Excerpt–Mightier Than The Sword–Novel-in-progress

Samson wanted to leave with Melandro, but Tiffany and Tyson quickly closed down the club and everyone had to stay put, including Samson. Tyson called for police reinforcements and Tiffany called in the Sheriff’s office. This was way too much for them to deal with. Traffic was blocked from entering the parking lot of Club Jazzy and for a three-block perimeter. Behind the club was the river so they weren’t concerned about anyone leaving in that direction.

“Tyson, make sure all of guests are comfortable and have the police collect every glass at every table and bag them. Battle, call the hospital and make sure everyone is x-rayed for needle pricks and their stomachs pumped. Swatere, check the bathrooms and collect all the garbage cans. Whoever is responsible for this, is not getting away again!” Tiffany thundered orders.

Pretty soon the place was packed with uniformed officers, interviewing guests and taking notes. All of the stemware bagged and all the eating utensils and food put aside.

Samson and the other owners were dumbfounded. They couldn’t believe this was happening on their opening night. Immediately, technicians were brought in to rule out food poisoning for which the chef was eternally grateful for them saying, the food was not tainted in any way.

When the stemware was bagged and tagged, another agent from the FBI took them directly to the lab where Katie was standing by.

When Tiffany asked Samson what Melandro had been drinking, she immediately became suspicious.

“I only saw her drink club soda. Then after we announced our engagement, she had a sip of the champagne. Ask the bar-tender if she had anything else.”

When Tiffany asked the bar-tender if Melandro had anything to drink, he just shook his head. “She came back here once, to fix what she was going to call a Jazzy special. I don’t know what she put in it and she washed the shaker as soon as she made it.”

“That figures,” Tiffany muttered. “What about the glass she used for the champagne toast, has that been cleaned as well?”

“No, in fact she never finished the drink so it’s on the counter—right where she was sitting before she collapsed.”

“Battle, get that technician over here to check the contents of this glass.”

The technician had brought specially formulated strips to test for poisons and he immediately put it in the glass. It turned blue—indication of a toxic substance.

“Okay, get that to the lab and I want results tonight, not tomorrow!” she barked.

Samson sat at the bar with his head in his hand, not knowing what was going on. “Samson, do you have a pen I could use? I don’t have one in this tiny little purse,” Tiffany explained.

“Yeah, sure. Let me get you one of the marketing ones from the office.”

“Franklin,” she called to a uniformed officer, “Please escort Samson to his office and bring him back here pronto.

Walking back to his office with his police escort, Samson’s heart sank. This was supposed to be a night to remember, but not because of three people being rushed to a hospital, but because he had decided to commit to one woman. When he unlocked the door, he sighed and went quickly to his desk and opened the drawer. Stunned, he picked up the syringe and the vial, wondering how they got there. Since Franklin was standing right behind him and saw the syringe and vial, Samson plopped into the chair, not saying a word.

“Agent Harangue,” he radioed. “You need to see this. I’m in the office near the back of the building. Don’t make a move,” he ordered, pulling his service revolver out and keeping it aimed at Samson.

“I’ll be right there,” she said, motioning for Tyson to follow her.

“I don’t know what this is or how it got here,” Samson stammered.

“Don’t say anything else until Agent Harangue gets back here,” Franklin ordered, stepping back from Samson, watching every move.

Tiffany and Tyson burst through the door.

“What is it?” Tiffany asked.

Franklin motioned with his gun at Samson. “Get up slowly and move away from the desk.” Turning to Tiffany, he said,

“There’s a syringe and a vial in the drawer. Samson here says he doesn’t know how they got there.”

Fortunately, Tiffany had brought a pair of latex gloves to the back with her and an evidence bag. She put on the gloves and gingerly picked up the syringe and vial, putting them into the evidence bag.

“Tyson, take these to one of the technicians and have it analyzed right away. If this is what I think it is, we’ve finally solved these murders and hopefully, those who are at the hospital will survive.”

“Franklin, read Samson his rights and take him in for questioning. He’s to be held until we get back from the hospital and no one, I mean no one is get back here. As soon as everyone has been interviewed and we have contact information, turn them loose and tape the place off.

Samson was read his rights, handcuffed and led out of the club, totally mortified by what had just happened.

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For Long Life, Peace and Prosperity!

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity” (Proverbs 3:1,2 NIV).

“Do not forget my teaching”–what teaching was Solomon referencing? His teaching about all He knew about God and living a life that pleases God. I have often had my children’s friends come back to me when they become adults and remind me of the things I taught them. One young lady in particular, almost had an accident during a snowstorm, but she remembered what I had said about driving on slippery roads and avoided an accident. Many of them still remember bible study at my house and the things they learned when they were kids.

“Keep my commands in your heart”--why? If we hold fast to our instructions in righteousness, we will not disobey or disappoint. Whatever is in the heart of man (or woman) will surely come to light. Perhaps, this is why scripture tells us that God is not concerned with the external trappings of man, but looks at our hearts.

“For they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity”–what will? Keeping the commands/instructions given (obedience) we were given. Imagine that!

Let’s look at how that might work in our society.

“Look both ways before crossing the street” –won’t get run-down by a car.

“Don’t spend every dime you get, save money (learn to invest)”–if we save, we’ll have money when we need it.

“Treat people the way you want to be treated” –unless there is something seriously wrong with a person, most want to be treated with courtesy and kindness. If we do this, we effect peace where we are.

“Learn to respect self, others and the property of others”–when we respect others, there is no need for strife and we will not kill, steal, or destroy.

“Eat your vegetables”–proven to have not just nutritional value, but can thwart the growth of cancer cells.

“Stay away from drugs and alcohol”--drugs change the chemical production in our brains and cause us to be delusional and eventually erodes any sense of rational thinking and so can alcohol, when misused. When we destroy brain cells, we destroy our ability to function at maximum potential.

There are so many other things I could say, but this is not the appropriate forum. Perhaps, I’ll expound more in a book, specifically dedicated to a reflection about Proverbs 3.

So, if we want long life, peace and prosperity, we need to be obedient–not just to parents, but to God and those in position of authority (teachers, laws of the land, etc.). (Please read the rest of this passage to the end–very powerful and pertains to our lives today.)

Now, just to look at things in a balanced perspective–if we don’t do all the things that Solomon was advising us to do, we won’t have long life, peace or prosperity. Could it be that this is the reason the world is in the shape it is in today? Hmmm. Something to think about!

What a novel concept! Disobedience leading to shortened lives, unrest, and poverty! This should not be a surprise to anyone if we understood that the act of disobedience is what caused man’s fall from God’s favor in the beginning with Adam and Eve. Nothing new under the sun–just recycled stupidity and foolishness when people refuse to listen and obey. We cannot keep doing things the same way, expecting to get different results (Einstein’s definition of insanity), it just won’t happen. We need to wake up, acknowledge where we are, and make some changes in what we do and how we do them. The first step is in seeking God and His wisdom to guide us in all things.

Lord, help us today to see the truth of Your Word and how it applies to every area of our lives.  Pour into us Your wisdom so we can get living right according to Your Word and then be in position to receive all that You have promised.

 

 

The Gene Pool

If we look closely at some of the tragic events in our society, we cannot help but wonder, what makes people do the things they do?

What makes a police officer decide to play God and kill people out of some distorted sense of revenge?

What makes a son decide to shoot up a school, killing innocent children who could not have possibly caused him any harm?

What makes a teacher (male or female) ruin a young person’s life by engaging in illicit sexual activity?

What makes a mother snuff out the life of a child she birthed?

What makes a father force his children to endure unwanted sexual advances or engagement?

What makes children (adult and younger) decide to kill their parents?

What makes old white men decide to kidnap children who couldn’t possibly do anything to appease them?

What makes people decide to pick up an assault rifle and randomly shoot people who don’t even know them?

The answer to these questions quite simply is—the influence of demonic activity in the atmosphere.  People are subject to the influence of satanic influence when it is embedded in their genes, or when they refuse to believe in God and live according to His Word!  Whether people believe this or not is really not the issue.  The real issue is how we combat senseless killings and destruction of families in our society.

For every person who is addicted to drugs, alcohol, and other ungodly behavior, every time you participate, the devil is laughing at you.  Can you picture him now?  Every time you pick up a crack pipe, inhale marijuana, swallow a pill, keep a bottle tilted, lose money gambling, give into the desire to steal, or hop into bed with someone for illicit and immoral sex—he’s raring back—laughing his butt off because you were such easy prey. Can you hear him? Look at your life!  You’re going nowhere fast except deeper into the rut you’re digging and don’t even know it.  You’re creating disaster after disaster because you don’t have enough sense to see how your actions are impacting your family and your community.  You’re angry at life because you refuse to wake-up and acknowledge that you have allowed the enemy to take charge of your life.  Look into the mirror and get a grip!  Just because members of your family didn’t shake the devil’s influence, doesn’t mean you can’t.  Just because your daddy was stupid and mean—doesn’t mean you have to be.  Just because your mama was a prostitute and a drug addict—doesn’t mean you have to follow in her footsteps.  What’s really in your genes?

When we accept Jesus Christ, we accept our place in the kingdom as joint-heirs with Christ.  We develop a Christ-like nature—a nature that desires to please God and not flesh.  When we acknowledge that we can do absolutely nothing without Christ in our lives, we set ourselves in position to receive God’s best and we no longer allow the enemy to influence us into doing ungodly things.

Today is the day because tomorrow might just be too late.  Are you ready?

Repent of anything that you know would not please God and turn to Him to direct your path in all things.  Believe in your heart that Jesus came to earth to bring us back into right relationship with the Father, accept Him as your Personal Savior, and determine to live a life that can only bring you the rewards waiting for you from heaven to enjoy here on earth.  God’s goodness and love is in your genes—why are you waiting?