Famine Day Approaches: Helps in Becoming Keenly Aware

By Maybelle Mason

FAMINE DAY APPROACHES demonstrates how the author has successfully dealt with the obstacles, and needs in her life during many years of experiences. Travel with her as she learned to define the need of patience from defeatism, a lack of communication from a lack of faith, accepting wise discernment when she was emotionally disturbed, and knowing the inspiration given by God from her own conflicting interpretations. The author depicts how she learned to differentiate between the approaches which endorse Christian values and common-sense ethics from the approaches that can bring about a reproach of disgrace and shame.

In addition to revealing the authors personal problems and triumphs, FAMINE DAY APPROACHES consists of sixty-plus fictional short stories, described as paintings. It, also, discloses the remarkable experience that initiated her depictions of human nature in writing. The narratives are descriptive, dialogical problems which are solved with good definitive, principled solutions. Her years of experiences add dynamisms to the variety of mindsets referencing potentials of human nature.

Learn how to become keenly aware of the many charted, and honorable privileges available when a personal famine occurs in ones own life. Discover how famine day abundances can offset the famine day scarcities with surprised amazement. Although a shortage of Godly discernment is prevalent in todays world, it need not be. Besides having access to the Holy Scriptures a well-stocked warehouse of famine day bread is identifiable within this work which closely relates to an eminent masterpiece which ardently addresses the same subjects.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512739848

Maybelle Mason

While working in the public for many years, the author was, also, writing poetry and short stories. The author didn’t know when she wrote a lengthy poem over sixty-plus years ago that she was writing her own life’s predictive story. She has lived and witnessed, through experiences, the unfolding of what was predicted in that poetic rendition of her future. Now at the age of eighty-five, she is releasing the disclosure through more writings, for the public’s consideration. PREDICTION: Her writings would nurture the public, and a proportional public would favorably respond.

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Copyright © 2016 Maybelle Mason.

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 author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.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.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3983-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-3984-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016907006

WestBow Press rev. date: 6/3/2016

CONTENTS

Dedication

Preface

PART ONE

BEGINNING CHALLENGES

Chapter I    Young, Learning And Moving On

Chapter II    Becoming Desperate

Chapter III    My Answered Prayer

Chapter IV    Reminiscing And Taking Note

Chapter V    Making Sure Of Something

Chapter VI    Becoming Willing To Sacrifice

Chapter VII    A Need Of Discernment

Chapter VIII    Needing Patience

Chapter IX    A Remarkable Experience

Chapter X    Longing To Become A Painter

PART TWO

DESCRIPTIVE HUMAN NATURE PAINTINGS

Introduction

SECTION I    COMMUNITY

A COURTROOM DRAMA

ADMITTED TO BEING A BLATANT LIAR

AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON

FROM LAUGHTER TO SERIOUSNESS

LEADERS SHOULD BE THOUGHTFUL NOT UNTHOUGHTFUL

POKE SALAD AND THE NEIGHBORS

SENIOR WOMEN AND THE BUS DRIVER

SECRETARY AND HER BOSS

SURPRISED AT THE OUTCOME

THE SALE OF AN AIRBOAT

SOME RECEIPTS ARE LONG PAST DUE

TWO GENERATIONS WITH A TONGUE PROBLEM

SECTION II    FAMILY

BECAME MEEK LATER ON

COLD AND WARM HEARTED PORTRAYED

GRABBING RELATIVES

GRIEF INVOLVING SOME PAPER DOLLS

HOBBIES AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

ONCE HE WAS VERY STUBBORN

PARENTS WERE TRICKED UNTIL

RESOLVED PROBLEMS CONCERNING AN ADOPTEE

SIBLINGS REACT TO A PROBLEM

SINGING ALL FOUR PARTS

SISTER-IN-LAW WAS MISJUDGED

TOO STRICT OF A DAD

UNEDUCATED, AT LEAST SOMEWHAT UNTIL

SECTION III    MARRIAGE AND MORALITY

A SEDUCTIVE WOMAN WAS REPROVED

AN EXAMPLE OF CAREFULNESS

LEARNING MORE ABOUT HIDDEN LUSTFUL PASSIONS

LUST AND SOME COUNTERMEASURES

MORAL AND SOCIAL ANGLES TO CONSIDER

PASSIONS AND A FIRE SAFETY OFFICIAL

REHEARSAL BECAME A REAL EYE-OPENER

THOSE INCONSIDERATE HUSBANDS

THOSE INCONSIDERATE WIVES

WORDS, LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE USAGE

YEARS LATER AN APOLOGY WAS MADE

SECTION IV    MONEY

ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT RUDE

BLAMING OTHERS FOR A DEBT IN ARREARS

DEALING WITH A FIVE SECOND FEAR

JOVIAL ATTORNEY AND SOME PROBLEMS

NO CHEATING OF THIS TEENAGER

OH TO BE A MILLIONAIRE

PORTRAYAL OF A PICKPOCKET DO-GOODER

PRIDE AND AN EGOTIST

SECTION V    RELIGION

A MEMORIAL INCLUDING A DOG

CORRELATED PRAYER LINKS

DAD, I NEED TO TALK WITH YOU

EXPOSURE OF A WOMANIZING PREACHER

FACTS VERSUS CHOICES

HYPOCRITE FINALLY CONFESSES

PARAMETERS TO BE CONSIDERED

TWO EXTREMES

UNQUALIFIED PREACHER STOPS AND TAKES HEED

WEREN’T WILLING TO REPENT UNTIL

SECTION VI    READING, AUTHORSHIP AND PUBLISHING

A MOTHER WHO CAME TO AN UNDERSTANDING

AN AVID READER SPEAKS IN DEFENSE OF

ANTAGONISM BECAME A PLUS

BOOK REPORTS THEN AND NOW

FAMOUS AS A WRONGDOER

SUCCESSFUL OR UNSUCCESSFUL

THIS EDITOR UNDER STRESS

UNCLE JACK, THE EDITOR

DEDICATION

My mother was an amazing woman. During the latter years of her life she was stricken with a dementia handicap, and needed daily assistance in various ways. Even though her memory failed her, she held steady in her belief in God and exercised her ability in upholding good Godly principles.

She gave this bit of good advice: When you ride with someone you should always be ready when they arrive to pick you up. The driver shouldn’t have to wait on you.

Another noted instance she was asked this question: If you owe someone some money, and you have a choice to either pay the debt or spend that money on entertainment, what should you do? She quickly replied, Pay the debt.

She was often seen with her hands in a prayerful fold, which indicated she was communing with her Heavenly Father. The legacy, including having a great faith in God, that she left her fellowman is truly worth valuing and remembering.

Also, to my dear husband for his undying love and his unassuming helpfulness. He has untiringly helped to fill in some of the blank spaces when I felt miserably inadequate for the task. His kindness and patience is most appreciated.

PREFACE

Over fifty years ago when I was a young Christian adult, I wrote a 72-line poem based upon the Bible story of Joseph which is recorded in the Book of Genesis. Besides being sold by his brothers, he suffered in a variety of other ways. Eventually the experiences led him to become a blessing when the famine day approached.

The first fifty-six lines of the poem tells the reader that whatever experiences a person encounters, although painful, they should continue to uphold good principles and to always be willing to learn from the involvements. The last sixteen lines of the rhyme tells about the arrival of the famine day when the inhabitants are needing to be fed with inner man food.

The poem was laid aside, and for a number of years I seemingly forgot about it.

Later after some maturity and years of intermingling with people and suffering setbacks, illnesses, losses of various magnitudes, I became keenly, and astutely aware that I was the one who should accept the challenge of filling some storehouses for the benefit of others. I reread the poem, and was amazingly able to relate to the many hurtful things mentioned in the poem. It appeared, with no deliberate forethought, I wrote my own life’s story unsuspectedly. Of course, the rhyme could, also, include others who are food gatherers and become astute warehousers of life-sustaining soul food.

The story of Joseph, along with my poem, and Bibical scriptures had an alarming, provable, and a distinct message for me. I was to keep the right attitude toward anyone who had a link in the chain of adversities administered for my spiritual growth.

In Joseph’s time the famine would have been more disastrous if he had not made the preparation for the approaching days of famine. So in my case, I became acutely aware that I was unprepared to what lie ahead for me. I had some serviceable learning to do, and that would involve more than book learning. Practicality while interacting with my fellowman was a valuable tool for my progressive food gathering techniques.

The poem didn’t follow the proper metric rules of good poetry writing, but after I became illuminated I realized the poem’s timing was accurately written. It outlined the perfect flow of my past, present experiences, and the arresting significance of my future.

I saw the need for the food gathering, and the warehousing would take some time, and overseeing some well-stocked storehouses gave me a shared and awed responsibility. The need of patience and carefulness was also noted as necessary graces to be used during the distribution process of the desired and sustainable food needed for famine-day sufferers—those who hurt from lack of nourishment.

When I was a young person I hadn’t planned my life to include sufferings in various ways, and experiencing some pleasant surprises, in order to have something to impart to others. Neither did I realize the full scope of what my future held in a dysfunctional and convulsive society. But as I saw the need to meet the challenges that were presented me, I yielded to God’s will.

Because of the scarcity of keen discernment within some segments of society the lack of spiritual and moral growth is painfully felt. I trust this writing will bring some reprieve to someone who is painfully feeling that emptiness of not bearing the fruits of a genuine Christian.

Perhaps a disquieting circumstance, a tantalizing question and being misguided in some serious matters has brought about or is bringing about a feeling of famine-day disparities and conditions. Just as I have been helped, I bank on others, also, being helped through the channels of discernment.

Besides this work serving as a testimony of spiritual growth, I trust this work will demonstrate an endorsement I have of Godly principles which others, also, are endeavoring to uphold.

With famine-day shortages being imminent or already experienced, individually or collectively in various sections of society, I’m offering this spiritual bread in such a way that my hungry fellowman will be fed. And I hope it will serve as a witness that God does and will continue to inspire others who want to join the ranks with those who have been in the forefront in upholding sound, wise judgment for many years.

PART ONE

BEGINNING CHALLENGES

CHAPTER I

YOUNG, LEARNING AND MOVING ON

It’s a good thing everybody isn’t like you.

That comment was made to me when I was quite young by a good Christian woman who was older than me. Of course, I was hurt by that statement, but at the same time I agreed with her. I already had a low esteem of myself. To be a misfit in society and thinking I needed to be more like other people pained me very deep. I wanted to overcome being me with all of my weaknesses and marked peculiarity. Any inborn, unlikeable traits, we thought, needed to be gotten rid of if there was to be any noticeable, garnered good come from my life.

Since I thought little of myself, my belittlement increased in thinking I was an intolerable nuisance to some other people. It seemed that some young single women, my age, who had a charming, vibrant personality, were fluent conversationalists, and smiled freely, but who lived less than a notably, exemplary life were well-thought of within some societal circles. But me—I was saddened and felt ashamed of myself for being aggravatingly burdensome to others, although I lived uprightly.

I tried to accept the counsel over and over again that suggested I definitely needed to change—what I later learned was unchangeable because I was just like other folks, having my own innateness. I had to be me, whether I liked it or not.

It wasn’t long until God helped me to become keenly aware of the wrong focus we both had.

It’s a good thing there’s somebody like you.

That was the statement the counsellor should have made to me because I looked up to her as my mentor. Both of us needed to refocus. I wasn’t supposed to feel that I was an obnoxious misfit in society, instead of an unassailable asset. With my attributes, my distinctive personality, and my faith in God, I was to feel I fit in very well with any present or future definitive, admirable approaches. I was living above disgustful reproaches, and although I was shy, stuttered, and blushed easily, I didn’t let that deter me from upholding virtuous Godly principles.

While in business school, one of my instructors told me I had a far-away look in my eyes. In order for me to become successful in the business world I was to overcome that look. Her comment frustrated me because I didn’t know what she meant. So I decided to consider her words with an explorative perspective by focusing on the opposite side. I reasoned that a close-up look at what is keenly, and honorably observable should be beneficial to me in becoming successful.

Being a good conversationalist definitely did not describe me, and it pained me so deep that I, at times, became less communicative. Often I withdrew from people so as to avoid engaging in a conversation. I felt terribly inferior to other people.

Later I discovered I was more skillful with writing meaningful dialogue—an interchange which some elegant conversationalists are incompetent doing. To be considered a gifted dialogist is an attribute I needed to espouse as being a part of me, and I didn’t need to feel disgraced concerning it.

To put forth a painstaking effort to be like other people was not required by God, and for me to realize that fact was a big relief for me. It brought joy to me, but other folks? They needed to deal with their own condescending thoughts and find out why the verifiable facts concerning how and why I was so inherently made.

I needed some more encouragement. After struggling and encountering more not-too-pleasant allusions God gave me a fitting inspiration through this simple truism: The fact that a valuable gem isn’t within the view of a million people – is no reason to believe it is in the wrong place.

That truism highlightened a simple message to me: The fact that a million people aren’t aware who has a God-given talent to author a rare book – is no reason to believe the wrong person was gifted.

I became aware there were more expanding horizons for me to explore within my writing talent. I’m not declaring my writings to be intellectually above other good, treasured writings, and neither to I announce my work to be of an inferior quality.

Because of God-given inspirations I believe my work rings true in defending good character building and upholding Godly principles. Those principles are the longed-for treasures which honest, hungry, famine-day seekers have a right to desire.

Since it isn’t demeaning to author a timely-written book—one that can help people to become spiritually and morally enlivened, I realize I should be willing to do my small part in filling a blank void resultant of famine day shortages.

CHAPTER II

BECOMING DESPERATE

After struggling for months with some problems that seemed overwhelming to me, I decided it was time to zero in on getting some definite answers. Having access to a variety of answers, when the one positive correct answer was lacking concerning my problems, were not very comforting to me. It pained me beyond what I thought I could sensibly bear.

I was heavily burdened with confusion this particular evening when I began thinking about some situations concerning love and marriage where there is only one rightful answer—not a multiplicity of answers conceived by oneself or perhaps by other people.

My thoughts centered in on a young single man and woman, both virtuously clean, who became attracted to each other. Their love for one another grew with exquisite poise. Soon they accepted the privilege of entering into a Holy Matrimony. During the wedding ceremony they made some solemn vows to each other. They vowed to forsake all others and only cling to each other until death parted them. This took place while in the presence of a large group of witnesses. Eventually they became parents.

I considered the one truthful answer which can apply in every phase of a courtship, marriage, parenthood and even beyond.

Some questions could be as follows: Do you love one another? Yes. Do you feel exalted because you are married? No. Should other people acknowledge your marriage? Yes. Are you ashamed to be married? No. Do you know God sanctioned your marriage? Yes. Do you want to continue loving your spouse? Yes. Do you recommend a biblical marriage? Yes. Are you sorry you made all those vows while in the presence of God and all those witnesses? No. Are you the father of the baby that your wife has given birth to? Yes.

I thought it would have been very foolish for the following answers to be given: Maybe, I’ll have to get some opinions, I’ll have to think about it, I might not be the father of the baby, God isn’t interested in a marriage, and I might consider divorcing my spouse in a couple of weeks.

My thoughts took in crude possibilities, unwelcomed foolish opinions, senseless questions and diversities of unwise answers. All of my morbid, ungovernable thoughts didn’t make sense upon which I could become a successful happy individual.

What did make sense was: Why can’t I have something in my life that consists of only one rightful answer? Why must I be in a quandary and feel sad while trying to sort out this, that and the other, when I don’t have to? That thought does give allowance for Christian growth.

CHAPTER III

MY ANSWERED PRAYER

As I knelt in prayer, I didn’t know what to ask for so I decided I would ask for ‘something,’ that one ‘something’ that could unquestionably be mine. I wanted it to be a positive fact that I possessed that ‘something’. It didn’t matter to me what it was, just whatever God desired to give me. I was heavily burdened and felt inconsolable as I knelt and began praying:

Give me something you want to give me.

Something you have a right to give.

Something I have a right to have.

Give me something you are qualified to give.

Something I can embrace.

Something I won’t feel exalted about.

Something I can receive with no amount of restraint.

Something I want to keep.

Something that would be good for my soul.

Something as honorable as marriage.

Something as scriptural as marriage.

Give me something that others could want the same of if they wanted something good.

Give me something that would have to be acknowledged by others.

Something connected with merited respect.

Something with honorable fulfillments.

Give me something I won’t have to be ashamed of.

Something that will bring me joy.

Give me something I won’t be required to apologize about upon acceptance of it.

After asking for those eighteen somethings, I paused because I couldn’t think of anything else to compare with the one answer regarding a man and a woman who are in love.

Then suddenly while still in anguish, I was made keenly aware that if God answered my prayer by granting all of the above somethings, I could, with no emotional reserve, no hesitation, and no abashment freely ask for one more, and I positively knew my serious request would be granted. I thought it would be very foolish if God granted all of the above somethings and then He would require me to give all of them up.

So with an unabated confidence and a tranquil assurance I knew my next prayer request was going to be answered. This is what I requested:

Give me something that the person or persons who would try to make me give it up would have to get out of Your will to do it.

Immediately, in a flash, after I said the last word ‘it’ I was made keenly aware that ‘wisdom’ was the answer to my prayer. I was praying for wisdom, and I didn’t know it. My burden lifted. The weightiness I felt when I knelt in prayer completely and instantly vanished. I realized wisdom didn’t need a substitute, just as a groom doesn’t want a substitute bride. He wants the one he loves, and he has a God-given right to love her.

My luminous, far-soaring thoughts expanded, taking in the span of the magnificent skies of steadfastness, growth induced visions and keen discernment.

I visualized a God-sanctioned wedding ceremony between a man and a woman, who had just finished making some solemn vows, and were acknowledged to be husband and wife. Instantly, a strange woman rushes to the husband and says, ‘you are supposed to be my husband, so I want this marriage to be annulled.’

The couple have a right to believe that the woman is out of God’s will—not them. They can remain calm. They don’t even have to weep, pray, seek counsel or consider the annulment, because they are in the will of God to enter into a Biblical marriage. If the aggressor revoltingly accuses them of lacking humility (Christians are to be humble) because they refuse to separate, they could continue to remain steadfast in believing that God’s will is supreme, and not that strange woman’s desire.

There might be a myriad of strange, foolish propositions made to a Christian in which an upright individual will need to stand unwaveringly changeless. They will need the wisdom that identifies the opponent to be out of God’s will—not them. The upright is in the will of God, and should remain so.

CHAPTER IV

REMINISCING AND TAKING NOTE

I wrote all of the somethings I had asked for on a piece of paper, and noted that wisdom did apply to all of them. Not one of those nineteen requests was left unanswered. Wisdom was the one answer I unknowingly requested, and it proved to be a blessing to me for not knowing what I was asking for. I counted eighteen before I paused, and then I thought of the last request.

In referring back to all of the requests I had to agree with the answer. Sure God wants to give wisdom, and He has a right to give it. We humans have a right to have it, and God is qualified to give wisdom. It can be embraced without a possessor becoming exalted about it. All of us can receive wisdom with no degree of restraint, and we should want to keep what God gives us.

Gaining wisdom is certainly good for the soul. Just as marriage consists of honorable fulfillments; likewise wisdom brings about scriptural fulfillments.

Give me something that others could want the same of if they wanted something good. When I requested that, I wasn’t wanting something that wasn’t attainable by others. Neither was I wanting something that would be diminished in me if others attained what I had. All human beings should want something good. Also wisdom is available to people in all walks of life.

Give me something that would have to be acknowledged by others. Marriage is recognized by all kinds of people within a variety of cultures and religions. A nonbeliever might say to a married couple, I don’t believe in a supreme being, but I do acknowledge your marriage. I will never question the validity concerning your marriage. The married couple could wisely respond. You’re acknowledgement should go further. You need to acknowledge that you lack divine wisdom if you don’t believe in God.

For a person to say: I refuse to acknowledge your biblical marriage is a refusal that is not within God’s eternal blessings, and it coincides with other denials not sanctioned by God.

Marriage is recognized world-wide. Even some illiterate people and very young people are able to acknowledge a marriage. Then it is definitely proper to acknowledge wisdom in other people. If it is easily discernable and to say: That individual is a very unwise person based upon their wrongful doings, then one could also attest to this fact: That individual is a very wise person because of his uprightness. Uprightness should be acknowledged.

It’s unfathomable to think a man and woman who are married would feel enormously proud instead of humbly living as an acknowledged married couple. A person who is endowed with Godly wisdom should function in society as an unassertive individual, just endeavoring to stay in God’s will and order. A boaster is one who lacks wisdom.

Give me something connected with merited respect. People with Godly wisdom should respect one another by not asking questions that are of a very personal matter.

A person with wisdom wants only honorable fulfillments, not shameful accomplishments.

Having God’s wisdom brings about actions in which the doer doesn’t have to feel any remorse or shame because of it. Of course, there is joy in living out the will of God. No one should feel a need to apologize for the wisdom that God has given him or her.

Before asking for the nineteenth something, I began thinking more profoundly about some possibilities that could occur in a person’s life who has something good that God has given him or her.

I thought:

Why should I be the one who is required to apologize while in the directive of doing God’s will? Why should I apologize for God answering my prayer by granting my pure, unselfish, reasonable desires?

If I have what God freely gave me, and wanted to give me, had the power and know-how, why must I say to my fellowman such phrases as the following in reference to me living uprightly?

Forgive me, I’m sorry, you’ve convinced me I need to change, I’ve been a foolish thinker, I lack divine wisdom, I owe you an apology, I’ve been too proud to acknowledge my sins, I’m not in the will of God, I misjudged you, I’m mistaken, and I’m ashamed of the way I’m living.

Why couldn’t, why shouldn’t it be those who oppose holy living say apologetic phrases or comments to me? That question made deepening sense to me.

To apologize for living uprightly would be synonymous as to a groom saying to his bride: Forgive me for loving you, I’m sorry I love you, I’m out of God’s will to love you, and I dread the fulfillment of our marriage.

To pray with this earnest entreaty (Give me something that the person or persons who would try to make me give it up, would have to get out of your will to do it) is a very suitable, respectful and acceptable petition. It does not denote pride. It doesn’t portray the intercessor putting self on a pedestal. Neither does it signify that other people should bow down to them.

It denotes a desire to seek for and to forever cling to the wisdom that God has given, will give, wants to give, and is qualified to give mankind. With that answered prayer a person can be assured that God will fulfill His promise to help those who are determined to stay true to His will.

CHAPTER V

MAKING SURE OF SOMETHING

One week-end, after I became a Christian, I went to visit my parents who lived on a farm, and I was troubled about my status as a Christian. So after dark, while all alone, I drove out on a country road, and looked up at the starry skies.

The problem that bothered me was that I wondered if I was truly a genuine Christian. I knew there were scriptures that cautioned me: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matt. 7:15 (KJV). I was aware I needed to bear the fruits of a Christian. Having the knowledge that I could be misled just as other people are misled brought me some frightening thoughts. Was I a victim of wrongness or was I for real in promoting good? Has a false leader instilled in me what I should have rejected?

Before that country-road-experience happened, and before I was genuinely saved, I became a full-fledged hypocrite. A friend asked me to join her church. I thought, well why not? I don’t intend to live by all the rules of the bible right now or by that church’s creed. At that time I was already living better than a lot of church members.

That morning when I stood in front of the congregants while facing the frontal stage, I told some lies in the process of joining that church. This happened many years ago, and I don’t remember verbatim what was said, but the following is an example of what transpired:

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, put your whole trust in His grace, and promise to serve Him as your Lord? I do.

As a member of this church will you faithfully participate in its ministries with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness? I will.

Do you renounce all the spiritual forces of wickedness, and accept the forgiveness of your committed sins now, and will trust in God’s power to forgive you of any future sins, which you no doubt will commit? I do.

Will you abhor and shun all types of evil even to the point of denying yourself in order to promote the cause of God? I will.

Will you vow to these parishioners, your brothers and sisters in Christ, that you will never interfere, say or do anything to impede their spiritual growth or their earnest endeavors in life? I do.

According to your sacred vows, and your love for God you are now a member of God’s holy church.

With a handshake, the ceremony of a hyprocrite joining a church ended.

So I, as a hypocrite, joined that church by telling lies. And I visualized the group who witnessed the ceremony to be happy because the church gained a member.

The pastor spoke softly and piously to me, and I answered as if I were seriously telling the truth; but I was laughing inside. I knew I wasn’t going to keep my vows to that church. I knew I wasn’t going to give them any money.

Before that Sunday morning I had already decided that some day I wanted to become a genuine Christian, and live a holy life. But that morning I wanted to play the role of a hypocrite, and that I did. If I had further promoted or foolishly exposed my true self that morning, I would have burst out into a boisterous laugh in front of everyone, instead of pretending to be serious-minded. I fooled that preacher, I laughed to myself.

A short time later I did become a genuine Christian, and I never went back to that church, who the pastor described as a holy church, that I joined while telling lies. Neither did I give them an offering. I asked God to forgive me for participating in such a foolish, irreverent ceremony.

Perhaps the vain church joining has occurred many times, and the participants did not have a change of heart. They continued their evildoings, perhaps even more so after joining the church. In order to please God, they will need to break some foolish-made vows which God is displeased with. For example: A vow to marry or to stay married to someone who God forbids, or to give money to further an evildoing are two bad vows. Of course, there are many vows made that are unacceptable in representing the fruit of a genuine Christian.