I have a King

I have a King is a parody ABBA’s I have a dream. This was written yesterday, on Resurrection Sunday 2012.

I have a King, whose praise I sing;
His death’s brought victory over Sin.
And he died in my place to atone my guilt;
Yes, it was for my sake that his blood was spilt.
I believe in Jesus;
I believe in all he’s done for me.
I believe in Jesus;
And I know that he has set me free:
I have a King who’s conquered Sin.

No fantasy, it’s history:
Salvation’s now reality:
And my destination makes pain worth the while;
Peering through the darkness I can see him smile.
I believe in Jesus;
I believe in all he’s done for me.
I believe in Jesus;
And I know that he has set me free:
I have a King who’s conquered Sin;
I have a King who’s conquered Sin

I have a King enthroned above
Who came to earth out of great love,
And he cast his glory totally aside;
Yes, he walked on this earth, and in my place he died:
I believe in Jesus;
Now he’s risen, and he’s glorified;
I believe in Jesus,
And I know that he has set me free:
I have a King who’s conquered Sin;
I have a King who’s conquered Sin.

References below are from NET courtesy of The Word.
For NIV click the link below each reference.

John 3:16-18  For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 The one who believes in him is not condemned.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/3.htm

Philippians 2: 6-[Christ Jesus] though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross! As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will 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.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/philippians/2.htm

Gal. 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/galatians/5.htm

1 Cor 15: 56-57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
http://niv.scripturetext.com/1_corinthians/15.htm

1 Cor 5:7(b) For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/1_corinthians/5.htm

Rom 5:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/romans/5.htm

Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/ephesians/1.htm

Eph 1:20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/ephesians/1.htm

Rom 8:18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/romans/8.htm

Rev 7:14 “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat, because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
http://niv.scripturetext.com/revelation/7.htm

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/8.htm

Colos 3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/colossians/3.htm

Rev 5:8(b) … the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/revelation/5.htm

Rev 5:12-14 … all of whom were singing in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature – in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them – singing: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honour, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!”
http://niv.scripturetext.com/revelation/5.htm

Rev 7:10-12 They were shouting out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood there in a circle around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground before the throne and worshipped God, saying, “Amen! Praise and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
http://niv.scripturetext.com/revelation/7.htm

Hebr 4:14-15 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/hebrews/4.htm

 

Sparrow in My Hand

Sparrow in My Hand is parody of T’Pau’s song China in your hand (the longer, 3-verse version)
January 2012

It was a plan I had
For the man I had
Birthed at the dawn of time:
Redeem life on earth
With a second birth
By the Spirit of God-in-Man
It was a mission to save
For eternal life
Before they’re snatched away.

And I would pay the price to reconcile
Oh, walk earth and shed My blood.
New life will return through this one sacrifice.
The prophecies will be fulfilled,
Free gift of the Servant King

Don’t fly too far
Your soul’s a sparrow in My hand
Don’t fly too far
Without My help you know
That you cannot stand
And you don’t know what you might
Yet bring upon yourself,
Sparrow in My hand

The I in sin
That is born within
Takes life to a barren land
“Oh I want”
Putting man in the role of God
Autonomy is a fantasy
It’s born of a wilful mind

Don’t fly too far
Your soul’s a sparrow in My hand
Don’t fly too far
Without My help you know
That you cannot stand
And you don’t know what you might
Yet bring upon yourself,
Sparrow in My hand

[On the morning of 24 Dec 2011 I sat in the garden watching the birds. One of these birds is tiny, perhaps only 50mm long; it flits from one branch to another, and then flies back to its original branch. While I was watching it, it flew to my knee , and I clearly felt the breath of its wings, and then it flew back to its original branch. Then it flew away. This seemed to reinforce the image in the poem.
The song China in your hand (URL, in case you are not familiar with the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtT3naOuG1A ) refers to the story of Dr Frankenstein’s creation of a humanoid monster assembled from human bits and pieces. Frankenstein is repelled by his creation. There are too many contrasts and parallels with the Creation as told in Genesis to mention them here. However the Bible tells us that God saw that His creation was good. (For the NIV Genesis text click this link: http://niv.scripturetext.com/genesis/1.htm )]

Matt 10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/matthew/10.htm

John 15:4-5
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/15.htm

John 3:1-8
Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/3.htm

John 10:10
 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/10.htm

Philippians 2:6-8
[Jesus Christ] though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/philippians/2.htm

Isaiah 53: 3–
He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant. …He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path. …He was led away after an unjust trial but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded. They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully. …. My servant will acquit many,  for he carried their sins.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/isaiah/53.htm

 

On Streets of Gold

[Parody of Sting’s Fields of Gold. Our confidence is in God’s redemptive plan expressed and fulfilled in the incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus. The links should take you to a multilingual online Bible.]

You’ll remember me at the Judgment Day
Upon Your Throne of mercy;
You’ll blot out my sin, so I’ll enter in
And I’ll walk on streets of gold

Many times I sin; many times I fail
And fall short of Your glory;
But You lift me up and You make me stand
So I’ll walk on streets of gold.

Fullness of God concealed in the flesh of man
You laid aside Your glory
On the cross You died to defeat all sin
So we’d walk on streets of gold

Let Your Spirit move over all our lives
To share the Gospel story
That You’ve freed us all from the grip of sin
So we’ll walk on streets of gold
You’ve never made promises lightly
And there are none that You’ve broken
And I know that your word still stands
We’ll walk on streets of gold.
We’ll walk on streets of gold.

All eternity gathered round Your throne
To praise and give You glory
With the cherubim and the seraphim
While we dance on streets of gold.

Let Your Spirit move over all our lives
To share the Gospel story
That You’ve freed us all from the grip of sin
So we’ll walk on streets of gold
So we’ll walk on streets of gold
So we’ll walk on streets of gold

Rev 21:21: The main street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.

http://niv.scripturetext.com/revelation/21.htm

Revelation 7:11ff   http://niv.scripturetext.com/revelation/7.htm

Isaiah 6:2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.

http://niv.scripturetext.com/isaiah/6.htm

Colossians 1:5et seq

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

http://niv.scripturetext.com/colossians/1.htm 

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus .

http://niv.scripturetext.com/romans/3.htm

 

Redeemer

[This is a parody of the Blondie song: Maria (there are at least 3 different versions of this song, with different parts left out!)

NEW FEATURE: If I get it correct! You should be able to click links to the text in the Biblos Online Bible. Online text is available in several languages. Select the required language by clicking on the flag at the top of the page. Select books and chapters by altering the address in the URL address bar. Different English language versions are available.]

He walked this earth of ours
Made the birds
Created flowers
Yet He came down to die
He even knows your name
And your heart will never feel the same
Yes, it was for us he died
Oh, don’t you want to take Him?
You want to make your heart His home?
My Saviour
I’ve got to see You
Come inside, make my heart Your home
Redeemer,
My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven

Never felt this way before
And now I want it more and more
Feel Your love and feel Your fire
Won’t You wash me with Your blood
You overwhelm me like a flood
Come and be my one desire
Oh, I want to take you
Yes, I want to make my heart Your home
My Saviour
I’ve got to see You
Come inside, and make my heart Your home
Redeemer,
O My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven

Oh, yes I want to take you
Yes, I want to make my heart Your home
Redeemer,
My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven

I need Him more than air
Want to take Him everywhere
Yes, just want to sing His praises
Adopted child and heir
I feel His Love and feel His care
Yeah, be with Him when I die
My Saviour
I’ve got to see You
Come inside, and make my heart Your home
Redeemer,
My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven
My Saviour
I’ve got to see You
Come inside, and make my heart Your home

Redeemer,
My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, ​​​​​​​for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/colossians/1.htm

Is 53:2 …he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him. ​​​​​​​He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant. ​​​​​​​But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. ​​​He as wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/isaiah/53.htm

John 1:12 But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name1 – he has given the right to become God’s children http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/1.htm

Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/romans/8.htm

Matthew 26:28 for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/matthew/26.htm

Rev. 7:14 Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them.
http://bible.cc/revelation/7-14.htm

 

Loving King

Parody: Fleetwood Mac: Silver Spring. This is for those of us who know people who are running away from God, filling their lives with things that can never satisfy, only cause heartache and trauma. I have a number of such people in mind — and one in particular right now. Jesus came to look for those who were lost: and that is our hope.

I would be your loving King

Truly loving …. see my Passion

I would be your only dream

Your defence … my sword is flashing.

And is this world enticing?

Do you find it fulfilling?

You know that isn’t so.

So you began not to love me

Turn around now; stop your running.

You know I loved you years ago

Look, see my arms stretching out for you

Does this world fulfil you?

And is it all that you’re wanting?

You know that that’s not so…. oh no.

Can you tell me: is it worth it?

You know I love you so.

I’ve placed my Name on you, and I won’t forget you

You know I want to love you, but you just won’t let me

I’ve placed my Name on you, and I won’t forget you

You know I want to love you, but you just won’t let me

I’ll follow you ’round ’til the sound of my voice will haunt you

(Give yourself a chance!)

You’ll never get away from the call of the Saviour who loves you

(Come on back to me!)

I’ll follow you down ’til the sound of my voice will haunt you

(I’ll haunt you; give yourself a chance!)

You’ll never get away from the call of the Saviour who loves you

 

(No) Stairway to Heaven – Christmas 2010

[I heard Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven around Christmas for the first time in decades (it shows my age as well!) and I can’t say I understand it at all. But the message of Christmas, understood in its fullest sense as part of God’s plan for reconciliation, is very clear: this is God’s plan for our salvation, and apart from it there is no salvation. Heaven belongs to God and the Right of Admission is Reserved for those who want to be there on God’s terms.

(In this parody I have used the tune of the first two “movements’ only plus the finale; so you can sing along!)

C150 VS53 Christ-mas 2010]

There’s a lie the world sells, and the lie that it tells

Is you can make your own way to Heaven.

But the Bible says, “No,” and it’s God’s way you go,

Saved by faith in God’s Grace and forgiven.

 

No, no, no, no, no: you cannot climb your own stairway to Heaven

 

Save for God’s power within you cannot withstand sin;

And you cannot find your own way to His Heaven.

That’s why Jesus was born, of Godly glory was shorn,

God of God, He came down here from Heaven.

 

And I’m filled with wonder!

And I’m filled with wonder!

 

In the frailty of man He fulfilled God’s own plan

That should lead all the earth to redemption;

That He would be crucified so we could be justified

And His death should provide our salvation.

 

And I’m filled with wonder!

I’m really filled with wonder!

 

Count the cost of the Cross on which He saved all the lost:

You can never, no never repay it.

It’s by Grace undeserved that your soul is preserved

And there’s no other way into His Heaven.

 

 

If there’s a prodding of the Spirit,

Don’t ignore it;

Listen carefully to what it’s saying.

You’re faced with two paths: Salvation or destruction

It’s still your choice which one you’ll go on.

 

And you need to choose now

 

His voice is crying out: it won’t stop,

Because He loves you.

The Saviour’s calling you to join Him

“My child, you have the power to choose now;

It’s your choice.

My path’s the only way to Heaven.”

************************

And the Cross is the only way to Heaven.

 

 

 

[John 14:6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

[Eph 2: 8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

[Php 2:6 -8] [Christ Jesus] ⁶ though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

[Rom 8:23-24] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus^.

 

Out of the depths have I called unto Thee

After the incident involving the mining drama in Chile, a dear Facebook friend commented: “Watching the miners brought it home how permanently lost we all could have been!”

C148 VS61    16 October 2010
Out of the depths have I called unto Thee

So many weeks they were lost in the dark
So many weeks, and only a spark
Of hope to keep up the fight

So many months, so many years, so much I fear
How long will it be till rescue is near?
And what shall I see in the Kingdom of Light?

The effort of hundreds frees them from the mine they are in
The Death of One saves me from the mine that is sin.

‘In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him.’ Psalm 95

 

O What Precious Sacrifice

[Jesus’s sacrifice started long before Good Friday. He gave up His heavenly residenc (I don’t think many of us would leave a Bishops Court or Constantia mansion – and Heaven must be more magnificent – and go and live in a squatter camp.) He left His Father to undertake His mission on earth, and at the time when He needed it most, He felt He was cut off from the Father by the weight of our sins. And He had known all of this from  the beginning of time.

This is a parody of Roxette’s “The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye”
C144 SV 58 Good Friday 2010]

In my hour of need you met me:
I tell the world there are no regrets.
In this heart there is such gratitude:
Grace received, Grace quite undeserved.
You are Messiah Guiltless One;
Yet You came down to die.

You left your glorious throne in heaven on high
(O what precious sacrifice);
You were content to live on earth for a time
(O what precious sacrifice);
With your life in our hands, we shouted “Crucify!”
And I can’t help but wonder why
You made that precious sacrifice.

In wilful pride, we went along our own way:
You came to search and find and save.
You left your Father in heaven above:
You made the precious sacrifice

I know You are the Only One
Who could ever pay that price:
Only a Lamb so pure could satisfy
(O what precious sacrifice);
And still your Heart is hurt, time after time
(O what precious sacrifice)
When from Your Loving Face we run away and hide.
Then I can’t help but wonder why
You made that precious sacrifice.
Jesus
You made that perfect sacrifice.

Your Blood was all that could justify
(O what precious sacrifice).
For us the spear was thrust into Your side
(O what precious sacrifice).
All our guilt and sin onto Yourself were piled;
And I can’t help but wonder why
It was for me You chose to die
Jesus
You made that perfect sacrifice

O what precious sacrifice
O what precious sacrifice

Luke 19:10  The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Philp 2:6 – 8 He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death— his death on the cross.

Rom 3:24-25  But by the free gift of God’s grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free.  God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people’s sins are forgiven through their faith in him.

Rom 5:6 -8 For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time that God chose. It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person. But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!

Rom 6:23  For sin pays its wage—death; but God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

Heb 10:9 – 12  So God does away with all the old sacrifices and puts the sacrifice of Christ in their place. Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all. Every Jewish priest performs his services every day and offers the same sacrifices many times; but these sacrifices can never take away sins. Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever, and then he sat down at the right side of God.

Joh 1:11  He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God’s children.

Isa 53:4  “But he endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne. All the while we thought that his suffering was punishment sent by God. But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received. All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the LORD made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.

 

Intimacy: Two Pictures

[I came across a photograph of a friend when she was a young mother. With her was her baby daughter. Their faces were inches away from each other, and they seemed absorbed into each other: intimacy. As parents know, things do not stay that way. As the child grows, the intimacy with the parent diminishes and also, very often, the intimacy with God, even when parents have tried to foster it. How does God respond?

C143 SV57     22 March 2010]

My Child —
Inches away on my lips
I feel the soft flutter of your tiny breath
As your eyes scan my face:
Security, warmth and endless love;
And you chuckle with life and promise.

My Child —
I yearn for that intimacy again
Where my Heart beats in yours;
Where your soul feels
The flutter of my Breath;
Where you seek my Face
And find peace and love and Grace
In your Father’s healing embrace.

 

Ride with me

Are you riding alone?
A long trip back to your home?
Full of regret for what you’ve done?
Always hiding and always on the run?

How much pain can a man take?
How much is enough heart-ache?
Come on, my Child, ride with me
Come on, ride My Road and be free.

Life’s full of twists and turns
And each bright new vista burns
To ashes dusty, dull and grey;
Haunting dreams that just never go away.

How much pain can a man take?
How much is enough heart-ache?
Come on, my Child, ride with me
Come on, ride My Road and be free.

Feel you’ve had your fair share
Lost in some hellish nightmare
Of skidding feelings, spinning wheels
In a screaming soul that never heals?

How much pain can a man take?
How much is enough heart-ache?
Come on, my Child, ride with me
Come on, ride My Road and be free.

I’ve ridden on your road,
Felt the pain, carried the load,
Suffered the wounds of friends’ betrayals,
I know just what it is that your life entails.

I know how much pain a man can take;
I know how much is enough heart-ache.
Come on, my Child, ride with me
Come on, ride My Road and be free.

C140    SV54
[20 February 2010]

[Luke 15: 11-32
Mat 11:28  “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.  For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”