Zach Uram's Blog

  • The Wolf

    I am the wild wolf
    That stalks the night
    I run and run
    Looking for some fun

    Ahead I spy
    A lamb that lets out a cry
    I go in for the kill
    Oh what a thrill

    But this lamb is not alone
    The Good Shepherd did atone
    He guards the lamb
    It’s safe from my bedlam

    by Zachary Uram
    (c) 2024

  • Christ – My Only Hope

    I was lost at sea
    I had no hope
    Then Christ rescued me

    He freed me from all sin
    I am a new creation
    Because of His propitiation

    Christ the spotless Lamb
    He died to free
    Those who were damn

    At Calvary Christ bore
    God’s full wrath
    He opened Heaven’s door

    Amazing grace set me free
    It was wholly unmerited
    I was blind and now I see

    by Zachary Uram
    (c) 2024

  • Untitled

    The wages of sin is death
    What happens
    When I take
    My last breath

    Death has no sting
    For believers
    Thanks to Calvary
    Alleluia I sing

    For those of us in Christ
    To be absent the body
    Is to be present with the Lord
    Because of His sacrifice

    My heart was black and dead
    Christ died for me
    A wretched sinner
    He died in my stead

    God gifted me
    Repentance and faith
    When I heard the Gospel
    His sovereign grace is free

    Salvation is by grace
    We do nothing to merit it
    Oh happy day
    When I shall see Jesus’ face

    Through faith alone
    We are justified
    We didn’t merit it at all
    Because Christ did atone

    We are a creation that’s new
    Our hearts of stone
    Become hearts flesh
    The number of the Elect are few

    The gospel we must spread
    To every nation
    And every tribe
    Until we are dead

    I pray for Christ’s return
    He shall come
    As the Lion of Judah
    We are here for a sojourn

    by Zachary Uram
    (c) 2024

  • A Dream and A Warning

    I slumbered all day
    Much to my dismay

    I was out like a light
    I slept all day and night

    My dreams were crazy
    My recollection is hazy

    My mind is in a fog
    I dozed like a hog

    I didn’t make a peep
    I was in a deep sleep

    I saw a broad way
    With billions of souls

    I saw Orthodox galore
    And Catholics even more

    I saw a sign
    Hell it said over the line

    These poor souls were damned
    They were inflamed

    They had trusted in their deeds
    They had confidence in creeds

    The Gospel they never believed
    In sin they were conceived

    I saw a narrow way
    Upon it trod the saints who pray

    They were redeemed by sovereign grace
    The light of Christ shone from their face

    This was what I saw
    Sinners condemned by the law

    And saints who repented of their sin
    They trusted in Christ’s propitiation

    by Zachary Uram
    (c) 2024

  • Born Again

    Born from above
    By the divine dove

    The second birth
    An occasion for mirth

    I was lost in sin
    Christ was my propitiation

    Oh happy day
    When the gospel is on full display

    God chose us by His sovereign grace
    His Elect comes from every race

    God gives us a nature that’s new
    Now sin we do eschew

    God grants men faith and repentance
    These double gifts our acceptance

    Our salvation can never be lost
    God’s grace we won’t exhaust

    So be born again
    All ye men

    by Zachary Uram
    (c) 2024

  • Autumn

    A late autumn day
    It’s very chilly
    I am nice and warm
    In my goose down coat
    I hear a bird call
    I look above
    In a mighty oak tree
    A lone raven perches
    He yells CAW CAW
    I look at his eyes
    Deep black
    They can pierce
    Your soul
    I wonder
    If this bird
    Is demon possessed
    The Lord rebuke you
    Satanic raven
    I could sense
    It wanted
    To frighten me
    But I did not relent
    I kept on walking
    Soon I came to a park
    It began snowing
    It was the first snow
    Of the holiday season
    I reflected
    On Christ’s mercy
    And sovereign grace
    He made my soul
    Pure and as white
    As new fallen snow
    Colored leaves
    Crunch underfoot
    I return home
    I drink a hot cup
    Of Darjeeling tea
    I listen to
    J.S. Bach’s music
    The Brandenburg Concertos
    I fall asleep
    Dreaming peacefully
    Of my time outdoors
    It was a good day

    by Zachary Uram
    (c) 2023

  • Antisemitism and The Church

    Nazi leader Adolf Hitler tapped into a latent and virulent strain of antisemitism in Germany, which can be traced back to the Early Church Fathers, and later especially with Protestant Reformer Martin Luther, vis a vis supersessionism (replacement theology).

    Supersessionism teaches that the Church has replaced Israel (namely the Jewish people) and all of the promises to Israel and prophecies about Israel which would be fulfilled in the future are now null and void. Those who teach replacement theology will be quick to point out that they “don’t believe in replacement theology” and they’ll say that Israel expanded to become the Church or that the Church became inaugarated to become Israel. All of this is heresy. The Church and Israel remain distinct. Scripture does talk of an Israel of God, but this is a spiritual reference. The unfulfilled promises made to Israel by God are unconditional. Also there are numerous prophesies concerning Israel which have not been fulfilled. Every single promise made to Israel by God will be fulfilled. And every single unfullfilled prophecy concerning will come to pass.

    As I briefly said, Early Church Fathers such as John Chrysostom wrote horrible bigoted rants against the Jews. Later, the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther initially was cordial with respect to Jews, however when he saw they were not converting to Christianity as he had hoped, he unleashed a very poisonous and wicked bigoted book title “On the Jews and Their Lies”. Chrysostom and Luther’s writings demonized Jews and only further enflamed animosity towards them. We must be honest in our account of history. Chrystsom and Luther were used by God, but they were still sinners. So we must acknowledge their ugly sin of racism.

    Hitler and his SS went on to setup concentration camps where over 6 million Jews were murdered. This is known as the Holocaust or Shoa.

    Chrysostom held Jews responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus and deicide (killing God, see “Jewish deicide” for the subject). He compared the synagogue to a pagan temple, representing it as the source of all vices and heresies. See his work “Against the Jews (8 Homilies)“.

    As I said, Reformer Martin Luther wrote a horrible hate-filled and bigoted post entitled “On the Jews & Their Lies”. Here are excerpts. Hitler was influenced by this work.

    Dispensationalists have always recognized the Jewish people’s right to the land, and have been strong and vocal critics of antisemitism, as well as very strong supporters of the Jewish people. Covenant theology adherents on the other hand have strongly supported antisemitism historically through amillennialism and postmillennialism.

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  • The Continuing Marginalization of the Poor in America

    The rich are getting richer (Less than 1% owns 90% of the wealth!), while the poor are getting poorer. That includes the working poor. During Trump’s presidential administration we saw Congress, and the President, pass trillions of dollars in tax cuts that disproportionately benefited the wealthy. There has not been any similar expenditure for low income individuals in recent decades. In fact, one has to go back over 50 years to the Johnson presidential administration to see significant spending on the poor. When it comes to helping the poor the Republicans and Democrats are united in their apathy sadly. Did you notice that nearly every single politician is wealthy? I think in the last Congress it was revealed that every single member of the Senate (50 Senators) was a millionaire. Both Republicans and Democrats are willfully ignorant, and out of touch with the concerns and problems facing millions of Americans.

    It may come as no surprise that it’s very challenging and difficult being poor, but in recent years the pressures and difficulties have become worse than ever. We are reaching, in my view, a tipping point as a perfect storm of economic factors are converging to make life for the working poor and those on fixed low incomes, such as Social Security for senior citizens, as well as SSI and SSD, hell on earth.

    Here are some factors that are making life so difficult for those who are on low incomes.

    Inflation

    In December, 2021 we saw the worst inflation in 40 years at 9.1%. Since COVID started we have seen the price of food double or even triple. This has disproportionately adversely affected those on low incomes.

    Gasoline

    In the past 3 years of the Biden presidential administration, we went from very low gas prices, and being energy independent, to skyrocketing gas prices. The increase was about 300% (3 times as much).

    Utilities

    In the past 3 years of the Biden presidential administration, the price of utilities such as electricity and natural gas have skyrocketed.

    Buying Power

    The purchasing power of the US dollar has been in steep decline in recent decades, currently it is at an all time low.

    Wages

    Wages are not keeping up with inflation! In the past 20-25 years wages have risen much too slowly as a percentage of GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

    SNAP (Food Stamps)

    The amount of SNAP that qualified recipients get now is much lower, when adjusted for inflation, than it was in previous decades.

    Groceries

    The cost of groceries has increased astronomically in the past 2-3 years. Many low income consumers are spending as much as 25% to 33% of their gross income on groceries alone! That is truly appalling. As recently as August 2022, the year-over-year level at 13.5% was the highest inflation rate for groceries since March 1979.

    Higher Education

    University costs have skyrocketed in recent decades, they’ve increased much higher a rate than inflation.

    Home Mortgages

    Home mortgages are at record highs. The vast majority of low income individuals are priced out of home ownership.

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  • 500 Posts!

    With my last post, a poem entitled “Christmas Day”, I have written 500 posts (501 including this post)! Thanks to all my readers! And thanks for your comments, likes, and feedback! Here’s to my next 500 posts! CHEERS!

  • Christmas Day

    As I listen to a yuletide hymn
    We are saved because of Him
    I reflect on Christ’s sacrifice

    My dear sister Vi and I ride a sleigh
    It’s a perfect Christmas day
    We have on a warm blanket

    What depths of love
    Sent Christ down to earth from above
    We are loved by God more than we know

    In a humble stable in Bethlehem Jesus was born
    On a frosty winter morn
    He lay in a manger padded with hay

    The King of Kings was now a helpless child
    He was so tender and mild
    Jesus smiled at Mary and Joseph

    Wise men came from afar
    They traveled by the Christmas star
    The Messiah was born

    A magnitude of angels praised the King
    Singing Alleluia Alleluia
    How lovely they did sing

    Lost in sin
    Man needed a perfect propitiation
    Christ died for our sins on Calvary

    Through Christ, man is blessed forever more
    That’s what Christmas is truly for
    May He always be at the center of your Christmas

    So deck the halls and be merry
    I pray Christ does not for long tarry
    We pray for His return

    by Zachary Uram
    (c) 2023