Line 1 page 1

Line 1 page 1 by ric gustafson.


" Good morning, this is the Jesse morning show". Jesse Carter said with a yawn as he took a sip of orange juice.
" Good morning Jesse" replied a quiet but reassuring voice. " Thank you for taking my call".
" Your welcome" he replied with a sigh as he adjusted his sunglasses. " Do you have a question for me this morning?".
" Yes, Jesse I do" said the reassuring voice. " How do you feel about your life right now?".
With a frustrated look on his face, he pushed the cutoff button. " Marci, that was a crank call".
Jesse took another sip of orange juice and waited for the next call.
" Jesse, you have a call on line 1".
" Good morning, this is the Jesse morning show".
" Good morning, Jesse" said the quiet voice again. " How do you feel this morning?".
Jesse again pushed the cutoff button and then gave Marci an angry stare. " Marci, this is the same crank call as before".
" I'm sorry Jesse but he sounds so sincere and he is the only caller calling in".
Jesse took another sip of orange juice and thought to himself that this morning could not get much worse. He was tired, his eyes were blood shot from lack of sleep and he had a hangover from drinking too much the previous night. This crank caller was really beginning to make him mad.
Marci put her arms up in an I'm sorry look. " Jesse, line 1".





Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric.

the spider and the fly part 2

the spider and the fly part 2 by ric gustafson.


" Thanks for the ride Samson" Jennifer said as Samson drove up to the curb next to Jennifer's parents house.
" Your welcome, anytime" he replied as he put the Saturn into park. He noticed a group of boys playing basketball in Jennifer's driveway. " Is one of them your brother".
" Yes, my brother Edwin". She hugged Samson and then got out of the car." He likes to play hoops with his friends after school"." Thanks again for the ride" she yelled as she ran from the car.
' You are welcome' he thought to himself as he drove off.
" Who was that?" Edwin asked as she walked by him.
" I know who it is" Anthony Wheeler said as he threw the basketball to Edwin." It was Samson who beats me every year at powerlifting. " I sure wish I could find out where his strength comes from".
" Jennifer, why are you interested in that long haired Clarkson Cougar anyway?".
" He's cute, he's sweet and treats me nice".
" Your not turning traitor against Boulay, are you" asked her brother.
Jennifer pointed at her Boulay sweatshirt. " I am a loyal Boulay Bobcat".
" Anthony and I were talking" he said quietly as they sat down in the grass. " We have a favor to ask".
" What favor is that?".
" Find out how Samson gets his great strength" her brother said as he pulled some cash out of one of his shorts pockets." Also here is $200 so you and your cheerleader friends can go shopping".
" I don't know" she replied with a sad look. " He's a sweet guy, i don't want to hurt him".
" I know" was the reply as he put a loving arm around his sister. " We are simply asking that you find out where he gets his incredible strength".
She thought for a moment. " Ok". She took the money and walked into the house.
Edwin and Anthony stared at each other with huge grins on their faces.




Everyone take care. Love Ric.

the spider and the fly part 1

the spider and the fly part 1 by ric gustafson.


Samson picked up the heavy silver trophy and smiled as clapping came from the audience. He had won his third state high school powerlifting trophy and dominated the sport. Sports dominated the small California town of Clarkson and the Clarkson Cougars were number one in several sports.
Samson knew his main rival in powerlifting was Anthony Wheeler of Boulay High School. He had always had long hair because he was a Nazirite and that made him strong and powerful. School administers tried to get him to cut his hair but protests from his parents kept him from that.
Sally, Samson's mother, walked over to her tall son and gave him a peck on the cheek. " Well done Samson".
" Thanks mom" was the reply as he began to stare at one of the Boulay cheerleaders. " Mom , i'll be home later". He walked over to the pretty blonde who was putting her pom poms into a sack. " Hi, I'm Samson".
" Hi, I'm Jennifer Moore".
Samson had been warned by his mother to stay away from Boulay cheerleaders because of their wild reputations.
" Can I give you a ride home".




Everyone take care. Love Ric.

the narrow gatekeeper b

the narrow gatekeeper b by ric gustafson.


" Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself" he said as he shook my hand." My name is Louie".
" Doug" I replied as I stared at the endless mass of people walking by.
He opened the gate for an elderly man.
" Why do you think the majority of people don't walk over here?".
" Different reasons I'm sure" he quietly said as he opened the gate for a smiling little boy." Some are hardened hearts that want to do their own thing". He pointed toward the wide gate." Compared to that gate, very few come through here".
" But everyone can see the sign and could walk over".
" Yes, everyone can read it" Louie replied as he opened the gate for a young woman." But few take the sign to heart and walk over here".
I smiled as I looked at Louie. " I would like to walk through it now".
" Good" he replied as he opened the gate. " He's been waiting for you".
I walked through that small narrow gate knowing I was going to spend all of eternity with God.



The End





Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric.

the narrow gatekeeper a

the narrow gatekeeper a by ric gustafson


I was walking along the broad road that continued as far as I could see. All kinds of people, old, young, women and children were also walking toward the same destination. As I kept walking, I noticed a huge wide gate. A man in red was waving to people to walk through this gate.
As I walked, I glanced to the left and noticed something that I could have overlooked. I saw a small narrow gate covered with vines and near it was a small sign which said ' this way to eternal life'. Something inside my heart told me to step out of the mass of people heading for the broad gate and walk toward this other gate.
I walked up to the small gate where a man in a white suit was opening the door of the gate. " Hi" I said as the gatekeeper had just opened the door for a young couple to enter.
" Welcome" he replied with a smile as he shook my hand. " I'm glad you saw my small gate and decided to walk over".
" Not much activity here" I said as I watched the endless columns of people heading toward the wide gate.
" Everyone who glances to the left can see the sign and the gate" he said with a sad look. " Very few actually walk over here".






Everyone take care. Love Ric.

Sergius Paulus and Elymas part 3

Sergius Paulus and Elymas part 3 by ric gustafson.


Sergius was working on some official business with Elymas.
An aide walked into the room and whispered into the ear of the proconsul.
" The Jewish evangelists I wanted to talk to are here".
" Like I warned you, stay away from these men".
An aide showed the three men into the court room. Barnabas, Paul and John Mark walked over and now stood before the proconsul.
Paul looked over and noticed Elymas sitting in a corner with an evil look on his face." We were told that you wanted to meet with us".
" No, we do not want to talk to any of you" yelled Elymas as he stood up from the back of the room.
Sergius sighed at his court advisor's antics. " I wanted to find out what you were telling the people".
Elymas pointed a finger at Paul. " Nobody on this island wants to hear your lies and deceit so leave and do not come back".
Paul, starting to get filled with the Holy Spirit, walked over and stood in front of Elymas.
" Leave now" screeched Elymas.
" You are a child of the devil and full of deceit" said Paul. " Will you never stop perverting the ways of the Lord". Paul pointed a finger at the court advisor. " The hand of the Lord is upon you and you will be blind and not see the sun for a while".
Immediately, a mist and a darkness fell upon Elymas. He tried to reach Sergius's desk but stumbled and fell over it.
" What has happened to me?" yelled Elymas. An aide ran in and led him out of the court room.
Sergius, after observing the whole scene unfold before his eyes, turned toward the three. " I saw and I believe".



The End





Everyone take care. Love Ric.

Sergius Paulus and Elymas part 2

Sergius Paulus and Elymas part 2 by ric gustafson.


Sergius Paulus was enjoying his breakfast for a change and was in a pretty good mood. Because he was the Roman proconsul for the entire island, his breakfast and all of his meals were usually interrupted by aides asking him something.
He was still eating when an aide walked in.
" Your court advisor, Elymas is here".
" Show him in".
His court advisor walked in and sat down across the table from him. He had a stern look on his face.
" What's wrong Elymas?".
" I've been hearing disturbing news about you?".
" What news is that?" was the reply as Sergius yawned because of boredom.
" I heard you were interested in meeting with those three Jewish evangelists who have come to the island".
" That is true, I do".
" Why".
" First of all, I am the proconsul and do not want any trouble on my island" he said in a quiet voice. " I also want to know what these three men are preaching to the people".
" Have nothing to do with these men" Elymas said in a loud voice.
" For what reasons?".
" These men are talking lies, I advise you to stay away from them".
" As proconsul, I want to talk to them".
Elymas got out of his chair and walked toward the door. " As you wish, just remember my warning".
Sergius sighed and wondered why he kept Elymas as his court advisor.




Everyone have a great Saturday. Love Ric.