Know Ye Not This Parable Synopsis Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time; afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mark 4:13-19
The above scripture is the basis for this novel that is targeted toward the religious/inspirational fictional genre. The story centers on its two main characters, Cassandra and Jazzrah.
Cassandra is a thirty year old African American professional engineer from Detroit, Michigan. Having overcome numerous life obstacles (poverty, drugs, sickness, etc.) early in her life, Cassandra finally achieved success. Jazzrah began his life as a created angel in heaven. With his angelic brother Seth always at his side, Jazzrah enjoyed singing daily with the other angels. He sang praises every day until he encountered Bial, whose job was to spread Gods glory each morning by spreading his wings toward the rising sun. Sin set in when Bial became puffed up and started to believe that the glory came from him and not God. He successfully convinced a third of all of the angels, including Jazzrah, to abandon their assignments and follow him. For their sin against the Father, Bial and the other disobedient angels were expelled from their heavenly environment.
On earth in his new environment, Jazzrah was charged with collecting the souls of one million women. Upon completing his assignment, he would be promoted in Bials earthy and wicked regime. The only boundary was that he had to identify the targeted soul at birth. He met Cassandra the day of her birth in Detroit and began planning immediately to collect her soul by throwing the five acts of deception outlined in the above scripture at her over the thirty year period. Affliction, persecution, cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and lusts were strategically employed to push Cassandra to the edge.
On a cold December night Cassandra had finally reached the edge. No longer capable of dealing with life, Cassandra stands poised on a roof top ready to end her life. In the background on the roof, a silent witness ( Jazzrah ) watches in anticipation. As she takes one step forward, the remaining source of angelic goodness in Jazzrah sets off a war against his wickedness. The book chronicles the vents that brought Jazzrah and Cassandra together and resolves the spiritual conflict.