A country at war.

An eight year old son, Seneca, seeing his family may be overthrown and likely killed, dresses up as a commoner and hides among a group of children all near his age.  As tragedy unfolds, it all happens so quick ...and furiously. The kingdom is soon overthrown, and most of the families die ...only the poor children remaining.   

The children are carried off into captivity.

In a year's time, another King & his army, led by General Guardian, resolve to rescue the children. They overthrow this kingdom which the children have been enslaved to, and aim to restore the previous ravaged kingdoms ...resettling the children in their land.  

The young Prince Seneca does not want to rule, so when they are returned to their land ...he hurries to the ruins of his parent's royal residence. Only he knows where the book of Names & Families is hidden, and he burns it to destroy the record of him being the prince and rightful heir to the throne. Seneca confesses untruthfully that he is a common thief, and had once stolen some of the royal jewels ...showing a necklace and a ring that was in truth his, but which he said he stole.  He spun the story, telling Guardian that while stealing the jewels he had read in the royal book of the name of the heir to the throne.  

Seneca is desperate.  He knew his commoner friend, Ain, was very possessive ...and would be too eager to become king. Yet, he felt his other friend, Cable, was rather insulated and detached from those around him, and therefore also not very capable to rule others.  But, more than anything, Seneca is certain he does not want to rule.

With his king's permission, General Guardian helps them restore their old kingdoms, and believes Seneca when he says he had read the royal book.  Seneca says the book had also included dialogue by the royal family, stating that they'd feared one day they may be overthrown, as they were too large a kingdom, and too inefficient.  Seneca reveals that it was suggested in the writings that the kingdom be split into two halves, with each of the royal family's two sons eventually ruling an East and West kingdom.  And Seneca tells Guardian that the two sons are Ain and Cable.

Now, Ain and Cable knew they were not brothers, but Ain liked the prospect of being a ruler ...and threatened Cable, getting him to agree not to tell.  

Guardian says he will assign a couple of his best soldiers to help Ain and Cable until they get older ...and Ain and Cable both like this idea.  But, first they secretly and privately thank Seneca ...telling him he will be a welcome guest in any of their kingdoms.  They admit they were rather shocked when he had lied to Guardian, but it is their secret, and they will never tell anyone.

As the many years pass, Ain and Cable pass away, and their children's children become princes, then kings. Guardian had also passed away, and his grandson, Draug, is not so kind a ruler. Draug likes war, and particularly likes conquering. 

Draug conquers the East and West kingdoms, and decides once again to combine them into one kingdom ...which he decides to rule himself.  But, he rules rather inefficiently ...and in a couple years he gets too ambitious, trying to add a third kingdom, and loses it all.

The descendants of Ain and Cable both decide that they are the rightful heirs ...and each claim that they have proof that their descendants had not been brothers. The obvious conclusion is that one family is an impostor. Of course, neither family has any proof, but they feel they don't need it ...as any claims they've stated, they hold as true.

*******Today, we have a similar problem ...we are heirs with Christ Jesus, yet we sometimes profess claims that somehow allow us to feel we have greater standing with our authority of that claim. Now, I don't know how one can have any greater authority than the words of Jesus, nor how anyone could possibly add further stipulations to the wondrous fact that He has given us the assurance of our salvation. And I am certainly able to rejoice in knowing I am heir to His kingdom in Heaven ...and do not have to be rebuked for thinking I earned it.  I am not entitled to more of a standing (or sitting) with Him in that heavenly abode than anyone else.  I only aspire to reside in heaven, under His loving care.

Also, to be an heir, is not to be in error over how I can somehow establish my standing here on earth ...as if anything I can do here on earth can be more highly valued than to witness to someone about the simplicity of them also receiving the gift of salvation through Jesus.

I'm reminded of the mom of a couple of the apostles asking if her sons could have that exalted position to sit next to Jesus in Heaven.  

I exalt Jesus, and I do not desire any special position ...it is such an overwhelming statement of grace on His part to even allow me to be in Heaven where I can be somewhere in His company. My name is in the Book of Life, and to know that ...is so comforting. Where I sit, stand, or walk is all going to be in pure delight.

And my job here on earth is in testifying to whom Jesus is ...so others can better know Him.  To what degree anyone sincerely embraces Him is not known to the human mind ...and it is not in my job description to even guess at it.

We also should attempt to use discretion with what kingdoms on earth we choose to reside in.  We should be a friend to those in need, but also befriend those we need to encourage us in the areas we should dwell in. (Philippians 4:8, says we are to dwell or think on certain things.) 

*******

(Our oldest son likes sports, so said he probably would have chosen the kingdom with Cable.)

The majestic mountain seemed to touch the sky.  Its top was never seen, as there was never absent some sort of cloud circling the peak. 

There were four streams which flowed out of the mountain.  The common people who lived in the region never gave much thought to it, though one family was very meticulous about facts and history.  The facts had to be passed down, of course, as the frontiersmen who initially came to the mountain were no longer alive.  But, the great grandfather of Lester Adams had written it down ...as his dad had told him, and his dad's dad. And there were maps, the oldest of maps showing only one community, the first settlement in the area.  Yet, it was clear that the region had been thoroughly explored, as the four streams were also mapped out.

The old map simply labeled the streams: West Stream, North Stream, East Stream, and South Stream. Rather simplistic, but those names held to this present day.  The only settlement on the old map was simply named West.

There were other maps, the second oldest having a small settlement named South ...on South Stream, of course.  Latter maps included the settlements of East and North, on those respective streams. Today, all the settlements have grown to somewhat equal size and population ...and are called West Community, North Community, East Community, and South Community.  The initial families in the settlements had always kept to themselves for the most part ...and there was no real communication between West, North, East, or South. The reason that the settlements grew so substantially was that suddenly gold was discovered, and though each of the settlements didn't know it ...each of the four streams were equally rich with gold.

Each of the communities grew from many outsiders hearing of the news ...and each of the communities shared their biased feelings about the unfriendliness of the other communities in the mountain region.  So, there remained virtually no communication among the mountain communities.  They just mined their own gold ...and built churches and courtyards of the precious metal, and as far as word could travel the report was that their extensive worship was unparalleled in any land.

One day while worshiping, Les Adams felt led to reach out to the other communities in the region ...so, he got his family together to voice his intent to visit South Community.  There were no objections ...so they went.

As they are greeted in South Community, Les does the talking, "We want to extend our friendship as an expression of unity."

Mayor Moore considers this a spiritual journey, and greets Les and his family with open arms, giving them the Grand Tour.  Mayor Moore tells them that South Community was the first settlement in the mountain region.  Les and his family are on a journey of peace, so he chooses not to mention all the documents and maps in his own community's possession.

Mayor Moore takes them to the Town Hall, and shows them countless documents about the authenticity of his statements. Les notices that the documents  ...well, the papers just seem too, too ungenuine. The documents seem to all be of the same approximate age. 

Afterwards they are finally taken to the place of worship. Mayor Moore has a big smile on his face, "I've saved the best for last!"

The place of worship is equally as beautiful as where Les and his family worship, but Mayor Moore is full of surprises ...and his smile grows.  He is obviously proud of his community ...and who wouldn't be, as it looks to be a very fine community in every way.  After all, though pride is most often looked on as not a good thing, it frequently is really just proper satisfaction ...and encourages people to do good things.

But, then the shock comes.

Mayor Moore speaks with quiet boldness, and rather glibly, "Do you know that the South Stream, flowing into our South Community, is the only stream that actually has real gold? Others have heard from afar of this famous Gold Mountain, with four communities and four streams ...all having gold, but we are the only one that truly has real gold."

Les Adams had experienced how welcoming Mayor Moore was to him and his family, how gentlemanly he was being ...and he'd been polite enough to not say the other communities were only mining Fool's Gold, but that was the implication.  Yet, Les does not want to offend, nor dispute the claims.  Les merely seeks to return the Mayor's politeness by inviting him to visit West Community.

Others are beginning to gather for worship at this time, and seeing that the mayor hesitates in responding to his invitation, Les thinks that it is perhaps because the mayor doesn't want the others to feel left out by the singular invitation.  So, Les extends his request, "We would be glad to have as many of you who would want to visit our community ...you are all invited, and welcome."

Mayor Moore sees the group's hesitance, and as mayor of the community he feels obliged to answer, "I guess we pretty much all feel that our worship here is so satisfying ...that we feel our Lord would not really approve of us worshiping to any less degree than our worship here.  But, you are always welcome to join us in our community, and at our church here."

One other gentleman does speak up, "Yes, we feel our Lord has ordained our worship here, having established us as the first settlement. Our life in South Community was clearly established here by our Lord's providence."

Les takes a deep breath of the fresh and satisfying mountain air ...yet, an air of aloofness among this friendly group of people surrounding him is sadly what impresses him most; polluting his hope of that spiritual bond he'd intended to create by this visit.

(I guess, the bottom line is ...or if we really think we are on top of things, we must all decide for ourselves how we view all of this, Moore or Les.)

(http://nationspeoplesyouandme.blogspot.com/)


Okay, it is near Thanksgiving 2018 ...and another story comes to mind:

This story took place a long, long time ago ...but, not so far back as when people feared to sail the ocean, as this story crosses the Atlantic to America, and begins not that long after they began to settle here.

Their eight year old daughter has just returned from school, during a time when certain things could be discussed in school.

Rebecca hugs her mom, who is preparing the evening meal: "I love you, Mom."

Mom: "I love you too, Becky."

Rebecca: "I think I will start my homework now."

Mom: "That sounds like a good idea."

An hour later, Dad appears in Rebecca's bedroom doorway: "Becky ...it's time to eat.  You can finish your schoolwork afterwards."

Rebecca: "Okay, Dad."

He had returned from work earlier than usual.  Rebecca didn't understand much about dad's work, and each time she asked and tried to understand ...well, it was just too confusing for an eight year old.  Mom had said that dad was a CEO, but didn't attempt to explain the details of what that was.

The meal proceeds mostly in silence, after the lengthy and formal prayer.  The only sound is from the loud, energetic shoveling of food into dad's mouth ...along with the aggressive chewing and smacking of lips after each gulp of milk in an attempt to wash down that insurmountable amount of food.

Conversation is only initiated as dad begins to reload, heaping more food on his plate.

Dad: "So, Becky ...what did you study in school today?"

Rebecca: "We talked about God."

Dad: "What did your teacher say about God?"

Rebecca: "She said that God loves us so much.  She also said that ...that so much, was so much, that Jesus came for there to be a way to heaven.  And she said that Jesus died, so we can have eternal life."

Dad: "Is that all she said?"

Rebecca: "Well, class wasn't over that quickly ...she did say more, but it's so hard to understand, and remember.  But, it sounded really good."

Dad: "Did she say anything about the plates?"

Rebecca: "Not today ...but, another day she said we should always finish everything on our plates.  And see ...didn't I do real good?"

Dad: "No ...yes, you did well with finishing up, but, no, that wasn't what I was talking about."

Mom: "Please excuse me, but we are having pie for dessert tonight, and it's not quite done.  And you know how fussy I am about my pies.  So, if you don't mind, I'm going to babysit it ...so it can come out just right."

Dad: "By all means.  And as I was saying, Becky, your mom and I have been privileged ...or rather, I was privileged to have been given some plates, steel plates. Or you can say steel tablets ...but, I call them plates.  On those steel plates, were written the divine words which your mom and I adhere to."

Rebecca: "Oh, adhere ...yes, I remember, it's like the glue we use to fix furniture. And we stick to what we believe.  But, what's divine?"

Dad: "Divine means it comes from God."

Rebecca: "Where are the plates?"

Dad: "They were taken up to heaven."

Mom doesn't say anything, she just smiles.  She imagines how her husband would react if she came back to the table and told him that the pie had been taken up to heaven ...and that only she had been able to taste it.

Rebecca: "You mean we were given plates, then they were taken away from us?"

Dad: "Not we, and us ...just me!  I was given the plates."

Rebecca: "Why were they taken away from you?"

Dad: "I was finished with them."

Rebecca: "You finished them?"

Dad: "I was finished with them.  I read them, and I took notes."

Rebecca: "Were you reading those notes the other night?"

Dad: "Yes ...and I am sorry that I scolded you.  I realize it was my fault for staying up so late, and carelessly leaving my notes in the kitchen."

In the adjacent room, mom again smiles.  Her husband hadn't carelessly left any of last week's pie.  Though he had left the evidence ...of crumbs, and an unwashed pie tin.

Rebecca: "That's okay, daddy ...sometimes I need scolding, but I wasn't able to read any of your secret language anyway."

Dad: "That's okay ...you didn't know what it was.  When your mom first saw it, she just thought it was some messy scribbles.  But, without the gift ...that's what it would appear to be.  To me, it was a perfectly arranged divine code."

Mom tries not to grin ...but, she thinks of the special arrangement of underwear and socks he always leaves on the bedroom floor, which only she can interpret.  Her hardy husband, the CEO ...Claimed Enlightened One.  Too bad he can't be served some humble pie.

Rebecca: "Dad, are you going to take your notes ...and type them, so other people, I mean, so all of us can understand?"

Dad: "Yes, that is my goal ...to put it in human language.  But, it is very difficult to put into mere words ...that which only the truly enlightened can understand."

Mom takes the pie to the table ...and watches, without comment, as her husband enhales half the pie.

************************

I am so thankful for the loving God that we have ---and for all the effort that was put forth by those He used, to preserve and translate His Word ---so, we can read and understand what it says. Without the Bible, how could we endure our sanity ...in a world that puts forth so much that is hard to consume.

Happy Thanksgiving to all ....and I hope we all have time to reflect on all that He has given us, and all that He has done.  Never could we express with appreciation, the equivalent of love that God has shown us.  Yes, we need to aspire to be a very thankful people.