Nathan walked out of the cave. He didn't think it was Patterson's hidout, but it was a pretty big cave. One room with no tunnels, but it could be it. Maybe Patterson hadn't done all the work to it that everyone thought. He tacked a blue cloth to the entrance and stretched his back. Crawling in and out of caves, and riding the atv all afternoon had caused the muscles to stiffen up. He gazed at the sky and saw a hawk riding the air currents. He watched with a feeling of awe. "Lord, he sure is pretty. He's so free up there, just riding that current like You made it just for him." Nathan watched the hawk for several minutes and then looked at his watch. He had about twenty minutes until he needed to start back. He called Matt on the radio and told him what he had found and got back on the atv. He looked up at the hawk again and saw that it was glidding lower in the air. It passed in front of a small wall of rock. He saw it swoop and pick up something off the ground. Nathan got out his binoculars and looked around, searching for more cave entrances. He saw what looked like another possibility and roared off heading for a slightly rounded mound of rock, next to the small wall where the hawk had caught his dinner. He jumped the atv over it and laughing continued on towards the next cave entrance.
- Zags
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POSSUM HOLLOW
For the last couple of days all the 5 guys have been doing is studying the Word and preparing for rough times ahead by working on the caves. Hank could not believe the size and room the caves offered...and was astounded at the seclusion of it all. "Man Dan...you said your wife canned and stored alot down here but I was trying to count all those cans just of green beans...and I got a headache" "Anthony laughed.. well you haven't even seen the caves on our land ...they have as many cans of green beans as well" "And remember" Dan piped in...we got plenty deer, wild turkey, rabbits, and squirrels runnin round and in the spring we have some big frogs down in the pond..we can gig out and fry up...and if it get's real desperate...I can cook a mean possum stew"....teasing Hank. "I mean they don't call this place Possum Hollow for nothin" "Oh yum" Hank thought to himself in gest.
Pastor Tim interjects..."well if I was God and I am glad I am not ..and I know His ways are not our ways..BUT nevetheless..If I was Him ..I just about imagine that long before we ever dreamed we would be facing a time like this..our Heavenly Father knew a place like this would come in handy for alot of His children desperate for safety in the times that lay ahead!" "You really believe that Tim?" Anthony asked? "I really do"
As they have been cleaning they had been playing Christian Cd's and having good convo ..even telling jokes...."Dan had Hank gushing with laughter with his arkansas joke"ya know the number one pick up line in Arkansas? NICE TOOTH" ...but during a quick break Tim had switched over and caught the last breaking news update...."well that sure is a jolt back to reality" Dan spouts off..."I know" his nephew (anthony) replied..."down here listening to mom's cd's...and your all's stupid jokes ..you kinda forget what's goin on in the real world" "gas prices $10.00...man...and already they are labeling us dangerous???..that's still something I just don't understand...what is that they are so afraid of?" Pastor Tim knew this answer well .."Anthony the bible says we aren't wrestling against people...we are wrestling against principalities and rulers of the unseen world...and against wickedness in high places" "Unfortunately for a while it's going to look like they are winning...but we will have to look not with our human eyes and not listen with our human ears...we have to know...we have to believe and we have to Trust that God's word says ...that we who endure to the end WILL BE SAVED!"
- STA
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Stacy ...had notified her co-workers at the hotline that she was done. She turned in her keys and then headed out to her car already packed up. She had no idea what she was really searching for...but she knew she had questions and for some reason she felt compelled she needed to be in Missouri??? She laughed at the thought..."the last time I was there..I couldn't wait to leave" she thought to herself "but now I am about to leave everything I know and go back AGAIN?" "well hopefully if my grandparents are still here...they will have answers" she continued to ponder.....she hopped in her car turned on some tunes and sped away! by her accounting in less than 3 days she'd be pulling up to that old farm.
- STA
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Sam pulled up in front of Tom's house and waited to see if he would come out or if he would need to go in and get him. He read some of the papers he had taken from the papers house then decided he had better see what was keeping Tom. He knocked on the door, but no answer so he pushed the door open and started looking around for Tom. He walked past the first bedroom and just as he was going to check another room he heard the sounds of someone moaning. Tom was sitting on the floor beside the bed weeping. In his hand was his wife's picture and he was rocking back and forth as if he was in a trance. "Tom, are you going to be alright? It's time for us to get on the road. You ready to get going?" Sam asked.
"I'm sorry, it's so hard to think of the things I said to her before all this happened. I saw so much grief at the funeral home that I didn't want any of it when I got home. She tried to tell me things and I shut her out and was very rude to her." Tom cried.
"Man, we both said and did things we shouldn't have, but this is the here and now and we have a lot to do to make up for the years we didn't listen. God needs us to do things to save others before it's too late. You have to live for God now and do something positive with the time we have left. I found things that lead me to believe that we will might be needed to fight in God's army and there are lots of things we need to do to get ready for that day."
"Sam, I'm ready to do whatever it takes to do God's will. If it means going all over the countryside with you, then that's what I'll do."
"We need to get on the road." Sam and Tom got in the car and headed out of town.
- P4H
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Stacy's Road Trip from Boston to Grandparents Farm House in Missouri
Stacy had been driving for 12 hours and only had a short time to find a place to stay before curfew. Despite all the check point stops she had made it all the way to Cleveland Ohio but due to economic hardships so many hotels had closed their doors and only a few of the more upscale places were still open and they were charging very high rates ..even though Stacy's parents had left her well off...she wasn't ready to just throw it away and had been very frugal since her parents had died. She decided to pull over at a truck stop and lay down in the of the backseat of her Dodge Durango. She would just watch a couple of dvd's in her suv's player and she'd be just fine. But before settling down ...she headed into the convenience store side of the truckstop to see what the store might still have on it shelves ...while she was rummaging around... a couple walked into the store and both rushed into the bathrooms... the girl seemed to be crying hysterically ...and no sooner did the guy go into the restroom ...than he was already hurrying back to his car! Stacy looked out as he screeched away into the night. "Wow...wonder what's up with that?" Stacy thought to herself..."well it's none of my business" but Stacy is the curious type ...that's what is propelling her to Missouri remember? "well anyway Stacy continued to pretend to be rummaging through the store..but now all she really wanted to know ...was what is that girl going to do when she comes out of that bathroom!!! Well as she was staring at a bottle of Quaker State Oil pretending to be in awe...the girl runs out of the bathroom and goes to the door of the convenience store and realizes the car she had been riding in is gone..she throws the doors open and runs outside..looking in every direction in desperation..... where could he have gone...then falls down on her knees ...totally distraught...well that was more than Stacy's curiosity and Suicide Hotline Experience could take.... she had to intervene! "mam...uhhh ...hello my name is Stacy..is everything alright? NO EVERYTHING IS NOT ALRIGHT! MY FIANCEE....I MEAN MY EX FIANCEE...just left me here ...in the middle of OHIO...and she sobs and tears up something awful ..her nose is running so Stacy quickly opens her purse and offers some kleenex to help..."thanks" "no problem my name is Stacy" "no that is very kind...my name is Keisha" ..they exchange pleasantries then Keisha begins to cry again....."Keisha..I don't mean to pry but you did say Fiancee right?" EX FIANCEE NOW...well if you don't mind me asking ...WHAT HAPPENED?" "Well ..ya know when all those people were ya know....well taken...me and MY EX FIANCEE were stuck in Up State New York in a blizzard...we are both from Nebraska but my fiancee is a dental supplies salesman...and his company was having their end of year Awards Banquet in Buffalo New York...Oh yea that's a good place to be at the End of January but anyway he wanted me to go too...sweet I know....he thought it would be kinda like a pre honeymoon trip to draw us alot closer..right? But then there we are getting ready for bed that night when the news broke". ....Keisha realizing she is risking alot if she tells the rest....becomes nervous..But Stacy's hotline skills kick in and draws the rest of her story out..."well my first thought was to call my parents of course" Keisha cries some more...."and of course my parents are gone" "what do you mean of course? ..I mean how do you know?" "well ummm well they were holy rollers" "they are the kind of people that went to church ...sunday morning...sunday night....wednesday night...prayer service night..and choir practice night...if the doors were open my parents were there" I KNEW INSTANTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED!" But my fiancee's family was catholic and he called his parents and they were still here..ya know?" Stacy continues to listen...a story she has heard over the phone numerous times the last few days but this is her first face to face encounter "so anyway....I am in a state of panic..I just want to go home...at first my fiancee totally understood and of course we shortly began driving home. And I am a big talker...I like to talk and get my feelings out there and I started processing it all ya know..and well me and my fiancee never really talked about how we were raised...it was just like that elephant in the room that we both chose to ignore..he was catholic..I was a baptist...neither of us were living it ya know..I mean I haven't been to church since my neice was baptised..like 4 years ago...well anyway...while we were driving...I just started talking it out...stating all the things my mom had always said...and THAT CHILDHOOD MOVIE I had seen in like 3rd grade on a sunday night at church that gave me nightmares for like maybe a whole year..."what movie was that?" Stacy had to know...."I will never forget it ..."it was called A Thief in the Night" ....it had this scene where this lady is a sleep and her alarm goes off and she gets up to find her husband has vanished ....just kinda like what's happened now...oh never mind it would take too long to tell ya all about that movie...but again...I was going over that in my mind..only it wasn't in my mind..I voice what is going on in my mind...ya know that's just how I am ...a big talker..and my fiancee always said that's one of the things he loved about me...cuz then he'd never have to wonder what I was thinking...except for now..he thought I was talking nonsense..he had never heard such a thing..and besides his parents go to church and were still here and in his book they were as godly as anyone he knew...said his mom prayed the rosary non stop and 50 hail mary's a week or something like that....but I just couldn't shut up about it...and well the more I talked the more convicted I became...til while we were driving ..I broke down and after all these years..finally did what my parents had begged me to do all my life..."what is that?" I acknowledge that Jesus Christ had died on the cross for my sins...was buried in a tomb for 3 days and then rose again...and Has come back...confessed I was a sinner and asked Him to come into my life...except now ...she actually slows down...but now Stacy's curious is pricked again...."what do you mean except now" "well now I will probably have to die for my faith" "and that's just why my fiancee dumped me at this place" "he has been listening to the news and heard how some areas are starting to arrest believers for hate crimes and how some checkpoints were putting people on the spot ..asking them point blank if they confessed Jesus Christ....I guess they are trying to earn brownie points with the new administration policies...and anyway my fiancee said with my big mouth he wasn't taking that chance...so here I am left in the middle of OHIO..spilling my guts to a complete stranger" "hey I gave you a kleenex remember ...and you know my name is Stacy" "ok well not a total stranger" stacy offers "well I am not headed to Nebraska but I am headed to Missouri and it's heading you in the right direction if you want to ride with me?" Keisha responds..."well you haven't called security ...so I guess It's safe" "it's after curfew..my Durango is over there...I was going to watch a couple of movies in my dvd player then crash...we can lay down the back seats" "well do I look like I have any better options" Keisha replies".......and they head to the durango for the night!
- STA
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On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Matt and Nathan were going over all the potential hideouts they had found with everybody.
Kristen had even decided to join them. She sat quietly at the end of the table just listening. Maddie kept a close eye on the child, making sure she was warm enough, if she was hungry, wanted something to drink. "I'm ok Maddie." Kristen told her.
Maddie nodded. "Ok. If you want anything, just let me know."
"OK." Kristen nodded as Grumpy lay his head in her lap. Kristen absently scratched him behind his ears.
"I found one cave big enough for all of us. It was just one room, but it could be it." Nathan said.
Maddi shook her head. "No. Uncle Patterson wouldn't have used something so easily accessable. The man was convinced that the Russians were gonna nuke us. We could keep that cave in mind if we can't find my uncle's real hideout."
"I was just a kid, but I remember loads of steel beams, and pannels coming into the lumber yard." Shade said. "Maddie's right. Patterson built himself a fallout shelter out there somewhere. I can't see him spending all that money on something he never used."
"Well, did you really expect to find it on the first day you looked?" Tori asked. "It wouldn't have been much of a hideout if it was easily found."
"If you need help looking, I'm willing." Zoe said. "The more people we have looking, the faster we could find it."
"Yeah. I could help look too. We have four atv's, and we don't need them here on the ranch for a couple of days, do we Uncle Shade?" Tori asked.
"No. We rounded up enough cattle for a full load, and I'll be taking them tomorrow." Shade said.
"Ok then. Matt, Nathan, Tori and Zoe will be on the atv's and I'll stay with the pickup." Trevor said. He would really rather go out looking too, but somebody need to be at base. He had medical training, and he need to be easily found.
"I can set up a gps tracking system for all the atv's that way we all know where each individual is." Tori said.
"How long will that take?" Maddie asked.
"Not long." Nathan bragged. "Tori's a computer genius. Hey!! Can you make some sort of gps tracking device to leave at the cave so when we find it, that we don't have to tag it with a flag. Anybody can see that and check it out."
Nodding, Tori told her brother, "I already came up with something." She held up a little black box. "I have it set up where I can track this with my computer. It's set up where I can call it like I'm calling a phone with my computer. It's actually a simple concept. See I...."
Nathan cut his sister off. "Matt's the only one who understands your techno-talk. We trust you. If you say you can find it with your computer, you can. Right?!" He looked at everyone at the table.
Everyone nodded seriously, then Zoe got up. "Let's load the other two atv's and get to looking."
- Zags
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On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Maddie stood up from the sewing machine. She shook out the pants she had altered, and held them up for inspection. With a nod of satisfaction, she scooped up the rest of the clothes she had altered and carried them into Kristen's room. Sha laid them out on the bed and walked into the kitchen where the girl was a the table. Tori had printed out the letters of the alphabet and Kristen was carefully writing them out. Maddie was so proud of the progress Kristen had already made. When the child put her mind to something she threw her all into it. Maddie was praying that soon, Kristen would throw her all into loving Jesus.
"Kristen." Maddie said softly so as to not startle her.
Kristen looked up. "How does this look?" she asked Maddie, handing her the paper.
Maddie looked at the paper carefully and nodded. "Very nice. You'll be reading and writing in no time." she beamed at the girl. Maddie wanted so badly to hug the girl, but was cautious. She didn't want to do anything to upset the child. Maddie was a naturally affectionate person, and keeping herself in check around Kristen was difficult to say the least.
Putting down the paper, Maddie told Kristen, "I have a surprise for you in your room."
Kristen looked wary for a moment, and Maddie thought her heart would break.
"Would you like to go see?" Maddie continued.
"Ok." Kristen nodded.
Maddie automatically reached a hand out to help the child out of the chair, and realized her error immediately.
Kristen had flinched back from the touch, her eyes darting back and forth from Maddie's outstretched hand and her face.
Maddie let her hand drop, and felt tears building behind her eyes. "I'm sorry Kristen. I know you don't like to be touched. I forgot. Please forgive me."
Kristen felt a lump in her throat looking at the tears in Maddie's eyes. "No. I'm sorry. I don't know how, but I know you and everybody else would never hurt me. I don't know why I react like that when I know you're just trying to help." Kristen felt a tear fall to her cheek.
"It's ok Kristen. You've been through too much in your young life. Your instinct is to protect yourself. I understand. Don't worry about it." Maddie said.
Kristen nodded and stood up. She walked over to the stairs and went up them, Grumpy walking beside her. She went to the door of her room and saw on the bed clothes. She stopped in her tracks. She had been making do with an old pair of Matt's sweats and a sweatshirt. She turned and saw Maddie standing in the hall, her hands clasped. "Do you like them?" Maddie asked anxiously. "They're not new. Steffi wasn't a whole lot bigger than you, so I just took them in a bit. I'm hoping I guessed right. When you feel more comfortable, we can take you to Amarillo to get you all new clothes in the styles you like."
Kristen was stunned. She had never gotten so many clothes at once. Mikey had always had her wear an old worn out dress. It had started out way too big, but she had grown into it and when Shade had found her she had pretty much out grown it. There were five pairs of jeans and several shirts, with undergarments, socks and a couple of pairs of sneakers too.
"Go ahead child, try them on. I'll stay out here in the hall and if anything doesn't fit just let me know and I can make some more adjustments. If the shoes don't fit, we can have Shade pick you some up while he's in Amarillo tomorrow. I found a brand new package of underwear in Steffi's drawer and I'm hoping they aren't too big. If they are we can take them in or I can go to Amarillo tomorrow with Shade and pick you up some."
Kristen looked at Maddie with a smile. "You fixed these for me?"
Maddie nodded.
"Thank you." Kristen couldn't think of anything else to say she was so overwhelmed. She slowly reached out and touched the back of Maddie's hand. "Thank you." then she turned walked into the bedroom and closed the door so she could try on her new clothes.
When the door closed Maddie let the tears she had been holding back fall. "No, Kristen. Thank you."
Maddie stood up from the sewing machine. She shook out the pants she had altered, and held them up for inspection. With a nod of satisfaction, she scooped up the rest of the clothes she had altered and carried them into Kristen's room. Sha laid them out on the bed and walked into the kitchen where the girl was a the table. Tori had printed out the letters of the alphabet and Kristen was carefully writing them out. Maddie was so proud of the progress Kristen had already made. When the child put her mind to something she threw her all into it. Maddie was praying that soon, Kristen would throw her all into loving Jesus.
"Kristen." Maddie said softly so as to not startle her.
Kristen looked up. "How does this look?" she asked Maddie, handing her the paper.
Maddie looked at the paper carefully and nodded. "Very nice. You'll be reading and writing in no time." she beamed at the girl. Maddie wanted so badly to hug the girl, but was cautious. She didn't want to do anything to upset the child. Maddie was a naturally affectionate person, and keeping herself in check around Kristen was difficult to say the least.
Putting down the paper, Maddie told Kristen, "I have a surprise for you in your room."
Kristen looked wary for a moment, and Maddie thought her heart would break.
"Would you like to go see?" Maddie continued.
"Ok." Kristen nodded.
Maddie automatically reached a hand out to help the child out of the chair, and realized her error immediately.
Kristen had flinched back from the touch, her eyes darting back and forth from Maddie's outstretched hand and her face.
Maddie let her hand drop, and felt tears building behind her eyes. "I'm sorry Kristen. I know you don't like to be touched. I forgot. Please forgive me."
Kristen felt a lump in her throat looking at the tears in Maddie's eyes. "No. I'm sorry. I don't know how, but I know you and everybody else would never hurt me. I don't know why I react like that when I know you're just trying to help." Kristen felt a tear fall to her cheek.
"It's ok Kristen. You've been through too much in your young life. Your instinct is to protect yourself. I understand. Don't worry about it." Maddie said.
Kristen nodded and stood up. She walked over to the stairs and went up them, Grumpy walking beside her. She went to the door of her room and saw on the bed clothes. She stopped in her tracks. She had been making do with an old pair of Matt's sweats and a sweatshirt. She turned and saw Maddie standing in the hall, her hands clasped. "Do you like them?" Maddie asked anxiously. "They're not new. Steffi wasn't a whole lot bigger than you, so I just took them in a bit. I'm hoping I guessed right. When you feel more comfortable, we can take you to Amarillo to get you all new clothes in the styles you like."
Kristen was stunned. She had never gotten so many clothes at once. Mikey had always had her wear an old worn out dress. It had started out way too big, but she had grown into it and when Shade had found her she had pretty much out grown it. There were five pairs of jeans and several shirts, with undergarments, socks and a couple of pairs of sneakers too.
"Go ahead child, try them on. I'll stay out here in the hall and if anything doesn't fit just let me know and I can make some more adjustments. If the shoes don't fit, we can have Shade pick you some up while he's in Amarillo tomorrow. I found a brand new package of underwear in Steffi's drawer and I'm hoping they aren't too big. If they are we can take them in or I can go to Amarillo tomorrow with Shade and pick you up some."
Kristen looked at Maddie with a smile. "You fixed these for me?"
Maddie nodded.
"Thank you." Kristen couldn't think of anything else to say she was so overwhelmed. She slowly reached out and touched the back of Maddie's hand. "Thank you." then she turned walked into the bedroom and closed the door so she could try on her new clothes.
When the door closed Maddie let the tears she had been holding back fall. "No, Kristen. Thank you."
- Zags
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"Natas..do you see em??" "Holy bleep...you weren't bs'n after all...and that's why I canceled everything and flew out here" "this is an incredible opportunity!" "how do figure?" "perfect place to truly wreck havoc...with all these bible wacko's in one place...we are just going to have to call upon the lord of darkness and seek his council" the two men continued to scheme outside the compound at Lakeshore....meanwhile ....
Dave and Terry rushed into meet with Rabbi..."Rabbi ...Andy was right..we have company for sure..we saw em with our own eyes...well through binoculars any way....two evil looking dudes for sure" "there are sure to be more to follow" "are you sure Rabbi that we don't need to go back into the tunnels?" Big Dave asked "No ..I have heard God's word on this...as long as we stay here ..we have His covering for a time and I have heard Him to say stand still and See The Salvation of the Lord" "it's just very very vital that no one leave" "it won't be by might nor by power but only By His Spirit" says the Lord that we will prevail here
Dave and Terry rushed into meet with Rabbi..."Rabbi ...Andy was right..we have company for sure..we saw em with our own eyes...well through binoculars any way....two evil looking dudes for sure" "there are sure to be more to follow" "are you sure Rabbi that we don't need to go back into the tunnels?" Big Dave asked "No ..I have heard God's word on this...as long as we stay here ..we have His covering for a time and I have heard Him to say stand still and See The Salvation of the Lord" "it's just very very vital that no one leave" "it won't be by might nor by power but only By His Spirit" says the Lord that we will prevail here
- Renee
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Kevin and Emily walked hand in hand along the boundries of the compound. She had finished her testimony to him days ago and yet for all she had done he still wanted to be with her. She gave God the glory for that one. Kevin began again where he had left off. His mom and dad had been in the kitchen when they disappeared. He had sat at the kitchen table for hours just looking down at the heap of clothes in front of the sink. His body was shaking from his withdrawel symptoms. Nobody would see him take anything now he had thought to himself. His body hurt so bad from the wreck he had been in he would have to wait till morning to go to the pawn shop. His mothers sleeping pills would have to do for the night. If he took enough of them maybe he would sleep. His tolerance was so high, he didnt know how many would do the trick. Opening the frig he had taken the milk out and poured himself a tall glass. He went down the hall to their room and opened the drawer on his mothers nightstand. She had just had them refilled so they were still in the Walgreens bag stapled shut. He opened it and took the bottle out reading the label. There were 90 in the bottle with 6 refills on it. At least he wouldnt run out for a few months. His mind was so brainwashed from all the drugs he took he couldnt even comprehend that his parents were now gone. He opened the bottle and popped a couple into his mouth followed by a gulp of milk. He had stretched out on their bed and flicked the tv on. As he watched he was shocked to see all the chaos around the globe. He popped a couple more into his mouth. He didnt know how long he watched or how many pills he kept popping but his last thought before falling into a deep sleep was about the hell on earth. The next thought he had was of a 12 foot angel standing before him saying "Come, there are some things I must show you".
- Renee
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Sitting outside ..down just two blocks but within eye sight..believing they are undetected...are fellow members of NWOIHWT just arriving from Portland Oregon....natas has drawn a pentegram on a sidewalk and began his incantations In previous days they would have been more discreet but this is truly a new day...there is a new liberty of evil if you will...natas continues his invocation...."oh prince of darkness we stand here this night united in our thirst for the blood of your enemies ...give us your victory oh great one...arise out of the shadows and cover us now as we prepare for war against his mindless sheep"
Inside the compound....the believer's are on their knees united in worship praising Jesus with all their might as they sing
The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God!
afterward a chorus of praying begins to ascend to God's throne..."Lord we lift up your name..JESUS ..and Lord we call upon you now...send angels charge over us..great and mighty ..we proclaim the blood of Jesus victorious...greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world....a new chorus of worship explodes
Jesus, Jesus
Holy and anointed One, Jesus
Jesus, Jesus
Risen and exalted One, Jesus
Your name is like honey on my lips
Your Spirit like water to my soul
Your Word is a lamp unto my feet
Jesus, I love You, I love
Outside..the guys standing post...Dave and Terry and a couple of other's begin to become anxious as they see Natas and his crew headed their way...Dave calls to Terry "what do we do?" "The Rabbi said .. to just stand still and SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD" "remember this battle is the Lord's...Not by might...nor by power ..but by His Spirit" "I know this sounds crazy but just stand there and be still..do not say a word!"
Natas and his crew boldly and I mean boldly approach the outside of the Colliseum...still not knowing that Andy was alerted to the fact they had been hacked and that leadership was expecting their arrival! Natas speaks curses upon the security team as he approaches... The Angels seemingly not deterring his conviction of victory. Dave and Terry stood perfectly still ..eyes straight forward obeying the command given through the Rabbi..bold as could be on the outside..but both praying like crazy.
Natas declares...WE KNOW THIS IS A PLACE OF CRIMINALS! A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE PLEDGED THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO YOUR WEAK PATHETIC MESSIAH. BUT HIS TIME HAS PASSED HIS NAME WE CURSE...STAND ASIDE AND WE MIGHT LET YOU LIVE....STAND THERE AND YOU WILL DIE! still Dave and Terry stood firm as well as the other guys! Rabbi alerted in His Spirit walked out to the front .....natas mocked...old man you made a bad bad mistake coming out here...Rabbi replied..."He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword" "lay down your weapons and confess your faith in Jesus Christ and beg for mercy and you shall live....take up your sword and you will die" Natas...called for Cyrax and His flame thrower...Cyrax steps forward and reels off the flames upward to the sky ...Rabbi recognizes him from his vision and begins to say "thank you Jesus" ..THANK YOU JESUS??? Crazy old man...how can you be thanking Jesus when you are about to be lit up like hotdog at a bonfire? Rabbi unflinchingly declares "You come to me with weapons made of man..but I stand before you with the Covering of Almighty God...He who dwells in the secet place of the Most High Shall Abide under the shadow of the Almighty...I will say of the Lord "He is our refuge and our fortress..Our God in Him we DO TRUST!"
THAT'S IT CYRAX BLAST THEM........WHOOSH ....those ANGELS ARE BAAAAACK!!!! "Natas..Natas...cyrax screams...do you see that?? HOLY @$#@ I DON'T CARE IF IT GOD HIMSELF ....KILL THEM...KILL THEM ALL...BLAST AWAY ...but just as they turned their weapons an flamethrower's toward Rabbi and the guys standing guard.... as the word had been spoken....a blinding darkness fell upon natas's gang and in great fear they spun around shooting each other in fear....cyrax blasting natas with the flame thrower burning him to the ground as well as they others.
Dave and Terry both hulking men ..fell to their knees with great relief and began to praise the Lord. Rabbi although very confident in what he had heard from the Lord..too exhaled a great exhale.."thank you Jesus...THANK YOU JESUS"
"come on in ...we must share with the others the great victory the Lord has brought"
Inside the Rabbi told of the victory ...afterward in a holy moment the body of believer's all bowed to their knees and prayed! They were joyful YES...but very sober ..knowing this wasn't an end of the war...just one battle won...but still "thank you Jesus's" ascended all across the compound!
- Renee
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As Kevin followed this 12 foot being he was wondering if this was a dream. He smacked his face and felt the sting of it. Nope not a dream he thought as continued to follow.The angel urged him ahead of himself as he held back. Kevin could hear screaming up ahead. Someone needed help. He felt the instant slap of heat. The angel stood back and moved him forward. Where was he and why was this angel pushing him? He couldnt see anything, it was so dark, almost like looking at the color black. He could tell his feet were walking in a downward movement, but to where? He looked back and saw the angels light in the entrance. "I will wait for you here." He turned and looked ahead of himself. He could finally see an orange glow ahead of him. As he walked further he began to hear the screaming again only this time it was more than one voice. It sounded like millions of voices all screaming for help. The heat was becoming more and more intense the further in he walked. He could hear people grinding their teeth the closer he got. As he rounded a sharp curve he was suddenly stopped by a force that was not his own. He looked down at his feet and realized he was standing at the edge of an abyss and could go no further. Looking down he saw what looked like a lake on fire with millions of people in it yelling up at him. He saw his buddy Taylor who had first introduced him to drugs splashing around in that lake screaming up at him to go back. Taylor had overdosed about 3 months ago and his parents had found him in his car slumped over the stearing wheel just a block from his home. As Taylor was speaking to Kevin demons with buckets flying overhead dumped more fire on Taylors head to silence him. They screamed down at him that Kevin was on the wide road soon to be there with them and that it was too late for him now. Kevin could hear the others screaming "Lord please forgive us, we didnt know." But there was no answer for them. Kevin was pouring sweat. His face and underarms were raining sweat. The buckets of fire continued to rain down on the people in the lake and plumes of smoke continued to rise up causing his eyes to burn and tear. Kevin no longer could stand the heat and turned to go back the way that he had come. As he turned he heard Taylor scream again. He hurried back up to where the angel awaited him. As he emerged he took big gulps of sweet air that filled his lungs. He fell to the ground in tears. He didnt know how long he sat on the ground crying but it soon came to him what he must do. "Lord I didnt know such a place really existed. I thought it was just a way to scare people. I thought my parents used it as a scare tactic. "Oh Lord I never want to see or go to that place again. I dont know why you showed it to me unless you planned to send me there. My parents always told me that you didnt want anyone to perish. I miss them Lord. Will I see them again so I can tell them how sorry I am?" The angel spoke up at this point telling Kevin that the Lord had heard his prayer and told his parents. "The Lord says you know the way to his kingdom" Kevin getting up on his knees looked up toward Heaven."Jesus please forgive me. I lay all my sins at the foot of the cross and ask you to come into my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me this 2nd chance." The angel spoke again."Your parents want you to know that a big celebration for your salvation is going on right now in Heaven. Your parents cant wait to see you again but the Lord has plans for you until then. Seek his face and he will guide you till that time." Kevin awoke to anew day. He felt alive for the first time in 2 years. He felt he had purpose. He picked up his moms sleeping pill bottle to find it was completely empty. He had taken the whole bottle. The Lord had intervened and Kevin had made the right choice.
- Renee
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The man with no memory of himself sat down under a big oak tree holding his head in his hands. His head was pounding.He reached in his duffle bag for the aspirin bottle and popped 4 into his mouth swallowing it down with a big swish of lukewarm coke. He didnt know how far he had walked from the convienent store but it sure felt like 10 miles. He ate one of his ready made sandwiches as he sat there thinking about the hours he spent walking. At some point he had felt like he was just walking in circles because everything seemed to always look the same to him. He had heard what sounded like gunshots often and had tried to walk towards the sound hoping to find someone who might recognize him. Now he couldnt hear them anymore as he sat there holding his aching head.
He had sat within 10 feet of the compound fence and didnt realize it. He had heard voices as he sat there holding his head. He glanced up in the direction of the sound. Inching his way closer to the sound he found himself butted up against a 12 foot fence that was intertwined with tree branches that made it impossible to see inside from this angle. He made himself a small peep hole and placed on eye over it to see inside. The voices he could now match up with the 2 young people he saw walking along the fence line. As they chatted he listened. He couldnt believe what he was hearing. Suddenly the 2 began to run as he heard a trumpet sound. He glanced to his right watching them run into a building and 2 men emerge and walk to the front of the building and stand there holding there weapons not moving. It had grown completely dark around him that he couldnt even see his hands, but he could see a brilliant light shining around that building were before he had seen the 2 men. Now he rubbed his eyes real hard and glanced again seeing what had made him rub his eyes in the first place. Two giant angels had taken position in front of the men and he could see more of them walking around the building inside the fence. He began to hear gunshots all around him and ducked his head down as a bullet whizzed past his head. His heart was beating out of his chest as he dared peak again. The angels had not moved from their post, but he could hear men screaming curses and gunshots going off still.
- Renee
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He had crawled around the perimeter of the fence during the night trying to find a way in. As the moon rose fuller in the night sky he could tell he was now on the backside of the compound looking at the backside of the barn. He had been digging under the fence for hours knowing this would be the only way he would get in. He had spent 2 nights out in the cold and was chilled and shaking and his headache had only increased under the stress. He felt like a dog. His nails were broken and filthy as were his clothes. He was caked all over with dirt. Only good thing about it is it kept him from being seen even under the full moon. He was curious about these people. Were they the ones he had read about that the government wanted to destroy? Why did they have the covering of 12 foot angels last night as protection that caused a misfit of men to kill each other so close to him last night? After that bullet whizzed past his head last night he knew he better move and move fast. Now he found himself desperate and digging like a dog behind the barn. Before the next night came he hoped to find warmth and shelter.
- Renee
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Kevin knocked lightly on the cabin door. It was just barely 4:30am. A sleepy-eyed Emily peered out of the peep hole to see Kevin bundled up waiting for the the door to be answered. Emily cracked the door."Kevin whats wrong? "Nothings wrong, I just thought you might want to join me at the barn to feed and brush the horses and set up the ammunition for the training today." " But Kevin its still night out!" " No its going for 5am." "Ok, give me a minute to throw some warm clothes on and I'll be right out"." Could I come in and wait?" " She opened the door and he slipped inside to the warmth. "Dont talk or we'll wake up Julie." she whispered. "Ok" he whispered back. He couldnt recall ever feeling so good about a girl before. Since they had each told each other about their lives he had drawn closer and closer to her.
His hands suddenly popped out of the dirt on the other side of the fence. Yes! He pulled his hands back in and began to dig a wider path. It would have to be much wider to get his whole body through. He didnt have much time left before daylight would break as he furiously dug faster.
Emily finished dressing and came out into the living room. Kevin helped her slip her coat on as they slipped out the cabin door unheard by the sleeping Julie. The early morning air was cold as it hit Emilys face and turned her cheeks to rose. Kevin held her hand as they made their way across the shooting range to the barn. As they got closer they could hear the horses moving about their stalls. They had collected over 50 horses since they had arrived at the compound. Many of them had come from farms that the owners were no longer here. As they entered the barn Kevin threw the light switch on and began to fill each bucket with fresh oats and water. Emily grabbed the brush and headed for the stall that held Lucky, her favorite so far. They called him Lucky because they had found him stuck knee deep in one of Calfornias mudslides that had happened just after the rapture. Some of the men at the compound had come across him when they had been out exploring the area and had rescued him and brought him back to the compound.Emily had been in the barn that day when they brought him in and her heart had melted at the sight of him. He had been starving and she had brought him a bucket of oats and water that he had gulped down. While he had eaten, Emily had gently rubbed his coat and doctored his minor scrapes.She had brushed him for a good hour while he had eaten apple pieces out of her hand. She and Lucky had bonded during that time and she had named him Lucky." Hey! You gonna brush Lucky all day? There's 49 other ones waiting for you" he grinned.
- Renee
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He pulled the rest of his body through the fresh dirt as the first glimmer of light shown in the sky. He hurried as he tried to shove all the dirt back into the hole so his entrance to the compound would not be noticed. Looking he noticed a few lights had come on. First in the main building and then in the barn. He raised himself and shook the dirt off his legs. They felt so stiff and sore he could hardly walk much less run. Moving between the trees and a few bushes he managed to make it to the back of the barn unnoticed. He opened the back door that creaked slightly from lack of use. Slipping inside he found himself surrounded by bales of hay. He tried gently to close the door but it creaked again. Kevin looked over at Emily who was speaking softly into Luckys ear. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" Emily asked. "I thought I heard someone in the back." Hearing voices he crawled between a few bales of hay to cover himself in case they decided to check out the sounds they had heard. He was so tired. He had never felt so exausted in his whole life, at least what he could remember, which wasnt much. He was beginning to wonder if he ever would. He felt himself slowly start to drift off. Just a few minutes he thought.
- Renee
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Julie woke up feeling warm and cozy in the cabin. She had been up very late in a meeting with the Rabbi,Aaron and Lisa. Julie had been a well sought after secretary for a major corporation at the time of the rapture. Lisa was doing her part searching the internet for the Rabbi to get as much current info for him as she could. As an online journalist she had notepads all over the desk filled with dates and times of current events so Rabbi could compare all these things with Gods timeline. He had his own stacks of notes he was trying to prepare for his first online sermon for Survivorstrib.com. Emily had bragged to the Rabbi of how she had met Julie and about her bosses wife Mrs. Johnson calling the cops on Julie. Thus the Rabbi had approached Julie to be his personal secretary to type his sermons for him in proper order with proper grammer. She had loved the idea so they had all spent many hours last night getting his notes in order for the days work ahead.
As she crawled out of bed she peaked in on Emily to find her already up and about for the day. She took a quick shower and then dressed. Pulling on her coat against the cold air she left the cabin and headed to the main building.
First things first though, she needed her morning coffee as she headed for the kitchen the aroma of coffee filling the air.
- Renee
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Julie sat down with her coffee and opened her notes the Rabbi had given her to go over. Rabbi was a great teacher and she had already learned much from him. He was working feverously on preparing the tribulation saints for all that had not yet happened. Everyone was watching for the AC to come on the scene and he was preparing his first sermon for the new web site to be all about that so the people could prepare for it. He had given her his 2nd sermon to start preparing for him as he was putting the finishing touches on the first one. The 2nd sermon he had titled "The Two Witnesses" from Rev 11. According to this chapter, the 2 will dress in sackcloth, prophesy,dispense astonishing miricles and witness to the grace of God in the most evil culture known to mankind. There is much speculation as to the identity of the two witnesses. She began to read Rev.11 vs 3. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand and sixty days clothed in sackcloth. 4. These are two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them,he must be killed in this manner.
She stopped reading the Rabbis notes as Emily and Kevin came running into the dining hall.
- Renee
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He didnt know how long he had slept. He had woke up to the sound of gunshots which had scared him until he remembered yesterday seeing them target practice. He felt his waist and still felt the cold metal of the gun beneath his belt. He tried not to breath very loud. He knew people kept coming in and out of the barn getting more ammunition as their chambers would empty. He couldnt see them but he could hear them every so often. Taking a peak from under the bales of hay he saw that his leg from the knee down was exposed. He quickly pulled it in and re-covered himself. He hoped that while he had been sleeping no one had wandered back this way and noticed.
- Renee
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Julie nearly choked on her cup of coffee as Kevin and Emily went racing past her towards the Rabbis office. "Whats wrong you two?" "come with us" they hollered back at her. Running into the Rabbis office they found Lisa printing copies off the computer. "Wheres Rabbi?" Kevin asked. Lisa turned to see Kevin, Emily and Julie standing at her desk looking panicked. Again Julie asked them what was wrong but only heard Lisa tell them the Rabbi was in his chamber in a meeting with David and Terry. They headed for the door and swung it open both Kevin and Emily trying to speak at once. "Whoa.....you two....slow down....I cant understand what you are saying if you both talk at once.........Now whats wrong?" "Sorry Rabbi". Kevin said as he layed his arm on Emilys shoulder to silence her for the moment. They had both ran all the way from the barn and were out of breath, both gasping for air. "Sit down, all of you and catch your breath". Kevin stopped short of sitting and said,"Rabbi there is no time to sit, theres a man hiding out in the barn. We saw him or his leg sticking out from the bales of hay in the back of the barn. He doesnt know we saw him, we came staight here." The Rabbi looked over at Terry and David. " Go gather as many men as you can find and meet us at the barn, Kevin, you and Emily go out to the shooting range and stop the practice for a while. If anyone ask why tell them they need to come to the main hall and pray for the safety of the compound." "Yes sir, we are on it." "What about me?" Julie asked the Rabbi. "Stay in the main hall and lead the people in prayer, we need the Lords protection right now". Everyone headed out the door to their assigned task as the Rabbi kneeled to pray quickly before meeting all the men at the barn.
- Renee
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He awoke to the stillness in the barn. Clearing the cobwebs from his head he sat up behind the bales of hay he had made for a barricade. He reached into his duffel bag and pulled out the last bottle of water he had. Gulping it down he felt refreshed and relaxed his shoulders a bit. His body ached from sleeping on the hard floor. He was thankful that his headache was now gone and only a sore spot remained on his head.
The Rabbi had gathered many of the men and they were now walking along the fence at the back of the barn. They walked slowly so as not to miss what they were looking for. Terry suddenly stopped. "Look Rabbi." Everyone gathered around to see what they were looking at. On the other side of the fence was a huge hole that looked like maybe an animal had dug but on their side of the fence was fresh dirt that had been piled in the hole on their side. Looking towards the barn they noticed the door at the end. "Well this confirms that someone has breached the compound."
He sat there thinking about the past couple of days wondering if he would ever again remember who he was. What kind of man had he been? Did he have a job? What about his family? Was anyone missing him? Maybe his family was part of the vanishings. Had he been a christian he would have left when everyone else did but he didn't. He just wasn't sure of anything anymore. He felt tears well up in his eyes. He wiped at them thinking out loud "What is the matter with me?" He had been so deep in thought he had not heard the back barn door open.
The Rabbi had positioned all of the men around the barn each to his own position. "We dont know who this person is, so we must proceed with caution." David and Terry had volunteered to go inside the barn while everyone else remained outside unless needed. Trying to be very quite, David and Terry entered the barn and went in the direction Kevin had told them. They heard what sounded like someone crying and moved towards the bales of hay.
He suddenly heard the floorboards squeak. His hand reached down and felt the cold metal of the gun as he tried to stifle his sobs. He pulled the gun out and placed his finger on the trigger just as the bales of hay went flying in every direction. He shakily jumped to his feet to face the two men standing in front of him. Pointing the gun straight at Terry he heard David say "Hey, I know you. Your that Federal Agent from that convient store." He reached into his pocket to pull out the ID he had kept when he heard the gun go off.
- Renee
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