Thank You, Father, for Your mercy on my loved one. A long, fearful, prayerful day, yesterday. And now life continues, by Your grace. What would you have me hear from You this day, Lord?

God I’m waking up in the cabin down by the river. Last night’s fire is still there, the sun’s just coming up over the hill and into the valley. Birds gossiping, dog stretching. The day’s turned up and it seems like you’ve turned up with it.

And you’ve got something to say haven’t you?

I have.

You just said it before as I was waking up didn’t you?

I did. Tell me what you think I said.

God speaks to Julia in her journaling: Daughter of Love and Mercy, You were in the crossfire of a very serious problem that had arisen in that church. There was contention and strife already present even before you entered. Just as you learned yesterday from your old friend as she spoke of an experience her husband had while talking to the pastor of your old church and how the pastor told your friend's husband that his church was not a democracy but a theocracy, so no one was allowed to voice their opinion or even have a say in any matter but the pastor and that only the leadership was allowed to do the stuff. This is what I call control and authoritarian leadership.

No I’m not going to whisper. I want everyone to hear this Mark. I want to know why you all think you have to grovel when you talk to me? Am I really that bad?

You’re pretty scary. And anyway I’m pretty bad. You know the drill God. You’re righteous, I’m not. You’re holy, I’m wicked.

Who told you all that?