On Every Side

  Faith's heart skipped a beat and she put down her fork. He'd hinted that he had something important to announce at dinner, and with all the whispering he'd been doing with Joshua and Rosa, she had no idea what it might be.

  When everyone was quiet, Jordan looked across the table at Joshua. “I won't take too long, but I have a question to answer and a question to ask. I wanted all of you to witness both because, well—” his eyes lit up and he smiled at each of them before continuing— “this is one of those moments you remember forever.”

  People put down their forks, and across the table Faith could see tears in Heidi's eyes. She could hardly believe that a few months ago Heidi had thought Jordan was dead, and now here they were, celebrating Thanksgiving together.

  Jordan set his gaze on Joshua again. ‘Joshua has asked me to team up with him at the Religious Freedom Institute here in Bethany.”

  Faith's breath caught in her throat. Why hadn't she realized that was what he and Joshua had been talking about? She waited while Jordan continued.

  “After praying and thinking through my options, I'm absolutely sure that I want the job.”

  Joshua stood and reached his hand across the table to Jordan. Their handshake had the definite air of finalizing the deal. “I never had a single doubt.” Joshua dropped Jordan's hand, circled the table and gave him a hearty hug. “Welcome aboard!”

  Faith clapped her hands, then joined the men, reaching an arm around each of their necks and kissing Jordan on the cheek. “I didn't know you were thinking about working here!”

  He squeezed her, his eyes shining with new life, new hope. “Let's just say I've had a lot on my mind and wanted to wait until—”

  “Okay,” Heidi interrupted. Faith and the others turned to look at her, and Faith lowered her eyebrows curiously. What was that look on Heidi's face? Like she was keeping a secret that was about to burst to the surface. Heidi raised a single eyebrow at Joshua and then leveled her gaze at her brother. “You said you had a question to answer and a question to ask. You've answered the question about the job. So what's the question you want to ask?”

  “Give me a minute.” Jordan grinned and motioned for Faith and Joshua to sit down. When they'd slipped back into their seats, he asked Faith and Rosa to turn their chairs out from the table. They did as he asked, and he positioned himself between Faith and Rosa, dropping to one knee.

  Tears stung at Faith's eyes and she had to remind herself to breathe. Was this what she thought it was? Was he…could he be…? She blinked and two tears slid down her cheeks as she uttered a sound that was part laugh, part sob. “Jordan?”

  He took hold of her fingers in response, then reached out for Rosa's hand with the other. “All my life I've searched for a special kind of love…” His eyes grew watery and they stayed locked on Faith's, as though they were the only two people in the room. “The kind of love I'd known only once in my life, back when I was thirteen and shared a special friendship with a girl named Faith.”

  Fresh tears filled her eyes. Was this really happening? Was he going to ask her to…?

  Jordan swallowed, struggling to keep his emotions at bay “And now that I've found you again, I know that I could never share that kind of love with anyone else. Faith, with all my heart I want to love you and cherish you, laugh with you and grow old with you.” He looked at Rosa and nodded. She pulled a velvet box from a pocket in her dress and handed it to Jordan.

  Faith watched, eyes wide, mouth open. Rosa had been in on the secret the whole time? Her head was spinning, and she felt as though she were dreaming, but she held her questions at bay. Jordan released the hold he had on her fingers and opened the box. From inside he pulled out a diamond solitaire ring. As the others watched—and Heidi cried softly from the other side of the table—Jordan locked eyes with Faith once more. “So my question is this: Faith Evans Moses, will you marry me?”

  Across the table, Joshua's wife, Helen, gasped, and her hands flew to her mouth. Her smile lit up that corner of the room, and Faith knew that her parents’ friends were as sure about Jordan as she was. She directed her focus on Jordan. Surely there would have been a hole in her chest if she'd looked down, because her heart was gone, given completely to a man she'd wondered about most of her life. Deep in the core of her being Faith knew that this was the holy plan her father had spoken of for so many years. Finally here in Bethany when it seemed all hope was lost, God had shown her His most excellent reality for her life.

  Jordan held the ring out, and she lifted her hand, allowing him to slide it on her finger. It glistened, casting a spray of light across the dinner table and causing the others to lean closer, looking over the turkey and stuffing and green bean casserole to see how it shone and to wait for her answer.

  Faith met Jordan's gaze, praying he could see the way she felt for him, the way she'd always felt for him and always would feel. All the days of her life. “Yes, Jordan Riley I will marry you and love you, laugh with you and grow old with you.”

  There was a chorus of cries and applause as Jordan stood and eased Faith into his arms. He moved his mouth near her ear and whispered, “I love you, Faith.”

  Her words were equally quiet, equally private. “I love you too. Forever, Jordan.”

  Rosa stood at their side clapping and smiling and tugging on Jordan's sweater. “Is it time, is it?”

  He patted her head and helped Faith back to her chair. The others remained standing, wondering what Jordan was going to do next. Faith still felt as though she were floating, but she sat down and took Rosa's hand as Jordan pulled another velvet box from his back pocket. This time he took a small locket from the box and opened it. Inside were two single pictures, one of Jordan and one of Faith.

  Faith hadn't thought she could possibly feel happier until now, but as she watched Rosa's face, she knew she was wrong. Jordan was on his knee again. “Rosa, now that Faith has agreed to marry me, we have a question for you.” He winked at Faith, and took her fingers in his. “Faith has been praying for a family for you, honey And now that the two of us will be a family…” Jordan let go of Faith's hand and leaned forward. He put the locket around Rosa's neck, and when it was clasped, he leaned back on his knee again. “We want to ask you to be our little girl.”

  Rosa squealed and threw herself into Jordan's arms. Faith couldn't hold her tears back any longer. She wept for God's good-ness, for the amazing way that only He could have worked this miracle between the three of them. Faith wished her mother could have been there to share this moment with them, but it would be fun sharing every detail with her by phone that night. With her arms around Jordan and Rosa, the three of them formed a hug. They stayed that way as her father's partner stood and circled the table, putting himself directly behind them.

  “I say we all gather around this family-to-be and ask God to bless them.”

  Heidi was crying, using her Thanksgiving napkin to dab at the mascara beneath her eyes. With Charles by her side, the two of them joined Helen and the others in a circle around Faith, Jordan, and Rosa. Before they could pray, Joshua began to sing. It was Faith's favorite hymn, the one the people had sung on the courthouse lawn back when everything about her life, about all their lives, looked like it was falling apart. She could think of no other song that so aptly fit the moment. She choked back her tears and joined in while Jordan did the same.

  “Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee… Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not, as Thou has been Thou forever will be…”

  Heidi and Charles and Joshua and Helen added their voices as the song grew “Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithful-ness…morning by morning new mercies I see.”

  Rosa's eyes lit up and she added her voice as well. “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness… great is Thy faithfulness… great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”

  As the song ended, Joshua led them in prayer, and Faith tried to believe it was all true. Jordan
had really found her after all these years, he'd really asked her to marry him and asked Rosa to’ be their daughter.

  It was beyond her comprehension. Lord, Your faithfulness knows no limits. How have You pulled this all together, worked this out?

  My daughter, I have always known the plans I had for you… and it is My pleasure to do more than you can ever ask or imagine.

  God's words echoed in Faith's heart, and she allowed herself to be wrapped in them, covered by them, loved by them. She tuned back in to Joshua's prayer and held tight to the people who would soon be her family, the people she loved more than life itself.

  “Finally, Father, we thank You because You work all things to the good for those who love You, for those who are called according to Your purpose. And together, as a family united in Your truth, we look forward to the wonder You have in store for us today…and all the days of our lives. In Christ's name we pray…”

  With the smell of pumpkin pies baking in the oven and refrains of Joshua's favorite hymn ringing in their hearts, they fin-ished the prayer together with a single word:

  “Amen!”

  Thirty-one

  Joe and Jenna Campbell led their three children into Jericho Park and set up their blanket not far from the famous statue, the one that had caused a national commotion almost a year earlier.

  “Okay kids, there it is. The Jesus statue.”

  Their ten-year-old son cocked his head and stared up at the eyes of the statue, taking in the way Jesus’ hands were out-stretched, welcoming, beckoning all who were weary to come. “That's exactly how I picture Jesus, Dad.”

  Joe stared at the statue, liking the way its presence dominated the park. “Yes, son. Me too.”

  The family moved closer, and Jenna put their picnic basket down as the five of them formed a circle on the ground.

  “Why are we here again, Dad?” Their six-year-old daughter smiled through curious eyes. Joe knew she was unaware of all that had gone on since the trial, back when he'd been fired by the New York school district.

  “Well, honey, about a year ago Daddy lost his job because he wanted to pray with one of the kids at school.” He looked at his wife and saw tears glistening in her eyes. “Mommy and I wanted to come here to celebrate how good God is for taking care of us and getting me a new job.”

  Their eight-year-old daughter nodded as though she under-stood the situation completely. “That's why we moved here, right, Daddy?”

  Joe grinned and tousled the child's hair.” Right, sweetheart. A few months ago a nice attorney here in Bethany, a Mr. Riley—” he caught Jenna's gaze— “called me and told me about a teaching job at the high school here. He put in a good word for me, and I got hired.” He looked at the faces of his family and felt his heart swell with gratefulness. “We're here today to celebrate God and all He's done for us, for His provision and love and care.”

  Jenna took his hand and finished the thought for him. “And for sending Mr. Riley at just the right time.”

  Joe thought back to that awful day in court, when Jordan Riley had fought so hard against him and he'd lost his job. He could see it as clearly as if it had happened yesterday. There they were, Jenna and him, immediately after the judge's decision, bowing their heads together in prayer, scarcely aware of the chaos that reigned in the courtroom. Joe drew a deep breath and searched the faces of his children, wondering how much they understood. “The day I lost my job, your mom and I prayed very, very hard.”

  Their oldest daughter angled her head, curiously. “Did you pray for a new job, Daddy?”

  “No, we didn't, honey.” He smiled at his wife and gently squeezed her fingers. “We weren't worried about that because God always takes care of us.” He paused. “We prayed that Mr. Riley might love Jesus one day”

  “That was a good thing to pray, right, Daddy?” Their youngest nodded confidently “But does he?”

  “Yeah, Daddy, does he love Jesus now?” The kids spoke at the same time, and Joe and Jenna laughed.

  “Yes.” Joe's eyes were suddenly wet. He remembered Jordan's phone call a few months earlier, the tears in the man's voice as he apologized for costing Joe his job… and the joy as Jordan shared the fact that he had joined the ranks of believers. “Yes, kids, he loves Jesus very, very much.”

  “That's kind of like a miracle, isn't it, Dad?” Their oldest waited for an answer.

  “Yes.” Joe gathered his family close and gazed up at the Jesus statue. “It's the best miracle of all.”

  FEDERAL COURT RULES CITY NOT REQUIRED

  TO HIDE STATUE OF JESUS

  (Marshfield, Wisconsin)—An atheist group's request to erect a ten-foot-high wall around a statue of Jesus was denied May 9, 2000, by U.S. District Court Judge John Shabaz. The decision came as a result of a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, whose goal was to remove or hide the statue, which has stood in a Marshfield city park since 1959.

  The case was dismissed by the U.S. District Court after the city sold the statue to a private landowner in December, 1998. On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held on February 4, 2000, that the sale of the statue was valid and appropriate, but ordered the city to take steps to differenti-ate between the property owned by the city and the private property where the statue is located.

  Judge Shabaz in his final decision said the Constitution did not require what he called “visual separation” of the statue from the rest of the park. He accepted the proposal from the city requiring the erection of a four-foot-high, wrought-iron fence that will not block the view of the statue. The city will display a sign signifying that the statue and the land it sits on is privately owned.

  The city of Marshfield was represented by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), and by Harold Wolf gram, assistant city attorney for the city of Marshfield. The ACLJ spe-cializes in First Amendment law and focuses on pro-family, pro-life, and pro-liberty cases.

  Although On Every Side was inspired by this true event, it is not intended to accurately depict any aspect of either the ACLJ, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, or any other person or event involved or associated with the actual incident as it took place.

  Dear family and friends:

  It's good to meet with you again and as always to thank you for traveling with me through the pages of this, my latest book. I must tell you how much I enjoyed writing On Every Side—both the heart-stopping research and the way God worked in me, bringing down walls of my own as He brought Faith and Jordan and Joshua to life.

  As with all my books, there is a nugget of truth nestled between the lines of this story. The truth is that walls have been around since the beginning of time, whether they belonged to Adam and Eve, who allowed a barrier between themselves and God, or the people of Jericho, who believed they could keep God out by building a wall around their city.

  Before I wrote On Every Side, I thought walls were more of an Old Testament issue. Walled-in cities; walled-in, stubborn people; temple wall, that kind of thing. But as the story came to life, God began to make something very clear.

  Walls are a part of our lives to this very day Oh, we may not think we've put walls between God and us. I certainly didn't think so. But I discovered that without meaning to, I had allowed schedules and responsibilities and the busyness of life to put distance between the Lord and me. In a sense, I allowed walls to form. I'm guessing that this is true for you as well. Though your intentions may have been good, though they may still be good, somewhere along the way you've allowed space to come between you and the Father.

  It is my prayer that in reading this book you've had a chance to take stock of your faith life. That where you've recognized walls, you've found time perhaps even now to draw nearer to God, to tear down the walls and enjoy once again that intimate walk with Him.

  Of course, for some of you the walls have been in place as far back as you can remember. People might have told you about God, and in the back of your mind you knew you'd have to deal with Him so
meday But not yet, not while you were busy with life and planning your agenda without Him. For you, I pray this will be a life-changing moment, here, now That you will recognize as long as walls exist between you and God your situation is desperate. And that you will beg His forgiveness. Ask Him to knock down the barriers, brick by brick. Believe that He will take you into His loving arms and grant you mercy and grace so long as you take the first step.

  If this is you, and if here and now you've made a decision to accept Christ for life and allow the walls to fall, please do this: Get connected with a Bible-believing church and plant yourself in the fertile soil of God's Word. That way you will be sure to grow deep roots, roots that will prevent anything from ever coming between you and the Lord again.

  On that note, I'd like to ask for your prayers for our family. We have adopted three precious little six-year-old boys from Haiti. Many of you have journeyed with me through all my books and know a little more about how we came to this decision. For those who don't, let me say it was a two-year process. We began by believing God wanted us to take into our hearts and homes one or two children who were orphans. And so we searched social services’ photolisting files online from across the United States.

  What we found was sad indeed.

  Generally, if a child was up for adoption, and if there weren't already ten or twenty families waiting in line for a child, then our social worker would simply say “That child can't go to a family with young children in the home.” Or, “There are severe anger issues with that child, making him unsafe around other children.” Or, “That child has a considerable number of special needs.”

  In the end, we nearly gave up.