The excerpt below is taken from the book's "Prologue." A prologue normally provides unique insight into the back story of a fiction novel. Exercising writer's license, this author decided to use a prologue in this book because it provides unique insight into her true story.

The other two sections contained in the prologue are entitled, "Church in the Wilderness" (what God revealed many years ago about the parched condition of His Church) and "The Straight Path"  (a series of dreams and visions over the years about the various twists and turns life's path takes, what we do with that, and how we get back to the straight path). 

"Scout" 

About twenty or so years ago, the Lord showed me a dream in which I saw a wagon train of people moving forward over a plain, like in a Western movie. As I watched this wagon train continue to move steadily forward, I asked the Lord what it meant. Suddenly I hurtled forward in the spirit and saw myself on a horse way ahead of the wagon train. I remember thinking to myself that being way out there ahead of that wagon train all by myself did not seem like a very good idea. I thought about Jesus sending his disciples out by twos. I asked God about this. First, the Lord gave me to understand that it is the scout riding out in front of the wagon train, and that the scout most often rides alone. But He also showed me a shadowy rider on a horse far off to my right, which I immediately understood to be my friend and partner-in-spirit, Pat. We have prayed together over many years about many things, including the various dreams and visions God has brought concerning His Church.  

The scout’s purpose is to look out for trouble up ahead, in order to keep the wagon train congregation apprised of danger. The scout also looks for the best path, road or direction – often in uncharted territory - for the wagon train to move forward on. With the scout’s help, the wagon train congregation can safely move ahead, make preparations, change direction or route when necessary, gather the wagons, and do whatever else is necessary in order to preserve life when danger approaches.

This whole book brings the results of this scout activity to you, so that you can do what is necessary to preserve your life now and into eternity, by getting on and staying on the right path to heaven. For, as a scout, it is my job, principally through this book, to make you aware of those dangers, so that you can gather the wagons (that is, learn and apply what’s in God’s manual for life, the Holy Bible; pray; and become spiritually accountable [to other believers]) and/or change direction toward spiritual safety."

                                                                     Published by: Publish America. All rights reserved.

So gather the wagons, friends. And remember that "when these things [**] begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near." (Luke 21:28)

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