From Wilderness of World to Light of the Cross

By Gilbert Strueh

From Wilderness of World to the Light of the Cross. A book of original poems, drawn from my life, meditation and walk with Jesus Christ. Some are based on Bible verses, some on life observation and experiences both in the United States and in the Bahama Islands, all written with and through prayer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483686455

Gilbert Strueh

I was born on a small farm in Indiana. Baptized as an infant and then attended an Evangelical and Reformed Church into which I was confirmed at the “proper” age. That is when I received my first Community or Lord’s Supper. The Evangelical and Reformed Church later became the United Church of Christ after a merger with the Congregation Christian Church. I am married. My wife and I have three adult children and two grandchildren. We left India and moved to the New Orleans area where we were members of the UCC. After moving to Baton Rouge we attended a Presbyterian Church in America. It was through this Church that I met an Assembly of God Pastor, and made several trips to the Bahamas with him. While there I became good friends with a Bahamian Pastor who also had a Bible School. After returning to the States, I began a Bible course through him which resulted in receiving a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Caribbean Community Ministerial Association. I have held the position of Elder in an independent Church (affiliated with the Assembly of God) and am a “resting Elder” in the Presbyterian Church USA, where I am a member.

Book preview

The Mortar

If we look at our lives as one building a brick house, each day another brick, then we see that our first need is a plan for our house (our life) to come out the way we want it to. We can also see that each day (each brick) is not all the same. Most bricks have some imperfections, some minor and some more noticeable, but we need to use those bricks (those days) as a reminder that nothing in this world is perfect. We cannot pile brick upon brick to form the house and expect them to stay in place unless there is something to hold them together. That something is called mortar which a good mason uses not only to hold the bricks together, but will also use to hide the imperfections of the brick. It also makes the house stronger. In the same way, Jesus is the Mortar that binds our days (our bricks) together to not only make us stronger in Him, but He also hides our imperfections so that we become beautiful in the eyes of the Father.

Each day is but another brick, as we build our house we call our life,

Some bricks we build with a joyful heart, as the day a couple become man and wife.

Some we build with tear stained hands, when loved ones ignore their pledges.

Some days our bricks are a perfect fit, while others have a lot of

rough edges.

We can whitewash our house on the outside; make it look so neat and beautiful to man,

But if Jesus is not the mortar that holds it together, then it will crumble like grains of sand.

If our bricks we stack upon each other, and His love we do not use to bind

each day,

Then our labors amount to nothing, for the storms of life will soon

blow it away.

Only He can hold our house together, He is the Mortar that makes it stronger with age.

We will stand through the perils of his world, and laugh while

Satan does rage,

Why Should I Be The One?

Why should I be the one to go to Church on Sunday morning while others are still asleep in their beds? It seems that no matter how hard I try, they are the ones who always get ahead. Why should I be the one to teach the children About God’s love for them today? When the world’s dominant philosophy is: Look out for yourself, don’t let Christ get in the way. Why should I be the one to put an offering in the plate each time it is passed my way? There are others wealthier than I, Let them be the ones to pay. Why should I be the one to lift my voice in praise with the choir, and give of my precious time? There are others with much better voices than mine, why, without me, the choir sounds just fine. Why should I be the one to pray for other people, who don’t even care what Jesus said? They are more concerned with earthly pleasures; they don’t care if God is alive or if He is dead. Why should I be the one to volunteer of my time, treasure or talent for the enrichment of the Church? For the world thrives on greed and terror, more power has become its endless search. Why should I be the one? Well it is very plain to see. It is because you claimed me for Your own, Your Blood You shed for me. You took my sins along with You When You died on the cross at Calvary. Now you sit at Your Father’s right hand, My Savior, my Redeemer, my God throughout eternity.

The Church Window

I look at the world through the window of life,

And what do I see?

I see brother fighting