Meeting Beauty: Meeting Jesus Saga, #6
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About this ebook
In book six, Meeting Beauty, the Lord astounds them again. The new Truth & Beauty Gallery is wonderful—it does indeed bring the Presence of the Lord into the Historic District of Taos. But if they think that's all there is, they better catch a seat and hang on. This is spiritual life in the Kingdom of God—and His definition of life goes far beyond what's seen these days.
The Windrushs and Chibittys think everything is under control. The gallery's complete and they can simply supervise its growth and expansion. True! But do they have any idea what the Creator will do when He's given a chance? The power of faith and obedience is far beyond what is seen in the America of the 21st century.
Who would've thought the troublemakers are the old woodworker and his wife? Actually, you should have figured it out in the first book. But this all goes far beyond what they had imagined also.
The Lord has some severely damaged creative types who He plans to redeem and recreate. He brings them in from all over. He gets them born from God, intensely mentored, and then sets them to work. But see what happens when they believe what they're told, trust in the One who is able, and step out in faith and obedience—with some fear and trembling.
It's really fun and edifying. It's a ride like you secretly hoped was going to happen when you met Jesus. That's what should have happened, but like me, you didn't believe enough.
David Bergsland
For me, my early life culminated with the great rebellion of the sixties. Ending up as a fine artist and heavy user of pot and acid, I needed help. I met Jesus in 1974, and my life began, for real. The Lord gave me an amazing Godly woman for my wife in 1976. I became a graphic designer, font designer, and desktop publisher. In 1991, I began teaching printing and digital publishing. That resulted in writing dozens of books and booklets about the practical processes, using InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. In 2009, I began the transformation into an author of fiction. By the end of 2022, I had 17 novels in five series, as I have developed my craft. This book is #20, and is the third book of the sixth series. I’m using Christian contemporary speculative fiction with some Biblical romance to share stories about the reality of how Jesus touches our day-to-day lives, while being strongly focused upon Biblical truth. I put the stereotypical Bible quoters in the same category as robo-callers. I attempt to reveal Jesus within a realistic world sharing my experiences. The goal is to reveal Jesus as a loving Creator building people into what they are designed to be. I currently assume time is running short, and the final harvest is here.
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Meeting Beauty - David Bergsland
Meeting Beauty
Truth & Beauty becomes a village
David Bergsland
Independently Published by
These materials were written by David Bergsland © 2024;
Released: December 2024.
Designed & formatted by Radiqx Press • All rights reserved
http://www.radiqx.com • david@radiqx.com
This is a work of fiction. Any association with real people is unintentional, happens in your mind, and is your responsibility. The locations are used fictionally also. The author only asks that you open your eyes to see what is going on around us in the world.
This novel has been given to me by my Lord and King, Jesus of Nazareth. The blessings He has poured, and continues to pour, upon me would be incomprehensible if I were not living in them day by day. I am grateful and love Him as much as He gives me the grace to love.
The Lord’s move into Taos continues
…And they all thought they were just building a gallery. They began to see the clues in the videos produced at Mildred’s Place. But no matter how long we walk with the Lord, the scope of His work is rarely anticipated. This time, they missed it by a yard—actually by an entire village. But what a joy it is to realize the size of the Lord’s plans.
In this sixth book in the Meeting Jesus Saga, we discover that Yeshua’s core agenda (in this specific work of His) is saving, delivering, and recreating creatives—people whose life work is built off their creative drive. This is a demographic which the church largely ignores. It is too uncomfortable, because creatives are not normal. It can even be said that their lives can be quite messy.
However, it is obvious to many church members that creatives have severe narcissistic ego issues. The ignorance of that belief is appalling. It is true that many creatives have those problems. But what is not seen is that these characteristics are normally a defense mechanism—a self-protective reaction to the attacks and nastiness of those who actually believe they are not creative themselves.
If they could only realize that being created in the image of God means that creativity is a substantial portion of their basic nature. Commonly, the problem is exacerbated because many artists are far too open and sensitive. Without the guidance and teaching from the Spirit of the Lord, they can easily be hurt and damaged. Many of them are severely wounded, and almost non-functional in society.
The Lord’s plan is to clean them up, beginning with a thorough repentance. Once the sins are forgiven, He can save and deliver them, transform their lives with a spiritual birth from above, fill them with His Holy Spirit, and teach them how to work under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
It’s amazing what creative people can do within the love of their life, Yeshua Messiah. Once they realize that the Lord is willing to sanctify their creative input, they can produce their work anointed by the direct help and guidance of Holy Spirit. It gives them the possibility of sharing the Lord’s Presence from within their art. The joy of that process brings worship along with their immense gratitude.
What a life it can be, sharing the reality of a God who loves us. This is the core of this tale of Biblical living in, but not of, the world. It’s a fun read—even edifying.
1A new assignment
≈Thursday, January 13: Kit Carson Road, Taos, New Mexico
Tomás Reyna was having a rare moment of lucidity. This time at least, he had an interesting assignment. He was supposed to find out what was going on at Truth & Beauty Gallery. There was confusion amongst the leadership of Red Willow Blood.
There had been no reaction to the jar full of blood and the sacrificed fetus at the bottom of the freshly poured foundation. The first sacrifice was in the gunny sack at the bottom of the first foundation, supposedly embedded in the concrete. But there’d been nothing.
Later, he’d seen a group of a half dozen or more talking on the site. Where he’d thrown the jar that time, there was no one to interfere. But there’d been nothing there either. It’s like the attacks had been absorbed. They simply dissipated.
So, he was doing some reconnaissance. As he walked west on Kit Carson Road in front of Cabot Plaza, he could hear his guiding spirit, growling in his mind. I can smell Him. It’s full of His presence. Then it shut up! That’s a surprise.
He turned left under the portales next to the patio. The garden in the raised bed was still largely covered with the remains of the twelve inch snowfall from three days ago. He arrived at the entry door, and pushed his way inside.
Just inside the door was a tall pine post covered in what looked like frost. As he looked a little closer, he saw it was all carved into the surface of the wood. That’s absolutely amazing. Then he noticed it was carved by Flavio Lujan—a touch of his old rage swept through his mind. He got a little jolt from the spirit to move on. Ugly stuff. Don’t fill your mind. He moved on habitually. It was simple avoidance of pain on his part.
He spent nearly an hour wandering through the place. He found the beauty they were pushing, but saw no sign of the truth. It wasn’t exciting, at all. He saw people sitting in the small conversation areas, evidently making small talk out of boredom. He wasn’t impressed.
The place which did get his attention was the view from the rooftop patio at the top of the gallery. The view from the tall mountains to the east across the flat plain to the gash of the Rio Grande Gorge and far beyond was impressive. But, there were still some unmelted drifts up there. Damn, it’s cold! It’s still in the teens. That was cold for Taos on any day.
He turned around and left quickly. He took the elevator back down to the first floor. He saw a sign for Truth & Beauty Gifts, so he went to check it out. He found a large, nicely set up store where everything he’d seen around the gallery was offered for sale—at surprisingly low prices.
We’ve got to go. Then he felt waves of pleasure distracting him, to keep him calm, as he turned around and headed for the door. As soon as he got outside, they disappeared, and the demon began pushing him to move faster.
It was a brutally cold walk east on Kit Carson. He almost slipped and fell a couple times. He crossed the road at Casa Benevidez. He was parked in back of the hotel.
Now he was confused. What does Flavio have to do with it? Thoughts of that polluted half-breed brought back an old anger.
2
Einar called a meeting
≈Friday January 14: video conference
Back on the morning after Flavio met the Lord, Hans had been talking to Einar, after he called to find out how to get Flavio discipled. After they settled that, Einar had continued, I want to get you together with me, Haloke, Notah, Elijah, Jasmin, and Bebe to see if we can set up a Godly training center in Taos. Maybe we can develop streamed training sessions to offer on servers?
This was that meeting. However, Hans had changed things a little. He had insisted that Flavio and Ajei needed to be in on it. Plus, he felt that Mildred, Karen, and Sahkyo needed to be there. Any training session videos would be produced in Mildred’s Place. So, there were twelve talking heads.
Hans started it off. "Lord Jesus, you know how pleased I am with this whole idea. I ask that you strongly help us to understand what your plans are. We need wisdom, knowledge, guidance, as always. But we need a vision to build upon. I ask you, Lord, to provide that to us, by your Holy Spirit. Bless Einar for hearing your idea first.
But he and I feel it’s time to bring this into reality. We’re dependent upon you, as always.
After the Amens, Hans continued, "The words Einar used were a Godly training center in Taos and streamed training sessions. Now, I’m definitely not trying to limit us to those words. I just offer them as a starting place."
Einar picked it up, I was talking about helping Hans develop a discipling course to teach young men and women how to serve the Lord with their craft. I feel strongly that the Lord will show us a way to teach scripture focused on crafts and working with your hands to bless people.
I believe that we need to vet incoming creative types just like we do for corporation leadership. We have nothing to offer anyone who is not seriously serving Jesus and filled with His Spirit.
Flavio was very serious about that.
Mildred agreed. "More than that, if we get interested people who are not part of us, we need to be kind and loving. We need to tell them that we require total commitment to Jesus, and that we do not sense that is true yet for them. If things change, they should feel free to try again.
God calls people who are not in very good shape. I recall the stories of Raquel, Notah, Haloke, Eloy, Haseya, Tosahwi, Maria, and many more, including Flavio and Ajei. I won’t mention names, but I’ve heard of people who made it through the cathartic new birth process, but who were never included in Ascended Light projects.
I want to add something,
said Haloke. "In our operation out here on the Res, we train all comers. We are preparing entry-level people for entry-level jobs. This has presented a problem in that we are constantly dealing with non-believers. Even at the Nizhóní School of the Arts we’ve needed to deal with people who don’t believe, or who cannot see their work as part of their ministry. People like Sahkyo are very rare. The same is true of all of you.
"My question is: Do you plan to or even want to provide entry-level training? The young men and women at the School come to us with basic skills wanting to learn how to support themselves in their craft. Our training is focused on employment—though we’ve added some groups for those who are interested in starting up their own business. For us, the creative side was not considered until recently.
The only example I have for you is the eight people you accepted for the woodwork of Truth & Beauty Gallery. One of them was rejected before you ever had time to hire him for sexually assaulting Ajei. Eventually, three more dropped out. But as far as I know, only Leo got with the program enough to work beyond entry-level. You need to decide carefully what the Lord wants you to be dealing with. Do you want to be hiring instructors for the entry-level skills? For our woodworkers, Harmon has a separate training center with instructors for those basic skills.
Hans responded. I think I need to add to Haloke’s observation. Out of those eight people we got Dezba, Tahoma, Ajei, and Randall. They all responded well to the discipleship [informal as it was] and they are now key people in the organization. I suspect, they represent the people we’ll really be able to help.
Sahkyo asked, Einar, has the Lord shown you anything about the discipling course?
He smiled at her. I’ve had a few thoughts, but I have not seriously pursued it yet. We can do that. I’ll need a specialized meeting with you, Flavio, Ajei, Haloke, and Elijah—plus Eloy and Tue. I don’t function in the creative very often. But Haloke’s suggestion is crucial—as is Hans’. I know Ajei, especially, had intense discipling with Rachael and Jacob as she and Flavio were in marriage prep.
"
Bebe spoke up. We’ve run into the same problem as Haloke in our IT training. We take anyone seeking advanced IT skills after being graduated from Diné College. We even get a few out of the Servants training program. But they don’t usually work well because they don’t have even the basic IT skills. I’ve had to hire six people now, as instructors. Plus, my work now is almost entirely mentoring.
Ajei added, "I see what you’re saying. Dezba and I were two of the best woodworkers Navajo Building had. We needed advanced training—in fact, Dezba didn’t need that either. But she’s been in leadership discipleship under Hans. Even Randall, who has become an excellent production carver has shown no interest in the creative effort. Maybe Dezba would like to start joinery training, but that’s really not what we are talking about.
"This is primarily about people who are called to be creative. Someone like myself or Flavio. Creative people are quite rare. The discipleship is the core of it. I can see where we’ll need more outstanding production people like Tahoma and Randall. And we will have more like them. I suspect we’ll need a skills assessment part of this. Flavio and I both had hand-carved toolboxes which showed not only our skills, but our desire.
"As much as I want to share my skills and help people into receiving the anointing to create, this will never be a school about basic skills training, except for people to add additional skill sets to their abilities. We are producing finished work of exceptional quality with creative expression.
Einar added, I think I see it. You’re offering graduate school training to people who have already made their career choices. So, this will always be a small effort in terms of quantity.
Yet, it will be broad in scope.
Sahkyo was clearly thinking. "For example, I don’t see how we can leave William and Daniel out of this. I know there’s a worldly gulf between fine art and craft. But I don’t believe that could be supported scripturally. I mean we’re creative because the Holy Spirit of the Creator lives within us. It’s an attribute of the image of God.
Truth & Beauty is involved with the production and sharing of beautiful objects. My understanding is that both Flavio and Ajei feel compelled to produce sculpture, as well as creative production for buildings. Is that part of the key? Are you focused on elevating craft to art?
Hans stepped in. "Possibly, but there will always be a production component because of the necessity to produce enough to support the venture. Our equipment costs are a major problem for any training program like this. That itself will constrain how many people we can train. That’s why this has to be associated with the gallery, not part of it.
Plus, this is made possible because it is adding new capabilities to an already existing business. What we are really dealing with is the art and design department of an existing venture—even though some of our trainees may go on to set up a separate studio.
Then Hans asked, What ideas do we have about where to go from here? If this is the Lord, our first person could show up any day. I’m wondering what I should do with my shop, for example. Lord, we are still looking to you for direction, a vision, guidance on what you want us to do as we prepare.
They all tossed around ideas. But then the Lord settled it. He gave His word to Mildred. She spoke out strongly, "Truth & Beauty Training is the beginning of what I want to do on the land attached to the warehouse. It is part of the Kingdom, not of the world. I want you to begin a community there with room for the employees and trainees I send to you for deliverance, training, discipleship, and growth.
I want a walled village where my people can grow in peace into the men and women I need—to bring my presence into the culture of Taos and beyond. It’s only open for the people I send, to provide a safe place to learn about Me and my plans for them. The people will be discipled into teams which will expand the Kingdom’s presence around the world.
That brought complete silence as they all prayed and digested what the Lord had said. Hans said, We’re supposed to discern prophecies. Actually, Paul told us that the elders are to discern. We only have two elders here with us today, and one of them gave the prophecy. But, before we ask Einar for his discernment, did the Lord touch any of you to get it written down?
I got most of it,
said Jasmin. May I read it back to you so we can get it as close as possible?
They all agreed and listened carefully as she read back what she had. There were several minor additions to include, but they all agreed she had captured it well, by the grace of God. As she finished up adding the notes, I’ll get this typed out and sent out to all of you.
She looked at the screen, Is it good enough for you to comment upon, Einar?
First,
he said, how many of you feel it was from the Lord?
There was unanimous agreement, expressed in various ways. I also believe it was from the Lord. How large is the property, Hans?
It’s just under forty acres, I have a good well I’m not using down on the southwestern edge. There’s also a solid hookup to the underground utilities on Sunshine Road to run the pump. But I can pull all the power I need from that end as well. So we’re not limited to the hook-ups into the warehouse.
Is it inside Taos?
No, it’s not. It’s in Rancho de Taos. There’s only the county government. But the town border is Chamisa Road, next to the warehouse. I suspect the town will annex us quickly.
Einar paused with a finger up for quite a while. The Lord didn’t give me anything else. But we all agree the word was from the Lord. The property seems to be set up for something like what the Lord wants to be done. My suggestion is that you get Tosahwi finding out what the town feels about such a major project, just outside their border. What about you, Elijah?
That slightly startled the young man. I’m sorry, my mind is simply filled with ideas. What I need is what you want to build. I need the pieces before I can put together a plan. But it sounds like wonderful fun. I’m assuming the same look as we’ve been using for the gallery and headquarters. We’ll need actual figures for the number of people who will be living in the community. Plus, we’ll need size requirements for the training center.
The meeting turned into plans, and conversations.
3
The woodworking shop transforms
≈Tuesday, January 18: Gunnarson Woodwork, Taos
Hans started it off, Let’s pray, Lord Jesus, we are going to be making decisions about what we need for our new facility in the new community. We want your solution, your ideas. We need knowledge, wisdom, and guidance, as usual, from our all-powerful Lord and King. We are proceeding on your word, Lord. We need your help, and we pray in your name because you told us we may do that.
After hearing six solid Amen
s, he continued. I’m asking you and me to pray and seek the Lord and see if He tells any of us anything specific—including His vision for this expanded work. I thank you, Jesus. I love you, Lord. Only you are worthy. I trust you, Jesus, and no other. I worship you as my Lord and King. I’m grateful I get to serve you…
Flavio, Ajei, Dezba, Tahoma, Randall, and his wife joined him in worship.
Quickly they were singing full voice, worshiping the One who had changed their lives, who made living worth while. It went on for a long time. As they drew to quiet, words began to come.
In addition to pure creatives, we will be discipling builders and cabinet makers,
said Ajei.
We will have metal workers using toolmaking and forging to produce hardware, cutlery, and decorative items,
added Dezba.
We will have carvers of architectural woodwork, decorative wood pieces, and wood sculpture,
said Mildred.
There will be stained glass designers,
added Flavio.
We will disciple mill workers and turners—designers of molding, railings, spindles, newel posts,
said Hans.
There was a pause of waiting. Then Randall offered, I see hand painted ceramic tiles, fused glass tiles, lamp finials, something that looks like cut crystal objects, beautiful pieces of glass that look like raw gemstones in rocks.
After another bit of waiting, it seemed as if that was all of it. Hans opened with, "I thank all of you for your input. Obviously we need a large facility with areas for a lot of different things.
"Did you notice that this is all in addition to what we are already doing? I’m thinking something like a large open lumber yard type of facility with storage for raw materials, a large woodworking and metalworking shop, a place for blacksmithing, forging, backed up with kilns and glass furnaces, plus more.
I think we need to ask Elijah for a large fenced-in area that will be easily adaptable to whoever the Lord sends to join us. I don’t see any sense in building something specific until we have a person or more to use it.
Flavio said, "We can design a woodworking area to start, and leave room for turning, cutting, drilling, milling equipment, and provision for sanding and polishing of wood and metal. I know I want a custom set of workbenches and lower platforms for my carving. I assume Ajei wants the same. Randall, have you decided what you’ll need?
"Dezba, can you and Tahoma put together a cabinetmaking area and a place for building jigs, templates, and benches? We’ll need equipment lists, moving equipment, what we have here, plus what needs to be added.
I know we’ll need a powerful sawdust and wood chip collection system. I love that system for the planer we use for hewing. But, I think we need to do something like vetting our ideas. I know that when I start looking at some of the tools available, I’m constantly drawn to things I love, but have no real use for.
I think we need to start with this shop,
suggested Dezba. What things do we really like, and what things don’t work well at all. Hans has given us a well-developed workshop based on his experiences that has many capabilities I would have never thought of.
She held up a small black journal or notebook with an elastic strap and a pen holder. I use this a lot to jot down ideas, things I like. Can I suggest we all get one and spend a couple weeks jotting things down? Do we have some, or do we need to get some? I like this one because it has a dot grid which really helps me make more accurate sketches.
I’ve got at least a dozen in my office here, and more at the hacienda.
Hans said. I like your idea. I’d like to suggest that we have a time of discussion at the end of every day for a while to share ideas—a brainstorming session, to use an old phrase.
There is one thing we haven’t mentioned yet,
said Mildred. "I’d like us to be thinking about short demos and procedures we can use to produce a series of videos. I remember, hon, that you once suggested a series called Bringing the Creator into your creations. I think we need to be gathering ideas for that. Also we need a way to shoot those videos in the shop."
Yes, I remember that! I still think it’s an excellent idea. What I’d like to see is how all of you react in front of a camera. We’re looking for someone who can connect with the viewers, who seems trustworthy, friendly, and knowledgeable. Someone to be the host of the series. I think Helaena would be good, but I don’t know if she has the knowledge to pull it off.
Hans lifted his hands in a shrug.
I don’t know,
offered Ajei. She loves it here, and I don’t think she’d need much of an excuse to hang around us more. Can you talk with her, Mildred? I know she thinks a lot of you. Plus, what I’ve seen impresses me with her writing skills. She might be able to help us flesh out our ideas.
Mildred looked over at Dezba. Do you know where those notebooks are in the office?
With the negative shake of Dezba’s head, she turned to her husband. Can you explain to Dezba where they are?
Yea, they’re on the bottom shelf of the bookcase on the left side of my desk.
Dezba headed off to get them. She came back with a half dozen of two sizes, plus some fine-tipped markers and pencils. The larger size was like hers, half-letter, five and a half by eight and a half. The smaller ones were three by five, bound on the short side. They all took one of each to see which worked better.
Hans remarked, "Dezba, I’d like to see you and Tahoma’s ideas for lumber storage. We need to talk about what you’ll need for moving it around, too. I think we’ll need some wide major aisles, with aisles like what we have here for the actual work areas. But, I’m open for ideas. I’m thinking about an electric lift with an extendable arm and a grappler, like they use for logs, or something.
Let’s just work on developing ideas for the next few hours, to start. We can take a half day off. Are there any panics about the houses? Does that sound good? I’ll just wander around and help where I can.
They all agreed there were no problems. They also thought that it sounded like a good plan. The small discussions began immediately.
4
Tomás gets nagged unmercifully
≈Monday, January 24: headquarters, Red Willow Blood
Tomás knew that Soledad Varelas told people she was a beneficent curandeira, [healer]. But he knew for a fact that she was a powerful bruja [witch]. In Red Willow Blood meetings she bragged about her pact with Satan.
Before he knew that, she had talked him into accepting his guiding spirit—to help him. It had been in the context of a curandeira healing ceremony. Under the influence of the Nahuan magic mushroom liqueur, it had seemed the obvious thing to do. Besides, Soledad cared for him and wanted to protect him.
All of his fellow men and women, boys and girls, had a guiding spirit received in a similar manner. But his spirit had obviously learned from Soledad, or her spirit. Maybe they all did. Currently, he was being urged, harassed, almost compelled to hate Flavio Lujan. The feelings would rise up, stronger than ever before.
But he had discovered something very strange. The demon could not force him to do anything. And try though he was, his master was not having any success getting him to act on those feelings of hatred. Somehow, he was able to refuse.
But the reprisals, in emotional terms, were off the charts. However, it got so bad that he did something he hadn’t done since he was a little boy attending the Catholic church. He had said, out loud, Help me, Jesus.
For him it was just saying a Hail, Mary or an Our Father with no belief.
Yet, the emotional attack stopped. Instantly. Now, he was paying the penalty for that. Soledad had called him in for a session. She was veiled in her sexy wench disguise today. She was doing everything she could to arouse him. When it got so bad that he began to act on the pent up lust, he said, very quietly, Help me, Jesus.
Suddenly, he could see through the disguise. Soledad almost seemed to deflate, until the rage overcame her. But all she could do was scream. That’s it! You’re gone. Get out of my sight. You’re expelled from Red Willow Blood!
She called Mario Gonzales and had him take Tomás out in his truck and dump him off at Kit Carson Park. Mario had literally pushed him out the door and left him on the sidewalk across the street from the park.
He looked across the street and saw a small sidewalk entry to the park through the short adobe wall which lined the park along Paseo Del Pueblo Norte. In his demonic stupor, all he knew was that he had to cross the street and get into the park. He looked and saw there was no traffic for a block in both directions. That surprised him, but without thought, he crossed the street, walked through the short wall and turned right to sit leaning against that wall, hidden from view.
As he sat there, he was terrified. Where was he going to live? How was he going to survive? Just kill yourself! No one cares. No one will notice. He grabbed his head in his hands as if he could physically stop the thoughts. I care, and it would hurt me. That’s not the master. What’s going on? I can help you. Who are you? You just talked to me. Jesus? That’s crazy. No, it’s not. He spoke out loud. What can you do, Jesus?
What do you want me to do?
All the crazy thoughts came roaring back. Soledad had cursed him. I need to kill myself. There’s no hope. I have no choice. But then he knew, and he spoke it out. I want a group who will love me, help me, and enable me to find whatever Flavio found.
And the crazy thoughts stopped. It was completely silent. He couldn’t even hear the traffic driving by, though he could feel the ground shake underneath his butt. But