Poetry corner

Look and Live!

Darkest hour

No darker night than this, The air it breathed indignity. His noble form crouched and scarred As vilest obscenities hurled devastation. Whip! Lash! Drag the creature like a dog. Make fun, smudge his face with spittle. The Nazarene now eats the dust of man, Grovels in the sewer of his transgressions.

Departure of hope

Faces penetrate the dirt of Calvary, Legs turn on heavy tread across the waste. Shoulders carry shattered dreams, While stomachs heave from sight of gruesome death. Where now is hope? Where now the life of humankind? Mind is jammed, despair grips tight; Hands tremble as they grasp uncertainty. Life sinks slowly into the abyss of death While darkness wears her coldest garment. Is there no life now for humankind? Lie down, dejection calls you to despair; The Light’s extinguished; hope is stolen!

Dawn of life

Silently, gently, a tomb receives him. A corpse, cold and still, is left alone; Bound fast, a stone seals the entrance. Darkness, death and humankind’s most evil plan Have been turned around by God in

Christ. Life’s most glorious exquisite dawn has broken! Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? Jesus is alive! No more shall evil conquer and death destroy. No more is there despair and awful separation. Hope, incomparable, is given now to humankind; The eternal God declares the Way, the Truth and the Life!

Decision of life

Consider now the God-man: Who he is, What he has done. One question he asks: ‘All this I have done for you, what will you do for me?’ Remember first the cruelties we did to him; Undeserving, on that cross He bore the guilt of our sins, then said,

‘Father, forgive them.’ The way to God is open wide to all. The way to life and light and love. Disbelieving many turn from day, Angry many go another way. Will you the Son of God reject? The darkest moments of your life can pass. Hope of saving faith is now within your grasp. Or shall nothingness and separation’s agony Divide you from this God of love? Life’s momentous hour now chimes, Calling you to look on Christ, The only Saviour and Lord: Look and live!

MAJOR JIM BRYDEN

Love’s Price

Can be sung to the tune ‘Harton Lea’

Triumphantly he cries, ‘It’s done’, The battle’s fought, the victory’s won. No more the host of Hell hold sway, For Christ has won this glorious day.

They pierced his brow with crown of thorn, Derided him with hate and scorn. ‘Forgive them, Father,’ was his cry, ‘Let not this sinful people die.’

Love held him to that cross of shame, Bearing our sin, our guilt, our shame. Love conquered all at Calvary, Setting the guilty sinner free.

Today the message is the same, Still men reject the Saviour’s claim, But those who know redeeming power Rejoice in this, his glorious hour.

BEVAN A SPENCER

The End Is Not the Grave

Jesus died, crucified, What a price he paid On the cross: suffered loss, In the tomb was laid.

There he lay, deep dismay, There his mother cried Till that dawn, Easter morn, The stone rolled open wide.

Jesus rose, conquered foes, All for us to save; Mighty story, Heaven’s glory, The end is not the grave

Life for us, paradise, When compared to Christ’s Cup of pain, who could explain This selfless sacrifice.

Because of him, we will win A place one day in Heaven; Now we live, hearts to give, Our sins will be forgiven.