Spring is springing sprightly on and 1999 is rushing quickly towards June. June is the "Month of Brides", and so, this month's Cool Sites column will have something OLD and something NEW.

NEW, in that we've never before reviewed a "church" site (but on second thought aren't all "Church" Sites?-including each of us, the ekklesia, the "called out", "the assembly "--) OLD, in that we'll retain a feature we introduced in last month's column the "mini-reviews"-"Other Sites To See".

Why don't we routinely review "church pages"? First, our purpose at The Fellowship of Christian Poets -our primary mission, is to minister to a sick and hurting world through the poetic words that The Holy Spirit sends as healing balm. "Church Pages" , and are there are thousands of very good sites, usually minister via vehicles different from ours. Some of these church pages include a Poetry Page and some contain some very good , original , Christian poetry.

Please note the word "original" in our criteria. One of our purposes is to encourage and provide a forum for original Christian Poetry and a location for Christian Poets to fellowship, either here "in cyberspace" and/or in physical fellowship as provided by our monthly meetings at the "Home Chapter" here in Jacksonville, Florida.

We invite you to: come meet with us---the 2nd Saturday of each month in Jacksonville; form an affiliated Fellowship; submit your original poetry for publication here; and submit your favorite WebSites for review in this column.

And, Now, the "Something NEW"----

THE ORANGE HILLS ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH in Orange, California, Pastor Ed Rutherford . http://www.ohills-ag.org/

This Site consists of several easy to navigate pages with minimal graphics and the emphasis on content. You'll see the expected "about our church" information and menu , or site-map including these items which I'll call to your attention:

SPECIAL STORIES FOR MOTHER'S DAY Get your hankies out. You too, guys! Praise God for our Mothers--and an especial thanks if your Mother is still here. I wish mine were, but I know---thank you, Jesus---that she and dad are "together forever" with Him.

A SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPH --IS IT JESUS ? A Special Photograph--Is It Jesus?---thought and contemplation provoking "photo".

SOME OF PASTOR ED'S SERMONS God let me "discover" this Orange Hills Site about the time He let me have a dream-vision. Which I then transcribed as a poem "I Caught A Glimpse of Hell". This was right after I'd shared with some Christian friends that we "should be hearing more from the pulpits about heaven and hell".

Please click on Pastor Ed's sermon: "A Message From Hell" (Luke 16:19-31). ---"I Want To Tell You Something, Hell Is Real!"

THE WORLD OF ART AND POETRY beautiful art, some original.

And especially see Pastor Ed's A Message from Calvary-poem

"The Foreboding Cross"---"It stands there--the symbol of Death --I hear a voice - from distance or inside of me---"In that moment--I prayed for thee".

"See The Blood" , a poem by Gloria J. Shores ©1998 is descriptive, moving, evocative of Easter just past--- "-See the blood, that it is red---I bore your disease, now it is dead.-----"

So, ekklesia-----make a quick click and visit California and The Orange Hills Assembly.

And now, back to the "OLD"----"Other Sites To See"

Imagine this, Poet of God---you're walking down the street, comfortable in the warm weather in your T-shirt, and someone stops you and says "Please stop a minute so that I may read the Christian Poem printed on your shirt". Wow!- what a chance to witness!!

This is the vision and the method of witnessing of Marganette "Margie" Epps at

"MOMENTS"-Reflections in the Spirit http://www.Reflect-A-Moment.com

This mother, poet, psalmist, choir member, Sunday School Teacher and Elder, says: "God has allowed me to start my own on-line business, "Moments", where I sell my book, framed poetry, tee shirts, tote bags and key chains, all with my poems on them. My prayer is that you will be inspired and uplifted by these poems."

Margie is featured in the Poets Profile on our Fellowship of Christian Poets Page, where several of her poems are published and she is published in a hard-copy anthology of the National Library of Poetry. Here's a glimpse of her poetry:

Where is the Compassion (Margie says: " This poem is about a homosexual man. Because I have a burden for homosexuals to be set free, I was inspired to write this. It is to arouse the compassionate side of the believer to reach these men, with the Love of God, not condemnation.")

"We see them everywhere-up and down the street-
some we're bound to meet-
always HAPPY always GAY---is what you see-
but not the case-
sad as can be-
Jesus Christ rejects no one,
He died to save the lost
So many look and walk away-- say I'm not touching that---"

May this author (of Cool Sites ) share a little personal testimony with you kind readers? This poem reminds me of the personal struggle I had one day walking towards the main downtown library in Jacksonville. This area, as in many other cities, has the homeless, the jobless, the wine-o's ,etc. I watched this long blond haired man, brown bag in hand, fall hard with his lower torso out in the intersection. I shouted and finally got the corner service station attendant to call Rescue. But, while I was waiting and trying to fend off traffic, I confess that I really had a struggle with myself. I knew that I needed to pull him up unto the sidewalk-but I didn't want to touch him---especially with the open sores and track marks on his arms. Well, with prompting from the Holy Spirit and prayer for myself, Rescue personnel, and the man-I pulled him out of traffic---as I should have done sooner-but for my fear and distaste. (--as in Margie's poem-"I'm not touching that-")

Well, kind reader, this column has run longer than usual,---so I'll say "So long for now-it's been good sharing with you. We'll catch those "NEW"---the mini-reviews, next month. Until then,

Don