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Showing posts from November, 2007

"Afraid? Of What?" (Poem)

"Afraid? Of What?" Afraid? Of what? To feel the spirit's glad release? To pass from pain to perfect peace, The strife and strain of life to cease? Afraid? Of that? Afraid? Of what? Afraid to see the Saviour's face, To hear His welcome, and to trace, The glory gleam from wounds of grace, Afraid? Of that? Afraid? Of what? A flash - a crash - a pierced heart; Brief darkness - Light - O Heaven's art! A wound of His a counterpart! Afraid? Of that? Afraid? Of what? To enter into Heaven's rest, And yet to serve the Master blessed? From service good to service best? Afraid? Of that? Afraid? Of what? To do by death what life could not - Baptize with blood a stony plot, Till souls shall blossom from the spot? Afraid? Of that? This poem was written by E.H. Hamilton, after hearing of the death of his missionary colleague Jack Vinson. Vinson was martyred in 1931 and showed no fear of death to his Chinese captors, telling them, "Kill me, if you wish. I will go straight...

Christ Died For Us – We Die For Christ (Poem)

Christ Died For Us – We Die For Christ By Francis H. Rose (A Christian martyr in the Philippines in 1943) All human progress up to God Has stained the stairs of time with blood; For every gain for Christendom, Is bought by someone’s martyrdom, Not ours alone, nor man’s alone. In furnace fire, a faithful three, Though bound in chains, in spirit free; A Fourth drew near with shining feet And walked with them through livid heat. A king’s defeat! A king’s defeat! On seething sea, in darkest night, The shipwrecked saw a Walking Light, Defying wave and wind and deep, He put the wind and wave to sleep. Ah, He will keep! Ah, He will keep! With tend’rest touch He heals our ills, And from His well of life He fills With living water, strength divine, Each thirsting branch of this His vine; For He is mine, and He is mine! For us He poured the crimson cup, And bade us take and drink it up. Himself He poured to set us free, Help us, O Christ, though few we be, To drink with Thee; To drink life’s cup...