The Last Days of Divinity

By J. Grant

Follow the struggles of a small community as they fight back against a world in moral decay. Through ingenuity and perserverance, they became the last holdouts in a cultural war which was dedecated to wreaking havoc on tradition, family, and faith. In the end they turn defeat into victory and form a bond so strong no amount of persecution could break it. There will be a lot of turmoil along the way, but someday their commitment and determination will prove to be the spark that ignites a new era of enlightenment and ushers in a renaissance of faith. In this first book, in a three-book saga, walk with these people of faith and their descendants as they struggle to preserve and protect their way of life and the grace and goodness of Divinity.  Book 1 of the Divintiy saga. 222 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. Grant
• Release date: Apr 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201875015

J. Grant

J. Grant is retired from a long career in manufacturing and is now pursuing his lifelong love of writing. He has had short stories published in magazines and loves penning traditional poetry. An avid outdoors man his hobbies include fishing, gardening, and enjoying all the splendor nature has to offer. God, family, and country top his list of priorities and they are reflected in his writing. He resides in rural Indiana with his beloved wife Mary and an old, but playful, dog named Henry. 

Book preview

Chapter 1

Sometimes people become heroes without meaning to, or, for that matter, ever knowing they actually are. Their only heroic act was a refusal to let evil rule the day. Finding the courage to simply say no, to an overwhelming foe, can be a difficult task especially if they’re intent on eradicating your kind. Going against the prevailing sentiment of society is not only difficult it can be dangerous. When lies become truth and liars are hailed as champions, those who know the real truth become the enemy. For Christians the subjugation started the day Jesus was born and will continue until the end of time. In the end God will prevail, truth will be known, and righteousness will rule, but in the interim a battle rages.

Few things change overnight and such it is with the hearts and minds of good people. Satan is a patient destroyer, content with eating away at the fabric of society until there is nothing left to hold it together. He loves the mob that goes about in an angry rage, trampling on those with whom they disagree. They are discontent and lost souls who are so trapped in their own iniquity they viciously attack others, who will not celebrate wickedness with them.

Like any movement evil has its leaders and its minions. Those who are calculating and methodical in their deceit and those who follow, too blind and weak to ask why. Suffering people with empty lives are easy prey for power hungry despots who scoff at the idea of being subservient to God. They believe by removing the real deity they themselves will become God. Removing God, however, is not as simply a task as they might have imagined it to be.

Faith resides in the heart, not in Christian symbols or institutions. It is a light that cannot be extinguished with even the strongest winds of denial. A truth that cuts through the thickest of cloaks. Even with all the best efforts of evil people, God will find a way to avail Himself for those who seek Him. As long as there are people who know of His love and forgivingness, He will be there to comfort and guide them. 

This is a story of people who stood against evil, and without really realizing would become part of God’s remnant. Never giving in and never giving up is what made them true Christian heroes. As they worked to preserve their way of life unknowingly, they created a light that would shine through the darkness, and give others hope. In a small rural community, God called on the people to keep His light burning, and they answered His call. 

The world was sliding into chaos, rife with terrorism, moral decay, and riots. Day by day it was becoming increasingly more difficult for honorable people to find a place of refuge. Those who desired a peaceful and spiritual life found themselves tormented by social deviates who were filled with hatred and reviled anything they had not deemed righteous. Big cities had become intolerable for those seeking a decent place to raise their children and many of the smaller towns wasn’t much better.

It was a time when mocking goodness was the trend and morality was reinvented every day. Many good people suffered as degenerates grew in number and their influence swayed powerful and affluent people. Devoted Christians became the preferred target of ridicule, and soon they found themselves vilified and loathed, fighting for the right to practice even the most basic tenants of their faith.

Governments were growing ever more critical of religion and leaders found it

beneficial to demoralize the traditional family. Politicians discovered that by catering to malcontents they could gain more power and control. The loud-shrill voices of radicals drowned out the pleas of more passive and conservative citizens. Christians were used as scapegoats and blamed for being the ones standing in the way of progress and world unity. They were derided as being smug, pompous, prejudice, and intolerant.

As prejudice and persecution flourished few places on earth tolerated worshipers, but there was one place that was a blessed haven for the Christians fortunate enough to live there. Situated in what was once known as the bible belt, this tranquil Christian community somehow managed to retained its religious heritage. Nestled in a plush green valley among the mountains of Middle Tennessee was the small peaceful, and soon to be defiant, town of Willow Creek.

Steadfast in their commitment to resist becoming part of the rapidly deteriorating world around them, the people of Willow Creek held tight to their Christian traditions. Many unwary Christians across the land continued to hope the worst was behind them, but the residents of Willow Creek knew the worst was yet to come. They refused to march blindly down the path of government mandated secularism. Rebellion, however, had its price isolating them from the rest of society and forcing them to live their lives in secrecy. 

Named after the tranquil stream that twisted through the valley on its way to the Tennessee River, Willow Creek was a place where time stood still. With tree lined streets and church steeples, reaching high into the blue Tennessee sky, the only way one could describe Willow Creek was quaint and peaceful. It was a place that existed in stark contrast to the ever-degenerating world that loomed outside of its cradling mountain ridges. 

Willow Creek was a wonderful place to raise a family. The children were polite and respectful, having been taught manners at an early age. When they addressed elders, it was common to hear them say, Yes, Mam, please, and thank you. Cursing was never heard on the street, not because they feared the law, but rather they respected the Lord. On Sunday morning a choir of church bells rang across the valley, and people dressed in their finest passed by closed businesses on their way to church. For the people of Willow Creek time had stopped, but the world around them continued to slip further into moral corruption.

No one in Willow Creek was blind to the decaying world around them, it was quite the contrary. They realized how wretched the world had become and perhaps that is why they clung ever so tightly to their past. In fact, the more the country changed and pulled away from traditional values the further Willow Creek slipped back in time. They were determined to keep their Christian foundation intact, and were prepared to fight secularism to the end.

Secularists and globalists finally mounted an all-out anti-religion crusade and began to systematically eliminate any influence believers might have had. Meanwhile, cries for a one world government were sweeping across the globe. Totalitarians were eager to extinguish dissent and was quick to silence the opposition. Governments linked up with large corporations and tech giants to sensor anyone who dared oppose them.

Their goal was to become dictators so they could rule with impunity. They pitched a big tent and welcomed everyone from socialists to sexual perverts into their fold. Their ranks continued to grow as deviant people across the social spectrum crawled out of the shadows and screamed for society to not only accept, but embrace their deviant and unrighteous practices.

Resisting these social wolves could mean losing your job or, in some instances, being incarcerate for hate speech. All manner of perversion was welcomed by the powerful elites, but in return they demanded unwavering loyalty. As more and more iniquities were legalized, and legitimized, the more power the reprobates gained. All of this corruption was sold as secularism and people actually began to believe it was righteous. People lived without guilt, and they hated Christians because they were a reminder of what true virtue really is.

As these events unfolded the wise people of Willow Creek united in a collaborative effort to save their beloved town from the perils of secularism. Every citizen played an important role in preserving the town’s Christian legacy, but a few key people emerged as leaders. With knowledge and foresight, a handful of men and women worked tirelessly to save Willow Creek from an ever more intrusive government. Saving Willow Creek meant leaving the world behind and ultimately forging a new covenant under a new name. 

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Probably the most learned leader in Willow Creek was Mayor Robert Holman. He was a short heavy-set man with a round beaming face and slow country manner, which hid the fact that he had earned a doctorate in constitutional law. Like his father had done before him, Bob served in the best interest of his Willow Creek constituents with patriotic enthusiasm. His wife, Virginia, and their two sons Lincoln and Reagan, were equally patriotic. Virginia worked tirelessly as a volunteer at the local clinic and also ran the county food bank program. The two boys, Lincoln and Reagan, were both attorneys and worked in Washington, D.C., fighting for the rights of Christians. All and all, the Holman’s epitomized what it meant to be a patriotic American, and were wonderful blessings for the people of Willow Creek. 

Then there was Sarah Jane Jackson the superintendent of schools. She was a former Willow Creek teacher of thirty years, who loved children and disdained government intervention. Her warm smile and soft pleasant voice endeared her to teachers, parents, and students alike. Under Sarah Jane’s leadership the Willow Creek School District was unsurpassed in academic achievement, and all extracurricular activities reflected the same Christian values as the surrounding community.

Sarah Jane had been a widow for many years. Her beloved husband, Cordell, was killed in a mining accident shortly after they were married. After his untimely and tragic death, Sarah threw herself into teaching, knowing she would never find another Cordell. Sarah Jane was never blessed with any children of her own, but to many she was like a mother. Every student who had ever attended a Willow Creek school knew her compassion, warmth, and love. 

Another stalwart citizen of Willow Creek was their defender of truth, Joseph Scoop Prescott. As editor of the Willow Creek Voice, Scoop was an ardent practitioner of journalistic integrity. Whether reporting local events or news from around the world, Scoop would always say, Without the whole truth, it isn’t news. His Sunday commentaries were usually filled with scathing criticism regarding the country’s march toward secularism, but he always allowed an opposing view.

For years Joe Prescott had worked for the New York Times. Originally from Willow Creek, Joe had worked his way up the journalistic ladder by being known as a guy who could get to the truth. When the Times became more interested in creating its own version of the truth rather than reporting the actual truth, Joe became disillusioned and headed back to Willow Creek.

Sadly, his wife loved city life more than her husband, so she remained in New York with their young son, John. Upon returning to Willow Creek, Joe promptly created a newspaper called the Willow Creek Voice and became a renowned on-line news source for Christians. His ability to ferret out stories other news outlets couldn’t earned him the nickname Scoop. 

Charged with maintaining law and order in Willow Creek was a young former marine by the name of Beaufort Gentry. Sporting a GI haircut and wearing a pristine police uniform, over his muscular physique, Chief Gentry was the epitome of a lawman. A fully decorated veteran from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, Beaufort spent most of his days catching unwelcome rattlesnakes, or finding a lost dog. There wasn’t a lot of crime in Willow Creek, but perhaps that was, in part, due to Beaufort Gentry being the police chief.

Last of all, but certainly not least, was Eli Patterson. As the preacher of Willow Creek Baptist Church, Eli was a man who had truly been called by God to share the gospel. In a fiery voice filled with the passion of Jesus Christ he set hearts a blaze on Sunday morning. A tall thin man standing six foot six inches, Eli was not only a spiritual leader, but also served as the town’s psychologist and coach of little league baseball. Everything he did reflected his faith in God, from counseling troubled souls, through the use of scripture, to praying before Saturday evening sandlot games. Regardless if his sermon was on the wonders of God’s love or the evils of sin, the Reverend Patterson adhered strictly to the Bible. Everyone knew no matter how long Eli preached at the end of every sermon there would be an altar call.

His wife, Ruth, was a leader in her own right, organizing church socials and using her southern charm to welcome newcomers into the church. Every child who attended Sunday School benefitted from her knowledge of the Bible and the creative way she brought it to life. Before Sunday service you could always find her in the church nursery, holding and hugging the infants, with a look of delight on her face. Eli called her his better half and the two made a great team for bringing the Lord into people’s life. 

Noah Patterson was Eli’s son and, like his father, Noah hoped one day that he too would preach the gospel. Most of the traditional Christian seminaries were being forced to close their doors so Noah’s hope for a formal theological education seemed dim. His father was a great tutor, however, and eventually Noah knew the Bible as well as he knew his own name. 

As secular storm clouds formed over Christian skies, these Willow Creek stalwarts worked tirelessly to protect their beloved community. The threat of intervention by outsiders was an ever-increasing danger as atheists attempted to infiltrate towns such as Willow Creek. Unapologetically, the town had been operating outside of federal law, and was in violation of several supreme court rulings. This made the threat of legal action not only possible, but probable.

With prayer being a normal part of any school day and the Ten Commandments hanging on the courthouse wall, any secularist would have had a field day in Willow Creek. Throw in a Christian invocation before each city council meeting and a display of the Nativity in the city square, at Christmas, and even one offended and outraged secularist would have wanted to call in the National Guard. Everyone in Willow Creek understood the dangers so they keeping a close watch for strangers, they remained vigilant, and concealed their offenses. 

Mayor Holman’s knowledge of the constitution was invaluable, and he had managed to fend off several ACLU lawsuits. Unfortunately, legislation was being drafted which defied the Constitution and ignored the Bill of Rights. The new thirteen-member Supreme Court was controlled by a secular progressive majority and they had no problem subverting religious rights. All of Robert Holman’s legal prowess would be useless if this packed court succeeded in destroying the very foundation the United States was built upon. 

As the twenty-first century was ushered in religious terrorism escalated and added fuel to the anti-Christian fire. Even though Christians never advocated for, or participated in, violence, the reprobate lobbyists seized on the opportunity to paint them as radicals. Many in the media were eager to fabricate a link between Christianity and the increasing rise in murderous carnage.

Political leaders were reluctant to support Christian causes and were quick to profess their support of a secular nation. In an effort to appear neutral and forego the wrath of cancel culture zealots, they distanced themselves from Christian leaders and their ideology. Eventually politicians became pawns of the reprobates and bought votes by suppressing religious expression.

In Willow Creek concern turned to fear as it became painfully clear that Christians were not only viewed as a problem, but a target. By the end of the second decade in the new century it was clear Christianity had few defenders. Many well-known religious leaders had dropped out of sight or diluted their message until it resembled a motivational lecture, rather than a sermon. Ministers like Eli Patterson were hard to find and most Christians were left wanting when it came to spiritual guidance.

The Christian world view was deteriorating rapidly and, alone in a hostile Middle East, Israel struggled to survive. Christian pleas for support fell on deaf ears in Washington as terrorists wreaked havoc on the tiny Jewish nation. Rumblings for universal world rule in an effort to stop the escalating violence could be heard across the land. After several sever terrorist attacks on US cities, and saber rattling by many of the worlds despot rulers, many Americans were eager to give up sovereignty if it would keep them safe.

By the year 2030, it was clear that the United States was past the point of no return, and on an unabated march toward one world order. As with most hate filled campaigns, the drive to suppress and discredit Christianity had no limits. It wasn’t enough for the reprobates to see Christians broken and muted, they wanted believers to suffer. During the years that followed, the people of Willow Creek watched as religious bigotry engulfed the country.

Frantically, the leaders of Willow Creek worked to salvage their Christian birthright as the specter of religious death knocked at their door. Key events that affected the lives of everyone in the small town were chronicled as the last days began. The Willow Creek Voice refused to submit to censorship pressures and Scoop Prescott never held back in his editorials. Reverend Eli Patterson wanted future generations to know the truth about what happened to Willow Creek and wrote of the events in his journal. 

Chapter 2

September 5, 2022

Supreme Court ruling on Balderus vs the State of Alabama;

The Supreme Court upholds the lower court ruling that Mr. Balderus’s rights were violated by the State of Alabama. By allowing an employee to wear a religious symbol, such as a cross, state officials did indeed violate the first Amendment, and ultimately indorsed a specific religion. Therefore, Mr. Balderus’s claim that, as a state worker, his right to be non-religious was violated because of the religious symbols displayed by fellow workers, was justified. All government entities have the responsibility and duty of cleansing their respective agencies of religious artifacts regardless of their origin. 

As Virginia walked up the steps of her stately southern home, she faintly heard the sound of the phone ringing inside. Hurrying to open the door, she entered the kitchen and placed the bag of apples, she was carrying, on the counter. Grabbing the phone from a nearby wall, Virginia said, Howdy, before she could get the receiver to her ear. On the other end she heard a familiar voice asking, Mama, Mama..... are you there?

Hey, Lincoln how y’all doin?

Have you read the paper today, Mama?

No, I’ve been over at the Taylor’s Orchard pickin apples. They were givin’ away the ones on the ground and I got some good ones for the food bank.

"I’ve got bad news, Mama. The Supreme Court upheld the Balderus case. They just

threw out the Constitution to appease a bunch of secularists."

Your daddy is gonna be fit to be tied. He thought for sure they’d uphold the first amendment. 

Well, this just proves they’re nothing, but political puppets. I guess packing the court with left wing justices paid off. Reagan is meeting with Senator Stone in a few minutes to see if he can do anything from the legislative side. Tell Daddy this ain’t over yet. I gotta go now, Mama, I love you.

I love you too, Lincoln. Tell Reagan I said hey, and God bless.

Shaking her head as she hung up the phone, Virginia was in disbelief that the Supreme Court would blatantly deny Christians the right to wear a cross. Standing at the kitchen sink she washed the deep red apples and wondered how Bob would deal with the ruling. As mayor of Willow Creek, it was his job to ensure all city employees adhered to the law, but this was a whole different thing. Virginia knew her husband very well and one thing was certain, Mayor Bob Holman wasn’t going to force any city worker to remove their cross.

By the time Virginia got the apples dried and placed in a bowl on the table, she could hear Bob pounding up the front steps and across the porch. As he came through the front door, he immediately called her name, Virginia......Virginia?

I’m in the kitchen, Bob.

When Bob entered the kitchen, Virginia could tell by the concerned, and somewhat angry, look on his face, he already heard the bad news. Reaching down, he picked one of

the apples out of the bowl and started nervously rolling it around in his hands. After a minute or two of pacing around the kitchen and fumbling with the apple, Bob said, Virginia, did you hear what they did today?

Lincoln called and said the Supreme Court ruled against Alabama.

What they did was flush the Constitution down the toilet.

Well Reagan is meetin’ with Senator Stone, maybe they can work something out.

Senator Stone is a good Christian man, but he doesn’t have many friends in Washington. The only way to fix this is to impeach the judges, but I don’t think Stone has the votes.

What’re you gonna do about Willow Creek?

I’m going to meet with Sarah Jane and Beaufort now to work this out. One thing is for sure, I’m not asking anybody to remove a cross.

As he headed into town, Bob’s old Ford pickup banged and rattled as he drove down the winding country road. Virginia and Bob lived about fifteen minutes out of town on, what once was, the county’s largest tobacco farm. After the government taxed tobacco into near obliteration, the farm shut down and fell into decay. Later the Holman’s bought it and restored the house and all the old tobacco drying barns. The beautiful rolling hills were now home to five fine stallions, an old mare, an assortment of ducks, sheep, chickens, and one rather large hog.

As the truck bounced along the rough road Bob reached for his cell phone, pushed a number, then placed it to his ear.

Buford, I need you to meet me at Sarah Jane’s house. We got some matters to discuss.

In a few minutes, Bob was driving down Main Street waving back at town’s people greeting him as they walked along the street. Turning onto Elm Street it wasn’t long before he saw the white picket fence of Sarah’s well-manicured house. Pulling up in front of the house, Bob got out of his truck and headed for the front door. Before he was half way up the short walk, Bob could see the town’s familiar black and white patrol car coming down the street. Bob waited patiently, on the walk, until Beaufort got out of the patrol car and headed toward him.

Hey, Mayor Holman.

Hey, Beaufort.

What’s the meeting about, Mayor?

Let’s get inside and we’ll discuss it.

Pulling back the screen door, Bob knocked on the front door and within a few seconds a smiling Sarah Jane, greeted them, Well, howdy gentlemen. Come on in. Bob and Beaufort stepped into the front room, and each replied, Evening, Sarah Jane. Walking toward the kitchen, Sarah Jane motioned to a small wooden table, saying, You boys come on in here and have a seat. I’ve got some fresh squeezed lemonade for y’all.

Both men sat down at the table as Sarah Jane poured lemonade into tall glasses full of ice. Placing napkins on the table she sat the glasses on them and joining the two she sat down, and asked, So, Bob, is this a social visit or official business?

Well, Sarah Jane, I guess it’s a little of both. Did you hear the Supreme Court decision today on Balderus verses Alabama?

No, Bob I didn’t. Did they finally reverse that cockamamy ruling about Christians wearing crosses? 

That’s why I’m here, Sarah Jane, they upheld the lower court ruling.

You gotta be kidding me, Beaufort blurted out in disbelief.

Taking a long slow drink of his lemonade and sitting it back on the napkin, Bob said with a smile, That’s mighty good lemonade, Sarah Jane. Quickly, Bob’s smile faded into a concerned look, and his voice turned serious, I’m worried about what this means for Willow Creek. With a slight shake of her head, Sarah Jane replied, Bob, we’ve dealt with this sort of thing before and everything worked out alright.

Sure, like the Ten Commandments standing in the court house. We might hide it from an atheist once in a while, but it’s still there, Beaufort added. 

Bob took another sip of his lemonade, before saying, I’m not worried about this particular ruling. No one working for the town of Willow Creek is gonna be told to remove their cross, but this is much bigger than that. Today the Supreme Court ignored the Constitution and sent a message to Christians that essentially says, you don’t have the same rights as other citizens.

Refilling the glasses with lemonade, Sarah Jane asked, What do you think we should do Bob? Getting up from the table, Bob walked over to a beautiful wood carving of the Lord’s Prayer, hanging on the kitchen wall. With a faraway look in his eyes, Bob stared at the plaque for several seconds before turning his attention back to the table and answering, in a slightly authoritative voice, Beaufort, I need you to keep a close watch for outsiders. Use the data base to check license plate numbers and I.D.’s. Sarah Jane, I know the NEA is gonna be all over this and I don’t want any of our teachers felling like they can’t wear a cross.

Standing up and walking over to Bob, Sarah Jane patted him softly on the shoulder and tried to comforted him, Don’t you fret, Bob, we’ll get through this just fine. Beaufort stood up and giving Bob a relaxed military salute, he added, You can count on me Mayor. Heading for the front door, Bob said, Thanks for the lemonade, Sarah Jane. Following behind him, Sarah Jane asked, Why don’t you and Virginia come over and have supper one evening? That sounds good, Sarah Jane, I’ll talk to Virginia, Bob replied, as he stepped onto the front porch.

Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket Bob wiped the perspiration from his forehead and looked up at the mid-day sky. As Beaufort walked out on the porch and stood beside him, Bob proclaimed, Sure is hot for September, Beaufort.

Yeah, Mayor it’s been a hot summer. Just doesn’t seem like it wants to let up.

Well, I’m afraid Willow Creek might get a lot hotter, Beaufort.

Walking out to his truck, Bob climbed in, and grabbed his cell phone off the seat. Pushing a number on the phone it barely finished the first ring before a voice on the other end said, Mayor Bob Holman’s office. How may I help you? 

Howdy, Mary.

Well, howdy, Mayor Holman.

Mary, could you call all the city and county officials and ask them if they could meet me in my office in about an hour?

I sure will, Mayor.

Thank you, Mary. Oh, one more thing, Mary. Are you wearing that gold cross your husband bought you for Christmas?

Well, yes, I am Mayor. I wear it pert near every day.

I’m glad to hear that, Mary. I’ll see you in a bit.

Since Willow Creek was the county seat, and the only real town in rural Noble County, Bob Holman was, by default, county commissioner, as well as mayor. Although he rarely needed to function as commissioner, Bob knew this situation needed his authority. All the county officials knew their jobs well, but it was the leadership of Bob Holman that brought them together as a team. 

Starting the old Ford, Bob turned around and headed back to Main Street. At the red light in the center of town he turned left onto Parsonage Street and after driving a couple of blocks, he stopped in front of a tall white building. Getting out of his truck, he looked over at the buildings engraved cornerstone which read First Baptist Church. Looking at the bell tower, reaching high into the sunny Tennessee sky, Bob squinted as he stared at the cross on the very top. 

Walking up the church steps, Bob pulled open one of the double