Gospel

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Finally, be strong in the Lord
and in the strength of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
[Ephesians 6:10-11]
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Paul is in prison. He's bound to
a Roman soldier, named
Sparticus.
_________________

"Hey, Sparticus?"

"Yeah. What do YOU
want, Paul? Listen, if
it weren't for YOU,
I'd be on guard at the
palace, right now,
and gettin' some good
food to BOOT!"
[Sparticus emphasizes
his last words with a
shake of the heavy chain,
they're sharing.]

"I know, I KNOW,
Sparticus! How many
times have I told 'ya
I'm SORRY?"

"Yeah, YEAH.
Easier said than DONE,
Paul! WHAT are you
in for here, anyhow:
I forget?"

"Didn't they TELL 'ya?"

"Uh, uh. They don't tell
me nothin', Paul. I just
go where I'M TOLD,
an' I get my dinari: that's IT!"

"Huh, no kiddin'?
Well, it's for Christ Jesus."

"Heah? I don't understand,
Paul? I thought you were
AGAINST those followers of
that NAZARINE?"

"Yeah, well, it's a long
story, Sparticus."

"So? I don't think we're
goin' to no party, tonight,
Paul. 'Ya know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I guess that's true.
Oh, before I forget;
could you put your helmet
back on, for a second?"

"How COME? Neah,
I don't want to, Paul.
It's too stuffy, in here."

"Put it on; put it ON!
I gotta get the whole
PICTURE!"

"Picture 'a WHAT?
What are 'ya:
drawin' PICTURES?
Is that what your buddies
brought that pigskin, for?
So, 'ya could draw PICTURES?"

"Uh, uh. I'm just writin' a
letter. I wanna' say somethin',
here, about puttin' on your
armor, everyday."

"WHY? None of yur'
buddies are SOLDIERS,
PAUL! [laugh]"

"But, they ARE, Sparticus!
They ARE; they're in the
army of Christ Jesus!"

"Heah? WHAT?
Paul, I think 'ya gettin'
a little soft in the HEAD!
You've been spending too
much time around those
Nazarine guys!"

"Yeah, I guess so, Sparticus.
Anyhow, would 'ya do me the
FAVOR? If 'ya put your
helmet on, for just 'a minute,
I'll tell you all about the
day, that the Lord struck me
blind: RIGHT in the middle
of the road."

"Huh? When did THAT happen?
(sigh) Yeah...... sure,....why not?"
[Sparticus leans over, dragging Paul's
chain with him, and grabs
his helmet, then setting it
on his dirty, sweaty hair.]
Well? Uh, wait a minute;
it's supposed to look, this way."

[Paul leans back, as much as
he can, away from his guard,
squinting appreciatively
at the impressive looking
helmet.]
"Thanks, Sparticus!
Can 'ya hold it there,
for a second? I just
wanna' write somthin'
down."

[Sparicus frowns, and
shrugs. He peers over
at the pigskin that his
prisoner is writing on,
but can only make out
a couple of the words.
After he took off this
cumbersome head gear,
he'd have to scoot against
the cool wall, and
tell Paul to read to him:
especially, the part
about his own helmet.
Against his natural inclinations,
Sparticus smiles, and sits
up a little taller.]
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Stand therefore,
having girded your loins
with Truth,
and having put on the breastplate
of righteousness,
and having shod your feet
with the equipment of the Gospel of Peace;
besides all these,
taking the shield of Faith.......
and take the helmet of Salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God.
[Ephesians 6:14-17]

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