Description
What is “worthwhile” praying about? What about a toaster versus a major appliance? Should we pray over “things”? And is there a certain limit as to what is worth praying over? Does this comedy make a difference in how you look at situations?
Two off-the-wall skits point out our preconceived ideas about prayer.
Sample of script:
Each has two actors, no special setting or surroundings.
The Appliance Prayer Guide #1
Joe: Hey, Bill, how ya doin’ man?
Bill: Joey, ma boy! Long time, long time!
Joe: Has so too. Last year’s prayer retreat at Smoky Mountain Camp, that’s when!
Bill: Was so! So, anyhow, how’s things? I seem to recall us praying for you, oh, I remember, you were moving as I recall. How’s your new home?
Joe: Really quite good, actually. You know, a bunch of little problems here and there, nothing major, though.
Bill: “Bunch of little problems?” Tell me about them, Joe, me, and Jill we’d want to pray about it.
Joe: No, as I said, just little things, nothing worth bothering God about, doncha see?
Bill: I don’t understand Joe. Bible says we’re to bring all our concerns to God in prayer.
Joe: Well, way I see it, that’s just all wrong theology! What you’ve gotta have is a Prayer Procedure Policy.
Bill: Prayer Procedure Policy?
Joe: Yep, Prayer Procedure Policy. Gives guidelines on when you oughta pray and when you don’t. Bring your big problems to the Lord, don’t take up His time with the itty-bitty things, I always say.
Bill: I have never heard of anything like that! I mean, how would you break down whether a concern is big enough to bring to God in prayer, I mean . . . .
Joe: Simple! We just think of all our needs like they were appliances.
Bill: Appliances?
Joe: Yup!
Bill: What do you mean, you “think of all your needs like they were appliances?”
Joe: Simple. Let me show you. Suppose your washer/dryer’s acting up. What are you gonna do?
Bill: I’m not sure, call my friend, Charlie, the appliance repairman, I suppose.
Joe: Oh, sure, but first you’re gonna pray for the washer/dryer, right?
Bill: Uhhhh, yeh, yeh, I guess you’re right. Pray first, then call Charlie, the appliance repairman, yeh, I’m with you.
Joe: Now, then. S’pose your electric can opener is dead. What do you do then?
Bill: Well, I suppose I would pray for the electric can opener, then call my friend Charlie, the . . . .
Joe: Wrong! Bad wrong!
Bill: What do you mean, “bad wrong”?
Joe: I mean, bad wrong! First off, appliance repair guys charge a minimum of $45 just to look at an appliance. Why are you gonna lay out $45 or more when you can wander down to Wal-Mart, pick up a shiny new Zippo Under-The-Counter Style 3 Model can opener, just $22.98? Tax extra, mind you, but still . . .
Bill: I don’t believe this!… Zippo Style 3 can opener . . .
Joe: . . . just $22.98! Believe it! That’s the regular, everyday, low, low Wal-Mart price.
Bill: No, I mean, I don’t believe we are having this conversation. I thought we were talking about prayer. What’s a can opener got to do with not praying?
Joe: A lot, that’s what! Figure it out, Bill. If Charlie, the appliance repairman, who is a friend of yours, doesn’t see it worthwhile to mess with can openers, how d’ya figure it’s worthwhile for . . . Him?
Bill: For, . . . Him? Who’s Him?