WHY GOD MADE HUGS

Everyone was meant to share
God’s all-abiding love and care;
He saw that we would need to know
A way to let these feelings show.

So God made hugs – a special sign,
And symbol of His love divine,
A circle of our open arms
To hold in love and keep out harm.

One simple hug can do its part
To warm and cheer another’s heart.
A hug’s a bit of heaven above
That signifies His perfect love.

“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love another. If you
have love for one another, then everyone will know that you’re my disciple.”

(John 13:34,35)

Dividing Souls

Two boy scouts went on a nature hike in the hills picking up hickory nuts along the way. They quickly filled their small pails and started to fill their pockets and shirts.

When they couldn’t carry any more nuts they walked down the country road until they came across a cemetery. One of the boys decided the cemetery would be a good place to stop, rest, and divide out the nuts.

The two boys sat in the shade of a large oak tree. They unloaded their pockets and pails dumping all the nuts in a large pile. While dividing their bounty, two of the nuts rolled away and came to rest near the road. The boys continued to divide the nuts among them. “One for you. One for me. One for you. One for me”

As they were doing this, a young boy happened to pass by and hear their voices. He looked into the cemetery but could not see the boys as they were hidden by the tree. He hesitated a moment and then ran back to town.

“Father, Father,” he yelled as he entered his house. “The cemetery. Come quick!!!” “What’s the matter?” the father asked. “No time to explain.” the boy frantically panted. “Follow me!!!”

The boy and the father ran up the country road and stopped when they reached the cemetery. They stopped at the side of the road, and fell silent for a few moments. Then the father asked his son what was wrong. Do you hear that? He whispered.

Both listened intently and heard the Scouts. “One for me. One for you. One for me One for you.” The boy then blurted out, “The devil and the Lord are dividing the souls!!”

The father was skeptical but silent. A few moments later the Scouts completed dividing out the nuts. One Scout said to the other: “Now as soon as we get those two nuts down by the road we’ll have them all.”

1 Peter 5:8: Peter warns the believers who are under persecution to be on the alert because our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

There is a struggle between God and the Devil, but the Devil Will Not Win

  • 1 John 3:8: “The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.”
  • Hebrews 2:14: “Christ took on human nature that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”
  • Colossians 2:15: “God disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him.”
  • Mark 3:27: “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.”
  • Revelation 20:10 says one day the warfare will be over: “The devil . . . [will be] thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone . . . and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (See Matthew 8:29; 25:41)
  • James 4:7: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!”

Heaven’s Grocery Store

As I was walking down life’s highway many years ago
I came upon a sign that read, “Heavens Grocery Store”.

When I got a little closer,
the doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself,
I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said
“My child, shop with care.”

Everything a human needed
was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry,
you could come back for more.

First I got some Patience.
Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding,
You need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom
and Faith a bag or two.
And Charity of course
I would need some of that too.

I couldn’t miss the Holy Ghost
It was all over the place.
And then some Strength and
Courage to help me run this race.
My basket was getting full
I remembered I needed Grace,

And then I chose Salvation for
Salvation was for free
I tried to get enough of that
To do for you and me.

Then I started to the counter
To pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything
To do the Masters will.

As I went up the aisle I saw
Prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside
I would run into sin

Peace and Joy were plentiful
The last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging

Then I said to the angel “Now how much do I owe?”
He smiled and said “Just take them everywhere you go.”

Again I asked “Really now, How much do I owe?”
“My child ” he said, “God paid your bill a long time ago.”

The Level Of God’s Perfection

An illustration

In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning-disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be mainstreamed into conventional schools.

At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out, “Why is the perfection not in my son Shaya? Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God’s perfection?

The audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father’s anguish, and stilled by the piercing query. “I believe,” the father answered, “that when God brings a child like this into the world, the perfection that he seeks is in the way people react to this child.” He then told the following story about his son:

One afternoon, Shaya and his father walked past a park where some boys Shaya knew were playing baseball. Shaya asked, “Do you think they will let me play?” Shaya’s father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shaya’s father understood that if his son was chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of belonging.

Shaya’s father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Shaya could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said “We are losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning.”

Shaya’s father was ecstatic as Shaya smiled broadly. Shaya was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shaya’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaya’s team scored again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base, Shaya was scheduled to be up.

Would the team actually let Shaya bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shaya was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Shaya didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly let alone hit with it. However as Shaya stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shaya should at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came and Shaya swung clumsily and missed. One of Shaya’s teammates came up to Shaya and together they held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shaya. As the pitch came in, Shaya and his teammate swung at the ball and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shaya would have been out and that would have ended the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling, “Shaya, run to first. Run to first.” Never in his life had Shaya run to first. He scampered down the baseline wide-eyed and startled.

By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had reached the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman who would tag out Shaya, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher’s intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the Third baseman’s head. Everyone yelled, “Run to second, run to second.” Shaya ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases toward home.

As Shaya reached second base, the opposing short stop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, “Run to third.” As Shaya rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming, “Shaya run.” Shaya ran home, stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as he had just hit a “grand slam” and won the game for his team.

“That day,” said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,
“those 18 boys reached their level of God’s perfection.”

Bait?

One of my favorite pastimes is hiking.  

Southeast Asia has a wonderful variety of places to go. From tropical rainforest to incredible beaches, you can find it all here.  Another aspect that makes it such fun is that you meet travelers from all over the world. On a trip to Thailand, I was on a jungle trek with recently met friends from France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, and England. As we traveled we helped each other across rivers, through mudslides, and across rice paddies.  But one wonders how much commitment to that friendship would exist if one of us really got into trouble.

There is a story of two teens hiking through the Taman Negara in Malaysia. If you have ever been there, you know the jungle, a tropical rainforest, is fascinating but humid, and full of the worst of insects. Mosquito repellant is almost useless as the sweat of your body dilutes it and washes it away within minutes.  Yet Mosquitoes are not the only thing wishing to suck your blood… there are also leeches and other unpleasant irritants.

Fighting off the leeches these boys were traveling what seemed a trail when they discovered a cave in the hillside.  Curious, as are most teen boys, they entered the cave, with little thought of safety or of what might lie inside.  The cool dampness of the cave was a welcome retreat from the tropical steam bath outside.  The cave was bigger than expected and soon, the dim light from the entrance was no longer sufficient for them to see more than shadows. One boy thought he heard something ahead, but wasn’t certain.  Maybe it was just dripping water or his imagination. The jungle will do that to you.  Your imagination often plays tricks with reality.

Still, they pressed on, keeping their eyes and ears attentive just in case it wasn’t imagination, in case they were not alone. Suddenly, a large shadow loomed in the distance ahead.  Two luminescent eyes reflected the dim light, accompanied by the unmistakable roar of a Malayan tiger.  Awakened from a nap, the tiger was a bit grouchy — to put it mildly.  It was his trail they had followed and this was his den.  

Scared, the boys turned to make a dash for the entrance, when one of them dropped to the floor and started removing his hiking boots– soon to be replaced by his running shoes. While tying his laces, his shocked and frightened friend yelled at him, “Aiyaa! Chapat! Hurry up… Let’s get out of here! Why do you change your shoes?  We have little chance of outrunning that tiger… we might as well face it… we are lunch…”

Getting to his feet and beginning to run the first boy replied, “I don’t
have to outrun that tiger… all I have to do is outrun you.”

Ever felt like tiger bait?  

When things get tough, your friends forget you exist or worse yet, use you as a sacrifice to enable them to get out of trouble.  You get the blame for their actions. They vanish and you get left as tiger bait, left alone to deal with the problem.  Ever felt like a friend led you somewhere you might not have gone on your own, and then when things got difficult, left you.  Maybe it was sex, drugs, alcohol, smoking, or merely a small prank. But they escaped and left you to face the consequences.  It seemed a cool, pleasant, and enjoyable break from things but it turned dangerous. and when it did, you found yourself alone.

“Be controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8)  But even when you haven’t been quite as alert as you should, and you seem to be alone, in the dark, facing your worst nightmare, you need not fear.  One of the greatest joys of living as a Christian is knowing that Jesus will never leave you as tiger bait. To the contrary, he has sacrificed himself that you might escape the gnashing teeth and darkness, that you might escape death and walk again in the light. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13)  

Trust Jesus with the tigers in your life.

Coin Toss – Dangers of Temptations and How to Deal with Them

INTRODUCTION TO THE OBJECT LESSON ON TEMPTATION

This simple game serves as a Creative Teaching Idea and discussion starter and Object Lesson on the topic of temptation. Youth will learn how to handle the temptations that are a normal part of life.

A. TRIVIA

The is a variation of a game commonly known as “Pitching Pennies.” In the traditional version of the game, players take turns to throw a coin at a wall. The coin which lands closest to the wall is the winner. The winner collects all the losing players’ tossed coins. Ancient Greek children played a similar game using bronze coins. In modern Israel a version of the game is played with Apricot kernels, and called “Gogoim”. This game is also known by other names: Pigeon Toss, Britain Pap, Penny Up, Keeley, Pitch and Toss, Chucks, Tinks or Jingies.

B. WHAT YOU NEED

  • Coins for each youth
  • Prize for the winner.
  • Tape to mark the boundaries.

C. GAME PLAY

  1. Put a line across the floor on each side of the room.
  2. Give each youth a coin and ask them to line them up on one side of the room.
  3. Demonstrate from a specific distance a toss of a coin toward the goal. Do not give them any strategy. Do not tell them how to play. Only demonstrate the game.
  4. Hype up the prize for the person who can toss the coin closest to the line without going over it.
  5. Then let everyone have an opportunity to try. If there is time, you can let them try more than once.
  6. Award the prize to the winner

D. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

If playing with younger children, there is a danger of children swallowing a coin. For safety reasons, you play the game with a golf ball, a tennis ball or another object. Older youth can play with marbles, checkers, washers, buttons or any other objects available.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DEBRIEF

As you were playing this game,

  1. What was your goal or objective?
  2. What was your strategy?
  3. What are the possible risks with your strategy?
  4. Did you follow your own strategy or learn from others?
  5. What is the best way to guarantee you will not cross over the line (i.e. the boundary)?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  1. Starting in Genesis 1 and continuing throughout Scripture, God gave us boundaries for what we should and should not do. What are some of those boundaries?
    – Related to our thoughts
    – Related to our feelings
    – Related to our bodies
    – Related to our words
    – Related to our decisions
    – Related to our actions
  2. What is temptation?
  3. What are some things that tempt youth today?
  4. In this game, the objective was to get as close to the line as possible without crossing over? Sometimes, youth, adults, and even children have a similar mindset when dealing with temptations. We want to get as close to the boundary as possible without crossing over. Why is this strategy dangerous?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

How do we manage our boundaries and temptations and avoid crossing the line into sin?

THREE PRINCIPLES (I CORINTHIANS 6)

  1. The Help Principle (6:12a). Some things, even if they are within the boundaries of the law of God, are to be avoided simply because they do not build up the individual toward spiritual maturity or because they do not help others.
  2. The Habit Principle (6:12b). Some things are wrong because they are habit-forming. They take control over a person’s life. [II PETER 2:19 – “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him”] ROMANS 6:16 – “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
  3. The Holiness Principle (6:15-20). – Some things are wrong for the believer simply because they do not honor or please God.

SEVEN QUESTIONS

  1. Would Jesus put his name on this for a stamp of approval? (Colossians 3:17)
  2. Does this fall into the classification of good thinking? (Philippians 4:8)
  3. Will this degrade or defile the temple of the Holy Spirit? (I Corinthians 6:19) Does this have the “smell” of evil on it? (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
  4. Will this sooner or later make a slave out of me? (I Corinthians 9:27)
  5. Is it spiritually beneficial or does it have the potential to control me? (1 Corinthians 6:12)
  6. Does it benefit others? (Romans 15:1-2; Philippians 2:3)
  7. Will my indulgence in this prevent someone from accepting Christ as Savior or tend to weaken someone’s faith? (I Cor. 8:9-13)

Remember what Paul says in Romans 14:22 “Happy is he that condemns not himself in that thing that he allows.”

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  1. Of those temptations of youth we mentioned previously, which are most difficult for you?
  2. What steps can you learn from this lesson to avoid crossing the line from temptation into sin?
  3. Say a prayer for God to show you a) ways to FLEE from your personal temptations, b) show you holy things on which you can FOCUS your thoughts, energy and time in pursuit, and c) to give you good Christian friends who are also seeking purity in their relationship with God.

TOUCH POINTS

  1. We often imitate what we see others do rather than seek guidance from God and God’s Word.
  2. If we don’t set our own goals, someone will set our goals for us. Satan’s goal for us is self-destruction.
  3. In temptation we often want to clearly know the boundaries so that we can get as close to the boundary as possible. God’s goal in setting boundaries is not so that we can get as close to those boundaries as possible, but so that we know where they are and can keep a safe distance.
  4. Sometimes things do not turn out as we planned. When we are trying to get so close to the boundaries the chances of us crossing over are very high. (e.g. In this game sometimes the coin lands on the edge and rolls, sometimes we underestimate distance, strength, or how slippery the floor is.)
  5. To get as close to the boundary as possible is the wrong objective. We should seek to stay as far from temptation as possible to avoid crossing over into sin.
  6. The hype of temptation may be greater than what we actually receive. It may be enjoyable but it is fleeting and the more we get of it, the less satisfying it becomes.
  7. No one said you had to toss the coin. You just followed an example. The way to ensure we do not cross the boundary is to remain in control and set our own boundaries a safe distance away from sin.
  8. We need to recognize that we are drawn toward sin. (James 1:14)
  9. A key to handling temptation is mention by Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22:
    A) Flee – Flee the evil desires of youth
    B) Focus – pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace and
    C) Fellowship – along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

ILLUSTRATIONS

  1. In the comic strip “Cathy”, Cathy loves candy. In one story line, Cathy is trying to avoid the temptation of eating candy:

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.

Too often, we deal with temptation in the same way as Cathy… getting closer and closer until we can no longer resist and yield to the temptation.

a. 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?
b. 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?

  1. The boy was standing near an open box of peanut butter cookies.
    “Now then, young man,” said the grocer as he approached the young boy.
    “What are you up to?”
    “Nothing,” replied the boy: “Nothing.”
    “Well it looks to me like you were trying to take a cookie.”
    “Oh you’re so wrong, mister, …. I’m trying not to!”

SCRIPTURE

  • 2 Timothy 2:22 – “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lordd out of a pure heart.”
  • 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.”
  • 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 – “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.””
  • 1 Corinthians 9:27 – “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “reject every kind of evil.”
  • Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
  • Galatians 5:1 – “Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
  • James 1:13-16 – “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.”
  • James 4:7 – “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
  • James 4:17 – “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
  • Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
  • Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
  • Proverbs 17:27 – “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”
  • Romans 6:12-14, 22 – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” “But now having been set free from sin, and having become servants to God, you have your fruit of holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”
  • Romans 13:14 – “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
  • Romans 14:22-23 – “So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
  • Romans 15:1-2 – “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”

INTERESTING QUOTES RELATED TO TEMPTATION

  • “If thou wouldst conquer thy weakness, thou must never gratify it. No man is compelled to evil: his consent only makes it his. It is no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.” – William Penn
  • “Our minds are mental greenhouses where unlawful thoughts, once planted, are nurtured and watered before being transplanted into the real world of unlawful actions… These actions are savored in the mind long before they are enjoyed in reality. The thought life, then, is our first line of defense in the battle of self-control.” – Jerry Bridges
  • “Every time I say ‘no’ to a small temptation, I strengthen my will to say ‘no’ to a greater one.” – Mother Angelica
  • “He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
  • “He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
  • “In the last analysis it is not the temptations that meet us on the streets that determine our conduct; it is the heart of the man who faces them. Two men may face the same conditions; one falls, the other stands. The difference is not in the temptation but in the heart of the man.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • “The first degree [of temptation] relates to the mind – it is dragged away from its duties by the deceit of sin. The second aims at the affections – they are enticed and entangled. The third overcomes the will – the consent of the will is the conception of actual sin. The fourth degree disrupts our way of life as sin is born into it. The fifth is the flesh’s goal, a hardened life of sin, which leads to eternal death (James 1:14-15).” – Kris Lundgaard
  • “Temptations, of course, cannot be avoided, but because we cannot prevent the birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them nest in our hair.” – Martin Luther
  • “It’s easier to avoid temptation then to resist it.” – Bill Shannon
  • “It’s easier to resist temptation at a distance than when it is near.” – Unknown

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

A 200-page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Robert May worked in the advertising department of Montgomery Ward, the 2nd largest department store chain in America at the time.

In 1939, he was asked to create a children’s book for Christmas about an animal to give as a gift to their customers. But the year proved difficult, as May’s wife died from cancer. The future was bleak as he was forced to raise his young daughter alone. On September 1st, 1939 World War II broke out, bringing an uncertain future, and dark times for the whole world.

As Robert sat down to write, he was inspired by his daughter’s love for a deer at the local zoo. He created Rudolph, a shiny-nosed reindeer as a symbol for himself and his young daughter that happier times were coming.

When the story was released for Christmas, It was an instant hit. 2.4 million copies of the children’s book were given as gifts. They would have given away even more if there hadn’t been wartime restrictions on the use of paper.

The story of Rudolph the red-nosed reeindeer was made into a song, and then into a movie as well. The movie has been broadcast every year since 1964, making it the longest-running Christmas TV special in the history of television.

It is perhaps a fitting story for 2020, as the world struggles with Covid-19.

A terrible storm threatened to cancel Christmas. Rudolph, a young reindeer with a bright red nose, felt left out, alone, isolated. But in the midst of the gloom, Rudolph found his purpose and shined brightly in the darkness. And in doing so, he made a joyful Christmas possible for everyone.

If you are feeling alone, isolated.
If the future seems bleak.
Remember the story of Rudolph.

God created you with a purpose.
Embrace your special God-given talents.
You too can shine the light of His love this Christmas
And bring a little joy to the whole World.

As you remind everyone that they are not alone.
A bright future lies ahead
The “Light of the World” came
That all might have hope and future
In the accepting embrace of God’s Love.

Virtual Scavenger Hunts

Virtual Scavenger Hunts
(aka a Video Conferencing Scavenger Hunt)

CreativeYouthIdeas.com focuses on youth and those who work with youth. But scavenger hunts have been popular with youth, adults, and children for decades. They became more popular with “The Amazing Race” and reality TV shows a few years ago. And today scavenger hunts are as popular as they have ever been. So it doesn’t matter whether you are a youth leader in a church, a leader of a team, or manager of a group of employees. This is something you can use.

Scavenger Hunts take a variety of forms. They have a variety of rules, and you can adjust them for different themes, locations, and age groups. They are great for building community and fostering teamwork. They also allow everyone to exercise a little bit of creativity. They are proven to generate lots of fun and excitement.

Video Conference Scavenger Hunt

I’ve adapted this for the current Covid-19 quarantine conditions present in countries. Play it on a Zoom Call or using any other video conference facility. It works as long as you can see individual participants on the call. You’ll also want to take screenshots so you can share the pictures of this fun activity for later. If you don’t have a video conferencing tool, you can play it using other tools. Simply have everyone take a selfie fulfilling the criteria for each item on the list and send it to you.

CONSIDERATIONS

How do you play the video conference scavenger hunt?

  1. Individual or Team? Everyone on the call can play as individuals with individual scores. Or you can choose to divide everyone into teams and use an accumulated team score instead.
  2. All items at Once or One item at a Time?
    a. All at Once – Give everyone the entire “numbered” list and have them report back within the allocated time. Fulfilled items on the list contribute to the score. Number the list so you can know which item on the list they are trying to fulfill.
    b. One Item at a Time – Give everyone ONE item at a time and have them report back within the allocated time.
  3. Timed?
    a. How long? – Is 1 minute enough time to scavenge for the items? 5 minutes? Impose penalty points for each second/minute they are late appearing on camera.
    b. Early Bonus? – One variation is to provide bonuses for whoever is back on camera early or for the first person back. This speeds up the game.
  4. Unique to Score?
    This is a variation in how you score the scavenger hunt when you encourage multiple items. If anyone else has the same item, then that item does not contribute to the score. In other words, the items displayed must be unique and not shown by anyone else to get the points. For example, imagine if they must collect as many colors of socks as possible. If more than one team has “Black” socks, then no team gets a point for black socks. If only one participant or team has red socks then that scores the point.
  5. Substitutions Allowed?
    I usually do not allow a picture, written words, drawing, or model, of an item as a replacement for the actual item. Can they substitute a photograph of an object for the actual object at 50% of the point value? Can a map wadded up into a ball of paper serve as a creative substitute for a globe and get full credit?

SCORING
How will you Calculating the Score for the Video Scavenger Hunt?

  1. Known or Unknown? Set a specific point value for each item on the list. The score may be known to participants or unknown. You can set a specific point value for simply fulfilling each item on the list. More difficult items could be worth more points than simple items.
  2. One Item, One score? – For most options, each item on the list counts only once for its point value. For example, if the item is a baby picture. Three pictures of you as a baby do not get you extra points. Some items may specify multiples such as “The most buttons.” Then you need to decide, if two buttons are exactly the same, are they counted. Or is it 1 point for each unique type of button?
  3. Bonuses? – Are there bonus points for creativity and quality? You can give Bonus points to the most creative / best entry per item.
  4. Judges – All decisions of judges and facilitators are final.
  5. Tie Breaker? – In the case of a tie, the person or team which was back on camera first is declared the winner.

RULES
What are the Rules for the Video Conference Scavenger Hunt?

  1. One picture, object, situation per item on the list. You don’t get points for duplicates of the same thing.
  2. Get permission if you need an item that belongs to someone else. You don’t want to get in trouble for rummaging through someone else’s possessions. Be sure to return anything borrowed!
  3. Always number your submissions. This helps the judges know which item on the list you are trying to fulfill.
  4. Crude language, inappropriate behavior, and offensive actions are not allowed.

CREATIVE IDEAS FOR THE
VIDEO CONFERENCE SCAVENGER HUNT LIST

Here are some suggested Ideas for the Video Conference Scavenger Hunt. (Be Creative and adjust as needed or create your own ideas)

1. Acting on Camera

  1. Dance Moves – 15 Seconds of Best Dance moves – Best dancer scores the most points
  2. Impersonation – famous or imaginary
  3. Best Standup Comedian Joke
  4. Karaoke Song
  5. Machine sounds with your mouth
  6. Best animal Impersonation

2. Alphabet

  1. One item collected from around the house beginning with each letter of the alphabet. How many can you get in 60 seconds?

3. Animals (Stuffed or Pets)

  1. Display as many animals as possible. Each type of animal is one point.
  2. Biggest stuffed animal
  3. Most unusual animal

4. Buttons

  1. Who has the most loose buttons?
  2. Most buttons of a specific color
  3. Most unusual buttons
  4. Biggest Button

5. Dress Up

  1. As a child, we all dreamed of what we would be when we grow up. Some examples are astronauts, doctors, a chef, a policeman or policewoman, a prince or princess, a movie star. You have 5 minutes to gather your props and appear on camera as the person you wanted to be when you grow up. Creativity counts.
  2. Best Beach outfit
  3. Best Sports Attire
  4. Dress as a Biblical Person
  5. Dress as someone else on this call
  6. Dress up as your favorite superhero
  7. Best Disney Character
  8. Best Traditional costume
  9. Best Halloween costume

6. Books

  1. One point for each book by a specific author
    (Example: Books by Dr. Seuss)
  2. Oldest book
    (According to copyright)
  3. Most books’s in a series

7. Coins

  1. Most coins from other countries. Each country gets one point
  2. Oldest coin
  3. Coin with the year of your birth

8. Colors

  1. How many items can you display of a specific color.
    – Something Lime Green
    – Something turquoise
    – Something Neon Pink
    – Etc

9. Deck of Cards

  1. Who can build the tallest house of cards in 1 minute?
  2. Most decks of Cards – 1 point for each deck
  3. Most unusual deck of cards
  4. Fastest to put them in numerical order and by suit
  5. Fastest to sort them into stacks by number (4 cards of each)

10. Entertainment

  1. Official merchandise of favorite superheroes. 1 point for each superhero represented
  2. Each item from a Disney movie or story counts as one point.
  3. 1 Point for each Disney Cartoon on DVD
  4. 1 point for each DVD with a specific actor in the movie
    (E.g. DVDs with Tom Hanks or DVDs with Robin Williams)
  5. The oldest movie on DVD
  6. Most DVD’s in a series

11. Faces

  1. Happiest Face
  2. Saddest face
  3. Strangest Face
  4. Funniest Face
  5. Most face masks – 1 point for each unique color/ style

12. Food

  1. Most Fast food containers from local take out orders
  2. Most fruits. 1 Point for each type of fruit.
  3. Chips – 1 Point for each brand of chips
  4. Breakfast Cereal. Most types of breakfast cereal. Must be shown in the original boxes.
  5. Candy Crazy – Who has the most candy lying around? 1 Point for each brand or type of candy.
  6. Canned Food – Most unique items of canned food – 1 point for each unique item no one else displays
  7. Longest Expiration Date
  8. Most Unusual Food
  9. Most types of drinks

13. Hats

  1. Wildest Hat
  2. Most hats
  3. Oldest Hat
  4. Ugliest Hat

14. Holiday Decorations

  1. How many types of Holiday Decorations can you round up? Easter. Christmas, etc. 1 Point for each holiday represented.
  2. Christmas Decorations – How many different types of Christmas decorations can you show.
  3. Best dressed up for Christmas
  4. Birthday Party Favors

15. Home

  1. Most house plants
  2. Prettiest house plant
  3. Most unusual house plant
  4. Neatest storeroom
  5. Biggest Sofa
  6. Biggest TV
  7. Cleanest bedroom
  8. Most interesting piece of furniture
  9. Most unusual coffee cup or tea cup
  10. Most Useless Item
  11. Funniest Sign, Poster or Painting

16. Measurements

  1. Most items used to measure something (i.e. ruler, etc)
  2. Something of a specific length
    1. Something that is 1 meter long
    1. Something that is 1 cm thick
    1. Something that holds 1 liter
    1. Something that weighs 1 kilogram

17. Music

  1. Most CD’s by a Specific musical group or artist
  2. Most Musical Instruments. 1 point for each type of musical instrument
  3. Extra points if you can play a song
  4. Biggest speaker system

18. Oldest

  1. Oldest Antique
  2. Oldest Newspaper
  3. Oldest Coin
  4. Oldest Book
  5. Oldest Photo

19. Photographs

  1. Cheesiest Photo of you with someone else
  2. Earliest Photo of you as a baby
  3. Old Photo with the most people in it who are on this call. Cannot be taken today.
  4. Oldest Family Photo

20. Random Items

  1. Beach – Each Item found or used at a beach counts as 1 point
  2. How many inflated balloons can you display in 1 minute?
  3. Baby Items – Each type of item used by a baby is counted as one point
  4. Biblical Items – Most items found in the Bible.

21. Shoes

  1. Most Shoes
  2. Most unusual shoes
  3. Biggest sized shoe
  4. Most worn out shoe

22. Shopping

  1. Largest Shopping bag
  2. Most name brand shopping bags
  3. Highest Priced item – Must clearly show the original price tag
  4. Most shopping receipts
  5. Who has the largest Cardboard Box?
  6. Strangest shaped box
  7. Highest stack of boxes
  8. Highest receipt Amount

23. Shirts

  1. Ugliest Shirt
  2. Funniest slogan on a shirt
  3. Most worn out shirt
  4. Most outdated fashion

24. Socks

  1. Most colors – 1 Point for each color
  2. Most Unusual socks
  3. Ugliest socks

25. Souvenirs

  1. Most souvenirs from places you have travelled with the name of the location printed on it
  2. Most unusual souvenir
  3. Cheesiest souvenir

26. Time

  1. How many clocks do you have? 1 point for each clock.
  2. Most Unusual clock
  3. Oldest clock
  4. Biggest clock

27. Umbrellas

  1. Most umbrellas
  2. Biggest Umbrella
  3. Worst Umbrella
  4. Most Unusual Umbrella

I adapted this idea from my ebook, Creative Scavenger Hunts

Video Charades

Charades is a popular party game for a reason. It’s fun. It gives participants a chance to be creative. Everyone loves solving a mystery. And it gives you a chance to be a little crazy. Fortunately, with a few little tweaks, it is also easy to play on a video conference.

Charades can be played, simply for fun, but it can also be used as a teaching tool. When you combine actions with a phrase or keyword, you make it more memorable. You can create categories based on key objects, key characters in a story, important places, or key events.

Introduction
The essence of Charades is pantomimes: you must act out a word or phrase without speaking or making sound effects. This is usually done in person, but it can also be done in an online video meeting.

Adapting for Online Video

Video
The first requirement is a video platform which allows everyone to connect by video. Each participant will need a camera and will need to connect by video. They can connect using a computer, a mobile phone, or even a tablet. Ideally, they will need to have a hands-free video setup. This can be accomplished with a tripod, or by propping the video camera up against a book.

Chat
The second requirement is the ability to group chat via text. Most video platforms will have a text chat option built-in. You can give group instructions via group chat and give the secret phrases to the mime using private chat.

Game Description
In this version, participants all can compete as individuals or as teams.

Game Materials
A numbered list of keywords or phrases. These can be created simply for fun, or they can be extracted from a lesson.

Game Preparation
You will need to create a list of items relating to your lesson. Number the list so that participants can randomly choose one using numbers. You can privately text them the clue so that only they know the next phrase.

Game Play

  1. Divide players into two teams or have them play as individuals.
  2. Choose who will mime first.
  3. In teams, or as individuals, the other players must guess what is being acted out. The mime must rotate so that everyone is required to mime a clue before someone can go again.
  4. Each time a new mime begins, he must choose a number for the next phrase to act out.
  5. A timer can be used or simply set an alarm on your phone or watch. It must be something everyone can hear. You can also simply ring a bell or bang a pan to let people know time is up.
  6. As one person mimes his teammates watch and try to guess the word. In the case of team play, his teammates start shouting out what they think is being portrayed. Players can guess as many times as they want. Guessing is NOT done in turn!
  7. The mime usually starts by indicating through motions (no words allowed) some indication of what they want to mime
  8. They will indicate how many words are in the phrase by holding up the same number of fingers as words. They might also indicate which word they are miming first by holding up a finger for that word. Usually, they will put the number of fingers flat against their arm to indicate the number of syllables in a word.
  9. They can also use other clues along the way to guide the answers:
    • “sounds like”: cup your hand around your ear
    • “little word”: bring your thumb and index fingers closely together.
    • “Longer version of the word”: pretend to stretch an elastic band.
    • “Shorter version of the word”: chop with your hand.
    • “close, keep guessing!”: frantically wave hands to keep the guesses coming.
    • “Knows”: Point to your nose to indicate that someone “knows” the word and is correct.
  10. Continue until all the words in the phrase are correct.
  11. If the Mime’s team guesses correctly before the timer is emptied, the Mime’s team gets one point and post the score in the group chat. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase from a new slip of paper.
  12. If the Mime’s team does not guess correctly before the timer is emptied, they do not win the point. The opposing team then gets ten seconds to make one guess to win the point. If the opposing team guesses correctly, they win the point. It is then their turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase. If the opposing team does not guess correctly, no one wins the point. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase.
  13. Play then alternates between teams with each phrase to be mimed.
  14. In the case of individual play, everyone else tries to guess and the first person to get the complete correct phrase wins a point. If time runs out no one gets a point.
  15. At the end of gameplay or the end of your clues, the team with the most correct guesses wins!
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Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to what’s going on in the NBA and the current Linsanity.
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Connect with Youth Online During Home Quarantine or Social Distancing

In this time of social distancing due to Covid-19, it is important to connect with youth online using the available social platforms. You may not be able to meet in person for Church Worship, Bible Lessons, Sunday School or youth group meetings, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose contact with your youth. In fact, in this time of uncertainty, they need your guidance and care more than ever!

With today’s technology, meeting online is easier than it has ever been before. Most youth will have access to a mobile phone, a tablet, or a computer. Not only do they have access, but many of today’s youth are already using these devices and platforms to connect with each other. In fact, you might have a few students in your youth group that can give YOU a few lessons on how to effectively connect online.

Best Online Social Platforms for Connecting with Youth Groups

08 PAX – FREE – Google Duo (Mobile App Only)
10 PAX – FREE – Skype.com * (Voice=25 PAX, BIZ $2 per month = 250 PAX)
25 PAX – FREE – u.cyberlink.com (Paid for more users. 30 Minutes Limit)
50 PAX – FREE – Facebook.com (FB Live = 1000’s PAX, Grp Video – 50 PAX)
100 PAX – FREE – Zoom.us (Free for 100 users – 40 min time limit)

* You can’t start a group video call in Skype for mobile devices. You need the computer version. However, you take part in it with audio only.

In the next few posts, I’ll give some ideas of games and activities for video conferencing that you can use with your youth to build relationships. I’ll give you some teaching ideas as well.

Creative Youth ideas: 1700+ Resources for youth leaders, pastors, ministers to help plan camps, retreats, and meetings using games, illustrations, Children's Worship, Bible Studies, object lessons, sermons, creative ideas,creative activities