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My Lord,when I readthe words inthe New Testament,Your Face emergesthrough some of the passages,like the Sunbehind the clouds.

But oftenYou disappearbehind the cloudsof distortionsthat they put onthe pages ofYour Message.

I do not believe,O Lord,that You spoke

The Love of Christ

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8 Dialogue with Christ

about hell;

I never,never believed itbecause You said,“The Father is Love;forgive each other;love your enemies.”

Why, O Lord,do the preachersspeak day and nightabout revenge,about wrath,about the hellof the Fatherin whichHis childrenwill be burnedday and night,forever,forever,forever?Then what will happento them?

Lord,I know this is not true,but, O Lord,if this is true,I do not need

The Love of Christ 9

Your paradise,nor Your heaven.I want to rejectall that You promised.

But I know,O Lord,this is not truebecause You loved;You forgave.You said,“My Father,forgive thembecause they do not knowwhat they do.”

O Lord,I love You.You are Beauty,and only Your Forgivenesswill give uscourageto seek beyondour transgressionsand seeYour Splendorand renew our pledgeto cometo You.

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Fear never willhelp us.We are builtin a waythat we oftencannot dowhat we wantto do.

But we learn,and we knowYour Lovewill inspire usto rise upand walk.