Know Ye Not This Parable?

By David L. Cain

Know Ye Not This Parable Synopsis Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time; afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mark 4:13-19

The above scripture is the basis for this novel that is targeted toward the religious/inspirational fictional genre. The story centers on its two main characters, Cassandra and Jazzrah.

Cassandra is a thirty year old African American professional engineer from Detroit, Michigan. Having overcome numerous life obstacles (poverty, drugs, sickness, etc.) early in her life, Cassandra finally achieved success. Jazzrah began his life as a created angel in heaven. With his angelic brother Seth always at his side, Jazzrah enjoyed singing daily with the other angels. He sang praises every day until he encountered Bial, whose job was to spread Gods glory each morning by spreading his wings toward the rising sun. Sin set in when Bial became puffed up and started to believe that the glory came from him and not God. He successfully convinced a third of all of the angels, including Jazzrah, to abandon their assignments and follow him. For their sin against the Father, Bial and the other disobedient angels were expelled from their heavenly environment.

On earth in his new environment, Jazzrah was charged with collecting the souls of one million women. Upon completing his assignment, he would be promoted in Bials earthy and wicked regime. The only boundary was that he had to identify the targeted soul at birth. He met Cassandra the day of her birth in Detroit and began planning immediately to collect her soul by throwing the five acts of deception outlined in the above scripture at her over the thirty year period. Affliction, persecution, cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and lusts were strategically employed to push Cassandra to the edge.

On a cold December night Cassandra had finally reached the edge. No longer capable of dealing with life, Cassandra stands poised on a roof top ready to end her life. In the background on the roof, a silent witness ( Jazzrah ) watches in anticipation. As she takes one step forward, the remaining source of angelic goodness in Jazzrah sets off a war against his wickedness. The book chronicles the vents that brought Jazzrah and Cassandra together and resolves the spiritual conflict.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 13, 2006
• ISBN: 9781462836666

David L. Cain

David L. Cain was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has served on numerous civic boards and church based organizations across the country and has helped create several civic organizations including The Minority Enhancement Network and the Nehemiah Project of Alabama. His previous books include The Spiritual Reflections of a Black Man, The Making of an Eagle, Know Ye Not This Parable, Ye Shall Know Them By Their Fruit, and Dust Has No Color. He currently resides in Houston, Texas with his wife Wandra and has three children David II, Christina, and Nia Gabrielle.

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Know Ye Not

This Parable?

34501-CAIN-layout.pdf

DAVID L. CAIN

Copyright © 2006 by David L. Cain.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

34501

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About The Author

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This book is also dedicated to my siblings: James Jr., Eddie, Beverly, Cynthia, and John. Each passing year brings us closer and closer to God who will decide if we are worthy to be listed in the Book of Life. My prayer is that on that fateful day, our names will stand out . . . not because of what we’ve done on earth, but because of our faith. Although this book is inspired by the Bible and its truths, the events and people mentioned herein are fictional. This book is not meant to add or deduct from God’s eternal word.

Know Ye Not This Parable?

KNOW YE NOT THIS PARABLE? AND HOW THEN WILL YE KNOW ALL PARABLES? THE SOWER SOWETH THE WORD. AND THESE ARE THEY BY THE WAYSIDE, WHERE THE WORD IS SOWN; BUT WHEN THEY HAVE HEARD, SATAN COMETH IMMEDIATELY, AND TAKETH AWAY THE WORD THAT WAS SOWN IN THEIR HEARTS. AND THESE ARE THEY LIKEWISE WHICH ARE SOWN ON STONY GROUND; WHO, WHEN THEY HAVE HEARD THE WORD, IMMEDIATELY RECEIV©E IT WITH GLADNESS; AND HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES, AND SO ENDURE BUT FOR A TIME; AFTERWARD, WHEN AFFLICTION OR PERSECUTION ARISETH FOR THE WORD’S SAKE, IMMEDIATELY THEY ARE OFFENDED. AND THESE ARE THEY WHICH ARE SOWN AMONG THORNS; SUCH AS HEAR THE WORD, AND THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, AND THE LUSTS OF OTHER THINGS ENTERING IN, CHOKE THE WORD, AND IT BECOMETH UNFRUITFUL. MARK 4:13-19

Prologue

Standing on the ledge in her bare feet, Cassandra stared at the ground below. She had made up her mind that the coming short-term pain would be a fair trade to finally end a lifetime of turmoil. Just a few more inches forward and it would all be over.

She stood on the roof alone, at least so she thought. She didn’t see the faint outline of a shadowy figure standing not far from her. The darkness of the night effectively camouflaged Jazzrah’s presence. Standing upright with his back pressed against the wall, he exhaled slowly, trying to control the plume of mist that each breath created.

Just like with each previous attempt he had made on this life, his heart rate increased at the same pace as the now familiar painful urge in his soul.

I wish I knew the source of this feeling.

He clenched his chest with his right hand.

Why won’t she jump and put an end to both our torments?

Cassandra stood on the ledge twenty feet away from Jazzrah. The cold breeze made her body sway slightly as she seemed lost in thought.

Everything looks so calm and peaceful down there. This will all be over soon. No more corporate rat race, no more paying bills, no more sickness, and no more fake brothers.

She closed her swollen eyes and tried to ignore the cold weather. The needle-sharp wind stung her face and ears making her skin feel hard. Her shoulder-length hair blew violently across her face. Normally, she kept it tied back or styled on top of her head.

She tried to move her feet forward but couldn’t. They felt as if they were bolted to the ledge.

I can’t feel my feet, she complained. She tried to wiggle her bare toes but could not tell if they were moving. She had taken her shoes off because the sharp pointed heels made it difficult to climb on top of the three-foot ledge. Lord, please give me the strength to move my feet.

Snow was falling and a stronger wind blew in from the west. The weather forecast earlier that day had predicted an encroaching storm would be Detroit’s first major blizzard of the year, and maybe the worst in five years. The front was expected to dump another foot of snow on top of the six inches that already covered the ground.

Jazzrah clenched his fists into a tight ball. What is she waiting on? It’s not that hard to do. You just close your eyes and step off, he thought.

It doesn’t matter how cold it gets or how hard the wind blows, I’m still going through with it. Lord, please move my feet, she pleaded, unaware that Jazzrah was listening nearby.

On Griswald Street below, a handful of people and her car were the only signs of life in front of the Guardian Building. From her perch thirty stories atop the building, the people below moved in slow motion like tiny black ants on a white rug. Snowdrifts piled around her car, erasing the tire marks it had made when she arrived a short time ago.

On the roof, the white snow did little to overcome the sucking black hole of darkness that seemed to obliterate any light surrounding the two lonely figures. Other than a few pockets of light, it was pitch black. It may have been an effective cover for Jazzrah’s body, but it did little to hide his jade-green eyes. They had a bright phosphorescent glow, making them look like glow-in-the-dark eyeballs that had been held up to a light. Afraid she would look in his direction, he cupped his hands over his eyes in an attempt to shield them.

Cassandra started singing along with the Patti Labelle song blaring from the CD player next to her.

If a teeny-weeny bird can fly over the rainbow . . . then why can’t I? she sang as the brisk winter wind chimed in.

The wind whipped through her blue wool suit and pricked at her skin. The suit had vertical white pinstripes that created an outline of her body against the black backdrop of night.

Before today, I was on top of the world. I thought I had everything going for me, but it’s all gone now, she thought as the song played on.

Lord, I gave this company everything I had, and they tossed me away. I gave unconditional love to a man who I thought really loved me, and he took advantage of me, too.

Growing impatient, Jazzrah shifted his feet to keep them from falling asleep.

I did what I had to do. I’ve done this many times before. Why does this one feel so different? he wondered, as the pain in his chest increased and his entire body began to tense.

The song ended and Cassandra decided it was time to end it all.

OK, Lord, please forgive me for what I’m about to do.

She lifted her right foot by placing her hands under her right thigh muscle, shifting her leg forward slightly. Then she lifted her left leg in the same manner. Her frozen toes extended over the ledge.

Whew! she exhaled. She lifted her head one final time, closed her eyes and leaned her body forward.

Without warning, a loud and strangely warm wind roared upward, disrupting her forward movement. She flailed her arms in a wild circular motion, which shifted her momentum backward.

Falling backward onto the roof and landing in a pile of snow, she groaned in anguish.

At that same moment, the painful feeling in Jazzrah’s chest seemed to explode. His weakened and collapsing legs slid him down the wall into a sitting position, landing him in a snow-bank. They both sat in their respective places, motionless and confused.

Shivering from the cold, Cassandra stood up, grabbed her shoes and CD player and started walking toward the door. With her head down, blinding tears fell into the soft snow as she walked right past where Jazzrah sat staring at her, holding his heart. As she disappeared into the building, the mysterious discomfort of the past few years finally left Jazzrah.

What in the world is going on? he wondered, sliding over sideways and down onto his back from his sitting position against the wall.

Lying in the snow, Jazzrah held his chest with one hand while holding the other hand across his forehead. In spite of the cold and the snow, his head burned with questions.

Arghh, he screamed. This has never happened before.

He pounded his fists into the snow until he hit the solid roof. After five minutes of pounding, he stopped and sat up, drawing his knees up to his chest. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. In silence, snowdrifts collected around him as he thought back to how it all began thousands of years ago . . . .

Chapter One

HEY THERE, YOU son of Elohim! Seth yelled.

Hey to you, son of Elohim, Jazzrah replied.

All praises to God our Father, Seth said. He kissed Jazzrah on the neck.

Holy, holy, holy, Jazzrah sang. He returned Seth’s kiss on his neck.

It’s another beautiful day, isn’t it? Seth exclaimed.

Yes, but not as beautiful as the day of creation.

Ah yes, the day of our creation. What a beautiful day that was!

Jazzrah and Seth were created angels. They stood on a billowy hill high on the second level of heaven. They met there each day to engage in their favorite activity – singing songs of praise.

Ready? Seth asked.

Yep, just as soon as Bial activates the light of the morning glory, Jazzrah replied.

They both stood and looked upward toward the east. Within minutes, the sky went from a pale violet to a beautiful spectrum of Technicolor.

Wow, look at our Father’s glory!

Oh, I could watch this for all eternity and never get enough. It’s so beautiful! Jazzrah exclaimed. He looked around and saw legions of other angels staring at the beautiful sunrise.

Holy, holy, holy, they all sang in unison.

Seth and Jazzrah sang and smiled at each other. They loved each other and loved being in each other’s company. As long as they could remember, they were always paired.

The memory of their creation may have been distant to them, but the memory of their love for the Father was always present. They loved hearing His voice call out their names. They loved how his spirit bore constant witness to his fondness for all of creation, great and small. They especially loved the living testimonies of his providence presented uniquely by all of God’s creation. Other than singing praise songs, they enjoyed reflecting on his love for them while resting in their own special place.

Hey, Jazz, let’s go over to our favorite spot, Seth said, pointing.

Last one there is a rotten egg! Jazzrah challenged. He took off flying with his mighty white wings flapping loudly. Seth chased closely behind him. They flew to a huge oak tree that had large overhanging branches and an even larger trunk. Its green leaves provided natural shade for the hilltop on which it sat.

Isn’t this a great place, Jazz?

Oh yeah. Other than the Father’s throne, this is by far my favorite place in all of heaven.

You know what I like best? Seth asked.

No, what?

Come over here and close your eyes, Seth said. He led Jazzrah about fifty feet from their special place. They both sat down and Jazzrah opened his eyes.

No, don’t open your eyes yet. Keep them closed.

OK, now what?

Concentrate. What do you feel?

Nothing.

Clear your thoughts and try to think only of your heart.

Jazzrah sat silent briefly before cracking a smile across his face.

Hmm, it feels like a warm, gentle breeze. Wow, I have never noticed that before, he said. He opened his eyes and the smile disappeared quickly. Hey, where did the warm breeze go?

You can’t see it with your eyes. You can only feel it with your heart. Close your eyes again.

Jazzrah closed his eyes again and it didn’t take long for the smile to return.

Wow, that feels really nice. What is it and where does it come from?

It’s the breath of the Father signifying his life within us and all around us. Isn’t it great? Seth replied.

Jazzrah opened his eyes and continued smiling. How did you know it was here?

Seth laughed and patted Jazzrah on the back. You want to know a secret?

What?

It’s not just here, it’s everywhere we go.

I don’t get it. What do you mean it’s everywhere?

You see, the Father is always with us wherever we go. His spirit resides right here, Seth said, pointing to Jazzrah’s heart. If you close your eyes and focus on his love in your heart, you will feel him exhale gently.

But what’s the feeling on my neck?

Seth smiled and patted Jazzrah on the back again. That’s just the result of his love rising from the inside to the outside.

Wow, I could stay here forever and do nothing but keep my eyes closed, experiencing this.

Nice try, but we have to go back and finish singing from our assigned spot, Seth said.

Can’t we just stay a little longer?

Don’t you remember what Gabriel told us about our assignment? Seth asked.

How could I forget when you keep reminding me?

Well, let’s hear it.

"We are not forced to sing to the Father, we choose to sing because we love Him," Jazzrah repeated from rote memory.

"And you do love Him, don’t you?"

How can you even ask that? Of course I love Him, and I know it’s an honor to be allowed to serve Him.

Excellent. It’s good to know that you are more than just a pretty face.

You’re so funny. I can’t help it that I was born with good looks.

Jazz, you weren’t born, you were created, Seth smiled as he tapped Jazzrah on the shoulder.

And how would you know? You weren’t there.

Very simple – open your robe.

Jazzrah opened the top buttons of his robe, exposing a perfectly toned torso with well-defined muscles and no body fat.

OK, now what, Mr. Know-it-all? Jazzrah asked.

Just look at yourself – do you see anything different about you compared to the man and woman that live below?

Yep, I’m a picture of perfection, Jazzrah replied jovially.

You don’t have nipples or a navel. That usually is a dead giveaway that you weren’t born. Seth patronized him by patting him on his head, still laughing. Jazz, like man and woman, we are free to make our own choices, but we can’t choose our birth or creation – that choice belongs to the Father only.

But seriously, Seth, do you find it hard to always make the right decision all the time? Jazzrah asked. He buttoned his top and looked at Seth with a serious look on his face.

Not if you use this simple test. Whenever I have to make a choice, I ask myself this one question – which decision will give the Father glory? Then I choose the thing that will most glorify Him.

"Still, it’s hard