The Gospel According to Man

 

 

The Gospel is about repenting of sin

NOT celebrating it,

This is very much in contrast

To what is now the common habit.

 

In a far gone past it used to be

Jesus came to save us from our sin,

 Now it seems to be all right

To keep our sin when we come to him.

 

Now that he saves us in our sin

Salvation is merely cosmetic,

It is a no change salvation

Hence, no change in our habits.

 

We get the best of both worlds

There is nothing we must give up,

There is a no change, same way life

What a truly satisfying cup!

 

A gospel message that comforts

That says little or nothing about our sin,

That promises abundant prosperity

But of the Gospel definitely quite thin.

 

That appeals to our fleshly desires

And to our personal felt needs,

That whets our materialistic appetite-

It’s a different gospel indeed.

 

The Gospel according to man

“What man wants man gets”

And anything in opposition to that

He reserves the right to reject.

 

A gospel that changes nothing

But allows for anything,

A gospel that permits the so-called convert

To continue with his previous fling.

 

Conformity at most

But of transformation, no evidence,

A clear case of political correctness

But no indication of repentance.

 

A gospel without spiritual substance

Without the power of the Spirit,

A gospel that brings no conviction

To cause the sinner from sin to quit.

 

A gospel without forgiveness

 A gospel without faith and grace,

No cross or blood atonement

Not even the slightest trace.

 

 

But that has taken the world by storm

A gospel in great demand,

The purpose of which is destruction

And ensuring that souls are damned.

 

A gospel with no eternal hope

No heaven, no life, just death,

With hell’s fire the pending judgment

And no chance of peace or rest.

 

So be wary of this gospel

That is preached from many a pulpit,

That excludes the bad news of sin

And is void of the Holy Spirit.

 

It’s a gospel that can only promise

That’s all its adherents can sell,

Instead run to the Rock, Christ Jesus

Who does all things well. 

 

Stewart Russell © October 2019

 

Missing Mom this Christmas

 

 

Missing Mom this Christmas

2019 was her last,

Just three months into this year

She breathed her last and passed.

 

For at least sixty-six Christmases

She shared in our festive times,

Seventy-seven would be the most

With our oldest brother in mind.

 

Ninety-two years she was

When her clock became unwound,

We take pleasure in the consolation

Of knowing she is heaven-bound.

 

  

This Christmas we will miss her

More that we could ever say

But we will still enjoy the season

Almost as though she were here.

 

To all those missing loved ones

We share in your ongoing strain,

Like you, we are missing a loved one

And are experiencing the pain.

 

  

Particularly at this Christmas time

Our joy is marred a bit,

We are missing Mom this Christmas

She has taken her final trip.

  

We will eat, drink and be merry

And think of the Christmases before

Knowing that the Christ we celebrate

Loved our Mom even more.

 

Stewart Russell © December 25, 2020

 

These All Saw and Believed

 

 

 

A few people saw baby Jesus

And all that saw him believed,

Whether in the stall or at the house

These persons were received.

 

First it was the shepherds

That rushed to the Saviour’s side,

It mattered not their lowly state

They were not to be denied.

 

 

There was the devout Simeon

Who eagerly anticipated the event,

As soon as he laid eyes on the child

Simeon knew he was God-sent.

 

Right then he was ready to go

For his eyes had seen God’s salvation:

To the Jew first and the Gentile;

The ushering of their redemption.

 

 

There was Anna, the prophetess

That served in the temple at Jerusalem,

She too, “coming in that instant”

Testified of man’s redemption.

 

Not only were there Jews

But some Gentiles had followed a star,

After about two years they saw the child

Proving they had come from afar.

 

 

Nativity scenes showed them in the stall

But this could not have been so,

Matthew said they saw him “in the house”

And surely Matthew would know.

 

Herod had decreed the slaying

Of all males two years old and under,

Matthew chapter 2 verse 18

Gives an indication of this slaughter.

 

 

The magi gave the Christ child gifts

Of gold, frankincense and myrrh,

This child born to be both king and priest

In a tomb would be later interred.

 

These all saw the Christ child

And no doubt they were filled with joy

And still today that opportunity is open

To every man, woman, girl and boy.

 

Let this Christmas be an opportunity

When you also will see and believe

That Jesus came to call the unrighteous

And hence, sinners he will receive.

 

 

Such is the status of every man and woman

Until they have been born again,

Jesus, sinners will receive

Let us raise this joyous strain.

 

Like the message of the first Christmas

It is still the message for today,

Were it not for that natal star

The wise men would have gone astray.

 

May this Christmas tide find you

Believing in the reason for Christmas

And like the magi that followed his star,

Seek out the Saviour, Jesus.

 

A Christ filled Christmas to all

Do not over-stuff yourself,

You will be needed again in 2021

So please stay in good health.

 

Stewart Russell © December 25, 2020

 

 

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

 

 

At this time, we celebrate

The birth of Jesus Christ,

A light to lighten the Gentiles

To the Jews a sacrifice.

 

Some disregard his birth

And see it as insignificant

Especially when compared to his death

And also, his resurrection.

 

But how could he have died

If he had never been born

And how could there be a resurrection

Without a first Christmas morn?

 

Call me pagan, if you will,

Or even heathen. for all I care

Simply because I celebrate Christmas

Indicating Jesus was here.

 

 

For understand this carefully

At least, I am not an antichrist

For I believe Christ came in the flesh

To be my eternal sacrifice.

 

How could he have done this

Had it not been for his birth?

Would you not think it significant

To celebrate his coming to earth?

 

Would you rather celebrate

Jolly old St Nicholas

And tell the myth of Santa Claus

Instead of the birth of Jesus?

 

As for me, I say, “No way!”

For such is a travesty

And to ignore the Saviour’s birth

Is simply a colossal tragedy.

 

The story of my redemption

Is believing that wonderful triad,

Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection

Is more than a festive fad.

 

 

He came, he died and rose again!

Hence, none is more significant,

The three are beautifully woven together

In a tapestry resplendent.

 

It’s a trinity, If you may,

Like the Father, Son and Spirit

So, let me celebrate my Saviour’s birth

As is my yearly habit.

 

Happy birthday, Jesus!

For as a babe you came to earth,

Happy birthday, Jesus!

I dare to celebrate your birth.

 

 

At the birth of the Lord Jesus

There was angelic acclamation

The hosts of heaven rejoiced

At the coming of Divine salvation.

 

The fact that the Son is come

Was established in his birth

That very first Christmas Day

When heaven fill the earth.

 

Stewart Russell © December 22, 2020

 

Apostle or Apostate?

 

 

They start out the same way

But they don’t end alike,

The latter leads you off the track

While the former leads aright.

 

Apostle is more than a title

That someone acquires,

Check out the Bible and note

Apostles were Spirit inspired.

 

They were close to Jesus

In some form or another,

However, concerning Apostates

This is a different matter.

 

 

 

Take the Pharisees, for example,

In Jesus’ time,

They appeared very religious

But they were way out of line.

 

They disregarded Jesus

Leading others to do the same

And accused the Saviour

Of blaspheming God’s name.

 

An apostate is a sinner

But pretend not to be

And often he makes others believe

The only saint is he.

 

 

That is the danger

Of which we all must be aware,

They will talk a good religion

But Jesus Christ they will jeer.

 

They honour with their lips

In the words of the Saviour

But there is a contrasting difference

Between lip and behaviour.

  

The apostate goes to church

Hence, he is no out and out sinner

And I must point out to you

He is no beginner.

 

 

He wields great influence

Especially in the church

And in the false doctrine he preaches

He comes over like an expert.

 

Don’t look among sinners

For your friendly apostate,

You will find him in the church

Displaying Christian traits.

 

He is your wolf in disguise

That bleats just like a sheep

But he doesn’t eat grass,

He relishes meat.

 

 

He may look like an apostle

And even sound like one

But expose those lambs to him

And soon they’ll be gone.

 

Apostle or apostate

Can you tell the difference?

Heed the Shepherd’s voice

And all others dispense.

 

Remember…

 

They start out the same way

But they don’t end alike,

The latter leads you off the track

While the former leads aright.

 

Stewart Russell © October 12, 2020

 

My Favourite Time of Year

 

 

COVID or no COVID

This is my favourite time,

COVID-19 might be in the air

But Christmas is on my mind.

 

From the 1st of December

I look forward to Christmas,

My only regret being

That it goes so fast.

 

This year it is a little slow

And that I can understand,

COVID-19 is causing problems

On every side and hand.

 

Some have lost their jobs,

Tourism going through horrors

And some who are still working

Now have reduced hours.

 

A delay in putting up lights,

Not as many displays

But I am hoping for an upsurge

Over the next few days.

  

Last year, because of an injury,

Christmas was downplayed

But this year is a different matter,

That will happen no way.

 

I have already put in the patio

Hundreds of lights

And I can tell you for a fact

Out there is pretty bright.

 

The wife and I feel good

We have been able to do that,

It takes away some of COVID’s sting

And for us that is a fact.

  

Christmas is my favourite time

It brings out the child in me,

I must confess that the older I get

I am still filled with glee.

 

  

I believe that is a good thing

Since it keeps me feeling young

And I intend to enjoy Christmas

For as long as I am around.

 

Some things have changed

 I cannot help but admit

But regarding my love for Christmas

That has not changed a bit.

 

I may not be moving

With the same speed as before

But for an obvious reason

I am enjoying Christmas even more.

 

What used to be distractions

Are no longer distractions for me,

For as such distractions wane

The more of Christ I see.

 

Maybe not so much as a babe

In a manger stall,

But as the Saviour of the world

That died for all.

 

From the manger to the cross

Yes, he was born to die,

“It is finished,” he shouted,

I still hear his victory cry.

 

He died that I might live

And arose because he is life

And my Christmas is truly complete

Because of his sacrifice.

 

COVID may affect the externals

But it can’t touch my inside

For I am Christ’s temple

In which he eternally resides.

 

Christmas means more to me

Much more than before

And this is why as I grow older

I enjoy Christmas even more.

 

 

It’s my favourite time of year

Even in spite of COVID

Simply because of what occurred

In the City of David.

 

More than 2000 years ago

In that little town of Bethlehem,

Jesus came that first Christmas

To deal with our sin problem.

 

COVID need not distress you

At this Christmas time

If the Christ of that first Christmas

Is transforming your mind.

 

A mere bump in the road

Is all that COVID will be

Simply because the Christ of Christmas

Is the Christmas I see.

 

Stewart Russell © December 12, 2020

 

Wrong Move My Friend

 

 

We write our names on history’s page

With expectations great,

Does that still apply? I dare to ask,

Considering the nonsense here of late.

 

In the face of peril, we may panic,

That is mostly understood,

But when we behave with gay abandon

We can expect nothing good.

 

Barbados is fortunate; this is no doubt

The mercies and blessings of God,

But this persistence in tempting the Lord

Is not a sensible call.

 

God is a bajan, I have heard that,

And no doubt you have heard it too

But to make light of His mercies and blessings

Is to adopt a myopic view.

 

God is no more a bajan than he is a trini

No more a bajan than a vincie,

He is no more a bajan than he is a lucian

He is responsible for every country.

 

 

Laws are put in place that we should obey

Or experience the consequence,

Be they laws of nature or of our land,

They are from the Almighty sent.

 

This disregard by some for the civil law,

Especially in these unforgiving times

Will cost you and me such a hefty price,

It will more than blow our minds.

 

A straightforward thing like staying at home

Unless it is absolutely necessary

Is proving for some an impossible task

And exacerbating this calamity.

  

We would all like to see the back of it

While our behavior says, welcome to our shores,

And, unless we discontinue our reckless ways

It will be with us for a while more.

 

 

The Government and the Ministry of Health

Has been trying its utmost best,

And with every single behavior modifier

Still a few have been daring to test.

 

Jogging on the streets, wheelies on the highway,

For them, it is business as usual,

I truly believe that the time has come

That the law should treat to such like criminals.

 

When people persist in flouting the law

Then the law has no other recourse

Than to make an example of such deviants

And send the message it will be enforced.

 

 

It is a wrong move, my friend, let’s get it right,

Not only the offender is involved

But also, those with whom he is in contact

Makes the issue that more difficult to resolve.

 

You must go, if you definitely have to go,

Otherwise, please stay at home,

It is a wrong move, my friend, if you don’t have to

And you are just going out to roam.

 

Doing all that the authorities advise

Is the least that any of us can do,

To weather this storm and protect health and lives

I will conform, will you?

 

Stewart Russell © April 2020