How could I know what that would mean?

Now my dreams are simple things:
A chance to see the dewdrops cling
To leaves in springtime, and to know
The beauty in this morning glow;
In all the songs we sing with love
Before the face of God above—
To feel at home among this crowd;
To never doubt, am I too loud?
Too much? Too small? Too immature?
To find again those childish hopes;
To dance in all my Sunday best;
To know a way to be at rest
Within myself the way I knew
Before I even had a clue—

To hold a child’s hand in mine,
And know their trust is not misplaced.
To be so sure of something that
You never fear that it might break.

Although her smile began to heal
The cracks in me, I longed to feel
That certainty just one more day…
Before my childhood slipped away.

Nostalgia of the purest kind—
A child slipped her hand in mine.
What wondrous blessing! To be touched
By such a gift. It seemed not much,
Yet suddenly the dreary weight
Upon my shoulders lifted—gone—
And every limb I leaned upon
Was nothing in the shadow of
A child’s blind and trusting love.

For when she gave her hand to me,
And asked me in that silent plea
To care for her—how could it be?
She gave me something I had lost.
I knew not what I needed then,
Yet there it was! Exactly when
This heart of mine was burdened most.

So, should they ask me where I find
Such awe despite a troubled mind,
My words are here for all to see:
A child gave her hand to me.
What grace of God had helped me stand?
My fingers, round a child’s hand.

— - —

Thank you for reading!! If you want to read more of Emily’s work, go find her at her blog:
The Bookwyrm Corner | emmibookwyrm.substack.com

Til next time…

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I’ll keep this as short as possible while still presenting Scripture and sharing my conclusions.

— - —

Classical Theism

Classical theism is the belief that God’s plans are entirely immutable and no human decision can make God change His mind or shift His plans. This aligns with the Calvinist and Reformed view of Scripture. Many Scriptures support this:

• Malachi 3:6

• Psalm 33:11

• Numbers 23:19

• Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

These Scriptures describe how God is “unchanging” and that “God is not like a man, that He should change His mind.”

Relational Theism

Relational theism is the belief that God’s nature is immutable, but His decisions can change. In other words, He may change His plans, but they will ALWAYS line up with the perfect nature that He maintains. This view would align more with Arminianism or Wesleyanism. Much Scripture supports this view as well:

• Jonah 3:10, when God “relents” from destroying Nineveh. This idea of God “relenting” is seen countless times throughout Scripture.

• Amos 7:1-6

• 1 Samuel 15:11

In essence, God maintains His promises but may also be merciful and relent from some plans to remain true to His nature.

Open Theism

This view holds that the future is open and while God can see all possibilities, He has not necessarily already chosen which possibilities will become reality. Meaning some parts of the future are not set in stone. In a way, God does not know what the future is.

The major issue with this approach is that if God does not know what will happen, then He is not omniscient. This would be a clear contradiction of Biblical truth.

Middle Knowledge

Middle knowledge is also known as Molinism, and is an attempted cooperation between the various views. Essentially, the idea is that God’s plan never changes, but His plan includes various conditional paths to account for human choices. Scripture supports this:

• 2 Chronicles 7:14

• Other verses talking about how IF Israel will turn from their ways and repent, THEN God will save them.

The Bible is FULL of if-then statements. This means that some parts of God’s plan depend on our actions.

Conclusion

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks all about how we can neither know nor change the will and plans of God. However, we must balance this with what is said in other parts of Scripture.

One of the keys to reading Ecclesiastes is to read it in the context of the whole Bible. Never alone. Because then you’ll just get depressed!

Take Psalm 25:14 for example—

“The LORD confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.”

God will literally confide in those who fear Him. But then take verse 12—

“Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.” The footnote says, “He will instruct them in the ways he chooses.”

What makes the most Biblical sense is that God has a perfect plan for everyone, but forces no one to follow it. From a secular human view, we have no perception of what the future is. Through the Spirit, though, He instructs us in the ways we should go or the ways He chooses for us (Jeremiah 29:11) but does not force us onto them. I’ve already discussed the free will-predestination debate in a previous article.

BUT THE MAIN POINT OF THIS ARTICLE!!! Is it within God’s omnipotent, all-powerful, sovereign nature to change His plans?

I would say yes. If God could not change His plans, he would be less powerful! It is a mark of His sovereignty that He is able to change His mind or relent. If His plan were so unchanging and immutable that even He couldn’t change it, that would mean SOMETHING IS MORE POWERFUL THAN GOD!!! We return to the Big Rock Paradox, a previous article I wrote.

God’s promises endure forever, but His methods may change to account for human choice.

— - —

Thank you for reading today’s Fathom! I hope you enjoyed it and I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts in the comments below.

Til next time…

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Hello, everyone, and welcome back to The Fathoms! I’m going to start posting on Friday afternoons so that y’all will be able to read these, if you so choose! I just found that Monday mornings meant the poems got lost in everyone’s rush to school or work.

Anyways, enjoy!

- To The Stars That Do Not Shine -

---

Take heart, oh weary ones,

your time has just begun.

Once all your days are done,

 we will be here, waiting for the sunrise.



Close your flickering eyes,

you distant, ancient, wise

protectors of the skies---

you are the leaders of a dying race.



To the ones who embrace

the lifelessness of space

and throw themselves someplace

off into the expanse---we cherish you...



...you with your empty hues,

pure, voidlike through and through,

your tendencies askew---

you, the power-outage-affected stars...



...yes, we know who you are.

You don't have to go far

to discover the scars

of the stars that do not shine.



They walk a narrow line,

that they might not align

with what the world assigns

to be their innate worth---they are unused...



...so prone to being bruised

and mentally abused

that their light has diffused

and they never want to turn it back on.



And now they have all gone,

sung the song of the swan,

fading away upon

daybreak, because we have forgotten them.



I hope you know this poem is about people.

---

Thank you for reading! I hope the poem touched you or at the very least made you feel some things inside your heart. I know I was thinking of several people when I wrote this, and I’m sure y’all were thinking of people when you got to the end.

Until next time…

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Hello, everyone, and welcome back to The Fathoms! I have no idea when I wrote today’s poem, but it was (as you’ll soon find) whilst I was in a particularly creative mood.

Without further ado:

- Snow Falls Up -

---

My home is where the snow falls up

and roads run in the sky —

where birds take flight beneath the ground,

and cities drift on high.

-

My home is where the Up-wind blows

to plant us to the earth —

where oceans fall and raindrops float

and rivers soar with mirth.

-

My home is where the ceiling’s dirt

and golden banners blow.

My home is where the mountains fall

and blot the sky below.

-

My home is where the Inlight shines

beneath the sprawling land;

our shadows stretch above our heads,

where—wordless—they expand.

-

My home’s not like the land you dwell;

your sky is vast and clear.

My home is round and hollow, yes,

the sky’s within our sphere.

---

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the poem and were able to visualize what I was trying to describe. Tell me what your thoughts were! What were you feeling? Did the poem remind you of anything? I’d love to hear!

Until next time…

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— - —

One of the most repeated lines in Ecclesiastes is the idea of there being “nothing new under the sun.” The exact phrase is repeated only once, in chapter 1, verse 9, but essentially the entire book is about how all things under the sun are meaningless because “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again” (1:9).

As humans, our initial response to this is one of dismissal. When we eat and drink and experience life, doesn’t everything feel so new and engaging? Humans cannot fathom the idea of true repetitiveness, because we experience everything—even repeat tasks like washing dishes or writing our name—with some degree of novelty.

But God? God has seen everything that has ever happened on Earth and He sees everything that ever will happen. He knows everything we have felt. To Him, nothing is new. He has the eyes of forever.

Think of your own life and the things you have done. Before you were born, people went to school, got jobs, fell in love, fell in mud puddles, and pulled themselves out of debt. Wars sprung up and ceased. The seas rose and receded. The clouds poured forth rain, only for it to be called back up to the sky again. All of this has happened since the dawn of history.

And since history simply repeats itself, can there ever be anything that is completely original?

Can something be made that hasn’t been made before?

Is there anything new under the sun?

Actually, I believe there is.

The permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit—i.e. salvation.

For context, there is a song by Twenty One Pilots, from their Regional At Best album. The song has unhidden Christian themes in its lyrics. Ironically, it is called “Clear”.

The song is about Tyler’s testimony, how his soul was saved and how his “new father drained [his] dirty blood”.

But there’s a lyric in Verse 2 (which is a classic Tyler rap) with lines that never cease to leave me pondering over them in befuddlement.

I'm not trying to be lying to you
But it takes a clever guy to do what I do
It takes some chivalry and well-placed energy
To subliminally get yourself inside you
Introspection is the name of this session
Spread this infection, reflect it on the next one
The next one, the next one
And when we're done
We'll all have made something new under the sun

Essentially, Tyler is describing his purpose with his music. He is the “clever guy” who is trying to “get [himself] inside [himself]”. And that doesn’t sound grammatically correct, but this is a poetic way of describing introspection, which is obviously the next word in the song. Introspection is taking yourself out of the world and putting yourself in your own heart. It is exploring your motivations and desires. It is honesty with yourself.

Tyler’s goal with his music is to “spread this infection”. He wants to make his listeners think and consider his music.

And then he says that “when we’re done, / we’ll all have made something new under the sun”. What Tyler is telling us is that when we think about God and consider Him and become infected with the Gospel—and, as Romans 10:9-10 says, confess and believe—we are changed (this is supported by the chorus of the song, which is all about how Tyler was an “imposter [who had] been fostered”).

This changing of our hearts—the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit temporarily indwelt people in the time of Solomon—is, in a way, something new under the sun. Before Pentecost, God did not dwell within humanity. Sure, He has dwelt within our midst, as in the days of Moses and the Israelites. His Spirit came powerfully on people like the Prophets and David. But now, as 2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “we are the temple of the living God”.

The Conclusion of the Matter (as Solomon would say):

You will live and breathe and work and play.

You will worship God and praise Him, then mourn and weep over the troubles of life.

You will live through war and peace, poverty and wealth.

You will see blue skies and rainy days but always wish for whatever weather you don’t have.

You will do all of these things over and over, in a cycle that doesn’t end until the death of your body, but there is a single thing that can only be done once, something unique, that no one can do or experience for you, and that is to receive salvation.

THIS is the one thing that is new under the sun.

— - —

Well, that concludes today’s post! I hope y’all enjoyed reading it, as I enjoyed studying the Bible and praying over it. And I could be wrong; this is just my fallible human thoughts on the matter. And I’d love to hear y’all’s thoughts in the comments!

Til next time…

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Today’s post has been written by… a GUEST! Please welcome ARJ! She was published alongside me and several other young writers in Skillful Pen Press’s romance anthology Tell Your Heart to Beat Again. It is an honor to have her here today!

Enjoyyyyy

— - —

Have you ever tried reading Leviticus and had your eyes glaze over? I have. There’s just so many rules, and a lot of them have to do with sacrifices we don’t even perform anymore. However, there’s a lot to be learned from Leviticus, even though we don’t need the animal sacrifices and ceremonial cleansing detailed in it.

One of the most fascinating chapters, in my opinion, is chapter thirteen. I’ll spare you the details—it’s about “defiling skin diseases” and “defiling molds”. It sounds gross, but if you read it, you’ll find that God details what exactly makes a disease “defiling” or bad. He then goes on to tell them—again in great detail—what to do about it.

The Israelites did not have the medical and technological advances we have today, so God just told them these medical advances. He set up rules so sicknesses and conditions wouldn’t spread. He had them wash their hands after certain things, dispose of waste in a certain way, and take care of themselves in a certain fashion.

All these rules must have seemed like a completely unnecessary burden. Honestly, no one else had these regulations at the time, so why did the Israelites need them? Today, we can see that they were following basic hygienic practices, washing their hands after dealing with certain bodily fluids and things like that. But since the Jews didn’t understand the reasoning behind God’s regulations, they probably just saw the Law as an annoying rule-book they had to follow.

Our versions of burdensome rules we don’t understand are different, but just as frustrating. Sometimes it’s hard to see why we can’t simply do what we’d like to. Other people who aren’t Christians don’t follow those rules, so why do we have to?

God isn’t human. He’s a good and perfect Father. He’s not going to put a rule in place simply to make you suffer or because He doesn’t want you to have any fun.

Say you’re in a room with a father and his three-year-old son. The father is making some pasta and has just pulled the pot off the burner to strain it. The three-year-old son knows he’s not supposed to touch the burner… but it looks like fun, and his hand’s a little cold, so he could just warm it up by touching the burner.

The son could follow his father’s rule and avoid being burned… or he could do as he wishes and touch the cooktop. After all, it looks like it’d be fun, and his father probably just wants to be a killjoy. The son doesn’t understand the rule, so he’s going to disobey it.

We both know what’ll happen to that kid. He’ll get burned and wonder why his dad wasn’t there to protect him, even though the father set up that rule of not touching the cooktop when it’s hot to protect him.

If we start choosing to follow God’s rules, whether we understand them or not, it’d be like the Jews with their healthier lives, or that kid with an unburned hand. God only sets up laws and statutes that will help us have more joyful lives. All we need to do is follow His commandments.

— - —

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed that and perhaps learned a bit. You can read ARJ’s blog here:

https://laurel-lioness-48880633.hubspotpagebuilder.com/laurel-lioness-blog

Give her a visit if you’re interested!!!

I’ll be back next Monday, with another post in my Ecclesiastes study series!

Til next time…

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Hello, friends! Welcome back to another Fathom! This week’s feature is a poem that I wrote sometime last year, though I can’t remember exactly when.

I was considering the topic of words—specifically how words may be considered difficult to say even when they don’t necessarily fall under the subject of honesty. Naturally, we all find it difficult to confess wrongdoing or admit a tough truth, but I decided to write about other things we say which also stretch the limits of our strength.

So, without further ado…

- The Words We Cannot Bring Ourselves to Say -

---

To forgive is the action

     most painful of all;

to release those three words,

     “I forgive you,” yet find

that the gift you bestowed

     was considered too small

to be worth your foe’s time

     or to pass through his mind.

-

To accept the due judgement

     in line with your sin

is quite simple to say,

     but much harder to bear.

To cry, “Yes, I have failed,”

     holds a vict’ry within—

but those humble in heart

     to recite this are rare.

-

Or to love with a passion,

     yet balk at the phrase

“How I love you!”, then watch

     her in silence, alone.

After which, nothing else

     can reclaim your sad gaze,

though she’s harden’d and cold

     and no longer your own.

-

Or to speak on the night

     when I’ve sighed my last breath,

giving hope to your kin:

     “He’s in Heaven, my dears.”

This, of course, should be simple,

     beholding my death,

but the words will be tangled

     and drown’d in your tears.

-

These words are a burden

     that torments all men,

but you’ll find you must say them

     far more than you’d think!

Let the words give you strength

     when you’re weary, and then

raise your chin, for in truth

     ev’ry evil will shrink.

                    ---

Thank you for reading! I hope that poem spoke to you or made you think—or maybe you simply enjoyed the rhythm and rhyme. However you chose to read the poem, I pray it bettered your day!

Til next time…

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Hello, everyone! I’m back with another Fathom. Today’s will involve the entire book of Ecclesiastes—there are a lot of tough philosophical and theological concepts in Ecclesiastes, so it’s important to get an understanding of how to view the book as a whole before we dive deeper.

Yes, before you ask, my next few philosophy/theology posts will be about the oft-considered most confusing book of the Bible! Don’t worry; when broken down, the book isn’t as fearsome as some of us might have believed. It’s really quite simple.

In essence, Ecclesiastes is all about priorities and perspective. And what does the Bible say about such topics elsewhere? Let’s see what Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) has to say:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Notice how the author of Hebrews makes a distinction between “weight[s]” and the “sin which clings so closely”. Not everything that weighs us down is a sin. Not everything that is a sin weighs us down (we tend to think we’re strong enough to resist, don’t we?).

In our walk with Christ, we must separate the worthless (“sin which clings so closely”) from the worth-less (“weight[s]”). Some things are, by their very existence, detrimental to us. They must be completely separated from our lifestyles. Paul makes a fairly succinct list in Colossians 3:5-8 (ESV):

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

Then there are other things—the weights—that are not innately harmful but detract from the fullness of our walks. These activities are good in moderation and are much of the subject matter of Ecclesiastes. Think of alcohol (good within limits) or video gaming (again, good within limits), to name just two. These things are for entertainment purposes, not spiritual fulfillment, and should not be treated as such.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon describes the many worldly wonders—weights, most of which were, and are, good—that he chased after until he realized that none of it could satisfy him. He says that everything is meaningless because all things taken as worthier than God lose all their meaning. Thus, the importance of prioritization and perspective.

Today, before I begin the study of Ecclesiastes and its individual concepts, I want to urge you, reader, to consider the worthless and the worth-less in your life.

What things may be endangering your faith? What things may be simply getting in your way?

I hope you spend some time in prayer! Know that I will be praying over anyone and everyone who reads this, because we all need to find the worth-less things in our life to cut back on.

Make space for Christ!

Til next time…

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Hey everyone! I know it’s basically Tuesday again, so I’m late, but I just got back from Strength to Stand, an AMAZING youth conference in Pigeon Forge! I realized today that I only have a couple more days of childhood and then I’ll be in that awkward stage—officially no longer a child, but unofficially an adult. Life has been moving so fast and I’ve been working to keep up with it.

I’m sure that’s a feeling that you are no stranger to. Maybe you will relate to this poem.

- Broken Clocks -

I borrowed Summer’s fate—to live and breathe
the tempestuousness
of the riveresque sky
for a little while,
then to descend into
obscurity
beneath a sea of leaves
and a scattering of snow.

-

My wristwatch said it was
January 22nd of 2025
and then I woke up yesterday
and it was today
(or tomorrow, I can’t really tell),
and it felt like an hour had passed
but really it was ten thousand.
It seems I rely too much on
broken clocks
and a concept of time
that’s tainted
by my youth.

-

Life moves too quickly—
I count each breath like it’s my last,
clinging to its fragility,
even though I know
I’ll close my eyes
and a hundred years will pass by
in breathlessness.

-

I go to sleep at night
and wake up
in another universe,
where my greatest enemies
are the flickering
electric numbers
by my bedside.

-

The symbols that flash in silence
rouse me from the dream—for it’s all a dream—
and thrust me into the future,
and I’m constantly falling on my face
because the future
is like a treadmill underneath my feet,
and I forgot to tie my shoes
again
and it’s nearly nighttime
again
even though I begged the Sun
to stand still for me
like it did for Joshua.

-

This thing on my wrist
is supposed to tell me the time
but right now it just tells me
that I’m too far down the wormhole
and my universe
is spinning on an entirely
different
axis.

-

Will even the sky cease to be blue for me?
Will even the silver linings of the clouds fade to black?

-

Wretched clocks,
why have you stolen my memories?

---

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed even though my free verse is a bit all-over-the-place! I’ll be back next week with a question about……… something I haven’t figured out yet! 😁 ANYWAYS BYE

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Welcome back, everybody! I’m here today with another poem about the universal pull of sin. We all experience it and it is inescapable—but God. He gives us the power to resist sin, so we can rely on Him.

Without further ado:

- Endgame -

---

Whispered, black,

bit and tack,

tugging me along.

Dark and dim,

mute and grim,

dreams—an eerie song.

Cold or warm?

Thunderstorm—

tongues of ice and flame.

Throbbing veins,

spectral strains:

Death, its morbid name.

-

Waking, I

softly sigh,

breathe the darkness in.

Death inspires

demon choirs

howling in their sin.

Tattered cloth,

ash and wroth,

Endgame—Satan’s goal:

twilight hours

watching towers

crumble in my soul.

-

Wretched Liar!

Burn in fire!

Leave my mind alone!

Touch my dreamings

with your schemings—

someday you’ll atone!

Guiding rope,

living hope,

your power lets me rise.

Pierce the night

O Christly light,

open up my eyes!

-

Well, I hope you all enjoyed that! Comment below if it spoke to you in a specific way or if certain lines were especially colorful to you. Thanks again for staying with me!

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