The conversation below between our son, Robin, and his best friend and flat-mate, Joe Walker, began the most heart-rending period of our lives. It was their first conversation after Robin had left for Chicago with that misguided man.

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 “Joe, Joe, you won’t believe who I’ve met! It’s Jesus, Joe. He’s back! He’s come back!”

  “Whoa! Whoa there, Robin! Hold on! What is this? Are you sure you know what you’re talking about?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure, Joe, It’s Him! He was walking down the street toward me. When I looked at him my knees went weak. His face just glowed. His eyes pierced my soul, and read my heart. I felt it inside, Joe. My spirit just soared. I felt so humbled I couldn’t look at him.”

  “Well, did he say he was Jesus?”

  “No. No, he didn’t say he was Jesus, Joe, or Christ. Don’t you know in the Bible it says ‘beware those who come in Christ’s name’? And in at least four places it mentions He would have a new name when He comes back.”

  “Then what is his new name?”

  “Well, he hasn’t told me his new name yet. I just know it’s Him!

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Well, the first thing he said to me was that he was waiting for me. Then, after we talked a little while, and he told me a couple things from my childhood that no one else knows, he said “Come with me,” so I did. It was like I couldn’t help myself, but I knew that he had the answers to all the issues I had been thinking about, and I wanted to hear them all, so I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to be with him and learn.”

  “So, Robin, let me get this straight. You went somewhere with this guy? It does sound like you are calling from out of town. All you said in your note was that you’d be back soon”

  “Yeah, I’m calling long distance. I’m not in Cincinnati anymore. I’m in Chicago.”

  “What!? What about your job? What about your girlfriend? I’ll bet you didn’t even tell your parents, and we both know how they worry about you.”

  “Yeah! I already called my boss, and Jill, but Mom and Dad are going to have a cow when they find out. They’ll think I went off the deep end, but it’s not that way. I’m here on my own accord.”

  “Ya, but you say you are with someone you think is the return of Christ! How’re you going to tell them that?”

“Hey, if I call and tell them they’ll go ballistic, especially Dad. Joe, will you call and tell them for me?”

  “Ow! That could hurt. But it would be a little less painful if I tell them instead of you. OK, I will. But it’s late now, so I’ll have to call them in the morning.”

  “Great!”

  “Hey, wait a minute. Aren’t you coming back soon? What about your share of the bills here?”

  “Yeah, if I’m not back before rent and utilities are due I’ll send a check in the mail.”

  “Say, what does this Jesus look like?”

  “Well, he’s got dark hair to his collar & a neat, trimmed beard. He’s young, maybe 27, 30 at most.”

  “But, if he is Jesus, then what about the end of the world? Wasn’t that supposed to happen?”

  “Yeah, I asked him about that. He said the world as we know it is ending, just not physically, and not suddenly. What is ending is the system we’ve had for the last 4000 years. He said he will give us the new way soon. He says if we interpret the Bible literally, then we are missing the whole point of Christ’s message.”

  “So, Robin, I take it he is saying we have to think differently.”

  “Right! Hey, and get this: he visited a bunch of churches before he came to Cincinnati, and he said that no one recognized him, that they were just big buildings full of dead people. Even the ministers were dead, he said.”

  “You know, I listened to a minister once that seemed ‘dead’ to me too.”

  “Yeah, it’s funny, isn’t it? To me something has been missing at church service, so I had been skipping church, and as you know I’ve been reading about other religions, and praying and meditating in my room, and out in the woods. It’s like somehow I was prepared to recognize him or something.”

  ”Sorry to change the subject, Robin, but where are you living?”

  “We’re staying in his small apartment. He sleeps in the bedroom and I sleep on the couch. He’s got his own money, so I’m not spending much.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “Hey, you should be here when he starts talking – it just pours out. His words stir my entire being, like I’m sitting in the middle of an orchestra playing the most beautiful symphony. I try to write it down as fast as I can, and can barely keep up. I must have filled five spiral notebooks in the last two days. I write so fast I can hardly read my own writing, but I rewrite it when he takes a break and he checks it over. My hands are numb half the time now.”

  “What are some of his teachings? What’s he say?”

  “Well, a few things he has said are, ‘Live your life like a child: questioning, searching, laughing, playing, hugging, crying,’ and ‘God, the All-Powerful, the Hidden, is within you. Search within to find His limitless universe of love,’ and another is ‘Your self is your Satan, conquer him, cast him aside, or the doorway to our Creator, the Great Spirit, Mother and Father of all, will forever be closed to you.’ It’s really powerful stuff. I just can’t believe this is happening!”

  “That is interesting! But what about the scripture that says Jesus will come in the power and glory of the father, and that all will see him when he comes back?”

  “Wow, the other day I was thinking the same thing, and before I could ask him, he answered my question. He does that quite often, actually. He said “He, Christ, came in the power and glory of the Father the first time He came, and that all souls alive on earth, and in heaven, were affected by His Spirit and His Message – that they ‘heard’ it in their souls, though outwardly most never heard about Him or His teachings.” He said “His Spirit flowed around the world like the emerald waves of the ocean.” He also said, “Christ also never said He would return any differently than He came two thousand years ago. Everything He said in the Bible has spiritual significance and, like Christ said, that only those who have spiritual eyes and ears can hear and understand. This is the great test that God gives each of us.”

  “He sounds real, Robin. What he says makes sense. Maybe you’re onto something.”

  “Hey, and you know what? He knew I was going to call you today. Just before I left the apartment he said, ‘Give Joe my love too,’ though I didn’t say a word about what I was going to do.”

  “Wow.”

  “I’ll call you again in a couple weeks, if I’m not back by then.

  “OK. Thanks for calling. You gave me a lot to think about.”

  “Bye for now. Thanks, Joe. You're a great friend!”

  “Bye.”

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Joe said Robin’s words were so ‘charged’ that he couldn’t sleep that night with them running through his mind, so he finally got up and typed them into his computer. Needless to say Robin’s mother and I were shocked, dumbfounded, when Joe called to share this news with us the next morning. We kept asking ourselves, “Where did we go wrong?” ”How did we fail our son?”

  Below are copies of Robin’s letters to us, and two emails he sent to his girlfriend. We received his first letter about two weeks after Joe called us.

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June 15

“Dearest Mom and Dad,

  I love you both so much! 

  I hope Joe called you and told you where I am and what I am doing. I knew I couldn’t call you myself. The shock would have been too much for you to bear. I don’t want to call you now because I’m afraid our conversation might get stressful.

  I sleep on the couch here, but have never been so joyful in my life! I am eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and fresh meat, so my health is as good as ever.

  The man I have come here with does not tell anyone his name. The one term I and others who meet him come up with repeatedly, when we look at him or think of him, is ‘Pure’, so we call him ‘Mr. Pure’. He is soooooo loving and gentle, humble and generous. Like what I imagine Christ would be like.

  Another man has joined us here in the apartment. His name is John Quanta. He has a wife and two beautiful children in a small town in Louisiana. He really loves and misses them. They call each other regularly, and his wife is supportive of him being here. His boss is holding his job for him if he goes back. John had a recurring dream about Mr. Pure and recognized him when John was out walking while here on business last week.

  A third man, Clyde, just showed up this morning. He is homeless and has been an alcoholic for years. He said ‘When I first laid my eyes on him (Mr. Pure), I knew he was Jesus! I’ll never drink another drop in my life. I’ll lay my life down in his path.’ Wow!

  I guess the three of us can take turns sleeping on the couch at night.

  Sincerely,

  Your loving son

  Robin

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June 20

Dearest Jill,

  I miss you, your sweet smile, your puns, and your delightful laughter. 

  I know I came across overly-excited in my phone call to you last week. I just so want you to feel the love that Mr. Pure exudes. It is like a river of wine: intoxicating, peaceful yet powerful, rich, and flowing continuously.

  Please come for a visit. It is so wonderful to be in Mr. Pure’s presence. You will feel his power and love, too, if you just come.

  I will gladly take you to a couple of the nightclubs where some great jazz musicians play, and of course it’s that delightful ‘Chicago’ style. I found two bands that I really enjoy. As you well know, live jazz bands are my weakness, so I slip out at least once a week to enjoy an evening of that mystical music.

  I really look forward to hearing from you.

  I love you, Jill.

  -Robin

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July 8

Dear Mom and Dad,

  Thank you for your letters!

  First off I want to say I am so immensely, eternally grateful for all you two have done to raise me to be a spiritual, sensitive person. By being here with Mr. Pure I am NOT rejecting you or your church, or our faith in God. Deep inside I know Mr. Pure is the fulfillment of all we have been taught. Nothing less. I sincerely appreciate your prayers for me. I am praying for you, too.

  I’m doing well. I have taken a part-time job delivering bread for a local bakery early in the morning, so my basic expenses will be covered.

  Thanks so much for the care package. The sausage was great! We all enjoyed it, and everyone loved your cookies. Mom, I know it was just for me, but I just couldn’t keep it all to myself!

  Now, there are over two dozen people who have accepted Mr. Pure as their leader, Master, or whatever we are to call him. He has let only the first three of us stay at the apartment. Several others have rented another apartment in this building to be close by. Oh, yeah, they have a phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx. You can call and leave a message if there is an emergency.

  There seems to be a steady stream of visitors these days. He has asked me to greet each one, to look into their eyes, and only let those with a good heart meet with him. I feel sincerely humbled by this honor.

  Gotta go now,

  All my love,

  Robin

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August 13

Dear Mom and Dad,

  I understand your concern for my soul, as you expressed in your last letter. I am NOT following a false prophet, or a false Christ, or Satan. I am still a Christian. I love Christ. In fact, Mr. Pure speaks in glowing terms about Jesus. I am also not having sex with anyone, in case that is your worry!

  Joe may have told you that I called him to let him know that I don’t plan to be back anytime soon. I can’t keep paying my half of the apartment. I trust you will find a place for my things at the house.

  The people in the next apartment moved out, so John, Clyde, and I rented it. It has been so busy day and night in Mr. Pure’s apartment that we couldn’t get enough sleep. People keep coming and asking him for advice, falling in love with him, and not wanting to leave. It is really crowded there much of the time, but joyfully. He knows in advance when most of these people are coming. One of us is always there writing down everything he says, and keeping an eye on things.

  Last week Mr. Pure spoke at a small church at the request of the minister. Almost half of the congregation and the minister accepted him as a Messenger of God! You should have been there! It was awesome!

  Over 100 other people have now accepted him as a Messenger from God. Dozens came from all over as a result of a newspaper article about him – one middle-aged, starry-eyed fellow came all the way from California. He has followers now in seven states.

  But there are also ministers preaching that Mr. Pure is the Devil, and there have been a couple threats against his life. Now several of us always go out with him when he takes walks.

  It seems every time he takes a walk more people follow him back to the apartment. And you should see the little children! At the playgrounds they flock to him. Most are wide-eyed in awe of him, and some will say things like ‘Jesus, will you hold me?’ while holding up their arms toward him. And he doesn’t say he is Jesus. It is all so amazing! And the birds! They are always singing where he goes!

  I do miss you both very much. I also miss playing with Oreo – watching her catch a Frisbee in her mouth is always fun. Dad, I hope your back is not hurting these days.  Take care!

  With all my love,

  Robin

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August 21

Dear Jill,

  Thanks so much for your recent email. I am delighted to hear you talk about going back to college this fall. I just wish you would consider coming here to study, so we could spend time together on a regular basis. I promise I would actually spend time with you! Just maybe not quite as much as I did in Cincinnati. I don’t plan to go to college this fall. I just don’t feel it is the most important thing for me to do right now.

  The weeks have really spun by. I wish I could call you every few days, and write you as often, but our lives are so full here we hardly get time for our selves. Mr. Pure doesn’t ask me, or any of us, to keep going and helping out, it is just that nothing else is as important to us. 

  I can empathize with the Apostles. They went wherever Jesus went. They sometimes fished to earn money or to eat, but otherwise they must have felt intensely compelled to spend all their time with Jesus. I also sometimes wonder if we have a Judas among us like Jesus did.

  Being in Mr. Pure’s presence and hearing his words are like the world’s most beautiful flower revealing its perfect glory in the most desolate of deserts. Yeah, and all around us some people are like rocks – devoid of perceptive life.

  I’ll write again soon. Sending all my love! I miss you.

  -Robin

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August 30

Dearest Mom & Dad,

  I am impressed that the Cincinnati paper carried an article about Mr. Pure! It sounds like most of what they wrote was correct. One correction I would like to make is that he does not claim to be God. Lots of newspapers, TV, and radio stations want to interview him, but he refuses. He lets John talk to them. Oh yeah, John’s wife and children moved here to Chicago so they can all be together.

  It’s like heaven here! Most of every day there is a waiting line of loving people wanting to meet with Mr. Pure. He welcomes each with open arms, no matter who they are, or how exhausted he is. He is such a good example to me! Just like you two have been all the while I was growing up!

  The mayor of Chicago recently met with Mr. Pure in his apartment. The media really went wild with that. The governor has asked Mr. Pure to come visit him in Springfield, and he plans to go in a couple weeks. The Governor will have a state trooper escort him. John & I will go as well.

  A couple of men tried to beat up Mr. Pure last week, then they accused me of attacking them after Clyde & I intervened. I’m ok, just got a goose-egg out of it. The police arrived within minutes. Fortunately a witness supported our story and they let us go and arrested the other men. The telephone threats and hate mail seems to be increasing. Mr. Pure says “the greater the truth the message carries, the stronger the opposition.”

  John has been tallying up the Mr. Pure’s followers. It is over a thousand now, in at least 20 states, but most are here in the Chicago area.

  With my deepest, warmest, heart-felt love to you both,

  Your son,

  Robin

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September 25

Dear Mom, Dad,

  It’s been a bit crazy around here lately. The landlord is trying to evict Mr. Pure, several men have recently accosted us - trying to ‘save’ our souls, and now yesterday’s paper carried a couple editorials castigating Mr. Pure.

  I know they mean well, but why is it that there are people who take it upon themselves to interrupt our lives, and in the loudest voice possible, pray to God to bring us back to Him, plead with us to quit this ‘damnation’, to follow Jesus, and ‘heal’ us of our sins? One guy has been back three times! This morning he pushed past me into Mr. Pure’s apartment, and scared a couple of the women believers with his angry face and threatening words. He left when I started to call the cops. John suggested we hire a security guard, but the rest of us don’t think it’s necessary.

  Otherwise, I’m doing fine, just always a little short of sleep. I’m planning on coming home to visit you over Christmas, if that is ok with you! :o)

  Gotta keep this short, tomorrow’s a big day.

  All my love to both of you,

  Robin

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That was Robin’s last letter. It arrived after the police called us. As you know, Robin’s mother and I are grieving deeply and still in shock over his, our only son’s, untimely death. Jill, too, is crying her heart out, and Joe cannot believe this has happened. Most of you have read in the newspapers that, when someone shot at that ‘Mr. Pure,’ our son threw himself into the path of the next few bullets aimed at him. That leader, and his followers of that resurrection cult, are now calling Robin a martyr, and are glorifying his purity and devotion. They have that part right. Robin was the most selfless, loving, kind, and insightful child we have ever known, with a heart as pure and lively as a mountain stream. He had become a fine young man. We feel honored to have had the privilege of raising him up to be a good citizen and a Christian, for which we sacrificed dearly.

  Yet it gets me - us, to the point of anger that Robin’s life was so carelessly wasted by these misled people. Our hearts are ripped open and our tears continue to pour forth in our love for him and his wrongful death. We pray for all – for Robin, his assassin, and that man’s followers. 

  We have read some of what Mr. Pure has written, including his letter to us after the funeral praising Robin. He speaks the truth. His words are uplifting, and soothe the bitterness we feel.

  What kind of love would cause Robin to spontaneously offer up his life for that Mr. Pure? We yearn to know. We would like to learn more about this Mr. Pure, but who is he to claim he is a Messenger from God?

We just don’t understand.  We just don’t understand.

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