Tentative Summaries of "First Travels to John" by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy

Paragraph Synopsis:

Three Christians and three non-Christians form a coalition to build a time machine to take them back in time and prove or disprove God and the Bible. They are able to travel back to the times of the Book of John from the Bible.

Full Synopsis:
Six scientists team up to prove and disprove God and the Bible by trying to invent a way to travel back in time and witness events from the Bible on their own. They decided to team up because both groups were equally passionate about the project and both groups had as much to gain and as much to lose as the other. They were able to combine resources and expertise because of the joining.

They tried to think of every theory they could of time travel and tested most of them and failed--except in discovering/creating a shot/injection to hold their body together as they travel through a wormhole or anything else of the kind.

They use a Virtual Reality computer program to make a verse from the Bible come alive, literally, and the wording forms a picture they put into a projector and project it life-size into a black room and four people are able to enter into the scene. They're able to witness events from the Bible and see things for themselves.

Answers the question of: What if the Word was really made flesh?


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Chapter 16 of Travels to John (Day 9 of NaNoWriMo) by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy, LLC

Chapter 16


FALLON TRIED TO BELIEVE AS much as she was able and tried to believe more than ever. She wanted more than anything to travel to the time of the Gospel of John, after all. No matter how hard she tried; however, she wasn’t victorious.

It didn’t help when she watched Erin and then Daniel disappear—right in front of her. They left her behind and she was frustrated with herself because of her little faith. Evidently when it really mattered, her faith didn’t hold up and wasn’t as strong as it needed in order to be able to travel to John.

She also felt worse about herself when she celebrated since she witnessed the lack of faith in the others because all three members of the A-Team were still with her in the modern-day. She knew she shouldn’t gloat even though they proved that unbelievers couldn’t go because they didn’t have the spiritual understanding.

What Fallon didn’t expect was what happened. She watched as Adora picked up a nearby paperweight made of pewter and the letters F-A-I-T-H. Then, Adora promptly hit her across the top of the head with it before Fallon even had the chance to defend herself or block the blow.

Fallon also didn’t expect what occurred when she became conscious. It was a strange sensation when she woke up in the dark and couldn’t move her limbs. She felt paralyzed. Needless to say, between the absolute dark and the paralysis, her heart began to race, her skin got goose bumps from the cold and from fright, and she tried to figure out where she was, what was wrong with her, and if she was in hell. Did she go the wrong way?

She was terrified and couldn’t think logically and recognized it was the case. Her main question was: Why? Why couldn’t she think straight and what happened to her made her paralyzed?

Fallon attempted again to move, but was unsuccessful. Nonetheless, she felt a strange sensation at her ankles and wrists. What was it?

Wait a minute.

She tried to move one more time while in total darkness and discovered it only added to her confusion. Could she move her elbows and ankles? It seemed like that was the case. How was that possible? What did it mean? How could she be partially paralyzed? Was that even possible?

Fallon’s head throbbed. She wanted to rub it, but couldn’t.

That’s right. Adora hit her over the head with a heavy paperweight made of pewter.

Adora actually hit her.

ADORA hit her.

Adora HIT her.

Adora hit HER.

The words and different emphasis went through her mind as she tried to make sense out of everything.

Why for goodness sake?

Did Adora kidnap her?

Why?

Fallon allowed that to run through her mind for a moment. Adora knocked her out and now she couldn’t move and was in a cold place, inside, and was in total darkness.

Think, Fallon. Think, she told herself firmly. She didn’t care if it was hard because of her headache.

She was tied up! Why did Adora tie her up and leave her in a dark and cold place?

Fallon realized she had goose bumps from head to toe and it felt as though they were at least one-inch tall each. She was freezing and all alone. The thought didn’t provide much comfort. Where were Erin and Daniel? Last time, they were only gone 5-10 seconds even though they lived three years in the times of John. Did they know she was gone? Did they know Adora kidnapped her?

She heard something begin to stir. What was that? She held her breath and closed her eyes since it was dark and she couldn’t see anyway, but more importantly, she closed her eyes so she could hear better.

“O-u-c-h.” She heard somebody moan. Who was it? She recognized it was a male.

She decided to take a risk and be the one to initiate conversation. She was pretty freaked out as it was and really didn’t want to think too much. She was well aware of how her mind could play tricks on her and she wanted to avoid the trap.

“Are you okay?” She asked the stranger.

“No. My head hurts. Fallon, is that you?”

“It is. Is that you, Billy?”

“Yup.”

“Oh, thank God. I’m tied up and my head hurts. The last thing I remember was when Adora hit me. What happened to you?” Fallon wanted to know. She felt a little better now since Billy was here, too.

“Bear with me. I’m pretty out of it.” Billy’s voice was weak and raspy.

Fallon’s, on the other hand, shook because of emotion, confusion, and fright. “I’m sorry. I woke up a few minutes ago and am trying to make sense of things and where I am, how I got here, and why. I hope I can help make sense of the lousy situation because you were conscious more than me, Billy. Although, I have to admit, I’m not sure why you’re here and if I can trust you.” She babbled and she really didn’t care. She was upset and wanted answers.

“After Adora hit you, I went ballistic and yelled at her. I asked her why she hit you and how that was unacceptable. She looked at Caleb and he took the same paperweight and came after me with it. We struggled and he ended up distracting me enough that she hit me over the head with another paperweight and it was the ‘H-O-P-E’ one. I think they lost faith and hope.” Billy explained to Fallon.

“That was really good, Billy.” She couldn’t help but chuckle when she heard the story and his punch-line. He said it as a joke, but did he mean he really thought that way to any degree? Did he believe they lost faith or hope? If he did believe that in any way, he might actually be growing in faith and hope. She wasn’t about to point it out to him, though.

After all, Fallon didn’t want to push Billy too much and be a stumbling block from him learning about faith in Jesus Christ. She refused to force Jesus on anyone, but she took seriously her responsibility to share about Him with everyone either through words, actions, or most of the time through both.

“Billy, did Erin and Daniel return back to modern-day?” Fallon knew they didn’t or he would have said so by now. So she braced for his reply.

“No, it wasn’t like last time.”

Sure enough. He told her what she didn’t want to hear but knew was truth.

“But, don’t miss the fact that all four of us saw them disappear. Also, don’t miss the fact that both Adora and Caleb are still here.” Billy reminded her of the full truth of the situation.

Fallon knew he had a point. He witnessed it for himself and saw what happened, and what failed to happen, with his own eyes. “What do you think about that, Billy?”

“I guess I want to learn more about God, the Bible, and the Book of John.” He shared with her where he stood on the subject and she immediately began to pray for God to fill her mouth with His words so she knew what to say to Billy from here.

“Billy, you wouldn’t believe the stories Erin and Daniel shared with me from their first travels to John.” Fallon’s voice grew in animation as she remembered how Daniel and Erin brought the Bible to life with more color, detail, and passion when they told the stories they re-learned from the Gospel of John.

“Since we’re in this strange predicament, I think that would be wise.” Billy didn’t seem to hesitate.

Fallon hoped she would bring him to believe in Christ when it was all over with and after she shared what she learned. This was her priority at the moment.

ADORA NEVER COULD HAVE FATHOMED this would be the outcome of the scenario. It was so far from her scope of understanding she could barely think rationally at all about why she would be left behind and the know-it-alls Erin and Daniel would be able to return to the times of the Book of John.

She was far more superior intellectually speaking (never mind every facet of herself: looks, contribution to the project, wisdom, knowledge, skill, the way she lived). Therefore, she was befuddled why she wasn’t successful. Was it because of the vermin she was with now? Did they rub off on her and hold her back because of their lack of any of these superior qualities?

How could Erin and Daniel make it, but she didn’t?

She wasn’t surprised that the oaf Caleb was still present in the time of the modern day. No. Adora wasn’t surprised about that at all. Nonetheless, she had to admit he was the next in line in her opinion to possessing her exceptional qualities and was her favorite in the project. He still lacked, though. Nobody could be as perfect as she was. She learned long ago to be realistic about this facet and she was less disappointed because of this new mindset. She was rarely surprised when people showed what they were really made of and how they lacked.

Her entire purpose for living was to prove God and the Bible weren’t truth. She never believed God was real and the project was to prove this fact. However, she learned the last three years in her perception how the Bible might very well be mostly a good book to live by because it made people better. She didn’t agree with all of it, but thought some of the precepts were pretty decent. She had to admit it. Granted, most of the Christian stuff was hokey and she disagreed with, she had to admit the stories were good and she appreciated the morality the Bible shared.

Who could disagree with the Golden Rule? (Author’s Note: It’s not in the Bible at all.)

Or, what about God helps people who help themselves? (Author’s Note: It’s not in the Bible at all.)

Or, what about God makes everything good for people? (Author’s Note: Romans 8:28 was taken out of context in this question.)

However, the Christian stuff was worse than even she realized before she traveled to the times of the Gospel of John. Far worse. People weren’t just mildly brainwashed. It was a major issue in her estimation because the indoctrination was so deep that it was difficult to refute. She was even more determined to share the real truth with the world and expose Christianity for the fraud it was and help Christians to become self-fulfilled and self-actualized.

Adora had no doubt whatsoever she would return to Bible times. It was merely a matter of time. She had no idea why she wasn’t successful this moment; nevertheless, she would be triumphant eventually. She just needed to analyze the data she had and see what she missed. However, she thought when she noticed Fallon was still around, it was far more critical to keep the woman with her and prevent her from going to the Bible times. She wanted to help Fallon become herself again and not the messed up woman she became because of the so-called Jesus Christ. (Whatever, she thought when she thought of him.)

She hit Fallon because she couldn’t take the chance the woman would disappear. She wanted to tell Fallon what she and Caleb learned when they traveled to the times of John. Adora recognized this was the only way to get Fallon’s attention and was the only way to try to save her. So, Adora did what she had to do.


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Chapter 15 of Travels to John (Day 9 of NaNoWriMo) by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy, LLC

Chapter 15

JOHN 2:4 WAS JUST LIVED OUT right in front of Daniel and he was swept away by the meaningful moment. He heard Jesus say,

“’Dear woman, that’s not our problem,’ Jesus replied. ‘My time has not yet come,’” (NLT).

Jesus was God and knew everything. He was omniscient, so her remark wasn’t a surprise to Him. He knew to expect it and knew His mother enough not to be surprised even though He knew what she would say.

Wait a minute. The twelve disciples were supposed to be here as well, Daniel remembered. His eyes traveled around the crowd of people and he found three different groups he assumed were made of the disciples. Daniel found it hard to breathe as he took everything in at once. Alright. He needed to get a grip of himself. He couldn’t afford to lose it now (whatever ‘it’ was).

Then he heard John 2:5, lived out,
“His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’” (NASB).

Daniel always wanted to know her reaction in this moment. Was she put in her place? Or, was she trying to teach Him a lesson? Or, was she telling Him these people needed help and to get over it? Or, did she simply ignore what He said?

Now that he witnessed it, Daniel still wasn’t certain. It could have been all of the above or none of the above. Maybe if he understood the culture more, he would be more apt to comprehend the full scope of what she said and why.

John 2:6-8 states,
6-7 "Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, 'Fill the pots with water.' And they filled them to the brim.
8 'Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,' Jesus said, and they did," (MSG).

Daniel had two thoughts about those verses. One thought was about the servants and the other thought was about the water. What did the servants think when Mary said what she said? Did they have a clue about what Jesus was about to do? Did they know Jesus and/or Mary? Was it well or was it just in passing? Or, did they just know of them?

The servants knew Mary or of her because the servants responded to what she said Daniel observed. Why did they respond to what Jesus said in 2:7-8?

What the servants did to fill those enormous jars with water took work--and a lot of it. Each jar took 20-30 gallons of water.

Let's assume it was 20. That's 20 gallons multiplied by 6 jars equals 120 gallons minimum from a well or a watering hole of some type.

John doesn't tell us in the passage of scripture what specific type of watering source, how far it was, or how many servants there were present at the wedding party. Regardless, it took work and what did the water have to do with wine? Daniel was sure the servants wanted to know. They did all that work without knowing why.

Can you imagine? Daniel thought to himself. No. He really couldn't. What would he have thought if he did all that work as a servant for no reason other than being told to by Mary and then Jesus--and then being told to by both Mary and Jesus--and then the water turned not only to wine, but to the best wine. What would Daniel have thought if he was the chief servant and tasted the wine?

Daniel was swept away, astounded, and deeply touched by the care of what Jesus exercised when He did what He did for the people who put on the wedding party. They would have been destroyed socially and disgraced if they ran out of wine. Jesus, however, gave them plenty and not just of any wine, but the very best. Not just the best but the best for the last. Usually, people had the tendency to put out the best wine first and then put out the worse, poorer in quality, and watered down wine later as the people became tipsy. Consequently, Jesus made the people look really good because he cared for them.

And it just so happened to be His first miracle.

Only God could do that accomplishment. It was truly a miracle of turning water into wine.

Daniel witnessed this first miracle with his own eyes twice now. Once was from afar and once was from up close. He recognized he was forever changed by the event. He got to know Jesus more intimately by the moment and the more he knew Jesus, the more he loved and trusted Him--and the more his life was changed by Jesus. He couldn't live in the same manner again. To know Christ is to love Him and to love Him is to grow to become more like Him and obey and love the Father.


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy

Chapter 14 of Travels to John (Day 9 of NaNoWriMo) by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy, LLC

Chapter 14


"HOW DO WE WANT TO DO this?" Adora asked Fallon."What suggestions do you have?"

"I think the best way to get focused on traveling back to the times of the Gospel of John is through meditation on the Word. In other words, I think if we all read the Book of John, and allow each and every word to sink in and we think about the words, and ask questions, and allow us to imagine ourselves in the story, then I bet we'll get there." Adora shared her assessment.

While Fallon knew the negative connotations can come from the phrase, 'meditating on the Word,' she knew it was because people didn't really understand what it meant. What it really means is to think on the Word, to chew on it, to allow it to sink in, and try to make it so familiar to you that it becomes a natural part of your life. It's where you read it so much, and think on it so much, that you almost get chapters memorized, never mind a verse here and there. Consequently, Fallon didn't see anything wrong at all with Adora's suggestion. "I think we need to try your suggestion."

The truth of the matter was the G-Team had already come up with a similar plan, but she wanted to give Adora some credit when the A-Team was about to fail miserably at their attempt to go back to the times of the Book of John.

“What do the rest of you think?” Fallon checked with the rest of the four. Nobody rejected the proposal so she said, “Let’s give it a try. Charlotte, you’re in charge of all 18 assistants, as you know. I’m just restating it so that everyone remembers my wishes before we leave. In theory, we’ll only be gone a second, but in case something goes wrong, I want you to know the lay of the land, so to speak. Charlotte, it’s all yours. I pass you the baton.” Fallon told the top assistant. She wanted to give credit where credit was due. However, she also said it as a reminder in case the three of the A-Team didn’t disappear. She had the feeling chaos might start and she wanted Charlotte to be ready to call the cops or whatever else if the situation grew ugly.

“So far, we have a total of 5,000 pages of documentation for just Chapter One of the Book of John. If you can come back with the condensed version, at least initially, it would be appreciated,” Charlotte joked and caused everyone in the room to chuckle.

“We’ll see what we can do.” Fallon shook her head.

“Let’s give it a try, shall we? Let’s meditate on the Word” Billy asked them.

The six grabbed their Bibles and started to read one by one on their own. Fallon kept repeating the mustard seed verse in her mind even as she read through John. It’s Matthew 17:20,



“He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you,’” (NIV).



Fallon started to feel a little strangely. She was lightheaded and her skin felt like it was full of electricity. What was that about? She wondered to herself. Was it working or was she so intent on going that she was able to make herself feel in this manner?

“Erin’s gone.” Fallon heard Charlotte announce and Fallon hoped Daniel would hang around for a moment to make sure she would follow.

“Daniel’s gone.” Charlotte said in a louder voice.

“I trust You, God, and want to know Your Word as intimately as possible. This is all about You, Jesus, and is less about a study or this project. I want to know all I can about You on this side of heaven. Please allow me the opportunity.” Fallon prayed in an attempt to hurry her progress. “I trust You no matter what. Bless or block my travels.”

The moment she prayed the prayer of relinquishment, everything went black.



“WHERE IS SHE?” Erin asked Daniel as they looked around a large group of people and didn’t see Fallon.

“Give it a minute. Be patient, Erin.” He tried to soothe her with his calm voice and a squeeze on the hand. “She hasn’t done this before so I’m sure it’s even more difficult to believe, let alone do. Since we were tied to this place already, I bet it was easier for us this time around.”

“You’re not kidding. The wormhole didn’t make my head feel like it was going to explode this time. Instead, it just felt heavy.” Erin couldn’t fault what he said, but she still had a funny feeling. She had the impression Fallon would not make it to the ancient times. Erin wondered why Fallon hadn’t made it yet and might not make it at all. Was it because of a lack of faith or was it because of another reason?

Daniel and she stood in silence for a couple of minutes. She tried to wait and not go too crazy. Maybe she needed to take in her surroundings and see where they were. They were in a crowd, but which crowd and when? Were they still in the times of the Book of John or was it another time? She hoped it was John’s times, but who knew for sure at this point?

“Jesus, they’re out of wine.” Erin heard a woman’s voice and couldn’t help but notice how nice it was. The woman’s accent was beautiful and was almost musical. She wasn’t quiet, but was hardly loud.

Erin recognized they were smack dab in the middle of John Chapter 2 and Erin was delighted. It was precisely where she would want to be if she were given the choice so that she could relive all of it again and get more details this time, if it was possible.

When Erin was here before, observing this chapter, she was in the distance. She wasn’t up close and personal. She was this time around and it thrilled her when she realized this blessing. She saw Mary! The mother of Jesus. And heard her voice. The thought was befuddling.

Mary.

Jesus.

There He was again. Erin saw the Lord with her own eyes. But, it wasn’t only that. She saw the Lord interact with His own mother. Wow. What a blessing to witness.


By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy