We were glad to invite Footstool Players for drama presentation at Penang Adventist Hospital. This year, they bring SEEDS to us.
The production is consisted of 8 sketches which were based on biblical account of what Jesus taught in parables, Jesus' miraculous actions, Jesus' comforting et cetera. This is their 10th anniversary production but you may surprise why it is "seeds"? Well, according Colin, the artistic director of the group, they remembered those who shared with them how Footstool Players sketch left an impact in their life over these years. Despite not knowing that whether the God's word is fallen on which kind of soils, they hope that God will grow the "seeds" that they shared to their audience, to fruitfulness in everyone's life.
Sounds touching, right? Ya, in fact some of the audience (includes me) were weeping during the performance was on.
Wanna know how touching the stories go? Read on...
1st Skit: The Seed and The Soils
Biblical source: Matthew 13:3-9
This sketch is humanoid description of the Scripture. As one of the actor played as the seed while the other as the farmer or external factors, Christian may found this familiar with what Jesus told about the seeds which fell into various soils. One eaten by bird, one on the rocky ground, one was chocked by the thorns and the last fruitful one. Some people are easily taught by Words, but which soil are you? =)
2nd Skit: The Big Spender
Biblical source: Matthew 18:21-35
Another variation of Jesus' parable of unmerciful servant in term of the story background. No talents and denarii but dollar. They played a modern version of how Jesus answered Peter about forgiveness. One big spender who owed 10 thousand dollars to a loan shark, was forgiven and all his debt were paid by the loan shark after the big spender begged for forgiveness. While the big spender on his way back home, he met his friend who owed him 5 bucks. Unlike what he has treated when he was with the loan shark, he put his friend in the jail until his friend can pay up the debt. If you have read Matthew chapter 18, you know what happened next, right? Forgiveness, it is always easier to say than done. Remember, we are forgiven by our Father and we will suffer if we choose not to forgive.
3rd Skit: The Tah-Pau Lunch
Biblical source: John 6:1-13
5 loaves and 2 fishes can feed 5000? Well, it is a miracle done by Jesus. A gift to share, even though you think that can be small, but sharing can create impact to others. In this skit, a young refused to bring the lunch box prepared by his mother because he wanna tried take-away lunch on his way to school. He complained that the food was not enough for him but his mum told him about how Jesus fed five thousands people with 5 loaves of barley bread and two fishes. After his mum told him about this miracle, the boy was convinced to bring his lunch box to school and eventually he shared his lunch box with a student who hardly have money to have lunch at school. They became good friends! Guess what, we are actually blessed with what is enough for us and maybe more that we can imagine!
4th Skit: The Cracked Pot
Biblical source: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20
Clay pot is meant to carry water but what is the purpose of cracked pot for it fails its function? This skit may prove you wrong if you think the pot is a failure. Once upon a time, there is one Indian owned 2 clay pots. One was big, strong, firmly build while the other one was small, poorly shaped, cracked. Everyday, the Indian never failed to carry these 2 pots with him whenever he were talking water from a well. Well, one day, the cracked pot began to groan at its owner, saying that it is such a failure compare to its counterpart because everytime the Indian filled it full, only less than half of the water was left, and so it refused to work with its owner. The Indian did not feel upset, instead he brought it along the path they used to walk daily when they are going to take water from the well. The potter demanded the pot to notice around the path as they walk along. The cracked pot was so surprise that there were beautiful flower grew along the path without noticing that the water leaking from its cracked body was watering the flowers all the while! This is the one of the parts where I broke into tears. I recalled my past experience on how terrible I was when sexual abuse, suicidal attempts and irresponsibility flashed back. I was like a cracked pot but God has never fails to use me for His purpose. I am not sure, what I done for the benefit of others, but I was again reminded to fix my eyes on what is unseen for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal...
5th Skit: The Peasant Princess
Biblical source: (Unknown, probably whole bible on how God is always with us)
Prince of Vendread was looking for life partner ever since he reached the age of marriage. One after another princesses from various country came for him but none of them impressed the prince. One day, he decided to dressed like a peasant that no one actually recognized that he was the prince. He met one peasant girl who sold grilled burger. He was attracted by her and so did her at the first sight. Eventually, they fell in love and gone through what a normal couple will do. Having dinner together, chatting over their story under the starry night... At last, when he proposed to her, he disclosed his identity and the girl was shocked! Without any objection from the royal family, the girl was welcomed into royal world. Happily ever after? Not so much after the marriage because the girl was still used to her previous lifestyle as a princess despite she was a "Your Highness" to everyone now. Without acknowledgement of the prince, she secretly picked up her kitchen utensils, started grilling burger and selling them near the castle. The prince knew nothing about this because he was busy with his work everyday. However, when this old habit of "the prince" was reported as local newspaper headline, "the princess" was so afraid that she kept hiding this fact from her husband. When the prince asked her about this, she thought that the prince must be very angry about her for being not doing what a princess should do. Surprisingly, her royal husband answered, "Honey, I am always in love with you no matter what you do...". "You see, the moment I fell in love with you, I did not mention my identity as a prince but I am truly in love with you because of who you are, Honey!" The princess was touched and she promised to slowly learn to be a proper princess who takes up new responsibility and joyfulness. Jesus is like the prince. He loves you not because of what you have done but simply because who you are!
6th Skit: The Dependable Son
Biblical source: Luke 15:11-32
This skit was about the parable of the lost son as in Luke chapter 15. Another play based exactly like biblical text except the background had switched to 21st century where the sons were no longer in farm but school. A father had two sons. One has left his homeland and one remained with their family. The one who stayed with his father fulfill every responsibility and expectation of his family, but he is never happy of what he had achieved. One day, his younger came home and their father was very happy and celebrated his brother's return. He was mad at his father for not showing appreciation on what he has done. Comparing with his younger brother, he felt like he was not appreciated but his father told him this, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. (Luke 15:31-32)". How many times we had fallen into our own world that we are not aware of our blessing and be joyful for who has returned to our big family?
7th Skit: Lay Down Your Burden
Biblical source: John 4:1-42
Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Drink not the water that can quench your thirst but drink living water which will never let you thirst again. If you have read John chapter 4, you will know well about this story. The woman decided to left her heavy burden (the jar) right after she told others about the Messiah and she never took up the heavy burden again. Have you decided to left everything to Him?
8th Skit: God's Chisel
Biblical source: (Unknown, mostly about our faith with God)
Ming, woke up early in the morning and looked at the mirror. After he was done with his brushing, he did daily prayer and surprisingly God (Colin's role character) appeared with hammer and chisel. Ming prayed for God to chisel him into a better person in the way he wanted. A little bit here and there physically so that he could look nicely in front of others. Instead of responding with his demand, God started to chisel Ming by pinning out his weaknesses and sin. As God was pinning deeper into Ming, Ming started to recline from God and asking God why all these were found in him as he was trying hard to keep these from others. He even doubted God care about him despite he had done so many things wrong but then again, God said this, "Ming, you're always my original master piece and no matter what you have done, you're always my original piece of art where I will make good use of you. I am the Creator of universe and do you think I do not know what is happening on you? All you have to do is to ask yourself, do you want Me to chisel you or you choose to follow your sinful desires," At the end of the skit, God asked Ming again, "Do you dare to proclaim to others that you're my original creation, without the fear of rejection or any response that you will or will not anticipate?". Ming, stood there at the edge of the stage with God around him, declared this...as the bar cans which focused on him, slowly dimmed off...
I cried, as I was hearing some weeping sounds at the audience seats...
From time to time, I admit that I was trying to rely on my own to push myself into what I want. But, who do you think God is? He knows me well that He actually ready a path for me ahead and all He wants was just a total submission to Him...
How far I have done? Only He knows.
Thank you, Father for sending Footstool Players to spread about Your words within Malaysia. Father, I pray that You continue to guide and bless them so that they can continue to bring Gospel to those who haven't known about You. Glorifying all these in Your Son Jesus' precious name, Amen.
"The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man." ~ Matthew 13:37
The production is consisted of 8 sketches which were based on biblical account of what Jesus taught in parables, Jesus' miraculous actions, Jesus' comforting et cetera. This is their 10th anniversary production but you may surprise why it is "seeds"? Well, according Colin, the artistic director of the group, they remembered those who shared with them how Footstool Players sketch left an impact in their life over these years. Despite not knowing that whether the God's word is fallen on which kind of soils, they hope that God will grow the "seeds" that they shared to their audience, to fruitfulness in everyone's life.
Sounds touching, right? Ya, in fact some of the audience (includes me) were weeping during the performance was on.
Wanna know how touching the stories go? Read on...
1st Skit: The Seed and The Soils
Biblical source: Matthew 13:3-9
This sketch is humanoid description of the Scripture. As one of the actor played as the seed while the other as the farmer or external factors, Christian may found this familiar with what Jesus told about the seeds which fell into various soils. One eaten by bird, one on the rocky ground, one was chocked by the thorns and the last fruitful one. Some people are easily taught by Words, but which soil are you? =)
2nd Skit: The Big Spender
Biblical source: Matthew 18:21-35
Another variation of Jesus' parable of unmerciful servant in term of the story background. No talents and denarii but dollar. They played a modern version of how Jesus answered Peter about forgiveness. One big spender who owed 10 thousand dollars to a loan shark, was forgiven and all his debt were paid by the loan shark after the big spender begged for forgiveness. While the big spender on his way back home, he met his friend who owed him 5 bucks. Unlike what he has treated when he was with the loan shark, he put his friend in the jail until his friend can pay up the debt. If you have read Matthew chapter 18, you know what happened next, right? Forgiveness, it is always easier to say than done. Remember, we are forgiven by our Father and we will suffer if we choose not to forgive.
3rd Skit: The Tah-Pau Lunch
Biblical source: John 6:1-13
5 loaves and 2 fishes can feed 5000? Well, it is a miracle done by Jesus. A gift to share, even though you think that can be small, but sharing can create impact to others. In this skit, a young refused to bring the lunch box prepared by his mother because he wanna tried take-away lunch on his way to school. He complained that the food was not enough for him but his mum told him about how Jesus fed five thousands people with 5 loaves of barley bread and two fishes. After his mum told him about this miracle, the boy was convinced to bring his lunch box to school and eventually he shared his lunch box with a student who hardly have money to have lunch at school. They became good friends! Guess what, we are actually blessed with what is enough for us and maybe more that we can imagine!
4th Skit: The Cracked Pot
Biblical source: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20
Clay pot is meant to carry water but what is the purpose of cracked pot for it fails its function? This skit may prove you wrong if you think the pot is a failure. Once upon a time, there is one Indian owned 2 clay pots. One was big, strong, firmly build while the other one was small, poorly shaped, cracked. Everyday, the Indian never failed to carry these 2 pots with him whenever he were talking water from a well. Well, one day, the cracked pot began to groan at its owner, saying that it is such a failure compare to its counterpart because everytime the Indian filled it full, only less than half of the water was left, and so it refused to work with its owner. The Indian did not feel upset, instead he brought it along the path they used to walk daily when they are going to take water from the well. The potter demanded the pot to notice around the path as they walk along. The cracked pot was so surprise that there were beautiful flower grew along the path without noticing that the water leaking from its cracked body was watering the flowers all the while! This is the one of the parts where I broke into tears. I recalled my past experience on how terrible I was when sexual abuse, suicidal attempts and irresponsibility flashed back. I was like a cracked pot but God has never fails to use me for His purpose. I am not sure, what I done for the benefit of others, but I was again reminded to fix my eyes on what is unseen for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal...
5th Skit: The Peasant Princess
Biblical source: (Unknown, probably whole bible on how God is always with us)
Prince of Vendread was looking for life partner ever since he reached the age of marriage. One after another princesses from various country came for him but none of them impressed the prince. One day, he decided to dressed like a peasant that no one actually recognized that he was the prince. He met one peasant girl who sold grilled burger. He was attracted by her and so did her at the first sight. Eventually, they fell in love and gone through what a normal couple will do. Having dinner together, chatting over their story under the starry night... At last, when he proposed to her, he disclosed his identity and the girl was shocked! Without any objection from the royal family, the girl was welcomed into royal world. Happily ever after? Not so much after the marriage because the girl was still used to her previous lifestyle as a princess despite she was a "Your Highness" to everyone now. Without acknowledgement of the prince, she secretly picked up her kitchen utensils, started grilling burger and selling them near the castle. The prince knew nothing about this because he was busy with his work everyday. However, when this old habit of "the prince" was reported as local newspaper headline, "the princess" was so afraid that she kept hiding this fact from her husband. When the prince asked her about this, she thought that the prince must be very angry about her for being not doing what a princess should do. Surprisingly, her royal husband answered, "Honey, I am always in love with you no matter what you do...". "You see, the moment I fell in love with you, I did not mention my identity as a prince but I am truly in love with you because of who you are, Honey!" The princess was touched and she promised to slowly learn to be a proper princess who takes up new responsibility and joyfulness. Jesus is like the prince. He loves you not because of what you have done but simply because who you are!
6th Skit: The Dependable Son
Biblical source: Luke 15:11-32
This skit was about the parable of the lost son as in Luke chapter 15. Another play based exactly like biblical text except the background had switched to 21st century where the sons were no longer in farm but school. A father had two sons. One has left his homeland and one remained with their family. The one who stayed with his father fulfill every responsibility and expectation of his family, but he is never happy of what he had achieved. One day, his younger came home and their father was very happy and celebrated his brother's return. He was mad at his father for not showing appreciation on what he has done. Comparing with his younger brother, he felt like he was not appreciated but his father told him this, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. (Luke 15:31-32)". How many times we had fallen into our own world that we are not aware of our blessing and be joyful for who has returned to our big family?
7th Skit: Lay Down Your Burden
Biblical source: John 4:1-42
Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Drink not the water that can quench your thirst but drink living water which will never let you thirst again. If you have read John chapter 4, you will know well about this story. The woman decided to left her heavy burden (the jar) right after she told others about the Messiah and she never took up the heavy burden again. Have you decided to left everything to Him?
8th Skit: God's Chisel
Biblical source: (Unknown, mostly about our faith with God)
Ming, woke up early in the morning and looked at the mirror. After he was done with his brushing, he did daily prayer and surprisingly God (Colin's role character) appeared with hammer and chisel. Ming prayed for God to chisel him into a better person in the way he wanted. A little bit here and there physically so that he could look nicely in front of others. Instead of responding with his demand, God started to chisel Ming by pinning out his weaknesses and sin. As God was pinning deeper into Ming, Ming started to recline from God and asking God why all these were found in him as he was trying hard to keep these from others. He even doubted God care about him despite he had done so many things wrong but then again, God said this, "Ming, you're always my original master piece and no matter what you have done, you're always my original piece of art where I will make good use of you. I am the Creator of universe and do you think I do not know what is happening on you? All you have to do is to ask yourself, do you want Me to chisel you or you choose to follow your sinful desires," At the end of the skit, God asked Ming again, "Do you dare to proclaim to others that you're my original creation, without the fear of rejection or any response that you will or will not anticipate?". Ming, stood there at the edge of the stage with God around him, declared this...as the bar cans which focused on him, slowly dimmed off...
I cried, as I was hearing some weeping sounds at the audience seats...
From time to time, I admit that I was trying to rely on my own to push myself into what I want. But, who do you think God is? He knows me well that He actually ready a path for me ahead and all He wants was just a total submission to Him...
How far I have done? Only He knows.
Thank you, Father for sending Footstool Players to spread about Your words within Malaysia. Father, I pray that You continue to guide and bless them so that they can continue to bring Gospel to those who haven't known about You. Glorifying all these in Your Son Jesus' precious name, Amen.
"The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man." ~ Matthew 13:37
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