Newsletter 37

Newsletter 37 from Maurice Sweetsur


Contents.

Story - Feeding the 5000.
Teaching tip 24 - Knowing Jesus or knowing about Jesus?
Testimony - "May I call you - - - "
From the kids.
Riddle.
Things Kids say when praying.


Feeding the 5000.

When teaching well known Bible stories, I usually try to tell them from a different perspective - so as to keep the interest of the children who may be very familiar with them. (See Newsletter 17 - Overcoming discipline problems by making your lessons fun and exciting). This is the way I tell the familiar story of the "feeding of the 5000."

Today I am going to tell you a story from the Bible. I don't know all the details, but I imagine it may have happened something like this.

Jimmy was really excited. His mum had finally agreed to let him go on the picnic. But this wasn't going to be any ordinary picnic. Jimmy was convinced that this would be the best picnic ever. Why? Because the man everyone was talking about, the man who was going round from town to town performing miracles and healing the sick, was coming to have a meeting in a large field near Jimmy's own village. And everyone that Jimmy knew was going to be there. Perhaps Jimmy would even see a miracle.

Jimmy got up very early on the morning of the great meeting, had his breakfast, and set off for the field carrying his picnic lunch that his mum had prepared for him. But when Jimmy got to the field, he groaned. "Oh no" he thought "I won't be able to see anything." Even though it was still only about 7 a.m. thousands of people had already gathered to see this famous man, and Jimmy thought that being so small he would not have a good view of what was happening.

Jimmy's size, however, turned out to be to his advantage. Being small and agile, Jimmy managed to weave his way through the large good-natured crowd until he got all the way to the front - and sat down right at the feet of Jesus!

Jimmy listened intently as Jesus began to teach the people about the Kingdom of God, about how he, Jesus, had been sent by God to show people how much God loved them and about he was going to give up his life so that anyone could be forgiven and become God's forever friend. Jimmy didn't understand all that Jesus was saying at the time, but there was something in the way he said it that kept everyone spellbound.

After a while, Jesus asked for any sick people to come to him. Jimmy watched in amazement as Jesus healed them all - the blind, the deaf, the dumb, the lepers. the paralysed - - - - -. Suddenly Jimmy noticed something. It was beginning to get dark. He had been at the field all day long, and he had been so engrossed in what Jesus was saying and doing, that he had even forgotten to eat his picnic lunch!

Then Jimmy noticed that two of Jesus' disciples were talking loudly to each other.. Andrew said to Philip "Phil. What on earth are we going to do?" Philip replied "I have no idea Andy. Jesus has asked us to feed all these thousands of people, but we haven't any food." "I know" Andrew replied "But how can we tell Jesus that we can't do what he asked?" "Wait a minute" said Philip. "I have an idea. Why don't we ask all these people if they have any food that they are willing to share?"

Just then Jimmy remembered his uneaten picnic lunch. Rushing up to Andrew and Philip, he said "You can share my lunch if you wish." looking in the picnic basket, Andrew replied "That's not very much. But at least it's a start. Now, let's go and ask all the other people if they have any food." But nobody else had. They either did not bring any food with them, or if they had, they had eaten it all earlier in the day.

Disappointedly Andrew said "Come on. Let's show this boy's lunch to Jesus. At least Jesus will see that we have tried to get some food." Approaching Jesus, Andrew said "We have asked everyone if they have any food to share, but this boy is the only one who has. It's not very much. It is only two fish and five small loaves." Looking into the picnic basket, Jesus replied "That's enough." Jimmy was stunned. What did Jesus mean "That's enough." His lunch was hardly enough for himself, let alone all those thousands of people.

Jimmy stood and watched in silence as Jesus got his disciples to get the people to sit down in groups of about fifty. Then to Jimmy's astonishment, Jesus took one of his little fish, gave thanks to God for it and broke it in half. But to everyone's amazement, the two halves of the fish were each as large as the original fish! Then Jesus took one of the halves, broke it again - and the two new pieces were still as large as the original fish. Jesus kept repeating the process, and soon there was a large pile of fish. Jesus did the same with the second fish, and then with each of the five loaves.

There was a stunned silence as everyone watched the amazing miracle happening right in front of them. But then Jesus told his disciples to start giving out the food. And the Bible says that everyone had enough to eat. In fact when the whole event was over and the disciples went round collecting up all the scraps of fish and bread, the ended up with twelve basket's full!

My, that was a day that Jimmy would never forget. Wait until he got home and told his mum all that he had seen and heard. All that Jesus had taught them about the Kingdom of God, and all those amazing healings. But the best thing of all was that miracle at the end when Jesus had taken two fish and five loaves and multiplied them into enough food to feed thousands of hungry people. But the very, very best thing of all was that it was his fish and loaves that Jesus had used for the miracle!

Note. You may wish to incorporate a little acting into the telling of this story. For example, Jimmy weaving his way through the crowd, and the sick people being led or carried to Jesus.


Conclusion.

The Bible tells us that God does not Change. Hebrews 13 v. 8 says that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." The way that God works on the earth today is the same way that He worked two thousand years ago when he was here in bodily form. God uses people to bless other people and meet their needs. In the same way that He used that boy's picnic lunch to feed all those people, He uses whatever we are prepared to give him to bless others - if we give it willingly, just like the boy in the story.

You may only have a small amount of money, but if you give it willingly to God, for example put it into the church collection or give it to another good cause, He is able to take it and make even your small amount go a long, long way.

What about your time? Suppose you decide that instead of playing or watching T.V. one evening, you will spend some of your time helping Mum with the housework, helping Dad in the garden, taking a friend's dog for a walk, or doing some shopping for an elderly neighbour - then God is able to use your time to bless many people.

How about your talents? Suppose, for example, you find that you are good at playing the piano. If you say "I am not going to play the piano for my own enjoyment, or to entertain my friends, or even to earn myself lots of money. I am going to give my talent back to God, and let him direct me as to when and where I use my talent - He will be able to bless lots of people through it.

So, you don't have to be old to be used by God. (And I am glad about that!).
You don't have to be clever to be used by God (And I am glad about that!).
You don't have to be rich to be used by God. (And I am certainly glad about that!)
All you have to be is like that boy in our story - WILLING. Willing to give to God whatever you have. If you are, then there is no limit to what God can do through you.

Who can tell me, what is the very best thing we can give to God? Better than our money, better than our time, better than our talents? That's right. Our love, or in other words Ourselves. The best thing anyone can do is come before God and sincerely say "God, I give you all of myself. Not just my money, time and talents, but all of me. Whatever you want me to do, I will do it. Wherever you want me to go, I will go." If that is your attitude, there is no limit to how God can use you to help establish His Kingdom on earth - and there is nothing more wonderful than being used in that.


Note. 1.To illustrate the fact that as we give to God, He gives back to us in abundance, I use the illustration of giving away a corner. (See my article "Teaching children to be generous givers - Newsletter 19).

2. I often use a simple illusion to demonstrate the "multiplication of food." Using a 'Milk tumbler' (sometimes called a Wonderglass), available from Christian 'Magic' stores, e.g. Children's Ministry Today (www.childrensministry.org) you can appear to turn one glass of milk into two glasses of milk.


Knowing Jesus or knowing about Jesus?

Many children don't understand the difference between knowing someone and knowing about someone. It is essential. of course, that we teach them how they can know Jesus personally as opposed to simply knowing about him.

Being British, I use the illustration of the Queen. I say "I know a lot about the Queen. I know what she looks like, I know who she's married to, I know where she lives, I know the names of all her children. But I have never met her. Although I know about her, I don't actually know her. If she were to walk into this classroom today, I might say 'Hello Your Majesty', and she may well reply 'Who are you? I don't know you.' And, of course, she would be right because we had never met before.

It is the same with knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus. Many people know lots about Jesus. They may have read the Bible many times and know all about the wonderful things He said and did. But many of them have never actually met him. They don't know him personally, they only know about him. And the only way anyone can get to know him for themselves is by accepting him as their Lord and Saviour.



"May I call you - - - - "

by Darrell Blatchley
Missionary to Asia's little ones.

Two years ago a father of one of our Family Circus children died
from TB. It was a lingering drawn out death. When he died he left
behind his wife and several children living in a small squatters shack
in the slum. His youngest daughter Noime age 14 had been ill and
out of school for two weeks. Sandy went to the widow and asked
her if she'd like for her daughter to come live with us so we could
care for her.
Her mother turned to her daughter and exclaimed, 'Now you will be safe!'
They packed few possessions she had into a small plastic grocery bag,
and she came to live with us. At the hospital she was diagnosed with TB
and had about 2 liters of fluid in her lungs. The Doctor said, "She needed to
gain at least 15 pounds, she weighed 83 lbs. Over a period of months she
regained her health, gained 15 lbs, and did well in school. Finally she was
able to return home.
Fast forward to the present.
About a week ago Noime said, "Uncle Darrell, I really treasure our
friendship, 'May I call you... dad?' I really miss the word dad."
My heart went out to her, she'll be 16 in about 3 weeks. "That's a high
level of trust, responsibility, and vulnerability on her part to even risk
asking. Even knowing our busy lives I answered. "Yes."
It's neat to know that we have a Heavenly Father and inspite of His busy
schedule When we ask, "May I call you... dad?" He replies, "Yes'
my son/daughter."
We had almost 4,000 children and family members in church this last
week. God is working in there lives and most all of them have come to
know that when they call on God, He calls them His child. That's why
we are here and that's what it's all about.
In it for the King & His kids,
Darrell Blatchley

PS: Confession: When we look at the multitude of poor children flooding into
church it makes us excited to be able to impact their lives for eternity. We've
grown 1,000 in weekly attendance in the past six months. However when we
pay the bills and compare the expenses to our support level we know that
we need additional partners for prayer and finances for the ongoing care of
the children. The transportation fare to bring one child to church every Sunday
for a month costs about the price of a can of Coke. That's not much, until you
begin to multiply it by 3-4,000 kids. It stretches our faith.
Plans are to build a new church for the poor children and their families. We
are under negotiations for the purchase of property in the heart of the slums.
When the title is clear we will begin building. Estimated cost for the church
is $300,000. We are looking for families, individuals, and or churches that
would like to join with us. 300 contributions of $1,000 each would help this
to become a reality. So far about 46 have joined with us in this.


Darrell is a long-time recipient of these Newsletters, and can be contacted at Familycircus@agmd.org


From the Kids.
(Source: Relationship Services, Whakawhanaungatanga).

* Spend time with me. Enjoy me.

* Tell me what you like about me.

* Help me find the words to tell you how I feel.

* Help me to feel big and proud. Honour my feelings.

* Tell me clearly what you want from me.

* Be firm. Say No. I depend on you to set limits for me.

* Let me know you still love me when you don't like what I do.

* Keep me safe when you get mad at me.

* Let me learn by trying things. Comfort me when trying makes me cross.

* Say sorry when you're wrong. Show me it really is okay to make mistakes.

* Coach me. I learn how to act by copying you.

* It's my job to be the kid. I need you to be the grown up.


Riddle.

Here is a conundrum that has been around for many generations. However, one of the benefits of teaching children is that what is often 'old hat' to us is new to them. The answer is just one word, and will be given next month. It appears only four times in the King James version of the Bible.

Adam, God made out of dust
But thought it best to make me first,
So I was made before man
To answer God's most holy plan.
A living being I became
And Adam gave to me my name.
I from his presence then withdrew,
And more of Adam never knew.
I did my Maker's law obey
Nor ever went from it astray.
Thousands of miles I go in fear
But seldom on earth appear.
For purpose wise which God did see,
He put a living soul in me.
A soul from me did God claim
And took from me the soul again.
So when from me the soul had fled
I was the same as when first made.
And without hands, feet or soul,
I travel on from pole to pole.
I labour hard by day, by night
To fallen man I give great light.
Thousands of people, young and old
Will by my death great light behold.
No right or wrong can I conceive
The scripture I cannot believe.
Although my name therein is found
They are to me an empty sound.
No fear of death doth trouble me,
Real happiness I'll never see.
To heaven I shall never go
Or to hell below.
Now when these lines you slowly read,
Go search your Bible with all speed,
For that my name is written there,
I do honestly to you declare.


Things Kids say when praying.

Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter.
There is nothing good in there now.
Amanda

Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy.
I never asked for anything before.
You can look it up.
Joyce

Dear Mr. God,
I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.
Janet

Dear God,
I read the Bible.
What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me.
Love Alison

Dear God,
How did you know you were God?
Who told you?
Charlene

Dear God,
I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world.
There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nancy

Dear God,
I like the story about Noah the best of all of them.
You really made up some good ones.
I like walking on water, too.
Glenn

Dear God,
My Granddad says you were around when he was a little boy.
How far back do you go?
Love, Dennis

Dear God,
Do you draw the lines around the countries?
If you don't, who does?
Nathan

Dear God,
Did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?
Norma

Dear God,
In Bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
Jennifer

Dear God,
Please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year.
Peter

Dear God,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms. It works out OK with me and my brother.
Larry

Dear God,
I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet. What's up? Don't forget.
Mark