Book of Short Stories: Different Stories of Born Again Christians and the Leading of the Holy Spirit; Stories of God Touching Lives of People

By Alexander C. Parker

Book of Short Stories presents a collection of short stories that have been written over a twenty-five-year period. Some were used as closing thoughts given to the boys of several Boy Scout troops at the end of meetings, when author Alexander C. Parker served as both an assistant scoutmaster and as scoutmaster.
These stories show how God can and does work in the lives of people through the leading of the Holy Spirit and how it is possible to find new direction in your life by letting God and the Holy Spirit speak to you.
It is hoped that by reading each story and letting the theme of that story remain with you, that it will help in providing a new and stronger positive outlook and make you the reader more confident in your walk of life.
There is a very clear message on Salvation and several opportunities to accept Jesus Christ as your Personal Lord and Savior.
Parker is also the author of Jesus of the Future; both books seek to lead readers to understand God more clearly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Oct 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781452581378

Alexander C. Parker

Alexander C. Parker was born June 27, 1945; he was one of quadruplets, but due to health and early birth, his siblings did not live that long and were taken back home to be with God. He was the last baby born, and it was only through several operations that he lived. Later, his mother told him that she was raised as a true and faithful Protestant in the Salvation Army; his father was of the Jewish faith, although he was not following his faith and did not go to the Jewish temple on a regular basis. His mother did attend church when she could. He was totally saved at the age of twenty-two and had written short stories for a long time. His other book is titled Jesus of the Future, to be released around the same time as The Book of Short Stories. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, both books have been completed.

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BOOK

OF SHORT STORIES

Different Stories of Born Again Christians and the Leading of the Holy Spirit; Stories of God Touching Lives of People

Alexander C. Parker

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Copyright © 2013 Alexander C. Parker.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Braille and Talking Book/Record will be given Permission with written request

This book is a work of Fiction and Possible Non-Fiction Portions taken from Actual Stories and Re-arranged with Additional Subject Matter Added to Enhance the Content.

Names, Characters, Places and Incidents are either products of the Author’s own Imagination or are Used Fictitiously and Parts are True as Stated.

Any Resemblance to Actual Events or Locales or Persons, Living or Dead, is Entirely Coincidental; in Addition the Disclaimer(s) that are Already Mention are Included in this Statement.

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Balboa Press

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4525-8136-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4525-8137-8 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 11/27/2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUTHOR’S PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

CHAPTER 1   WHO EVER TAKES THE SON, GETS EVERYTHING

CHAPTER 2   WHEN GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

CHAPTER 3   LITTLE EYES ARE WATCHING YOU

CHAPTER 4   G.P.S.—Grace Provides Salvation and B.I.B.L.E.—Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth

CHAPTER 5   THE STORY OF THE 3 TREES (Ideal to Read to a child)

CHAPTER 6   DON’T LET THE LOVE OF A GOOD DEED STOP

CHAPTER 7   ’Twas the Night Before JESUS came

CHAPTER 8   PRODIGALISEM The story of the Prodigal Son

CHAPTER 9   THE LORD GIVETH AND THE LORD TAKETH

CHAPTER 10   BEHOLD! YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT

CHAPTER 11   BE FRIENDING THE POOR IN HEART AND SPIRIT

CHAPTER 12   BECAUSE A CHILD CARED

CHAPTER 13   I’m a Millionaire, Because I Didn’t Have a Computer

CHAPTER 14   FOUNDATION’S

CHAPTER 15   THE DOOR IN YOUR LIFE

CHAPTER 16   THE WORD

CHAPTER 17   PATHWAYS OF LIFE

CHAPTER 18   PARADISE

CHAPTER 19   The Story of the 4th. Wiseman

CHAPTER 20   MYSELF My Personal Life Story and Testimony

AUTHOR’S PAGE

This book is my 2nd. Book that I have now written; the 1st. Book, a fictional Novel, entitled Jesus of the Future, the story of Jesus Christ, as it happens in the future.

Both of these books were done with deep thought and concern to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ; with the 1st. book, it being a Fictional Novel, it was hoped that the reader would follow the story plot through and then turn to the REAL Holy Bible and see the somewhat near comparison and read the final part on what Jesus said and be open to the invitation to accepting Salvation.

The 2nd. Book is based on a number of Short Stories that I have written over the years and in re-writing them for the book, I took the liberty of making some changes and adding additional text.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I have for as long as I can recall, since I was young, had the desire to make up stories; as a young boy I would spend a lot of time of just drawing a picture and making up a story in my mind, as I was doing the picture, to go with what I was drawing.

After I was saved and had come to accept Jesus Christ as my Personal Lord and Savior, I started to make up some short Christian stories, as mini like sermons (3-5 minutes long) and I did use some of these when I was a BSA Scout Master of a troop, when I was closing a meeting, as the thought of the day or I was asked to lead the Sunday Morning Worship Service at a District camping event, when there was no Pastor or other person available.

In the last few years I have expanded these mini talks and now have started to make them longer and I have added a Holy Scripture to reference it from the Bible, to show the connection between the story and where it comes from; I have been putting them on my computer as short stories and now I am hoping to be able to put them into print in this book.

I need to acknowledge that what I am doing is not on my own ability. I know that if I was attempting to do this on my own, I would fail to be able to do this; everything I am doing is through the Power of the Holy Spirit; I would be writing down something and then I would just have a totally blank mind and not be able to even think of what I want to say next and I would sit at the computer and re-read what I had already done, in hopes of completing what I am doing.

I would take a short break and then a whole new idea would just come to me or in some cases I would have to re-due some or all f what I had already done and I know it is the Holy Spirit that is giving me the direction I need to go and I am at this time giving all Praise and Gratitude to my Personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the direction His Holy Spirit is leading me in.

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My first book, JESUS of the FUTURE, Fictional Novel should be now available for purchase.

You may contact me, via E-Mail [e-mail] or through my Publishing Company, Balboa Press, A Division of Hay House, Phone Number [phone] (The operator will direct your call)

CHAPTER # 1

WHO EVER TAKES THE SON,

GETS EVERYTHING

Scripture Reference: Colossians 3:24

THE FOLLOWING STORY IS TAKEN FROM A RECITATION

A very wealthy widowed man who had only one son; his wife and the mother of his son had died a few short years after giving birth, leaving him to raise his heir and having no other immediate family, he and his son became extremely close; and over the years he had acquired a vast art collection that may have been worth millions, many other art collectors from all over knew of this vast collection and many had high hopes of owning one or more of these paintings, should they ever be for sale.

Then came WW II and this man’s son answered the call to arms; it of course would put him in harm’s way, he enlisted in the US Army and following his basic training was assigned to an infantry unit which was sent to Europe to be in some of the largest and most intense battles.

Toward the end of WW II the man received notification that his only son was killed in action and that the son’s remains could not be return at the present time, due to where he was killed and that many other dead soldiers were buried together in a mass grave.

Following the end of the war, the man was able to have his son’s remains recovered and returned to him for a formal burial; he was given a full military burial and the man received the silver Star that his son had been given when he was killed.

It was several months later that he received an unexpected visitor; the man introduced himself as a very close friend to his late son and that he had been in the same unit that his son had been in and that he also was in the same battle that killed his son.

He told the man that he had taken up portrait painting before the war and he continued to do some painting between battles and he had done a painting of his son and now he had finished it; it was a picture of his son from the waste up in full dress uniform.

He wanted to give it to the man, as his son had saved his life in the battle that had taken his life; he had been wounded and was not able to attend the service for his son and he needed a little extra time to finish the painting.

The man accepted the painting and he then placed it in the living room over the fire place where he had another much more valuable painting he removed it and placed the portrait of his son; this now became the most cherished painting he had in his whole collection.

A number of years later, the man died and not having any living heir’s to leave his acquired fortune and art collection too; his house staff having been taken care of through directions in the will; his estate was now being directed by his Last Will and Testament; he had in place where some of his wealth would go, such as to certain charities and that his art collection would be placed up for auction and he had set down certain guidelines that would have to be followed to the letter.

Word of the sale of his art collection was great news for the many art collectors from around the world and when the date of the sale arrived, there were many collectors and other interested persons who showed up for the pre-sale review; all the works and his whole collection was now on display, including the painting of his son.

The time for the auction finally arrived and the large group closed in to get one last look and take their place, so the bidding could start; the auctioneer opened the auction with a loud bang of his auction gavel and then he placed up for auction the painting of the man’s son and asked who would give an opening bid for the portrait.

The bidders were upset that this picture, just a simple portrait of an unknown person and certainly not a master piece by some of the more famous artist; it was now being offered up for bidding, while the frame of this picture was perfectly exquisite in all ways and it did enhance the portrait, it was clear that it was not one of the master pieces that the man had in his collection.

With no one placing a bid of any kind, but only hearing calls for the master pieces to be put up for bid, the auctioneer brought down his gavel to halt the outcry from the people and to gain some control and be able to speak.

According to the precepts of the will, which I am to adhere to, I am to place up for bidding this portrait painting of his only beloved late son as the first item to be sold and I cannot proceed to offer any other works of art until this portrait painting is sold first.

Again the auctioneer brought down his gavel and asked who would place an opening bid for the painting and again not one of the art collectors made a bid; then from the back of the group, came a voice; I was the grounds keeper here and I knew the boy and I felt a great loss when he was killed in action.

If no one else wants the picture, then I will bid $100.00 for it; the auctioneer hearing this bid, then said I have an opening bid of $100.00, are there any other bids, no else said a word, the auctioneer, then said, as he raised his gavel and brought it down with a loud bang, again he said, I have a bid of $100.00, are there any other bids, this is the last offer for any other bids, no one else said a word, the auctioneer, then said, SOLD, for the bid of $100.00, then he raised his gavel again and brought it down with a loud bang, and said the auction is now closed.

The bidders could not believe what they were hearing; almost all at once they started to say, What do you mean the auction is closed we all came here to bid on the master pieces.

The auctioneer had to hit his gavel several times to bring the loud and disruptive group to order; then he said I am sorry to inform you, but according to the precepts of the will, which I am to adhere to; who ever purchased the portrait painting of the son, also gets the rest of the art collection

Yes, whoever takes the SON, gets everything else; it does pay to know and receive the SON into your life; you may not become the owner of a vast art collection, but you will inherit a much better and more better future and know without a doubt that you have a mansion waiting for you when the time comes for you to pass from this life to Glory and be in the presents of JESUS CHRIST.

If you have not yet taken that most all important step in accepting JESUS CHRIST as your personal LORD and SAVIOUR, then do not wait any longer; you do not know when you will died and after that there is no hope of you going to HEAVEN, you need to accept JESUS CHRIST now and HE will make a way for you.

Don’t put it off and say that you need to stop doing something before you pray, you can be SAVED NOW and with the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, you will be able to overcome any habit you have, that is stopping you from becoming a BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN.

DON’T WAIT, DO IT NOW!

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CHAPTER # 2

WHEN GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 41:10 & Hebrews 13:5_B & C

Pastor Robert Swift accepted a call to go to a section of the United States that was not the wealthiest and the weather was not always enjoyable; he was bringing his wife and 3 children to start a new walk in their lives; he knew it would not be easy, at least in the beginning, but he had faith that he could do this.

The need to reach these people was so great that he accepted this call without any question as to the support he would receive; but he was determined to do the work of the Lord and bring the Word of God to a people that was in great need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ; along with his wife and the 3 children, who were twin boys, who were 8 years old and his first born daughter now 10 years old; all had the same faith and accepted this call, knowing it was not going to be easy and as comfortable as to where they were leaving from.

The area that he would be ministering to was an open range and families traveled as much as 10 to 20 miles to meet together; this time period was around the early years of the 20th. Century and transportation was by horse, horse and wagon or on foot, for most of the people and for long distance, either stage coach or train, to the point where it had been built.

His arrival in a six team covered wagon with all that he owned and meeting the board members was a time to remember; the church had accepted his call without meeting him first, but only hearing of him in several letters between them.

He was given a small 2 room house, that had a small room off the main room or living room, that was to be his daughter’s room, it also had an upper loft, that was to be the bedroom for the boys; while one of the 2 lower rooms would be his bedroom and the other room would be kitchen, dining and living room together; and then there was the outhouse about 50 feet away; where he had come from, there was some early type indoor plumbing.

There was a large open back area that he could farm and a small lake nearby for water; he would need to dig a well to have water next to the house; there was a barn that had partially burned, but could be re-built and used again.

The congregation welcomed their new Pastor and with a small, but well attended dinner, he was now in the place where God had called him; it was early Spring and this gave him the opportunity to be able to go around the county side to meet other families and grow his small church.

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In the early evening he would work on the barn and dig the well he needed and start to get the land ready for planting; this gave him little time to rest, but it seem that God was giving him extra strength to do the task that was set before him.

This was not a wealthy community, by today’s standards, but it was not poor either; each family met their own needs and when someone was in need of help, the help did come.

The income that Pastor Swift made was not always from the Weekly offering, it sometimes came with as a gift from one of the members; it also was not always money, sometimes it was eggs or even a chicken and other times it may have been meat from a hunt; but even with this coming in, the Pastor nor his family lack for nothing.

Times seem to be getting harder and the amount from the offering seem to be less and less and the gifts seem to be a little farer apart and smaller; but his faith and the faith of his dear wife held true.

It was now starting to get cold and there was no extra money to buy anything special, every cent was needed just to feed and clothe the family and the first snow was up in the hills and while the whole church came together for Thanksgiving; the days were closing on Christmas and it was looking like there was not going to be any Christmas for the Pastor Swift’s family.

A nice pine tree was cut down and it stood in the corner and some homemade decorations had been added, but nothing was under the tree and it was looking like there would not be anything to put under the tree.

Every night his wife would be praying and Pastor Swift found himself on his knees seeking direction from the Lord and questioning why this was happening, after he answered the call to come to this part of the country on his and his wife’s faith.

His wife would hear the children praying and asking for special gifts and it hurt her to hear them ask, when she knew that their prayers would not be answered, because there just was no way of coming up with what the children wanted.

At the Christmas Eve service, there was far less attendance then was hope for and the service was now over; Pastor Swift and his family made their way home, it was now snowing and very cold; and not having the warmest clothing, the cold had made travel even harder.

Having no real spirit and feeling very down cast in her heart, Mrs. Swift sent the children off to bed a little earlier than normal; she could hear her daughter praying and asking for a doll and she knew what the boys wanted, ice skates; both she and Pastor Swift knew they were not going to be able to give to them their wants and wishes on Christmas Morning and Mrs. Swift had now started having feelings of deep hurt, as she knew the disappointment the children would face on Christmas morning.

Having repaired the barn, Pastor Swift was now taking care of the horses and making his way back to the house; he too was feeling sad that he would not have anything to give to his children the next morning.

Where was God? And why was there no answer to his or his wife’s prayer, was God just forgetting them or was there another answer to this present time and their circumstance that he just couldn’t see.

His wife knowing that he had been out in the barn for sometime and that he would be chilled to the bone, made some hot tea to warm him; he now inside and sitting down to have this special treat, as most of the time there was not that much tea to have extra cups.

As they sat together and talked about what was happening and wondering if they should leave, because of the hard times they were facing; they heard the sound of bells, yes bells from a sled that was being pulled by horses.

Then a loud knock on the door, as Pastor Swift went to see who was at the house on Christmas Eve; it was country store owner, who also was the delivery agent for the Over Land Mail Service and also handled freight from the rail line, which was miles from the community.

He greeted Pastor Swift and told him a large wooden box had come in and felt it needed to be delivered, since Christmas was the next day; he helped bring in the large box and wished them a Merry Christmas, as he left for his next stop.

With the large box sitting in the middle of the room, both Pastor Swift and his wife looked at each other and said I think we had better see what’s in the box; finding a iron crow bar, Pastor Swift forced open the top of the box.

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