Resurrection Day & The Disciples

Resurrection Day & The Disciples

Mary thought the gardener so unscrupulous;
Cleopas thought the stranger so clueless;
Peter and John thought the woman's tale truthless;
Thomas took security in his doubts and being faithless,
The disciples in their fear were braveless.

But the truth of the resurrection transforms . . .

Mary falls down worshipfully;
Cleopas' heart burns passionately;
Peter and John testify boldly;
Thomas follows reverently;
The disciples cowardice is turn to hope gloriously,

The Church marches on triumphantly.

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

These are the Days of . . . Enoch

These are the Days of . . . Enoch

Genesis records,

That it didn't take mankind long
To fill the earth with corruption and all its wrongs.

God raised up a voice to preach to the ungodly throngs . . .
Enoch.
Seventh from Adam, that generation he belonged.

Father of Methuselah, received a new direction so strong
Walking with his God, his true heart song.

Fulfilled His purpose and translated home to heaven
Where he really belonged.


By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
~ Hebrews 11:5-6

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

Paradise: The First Victim

Paradise: The First Victim

In the beginning:

God made the world perfect and so pure,
With its paradise and its pleasures.

Down came the tempter and all its devilish lures,
The first couple chased after its foolish allures.

Puffed up by pride their purpose became blurred,
Man became a sinner with its penalty so sure.

Man needed a remedy for its condition and a cure,
God moved with wisdom and love without measure.

God provided a lamb to cover man’s sinful nature,
To forever teach us this Gospel Truth and treasure.

…the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world…
~ John 1:29

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

The First Son - Cain

The First Son-CAIN

There is a lesson to be learned from Cain;
The first child born to a mother’s labor and pain.

Childhood lesson of the lamb that was slain
But not in Cain’s memory retained.

Set off in a course that was so vain;
Seeking a righteousness that He could obtain.

Forfeiting God’s provision that was made plain
Seeking by his work and effort to gain;

He became the object of God’s disdain
Because of his pretense and righteousness he feigned...

But in truth Cain became a murderer so insane.

Take heed sinner:
Though our righteousness are filthy and stained.
Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, is our only claim.

Jude 11:
Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain . . .

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

Eve & The Church

Eve & The Church

Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.
She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.

Adam in the dust did sleep
And from his wound so deep

A bride was fashioned for Adam to keep,
Journey together and all bounties to reap.

Be fruitful and multiply the mandate to meet.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From the miry clay, church elect did sleep,
The wounds of the Savior so deep.

Redeeming blood purchased His bride to keep
To share His glory for the Church to reap. . .

To spread His Name is our joyful mandate to meet.

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

Two Passovers

Two Passovers

Father spreads the Lamb’s blood profusely;
Elder brother says, "do it liberally!"
Children cry and ask “why?” inquisitively;
Sisters wonder why the herbs are done distastefully.

Mother bakes the unleavened cake hastefully
And the lamb is burnt completely.
The captives wait for redemption eagerly.

Fast forward 32 A.D . . .
God the Father sheds the Lamb’s Blood unsparingly;
The Lamb tastes the dregs of death submissively;
The disciples flee in hiding fearfully. . .

. . . as the Unleavened bread from Heaven become leaven.

Why?
Sinners can be redeemed.

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

The Substitute

The Substitute

In the fullness of time
God sent His Holy substitute
To give His life for a depraved multitude.

With a purpose so resolute
He faced Golgotha with fortitude.

He died with a humble servant’s attitude
On Calvary's cross in the darkness of solitude.

Salvation accomplished.
He can bring the sinner to heaven’s altitude
To forever fill heaven with the magnitude
Of His praises.

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

One Son Spared - Another Not

One Son Spare - Another Not

By faith Abraham took his son
to Moriah's Hill

Carrying the wood to the altar, Isaac was bound
and then laid still

The father raised the dagger to the Promised son
to kill

An Angel of the Lord intervened
and made him still

Abraham, the righteous man submitted
to the Father's will

The son was spared; a substitude ram
did Issaac's place fill
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God the Father brought His only begotten Son
to Moriah's Hill

The Son carried His cross as He submitted
to the Father's will

Drinking the bitter cup of death
that was filled

He suffered the Divine vengeance of sin upon Himself;
He paid the sinner's bill

The Father's son was not spared
but will impute His righteousness to the sinner still.

He that spared not His own son but delivered Him up for us all . . .
~ Romans 8:32

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

What is Faith?

What is Faith?

To a philospher: a blind leap in the dark.
To a psychologist: build up your self esteem.
To a humanist:belief in the human potential.
To a self made egotist: a false crutch for the weak-minded.
To a religionist: have faith in God (but demons do and they tremble).
To a scientist: the power of a rational mind.
To a educator: an enlighten mind.

I have a simple faith.
In a substitute Savior who shed His own life blood;
Who rose again to seal my justification.

I HAVE A SIMPLE FAITH
IN THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE WORD OF GOD
IT WILL RENEW AND TRANSFORM YOU.

I HAVE A SIMPLE FAITH
THAT WHETHER BY DEATH OR THE SHOUT
I WILL GO TO HIM.

For you see my faith is not in self but only upon the Promise of His own word

~ Ephesians 2:8-9

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

Soon

Soon

In the twinkling of an eye
We shall meet the LORD in the sky
And be forever by His side.

Take heart believer --
though you be tried or denied --
That His coming is very nigh…

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

Rapture

Rapture

There is a growing anticipation among the saints
That the Lord’s coming is near.

In that glorious moment
The Lord shall appear
To claim the ones
He holds so dear.

The trumpet and shout we will hear;
To go to Him for eternity years.

He will make it clear
As He wipes away every tear

That Only in Him
A true heart yearns
As He reveals His glories.

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

Ashamed

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

~ Romans 1:16

Ashamed

How could I ever be ashamed
Of the ONE
Who took my ignominy and shame?

For unto us the depraved; should forever
Be blamed.

From henceforth make it our aim
To speak boldly for that Name.

~ Mark E.Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

The Cities of Refuge

The Cities of Refuge

Flee guilty one, thou hast offended.
Flee covetous one, you worship your self.
Flee hater, you committed murder.
Flee blasphemer, taken God’s name in vain.
Flee adulterer, you have lusted.

Flee to the city for you will be safe
As long as the High Priest liveth.

Oh sinner! your High Priest Jesus Christ died so that
You can be forgiven and live.

All glory to God.

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine

The Floods

The Floods
Genesis 6

In the early pages of the Holy Writ
Moses of old did write;

That God would send a universal deluge;
To whitewash the world and renew.

One man through grace did find a refuge
While the world thought it so askew.

The message is simple and no delusion
Is that God can send a flood - 'tis no lie.

But the flood of iniquity that drowns man into partition
Should not be denied.

The Flood of DIVINE GRACE is Man’s only
Reliance.

~ Mark E. Goossen
© 2009 The Goossen Grapevine