Thursday, April 30, 2020

Only for You – Part II

Only for You – Part II
The Only for You mask has had many wearers who have used the mask to be what they want for the person they love. Even though they find themselves in similar situations to one another with different people needing similar solutions, they each do things in their own way that the mask allows. Two people had a person they loved begin to lose their faith in God, which was an integral part of their life.
“I will become God for them,” an atheist said.
Because of their want, the atheist’s mind was like God’s and could only handle it for a second before exploding and their soul being sent to Hell.
“I want to become a saint for them,” a fellow Catholic said.
The good-hearted saint was a saint as they wore the mask, but once it showed signs of its adverse effects, the saint cast aside the mask and became a saint through practice.
Two people had a person they loved that was preparing to move away.
“I will be the reason they stay,” one said.
The mask allowed them to become a kidnapper who kept their loved one at their house as long as they left the mask on. This happened for three days until the wearer died along with their loved one who was stuck in their basement and died of starvation and thirst.
“I will be a reason they want to stay,” another said.
The mask allowed them to become a person they wanted to marry. Once the mask took its toll on them, they told the truth of what they were doing with the mask to the person they loved.
“I’ve always loved you for who you are. You didn’t need to wear a mask to pretend to be someone else because I’ve only loved you,” their lover said.
The two then got married and moved away together.
Three people had a person they loved cheat on them.
“I will be the person who they’re cheating with,” one said.
The mask allowed them to get rid of the cheater and become that person. This only lasted until the mask took its toll.
Once that happened, the wearer told the truth to their lover and said, “Now that they’re gone, you have to love me. You’ve been with me this entire time!”
“No, I’ve been with a liar!”
Their lover then left them and reported the wearer to the police. The police couldn’t find a trace of the wearer nor the mask.
“I will be a person better than the one they’re cheating with,” another said.
The mask allowed this, and the wearer became a better person than them and the cheater as long as they wore the mask. After three days of wearing the mask, it took its effects. The wearer told their lover the truth, which they didn’t believe. Their lover was struck with depression and stayed single in the hopes of having their imaginary lover come back to them one day.
The third person who was cheated didn’t bother with their unfaithful lover nor the mask and just sought after someone else who was worthy of their love. In another set of similar scenarios, a wearer’s lover wasn’t allowed to see them due to certain circumstances.
“I will use this mask to get close to them,” one said.
The mask allowed the wearer to disguise themselves to get closer to their lover so they could enjoy each other’s company. Once the third day came and the mask’s effects had its toll on them, the wearer snuck their lover out and ran away from everyone they knew never to be seen again.
“I will use this mask to be someone their family will approve of,” another said.
The mask allowed the wearer to become someone their lover’s family would approve of, which included riches, power, and fame, but their lover did not love them back. Their lover only had eyes for them and no matter what they were given to convince them otherwise.
Because of this, the wearer revealed themselves to their family and said, “I am sorry for deceiving you for so long. My riches, power, and fame are all lies along with the way I act. Surely, this will convince you to allow our marriage now?”
Struck by the wearer’s efforts to be with their child, the parents allowed their marriage and the two lived together forever.
“I will use this mask to be close to the person I love,” the last said.
The mask allowed the wearer to get close to the person they loved. They revealed themselves only to be met with disgust from their lover. After this, the wearer became a person their lover would like. This worked well until the third day of wearing the mask took its toll on the wearer who attempted once last time to love the person they really wore. Again, they were rejected with disgust. Because of this, the wearer hung themself since they weren’t loved by the person who they wanted to love them.
Yes, many different people use the Only for You mask to achieve different people for they love. Some search after it only for the mask to evade them before they obtain it. There are legends that say it’s a tool of God to test. Others say that it’s made by the devil to destroy. One thing is for sure is that the mask is found by those who need it in their love troubled lives, and it may just be coming to you.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

A Raging Father ( A Good vs Right story)


A Raging Father
The Catholic Space Empire, in her mercy and tolerance, will allow heretics and heathens to live in their vast and well-kept cities only if the sinners agree to one day convert. They must show weekly signs of conversion that is tested by teachers. Those who fail the test several times with no signs of improvement are kicked off the planet while those who pass can continue to stay. Since the Church isn’t always fully aware of what all the heretics and heathens are doing, a group of them manage to steal money, weapon, and developing plasma weapon parts in a heist then take off in a ship with a little girl as a hostage though they aren’t able to get off the planet as they are shot down.
Conor, the father of the little girl, is a Righteous Executioner. The Righteous Executioners are a league of executioners in the Church who both execute the guilty and act as law enforcement, especially during prison breaks. During the heist, he was executing criminals who were breaking out of prison with the help of their allies, but Conor and his fellow guards managed to stop them all. Once he hears that his daughter was kidnapped, Conor stocks up on ammo and heads out to the nearest ship. Along the way, one of the commanding officers of the prison catches up to him.
“Conor, I know what you’re going to do, and you have every reason to want to do it, but you can’t execute everyone. Bring some back as a show of the Church’s mercy,” the officer says.
“They killed and stole. They had their chance for mercy when they arrived here, and they took advantage of our kindness. It’s no longer the time for mercy. It’s time for justice.”
“Don’t play judge over their lives. You aren’t God.”
“No, but God gave me the role of an executioner and executioners know when the time for justice is.”
“Step aside, officer. Conor has the responsibility to do what he wants in this situation as his calling as a Righteous Executioner allows him it,” a higher-ranked executioner tells the officer as he approaches them.
“If you say so. I’m just trying to help the Church’s reputation as forgiving and merciful.”
“And she always will be, but we must not forget that she can also be a just executioner. Go out and do God’s Will, Conor, and save your daughter. We will be praying for her and your safe return.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Conor takes his ship and heads off in the direction of the crashed ship that’s gone down in a forest. He parks the ship not too far from it and investigates the crash to find only a couple dead bodies. Thankfully, his daughter is not among the dead. When he travels further into the forest, he finds a small camp of people. Immediately assuming that they have something to do with the criminals, he runs in with his double-barrel shotgun, shoots two of them, shoots the legs off the other two, and pins one of the two still alive to the ground.
“Tell me where the little girl is. She’s my daughter,” Connor tells the man.
“That was your daughter the others came in with? She’s with the others right now. Even though she may be innocent, I won’t tell you where she is.”
Conor takes out his executioner’s ax and cuts the man in two. He then pins the other wounded man down.
“Tell me what he didn’t, and you won’t end up like him.”
“God will protect me unlike you and your satanic ch-”
Conor blows off the man’s head with his shotgun and searches the dead and their camp to find maps that they have of the area. The map is marked with several nondescript dots. With the map in his possession, Conor sets out to see what’s at each location. He finds heretics and heathens set up in hidden camps and underground bunkers filled with food, weapons, and false teachings the sinners consider true. At the first camp, he kills everyone except for three men he spares to get info out of.
“I won’t tell you anything!” the man tells Conor.
“Then I’ll get someone else to.”
Conor points his shotgun at the man.
“Wait! I’m an Orthodox Christian! We’re part of the same Church.”
Conor shoots the man and says, “You’re a heretic who disobeys God and His Church.”
“Wait, I’m an Anglo-Catholic! Surely we’re part of the same Church!” another says.
“You’re the same as the other heretics. Tell me something, repent of your sins, and I might let you live.”
“No, I can’t. They’ll kill me if-”
Conor shoots the man.
“Fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
The last man says, “I’m Jewish! We’re part of the same Israel, are we not? God established an everlasting covenant with us!”
“You broke His covenants, hung Him on a cross, and still refuse to repent, or will you?”
“I have nothing to repent for.”
Conor shoots the man.
“Then you have no reason for me to spare you.”
In another area, Conor finds a manufacturing center where their books are made. He assaults the small factory and burns all the books made there including heretical versions of Sacred Scripture.
One of the survivors surrenders and asks Conor, “Please don’t burn the Scriptures! Our teachings may be flawed in some ways, but don’t you have reverence for the Sacred?”
“I do,” Conor answers, “That’s why this false version must burn. If you have reverence for the Sacred, then go into the fires and save it or I’ll throw you in there myself.”
The survivor hesitates. This hesitation tells Conor what he knows so he throws the man into the fire. Conor destroys several other sites before finally coming across a man who tells him everything he knows along with the location of his daughter.
“That’s the last location I have left on the map anyway,” Conor says.
“You’ve destroyed the other ones? The last base will probably know you’re coming by now.”
“That’s fine. I can handle them.”
“What about me? Are you going to kill me like the others?”
“Do you repent of your sins?”
“Of course. I was going to leave at the earliest opportunity with the right excuse.”
“I’m wary of your current excuse, but if you’re telling the truth, then you have your opportunity and excuse now. Leave, go to the Church, and do penance for your sins.”
The man runs away as Conor goes his own way to the last location. At the location, Conor finds a small group of people patrolling the area with a small tank. There’s a small ship on the roof that can fly across the planet, but not get them off it. Since he needs heavier firepower, he transforms his executioner’s ax into a rocket launcher that fires laser guides explosives. This particular weapon is given to Righteous Executioner in the event that there’s a prison break with ships that come to pick them up.
With his launcher, Conor unleashes a barrage that destroys the small tank, ship, and surrounding patrols. He then switches his shotgun to a high powered mode that makes it powerful enough to shoot through walls at the cost of overheating faster, but that’s not much of a problem for Conor. He makes sure to make each shot count as he uses one shot to tear apart two to three enemies at once. Conor goes through every door and everyone standing in his way as he carves a bloody path to his daughter that he finds in a protected room with the last of the people on this base. The last of the guards don’t stand much of a chance either as Conor doesn’t give them time to prepare nor does he allow the last person to use his daughter as a defense shield. Once everyone is dead or bleeding out, he walks up to his daughter, kneels down to her, and holds out his hand.
“Dad-daddy?” she says to him.
“I’m here, sweetie. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“I wasn’t afraid. I knew God would send you to me.”
Before they leave, the last injured enemy asks, “How-how could you be such a violent and unforgiving person?”
“Because I love my God, His Church, and my family,” Conor answers, “I protect them with my weapons and my life. You don’t truly love anything or anyone unless you want to fight and give your life for them. Think about that and repent of your sins before you die.”
Conor holds the hand of his daughter as he walks out of the destroyed base and back to his ship. He flies back home, reports what he found, then gets some well deserved rest back at home with his wife and daughter.

Monday, April 27, 2020

Only for You – Part 1

Only for You – Part 1
True love is hard to find. Ain’t that the truth? I’ve been looking for the right guy for years and I’ve been turned her down by every one of them. Dang it. I can’t be thinking about that right now. It doesn’t help. I came by this calming river to calm my nerves after all. Huh? What’s that over there by the flower bed? Is that a mask? Yeah, it is. It’s pretty creepy too. “Only for You” is written on the forehead with bloody tears drawn near its hollow eyes. It also has red blush, a black and red nose hole, and a hollow mouth.
“Hmm. I could use it for Halloween,” I say aloud.
I’ll try it on when I get home. Okay, let’s see how this looks. Yup. It looks just as creepy as I imagined. It kind of looks creepier with me wearing it. I can’t even see my eyes and mouth in it. “Only for you”. I wish a guy would say that he was only for me. I wish I was the girl someone wanted-
“What the hell?! Ow!”
I hit the shelf behind me, and something dropped on the floor, but that’s not important now. Is that really me in the mirror?
“This can’t be me, is it?”
Everything about my looks has changed. It doesn’t look like I’m wearing the mask at all. My face, my body…
“Even my voice has changed. Is the mask doing this?”
I take off the mask and I go back to normal. This mask is really special. Let’s see how far it can go. Using the mask allows me to look however I want to. I can even look and sound like a guy if I want to. This is the solution to all my love worries!
“Hahaha!”
I can’t wait for tomorrow. I know where this one guy I like works at. With the mask on my face, I go out to impress and get the man who will love me for the rest of his life. When I look at him, I can see the image of the girl he wants and I change into that girl. I look around to see if anyone noticed a few people rub their eyes, so I just smile at them before approaching Amado.
“Hello, Amado,” I say to him.
When he looks up at me, he blushes and looks a bit surprised.
He says, “H-hello. How may I help you?”
“You can help me by going out with me. I’m lonely and need a handsome man like you in my life.”
Wow. I’m not this forward. Is the mask making me be this way?
“Oh, well, I can help you with that after work. I can give you my number for now. Boss doesn’t want me flirting on the job.”
We exchange numbers. The two of us met first on a dating site but didn’t exchange numbers since we only went on to two dates before he decided I wasn’t the right girl for him.
“I can wait for you. Just don’t keep me waiting too long.”
“S-sure thing, heh. What’s your name?”
“Carla.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ll see you after work.”
“See you soon.”
Before I even turn the corner, my appearance has changed. It must be because he’s already imagining our date. It’s a good thing no one saw me change. Once he’s done work, I meet up with him at a nice restaurant and have a nice date. I don’t act like myself, but I’m willing to sacrifice that for love. A strange thing that happened was when the check came, I tried to help pay for it, but my wallet disappears from my handbag until Amado pays for it. I guess that’s part of the mask’s weird powers too. He seems to be happy paying for the meal, so I guess that’s what matters.
That was a great start. I think he’s already falling for me. We’re going to have another date tomorrow, which I can’t wait for. When I get home, I finally take off the mask and look into the mirror. Huh? Is there something wrong with my face? It must be my imagination.
On our next date, we take a nice walk by the river. It’s a great time. Amada even lets me hold onto his arm. We talk and eat at a bar by the river then set up our next date before we say goodbye. Before I leave, I try to steal a kiss from him and get away with it. Another great day and a great day like this deserves a great bath. Time to take this thing off.
“Ah!”
What happened to me? As I look in the mirror, I see that my skin has decayed as if I were a corpse. I feel really weak like this. You know what? I don’t need my old self. That old me was full of unfixable flaws and a personality that no one fell in love with. This new me is loved and perfect. Putting the mask back on doesn’t help the way I feel on the inside, but at least I look better.
During the next date, I feel a bit sick and it’s not because of love. When I look in the mirror, I look fine. I’m afraid to take off the mask not only because of how I’ll look but also because of what Amada will think of me. He’ll probably think I’m a dirty liar and not worth his time. Honesty is one of the core foundations of a relationship after all. I’m not lying though when I say that I would sacrifice my old self so someone would love me.
“Carla? Carla.”
“Huh? Sorry, Amada. I was lost in thought.”
“That’s alright, so-”
“So, are you done beating around the bush?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Go ahead and ask me. I know you have feelings for me.”
“Okay, you saw right through me. Will you be my girlfrie-”
I kiss him on the lips.
“Of course I will.”
Amada kissing me back on this moonlit night with piano music playing in the background is a dream come true. I wouldn’t give this up for anything, but I keep getting progressively sick, so I leave as soon as I can after we agree where and when to see each other tomorrow. I’m afraid to see what I look like now, but I have too-!
“AAAAAAAAHH!”
What-What-I have to get in the shower! AAAAAHHH!!! Get these maggots out of my skin! There’s so many of them! Come on, come on get out! On top of all the maggots in all the holes in my body and face, I throw up maggots as well. In my hurry, I rip off the drainage plug so that the maggots could go down the pipes in the shower. After all that, I sit down in the bathtub horrified to look in the mirror, but I must.
When I look into the mirror, I see a hollow corpse. It’s a wonder that I’m still alive. I’m so ugly now. This is a reflection of who I truly am. A liar. Amada isn’t in love with me. He’s in love with an illusion. A false version of myself and his fantasies. I have to be honest with him tomorrow. I’m afraid of what will happen when I use this mask again anyway.
The next day comes quickly and I wear clothes that hide my entire body and face. Amada meets me near the bench near the river as we planned. I can’t bear to look at his face. He doesn’t seem to notice me probably because I’m not dressed as I usually am.
“Amada. It’s me. Carla.”
“Carla? Is that you? You sound different. You also look different. Are you sick?”
“No. I have a confession to make. I’m actually Cara. I’ve been disguising myself and acting as a different person so that you would love me.”
“What? How can that be true?”
I show the mask to Amada and explain everything to him.
“It sounds unbelievable.”
“I know, but I’m telling you the truth. I don’t want you to see how deformed I am, so I think it’s best if this is the last time we see each other. I’m sorry I tricked you into loving me.”
“I believe you, Cara, and it’s okay. I forgive you.”
“What? You do?”
“I can hear how honest and humble you are. You’re a strong person for giving up such an amazing gift to tell the truth even if you are going to die from using it.”
“Thanks.”
“However, I can’t be in a relationship with you, but I will find you a boyfriend since you’re seriously on the hunt for one.”
“I look like a corpse. No one will love me.”
“Looks aren’t everything. Besides, I’m sure we can get to a doctor to help you get better. Let me see your face.”
“No. It’s too horrible.”
“You’ve come out here to tell me the truth and you won’t show me your true face?”
“Alright, fine.”
I take the hood off my face and look to the ground to avoid looking at him in the eyes.
“You look fine. Better than the last time I saw you even.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“Seriously, look at yourself in the river.”
I might as well…Huh?! He’s telling the truth! I’m back to normal and better! I cheer and hug Amada then awkwardly let him go.
“Sorry,” I tell him.
“It’s okay. Where’s that mask of yours? We should probably get rid of it.”
“Oh yeah. I left it on the bench.”
We look around for it but don’t manage to find it. No one else was around us, so I don’t know where it went. Whatever the case is, I’m glad that it’s gone. I’m happy that I’m back to normal. Back to myself. With Amada’s help, I should be able to find the right guy for me.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

My 140th book is out!


Download for free on Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1017513

All Hail the King of Kings
The Hound of Heaven is both a Merciful Judge and Just Executioner that defends everything and everyone He holds dear. The mini-stories in this collection detail various accounts of His Divine Love. Both the unending mercy and the unrelenting destruction that His Love manifests.

Hunted by the Hound of Heaven: Story 5 – Just Judge


Story 5 – Just Judge
All are called to be part of King’s Kingdom. Repentant sinners from all over the world come to be His servants. Kings, queens, nobility, and philosophers, theologians are just a few of the kinds of people that came to the King. Most of the people that came to the King were the simple people and sinners. The prostitutes, the liars, the scam artists, the proud, the degenerates, the hoarders, the lazy, and so many more were the kinds of people that the King attracted. All the people on earth came to Him for something that their life needed the most. A place that only He could fill.
The world, its riches, its vanities, and its short-lived pleasures could only entertain them for so long. Serving the King made them feel fulfilled. It healed their soul. They knew they were fulfilling their role that they were created for when they were serving Him. No one who died in service of the King felt like their lives were wasted.
Even the enemies of the King respected Him. The ones that did not end up becoming His allies instead became the reprobates that became examples of what happens when you stand Him and attack what He loves. Their kingdoms are burned to ash. Their accomplishments are forgotten. Everything and everyone they ever idolized turned to dust. It’s a shame since there is a person in the King’s Kingdom who converted at every point that the others would think impossible.
No sin was too great for the King to forgive. No sinner was too lost to be found. No criminal was too evil to be reformed into a saint. This is the power of the King. This is why He is so great, and you can change into the great person you are meant to be only if you humbly accept His invitation.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Hunted by the Hound of Heaven: Story 4 – Divine Helper

Story 4 – Divine Helper
When a man learned of the King, he left everything behind everything he had besides the clothes he was wearing and a map to the King’s Kingdom. Because he had left everything, he was only able to eat and drink when he found something he could consume. He tried to ask other travelers for help, but none would help him until he came across one with a covered face who gave him food and drink.
“Thank you, kind sir,” he said to the silent man.
The silent man nodded then headed off in the opposite direction.
“Oh, wait! Do you know about the King? I am heading in the direction of His glorious Kingdom and you should too. He’s sure to bless you especially when I tell Him of your charity.”
The silent man turned around, patted the man’s head then kept traveling in his own direction.
Unsure of what to think of the silent man’s response, the man kept walking. He became tired and decided to rest during the night. While he rested, bandits along with their dogs attacked him and stole what little possessions he had. This did not keep him from traveling as he got up and kept going. He traveled until he came across a masked soldier with blood on his clothes, sword, and shield and the bodies of the bandits and dogs around him. The masked soldier handed the man his clothes and map then walked away.
“Wait! I must thank you in some way for the kindness you have shown me. I am traveling to the King’s Kingdom. Come with me and I will tell the King of your great deeds. He is sure to reward you handsomely for it.”
Just like the silent man, the soldier responded by patting the man’s head in silence and heading off in his own direction. Again, the man is unsure of what to think. He only assumed that patting someone’s head in silence was a strange custom that he had not heard about. Nevertheless, he kept on going. The man traversed a mountain and fell when he took a wrong step. He cried out for help only to be met with silence. Undeterred, he crawled his way up the mountain where he was met with a doctor with a crow mask who helped him up the mountain and healed his injuries. After helping him, the doctor went his own way.
“Wait, my friend! You should travel with me to the King’s Kingdom! A deed such as yours deserves a reward.”
Just like the other two, the doctor patted the man’s head before he walked off. The man did not let his confusion hold him in place for long as he arrived at the gates of the Kingdom to catch the King arriving back to it as well.
He got on his knees and said, “My King, I have traveled long and far to be with You. Please, grant me the privilege of being your humble servant.”
The King silently patted the man’s head and lifted him up from his feet. An idea came to the man’s head and as he was about to say it, the silent man, masked soldier, and doctor with a crow mask that he met along the way arrived at the Kingdom. He could only then assume that the King’s example was mirrored by His servants to the point where they appeared to be Him. There is a similar tale of this happening. This tale involves a healer who wore a dove mask and traveled the lands healing people’s bodies and souls and who would direct people to the King’s Kingdom.
He almost seemed to be divine, but since most of the people who encountered him did not have a strong belief in divinity, they could only say he was the most skilled doctor in the world. Others doubted his divinity because he was found among the worst of sinners. He helped the prostitutes, the drunkards, the blasphemers, the bankers, the politicians, and the like. Since he was so popular, the sinners tried to get him to join them, but he refused. When they tried to force him to join, the blood within them would boil as they slowly died.
After one day of healing, a blind homeless man heard him walking his way. The homeless man reached out to him and was healed almost instantaneously.
Despite being healed, the homeless man asked the Divine Doctor, “Please, heal me of my weakness. Help me to be like You.”
Before the man knew it, he was in the King’s Kingdom. The citizens of the Kingdom wondered how the homeless man arrived in the Kingdom in his condition and asked him how he did it.
“A Divine Doctor performed His miracles on me,” the homeless man answered. The King entered the Kingdom and the homeless man pointed to Him and said, “There He is!”
The King allowed the man to run up to Him and kiss the ground He stepped on.
“Praise to the King of All!” the homeless man proclaimed.
In another story, a sinful man found himself in jail and on death row. Days before his execution, the prisoner was given a man who volunteered to spend his last days with. This volunteer wore a black cloth on his head and mouth, red cloth on his body that is formed in the shape of the cross, and black rugged pants.
Amused by the volunteer’s charity, the prisoner asked, “Why would you volunteer to spend my last days with me?”
“Someone has to. Hasn’t a priest come here to ask for your final confession?”
“No. They don’t think I’m worth it nor do I. I’m not worth anything because of what I’ve done.”
“That’s not true. I’m sure God will hear your prayer for forgiveness if you are humble.”
“You think so? Heh. I doubt it.”
For the next couple of days, the volunteer became friends with the prisoner. The prisoner was taught everything about God’s goodness, mercy, and love for mankind.
“Really? Does God love each one of us as if there were only one of us?” the prisoner asked.
“Yes, that’s true.”
The prisoner was captivated by the knowledge the volunteer told him. Never in his imagination did he think he would be interested in hearing basic theology and philosophy.
By the time of his execution, the prisoner regretted all his decisions and the volunteer helped him make a confession to God, but by the time of his execution, the guards took the volunteer rather than the prisoner.
“Wait, what are you doing?” the prisoner asked.
“What does it look like? We’re taking the prisoner to be executed,” the guard said.
The volunteer silently nodded towards him as they were separated as the prisoner was set free while the volunteer was executed. Seeing that he could do nothing, the prisoner could only watch as the volunteer was executed in his place. After the execution, the prisoner went to where the volunteer’s body was buried to see that the gravesite was guarded. The prisoner went back and forth to offer prayers and flowers for the volunteer until the third day when he saw that the guards were asleep at the gate and the volunteer’s body was gone. As soon as he left the gravesite, he found the volunteer waiting for him.
“What? How are you alive?” the prisoner asked.
“What do you mean? I never truly died,” the volunteer responded.
His mind could not believe what he was seeing in front of him and yet he believed. The volunteer appeared to be heavenly and everything that the volunteer told him previously led the prisoner to one conclusion.
“What are you doing?” the volunteer asked as the prisoner was taking off his black cloth on his head.
“I have to see the face of God to pay Him my respects for everything He’s done for me. For everything, you have done for me,” the prisoner responded.
But when the cloth was removed, the prisoner saw an ordinary man. The place where the volunteer was stabbed was still there and his body was indeed physical, so the prisoner wondered at how God blessed this man with such a great gift as to make him like Him.
“I’m not God, but I am a servant of His. I can lead you to His Kingdom if you wish.”
“Yes, please lead me to Him.”
The two went to the King’s Kingdom where the prisoner became a truly free man by becoming one of the King’s most loyal servants.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Hunted by the Hound of Heaven: Story 3 – Righteous Justice


Story 3 – Righteous Justice
Among the people in the King’s Kingdom, there lies a band of traitors. The King went into one of His many Churches and tore the place apart. All the expertly made statues, paintings, and architecture were torn apart to reveal drugs, pornographic material, and other funds that the traitors made on the side to make themselves rich. The King then broke apart the floors to reveal a hidden stairway that led to a basement where the products were made. No one was in the basement as they heard that the King was on to their evil deeds, so they left before He arrived. When they came back, they acted as if nothing happened.
“What happened here, my King?” one of them asked.
With one swipe of His sword, the King cut down all five of the traitors. A few hours later the guards that the King tasked in finding more traitors brought Him four guilty people.
“My Lord, I have done great things for you. Surely, you can excuse-” the priest said before he cut down.
“Just execute me. I know what I deserve,” the man said before he was killed as well.
“Please! I didn’t do anything wrong! You’re just mistake-” the woman said before she was cut in two.
The last man knelt silently.
As the King held the sword over the man’s head, he said, “Let thy will be done, not by my word, but thy word.”
The man’s words gave the King pause. The King then put away His sword, forgave the man of his crimes, and then gave him a penance to pay for his sins. Most of the traitors were dealt with except for the ones that escaped the Kingdom, but they were far from justice. The King’s dove flew after them and decapitated them. Some of them sought shelter under caves only to realize the King’s snake was hiding in their supplies and products and made quick work of them. Four out of every five sets of customers of the traitors’ tainted products were executed once they were all rounded up.
Another story of the King’s justice happened in a recent war between two kingdoms. One was favored by the King while the other wasn’t.  The kingdom that was favored was explicitly told not to involve themselves in the practices of the other kingdoms nor were they supposed to bother with their philosophy other than using the King’s wisdom to prove that it was false. Curiosity got to them and the kingdom involved themselves with the other kingdoms and even became friendly with them. Despite the number of messengers that the King sent to them to tell them to stop, the kingdom refused.
The kingdom went to battle one day with another. On that day, the King’s army joined the battle, but it wasn’t to help, it was to destroy both armies. After that, the King destroyed both kingdoms and their allies. None survived. None were saved. The burning and noxious regions where the kingdoms stood are testaments to those who choose to actively disobey the King of Kings.
In contrast, there was a war were the enemies of the King submitted themselves to Him once they realized who He was. The allies of the King took advantage of their penitential status by heavily taxing them, not paying them enough for their labor, and even taking whatever people they wanted to either be their bride or groom. Those who took advantage of the penitent were strongly punished as those who were in power became powerless and those without power became powerful. As a result, the kingdom who was penitential became one of the King’s most trusted and formidable allies while the others who took advantage of them in their time of need were cut off completely.
There are many examples of sinners trying to get away with their sins. On one occasion, there was a holy man who was about to die and go to Heaven, but he thought he could think a lustful thought and get away with it. Once he thought it, he killed his soul and was immediately sent to Hell with no witness in Heaven who could excuse his action. Another woman thought her good deeds could excuse her behavior towards an unfortunate woman who just entered the Kingdom. This unfortunate woman was allowed in and didn’t know how to get to the King’s castle because of the many streets and how expansive the Kingdom was, so she asked a woman for directions.
“How may I get to the castle? I’ve just arrived and would like to talk to the king,” the unfortunate woman said.
“Go straight, take a left, then go straight ahead. That street should lead you straight to the King’s castle,” the other woman said.
“Okay, thank you so much for your help!”
Unfortunately, the path the woman took lead her to a waterway within the Kingdom with no other path forward. Before she could turn around, the woman she took directions from pushed her into the waterway.
“I know you, trash, from the outside! You should learn your place and stay out of here!” the woman said.
The unfortunate woman was swept away by the waterway that pushed her out of the Kingdom and into a lake. As she struggled to pull herself out of the lake, the King found her and pulled her out. She was brought to the King’s castle and given a place in His castle while the uncharitable woman was deprived of all her possessions and her penance was to be her servant for a set number of years. In another case, there was a proud man who loved how good he was at following the King’s law. He went to confession only once per month, unlike most others who had to go once per two weeks. He went to daily celebrations for the King and did several devotions for Him.
A wandering man was allowed into the Kingdom and came across the proud man. It was obvious that he had just repented from his sins and was seeking help. Knowing how repentant sinners are valued more than the proud, the proud man feigned to help the repented man by teaching him false lessons, so when the repented man talked to the King, he talked sinfully. Both the repented man and the proud man were punished as a result. For their penance, they were to make something for the King with the materials they were provided. Since the proud man was educated, he made an eye-catching gift while the repented man made something simpler but filled with love and appreciation something that the proud man’s gift lacked. The repentant man’s gift was accepted by the King while the proud man’s gift was destroyed. Enraged by this, the proud man used parts of his destroyed gift to try to attack the repentant man, but as he attacked, the King stopped his hands, which made the man’s arms fall off. The proud man was left in jail to do penance while the repentant man was given his possessions, his job, and more.

Monday, April 20, 2020

Hunted by the Hound of Heaven: Story 2 – Relentless Pursuer

Story 2 – Relentless Pursuer
Everyone in the town came to the gates. They watched as the King approached them alone with his snake and dove.
“Look at this fool who approaches us by Himself,” one of the rulers said.
This kingdom and its allies have been at war with the King for several days. Many of their allies have fallen with little to no casualties on the King’s side. Still, the alliance of kingdoms stands firm against Him.
“What is that You want?” one of the guards said.
The King points to the gates of the town.
“You want to enter?”
The King shook His head to say yes.
“If you want to join our alliance, then take off Your clothes and prostrate Yourself before us. Otherwise, if You want something from us, then You have to take it Yourself.”
The King walked towards the gates. A squad of archers launched a barrage of fire arrows at Him at the command of their ruler. The arrows hit the King, His snake, and dove and pinned them to the ground while the arrows burned them. They thought they killed Him and cheered. Their victory is short-lived as King rose and took the arrows out of Himself and continued to walk forward. Afraid, but unshaken, the soldiers then pour oil and fire on Him as He neared the gate. The fire didn’t stop Him either as He broke down the gate with His bare hands.
Inside the town, the citizens trembled at the sight of the King who stood firm and unfazed by fire. Among them, He touched them and cleansed them of their sins and sickness. The others were burned to ash as the snake and dove went through the town burning it down while the King looked for a specific person. This person ran out of their burning house. With the target in His sight, the King ran after He who was after. The remaining rulers tried to block the King’s path with deadly blockades manned by their finest soldiers, but the King ran through them breaking both the blockade and bodies of those who stood in His way.
His target saw that he couldn’t outrun Him, so He hide in a mansion hoping to lose Him in it. The King broke down the walls and doors of the mansion in His pursuit and kept pursuing His target up the many stairs of the mansion. On the very top floor of the mansion was a maze of bookshelves that one could easily get lost in. The King’s target tried darting his way through the maze to lose the King, but the King walked threw the walls as if they were nonexistent. Finally, on the roof with nowhere to go, the King cornered His target.
“Don’t come any closer! I’ll jump!” the man said.
The King extended His hand to the man. The man then saw that there was no way else to live as the mansion and town burned around him, so he took the King’s hand.
“How are we going to escape?”
Before the man knew it, the dove took the King from the roof while the snake held onto the man to keep him close to the King. The dove landed the two on the ground where the other purified citizens were. With the person He came for plus some extras, the King left with His precious possessions. On another day, one of the King’s servants was taken while he was traveling. This servant spent his days in jail evangelizing for the King to his fellow prisoners. Few listened to him while most ridiculed him and beat him since they thought he was mad.
“Some king you have,” one of the prisoners said.
“He let one of His own go out into danger without any protection. How irresponsible of Him.”
“How could He possibly save you now? This is the most well-protected prison in the world.”
As they were talking, the King arrived at the grated windows of the prison. He had climbed all the way up to the window where they were without alerting the people in the prison. The King removed the grates of the window and held out His hand to His servant. Once the servant was on His back, the King held out His hand to the others who were evangelized.
“Will you really rescue us too?” one of the evangelized asked.
The King continued to hold out His hand.
“How will you carry us all out? Won’t we all fall?”
The King kept holding out His hand in silence.
“Okay. I trust in You.”
The evangelized took the King’s hand and were taken either by the dove or by the snake. He then left without alerting any of the guards. When the guards of the prison came to see the prisoners, they saw the open window and assumed they were trying to leave. For their supposed escape attempt, the remaining prisoners were executed. The evangelized prisoners that the King took became some of the King’s greatest servants in His Kingdom.
Once there was a woman who ran away from her family. She couldn’t handle the pressures of her job and the responsibilities of being a mother. Three of her children were already lost to accidents and she took this as a sign of her being unworthy of being a mother, so she ran away the King’s Kingdom and her family. She started a promiscuous life in another kingdom and sold herself to whoever made her feel happy. One day, a man invited her to stay with her. He said he had to go run out to get something and gave her his servants to keep her preoccupied. She was fine until she heard that the King was coming this way. After hearing this, she tried to leave the house only to be stopped by the servants.
“Stop! The King is going to give the master of this house and us redemption and a better life.”
“I don’t want it!”
The woman then found her way out of the building, stole a horse, and ran as far away from the kingdom as possible. Her life progressively got worse as she did whatever it took to keep herself happy. She sold herself or killed those she sold herself to for profit and possessions. This life obtained for her many slaves who would do her bidding. The King again came looking for her. She knew His power and left all her slaves to die for her as she ran away.
She then found herself trapped by her old lovers who mutilated her so that he could keep her. The woman became paranoid as she was stuck with nowhere to go. In time, the King came, destroyed the man who kept her and went into the room where she was kept. She did her best to cover her decrepit appearance but couldn’t cover much.
“Why are you here? Are you here to kill me? Mock me? I’m a worthless pig now. Surely there’s no use of me anywhere,” she said.
The King held out His hand.
“Why? Why do You still come after me even after everything that I’ve done?”
The King continued to hold out His hand.
“I’m not worthy to even be in Your presence and You still hold out Your hand? I’ve hurt so many people. Look at what’s happened to me because of my actions! You knew this would happen and You let it happen to me…I guess I deserve it. I’m not even sure if I can back.”
The King still held out His hand.
“Okay, fine. I’ll take Your hand if You stop looking at me like that.”
When the woman took the King’s hand, she stood up instantaneously as if her legs were never removed. Along the way back, the people who held grudges against the woman tried to assassinate her, but they were killed by the King. The woman arrived back at the King’s Kingdom to find her husband, children, and friends waiting for her. They embraced her and told her how much they had prayed for her safe return. When she looked at herself, the woman saw that she looked the same way she did before she left.
Thankful to the King, the woman dedicated her life to Him and promised never to give up on Him and herself. They then celebrated her return with the greatest day-long feast they’ve ever had.