The disabled part two

Tim was the son of a pastor. He was being mentored by his dad. He and his dad were sharing in the pastoral duties.  They also shared in the preaching.  They traded off preaching.  On a week that he was preaching,  he met a new family. 

This included ali. She was sweet.  She seemed really nice.  She had caught his eye.  He had no idea if it was a momentary thing. He had no idea if something would come of all this. 

Ali liked tim. He seemed nice. At this point they were just checking out churches. One could not base a decision over what church to attend based on how cute the pastor’s son was. 

She knew that her parents would take Manny things into account before deciding on what church to attend.  Ali knew that even if they ended up going there, that hardly ment that they would persue a relationship. 

She had to remember that there were circumstances she had to consider . she had special needs.  That might impact things between her and tim.

For all she knew , tim might have just been friendly.  It might not have ment anything. Even if it did meen anything, it might be a momentary thing. He might lose interest. She decided to dial her enthusiasm back a bit.

She chided herself.  She sometimes let her imagination run wild. She certently did that in this instance. 

She tried to keep her feelings to herself.  She tried to not think what she found herself thinking. She tried to move beyound it. 

The mid week service arived. Tonight his dad was conducting the service. Tim tried to not think about ali. For all he knew, she would not be there. He had no information either way.  

After a light dinner,  everyone in yhe family headed over to the church. He helped his dad get ready for the service.  

The service began at six thirty.  People usualy started to flood in from ten off six to right before the church service started.  Sometimes after the service started at times. Tim saw people start to come in.

Tim and his dad greated people as they came in. Then after a time, ali and her family came in. He had wondered if he would see them again. He thoughts there was a good chance that they would come back. He had no evidence definitively rather or not they would come back. 

Hear they were. They had come back. No assurance that they would become full time attenders or members but this was a good start. This was a good first step. 

His dad went over and greated them. He shock there hands.  “Welcome back. It is good to see you. ” his dad said. “It is good to be hear.” ali’s dad said. They engaged in smal talk for a bit. Then the pastor went back to getting ready for the service.

Tim then went over to greet them. “Hi. How is everyone tonight ” tim asked.his dad shock his hand. “We are doing well.how are you tim?” her dad asked. “Doing good. ” he said.

“Thats good. So do you work as well as go to school?” rick larson asked Tim. “Yes i do. I work as an overnight manager at the shop and go grocery store. ” he said.

“You must keep prety buisy?” mrs larson said. “I do. I dont mind.  I like to keep buisy. ” tim said. ” do you fibd time to sleep? ” ali asked. “Not as much sleep as i like but i make it work. ” he said. “We know what that is like. ” ashly said.

“Do you work as well as attend clases?” tim asked ali. “Yes. I work at the public library.  I work three daysys a week so it work.  I can do homework at the same time. ” she said. “You have plenty of reaerch material. ” tim remarked. “Oh i do. “She said. 

After a few minutes he sat down.the service started.  He realy wanted to get to know her more. The more he talked to her, the more he wanted to get to know her more.  He felt a connection to her. He had no idea if she felt that connection.  It might be all in his head. 

They had just met. It might just be first encounter feelings.he had no idea. He knew he did feel something.  He had a feeling it was not a transitory thing but was something that would endure and build on. He realy hoped that that was the case.  

It was still way too early. He probably should not alow his mind to go there. He did never the less. He let his mind wonder. He wondered, could this be the future Mrs watters. He tried to not keep thinking things like that. He still did despite his attempts not to. 

The service started.  His dad started the service off with announcement then he opened in prayer. Ali was glad that they had come back. She was glad to see him.she was glad that she got to talk to him.

She noticed that his dad’s preaching style was very simular to tim. She wondered if tim patterned his preaching after his dad. They seem to have verry similar personalities.  She liked the elder watters preaching,  she really liked Tim’s.  Both did really well.

She was one who paid attention to detail during surmons. She was an avid note taker. He was preaching on the life of abraham.he preached on the battle of the kings . this was when Abraham rescued lot. She was really focused on the message. 

She felt that she liked the message. She felt that she would be spritualy fed at this church. She knew that her parents had not yet made a final decision rather or not they would attend hear. It seemed promising that they would.  She suspected that this might become there permanent church home. She was starting to hope it would be. 

During the prayer time the men and women split up.  The ladies stayed in the sanctuary.  The men went down in the basement. The two groups split into smaller prayer groups from there.

Tim joined his dad, rick larson and a few others. He liked rick. He seemed like a nice guy. He thought like he would be a great farther in law. That was thoughts for another time. 

After the prayer time,he talked to rick larson. “So, are you adjusting to livng in the area?” he asked rick. “So far. So far i have not had time to notice the area but so fat so good. What i have seen of the area,i like. We lived on a good street. It semms qiet. ” he said. 

“That end of morisville is fairly qiet.”the pastor said. “That seems to be true.”rick said. ” you picked a good neighborhood. ” tim told him. ” thats what i have gathered.” rick said. 

Aftet a while,they went upstairs. The pastor closed the service in prayer. The service was adjurned. Alli realized that she needed a “break” she was going to seek out her mom for help. Tim headed for her. 

Shr tried to keep away from him. At least until she had had her “medicine” . she was able to wisper to her mom. They left the room.

He really hoped to be able to be able to talk yo hher  before she left.after a few minutes she came back in. She seemed different.  “Hey! How are you?” she asked. “Really good. You?” he asked.”i am doing well.  ” he said.

“Did you have clases today? ” she asked. “This morning.i try to have a light shedule on wendsday becuase the service. ” he said. “Makes sense.  “She said. “Did you have clases today?” he asked. “I have two.  I get out at three. I had plenty of time. ” she said.  “Thats good. ” he said. 

She said her goodbyes. They left. He did really like het. The more he talked to her, the more he liked her. He hoped that she felt the same way. He suspected she did.

They went home form church. She did like him. Right now it was a simple crush and she knew it. She also knew that it could change. 

She went to see her sister. ” ash! Do you think  i am marriage material? ” ali asked. Ashly saw the hurt in her eyes. Ashly gave her a great big hug. “Of course you are. You will make a great wife!” ashly said. 

“Will anyone give me a chance? ” ali asked. “It might not be as big of an issue as you think it is. Tim seems like a really good guy.  ” Ashley said.” what if he cant get passed it?” she asked. “Give him a chance. You never know until you try. It is a risk. You have to decide what is a bigger risk. What do you fear more.  Risking embarrassment, heartbreak or risking tim slipping away.  What if someone else gets to him? Are you ok with that?” ashley said.

“I wont be able to keep this from him forever.  ” ali said. “He will find out eventually. That is unavoidible. ” ashley said. ” yea. I know your right.” she said. 

Alison was not sure what to do next. She would consider both options. She hoped that he and her did have a chance. She had her doubts. She really wanted it to work out for them. She really did. She was not certin.

If he rejected her,would she be ok with that? She really had bo idea. A part of her really wanted to avoid him. She wanted to run away..she really did not want to do that. She had no idea what she would do. Only time would tell. 

Next up

Ali considers rather or not to pursue a relationship with tim. Tim likes her with every time he spends with her. He has no clue about her secreet. 

The disabled

Tim was the son of the pastor. Tim was being mentored by his farther. He was kind of an asistent pastor. He did some of the preaching. He sat in on deacon’s meetings and he shared in other pastoral duties.  The church liked him and he loved the people at the church. It worked out well. 

He and his dad were taking turns preaching though the book of john. They were both enjoying it quite a bitt. This Sunday was her turn. 

A new family came in to the church that sunday. A husband wife and young adult children. Tim went over. “Hi welcome to gospel Baptist church.i’m tim Walters.  I am the co pastor. My dad is sr pastor but i am in traning to be pastor. I am officiating this week.  ” he said. 

“I am rick larson. This is my wife sandra. This is my daughters ally and ashly. My other daughter are on there own.” he said. “It is really good to meet you. There is a welcome card in the buliton. Please fill it out and get it back to me. “He said. 

Aly and tim’s eyes met. He was trying to in pastor mode right now.  He felt tied to her somehow. He smilled at her and she smiled back. After talking to them for a bit he went up to the podium. 

He got ready to oppen the service to order. He stood up. He gave anouncements then opened the service in prayer. He led the song service. 

She was transfixed by him. She watched him closely. She liked the way he spoke. 

He preached on john four. He preached on the women at the well. He preached on that God wants all to be saved. He preached that the gospel is available to all. He preached that the gospel is for all who believe regard of ethicity or past. He did out bring out true sprit. 

There was a dinner after. Tim sat near the new family. He wanted to get to know ally.  “So what brings you to oir church?” tim.asked rick the larson family patriarch.  “My job. I am an emergency room doctor at Morrison general hospital. We moved from blake. I am taking over the e.r department.  ” he said. 

“I hope i dont need your services any time soon. “Tim said. “I hope not but if you will, i will do my best. From what i have seen, i have a really good team. ” rick said. 

Ally laughed. He liked her laugh. “So are you in college ally?” he asked. “Yes i am taking clases in early childhood education. I am working at the college book store. ” ally said. 

“I am im college as well.i am majoring in english literature.  ” ashly her sister said. Tim knew that as a co pastor,  he should get to know the whole family. He realy wanted to get to know ally. He decided to be friendly.  Ashly seemed very nice.  He was interested in ally. 

“Oh mom i think it is time for my ‘medication’ ” ally said.  “Oh yea i think your right. If you will excuse us.” sandra said. The two got up from the table. 

He was curious what medication she was on. It was none of his bussiness. He respected her privicy. 

She was fairly tall. She was 5.8 . she wore a pink and white dress with flower patterns.  She wore sandles. She and her mom left the room. 

After a few minutes ,she came back to the fellowship hall. They sat down. She was different.  She did not seem as confident as she had been before. He did not understand it. 

“So you probably keep prety buisy. ” tim said. “Yes i do. I like keeping buisy though. I imagine you keep buisy as well. ” she remarked. “Yes i do. I like to keep buisy as well. ” he said. 

“I tell him that it is to give him a taste of what full time ministry is like.  He has done well with it. He has proven good at managing his time. ” his farther the pastor said. “Both ali and ash have done well managing there time. We are proud of them.” ali’s dad said. 

Tim could tell that her parents loved ali and ashly. They were very suportive. Tim always apreciated his parents suport as he traned for ministry. He came to suspect that her parents were just as suportive. He had a feeling that they were a close knit family.  He was glad of that. 

The fastivities at the church was dying down. People started to leave.the hospitality committee started to begin the process of geting the fellowship hall cleaned up. 

“It was really good to meet you. I hope you will give our church a chance. We have a really good group. ” tim said. 

“It was good to meet you. I am glad we got to visit your church today. ” rick said. “It was good to meet you ali.i hope things go well for you with your studies. ” he said. “Thank you. I hope the same for you. ” ali said. Ashly said goodbye to her as well.

In the car. “So what did everyone think of the church?” the father asked.  “I liked it. The people are verry friendly. The preaching seems very sound. ” ali said. 

“The preaching was verry good. I had a good first impreson. ” her mom said.  “So what did you think of the preacher?” ashly asked. Ali blushed a bit. ” he seems really qualified.  He knows his stuff. He seemw very mature for his age. He has a wisdom beyound his years. ” ali said. 

The whole family gave her a bizare look. “What? ” she asked. They laughed. “Does someone have a crush on our pastor in traning?” the farther remarked. Everyone except for ali chuckled. ” why would you say that? He seems like a fine person but that does not meen anything. ” she said. “Ok. ” her dad said. They all laughed.

At home, her mom talked to her privately. “You do kind of like the pastor”s son?” her mom asked. “I bearly know him but he seams nice.  “She said. “You think something could happen between you two?” her mom asked. 

“I doubt it.  I am sure he is at a verry different sprituel level then i am. ” she said. “I am sure he. Strugles like everyone else.  ” her mom said.  “He seems to be sprituely mature.  There is not just that. There is the other issues as well. “She said. 

“You cant use that as an excuse. It is a medical condition.  It is no different then being blind or deaf or lame. ” sandra said.

“It is different.  There is a stigma attached to it. Could he love an invilid?” she asked. “Hunnie! Your hardly an invilid! It may not be as big of a deal as you think it is. ” she tried to assure her daughter. ” i just dont know mom. ” she remarked. 

At his house, tim got grilled by his family. “So ! How do you like the new family?” hia sister marissa asked. “They seem nice. I think that they would make a fine addition to our church.  ” he said.

“Especially a certen member of said family.” his sister Anita commented.  “I am not sure i know what your talking about.  ” tim said. “I think you like alli , i think her name is. ” phil said. 

“I dont know her. We bearly said two words to each other. Having said that i would not minf getting to know her. I will say that. ” he said. 

“I think you like her more then your admiting?” marissa said. “Oh! I am not sure about that. ” he said. His siblings were prery sure. 

Later on in the day he talked to his mom. “I do kind of like her but we did just meet. I should not rush it. I am not sure there is anything there. ” he said. 

“You do want there to be. Your not sure there is. ” she said. “That is true.” he said. “Just see what hapends.” she said.”its posible that i might never see her again. They may decide not to come back.  If that hapends this could all be mute anyways. “He said. “Perhaps. You never know.”she said. “I guess not. “He said.

“Dont assume any way.do take it slow. Dont get so negative.  You dont know whats going to happen so don’t jump the gun either way. “She said. He knew she was right.

That night he headed back to the church. He got ready for the service. His family arived then other church memebers started to arive. He really hoped ali and her family would come.

After a while,he saw ali and her family come in. He tried to hide his excitement. He went over to her. “Hi welcome back. I am glad your hear. “Tim said. “Thanks. I am glad we could make it. ” ali said. 

“So you like this area?” tim asked.”so far. “She said.”well i got to get ready. Agin i am.glad your hear.” he said.

Ashly wispered to ali,”ali and tim siting in a tree”. Ali gave her a dirty look. Ashly laughed. 

Tim opened the service in prayer.  After announcements and hyim singing,he preached on james. His theme was on faith without works. 

She enjoyed his mesege. He got to say goodnight to her but she had to leave. They did not say long. He did get to say good night. He really hoped that they would make this church there home. He had no idea if they would. 

End of part one. 

Next up ali and her family show up for the mid

The proposal part four

Lilly woke up the day before thinking how mundane her life was. Now she woke up,her life was verry different. She was groggy at first. She started to remember. She looked to make sure he was stil there. He was.

“The clock struck midnight and we are stil hear my love!” he told her. She kissed him. ” are you always going to be like this? Romamtic?”she asked.

“I have never thought about myself as romantic. I dont know. I am going to try to be. I want to be. ” he admitted. 

She held on to him. “I am glad your stil hear. I am glad this is not a dream. .i obviously did not think it was but it is still nice to know it is real.” she said. 

“I know what you meen. I woke up and i looked for you. You were still hear. ” he said. She kissed him.”i am still hear!” she said. “Im glad. I truely am.” he told her. 

They got up and had a light breakfast of toast and butter. They had cofee. They showered and got dressed.  They got ready to leave. 

She wore a purple dress and sadles. She braided her hair into a pony tail. She came out.”your verry pretty.  You look nice . ” he said.”you look very handsome yourself. Thank you. ” she said. They hugged and kissed.  

“I did pack my king james bible. I use the bible in common english.” she said. “why am i not suprised? “He said. She laughed. They hand hands and walked to the car. 

He was sutch a gentlemen.  He opened the car door for her.she smilled and thanked him. She got into the car. He held her hand while he drove. The church was only ten minutes from the hotel. 

The car parked in the church parking lot. The two walked out of the car. They walked to the church hand in hand. The usher opened the door for him. The two came in. 

“Hi. I remember you. How are you? Alex right?” the usher said. “Yes. Your ted correct? ” he said. The older man was thriled he remembered his name.lilly soon realized that alex had a really good memory.  She came to apreciate it. 

“This is my wife lilly. ” he said. He said it proudly. Lilly took note of that.he gave them a buliton. They went to a pew. 

“Your from that big family. You live back east. ” the man who sat next to them said. “Yes that true. My family is back home. This is my wife lilly. ” he said.

“Hi i am Richard. This is my wife sandy and my kids, jeremy, Jessica and janessa. “He said. “It is good to meet you. ” she said.

She loved how he was proud when he introduced her. She hoped she lived up to that. He was hoping he could live up to her love for him. 

While she could not understand why he was so crazy for her, he was aslo perplexed.  He could not understand  why she loved him. She did not understand how sweet she was. She did not realize how loving she was. She was so encouraging to him. 

The church people were very friendly.it was a smal church. The music was tradional. Old hyims. At Lilly’s church, the new music director started to introduce new praise and worship and contempeary music. Lilly listened to contenpeary christian music and enjoyed it. She grew up with the old hyims. She knew the words to manny of them. 

She liked the preaching. The pastor seemed eloquint. It gave her a lot to think about. He preached on the importence of prayer. He mentioned key events of prayer. Moses intervention as well as jesus’ lesons on prayer amoung others. She did like the message.  She found it insightful. 

The church had a dinner. They invited them to stay. They agreed. “So i understand your newlyweds? ” the pastor asked. “Yes we are. ” alex asked.” we got maried yesterday.  ” she said. “Congradulations” the pastor wife said. They thanked them. 

“So what are your plans?” a lady asked. “We are going to see the sights. Nearby areas. ” he said. “There is a lot to see in the area. This is a great area. ” the pastor said. “I have never been been in this area. I am excited to see it ” lilly said. “This is a great area for a honymoon. ” the pastor’s wife said. “I realy like it so far. ” lilly said. 

She loved being with other people with him. She loved seing how he interacts with other people. He wanted her in his world.  She could tell that that was the case.  

They left the church and went to the hotel.  “I liked that church. The people were really nice.  I would like more contemporary music.  I know!  Everything else was good. ” she said.

“I always like visiting that church ! I always looked forward to it whenever we came hear for vacation.  ” he said.”everyone was lovely.  ” she said.”we fundies aren’t so bad!” he said. She chuckled. “You got to work on the music though!” she said. 

“These are the great hyims of the faith. It is part of a ritch christian heritage.  ” he said. “Why cant we have new music? Why cant christians of every generation make there faith there own? Why does music only have to be hyims? ” she asked. “Contenpearmpeary christian music is trying to put Christian lyricks to wordly music. It is offering strange fire. ” he said. 

“John wesly used popular songs of the day.  I dont think that you can prove that the rock beat is evil from scriptire. ” she said.

He parked the car into the lot. He turned off the engine. He opened the door for her. She stepped out. They walked inside hand and hand. She smiled at him.

“I gues we are not going to agree on this one?” he remarked. “We will work on it. Thats ok. We dont have to agree on everything. ” she said. He smiled. “No we dont. ” he said. They went inside the hotel. 

She kicked off her sandles. “Can we lay down? ” she asked. “Sure! ” he said. They went to the bed. She held on to him. He played with her hair. 

“How are you feeling?” he asked. “Ok. Like i said it comes and goes. It flares up if i exert myself. ” she said. He patted her back. “I hate seing you in pain. ” he said. “I get by. ” she said.

He admired her stregth. He liked her resolve.  He appreciated how she handled things. She never complained.  She never winned. He tried to be there for her. 

She loved how responsive he was to her. He really did care. He would do anything for her. She came to know that. 

He always seem to know when she was in pain. Even when she tried to hide it, he knew. He was always there for her. He tried to anticipate her needs before she even knew she had them at times. He usualy did. 

They had a light dinner before the evening service. They went to a different church. It was near the hotel but not as close as the other church was. 

They pulled into the church. “Methodist? ” she asked.”dont get too excited hun. Its a free Methodist.  It is staffed by a pastor who went to the same school i did. ” he said.

She chuckled.  “I am guesing the pastor is a man?” she asked.  “Yes! I wont go there right now! ” he said. She chuckled. “Ok!” she said. 

They walked inside the church. They were greated by an usher. They went inside. “Hello. Is your family hear?” the pastor asked. “Not this time. This is my wife lilly. ” he said.

“You and leah did not get maried?” he asked. Lilly tried not to gulp. She was suprised by that questione. “No. God closed that door. He opened this door. ” he said. “It is good to meet you lilly.” he said. 

The church was much similar to what she was used to. The pastor wore the traduotional vestiments. She liked the church. 

After they headed back to the hotel. They went to the hotel restaurant.  They had a bigger dinner. 

“It is going to take a long time to adjust to people who know you and Leah.  I know i should not be jellous. ” she said. 

“In a short amount of time people will know alex and lilly. ” he said. “I know.”she said. “I know that it wont be easy at first. A lot of people were used to myself and my former fiancée as a couple.  Like i said yesterday , i am so sorry i did not wait for you. I know that you and i are ment to be. I have no doubt in my mind the lord brought us together.  Give it time. That wil pass. I am sorry that there will be some awkdwardness. It is unfair. ” he told her.   

“Ok. I am sure you are right. I did not get meen to ruin dinner.  ” she said. “You can always come to me with concerns. You did not. I want you to feel sicure in our marriage and with me. ” he said.

She smilled. “I do. I just felt i needed to bring it up. ” she told him. “I understand.  ” he said.

They went back to there room.  “Whats the plan for tomorrow? ” she asked.  “I thought that we would drive around. See some sights. ” he said. “Cool i love road trips. I assume this includes the largest ball of twine in ohio?”she asked. “Yes. I really want to see this.  ” he said.”ok i wont deprive you of your life long ambition. I am kind of looking froward to it myself.not as much as you are. I am looking froward to it. ” she said. 

“We will see other stuf as well. Probaby things that will be more of intetest to you. ” he said. She chuckled.”oh ok. ” she said.

After a while they decided to turn in for the night.  He kissed her goodnight.  They held eaqch other.  They fell asleep. 

End of part four.

Next up

Alex and lilly go on a mini road trip looking around the area near the hotel. 

Words of faith part four

Brad and elizebeth fell asleep in each others arms. They had had a long day. They had tired themselves out.

They woke up the next morning. He looked over to see if she was awake. “Good morning! ” he said.  She smiled. She kissed him.he chuckled like e a school girl. 

“So brad do you eags and backon this morning. Well ! Libby i dont know. I usualy like a light breakfast but i do on ocasion like to have a bigger breakfast. Sense we are on vacation i think that would be nice. ” she said pretending to be him. 

“Were you mocking me ?” he asked. “Yes i was.  I love you babe. Everytime i ask your opinion, i get my full thought process. I am curious what you say if i asked you if you needed to use the facility.  ” she said.

“Well i dont always share my full thought process. There are occasions i find it prudent to explane why i have made a decision. I dont always. I can give a simple answer. “He said.

She lightly hit him with a pillow. “You goofball! ” she said. “To answer your questione. Backon and eags sounds great. ” he said. 

She laughed. “Oh ok. ” she got up. She threw on a bathrobe.  She went to the small magshift kitchin. He had packed a small frying pan. She put it on a cookstove. She greased the pan. She put the backon and eags in the pan. 

He went to the kitchen. He was taken with her. She was attractive but there was more.she was cute. She was silly but she was not imature. She was fun.she was not careless.  She was someone that you wanted to be around. At least he did. 

He kissed her neck while she was cooking.  She gigled. “Your distracting me! I am going to burn the backon. ” she said. “Ok i will stop distracting you. ” he said. 

“I am not sure i believe you. “She said.  “I will back away. I will stay over hear. No temptation. ” he said. “Well i dont want that. Come over hear. I want you close just not distracting. “She said. 

“Ok!” he said.  He came to her. She looked at him. She liked to think that this was there future. She already enjoyed being with him. He was fun. He was quirky.  His humer was dry. It was dead pan. It was also fun. She was starting to get use to his idiosyncrasies. She was not sure if she liked it but was getting used to it. 

He set the table. She put the eags and backon on the table. They held hands as he prayed for the meal. They started to eat. 

“Do i realy do that.  Answer a question with every posibility? “He asked. “Yea you do. Sory babe. I have been maried to you for two days and i have noticed a paturn. ” she said.

“Oh ok. I will work on it. ” he said.  “You don’t have to totaly change your habits. It is nice to have constants. ” she said.

“So do you find it endearing? ” he asked.  “Well! I dont know that i would go that far. It is a constent. “She said. He chuckled. 

“I can accept that. ” he said. She laughed.  After dinner they cleared the table. They washed the first dishess they had dirtied. They then dried off the dishess. 

He read the bible after.  He read in the book of mark. She decided to read mark one as well. After a while they talked it over. 

“Do you really believe that God wants bekevers to be materialy prosperous?” he asked.”why would he not want that. We are kids of the kingdoms. We are joint hairs. He owns a cattle on a thousand hills. Are we not entitled to that? ” she asked.

“In galatiens, we are told that the child of a nobleman is hair to everything.  As a child , he is placed under tutors, teachers, governess etc. We are joint hair’s but as romans 8 says we also are joiny heirs in christ’s suffering. I refer to it as your best life later. In heaven we will be joiny heirs in all christ has. That is not for believers hear in the nasty now and now on earth.  ” he said. 

“You make it sound like there is no advantage to being a belever right now?” she remarked.

“There is. We have the holy sprit who indwell us. We have his help, his comfort,  his interceding. now God may provide material blesing. Many times, material blesing can hinder serving God. Parents not wanting there child to go on the misson field buy him a new car hoping to dissuade him from going for example. ” he said.

“Material blesings canot always be bad. ” she said. “No. It is about focus. It is about priorities. What is it you tresure?Is it the person of the lord jedus Christ or some benefit?  The five thousand fed by our lord did not want him, they did not even want miracles.  They were only interested in being fed. By the end of hid discourse, Manny that had folowed our lord stopped following.  Taking us off our focus is dangerous. ” he said. 

She pondered his words.he had chalenged her thinking. She was not ready to give up her views on prosperity. 

They went to the shower facilites that were on the other side of the campground. They went back to the cabin and got ready for there day. They got dressed. 

They decided to rent a conoe first. Libby was excited. She loved going out on the watter.  It was a lovley day. The sun was out.there was not even so much as one cloud. 

They walked hand in hand to the boat yard. They went to the office and rented a conoe. They were given the paddles by the attendent. They put on the life jackets. They got inside and lunched the boat. 

“I love being out on the watter. It is so peaceful.  ” she said. ” it is a good day for it. ” he said. “Its really is. ” she said. 

She kissed him. “Sorry!  I just always wanted to do that. I wanted to kiss my husband on the lake. I have luterily been planning my wedding sense i was four. Perhaps before. I definently remember planing it at four.” she declared. 

“I bet you played weddings with stuffed animal.” he commented.  ” all the time. My first husband was edie the bear. ” she said. “I hope you prefer me over edie! ” he said. “I dont know.”she said. He laughed. 

They ended up being in the lake for quite a while. They ended up going back to the cabin for a while. They eat sandwiches. They got ready for paint ball. 

They put on black cloths neither one cared about. “I feel like a secret agent.”she said. ” your the cutest secret agent i know. “He said.”be carefull. Looks can be deceiving. ” she declared.  “Oh no. I will definently keep that in mind. “He assured her. She laughed. ” good idea ” she responded.

They joined up with a team that was asembling. They decided to be on different teams.  

They were engaging in a kind of capture the flag like game. Brad and his  unit moved out. He had never wanted to be in the military. If the draft was reinsated, he would serve. That had not happened. He enjoyed paint ball. He liked the adrenaline that came with it. 

There mission was to capture the other team’s flag. They moved out and advanced towards enemy territory.  The staff flaged the two teritories. While he had no interest in real war, he was fine with pretending. 

He kept going with the three other people on his team. They saw a unit wearing the arm band of the other faction. They opened fire. Brad ducked the impact. Brad hit back at the ‘enemy’. 

They then advanced. Brad was stil in the game. Outof no where ,libby hit him. He was down. She gigled. “You got me!” he said. ” i did. ” she said.

They played several other rounds. After a while they were both tires out. The other players told them they enjoyed playing with them. 

“Good game. ” one of the players said.”you too tim.” brad said. “So are you maried?”a player named amy asked. “We are.” brad said smiling. “Newlyweds? ” Tim asked.  They smiled and said yes. 

They said there goodbyes.  “That was fun.” she said. “It definently was. Would you do it again?” he asked. “Absolutly.” he answered. They walked hand in hand and went back to the cabin. 

They changed cloths . they laid down for a bit. They just relaxed. “Do you think we will get out of the hony moon stage?” Libby asked. “I hope not. I love this. I love our bantering. I love the comrady. Our partnership. I hope that that does not change. ” he said. “I know what you meen. I love it too. I never not want to feel like this. I dont want to have unreel expectations. I dont know how to not lose it. I know it hapends. ” libby said.

He played with her hair. “I dont know what i am doing. I dont know how to not lose it. I gues we have to work at it. It will take hard work.” he said.”your right.” she said. 

She rested her head on his soulders. She nuzled up to him. She loved to be in his arms..she loved to be held by him. 

He grilled hot dogs on the grill. They eat on a picnic table near the cabin.libby knew that she was falling for him. She was shocked. She was not expecting any of this. The first night she felt trapped. She did not feel that way any more. Was this real? Was this all emotion? Was there substence? She hoped that there was. She had no idea if this would or could last.she knew she wanted it too. 

“What was your first impreson of me?”she asked.  “I thought that you seemed shy ,a bit reserve. ” he said.”i could see that. Were you disipointed when you found out that i was from a different doctrinal background then you are?” she asked.

She saw pain in his face as he answered.  “A little bit at furst. I was surprised. When you went into the bathroom , i felt that the lord had brought us together.  I had no idea what to do. I did not know how to talk to you. That was when i felt that you were suposed to be my wife. That was when i wanted to embrace you. ” he told her. 

“So what was your first impresson of me?” he asked her. “You seemed serious. You seemed somber, sober. You also seemed nice. You were kind of cute. ” she said.

“Only kinda?” he asked.  She laughed. “Well…” she answered. ” were you disappointed that i am a independent fundimental Baptist?  “He asked. 

“I was at first.  Thus i went to the bathroom. When i calmed down, i realized that i had not given you a chance. I really wanted to. Then i came out. ” she said. 

“I am glad you did. ” he said. “I was woried that you would be mad at me.you were so gentle. That was when i decided to really give you a chance. ” she said. He hugged her and they kissed.

“Are you going to play your guitar tonight? ” he asked. “Do you want me to?” she asked. “I do. ” he said. “I only know mosty ccm and secular. ” she said. “Thats fine.” he said. 

She took out her gutar. “Any request?” she asked. “How about the one you played last night? Mighty to save i think it is. ” he said. “Ok!” she said.

She played mighty to save. He sung along . she played oceans by hilsong.she played “oh how he loves”.she played forgiven by crowder. She played the clasic magesty. He loved her singing voice.  

They roasted mush mellows. Brad chared hers off course.  She teased him incessantly about it.

They went inside and put on a star trek episode on her lap top. They cudled while watching.  He played with her hair. She smiled. She was starting to love there life together.  

After a time they decided to go to sleep. They had been maried for a couple of days but things were happening.  Both were becoming more used to eachother. 

End of part four. 

Next up

Brad shows Libby pictures of the house. Then they go on a small road trip. 

The proposal part three

Lilly’s  day did not go as planned. She never thought she would be maried today. Now she found she was in another sate. She was a maried women. In the car she stared at her ring a bit. She took it all in. It was so sureel. 

The car parked. They got out of the car. They walked hand in hand to the hotel. “So! Does this all end at midnight? Do i go back to scrubing floors and dodging insults by my step sisters. ” she asked.

“So if your Cinderella, does that i am prince charming? ” he asked.  “You wish! I am thinking one of the mice.” she said. “Really? One of the mice?” he asked. “Just kidding!” she said. He chuckled. 

She was so funy. She had an infectious laugh. She was very playfull. She liked to tease and joke around.  

He held the door for her. They walked in. They walked in. They went to the front desk.  “Reservation for Granger.”he said. “Yes. I have you right hear. ” he said. He gave her the room key.

They walked to the car. “I did not not get the honey moon suite  . i just got a rugular room. ” he said. “I dont care about that.  A room is a room. ” she said.

She was not materialistic at all. She wanted to be provided for but that was it. That was all she cared about . he soon learn that she loved suprises but she did not have elaborate taste. She liked to be noticed appreciated and thought of. Mony was not the issue, time was. She discovered early on that alex knew that. They learned early on how to relate to eachother. 

“I am a bit of a cheap scape. I do want this to be special though. ” he said. “I am a main line church minister. My car runs on prayer and chicken wire. I am used to austerity. I am a cheap scape too. I am fine with that.  This is special.  ” she told her. 

They opened up the trunk. They pulled up the suit cases. They brought stuff inside the hotel. They went into the elevator.  

She observed that he was usually calm. He was reserve. He was easy going. He was often at ease.  When they entered the elavator his whole body langrege changed as did his continence.  He was tense. She came to suspect that he did not like elevators.  

She squeezed his hand. “You ok hunnie? ” she asked. “I hate elavators!” he said. She held on to him. 

The door opened.  Almost imidietly he calmed down.  He went back to the alex she had gotten use to. He was calm and surene again. 

They walked to the room. He slid the key card in. The door opened.  “Woa woa. Hold on!” he said. “What? ” she asked. “I got to carry you over the threshold!” he said. She chuckled. 

“Procede!” she declared. He picked her her and caried her inside. He gently laid her on the bed inside.  He then picked up the bags and brought them inside.  He closed the door.

“Hello mrs. Granger!  Excuse me pastor granger. Paster lilly!” he said. She laughed.  “Lilly granger i love it. “She said.  “It has a nice ring to it. ” he said. “It really does.  ” she said.  

She kicked off her flip flops and sat on the bed. “So how are you going to explain this to your parents? “She asked. “I have no idea. I will think of something.  ” he said.

She chuckled. “I am sure you will. It will be fun to watch. ” she said. “I am sure it will be. ” he answered.  They both laughed. 

“They probably wont understand.  I think in time they will accept it. I think they will like you. “He said. “They wont think i am trying to turn there little alex into a liberal? “She asked.

“They might at first. Give them time. I know you will become an important part of the extended family. ” he said.”i will give them time. My dad is going to love you. Mom grew up i.f.b but she is little more moderate then he is. My being a united Methodist empowers her. He feels outnumbered at family dinners. He will be happy to have an ally. He will be thrilled that i maried a fundy. Your personalities are very similar. You two are going to get along famously.  ” she said. 

“I look forward to meeting him and your mom too. ” he told her. ” they are great people. Word of warning when we visit dont eat for a week trust me. You canot leave there house without gwning weight or feeling bloated. They tend to go overbored if they have people over for dinner. They make there guest eat every bite. ” she said. “I will keep that in mind. ” he told her. 

“If you miss a detail of there stories, dont worry you will hear it again and  again.  “She said ” oh ok! I know how that is. I can relate. ” he said. 

He sat down on the bed.  She hugged him. He held on to her. She cried a bit. He held on to her. “Im sory. I dont know why i am weepy all of a suden. I am a flood of emotions right now.  I think body,  mind, sprit, sub conscious is trying to sort this out. “She said.

“Thats fine.  I want to help you in any way i can. ” he said. “I know that. I hold back alot. I dont wear my heart on my sleve. I supress alot. You cwn only supress so much. Eventualy the dam burst i gues.  ” she said.

“You dont have to supress around me.i want to get to know you. ” he said. “Ok. I am glad to hear that. ” she said. “I meen it.” he said. “I know that. I go though phases. Hot, cold happy sad and everywhere in between in a matter of secconds. ” she said 

“I will figure it out. I will ajust accordingly.  ” he told her. ” i gues figuring eachother out is part of being a couple.  “She remarked. ” it is. I know we will figure it out and develop a rhythm.  ” he told her. “I am sure we will. ” she said. 

They were both tried.  It had been a long drive. They just rested in the bed room. They got acquainted as well. 

“Are you hungery?”he asked. “I am kind of hungry. ” she said.”the resturant is oppen 24-7. Do you want to eat in or out?” he asked. ” i would perfer in. I dont want to get dressed again and go out. ” she said. 

“Thats fine. What do you want?” he asked. ” what are you having?” she asked.  “Beckon cheseburger and fries and chips. ” he said. “I will do chiken tenders with a smal salid. “She said.”sure!” he said. 

He picked up the phone and called the kitchen.  ” yes i would like room service. I am in room 110.” he said.  She asked him what he wanted.  “Yes ittem 117 and 114. On 114 a smal salid as well. ” he said.

“The order is in. ” he said. “Thank you hunnie.” she said.  “Of course. No problem.  ” he said. ”

“I stil cant beleve i am in ohio. Im maried. On my honey moon. I am in shock.  ” she said. “I know exactly what you meen?”he said. “I might need you to pinch me. Make sure im not dreaming. I dont meen that literily.” she told her. He laughed. “Oh man! Thats no fun!” he said. She laughed.  

After a while the food arived. The waiter brought in the tray. He paid the man. He gave him a recipt. Then he left. The door closed.

She wore a tank top and shorts. He wore a t shirt and pajama pants. They sat down at a table. He asked her to pray for the meal. She did. They held hands during the prayer. 

He devored his hamburger. “You know if he eat slower,you will feel more full” she said in a teasing tone.”my mom and sisters tell me that all the time.” he admitted. ” i am sure they do.” she told him. 

“How are the tenders?”he asked.”excellent. Your going to have to tell me what you like and dont like. I know you like meat. You like lasagna?”she asked. “I love it!” he said.”you will love myine. We will have left overs for years but you will love it. “She told him.

“I cant wait to try it. ” she said. “I will make you te meat one. I make a vegiterian one but i am thiking i wl stear clear of that in your case.” he said. “That might be wise. “He said.

“I usualy make both for church functions.  ” she said. “I cant wait to try it.”he said. “I will need a list of what you like. I will need to know what you dislike with a passion. ” she said. 

“There is a lot of food that is not my favorate but i will eat it. ” he said. “Thats good to know.  I will warn you if i know you tolerate it,i might make it more often.” she said. “Thanks for the warning.”he said.”consider yourself warned.”she said. They laughed. “I take it your a picky eater.”she remarked.”a bit. Are you going to try to make me less so.”he asked.”oh there is no try. I will succeed. ” she said. They laughed. 

She finished most of her salid. “Wants some of it?” she asked. “Sure! ” he said. He eat some of hers. He ended up finishing hers. They threw away the trash afterwards. 

“I am now officially full. ” she said. “I know exactly what you mean. ” he said. She hugged him. She held on to him for a minute.  He held her tightly. He squeezed her tightly. 

The pain from the stabing came back .”you ok?”he asked.”yea im ok. It comes and goes.”she said. He held on to her. He held her tightly.

They decided to get into bed. He held her. She placed her head near his shoulders.  “So there is a smal baptist church. They meet at 9:00 for Sunday school with the morning service at 10:45. “He said. “Yea thats fine. I am used to being up fairly early on sunday. ” she said. 

“I am too. “He said. “I will be up in plenty of time.” she said. “Oh ok!” he said. 

They talked for a bit then decided to turn in for the night. He turned the light off. She kinda went though the days events.  When she went to bed the night before,she did not anticipate anything much of consequence happening.  She wrote in her journal that she expected a quet and boring day.  Of course that is not what happened.  

She was glad that the day went the way he did. She eventually fell asleep. She slept until norning. 

End of part three.

Next up.

Lilly and kent go to church.  

The perposal part two.

Lilly could not beleve all that just happened.one minute she was getting out bed. Then she went for a walk.then she was maried and all her way to her honey moon. It was very sureel. She was happy with her decison. It felt crazy but she was content even excited by the future.

“We are off!”he said in an exciting tone.”cool!”she said. “I have a thousand questions! “Alex told her.”i have a thousand for you.”she answered.”i want to know everything there is to know about you?” he commented. “I want to know everything rverywthing there is to know about you. We have the time.”she said. 

“Look. I am sory i did not wait for you.i suspected my former fiancée was not the one but i tried to push it. I was afraid to be alone.”he said.”you could not have known. I apteciate the sentiment i really do. I have not dated in a while. I am a bit of a workaholic. I wanted to be maried. I figured i would get around to it eventually. “She said. They both laughed. 

“You have not dated in a while?” alex asked. “I think the last time was in colege. Between church and civic events i am really buisy.  It would be difficult to date a parishioner.  The only male under forty is a bit odd. I dont want to date anyone that i know is my civic work because they are unsaved.  It was not a prority. I wanted to be maried but i did not see an urgentcy. Perhaps i figured it would sort itself out. It has. I just did not think it will work itself out in this manor. ” she told him.

“Did you grow up hear?” he asked.”no i grew in pensivania. I went to a seminary not far hear. I was sent to pastor hear. I was glad it was close. I have become rather attached to this area. I was pleased to be assigned hear.i like this town. I love the church and the people. Did you grow up hear? “She asked.

“I did. I grew up in nearby deen. I went to bible colege in Connecticut then came back hear.  I am attending the same church i attended as a kid. I have wanted to be in full time ministry sense i was young. Did you want to be a pastor at a young age?”he asked. 

“Hardly. I grew up in a strict independent fundamental baptist church. I wanted nothing to do with it. I went to colege first as a english major.  One of the teacher was a Methodist minister as well. I went to her church. She took me under her wing.  She encouged me to persue the ministry.  The rest i gues is history. “She said. 

” i see.” he said.  “My parents were a bit detresed that i was training to be a minister and that i was attending a united Methodist church. They were glad i was involved in the church. I never really stoped believing. I was stuborn. I was rebelous. I have finaly put away those childish things.took a while.  My parents say they dont totaly agree with my decison but they see a change in me. We have become a lot closer. ” she said.

“Even if you agree on everything, it is not always easy between parents and children. ” he said. “Are you and your parents close?” she asked. “We are. We are very sinilar in beliefs and how we do things. Sometimes things just seam off. It might just be me. My siblings seem closer. Maybe everyone feel that way ” he said. 

She saw a deference in him as he spoke of his relationship with his family.  She came to realize that he felt isolated from his family. She never quite understood it or why or how the chasism came to be. She was determined to make him always feel like he mattered to her. She wanted him to know he was her family. He was invalible to her. The sadness in his eyes afected her.she never wanted him to feel that way in this new family.  She wanted him to never question his significance with  her. 

“So did you parents help him you though the aftermath of your stabing?”he asked. “They were great. I could not have goten though it without them. I gues i should tell you the story. “She said.

“If you dont want to ,its ok.” he said. “No its fine. A guy who was drunk was trying to attack his x girlfriend. He got the wrong house.  Lukily my neighbor heard ne screming. He was a vet. He schot the man and probably saved my life. I was pro gun control. Not so much now. It was a hard recovery.  The physical and emotional scars renain” she said. He squeezed her hand. 

“Were you a good student?” he asked. “4.0” she said. “I was not a particuly good student in high school.At bible colege i was an A, b student.never got a single c. My school is probably not as hard as you went. I had to work hard but i was pleased.  “He told her. 

“You seem like a very inteligent person. “She said.  “Thank you thats meens alot. I like to learn.  ” he said. “That is evident. ” she answered.  

“So where is that third tatoo?”he asked.she chuckled. “Your stil on that? It is on my thigh. It is a dolphin.  I like dolphin.  I have a stufed dolphin i had as a kid.yes i packed it. “She said.

She showed him one of one shoulder. It was winie the poo.the other was in greek. “I love theology?”he said. “You read greek?”she asked. “A little. I took biblical greek in bible colege. Your a thology nerd?” he asked. She chuckled.”a little! I know about the old testament baning of tatoos.” she said. “I was not going to bring it up” he assured her. ” it was a bit of a contradiction i gues. I dont tell a lot of people i have it. I put it there so i could conceil it. ” she said.  “Your something else! ” he said lauthing.

She loved the way he looked at her. She feared that that would change. Hia fascination with her would wein abait.he would lose that wounder. Onw day she would become mundane to him. She accepted the fact that it would.  It never did. She took notice of that. She was thankfull for that.

After a time they had made it from new hanpshire to Massachusetts.  Then they made it into new york. “Are you ready to stop for something to eat?”he asked. “Yea i am getting kind of hunger!”she answered. “Great!”he said.

They stoped at a resturant off the interstate.  He parked. His phone went off. “Its my mom,i should probably take this!”he told her. “Go for it!”she said. He presed the button. “Hi mom!”he said.

“Dad and i stoped by your house but you were not there. “She said. “I decided to go to Ohio any ways. I am in new york right now.”he said. She smirked but tried to stay silent.. She was enjoying seing him swet. 

“You ok?we are woried about you. “She said. “I am fine mom. “He tried to assure her. “Ok drive carefully. Drink plenty of cofee. Take break if you need to. No land speed records.”she said. “Driking cofee has never been a problem for me. I will. Be carefull. “He said. She said her i love you. He echoed it. He hung up.

She smirked. “Seing you skirm is prety cute. “She said. “She is concerned. I am her oldest. “He said.”dont do anything rash like mary a complete stranger. “She said. “You have never been a stranger. ” he told her. She kissed him. 

They excited the car and went to the resturant. She felt pain.from time to time she experienced pain. The doctor said it would continue. “You ok hunnie?”he asked. “Im fine.just mild discomfort.i have grown used to it.”she said. 

He huggef her. “You don have to be strong. Not around me. You done have to put up a brave front. No fear. I do it too. I understand.its ok. I have got you”he said. She embraced him. Her last boyfriend resented that she had no interest in physical contact. She recisted him at every turn.  With alex she found she craved afection. After a while she was ok. 

“So is there a pool at the hotel?”he asked.”yes.”he said.  He was skidish about the answer. “You dont like swiming?”she asked.”i akmost drowned when i was seven. Ever sence then i have been very skidish about it.”he said.”im sory. We. Can stay towards the shalow end. Please swim with me.”she pleaded.”alright. I will give it a chance.”he said. “We can get get though it together. “She said. 

“It was my fault.  I lost a trinket,a neclace i made in sunday school. I got above my head. I could not get out . i was rescued.  It left an lasting fear.” he said. “Understandible. We can face this fear together. “She said. “Ok!”he said.

“So what is around where we will be?”she said. “There is the bigest ball of yarn excibit 20 minutes from the hotel. “He said.”no! You planed on seing a ball of yarn on your honey moon?”she asked. “”We can skip it if you like?”he asked. “Oh no.i have to see this.i will get our picture taken with it. “She said.”i was just curious. It may not have been the finest decision. “He said.”i am excited to see it. I am going to tease you about it insesently but i am excited about it.”she said.

“There is plenty of tourest stuf around hear. More interesting then the ball of yarn. “He said. “I an sure it will be fine. ” she said.”if you have ideas or things you want to do or see,tell me. I kinow had this planed out. I want this to he something you wil both enjoy and cherish.  “He told her. 

“I know it will be. “She said. This was already something she would always tresue. It was almost magical.  She was astonished by it. 

The meal was great. “Do you want desert?”he asked.”i don want to blow the budget! “She said. He showed her his first meal budet on his phone.”we are good.”he said “i an impresed and terified all at the same time. ” he said.they decided to have chese cake.she thanked him. He paid then they left. 

They stopped at a gass station. “Hey i go this!”she said.”i budgited gass mony!”he said.”i am sure you did. There is no such thing as myine and yours.its ours. I got this.”she said.”please tell me thats a debit card!”he said.”yes i dont believe in credit cards! “She said.”few!” he said. She paid for the gass at the pump. “You are really cute. Odd but cute!”she said.”thank you,i think! “He said.

“Hey can i drive for a bit?”she asked. ,of course! “He said as he gave her the keys.”can i put the radio on?after several hours of the same hym cd i am ready for something different! “She said. “Oh ok!” he said 

She found a station that played contemporary christian music.she sang along. “Your not a fan of ccm are you?” she asked.  “No im not. I perfer the old hymms. “He said. “Are you strict?”she asked.

“Some would see some are my stances as strict i supose. I try to base my views on biblical principles. I believe the bible is the word of God.where the bible is rigid i have to be. Its how you go about it. I try to hold the truth in love. I try to be happy about it. On music i will try to keep an open mind. Where on bible versons i have to hold to king james.on salvation i have to hold to salvation by grace though faith alone. On other things i dont have to be as rigid on. ” he said 

“I do believe in salvation by grace though faith alone. I believe jesus is the only way to salvation. ” she declared. “I was prety sure you did. ” he said. 

“I do enjoy klove and the music on it.i would like to continue to listen to it.” she said. “We will work on this. I think that we can work this out. It will require some ajustment on both of us. We will make it work. ” he said.”i know we will. ” she said. 

They switched off driving. Eventualy they arived at the hotel. They went inside to check in. 

To be continued. 

The proposal part one

The last post was an intro.  A prologue.  I am calling this one part one.

Saterday morning ,alex got up early.he had trouble sleeping. He knew he had to get some sleep. Lord wiling he would be on the road most of the day. He did finally get to sleep. He got up.

He called his best friend bryan. “Hey bri what are you up to?”he asked. “I was going to a wedding. .”he said. “Want to go for a drive with me? “He asked. 

He picked up bryan. He came into the pasinger side. “Ok you do realize this is the nutiest thing i have ever heard of.”he said.”i know. I have a peace about not marying april. I dont have a peace about being single. ” he said. 

“I cant beleve i am going along with this. “He said. “Thank you by the way. If this works i will need a witness. “Alex said. ” your welcome. I think.  “He said. He started the car and headed out. 

That morning,lilly got up. She had cofee then read in the bible. After that she decided to go for a walk. She commonly went for walks .she like to clear her head.  

“So how does this work. Are you just going to drive around until you find her?”bryan asked. “Yea. “He said.”how will you know the right one?”he asked.”she will say yes.”alex answered. “What if no one says yes?”bryan asked. “I beleve the right one will.” alex said.”what if she does not?”bryan asked. ” i dont know!” he said.

They did some drivng. He pointed out one.”no thats not her!”he said. He saw another. He said no. He came upon several. He did not feel free to ask them. 

Lily was listening to conptempary christian music station on her phone. She liked to have music on while she walked. 

Alex saw her walking. “Oh my! Thats her!” alex said. “Your sure?”bryan asked.”yea im sure. “He said.he stoped. He roled down the window. Bryan was really nervous.  This could end badly. 

“Hi. ” alex said. Lilly gave a nervous  hello back to her. “Will you mary me?”alex asked. Bryan tried not to visibly cringe. “Excuse me?” she asked.

“Will you mary me?” he asked again. She thought it over. “Is this a real perposal? This is not some radio station prank or something?” she remarked. “No its a real perposal. ” he said.

“Are you a christian?” she asked. “Yes i am a graduate of a bible colege. I am baptist. I am born again. ” he said “oh! I am a united Methodist minister. ” she said. “Oh!” he said. “You still want to mary me?” she asked.”i do. “He answered. 

“I have tatoos. Only three. ” she said. “Thats fine. ” he said. “I was stabed a few years ago. I have some scars. ” she said. “Im so sory to hear that. That is not going to brother me. ” he told her. 

“You realy want to do this?” she asked.”yes i do!” he said. “Yes. The answer is yes. “She said. “Excellent! ” He said.  “Do you want to get maried today?” she asked. “No time like the pressent. ” he said. 

Bryan opened the car door. “I will let you take my seat. ” he said. She wore a green shirt ,gray pants and shoes that revealed that her feet were otherwise bare. Both there heart were racing. 

She got in. “I’m lilly by the way. ” she said. “Im alex. It is so good to meet you. ” he said. “Likewise. ” she said. He huged her. “I assume your thinking justice of the peace?” she asked. “We can hold a church wedding later on. “He suggested.  “Of course. “She said. She ofered him her hand and she took it. 

He started the car. “I should probly tell you that i was engaged. My then fiancée broke off the engagement.  This is not a rebound thing. This has a biblical precedent.  When eliazer found rebecca. ” he said. “Actualy we are not sure that eliazer was the servent who found rebecca. It could have been. I am glad you told me. That does not brother me. “She said. 

“I have a ring from the engagement. If you want a different one later,thats fine. “He said. He showed her the ring.”no. I like this one. “She said. “Ok.”he said. 

“I had a hotel booked in ohio. I stil have the reservations.  ” he said. “Let me call my lay leader. I will have her cover my servives for the next ten days.  ” she said. “Sounds good. Will she mind?”he asked. “No i never take time off. ” she said 

“Hi terry its lilly. Can you cover the next two Sundays and the Tuesday.  I will be out of town. You can. thanks.  No everythings fine. I will explane when i get back.  Thanks. God bless.” she said. 

 “We all set?” he asked. “We are. Lets go get maried!”she said. “Ok!”she said Bryan was shocked by all this. Was this realy hapening? Was his best friend really marying a complete stranger? 

They started to head for the town hall. “You have three tatoos?” he asked. “Yea. One on each arm. T shirt cover it. The third well i will tell you later. ” she said.he chuckled. “I dont have tatoos!” he told her. “Why am i not surprised? ” she said.  

They arived at the town hall. They paid for the mariege lisence. Then they went to see the town clerk who could oficiate marieges. 

“Do you Alex take lilly to be your lawfully wedded wife ?”the clerk asked. “I do.” he answered.”do you lilly take akex to be your lawfully wedded husbend?” the clerk said. “I do”she said. 

“Do you akex promise to love honor and cherish her, ritcher or for pooerer in sickness or in heath till death you part?”he asked. He answered in the afirmitive. 

“Do you promise to love honor and obey in suckness and in health,for richer or poorer till death do you part?” she said yes. 

After the rings were presented. They said there vows. The clerk prononcef them husband and wife.  He told them they could kiss.  He kissed her. 

It felt so sureel. He was shocked. He could not believe that he was really hear. Yet he was. She could hardly beleve all this. One minute she was alone. Then she was maried. She was happy. She knew that she would no longer be alone. 

After they left hand in hand. They walked to the car.  “Congrats mr and mrs granger. ” bryan said. “Lilly granger that has a nice ring to it.”she said ” it definently does.  Are you going to hytginate your name?”he asked. “No i just want to be lilly granger”she said.”dont you meen reverend lilly granger?”he asked.”that too!”she answered. 

They got in. “I have a house. I got land from my grand farther.  ” he said. “I have an apartments. I like it but i would like to move to your place. I have a piano whitch wont be fun to move!  “She said. “We will find a way to move it! ” he assured her. “Ok! Thabks hunie. You play?”he asked. “I do. Mom is a nusic teacher so did not have much of a choice. ” he said. “I know that feeling w. My gram was a music teacher. “She said. 

“I am going to drop off bryan. Then we can go to your house and you can pack!”he said.”i will try to paxk light! “She said.”i have plenty of room. “He said.”do we have time to drop by your place. I want to start making place to change everything!”she remarkes.”yea. Sure. I would love to show it to you.”he told her. “Great!”she said.

“You really going to change everything? “Bryan asked.  “I wont know till i have seen it.”she answered.  They all laughed.”i am very flexible!”he said. “You may not regret saying that al!”bryan said.

They arived at byans house. Bryan said a prayer for them. “Look you two are heading into what may be the most difucult but wonderful days. Dont ever lose the wounder of the lord.”bryan said. Alex and byan hugged.  

Alex got back in. ” want to stop at your place first?”he asked. “Sure sounds good.”she answered. They drove to her apartment.

They went inside.  She took a picture of them at her house. She looked at it. He put his arm around her. “We are going to have quite the stories to tell our kids. “She told him. “Indeed we are.”he said.”you want kids right?”she asked.”i do at least two of each.”he said.”sounds good to me.”she said. 

She went into her bedroom. She took off het shoes and put on flip flops. She packed quickly. She hoped she had everything.  She and him louded the car. “I think i have everything. I never really packed on the fly before.”she said. 

“Ready?”he asked.”hold on. I just want to take all this in for a munute.”she said.”ok sure!”he said.she wraped her arms around him.he reciprocated. He extended his arms around her. Neither one wanted to let go.  “Welcome to my family my love!” he told her. “Welcome to my heart! ” she answered. They kept on embracing each orther. 

“Ok now i am ready.”she said.”ok. Off to my house. Our house.”he said.she smiled. They got inside. The car drove off.  

Theyy drove to his house. “Can i put a garden hear?”she asked. “Of course. This is your place too now. “He said.”i know just where i want to put it. “She said. He showed her inside.she loved it.she already had a milion idears of what she wanted to change. Thrn after a while they got ready to leave.  

He prayed for there drive. Then the car left. “Our jouney begins!”he said.”yes indeed. ” she said. They drone off. 

To be continued.  

The proposal

Alex beleved from a young age that God wanted him to be in full time christian service.  He wanted to be married. He beleved that the Lord wanted him to be maried. 

He had met who he beleved was perfect. April’s farther had been friends with his father when they were at bible college. Both sets of pattents had pushed for the relationship.  

After they grauduated,he purposed marriege and she accepted. Both families were beyound excited. He had brought a house from mony from his great grandfarthers inheritance. He was still open to whatever the lord had for them to do.he was busy at his local church.  It was an independent fundimental baptist church. 

The time had come. The wedding was sheduled a week later. He noticed something was off. April became more dispondent,more reserve. He asked her about it. She incisted that she was fine. He was not sure. He stil thought that something was up.

All atempts to talk to her failed. He tried to be playful with her but he got nothing back. He was convinced that something was up. He hoped that it could all be worked out. He was not sure. 

He was starting to have doubts about her. He wanted to be maried.he did not want to leave her. He did not want to break up the engagement. 

The Saturday before the weading was to take place, his phone went off.it was april. He answered it. “Hi april.”he said.”um we need to talk. Can i drop by. “She asked. “Yea of course.  ” he answered.  

She pulled in. He went outside to meet her. They had a rule against being alone together inside. He went outside.she excited her car. 

“Whats up? “He asked. “I cant go though with the wedding.  I just cant do it. ” she said.

He was shocked. “What’s going on?”he asked. “I like you. I felt presured by my parents.  This was my dad and your dad’s dream ,not myne. I cannot go though with this.  I am sory to put you though this.  I dont want to be maried to you.”she said.

“Your sure about this? “He asked. “Yes i am totaly sure. I am at peace with my decison. “She said.

“I wish you told me a week before the event. I wish you had talked to me about this. I respect you and your decison. I wish you well. ” he said. 

He shock her hand. She headed to the car.  He did not watch her leave.he went back inside. He closed the door. 

He spent time in prayer. It made no sense. He was sure he was suposed to be married. It was not going to happen. He had no idea why. He did not know what to do now. He was confused and directionless. Everything he had been doing was in preparation for something that was now not going to happen. 

He prayed and read scripture.  He tried to stay stil and calm. He was composed enough to inform his parents.  He dialed the number. “Hello!” his dad said. 

“Dad. Hi. ” he said. “You ok son? You dont sound so good. ” his farther remarked. “Dad. April has called off the wedding.  ” he said. “Well have you tried to change her mind. Perhaps this is just pre wedding jitters. It hapends. ” his dad commented. 

“I feel this is for the best. I am not sure that this union was part of the lord’s perfect will. I believe that this break up might be part of his plan. ” he said.

“You should at least try. Talk to her.things might change. ” his farther said. “I am at peace with this. I am ok with the wedding not happening. ” alex said.

“You can stil save this. You might be able to change her mind. ” he said “a double minded man or women in this case is unstable in all there ways. There ie more going on.i firmly believe that this is not suposed to happen.  I believe i could convince her to resume the wedding preparation.  I am not sure this is what should happen. I do not want to get ahead of the lord. It is unwise to try to open a door that HE had locked.  ” alex told his farther.

“Well. I trust you. I am sad he happened like this. “He said.”yea. I am too. “He admited. After a while he hung up.

Alex went for a walk. He tried to gather his thoughts. He camr home and flew a drone he helped build with his younger brother. He tried to keep busy. 

The next day he did not want to go to church. He knew he should.  He did end up going.hr taught sunday school. He kept to the lesson her had prepared.  He could tell word had gotten out. 

At the sumer service the pastor made an anouncement. “As you know next week we were going to have a wedding.  Surfice it to say the weading has been postponed indefinently. The familes have requested that we keep this private. It was not for reason of sin . please give these families privicy on this “the pastor said. 

Alex wanted to dart out immediately after the service. Once the pastor gave his may the lord bless ,he interpreted this as permission to leave. He got up.

He got the “we are praying for you”and the “if you need anything “.je thanked them. He wanted to just move on. He tried to be cordial even though he did not want to be. He felt like a periah. He felt isolated alone.  He was alone serounded by freinds and family. Although it was not due to sin,he feared people would stil think it was.  

In another church just a few streets away was a young lady. She was the pastor. She had been stabeda few years elier and stil had pain form it.she tried to ignore it. She got though the service.she was well liked by her congregation. She liked them.she felt like something was missing but did not quite know what.

That week, alex tried to focus on work.he worked at a grocery store. He was a front end shift leader. He decided to take the week off as planed. 

That week he tried to stay grounded.going to mid week service was hard. He wanted to be there and knew that he should attend. He felt awkward there. He felt out of place. 

He stil had the reservations for the motel out of sate. He decided to go anyways. He had the moby saved up. It would be good to get away. That friday morning. He was reading in thw bible thw story of Gods rejection of saul. Samuel told saul that he woukd find a man after Gods own heart to replace him. It hit him like a ton of bricks. 

“Oh my! This is the nutiest idea i have ever heard”he thought.  Yet he was really considering it. He decided that he would be maried this saterday. Now he just had to find a wife. 

To be continued. 

Free ellie

David and karren parker were a young couple. David was a gradute of an independent baptist college.  He met his wife there. He started a small church in a smal area. They just had a daughter named ellie.

The birth went very well. Mom and baby were released from the hospital. 

One night, a group of people creaped into the smal house. They had cassed the property while the parkers were gone. They knew that they did not have any kind of secuity syistom. They picked the lock. They got inside the house. 

The intruders wore all black. They tip toed to the nursery.  They knew where the bed room was. They went inside.  A short person picked up the baby.they moved out. 

Karen could not sleep. She went into the nursery.  She screamed. Dave ran in to the room.”ellie is gone! “She said. 

David called 911. A police cruser arived within a short time. The officer came in.”we put ellie back in the crib at 1:00 or around them. Then karen came in a short time ago and she was gone. The blankets were disheveled.  “Dave told the officer. 

“How old is the child?” the officer asked. “Four days. “Karren said. A detective arived. Karen and david were questioned separately.  

“David is an ordaned minister with an independent baptsist denomination.  He pastors grace baptist church.  He is 23 years old. Moved hear from new burn north Carolina.  Karen 21 is from sallem orwgon. She moved to new bern then folowed him hear. No criminal records.  No call from the police pryor. ” detective wheeler said. 

They went back to dave. “Dave do you have any enimies?”the detective asked. “Not that i know off. “He said. “You involved in political issues? “Detective horsby asked. “Not really. We dont engage in protests or anything like that. I dont shy awsy from isues that may come up in scripture.  “He said. 

They intervued neighbors.  The neighbors reported that the oarkers were qiet. One neihhbor reported hearing rustling of the trees. A dog barked . 

The police tried to rule out the parkers as suspects. They searched the two cars they owned. They searched the house. They searched under the house and the property. 

The police talked to the hospital staf that delivered the baby. None of the nurses saw any red flags. There were no signs of post pardom dipresson. 

The church members were intervued. They had almost nothing to go on. 

“What do we think?” the captain asked. “I think the parents killed the child. ” detective hornsby said. “That makes no sense. “Wheller said.”neither does anything else. Lets go with the most sensible conclusion . that is they killed there own kid. “Hornsby said. 

“No way. There is no evidence of that. ” wheeler said. “It is the nist plausible? “Hornsby said. “We are arguing from silence.  ” whealer said. 

Later on

“I got something. The parkers are on a list of potentily abusive parrents. ” officer daigle said. “Give me more detail. “The captain said. “A website ran by former mayor wilson rudgeway colects list of potentialy abusive husbends or parrents.  The site includes contributors who are former law enforcement including criminal profilers. “The officer said.  

“What do they have?”whealer asked.”they are a member of a non afiliated baptist church. They refer to themselves as independent fundamental Baptist.  He came form a baptist church in north carolina known for its rigid interpretation of the bible. The church is on the radar of the southern poverty law center. Aperently they have abusive tendentcies. ” the officer said. 

“Are we going back to the parkers as suapects? I just dont see it. These people are pillers of the ccommunity . ” whealer said. 

“I hardly call them pillers. How have they contributed to society? They are a cult.  “Hornsby said. “Hold on. We are complaining about the young people these days. No ambition no goals. They keep there noise cleen. Fundamental Christianity may not be your cup of tea but they are hardly a cult. “Whealer said. 

“Well lets talk to those behind the registry.  Maybe they have insight. Wilson ridgeway is a legend and a friend of this department.  “The captain said.

“David parker is on our radar. Fundies target smal town. Especially ones with high crime . places where industry once thruves but moved out. High population of white fokes. In my estimation patker is a tiking time bomb. ” ridgeway said.

“Your group beleves that indoctrination in child abuse.”whealer said.”Fundies have babies for the express perpose of mantaning there strain of Christianity. It is religious eugenics.  “Ridgeway said. 

“Wanting to pass down your views is hardly abuse. I passed down my love of fishing to my kids. Is that not a kind of indoctrination ?”he asked. “This country is founded on fredom. Children should be able to chart there own course without interference. “Ridgeway said. 

“Every parent has expectations. Using your philosophy, every patent enploys indoctrinatination. a ‘fundy’ argue that you inationoctrinating your children by pasing on your philosophy.  “Whealer said. “I give my children the chance to acept or reject my views. I present my views as my opinion. I dont claim my views ate devine. “He said. 

The cops got a break. A tip came in.a neighbor of a young lady reported her sudenly having a child. There is no evidence she had been pregnent or had a boyfriend.

 “Mrs ames is mistaken.” annie ross posner said. ” other neighbors corroborate her story. They verify seing a baby. ” whealer said. ” she is a friends baby. I was baby siting.” she said.”where is yhe baby now?”hornsby asked. 

“She is back with her mom. “Annie answered. ” we will need to speak to her mom. “Whealer said. The detectives went to the home. The lady in question was gone.  It seams she had moved out. 

“We are looking for laurie mceverit cassey. She is 20 years old. Sosiology majer. She has ties to Oregon and Nevada. “The captain said.

Laurie was picked up in a nearby sate. The baby was not with her.she was extradited. The cops went to intervue her. She was clad in an orange jump suit. ” i am a political prisoner.”she said.

“How so?”whealer asked. ” i did what i did to stop child abuse. “She said. “Look the parkers are fine people. ” whealer said.” if his name was Mohammed not David would you feel that way. How is david Parker any different then jim jones or david koresh? “She said.

“Did you kidnap baby elie?”hornsby asked.  “I was not involved in tje liberation. I provided a safe house for those who did.”she said.

They discovered a group that called themselves free Genevieve.  The group was started to stop indoctrination of children of religious families . Genevieve was a baby caught up in a child custody case. Her mom was converted to Christianity her farther was a vehement atheist and tried to stop her from taking his child to church The case has developed internet groupies who call themselves free Genevieve or free jeny. 

The police was able to get acess to members of this group. They found elie alive and well in Missouri at the home of a member of the group. There were mass arest.

Wilson ridgeway tried to get the courts to block elie’s return to her patents. The courts refused.  The parkers were herased. They decided to close down the church. They moved to the east coast and avoided social media. 

The end. 

 

Words of faith part two

The two checked into the cabin.they started to bring in there bags. They had not really spoken to each other for a while. They really did not have anything to say. After they finished bringing stuff In.she went to the  bathroom. She locked the door. She just sat and thought for a little bit. She had no idea what to do. She wondered why her Perents would set her up with this man. What they thinking ? Was this kind of a joke. Would she get a call or a text saying just kidding. Of course she did not. She did not know what to do. How could this possibly work out? 

He was upset at first. He was a bit angery with her. Then he realized that he was in the wrong. He had been harsh and self absorbed. As he began to have a pity party ,he felt the holy Spirit lovingly rebuke him. It was as if he was being told he was saying to him,I have given her to you. Why are you rejecting her. You have not even given her a chance. He felt rally bad. He decided to humble himself. He recommitted himself to her. He wanted to see her. He wanted to go to her.he figures he should give her a few minutes. Let he sort all this out. He has really been a yutzah. He knew it.he wanted to make it right even though he really did not know how. 

She was so confused. She had no idea what to do. She cried. She struggled to regain her composure. She ended up being in the bathroom for an hour.finaky she came out. “Libby hunnie are you OK?”he asked.”yea I think so!”she said. 

“I was afraid you jumped out the window!”he said.”to be honest the thought had accured to me!”she said. “I am glad you did not.”he said.”really?”she said.”yes. We did not really get off to a great start did we?”he remarked.”no we did not!”she answered. “Your not upset with me?”she asked.”no not all all. Come hear!”he said.

He put his arms around her. They hugged. He held her as tight as he could. They went to a couch.she sat next to him.he out her arms around her.she rested her head on his shoulders.”do you think we can make this work?”she asked.”I would like to try.”he said.”I would too”she said.

They say in silence for a while. Nether one said anything. They just held each other. They both tried to calm down for a bit. ” I guess I a! Not what you expected?”she said.”no but I suppose I am not what you expected either!”he answered.”to be honest not really.no offense !”she said.he chuckled.”none taken.!”he said.

“Are you strict?”she asked.”depends on who you ask. Some see independent fundimental Baptist as very strict. Some see me personally as strict.i guess I hold some view that could be interpreted as strict even by I.f.b standards. I take holiness serious. I hope that my strictness is not out of mallice.i want to speak the truth in love. That is not always easy. It should be but it is not always I’m afraid.”he said. 

” I am new all this. Can you patient with me?”she pleaded with him.”absolutely!”he said.he patted her back. “I have heard that your brand of Baptist don’t like my church !”she commented. “Well I disagree with the view that if your not materialy or physically prosperous,your not right with God. That view is contrary to scripture.”he said.

“God does what Christians to be prosperous.”she said.”yes but how do you define prosperous? Prosperity is doing what God wants you to do. Our best life is later not now. Someday we will be with the Lord. We will have a mansion just over the hilltop but that is not for now. Later we have the sweet bye and bye but now we have to deal with the nasty now and now.”he said. 

“When Jesus died on the cross he went to hell and got the keys.he overcame the power of death and hell. This includes sickness and wealth. He had power over it and so do we.”she said.”I don’t believe Jesus went to. Hell to get the keys. I am familiar with that view but I don’t agree with it.setting that aside,Jesus made it clear that his kingdom is not of this world. While the kindgom excist in a mystery form it will not be set up on earth until after the tribulation. I believe that although death is defeated,oh death where is thy sting,the full effect will not be felt until the milenial kingdom.”he said. 

He realized he went into lecture mode a lot. This was his wife not a debate opponent.He felt like he was patronizing. That was not what he wanted to do. “What is the banefit of a believer now? If your right it all future?”she remarked.”not quite.as a Christian we are looking forward to the blessed hope. There is much to be hopefully for. Right now we have the promise of the presence of the holy sprit. We have the help we need to live daily for the Lord. We have his presence ,his encouragement. Health wealth and wisdom could be a hunderence to our walk with the Lord. Paul asked three times for the thorn in the flesh to be taken away. The Lord told him my grace is sufficient. Some people,God does give health and wealth and they use it for the Lord. There is no formula . He does what is best. I don’t like the enthises on material wealth and physical health over sprituel prosperity”he said. 

“So what are your expectations for me?”she asked.”well I figured your would be I.f.b. my expectations are I want a partner a helper,encoreger. Being a pastor there is a detachment between myself and those I’m thinking congregation. While I am not sure that is bibilical ,it happeneds. I get lonely.it would be nice to have someone to talk to.” He told her. 

She learned early on that whenever she asked a question,she would get a story.at first she was taken a back. Later she got used to it.shecame to expect it even found it to be a bit endering. Rather he intended to or not,he had really opened up. 

“I can see that.i am a good listener not quite an elorien but I will do.”she said.”a what?”he asked. “Never mind.”she said.”what are your expectations for me?”he asked. “Please be patient with me. I am all new to this. I can be v verry sensitive. Please keep that in mind. That did not come out quite as I wanted it to !”he said.”no I understand. I will try to be sensitive.i am glad you told me that. “He said.

She noticed he seemed to genuinely care about her. She could see compassion in him. ” You are?”she asked. “I want to respond to your needs.” He said. Your not a Klingon?” She remarked. “A what??” He asked. ” Never mind! “She said.

“I have a feeling that we have almost nothing in common!”she commented. “It’s possible.”he said. “If there is to be a brave new world our generation will have the hardest time Living in it. We will have to work on that I guess. “She said.”yes we will.,”he said.

“What are your interest?”she asked.”church history. theology. History.i like snowmobiling. I like playing sports not really good at it but enjoy it. I like hyims as you know. I enjoyed joy himnology. I like airplanes.you? “He asked. 

I like to read . I like fiction and nonfiction fiction. I read books by word of Faith writers. I like reading and writing poetry. I like contemporary Christian music. I like Star trek and sci Fi.i play the guter. I play the piano but prefer the guter. I like playing volleyball ball. ” She said. 

“We do both like sports and to read. We just read different thing.”he said.”I noticed. Like you said we will work at it.” She said. After a while they decided to call it a night. They had stayed up pretty late. They turned off the lights. They said goodnight. 

End of part two.