Monday, September 28, 2009

Picture of Jealousy

Scripture Reference: Genesis 4:1-16

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. – Hebrews 11:4A cautionary tale of jealousy and anger.

Cast:
D.B. – a good albeit not very bright bunny
MR. MIKE – the teacher who sets him straight

Props:
A blank piece of brown (or black) construction paper.

(D.B. enters and starts spitting.)

MR. MIKE: (wiping off his shirt) D.B., what are you doing?

D.B.: I am so mad I could spit! (spits again)

MR. MIKE: (ducking/dodging) You’re not suppose to actually spit. It’s just an expression like “Don’t let the cat out of the bag.”

D.B.: Please do not let the cat out of the bag, Mr. Mike. Rabbits and cats are mortal enemies. We do not get a long at all. So please do not let the cat out of the bag.

MR. MIKE: That’s not what I meant, D.B. There is no bag, and there is no cat.

D.B.: Then why did you say there was?

MR. MIKE: Because I, er… uh…. You see I meant…. Just tell me why you are so mad.

D.B.: You see Ozzie and I each drew a picture for Mr. Jeff, and he liked Ozzie’s picture better.

MR. MIKE: I find that very hard to believe. Mr. Jeff is a very fair fellow.

D.B.: Oh, it is true. He hung up Ozzie’s picture and did nothing with mine.

MR. MIKE: Maybe he just hasn’t had a chance to do anything with it yet.

D.B.: Oh no, it sat there for several days. In fact, I took it back, and he did not even miss it.

MR. MIKE: (accusingly) D.B.! You shouldn’t have taken it.

D.B.: But he did not want the picture. Do you want to see it?

MR. MIKE: Sure.

D.B.: (Disappears then returns with the blank piece of construction paper.)

MR. MIKE: (taking the picture) What is this suppose to be?

D.B.: It is suppose to be a picture of a cow in a field of beautiful green grass.

MR. MIKE: But where’s the grass?

D.B.: The cow ate it all.

MR. MIKE: Then where is the cow?

D.B.: He went to find more grass, silly.

MR. MIKE: D.B.!

D.B.: Mr. Mike?

MR. MIKE: You didn’t really draw Mr. Jeff a picture, did you?

D.B.: Sure I did. It is a picture of a cow in a field of beautiful green grass.

MR. MIKE: D.B., it’s just a blank piece of brown paper, isn’t it.

D.B.: (dejected) Yes.

MR. MIKE: So you really don’t have any reason to be jealous. Ozzie probably worked hard to make a nice picture for Mr. Jeff, and you just gave him a blank piece of paper. Don’t you see why we would like Ozzie’s better.

D.B.: (pouting) I suppose, but Ozzie’s picture was not very good.

MR. MIKE: It really doesn’t matter how good it is. Mr. Jeff likes that Ozzie put some effort into the picture. He likes that it was a thoughtful gift.

D.B.: I guess it is like Mr. Jeff was saying about praise. It does not matter how good we sing, God just likes that we sing.

MR. MIKE: Exactly, D.B. So are you through spitting?

D.B.: Oh yes, Mr. Mike, I am. In fact, I am going to make a new picture for Mr. Jeff.

MR. MIKE: I’m sure he’ll like that.

D.B.: Then I will make one for you, Mr. Mike.

MR. MIKE: (touched) Thank you, D.B. I’d like that.

D.B.: Bye, Mr. Mike.

MR. MIKE: Bye, D.B.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

You Shall Not Steal.

You shall not steal. - Exodus 20:15Scripture Reference: Exodus 20:15

A lesson in honesty.

Cast:
MAX – A not-so-bright but loveable ape.
MR. WISEMAN – The wise man of the jungle; helps apes carry out the Creator's plan.

(MR. WISEMAN is already on stage. MAX comes in singing.)

MAX: (To the tune of "Sugartime") Well now, 'nanners in the morning, 'nanners in the evening, 'nanners at suppertime…

MR. WISEMAN: You sure seem happy today, Max.

MAX: I sure am. I just found a whole bunch of bananas. And I'm going to have 'nanners in the morning, 'nanners in the evening, 'nanners at suppertime…

MR. WISEMAN: Well, it sounds like your lucky day. Say, I'm feeling a bit peckish, would you mind if I had one of your bananas?

MAX: No, help yourself. I have lots. In fact, I'm planning on sharing them with Mr. Heb.

MR. WISEMAN: I don't recognize that name. Is that a friend of yours?

MAX: No. Never met him. But the bananas are from him.

MR. WISEMAN: How do you know the bananas are from him?

MAX: His name was on the box.

MR. WISEMAN: His name wouldn't happen to be H-E-B, would it?

MAX: Yeah, that' s it. Mr. Heb. It was spelled out H-E-B.

MR. WISEMAN: That's not a person; that's a store. Those bananas were being delivered to the H-E-B. There's probably some poor delivery man looking for them now.

MAX: Really?

MR. WISEMAN: Yes. And when he doesn't find them, he is going to be in big trouble.

MAX: I just figured Mr. Heb didn't want them any more, so that's why I took them.

MR. WISEMAN: Max! If you take something without permission, that's stealing.

MAX: Even if I just find it lying on the ground?

MR. WISEMAN: Even if you just find it lying on the ground. It belongs to someone. You need to try to return those bananas.

MAX: Okay. Can I ask for a reward?

MR. WISEMAN: No.

MAX: Would that be stealing, too?

MR. WISEMAN: No, but it would be rude. You shouldn't do what's right to get a reward. You should do what's right, because it's right and pleases God.

MAX: (sadly) I understand. I'll return them.

MR. WISEMAN: Good boy, Max. And I'll tell you what. When you're done, come back to my house for banana splits.

MAX: (excited) Oh boy! You're the best, Mr. Wiseman.

MR. WISEMAN: Yes, I am, Max. Yes, I am.

(Both exit.)

Monday, September 14, 2009

Creation

Scripture Reference: Genesis 1:1-2:3

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.– Genesis 1:1Cast:
OZZIE – a mischievous little monster
MR. MATT – his patient teacher

Props:
A watch on OZZIE's arm.

(MR. MATT is already on stage. OZZIE enters and calls him over.)

OZZIE: Oh, Mr. Matt, Mr. Matt, Mr. Matt. I'm so excited, so excited, so excited. I found it. It was just lying there, and I found it, and now it's mine, mine, mine.

MR. MATT: (walks over to OZZIE) Ozzie, calm down. What is it you found?

OZZIE: Mr. Matt, Mr. Matt, I found a watch. A watch, a watch I found. I found it, and it is mine, mine, mine.

MR. MATT: I thought you already had a watch.

OZZIE: I did, but I wore it to my uncle's ranch and dropped it in the sheep dip, and it killed all the ticks.

MR. MATT: (groans) Are you going to return the watch to whomever it belongs to?

OZZIE: But it doesn't belong to anyone. Nope, nope. Not anybody; not anyone at all. I found it in the parking lot. There was no one around, no one touching it, no one looking at it. No one, no one. Doesn't belong to anyone. It is mine, mine, mine.

MR. MATT: It belongs to someone. Watches don't just appear out of nowhere in parking lots.

OZZIE: (shocked) They don't?!?

MR. MATT: (chuckling) No, they don't, Ozzie. Where do you think watches come from?

OZZIE: I don’t know. It was just lying there in the parking lot, and no one was around, and no one was touching it, and no one was looking at it. So I thought it just appeared there, and no one made it, and no one dropped it, and it is mine, mine, mine.

MR. MATT: (accusingly) Ozzie! You know better than that. Tell me about that watch.

OZZIE: Well, it's round and has little spin-y hands.

MR. MATT: And inside are gears and wheels that make those hands spin. That can't just happen by chance. Someone had to make that watch.

OZZIE: But I heard that the whole universe was created in a big explosion, and everything just came together and worked. So maybe there was a little (explosion sound), and that's how the watch was made. And now it's mine, mine, mine.

MR. MATT: I don't think you have all of your facts straight. The universe was created by God; it didn't just happen by chance. Anything complex needs a creator. Whether it's the universe – or your watch. Someone created that watch, Ozzie, and it belongs to someone.

OZZIE: (sourly) Okay, okay, okay. You're right. It must belong to someone. I'll put it in the lost and found.

MR. MATT: Good job, Ozzie. You're doing the right thing.

OZZIE: Thanks. (to the audience in a stage whisper) Good thing I didn’t tell Mr. Matt about the Game Boy I found. (quickly disappears)

MR. MATT: OZZIE!!!