The Last Enemy

A poem I wrote tonight, based on 1 Corinthians 15:51-58. I believe when all the eons have run their course, all creation will be revived, redeemed and renewed...

~

You are a tyrant from a dark realm;
An ancient, sinister mind.
Cursed one, how did you overwhelm
And overpower mankind?
Luring, deceiving, inflicting, destroying,
Vaunting your pride in the face of our Creator;
Stealing the souls of the ones you're deploying;
Wretched, relentless, confounded Devastator.
But you are destined to fall
From your pinnacle of hate;
The One who is All in all
Will certify your fate
And end your power to enslave.
Souls redeemed will sing,
"Where is your victory, o Grave?
Death, where is your sting?"


© 2014 David Acosta Perez

Kohelet

Kohelet,

We have hungered for your wisdom

And the truth your words impart.

Kohelet,

Will you bring the light of heaven

To every hopeful heart?

Master,

May we sit here at your feet?

Will you speak to us in parables,

Or share your poetry?

We will listen; we are longing to be filled.

Wise King,

Let us gladly drink and eat,

While you share your tales of a kingdom

Where every heart is free,

Where grace and justice are promises fulfilled.

Kohelet,

We have hungered for your wisdom

And the truth your words impart.

Kohelet,

You are bringing the light of heaven

To every hopeful heart.

  

[instrumental interlude]

Teacher,

Show us what we can't discern.

Why are our hearts always restless?

Will we ever rest?

That is why we have gathered here today.

Preacher,

You know just how much we yearn

To become as you are; will you bless

Every gathered guest,

And promise you will return to us someday?

Kohelet,

We are thankful for your wisdom

And the truth your words impart.

Kohelet,

You have brought the light of heaven

To every hopeful heart.

  

Kohelet,

We are thankful for your wisdom

And the truth your words impart.

Kohelet,

You have brought the light of heaven

To every hopeful heart.

© 2014 David Acosta Perez

Kohelet (pronounced ko-HELL-et) is the one whose wisdom is shared in the book of Koheleth, or Ecclesiastes. It is a word which has come down to us from Latin, via Greek. Traditionally Kohelet, or Ecclesiastes, has been rendered as "Preacher" or "Teacher"; however, "Gatherer" (or "Assembler") is a more reliable translation, based on ancient Hebrew writings.

(There are several spelling variants of Kohelet, including Koheleth and Qohelet. 

http://frederickbuechner.com/content/koheleth

I have loosely based this song on the likely identity of the writer of Ecclesiastes, according to how he might have been viewed by a gathering of followers. I see them as disciples of this great, beloved sage, who have welcomed him, and who yearn to be filled with great knowledge and wisdom...

Lumenlove

I want to be an embraceable light;
A palpable, affable ray;
A luminous herald of love,
A ray from the bright sun above,
In a world where hearts dim and grow cold.
I want to shatter the night;
I want to be an embraceable light.

Let me be the glowing heat,
The pulsing beat,
The hands and feet
Of your lumenlove.
I want to be a vivid hymn,
A flame that sings,
A synonym
For your lumenlove.

I want to be an embraceable song;
A tangible, memorable tune;
A visible, soulful refrain;
A love anthem not sung in vain,
In a world where hearts dim and grow cold;
A chorus that shouts, "Come along!"
I want to be an embraceable song.

Let me be the glowing heat,
The pulsing beat,
The hands and feet
Of your lumenlove.
I want to be a vivid hymn,
A flame that sings,
A synonym
For your lumenlove.

[instrumental interlude]

Let me be the glowing heat,
The pulsing beat,
The hands and feet
Of your lumeneylove.
I want to be a vivid hymn,
A flame that sings,
A synonym
For your lumenlove.

Let me be the glowing heat,
The pulsing beat,
The hands and feet
Of your lumenlove.
I want to be a vivid hymn,
A flame that sings,
A synonym
For your lumenlove.


© 2014 David Acosta Perez

Mystery

Dreams overwhelm me;
I wake, and shadows tell me
I'm lost. Oh find me, faithful Light.
Faith wanes and hopes dim;
I hide in a love hymn:
A voice that lifts me, as fears take flight.

You are captivating,
Illuminating,
Reverberating within me;
Swirling around me,
Blazing inside me,
Ever-abounding Mystery.

Starlight and lamplight
Glow when the dark night
Comes, and I know I'm not alone.
Stay, for my heart longs
To rest in Your love song;
Hold me until the night has flown.

You are captivating,
Illuminating,
Reverberating within me;
Swirling around me,
Blazing inside me,
Ever-abounding Mystery.

[instrumental interlude]

You are captivating,
Illuminating,
Reverberating within me;
Swirling around me,
Blazing inside me,
Ever-abounding Mystery.
Ever-abounding...
Mystery.



© 2014 David Acosta Perez


I found another worshipful song from a year or two ago, which I thought I had posted. This is the English version of my song, "Maravilla."

King

O lowly Son of Man,

O Wisdom from on High,

O sacrificial Lamb,

O humble Adonai:

Merciful One,

Word of the Father,

Precious Lord of my heart.

King of Calvary,

King of Jerusalem,

King of Israel,

King who'll come again.

King of all I see,

King of the unseen,

King enthroned in me,

King of Kings, I worship Thee.

No sceptre in Thy hand;

No bright, bejeweled crown;

No throne, no palace grand;

No princes bowing down.

Oh, but I know

The day is coming;

Yes, I can see it in my heart.

King of Calvary,

King of Jerusalem,

King of Israel,

King who'll come again.

King of all I see,

King of the unseen,

King, enthroned in me,

King of Kings, I worship Thee.

What are these thorns on Thy brow?

Why art Thou bleeding for me?

Humbly before Thee I bow,

O broken-hearted Majesty.

[instrumental interlude]

King of Calvary,

King of Jerusalem,

King of Israel,

King who'll come again.

King of all I see,

King of the unseen,

King, enthroned in me,

King of Kings, I worship Thee.

© 2014 David Acosta Perez

A Comfortable Come-As-You-Are Congregation

I discovered faith as a young child,
But faith succumbed to newfound fears;
Fears turned into doubt, and doubt went wild.
Still, I searched for truth through the years.
I tried to bear a load I could not carry;
I made myself believe what I began to repeat.
Now, some might say I'm just trying to be contrary,
But I've learned quite a bit about God on the street.

I've been looking for grace, while clinging to hope.
Is there a place where I can let my spirit elope
With an unfeigned, unconditional love that lasts?
No collection plate, no trust manipulation,
And everybody's cool, cuz it's all about love;
The kind we need, the kind we're all dreaming of,
Where all are welcome--no misfits, no outcasts.
Where's my comfortable, come-as-you-are congregation?

Sometimes I can hear creation groaning;
Sometimes it's a cacophanous ring.
Pulpit pounders peddle cookie-cutter cloning;
I think they're in for a rude awakening--
Cuz you can fool the masses into submission,
But sooner or later the dissidents will rise.
People are hungry for a love without condition;
Eventually they'll see through your disguise.

I've been looking for grace, while clinging to hope.
Is there a place where I can let my spirit elope
With an unfeigned, unconditional love that lasts?
No collection plate, no trust manipulation,
And everybody's cool, cuz it's all about love;
The kind we need, the kind we're all dreaming of,
Where all are welcome--no misfits, no outcasts.
Where's my comfortable, come-as-you-are congregation?

I'm not talkin' 'bout quick-fix altar calls;
I'm not talkin' 'bout clique-friendly stained-glass walls;
Cuz I know we've all had enough of guilt and condemnation;
Yeah, we're ready for a genuine love demonstration.

[instrumental interlude]

I've been looking for grace, while clinging to hope.
Is there a place where I can let my spirit elope
With an unfeigned, unconditional love that lasts?
No collection plate, no trust manipulation,
And everybody's cool, cuz it's all about love;
The kind we need, the kind we're all dreaming of,
Where all are welcome--no misfits, no outcasts.
Where's my comfortable, come-as-you-are congregation?

© 2014 David Acosta Perez

High

No frantic, frenzied faces here;

No madness, no murky mental block;

No self-destructive, superficial sky...

What if love and mercy brought you here?

The gate awaits; just unlatch the lock.

Don't look back; it's time to say goodbye.

What if there really is a better way to soar?

What if I assured you there is? Would you try?

Here is the high your heart has been hoping for.

Have you ever known this kind of high?

No paranoia, no denial;

No danger, no crazy Russian roulette; 

No self-deceptive getaway...

Love won't fry your mind or defile

Your desperate heart, or leave you with a debt

You may not ever get to repay.

What if there really is a better way to soar?

What if I assured you there is? Would you try?

Here is the high your heart has been hoping for.

Have you ever known this kind of high?

Let it go, and let love in;

Leave the lies, and finally begin

The journey, the adventure you desire;

You just might find a road that leads you higher.

[musical interlude]

What if there really is a better way to soar?

What if I assured you there is? Would you try?

Here is the high your heart has been hoping for.

Have you ever known this kind of high?

© 2014 David Acosta Perez

El amor permanece

Hay muchos que dudan,
Encerrados en su vanidad.
Para ellos él es solo un mito;
Una fábula, y nada más.
Pero aquel que busca
En espiritu y en verdad,
En su alma descubre el manuscrito
Que lo alumbra, y le otorga la paz
De aquel que con su sangre vierte
El poder que derrota la muerte.

El amor permanece;
El amor no perece
Cuando el mal se engrandece.
Aunque muera, promete volver.
El amor siempre triunfa:
Es la luz en la catacumba;
Es victoria sobre la tumba;
Resucita con gloria y poder.

No es un sistema de ritos;
No es una mera religión;
No es un yugo de leyes y delitos;
No es una tiránica condenación.
El amor es el nombre bendito
Del que a todos les ofrece redención;
Es la voz que te dice, "Te invito
A mi reino, a una vida mejor";
Es aquel que con su sangre vierte
El poder que derrota la muerte.

El amor permanece;
El amor no perece;
Donde hay fe alborece.
Aunque muera, promete volver.
El amor siempre triunfa:
Es la luz en la catacumba;
Es victoria sobre la tumba;
Resucita con gloria y poder.

[interludio instrumental]

Bienaventurados son
Los que creen y se visten de valor,
Los que luchan por la paz con fervor.
Bienaventurados son
Los que nunca se rinden al temor,
Los que marchan con la antorcha del amor.

El amor permanece;
El amor no perece;
Donde hay fe alborece.
Aunque muera, promete volver.
El amor siempre triunfa:
Es la luz en la catacumba;
Es victoria sobre la tumba;
Resucita con gloria y poder.


© 2014 David Acosta Perez