Poems from the Pioneer Pulpit
by
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I REMEMBER BACK IN TIMES OF OLD
WITH SUMMERS HOT AND WINTERS COLD;
OUR FATHER WORKED TO KEEP US FED,
“AND HE WORKED HARD,” MY MOTHER SAID.
HALF-SOLED OUR SHOES WHEN THEY WENT BAD
……….WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE LAD.
HE DID TAKE ONE DAY OFF EACH WEEK;
‘TWAS THE LORD’S DAY OF WHICH I SPEAK.
TO WORSHIP AT CHURCH WE WENT THAT DAY
ALL NINE OF US THERE TO LEARN AND PRAY.
WE’D BETTER LISTEN AND MAKE NO NOISE;
………WHEN WE WERE LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS.
THE TIME FLEW BY AND ALL TOO QUICK
OUR FATHER WAS TIRED, OLD, AND SICK;
HE DIED YOUNG BEFORE I WAS READY;
NO LONGER THERE TO KEEP ME STEADY.
MY EARTHLY FATHER WENT TO HEAVEN
….WHEN I WAS THE LAST CHILD OF SEVEN.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
A MAN WENT DOWN, FROM JERUSALEM’S STREETS
TO JERICHO’S ROAD, WHERE BY CHANCE HE MEETS
WITH DANGEROUS BANDITS, WHO JESUS HAS SAID,
ROBBED HIM OF MONEY AND LEFT HIM FOR DEAD.
ALONG CAME A PRIEST WHO LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
AND AS NO ONE WAS WATCHING, HE ALTERED HIS ROUTE
TO THE STREET’S OTHER SIDE TO AVOID A DELAY.
LOVE WAS NOT LEADING THE PRIEST ON THAT DAY.
NEXT CAME A MAN WHO WAS WISE IN GOD’S LAWS;
WHEN HE SAW THE VICTIM HE STARTED TO PAUSE;
BUT HE ALSO DECIDED TO PUT HIMSELF FIRST,
AND NOT HELP THE VICTIM WHO BY BANDITS WAS CURSED.
BUT A HATED SAMARITAN SAW WITH A GLANCE
THAT A FOREIGNER LAY HERE IN BAD CIRCUMSTANCE.
HE BOUND UP HIS WOUNDS AND SOUGHT OUT A PLACE
WHERE SOMEONE COULD BRING BACK THE SMILE TO HIS FACE.
THE LESSON HERE IS THAT RELIGION IS HOLLOW
IF THE ONE WHO PROFESSES DOES NOT EVER FOLLOW
THE COMMAND TO LOVE AND HELP OUT HIS NEIGHBOR;
FOR WHAT GOOD IS THE THOUGHT WITHOUT ADDING THE LABOR?
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About the Book
Pastor Jim Walker noticed that people remembered words when they rimed, as in a song, or in a poem. He then began to write a weekly poem for the back side of the church bulletin to note the highlights of his sermon for that day. The purpose was to enable people to remember the major points of the sermon. Many of the poems are about life, such as “Rolling Through Life”, and “Hitch-hiking to Heaven”. Many of them are about Bible teachings. Some are from the stories Jesus told, like “The Good Samaritan”, and “The Prodigal Son.” Some are about human nature, such as “Excuses”, or “The Case For Common Sense.” Some are about our country. You’ll find many different important subjects treated poetically in “POEMS from the PIONEER PULPIT.” This book is a collection of 165 “sermon poems.” It is the hope of the author that some of these poems will strike a spark and light a fire in the heart of those who read them.
About the Author
About The Author
Jim Walker was born in 1929, the last child of seven, to Mittie and Earl Walker in the little college town of Olivet,
In the summer of 1948, Jim decided to go to Pasadena College, a Nazarene Church school in Pasadena, California. In four days in August he made the trip hitch-hiking all the way. He worked full time in a machine shop, and attended a full course of study during the day.
In 1950 the Korean War began and Jim joined the U. S. Navy, learning the trade of Electrician. After the war, in 1954, he was hired by the General Electric Company and later graduated from their Manufacturing Management Program. After 37 years in this vocation he retired and finally began to fulfill his call to ministry.
For 13 years he has pastored the oldest continuously operating church in Vermilion County, Illinois…..Vermilion Grove Friends Meeting. The church was started in 1822, truly a pioneer church, starting in a log cabin, then a frame building, and in 1884, a brick church.