2004-12-08 02:38:13Agape
In Christ Alone
今天從Worshiptogether的e-newsletter收到了US. Army Captain A. Cooper在2003年3月被派遣到伊拉克之後﹐神藉著一首詩歌所帶給他的安慰和信心的見證。以下僅將文字部份轉載﹐原文及詩歌請參考:
http://ecards.worshiptogether.com/soldierStory/relaunch.html#
希望這來自一位身處戰場前線弟兄的見證﹐能夠為所有在面臨生活中各種掙扎﹑問題的人﹐提供一個重新得力﹑重拾信心的機會…………
I wanted to share a song that has been a real inspiration to me. It is a new hymn written, I believe, a year or two ago but it has the feel of the traditional hymns. I have listened to it almost every night and even tend to sing/reflect on its words on my trips across town between the Palace and Baghdad International Airport. It has been an inspiration to me because each of its verses reminds me of fundamental principles.
VERSE 1
"In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease!
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand"
The first verse claims who Christ is to me, a cornerstone. He is the reason for my hope, my peace and in whom I receive the comfort to continue on even during the separation from my wife, my kids and my home. To be quite honest though, I actually hear Kathy singing this when I play the song. She is the one who has the difficult job in this situation. She is the one in the middle of a drought (my absence) and storm (four ornery kids who take after me). She demonstrates the steadfastness of Christ in her strength in enduring this hardship.
VERSE 2
“In Christ alone! - who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This Gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid:
Here in the death of Christ I live”
It moves immediately to Christ's burden for those who scorned him. Boy, can I relate. We are losing soldiers here everyday to people that we are trying to help. This helps me to have compassion on the Iraqi people. To know that Christ purposefully gave his life for us helps me to understand that he knows that soldiers are dying and that he is in control.
VERSE 3
“There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ”
No matter how many times I hear the second part of this verse, I get chills up my spine. The picture of Christ standing in victory, the image of sin's grip being broken and the promise that I am his and knowing that he in fact is mine brings him incredibly close to me.
VERSE 4
“No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till he returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!”
I think you can probably guess that of all the verses that these words are the words I am singing as I drive down the highway with my M-16 pointed out the window and my 9MM pistol tucked in my flak jacket pocket. I can tell you that I feel more secure in claiming the promise "No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand till he returns or calls me home" than I do with that rifle and pistol.
(詩歌作者: Keith Getty & Stuart Townend )
http://ecards.worshiptogether.com/soldierStory/relaunch.html#
希望這來自一位身處戰場前線弟兄的見證﹐能夠為所有在面臨生活中各種掙扎﹑問題的人﹐提供一個重新得力﹑重拾信心的機會…………
I wanted to share a song that has been a real inspiration to me. It is a new hymn written, I believe, a year or two ago but it has the feel of the traditional hymns. I have listened to it almost every night and even tend to sing/reflect on its words on my trips across town between the Palace and Baghdad International Airport. It has been an inspiration to me because each of its verses reminds me of fundamental principles.
VERSE 1
"In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease!
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand"
The first verse claims who Christ is to me, a cornerstone. He is the reason for my hope, my peace and in whom I receive the comfort to continue on even during the separation from my wife, my kids and my home. To be quite honest though, I actually hear Kathy singing this when I play the song. She is the one who has the difficult job in this situation. She is the one in the middle of a drought (my absence) and storm (four ornery kids who take after me). She demonstrates the steadfastness of Christ in her strength in enduring this hardship.
VERSE 2
“In Christ alone! - who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This Gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid:
Here in the death of Christ I live”
It moves immediately to Christ's burden for those who scorned him. Boy, can I relate. We are losing soldiers here everyday to people that we are trying to help. This helps me to have compassion on the Iraqi people. To know that Christ purposefully gave his life for us helps me to understand that he knows that soldiers are dying and that he is in control.
VERSE 3
“There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ”
No matter how many times I hear the second part of this verse, I get chills up my spine. The picture of Christ standing in victory, the image of sin's grip being broken and the promise that I am his and knowing that he in fact is mine brings him incredibly close to me.
VERSE 4
“No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till he returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!”
I think you can probably guess that of all the verses that these words are the words I am singing as I drive down the highway with my M-16 pointed out the window and my 9MM pistol tucked in my flak jacket pocket. I can tell you that I feel more secure in claiming the promise "No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand till he returns or calls me home" than I do with that rifle and pistol.
(詩歌作者: Keith Getty & Stuart Townend )