Category - Poetry-Italy

The world denies sin
Too often we live with our sin
Hiding it away
Fooling everyone but God
God calls sin evil
He loves us but hates sin

Sin will not slip away
It stays around clinging to our weakness
Sin is pervasive and seeks to destroy
Don’t let it fool you
It isn’t your friend
It wants to kill you

When we play with fire
Eventually we get burned
Just like a glowing ember sin is ready to burn
Give it a chance and it will break your heart
Wanting to erase any good you have done
Sin seeks the upper hand

Turn to God
Follow His guidance
Confess your sin to Him and turn away from it
Let Christ forgive you and heal you
The ravages of sin are rooted deep in our soul
The forgiveness of God roots out sin and reclaims our life

Clay Corvin -March 13, 2012

Pantheon

SPANISH STEPS

People need people
See them standing on the steps
A place to hand and chatter
Where romantics often dream

Three hundred years ago
The piazza got its name
Captivating Keats
Who wrote of its fame

People wander here and there
Up and down the steps
Colors brightly popping
When spring is in the air

Just like God’s kingdom
Filled with different folks
Spending time together
Getting to know hope

Hope in Christ is catching
Encouraging as it works
Hope helps desperate people
Become living, faithful ones

Our hope is based on Jesus
He is in control
Our lives will fit together
When Jesus owns our soul

1/2/05

CLAY AT SPANISH STEPS

PILGRIMAGE

Traveling to Rome
Where Paul and Peter lived
Standing up to wealth
And the evil the world gives

Never disenfranchised
By lack of funds or friends
Spent their time with Jesus
And the people Christ sent

They sowed into heaven
Knowing God’s truth
Jesus is the answer
To all of life’s reproof

I want to see those places
Where angels guarded Paul
See the Roman prison
Where Rome began its fall

Revel in His presence
Jesus Christ with me
He and I together
Seeing history unfold

Walking through those places
He wrote to all about
Looking at the reason
Christ caused Paul to shout

Evil all around them
Satan had his fling
But Paul was calmly serving
Christ would never leave

Fill my heart with joy
Guard my soul with peace
This journey is for wisdom
I pray for our belief

CC 1/1/05

ROMA

Streets with holes
Busses and cars
Motorbikes buzzing
When crossing streets

Hard to know when to cross
Just close your eyes
And walk

I’ve seen so much
And enjoyed it all
Now I’m looking forward
To the money and time
When I can do Rome again

We say the Pope
And all the stuff
In the Vatican Museum
All I can say is wow

These people with me
Are the best part
Of all I’ve done and seen

The way they’ve laughed
And prayed with me
Has blessed my heart and mind

Thank you group
For what you’ve done
Roma was such a good time

Clay Corvin 3/24/04

Lunch at a local restaurant with Carla Zaia

Carla “Contessa de Guide”

Carla, you have blessed us
As you have shown us Rome
We owe you admiration and respect
Thank you for helping us see Rome

We’ve grown with you teaching
Our hearts are filled with thoughts
We wanted to tell you
That you have blessed our souls

You are a gifted guide
Insightful and skilled
At leading groups through history
And through the Roman hills

You bring life to your subject
Your animation enlightened us
Grabbing our attention
Encouraging us

A bright and shining teacher
An outstanding, capable guide
Who inspires her pupils
To think and grow wise

Sensitive to our questions
Equipped to discuss your Rome
You prepared our minds
So that we could walk and see your home

Strong and energetic
Flexible and tireless
You invested your heart
Thank you for your time

Carla of Rome
You are a Contessa de Guide!
We will not forget you
You’ve blessed our time in Rome

CC 3/23/04

OSTIA ANTICA

Ostia Antica brown and frayed
Occupied by leaders
Who ruled their day

Bread and goods for the Empire
Sold and stored
Building great wealth

Now it’s gone
No names we know
Deserted and all alone

There is a lesson
We can learn
Buildings aren’t people
Wealth can ruin

When people count
And are put first
Wealth is stored
In a place without rust

Jesus calls us to be
His hands and feet
Telling His story
To all that we meet

Caring for the hurting
Bending our knee
To the needs of people
Christ will set them free

Clay Corvin 3/23/04

LUNCH

JIMMY DUKES

A New Testament scholar
Able to share God’s word
In an humble, understandable way

Nothing ordinary about him
Creativity is his strength
Using it for service
In his life Christ is king

Caring for his students
Training them for Jesus work
A Godly friend and servant
Christ is all to him

He is the Lord’s workman
Exemplifying Jesus
Giving of his life
Each day proclaiming Christ

Many years of preaching
About our risen Lord
Living life with Jesus
Strong in the Lord

Clay Corvin 3/22/04

GERALD

A gentle man
Hardworking and faithful
True in all his ways
Living for Jesus every day

Demanding
And committed
Open to the Lord
Always following Jesus
Listening to Christ

Obedient to Christ’s call
Serving with his all
Equipping those God calls
Refusing to fall

Careful as he teaches
Sharing God’s Word
A wise and able servant
His life is committed to Christ

Clay Corvin 3/22/04

ARCHIE

Archie is amazing
Solid in his faith
Able in his views
To communicate Christ to you

Swigging diet colas
Expounding God’s word
He lives Jesus purpose
So Christ can be heard

Humble with his wisdom
Straight from God’s heart
Faithful to God’s work
Unbowed by the world’s hurt

A wise and helpful teacher
Tireless and true
Energetic teaching Jesus
So students will know too

A faithful man with family
Careful in his work
He is Jesus follower
Who lives out Jesus word

Clay Corvin 3/22/04

BILL WARREN

Bill Warren is a servant
A man who walks with God
Focusing his life on Jesus

He loves his students
Seeking to empower them
So they can develop
The gift God’s given them

Unassuming scholar
Courageous in times of trial
Walking humbly with Jesus
Confident in the Lord

A kind and devoted parent
Who dearly loves his wife
A gentle man of service
Who never brings strife

A learner of significance
Who is never confused
He loves Jesus
And shares him with you

Clay Corvin 3/22/04

MARGIE WILLIAMSON

A Godly woman
Wise beyond her years
Kind and easygoing
Laughter is her gift

Energetic and hardworking
Strong in her faith
Unwilling to be second rate
Or take the easy way

Loves the Lord Jesus
Works for Jesus’ cause
Open to be His witness
Faithful to her call

A loving, gently parent
Godly, faithful wife
Margie is a blessing
As she serves Jesus Christ

Clay Corvin 3/22/04

JOE CUMMINS

If you ever need a kind word
Joe Cummins is the man
He loves Jesus
He will give a helping hand

He loves to talk of Jesus
He works hard each day
Always with a smile on
And a gentle, kind way

Joe is always welcome
By those he knows
Because he mirrors Jesus
Even when struggling with woes

A faithful, godly layman
Devoted to family and friends
Serving and caring
Jesus loves him

Clay Corvin 3/22/04

DON RICHARD

A man who loves Jesus
Faithful to his wife
Raising a Godly family
Always sharing Jesus Christ

Gentle, with great wisdom
Peaceful in his ways
But a tiger in court
Justice will be served

A tireless man of wisdom
Exemplifying Christ
As he serves in his business
And in his daily life

He is a friend to Baptists’
And a friend to all who hurt
Don Richard serves Jesus
In all of his life’s work

Clay Corvin 3/22/04

A WEEK IN ROME

Clay Corvin 3/22/04 

St. Peter's from the Vatican Garden

THINKING OF JESUS

Clay Corvin 03/22/04

Menorah in the Arch of Titus in the Forum