And the Shofar Blew (43 page)

CHAPTER 19

S
TEPHEN COULDN’T get away from the idea of starting another church. Was he holding back because of the disillusionment in building VNLC and missing the needs of those now coming to his Bible study? He prayed that if the Lord was calling him to ministry, He would make his motives pure. Stephen didn’t want a competition with Paul Hudson. To make sure, Stephen went to the one man he knew he could trust to be completely honest with him—and back up his views with Scripture.

“Mr. Mason is in the courtyard, Mr. Decker,” the receptionist said.

And, as he often did, Samuel had company. Florence Nightingale was sitting with him in the shade of a canvas umbrella. Stephen knew the moment she spotted him. She stiffened, leaned forward, said something to Samuel, picked up her purse, and rose. She pushed the lawn chair back into place at the round glass table and stepped back.

“Don’t leave on my account.”

She always bolted when he came within twenty feet of her, no doubt due to the embarrassment he’d caused her when Eunice had tried to set them up. How long ago had that been?

“I didn’t know you were coming today.”

“I’m sure you didn’t.”

Samuel looked up. “You haven’t even finished your tea, Karen.”

“I’m sorry, Samuel. I’ll stay longer next time.”

“I’m sure Stephen wouldn’t mind if you—”

“I wouldn’t at all.” How much of a jerk had he been that day to put this good woman to flight every time she spotted him? “Are you still heading up the singles club at VNLC?”

“I haven’t attended VNLC in over a year.”

Oops.
“Really?” He raised his brows. “Any particular reason why not?”

“None that I should discuss with you.”

“That answer makes me want to ask more questions.”

“Not my intention, I assure you.”

He was getting nowhere fast in his attempt to make amends. Maybe the direct approach would work better. “Look, Karen, I know I was a jerk that day at the hospital. I’m sorry. Can we call a truce?”

She blushed. “I just don’t want any misunderstandings between us.”

That she was
not
trying to get his attention. Oh yeah, he got the point. “There were no misunderstandings the first time we met. My reaction had nothing to do with you.”

She looked him squarely in the eyes. “I know that.”

He could see she did and felt the heat rush into his face. “That obvious, huh?”

“Not obvious enough to cause anyone worry.”

A careful answer much appreciated. But it left him wondering how many other people at VNLC had noticed his attraction to Pastor Paul’s wife. When Karen edged back another step, he drew her chair back and gestured for her to sit. “If I ask nicely, will you finish your tea? I growl, but I don’t bite.”

She relaxed with a soft laugh. “All right. I’ll risk it this time.” Shrugging the purse strap off her shoulder, she took her seat again.

“Karen’s attending a big church in Sacramento now.” Samuel sipped his tea. “She enjoys the services, but isn’t sure she wants to continue going there.”

Stephen looked at her. “Trouble with the preaching?”

“No. The pastor is right on base with the gospel, but it’s too far a drive for me to be any real part of the church. The singles club meets on Tuesday evenings, the choir on Thursdays. I tried both a few times and didn’t get home until after ten. I don’t like to be out that late at night by myself, and no one else comes from my area.”

“Where’s your area?”

When she seemed reticent to answer, Samuel did so for her. “Your neck of the woods.”

“You live in Rockville?”

Karen’s expression was pained. “Not in Rockville, but a mile north on Gelson Road. I put an offer in on a small place about six years ago, and I’ve been there ever since.”

Six years. She was still making sure he understood she wasn’t chasing him. She must think him the most conceited man on the face of the earth. “I’ma newcomer to the town.” He wanted to make sure she knew he understood. She had a nice smile. “I’ll ask you the same question everyone asks me. Why Rockville?”

“I grew up in San Francisco and thought it would be romantic to live on a farm. I didn’t have a clue how much work it would be.”

She had a nice laugh, too. “Do you farm?”

“I have a vegetable garden and a few fruit trees. Enough that I don’t have to buy produce at the grocery store.”

“No animals?”

“No time. I had a dog, but I had to put him down last year. Cancer. I miss Brutus, but I’m not home enough to give an animal the proper amount of attention. My schedule at the hospital keeps me busy.”

Samuel said nothing, but Stephen knew why his old friend had opened the subject of Karen’s dilemma. He might as well get it said, though he expected she would shoot him down. “I hold a Bible study at my house every Wednesday evening. You’re welcome to come. Mix of men and women. Blue-collar and a couple of migrant workers. My daughter. My
ex
-wife. You never know what someone’s going to say or do.”

“Are you trying to talk me into it or out of it?”

“I’ll engrave you an invitation.”

Karen looked at Samuel. “Is he a good teacher?”

“Yes. And he works at it.”

She gave Stephen a sidelong look. “What can I bring?”

“Your Bible and an open mind.”

Samuel looked pleased. “How did the barbecue go?”

Stephen leaned back in his chair. “Fine, until someone brought up the subject of starting a church.”

Karen’s brows shot up. “You’re going to start a church?”

“Not if I can help it.”

Samuel looked intrigued. “Why not?”

“You want one reason or twenty? The last thing I want to do is get into another church-building project.”

“You can build a church without building a building, you know.”

“A nice little Bible study is all I ever bargained for, Samuel.”

“Well, that’s a pretty pathetic attitude.”

Stephen pulled his sunglasses down and stared at Karen over the rims. “Careful. You aren’t part of the group yet.”

“Too late. Invitation extended and accepted.”

“You might think about holding off on any opinions.”

“And you might try taking your own advice and opening your mind.”

Samuel chuckled. “So, what did you tell them?”

“I didn’t say anything.” Stephen pulled his gaze from Karen. “We prayed about it.”

“And?”

“I’m still praying.” He scratched his head. “The thing is, I had this feeling that I’m supposed to move forward in a backward sort of way.” Samuel and Karen were both looking at him, waiting. “The church started with a hundred and twenty people praying together in an upper room in Jerusalem. Right?”

Samuel nodded. “Yes, but it didn’t stay hidden in an upper room, Stephen.”

Or a basement, he might as well have said.

“Nor did the church stay small,” Karen said. “They were a handful for about forty days, and then Pentecost happened. As soon as the Holy Spirit came upon those few, they rushed out with the Good News and the Lord added another three thousand to the body of Christ.”

“Yeah, but they still met in homes after that.”

Samuel smiled faintly. “They also met in the corridors of the temple.”

“In Solomon’s portico.”

Stephen glowered at Karen. “Maybe
you
should be teaching.”

She held up her hands. “I thought you said you didn’t bite.”

Disgruntled, Stephen persisted. “The point I’m
trying
to make is the first order of business in the church wasn’t to go out and put up a building for meetings. It was to win souls, teach, have fellowship, break bread together, and pray. If I’m going to be part of building a church, I’d like to find a way to build a church without walls. Isn’t that what Jesus meant? It’s not the building that matters or the programs or the numbers. It’s not the music or the ritual. It’s about our relationship with
Jesus Christ
. Believers make up the temple. They are the church. Christ’s resurrection power is revealed through our new lives.”

“Are you planning to keep everyone hostage in your basement?”

Stephen faced Karen. “I can see I’m going to have nothing but trouble with you.”

“No. I’m just asking. I want to know where you stand before I walk in the door. I fled one man’s kingdom. I don’t want to fall down the stairs and into the basement of another.”

He went hot. “Are you comparing me with Paul Hudson?”

“Not unless you think you have all the answers.” She spoke softly, eyes gentle.

He let his breath out slowly. “No, I don’t have all the answers. I just don’t want to make the same mistakes over again. As soon as Centerville Christian decided to build, the focus changed. It was all about bringing in more people so there’d be money to continue the project. It wasn’t a sanctuary anymore. It was a gymnasium. It was about events. It wasn’t about building a relationship with Christ. It was about a head count and the take on Sunday morning. How many times did the Lord have to destroy the temple? And we’re still trying to rebuild it.”

Karen seemed to be considering what he was saying. “Why do you think we do that?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s easier to pour our efforts into building a house for God rather than building a relationship with Him. One requires a few years of hard work, but the other asks for a lifetime of commitment. The problem is, the building becomes the idol we worship. The programs are the sacred cows. Numbers are our means of evaluating our success. And it’s all about vanity. Vanity, vanity. My church is bigger than your church. My pastor draws a bigger crowd on Sunday morning. Hey, haven’t you heard? He’s on television and tapes a radio show that’s on who knows how many stations across the country. And man, now they’re going to have a Bible with his name on it. Can you beat that?”

“He really hurt you, didn’t he?” Karen said quietly, all eyes.

“Who?”

“Paul Hudson.”

“This isn’t about Paul Hudson.”

“Oooo-kay.” She drew out the word quietly and looked at Samuel.

Stephen sighed. Was he holding a grudge? He hoped not. He bore the scars of standing against Paul, but that didn’t mean he was going to buy into his philosophy of what a church was. He didn’t have to know Karen well to see her wheels turning. “You have something to say. Go ahead.”

“Just because Paul Hudson’s motivation was wrong doesn’t mean yours wasn’t right.”

“Oh yeah. I’m such a great guy. Everyone thought I was making a bundle off that project. Lining my pockets with dough.”

“Not everyone.”

Maybe he was falling into hyperbole. He studied her expression. He’d never told anyone how far into the hole he had gone to do what was right, but he had a feeling she knew. He wasn’t about to complain. God had provided work to keep his head above water and his name out of a bankruptcy hearing. “Fact is, my motivation didn’t make any difference to the outcome for the church.”

“Not that we can see with our human eyes,” Samuel said. “But don’t think for a minute God isn’t at work. He has been from the beginning, and He’s not finished.”

“No.” Stephen gave a wry grin. “I think I’m pretty clear about that.” He could feel the Lord chiseling away his armor. It left him feeling vulnerable and uncertain.

Samuel’s look was full of clarity. “Just don’t let what happened in Centerville get in the way of what the Lord may want to happen in Rockville.”

Stephen took a long pull from his glass of tea. “God seems to be getting His way on that score. Eunice told me the property I bought was the same piece donated to the church and that Paul sold for seed money on the new facility.”

Karen tilted her head. “Did you know that before you bought it?”

Did she think he’d done it to take some kind of revenge? The same thought had occurred to Eunice. Stephen shook his head. “No.” Was she wondering when he’d talked to Eunice and under what circumstances? “I didn’t have a clue. I only wanted to know there were no liens on the property and there was plenty of work to do. I needed something to keep my mind and hands occupied.” Just to make things clear. “I didn’t want to end up back in another alcohol-rehab center.”

Karen raised her brows. “Not everyone wears their confession on their sleeve.”

He laughed. “I wasn’t waiting for your confession, just a comment.”

“Such as?”

“Such as you’d already heard that I was an alcoholic.” One of the rumors he knew had circulated during the time Paul was pushing him out of the church.

“I don’t listen to gossip and I don’t hang around people who do.”

No wonder Eunice liked this woman.

Samuel cleared his throat, and Stephen realized he’d been studying Karen for longer than was polite. She wasn’t wearing a ring.

She glanced at her wristwatch. “I need to run. I’m on duty tonight.” She shouldered her bag and rose. Samuel leaned on his cane and stood. Stephen shoved his chair back and rose. How long since he had stood for a woman? Karen glanced at him with amusement. Did he look as uncomfortable as he felt? She took Samuel’s hand between hers, thanked him for the pleasant afternoon, and said she’d come back soon. As she turned, she gave him a cordial smile. “It was nice to see you, too, Stephen.”

“Likewise.” He thought it might be nice to get to know her a little better. Maybe take her out for coffee. Or dinner. “I should have your telephone number. In case I have to call off the Bible study at the last minute.” He hoped the excuse didn’t sound as lame to her as it did to him.

“I’m in the book.” She walked away without a backward glance.

It would help if he could remember her last name.

Stephen took his seat when Samuel did. “I think God has wanted a church in Rockville for a long time, Stephen. The fields are ripe and the workers are few.”

“I agree. I’m just not sure I’m the one to do it. I don’t want to go in with the wrong motives.”

“God put you there for a reason.”

“Leading a Bible study is a far cry from pastoring a church.”

“Take it one day at a time. Stay focused on the Word. Get on your knees and pray. Then stand up and do the work God gives you. Don’t try to cross any bridges until you reach them.”

“I have to work for a living.”

Samuel shifted in his chair. His face tightened with pain as he stretched out one leg. “The apostle Paul was a tent-maker.” He eased back into his chair again. “More than half of the people attending your Bible study met you on the job or met someone who works with you. The Lord knows the job is too big to be shouldered by any one man. He equips you so that you can equip others. You don’t have to have a degree in theology or stand in a pulpit to do that.”