Newer Posts » « Older Posts 

Archive for the 'Christian' Category

Poem #41: Have a Happy Easter

No Comments »23rd March, 2008; Category: Christian, Poetry

Have a happy Easter

As I did my courier rounds
The day before Good Friday,
Everyone was busy,
Everyone was frantic.
Lines of cars jammed
Supermarket car parks
And service station entrances.
Everyone was rushing to get all their tasks completed,
Everyone was eager to be finished and away.
‘Have a happy Easter,’ was the mantra from everyone I met.
‘Have a happy Easter,’ I’d found myself echoing their words.
What does that mean
To those who are not
|Followers of Christ?
Did they wish me happiness?
Did they wish me joy?
Were they concerned about
My emotional wellbeing?
Was it a genuine desire
Or just a polite end
To our transaction?
‘Have a happy Easter,’
Echoed in my mind.
‘Have a happy Easter,’
Sprang easy from my mouth.
Easter is a holy time,
Sacred to my heart;
Tears of shame and gratitude
As I view Him on the Cross.
Easter is a blessed time,
It is special in my life;
Smiles of joy and happiness
As I view the empty tomb.
Easter is a celebration,
It’s more than just
A break from work.
Easter is a festival,
It’s more than just
A time with family,
A time with friends.
Christ died for me,
For you, for all,
So we could know
True love, no guilt,
No shame.
So we could know
Eternity.

© 2008 Trevor W. Hampel.

All rights reserved.

Poem #39: My Hope

4 Comments »21st March, 2008; Category: Christian, Poetry

My Hope

A rugged cross upon a hill.
The soldiers know not whom they kill.
The shouting crowd with hatred jeer,
Some lonely friends all filled with fear.

Who was this man upon that tree
Who gave His life to set me free?
He gave His life, His precious Blood,
He is my saviour, friend and God.

He is the victor over sin;
He conquered death my heart to win.
An empty tomb, and faith made strong
Despite the shouts of mocking throng.

My hope is built upon that Cross;
Mine is the gain, His was the loss.
His love for me has won my soul –
Eternity is now my goal.

© 2008 Trevor W. Hampel

All rights reserved.

Poem #38: A Gift

1 Comment »24th December, 2007; Category: Christian, Poetry

 

 

A Gift

Come to the fields,
Hear a heavenly throng
Praise our wonderful Father
In rapturous song.

Come to the stable
A wonder to see -
A child in a manger,
A gift given free.

Come to the lakeside
With the sick and the lame,
Hear all of those needy
Call His precious name.

Come to a hillside -
No glamour, no gloss.
Watch the Man who has died
Upon that stark Cross.

Come to Jesus, Christ Jesus -
No tinsel, no tree.
Just Jesus, our saviour
His gift sets us free.

Copyright 2007 Trevor W. Hampel.

All rights reserved.

What I am reading: “Holy Discontent”

No Comments »14th December, 2007; Category: Authors, Books, Christian, Reading, Reviews

“Holy Discontent: fueling the fire that ignites personal vision.” written by Bill Hybels and published by Zondervan.

I bought this book recently at a seminar I attended in Adelaide, South Australia. The seminar was the Global Leadership Summit run by Willow Creek Community Church where the author, Bill Hybels, is the senior pastor.This relatively short and easy to read book is quite inspiring. That’s what I had hoped for when I bought it.

The author explains how he was filled with “holy discontent” on an issue with which he was confronted. He was not able to rest until he had put all of his energies – plus a healthy dollop of energising from God – into doing what he could about the issue.

While this book is more inspirational rather than instructional, there is sufficient in it to take away and apply to one’s own “holy discontent.” The principle remains: great things get done when ordinary people get discontented and develop a mighty passion for a cause, whatever that cause happens to be.

What I am reading: “The Way of the Wild Heart”

No Comments »8th December, 2007; Category: Authors, Christian, Non Fiction, Reading, Reviews

“The Way of the Wild Heart” written by John Eldredge. Published by Nelson Books.

I’ve just finished reading this interesting book. It has taken me quite a few months but that is another story. In the last few years I’ve read two other John Eldredge books, Wild at Heart and Waking the Dead. I would heartily recommend both books.

John has written these books to address a problem he has observed in modern western society: the lack of hero figures in the male the population. Boys are no longer allowed to be boys and men have grown into pale imitations of what they could – and should – be in society. Their masculinity has been – to put it crudely – emasculated. In his books he seeks to promote ways of correcting that imbalance. Throughout his works he also brings a Christian perspective to the reasons why this is so important. He believes it is crucial for men, and young men in particular, to develop strength of character so that they can contribute more effectively in an ever changing world.

John explains how he has taken his own boys, and other men and their sons, through adventures such as camping, canoeing, mountaineering, hunting and various other activities that test and develop character. While I find his love of hunting abhorrent I do acknowledge the principles behind what he is attempting to do as worthwhile. Many fathers these days are weak and ineffective in raising boys. Many boys are rebelling because they do not have an effective father figure, a hero if you like, whom they can admire and emulate.

To have written this within the Christian context is doubly pleasing. Families and churches are in desperate need of a correction that will bring about strong male leaders, men who will fulfill their God-given roles in society, not wishy-washy weaklings.

Newer Posts » « Older Posts