TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ON THE FML. I have been a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ since 1990, was ordained in 1993 and received my Doctorate in 1994. Usually I try to give my condolences to those whose fuzzies have gone to the Rainbow Bridge by emailing them directly, thereby allowing other information and news relevant to the FML to be printed. Today, however, I see that a number of fur-kids have gone to the Rainbow Bridge that we on the FML were not aware of until today. And further, a Sister Ferret Lover in Washington State, has also left this world of the physical presence as we know it, and journied to the Forever World of Eternity. I know how hard it is to lose our Fur-kids, and our beloved Hooman-beans to the Spiritual World. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest condolences to all whose fuzzies have gone to the Rainbow Bridge (Joelene Dowdle and Michele Paulhus) and for those whose beloved hooman-beans has also gone to the Spiritual World (Joelene's son/Denise Cummings' friend [Carol Simeon]. And I would also like to bring to mind that prayers are still being said for STEVE, the young man in the boating/seadoo accident, and is in critical condition, as I last heard. Peace be with all of you in your time of grief and dispair. Brothers and Sisters, it is perfectly proper to cry during your time of grief, and also in times of great stress. God, the Great Creator, loves all of Creation. I state this based on the New Testament of the Gospel of St. John, Chapter 3, verse 16. Most translations of the Bible use the word WORLD, but I use the word CREATION, as the Greek word that was translated into WORLD is KOSMOS, which is pronounced COZ Moze and in English is spelled Cosmos. I feel that this encompasses all of creation, including animals. In the First Book of the Torah (Bereschit - which means THE BEGINNING) and in the Christian Bible is known as Genesis: It is stated that God created all things, and breathed into them the BREATH OF LIFE, which also translates into the Breath of the Spirit. The story goes on how mankind sinned by eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, because mankind wanted to be LIKE GOD, and the fruit looked good to eat. Please note, ONLY MANKIND SINNED, not the animals. In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, (Isaiah 65:25) it is written THE WOLF AND THE LAMB SHALL FEED TOGETHER, THE LION SHALL EAT STRAW LIKE THE OX...... And later in the New Testament Gospel of St. Matthew in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapter 5 - 7) Jesus tells about what heaven will be like and how much God Loves His Creation. The Lion Shall Lay down with the Lamb, and the Child shall put his hand into the Adder's den and not be harmed. Jesus also said that YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS WHEN EVEN THE LOWLY SPARROW FALLS FROM THE SKY. The question arises, Why Would God Take Notice of a Sparrow Falling From the Sky, if the Sparrow meant nothing to the Creator? I see and know a Loving God, who was willing, in the form of Jesus, whom I consider the Messiah, was willing to die for all mankind that is sinful, then how could that Loving God let the spirits of the animals die and be no more? That does not even make sense and is contradictory to the essence of a Loving God. I would also like to point out that your brothers and sisters of the Judiac and the Islamic, the Buddhist and Hindu and Shinto faith believe that all living things have the spirit of God within them. As well as the religious beliefs of Native Americans. For we (I am also Native American - Mohawk of the Wolf Clan with some English and French mixed - just cannot keep the white-eyes out of the genetic pool and still keep their bathing suits on) believe that the Great Spirit became a part of everything the Great Spirit created. Finally, I would like to say, that in Science (Physics) there is a Law which states: Energy cannot be created nor destroyed by ordinary means, it can only change form. For example: There is a tree with Kenetic Energy (it is hidden but still there), it is cut down and made into firewood. The Kenetic Energy is changed into Light, Heat, and smoke and ashes. Just like the Spirit of animals and the Souls of mankind (Souls know the difference between good and evil and the Spirit of Life is in all living things which came from God) all change form from the physical form of which we are familiar, to the Spiritual Form, which we all shall become, and return to The Great Creator, The Great Spirit, God. So, in ending, I want to assure you, that you will again see your beloved fur-kids, your feathered Kids, your other animal Kids, and all your loved ones again, in the Eternal Kingdom of God, the Creator, the Savior, the Comforter, and we will never again be separated from those we love, including the animals that we have loved and who have loved us in return. May the Peace of God which Surpasses all Human Understanding, be with all of you and your loved ones forever and ever. Amen. With Love for all Rev. Ronald L. Sims, D.D. and family: 2 hooman-beans owned and controlled by 2 canines, 2 felines and all of our fur-kids waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge. [Posted in FML 5927]