CHOOSE WISELY

The course of life is like a race

And every man is on the team

Its valleys or its mountaintops

Are strewn with obstacles between.

Decisions come in various ways

And are the signs that mark the path

But only those who rightly choose

Can see the value of their task.

Some find the race too burdensome

While others seek escape from pain

But only those who follow strong

Will not have run their race in vain.

There is a road each man must take

And only two around each bend

There’s one that leads to heaven’s Shore

The other to a Christless end.

--B. Pent

THE SECRET OF JOY

How vain man searches for a way

Through earthly toys that soon decay

And thinks these things bring happiness

Yet find, it leads to emptiness.

In every life a God-shaped void

Is built within the heart of man

So he can know down deep inside

Redeeming grace that will abide.

But joy is not made up of things

That bid one soar on eagle wings

The answer found is knowing Him

And helping free those bound by sin.

The fruit of joy one can express

Is helping widows in distress

Or helping orphans find a home

Where they no longer need to roam.

So as you seek help from above

Let Jesus fill you with His love

Then through the service you impart

Real joy will overflow your heart.

--B. Pent

THE WEB OF DECEPTION

Deceptive thoughts that trick the mind

Like flies caught in a spider’s web

Try hard to shake its silken grip

Before its venom strikes it dead.

How subtle is this rude disguise

Intriguing lures that bate their prey

While scintillating to the eye

Dark shades of night eclipse the day.

Yet that is how a habit forms

In innocence we take the bate

By first enduring then embrace

A slave to what we later hate.

In this imprisoned wilderness

Like blowing winds that blind the eye

The only path through desert storm

Is taking flight above the sky.

The Pilot comes to rescue all

Who in repentance take His hand

For freedom is the promise made

Who in Christ's victory take their stand.

--B. Pent