The Passion Poem

May the peace of God guard and keep you in the testimony of Jesus Christ. The book you have in your hands was written over the course of six years. Part of the reason that it took so much time to write is that I am disabled with bi-polar manic depression and hyper compulsive disorder. At the time of this writing I am still receiving counseling from my psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Roddy, who has worked with me for many years to help me become stabilized. I wrote this poem as an expression of gratitude for what the Lord has done for me and to give tribute to Christ for his passion. It is the love of Christ that has saved me from a life of extreme trail and struggle. I would like to thank you my pastor, Steve Gilman, for helping to shape the poem into what it is today. When I first wrote the poem it rhymed, but had no meter, so Pastor Gilman helped me to put it into the metered verse that you find in this final version. Finally, it is my hope that others with disabilities who read this may come away with a renewed sense of possibility. Christ has worked with me through my disability and gives me hope. My prayer is that you will come to know that hope for yourself. John Kearney John Kearney lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. He attends both First Baptist Church and Mercy Seat Lutheran Church. In his free time he loves to ride his bike and spend time with his grown daughters. This is his first book.