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                          JAIL BREAK!
                              by Linda Edwards



          "What's that noise I hear?"

          "What noise?"

          "THAT noise! Don't you hear it? It's a strange sound. I
     haven't heard noise like that in a long time."

          "Uh, do you mean that weird humming sound coming from the
     other end of the hall?"

          "Yeah, that's it! I think it sounds like somebody is singing
     down there, but who in their right mind would be singing in a
     place like this?"

          "NOBODY! It's cold. It's dark. It's damp. We don't get
     enough food to eat. And the little bit of food we do get, the
     rats try to snatch right out of our hands. It's awful in here!"

                    "Well, we ARE in jail, remember?"

          "Yes! That's exactly what I mean! Who can find anything
     to sing about in a rotten place like this?"

          "You don't think we are just 'hearing things' do you? Maybe
     we've been in here so long that we think the buzzing of the
     crawling bugs sounds like singing."

          "No, I'm SURE I hear people singing!"

          "Well, why don't you ask the guard when he comes by to check
     the locks. They do that every night, you know. That's the only
     way I even know it's night. It's dark all the time in this
     horrible place."

          "You want ME to ask the guard? I can't ask the guard! The
     last time I tried to ask him anything, he took my pillow. Now I
     have to lay my head on this hard floor."

          "Oh, all right then. I'll ask him. I'm not afraid of him.
     Besides, I don't have a pillow for him to take, and I'm a Roman
     citizen so I know that even if he gets mad, at least he can't
     beat me."

                                  * * *

          "GUARD! HEY GUARD!"

          "Huh? What do you want? HOW DARE you bother me when I'm
     checking locks?!?!"

          "We just wanted to know what that strange sound is. It
     sounds like somebody singing."

          "Yes! It's singing all right! It's those two crazy, new guys
     that came in earlier today. They're driving me crazy. I don't
     understand it at all. Their names are Paul and Silas and they
     call themselves Christians.

          They got beaten and thrown in jail for teaching people about
     that Jewish man named Jesus. All they have to do to get out of
     this place is to quit teaching about Jesus. But, NO - they won't
     do that. They would rather sit in this cold, dark, nasty jail. It
     sure doesn't make any sense to me! That's why I came down to this
     end. All they do down there is sing, sing, sing. Then they pray,
     pray, pray. Then they sing, sing, sing some more. It is
     irritating me and really getting on my nerves. I JUST CAN'T STAND
     IT ANY LONGER!

          HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! Why am I talking to you lousy prisoners?
     I've got work to do. You two are lucky I'm in a good mood today!"

          The guard gruffly went about his business and the prisoners
     were left to wonder about Paul and Silas.

                                  * * *

          The singing continued on, and on, and on. The longer they
     sang, the louder it became. It was already midnight and they were
     still singing. It was becoming quite clear that NO ONE would be
     getting any sleep that night - with, or without a pillow!
     
          SUDDENLY, the prisoners were gripped with fear.

          "WHOA! WHAT WAS THAT?"

          "Did I really feel the ground move?"

          "OH, NO! I think the walls are shaking too!"

          "That's an awfully weird noise I hear, and I'm NOT talking
     about those guys singing down there."

          "Listen to the clinking and the clanking!" I think this
     whole building is going to come down on top of us and we are all
     going to be buried under a pile of rubble."

          "HELP! HELP! SOMEBODY GET US OUT OF HERE!!!"

                                  * * *

          When the earthquake was over, everyone breathed a deep sigh
     of relief and looked around. The walls had not fallen on top of
     them and no one was hurt. The really odd thing was that all the
     chains had fallen off the hands and feet of the prisoners. They
     were free to go, but they all just stood there, looking around in
     astonishment.

          The guard had somehow found a way to sleep through
     the entire ordeal. When he awoke, he was very afraid.
     He saw that the chains were lying on the ground, and he thought
     the prisoners had escaped. He was sure he was in big, big
     trouble.

          Paul saw how fearful the guard was and called out to him.
     "Don't be afraid. Everything is all right. We are all here. No
     one tried to escape."

          The guard looked up in disbelief. They had their chance to
     get out of that dingy, dirty jail, but they didn't leave? He was
     very puzzled about it all.

          He called for someone to get him a light so he could see for
     himself. He counted the prisoners. Sure enough. They were all
     there.

          He was still trembling when he ran over to Paul and Silas.

          "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" he asked.

          They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will
     be saved."

          The guard was so happy! He took Paul and Silas to his very
     own house. He gently cleaned the wounds they had received from
     the beating. Then he gave them good food to eat and a nice
     place to rest.

          The next morning the guard had great news. He told Paul and
     Silas that he had permission to set them free.

                                  * * *

     THINK!

          Why were Paul and Silas thrown in prison?
          Why were they able to sing joyfully in that awful jail?

     REMEMBER:

          Even on the worst days and in the worst situations, you can
     still sing and have joy in your heart.

     A VERSE TO LEARN

          "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live" (Psalms
     104:33).

     LET'S PRAY

           ****************************************************
              Dear Jesus, thank you for being with us in every
               situation. Help us to remember that we can be
             joyful no matter what happens, because we know You
                    love us and care for us very much. 
                           In Jesus' name. Amen.
           ****************************************************

     CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
          Acts 16:16-35

                                  * * *

                               JUST FOR FUN

                      Sing A Song About Paul and Silas
                   Make a Paul and Silas in Prison Craft
                  Color A Picture - Jesus Makes Me Happy

                                  * * *

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                     Copyright © 2006 by Linda Edwards.

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