An Anniversary Poem for the:

“20^th Iowa District West
High School Youth Gathering”

By: Rev. John Nunes

Perhaps you've been haunted

by flashbacks and panic attacks

Feeling like you're about to explode with a heavy load of guilt;

you need some love from above

instead of the Enemy killing you

with his dirty blame game

Stirring up your shame like a cloud

Saying: "You're too-big-a-sinner to live out loud.

You're too-big-a-failure to make your Father proud."

Friends, I've found out that guilt can shake you

and make you flaky to the bone

like a tune without a tone,

a calling card without a phone,

a building with no cornerstone:

The steady getting dissed

by the devils that I've kissed,

I should be dismissed

But God's Gospel power is like dynamite

Even when we're too weak to fight.

The Spirit gives to you and me precisely

            what we're needin' most;

(And it's not hot butter on a breakfast toast).

            Jesus Christ is our only-boast:

            On the cross He paid the cost

for all who are the lost.

Our trespasses are tossed

Away to the bottom of the deep blue sea.

Now it's time to get-to-living.

Tho' we might simply feel like chillin'

God's giving us the feelin'

that's there's work to be done;

Souls to be won. Songs to be sung.

Servant events in Iowa West,

We're up to the test.

So today let's get busy: no lies, no alibis, no "cutie pies."

Take your faith to the streets

where the rubber and the road meets.

For the sake-of-the-sick and-forgotten-and-the-lonely crowd,

Senior high youth are living-out-loud.