No Tithing Required

[Isaiah 55:1]

In our sanctuary

All are welcome, rich or poor.

You need no be wary;

No delusions of grandeur.

No tithes-and-off'rings weekly quip;

This here's an honest fellowship.

No Levitical priest here.

There's a place for the least here.

Money only goes so far;
Come all, come as you are.

Give your love! Love is priceless.

Lay your heart at the altar;

You won't be coerced into

Making payments you can't afford.

Give your love and your time, yes.

No, you're not a defaulter.

Got no cash? We'll welcome you.

If you feel inspired

Bring your love; love will do.

No tithing required.

In this sanctuary

Everybody matters, see.

Our staff isn't scary;

What we offer here is free.

No charge, no ten percent tip;

This ain't no shifty dealership.

There's no cover charge; welcome!

We've got freebies here; want some?
Money only goes so far;

Come all, come as you are.

Give your love! Love is priceless.

Lay your heart at the altar;

You won't be coerced into

Making payments you can't afford.

Give your love and your time, yes.

No, you're not a defaulter.

Got no cash? We'll welcome you.

If you feel inspired

Bring your love; love will do.

No tithing required.

"Come, everyone who thirsts;

Come to the waters;

And all who have no money,

Come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

Without money and without price."

Give your love! Love is priceless.

Lay your heart at the altar;

You won't be coerced into

Making payments you can't afford.

Give your love and your time, yes.

No, you're not a defaulter.

Got no cash? We'll welcome you.

If you feel inspired

Bring your love; love will do.

No tithing required.

© 2023 David Acosta

Cast It into the Fire

The heavy load you've been carrying

Is weighing you down more and more,

Slowly draining the life out of you.

You've lost your way, so you're hurrying,

Still clinging to what you deplore.

Deep down you know what you need to do:

Take your burden to the mountain;
Cast it into the fire!

Doesn't matter where your heart's been.

Drop your cares and acquire

A clearer vision, a life brand new.

It's your decision; it's up to you.

The path is steep, and you want to quit.

You can't turn back; there's too much at steak

You'll reach the goal if you don't give up.

Disregard your doubts, and submit

To the task at hand—it's make or break:

The mountain waits; time to climb—look up!

Take your burden to the mountain;
Cast it into the fire!

Doesn't matter where your heart's been.

Drop your cares and acquire

A clearer vision, a life brand new.

It's your decision; it's up to you.

You think you'll repeat your mistakes.

It makes no difference; what's done is done.

The future beckons; you must move on.

You're not sure you've got what it takes

Just keep your eyes on the loving Son.

Forget the past; it's time to press on!

Take your burden to the mountain;
Cast it into the fire!

Doesn't matter where your heart's been.

Drop your cares and acquire

A clearer vision, a life brand new.

It's your decision; it's up to you.

© 2023 David Acosta

Waxing Cold

I don't want live inside this little box,
This odd contraption clinging to my hands.

Time scampers away, a foe I can't outfox.

Wall clock tick-teases me while my thumb scans.

Download! Upload! Binge-watch all my favorites now!

Greet my neighbor? Wouldn't that cause a scene?

I'm in control! Or am I controlled somehow

By my possessions, by a pow'r unseen?

More is less these days, and that perplexes me.

And my gadgets cannot bridge the distance

'Tween what is real and these images I see.

What is the purpose of my existence?

Heart's been hardening, closer to robotic,

A cold, data-amassing entity!

Will I choose to love in a world chaotic,

Or will these things I hold take hold of me?

© 2023 David Acosta