CII

YOU WHO SEEK GOD, YOUR HEARTS SHALL LIVE

PSALM 69:32

DESTINY KNIGHT-STORM

(INTERVIEW WITH CRYSTAL MOORE AND KIP MAXWELL FINAL PART)

“Music had always been my refuge, my escape,” Kip Maxwell had said as he and Crystal Moore sat across the table from me. Kip had been one of the biggest rock stars in the world. By that I meant very popular, and not that he was a large person. He was actually quite fit and rather handsome, on the order of Ashton Kutcher.

With her dark red hair and fox like features, Crystal reminded me of a thirtysomething Diane Lane. The two made a striking couple, but I still hadn’t gotten to the exact nature of their relationship. I had conversed with only Crystal the day before. She had been evasive and coy when I had asked, yet she wore a thin gold band on her left ring finger. Kip had no rings. Not on his fingers, nose, eyebrow, or ear, as he had in the video I had seen the previous day.

“But when my wife died,” Kip continued. “My music became both a curse and a blessing.”

“Because of your fame?” I asked.

“Well, that too,” he said and then sighed. “What I meant though, was my grief and heart break inspired some really good songs. They gave me comfort, while at the same time they gave me sorrow. At first it was cathartic, but then they started to wear on me. Then I became just plain sick of them. Yet I was paid a lot of money to perform them. Diabolical, don’t you think?”

“I’m in no place to judge,” I replied with a shrug.

“Yeah, well, I escaped the drudgery with booze,” he explained. “The same songs night in and night out. Another town, another hotel room, the constant psychic sucking. Kip, can I get a picture? Kip, can I get an autograph? Sometimes hundreds of times a day. I sound like a spoiled brat, don’t I?”

“No, I understand,” I said, and then I put my thumb and index finger an inch apart. “I had a small taste of fame myself. It was miniscule compared to you, but I didn’t like it. Of course my fans were devout porn viewers. I don’t mean that to sound judgmental. I was actually worse since I provided them something to lust over, and it is the most regretful thing of my life.”

“I read your story,” Kip said happily. “Crystal loaned it to me on her Kindle. Very interesting and inspiring.”

(Destiny’s story was told in the e-book Knight Storm, by Johnathan Embers)

“Thank you,” I said. “The thing that has always plagued my mind, though, is that I’ve led far more people into sin than I have led to Christ. I mean, I know I’m forgiven and was a different person back then. But I hate the fact that even as we speak, countless people all over  the world could be watching me, you know…”

“Don’t look at it that way,” Kip said, and then surprised me by reaching across the table and giving my hand a friendly squeeze. “There are also people reading your story, and praising God at your deliverance. Hundreds of radio stations still play the songs I wrote about sex and drugs, and there’s not a thing I can do about it either. But yet there is! And I mean you, too. I should say you also, so as not to confuse with the band U2.”

I laughed. He gave me a knowing smile, leaned back in his chair, and clasped his hands behind his head. I waited, but he just sat there and smiled.

“Aren’t you going to explain?” I asked.

“You already know?”

“I do?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. “Do tell.”

“It’s your testimony,” he said. “Sure, more people probably viewed your porn than read your book. Just as my new album of spiritual songs will probably never even sniff the amount of sales as my worst selling secular album. But that’s the difference between the broad road and the narrow road.

“Also, realize that every guy looking at the porn you did, is looking at other stuff too. Every guy viewing would be watching porn whether you ever got into it or not. However, I can tell by your book and your ministry that helps girls in adult entertainment, that there would be girls lost and still in adult entertainment if it hadn’t been for your testimony inspiring them to seek Christ and leave their sinful, destructive lifestyle.”

I felt like crying for joy. He was right, I already knew. My husband has told me similar things repeatedly. But coming from a guy that experienced comparable feelings, on a much larger level than I did, it seemed to finally sink in with me.

“Thank you,” I replied meekly. I paused a few seconds and then asked. “Tell me about your conversion.”

“My early story is pretty well documented,” Kip said with a sigh. “I actually grew up in a very religious home. But it was a legal religion, devoid of love. It seems like half my childhood, I was either beaten, grounded, or both. To be fair to my dad, I was an unruly child to say the least. However, that is no excuse for child abuse.

“Melanie and I had known each other throughout childhood. We went to the same church, as well as the same school. When we were sixteen, we started seeing each other as boyfriend-girlfriend. When I tried to initiate intimacy, she put up a wall. She broke down and confided in me about the sexual abuse she had endured for years.

“So, like every unreasonable nit wit, I blamed God, along with the religious hypocrites. This attitude reached its peak in the aftermath of Melanie’s death. Yet something in me kept reaching out for something spiritual. Some positivity. Some will to keep pressing on. I believe it was the Holy Spirit striving with me, even though I was ignorant of it.

“Then I met this angel,” Kip continued, as he gazed fondly at Crystal and took hold of her hand. Then he chuckled. “Only she was an angel of wrath before she was an angel of mercy.”

“Hey, that’s not nice,” she said as she yanked her hand free of his. Then she giggled. “True, but not nice.”

“From the moment we met, she captivated me,” Kip told me. “She was such a natural, rare beauty. No makeup, no jewelry, wearing a Milwaukee Brewers baseball cap with a ponytail hanging out the back. Flannel shirt, worn jeans with genuine holes in the knees, and dirty cowboy boots.”

“I had been horseback riding when my cousin called,” Crystal said with a smirk and a shrug. “I didn’t have time to change.”

“You wouldn’t have changed even if you did have time,” Kip laughed.

“Probably not,” Crystal replied with another shrug.

“It wasn’t just that. She acted like I disgusted her at first,” Kip said.

“Key word is acted,” Crystal interjected. “After all the research I had done on Kip, I was actually kind of in awe being, not only in his presence, but being alone with him in a car. I suppose I overcompensated in pretending I didn’t care.”

“I’ll say,” Kip chuckled. “I was thinking, ‘what did I do to tick her off, we just met?’ So I began asking her about herself. When I got her talking about her profession and her passions, the deep freeze thawed. Then we really began to click.

“We actually bypassed small talk. I was prepared to ask her if she was a baseball fan because of her hat, but I asked about her other attire first, and why she smelled like a barn yard.”

“He actually did,” Crystal laughed. “Albeit politely. I think he asked if I had been doing something outdoors. Then we went from veterinary and animal stuff, to life, liberty and the escape of sadness.”

“And that led to her Christian apologetics, and my agnosticism, bordering on atheism,” Kip added.

“It seems she won the debate though?” I inquired lightheartedly.

“In a manner of speaking,” Kip replied. “It was her witness, her life, the way she carried herself. That and her knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.”

“Was there anything in particular that caused you to change and to accept Christ?” I asked.

“No, I can’t really point to one thing,” He shrugged. “It was the entire thread of our conversations.”

“Did… does… how do I put this?” I stammered.

“You want to know if romance played a role?” Kip replied coyly. “Thankfully, no.”

“Why thankfully no?” I inquired as I thought of Sevenia and a boy named Branch. His interest in spiritual things was coupled with his romantic interest in Sevenia. His interest in both didn’t last. On the other side of the coin was my husband Brock. His romantic interest in me played a role in his conversion, and I believe his conversion to be genuine.

“Do you not think romantic feelings for another could or should not play a role?” I asked.

“No, but for me, I’m glad it didn’t,” he replied. “I had so much baggage. I needed to know that when I was being baptized, it was solely for the Lord.”

“Let me cut to the chase,” I began with a sly grin. “Are you two a romantic couple now or not?”

“We are,” Kip said at the same time Crystal said, “Yes.”

“So how did it come about?” I wanted to know.

“It was really gradual,” Crystal explained. “After the wedding, Kip stayed in the area. He rented a house outside of Madison. It was my first indication that he might have more than friendship in mind. But everything we did was strictly as friends, and he gave me no other indication that he was interested in being more than friends.”

“Were you interested in more?”

“Yes and no,” she said and winced. “I mean, honestly, I found him incredibly attractive, and sweet, and fun to be with. But on the other hand, I feared being yoked to someone so famous. I liked my quiet life. And, like Kip said, he had baggage also.”

“So how long did it take?” I asked. “Did you all of a sudden discover one day that you were holding hands?”

They both chuckled, then Kip said. “It was probably about two months into our friendship.”

“Seven weeks and two days,” Crystal said casually, but then winked.

“What made it turn?”

“We were on my back porch,” Crystal said. “He sang me a song he wrote about our horse rides, walks, and talks that led to his conversion.” (The song ‘So Far Away’ by the band Staind inspired this segment of the story.)

“I had a hard time letting myself be with someone after my wife’s death,” Kip explained. “I guess out of some type of loyalty, maybe even superstition. So I think I was denying the feelings I had developed for Crystal. So I didn’t think of the song as a love song, but a change of life song.”

“But I was beyond moved,” Crystal said. “I cherished all the time we had spent together at that point. The sunsets we watched as we gazed into the heavens. The song just put a huge exclamation point on the way I felt. So I kissed him. And do you know what he did?”

“What?”

“Nothing! He didn’t kiss me back. He just stared at me in disbelief. Then he cried. I was mortified.”

“But they were tears of joy and relief,” Kip interjected. “It just took me a minute to process. It took a bit for me to hear that still small voice say, ‘It’s okay. Go for it.’”

“He did kiss me back after I squirmed on the porch swing for what felt like an hour,” Crystal said and then giggled.

“I’m finally starting to believe in happily ever after,” Kip said with a smile. Then he kissed the back of Crystal’s hand.

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH: JOHN WYCLIFFE

In the fourteenth century arose in England the “morning star of the reformation.” John Wycliffe was the herald of reform, not for England alone, but for all Christendom.

He saw the plan of salvation revealed and Christ set forth as the only advocate for man. He gave himself to the service of Christ and determined to proclaim the truths he had discovered.

Wycliffe was a keen detector of error, and he struck fearlessly against many of the abuses sanctioned by the authority of Rome.

The greatest work of his life was to be the translation of the Scriptures into the English language.

He was able to place in the hands of his countrymen the most powerful of all weapons against Rome—to give them the Bible, the Heaven appointed agent to liberate, enlighten, and evangelize the people.

There was at this time no law in England prohibiting the Bible, for it had never before been published in the language of the people. Such laws were afterward enacted and rigorously enforced.

Wycliffe never retracted and fearlessly maintained his teachings and repelled the accusations of his persecutors. “With whom, think you,” he finally said, “are ye contending? With an old man on the brink of the grave? No! with Truth—Truth, which is stronger than you, and will overcome you.” (Wylie, b. 2 Ch. 13)

Wycliffe had never sought to shield himself, but the Lord had been his protector, and now when his enemies felt sure of their prey, God’s hand removed him beyond their reach.

Wycliffe came from the obscurity of the Dark Ages. There were none who went before him from whose work he could shape his system of reform. Raised up like John the Baptist to accomplish a special mission, he was the herald of a new era.

He taught not only that the Bible is a perfect revelation of God’s will, but that the Holy Spirit is its only interpreter, and that every person is, by the study of its teachings, to learn their duty for themselves.

Purity of life, unwearying diligence in study and labor, incorruptible integrity, and Christlike love and faithfulness in his ministry, characterized this first of the Reformers. And this notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and moral corruption of the age from which he emerged.

The papists had failed to work their will with Wycliffe during his life, and their hatred could not be satisfied while his body rested quietly in the grave. By the decree of the Council of Constance, more than forty years after his death, his bones were exhumed and publicly burned, and the ashes were thrown into a neighboring brook.

It was through the writings of Wycliffe that John Huss of Bohemia, was led to renounce many of the errors of Romanism and to enter upon the work of reform.

A divine hand was preparing the way for the Great Reformation.

CI

FOR WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE

LUKE 1:37

DESTINY KNIGHT-STORM

(INTERVIEW WITH CRYSTAL MOORE PART 2)

“So tell me what Kip said about not going to the Playboy mansion,” I petitioned Crystal. “I’m ashamed to admit that there was a point in my life that I pathetically dreamed of being a Playboy Playmate.”

Crystal smiled sympathetically and pulled at a strand of auburn hair as she replied, “It was after Kip’s wife died that his band Mad Mamba achieved superstardom. He was an ambivert  who was uncomfortable with fame even before his wife’s death. Afterward he became an omnivert, but that wasn’t the reason he declined an invitation to one of the most famous carnal playgrounds on the planet.

“In the biographical program I told you about, his bandmates had been talking about post-concert parties and groupies, and Kip’s absence from these scenes of debauchery. Keep in mind that the media painted a picture of Kip as an out of control wild man who they expected to join the twenty-seven club of dead rock stars. It was true that Kip struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, but he often indulged in solitude with just a couple close friends.

“Then one of his bandmates declared that Kip Maxwell was probably the only lead singer in rock and roll history that could count on one hand how many women he had been, um, intimate with. Then he qualified it by saying that he personally had only ever seen Kip with Melanie, his dear departed wife. After that he told the viewers that Kip even flatly declined a visit to the infamous Playboy mansion.

“That’s when the program cut to Kip. Here, I’ll show you exactly what he said.”

Crystal picked up her phone and pulled up a YouTube video. I had only vaguely known what Kip looked like. I mentally pictured him with long, shaggy, jet black hair. I had thought of him looking like a younger version of somebody from the band Motley Crue. But in this video, he had shaggy short brown hair. With his tattoos and a piercing in both his lip and eyebrow, he looked like a feral version of Ashton Kutcher.

“When the woman you love wakes up screaming from a nightmare,” Kip said from the phone screen. “Because of the abuse she received as a mere child. Then as you hold her quivering body and listen to her whimpering until the flashback fades away. I don’t know. After experiencing that numerous times throughout our relationship, I have no desire to go to a place where women are viewed as adult playthings. I don’t care if they are consenting. You have to ask yourself why are they there? Money? Fame? All are frivolous pursuits if you ask me. Yet so many of us sell our souls for something, don’t we?”

The video went still, and I noticed the playing time was less than two minutes, yet it had over twelve million views. I picked up my own phone and found Mad Mamba’s videos on YouTube. A half dozen had over one hundred million views. No question that Kip Maxwell was, or at least had been, a superstar. But I’m far from an expert at gaging fame, even though I’ve experienced minor celebrity myself.

“So,” I began, then blew out a breath, and then asked cautiously. “That was the beginning of what? Falling in love with him?”

“Oh heavens no!” she said, and then chuckled as she pinched her thumb and index finger together. “Maybe a little. However, I did become, for lack of a better word, obsessed with his story. I watched all of his band’s music videos several times. I poured over his song lyrics. He rarely did interviews, but I watched everyone I could find.”

She smiled, chuckled, and shook her head.

“So, what did you conclude from all of you investigations?” I asked.

“I found it fascinating that here you had a lost soul with drug problems and self-destructive, maybe even suicidal, tendencies. Yet millions of fans looked to him for guidance. They listened to his songs for comfort, or at least to be moved in some special way.”

“I have to admit,” I said. “I’m not overly familiar with his music. There was one song from his early stuff I liked to use when I was an exotic dancer. But I never examined his lyrics. Is there something profound?”

“Well, they are deep and dark and sad. But then he always seems to end with a glimmer of hope. There was one example that he actually told me he wrote when he was in his most desperate and depressed state. I’m paraphrasing, but it went something like this: ‘As I lie, here in bed, all alone, I can’t mend. But I feel, tomorrow will be okay.’ So do you see from this little example what I mean?”

“Yeah,” I replied with a slight croak as I was moved by the emotional pain and struggle the singer was dealing with. “Tell me about when you two met.”

“It was about a week before our two cousins were to be married,” Crystal began. “The Maxwell family was from the Milwaukee area. My family was from the Madison area. I hadn’t had a vacation in over a year, so I had taken two weeks off at the insistence of my partner at our animal hospital. One week was before the wedding, and one was after.

“In the back of my mind, I was uneasy about the wedding and being a bridesmaid paired with Kip. But I’ve never really been a worrier, so I guess you could say I was waiting until the Friday rehearsal to experience some nerves.

“But my cousin called me that Monday and asked me if I could pick up Kip at the airport? She said that she and her fiancée were supposed to pick him up at the Madison airport, but they had a flat tire and were still in Chicago. Kip’s plane was due if twenty minutes. I experienced a jolt of nerves up my spine that almost gave me whiplash. But twenty minutes notice didn’t give me much time to dwell on it.

“Kip wasn’t quite what I was expecting. In all the interviews I saw of him, he appeared tired, withdrawn, and even stoned. The interviewers always seemed to have to pry answers from him. So when I picked him, I expected him to be quiet and aloof. I definitely wasn’t going to play the star struck fan. If he was remote and cold, I determined to be remote and cold. Then I didn’t even recognize him at first.

“He was sporting a beard, and his hair was short and spiked. Almost a crew cut. Also, his facial piercings were removed, and his tattoos were covered with a long sleeved Under Armor shirt. He actually smiled and thanked me for picking him up. Then he proceeded to ask me all about myself. He was fascinated with my profession and engaged me in a lot of intelligent questions. It turned out he was rather knowledgeable about animals.

“The first thing he offered about himself was riding horses on his grandparents acreage when he was a boy. I told him I had a couple horses, and since it was several days until the wedding, I heard myself invite him to ride.”

She smiled sentimentally and shook her head. I asked, “Did he accept?”

“He did,” she replied. “As a matter of fact, we went riding the very next morning. Afterward I made us lunch, and we ended up talking the afternoon away. The strange thing is, neither of us are what you would call conversationalists. But we really hit it off, we really clicked.”

“Did you click romantically, or just as friends,” I asked with a wolfish grin.

“As friends,” she replied quickly, but then winked. “For the time being, anyway.”

It was then that I noticed a thin gold band on her left ring finger. I guess I shouldn’t try to become a detective any time soon. I was going to ask her if they were married, but she spoke first.

“At the end of the day, he thanked me for treating him like a normal person,” Crystal told me. “I didn’t really understand what he meant. But then during the rest of the week, we were hanging with our cousins, and other friends and relatives. It was surprising to me how much Kip was fawned over. Even some of his own relatives were asking for selfies and autographs, and such.

“At one point, Kip asked me to go for a walk with him. When we were alone, he kind of laughed and said, ‘See what I mean when I told you that you had treated me like a normal person.’

“After that, we really started to have deep, spiritual conversations. He was in such a dark place. I had been there myself, because of my sister. I too had spent several years angry with God, and even stopped going to church. But then it began to dawn on me, that Jesus is the only hope in this broken world, with all of its broken people. I ended up repenting and recommitting myself to the Lord, not even a year before I met Kip.

“At times I felt like a hypocrite being an apologist for God as Kip poured his heart out about his pain and lack of faith. But I felt like he needed a verbal kick in the behind. He had gotten used to people coddling him.”

“So was he in a bad place with drug and alcohol addiction?” I asked.

“Well,” she said and then sighed. “He had gone through rehab after his band had broken up and had gotten clean from opiate addiction. But he still drank quite a bit and smoked cigarettes pretty heavily.

“Did it make him mean at all, or belligerent?” I asked.

“No, not mean or belligerent, but I do think it enhanced his already melancholy nature.”

“It’s a slippery slope,” I said. “I know from firsthand experience. You feel good for a while, sometimes really good, but what goes up, must come down.”

“That’s so true,” Crystal agreed, and then smiled without humor. “But he and I shared a moment, a look with each other, that he said later made him give up drinking and smoking forever.”

“Is that right? What happened?”

“There were about twenty of us at a bonfire, two nights before the wedding. Kip was singing songs for us with an acoustic guitar. He was even more talented and gifted than I realized. If somebody requested a song, more often than not he was able to sing it. Most of the songs were from an earlier era, but he pulled it off.

“One such song was ‘Sundown’ by Gordan Lightfoot. A little while before the actual sundown that led to the bonfire, Kip and I had a conversation about his drinking. Once again, I didn’t coddle him.

“He has such a rich, melodic voice with a wide range. Before he played ‘Sundown’, he did the Lightfoot song about the Edmond Fitzgerald. His rendition was so moving, I was the one that asked for ‘Sundown.’ It was the only request I had made, and I made it because I knew there was a line that might speak to him.

It was the line that went something like this, ‘Sometimes, I think it’s a sin, when I start feeling better when I’m losing again.’ He looked at me, as he sang this part. The way he sang was so moving, and the words so poignant, I couldn’t stop the tears as I stared at him. Our brief, but intense friendship shifted gears after that.”

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES and QUOTES)

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH: THE WALDENSES

Amid the gloom that settled upon the earth during the long period of papal supremacy, the light of truth could not be wholly extinguished. In every age there were witnesses for God.

These people cherished faith in Christ as the only mediator between god and man. They held the Bible as the only rule of life, and they hallowed the true Sabbath. How much the world owes to these people, posterity will never know.

Of those who resisted the encroachments of the papal power, the Waldenses stood foremost.

The Waldenses were among the first of the peoples of Europe to obtain a translation of the Holy Scriptures.

They declared the Church of Rome to be the apostate Babylon, and at the peril of their lives they stood up to resist her corruptions.

Behind the lofty bulwarks of the mountains—in all ages a refuge of the persecuted and oppressed—the Waldenses found a hiding place. Here the light of truth was kept burning amid the darkness of the Middle Ages.

Pure, simple, and fervent was the piety of these followers of Christ. The principles of truth they valued above houses, lands, friends, kindred, and even life itself.

Copies of the Bible were rare; therefore its precious words were committed to memory.

They were instructed from childhood to endure hardness, and to think and act for themselves.

The were taught that God designs life to be a discipline.

The Waldenses sacrificed worldly prosperity for the truth’s sake.

They held the Bible to be the only supreme, infallible authority. Their pastors, unlike the lordly priests of Rome, followed the example of their Master, who “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”

The spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit.

The Bible is the medium of communication between God and mankind.

As the mine has rich veins of gold and silver hidden beneath the surface, so that all must dig who would discover its precious stores, so the Holy Scriptures have treasures of truth that are revealed only to the earnest, humble, prayerful seeker.

The same spirit that crucified Christ and slew the apostles, the same that moved the bloodthirsty Nero against the faithful in his day, was at work to rid the earth of those who were beloved of God.

“Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!” 2 Corinthians 3:17

I may come to Jesus just as I am, sinful and unholy, and He will not spurn the penitential prayer. “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” Mine, even mine, may be forgiven!

C

(100^th post)

DRAW NEAR TO MY SOUL AND REDEEM IT

PSALM 69:18

DESTINY KNIGHT-STORM

(INTERVIEW WITH CRYSTAL MOORE: PART 1)

“Do you want the good news or the bad news?” Seven asked me with a look on his face that was like the cat who ate the canary.

I never cared for that term, so why did I just use it? Any who, I had just entered Seven’s  studio with the intention of interviewing Dorothy and Lyle Hubbard about the unique beginnings of their relationship. But Seven’s bad news was that they had canceled. Whether this was an out right cancelation, or simply a postponement, Seven did not know.

“What’s the good news?” I asked.

“I saw a bumper sticker that made me laugh,” Seven said with a chuckle. “It said, I don’t skinny dip, I chunky dunk.”

“Maybe you should have one of those stickers,” I said as I gave his stomach a slap.

“Hey,” he said with a scowl. “Zella’s a great cook, what can I say?”

I giggled, and then inquired with a frown. “So, is that the good news?”

“No, this is,” he replied as he handed me his phone and showed me some e-mails.

“Crystal Moore,” I said after I read for a minute. “So she’s knows Kip Maxwell? The troubled rock star?”

“That’s what she said,” Seven replied with a shrug and energy in his gaze.

“How do you know she’s not a crack pot?”

“I actually talked to her for almost half an hour before you got here. My gut tells me she’s the real deal.”

“Why has she contacted you?”

“I’m a world renowned podcaster.”

“You are?”

He put his hands on his hips and gave me a stern look. “She’s also listened to your previous interviews and thought you might be interested in their story.”

“What’s their story?” I asked. “I kind of assumed Kip was dead, drunk, or drugged out. But to be honest, I’ve never thought much about him.”

“So, you do you know about Kip Maxwell?”

“Of course I do. His band Mad Mamba was huge for about ten years. Then they broke up and he pretty much disappeared. That’s why I assumed he was probably dead by now. He was one of those guys that seemed self-destructive and destined to join the twenty-seven club.”

“What’s the twenty-seven club?” Seven frowned.

“You seriously don’t know what the twenty-seven club is?”

“Enlighten me.”

“You know, rock stars that died at the age of twenty-seven. Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin.”

“Forgive me, I have usually focused on meaningless stuff like politics and such.”

“You’re forgiven,” I giggled. “So tell me what this is about.”

“Well, in a nutshell, supposedly Kip Maxwell is clean and converted, and finishing up an album of spiritual music.”

“You don’t say.”

“I do say,” Seven continued. “And apparently this gal, Crystal Moore, played some kind of role in his conversion.”

“I have to admit that this sounds pretty interesting.”

“She lives only three hours away in Wisconsin. She said she can come tomorrow.”

“Let’s do it.”

 Crystal Moore wasn’t what I was expecting. Of course I didn’t know what I was expecting. Maybe a large chested, big haired blonde in high heels. Yet I was only assuming she was the significant other of Kip Maxwell. Maybe she was his sister or cousin, or something else.

She had shoulder length brown hair with red accents and large amber colored eyes. She was quite striking in a non-conventional way. She wore a light blue flannel shirt, faded jeans, and worn brown cowboy boots. She had a cool easy manner, and I took a quick liking to her.

“Thanks for driving down here to do this,” I told her.

“The pleasure’s mine,” she said with a smile. A slightly crooked eye tooth in an otherwise straight line of teeth actually enhanced her natural beauty. “I read that e-book about you, ‘Knight Storm.’ When I heard you doing those segments on ‘The Seven Sallie Showdown,’ I thought you would be the perfect person to introduce the world to the new Kip Maxwell.”

“Well, I’m honored that you feel that way,” I told her. “To be honest, I don’t really know much about Kip other than he was a wild rock star with quite a bit of drama in his life and band. I refrained from researching him on the internet for fear I would get bad information. Plus I wanted to learn firsthand from you yourself. I felt it would make me a better interviewer.”

“See, I knew you were the right choice,” Crystal grinned. “Kip will be hear tomorrow, he’s flying in from the west coast.”

“Oh,” I replied, a little surprised that the man himself was going to be directly involved. “Do you need a place to stay tonight? You’re welcome at my home.”

“Thank you, but I have an aunt that lives about a half hour from here.”

We spent several more minutes getting to know each other before I shifted directions. “So how long have you known Kip?”

“Well, we met about a year ago,” she said. “My cousin had started dating his cousin several years ago, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. I’m not a person that gets star struck, just the opposite. Besides, I prefer country music, and I don’t even know who most country artists are. But Kip was so famous in the 2010’s, even I knew who he was.

“A few years ago his band broke up. He has kept a low profile ever since, and for the most part he became yesterdays news. But he’s still like this iconic figure. So about a year ago, my cousin calls me and tells me she’s getting married. She asks me to be one of her bridesmaids and I told her, of course, I would be honored. That’s when she tells me the groomsman I would be paired with was to be Kip Maxwell.

“I know that ninety plus percent of the women my age would be tickled to be in that position, but not me. The little I thought I knew about Kip, I found repulsive. I saw him as a macho, hedonistic, drug addled, womanizing creep. I was wrong on almost accounts.

“I was lamenting to some of my girlfriends about my dilemma of being paired with an arrogant rock star. It turned out one girl buddy was quite a Mad Mamba fan. She had me watch some biography of Kip Maxwell on YouTube and that started me down a strange path. I was riveted by his story.

“He had grown up in a religious household with four siblings of which he was the black sheep. His father was controlling and abusive. The girl who would one day become his wife was sexually abused by her step-father. She was killed in a traffic accident at the age of twenty-six.

“The last two albums he did with Mad Mamba had a lot of songs about love, loss and suicidal tendencies. Ironically, all of his pain made Kip and his band more famous than ever. Then something was brought up in this bio that made me, I don’t know, not fall in love, but become incredibly infatuated with him. He was just a really intriguing person. To this day, I still don’t understand what I was feeling. It went contrary to everything I was about.

She laughed, shook her head, and pinched the bridge of her nose. I gave her a minute to compose herself. Then I asked. “What was it that was brought up in this bio that moved you so much?”

“First, there’s something you should know about me,” she said. “I too grew up in a religious family. But there was no disfunction. My parents were awesome, and so were my brother and sister. Then a vile, selfish, privileged rich punk ruined our family for a few minutes of carnal, sinful pleasure.”

Crystal stared at me with a deep hurt in her eyes that still seemed fresh, even though I perceived her pain was anything but recent.

“My sister went to senior prom with this popular, good looking guy,” Crystal explained. “She was so happy, and I was so happy for her. I was fifteen at the time. Long story short, the creep raped her. He was rich and connected, and even though my dad fought tooth and nail to have him punished, we were punished instead. I don’t want to get into the details, but we ended up leaving, not only the town, but the state.

“My sister changed. She was such a sweet, perky, beautiful, and wholesome girl. She was my hero, a role model, a protector. After the ordeal, she withdrew and struggled with severe depression. A year to the day of the rape, she drank a whole fifth of vodka and then overdosed on her medication. My parents called it an accident, but I knew it wasn’t.”

Crystal became quiet and bowed her head. I gave her a minute before I gently tried, “Did she…”

Crystal kept her eyes closed and I saw tears leak from beneath her lashes. Without looking at me, she nodded. Then very quietly she said. “Yes, she died. I learned at a very young age that grief can make you physically ill.”

Once again I gave her time, and prayed for wisdom and guidance during the lull. “Do you want to tell me what impacted you so much during the bio of Kip?”

“Sure,” she said brightening a little. “So, I became somewhat of a guy hater. Actually, a major man hater. I can count on one hand how many dates I’ve been on. I was just social enough to not raise too many eyebrows. But I kept my head down and pursued something I loved more than people, and that was animals. I’m actually a Veterinary surgeon.”

“Oh wow!” I exclaimed. “Very good.”

“Thank you,” she replied meekly. “ So about the bio. When this wild looking rock star, who actually spoke quietly and intelligently about why he declined to participate in his band’s invitation to go to the Playboy mansion, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I thought for the first time in my life, this is a guy I want to get to know. And in a few weeks, he and I would be paired as bridesmaid and groomsman in a wedding.” Then she shrugged, smiled, and said. “And we indeed got to know each other in a strange, awkward, but wonderful way.”

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH: AN ERA of SPIRITUAL DARKNESS

“The mystery of iniquity does already work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7. Even at that early date, the Apostle Paul saw it creeping into the church.

Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism.

But as persecutions ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers, and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions.

The nominal conversion of Constantine in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing among the masses, and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed.

This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of “the man of sin” foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God.

Satan once endeavored to form a compromise with Christ when he came to the Son of God in the wilderness. But at every assault, Christ presented the shield of truth, saying, “It is written.”

But for hundreds of years, the Roman church prohibited the circulation of the Bible.

Prophecy declared that the church of the dark ages would “think to change times and laws.” Daniel 7:25

Rome presumed to expunge the from the law of God the second commandment, forbidding image worship, and to divide the tenth commandment, in order to preserve the number.

Satan, working through unconsecrated leaders of the church, also tampered with the fourth commandment, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God blessed and sanctified (Genesis 2:2, 3), and in its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as “the venerable day of the sun.”

This change was not at first attempted openly. In the first centuries before Constantine, the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians.

With great subtlety Satan worked through his agents to bring about this change. That the attention of the people might be called to the Sunday, it was made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ.

It was Constantine’s policy to unite the conflicting interests of heathenism and Christianity.

Through half converted pagans, ambitious prelates, and world loving churchmen Satan accomplished his purpose. Many who professed conversion still clung to the tenets of their pagan philosophy.

The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness deepened. The palaces of popes and prelates were scenes of the vilest debauchery.

Such were the results of banishing the word of God

XCVIX

BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD IN CHRIST FORGAVE YOU

EPHESIANS 4:32

DESTINY KNIGHT-STORM

(INTERVIEW WITH THE BRADLEY’S Part 2 of 2)

“When I finished telling Amber, our youngest, about my childhood,” Bill told me. “I expected her to be either horrified or sympathetic, or both. I suppose she was sympathetic, but she surprised me by calmly asking if Grandpa and Grandma were still alive.

“I coldly told her she didn’t have any grandparents. She just eyed me sadly, and I knew it was over my bitterness, not the statement of no grandparents. I told her that my mother had died in prison a couple of years ago, but that as far as I knew, my father was still locked up in San Quentin. She told me I should go to him and forgive him. I’m ashamed to say, I laughed at her and she felt scorned.”

Bill shook his head with his eyes cast down.

“It wasn’t as bad as Bill makes it sound,” Jenny said. “He was just hurting from Amber opening up his wounds. But even though she didn’t know it, she was opening them to finally heal them.”

“I went back and forth with that sweet little pistol,” Bill said. “I never had such a swirl of emotions in my life. Anger, sadness, and even joy that my little girl was so wise and tough.”

I loved how the Bradley’s referred to all their children as theirs. Amber wasn’t Bill’s biological daughter, but you couldn’t tell that by the way he talked of her.

“At one point, in frustration, I blurted that I didn’t believe in God. Little Amber took my hand, gave it an affectionate squeeze, and she said, ‘That’s okay, Daddy, He believes in you.’ I lost it. For the first time ever I cried in front of one of my children. Even when my first wife died, I held it together in front of my kids. Oh, I cried a river in private, but I somehow managed to keep composed in front of people.

“A couple of days later Kayla, my oldest daughter, comes home with a lovely young girl named Sevenia,” Bill told me and then grinned. “I believe you know her?”

“Yes, quite well,” I replied. “And quite fondly.”

“In between my encounter with Amber and then the encounter I ended up having with Kayla and Sevenia, I looked at some old cards and letters my dad had sent me. I had never opened them, but for some reason I had saved them.

“He didn’t say a whole lot in them. In one dated about a few months previous, he said he was out of prison. He claimed he was reformed. He even stated that he would love to see me. I don’t know if you can comprehend the pressure I felt when, you guessed it, Sevenia and Kayla started discussing forgiveness in front of me.

“At first I thought they had heard about my discussion with Amber, and I called them out on it. But I could tell by their baffled expressions that they had no idea what I was talking about. Nonetheless, I went on a rant about abuse and irresponsible parents, and how ridiculous the prospect of forgive and forget. I also said, ‘Don’t be telling me forgiveness is for the forgiver and not the forgiven.’ That’s when a sweet little kitten put this old dog in his place.

“We discussed a lot that day, and I learned a lot from a girl not even half my age. What stuck out the most were two things, Sevenia’s explanation of forgiveness and her explanation of free will. All the while, little Amber’s voice telling me about God kept echoing in my head. ‘He believes in you, He believes in you.’

“Sevenia told me, forgiveness is not equivalent to trust or affection or fondness. She said you can forgive someone and never be in their presence again. You are under no obligation to continue a relationship with them. You can even forgive someone and call the police on them.

“Secondly, I’ll never forget what she said about free will. She explained that God is love. Real love necessitates freedom, and freedom involves risk. Otherwise we would all be a bunch of automatons.

“A week later, we went to Cotton Creek Cove with Sevenia. A week after that, we went again, and Little Captain was a guest speaker. We met him and started attending Spring Valley. Nothing against Captain Kirk and the rest of you folks, it’s simply much closer to our home.”

“None taken,” I replied. “By the way, how did your daughter get acquainted with Sevenia? I don’t think Sevenia was even driving two years ago.”

“Kayla was driving, she’s almost nineteen,” Jenny said. “She’s actually a class ahead of Sevenia.”

“I wasn’t too thrilled with her driving across Cedar Rapids to hang with her new friend,” Bill chuckled. “But after I met Sevenia, I calmed at least a little bit anyway.”

“And how did they meet?” I asked.

“I think it was at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event,” Jenny said.

I felt myself frown. I never knew of Sevenia participating in any athletic endeavors. I would have to ask her about that.

“Did you ever do anything about your father?” I asked.

“I did,” Bill replied. “Long story short, I went to California to see him. I forgave him, and he seemed aghast and puzzled at what he would possibly need to be forgiven for. This puzzled me because he had asked for forgiveness in a couple of his letters when he was still in prison. I also saw evidence he was using again.

“Then he started making demands for money and meeting my kids. I wasn’t about to finance a drug habit, and I also wasn’t going to subject my kids to this self-absorbed, manipulative human being. I wanted him out of my life, and I remembered what Sevenia taught me about forgiveness.

“I had put aside my stubbornness. I traveled two thousand miles to make peace, and I was open to letting him back into my life even. But then I found out he hadn’t changed at all. He was as ensconced in his old lifestyle as ever. I told him to have a nice life and that I would keep him in my prayers. He replied with mockery and profanity.

“But you know what? The nagging resentment and bitterness that had tormented the back of my mind for years was gone. I felt free to love my dad, even as I disliked him and wanted him out of my life.

“One of the things I marvel at the most about the life of Christ is Him asking His Father to forgive His murderers. I’ve had a small taste of how and why he did that.”

“Bill has always been a wonderful husband and father,” Jenny said, and then giggled. “But when Bill came back from California, he was more Sweet William than ever!”

When we finished recording the podcast, Seven had us smiling and laughing when he picked up a guitar and began to sing this bluesy ditty.

Well way down yonder in Newerville, lived a cat named Big Bad Bill

I wants ta tell ya, oh the cat was rough and tough, could really strut his stuff.

Had the whole town scared to death when he walked by they all held their breath.

He’s a fightin man sure enough

And then Bill got himself a wife, now he leads a different life

Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now, married life done changed him somehow

Well he’s the man the town used to fear, now they all call him Sweet Papa Willy Dear

Stronger than Samson I declare, till a blonde haired woman bobbed his head

Big Bad Bill don’t fight anymore, no, no, no

He’s doin the dishes and moppin up that floor, yes he is

Well he used go out drinkin and lookin for a fight

now he’s gotta see that sweet woman every night

Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now!

All together now. Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now.

One more time. Big Bad Bill is Sweet William now.

We all clapped and hooted. Then Seven sneered like Elvis and said, “Thank you, thank you very much.”

Then I joked, “Okay, Seven, now leave the building.”

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

(HISTORY OF THE CHURCH: PERSECUTION in the FIRST CENTURIES)

These persecutions, beginning under Nero about the time of the martyrdom of Paul, continued for greater or less fury for many centuries.

Catacombs afforded shelter for thousands of genuine Christians. Beneath the hills outside the city of Rome, long galleries had been tunneled through earth and rock.

With words of faith, patience, and hope they encouraged one another to endure privation and distress. The loss of every earthly blessing could not force them to renounce their belief in Christ.

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

“You may kill us , torture us, condemn us…..” It was but a stronger invitation to bring others to their persuasion. “The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow. The blood of Christians is seed.” (Tertullian, Apology, paragraph 50)

Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against the government of God by planting his banner in the Christian church.

Most of the Christians at last consented to lower their standard, and a union was formed between Christianity and paganism.

As the followers of Christ united with idolaters, the Christian religion became corrupted, and the church lost its purity and power.

There were some, however, who were not misled by these delusions. They still maintained their fidelity to the Author of truth and worshipped God alone.

After a long and severe conflict, a faithful minority decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry.

There was and is an alarming indifference in regard to the doctrines which should be the pillars of the Christian faith.

The early Christians were indeed a peculiar people. Their blameless deportment and unswerving faith were a continual reproof that disturbed the sinner’s peace.

It was for the same reason that the Jews rejected and crucified the Savior—because the purity and holiness of His character was a constant rebuke to their selfishness and corruption.

The gospel is a message of peace. Christianity is a system which, received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony, and happiness throughout the earth.

But the world at large are under the control of Satan, Christ’s bitterest foe.

The mysterious providence which permits the righteous to suffer persecution at the hand of the wicked has been a cause of great perplexity to many who are weak in faith.

“Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20

Jesus suffered for us more than any of His followers can be made to suffer through the cruelty of wicked men. Those who are called to endure torture and martyrdom are but following in the steps of God’s dear Son.

XCVIII

UNLESS YOU ARE CONVERTED AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

MATTHEW 18:3

DESTINY KNIGHT-STORM

(INTERVIEW WITH THE BRADLEY’S Part 1 of 2)

When I interviewed the Duncan’s, what made their situation personally interesting for me was simply how their reacquaintance at a rural church quite far from their hometown was in many ways similar to Brock and myself.

With the Bradley’s, there were two things that grabbed my attention. First was Bill Bradley’s difficult youth, and history of trouble and fighting. Secondly was how he became a success, and how both his trouble and success won him the heart of Jenny.

The Bradley’s were in their early forties. They had been going to Cotton Creek Cove’s sister church, Spring Valley, for about six months. They were affectionately known as the Bradley Bunch. This was due to their amalgamated family, and a play on the old sit-com ‘The Brady Bunch’, which also had an amalgamated family.

Only instead of the mom having three girls, and the dad having three boys of about the same age, Bill Bradley had two daughters and a son, with an age range of 18, 16 and 14. Jenny Bradley had a son, 12, and a daughter, 10.

Bill was a rugged looking man. His skin was tan and turning leathery from years of working outdoors. He had close cropped, light brown hair and close set hazel eyes whose gaze was as intense as I had ever seen. He looked like a former Marine, or a tough gunman out of an old western movie. Yet when we shook hands, his smile and greeting was warm and friendly.

Jenny was blonde, blue eyed and looked as though she would have been a cheerleader. She also aged well. Although 41, if you told me she was 29, I would probably have believed you.

“How long have you two been married?” I began.

“We just had our seventh anniversary two weeks ago,” Jenny said, smiling happily.

“Since you both were married before, may I ask about that situation?”

“I was in an abusive marriage,” Jenny told me with a pained look in her eyes. “We had an ugly divorce.”

“My first wife passed away of an aneurism when she was only 32,” Bill told me with a hard look in his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I replied, and then did some quick math in my head. Their children would have been  9, 7 and 5. “What a terrible shame.”

Bill pursed his lips, looked down at the table and nodded.

“How did you two meet then?” I asked.

“We sort of knew each other briefly in high school,” Jenny said, smiled ruefully and added. “Before he was expelled for beating up a teacher.”

“I have no regrets,” Bill said boldly, a challenging look in his eyes.

I couldn’t wait to get to the bottom of that one! “I hope you explain in a little while.”

“Gladly,” he replied, as he smirked with a corner of his mouth.

“Okay, so you two knew each other in high school,” I said.

“It was more like knew of each other,” Jenny clarified. “When we really got to know each other was when I was in college. Hannah Briscoe, who would become Bill’s wife, was my roommate. She was a beautiful, strong soul, and we became best friends.”

“Jenny also tried to convince Hannah not to have anything to do with me when we first started seeing each other,” Bill said and then chuckled.

“Could you blame me though?” Jenny smiled and covered a hand over his.

“No,” he responded with another deep chuckle, as his other hand went over the top of hers. “I was a high school drop out with two assault charges and a public intox on my record.”

“Hannah wouldn’t listen to me though,” Jenny laughed. “But you know what? Because of her, Big Bad Bill became Sweet William.”

Little did I know when we finished actually recording for the podcast that the venerable Seven Sallie would sing a ditty about Big Bad Bill becoming Sweet William. It wasn’t half bad!

“So unfortunately Bill’s wife passed away, and you were divorced Jenny. How long before you two began to see each other?”

“Actually, after Hannah passed away,” Bill explained. “Jenny and I probably only spoke once over the next year. She had called me on what would have been Hannah’s 33^rd birthday to see how I was doing.”

“Then we ran into each other at Hannah’s grave site,” Jenny continued. “It was a year to the day she died. We sat right in front of her stone and talked for a couple hours, and it was so bittersweet. I was in such a dark place personally, but talking to Bill was a breath of fresh air. ”

“We were both single and lonely,” Bill said with a non-humorous chuckle. “I asked her if she would like to have dinner. She said that wouldn’t be a good idea because her ex was stalking her. She told me she had tried to date a couple different guys, and Chad had scared both off. Big Bad Bill awakened inside me, and I told her I’d like it if he tried to scare me off.”

“Bill and Chad, my ex, clashed big time,” Jenny said shaking her head. “So we never really became close as far as couple get togethers go. You know, when Hannah was still alive.”

“I never had much tolerance for bullies,” Bill said sternly. “And I could tell two minutes after he and I met for the first time that that was just what Chad was.”

“Unfortunately, I didn’t fully comprehend this until after I said I do,” Jenny said.

“You said fully comprehend,” I repeated. “Did that mean you had signs before marriage?”

“Yes, little ones,” Jenny shrugged. “Like, he would get jealous if he thought I was too friendly with another guy. This actually happened repeatedly with Bill, even though Bill and Hannah were obviously head over heels with one another.”

“Hannah saw it too and tried to warn her,” Bill said.

“I guess love can be not only blind, but stupid,” she said and shrugged. “So, anyway, Bill tells me he’d like to see Chad scare him off. My better judgement told me to say no. Not only because Bill had put that side of him to rest for so many years, but Chad was a big guy. He was a defensive end in college and almost drafted into the NFL. He actually made the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, but was cut.

“But the thing was, Bill knew how to fight. Chad had rarely fought, he just literally threw his weight around. This intimidated most guys, and they backed down. But I was there in gym class that day when Bill pummeled Coach Beckham. He also punched a couple wrestlers that tried to help the coach. I think they were afraid of him because none of them seemed to try very hard. Bill fled before anyone could get their hands on him.”

“Most people are afraid of a crazy person,” Bill chuckled.

“Okay, now you have to tell me what happened,” I said. “What made you beat up a teacher?”

“Long story short,” Bill said with a shrug. “I spent most of my childhood in the rough part of Los Angeles. My dad beat me on a regular basis. On the streets you had to be part of a gang just to survive. I hated that. Both my mom and dad got sent to prison for dealing drugs. Lucky for me, my mom’s aunt here in Iowa took me in.

“I didn’t realize what a blessing that was at the time. I just didn’t care about anything. I had a massive chip on my shoulder. I hated bullies, especially ones in authority. Before the Coach Beckham incident, I had been in a few fights here in Iowa, but they were nothing. Tough guys here were as soft as could be. They wouldn’t survive for a minute on the mean streets of a big city.

“Anyway, Coach Beckham taught driver’s ed and also some gym classes. He was also the wrestling coach. One of his wrestlers was making fun of an overweight girl. His cronies were laughing like what he was saying was actually funny. I never understood people feeling tough in part of a group. I was in an actual street gang, and I felt ashamed that I didn’t feel I could stand on my own.

“I commented on the wrestler’s behavior, and I did use profanity. The coach told me to watch my language and threatened the principal’s office. I rebuked the coach for ignoring the bullying, and I insulted his manhood in the process, once again using profanity. The coach told me to go to the office. I got up as if to go, but I planned on getting in the coach’s business first.

“The wrestler that was leading in the bullying told me I was dead meat. I said, is that right? I’ll fight you anywhere any time. But is it just you and me, or do you need your friends to help you? Cause I’ll wipe the floor with you if you don’t.”

“The whole class of about forty students were stunned,” Jenny interjected. “The whole place was still, other than the confrontation taking place. I was so nervous! I was actually a wrestling cheerleader, but I was rooting for Bill in this situation. I was also marveling at his bravery.

“The next thing I knew, Bill was pushing the coach. The coach tried to do a take down, but Bill punched him hard in the face. You could here this loud pop, and blood poured out of coach’s nose. But he kept coming at Bill, Then there was a snap, and the coach screamed and grabbed his broken arm.

“This in turn snapped the bullying wrestlers out of their stunned stupor and they rushed to the coach’s aid. Then for half a minute it was like watching a Chuck Norris film. Bill kicked one in the groin and he went down. Then he immediately punched another. The rest didn’t seem too eager to approach Bill and he fled.”

“That was the end of my academic career,” Bill laughed. “Not only was I expelled, but I was also arrested. Fortunately, when the judge heard the entire story and spoke to witnesses, including the bullied girl, I was exonerated.”

“The whole school was divided,” Jenny said. “It seemed like half the school thought of Bill as a hero, while the other half thought of him as a heathen. Here’s the thing though. I’m ashamed to say, that at the time, I sided with the wrestlers because they were part of the clique that I was. But I know that most of the people that bad mouthed Bill, secretly admired him.”

“I want to clarify something,” Bill said. “This is by no means a criticism of wrestlers or wrestling. Both our boys have wrestled. This is simply an indictment on some bad apple bullies.”

“So fast forward more than a decade, and deja vu all over again,” Jenny laughed. “Bill and I start seeing each other, and not long after, a confrontation with my ex ensues. Like I said, my ex is big, but my current is fast and strong.

“They end up in a skirmish, and Bill starts slapping Chad. Chad keeps trying to get a hold of Bill and he slips him. Then slap! Chad tries to punch him, gets blocked, and slap!”

Jenny starts laughing. Bill looks at her, then smirks and explained. “I guess it was kind of a psychological move. I wanted to prove I wasn’t scared, and by toying with him, that he was no match for me regardless of his size advantage. I wanted him to stay away, and leave us alone.”

“It worked,” Jenny said, still chuckling. “Bill’s got strong hands from years in construction. He left red marks on his face, and even bloodied Chad’s nose just with slaps. Chad was literally crying. The slaps stung and he couldn’t stop his eyes from watering. Chad stopped stalking me, and I can count on one hand how many times we’ve seen him since.”

“Is he not involved in his children’s lives?” I asked.

“Nope,” Jenny said coldly.

“Did you want it that way?” I asked with a frown.

“One of the reasons I divorced Chad,” Jenny said and then sighed. “Was because I felt like he never wanted the kids in the first place. He was angry when I first told him I was pregnant. He also was showing signs of being abusive. I was relieved when he never fought for any type of custody. But I also never asked for child support, and he never offered a penny.”

“Shifting directions a little bit,” I said. “I know you all have been attending Spring Valley for about two years. Were you Christians before joining?”

“No,” they replied in unison. Then Jenny continued. “If you asked both of us if we believed in God, we would have said yes. But we didn’t go to church and were skeptical of religion.”

“What changed that?” I asked.

“Our youngest daughter asked me about my upbringing,” Bill said. “I didn’t pull any punches. I told her exactly what it was like for me growing up, and what an ogre I had for a father and an enabler for a mother. In the process, our little girl taught me about forgiveness.”

“Taught us about forgiveness,” Jenny added. “That was only the beginning. Our eighteen year old daughter got to know Sevenia. What an amazing young woman! She’s almost unknown from the world’s standpoint, yet women who do porn and other outrageous things have thousands even millions of followers. No offence, I know you used to do porn.”

(Destiny’s story is told in the e-book ‘Knight Storm’ by Johnathan Embers.)

“Non taken, I totally agree,” I replied. “I’m just thankful for God’s forgiveness and redemption. Now, please tell me how your own children led you to the Savior.”

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

(HISTORY OF THE CHURCH: THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM)

“When Jesus was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it.” Luke 19:41

Amid the universal rejoicing of the triumphal entry, while palm branches waved, while glad hosannas awoke the echoes of the hills, and thousands of voices declared Him king, the world’s Redeemer was overwhelmed with a sudden and mysterious sorrow.

But Israel had turned from her best Friend and only Helper. The pleadings of His love had been despised, His counsels spurned, His warnings ridiculed.

Though rewarded with evil for good, and hatred for His love (Psalm 109:5). He had steadfastly pursued His mission of mercy. Never were those repelled that sought His grace.

He who alone could save them from their impending fate had been slighted, abused, rejected, and was soon to be crucified.

The loss of even one soul is a calamity infinitely outweighing the gains and treasures of a world; but as Christ looked upon Jerusalem, the doom of a whole city, a whole nation, was before Him.

What, then, was the grief of Him whose prophetic glance took in, not years, but ages.

Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and rebellion, and hastening on to meet the retributive judgements of God. The woes of a fallen race, pressing upon His soul, forced from His lips that exceeding bitter cry.

Few would seek Jesus, their only source of help. He was willing to pour out His soul unto death, to bring salvation within their reach. But few would come to Him that they might have life.

The Majesty of heaven in tears! The Son of the infinite God troubled in spirit and bowed down with anguish! The scene filled heaven with wonder. The scene reveals to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin.

The disciples had been filled with awe and wonder at Christ’s prediction of the overthrow of the temple, and they desired to understand more fully the meaning of His words.

Christ presented before them an outline of the prominent events to take place before the close of time. (See Matthew chapter 24)

For nearly forty years after the doom of Jerusalem had been pronounced by Christ Himself, the Lord delayed His judgements upon the city and the nation. Wonderful was the longsuffering of God toward the rejectors of His gospel and the murderers of His Son.

Then God withdrew His protection from them and removed His restraining power from Satan and his angels, and the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen.

Blood flowed down the temple steps like water. Thousands upon thousands perished. Above the sound of battle, voices were heard shouting: “Ichabod”—the glory has departed.

The horrible cruelties enacted in the destruction of Jerusalem are a demonstration of Satan’s vindictive power over those who yield to His control.

We cannot know how much we owe to Christ for the peace and protection which we enjoy. It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing fully under the control of Satan.

The world is no more ready to credit the message for this time than were the Jews to receive the Savior’s warning concerning Jerusalem. Come when it may, the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly.

“Know that it is near, even at the doors!” (Matthew 24:33)

“Watch ye therefore,” (Mark 13:35) are Jesus’s words of admonition.

XCVII

I CRIED TO THE LORD WITH MY VOICE, AND HE HEARD ME FROM HIS HOLY HILL. SELAH

PSALM 3:4

DESTINY KNIGHT-STORM

(INTERVIEW WITH THE DUNCAN’S: Part 2 of 2)

Debbie had just told me about her happiest childhood memory. It took place when she and her future husband, Dale, were freshman in high school. Dale had seemingly let her win a neighborhood game of mango ball, a game similar to dodgeball.

It was Debbie’s greatest sports victory. Debbie, a self-proclaimed klutz, was hoisted into the air by her fellow playmates as they chanted her name in celebration.

“Did you ever win anymore mango ball games?” I asked.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “But that was the very last time we ever played. Not that I would have won anymore if we did. Not without someone’s help, anyway.”

“How come you never played anymore?” I asked.

“Winter set in not long after,” Dale explained. “And by the time it warmed up, I guess we all moved on to more grown up things. At least for high schoolers.”

“Did you two ever date in high school?” I inquired.

“Oh, no,” Debbie said, shaking her head emphatically. “Like I said before, Dale was one of the most popular kids in school, and I was one of the biggest nerds. That said, Dale was always nice to me, always spoke to me when we crossed paths.”

“Dale, when did you discover you had romantic feelings for Debbie?” I asked.

“That’s a little complicated,” Dale told me. “I had always viewed Debbie like a sister, or at least like a cousin. But she wasn’t. She also wasn’t like other girls. I’ve always loved Debbie, but I guess that love first turned romantic for me when we were seniors. It all started with a movie.”

“A movie?”

“Yeah, ‘A Walk To Remember,’” Dale said with a chuckle.

“That doesn’t seem like the type of movie a high school boy would watch,” I said.

“It was sort of by accident,” Dale replied with a shrug. “My parents were gone, and my girlfriend and I were, um, fooling around on the couch. The T.V. was on, and I think one of the ‘Terminator’ movies was playing. We weren’t watching, though, if you know what I mean?”

Dale looked sheepishly at Debbie. She shrugged and said. “What transpired next caused them to break up.”

I frowned. “What happened?”

“I went to my room to get a, um…” Dale looked cautiously at Debbie.

“He went to get condom,” Debbie replied, smiled shyly, and blushed.

“But nothing happened,” Dale blurted. “We ended up breaking up instead. When I came back to the living room, my girlfriend had been flipping through the channels and was watching ‘A Walk To Remember.’ The main character, played by Mandy Moore, reminded me of Debbie. I stopped in the hallway and watched for a few minutes. I was mesmerized.

“When my girlfriend spotted me, she shut the TV off. I told her to turn it back on, and that’s when an argument ensued. First she said she didn’t want the TV distracting us while we made love. Then she made fun of me for wanting to watch a chick flick. Then she just came out and said that I only wanted to see it because the character named Jamie was so similar to Debbie. I told her she was correct.

“Then she snatched the condom out of my hand and said, ‘Why don’t you go use this with Debbie then? Oh, that’s right, she’s saving herself for marriage.’ Then I replied, ‘Is that worse than letting a high school boyfriend have his way with her before they go their separate ways in life. Why by the cow if you can get the milk for free?’ After I said that, she slapped me and left. So, that was the end of that girlfriend.

“Then I sat down and watched the chick flick all by myself. It depressed me, and not just because the character that reminded me of Debbie died in the end. It made me realize that I truly did desire Debbie, But even if she would have me, I didn’t deserve her.”

“It wasn’t long after this incident, that Dale tried to kiss me,” Debbie said and then giggled.

“He tried?” I asked. “He didn’t succeed?”

“She turned her face away, and I ended up kissing her ear,” Dale replied, and then chuckled.

“It was the hardest thing I ever did, it truly was,” Debbie said and then shrugged. “But I didn’t want to end up just another notch on his belt.”

“I’m gonna ask something rather personal,” I said. “So please don’t feel obliged to answer if it makes you uncomfortable. Were you a virgin when you two married?”

“Yes,” Debbie replied sweetly. Dale hung his head and looked at the floor. She put a hand over his. “I dated a really good guy for almost a year. He wanted us to get married about five or six months into our relationship, siting his so called physical needs. I told him we needed to wait at least one more year. He tried for a few more months, but ended up leaving me for the woman he was involved with before me.

“It was really awkward. The three of us attended the same church we all grew up in. We were civil and all, I even attended their wedding. But it hurt, bad. It ultimately led me to move away from Des Moines to Tipton, Iowa. I went to work for my aunt in her antique shop.

“What started out as an escape from pain, turned into an incredible blessing. I thought I was a pretty diligent student of the Bible, but my aunt opened my eyes to truths I hadn’t perceived before. In particular, the truth about the sabbath, and the fallacy about eternal torment and what the Bible really teaches about hell. I started attending my aunt’s church and never looked back.”

“Do you still work for your aunt?” I asked.

“Actually I do, but sporadically and part time. After Dale and I got married, I became pregnant right away, and mostly have been a stay at home mom ever since.”

“How about you now, Dale?” I inquired.

“Well, after high school, I went to the University of Iowa and got a degree in business. I guess you could say I had the typical college experience. Frat parties and pretty girls, but all of them seemed to lack something that Debbie had, and none of them lasted.

“After college, I got a job at a credit union. I longed to settle down, but ironically, I put dating on hold indefinitely. I bought an old farmhouse in Stanwood and spent the next year renovating it. Debbie and I were both well over a hundred miles from Des Moines, but living less than ten miles from each other, and didn’t even know it.”

“Yet,” Debbie added with a giggle.

“Okay,” I said. “I’m anxious to know how you two got reacquainted.”

“It actually happened in Des Moines,” Debbie replied. “I was back in town because my sister had just had a baby.”

“And I was back in town for my grandparents 60^th anniversary party,” Dale added. “I had driven from Stanwood to Omaha to pick up my grandma’s brother, and then back to Des Moines. After all that driving, I wanted to go for a quick run to get the kinks out before the anniversary celebration. There was a park close to our old neighborhood that had a mile long trail encircling it, and I went there for my run.”

“And I decided to go for a run before I had dinner with my parents,” Debbie said, and then giggled. “I didn’t typically go jogging, but I guess I wanted to burn off calories before I had a big piece of my mother’s blueberry pie with heavy whip cream.”

“So I’m running along,” Dale explained. “And I came across this nice female form in tight running pants in front of me. I had never seen Debbie in anything but a skirt or dress, so I had no clue it was her. I intended to just zip by. I had rather enjoyed my year of celibacy, for the most part anyway, and I didn’t want to give in to lust. But there was something familiar about the awkward gait of the runner. It reminded me of Debbie.”

“At that time in my life, I had sort of rebelled against my mother’s conservative style of dress,” Debbie interjected.

“So I slowed down and found myself smiling at all the wonderful memories of the shy, cute girl next door,” Dale said. “But eventually, I decided to run past her. Since she was running so erratically, I announced I was coming by on her left.”

“I didn’t really comprehend what that meant at first,” Debbie laughed. “So I moved to the left when he said on your left.”

“And I crashed right into her,” Dale chuckled. “She stumbled and fell, and not wanting to trip over her, I dived and rolled.”

“I was mortified,” Debbie giggled. “I began apologizing profusely. Then we recognized each other.”

“We hadn’t seen each other in three or four years,” Dale said. “So it turned out that it was great to, quite literally, run into her.”

“We only had about five or ten minutes to talk,” Debbie said. “We told each other what we were doing, but we didn’t mention where.”

“We both assumed that the other still lived in Des Moines,” Dale added. “I couldn’t get Debbie out of my mind for several days. She was such a beautiful woman, but not just on the outside. Right when I convinced myself to forget about her, we end up running into each other at a church just outside of Cedar Rapids. Only not literally this time.”

“I couldn’t believe it,” Debbie said. “Six days after I ran into Dale, God answered my unspoken prayers, and Dale walked into our fellowship. You see, two things that always kept my heart from getting hopeful about Dale. For one, I knew he cared for me, but I never knew he desired me like I did him. And two was simply not being yoked to an unbeliever.”

“Debbie misunderstood my feelings for her that time I tried to kiss her,” Dale said. “Unlike other girls I kissed, my goal wasn’t sex. I knew what Debbie was about.”

“Why didn’t you tell her?” I asked.

“Like I said before, I didn’t feel like I deserved her,” he replied with a shrug. “Even when I showed up at her church as a new believer about ready to be baptized.”

“Tell me about that,” I said. “How did you become a believer?”

“I’m sure you know Jake Weston.”

“Absolutely,” I replied. “He was a pillar at Cotton Creek Cove long before I showed up there.”

“Well, he’s my UPS guy. We got to each other, and long story short, I had Bible studies with him. Then he introduced me to Little Captain. I fell in love with the guy, and he quickly became a father figure for me. My own dad passed away when I was sixteen.”

David Gibson was the pastor of Cotton Creek Cove’s sister church, Lilly Valley Fellowship. His nickname of Little Captain was a play on a few things. It tied into his mentor, Captain Kirk, aka, Pastor Kirk Samson. The little was a play on his large size. He is six foot six and about three hundred pounds of solid mass. Lastly, he was captain of a tour boat on Lake Superior for several years.

“I had been attending Cotton Creek Cove for a while, and Little Captain showed up one day to do the sermon. Jake introduced me to him and we hit it off. I started studying with him as well as Jake. Since his church was much closer to my house, I asked Jake if he would be offended if I started going to Lilly Valley instead of his church, Cotton Creek. He told me, ‘of course not, they are practically one in the same.’

“So I show up for worship service for the first time, and who do I find in attendance? My little Debbie. No pun intended with the snack cake, although she is even sweeter. On second thought, maybe I intended a pun after all.”

I laughed. “Okay, so how did things turn romantic with you two?”

“First of all, he was baptized,” Debbie said. “For me, that eliminated being yoked to an unbeliever. But I still felt he was out of my league.”

“Between her thinking that, and me thinking I didn’t deserve her, we simply resumed our old friendship. Only this time it was much deeper. We discussed spiritual things for hours. We went for long walks, watched the stars come out on my front porch, studied the Bible together. Yet we didn’t so much as even hold hands.”

“How long did this go on?” I asked. “Surely some spark happened to turn friendship into romance.”

“Two months,” Debbie said.

“And five days,” Dale chuckled.

“Like Dale said, we hadn’t held hands, but he ended up holding my foot,” Debbie said, and then giggled. “We were on a walk, and I stepped in a little hole and twisted my ankle. Dale helped me to a bench, pulled off my sneaker and massaged my foot and ankle.”

“Were you hurt very bad?”

“No, probably just a slight sprain, I didn’t go to the doctor or anything. I just walked it off. But I started to feel uncomfortable because Dale became so quiet and still. I felt self-conscious wondering if my foot was smelly.”

“Actually, I was simply mesmerized by the delicate beauty of her foot, her leg, her whole being,” Dale explained.

“I started to ramble about always being a klutz,” Debbie said. “The subject of that last mango ball game came up. I thanked him for letting me win. He kind of laughed and said, ‘I remember you looking at me when everyone hoisted you onto their shoulders, you were feeling so excited.’ I shook my head, and I couldn’t stop a tear from coming.”

Debbie put a hand to her chest, and looked as if she might pop a tear again. Dale continued the story. “I said, ‘Sure you were,’ and I was puzzled why tears started flowing. She shook her head and barley croaked that it was love. I wasn’t sure I heard her right and asked her to repeat. She then told me that she had always been in love with me. So, I put her foot down and kissed her.”

“This time I didn’t turn my head,” Debbie laughed. Then she looked at Dale with deep affection. “And we have been kissing ever since.”

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

(THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT PART 17: LAST PART ON THE SUBJECT)

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” Luke 13:24

The only hope for us if we would overcome is to unite our will to God’s will and work in co-operation with Him, hour by hour and day by day. We cannot retain self and yet enter the kingdom of God.

Are we willing to pay the price required of us? Are we willing to have our will brought into perfect conformity to the will of God? Until we are willing, the transforming grace of God cannot be manifest upon us.

Jacob, in the great crisis of his life, turned aside to pray. He was filled with one overmastering purpose—to seek for transformation of character.

This spirit of persistence in Jacob was inspired by Him who wrestled with the patriarch. It was He who gave him the victory. (See Genesis chapter 32)

That for which Jacob had vainly wrestled in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith.

“This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4

“Beware of false prophets.” Matthew 7:15

What message do teachers and preachers bring? Does it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments?

A belief that does not lead to obedience is presumption.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of humanity.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

The apostle John says, “He that says, I know Him, and keeps not the commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4

Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandments that proves the sincerity of our professions of love.

“It fell not: for it was founded upon the rock.” Matthew 7:25

Doing, not merely saying, is expected of the followers of Christ. It is through action that character is built.

Do you desire to become a follower of Christ, yet know not how to begin? Are you in darkness and know not how to find the light? Follow the light you have! Set your heart to obey what you do know of the word of God. His power, His very life, dwells in His word. As you receive the word in faith, it will give you power to obey. As you give heed to the light you have, greater light will come. You are building on God’s word, and your character will be builded after the similitude of the character of Christ.

The word of God is the only steadfast thing our world knows. It is the sure foundation. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” said Jesus, “but My words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

“The word of our God shall stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

XCVI

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH

MATTHEW 5:5

DESTINY KNIGHT-STORM

(INTERVIEW WITH THE DUNCAN’S: Part 1of 2)

I waited with a growing sense of unease for Seven to arrive. It was seven until seven, no pun intended, and the Duncan’s, a couple that I was destined to interview were due at seven o’clock sharp.

Seven Sallie is prone to lose track of time and has often apologized for being late. However, he was with my husband, who is his cousin, Brock Storm. Brock is the most punctual person I have ever met. For example, since we met more than half a decade ago, he and I have gone to some form of fellowship a few hundred times. I can count on one hand the number of times we were less than five minutes early.

Not only was I unsure about doing a profile of relationships again, but I was also the only one at the Sallie residence and the place was locked. Zella, Seven’s wife, was off somewhere with Sevenia, Seven’s daughter. I feared the Duncan’s, who I had only met once over a year ago, arriving before Seven, and me saying, “Please join me on the porch, care for a piece of chewing gum. By the way, I have no idea why Seven isn’t here like he said he would be.

I breathed a sigh of relief when Zella and Sevenia pulled into the driveway. At least we wouldn’t be locked out of the house. Twenty seconds later, Seven and Brock pulled in behind them.

“Hey guys, wait till you hear this,” Seven said, laughing as the four walked to the porch.

“Seven!” Brock barked, “Knock it off!”

Most people would obey an order like that from my husband. He’s built like something between a pro wrestler and an NFL linebacker. But the two cousins were more like brothers, and Brock’s command only seemed to increase Seven’s merriment.

“So, we run into this guy Brock knows,” Seven says, and then pauses to laugh heartily. “Brock ends up witnessing his faith to the fellow, the guy is interested, and the conversation was going good. This friend of Brock’s ends up telling us he’s a wiccan. Brock says…”

Seven paused to laugh some more, a tear popped from his eye and he swiped it. Even though Brock folded his massive arms and scowled, a smile played at his lips.

“Brock puts a hand on his chest to emphasize sincerity,” Seven continued, and demonstrated by placing his own hand on his chest. “He says, oh, we are too.”

Seven once again had to pause for laughter. All of us joined him, if anything, simply over watching his own giddiness.

“That’s when I made a mistake,” Seven said, his hands on his knees, his breath coming in pants. “I said to Brock, he just told us he’s a wiccan, you know, a male witch. Brock’s eyes get as big as saucers, and he says, ‘Oh no Jimmy, I thought you said wicked. I was just acknowledging that we’re all sinners in need of Jesus Christ.’”

“Honey, why did you say you regret correcting Brock?” Zella asked.

“Oh, you know,” he replied with a shrug. “I wanted to see what else he might have said.”

“Daddy!” Sevenia scolded, even though she grinned from ear to ear.

“Sweety, I’ve been telling you for at least a year that you should get your ears checked,” I told Brock. He nodded like a scolded schoolboy. Not wanting to appear like a nagging wife, I added. “So how did Jimmy react?”

“He thought it was funny,” Seven said with a wave of his hand.

“He wants to get together for a deeper discussion,” Brock said happily. Then he put an arm around Seven and squeezed him aggressively to himself. “That’s why I’m not gonna give ole Cuz here a Dutch rub.”

“Lucky for you, ya brute, cause I might just knock ya out,” Seven retorted.

Brock let go of him and pretended to be frightened. Seven puffed out his chest and stalked the bigger man. Brock cowered away from him. Everyone was laughing as the Duncan’s pulled into the driveway.

One thing in particular did excite me about interviewing Dale and Debbie Duncan. They were the couple that had reacquaintance circumstances similar to Brock and me. By that I mean, they both knew each other in one city, and years later crossed paths at a church in another city. I wanted to see how it paralleled with Hubby and me. We sat down to get to know each other before we actually recorded for the podcast.

(Destiny and Brock’s own romance story is told in detail in the e-book Knight Storm by Johnathan Embers)

The thing that struck me first about the Duncan’s is how opposite they initially appeared. They were in their early forties. Dale was lean and tan with wavy blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked like he would have been a quarterback and homecoming king in high school. My speculation was pretty accurate. He was in fact a homecoming king and an all-around jock. But he ran cross country rather than played football.

Debbie appeared as neither an athlete nor a cheerleader. At first she seemed to be simply pale and plain. Her brown hair was long and silky straight, and her large light brown eyes darted with caution. Yet she had a nice smile that matched her husband.

Debbie had a subtle beauty that intensified as you got to know her. She was so sweet, gentle, and soft spoken. Her alabaster skin was baby smooth and the longer I was around her, the more I thought she was really quite lovely. I no longer had fleeting thoughts that she married out of her league.

“We both grew up in Des Moines,” Dale said.

“We were next door neighbors,” Debbie added, and then looked adoringly at Dale. He smiled at her and returned a gaze of fondness. I could tell right off that these two were the real deal. They had a deep bond and genuine love for each other. “Our moms were pretty good friends, even though they were very different. So we were playmates before we even started preschool.”

“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know Debbie,” Dale chuckled.

“But he was popular, and I was a nerd,” Debbie said sadly. “But he always looked out for me, sort of, for lack of a better description, like a big brother.”

“I think that’s one of the reasons it took so long for us to come around to each other,” Dale said. “You know, I mean, romantically speaking.”

“Actually, more like you to coming around to me,” she said with a shy smile. “I had a big crush on Dale ever since the second or third grade. Then during Thanksgiving break our freshman year in high school, it turned into love one afternoon and has only deepened since.”

“What happened that one afternoon?” I asked.

“Mango ball,” Debbie replied and then giggled.

“What’s a mango ball?” I asked with a frown.

“It was a game we used to play in the neighborhood,” Dale explained. “It was basically dodgeball with a few minor rule changes. There was only one playground ball, and usually anywhere from six to twelve of us playing. It was every man for himself, the last one not out won.”

“I was horrible at sports,” Debbie said, and almost seemed to blush. “But I used to play in neighborhood games just to be a part of the other kids. I never cared about winning or losing. But the older we got, everyone seemed to be getting cooler and more sophisticated, and I just kept getting more awkward and geeky.”

“No,” Dale interjected. “You only got more sweet and beautiful. Plus, you wouldn’t have been quite so clumsy playing games if it hadn’t been for your mother never letting you leave the house without a skirt or dress on.”

“My family belonged to a really conservative church when I was growing up,” Debbie said.

“And my family only went to church at Christmas and Easter, and for weddings and funerals,” Dale chuckled.

“Anyway, that special afternoon didn’t start of so special,” Debbie said and then looked at Dale.

“I accidently drilled Debbie in the side of the head with the playground ball,” Dale said sheepishly. “I was actually throwing at my best friend Seth Markle, but the ball slipped from my grasp right when I tried to throw a fastball.”

“It didn’t really hurt that much,” Debbie said. “But it jarred me, and I did a three step little jig and fell to my knees. What hurt was everyone rolling with laughter.”

“When the game was over,” Dale said. “Debbie quietly told me she was going home. Not at all in the ‘feeling sorry for yourself, I’m taking my ball and going home’ manner. It was in a defeated, lonely sort of way. It broke my heart.”

“Even as kids, Dale wasn’t like most boys,” Debbie said. “He always stuck up for the underdog. I went to parochial school through the eighth grade. When I started high school as a freshman, it was the first time we went to school together. If it hadn’t been for my friendship with Dale, which made me friends with the other kids in the neighborhood, I would have most definitely been bullied in school. Ironically, I was picked on at my religious school, but not at my secular high school. And it was all because of Dale.”

Dale dipped his head with what seemed to be genuine modesty.

“So when I told Dale I was going home, I turned and began to jog away,” she said. “Dale ran after me and grabbed the crook of my arm. Then his hand slid down my arm, and he held my hand and pulled me back to the backyard. His touch like that sent shivers up and down my spine.

“He asked me to please stay. He said to stick by him and he promised he wouldn’t get me out unless it came down to just him and me. It did. And in mango ball, you could only take two steps if you had the ball. Dale was fifteen feet away, and there was no way I was going to get him out. He was too fast, and I threw too soft.

“Then Seth called his name and he looked over at him. Several kids yelled throw, so I did. It was a lame throw, and it hit Dale right in his stomach. It should have been an easy catch, making me out, but he only made a feeble attempt to catch it and missed. All the kids cheered, ran to me, and lifted me above their shoulders. It was the most thrilling moment of my childhood!

“After a minute, I looked at Dale. He was grinning from ear to ear, and he winked at me. It was then that I fell head over heels in love with him. Even though he seemed to change beautiful girlfriends every few months, I never stopped loving him. Every time we talked, I literally felt weak in the knees.

“I wouldn’t realize my love was reciprocated for another decade.”

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

(THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT PART 16)

A religion that would lead us to be careless of human needs, sufferings, or rights, is a spurious religion.

It is because men take upon themselves the name of Christ, while in life they deny His character, that Christianity has so little power in the world. The name of the Lord is blasphemed because of these things.

Search heaven and earth, and there is no truth revealed more powerful than that which is made manifest in works of mercy to those who need our sympathy and aid.

“Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life.” Matthew 7:14

The path I have set before you, Jesus said, is narrow; the gate is difficult of entrance, for the golden rule excludes all pride and self-seeking.

There is, indeed, a wider road; but its end is destruction.

If you would climb the path of spiritual life, you must constantly ascend; for it is an upward way. You must go with the few; for the multitude will choose the downward path.

In order to go in the path that leads to destruction , there is no need of searching for the way; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad. Self-love, and self-righteous opinions naturally turn into the path that ends in eternal death.

He who would serve Christ cannot follow the world’s opinions or meet the world’s standards.

Heaven’s path is too narrow for rank and riches to ride. Too narrow for the play of self-centered ambition, too steep and rugged for lovers of ease to climb.

Selfish plans may present flattering promises and hold out the hope of enjoyment, but we shall find that our happiness is poisoned and our life embittered by hopes that center in self.

Every act of self-denial for Jesus’s sake, every trial well endured, every victory gained over temptation, is a step in the march to glory of final victory. If we take Christ as our guide, He will lead us safely.

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” Luke 13:24

The Christian life is a battle and a march. But the victory to be gained is not won by human power. The field of conflict is the domain of the heart.

The battle which we have to fight—the greatest battle ever fought by humanity—is the surrender of self to the will of God.

We cannot, of ourselves, conquer the evil desires and habits that strive for the mastery.

Jesus desires us to have the mastery over ourselves, our own will and ways. But He cannot work in us without our consent and co-operation.

The divine Spirit works through the faculties and powers given to humans. Our energies are required to co-operate with God.

The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step.

Our will is not to be forced into co-operation with divine agencies, but must be voluntarily submitted. The will must be placed on the side of God’s will.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

XCV

THERE WILL BE MORE JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS THAN OVER 99 JUST PERSONS WHO NEED NO REPENTANCE

LUKE 15:7

SEVENIA (GIRL PROPHETESS)

I felt such joy as I watched Devin Easton rise out of the watery grave into newness of life. Baptisms always filled me with wonder. First and foremost, the representation of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. This coupled with the believer’s following His example and ceremonially acknowledging that the person wants The Lord as their personal Savior.

I watched Lexi hand Devin their two year old daughter as he stepped onto the bank of Cotton Creek. I recalled Lexi’s own miraculous conversion. I marveled at how often romance played a role in a person’s spiritual journey. It’s easy to see why we are instructed to not be yoked with unbelievers in regards to intimacy.

I stepped over and received my own hug from Devin and then Lexi. When I turned away, one of my favorite people on the planet replaced me in offering congratulations. It was Destiny. When she finished speaking with Devin and Lexi, she aimed a smiling face at me, and I began to have one the most profound “already seen” experiences of my life. Or as the French would say, Déjà vu.

“Hey, Kiddo,” she greeted, using Captain Kirk’s frequent term of affection for me. I could have mouthed her greeting with her, for I seemed to know it was coming. Then for the next few minutes, everything was eerily familiar. To make it even more strange, I had had a dream regarding Destiny the previous night. It had to do with a couple I had recently talked to.

“Say, Dee,” I began, after we exchanged some brief small talk. “Have you considered doing anymore of those romance, slash, conversion stories for my dad’s podcast again?”

She winced, scrunching up her pretty face and pulling at her honey blonde ponytail. This too was as if I had experienced it before. “No, not really. But why do ask?”

I told her about three couples from a sister church on the other side of the city that had interesting love stories. All three involved some form of sin, struggle, or hardship, coupled with forgiveness and redemption.

She pursed her lips, and I knew what was coming next, she put a finger on her chin in deep thought. “I don’t know?”

“One of the stories is similar to yours and Brock’s,” I told her. “By that, I mean they both were from different locations when they had known each other. They then had been separated for several years, and then coincidentally crossed paths again right here at Cotton Creek Cove.”

(Destiny and Brock’s story can be read in depth in the e-book ‘Knight Storm’ by Johnathan Embers).

“You don’t say,” she said with wonder. Then I grinned because I intuited what was coming next. “I guess I could manage doing three more.”

“Wonderful,” I beamed, clapping my hands.

“So, who are they?” Destiny wanted to know.

“The Duncan’s, the Hubbard’s, and the Bradley’s,” I replied, and she frowned. “What’s the matter?”

“Can you tell me a little about them?” She inquired. “I admit, I don’t know these three families all that well, but none of them strike me as extraordinary.”

So I told her.

“Well,” she said, and sighed pleasantly. “I don’t know that any will ever be made into a movie, but they certainly are not your typical love stories.”

“But you’ll do it?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Great, let’s go tell Dad.”

“Sevenia,” Destiny said, grabbing the crook of my arm as I began walking toward my dad, who was talking with Brock and Jake Weston. “Why do you seem to want me to do this so bad?”

“To be honest, Dee,” I said. “I’ve seen the feedback my dad got from the other ones you did. I know there were some things you didn’t like about doing it the first go around, but they really did move some people. Plus, my dad almost had me talked into doing it.”

Destiny put her hands on her hips, smiled slyly and poked the tip of her tongue into the corner of her mouth. “You’re pretty sneaky, Sevenia.”

“I wasn’t doing anything sneaky,” I said, making my eyes wide and innocent. Then I frowned. “Was I being sneaky?”

“No, Sweety,” Destiny said giggling. “I’m just teasing, you can tell your dad I’ll do it.”

“Guess what, Daddy?” I said as we approached the three men.

“Daddy?” My dad laughed. “Are you about to ask for something?”

“No indeed,” I replied. “As a matter of fact, I just did something for you. I talked Dee into doing your podcast. You know, the romance segment.”

“Wonderful! Splendid!” My dad barked with an English accent. Destiny and I both giggled, and Brock rolled his eyes. My dad seemed to be overflowing with energy, to the point his whole being seemed to vibrate.

“Seven, where were you when we all walked down to the creek?” Destiny asked. “You didn’t miss Devin’s baptism, did you?”

“Not on your life, Blondie,” Dad replied and then cackled.

“Dad, why are you acting so strange. You aren’t drinking again are you?”

“Not on your life, Sweet Pea,” he replied and then giggled.

“He’s hopped up on caffeine,” Zella said as she approached our little group. My dad’s wife and my stepmother explained. “Mrs. Thompson called right when services were getting over. The pilot light on her water heater was out, and she needed to take a shower before she went to a wedding this evening.”

Mrs. Thompson was a sweet little widow who lived on an acreage right next to my dad. But that didn’t explain my dad being hopped up on caffeine. When my dad stopped drinking alcohol a year or two ago, he eventually gave all stimulants, including coffee, tea, and pop.

“I ran over there with him,” Zella continued. “Not only did Mrs. Thompson brew a pot of coffee, but I also noticed it was expresso. When Seven was lighting her water heater, I warned her that Seven didn’t usually drink coffee. She looked hurt and I know she just wanted to do something nice for Seven to repay his help. Y’all know Seven can be obnoxious, but he’s also got a big soft heart.”

“Hey!” My dad interjected with sad hound dog eyes, that seemed to jiggle in their sockets. “That’s hurtful.”

“Oh, it is?” Zella replied with a coy smile. “Okay, maybe it’s not such a big soft heart.”

“I meant the obnoxious part.”

“If the shoe fits, Honey.”

“I may still like to tease, but I’m not mean spirited anymore. At least I hope not.”

“I’m just teasing too, Honey,” Zella said, and kissed my dad’s cheek. Then she giggled. “You should have seen poor Seven when she offered the coffee. He politely declined. Then with sad eyes, Mrs. Thompson told him it was gourmet coffee and her doctor told her she shouldn’t drink it, but she couldn’t let it go to waste either. And the next thing I knew, Seven and I drank a pot of expresso, and then expressed back here for the baptism.”

“How come you don’t seem to be vibrating out of your skin?” Brock asked.

“I guess I’m not quite as sensitive to caffeine as my husband,” she said as she looped an arm with my dad. “But to be fair, I couldn’t fall a sleep right now to save my life.”

“Overture, hurt the lights,” my dad began to sing the Looney Tunes theme song and also dance to it. Zella joined him. “This is it, we’ll hit the heights. And oh what heights we’ll hit, on with the show this is it.”

We all laughed, and then Brock made a comment that prolonged the laughter. “I don’t know about you all, but I’m heading to Mrs. Thompson’s for a cup of coffee.”

The next day, my dad’s eyes looked a little bloodshot because he slept poorly. Nonetheless, the Duncan’s arrived to be interviewed by Destiny. They walked in hesitantly, and Mrs. Duncan stopped, bit her lip, and shook her head.

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

(THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT PART 15)

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs.” Matthew 7:6

The Savior never passed by one soul, however sunken in sin, who was willing to receive the precious truths of heaven.

To publicans and harlots Jesus’s words were the beginning of a new life. Mary Magdalene, out of whom He cast seven devils, was the last at the Savior’s tomb and the first whom He greeted in the morning of His resurrection.

“Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matthew 7:7

The asking, makes it manifest that you realize your necessity; and if you ask in faith, you will receive.

When you ask for the blessings you need, that you may perfect a character after Christ’s likeness, the Lord assures you that you are asking according to a promise that will be verified.

“Seek.” Desire not merely His blessing, but Himself. “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.” Job 22:21. Seek, and you shall find. God is seeking you, and the very desire you feel to come to Him is but the drawing of His Spirit. Yield to that drawing.

When we beseech the Lord to pity us in our distress, and to guide us by His Holy Spirit, He will never turn away our prayer.

Do not forget that in coming to God as a father you acknowledge your relation to Him as a child. You not only trust His goodness, but in all things yield to His will, knowing that His love is changeless.

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even to them.” Matthew 7:12

Christ teaches that our anxiety should not be, how much are we to receive? But how much can we give?

In your association with others, put yourself in their place. Enter into their feelings, their difficulties, their disappointments, their joys, and their sorrows. Identify yourself with them, and then do to them as, were you to exchange places with them, you would wish them to deal with you.

The golden rule is the principle of true courtesy, and its truest illustration is seen in the life and character of Jesus. What softness and beauty shone forth in the daily life of our Savior! What sweetness flowed from His very presence! The same spirit should be revealed in His children.

God leads us to abhor our own hardness of heart and to open our hearts to let Jesus abide in them. Thus, out of evil, good is brought, and what appears a curse becomes a blessing.

XCIV

WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING

PHILLIPIANS 2:12

DEVIN EASTON (PART 2 of 2)

“It’s time for you to decide,” Sevenia had said. The word decide was ringing and echoing in my head. I had started reading a book that my brother had given me by Soren Kierkegaard called ‘Provocations.’ As a matter of fact, I had read the first chapter the previous night before I went to bed and began having nightmares. The title of said first chapter is, ‘Dare to Decide.’

Please don’t misunderstand me. This book is a far cry from a Stephen King novel. What I read was, for me anyway, a kick to the behind. In a nutshell, it encouraged me to stop sitting on the fence spiritually. It stirred me, and it shook up what I had been dealing with the last several weeks.

“What’s wrong?” Sevenia asked with a concerned frown. “I just meant personally I don’t think you are possessed.”

“That’s good to know,” I replied, followed by a fake laugh.

“The crazy part is another matter,” she added with a sly smile.

“That’s NOT good,” I responded with a genuine laugh. Then I told her about the book my brother Dirk had given me and the coincidence of her saying it’s time to decide.

“That’s probably not a coincidence then,” she said with a shrug. “I just finished reading  that same book just a few days ago. And guess who it was who gave it to me?”

“Dirk?”

“Close, his lovely wife.”

This turned my mind to something else that had plagued my thoughts during my sort of conversion, the Dalial encounters, and the Dr. Darius Doom experience. That thought was, would my former girlfriend and mother of my daughter take me back?

She had said no in the midst of the Dr. Doom days. She still claimed to not want to be yoked to an unbeliever. This both hurt and mystified me. I felt like I was a believer after my encounter with Dalial. I had had years of waffling on spiritual convictions, but now I was committed to positive life changes.

Yet I was beginning to truly understand her reservations. The people at Cotton Creek Cove went by the Bible and the Bible alone, and I was finally seeing that their practices of primitive Godliness were much deeper than simply old fashioned values. It was an adherence to Biblical doctrine and principles rather than tradition, accompanied by ecumenism. The commandments of God vs. the traditions of men if you please.

“You and Lexi are pretty close friends, right?” I asked.

“Yeah, sure we are.”

“If I get baptized like you said…”

“When did I tell you to get baptized?” Sevenia interrupted with a frown.

“Well, you…” I began, and then frowned myself. I remembered in the nightmare her head rolling off her body after she told me to repent and be baptized. After that I jolted awake. She had told me in my dream, not in reality. I smiled sheepishly and then changed directions a little. “Actually, I guess you didn’t. What I was getting at, though, was Lexi.”

“Okay, what about Lex?”

“If I were baptized and joined your church, do you think she would have me? You know, finally marry me so we can be a real family?”

“That shouldn’t factor into your decision for baptism.”

“How can it not?” I wondered aloud. “Her reason right now is not wanting to be unequally yoked. Wouldn’t me getting baptized equalize the possible marriage equation?”

Sevenia frowned, but smiled. “I see what your saying, and you are right to a degree. All I’m trying to say is take Lexi and your daughter out of the equation for a second. Pretend Lexi left Cotton Creek Cove and became, say, a Buddhist monk. Would your spiritual inclinations still lead you to baptism and Cotton Creek Cove?”

“Yes.”

“Alright then.”

“So you do think I should be baptized?”

“Sure I do, as long as you give yourself whole heartedly to God and repent.”

“How do I truly know if I’ve done that?”

“That would be something better answered by Captain Kirk,” she told me. “He’s had over half a century of pastoring and counseling. He’s much more adept at reading and understanding people than I am.”

“Okay, well, how about we go back to your dad’s so I can have a talk with him before he leaves.”

“Oh, I think they’ll be there a while. When that group gets together, they can talk for hours on end.”

“Maybe you just don’t want to stop hanging out alone with me,” I teased and then winked.

She looked slightly startled, but then laughed. “How about we go see the good Captain?”

Back at the Sallie residence, I followed Sevenia through the house and we spotted everyone hanging out on the deck. As we approached, we heard Seven speak as he looked intently at his phone. “It says here, a Cedar Rapids man was pecked to death by a flock of Red Winged Blackbirds.”

“Get out!” Brock barked as he stepped next to Seven and looked at his phone.

Sevenia stopped abruptly, and I almost ran into her. She doubled over, and her shoulders began to shake and tremble. I thought she was struck with a sudden illness. “Sevenia, are you okay?”

She stood up and I was startled to see she was crying. She wiped away a tear, and it was then I realized she was laughing.

“Yesterday,” she began, just above a whisper. “Destiny told us that Brock stopped running at his favorite trail because the Red Winged Blackbirds dive bombed him so aggressively. He claimed one grazed his head. I don’t think he knows that my dad knows about it.”

It was good to witness Sevenia having lighthearted fun. It seemed like the few times I had been around her she was so serious. Calm and peaceful, but serious.

“Destiny, did you tell Seven about my bird incidents on the Cedar Valley Trail?” Brock asked his wife. But she was holding her stomach and laughing so hard she couldn’t speak. “Seven, you little punk!”

Seven actually vaulted over the deck railing with Brock in hot pursuit. The two men scrambled all over the back yard with everyone on the deck rolling with laughter. Brock finally caught him, put him in a head lock, and tickled his rib cage. Seven apologized profusely and Brock let him go. The two cousins walked back to the deck grinning like a couple schoolboys.

“Can you believe those two guys are almost forty?” Sevenia asked, as she smiled and shook her head.

Pastor Samson, aka Captain Kirk, was more than happy to talk with me. I told him how I had been reading the Bible and other spiritual books ever since my brother Dirk had become a believer. I told him the influence other members of Cotton Creek Cove Fellowship had on me, especially Lexi. Her transformation from a demon-possessed former stripper to a wholesome, Godly mother of our two year old blew my mind.

But I confessed that although I admired Jesus and was impressed with how He  transformed my former girlfriend and brother, I just couldn’t seem to give up booze, cigarettes, and lust, among other things. Things like swearing, impatience, hating people, etc.

I told him how the encounter with Dalial had changed my life, which led me to my brief relationship with Dr. Darius Doom. I informed him that it was witnessing Sevenia and Doom together that won me to her side. I was awakened to the reality of truth over sensation. Then how my nightmares about Sevenia put a huge exclamation point on my new beliefs.

We talked for over an hour, and then I finally couldn’t help myself. “Sir, do you think I could be baptized? I mean, do you think I’m ready, Sir?”

Captain Kirk was a fascinating man. It was like talking to a hero from the Bible. He had a bearing and dignity that seemed to command respect. Yet he was so relaxed, friendly, and engaged when we spoke that I couldn’t help feeling, dare I say it, like he loved me.

“I think you’re ready, Son,” he said as he patted my knee.

Strangely, I felt like crying, but held it in. I also felt unworthy, and asked. “Sir, what if screw up after I’m baptized. You know?”

“Son, do you ever drop the soap when you’re taking a shower?”

I both frowned and chuckled, wondering what he was getting at by seeming to change the subject with something absurd. “Uh, sure, quite a bit actually.”

“Do you stop taking a shower if drop the soap?”

“Of course not.”

“A spiritual journey is a discipline,” he told me. “Hence the derivative disciple. It is also sort of like a lifelong shower, only instead of getting physically clean, you’re in the process of  cleansing your soul. So, if you drop the metaphoric soap in life, you confess to God, ask for forgiveness and get on with your shower.”

“Thank you, Sir,” I said, unable to stop grinning. “That’s something I’ll always remember. So, will you baptize me then?”

“Given what you’ve told me, what would you think of your brother baptizing you?”

“He can do that? He’s not pastor though.”

“He’s a member of God’s family in good standing, he’s qualified.”

“I’d love it!”

The next thing I knew, I was standing in my brother’s living room. He and his lovely wife Amy listened intently as I related my night and day’s activity. My niece and nephew played contentedly as I related how their uncle’s life was changing.

When I got to the part of Captain Kirk suggesting Dirk baptized me, my brother said he’d be honored. He then pinched the bridge of his nose as tears leaked from his eyes. I gave his shoulder a pat, and I knew he felt embarrassed. But then he laughed and hugged me fiercely.

The next Sabbath, after services, I was baptized in Cotton Creek, not far from where Sevenia and I conversed. The first person I had physical contact with as I stepped onto the bank was my little daughter. Lexi handed her to me, tears of joy streaming down her smiling face as I kissed our little girl’s soft, chubby cheek before I held her with my right arm. With my left, I hugged Lexi and kissed her cheek.

“Congratulations,” she said as she put a hand on my cheek.

“Thanks,” I replied, feeling choked up with gratitude.

“By the way, yes,” she grinned.

“Yes what?” I asked, feeling a little dazed by the rush of emotions.

“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said softly, lovingly. “That is if the offer still stands.”

“Absolutely,” I replied as Captain Kirk shook my hand, grinning. “Pastor, Lexi and I need to talk to you. We need another ceremony, and I’m pretty sure my brother isn’t qualified for this one.”

What a great day! God is so good! God is so patient and merciful! God is love!

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

(THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT PART 14)

Christ will never abandon the soul for whom He has died. The soul may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life.

Could our spiritual vision be quickened, we would see souls bowed under oppression and burdened with grief, ready to die in discouragement. We should see angels flying swiftly to aid these tempted ones, who are standing as on the brink of a precipice. The angels from heaven force back the hosts of evil that encompass theses souls, and guide them to plant their feet on the sure foundation.

The spiritual battles waging between the two armies of good and evil are as real as those fought by the armies of this world, and on the issue of spiritual conflict eternal destinies depend.

Live in contact with the living Christ, and he will hold you firmly by a hand that will never let go.

“Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory.” Matthew 6:13

The ruin of Jerusalem was a symbol of the final ruin that shall overwhelm the world in the time of the end.

He who rules in the heavens is our Savior. He measures every trial. He watches the furnace fire that must test every soul.

“Judge not that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1

The warning is: Don’t set yourself up as the standard. The standard is Jesus, and Jesus Christ alone.

The effort to earn salvation by one’s own works inevitably leads men to pile up human exactions as a false barrier against sin.

We cannot read the human heart. We ourselves are faulty, and are not qualified to sit in judgement of others. Finite men can ONLY judge from outward appearance. To God alone who knows the secret springs of action, and who deals tenderly and compassionately, is it given to decide the case of every soul.

“Why do you behold the mote that is in your brother’s eye?” Matthew 7:3

According to the figure our Savior uses here, he who indulges a judgmental spirit is guilty of a greater sin than is the one he accuses.

Christ is the only true standard  of character, and they who set themselves up as a standard for others is putting themselves in the place of Christ.

These would be judges and critics are placing themselves on the side of antichrist , “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God…” 2 Thessalonians 2:4

When the religious experience is devoid of love, Jesus is not there; the sunshine of His presence is not there. No busy activity or zeal can supply its lack.

What the early church has done whenever she has lost the grace of Christ; when finding herself destitute of the power of love, she has reached out for the strong arm of the state to enforce her dogmas and execute her decrees.

Here is the secret of all religious laws that have ever been enacted, and the secret of all persecution from the days of Abel to our own time.

Christ does not drive but draws people unto Him. The only compulsion He employs is the constraint of love.

When the church begins to seek for the support of secular power, it is evident that she is devoid of the power of Christ—the constraint of divine love.

He who looks upon the cross of Calvary, remembering that their sins placed the Savior there, will never try to estimate the degree of his guilt in comparison with that of others.

Let Christ be daily made manifest in you, and He will reveal through you the creative energy of His word!

XCIII

CHOOSE FOR YOUSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE

JOSHUA 24:15

DEVIN EASTON (PART 1 of 2)

I know this may sound silly, but when Sevenia greeted me at that very instant, right when I had just finished telling her father that I had had major nightmares regarding his daughter, well, it was like my road to Damascus.

Not that I’m comparing myself to The Apostle Paul at all. I just mean it was the beginning of my real conversion, and Sevenia was the bright light God used. It was the slap upside my head I needed. But like the Apostle Paul, I was still blind, dazed, and confused.

Ironically, even though she freaked me out, Sevenia and I ended up hanging out that day for a long time. My nightmare, in the flesh, would become the instrument God used to turn on the light. That light would be the Light of Life, Jesus Christ.

Seven had asked his angel of a daughter to tell this little, but most significant chapter of my life, but she insisted I give my testimony myself. I reluctantly agreed, but said yes because, well, Sevenia is simply a hard little lady to say no to.

This road to real conversion started when I had had the worst night of sleep in my life. It was beyond fitful and plagued with nightmares that resulted in a major spiritual struggle. I feared I was demon possessed, especially after witnessing what my former girlfriend, Lexi Gomez, had gone through around two years ago.

(Lexi’s ordeal was told in the very first posts of this blog.)

So, I was standing with Seven Sallie on his deck relating my situation. I had just finished a part of my dream where Dalial, a supernatural being I had thought was holy, sliced completely through the neck of Sevenia. Before her head fell from her body, Sevenia gazed intently at me and told me to repent and be baptized.

Not even half a minute after I tell Seven about this, his daughter seemed to appear out of thin air and greet me with a sweet smile. This pleasant greeting from the five foot two, one hundred and ten pound young woman frightened me beyond belief. I reeled back, then tripped on the leg of a deck chair, and sat down harder than I had in my life.

I was simply stunned and in pain at first. Then I glanced at Seven. He had a hand clasped over his mouth, and his eyes bulged from suppressed laughter. I turned my gaze to his wife and daughter. Sevenia’s mouth hung open and her eyes were wide. Zella chewed on her lower lip with a look of concern. My pain was forgotten and I just felt embarrassed, especially when Sevenia rushed to my side and put a hand on my forearm. Her fingers felt cool, despite the warm summer morning.

“Devin, are you okay?” she asked. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I thought you saw me come up the deck stairs.”

“Oh, no, no, I’m fine,” I said and then fake laughed as I rose to my feet. “I just got done telling your dad something pretty heavy and my mind was, um, preoccupied.”

“Can I tell them about your dreams?” Seven asked.

“Knock yourself out,” I said.

I sat down carefully this time and patiently listened to Seven recount the nightmares I had related to him. I was impressed by how closely Seven had listened to me. I only had to correct his accuracy once.

“Do you think I’m possessed?” I heard myself ask Sevenia. We stared into each other’s eyes. I felt nauseous, and I couldn’t help swallowing down what felt like a pint of saliva. The guirk sound my throat made seemed to echo in Seven’s back yard. But maybe it was my overactive imagination.

Sevenia put a finger on her nose as she considered my question, and as the reverberation of my swallow faded, she said, “No, I don’t.”

Relief washed over me, yet I still felt anxious and uncertain.

“What’s happening to me then?” I asked.

Before Sevenia could answer, the Storm family of Destiny, Brock, and their two adopted daughters came into the back yard. They were followed by Captain Kirk and his brother.

“Look, I better let you go,” I said to the Sallie family. “I didn’t mean to just drop in on you all like I did.”

“Why don’t you stay?” Seven invited. “It’s Pastor Samson’s brother’s birthday, and I just invited them over for a little cook out. We have plenty of food.”

“No thanks,” I said with a forced smile. “I’m not very hungry.”

“Devin, how about you and me go somewhere private and talk?” Sevenia asked.

I noticed her father’s eyes raise in alarm. I couldn’t blame him since I had earned my reputation as a philander. It was something I have felt deep shame over ever since my daughter was born.

“Thanks, but I don’t want to get in the way of your plans,” I told her.

“It’s no big deal,” she shrugged. “I’d rather discuss spiritual issues any day, rather than sit around and eat.”

Sevenia must do a lot of spiritual discussing because she wasn’t very meaty. She did look fit and healthy though.

“Are you sure?” I inquired.

“Sure I’m sure,” she smiled. “How about we go to the creek behind the church? It’s only about a five minute drive.”

“Sweet Pea, why don’t you just go in the living room?” Seven asked with a concerned look on his face. “We’re all gonna be outside here.”

I recalled Sevenia having been assaulted at Cotton Creek by a male acquaintance. I didn’t blame Seven at all for not liking the idea of me being alone there with his daughter. I was actually surprised she herself trusted me enough. Just out of superstition, I wouldn’t want to go there if I was her.

“We’ll be fine, Dad,” she said with a shrug and then looked into her father’s eyes. “I think best there.”

Seven smiled at her and nodded. Not even ten minutes later we sat down on a big rock right by the creek. There was a canopy of about a dozen white pine trees. Beyond them were huge Cottonwood trees, hence the name Cotton Creek. Behind us, at least a football fields length, was their church, Cotton Creek Cove Fellowship.

The clear water of the creek burbled and gurgled over a multitude of rocks, and a breeze made a soft whistle through the pines. I felt myself relax already. Sevenia pulled off the red converse sneakers she was wearing, hiked up the light yellow sun dress she was wearing just above her knees, and placed her feet in the water. She moaned with satisfaction and looked skyward, her emerald eyes seemed to glisten.

It occurred to me just how beautiful Sevenia was. Yet it wasn’t an erotic beauty I was admiring. It was her character and personality. Sevenia had always just appeared to be a plain Jane to me. With her short, spiky hair, no makeup, and no jewelry, she was even a little like a tomboy. Is that even P.C. to say anymore? Sorry if it isn’t. But I say a little like a tomboy because she always seemed to wear dresses and skirts. Plus, she was simply too cute.

“Can I ask you something personal?” I asked.

“Sure,” she said.

“I know you were, um, attacked here,” I said cautiously. “And then the boy ended up killing himself shortly after he fled. As beautiful and peaceful as this place is, I think that would have ruined this place for me if I were in your shoes. I don’t think I could have set foot here ever again.”

“Believe me,” she replied. “In the aftermath of that ordeal, I most definitely felt like never coming here again. But on the other hand, I also had so many fond memories of this place to counteract that one horrific event. I guess kind of like the scripture that says ‘be angry and sin not’. (Ephesians 4:26). By that, I mean I was determined to not let that one ugly ordeal to steal a place I loved and had so many wonderful conversations, and also times alone with God. So I sort of angrily told myself, ‘no, girl, you still go there and trust what Jesus said: I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’” (Matthew 28:20).

“Do you have a scripture for everything?” I chuckled.

“I guess I don’t even think about it,” she shrugged.

“And I guess that’s why I wanted to talk to you,” I told her. “I think that’s why I had nightmares about you.”

“Sorry,” she giggled. “I never intended to give you nightmares.”

“Oh no, forget about it,” I said, waving a hand. “It’s not you. It’s me.”

“That sounds like we just broke up,” she said with more giggles.

I liked seeing her giggle. It reminded me that she was still a young lady. Even though I had a decade on her, Sevenia always seemed older than me. “I don’t think I’m your type,” I replied with a chuckle.

“True,” she said, and then her face became serious. “No offense. I’m actually not anyone’s type.”

“You had a boyfriend for a while, didn’t you? That guy that was kind of built like a junior Brock?”

“Yeah, but after a while I realized I wasn’t ready for romance. It was getting in the way of the call I felt to serve God.”

I nodded. There was a brief lull, and then Sevenia slapped her knees and said, “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“If I’m not possessed, why do I feel like I’m going crazy?” I asked her.

She studied me thoughtfully for several seconds and said, “It’s time for you to decide.”

(DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES)

(THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT PART 13)

“Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.” Luke 11:4

As we come to God, this is the condition which meets us at the threshold, that receiving mercy from Him, we yield ourselves to reveal His grace to others.

The one thing essential for us in order that we may receive and impart the forgiving love of God is to know and believe the love that He has to us.

Satan will lead us to think that our mistakes and transgressions have been so grievous that the Lord will not have respect unto our prayers and will not bless and save us.

In ourselves we can see nothing but weakness, nothing to recommend us to God, and Satan tells us that it is of no use; we cannot remedy our defects of character.

When we try to come to God, the enemy will whisper, it is of no use for you to pray; did you not do that evil thing? Have you not sinned against God and violated your own conscience?

But we may tell the enemy that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 17)

When we feel that we have sinned and cannot pray, it is then the most urgent time to pray. Ashamed we may be deeply humbled, but we must pray and believe.

We should not try to lessen our guilt by excusing sin. We must accept God’s estimate of sin, and that is heavy indeed. Calvary alone can reveal the terrible enormity of sin.

“He retains not His anger forever, because HE DELIGHTS IN MERCY!” Micah 7:18

“Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13

Satan seeks to bring us into temptation, that the evil of our characters may be revealed before humanity and angels, that he may claim us as his own.

God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives.

Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience and advances us in the work of character building. The soul that through divine power resists temptation reveals to the world and to the heavenly universe the efficiency of the grace of Christ.

It is not safe for us to linger to contemplate the advantages to be reaped through yielding to Satan’s suggestions. Sin means dishonor and disaster to every soul that indulges in it, and it is blinding and deceiving in its nature.

The only safeguard against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.

It is because selfishness exists in our hearts that temptation has power over us. But when we behold the great love of God, selfishness appears to us in its hideous and repulsive character, and we desire to have it expelled from the soul.

As the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, our hearts are softened and subdued, the temptation loses its power, and the grace of Christ transforms the character.