Adventure Series

"The Chosen Ones"
Fiction Adventure Series
by Brian Carlisle

When the Forces of Heaven encounter evil in the world that is affecting the Body of Christ, they do battle if it is Satan and his angels. But if the perpetrator is a man, driven by his own depraved nature, then they call in the "Chosen Ones."

The "Chosen Ones" is a secret Christian organization that is dispatched at heaven's command. Their mission is to stop evil which is endangering the Church. They have two choices: Stop them by conversion...or by force!

Join Amanda, age 16, as she is trained by an angel named Angela, who, in human form, resembles a ten-year-old girl. Then later, the two girls are joined by Benjamin, an 18-year-old missionary's son. Together they will travel the world as they battle lions, dictators, the Russian Mafia, witch doctors, assassins, demons, communists, and terrorists, just for starters!

Book 1 - A Test of Survival

Chapter 3 - I'm Yours

That night, as Amanda prepared for bed, she kept playing over the last two days’ events in her mind. She had been able to remember every word that had been spoken by the evangelist, her pastor, and her father. Although they all had encouraged her a lot and had said many things, she still felt as if they knew more than they were saying. What it was, she didn’t know. It was as if they were fearful for her, yet were afraid to show it. They cared for her, she knew that, but something was bothering them. Now it bothered her.

Walking over to her desk, Amanda took her Bible off the shelf and opened it up to Psalms, chapter 23. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake…” These three verses had always encouraged her and whenever she felt burdened or was in despair, they had always lifted her spirits up. Knowing her shepherd was Jesus meant a lot. Not only did He provide food, but also, as a shepherd, He provided protection.

Ordinarily, she stopped here, but tonight verse four seemed to keep calling out to her, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me.”

“That didn’t help much. The valley of the shadow of death?” Amanda questioned.

Leaving her Bible open, Amanda went over to her bed and knelt. Then she softly began to pray, “Dear Jesus, tonight I gave my all to You. I have placed my life in Your hands for You to use me. Make of me what You would have for me to be. I know I am only 16 years old and have few talents that would be useful for Your ministry, but yet You have still called me and I have accepted. I don’t know what You have in store for my life, but I can answer You now,” Amanda paused but not out of hesitation. She meant what she was about to say, “Lord, I’ll do it.”

Amanda was about to finish, but she felt she had more to say so she continued, “I must admit, though, that I am somewhat afraid because I am weak in many areas, and so I’ll need Your help in overcoming my fears. Help me to cast my cares upon You because You are my Shepherd, and I know You care for me. Nourish me both physically and spiritually. Lead me to the Water of Life that I may be refreshed daily, and then protect me from all evil.

“The last thing I ever want to do is to fail You and allow evil to win over me. Make me victorious. Make me a conqueror of evil. Use me to win over evil and to lead souls of men to Your throne. And when I walk through that valley of the shadow of death, help me to fear no evil as Thy rod and Thy staff will comfort me.”

“Thy rod and staff,” Amanda repeated that part again and wondered exactly what the Lord had meant by that. She knew what one was; it was a wooden stick made from a hardwood tree sometimes curved on top, but usually it was just a straight stick that was used for walking and leading the sheep. Also, it was used by the shepherds to fight off wild animals that would try to attack the sheep.

Amanda thought of David, the shepherd in the Bible and how that he had told the soldiers in 1 Samuel 17, who were afraid to fight Goliath, how that he had killed a lion and a bear with his hands. She shuddered at the thought of doing battle against a bear, being armed only with a staff.

“That David sure had courage,” she spoke with admiration. And then to kill a lion seemed to her an even more remote possibility. “Who would dare even stand up to a lion armed only with a staff and a sling? Not me!” she confessed. “That is way beyond me and my ability.”

Then, suddenly being struck by guilt, Amanda quickly added, “But Lord, if You told me to, I’d do it! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt he’d kill me if You didn’t intervene, but still if that was Your command, I’d do it!”

Feeling a deep sleep coming over, her she concluded her prayers, turned off her light, and climbed into bed.

Before closing her eyes, Amanda turned to gaze out her window at the stars. It was a clear night sky and the stars seemed brighter than ever.

“I love you, Jesus. I’m Yours.” With that her eyelids began to close.

As she drifted off to sleep, she heard a voice softly say to her, “I love you too, Amanda. Now sleep, so your training may begin: because many have been called, but you have been chosen!”

Everything seemed so peaceful as Amanda drifted into a deep, deep sleep. But had Amanda looked out her window at the trees that bordered her yard, she would have had reason for alarm, because crouched down in the high grass and the blackened shadows were several pairs of eyes staring up at her open window. They were large, evil-looking, fire-filled eyes.

“That’s our target,” snarled a voice.

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