Hey all! A new story's been stuck in my head since Christmas and I thought I'd finally put in on paper...hope you enjoy.

"Thank you Chicago, you guys be blessed and always put God first," Mercedes Jones said closing out the final show of her tour. She walked off the stage still enraptured by the spiritual high, heading straight to her dressing room to be alone and reflect. She was at the height of her career, snagging two Grammies, a BET award, an NAACP award, and two Dove awards; all for her outstanding work in Gospel music. It has been an amazing journey; one that has left her with many opportunities to visit home and truly be with family, but she believed in her message and believed that she was fulfilling God's purpose. Lately though, she hasn't been too inspired or motivated in her music. She faced some things on tour that shook her faith and caused her to really question the music industry and her impact on her fans and peers.

In her close circle, a friend, Angela, decided she would take her life and Mercedes blamed herself because she never noticed anything suspicious. What she learned after the death was her friend, who was also one of her backup singers, fell in love with one of the record execs of their label. He was a married man. She also learned that because of the weight of the guilt, she started to experiment with drugs.

The night she got the call, Mercedes had a heavy heart. Her performance at Lakewood Church in Houston went well. Every vocal run and harmony was in sync. Every note played correctly. Every word sung; inspirational, but off stage something was wrong. She got to interact with many fans at that youth conference, but her mind wasn't fully there and something vexed her spirit. She noticed Angela was missing, but she dismissed everyone in her crew for that night. She just assumed she left early. When she arrived at their hotel, she was greeted with cameras in her face and ambulance lights.

"Ms. Jones, Ms. Jones, do you have anything to say about you back up singer's overdose," A photographer said.

"My what? What do you mean," Mercedes responded alarmed. She began to notice the lights of the police cars, the movement of the ambulance workers and the tears of her other backup singers. Her body guard, hearing the photographers' questions began aggressively pushing everyone back. Mercedes feeling her heart pounding and palms sweating began to frantically walk to the nearest officer. Pulling him to the side and trying to calm her beating heart she said,

"Officer, please tell me what's going on? Why are they saying my backup singer overdosed?"

Before he could answers, the team of EMT's strolled Angela out of the building. Mercedes' heart dropped. Tears instantly fell from her eyes as she walked to the stretcher and gazed upon her friend's comatose face. Every word from her mouth was captured as she asked God why and how could this happen. Every tear documented as the ringlets of water fell to the ground and every shake and movement videoed as she held her friend's hand and jumped on the ambulance to go to the hospital.

That was a month ago and although she has gotten better. That moment still haunts her dreams. After postponing her tour and attending the funeral, Mercedes did a show in New York and she closed her tour in Chicago. She couldn't take anymore. As she left the stage she already set it in her mind that she would take some time to off. She would take time to heal and be with those that really matter; her family and friends she left in Lima, Ohio.

Sam Evans was a man who loved church. Learning who God was at an early age, he lived his life according to God's word. He modeled his life after Christ and wanted to be seen as a good man.

Like all people, he had his moments of doubt and rebellion. Knowing from his parents as a child that he would grow up to be a pastor troubled him. He didn't know if he wanted to take on that type of role. Yes, he loved God and loved inspiring and helping people, but to be a pastor left little room for mistakes. Well, that's how he observed it as a young man. He didn't understand that as a pastor or as a Christian in general, you did have room to live and experience life, so when he went off to the University of Tennessee, he wanted to experience all life had to offer before having to be a pastor.

Although he never forgot who God was and what his purpose was, he left home for the first time and became the big man on campus. Being handsome; standing at six feet with a toned body, sexy lips and beautiful eyes, he was able to weasel his way into the hearts of many co-ed sweethearts. Being musical got him in good with the night life and that bought many guys into his circle. Not only am ladies' man, Sam was a hardworking money maker and his first two years in college was what he considered a thrill ride. That all changed when he experienced what he called divine revelation.

One night, he was walking home from a party on campus. He had a few drinks, but he wasn't drunk; just buzzed enough to feel good. While on his walk, he noticed a group of people walking and singing in the opposite direction. He usually never thought much of people being out that late because of the college night life, but this particular group intrigued him. They didn't look like party goers and what they were singing reminded him of the times he had trouble sleeping and his parents would come to his room and sing. He couldn't help himself as he walked over to the group. Seeing him approach, they stopped and he looked at them with sullen eyes. One of the guys pulled away from the group and did something Sam hasn't experienced in a while.

"You don't know me, but I have something to tell you. Right now, you are feeling lost and you've forgotten some of the things God instilled in you from a young age, but that is okay. God wants you to know that He will always love you and He is always with you. Whatever life you're living now will never fulfill you like walking in your purpose will. You may doubt Him now, but remember He made all things new," The man said.

With tears in his eyes, Sam looked at the man and then hugged him. "I need to hear that," He said.

The man then whispered, "Don't worry pastor, you'll find your way." With that, the man walked away. When Sam arrived at his apartment and began removing his clothes, he found a note in his pocket with that man's name and phone number and a message.

'It was revealed to me to write my name and number on a piece of paper one day and I'm following God's plan. I don't know the reason for this, but I'll say, if you need me, call me.'

Sam cried again and that next morning, he called the man, who he learned was Aaron. Aaron was the youth coordinator for a church off campus and that is where Sam got reacquainted with God. Now, five years later and two degrees later, he is the head pastor of Word of Life Christian Center in Lima, Ohio.

Until next time...PLEASE review and let me know if I should continue