Peter--Brash and Bold

He was there when Jesus was arrested, in very real danger of being taken into custody, too. Those were frightening, terrifying moments for him and for his friends.

But when Jesus told the soldiers "I am the One you are seeking, let these men go their way," it appears that most of the disciples then quietly stepped back. But not Peter.

Brash and bold, he drew his sword to defend Jesus. Knowing he was no match for the soldiers of the high priest, Peter chose the high priest's servant as the object of his wrath and struck off his ear.

The events of the next few moments are truly amazing. Jesus healed the servant. And apparently the soldiers didn't even notice. How could they not have seen? A display of the power of the Son of God before their very eyes and they did not see it. What were they doing--where was their attention as Jesus tenderly touched the ear, restoring it to full function? Capturing Jesus was their assignment--surely their eyes would be full on Him. Yet Jesus performed His last miracle before their very eyes and they were oblivious.

Then the soldiers seized Jesus and led him away. Most of the disciples then fled, fearing for their lives. Peter followed at a distance--still brash and impetuous--maybe not as bold.

In the hours that followed, three times he was recognized as having been with Jesus and three times he denied it. Upon the third denial and the crowing of the rooster, the enormity and reality of his denial of Jesus pierced his heart

and he wept aloud...no longer brash and bold

but broken and burdened with sin.

The Neighborly Bully

Narrator: Ladies and gentlemen, today we present for your entertainment and enlightenment, one of the parables of Jesus which we have entitled The Neighborly Bully. Well, it was a parable when we started out but I am not sure what it is now. You will meet a prospector, a villian, a cowboy, a deputy sheriff, a bully, some curious bystanders--that would be you guys--and me, the illustrious and ever important narrator. Since this is a melodrama, we will need audience participation...and probably a little practice...

(sign holder holds up signs)
BOO!
HOORAY!
HUH??

Narrator: I think you’ve got it!
A certain man…

Prospector: Me!

Narrator: Was traveling from Dry Gulch to Cactus Corner when he was waylaid by a bandit…

Bandit: Me! (bandit knocks man over, pretends to hit him)

Sign-holder: -BOO!-

Narrator: The bandit took his wallet with all his credit cards and the bag of gold nuggets and left him for dead…

Bandit: He’s dead. (takes wallet and bag of gold nuggets and walks off, looking back a couple of times.)

Prospector: I don’t think I’m dead but whatevs. (lifts head to say line then lays it back down) Oooh, ouch. (lifts head) No, I am pretty sure I am not dead. But I think I’m going to faint. (faints)

Narrator: So the man lay there moaning and groaning until a sheriff’s deputy passed by.

Deputy: I am the Deputy Sheriff in these here parts and I’m on official deputeeee business...

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Deputy: ...Protecting women and children...

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Deputy: ...tracking down train robbers...

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Deputy: ...rounding up cattle rustlers

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Deputy: ...and scooping up the mess horses leave behind.

Signholder: -HUH?-

Deputy: Hey, somebody’s got to do it.

(deputy turns to look across the stage, notices man)

Prospector: Help me, I’ve been waylaid…robbed…beaten…left for dead…

Deputy: (as an aside) Sad day for you!

Signholder: -HUH?-

(deputy walks across stage, going way around the man)

Deputy: I have much more important business today! (said right before he walks offstage)

Signholder: -BOO!-

Narrator: The next person to pass by was a cowboy, a regular John Wayne kind of guy, the guy who reunites little calves with their mommies...

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Narrator: ...who brushes his horse every day...

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Narrator: ...who never fails to put a nickel in the offering plate at church...

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Narrator: ...and who spits on the sidewalk.

Signholder: -HUH?-

Cowboy: Let’s see…where's that to do list? (pulls out a long list and reads it)
Brand 5 new calves--check.
Fix barb wire fence--check.
Replace left front horseshoe on Ole Paint--check
Pick up some---

(looks up and notices man laying on ground who is quietly moaning…he continues across the stage, walks WAY around him)

Cowboy: I can’t forget to pick up some beans for the cook…I don’t have time today to chitchat with somebody dumb enough to get beaten and robbed.

Signholder: -BOO!- (cowboy leaves)

(bully comes upon the scene, carrying a water bottle)

Narrator: And it so happened that the town bully was the next to pass by. A guy who steps on kitties’ tails...

Signholder: -BOO!-

Narrator: ...takes candy from babies...

Signholder: -BOO!-

Narrator: ...trips little old ladies trying to cross the street...

Signholder: -BOO!-

Narrator: ...and burps at Sunday dinner.

Signholder: -HUH?-

Bully: (walks right over to the man) What happened to you? Been fighting or something?

Prospector: (moaning) yeah, something. More like being mugged…

Bully: Looks like you got the worst of it. Man, that’s gotta hurt!

Prospector: Yeah, my thumb is bleeding pretty badly. (holds up thumb) Plus I think my leg is broken.

Bully: Here. Let me help you.

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

(Bully hands him the water bottle) Do you want a Spider Man bandaid or a Hello Kitty bandaid? (puts the bandaid on his thumb)

Prospector: (looks at his thumb) Oh, that’s cute! (then starts groaning again)

Bully: Let’s get you to my granny’s house. She’ll nurse you back to health.

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Bully: I’ll give her some money for to buy some more Hello Kitty bandaids and some Campbell’s chicken noodle soup...

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Bully: ...and here, have a candy bar I took from a baby.

Signholder: -HUH?-

(Bully helps the man stand, puts his arm around him and the two go off stage, the prospector limping all the way)

Narrator: Which of these three men proved to be a good neighbor?
The sheriff’s deputy?

Signholder: -BOO!-

Narrator: The cowboy?

Signholder: -BOO!-

Narrator: The town bully?

Signholder: -HOORAY!-

Narrator: Even though the bully was in a rush, probably on his way to pop somebody‘s birthday balloons...

Signholder: -HUH?-

Narrator: ...he was the only one to stop and help. When Jesus finished telling this story, he said “Go and do likewise.” No, He didn’t mean for you to take candy from children or to step on kitties’ tails, He meant for you to love your neighbor as much as you love yourself and to be the one to give him a Hello Kitty bandaid and a bottle of cold water.

Quite a Little Adventure

Cheerfully we trooped out to the van on errand day, little knowing what lay ahead of us...or what any of us were going to have to say about it.


There are two stop lights within a block of each other and wouldn't you know it--the light in the furthest intersection turned red and the traffic was backed up so much that we ended up stuck in the middle of the second intersection but too far into it to be able to turn right.

 "Well, this is awkward," remarked the little man.


Sometimes as we travel along our merry way we have deep discussions about topics of significance and relevance. This was not one of those times. We were discussing some of the different euphemisms for "restroom."

me: When the British are talking about the restroom they say 'the W. C.'
little man: When the Indians are talking about it, they say 'behind the tree.'


Usually it takes the little man quite awhile to make up his mind what he wants to order when we stop for fast food. So I make certain to give him plenty of time to think it over.

me: Were you considering ordering a chicken snack wrap?
little man: Last time I checked my brain, I wasn't.


Sister was graciously getting our drinks and asked me if I wanted Dr. Pepper or Coke. I replied, "D.P." Her shocked face upon my reply revealed to me that she hadn't heard my complete answer.

Her comment: "Mom, we don't say that word in public!" was a perfect echo of my words in times past.


During our meal we asked little man to get us a refill of our drinks.  We appreciated his willingness to serve us but I cannot find the words to describe the feeling when one takes a swig of pop only to find out it is not what was expected. Lesson learned: do not send the little man to get refills as he will return with mixed drinks.


After our meal, I was appalled to discover that my keys were not in my purse...or in my jeans pocket...nor were they in anyone else's purse or jeans pocket.

me: I think I locked my keys in the van
sister: You know that's illegal, don't you?
me: I don't think it's illegal, I think it's stupid

Illegal or not, when we looked through the van window we could see the keys swinging merrily in the ignition so we enjoyed an ice cream cone while waiting for big sister to come rescue us.  Soon we were once again on our way but not before little man observed brightly,"Well, that was quite a little adventure, wasn't it?"