Stones which must be rolled away

 

When Mary went to the tomb of Jesus on that first Easter morn

She knew that she had a problem that she must solve that day

She knew that the tomb with a large stone had been sealed

The problem was “who would help her roll the stone away?”

This is a problem that was not unique to them

And it is one that each one of us must face

For there are many stones in our life that need to be rolled away

Stones that hinder every member of the human race

The first stone to be rolled away is the stone of sin

A tendency which all of us have inherited

The desire that we should always please ourselves

Which shows that our salvation has not been merited

The second stone is the stone of unbelief

Which we have no faith in a future life in eternity

The belief that we must get as much as we can from our life on earth

Without excepting there is a future life in eternity

The third stone to be rolled away is the sin of pride

The feeling that we are superior to those we know

We may well be proud of our achievements

But humility is the other face we should show

The fourth stone to be rolled away is the sin of idolatry

When we worship Gods that have been made by man

Things which might not be bad in themselves

But not the God who was present when the world began

The fifth stone to be rolled away is the stone of prejudice

When we erect barriers between ourselves and others that we meet

Our conclusions are often drawn before all the facts are known

In other words we make our judgement before our knowledge is complete

And there are many other stones that need to be rolled away

If from the tomb of misery we are to be freed

For if we could live a truly happy life

We must live the kind of life God decreed

Ron Martin

Mothers Day

I often think of my childhood days

And the love that my mother showered on me

Helping me to achieve my ambitions

I become a respected member of society

Memories of her often come into my mind

And I remember the things she used to say

That if I wish to be a success in life

That hard work and honesty would pave the way

These words made a great impression on me

And although it is a long time since you passed away

Her impression helped to form my character

And that is why I am thinking of you today

Ron Martin

Mothers Day

Memories of my mother come flooding back to me

Only yesterday I thought of something she once said

That respect is something we must work for

Hard work, not fancies that come into our head

Everyday we have a chance to make an impression

Riding on our laurels is not the way to go

Seizing every opportunity must be our target

Delay will only fill us with regret

And the chance to succeed will be gone forever

Yesterday’s remembrance is something I must not forget

Written by Ron Martin

The Future Could Be Better

 

I’ve talked a man from jumping off a bridge

Into the dark waters swirling down below

He told me that he had not got much time to live

And that he thought that it was time for him to go

 

I told him that he should have some consideration

For all those that he would leave behind

I said, “It may provide you with an answer to your problem

But those you leave behind will have agony of mind”.

 

I said,” You may think you have a got problem

And the consequences of that fill your mind with fear

But one thing you should always remember

Is that you have got many friends who hold you dear”,

 

 

“These fiends will try and help you solve your problem

And will stick with you in your hour of need

All it needs is a bit of effort on your part

And together I am sure you will succeed”

 

After a few minutes of earnest conversation

The man looked up and said,”Oh.I see!

Iam rather pleased we had a little chat

Because the man I was speaking to was me

 

I’d managed to convince myself of the folly

Of what jumping from the bridge would do to me

That things might be a lot better in the future

So I thought I’d hang on and wait and see.

Ron Martin

I KNOW

I know, I know just what you cannot tell

I know and understand so well

But yet your silent voice is heard

For I know and understand

 

There are words I long to hear

Words I have hoped to hear for many a year

But I know that you feel constrained

And because of this your heart is pained

I know and understand

 

But if you would make my heart rejoice

You have no need to use your voice

For if it’s true what I believe

And if my eyes do not deceive

Simply look into my eyes and hold my hand

And I will know and understand

 

Ron Martin

Missing you – Promote Yourself

 

Hello my darling I miss you

No longer arms to hold me tight

No longer to reassure me

As we embraced and kiss goodnight

 

My aching heart has now broken

My life to me is not worthwhile

The happy time we spent together

 Now missing your beautiful smile

 

I miss the long walks together

The way you always held my hand

The laughter we both enjoyed

As we walked upon the sand

 

All these happy memories I treasure

They all help to ease the pain

For I know one day my darling

We shall be both together again

Malcolm Bradshaw 

Getting Satisfaction

The sun has set in the western sky

The darkness of the night envelops the earth

It is the time to evaluate the results of our day

To establish if we did anything of real worth

 

Many things may have given us pleasure

But have we done anything to enhance the human race

We should realise that our lives affect others

And that kindly deeds make the world a better place

 

So, ask yourself did you do anything to improve the situation

Did you do something to help someone on their way

Did you do anything at all to benefit others?

Or was it just another wasted day

 

If so do not let guilt surround you

And to let your failure lead to distraction

Try and do better from now on

And I am sure this will bring satisfaction

Ron Martin

No Disgrace

If someone should take a close look at us,

What is it that they would really see?

Would it be someone who is proud of their reputation?

Someone who would call out, “I’m glad that I am me”.

 

Or someone who has failed to reach their potential,

Someone regarded as a person of low esteem,

Someone prepared to plough a lonely furrow,

Or one, who is not regarded as a member of the team?

 

It may well you’ll never be a winner,

Or even someone who has achieved a medal place,

The fact that some may never reach the winner’s rostrum,

Is something that many people have a face?

 

For every time there is a winner there is a loser.

And not to win is not really a disgrace,

Take a good look around at the non-runners,

And be proud that you were entered in the race.

 

For it’s not winning, but taking part that is important,

Being one prepared to face the challenge of the test

To lose should not fill you with disappointment,

For you can still be proud, if you’ve done your very best

Ron Martin

The Bridge of Love 

Each one of you is accompanied

By a soul from the world so bright

By a guide, companion or a teacher

That will lead you by their wonderful light

 

Someone who has the affinity with your Spirit

For where love is there is no separation

For if a loved one is in spirit

There is always a celebration

 

The etheric bridge can be crossed

Angels and your loved ones are there

By just raising you conscious mind

 Memories and thoughts you will share

 

By realising this truth within yourself

You can create the bridge of love

By believing in God the Father

You will converse with those above

 

When doubts assail your understanding

It’s only the promptings of your lower sight

The material self that cuts you off from loved ones

Who live in the world of light?

 

This message is for those who need comfort

 Reassurance of loved ones remain

The spirit of love never dies or forgotten

And there personalities are just the same  

Malcolm G Bradshaw 

MRS. PANKHURST

 

Women owe a lot to Mrs. Emily Pankhurst,

Who was the first militant suffragette,

She suffered many trials and tribulations,

Which those who have followed should not forget.

 

She founded the Woman’s Social and Political Union,

This was in Manchester in the year nineteen hundred and three,

She was supported by her two daughters Christabel and Sylvia,

With votes for women as their first priority.

 

They moved to London to lobby the Liberal Government,

And set about heckling leading politicians of the day,

They performed attention seeking stunts at processions,

Anything to allow women to have their say.

 

At first their actions were quite peaceful,

But in Nineteen twelve they became more militant,

They were directed by Christabel from Paris,

To where she had fled, but where she became more dominant.

 

Mrs. Pankhurst spent several spells in prison,

She went on hunger strike and was subject to force feeding,

She was so intent on getting votes for women,

Nothing could diminish her enthusiasm for the campaign she was leading.

 

When the First World War started she called off her campaign,

Realising that there were more important things to do,

She concentrated her efforts organising National Service,

But about votes for women she never changed her point of view.

 

When the war ended the politicians modified their opinions,

They had been influenced by the Campaign for Women’s Suffrage,

But Mrs. Pankhurst’s ambitions were only partly satisfied,

When votes were only given to married women over thirty years of age.

 

So Mrs. Pankhurst continued with her campaign,

And eventually her aspirations were satisfied,

All women over twenty one were given the vote

In nineteen twenty eight, a few weeks before Mrs. Pankhurst died.

 

Mrs. Pankhurst’s campaign lasted five and twenty years,

Her name is now part of our country’s history,

What she did will never be forgotten,

For she has left women a valuable legacy.

Ron Martin

REQUIEM TO A SAD POETESS

 

The many words she has inscribed upon the page

Reveal the unhappiness and anguish she has known

That she has suffered throughout her life can be seen

For in so many ways she has often felt alone

 

In her simple words she tries to show

Why it is difficult for her to understand

How life could deal her such cruel blows

Why fate had dealt her a losing hand

 

And so she picks up her pen to write

For she wants all the world to know

That unhappiness has marred her life

In the same way that the weather is blighted by the winter snow

 

But life is very much like seasons

The winter snow melts and spring eventually comes again

The sunshine will break through the clouded skies

And happiness will take the place of pain

 

And so she now faces life with hopes renewed

Knowing here are opportunities that she can take

Opportunities which will give her much satisfaction

And that failing to take them would be a terrible mistake

 

We can now see that her happiness is returning

But its completion may take a little while

The visions of joy which the future holds

Can now be seen in her winsome smile 

By Ron Martin

A DIFFICULT DECISION

 

History has so many lessons to teach us

So many truths that we can discern

We might be concerned with events in the past

But it is the future which should be our main concern

 

This future will depend upon the preparation we make

The willingness to use the skills that we possess

To hone them to the peak of perfection

And not to adopt the attitude of those who couldn’t care less

 

There are some who think the world owes them a living

And that others should provide the benefits they crave

That a good pension will be provided for them in their old age

And that there is no need for them to save

 

But recent revelations have shown this to be an illusion

And that the country cannot afford the sums involved

That the number of people drawing pensions is increasing

It is a problem that must ultimately be solved

 

Otherwise the future for the older generations will be bleak

As they struggle to survive on what others can afford

If the poor cannot save for their old age

Then the Government will need to do something we can applaud

 

How much longer can the problem be ignored?

Can we continue to bury our heads in the sand?

It is a serious problem with which we are confronted

One which demands that the solution is carefully planned

 

Unless taxation is going to be dramatically increased

Then better use must be made of the revenue they currently take

Either way this will involve sacrifices by those enjoying a good standard

It’s a difficult decision that any future government must make 

Ron Martin

My Garden

My garden is a place i love to be

It’s like an island set in a tempestuous sea

Where i can withdraw from the problems of life

From a world torn with trouble and strife

It’s a place where contentment can be found

In appreciating the beauty which is all around

Above the silence there can be heard

The buzzing of the bee or the chirping fo a bird

It’s a place where many colours catch the eye

I can behold the beauty of the butterfly

If one looks closely there can be seen

Signs of where the aphis and slugs have been

Sometimes i get the feeling that i am not on my own

And that other power seeks to make its presence known

The fragrance of the flowers provides the air

And god seems to be speaking to me there

When i contemplate the power of the one in control

Peace and serenity descend upon my soul

I ask myself how did all this come to be?

And without god it must remain a mystery.

Ron Martin

ACTION IS REQUIRED

 

Why are the leaders of the world so inept?

That they continue to allow tyrannies to thrive

Why are they not prepared to take action?

To ensure that thousands starving to death are kept alive

 

Is it because they appear to be of no value

That their countries are not vital to the world’s economy

There may be other reasons for their inaction

But that is how it appears to me

 

What are they doing about drug production?

Which destroys so many people’s lives

Columbia continues to export tons of cocaine

The growing of opium poppies in Afghanistan still thrives

 

In the Sudan people are still dying of starvation

And thousands are being subjected to cruelty

We’ve seen the television reports which confirm this

And our Foreign Minister says it is a tragedy

 

But why do we allow these things to continue

Knowing it will cause millions to suffer a dire fate

Talking about it will not provide the solution

Action is required before it is too late

Ron Martin

Good Manners

 

 

I held the door to allow a lady to enter a shop

And as a result I got a very pleasant surprise

For she stood, looked at me, and said “Thank You”

Her good manners brought a tear to my eyes

 

For good manners are very scarce today

I thought they had been consigned to history

Why this should be is hard to understand

In fact it has become quite a mystery

 

For when we were young we were taught to be polite

To stand up on a bus to let a lady sit down

But that does not appear to be the practice today

As I observe when I travel on the tram into town

 

Are good manners not being taught in our schools

Are the teachers too busy teaching dancing and singing?

We should never underestimate good manners

For they are a sign of a good upbringing

 

It has been said that good manners cost nothing

But their benefits are hard to evaluate

They can have a profound effect on our charisma

And can lift us from being average to first rate

 

Good manners help to improve relationships

And these are important as we travel on life’s way

For we all expect other people to respect us

And it is important that good manners are taught today 

By Ron Martin

Just Thinking

 

I was sitting by the fire, listening to the radio

Thinking of my life so many years ago

The things I did as a child, and as a youth

And began to realise that I must face the truth

That now by body is racked with aches and pain

I shall never be able to do such things again.

 

I used to meet my young friends in the park

And play with them until it was getting dark

The hardest thing that we had to decide

Was whether we would go backwards down the slide?

Oh yes, there was one other thing

How high we dare go on the swing.

 

Those childhood days went quickly past

And I became grown up at last

Exams were passed, my school days were over

Until then I had not realised I had been in clover

Now there was less time to play

I had to go out to earn my pay

 

Now, I found that this was hard to do

It seemed that everyone was watching you

To see if you would make the grade

And put your work mates in the shade

Or would just sit back and hope no one

Would think it was time that you had gone

 

And now I am old I can look back

Thankful that there is nothing that I lack

As I sit here I must face the truth

And accept that I have lost my youth

Thinking of the things that I used to do

As I sit by the fire listening to the radio

Ron Martin

Reactions

 

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

That’s what one of the Laws of Physics has to say

But it is not one we should take into consideration

When we think about the way we live our lives today

 

In our personal lives every action can invoke reaction

For other people usually react to the way we act

They are likely to adopt a similar disposition

Whether we like it or not it is a fact

 

The way we act towards other people is important

If we are a happy person we shall spread happiness everywhere we go

For the way we act is bound to cause a reaction

If we exude sadness it can spread to everyone we know

 

The way we react to other people is important

For if they are seeking to spread happiness

We should ensure that our reaction is one of pleasure

Otherwise we could be the one to cause distress

 

If we take a positive attitude to everything we do

We shall find this will encourage others to do the same

Their reaction will reflect the way we are

And we could all be winners in life’s game

By Ron Martin

WHAT DO OTHERS SEE ?

 

I lay upon my bed, my mind was full of doubt,

I tried to understand what life is all about,

I hoped that in some way the answer would become clear,

And when I understood, this would rid me of my fear.

 

I’d taken a close look at life, and disliked what I saw,

People who had plenty, demanding even more,

There did not seem a way to satisfy their greed,

For while other people struggle, they have far more than they need.

And then I looked at myself and came to realise,

That I could look the same through other people’s eyes,

My attitude might lead others to think I do not really care,

Since of life’s treasures I too am seeking a bigger share.

 

Can this be wrong? I had to ask myself.

Is it really wrong to seek to get more wealth?

By wanting a bigger share of life’s treasure store,

Could it be that I am making other people poor?

The thought that this could be filled me with remorse,

It made me realise that my life should take a different course,

From now on I realised that I should try to be,

Someone who was concerned for the whole of society.

When this realisation came into my mind,

I knew that I must try it, hoping that I would find

Contentment in my soul, the answer was very clear,

People would take a look at me and know I really care.

 

Of other people’s problems I really am aware,

And in many ways I have tried to show I care,

When other people take a close look at me,

That is the image I hope that they will see.

Ron Martin

NOTTINGHAM MY CITY

Nottingham is a wonderful city

One in which I’m proud to live

There are so many things of interest to me

Things which keep me busy and alive

Inspired by the legend of Robin Hood

Nottinghamians are known for their generosity

Giving what they can to help other folk in need

Hospitable and willing to see other peoples views

And I am so impressed with my own city

Making me want to share my pleasure with you

Ron Martin

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A MYTH

 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ and the conversation of Saul,

By universal agreement were considered to be

The foundation stones of the Christian religion,

In other words the basis of Christianity.

 

Two great men of literature in the last century,

Determined on a master plan to destroy Christianity,

Their names were Sir Gilbert West and Lord Lyttleton,

Who set out to prove that Christianity was a fantasy.

 

Sir Gilbert West agreed to research the resurrection,

Whilst Lord Lyttleton agreed to research the conversion of Saul,

When this was done they would meet to discuss their findings,

Which they believed would destroy the Christian faith once and for all.

 

Their work completed they met to give their report,

And those who listened were taken back by their points of view,

They both had to admit that the beliefs were based on facts,

So much so that they declared them to be true.

 

They who had commissioned the report were most surprised,

For they believed the myth of Christianity would be rejected,

That these two great men had come to such a conclusion,

Was something that they could not have expected.

 

These two men were recognised as “literary greats” in their day,

Their views were respected throughout the land,

They had set out to prove that Christianity is founded on a myth,

But things did not work out as they had planned.

 

After much research and consideration they reached the conclusion

Christianity is based upon the truth, which they felt bound to admit,

This was an unexpected finding for those who requested the research,

For they confirmed the truth of that contained in Holy Writ.

 

Now this is a truth in which we can all believe,

We will do well to listen to what the Bible has to say,

It is not something that we should easily dismiss,

For it’s truths are still relevant.today.

Ron Martin

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

 

In the second year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar had a dream,

He called his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans to provide an

explanation,

Unfortunately for them he could not remember what the dream was all about,

So none of the wise men could provide an interpretation.

 

The Chaldeans told the King that no-one would be able to explain the dream

He knew then unless he could provide them with more information,

For this cause the King was very angry,

And ordered that all the wise men should be put to death7 if they did not provide an

explanation.

 

When Daniel heard of this edict he went to see the King,

For he and the other Princes were now included amongst the wise men of the nation,

He told the King that if he was given a little time,

That he would be able to provide an interpretation.

 

Soon afterwards Daniel returned to the presence of the King,

To report that he had been speaking to Jehovah who was the God of the Jewish

Nation,

That the details of the King’s dream had been revealed to him,

And that he was now able to reveal the dream and to provide an interpretation.

 

In the dream you saw a beast with a head of pure gold,

Its shoulders and arms were made of silver, his belly made of brass7

His legs were made of iron, and his feet of iron and clay,

You saw a rock thrown which struck the feet of iron and clay,

Which caused the beast to collapse into complete disarray.

 

The beast represents the Kingdom of which you are the head,

The head of gold shows the power of the Kingdom in the present day,

But as the value of the metals diminish down to the feet,

So the Kingdom will diminish and slowly pass away.

 

When this has happened the God of Heaven will set up another Kingdom,

A Kingdom which shall last for ever more,

In the dream God has revealed to you what shall come to pass,

And the dream and the interpretation are sure.

 

King Nebuchadnezzar fell down on his face and worshipped Daniel,

And ordered that the people should offer him an oblation,

He recognised Daniel’s God as the God of Gods and the Lord of Kings,

And Daniel was recognised as a great man throughout the nation.

Ron Martin