The Appointed Christian: Book Two

By John Hufft

Christmas 2015, in a southwestern town in Red Gleans, Missouri, seems pretty grim for Joshua Carpenter. After his pregnant wife, Mary, is involved in a terrifying car accident, Joshua is once again faced with adversity after suffering the loss of his sister, Amari, who died several years ago.

With the help of an old friend, Mr. Rogers returns revealing information about Joshua’s past, creating a special bond between the two. Working together, Joshua and Mr. Rogers connect with several prayer card writers, including Matthew, who shares a similar loss with Joshua. With the end-times coming, God sets his plan in motion to multiply his kingdom by using one ordinary man to lay the foundation and start a life-changing event for many. God’s assignment for Joshua is just the beginning of something extraordinary to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638448730

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The Appointed Christian

Book Two

John Hufft

Copyright © 2021 by John Hufft

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

The Accident

The Hospital

Togetherness

The Little Black Box

Sadness

The Trip

The Prayer Card Writers

Matthew

The Meeting

The Farm

Panic Erupts

Making a Difference

The Library

The Light

Snowed In

Going Home

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Chapter 1

The Accident

Tioga Pass twisted and turned every few miles through the mountains. Driving well under the speed limit, Henry drove very cautiously as his heart pounded in his chest. Henry was an older man with long dark-brown hair that covered his ears. He loved traveling but didn’t care much for driving along narrow roads where he couldn’t see the ground below. Fear settled in as he gripped the steering wheel tight with both hands while keeping his eyes fixed on the road and away from the cliff with jagged rocks below. The blazing sun sent heat pounding down through the windshield of the rusted brown Chevy, four-door sedan. Beads of sweat dripped from Henry’s forehead into his eyes, obstructing his view. He pushed his glasses out of the way to wipe away the perspiration. The old Chevy didn’t have an air conditioner, but it did have some good used tires on it.

Henry, honey, do you want me to drive? Esme asked, sticking her hand out the window to feel air blowing between her fingers.

No! Henry screamed back. Just…please keep that baby quiet.

Esme reached toward the back seat to put the pacifier back into her baby’s mouth.

There you go, little guy. Esme gently ran her fingers through her baby’s hair.

Esme was younger than Henry. She loved him very much and prayed for her husband daily. Henry’s love for his wife was measureless. He cared for her more than anything else in the world. But when he found out about her pregnancy, he became fearful because he didn’t want anything to come between him and his Esme.

You’re doing a great job driving, honey, Esme said as she smiled at her husband while twirling her long blond hair.

Stop distracting me, honey. Henry slowly pressed down on the brakes, grabbed the steering wheel tighter with his left hand, reached over, and brushed the back of his right hand on Esme’s cheek.

Esme ran her fingers through Henry’s dark-brown hair, which had a touch of gray highlights above the ears. I love you, she said.

And I love you, Henry replied, smiling.

Remember the time… Henry’s words ceased as he slammed on the brakes of the old Chevy, abruptly stopping the car.

Did you feel that? he asked.

I did, Esme said with a shallow breath as she began to shake and tried to keep the baby calm.

Henry looked up ahead, and all he could see was a never-ending winding road. He got out of the car and walked up ahead to get a better view of his surroundings. Esme unbuckled her seat belt, opened the car door when all of a sudden, the ground started to shake again. Frightened, she shut the car door and started to panic. Henry ran back to the car, which was slowly moving toward the edge of the cliff as the ground continued to shake. Large boulders started to come down the side of the mountain as Henry desperately tried to get to Esme.

Get out of the car! Henry screamed as he sprinted, running as fast as he could.

Esme reached back, unbuckled her baby from the car seat, and brought him up to the front seat with her. She opened the car door, but the shaking ground slammed it shut. Henry finally reached the old Chevy to help his terrified wife. More rocks fell from the side of the mountain as Henry rushed to save his family. Esme handed Henry their baby when the car started to slide off the edge of the cliff. Henry hurried but first cautiously laid the baby on the ground when he heard Esme scream. Henry watched as the vehicle slid down the mountainside, rolling and crashing to the ground hundreds of feet below. He stood there in shock, with his heart racing fast as the ground started to settle down.

Esme? Henry muttered.

Esme! he cried out.

Henry fell to his knees, and tears flooded his eyes when he heard his baby start to wail. He turned around and watched as his little infant cried out. Henry’s breath was shallow and raspy as he tried to utter a few words.

Es…Esme? he whispered out in an incoherent manner.

At that moment, a vehicle pulled up next to him.

Oh, dear, are you okay? said the woman getting out of her car.

Henry stood up and stared down toward the depths below.

Sir, are you okay? she asked again as she shut her car door.

Henry looked at his baby on the ground, tears trickling down his face. He could feel his heart tighten in his chest. He looked again at the abyss down below, then started to walk away.

Sir! Sir! Where are you going? The young lady reached down to pick up the baby.

Sir! she yelled.

Henry just kept walking in a trancelike state, paying no attention to the young lady.

The young lady placed the baby in her car and drove toward Henry.

Sir, please get in, she asked many times. Henry just continued walking without saying a word.

After several attempts to get Henry in the car, the young lady drove off to find some help. She reached a nearby gas station and requested one of the customers to follow her in his car. When they arrived at the location where Henry was last seen, there was no sign of him. They searched and searched with no success in finding him. After several hours of searching, the young lady brought the baby to the police station to explain what happened. The police department took the baby to get medical care and immediately contacted the Department of Children and Family Services.

Several years passed after the accident. Henry was never found or heard from again. The police investigated the incident and learned that the accident was caused by a 6.3 earthquake that rocked the mountainside. Esme’s body was recovered and laid to rest in Oregon, where she had lived. Henry and Esme’s baby was adopted by a loving couple, the Carpenters, who also lived in Oregon. They named him Joshua.

Chapter 2

The Hospital

S ir, please step back. I need that defibrillator now! Come on, little lady, come on. The paramedics, who had rushed to the car accident scene, performed CPR on Mary as she lay there lifeless on the icy street. Joshua, drenched with tears, watched as the ambulance team worked on his wife.

Get these people back! demanded the paramedic.

The buzzing sound of the defibrillator started up as it sent an electric current to Mary’s heart. The crowd of people observed from a distance, including Joshua and Mary’s friend, Mr. Rogers, who was praying out loud, lifting his hands to the sky. Several police officers arrived on the scene to help direct the traffic.

Please, God, please, don’t take away my Mary. Please, oh please, God. Joshua sat there, desperately crying out for a miracle, holding the cross on his necklace tight in his hand. He closed his eyes as if he were almost about to pass out. The sounds around him all started to fade away.

I’ve got a pulse! yelled the paramedic. Let’s load her up.

Joshua! Joshua! Mr. Rogers picked Joshua up and helped him in the ambulance. Be with her, son, he said as the ambulance door closed.

The ambulance’s siren brought traffic to a halt as it cautiously sped across town to the nearest hospital.

As they arrived at River’s Edge Hospital, the paramedics immediately wheeled Mary into the emergency room. She was unconscious, but she did have a pulse. Joshua, a nervous wreck, gave as much information as he could to the hospital staff. He called his parents and Mary’s parents to let them know what had happened as he frantically paced across the waiting room floor. Several minutes later, Mr. Rogers walked in. He saw Joshua sitting alone with his face nestled in his hands. He walked over, sat down beside his friend, and hugged him. No words were spoken as Joshua tightly hugged Mr. Rogers, drenching his thin blue cloth jacket with tears. Mr. Rogers knew the pain Joshua was going through. He held Joshua tight as tears rolled down his cheeks.

It’s going to be okay, assured Mr. Rogers.

Joshua sat up and wiped the tears from his face. He closed his eyes, and listened to himself breathe for a moment.

Will…will you pray with me? Joshua quietly asked.

Mr. Rogers took Joshua’s hands and began to pray out loud.

Oh, Father in heaven, you hear our cries. You know our pain. You are the almighty God who can do all things. There is no one like you. Our hearts cry out to you as we pray for Mary’s condition. We pray you give us strength. We pray you give us hope. Lord, we pray you give us peace during this time. We pray for healing to take place in Mary. We pray for you to lay your healing hands on her and make her well, Lord. Oh, God, we pray for Joshua. Lord, touch his life this very moment. Fill his heart with peace and love, Lord. Give him strength and make your presence known to him, Lord. Father, you are our healer and protector. You heal broken hearts. You restore our faith. You give us blessings. You forgive all sins. You, God, are love. Lord, you have the power to do anything. We cry out and pray to you, Lord, to heal Mary with your power. Lord, wrap your loving arms around Joshua and hold him tight. Watch over him as he lives his life for you. In Jesus’s name, we pray, amen.

Thank you so much, Joshua said as he wiped more tears away from his face.

You are welcome, son, Mr. Rogers replied.

The two of them sat there in the uncomfortable red chairs for a moment, thinking about Mary. It was getting dark out as the sun set, sinking behind one of the tall buildings outside. Although there were several people around, the waiting room was relatively quiet. Joshua sat there trying to remember what Mr. Rogers said when all of a sudden, he remembered.

In the street earlier, what did you mean when you said ‘we had work to do’? Joshua asked as he turned around in his seat to face Mr. Rogers. And where have you been?

Mr. Rogers stared deep into Joshua’s eyes before he answered.

Joshua, I… Mr. Roger’s words were interrupted as the doctor came in to talk with Joshua.

What’s going on? How is she? Joshua nervously asked as he stood up from his chair.

Hi…Mr. Carpenter, I’m Dr. Smith. Please…please sit down. Your wife’s vital signs at this time are unstable. She has suffered a traumatic brain injury from the accident. We have run several blood tests and completed a CT scan. Dr. Smith took a deep breath, watching as Joshua closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing. Are you okay? Dr. Smith asked, placing his hand on Joshua to comfort him.

I am, Joshua whispered still with his eyes closed.

Dr. Smith continued. Okay, well, there is swelling in her brain, which is causing pressure inside her skull. The swelling is causing her brain to push down on the brain stem. Now I assure you, we are doing everything we can to relieve that pressure. With the amount of pressure in your wife’s skull, she is currently in a comatose state. However, we are optimistic and doing everything we can to help your wife.

Dr. Smith was a tall, chubby, clean-shaven doctor with deep-set eyes. His bald head nearly struck the Christmas decorations that were hanging from the ceiling. He was a gentle, loving