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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Funny (10/04/12)
“Come, follow us.”

“What’s up?” Tyrone said. His friends seemed so excited, so he ran with them to the back of the school.

“Look at this.” James pulled out a book on demons shoving it in Tyrone’s face.

He wasn't big on religion, and it didn't matter to him what people believed, but he knew from his grandfather who was a devote Christian, that messing around with demons could get a person in a lot of trouble. “I don’t want anything to do with that, man.”

Allen, his best friend from first grade, waved his fingers in front of his face. “Ya scared?”

“No, I’m just not into it.” He turned to leave, but James began telling him how amazing demons were, that they could do anything. James seemed especially interested in Baal, who was worshiped by the Canaanites; because according to the book, he could make people seem invisible to others.

Tyrone leaned against the school as James showed him picture after picture of demons while telling him about each one. They did seem kind of powerful. One could make it storm, another taught magic, and one could make a girl fall in love with a guy. He liked that one, especially because the girl he liked paid absolutely no attention to him, and he could use some help. Hmm… maybe he would ask James if he could borrow the book sometime.

That weekend Tyrone went to see his grandfather who lived only twenty minutes away. After eating a couple of his grandmother’s fresh baked cookies, he asked his grandfather about the book. Before he could finish, his grandfather jumped to his feet and pointed at him, almost hitting his nose. “Don’t go near that book again, Tyrone.”

Tyrone fell back in shock. He had never seen his grandfather react so strongly about something. He whispered, “Could you tell me why?”

His grandfather sat back down. “Back home, in Jamaica, there are all kinds of these practices… and all over the Caribbean islands. People want power, so they go to demons believing they have everything to offer, but they don’t realize their power is limited and comes with a price. And the demons… they always want payment.”

The following week, Tyrone sat on the bench in front of his school waiting for his friends to show up. Opening his bag, he noticed the old black leather bible that his grandfather had given him with instructions to read 2 Kings 18. He had never read the bible, nor had he ever wanted to; but with his bag on his lap, and the bible open inside so his friends wouldn't see, he turned to the page that had been marked for him.

Tyrone had always thought the bible to be a boring book of rules; but as he read, he was intrigued. The guy named Elijah seemed like one powerful dude, and Tyrone was shocked to see that the king worshiped Baal, the same demon that James had been talking about. Even though he was alone, Elijah told the king to bring him the eight hundred prophets of Baal and Asherah, who was another demon he recognized from James’ book. Elijah confronted them all, and asked them to make up their minds about who they were going to worship. Then he gave them a challenge.

Each prophet was to kill a bull, put it on wood and pray to their god to send fire to consume it; and whichever god answered, would be the true God. The prophets of Baal went first, but Baal remained silent no matter what they did. Elijah laughed. He taunted them by telling them to pray louder as Baal might have gone on a trip or was lost in a day dream. It must have been a funny sight to behold, Tyrone thought.

When it had been Elijah’s turn, he prayed to the Lord, and everyone watched as the Lord sent fire that consumed the bull, the wood and even the stones. He was the true God as Elijah had always known he was. The witnesses couldn't help but cry out in agreement, and Tyrone nodded as he closed the book and put it back in his bag. Tonight, he would open it once more.

“Hey, Tyrone,” James called. He handed him the book about demons.

“Thanks, but no thanks. I have decided to follow the Lord, the God of Elijah. You should check him out… he puts those demons to shame.”
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This article has been read 847 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
10/11/12
This is an interesting story. You drew me in from the very beginning and I was quite intrigued by James and his friend.

This is a tiny detail but you said friend from first grade which makes it seems like the characters are in first grade but I think they are older and if you had said since first grade that would clear up any confusion.

I liked how you brought in the Bible story and think that it is a message that many people need to hear. Nice job.
C D Swanson 
10/11/12
I loved this entire entry. It was powerful, interesting, and kept me interested. Thank you.
God Bless~
Noel Mitaxa 
10/16/12
I like your light touch on what could be a very over-scary subject. Well done.
Brenda Rice
10/16/12
Your story is one my favorites this week. Well written, good content and on topic. Good job.
Jana Kelley
10/17/12
I enjoyed this entry and the "journey" that this boy was on. If there was no word limit (of course there is one but if there were not) I would have enjoyed even more details in the story (like eating the grandmother's fresh baked cookies etc.) So I think that you could make this into an even longer story if you wanted. At any rate, I liked reading about how Scripture (even OLD TESTAMENT stories!) relate to real life in the modern world. Well done!
Myrna Noyes
10/18/12
This story intrigued me, as some in my family of a couple generations and more ago were "into" the occult. My grandfather was a "channeler" of spirits, and as a child my mom saw and heard things that could not be rationally explained. Therefore, she always warned me to stay away from anything connected to spiritualism. I appreciated the warning message you sounded in your story, and I liked how you brought the truths of Scripture into it. Good job!
Bea Edwards 
10/18/12
I enjoyed reading how you incorporated my favorite Bible stories into this young boys life. Good job, one thing isn't devote- devout?