From the Editor

Andrew Smith

Dear Friends

Many years ago I read a poem by Amy Carmichael which
challenged me with regard to how I choose to live and deal with issues of life.
How do we find the peace of God which passes all understanding? We try all
sorts: forgetting what has happened to us; busy-ness, to crowd out
the thoughts; disconnecting from reality; and then in disillusionment we
don a sour type of submission... The last verse is great. I quoted this
piece in the Omega Times four years ago and thought it may encourage you today -
2003.

Marcus Ardern has been ministering to us at the 'Pelorus
Summer Bible School' this past week, and he made a statement which made good
sense "The secret of full peace is: full surrender" - to a God who has our
best interests at heart.

I do apologise for the late release of Omega Times this
month. We have had a particularly busy period leading up our Summer School -–
delaying the process of completing the paper.

He said, "I will forget the dying faces
The empty places -–
They shall be filled again:
O voices mourning deep within me, cease"
Vain, vain the word; vain, vain
Not in forgetting lieth peace

He said, "I will crowd action upon action
The strife of faction
Shall stir my heart to flame
O tears that drown the fire of manhood, cease"
Vain, vain the word; vain, vain
Not in endeavour lieth peace

He said, "I will withdraw me and be quiet
Why meddle in life's riot
Shut be my door to pain
Desire, thou dost befall me, thou shall cease"
Vain, vain the word; vain, vain
Not in aloofness lieth peace

He said, "I will submit; I am defeated
God hath depleted
My life of its rich gain
O Futile murmurings; why will ye not cease"
Vain, vain the word; vain, vain
Not in submission lieth peace

He said, "I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God tomorrow
Will to His Son explain"
Then did the turmoil deep within him cease
Not vain the word, not vain
For in acceptance lieth peace.

In Jesus our Coming King

Andrew E Smith