Poets Of The Vine Poem by Phillip Ragan

We gathered around like missionaries
somewhere along the line
I was asked if I could demonstrate
these simple songs of mine

And why I was invited there
I had no idea why
But I saw something beautiful
illuminate the sky

And some of them spoke Hebrew
I didn't understand
Until an older wiser man
climbed upon the stand

All here work for Jesus he said
who died upon the cross
who in doing so removed our sins
so light could come across

He spoke about forgiveness
and with great clarity
About the works of Jesus
who came to set us free

He spoke of when an unsaved man
yields towards temptation
His hand it is then weakened
He creates distance from salvation

But let's not talk of distances
and the things we like the least
for when we come to Jesus Christ
we can kill the beast

Oh the blood of Jesus
has set so many free
Who's work upon the cross
brought us victory

And if we should only let him in
the kingdom is in our hands
For there is somewhere truly pure
beyond this fallen land

Yes all here work for Jesus
who comes from the most high
And once again I saw something
that seemed to flash across the sky

And I was asked to contribute
a line and then a verse
So I began to write about this world
under a curse

This broken and this fallen world
where darkness wants to play
The hidden love that must emerge
and that it will some day

And through our repentance
and reconciliation
we can begin to heal
as both people and as nations

And then some soothing music
echoed from nearby
I heard a gentle female voice
sing the sweetest lullaby

So I began to play my songs
and sing through every chord
These very simple songs they said
had somehow pleased the Lord

Then this girl she came to me
and said to me my friend...
Because of the Lord Jesus Christ
we'll win out in the end

For through Faith in Jesus
Who died for our transgressions
We can have forgiveness
from all of our indiscretions

And we can have victory
over the enemy
Because of Christ's work on the cross
back then at Calvary

And her voice it was so calming
I hung on every word
And she began to play her songs
And as she sang I heard

This earthly life it seems
is in every way
some kind of dress rehearsal,
some kind of training day

For there is a much better place
where evil can not be
This better place up high above
where all the saved go free

For let there by no confusion
let there be no misapprehension
Only through the Lord Jesus Christ
comes the offer of redemption

And all we have to do
is let him in our heart
And there shall be deliverance,
God's grace, a brand new start

And so the night rolled on
we sipped some special wine
This group of Christian writers
Poets of the Vine