Three Decisions

By Jerry Betz

This book is based on my own experiences in life. It is a book of fiction, but the characters are all based on other people I knew and still know. The woman's father was a carpenter and had his own business. My mother's father was also a carpenter. He never had his own business but was a good carpenter. The man in the book had a father who was a tire builder for the firestone plant. My father's father was a tire builder for firestone and he retired.

I am also just like the character David as I am the middle child. I have an older brother and I had a younger brother, but he passed away in 1995. He was a believer in Messiah Yeshua, and I know I will see him again in heaven. The character Keren worked and ran a wig shop. My mother worked in a wig shop, and she styled hair at our house for my grandmother and her sister and other women who couldn't afford to pay for a hairstylist.

I wanted to put some of my own life experiences in this book. Like David having a speech problem, I had a speech problem and I took speech therapy when I was a young boy. I was made fun of. I overcame that speech problem. Even though I still have a hard time saying some words, I can talk much better than I did.

The main thing I wish for all readers to know is that the best decision anyone can make is to accept Yeshua Hamashiach into their lives. He is the Savior of the world, and He is coming back soon. So if anybody reading this book didn't know Him as their personal Messiah, I hope and pray that you get to know Him on this personal level.

Shalom aleichem.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685709983

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Three Decisions

Jerry Betz

Copyright © 2022 by Jerry Betz

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 First Attraction

The First Child and His Choice

CHAPTER 3

The Third Child and His Decision

The Eternal Decision

Acknowledgments

Iwould first like to thank is my Messiah Yeshua Hamashiach, the Savior of the world and my personal Savior. I also thank best photographer I know, Wess Bramlett. He took my picture for this book.

I would like to thank Target for being a great place to shop and work. The people employed at Target are truly the best at making me feel welcomed. They really follow the teaching of Yeshua when he said in Matthew 7:12, Always treat others as you would like them to treat you that sums up the teaching of the Torah and the prophets.

I thank my worship family at Independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee; Providence Presbyterian Church in Bartlett, Tennessee; and Brit Hadasha Messianic Synagogue.

I thank the Presbyterian Church of America, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Zola Levitt Ministries, Bott Radio Network, Associate Reform Presbyterian Church, Ligonier Ministries, GD Learning Channel, Messianic Rabbi Kirk Schneider, Messianic Rabbi Scott Sekulow, The Messianic Times, the Commentary magazine, and First Fruit of Zion.

And I also thank all the others who are now graduated into heaven and is home with Adonai, where one day, we will be together celebrating the victory of the Lamb of G-d, Yeshua Hamashiach.

Shalom aleichem.

Introduction

This book is the only book I have ever written. I wanted to write something that will be entertaining and uplifting. I know that there are many people who form their own religious sects and offend many people by making up their own rules and claiming it is from G-d.

I abbreviated name of G-d to show respect for the King of the universe. Unless it is in the Bible, His name should never be fully spelled out. I want people to really see love that G-d the Father has for His people and His Son Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah) that we all who accept Him as our Savior are part of the new Jerusalem and are also Jewish by rebirth in Him.

Kefa (Peter) told us in his second letter about false teachers and how they will come in with their wicked teachings. I know that there will be people who will read this book who have been hurt by these false teachers; I have been hurt by them.

I am truly thankful for the true teaching that I have gotten from the Presbyterian Church of America and the Associate Presbyterian Church and the Messianic Jewish American Alliance. They really helped me to get over the pain and frustration that the Independent Baptist did to me and my wonderful godly grandmother.

How harassed her and would not stop until she left her worship family and started going to an Independent Baptist congregation. She has now graduated into heaven where she cannot be harassed any more by these false teachers.

I hope and pray that the people who also experienced this harassment will read this book and see that true believers do not treat people like that. May G-d the Father be with you as read this book and His Son Yeshua bring you shalom (peace) because He is the Prince of peace of the whole world.

Shalom aleichem, peace be unto you.

Chapter 1

Decisions

The First Attraction

It was the summer of 1963, the last week of summer vacation. Keren was a junior at Ben Yehudah Hebrew School. Her brother was a senior there and was planning to get married after he finished basic training in the Army.

They both enjoyed going to the bowling alley at Motzolei Shabbat, Hebrew word for departure of the Shabbat or Saturday evening when the sun went down. Keren was in the restaurant area with her two friends—Hadassa Cohen from school and synagogue and Martha Reding who was not Jewish but was engaged to her brother Samuel, who wanted people to call him Sam. Martha went to Faith Baptist School. She was a member of an Independent Baptist Church.

Sam was playing pool in the billiard room with his friend Danny Jones. Keren saw them from where she was sitting, and she was very attracted to Danny. She thought that he looked like Troy Donahue.

Danny could see her from where he was at, and he always wanted to talk to her but did not know what to say. Keren wanted to say something to him every time she came there, but she was too shy. Danny was a senior at East High School and was planning to go into the Army National Guard after he graduated from school.

Keren and her friends came into the billiard room to watch them play. Danny asked Keren if she liked to play. Keren told him that she did not know how. Danny said, I can teach you if you like.

Keren said, Yeah. I would like that.

They both played and was having a good time when Keren’s friend Hadassa came to her and said that she had to go as her mother was in the car waiting on her. They both hugged each other and said goodbye when Keren saw that it was getting late. She would have to call her parents to come get her.

She told Danny this. Danny asked her if he could give her a ride home. Keren told him, Yeah, if it’s not out of your way.

When Danny pulled up to her house, he asked her would she like to go see a movie next Saturday night. Keren said that she would have to ask her parents, but she believed it would be fine. They exchanged phone numbers and kissed each other goodbye.

*****

It was Sunday morning, and Danny was getting ready for church. Danny’s father was a tire builder at the firestone plant, and Danny worked after school at the lumberyard as a delivery driver. His two older twin sisters lived there too.

In Sunday school class, the teacher was talking about gifts of the spirit and how every born-again Christian has these spirits gifts. After Sunday school when the class was walking to the chapel, a friend of his from school asked him, Was that Sam Michaelson’s sister I saw you leave with at the bowling alley last night?

Yeah, it was. I gave her a ride home, said Danny.

Are you two dating now?

I have a date with her next Saturday. We are going to see a movie.

His friend said, I see her and her friend Hadassa come in the bowling alley. No one could miss them two very gorgeous girls like that.

Danny told him, Yeah, they’re hard to miss.

His friend also said, You’re dating a gorgeous yid.

Danny stopped and told him, I never want to hear you call her that again or her family. Do you understand me?

Sure, Danny. I did not mean anything offensive by it.

In worship, the pastor did not open his Bible and he did not stay on one subject. It was very hard to follow what he was trying to say. After the worship service before dinner, Danny and his father enjoyed watching baseball on the television. They were Pentecostal, and a lot of them forbid televisions. But Danny’s parents saw it that the television could be turned off or on.

Danny asked his father, Did you understand what the pastor was trying to say?

No. I just pray and study G-d’s Word and let the Holy Ghost speak to me.

The church they went to was United Pentecostal Church. The UPC was founded in 1945 by the Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Mr. Jones and his wife also let Danny’s sisters wear pants when they were not in church, even though the Pentecostals forbid women from wearing them.

*****

It was Sunday morning at the Michaelson’s home, and Keren’s mother was preparing breakfast for everyone. Her father was reading his copy of Commentary magazine. Mr. Michaelson was a carpenter and owned Michaelson’s Cabinet and Carpentry Shop. Keren was helping with her two younger brothers—Eli, who was four, and Zachiah, who was two. Her brother Jonathan was only two years younger than her, and Sam was two years older than her. Keren’s sister was seven years older than she was, and her name is Rebecca. She was married with a two-year-old son. Her husband wasn’t Jewish.

The phone started to ring, and Mrs. Michaelson answered it. Hello.

Hi, Mrs. Michaelson. Is Keren there? It’s Hadassa.

Yes, she is. I’ll get her for you, said Mrs. Michaelson.

Keren picked up the phone and said, Hi, Hadassa.

Hi! How did everything go when I left last night?

Danny gave me a ride home, and I’m going out with him next Saturday night, Keren told her.

Your parents said it was okay? Hadassa asked.

Yeah. My mother is even going to let me borrow the car so I can go shopping for a new outfit, said Keren. Do you have to work today? asked Keren.

Yeah. I will be there at eleven, and I get off at five, said Hadassa.

I could come by and pick you up if it’s okay with your mother, asked Keren.

Yeah. I asked her. I’m sure it will be fine, Hadassa said.

I have to get off for now. I have to eat breakfast. I’ll call you in about thirty minutes, Keren told her.

Okay. Bye, Hadassa said.

The only one that wasn’t there was her brother Sam. He was at the South Side Independent Baptist Church where his fiancée went. This congregation was very legalistic, and they didn’t speak with anyone who was a member of the Southern Baptist Convention or the