WHEN WE WORSHIP
It's not the "where?" but the "Who?" and the "Why?"
That's important whenever we worship!
It's the God who made us who demands our allegiance!
We must recognize and acknowledge His Lordship!
No building or structure or idea of man's thinking
Can portray the invisible God
Nor help us perceive even part of His greatness!
All such efforts are both feeble and flawed.
The great God Almighty in Whose image we're made
Deserves both our honour and praise!
We may worship Him, adore Him, wherever we are
And whatever the time of the day.
The vastness of heaven is His dwelling place;
The whole earth is the stool for His feet!
No man-made structure can ever contain Him
But He abides in the hearts of the meek.
With us who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
His presence abides constantly;
Washed in His blood and saved by His grace,
From sin we've been forever set free.
We're His glorious Church, purchased by blood
That Christ shed on Calvary's cross.
To Him we give glory and honour and praise,
For He saved us who once were the lost.
We don't need a building, not a house made with hands,
In order to give worship and praise
To the great God of heaven who has made us His children,
We who dwell in the light of His grace.
a. franklin staples
December 11, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by Allison F. Staples
Monday, January 30, 2017
Sunday, January 29, 2017
MY MOTHER’S HANDS
My mother’s hands, now wrinkled with age,
Have served us all so well;
They’ve carried wood and gathered eggs
More times than I can tell.
They’ve washed our clothes in an old wash tub
Upon a scrubbing board,
And many times they've been clasped in prayer,
Giving thanks unto the Lord.
They’ve changed our diapers and mended rents,
For small boys are hard on clothes;
They’ve often soothed a fevered brow
And wiped many a runny nose.
The bread they've made would fill a ship,
Not to mention the cakes and pies,
And for all the years I can remember
Those hands served her as eyes.
They could locate things, with seeming ease,
That our Dad just could not find,
And to watch them knit stitch after stitch,
You wouldn't know my Mom was blind.
Yes. My mother’s hands have blessed us all
And served us through the years;
They’ve shaped and moulded us, each one,
And, yes, often dried our tears.
God has greatly blessed this family
And I want you to understand
That I thank Him for my mother
And for my mother’s hands.
a. franklin staples
February 10, 1991
Copyright © 1991 by Allison F. Staples
This poem was written in honour of my mother, Teresa Pauline (Crouse) Staples, on the occasion of her 80th Birthday (February 11, 1991)
My mother’s hands, now wrinkled with age,
Have served us all so well;
They’ve carried wood and gathered eggs
More times than I can tell.
They’ve washed our clothes in an old wash tub
Upon a scrubbing board,
And many times they've been clasped in prayer,
Giving thanks unto the Lord.
They’ve changed our diapers and mended rents,
For small boys are hard on clothes;
They’ve often soothed a fevered brow
And wiped many a runny nose.
The bread they've made would fill a ship,
Not to mention the cakes and pies,
And for all the years I can remember
Those hands served her as eyes.
They could locate things, with seeming ease,
That our Dad just could not find,
And to watch them knit stitch after stitch,
You wouldn't know my Mom was blind.
Yes. My mother’s hands have blessed us all
And served us through the years;
They’ve shaped and moulded us, each one,
And, yes, often dried our tears.
God has greatly blessed this family
And I want you to understand
That I thank Him for my mother
And for my mother’s hands.
a. franklin staples
February 10, 1991
Copyright © 1991 by Allison F. Staples
This poem was written in honour of my mother, Teresa Pauline (Crouse) Staples, on the occasion of her 80th Birthday (February 11, 1991)
LIKE THE MILEPOSTS ON A RAILWAY
Like the mileposts on a railway
From a swiftly speeding train,
The events of life go swiftly passing by;
Sometimes it's hard to count them,
Some in sushine, some in rain,
For life's train ever faster seems to fly.
Life's train keeps going faster;
It fairly hurtles down the track,
And instead of looking forward as we should,
We keep straining to the rearward,
Always wanting to look back,
Even though all those events are gone for good.
Yet the train keeps moving forward
And it's picking up the pace
As this earthly life we live soon runs its course.
Soon we'll cross death's deep dark river,
Meet the Saviour face to face,
And say good-bye to pain and suffering and remorse.
a. franklin staples
Written July 21, 1991/Transcribed into Volume 6, November 1, 1992.
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
Like the mileposts on a railway
From a swiftly speeding train,
The events of life go swiftly passing by;
Sometimes it's hard to count them,
Some in sushine, some in rain,
For life's train ever faster seems to fly.
Life's train keeps going faster;
It fairly hurtles down the track,
And instead of looking forward as we should,
We keep straining to the rearward,
Always wanting to look back,
Even though all those events are gone for good.
Yet the train keeps moving forward
And it's picking up the pace
As this earthly life we live soon runs its course.
Soon we'll cross death's deep dark river,
Meet the Saviour face to face,
And say good-bye to pain and suffering and remorse.
a. franklin staples
Written July 21, 1991/Transcribed into Volume 6, November 1, 1992.
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
THE "ROMANS ROAD"
You've come a long, long way down life's road;
You've had your share of pain and strife;
But have you ever walked the "Romans Road",
The Road that leads to life?
The "Romans Road" will show the Way
To have ALL your sins forgiven
And bring you face to face with Christ,
The only Way to heaven.
So if you'll find a Bible,
I'll show you where to go;
We'll take a walk together, friend,
Down the "Romans Road."
First find the Book of Romans
And read verse ten of Chapter Three,
Then turn in that same chapter
And read verse twenty-three.
Then turn to Romans 5, verse twelve,
That says we "all have sinned";
Then Chapter 6, verse twenty-three:
The choice is clear, my friend.
Now go to Romans, Chapter Ten,
And read, in verse thirteen,
That "whosoever" on the Lord's name calls
Shall be surely saved from sin.
And last to Chapter Ten, verse nine,
If the Peace of God you'd know —
Won't you now give yourself to God?
You've been down the "Romans Road".
And if you need assurance
That you have been truly saved,
Turn in John's Gospel to Chapter Ten,
And read verse twenty-eight.
In that same Gospel, to Chapter Three,
And read there verse sixteen,
And then go on to verse thirty-six.
Your sins are gone. You're clean!
In I John 5 and verse thirteen,
We're assured of eternal life
Because we've believed in the Name of Him
Who died to pay sin's price.
a. franklin staples
November 7, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
You've come a long, long way down life's road;
You've had your share of pain and strife;
But have you ever walked the "Romans Road",
The Road that leads to life?
The "Romans Road" will show the Way
To have ALL your sins forgiven
And bring you face to face with Christ,
The only Way to heaven.
So if you'll find a Bible,
I'll show you where to go;
We'll take a walk together, friend,
Down the "Romans Road."
First find the Book of Romans
And read verse ten of Chapter Three,
Then turn in that same chapter
And read verse twenty-three.
Then turn to Romans 5, verse twelve,
That says we "all have sinned";
Then Chapter 6, verse twenty-three:
The choice is clear, my friend.
Now go to Romans, Chapter Ten,
And read, in verse thirteen,
That "whosoever" on the Lord's name calls
Shall be surely saved from sin.
And last to Chapter Ten, verse nine,
If the Peace of God you'd know —
Won't you now give yourself to God?
You've been down the "Romans Road".
And if you need assurance
That you have been truly saved,
Turn in John's Gospel to Chapter Ten,
And read verse twenty-eight.
In that same Gospel, to Chapter Three,
And read there verse sixteen,
And then go on to verse thirty-six.
Your sins are gone. You're clean!
In I John 5 and verse thirteen,
We're assured of eternal life
Because we've believed in the Name of Him
Who died to pay sin's price.
a. franklin staples
November 7, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
Saturday, January 28, 2017
MOSES MY SERVANT IS DEAD...
"Moses my servant is dead,"
There is no victory in the Law.
Victory comes through Jesus Christ!
He is our Joshua.
"Moses my servant is dead."
The Law is left behind.
Those who insist on keeping the Law
Are but blind guides leading the blind.
"Moses my servant is dead."
The Law has been nailed to the cross.
By grace are we saved through faith in Christ.
All else is counted but loss.
a. franklin staples
September 20-October 12, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
MY LORD AND MY GOD IS JESUS THE CHRIST
My Lord and my God is Jesus the Christ,
He who created all things
By His own mighty hand,
Who is both God and man:
My all to His altar I bring.
My Lord and my God is Jesus the Christ;
My precious Saviour is He
Who died on the cross
To pay sin's awful cost
That I should forever be free.
My Lord and my God is Jesus, God's Lamb,
Who was slain for the sin of all men,
Gave His life, shed His blood,
Did what only God could,
Paid the price that was demanded for sin.
My Lord and my God is Jesus, God's Son,
Very God who Himself became man,
Laid His glory aside
That for man He might die
To satisfy His own righteous demand.
a. franklin staples
October 18, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
THE DEAR OLD "KING JAMES"
The inspired and infallible, preserved Word of God
God's Holy and wonderful Book,
From the Textus Receptus was translated King James,
The one that all the others forsook.
The old King James Bible, the translation exact,
In the year 1611 was made
From the Textus Receptus, the one and the same —
God's marvelous two-edged Blade.
No "modern" translation so wonderfully speaks
Of God's great salvation and grace
In language so exquisite, pure, clear and plain,
With not one single word out of place.
No need of the Hebrew nor of the Greek,
For in the finest of English 'twas done
By those seventy translators who fasted and prayed
For weeks before the task was begun.
So listen, dear pilgrim, if English's your tongue,
If Hebrew and Greek you've not heard,
Just remember that the dear old Book called King James
Has faithfully preserved all of God's words.
a. franklin staples
October 17-24, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
"Moses my servant is dead,"
There is no victory in the Law.
Victory comes through Jesus Christ!
He is our Joshua.
"Moses my servant is dead."
The Law is left behind.
Those who insist on keeping the Law
Are but blind guides leading the blind.
"Moses my servant is dead."
The Law has been nailed to the cross.
By grace are we saved through faith in Christ.
All else is counted but loss.
a. franklin staples
September 20-October 12, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
MY LORD AND MY GOD IS JESUS THE CHRIST
My Lord and my God is Jesus the Christ,
He who created all things
By His own mighty hand,
Who is both God and man:
My all to His altar I bring.
My Lord and my God is Jesus the Christ;
My precious Saviour is He
Who died on the cross
To pay sin's awful cost
That I should forever be free.
My Lord and my God is Jesus, God's Lamb,
Who was slain for the sin of all men,
Gave His life, shed His blood,
Did what only God could,
Paid the price that was demanded for sin.
My Lord and my God is Jesus, God's Son,
Very God who Himself became man,
Laid His glory aside
That for man He might die
To satisfy His own righteous demand.
a. franklin staples
October 18, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
THE DEAR OLD "KING JAMES"
The inspired and infallible, preserved Word of God
God's Holy and wonderful Book,
From the Textus Receptus was translated King James,
The one that all the others forsook.
The old King James Bible, the translation exact,
In the year 1611 was made
From the Textus Receptus, the one and the same —
God's marvelous two-edged Blade.
No "modern" translation so wonderfully speaks
Of God's great salvation and grace
In language so exquisite, pure, clear and plain,
With not one single word out of place.
No need of the Hebrew nor of the Greek,
For in the finest of English 'twas done
By those seventy translators who fasted and prayed
For weeks before the task was begun.
So listen, dear pilgrim, if English's your tongue,
If Hebrew and Greek you've not heard,
Just remember that the dear old Book called King James
Has faithfully preserved all of God's words.
a. franklin staples
October 17-24, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
Thursday, January 26, 2017
WHAT GREAT PURPOSE...?
What great purpose did God have in mind
For each child that's been slain in the womb?
How many geniuses has the world been deprived of
In some murderous abortion room?
How many physicians, lawyers, musicians?
How many artists and teachers?
How many judges, nurses and scientists?
How many pastors and preachers?
Who knows the great works that they might have done
Had each one been allowed to live?
What right has man to deprive them of that life
That is God's alone to give?
Each mother's womb is a sacred vessel
In which a new life begins,
The life of a separate, unique individual,
One like no other has been.
What great purpose did God have in mind
For each one of those babies man killed?
Who knows the potential that's been wasted and gone?
'Tis a void that will never be filled.
a. franklin staples
July 18, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
What great purpose did God have in mind
For each child that's been slain in the womb?
How many geniuses has the world been deprived of
In some murderous abortion room?
How many physicians, lawyers, musicians?
How many artists and teachers?
How many judges, nurses and scientists?
How many pastors and preachers?
Who knows the great works that they might have done
Had each one been allowed to live?
What right has man to deprive them of that life
That is God's alone to give?
Each mother's womb is a sacred vessel
In which a new life begins,
The life of a separate, unique individual,
One like no other has been.
What great purpose did God have in mind
For each one of those babies man killed?
Who knows the potential that's been wasted and gone?
'Tis a void that will never be filled.
a. franklin staples
July 18, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
LET ME BE AN INSTRUMENT...
Lord, let me be an instrument in Thy hand,
A spade or a trowel or a knife,
To till the soil or prune the branch
Or to sow the Seed of life.
Lord, let me be an instrument in Thy hand,
One that is sharp and keen,
One that is usable and well-honed,
Not rusted, but well-kept and clean.
Lord, let me be an instrument in Thy hand,
Ready to do Thy will,
Pliant and flexible, yet sturdy and true,
That I might Thy purpose fulfill.
a. franklin staples
June 13, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Lord, let me be an instrument in Thy hand,
A spade or a trowel or a knife,
To till the soil or prune the branch
Or to sow the Seed of life.
Lord, let me be an instrument in Thy hand,
One that is sharp and keen,
One that is usable and well-honed,
Not rusted, but well-kept and clean.
Lord, let me be an instrument in Thy hand,
Ready to do Thy will,
Pliant and flexible, yet sturdy and true,
That I might Thy purpose fulfill.
a. franklin staples
June 13, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
HOW COULD I FORGET?
How could I forget that night in dark Gethsemane
When Jesus sweat great drops of blood as He agonized for me?
How could I forget the stripes that tore His body so,
Or that His "visage" seemed not as a man
Because of cruel and heavy blows.
How could I forget that Jesus died for me;
That He shed His precious blood on a hill called Calvary?
How could I forget that cry that echoed from the cross?
"IT IS FINISHED," the Saviour cried, and the way was opened for the lost.
Don't you forget, there in that pew, that sin's dread price was paid
By God's own Son on Calvary's cross; that on Him your sin was laid.
a. franklin staples
June 5, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
How could I forget that night in dark Gethsemane
When Jesus sweat great drops of blood as He agonized for me?
How could I forget the stripes that tore His body so,
Or that His "visage" seemed not as a man
Because of cruel and heavy blows.
How could I forget that Jesus died for me;
That He shed His precious blood on a hill called Calvary?
How could I forget that cry that echoed from the cross?
"IT IS FINISHED," the Saviour cried, and the way was opened for the lost.
Don't you forget, there in that pew, that sin's dread price was paid
By God's own Son on Calvary's cross; that on Him your sin was laid.
a. franklin staples
June 5, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
IF...
If I try to talk and act as though I'm perfect
When I sin and make mistakes, in point of fact;
If I try to give the impression of perfection,
You can be very sure the impression is just an act.
If I come across in any way as though I'm better,
Be assured that I've no goodness of my own;
As for myself, I'm just a wretched sinner
For whom the blood of Jesus must atone.
If Jesus hadn't died for my salvation,
I'd be bound for hell as sure as any man,
But even though my life is far from perfect,
God included me in His great salvation plan.
a. franklin staples
May 31, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
If I try to talk and act as though I'm perfect
When I sin and make mistakes, in point of fact;
If I try to give the impression of perfection,
You can be very sure the impression is just an act.
If I come across in any way as though I'm better,
Be assured that I've no goodness of my own;
As for myself, I'm just a wretched sinner
For whom the blood of Jesus must atone.
If Jesus hadn't died for my salvation,
I'd be bound for hell as sure as any man,
But even though my life is far from perfect,
God included me in His great salvation plan.
a. franklin staples
May 31, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
MY HUMANITY KEEPS GETTING IN THE WAY
My humanity keeps getting in the way,
Though I want to serve the Lord each and every day.
I want Him to be seen and heard in all I do and say
But my humanity keeps getting in the way.
Yes, my humanity keeps getting in the way.
Even when I kneel before my God to pray
The fact that I'm just human comes always into play—
My humanity keeps getting in the way.
My humanity keeps getting in the way.
I'm reminded constantly that I am made of clay
And that my human mind can wander off and go astray—
My humanity keeps getting in the way.
My humanity keeps getting in the way
But from God's Holy Word I have no desire to stray;
And the Lord knows that I'm looking forward to the day
When my humanity will no longer get in the way.
a. franklin staples
May 16-23, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
My humanity keeps getting in the way,
Though I want to serve the Lord each and every day.
I want Him to be seen and heard in all I do and say
But my humanity keeps getting in the way.
Yes, my humanity keeps getting in the way.
Even when I kneel before my God to pray
The fact that I'm just human comes always into play—
My humanity keeps getting in the way.
My humanity keeps getting in the way.
I'm reminded constantly that I am made of clay
And that my human mind can wander off and go astray—
My humanity keeps getting in the way.
My humanity keeps getting in the way
But from God's Holy Word I have no desire to stray;
And the Lord knows that I'm looking forward to the day
When my humanity will no longer get in the way.
a. franklin staples
May 16-23, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
WE STILL LIVE AMONG THE HEATHEN
We still live among the heathen
Who DO NOT fear the Lord,
And their numbers are growing every day.
They are those who murder children,
Even those as yet unborn;
Savage still, no matter what they say.
We still live among the heathen,
Not in some far-off land
But right here and now in our own nation;
Worse than savages, lacking morals,
Seeming unable to understand
That they've sunken to the depths of degradation.
We still live among the heathen
In an immoral pagan nation
Whose leaders seem to know not where to stand;
There's no fear of God among them,
There's no righteous indignation
Voiced against the moral corruption in this land.
We still live among the heathen,
We who fear the Lord,
In a nation that's become like Canaan was of old,
Full of violence, lust and greed,
A nation rotten to the core
That worships idols made of wood and stone and gold.
We still live among the heathen;
This is not a Christian nation
But one that follows blindly the ruler of this world;
We are lights in this heathen darkness;
We're the salt of preservation.
Let the banner of our God be kept unfurled!
We still live among the heathen!
Let's not be lulled to slumber.
Things are not improving daily as some believe;
But our God is still in heaven
And we've blessings without number
And the Crown of life one day we will receive.
a. franklin staples
May 11, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
We still live among the heathen
Who DO NOT fear the Lord,
And their numbers are growing every day.
They are those who murder children,
Even those as yet unborn;
Savage still, no matter what they say.
We still live among the heathen,
Not in some far-off land
But right here and now in our own nation;
Worse than savages, lacking morals,
Seeming unable to understand
That they've sunken to the depths of degradation.
We still live among the heathen
In an immoral pagan nation
Whose leaders seem to know not where to stand;
There's no fear of God among them,
There's no righteous indignation
Voiced against the moral corruption in this land.
We still live among the heathen,
We who fear the Lord,
In a nation that's become like Canaan was of old,
Full of violence, lust and greed,
A nation rotten to the core
That worships idols made of wood and stone and gold.
We still live among the heathen;
This is not a Christian nation
But one that follows blindly the ruler of this world;
We are lights in this heathen darkness;
We're the salt of preservation.
Let the banner of our God be kept unfurled!
We still live among the heathen!
Let's not be lulled to slumber.
Things are not improving daily as some believe;
But our God is still in heaven
And we've blessings without number
And the Crown of life one day we will receive.
a. franklin staples
May 11, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Sunday, January 22, 2017
THE MAN WITH THE BATTERED BIBLE
The Bible he carried was well-worn, yes, aged,
With highlights and notations on about every page.
The cover was shabby, the pages dog-eared,
And some, perhaps many, were stained by his tears,
Tears that he shed for the souls of the lost,
Out on life’s wild seas, by the world’s tempests tossed,
Or for some poor lost soul he had met on the street,
Who was begging for handouts, with nothing to eat,
Or for the widow next door, whose family didn’t care
Whether she lived or died. They just left her there.
He cried for the family with six children just down the street
Who could hardly afford shoes to cover their feet,
And he’d spent his last dollar at the grocery store
To give them a meal, and wished he’d has more.
Oft times, in the evening, he’d kneel down by his chair
And just talk with the Lord in intimate prayer;
He’d tell Him the burdens he had for the lost
And thank Him for Jesus, Who died on the cross.
He’d pray for the hungry and the sick and the poor
As he knelt by his chair on the sitting-room floor.
When he’d finish his talk and get up off his knees,
He’d take that battered old Bible down, and he’d read
About Jesus and His parables and the sick that He healed,
Or the wondrous insights to old John He revealed,
About David the shepherd boy who was born to be king,
Then he’d lift his eyes heavenward and prayerfully sing:
What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege carry Every thing to God in prayer!
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.
And each night, when at last he lay to rest on his bed,
He’d place that old Bible right next to his head.
It’s precepts he’d hidden long ago in his heart,
And he vowed he would never from those precepts depart
While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown, and behold Thee on Thy Throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.
a. franklin staples
1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
The Bible he carried was well-worn, yes, aged,
With highlights and notations on about every page.
The cover was shabby, the pages dog-eared,
And some, perhaps many, were stained by his tears,
Tears that he shed for the souls of the lost,
Out on life’s wild seas, by the world’s tempests tossed,
Or for some poor lost soul he had met on the street,
Who was begging for handouts, with nothing to eat,
Or for the widow next door, whose family didn’t care
Whether she lived or died. They just left her there.
He cried for the family with six children just down the street
Who could hardly afford shoes to cover their feet,
And he’d spent his last dollar at the grocery store
To give them a meal, and wished he’d has more.
Oft times, in the evening, he’d kneel down by his chair
And just talk with the Lord in intimate prayer;
He’d tell Him the burdens he had for the lost
And thank Him for Jesus, Who died on the cross.
He’d pray for the hungry and the sick and the poor
As he knelt by his chair on the sitting-room floor.
When he’d finish his talk and get up off his knees,
He’d take that battered old Bible down, and he’d read
About Jesus and His parables and the sick that He healed,
Or the wondrous insights to old John He revealed,
About David the shepherd boy who was born to be king,
Then he’d lift his eyes heavenward and prayerfully sing:
What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege carry Every thing to God in prayer!
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.
And each night, when at last he lay to rest on his bed,
He’d place that old Bible right next to his head.
It’s precepts he’d hidden long ago in his heart,
And he vowed he would never from those precepts depart
While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown, and behold Thee on Thy Throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.
a. franklin staples
1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus", written by Joseph Schrivner, and "Rock Of Ages", written by Augustus Toplady, were songs that I heard my father sing many times in my younger days.
THERE IS NO ETERNAL “LIFE” IN HELL!
There's no eternal life in Hell!
That is a contradiction!
Hell is instead eternal death,
The ultimate affliction.
There is no "eternal life" in Hell,
No joy nor light nor bliss.
There's only terror, darkness, torment;
What dread existence this.
There's no eternal life in hell;
There is naught to be desired;
No hope of respite, no relief
From that great eternal fire.
There is no eternal life in Hell,
For such life is God's gift to man
Through Jesus Christ, who died for us
To achieve redemption's plan.
No, there is no eternal life in Hell;
No light is there at all.
All is darkness, pain and anguish,
Rank bitterness and gall.
No lack of pain or bitter tears,
A place where nothing's well,
A place of horror, guilt and fear,
There's no eternal life in Hell.
There is no eternal life in Hell,
For those who've rejected God's grace
Will not live with Christ forever,
Will never see His blessed face.
Eternal life comes by Jesus Christ,
Through His shed blood alone.
Eternal death in the fires of Hell
We accomplish on our own.
March 20, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
There's no eternal life in Hell!
That is a contradiction!
Hell is instead eternal death,
The ultimate affliction.
There is no "eternal life" in Hell,
No joy nor light nor bliss.
There's only terror, darkness, torment;
What dread existence this.
There's no eternal life in hell;
There is naught to be desired;
No hope of respite, no relief
From that great eternal fire.
There is no eternal life in Hell,
For such life is God's gift to man
Through Jesus Christ, who died for us
To achieve redemption's plan.
No, there is no eternal life in Hell;
No light is there at all.
All is darkness, pain and anguish,
Rank bitterness and gall.
No lack of pain or bitter tears,
A place where nothing's well,
A place of horror, guilt and fear,
There's no eternal life in Hell.
There is no eternal life in Hell,
For those who've rejected God's grace
Will not live with Christ forever,
Will never see His blessed face.
Eternal life comes by Jesus Christ,
Through His shed blood alone.
Eternal death in the fires of Hell
We accomplish on our own.
March 20, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
THERE ARE NO “IF’S”
For the true believer, there are no "if's",
There is not the slightest doubt at all;
There is rather God's assurance: —
We've been ransomed from the fall,
Ransomed by the blood of Jesus,
The perfect pure and sinless Lamb,
The blessed God and our Redeemer;
King of kings, the great I AM.
Redeemed! The debt is fully paid and cancelled,
God has saved us by His Son.
By His grace, He grants salvation,
Freely justifies each one.
No condemnation is upon us
When upon His name we call;
That we are justified and pardoned
There is no "if", no doubt at all.
March 12, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
For the true believer, there are no "if's",
There is not the slightest doubt at all;
There is rather God's assurance: —
We've been ransomed from the fall,
Ransomed by the blood of Jesus,
The perfect pure and sinless Lamb,
The blessed God and our Redeemer;
King of kings, the great I AM.
Redeemed! The debt is fully paid and cancelled,
God has saved us by His Son.
By His grace, He grants salvation,
Freely justifies each one.
No condemnation is upon us
When upon His name we call;
That we are justified and pardoned
There is no "if", no doubt at all.
March 12, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
Saturday, January 21, 2017
THE BLESSED NAME OF JESUS
The blessed name of Jesus,
Master, Saviour, Lord,
Is so often spoken carelessly
As just another word
By those who should know better,
Who have salvation through His name,
Yes, even those who claim to know Him
Sometimes take His name in vain.
'Tis that name above all others
Through which all must be saved
From the one who thinks he's righteous
To the most wicked and depraved;
The Lamb of God, Redeemer,
The very essence of God's Word,
The blessed name of Jesus,
Master, Saviour, Lord.
So be careful when you speak it,
You who claim His precious blood,
For that blessed One named Jesus
Is the very Son of God,
And His name, above all others,
Is exalted far above
All other names forever,
The very essence of God's love.
Yes, the blessed Name of Jesus
That name of matchless worth,
Far above all it is exalted
In both heaven and in earth,
The Lamb of God, Redeemer,
The very essence of God's Word,
The blessed name of Jesus,
Master, Saviour, Lord.
a. franklin staples
September 3, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
The blessed name of Jesus,
Master, Saviour, Lord,
Is so often spoken carelessly
As just another word
By those who should know better,
Who have salvation through His name,
Yes, even those who claim to know Him
Sometimes take His name in vain.
'Tis that name above all others
Through which all must be saved
From the one who thinks he's righteous
To the most wicked and depraved;
The Lamb of God, Redeemer,
The very essence of God's Word,
The blessed name of Jesus,
Master, Saviour, Lord.
So be careful when you speak it,
You who claim His precious blood,
For that blessed One named Jesus
Is the very Son of God,
And His name, above all others,
Is exalted far above
All other names forever,
The very essence of God's love.
Yes, the blessed Name of Jesus
That name of matchless worth,
Far above all it is exalted
In both heaven and in earth,
The Lamb of God, Redeemer,
The very essence of God's Word,
The blessed name of Jesus,
Master, Saviour, Lord.
a. franklin staples
September 3, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
THIS OLD BODY OF DUST...
The saved in Christ do not grow old —
Just these mortal bodies do.
This frail robe of flesh we wear
Will never see us through,
For some day, friend, we'll just fly away.
This vile body leave behind,
To go to be where Jesus is
And have a body of His kind.
This old body of dust will just wear out
If it stays for its full time
Of three score and ten, or perhaps four score;
Then 'twill surely be left behind
When the soul departs for that higher plane,
Fore'er with Christ to dwell;
No more sickness, no, nor sorrow nor pain
In that land where all is well.
We'll have a new body that will never grow old,
Never wear out nor ever break down,
One fashioned like the glorious body of Christ,
Not made from the dust of the ground;
A body eternal, not affected by time,
For of time there won't be any more
When God has restored all things to Himself,
And we're safe on that heavenly shore.
a. franklin staples
August 13 & 23, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
The saved in Christ do not grow old —
Just these mortal bodies do.
This frail robe of flesh we wear
Will never see us through,
For some day, friend, we'll just fly away.
This vile body leave behind,
To go to be where Jesus is
And have a body of His kind.
This old body of dust will just wear out
If it stays for its full time
Of three score and ten, or perhaps four score;
Then 'twill surely be left behind
When the soul departs for that higher plane,
Fore'er with Christ to dwell;
No more sickness, no, nor sorrow nor pain
In that land where all is well.
We'll have a new body that will never grow old,
Never wear out nor ever break down,
One fashioned like the glorious body of Christ,
Not made from the dust of the ground;
A body eternal, not affected by time,
For of time there won't be any more
When God has restored all things to Himself,
And we're safe on that heavenly shore.
a. franklin staples
August 13 & 23, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Friday, January 20, 2017
WHAT WE SAY DOES MATTER!
What we say does matter!
It matters very much;
We talk much about the weather
And politics and such,
But those of whom the Bible speaks
As believers of God's Word
Should speak of things eternal
As directed by the Lord.
We're told to "search the Scriptures",
To study God's written words,
And then to preach and teach them
To those who have not heard.
And those whom God has appointed
To lead and show the way
Must know the Word and teach the Word
That others may obey.
Yes, what we say does matter!
It matters very much,
For 'tis by the Word that's spoken
That lost men's souls are touched,
And 'tis by the Word that's spoken
That those things we need to know
Are communicated to us
So we'll know the way to go.
a. franklin staples
July 30, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
What we say does matter!
It matters very much;
We talk much about the weather
And politics and such,
But those of whom the Bible speaks
As believers of God's Word
Should speak of things eternal
As directed by the Lord.
We're told to "search the Scriptures",
To study God's written words,
And then to preach and teach them
To those who have not heard.
And those whom God has appointed
To lead and show the way
Must know the Word and teach the Word
That others may obey.
Yes, what we say does matter!
It matters very much,
For 'tis by the Word that's spoken
That lost men's souls are touched,
And 'tis by the Word that's spoken
That those things we need to know
Are communicated to us
So we'll know the way to go.
a. franklin staples
July 30, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Unworthy’s NOT STRONG ENOUGH
"Unworthy" seems not to be a strong enough word
To describe what I once was in the eyes of the LORD;
Condemned by the just law of the all-righteous God,
Just a man marred by sin, broken and flawed.
A worm in God's sight, an abominable thing,
Poor, wretched and blind with nothing to bring
That would satisfy God, pay the price for my sin —
No work would suffice my salvation to win.
But God, in His mercy and through His great love,
Sent His own precious Son from His home up above
To die on a Roman cross on a hill far away
That I, by His grace, would have my debt paid,
Paid by the precious blood of Jesus, my Lord,
Saved to the uttermost, to God's favour restored.
No, "unworthy's" not strong enough, though 'tis unworthy I am,
But thank God I'm made worthy by the blood of His Lamb.
a. franklin staples
May 16, 1995
This is another of those "songs in the night" the first stanza of which came "out of the blue" early this morning.
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
"Unworthy" seems not to be a strong enough word
To describe what I once was in the eyes of the LORD;
Condemned by the just law of the all-righteous God,
Just a man marred by sin, broken and flawed.
A worm in God's sight, an abominable thing,
Poor, wretched and blind with nothing to bring
That would satisfy God, pay the price for my sin —
No work would suffice my salvation to win.
But God, in His mercy and through His great love,
Sent His own precious Son from His home up above
To die on a Roman cross on a hill far away
That I, by His grace, would have my debt paid,
Paid by the precious blood of Jesus, my Lord,
Saved to the uttermost, to God's favour restored.
No, "unworthy's" not strong enough, though 'tis unworthy I am,
But thank God I'm made worthy by the blood of His Lamb.
a. franklin staples
May 16, 1995
This is another of those "songs in the night" the first stanza of which came "out of the blue" early this morning.
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Thursday, January 19, 2017
THE BREVITY OF LIFE
I'm reminded again of the brevity of life,
Of how swiftly the years pass us by.
Whether we spend them in health or in strife
Matters not, so quickly they fly.
The hair turns to silver from black, blond, red or gray,
And the skin grows wrinkled with age,
And old friends we have known one by one pass away
To become simply names on a page.
How swiftly it passes, this life here below,
Like the grass of the field, it's soon gone.
We who remain for a time will soon go
To be with those in the Lord who've gone on.
And those who don't know Him will pass on, as well,
But not to an eternal reward;
Nay, but to an eternity of torment in hell
Because they despised and rejected God's Word.
So which will it be for you when you die?
(For die each one of us must)
Will you be with Jesus in a mansion on high?
In His blessed Name do you trust?
Or are you condemned to the darkness of hell
By your own unbelief and by choice?
Come to Jesus, my friend, and all will be well,
Make the angels of heaven rejoice.
Don't put off the decision until it's too late.
Come now, while there is still time.
Don't let yourself slide through into hell's broad gate.
There no peace for your soul will you find.
Be ready to meet Jesus when your time comes to die.
Be with all the dear saints who've gone on;
Meet your loved ones in heaven in the sweet by and by.
Put you faith and your trust in God's Son.
I'm reminded again of the brevity of life,
Of just how short and how narrow the span.
Consider, my friend, and come to the Light.
Come to Jesus while you still can.
August 25, 1993-March 11, 1994
(Begun during the funeral service for my old and good friend, Elwood Clark, in the Keswick United Baptist Church, August 25, 1993.)
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
I'm reminded again of the brevity of life,
Of how swiftly the years pass us by.
Whether we spend them in health or in strife
Matters not, so quickly they fly.
The hair turns to silver from black, blond, red or gray,
And the skin grows wrinkled with age,
And old friends we have known one by one pass away
To become simply names on a page.
How swiftly it passes, this life here below,
Like the grass of the field, it's soon gone.
We who remain for a time will soon go
To be with those in the Lord who've gone on.
And those who don't know Him will pass on, as well,
But not to an eternal reward;
Nay, but to an eternity of torment in hell
Because they despised and rejected God's Word.
So which will it be for you when you die?
(For die each one of us must)
Will you be with Jesus in a mansion on high?
In His blessed Name do you trust?
Or are you condemned to the darkness of hell
By your own unbelief and by choice?
Come to Jesus, my friend, and all will be well,
Make the angels of heaven rejoice.
Don't put off the decision until it's too late.
Come now, while there is still time.
Don't let yourself slide through into hell's broad gate.
There no peace for your soul will you find.
Be ready to meet Jesus when your time comes to die.
Be with all the dear saints who've gone on;
Meet your loved ones in heaven in the sweet by and by.
Put you faith and your trust in God's Son.
I'm reminded again of the brevity of life,
Of just how short and how narrow the span.
Consider, my friend, and come to the Light.
Come to Jesus while you still can.
August 25, 1993-March 11, 1994
(Begun during the funeral service for my old and good friend, Elwood Clark, in the Keswick United Baptist Church, August 25, 1993.)
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
HOLY, SO HOLY, ART THOU, O MY GOD
Holy, O God, is Thy precious name,
Holy and perfect and pure;
Holy, O God, so holy art Thou:
Thy judgments and precepts are sure.
Holy, so holy, art Thou, O my God!
In Thy presence I am undone,
Imperfect, unworthy, so poor, weak and blind,
Nothing but for Jesus, Thy Son.
Holy, thrice holy, art Thou, O my God;
So high and so holy art Thou!
Far above all things art Thou exalted!
In Thy holy presence I bow.
Holy, so holy, art Thou, O my God!
In awe and in reverence I stand
Before Thee, O so holy, yea, the most holy,
Who holdest my life in Thine hand.
Holy, so holy, art Thou, O my God,
So far above me, so high
That I cannot hope to be like Thee, no, never,
No matter how hard I might try.
February 13, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
Holy, O God, is Thy precious name,
Holy and perfect and pure;
Holy, O God, so holy art Thou:
Thy judgments and precepts are sure.
Holy, so holy, art Thou, O my God!
In Thy presence I am undone,
Imperfect, unworthy, so poor, weak and blind,
Nothing but for Jesus, Thy Son.
Holy, thrice holy, art Thou, O my God;
So high and so holy art Thou!
Far above all things art Thou exalted!
In Thy holy presence I bow.
Holy, so holy, art Thou, O my God!
In awe and in reverence I stand
Before Thee, O so holy, yea, the most holy,
Who holdest my life in Thine hand.
Holy, so holy, art Thou, O my God,
So far above me, so high
That I cannot hope to be like Thee, no, never,
No matter how hard I might try.
February 13, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
THE HOLY GHOST IS MY COMPANION
The Holy Ghost is my Companion,
My Teacher and my Guide.
Since I belong to Jesus,
Within me He doth reside.
Since my body is His Temple,
Though it is but made of clay,
I must not desecrate it
By what I do or think or say.
The Holy Ghost is my Companion,
Spirit of the living God,
Who will safely lead me always
As in the Way I trod.
He reveals the Truth that's written
In the pages of God's Word
If I will but study with Him
And heed what I have heard.
The Holy Ghost is my Companion.
He reveals the Father's will
If I am open to receive it,
Yielded, submissive, waiting, still.
The Holy Ghost is my Instructor:
His tiny classroom is my mind.
Patiently He daily teaches,
One-on-one, God's Truth sublime.
The Holy Ghost is my Companion,
Instructor, Comforter and Guide,
Walking with me, ever present,
Step-by-step and stride-for-stride.
The Holy Ghost is my Companion,
Sent by Jesus Christ, God's Son,
To dwell with me, to guide and comfort.
Praise to God, the Three-in-One.
January 26, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
The Holy Ghost is my Companion,
My Teacher and my Guide.
Since I belong to Jesus,
Within me He doth reside.
Since my body is His Temple,
Though it is but made of clay,
I must not desecrate it
By what I do or think or say.
The Holy Ghost is my Companion,
Spirit of the living God,
Who will safely lead me always
As in the Way I trod.
He reveals the Truth that's written
In the pages of God's Word
If I will but study with Him
And heed what I have heard.
The Holy Ghost is my Companion.
He reveals the Father's will
If I am open to receive it,
Yielded, submissive, waiting, still.
The Holy Ghost is my Instructor:
His tiny classroom is my mind.
Patiently He daily teaches,
One-on-one, God's Truth sublime.
The Holy Ghost is my Companion,
Instructor, Comforter and Guide,
Walking with me, ever present,
Step-by-step and stride-for-stride.
The Holy Ghost is my Companion,
Sent by Jesus Christ, God's Son,
To dwell with me, to guide and comfort.
Praise to God, the Three-in-One.
January 26, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
FATHER, WE COME BEFORE THY THRONE
Father, we come before Thy throne
To give our praise to Thee alone
And lift Thy Son's name up on high;
'Tis upon that Name that we rely,
For 'tis in that Name we come to Thee —
'Tis by His blood we've been set free.
Lord, we thank Thee for what Thou hast done
In saving us through Thine own dear Son
Who gave His life for Adam's race.
We are naught but sinners saved by grace.
Help us, dear Lord, to watch and pray,
To show forth Christ Jesus every day;
To be truly servants in our walk,
In the way we act and live and talk,
In the way we treat our fellow man,
That those we meet may understand
That we are different, set apart,
That we've been renewed, changed in heart;
That the way we were we are no more;
We are born anew, our hope's restored
Because we've been washed in Jesus' blood,
Cleansed of sin beneath that flood
That flowed for us on Calvary's cross;
Redeemed forever from among the lost.
Give us a passion for the souls of men,
For brother, sister, neighbour, friend,
For men and women, boys and girls,
All who are bound up in the world,
Who are headed down the broad highway;
Toward destruction, to their great dismay.
Help us do that which Thou hast called us to:
To go and preach the Gospel true
To men of every race and creed
And tell them that it's Christ they need;
That salvation's found in no other name —
All once was dark, then Jesus came:
Came to pay the price for sin;
Came to redeem the souls of men;
Came to die on a sin-cursed tree
That man should be forever free
From the curse of sin on Adam's race,
Saved by Thine own matchless grace.
This we pray in that Name so dear,
The Name that is sweetest to the ear
Of every sinner who has come by faith
To partake of that same unfailing grace,
And has found release from fear and dread:
Jesus Christ, who for us bled.
a. franklin staples
September 21 - October 5, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Father, we come before Thy throne
To give our praise to Thee alone
And lift Thy Son's name up on high;
'Tis upon that Name that we rely,
For 'tis in that Name we come to Thee —
'Tis by His blood we've been set free.
Lord, we thank Thee for what Thou hast done
In saving us through Thine own dear Son
Who gave His life for Adam's race.
We are naught but sinners saved by grace.
Help us, dear Lord, to watch and pray,
To show forth Christ Jesus every day;
To be truly servants in our walk,
In the way we act and live and talk,
In the way we treat our fellow man,
That those we meet may understand
That we are different, set apart,
That we've been renewed, changed in heart;
That the way we were we are no more;
We are born anew, our hope's restored
Because we've been washed in Jesus' blood,
Cleansed of sin beneath that flood
That flowed for us on Calvary's cross;
Redeemed forever from among the lost.
Give us a passion for the souls of men,
For brother, sister, neighbour, friend,
For men and women, boys and girls,
All who are bound up in the world,
Who are headed down the broad highway;
Toward destruction, to their great dismay.
Help us do that which Thou hast called us to:
To go and preach the Gospel true
To men of every race and creed
And tell them that it's Christ they need;
That salvation's found in no other name —
All once was dark, then Jesus came:
Came to pay the price for sin;
Came to redeem the souls of men;
Came to die on a sin-cursed tree
That man should be forever free
From the curse of sin on Adam's race,
Saved by Thine own matchless grace.
This we pray in that Name so dear,
The Name that is sweetest to the ear
Of every sinner who has come by faith
To partake of that same unfailing grace,
And has found release from fear and dread:
Jesus Christ, who for us bled.
a. franklin staples
September 21 - October 5, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
REMEMBER CALVARY!
Remember Calvary! That's what the Christian's battle cry should be.
Remember Calvary, where Jesus died to set men free.
Remember Calvary, where Jesus conquered death and sin,
Remember Calvary, where all our shame and guilt was laid on Him.
Remember Calvary, and all the horrors of that dreadful place;
Remember Calvary, where God showed forth the wonders of His grace;
Remember Calvary, where the Lamb of God shed for us His precious blood;
Remember Calvary, and let it be clearly understood
That those are words that Satan and his demons surely hate,
For they speak of the one great event that surely sealed their fate,
Of Satan's broken power, and of men from death set free.
The battle's over! The war's been won! Remember Calvary?
a. franklin staples
April 24, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Remember Calvary! That's what the Christian's battle cry should be.
Remember Calvary, where Jesus died to set men free.
Remember Calvary, where Jesus conquered death and sin,
Remember Calvary, where all our shame and guilt was laid on Him.
Remember Calvary, and all the horrors of that dreadful place;
Remember Calvary, where God showed forth the wonders of His grace;
Remember Calvary, where the Lamb of God shed for us His precious blood;
Remember Calvary, and let it be clearly understood
That those are words that Satan and his demons surely hate,
For they speak of the one great event that surely sealed their fate,
Of Satan's broken power, and of men from death set free.
The battle's over! The war's been won! Remember Calvary?
a. franklin staples
April 24, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
WHY THAT NAME OF NAMES?
Why is it that the name on every cursing lip
Is the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord?
Why is that Name of names the first to slip
From those who most vehemently deny God's Holy Word?
What is it that incites those wicked who deny
That there even is a God at all
To misuse the one Name on which they could rely
To save them, be they great or small?
Is not the fact that men swear by that Name
The greatest proof that there can be
That there is One True God, and that He came
To die on a cross to set men free?
Why else should His Name be used so much
By those wicked who His very self deny,
Who, by using it as a blasphemous crutch,
To that very Name of names do testify.
How often wicked men take that Name in vain.
Ah, yes, and wicked women use it, too,
To their disgrace, for it makes them coarse and plain
And shows them to be rotten through and through.
To use the name of Jesus Christ that way
Marks one to be both wicked and depraved.
It is the Name through which to God men pray,
And the only One by which we can be saved.
a. franklin staples
April 8, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Why is it that the name on every cursing lip
Is the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord?
Why is that Name of names the first to slip
From those who most vehemently deny God's Holy Word?
What is it that incites those wicked who deny
That there even is a God at all
To misuse the one Name on which they could rely
To save them, be they great or small?
Is not the fact that men swear by that Name
The greatest proof that there can be
That there is One True God, and that He came
To die on a cross to set men free?
Why else should His Name be used so much
By those wicked who His very self deny,
Who, by using it as a blasphemous crutch,
To that very Name of names do testify.
How often wicked men take that Name in vain.
Ah, yes, and wicked women use it, too,
To their disgrace, for it makes them coarse and plain
And shows them to be rotten through and through.
To use the name of Jesus Christ that way
Marks one to be both wicked and depraved.
It is the Name through which to God men pray,
And the only One by which we can be saved.
a. franklin staples
April 8, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
THE RESURRECTION
The grave in which my Saviour lay
For three whole nights and days
Was a cave hewn out of solid rock—
A mighty stone its entrance blocked—
That's what the Bible says.
Inside that tomb of hewn stone,
In the blackness, damp and gloom,
His body lay wrapped in aloes and myrhh,
Sealed inside a cocoon, as it were,
Whose odours filled the room.
His Soul had descended into Hell
To set death's captives free,
To be with the thief in Paradise,
To show to all He had paid sin's price
On Calvary's cursed tree.
The third day dawned, but before the sun
Could above the horizon climb,
The darkness and the gloom dispelled—
The Son of God had returned from Hell
At God's appointed time.
Out through the linen cast He came bodily
Without tearing or unwrapping;
The cave was filled with brilliant light
But no mortal eyes beheld the sight—
None knew that it was happening.
The stone did not move from the cave door
When Christ the Lord came forth.
Nay, through the stone He passed that day
(For the disciples' sake, it was rolled away
[That they might go in, of course]).
The Son of God with power stood forth,
God's own Sacrificial Lamb,
Having once and for all conquered death,
The Lord who gives us life and breath—
Jesus, the great I AM.
a. franklin staples
April 7, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
The grave in which my Saviour lay
For three whole nights and days
Was a cave hewn out of solid rock—
A mighty stone its entrance blocked—
That's what the Bible says.
Inside that tomb of hewn stone,
In the blackness, damp and gloom,
His body lay wrapped in aloes and myrhh,
Sealed inside a cocoon, as it were,
Whose odours filled the room.
His Soul had descended into Hell
To set death's captives free,
To be with the thief in Paradise,
To show to all He had paid sin's price
On Calvary's cursed tree.
The third day dawned, but before the sun
Could above the horizon climb,
The darkness and the gloom dispelled—
The Son of God had returned from Hell
At God's appointed time.
Out through the linen cast He came bodily
Without tearing or unwrapping;
The cave was filled with brilliant light
But no mortal eyes beheld the sight—
None knew that it was happening.
The stone did not move from the cave door
When Christ the Lord came forth.
Nay, through the stone He passed that day
(For the disciples' sake, it was rolled away
[That they might go in, of course]).
The Son of God with power stood forth,
God's own Sacrificial Lamb,
Having once and for all conquered death,
The Lord who gives us life and breath—
Jesus, the great I AM.
a. franklin staples
April 7, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Monday, January 16, 2017
A manger was the cradle for the incarnate Son of God
On that long ago night in Bethlehem town.
His virgin mother wrapped Him up in simple swaddling clothes;
For Him no kingly robe nor prince's silken gown.
Over that manger on that night was the shadow of the cross
On which the Son of God was born to die,
For born was He to suffer the most awful grief and loss;
To be God's pure sinless Lamb of sacrifice.
The years would pass by quickly and would come the awful day
When Jesus Christ would lay His own life down;
Be spat upon, beaten, mocked and hung upon that cross,
And upon His head would wear a thorny crown.
He died there on that Roman cross for all the sins of man;
He bore every single one upon that tree that day.
He paid the full price that the righteous God demanded
So that you and I would never have to pay.
He was buried in a borrowed tomb and rose from there triumphant,
For death could not contain God's Holy One for long,
He ascended into heaven, where He sits at God's right hand.
Someday He's coming back! It won't be long.
As the King He will return to earth to conquer and to reign,
For every enemy of the Lord must be put down,
And we will reign there with Him in that Kingdom! Hallelujah!
From the cradle to the cross and then the Crown!1
a. franklin staples
It is interesting to note that the words cradle, cross and Crown are in alphabetical order as the events themselves are in chronological order.
December 21, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
Saturday, January 14, 2017
THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS
This, too, shall pass —
It cannot last forever;
No matter what may be the hurt, the fear, the pain.
Trust in the Lord
For He is near you ever;
He takes each loss and turns it into gain.
This, too, shall pass,
This trial that seems so heavy,
This burden that you've been called to bear;
Give it to God;
He will bear it with you —
He knows what you're going through, for He's been there.
This, too, shall pass,
For nothing stays the same;
In this world there is but endless change.
Only God remains —
He who never changes
Can calm our every fear and help us bear the pain.
a. franklin staples
October 27, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
This, too, shall pass —
It cannot last forever;
No matter what may be the hurt, the fear, the pain.
Trust in the Lord
For He is near you ever;
He takes each loss and turns it into gain.
This, too, shall pass,
This trial that seems so heavy,
This burden that you've been called to bear;
Give it to God;
He will bear it with you —
He knows what you're going through, for He's been there.
This, too, shall pass,
For nothing stays the same;
In this world there is but endless change.
Only God remains —
He who never changes
Can calm our every fear and help us bear the pain.
a. franklin staples
October 27, 1992
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
THE BIBLE IS TODAY'S BOOK
The Bible is today's Book; it is not to gather dust
Or to ornament a table or a shelf.
The Bible is a living Book, the Word that you can trust,
Written by the hand of God Himself.
The Bible is the true Book; it tells it like it is
And leaves nothing out we really need to know.
The Bible is the Guide Book, the only one there is
That points us to the Way we are to go.
The Bible is a deep Book, one that's filled with treasures;
It tells that of which there is no other way to know.
The Bible is a growth Book, with food that gives true pleasure;
It tells us how to love and live and grow.
The Bible is a square Book by which to rule our lives;
It plumbs the depths and also scales the heights;
The Bible is the fair Book that tells the Truth, not lies;
By it we walk by faith and not by sight.
The Bible is an exciting Book; it's not dry or dull or dead;
It's not a legend or a myth or just a story;
The Bible is tomorrow's news just waiting to be read;
It tells it like it is and gives God the glory.
The Bible is the Book of God; it records His very words
And tells us of His great love for man;
The Bible is not a sealed Book; to believe that is absurd.
It's an open Book that the saved can understand.
The Bible is the Power Book, a weapon of offense,
A quick and powerful, mighty two-edged Sword;
The Bible is a divisive Book, in a very real sense,
That claims that Jesus Christ alone is Lord.
The Bible is tomorrow's Book, the Book of light and life,
The Book from which Jesus Christ will judge all men;
The Bible is the Holy Book, the Book of Hope and Truth,
The only True and Holy Book there has ever been.
The Bible is the Grace Book, and we should be excited
When we read how Jesus paid the price for sin;
The Bible is the Faith Book and all men are invited
To believe the Word and the Crown of life to win.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
(December 14, 1992)
The Bible is today's Book; it is not to gather dust
Or to ornament a table or a shelf.
The Bible is a living Book, the Word that you can trust,
Written by the hand of God Himself.
The Bible is the true Book; it tells it like it is
And leaves nothing out we really need to know.
The Bible is the Guide Book, the only one there is
That points us to the Way we are to go.
The Bible is a deep Book, one that's filled with treasures;
It tells that of which there is no other way to know.
The Bible is a growth Book, with food that gives true pleasure;
It tells us how to love and live and grow.
The Bible is a square Book by which to rule our lives;
It plumbs the depths and also scales the heights;
The Bible is the fair Book that tells the Truth, not lies;
By it we walk by faith and not by sight.
The Bible is an exciting Book; it's not dry or dull or dead;
It's not a legend or a myth or just a story;
The Bible is tomorrow's news just waiting to be read;
It tells it like it is and gives God the glory.
The Bible is the Book of God; it records His very words
And tells us of His great love for man;
The Bible is not a sealed Book; to believe that is absurd.
It's an open Book that the saved can understand.
The Bible is the Power Book, a weapon of offense,
A quick and powerful, mighty two-edged Sword;
The Bible is a divisive Book, in a very real sense,
That claims that Jesus Christ alone is Lord.
The Bible is tomorrow's Book, the Book of light and life,
The Book from which Jesus Christ will judge all men;
The Bible is the Holy Book, the Book of Hope and Truth,
The only True and Holy Book there has ever been.
The Bible is the Grace Book, and we should be excited
When we read how Jesus paid the price for sin;
The Bible is the Faith Book and all men are invited
To believe the Word and the Crown of life to win.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
(December 14, 1992)
Friday, January 13, 2017
OLD SATAN IS A DIRTY SNEAK
Old Satan is a dirty sneak!
He finds a place where you are weak,
And silently he enters in
To see if he can make you sin.
His ways are subtle and evil, too!
He’ll worm his way right into you;
He’ll whisper softly, not shout or rave,
And try to make you misbehave.
He’ll take that which the Lord says is good
If you will use it as you should,
And turn it into something evil.
That is why he’s called the devil.
Yes, a dirty sneak he’s known to be,
Filled up with pride and vanity,
Pretending to be what he is not.
By him no good thing is wrought.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 2009 by A. Franklin Staples
WORRY
Worry is a useless thing,
No change can it effect
In height or stature or circumstance;
No cause whatever can it advance;
No mistake can it correct.
Worry never solved a problem
But creates more than its share;
It grows in a fertile imagination
And makes up the worst possible situations,
Then turns them to despair.
Worry is the devil's tool;
It plays upon our doubts
And builds up falsehoods in the mind;
To God's blessings it makes us blind
And knocks our faith about.
Worry shows a lack of faith
In the promises of the Lord;
It denies that our God has the power,
Is in control whate'er the hour,
As He says in His Word.
Worry is a waste of time
That could be put to better use
In enjoying the day that God has made,
To help somebody, to read, to pray,
Or to bask in the light of God's Truth.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
December 8, 1992
Worry is a useless thing,
No change can it effect
In height or stature or circumstance;
No cause whatever can it advance;
No mistake can it correct.
Worry never solved a problem
But creates more than its share;
It grows in a fertile imagination
And makes up the worst possible situations,
Then turns them to despair.
Worry is the devil's tool;
It plays upon our doubts
And builds up falsehoods in the mind;
To God's blessings it makes us blind
And knocks our faith about.
Worry shows a lack of faith
In the promises of the Lord;
It denies that our God has the power,
Is in control whate'er the hour,
As He says in His Word.
Worry is a waste of time
That could be put to better use
In enjoying the day that God has made,
To help somebody, to read, to pray,
Or to bask in the light of God's Truth.
a. franklin staples
Copyright © 1992
by
A. Franklin Staples
December 8, 1992
WHAT WE REALLY DESERVE
Advertisers say we deserve the "best"
And nothing less, you know;
They tell us of "things" that we need to have
That will help us make a show;
Those fleeting material things of earth
For which many seek and strive —
Power and money and houses and such
That say that we've "arrived".
And many, so many, have swallowed the bait
That old Satan has on his hook;
They're fully convinced they "deserve the best",
But that's not what it says in God's Book!
If we should get what we really deserve,
The "best" it would not be,
For we're each of us stained and marred by sin,
Corrupted, don't you see?
And the God who made us, who loves us still,
And by Whom we are given breath,
So hates our sin, yea, abhors it yet,
That, by sin, we are condemned to death.
Yes, what we really deserve is to die
And to go right straight to hell,
And there, but for the grace of God, should go I,
And there you should go, as well.
But God, in His mercy, sent Christ Jesus, His Son,
To die on a cross, pay the price,
So that we may truly gain what is best
By accepting His blood sacrifice.
It's not what we deserve to receive, my friend,
This great gift of eternal life
And a home in heaven, there to dwell with Him
In that place "where cometh no night",
But God, in His mercy and by His great love,
Sent His own Son to die in our place
That we may partake of the glories of heaven,
Saved forever by His marvellous grace.
Yes, all that we really deserve is death
At the hands of a God who is righteous and just,
But that which is truly the best can be ours
If in Jesus the Saviour we trust.
a. franklin staples
April 24, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Advertisers say we deserve the "best"
And nothing less, you know;
They tell us of "things" that we need to have
That will help us make a show;
Those fleeting material things of earth
For which many seek and strive —
Power and money and houses and such
That say that we've "arrived".
And many, so many, have swallowed the bait
That old Satan has on his hook;
They're fully convinced they "deserve the best",
But that's not what it says in God's Book!
If we should get what we really deserve,
The "best" it would not be,
For we're each of us stained and marred by sin,
Corrupted, don't you see?
And the God who made us, who loves us still,
And by Whom we are given breath,
So hates our sin, yea, abhors it yet,
That, by sin, we are condemned to death.
Yes, what we really deserve is to die
And to go right straight to hell,
And there, but for the grace of God, should go I,
And there you should go, as well.
But God, in His mercy, sent Christ Jesus, His Son,
To die on a cross, pay the price,
So that we may truly gain what is best
By accepting His blood sacrifice.
It's not what we deserve to receive, my friend,
This great gift of eternal life
And a home in heaven, there to dwell with Him
In that place "where cometh no night",
But God, in His mercy and by His great love,
Sent His own Son to die in our place
That we may partake of the glories of heaven,
Saved forever by His marvellous grace.
Yes, all that we really deserve is death
At the hands of a God who is righteous and just,
But that which is truly the best can be ours
If in Jesus the Saviour we trust.
a. franklin staples
April 24, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Thursday, January 12, 2017
NO BUILDING IS THE LORD’S HOUSE
No building is the Lord's house,
I would have you understand,
For the God of heaven dwelleth not
In houses made with hands.
These bodies that we live in,
Tabernacles made of clay,
Are but our earthly dwelling place,
For we're not here to stay.
This earthy temple is the place
Where the Holy Ghost doth dwell,
And if you are truly Christian,
He dwells in you as well.
Christ's church is here assembled
According to God's plan,
But not one body in this place
Was made by human hands.
Each believer is the Lord's house,
'Tis the Lord's in whom we trust,
But this earthy tent we dwell in
Will someday return to dust
And we'll go to be with Jesus,
There to dwell for evermore
In that house that He's preparing
Over on the heavenly shore.
a. franklin staples
March 18, 1995
Even though it is a perishable construction of earthy materials, the human body is so complex that our feeble attempts to explain it's construction and function are oversimplified and woefully inadequate. Some years ago, a team of moicrobiologists set out to design and build a factory that would duplicate the functions of the human liver. The project has since been abandoned due to the complexity of the structure and the process (far more complex than any modern industrial process currently under way), and the lack of sufficient knowledge of the chemistry involved. So much for evolution.
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
No building is the Lord's house,
I would have you understand,
For the God of heaven dwelleth not
In houses made with hands.
These bodies that we live in,
Tabernacles made of clay,
Are but our earthly dwelling place,
For we're not here to stay.
This earthy temple is the place
Where the Holy Ghost doth dwell,
And if you are truly Christian,
He dwells in you as well.
Christ's church is here assembled
According to God's plan,
But not one body in this place
Was made by human hands.
Each believer is the Lord's house,
'Tis the Lord's in whom we trust,
But this earthy tent we dwell in
Will someday return to dust
And we'll go to be with Jesus,
There to dwell for evermore
In that house that He's preparing
Over on the heavenly shore.
a. franklin staples
March 18, 1995
Even though it is a perishable construction of earthy materials, the human body is so complex that our feeble attempts to explain it's construction and function are oversimplified and woefully inadequate. Some years ago, a team of moicrobiologists set out to design and build a factory that would duplicate the functions of the human liver. The project has since been abandoned due to the complexity of the structure and the process (far more complex than any modern industrial process currently under way), and the lack of sufficient knowledge of the chemistry involved. So much for evolution.
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Sunday, January 8, 2017
ARE YOU JUST LOOKING FOR A MANSION?
Are you just looking for a mansion?
Do you long for wealth untold?
Is that perhaps your major reason
For reaching for those Gates of Gold?
Then you'll be sadly disappointed, friend,
When the Lord returns again,
For then all the wealth of Heaven
You will never ever gain.
For a mansion's not the reason
That we should seek the Lord,
And the riches that we're seeking
Are those promised in God's Word;
Not of worldly wealth and glory,
Not of silver nor of gold,
But to live with Christ in glory
And His blessed face behold,
To cast all our crowns before Him,
Our rewards cast at His feet,
Shout the glad song of all the ages
And His blessed name repeat.
Yes, that blessed name of Jesus,
He who died that we might live,
Shed His blood to buy our pardon,
That the Father might forgive.
No, a mansion's not the reason, friend,
That we seek to serve the Lord;
Though He's wealthy beyond measure,
'Tis not gold that's our reward;
Earth's values are not counted
In the Father's house above
Where we'll rest from all our labours
In the light of His great love.
a. franklin staples
March 7, 1995
Copyright © 1995 by A. Franklin Staples
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Nothing But the Blood of Jesus
“Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,”
Say the words of that precious old hymn,
Yes, “nothing but the Blood of Jesus”
Can wash away all of my sin.
But hymns don’t speak of the Blood anymore,
Nor mention that dear precious Name,
The name of Jesus, my Saviour and Lord,
Who bore all of my sin and my shame.
“What can wash away my sin?”
The answer still is the same:
The pure cleansing flood of my dear Saviour’s blood,
God’s pure, precious Lamb who was slain,
Slain on that old cross on that dark lonely hill
At the place that was called Calvary,
Where the Son of God died on that cross, crucified,
That from sin’s curse I should ever be free.
No, hymns don’t speak of the blood anymore,
Nor of sin, degradation nor shame,
Nor of worms such as I, unworthy, condemned,
Was it not for God’s Lamb who was slain.
The hymns being written are so politically correct,
Full of vain repetitions of phrase,
That one wonders what happened to the blackness of sin
From which mankind must be saved.
Yes, nothing but the Blood of Jesus
Can wash away all of man’s sin,
And there is no other way to come unto God
Than to come, dear friend, by Him.
a. franklin staples
January 12, 1997
© 1997 by A. Franklin Staples
“Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,”
Say the words of that precious old hymn,
Yes, “nothing but the Blood of Jesus”
Can wash away all of my sin.
But hymns don’t speak of the Blood anymore,
Nor mention that dear precious Name,
The name of Jesus, my Saviour and Lord,
Who bore all of my sin and my shame.
“What can wash away my sin?”
The answer still is the same:
The pure cleansing flood of my dear Saviour’s blood,
God’s pure, precious Lamb who was slain,
Slain on that old cross on that dark lonely hill
At the place that was called Calvary,
Where the Son of God died on that cross, crucified,
That from sin’s curse I should ever be free.
No, hymns don’t speak of the blood anymore,
Nor of sin, degradation nor shame,
Nor of worms such as I, unworthy, condemned,
Was it not for God’s Lamb who was slain.
The hymns being written are so politically correct,
Full of vain repetitions of phrase,
That one wonders what happened to the blackness of sin
From which mankind must be saved.
Yes, nothing but the Blood of Jesus
Can wash away all of man’s sin,
And there is no other way to come unto God
Than to come, dear friend, by Him.
a. franklin staples
January 12, 1997
© 1997 by A. Franklin Staples
Friday, January 6, 2017
AT THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR
At the feast of Belshazzar
God wrote on the wall,
"Thou art found wanting
And due for a fall.
Thy kingdom's divided
And is taken away.
To the Medes and the Persians
I will give it this day."
The king started to tremble,
His bony knees smote,
As he pondered the message
That the hand of God wrote.
He called his magicians,
His astrologers, too,
And commanded them to read it,
But not one could do.
So he called for old Daniel,
The great prophet of God,
And showed him the writing
On the wall's stone facade.
He promised him riches
And fortune and fame
If he would read the message
Which by the hand of God came.
"I cannot do it,"
Was old Daniel's reply,
"But there's a God up in heaven
Much wiser than I
Who'll show me the meaning
Of those words written there."
He spent the next several hours
On his knees, in deep prayer.
And God showed him the meaning
Of those words on the wall
Of Belshazzar's fine palace,
In the great banquet hall.
And when he had read them
To Belshazzar the king,
He was clothed in fine raiment
And given the ring
That made him prime minister,
Second only in power
To Belshazzar himself
If but for an hour,
For in that very night,
Up the dry river bed
Came the Medes and the Persians,
As the writing had said.
And Belshazzar's whole kingdom
Changed hands on that night,
Surrendered in total
Without even a fight
To Cyrus of Persia
And Darius the Mede,
As foretold in the writing
Which Daniel did read.
a. franklin staples
September 29, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
At the feast of Belshazzar
God wrote on the wall,
"Thou art found wanting
And due for a fall.
Thy kingdom's divided
And is taken away.
To the Medes and the Persians
I will give it this day."
The king started to tremble,
His bony knees smote,
As he pondered the message
That the hand of God wrote.
He called his magicians,
His astrologers, too,
And commanded them to read it,
But not one could do.
So he called for old Daniel,
The great prophet of God,
And showed him the writing
On the wall's stone facade.
He promised him riches
And fortune and fame
If he would read the message
Which by the hand of God came.
"I cannot do it,"
Was old Daniel's reply,
"But there's a God up in heaven
Much wiser than I
Who'll show me the meaning
Of those words written there."
He spent the next several hours
On his knees, in deep prayer.
And God showed him the meaning
Of those words on the wall
Of Belshazzar's fine palace,
In the great banquet hall.
And when he had read them
To Belshazzar the king,
He was clothed in fine raiment
And given the ring
That made him prime minister,
Second only in power
To Belshazzar himself
If but for an hour,
For in that very night,
Up the dry river bed
Came the Medes and the Persians,
As the writing had said.
And Belshazzar's whole kingdom
Changed hands on that night,
Surrendered in total
Without even a fight
To Cyrus of Persia
And Darius the Mede,
As foretold in the writing
Which Daniel did read.
a. franklin staples
September 29, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by A. Franklin Staples
Thursday, January 5, 2017
HEAVEN
All God's creation shall be made new,
Be throughly purged of sin
When God says, "It's finished!", and "time" is no more,
And the saints go marching in.
A brand new earth and a new heaven, too,
Will be made for the saints of the Lord;
There'll be no more corruption, no sin and no death
When God's children receive their reward.
No historical data will be retained
For all things will be made new;
Nothing of this world will be worth saving;
There'll be no great events to review.
All that's evil and corrupt will be forgotten;
There'll be no memories of injustice and wrong;
No wars and no quarrels between men or nations;
Not one thing that doesn't belong.
All will be peace and joy and contentment;
There'll be unclouded day and no night.
No sound of weeping shall ever be heard there
In that city where Christ is the light.
a. franklin staples
April 17-24, 1994
© 1994 by a. franklin staples
All God's creation shall be made new,
Be throughly purged of sin
When God says, "It's finished!", and "time" is no more,
And the saints go marching in.
A brand new earth and a new heaven, too,
Will be made for the saints of the Lord;
There'll be no more corruption, no sin and no death
When God's children receive their reward.
No historical data will be retained
For all things will be made new;
Nothing of this world will be worth saving;
There'll be no great events to review.
All that's evil and corrupt will be forgotten;
There'll be no memories of injustice and wrong;
No wars and no quarrels between men or nations;
Not one thing that doesn't belong.
All will be peace and joy and contentment;
There'll be unclouded day and no night.
No sound of weeping shall ever be heard there
In that city where Christ is the light.
a. franklin staples
April 17-24, 1994
© 1994 by a. franklin staples
ORDINARY PEOPLE
David was a shepherd boy
But he became a king;
Amos was a herdsman —
God's message he did bring;
Nehemiah was a servant
But a city he repaired;
Elijah was a prophet
But one time he ran scared.
Samuel was but a little lad
When God's call came to him;
Moses was a Hebrew child
Who became an Egyptian prince,
Forsook it all at the call of God
To make his people free;
Just ordinary people, these,
Just like you and me.
Now, you may never be a Moses
And lead your people out;
You may never be a Joshua
And bring walls down with a shout;
You may never be a David,
First a shepherd then a king,
Who played upon a shepherd's harp
And wrote the psalms we sing,
But you can be what God intended,
Whatever that may be,
For He works with ordinary people,
Just like you and me.
a. franklin staples
December 21-24, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
David was a shepherd boy
But he became a king;
Amos was a herdsman —
God's message he did bring;
Nehemiah was a servant
But a city he repaired;
Elijah was a prophet
But one time he ran scared.
Samuel was but a little lad
When God's call came to him;
Moses was a Hebrew child
Who became an Egyptian prince,
Forsook it all at the call of God
To make his people free;
Just ordinary people, these,
Just like you and me.
Now, you may never be a Moses
And lead your people out;
You may never be a Joshua
And bring walls down with a shout;
You may never be a David,
First a shepherd then a king,
Who played upon a shepherd's harp
And wrote the psalms we sing,
But you can be what God intended,
Whatever that may be,
For He works with ordinary people,
Just like you and me.
a. franklin staples
December 21-24, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE
Not many "great" people walk on this earth,
Destined, it seems, to be famous from birth;
No, most of the people that you and I see
Are just ordinary people, like you and like me.
Not many "great" people, in the worldly sense,
Will make it to heaven, their sins recompensed;
No, most of the people in heaven will be
Just ordinary people, like you and like me.
Not many "great" people, by whatever name,
Will surrender themselves, give up worldly fame
To serve Jesus who died to set all men free,
Even ordinary people, like you and like me.
Not many "great" people will enter that gate
That leads into glory, the narrow and straight;
Nay, the most who will enter by that way will be
Just ordinary people, like you and like me.
Now there are some great people
with their names in God's Book,
Those who, by choice, the world's way forsook,
Who surrendered to Jesus and decided to be
Just ordinary people, like you and like me.
For greatness, you see, is by Jesus defined
As willingness to leave all the world's things behind
To give service to others, from sin be set free;—
Just ordinary people, like you and like me.
It's not through the "great" that Jesus Christ works,
But the meek and the humble, as He builds His church
Of the repentant sinners His blood has set free; —
Just ordinary people, like you and like me.
Just ordinary people like you and like me
Will reign with King Jesus for eternity,
For all the great people in heaven will be
Just ordinary people, like you and like me.
a. franklin staples
December 20-21, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
THE "GODS" OF FOOLS
Stocks and bonds and RRSP's,
Mutual funds and GIC's,
Gold and silver, fine, sterling and plate,
And then, of course, there's real estate;
Rubies and diamonds and emeralds - jewels -
The things of earth, the gods of fools;
This wealth that so many think they need
Is the root of evil and lust and greed.
Those that have it want still more
Even though ample they have in store,
And those that lack it wish they had,
Thinking that riches can make them glad,
But in riches happiness cannot be found; —
Money does not make the world go round.
Those with money are afraid they'll lose it
So they hoard it up and do not use it
To help those who cannot help themselves,
To put food upon poor people's shelves;
They invest, with the goal of reaping gain,
In coal and oil and steel and grain,
In whiskey and gin and beer and wine,
For profit is the bottom line.
Lord, help me not get too concerned
About the money I have earned
But help me, Lord, to clearly see
That it is a blessing, Lord, from Thee,
For Thou hast said Thou wilt provide
For those who will in Thee abide.
Help me to live, Lord, by Thy rules
And to worship not the gods of fools.
a. franklin staples
December 10-12, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
Stocks and bonds and RRSP's,
Mutual funds and GIC's,
Gold and silver, fine, sterling and plate,
And then, of course, there's real estate;
Rubies and diamonds and emeralds - jewels -
The things of earth, the gods of fools;
This wealth that so many think they need
Is the root of evil and lust and greed.
Those that have it want still more
Even though ample they have in store,
And those that lack it wish they had,
Thinking that riches can make them glad,
But in riches happiness cannot be found; —
Money does not make the world go round.
Those with money are afraid they'll lose it
So they hoard it up and do not use it
To help those who cannot help themselves,
To put food upon poor people's shelves;
They invest, with the goal of reaping gain,
In coal and oil and steel and grain,
In whiskey and gin and beer and wine,
For profit is the bottom line.
Lord, help me not get too concerned
About the money I have earned
But help me, Lord, to clearly see
That it is a blessing, Lord, from Thee,
For Thou hast said Thou wilt provide
For those who will in Thee abide.
Help me to live, Lord, by Thy rules
And to worship not the gods of fools.
a. franklin staples
December 10-12, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
JESUS DID IT ALL!
There's not one thing that I can do,
No work — great or small —
To obtain salvation for myself.
Jesus did it all!
My own good works will not avail.
'Tis on Him that I must call.
Of myself I can but fail.
Jesus did it all!
My pain and suffering are of no avail.
They are but fruits of Adam's fall.
When it comes to suffering for my sins,
Jesus did it all!
The tears I've shed, the sorrows borne
Will have no effect at all.
When it comes to bearing burdens,
Jesus did it all!
Yes, Jesus did it all!
He bore my sin and shame.
The only Way that I can come to God
Is through His matchless Name.
So remember, friend, that works won't do.
It's on Jesus we must call,
For only His blood can take us through.
Jesus did it ALL!
a. franklin staples
October 16, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
NOTE: I awakened this morning thinking of my father's sudden death on January 30, 1977, on his way home from church, and of his being just as suddenly ushered into the presence of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, not because he had lived a good life or because he had been a deacon or a Sunday School Superintendent or a good husband, father, and grandfather, for he was all of those things while here on earth, nor because he had been in church on that Sunday morning but simply because he had turned his life over to that same Lord Jesus and trusted in His death on the cross and His shed blood for his salvation. Jesus did it ALL!
There's not one thing that I can do,
No work — great or small —
To obtain salvation for myself.
Jesus did it all!
My own good works will not avail.
'Tis on Him that I must call.
Of myself I can but fail.
Jesus did it all!
My pain and suffering are of no avail.
They are but fruits of Adam's fall.
When it comes to suffering for my sins,
Jesus did it all!
The tears I've shed, the sorrows borne
Will have no effect at all.
When it comes to bearing burdens,
Jesus did it all!
Yes, Jesus did it all!
He bore my sin and shame.
The only Way that I can come to God
Is through His matchless Name.
So remember, friend, that works won't do.
It's on Jesus we must call,
For only His blood can take us through.
Jesus did it ALL!
a. franklin staples
October 16, 1993
Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples
NOTE: I awakened this morning thinking of my father's sudden death on January 30, 1977, on his way home from church, and of his being just as suddenly ushered into the presence of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, not because he had lived a good life or because he had been a deacon or a Sunday School Superintendent or a good husband, father, and grandfather, for he was all of those things while here on earth, nor because he had been in church on that Sunday morning but simply because he had turned his life over to that same Lord Jesus and trusted in His death on the cross and His shed blood for his salvation. Jesus did it ALL!
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