“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee. Neither can we call this a begging of misery, or a borrowing of misery, as though we were not miserable enough of ourselves, but must fetch in more from the next house, in taking upon us the misery of our neighbours. Truly it were an excusable covetousness if we did, for affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it. No man hath affliction enough that is not matured and ripened by and made fit for God by that affliction. If a man carry treasure in bullion, or in a wedge of gold, and have none coined into current money, his treasure will not defray him as he travels. Tribulation is treasure in the nature of it, but it is not current money in the use of it, except we get nearer and nearer our home, heaven, by it. Another man may be sick too, and sick to death, and this affliction may lie in his bowels, as gold in a mine, and be of no use to him; but this bell, that tells me of his affliction, digs out and applies that gold to me: if by this consideration of another’s danger I take mine own into contemplation, and so secure myself, by making my recourse to my God, who is our only security.”

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The official title is The Bare Facts: 39 Questions Your Parents Hope You Never Ask About Sex and it was written with Erin Davis.  I didn’t know who Erin Davis was before this book came in the mail, but I had read a couple of things by Josh McDowell and took my students through a BlueFish.tv series by him as well.  Of course, the real reason I couldn’t pass the book up is because of the topic.  Let’s face it.  Sex sells.  I’ve written on the subject a fair many times here, and they tend to be the most visited posts on my blog.  I talk about sex, and write about it, because media does so much to influence out culture with very destructive sex messages.  It is important to try and get good, uplifting messages on the subject of sex out there.  We just plain can’t hide it under the rug. I try to talk about this for at least one series a year, and I’m actually in the middle of that right now.  I’m going through another BlueFish.tv series, The Truth About Sex, with Doug Fields. I’ll be writing about that later. For now, let’s check out this book.

Just the Facts

As Joe Friday always said, just the facts. The book addresses 39 questions over the course of 126 pages. It is a reasonably quick read cover to cover. It is broken up into 6 sections by study questions, which are included at the end of the book. There are no pictures, but the publishers do use typography to set apart specific quotes, similar to the way a newspaper or magazine does. The book says “no question is off limits” and does deal with almost everything I’ve tried to answer for my students. It talks about abstinence, purity, and love. Often as far as any Christian book on the subject goes. It also discusses the real facts on STDs and “safe sex” as well as the emotional and mental response to sex, not just the physical. It even addresses anal/oral sex and other sexual practices commonly used to “preserve virginity” today and pornography and masturbation. I think the only think not really covered is same sex attraction.

High Marks

I have to give praise that they address some topics that I haven’t found much Christian writing on. For example, Hey Look Another Red Warning Post, where I ask if “fingering” is ok. I did a lot of searching and could find any Christian perspectives on this issue and others, which are in this book. I also like the way the book is broken up into chapters based on the questions. It makes it much easier to find specific answers. Curious what the most common STD is? Try the chapter “What is the most common STD?” It is also very important that the book uses frank and specific terminology. It doesn’t talk about weewees or hoohoos. This isn’t a “sex ed” type book, but they address real information factually. The discussion questions seem to be pretty solid, and are open ended, meaning better group discussion. The questions are formed like

In your opinion, who pays the highest price when sexual activity is not saved till marriage?

See, first you see that this is a question to opinion, allowing for a difference of thought and open dialogue. If you are looking for it, they avoid saying “sex” which might be limited to intercourse or having a partner. By saying “sexual activity” they are targeting a much wider range of thought and activity.

Needs Improvement

This book will make a great resource for groups planning on discussing this. There is a built in 6 week series. This book is not really written to appeal to teens in and of itself. I can certainly see myself using this as a resource, and if a teen asks a question I’m happy to give them a copy after talking with them, but I don’t see them really reading it. Part of this is because most students I know just aren’t into reading, and partly because those that do read, don’t read stuff like this. the look and presentation kind of remind my of my teen study Bible from 1992. I don’t mean it looks like something from the 90s, I mean it looks like that Bible looked to me back in the 90s. Like something made by someone trying to appear hip and cool. Maybe something in more of a magazine type look would help, but even then I just don’t think a huge number of students will really read this cover to cover. That said, I think they love to read and think about sex, and they will read key sections. They might wonder, “Isn’t it better if we live together first?” and open this book up to read that section. Like I said, this is a resource.

It might have helped if there were more “stories” in the book, not just “The Bare Facts.” Of course, then they would have to change the name of the book.

Plays Well With Others

As I said before, I’m currently going through a series with my students, and this book would make a great companion piece to the Truth About Sex series with Doug Fields. Of course, it would also go well with some of the past series I’ve done too. It addresses many of the same topics in similar ways, but with more facts to support what Doug Fields and the interviewed students are saying.

In Closing

I’m clearly not a good preacher, I had 4 points, not 3. Something must be wrong with me here. In any case, I would recommend this book to any leader that wants a simple resource for their own shelves or for small groups. I’d say get a few copies to give away to questing students. I’d also recommend to parents. It will help get you in the know about some stuff you are probably totally ignorant of. Seriously, the statistics will shock you, but you need to get a good dose of reality. Finally, if you are a student and want to know the answer to some really big questions about sex, but are afraid to ask your youth leader or parents, then don’t let me scare you away. This book is definitely for you too.

Oh, and one more detail, I have 2 copies to give away. If you want a copy leave a comment.  If more than 2 comments get left I’m going to use a highly scientific approach to choosing the winner. First, I’m going to randomly sort all the comments, then do eenie, meenie, minie, moe. Or maybe just go with the comment that makes me laugh, who knows.

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Today is my third post in the “Who is God” series on Make a Difference to One. I’m explaining “Spirit” and how we can use simple analogies that are fun for kids to explain a very complex concept. Click through for the full article.

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Darkness surrounded him. Mind numbing darkness that seemed to rob him of the memory of light. That word seemed foreign to him now. He tried to focus, to remember … what color was, even the faintest glimmer, a spark, a part of the shadow that wasn’t as dark. The effort drained him and his body collapsed.

He thought back to when the darkness first pulled him in. He remembered fighting the dark. He remembered getting free to the endless stairs many times in the early days. He could see light at the top of the spiraling steps. It was so distant but the warmth gave him strength. He remembered running forever, but the light seemed to stay fixed, like trying to run to the stars. The darkness caught him over and over. Each time the darkness seemed to overpower him more quickly and the light seemed further and more faint till he had no will to leave his dark prison.

He remembered screaming in anger and crying in depression till he was exhausted in the early days. It had been a long time since he cared enough to cry much less yell at his jailer.

Yes, even those memories were fading. Had he ever run to the light? Had he ever cried out in defiance at the dark? Had he even wept bitterly? Maybe he was born in darkness. Today he began to hope he would soon die in it. That thought made him angry, but soon the darkness took even that. He wanted to feel angry and the darkness wouldn’t let him have anything he wanted.

Again he though back. He remembered hearing the voices of others trapped in the pit. When he could defy the darkness it would awake old feelings within him. He was a protector. He remembered finding poor trapped souls and guiding them to the light, but then he doubted himself. Did he ever find anyone in this dark world? Was the light real? He couldn’t fix it in his mind any longer. Maybe those voices were a trick of his own mind. Maybe this whole world was a trick of his own mind. There was no light, and if there was no light there couldn’t be darkness. There was only nothing and so he could never leave this place. There was no where to go. There wasn’t even a place to leave. There was only this … existence.

The Messenger watched from a distance. He knew the darkness was aware of his presence, but waited. If he moved too soon the darkness would know who the message was for and stop him. The Messenger grieved for all those trapped in the pit, but most of all for Super Youth Pastor. The Messenger was well aware of the battles SYP had fought. He knew of those that had been freed from this very pit because SYP wouldn’t leave anyone behind. He remembered the last time SYP broke free and began running out of the pit. The darkness let him hear the voices of those trapped in despair. SYP stopped and the gate of freedom and ran back seeking others to help. Many found freedom that day, but SYP wouldn’t give up while he knew others needed him. He kept going back till he couldn’t go any further. He guided one last captive to the stairs of light when the darkness closed around them. He fought the darkness. He did everything to help one more get freedom, but when the prisoner he was trying to help turned on him something broke.

The Messenger was watching that day too; he wanted to fight but the time was not right. A smile curled across his face. Soon.

SYP didn’t believe his eyes. His mind was lying to him again. He blinked, but this phantom was still there. It was painful, the light burned into him and he began sobbing. Great tears pooled at his knees. After all this time in the darkness, after all this time in despair, on the very edge of completely giving up, the light came to him.

The Messenger didn’t have much time. He knew SYP wasn’t ready to leave, so he gave him the gift and whispered to him, “He is coming, prepare yourself.”

The darkness was back. It boiled around him, as if to scour any hint of light. SYP laid there in the pit, a river of tear flowing across his cheeks and he smiled. The darkness couldn’t see the gift the Messenger had left. Super Youth Pastor kept the hope in his heart where the darkness couldn’t see.

Who is coming? What must our captive hero prepare himself for? Will he ever be free of the Pit of Despair? Join us next time for more Adventures of Super Youth Pastor.

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I am participating in a “Who is God” series on Make a Difference to One. This latest addition to the series written by Jason V attempts to explain the Infinite, Eternal, and Unchangeable aspect of God. Great read so click through for the full article.

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Despite all of that I keep forgetting just how big and powerful God is. Maybe it is because He is close and personal. He is a friend and Father. I end up putting human limitations on Him and then wonder why I am overwhelmed. I fight through all manner of situations without going to God because I forget just how big He is. So often I think, “This is to small to bother God with, He has enough to deal with.” Did you catch that? I made the mistake of thinking that God can get overwhelmed just like I do.

That is the problem. I get overwhelmed. I have huge dreams and I want to see so many things happening but then I feel like I can’t get anything done because I’m working on so many things at once. I have to step back and decide what is important and what big picture things I need to take care of so the details can be handled by someone else, assuming I can beg someone to do it.

I take my limitations and I throw them on God. I believe that God is big enough for the big things. I will stop and pray in an instant when something huge is happening. That is what God is there for right? He has to deal with all those huge things so I’ll fret my life away trying to take car of those little details. My shoulder hurts but I can ice it and heat it and rub it and take meds. I don’t need to bother God with this. It’s nothing compared to the things that some people are enduring, stuff they won’t recover from without God. We are struggling in our finances but we can cut back and plan better and make ends meet. There are many people much worse off that God needs to help so I’ll keep pressing on.

See, I forget that God didn’t just make big brush strokes when he made the Universe, He worked on things of such fine detail that our most powerful instruments can’t see them. We can detect that there are things smaller than we can see because of the behavior of what we can see, but God made that detail. He put planets out there that we could never know about. He set it all in motion and knows the position of every aspect of His creation from before the moment it was made till after He unmakes it. He isn’t even the slightest bit taxed when doing all of this, He can attend to my smallest need if I just remember that He is big enough to handle my everything.

What do you have going on in your life that you think is too small for God?

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The light blinded him. SYP blinked at its brilliance.

“None of that now, I must see into your eyes and I cannot do that when you continue to close them. I do not wish to use force, but you must cooperate.”

SYP remembered now, the voice was the shadow, the Planner. He was looking into his eyes because they are the gateway to the soul, or some such thing. The light was back, but this time he stared right into it. He tried to burn the source of the light with sheer defiance.

“Well, well, Mr. Youth Pastor. It seems you are full of rebellion.”

Spots danced before him now as the silhouette slowly came back into focus. SYP carefully looked around the room for something he could use to free himself. They had used special reinforced restraints when his sanity was fading so that he could not hurt himself or anyone else. Now these restraints were keeping him from stopping the real villain.

“Of course my methods have worked on those with much more rebellion, so this is not the answer. I have already borrowed some of your blood, and while my scans do show some abnormalities they do not seem to be the source of your recovery either. I will continue with the typical surface investigation but I believe we will need to see what is going on in your head before the day is out.”

The Planner checked his reflexes, blood pressure, hearing … just about every possible test he could perform. He also used many strange instruments that SYP had never seen before. Things designed to measure aspects of the spirit according to the shadow man. SYP felt clearer as time passed but never tested his restraints. He knew that he couldn’t reveal just how lucid he was until the moment was right. The restraints appeared to run under the bed frame. They were attached to each other so his uncoordinated struggles would force him to work against his own strength. It was a very intelligent design, but there was a flaw.

“It seems a pity but I have not found anything specifically illuminating about your tests thus far. You are stronger than most, and your spiritual powers are certainly not a joke, but your mind had broken so these things could not help you. No, we will have to see your mind to find the answer.”

The Planner removed a device from his bag and began pulling it apart. It resembled a metal helmet with spikes embedded around it. He removed the spikes and put the helmet on him.

“Now this piece of equipment will allow me to see into your mind. Of course this will be more than a little uncomfortable. Actually it will be quite painful. We must make holes for the probes which will begin sinking into your brain. They will send impulses through your cerebral tissues and then monitor the responses. This will fully map your mental functions. The probes will continue to burrow into the primal portions of your brain until every part of who you are is charted. Of course you will not notice the probes; it is the drilling that will hurt. Unfortunately this will also end our time together since you are unlikely to recover from the deep brain scans.”

While he spoke the Planner had been fitting a drill bit into a cordless drill. As the planner came close SYP knew he couldn’t afford to wait any longer. The straps were much to strong, but the bed itself had not been reinforced against his strength. SYP pulled violently in a single coordinated crunch breaking the bed into pieces with his restraints. He was free but his movements were still fairly constricted. His feet were tethered together with the high tensile webbing allowing him only half steps, and his arms could only move a few inches apart. Fortunately the bed was quite thick and so there was plenty of slack where it once restrained him. He could bring his hands together, which meant he would be able to undo the restraints altogether, but only if he had time.

The Planner was recovering quickly and pulled a short staff from his bag. It seemed to move out of focus as he looked at it.

“This is a shock wand. It is designed to deliver bursts of electricity at exactly the right dose and frequency to cause maximum pain. It will hurt far worse than the final procedure so you should stop now.”

SYP tried to unbuckle his wrist but the Planner struck him and the world exploded. Sound roared through him and he distantly recognized it as his own howling voice.

“Oh dear, now you have certainly alerted the staff. I will have to deal with them, but first I must complete my contract and destroy you. This is becoming much messier than I would like.”

The haze was clearing from SYP’s sight just as the Planner lunged forward again. This time SYP side stepped and spun. The heavy buckle where the reinforced restraints were once attached together under the bed smashed against the Planner causing him to drop the shock wand. SYP worked quickly to remove one of his hand restraints, racing against his foe who was reaching for the pain stick. He got one hand free and whipped the short tether against the side of the enemy. The heavy duty material cracked painfully into the Planner stunning him and SYP bent to free one of his feet while slapping the electric prod away with his makeshift whip. The Planner back peddled quickly to his bag, but SYP was mostly free now. He left the restraints on one arm as a weapon against anything the Planner might pull from the bag. SYP twirled the rigging of buckles and dense fabric above his head watching for any tricks. The planner pulled something from his bag but SYP smashed it from his hand like lightening. As the item burst darkness filled the room and the Planner laughed.

“Fool. That was Eclipse Powder.”

The darkness lasted only a moment, but it was too late. SYP stood alone in the wrecked room.

A couple of weeks later SYP was happy to be discharged and home with his wife. They sat at the table discussing the events and wondering if and when the Planner would be back.

“One thing’s for sure,” Super Wife said, “He can’t drive you crazy.”

“Why’s that?”

“You’re already there. Why else would you be a youth pastor?”

She laughed and gave him a great big kiss.

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***

For one human being to love another that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof; the work for which all other work is but preparation.

~Rainer Maria Rilke

Love is eternal where lust is temporary. This is a plain and apparent fact as easily seen as the nose on my face, which is quite noticeable from even a great distance. The problem comes when one confuses love and lust. Often people claim to be “in love” only to “fall out of love,” but in truth they were “in lust” which is as easy to fall in to as it is to fall out of. Consider the relationship between a parent and child. This should be our basis for understanding love because it is our first experience with love. Each party must fail severely and often before love might fail. Parents who truly love their children do so regardless of the choices the child has made and regardless of how painful those choices might be. Often terrible parents are loved by their children regardless of how much it hurts for that love to not be returned. Imagine if all relationships were so pursued.

Since love will always outlast lust, the lover must take time for lust to fade so that love might grow just as a great tree must grow slowly until the weeds around it die and it can be in full sun and grow great and true; then nurture that love through respect and care. Only after those first joys of lust have passed will a couple experience true love in their relationship, the kind of love that exists beyond the hurt and pain.

It is also true that love is patient and perseveres in all things. This is why waiting for love is the only way a relationship may endure. Often a person says to another, “If you love me you will …” but the truth is that if love exists, it will be patient and forgiving. Lust demands instant gratification where love will carry through to the end. Lust is a sprinter that expends all his energy in seconds while Love is in a marathon race and she knows to keep an even pace throughout so she will not tire too quickly or stumble in the many rough places along the way.

This is why so many relationships fail, love gets confused with lust. When those feelings of joy and giddiness fade the energy of lust is spent while love is just getting started. Love must be given time to grow in the absence of lust or it will never reach its maturity. This is a difficult process because lust is passionate and intense driving a couple to spend time together where love is kind and gentle liberating a couple to their own interests. In this, individuals growing in love must overcome themselves and spend time with their love so they might experience a deeper understanding of love. If the lover were to say to the beloved, “I just do not love you anymore,” the lover is lost in confusion. The lover meant to say, “I no longer lust after you.” Love is an endless ocean and lust is a desert wash. The rain will cause the wash to overflow and rage intensely but once the water has flown into the ocean the wash cracks with the desert heat. Follow the water into the ocean and love will never run dry.

In this season of love, consider that love gives while lust takes. Take the time to seek out the gifts of love. The gifts of love are not available at the store but can only be found in time, empathy, and compassion. These true gifts thrive in love but suffocate in lust. When you look into those special eyes and say, “I love you” please do not lie to your heart.

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I also got a lot of feedback suggesting that I pursue the story line, making it more than just a short story. Thanks to everyone who commented, tweeted, or emailed me encouragement. I don’t know that I will be published, or even actively seek to be published, but I am going forward with the story. I have written a few more scenes and the story is taking shape in my head and on paper, but I am still working on certain aspects. I feel that this story will ultimately have to deal with sin and consequences, but I’m wondering how well a Christian publisher would receive a book that deals with real sin, and the struggles from that. I’ve noticed that most Christian lit tends to kind of gloss over those kinds of things with oblique references to the sin.
Has anyone else noticed this? Can you think of a Christian Fiction story that deals with the dirty side of sin?

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That said, please enjoy.

Chapter 1

Some dogs better hope they don’t get to heaven.

Mark awoke to the screaming alarm clock. Slapping the snooze for the second time he sat up and wondered at why he was up this cold morning while the sun seemed to be sleeping in and remembered the meeting he couldn’t miss. He jumped from bed racing to get ready. Finishing a steaming shower where he cleared the last vestiges of sleep he stepped out to dress hurriedly as the rich odor of coffee wafted from the kitchen. While straightening his tie he kissed his sweetly dozing bride before heading for the beckoning coffee.  He picked up his waiting keys and briefcase as he walked out the door and then stopped remembering to pray.

“Dear God, I’m sorry I have been in such a rush today. Please go before me and guide me in all that I do and be with my wife and little girl as I am apart from them, put a hedge of protection round about them. Amen.”

———————————————————————

“Attention!”

All around the ready room enormous beings that radiate light snapped to attention as He walked into the room. Head and shoulders above the rest, He shone as the sun where the others were mere planets. Thick and wild hair hung about him as mane and the air thrummed with energy in his wake. His breath was a low rhythmic thrum echoing about the room like a growl or the purr of a great cat, and then he spoke and the sound reverberated through the small room as if it were a concert hall.

“We have just received a HOP and the elite CSAS gets the call.” He pronounced it “see sas.” Around the room the unit began to quiver with excitement save a single commando who shrank from the commander.

“Now most of you have been doing this for years so I don’t need to tell you how to do your job, but today there is a new recruit. Sergeant Clip has just transferred over from CP where he proved himself quite well earning multiple commendations including one for bravery earned by taking on no less than 5 boogie demons single handed.”

Everyone turned to look at the smallest of their number with a new respect. A single BD was a vile creature of hate and fear, literally the stuff of children’s nightmares and five would pose a threat to any of them. He hadn’t said much when he walked in earlier and none would have been impressed to hear him bragging about how well he did in Child Protection, but to hear the commander commend him, well that carried weight.

“Lieutenant Dax, Sergeant Clip will be your wingman for this mission. Sergeant, do everything you are told and you won’t have a problem.”

The commander turned and left. No directions, no special orders, he just left. Sgt Clip watched as everyone waited for the door to shut before moving. “You heard the commander, get moving we’re on the deck in five,” growled Lt. Dax, each word seemed like it was spit out but no one else noticed; they had already begun to check their gear and lock everything down for entry. Clip looked at his own gear recognizing most as what he brought from CP save a single gem that had been attached to his breast plate just below the left shoulder, the crimson star of the CSAS.

“Are you gonna put it on or marry it?” The gravelly voice behind him made him start just a bit. Clip turned quickly and stood at attention, “Put it on sir”

“Well, you better get a move on, if you aren’t on deck in four you’re grounded.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” Clip quickly donned his gear checking each latch as he ran to the flight deck.

The deck stretched out above the city of light where in the center the source of all light shone. Each time Clip saw stood here he couldn’t help but admire the glory of it all. The city stretched farther than even his eyes could see, sparkling as if made from a single crystal. Clip knew many buildings were a single diamond formed to the purpose but knowing and seeing were two different things and it was all he could do to look away from the citadel of light for there sat the throne emanating the shining brilliance.

Turning he saw that the rest of CSAS was assembled but also drawn to the source of radiance. Clip stepped in line then as one the unit turned to face the darkness. He had flown into the expanse almost daily for centuries but once again he had to steel his nerves against the contrast from the beauty of the metropolis of illumination. Lt Dax stepped up to address the crew.

“Alright, we’re going on HD. You know this might be a whole lotta nothin, but nobody gets distracted and everybody comes back. Sergeant Clip, you’re on my right, everyone form up.” With that Dax stepped to the edge of the platform and everyone formed a “v” behind him. Dax turned to face the crew once again and boomed “activate the gate,” then smiled as he fell backwards off the deck. Clip stepped over the edge and saw Dax laughing as he spiraled towards the opening vortex. Clip winced as Dax barely cleared the edges of the widening portal and then dark and light warred about him.

He felt the crackle of static as he passed into the pungent air of the Earth suburb. Dax was already hundreds of yards ahead but Clip was the fastest in every squad he had ever been in, he wouldn’t let it be any different in CSAS. For the first time Clip unfurled his wings in front of the new team. He hated that they were so much bigger than his size implied. He pulled them hard and fast and closed half the distance in a single stroke. Cautious not to pass the Lt Clip pulled them one more time and kept them tight as he pulled to the right flank of his commanding officer.

Dax grunted and spiraled down to the left into traffic. The vehicles were not the problem, but in rush hour traffic there was a full on battle. Guardians worked frantically to protect their charges as darklings tried to distract and cause mayhem. Dax pulled his glimmering two handed sword and darted between vehicles at full speed slashing at the lesser demons that came within his reach. Clip pulled his two short curving swords and began his fly by. Fortunately he only had to extend his wings to change speed or direction, otherwise his hug wings would be a hindrance in these close quarters. Spotting a darkling approaching the tires on an over laden semi trailer, he sniped the wings of another as he passed over head and then rolled to the right passing under the speeding 18 wheeler and surprised the small imp with his spiraling blade before quickly flicking his wings to rise back above the traffic followed by another velocity adjustment that brought him down into 3 fiends being engaged by a single guardian. He was able to take one with each of his blades as he passed through following Dax who had veered from the highway.

Seconds later Dax opened his wings catching both light and air coasting to a soft landing in the middle of a suburban block. Clip landed immediately behind and to the right, light as the feathers on his wings. Dax used quick hand signals to indicate where each warrior should take position and then turned to Clip to whisper, “Be the bush,” as he touched his emblem and stepped into a nearby shrub.

Clip touched his gem and stepped into another plant but felt conspicuously un-hedge like. He thought over and over again, “be the bush,” yet nothing changed. He concentrated for an hour straight before he sat and trying to imagine branches sprouting from him instead of wings and still saw only himself. As he was ready to give up a dog walked along and sniffed at him, then hiked its leg. It seemed the shrub to his left shuddered with suppressed laughter as he sat rooted in place. The breeze carried a low growling voice, “welcome to CSAS.”

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