Page of 5 A s Theater Adapted by Bonnie Walker The mighty work of Calvary should not become an old forgotten story. Let us worship our majestic God. This reading is designed to remind us that God is our Father, our Judge and our Advocate. Participants: s,, ; Seekers,, Staging: s,, and stand together in front to the side, facing the audience. Seekers,, and stand together in front on the other side, facing the audience. Groups should be turned slightly towards each other. The circuit riding judges used to ride across the land with a rifle on their saddle and a lawyer right on hand. Just a minute now, to have a trial there must be an accusation and... announcement that the court will convene. Right! They must have a hearing with evidence and then the judge and jury decide. Seekers,, GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY! Morris Venden tells a story many stories... This one has an Old West Flavor There are two parts...
Page of 5 Seekers,, THE WAY IT WAS, PART The circuit riding judges used to ride across the land with a rifle on their saddles and a lawyer right on hand David Davis of Bloomingdale... eighth Illinois circuit judge was about to arrive in Mill Creek in the spring of 845. Who was that long legged lawyer Is it Abe Lincoln? Davis and Abe! Justice will be dealt... and stories, too. This will be exciting... it has been six months since last court session at old Mill Creek. Old Thomas Jacobs is said to have set fire to the blacksmith s shop. Henry Whitney shot Ebenezer Bates in cold blood! They ll be SURE to look after Jessie Adams. Glad he didn t get away with poling a gun in that teller s face! Yes! And Silas Foster s been accused of stealing pigs... Seekers,, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE! The court convenes The whole town is out. The books are open Abe just has a way of bringing truth to light.
Page of 5 The court has heard the evidence is given the judge and jury decide Judge Davis finds some guilty and some innocent. The last day there was a hanging... Henry Whitney was found guilty of murder and the company moved on another town... another case. Back up start over, please! Are you with me? This time, the story is,, THE WAY IT WASN T The circuit riding judges used to ride across the land with a rifle on their saddles and lawyer right on hand. David Davis of Bloomingdale... eighth Illinois circuit judge was about to arrive in Mill Creek It was the spring of 845. Six months since the last court... There was Abe Lincoln, too... best lawyer and story teller. Good combination. Old Thomas Jacobs suspected of setting fire to the blacksmith s shop. A cold blooded shooting of Ebenezer Bates by Henry Whitney. Jesse Adams in jail for bank robbery. Silas Foster... stealing pigs...
Page 4 of 5 Seekers,, The court convenes! Judge Davis bangs his gavel... Thomas Jacobs, not guilty! Silas Foster, not guilty! Henry Whitney guilty as charged! to be hung at sunrise. Jesse Adams not guilty. Seekers,, You can t do that! No fair trial Not proven guilty! How does the judge know Who s guilty? But WE don t have the evidence! The judge can be trusted. We need to know the REASONS for the judge s decisions! The last morning the judge was in town there was a hanging... It was the judge who was hung! Seekers,, COURT IS CLOSED Don t you people trust the judge? He has kept tabs... He has careful records... He doesn t make mistakes!,, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE! SO MUCH FOR THE JUDGE! So who needed that investigative judgment? Those who were on trial needed it. The prosecution needed it. The whole town needed it. And in the end even the judge needed it!
Page 5 of 5 Seekers,, LET S SEE - HOW DOES THIS ALL WORK? How does this fit the judgment? The cross justifies... it justifies God for forgiving ANYONE! The investigative judgment justifies... It justifies God for forgiving the ones who GET forgiven. The 000 year judgement justifies... It justifies God for NOT forgiving the ones who DON T get forgiven. Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved!,, TO THE END! Amen. Courtesy of: Morris Venden