Then they returned to the Lake house from the store called OK Liquor, which is near Nebraska, a brisk evening walk from Ybor City. And when they had entered, they went up to the dining room in the house where they were staying, Patrick and Jon and Sam and Andrew, James and William, Nature, Robert and Natalia, scions of Bair. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the chickens and rabbits and dogs.
When the day of Wednes arrived, they were all together in one overcrowded living room. Their interpretations of the scriptures were varied, multifaceted, distractingly ill-conceived, and all were confused. Then a wind blew through the house-and no one thought much of it. One of the women who had been reluctant to speak amidst the brash and self-aggrandizing banter of the men did find the strength of conviction to speak to all gathered there. And behold, another who had pontificated beyond his understanding now found his understanding caught up in the truth he had hitherto only mindlessly echoed. And yet another heard a voice burn through the pages of an antiquated near eastern text, singeing the cynicism and aloofness by which he had hidden from his brothers. And though few knew it, they were all of them filled with the same Holy Spirit and began to speak each of the grace shown to them, and of their commonly felt command to give of themselves. And at this sound the neighbors came together, and they were bewildered and astonished, saying, "Are not these who are speaking street folk? And yet they speak as ones who are blessed of God. And how is it that we hear wisdom from those who are fools? Homeless and poor, prostitutes and frat boys, students and knaves, scoundrels of suburbia and vagabonds-we hear them telling in their own words of the mighty grace of God." And they were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with green herb and the blood of bunnies."
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ and prophets' teaching and to unlikely fellowship, to the breaking of organic bread and popcorn prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many plants were grown and cold bodies warmed by those learned and illiterate believers. And all who believed were together and loosed their grip on things in common, giving up more of their possessions and belongings and distributing to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the morning prayers together and breaking bread in their home, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having something akin to favor and sometimes hostility with the people. And the Lord added to their number month by month those who were being loved.
When the day of Wednes arrived, they were all together in one overcrowded living room. Their interpretations of the scriptures were varied, multifaceted, distractingly ill-conceived, and all were confused. Then a wind blew through the house-and no one thought much of it. One of the women who had been reluctant to speak amidst the brash and self-aggrandizing banter of the men did find the strength of conviction to speak to all gathered there. And behold, another who had pontificated beyond his understanding now found his understanding caught up in the truth he had hitherto only mindlessly echoed. And yet another heard a voice burn through the pages of an antiquated near eastern text, singeing the cynicism and aloofness by which he had hidden from his brothers. And though few knew it, they were all of them filled with the same Holy Spirit and began to speak each of the grace shown to them, and of their commonly felt command to give of themselves. And at this sound the neighbors came together, and they were bewildered and astonished, saying, "Are not these who are speaking street folk? And yet they speak as ones who are blessed of God. And how is it that we hear wisdom from those who are fools? Homeless and poor, prostitutes and frat boys, students and knaves, scoundrels of suburbia and vagabonds-we hear them telling in their own words of the mighty grace of God." And they were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with green herb and the blood of bunnies."
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ and prophets' teaching and to unlikely fellowship, to the breaking of organic bread and popcorn prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many plants were grown and cold bodies warmed by those learned and illiterate believers. And all who believed were together and loosed their grip on things in common, giving up more of their possessions and belongings and distributing to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the morning prayers together and breaking bread in their home, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having something akin to favor and sometimes hostility with the people. And the Lord added to their number month by month those who were being loved.
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