Chapter Thirty

Thirty

Early June

The frozen winter held its bitter grip on Paine Harbor as long as possible, but finally admitted defeat as the newness of spring arrived. The gatherings at Grace Coffee House increased in frequency and numbers. Demetrius often took satisfaction as he looked across his little shop and he’d see two or three groupings of people all seeking more of God in conversation, prayer, worship and discovery.

Demetrius had hired Achilles to work full time at the Coffee House and trained him as a barista. He had taken to the skill immediately. Soon after, Demetrius would often realize at the end of the day he had not personally made one coffee drink, including his own. Because of the efforts of Achilles, Sarah and Andi, Demetrius had been set free to move from table to table encouraging, loving and giving guidance to those who gathered. Over dinner one night at Oliver and Sandy's, he laughed joyfully about how God was blessing him as the 'staff pastor' of his own business, “And my accountant tells me I’m already in the black!” 

Oliver was using Grace Coffee House as his surrogate office to conduct the background interviews for MFITS. From all the various strata of Paine Harbor's socio-economic community, it had become Oliver's goal to meet with as many people as possible simply listening to their stories and being available to Holy Spirit as he did. Oftentimes, he'd conclude his appointments speaking into their lives the goodness of God through prophetic words, prayer and ministry.

Due to the ever-increasing numbers of responsive people, Pastor Axel's church had to relocate their Sunday services to the larger venue of the Paine Harbor Community Building. As part of this, he'd determined every aspect of the Sunday gatherings were to be left in the capable hands of Holy Spirit. “I don't need to do anything except listen and respond to the moving of Holy Spirit as we gather. I'm not in charge. He is,” he'd remind the people with absolute sincerity. Freed up from his obsessive need to control, the people of God were released to function according to their gifts and wondrous things were occurring every time they met. 

With such rapid changes happening, came significant challenges. Not every person was a fan, and many in the community accused the Grace's and Pastor Axel of leading a cult group. A small group of powerful people from the Church had secretly gathered at the home of the chairman of the board Marcus Withers to discuss what was occurring.

“In my entire life, I've never seen anything like this. These people just laugh all the time! They are irreverent and disrespectful. And have you heard them pray? What is that gibberish?” Marcus Withers stated with disgust. “Church should be quiet. Simple. Respectful. And they mock everything we stand for with their silly grins, the crazy songs and have you seen some of the new people who have started coming?”

“Oh my gosh. Did you see the way that young girl who hangs out on the docks was dressed at church last Sunday?” Adele Parker gossiped. Adele had been the church organist for nearly thirty years until advanced arthritis forced her resignation. “Oh that's right, she's one of the fisherman's girlfriends, who knows what they are doing when they are alone? Yet, she stands up front with her hands outstretched to the sky during the song service, drawing attention to herself.”

“Well, what are we going to do about this?” Doctor Randall Hindrin challenged the group. “Are we going to sit around all night and complain or are we going to do something to make things go back to normal?” Dr. Hindrin had taught theology at Wartstowne Theological Seminary in Ireland for thirty-three years having finally retired and relocated to Paine Harbor less than three years previously.

The small group mulled over their options and finally, Marcus said what they were all thinking. “We need to dismiss Reverend Sharp. If he weren't cooperating with the trouble makers, none of this would be happening.” The others nodded in agreement.

“But how do we do it?” Adele asked.

“Yes, how?” Dr. Hindrin considered.

“I am,” Marcus replied haughtily, “the chairman of the board. I'm quite sure I can get the other board members to go along.”

“But,” Adele interrupted. “Several of them are part of the problem. You've seen them acting all crazy. You know what I'm talking about.”

“And, what reason do we give?” Dr. Hindrin asked. “We just can't say, 'we don't like you,' can we?”

“Actually, the reason is simple. It's called Doctrinal Heresy. Whether he remembers it or not, Reverend Sharp signed a doctrinal statement when he was ordained by the denomination. And clearly, he is out of compliance with the document he swore to uphold.” Marcus said triumphantly.

“Excellent!” Dr. Hindrin agreed.

“Then we simply must call a special meeting of the board and lay out the charges.” Adele said.

“Yes. I'm on it. And I want you to both to be there to bring evidence.” Marcus stated. “Whether they like it or not, the board is going to have to go along. We've got it in writing.”

The three ad hoc power partners continued making their devious plans for the next forty-five minutes coming into agreement about the details of their strategy. Concluding their meeting, Marcus piously prayed. “Oh God of the Universe, wide beyond measure, thank You for Your wisdom you've given us as Your protectors of the True Church. Give us more wisdom as we carry out Your divine plans. Amen.”

“Amen,” chimed in Dr. Hindrin and Adele.

The special board meeting was called for the next evening to be held in the basement of the church building. When Axel was informed of the meeting, he sensed within his spirit evil was approaching, and he and Greta went to prayer for guidance. 

After a while, Greta spoke to her husband, “Axel, I’m getting a word from God.”

“Yes! Yes! I want to hear it!” Axel said excitedly.

“It’s this: This isn’t our battle. The battle is the Lord’s,” she said confidently.

Stunned at her words, Axel who’d been shaken by the news of this special board meeting suddenly was filled with peace.

“Yes! That’s it! This isn’t our battle!” Axel said coming into agreement with his wife and the Holy Spirit. Suddenly the flow of love came from Heaven and poured over the Sharp's like warm, soothing waters on a cold winters day. Wave upon wave of love, mercy, grace, kindness and assurance filled them. 

“If God is for us, who can be against us!” Axel stated with growing confidence.

Greta said to her husband,  “Axel, are you willing to give up your title and position if that is what it comes to, for the sake of the move of God to advance? Will you die to your pastoral position if that’s what you are called to do?”

Axel considered carefully Greta's words. He nodded in affirmation. “Greta,” he said soberly, “We didn't start this revival. We are recipients of God's grace and goodness. Therefore, we must willingly do whatever He calls us to do. Even if it means giving up everything - including our position.”

Greta shook in the power of God, and without warning or conversation, she reached out her hands and placed them in Axel’s. She leaned down and breathed onto the hands of Axel. “Jesus is healing your arthritis.”

Looking at one another in childlike wonder, tears flowed as he tested out the movement in his hands. Immediately he discovered greater flexibility and freedom of movement without pain. As he looked up to Greta in wonder, she once again said, “This is a sign of His favor! This isn't our battle. The battle is the Lord's.”

Later that Night

Adele Parker’s home

Adele Parker rolled over in bed, desperately trying to find a comfortable position in which she could finally fall asleep. Every sound seemed magnified in her ordinarily quiet home located not far from Grace Cottage. From the soft breath of her cat sleeping nearby, to the tick tock of the grandfather's clock and even the ropes clanging against the masts of the moored fishing boats in the harbor each sound rang like a clarion bell in her mind. Sleep was not to be found.

Dr. Hindrin’s home

Dr. Hindrin sat wide-eyed in terror in his bedroom with his blankets pulled up to his neck, unable to get rid of the caused by his unwelcome nightmare. Unsure if he was safe to get out of bed and turn on the lights, his heart was racing at a frightful pace. Since his wife's passing, these night terrors had become almost commonplace, yet each was different and horrific in its own unique way. He saw his hands shaking in fear.

The home of Marcus Withers

Marcus Withers was certain someone had broken into his home so he grabbed the handgun from his nightstand. Calling out into the darkness, he shouted in a trembling but loud voice, “I have a gun and I know how to shoot it! Get out of my house, or I will shoot you dead! There is nothing in this house that is worth your life! Get out! Now!”

Grace Cottage

At the same time a small group of believers were gathered at Grace Cottage interceding for spiritual protection and deliverance against evil. Sandy released a specific prayer of protection over the Sharp family, “Thank you God for Your chosen one's are under Your good care! We declare in agreement with your Word that no weapon formed against the Sharp family shall prosper, and further we agree that your plans will be done on earth as it is in Heaven! Frustrate the plans of the enemy right now and help us to love those who are walking in darkness! Thank you our battle isn't against flesh and blood, our battle isn't against people! These people are the ones you died for! Bring them to yourself! Amen!”

The home of Adele Parker

Adele stood up, putting on her slippers and wrapping her thin weary body in her thickest robe, and walked to the bathroom for a glass of water. Flipping on the lights, she was shocked at what she saw in the mirror. Her face was pale white, and her eyes were red and bloodshot. She took a hard look at herself and without warning, she heard the Voice. The Voice was one she'd grown familiar with as a child and young adult, but after being raped as a young woman, her unresolved rage and pain had created a barrier between her and God. Yet, in this moment she immediately recognized the Source of the Voice and was relieved and somehow reassured.

“Adele, this battle you've chosen to join isn't yours to fight,” came the Voice. Stunned at what she'd heard, she continued to listen. The Voice repeated his message. 

“I know,” she replied in her spirit. “I've known all along.”

“Let it go and follow me, like you did when you were a child.”

“I want to,” she admitted. “But can I trust?”

“Trust me. Always trust me. Adele, I didn't cause the rape and I was with you and I saved your life. The rapist was going to kill you, and I stopped it.” 

“But it was terrible,” she wept. Memories of that horrible night flooded her consciousness. She’d never been able; try as she might, to find the healing and recovery from her victimhood. Tragically, as with many, she’d tried to bury it deep in her unconscious. Tried and failed. It was like a cancer had eaten away much of the beauty of life which should have been her destiny.

“It was. But that was but only a single solitary moment in your life. And, sadly you've allowed it to control you ever since. Adele, look at yourself.” The Voice said without condemnation. “Are you who you want to be?”

Staring hard into the harsh light of the bathroom mirror, Adele didn't like what she saw. What reflected back was the image of a bitter old woman. “No. That's not who I want to be.” 

“Then, choose freedom.”

“I didn't choose to be raped,” she said with sobs racking her body.

“No, you didn't. But you have the power within you to choose to be free. Trust me, Adele.”

The home of Dr. Hindrin

Dr. Hindrin was beginning to recover from the horrific dream he'd had. “It was just a dream, it means nothing,” he said trying to self-talk himself back into a sense of calm. “It means nothing.”

“No, that's where you are wrong,” he heard the Voice say. “The dream does have meaning.”

“Who's there?” he asked in great fear, searching for something to be used as a weapon.

“You don't need a weapon, Randall. I won't harm you. In fact, I'm here to help you overcome your fears.”

“I'm not afraid of anything.”

“Yes, you are. Ever since your wife died, you've lived in terror of being alone. I'm here to set you free from terror.”

Standing up and rapidly searching the various rooms in his cottage looking for the intruder, he yelled, “I demand to know who is talking! This instant!!” 

“It's me, the Person you studied, researched, wrote about and taught about. You are hearing the Voice of the Lord,” came the reply. “I'm calling you home.”

Randall shook at these words. Death was his greatest fear, something he'd spent much of his life worrying about. “I don't want to die,” he said timidly.

The Voice laughed warmly. “Who said anything about death? I'm not going to kill you. I don't want you dead, I want you to be alive. It's why Jesus came in the first place, to give life. You don't have life, you have something else, it’s called religion and it is killing you. I want you to come home and experience true life.”

“That’s it,” Randall stated. “I’m calling the police.”

“Go ahead. But I'm here to help you. You don't have to be alone. You don't have to be afraid.” The Voice said softly. “Come home and see what I'm talking about.”

“What do you mean, 'come home'?”

“Randall, your life has been all about man-made religion. You've put everything you have into it. But religion hasn't helped you deal with the death of your beloved wife. The principles and pat answers, the theological constructs and doctrinal positions simply cannot meet your need for love, grace, comfort and strength. That's why I'm here. I can help. You don't need religion, you need to enter into relationship,” the Voice said clearly and without hesitation.

Randall was strangely drawn to this message.  It sounded refreshingly like truth. But deep inside, he knew without his religion, he’d have nothing. He was terrified.

“Turn to me.” The Voice responded to his unspoken thoughts. “Come home. Come and meet the Person you've studied and taught about. Let introduce you to an entirely different way of doing life. It's yours for the asking.”

The Withers home

Marcus Withers had managed to get out of bed, and was searching his house for the source of the noise. Walking through the dark kitchen, he stumbled over his dog's water bowl. The water on the tile floor caused him to slip and fall hard to ground, bouncing his head on the granite countertop on the way down. His gun slipped out of his hand and flew across the room accidentally discharging a round as it hit the ground. Lying stunned on the kitchen floor, Marcus was unaware the bullet had pierced his left leg and had nicked an artery. Blood poured out and Marcus fell deeper and deeper toward complete unconsciousness.

In his unconscious state he suddenly saw a bright light beckoning him. Standing to his feet – in his vision - he began walking towards the light, when suddenly a voice called out his name.

“Marcus. Turn around. It is not your time,” said the Voice. “Turn around. It is not your time.” 

Regaining consciousness on the kitchen floor, he became acutely aware of the severity of his situation. Somehow Marcus managed to crawl to the telephone and he pressed 9-1-1. “Help!” he squeaked out before returning to unconsciousness.

He heard the Voice again, “Marcus, I love you. Return to your first love.”