Home » Poems » Rob Carmack » Matthew's Odds

Matthew's Odds

Read the Grahams and Templetons.
Sifted the Calvinists and Arminians.
Tried to qualify the Mortals and Venials.
John’s comfort was lost in Hebrew’s six.

I got the faith and conviction in
The Holy Ghost and Christ the Son.
Been given clear skies and sight,
but pre-meditated sins still done.

Eternal security for some so easy,
seems wide steps on a narrow way.
Deceit often more subtle than
Branch Davidians and jungle Kool-Aid.

This - A Seed of fear?
Carried by the winds of Mount Azazel, 
watered by fallen whispers in my ear?
Or taking no heed, a fool plays with sin?

Don’t want to wake up under the wrong Throne,
Just think about the ‘few there be that find it’,
Intermittent obedience and lukewarms thrown.
Always, the fear of this, has been with me.

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Contest:  Where Do You Think You Will Spend Eternity?
Sponsor:  Laura Leiser
09.05.15

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Old Buck

Date: 5/7/2016 3:05:00 PM

Rob: I just finished reading a dozen or so of your latest. They brought me back here to one of my favorites of your works. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with all of us on the Soup. oldbuck

Keith Bickerstaffe

Date: 12/27/2015 10:13:00 AM

Outstanding phrasing and imagery... A magnificent piece my friend! Best wishes, Keith

Joan Donnelly Ellis

Date: 11/10/2015 4:32:00 PM

Thank you for sharing

Old Buck

Date: 11/10/2015 1:33:00 PM

Rob: I published an entire book of religious rhymes and none was more thought provoking than this. Thank you for sharing what many "good people" have on their mind. oldbuck

Joan Donnelly Ellis

Date: 10/28/2015 7:19:00 AM

Enjoyed

Viv Wigley

Date: 9/15/2015 11:57:00 PM

Great, thoughtful piece, Rob. All I can say is John 11:26. Regards, Viv

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/7/2015 2:12:00 AM

Rob, you are NOT going to end up in hell if that is where this poem is going. YOu and I disagree on this one. I think we always will. I just don't believe God is going to be casting a lot of his children into hell fire! Now I could take the Mormon view and say a HECK of a lot of us are gonna be in the MIDDLE, and that is still better than being on earth! You are an awesome guy and I enjoyed your poem.

Rob Carmack
Date: 11/10/2015 8:22:00 PM

It would be easier to have a God that can't be defined. But I believe he has been defined, I can even feel it. Maybe just a self-imposed mind trip, but I am all in. Maybe by 'few' he meant 25%, not the 1% I have been considering.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 10/4/2015 1:27:00 PM

continuing the discussion. what if the Scriptures the way we know them were changed and we are not seeing the true words? Or what if teachings of other religions such as Buddhism are actually the correct ones? I came to your poetry hoping you had a new one up and saw you had written a response to my last comment to you!!

Rob Carmack
Date: 9/7/2015 3:53:00 PM

Actually, my faith may make my fate worse than an Atheist. Also, I would say 'we are all His Creation', but not all his children. Unless you modify the Bible, or use some other text, or make your own, I see no other way to deduce this.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 9/7/2015 12:26:00 PM

'we are ALL His children!! This could develop into quite a discussion, but I already know your thoughts and you know mine. I understand where you are coming from and thanks for clarifying it in your response! You are in no danger because you are a very strong believer, Rob, I really admire that about you.

Rob Carmack
Date: 9/7/2015 5:00:00 AM

I agree with you, God will not cast his children into Hell. Our disagreement concerns who the children of God are. Thank you for reading and your comment. Hugs.