Poetry to Ponder: Good News! is a collection of poems reflecting the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. It offers meaning and hope to both believers and skeptics in the face of life's perplexities. Themes include creation, the nature of God, the nature of man, the sin problem, salvation through Jesus and His return as King and Judge of mankind.
The overarching message of this collection will bolster the faith of the believer while answering some of the skeptic's questions: Is the God of the Bible the only true God? If God created everything, why did He create evil? If God is good, why does He allow injustice and suffering? How can a loving God send people to hell? Why do I need a savior? Who is Jesus and why did He die? Did the resurrection really happen? Is Jesus the only way to God? Will God accept me if I live a good life? Where will I go after death? What must I do to be saved? When will all this suffering end?
Powerful in its simplicity, rhythmic and captivating in its cadence, each poem is followed by relevant quotations from the Bible that enhance the message of the poem. Altogether, they present a cohesive narrative beginning with creation and ending with the promised return of Jesus Christ.
The opening poem describes the Sovereign God at work in creating a beautiful and unblemished world. We are reminded that He requires our allegiance and that we have a responsibility to love and serve Him. There is a depiction of the fall of man when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, bequeathing the sin nature to the rest of us. That act disrupted their relationship with the Creator and with each other, and spoiled the beauty and harmony of creation. Despite their rebellion against His authority, God promised to eventually restore all that is broken.
We see God's love in action as He enters our misery, humbling Himself in the form of the man, Jesus, who suffered and died to procure our forgiveness. He promises to walk with us in our brokenness and through our storms. He offers His peace for the journey, and guarantees His imminent return to remove those who love Him from this present darkness. The final poem is a cry for Christ's return that will bring relief from the burden of sin for His followers. It ends in triumphant assurance of God's promise to establish a new creation ruled by love, peace and justice, a kingdom where joy abounds.
In a world filled with turmoil, fear, uncertainty and heartache, many are losing hope and some, sadly, have abandoned all hope. This book is a rallying cry: All is not lost. The Sovereign God is still in control. Although trouble is inevitable, He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him. There is still good news! These creative expressions of life-transforming truths, as they reflect the divine light of spiritual hope for the human condition, will resonate with the reader.
