MALCOLM’S THIRD BIRTHDAY

Malcolm, now you are three years old.

You have become more precious than gold.

We love to watch your life unfold,

As you give us blessings untold.

Because you have won our favour,

We will teach you about your Saviour,

In your good and bad behaviour,

Our love for you will not waver.

You are part of our family.

Even though sometimes we are silly,

We hope that you will see it clearly,

That we love each other dearly.

GOOD FRIDAY 2015

Will I ever really know the reason why,

God chose to send his own Son to die?

Did he have to make this sacrifice?

To save us, would some other plan suffice?

It was my sin that nailed Jesus to the cross.

It was for me he suffered pain and loss.

On this holy day, I would like to say,

I have a debt I can never repay.

What Difference Does Christmas Make?

Why celebrate on a cold day in December?

What makes the twenty-fifth a day to remember?

Is it about watching your kids opening their gifts?

Then, what do we do about the kids that are missed?

Why do we decorate our houses and send cards?

And some even set up displays in their front yards?

We do lots of things to make our children smile.

Is that what makes the Christmas season worthwhile?

No, Christmas is a time when we celebrate a birth.

That is what gives this winter day its real worth.

We do not know the exact day that Jesus came.

But we know that he did not seek worldly fame.

To many it sounds like the greatest of insanities.

That the Creator of the world took on humanity.

People all over the world sing songs of great joy,

Because the all-powerful One came as a baby boy.

Jesus left his heavenly throne for a manger.

Yet his own people received him as a stranger.

An angel choir sang to announce his arrival,

But a wicked king saw him only as a rival.

It was with joy they heard that host of angels sing,

Humble shepherds ran to see the coming King.

His birth prompted magi to journey from afar,

They came to worship Him when they saw his star.

When the King of kings was born in Bethlehem town,

You would think His coming would receive some renown,

But almost everyone failed to notice this great event.

It took faith to see that this Babe was heaven sent.

It is because Jesus came to bring salvation,

That we now have this wonderful celebration.

But we know that it would be a terrible loss,

If we focused on the manger and forgot the Cross.

THANKSGIVING POEM 2014

Heavenly Father, we are gathered on this day,

To give thanks for the debt that we can never repay.

We remember the gift of your one and only Son,

And the work of salvation that Jesus has done.

In a world full of turmoil and war you have given us peace.

In a world full of hunger you have given us a feast.

The blessings you have bestowed are more than words can express.

We know that without you we would be in deep distress.

May we show our thanks by sharing what you have given us,

With all those that are suffering with pain we won’t discuss.

We can’t pay you back for you are rich beyond all measure.

But you have called us to share with others your treasure.

For how can we say that we have a heart of thanksgiving,

If we do not respond with a spirit of giving?

On this day and always may we honor your blessings,

By sharing your blessings and with hearts full of singing.

Here is a prayer poem based on the acronym ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) which I have written and adapted for use in public prayers.

ADORATION

Creator God, we are here to praise Your glorious name,

For You call all the billions and billions of stars by name.

Redeemer God, we can only bow humbly at your feet,

For You alone all the powers of hell did defeat.

Heavenly Father, we kneel in worship and adoration.

Your power is vastly beyond our imagination.

Your wisdom and knowledge is so infinite and vast.

You see everything that is present, future and past.

You alone are worthy of all our worship and praise.

May we love and honour You all of the rest of our days.

Jesus, we cannot thank You enough for Your sacrifice.

For our sins, it was the only payment that would suffice.

We come as sinful creatures before the Holy One.

Yet we come in the precious name of the beloved Son.

We come boldly before the heavenly throne of grace.

We come as needy children seeking the Father’s face.

CONFESSION

Heavenly Father, we are so weak and twisted and frail.

If our inmost thoughts were exposed we’d be worthy of jail.

You have forgiven us so many times we’ve lost count.

If our sins were piled up it would be an impressive mount.

How many times can we come before your mercy throne?

How many of our sins will the blood of Jesus atone?

We have hurt so many, many people over the years.

We can’t count how many people we’ve driven to tears.

And now once more we come before your throne of grace.

And bow before you to confess our own disgrace.

Please ease the pain that we have inflicted on others.

Please grant them a measure of your grace to discover.

Yet we know that it is against you that we have sinned.

So it is your mercy and grace that we hope to win.

THANKSGIVING

Father, we know that our life comes from you.

Your love and grace sustains us all our days through.

Help us to remember that we are but dust.

Sunshine  and rain are also your gifts to us.

You’ve given us this wondrous world to enjoy.

You’ve granted us a measure of peace and joy.

We also want to thank you for our health.

Compared to many we also have great wealth.

Thank-you Jesus for dying at Calvary.

The salvation which for us is totally free,

You purchased at the cost of your precious blood.

Now all of our sins are covered by your blood.

How can we mere mortals thank you enough?

To count all that we owe you is really quite tough.

We can only honour you with our thanks and praise,

And pledge to serve you all the rest of our days.

SUPPLICATION

Heavenly Father, we have so many needs.

We need forgiveness for our many misdeeds.

We need your comfort for our times of great pain.

So we come before your throne of grace again.

Father, we come humbly before you at this hour.

We have loved ones who need your healing power.

We ask you to hold them in the palm of your hand.

And comfort them until they reach the Promised Land.

We pray that you would continually feed us.

We also pray for those all those who lead us.

May they daily seek your guidance and wisdom.

May they know where their power truly comes from.

SUPPLICATION

Heavenly Father, we have so many needs.

We need forgiveness for our many misdeeds.

We need your comfort for our times of great pain.

So we come before your throne of grace again.

Father, we come humbly before you at this hour.

We have loved ones who need your healing power.

We ask you to hold them in the palm of your hand.

And comfort them until they reach the Promised Land.

We pray that you would continually feed us.

We also pray for those all those who lead us.

May they daily seek your guidance and wisdom.

May they know where their power truly comes from.

8. Soul Liberty

                Separation of church and state and soul liberty are often linked together. They are both issues for which Baptists have marked Baptists from the beginning. They are also issues for which Baptist have been willing to die. Thomas Helwys, one of the founders of the Baptist church in England was imprisoned by King James I (the one who commissioned the King James Bible) for daring to argue for separation of church and state and religious liberty. He died in prison. Many religious groups that fled religious persecution set up their own religious persecution in the new world. Roger Williams was different. He not only started the first Baptist church in America he also established the colony of Providence Plantation which provided a sanctuary for victims of religious persecution.

                Soul liberty means that each individual has the right to choose for himself or herself what to believe and practice. Individuals are accountable to God alone. They should not be compelled to join a state church, but should be free to join which ever religion and whatever church they choose for themselves. This also means that church officials have no right to dictate what their followers should believe and practice. Unfortunately, many church officials today do exercise considerable control over their followers.

                Jesus came to earth to set us free from slavery to sin. We should not replace this with slavery to church officials, but should exercise the freedom that he has won for us. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (E.S.V.) Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Question:            How should churches exercise church discipline in light of this principle?