had every intention of getting up early, so why hadn't he?  Tomorrow I'll do it, he promised himself.

A few minutes later he was out the door, on his way to Greg's.

"V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!" chanted two lying spirits that were hovering over Dusty's house.  They were celebrating their success with Dusty "Pushover" Fox.  These days demonical-induced apathy was almost effortless.  For the wily demon Poneros, the viler of the two, the recent conquest had required little or no work at all.  He had simply blown a stream of cold air into the bedroom.  This, of course, had caused the so-called Christian to jump under the covers to keep warm.  The cold air scheme rarely failed and Poneros was pleased.

DUSTY WAS SINCERE about his commitment to read the Bible regularly.  But when he'd start to read inevitably his mind would wander, or he'd rush through chapters without thinking about the message. He'd wait until he was in bed at night to pray and nod off in mid sentence.  So he'd rationalize: "God knows I work hard all day so I'm tired at night."

Dusty's pastor had given a message on Spiritual Armor many times.  Unfortunately his words hadn't sunk in.  Which meant he had no way to ward off enemy attacks.  And lately the attacks were numerous.

EARLY ON A MONDAY morning, God's warrior, Chara, appeared in Dusty's bedroom and found Poneros, his cheeks as large as melons, blowing icy streams of air cold enough to freeze an Arctic Eskimo. Chara drew his sword and took an offensive posture against the enemy of God. At the same time Chara began to nudge Dusty out of his stupor.  Fortunately the enemy was too busy to notice what the angel was up to.  Dusty's eyes opened ten minutes before the alarm sounded, which surprised the demon.  He looked around the room for angelic interference and spotted Chara behind the headboard, watching over God's chosen one.  "How did you get in here?" he demanded. 

Chara didn't answer. 

Dusty was up on his elbows now. He eyed the clock and said, "Guess I'd better get up."  Then he tossed off the comforter and threw his legs over the side of the bed.

The fiend's eyes burned with anger and he spat a string of invectives at the angel. 

Still, Chara didn't answer.

Which made Poneros even angrier.  Suddenly he flew within a few feet of Dusty and fired a mind-poisoning dart at his forehead. 

To no avail. 

Chara deftly deflected each dart with his shield. Infuriated, the demon pulled out his bow, inserted a lethal arrow and took aim.  Zing! The blazing projectile hit Chara's shield and burst into flame.

The guardian retaliated.  He pulled his knife and went after the demon.  But before he reached him, Poneros disappeared into the cosmos like he was shot from a cannon.

Chara quickly returned to Andrew's side.