Josiah - Passing On a Legacy: Josiah, #1

By David Bassett

Josiah is a story of love, respect, and the deeper meanings of life.  As he is reaching the end of his days, Josiah must share his story.  He is compelled to pass on his legacy before he draws his final breath.  He boldly and openly shares the trials and triumphs of his life.  There is an underlining meaning of life that he has discovered: everyone has value.

The story is set in the first century, while the Romans still occupied Judea.  Several of the characters are historically documented in the Bible and from other sources. The story depicts the conflicts between Jewish social classes; the Jewish people and the Romans.  The conflict within friendships, casual and deep, is exposed.

The Josiah series is a leading work of contemporary Christian fiction.  The story line contains the classic conflict of good versus evil, religion versus faith, rich versus poor, even life versus death.  Further, there is the development of how each person brings value to this world.

Download this first book in the series.  Join with Josiah.  Will he be successful in his quest to pass on his legacy?

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Bassett
• Release date: Dec 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540182074

David Bassett

David is a prolific Christian writer. His message is that everyone matters. They matter to God. There is value and life purpose for every single person. He is passionate to communicate in his writings that you, the reader, are a valuable part of society and you are greatly loved. His first book, Josiah – Passing on the Legacy, is the first volume in a six-part saga. He is passionate in his pursuits to defeat human trafficking around the world. Born in Norwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, David was the oldest child of his parents. Some of his accomplishments include a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene University and a master’s degree in Leadership from Walden University. He is an accomplished speaker, actively involved in Toastmasters International. His wife, June, is his beautiful muse and partner. His children, David, Josh, and Lindsey, are his greatest treasures. His love extends to his grandchildren, Jonas and Sonja, as well as his step-children, Aaron, Alyssa, and Austin, and his step-grandsons, Jacob and Wade.

Book preview

JOSIAH

Passing on the Legacy

by

David Bassett

JOSIAH

Passing on the Legacy

© 2016 DAVID BASSETT

All rights reserved.  No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other, without the prior written permission of the author.

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Contents

Chapter 1 - J

Chapter 2 - Parents

Chapter 3 – Evil Born

Chapter 4 – The Quest

Chapter 5 – The Marketplace

Chapter 6 – People Will Be People

Chapter 7 – Holy Discomfort

Chapter 8 - Pain

Chapter 9 – Unconditional Love

Chapter 10 – Hope in the Sky

Chapter 11 Horror

Chapter 12 – Mission Affirmed

Chapter 13 – The Invitation

Epilogue

Personal Message

Dedication

This book took longer to write than it should have, but I must honestly say that I finished in exactly the right time.  When the seed and first words were written, it was more than ten years earlier, and my grandson, Jonas, was not yet born, let alone given a name.  The name of the grandson in this book, Jonas, was decided before I was ever aware that I would be a grandfather to a wonderful young man named Jonas.

I am eternally grateful for my mom, Joan Bassett, who has always been an influence and sounding board for my life.  If I have one regret, it is that my father, David Sr., is not alive to see this achievement, as so many seeds of ideas that he put into my life are present in the content.

But this page is not about thanks, it is about dedication.  My first thoughts go to my Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is my hope that in this book people will be able to discover that the love He spoke of was for them.  No one, no matter what you have done, is outside His loving concern and reach.

To my beautiful wife, June Bassett, I further dedicate this book.  There were obviously times this book sat idly by, hoping and waiting for me to bring out the whole story.  She always was a source of encouragement to get this book completed.  Even when I did not want to write, she would lovingly remind me to ‘get her done’.  Thank you, June!  I love you!

To my children; David, Josh, Lindsey, Aaron, Alyssa, and Austin, and my grandchildren; Jonas, Sonja, Jacob, and Leo, you mean more to me than I can ever show.  I pray this book helps you to understand, receive, and live out the love I have found in Him.

David Bassett

Chapter 1 - J

It was a clear and crisp day.  The sun had been up for several hours, its warmth and light bathed the Palestinian hillside.  Josiah was feeling especially old today.  He knew in his heart that his time was growing short.

Josiah clutched the small wooden box in both of his hands.  His hands ached a bit this morning.  The ache ran deep into his muscles, even to the bones, but he was determined to connect himself with his life’s purpose.  This box had become his attachment, a tool he used to achieve that connection for so many years.

He ran his finger across the ‘J’ that was inscribed across the top of his cherished container.  It was never a certainty to him what the initial was intended to represent.  At times, he was certain that it stood for his own name.  Other times, he felt it would more appropriately represent another significant person in his life or maybe the name of the simple carpenter who made it.

The box was well worn from the many hours he had held it, like what he was doing right now.  There had been so times of distress throughout his life.  At those times, he would squeeze the box to the point of almost breaking it.  At other times, he would cup it gently, like one would hold a precious stone or a fragile newborn.

He owned very few physical items.  His small house easily held all his worldly possessions.  He had learned early in his adulthood that material wealth was not his ambition.

What brought him the greatest sense of wealth was the possessions he held within his heart.  There he kept memories that he treasured more than life.  Many of his journeys and experiences brought great meaning and richness to his life.  He felt his life was rich in experience.  It was his perspective that he was immensely fortunate he to have had the life he had lived.

This little box had a very simple, yet elegant, appearance.  It would be easily overlooked by others, but it held a wealth of significance to Josiah.  He valued the box as well as the articles it held.  Together they served as daily reminders to him of what he had grown to believe was important.

Josiah gently closed the box, taking great care in how he handled it.  His hand slightly tremored as he reached to put the box back in its resting place just above the head his bed.  As he moved to stand, his body reacted with great resistance.  Today it seemed to take greater physical effort than normal.

It was not as if his body were failing.  What he lacked was the usual levels of strength and motivation that had seemed normal for him.  At times, it was as if it his mind and body just did not want to keep functioning.  Slowing down a bit would be what he expected, but this was more like stopping altogether.

Everything physical seemed especially difficult.  It was as if his body was like a little kid who was pouting because he was being made to do something he did not want to do.  Despite the struggle, he continued with his daily morning routine.

His mind wandered off on him randomly. He would be concentrating on a task at hand when suddenly his mind go back to some memory of the past.  But the memories would be so strong, so vivid, that it made Josiah feel like he was living that memory for the first time.

There were times he missed being out in the fields with the flock.  It seemed odd to him when he felt this sense of loss since it had been so many years ago.  He smiled to himself, thinking of the many times he would put a small lamb on his lap and watch the sunrise.

He recalled the times the purples and deep blues of the sky would pull the sun upward as he would ponder the wonders of God.  Gazing at the richness of color of the morning’s morphing sky, he was reminded of the richness of God’s great love.

This morning he had stood at his window and watched a that same sun ascends.  Despite the many years that made this sight seem routine to others, this golden globe continued to maintain its wonder to him as it rose majestically to start another day.  He thought to himself that it would be no small accomplishment if he could get just one other person to share his sense of wonder over this daily sight.

One thing about getting older that troubled him was that he felt he had lost was his sense of timing. He could remember when he seemed to be able to pull out the right expression, the exact combination of words that would bless someone else.  Even with strangers, this gift allowed him to bless so many others.  Now, it felt as if he just fumbled around for even common conversation.  He was determined that today would be different and his words would be effective once again.

He could sense that his time was drawing near.  While others might have felt this sense to be frightening, he had no fear of what was ahead.  While many of his friends were already gone, he was confident that he would see them once again.  He found himself not afraid of dying, but rather, afraid of having not fulfilled his life’s purpose.

A tiny smile broke out across his wrinkled face as he thought of his friend Jobed.  Though their lives took them in very different directions, by God’s grace their destination was to be the same, into the arms of God.  Further, he reflected on his friend Eli and the precious movements of God they had shared, some quite personal.

Consternation crept over him as he was reminded that there was still much work ahead.  There was one project that was critical.  Today was the day that this project would begin.  If God would give him the strength, it would also be completed, or at least begun, this day.

As he ruminated over this thought, Josiah instinctively lifted his head.  There was no premeditation or ritual.  He had learned to simply go immediately to prayer whenever he had a concern.  There were also times these same instincts would kick in when he was elated or pleased and wanted to share his sense of joy with his Lord.

O Mighty God, he prayed, give this old man the strength this day to do your will.  I promise to faithfully carry out your mission for my life.  Please grant me the time that I need to make the difference that I so desperately wish to make in your name.  I am anxious to go home to you, but I wish to see your Kingdom grow here on Earth with my own eyes.  May my own words and actions be fully within your will this day.  Many blessings on you, my heavenly Father.  Be it so, amen.

As he began to lift his head from prayer, his heart leapt as he heard familiar voices.  His work for the day was arriving.  Today was to be the day the Lord God would use him to build His Kingdom within a life.  Not just any life, but the life of someone very dear to Josiah, his grandson, Jonas.

Now do not be a burden to your grandfather, today!  He has asked for you to come see him, so do all that you can to be a help to him.  Look after him, do not make him look after you!

But, Mother, said Jonas, why do I have to be here today?  You know that I would rather be out in the field, especially so close to shearing time.  I wish you had not convinced father to let me come.  My place is in the fields.  I love being in the fields with our sheep.  This is not a good time for me to be wasting a day with grandfather.

Josiah dropped his head at Jonas’ last comment.  It hurt to hear his grandson refer to time they spent together as wasted.  He began to doubt himself and his ability to rise to task.  Would he have the strength to make a difference today, he wondered.  He loved his grandson and he hoped for so much more for Jonas and his future than the young boy hoped himself.

They held this brief conversation just outside the door of Josiah’s home.  There was nothing outstanding or elegant about the house.  What set it apart, though, was the abundance of a spiritual presence.  This presence brought a beautiful peace and a other worldly warmth that was as attractive as any physical characteristic.

Jonas could sense this presence.  There was something about it that made him uncomfortable.  He felt lost here, as if he was in another world, one where he did not belong.  It made him feel unwilling, even uncomfortable, visiting his grandfather here.

Their relationship was often strained.  While his grandfather did treat him lovingly, his character and actions were very different from any that Jonas had experienced.  His grandfather was not demanding or needy around him.  Having once been a shepherd, Jonas thought they would have a deeper connection but, instead, he felt that his grandfather was completely unlike him, someone he had great difficulty relating to at all.

For many years, his father would not let Jonas visit his grandfather, if it meant missing time in the fields.  He insisted that Jonas was needed to help watch the family flocks.  This was the only way for Jonas to learn to be a good shepherd, his father argued.  His father’s attitude resonated for him.  He loved being in the fields, especially when he was alone, just him and the sheep.

Besides, the flocks were increasing in size and it was becoming difficult for his father to handle them without hiring help.  These hirelings would never take such good care of the sheep as Jonas and his father would.  His father was an excellent shepherd and was confident that Jonas was becoming as skilled and adept as him.

It was becoming apparent to others that old age was catching up to Josiah.  Even Jonas’ father was willing to acknowledge this.  So he agreed, although reluctantly, to let Jonas be with his grandfather today.  If Jonas’ mother had not been so vocal about how important she thought it was for them to spend the time together, he would have found it easy to just say no.  But her insistence seemed much stronger than usual, as if there were an urgency to the matter.

Jonas rapped on the door a syncopated, rhythmic knock that he did only for his grandfather.  Because of his reluctance to even be there, he did not want to put any effort into announcing his presence.  He hoped that this silly style would annoy his grandfather, maybe even cause him to change his mind about having Jonas spend the day with him.

Though he already knew they were at the door, having overheard their conversation, Josiah’s struggled to get to the door very quickly.  Today, his body was just not moving as he wished.

Part of him wished that he did not need to go to the door.  Maybe he could just yell for them to come in, he thought.  But he wanted today to go well.  He was concerned that yelling for them might make him appear lazy and show a lack of respect and love.  It was his hope that today, with God’s help, a special connection would be forged between him and Jonas and he wanted nothing to risk that.

Grandfather, may we come in? Jonas said with a sarcastic tone to his voice.  Hope rose up in him when Josiah did not immediately answer.  He held the thought that there might be a possibility that he could leave now for the fields.  Impatience began to overshadow him quickly, even though his wait was very brief.

Josiah was slowly crossing the room.  His legs had no spring in them today.  Right now he wished they would allow him to glide towards the doors.  Instead, he felt he was teetering very slowly in that general direction.

Rebekah could sense her son’s impatience growing.  Usually, her father was not as slow to respond.  She hoped that he would have the strength, both mental and physical, for this visit.

She, too, could sense that today was important.  Her son seemed so lukewarm towards people.  His only friends were all other shepherd boys.

Jonas was learning to be a very good shepherd, but her ambitions for him were much higher.  Her husband, however, could only see him as a shepherd.  More time with her father could help him to raise his vision and his sights for his own life to higher levels, she thought.

After what seemed like an excruciating pause, Josiah reached an aged hand to open the door.  His body seemed to be resisting his will.  Today, his will would win.

Yes, yes, please do come in, my grandson!

With a burst of energy that contrasted dramatically with Josiah’s weakened state, Jonas burst through