Grace: Matthew 10:39

Grace: Matthew 10:39 by ric gustafson


Jonah was a faithful prophet of God. But he did not want to preach to the godless people of Nineveh. But God had other plans. He sent a huge fish and a storm to change Jonah's mind.
Storms will come in our life. Some will be large and some small. God will help us through every storm that comes to us. Then we can help others going through their own storms.
Praise God.


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John page 15

John page 15 by ric gustafson


" Polycarp, Jesus was called many things".
" Such as".
" The Light of the World".
Polycarp smiled. " He did give sight to the blind".
" That's true". John grinned. " He also called himself the door of the sheep".
" Wasn't Satan called the robber of the sheep?".
" Yes". He smiled. " That's why Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd".
" Satan is the wolf".
" Jesus as the Good Shepherd will always protect us".
" That is comforting Master".


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the cross on Seymour page 2

the cross on Seymour page 2 by ric gustafson


" You do not need to be sad".
" But I am". Douglas began to cry again. " He was my son".
" Benji is with me right now".
Douglas stared at the stranger. " Who are you?".
" Some people call me Jesus".
Douglas put his head down in shame. " I've always been skeptical of you".
Jesus smiled. " It's very easy to come to me".
Douglas frowned. " I'm not ready yet".
" That's fine". Jesus grinned. " I'll wait".
Douglas wiped tears from his eyes. " Thank you for telling me Benji is safe".
" He is". Jesus looked up. " I need to go".
Douglas looked up.
Jesus was gone.

The End


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the cross on Seymour page 1

the cross on Seymour page 1 by ric gustafson


Douglas Monen knelt down and put some flowers next to a little white cross. He kissed it and then began to cry. " I miss you Benji".
He noticed a young dark bearded man cross the street. He approached him.
" Hello Douglas".
The young man looked at the stranger with a puzzled stare. " How did you know my name is Douglas?".
The stranger smiled. " That's a nice little cross you put there".
" It's for my son".
" Sorry about the accident". The stranger put a hand on Douglas's shoulder for sympathy. " Benji had a cute smile".
Douglas stared at the stranger. " How did you know my son was in an accident here?".


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John page 14

John page 14 by ric gustafson


" Polycarp, I want to tell you another story".
The young man picked up his pen. " I'm ready".
" One day, Jesus was teaching to us in the temple". John's tired voice hesitated. " The Pharisees brought in a woman".
Polycarp scratched his chin. " For what reason?".
" She was caught in the very act of adultery".
Polycarp thought for a moment. " According to Moses, she could be stoned for that".
" Yes".
" What did Jesus do?".
" He said whoever among you without sin cast the first stone".
" Then what happened?".
" All of them dropped their stones and left".
" That's incredible".
" Then Jesus told her that he did not condemn her". John grinned. " Then he told her to go and sin no more".


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John page 13

John page 13 by ric gustafson


" Ready Polycarp".
The young man raised his pen. " I'm ready Master".
" One day, Jesus told us that he would be with us just a little longer".
Polycarp was puzzled. " Where was he going?".
" He was going to him who sent him?".
" His Father God".
" While he was talking, something fabulous happened".
" What was that?".
" Two officers were sent to arrest Jesus".
" That did not happen obviously".
" No". John smiled. " They were amazed at what he was saying".
" I'm sure the Pharisees were furious".
" Yes". His voice hesitated. " Even though Nicodemus defended Jesus".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 12

John page 12 by ric gustafson


One day, John woke up with chest pain. He could not go back to sleep. He prayed to God. He longed to be with him in heaven. He summoned Polycarp.
" I would like to tell you about another miracle".
" I think I know which one it is".
" Which one is that?".
" The feeding of the thousands.
" No". John grinned. " Jesus walking on water".
" Were you afraid?".
" Actually I was". His voice hesitated. " I thought I had seen a ghost".
Polycarp smiled. " He was the master over nature".
" He walked on the water to our boat". He grinned. " He told us not to be afraid".
" He really loved you".
" He told me that every day".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 11

John page 11 by ric gustafson


John watched as the young man sat down. " Morning Polycarp".
" Morning Master".
" I would like to tell you about another of Jesus's miracles".
Polycarp picked up his pen. " Ready Master".
" We came to the Pool of Siloam on a Saturday".
" Where is this Pool?".
" In Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate".
" Then what happened?".
" Jesus noticed a certain man there". His voice hesitated. " He knew that this man had an infirmity for 38 years".
" What did Jesus say to him?".
" Do you want to be made well?".
Polycarp grinned. " That's incredible".
" Jesus told him to rise". John smiled. " Take up your bed and walk".
" Then what happened?".
" He was made well, he took up his bed and walked".
Polycarp smiled. " Another miracle from Jesus".
" Yes".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 10

John page 10 by ric gustafson


" Polycarp, I'd like to tell you another story".
He picked up his pen. " I'm ready Master".
" One day, Jesus and us came to a city in Samaria called Sychar".
" The name sounds familiar".
" Jacob's well is there".
The young man smiled. " That's why I recognized it".
" Jesus was already tired". John grinned. " He sent us to find food".
" Then what happened?".
" On our return, Jesus told us he had met a Samaritan woman".
" That's incredible" Polycarp exclaimed. " Jews have no dealings with Samaritans".
" Jesus offered her living water".
" Living water?".
John smiled. " When you drink this water, you will never thirst".
" Master, I would love to drink this water".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 9

John page 9 by ric gustafson


" Polycarp, did I ever tell you about the time Jesus had a night encounter with a Pharisee?".
" I don't recall that Master". His voice hesitated. " Would you like me to write this down?".
" Yes". John paused. " This Pharisee was a sincere seeker after the things of God".
" That's why he wanted to talk to Jesus at night".
" Yes". John grinned. " He spoke up for the Lord before his colleagues".
Polycarp put down his pen. " Who was this man?".
" His name was Nicodemus".
" He helped bury Jesus also".
" Yes". John smiled. " He was articulate, respectful and thoughtful".
" Did meeting Jesus help this person?".
" I hope so".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 8

John page 8 by ric gustafson


" Polycarp, today I would like to tell you about the first miracle of Jesus I witnessed".
Polycarp raised his pen. " I'm ready Master".
" We were all invited to a wedding in Cana".
" What happened?".
" At one point". John's voice hesitated. " Jesus was informed by his mother that they had no wine".
" What did he do?".
" He instructed servants to fill six water pots with water".
" All the way to the top?".
" Yes". He smiled. " Then he told them to draw some out and take it to the master of the feast".
" Then what happened?".
" He tasted it and was amazed".
" Why?".
" He was amazed that the best wine had been kept until the end of the wedding feast".
" Did you taste the wine Master?".
" I did". John grinned. " It was the best wine I have ever tasted".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 7

John page 7 by ric gustafson


" Master, what drew you to the baptizer?".
" He was a man of nature". John grinned. " And he was not a fisherman".
" I heard he ate locusts and honey".
" He was not a city man". John's voice hesitated. " He wore camel's skin and a thick leather belt".
" How did people find him?".
" He preached the same message to everyone he saw".
" What message was that?".
" Beware the kingdom of heaven is at hand".
" What did the people think of that?".
" It must of been effective". John smiled. " People came from all over the region to be baptized by him".
Polycarp smiled. " Is that it for today Master?".
" Yes".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 6

John page 6 by ric gustafson


Polycarp picked up his pen. " I'm ready Master".
" He was in the world and the world was made through him and the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own did not receive him.".
" To become children of God?".
" But as many as received him to them he gave right to become children of God".
" This is beautiful Master".
" To those who believe in his name who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God".
" Shall we continue Master?".
" And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we behold his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth".
" Anything else Master?".
" You know Polycarp, I was a disciple of the baptizer before I knew Jesus".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 5

John page 5 by ric gustafson


" Polycarp, I think I'm ready".
The young man smiled. He picked up his pen. He wrote ' according to John' at the top of the page.
" In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him and without him nothing was made that was made".
Polycarp grinned. " It is as if God is speaking directly through you".
" In him was life and the life was the light of men and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it".
" That was beautiful Master".
" There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came from a witness to bear witness of the light that all through him might believe".
" All through John might believe?".
John nodded his head.
" He was not the light but was sent to bear witness of that light".
" That was the true light?".
" Yes, that light which gives light to every man coming into the world".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins.


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John page 4

John page 4 by ric Gustafson


The two young men urged John to take a nap. As he slept, John dreamed about the night of Jesus's betrayal. Jesus asked him to stay up with him. Earlier in the evening, Jesus had washed their feet. He proclaimed that Peter would deny him three times. Peter in anger said that he would never do that.
John and the others followed their Master to his favorite place to pray. At one point, Jesus went away from them to pray to his Father. He pleaded with his Father to take the cup away from him. Then he said not my will but his Father's will. Earlier, Jesus told them that his end was coming.
John and the others were dozing when Jesus came back. Jesus told them that his hour had come. He pointed that his betrayer was coming. Judas arrived with soldiers. They arrested Jesus.
All of a sudden, John opened his eyes.
" Wake up my friend" replied Polycarp. " You were dreaming".
" Polycarp" John exclaimed. " I believe God was trying to tell me something".
" And that is!".
" That I should write down of my ministry with Jesus my Master".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 3

John page 3 by ric gustafson


John's friend Polycarp walked up to him. With him was a tall man with a black beard and dark eyes.
John smiled. " Ignatius my friend".
" John my old teacher".
" And how is the bishop of Antioch?".
" Still courageous in a hostile Roman Empire".
John grinned. " Still ready to die a martyr for Christ".
" Of course and you?".
" Right now". John exclaimed. " I would rather be a living servant".
" I think right now". Polycarp grinned. " You could use the Varius Baths".
" I hear it is a place of debauchery".
" That is not true". Ignatius grinned. " Both Polycarp and I have been there".
" Ok, I'll go".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 2

John page 2 by ric gustafson


Domitian began to yell at the old man. " Are you John bar-Zebedee?".
" I am".
" It has been brought to my attention that you deny our god in writing".
John smiled. " The written record shows I serve the true and living God and his Son Jesus the Christ".
" Your sentence for heresy is to be boiled in oil".
Slaves began to heat up a large black cauldron. Then they slowly filled it with oil. Torches were thrown beneath it.
John was manacled and then lowered inside. As the oil became hotter, he began to pray to God. He prayed that God would grant him grace until he was with him forever. As the oil boiled, he felt nothing. As the flames got higher, he felt nothing. As time went on and nothing was happening to John, people began to murmur and complain.
Then, John stood up and stepped out of the pot.
Domitian yelled. " Kill him".
His consul spoke up. " Emperor, you cannot put him to death twice".
Domitian thought for a moment. " Banish him to Patmos".


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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John page 1

John page 1 by ric gustafson


The old evangelist stared out a window from the dark dungeon cell. It was dawn but already activities were happening outside.
" They are getting ready for you". The guard smiled. " I'm sure you knew that".
John nodded. He knew that Domitian wanted him dead. He was surprised that he was the only living disciple of Jesus the Christ left.
" Can I ask why so many people want you dead?".
" I serve the one true God and his son Jesus".
The guard looked perplexed. " I'm surprised they have not killed you before now".
John frowned. " My brother James was the first disciple to be killed for our faith".
" What happened?".
" He was beheaded by authority of Herod Agrippa I".
The guard left.
Later, John was given a meal of bread full of insects and a wooden cup of water.


research help: ' John's Story' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins


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White Rose page 10

White Rose page 10 by ric gustafson


The President of the People's Court entered the hall. He gave the Nazi salute. He stared at Gerhard and the other defendants.
" Defendants arise".
They all stood up.
" All of you have been charged with treason by subversive acts". He began to yell. " How do you all plead?".
A young attorney stood up. " All have pleaded not guilty your honor".
" All of you traitors will pay for your crimes".
The attorney spoke up again. " I plead for your mercy for all of them".
" They are all traitors". He stood up from his bench. " Take them away".
That afternoon, Gerhard was executed by guillotine.

The End.


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White Rose page 9

White Rose page 9 by ric gustafson


Gerhard sat handcuffed to a bench. He realized he was in the Munich Gestapo Headquarters.
Just then, a door opened. He was led into a large office. A large man, wearing a Nazi Party pin on his uniform, motioned him to an open chair in front of him. He was handcuffed again. A secretary was sitting nearby taking notes.
He opened a file. " How long have you known Hans and Sophie Scholl?".
" I served on the Eastern Front with Hans". His voice hesitated. " I have taken classes at the University with Sophie".
The Gestapo agent stared at the file. " You have been charged with treason by subversive acts".
Gerhard raised his voice. " That is not true".
The agent slammed the file on the desk. " The People's Court will sentence you to death".
Later on a Monday, Gerhard was told the bad news.
" Your friends Hans and Sophie Scholl were executed earlier today".
Gerhard was silent.
" Your trial before Roland Freisler is tomorrow".


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White Rose page 8

White Rose page 8 by ric gustafson


Gerhard was a lookout as Hans and Alex quietly painted slogans around Munich. Freedom and down with Hitler were used as slogans. The group concentrated on apartment buildings and the University itself.
The next day, Gerhard noticed Sophie was observing their handiwork.
It was now Feb 18 1943.
Gerhard and Lisa were standing near the University's grand atrium. Near the staircase were Hans and Sophie. They both had leaflets in their hands.
" Stop". The University's custodian ran up to them. " I know what you are doing". He loudly blew a whistle. Just then, Gestapo agents ran in.
" You are under arrest". Hans and Sophie were handcuffed. They were rushed outside to a waiting car.
Later that night, Gerhard was arrested by the Gestapo.


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