Tell It Like It Is, Inc.
| Copyright 2010 Tell It Like It Is, Inc, dba That Guy All materials on this site are copyrighted. Use of written or audio files is prohibited without written permission from the author. |
This poem was
written for a friend
from church. While I
never met Gus, his
son Robert and I
had spent many
hours studying
together and as
accountability
partners in a class
we took together.
This completed
collage: the poem
photos and graphic
design were all
completed by J.
Loren Norris and
was a gift to Robert.
This piece was
printed and framed
by several members
of his family after his
father passed.
written for a friend
from church. While I
never met Gus, his
son Robert and I
had spent many
hours studying
together and as
accountability
partners in a class
we took together.
This completed
collage: the poem
photos and graphic
design were all
completed by J.
Loren Norris and
was a gift to Robert.
This piece was
printed and framed
by several members
of his family after his
father passed.
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About my writing
While many of the 400 plus poems I have written over the last 25 years have
been my own expressions, you will find most of them have a message that is
specifically Christian. Many of them depict the revelations and epiphanies of
my walk with Christ. I hope they will both inspire you to new heights and bring
you hope in your journey.
My greatest inspirations, however, have been in the writing of special request
pieces. Like the story below and dozens just like it. The message is often not
for me, it is not about me, and it involves me only as the vessel for delivery.
I would be blessed to hear your story and to write something specifically for
you or someone you care for deeply.
Special requests have included:
A thank you message to a street pastor who led a man away from drugs and
gangs and to the arms of Christ.
A message of challenge to a mother who did not know Christ
A thank you for a pastor who had reconciled a marriage way past broken
Congratulations for a grad school graduate who had not spoken to her father
in years
A farewell to a fallen soldier - that he never be forgotten
Custom Writing - The Origin
The first poem was quite an accident. A fireman I served with at my first base
in the Air Force. We really did not even get along so well. One day he came
into the training room where I was studying and sat down across from me. He
stared at me for a few minutes and finally I snapped "What do you want?"
He asked, "How old are you?" "Twenty, why?" I quipped. Then a tear
appeared in the corner of his eye. He said softly, "My daughter is exactly the
same age, she is getting married next month and I am realizing I don't even
know her. Now I will never get that chance." He walked away sobbing quietly.
I tried to go back to what I was doing but it really hit me hard. My father and I
had the same trouble. I started scribbling something on the back of my
notes. It was not planned or thought out, in fact to this day I cannot tell you
what is says; not one word. But when I was done venting, it looked like a
poem. I gave it to Bill and thought nothing more of it,
A few weeks later, Bill approaches me at the station with a giant grin on his
face and says, "I want to show you something," Unwrapping a giant frame,
some three feet square. There it was, hand stitched in silver metallic thread on
black velvet and framed in beautiful cherry wood was that poem.
"It is her wedding present from her mother and I." he beamed, "Thank you!"
I was blown away, flattered and had no idea what to think or say, "I am glad
you like it." I muttered and walked away.
While many of the 400 plus poems I have written over the last 25 years have
been my own expressions, you will find most of them have a message that is
specifically Christian. Many of them depict the revelations and epiphanies of
my walk with Christ. I hope they will both inspire you to new heights and bring
you hope in your journey.
My greatest inspirations, however, have been in the writing of special request
pieces. Like the story below and dozens just like it. The message is often not
for me, it is not about me, and it involves me only as the vessel for delivery.
I would be blessed to hear your story and to write something specifically for
you or someone you care for deeply.
Special requests have included:
A thank you message to a street pastor who led a man away from drugs and
gangs and to the arms of Christ.
A message of challenge to a mother who did not know Christ
A thank you for a pastor who had reconciled a marriage way past broken
Congratulations for a grad school graduate who had not spoken to her father
in years
A farewell to a fallen soldier - that he never be forgotten
Custom Writing - The Origin
The first poem was quite an accident. A fireman I served with at my first base
in the Air Force. We really did not even get along so well. One day he came
into the training room where I was studying and sat down across from me. He
stared at me for a few minutes and finally I snapped "What do you want?"
He asked, "How old are you?" "Twenty, why?" I quipped. Then a tear
appeared in the corner of his eye. He said softly, "My daughter is exactly the
same age, she is getting married next month and I am realizing I don't even
know her. Now I will never get that chance." He walked away sobbing quietly.
I tried to go back to what I was doing but it really hit me hard. My father and I
had the same trouble. I started scribbling something on the back of my
notes. It was not planned or thought out, in fact to this day I cannot tell you
what is says; not one word. But when I was done venting, it looked like a
poem. I gave it to Bill and thought nothing more of it,
A few weeks later, Bill approaches me at the station with a giant grin on his
face and says, "I want to show you something," Unwrapping a giant frame,
some three feet square. There it was, hand stitched in silver metallic thread on
black velvet and framed in beautiful cherry wood was that poem.
"It is her wedding present from her mother and I." he beamed, "Thank you!"
I was blown away, flattered and had no idea what to think or say, "I am glad
you like it." I muttered and walked away.
| Click Image to Enlarge for Reading |
