Blogs and Papers

7th April 2023 - This is Holy Week and for Christians around the world, we focus on what Jesus' sacrifice has accomplished for us personally.  It is a faith journey in which no person can force their beliefs on another, sadly we have experiences of the historic church trying to control and use the liberating truth Jesus taught, to oppress and guilt trip instead of free us to be who we are meant to be.  Jesus shows us how loved we are, how valued and how precious just because we exist.  It is not about what we do, what we say or how we try to prove ourselves, but simply accepting our lives as part of the Creators plan that redeems us all in the saving grace of the cross.  Here is one piece of verse I created in the mid 80's about the thief on a cross next to Jesus, inspired by the late Flora Jennion.

I hope this Easter time, a new perspective on how loved you are, impacts you deeply.

Found

The noise grew dim as pain engulfed me once again.

I winced as I forced my chest to snatch in air, which shot like needles into my disfigured form.

The crowd, now gathered, became a sneering throng, jeering and spitting out filth as they worshipped in our demise.

I looked, wanting to avenge their laughter, when suddenly, He caught my eye.

I had seen Him before, but now scarcely recognisable.....I tried to focus in on where?

Yes. I had heard Him speak, talking of peace, of the Fathers love, and I remembered His promise of a kingdom.

Horror gripped me as I gazed upon His bloody, broken body.

Thorns forced into His face, bruised, torn. His flesh detached and hanging...

I couldn't take it in.  Why Him?

 He's done nothing wrong. Me yes - but Him?  Oh God.....

Panic tugged on my being.  I wanted to do something, anything....

Then the ugliness as they pierced Him with words

"So you're the Christ!'..."Come down and prove it?"

Evil ridicule struck deep into my own open body.

I tried to cry out..."Can't you see?"

My heart bursting, throbbing as I gazed helplessly upon Him suffering a cursed agony...undeserved.

If I could I'd run to defend Him...comfort...just touch....

My own strength dragged and ripped inside me.  I dropped my eyes to the crowd and tried to call out......but nothing came....

A dying man, helpless right beside his God.

I needed to look to Him.

He stretched His anguished face towards the skies, summoned sound in a desperate crescendo

"Father..forgive them for they don't known what they do"

And I watched as tears, dripped with blood fell from His eyes of love.

My own agony seemed so worthless and His so unjust.

"Master", my voice needing my all to reach Him.  "Remember me when you come into your kingdom".

I almost didn't care: it was enough to know Him then. I waited for the darkness to envelop me.

"Friend"

"This day you will be with me in paradise". 

Oh what ecstasy!  Jesus spoke to me.

Our eyes were held as if for an eternity.  Peace.  Perfect peace. I understood.

I looked to the heavens and slowly closed my eyes.