Nothing terrifies more than the No
your lover whispers through a closed door:
You may die for all I care, just go!
Nothing terrifies more than the No
of denial catching in your throat
when Christ the lover of your soul wants more.
Nothing terrifies more than the No
you whisper to Love through a closing door.
Salesmen dog-and-pony to get to yes,
then close. Diplomats bluster and cajole,
bribe and flatter to induce foes to sign
and cease fire. Jesus says, Be my guest,
be my child; come in and be made whole.
All I have is yours, and you are mine.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
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First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
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