Deceived by James Scott Bell

Author:James Scott Bell [Bell, James Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Mystery, Suspense, Array
ISBN: 9780310269045
Google: Xi472kQ307cC
Amazon: 0310269040
Goodreads: 6172074
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2009-01-15T06:00:00+00:00

11:25 a.m.

“If the world were to look in on us at this moment,” Pastor Jon was saying, “people might say, ‘They have come to say their final good-byes to someone they love.’ They would only be partially correct. It is true that we have come to express our love and share our loss, but the goodbyes are not final.”

Liz thought, I hope this does not go on too long. Can’t they just be done with it?

On a table, Arty’s urn was sitting, waiting to be lowered in a hole. At least that had worked out. A fast cremation, a fast ceremony.

Once the urn was buried, she could get on with it. Endure the little gathering they’d have back at the church. Everyone would eat and talk about Arty and comfort her, and she’d be grinding her teeth on the inside. But she could take it. It was a small price to pay for the payoff to come.

In truth she did feel a little sorry for Arty. He was a good man who had gone a little off the beam with religion. It had affected his lifestyle. Even more, it had affected hers.

Well, he died because of it. An accident. She hadn’t wanted him to die. But now it was the best thing all around.

“At the heart of the Christian faith is the truth of eternal life,” Pastor Jon said. “This eternal life is not an abstract idea, not a work of fiction, not a superstition passed down through the ages. It is a fact that has been taught throughout the Bible. Jesus taught it on many occasions. Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.’ ”

Never die? Liz thought. That’s kind of scary.

“Jesus, when speaking with the disciples before he went to the cross, said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’ ”

Why do people believe this?

“The Bible tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That is where Arty is right now. He is with his Savior, awaiting that joyous time when all of us, his church family, will join him in our eternal dwelling place.”

Can Arty read my thoughts? Talk about scary. Maybe there was such a thing as ghosts. But they have no power. She would not let them have any power. No one would ever have power over her.

“Now,” Pastor Jon said, “we’ll take a few moments for those who’d like to say something about Arty’s life.”

Liz had forgotten about this part. Pastor Jon had gone over all the particulars with her the night before.

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