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Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  Verily, verily,

I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest

thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but

when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy

hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither

thou wouldest not.  This spake he, signifying by what

death he should  glorify God.
---John 21:18-19

They execute the sentence when convenient

for them.  One day, last week, our Brother, Paul,

was taken at dusk from the Mamartine

Prison.  Friends said he showed no fear at all;

but smiled, and walked with spry alacrity

(the axman was shocked by this mystery;

but all the brethren viewed it as a sign).

Paul knew Christ is alive; therefore we live,

because He does.  Death and the grave are dead.

This is the Gospel's truth, a fact, to give

us faith that conquers each catastrophe.

Paul was not slain when they lopped off his head.

Not too much longer, they will come for me;

yes, soon---although I do not know quite when.

A cross waits:  I am not a citizen

like Paul, to be more rapidly beheaded.

The Lord revealed to me my martrydom

as nothing to avoid, nor to be dreaded,

but by faith in Him, wholly overcome.

He told me that beside Lake Galilee;

to this end, that God shall be glorified.

I hope the chosen guards are lenient

to one request---to lift me upside down:

unworthy (even for a martyr's crown)

to die in the same manner Jesus died.

Starward

[jlc]