Five Men, One Belief, One Story.

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"Shall Never Die:
The Adventures of Five Men Of Faith, At Least"
by rod

The five men and a pilot had no choice, but to fly together across the ocean while the world played with fate. The five men travelled uncomfortably: Eldicho, Keiman, Dante, Joshua, and Romulus. The pilot was a testy old timer--Moe--who could fly right and pretty much promise a safe exodus for the five vacationers. The men had few words to split, it was to be a short trip; words were only a jingling of loose change in the pocket. Suddenly, the sky flashed a blinding light. The aircraft began to violently dash earthward as the fuselage flooded with smoke and fire. The terror was punctualized with a deafening thunder that filled the world. The five men and their pilot were doomed.

The earth, as we now see it, is desolate except for these five men; their pilot(old Moe) never made it to that promise land. The five find themselves prostrate on the sand while the salty foam burns their eyes. They look around. They see their new home, which will be their last.

Days pass and the five men have situated and analysed their chances for survival. It will take a miracle; they pray. Each man to his own prayer, but inevitably each joins the other and the community becomes spiritual. Ah! then the real problems surface. Which faith will the men embrace?

The next day, the tide brings in a few large containers. The contents are obviously an answer to their prayers: food, clothes, paper and pen. These articles are exactly what these men need to replace everything they thought they needed. These articles are all they have in hand. They don't have a Bible. But, do they need a Bible?

Keithman is well versed in the King James Bible. Dante also has a strong background in Scriptures. But, can these men reproduce every word, every sentence, and every page? Eldicho is knowledgeable of Scriptures and etymological references. He also has dreams. Romulus is a dreamer, but he questions everything that presents itself--tangible or abstract. Joshua has his doctrine. He lives his faith by the rituals and Sacraments. These men had no choice, but to find a co-existence; the island is small, needless to say.

Keithman and Dante take pen and paper and laboriously manifest their memory in Scripture to paper. They pen the basic Gospel of Salvation. Eldicho pens his inspirations. Joshua records the Traditions. Romulus ponders the accuracy and completeness of the writings. Each man now has more than a pocket of loose words to contruct. They must agree on their worship and faith. The only true comfort these five have is the guidance provided by the only Comforter. Without the world's conveniences and conventional provisions, the men must rely on their teachings, traditions, inspirations, and faith. Can these men survive together in a place where the only textual proof for theology and doctrine does not exist on paper, but in the mind, heart, and soul of the community? Can common men of diverse beliefs pull together and form one church, as commanded by God's teachings?

The island is extremely small and time is extremely limited.

The Alternative Plot

The aircraft crashes with no souls to be found anywhere, except for the non-believers. They roam the earth wishing for death, but it never arrives.

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), November 25, 2003.

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), May 22, 2004

Answers

-- james (elgreco1541@hotmail.com), November 26, 2003.


! Excellent, James! The GIF sure did brighten my humor.

Ok, if I had to put names on those characters, here goes.

Top from left to right:

"Eldicho"--notice the Egyptian motif.

"Joshua"--notice the traditions in unchanging mode.

"Dante"--notice the blue and red garments, defender of the Gospels.

"Keithman"--notice the military fatigues, never fatigues his obedience.

"Romulus"--notice the deathly posture, never afraid to face evil in search of the truth. He seeks the truth, even if he has to play the flip side of the coin.

rod.....

...

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), November 26, 2003.


.

===Commentary===

"Shall Never Die:
The Adventures of Five Men Of Faith, At Least"
by rod

The five men and a pilot had no choice, but to fly together across the ocean while the world played with fate.
We are here on earth; we have no choice, but to follow the teachings that have been provided to us by God through His inspirations in men. We must be above the worldly clutches of sin. When we choose not to transform, we lose our Salvation.

The five men travelled uncomfortably: Eldicho, Keithman, Dante, Joshua, and Romulus.
Man can study and interpret the Bible, but still arrive at conflicting understanding of the Scriptures. Faith can be a personal thing, but it does effect everyone. "Eldicho"--the sayings, "Keithman"--(transliteration) the man with the "keys" to obedience, "Dante"--the man who can spot the sinner and recognizes his outcome, "Joshua"--the man who keeps the traditions and battles for good, "Romulus"--the man accused as a "Romanist" who plays the part of the adversary in order to understand all sides--the truth will always surface.

The pilot was a testy old timer--Moe--who could fly right and pretty much promise a safe exodus for the five vacationers.
This is a reference to Moses and the first five books of the Old Testament.

The men had few words to split, it was to be a short trip; words were only a jingling of loose change in the pocket.
It isn't a debate about the Holy Bible, generally. There are a few disputes along the meanings of words, but it isn't a big enough issue to destroy the "Good News". These men have their words that pale in comparison to the Scriptures. It is the Scriptures which have a higher value more than gold.

Suddenly, the sky flashed a blinding light.
As a result of living in obedience to God, we learn things that we cannot understand. It is knowledge of things too difficult to grasp or interpret; we become blind, but not without faith.

The aircraft began to violently dash earthward as the fuselage flooded with smoke and fire. The terror was punctualized with a deafening thunder that filled the world. The five men and their pilot were doomed.
When we become confused or out of obedience, we become slaves to sin--the world. We then suffer as a result of the sins we commit. The longer we stay in the darkness (smoke), we perish and suffer(fire). One day will come when the world will end. All men are doomed, unless we remain sanctified.

The earth, as we now see it, is desolate except for these five men; their pilot(old Moe) never made it to that promise land.
The world is desolate when men no longer have faith in God and reject His will.

The five find themselves prostrate on the sand while the salty foam burns their eyes.
We are human and must submit to our punishment as a result of the casting out of the Garden--we suffer.

They look around. They see their new home, which will be their last.
We study the Gospels to the best of our human ability. The new home may be obvious for some. Could I be implying "Purgatory" in this instance? Or, is this Heaven?

Days pass and the five men have situated and analysed their chances for survival. It will take a miracle; they pray.
This is an inference to theology ("analysed") and doctrine ("situated") in regards to aiding in their comprehension of Salvation.

Each man to his own prayer, but inevitably each joins the other and the community becomes spiritual. Ah! then the real problems surface. Which faith will the men embrace?
It is not good that man is split in faith; he is confused.

The next day, the tide brings in a few large containers. The contents are obviously an answer to their prayers: food, clothes, paper and pen.
God provides us with answers to our prayers and needs.

These articles are exactly what these men need to replace everything they thought they needed.
Baptism, confession, repentance, and faith are the things we are given by God for solutions leading to Salvation. "Food" sustains life--flesh and spirit. "Clothes" provides protection like armor against evil. "Paper and Pen" allow us to think, glorify, pray, and preserve the Word.

These articles are all they have in hand. They don't have a Bible. But, do they need a Bible?
But, they have a mind, heart, and a soul. The Bible came from unwritten words.

Keithman is well versed in the King James Bible. Dante also has a strong background in Scriptures. But, can these men reproduce every word, every sentence, and every page?
There are those who have memorized the entire Quran/Koran. The Torah is learned and exists inside the memory of men.

Eldicho is knowledgeable of Scriptures and etymological references.
There are those who study the origins of the text in order to have complete understanding of the Scriptures.

He also has dreams.
God is still present and answers prayers and provides miracles; we are not Agnostics.

Romulus is a dreamer, but he questions everything that presents itself--tangible or abstract.
The wolves in sheep's clothing are real. In every split wood and under every rock we shall find Jesus Christ.

Joshua has his doctrine. He lives his faith by the rituals and Sacraments.
Oral Traditions composed the Holy Bible. Keepers of the truth may also be the keepers of Tradition.

These men have no choice, but to find a co-existence; the island is small, needless to say.
Christianity is a mass of confusion that needs to be aligned and corrected. It may co-exist, but this doesn't make it right. We must make it one faith and this is not something that we can escape.

Keithman and Dante take pen and paper and laboriously manifest their memory in Scripture to paper. They pen the basic Gospel of Salvation.
Some have a strict obedience to the New Testament as they isolate strict teaching from those Scriptures.

Eldicho pens his inspirations.
Some maintain that God still sends prophets and prophecies.

Joshua records the Traditions.
Some do not restrict understanding and faith to only the Bible. Their faith is also preserved in the rituals in obedience to the Sacraments Given by God.

Romulus ponders the accuracy and completeness of the writings.
Some wish to obey what is correct and not what is inconsistent with God's will. He wants to have full revelation of God's Word and will search where some dare not to search.

Each man now has more than a pocket of loose words to construct.
Man must use what means he has in order to understand and have faith. For some it is easy, others not.

They must agree on their worship and faith. The only true comfort these five have is the guidance provided by the only Comforter.
Man can be easily deceived by another man. His only comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit indwells in holy/sanctified believers. We must seek them.

Without the world's conveniences and conventional provisions, the men must rely on their teachings, traditions, inspirations, and faith.
This is what we have in contrast to what the world has to offer. The world does not provide eternal life--Jesus Christ.

Can these men survive together in a place where the only textual proof for theology and doctrine does not exist on paper, but in the mind, heart, and soul of the community?
The Holy Bible exists and is the inspired word given to the world. But, we must live and show the world our faith through the "works" that are taught to us. It is what is in our mind, heart, and soul that is the reality we live. It is the church, the community, the body, the family, that brings men to Christ and brings him to faith and Salvation. The Holy Bible is part of the whole picture.

Can common men of diverse beliefs pull together and form one church, as commanded by God's teachings?

The island is extremely small and time is extremely limited.
Some have pulled their faith into one church. They are in accordance with God's will. But, there will be the day that the "Great Apostacy" will occur. That day is only coming closer.

The Alternative Plot

The aircraft crashes with no souls to be found anywhere, except for the non-believers. They roam the earth wishing for death, but it never arrives.
All will be judged: some will have Salvation, b

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), November 26, 2003.


. This part didn't make the first posting:

The Alternative Plot

The aircraft crashes with no souls to be found anywhere, except for the non-believers. They roam the earth wishing for death, but it never arrives.
All will be judged: some will have Salvation, but not all.

The End
Will be the beginning.

rod......

.....

......

.

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), November 26, 2003.


In addition of being the tale of the 5 stooges,

Keith has to be David O since he always quotes scripture,

Dante must be Kevin since he thinks too much about Hell(Dante's inferno), Eldicho most likely me, Elpidio Gonzalez.

Romulus must be Rodrigo Alberto Rodriguez.

Joshua has to be James, el Greco.

Is Old Moe our Hopes and inspirations?

I believe we still stranded into that island?

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), November 26, 2003.


.Well, "Dante" applies to the one who keeps telling us that all Catholics are going to hell. "Keithman" is the one who tells us to be obedient or we will surely fry; Kevin is practically in Heaven. "Moe" is Moses.

rod...

...

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), November 26, 2003.


I got them right, Rodrigo. All except for old Moe as Moses.

Yeah, we still need him. there are 611 commandments.

Of those: the original 10 we try to follow.

Also we try to folow about 200 more like: Repay what you stole, don't practice witchcraft, don't visit mediums, don't marry your sister, your mother in law,..,give to the poor,...help the poor and rthe widows and orphans with what they need, love God over everything (the famous shema),...

About 400 we don't follow anymore as Christians: paying 10% (tithing), animal sacrificing for our sins either by nature, desires, or by regulations; eat the passover lamb,circumcision,...

Happy Thanksgiving Rod, David, Kevin, James, and anyone else I might have missed of those reading this post.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), November 26, 2003.


Happy Thanksgiving, you all. And, let's not forget Gail.

May the Faithful Five enjoy this holiday with family and friends; I know for sure that Romulus really needs the rest.

rod...

...

.

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), November 26, 2003.


Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

-- james (elgreco1541@hotmail.com), November 27, 2003.




-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), May 22, 2004.

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