Poem For 2009

Posted on December 29th, 2008 by Cliff Ames Jr.

Every time I got to The Macaroni Grill I always like to write morose poetry on their paper table covers. Tonight was no exception.

I hope this new year will be filled with joy
For last year’s sorrow I could not avoid
A new start is what we all really seek
How we long to only take a peek

I wonder what this new year holds for us
Whatever happens God will prove my trust
Something tells me with each passing day
God will show me all His perfect ways

As we move along the line of time
Past events are always in mind’s eye
Rejecting the temptation to stay put
I’ll continue to put foot in front of foot

Starting this year fresh will be my goal
‘Cause one day I’ll wake up and find I’m old
To old to change if I did what God asked
So Happy New Year let’s hope it’s not fast

Tags: 2009, Happy New Year, Poem

6 Months Of Emptiness

Posted on December 18th, 2008 by Cliff Ames Jr.

6 months ago today my Mom was ushered into the loving arms of her Savior. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about her, remember her, or feel the emptiness in my life. For the past 6 months I have been trying to learn how to live each day without her. Without her encouragement. Without her wisdom. Without her smile. Without her hugs. Without her incredible gift from God to encourage those in pain.

Let’s face it, when you loose someone you love, your life is never the same. Your life becomes a sudden battle for grief verses normalcy. Grief knocks you to your knees while normalcy helps you get up. Those things that are constant in your life, and never change are what make grief grow weaker and weaker each day.

Which is why it’s essential for us to always have Jesus as the constant in our life. Jesus as a “Man Of Sorrows” knows grief and it’s power well. In fact, He knows grief better than anyone. And yet He does not despair, He does not give up and He does not pretend that grief is not real. If Jesus is the constant in your life, no trial, no firestorm, no evil deed and no loss of a loved one will ever overpower you.

Tags: deborahames.org

Back To Bethlehem

Posted on December 5th, 2008 by Cliff Ames Jr.

“Back To Bethlehem”

December 13-14, 19-22, 2008
7pm-9pm
The Church At Rocky Peak

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Not too far from LA is a church that has come up with a revolutionary way to change the way folks look at Christmas. Many years ago, The Church At Rocky Peak started a ministry called “Back To Bethlehem”, a re-creation of the city of Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth and serves as an outreach to the community. There are may churches out there that have a cute nativity scene, or a Christmas pageant, or petting zoos, but they are all a cheap imitation compared to traveling back in time and interacting with villagers in their town of Bethlehem. Participating with town merchants and craftsmen. Avoiding the Roman centurions and tax collectors! Or seeing for yourself, an overworked innkeeper, excited shepherds, three mysterious travelers, angelic visitors and a young couple with a newborn baby.

A description alone doesn’t really do justice to the extent these folks have gone to in order to present the real Gospel for Christmas. For these folks it’s not about bragging and boasting about how many baby Jesus’ they have on call, it’s about how many people receive the greatest gift there is: the gift of salvation.

If you’re in the LA area over the next few weeks, I would encourage you to invite an unsaved friend to “Back To Bethlehem” and see how this one-of-a-kind event can change their perspective about Christmas forever.

Tags: Back To Bethlehem, Christmas, Church At Rocky Peak, Jesus Christ, Joseph And Mary

Hairpin Curve – Part 1

Posted on December 2nd, 2008 by Cliff Ames Jr.

Hey guys I’m working on a short story and would love your feedback or suggestions. I’m going to publish this in various parts so feel free to contribute regularly.

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As Victor stepped back from the cold, lifeless body of his uncle, he holstered his weapon and looked around. The gunshot had pierced through the darkened forest like a thunderclap traveling across an open plain. It had only taken one shot to subdue the old man and thankfully, Victor could now begin the process of the cover-up. The long, mountain highway he was on twisted and ambled through thirty-eight miles of forest and led to the summit of a small mountain topped by radio towers, satellite receivers and various other pieces of communication equipment that connected two worlds. The crowded and smoggy city in the valley and the sparse sweltering community of high-desert dwellers were so different one would think that they were part of two different countries. But, the county line extended well into the dessert giving folks in the desert access to county resources and giving the masses of the city cause to resent and persecute those living on their tax dollars. The tension between the two populations led to frequent acts of violence perpetrated on those that accidentally ventured into the other’s territory. It was precisely that tension Victor was banking on.

Tags: Hairpin Curve, Short Story