CHARACTERS

The Announcer

The Angel Gabriel: Game show host

St. Peter: Game show host

Tweedledeewrong: Game show contestant

Tweedledeeright: Game show contestant

Judge 1

Judge 2

Judge 3

The scene is a TV game show. There is a podium for each contestant in the center of the stage. The announcer enters and stands to the side.

Announcer: Welcome to another game of “Staying Out of Jeopardy!”, the game where contestants answer hard questions for a heavenly prize! Please welcome our hosts, the Angel Gabriel and St. Peter!

(They bound in from the side and take their places on either side of podiums.)

Gabriel: Thank you.

St. Peter: Good morning! We have a great show for you today.

Gabriel: We sure do Peter. Our questions today are taken from Psalm 15, which asks, “Who may abide in the tent of the Lord?”

St. Peter: Sounds exciting, Gabriel! Let’s bring out our first contestant.

Announcer: Our first contestant comes from Compassionville, California and works as a schoolteacher at Walk in the Light High. Please welcome Tweedledeeright!

(Tweedledeeright comes out and stands behind a podium)

Announcer: Our next contestant comes from Selfishtown, California and works as a writer for a well-known tabloid. Please welcome Tweedledeewrong.

(Tweedledeewrong comes out and stands behind a podium)

Gabriel: Good to have you with us. You know the rules; we will give you a question and you have thirty seconds to answer. The one who comes up with the answer closest to the Bible gets the points. At the end of three rounds, whoever has the highest number of points wins.

St. Peter: Good luck. Here’s our first question. You and a friend, who is a wonderful person and a hard worker, are both up for the same promotion at work. The interviewer asks you to talk about your friend. What do you say? Let’s start with Tweedledeeright.

Tweedledeeright: I’d have to tell the truth and talk about their gifts and strengths.

St. Peter: Tweedledeewrong?

Tweedledeewrong: That’s easy, if I lied and said they were always late and never got their work in on time, then I’d get the promotion!

St. Peter: Judges, what is the right answer?

Judge 1: The Bible says, those who speak the truth from their hearts, who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, may abide in the tent of the Lord.

St. Peter: That’s ten points for Tweedledeeright and zero points for Tweedledeewrong.

Gabriella: Question number two. If you had to choose a hero to honor, who would it be? Tweedledeewrong?

Tweedledeewrong: Well you have to admire those people who claw their way to the top, no matter what they have to do to get there.

Gabriel: Tweedledeeright?

Tweedledeeright: My grandma has always been my biggest hero. She tries to decide what to do based on what she thinks God would want her to do. She’s full of joy, she really cares about others, and I’d say she’s my hero.

Gabriel: Judges?

Judge 2: The Bible says that those who despise wickedness and honor those who love the Lord will abide in the tent of the Lord.

Gabriel: Let’s see, that gives Tweedledeewrong another zero and Tweedledeeright ten more points, bringing Tweedledeeright to a twenty point lead.

St. Peter: This sure is an exciting game. Tweedledeeright is way ahead but the final round is worth thirty points, so Tweedledeewrong could come back and win the game.

Gabriel: No one knows what could happen in our last round. And here’s our final question: What is the most important thing in business and life? Is it getting ahead? Or being honest? Tweedledeewrong, you’re trailing by twenty points. You answer first.

Tweedledeewrong: I think getting ahead is the most important. Look at all the magazine articles about how to do that – and movies and TV shows – that must be the right answer!

Gabriel: Tweedledeeright?

Tweedledeeright: Gee, I gotta say being honest and not cheating others. I mean, what good is it if you get ahead by hurting others?

Gabriel: Judges?

Judge 3: The Bible says that those who stand by their oath, even to their hurt, and who do not take a bribe against the innocent, will abide in the tent of the Lord.

St. Peter: That means Tweedledeeright wins with fifty points! And what is this week’s prize?

Announcer: Tweedledeeright wins an all-expense paid world-wide camping trip with God! Yes, that’s right. You and God will enjoy all of creation, beautiful sunsets, spectacular mountain views, cozy walks in the woods, and exciting adventures. Congratulations.

St. Peter: Well that ends our show for this week.

Gabriel: Join us next week for another exciting game of “Staying out of Jeopardy!!” THE END

Deepening Faith: Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice

Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press