Verses from stories by Nicholas Fandos, Kayla Epstein, Kim Bellware, and Jada Yuan.

Nicholas Fandos. NYT

MCCONNELL/PELOSI FEUD DEEPENS

@npfandos

Like cats and dogs, these two contend

and so much energy expend

that Congress functions even less

and finds time only to digress.

If we can't send them to their rooms,

we ought to swat them with some brooms.

*************************************

LATEST TEXT MESSAGE HOAX: "YOU'VE
BEEN DRAFTED -- REPORT IMMEDIATELY!"
@bellwak  @KaylaEpstein

Although I'm over sixty-five I'm drafted, so it seems;
and soon I will be fighting 'gainst those Arabic regimes.
There's just one thing I'd like to know before I march away --
should I bring my wheelchair for the imminent D-Day?

*******************************
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE'S SPOUSES
GET USED TO THE SPOTLIGHT.
@jadabird

I never ran for president;
I guess I never will.
My wife left me so long ago,
but I still feel the chill.
You cannot be the president
without you have a spouse;
there is no room for bachelors
up there at the White House.
So I just sit and watch the news,
and do not give a hoot.
Unlike my ex, when things get loud
I now can hit the mute . . . 

A countenance like lightning

“Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me."
Joseph Smith. His Testimony. 

When an angel visits you

it must be a daunting view.

But those chosen for such things

lose their fear as their heart sings.

Do God's angels visit men?

We say 'yes they do, amen!'

And Joseph Smith saw them so clear

we know his story is sincere!

Fools make a mock at sin

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
Proverbs 14:9

Fools may mock at sin and jeer

that clever men have naught to fear,

but sin will have its way with men

until for peace they truly yen.

And if it be they will repent

a benison to them is sent;

forgiveness comes to even fools

who learn at last that Jesus rules.

Photo Essay: Postcards to my President

Surely, this is more than a man

Surely, this is more than a man.
Alma 18:2

The Lord can take a humble soul,

a weak and lowly worm,

and turn them into lions strong,

to make the whole world squirm.

And when he does, you can be sure,

the hammer never boasts

 that it is anything but clay

used by the Lord of Hosts!

Photo Essay: The Forgotten Library

As the falling sun torches the mountains 

at my patio door, I feel a sour gloominess

creeping over me. Have I done any good

in the world today? Not really. I feel

warehoused, neglected, and superfluous.

So I decide to go up and visit

The Forgotten Library.

It sits on the third floor of my apartment building;

two rows of cheap plywood shelves,

drowsing in a respectful neglect.

People my age do not ever throw out books

or magazines.

So they wind up here on the shelves, 

rarely, if ever, examined or handled.

The perfume of disintegrating glue and

paper turning brown with age

is a reminder of mortality shrugged off

with a sigh and a chuckle.

Old historical novels predominate.

Some of these books are pretty old. This one dates

from 1955, presented as a Sunday School award.

An original copy of Dashiell Hammett's 'The Thin Man.'

From 1934.  I bet it's worth something on eBay or etsy,

but I left it in peaceful disusage.

From England -- a long time ago . . . 

Can you read the price?  One shilling.

Hey! How'd this kind of book get in here?

Stumblingblock

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness . . . 
1 Corinthians 1:23

Objectionable and foolish

seems the Christ to many folk;

unreal and superfluous,

plus the butt of careless joke.

But those who doubt and denigrate

the Savior and Creator,

are to their very heart and soul

a foolish bitter traitor.

Open up your inner eyes,

and you will be amazed

how the love of Jesus Christ

your life has gently raised.