



I happened to stumble upon one day
While walking in the woods
An old barn, standing all alone
Sad looking, there it stood
There was nothing else around it
No yard, no fence, no home
And each time the wind blew by
I could hear the old barn moan
Upon its aged, sagging roof
There were morning glory vines
Between two rotted twisted beams
There grew a single pine
Boards had fallen and there were holes
Where windows used to be
I thought I'd take a look inside
To see what I could see
There sat a carriage, a family carriage
Dust covered from the years
Gold fringe, leathers seats and driving lamps
I could not but draw near
Under one seat an old-fashioned trunk
I slowly raised up the lid
It squeaked as I raised it higher and found
That something in there was hid
I brought it out and up to my face
Then blew off some of the grime
On its leather cover was etched "Holy Bible"
It had been in there for some time
I opened the cover and inside I read
"This Bible is presented to
Pastor Billings of Wilderness Chapel
In the year nineteen hundred and two"
Well, that Bible has not lost its use
It is now used daily in my home
As for the carriage, my father is driving it
And I'm in back, writing this poem
Copyright: 1984 Mark Shutts
All rights reserved.
May not be reproduced
or used in any manner
without express written permission
from Mark Shutts Ministries.


I had a dream the other night
It caused my heart to smile
I was alone, inside a church
Standing in the aisle
When an indescribable feeling
Suddenly came over me
Music from the piano started playing
As I turned around to see
That a man quite tall and slender
Was playing the music I heard
Music had never been played so sweet
At least, not in this world
It seemed he knew each thought that I had
And as well, I knew each of his
I thought, "What a Heavenly feeling is here"
A thought came back, "Yes son, there is
Finally, he spoke and called me by name
"Mark, step into the choir loft"
It seemed that I was walking on clouds
Each step was amazingly soft
As I passed by him to take my place
His eyes looked straight at me
Though he was playing such Heavenly music
His fingers were not touching the keys
I stepped up and stood by a chair
He arose and stood by my side
Took my hand and put in in his
And oh, WHAT JOY FILLED MY EYES
We arose together to the top of the church
And how the sweet music did play
A thousand angels had struck up a band
Surely, Jesus was well on His way
A choir of angels began to sing
The piano player still held my hand
As I looked upon the angels of God
His choir, His children, His band
The music danced
From the touch of God's Hand
And the angels sang so divine
As again this man looked straight in my eyes
His hand slowly slipping from mine
Then the music faded, the Heavens opened
The angels arose to the sky
And I awoke with a smile on my face
And a tear of joy in each eye
Copyright 1984 Mark Shutts
All rights reserved.
May not be reproduced
or used in any manner
without express written permission
from Mark Shutts Mainistries.