Anthony and Hank had pulled off DD Highway and turned down past Turn back creek ....past a white old country church ..down through the trees..."boy you weren't kidding about being out there"...Anthony chuckles at Hanks reaction.."well up there is my Uncle's Place" Anthony's eyes catch his two relatives walking out toward his car..."AND SPEAKING OF MY UNCLE!!!" He slams his car to a halt and Jumps out "UNCLE DAN!...DARYL" .."ANTHONY!!!!" They all rush towards each other so thankful to see a familiar face....Dan grabs Anthony and gives him an ole country bear hug "Ahhh Anthony" Tears welling up..."I wish I could say it's good to see you ....and it is you know BUT..."yeah Yeah..I understand..it's good and bad to see you both too" "Hey who is it you have with you?" "Hank...this is my uncle Dan and my cousin Daryl" "Uncle Dan and Daryl ..this is Hank" "nice to meet ya..you too" hand shakes around..."so...Anthony...I pray you know what's happened and why?" "Yeah..I have a good idea...enough of one to have gotten on my knees and begged and I mean begged Jesus to forgive me and SAVE me!!!! How bout you guys?" Anthony ask "SAME HERE!!!" "All those family get togethers...all that preaching...and look at us" Hank interjects.."well I can relate..my wife's gone too..an boy did she preach at me!!!" "well why don't you two come inside..I'll throw on some of my stew" Dan boast..causing Hank to nervously ask..."no possum in it right?"...Anthony chuckles..."what have you told him Boy?".....they walk inside..plenty of catching up to do....and some good ole country stew.
- STA
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CNM NEWS UPDATE
EMERGENCY MEETINGS OF THE UN STILL CONTINUE AS WORLD LEADERS SEEK TO UNITE AROUND A GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO DEAL WITH THE RECENT CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.
EARLIER TODAY A JOINT PRESS RELEASE WAS ISSUED ....."Good Citizens of the Globe...we leaders of nations around the globe stand united in time and place to work on the worlds behalf to answer the call of this time! Recent events around the globe have highlighted the very real possibility that the missing millions have been victim of a mass invasion of an outside force who have chosen to selectively eliminate lives in no random order. It's apparent that no one citizen is safe. Be it god, devil or an alien force, unknown in origin.... has not been determined at this time...but this we know...we must lay down all walls that have seperated us and unite for the sake of PEACE, SAFETY and our global SURVIVAL"
EMERGENCY MEETINGS OF THE UN STILL CONTINUE AS WORLD LEADERS SEEK TO UNITE AROUND A GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO DEAL WITH THE RECENT CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.
EARLIER TODAY A JOINT PRESS RELEASE WAS ISSUED ....."Good Citizens of the Globe...we leaders of nations around the globe stand united in time and place to work on the worlds behalf to answer the call of this time! Recent events around the globe have highlighted the very real possibility that the missing millions have been victim of a mass invasion of an outside force who have chosen to selectively eliminate lives in no random order. It's apparent that no one citizen is safe. Be it god, devil or an alien force, unknown in origin.... has not been determined at this time...but this we know...we must lay down all walls that have seperated us and unite for the sake of PEACE, SAFETY and our global SURVIVAL"
- STA
_____________________________________________________________________
8 days after the rapture
Gas has hit $10.00 a gallon....Groceries are rationed in quanity (limited supplies dictate)...socialistic rule now presides awaiting a global call to order. The masses of people world wide are already being seperated in loyalty. A polarizing move is taking place.... Those who are sitting anxiously with all eyes on man and the rulers of this world...or those who are running to the foot of the Cross...their eyes fixed toward heaven.
Multitudes and..multitudes still trapped in the valley of decision wrestle with their fate....
a man sits on his couch...strong drink in one hand the photo of his wife in the other...throws the picture into his wall and screams at the top of his lungs... FORGET YOU GOD!
a girl sits in her cubicle and takes another call "Stay Alive (suicide) hotline" ..."hello" "I can't take this..their all gone..their is no one left" ..."my wife she's gone" "my children they are gone" "what do I do? why go on?" ...on and on the calls come in...lines are jammed
Mental Health Hospitals are overwhelmed with "walk-ins" Psychics are booming with those wishing to talk to the missing...888-555-talk "Talk to your loved ones..NOW"
Daytime shows flood the world with answers....."an evolutionary cycle" "a new age cleansing" "what didn't they tell us at Roswell,NM?"
The Enemy has come in like a flood..."steal, kill, ..and destroy" The Father of Lies...has unleashed an all out assault...time is short..."I will ascend in their hearts and minds...I Will exalt myself over him..I will offer them this world and they will bow..I will offer them riches...they will bow...I will offer them life...they will bow....GO ....GO and do my bidding" he demands.
Multitudes and..multitudes still trapped in the valley of decision wrestle with their fate....
a man sits on his couch...strong drink in one hand the photo of his wife in the other...throws the picture into his wall and screams at the top of his lungs... FORGET YOU GOD!
a girl sits in her cubicle and takes another call "Stay Alive (suicide) hotline" ..."hello" "I can't take this..their all gone..their is no one left" ..."my wife she's gone" "my children they are gone" "what do I do? why go on?" ...on and on the calls come in...lines are jammed
Mental Health Hospitals are overwhelmed with "walk-ins" Psychics are booming with those wishing to talk to the missing...888-555-talk "Talk to your loved ones..NOW"
Daytime shows flood the world with answers....."an evolutionary cycle" "a new age cleansing" "what didn't they tell us at Roswell,NM?"
The Enemy has come in like a flood..."steal, kill, ..and destroy" The Father of Lies...has unleashed an all out assault...time is short..."I will ascend in their hearts and minds...I Will exalt myself over him..I will offer them this world and they will bow..I will offer them riches...they will bow...I will offer them life...they will bow....GO ....GO and do my bidding" he demands.
- STA
________________________________________________________________________
Al: “Hey Folks, its bee just over a week since people, strangers, family members and loved ones started to go missing. As you know Hal and I want to find out what ready happened and talk to you out on the streets of America. Today is our first day in the Tour bus and we hope to soon have some common Joes on the air with us so stay tune.”
Hal:” Oh Al, I am so excited, we can get out and see our fans and tell them in person that we care. Hey speaking of people, let’s tell our fans about our driver. Who he is and all that.”
Al: “Great idea Hal, ladies and gentlemen, our bus is 40 some feet long so it takes more then Hal or I to drive it. After days of interviewing bus companies we decided to go with One World Travel and we have been delighted to have with us a man who you ladies and some of you men would just drool over.”
Hal: “Oh Al you’re so slow. My friends, Donny is our driver and he stands or seats in this case at 6 foot 5 inches tall and weights about 270 and let me tell you it is all muscle. But the best part is he is single now, since his wife left him.”
Al: “She didn’t leave him, she was taken like a lot of other people and that is why we are looking for the lost souls.”
Hal: “Hey I like that, let’s call our tour, the Tour for Lost Souls, all those poor lost souls that have disappeared will be missed greatly but one day, I think we have to get past the pain and move on with our lives. I think when we get back in a couple of weeks that should be enough time and we need to organize a big start over party.”
Al: “Man you are cooking today with ideas, we can invite everyone we talk to come to out studio for a coming out or come as you are party.”
Hal: “Say Donny what do you think of my idea?”
In the background a voice could be heard as if someone was yelling.
Hal: “My you are touchy, Donny thinks a couple of weeks is to soon to have a party but I say what better reason to have one.”
Al: “Oh look Hal, the traffic is backing up; maybe we have hit our first road block. Stay tune folks as we go to a commercial, when we get back we will try to interview some people.
Hal:” Oh Al, I am so excited, we can get out and see our fans and tell them in person that we care. Hey speaking of people, let’s tell our fans about our driver. Who he is and all that.”
Al: “Great idea Hal, ladies and gentlemen, our bus is 40 some feet long so it takes more then Hal or I to drive it. After days of interviewing bus companies we decided to go with One World Travel and we have been delighted to have with us a man who you ladies and some of you men would just drool over.”
Hal: “Oh Al you’re so slow. My friends, Donny is our driver and he stands or seats in this case at 6 foot 5 inches tall and weights about 270 and let me tell you it is all muscle. But the best part is he is single now, since his wife left him.”
Al: “She didn’t leave him, she was taken like a lot of other people and that is why we are looking for the lost souls.”
Hal: “Hey I like that, let’s call our tour, the Tour for Lost Souls, all those poor lost souls that have disappeared will be missed greatly but one day, I think we have to get past the pain and move on with our lives. I think when we get back in a couple of weeks that should be enough time and we need to organize a big start over party.”
Al: “Man you are cooking today with ideas, we can invite everyone we talk to come to out studio for a coming out or come as you are party.”
Hal: “Say Donny what do you think of my idea?”
In the background a voice could be heard as if someone was yelling.
Hal: “My you are touchy, Donny thinks a couple of weeks is to soon to have a party but I say what better reason to have one.”
Al: “Oh look Hal, the traffic is backing up; maybe we have hit our first road block. Stay tune folks as we go to a commercial, when we get back we will try to interview some people.
-Alex
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The Guys at Possum Hollow ....spent the night catching up...All sharing their stories of THAT night...tears had flowed when each person shared the shocking and horrifying reality of being not only still here to face what is ahead...but the heartache they all are feeling at the loss of those who are raptured into their heavenly reward.
Not long after they had finished their stew..Pastor Tim has surprised the four by showing up himself..."there's some hot stew still on the stove....help yourself" "don't mind if I do" Tim obligingly walks to the pot on the stove..."wow...it looks ...uhhh interesting" "well it taste awesome...best stew I ever ate" Hank cheerfully offers "and there wasn't any possum in it at all?" "right guys?" Hank still worriedly asks for reassurance...Dan chuckles along with the rest.."nah...there wasn't any possum but how did that rabbit, squirrel and deer meat taste?" "Say What?" "For real?" "sure thing" ..."you never told me?" "hey now..you only asked if there was possum...and I told ya the truth!"
"speaking of the truth" Daryl's thoughts still race with fear and worry of what he has heard that is ahead..."Pastor Tim...all that stuff you shared back at the church...ya know that stuff about wars..plagues...violence...killing christians....how much time do we have before that all starts?" "and uh ...what are we going to do?"..."I mean ...do we have a plan?"
- STA
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"My name's Hank by the way" He reaches out to Tim ..."well nice to meet you Hank..I'm Tim" ...Tim sits down with his bowl of stew ..."a plan?"..."well I've been praying alot these last couple of days Daryl and that's what brought me out here" "As far as this world...it's going to get bad...hearts are being hardened...love is waxed cold...and if people weren't hating christians before...they will surely hate us who preach Jesus now...all the more ..so in that sense we must arm our minds to prepare for persecution ..so that's a must...we must come to grips with the fact that we must be prepared at any time to give an answer for the hope in which we have....but now as far as the man of sin..I figure we have a little while before He shows his true colors towards us..once the 7 year treaty is confirmed with Israel there will be a short time he will appear as an angel of light as a man of peace...and during that period we need to be about reaching as many people as we can...because there will come a time when it will be illegal to the point of death to preach...in fact the bible makes it clear once the 5th seal is broken...a time of mass executions will take place" ...Daryl's thoughts begin to race..."so is that why you think this is a good place? we can hide here and never have to go through that?" Daryl ask timidly hoping to hear an answer to ease his mind..."Daryl as much as I wish I could promise you that you won't have to face these things...I can't ..and sure..the caves will be a great place to hide..and a great base during some of the horrible things to come...BUT the bible makes it clear that in reality there will be no place to hide after a certain point!" Daryl begins to shake.."but now Daryl ..and I say this to myself as well..we must take all these thoughts captive ..God hasn't given us a spirit of fear..but of Love, Power and a sound mind" "in sending out the disciples in Mathew chapter 10...he knew they too would face moments of fear..but Jesus exhorted them "Do not fear those who can destroy your body...but rather Fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell"..."we need to arm our minds that no matter if they slay us...they can't take away our eternal destiny with Christ UNLESS we allow them too!" "Jesus said He who seeks to save his own life shall lose it but he who loses his life for My sake shall surely find it" "we aren't to live in fear...NO ..We are to live in Hope and Faith that to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ"
Hank listening intently and in awe has to ask...."Tim..I'm sorry to interrupt but you sound so certain..so full of wisdom and knowledge of God's word...and I don't mean to offend you by asking but?" ...Tim already knows the question interjects "You want to know how in the world did I end up still here?" "YEAH....I mean WOW...how do you know so much bible and yet ..... Tim interjects again "not KNOW JESUS?" YEAH? EXACTLY?
"Well" Tim bows his head for a second ..dealing with shame..."I was a hireling..I preached because my grandpa preached...then my dad...ya know a pk ..and it just seemed like what I was suppose to do...and sure I was book smart in school and a quick study in bible school ...but ..well ..there is a passage in John that describes me to a T....John 5:39-40 "You search the sciptures for in them you think you have eternal life: and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to ME that you may have life"
John 17:3 Jesus said "This is eternal Life that they may know the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whom He sent"
"ya see...all my life I studied..went to seminary...learned the liturgy..the "thou's and verily's ..knew the bible..from genesis to the maps but I never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ" "but how is that possible ..I'm not sure I understand?" Hank ask again
Think of it like this....millions of people believe Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time...they know he grew up in North Carolina...wore number 23 at the University of North Carolina...went on to win 6 basketball titles with the Chicago Bulls ...all his scoring titles....have all his videos..bought his shoes...cologne..told all their classmates and co workers how awesome Michael Jordan was/is...wore his 23 bulls shirt..probably even had a michael Jordan bumper sticker ...BUT if they ever walked up to Michael Jordan and say "hey Michael...he would go" "hey ..who are you?"
It's one thing to believe in someone and talk and get to know everything about them...BUT it's a whole other arena to truly get to KNOW the PERSON"
"Does that make sense?" "yeah I think I'm starting to get it now" Hank replies..."so basically once Anthony and I asked Jesus into our lives driving here...it was the start of an eternal RELATIONSHIP?" "EXACTLY"
"So Daryl..back to you....what is our plan? well I figure we need to prepare these caves for people...stock up on food and supplies and everything it will take to survive whatever time the Lord allows...BUT our first priority is still getting to KNOW HIM...we can never lose sight of that!" "no matter how crazy it gets..how scary it looks and IT WILL LOOK SCARY ..we must never lose sight of this one thought!" If we endure....WE WIN"
- STA
______________________________________________________________________
sitting at her cubicle manning a phone Stacy is emotionally spent as she takes another call "Suicide Hotline this is Hope(her work name)" all day long for the last 8 days she has listened to story after story "my family..all of them are gone ..I have nothing left" "I'm so scared ...I just want to die" "I lost my job" "my baby girl ...she's GONE" ..Stacy has been trained to deflect and redirect..but her cliche's have grown tired...she herself has lost hope. "It's a new day".."this is a new Age"..."it's a new dawn" she spouts off in programmed detail" she has lost count of how many gunshots have went off in her ear and to be left just holding the line "If someone dare's mention The Rapture...the call is automatically traced and a car is dispatched ...their suicide plea and the sheer mention of that word makes them an easy target to be locked up and put away in a mental hospital indefinitely! Stacy though found that so twisted and was beginning to ask herself this same question over an over WHY?
Stacy..has heard a common theme in so many of her calls...the missing were people of faith ..BUT AGAIN WHY? The only thing driving her now was an insatiable desire to know the answer to that question! Stacy had been raised in a totally secular environment...Sure like everyone else she had seen tv preacher's ..easy dispersion of any credibility there CON ARTIST she labeled them! She had watched campus preacher's ...HAD TO BE BI POLAR she always told herself! But there was one person she had really been intrigued by. Stacy grew up in the upper Northeast...near Boston. However her parents were raised in Missouri ...her mom became pregnant with Stacy her senior year...her dad did the honorable thing and stuck by Stacy's mom...but in her parents old home town....alot of church people looked down on Stacy's parents so they decided to get out that place to never look back. They rejected those values and were determined no matter what to never go back. And they stuck to that conviction...they both got jobs right away and took turns going to college by night and were self made people with a huge chip on their shoulders. Any mention of religion or christianity illicited a quick rebuke of anybody who would hold to those narrow minded values. It was just the way it was in Stacy's home. Sure her grandparents would come to visit but as soon as THAT question came up..."you guys found a church up here?" Stacy's parents would quickly shut it down..asking for their beliefs to be respected in their own home. Both sets of grandparents held to the same opinion Stacy supposed..they saw them all so little it wasn't worth wasting their visits fighting over such things.
But during Stacy's Senior year of highschool both her parents had died in a car crash. It was a crushing blow and she like so many she now talks too ..in a moments time lost all of her roots ..the only place to turn was her grandparents in Missouri....she spent the summer after highschool living with the grandparents out on an old farm...It was equivalent to moving to another planet as far as Stacy was concerned..but the grandparents grief was such they pretty much left her to herself... her grandma..Her Mom's mom tried to reach out to her the best she could but it all just sounded greek ...besides Stacy didn't think they had any idea how to talk to her with all her earrings and nose rings an multi colored hair... she quickly got a job in a nearby city and thankfully due to her parents success and life insurance policy...she had plenty of money....she enrolled in College not out of need but just to have something to do...that's where she decided to work for free at the suicide center. During her first semester at college...Stacy slowly adapted to the much different party scene of the midwest. She struggled to find anyone she could relate to....ESPECIALLY one of her suite mates in the dorm...her name was Paula...she never went out...she listened to contemporary christian music..why? Stacy had no clue and always always read her bible...the one thing Stacy noticed about Paula though was the Joy ..and Peace and Purpose Paula had to her life...she seemed so certain and sure everyday of where she was going and who she was suppose to be! Stacy grew to admire Paula very much and so much so in fact that at the end of the first year when Stacy decided she had no more need of college and relocated to Boston to work at a suicide hotline there..she took down Paula's email with the actual intentions of staying in touch. And they did pretty good at first..but it slowly subsided down to a few hello's during those seasonal times you reach out and all those religious forwards Paula sent out. Stacy sitting still are her cubicle flashes back to thinking of Paula inbetween repeating cliche's to her new callers. But while listening ..well sorda listening..she takes out of her purse an email she had printed out that Paula had sent out to numerous friends just days before the disappearnace had taken place. It was a plea for all her email friends to make Jesus the Lord of their Life before it was too late! "Too late for what? Stacy kept asking herself" "why did she keep saying in her letter Jesus was coming" Stacy had tried and tried to email Paula back but their has been no reply...again back to all the suicide callers talking about all the missing..they had the same common theme....they were alot like Paula in description. ......Stacy knew this was the only thing keeping her from taking a bottle of pills herself....What did they all know that I don't...she had no clue where to search...where to find those answers...the only thing she knew for sure...was she was going to quit this job and head to Missouri and clear her head. Her grandparents hadn't answered the phone the couple of times she had tried but just figured they were working in the garden or something...but all Stacy cared about at the moment was it was someplace else than where she was now and she had to get there...back to missouri!
Stacy..has heard a common theme in so many of her calls...the missing were people of faith ..BUT AGAIN WHY? The only thing driving her now was an insatiable desire to know the answer to that question! Stacy had been raised in a totally secular environment...Sure like everyone else she had seen tv preacher's ..easy dispersion of any credibility there CON ARTIST she labeled them! She had watched campus preacher's ...HAD TO BE BI POLAR she always told herself! But there was one person she had really been intrigued by. Stacy grew up in the upper Northeast...near Boston. However her parents were raised in Missouri ...her mom became pregnant with Stacy her senior year...her dad did the honorable thing and stuck by Stacy's mom...but in her parents old home town....alot of church people looked down on Stacy's parents so they decided to get out that place to never look back. They rejected those values and were determined no matter what to never go back. And they stuck to that conviction...they both got jobs right away and took turns going to college by night and were self made people with a huge chip on their shoulders. Any mention of religion or christianity illicited a quick rebuke of anybody who would hold to those narrow minded values. It was just the way it was in Stacy's home. Sure her grandparents would come to visit but as soon as THAT question came up..."you guys found a church up here?" Stacy's parents would quickly shut it down..asking for their beliefs to be respected in their own home. Both sets of grandparents held to the same opinion Stacy supposed..they saw them all so little it wasn't worth wasting their visits fighting over such things.
But during Stacy's Senior year of highschool both her parents had died in a car crash. It was a crushing blow and she like so many she now talks too ..in a moments time lost all of her roots ..the only place to turn was her grandparents in Missouri....she spent the summer after highschool living with the grandparents out on an old farm...It was equivalent to moving to another planet as far as Stacy was concerned..but the grandparents grief was such they pretty much left her to herself... her grandma..Her Mom's mom tried to reach out to her the best she could but it all just sounded greek ...besides Stacy didn't think they had any idea how to talk to her with all her earrings and nose rings an multi colored hair... she quickly got a job in a nearby city and thankfully due to her parents success and life insurance policy...she had plenty of money....she enrolled in College not out of need but just to have something to do...that's where she decided to work for free at the suicide center. During her first semester at college...Stacy slowly adapted to the much different party scene of the midwest. She struggled to find anyone she could relate to....ESPECIALLY one of her suite mates in the dorm...her name was Paula...she never went out...she listened to contemporary christian music..why? Stacy had no clue and always always read her bible...the one thing Stacy noticed about Paula though was the Joy ..and Peace and Purpose Paula had to her life...she seemed so certain and sure everyday of where she was going and who she was suppose to be! Stacy grew to admire Paula very much and so much so in fact that at the end of the first year when Stacy decided she had no more need of college and relocated to Boston to work at a suicide hotline there..she took down Paula's email with the actual intentions of staying in touch. And they did pretty good at first..but it slowly subsided down to a few hello's during those seasonal times you reach out and all those religious forwards Paula sent out. Stacy sitting still are her cubicle flashes back to thinking of Paula inbetween repeating cliche's to her new callers. But while listening ..well sorda listening..she takes out of her purse an email she had printed out that Paula had sent out to numerous friends just days before the disappearnace had taken place. It was a plea for all her email friends to make Jesus the Lord of their Life before it was too late! "Too late for what? Stacy kept asking herself" "why did she keep saying in her letter Jesus was coming" Stacy had tried and tried to email Paula back but their has been no reply...again back to all the suicide callers talking about all the missing..they had the same common theme....they were alot like Paula in description. ......Stacy knew this was the only thing keeping her from taking a bottle of pills herself....What did they all know that I don't...she had no clue where to search...where to find those answers...the only thing she knew for sure...was she was going to quit this job and head to Missouri and clear her head. Her grandparents hadn't answered the phone the couple of times she had tried but just figured they were working in the garden or something...but all Stacy cared about at the moment was it was someplace else than where she was now and she had to get there...back to missouri!
- STA
______________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch in Oklahoma
Kristen had spent the last couple of days confused. She had met everyone in the house, and they all seemed to genuinely care about her. No one had made any moves towards her, and she hadn't once felt uncomfortable around one of them. She was even comfortable around the men. She didn't know what is was about these people but she felt safe with them. She especially liked Maddie. Kristen had very few memories of her own mother, but Maddie brought back memories. She had brought her a piece of coconut pie and the smell had brought back the memory of the way her mom's hair smelled. It had smelled like coconuts.
Maddie had changed the sheets on her bed and the fresh smelling sheets had also triggered a memory of her mom. She had been about three or four, she figured. Her mom had been folding blankets fresh out of the dryer. Kristen had plopped herself in the middle of the pile of blankets. Her mom had laughed and tried to shoo her off of them. Kristen had then grabbed the end of one of the blankets and begun to drag it out of the pile. He mom had lunged for the blanket, but Kristen had been too fast. "Kristen, I just washed that. You'll get it all dirty dragging it around on the floor." Kristen had taken off running as fast as her little legs would go with her mom chasing behind her. It had ended up turning into a game. Her mom would lunge at the end of the blanket, and Kristen with a shriek and giggle would pull ot out of her mothers reach. They had both ended up curled up in the blanket, giggling and gasping for breath. "I love you Kristen. I thank God everyday for you." she had whispered in her ear, kissing the top of her head over and over.
Kristen looked up as Tori walked into the room with her lunch. "Hey! I've got your lunch. Maybe this time you'll get to eat all of it yourself." She set the tray in Kristen's lap. "Would you like me to read to you?"
"Yes. I really liked the story about the walls falling down just because the people shouted." Kristen said.
"OK. How about a story about a man who got swallowed and lived in the belly of a whale for three days?" Tori asked.
Kristen nodded. While Tori thumbed through the Bible looking for the story Kristen asked, "Is it hard to learn to read?"
"No. I could teach you if you want. I bet I could find something online to help." Tori's eyes lit up. "I used to tutor in school, and I would love to teach you."
"You would?" Kristen was surprised at how excited the girl looked.
"Yes!! It would be fun." Tori assured the girl.
"OK." Kristen began to eat and listen to the story Tori read to her, thinking to herself, I'm gonna learn to read.
Kristen had spent the last couple of days confused. She had met everyone in the house, and they all seemed to genuinely care about her. No one had made any moves towards her, and she hadn't once felt uncomfortable around one of them. She was even comfortable around the men. She didn't know what is was about these people but she felt safe with them. She especially liked Maddie. Kristen had very few memories of her own mother, but Maddie brought back memories. She had brought her a piece of coconut pie and the smell had brought back the memory of the way her mom's hair smelled. It had smelled like coconuts.
Maddie had changed the sheets on her bed and the fresh smelling sheets had also triggered a memory of her mom. She had been about three or four, she figured. Her mom had been folding blankets fresh out of the dryer. Kristen had plopped herself in the middle of the pile of blankets. Her mom had laughed and tried to shoo her off of them. Kristen had then grabbed the end of one of the blankets and begun to drag it out of the pile. He mom had lunged for the blanket, but Kristen had been too fast. "Kristen, I just washed that. You'll get it all dirty dragging it around on the floor." Kristen had taken off running as fast as her little legs would go with her mom chasing behind her. It had ended up turning into a game. Her mom would lunge at the end of the blanket, and Kristen with a shriek and giggle would pull ot out of her mothers reach. They had both ended up curled up in the blanket, giggling and gasping for breath. "I love you Kristen. I thank God everyday for you." she had whispered in her ear, kissing the top of her head over and over.
Kristen looked up as Tori walked into the room with her lunch. "Hey! I've got your lunch. Maybe this time you'll get to eat all of it yourself." She set the tray in Kristen's lap. "Would you like me to read to you?"
"Yes. I really liked the story about the walls falling down just because the people shouted." Kristen said.
"OK. How about a story about a man who got swallowed and lived in the belly of a whale for three days?" Tori asked.
Kristen nodded. While Tori thumbed through the Bible looking for the story Kristen asked, "Is it hard to learn to read?"
"No. I could teach you if you want. I bet I could find something online to help." Tori's eyes lit up. "I used to tutor in school, and I would love to teach you."
"You would?" Kristen was surprised at how excited the girl looked.
"Yes!! It would be fun." Tori assured the girl.
"OK." Kristen began to eat and listen to the story Tori read to her, thinking to herself, I'm gonna learn to read.
- Zags
_______________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch in Oklahoma
Shade sat at the table with Trevor. "You know, it's not always gonna be safe here on the ranch."
"Yeah. I've been thinking about that too." Trevor answered. "We need to be thinking about what we're gonna do when the persecution begins."
"We need to find a hiding place, and soon. Wherever it is we will need to start stocking up things there. Food, water, blankets, medical supplies, and such. I don't know exactly how much time we have, but the sooner we find a place and get started the better." Shade said.
Trevor had been nodding. "We need to get alot of stuff and get it in place. From what we figured out, we have a couple of years of peace after the antichrist signs the covenant with Israel, and then it's gonna all break loose. That should be enough time to set the place up. Tori found a guy on the net that has a machine shop to help trib surviors. He can build just about anything we might need. I'm putting a list of medical supplies together, you know, operating table, storage cabinets, surgical instruments, etc. If you can think of anything else we'll need, just make a list."
"Maybe you should add some kind of security system to that list." Shade said.
"What are you guys talking about?" Maddie asked as she walked into the room. Zoe was with her and both women sat at the table.
"We need to find a hiding place. The ranch isn't gonna be safe through the whole trib." Shade explained to both women.
"Hmmm." Maddie nodded agreement.
"What about your Uncle Pattersons place?" Matt asked, as he and Nathan joined them at the table. "It would be perfect."
"Uncle Patterson?" Trevor asked.
"Yeah. He built a place out in Black Mesa somewhere. A whole series of caves. When he came back from Vietnam, he was a little nutty. He decided to build a fortress out there in caves. Kind of like a nuclear fallout shelter. He was convinced that the Russians were gonna blow up the world." Nathan explained. "Only problem is, nobody knows exactly where it is."
"It sounds like it would be perfect, but if nobody knows where to find it, how do we even know it exists."
"Oh it exists alright." Maddie assured everyone.
Shade was nodding agreement. "The man was a genius. He was actually an engineer. Built high rise buildings and such. I remember him ordering all kinds of stuff from the lumberyard in Boise City. People would line main street when he came in town to pick it up."
"So how do we find it?" Zoe asked.
"We pray and look." Maddie said.
- Zags
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Half way to Houston, Julie's cell phone rings. It's Mrs. Johnson. "Julie, I need to talk with you. Can you come to my house?" "Uh, no, I'm sorry Mrs. Johnson, but I quit the law firm and I've left the state." "Really, because the police are here and they want to speak with you about my husband's disappearance." Julie hears Mrs. Johnson put the phone down and say, "Well, she's left the state, is she a fugitive, can you capture her?" "Hello, m'am, this is Trooper Terrance, is it true, have you left the state?" Julie chuckled, "Well, yeah, I left early this morning." Trooper Terrance whispered, "Look we know that Mr. Johnson disappeared with all the other people, but his wife is convinced you two were having an affair and now you are running off together." Julie laughed heartily at this - maybe louder than she had in months! "No, Trooper, we were not having an affair and like I already told his wife and son, he and a new client - this guy from Calvry Baptist Church - were in the conference room - and then they were gone - sir, they were raptured, just like everyone else. They went to heaven, we're left behind." It was the Trooper's turn to laugh now, "Okay, m'am, you just keep telling yourself whatever you want, but if you're busted talking about the rapture - it won't matter if you had something to do with Mr. Johnson's disappearance or not - you'll wind up in jail."
Julie hung up and thought this got harder by the hour. She prayed for strength and thought to herself it really was just her and God now. At least until she got to Oakland.
- Renee
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Julie had another 20 miles to Santa Rosa, NM on I-40. She wasn't expecting much since every town she'd come to had been over-run with lawlessness. When she'd passed through Clovis this morning, she was devastated by the pure evil emanating from the scene there. There were bodies lying in the grass along the interstate, of course, she didn't stop to ask why. Naturally there were cars littered on the streets, some of them wrecked, some of them just pushed to the side of the road. But to see all those bodies, with nothing apparently wrong - or nothing she could see. As she replayed the scene in her mind and strained to remember, she was sure she didn't see any blood or un-natural body positions - they were all just laying there in a neat row with their arms open wide (like there were making snow angels, but there was no snow!) After about 5 miles, it was over. It just didn't make sense and her head was started to hurt, so Julie decided it was radio-time!! Maybe that would help her focus on something other than alllll those people.....
(((And as reported 3 nuclear bombs have hit our nation's cities destroying Los Angeles California..Kansas City Mo/Ks and the southern half of the state of Florida." And just 2 days ago...following the MAD response of the USA ..Iran..Russia and Pakistan have all been hit with a Nuclear Attack and we are still awaiting word on it's effects. As well all know it will be catastrophic!!!..)))
Of course this was old news - she was waiting to hear HOW the world was being affected. She'd noticed the 2nd day of driving through Texas - the sky was different. It looked cloudy but not quiet the color of clouds. It had a grayish-brown tint to it. Julie thought this must be from the fallout. Bible prophecy was coming true at an alarming rate and most people were oblivous to it. Julie couldn't help but think of the old lady back in Jackson. She was so focused on herself, she couldn't even let Julie pray for her. Tears streamed down her face. She wondered if the tears would ever stop falling. She wondered if the long road to be with fellow Christians would ever end.
Up ahead was a gas station, so she thought she'd stop now to avoid stopping in the more heavily populated Santa Rosa - who knew what that was going to bring! She stopped at the station and honked her horn. Nobody came out, nobody made a sound. She got her gun out (she'd gone from "Susie-homemaker" to gun-carrier smoothly) and walked toward the door. She opened it very cautiously and hollered, "Heeelllllo? Anyone here?" Nothing, no sounds - it was almost too quiet. The freezers were still working, so she went over and got a Coke, mmmm, it tasted good! Julie made her way around to the gas machine - it looked like all she had to do was push the pump number she needed. Julie went back out to pump some gas.
She began singing, "Our God is an Awesome God, He reigns in Heaven Above...." Suddenly movement behind one of the parked cars caught her attention. "Hello - who is there? I can help you if you need help. Hello - just come out, don't be afraid - I won't hurt you." Under her breath she mumbled, "Just don't hurt me. Lord, please protect and keep me, give me the words to use. Amen." As soon as she finished her prayer, Julie saw a young girl (maybe 15 years old) stand up. She had long, blond hair and looked very scared. Julie walked toward her, "Hi, my name is Julie. Where are your mom and dad, honey?" The girl sat back down and grabbed her knees to her chest. She started rocking back and forth, tears rolling down her face, "Their gone, they left with the rest of the world." Julie sat down beside her, "They were raptured?" The girl said, "Whatever you want to call it - half the world disappears and nobody can explain it except some Bible crap - I don't want to hear it - they're just gone." Julie slid closer and put her arm around the girl's shoulders, "Sweetie, I know where they've gone and the Bible is telling the truth. Everything that's happened was predicted in there. Accepting Jesus as your Savior will heal this hurt you are feeling. Your parents are in Heaven and they want you there with them, I just know they do." Julie started crying heavily as she and this young girl clung to each other.
- Renee
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Emily stopped crying and looked at this woman - Julie - who pulled up just as she'd finished venting at God. She'd told Him, "You aren't real - quit nagging at me - God you can't change my heart - I'm lost forever!" Then almost as an answer to that Julie pulled up. What are the chances? There's nuclear war breaking out, riots, people going postal - really, what are the chances this Christian woman pulled up, and wanting to help no less? But Emily didn't think she could be helped. She'd just mocked God and that was only the beginning of the reasons she was going to be lost forever. She started crying harder and went limp against Julie.
Julie felt the girl go limp and thought maybe she's finally given over her sins. "My name's Julie." Emily said, "You can call me Em - everyone does. Or at least they used to." "What happened - tell me your story." Emily sat back and pondered a second, "My story? You mean the nightmare that's become my life?" Julie smiled inside - this girl needed love, she needed Jesus. Emily said, "Okay you asked for it. Basically we were a pretty normal family. My parents and me and my brother. We lived on a farm about 2 miles from here. I've been watching the news - I know what's happened. I came here because me and my friends used to come in here and steal candy bars after school - but they aren't here. Nobody's here. Maybe I waited to late. They've probably all skipped town by now anyway - they can all drive already."
Julie said, "Well, you can go with me, I promise to take care of you. I'm going to Oakland, California. First I gotta get some gas and all the food I can get in the car." Emily smiled mockingly, "Isn't that stealing church-lady?" "No, I'm leaving this ring my husband gave me for our 10th anniversary in the cash register." Emily laughed and said, "Isn't your husband going to be ticked?" Julie felt the tears rolling down her face again, "No, he's in Heaven, he won't mind - this is an earthly thing, all the treasures I could ever want are being stored up in Heaven for me at this very moment." "I don't understand you very well, but I get the feeling I'm going to on this trip to Oakland. Hey, why are we going there again?" It was Julie's turned to laugh, "Because that's where God is leading all His new servants."
- Renee
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Julie had been listening to Emily talk about her life and how messed up she was. It really wasn't as bad as Emily thought. She had gone to church with her parents and brother, so she understood the Rapture, but had never believed in any "of that stuff." Emily had fallen in with the wrong crowd, stealing, drinking, just up to general no-good - until Darren had fallen in love with her. Emily berated herself for nearly an hour about what a mistake that had been. She finally broke down and told Julie that at the time of the Rapture Emily had just taken a pregnancy test and it was positive. She called Darren and told him and he told her that he couldn't be the father. Then as Emily was telling her mother about the baby, her mother disappeared before her very eyes. Emily said, "It was like her clothes just fell to the couch and she was gone. It wasn't like she vanished or faded away, just one minute she was here and one minute she was gone. Just poof! And now I know I won't go to Heaven because I have sinned big time." Julie asked about the baby, and Emily told her, "I knew it wasn't there anymore - I don't know how I knew, but I did. I took another test yesterday, it was negative. And I don't know...."
Julie nearly wrecked the car. Emily couldn't see what happened, but the car was in the ditch and Julie was leaning over the steering wheel looking up. "Julie!" Nothing - she didn't even move. "Julie! You are scaring me - what are you doing?!" Still Julie just stared upwards and then Emily could see the light. It was magnificent - it was brillant - it was brighter than anything Emily had ever seen. It was peaceful, too. Oddly peaceful. Then they heard a Voice Like THUNDER from Above "You are my beloved people in whom I am well pleased".
Julie looked at Emily and tears were streaming down her face. Not fearful or anguish filled tears like the ones she'd seen all day. These were tears of joy! Emily said, "I prayed last night, but I didn't think I was really saved because nothing happened when I said the prayer. Oh Julie, do you see it? Isn't it beautiful?" Julie said, "Emily, my sister-in-Christ, God loves you and gave His only Son for your sins." They sat there hugging, looking at the brillant light for several minutes, then a police car pulled up behind them.
- Renee
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Julie fished for her driver's license, hoping Mrs. Johnson had not talked the police back home into putting out a warrant or something crazy like that. The policeman approached her vehicle with his gun drawn. Julie immediately raised her hands and told Emily to do the same. The policeman ordered her to roll her window down. Julie did as ordered. She handed her driver's license to him as he asked, "And just where are you two going? Toward the light?" "No actually we're going to Oakland!" Emily informed him. "Oh, so you believe in this Bible prophecy stuff?" he asked suspciously. "Of course we do," Emily responded before Julie could open her mouth. The police officer went back to his car.
"Emily we may go to jail for our beliefs. If we do, stay strong - the new president declared it illegal to talk of the Rapture. Maybe this guy will let us go. Just look at that beautiful light. I feel such a peace about me, if we do go to jail, that's okay, God will take care of us until we go home to Him."
The two hugged and stared without a care in the world. They jumped when the police officer said, "Okay, I'm gonna let you go, but you are not supposed to talk about the Bible prophecy stuff and you're supposed to be in by 9." Julie promised they would abide by the curfew.
Then the officer said, "My grandmother tried to teach us from the Bible but it never stuck to me. I guess my brothers got it though, because they're gone."
Julie breathed deeply, " You see that light?"
"Yeah."
"That light is a sign from the Almighty God that He reigns us All. And He wants each and every one of us to be saved. Now you said your Grandmother taught you, did she tell you about believing in Jesus and turning away from your sins?"
"Yeah"
"Well, all you gotta do is believe and ask for forgiveness. It's the ABC's: Admit, Believe and Confess. Do you admit you are a sinner?" The police man dropped to his knees and grabbed the window of Julie's car. He began sobbing loudly and turned his head toward the light.
"Yes, I'm a sinner."
"Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins?"
"Yes, yes, I do."
"Do you confess your sins and ask for forgiveness?"
"I don't know how. I want to but I just don't know how."
"Just talk to God, tell him you know you are a sinner and you want His gift of salvation. Just like you'd tell me."
"God, uh, I hope I'm doing this right. I know I'm a sinner, and I believe You sent Your Son, and he died for my sins. Please come into my heart and save me."
Julie looked into his eyes and she knew - she knew he'd meant it. There was a look of pure joy in his eyes, like a thousand pound sack had been lifted from his shoulders. He whispered, "Thank you."
- Renee
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