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Anzac Day and Easter Sunday were on the same day and it gives one pause to consider the sacrifice on the battlefields and of Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross.

When I was in the Sixth Form (Year 12) nearly 30 years ago we did a series on World War one poets from the romanticism of Rupert Brooke to the realism and gutsiness of Siegrfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. Their commentary on the War how on one side the Generals were inept and often nicely tucked away at Headquarters in luxury to the fate of their men at Gallipoli, Ypres, the Somme dying in huge numbers. We had to write our own poems on WWI my one reflects this tension.

Here is my poem : Death’s Company

It’s a long way to Tipperary

Coming across on the Channel Ferry

In the Days dark and bleary

Sure it’s nice and merry

to fight against the Jerry

Dancing in the mud, tears they shed

The rain of bullets slicing through their heads

Their sweat red, pouring down in large beads

Hell it is a real ball

To have a dance in the hall

And have chicken and champers till you’re full

While your company’s lost in battle

Stuck in the mud like a herd of cattle

So let God save the King from the Jerry

Mark Maffey, June 1982©

Recently I was in Singapore and went to the Changi Chapel and Museum and again I was struck by the privation and starvation the prisoners went through in the hands of the Japanese, and constrasting with this was the selflessness of many in sacrificing themselves for their mates, the way that they did what they could in spite of overwhelming sacrifices.

John 15 vs. 10-17 Gives the imperiative Love One Another. I wonder in a time of war or intense persecution, would you, would I, have no greater love than this, than to lay down our lives for our friends? Let us keep considering this in light of the costliness of the cross.

John 15 vs. 10-17 – Love One Another

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love; just as I obey my Father’s commandments

And remain in his love .I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.

For it is as you obey his commandments you will have clarity; life will not be filled with ritual requirements

Rather the new covenant gives to us status as his children, his presence in our lives we enjoy

Jesus simplified the law, to love God with all we are and love others as ourselves his clear commandments

By this shall all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for another, he said, clear as day

 People will see me through your actions, if you have not love, they are empty and without commendment

For it is only as you remain in my love that people will see me in you and be filled with my joy

Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way

I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

We live in an age which is selfish rather than selfless and out of other affairs we stay

Where to show a little kindness is not common, and with the world we tend to blend

Yet Jesus’ call to us is to be his disciples, to show his love, not expecting others to pay

Jesus’ promise to us we will be filled with joy if we are prepared to give to our friends

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide

In his slaves, now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

Jesus called his disciples his friends, he confided in them, and called them to in him stay, to in him abide

He shared everything that his Father had told him, he did his best to teach and get them to see

That which was going to happen, the value of the new life he was offering, yet from him they would turn aside

Peter would deny him three times and weep bitterly, the others would in the face of opposition flee

Holding onto our faith in uncertainty and doubt is the biggest challenge we face, we need to with Jesus side

Believing that he is the only way, truth and life, hold onto his word, to continually in him trust and be

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father

Will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

Jesus chose the disciples and he chose people recruitment consultants would suggest take no further

Jesus sees not as the world sees, but he sees the inner person, knows who will storms weather

And will stay the race of faith being witnesses to and of him, fruitful people who other lives make better

For they understand that he first loved them, and out of that know how to love each other.

Mark Maffey, April 2008© (NLT) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/

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