Perfect: /ˈintrəˌvərt/

By Lavetta Colum

About the Book
Perfect is a book about having a relationship with the Lord. Through all the addictions, rather drug or sexual, these characters are able to overcome with the word of God. It tells the story of Churches leading people down the wrong road by playing church, instead of having a real relationship with the true Living God. It speaks on mental illness, and senior citizens' addictions to medications. As a Child of the Most High, Lavetta was given visions, dreams and the power of laying hands, as some of the prophets in the Bible, to be able to speak on these things. Having gone to some of these churches, she speaks from experience about the churches today.

About the Author
Lavetta Colum is a giver and has been given, even when she was receiving state assistance. She donates to women shelters to this day. Lavetta’s special interest is reading the Bible; there's nothing more interesting; although she is quite the bookworm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: Apr 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886839548

Book preview

Day of the Sword

This is not a test, the emergency broadcast system blasted, followed by a familiar sound of a siren filling the atmosphere. Within minutes screams were heard in the streets, people running scared everywhere. The siren sounded again, and within seconds the Halligan bar demolished my door, the man in Nazi attire emerged…... I woke up in a room that looked like a dungeon, with others slumped, still out cold. Then the dungeon door opened, Sword or Gun! The man with the gas mask in (Nazi) camouflage, demanded. Think, think, think, think, think. Gun dead, sword mucked up but alive? Gun or sword? Another trepidation demand……Swor- thrust upon thrust, from the machete came before the d sounded. The twin of the man with the gas mask silently stood, watching, waiting for my death of course…… Except I didn’t die.

Mucked up as I was, I was still breathing. Still, I had no idea where I had been taken. They –– the entertainers, politicians, and others alike with their millions and billions, were the attendees of this human circus –– their form of extravaganza. Most couldn’t believe that I had survived, and actually appealed to finish me off. But God, I ended up in the laundry room as a washer. There were women and kids there and we all had the same thing in common: captured.

(escape)….. Light, beams of bright light from every direction engulfed me as I made it to the outside, escaping the society. I found myself standing on the roof of an E.R. ramp that once was the hospital I had given birth to my child. A secret society in plain sight. Of all the places, a damn hospital. Jumping down with a hard landing, I darted like a track star running from the enemy in Nazi attire. It seemed as though I could feel the heat from his body. He was so close, the Nazi was on me. Getting caught wasn’t an option. If this muthafucca caught me, we were fighting until death do us part. There would be no choosing between a gun or sword.

(God help me) …..Upon seeing the first house in sight I scrambled in and managed to make it up through an attic door, darting in the attic, heaving heavily like I was having an asthma attack.

Sitting up, I wrapped my arms around my folded legs right before the hand appeared. It pushed up through the attic door, feeling around. Dissatisfied, it left just as fast as it appeared. Piercing through the small window, I saw for the first time the face of the monster that had been chasing me. Right before, he was shot in head for allowing my escape. Sleep overcame me in that attic, a safe place, for the moment.

She

My Church is Holy ground, not a playground.

Mary Mary resounded from the surround sound when the phone chimed breaking-in on her praise. Hello, she answered, turning down the music to hear the distraught person on the other end. What’s wrong? She demanded placing a balled-up fist on her hip. Well did you let the Bishop know, because we’re expecting that today? She expressed with a shake of her head. Calming the caller down, she reassured them that she’d take care of the matter at hand before disconnecting. Less than three minutes later the phone was piercing through the music again.

Upon looking at the caller I.D, now hesitant to answer, mumbling here we go, she placed the receiver to her ear. You stuuuupid, followed by laughter. I know you aint calling me stupid, she said placing the hand back to the hip. Oh no not you momma, her daughter-in-law said, clearing her throat. I’m sorry I was talking to my friend when you picked up, she stupid. Your friend hun, where my baby at? She right here, that’s why I’m calling. She want to know if she can go to church with her memaw? Girl you know that baby don’t want to go to nobodies church. Where you trying to sneak off to? She does momma, here you can speak to her yourself hun, hold on a minute. Wait a minute, she protested, I’m trying to- Hi grandma, came a little voice from the other end. Hi baby, how grand momma’s baby doing? she said with a smile. I want to go to church with you. My momma said she can drop me off if you don’t mind. You don’t mind, do you? I told momma you said I can go anytime. I wanna sing to grandma. Remember that song, it’s the God in me (singing)? I like that one and that dance team you said I can join this time. Baby, put your momma back on the phone, she said smile gone. See I told you momma. She want to see her memaw. If you’re going to bring her you better bring her now and comb her hair. Don’t bring her over here like you did the last time. Hurry up because I have to go, she demanded.

She jumped in the shower, water full blast, before the arrival of the 3-foot tornado. By the time she had gotten dressed, three calls had been missed and her arrival was walking to the door. ‘Another day in God’s creation,’ she thought, as she welcomed her grand baby. She raised half the adults in her old neighborhood and their kids too. Always offering a warm plate for anyone in need. A strong woman of God, everyone knew it. Leading by example, always pressing forward by seeking ye the kingdom of Heaven with continuous praises falling from her lips. Her very presence was respected, her opinion highly favored, having status as a woman of wisdom, people sought her out for prayers from anything to getting jobs, marriages and raising children. Always sucking up as much advice from her whenever she’s in the ambience of the church.

Running a little late, she finally arrives to the church. Rushing through while greeting those she passed, she sat Little Nikkia ––her grandbaby with Sister Niecey –– before making her way to the alter. The praise team was in song. Sister Boadwajh shouted in tongue, dancing the holy ghost. While others silently prayed, hoping they would be answered. Seeing her step to the Alter, the music stopped, and the church grew quiet waiting for the word. "Today’s word will be coming from the book of Matthew, Chapter 7, verse:21-23. We in trouble now, someone yelled from the back of the church. When you have it say Amen. The church responded with an obedient Amen. Look at your neighbor and repeat after me, she said pausing, waiting for the church to go silent. The Lord said tell them, My Church is Holy ground, not a playground! ……. The congregation repeated what was said, turning both left to right and right to left, along with mumbling and some chuckles. Yeah, I figured that would wake some of ya’ll up in here, she declared, fumbling through her bible and notes. Sho’ nuff in trouble, an elder proclaimed from the front roll. Tell it like it is Sistah," First Lady gave a little wave, sitting next to her husband, both all smiles waiting for the word of the day. Those few words already had the Church on the edge of their seats, starving for the conclusion. Today was Pastor and First Lady’s anniversary. She was giving the sermon by way of truth from the Holy Spirit, followed by food and refreshments.

Sister Niecey, start reading, she instructed. Sister Niecey stood and started reading from the King James, Many will say to me –– Hold on, She interrupted. Come here sweetie, she directed the young drummer. Give her another mic. I need this word to be heard. There’s some foul spirits that needs to get up and out of here today. Some of ya’ll might not like me after this, but it’s alright. Let me know I’m worthy of teaching his word.

Brother Thomas passed another microphone up to Sister Niecey. Okay, go back to the beginning, she instructed. Many will say to me in that day, Sister Niecey blasted, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them: I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness! Ok stop right there, she instructed, I never knew you, she repeated. Got pretty quiet in here, oh ya’ll ain’t saying nothing. That’s okay, I’ll preach to myself. She stepped out of her heels, proceeded to pace the pulpit starting the Sermon with a question regarding a playground. You ever notice how playground equipment is made to move back and forth, up and down yet goes nowhere? A swing goes up and down again, and I’m putting emphasis on back down again. We swing ourselves across monkey bars, and step right back down once we reach the end. And if we can’t reach the end, we jump down…. She wiped her forehead with a white cloth, took a sip of water, concluding. A seesaw takes you up and down again. See, there’s a lot of jumping up and down at church, but ain’t nobody going nowhere,. Mhm, hmm that’s the problem with the church today…. Preach, the choir director stood and shouted. A lot of screaming and jiving, ain’t going to get you nowhere with the Lord. Stop fooling yourself! Running to church every Sunday with your sanctified Holier than thou selves. Going to church don’t make you saved booboo. Falling all over the place when somebody look like they about to lay hands on you, to the floor you go. Stop playing with my God!

Well-l-l-l-l-l-l, Sister Niecey concurred with a snap of her head. Got people believing in false deliverance. Don’t nobody care about you getting in your feelings, she shouted, making her way down the alter. Hate me if you want to. I’m saying this because it needs to be said. Talking about haswsadonanda, calling it speaking in tongues. You’re a liar and the truth ain’t in you. You speak the same mumble gumble every service, at the exact same hour. Jumping up and down, shouting like kids on the playground, while the head of the flock take part as some playground assistant, instead of a shepherd looking after his flock. Pastors missing in action, MIA, can I preach this thing today! You got a cheerleader over here, Sister Niecey shouted.

Oh, don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about, trying to outdo others, shouting out scriptures, acting like you know him more because you call him this or praised longer. Preach, brother Rory yelled, as the congregation ate the word up, like a Mississippi biscuit with Gravy. Steady, walking around with a frown on your face, claiming to have so much faith. If your faith is so great, how come you ain’t walking on water? Ah what she mean by that? We in the word, but we ain’t Christ. She mimicked.

The Pastor stood, smile gone, pointing to her saying, that’s it, that’s it right there, rocking back and forth on his heels. Good God, Gertrude said standing, looking around the church as people were getting delivered by truth. She wiped her forehead and took another sip of water. Jesus! came a shout, followed by a standing ovation of praises going up to the Lord.

She looked over the congregation, walked over to the Pastor and First Lady concluding. He ain’t no Christian. He was at the club last night, but Pastor they excluded to say that they were at the same club. Pastor got back to his feet, nodding his head in agreement. Looking at First Lady, she carried on. She ain’t no Christian .She got all of them baby daddies, heard the last one supposed to be by Manman. Baby looking just like him. Ewwee! someone loudly expressed from the back of the church.  

Watch this, she said, stepping down again. She shacked up with that man, they ain’t married. Oh ya’ll ain’t talking about nothing in here. They gone learn today, First Lady shouted, jumping to her feet. With the spirit of the Lord running rampant through the church. Refocused back on the congregation, looking at all tear-stained faces praising the Highest, the one and only I AM, she concludes. You don’t know what God has for that man or woman. You don’t even know what he got for Manman. Instead of being happy for you, some come to church just to throw darts at you. Uh hun, I said that they come hating on you, shaking their head at your back. When you turn and face them, they want to smile in your face, backstabbers. Tell it Sister, tell it, brother Ray concurred.

Hypocrites! the church is full of em. Like Saul with David, good one minute and the next throwing darts at you, don’t even know why. Religious folks. I’m here to tell you church, that the devil is a liar, and the churches today has become the devils stomping grounds. Don’t live your whole life playing on a playground. Please, don’t pass this life without making it to Holy Ground. Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Ruckus and Brea both stood, hands raised up towards Heaven, while Brea softly expressed her love for Christ.

Are you playing Church? Who are you allowing to lead you? Are you being led by the Holy Spirit? All playing aside, church we all fall short but let’s stop making up excuses why we’re not in our word. Stop shouting out scriptures when you don’t even have a relationship with the one you’re shouting about. "The Lord said we should be ‘digging so deep in His word that all we can do is look up’. That’s how deep we should be in his word. Start digging in God’s word."

Would you come to the Alter so I can pray for you? If there’s anyone who doesn’t know God, don’t know whether they’re going to Heaven or Hell, hater or not, please come so we can pray for you. She took another sip of water as the congregation flowed towards the alter while the praise team praised in hymns. On your way up here look at your neighbor and say, ‘God got this.’ She stepped down from the alter and placed her hand on Gertrude’s forehead, as someone in the back was being delivered.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Romans 7:18-19

Front Porch

Man, it’s hot out here, I thought walking through the hood, pushing my way back home. All I could think about was getting in that air. I hate going to the spot. Men with guns, never knowing when the cops are coming, if they’re watching, taking pictures –– shit, I got to leave this stuff alone. Hell, last night I got so high, conversation in my head sounded so good I damn near passed