Excerpt Winds Of Change by David C Russell

Hello Grafted in Readers,
Today is October 16, 2014, and the extra day of the Fall Feast of Tabernacles. In Messianic parlance, we celebrate Yeshua as Messiah, and further accept his invitation to abide in his presence, abide in his power, and abide in his teachings. See John chapter 15, New Covenant Scriptures.
-Below is an excerpt from my novel, "Winds of Change" CrossBooks, 2012, which fictionally reflects on this particular feast.
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Note: Characters are Seth and Leah Scott, Dan and Rhonda Hansen, Pastor and Mrs. Bentley. Setting is a fictional town in northern Wisconsin, time of year is Fall.

Midway through the Fall, the Scotts and Hansens decided to have a small dinner party, in part to learn more of the Hansens' involvement in a small Messianic faith community. Of course, Rhonda and Leah and discussed this on occasion at work. Dan and Jefferson occasionally spoke of it when they met. Both couples wanted to include Pastor Bentley and his wife who were quite classic in their Lutheran ideology. They agreed on the second Saturday in October, and each would provide a dish that began with the first letter of their last name. Jefferson and Leah spent the afternoon preparing scones and salad. The Bentleys were bringing surloin beef tips, and the Hansens' were providing herbal lightly-steamed vegetable platter. Seth Scott was spending the day and night with a school friend video gaming and such. As the afternoon hours faded into evening, the couples arrived at the Scott home. The Bentleys were the first to arrive. "Oh, Pastor Bob, glad you and your wife Ruth could join us. Just put your coats on the bed in the main beddrom," Jefferson advised.

Over the next 45 minutes, the Hansens' arrived and were welcomed similarly. As the women finished dinner preparations, Jefferson, Dan and Pastor Bentley watched the final minutes of the college football game on TV. Fortunately, Illinois and Minnesota were equally matched in skill, offensive and defensive game execution. In the final minutes, Minnesota managed to pull out a victory with a 35 yard field goal by one of the team's lesser known players. As the couples assembled at the table,Leah asked her friend Rhonda to offer the table grace. As they joined hands, Rhonda began, "Lord God, King of the Universe, we bless you for all you provide. Blessed oare youwho provides bread for the earth and nourishment for our being," all responded with amen. Pastor Bentley was somewhat suprised by this table grace as it did not compare with what he hear from a members home, expecting more a standard grace from liturigcally-influenced Christians. The dinner went on with small talk about work, hospital, school and other trivialites. As dinner included all went to settle in the livingroom as Leah started a fire in their fireplace.

In the pleasant glow of the fire, the conversation turned to the topic of faith. Jefferson began by asking Dan about his recent weekend trip to observe the Fall Festival known as the Feast of Tabernacles. Dan shared that as with the Spring Feast of Shavuot, known to many as Pentecost, they went to Madison to observe this with other believers. This was a day-long convocation, but the theme was the celebration to commemorate God's dwelling with his people in times past, present, and future. "It's all about relationship," Rhonda added. They met in, and utilized the facilities of a Lutheran church near Madison.

"Do you think church people would be interested in this sort of thing," asked Ruth Bentley not really directing her question to anyone in particular, but hoping her husband would respond. "I know a number who already are, but for some reason the church at large seems stuck or oblivous to anything beyond its mode of operations for centuries," said Dan. "Observing Rhonda as a colleague at work has given me the opportunity to note that there is something quite unique about her outlook and faith. Quite frankly, the more I observe the more curious I become," Ledah stated. Pastor Bob remained quiet, but his facial expression was a slight smile mixed with a degree of pondering.

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Rereading this with you, has given me the desire to be consistent in my abiding with and living for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords..
-Kevod Yeheveh, His presence be that which attracts us to Him, and we find our innermost cravings and thirst satisfied by He having ongoing fellowship with us.

If interested, Winds of Change can be ordered through Amazon or any major book store. Comments welcomed!
Mellow Roc