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Welcome ! | Home · FAQ · Topics · Web Links · Your Account · Submit Poetry · Top 30 · OldSite Link | 11-June 06:46:00 AEST | ||
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Array
(
[sid] => 174614
[catid] => 1
[aid] => mick
[title] => GOD'S TEMPLE
[time] => 2012-12-26 10:01:40
[hometext] => Acts 7:59
[bodytext] => Saint Stephen - on the second Christmas Day, Is my departed husband's patron too, Thus for all Stephens worldwide I will pray And greet: Dear Steves and Stephens 'HAIL TO YOU!' At gale's force blew the Holy Ghost Through Stephen, - Protomartyr bright And Deacon,- who since Pentecost Was spurred to spread the Spirit's light. His name is Greek, - a Hellenist One of those Jews from foreign land; The second Christmas Day his feast,- So close to Christ does Stephen stand. A man of faith and fortitude, Endowed with wisdom deep and grace, With mighty speech and charm endued, Angelic features graced his face. As Deacon eminently fit To bring the needy sweet relief, Orphans' support and favorite, And widows' friend in want and grief. His powers oratorical No one was able to resist,- He kept his audience in thrall, But irked the foe and slick sophist. A pupil of Gamaliel,- With 'Signs' he thrilled his audience,- God added these great gifts to tell He governed Stephen's self-defense. Replete with divine energy St. Stephen spoke,- but wounded pride Blinded the mob that failed to see And to accept the Spirit's light. Now they suborned false witnesses To testify he slighted God,- Charged blasphemy and godlessness- No charge more apt to rouse a mob. 'MAN IS GOD'S TEMPLE he had said- And not the one that's made by hand'- This called forth rage and enmity The riff-raff did not understand. Let's stone him, - stone to death! they cried. And louder rose the hue and cry, While scholar Paul,- much satisfied, Approving the foul deed stood by. 'Lay not this sin upon them Lord!' St. Stephen drew his final breath And echoed the Redeemer's word. And seeing Him went to his death Archmartyr Deacon Stephen died, His blood first fruits and precious seed For harvests yet to come with might The Master's flock to feed. Christ's martyr primal hear I plead Accept this humble ode, By your great merits intercede For all of us by God.! Acts 7.58 © Elizabeth Dandy In memory of my beloved husband Stephen - The Feast of St. Stephen,- Christian Archmartyr is Dec.26th. [comments] => 1 [counter] => 121 [topic] => 62 [informant] => Elizabeth_Dandy [notes] => [ihome] => 0 [alanguage] => english [acomm] => 0 [haspoll] => 0 [pollID] => 0 [score] => 0 [ratings] => 0 [editpoem] => 1 [associated] => [topicname] => spiritual )
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