May 2009

Not long after I had become a Christian, some 34 years ago, I read a poem in a magazine, called My Friend? It had a profound impact on me because I realised that I needed to be responsible to tell people about Jesus and what He could do in a life, such as mine. I was a shy person, and speaking in public didn’t come easy, but I could tell my friends and those around me the Truth about Christianity…that it wasn’t just a question of going to church and trying to be good, as I had done for many years, but that Jesus could completely turn a life around. This burning desire in my heart has remained with me to this day. Of course the way we tell people, needs to be carefully considered and sensitive, but the truth of it is unchanging.

MY FRIEND

My friend, I stand in the judgment

And feel that you’re to blame somehow…

On earth, I walked with you by day

And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory

But never did you tell the story.

My knowledge then was very dim;

You could have led me safe to Him.

Though we have lived together on the earth

You never told me of the second birth,

And now I stand this day condemned,

Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me things, that’s true;

I called you “friend” and trusted you,

But I learn now and it’s too late,

You could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night

And yet you showed me not the light.

You let me live and love and die.

You knew I’d never live on high.

Yes, I called you “friend” in life

And trusted you through joy and strife.

And yet on coming to the end,

I cannot now call you “my Friend”.

Alison Tinsley, our web agony aunt

Take part in this nationwide event that encourages Christians of all backgrounds and denominations to get involved in fundraising, holding information building events, and get the message out there that Christians working together can do something positive about the poverty in today’s world. Look up www.caweek.org/