Filed under: Uncategorized
Written in real time while listening to the thought processes of the women in my community group….
Girl 1
“I feel she doesn’t try to get me.
Like she can’t understand and won’t.
Writing off things important to me,
Until I realized she can’t cope.
With things uncertain and grey scale
with people too open or vague
She would rather say others are wrong
and avoid them like the plague.”
Girl 2
“And I’ve tried quite hard to get to know them.
I’ve called and I’ve traveled so much.
So I decided to stop reaching out cause I found
they never reached back for my touch.”
Girl 3
“So my family and friends can’t accept me.
But my Great High Priest is Christ and He knows.
All of the things inside of me,
But gives me the grace to grow.”
Girl 4
“So my insecurities flare up
and I feel the guilt from my choice.
But if God who knows all can forgive me,
I need to listen to His voice.”
Thank You ladies for letting me listen and transform your words into poetry.
Walking this journey with you blesses me so much!
- Adjoa
Discussion Questions:
- WHO IS THE PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS YOU THE LEAST?
- HOW ARE YOU PRACTICING INTENTIONAL EMPATHY with those who are different from you?
Filed under: Amour, building from whats broken, Questions on life, The Grass is always greener..., Word Speak | Tags: Adjoa Skinner, Amour, believe, calling out, christ, christianity, Commitment, confidence, Daughter, dependent, faith, faith like a child, Father, Heavenly Father, Holiness, hope, hope that doesn't disappoint, Life Together, Long suffering, love, Marriage, Matrimony, patience, Purity, relationships, self assurance, self-confidence, standing your ground, trust, trusting, Truth
You have always sheltered me
You have lit my way
You have given me my bread
every single day
So now I ask this two fold cord
become a three in one
Father send the voice of him
to finish what You’ve begun
I am my Father’s song
I’m His beauty, I’m His face
I am my Father’s daughter
and I walk within His grace.
torn up inside
I run and hide
to gain the strength I need
asking that this garden
be pruned of all its weeds.
Asking that I not become
like every other flower
Asking that I trust in You
while waiting for the hour.
I am my Father’s song
I’m His beauty, I’m His face
I am my Father’s daughter
and I walk within His grace.
a beautiful voice in the midst of a choir
that constantly sings off key
listening for the voice
that is the other half of me
Listening for the Spirit
Listening for the Song
Listening in the Father’s arms
Whom do I belong?
I am my Father’s song
I’m His beauty, I’m His face
I am my Father’s daughter
and I walk within His grace.
Adjoa Skinner
Written after a lovely discussion with a fellow friend and sister,
To everything there is a season….
Adjoa
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adjoa Skinner, Carnal Love, Choices, christianity, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, faith, Giving, God, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, How to Love, Jesus Christ, Life, Life Together, Living with Others, Los Angeles, love, Loving, Narrow Path, Pacific Crossroads Church, poem, poetry, Real Love, relationships, Selfishness, Spiritual Love, The Love Of Others, Working with Others
Filed under: building from whats broken, Word Speak | Tags: A Walk Across The Sun, Adjoa Skinner, Book Release, Christy Tennant, CNN Freedom Project, Corban Addison, Holly Burkhalter, Human Rights, Human Trafficking, IAM, IJM, ILLEGAL Trafficking, International Arts Movement, International Justice Mission, Makoto Fujimura, New York, NYC, Oprah, poetry, Prostitution, Sex Trafficking, Stop Trafficking, Writing
- Corban Addison Book Release @ IAM in NYC
http://www.internationalartsmovement.org/events/2012/jan/05/3442
“A Walk Across the Sun” is an Oprah Magazine top title of 2012 to check out. It is a fictional story that sheds light on the subject of Human Trafficking.
For more info on IAM (International Arts Movement) go to: http://www.internationalartsmovement.org
For more info on “A Walk Across The Sun” go to:http://corbanaddison.com/
As always, this poem was written in real time while listening to the lecture, all editing was done before the lecture was complete.
The sections are broken up as introduction, reading an excerpt from the book & then a Q&A time afterward.
If you enjoy, please share the link with your friends and subscribe. Do not repost without consent from author (a.k.a. Me) Thanks 
– Adjoa
—
“I do whats in front of me” – Mother Teresa
—
Introduction:
I can look at a few and see the impact
By raising my voice with a script
A story unraveling to share what is happening
and the statistics could make you sick.
But I choose to speak hope, though it is overwhelming
though is seems the issue will not end
I choose to believe that man is born free
although slavery has been the trend.
So, what will we do? Visualize what will be,
By looking at the past, we can say
The stories that were, once again will be,
And we CAN look forward to the day.
When the hope that we aim for, will not disappoint
for we have fought this issue before
We must be willing to bring again to the light,
the same things that once brought a war.
—
Book Reading:
“Come with me”, said the man
I didn’t understand
why he took me & wisked me away.
I joined the rush
and jumped on the train
following all that this stranger would say.
And I heard them barter
for a cost I knew not,
The reason? My body, now his.
I followed
without any guidance from them
until I rebelled… and his hiss…
was a slur, and a slap
and shove toward a place
where he told me my role as a whore.
All that I once knew,
the life I once had,
I knew in that moment no more.
—
Q&A:
The oldest red-light was the district I saw
Before me, eight girls were my choice
I posed as a customer, but left ‘fore the act
Just so I could be a voice.
Trafficking is a human issue
Although we might not see its mark.
Its lingering beneath the world that we know
and making its move in the dark.
-
Q&A with Corbin & IJM (International Justice Mission) Representative Holly Burkhalter.
http://www.IJM.org
We always think government is the problem
But we work with the systems that protect.
If we want to be there for the people,
We must commit to see their needs met.
By working WITH governments, although they are broken
We bring about change with each case.
And trying to change that history of fear,
toward authority that the people face.
We, IJM, work with what is
Try not to replace, but to aid
To make good of the reason, the government’s there
it’s not to make people afraid.
-
The poor are the victims
cause they’re vulnerable
They in turn become prey, its true
But ANYONE at any economic state
can fall into this, maybe YOU!
Maybe you, whether rich, or middle class
could be like this child, a slave.
So lets now be hopeful that we can make movement
that will bring a long lasting change.
We’ve seen these changes, and what it took
was community with all hands involved
To end this abuse and this crime we must see
its a problem that CAN be solved.
First off its ILLEGAL, Unlike slavery before
And if words gets around we can see
its something we CAN fight with a force
until our intolerance breaks them a free.
-
Popular culture glamorizes pimping
and “pretty woman” with such an appeal.
That shows only the wealth, & the beauty & lust
but in the long run is far from real.
We look to Sweden, offering social services to prostitutes,
throwing pimps & purchasers in jail.
Going after demand, and profit margin
To show them, human’s aren’t for sale.
-
So what can we do? The every day individual?
We can ask our government to support.
Slavery Eradication at home & abroad
and not be afraid to report!
-
“A Prostitute stands a 40% greater chance of being killed on the job, than any other profession”
“Sex Trafficking is a $32 Billion industry.”
For more information on how you can help go to: IJM.org & http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/
- Adjoa Skinner
http://www.adjoaskinner.com
Filed under: Off Day Poetry...., Word Speak | Tags: Adjoa Skinner, art, Beauty, Blank Slate Era, Brian Chan, faith, Isaiah 6, Kevin Yap, One Thing Church, poem, poetry, The Purple Curtain, Truth
Author Brian Chan spoke on Art, Beauty and Truth for an evening of “The Purple Curtain” by the Blank Slate Era, started by Kevin Yap.
For more on Brain Chan check out his book “The Purple Curtain” and One Thing Church
For More on Blank Slate Era check out: https://www.facebook.com/BlankSlateEra
Thanks to Kevin Yap for hosting this wonderful evening on November 12th!
This is my poetic interpretation of Rev Brian Chan’s talk… as with most of my blogs it was written in real time whilst he spoke.
- Adjoa
Big Bucks are spent on beauty
provocative and perceived
as pleasing and attractive
Only based on what we’ve seen
Beyond surface deep,
we long for beauty the soul can feel
Something we find pleasure in
and something that is real.
Holiness, purity, righteosness
a truth that sets us free
Oh how they beautiful
showing a pre-fallen humanity
Love is the highest form of beauty
intangible in form
it has nothing to do with a fair face
or a body that they adorn.
For the reality that we perceive
has imperfections when its true
Dismissing all your problems,
escaping that which transforms you.
Does not create a perfect world
for perfection becomes old
How do we account for beauty’s definition
is it only what we’ve been told?
If its purely subjective
that YOU define what beauty is
But if it is objective
than its something outside of our skin.
And in your journey to beauty
you wrestle and you fight
To get to righteousness, love, redemption
and mimic, yes, emulate its light.
the perception of beauty tells us that we,
fall short so very far
And we can never be content
with the way we are.
This is so we might know brokenness
one that leads us to be cleansed
for we see the need for redemption
when we view life through a lens
that creates from a worldview
that longs to right reflect
the beauty of a subject
we live eternally to know its depth.
- Adjoa Skinner
Thanks for reading.
Please subscribe and share the link for this poem to others if you enjoyed it
Filed under: Off Day Poetry...., Word Speak | Tags: Adjoa Skinner, Artist, Brehm Center, christianity, Ellen F. Davis, faith, Fuller Theological Seminary, John Chan, Lectures, Lynn Aldrich, Makoto Fujimura, Panel Discussion, poem, poetry
Written in real time during the 7pm Panel Discussion at the Annual Brehm Center Lectures at Fuller Theological Seminary on Thursday November 3rd, 2011.
1) Lynn Aldrich
The first job of the artist
is to stay interested and engage.
In the act that she’s creating
and have faith as her base.
Then build upon that foundation
build & change & form
In the great creation,
loving well & loving warm
Exalting over nature
confronting what we’ve done wrong
and listening to the rhythm of life
and hearing its significant song
we fail to fix the problem
on this island we call home
That we populate to excessiveness
to show we’re not alone.
2) John Chan
How to be unique
with many hands on deck and loud
about their voice now being heard
and wanting to be proud.
Of what they have and where they live
but the social brownfields lie
only to be walked across
and slowly watch grass die.
And so we bring a beacon
in a mobile enigma seen
So it can be noticed by
every living being.
Its our black box canopy
that lights and shades and shows
400-500 people what the artist
below it knows.
We take on a brownspace
fill it with art and life
What once was ugly vacant space
only good to fly a kite.
3) Ellen F. Davis
I reflected on these words,
Active love greater than One
And by the one and mean the self
whose stronger than the throne
The throne of grace that speaks out love
and love thats free and full
The throne of grace we’ve come to know
that never takes a toll.
-
Satisfaction with the goodness of God
He sets large mountains and small seeds
For hos glorious He shines
in the largest and smallest deeds.
4) Makoto Fujimura
I do often what I do not enjoy
talking about my own canvas
So today I’ll speak of the fields
outside of ground zero now grasslands
To find the stil point of the turning world
as T.S. Elliott spoke
To stay within the eye of the storm
to Live in this dream fore I woke.
to see exactly what my portion
was within this pie
to start to understand my part
and let the art ignite.
Not now in flames, but water
and then the Tsunami came
and in thanks I remembered,
I can walk on water when I just call His name.
- Adjoa Skinner
Filed under: Off Day Poetry...., Word Speak | Tags: Adjoa Skinner, Art & Prophecy, Brehm Center Lectures 2011, Fuller Theological Seminary, International Arts Movement, Makoto Fujimura
Written in real time during Makoto Fujimura’s 3pm lecture on the Art of Prophecy at the Annual Brehm Center Lectures at Fuller Theological Seminary on Thursday November 3rd, 2011.
For more information go to:
www.makotofujimura.com
Intro:
Lack of humanity within our lives
our education and world view
And the canaries of the culture
are the artist in me and in you.
Poet before Pastor
our words are so often like art.
If when we read the Word of God
Yet cannot hear His heart
Beat in a pattern thats rhythmic and bright
Beat with a heavy, felt weight
To love on all creation
instead of not caring, so fate
shows how we have neglected the land
and how we have clouded the sky
the challenges grow greater
with every day gone by.
When we look at the lack of God’s word
spoken creatively and free
We begin to see the lack
thats apparent within you and me.
Prophecy is not there to shock
although it can bring awe
Prophecy is the cry that says
I looked to Him and saw,
Light beckoning me to beauty
finding pleasure in the ordinary things
to do the work we have to do
but in a way that gives us wings.
—–
LECTURE
The Art Of Prophecy, The Prophecy of Art
“He Shines In All That Is Fair” – Dr. Richard Mouw
—————————————–
Common grace and particular grace
contrast in their actions and flow
The rain, the restrain, the unbelievers
still move in grace that they know.
And our struggle is that the Holy Spirit
takes us toward the blessings we find
But yet in the same body lies the curse that we know
as we carry on with our lives
Yet in reality we wrestle,
with common grace and common curse
They take us to a place where we,
end up not better but worse.
Worse than those who don’t know better,
who don’t have the Spirit, yet live
in such a way where they love freely
with such compassion they can give.
While we the redeemed have a call to redemption
we have a call of grace
That carries us to perceive not the why,
but calls to the first trace.
Of where we felt uncomfortable
enough to move despite
the curses of our own comfort
to tread toward the city of light.
No we cannot eliminate
the pain of discomfort and fear
Or be taken from the situation at hand,
cause its messy in the place God is near.
Patience, commitment, dedication
in every task that we find.
Bringing out the answers
for the questions that dwell in the mind.
Seeking the highest level of excellence,
through the process of dancing between
The lack of our perfection
in the light of the perfection we’ve seen.
A power that passes through us,
intangible in its form
A vehicle of beauty,
an offering that can’t be scorned.
Artists participate in activity
that is moving to mend and to make
Sense of the situations,
that every person can’t shake.
Art is practice of articulate love,
That’s aware of the truth of the world.
It echoes the Son who follows the Prodigal
every man, woman, boy and girl.
- Adjoa Skinner
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2011 Fuller Seminary, Adjoa Skinner, Art and Prophecy, Brehm Center, christianity, Ellen F. Davis, faith, Fuller Theological institute, God, Jeremiah, Lectures, poem, poetry, teaching
A poem written while Ellen F. Davis was speaking at the 3pm Thursday Lectures for the Brehm Center Annual Lectures on November 3rd, 2011.
We’re here to have a dialogue
It starts with Ellen and Mako
So we thank God for this start
here and now to fill our souls
Thank You its a privilege
to be here among you all
This opportunity is a special gift… now I recall
How the phenomenon of prophecy
is identified in this landscape
So different from the biblical times
but still alive today with active faith.
And Mako has been working
in and through the world we know
that God continues to confirm,
its through creativity we show…
Like the prophet Jeremiah,
Who spoke for a hell of a long time
Within what would seem as a hopeless situation,
Yet Jeremiah spoke from the Divine.
“I’ll have compassion on Him” Says the Lord
as we ask “which is the good way”
The fruit of our designs reveal
if we have accepted Yahweh.
The fruit is the by -product
of the disciplines a prophet keeps
And tears sometimes do follow
As we heard the prophet weep.
Bearing pain, With God, through pain
naming the sin, to lament, then frame
the words of the Divine
when seeing them we find.
That God made a garden
and Jeremiah knew to speak less
for the God of the earth, spoke loud and clear
and His actions said it best.
And so the prophet Jeremiah
We know bears the pain of insight
That God’s chosen Ones, His Creation
might break from the darkness of night.
Occupying the space
between God and those He loves.
Is a place Jeremiah contested,
questioning if God was too far above.
Had the distance blinded God from the cries of of His people
who confessed (well, complained) in lament.
Jeremiah the prophet so conflicted within
never reconciled nor content.
But sought to build and plant through,
confessions and cries of the keepers.
Keepers of fields, workers of the land
that were no longer seekers.
But fighters set in disaster
where the heart of the city cried out.
And God replied to them, “My people,
so skilled in foolishness about”.
Harvest has passed, summer is over
and we have not been saved.
“Don’t You know how I love you?” cried God,
He roared like a Lion enraged.
Am I the Lion, said God’s chosen people
Ripping God’s work intro shreds?
or am I the Lion?, said Jesus the Savior,
before up to heaven, he was sent.
- Written in real time during Ellen F. Davis’ lecture
–
For more info on the Brehm Center Lectures check out:
http://www.brehmcenter.com/activities/events/annual_brehm_lectures_2011/
Filed under: Off Day Poetry...., Word Speak | Tags: Adjoa Skinner, Bible Study, christianity, Erwin McManus, faith, God, Hollywood, introduction, love, mosaic, Romans
For more information on Erwin McManus and Mosaic gatherings go to: www.mosaic.org
———
“Its easier to do better than ugly, than it is to work to get back to the original beauty.” – Erwin McManus
“Breaking through to the beautiful takes more work and is more invasive…” – Erwin McManus
“(when coming to study the scriptures) The Posture we should have is like a little child.. not like a PHD.” – Erwin McManus
“Intellectual arrogance is not the goal. The things that change us come through simplicity.” – Erwin McManus
(these quotes are probably not perfect, they are just what I heard & tried to write while he was speaking…quickly… they’re probably not verbatim.)
——————-
a Poetic interpretation of Erwin McManus’ teaching on the book of Romans at Mosaic Hollywood, Saturday October 8th,2011
Anyone can get it
If they have a mind to use.
The conversation comes from heaven
but all human beings can choose.
To take the truths while moving
from the peaks to valleys deep
The scriptures are revealed
to each person that will seek.
To understand the words of God
as poetry and history
To step into the narrative
asking the Spirit to help you see,
the essence of the story
and how we interpret life
not through orthodoxy or heresy
but a truth that cuts like a knife.
Tradition should not usurp
what we know as truth by faith
And His Holy Spirit guides us
with a love we can’t escape.
Not by logic, nor by reason
not by blinded hope
but by the truth, written on our hearts
to aim & keep our scope
For we cannot change patterns
in our daily things to do
If we cannot see the work of God
And let Him shape us anew.
- Adjoa Skinner
Written while listening to Erwin’s introduction to the teaching on Romans. As always these poems are written in real time and completed when the speaker is done speaking.
Feel free to comment, re-post the link to this blog, share the link to this post with friends etc if you have been blessed by it.
This encourages me to keep writing. Thanks Adjoa
Filed under: Off Day Poetry...., Word Speak | Tags: Adjoa Skinner, christianity, faith, HRock, Mark Stibbe, Pasadena Church, poem, poetry, Writers, Writing
A poem written while listening to the sermon of Pastor Mark Stibbe at HRock Church in Pasadena
for more info on the speaker go to: www.FathersHouseTrust.com
For more info on HRock church go to: http://hrockchurch.com/
- As always this poem was written in real time and wrapped up before the speaker finished. I had to wrap this one up quick cause I had to play keys right after….. ENJOY!
——–
On The Lord’s day, all the roman empire
was declaring that Caeser was god.
But John was worshipping the God of heaven
when he heard heaven talk.
Write down everything you see
I have unveiled whats real
The Son of God is Jesus
Although this truth has been concealed
The Holy Spirit has come forth
to speak so you can write
Subtly and in fiction
that will somehow shed a light.
Wisdom of the Serpent
Innocence of doves
Released to be creative
with a capacity to love.
The Father’s house has libraries
of California’s size
And if we look to heaven
to see through the Father’s eyes
We can see the stories
and we will hear the songs
we can be the instruments
for whom the world does long.
When we create in Trinity
Idea, Implementation, Interaction
We have access to the thoughts of God
and can watch the world’s reaction
To the subtle, not so obvious,
irresistible scroll
That can be bitter to taste at first
but does not take its toll.
Upon the Spirit, for the moment they heart it
they see the vision clear.
Because you were a vessel
And the angels came so near.
That even those who didn’t know the Father
felt angel’s wings,
Fluttering about them
and heard the angels sing.
So write down what you see
and allow His discipline to guide
Then faith will give you increase
now share His Words & do not hide
Do not hide the heaven’s
from the children that are longing to…
Understand the Spirit
that rests in me and you.
- Adjoa Skinner
I hope you enjoyed this. Feel free to pass on this link to your friends!
Please, rate, review, and respond. I appreciate knowing that you were blessed by reading as much as I was blessed by writing.
God bless and God speed!
