The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "A Man is Known by the Company He Keeps" (without using the actual phrase). (01/31/08)
The Oasis


Frank Somers slapped the coffee table with his newspaper. "What's the world coming to!"

"What?" Frank's wife looked up from her knitting.

"I thought I spoke my piece at council meeting last week. Nobody disagreed with me, then. Now this." He handed the paper to Nancy. "See here, our pastor’s face right next to this fellow re-opening the Sinbad. He's sure managed to pull the wool over pastor's eyes. He showed up at council, asking for our support for his venture. Seems he wants this middle-eastern restaurant to be some sort of 'mission outpost.' What a joke. That part of town is the pits. And, the character who lost his lease at the Sinbad had all these unreadable quotes painted on the walls. Who knows what they mean, but I'm sure it's not good. Could be terrorist propaganda, for all we know."

"Hmmm." Nancy read, "Says here that the Sinbad is opening under new management. 'Jeremy Hassan, proprietor, invites everyone to come meet our neighbors at a grand opening.' So, what's wrong with that, Frank?"

"What's wrong? Look again at the photos. Some neighbors. Those skimpy skirt women are obviously looking for business.…"

"Frank! You don't know that."

"It's obvious. And you can be sure those kids don't know who their father is, either. That whole street is just crawling with dopers, illegals, pagans of every stripe. Look at those bigger-than-life size Buddhas in the window next door. The whole street is like that. It's like a mini-UN, as ungodly a place as anything you'll find anywhere in the world."

"You said this Jeremy pulled the wool over pastor's eyes. How do you mean?"

"Well, he wants us to 'work with' this riff-raff. ‘Come to the open house. Visit with the neighborhood,’ like we have anything in common with these heathen. He wants us to invite them into our homes, our church. Can you believe it? Talk about apostasy, the world in the church. They'll contaminate everything we've worked for. What's happening to the church, anyway! If even our pastor can be so deceived as to be duped into this folly, well I'm ready to pull our membership. My mother would turn over in her grave to see what the church is coming to. She always told my sisters and me to 'keep your skirts clean,' and we had a pretty good idea what she meant."

"Frank, what about the 'great commission'?"

"What about it? We support missions."

"Do we?" Nancy handed the newspaper back to her husband and resumed knitting.

"Of course! We have a big budget dedicated to missions. What are you driving at...you don't actually think we have to rub shoulders with these...these...losers, do you? You want to make friends with them? Nancy!"

Nancy looked at Frank over the top of her glasses, but she said nothing.

"Oh, I suppose you're going to remind me that Jesus ate and drank with sinners...Nancy! Are you calling me a Pharisee?"

Nancy continued her knitting.
-------

In the wilderness of this world, the church of the firstborn operates an oasis. The Prince of Peace established this haven and furnishes the living water that turns this part of the desert into an outpost of Heaven. All weary travelers are welcome. The firstborn even follow their Master out into the heat, the night, the storms to find those who have fallen by the wayside and bring them in. No one is ever turned away.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1484 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Joanne Sher 
02/08/08
Much to ponder here - you portrayed the thinking of some VERY well. I enjoyed this read.
Lynda Schultz 
02/12/08
The "fortress mentality" is death to the church. Excellent reminder of an important truth.
Joanney Uthe 
02/12/08
I loved the Nancy's silent shout of her opinion of her husband's stand. Great, well-written reminder that WE are commanded to do the Great Commission.
william price
02/12/08
I loved Nancy in this one. Great character and she delivered one of the best lines this week without saying a word. Great job. I also liked the commentary the title provided for the piece.
God bless!!!!!
william price
02/15/08
Congrats, Edy, for writing one of my favorite stories of the week and creating the best unspoken line. Masterful. You should be proud. Praise the Lord. God bless.
Mary Hackett
02/19/08
I didn't see this entry earlier. I like the part near the middle where he says his mother always told them to "keep your skirts clean." It brought the image of a Pharisee to my mind immediately and tied in well with the part where he asks her if she thinks he's a Pharisee later. Always let me know when you do a challenge entry!!~I love to read your writings :):):)