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From the corner of the road, an orator's voice rang out with the sober sounds of shouting. The tones he used were once barely permissible, but now the words rang from the street corner. A small but growing crowd hung on to dull, shrilled words as a uniformed patrol of the roman army stopped to listen and look at the, now trusted, new believers in an former banished religion. In the murky morning a public group sat outside the city pool. By orders of the proconsul, the pool was still closed. The roman soldier walked around a corner of a splintered, worship tomb suffering in a downfall as a band of temple sages opposing the change from free-bound to a consolidated one god were trying to up-end the new "truth" believers. tensions grew as both religious companies focused at the a piece of marble shattered arm that was still holding onto the severed, ribbon folds of a shroud that once was a piece of the garment from 'the fine lady' tunic.
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It was obvious a battlement had taken place around the eastern gate of the public pool. Seemingly, by military orders, the broken statute had been left until its faithful criers announced the soul propose towards the a favorite deity. Neither the soldiers nor the general public care keepers were able to clean the area, that is, according to the words from the forum at the community senate. For some reason the entire city was in the middle of a faith turning. With echoes from within the crowd an announcer's prosperous words could be understood as someone from another region. As usual, though Roman by citizenship, the faith healers had traveled a great distance, but today it was difficult to understand what these visitors needed with the words of a new risen Christ, as well as, a share to citizens in the seemingly powerful roman empire. But, it was obvious the healers knew the of the shattered deity now laying in the road as bits of plaster and broken stone. Following the forum's order, the military troop's attention was focused on the gathering crowd as the new faith was being preached.-
"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. "- Hebrews 4:2-5-
The morning pressed on. As the pool attendees slowly forced an opening to the public bathing pool they slide the iron gates open and pushed the worked rod iron back towards the latches embedded in the brick walls that surrounded the pool perimeter. Now, at the entrance way of the pool small bits of the sun's rays began to flicker off of the water and on to the stone rubble. The faithful healers stood posthumously as their new worshipers passed through the fallen statue. Smiling at the new proclamations, the soldiers pulled their outer tunic up and around their necks. It was a time to cleanse and relax in the cool pool waters.
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And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him. - Matthew 28:9-
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. - Hebrews 4: 11-
Counted as among the faithful, we stand at a gathering of souls knowing that faith is a natural serving event as if all who choose to hear can hear the words of God. Amen.
