Playtime for Truth

By Angel dela Pena and John Stephens

Playtime for Truth is intended to amuse, entertain and occasionally to challenge some of the values we hold in life, including our relationship with God and with those around us. A sense or perspective, and a sense of humour, are very desirable. A balanced life is for living.

Christians have a certain hope for better times ahead, whatever our present condition. Hopefully this book will strike an emotional chord with the reader, in good times or in bad.

The ability to stand back, sometimes to have a good laugh at ourselves, may well help to relieve tension, and even our blood pressure!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jul 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483672236

Angel dela Pena

I am mum to four children, ages 18, 13, 11 and 4. Recently I helped set up a WALKING BUS scheme to address the problem of traffic congestion at the school gate and encourage children to walk to school.  Parents park away from the school at set meeting points, and a group of parents would walk the children to school from there. At the time of starting this scheme, I had just got my little dog – BARNEY, a black and tan Yorkshire Terrier. He became the star of the bus and would lead the way to school.

Book preview

Balaam’s Bit of Bother

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(straight from the donkey’s mouth)

Numbers 22:21 >

I had set off on a journey,

with this geyser on me back,

like I must have done a hundred times before.

Well, we’d passed between the palm trees,

Not gone a mile or more,

When me eyes saw something scary on the track.

I thought the boss had seen it,

for this couldn’t be ignored,

that he’d stop me, turn around, or run away;

for it seemed that we’d be done for,

‘cos standing in our way

stood an angel with a great big flaming sword.

Now, I ain’t nobody’s hero,

in common sense I take some pride,

so I smartly turned aside and wouldn’t budge;

but the boss, he didn’t like it,

and it seemed he had some grudge

‘cos he took a great big stick and beat me hide.

We were passing through this vineyard,

with scarce any room at all,

there simply was no way to pass on by;

I was thinking, can’t you see it

when he gave an angry cry,

for it seemed I’d crushed his foot against the wall.

I could tell he wasn’t grateful,

that I’d saved his precious neck,      

             for a belting from that stick was all he gave;

yet again we moved on further—                                          was he stupid, daft or brave? -

for that sword could make his features quite a wreck!

There was only one thing for it,

simply was no other choice,

I’d just had enough and lay down on the ground;

so he beat me even harder,

until all at once I found

I could speak - I had a brand-new human voice!

I protested to him strongly,

"This ain’t fair, it just ain’t right;

What’s all this, why are you treating me this way?"

But he hadn’t even noticed

I used words, no donkey bray;

for in answer he just hit with all his might.

You made me look a fool, he said,

had I a sword I’d run you through,

but at once another miracle occurred;

where before he’d seen no danger,

now the angel’s voice he heard,

so his eyes and ears were opened; now he knew!

"If your donkey hadn’t seen me,

      I’d have killed you there and then,

             But you’re lucky that he saved your precious skin:

Can’t you see the Lord is angry      

that his orders you ignored,

you prepared to bring down curses on his men?"

By this time he was prostrate,

lying face down on the ground,

Pray, forgive me, Lord, I’ll only do your will;

he was trembling, he was frightened,

he was looking downright ill,

but obedience, don’t you know, he’d surely found!

Now, don’t ignore the Lord’s command,

my advice is crystal clear:

If you decide to go your way,

best seek a donkey’s ear!

Beyond the World

Beyond this world in which we live

Lies another of infinite peace.

Where God has promised we will return,

Where all pain and sufferings cease.

For God will fulfill His promises,

And when our time on earth is due

He’ll gently call us home to His side,

For our body and soul to renew.

Then no more tears, or worries or fears,

Not known where our new future lies;

With angelic voices we’ll sing of His praise.

For it’s only our body that dies.

Do Angels come in Lorries?

a true story

The car coughed, jerked a little, and stopped near a roundabout. No amount of effort could get it going again. John and Audrey, the elderly couple inside, looked at each other in deepening dismay as their situation began to sink in. What to do next? They had no mobile phone.

It was a black, stormy Sunday evening in winter, the rain seeming to be horizontal and lashing heavily on to the car’s windscreen faster than the wiper could cope. It was a quiet country road, with no other traffic on the roads.

At virtually the moment the car stopped, so did the rain, but that was only a small comfort to the couple inside the vehicle They were returning from a visit to friends in the countryside. A quick check on the fuel gauge showed that the tank was empty, stuck firmly on zero. The car was a hired one and clearly they had misread the reading when they took it over. They switched on the flashing emergency lights and paused to think what to do next. They had not seen a vehicle of any sort for miles, there just was no