The 1700 to 1900 blocks along Gilead's Stepford Street, appears to be a nice neighborhood.

Ya know, the sort of place where, if you leave your car unlocked, you don't have to worry overmuch that someone will steal the package (it's just wiper blades and two bottles of motor-oil) sitting on the front seat - or your car (mine's a clunker, but anyway...).  Nice neighborhood, the white picket-fenced (some are little pink) houses and yards are well maintained - but appearances can, and often are, deceptive.

While material crimes are low, in this quiet church-going, Bible-reading community, this very neighborhood is, and has been, targeted by thieves.  Crooks far more wicked than some random JimmyCrackhead looking to fence gram's silver tea-service or uncle Bob's gold watch.  But, Stepford Street has more of its share (just ONE is waay enough) of potential, if not actual, soul thieves.

Yeah i know, hard to get your head around that reality - but, hey, i didn't grow up here.  Thing is: go ask more than a few of the long-time residents, and they'll look at you funny.  Ya know, NIMC - not in my church!  Uh, 'fraid so - was happening back in Bible days, and is going to wax worse.

And yeah, i get it - though am still rather new to the (Christian) community, and will probably never really fit in - the quiver-full neighbors, their submissive keeping-at-home wives, are only trying to do right, obey the Lord's commands.  Having lived, most my life in...eh, not the best of neighborhoods, have encountered some wolves.

And guess what!  Those nasties don't all hang out in bars.  The worst of 'em don't even touch booze or listen to rock music.  Nope, they go to church, and like know the entire Bible, and use the Scriptures to. th. max...wresting their families all out of shape.  i know this goes on, didn't just fall off the melon truck!