The Lord's Prayer
Author Unknown
SINNER: Our Father who art in Heaven. . . .
THE LORD: Yes?
SINNER: Don't interrupt me. I'm praying. . . .
THE LORD: But you called me.
SINNER: Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven.. . .
THE LORD: There, you did it again.
SINNER: Did what?
THE LORD: Called me. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven. . . " Here I am. What's on your mind?
SINNER: But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting my duty done.
THE LORD: All right. Go on.
SINNER: Hallowed be thy name.
THE LORD: Hold it. What do you mean by that?
SINNER: By what?
THE LORD: By "Hallowed be thy name."
SINNER: It means....it means....good grief, I don't know what it means. How should I know? It's just part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
THE LORD: It means "honored," "Holy," "Wonderful."
SINNER: Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what "Hallowed" meant before. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Do you really mean that?
SINNER: Sure, why not?
THE LORD: What are you going to do about it?
SINNER: Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would be neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there.
THE LORD: Have I got control of you?
SINNER: Well, I go to church.
THE LORD: That isn't what I asked you. What about that habit of lust you have? And your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money......all on yourself. And what about the kinds of books you read?
SINNER: Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those phonies at the church.
THE LORD: Excuse me....I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you, for example.
SINNER: Oh, all right! I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
THE LORD: So could I.
SINNER: I haven't thought about it until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I'd like to, you know, be really free.
THE LORD: Good, now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together....you and I some victories can truly be won. I'm proud of you.
SINNER: Look Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does....Give us this day our daily bread.
THE LORD: You need to cut down on the bread too...You're overweight as it is.
SINNER: Hey, wait a minute! What is this, "Criticize Me Day?" Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups. Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed you know.
THE LORD: That's what I'm trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep on praying. I'm interested in the next part of your prayer.....Well, go on.
SINNER: I'm scared to.
THE LORD: Scared? Of what?
SINNER: I know what you'll say.
THE LORD: Try me and see.
SINNER: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
THE LORD: What about John?
SINNER: See I knew it! I knew you would bring him up! Why he's told lies about me, cheated me out of money... He never paid back that debt he owes me. I've sworn to get even.
THE LORD: But your prayer......What about your prayer?
SINNER: I didn't mean it.
THE LORD: Well, at least you're honest. But it's not much fun carrying the load of bitterness around inside is it?
SINNER: No, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I made some plans for ol' John! He'll wish he never did me any harm.
THE LORD: You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy you are already. But I can change all that.
SINNER: You can? How?
THE LORD: Forgive John. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be John's problem and not yours...You may lose the money, but you will settled your heart.
SINNER: But Lord, I can't forgive John.
THE LORD: Then I can't forgive you.
SINNER: Oh, you're right! You always are. And more than I want revenge on John, I want to be right with you...............All right! I forgive him. Help him to find the right road in life, Lord. He's bound to be awfully miserable, now that I think about it. Some way, some how, show him the right way.
THE LORD: There now! How do you feel? SINNER: Hmmm....not bad. Not bad at all, In fact I feel pretty great. You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can't remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest.
THE LORD: You're not through with your prayer.....Go on.
SINNER: Oh, alright.....And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
THE LORD: Good...good. I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.
SINNER: What do you mean by that?
THE LORD: Quit hanging around the wrong places, watching inappropriate movies and television, listening to sinful conversations; hanging around the places where Playboy and Playgirl are sold. Change some of your friendships. Some of your so-called friends are beginning to get to you. They'll have you completely involved in wrong things before long, Don't be fooled. They advertise they're having fun, but for you it would be ruin. Don't use me for an escape hatch.
SINNER: I don't understand.
THE LORD: Sure you do, You've done it .....lots of times. You get caught in a bad situation, you get into trouble and then you come running to me. "Lord, help me out of this mess, and I promise you I'll never do it again." You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?
SINNER: Yes, and I'm ashamed Lord. I really am.
THE LORD: Which bargains are you remembering?
SINNER: Well, when the woman next door saw me backing away from the neighborhood bar....I'd told my wife I was going to the store....I remember telling you, "Lord don't let her tell my wife where I've been. I promise I'll be in church every Sunday."
THE LORD: She didn't tell your wife, but you didn't keep your promise, did you?
SINNER: I'm sorry Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought if I just prayed the Lord's prayer everyday, then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything to happen like it did.
THE LORD: Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
SINNER: Oh yes....For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever and forever. Amen.
THE LORD: Do you know what would bring me glory? What would make me really happy?
SINNER: No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you. I can see what a mess I've made out of my life, and I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers.
THE LORD: You just answered the question.
SINNER: I did?
THE LORD: Yes, the one thing that would being me glory is to have people like you truly love me. And I can see that happening between us.Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way....well, There's no telling what we can do together.
SINNER: Lord, let's see what we can make of me, OK?
THE LORD: Yes, let's see......
Live one day at a time!
Author Unknown
SINNER: Our Father who art in Heaven. . . .
THE LORD: Yes?
SINNER: Don't interrupt me. I'm praying. . . .
THE LORD: But you called me.
SINNER: Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven.. . .
THE LORD: There, you did it again.
SINNER: Did what?
THE LORD: Called me. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven. . . " Here I am. What's on your mind?
SINNER: But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting my duty done.
THE LORD: All right. Go on.
SINNER: Hallowed be thy name.
THE LORD: Hold it. What do you mean by that?
SINNER: By what?
THE LORD: By "Hallowed be thy name."
SINNER: It means....it means....good grief, I don't know what it means. How should I know? It's just part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
THE LORD: It means "honored," "Holy," "Wonderful."
SINNER: Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what "Hallowed" meant before. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Do you really mean that?
SINNER: Sure, why not?
THE LORD: What are you going to do about it?
SINNER: Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would be neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there.
THE LORD: Have I got control of you?
SINNER: Well, I go to church.
THE LORD: That isn't what I asked you. What about that habit of lust you have? And your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money......all on yourself. And what about the kinds of books you read?
SINNER: Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those phonies at the church.
THE LORD: Excuse me....I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you, for example.
SINNER: Oh, all right! I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
THE LORD: So could I.
SINNER: I haven't thought about it until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I'd like to, you know, be really free.
THE LORD: Good, now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together....you and I some victories can truly be won. I'm proud of you.
SINNER: Look Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does....Give us this day our daily bread.
THE LORD: You need to cut down on the bread too...You're overweight as it is.
SINNER: Hey, wait a minute! What is this, "Criticize Me Day?" Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups. Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed you know.
THE LORD: That's what I'm trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep on praying. I'm interested in the next part of your prayer.....Well, go on.
SINNER: I'm scared to.
THE LORD: Scared? Of what?
SINNER: I know what you'll say.
THE LORD: Try me and see.
SINNER: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
THE LORD: What about John?
SINNER: See I knew it! I knew you would bring him up! Why he's told lies about me, cheated me out of money... He never paid back that debt he owes me. I've sworn to get even.
THE LORD: But your prayer......What about your prayer?
SINNER: I didn't mean it.
THE LORD: Well, at least you're honest. But it's not much fun carrying the load of bitterness around inside is it?
SINNER: No, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I made some plans for ol' John! He'll wish he never did me any harm.
THE LORD: You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy you are already. But I can change all that.
SINNER: You can? How?
THE LORD: Forgive John. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be John's problem and not yours...You may lose the money, but you will settled your heart.
SINNER: But Lord, I can't forgive John.
THE LORD: Then I can't forgive you.
SINNER: Oh, you're right! You always are. And more than I want revenge on John, I want to be right with you...............All right! I forgive him. Help him to find the right road in life, Lord. He's bound to be awfully miserable, now that I think about it. Some way, some how, show him the right way.
THE LORD: There now! How do you feel? SINNER: Hmmm....not bad. Not bad at all, In fact I feel pretty great. You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can't remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest.
THE LORD: You're not through with your prayer.....Go on.
SINNER: Oh, alright.....And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
THE LORD: Good...good. I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.
SINNER: What do you mean by that?
THE LORD: Quit hanging around the wrong places, watching inappropriate movies and television, listening to sinful conversations; hanging around the places where Playboy and Playgirl are sold. Change some of your friendships. Some of your so-called friends are beginning to get to you. They'll have you completely involved in wrong things before long, Don't be fooled. They advertise they're having fun, but for you it would be ruin. Don't use me for an escape hatch.
SINNER: I don't understand.
THE LORD: Sure you do, You've done it .....lots of times. You get caught in a bad situation, you get into trouble and then you come running to me. "Lord, help me out of this mess, and I promise you I'll never do it again." You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?
SINNER: Yes, and I'm ashamed Lord. I really am.
THE LORD: Which bargains are you remembering?
SINNER: Well, when the woman next door saw me backing away from the neighborhood bar....I'd told my wife I was going to the store....I remember telling you, "Lord don't let her tell my wife where I've been. I promise I'll be in church every Sunday."
THE LORD: She didn't tell your wife, but you didn't keep your promise, did you?
SINNER: I'm sorry Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought if I just prayed the Lord's prayer everyday, then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything to happen like it did.
THE LORD: Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
SINNER: Oh yes....For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever and forever. Amen.
THE LORD: Do you know what would bring me glory? What would make me really happy?
SINNER: No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you. I can see what a mess I've made out of my life, and I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers.
THE LORD: You just answered the question.
SINNER: I did?
THE LORD: Yes, the one thing that would being me glory is to have people like you truly love me. And I can see that happening between us.Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way....well, There's no telling what we can do together.
SINNER: Lord, let's see what we can make of me, OK?
THE LORD: Yes, let's see......
Live one day at a time!
