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Poetry
Thorns
All Round
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All but cursed, the
men of dust,
From garden’d bliss
dejected thrust.
Cast down to blood
and tangling thorn,
Flat-faced in mud,
bereft, forlorn.
Unmoved as ages
droned along,
Resigned to sighing
pity’s song.
To mouth their
sadness with each breath,
In love with self
and sin and death.
Then glancing back,
a glimmering sight,
Through gnarling
weeds, a shaft of light.
The tree untouched,
of matchless type,
Engorged with life,
effulgent, ripe.
It lay beyond the
thorny wall,
A tantalizing
siren’s call.
All wrong reversed,
all tears made good,
All hunger filled
with holy food.
New drive possessed
the men of dust,
They set to work
with primal thrust.
To have the fruit at
any cost,
If failing this then
all is lost.
And so they pressed
against the wall
Of thorns and blades
and jagged sprawl.
Their eyes aglow
with mad intent,
Their bodies pierced
and torn and rent.
Their flesh sliced
through by razor wire,
Could not abate
their one desire.
No hurt could halt
their desperate zeal.
“Once through, the
tree alone will heal!”
Their bodies strewn along
the route,
Their hands
outstretched to reach the fruit.
Yet none would cross
this death-divide,
Their hope lay on
the thorny side.
Behind them in the
other way,
Another tree for
sinners lay.
It stood apart and
unacquired,
Gnarled and grim and
undesired.
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It did not catch the
eye of men,
Who sought a
ripeness there and then.
Yet this one pledged
a golden yield,
To all who ceased
and turned and kneeled.
For hanging lone
across its form,
The Lord of Life
enthroned in scorn,
Was off’ring all a bloodied
balm,
With up-raised voice
and out-stretched arm.
Thus from the midst
of cursèd death,
Is raised His call
with rasping breath.
“Come every man,
leave off your quest
Find life within my
piercèd breast.”
“He lies!” they
shrieked through raging tears,
They scoffed and
mocked with angry jeers.
“What life could
this cadaver give?
What guarantee that
we shall live?”
“Just this” He said
with pity’s call,
“I’ve come direct
from o’er the wall.
All bliss that moves
your frenzied glee,
Such fountains first
begin in Me.”
At once they
spluttered daft disdain,
“No wounded Man or
tree of pain,
Will be our well or
way of life.
We’re free! You
pledge us only strife!”
“Dear friends!” He
pleas, “regard your plight,
“Your freedom bonds
you, blinds your sight.
Your wounds for
self, for self are loss,
Come lose them in my
wounded cross.
“Your life is death,
My death is gain,
Now trust the word
of Paschal slain.
Come hide in Me
through darkest night,
Soon heaven’s dawns
shine fresh delight.”
Just so His promise
stands above
All men, inquiring
which they love:
To seek the fruit
and Him defy,
Or heed Life’s call
to “Come and die!”
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The Crib and the Cross
God in a
manger
Defenceless, enfleshed
Immanuel crying
And fighting for breath
God in a
manger
Wriggling and raw
Laid out on the wood
Enthroned on the straw
God at
Golgotha
Pierced in His flesh
Immanuel crying
And fighting for breath
God at
Golgotha
Forsaken and lost
Stretched out on the wood
Enthroned on the cross
Songs
JONAH SONG (for kids)
Hear
it here
Verse 1:
God said ‘GO –
to Nineveh
All those baddies I
want to win-over.’
Jonah said ‘NO
– not Nineveh
All those people are
terrible sin-lovers.’
God said ‘GO!’
Jonah said ‘NO!’
The storm went BLOW
Jonah said ‘THROW!’
And down he GO!
Into the Depths of the Sea!
Verse 2:
God said GO –
to a giant fish
Save my prophet before
he gets smelly
The fish said OH
what a lovely dish
Swallowed him whole so
he lived in his belly
God said GO!
The fish swam LOW
Through the FLOW
Jonah said WHOAH!
And down he GO!
Into the belly of the fish!
Verse 3:
Jonah said OH –
what a mess
I’ve done things my
way I must confess
I’m so LOW – I
could die
But even now God hears
my cry
Jonah said ‘OH
You’ve brought me LOW
I’m sorry SO
Save my SOUL.’
And up he GO
Spat up onto the beach.
Verse 4:
God said ‘GO –
once again
Nineveh needs your
word to repent.’
Jonah said ‘OH
– alright
I’ll tell them there’s
Woe if they don’t get it right.’
So Jonah said WOE,
Cos God says ‘NO’
The people went ‘OH!
We’re sorry SO
Save our SOUL!’
And God saved every one!
Verse 5:
Jonah said ‘NO
– I guessed
God would have mercy
if they confessed.
‘God’s so SLOW
to judge
He loves to forgive,
never bears a grudge.’
God said ‘GO!’
Jonah said ‘NO!’
But God changed ROLE
He washed their SOUL
Whiter than SNOW
Cos God’s the best preacher of all!
Oh Sinner
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Oh Sinner disintegrate
Into your free-wheeling
fantasy
Stay sleeping in entropy
Never to taste or to feel or see
Take nothing and cry for your need
Trust no-one and desperately plead
You’re a victim, you’re ignorant, poor
While your Lover, He knocks at your door
Oh Sinner incinerate,
Every flame of Almighty – hate
Take turns with salvation’s Form
Stealing the crown and just leaving Him thorns
He holds out His arms, now here is your chance
Such a convenient circumstance,
Nailing them down, you’re free from His due
But Oh Sinner He hangs
there for you.
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Oh Sinner, sing again,
Lay your hands on the Lamb who’s slain
Unburden the load you’re proud to bear
Take shelter in His indestructible care
Nothing can spoil what He restores
Nothing can separate anymore
Even the blood you caused Him to flow,
Washes you whiter than any snow.
Oh Sinner, assimilate,
The love that absorbs every ounce of hate.
Make peace with the Crucified,
By His death, your sinner has died.
Coming again we all shall see,
The One that we pierced, and bending our knee
With one word He’ll make us to stand,
And wipe every tear with His nail-scarred hand.
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Shelter from the Storm – based on Bob Dylan’s original
'Twas in another lifetime, He joined our race of mud When blackness was a virtue, His road was paved with blood He came into our wilderness, took our broken form. "Come in," He said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." When He passed this way He said, “you can rest assured I've come to take your heavy load, on that I give my word” In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm. "Come in," He said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." I had never paid Him mind, never given heed Took my life and fed it to my lust and hate and greed Every day was dirty since the day that I was born "Come in," He said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." I put my heart to weary strain, loved the things that rust Kissed the lips of strangers that crumbled into dust Lived in darkness, death and fear, hopeless and forlorn "Come in" He said "I'll give you shelter from the storm." In a little hilltop gathering, they gambled for His clothes He came to bring salvation, gave Himself a lethal dose. He offered up His innocence and got repaid with scorn. "Come in," He said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." Suddenly I turned around and He was hangin' there Dressed in blood and nails and tears and every worldly care He spread his arms to every soul and took their crown of thorns. "Come in," He said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." But death could never hold him, He shook it off with ease And preached to all us mortal men that deathly cares should cease A whole new world of life and hope began that em’rald morn "Come in" He said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." Now the wall between us, is broken down to dust He stands above the shattered ruins, wondering if we'll trust In Him who came to cross and crown before was even born "Come in," He says, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." Riding on the clouds one day, every eye shall see, In wonder or in bitter shame, all men will bend the knee, This tired world is shaken right the day the skies are torn, "Come in," He says, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." The future stretches hungry into the waking world Where every tear is wiped away. Eternity unfurled! And He will call the age to be on that exquisite dawn "Come in" He says "I'll give you shelter from the storm."
Aint Got Nothin’
To be sung in the style of a
Negro Spiritual
God’s got Truth. His Truth is Jesus.
God’s got Glory. His Glory is Jesus.
God’s got Grace. His Grace is Jesus.
Oh, Lord of my soul
Ain’t got nothin if you ain’t got Jesus
Ain’t got nothin if you ain’t got Jesus
Got nothin if you ain’t got Jesus
Oh Lord of my soul
God’s got a Plan. His Plan is Jesus.
God’s got a Purpose. And His Purpose is Jesus.
God’s got a Point. His Point is Jesus.
Oh, Lord of my soul
God’s got a Priest. His Priest is Jesus.
God’s got a Prophet. His Prophet is Jesus.
God’s got a King. His King is Jesus.
Oh, Lord of my soul
God’s got a Temple. His Temple is Jesus.
God’s got a Lamb. His Lamb is Jesus.
God’s got blood. The blood of Jesus
Oh, Lord of my soul
God’s got a Promise. His Promise is Jesus.
God’s got a Law. His Law is Jesus.
God’s got a Gospel. The Gospel is Jesus.
Oh, Lord of my soul
God’s got a Word. His Word is Jesus.
God’s got an Image. His Image is Jesus.
God’s got a Face. His Face is Jesus.
Oh, Lord of my soul
God’s got a Son. His Son is Jesus.
God’s got a Man. His Man is Jesus.
God’s got a Name. His Name is Jesus
Oh, Lord of my soul
Meditations
Based on Romans 3
Meditations on Rom 3:24-25 – three pictures
from Scripture to be explored: the law court (justification), the slave
market (redemption), the temple (propitiation):
Close your eyes and relax your breathing. Feel the weight of your body in the
chair. Feel the heaviness of your
eyelids, your arms, your legs.
You are in court. Seated in the dock. There are guards behind you on your
left and right. The court room is
very impressive, very intimidating. It is hostile towards you. You feel extremely out of place and
you dread the verdict that is about to be announced. You know that your very life hangs in
the balance.
The judge reads out these words. As he reads, you know that every
charge is unquestionably true:
You are not righteous.
You have no understanding.
You do not seek for God.
You have turned away.
You are worthless.
You do no good.
Your throat is an open grave.
You use you tongue only to deceive.
The venom of vipers is under your lips.
Your mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Your feet are swift to shed blood
Ruin and misery mark your way.
You have not known the way of peace.
There is no fear of God before your eyes.
The whole court-room is silent but the words
‘not righteous’, ‘no understanding’ and ‘worthless’ still ring in your
ears. Your mouth is stopped. You cannot answer a single charge. It’s all true and the weight of
condemnation is crushing.
The judge raises his gavel. There can be only one verdict. The hammer crashes down. The judge declares it:
I find you not guilty.
The court-room changes in an instant. Smiles
everywhere. The judge steps down
off the bench to congratulate you… How do you feel?…
Large doors are opened and great light comes
in. The guards usher you through
the doors and out into the light.
The scene has changed.
You find yourself in a first-century
Palestinian market-place. You are
hungry. You have no shoes.
Instead you walk in iron shackles. You are led by a cruel slave-master as you have been your
whole life. Your master stops to
buy some fruit and is briefly distracted. You take your chance.
Pushing your master over, you run past him down the crowded
alley-ways of the market. The
shackles bite hard into your ankles as you run as fast as you can. You look left and right to find a way
out of the market. As you
hesitate you feel a sickening blow to your head. Your master has caught up with
you. You drop to your knees as
your master comes around into focus.
You dread what comes next.
But just then, as your master raises his arm to
strike you, someone holds his hand.
Your eyes re-focus. You
see a man. He’s not angry. He’s not afraid. And he stands between you and a
terrible beating.
Your master speaks angrily to the man. The man is calm. He produces a bag full of money. It’s a lot. He gives it to your master. “I am redeeming him” he says
“Set him free”. Your master is
amazed but takes the money. The
man says “Release his shackles.”
The master bends down at your feet muttering. He takes off the shackles. “Now leave” says the man to the master. The master aims one last blow in your
direction, but again the man stops him.
“He’s mine now!” says the man.
With that, your old master slinks off and you are left with your
redeemer. He puts his arm around
you and says, “Come with me.
There’s so much I want to show you.”
How do you feel?
The scene changes again. You are in the outer court of the
Jerusalem temple. It is full of
people bringing animals to the priests for sacrifice. You can smell burning fat. The priests are laying their hands on
the heads of bulls and goats and lambs, confessing the sins of the people
over them. The altar is
glistening red as the blood of each sacrifice is thrown against the
altar. The blood overflows down
the sides of the altar and into channels running red. The animals in the queues are troubled,
the people are solemn.
The altar is in front of a large curtain
leading into the Holy Place. Only
priests are allowed there.
Through this sanctuary is the ultimate curtain – the entrance to
the Holy of Holies. There the
LORD Himself sits enthroned in majesty…
But out here, there is commotion, the cries of animals, the contrition
of people, the prayers of the priests.
Until, that is, the LORD speaks and everyone is silenced. ‘Get out’ He booms. Everything stops, the priests turn and
face the curtain. ‘Get out’ repeats the voice. ‘My time of redemption has come. There is no one to help
me, no-one to intercede, no-one offer to sacrifice. My own arm will work salvation. Get out.’ The priests usher everyone out of the courtyard – man and
beast. Eventually, everything is
quiet. Then the LORD emerges
through the curtain. In His
strength He strides towards the altar.
He calls the High Priest back in.
The High Priest confesses over the LORD’s head the sins of all the
people, all their sins. Then the
High Priest reaches out his hand and takes the knife to slaughter
Him. The knife falls and the LORD
is slain for sin.
How do you feel?
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