Answer-Key Poetry: The Keys to Life Through Poetry

By Daniel Mortimer

Answer Key Poetry will make you laugh, cry, reflect, and act. If you are seeking meaningful answers to life and are not afraid to be challenged, then please read on. Each poem has a main thought, a Bible verse, and a journal section to write your thoughts and prayers. The main goal is to take you to place of growth through action based on truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512716368

Daniel Mortimer

Daniel Mortimer manages the construction of hospitals throughout the US. He has been married to his beloved wife, Nancy, for twenty-nine years and is the father of six children (one son in heaven). He has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Bucknell University and played rugby and football there many moons ago. Daniel is known for his wit, humorous stories from the road, and ability to bring insight to many situations. His mission statement is to help others know Christ or know Him better. He has been involved in many aspects of Christian ministry across the country and enjoys designing and building custom furniture from pallets, running, weightlifting, hunting, fishing, and many other aspects of life.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 Daniel Mortimer.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1637-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1638-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1636-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015917004

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/16/2015

CONTENTS

My Boy Hudson

Part 1 Truth

No New Truth

Truth and Proof

Truth Stands

The Way It Really Is

Where You Gonna Bend It?

Part 2 Attitude

Bitter or Better?

Lemonade

The Eyes Never Lie

Part 3 Chasing God’s Character

Commitment

Discipline and Regret

Everybody but Me

Givers and Takers

God Still Cares

Worry Is Good?

Part 4 Choice

Everyone Gets What They Want

God Could Have

Who’s at the Door?

God Exists

Part 5 Church

When Times Are Good

Busy, Busy

Part 6 Love for Others

I Was Your Neighbor

Priorities

Do You Know My Jesus?

Part 7 Dealing with Pain

God’s Loom

You Can Make It

Hope

When I Close My Eyes

Part 8 Don’t Be Deceived

The Real Cost

Guard Your Gates

Foolish Mountain

The Stove Is Hot

Part 9 Exercising Faith

Eighteen Inches

God Is Invisible

The Choice

The Road

Part 10 Forgiveness

It’s Better to Forgive

Stuck

Part 11 Faith Produces Action

Fixin’ To

We All Have Faith

Part 12 God’s Creation

The Wind

The Rain

Sunrise

The Flowers

The Maker’s Recall

Sky and Stars

Part 13 God’s Love for Us

The Checkout Line

The Request

Part 14 The Sum of Life

Who’s Gonna Cry?

We Each Have a Garden

Part 15 Looking Forward to Heaven

When the Last Tear Falls

Who’s Gonna Hug Your Neck?

W, X, and No Y

This book is dedicated to my son James Hudson Mortimer, who inspired this poetry upon his passing; my beloved wife, Nancy, who walks through deep water with me; my sister-in-law, Jan Mooney, who encouraged me to keep writing poetry; Roy, our project elevator operator, who always wants a fresh word and a poem; and, most important, my Savior, Jesus Christ, who sustains me and gives me life, meaning, and purpose.

INTRODUCTION

Life is a locked mystery to many today, but it does not need to be that way.

Meaning, love, forgiveness, faith, and truth are all open pathways to peace if we know where to look. This journal-style book will provide direction for life’s most important turning points through poetry, Bible verses, and thought-provoking questions. Even when life appears smooth, we all need a clear destination and direction, or else we wander aimlessly.

I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and six children. In January 2015, my wife and I lost our twenty-one-year-old son, James Hudson Mortimer. In working through the grief, I began writing these poems to help myself and others find peace and the answer to the question of what is truly important. When I’ve shared these poems with others, people have repeatedly encouraged me to publish them. After having prayed, and shed many tears while writing, I humbly present this poetry journal as a way to help you grow in your faith of the living God.

The poems and Bible verses are designed to give you a balance of truth and love so that you may be truly successful in life. I had tasted much of what life had to offer and enjoyed success at many levels up into my twenties, but I was still thirsty for meaning. What a tremendous difference a daily walk of faith with Jesus Christ has made in my life. I wish I could give you a tour of my heart and soul so you could see the difference before and after, but unfortunately, that is not possible.

We live in a culture that espouses the idea that truth is what you make it. Nothing is farther from the truth. In my travels across the United States, I have met thousands of people from all walks of life. The number one factor that determines a person’s wholeness and the level of peace in his or her life is not money, causes, hobbies, power, or position. A working knowledge and application of the most important components of life are what bring peace and purpose through a daily walk with our loving God.

God