THERE ONCE WAS A DAY…
THERE ONCE WAS A DAY WHEN A MAN WAS DEEMED GODLY
BECAUSE HE WAS STRICT AND VALIANT FOR RIGHT
WHEN LOVE WAS DETERMINED BY A DEED’S TRUE MERIT
AND JUDGMENT DECIDED BY FAR MORE THAN SIGHT
WHEN PREACHERS WERE "MIGHTY" WHEN SIN THEY REBUKED
AND FATHER’S HIGH STANDARDS WERE PRAISED AS “TRUE CARE”
WHEN CALLING MEN VIPERS, SLOW BELLIES, OR EVIL
WAS A SIGN OF TRUE COURAGE AND PROPHET RARE
WHEN THE PREACHER OR PROPHET WAS NOT AT FAULT
IF THE PEOPLE REFUSED OR REJECTED THE LIGHT
WHEN MINISTRY WAS MASCULINE, NOT FEMININE IN TONE
AND FACTS, NOT FEELINGS WERE JUDGE OF WHAT’S RIGHT
WHEN GOD’S WAY DAMAGED AND WILL UNFULFILLED
WAS A CRIME OF ETERNAL DAMNATION THAT’S JUST;
AND MEN WERE THE CULPRITS, REBELLIOUS AND PROUD,
NOT VICTIMS WHO NEED US TO PAMPER THEIR LUST
WHEN HARD PREACH’N WAS GOOD, AND THE BIBLE WAS TRUTH,
AND MEN FEARED TO TAMPER WITH SACRED THINGS,
WHEN CHURCH HOUSE WAS HONORED, NOT LOCKED AT NIGHT
AND PASTORS WERE LEADERS - NOT HANGING BY STRINGS
WHEN THE ROD OF CORRECTION WAS LEGAL AND RIGHT
AND ADULTERY WAS OUTLAWED AND PUNISHED FAIR;
WHEN IMMODEST WOMEN FEARED TO STEP OUT
FOR SHAMING REBUKE THEY’D RECEIVE IF THEY DARE;
WHEN CRIME BROUGHT DEATH, RESTITUTION, OR PAIN
NOT MEDICAL, OPTICAL, AND DENTAL PAID SURE
WHEN PUBLIC EXECUTIONS MADE THE YOUNG SIT UP STRAIGHT
AND HARD WORK ALL YOUNG MEN COULD ENDURE
WHEN AUTHORITIES WERE HONORED BY YOUNG AND OLD,
AND THE WIFE WISELY REVERENCED HER HUSBAND’S PLACE
AND THE HUSBAND WAS NOBLE, GODLY, AND TRUE,
NOT A SLAVE TO APPETITES AND PASSIONS BASE
WHEN THE CHURCH HOUSE WAS FILLED, GOD’S WORDS TO RECEIVE
NOT FOR ENTERTAINMENT, OR MENTAL MASSAGE;
AND THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST WERE THERE TO OBEY
NOT TO EXPLAIN AWAY, PONDER, AND DODGE
WHEN FREEDOM WAS A MEANS FOR THE RIGHT TO PROSPER
UNHINDERED BY TYRANNY OR UNJUST DECREES
AND NOT SO THE WICKED WITH THE ACLU
COULD DESTROY OUR LAND AND LIVE AS THEY PLEASE
WHEN PUBLIC SCHOOL STANDARDS FOR TEACHER AND STUDENT
RIGHTLY REGULATED THEIR CONDUCT AND DRESS -
MUCH HIGHER THAN THOSE OF THE MODERN DAY CHURCH
SINCE THEY ONLY THEIR PERSONAL LIBERTY STRESS
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THIS DAY IS NOW GONE! OR WAS THE WORLD EVER HERE?
WHEN PEOPLE AT LARGE GOD’S WORD DID REVERE?
WE NEED NOT LOOK BACK, BUT LOOK ON AHEAD
AND BELIEVING GOD’S WORD, THE FUTURE NOT DREAD
WE KNOW THAT ONE DAY THE LORD JESUS WILL REIGN
THE RIGHTEOUS HE’LL LOVE, BUT THE WICKED DISDAIN
HE’LL JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT; SET ALL PROBLEMS STRAIGHT
AND SHOW THOSE WHO LOVED HIM, HIS KINGDOM’S BRIGHT GATE
MARK BULLEN ‘07