Faith is not merely the songs that we sing

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  • 1168

Faith is not merely the songs that we sing;
faith is not simply the prayers that we pray;
but faith means obedience in all that we do,
as God’s will is done in our lives day by day.

2. Faith still affirms that the earth is the Lord’s;
we only hold its resources in trust:
no more should we squander the gifts of God’s love,
but cherish them, nurture and share them, we must.

3. Faith sees its neighbours as those who belong,
members and heirs of the same human race;
and, finding no boundaries to loving concern,
it honours God’s image in each different face.

4. Faith views injustice with godly contempt;
faith dares to challenge the markets of greed;
it speaks of a world that takes care of the weak,
where none are deprived of the things that they need.

5. Faith feels the tension of hope unfulfilled,
clings to a vision that few dare discern;
it strives for a world that has no place for fear,
and prayerfully yearns for Christ’s glorious return.

James 2:14-17, John 14:23-24, Micah 6:8, Psalm 24:1, Matthew 10:8, Deuteronomy 10:19, 15:7-11, Luke 6:36, 10:36-37, Galatians 2:10, 6:10, Amos 8:4-7, Romans 8:19-22, II Peter 3:13, Philippians 3:20

© 2005 KEVIN MAYHEW LTD
Martin E Leckebusch

The Christian Life - Commitment and Obedience

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Tune

A look at the author

Leckebusch, Martin Ernest

b Leicester 1962. King Edward VII Coll, Coalville, Leics; Oriel Coll Oxford; BA/MA (Maths) 1983; Brunel Univ Middx, MSc (Numerical Analysis) 1984. He worked for 16 yrs as a Computer Systems Programmer, followed by 5 as Support Specialist. In 2006 he was redirected to the role of Technical Design Authority for the IBM mainframe platform within Lloyds TSB. He has belonged to various CofE and Free Churches, including 6 yrs as a Methodist Local Preacher (1992–1998); currently a member of Kendal Rd Baptist Ch, Longlevens, Gloucester since 2001. His hymn-writing began in 1987; 144 hymn texts were collected in More than Words, 2000, some of which had appeared in earlier books including NewStart (1999, 6 hymns in a total of 71), Sing Glory (14 hymns), and Praise! A collection of 150 texts based on the Psalms, for singing to well-known tunes, appeared in 2006, giving a total of 275 texts by then in print. 6 of these are in Carol Praise (2006). In that year he also joined the Text Advisory Group (TAG) of Jubilate Hymns which he later chaired, and he also consults regularly with representatives of the more informal songwriters; he is active in the Hymn Soc, and lives with his family in Gloucester. In the 2005 edn of A Panorama of Christian Hymnody, which features 2 of his texts, Paul A Richardson notes their ‘conservative theology, biblical imagery and structural ingenuity’, adding that ML ‘advocates a restoration of hymnody in traditional forms to those who, like him, are in the charismatic wing of the church’. He is also keen to explore some issues often neglected by contemporary writers. By 2010, which saw the publication of a further collection Never Let the Songs End, the total number of his hymns had exceeded 400. Nos.270, 278, 285, 322, 381, 586, 604, 665, 756, 770, 771, 841, 856, 882, 892, 926, 936, 942, 1023, 1029, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1123, 1124, 1125, 1139, 1140, 1141, 1142, 1167, 1168, 1170, 1171, 1173, 1176, 1177, 1182, 1194, 1196, 1197, 1202, 1206, 1207, 1208, 1217, 1240, 1243.