Bible Studies

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To all
God's beloved
in Rome,
who are
called
to be
saints.
[Romans 1:7]
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"Why did You
pick PAUL .....
to WRITE this,
Lord?"

[SMILE!]
"What,
My precious?"

"THIS!"
(Squirm.)
"It's really DRY!"

[GENTLE SMILE.]
"Read It to Me."

"Well.....I don't
where to START."
(Grimmace!)
"For ONE thing.....
WHY does he keep
talkin' about the
Greeks and the
JEWS?"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"They have,
like.......
NOTHIN'
in COMMON,
with each OTHER!"

[PATIENT GAZE.]

"It's really STUPID!"
(Laugh!)
"It's like.....somebody
sayin':
To the ESKIMO, FIRST,
and then,
To the.......the....."
(Yell up at ceiling.)
WHO are those
GUYS from AUSTRALIA?"

[PATIENT SIGH.]

"Ya know who I'm
talkin' about, LORD!"
(Squint up at ceiling.)
"Ya know: those
GUYS from AUSTRALIA?"

"Child......"

(Smile!)
"I like BAKLAVAH!"
(Laugh!)
"And.....I BET
there's a lotta
JEWS who go
to Greek RESTAURANTS,
in New York CITY!"

[PATIENT NOD.]
[INFINTESSIMAL PATIENT
SILENCE.]

"But.....that's about IT!"
(Puzzled squint up at
ceiling vent.)
THEY don't have
the same RELIGION,
at ALL!"

[GAZE OFF AT PLUTO.]
[NOD PATIENTLY.]

(Squint.)
"WHO are those
guys, LORD?"
(Peer up at ceiling,
curiously.)
Ya know: the ones
from AUSTRALIA?"

(CALM VOICE.]
"Read My Word,
child."

(Impatient yell.)
"BUT, THEY'RE not
IN THERE!"

[SIGH.]

(Purse thin lips,
in consternation.)
(Squint.)
"The GREEKS live
on this beautiful
ISLAND!
Out in the AGEAN!"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"I mean.....the
MEDITERRANEAN!"

[PATIENT NOD.]

"I mean,
the AGEAN!"

[PATIENT SIGH.]
[GAZE AT ONE
OF THE SUN'S
SUN SPOTS.]

"WHATEVER!"

[PATIENT VOICE.]
"Yes,
My beloved."
[SIGH.]

"And.......the
JEWS come from
this UGLY little
STRIP 'a LAND,
about the size 'a
NEW JERSEY!"

[SMILE.]
[SOLEMN NOD.]

"And.......now,
most 'a them
LIVE in
NEW JERSEY!"

[CHUCKLE.]

"And....and,
the ones...
who still LIVE
OVER there,
wished they
WERE in
New Jersey!"

[CHUCKLE.]
"I understand,
Mein kinder."

"Ya DO?
THAT'S weird!"

[LAUGH!]

(Squint thoughtfully.)
"Maybe......while
Paul was in prison...
maybe, he just
kept thinkin'
about GREEK FOOD!"

[GAZE OUT AT HIS
CLOUDS WITH THE
PATIENCE OF A LOVING
FATHER.]

"HEY,
Ya can't BLAME
him!"

[PATIENT SIGH.]
"No,
My beloved."

"HEY, LORD?"

[SIGH.]
"Yes,
My beloved?"

"Is THAT why,
PAUL keeps
talkin' about
the GREEKS
and, the JEWS?"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"Cuz,
BOTH their
FOOD'S
FATTENING?"

[LONG PAUSE.]
"Maybe,
little one,
you should go
and get
something
to eat."
[SMILE.]
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For
I am not ashamed
of
the Gospel;
it is the
power
of God
for salvation
to every one
who has faith;
to the Jew
first,
and also
to
the Greek.
[Romans 1:16]
________________________
(Author's note:
the native Australians
are the Aboriginies.
They're probably
responsible for all
the neat animal
names, in Australia.)

____________________
Dedicated:
to Denise's class
on Romans.

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