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Will she be okay? Philip asked.
No one spoke.
Hello? he tried again.
Finally Ryan answered from the front seat. I m afraid it s not
completely over.
What do you mean?
Ryan and Becka traded looks. It was her turn to speak. There s
an empty space inside Krissi right now, where this Xandrak guy
and his jerks were hanging out.
You mean the demons? Philip asked.
Becka nodded. Unless that space gets filled with some-
thing or someone . . . She hesitated. How could she say this
diplomatically?
Scott didn t even try. Then the demons will come back and
bring in even more of their buddies.
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Philip stared at them in disbelief. You re kidding. Tell me
you re kidding.
Scott shook his head. It s in the Bible.
Philip sighed heavily. He didn t like that answer. Not one bit.
And by someone, you re talking about Jesus, right?
That s right, Ryan answered.
Philip took another breath and slowly let it out. I tell you, I
thought I knew about being a Chris tian, but there s a lot more
to this religious stuff than just showing up at church or asking
God for junk.
Ryan nodded. It s a war. People are fighting for their souls.
We re all in it, and we all need help. None of us can do it alone.
I found that out in a hurry, Philip said, tenderly touching the
scratches on his neck and face. It s been a long time since I ve been
clobbered like that. A moment passed as he remembered Becka s
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The Encounter
shining faith and his own failed efforts. Then he shrugged.
Maybe I ll give religion another fling.
It s gotta be more than a fling, Ryan said. Chris tian ity s
a way of life, Phil. It s loving God and letting him be your boss.
That s what Lord means. Christ has to be your boss.
But other Chris tians don t do that. They re messing up
all the time. Like my mom splitting and leaving me and Dad
behind. Talk about a hypocrite.
We re all hypocrites, Scott said quietly.
Philip turned to him, surprised.
Think about it. I just wasted the last couple of weeks of my
life doing something I knew I wasn t supposed to do.
A nd ?
And it nearly wiped me out. But the cool thing is, when I
realized I was wrong, I asked God to forgive me. And he did. I
blew it and I m forgiven. I mean, if you re really sorry and ask,
he ll forgive you of anything. That s the whole point.
Philip glanced about the car. He had a million more ques-
tions, but he was too tired to ask. Besides, these guys probably
didn t have all the answers. Maybe no one did. Maybe that s
where faith came in. The same faith that had saved his life. And
Krissi s.
He looked down at her. When she woke, they would talk. He
would explain all that had happened, all that he had learned.
And maybe, just maybe, the two of them would look deeper into
Jesus Christ.
He hoped she d agree. He leaned back and closed his eyes. He
sincerely hoped so.
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+ =
Three days passed before Becka checked the computer for any
messages from Z. And when she did a cold, hard knot formed
in her stomach:
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Bill Myers
Rebecca, Scott: I received an urgent message on the
Internet. A young girl in Louisiana is in trouble. She s
deeply involved in voodoo and desperately needs your
help. You will soon receive airline tickets by mail. Do not
be afraid. Your training is complete. Go in his authority. Z
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Author s Note
A
s I developed this series, I had two equal and opposing con-
cerns. First, I didn t want the reader to be too frightened of
the devil. Compared to Jesus Christ, Satan is a wimp. The two
aren t even in the same league. Although the supernatural evil in
these books is based on a certain amount of fact, it s important
to understand the awesome protection Jesus Christ offers to all
who have committed their lives to him.
This brings me to my second and somewhat opposing con-
cern: Although the powers of darkness are nothing compared
to the power of Jesus Christ and the authority he has given his
followers, spiritual warfare is not something we casually stroll
into. The situations in these novels are extreme to create sus-
pense and drama. But if you should find yourself involved in
something even vaguely similar, don t confront it alone. Find an
older, more mature Chris tian (such as a parent, pastor, or youth
leader) to talk to. Let them check the situation out to see what is
happening, and ask them to help you deal with it.
Yes, we have the victory through Christ, but we should never
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send in inexperienced soldiers to fight the battle.
Oh, and one final note. When this series was conceived,
there were really no bad guys on the Internet. Unfortunately
that has changed. Today there are plenty of people out there try-
ing to draw young folks in to dangerous situations through it.
Although the characters in this series trust Z, if you should run
into a similar situation, be smart. Anyone can sound kind and
understanding, but their intentions may be entirely different. All
that to say, don t take candy from strangers you see . . . or trust
those you don t.
Bill
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Bibliography
Bibical references and information used in The Haunting
came from the following sources:
Chapter 2
2:04 p.m.
We are confi dent, I say, and would prefer to be away from
the body and at home with the Lord.
(2 Co rin thi ans 5:8)
Man is destined to die once, and after that to face
judgment.
(Hebrews 9:27a)
Chapter 3
11:54 p.m.
Information on astrology taken from Hot Topics, Tough Questions
by Bill Myers (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1987) 96 97.
Chapter 4
7:10 p.m.
Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the
man. . . . Jesus asked [the demon], What is your name?
Legion, he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into
the Abyss.
(Luke 8:29 31)
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions
and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will
harm you.
(Luke 10:19)
Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.
(Matthew 18:18)
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There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native
tongue, for he is a liar and the father of liars.
(John 8:44)
If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it
will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
(Matthew 18:19)
Chapter 11
10:10 p.m.
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me!
(John 14:6)
Resist the devil, and he will fl ee from you.
(James 4:7)
The Lord rebuke you!
(Jude v. 9)
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