Walk the Rope Relay

rope.jpg
Materials
Static rope, two shorter ropes tied into loops (slings) – two rock climbing carabiners (not required).

Setup
1. A length of static rope should be set up between two fixed points such as trees, or columns.
2. The rope should be tautly suspended about 1 foot off the ground.
3. You need to have a couple people as spotters… though the rope is not high, it is better to be safe than sorry. We don’t want any injuries.

Objective
1. The group must make their way across the “swamp of sin” using only the rope.
2. If they touch the sin (ground) they die.
3. The team to get the greatest number of group members safely across in the quickest time wins. [No one may touch the ground between the two fixed points or they are disqualified and removed from game play–i.e. dead]
4. Rope slings and carabiners are available for those who need assistance and have the prerequisite imagination.

Application
1. With sin, one small step is all it takes to merit it’s wages- death.
2. How is living according to spiritual standards like walking the line? (e.g. it takes concentration, effort)
3. What did you do to stay walking the line?
4. What scriptural standards do you find most difficult to walk? Why? How can we walk these lines? (Awareness of where the lines are located, perseverance, patience, commitment to keep to standards


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The Empty Egg

eastereggs.jpgSpring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. “Now,” she said to them “I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?” “Yes, Miss Miller!” the children responded enthusiastically – all except for Jeremy. He just listened intently, his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus’ death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.

That evening, Doris’ kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy’s parents.

The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller’s desk. After they completed their Math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. “Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life,” she said. “When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here.” A small girl in the first row waved her arms. “That’s my egg, Miss Miller,” she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. “We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes that is new life, too” Little Judy smiled proudly and said, “Miss Miller, that one is mine.” Next Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. “My Daddy helped me!” he beamed.

Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy’s, she thought, and, of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. “Miss Miller, aren’t you going to talk about my egg?” Flustered, Doris replied, “but Jeremy – your egg is empty!” He looked into her eyes and said softly, “Yes, but Jesus’ tomb was empty, too!”

Time stopped. When she could speak again. Doris asked him, ” Do you know why the tomb was empty?” “Oh yes!” Jeremy exclaimed. “Jesus was killed and put in there. Then his Father raised him up!” The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.

Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them empty.

Source: Unknown

 

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Life Restorer

A man was blissfully driving along the highway, when he saw the Easter Bunny hopping across the middle of the road. He swerved to avoid hitting the bunny, but unfortunately the rabbit jumped in front of his car and was hit. The basket of eggs went flying all over the place. Candy, too.

The driver, being a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulled over to the side of the road, and got out to see what had become of the bunny carrying the basket. Much to his dismay, the colorful bunny was dead. The driver felt guilty and began to cry.

A woman driving down the same highway saw the man crying on the side of the road and pulled over. She stepped out of her car and asked the man what was wrong.

“I feel terrible,” he explained. “I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny and killed him. There may not be an Easter because of me. What should I do?”

The woman told the man not to worry. She know exactly what to do. She went to her car trunk, and pulled out a spray can. She walked over to the limp dead bunny, and sprayed the entire contents of the can onto the little
furry animal. Miraculously the Easter Bunny came back to life, jumped up, picked up the spilled eggs and candy, waved its paw at the two humans and hopped on down the road. 50 yards away the Easter Bunny stopped, turned around, waved and hoped on down the road another 50 yards, turned waved, hopped another 50 yards and waved again!

The man was astonished. He said to the woman, “What in heaven’s name is in your spray can?”

The woman turned the can around so that the man could read the label. It said: “Hair Spray. Restores life to dead hair. Adds permanent wave.”

While Easter is not about the Easter bunny, it is about restoring the dead. Jesus was resurrected and because of his work on the cross we also will be resurrected.

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A Quiet Place

“There is a quiet place far from the rapid pace
Where God can soothe my troubled mind.
Sheltered by tree and flow’r there in my quiet hour
With Him my cares are left behind.
Whether a garden small or on a mountain tall,
New strength and courage there I find.
Then from this quiet place I go prepared to face
A new day with love for all mankind.”

Author: Ralph Carmichael


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Joseph’s Tomb

“WHY?” No doubt this was the questions Jesus’ disciples asked when He was arrested, tried, and crucified. And it was probably the question Joseph of Arimathea asked himself as he approached Pilate and requested the Lord’s body (v.58). It must have nagged at him as he wrapped the body in a linen cloth, carried it to his own freshly hewn tomb, and rolled the massive stone into its groove over the tomb’s mouth. In the face of his grief, Joseph carried on. He did what he knew he had to do. None of Jesus’ relatives were in a position to claim His body for burial, for they were all Galileans and none of them possessed a tomb in Jerusalem. The disciples weren’t around to help either.But there was another reason for Joseph’s act of love. In Isaiah 53:9, God directed the prophet to record an important detail about the death of His Messiah. The One who had no place to lay His head would be buried in a rich man’s tomb. Joseph probably didn’t realize that his act fulfilled prophecy. The full answer to the why of Jesus’ death was also several days away for Joseph and the others. All he knew was that he was now a disciple of Jesus — and that was enough to motivate his gift of love.

Source: Today in the Word, April 18, 1992


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Life on a Tightrope

Jean François Gravelet, “The Great Charles Blondin”, was a famous French tightrope walker and acrobat.
Blondin’s greatest fame came in 1859 when he attempted to become the first person to cross the rushing and roaring waters of Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

With a balancing pole, Charles Blondin walked across the 335m long tightrope in only five minutes. He went on to walk across the falls several times, each time with a different theatrical flair. Later crossings were made in a sack; on stilts; on a bicycle, in the dark with sparks flaring from his pole tips; with his hands and feet manacled; and sitting down halfway to cook an omelet!

On one such occasion a large crowd gathered as word went out that Blondin was going to attempt yet another incredible feat. A buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the river bank. The crowd “Oooohed!” and “Aaaaahed!” as Blondin carefully walked across one dangerous step after another — blindfolded and pushing a wheelbarrow.

Upon reaching the other side, the crowd’s applause was louder than the roar of the falls! Blondin suddenly stopped and addressed his audience: “Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?”
The crowd enthusiastically shouted, “Yes, yes, yes. You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. You can do anything!”

“Okay,” said Blondin, “Get in the wheelbarrow…..”
No one did!

It’s one thing to believe, it’s another thing to take a step of faith based on that belief. Belief must be followed by action if it is to take you where you want to go!

Later, on Sept 15, 1860, the world was amazed as Blondin made a crossing carrying his manager, Harry Colcord on his back.

  • What will YOU do? Will you be merely another person in the crowd who ultimately goes nowhere?” Or will you, like the brave manager, put belief into action?

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
– Matthew 17:20

Copyright 2005 by Ken Sapp


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Avoiding Prayer

“Don’t avoid prayer because you think you are not articulate or expressive. The stumbling, bumbling words of a tear-stained heart ring out louder in the spirit realm than the finest resonating voice of an orator.”

Author: T. D. Jakes
Source: “T.D. Jakes Speaks to Men”

Egg Tragedy

egg.jpgMaterials
Obtain a raw egg for each student and one for yourself. Bring crackers and egg salad or another snack in which eggs are the major ingredient.

Activity
As students enter the classroom, give each an egg and ask youth how an egg is similar to life.
2. “Eggs”identally drop your egg so that is breaks. (clean your mess up well as raw eggs can create quite a stench as they rot) Ask youth to name some of the things that shatter our lives?
3. Pass out your egg snack to the class as you explain the fact that we can change the consistency of an egg to make it more enjoyable. Sometimes when life seems to have shattered we can make an omelette, egg salad, french toast, cakes, etc. The egg is used for a great many tasty – good foods. But it is very fragile! Our faith must be stronger – unbreakable, resting in Gods ability to work all things, even tragedies, to our good. (Romans 828)

Variation
As you are discussing the Sunday School lesson, put the eggs in a pan of boiling water. The eggs will be hard boiled by the end of the session. Ask youth to take the eggs home and eat them as a reminder of how God can take those times when we are in hot water, in difficulties, and use them to bring substance and strength to our lives.

Variation
Prepare a breakfast of eggs etc for the group before discussing this illustration.

Variation
Test of strength – give youth the egg to hold in their hand. Using only fingers – not fingernails, rings, or finger tips, ask youth to slowly squeeze the egg and try to break it. 99% of people cannot break an egg in this manner. If someone does break an egg, no problem, you have your fragile illustration already performed for you as well as a few complaints about the mess. If no one can break it, you can still break one yourself. If no one can break his/her egg, you can use this as an illustration of how God protects us by keeping us in the palm of his hand. (John 10:28-29) And when he does allow a tragedy, it is for a purpose, just as a cook has to break an egg to use it.

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Defining Joy

“…most of us, if asked to explain the biblical concept of joy, might have difficulty clearly defining it. Yet Scripture presents a distinct definition–vastly different from the world’s definition of joy, which is simply happiness…It is associated with hope and life, but the experiences of sorrow also prepare for and enlarge the capacity for joy…

Jesus used the analogy of a woman giving birth to a child (Jn 16:21). During the process of birth, there is much pain and agony. But after the birth, the pain and agony are turned to joy at the sight of the newborn child. Sorrowful experiences enlarge the capacity for joy when they are viewed in terms of their results.

There are three essential biblical features of joy that separate it from the world’s ‘happiness’:
-Joy is eternal.
-Joy is reserved for the believer.
-Joy is a state of mind not dependent on circumstances.

1. Joy is eternal…Joy is an eternal part of the kingdom of God, for it is a part of the nature of the Holy Spirit…
2. Joy is reserved for the believer…’The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control’…An unbeliever may manifest semblances of these spiritual fruits, but he cannot experience what believers experience. Apart from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, true joy cannot exist…
3. Joy is a state of mind not dependent on circumstances. Whereas happiness depends largely on happenings,
good health and so on, joy is inherent within the Christian life (the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.)…Only the hope created by God gives a reason for joy and peace…”

Author: Ronald F. Bridges
Source: “Rediscovering Your First Love” (Here’s Life Publishers, Inc.)

Scripture
Romans 15:13

Bulletin Bloopers

* Don’t let worry kill you. Let the Church help.
* Thursday night-Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow.
* Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
* For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
* The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev and Mrs. Julius Belzer.
* This afternoon there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.
* Tuesday at 4PM there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.
* Wednesday, the Ladies Liturgy Society will meet. Mrs. Jones will sing “Put Me In My Little Bed” accompanied by the pastor.
* Thursday at 5PM there will be a meeting of the Little Mothers Club. All wishing to become Little Mothers, please see the minister in his private study.
* This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
* The service will close with “Little Drops of Water”. One of the ladies will start (quietly) and the rest of the congregation will join in.
* Next Sunday, a special collection will be taken to defray the cost of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will come forward and get a piece of paper.
* The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind and they may be seen in the church basement Friday.
* A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
* At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.
* Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
* The 1991 Spring Council Retreat will be hell May 10 and 11.
* Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary.
* 8 new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
* Mrs. Johnson will be entering the hospital this week for testes.
* The Senior Choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.
* Please join us as we show our support for Amy and Alan who is preparing for the girth of their first child.
* Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
* The Lutheran Men’s group will meet at 6 PM. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.
* The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: “I Upped My Pledge–Up Yours.”
* The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing “Break Forth into Joy.”
* Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say “hell” to someone who doesn’t care much about you.
* Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
* During the absence of our Pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.
* Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered.
* Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.
* The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.
* Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 pm.–prayer and medication to follow.

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