Society of the L.A.M.B.

by DuCharme, Judy;

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright 2016 Judy DuCharme

  What People Are Saying About

  DEDICATION

  INTRODUCTION

  ONE

  TWO

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Sample of Run With the Wind by Judy DuCharme.

  Society of the L.A.M.B.

  Judy DuCharme

  Copyright 2016 Judy DuCharme

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Cover Photo by Steve Brandt

  Edited by Lisa J. Lickel

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are the product of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Published by Prism Book Group

  ISBN-10: 1-943104-64-6

  ISBN-13:978-1-943104-64-2

  First Edition, 2016

  Published in the United States of America

  Contact info: contact@prismbookgroup.com

  http://www.prismbookgroup.com

  What People Are Saying About

  Society of the L.A.M.B.

  “This heart-stopping thriller, filled with mystery, intrigue, and adventure not only keeps you riveted to your seat but reveals how the power and the love of God shine brilliantly even into the darkest dark. Make time to read Society of the L.A.M.B. cover to cover.” Karla Orgel

  “Being an avid Christian fiction reader, I can honestly say Society of the L.A.M.B. is a heartfelt excellent read for the fiction connoisseur. Judy is an author of integrity, filling her books with characters that come to life with wit and high interest.” Gay Hecker

  “Society of the L.A.M.B. is an exciting story and a wonderful allegory of who we are in Christ. Judy captures, in a practical way, the reality of how we are to live as new creations in Christ Jesus.” Pastor Ed House

  “I so enjoyed this page-turner and can’t wait for the sequel!” Kim Elkins

  “It spoke to me. Let it speak to you.” Nancy Pillat

  “Fascinating…drew me right in.” Michelle Kemp

  “I was so inspired to see the power of prayer and the value of my purpose in life. I’m pumped! The inner life! The rhema! The eyes! The voice! The shout! King Glory!” Whitney House

  DEDICATION

  To all those who hear the shout and know that it’s within them.

  INTRODUCTION

  Life has changed. Those who know the Voice now have their own voices disallowed. Those in authority clamp down on anyone who expresses their inner life, now made alive by King Glory.

  Life was not always dangerous for those with life in their inner man. Once, living for Jajireh and King Glory brought joy and peace.

  But comfort had its disadvantages. Little by little, people deceived and twisted the words of the Logos, and many ignored it, but over time the deceptions took root. Those who hated the ways of King Glory grew stronger and made laws against the inner man. Over Garments and Eyeshades became the law of the land, for life revealed itself through the eyes. Those who allowed their inner lives to be revealed were incarcerated. Watchers were trained to detect LAMBers, those who claimed allegiance to the Society of the L.A.M.B.

  Now, however, there is a stirring. The Voice is becoming a Shout—not heard by natural ears but loudly proclaiming within. Angels in heaven hear the sound and come to give assistance…

  Angel Halal: great praise and clarity

  Angel SheMah: hear and obey

  Angel Rhema: the spoken word

  Angel Rinnah: shout of joy

  Angel Chesed: lovingkindness

  Angel Yobel: blast of trumpet

  Angel Levi: abide with (comes to assist and befriend)

  Jajireh: the Great Creator and Father of King Glory, known in heaven as GREAT

  King Glory: Son of Jajireh; He who gave His life that all who receive Him may have life

  The Logos: the written Word of Jajireh

  The Voice: the Spirit of Jajireh

  ONE

  The Eyes

  Josiah’s inner eyes peered beyond the fog of lies. How long it had been since he’d seen truth? He wished he could rub the darkness away. To his outer eyes, orange hues cradling the sunset faded into gray, and the gloom of night descended. Josiah stood amongst the drooping pines by the side of the rutted road. He rocked slightly back and forth, his stance unsteady due to thick, mucky gravel now plastered on his boots. It was the muck plastered over his mind that concerned him. Rustling pine needles made the only sound. A few sharp needles poked his arm, prodding him on. Josiah resisted the urge.

  Even though heavy darkness pressed on him, Josiah felt he had light about him. But the glow, the peace, was inside. Awakened from a sleep of apathy, Josiah again knew truth within. Life surged in him. King Glory still lived. Perhaps the Society of the L.A.M.B. still existed.

  The steel building where the colony meeting would soon begin stood a half mile away. Its corrugated metal walls would cause the raucous noises to echo into the woods, intimidating anyone or anything that would laud the inner man. Josiah pulled his shades over his eyes, making everything even darker. Just what they want. Glorifying the outer man is all that matters. Show no evidence of life within.

  Well, too late for that. Josiah almost chuckled. Instead, he drew his hand through his thick, wavy hair, a continual habit whether he was nervous or merely thinking.

  His Over Garments, called OGs, practically blared the bizarre. Bright and garish was the rule. Jackets and pants in tones and patterns that signaled life was celebrated with impropriety and disrespect were required of everyone. Soon his former friends would arrive and expect him to join them in the nightly meeting. But Josiah had changed. His inner man had reawakened. Would they be able to detect it?

  His shades were also required to show denial of any inner life. Supposedly, they prevented anyone from detecting death in the eyes. However, the eyeglasses simply deceived them into thinking people were prevented from being restored to King Glory. What was it that his grandfather had told him? “If the eye is dark, how great is that darkness!”

  Stirred from his reverie, Josiah heard footsteps. They were looking for him. He shouldn’t be obvious. That’s a laugh. Everything was obvious now, but everything was hidden at the same time. Stepping out, Josiah met the three swarthy young men sauntering his way.

  Bart, the tallest, complimented, “Great OGs, Josiah. Isn’t it great to be free from inward viewing? Let’s go. The colony awaits.” Bart’s big arms almost scared Josiah, but there was a gentleness about him the others didn’t have. Bart tried to not show any softness by always being the first to spout the colony line. His face was round and his hair brown and shaggy. Bart walked with intensity, and most followed his commanding demeanor, but when there was no need to lead or command, Josiah detected a weariness in him. He guessed that much of Bart’s outward expression was a sham.

  “Life is so great. Freedom is the best. No rules, because we rule.” Bart slapped Josiah on the back as they walked toward the meeting.

  Josiah hated his OGs. Thankfully, though, the colony only saw the OGs and so considered him one of them. Still, how would he ever escape and be reunited with his true friends, and how would he find them? Can I
ever be free? How will I know?

  And then the answer came. The eyes. Josiah almost fell backward. He pretended he tripped on a root in the road. The others laughed. Another phrase from King Glory: “The eyes reveal the inward man.” Josiah understood. Those who still walked in the truth would show it in their eyes.

  He turned and looked his companions in the eyes. Nothing. They didn’t even need shades. There was no life in them to hide. Ah, but the shades are thought to hide that fact.

  They approached the gray metal building, which stood stiff as a sentinel. Josiah realized he must be careful. There would be L.A.M.B. detectors planted to observe his eyes and know the OGs weren’t true. This would be delicate. How could he detect without being detected?

  They were only five minutes late, but already the loudness and hate were palpable. The meeting had begun. Voices spewed out.

  “We don’t need antiquated rules. We don’t want to see anyone’s inner man. We don’t have to show allegiance to King Glory.” When the speaker said “King Glory,” he spat, and many shouted and jeered.

  One person on the stage stood gazing about, probably an eye detector. Evidently, Josiah watched him too long, for suddenly the detector’s eyes fell on Josiah. Swiftly, Josiah looked down. Probably too late…probably found out already. Josiah’s pulse pounded.

  But wait, what did I see? He saw light in those eyes, not darkness. He glanced back up.

  The other man was still looking at him. He gave a slight nod and moved in Josiah’s direction.

  Josiah considered running, but that would certainly give him away. He held his ground. The other man soon stood near him but did not look at him. Instead, he casually bent and drew three concentric circles in the dirt.

  Josiah couldn’t believe it. This was the sign for the Society of the L.A.M.B. Josiah quickly drew a smiley face in the center circle, meaning “the inner man lives.” Almost as quickly, he scuffed it out. He hadn’t participated in this process in such a long time. Could it have been years since Grandfather taught him the meaning?

  The other man went to a side door. Josiah waited a few minutes then followed. When the speaker got to a point where everyone was cheering and jeering, Josiah and the other man slipped out and ducked into the nearby pine grove.

  “I’m Teleos. I know you are Josiah. We’ve been looking for you. Leave at dawn for your grandfather’s cabin. There is much news.”

  Josiah nodded then took one more look into Teleos’s eyes. Light, peace, and wisdom—like cool drinks of water on a scorching day.

  Then Teleos was gone. Josiah slipped back into the colony building. They were still rejoicing in their dark freedoms.

  * * *

  That night, Josiah thought he’d be too nervous or excited to sleep after his encounter with Teleos. But he rested with more peace than he had in weeks. Fortunately, the college where he studied Physical Education was on a scheduled three-week break. No one need wonder where he might be.

  Right before dawn, he awoke with a start, as if he’d been nudged. He knew it was time to go. He put on his OGs and grabbed his shades. If seen after sun-up without shades, authorities would arrest him for loving light more than darkness.

  He was thankful he knew the route to Grandfather’s well-hidden cabin and didn’t need much light to get there. How many times had he run this path when he was younger? The path was strewn with roots and rocks in the midst of tall hardwoods and scruffy pines. How many times had he gotten in trouble when he stopped to play in the leaves or climb a tree? Going to the store for groceries, he often took a side path to go look at the water over the bluff.

  One time, he’d been so relaxed high on the bluff he decided to just lie down…and forgot the groceries were right next to his feet. Soon they were far below with a thud—food for the rabbits, fox, deer, coyotes, and crows prevalent in the woody area. Oh, the trouble he got into so often.

  Josiah stopped. He stretched his arms upward. Okay, here I am, King Glory, on my way to Grandfather’s house. It’s been too long, but it seems so right. Forgive me for waiting so long. Forgive me for not staying true.

  Josiah dropped to his knees with his forehead in the dirt. He flexed and relaxed his muscular shoulders, strong from his training for high school and college cross-country running. Help me do it right this time.

  Then Josiah laughed his contagious chuckle as he remembered his grandmother’s voice: “Get going, young man, or you’ll be chopping wood as a consequence.”

  Hopping up, Josiah saluted the air. “Yes, ma’am.” Still chuckling, he jogged down the path.

  The roots and rocks in the trail were like old friends. Some were covered by brilliant green moss and shimmered from the light filtering through the trees. The light made a lacework doily pattern in the dry dirt, making Josiah almost dizzy as he gazed at it. A few leaves skittered along the path, stirred up by many feet, but most clung to trees with the strength of late summer. Tinges of yellow, orange, and red indicated autumn was not far away.

  Josiah shivered, thinking what this trek would be like once winter settled in and the wind carried cold and snow across this path. Still, that was months away. He glanced down at the pine needles on the path. A storm a year previous had uprooted many trees in bizarre gusts that sheared through the area. The life in those trees was gone. No longer were they able to draw life through their root system. Even though the uprooted pines were evergreens, their needles were now rust colored and scattered like straw across the trail and throughout the wooded area.

  I was uprooted, but I have been replanted. I can again draw life from my Creator, Jajireh. What a relief!

  * * *

  Josiah and Grandfather sat in the sunny kitchen eating a grand breakfast with Teleos. Sunlight shimmered on the glass jars that held syrup and juice.

  “No one ever went hungry in this kitchen.” Josiah grinned as he looked around. Tiny rainbows flicked around the spacious room from the prisms hung near the windows. White appliances and countertops reflected the colors. Expansive windows let in plenty of daylight even when it was cloudy.

  “True, your grandma always had big breakfasts, and there always seemed to be plenty of cousins around to eat them.” Grandfather looked around, too. His piercing blue eyes glistened as if he could see beyond the walls and into the past. “This,” he said, patting the worn but colorful tablecloth with his large hand, aged by many years of hard work, “is the same gingham cloth she used on this table all those years ago. It’s a bit faded, but I like its cheeriness. I think it’s welcoming.” Grandfather shrugged. “Now, there is still plenty of food, thanks to good friends and the freeze-dried food I got before life turned so dangerous.”

  “It’s been so long since I’ve been here.” Josiah took a sip of juice. “You taught me so much when I was little, and I believed you. I know I walked in truth then, but what happened? How did the world and life get so ugly, so dark?”

  The meandering rivers of wrinkles in Grandfather’s cheeks drooped. He sighed. “Once there was a time when we clearly saw the inner man. The outer man made no difference. We looked at and recognized each other’s inner personality. It was a joyful thing, not embarrassing. We saw people’s amazing potential, lofty dreams, their kindness and goodness, their drive and passions.”

  Grandfather poured more syrup on his pancakes and then laughed as he licked it off his fingers. “We recognized when people had the talent to solve our problems, and we saw the problems we could solve in others’ lives. No one really judged another.” He fell silent for a minute.

  Josiah gazed out the window, remembering the faces of his cousins. Did I see the potential in them back then?

  Taking another bite, Grandfather continued. “We respected and admired the varied and inner beauty every person had. No one was jealous, for King Glory had promised all needs would be met, and we had no reason to doubt. We always had the Spirit of Jajireh upon us and within us. It was a zone more than a place. You could see it in the eyes, and you knew that King Glory had designa
ted that person to answer your question or meet your need. It was wonderful.”

  Grandfather got up to get more juice. The refrigerator was ancient, one of those with the rounded corners. Does he manually defrost it? Ancient but abundant. Abundance was a landmark here. There was always enough good food and good talk.

  “Then someone came in and used the Voice to deceive.” Teleos picked up the story. “It wasn’t the true Voice, and most knew it. They would refuse to listen and tell the person to leave. But more and more people chose the deception until there was a foothold.”

  Josiah studied Teleos. He might pass as a cousin because of his dark sandy-colored hair. Grandfather had always said all his descendants were “almost towheads.” Grandma had wanted everyone to have her blonde hair, and not one did. For Teleos, though, his resemblance ended with the hair. His angular face bore a harsh expression, especially when his shades were on. His eyes were deep set, shiny blue, and penetrating while gentle at the same time. Other-worldly.

  “The foothold left unchallenged became a stronghold,” Teleos added. “That stronghold has become the law of the land. But now there is a stirring in the inner man.” He stood and carried dishes to the sink. “Many feel Jajireh is preparing us to retake some of the ground we lost. We are again beginning gatherings of LAMBers. These at one time were invaded by watchers, and many LAMBers were imprisoned. We stopped, but now we sense it’s time to meet and pray and shout the truth again.”

  “We prayed you’d come back, Josiah. We’re so glad you’re here.” Grandfather laid his hand on Josiah’s hand. Grandfather’s was gnarled, and Josiah’s unwrinkled, youthful, strong. Yet both were the same width and same length. Josiah remembered how often he’d admired the strength of Grandfather’s hands. Now he noted that his own were like Grandfather’s had once been.

  “It’s like I just woke up,” Josiah responded.

  Teleos returned to the table. “I must leave you now and return for colony meetings. Jajireh has anointed me to detect the detectors and also the LAMBers. So I must go.” He embraced Grandfather. “Again, I thank you for a place to call home.”