..........The Deed..........

           The fate he met, so horrible:
              No friend to help, that fateful day,
              The mob their Master came to slay,
              If fear they hid themselves away:
           So cowardly, deplorable.

           He knew no sin, that He should die,
              No evidence to prove Him wrong,
              But still their case they moved along,
              Their cadence chimed -- a wicked song:
           "Away, away, now crucify..."

           They manufactured evidence,
              Each told a lie when called to stand,
              Their stories sold, all went as planned,
              Of wicked men a wicked band:
           They lied -- to each himself convince.

           The judgment passed, the deed is done:
              "Into your hands this man I give,
              His unjust death with you shall live,
              May God in mercy us forgive:
           We've put to death His only Son."

           He lugged His cross up Calv'rys Hill,
              To satisfy their awful hate,
              His Holy Name they did berate,
              His cruel death to celebrate:
           Upon the ground His blood did spill.

           With dignity He drank His cup,
              Three died that day 'neath sky of blue,
              One innocent, the guilty: two,
              To blackest black turned heaven's hue:
           As He, to heav'n, in pain looked up.

           "My God, my God, Where hast Thou gone?
              I walked in life the paths of men,
              I kept myself from ev'ry sin,
              I long Your love to know again:
           Why have you left me all alone?"

           The celebration must have been
              One greater far than words can tell,
              To be at home where all is well,
              To hear the angel's sweet songs swell,
           A greater love we've never seen!

           He calls on us to do our part,
              To lift our load, to bear our cross,
              To recognize the awful cost,
              To know without Him we'd be lost:
           In love let us bring Him our heart.

           ..........H. L. Gradowith..........

           4-8-1997

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Date: May 12 2000 15:39:32 EDT
Subject:  The Wretched Preacher

           ..........The Wretched Preacher..........

           He was a bit awkward, and, oh! how he dressed,
           This even a friend writing of him confessed.
           He did not fit in with "society's cream;"
           But this did not bother him, so it would seem.
           He chose to live in the wilderness alone,
           The ways of wicked folks he would not condone.
           He spoke God's word to one and all without fear
           But often the crowds would ridicule and jeer:
           "Oh, his awful beard! And his dreadful attire!"
           Now, that is enough to raise the member's ire!
           "Who does he think he is?" and, "Why should we go
           Out of our way to hear him, when he looks so?"
           Yes, they were exalted, high and holy men --
           But in our God's eyes these folks were steeped in sin;
           They could see the things they did not like in him
           But not their own sins -- to these their wits were dim.
           Oh, how they rejoiced when at last he was gone,
           That awful man, you know, the Baptizer, John.

           ..........H. L. Gradowith..........

           Would you believe a preacher wrote this???  Hope you enjoy it.  Tim

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Date:  May 13 2000 07:21:08 EDT
Subject:  My Friend

           ..........My Friend..........

           Just when I'll come to life's cold end
                 There's no way I can know;
           But when I do I'll have a Friend
                 To help me as I go.

           He's not like those of us down here
                 Who cannot see the way,
           To Him the path is very clear,
                 He is the Light of Day!

           He longs to help me cross the span
                 From life to Heaven's shore;
           The Power's in His Saving Plan,
                 He said, "I am the door."

           So hear, believe, repent, confess,
                 Be buried in His Name;
           All who obey Him He will bless,
                 'Twas for this that He came.

           You, too, will come to life's cold end,
                 And you know not just when;
           Will you not make the Lord your Friend?
                 He'll wash away your sin!!!

           ..........H. L. Gradowith..........

           When we consider the great blessing of salvation, and the simple terms on
           which it is offered -- isn't it amazing that more people don't do what is
           necessary to procure it unto themselves?  These are offered to encourage
           people to do just that...  Tim

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