Testimonies

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When the natives
saw the creature hanging
from his hand...
they waited,
expecting him
to swell up.
[Acts 28:4-6]
***********************
"Lord......
I don't get that snake-story,
about PAUL?"

[SMILE!]
"Read It
to Me,
precious."

"I forget where it is;
I just heard about it."

[NOD.]
"Look."

"I'm not done my hotdog,
yet."

[PATIENT NOD.]

(Some minutes pass.)
(A cat is sitting on top
of a big white Bible*,
nuzzling a bit of hotdog.)

[PATIENT GAZE.]

"Which PART is it,
LORD?"

"LOOK."

(Set kitty down.)
(Open big white Bible.)
"Can't find it.
It's somethin' about
a SNAKE....biting his HAND!"

[PATIENT NOD.]

"Acts 28:1-6!"

[NOD.]

"I CHEATED:
I looked up 'SNAKE',
in this book, my friend
gave ME!"

[PATIENT NOD.]
"Go on,
My precious."

"....We then learned
that the island
was called Malta.....
Paul had gathered
a bundle of sticks
and put them on the fire,
when a viper
came out because of the heat
and fastened on his hand.
[Acts 28:1-3]

Why didn't the natives
of the island,
think Paul was just
STUPID?"

"Why,
My precious."

"Because.....I bet,
if you were a NATIVE
of that island....
you'd just KNOW not
to pick up a bundle
of STICKS,
until you had POKED it
around, A LITTLE!"
(Thoughtful squint.)
"It's sort'a like,
living in
south TEXAS, LORD!
When you LIVE here,
you just KNOW...
not to walk BAREFOOT,
in JULY....
on a sloping mound...
of dirt and
GRASS!"

"Why,
My beloved."

"Cuz.....of the
FIRE ANTS!"

[CHUCKLE.]

"YIKES!"

[SMILE.]

"See what I MEAN?"

[PATIENT SIGH.]
[GAZE AT THE MOON
SHINING OVER THE
LINCOLN MEMORIAL,
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.]

"But.....they were
IMPRESSED!"

[PATIENT VOICE.]
"Why,
My beloved."

(Put on second pair of
glasses.)
"Eh......"
(Squint.)
"Because.....Paul didn't
suddenly....
drop DEAD?"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

(Silence.)

[LOVING GAZE.]

"Hey, LORD?"
(Thoughtful gaze,
up at ceiling.)
"Maybe....
I'm just WEAK,
and STUPID?"

[SILENCE.]

"I mean,
how come nobody
ELSE, in my FAMILY...
believes in JESUS?"
(Sigh.)
"And....they're all
BRIGHT, and
real SUCCESSFUL!"

[NOD.]
"Yes,
My child."

(Shrug.)
"SO?
I DON'T know any
other JEWS,
who believe in
JESUS!"

[PATIENT NOD.]

"So....
maybe, I'm just bein'
really WEAK,
or SOMETHIN'?"

"You are weak,
My precious."

(Sorrowfully slow nod.)

"And
the weak,
look for
Strength."
***********************
Because
he cleaves
to Me in love,
I will deliver him...
When he calls to me,
I will answer him...
and show him
My salvation.
[Psalms 91:14-16]

__________________
*In memory of Lois Ouellette,
who gave me this Bible:
a lovely lady, and beautiful
Christian.

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