Confessions of a Raving Lunatic

Cast and props:

Raving Lunatic

God [represented with a bulb and an Amaryllis]

Use the white cloth to whip it through the air every time the word breath or breathe are said to signify when to say "Whoosh!"

Whenever we hear the word "Breath" we all say WHOOSH!

[Raving Lunatic runs up the center aisle panting]

Raving Lunatic: You won't believe what happened to me!  God came upon me and brought me by his breath to the middle of a dry valley that was full of dusty old bones!  God led me around.  There were bones everywhere all dried up!

[The bulb and amaryllis pop out

 

God: Mortal!

 

Raving Lunatic: God spoke to me!

 

God: Mortal!  Can these bones live?

[Raving Lunatic looks to the Amaryllis and bulb]

Raving Lunatic: 'O Lord my God!  Only you know!'  I replied.

God: Speak to these bones and say to them: 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.  God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.  I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am God!'

[during the following section we need slow quite non-rythmic druming/thumping/clapping, maybe the rainstick that picks up and gets faster and louder throughout so that Raving Lunatic has to shout above the noise]

Raving Lunatic: So I did as I was told and I spoke.  Suddenly there was a noise, a rattling and the bones came together, bone to its bone.  I looked and there were sinews on them and flesh had come upon them and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them yet.

God: Speak to the breath, speak, mortal, and say to the breath, Thus says God: Come from the four winds, O Breath.  And breathe upon these slain, that they may live."

Raving Lunatic: So I did as I was told and I spoke. And the breath came into them and they lived and stood on their feet.  A great many of them!

[the noise stops abruptly]

God: Moral, these bones are the whole house of Israel.  They say to me, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely' therefore speak to them and say, 'Thus says your God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.  I will put my breath within you and you will live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I am your God and have spoken and will act.

"I See" said Samuel

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long with you grieve over Saul?  He was a bad king.  Fill your jar with oil and set out to Jesse the Bethlemite, for I have provided a new king among his sons."

"I see," said Samuel.

"No you don't," said the Lord.

Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem and he said to Jesse and his sons, "Sanctify yourselves and come with me to a feast!"  Samuel sanctified Jesse and his sons and they came to the feast.

When Samuel saw Jesse's oldest son, he saw that Eliab was tall and strong and he thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed!" Overjoyed to have found the new king,

"I see!" said Samuel.

"No you don't!" said the Lord.

"Do not look on his appearance or his height, because I have rejected him;  I do not see as you see;  you look at the outward appearance, but I look on the heart."

Then Jesse called Abinadab, his second son, forward and made him walk before Samuel.  Again, Samuel saw that Abinadab was tall and strong with a kingly stature.  Again, overjoyed to have found the new king,

"I see!" said Samuel.

"No you don't!" said the Lord.

God had not choses this son either.  So Jesse made his third son, Shammah walk before Samuel.  And again,

"I see!" said Samuel.

"No you don't!" said the Lord.

Jesse made all seven of his sons walk before Samuel and every one of them was tall and strong and had a kingly stature and each time, Samuel said, "I see!"  and the Lord said, "No you don't!"

"The Lord has chosen none of these," said Samuel to Jesse.  "Are all your sons here?"

Jesse replied, "The youngest, David, is tending the sheep."

So Samuel said, "You must send for him and bring him before me as well.  We will not eat until he comes."

So Jesse sent for David and brought him before Samuel.  Samuel looked him over and saw that he was indeed very young, he looked nothing like his brothers.  There was more boy than man about him and Samuel thought, this couldn't possibly be the chosen one.

Disappointed, Samuel said, "I see just a boy before me"

"No you don't!" said the Lord.

For indeed, David was the chosen of the Lord, "Rise and anoint him, for he is the one," Said the Lord.

So Samuel took his jar of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.

Grumble, Grumble, Grumble

The Israelites followed Moses into the wilderness and came to Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink.  So the people started to complain:

Grumble, grumble, grumble! (x3)

Moses said to them, "Stop your grumbling and complaining against God.  Don't your remember all the wondrous things  God has done for you?"

But the people just complained,
Grumble, grumble, grumble! (x3)

Moses said to them, don't you remember when you were hungry?  Didn't God make manna fall from heaven so that you could eat your fill each day, and gather enough of the 6th day to eat on the 7th and still rest?

But the people just complained,
Grumble, grumble, grumble! (x3)

Moses continued, "And when you were still hungry and tired of eating manna, didn't God send quail so that you could eat meat?"

But the people just complained,
Grumble, grumble, grumble! (x3)

And when you left Egypt with Pharaoh's armies pursuing you, didn't God protect you with a pillar of fire and a pillar of smoke.  And did not the pillar of fire lead you at night and the pillar of smoke lead you in the day.  And did not God keep a pillar between you and the armies of Pharaoh to keep you safe?

But the people just complained,
Grumble, grumble, grumble! (x3)

And do you not remember slavery in Egypt how Pharaoh made you work seven days a week without straw to build temples to foreign gods without rest?  Do you not remember that you are now free and that God brings you to a promised land, a land promised to your ancestors, Abraham and Sarah?  Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel?

But the people just complained,
Grumble, grumble, grumble! (x3)

Do you not remember when Pharaoh's armies were behind you and you came to the sea, how God parted the sea so that you could cross over on dry land.  And then God closed the sea up over the armies of pharaoh and thus God conquered your enemies and brought you to freedom.

But the people just complained,
Grumble, grumble, grumble! (x3)

So finally, Moses prayed to God, fearing that the Israelites were ready to stone him in their frustration.  God gave Moses instructions.  Moses took the leaders of the Israelites into the wilderness to a dry place, raised his staff, the same one he held over the sea, and struck a rock.  Water sprang forth in the desert and satisfied the people's thirst.

And Moses called that place Massah and Meribah because the people complained,
Grumble, grumble, grumble! (x3)

Shout out, Do not hold back!

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

On holy days, the temples were full.  The altars were overflowing with sacrifices.  Week in and week out, the people of Israel publicly fasted making a great show of what righteous people they were.  They made loud and noisy prayers all the week long.

But Isaiah looked into the streets and saw:

The workers were oppressed, and did not have days of rest

The wealthy people quarreled and fought amongst themselves

People in the streets were hungry, and many were without homes.

There were people without clothing in cold weather

And some rich people pretended that they did not even know their relatives who were not so rich.

Other people spoke evil against their neighbours.

And many people with afflictions were neglected and ignored.

So Isaiah went to the market place and declared:

 

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

Announce to my people their rebellion,

To the house of Jacob their sins.

Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways,

As if they were a nation that practiced righteousness

And did not forsake the word of God.

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

The people come to the temples and pray

"Why do we fast, but God does not see?

Why humble ourselves, but God does not notice?"

And God replies:

"Look!  You serve your own interestd on your fast days,

And then oppress your workers!

Look!  You fast, only to pick fights among yourselves!"

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

That kind of fasting will not make you heard on high!

This is the fast I choose:

Lose the bonds of injustice;

Undo the thongs of oppression;

Let the oppressed go free;

Break every yoke!

 

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

Share your bread with the hungry!

Bring the homeless poor into your home!

When you see the naked, cover them!

Do not deny your own kin in need!

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

If you remove the yoke, and stop speaking evil

If you share your food with the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

THEN your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom shall be like noonday!

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

God will guide you and satisfy your needs in the parched places

and make your bones strong

And you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water whose waters never fail!

Shout out, do not hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

The Prophet Haggai

After 50 years of exile in Babylon, King Darius let the Israelites return home to Jerusalem.

When the people returned, they saw desolation and destruction: the city walls were in ruin, their homes were destroyed, the temple had been raised to the ground.

For twenty years the people rebuilt their homes.  But when Haggai the prophet came he said to the King and the Priest and the remnant of the people:

Sing a new song to the Lord; for he has done marvelous things!

"Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory?  How does it look to you now?  Is it not in your sight as nothing?"

Sing a new song to the Lord; for he has done marvelous things!

"Take courage!  Take courage!  Take courage!" said Haggai, "And work!  For God is with you.  According to the promise God made to you when he brought you up out of Egypt.  God's spirit is among you!  Don't be afraid!"

Sing a new song to the Lord; for he has done marvelous things!

"I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land;  I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations will come;  and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.  Silver is mine; Gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts.  The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts.  And in this place, I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts!"

Sing a new song to the Lord; for he has done marvelous things!

Daniel had a dream

"No! No! No!"

"Yes! Yes!  Yes!"

Daniel was a wise prophet who always prayed to God and kept God's laws.  When God called on Daniel, Daniel always said, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!  When foolish kings tried to stop Daniel from acknowledging his God, Daniel always said, No!  No!  No!

One night, Daniel had a dream and he wrote it down.

The waters were stirred up by a mighty wind and four great horrific beasts rose from the deeps.  No!  No!  No!

One was like a lion with eagles' wings that walked like a human on two feet.  No!  No!  No!

The second was like a bear with three tusks in its mouth.  No!  No!  No!

The third was like a leopard with four wings of a black bird and four heads.  No!  No!  No!

The fourth was terrifying and dreadful beyond description, exceedingly strong.  It had great teeth that were devouring and breaking and feet that were stomping and crushing.  It had ten horns and spoke arrogantly.  No!  No!  No!

The four beasts took dominion over the land and ruled it with terror.  No!  No!  No!

As Daniel watched the Ancient of One, dressed in pure white with hair like wool,  took his seat upon a great throne.   From the Ancient One radiated fire and light.  The Ancient One was attended by thousands and tens of thousands who sang praises and bowed down before him.

The Thousands and tens of thousands bowed to the Ancient One and said, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

The Ancient looked out over the thousands and tens of thousands attending him.  The Ancient One said, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

The Ancient One looked out over the sea and all creation and said, Yes!  Yes!  Yes! 

The Ancient One held court, opened the books and sitting in judgement said, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

The Ancient One looked to the beast that had risen from the deeps and said, No!  No!  No!

As Daniel watched the great beast was put to death and the beast cried out, No!  No!  No!

But the thousands and tens of thousands cried out, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

Dominion was taken away from the other four beasts and the beasts cried out, No!  No! No!

But the thousands and tens of thousands cried out, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

As Daniel's dream continued, he saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven.  And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him.  He bowed to the Ancient One and said, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

To him was given dominion and glory and kingship.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.  And the thousands and tens of thousands said, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

Daniel was trouble for the visions terrified him.  So he approached on of the attendants to ask him concerning the dream and he said, "As for these four great beasts, trouble and pain, power and suffering, wealth and greed, oppression and hunger will come and go from the earth.  Kingdoms and empires, dynasties and alliances all come to an end.  But God's love is forever and the holy ones of the Most High shall rule forever and ever, without end."

And the thousands and tens of thousands say, Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Jesus had been teaching about the Kingdom of God.  Mostly he had been teaching how the Kingdom of God was nothing like what people assumed it was like.  It wasn't a place that one could "get into"; Jesus said it was already among us.  There were no signs that would tell us when it was coming; we wouldn't understand the signs if there were.  We would long to see the Kingdom of God, but it wouldn't appear to us, but then when we least expected it, we would be there.  Jesus asserted that we must, like the persistent widow, pray always and never lose heart.

Jesus noticed that some of the people listening to him were very self assured.  The Pharisees thought that because they followed all the rules from the Bible exactly the way they read them and that because they were direct descendants from Abraham, they didn't have to worry about the Kingdom of God.  The Pharisees thought they were righteous enough and didn't have to listen to Jesus.  But they treated other people, poor people, uneducated people, people who were not as religious, and people who had different ethnic and religious backgrounds with contempt.

So Jesus told this parable:

"Two men went up to the temple to pray.  One was a Pharisee and the other a Tax collector.  The Pharisee knew he was well respected.  But everyone hates a Tax Collector.

"The Pharisee stood aside and prayed aloud, 'Lord, I'm so glad that I am better than other people…"

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"The Pharisee prayed out loud, 'Lord, I'm glad I'm not like thieves, rogues or adulterers!'

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"The Pharisee prayed out loud, 'Lord, I'm glad I'm not like this worthless Tax Collector who takes money from Jews and gives it to the Romans while pocketing a large cut for himself!'

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"The Pharisee prayed out loud, 'Lord, I'm glad I'm not like other people who are gluttons and drunks and have no self-control; I fast twice a week!'

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"The Pharisee prayed out loud, 'Lord, I'm glad I'm not like people who are cheep and selfish and do not honour your presence: I give a tenth of all my income to the Temple!'

"While the Tax collector prayed, 'Into your hands I place my life, O God; to you, I give my soul.'

"It is the Tax Collector rather than the Pharisee who is in right relationship with God.  Because those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted."