Church Family: The Holidays

By Clifton Elliott

Church family and holiday gatherings supposed to be used for building a beautiful strong relationship with family, in-laws, and relatives, but some decide to use holidays to create hidden closets right under someone’s nose. Most people try representing themselves as honest, loving, and trustworthy people without leaving a mark that everyone can acknowledge and say, “You’re not an angel of light.”

Being in the church ministry holds a powerful image in most communities, but it can also become a very weak image in society when secret hidden closets become known among the eyes of people. In this story, you will see a young minister takes his determination for success in a way that right and wrong doesn’t matter.

Most people become different characters in life to have their own personal success, while others will become different characters for pleasure and power and become very deceitful. In this story, you will see that some people become make-believe characters. Having two lives is one way to characterize individual characters, such as having a high position in the church ministry and a hidden relationship that would defile his character just to gain power and success. Misrepresentation is not always a success even if it is fun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662449956

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Church Family

The Holidays

Clifton Elliott

Copyright © 2021 Clifton Elliott

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-6624-4994-9 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-4995-6 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Christmas Day

Dinning for Christmas

Angela Becomes Interested in Marlon

Ending the Day

Marlon and Angela Connect

Minister John and Professor Putin Feel the Passion

Minister John Reveals Future Plans

Introduction

Living by the word is the hardest thing to do for most of us. Everyone wants to be happy in his or her origin in life, but it doesn’t always work out this way.

Most of us think it’s okay to live the way we want, as long as no one knows what we’re doing. The bold and the hidden sinners always exist in every church home, which brings the congregation and family to shame.

I know most of us have heard the saying What’s in darkness will be brought into the light. This is why bold sinners don’t try wasting their time hiding their sins and never had to worry about being brought to shame.

The bold never lie or hide from others, while others who hide their sins feel guilty and wish they could take it back like it never happened. We can never change what has happened, but we can warn others not to follow this path.

Chapter 1

Christmas Day

Today is December 25, 2019. The Brown family is getting prepared for morning church service, held at Cascade Ministries in Norfolk, Virginia. Snow is on the ground, and the trees are filled with ice shingles on every branch, from one end of the city to the other.

The streets are clear, and the church bells are ringing along with the choir standing outside singing Christmas carols. The Brown family lives across the street from the church in a green-bricked, two-story, three-bedroom house.

Deacon Sidney is standing in front of his fireplace and Christmas tree and decides to speak with his son, Marlon. Happy Christmas, said Deacon Sidney. Today is an important day besides being the Lord’s day.

What’s so important about it, Dad? Because it’s Christmas on Sunday or Pastor James is going to tell everyone that my brother, John, is going to be an ordained minister by him?

No, Marlon, you shouldn’t envy your brother because he’s setting a positive role model for someone like you to follow.

How do you know, Dad?

Because John has always been a respectful young man and an outstanding freshman at Lion Theology University. He’s on the dean’s list, and he has worked well with Pastor James over the years. So what do you have to say about yourself? Besides being a street bum and an all-night swinger and has no respect for yourself or the church?

Well, Dad, you and everyone think brother John is a saint. I may not be a saint, but I’m nobody’s fake.

I’ll talk to you later, Marlon. I’m going to help your mother get dressed.

She’s not my mother. My mother has ceased three months ago.

Deacon Sidney just looks at him and shakes his head as he walks away and enters the master bedroom with Renee, his wife.

Meanwhile, Marlon decides to enter John’s bedroom and says, Hey, Minister John.

John looks up and down while he’s putting his tie on and says, I overheard you and Dad talking. I don’t feel that you gave Dad and our stepmother any respect. You said she’s not your mother.

Well, I don’t think Dad had any respect for me and you. He married her a week after Mom passed away and didn’t even ask how we felt about it. It looks like he had a relationship during the marriage, and Pastor James preached the funeral and put them two in holy matrimony the same damn week. And nobody seems to even care.

That’s not so, Marlon. Everyone wanted Dad to be happy, and Mom would’ve wanted him to be happy also.

Well, John, I have a hard time believing that.

I know you would, Marlon, and only someone like you would find fault in his decision.

Why couldn’t he just wait a month or two?

You have to accept it, Marlon, because nothing’s going to change. He has to live his life the same way you have to live yours. I don’t understand your decisions in life. You never do anything positive with your life, Marlon.

I like to enjoy life and not sneak around keeping things hidden.

What do you mean, Marlon?

You know what you and Anita are doing.

Hey, you didn’t see me and Anita doing anything.

Well, did Pastor James know about you and her meeting each other across town?

Have you been spying on me?

Well, John, you know little brothers always watch everything big brothers do.

I can’t believe it. You’ve been spying on me. Have you told anyone about this?

No, John. I’m not stupid. Besides, it’s your own damn business. You better worry about her dad finding out, because it could ruin your chance of becoming an ordained minister.

Well, it’s a little too late for that because I’m going to be ordained today. He called me last night and told me that I’m his chosen disciple.

The day he finds out about you and Anita, you’re going to be his dead disciple. You know how funny he is about his daughter, Anita. You dirty dog.

Shut up, Marlon. I hear Dad and Mom walking toward the hallway, and I think they’re ready now.

I told you, she’s not our mom.

Okay, Marlon. Whatever you say.

Hey, guys, it’s time to leave now. We don’t want to be late for church, says Deacon Sidney.

"How are we going to be late, Dad? We live across the street from the