Around Noon of Sunday, October Eighteenth

[brotherlaurence.livejournal.com]

1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."

4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours."

8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"

9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written:

" 'He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:1-13 NIV)

There is a good amount of people here. The room does not overflow, but every seat is filled. I do not know that the topic of my sermon has converted anyone, but I have hope that it will at least give some second thoughts about dealing with the Thing in the Tower and the others who walk among us.

I finish with a prayer that I lead us all in, giving thanks and asking for protection and leadership. I also pray for the Reaves family, and the Marks family as well. When I am done and I lift my head, I give everyone a smile.

"Thank you all again for coming. You are more than welcome to stay and partake in a meal with us." I motion to the table that Cain and Kaeli helped me set up. Then I step from the pulpit and move into the crowd, shaking hands and giving smiles to those who reach out to me in congratulations or something. But this is not about me. I hope that they realize that. The Wilsons are here, I notice and give them a smile. They begin to make a beeline for me and I brace myself, hoping I can find someone else to talk to before Amanda is thrust upon me again.


[OPEN.]