Novel, Chapters 1-8

Isaac Crockett

CHAPTER ONE
     The bartender glanced over towards the two men who stepped up to the bar, recognized Isaac immediately and yelled over the tops of heads, "Hey Ize, Sam Adams right?" Isaac smiled and yelled back "That's right Tom. Two please!" If anyone noticed, nothing was said. The Turn Key Inn was beautifully situated on the mainline side of the Stanton Memorial Causeway overlooking the Great Egg Harbor Bay and was filling up with people beginning their weekend, chowing down and waiting for the music to start as the amps had just been tested and the two performers were milling around the stage.
      Isaac happened to look across the dance floor and noticed that what appeared to be the keyboardist was red-faced and arguing with a pretty auburn-haired girl clutching a microphone...presumably the vocalist. He could only make out a few words..."don't care" and "that's it!" The girl was near tears. She wasn't arguing back but appeared to be pleading with the man to "settle this tomorrow." Isaac picked up the frosted mug and sipped his dark beer. His overly-muscular friend started to comment on the basketball game on the overhead television that one could watch but could not hear.
     "Just a minute Jake" Isaac said as he held up his hand and continued to watch the show being put on by the keyboardist who then just stormed out the front door and slamming it behind him. Isaac's eyes went back to the girl whose head was now bowed as she wiped the tears from one eye then the next. Isaac took another sip as screeching tires could be heard from the parking lot.
      No one at the Turnkey Inn seemed to care all that much, although some were observing the spat, for this was a restaurant and lounge and at worst they would not have live music. Jake put his face close to Isaac's ear and said "Something the matter Ize?"
      "Yeah Jake. It looks like those two who were going to play tonight had a pretty big argument."
      Jake added "The sign outside said something like 'Oscar somebody or other and Anne."
     "Well, it looks like Oscar somebody or other just vamoosed."

     The girl was now at the end of the bar, only a few barstools from Isaac, and noticeably crying while apparently trying to explain things to Tom who was unhappy and in turn asking her to sing alone...to which the response was "I need music!"

      Isaac turned to his friend and said,
     "It looks like I may be staying for a while Jake. Why don't you watch the game."
      He then walked over to the stage and looked at the equipment...a standard Zerobox 2000 keyboard. He hadn't played one of these in five years but was still familiar with the setup. Stepping up on the stage he paged through the music. He knew it all, standard lounge songs, except for one that he knew particularly well. Clicking on the microphone he said to the crowd...
      "Hello everyone. I hope you're having a good time. Please sit back and take in 'Isaac somebody or other and Anne!"
      A buzz immediately swept over the crowd and then total silence. With that Isaac started to play a soft oldie ballad The Way We Were.
      He hadn't looked to see the pretty auburn-haired girl's reaction, he just hoped that she would see what was happening and come over and sing. But she didn't. She stood dumbfounded. After about three minutes of Isaac's playing he looked over to her and asked "Anne?" She looked at the bartender who was all smiles then slowly walked to the microphone and started to sing. She had a lovely voice and the song went well considering that Isaac only had a minute to look over the music, and it was on to Carol King's It's Too Late.
       Four songs into the set and Isaac began the keyboard riff that he was all too familiar with. The crowd was on its feet whether there was food in front of them or not. This all surprised Anne for she had never been treated with such attentiveness. This stranger played well, especially with songs that were just put before him but the people loved it. The song that Isaac was now into, that he knew so well, was The Long Road, and he now played with a passion. Anne was even enthralled. She knew this was a man's vocal and wondered if he would sing. He did...and the words came out as as if he did the original. Anne was bouncing a small tambourine off of her thigh, more a part of the audience than the act. The song ended and the crowd went wild. Isaac and Anne played for over an hour and a half and by then everyone was packed in close to the stage when  Isaac reached for the mic and said,
     "Thanks so much folks, can we have a big hand for Anne?"
     He jumped off of the stage and Anne came up to him...
     "I don't know who you are but thank-you."
     "You're quite welcome Anne. I saw the difficulty that you were having and thought that I might be able to help."
     At this point two attractive ladies came over with napkins and pens. They handed them to Isaac and he politely wrote something on them. Anne wondered what kind of note he was writing. Was he giving them his phone number? Another woman came over with pen and paper and then two men and then it seemed like everyone. Someone handed a paper and pen to Anne and said,
      "Would you mind?"
      "Would I mind what?"
      "Your autograph."
      "My autograph?"
     She looked at Isaac who was busy but he smiled and looked to her... nodding... as if to say.....'go ahead and sign.' She took the pen and paper and slowly wrote...Anne...Wiskovits as delicately as a second grade teacher would and handed it back. Isaac thanked everyone, lifted his arm in a wave and guided Anne by the hand over to the bar.
     "Would you like a drink Anne?"
     "Thank you. A Coke please."
     Tom was still all smiles as he handed the drink to Anne who then looked up at Isaac.
     "You're someone aren't you?" Isaac paused before anwering...
     "We're all someone Anne."
     "I mean that you're someone that I should know?"
     Isaac responded with,
     "I guess so Anne."
     Isaac then asked her if she had a van to put the instruments in.
     "Oscar took the van. I own...or I should say...I'm paying for the equipment and the keyboard."
     Isaac looked over to Tom and said,
     "Tom, could you do me a favor and have someone rent a van tomorrow and take Anne's equipment wherever she wants?"
     "Oh no! I couldn't ask you to..."
     "Please Anne. Let me help with this?"
     "That was so nice of you to play tonight but I could never accept such a favor."
     "What do you plan on doing?"
     Anne thought for a moment. It was obvious that she hadn't thought of what to do now.
     "Maybe I'll just sell everything and try to pay off what I owe."
      Isaac knew that this might be a plan but it wasn't addressing the problem at hand...
     "Where do you live Anne?"
     All of a sudden Anne became defensive. Some sort of rock musician does her a favor and now probably wants something in return.
     "I live a long, long way away."
     "You sound like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz."
      "I live in another state."
      Tom jumped in  with,
      "Kansas?"
     Isaac added
     "I heard Rodney Dangerfield tell a joke,  he said 'I once asked a girl in history class where she lived...She showed me on the globe!' "
     Anne didn't laugh but offered...
     "I live a few hours north of here in Easton, Pennsylvania."
     With that Isaac said,
     "Excuse me for a minute Anne." and walked over to Jake.
     Tom leaned over to Anne and said,
      "You really don't know who he is, do you?"
     She shook her head waif like.
     "That's Isaac Crockett....lead singer of..."
     Anne finished his sentence..."Pilgrim!That's why he knew The Long Road so well!"
     "He wrote it...platinum...you just sang with one of the biggest superstars in the business."
     Isaac returned...
     "Anne. We're...providing you allow us... setting you up at the Port-o-Call Hotel You can take a cab over and call Tom tomorrow and he'll do whatever you want with your equipment. If you are serious about selling it. I'll buy everything from you at top dollar."
     "You are Isaac Crockett!"
     "And you are Anne...Wisk, Wisko...you are Anne."
     "I think that I need to make a phone call."
      Looking to the bartender, Isaac asked...
     "Tom, can we use the phone in your office?"
     "You got it Ize."
      Tom was in a very good mood. Isaac Crockett came to eat at his place whenever he was home. Ocean City, New Jersey was his hometown, and now Tom can say that Isaac Crockett played at the Turn Key. Pilgrim was doing a publicity tour starting in Atlantic City so Isaac and Jake, one of the roadies and also an Ocean City boy, had come home for the night.
      Anne dialed a number....
     "Hello Dad? No, everything is all right.... I just finished my show. No, I'm sorry Dad, I didn't make church last Sunday."
     She looked over at Isaac and continued...
      "Dad, I'm coming home...I'm coming home for good Dad."
     Her father must have went on for a few minutes before Anne added...I love you too Dad," and gently put the receiver back on the phone.
     The office itself was quiet but the jukebox was now playing at the bar. Isaac picked up the phone and dialed a local number.
     "Hi Dad...yeah Jake and I are over at the Turnkey...Dad, I'll be home in a little while....and I think that it's for good."
     He covered his eyes as he listened to his dad's response,
      "See you in a little bit. Bye Dad."

CHAPTER TWO

         Easton is located in the Lehigh Valley of Eastern Pennsylvania just far enough away from the metropolis of the Big Apple and city of Brotherly Love to remain quaint yet close enough to visit the big cities for shopping, a play or sporting event. Loveless Lane is just a few blocks away from the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers. Where it got that name, the Wiskovitz family sometimes wondered. Rumor has it that a man named Jonathon Smart lost his fiancee' in a flash flood in the late 1800s and thus came the name of the street that he was the primary developer of.
         Whether or not this was so, the name was apropos for Anne had a love and it was music and now it was gone. She had dreamed of being a famous singer since she sang Silent Night in her second grade Christmas play. Ten months before her hour of celebrity at the Turnkey Inn and on her 23rd birthday she left Easton against her father's wishes to pursue the beginnings of a singing career. She met Oscar Tucciarone at a music store in Manhattan. Oscar was looking at keyboards and Anne was ordering sheet music for her fledgling career as a singer in restaurant lounges with only recorded music as her accompaniment.
         Oscar was suave and handsome and seemed to know the music business. Before she left the store he had her phone number and left her with dreams of being part of a new Sonny and Cher. After a month of preparation they hit the road and played restaurants from Boston to Cape May, New Jersey. Anne wasn't discouraged with the simple dinner music for she resigned herself to at least four years of hard work with little recognition until her moment came but Oscar met another singer in Philadelphia and although he denied any interest in moving on, Anne could not talk to him for any amount of time without him starting an argument.
         On the evening at the Turnkey, Oscar used her red outfit to instigate yet another tiff. He said that he told her time and again that if she wears red it has to be either a pastel or at least a soft red. She told him that she had a limited wardrobe and would have to wear deeper colors until she could build upon it. Before she knew it... Oscar was gone.
         It wasn't discouragement that caused her to call her father and tell him that she was quitting and coming home. It was weeks of doubting that a music career was even a responsible lifestyle. She had a grave concern that she being driven by a horrible pride to exalt herself in some way, and had disappointed her father who wanted her to meet a nice Catholic man and raise a family and give him grandchildren. Anne's mother had died when she was fourteen of leukemia.
         Oscar's leaving so abruptly seemed like the sign she had been praying for. Everything made sense except for the world renown rock star that not only came into her life, not only provided what anyone else would consider a sign that she was on her way up, but disappeared as quickly as he came. Was that conversation Isaac Crockett had on the phone just a cruel joke? Was he even talking to anyone? The morning after the events at the Turnkey Inn, Tom gave her a check for $3500 from Isaac Crockett, more than top dollar for her sound system and keyboard. Anne never mentioned anything about him to her father or to her younger brother Nate.
         While shopping in an Eckerd Drugstore Anne stopped by the magazine rack as she had done a number of times over the past few weeks since she came home. This was unusual for her. She knew that she only wanted to see the magazine covers but tried to hide it from herself. She would scan the various youth and music magazines trying to see if the ghostlike figure that she knew for no more than two hours would appear. It never had...until that day. There he was, his face covering the front of MUSIC MAGAZINE. The picture was so big that the IC and the MAG overlapped his hair. The caption read "Isaac Crockett Leaves Pilgrim." She picked up the magazine and hurried to the counter as if someone might grab it out of her hand. She paid for the purchase and walked out forgetting the hairspray that she had come in for.
         On the front porch of 221 Lovelost Lane Anne read every word of the article, again and again. Indeed Isaac Crockett had also left his career in music. "Stunned" and "Incredible" were some of the words used to describe his decision in the first paragraph alone. His band mates were supportive because they knew that something was "wrong" with Isaac for over a year but no one else in the industry had in inkling. Isaac was one of the founders of Pilgrim, the lead singer and chief songwriter but there was other talent to continue on. Josh Fehir played guitar and also sang and composed. Their drummer Davey Simcox, bass Rory Masterson and lead guitar Marty McGuinness were considered among the best in Rock, and saxophonist Wendall Williams had a cult following all his own. So it was an amicable departure for Isaac from Pilgrim. Anne read on...Isaac Crockett was raised in Ocean City, New Jersey in a family of strict Presbyterians. His father was pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church a few streets off the boardwalk. Crockett was considered the "good boy" of Rock and Roll. He smoked cigars and drank beer but in moderation and his name was never mentioned in sleazy sexual rumors, while his lyrics were greatly received for their philosophical nature.

     Nate walked by without Anne noticing. "Wow, how about that? Crockett went wacko!"
     "What do you mean?"
     "He probably got hooked by some cult."
     "It doesn't say that here. It says that he was religious from his youth!"
     "Well, anybody that leaves Pilgrim is wacko to me. Now leaving Oscar Tucciwhatshisname is something else."
     "Thanks Nate."
     "No offense Anne but you would never find Isaac Crockett singing in some restaurant!"

      Casimir Wiskovitz walked out on the porch hearing only the last few words of the conversation
     "Who are we talking about...Davey Crockett?" Anne wiped the hair out of her eyes as Nate quickly escaped before being told to take the garbage out.
     "No Dad, Isaac Crockett, a singer who just quit his group."
     "Just like you did Anne."
     "Dad, there's something that I have to tell you."
     Casimir sat down on the top step and Anne told him the whole story in about fifteen minutes. Casimir seemed shocked and said "Anne, I'm surprised that at this temptation you didn't even go further into this dream of yours."
     "I guess that I'm surprised too Dad. I'm not sorry though. My voice was just OK. I think that I fooled myself for a long time."
     "No...your voice is like an angel's...when you sing in the choir that is."
Casimer asked to see the magazine and paged through rather quickly.
     "Hmmm...Protestant huh?"
     "Oh Dad!"

CHAPTER THREE

        The a capella voices echoed beautifully through the rafters of Christ Presbyterian Church of Ocean City...O greatly blessed is the man... Who walketh not astray... In counsel of ungodly men, nor stands in sinners way....Isaac sat in the pew erect. Would he slouch or cross his legs in the presence of an earthly king? Had those with raised hands at his concerts ever reclined in their seats? Even when in churches where the Gospel was not preached Isaac would give God's messenger respect...He shall be like a tree that grows ...Set by the water side, which in its season yields its fruit... And green its leaves abide. It was hard for him to concentrate even while singing a Psalm of David, for he felt that many eyes were upon him... and then berated himself for thinking himself so important. It was just that his musical abilities and decision to take them into the world of rock music had set him up as such a celebrity.
        Isaac Crockett was not only a Presbyterian, he was a true Calvinist. His dad had taught him well and this was never in doubt. As a good Reformation Protestant he saw no problem withing smoking or drinking in moderation. Beer was a gift from God. Tobacco...he had some doubts about. Isaac never considered Christian music. He loved singing the Psalms and great hymns. He enjoyed Springsteen's music. When he sang the Psalms he was giving praise to God but when he sang rock it seemed as if the praise was coming his way. He lowered his head in some despair for here was this beautiful Psalm being sung and his mind was wandering. He asked God for forgiveness, raised his head... a tear in his eye, and sang out all the more. The sermon that day was THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD for He is unchanging. Here Isaac had sang more for the world than to his Savior yet the Lord remained steadfast in His love.
        Isaac Crockett's stardom seemed like a dream. Six guys meet in Ocean City from various parts of New Jersey and form a band. All of them had talent. The time was right and the combination was right. Pilgrim had won about every award possible and Isaac was a rich man but what kind of model was he for the youth of even his dad's church? Were they thinking about him right now? His head went down again and another tear blurred the words of the Book of Psalms. He offered a prayer for the young people who had worshipped him that he might right any wrongs he brought about.

         Fourteen year old Johnny Beachler approached Isaac after the service, "Writing any new music Isaac?"
     "My writing days are over Johnny."
      Johnny looked disappointed and almost pleaded, "Can't you write Christian music?"
     "I think that it takes a theologian to that Johnny. Maybe someday...but probably not."
     "Don't you miss it...I'm mean Pilgrim?"
     "Maybe a little. I miss my band mates...but when I was with them I missed Jesus a lot more.
      There's no comparison to the joy of knowing Christ Johnny."
     "Yeah...but you were a witness with Pilgrim!"
     "And a witness is important, but being a witness doesn't save people Johnny. Only hearing the  
      Word of God does that and I wasn't giving that." Isaac asked Johnny to sit down and continued.
     "Johnny, I'm not ashamed of being in Pilgrim..."
     "You were Pilgrim!"
     "No... you'll see, They're still a great band. They won't miss me. But as I was saying... I travelled that road for a while and God had mercy on me. He didn't let me turn into a...rock star...in my own mind anyway. His Holy Spirit kept gnawing at my conscience. I felt like I was the Prodigal Son half of the time. I'm so happy to be back with friends like you and everyone here at church. If I don't talk too much about Pilgrim please understand that I've got a great feast in front of me here and those years playing in Pilgrim were more like a fast food hamburger."
       "I'd like to have one of those hamburgers!" Isaac sighed and said "Stay tuned Johnny, God has something better for you."

     "How's the catechism going Johnny?" The words came from behind Isaac. It was Pastor Crockett.
     "Oh, it's going OK Pastor. I'm not ready for my test yet though."
     Pastor Crockett smiled "Well you let me know" he paused and added "In a reasonable time that  
     is."
     Johnny put his hand on Isaac's shoulder and said "See you later Isaac."
     Sam Crockett sat down and put his hand on Isaac's knee, "I love you Son. I know that your having
     a rough time."
     "It's Ok Dad. I'm just having trouble keeping my thoughts under control. That was a wonderful
     sermon."
     "I saw your head drop a few times."
     "It's just that I feel that I'm an distraction to the congregation."
     "You probably are... a little...right now. That'll change soon. Most still know you as Isaac 'Bunyan'
      Crockett, lover of the Pilgrim's Progress!"
     "You know what Dad? I don't know if anyone knows that that's where the name for the group
      came from?"
     "I know Son."
     "Thanks Dad."
     "Let's talk tomorrow Ize and just enjoy the Lord's Day!"
      A smile came to Isaac's face. "Dad...those years in Pilgrim.....we never played on the Lord's Day.
     The guys didn't really have a desire to play on Sunday. They'd rather relax and watch football or
     something." Pastor Crockett sat back for a moment and asked "Did you ever think that the Lord's
     Day was legalistic?"
     "To tell you the truth Dad, If it wasn't for God giving us this day I don't think that I would be here
     today...fifty-two weeks a year in Pilgrim but fifty-two Lord's Days to meditate about being in
     Pilgrim!"
     Now Pastor Crockett's eyes were watering. "Hey Dad. Let's go home and put in an R. C. Sproul
     or White Horse Inn CD....like old times?
     "God is good Son."

CHAPTER FOUR

     Isaac walked up the slope of the well-worn path and crossed over the two-lane blacktop road waiting for a metallic blue Lexus with a pretty girl with long blond hair blowing in the wind to pass. He continued to walk slowly up a steeper grade finally reaching a copse of trees and remnants of a stone wall.....Gettysburg! He came here often, his fascination with the Civil War had grown year after year since his dad first had taken him to Gettysburg in the fifth grade. He turned and looked over the expanse of field that has captured the attention of millions of Americans since those fateful days in July of 1863. This was the high-water mark of Pickett's Charge where thousands of Confederate infantry had marched then charged up this hill on the third day of battle. The Union soldiers had the high ground here, unlike Fredericksburg where it was they who were slaughtered while charging a hill with thousands of muskets facing them and score of cannon. On both occasions the defending army rained devastation upon the foot soldier who walked into a wall of deadly fire. How could they do it? What were they made of? Isaac would never let these questions go. They may not be answered but they would continue to serve some sort of purpose. Why didn't they just hide in the hills and come out only to blow innocent people up as is done by our enemies today? How could they respect each other and kill each other at the same time? It was a warm day and the sun was beating down on Issac as storm clouds were just beginning to appear from the west. A tour guide was lecturing a group of about six people only a few yards away, a lecture that Isaac could probably give. He looked off to his left where the boulders on Little Round Top could be seen. His gaze came around to the few original farm houses still standing, then across the open field where on that day glistening steel had come forth out of the tree line. He sat on the wall under the shade of trees and his thoughts turned to William Tyndale, John Hus and others who faithfully looked to God as they were burned at the stake hundreds of years ago in faraway lands. What is this soul of man? What am I made of?

     America had truly come of age in that war. It paid a steep price for walking away from God who had so blessed it from the arrival of the first pilgrims. A national character was formed amidst the tumult that would take it through two world wars and beyond, but that character was fading. Was the American dream now only a midsummer night's dream? Isaac was not lacking in mature thought. At twenty-seven, he had studied philosophy at Rutgers. His songs with Pilgrim were laced with questions that philosophers had meditated upon for thousands of years. He knew the answers to many of those questions during his studies but academia did not want his answers. He tried to disguise the answers in his lyrics with Pilgrim, a puzzle of sorts, where one was supposed to decipher the code but he knew that he was fooling only himself. No, he went to Gettysburg to hear the answers from other men. He had fooled himself into believing that by generating thought in the youth of the day that he could do his part in changing the world, but the problem was that the youth culture, in fact most of America, had lost the ability to think. They desired to learn only from images on a screen. There were no absolutes, so anyone's ideas were legtimized simply by the fact that they existed....no proof necessary. The only hope for America was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
     It was in the midst of thoughts like these that Isaac pondered on what to do with his life. He prayed for God's will and the wisdom to discern that will. He had money in the bank and was determined that it wasn't going to sit there. He would put it to good use or foolish use but it was going to be used.
     Towards dusk he walked over to where President Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address. Lincoln had penned it on the train ride from Washington. Today it would take a trainload of speechwriters days to construct such a speech and the only ingredient the speaker would need to work on would be his presentation. Was Lincoln a Christian? One cold only speculate. Even men who believed in God relied on living as honorably as they could for their eternal salvation, trusting only in the mercy of a God who judged them only on their basic goodness. Isaac knew very well, as any good Calvinist knew, as any good Christian knew, that his good works piled upon one another was nothing but a dung heap as far as salvation was concerned. He knew his own heart and the horrors that could emanate from it at times. Terrible, disgusting thoughts that no other human being was privy to. The greatest fear that he could possibly have would be to trust his salvation to his own merit. The terms used in theological circles was Calvinist or Arminian as to how we might be saved from the sin that indwells every fiber of our being. The Calvinist proclaimed that salvation was all of grace and their doctrine evidenced such belief. The Arminian would proclaim the same but their doctrine ultimately placed salvation in their own personal accepting of Christ. If Isaac decided to invest his money in an evangelistic enterprise he would rely on the Word of God and not the coercion of man, on the power of the Holy Spirit and not the wisdom of man,

     A terrible thunderstorm pummeled his car on the ride back home. Hail, the size of olives pelted the canvas roof of his Jeep on this hot and humid July evening. The windshield wipers could barely keep up with the torrent. Cars and trucks were travelling at about fifteen miles per hour at most. Isaac pulled into a service area of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and walked into the food court to get a coffee and wait out the storm, and there she was....Anne Wisko...Wiska.....Anne!
     They looked at each other; she just returning from the counter with a tray of food and drink, he soaking wet from from a mere thirty yard jaunt in the rain and a day of sweaty walking up and down hills at Gettysburg. Neither one knew just what to say, after all, their meeting like this in a rainstorm was so seemingly miraculous that any addenda to it could only dim the moment.
     Isaac spoke first. "Hello again."
     "Hello Mr. Crockett. How wonderful to see you again." She couldn't believe she said that...how wonderful...what did he think that she meant by that? What did she mean? "I mean..how nice to see you again." Now she really messed up. She as much told him that wonderful was what she really meant.
     Isaac looked around, she didn't appear to be with anyone. "Anne...it is Anne isn't it?" Now why did he say that. He knew very well her name was Anne. It went through his mind a hundred times a day since they met that night at the Turnkey Inn. It was her last name that he was confounded with.
     "Yes, it is Anne...with an E...Anne Wiskovitz...Wis..ko..vitz."
     She was even more beautiful than he remembered. Was it that air of a rock star that could attract any young female that caused him to miss such beauty?
     "Anne, I've thought about that evening often over the past few months. I was too coy with you. I should have merely introduced myself and it would have made you much more at ease."
     "Oh no. I think that if I knew who you were I wouldn't even be able to sing."
     "Did you go home Anne?"
     "Yes I did. My short-lived music career is history."
     Isaac fumbled with his keys. "That night was a milestone for me also."
     "I know. I read all about it in Music Magazine."
     "You know...I never once read an article about myself. Our business manager filled me in weekly on reviews, sales of records and the general feeling the public had but I could never bring myself to read about....me."
     "Mr. Crockett..."
     "Isaac.....please?"
     Anne smile. "Isaac, don't you think that it was God's hand on us that night?'
     Now she had done it. Some men might be stirred by a flirtatious wink or a crossing of the legs or a throwing back of the hair, but with Isaac when a young woman said the word God in the intended manner it was like a shiny fishing lure with lots of moving wings, each one written upon with words that he had to read.
     "I believe that the providence of God is inherent in everything Anne. But yes I do think that He used His gentle humor that evening." Isaac continued "Anne, can you tell me a little bit about yourself? You have the advantage on me. And could you start with this first...are you married or engaged or something? I have to be this forward because I know myself well and if you are then my conversation will be like a sales clerk taking a credit application."
     Anne's eyes were wide open with surprise. "And if I'm not?"
     "If your not then I'll dwell on every word that comes out of your mouth." He caught himself and thought "at least I didn't say your beautiful mouth."
     "I'm single...you may dwell on my every word." Catching... herself...did I actually say that?
Isaac laughed out loud. She laughed and it seemed that every eye was on them. At least the ice was broken and they settled into the hard wooden chairs. The next two hours were spent in gentle conversation. Anne told Isaac about her upbringing in a strong Roman Catholic family, her schooling at Cathedral High School for girls and then Lafayette College in Easton. She told about her singing at youth gatherings and her ill-conceived decision to start a singing career.
     Isaac deliciously took it all in, only asking questions. The only disappointment was that God was only a heavenly father, an unknowable God who was only concerned with our moral actions. She gave this away when Isaac asked, "And what about your belief in God?"
     "Oh I believe in God. My father told me my whole life that God watches over us every day."
Anne stopped mid-sentence in describing Easton, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I just talked and talked. I'm not usually this way...I promise. It's just that your so easy to talk to."
     "Anne, I've spent six years answering thousands of questions about myself, not many of them genuine. I love hearing someone else talk."
     She looked at her watch. "Oh My! My Aunt Anna Mae will be worried sick. I was supposed to be there by now."
     "She'll know that you were delayed by the rain. Why don't you call?"
     "Her number is unlisted and I don't have it on me."
     Neither moved for fear that they wouldn't see each other again.
     "Anne. Can I visit you in Easton?"
     Anne expelled air as noiselessly as she could. ""I'd love that!"

     Isaac walked to the window and looked outside. The pavement was dry. It must have stopped raining an hour before. He walked her to his car, a 1994 Nova. Trying not to look too concerned he asked "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
     "Oh yes. I've made this trip often and my car may not look like much but my father keeps it in top shape."
     Isaac reached for her hand and kissed it. Never in his life had he kissed a girl's hand. He felt like bowing. She felt like curtsying. She drove off and Isaac prayed, "Lord, I'm strangely moved like I have never been before. Is this You?" A car drove by and hit a puddle sending water all over him from the waist down.


CHAPTER FIVE

     Saturday, September 8th, was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Our Lady Help Of Christians Roman Catholic church in Easton Pennsylvania has held services on this date for 130 years. A stone shrine was erected on the property in the early 1800s by the Sermak family who had nearly perished in the blizzard of 1803 and promised the Virgin Mary, who they had prayed to throughout the ordeal, that they would build a shrine if they survived the storm. The day is somewhat of a city event as Catholics from all over Easton walk to the shrine on the feast day for Mass and devotional services. Casimir Wiskovitz had co-ordinated the event for the past 18 years. At 59 years of age he had become the image of his father Karol Wiskovitz. Roman Catholicism was part of their DNA. They were Catholic first, Polish second, and Wiskovitz third. Theresa Wiskovitz, Anne's mother, had also been a staunch Roman Catholic before she died but not to the extent of Casimer. She didn't hold to the loyalty concept as Casimir did but rather desired to worship and let worship. Casimir was a humble man. He worked hard in a steel mill his whole life and was well respected by everyone. He considered himself somewhat of a serf in this great land, but when it came to church he was a fully armoured knight. He drove to work in a typical family car but on the way to church, which was seven times a week, it was a gallant white steed. He was a Swiss Guard of Our Lady Help of Christians. Monsignor Sermak had pastored the church for 33 years. A kind and gentle man of 63 years he stood six foot tall and packed 250 pounds into his frame without any apparent fat. The children loved him. He was a prince to Casimir. This particular feast day Casimir was on edge and Monsignor Sermak noticed. "What is wrong today Casimir?"
     "Father, it is truly a wonderful day and my heart is overjoyed, but I do have a family matter that bothers me."
     "What is it Casimir? Is Nate in trouble again?"
     "No Father. Nate has been on his best behavior all through this past summer and has started off the school year happy."
     "It is not Anne...is it? You have been so happy since she returned home."
     "Father...Anne walks around on a cloud this past month. She sings and laughs and even teases Nate."
     "This is good, is it not?
     "She has met this man...and I know that she loves him."
     "Is he a bad person Casimir?"
     "I don't know Father. I have never met him. He is a very famous Rock and Roll star and quit the same time that Anne did. He is coming to Easton today and I do not think that Anne really celebrates what day it is...and Father...he is a Protestant...and a Catholic hating Protestant!"
     "How do you know that my friend?"
     "I read an article about him in a magazine. There was all this talk about God and there is a strictness about it!"
     "Just like you Casimir!"
     "No, not like me Father, for when these Protestants are strict about what they think that they see in the Bible, they are Catholic haters."
     "Casimir, I have met Catholic haters and I have met good Protestants who love us. Why don't you wait and see what he is like?'
     "I will Father...but why did he have to come today?"

     Anne and Nate arrived at church for the 11:00 o'clock Mass. Nate was his normal jittery self and Anne was aglow. She kept looking at here watch and Casimir noticed this and squeezed harder on his rosary beads. At the end of Mass which had an overflow crowd, about seven hundred people, everyone congregated in the garden and cemetery that held the shrine. Thirty years previous there would be thousands present.
     Young Father Michael conducted the devotional service with a praying of the rosary and a liturgy developed just for this day and this church. Anne wore a long yellow dress, very modest as always. She said her rosary on the pearl beads which her mother gave to her just before she became bed ridden in her last stage of life. Nate twirled the beads on his extended pointer finger. Anne slapped him on the hand and he pretended to hold the beads and pray.
     At the end of the rosary, when lemonade was served, Anne asked Casimir if she might be excused to go home and meet her friend.
     "Anne. Why did he have to come today? It is Satan's work!"
     "Dad, he doesn't even know what day today is. He's on his way to New York City and asked if he could stop in? How could I say no?"
     "Very easily...you say 'read my lips, N O no!"
     Anne smiled. She knew her dad and he would say things like this but not really mean them.
     "Go home and meet your friend Anne. I will be home in an hour."
     "Can I go too Dad" chimed in Nate.
     "NO!" shouted Casimir, looking around to see if anyone saw his display of anger.

     The temperature was a pleasant 86 degrees. Anne had iced tea and cookies prepared on the porch. She tried to be as inconspicuous as possible and sat reading Little Women. She read eight pages and there was not one word or concept that entered her mind. Her eyes were merely going from word to word while her hand was constantly straightening her dress or her hair.
     A jeep was driving very slowly up the road. Anne knew it must be Isaac looking for house numbers. She had described the house, a red brick two story with a porch, but all the houses looked similar on Lovelost Lane. The Jeep pulled up to the curb and Anne did not look up. Was she being too school girlish? Yes, she knew that she was but how to get away from it?
     Isaac shut the Jeep door and the noise was her escape.
     "Hello Isaac. Did you have any trouble finding our house?"
     "Hello Anne" said Isaac with a gentle grin "No, but there were a lot of people crossing the streets a little ways back. I thought that there must be a fair or something."
     "That's our church. It's the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and people from all over the city come to worship at the shrine."
     Isaac winced but went on. "You look very pretty."
     "And you look very handsome." Isaac was wearing a tan sport coat, white shirt and dark blue tie with little flowery designs all over it. "We don't look like two rock musicians, do we?"
     "No, we look like two Sunday School teachers. And I like it this way."
Isaac stood five feet, ten inches with light brown hair that was short but with an intentional casualness to it. He looked like a model that one might see on the wall of a beauty salon. His hair was longer on the Music Magazine cover where he wore brown leather pants with a beige short sleeve shirt and Western tie.
     They talked and sipped iced tea until Casimir and Nate arrived. Nate spoke first.
     "Yo, Pilgrim Crockett on my front porch! I have all your albums!"
     "You do" Anne said in surprise..."I didn't know that."
     "That's because you sing that elevator music."
     Isaac reached out his hand to Casimir. "Hello Sir." Casimir constructed an obvious forced smile, shook Isaac's hand and replied "Hello."
     "Dad, this is Isaac Crockett. Isaac, this is my dad Casimir Wiskovitz and my brother Nate."
     "Hi Nate."
     "Why did you leave Pilgrim? I heard it was because you got religious."
     "Nate, will you shut up." Anne frown disappeared and she smiled at Isaac.
     "I was just askin."
     "Being religious is a good thing. It just depends on what religion that you have. Isn't that right Mr. Crockett?"
     "Well, I would agree Sir but I might also express it in what Christ that you have."
     "What does that mean?" Casimir said with more than a tinge of sarcasm.
     "Dad, can we talk about other things today?"
     "I can't think about anything more appropriate to talk about on the Feat of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception!" shot back Casimir. Isaac was concerned, Anne somewhat frantic and Nate was smiling ear to ear.
     "Wow! Pilgrim Crockett and my dad in a religious argument!"

     As Isaac got back into his Jeep the clouds were moving in and you could feel imminent rain in the air.
     "It's been real nice Anne. I really like your dad. His comments didn't bother me at all."
     "I'm so embarrassed. I didn't think that he would be so forward."

     When Isaac and Anne did have time alone they talked about life in general and their paths. Isaac opened up to Anne his quest of what to do with his life now. She had asked him if he wanted to be a minister and said it softly to make sure that Casimir didn't hear. Isaac responded that he felt certain that he wasn't being called into the ministry but that he did feel that he needed to be involved in evangelism...somewhere. It dominated his life. Even as a member of Pilgrim, in a confused and mistaken way, he wanted to reach people with the Gospel.
     Casimir came out to the car. A Swiss Guard watching over the princess as the infidel mounted his horse to gallop away, hopefully for good. "Good-bye Mr. Crockett."
     Isaac smiled broadly and reached out his hand. "Good-bye Sir." Casimir shook it showing even more than his steel mill strength in his grip.
     As Isaac closed the door of his Jeep Casimir had to chime in one more time.
     "If we ever meet again Mr. Crockett, I'll have to explain to you what the Catholic faith really is.     There are a lot of misconceptions you know?" Isaac wasn't thinking fast. His reply was natural but he would have withheld if he had time to think.
     "That would be fine sir, but I already have a good understanding for I was raised Catholic up to the age of twelve." He immediately knew it was a mistake.
     "Apostate!" thought Casimir. "He is not a separated brethren as the Catechism mentions but an apostate!"
     Casimir turned and walked inside the house without saying anything more. Isaac hung his head.
Anne smiled and said "Remember, call me this weekend." Isaac looked at her for about ten seconds, smiled and started the Jeep. Nate yelled from the second floor window "Hey Pilgrim! Bring me somethin from Pilgrim next time you come!"
     Isaac smiled and was gone.

(The events of Easton, Pennsylvania are fictional)

CHAPTER SIX

     Andy Graham had graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University and went on to pick up his MBA. Isaac had searched for a Business Manager when Pilgrim was beginning to take off and Andy was chosen and went on to become one of Isaac's best friends. Isaac was now on his way to New York City to meet with him and lawyers to finalize his association with Pilgrim. He was to meet Andy the Embassy Restaurant at 6:00 o'clock for dinner and a little reminiscing and then head over to the offices on West 49th Street to meet with the lawyers whom Isaac was friends with, for a casual yet important signing of papers. Isaac rarely made it to the Big Apple but when there he tried to stop by Times Square Church for either a mid-week or Lord's Day service. This was David Wilkerson's church. Wilkerson was a young Pennsylvania pastor who in 1958 was drawn to New York City and a street ministry to youth entangled in gangs. Out of that came the book and motion picture starring Pat Boone, The Cross And The Switchblade and also the ministry Teen Challenge. David Wilkerson was Pentecostal in his theology which Isaac had studied, experienced and rejected but Puritan in his preaching which is what drew Isaac to the former Broadway Theater that was now a church in the heart of the world's most celebrated city.
     Isaac's dinner with Andy went well as they shared and laughed and shed a tear or two. The meeting with Pilgrim's lawyers went well also as Isaac knew them well, trusted them, and they all came to an agreement on the financial matters of which there were many that arose in such a situation.
     As Isaac and Andy walked to the parking garage slowly, knowing that this was going to be it for a while, Andy asked, "What are you going to do now Isaac?"
     Isaac was surprised that it took so long for Andy to ask. He stopped and looked at Andy, very comfortable in that he knew that Andy was a good listener and friend.
     "Hopefully it's going to be something with books, Andy."
     "Writing a book?"
     "No. Selling them."
     "What, a bookstore?"
     Isaac paused and they continued to take steps towards the vehicles.
     "More like an an outpost Andy."
     "An...outpost?"
     "I don't know how to describe it. It's an idea that I have massaged for a while now. It has to be more than a store. It has to be like the last place you go to get supplies before heading out into the frontier...or the jungle...or whatever. I want to put it right in Ocean City where vacationers come from all over, and I want them to take something home with them, something that can't readily be found at home."
     "And what's that Isaac?"
     "Christian books, literature and anything else that still retains the Gospel...sound theology..."
     "You mean like the books that you always read?"
     "Yeah."
     "Whose going to buy them Isaac. Hell...I mean heck, They were always lying around and I never even felt like picking one up." These two men could talk like this to one another for they fully trusted each other and knew that they could also be honest with each other.
     "Andy, you're right. You never did pick any up but then you never picked up any book."
     Andy laughed. "Touche'. I'm not much of a reader outside of a spreadsheet or a financial newsletter"
     "Rebecca picked one up."
     "Oh yes...Rebecca! She's doing well. Are you going to get back in touch with her?"
     "No. I'm in a relationship... I think. I never experienced anything like this before, Andy. Her name is Anne. So right now I have these two things taking my attention and I don't even know if they're related."
     They came to Isaac's Jeep. Isaac put out his hand and Andy playfully slapped it away and embraced him in a bear hug.
     "You know where I'm at!"
     Isaac took that comment far deeper than Andy meant it.
     "Yeah....yeah. Make sure you come to my bookstore, if I even get it off of the ground. And buy something...I'll need the business."
In six years he was never able to reach Andy with the Gospel, never really even able to get him to think about it. The closest he came was when Andy once said "Hey Isaac. When I get my first million, I'll come to church with you...at least once." Isaac remembered that and shook his head. Andy had that first million thanks to six years with Pilgrim and wise investing, and Isaac never remembered to take him up on that.
     "Andy, before I go...do you remember that comment you once made to me about 'when you make your first million'?"
     Andy thought for a few seconds. "Oh yeah...something about going to church with you. I'm good for that. There'd be no 'million' if it weren't for you."
     "How long can you go before facing up to God Andy?"
     Andy thought about that question and answered honestly.
     "I was kind of hoping for another fifteen years maybe?"
     "Why fifteen years?"
     "You know you're the only one I could talk to like this...right?"
     "Right."
     "Isaac, you're religious and you made it in this business because of an extraordinary, almost unbelievable talent. A lot of execs didn't really want a band with one open Christian in it but money talked. It wouldn't be like that with me, particularly now that you're gone. In fifteen years maybe I be settled done with a family and kids, big house and a lot of money...maybe then I'll quit and see if God still wants me?"
     "Andy, do you remember when Rory got hooked on gambling. Everyone in the office wanted him out of the band. He wouldn't listen to anyone....except you. You put it out there plain for him. You told him that gambling was for idiots. Do you remember that?"
     "Yeah. I remember."
     "That's what you're doing here. It's a gamble. You wager your eternal soul for fifteen years and even then you say that you'll just give it a try.....I guess that a million isn't enough, huh?"
     There was silence in the parking garage, no cars, no footsteps..."What if you're wrong Isaac. What if I gamble on you and you're wrong?"
     "I guess that you don't trust me......and I can't really blame you.....matter of fact wouldn't want anyone to trust me on this. It's God that you will eventually have to trust and if you never even try to see who He is then a decision has already been made. No need to wait fifteen years."
     Andy shook his head. "Only you Isaac?"
     Isaac wasn't sure what he meant by that but they embraced again and Andy continued walking to his car, only to turn and shout, "I keep my promises...see in church some day!"

     Andy was gone. Isaac stood beside his jeep for a few minutes and prayed and then it was time to think about Anne again. He knew that she wasn't converted to Christ at that time. There is an immediate change that must take place in a soul that is regenerated...or born again. It has to show up in either zealousness...or blissful peace, not blissful ignorance...but blissful peace. He knew that Anne had blissful ignorance. He knew also, and very well, that zealousness in itself guaranteed nothing of salvation. The world was full of zealots who were enemies of Christ and the Church even had many of them within it. He thought of Anne and Casimir and even Nate for most of the ride back to Ocean City but when the smell of the ocean surf wafted through the open Jeep he turned his attention to his father. What would he think of Isaac's idea. Was it even an idea...or just a vague dream. He wanted Sam Crockett's opinion.
     Isaac turned off Ninth Street onto Asbury Avenue, named after the great itinerant preacher of the 18th century Francis Asbury. There were not as many beach goers in September event though it may be the best time of year sitting in the sand under an umbrella as the roar of waves and endless horizon proclaimed God's power. Isaac was still staying at home, at the manse, and his mother Colleen came out and gave him a big hug. She knew instinctively, as only a mother can, of his budding romance and where he had stopped before going to New York. She also knew by looking in his eyes that all was not well.

CHAPTER SEVEN

     The manse for Christ Presbyterian Church was a two story Victorian in three colors, powder blue, burnt orange and antique yellow. It was a corner lot three blocks up from the old Ocean City fishing pier. The front porch started at the rear of the house on 15th Street and stretched all the way around to the front of the house on Asbury Street and then continued four feet on the south side looking at its closest neighbor, another three story Victorian owned by Raymond Taylor, Southern New Jersey's most well known lawyer. The Taylor house could grace the cover of Victorian Homes with no fewer than twelve different shades of green, blue and brown. The Crockett's kept the manse in good repair which added to the beauty of this portion of the alcohol-free seaboard town. Pastor Crockett was at the church two blocks away while Colleen was at the elementary school where she worked in the cafeteria. Isaac's foot took a misstep as he walked down the creaking steps to the basement. He pulled the chain on the naked light bulb and saw the job before him. Six large moving boxes full of books, that Isaac had collected since his high school days, graced the south wall between the water heater and basin. A couple of times a year Issac sent books home that he had read and Colleen faithfully added them to the collection.
     So what were these books? Calvin's commentaries took up a box by themselves. There were probably thirty reprints of great Puritan literature, all of Charles Haddon Spurgeon's sermons and every issue from his Metropolitan Tabernacle, all of Jonathan Edwards works, Martin Luther's books and Tabletalk and probably one offering from every Reformer, would-be-reformer and wannabe-reformer over the past five hundred years who had pages pasted on a spine to be sold for a quid or a bob or whatever the currency. And this was probably the smallest category of Isaac's books for once we enter the 20th century the doctrinal debates began in earnest and Isaac was fluent in all the major arguments yet this even paled to his interest in history both of the Christian church and of the world. Books were his video game, his workout, his easel and as good as he was in music ultimately it was only therapy for the time consumed as a bibliophile. What Isaac needed at that moment was just to look through the books, remember their content and figure out how to get today's Christian to pick them up.
     It was hot and muggy in the basement and Isaac's t-shirt was soaked with sweat. He heard his father's footsteps, easily distinguishable to his mothers.
     "I'm down here Dad."
     "Thought so. I wondered how long it would take you to start working on these books."
What do yo mean 'working' Dad?"
     "Bringing them upstairs, or categorizing them. I knew they weren't going stay in boxes."
Isaac reached in the box in front of him, sorted for a minute and his hand came out with an illustrated Pilgrim's Progress. "Dad, remember this. It was a birthday present on my twelve birthday. I think that Stephen King was big then but I was reading Bunyan...and C.S. Lewis....and maybe the Lord of the Rings."
     "It wasn't an easy time for me Son, what with leaving Catholicism and taking you to something entirely new. It was like excitement mixed with great concern." He leaned over and sorted through a few books himself and looked up at Isaac, "It was well worth it though. What'dya say we go up and cool off with a lemonade?"
     "Mom's lemonade! she should bottle and sell it."

     The kitchen in the manse was big but old. The counter top took a few dips and a couple of the doors where not exactly level but a true chef operated out of it. Sam Crockett turned on the ceiling fan and they relaxed at the table with the sound of gulls overhead.
     "Dad. I need to put something before you and would like your honest opinion of it....wait a minute. That's silly. I don't think you ever gave me anything but your honest opinion."
     "Like when I told you that you had more basketball talent than football and you wanted to hear the opposite?"
     Isaac laughed. "Or when you said 'Son, I want you to know that you will probably quit the music business after a year and wind up broke'."
     "Well, I was only five years off...and a few dollars." They both lifted their glasses at the same time and jiggled the ice before taking a drink. More laughter and Isaac said "I picked that up from you when I was about five years old."
     "OK, serious now. What's on your mind?"
     Isaac wasn't going to hem and haw and wasn't going to set the stage or work his way in the back door. He was just going to lay it out.
     "Dad, I want....Lord willing of course....I want to open up a bookstore right here in Ocean City, right on the boardwalk. I want to find a way to get vacationers to buy books that will start a fire and take that fire....wherever." He stopped only to look at this father who hadn't even blinked. "I want to throw everything I have, everything I am, into a Reformation of the church. I want to join you and others." He stopped again and still no change...unless that was a frown. "Picture this dad; hundreds of people walking slow looking into every store....'What's this? A bookstore,' they walk in and say 'Oh, a Christian bookstore? And...'
     Sam Crockett jumped in here with "And then they turn around and walk out."
     Well there it was, thought Isaac. He wanted an honest opinion. The two just looked at each other for a minute or two and his father continued.
     "Ize, I have tried since I found the Reformed Faith to get people to read this gold. I've given books away...you've given books away. There just not ready."
     Isaac smiled, an honest smile, "There's the key Dad! I remember when you sat me down one day. I think it was on the boardwalk, and you told me how someone once came up to Martin Luther and asked something like 'Father Luther. If you knew for certain that Jesus was coming back tomorrow...what would yo do?' Luther answered 'I'd plant a tree today.' I have to plant this tree Dad and hope, no... expect, that it will be God's time."
     Sam Crockett knew that he had been one-upped by his son. He stood up and looked out over the bay. "Thank God for youth Isaac for when we old-timers..."
     Isaac interrupted, "Dad? Fifty-eight years old...old timer?"
     "Well when we older men get discouraged...God is there with a new generation."
     Isaac wasn't going to let a comment like go unchallenged.
     "Dad, if I sold a million books...solid books... I wouldn't be half the faithful servant that you are and will always be. If I thought that God was calling me to the ministry I wouldn't give two minutes to these books. It's out of the pulpit that a reformation will come...should God will it. I just want to lead people to you and other pastors."
     A single engine plane flew by with its tail of advertisement being dragged behind. It was on the way back to the airfield so the message was backwards. The sound of the engine gave these two men time to think.
     "Son.....It sure beats Pilgrim!"
     With that Colleen came in to the laughter.
     "And what are my men wasting their time with?"
     Isaac got up and went back downstairs. "I'll let Dad fill you in Mom. Besides, I know what your opinion would be."
     As the basement door closed behind Isaac Colleen asked
     "What this all about?"
     "Isaac wants to open up a Christian bookstore on the boardwalk."
     "Wonderful! I can do his bookwork."

CHAPTER EIGHT

     The phone rang at the Wiskovitz house at 7:45 in the evening. Jeopardy was over by then. The only instructions that Anne gave to Isaac was not to call from 7:00 to 7:30, Monday through Friday evenings for that was when Casimir settled into his armchair, put his feet up on the ottoman and turned the television on to Jeopardy. Casimir was in his element here with Charles Dickens or Jonas Salk or World War II or just about any category on the board. He was in a very good mood this particular evening, for a concierge had won again, beating a financial analyst and a college professor! It was icing on the cake that no one had correctly answered Final Jeopardy, no one except Casimir. The question was "What publication has displayed the same 'four seasons' for over the last 130 years?" Casimir shouted to the young concierge...THE FARMER'S ALMANAC...but he won the game even without the correct answer.
     "Hellll...O!"
     "Hello Mr. Wiskovitz. This is Isaac Crockett. May I speak to Anne please?"
     Casimir gave no response and walked into the kitchen and said to Anne, "The apostates on the phone." and continued walking.
     Anne had heard the word 'apostate' about a dozen times since Isaac's visit. Casimir's mood nosedived while Anne's shot up.
     "Hi Isaac! I was just doing the dishes."
     "How did Jeopardy go?"
     "Very, very well. A blue collar type won and dad loves it when they beat the hoity-toity types...his description."
     If there was tension with Anne it didn't show and they talked for about 30 minutes, both just chatting. Anne mentioned that she might want to return to college for an MBA. Isaac had never before mentioned a Christian Bookstore to Anne and was excited to tell her of his decision. She was excited at Isaac's passion but instead of pursuing the topic thought it a good time to bring up Christianity as it pertained to Isaac and her father.
     "Isaac...concerning my dad and Catholicism..." She had tried to prepare for this conversation. "Do you think that it might be wise to say something like this if the topic ever comes up again...'Mr. Wiskovits, we both love God and are Christians, what do you say that we put our differences behind us and not speak of them?" It seemed a reasonable request but it wasn't as simple to Isaac.
     "Anne...I'd love to say something like that..." He paused trying to formulate words. Anne caught on and said.
     "But...?"
     "But I can't say the first part...and for the second part, you know the topic can't be avoided."
     "Isaac...why can't you say the...first part?"
     "Anne...I can't say that we are both Christians...I"
     Anne didn't let him continue. "Isaac, are you saying that my father is not a Christian? For if you are..."
     Now it was Isaac's turn to interrupt.
     "Anne. Let's slow down..."
     "I'd like to know Isaac. Do you think that my father is a Christian or not?"
     "Anne...how can I know that? How can I know that about anyone that I only just met?"
     "My father has been a Christian all of his life. He's devoted to God. What more could you possibly need to know?"
     "Anne, I never said that your father was not a Christian. I would make the same comment if your father was a Presbyterian minister?
     "What if he was a...a...reformatory Presbyterian or whatever it is?"
     "Maybe we can think about this for a while and talk again later. Maybe I can come up to talk?"
     "You didn't answer my question Isaac. What if he was a reformatory Christian?"
Isaac was sweating and almost panicking, should he answer honestly or try again to get out of the question...
     "Anne, It helps when you know the professed doctrine of the person."
     "Well I'm the same religion that my father is, so I guess that you just don't know about me either?"
     Isaac was almost begging Anne to have patience.
     "Anne. Talking about this on the phone is not the best..."
     "Isaac, if we are not good enough for you then maybe we shouldn't see each other any more!"
     "No...I won't accept that Anne."
     Casimir was coming back into the kitchen and Anne panicked.
     "Good-bye Isaac. Please do not call anymore."
     She hung up the phone and ran upstairs where she cried on her bed until she fell asleep.
     Casimir wondered...and then a faint smile came over his face.

     Isaac's bedroom in the manse was not changed much since before he left home to form Pilgrim. A picture of Johann Sebastian Bach adorned one wall. A collage of small pictures of Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards and J. Gresham Machen formed a neat pattern on another wall and a poster hung over his bed about the comic character Calvin from Calvin And Hobbes, only the pictures were of John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes. A desktop computer was on the desk and next to it was a Pioneer stereo receiver and reel-to-reel tape deck that his father had sent home while in Vietnam before Isaac was born. Books were scattered everywhere. His window was open and he could faintly hear the surf. As Anne cried her eyes out, Isaac just laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling going over and over what he should have said, but there was no regret that he at least stayed true to his convictions. He talked to God and asked for wisdom knowing full well that all things come together for good to those who love him. After about an hour of confessing his many sins, failures and lack of faith he went to bed, praising God and praying himself to sleep.

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT BLOG PAGE

Novel, Chapters 9-22

CHAPTER NINE

     Friday marked the one month anniversary that Anne had worked at the Easton Public Library. Her resume was Easton Cathedral High School and a baccalaureate degree, with honors, from Lafayette College in Business. A last minute decision to bring all of her bookkeeping to the interview from her short-lived music career may have won her the job for it was detailed and precise. The position she was applying for was the library bookkeeper. Initially she was to be on a three month probation period but that afternoon the Library Director Kay Winters surprised her by dropping the probation because of all the self-motivation and precision that she had shown.
     Kay Winters had also won Anne's admiration in that short period for she was professional to a tee, honest and forthright with her employees and caring with the patrons. Anne learned that Kay had influenced many of her younger employees over the years to go off and get a Masters Degree in Library Science to become librarians themselves. Kay Winters was a Christian. At 38 years old she had never married but word around the employee lounge was that marriage may not be far off for Ed DeBakey, the pastor of Grace Baptist Church, was a steady suitor and Kay fluttered around him when he came into the library.
     As good as Kay was in her profession, Anne thought that she would have also been a fine counselor for a few of the employees and even some patrons came to her with their troubles. Kay had noticed that something was troubling Anne even though it didn't affect her work. Ten minutes of gentle questions brought out the sad details of a blooming love wilting in the arid desert of religious doctrine. Kay didn't know Isaac Crockett from Davey Crockett and she had a little difficulty envisioning a rock star with Reformed Theology but she was very familiar with the potential problems in unequally yoked relationships, for she herself was once in love with a non-believer and eventually had to end that relationship. Kay could have offered advice to either one of these two, Anne or Isaac, but it was Anne who worked for her.

     "Anne. Say no to this and I won't mention it again but I would like to sit down with you after work sometime and maybe...at least try...to explain things to you as seen through this young man Isaac's eyes."
     There was no defensiveness in Anne at all. She struggled to understand Isaac but didn't have a clue. She told Anne that she would love to sit down and talk and they penciled in the following Saturday at a quaint little cafe a block from the library.
     Saturday arrived and Anne was sitting at a little ice cream table when Anne came in. She noticed that Kay did not even have a Bible with her.
     After about ten minutes of pleasantries and a little laughter about an eccentric library patron they got down to the business at hand.
     "Anne. Do you see those empty chairs over at the counter?"
     "Yes" Anne dutifully answered.
     "Suppose that two men came in separately and sat down in those chairs, and that one of those men was the President of the United States. I know that takes a lot of imagining. Let's say that the other man was a shoe salesman from the shop next store. Now Anne, suppose that I asked you if you would go over and ask the shoe salesman for the time...would that be hard?"
     Anne looked over at the chairs and simply did as Kay asked, she imagined the President and next to him the show salesman.
     "No, I don't think that it would be hard...provided that the President didn't see me."
     "That helps with my next question. Suppose that I asked you to go up to the President and ask him for the time?"
     Immediately Anne responded, "Oh, I could never do that!"
     "Why?"
     "My knees would be weak. I don't think that I could get the words out of my mouth if I could even manage to walk over."
     "Anne, he's just a man. Why would you be so intimidated?"
     "Kay, he's the most powerful man in the world. I...I might bother him in some way."
     "You would be so nervous that you might spill water over him or something...right?"
     "Knowing me... I would do just that."
     Kay took a sip from her cappuccino then continued.
      "Anne, please think about this question for a moment. Why are we so careful not to offend another person of...importance...but so unconcerned about offending a just and holy God who created and sustains the entire universe? And Anne...who became one of us....to save us!
     "I try not to offend God, honestly I try."
     "Anne...if we don't read his Word to us, we offend Him...and will never know Him...and He will never know us. We would only have a vague idea of who God is and construct a god we don't know in a way that we think the true God should be. We won't know the grievousness of our sin...or of such a glorious salvation, we won't know the way to salvation and we would not be warned of what does not bring salvation. Anne, we sin against a Holy God every day..a loving God...but a righteous God also. We could never...ever...make propitiation to Him...He made it for us by sending His Son. He could have just brought judgment to us but Jesus suffered and was ridiculed...and"
     Anne interrupted with just a tinge of nervousness.
     "Kay. I haven't been honest with you. I try not to offend God but I know that I do."
     "We all do Anne. We offend the one who offered us redemption, a redemption payed for with the blood of His Son. From what you have told me, Isaac knows how great a grace has been extended to us. He knows that people do not realize this. He knows that man naturally gravitates to a salvation based on his own works. He probably knows much more than I... how men can fool themselves, and apparently that is something that he won't let them do without a challenge."
     Anne expelled a deep breath and looked to the ceiling and then back to Kay.
     "Kay.....the challenge....if that's what it was....and it probably was....was to me. I could see it in Isaac's eyes at the time. I felt that he was talking to me and not my father. He was questioning my Christianity, and I was....offended"
     "You may be right Anne. If he believes as I do then he has to reach you...you first anyway."
     "Kay, I can't hurt my father any more than I already have.. I don't know what to do."
     "You have to read Anne. You have to read. Don't look for answers out of this predicament right now because you will never find them. Don't think about your father...and don't think about Isaac. Trust God with that situation. Concentrate on Him and what He shows you."
     Anne looked down at he table and smiled.at her initial observation.
     "You didn't even bring a Bible. I thought that you were going to be quoting Bible verses to me"
     "Actually I did, it's in the car. I wanted to see how our conversation went. It's a Study Bible. It has notes at the bottom of the page for many of the verses throughout the Bible. A pastor named John MacArthur wrote the notes, but there are many others out there. I'd like to give it to you if it's OK?"
     "What would Isaac think about Baptists?"
     "He probably only thinks in terms of brothers and sisters in Christ."
     "And what about Catholics?"
     "There are also many Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ Anne..." Kay thought for a moment about her next comment and then decided to add it.
     "It's just that there are more obstructions....many more obstructions"
     Anne was going to ask what obstructions but had felt a kind and gentle peace from their conversation and wasn't going to take the chance of erasing it.
     "I won't be able to read it around my father."
     "You have your own Bible don't you Anne?"
     "Yes...a Catholic Bible."
     "If it's a Bible, it's the Word of God.
     Anne and Kay hugged and departed. Anne went home and looked through her closet for the Bible that she had been given upon her high school graduation. She paged through a couple of times and stopped at the Gospel of John...'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Her father wasn't home and she pulled the Study Bible that Kay gave her out from under sweaters in a drawer and looked up John 1:1, then went to the bottom of the page to read the commentary on it.

CHAPTER TEN

     Nine forty-five on Sunday morning the buzzer sounded in Christ Presbyterian Church, Ocean City, New Jersey. This signified that all members should be in their respective classrooms for the beginning of Sunday School. This was Isaac's first week of teaching a class designed by him and designated for him by the session which consisted of ruling elders Dr. Allan Beachler who was a dentist in town and the father of Johnny, Thomas Vershinski who worked in the Operations Department of Atlantic Electric's Hannibal Power, Edward Coon who owned Coon Insurance and Dennis Walker who was a draftsman for the Spurry Corporation. Pastor Sam Crockett served as the teaching elder.
     Isaac titled his course simply Church Doctrine. Thirteen young people, six boys and seven young ladies, aged 15 to 18 signed up and it didn't hurt that Isaac Crockett was the teacher. He spent three weeks immersed in preparation for the class which helped take his mind off of his problems with Anne. He had called three times since Anne hung up on him and left two messages with Nate and one with Casimir. Nate grilled him with questions about Pilgrim and Casimir merely said "I'll give her the message." He was not particularly sarcastic because he knew that Anne had broken up with Isaac. His only concern was that she was reading her Bible on the porch every evening. Normally this would have made him happy, but not now. He bought a paperback edition of the Catholic Catechism and gave it to her adding "This will help."

     Isaac said hello to each individual student and then started the class with a prayer. After bowing his head in silence for about ten seconds he prayed, "Lord I beseech your help and guidance in teaching this class of young minds. Give me patience I pray, and supply these young people with a desire to learn and serve...all to Thy glory and the benefit of thy church."
     The entire session was sitting in the back of the class, a practice that they had always done on the first day of a brand new class. Isaac looked into the faces of each one of his students. He knew them all and probably half of them very well. He had no intention of furthering the facade of discipleship that had come to be known in much of American Christianity as...Sunday School. Isaac was either a nerd in his early teens or a prodigy of sorts. He tried to analyse everything in his young life. He couldn't just play basketball, he had to analyse the trajectory of the jump shot. He wasn't just going to heave the ball for if there were a law of physics concerning it he wanted to know what it was. It was the same with writing songs in Pilgrim; were the lyrics to make sense or didn't that matter. Isaac remembered all too well his own Sunday School classes at the first Presbyterian church his father had taken them to.
     Something wasn't right to even a young Isaac. On the one hand there was this great and powerful God who created the universe, ruled in the affairs of men, stopped the sun in its tracks and the waters in their course...who took on human flesh and who healed the lame and made the blind to see....and who fashioned a salvation for sinners based not on what they did but on their faith that was given to them in the first place...and on the other hand there were bland Sunday School classes that seemed intent on keeping entire congregations on milk forever.

     Isaac looked around the classroom, specifically at the desks his students were sitting in, as if he were looking for something in particular. He wasn't, but he found something that he could use. Mary Lauffer had brought in a small thermos the sides of which were a paper coated design, actually a plaid design. Isaac knew that it was a glass thermos for he had seen them for sale at the hardware store. He walked over to Mary and said hello and asked her what was in the thermos to which Mary responded "Herbal tea Mr. Crockett."
     "Can I pick it up?"
     Mary smiled and even giggled..."Sure," at which Isaac lifted it off of the table and it slipped out of his hands, hit the floor and you could hear the glass shatter inside. Or did it...slip?
Isaac put his hand on Mary's shoulder and asked.
     "Mary...I broke your thermos and you won't be able to enjoy your hot herbal tea during class."
     "That's all right Mr. Crockett."
     "Mary. I did it on purpose. Will you forgive me for now while I explain why I did it?"
     One really could hear a pin drop in the class and the elders, including Sam Crockett, were the most perplexed of all.
     Mary was obviously confused but said, "Sure."
     Isaac picked up the thermos and shook it making it sound like a maraca and looked over the class.
     "I broke Mary's thermos and will have to buy her a new one. I destroyed her property and will have to make propitiation.....how many know what propitiation means?"
     No one raised their hand.
     "Anyone like to make a guess?"
     Mary slowly raised her hand, just a little bit.
     "Yes Mary?"
     " I guess that it means that you will have to pay for a new one?"
     "Absolutely correct! Mary was...wronged....and I....the perpetrator of the wrong....must make amends. I must make propitiation for the thermos that I broke."
     Isaac paced back and forth once and looked at Carly Shaffer who was the oldest in the class at eighteen and a half. She had seemed to be the most interested in doctrine and was the first one to sign up for the class.
     "Carly?"
     "Yes Mr. Crockett?"
     "Where am I going with this?"
     Carly was on the spot. She took her time to answer as if she was answering the Final Jeopardy question, finally looking up at Isaac and saying...
     "We have sinned against God and have to make...propitiation for those sins?"
      Isaac was at his desk and slammed the palm of his hand on it.
     "Hot...Dog! That's exactly right Mary. Only we cannot make propitiation. I can buy a new thermos for Mary...and I will...but I can't make propitiation to God. Nothing that I could do could pay for what I have done...sin against our Holy God. Another question...who made that propitiation to God for our sins?"
     Fourteen year old Johnny Beachler jumped up..."Jesus did!"
     "Hot....Dog!"

     The class went on with this intensity for another thirty-five minutes and the buzzer sounded again signalling the end of class time. Isaac looked at the back of the room. All the elders except Ed Coon were still there for Mr. Coon had left shortly after Isaac dropped Mary's thermos. The elders were staid in their reaction...the teens were uber-excited as they filed out.

     Isaac was asked to attend the session meeting two nights later. He had a feeling about what they wanted to talk about. He didn't ask his father for in this situation he was a grown man and not the pastor's son.
     He waited in the sanctuary until his dad came out and asked him to join the session. Ed Coon started off with the questions.
     "Thank-you for coming Isaac. I requested that you be here to discuss your Sunday School class of which you know we all sat in on. The session met informally last night to hear my concerns and I want to be straightforward with you. We are very thankful that you bring your energies to the church. The possibilities are unlimited but I was distressed...to put it mildly...by your method and even the content of the class."
     Ed Coon continued his thoughts.
     "Isaac, We all know your zeal but I think that you have to go slowly...very slowly. Otherwise you might end up discouraging the youth."
     Dennis Walker joined in.
     "Isaac, what are your thoughts on this?"
     Isaac looked over to his dad who was smiling. Talking on the phone or in any impromptu conversations and Isaac was at a disadvantage, but here, with time to compose his thoughts, he was confident.
     "Mr. Coon. Thanks for acting so swiftly on your concerns but there really is little time to lose."  Looking individually to everyone present, including his father, he continued.
     "These young people are able to learn. Not only are they able but they must exercise their minds and if we don't help them now they will become conditioned to expect only the lightest of Christian doctrine...forever. Later on, deeper teaching will become an anathema to them for they would be forced to admit that they wasted years upon years..
     Ed Coon stood as he responded, and the politeness was gone.
     "Isaac, your ...zeal... has gotten you into trouble more than once. You won't accept instruction...or authority. You will harm these young teens greatly if we let you continue with this. You are divisive and must learn to love more..."
     Sam Crockett had not said a word during this and nor was he going to. He trusted his session and he trusted his son, but Dennis Walker did jump in again.
     "Isaac, Ed took great pains in a special session meeting last night to explain to us his concerns. You should know that he hasn't convinced us. We are taking both sides in right now.

     There were two more impromptu session meetings before the next Lord's Day. Indeed the session was willing to take a wait and see attitude on Isaac's class but Ed Coon was not. He was convinced that doctrine was essentially divisive in any church. Ed Coon Jr. had been an elder for five years and was chosen, too quickly, to replace his father Ed Coon Sr., who had died suddenly of a heart attack. Sam Crockett was concerned from day one, for Ed was very evangelistic but there were serious doubts about whether he was really Reformed in his faith or if he just played the part. Everyone found out soon enough for when the session could not be persuaded to cancel Isaac's class, Ed Coon resigned his position and within a month had transferred his membership to a large Charismatic Church that also avoided doctrine like the plague.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

     Isaac sat in the wicker chair on the patio at Albright's Restaurant on the Boardwalk looking out to sea. Albright's specialized in crab cakes and had been a haunt of Isaac's since his high school days. The end of the Boardwalk had just narrowed to ten feet which made is tighter for bicyclers and walkers to do their thing. A few days of rain had cooled off the effects of an Indian Summer. Large billowing clouds were moving fast out to sea. Isaac was sipping on an iced tea and listening to music supplied by the restaurant. WKZZ was the music listening staple here, which meant that Pilgrim songs would be heard occasionally. This didn't bother Isaac as it was near impossible to listen to the radio and not hear his own voice. A Moody Blues song had just ended and the WKZZ weather forecast was warning of some thunder storms and high winds heading in from Pennsylvania. Isaac was thinking of Anne. He had called again the night before and it was one month since their last talk. Again Nate said that he would give her a message but this time he gave Isaac a heads-up, "You'd better move Isaac, she's been meeting somebody a lot lately." Isaac knew that he had no claim upon Anne but it felt like a relationship of years was ending.
     Suzie Palmer, the disc jockey of WKZZ, whom Isaac knew well as he had done a number of benefits for the station for local charities, was giving an intro to a new recording, "haunting and sensual" were some of the adjectives that she used. The tune started and Isaac knew immediately whose song it was. The guitar was easily recognizable as that of Jo Jo Cleary of Candid. Isaac sat up straight and waited for the voice. 'Running from fear' were the words repeated by Rebecca Chaffrone. Isaac had mentioned Rebecca in his conversation with Andy as the one who did 'pick up' one of his books. Candid and Pilgrim played on the same label and Rebecca and Isaac had been involved in a torrid romance two summers previous. Now this was 'torrid' a la of Pat Boone circa 1960 rather than today. This sensuous young Latin singer had temporarily overwhelmed Isaac. Isaac had cooled her Latin fire and she ignited embers in his young heart and they met in balanced emotion and appeal for one another. Isaac's mind went immediately to evenings in the warm Miami surf with Rebecca as both groups played in the Everglades Music Festival. Pilgrim's European tour ended what Isaac knew would lead to compromise if some intervention had not occurred. The song ended and Isaac smiled as he thought of how Candid's popularity was growing. Suzie Palmer then announced:
     "We have a special guest here in Ocean City. Rebecca, thank-you for coming over and I love your new song!"
     "Thank...you for having me on. Candid's tour starts tomorrow in Philadelphia and we are excited and having fun."
     Isaac now looked like his arms were supporting his weight on the chair. "She's here...in Ocean City!" he said out loud.
     "And why are you here on the Boardwalk Rebecca?"
     "I had some time and drove over to see a friend."
     Suzie paused and came out and asked, "That wouldn't be Isaac Crockett would it?"
Rebecca laughed, "Yes, we are good friends and I wanted to see how he is doing since he left Pilgrim."
     "Have you seen him yet?"
     "Not yet.....I tried but If I know him he's probably walking the Boardwalk with an ice-cream cone in his hand."
     Suzie laughed, "Yeah that would be Isaac!" The conversation returned to music and Candid's new tour.

     Isaac whipped open the screen door so quickly that Sam Crockett's momentum carried him out on the porch as he reached for a door handle that was no longer there.
     "Hi Son, say, you had a visitor a little bit ago."
     "I thought I might have Dad. Rebecca Chaffrone, an old friend from the music business."
     "A very attractive old friend!"
     Isaac hesitated, "Uh...yeah. Did she leave a message?"
     "She's at the Port-O-Call tonight."
     Isaac had just walked past the hotel on his jaunt home.
     "She asked if you could give her a visit. She'll be there at noon."
     Isaac looked at his watch...11:00 o'clock.
     "Thanks dad. I'll stop over and see her."
     He glanced up at his dad as he walked past him and knew that his father could sense that this was not a normal visit from a friend.

     It was a couple minutes to noon and Isaac looked at his reflection in the glass of the hotel's sign. He had not changed too much since he last saw her, save the shorter hair. He walked up the steps and into the lobby and asked if the clerk could call up and see if Rebecca Chaffrone was in. The clerk obviously knew Isaac and also who Rebecca was. WKZZ was playing softly in the background. The pretty young clerk smiled but before she could say anything Isaac heard from behind him.
     "Hello Isaac."
     There she was, as beautiful as ever with long, curling reddish brown hair combed over to the left.
     "Rebecca. It's...it's great to see you. I was on the Boardwalk and heard you on WKZZ...terrific new song!"
     "You certainly look well Isaac. I was concerned. Anonymity must suit you well."
     Just as she said that a young teenage girl came to within three feet of them with outstretched pen and paper and looked adoringly at Isaac. "Can I please have your autograph Mr. Crockett?"
     Rebecca laughed as Isaac smiled and said...
     "Sure. What's your name?"
     The young girl answered "Dawn."
     Isaac hadn't been asked for too many autographs since he came home particularly since it was fall and most of the people were locals who knew him so well. He wrote a few words, adding a Bible verse, and handed it back.
     "Thank-you!"
     "You're very welcome." The girl started walking backwards and Isaac added.
     "You might want this young lady's autograph also," gesturing to Rebecca, "Rebecca Chaffrone."
     Rebecca signed also, right under Isaac's name. 'Was that a Bible verse she wrote" thought Isaac?

     "Well, I guess that I spoke too soon about anonymity?"
     She grasped Isaac's hand and led him out to the patio where the wind took her hair making her look even more adorable. They ordered cool drinks and sat down and talked for almost two hours.      The sun was now blocked by the building and the winds were picking up.
     "Isaac, I want to know if we can see each other again?"
     "Rebecca, I left Pilgrim because I wanted real gold."
     "I want that real gold too Isaac."
    Isaac knew what she meant. Rebecca had more than picked up a book, she read many and questioned Isaac often about God, and mentioned her continuous reading in their conversation on the patio. Here Isaac was on the border of what could be called love with Anne who did not want to talk about God and the most sensuous singer in the industry, who Isaac still had strong feelings about, wanted to talk about Him.
     "Rebecca, please understand that I have to ask this. Why are you feeling this way...and are you really feeling this way?"
     "Isaac. I knew why you left music. Maybe I can feel this way too?"
     Isaac's weak area was kicking in. If Rebecca's was serious, there is no way that he would let her down.
     "Well, can you come over to the house tonight for dinner?"
     "Would it be OK with your parents? I'd love to meet them. I already met your father. He seems so nice."
     "I'm sure that they would love to meet you also!"
     Rebecca said that she rented a car and had to be back in Philly the next day to join the group. They made arrangements for Isaac to come over and take her to the manse.

     The dinner was wonderful as Chef Colleen made a special meal. The pre-meal prayer, as usual in the Crockett household, was an offering from a book of compiled Puritan prayers. The book was the Valley Of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett. Isaac loved those prayers and had his own copy with him at all times. He looked at Rebecca as the prayer was read for they are serious prayers and Isaac saw through experience that some people shifted in their seats as they were read. Rebecca bowed her head for even seconds after the prayer was finished. If Sam and Colleen Crockett were concerned in any way they didn't show it. The conversation was light and Rebecca answered many questions from Collen about her life in Puerto Rico.
     As they walked back to the hotel Rebecca asked him question after question about his dreams and his life now...and then about the two of them.
     Isaac stopped at the corner of Wesley Avenue and 15th Street and turned to look at Rebecca.
     "Rebecca, I have to admit...I still look at you and want to know you more...and even be with you, but we parted because I knew that our relationship could go no where."
     "Isaac, I'm changing. I started changing when I first met you."
     Isaac's hand went to his forehead and his head was bowed.
     "Isaac, I haven't had sex since before I met you! I was burnt out!"
     Isaac's head was now shaking side to side. This was not his type of conversation or area of knowledge let alone expertise.
     "I mean, I haven't been intimate with anyone."
     Isaac thought for a few moments as the two were silent. He raised his head.
     "Rebecca, I can hardly express how joyful I feel about that. I want to tell you about Jesus Christ tonight." He wanted to see her reaction.
     "And I want to hear!" She pulled a small Bible out of her purse. "Is this Bible OK?"
     Isaac thought that she seemed more excited about Jesus than she did about him. He hoped this to be the case. They walked back to the hotel. The thunderstorm roared during dinner but was over. They sat alongside the pool until midnight talking about the Gospel. Rebecca asked many questions but Isaac did most of the talking. She never mentioned the two of them again. They hugged for what seemed like minutes and said their good-byes, making arrangements to keep in steady contact over the phone and through the mail. Isaac watched her walk away as she turned, smiled, and held up her Bible. Isaac looked out over the moonlit ocean and thought how remarkable this day had been. He prayed for Rebecca with much thanksgiving. Hands in his pocket he slowly walked home as his thoughts turned back to Anne. What had she been doing this night?

CHAPTER TWELVE

     Anne had worn a cross around her neck at all times but Isaac never mentioned it. She dipped her fingers into the holy water each time before entering and leaving the church sanctuary and genuflected each time before entering or leaving a pew. She lit candles to St. Jude, the Patron Saint of Desperate Cases and Lost Causes and often uttered the prayer, Good Saint Anthony look around, somethings lost and can't be found. She had taken the Confirmation name Margaret while in the eighth grade and sometimes even went to Mass on weekday mornings. She never questioned her faith. She said her rosary on special occasions and prayed to God often but rarely prayed directly to Jesus for she thought it too presumptuous. She relied on her being a good person for her salvation and was fully confident that Casimir would one day be with God for he most certainly was a good person and devout Catholic. She had been meeting with Kay Winters for three weeks now on Tuesday evenings because she wanted to understand Isaac but it quickly turned into wanting to understand the Bible. She felt guilty for doing this without telling her father and confessed this in the confessional to Father Michael who she knew recognized her voice through the confessional screen. She asked if that had been a sin and was told very gently that studying the Bible is never a sin. Father Michael may have known what was going on in Anne's life but he only encouraged her to tell her father and trust God as to where it would lead.

     Casimir walked into the kitchen as Anne had a cup of coffee, her Bible and the Catholic Catechism in front of her.
     "Sweetheart, you let me know if there is anything that I can help you with."
     Anne was looking at the words of the Catechism text but her mind was contemplating the consequences of what it said.
     "Well, there is this part here that I would like to talk about. It's on page 26 and says "As a result the church to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence."
     Anne put her pencil down, looked up at Casimir and asked.
     "Dad, I'm not sure that I understand this. Or maybe I do understand it and....do we or do we not go to the Bible for God's word to us..and for teaching and for how to worship him and...and for salvation itself?"
     Casimir's face showed concern.
     "Anne, of course we do. This is the very Word of God, but how are we to interpret it if someone does not show us. Did not the Ethiopian eunuch ask that? Would God leave us alone. No, he gave his children the Church and she interprets the Bible."
     Anne took his comments under consideration for a few moments and took a sip of her coffee. She had a follow-up question to that and was concerned that Casimir would be upset by it, but she asked it anyway.
     "OK, I know that there are men who spend their lives studying and systematizing the Bible and that we need them and we need teachers but...but why would we even need a Bible for ourselves if everything had to be interpreted?"
     "Anne, the Church teaches us what the Bible says...and then we can go to the Bible and say 'Oh yes, I see it!' "
     There was a chess game being played.
     "But what if we go to the Bible and it seems to say something other than the interpretation? Didn't the pharisees do just that? They even missed the coming of their Messiah!"
     Casimir moved his Queen up the board.
     "Anne, we have two sacred deposits of Scripture...the Bible...and the teachings of the Church.    They check each other so that there is even more certainty of truth."
     Anne moved her bishop placing Casimir's king in check.
     "Dad, then what you are saying, what the Catechism is saying, is that it is not the Bible but the teachings of the Church that have the final say."
     "Anne, where are you getting these ideas? If everyone would go to the Bible without proper instruction then you would have....you would have....Protestantism!"
     "Dad, do you remember when you had that argument with one of Nate's teachers who said that abortion was every woman's right? You took her a copy of the Constitution and demanded that she show you where it said that in there. She responded that it doesn't say that directly in the Constitution but that is how it was interpreted by the Supreme Court. You stood up and said, 'Well the Supreme Court is wrong. I can read the Constitution with my own eyes.' "
     "What are you saying Anne?"
     "It's just that I don't see the purpose of the Bible if we cannot read it and interpret certain passages ourselves, especially when they are so clear."
     "We are not scholars Anne!"
     "So are you saying that the Bible is only for scholars?"
     "No! what I'm saying is..."
     The phone rang and Anne stood up to answer it.
     Casimir continued as her hand picked up the receiver.
     "What I'm saying is that God has entrusted his word to us to his Church..."
     "Hello!"
     "Anne, this is Kay."
     "Oh, hello Kay."
     "Anne, didn't you tell me that the man that you met, and who you...well....he was special...wasn't his name Isaac Crockett?"
     "Yes!" responded Anne, her heart beating fast.
     "Anne, he's in the hospital. I think that he must be alright but he was beaten up pretty bad on a street in Ocean City, New Jersey. I heard it on the news and thought that his name sounded familiar."
     "Kay, what happened? How bad is he hurt?"
     "That's all that I know Anne. I'm really distressed in having to tell you this."
     "Kay, I have to call his home. Thank-you, Good-bye."
     "What is wrong Anne? Who was on the telephone?"
     "Dad, that was a friend. Isaac Crockett has been hurt. I have to call and find out how he is!"
     Casimir's temper got the better of him.
     "Now Anne, I thought that we had this all straightened out?"
     Anne found the piece of paper with Isaac's number on it.
     "Dad...I love him!" She belted out, not even admitting it to herself until that time.
     "Holy Mother in Heaven! How can you be in love with someone you hardly even know?"
      Anne was dialling and looked at Casimir with living eyes.
     "Please Dad, not now?"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

     Isaac was attacked by two men as he walked home from the Boardwalk. He was looking over a few storefronts that were going to be for rent in the spring. He made quite a bit of progress on his ideas for a bookstore. There wouldn't be much walk-in business during the winter months but Isaac had plans for that. He wanted to sponsor a yearly conference and co-ordinate the lodging with Bed And Breakfasts, the Port-O-Call and any other facilities that remained open for business. He also wanted to travel with his books to other conferences around the country but summers were what he was really looking forward to. He just knew that he could reach these folks. He had to! America needed it. We as a people were coming apart at the seams. Postmodernism had ravaged much of the American mind. There were no absolute truths...and that was the absolute truth! Logic was gone along with Latin in the schools and cursive writing. Emails replaced letter writing. The image replaced the written word. Elementary education focused in on the child having self esteem, high schools on extracurricular activities and universities provided whatever it took to get students to choose their institution. It was bleak. Society was being split in ways that could only get worse. God was out of the schools, out of business ethics, moving fast out of the professions and even stored away in closets of the modern church to be dusted off once a year at Easter..if that. The born again fervor of the past few decades was waning. God's hand was being lifted but we could not recognize it. We were never a Christian nation but always a God-fearing one and that fear...that reverence...that hedge around us was dying. We as a nation would surely follow. We needed a call to repentance. It was through thoughts like these that Isaac focused in on a bookstore and it was passion for the Gospel that may have been partly responsible for him winding up in Samaritan Hospital.

     Doctor James Reston came up to Sam and Colleen in the waiting room.
     "He's going to be fine Pastor and Mrs. Crockett. He's coming around now... maybe a little groggy. He has one broken and three bruised ribs and quite a few bruises everywhere, and he sustained a concussion but I just got results from tests and I'm not as concerned as I was last night."
     Sam Crockett led out a deep breath while Colleen wiped her eyes. They both held hands and prayed while while Dr. Reston bowed his head.
     "I'm only the assistant doctor." He looked upwards. "But I work for the best. Give the nurses about fifteen minutes to check his bandages and you can see him. Colleen was excited and said it will only only take her fifteen minutes to run home and freshen up to look better for Isaac.

     It was 10 AM, Tuesday morning. Isaac was attacked at 8 o'clock Monday evening. A young nurse came out and told Sam Crockett that he could see Isaac now. Isaac had awoke and was joking with the nurses in the ICU while in the process of being moved to a room. His father walked in looking very concerned but Isaac forced a smile.
     "Hey dad, I couldn't meet my gambling debts!"
     "I know better than that Son."
     As the nurse adjusted his bed Isaac said.
     "Dad, this is Nurse Ratched. She's trying to get back at me from high school." Isaac and Nurse Jan Miller had graduated together and were friends.
     "I've waited eight years for this opportunity Isaac."
     "Hey, with this concussion, will I be able to surf?"
     "Of course!"
     "That's great. I couldn't before it!"
     "Why don't you two hold your conversation unitl he's into a room. Isaac's obviously delirious."
     Pastor Crockett smiled and added.
     "I'm just glad that he's talking!"

     They offered Isaac a single room but he declined so his roommate was a young man named Dan Czarnecki who was sound asleep after an emergency appendectomy.
     Sam Crockett had already notified Patrolman Mays that Isaac was able to answer questions.
     When they were finally settled into room 202 Isaac became serious and didn't wait for questions.
     "Dad, I think that it was someone involved with Rebecca's band Candid."
     Sam Crockett nodded.
     "The only thing these guys said to me was that I was out of Rock and Roll and was to keep my blankety-blank nose out of it."
     "Do you know what that means?"
     "Well, Rebecca always had a difficult relationship with with the manager of the group, a guy name Rats...if you can believe it...Martin...Rats Martin. Rebecca once thought about taking a screen test for a movie and he blew his top. He told her that she might not have her good looks if she did."
     "Wow, She should have done something about that."
     "She did, but he wiggled out of it."
     "How did he do that?"
     "He said that he was joking but everyone knows the other things that he's involved in and the group is trying to get rid of him right now."
     "The police are on the way over to question you about what happened."

     Nurse Miller peeked in.
     "Are you ready for the flowers yet?"
     Isaac nodded. "Sure Jan, just put them in the corner."
     "Uh, no way." She opened the door all the way and wheeled in a 4 wheel cart with flowers, candy, dolls and all sorts of gifts on it. "There are at least four more cartloads downstairs."
     "Oh!"
     Sam Crockett looked at Isaac and said.
     "That reminds me Son. We had a lot of phone calls here at the hospital last night because the attack on you made the national news. Andy called for Pilgrim and they send their best. And Andy said that he'll say a prayer for you. How about that? And Son, Anne Wiskovitz called and was really distressed. I think that she is on her way down here!"
     Isaac eyes widened so much that he winced. Nothing had to be said between Isaac and his father on this. As Patrolman Mays knocked and entered Sam Crockett excused himself with a smile."
     "Oh, Mom's on her way up. We both have been here since last night and she ran home to freshen up for you."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

     The attack on Isaac Crockett on a downtown street of Ocean City, New Jersey made the major networks evening news. Journalists had come to Samaritan Hospital from all over the East Coast hoping to get details of the attack. It was into this atmosphere that Anne walked as she navigated the hospital's revolving door leading to the information desk. Other than the enthusiasm of the crowd at the Turnkey Inn, Anne had not personally experienced Isaac's fame and this only increased her nervousness. A taxicab pulled up out front as Anne was about to ask for Isaac's room number. A beautiful, even glamorous, red head wearing large sunglasses got out and the journalists that were waiting in the lobby tripped over themselves trying to get to her, reveling in their good fortune. Flash bulbs were going off all over the lobby. Anne wondered who she could be until she heard someone say, "That's Rebecca Chaffrone...Crockett's girlfriend." Anne was stunned. Rebecca was not smiling and trying to push quickly past the reporters and their questions. Anne watched them pass and slowly turned and walked out the door.
     Anne had no choice but to try and get a room at a motor lodge and stay the night before driving home. She was obligated to try to contact Isaac's father first for she told him on the phone that she was coming down. She asked directions to Christ Presbyterian Church, received them, and walked the four blocks, for she knew the Crockett home was next door to the church. It was Tuesday evening and people were arriving at church for the mid-week Bible study. Anne wasn't aware of that before she read the illuminated church sign and thought that Pastor and Mrs. Crockett would probably be there so she hesitated for only a moment and followed the crowd exchanging 'Good evenings' as she walked up the steps.
     The sanctuary of Christ Presbyterian was plain with white walls and a brown trim. The only ornament was a banner hanging over the pulpit with some Latin words written on it. There was no cross, no flag, no piano and no place for a choir. Anne took a seat in the back pew and looked around to see if she could tell who was Pastor Crockett but she only had a minimal description of him from Isaac. Two ladies had come up to her with a welcome and there was low chatter in the sanctuary until a fiftyish man with slight graying at the temples walked up behind the pulpit.
     He said "Let us pray, shall we," bowed his head and gave a long prayer that mostly talked about the glory of God and thankfulness to Him for all his provision and blessings. He prayed with a deep reverence and at the end of the prayer gave special thanks that Isaac was healing and asked that blessings would come even through such an act of violence and that all things might lead to the glory of God.
     What followed were three beautiful hymns and then Pastor Crockett opened his Bible and asked the congregation to open their Bibles to the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Mark. Some people were taking notes while others only listened. The Pastor taught on the Parable of the Sower or the Four Soils and Anne read along with him wishing that she had a pen and paper herself. She had heard this parable before and wondered what kind of soil she was in. Was she sprouting up only to wither and die in a short while? Would she herself ever bear fruit for the Lord? She thought about Nate. She had forgotten about Isaac and even that the pastor was his father. She had so many questions as did some of the others present which made her feel very good for she wasn't the only one that was concerned. Pastor Crockett ended the Bible study with a prayer and the chatter began again. After she gathered up her purse and her keys she looked up and Pastor Crockett and a very pretty older woman were walking up to her.

     Colleen spoke first.
     "You're Anne aren't you?"
     "Why yes...Mrs. Crockett?"
     "Call me Colleen." Looking over to her husband, "And this is Isaac's father Samuel."
     Colleen continued, "I didn't see you until the end or I would have come back to join you. I knew it was you when I saw you for Isaac had described you so well...and so many times." She hugged Anne.
Pastor Crockett looked at her with a father's intuition and wondered if this might be God's helpmate to his son and also gave her an embrace.
     "Hello Anne. Have you had the opportunity to see Isaac yet?"
     Anne was at a loss for words.
     "No...I...I went to the hospital but there was a lot of commotion and...and I thought it better if I just came over to see you and see how Isaac was and then find a place to stay before leaving in the morning."
     "Nonsense. you can stay over night with us can't you?"
     "Well, I think that Isaac's girlfriend is here and maybe I should come back another time."
     "Isaac's girlfriend?"
     "Yes, the reporters were all around him and..."
     "Oh Sam, that must be Rebecca. Anne, Rebecca is a very good friend of Isaac's but just a friend. I know our son and it's you that he really is looking forward to seeing."
     Anne's heart leaped with emotion. She smiled and said.
     "Well... maybe I can stay."
     Pastor Crockett added, "Anne, I'm going to the hospital now. Why don't you go home with Colleen and I'll tell Isaac that you are here and we can go together to see him in the morning?"
     "He's alright then? I only know what I hear on the radio and they said that he was in ...satisfactory...condition."
     "He's fine and joking around. But it is a serious situation and he'll be quite uncomfortable for a few weeks. Colleen will fill you in"

     Over at the hospital, Rebecca was crying as Pastor Crockett came into the room.
     "Hello Rebecca. how nice of you to come!"
     "I'm so sorry Mr. Crockett. This is all my fault."
     Isaac spoke up. "Rebecca, none of this is your fault." He looked a this dad. "Dad, Rebecca said that Rats Martin is out of the picture with Candid, that he's in big trouble with the authorities for a number of things and that this will be minor in comparison."
     "Did he admit that he was responsible?"
     "Yes." said Rebecca "And I slapped him so hard that my hand still hurts."
     "Did he do anything to you Rebecca?"
     "No, the band was there and he is lucky that they didn't take him apart right there."
     "Rebecca, why don't you stay overnight with us. We have another guest but we have plenty of room."
     Isaac looked at this father wondering who the other guest was....and hoping.
     "Thank-you but I have to be back in Philadelphia tonight."
     "Dad, can I talk to Rebecca alone for a few more minutes?"
     "Sure Ize."

     Isaac had talked to Rebecca on the phone often since she saw him last. He had called ahead to every town where Candid played, talking to Presbyterian pastors and asking them if someone in the church would be available to keep Rebecca company if she attended a service and to answer any questions that she might have. All the replies were positive. Rebecca was certainly into some stage of conviction and Isaac was not going to abandon her. As happy as he was that Anne may be here, he was more joyful that this special friend of his was truly looking to Jesus.
     Rebecca came out of Isaac's room and gave Pastor Crockett a kiss on the cheek and then turned toward the elevator where she knew that she would face a crowd of reporters on the floor below.
     "She's a lovely lady isn't she Isaac?"
     "She is Dad!"
     "Son, Anne is over at the house. She came to the service tonight, after coming straight here to the hospital, and thought that Rebecca was...well, she thought that Rebecca was your girlfriend."
     "She came to the service. How did she react?"
     "Son, I have wonderful news for you. Anne asked all kinds of questions as she and your mom and I stood outside the church...and they weren't about you! We may have to change her name to Christiana."
     Isaac knew what his dad had meant. In John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Christian had to go through life without the fellowship of his wife, but upon his passing over the river into the Celestial City his wife is converted also to raise their sons in the Lord and her name becomes Christiana.
Isaac was overcome with what God might be doing to both Anne and Rebecca.
     "Dad, can you please close the door so we can spend some time in prayer?"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

     Isaac continued to share a room with Daniel Czarnecki. If the didn't mind the commotion then Isaac didn't mind sharing privacy but Danny was just about to be discharged. He sat in his wheelchair for over an hour waiting for his parents to come and pick him up and the two of them talked. Danny had heard quite a bit of religious talk and a lot of prayers in the three days he shareed a room with Isaac Crockett. As he dressed in his street clothes Isaac asked him if they could sit and talk a little more until his parents came.
     "How long until you have to go back to work Danny?"
     "Well, I go back on Monday but I'll be on light duty for at least a week...no heavy lifting, that kind of thing."
     Danny was one of the summer surfers at the New Jersey beaches. He drove a bread delivery truck at night and told Isaac that he was really glad that his appendix burst in September and not June.
     "Danny, you were raised in church. Your parents still go to church but you don't anymore. But you seem to say a blessing before you eat? What gives?'
     It was the last thing that Danny expected. When word got out that Isaac Crockett was his roommate, more friends than Danny even knew he had had visited him. The burst appendix was already worth it for he could now call Isaac Crockett a friend. What he didn't realize was what a friend was to Isaac Crockett.
     "I've always told myself that I was a Christian Isaac......But I never really knew what that was. It couldn't be just going to church. It couldn't be. When I went to church with my parents, the few times that I did, it only told me that I wasn't a Christian for somebody had to know something that I didn't...but they didn't seem to know either."
     Isaac didn't add anything. Danny got out of the wheelchair that they were going to have to take him to the front door with and walked over to the window.
     "I know your a Christian Isaac. I believe it after only three days here with you. Maybe you can tell me what no one else had been able to.....how do you know that there is a God?"
     "Why do you say a blessing before eating Danny?"
     Danny shrugged his shoulders.
     "Partly to impress you......partly out of hope that it might mean something."
     "Danny, I went out on a surfboard four...maybe five times. I got slammed each time. My friends loved it. I gave up on it. I would have liked to have learned. I've been to a half a dozen places around the world that have great surf. But I didn't want it that bad. Still don't want it that bad......you don't want to know about God bad enough Danny."
     Danny waited a few moments before answering.
     "How do you know that Isaac? I've cried at times. What do I have to do?"
     "You have to want it more than taking your board out in the surf."
Isaac got out of bed...gently...and walked over to Danny.
      "He knows you better than you know yourself Danny. Don't try to lie to him or con Him. Don't worry about what others may believe or not believe. Right now you really don't want to know about Him or you would be asking different questions."
     "Should I say a...a sinner's prayer or something?"
     "No."
     "No?"
     "If you say a....sinner's prayer...you'll walk out of here more confused than when you came in. You have a Bible I'm sure, and you have a mind. If you find out why you need Jesus Christ come and see me....please. I can't help you until you know what you need.....oh.... I will give you one piece of advice. Honor the Lord's Day Danny...it's for us! Honor it, read His Word to you, and see if God gives you discernment on what you need."
     Isaac turned and slowly got back into bed praying that he choose the right way to address this young man. He felt inside that Danny needed straight talk or else he would just play what he thought was a game, until he became frustrated again. Danny's parents came in. Isaac had met them before. They chatted and laughed for a few minutes. Danny shook Isaac's hand and got into his chair and was wheeled out the door. And there she was!

     Anne put her hand to her mouth. Isaac looked much worse than she had expected. She ran over to him and they gently embraced for what seemed like minutes before anything was said. Isaac's right eye was swollen and bruised as was the left corner of his mouth. His hairline on up was bandaged and he was wearing some sort of corsetted garment on his upper torso. Tears were falling onto Isaac's neck.
     "Isaac. I wasn't expecting this. I guess that I would have yesterday but not after hearing that you were doing well."
     "It's a mild concussion Anne, and a few banged up ribs. A couple of weeks and I'll look like new."
     Isaac lifted her hand up and kissed it just as he did that day on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
     "I missed you so much Isaac. I'm sorry that my pride caused our problems."
     "It wasn't your pride Anne. I was insensitive to your dad's concerns."
Isaac had thought a lot about what he was about to say. He had talked everything over with his father the previous day.
     "Anne, I hope to visit your father soon...with your permission of course...and tell him of my intention of persuading you to marry me."
     This took Anne by complete surprise.
     "You want to marry me! What will your father say?"
     "I don't know what he would have said a week ago but after meeting you he was very happy for me, and so was my mother."
     "You might have to change the wording to my father a little...there's no persuasion necessary."
     "Anne, I want to go through this life with you. I want to watch you grow and protect you in every way, and watch, the Lord willing of course, watch the wrinkles appear and your hair turn gray. I want you by my side in whatever I do."
     "Oh Isaac. I want to be with you also." The tears, now for a different reason, had not stopped.
     "Are you sure it's not that hit on the head?"
     "I made up my mind before all this. The hit on the head just brought you down here." Isaac was now holding both of Anne's hands.
     "Anne, I desire a wife. I'm weak and infirm and full of sin and have pleaded with God for a helpmate. I've prayed and fasted and asked for wisdom. I knew that I loved you but I needed to know if it was also a husband to wife love. I thought that I lost you and that you were seeing someone else. I prayed also that God would give you wisdom to reject me if that was His will."
     "Isaac, I prayed to God also. I prayed that I might know Him as you do. He overwhelmed me Isaac. I cry every night over my sins and my pride."
     For the next hour they talked about silly things, the shape of the lamp in the corner, the rain that was just starting... pelting on the window, all the flowers in the room and the funny little gifts. There were more than a few pilgrim dolls. Isaac and Danny had read every card and Isaac was intent on taking everything back home with him.
     "Isaac, I guess that this means we are officially engaged!"
     "I still have to talk to your father Anne. And we can't tell anyone until I do that."
     "And what about Rebecca?"
     Isaac smiled. "Oh, you know about Rebecca? I told her about you last night. She will be thrilled.    She has her own bridegroom that she's thinking about right now."
Isaac continued.
     "The tabloids will eventually get a hold of this. Are you ready for this kind of life?"
     "Probably not... but thankful. It's wonderful Isaac"
     "It's more than wonderful. Anne. I promise that I will always treat your father with respect."
     "I know you will Isaac."

     Isaac breathed in and let out a deep breath.
     "Anne, I'm financially secure as one can be in this life but I must find out what I'm going to do...and I think that I have. I've been working on it all this time."
     "Tell me about it."
     "I want to work through books. Through the written word in a society in bondage to the image. I want to be part of a Reformation Anne...a Reformation within the Protestant church. We have melded into the world. We think that just going to church and claiming to be Christian makes us    Christian.We don't have the devotion to doctrine that your father has. Our reading habits are atrocious. And the worst part...we are comfortable."
     "Isaac, I don't understand much of what you're saying but I doubted you once and I'm not going to do it again. You can do this Isaac and I will help you the best that I can."
     They parted knowing that they would not see each other for a couple of weeks. Isaac would come up to Easton as soon as he was able to. Anne would tell her father that she truly was in love and nothing more. Anne walked out of the hospital room and Sam Crockett was waiting in a chair so the two could be alone. He couldn't contain a smile.
     "Well, how did it go?"
     "I have a feeling that you might know, Reverend Crockett. I'm so very happy!"
     "I'll only be a few minutes with Isaac. Is that OK?'
     "I may need more than a few minutes to come back down to earth."
     Anne sat down where Sam Crockett was and repeated to herself the first Bible verse that she had memorized.
     "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

     Isaac walked out of Samaritan Hospital four days later with his left arm in a sling and tethered to his body to make it easier on his ribs. He still had a black eye and wore a skull cap bandage under a bandanna. He thought he looked like a pirate.
     "Arrrh!" he uttered as the nurses he passed...and then "Thank-you, thanks very much!"
     He wanted to walk the few blocks home with his mom and dad at his side and passers-by would honk at him or yell out encouragement. It was a happy family as they talked about Anne and wedding plans. Isaac made the front page of the supermarket tabloids. "Isaac Crockett Mugged For Christian Witnessing" said one but they were all pretty much the same. The jest of the stories was that Isaac was wooing Rebecca Chaffrone of Candid into Christianity and her manager took matters into his own hands to stop it. They were pretty accurate except they made no mention of Rats Martin's additional arrests for drug trafficking, and tax evasion. What hurt Isaac the most was that Ed Coon had been interviewed and portrayed Isaac as divisive with misguided zeal that caused trouble in his own church. Isaac wondered about that comment because the only trouble in the church had been Ed Coon. There was a surprise party in the church fellowship hall when they arrived. Even Pastor and Mrs. Crockett didn't know about it. Every member showed up dispelling any signs of trouble in the church. Back home there was mail, mail and more mail and telephone messages asking for interviews of which Isaac determined to accept only Suzie Palmer's at WKZZ.
     The next day Isaac and his father sat down to talk about the bookstore again.
     "Son, the first time that we talked I wanted to lay out for you the problems with selling good Christian books. I'm satisfied that you understand that. I may have doubted you a little when you first mentioned a bookstore but I'm with you now. I know very well that this spiraling American culture needs to return to the written word."
      "What about immaturity and 'misguided zeal'?"
     "You've proven to me that you're a mature Christian...over and over again. As for the zeal and energy...I wish I had it."
     "Dad, do you remember the very time that I took the stage in a big time setting with Pilgrim? We were opening for Rod Stewart. All I could think of was that we were to prepare the crowd for one of the most talented rock stars ever. I was worried that they would say, 'Rod was great but that opening band...ugh! Do I remember what you said to me?"
     "No, I don't."
     "You said, 'You are indeed opening for someone Isaac, your Lord and Savior. Walk circumspectly with honor and righteousness in everything that you do."
     "Oh yeah. I remember now."
     "I never feared failure as a musician after that. I only feared failing Him, and it was a fear right up till the end."

     It was the first really cold day of the year. Only the most stout-hearted would have ventured onto the boardwalk in that chill wind.
     "Dad, are you up to a walk on the boardwalk?"
     "If that's were you want to talk...sure."

     A few minutes later that were at the rail of the boardwalk looking out to sea. The waves were high as far out as you could see. Sand was beating against the wooden crates and lifeguard chairs that would sit idle, save for a few romantic couples that would climb into them, until the next spring. No one was out there with them as weather reports called for high winds and rain.

     "Dad, I can stay open through the winter months. I might be able to bring in a little business for the restaurants and give a couple people a job."
     Isaac formed a 'V' with his right hand and stretched it out up the boardwalk.
     "I can see it now Dad. Sproul and Horton and MacArthur books in the window....maybe a life size cutout of a pilgrim....soft chairs and coffee..."
     Then he looked at his dad with wide eyes.
     "....and video screens in every corner playing tapes just loud enough for someone to sit down and hear what Sproul says about the Holiness of God....or MacArthur talking about false teachers...or maybe listening to a White Horse Inn tape....or this....watching a film or a documentary!"
     Sam Crockett looked out as if he could see it too...and smiled.
     "I think that they'll stop in Ize.....and you'll find a way to get them interested enough to buy something."
     The two of them walked north maybe a block or two.
     "What will your bride think about it?"
     "She's all for it right now Dad but she can't possibly know how hard it will be. I don't think that I know how hard it will be?"
     "Isaac, when I was talking to her after she saw you in the hospital I couldn't help but think of Sarah Edwards. Here Jonathan Edwards may have been the most brilliant man in 18th century America....all the Founding Fathers included, but his helpmate was not endeavoring in this same intellectual battlefield, but always glorying in the marvelous graces of the Lord. As Anne asked questions I could almost imagine a dove floating down upon her. Even after pastoring for so many years I was awed to see this."

     Isaac looked into his dad's eyes for a few moments after hearing that.
     "But back to the bookstore Son, go on."
     "Well...I originally thought about New York City, even Philly or Boston but I wanted to be home...."
     "Good! you can still cut the grass."
     Isaac laughed..."And I will!"
     I know these folks best. They're friends. I wanted to offer these books to friends first, and then maybe expand. This is a beautiful family boardwalk with people coming in from all over. Out of the hustle and bustle and onto the beach. I hope and pray for it to be vacations that they will never forget."
     "Who do you want to target most...Christians or non-Christians?"
      "Christians love books Dad. I have to go to them first. I know that they'll come in. I've got to challenge them when they do!"
     "Challenge?"
     "They either have to get mad or interested Dad."
     Sam Crockett could only offer a "Whew!"
     "That brings me to this question."
     The two men turned and walked off the boardwalk towards home.
     "Can this harm Christ Presbyterian church in any way? Will it be considered a part of the church and might any controversies I might get involved in be passed on to you?"
     "We're Presbyterians Son. The elders will do what they have to in any circumstance. I know this, they won't shy away from another Christian attempting to spread the Gospel."
     "You remember what Ed Coon said about evangelizing without patience."
     "More reason to go for it Son."

     They were back at the manse and Isaac was still talking.
     "I talked to a few realty agents so far about possible storefronts. Mr. Thomson who owns Harbour Lights is retiring soon. It's a great location...right in the middle.....if I bought everything that he has I could use a lot of those nautical gifts and wall coverings, but I'd be sorry to see him leave."
     "I know, he's a wonderful guy. What is he... about 70"
     "Yeah, 72. I've liked him since I was a kid. I bought my first ship-in-a-bottle there.....anyway, that's where it's at right now."
     "Keep me informed Son. Let mom and I know if we can help."

     Isaac pushed the papers aside that he had been showing his father and thought about his phone call to Anne the previous night.
     Casimir answered and Isaac only felt love for him.
     "Hello Mr. Wiskovitz, this is Isaac Crockett."
     "Well, Mr. Crockett, it appears that you have succeeded in winning the heart of my daughter. I'm not happy about this, I'm sure that you know this. I feel that your fame has bedeviled her and I will oppose this relationship. Let's get that straight right now!"
     Isaac prayed.
     "Mr. Crockett...are you still there?"
     "Mr. Wiskovitz. I understand fully and respect your concern for Anne.....could I impose upon you sir? May I come up to Easton to talk to you?"
     "It won't be pleasant Mr. Crockett." There was a long pause before Casimir continued.
     "Next Tuesday...8 O'clock....not a minute sooner. Take it or leave it?"
     "I'll take it sir. See you Tuesday at 8."
     "Not a minute sooner!"

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

     The interior of the Crockett home was modest but charming. Colleen had decorated in Early American for as long as Isaac could remember. Mahogany tables that always seemed to have either an odd little drawer or colored top or interesting little wings adorned the living and dining rooms. The manse had a real fireplace which Colleen loved, for previous to moving to the manse she had always had a fake mantle with a red light illuminating what appeared to be burning wood. There were copper kettles, pewter mugs and more than one braided rug throughout the house. Upon visiting one could not help but look from one piece of furniture to another and admire how quaint and different they were. Pilgrim's home base was Greenwich, Connecticut and Isaac had lived in a condo but still decorated with the Colonial motif that reminded him of home. The subject came up at dinner one evening about Isaac moving into his own place in Ocean City. Isaac brought it up because he thought his parents might miss their privacy, but Pastor and Mrs. Crockett would have none of it.

     Isaac sat sipping herbal tea and contemplating his upcoming meeting with Casimir. He meditated on his own sins, his own errors, known and unknown. Whenever he came across serious error in a national ministry, or an out-and-out charlatan, he would pause and consider his own unworthiness before he would allow himself to critically look at another. It was a check that he put in place to lessen the possibility that he might nonchalantly criticize others, or even take joy in it. This particular night was particularly unnerving and would put him to that test for he watched a popular television minister rant and rave for an hour to his congregation that filled an enormous and extravagant sanctuary. The minister had played entirely on their emotions, charging them to take this nation back for Christ. He held the Bible over his head and literally screamed 'This book will tear down Satan's strongholds. You are children with the power. No one will ever take America back with their comfy-cozy, churches with all their stifling doctrine. Tell them to get out of the way for the army of God is coming through.' The small orchestra was pounding out a marching tune and the congregation was up on their feet, hands raised, jumping in place to their orders. Isaac knew all too well how this worked...music and the mind...for he lived it. While in Pilgrim he wrote plenty of slow songs and interjected them in between the faster ones for the purpose of helping the crowds contain their emotions. Every concert and every album of Pilgrim ended with the slower and softer songs, and the concerts always ended with a few words of thanks and advice to drive safely. Isaac knew that emotion at a rock concert lasted only until the next day and it was the same with these television ministers. He knew that the effects of such preaching were also gone the next day, if not sooner. The minister that evening was all over the stage, turning to different cameras with various looks of anguish, anger or jubilation. And at the end of the hour, in the quiet of a personal study, he would give a tearful plea for people to call in for prayer who wanted to be in this army, and then came the ubiquitous request for money in exchange for a trinket. Isaac turned off the television and concentrated on his own pride and asked discernment to see his own abuses of the Gospel.

     Sam Crockett walked in the front door and after a few minutes of small talk said.
     "I just left a meeting of the Coastal Ministerium. They had obviously met previously and relayed to me concerns about your proposed bookstore. They seem to think that it will be...divisive...
criticizing their own particular theological persuasions and giving the impression that Christianity is just a bunch of rigid denominations, each attacking the other."
     Isaac didn't say anything and Sam Crockett continued.
     "I let them talk and merely said 'Your wrong gentlemen...and ladies.' No more was said. It was like they were putting me on notice."
     "Dad, they're right on this, Biblical Christianity is divisive....'For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow'...."
     Pastor Crockett interjected and finished the verse.
     " 'and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account'." Both men knew that some Christians would perceive the Gospel to be divisive.... for the wrong reasons..

     Isaac decided against describing to his dad the scene he had just witnessed on the television. Sam Crockett looked over to his son and said.
     "As Paul Harvey would say..'and now for the rest of the story'. I received a call from Al Shaw today. He said for you to call him that he would like to give you some advice on starting a retail   business." Al Shaw owned five hardware stores and was conisdered an expert in business.
     "You know Dad, that's something. Mr. Shaw is a Methodist and knows very well that Calvinism and Arminianism are at odds yet he's the first to offer help!"
     "Don't forget that you laid aside theological differences to help raise money for their youth camp. There's our unity Son. We pray for one another that we might all work for God's glory."
     "Thanks for reminding me of that Dad!"

     Just then Colleen got home.
     "Oh good! My two men are here. I took a chance and bought three large banana splits."
     Isaac's eyes lit up.
     "From Cindy's On The Boardwalk?"
     "You got it! And Isaac, did you see the note I left for you on the counter?"
     "No I didn't Mom. I haven't been in the kitchen."
     "Rebecca called and said that she's doing fine. There's a young girl who works publicity for them and travels with them, and she's a Christian. Rebecca says that they have wonderful fellowship together. And oh, she received the book and the tapes you sent her...and she is attending Tenth Presbyterian when she's in Philly. She talked a lot about the sermon this past Lord's Day."
     Isaac's eyes were moist. He offered up the prayer before the desert and gave thanksgiving for Rebecca.

     Before retiring Colleen asked Isaac.
     "Have you and Anne set a date yet?"
     "No Mom. Tomorrow night I meet with Mr. Wiskovitz...Lord willing."
     "I'll be praying for you all day sweetheart."
     "Thanks Mom. It's going to be difficult and I'll need patience."
     "When I talk to Anne on the phone she always talks about her father and I'm sure he's a lovely man."
     "I didn't know that you talk to Anne on the phone?"
     "My word. This is my future daughter-in-law and I love her already."
     "Wouldn't it be nice if I could talk to her dad like that?"
     "In due time Isaac...Lord willing...in due time."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

     The three contestants were, Jerry, a writer from Modesto California... Megan, a real estate agent from St. Petersburg, Florida... and returning champion Mark, a taxi driver from Cleveland Ohio. Mark, the blue-collar contestant, had won two straight nights and Casimir was rooting as if the Flyers had won two straight in the Stanley Cup. Casimir had a theory that the producers of Jeopardy subtly constructed the Jeopardy board questions in favor of the player that would generate more audience interest. He also thought that a four-time champion would have his toughest night as he went for five straight and a new automobile. Megan was obviously the producer's favorite this night and Casimir was worried. She was vivacious and funny and beautiful. Both Jeopardy and Double Jeopardy had categories on literature and Casimir was sure that in her questionnaire she had given the producers a clue as to what she would do well in. Anne always ho-hummed her father's conspiratorial theories. The score at final Jeopardy was Mark 3300, Megan 5400 and Jerry 1200. The Final Jeopardy topic was "Architecture." Casimir slammed his hand down on the end table.
     "See that? Architecture! She's in real estate and her husband is a professor in classical something or other. Fixed again!"
     "Now Dad. What would you like the topic to be...street signs?"
Alex Trebek turned to the board,
     "The Final Jeopardy question is 'This structure may fall into the water if it isn't repaired soon."
     "What do you think Dad?" Anne asked. "The Statue of Liberty?"
     "No...no. There's always some kind of clue there. Let me see? What's the name of that house that was built over a waterfall. Frank somebody? I got it! Falling Water..that house.out near Pittsburgh!"
     "Dad, I think that you got it. You're good. You should be on the show!"
The commercial was over, Jeopardy returned and Alex repeated the question and asked.
     "Jerry, what was your answer?"
     The monitor showed that Jerry wrote 'Fallingwater.'
     "Fallingwater. That's correct. Frank Lloyd wright's wonderfully designed house in Western Pennsylvania for the Kaufmann family that is badly in need of structural repair. And what was your wager?"
     Jerry's desk showed 1200 dollars which gave him a total of 2400 Dollars.
     "Megan...your answer?"
     The monitor again displayed 'Fallingwater."
     "And you wagered?'
     Megan's desk showed 1300 for a total of 6700 and a guaranteed win.
     "See there...fixed!.......Architecture!"
     Casimir didn't even wait for Mark Answer. His blue-collared champion had lost. He pointed the remote at the television and forcefully pushed on the off button.
     "So where is Martin Luther?"
     "He should be here soon Dad. Now please...be kind. You're the kindest man that I have ever known and Isaac probably thinks that you're an old grouch."
     "Is that what he said?"
     "No Dad, he said that he knows that he will love you if he gets to know you."
     "Love...huh! Just like Calvin loved Michael Servetus just before he burned him at the stake."

     Isaac pulled up slowly to the house and double checked his watch to make sure that Jeopardy was over. His praying was all done. The Wiskovitz property had a double driveway and Isaac pulled next to the Ford Grand Victoria. He took a deep breath, inserted a mint into his mouth and opened the door while reaching to pick up a package...a bottle of wine that he brought for Casimir. As he did this the door opened too quickly on its own and hit the Ford.
     "Oh no!." Isaac said out loud.
     He got out quickly and looked at Casimir's door. Sure enough there was a ding, a small dent in the door. Isaac was always super careful in opening the door of his Jeep. Why today? He prayed a little more.
     Anne heard the car pull up and came rushing out. She hugged Isaac and kissed him on the cheek.
     "Anne...I just dinged your dad's door!"
     Anne looked over and put her hand to her mouth.
     "Don't worry Isaac....don't tell him.....I'll tell him that I did it."
     "I can't do that Anne. This is all in God's hands."

     Casimir pretended to be reading the newspaper as Anne and Isaac walked in.
     "Dad...Isaac's here."
     Casimir stood up and reluctantly put out his hand as he promised.
     "Mr. Wiskovitz...sir...I'm afraid that this started out badly. Sir...uh...I just dinged the door on your Crown Victoria."
     Casimir just looked down. He paused a few moments while Isaac stated that he would have it fixed.
     "Well Mr. Crockett. I expected to have to fix my front door from the nails of your ninety-five theses that you would hammer into it. So I guess that it doesn't matter."
     Isaac had hoped for small talk but that seemed illogical now. He turned to Anne.
     "Anne, may your father and I be alone for a few minutes?"
     Anne smiled and said, "I'll make some coffee for the two of you" and left for the kitchen.
     "Mr. Wiskovtiz. I know that this is difficult for you. I know that you hoped for Anne to meet and marry a nice Catholic man..."
     Casimir's eyes lit up.
     "Marry? Did you say...marry? Why don't we just say a nice Catholic man to meet and be a friend to?"
     This was not going according to Isaac's plan.
     "Well, I guess that I might as well say this sir...I'm asking you for your daughter's hand in... Maaaa. .riage. I promise to..."
     Isaac couldn't get anything else out for Casimir started to rant and rave about a rock and roll star who finds religion, the wrong one by the way, and all of a sudden searches to find the Queen of Poland to take to Germany somewhere..."
     Isaac had prepared for various comments but 'Queen of Poland' was not one of them.
     "Sir..."
     "The answer is no Mr. Crockett...never."
     Anne walked back into the living room. She looked at Isaac and then at her dad.
     "What's happened here between the two men that I love?"
     "Henry the Eighth here says that he wants to marry you!"
     Anne set the coffee down and said.
     "Now Dad...I want you two to sit down and for you to talk decently to Henry...er...Isaac. I won't take no for an answer! Or are you afraid to talk about God?"
     "Afraid? Well that is a fine how do you do!" He looked startled.
     Anne melted
     "Dad. I know you're not afraid. So tell Isaac your beliefs and he will tell you his and you can respect each other in your differences."
     Casimir sat down. The moment was setting in on him. His precious daughter was leaving home for good this time. He took a sip of his coffee, took a deep breath and looked at Isaac.
     "Mr. Crockett. The Catholic Church was established by God, with Peter as its first Pope and will continue to proclaim the Gospel until the end. All those, such as yourself, who rebel and refuse to believe will be frustrated and receive their punishment in due time."
Isaac looked relieved. He was happy for conversation no matter how difficult.
     "Sir, I respect your belief. We have much in common in amongst the many differences. We have the same Christ Mr. Wiskovitz...the same God..." Isaac left it at that.
     Casimir spoke again.
     "Your Reformation young man, has caused more confusion and hurt to this world than you will ever know. Not only do you reject God's church but you speak against it. This is very serious. And you want my daughter to marry into this."
     Anne was also relieved for at least the civil tone. This was the father that she loved so much...proud but respectful...knowledgeable and not afraid to confront anyone.
     It was Isaac's turn.
     "Sir. for thirty years or so Evangelicals have had the upper hand in America. Many Catholics, just like my family, had left the Catholic Church." Casimir breathed in heavily as if to launch more vitriolic words but Isaac quickly continued. "But for the past decade the Catholic Church has rebounded strongly. Apologetic ministries have strengthened many Catholics in their faith and today there are Protestants either returning to Catholicism or going there for the first time."
Casimir was appeased.
     "The truth is winning out, but you continue to rebel?"
     "One has to follow one's conscience and my conscience leads me to the Reformation creeds that point to justification by faith... alone, to Scripture... alone, to Christ....... alone, to grace alone and everything to the glory of God.... alone."
     Casimir responded.
     "The word 'alone' was Martin Luther's idea, but this apparently does not bother you?"
     "Sir. I believe that the Bible is very explicit about these doctrines."
     "The Bible says? According to your interpretation, and no church... no matter how much history is behind it... will keep you from your interpretation?"
     "It's our belief Mr. Wiskovitz, that Scripture can produce traditions but traditions cannot produce Scripture."
     Casimir responded.
     "With many interpreters are many denominations and much confusion, Mr. Crockett"
     Isaac let this go.
     "Mr. Crockett..."
     "Please....call me Isaac."
     "As I said...Mr. Crockett... I do have this question. Why do you Protestants object so much to our praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary?"
     "Sir, there are many different ...types...of Born Again Christians, and we might answer that question differently. A Fundamentalist or an Evangelical might say that we should pray to Jesus and not Mary. I have to be honest Mr. Wiskovitz, my answer is a little different, a little more in depth,.... Mary...or the saints for that matter... are not being prayed to..." Now Isaac took a deep breath. He could not compromise on this, for acknowledging that Mary is being prayed to would be legitimizing the supposition that Mary was indeed there...to...be prayed to. He continued. "One would either be praying to...nothing...or praying to an impostor."
     Anne closed her eyes. Casimir slowly got to his feet and looked over to Anne.
     "Well Mr. Crockett, I think that...that we have had the required conversation. I think that I'll retire for the evening now." With that he turned and started to walk up the stairs but turned and concluded with..."It would have been better if you were a...Fundamentalist...or an...Evangelical Mr. Crockett."
     "Thank-you Mr. Wiskovitz...good-night Sir!"
     Isaac was looking straight ahead but addressed Anne.
     "If I can't say that, Anne, then what else would I compromise on." So as not to have it appear that the two of them were downstairs conspiring against Casimir, Isaac simply said.
     "I'll call you tomorrow darling."
     Anne walked him to the car and didn't say a word but kissed him again on the cheek.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

     Isaac and Anne did not have Casimir's blessing but they had tried and now could make their engagement known. The morning after Isaac returned from Easton he called Rebecca to tell her of his engagement. She seemed genuinely thrilled, was doing very well, and Isaac even thought he detected an interest in a man she met at Tenth Presbyterian in Philadelphia. His next call was to Suzie Palmer but he also decided to tell Buzz Magazine, the most influential magazine in the music business, and get that out of the way.
     Suzie met with him that day and they recorded an interview in which Isaac essentially described His and Anne's relationship as starting on a rainy day on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He didn't mention Oscar Tucciarrone or the issue of Catholicism. A reporter from Buzz, John Moore, showed up the day after the interview with Suzie and his questions were more intense. At first he was more interested in Isaac's leaving Pilgrim than he was about Anne but Isaac directed the interview towards her and then towards his plans for a bookstore on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
     "From Pilgrim to a bookstore....that sounds...please excuse my initial impression...but that sounds very boring in comparison to what you have been used to?"
     "I can understand that but believe it or not John...to me it's almost the opposite."
     "OK Isaac, I'll bite. Explain."
     "Well, follow me for a little bit here. First point; Christianity in America is weak...compared to what it has been, and very weak compared to what it should be and our nation hangs in the balance. If we reject God...in the Public Square, or presume upon Him...in the church, then the hedge that He has had around us will surely be taken down. John, when a religious issue makes the national news, and it happens on occasion, the media goes to the same people for answers. They'll quote Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and maybe James Dobson. Am I correct?"
     "They're probably the only names that I would recognize."
     "They represent a large part of American Christianity...true... and they are all wonderful individuals, but they are television... and in Dobson's case, radio... personalities, so they're a primary influence in the American church. They do hold some differing theological views amongst themselves but essentially they are evangelical...and political. Their theology has a lot to be desired and it goes downhill in the church from there. Much of the church has adopted pragmatism as a church growth method. We've become user-friendly oriented. Many teach a social gospel. Others proclaim that God wants us rich, and others have actually brought paganism into the church. John, we need another Reformation...within... the Protestant church." Isaac looked to see any reaction in John Moore and continued, "Then there is that part of the church that has remained sound in proclaiming the Gospel.... preachers, teachers and ministries, from various denominations, that are well below the radar of the mainstream media. This has to change. I want to do my part. That's my goal. My second point is this. The typical Christian bookstore has very little in the way of books that can strengthen the church and most of the typical bookstore is Christian accessories anyway. John, as our national media goes, so goes the American people. They only know what is told them. If the news media is weak, the citizenry will be uninformed. It's the same in the church. If the pulpits are weak so the church will be. If the literature is light fare, so will be the Christian mind.This is where we are at today. But there are books out there, books from the past and even books of today, that are strong and sound and powerful in what they say. That's what turned my father around years ago and that's why I'm like this today. I've seen both sides and there's no comparison. We need biblically sound preachers more than anything, ministers who preach Christ and His cross every Lord's Day, but we also need good literature for in many if not most cases from the past good preachers were formed from their reading of good Christian books. I helped sell music while with Pilgrim. People enjoyed it but it didn't help them. I want to sell something that strengthens minds, that will strengthen America and most of all that will glorify God by telling others what He has told us about Himself and about us! I've never been as excited as I am right now.

     The reporter from Buzz turned off his microphone.
     "Phew! That's a lot to digest Isaac. Are we talking doctrine here, and if we are, hasn't the church always had a debate on one thing or another going on?"
     "Yes it has. Good observation, but that debate has to go on and in a postmodern culture it'll be harder than ever."
     John Moore turned the switch on once again.
     "OK, but if the....fluff...would that be an accurate word?"
     "Excellent word."
     "If the fluff is what sells and the....doctrinally sound books don't....how will you be successful?"
     "I've had that question put to me more than a few times in the last few weeks and still don't have a good answer. I guess that I simply have to have the faith that it will."

     Isaac appreciated the candor of the questions as the two men talked a little theology, a lot of the Gospel and the course of events that Isaac believed was leading America down a very dangerous path. He could not help but wonder what the background of the John Moore was.

     "John, off the record..."
     John turned off his microphone again.
     "What's your church background...if you don't mind my asking?"
     "Presbyterian."
     "Do you understand the terms Calvinism and Arminianism?"
     "A little on Calvinism....once saved always saved...that kind of thing. I don't think that I ever heard the other term before."
     "John, one side is very doctrinally oriented, very precise and systematic in its doctrine. The Sovereignty of God is stressed as opposed to man's free will."
     "We do have a free will don't we?"
     "We most certainly do but we also have a fallen nature. Our free will is not going to take us to God, because it is...fallen. If the church can't see this then there's a tendency, more than a tendency, to employ whatever....works.....pragmatism. The church then grows with unsaved people...unsaved ministers...whole denominations gone astray. And if one tells them that they have gone astray and the proof is in their doctrine that is in error....then one has touched a major nerve!"

     The microphone was back on.
     "One last question Isaac."
     "Sure."
     "You say that the contemporary church is weak. Where would the strength come from?"
Isaac took his time before answering.
     "John, in the early 1980s there was an Academy Award winning film called Chariots of Fire. Do you remember it?"
     "Of course, terrific movie."
     "There's a scene in it where Eric Liddell is asked exactly what you just asked...'Where does the strength come form?' The answer given was 'It comes from within.' Great man but a very bad answer. It comes from without. It comes from hearing the Word of God. It comes from reading. The answers are objective and not subjective. Christianity is a factual religion. If you avoid the facts you avoid the truth, and if you avoid the truth you are weaker for it."

     Isaac was satisfied with the interview. He liked John Moore. He said much more in his answers than he might have but that was the story of his life. As with his conversation with Casimir, if he compromised in the beginning everything following would be built upon it. The two men parted but Isaac was to hear from John Moore a few days later.

     "Isaac...John Moore."
     "Hello John. What's up?"
     "Isaac. I've worked for Buzz for five years and this is the first time they did this to me. They took over my story and wrote their own. They received some information from somewhere and my piece couldn't compare to it. You're probably not going to like it."
     Isaac didn't say anything.
     "Are you still there Isaac?"
     "Buzz always treated Pilgrim fair...more than fair. So I guess that it does surprise me, but it'll be fine. Thanks for the heads-up John."
     "If it means anything Isaac. I've been reading a lot lately. If you know what I mean."
     "I think that I do John. Let me give you one book recommendation. This book was written over three centuries ago and can be found in every Barnes And Noble. It was written by a 'tinker', a man who travelled around fixing pots and pans but can be read times over by scholars. Its John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. John, it's written as an allegory and follows 'Christian' throughout his life. It's a story John and every example in Christian's life is...doctrine. Thanks for the call John!"

     The article in Buzz came out a few days after Thanksgiving with and article titled, Isaac Crockett To Wed And Rock The Christian Church. It portrayed Isaac as a zealous, dogmatic Christian and went into areas that weren't even talked about in the interview. Anne's Catholic upbringing was mentioned and good ole' Ed Coon showed up as the resident expert on and chief psychologist for Isaac Crockett. He gave another prediction that Isaac would be a major divisive influence in the church. Casimir heard about the interview somehow, read it and warned Anne that there was still time to think over her decision.

     The Crockett and Wiskovitz families celebrated Thanksgiving before the magazine came out. Anne wanted to invite Isaac up for dinner but Casimir said.
     "One turkey for the night is fine."
     Anne overlooked the comment. She had told Nate about her engagement and he talked about Isaac so much that Casimir had to order him to cease and desist but most everyone in Our Lady Help Of Christians were excited for Anne, even Monsignor Sermak and Father Michael.

     Thanksgiving at the Crockett's was at the church but Isaac's mind was a couple hundred miles north of Ocean City upon the coming new addition to his family.

CHAPTER TWENTY

     Anne and Isaac had spent the day in Philadelphia. It was two weeks until Christmas and the first snowfall of the year had graced Penn's Woods, more commonly known as Pennsylvania. The plan for the day was to meet at Independence Hall, have lunch and then shop until they dropped. Anne didn't need a tour guide of Philly but Isaac served as one anyway commenting in detail on the development of our Constitution and most of those involved in it, also commenting on the faith, lack of faith, deism, Masonry and outright atheism of those to who it pertained. They stopped to take a picture of a statue honoring the Marquis de Lafayette complete with Isaac's commentary on the differences between the American and French revolutions, particularly as they pertained to the religious beliefs of those involved.
     "Isaac?"
     "Yes Anne?"
     "Is it Christmas coming up....or the Fourth of July?"
     "Sorry Anne. I get carried away in places like Philadelphia, Boston, Gettysburg...you remember 'Gettysburg' don't you?"
     "Tooooche' my love. The Civil War brought us together."

     Isaac's opinion of Christmas was more Puritan than Continental. He disliked the merchandising that put people in debt, worried about the children who thought only about gifts and dreaded the pagan influence but was not about to bring these things up.

     "Is Christmastime a special time of the year for you Isaac?"
     Well, so much for ignoring the issues.
     "Anne, I hope to celebrate Christmas and enjoy it as much as I can and certainly hope that I can make it a special time for you...but my heart isn't really into Christmas. I do enjoy the Bing Crosby and Andy Williams type of Christmas songs and I really love the Christmas carols, some of which are nothing short of majestic. I love the snow and getting bundled up and sitting by the fire wondering what chestnuts taste like. I like building snowmen and having snowball fights...so much so that..."
Isaac bent over and started making a snowball, and then another...and another...
     Anne figured out what he was about to do and started running while Isaac lobbed the snowballs at her. He caught up to her, turned her around and held her close.
     "But you know what I love most about Christmastime?"
     Anne thought that a romantic comment was coming.
     "What would that be?"
     "I love it that I have never heard the word or seen a...snowwoman. It must drive the feminists
crazy!"
     Anne wrinkled up her nose and Isaac did indeed then get serious.
     "Anne, I hope that you're not disappointed. I'm not a Scrooge...I promise. Every time that I see a manger scene the holiday comes back into focus. Handel's Messiah must be the most beautiful oratorio ever composed. I can't promise you Santa but I can promise you Angels We Have Heard On high."
     "Oh Isaac, I'm not disappointed. This Christmas is most special to me."
Isaac thought it was Anne's turn for a romantic comment but she looked up to the sky with an angelic smile and said.
     "Can you imagine what it would have been like with all those angels singing? Can you imagine how beautiful their voices must have been. I'm sure that the shepherds must have been frozen with awe! The snow must have been the whitest that it has ever been...and the sky the clearest when Jesus breathed his first breath...the Son of God come down to us...all the earth must have stood still at that moment...even the animals near the baby must have been blessed!"
     Isaac thought about how his Dad described Anne's burgeoning faith as her eyes were still looking up to the heavens. They walked on in silence, hand in hand.

     The two of them had planned a March wedding...a small ceremony with only about sixty people. Isaac suggested a dual ceremony with His pastor while he lived in Connecticut, Rev. Phil O'Toole, conducting the service and Monsignor Sermak or Father Michael also attending to the vows; this he thought necessary to bring Casimir to his daughter's wedding. Anne wanted a Niagara Falls honeymoon with the two of them spending most of the time in a room overlooking the Horseshoe Falls. They had long talks about their future, with Isaac always adding..."Lord willing." Anne took one of those moments to broach this most sensitive of subjects.
     "Isaac....Honey....would you tell me about your past...sex life?"
     Isaac didn't bat an eye.
     "Sure...there was none."
     Anne waited a few moments and added.
     "None?"
     Isaac nodded.
     "None."
     "How could that be Isaac....you were a rock star...for a long time?"
     "I wouldn't lie to you Anne. If you want me to confess past sins to you I can do that. I can run through a litany of sins that would demolish the facade of the good boy of Rock n Roll."
     "But no sex?"
     "Not with another person...I mean...not with anything...I mean...Anne is this really necessary?"
     "Don't you want to know about me?"
     "Not necessarily."
     "Why not?"
     "What possible good would it do?"
    "Don't you think it's important?"
     Isaac waited a fee moments before answering and continued.
     "Anne, I think that sex before marriage is destructive in that it haunts and hurts and brings regret that can stay with you. Should I even mention that it is an offense against God? I guess that if you are bothered about something right now it would prove my thoughts on this."
     Anne was surprised into speechlessness. She expected that this would be difficult....Isaac would confess...she would confess...and that would be it. Isaac continued.
     "Anne, unless there is an issue that we would have to deal with, then I'm satisfied to live together as man and wife....two redeemed sinners....and deal with our future sins which will be plentiful...but hopefully decreasing as time goes by."
     Anne gave one more thought.
     "But don't you worry about, I mean don't men worry about..."
     "Anne, my plumbing works and I expect to have a wonderful time learning how to plumb." He smiled with a love that melted Anne's heart and allayed her fears. She hugged him so hard that the box of Tic Tacs that he had in his pocket dug into his chest.
     "Ouch!"

     Anne's two closest friends were girls that she had known since elementary school. Julie Jacobs was a pretty brunette with blue eyes and a vivacious smile. She was a house mom with a two year old son and married to Bill Jacobs, making her Julie Jacobs of which Anne could never get used to. Julie was a devout Catholic and showed no concern about Anne's evolving faith. Madeline 'Mad' Turner was a model in New York City... very worldly and tremendously excited for Anne. She seemed to be lost in the extraordinary situation where her best friend was marrying Isaac Crockett and could not wait to meet him. Religion of any kind was beyond her thoughts. Anne did not know who to ask as Maid of Honor so she chose not to have one. She also asked Kay Winters to be in her wedding. All three women were looking forward to that special day.

     Isaac asked Andy to be his Best Man. He didn't have many close friends but many good friends. Both Anne and Isaac wanted to avoid a media event and concentrate on the covenant of uniting in marriage. Anne was still attending Our Lady help Of Christians on Sunday mornings but attending Redeemer Presbyterian Church for the Lord's Day evening worship service. The pastor was David Gilbride who was a close friend of Sam Crockett. She was in a study of the Westminster Catechism and applying herself to it as if studying for the bar exam. Isaac's Lord's Day school class was going well and all the congregation and parents of the young people were thrilled while plans were slowly progressing on a bookstore. A university physicist was the champion on Jeopardy for third straight week and it only added irritation to irritation to Casimir. Nate was relishing in his soon-to-be celebrity as brother-in-law to Isaac but his grades were going back down. Pastor and Mrs. Crockett were going on with business as usual the church was growing only slightly.as its pastor would not employ the church growth methods of the day and age but relied solely on the preached Word of God.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

     Christmas had passed in the Wiskovitz and Crockett households without incident. The Wiskovitz home was very reverent in the weeks before Christmas as Casimir took advantage of the Advent Season to reiterate to Anne what she had already known from growing up that Christmas was about Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Anne's conversation was littered with Biblical verses and concepts of which Casimir was uneasy at first but at some point it had hit him that one year ago he was praying fervently for Anne to leave 'show business' and come home. His prayer had been answered and he could not but thankfully acknowledge it. Anne and Isaac had exchanged small but meaningful gifts over dinner at Henry's Salt of the Sea restaurant in nearby Allentown, Pa. two days before Christmas.

     Isaac had promised his students at the beginning of his class that they would have a party at the end and he kept his word. The church fellowship hall was packed as each young person brought friends and neighbors to see Isaac Crockett. Isaac had the party catered but the big event of the evening was the jam session which Isaac also had promised. Susan McGrath played piccolo, Danny Hebering and Jimmy Davis brought their acoustic guitars, Jeff Thompson was on drums, Marissa Conley and Mary Corinas brought their violins and Isaac pulled out an old keyboard from the attic of the manse. They named themselves Promise and had a ball jamming and it really didn't sound too bad, but Isaac's keyboard carried the day. They played Pilgrim hits, U2 songs and more than a few of Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band. Out of this night eight more students said that they wanted to be a part of the next class but Isaac knew that one week into the class would tell who was really interested for it would be a class on hermeneutics or the science of interpretation as it pertained to the Bible.

     Isaac indeed had signed the papers to rent the storefront where Mr. Thomson had vacated Harbour Lights. Carpenters were building book shelves and every day something new showed up from computers, to a cash register, to furniture, to wall decorations. Books were arriving also but would remain in their boxes in a corner for quite some time. Isaac wanted the store to look very academic in amongst the many references to the sea and to history. He wanted it to be comfortable also where customers could have coffee and look over a book in a soft chair as they gazed out over the beach into the water.

     Back at the manse the phone rang. Isaac and his dad were setting the table for dinner and Colleen was in the basement working on the laundry.
     "Son, it's for you...Andy!"
     Isaac took the receiver. "Thanks Dad."
     "Hi Andy! How's everything?"
     "Yeah, everything is going well here."
     "Yeah, I'm a little nervous."
     "It's moving along pretty good....starting to take shape."
     There was a pause for a minute or two as Isaac listened to Andy.
     "Andy, that's great. You guys deserve it! I'll be watching for sure."
     "What? They do? Andy I can't. It wouldn't be right? I can prepare a line for you to read."
Sam Crockett stopped what he was doing and wondered what was up. Isaac paused again and then his responses continued.
     "It's not that I have a problem with it but this is their award. It's their show now.
     "The media might make a spectacle out of it."
     "Ask them to reconsider will you Andy?"
     "Yeah, but advise them against it."
     "OK, I'll call you tomorrow."
     "Bye Andy...and thanks."

     Isaac hung up the telephone and looked at this dad who was putting down the silverware but looking up with a smile.
     "Dad. Pilgrim is up for an award from the Rock & Roll Network. Five groups are nominated but they somehow were given a heads-up that it's down to two."
     "See that Son. There going great without you."
     "They really are. Their newest album is number two right now. But this award is Band of the Decade. The awards are on television this Friday and they want me there with them."
     "And...?"
     "Well, you heard my response. Everything is going great for them. They don't need to go backwards even for one night...."
     Isaac looked at his dad and knew that that didn't sound like the real reason. He pulled a chair from under the table and sat down.
     "Dad, I've had closure on Pilgrim and this would...it might open that up again."
     "I'm sure that you'll come up with the right decision. Mom and I will be praying for you but don't you think that Anne has a say in this?"
     "You're right Dad. I'll call her tonight.

     Isaac talked to Anne for over an hour and the two of them decided that if Andy could not change the bands mind that Isaac would go. He called Andy the next day as he said that he would and the band was adamant...if they were to be given an award for all of their past achievement then they wanted Isaac Crockett to be there.
     So it was set. Isaac put off some clerical work that he had planned, Anne took some vacation and they made a couple of room reservations at the New Yorker Hotel for that Friday night. Isaac thought that this might be Nate's only chance to see something like this so they asked for and received...reluctantly...Casimir's permission to take Nate out of school for a day.

     Isaac, Anne and Nate met Andy and the band members at Madison Square Garden at 6 O'clock on Friday evening. There were laughs and hugs and even a tear or two as they reminisced. The guys were fawning all over Anne and Nate was on his best behavior, unexpectantly nervous in this company. Dozens of young girls were screaming and were all over Isaac from the moment that he approached the red carpet outside of the arena. Security had a tough time keeping them away. This was much more than Anne had expected, for so many beautiful girls...women....were clamoring over her fiancee'. Isaac was the prefect gentleman as always, looking them in the eye and saying..."Thank you."
     Once inside some of the biggest names in the business were coming up to Isaac. Shania Twain gave him a big hug and Bruce Springsteen came over to him to say hello. The two men had opposite politics but Isaac like him...even admired him. Many of the musicians on hand were younger than Isaac and their appearance was wilder than Pilgrim's ever was. Sex oozed from some of the female stars with low cut satin dresses. The band sat together three rows from the stage with their spouses, dates or lady friends. The camera zoomed in on them a couple of times. At home, Sam and Colleen Crockett were used to this but up in Easton... Casimir was astounded by the grandeur of the situation. His enemy was not just some rock star but a world renown celebrity.

     The show was wonderful. Both Anne and Nate had a great time. Billy Joel was the MC and when it came time for the Band of the Decade award he announced.
     "And now for the band that you all voted for....America's Band of the Decade...."
     He announced the five nominees and each one received great applause. Billy Joel opened the envelope....
     "Pilgrim!"
     The audience stood and applauded as Isaac and his mates hugged the person that they were with and then made their way to the stage. This was a well-liked group of young men and mostly because of the stabilizing effect of Isaac Crockett. They were indeed nice guys, proven by their insistence that Isaac be there with them. Each one took his award and gave a short few words of appreciation. Isaac was last and merely said "I worked with five great guys and a wonderful manager who let me play with them until I moved on. Thanks to them...and thanks to all of you!"

     There were many parties afterward but Isaac said his good-byes in another emotional farewell and the three of them were off. The night was just beginning for most of those involved but Isaac's jeep was packed and off they went to Easton. Nate had found his voice again and went over about every moment of that evening always preceded by "Wow!" Both Isaac and Anne contemplated upon what happened that evening... all the glamour and celebrity. It was all old stuff to Isaac but it still effected him and he wondered what was going through Anne's mind as she sat quiet for most of the ride home.
Casimir came to the door when they got home around midnight and looked at Isaac as if to say, "Just how did you come into my life?"
     Isaac looked at Nate and reached out the statuette.
     "Nate. would you like this? It will just go into a box at home."
     "Would I!"
     Casimir didn't say anything except to respond to Nate's question if he had seen them on television.
     Isaac gave Nate a hug and thanked Casimir for waiting up. Casimir and Nate walked inside and closed the door as Isaac held Anne in his arms for several minutes, the only words spoken by each were 'I love you.' Isaac then jumped into his jeep for the ride into the early hours of the morning to Ocean City.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

     In the days immediately after the award was given to Pilgrim, Isaac thought that it might not have been the best decision to show up. More news outlets had sought interviews from Isaac after the show than after his initial announcement of leaving Pilgrim. The camera had zoomed in on Anne and Nate a few times during the ceremony and that just might have been enough to peek the interest of editors. He was turning down so many interviews that that alone may have been catching the attention of some. He had long since found out that mentioning anything theological in secular interviews can lead to misinterpretation. He once mentioned Reformed Theology to a Jewish interviewer and it was translated into Reform Theology which was a Jewish term. Any mention of Reformation Theology was taken as a Catholic/Protestant issue instead of a Calvinist/Arminian issue. How would he explain his ideas for a bookstore to People Magazine. All of his thoughts given to John Moore of Buzz Magazine were either misinterpreted by the editors or ignored.
As he tried to navigate this problem another tempest arose. More than one national Christian ministry had negatively commented on Isaac’s plans for a bookstore on the Boardwalk. He really couldn’t blame them because the information they received in Buzz Magazine would give the impression that he was divisive for the sake of being divisive. A petition was being circulated against the bookstore in Ocean City asking the City Council to put a stop to a bookstore that would sell hate books. One minister actually pleaded with him to keep the Boardwalk..." family oriented." There was absolutely no good news on the reporting front. Isaac’s own denominational magazine reported his plans but even here Isaac could see no encouragement to him in the article.
These were minor annoyances compared to the biggest problem with his plans for his upcoming wedding ceremony for Isaac had made a major blunder and he realized it a few days after returning from Easton. He thought that he had the perfect solution for Casimir to attend the wedding of his daughter as both his minister and a Catholic priest would be a part of the ceremony and indeed it did seem to settle Casimir down. Isaac’s blunder was that in order for the Catholic Church to officially take part in such a ceremony both parties would have to sign a statement promising that any children would be raised in the Catholic faith. Isaac had known this yet totally forgot about it. He wanted to own up himself to Casimir for the mistake but Anne persuaded him against it and she was right for when she informed her father of Isaac’s mistake Casimir did not take it well at all at all.

     “He what….he forgot? Mr. Know-it-all about Roman Catholics errs on one of the most essential doctrines of the Catholic Faith?”
     “Oh Dad, it’s not an…essential doctrine.”
     “It is to me!”

     With this Casimir stormed out of the house slamming the door behind him. Anne knew where he would go. Where else would Casimir Wiskovitz go in such a mood but to church.Casimir lit a votive candle at the front of the sanctuary and knelt on the cushioned kneeler in the first pew. Monsignor Sermak saw Casimir’s car parked in the lot and followed him into the church. Casimir was oblivious to his being there until he head a voice behind him.

     “Hello Casimir!”
     “Oh, hello Monsignor.”
     “Casimir, my friend. What brings you to church so late in the evening?”
     “Monsignor, I have failed.”
     “Is it Anne again?”
     “She is leaving the faith….and Nate will probably someday follow this Rock and Roll false
prophet.”
     “You did not sound like this the last time I saw you Casimir. I thought that the wedding was going to work out alright”

     Casimir looked up at Monsignor Sermak for he knew that his next words would have power behind them.

     “Mr. Crockett now says that he just forgot about the promise to raise children in the true faith. How convenient, is it not Monsignor?”
     “Casimir, my…good…friend, do you not know that God is in charge of all of this? We are not in a football stadium, trying to talk as many people as we can into rooting for our team. Be thankful that Anne is taking such joy in our Savior today. You have done your job well Casimir. Time may bring her path back to the Church. Love her Casimir…as you have always done.”

     Casimir only gazed back towards at the statue of Mary whose arms were outstretched over the flickering candles

     Nate was in Ocean City for the weekend. It was the second time that he hopped a Greyhound bus to be with Isaac…for the two of them to get to know each other. There wasn’t much for a teenager to do on the Boardwalk in winter so he spent a lot of time working with Isaac in the store and at night they would hang around the manse while Isaac answered all the questions that a young mind would have about Pilgrim and rock music in general. As required by Casimir, Isaac would drop Nate off at Saint Peter and Paul’s Roman Catholic church for Mass and then later take him to the bus station for the trip home.Isaac’s requirement was that Nate bring his school books and the two of them would work on Nate’s homework and talk about his classes. All of the problems on Isaac’s mind didn’t dissuade him from the most important thing about this young man that being his eternal soul. He wasn’t going to enter into Bible doctrine of any sort, not at this time anyway, but he was going to challenge Nate and let the pieces fall where they may. It was ten o’clock on Saturday evening. Pastor and Mrs. Crockett had spent a lot of time making Nate feel comfortable and had retired for the evening. Isaac and Nate sat before a fire sipping hot chocolate and had just finished a long talk about everyone that Isaac knew personally in the business.

     “So Nate….what are your plans for after graduating from high school…no, let me expand on that. What are your plans for high school and then after graduating?”
     “ Plans?”
     “Yeah…plans and goals.”
     “Well, I plan on graduating…and I never thought about after that.”
     “What does your dad want you to do?”
     “Oh he wants me to go to college, I know that.”
     “Here’s the deal Nate. If you stay on the path that you are on…barely making it in your school work….you might get into college…and you might even get a degree, then you will fight for a job that you don’t really like, and when you finally mature and figure out what things are important and what things aren’t, it will be too late. You will be in a very big club…those who wish that they had been more serious about life when they were young.”
     “What about you Isaac? You became a rock star. Maybe I can do that?”
     “Nate, I was a nerd in school. I never did anything but study and learn the piano and then keyboard. I wrote a hundred songs before there was one that was even half decent. I worked my way through college and didn’t do hardly any of the things while I was there that most college students do. If music would have failed, I was prepared to find another profession to spend my life in.”
     “I kinda thought that I had a lot of time to figure these things out.”
     “More bad news Nate....everyone of us is born into a specific generation. Sometimes it’s a good one….sometimes it isn’t. You and I both got the short end of the stick. A lot of people make money on us Nate. They don’t care what happens to us cause they... got theirs. Choose your friends well Nate. Pick friends who aren’t going to get into trouble… friends who study…who are polite to adults….! Respect your father. You didn’t get the short end of the stick here.And Nate…make it your top priority to know God and to read His Word to us.Don’t burn bridges. Do you know what that means? It’s going to take years and years to figure many things out and keep this in mind…in order to spot what is false one must first know what is genuine. Make learning your hobby Nate. I’ll always be here…Lord Willing of course…to help you if you want it.”
     "Isaac, Why do you always say…Lord willing?”
     “Nate, we can make plans…even good plans that would honor God….but ultimately He directs our steps. He opens and closes doors. Every day that we wake up…He has given that day to us. Like a shepherd that looks over his sheep, He has a staff that can gently guide us and He has a rod that can get our attention."
     "Isaac, I don't know if I'm smart enough to do those things. I try in school but still get bad grades."
     "Anne showed me your report card Nate, and the comments that your teacher put on the reverse side. She wrote that you are smart enough but that your mind wanders. Nate, this is part of the reason that I left Pilgrim. I could tell that young kids were almost worshipping us. I guess that I knew this from the beginning but God put a tremendous guilt on me. Choose your heroes wisely Nate. Choose those who follow Christ."
     "That would be you wouldn't it?"
     Isaac was caught on this one. He never wanted to be anyone's hero for he knew that he could only let them down.
     "Nate, you could have me for a hero if you want but always remember that I am just a man. There's only One that could never let you down and you know who that is."
     "You mean my dad?"
     "He's a man also Nate. try again."
     Nate thought for a minute.
     "God?"
     "Yes but more specific..."
     "Jesus?"

     "What do say that we hit the sack. I want that name to be the last word out of your mouth tonight."
     Nate was about to say something but Isaac put two fingers up to his mouth as if to be turning a key and the two of them put their cups in the kitchen sink and retired for the evening.