August - 2016

Abstract lion in bold orange, yellow, and browns, with streaks of light streaming outward. Image by Peri Priatna, on Pixabay.

Poetry by David Allen: "The Day Mom Died"; "No Ending"

THE DAY MOM DIED The day Mom died My doorbell rang Twice, two times in The afternoon. But when I bounded from my chair There was no one there, Or anywhere near, As I scanned the scene For signs of a prank or the post. After the second signal I tested the bell for a short Or some other cause. But it worked just fine, No gust or glitch had Had set it abuzz. Hours later I got the word Mom departed this cold world. My wife suggested Mom stopped by our island, Which swarms with gh

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Visual Art by Cindy Bousquet Harris: "Sky Photography"

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm19:1, NIV). © Cindy Bousquet Harris

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Poetry by Edilson Afonso Ferreira: "Eating Pain"; "A Brave New Man"

Eating Pain From so long, I have been affected by heavy lots of pain and sufferings, as if a fee were due to being alive. Sometimes I revolt and get nervous, sometimes I resign myself to Destiny. Last evening, having dinner at the table, I could not avoid pouring abundant tears, which washed my hands and my bread. So, I remembered the Last Supper, where Our Lord had blessed the bread with wine, leaving it as consecrated leavening to endure coming days and times of beloved hum

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Essay by Donal Mahoney: "Believe it or What?"

Believe It Or What? He doesn’t have to prove anything to me. The Holy Spirit, that is. I’ve always known He’s there, from childhood on, even if I ignored Him for many years. But like others growing older, I thank Him now and then just for being there. I think it helps to pay one’s dues as early as possible. The other night, however, an odd thing happened. I couldn’t get to sleep and usually I’m asleep once my head’s on the pillow. I kept changing positions but nothing seemed

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Poetry by Elizabeth Brooks: "If I Were God"

If I Were God If I were God there would be no warning to build an ark no talk about fire, no vision to contain the destruction. If I were God there would be no power to bully or oppress another. If I were God I would scrap this planet and start all over knowing what I know, as God. But I am not God. He is Supreme, All Knowing, All Giving Protecting , Loving, Empowering and Forgiving. © Elizabeth Brooks

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Poetry by Bruce Owens: "Into the New"

INTO THE NEW The moon is like a jewel on the finger of the Lord, and the sun is his Headband. His breath is in the woods at night, and the deer lift their heads to hear His coming. The rain falls from His sky, and all of creation is watered by His great compassion. Even the wicked of the world benefit from His goodness, and are touched by the beauty of hand woven seasons. snow on the mountains, icy water purling over rocks, black crows over the hills, hawks on the

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Visual Art: "Worshiping the King"

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Essay By Elizabeth Brooks: "Celebrating Life and Human Dignity: A Call to Love"

CELEBRATING LIFE AND HUMAN DIGNITY: A CALL TO LOVE At the Core My first impression in the parking lot was a sense of being on foreign turf. I don’t even live near a school. I see kids in clusters, groups of 4 or 6 when they are getting off the school bus in my neighborhood. But here I was on a school campus without a vision of walking on campus. There were many groups visible, sprinkled and peppered, all engaged. That was a challenge for me. They were active in small grou

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Visual Art: "God's Amazing World"

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Music by Casting Crowns: "City on a Hill"

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Poetry by Janine Pickett: "The Eleventh Hour"

THE ELEVENTH HOUR (A reaction from watching an elderly couple baptized in Sugar Creek) Moonlit prayer spills over ancient canyon walls the nameless rise through living water a breakthrough wet hair, white bony fingers cradling lost hope gives way to praise faces and hands lifted to God salvation and miracles formed in breath released in the canyon a shout, an echo, a sigh a new creation in Christ will never die First published in the anthology "Moonlight D

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SPIRIT FIRE REVIEW

Celebrating God's Goodness through Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, Visual Art, and Music