Cain page 11

Cain page 11 by ric gustafson

Cain opened his eyes. He was sitting on a bench. He glanced around. He was inside a cylinder. He looked out a window. He noticed a barren wasteland as far as he could see. He noticed a single dome in the distance.

Then Cain heard a noise. He turned. The silver boy was sitting right next to him.

The silver boy smiled and pointed. " So how do you like the City of the Light Bringer?".

Cain stared at the silver boy. " Who is the Light Bringer?".

" He goes by many names". The silver boy grinned. " He wants to meet you".

" Why?".

" Son of Adam". The silver boy's voice hesitated. " You are his now".

Cain thought for a moment. " Can I see him?".

" Yes". He pointed toward the Dome Cain had noticed earlier.

" What is that Dome?".

" That is the Central Dome of the Light Bringer".

research help: ' Cain' by Brennan S McPherson

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

a great cloud of witnesses: Absalom Jones

a great cloud of witnesses: Absalom Jones by ric gustafson

Even before the United States was formed, there was the African American Church. One of the founders of this church was Absalom Jones. Absalom and his family were slaves in Delaware. Later, Absalom purchased freedom for himself and his family. 

In 1787, Absalom along with another freed slave founded the Free African Society. This organization championed rights for free black citizens.

Today, Absalom Jones is known as an influential Christian leader in Philadelphia. Absalom established the African Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas. Absalom Jones was one of the first officially ordained African American pastors of any church. Absalom preached antislavery sermons until his death in 1818.

research help: ' Our Church Speaks' by Ben Lansing and D J Marotta

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

a great cloud of witnesses: Josephine Bakhita

a great cloud of witnesses: Josephine Bakhita by ric gustafson

Josephine Bakhita was born in Darfur Sudan. She was part of the Daju people. At age 8, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. She was forced to convert to Islam. 

One day, Bakhita was purchased by an Italian government agent. She became a maid for an Italian family. Later, she was sent to Venice and lived in a monastic community. While there, Bakhita was introduced to God. After that, Bakhita did not want to leave the convent. The courts ruled that her servitude was illegal. She became a free person. Bakhita became baptized. She began serving at a convent in Schio near Venice. 

She earned a reputation for her gentle voice, life of prayer and profound faith in God.

research help: ' Our Church Speaks' by Ben Lansing and D J Marotta

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

a great cloud of witnesses: Paul Miki

 a great cloud of witnesses: Paul Miki by ric gustafson

In 1549, Christianity came to Japan. A Jesuit priest named Francis Xavier converted many Japanese to the Christian faith. A Japanese evangelist named Paul Miki wanted to follow in Xavier's footsteps. The Japanese ruler Hideyoshi stopped that by arresting these new Christians. Miki and many others were arrested and forced to march to Nagasaki where they were going to be killed. 

When they reached Nagasaki, Miki and the others were crucified. Miki's death along with the others was not in vain. There were secret believers for seven generations. In 1871, The Japanese government began giving Christians legal protection. 

Nagasaki became the center of Japanese Christianity.

research help: ' Our Church Speaks' by Ben Lansing and D J Marotta

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Cain page 10

 Cain page 10 by ric gustafson

" I do not know".

" I saw you both walk into the fields".

Cain gave the Almighty a stern look. " Am I my brother's keeper?".

" I know what it is you have done". The Almighty's voice hesitated. " You have killed Abel".

" That is not true".

Tears began to wet the Almighty's eyes. " Now you are cursed from the ground".

Cain's body began to shake. 

" You are now a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth".

" Someone will try to kill me".

" No, they won't". The Almighty pressed a finger into the center of Cain's forehead.

" No one will touch you".

research help: ' Cain' by Brennan S McPherson

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Cain page 9

 Cain page 9 by ric gustafson

Cain ran into the dark temple of the City of the Almighty. Cain found a torch. He lit it. Light reached the corners of the room. Fear came over Cain's face. He was not alone.

A man stood at the other end of the room. He had long white hair. He also had a beard.

" Hello Cain".

Cain knew who it was.

" Where have you been?".

Cain decided not to answer.

" Son of Adam, where have you been?".

Cain cleared his throat. " At home with Sarah".

" Is that all?".

" Yes, that's all".

" Son of Adam". The Almighty frowned. " Do you think I do not know?".

Cain stared at the Almighty. " You know all things".

" Cain, where is your brother?".

research help: ' Cain' by Brennan McPherson

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

U-505 page 1

 U-505 page 1 by ric gustafson

Kapitanleutnant Axel Olaf Loewe stood next to the boat he was going to command. It was love at first sight. The boat had light gray paint and dark gray trim. There was not a mark on it. The batteries were fresh from the factory.

Loewe came from a seafaring family. His father was a naval officer in the German Imperial Navy. Loewe's brother was an officer on a different boat. Later, his brother was captured and put into a prisoner of war camp. Loewe graduated from the German Naval Academy in 1928. Loewe and his wife Helga had a son and a daughter.

Loewe was an executive officer on the U-74. Now, Loewe was smiling again at the boat he was now going to command. It was a large submarine. It carried 22 torpedoes. There were 50 men on board. The boat could go over 8,000 miles without refueling.

The boat was the U-505.

research help: ' Codename Nemo' by Charles Lachman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric