The Steady March

About 3 months ag0 I received a book called ‘Wordsmithy’. One of its suggestions to aid budding writers was to try different and more unusual methods of writing. So, with not a little hesitation, I tried my hand at hymn writing- the result can be found at http://minibakey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/take-heart-my-soul.html

This time- undeterred by the extra syllables that found their ways into my earlier hymn- I decided to embark on a career as a poet.  So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the poetical musings of the mind…

 

The Steady March

One night in my bed a dream came my way:
An Army striding forth with great banners in array,
The drummers, the riders, the generals and troops,
Like a host of great warriors, fresh in cahoots.

The onlookers await with merriment and hope-
the future too bright for any to mope.
As the soldier train approaches they laugh and they leap,
“An Army most glorious”, they cry, as I sleep.

Scarlet coats, polished buttons and bright shiny boots,
Looking like conquerors in their finest dress suits.
The artillery rolls past with its great brass gun,
The army shouts “Victory” and hope bright as sun.

“Our schemes and our plans- our ambitions and pleasure-
“Surely the worst of adversity can weather.
“With these at our side and their strength our command,
“Why, we can relax and our bidding demand.”

As the procession passes by, there are doubts here and there:
A lace dangling free and a sock most thread bare,
Wrinkles below eyes and furtive stares,
As if some of the army was caught unawares.

But still the force marches and whilst they still do
hope springs eternal like the fresh morning dew.
The folks at the front of the crowd cheer and shout.
But those at the rear cry “Warning- Look out!”

For they see the danger most suddenly, at last,
For they see the troops are moving too fast.
“Stop! Stand Still! Stay with us for a while!”
The cries go unheeded- they’ve marched on a mile.

As the dust settles down on the old cobble stones,
The sun starts to set over the crowd and their woes;
They’ve lost their dear champions: their youth and their zeal,
Their comfort, security and their sure seal.

While the troops were a’ marching and the band was a’ playing,
The future was freedom and self was enticing.
But now all is over and deathbed anon;
For it is Time, you see, which has marched on.

Destinations

 

‘Look where you are going, or you will go where you are looking.’

  The role of Best Man is one which requires some thought, preparation and planning. Last year, on the morning of my brother’s wedding, I had all of the above. I had emails listing where and when I had to do what and how. Exact speeches and announcements were drafted and I had them fixed in my memory. My own ‘Best Man’s’ speech had been rehearsed both privately and publicly (two 5 hour car journeys the week before had allowed plenty of practice runs), my jacket pockets contained handkerchiefs, spare handkerchiefs, speech notes, spare speech notes and mints. It was 8am and I was washed, fed, dressed and ready. Having stayed the night at an out-of-town hotel, I jumped into my car (with a full tank of petrol) and set up the sat-nav. I punched the road name into ‘Address’ and clicked ‘Go!’. Within seconds I was on the open road, heading towards my brother’s house ready for a pre-ceremony meeting and prayer time.

   A few minutes along the road and I glanced at the sat-nav, 150 miles remaining, 3 hours driving time, it read.

  ‘What?’ I exclaimed. ‘Where am I going?!’

  You see, I had been too hasty in punching the ‘Go!’ button. I had chosen a road with the same name as the one upon which my brother lived- only in Bradford instead of Loughborough.

  It is very important- in life, as in marriage- to know where you are going.

  Thankfully, I had not travelled too far and had time to rectify my mistake.

  In my branch of Young Life- a Christian non-denominational youth group- we are working through a booklet called ‘Ignite’. Each week (excluding bonfire parties, Christmas parties and the like) our Friday night programme is based around a biblical topic in the book. In two week’s time our theme is entitled ‘Me? A Christian?’ and is looking at the issue of assurance- how can anyone be sure that Jesus Christ has forgiven them their sins and that they have a place in Heaven.

  As a young Christian I struggled with this issue- and, I think it is fair to say, no Christian can say that they are free from occasional fears on this score.

  When someone stands up in court to testify, they are giving a solemn promise that what they say is true. Of course, having watched plenty of detective films and tv shows, we all know that these testimonies can, in fact, be as much use a chocolate fire guard. When God, however, gives us a testimony, we can trust it implicitly. Truth is intrinsic to God’s very nature and therefore he cannot lie. We know this to be true, but sometimes our emotions and feelings rush away with us and we fail to see the significance. Read these verse, remembering that God cannot and will not lie:

“This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
1 John 5:11-13 

    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9

    “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9

  If we have come to realise that we are sinners- people who have rejected God’s lordship over our lives and tried to live without him as King- and have confessed this to him, and have asked his forgiveness then we have been saved. Jesus has never turned anyone away, whatever the devil tries to whisper in our ears (metaphorically speaking).

  C.S. Lewis wrote an amazingly insightful book called ‘The Screwtape Letters’ in which he shares the fictitious correspondence between a Senior Undersecretary for Temptation and a Junior Tempter as the latter attempts to trick and deceive a young Christian into rejecting God. In one such letter, Uncle Screwtape is advising his nephew, Wormwood, who’s ‘patient’ is in a spiritual ‘trough’.

“Do not let him suspect the law of undulation. Let him assume that the first ardours of his conversion might have been expected to last, and ought to have lasted, forever, and that his present dryness is an equally permanent condition. Having once got this misconception well fixed in his head, you may then proceed in various ways.”

  Do you see the trickery at play here? Often after we have asked Christ’s forgiveness and become Christians, or been baptised or done some other thing for Jesus, we suffer what seems to be a great spiritual drain. We feel ‘dry’. It could almost be described as anti-climatic. Seeing our lack of enthusiasm and joy, we immediately assume that we never truly became Christians, we assume that we were deceiving ourselves.

  Our eternal life is not- I repeat NOT- based on our own feelings or emotions. It is based on Jesus Christ- the beloved Son of God- laying down his own life to pay the penalty we deserve for our sin.

  Do you remember after Jesus first started his public ministry and was baptised, how he was led into the wilderness for 40 days? He was alone, without food and water, far from any encouragement or support. Yet when tempted by the devil he stood firm on the promises and instructions given in God’s Word.

  When we find the Christian life a struggle, when we are tempted to doubt our very salvation, we must turn to the word of God and read and re-read the promises of God. He will never abandon those whom he has saved.

  Perhaps you feel that God cannot accept you? Perhaps you fear that you have done too many things contrary to the Bible? Perhaps you fear that Jesus Christ would never have died for someone like you? Read the words of this old hymn and be comforted because Jesus said “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out…For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life…”

 

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready waits to save you,
Full of pity, love and pow'r:
He is able, He is able,
He is willing, doubt no more.

Come, ye needy, come and welcome;
God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings us nigh,
Without money, without money,
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him:
This He gives you, this He gives you,
'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you're better,
You will never come at all:
Not the righteous, not the righteous,
Sinners Jesus came to call.

Agonizing in the garden,
Your Redeemer prostrate lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him!
Hear Him cry, before He dies,
"It is finished!" "It is finished!"
Sinner, will not this suffice?

Lo! th' incarnate God, ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood;
Venture on Him, venture wholly;
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus, none but Jesus,
Can do helpless sinners good.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/1032#ixzz2BelQqMSS

aV4u: Deuteronomy 29 v 29

“British soldiers are taught to handle their rifles in the dark. Not just to fire them at night, but also to dismantle them, clean and reassemble them in the most adverse conditions or even with blindfolds on. Whenever needed, they are to be ready, at hand and available for use instantly. God’s word is a far more powerful weapon and likewise, we must become familiar with it, know it inside out and ready to quote it at a moment’s notice if we are to be effective soldiers in the Lord’s army.”
_{Taken from the Young Life Invest Scheme}

 
   Last week’s memory verses were taken from a well known passage of the bible. Colossians chapter 1 verses 15 and 16 are a awe inspiring reminder of the majesty and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  This week’s memory verse is somewhat different:

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”  Deuteronomy 29:29

   In these days of space-flight, ballistic missiles, smart-phones, GPS, facebook and kindle e-books it is easy to assume that us humans are doing pretty good, thank you very much. Perhaps in light of the recent economic crashes, terrorist atrocities and failures of our politicians, bankers and journalists we realise that actually ‘us humans’ don’t have all the answers- or even all the questions!

   The scriptures remind us that we are like clay being moulded by a master potter- the Lord God. Our knowledge of God, the universe and morality are like a grain of sand in the Sahara desert. As this verse says, the secret things belong to the Lord our God.

   But it doesn’t end there: the Lord has chosen to reveal many things to us, including the greatest message of all creation. Through faith in Jesus Christ we can each be forgiven for our sins and can know God in a personal and very real manner.

   It has been said that ‘the Bible contains the Word of God.’ This is wrong.

   The Bible is the Word of God.

   In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he makes it clear that the scriptures contain wisdom which shows us the way to salvation. He goes on to say that the bible can instruct and guide us that ‘the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.’ Our verse continues this theme, explaining that God’s revealed Word is given to us to be a blessing to us!

Lets read it, and learn it, and live it!

aV4u: Colossians 1:15-16

  Memorising bible verses and passages is a great discipline to get into! When faced with a tricky situation or a tempting opportunity, how can you know what to do, unless you know what God has said in his written word? If you truly want to understand God’s will for your life, then the bible is the only place to turn; its there that he lays out his plan and desire for you. When you have mucked up, and have sinned against your God and King, where else can you turn to be encouraged and reminded of God’s grace and forgiveness but the Bible?

  My bible memorising has never been greatly organised- but whenever I have managed to get into the discipline I have always found it a wonderful blessing. Starting today, I plan, with God’s help, to learn a new passage every week. Why not join me?

  For week #1 I have chosen Colossians 1 verses 15 and 16.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him.” 

   This is a beautiful passage, talking about our saviour the Lord Jesus Christ- where better to start?! We are told that Jesus is ‘the image of the invisible God’. How, I ask myself, can we have an image of something invisible? Surely the answer is this: when we read about Jesus and see his divinity, his righteousness, his kindness, his love and his sorrow, we are ‘seeing’ the attributes of the invisible God. 

  It is also a great encouragement to be reminded that despite the wars, poverty and state-sanctioned persecution we can see across the globe, ultimately Jesus Christ created all kingdoms and governments, and they will be held to account and will glorify him. Elsewhere in scripture we are told that one day ‘at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’

  For these reasons, amongst many others, I have chosen Colossians 1 verses 15 and 16 as this week’s ‘a verse 4 u’!

 

P.S. Mark Altrogge has a fantastic 3 minute-long song available to help learn this passage!

Pascal’s Gambit

Otherwise known as Pascal’s Wager.

Blaise Pascal, a seventeenth-century philosopher and Christian, devised a logical reasoned argument which followed these lines:

1. Either God is, or God ‘is not’.
2. The existence of a God cannot ever be fully proved or disproved through reason or science.
3. Everyone must choose whether to live as if there is or isn’t a God.
4. You must wager.
5. The gain and loss of living for God: If he is, you gain everything. If he isn’t, you lose nothing.
6. Therefore, live as if there is a God.

He used some longer words and more weighty sentences, but the basics of ‘Pascal’s Gambit’ are there presented to you.

Here is my question:

Was Blaise Pascal correct biblically speaking?

By this I do not mean ‘Is there a God?’

I do mean: is believing in God the logical thing to do; the ‘safe bet’ biblically speaking?

Before casting your vote have a glance at 1 Corinthians 15 and especially verse 19.

It’s a tough question to ask. Please have a think, and cast you vote in my open poll.

Fooled Britannia?

Will Britons ever, ever, ever be slaves?

  Sunday 9th September, 2012.

  So ends a summer to rival all summers. River pageants, a concert outside Buckingham Palace, Fireworks, Grand Ceremonies, British skits and sketches, a skydiving 86 year-old Queen escorted by a fictional super-spy, 65 British Olympic Medals including 29 Gold, 120 Paralympic Medals including 34 Gold, Spice Girls on Taxis (Snakes on a Plane?), Mr Bean on the keyboard, stacks of world records broken… I could go on.

Is it any wonder then that hundreds of people roared out that rousing chorus on Saturday night’s ‘Final Night of the Proms’:

Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves!
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves!

Examining all the evidence one quickly concludes that London 2012 was a brilliant success. For starters: no major security incidents, something which we should be greatly thankful for (although I imagine most people will be more prepared to praise the skills of G4 than the mercy of God for that particular blessing). I didn’t visit London myself (except for a short trip out of St Pancras for family business), however I have heard loads of first and second hand reports of the great ‘Olympic Spirit’: bucket-loads of friendliness, support, kindness and ‘pulling together’ (remember the stories of Blitz-time London). Just a short while ago, the radio jockeys were describing how, at a concert last weekend, everyone respected one another during the performances and, afterwards, tidied up their litter and left the park spick and span.

  We can certainly say that this ‘Olympic Spirit’ does seem to be a reality and that no reasonable common-sensical soul would mock its positive social aftershock.

  Here it comes…. you knew it would eventually (I’m not normally this positive!):

  But…

  Even in this summer of content, many Britons- indeed many Londoners- are slaves.

  Reading what I have just written has sent a little shiver down my proverbial spine. What an outlandish and repugnant thing to say: that honest, hard-working, cheerful British citizens in this Olympic and Jubilee year are slaves. Its not just stupid and deluded to say such a wild thing- its also brazen and fanatical, is it not? To claim that many Britons are slaves is- correct me if I am wrong- a crazed and arrogant accusation to make. Where, you might ask, did you surmise that from? Your own proud heart, full of delusions of self-grandeur?

  Did I not see, on the BBC no less, those hundreds of British folk bellowing from the deepest depths of their lungs that ‘Britons never, never, never shall be slaves!’?

  Allow me to answer you with another question:

  Do you think that in 50 years time- no scrap that, make it in 10 years time- do you think that in 10 years time Britain will be an idyllic country with no unemployment, no bent politicians, no mega-rich bankers, no murderers?

  Answer?

Another question for you:

   Do you think that in even 5 years time neighbours will be spending time together, sharing laughter and joy together? That is the promise of the Olympic Spirit, after all. David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has said that we must find a way to ‘bottle it up’ and to preserve it for future years.

   Can you picture weekly, or even monthly, street parties? Where will all the bunting come from?

   And what happens when England loses at football? What happens when our cricketers muck up again? Will their be any great Olympic Spirit then? Or does it only work when things are going our way?

   Anyone with an ounce of sense and observance will realise that this world doesn’t always work in a wonderful way. Why not? If we honestly examine this planet then the only conclusion we can reach is this: humans are flawed. The news this week is filled with hate and disruption. It appears in violent and extreme forms- the wicked actions in the Alps this last week are obvious reminders of mankind’s destructive capabilities. Syria. Sudan. Nigeria.  And the extreme cases are not confined to beyond our shores either. I heard of a case of murder not 10 miles from my home only this week. 

  We don’t always do what we should do. No amount of Olympic Sprit- great though it is- will ever solve that problem.

   The bible has a serious term for this: sin. Sin is disobedience to God’s wishes. If we did all live by God’s guidance then this world wouldn’t be flawed such as it is. The bible has a quite graphic picture of our condition, it calls us ‘slaves to sin.’  Although we might wish to break away from our own destructive lifestyles and decisions, we are chained to them. We cannot escape from their hold over us. Outside help is needed.

Will Britons ever, ever, ever be slaves?

   Perhaps when we observe the hatred of one man for another, and the seemingly unending waves of violence, thieving, rioting, deceiving and chaos across every continent and land, we are tempted to blame God. The bible offers several possible reasonings to the problem of slavery to sin. But the most poignant and powerful act in the whole history of mankind, recorded in the bible, is this:

Jesus Christ wore the shackles of slavery and imprisonment so that I could remove mine.

   Through his death- and resurrection from death!- we can find everlasting life, peace and happiness.  I can now boldly say that I am free.

Will Britons ever, ever, ever be slaves?

   Sadly, the answer is yes. Sin is a destructive slave-catcher. Once you are caught in his chains, nothing you can do will free you from sin. Only the death of God himself, for his people, could satisfy the judgement required. Although Britons might well be slaves, Christians can be freed from slavery and can live free lives.

   So enjoy this summer. Enjoy the laughter, the successes, the British victories, the fireworks, the atmosphere and the spirit. But remember that your soul’s safety is of much more vital importance: Are you a slave to sin?

Take Heart my Soul

  Psalm 27 is a wonderful Psalm…but then, I suppose they all are.

  I recently was given a book entitled Wordsmithy. Its a series of biblical tips and hints for people who, in one form or another, write. One of its more controversial ideas is diversity. Simply put, the author suggests that a writer of fiction should attempt to write short essays listing facts. Sonnet writers should attempt to pen logical treatise on science. Biographers must write love songs. You get the idea.

  Basically: try your hand at something new.

  With that in mind, I have scrawled down a few verses which, one way or t’other, resemble something akin to a hymn.

Realising that all good hymns are based on either a single verse, a whole chapter, or a reoccurring theme of scripture, I have based mine on Psalm 27- my favourite psalm. The main thrust of the psalm is this: God is supreme and caring therefore I want to be with him.

  N.B. Unfortunately I have had to squeeze an extra syllable into verse 4. If anyone has any thoughts on a remedy, please let me know!

Take heart my soul and strengthened be,
The Lord thy fortress is.
My light and my salvation he,
I need not be afraid.

Intent on evil, some will wage
a war against my soul.
But under God’s most righteous sight,
they stumble and shall fall.

Though warriors encamp around my walls,
my heart shall never fear.
Though battles fought throughout this land,
My cry the Lord shall hear.

Gifts and status, power and wealth
small wonders deemed to be.
One thing I ask of God; tis this
with him to dwell eternally.

Upon his beauty I shall gaze,
More of his person know.
Filled thus with heaven’s deepest joy,
sweet melodies shall flow.

My parents may forsake me yet,
but thou wilt take me in.
Your goodness will I see and know,
While in this land of sin.

Hear, now O Lord, our prayer to you,
Your face, Lord, do we crave.
Take heart my soul and strengthened be
The Lord will come for thee.