Welcome to the Whyte House Family Spoken Novels podcast episode #392. Today we are reading chapter 32 of the novel “All the Bishop’s Children Book 2” by Daniel Whyte III with Meriqua Whyte.
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Dwight received a phone call around six on Sunday morning.
“Rev. Dorsett! It’s been a while since I heard from you,” Dwight exclaimed. “For you to call me this early, it must be something super important.”
“Not really. I was on my way back from a meeting in Louisiana and will be passing through your neck of the woods. I plan on joining you and your congregation in worship this morning, and was hoping we could fellowship a little while afterwards.”
“You are always welcome to worship with us,” Dwight said. “We look forward to having you, and you could possibly share a word from the Lord with us. Will your wife be with you?”
“No. Not this time. I had to leave her and the children behind on this trip.”
“We’ll be looking forward to seeing you then,” Dwight said.
“Who was that?” Rosalind asked after Dwight hung up the phone.
“You heard the conversation? Acting like you’re sleeping,” Dwight said. “That was Rev. Dorsett. He may stop by and worship with us later this morning.”
“Oh.”
“I hope that is all you have to say while he’s here,” Dwight said.
Rosalind sighed. “If you still think there is something going on between us, why did you invite him to worship with us?”
“I did not invite him. He said he was passing through. Plus, I don’t have a problem with Dorsett. We have been long-time friends. My problem is with you as my wife flirting and carrying on with him.”
“It’s your job to protect me from wolves in sheep’s clothing,” Rosalind said, throwing the covers off her. “Let me get up before this conversation gets too hot.”
“You do that,” Dwight said.
“Plus, we both need to study so we can rightly divide the Word,” Rosalind said as he opened the door. “The best thing we can do this morning is to get our minds fixed on the Word. Can you do that? I know I can,” she said.
“That’s what I have been telling you to do for years,” Dwight said. “Thank you for finally taking heed to my words.”
The family headed out to the church together: Rosalind and the girls in her car; Dwight and the boys in his car. The services lasted longer than usual as Rev. Dorsett was given the honor of sharing a “word” — a word that lasted too long in DJ’s estimation. Why can’t these preachers ever be brief? DJ thought, slouching in his seat. Even Mom is speaking longer. She must be showing off in front of Rev. Dorsett.
DJ and a few of his friends snuck out the back side door while Rev. Dorsett was speaking. They hung out at the basketball court nearby trying to hear the football game on the radio. When DJ made it home, some of the church folks were there including Rev. Dorsett. Stuffing themselves as usual, he thought.
Remembering the altercation between his mother and father concerning Rev. Dorsett some years back, DJ decided to hang around. Instead of eating in his room, he found a spot against the wall next to the hallway. This way I can quietly leave if I want to. He listened.
“First Lady Rosalind, those were some inspired words you shared with the women. I wish you would come share those same words with the women at my church,” Rev. Dorsett said.
“Oh, thank you, Rev. Dorsett,” Rosalind said sweetly. “I might just take you up on that offer.”
“How’s your wife doing?” Mildred Magan, one of the church members, asked as she cut herself another slice of red velvet cake.
“She’s doing fine. She was not able to travel with me this time, what with taking care of the children and all. But I’ll tell her you asked about her,” Rev. Dorsett said.
“Please do,” Mildred said.
“Would you like a second serving, Rev. Dorsett? There’s plenty more,” Rosalind said with a smile.
“Sure. This is the best fried chicken I’ve had in a long time.” Rev. Dorsett handed Rosalind his plate, his fingers briefly brushing Rosalind’s.
DJ glanced at his father. He seemed to be fixed on the plate exchange. Then he glared at Rosalind as she turned from the table.
“I’ll take care of that for you, ” Mildred said, rising from her seat and reaching to take the plate from Rosalind.
“That’s okay. I got it,” Rosalind said walking into the kitchen with the plate. Mildred followed her.
“What kind of meeting did you have to go to in Louisiana?” Dwight asked Rev. Dorsett.
“I’m surprised you did not hear about it,” Rev. Dorsett said.
DJ decided to go get a slice of cake before it disappeared. He stopped just inside the kitchen door as he heard Mildred’s voice. She was talking with his mother in low tones.
“Mrs. Rosalind, you can’t carry yourself like that.”
“Like what?”
“Don’t play with me. We all see it. Flirting with Rev. Dorsett and having the audacity to do it in front of your husband,” Mildred said.
“Rev. Dorsett is our guest and a long-time family friend,” Rosalind said.
“Maybe too long a family friend, don’t you think?” Mildred said.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Rosalind snapped.
“That means you ought to at least respect your husband enough to not carry yourself like that. You are being too friendly with Rev. Dorsett. If I noticed it, you can rest assured some others have noticed it as well,” Mildred said. “You don’t want your name scandalized, do you? And as you know, there is nothing like a church scandal. If you don’t respect your husband, at least respect his position as bishop and overseer of the church of God.”
“You’re reading too much into things.”
“I just tell it as I see it,” Mildred said. “Look, I’m only bringing this to your attention because I love you and Bishop Jacobs, and I do not want anything to come between you two. If I were you, I would keep my distance from Rev. Dorsett. Now, let me have his plate. I’ll take it to him along with his slice of cake.” She reached for the plate.
Rosalind held on to it as they both stared at each other.
“Mom,” DJ said clearing his throat, “may I please have a slice of cake before it’s all gone?”
Rosalind glanced from Mildred to DJ and back to Mildred. “Sure, DJ,” she said as she reluctantly let Mildred take the plate.
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Thank you for joining us for this episode of Whyte House Family stories. You may purchase a copy of this novel and any other Christian fiction books read on this podcast from Amazon.com.
Now, dear listener, please know that God—the divine Author of all things—wants to write a great story with your life as well. But first you must give Him the pen by trusting Him with the life He gave you and surrendering your heart to Jesus Christ as Savior. Here is how:
1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Romans 3:23 reads: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
6. With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Dear friend, if you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me this simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
May God bless you until next time.