Heaven Calls" is a novel that I have written. It should be available in early June. The following are excerpts from the story.
Barachel’s gaze dropped and his face became serious. “Mankind’s loyalty on earth determines with whom he will spend his afterlife. Those who refuse loyalty to God spend their afterlife with his enemy. Man’s destiny is determined by whom he serves. [P. 7]
"When the present conditions become the results of tradition, your future in business and in your private lives soon turns to boredom. There must be the vitality of dreaming great achievements in the future. Without dreams, your company will perish!" [P. 19]
Stunned, I sat staring at the flickering candle. It reminded me of our marriage. It too, was flickering in the breeze about to go out, but for now it still had a glow. Could it be saved? Why didn’t I see this coming? What was I doing? I knew where my focus had been for the past five years. That was no consolation. Right now I was facing the biggest crisis of my life. Could Lydia and I ever be happy together again? Both of us had found exciting friendships with the opposite sex, friendships which had obviously grown into emotional affairs, almost physical affairs. [P. 53]
We sat staring at each other. Our hands cautiously touched as our hearts reached out in search of hope and, dare we wish for it, love. Emptiness, rejection, desertion, anger, revenge, hopelessness, futility, frustration, sorrow, and compassion swirled in our minds like mighty waves of an ocean continuously crashing on a flat, sandy beach. There was no place to hide, no security, and little hope of survival. [P. 54]
The candles burnt short from the fire of the previous night still sat on the table like giant chess players in a stalemate. One was Lydia and the other me as we stood in a stalemate in our marriage. [P. 57]
"Loss of a loved one by separation, divorce, or death creates a vacuum in the heart, the inner self. How would you feel if you lost Lydia or one of your children? So it is when we sin. We loose connection with God which in turns creates a vacuum, emptiness, a deep longing in our hearts. Sin has separated, divorced us from God. Spiritual death is the final separation from God. Jesus restores our connection with God." [P. 136]
"There is a difference in believing there is a cure for cancer and actually taking the cure. In both cases we can say, 'I believe there is a cure for cancer.' Believing that Jesus exists or once lived on earth is different than believing in Jesus and taking the cure. His cure satisfies the hunger, the emptiness, left by sinning. Sin addicts try to fill that void with more sinning." [P. 136]
The many times clouds of life had blocked my view haunted me. There were the high, fluffy clouds; the rolling wind clouds; the dark, stormy clouds; the cold, layered clouds; and clouds flashing with lightning. Somehow the clouds represented the obstacles of life. How difficult, nigh impossible, it was to see beyond the obstacles to how life should be. [P. 162]
She pulled the pillow over her head to shut out the noise. So many temples in Thailand and Cambodia had richly ornamented rooms inside and were crowned by golden spires. The people devoutly crowded into their temples to worship while crime, poverty and abuse reigned outside. In America it was no different. There were many humble churches in the country and the city. There were many staid old churches like the one down the street. There were modern, elaborate churches and great stone cathedrals. Lots of people went to church while crime, poverty and abuse reigned outside. What was there to gain by going to church? [P. 164]
Sound science includes teaching the scientific method of investigation; the experiments and findings of the application of the scientific method; and the inter-relatedness of the natural phenomena. [P. 179]
Is that any different than saying that it all evolved by natural selection, chance? One person claims chance is the cause for this world and the universe. Another one says that there is an intelligence that designed this world and the universe. Both agree that somehow this world and the universe, as we know it, came into existence." [P. 179]
"If there was an all powerful, loving God, as Christians describe him, why would he allow thousands to perish in a tsunami? Why would he allow genocides in Africa and Cambodia? Why would he allow thousands of babies to be aborted every year? If he is so powerful and loving why doesn’t he prevent wars and disasters which kill millions of people?"
Mr. Peters lunged on as if on a crusade. "Why would a loving God send people to hell, if there is such a place? Why do his people lie, cheat, abuse, and divorce like the rest of the people? If there is a God, why can't science find him and prove his existence?
"I don't need a God to be a moral person. I don't have to go to his book and discover how I should live, what morals I should have, and what is right and wrong. Any rational being can discover that by considering what is best for the community.
"Only people who don't want to think, or can't think need a God to tell them what to do. Only people who can't stand up and face the world need a God for a crutch. Only people who are insecure and sickly need a God." [P. 180]
"What is meant by sin?" Pastor Grover said. "Defeat comes to mind. When I am defeated, I have failed. What have I failed? Defeat in a sporting event means that I failed to be the best. Depending upon the event, either I have failed to be the best or my team has failed. Which means that, according to the scores, I and my team came up short. Suppose I interview for a job. There are numerous applicants. I have made it to the last round of six applicants. Furthermore, I have studied for the job, trained in the skills for the job, and am physically fit for the job. However, I am defeated. I come up short and fail to get the job. This failure, this defeat, is much like sin." [P. 182]
"Okay, it will be tough. Please don’t make it easy. Help me to know where to put the boundaries instead of expecting me to fall." [P. 197]
Now, pain and sorrow were gripping my soul. Did God come with a moment of light, only to depart leaving behind the depths of darkness? Where is God when you need him the most? [P. 224]
Somebody drops out of school, disappears, or dies is like one less fly. A house full of family and friends come to the funeral. A week later life is back to normal for them and those lost like Billy are forgotten. [P. 228]
The world doesn't stop for anybody regardless of how big the crisis. It rushes on. True, life must go on. Life goes on ready or not. Man is adrift at sea; lost and alone; a lot of talk, and not much soul. Just keep afloat and keep paddling to who knows where. If somebody drowns along the way, never mind. There's nothing that can be done about it. [P. 228]
"His life flowed out to his friends, like the ripples in the water. His death affects people the same way. He eventually blends into the sea of life." [P. 234]
Lydia sunk into her desk chair. Scattered among the student=s desks bits and pieces of paper gave evidence of another day at school completed. The empty silence of the classroom brought memories of the sun setting on Lake Milton. The scampering of squirrels, the twittering of the birds, and the noise of boats faded away as light gave way to dark. Even the night had a life of its own. The stars, the moon, the howling coyotes, the wind rustling dry autumn leaves clinging desperately to their former source of life, the rhythmic slap of water on rocks and logs along the shore, that was a symphony of nature. [P. 244]
Sometimes the truth is harsh. Deceit never pays in the end. [P. 247]
I read through the internet messages dealing with each appropriately. It was a little like life. You go over the past and toss out what is useless, look at the present to see what demands action, and glance at the future to prepare for what is coming. It's all in a lifetime, or is it all in a days work? [p. 249]
Sorrow shared stirred a release much deeper and far stronger than comforting words from the presence of a friend. Friends take the hand of the sorrowful, lift them up and help them confront the days ahead. They may know the grief, but it is not their experience at the moment. Comfort and strength are the offerings of a friend. [P. 260]
Plans are like dreams. We make plans and hope that is how it will be. Like dreams they don't always happen the way we hoped. It is not unusual for our plans to slip away into thin air. Man makes plans, and God determines his ways. It’s hard to know what his plans are for us. It’s hard to see life through his eyes. We need to see life one day at a time. [P. 263]
"Marriage is the uniting of man and woman into one team. They together face the complexities of life, as a team, and not as individuals. Forces in this world strive to destroy that unity and often succeed. As it says, ‘be on the alert for your adversary the devil like a roaring lion seeks whom he may devour.’ and again, ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in high places.’
“What if in the course of life, we took the other road? What if the obstacles we faced would unite us hand in hand to confront the forces which divide, devour, and destroy? What if we laid the problem out on the table in front of us and combined our energies to resolve the problem, instead of fighting and blaming each other?
“A husband and wife need all the help and support they can find to overcome the obstacles which threaten their unity. Does a uniting with God through Jesus Christ enhance their chances?" [P. 268]
"Heaven Calls" will retail for $14.95 plus packaging, postage and sales tax when applicable. Write, e-mail,telephone, or leave a comment on this post for your copy. This is a limited printing.
