Echoes from Heaven

By Edward Thames

A faith healer’s tent meeting is disrupted when a silent stranger appears. Miracles happen as a fraud is exposed. Hope deserts a young man as he finds the very fabric of his life crumbling around him. Two years of unemployment had systematically taken away everything he cared about, including his girlfriend. Broke, alone, and soon to be homeless he miraculously receives a request for an interview and almost certainly a job. The catch is he must be in Phoenix by Friday. An ill-advised short cut and broken water pump later he finds himself stranded in front of an old general store in the middle of the Arizona Desert. Desperate and running out of time he loses hope until he hitches a ride with an old Scotsman. As they make their way across the back roads of Arizona, the young man soon realizes there is more to the old man than meets the eye. A series of simple yet profound events change his life as he discovers the miraculous secret of echoes from heaven and his own surprising destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edward Thames
• Release date: Jul 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301316656

Edward Thames

Edward was born in Plaquemine Parish, Louisiana. He grew up moving from place to place never living in the same location more than two years. He attended various Universities majoring in Pre-Med, creative writing, film making and foreign languages. After winning several writing awards he discovered Information Technology and achieved thirty-four separate technical certifications. He has worked as a contract technical trainer for the last ten years. He has written seven screenplays and five novels. He presently lives in Spring, Texas.

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Echoes From Heaven

by

Edward Thames

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY:

Edward Thames on Smashwords

Echoes from Heaven

Copyright © 1999 by Edward Thames

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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I’d like to thank Audray for being my only reader in the beginning and because you’ve been through the dark days with me. You’re an inspiration. Thank you . This is only the beginning.

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Echoes from heaven

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CHAPTER 1

The evening shadows have grown long as the darkness overwhelms the light of day. There is a large white tent glowing brightly in the middle of an overgrown field; a makeshift house of God. Strings of cheap Christmas lights adorn the support ropes and outline the entry way. There are a dozen cars and trucks parked around the entrance. Organ music is playing. The harmony of singing drifts from the tent. An old fashioned revival is beginning.

Above the entrance is a large white banner that reads, Reverend Abraham Hooker in bright red letters. Underneath are the words Healer, Prophet, and Blessing Man. An old fashioned tent revival is beginning.

The tent is filled with common folk. Most are sick or crippled. This is hope's last stop. Those that aren't suffering are there to support their loved ones. Standing in the front of the congregation on a makeshift stage is Reverend Hooker, a slick-looking 50 years old man. Dressed in an expensive white suit he holds a well-worn bible against his chest.

His head is bowed. Behind him is a small choir consisting of several women. To the left is an organist playing a portable organ.

The music stops. There is silence.

Reverend Hooker raises his head and looks at the small congregation. He looks deeply into each one’s eyes. They connect or so it would seem to the novice. Only the few who had experience with one such as Reverend Hooker would realize his deep and penetrating look was simply a methodical scan for the weakness and susceptibility of his audience. As he scans the crowd he skillfully makes mental notes and evaluations about each one.

If Reverend Hooker had any talent it was reading people. He could almost look through a person and instinctively know if they had anything of value that could be put to use in work of God. The old man in the front row was a perfect candidate. His skin was drawn tightly across the bones of his skull. The skin was pasty and has a yellow hue as did the whites of his eyes. His liver was dying and killing him in the process. He noticed the man was wearing a watch, a Brighton and the woman sitting beside him had a very nice diamond wedding set. A small offering for the simple blessings of God thought Reverend Hooker has he methodically dissected the entire room in a brief few minutes. In Reverend Hooker's mind these common folks desperately needed to be freed. The burdens of this life would soon be lifted as they freely gave from what little they had.

Reverend Hooker often used the parable from Luke 21:1-21-4, regarding the poor widow who put two very small copper coins into the offering plate. The moral of which was she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on and therefore had in fact given more than all those who had given from the abundance. She therefore found favor in God’s eyes.

Abraham Hooker’s real name was Sterling Parker. He advertised himself as a redeemed sinner who by the grace of a forgiving god was blessed with special gifts, the most important of which was the calling to spread the word of God; to bring miracles and healing to those whose hearts were open to the his word of God and were willing to sacrifice to receive his blessings.

The truth of the matter was he was indeed a sinner and that was the extent of the truth. In fact, Reverend Hooker was neither a reverend nor in fact a man of god in even the remotest since of the word. Hooker was a simple man when it came to what he believed in; money and the pleasures of life that money could buy. How he acquired money was inconsequential as long as he didn’t have to work for it. There were far too many people in this world who would just give it to you, if you knew how to ask. Hooker knew how to ask but more importantly he understood the key was in knowing who to ask. Hooker had learned long ago that when death and suffering were near most men would gladly give you all they had for relief of any kind; even if that relief was based only on hope and a prayer. Both of which Hooker was more than eager to supply for a price; odd how people fell into the trap of believing that God somehow retailed out blessings to those who would and could pay. Making them believe was Hooker's true and only gift.

The choir has stopped singing but they continue to hum the melody of Amazing Grace. After several minutes Reverend Hooker completes his scan. He speaks softly, As I gaze around this humble house of God I understand why the Lord has sent me to you.

A chorus of amens erupts from the congregation.

Reverend Hooker continues. His voice rising.

"The Lord has sent me to YOU! HE CHOSE YOU! I HAVE COME TO SHOWER GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON YOU! I BRING HEALING AND HOPE DIRECTLY FROM GOD! HE HAS BLESSED ME WITH GIFTS THAT I MIGHT IN TURN BLESS THE FAITHFUL! YOU ARE TRULY GOD’S FAITHFUL!

A strong wind whips through the tent. Dust and papers fly about. A tall man in a beat-up, black cowboy hat steps into the tent and stands in the doorway. The brim of his hat hides his eyes.

The wind stops. Time slows to a crawl.

A crippled old man turns. He looks at the man standing in the entrance. Elijah Peddie slowly