A promotion event for 'A Gun and the Cross' is scheduled for Sunday May 27th at the Court House square down town Somerset . . .right now I'm nervous and anxious . . .
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A Gun and the Cross originally scheduled for release on June 1st has
been rescheduled for release on Memorial Day, May 28 2012. A Gun and the Cross is scheduled to be released soon. I can't find the words to express how excited I am. I can only say God is good to me.
I met with Steve at Maple Hill Publishing today and we signed a contract to have my book "A Gun and the Cross" published. This has been a life long dream . . . Thanks Steve 'Maple Hill'
I’m John Colyer: Author of “A Gun and the Cross” I was born in Somerset Kentucky in March 1957, at the age of eleven the family move to Cincinnati, Ohio. I enlisted in the military at age eighteen and served from 1975 to 1989. I have four children; three daughters, two sons; four grand-daughters, two grand-sons. Poetry has been a passion of mine since I read my first poem in a third grade spelling book, I’ve had a broad range of occupations and hobbies over the years; I’ve enjoyed everyone of them, but at some point they become boring and I lost interest; however my passion for poetry remains strong. Like most people I have had my share of highs and lows in life, I’ve had to struggle with my conscious and I’ve walked the fine line trying to balance right and wrong when issues of this mortal life pit me against my spiritual beliefs “A Gun and the Cross” not only deals with mine but also with the emotional and mental stress soldiers have to deal with. It also touches on the issues of the world around us, choices we make as we try to balance this mortal life with the spiritual being . . . the love and forgiveness of God. There’s also a bit of humor between the pages. There’s something in “A Gun and the Cross” for everyone. "A Gun and the Cross" is scheduled for release June 1st 2012 . . . this is awsome! War is hell, it is violent and brutal and it does not separate itself between soldiers and civilians. Although we have rules of engagement and civilians are not military targets they get caught in the middle and suffer casualties. This is sad, but as long as there are wars it is unpreventable. When soldiers meet their foes in battle; each wears a uniform they know their opposition; this narrows the avenue of civilian casualties. But when the enemy wears no uniform, they blend in with the civilian population, then everyone becomes a potential threat. When one lives under the threat of severe injury and death; constantly being exposed to it day and night . . . then pulling the trigger becomes an instinct not a thought. Soldiers are not murderers, they kill if necessary not for the enjoyment of it. I was told once the difference between a brave man and a coward is the fact that ‘a brave man controls his fear; a coward is controlled by his fear.’ Soldiers have the same emotions as everyone else, they come from the ranks of the general population and set themselves apart to be our defenders; the majority of them are good hearted people, but like the general population there are some bad apples. When a soldier goes astray and commits an act contrary to all morals and military code . . . before we jump to conclusions and pass judgment we need to stop and give some careful thought; is he a bad apple or is he a casualty created by the hell around him? He might need some help not judgment and condemnation; after all it’s their life that’s on the line. They walk a fine line between right and wrong; sometimes it’s hard to distinguish the difference. So don’t be too hard or too quick to judge . . . My book ‘A Gun and the Cross’ touches on this and how the love and grace of God makes it easier to deal with. Looking back over the past at things done and choices made right or wrong; I can’t help but wonder, what if? Would things be any different? If I had made different choices, done things differently would things be better or worse now? We all make choices and decisions that seem to be the right one at the time, but what will be the future outcome? We really don’t know and we cannot predict the future. At best we can only try to learn from the past, put our faith in God, thank Him for getting us through the hard times, thank Him for the good times and pray He will guide us on the right path in the future. I look at the world around me, the good and the bad and in a poetic rhyming way I try to say there is always hope in the end. Past choices and deeds cannot be changed, but the wrong ones can be forgiven. The love and forgiving grace of God is there if it’s wanted. Military or civilian we are all human and have to face the challenges of life. |
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