Dave Parks

00. Prologue A2

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Solomon’s temple stood in Jerusalem. While Jehu son of Nimshi sat on the throne of Israel, Jezebel’s daughter Athaliah ruled in Judah. On the Plains of Ammon, Elijah answered the Lord’s summons.

06. Transfiguration

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06. Transfiguration ??? BC Mt. Something how did Peter know it was Moses and Elijah? In the Transfiguration, how did Peter know it was Moses and Elijah if he had never seen them or a picture of them? https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/8633/how-did-peter-recognize-elijah-and-moses https://clearbibleanswers.org/books-michael-pedrin/intriguing-questions/question-answer-new-testament/64-how-did-peter-recognize-moses-and-elijah-on-the-mount-of-transfiguration.html https://www.graceomaha.org/blog/2020/02/20/how-did-peter-john-and-james-recognize-moses-and-elijah-during-the-transfiguration-of-jesus Background

04. Are You Elijah?

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04. Are You Elijah? Elijah On the Way 792 Words Tubal jumped to his feet. “Gaddi, wha’d you do?” Jerusalem 07 BC Elijah turned to Peleg. “So, we skip the birth—?” “Relax, boy.” Gaddi gave the reins a twist. The horses whinnied and the chariot shuddered. “Gaddi, wha’d you do?” Tubal and Peleg stood in … Read more

Research – On The Way

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Why Sing About Elijah After Shabbat? – Chabad.org Elijah the Prophet – Chabad.org The Silent Cup – What is Elijah’s Cup All About? – Chabad.org Night of the Righteous – Following every Shabbat, duality is absorbed by oneness. – Chabad.org Why-moses-and-elijah-at-the-transfiguration/ Moses-elijah-and-jesus-why-are-they-all-together-at-the-transfiguration/ Elements Can Elijah Reconcile Fathers and Sons? – TheTorah.com Turning Hearts in the … Read more

Ravens vs. Arabs

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That ravens fed Elijah by the brook Chorath has been questioned. The Hebrew text at 1 Kings 17:4–6 uses the word עֹרְבִים `ōrvīm, which means ravens, but with a different vocalization might equally mean Arabs. The Septuagint has κορακες, ravens, and other traditional translations followed. Alternatives have been proposed for many years; for example Adam Clarke (d. 1832) treated it as a discussion already of long standing.[167] Objections … Read more

The Letter from Elijah

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Books of Chronicles[edit] Main article: Books of Chronicles Elijah is mentioned once more in 2 Chronicles 21:12, which will be his final mention in the Hebrew Bible. A letter is sent under the prophet’s name to Jehoram of Judah. It tells him that he has led the people of Judah astray in the same way that … Read more

To my Mother

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I dedicate this book to my mother, who read to us from Kipling, Dickens, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Mother took requests. How many times did I ask for “the story of the great war that Rikki-tikki-tavi fought single-handed, through the bathrooms of the big bungalow”? So many times that, when I learned to read, it … Read more

03. Zachariah A5

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“How come Gaddi’s eye still droops?” A Back Alley of Jerusalem 490 BC Elijah poked Peleg in the chest. “And you’ve got clay in your beard.” Tubal fluffed the whiskers around his cheerful face. “And these beautiful scars from the forge still decorate my arms. Plus, your knobby knees belong on a sea gull.” “Good … Read more

02. My Messenger A4

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Tubal glanced at the ground. “Jerusalem.” Above the Plains of Ammon, Israel 490 BC Elijah rubbed a hand down his beard. “Jerusalem? Couldn’t we just hang around Jabesh? Maybe see how the boys are taking care of Milkah.” Tubal flashed a grin at Gaddi. “I’ll need your help with this.” Gaddi scooted over and pulled … Read more

01. Lift Off A5

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The Plains of Ammon, Israel 834 BC Elijah kept an arm around Milkah and reached for a group hug with their children. “Love you guys. Listen for the voice of the Lord.” His chin trembled. “And take good care of your mother.” Elijah’s oldest pulled his mother close. “We’ve got Mom. But stay with us.” … Read more

01. A Rotten Fig at Market A5

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As the boss sauntered into spitting range, Shelach trembled. He should let sleeping dogs lie. If he restrained himself, Hevel would remain calm. But Shelach’s nostrils flared. He spouted, “The Lord hates the wicked. He sends them fiery coals and flaming sulfur.” A scowl fell over the man’s face, he twitched his rodent nose. The … Read more

20 Cave Society A3

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20. Cave Society 861 BC Misliya Cave, Megiddo [Mt. Carmel?], Israel The Misliya Cave is 262 ft. long. Show new arrivals daily/weekly. Theological camps divide the cave? Soveignty of God vs. Free Will? Pre-Trib vs. Post? vs. No Left Behind? Vicki Sandiford Floyd Overcrowding, body odor, smelly feet in your face while you’re sleeping, snoring, … Read more

02. Staying Alive B6

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Chapter 1. Staying Alive 863 BCi [Shelach’s family orchard]Plaza, Samaria City, Samaria, Israel Shelachii – Afternoon before — picking and packing figs for tomorrow’s market. — Dad commending. They talk of him becoming a Grove manager for Uncle Gera How to harvest figs: step-by-step let Issachariii, his donkey, lead the way in through the city … Read more

01. The Forcing of Wrath

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882 BC A Village Near Gibbethon, Philistia Obadiah flew along the narrow path, his elbows gouging his friend, Ahab. As their sandals slapped the dirt, a brown hen squawked at the approaching danger. She collected her chicks into the safety of a low-spreading fig tree. Obadiah shot between the stable guards the same moment as … Read more

A Few More Corrections to the PDF

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A Few More Corrections to the PDF Line 5157 horses and mounted archers clop-clopped behind them. horses and mounted archers clip-clopped behind them. Line 1138 Booted hoofs clopped an irregular pattern through the city gate Booted hoofs clip-clopped an irregular pattern through the city gate

Corrections to Numbered PDF A5 Nov29

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Corrections to the Numbered PDF (Several chapters are 872 BC. I need to give them a better look for Kathy’s time concern.) map – It’s not “Israel 850 BC” but “The Holy Land 850 BC” Table of Contents Foreword – Dave’s fiction is faithful to 1 Kings 18:3-4. Obadiah, palace administrator, was a devout believer … Read more

Foreword A5

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Foreword by Ronald Currier Avocado RancherRetired I have known Dave Parks most of my adult life, since the early 1980s, when he first appeared in our Friday night Fellowship in Valley Center, California. His path of Christian service has given us two dramatizations of Bible characters from 850 BC. First Elijah the prophet, and now … Read more

Map Notes

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Map Label Israel in 850 BC. Not Israel in Old Testament Times. Remove all the red lines and labels. Cities to Add. The links show where they belong.  Kishion – https://bibleatlas.org/full/kishion.htm Taanach – https://bibleatlas.org/full/taanach.htm Harod – https://bibleatlas.org/full/harod.htm Endor – https://bibleatlas.org/full/en-dor.htm Akko – https://bibleatlas.org/full/acco.htm (but I spell it Akko) (I’m looking thru the text for more … Read more

Andromeda

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Andromeda Versus The Milky Way Ronald F. Currier Copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved ISBN: Dedication To my wife, Ingrid, who is an Austrian native and also my life editor. Acknowledgements Special thanks to my wife, Ingrid, who started out as my first editor but soon became the co-author for this book as well. About … Read more

Cut 1,000’s of words

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Here are some of the tips for cutting 1,000’s of words from a manuscript that I learned at the conference (I definitely need this for Shenandoah’s Daughter, and I’m sure I’ll need it to a lesser extent for Comanche Lost): Does your story start in the right place? (Most prologs aren’t necessary. If you’re relying … Read more

Early Bible Rap

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“Well, Mika, what do you say? Go to war or stay home?” Mikayhu crouched in front of the two kings. He floated his head forward and back while he clicked his fingers to a beat. This young man had grown taller but hadn’t lost his charm. Jehoshaphat scooted forward on his throne and bobbed with … Read more

Fiction How-To’s

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Some How-to’s of Fiction Writing Mystery to Me  –  Crutch Words  –  Unique Voices  –  Romance Beats  –  Character Flaws  –  How to Start a Novel  –  Synonyms for Very  –  Fix Fluff #1  –  Fix Fluff #2  –  Story Stall  –  Building Blocks of Scene –  Satisfying Ways to End a Story  –  What, But, Therefore  … Read more

Biah Blurb D3

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As close as brothers, young Obadiah and Ahab race stallions and dodge Syrian arrows together. They throw fists but always have each other’s back. When Ahab becomes king, Obadiah manages everything from the stables to the royal olive oil business. As a team, these buddies plan military strategy and, when Syria invades, drive chariots into … Read more

Why Elijah?

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Why not Moses? When Malachi wrote, “He will turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4), why was he referring to Elijah? Why didn’t he say, “I will send Moses to you?” Moses, whose great heart of compassion pleaded with the Lord to … Read more

Acknowledgements A6

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Acknowledgements Hoo boy! When I tried to jam the lives of Elijah and Obadiah into one story, the acfw.com writers who critiqued my chapters complained. “Another new character?” “Where’s this story going?” “Who’s it about?” From somewhere I heard, “Get Elijah’s story tied up. Then write about Obadiah.” Relief. Those wonderful writers continued to help … Read more

Author

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The Author I write on our back porch with the help of the neighbor’s cat. Delphine, my wife of 39 years, died of cancer in 2000, and I miss her every day. Two years later, I married Vickie. Every day I thank the Lord for Vickie. Vickie and I taught English at universities in China … Read more

Dedication A2

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Dedication I dedicate this book to my mother, who read to us from Kipling, Dickens, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Mother took requests. How many times did I ask for “the story of the great war that Rikki-tikki-tavi fought single-handed, through the bathrooms of the big bungalow”? So many times that, when I learned to read, … Read more

Elijah in the New Testament

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Matthew 17 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. … … Read more

Itinerary

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Malachi 3-4 Zechariah John the Baptist Mount of Transfiguration Brit (reminder that Elijah failed to show pity toward his people like Moses did, instead he twice took a hard attitude about them in response to the Lord’s question, “what are you doing here?”) Pictures from the Talmud Revelation’s Two Witnesses

Notes

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It’s not that we know more than you. We’ve been given the time slot and the coordinates.  By whom? Michael the archangel? He’s liking this story. Tubal asks Peleg. What did he say his name was? It’s all in the wrist Gaddi miscalculates And drops them in a year early. Tubal steers to Messenger. 2 … Read more

Jezebel –

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The Imported Witch – Jezebel, daughter of Tyre, Queen of Israel Jezebel-Untold-Story defending_the_harlot_queen http://www.geniedeez.tv/blog/2019/4/17/problems-with-images-of-jezebel https://www.happyhomekeepers.com/story-of-jezebel-in-the-bible-scandalous-infamous/ https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/fall-2007-overdrive-competition-in-american-life/was-the-lady-a-tramp https://www.usnews.com/news/religion/articles/2008/01/25/jezebel-was-a-killer-and-prostitute-but-she-had-her-good-side https://knowyourmothers.com/queen-jezebel/ https://jezebel.com/misunderstood-she-was-1820886965 https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/how-bad-was-jezebel/ https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2010/08/misunderstood-jezebel Jezebel. What Christian has written fiction about her? (Martha Artyomenko Ginger Garett, Dana McNeeley, and Mesu Andrews.)

Jane’s Q & A

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My friend and critique partner, Dave Parks, has recently published a terrific book about Elijah, and is about to publish another. I invited him to tell you about himself and his work, and here is what he said. What book did you publish? What’s the book about? Twelve-year-old Elijah tries to rescue a slave girl. … Read more

“Grab that goatskin!”

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Elijah patted the donkey’s rump. “Excuse me.” As he dove beneath the belly, his knee slid through a pile of fresh droppings. Hmm…. Better than a sharp rock. He poked his head out the other side. A mother with a baby on her back jumped away and pulled two dirty-faced children with her. Elijah favored them with the smile which had sold dozens of skins of Tishbe wine to camel pullers on the King’s Highway, but the children screamed and grabbed their mother’s knees. As Elijah scooted past, most of the donkey dung fell from his knee. “He’s getting away.” A bronze-colored chariot stood in his path. No time to run his hand over the rail or examine the … Read more

Do you pray?

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“Do you pray, Uncle Biah?” Obadiah dangled an empty prickly pear stick from his fingers. “Do I pray? Um, well.” How do I answer this child, Lord? He cleared his throat. “My conversations with the Lord lack the poetry of David or Solomon, but we talk a lot, and he listens in on my thoughts.” Ruthie hunched … Read more

Is this novel for children?

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Only for children who enjoy rescuing babies, telling the king “Neither dew nor rain,” hiding from soldiers, attacking killers with a rock, running from bandits and hiding in the surf. Or asking a widow to make “me first” a piece of bread, then giving her an endless supply of flour and a bottomless jar of … Read more

One Big Biah B1

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Prologue Two centuries after David felled Goliath, Asa reigned in Jerusalem and Baasha in Tirzah. Commander Omri laid siege to Gibbethon of the Philistines. Ahab, the commander’s little boy, brought Obadiah, his village friend, to help cheer for the troops. Background 1 Kings 16:1-16 1. The Forcing of Wrath 882 BC A Village Near Gibbethon, … Read more

Truman’s Backdrop

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October 30, 2015  ·  I just finished “Soldier Citizen: a life of Harry S. Truman” by Aida D. Donald. On early pages she describes Truman’s Bible-believing home. Late in the book, on page 266: “On May 14, 1948, at 6 pm, Israel declared itself a state. Truman immediately granted it de facto recognition.” She spends two … Read more

Reading?

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What are you reading?  In 2021 I went through Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book again. Plus C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy, which I have read once a decade since I was ten. I started 2022 with Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. And discovered the author published Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, a text I used … Read more

Contact

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This form did not work right. I hope to find one that works. Meanwhile, feel free to email me:

My Favorite Authors

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These kind writers critique Elijah’s and Obadiah’s chapters, trying to teach this novice how to write fiction. Bless ’em!

See how fun it is! — Plus, for every book sold, the author donates one to OCC/Samaritan’s Purse for their Christmas Shoebox Drive all around the world.
The grandmother of the beauty reading A Snowflake’s Adventure will send you “The Song and the Dance.”

Sherry Shindelar writes Commanche Lost and connects Stories of the Past with Hearts of Today.
Sign up for Becca’s newsletter and get this free story!

 

 

The Footsteps of Elijah

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A photo tour of the prophet’s travels. Stand where the fire fell and shout, “The Lord! He is God!” Walk where Elijah ran from Jezebel. Climb Mt. Horeb and enter the cave of “Wind, Quake, and Fire.” Where he came from – Tishbe – Hometown Where he confronted King Ahab – Jezreel City Where he … Read more

About Dave – old material to use pieces

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Thanks for being here! 1. A little about me. I taught English at colleges in Michigan and California. Delphine, my wife of 39 years, died of cancer in 2000, and I miss her every day. Two years later, I married Vickie. Every day I thank the Lord for Vickie. 2002-2010, we taught English at universities … Read more

Beta Read Obadiah

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These are 2nd Drafts. They still need work. Feel free to email me comments – profparks at gmail dot com Comments in the “Leave a Reply” form at the bottom of each chapter are visible to others. The modern English is on purpose. Yet, if something jars your sense of the ancient, please show me. … Read more

Holy Land Inspired – extra content

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In 1961, at Greenville College, I took Dr. Stanley Walters’ class on the Geography of the Holy Land. In 1964, Delphine and I toured the Holy Land for three weeks. In 1984-85, we worked at the archeology dig at Oboth, the Rift Valley oasis where Moses headquartered about 1300 BC (Numbers 21:10). When we weren’t digging, … Read more

Donald Ingram

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Donald is my cousin. Son of my mother’s baby brother, Douglas. I always called him Donnie (Donny?). But when Delphine met him, she declared, “My little brother is Donnie. We’ll call you George.” He still answers to George.

Ethbaal Links

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Topical Bible: Ethbaal: King of Sidon Topical Bible: Ethbaal Ethbaal – Biblical Cyclopedia Ethbaal | Bible Wiki | Fandom Ethbaal | Encyclopedia.com Ithobaal I – Wikipedia

Jezebel Links

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Jezebel Bible References How Bad Was Jezebel? – Biblical Archaeology Society Jezebel was a Killer and Prostitute, but She had Her Good Side Seal of Jezebel Identified – Associates for Biblical Research Jezebel in the Bible: Story & Death – Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com Jezebel | My Jewish Learning Jezebel | Description, Bible … Read more

Vanity

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So I’m writing of Obadiah’s despair when Syrians murder his father. To check if I have him quoting Ecclesiastes correctly. I search for “Vanity. Vanity. All is vanity.” The first two pages that come up show bathroom furniture at Home Depot and Lowes.

Map Points

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Custom Map Make custom, real-world maps — Check out Felt. Kishion Fort Jezreel Jezreel Valley Mt. Tabor Samaria City Jerusalem Jericho Bethel Gilgal Beitshan Megiddo Ramoth Jordan River Sea of Galilee Salt Sea Great Sea Oboth Taanach Misliya Cave Tirzah Dothan Qafzeh Cave Petra Haifa? Beersheva Joppa  

Dark Night of the Soul

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I asked K. M. Weiland, “In the flat ARC, is there a ‘dark night of the soul’?” Her gracious reply: Dave, Thanks for your note! In storytelling terms, I equate the Dark Night of the Soul with the Low Moment at the Third Plot Point. This will occur in all types of arcs (to varying … Read more

29b. Rub Out

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29b. Rub You Out 858 BC Naboth’s Vineyard behind Fort Jezreel, Israel Obadiah marched out the gate, around the far corner of the fort, and past the patch of shrubbery where the city’s merchants had killed Naboth. At the far side of the vegetable garden, Ahab stood in the first row of Naboth’s vineyard with … Read more

Elijah a Palestinian?

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If Elijah had been on this Palestine pier in 1948, this British guard would have called him a Palestinian. (Life magazine photo by Dmitri Kessel) It’s a fun story: About 1925 BC, the Lord told Abraham, “To your descendants I have given…” (Genesis 15:18) the land called Canaan. About 1300 BC the Lord told Joshua … Read more

23b. Suicide

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23b. Suicide Mountain Shechem, Ephraim, Israel 861/859? BC [Raini] Obadiah settled next to Elder Jamin on the elder’s veranda. “My first impression of the goatskin boy and his brother was, “This kid is taller than Ahab.” “And his brother was just as tall.” The elder slid a tray next to Obadiah of two cups of … Read more

03 Frustrat

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Elijah strode over to Elisha’s father and pointed him toward distant Gilead. “You are welcome at the Tishbe vineyard.” He turned back to Elisha. “You don’t need a special invitation. Once you’re on the Gilead plateau, head for Jabesh and ask for Tishbe Wines.” While Elisha and his mother beamed at Elijah, Elisha’s father clasped … Read more

02 Hazael

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02. Hazael and Jehu 860 BC Elijah said, “The Lord named your son as my replacement. Far more than a mere servant.” “Hadn’t realized,” Elisha’s Father said. [BEATi] Elisha’s mother scooted closer to her husband.ii Elisha turned his back to the fire [maybe bring in its heat?] and clamped both hands over his mouth. Replacement? … Read more

04 Report

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04. Reporting for Duty 859 BC p. 221 ch. 45 Return to Tishbe – Anoint Hazael and Jehu. “head for Jabesh and ask for Tishbe Wines.” Elisha p. 257 “You have a visitor.” [Scribblesii] Elisha dashed past Rockam and landed with both feet spraying gravel onto Elijah’s toes. “Reporting for duty, sir.” p. 258 “So, … Read more

Bernice in Love

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Bernice in Love Elijah’s father’s boyhood friend’s daughter, Bernice, sees the chance to get away from her overbearing sister-in-law and takes it. But the ad for a dentist seeking a bride turns into a disaster. Bernice’s a day late to Abilene and finds the dentist exchanging vows with another bride. One look at the mule-faced … Read more

01 Abel

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01. Abel Meholah [rainy season, so they could get the plow in the ground.i] 860 BC Elisha paused his plow in the middle of the field and draped the reins of his two oxen over the plow handles. The early morning sun rose toward high clouds, while a yellowhammer hidden in the hedgerow called zit-zit-zer-lit. … Read more

The Godwit’s Long, Long Nonstop Journey

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Albatrosses stay airborne a lot but use surface effect. Swifts stay airborne for virtually all of the 10 months when they’re not breeding or nesting, although they eat and drink during that time. === Researchers marvel at the bird’s record-holding migratory flight of 7,000 or so miles from Alaska to New Zealand at this time … Read more

Epigraphs Obadiah

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Epigraphs Obadiah 01. The Forcing of Wrath In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah … the army was encamped near Gibbethon, a Philistine town. 1 Kings 16:15 02. Swiping Pita Bread Omri, the commander of the army. 1 Kings 16:16 03. No Guards, No Race In the thirty-first year of Asa king of … Read more

Friend of the King.

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Enemy of the Queen. As close as brothers, young Obadiah and Ahab race stallions and dodge Syrian arrows together. They throw fists but always have each other’s back. When Ahab becomes king, Obadiah manages everything from the stables to the royal olive oil business. As a team, these buddies plan military strategy and, when Syria … Read more

00 Board

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Fictional Story Boarding Outline of The Hero’s Journey with Faith Points By Christina Sinisi (Adapted from work by Alexandra Sokoloff with the Faith Points Original)   For each book I write, I start with a posterboard, the kind your child uses for the Science Fair. Then, I tape index cards going vertically for each of … Read more

00 Outline

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00. Elisha’s Outline 1 Kings 19:16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations 1 Kings 19:17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will … Read more

Plains

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Elijah said I’m his replacement. He struck the water with Elijah’s mantle, stepped back, and shouted, “Where is the Lord of Elijah?” The water divided, falling left and mounting on the right. The End https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gehazi 01. Chapter One of Elisha 839 BC [Scribblesi] The Plains of Ammon Elisha unrolled Elijah’s mantle and held it out … Read more

CRIT Obadiah 19. Fire H by JaneBaker

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This chapter has side comments in the original. Meat sat where the Moloch men had stacked it. Cold. Raw. Obadiah’s stomach knotted. Would the boy on the boulder do any better? 19. Fire 861 BC Mount Carmel, Israel Obadiah smoothed and re-smoothed the front of his tunic as the sun edged out over the Great … Read more