INTRODUCTION |
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All but three of the poems on this page were written by Laurence J. Twinam of Sevenoaks, Kent, England.
George Milne of Birmingham put Laurie and me in touch,
Laurie has a remarkable skill of being able to set out complicated concerns clearly and concisely in verse.
This collection of poems preserves the spirit of the exercises of an extremely sorrowful period of our history.
The Scripture references in Laurie's poems are his own. The footnotes are mine.
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G. A. R.
RETROSPECT and other poems Laurence J. Twinam |
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Take the Word and humbly ponder 2 Tim 3: 15-16
Backward over recent years: Isaiah 8: 20
Why have saints been torn asunder?
God would speak to open ears.
Scandalous events in Scotland 2 Sam. 12: 14
Were the ripe and flagrant fruits; Isaiah 3: 8-9
Let us seek from God the answer – Matt. 12: 33
What the tree, and what the roots? Luke 6: 43-45
Earlier in 1970
Claim was made to be 'The Church':
Fatal pride and false presumption Rev. 3: 17
Heading for a public lurch. Prov. 16: 18
Systematic error's working Eph. 4: 4
Ousted Christ, promoted 'Paul'; 2 Cor. 11: 3
Preaching simply Christ was 'rival' – Gal. 1: 7
'One man' hailed as over all. 3 John 9
'Come with me and get to heaven' – Mark 13: 5-6
Boast of 1969 –
Set aside the claims of Jesus Eph. 2: 18
And the Spirit's power divine.
Just 'to keep the brethren happy'
Meetings fixed for every night; Matt. 23: 4
Officers to force attendance, Ezek. 34: 21
Shut up, brainwash, those who fight. Acts 20: 29
Worldly jokes in the assembly Eph. 5: 4
Came in 1968,
Causing tone of conversation
Sharply to degenerate.
Whisky drinking in the meeting Lev. 10: 9-10
Praised as 'christian liberty', Isaiah 28: 7
Further lowered moral standards Prov. 20: 1
(Gallons more drunk privately). Eph. 5: 18
Stringent sabbath regulations, Col. 2: 16
Codified in '67,
Legalising, judaising, Gal. 4: 9-10
Dimmed the character of heaven. Gal. 4: 16
Evil system's grip increasing, Eph. 4: 14
Many brethren were deceived
By the censure of excesses Rev. 3: 2
By the man whom they believed. 1 Sam. 14: 48
In the grave 'vindictive' era Matt. 18: 28
Back in 1966
'System men' were resurrected, 2 Pet. 2: 20-22
Re-installed by clever tricks. Prov. 24: 23-24
You were branded 'independent'
If you would not join the set; 1 Kings 1: 8
Current news was made essential – Judges 12: 6
'Has the latest reached you yet?' Acts 17: 21
1965 – Remember?
Re-assess it! You will find Eph. 4: 14
Temp'ry overthrow of minions Judges 9: 2
By the guiltier 'master mind'. Judges 9: 5
In this role of 'Great Deliverer' 2 Chron. 26: 15-16
Stronger yet the leader grew, Acts 12: 21-22
'Testimonial Christ', 'Apostle', 2 Cor. 11: 13
Stole the show and blocked the view. 2 Sam. 15: 16
Trace the horrors of the system Rev. 18: 2
Known in 1964
Not alone the love of money, Mark 12: 38-40
But ambition, lust for power. Rev. 17: 18
'Twas the era of confessions, Heb. 10: 21-22
Romish fashion, to a priest; Prov. 29: 5
Somebody to know your history, 1 Tim. 2: 5
Every sin, from great to least. Prov. 25: 19
No more hiring halls for meetings,
Henceforth we must build our own! Exodus 1: 13-14
Thousands, millions, pounds and dollars, Exodus 5: 6-18
Spent as brethren scrape and groan. Exodus 6: 5
And those cruel divided houses, 1 Cor. 7: 10-16
Rife in 1963,
With their deep inhuman anguish Matt. 9: 13
Sprang from deeper heresy. Matt. 7: 16-20
Stress on outward separation Matt. 23: 24
Did not check decline within! Matt. 23: 27
'Holy hands' to cook your lunches, Mark 7: 3-4
Café eating made a sin!1 Cor. 10: 30
Sep'rate-structured rooms for meetings Eccl. 7: 16
As from 1962;
Brooding over bricks and mortar, 2 Cor. 3: 6
Meetings, faces, longer grew. Titus 3: 9
'Ministry of the Revival' –
Books in black and red and blue –
Planned for re-print, but with warning
'Read mine first to get the clue'! Luke 11: 52
1961's perversion?
Christ's supreme authority Col. 1: 17-18
Claimed as vested in the 'leader'; Rev. 1: 17-18
Principles of popery! Matt. 23: 8-12
Harsh attacks on the 'religious '2 Cor. 3: 6
'Natural', 'sentimental' mind Rom. 14: 1-6
Made all spiritual meaning 1 Cor. 14: 37
Radical and ill-defined. 2 Cor. 6: 3
'Fellowship's involved in eating', Acts 27: 35
1960's edict came, Mark 7: 7-8
'Never mind that verse of Scripture, 1 Cor. 10: 27
All not with us are the same'. 1 Cor. 5: 11
It was devilishly subtle, 2 Cor. 11: 14-15
'Be more faithful' sounded right;
But that step away from Scripture 2 Pet. 3: 16
Was a sin against the light! 2 John 9
O Jesus, Lord, We own, subdued, Thou hast exposed – As Peter, meeting Thy reproachful eye, O lowly One! Keep us from pride – And then I saw an anxious nurse I realised, as I witnessed there Mercy found us in the distance Mercy followed as we wandered Though collectively we drifted Even though, in deep delusion, Till, as Satan seemed to triumph, Should we think that our importance Let us then with haste, belovèd, Watchful lest in heart we reason Lest we think we're still 'the people' – God has no respect of persons! May we covet (not we only!) The Ark is taken! Chill dismay The glory is departed! Name But see! The Ark that left it place Of old that Ark sought 'midst the waste Hear stripling David's words sublime: The battle is Jehovah's own, A thousand years of bitter fruit Abiding in His Father's love, The Christ by prophecies foretold, Alone, amidst men's moral death, Dependent, yet life-giving Sun, And when beset by pain and strife, The Ark is taken! All alone And now before His Father's face, E'en here amidst life's wear and tear, The Ark is taken! Yet we're sure No more may we discredit Thee! 'One flock, One Shepherd, there shall be' May we, as John of old, abide They gathered from Dan to Beersheba No bugle-note was sounded, They broke from the yoke of bondage, They left their churches and chapels All sects and parties we must shun – The Scriptures teach this simple road Behold the Saviour lifted up! Down through the ages rings the voice Through Christendom we sadly trace We see Christ's garments parted out Christ's earthly clothes bring many a sect How shameful as He suffers there, Mother of Jesus, treasury And parted e'en for Jesu's sake, This unpretentious band of four What if the tide of death and woe No earthly recognition theirs, A little while – then heav'nly dawn The workings of the leaven We turned away our shoulder, How beautiful the footsteps – (verse 7) Again shall Zion's watchmen (verses 7-9) In sight of all the nations (verses 10-11) For twelve long years this Scripture – What saith the faithful Scripture? (verse 12) As Jesus sat in Simon's house Both love and sorrow made her weep, Upon the mountains, beautif'ly, Though now He sits in matchless fame On earth His Name is plunged in shame, So let us weep and wash His feet, Weep on, and let the tears run down The ruin, sin and foolish pride His heart shall know, His eye assess, Arise and shine – thy light is come! 'Tis voice of Christ, the one true Light, 'Arise and shine – thy light is come!' 'Tis grace and truth in Jesus' face – 'Thy light is come!' – ours here on earth – What miracle, that light should beam 'Thy light is come!' – let us arise 'Thy light is come!' – what privilege
For Christ the Sun and Centre is O may the sweetness of His grace Our Saviour-God in tender grace And so of yore by pagan hands So soon the Name of Jesus Christ A thousand years of Romish rule, Then heavenly light shone brighter yet Insidious were the devil's plans: He stole a hundred thousand souls And fiercer flares adversity, If you wrench it, chew it, beat it Such a tough obdurate structure! Only by a special process Deep below its stubborn surface If you try it, you'll discover Peering from its gloomy prison Reckons utter alienation And it calls this wretched conduct Such distorted moral values Tell the story of the Saviour's It is plain these stern defences Subtle, daring work of Satan; For such pitiful condition Ought we not to show compassion Still we'll lift our prayers to Heaven, We turned our backs on Aberdeen and buried it from sight, Our families are broken up, our children in dismay, Our juveniles are puzzled by the doctrines which we hold, We slate the folk who leave us for turning from the light We've kept our eyes on leaders and we've turned them from the Lord, With blasting and with mildew God has warned us yearby year Shall we blunder madly onwards for another generation? The Lord is full of mercy, but we are full of sin, 1979
Penitential
With chastened, contrite hearts we turn to Thee,
Who have by Satan's craft been led, and wandered far
From love's simplicity.
The justice of Thine intervening hand.
Thou hast unveiled our shame, our wickedness,
In mercy saved us from the sinking sand.
Yea, even publicly –
Our giddy pride and monstrous worldliness
That made a god of mortal, failing man
And used Thy holy Name as sin's excuse.
Turned from his wayward course, wept bitterly,
May we, confessed deniers of Thy Name,
In penitence forthwith serve Thee dependently!
Henceforth we'd learn from Thee,
Who faultless here God's testimony bore
Available to needy beggar's cry
Yet ceaseless did Thy spirit heav'nward soar
Unique indeed! Yet pattern for us now
That pure, to God and man, our service flow.
In word, in act, in thought –
So that repentantly, yea brokenly,
Thine honoured Name alone may yet become
The rallying point for all, unitedly,
Who'd bear Thy cross and Thy disciples be.
An allusion to the green covers of J.T.Jr.'s books of 'ministry'.
Consult the good physician
About a man exclaiming oft
'The only right position!'
'Of course', (he answered with a smile)
'Just keep him flat in bed;
The right position yet awhile
For such a muddled head!'
Such curing of disease,
That Jesus Christ is healing still –
That Good Physician for the ill
Who human hearts can cure and fill –
For chronic cases these!
God's mercy making whole again
These brands plucked from the burning,
Such twentieth-century miracles
To cheer our souls' deep yearning.
Mercy
Helpless, hopeless, left to bleed,
Framed itself to our condition,
Not insisting on contrition,
Spent itself to serve our need.
Day by day through many years,
Bearing our neglect appalling,
Still its faithful pleas were falling
Constantly upon our ears.
Far from Scripture's faithful word,
Though we failed in heav'nly witness,
Mercy persevered, no whit less,
Though by sin our eyes were blurred.
We 'the church' had claimed to be,
Linking thus the Lord's own Person
With our error and perversion,
Mercy lingered patiently.
Mercy tore aside the veil,
Showed the gross and shocking evil
(Praised by agents of the devil!)
Freeing simple souls from jail.
Called on God to intervene?
We had ceased to represent Him,
Made our fellow-men resent Him,
And for years a sect had been!
From iniquity depart,
Let us then with equal vigour,
As our crimes loom worse and bigger,
Judge invet'rate pride of heart.
That our deviation sore
Was but humbling education
For some high exclusive station
Purposed for us long before.
For despite our fathers' light
We have not, as some less favoured,
(Who God's mercy also savoured)
Walked unspotted in His sight.
Mark the well-instructed Jew;
Outcast, though so much the wiser,
And of mercy a despiser
When the Gentile came in view!
Christ's unhindered company,
Not confined to mercy's chiding,
But in confidence abiding,
And in testimony free!
The Ark and the Shepherd
Part One
Sweeps through the ranks of Israel's host;
In desp'rate fight that fateful day
They'd lost their nation's sacred boast.
By mother dying at the birth;
Oh! anguish deep, abysmal shame,
And hope had perished from the earth.
Between the cherubim of gold
Makes Dagon fall upon his face,
And puts to flight its foes so bold.
Three days ahead for Israel's rest,
And Jordan's waters backward chased;
Now God again is manifest!
(His sheep and lambs in keeper's care)
'This overwhelming Philistine
Shall be as vanquished lion and bear!'
He saveth not by sword and spear!
Despisèd shepherd's sling and stone
To end Goliath's proud career!
Part Two
Roll by, then Jesus walks on earth,
The One true Ark, and David's Root,
The Word made flesh; what peerless worth!
So lowly, yet the Infinite;
Descent of Spirit as a dove
On Him below, Oh what a sight!
Fulfilling Scripture's types of old;
Acacia overlaid with gold,
The Manna, budding Rod, behold!
From Babe to full maturity;
Though holding in His hands their breath,
Content in His obscurity!
Defenceless, yet in power divine;
The Shepherd-heart that tends each one
Expressed in toil, in word and sign.
Those sheep He hid till all was past;
He gives to them eternal life,
But bore for them death's searing blast.
He met God's judgment, Satan's power,
But angel's voice in rapt'rous tone
Proclaims His resurrection-hour!
The Centre of delight supreme
Fore-runner He of heav'nly race
Whose bursts of praise shall swell that scene!
Part Three
Where powers of darkness prove their sway,
Thy precious Name beyond compare
Turns deep depression into day!
(Though grievous past we cannot cure)
God's testimony will endure;
In Thee His glory rests secure.
Yet Thine own victory we share,
Who meet'st each crisis valiantly,
And keep'st us safe within Thy care.
Thou saidst, O Lord, when here below;
Who but Thyself can draw to Thee
Thy sheep so scattered by the foe?
(By Spirit's power) in Thee above,
Where help of all the flock's supplied
From Thine exhaustless heart of love!
One Flock
To Adullam's safe retreat,
Their faces were lean and hungry
But they came with quickened feet;
Debtors and 'dropouts' howe'er extreme,
Seeking relief from Saul's regime,
Disgruntled warriors of Saul's employ,
Despondent sage, and shepherd boy,
Left house and shop and farm and tent,
The realm of Saul and all it meant,
For David, secure and free!
But the call was plain and clear,
Release from repressive tyranny,
False religion's vain career!
Inspiring call to the Monarchy,
To God's anointed King!
His presence brightened Adullam's cave,
The psalmist sweet was their captain brave;
He taught them how to sing,
Sharing their sorrows, calming their fears,
And knitting their hearts as one.
And strong sectarian ties,
They abandoned their cherished customs,
As the scales fell from their eyes.
They gathered unto Jesus
As they heard the Shepherd's voice,
And separated from evil,
His holy Name their choice.
And individual ways,
Charmed by the Saviour's kindness,
Rejoicing in His praise,
To share in His rejection
And in His coming reign,
To prove His deep affection
Whate'er the present pain!
'One flock, one Shepherd' His soul's desire –
May all our hearts be set on fire.
KLG: Acronym commonly applied to the Kelly Lowe Grant/Glanton
amalgamation, aka 'Reunited'
– but recently re-divided.
The Bible says Christ's body's one –
Yet we must also walk aright
And be obedient in God's sight.
For humble souls to walk with God,
So isn't it a tragedy
That godly brethren can't agree?
Foursquare
And hear the words He cried;
He draws together into one –
From furthest east to setting sun –
God's children scattered wide.
Of Jesus crucified:
'And I, if I be lifted up'
(To drink that bitter judgment cup)
'Draw all to Me', He cried.
The ravages of pride,
But as we see Him hanging there,
Our twentieth-century sins to bear,
We'll rally to His side!
To sects on every side,
While for His seamless body-coat –
Such mystery doth it denote –
Men strive; it won't divide.
Some earthly recognition,
But some contend in subtler guise
For body-coat – a prouder prize –
An 'only-right Position'!
Each wretched rival claim!
Yet by His cross four women stand,
A loyal and devoted band,
Who reverence His Name.
Of precious memories past,
And by her side her sister too,
Less privileged but just as true,
Devoted to the last.
From husband, Clopas' wife
With Mary (ex-demoniac)
Stands steadfast in that hour so black
Amidst the shameful strife.
Drawn close to Jesu's side
Show how His gathr'ing grace calls forth
From east and west, from south and north,
Gods' children scattered wide.
Is bursting o'er its banks?
They stand in their diversity,
Knit fast by fierce adversity,
A resolute phalanx!
No pressing of their claim,
No striving for His body-coat –
No thought from them is more remote –
Just holding fast His Name!
And Mary Magdalene,
Whose faithful tears His grave still tend,
Hears sweeter words than e'er were penned:
'Go tell my brethren I ascend'!
Relationships that know no end
With Jesus now they apprehend;
A universe serene!
Unity as Presented in Paul's Epistles, meetings with
G. R. Cowell, London, July 14-16, 1959.
The notes – which Stow Hill Depot did not publish –
were published later by Philip Haddad.
Of hard, ambitious pride
To public shame and ruin
Were clearly prophesied;
The Spirit's patient pleadings
Were hidden from our eyes;
In bigoted delusion
We called them compromise!
We madly stopped our ears,
And those who tried to save us
Were targets for our spears!
Yet still the blood and water's
Redeeming, cleansing flow
Remains, the perfect answer
To all our guilt and woe.
Glad tidings of great joy –
Upon the radiant mountains:
True publishers' employ!
Exuberant the message
Of righteousness and peace;
A dozen years perverted,
But hail the Lord's release!
See eager eye to eye,
Lift up their voice together
Beneath a cloudless sky;
For Zion's Monarch reigneth,
And Zion He'll restore,
e comforteth His people;
His mercy we adore!
Our God hath bared His arm,
Displaying sovereign mercy,
Deliv'ring us from harm;
Depart from cruel oppression,
And touch not aught unclean!
Jehovah's ransomed vessels
Restored to holy sheen!
Isaiah 52 –
Has testified against us,
But to God's mercy, too;
O let us then, repentant,
Give glory to our God,
Whose faithfulness and patience
Has tracked the path we trod!
'Ye shall not go with haste'!
O how our legal frenzy
Away from God has raced!
But He has gone before us,
He rides upon the storm,
As Rearguard He'll preserve us;
His gath'ring love how warm!
In Simon's House
A weeping woman washed His feet,
Oblivious to Simon's pride,
Repentant sinner from the street.
The Saviour's lonely heart she cheered;
Forgiven much, her love ran deep,
What minded she if Simon sneered?
Those feet of Jesus never failed,
Expressing grace so perfectly
Till on the cross so cruelly nailed.
Beyond this scene of death and woe,
His tender heart feels just the same
The plight of Christendom below.
Though oft He's men's invited Guest
To foster some religious claim
In which His soul can find no rest.
'Twill satisfy our Lord's desire;
If chilly blasts our efforts greet
Our feeble sparks they'll fan to fire!
For every schism, every sect!
(Let clerics smile or clerics frown) –
For deep the breach of God's elect!
Within, around, we'd fully own;
We'd nothing claim and nothing hide,
Abandon all for Christ alone.
His voice shall speak 'Go thou in peace'.
What compensation to possess;
May our committal yet increase!
Arise and Shine
Words strangely bold to sleepy saint –
How can we shine, in such disgrace,
Our whole head sick, our whole heart faint?
Who shed once here His precious rays,
Whom Stephen saw, who dazzled Saul
In heav'nly splendour's glorious blaze.
How penetrating, yet benign,
Exposing us, yet tenderly
His grace and truth upon us shine.
O peerless beneficial beam!
To melt our ice, to cure our woe,
To flood our souls with joy supreme!
God gave so freely in His Son
That even now an ans'ring beam
Should shine from hearts this grace has won.
From pris'ners once of sin and shame!
God's grace alone such works could do
To spread the news of Jesu's fame.
In lowly Spirit-given power,
Repentant that our light grew dim,
To brightly shine this last brief hour.
To hold the ground that Jesus won,
Till all the shadows flee away
As rapture greets the rising Sun!
C of E: Common abbreviation
for the Church of England.
Splinter 93: Hyperbole – or is it?
Of all, divine and human;
Although we're objects of His grace,
Receiving more than we could trace,
The glory in our Saviour's face
Extends to all the depths of space!
He holds the Universe in place,
Not only men and women!
So win our hearts entire,
That in this world in which He died
A mightier force than draws earth's tide
And holds each star through heavens wide
– The love of Christ once crucified –
May all our deepest motives guide!
Then, like the stars, we'll not collide;
In faithful orbit we'll abide
Round Him, our hearts' desire!
Watchman, What of the Night?
Shone out in Jesus Christ below;
The hearts and souls of sinful men
Were stirred and won by heaven's glow;
Today, for ever, He's the Same,
Beyond the range of Satan's spite;
But Hell its hateful skills employs,
Enshrouding souls in darkest night.
The faithful blood of martyrs flowed,
Yet still the Gospel's living power
Sprang thousand-fold from seed they sowed!
Frustrated in their murderous purge,
The lords of Hades changed their plan;
They'd subtly work within the church,
Displacing Christ, exalting man.
Was sullied by a papal crown,
Ecclesiastics' wealth and greed
Besmirched the Saviour's high renown;
With Scriptures chained beyond their reach,
Pathetic masses were deceived
To pay these wicked schemers fees
If e'er to heaven they'd be received.
Then Reformation's dawn awoke,
And holy joy filled myriad souls
Whose faith embraced the words God spoke;
Rome's fortress breached, Hell's hateful hordes,
Inflamed with rage to meet their match,
By cunning and diplomacy
Strove desperately men's souls to snatch.
Of Jesus Christ's one Body here;
In many lands rang out the cry
'Behold the Bridegroom' loud and clear!
The devil, though a roaring lion,
Had learned that violence wouldn't pay;
He used the finest intellects
To blur the Spirit's shining ray.
Authoritative ministry
Eclipsing Scripture, Christ Himself,
So subtly, so audaciously!
Then bolder still, the devil took
A form of ultra-sanctity;
'Angel of light's' astute disguise
For lust, ambition, heresy.
From Spirit-taught simplicity,
But Mercy tore away his mask,
Exposed corruption, blasphemy!
'Twas Mercy's work; may myriads more
Deliverance find, O Lord in Thee
Who savest to the uttermost
Souls heading for apostasy!
And only chaos, outwardly
Remains of church recovery,
'Tis thus, O Lord, we hide in Thee
Impregnable, beyond alarms;
Thy grace and succour comfort us
And steel our nerve amidst the storms;
Content are we in suff'rings till
Thy rising sun our night-watch warms!
Impregnable?
Drop it from a dizzy height,
Soak it, boil it, freeze it, scorch it,
You will never win the fight!
Such attacks will never win;
If you waste your time and vigour
You will scarcely scratch its skin.
(Details known to very few)
Could an object so resistant
Be produced and placed on view.
Captive lies a human heart;
Urgent reason for endeavour –
Rescue, succour, to impart.
That your efforts are in vain;
All advances are unwanted,
And are viewed with deep disdain.
Is a strange perverted pride
In its ruthless separation;
Nobody shall get inside!
Means from danger it is saved!
Tragic truth: a helpless mortal
By a wicked power's enslaved!
Purest Christianity –
Though a drunkard or blasphemer –
Pinnacle of vanity!
Do not come from God above:
They're intended to discredit
God, the source of light and love.
Death to set the captive free:
If you don't support the system,
It's as bad as heresy!
Aren't to keep the Devil out;
But to dupe and guard his victims,
That is why they're built so stout.
Such pathetic human plight;
Substituting for the Gospel
Principles of darkest night!
Is there then no remedy?
Jesus overcame the Devil,
None is mightier than He!
Even to the impolite?
Were it not for boundless mercy,
We would also shun the light.
Interceding that His hand,
Full of grace and power and wisdom,
May frustrate what Hell has planned.
Cri de Coeur
The seventies are nearly through, the eighties lie ahead;
Could they be worse? The very thought just fills our hearts with dread –
We've tried to be submissive, to follow in the way,
But now we know the frightful price we all have had to pay.
Hosea 8: 7; Prov. 14: 12; Gal. 6: 7; ——
Though in our heart of hearts we knew that things were far from right;
We've stumbled on in darkness for another whole decade
Getting more and more entangled in the mess that we have made.
Eccl. 3: 15; ——; Isaiah 9: 10; John 10: 11
The harmony of Christian life has simply flown away;
It's really just hypocrisy to say we keep God's word
When our problems are so scandalous that all the world has heard.
Isaiah 57: 20-21; ——; Jer. 7: 10; ——
Our witness is in deep decline, and dimmed our shining gold;
We complain of being slandered by the people we despise
Yet constantly it's pretty clear it's us who told the lies.
Lam. 4: 4; Lam. 4: 1; Isaiah 59: 4; ——
Yet often they were just the ones whose faces sparkled bright,
And it's us who turn the shoulder and us who stop our ears
From the people who still pray for us, and even plead with tears.
Acts 7: 15; Zech. 7: 11; Lam. 3: 48; ——
We've gorged ourselves with ministry but failed to keep God's word,
We still assume that we alone are faithful to the truth
And since our heads are in the sand we're deaf to all reproof.
Matt. 6: 23; Matt. 15: 6; Prov. 1: 25; ——
But we still refused to listen though His speaking was severe;
We paid Him scant attention, we gloried in our shame
And caused the world to mock at God, blaspheme Christ's holy Name!
Haggai 2: 7; Phil. 3: 19; 2 Sam. 12: 14; ——
He who rouses us from slumber shed His blood for our salvation!
Let us fly to Him for refuge, for He will not turn away
Poor fugitives from Satan's power who own they've gone astray.
Isaiah 53: 6; Eph. 5: 14; Heb. 7: 25; ——
We need His Holy Spirit's power to cleanse our hearts within,
Then the folk around will wonder at our rescue from disaster
When they see us walking humbly in the footsteps of our Master.
Luke 5: 8; James 4: 8; Micah 6: 8; 1 Peter 2: 21
A HEAVENLY INVITATION L. I. C. (name unknown) 11.9.64 |
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The invitations now are out
For meetings all around,
Inviting saints from near and far
Of spiritual renown.
They changed the list, but still it was
My name just wasn't there;
I choked at first, and swallowed hard
And said I didn't care,
'Cause after all, who made the list –
It simply isn't fair.
I read a lot, and every night
I'm sure to have my prayer.
I used to go most all the time
To eight or ten a year.
Don't they know I want to go –
I've got to see who's there!
It bothered me; the more I thought
The worse I felt inside.
The pain continued more and more
Until I even cried.
And then an invitation came
Addressed I'm sure to me!
Not just a weekend for to spend
But for eternity.
'Come up here …' is all it said
To scare away the birds
Of jealousy and evil thoughts
My mind had entertained
Of those God told to leave me out
I jealously had blamed.
So now I'm not left out;
I've not been left alone.
If this is where I'll serve Him best
I don't mind staying home.
'TWAS A SHEEP NOT A LAMB Anonymous |
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Twas a sheep not a lamb that went astray
In the parable Jesus told.
'Twas a grown sheep that wandered away
From the ninety and nine in the fold.
And out on the hilltop, and out in the cold,
'Twas a sheep that the Good Shepherd sought.
Back to the fold and back to the flock,
'Twas a sheep that the Good Shepherd brought.
Now, why should the sheep be so carefully fed
And cared for even to-day?
Because there is danger if they go wrong,
They will lead the lambs astray.
The lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Where'er they wander – where'er they go.
If the sheep goes wrong, it will not be long
Till the lambs are as wrong as they.
So still with the sheep we must earnestly plead,
For the sake of the lambs to-day.
If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost
The sheep will have to pay!
DRAMA AT BARBADOS – 1970 Robert Stott (1902-76) |
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It's a meeting of the ROLYAT's to exalt their chosen man,
But it's easy to detect the rift that's come within the clan.
There's a mighty deep depression on that Island, hard to stem,
'It is very, very serious', are the words of GRM.
To 'the spirit of our brother' some refer and think of jokes,
You have only seen the scaffolding, we're sorry for you folks!
What he did was apostolic, this includes what has occurred.
Some may think that alcoholic is a more appropriate word!
I am very, very worried, there are troublous times ahead,
A rival line is current, and the signals are at red.
A misinterpretation has occurred, of Aberdeen,
Who can tell the final damage when the last results are seen?
This disturbing kind of doctrine re the woman in John 4
With its false insinuations of behaviour bad, 'and more';
And the sexualizing Scripture, funny things are going on,
And of persons fit to challenge, why there isn't even one!
So a man is what is needed now in Britain, to protect
The country from the heresy that's current in the sect;
Some haven't heard of it at all because they block their ears,
A man, not pygmies, is required to quell their latent fears.
Of women to fulfil their part, there are not just a few;
The clashing to give out their hymns has formed into a queue,
And, contrary to Scripture, they present a brazen look,
A brand new set of sisters with initials in the book!
O these meeting are just boring, says one gloomy malcontent,
We have better times in Harrow, this is money just misspent.
Says the doctor, shocked and worried, Do you think that I'm a clown?
Clowns, buffoons and foolish jesters are procurable downtown!
So the drama keeps unfolding – Ealing, Preston, Aberdeen,
And Barbados – read about it in the number 3 book green!
But reflect, there's nothing like it in the teaching of JT.
What declension and departure from the things that used to be!
1971
Explanatory Notes to 'Drama at Barbados'
The beloved: after his death – Oct. 14, 1970 – JTJr was commonly referred to as 'our beloved'.
Hebrew: JTJr often said he was speaking it 'spiritually'. GRM: Dr. George R. Maynard of Barbados, "the doctor" of verse 8, later withdrew. We enjoyed an evening with George and Gloria in the mid 1970's, when they visited in Toronto. Scaffolding: the laughter induced was commonly so called. Occurred: refers to the behavior at Aberdeen. False insinuations: wicked suggestions as to our Lord. Queue: sisters gave out hymns – and even spoke in meetings, Harrow: the couple who acquired universal notoriety through the incidents in the house at Aberdeen lived in Harrow. Green: does not refer to JTJr's 'ministry', commonly called the 'green books' from their cover colour, but to subsequent 'Readings at Nostrand Avenue and Other Ministry' – Vol. 3. JT: The universally respected James Taylor, Sr. (1870-1953) faithfully served the saints in ministry for over 50 years. G.A.R. |