SOMEWHERE IN THE FUTURE chapter 1

This is fiction and the names and places are used fictitiously. The people and events are "real" to the author. Writers reach into the depths of their psyche to speak of a reality by which to communicate an idea. What would the "Church of Christ" look like in a different setting? Say, a Space City of half a million people? People are still people everywhere. Problems and situations occur over and over again. We are hard-wired by our culture and experience. We react to life and act out our faith and hope. Look with me. Rhoderick D. Ice All rights reserved © 1999


SOMEWHERE IN THE FUTURE ON TIBERIAS CYLINDER
Rhoderick D. Ice


VISITORS FROM EARTH chapter 1

People streamed out of the large Church on the edge of Nashville. The morning worship was over and people were going to their cars. One of the church-elders hurried to catch up with a worshiper.

"Carl! Carl Sandor! Wait up! I want to talk with you!"

Carl stopped and turned. "Brother Steadman, what can I do for you?"

"Come into the office a moment." When they were comfortably seated, Everett Steadman spoke.

"Carl, we elders have talked this over, and we think you are the man we need. How would you feel about leading a group to visit Tiberias Cylinder?"

"Tiberias Cylinder? One of those cities out in space?"

"Let me refresh your memory. Back in 1991, a magazine of space exploration, FINAL FRONTIER, ran an article about using abandoned fuel cylinders from the Shuttle Missions as 'homesteads in space.' This idea has now produced a number of Cylinders - huge steel and alloy 'cans' that hold an entire city. Tiberias Cylinder is the equivalent of Manhattan in New York City - it is home to half a million people. Some of our relatives live there. And we have a Church meeting there, with several thousand members. We need personal contact with them and a report on what they are doing. We have helped to fund this work and we are interested in their progress. We want you to choose nine others and go to Tiberias, give them our greetings, stay a month or so, and come back to tell us what good things they are doing. What do you think?"

"Well, this is a surprise. I'll have to talk with my wife. She couldn't go, of course, what with the children in school. But I'll give it some thought. My cousin, Eddie, would jump at such a chance. How soon would you need to know?"

"Take your time. It would be the first of the month."

"Thank you for this opportunity. I will certainly get back to you shortly."

They shook hands and went toward the parking lot.