The Old Serpent and the Slacker
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A few days later Poneros showed up to check up on the novice Bromos he had assigned to Brady McCoy.  Demonical-induced apathy took little effort with a pushover like Brady.  He had instructed Bromos to, "Get him texting…"

The forces of evil had adopted the "texting tactic" to distract the younger generation.  Worked like a charm.  For some just keeping them glued to the TV set or on their cell phones and computers worked equally as well.  Even though all the amazing technology had come from Him, Satan had found a way to pervert it.  He had a way of perverting everything good. 
   
Brady's desire to read the Bible was sincere.  But when he set aside time to study, invariably his mind would wander.  So half the words didn't sink into his mind. Since he never turned off his cell phone, he'd answer a call or respond to a text…especially when it was from Erica.  He'd also gotten in the habit of praying before he went to sleep at night.  He was usually exhausted so he'd fall asleep in mid sentence. 

Except for the snow, Brady loved living in Colorado Springs.  He had accepted a job offer and moved there a couple of weeks after he graduated from college.   For a year he attended church only sporadically then a friend invited him to Shepherd's Church.  He liked everything about Shepherd's, especially the pastor's preaching.  Right off the bat he joined a Bible study, the praise band, and ushered on occasion. 

Pastor Tom Horton's teaching was expository, or systematic exposition.  Going through each book of the Bible verse by verse had given Brady a much clearer understanding of God's Word.  When he was growing up he had gone to church with his parents but hadn't learned much about the Bible.  He remembered Pastor Olson's sermons as positive and uplifting.  His focus was mainly on people's "felt needs."  His primary concern was getting the crowd to feel good about themselves so that they could live the best life possible.  It was all about Christians being happy, healthy and prosperous.  After hearing Pastor Tom preach the Word of God, Brady now understood that there was much more to Christianity than what he had learned growing up.

For the first time in his life Brady came to understand the essential doctrines of the faith.  Tom taught them to aspire to "love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind."  Love was the key.  Even the Lord Jesus had commanded His followers to love their neighbor more than they loved themselves.  "Deny yourself," said Christ, "pick up your cross and follow me." Spiritual growth came through Bible study, prayer and fellowship. 

Pastor Tom pulled no punches when he talked about the devil.  He taught that followers of Jesus Christ are at war with "the world the flesh and the devil." He made it clear that from the beginning of time God had allowed Satan and his demons access to the human mind. They were also permitted to possess certain unbelievers. 

Brady had enormous respect for Pastor Tom.  However, good and evil angels engaged in a continuous battle seemed preposterous. 

He wasn't alone.  Others in his church hadn't taken spiritual warfare seriously either.  And because they failed to "put on the full armor of God" they were open to demonic deception, distractions and diversions.

For a training exercise greenhorn tempters were assigned to apathetic Christians, the ones that failed to keep their armor on.  Unarmed believers were an easy target for greenhorns.  Pushovers is what they were. Even so, the demons would dance a jig over every Christian that was led astray. 

Veteran tempters were fearless.  They were also merciless… cruel…vicious…relentless…always craving a knock down drag out fight!  Vets were old hands at messing with men's minds -- both believers and unbelievers.  Once in a while they would even score a point or two with mature believers.  Their main mission was to get a poison dart into the minds of men and women that truly put their trust in Him.  Scores of His followers stood firm.  But crafty demons managed to wiggle their way into the minds and hearts of a few. When they fell, they fell hard.

Early one morning Poneros returned to Cherry Lane to check on Bromos.  But the greenhorn was nowhere to be found.  "Where is that pile of sludge?" snarled the demon.  Bromos would pay dearly for disobeying orders.  But first things first.  McCoy's alarm was set to go off soon.  Poneros got busy blowing air into the room cold enough to freeze an Arctic Eskimo.  He was so into what he was doing that it slipped his notice when the angel Chara appeared and covered Brady's entire body with one of his wings.  He cleared his throat, "Ah-hem."

Poneros stopped blowing. "Bromos?" His eyes nearly bugged out of his head when he saw Chara.  "What the blazes…?"  He quickly pulled himself together. "Mine!" he barked.

The warrior of God gave Brady a nudge, "Wake up!" 

Dead to the world. 

A second nudge. 

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