The Seven Last Words of Christ 2019 - 2021, consists of 21 poems (3 per word) meditating on the last words of Christ before his death. This collection includes poems from the 2019-2020 book, the poems for 2021 and a new introduction that aims to contextualize the new poems in light of their progression from the old.

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From the introduction:

My previous poems explored “the paradox of freedom through submission” (freedom from/to), concluding with a desire for right praise. This year’s poems, straying again from their original inspirations (Edward Sri’s No Greater Love and Fleming Rutledge’s The Seven Last Words from the Cross), continue this longing for a deeper relationship with God. However, this time, my belief met a stumbling block in the real world as I began praying over Christ’s first words on forgiveness.

Accepting the depth of forgiveness on offer from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross bespeaks an intimacy beyond measure. An act of pure love, a gift that can never be repaid or rationally understood. It is only acceptable as a grace; by being so loved and valued as a child of God, even my darkest corners are exposed and gathered into the brightness of His glory. Amidst this sacrifice, tolerating the forgiveness on offer is only possible by coming to know God, not just as an intellectual exercise, but to love and submit to Him through proper
worship over time.

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8 ½’’ x 11’’, 44 half-size pages printed on Strathmore Natural White 28 lb. wove stock, 3-hole sewn into recycled black linen 80 lb. cardstock with red flyleaf and letterpress printed butcher’s paper dust jacket.

Hand-numbered first edition of 20 copies.