INTRODUCTION

Brandon always knew he was different. The unusual thoughts that he had and the paths that he chose as a young man were but a shadow of things to come. The events of the future would one day confirm the dreams that he had growing up as being…Prophecy. The Bible says that you can tell a tree by its fruits. The TRUTH of the words of this book can be found in the fruits of the author. From these visions and events, he has created the largest, most Spirit filled Christian community online known as … Christianity Oasis at www.ChristianityOasis.com

 
In the world, in which we live, some things that occur are hard to understand and even harder to believe. This is a TRUE STORY of events that took place, that agree with this statement. There is a force out there that is attempting to overtake us all; it is Satan. There is another force out there that is protecting us from him; it is the Holy Spirit ... It is a battle for souls. This battle is called Spiritual Warfare, and like it or not ... YOU are right in the middle of it.

CHAPTER ONE

THE UNWELCOME GUESTS

       It was at a local hotel, that the terrifying events began. Brandon, and a couple of his friends were staying at a hotel relaxing, drinking and listening to music. They usually took off for a about a week vacation, at or around Spring Break. They chose to stay at hotels during their vacation time, because they would sometimes have large gatherings of friends visit during their vacation time, and at a hotel they had the amenities such as the pool, Jacuzzi and the hotel bar. Room service was nice as well. Best of all, was that they did not feel responsible for the condition of the place they "partied" in afterward. They knew that they could tip the housekeeping staff well, and the housekeepers would clean up their mess, from the night before, and not inform the management of the hotel room's condition.
 
      On this particular late evening, or maybe it was early morning (who really knew back then) they were forced to wind down the evening's events, at the repeated request of hotel security. The music was turned down and after an hour or so, all of their invited guests decided to depart for the evening. They said their good-byes and each went their separate ways. Brandon and two of his closest friends, Mark and Anthony, went down into the plush hotel's lobby, and bought some snacks from the all night cafe. After returning to their hotel room and eating the snacks they had purchased, they started watching a movie on television, that was already half over. As they were just getting into the movie, Brandon began hearing some faint, strange noises that seemed to be coming from the ceiling. He asked the others if they could hear the strange noises as well. Mark and Anthony both confirmed that they also heard the strange rustling noises, up in the ceiling. They spent a few minutes trying to discern what the noises were, but could not figure out what it was. In their physical condition, tired and coming down from being inebriated, the three didn't give too much thought to the noises and instead turned up the television, to drown out the strange sounds. That worked fine for a while, but when they tried to sleep that night, they continued to hear the strange noises, which resulted in a restless night. The next day they decided to stop staying at that certain hotel due to the annoying sounds, that echoed from the ceilings. 

       They checked out of that hotel and went and stayed at a very nice Howard Johnson's Hotel instead. They checked in and had their luggage taken to their room, as they inspected the hotel and all it had to offer. They went and looked at the pool and then went to inspect their rooms, which they found to be satisfactory. However, no sooner had they gotten unpacked, they started hearing the same strange noises that they heard at the previous hotel, coming from the ceiling. The ceiling, at this hotel, had those two foot by four foot acoustic ceiling tiles that were held in place with metal frames. Just like the kind that are in some commercial buildings and in older schools. At first, the noises were faint, but soon the noises increased in volume and intensity. In the bathroom, the ceiling tiles even started to rise up and down, as if there was an enormous wind of some sort lifting them, but since there were no windows in the bathroom, and the air conditioner couldn't have caused enough air flow to cause this reaction, in the ceiling tiles, as it was a wall unit, located in the living area and the tiles that were lifting up were in the bathroom, they knew it was something else. They began to sense a strange feeling and felt very uncomfortable.

       They checked out of that hotel within a few hours of checking in. They chalked the strange events up to some sort of coincidence or string of freak events. They went to a third hotel, called the Double Tree Hotel. After they had been there several hours, they went down to the hotel bar and mingled with the other hotel guests. When the hotel bar had to close its doors, they returned to their hotel room. The events of the evening had begun to come to an end, and Brandon decided to retire to his own hotel room. As he was leaving his friend's room, a light fixture, which was located in the dressing area, began to turn off and on repeatedly, even though the light switch was in the off position. As Brandon would walk away from the light, the light would go off. When he would re-approach the light, it would come back on immediately. This strange occurrence happened several times. He showed his friends the phenomena, and they all three concluded that it must be a short in the wiring, but secretly, they each remembered the events at the other hotels and wondered ... What was really going on? But, being young men, in a prideful generation, they did not want to show fear or concern to one another and just pretended that they were not being affected, in any way, by these events. Even though, it seemed that the weird events might be happening again. But, they decided to just forget about it and get some sleep. 

       After Brandon said his good-nights, and went to his own hotel room, he did his normal routine of winding down from the day's activities, wanting to get a little rest. He showered and then turned on his television, but turned the volume down very low as to be able to fall asleep. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary at first. However, once he had gotten settled in, he began hearing strange noises, similar to mumbling, and the noises turned into voices, which seemed to be coming from the return air duct, just to the left of his bed. He used the remote control, to turn off the television, and listened more closely. As the voices became clearer, it became obvious that these entities, somehow, were able to see in his room, judging by the statements they were making.

      He got up, turned on the lights and inspected his room. Everything seemed to take on a different look than earlier. He searched every closet and even under the bed. Most eerie of all, was what he saw in the return air duct ... There were silhouettes of faces, hiding within, gazing back at him and whispering to one another, "he can see us." At this time, Brandon believed that it could be the people staying in the room next to his and that they could somehow see into his room, through the return air duct vent on their side. Or, maybe it was transients that had somehow gotten in the air duct system. What else could explain this? It was then that Brandon called the hotel management and reported the incident and suggested that either the neighboring occupants were invading his privacy or perhaps transients had somehow gotten into the air duct system. To him, that seemed to be the only logical explanation. A few minutes later, but what seemed like an hour, a representative from the maintenance staff of the hotel, came to his room and performed a thorough inspection of Brandon's hotel room.

       When the hotel representative finally removed the grill to the return air vent, Brandon was astonished to find out that there was only a solid walled, empty two foot by two foot area, making it physically impossible for anybody to have been hiding in the air duct. There was no back wall vent which would have allowed the neighboring room occupants to look into his room. But, how was one to explain what he had seen with his own eyes? After Brandon repeatedly insisted that he had seen someone's eyes inside that vent and that he was really hearing voices coming from the return air duct, the hotel representative contacted the management, by two way radio, and the management offered Brandon a new room, if he chose to accept it. Brandon declined the offer and instead of moving all of his personal effects to another hotel room, decided that he would just go stay with his friends in their room. The hotel representative left with a look of both deep concern and curiosity.

       Upon arriving at his friends' room, he found Anthony was asleep and Mark was watching television. Brandon told Mark of the eerie events that took place in the other room. Mark then began to tell Brandon that, earlier, while he was watching television, that the light they had earlier watched flicker off and on, as Brandon would approach it, was flickering frantically, as if to draw his attention away from the movie he had been watching. He continued on, saying that he looked over at the light and after only a few seconds, he returned his attention to the television show that he had been watching and noticed that the young woman in the movie, had aged by forty years or more. Had she aged that much in the few seconds that he had his head turned? In curiosity, he read the TV guide's description of the movie. It mentioned nothing of the woman aging. As he continued to watch the movie, it showed nothing to represent a change in her age. They pondered on these strange events, but could find no logical conclusion. Mark decided to go back to watching a movie, while Brandon paced, trying to figure out what was going on. These strange events had occurred now at three different hotels. Noises in the ceilings ... Ceiling tiles flying up and down ... A light going off and on ... Voices and eyes in a return air duct ...

       After a few minutes had passed, he was walking towards the dressing room and the floor show began. The light, in the dressing room, which had demonstrated unusual tendencies earlier, began to flicker off and on again. After watching it for a while, Brandon noticed that the flickering appeared to have a pattern to it. Brandon asked aloud, "Is there someone up there?" The light flickered twice and then the light fixture itself, started twisting back and forth and began to rattle violently. Brandon called out to his friends, and asked them to come where he was at, as to have confirmation of what he was witnessing. Anthony woke up and joined Mark as they entered the area that Brandon was standing. They all watched in amazement as Brandon talked to a light fixture and it appeared as though ... It was responding to his questions, in return. After a few moments, a crude method of communication was established, as Brandon began to talk to this unknown entity. Using flickers of light and/or knocks, to respond to Brandon's questions, the entity would answer by flickering the lights off and on only once, if the answer to Brandon's questions was NO and twice if the answer was YES. This procedure was used with knocking on the ceiling as well. Brandon said aloud, "You could have dropped that light fixture on my head." There were two flickers. Brandon was almost certain that it must be transients, in the crawl space, in between the different floors of the hotel.

       After asking a few more questions, Brandon asked if it was a good witch or a bad witch, referring to what Dorothy had asked in the movie "The Wizard of Oz." He received no response. He then realized that the question that he had asked was not a yes or no question. He asked again, but differently this time, "Are you a good witch?" One knock occurred. This meant NO. Then he asked, "Are you a bad witch?" There were two knocks, which meant YES. He asked if the entity was out to hurt him, and one flicker of light flashed. That "no" answer seemed to relieve Brandon somewhat, in this mysterious situation. He asked if the entity was evil. Immediately ... Two knocks were heard by all three men. Brandon, still thinking it was a transient, perhaps in need of money, drilled a hole, in the ceiling of the closet, with a pocketknife to put a one-hundred dollar bill in the ceiling. By the time he had reached into his pocket for the bill, rolled it up and returned his hand to the ceiling with the money, to his surprise, the hole was filled with some sort of putty.

       Not believing what he had just seen, Brandon asked Anthony to tell him what he saw. As Anthony looked inside the closet at the ceiling, he responded, "The hole has been filled with some kind of caulk." Brandon then walked toward the entry door, of the hotel room and repeated this procedure, in the ceiling, next to the entry door. He rolled up the same hundred dollar bill even more tightly and stuck the bill in the second hole, which he had drilled with the knife. The three gathered most of their belongings, and decided to depart, as these events were just a bit too strange for their liking. They went down to the hotel lobby to check out and get the balance of the money due on the two rooms and they planned to check into another hotel. While standing at the check-out counter, the expensive chandelier that hovered two stories above them in the lobby started twisting, shaking and flickering, just as the one in their hotel room had done. As the three looked around, other people in the lobby were looking up at that chandelier, so they knew that they were not the only ones seeing what was happening. They decided that the refund was not that important, and departed without collecting the balance. The three young men were very glad to get out of that place and wanted only to find another place to rest and forget what had transpired. They, all three, still believed it to be a transient. It still seemed to be the only logical explanation. They were so VERY wrong.

 

CHAPTER TWO

YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE
 

       It was eleven thirty at night. As they sat in the hotel parking lot, Brandon and his friends discussed going to Brandon's house but could not find it within themselves to end their "vacation" even though they could not find a way to explain away what had happened. It seemed wrong to just surrender, because of a few unexplained circumstances. They left there and checked into separate rooms at the Embassy Suites Hotel as they had always done. They did this because one suite only provided two double beds which was simply not adequate for the three men, However, they all hung out in one room at the beginning of the evening. They sat and talked of the events they had witnessed at the previous hotels. As the conversation transpired, many questions arose, such as how did this individual follow us from hotel to hotel? How could this individual travel through the hotel ceiling crawl space so quickly, to go from room to room and then show up in the lobby, messing with the chandelier? Was there even enough room between the levels to accommodate an individual? Why was this individual doing this? Was he or she acting alone? They wanted to be certain that the events that occurred at the other hotels were not going to happen here before Brandon left for his own room. Everything appeared normal for several hours.
 
       It was at five thirty, in the morning, that Brandon decided it was safe to go to his own hotel room. He said his good-byes and retired to his own room. Upon entering, all appeared serene. Exhausted from the adventure, he reclined in the lazy-boy chair and using the remote control, turned on the television and decided to just drift off to sleep, while watching television. After only a few moments, he began hearing some strange creaking noises, in the ventilation system. He began to hear whispers and see shadows inside the air conditioning vent, near the dining area. It was happening again. He supposed that the transient had somehow followed him to this new hotel. He asked aloud, if it was the same entity again. To his astonishment, he heard two knocks. At this point, a morbid curiosity overtook the fear and he decided to remove the vent grill himself, instead of embarrassing himself by calling hotel management again. He inspected the interior, and he found a small empty one foot by two foot space, which was obviously too small for a human being to be in. He did not know how, but the voices must have been coming from somewhere else and were echoing into the room, but what of the silhouettes and eyes? He decided to place food, cigarettes and money in the small space, before replacing the grill, in case whoever it was could reach into the small area somehow. He replaced the vent grill and closed the vent air flow direction gear to prevent him from being able to see into the vent and more importantly, to prevent whatever it was from being able to see out.

       As he returned to his chair and slowly looked back at the vent, he watched as the mechanism, that controlled the vent air flow direction, began slowly opening by itself until the blades were fully opened. He sat frozen in the chair, as his eyes stayed glued intently on the vent. Then, the screws that held the vent onto the wall began unscrewing by themselves. As he looked around the dimly lit room, he heard a faint drilling sound and began to see a bunch of pencil lead-sized holes being made in the walls and ceiling continuously, which created bright slivers of light, which emanated from these holes, and then, as mysteriously as they were made, the holes were being filled with what appeared to be caulk or putty. This could only mean that there was more than one entity because of the amount of holes being drilled, in many places, at the same time. Brandon remembered drilling the holes, in the ceiling of the previous hotel, for the hundred dollar bill and knew that these entities were copying his act for some reason. It was at this moment that it FINALLY hit Brandon. He suddenly knew that he was both wrong and right. Something had followed him from the other hotels ... That was certain. But, he was wrong ... It was not a transient.

       Brandon sat there, in that lazy boy chair, almost paralyzed in shock, as shadows started appearing everywhere, in particular under the front door. It appeared as though someone was standing outside and then would walk away and come back to stand in front of the door again. Brandon jumped up and raced to the door, and swung it open, only to find nobody there. How could that be? It only took a few seconds to get from the chair to the door. But still, there was nothing there, just a long, empty hallway. He looked down the hall in both directions, but there was nobody within eyesight. No sooner would he shut the door and return to his seat, that the shadows would come back and appear to pass back and forth at the entry door. He repeated this act three times, with the same result. There was just nobody out there. However, the last time he opened the door, an exit door which was about twenty yards from his door would open and close by itself. Brandon watched as the exit door would slowly open all the way and then close itself again. But nobody was entering or exiting that door. Brandon returned inside his room and locked all of the locks on the door, even the chain lock ... But, would this really help?

       What was going on and why was this happening to him? He watched as the occurrences continued. Knocking on walls and ceilings, holes being drilled with slivers of light shining from the hole, then the hole disappearing, drilling sounds, shadows, noises and voices ... Suddenly he felt a jolt of panic, which drove away any curiosity that he may have still had. This was getting just too freaky for him and he felt that he could not take it any more. So, he grabbed all of his belongings and left immediately and went back to his friends' room. Upon arrival, he told the others of the strange events, that he had experienced in the other room. They talked for a while, but could not understand what was happening. They decided to try and sleep. Brandon sat on a chair in the corner of the room. He looked at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was now daylight, almost eight o'clock in the morning. Exhausted, he finally drifted off to sleep.

        It was seven thirty the next morning. They had slept for almost a full twenty four hours, as they had not slept in days, due to the strange occurrences. They looked around to be certain that is was safe to rise. They arose, showered and went downstairs to have breakfast in the hotel restaurant and they discussed what had been happening, and their options on what to do at this point of their "vacation" ... After much discussion, they decided to just carry on, as they had originally planned and thought that maybe they were just so tired, that their minds were playing tricks on them. Nobody really believed that theory though, they just wanted to forget what had happened and try to enjoy the rest of the time they had. They spent the day at the pool, laying in the sun and talking about the events that had transpired. When evening came, they had dinner at the hotel restaurant. Then they went to the hotel bar mingling with the other hotel guests, shooting pool and just trying to have fun as to forget the terrifying events. They stayed until the hotel bar closed. Then they had something to eat at the hotel snack bar. It seemed like they were intentionally staying away from their hotel rooms.

       They did eventually return to the hotel room though, at about three o'clock in the morning, and all seemed serene. They just sat and talked about the events and tried to plan the next few days of their vacation. They all fell asleep, at about six o'clock in the morning, without incident. They awoke that afternoon, ordered room service and watched movies on television. Since they had awoken at about three o'clock in the afternoon, they could not sleep. About five o'clock in the morning, the same things started happening again. All three experienced the same "visions." The shadows, sounds of drilling, holes in walls and ceilings, whispers, flashes of light and knocks on the walls and the ceilings. These men were educated, well grounded, fearless men that refused to accept what they were seeing. They spent countless hours, trying to figure out what and who it was, that was doing this. There must be some sort of logical answer. But, after several hours of this, they began to become very weary and concerned. Brandon had no idea who or what it was that was doing this and really did not care. The three decided that they would depart, yet again, and go to another hotel. They were determined to lose this entity. They just wanted it to stop. But it had just begun. 

CHAPTER THREE

       For the next three days Brandon did not eat anything. It was as though a change was taking place inside of him. He could feel it. When he finally did eat, his diet had changed, though not intentionally. He would only eat certain foods such as fish, chicken, vegetables and fruit. He would not leave his house for several days as he felt it was a sanctuary of sorts. As the week passed, he regained his strength and courage and would venture out during the daylight hours only, always making sure to be home by dark. As the days passed, Brandon started feeling different inside. His good qualities seemed to have been amplified and his bad habits were diminishing. After two weeks, he returned to his construction business and was no longer afraid to stay out after dark. He had been renewed somehow ... Changed from within.

CHAPTER FOUR

NEW GENESIS
 

       The Miracle Workers business was growing more popular every day. There were hundreds of calls a day. People needing financial help, wanting answers to different questions, very unique requests of every type. many even called wanting the next days Lottery numbers, which was not given obviously. Brandon continually felt the presence of bad. He searched diligently but to no avail. He asked aloud, "Is there something bad in this office." That "feeling" inside of him said yes. He panicked and started tossing many items from the office into the dumpster outside. All pictures, books, trinkets and anything that did not have a Religious or spiritual meaning were tossed. He started to feel better and didn't care which of the items were bad, but was just glad that any of the items which may have contained the bad in it, was out of that Church. The Church had returned to its sanctuary-like self. When he had opened the Church and flooded the walls with Religious pictures and sayings, he had never actually read some of them. Tonight he decided to do so and read each and every one of them. He came upon a picture that after reading it, sent chills up his spine.

       The title on the picture was "Do You Wonder Where We've Gone?" The story read as follows: We've gone to live with Jesus, we're sorry you're alone ... Many of your friends and family are missing and you know in your heart what has taken place. We tried to tell you, if only you would have listened and accepted Jesus before the Rapture. You must understand, your last chance is now. Though it won't be easy, it's not too late. Accept Jesus into your heart and believe in Him. Never bow down or take the mark of man. (Revelation 14:9-11) This will become law, but you must resist. (Ephesians 6:10-15) The New World system will try to convince you that life will be better. Don't be deceived; it's one of many lies they will tell. (Revelation 14:6,7) Take what you need from my house, what once was mine is now yours. These things will help to build courage and faith. (Ephesians 6:16) Read Revelation, Isaiah and Daniel. These books will help you understand and instruct you what you must do. To accept Jesus is eternity in Heaven. (Revelation 15:2-4) To reject Him is eternity in Hell. I tell you these things not to scare you but because I care for you very much. Pray continually for you will need strength for the battles ahead. Never give up hope, for Jesus wants no man to perish. You must decide. Listen to your heart and know these things to be true. If you want Jesus to be Lord of your life, repeat this prayer. Dear Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to die for my sins. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord. Pray now and be strong. Remember the Lord is always with you. Signed, A Friend in Christ.

       After reading these words, Brandon felt an energy and had a new outlook on things. He got his Bible and as he read the passages of scripture referred to him in those words, he discovered what his purpose was. Everything became very clear, and his discovery was answered in his soul once again with that familiar "intense chill feeling." Brandon read from the book of Isaiah that night and marveled at the way this man foretold of events that were to come to pass from 800 to 2800 years away. He also read from the books of Daniel and Revelation and began to learn of the events that would occur soon which were called the End Times.

         As he read, Brandon's mind wandered back to a dream that he had as a child and even into his teens. The dream occurred many times. In the dream, there was a giant that would rise up out of a ravine and chase him until he caught and killed Brandon. He pondered on the dream and associated it with the story of antichrist rising from the pit and killing Christians. Was God revealing what would happen to him even before Brandon had become a Christian? Was this a prophecy? He KNEW ... This would be the way he would die. He felt compelled to share more about the End Times and to show people that the end was indeed NEAR. But he had to learn more. He had to study EVERYTHING. And ... He did.

CHAPTER SEVEN

       The Holy Spirit told Brandon that he needed to go visit a friend of his, named Larry, who was raised an atheist, but recently had heard of what God had done in Brandon's life, and at times, showed faith in God. Upon arriving at his house, the outside air was unusually still. As Brandon looked around, he told Mark and Anthony that this was the calm before the storm. They knocked on the door and asked Larry to come outside on the front porch and talk. He was in a very irritable mood. With some resistance, he agreed to come out. Brandon asked him what was wrong and Larry replied that he did not feel good lately and had been thinking strange thoughts. Out of the blue, he blurted out that he believed that Brandon was a false prophet. Brandon said nothing, but his two friends were astounded at this man's words because they knew he had witnessed many strange events and rebuked him for what he was saying, but the man continued to state his new belief. They reminded him of his faith earlier that month, but he held firm to his new belief. Brandon told him that he should concern himself with who had put that thought in his mind, God or satan. They reminded him of how they had been friends for several years and that he had once visited the Church and how he had cried and said he could feel God's presence in the Jesus Room ... But, all of this was to no avail. He refused to hear their words.

       All of a sudden, the winds picked up and Brandon told him that this was to be the start of a sign for him to listen, but he refused. Larry lamely said that it had been windy off and on all day, and that the sudden strong gusts were nothing more than a coincidence. He repeated over and over his accusation each time they would try to reason with him and then suddenly blurted out, "Brandon, if you're a true prophet of God, have God give me a sign." Instantly, the exterior lights that ran along a path in his yard came on all by themselves and got brighter with each second. They were humming very loud. The most interesting thing about this occurrence (besides the lights coming on by themselves, at the moment he made his demand for God to give him a sign) is that these lights had not worked for many years, because all electrical power to these lights were rotted and needed to be replaced. Larry stood up with a look of shock and fear and said, "Who did that?"

       Brandon said, "The Holy Spirit did and He is showing you the sign you asked for."  Larry cracked a smile, but then remembered he was supposed to be in denial and returned to his prideful state of mind and said, "Tell God to turn on a light in the sky," because it was evening. Brandon warned Larry not to tempt God. Brandon became filled with the Holy Spirit and began to preach for half an hour trying to reason with his old friend, but any man who bears witness to what had just happened, when he knows that the lights had not worked for several years and just pretends it away, cannot be reached while still in that state of mind, and needs time alone to ponder on what he saw and heard. Brandon decided to leave Larry and let God work on him. The last thing Brandon told him was, "Pride cometh before destruction."

       The next day, Larry called the Church and complained of not being able to breathe. Brandon told him that he would pray for him. His breathing returned to normal immediately ... And thanks to God's grace ... So did Larry. They were friends once more and Larry, knew the truth once again. Brandon began to increase his prayer time and became much closer to the Holy Spirit. He read more of the Bible every day. He asked God for Him to remove all selfishness and pride from within him and to let the Holy Spirit take over him completely so that he would not sin or mislead anyone accidentally, because he knew that he was just a man. He and his friends fasted and ate and drank nothing to show their faith and obedience. Brandon started preaching to large groups of people at a time and he noticed that his excellent gift of being able to express his thoughts by way of words and his new knowledge of God's Word ... Were a great combination.

       Over the next few days, they received many calls such as rape victims, mothers wanting their sons out of jail, people claiming to be harassed by devils, sick people, some needing money, some wanting work, some wanting away from abusive husbands, some caught up in adultery and confessions of other sins. Each was resolved in a manner which the caller probably did not expect. For example, one lady told Brandon that she wanted to get away from her husband because he was abusing her. Brandon told her that within three days, she would be away from him. Two days later, the woman called back crying saying that her husband had left her and had taken everything including their children. Brandon explained to her that she had received exactly what she asked for from God, because she had failed to mention to Brandon that the true reason she wanted away from her husband, was because she was dating another man. Brandon explained that God was being fair because God had given her what she wanted and also what she deserved and all within the 3 allotted days that Brandon had told her it would take for her to be away from him.

       The woman's sister, after finding out about this event, came into Brandon's office and asked for a job because after hearing what had happened with her sister became curious about God. Her name was Judy. As the days passed, the Miracle Workers business was growing strong and the Church was full of the Holy Spirit. Many others started joining in on the daily Bible study. There was one aspect of the Miracle Workers service that became a problem though. It was the Christian dating service aspect and, was dissolved by Brandon that very day, because of what a potential female client had said to Brandon during an interview. She said that she wanted more than one man. That she, as well as a friend of hers that was already a client of the Miracle Workers Christian dating service wanted to get as many "dates" as they could get as to find the richest and sexiest guys. She smiled as she said that she wanted two men ... One to be her husband and another to be her lover, and was concerned about Brandon's confidentiality policy because she said that she did not want these two men to ever meet or find out what she was doing. Then she said the words that burned into Brandon's heart ... She said, "and to think, I will have you to thank for that" as she started moving toward the other side of the desk where Brandon was at. The idea did not sit well with his purpose, so he had her escorted off of the property and immediately closed that aspect of the business within the very same hour.

       The mother of a missing child had called the office repeatedly and she was begging for some help in having her child returned to her. She said that she had found out where her child was but did not know how to go about retrieving her child. Brandon had his investigator research the situation and go to interview the mother. After reviewing the findings, Brandon contacted a reporter, local television stations and got all the necessary paperwork from legal institutions to proceed in retrieving the child, which apparently had been taken by a family member several years ago and the authorities had surrendered the search. Brandon spent countless man hours preparing for a court date against the person who "took" her child. A few days later, Brandon paid for the woman to fly to Austin to appear at a court hearing. He had everything set up so that the reporters would be there just as both parties arrived at the courthouse so that if for some strange reason the evidence was not strong enough to prove the truth, that public opinion would become a factor.

       The Mother never showed up at the airport. She called hours later to say that she had missed the plane, which seemed very strange to Brandon, since she claimed she had not seen her child in many years, and one would assume that she would be VERY eager to be reunited with the child. Brandon had to cancel everything that he had arranged at the courthouse and looked foolish to those involved. A new court date had to be set. As the days passed, many questions arose as to the validity of the mother's claim. Brandon became very concerned about the mother's true intent and decided to go interview her himself to see if he could discern the truth of this matter. Brandon and a few friends piled into a vehicle and headed for the city in which the mother resided. On the way to the mother's home, he was telling a story, to those in the vehicle with him, of how he and a friend were walking to Corpus Christi from Austin when he was younger, and how when they had gotten most of the way there, his friend became tired and walked across the road and started walking back to Austin, even though they had traveled 90 % of the way. The point of the story was to show how some people surrender their goals, aspirations and even their dreams, when it would be easier to just keep going. About that time, there were two men on the road they were on, one on either side of the road and one had his thumb out ... In the direction of Austin and the other had his thumb out in the direction of Corpus Christi. God, was putting a period at the end of Brandon's story.

       Brandon then began to tell of the parable in the Bible about the field and the tares. This is a story told by Jesus speaking of the end of the world and how the good and bad people would be separated and the good would go to Heaven and the bad would be put into the fiery depths of Hell. When he got to the end of the story, they were coming upon a hill. At the top of the hill, just a few yards off the road was a very small, old shack that was completely engulfed in flames. Everyone in the vehicle just stared at it and knew that it was yet another period, on Brandon's story. They finally arrived and after hours of discussion, headed back to Austin, with the Mother in the vehicle, as she had agreed to go there to be interviewed by reporters the next day. The woman was very talkative, but little she said made any sense and hardly any of it was to do with her missing child. Several hours had passed, since they had seen the shack that was on fire. It was still burning when they passed it again on the way back, yet people were just driving by as if it were not on fire and the flames seemed not to be destroying the shack.

      The next day the Mother and Brandon's investigator were to go downtown to speak with authorities regarding the case, but she would not go. She was asked to take a polygraph as to the validity of her words, but she denied that as well. When they returned to the office, Brandon had her brought to his office. Brandon told her that something was very wrong with her story and that he did not believe that her child had been taken from her. Finally, she admitted that she had gotten tired of being a mother and sold her child to another family member, but could not locate them and that she now wanted the child back, because she could get more help from the government with a dependent. She was sent home on a plane immediately. Brandon learned a valuable lesson that day. All this time he had been so self righteous about helping this woman retrieve her child that he never asked the Holy Spirit, what the truth of the matter was. He would from now on, in EVERY matter.

       Judy asked to speak to Brandon and informed him that her Mother was very concerned about her working for such a strange individual and that she thought that Judy was involved in a cult and that Brandon was a false prophet. Judy told Brandon that her mother was wanting to come to the Church and bring the Pastor of her Church, which was a very popular Religious figure at one of the more "prestigious" Churches in town. He had his Sunday morning television program and everything, so Judy's Mother felt he would be an excellent choice to prove Brandon a false prophet. Judy, with a look of curiosity, asked if Brandon was willing to meet with this Pastor as to make her Mother more comfortable. Brandon accepted the challenge, despite knowing it would be more of a witch hunt than a meeting and sharing of thoughts of Christians, but he remembered how God proved to Larry that Brandon was indeed a true prophet and had no problem with someone wanting to find out what was REAL.

CHAPTER EIGHT

PROPHET ... LIVE OR MEMOREX?

       The next day began with a loud, deafening sound of thunder. Brandon and Mark went out front to watch the floorshow. God was using the thunder and lightning to speak with Brandon again. It was cool and a light rain was falling upon the two of them. Brandon told Mark that God was warning them of someone that was coming to the Church, the next day. They both fell to their knees and were worshipping God. Brandon said "I love you Father" and a large booming thunder rang out which was so loud, that it set off all of the car alarms in the parking lot. There are no words to express the feeling one experiences to be allowed to witness the power, love and glory of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Brandon and Mark returned inside the Church and watched the movie, "Jesus of Nazareth" which is an excellent movie version of the story of Jesus.

       The next day began with a visitor at the Church. There was a young man knocking at the front door asking to speak with Leticia. He was allowed to enter, as to speak his mind. It was an old boyfriend of Leticia's (a person that worked at the Church) that had been calling her lately, according to him. She was not there, as the Church was closed at the time of his visit, and he became very irate, because those that were opening the Church, that day, knew not where she was. Later, Brandon would find out that he wanted her to quit her job at the Church. He began to speak loudly and use many foul words, in the Church. The young man was escorted from the property immediately and permanently. When she arrived for work, she asked to talk with Brandon. Leticia told him that she was being torn between two worlds. An old love, and a new love for Christ. Brandon told her that she was free to choose what she wanted to do, but that she should consider that the young man in question, according to the past history between Leticia and this young man that Leticia shared with Brandon, left her years ago and suddenly showed back up wanting her to come back to him.

       Brandon also told her that whatever she was going to choose, to choose quickly, as this drama was disruptive to the Church. She seemed so confused as to what to do. Should she choose a man who broke her heart and dumped her for another woman years ago, and now wanted her back because the woman he left her for, left him ... Or should she stay with her new love, Jesus. Brandon told her that she could have both her new love and Jesus and she said that her old boyfriend did not believe in Jesus. He told her that it was apparent that she was going to return to him and that was fine, but that he was not allowed on the property again. She said that the real problem was that he did not want her to work for Christians. Brandon reiterated his concern and sent her away. Brandon praised God that the Holy Spirit had warned him the day before of this man coming to the Church. Brandon was told by the Holy Spirit that Leticia was going to leave soon. Brandon wondered if there was something more he could have done. God told him ... They must CHOOSE. This law of the heart would prove to break Brandon's heart many times in the future.

CHAPTER NINE

PREACHING, TEACHING AND REACHING

        Brandon, Mark and Anthony worked some of the day out in the field, as they were in the construction business, as to be able to financially support the Church. After they had completed the tasks of the day, they watched a few spiritual movies. Later that evening, they had Church. They would all read from the Bible, talk about things that bothered them and would spend time communing with the Holy Spirit. During the group talks, one of the Church employees named Trish began acting very strange. She was ranting and raving about many different personal matters. She was constantly getting drunk and doing things that would later shame her, staying away months at a time, only to return and ask for help to get her life back together, which Brandon would do. This time, she said that she needed money and had personal matters to deal with. Brandon gave her money and she disappeared ... Again.

       It is sad to see someone choose their old world after returning to God. As it says in the Bible, it is as a dog returning to their vomit. (2Peter 2:20-22) Brandon would share little bits of the events of the past six months with the people who had begun to join the Bible study. He would share with them the great power of God and how God was always there to save him. Brandon taught them to ask God in secret to be answered openly. (Matthew 6:6) He taught them to beware speaking aloud, because satan could hear as well and that sometimes he would show signs that could deceive them, but that the devil could not read your mind. At that second, a loud thunder sounded off. Brandon decided to go outside and talk with God. He was told by God that there was a spiritual warfare going on. A battle for souls. All of those at that Bible study, sat and watched the lightening in silence for the next few hours.

       It was Halloween ... Brandon decided that he would not acknowledge this holiday any longer, but instead would start celebrating All Saints Day, which was the next day (November 1st) It is similar to the End Times in that there is a time of evil spirits running around and then a time of Saints having their day. In Church, they were studying the book of Genesis. There was a man named Enoch mentioned of briefly. They decided to search for more literature on this man named Enoch. Brandon bought a book called "The Book of Enoch" and began reading aloud out of that book to the group. The book was very descriptive and spoke of God taking Enoch up to Heaven and showing him what Heaven looks like and introducing Enoch to the angels and explaining to him what some of the angel's administration and job description were. It spoke in detail of the passage in Genesis chapter 6. It explained how some of God's angels looked down on Earth and found that the women were admirable to these angels and the angels decided to trade God's presence and go down to Earth and "mate" with these women which was a decision that would prove to change the world. The offspring from the angels and women were "giants". These fallen angels taught mankind about vanity, pride and war by teaching them how to create mirrors, weapons and other things as to have humans become ... evil. As time passed, these "giants" were killing off humans with war. God heard the prayers of the humans and passed judgment. The fallen angels were sent to Hell, until judgment day. The "giants" which were the children of the fallen angels and the human women were sentenced to walk to and fro on the Earth until Judgment Day as evil spirits. These entities work for satan and are the ones that haunt Christians in an attempt to get them to return to their old ways ...

       At the time Brandon was reading this part in the book to the group, they all heard a very loud noise in the alley behind the Church. They immediately went out back to see what the noise was. It took no more than 20 seconds to get to the alley behind the Church, by way of the back door, but when they arrived, it was quiet and no vehicles were in sight. However, when they looked at the dumpster, it was full and even overflowing with GIANT Halloween items. Everything from giant skeletons to giant tombstones, etc. The strangest thing was HOW these items got in there. The dumpster was so full of these items, that it would have taken a large trailer to fill it. How would anyone unload a large trailer, and escape in the 20 seconds that it took them to get to the back door to the alley? There were so many items in the dumpster that it looked like a haunted house had been unloaded into the dumpster. Suddenly the air felt very still and they all knew something was very wrong. They returned into the Church and came to the conclusion, that the "Giants" which were now evil spirits were just making their presence known and confirmed after being read about from the Enoch book. Brandon decided that in the best interest of the newer people in the group, to put away the book and return to reading the Bible. Brandon remembered the evil spirits that haunted him and his friends several months back and now knew more about these entities, and their origin. Brandon and his friends despised Halloween from that day forward.

       They woke up late the next morning and rushed out to make their appointment only to find the vehicle they had driven to the Church, failed to start. They tried everything to get it started, but to no avail. They were stranded. Finally, they had someone bring them another one of their vehicles from another location. When it arrived, they headed off for their appointment, late but they still believed they could make it. But, on the way, a vehicle sped in front of them and cut them off. This angered Brandon and he took the side road and went over a curb in an attempt to get in front of the vehicle that had passed him. Suddenly, the tire blew out and he pulled over. They were stranded yet again. As they sat there, Brandon pondered on why God would allow this to occur. He heard in his mind that he was to be more patient with mankind as they knew not what they did. It then came to Brandon's attention that he had been in such a rush to get to man's world obligations, that he had forgotten to pray. He then prayed right there on the side of the road. They had the tire repaired and decided to cancel the appointment.

       Later that afternoon, they had another place to be and on the way another car sped passed them, and cut them off again with Anthony driving. This time, Brandon told Anthony to just pull over and forgive the individual. Just then a police car sped passed them and pulled over the vehicle that had passed and cut them off. They praised God for teaching them to forgive because had they repeated the morning's events, they would be the ones pulled over by the police.

       When they returned, Jerome, who worked at the Church, was acting very strange. He seemed to be mad at everybody. Brandon asked him what was wrong and he said that his girlfriend had not called for a few days and he did not know what was going on with her. Brandon asked the Holy Spirit what to say and he was told that the woman was bad and that this would be proven, if Jerome would go to a specific place that evening. Brandon told Jerome what had been said. Jerome was both surprised and upset about the response. He said that Brandon had no right to say such things. Brandon said that he should go where he had been told to go as to confirm what was said and truth would be known. That evening, Jerome went to a pool hall that Brandon had told him about and found his girlfriend kissing up on three men at a pool table in the back of the pool hall. Jerome found out what he wanted to know and now knew truth. Jerome immediately returned to the Church and told everyone about the event that took place. Jerome became very close with Brandon and the others, from that point on.

       Leticia, telling everyone that she was still undecided about what she was going to do about her boyfriend, asked for the day off and said that she wanted to visit with family for the day. Brandon told her that it was fine, but to let him know if she was going to be at Church that evening. During Church that night, she called and spoke with her best friend at the Church, Judy. She said that she was running late and would be about fifteen minutes late. Brandon told everyone that she would not be coming back, as that is what he was told by the Holy Spirit. Everyone looked surprised at him because of his words because she had just called to say she would be there soon. Judy even started mouthing off and saying that HER FRIEND would not lie to her and that she would even bet Brandon that Leticia was going to be back. Brandon refused to bet but repeated what he had said. She would not be back ... A few hours later, just before Church ended, Leticia called and told Judy that she was going back to Illinois and would be back in a month. They would never see her again. Brandon felt sorry for Judy and they all went out and had ice cream. Brandon praised God for revealing the intent of man again. He pondered on how just one month earlier, he was told that she would be leaving. 

       Brandon saw the word "Hanukkah" on the calendar as he changed the calendar page. The Holy Spirit told him to study and to teach of this date as it was to be a VERY important date in the future. It is a Jewish holiday symbolizing the ousting of Antiochus Epiphanes, a cruel enemy of the Israelites. There is an eight day period where they exchange gifts, rest from work and just have fun. The "Menorah" was created in those days, so Brandon went and bought a Menorah and decided to celebrate the Hanukkah, since the Holy Spirit said that it was a holiday that was a shadow of things to come. On the Menorah, there are eight candles which are to be lit, one at a time, each night for eight days. Brandon also found out that the true Sabbath, God's day of rest for the Jewish people, was to be held from sundown on Friday evening, until sunset on Saturday evening and that Sunday was not the Sabbath, but was the Lord's Day. A day which symbolizes Jesus' resurrection. They would also hold these two days as holy days, from this point on.

       Christmas neared and Brandon wanted to give Jesus a gift for his birthday. He decided to build an altar atop of the Church. He read up on the method of constructing an altar, in the Bible. He and his friends went to a local stream and collected 24 stones. They climbed upon the roof of the Church and placed 12 stones in a circle, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. They placed a cross made of 12 stones in the center of the circle representing the 12 apostles. Every night after Church, they would climb a ladder and go up and worship at this altar. It was an awesome feeling. One night, while coming down from the roof, they saw flashing lights and men running towards them with flashlights yelling out "freeze and drop to the ground." They saw that it was the police and did as they were told. After being "frisked" they were handcuffed and forced to lay on the ground, right in front of the Church door. The police questioned them about what they were doing on the roof. They told the police that they were worshiping the Lord, at their altar.

       The police went up on the roof and found the altar but still did not believe them. At that point one officer said, where is the fourth person. Since there was only Brandon, Mark and Anthony upon the roof, the three insisted that they were the only ones there. Several of the police officers reported seeing a fourth entity and demanded that the three give up the name of the fourth figure. It was at this time that Brandon knew that the Holy Spirit was with them on that roof and told the officer that it was the Holy Spirit that was the fourth man with them. After about a half hour, the police realized they had made a mistake because they owned the Church and released the three. The police left puzzled and hurriedly.

       It was Christmas day. They had placed a large live Christmas tree in the office a few weeks earlier and decorated it with an array of ornaments, lights and decorations. This was to be the first Christmas, they would celebrate together, since the crazy events several months back. They spent most of the day praying and communing with the Holy Spirit. Late that evening, Brandon got a call from a person which he called a "scribe" because they did all of the journal writing ... He wanted a day to day documentation of events kept, due to the unusual circumstances that they were involved in, just in case it was ever needed and this individual, kept those records. The person called to tell him of a vision that she had and asked him to come quickly, as to hear what God had told her to tell Brandon. On the drive over, Brandon doubted that this were true, as he could not figure out why God would need to tell "some woman" of a vision, instead of just telling Brandon himself.

       He arrived at the home of the "scribe" and entered the house. She looked very excited and asked him to come and see something. She showed him what appeared to be a dead rosebush, with one single rose on it. She began to tell him of a dream that she had. She said that, in her dream, she heard a list of names that she could not make out, but then heard the names Rudolph, Benjamin and the "gatherer" whose surname shall be Peace. (which was Brandon's last name, in this book. Keep in mind that ALL of the names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved) She continued by saying that the voice, in her dream, told her to tell Brandon that if he went straightway for seven years, that he would die, but to turn around and he would live forever. She was then told to tell him "That which is desolate in winter will sprig" and she saw her rosebush in her vision. When the vision had finished, she awoke and went to the rose bush in the living room and found that the bush which was dead the day before, had a new, single rose on it. The strange thing was that Brandon had given this woman a rose bush left behind by Gidget, an old friend of Brandon's. Another strange thing was that he had been told the same thing, that she claimed to have heard, that crazy night several months ago and that he had not told this woman of those words. He was told that crazy night that he was the "gatherer" and that he had to turn his life around if he was to live forever. But the bloodline was not listed. The unknown names and then, Rudolph, Benjamin and the "gatherer" ... Brandon decided to look into his "family tree" and found that the last name of Rudolph, was an ancestor of his. 

       It was now the first day of the new year. Brandon believed that what one did on the first of the year, would be a foundation of sorts, for what they would do for the entire year so he spent most of the entire day communing with the Holy Spirit and in prayer. He received a call from Trish who had once worked at the Church. No matter who they were or what the reason was that they left, most every one that ever got to know Brandon, would always keep in touch. That is because the things they experienced while there, were too much to just pretend away. Miracles have a way of reaching deep within. There was another call from a woman who said she needed groceries for her and her children. The Church was well known for donating funds to worthy causes as well as performing miracles in peoples lives. Brandon asked the Holy Spirit if this woman which was asking for money was for a truly worthy cause (As he did with each request the Church received) The answer to the question was yes, and he authorized the purchase and they bought her and her family a multitude of groceries. The rest of the day was spent looking back on all that God had done for them in the eight months that had passed, since the crazy night.

      Brandon, Mark and Anthony went over to Jerome's apartment because he was being evicted because his manager found out his electric had been cut. Jerome had told them of how she entered his apartment and degraded him with words. She told Jerome that he was being evicted because he had no electric. The electric company was requiring $240.00 and Jerome did not have the money. Brandon called the electric company and made financial arrangements and they turned on the electric, the same day. Jerome called the manager and told her that the electric was back on and she said that she was on her way to his apartment. Upon arriving, she saw Brandon and his friends in the apartment and told Jerome that she was now going to evict him for having too many occupants in the unit.

      After being told the manager's new problem, Brandon decided to write the manager a letter to get her to back off of his friend Jerome. It was obvious that she was biased, as Jerome was black. Brandon used the law, the rules in the rental contract agreement and even her own words against her decision and made it clear that there would be a legal reaction, to her action of evicting Jerome. The letter was hand delivered and within an hour, she was back at the door. She asked Jerome to please come outside. She apologized and told him that she was not going to pursue the eviction. Jerome returned to his apartment with a smile and a renewed spirit ... The Holy Spirit wins again ...

CHAPTER TEN

THAT WHICH IS DEAD IN WINTER WILL SPRING
 

       A woman that used to work for the Church called today and asked that Brandon would call her back. Her name was Gidget. She was the one who had left the rose bush that had bloomed in the winter, in the "scribes" vision. She was also the one that almost gave Brandon the poison chicken. Brandon asked the Holy Spirit if he should return her call. He was told that he should call her. He then discerned what the vision meant ... That which was dead in winter, was coming back to LIFE. The vision that the scribe had, was now in visible expression. It was Gidget that was coming back to life. He called Gidget as he had been told to do by the Holy Spirit. She informed Brandon that she had been doing some very bad things but was now trying to get closer to God. She asked to meet with Brandon. There were several people that went with Brandon to meet Gidget, as Brandon decided to spend the day at the lake. They barbequed, played football, frisbee and just relaxed. Brandon still did not feel right about letting Gidget know where they lived, because of some of the words she spoke when she left, months ago, so they said their good-byes and they returned home and played Bible-opoly and just shared thoughts and time. Over the next week or so, they continued to meet out at the lake and would all even spend the night out there. They set up tents, made bon fires and just enjoyed each others company. But Brandon knew ... Something was not right.

       Today, Larry called and said that he had a dream that Brandon was a false prophet ... Again. This is not an unusual event with Larry, as he was very old and loved attention. He was an atheist before God proved His existence to Larry. This was the same man who had demanded that God show him a sign and God turned on the lights that had bad electric wiring. Mark was the one who answered the phone and told Larry that he should not say such things because he was already shown, by God himself, that Brandon was a servant of God. Larry just continued to speak foul things and finally just hung up. That evening, Larry's favorite thing in the whole world was taken from Larry. His dog died ... This dog was like a child to him. He called and apologized for his words, in his own way and all was forgiven ... God does not play.

     Trish called drunk, as usual, and asked to be helped. She claimed she was at a "redneck" club and men were hassling her in the parking lot. Brandon, Mark and Anthony jumped into a truck and headed for the club. Upon arrival, they saw two men at Trish's car and Brandon went up and told her to go park her car by his truck. One of the two guys that were hassling her, played tough guy and told Brandon that he liked to play bumper cars on his way home when he was drunk. Brandon said ... Then, let it be so. The two men walked away, with a puzzled look on their face because of what Brandon had said and went to their car. On the way out of the parking lot, they were arguing with security and in an attempt to escape from security's pursuit, wrecked into another car, but were able to get the vehicle to continue to operate, with the bouncers chasing after them, they escaped.

        The bouncers then came to talk with Brandon and his friends. They walked up very aggressively, all five of them wearing trench coats like they thought they were the characters in the movie, Tombstone. Still angered about the guys who had just wrecked into a vehicle and yet escaped their grasp, they told Brandon to leave immediately. Brandon told them what his business was there. He said he was there to save a friend from being molested by the two men who just wrecked into the car, in THEIR parking lot. He also said that if they had been doing their job, none of this would have transpired, as they would not have been harassing her and she would not have called him and they would not be asking him to leave the parking lot. They looked as if they were in a daze and all 5 started walking off in different directions as though lost. Brandon and the others left without further incident, safely returning to Jerome's. Anthony followed them in her car.

      Trish had many problems from her past. Family violence and lost loves were pressing on her heart and caused her to drink heavily. Brandon attempted to talk with Trish. She was so intoxicated that she did not know what she was doing or saying. After about 10 minutes, she started yelling and running off into the distance. She went and hid behind a dumpster in an apartment parking lot. Brandon and the others found her passed out and loaded her into an HEB buggy, which was also next to the dumpster, and rolled her back towards Jerome's apartment. They put her on the couch for her to sleep off her buzz. When they returned to the house the next day, she was gone. They heard from her weeks later. She had gotten a job as a waitress at the club they rescued her from. Ironic, is it not?

       Today was the one year anniversary of a hail storm that was experienced at the Suites Hotel. The hailstorm hit during the middle of the day and since the weather was nice before hand, the door to the motel room was open. This door was to the living area, since this motel room had bedrooms on either side. The hail started quickly and hailstones started flying into the living room all the way to the kitchen area on the opposite side of the room. Brandon came out of one of the bedrooms and Mark, who was dozing off while watching TV in the living area, awoke Anthony in the other bedroom so he could bear witness to the crazy and very strong hailstorm. The news reported, the day after, that the hail storm was one of the worst hail storms to hit that area and that there were many vehicles damaged by hail. The truck that Brandon was driving, was outside in the hotel parking lot with all of the other vehicles yet it was untouched by the hail storm when all of the vehicles close to it were dented and dinged. 

        Being instructed by the Holy Spirit, Brandon warned Mark that a girl would soon show up and ask the whereabouts of "the child."  Mark knew that the warning about the woman coming was real because he had witnessed so many supernatural events in the past from Brandon's warnings that did come true. For example, the time they were all just leaving town to go to Corpus Christi and one of the guys with them, that worked for Brandon named Geraldo, said he forgot something and needed to return home. Brandon warned Geraldo that if he was to return home, that he would find his wife with another man. This made Geraldo furious at Brandon for even saying it, yet out of curiosity, he asked Brandon to take him back home.

       When they arrived, his wife was alone and Geraldo began cursing Brandon and saying, "see, not everything you say ends up happening" ... About that time, there was a knock at the door. Geraldo's wife got a very frightened look on her face and Geraldo stopped his ranting and looked at Brandon. You could have heard a pin drop. Brandon told Geraldo to finish the game and open the door. When Geraldo opened the door, there stood a stranger with popcorn and movies. His wife explained that it was only a male friend and that he was going to entertain her while Geraldo was out of town. Brandon, Mark and Anthony left Geraldo and his wife, screaming at one another.

       Yet even knowing this, Mark didn't heed the warning from Brandon. Several days later, Mark met a woman at a club that they frequented. The first thing everyone noticed was that this woman was trying to separate Brandon from Mark. These three guys were almost always together. They felt closer than brothers. Yet after a couple of nights with this new woman on the scene, Mark took off with her by himself when the others went to eat after the club. After they ate, Mark again left alone with her and they all met up at a friend's house. Upon arriving, Mark went alone with this woman into a bedroom where they sat down on the bed. All of a sudden the woman asked him a strange question. "Where is the child?" Mark, remembering the prophetic warning several days before but was under some sort of "spell" just didn't want to believe it, or did not want to surrender his new "friend." Mark replied, I don't know, why do you ask? She would not answer his question, but would continue to ask again and again, where is the child? Mark still didn't want to believe that this woman he was with, was the one Brandon had warned him of. The woman then tried to lure Mark away from his friends by inviting him to go with her to her home in a different city. She said she didn't want to stay at the house they were at, because of all the blood on the bed. Just as Mark was going to ask her what blood she was talking about, he stood up with her and on the bed where they were sitting was a giant puddle of blood. It looked fresh yet neither of the two of them were bleeding. This knocked some temporary sense into Mark and he got up and ran out to tell Brandon of the events occurring with this woman.

       The woman who owned the home they were visiting, overheard Mark telling Brandon about the blood on the bed and ran into the bedroom Mark was in, since that was her children's room and she was worried about blood being on the bed. Moments later, she came back and said that there was no blood anywhere. Mark heard the strange news but, as in a haze, soon directed his attention back to the woman. Mark looked around for his "date" but she was nowhere to be found. Mark ran outside and the woman was sitting in her car. She began inviting him to go with her again. Mark fell under the "spell" again and he was about to leave with her when Brandon came out and persuaded him to stay. It took time but Mark finally conceded and left with Brandon and Anthony. They left that house and went to Brandon's house. Mark was under the spell for the rest of the night and he even refused to go inside Brandon's house and insisted on staying in the truck and listening to a song titled "Victim of Love" by the Eagles. When Brandon and Anthony returned to the truck the next morning, Mark was still listening to that song.

       The "spell" was finally lifted off of Mark a little later that morning and he was very thankful to Brandon for saving him from this strange individual. The prophecy did come true. This woman did come to Mark and ask the whereabouts of the child. This woman did make Mark see a puddle of blood that was not there. This woman did have a "spell" over Mark. He would have gone with the woman, even though he knew something was wrong, had Brandon not stopped him. There was no telling what was in store for him. Perhaps the woman's boyfriend or husband waiting? Or perhaps Mark would have been the center piece of an old fashioned devil worship ceremony. Mark being the sacrifice. Only God knows ... 

       It was Good Friday. The day that symbolizes Jesus being put on the cross about 2000 years ago. Many people, including Brandon, at the time, believed that Jesus was put on the Cross on Friday, because that is just what we are taught to believe. But in truth ... It was Thursday that he was put on the cross. This is proven by a statement Jesus said ... He would be in the Earth for 3 days and 3 nights, and then he would rise. We are CERTAIN that Jesus was resurrected on Sunday morning, according to scripture. Therefore, to get 3 days and 3 nights, as Jesus said, one must admit that Thursday was the correct date. According to scripture, He died at 3:00 P.M. That means Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night, are the 3 nights Jesus spoke of. And Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the 3 days. But, God honors belief and would honor what was believed, but will also correct that belief, as you will see.

       One of Jerome's brothers came by his apartment and told Jerome that he should not be hanging around white people, referring to Brandon and his friends. He even offered Jerome money to rid himself of his strange new friends. He continued by suggesting that Brandon and his friends were probably mafia or some sort of cult ... or worse. Jerome returned after his brother had left and told the others what was said. They asked him what his own reply was to what his brother was saying and Jerome said ... "Nothing." Jerome did not even defend Brandon, even after all Brandon had done for him from defending him against his manager to assisting with paying his bills to teaching him the Bible, to counseling him in personal problems. Brandon asked Jerome why he did not say anything in his defense and Jerome responded ... "Blood is thicker than water." Brandon was both hurt and disappointed. Brandon told him that Jesus died around three P.M. on this day 2000 years ago and that at around three P.M. on this day, God would show a sign that would confirm what and who was REAL.

       They were all sitting around the apartment that afternoon talking. At 2:17 P.M. the electric went out in the apartment. They all looked at each other with a look of concern and excitement. They were all used to "signs" by now, but one can never get over that feeling it gives you when it occurs. They checked the exterior breaker and while outside at the main breaker box, many people in the apartment complex came out and started looking around. One person yelled, the electric is out on the entire street. After some investigation, it was a major part of Austin that had its electric cut for a few minutes. Even radio stations, when they came back on, were saying the city had no idea what had occurred. But, Brandon knew ... God had cut off the power to honor the words spoken of His Son's death and to remind Jerome of how Brandon had kept him from being evicted a few months earlier because ... His electric was cut off. Jerome changed his mind and decided to keep Brandon, as a friend ... No doubt. God also chose this time to show Brandon, through scripture that day, of the "Good Friday" error and it is now known that God gave His only Son's life for our sins on Thursday, not Friday.

       During Church this evening, Brandon told Mark and Anthony that one of the people there was plotting to depart in secret. He told them that the reason was because they had someone from their past on their mind and had been communing with them and planned to move in with them soon. See, Brandon was providing these people with free Bible study and teachings ... He only asked that they be honest and if they ever to wanted to stop attending, to just let him know first, so that he could arrange for another to be able to occupy the limited space they had at the time. But, as with all those that feel in their heart they are doing wrong, a few felt the urge to "sneak off" ... Brandon was told by God that one of the people was planning to leave, but did not specify which one. So, Brandon decided to try something ... He decided to take photos of all of the people there that day. Each photo turned out with perfect clarity, except for one. When he came upon Gidget, he clicked the button on the camera. The photo had some frightening things on it. Orange distorted figures. As to not concern Gidget, they did not show her the photo. Brandon said for the photo to be kept, as a reminder that God revealed the truth before it occurred. It was Gidget that was going to depart ... She did, within the next week and for the reasons that were foretold.

       During Church, Judy received a disturbing call from her Mother. She returned from her call and was crying frantically and told the group that her mother was diagnosed as having cancer. She went on about how the tests revealed a baseball sized tumor and that she had little chance of surviving the operation. Judy was crying and would not listen to any of the hopeful comments made by those in the room. Brandon told her not to concern herself that it was not cancer. Judy again stated that a "doctor" had told her Mom this and her Mom would not lie. Brandon repeated that her Mom did not have cancer. Judy continued to mourn, although she should have known to listen to Brandon by now. This is understandable, but Faith conquers all fears and doubts. A few days later, Judy came screaming with joy into the Church. She said that her mother called and said she was "diagnosed" incorrectly and that it was not cancer ...

       Today they celebrated what they called their "Pentecost" ... It is a 7 day period which they celebrated God saving them on the second day of May. It begins 7 days before May 2nd and goes through the 2nd of May. They did not work during these days, but would relax and just have fun and praise God. It began to thunder outside, which always made Brandon go and see if it was God. After what had happened in the past, he could not help himself but take a peek outside, every time it thundered. As he was looking outside, the song on the radio said "He's talking to you in the thunder" ... Brandon went outside and God began to speak to him with the thunders again. God does not need thunder to talk with mankind, it is just that thunder was God's way of getting Brandon's attention. Oft times we are so enveloped in what is around us and our day to day agendas, that we become too ... busy to listen. God uses all sorts of ways to communicate with mankind. In the book of Job, God says "I knock and knock and they will not listen, so I come in their dreams and speak with them" ... Think about that, some of your dreams may be God talking with you. They are called, "visions" ...

       God told Brandon that the group was having feasts and fun during the Pentecost week, but that they had failed to erect a monument and write an oath covenant. God told him to take 24 stones and place them as they had on the top of the Church, but this time to go to a particular spot at the lake where they had once stayed. God said that it was to be built on the evening of May 1st and gave specific instructions as to many things and where it would be placed. As as you have probably guessed ... They were there.

       There were several of them that went to the lake that evening. They set up tents and had a meal. They were talking, drinking and waiting for midnight, which was the time they were to erect the monument. It seemed like it took forever for the time to arrive that they would get to go build the altar. At midnight, they headed out to seek "the spot" ... They walked for quite a distance down a tree covered hill with stones as a path. They followed a bend around the lake and even had to walk about 50 feet along a very narrow ledge that had a 35 ft drop off to the lake. When they came upon a lagoon, they looked around and they found "the spot" and gathered 24 large stones as instructed. Brandon and Mark went out about 25 feet into the water and the others would bring the large stones to them in a row from the bank. They would go underwater and place the stones in the form of a circle with a cross in the center. It was very dark and cold and took about 30 minutes to build, but was finally finished. This would be the first of many altars that they would build in water. Three are in the lakes of Austin, Texas ... Even today.

       After worshipping there for a few minutes, they headed back for camp. It was very cold on the way back to the camp, as they were soaking wet from being in the lake and they were glad to return to the warm fire. They all sat and talked and enjoyed the serenity that the lake offers at that time of the morning. They did not sleep that evening, as you can imagine. The next day, they returned home ... 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHRISTIANITY OASIS

       The Church was going well. In the beginning, it was more like a group of friends reading the Bible and sharing thoughts, but as time passed, it became more of a Bible School. Brandon decided to start documenting the spiritual growth of each student that was being taught of the Bible. He would teach them for several hours a day and then give daily tests. He would then test them again at the end of the week and then a major test every 7th week, and keep written documentation of these tests, for each student. He felt that this would make it easier for the others to keep what they learned, in their minds and hearts. There were several different classes. Basic Bible Knowledge, End Times, The Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, Effective Prayer and Communing, etc. Everyone was very excited and took to the new grading procedure, like fish to water. This was to become an intense study of the Bible that would last for three years.

       Brandon loved to study God's word. Not only to read, but to study the depth of the hidden truths. The prophecies, God's power and Grace, The Gospels ... It became his sole passion. He focused on the End Times Study most, because God told him to and because it was an event that was yet to be and he felt compelled to know ALL of what was to be and to share it with the lost souls in the world. He had a simple method of discerning what the Bible taught ... No preset ideas, from past beliefs. Whatever the Bible said, was taken literal, and this is the way he taught all others.

       After years of this intense study, and running the Church, Brandon decided that to close down the Church and to be an Evangelist would better serve God. He felt that he would be able to reach more lost souls and bring them to God, if he would evangelize. He felt that for him to "preach to the choir" or to preach to only believers in a Church, was a waste of his gifts and knowledge. There were many others that had the administration of preaching to believers, but Brandon's administration was different. He was different. The Holy Spirit confirmed his belief and he closed the Church and began to evangelize. He needed to create methods of advertising ... He needed ways to reach the lost. But how?

      He and a few of his friends created an End Times Timeline. They wrote it out on 5 wooden tables that were 8 foot long and 4 foot wide each. They were made of 2x4's, plywood and plexi-glass. They were painted and the timeline was drawn out on the tops. They attached the tables with bolts at either end and attached them so that the table was a 40 running feet timeline which began at Creation all the way to present day. He then decided to demonstrate this table on street corners in and out of town. This drew a crowd, as you can imagine. The point the tables were making is that there has been about 6000 years that had passed from Creation to date. It was also shown, through Biblical scripture that God said that there would be 6000 years and then a 1000 year period of rest. But, before the 1000 year period of rest, known as the Millennium, there would be a time known as the "End Times" which is a period of tribulation where mankind will be tested to see if they are worthy of God. So the tables were simply saying ... The time was near, and to get prepared. Brandon had found his administration. His Calling. It all made sense now. He was to spread the Truth to ALL ... But, he was just getting started.

       They had a hotline phone number and created tapes that would give a daily spiritual message about specific topics on getting prepared for the End Times. They sent out fliers to residential homes and businesses and even handed them out on cars in parking lots. They would answer questions for most of the days from the callers that either received a flier or heard the daily messages. They did construction work to provide finances for the Church, because Brandon refused to charge people for God's Word, which he received freely. They would not even charge the individuals that they did work for, if they were poor. They would continue to give donations to those that were worthy and the "Miracle Workers" were still on call but the actual physical structure of the Church was surrendered.

        Brandon had been studying the Bible and any Religious and Spiritual books he get his hands on for years now. He was told by the Holy Spirit to create online studies as to be able to reach more people with God's Word, and the truth, that was to be shared.  With the help of his few friends and of course the Holy Spirit, they created a website called END TIMES which was the first to be published online. They were very careful to make the End Times website 100% Biblically sound. The response from the website was astounding. The letters just poured in with questions about many different topics.  Brandon had found his new calling. Sharing the TRUTH online. 

        But, one may ask ... How does one answer the variety of questions that are asked? The answer is that many of the trained people in the group would respond to the minor questions, but if the question was something that required Brandon's attention, It would end up on his desk. The reason for this is that Brandon was not only very close to God and was led by the Holy Spirit, but had a past that was ... well, let us just say that experience taught him thoroughly and that the seeds of truth from these past experiences allowed him to reach the heart of lost souls as well as Christians. In short, he understood the depth of their questions, because he had been there. From Death of loved ones to drugs and EVERYTHING in between. One could say that he had been the chief of sinners in his past. Brandon came to find out that God had him endure these things in his past, so that he would be able to reach and teach others on the same paths. Kind of like the old cliché that an alcoholic is the only one who could reach another alcoholic. The reason this is true is because ... One who had been there before and had conquered its hold, through God's love and grace and was able to escape the trap of the mind and spirit KNEW what the other was experiencing and had the patience and compassion to show them the way home. Most elect to just judge them and send them away. Brandon believed in GRACE ...  For he had received the same from God.

       With God still showing Brandon that He was always there, they continued in patience and persistence in their assigned task of getting the Word of God out to the people by way of the Internet and any other means possible. The completed websites became very popular and they could barely keep up with responding to every call, letter and Instant Messages that they were receiving from the websites. Add to that their day to day responsibilities which required much devotion and time.

       Brandon remembered his desire to help others find true love and how he had to shut down the other service he had because of the woman that suggested she was using the service in a foul way. He created a Christian Soul Mate Searching Service SOUL MATE SEARCHERS ... The Christian, Soul Mate Searchers Service was created because, Brandon had encountered many that were hurt in a relationship, in one way or another. He heard of the children being affected as well, due to divorce. Brandon wanted to help others find their TRUE Soul Mate. As most of us have heard, there is a well known theory that each of us has a "Soul Mate" out there somewhere. The theory suggests that ONE soul was divided and the two souls from this division were placed on Earth as to see if the two souls could become ONE again by overcoming the world with true love. It is obvious that overcoming the world is the hard part. Kind of like ... When the moon asked the sun "why is it that I oft times sit in darkness" the sun responded, "because you let the world come between us" ...  But, in this day and age, searching for our "other half" can not only result in pain and sorrow, but can also be dangerous. Brandon believed that he could create a match making system and stop this vicious cycle of pain and tears for many, and could create a productive screening and matching process. This system would compare more than physical traits. It would also compare similar traits of the mind, heart and soul ... He was right.

      Then came the concept of CHRISTIANITY OASIS ... It would become Brandon's ultimate sacrifice to God, thus far. It was Holy Spirit inspired. It took years to create the site to get it just as he wanted it. The intent of Christianity Oasis was to provide Christians with a safe place to hang out on the Internet. It would also be a place for those who were lost, to be able to learn of God's Grace and love in an environment free of judgment. It would be a haven before Heaven for those who knew God and a place to find God for those who were lost. The place was awesome. As time passed it became massive. It had thousands of links which provided those who came to explore with thousands of avenues to help and encourage them, as they sojourned along the Christian path. From Bible studies to Christian programs to music to books, to music to games. The site was getting better and better every day. There were literally thousands of people per month, visiting the site. He had finally found a method by which to seek the lost souls and share God's grace and Love much quicker than the ways he had been using for several years. But God was not even getting started ...

       God made it clear by way of the Holy Spirit to Brandon that He wanted the Oasis to become physical as well as being Online. Brandon was very hesitant at first because he felt the project would interfere with his idea of what his own goals were, but soon found out that God’s will was to become his will … AS USUAL. A few weeks later, a very close friend of his approached him and asked if he would purchase land in the country so that his friend could purchase a portion of it. This person was experiencing some very troublesome times in their life and Brandon loved this person and their child so dearly. Brandon knew that this was a sign to create the physical Oasis and that it was to be.

       They purchased the property and his friend took their own acreage and built a new life for their family. The other acreage, on the property was purchased by Brandon for Christianity Oasis and what it was to become, was a place where Christians could escape the pressures of man’s world, if but only for a while. Brandon did not want people to actually reside there as though some kind of commune, as Brandon was a very private type of person and would be residing on the property as well. He believed that his home was a sanctuary from the world. It was to be a place for Christians to visit only. It would be a place where they could come to heal. A place where they could commune with other Christians and become revitalized as to return to their world and be able to continue to fight the good fight of faith in a world full of lures.

      In short … A place to become spiritually cleansed from the mediocrity of man’s world. It would be called the Oasis Ranch. The property was beautiful. It had thousands of trees of every sort. There were oaks which towered to the Heavens. Mesquite and Cedars were the primary type of trees. It had a creek that ran through the entire property, which was fed by a natural spring. It had boar, deer, turkey, bobcat and many other types of wildlife. It also had scorpions, spiders, centipedes, bees, poisonous snakes and other annoying pests. Love bugs were particularly bothersome. These would have to be overcome in order to be able to provide the haven which was to be built. This haven would have picnic areas along the creek, horse trails and scenic paths for the visiting Christians and their families. He wanted to make the place a spiritual resort of refreshing for those who visited.

       They began to build the houses. The first few houses were to be for quarters for the three families that were to actually reside there. They built a two bedroom house with one bath and a separate building, used as the office. They then began construction of two other houses further back on the property. One was for Brandon and the other was for his friend that requested he purchase the property with her. The clean up of the property was a very intense and difficult task due to the density of the woods. They created a giant garden as to be able to provide fruit and vegetables for all who visited through the year but it failed miserably the first year. Fortunately, the friend that had asked him to purchase the land decided that they were going to get into gardening and this person would use large portions of their own land to in essence, start farming.

       Brandon agreed to purchase the produce from their gardens as it was obvious that Brandon and his friends were excellent with construction type projects but they had not one green thumb between them. It had been a year and a half and Brandon knew then that it would take at least five more years before he had the property as he wanted it. He had adapted to the country life, though he missed the amenities that the city life provided. He spent most of his time clearing the property with his friends by day and working on the websites at night. This would continue for years.

       Although he was spending much of his time on the property, it became painfully obvious that as he was building this haven here on earth, all of the Biblical prophecies and signs of the End Times were coming to pass around him. He had to juggle the time he spent on Christianity Oasis online and the physical Oasis ranch. It was difficult to decide at times which required his attention more. If he would focus more on one the other would flounder. He felt compelled to spend the majority of the time on Christianity Oasis online even though it would detain the completion of the Oasis ranch.

       At the tugging of the Holy Spirit, he started working on a new and larger End Times website because he sensed that it was now imperative to reach others and make them aware of the End Times. It would become his new passion. Over the weeks to follow he worked diligently to get the new End Times website ready to view and then he would spend the months to follow enhancing it. Brandon felt a sense that the End Times were getting very close and that he wanted to warn others of what the End Times would be like as to prepare them. It would be a difficult task, but he had to convince a world that seemed comfortably numb to the horrible conditions around them such as wars, famine, hatred, disease, disasters such as earthquakes and destructive hurricanes increasing, family divisions, etc. that these were not just common occurrences, but signs of the End Times.

       The passion to share the TRUTH of the End Times increased within him and he sought ways to spread the Word even more. He would share this truth with all of those that he encountered. He began spending most of his time researching the past and current events. He became enveloped in seeking the true interpretation of all End Time scripture so he started comparing End Times scriptures in the Hebrew text of the “Torah” with the King James version. He found that they were basically translated the same. He found a frightening truth that there was a common time period in all of the signs and shared this TRUTH in the End Times site.

       Time continued to pass … They had been at the Oasis ranch now for nearly three years. More than anything, Brandon longed for the more spiritual days of his past. He knew his TRUE purpose was to be revealed during the End Times. He couldn’t wait for the very Spiritual days to be restored. He knew it was not right to long for the End Times as they would be so very horrible for many, but he secretly hoped for them to come soon so that he could finish the game and go home. He still remembered the dream that he had so many times growing up of the beast which ascended from the pit and killed him. He knew it was Antichrist and that he would kill Brandon and yet feared it not. He believed that he would not be taken away in the Rapture as most seek, but would stay and lead others to the TRUTH during the End Times.

       He knew who he was. Above all, he wanted to feel more ALIVE. Like he did in the days when God talked with him in the thunder and he and his friends chased fireflies around town. He just missed the adventure I suppose, though he could still feel God’s presence in everything around him. He understood that it was part of the rules of FAITH, that when you are called by the Lord, there will be many days that will appear…NORMAL. Many days will be filled with trials and tribulations, which will seem overwhelming, but God NEVER gives us too much to handle, He is just testing us to be sure that we are worthy. Then, there will be days when God reveals His Love and Glory and this is what makes it all worth while. He would carry on and fight the good fight, as this was the way of the path that he had been chosen for and that he had chosen to follow.

       The Holy Spirit was such a comfort and Brandon spoke with Him constantly. The Holy Spirit and Christianity Oasis were the only things that filled that void within him. Human companionship and living in this world could not. He knew that none of his friends (except for one) and those that he encountered could ever truly understand what he experienced or felt. The unquenchable desire to be doing more. To be feeling more. To be what he was to be. He knew the End Times were getting so close. He could feel it. The only thing he could do now was to exist here…In this realm. Show others the way to Jesus by way of Christianity Oasis … And WAIT for the End Times so that the saga, would continue …