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: The Writer's Challenge (NOT the FaithWriters Challenge) (06/10/10)
Characters
Pastor Rick
Elizabeth (Pastor Rick’s wife)
Michael (Pastor Rick’s son)


Summary:
Pastor Rick’s family enters TheChristianWriters.com annual writing contest.


(Pastor Rick and Elizabeth are sitting on two comfortable chairs, center stage. A small table is placed between the chairs. Elizabeth is reading one section of a newspaper; Pastor Rick is holding another section of the same newspaper. Both are wearing reading glasses.)

PASTOR RICK
Forget about sports in this town—what a bunch of losers!

ELIZABETH
Rick—

PASTOR RICK
I can’t believe this (shakes his head)…wow…

ELIZABETH
(louder) Rick—

PASTOR RICK
As much as these guys make, and they can’t field a winning team!?!

ELIZABETH
Richard!

PASTOR RICK
I’m sorry, Liz. What did you find in the paper today?

ELIZABETH
I think you should show this to Michael when he comes home.
(hands her section of the newspaper to Rick)

PASTOR RICK
(takes the newspaper) What do you have here? (looks at the newspaper)
I see… I’ll show this to him. Thank you.

ELIZABETH
You’re welcome. Quit reading the Sports section, it just makes you angry.
Here comes Michael now--

(Michael enters, stage left)

ELIZABETH
Hi Michael.

MICHAEL
Hi.

PASTOR RICK
How was your day?

MICHAEL
Same old, same old. Nothin’ new…just tons more homework to do this weekend.
I can’t believe teachers give out so much homework on a Friday. I just can’t believe it.

ELIZABETH
Who does that sound like?

PASTOR RICK
(to Elizabeth) Very funny. (turns to Michael) Your mother found something we know you’ll like. It’s kind of like homework, only it’ll be fun. It’s here in the newspaper.

MICHAEL
Okay dad, but I can’t believe you’re both still reading PAPER newspapers—
that’s so USA YESTERday! (pulls out smartphone) Let me look it up online.

PASTOR RICK
But, it’s right here—

ELIZABETH
Just let him look.

MICHAEL
Almost there (pokes the phone and slides one finger a few times) …got it…

PASTOR RICK
What does it say? Assuming you can read.

MICHAEL
Very funny, dad. I know, “If you can read, thank God for your eyes, then thank a teacher.” Here, I got it!

ELIZABETH
It’s TheChristianWriters.com advertisement.

MICHAEL
Yep. This is it. It’s pretty short and sweet. I’ll just read it:
“TheChristianWriters.com Announces Annual Writing Contest.”
Well, that’s really boring.

PASTOR RICK
(smiles big) Exactly, read on.

MICHAEL
“TheChristianWriters.com annual writing contest will be held during the third quarter with a deadline of September 30. We have realized from analyzing feedback from members that our contest needs a new name. Therefore, this year, the annual writing contest will be to rename our annual writing contest to something less inane.” (Michael laughs) I love that word, inane. “Writers should submit their works online…” then it gives details of where to submit it, and rules. Lots of rules.

PASTOR RICK
So, what do you think?

MICHAEL
Why are there so many rules?

PASTOR RICK
(looks down at the paper in his hands, then back up at Michael) Rules are not as bad as you may think. Rules are like guardrails on the highway of life. If we break the rules, we will get hurt and possibly change our lives forever. (points at the newspaper) For example, if you break these rules, you won’t win the contest.

MICHAEL
(pauses) I…

PASTOR RICK
Got the wheels turning, already?

MICHAEL
Yes, I’m just thinking about the contest right now.

ELIZABETH
We know you’ll come up with something great.

PASTOR RICK
Go pray about it, then the inspiration will come.

MICHAEL
Okay – thanks mom and dad.

(Michael exits, stage right)

ELIZABETH
I think I will enter something myself in the contest. I have an idea in my head.
(opens a drawer in the small table and pulls out a pen and paper)

PASTOR RICK
Oh? Are you going to share?

ELIZABETH
(smiles big) Maybe. (begins to write)

(Michael enters, stage right with smartphone in his hand)

MICHAEL
I’ve got it—I’ve got the winning idea for TheChristianWriters contest!

PASTOR RICK
What do you have?

MICHAEL
(reads in a dramatic fashion from his smartphone)
TheChristianWriters.com Annual Wordsmith Challenge
Pretty good, huh?

ELIZABETH
It’s great (starts giggling) it’s really g-great!

PASTOR RICK AND MICHAEL
What’s so funny?

ELIZABETH
You two. (wipes tears from her eyes) You’re both alike in so many ways, and yet so different.

PASTOR RICK
What do you mean?

ELIZABETH
Here, look. (hands Rick the paper she was writing on) Great minds think alike.

PASTOR RICK
You wrote the same thing as Michael!

(All three laugh together)



+++


Reference: Scriptures from the New Living Translation:

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:1-3


God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8

And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.
2 Timothy 2:5
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 1710 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jeanne E Webster
06/18/10
A nice read and I really liked your way of weaving the writing contest in with Christian family competiveness.

Really upbeat play! Written well and with appropriate scripture. Blessings
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
06/19/10
It was a light-hearted script.I noticed you should capitalize Mom and Dad as you used them as names. I could easily see this on a stage. it would make a fun Sunday School skit.
mick dawson
06/25/10
very creative