October - 2016

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

Editorial News

A new journal. What’s so special about that? Well, this journal’s goal is to glorify God. Doubters welcome, seekers welcome, believers, non-believers, other-believers are welcome – and so are the curious and those who just happened by. We publish poetry, essays, personal stories, artwork, music. Some of these specifically speak of Jesus and, of course, they are welcome. But some speak of the beauty of nature, and that reminds us of God’s handiwork. Some share about trials and

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Two Poems by Richard Manly Heiman

"Yew Tree" Photograph by Richard Heiman Old Growth There's a fog round the yew tree. As if the mists of Hag's Head could rise sudden from the bark and suck you from your toes up, up and over the sea in a coracle of forget. Only the memory of lead holds you groundward. Only invoking a Name keeps you from sinking into that black loam, drawn like a dowser's rod to watery sleep. One thousand five hundred yews make a hedge maze. One thousand more make a journey. A yew sprang once

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Three Poems by JD DeHart: "Words of My Mouth", "Multi", and "Builders"

Words of My Mouth I have been taught to let my words be acceptable, these arbitrary curlings of ink and sound, why would I shape them to offend? Why would I take the gift of language and sharpen it to bring pain? Let the words of my mouth, the thoughts of my mind, be pleasing and acceptable in your sight. Builders There are those who break bones and spirits with whispers in dark corners. I want to be one who binds broken places. There are those who perpetuate walls and barrie

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A Memoir by Elizabeth Brooks: "An Empty Chair at the Table"

An Empty Chair at the Table Cosmopolitan Trinidad and Tobago, my homeland, had achieved a milestone and became an Independent nation. That transition labeled us a Third World country instead of a British Colony. It was a time of hope, promise and possibilities. Opportunity was ripe for those who had an education but the unemployment rate was still very high. Many citizens intended to emigrate. It was a painful process to obtain a passport in Trinidad and Tobago to pursue t

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Two Poems by Nicholas Froumis: "Not Yet" and "Shame"

Not Yet The words are spoken so easily to our children, another delayed promise or perhaps an attempt to buy time. But the requests only intensify, much to our exasperation. And when those same words are spoken, or rather implied for lack of verbalization by our Father, we become the same petulant child, firing questions endlessly. Why..? When..? How could you…? Answers destined to be withheld by the One who owns the time we think is ours, but only borrow. Shame O, wicked s

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Three Poems by Donal Mahoney: "OMG", "Bell and Star" and "At Traffic Stops

OMG Seeing is believing smart people often tell me but no one ever told me believing is seeing except this blind lady I help across the street who taps her cane and tells me you’ll find out when you leave Earth and whirl among the planets and soar behind the sun and moon on the way to your place believing is seeing someone some say isn't there. Bell and Star Let me be a star and shine in places darkness dwells or let me be a bell and ring in places silence knells or let me sh

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Two Poems by Marcia (Durant) Conover: "My Prayer" and "Wings of an Angel"

My Prayer Today my mind was filled with sad layers As I listened to friends in need of some prayers Some I have known for quite a long while The others I know had lost their bright smiles Troubles and sorrow have found their way in Unwanted, and hidden from all of their kin Their burdens so heavy no more can they take It's time now to pray so their peace they can make I want them to know that I'll pray every day For return of their freedom from problems that weigh God can del

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A Poem by Sanjeev Sethi: "Persuasion"

PERSUASION Panglossian in piety will assuage by offering you its clutch of courage when tentacles of truth plague. That is a function of Faith. Exegesis is inwards: unsigned and autonomous. If others believe you’re lulling yourself into a funhouse of delusion, so be it. © SANJEEV SETHI (First published in Sentinel Literary Quarterly)

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A Poem by Scott Thomas Outlar: "Expansive Salvation"

Expansive Salvation In the beginning… God’s tongue let loose with the word Love, and darkness gave way to Light as the shine of source surged through the souls of a thousand clay vessels, breathing Life into every lung that longed to gasp with an exclamation of thankfulness. Consciousness careened through the space of an ethereal realm, pulsing at every point of a synchronized web with notes of harmonic vibration as the song of the spheres burst with a bang into a symphony of

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A Testimony by Janine Pickett: " When God Sent His Butterflies"

When God Sent His Butterflies My family thought I was crazy for believing in a supernatural God who loves them. All they'd ever known was the hypocrisy of “religious” people and, like so many others who feel judged and condemned, they had turned away from the church. About a year ago, a particular family member was going through a difficult time involving her son and I asked God for a word to share with her. He gave me a vision of her standing in a beautiful garden dressed in

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SPIRIT FIRE REVIEW

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