If you look outside, you'll probably notice that the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors. Their morphing from shades of green to shades of red, orange, and yellow, just like a caterpillar in it's chrysalis. An interesting thought that I had never considered was pointed out to me earlier today, though; the leaves are nothing like the caterpillars in their chrysalis's', and for more than just the obvious reasons. While a caterpillar is changing into it's next stage in life, the leaves aren't. The leaves are only so beautiful because they're dying.
That's kind of how it is with us as humans. Now, when I say this, I don't mean literally. Most of us don't look very fabulous when we're dying--at least, not when we're physically dying. I'm not talking physically, though; I'm talking spiritually.
As a Christian, I have two "selfs" in me. I have my "old self" (which is the side of me that does all of the bad things) and I have my "new self" (the "self" that has been redeemed by Jesus Christ and isn't really me anymore, because me by myself is just the old self). These two "selfs" are at war with each other, always trying to get my attention. The old self wants me to go back to my sinful ways, but my new self wants me to follow God's Word. What am I to do?
To put it bluntly: Part of me has to die. Again, I'm not speaking in a physical sense, I'm speaking in a spiritual sense. I have to do something about that old self, and that "something" is to get rid of it. I have to "die" to the world, which means that I can't be doing all of the evil and wrong things that the world around me is doing; I have to be "transformed by the renewing of my mind". I have to put good things in to get good things out; I can't just be filling my brain up with all of the junk that the world is throwing at me.
To really change and be a beautiful person on the inside, I have to fill myself up with God. I have to cling to what His Word says. I have to trust Him and have faith in Him. I have to stop listening to the world and start listening to Him.
That doesn't mean that I can't have friends that aren't Christians or I can't associate with people who don't know Jesus Christ as their savior. It just means that I can't be like them. I have to stand out. I have to be different.
I have to be "beautiful."
Just like the leaves that die and become beautiful, my sinful self has to die so that I can become truly beautiful from the inside out.
Just think about how lovely our world would be if everyone did that.
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter is not just about the candy, people
Maggie looked around in awe. She didn't think it would actually work, but it had. "Jon? Stephanie? Hannah?" she called out, trying to see through the crowd. No one answered, and that fact troubled her. She took a deep breath and took in her surroundings a bit more. She was on a busy road with people and animals all around her. The air smelled like a farm with too many people working on it mixed with a sweet smell she couldn't identify. Upon further inspection, she realized she was in an outdoor market of sorts.
"Out of the way, child!" a woman yelled, pushing Maggie towards a stand with some sort of pastry being sold on it. It was then that Maggie realized she was hardly dressed for the time and place she was at. She was wearing her t-shirt, shorts, and Crocs, while everyone here wore a long coat over what she thought to be a very boring dress. She knew where she was, she just hadn't expected to be there.
"Baklava, child?" a voice asked her from behind. Maggie turned around to look and realized the speaker was a rather round man with a beard and hair that shrouded his whole face. Maggie glanced down at the pastry he was holding out to her and shook her head.
"No, thank you," she said softly. She began moving down the street, keeping an eye out for her friends. Eventually, she walked far enough to come to a quieter part of the city. She stopped and sighed, thinking about how hot and thirsty she was here. There were trees here and there, but mostly the surroundings consisted of brick houses (and not the type of brick she was accustomed to) and sand.
"So, this is Israel, huh?" Maggie murmured to herself, looking around again. Suddenly, two women came running down the road towards her. Following them a little ways was a young girl...wearing a pink tank-top and shorts. "Hannah!" Maggie yelled, running past the two woman and up to Hannah.
"Maggie, I just saw the COOLEST thing EVER!!" Hannah exclaimed. She was easily excited, so Maggie didn't think whatever it was could possibly be that spectacular.
"Yeah, what was that?" Maggie asked as the two continued walking in the direction Hannah had been running.
"An angel! A real, live angel!" Hannah exclaimed and Maggie stopped right in the middle of the road.
"What?" she asked, unable to comprehend this piece of information.
"I was just at the tomb, and the stone was all rolled away, and there was an angel there that told the women to go and tell the disciples that He's risen, just like He said!" Hannah was practically bouncing with excitement, now. "We have to keep going, come on!" Maggie began running along side her friend, wishing she had been there to see such a thing.
"Hey, have you seen Jon or Stephanie?" Maggie asked, panting, as they turned a corner.
"Stephanie stayed behind with the other Mary, but I haven't seen Jon." Hannah replied quickly. They caught sight of the two women just as they entered one of the many stone buildings. They ran up to one of the windows and crouched outside of it.
"The stone was rolled away, and an angel was there, telling us that He's risen!" one of the women said.
"What?" the voice of a man asked in disbelief.
"I saw it too, I did!" the other woman exclaimed. There was the sound of people and things moving around before the door burst open again. A man ran out and down the street where the women had just come from, followed shortly by another man, who was followed by a boy in shorts and a t-shirt.
"Jon!" Maggie gasped. "Come on!" she said, chasing after them. She and Hannah followed the two men until they came to a stop in front of a cave with an enormous stone next to it. Jon stood behind the two men, staring up at the tomb. Maggie couldn't help but stare as well. Hannah bent down to the ground and picked up a small rock. She threw the rock at Jon's back, hitting him.
"Ow!" the two girls heard him say as he spun around. Jon saw Maggie and Hannah and ran over to them without the men noticing. They were going into the tomb, anyways.
"I wondered where you two were..." Jon said, frowning at them.
"I was thinking the same thing, big brother." Maggie said with a smile. "Now all we need to find is-"
"Psst!" the three kids turned to see another girl standing behind a tree a ways away. Their faces lit up as they dashed towards her.
"Stephanie!" Hannah said, hugging her older sister.
"Yeah, nice to see you too," Stephanie said, untangling herself from the hug. "You are not going to believe what I saw!"
"An angel?" Maggie asked.
"Who said Jesus had risen from the dead?" Jon finished. Stephanie's happy expression faded for a moment.
"Guess what else I saw..." she said, lowering her voice. The three other kids leaned in a little closer. "I saw Him! Jesus!" she whispered excitedly.
"No. Way." Hannah said, her eyes widening. Stephanie nodded so hard it looked like her head just might fall off of her shoulders.
"He is risen..." Jon breathed. Maggie's mind spun. She wanted to see the angel, the look on the disciple's faces when they heard the news, but most of all...she wanted to see Jesus. Instead, she had been saying no to baklava, whatever that was... She blinked her eyes a few times to hold back the tears she suddenly felt there.
"Are you okay, Maggie?" Hannah asked. Maggie nodded quickly, looking away. The two men were now exiting the tomb and running back to the city from where they had come.
"Should we go back with them?" Jon asked.
"I guess so," Stephanie said in reply. The group began following after the two men, but Maggie lagged behind. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffed. Why did she always miss the exciting things?
"Worry not, child," Maggie heard a voice behind her for the second time today and wondered if she was about to be offered more baklava. "You are blessed, because even though you do not see me, you still believe I am here." Maggie's eyes widened and she spun around. No one was there. She glanced down and saw, on the ground, a square of baklava sitting on a small piece of paper. She picked up the two things and put the paper in her pocket, then proceeded to put the baklava in her mouth. As she began tracing the footsteps of her friends, she decided she liked baklava...
And she most certainly liked finding out that He had, indeed, risen from the grave.
"Out of the way, child!" a woman yelled, pushing Maggie towards a stand with some sort of pastry being sold on it. It was then that Maggie realized she was hardly dressed for the time and place she was at. She was wearing her t-shirt, shorts, and Crocs, while everyone here wore a long coat over what she thought to be a very boring dress. She knew where she was, she just hadn't expected to be there.
"Baklava, child?" a voice asked her from behind. Maggie turned around to look and realized the speaker was a rather round man with a beard and hair that shrouded his whole face. Maggie glanced down at the pastry he was holding out to her and shook her head.
"No, thank you," she said softly. She began moving down the street, keeping an eye out for her friends. Eventually, she walked far enough to come to a quieter part of the city. She stopped and sighed, thinking about how hot and thirsty she was here. There were trees here and there, but mostly the surroundings consisted of brick houses (and not the type of brick she was accustomed to) and sand.
"So, this is Israel, huh?" Maggie murmured to herself, looking around again. Suddenly, two women came running down the road towards her. Following them a little ways was a young girl...wearing a pink tank-top and shorts. "Hannah!" Maggie yelled, running past the two woman and up to Hannah.
"Maggie, I just saw the COOLEST thing EVER!!" Hannah exclaimed. She was easily excited, so Maggie didn't think whatever it was could possibly be that spectacular.
"Yeah, what was that?" Maggie asked as the two continued walking in the direction Hannah had been running.
"An angel! A real, live angel!" Hannah exclaimed and Maggie stopped right in the middle of the road.
"What?" she asked, unable to comprehend this piece of information.
"I was just at the tomb, and the stone was all rolled away, and there was an angel there that told the women to go and tell the disciples that He's risen, just like He said!" Hannah was practically bouncing with excitement, now. "We have to keep going, come on!" Maggie began running along side her friend, wishing she had been there to see such a thing.
"Hey, have you seen Jon or Stephanie?" Maggie asked, panting, as they turned a corner.
"Stephanie stayed behind with the other Mary, but I haven't seen Jon." Hannah replied quickly. They caught sight of the two women just as they entered one of the many stone buildings. They ran up to one of the windows and crouched outside of it.
"The stone was rolled away, and an angel was there, telling us that He's risen!" one of the women said.
"What?" the voice of a man asked in disbelief.
"I saw it too, I did!" the other woman exclaimed. There was the sound of people and things moving around before the door burst open again. A man ran out and down the street where the women had just come from, followed shortly by another man, who was followed by a boy in shorts and a t-shirt.
"Jon!" Maggie gasped. "Come on!" she said, chasing after them. She and Hannah followed the two men until they came to a stop in front of a cave with an enormous stone next to it. Jon stood behind the two men, staring up at the tomb. Maggie couldn't help but stare as well. Hannah bent down to the ground and picked up a small rock. She threw the rock at Jon's back, hitting him.
"Ow!" the two girls heard him say as he spun around. Jon saw Maggie and Hannah and ran over to them without the men noticing. They were going into the tomb, anyways.
"I wondered where you two were..." Jon said, frowning at them.
"I was thinking the same thing, big brother." Maggie said with a smile. "Now all we need to find is-"
"Psst!" the three kids turned to see another girl standing behind a tree a ways away. Their faces lit up as they dashed towards her.
"Stephanie!" Hannah said, hugging her older sister.
"Yeah, nice to see you too," Stephanie said, untangling herself from the hug. "You are not going to believe what I saw!"
"An angel?" Maggie asked.
"Who said Jesus had risen from the dead?" Jon finished. Stephanie's happy expression faded for a moment.
"Guess what else I saw..." she said, lowering her voice. The three other kids leaned in a little closer. "I saw Him! Jesus!" she whispered excitedly.
"No. Way." Hannah said, her eyes widening. Stephanie nodded so hard it looked like her head just might fall off of her shoulders.
"He is risen..." Jon breathed. Maggie's mind spun. She wanted to see the angel, the look on the disciple's faces when they heard the news, but most of all...she wanted to see Jesus. Instead, she had been saying no to baklava, whatever that was... She blinked her eyes a few times to hold back the tears she suddenly felt there.
"Are you okay, Maggie?" Hannah asked. Maggie nodded quickly, looking away. The two men were now exiting the tomb and running back to the city from where they had come.
"Should we go back with them?" Jon asked.
"I guess so," Stephanie said in reply. The group began following after the two men, but Maggie lagged behind. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffed. Why did she always miss the exciting things?
"Worry not, child," Maggie heard a voice behind her for the second time today and wondered if she was about to be offered more baklava. "You are blessed, because even though you do not see me, you still believe I am here." Maggie's eyes widened and she spun around. No one was there. She glanced down and saw, on the ground, a square of baklava sitting on a small piece of paper. She picked up the two things and put the paper in her pocket, then proceeded to put the baklava in her mouth. As she began tracing the footsteps of her friends, she decided she liked baklava...
And she most certainly liked finding out that He had, indeed, risen from the grave.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter, Peeps!
Little bit of punny humor, there. :P Well, happy Easter to you, my blog readers. :D I've had an awesome Easter. First, we came down stairs and found our Easter baskets, which my baby brother loved because his had Play-Dough in it. :P I liked mine because it had BOLT in it. My other brother got a small sketchpad and blue jeans. Very practical. :P
Next, we went to church and we kids did a program telling the story about Jesus coming to Earth to save us all from our sins and death. (Also, one of the guys in our church recited like, 100 and some verses from the book of Luke about the death and resurrection of Christ. He did it very well.) The program was really good. :)
Then we came home and ate lunch and died Easter eggs and watched BOLT! Which I love.
But even through all the festivities, we must remember the true reason for the season: Jesus dying on the cross to save us from our sins, then rising again on the third day and conquering over the grave! So, I will now wish you all a happy Easter, and hope you remember and are thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made.
Next, we went to church and we kids did a program telling the story about Jesus coming to Earth to save us all from our sins and death. (Also, one of the guys in our church recited like, 100 and some verses from the book of Luke about the death and resurrection of Christ. He did it very well.) The program was really good. :)
Then we came home and ate lunch and died Easter eggs and watched BOLT! Which I love.
But even through all the festivities, we must remember the true reason for the season: Jesus dying on the cross to save us from our sins, then rising again on the third day and conquering over the grave! So, I will now wish you all a happy Easter, and hope you remember and are thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
We're at war (preachy post)
With the Devil. This morning in Sunday school, we were talking about how the Devil will give us some big evil to focus on, while he sneaks up from the side and attacks us, knocking us off guard. We also talked about how the Devil masquerades as different people to lead us astray. He'll even disguise himself as a pastor or some religious leader to lead people astray! So, we have to be careful. It's easier for the Devil to sell us something when there's truth intertwined in it, then just to tell us a story that's all lies. If there's truth in it, we're more likely to believe it. So be careful guys, and be sure you know what you believe in is true.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Warning: Preachy Post
This is some of the notes that I've taken at chapel at camp and at church from the past few weeks. I thought they were cool, so I wanted to post them. (I'll also post the verses)
2 Truths regarding my spiritual development (1 John 2:12-17)
1. I must realize realize that spiritual maturity is a process that is strengthened by God's Word.
(2:12-14) 12. I write to you, dear children, ("children" means all believers)
because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.
13. I write to you, fathers, ("fathers" means the spiritually mature)
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children,
because you have known the Father.
14. I write to you, fathers,
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
What areas do I wish to improve?
Worship
Fellowship
Discipleship
Ministry
Outreach
2. I must realize that I have a strong opponent that can hinder my spiritual growth. (2:15-17)
15. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 17. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Dealing with obstacles
1. Identify the issues
2. Recognize it doesn't help me love God better
3. Find out what God's Word says.
3 reasons why we need Jesus Christ in our lives to be useful. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 26. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29. so that no one may boast before Him. 30. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.")
1. Because most of us are foolish and not wise. (Proverbs 14:16, A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. 15:5, A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. 17:10, A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool. 18:2, a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. 26:11, As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.)
2. Because most of us are weak and not strong. (Strong or weak in spirit, not muscle.)
3. Because most of us are common, not noble.
3 lies I can easily believe about my sin. (1John 1:6-2:2
1. Sin doesn't affect my relationship with God and others. (1:6-7, 6. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.)
2. Sin doesn't exist in my nature. (1:8-9, 8. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.)
3. Sin doesn't exist in my conduct. (1:10-2:2, 10. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 2:1. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But it anybody does sin, we have one who speaks for the Father in out defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.) ("Confess" means "say the same thing"; If God says it's wrong, I say it's wrong.)
This post is already really long, so I'll post the rest later.
2 Truths regarding my spiritual development (1 John 2:12-17)
1. I must realize realize that spiritual maturity is a process that is strengthened by God's Word.
(2:12-14) 12. I write to you, dear children, ("children" means all believers)
because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.
13. I write to you, fathers, ("fathers" means the spiritually mature)
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children,
because you have known the Father.
14. I write to you, fathers,
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
What areas do I wish to improve?
Worship
Fellowship
Discipleship
Ministry
Outreach
2. I must realize that I have a strong opponent that can hinder my spiritual growth. (2:15-17)
15. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 17. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Dealing with obstacles
1. Identify the issues
2. Recognize it doesn't help me love God better
3. Find out what God's Word says.
3 reasons why we need Jesus Christ in our lives to be useful. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 26. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29. so that no one may boast before Him. 30. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.")
1. Because most of us are foolish and not wise. (Proverbs 14:16, A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. 15:5, A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. 17:10, A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool. 18:2, a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. 26:11, As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.)
2. Because most of us are weak and not strong. (Strong or weak in spirit, not muscle.)
3. Because most of us are common, not noble.
3 lies I can easily believe about my sin. (1John 1:6-2:2
1. Sin doesn't affect my relationship with God and others. (1:6-7, 6. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.)
2. Sin doesn't exist in my nature. (1:8-9, 8. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.)
3. Sin doesn't exist in my conduct. (1:10-2:2, 10. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 2:1. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But it anybody does sin, we have one who speaks for the Father in out defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.) ("Confess" means "say the same thing"; If God says it's wrong, I say it's wrong.)
This post is already really long, so I'll post the rest later.
Monday, January 12, 2009
I love church...
A year ago, I probably wouldn't have said that to you. I dunno where we were a year ago, but I know it wasn't here. But I love it at our church. Our pastor makes you look at things differently, and it's really good. He taught our Sunday school lesson this Sunday, and it was about Psalm 23. He had us write it down, then split it up into 9 couplets, like a poem. When we looked at it again, we realized there was a beginning, middle, and an end. We just looked at it in a different way. It was awesome. :) I thank God that I like my church so much, and the people there too.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Merry Christmas, you guys! (If anyone actually read my blog, that is. :P) Happy holidays to you all! :D Wow, it seems like Christmas has jumped up on me...anyways, last night we did a Christmas program at our church, and it turned out really cute, I think. My baby brother was a little angel (in the part of the Christmas story where the multitude of angels come to the shepherds) and he sang "Away in a Manger" with some of the other little kids. IT WAS SO CUTE! And bonus, when the angels were supposed to run up the aisle, he just walked behind them, making everyone laugh. :) So cute.
Well, anyways, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT! :D
Well, anyways, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT! :D
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
My brother is the next great theological mind!
Okay, that's stretching it. :P By a lot. But, the other night, he did say something very deep. So deep, that I have to put it on here.
"But being human means going back to your sinful nature. I'd rather be Christian and be thought of as weird than go back to my sinful nature."
That may not be exact word-for-word, but it's pretty close. Here's MY version of it, meaning my wording.
"Being human would mean reverting back to your sinful nature, because we as humans are born with it. I'd rather be a Christian and be considered weird than go back to sin."
And now you have your lovely quote for the day. ;)
"But being human means going back to your sinful nature. I'd rather be Christian and be thought of as weird than go back to my sinful nature."
That may not be exact word-for-word, but it's pretty close. Here's MY version of it, meaning my wording.
"Being human would mean reverting back to your sinful nature, because we as humans are born with it. I'd rather be a Christian and be considered weird than go back to sin."
And now you have your lovely quote for the day. ;)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Dude, church ROCKS! (well, not litterally...)
Okay, in church, we've been doing a study of Joshua, and it's been really cool. Today, some of the people actually got to move around. :D I'll tell it in "story version" because I find it easier to describe things that way.
The sanctuary was a large, rectangular room with pews down the two long sides. The pulpit was at the front of the room, so it could be seen by everyone. The pews were full, but not to the point of breaking. The pastor was behind the pulpit, speaking to the congregation.
"Today, we're going to do things a bit differently." He said with a smile. He took his Bible and walked out from behind the pulpit. He had a small stack of papers in his hands as well as the Bible. He looked around and began picking people from the congregation, some children and some grown adults. He began putting them in different areas according to the piece of paper he had given them.
"Gilgal," he began, pointing to a boy with that written on his piece of paper, "you go into the back, okay? I need the Israelite army" he motioned to three people with numbers on their papers "to go back to Gilgal, where the army is stationed. And Joshua," he pointed to a tall man with a paper that said "Joshua" on it, "you can head back there too." All of the designated people went back to where they were supposed to go, some with more flare than others. Laughter was heard as "Joshua" began walking like an army man, looking rather ridiculous doing it.
"All right, Bethel, you go up to the front with your army," he pointed to two men holding papers with "Bethel" and "Bethel's army" written on them and the two men walked up to the pulpit. "And Ai and Ai's army, you can come over here." He pointed to a pew near the front of the church and two men went and stood there. He had another person hold two pieces of paper with a picture of the sun on one, and the moon on the other, to remind us all what time it was in the story.
The story began, of a great fight with the Israelites against Ai. Joshua sent a legion of men from Gilgal to hide in the rocky mountains behind the city of Ai late at night. (At that time in the story, a young boy designated as the correct amount of the army hid behind a pew behind the city of Ai and it's army) Next, Joshua sent more of his army to ambush Ai. Joshua then followed with the main army, situated on the mountain opposite of Ai, and they prepared for battle.
The next day, all of the army of Ai went to confront the main army of Israel. (At this time, all of the designated people were in their designated spots.) Joshua and the main army of Israel faked defeat and began to retreat, then God told Joshua to stretch out his spear towards the city of Ai. (At this point, Ai's army and the main army of Israel and Joshua are in the isle between the two rows of pews and "Joshua" pretended to hold out a spear in the direction of "Ai") At that time, the rest of the army that was in hiding attacked the city and set in on fire, to show the army of Ai that they had nowhere to run. Joshua and the main army of Israel attacked and defeated the army of Ai, and the army of Bethel, which had come to help Ai's army. They then returned to the city of Ai and set it on fire once again, and it fell to the hands of the Israelites.
Okay, didn't that sound like fun to watch? (Not the real thing, the thing we did in church.) It was really cool, and it helped you visualize the story better. God had told Joshua some of the stuff to do, but other parts were from Joshua's knowledge of battle and from things God told them in the book of Deuteronomy. There were three points to the message which I will tell ya in a different post, once we're done with the book of Joshua. If you haven't read that book, and like adventure, then I would say READ IT!!! I mean, the Bible has everything! Adventure, prophecy, romance, all of it. (Ruth, I will tell you right now, [even though I haven't read the other book I'm about to mention] kicks Twilight's toosh.) It's the greatest book ever written, and can really change your life, for the better. So read it, and you'll won't regret it, promise.
The sanctuary was a large, rectangular room with pews down the two long sides. The pulpit was at the front of the room, so it could be seen by everyone. The pews were full, but not to the point of breaking. The pastor was behind the pulpit, speaking to the congregation.
"Today, we're going to do things a bit differently." He said with a smile. He took his Bible and walked out from behind the pulpit. He had a small stack of papers in his hands as well as the Bible. He looked around and began picking people from the congregation, some children and some grown adults. He began putting them in different areas according to the piece of paper he had given them.
"Gilgal," he began, pointing to a boy with that written on his piece of paper, "you go into the back, okay? I need the Israelite army" he motioned to three people with numbers on their papers "to go back to Gilgal, where the army is stationed. And Joshua," he pointed to a tall man with a paper that said "Joshua" on it, "you can head back there too." All of the designated people went back to where they were supposed to go, some with more flare than others. Laughter was heard as "Joshua" began walking like an army man, looking rather ridiculous doing it.
"All right, Bethel, you go up to the front with your army," he pointed to two men holding papers with "Bethel" and "Bethel's army" written on them and the two men walked up to the pulpit. "And Ai and Ai's army, you can come over here." He pointed to a pew near the front of the church and two men went and stood there. He had another person hold two pieces of paper with a picture of the sun on one, and the moon on the other, to remind us all what time it was in the story.
The story began, of a great fight with the Israelites against Ai. Joshua sent a legion of men from Gilgal to hide in the rocky mountains behind the city of Ai late at night. (At that time in the story, a young boy designated as the correct amount of the army hid behind a pew behind the city of Ai and it's army) Next, Joshua sent more of his army to ambush Ai. Joshua then followed with the main army, situated on the mountain opposite of Ai, and they prepared for battle.
The next day, all of the army of Ai went to confront the main army of Israel. (At this time, all of the designated people were in their designated spots.) Joshua and the main army of Israel faked defeat and began to retreat, then God told Joshua to stretch out his spear towards the city of Ai. (At this point, Ai's army and the main army of Israel and Joshua are in the isle between the two rows of pews and "Joshua" pretended to hold out a spear in the direction of "Ai") At that time, the rest of the army that was in hiding attacked the city and set in on fire, to show the army of Ai that they had nowhere to run. Joshua and the main army of Israel attacked and defeated the army of Ai, and the army of Bethel, which had come to help Ai's army. They then returned to the city of Ai and set it on fire once again, and it fell to the hands of the Israelites.
Okay, didn't that sound like fun to watch? (Not the real thing, the thing we did in church.) It was really cool, and it helped you visualize the story better. God had told Joshua some of the stuff to do, but other parts were from Joshua's knowledge of battle and from things God told them in the book of Deuteronomy. There were three points to the message which I will tell ya in a different post, once we're done with the book of Joshua. If you haven't read that book, and like adventure, then I would say READ IT!!! I mean, the Bible has everything! Adventure, prophecy, romance, all of it. (Ruth, I will tell you right now, [even though I haven't read the other book I'm about to mention] kicks Twilight's toosh.) It's the greatest book ever written, and can really change your life, for the better. So read it, and you'll won't regret it, promise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)