Dear Edward,

Well written Edward, but I would like to ask you a question. Are you happy deep down inside your heart? If not, you are still are searching for an answer as so many of us are.

I am a Christian. I was born a Catholic but now I am a Born again Christian. So, what in the world does that mean?

Well, as a Catholic I was not happy. I was suppose to accept the way things as they are and not question the wealth of the church. Well, I could not accept all the ceremonies and politics of the day. So I broke away from the church and for about 10 years I explored other religions including the Jewish religion. Unfortunately, I felt empty and sad after attempting each one. So I came back to the Christian faith but I explored different denominations of Christianity such as Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and others. All have good qualities and some undesirable traits as well. Now I attend a simple basic Faith-based Christian church that truly practices the principles in the Bible. There are a mix of oriental, white, black, Hispanic and people from all races that attend our church. It's feels like attending a place that is close to what Heaven should be like.

I also belong to a local ministry called Love and Compassion Ministries that helps the poor, homeless, elderly, ex-prisoners and orphans. So I am much happier deep down inside my heat now because we actually practice what we preach and although we are far from perfect we are trying to help others in this imperfect world. So, when people say that they are a Christian I feel it's misleading unless they are actually serving our Lord and His people. Signed, one happy soul.

John Michael

perhaps God perceives "himself" though all life, and so allows us to be what God considers we want

The essence of why we are "alone" as individuals. The evidence is overwhelming that Darwin was right and we are but an extension of life on the planet. Our thinking process, however, is different from most of the other animals. We can shape the future and understand the past. But, still, our instincts are strong and we must overcome some of them to survive individually. There is great danger in being a member of the "flock" when we have the capability to control our own lives without being beholden to others and their so-called, gods.

Once we realize that, as you have so brilliantly described in your poem, we are free, truly free to see the world as it is, and not as it was prescribed to assuage fear thousands of years ago when an individual's worldview was very small and threatening.

Ron

...tremendous poetry-force of words and a power
of questioning...you are a true Believer!...deep
in your heart...
You've invited your reader to...the mundane gate
of intellect and reason with the knowledge that:

"All truths are easy to understand once they are
discovered; the point is to discover them"...

and measure the clear-precise-calculated nature
of reality...in search for an answer...in mathematical-
-economical-scientific terms...Yet...put...the Humane
before the numbers...logic...reason...
How extra-mundane!
Thank you Edward, for the journey and...for producing
this grand-redeeming discourse...enjoyed so much.

Well said. I couldn't agree more.

Michael D.

There is a really fine work entitled 'All of Grace' by a deceased British preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, (1834-1892). Only 128 pages too. If you are interested you can order it through Cosimo Classics. (www.cosimobooks.com) CHS is one of my top five favorite authors of all time. I have read, or listened to, this work, no less than 30 times in the last ten years. In this classic elucidation of the Gospel the reader is given an irrefutable rationale for believing. Peace...

You have raised many thought-provoking points in this poem. There is always freedom of faith, we each choose who and whatever we believe in. It is okay to differ. I would NEVER force my own religion on others! Religion has to come from one's own heart and soul, it can not be forced into believing.

Sandie