Miss Katie's Rosewood by Michael Phillips

summarized by an expanded perspective on what the goodness of God must mean.
    The first and most important truth, the very truth of the universe, it seemed to him, had to be simply this: That if abeing called God exists, He must be good, nothing but good.
    Building upon that, he became convinced that this goodness must be complete, infinite, uncompromising even in the face of sin, and must be a goodness that defines His character above all of His other attributes except love, and indeed is one with His love.
    Furthermore, this goodness must seek the best for all its creatures, and must go on seeking that good and best through all eternity.
    And finally, the conviction grew upon him that to come to Jesus must mean, not being protected from God’s wrath and anger, but coming to God the Father as He meant us to come to Him, just as Jesus did, by recognizing and trusting His infinite goodness and love.
    With the foundation of these insights, his spiritual journey had only begun. But his season in the wilderness of dejection now drew to an end. A light now shone on the path ahead to illuminate whatever doubts and questions still lay ahead—the light of God’s goodness.
    He continued to walk, continued to read Scripture, continued to ponder and brood and contemplate and pray.
    Answers did not come easily. The old theology was deeply rooted, and the elder traditions difficult to let go of.
    A pivotal day came.
    He sat down on a low stone wall over a stream. From somewhere faint words rose up to meet the thousand questions in his brain: I am Damon Teague’s Father .
    He glanced about, almost wondering if he had heard an audible voice. But he knew the words had come from within his own spirit.
    â€œDid you just speak to me, Lord?” he asked silently.
    I am Damon Teague’s Father , came the simple words again, but with growing force.
    There could be no mistake—God was trying to tell him something.
    I am Damon Teague’s Father , said the inner Voice a third time.
    â€œHow can that be, Lord?” said Robert, half to himself and half to God. “Teague is a murderer and reprobate. God cannot be . . . his Father.”
    Yet the power of the words could not be dislodged from his brain. To his other prayers he now added perhaps the most profound of all:
    God, reveal to me the fullness of who you truly are .
    It was the prayer above all prayers, save the prayer of obedience and Christlikeness, that God is waiting for all men and women to pray, that He might abundantly answer it.
    With the prayer, and with the increasing sense that infinite love and goodness lay at the heart of a unified Godhead, came also an opposite yet related revelation—a keen and stinging consciousness of his own sin.
    It was a slow revelation, for Robert was still young, just seventeen. Awareness of sin is not easily born in the youthful heart that tends to think much of itself. But it had begun, and all beginnings, if followed, are pathways to growth, maturity, and wisdom. He had seen within himself that which disgusted him. He had thus begun to see himself truly and so enter upon a new level of personal faith.
    Recognizing his own sin anew, he asked God to forgive him for his meanspirited and un-Christlike attitudes. At long last he began to pray for Damon Teague, and for the strength and humility to truly forgive him. Where hatred had sprouted unbidden in his soul, he asked God now to plant love.
    Robert returned home two weeks before the trial was scheduled to begin. He would have remained away if possible, but he knew it was his duty to be present. He could not shirk the responsibility of his own involvement.
    The day of the trial came.
    By the fall of 1864 General Early’s troops had movedsouth against Washington and had been defeated by General Sheridan’s Union Army as Confederate fortunes continued to decline.
    The case had been widely publicized and the courtroom was full. A dozen witnesses were brought