Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

For lots of youth ideas for Thanksgiving, search for "Thanksgiving" in the search box in the top left of this webpage

• Fear - 1 John 4:16,18, 2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 8:15
• Death - Heb. 2:14, 1 Cor. 15:26)
• Darkness - John 8:12, Psalm 119:105, Eph. 6:12, 1 Thes 5:5
• Dealing with Giants - David and Goliath - 1 Samuel 16-18
• Lazarus - Out from the Tomb
• The real Spirit - John 14:26
• First Trick or Treat - Exodus 11:2
• What about witchcraft? - Deuteronomy 18
• Ghost Story - 1 Samuel 28:3-20

Resources

• Large tub of water
• Towels
• Apples with all stems and leaves removed

What to Do

• Fill a large tub with clean water and put washed apples into the water. Apples are less dense than water, so they will float on the surface.
• Instruct the youth to try to remove an apple from the tub by biting into it with their teeth. No use of hands is allowed.
• Traditionally, the winner was the first person to retrieve an apple, but you can also award prizes to everyone who is successful or those who retrieve specially marked apples.

Variations

• Smaller apples makes this game easier, larger apples make it more difficult.
• Larger and deeper tubs are more difficult.
• Fewer the apples in the tub makes it more difficult to bite into one.
• Harder apples are more difficult to bite than softer dessert varieties.
• Forcing a youth to go after a particular apple also makes it more difficult.
• Make it a team relay with one person from each team trying to bite into an apple at the same time.
• Add some ice before the game to wake everyone up!

Alternative method
If you are concerned about hygene, an alternative of this game has everyone trying to bite out of an assigned apple on a string. You'll need one apple (with the stem still attached) and one length of string for each participant. Tie the strings to the stems of the apples and then tie the other ends to something solid so that they can hang freely. You can use a open door frame, a tree branch, or even a pole fixed between two ladders. One advantage is that everyone can go at the same time. The objective remains the same, to retrieve the apple using only your mouth - or at least take a bite out of it!

Take it to the Next Level
The original tradition of bobbing for apples stated that whoever bit the apple first would be the first to get married. In fact, instead of throwing rice at weddings they used to throw apples. DUCK! Whoever succeeded in getting an apple first was supposed to be the lucky person to be the first person to enter into a marriage relationship.

But the apple is also commonly associated with a broken relationship. While the apple is never mentioned in the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, the apple is commonly associated with the forbidden fruit offered by Eve to Adam. If you cut an apple in half horizontally, it is supposed to look like a pentagram, an occult symbol.

Regardless of whether it was an apple or not, Adam took a bite of the fruit, in disobedience to God, and through that disobedience damaged his relationship with God. The Bible says that Adam "sinned." Sin is an archery term which means to miss the mark, to fall short of the target. Because God is perfect and just, he cannot allow disobedience to go unpunished.

Because we all fall short but disobedience to God, He in his infinite love, sent Jesus to pay that penalty for us, to suffer the consequences of sin which is death. All we need to do is accept him and our relationship with God is restored.

We each have weaknesses and we all sin. What sin or temptation does the apple represent in your life?

Halloween is a time when people try to scare each other. But one of the greatest fears we all have is that of death. But when you trust Jesus as Savior, you don't need to fear anymore. Your relationship with him is restored and he will give you eternal life.

At this point, present the gospel plan of salvation. If you need an example use Jelly Bean Salvation which focuses on the colors of Jelly beans. You could also use different colors of Halloween Candy for the same presentation.

Closing
Have youth exchange their apple (representing sin) for a cross (Representing Christ) or to place the apple at the foot of a cross to represent their giving up of sin and living for Christ. Take some time for prayer and quiet meditation

Read the Poem "The mask I wear"
Author unknown

Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear
for I wear a mask. I wear a thousand masks
masks that I'm afraid to take off
and none of them are me.
Pretending is an art that's second nature with me
But don't be fooled, don't be fooled.
I give you the impression that I'm secure
That all is sunny and unruffled with me
within as well as without,
that confidence is my name
and coolness my game,
that the water's calm
and I'm in command,
and that I need no one.
But don't believe me. Please!

My surface may be smooth but my surface is my mask,
My ever-varying and ever-concealing mask.
Beneath lies no smugness, no complacence.
Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in fear, in aloneness.
But I hide this.
I don't want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weaknesses
and fear exposing them.
That's why I frantically create my masks to hide behind.
They're nonchalant, sophisticated facades to help me pretend,
To shield me from the glance that knows.
But such a glance is precisely my salvation,
my only salvation,
and I know it.

That is, if it's followed by acceptance,
and if it's followed by love.
It's the only thing that can liberate me from myself
from my own self-built prison walls.

I dislike hiding, honestly
I dislike the superficial game I'm playing,
the superficial phony game.
I'd really like to be genuine and me.
But I need your help, your hand to hold

Even though my masks would tell you otherwise
That glance from you is the only thing that assures me
of what I can't assure myself,
that I'm really worth something.
But I don't tell you this.
I don't dare.
I'm afraid to.
I'm afraid you'll think less of me, that you'll laugh
and your laugh would kill me.
I'm afraid that deep-down I'm nothing, that I'm just no good
and you will see this and reject me.

So I play my game, my desperate, pretending game
With a facade of assurance without
And a trembling child within.
So begins the parade of masks,
The glittering but empty parade of masks,
and my life becomes a front.
I idly chatter to you in suave tones of surface talk.
I tell you everything that's nothing
and nothing of what's everything,
of what's crying within me.
So when I'm going through my routine
do not be fooled by what I'm saying
Please listen carefully and try to hear
what I'm not saying
Hear what I'd like to say
but what I cannot say.

It will not be easy for you,
long felt inadequacies make my defenses strong.
The nearer you approach me
the blinder I may strike back.
Despite what books say of men, I am irrational;
I fight against the very thing that I cry out for.
you wonder who I am
you shouldn't
for I am everyman
and everywoman
who wears a mask.
Don't be fooled by me.
At least not by the face I wear.

author unknown

Take it to the Next Level

• At Halloween, children often wear obvious masks. But the truth is people of all ages are wearing masks every day, not just on Halloween. What are some of the masks that adults often wear? What are some of the masks that youth wear?
• Have you ever pretended to hide your true feelings? Why did you hide your real feelings? How is hiding your feelings like wearing a mask?
• Have you ever pretended to be something that you weren't? To go along with the crowd? To gain acceptance from other youth? Because you were afraid someone might not like the true you? Because you feared rejection if they saw the real you? What are some other reasons youth might wear masks?

Taking off the Masks
Wearing a mask brings certain comforts, but it also may hinder our personal growth. As long as we wear the mask we don;t have to deal with the underlying problem. But when we are truly able to confront the truth about ourselves we will find true freedom. We can find healing. We can find an answer to the weaknesses that plague us.

Scripture
2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Some key truths from this verse and the Life of Paul:

• Paul did not need to hear kind words from his friends. His life and ministry was already reflecting God’s glory.
• Paul revealed his weaknesses. And in doing so, he also revealed the reality and the power of Jesus. Paul was weak, but the Spirit of God was constantly at work in him. Jesus is not revealed in a person by their human perfection but rather by God transforming us into His image.
• Paul’s life was not one of “see how good I am.” On the contrary, his life was “see what God is doing in a sinner (Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners).” We are all sinners with all the ugliness of sin, bent and twisted out of shape, far from being the persons we want to be, or that God intends us to be (Romans 3:23).
• Our transformation comes from the Holy Spirit. God is in the process of working His transformation in us. “We are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The truth is, when we take of the masks and are honest with ourselves and God he takes our fears, our weaknesses, our sinful ugliness and transforms us to look like Him. When we fail to do so we put on a mask and we no longer reflect the love, grace and joy of Christ. One of the names that Jesus called the pharisees was that of a hypocrite, or a whitewashed tombstone. The word comes from the Greek word "hypokrites" and was a technical term for a stage actor who usually wore a mask and acted a part.

Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness."

Making It Personal
What are some of the masks you wear? Why? How would things change if you were to take off this mask and let God deal with the true fears and issues that lie underneath? What is a real way that you can take off this mask? Is there someone you can talk in honesty that can help keep you accountable? Say a prayer to God to help you to deal with the underlying issue so that you can more fully reveal his likeness and glory in your life!

Variation
Provide Halloween masks or carnival masks for the entire group of youth. If possible, you can give youth some heavy paper (paper plates work well) and rubber bands and ask them to create a mask before the lesson. Later at the "Making it personal" stage of the lesson, have youth add a symbol or some words to indicate the mask that they want to remove so that God can work on that area of their life.

For a lesson which complements this one see Masks

The tree then became the home for some birds. They built their nests and they lived on his branches. The birds made holes on him, and they hatched their eggs within the greatness of the tree. The tree felt so delighted because he was accompanied as he walked through his long lasting days.

People were grateful for the presence of the tree. They often came over and sheltered under him. Under his branches, they sat down and opened their picnic baskets. "This tree is very useful," that's what the people said every time they went home from shelter. The tree was very proud hearing those compliments.

However, time went on. The tree was beginning to be sick. His leaves and twigs were falling, then his body became thin and pale. The greatness he used to have was fading away. Birds felt reluctant to build their nests there. No one would come to sit under the tree to shelter anymore.

The tree wept, "Oh God, why is it so hard for me? I need friends. Now no one would come close to me. Why do you take all the glory I used to have?" The tree cried loudly, so it echoed throughout the forest. "Why wouldn't you cut me down, so I don't have to bear this suffering?" The tree kept on crying, and his tears were running down his dry body.

Seasons came and went, but his condition had not changed. The tree was still feeling lonely. His branches became drier and drier. Every night the tree wept and cried, until the morning broke.

"Cheep...chirp....cheep" Ah, what was that noise? Oh, it's a little baby bird who has just pipped from the egg. The old tree woke up from his daydream.

"Cheep...chirp...cheep", the noise became louder and louder. There was another baby bird. Not long after that, the tree became noisy because of the birth of new baby birds. One...two...three...and four baby birds have been born to this world. "Ah, He has answered my prayers," exclaimed the old tree.

The day after, there were many birds flying to the old tree. They were going to build new nests. The dry branches have turned out to attract their attention to nest there. The birds felt warmer to stay inside the dry branches instead of their place before. The number of birds was increasing and there were more kinds of them. "Wow, now my days are brighter with their presence here", murmured the old tree gladly.

The old tree was back to cheer again. And when he looked down, his heart was flowing with joy. There was a new little tree growing near his roots. The new tree seemed to smile at him. The tears of the old tree has grown a little tree who would continue his devotion to nature.

Only God knows the plans he has for us. Do not despair!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Author Unknown, Source Unknown

Author Unknown, Source Unknown

What to do

1. Come up with silly bowling stances and place them on pieces of paper for the youth to draw from a hat.
   Here are some ideas:
   • bowling backward
   • Fred-Flintstone-style
   • bowling with your weak arm
   • Ballerina Bowling (tip toes)
   • Dizzy bowl (spin around 3 times first)
   • cross your legs
   • Blindfolded
   • One step
   • Bunny bowling (2 hops) then bowl
2. Decide the number of pins that should be knocked down for each frame. If a youth doesn't knock down the number of required pins, he or she has to select a silly costume piece (for example, a tutu, a sombrero, or a wig) to wear for the next frame. These costume pieces can be cumulative or just for the next frame.

In the Bible it is called "The Feast of Weeks" or "The Feast of Harvest" and is also known as "The Feast of Pentecost".

• Cathy goes for a drive to get her mind off the temptation of eating candy.
• She thinks, "I'll go for a drive, but I won't stop at the grocery store.
• Next frame, "I'll drive past, but I won't stop."
• Next frame, "I'll stop, but I won't go inside."
• Then, "I'll go inside, but I won't go down the candy aisle."
• "I'll go down the candy aisle, but I'll just look. I won't pick up any candy."
• "I'll pick up the candy, but I won't buy it."
• "I'll buy it but I won't open it."
• "I'll open it, but I won't smell it."
• "I'll smell it but not taste it."
• "I'll taste it but not eat it."
• Then in the last frame "EAT EAT EAT EAT"

So much for avoiding temptation.

Discussion:

• Have you ever found yourself in the same cycle with your personal temptations as a youth?
• What could Cathy have done differently to avoid the temptation?
• What are some things that might be similarly tempting to youth today, besides food?
• If you were to design a similar comic strip with one of those temptations we mentioned that youth of today face, what might be some of the steps in the process of a youth being lured to indulging in the temptation?
• In each of these real life scenarios that youth of today face, what could be done differently? How could we break the cycle at different stages in the temptation?

Biblical Answers
The key is to focus your mind on other things rather than the temptation. Focus on God, on scripture, and put yourself to work in a holy endeavor! That's the best way to avoid temptation! Here are some guidelines from scripture that will help you to avoid the temptations you face as a youth:

1. Recognize that you are drawn toward sin. (James 1:14)
2. Get away from the temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)
3. Flee, Focus, and Fellowship with other believers (2 Timothy 2:22)
   • Flee - Flee the evil desires of youth
   • Focus - pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace
   • Fellowship - along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Conclusion

• What temptation is your greatest weakness?
• What steps can you take this way to break the cycle to falling into that temptation?
• Say a prayer for God to show you ways to flee from your personal temptation, of holy things that you can focus your thoughts, energy and time in pursuit, and to give you good Christian friends who are also seeking purity in their relationship with God.

• Person (seen)
• God (unseen)

Stage Setting

• No particular setting is necessary, but it is good if the person could sit on a chair and lean on a table that has a Bible on it.

Script
Person: Our Father, who...
God: Yes?
Person: Don't interrupt me! I'm praying.
God: But you called me.
Person: Called you? I didn't call you. I was praying. Our Father who art in heaven...
God: There, you did it again.
Person:Did what?
God: Called me. You said, "Our Father who art in heaven." Here I am. What's on your mind?
Person: But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, sort of like getting a job done.
God: All right. Go on.
Person: Hallowed be thy name...
God: Hold it! What do you mean by that?
Person: By what?
God: By "hallowed be thy name"?
Person: It means...it means.... Good grief! How should I know what it means? It's just part of the prayer. (pause) By the way, what does it mean?
God: It means honoured, holy, wonderful.
Person: Ah, that makes sense. I never thought about what hallowed meant before. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God: Do you really mean that?
Person: Of course! Why not?
God: What are you going to do about it?
Person: Do? Nothing, I suppose. I just think it would be rather good it you got control of things down here the way you have up there.
God: Have I got control of you?
Person: Well, I go to church.
God: That isn't what I asked you. What about that bad temper? You've really got a problem there you know!
Person: Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of those hypocrites down at the church!
God: Excuse me, but I thought you were praying for my will to be done? If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you, for example.
Person: Oh, all right! I guess I do have a few hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I probably could name some others.
God: So could I.
Person: I haven't thought about it much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I really would like to know how to be free.
God: Good! Now we're getting somewhere! We'll work together, you and I. Some real victories can be won. I'm proud of you!
Person: Look, Lord, I need to finish this up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does! Give us this day our daily bread.
God: You need to cut out the bread you're a little overweight as it is!
Person: Hey! Wait a minute! What is this? Here I am doing my religious duty and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my faults!
God: Praying is a dangerous thing. You could end up changed, you know. That's what I'm trying to bring across to you. You called me, and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep on praying. I'm interested in the next part of your prayer. (Pause) Well. go on!
Person: I'm scared to...
God: Scared of what?
Person: I know what you'll say!
God: Try me and see.
Person: Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
God: What about Peter Brown?
Person: See! I knew you would bring him up! Why, Lord he told lies about me, and he cheated me out of some money. I swear that I'll get even with him.
God: But your prayer. What about your prayer?
Person: I didn't mean it.
God: Well, at least you're honest! But it's not much fun carrying around that load of bitterness inside, is it?
Person: No, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even! Have I got some plans for old Peter!
God: You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy you really are. But I'll change all that.
Person: You will? How?
God: Forgive Peter. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Peter's problem and not yours. You may lose the money, but you will have settled your heart.
Person: It doesn't sound easy, but deep down, I know it would be worth the effort. Thank you, Lord, for helping me work through this. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever. AMEN.

This document copyright (c)1995 by Mathew Pole. Reproduction and/or distribution for non-commercial purposes is permissible providing that the drama is left fully intact. Permission is given to modify the drama for personal use, under the condition that the changes are not redistributed. Please send additions or corrections to Mathew and Paulyn Pole (mathew.paulyn@iname.com)
Last changed: Saturday 12 August 1995

Others?

• God's will and the witness of your life - Matthew 5:1-16
• God's will and the garden of your life - Matthew 13:1-23
• God's will and your talents - Matthew 25:14-30
• God's will and your prayer life - Luke 11:1-13
• God's will and your salvation - John 3:1-22
• God's will and His provision for your needs - 1 Kings 17:1-16
• God's will and your experience of forgiveness - 2 Samuel 11:1 and 12:13 (Psalm 32)
• God's will and your willingness to forgive - Matthew 18:21-35
• God's will and your attitude - 1 Corinthians 13
• God's will and you family life - Ephesians 5:24 and 6:4
• God's will and your tongue - James 3:6-12
• God's will and your spiritual life - Galatians 5:16-26
• God's will and your faithfulness - Psalm 100
• God's will and your attitude toward the Bible - Psalm 110:97-104
• God's will and your spiritual life - Isaiah 1:1-20
• God's will and your worship - Isaiah 6:1-8, Revelation 4:1-11, 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, Revelation 20:11-15
• God's will and your pride - Matthew 18:1-6
• God's will and self denial - Luke 9:18-26
• God's will and your relationship to Christ - John 15:1-11
• God's will and your lifestyle - Romans 12:1-21
• God's will and your future - 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
• God's will and your goal in life - Philippians 3:1-16
• God's will and your church life - Hebrews 10:19-25
• God's will and your responsibility to others - 1 John 1:5 and 2:6
• God's will and your sin - I John 1:5 and 2:6
• God's will and your life in Christ - Colossians 3:1-17
• God's will in the life of Jesus - Matthew 16:13-23, 26:36-46
• God's will in the life of Jesus - John 6:1-5, John 7:1-9, John 20:1-10, 11-31