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What I’m asking is, as readers, did you get anything out of this in this book at this time in this place, or did you just read it more to get over it to the next part of the story?
I agree with Keilah and Linus—I think you should leave it in, but maybe have Julian encourage the believers more by reminding them of their future hope.
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
My dad actually hasn’t read these ones yet. It’s more the word “sermon” that’s a knee-jerk reaction and less the actual content. I’m completely behind what I write, it’s just more the idea of “writing a sermon”. If that makes sense…….
Got it.
That depends on the word. In this case, this name is said V-ī-ss. Like vice. In fact, that’s how you say it. Vice.
Weird.
It’s the heart matter. You see, they stayed instead of fleeing, but from their actions it leads one to believe that the root reason for staying was because they didn’t want to lose their homes and everything they owned, so they were willing to compromise for the sake of comfort. Maybe it didn’t start out that way. A lot of them would have stayed because they knew for them it was the right thing, but once they saw what was happening they let fear take over, and instead of trying to escape– which would have been fine– or stand up, they just coward down.
Okay. It would be interesting to see this explored in the story if you can, but don’t go out of your way to include it.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
No new sections?
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind. When I have to take a paragraph to explain something I think there’s something missing in the book. 🤣
Fires will rise to testify that 2+2=4. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer
@freed_and_redeemed @hybridlore @koshka @keilah-h @elishavet-pidyon @linus-smallprint
HI Y’ALL!!!
NO, I’M NOT DEAD. (Contrary to popular belief 😂)
I just had the most WILD week. Why does everyone want to graduate in the same week?!?! And why throw wedding stuff into that same week?!?!
Anyhow, this is the first time I’ve touched the laptop for the last couple days, and I normally try to write a little every day, so that just proves how crazy this week was.
Anyhow, I’m BACK. I shall try to get a section on here in a few minutes.
Fires will rise to testify that 2+2=4. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer
@freed_and_redeemed @hybridlore @koshka @keilah-h @elishavet-pidyon @linus-smallprint
NEXT SECTION!!!
The seventeenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
September 5th
The EmpireWe have continued to spread the word of God in the streets, in the square, and to those we meet. We are rising again, and the enemy doesn’t seem to know what to do. They’ve chased us around a few times, but God has continued to provide an escape. Yesterday was the Sabbath, and there were three new families and several single young men we have not seen before. It is so wonderful to see more and more coming to know Christ! God is moving, and I can hardly wait to see what He does next.
~Leon
Leon set down his pen as Julian came in. “Leon, Paul and Zoltan are here.”
Leon put away his writing supplies and stood up to greet the two cousins. When the four had settled down in the small room, Zoltan got straight to the point. “Leon, Julian, Paul is going to tell you what happened. We’ve been praying, and we know we must. You deserve to know, for they were your friends and brothers too. I can’t talk about it though. Not yet.”
Leon nodded and glanced at Julian. “Go ahead,” he said to Paul. “Tell us as much as you can, but don’t feel like you must tell us everything. If you need to stop, you can continue the rest later.”
“Thank you,” Paul said quietly.
There was a long silence.
At last, Paul spoke. “It was evening when they came. The market was still going, for it was one of the big ones. Everyone was still there, enjoying the weather and fellowshipping. Zoltan and I had come down from the University to enjoy the festivities with several other students.
“It was a friend of ours who first spotted the soldiers. We were on the edge of the village, and he saw them marching this way. We all remembered the warning you brought, and we raced back to warn the village. Many of the villagers fled while others ran home to hide. We students ran for the University. We told them the soldiers were coming. Heinrich ran out to see how close they were, and Johannes ordered the rest of us to come and gather in the main study hall. When Heinrich returned, he said they were too close for us to escape. Johannes told all of us to gather everything we had written or copied and take it downstairs to the vault.
“Soon we were running up and down the stairs with all the writings. Johannes and Heinrich were down there organizing the things in a secret chamber. Some of the older boys stayed upstairs to barricade the doors and watch soldiers. No one sought shelter in the University, and I think we all knew that the soldiers would destroy it first. It wasn’t long before they arrived. We continued to carry down everything we could. We were terrified, and we could hear the soldiers hammering on the doors, ordering us to open them. Then, they attacked with their segue weapons.
“Several boys fled, trying to find a way of escape. Some of the upstairs rooms caved in, and a few of them were killed. Heinrich and Johannes ordered us all into the main study hall. We ran there, and all of us gathered in the center of the room. Around us, the room was shaking, and we could hear the walls braking and the men outside. We had nowhere to go, and we all knew it.”
For a moment, Paul was silent, trying to gather the strength to go on. when he spoke again, his voice wavered. “The soldiers eventually broke through. Johannes and Heinrich had warned us there would likely be no escape, and they stood protectively over us. I was too terrified to stand with them, as were several others. We broke and fled. Three were struck down in the doorway, but a some of us made it through. The soldiers gave chase, and we separated. Zoltan and I ran for the stairs. We made it part way up before we were met by a soldier coming down. We turned and ran, but he caught hold of my arm. Zoltan knocked him back, and then one of our friends saw and ran to help us. He yanked me out of the way just as the soldier struck. Zoltan and I escaped, but our friend was killed, as was another student who had tried to help us.
“Zoltan and I hid in the darkness behind some rubble. We could see outside, for the wall to our left had nearly fallen. There were so many soldiers out there, and torches and lanterns lit everything. We saw a few of the students make it outside only to run into the archers waiting there. A few were struck down, but most were captured. I don’t know who escaped, but I pray some of them did. We saw them drag their prisoners through the halls just past us. They had Heinrich and Johannes, and for a moment I almost ran to try to free them, but there were to many soldiers, and I was too afraid to stand with them in whatever was to come.
“They were taken outside, and then the soldiers demanded that the leaders of the University step forward. Johannes and Heinrich did. The soldiers grabbed the two and tied them to the oak tree in the center of the green. Then they made the students sit on the ground. After that, they ransacked the University and dragged out anything with writing on it. They burned everything they could get their hands on. Then, an officer ordered two of his men to bring one of the younger students. They grabbed one of the boys and dragged him to the officer.”
Paul sucked in a breath and looked away. There was a long, long silence, broken only by the crack of Zoltan’s knuckles as he clenched his hands into tight fists. At long last, Paul found his voice. “They killed him. They killed them all.” Paul paused to force back his tears. “It was horrible,” he whispered. “I… I couldn’t watch. They spent the remainder of the night tormenting the students and murdering them. The whole time, they made Heinrich and Johannes watch. At first, the two cried out against what the soldiers were doing, but that was all in vain. After that, they prayed for each student who was dragged before those beasts.”
Paul’s hands trembled and he clenched them tighter. “I… I have never seen such cold-blooded brutality. I can’t understand how one could find pleasure in the pain of another. Those soldiers were so filled with evil and hate… oh I can’t even think about it.” Paul broke off and wiped tears away with the back of his hand. “It was morning before they had finished their cruelty. Heinrich and Johannes were the only two left. The soldier’s cut them free of the tree. They bound and blindfolded them and then spent several hours tormenting them. At last, the soldiers grew weary of it, and a spearman killed them both.”
Zoltan stood and walked to the other end of the room, clenching and unclenching his fists. Paul covered his face with his hands and wept. Leon had the back of his hand over his mouth, and tears ran freely down Julian’s face. They had both seen the aftermath of that horrible night, but to hear what had taken place was almost too much.
It was a long time before anyone was able to speak. Leon was the first one to move. He stood up and came to Paul’s side. Putting a hand on the young man’s shoulder, he began to pray. Julian joined him, and Zoltan turned. After a long moment, he too joined them. Leon thanked God that He had spared Zoltan and Paul and kept them safe. He asked God to heal them and show them how to use what they had witnessed for His glory. Then he asked for comfort and peace for them all.
When they had finished praying, Leon looked at the two cousins. “Thank you for coming here today and telling us what happened.”
Zoltan nodded, and Paul wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “That was the first time either of us have dared to speak of what happened.”
They talked and prayed a little while longer, and then the two cousins returned home. After they had left, Julian and Leon found little to say. They went to bed shortly after.
For a long time, Leon couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened. “Oh Lord, everything is so dark. Help us to see your light!” he whispered into the night.
***
The seventeenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
September 7th
The EmpireThis evening, we were with Fox, and he made an offer to us. He said that we should join him in the small lodging he has taken. That way we can be out of the inn with whatever spies may end up coming there, and we could fellowship with a brother in Christ. He also added that he is tired of cooking, and we decided to make Julian do it. I think we’ll take his offer.
~Leon
The seventeenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
September 10th
The EmpireJulian spoke to the people today in the city square. He had to cut it short, for the temple troops pounced in about an hour. Everyone got away, and Reinhold, who took the roof position, said the troops were raging mad. They practically tore apart the square trying to find us. The people are interested in what we say— or at least find it amusing that we’re outsmarting the troops. Whatever the case, they didn’t offer much help, and many seemed to enjoy helping us get away, as if it were a game. Whatever the case, I’m glad we’re all safe.
~Leon
The seventeenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
September 13th
The EmpireThere was another new couple who joined us this Sabbath for worship. Several of the young men in the church were up and down the streets all week, and the woman speak of God to their friends and acquaintances as they shop in the market and stores. The priests are getting madder than ever, but it seems something is holding them back from hunting us down. Perhaps they don’t want to cause such a scene before the games, which are coming very soon. Or perhaps they think the best strategy is to ignore us and pretend we don’t exist. Or maybe they don’t have the permission they once did. No one knows, but we all can be sure of one thing— God’s protection over us.
~Julian
The seventeenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
September 18th
The EmpireAll the talk is about the coming games. The great open theater is being prepared, and sand is being hauled by the cartloads to spread on the floor. It makes me shudder to think of all the useless killing and fighting just for the pleasure of the crowd. A joust or duel is one thing, but I can no longer stand these bloodsports of the gods. To think I once took part in them!
What can we do though? There is no way we can stop the games from taking place here. All we can do is pray and beg that God will reach the hearts of those who will compete in this senseless killing. How could I have found it in myself to fight in these games when I was younger? How was I so blind! Oh Father, help me to reach one of the young men who will fight in that arena. That is all I ask, Lord. Let me reach just one.~Leon
Leon set down his quill and let the paper dry. When it had, he closed the journal and went into the other room where Fox and Julian were. Julian was standing by the window, deep in thought. He looked up when Leon entered. “Fox and I were talking about how much has changed in these last two months. Can you believe how God is working in this city, and in the hearts of his people?”
“For about a year we cowered and kept quiet, and the enemy was satisfied. Now, our King and Captain has called us back to the fight,” Fox said.
Leon smiled. “The church is once again on the front lines, and we have taken the enemy by surprise.”
Julian nodded, but a thoughtful frown crossed his face. “I wonder how long it will take them to gather their wits and strike back,” he mused.
***
Reward
For the capture and turning over to the temple troops anyone who claims to follow the One God, and claims that the gods are false.
Ten silver pieces will be rewarded, if the prisoner is alive.
Five silver pieces if he is brought in dead.By order of His Royal Majesty
Emperor Haidronias“Well, it looks like that’s your answer,” Fox muttered. The three were looking at the poster Leon had torn down from the corner of their street.
“It’s not a very large sum,” Julian said, trying to be hopeful.
“Makes you feel unimportant, doesn’t it?” Leon teased.
“The question is, what are we to do?” Fox asked. “This certainly will mean something to someone!”
“More than a few someones, if I had my guess,” Leon agreed.
“So, what are we going to do?” Fox repeated.
“Probably get ready, because we were supposed to meet the others in the square in a few minutes,” Leon replied.
Fox started. “Hold on, you can’t be serious!”
“Why? Nothing’s changed. We’ve known we were being hunted this whole time. Just because it’s in writing doesn’t make it any different,” Leon said.
Julian nodded. “They’ll find us one way or another. If I’m going to die, I want to reach as many people as I can before I do.”
“I like to think of it like this; God knows the moment I will die. If He is not ready for me to die, I am immoral. But the moment He is ready to call me home, nothing will stop my death,” Leon said.
Fox took a deep breath. “Alright. Let’s go out there.”
When the three arrived, they saw Zoltan, Paul, Reinhold, and Konner standing near another of the posters. Leon motioned for them to come, and they did. “Let’s go home,” Paul said, the moment he was close enough to speak.
“You can go, but God has called us to stay,” Fox replied firmly.
Konner raised an eyebrow. “Have you read the notices?”
“There’s one on the table back home,” Leon said calmly.
Zoltan clenched his fists and turned away. The look on his face clearly showed he was remembering the University.
Julian looked at each one of the young men standing by him. “Goliath stands and defies the living God. The world waits to see if we will let him continue, or if we will pick up five smooth stones and let God do the impossible in us.”
Reinhold took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m going out there to speak to the people. I would like it if some of you would keep a lookout, but whether you do or don’t, I’m still going.” With that, he turned and walked away.
“I’ll go with him,” Leon said, choosing to take the second most dangerous position.
“I’ve got the main street,” Julian added. As he walked away, he saw the rest of his companions breaking up and taking position. Paul was soon scrambling up onto the roof of a nearby building, and Julian nodded to him.
That day, everyone gathered as soon as they saw Reinhold step up on the fountain. They were eager to see what would happen. The market was almost completely silent as Reinhold spoke. Everyone listened with bated breath, wondering who would be the first to attack the young man.
Fifteen minutes melted into thirty, and thirty into an hour. Still, no one made a move, and the market was a still as death. Suddenly, Konner shouted a warning. Julian spotted the horseman galloping down a side street and waved franticly to Paul. Paul was already on his feet, and Leon was running to Reinhold. Reinhold looked up at his shout of warning, and the next moment he had leapt off the fountain. He broke into a run and disappeared into the crowd at one side. Leon ran the other way, and Julian turned and scrambled down the street nearest to him, praying all the while that everyone would escape.
***
“It will be October soon,” Konner remarked. He, Leon, Julian, Reinhold, and Fox were all gathered after a shared meal.
“Several contestants have arrived already,” Julian agreed.
“Everyone is talking about the prince and wondering when he will come,” Fox added.
“Do any of you know his name?” Leon asked.
They shook their heads.
Julian was thoughtful. “Did anyone actually know Dietrich’s name?”
“We did, and that was before he became a believer,” Fox replied.
“So then, this cousin must go by the name of Dietrich,” Leon mused.
Julian gritted his teeth. “It makes me angry to even think about it.”
“I feel the same,” Reinhold agreed.
“Well, tomorrow is the Sabbath. Are you ready Leon?”
Leon nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it the last two weeks, and God has given me plenty to say,”
“Well then, let’s pray and then we’ll leave you three to get some sleep,” Konner said.
They did so, and then Konner and Reinhold left.
“So, what are you teaching on tomorrow?” Julian asked.
“The story of Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, and Stephen,” Leon said.
“Stephen!” Julian exclaimed. “He isn’t part of that story!”
“Yes, he is,” Leon called over his shoulder as he walked to the bedroom.
“How?” Julian asked, following after him.
“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
***
Leon looked at the gathered people who sat around him. Many of them were nervous, and he knew everyone was thinking about the reward posters. There were a few new faces, and he couldn’t help but be glad. After prayer, Leon took a moment to gather his thoughts and then began.
“Today I want to tell you the story of Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, and Stephen.”
There were murmurs of confusion, and Leon smiled. “You sound like Julian when he and I were talking about this last night. Let me read you the story of Daniel’s three friends. Now, as many of you will remember, God’s people had disobeyed and because of this, they were taken into captivity, and with them were four boys.”
Leon opened his Bible and began to read. “‘Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.’”
Leon continued to read over the tests and training the boys were put through, their tasks and positions assigned by the king, and— a few years later— the test set before them with the king’s statue. He recounted their questioning and the king’s order to kill them. Then he read of how they had been saved by the hand of God from the fire.
Leon looked around the room at the people. “Now let me read from, Acts. ‘And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council.’”
Leon continued to read through the trial, Stephen’s response, the priests’ blindness and refusal to listen, and finally, Stephen’s death. When he finished, he closed his Bible.
For a long time, there was silence. Then, Leon spoke. “In both stories you see young men facing trials brought on them by the enemy. But they fight as soldiers and they press on, even though the odds are desperate, because their Captain is leading them on. We have come to that place right now, and we are facing the might of the enemy. Each one of us will have a story. Some of us will be Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah. We will fight, and God will bring us through the battle safely. But some of us will be Stephen. We will fight against the hordes of darkness, and we will fall. We will lay down our lives for our King, and He will bring us safely home.”
“In both stories, God was there, and He was the same God. He could have saved Stephen, but he didn’t. He could have let Daniel’s friends die, but He didn’t. The Lord is working in each of our lives, and He has a plan for each of us. He is calling us to stand up and fight. It is time we picked up our swords and rushed into the fight, no matter the odds. Christ is victorious over death, so what can man do to us? Remember, the God in the days of Daniel, was the same God in the days of Stephen, and is the same God for us. We are His people, and He has a plan for each one of us. Serve Him every moment of your days, and shine as lights in this darkness, in both life and death.”
***
“Julian, Leon, it’s the prince!” Fox’s call rang through the house as he came bounding in, two days after the Sabbath.
“The false prince, you mean,” Leon grumbled.
“Come and see him. I wonder if he looks anything like Dietrich,” Fox said.
“I would rather not know,” Leon replied.
Julian shrugged. “Come on, Leon, if he’s our new ruler-to-be, it might be a good idea to see him. Who knows, perhaps he will come to Christ.”
“Alright, fine,” Leon growled, getting to his feet.
The three went outside and stepped into the current of people running to see the prince’s arrival. Several had climbed up on rooftops to see better, and the three followed their example. Down below came the official crying for the roads to be cleared. “Make way for Prince Dietrich, son of the emperor, descendent of the lords of heaven.”
Leon clenched his teeth as memories of the true prince Dietrich rose unbidden to his mind.
Surrounded by a guard of protection, riding on a black horse, was the prince. Leon felt a small satisfaction that his black horse was a gelding and not a stallion. It seemed he was not as strong as the true prince when it came to horsemanship. Leon had to admit, however, that Dietrich’s cousin looked very much like him. They were probably around the same height, and his cousin wore the same clothes and mask as Dietrich had. However, the new prince seemed more assertive in his manners, whereas Dietrich had carried himself in a posture of calm surety.
The prince road by and left a sea of gossip in his wake. Julian, Leon, and Fox climbed down from the roof and started for home as soon as they could.
“What did you think of him?” Julian asked, once they were in the relative safety of their lodgings.
“Aggressive,” Leon replied.
“He was just riding a horse,” Fox interjected.
“I know, but he carried himself in a very aggressive manner,” Leon replied. “We lost much when Dietrich died.”
The conversation ended abruptly, and they set about making breakfast.
Fires will rise to testify that 2+2=4. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer
@ellette-giselle I predict that at least a few of them will be thrown into the games. They did that a lot in the Roman days.
if this is the last book though, it wouldn’t be very wise to end it on “they all died in the games” and not have something good come out of it. Even book one with Aaron’s death had a “good ending” because shortly afterward Ardenta was liberated.
Although I’m sure that was your intention anyway.
"When in doubt, eat cheese crackers."-me to my charries who don't even know about cheese crackers
eh, Ardenta wasn’t liberated until the end of book 2.
Also, why on earth is KP just not notifying me??
Fires will rise to testify that 2+2=4. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer
@ellette-giselle oh yeah forgot lol
but it was also the first book, so a cliffhanger like that is ok. Never mind lol
"When in doubt, eat cheese crackers."-me to my charries who don't even know about cheese crackers
Yay!! I was getting a little worried 😅
Have you graduated yet, by the way? (Congrats if you did!)
This section was good. I think you did a good job of showing the horror of the University executions without making it too descriptive *shudders*
Leon ran the other way, and Julian turned and scrambled down the street nearest to him, praying all the while that everyone would escape.
***
“It will be October soon,” Konner remarked. He, Leon, Julian, Reinhold, and Fox were all gathered after a shared meal.
This Scene break was a little startling. First we’re unsure if they’re going to survive, then we’re in a different scene where it becomes clear everyone is still safe. Maybe just remove that “praying all the while…”?
I really like Leon’s speech.
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
Yes, I did graduate.
Thanks. I didn’t want to get too descriptive for sure.
ah, I see. Yeah, I can smooth that page break a little.
Fires will rise to testify that 2+2=4. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer
That’s so exciting!!!! Congratulations!!!!
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
Thank you!!!!
Fires will rise to testify that 2+2=4. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer
Oh, btw, you asked about my signature, did you ever get my reply on that?
Fires will rise to testify that 2+2=4. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer
Yes, I did—I think I responded? Unless I didn’t send it?
It’s cool. I had no idea what it meant until I read the rest of it though. XD
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
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