tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80762901715048240242024-03-13T13:47:59.059+11:00Laugh, Cry, Think! - Scott Wegener's creative worksChristian dramas (and more) by Scott WegenerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-88357891154560537902023-12-23T14:47:00.002+11:002024-02-12T17:39:36.425+11:00Bring Your Gifts [christmas drama about using your gifts for God]<p>[Bob and Darron come down opposite isles and meet in middle of stage.]</p><p>BOB: Hey Dazza!! Merry Christmas! </p><p>DARRON: Hi Bob! Merry Christmas to you, too! </p><p>BOB: Haven’t seen you at church in ages! </p><p>DARRON: Yeah, how have you been? </p><p>BOB: Great, and you? </p><p>DARRON: Ok. What you up to for Christmas?<br /><br />BOB: Well, I just picked up another car to restore over the holidays actually. </p><p>DARRON: Oh really? What did you get this time? </p><p>BOB: A go-ggo mobil, actually! </p><p>DARRON: A what? </p><p>BOB: Go-ggo mobil. </p><p>DARRON: Ok? </p><p>BOB: It’s in good nick, I just have to work on the engine and I’ll have it G, O, G-G, O-ing in no time! </p><p>DARRON: You’re an amazing mechanic. Is there anything you can’t get running? </p><p>BOB: Ha, so far so good. I guess I’m just gifted in that area - but don’t ask me to sing! <br />How about you? What are you up to for Christmas?<br /><br />DARRON: We were planning on going down to Melbourne to see Mum. She hasn’t been very well lately. Unfortunately our car’s motor is out of action at the moment, and I just don’t have the funds to take it to a mechanic right now. So we’ll probably be staying home. </p><p>BOB: What car have you got? </p><p>DARRON: An old Tarago. </p><p>BOB: Oh, I had one of them once. I tell you, I spent hours on our Tarago, I reckon I could still teardown and reassemble a Tarago engine in my sleep!... Those were the days.<br />[pause]<br />Well, I gotta run. I’m busting to get into the garage. Nice to see you though. Hope you find a way to get your car fixed for Christmas. Actually… I tell you what…. [pause] I’ll remember you in my prayers. </p><p>DARRON: Thanks, Bob.<br />[Bob and Daron leave opposite sides to they came. Child takes to stage]<br /> </p><p>CHILD: <br />Bob has a gift, but he’s not using it for Jesus.<br />Don’t be like Bob. <br />Be wise. Bring your gifts to Jesus.<br />I tell you: whatever you do for your brothers and sisters, you do for Jesus.<br /><br /></p><p><i>Castle Hill </i><i><i>Seventh-day Adventist Church - </i> December 23, 2023</i> <i> </i><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-15699716380178657962023-12-09T20:00:00.058+11:002023-12-10T11:47:34.102+11:00Jingle Beans [Mr Bean christmas script]<p>Assistant sets up chairs, stands, music, Trumpet on stand.<br /><br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Bean walks past, notices instruments at a glance.</li><li>Comes back intrigued at trumpet, looks around and sits down.</li><li>Pulls out teddy and shows.</li><li>Puffs out cheeks, showing off to teddy, then gives teddy turn</li><li>Plays with valves, then gives teddy turn jumping on valves</li><li>Says “hello” in bell, Teddy falls in bell and is wedged in.</li><li>Violinist comes out and trumpeter. Trumpeter, ignored by bean and they walk away confused.</li><li>Jingle Bells chorus played by violin and stops waiting for trumpet “Hey”, but muted by Teddy, Bean confused but finds teddy and pulls out, and mouthpiece falls out while removing teddy</li><li>Misses next hey, because no mouth piece, gives verbal “hey”</li><li>Jingle bells verse played, Bean chases mouthpiece beneath chairs. Buzz “hey” under chair with mouthpiece.</li><li>Back to chair, inconveniently in between stands and player.</li><li>Last Hey is ‘fart sound’ - amusing Bean but not violinist.</li><li>12 days of Christmas (or Deck the halls) played by violinist</li><li>Bean gets bored after a while, starts shaving face and forehead, and nose - but get;s stuck on nose hair. </li><li>After pulled out, noes is left tickled, and hints at sneeze - that goes away temporarily.</li><li>Sneezes, no tissue, hints at using teddy to wipe noes but aborts, sneaks sheet of music from violinist.Blows noes long an loud, and puts in pocket.</li><li>Violin gets near end of song and runs out of music mid musical phrase, looks for it.</li><li>Bean looks around then realizes the music in hsi pocket, hesitantly hands scrunched music from pocket, violinist takes, Bean sneaks off, violinist squeals and leaves..</li></ul><p><i><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Christmas Social - Dec 9, 2023</i> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-5207756439774363482023-10-28T11:00:00.007+11:002023-10-29T14:41:13.228+11:00"God will never allow more trials than we can handle" [Putting Bad Theology on Trial Sermon Drama Series 4/4]<p>To play out like a courtroom scene, immediately before a sermon that exposes the misquoted verse about God will never allow more TEMPTATIONS than we can handle.<br />This is one of four dramas for a "Putting Bad Theology on Trial" Sermon Series: <br /></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>You can’t be sure of your salvation</li><li>God promises to guide and prosper us in all our daily living</li><li>Reverence must mean silence</li><li>God will never allow more trials than we can handle.</li></ol><p>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><b>Judge: </b>OK, our first case for the morning is a complaint from a student that their teacher is giving them too much homework. Would the student please take to the stand and deliver their statement.</p><p><span></span><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b>Child:</b> Thank you, your honour. I have been attending school most of my life now, and I cannot remember a time where I’ve had as much homework as I do now! I hardly have time to help my mummy with dinner, or read my Bible. One night I was asked to feed my puppy, but I had too much homework, so my puppy had to go without her dinner that night.<br />It is clear to me that my teacher either doesn’t have the skills, or more likely hasn’t the time to complete all her work on her own, and so I suspect she is handing it onto us kids to complete. It is more than we can handle and that is why I’m here today. <br />Don’t get me wrong, my teacher is lovely, but… I’m requesting that you order our teacher to give us less workload – so I can start helping mummy in the kitchen again, have time to read my Bible, and be able to start feeding my puppy again. <br />If my teacher can’t reduce the burden she’s putting on me, I would like to have my teacher replaced with one that’s more reasonable.<br />Thank you.</p><p><b>Judge:</b> Thank you. Would the teacher please take to the stand and deliver their Statement.</p><p>Teacher: Thank you, your honour. I am sorry to have to agree with my student. I am so overworked that it is true, I cannot complete all the homework on my own and I have had to share it amongst my students to help me complete it each evening – or it would never get done! It’s not that I am not skilled enough to do the homework myself, in fact I’m quite good at colouring in between lines, it’s just the quantity of work. <br />As the saying goes, “Many hands make homework” and, like all teachers, I have my class helping me out each evening complete the day’s tasks. In my case, I didn’t think it was more than the students could handle. I wish there was a way I could lessen the load, but it’s just the system we’ve inherited, where pain and misery gets passed down to ALL students. I don’t believe another teacher will help the situation and I would really like to stay on, for I love my students. </p><p><b>Judge:</b> Thank you. In light of all this information, I suggest that the student feed the homework to her puppy. That should fix everything.<br />Dismissed.<br />OK, our next case is an accusation that God is giving us more than we can handle – contrary to the Bibles claims that He won’t. Would the accuser take to the stand and deliver their Statement.<br /><br /><b>Accuser:</b> Thank you, your honour. It’s commonly shared among Christians in times of trials that the Bible says “God will never give us more than we can handle.” But today I’d like to suggest this promise has been neglected millions, if not billions, of times.<br />For example, what about the apostles of Jesus being martyred, surely their early deaths were more than they could handle. And many other Christians, though followers of God, have been killed for their faith. Surely their deaths were more than they “can bear”.<br />And how many people have had mental break downs from extremely traumatic life events or unhealthy workloads. And in extreme cases many are ‘broken’ to a point of no return? Surely THAT is life circumstances more than one can handle.<br />We really don’t need to go into details, especially with the children present in the room, but let’s just say, there is too much evidence of people indeed having more than they can handle, and this includes Christians too, who clearly God should favour. <br />I put it to the jury, that there is either no God that is capable of fulfilling such promise, or he’s a liar. There’s no other explanation.<br />I would like to have a court order put in place to have all Bibles of the world recalled and have a ‘Fiction’ label applied to the cover. For this example makes it clear, it doesn’t deliver on its promises.</p><p><b>Judge:</b> Thank you. Would the defendant please take to the stand and deliver their statement.</p><p><b>Preacher:</b> Thank you, your honour. I agree Christians need to stop sharing this promise around, for one simple reason….</p><p><b>Judge:</b> Is this going to take long? I’ve got a drumming lesson I’m running late for. </p><p><b>Preacher:</b> I think you need it, clearly your timing is not great….<br /><br /><br /> <br /><b>~ AFTER SERMON - last in the 4 part series ~</b></p><p>[immediately after last part of the service]</p><p><b>Judge: </b>ORDER, ORDER!<br />Unless you’re running to the bathrooms, please be seated!!!<br />I’ve heard that every hearing this month the jury has left the building before the judge has returned.<br />NOT TODAY!<br />Members of the jury, would you please send forward your group representative.</p><p>[Pastor walks to stage]<br /><br />This month we’ve put 4 theological concepts on trial.<br />First, that you can’t be sure of your salvation,<br />Second, That God promises to guide and prosper us in our daily living<br />Third, That reverence must mean silence<br />Fourth, That God will never allow more trials than we can handle.<br /><br />On these four counts, the church leadership here has argued these are not actually what the Bible teaches and distorts our picture and expectations of God.<br />Have the jury come to a unanimous conclusion on whether these four concepts are in fact false, and recognise that these and many more miss-interpreted biblical concepts are circulating, and for many continue to hamper an accurate understanding of a loving God. </p><p><b>Pastor:</b> Unanimous? Not entirely, your honour. While many agree with all that has been said, some still have doubts and questions that trouble them.<br /><br /><b>Judge:</b> I see. In light of this. <br />For those with questions that trouble them, continue to study for yourself and with others, and in all your deliberations, use 1 John chapter 4 as you starting reference point: God is Love.<br />For all those who see the light in this month’s messages, continue in your personal study of the Bible also, and repeatedly discover more ways that God is love, and how this affects EVERYTHING!<br />For the accuser, for sneakily twisting God’s word and creating unhealthy myths regarding his Word, in an effort to destroy the reputation of God’s character and cause division in His church family, and with the ultimate goal of leading members of God’s family away: You are here by sentenced to 1000 years jail, followed by consumption by fire.<br />Members of the Jury, those present and online:<br />The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. </p><p>Dismissed.<br /> </p><p> <i><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Oct 28, 2023</i></p><p><i> </i> <br /></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/__SiB6V8uNY?si=A4WGTSqTfbxtGBsE&start=3167" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/__SiB6V8uNY?si=QlFIBBcQ4tm7CSgv&start=5560" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-50408386740397482562023-10-21T11:00:00.003+11:002023-10-29T14:47:29.349+11:00"Reverence must mean silence" [Putting Bad Theology on Trial Sermon Drama Series 3/4]<p>To play out like a courtroom scene, immediately before a sermon that affirms Reverence doesn't have be be boring.</p><p>NOTE: This will be a controversial script to run in a conservative church, (any, for example, that does not clap after a special item). This script has had much time put in trying to been worded carefully in an attempt to not make light of giving reverence to God - who deserves more than we can ever give. It attempts to show how holy God is and how in reality we can do nothing to match his holiness when giving reverence to Him. Also explores, "God is love", and how the thought that He is so easily angered by breaking different 'reverence rules' is not compatible with a God so loving. It's an extreme sermon opener where the preacher needs to balance out the argument. Use this script with caution. :) <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br />This is one of four dramas for a "Putting Bad Theology on Trial" Sermon Series: <br /></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>You can’t be sure of your salvation</li><li>God promises to guide and prosper us in all our daily living</li><li>Reverence must mean silence</li><li>God will never allow more trials than we can handle.</li></ol><p>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><b>Judge: </b>OK, our first case for the morning is a complaint from a child that their dad always plays awful music on the car radio while they drive to and from school. Would you please take to the stand and deliver your statement.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p><b>Child:</b>. Thank you, your honour. I sorry it’s come to this, but I just can’t take it any longer. My dad listens to nothing but ‘golden oldies’ FM radio whenever we drive anywhere. It’s the worst, I mean, golden oldies? More like Golden mouldys!<br />Sometimes my friends come in the car, and it’s so embarrassing.<br />I’d like my dad to play some more modern music for me, at least every now and then – I’m not unreasonable. He gets to listen to the music he grew up with, why can’t I? Thank you.</p><p><b>Judge: </b>Thank you. Would the defendant please take to the stand and deliver their Statement. </p><p><b>Dad: </b>Yeah, thanks your honour. Basically we’ve got no idea how to change the radio station in our new care. I can’t even figure out how to put the park break on and off in these fancy new cars! I’m more than happy to change the station if my child can figure it out. Anyway. That’s all I have to say about that.</p><p><b>Judge: </b>Thank you. It seems to me if you both work together you’ll be able to find a happy medium with the music. Dismissed.</p><p>OK, our next case is an accusation that church is to enjoyable, and we are not taking reverence to the Loving Creator serious enough.<br /></p><p><b>Complainant: </b>We can all agree, our Loving Creator is so holy, so overwhelmingly perfect and supreme, we are not even worthy to voice his name, let alone see his face. He is so superior to us, it is incomprehensible!<br />Because of this I am declaring we have to bring reverence back to our churches of which will match this level of holiness, and strip away all frivolities in order to pay proper reverence.<br />When we come to worship our Loving Creator, we need to pay 100% respect to Him, for Leviticus 19:30 states, “Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.” Or we risk losing our Loving Creator’s favour altogether.<br />Therefore, to keep this reverence as one comes into the sanctuary to worship the Loving Creator, I have some ideas of what we should do to become “reverent compliant”.<br />First, we shouldn’t utter a single word to one other, and we should bite our lip until we depart the sanctuary. No talking whatsoever. No “Amen’s” called out, definitely no clapping – nor laughing. In fact, safer not to smile, for the possibility of it breaking into something audible that may upset our Loving Creator.<br />We should remove our shoes before entry, remove our hats, jewellery and any branded clothing. Before entry one should also remove any makeup, eye glasses, false teeth, hearing aids, and any prosthetics should be put detached and left in the umbrella stand on the way in – for keeping such things on in the sanctuary would suggest we are happy for manmade imperfect body parts in the Sanctuary – our Loving Creator must only have perfection in his Sanctuary!! <br />As for helping the hearing impaired by signing in a service, this CAN be done as a compassionate task – but just never signing with Auslan – it has far too much raising of the arms in the sanctuary to be reverent to our Loving Creator.<br />We must keep our heads bowed at ALL times in the sanctuary, as not to disrespect the Loving Creator, who is infinitely above our wretchedness. For raising our gaze would be to challenge him to a dule.<br />For too long our worship service music has ignored reverence altogether! Having insensitive raucous music by electric guitars of all colours and pedal effects, organs requiring dancing feet to play, and of course the most abominable drum kits at bottom of the barrel – all outrageous! And don’t be deceived saints, “hitting a wooden box” is still a heathen drumming device. We should go back to how music was before all this rasping noise, and only ever sing in acapella the Psalm which was sung at the last supper by our Loving Creator. Everything else has deviated from true reverent music. <br />All musical items must be pre-recorded and checked for errors before being played as special music, so we never ever have an imperfect musical tribute to our Loving Creator – and definitely no kids singing until they can sing the whole way though in tune – our Loving Creator must shake his head when he hears such imperfection! <br />Children should be left in thy cars when coming into the sanctuary, so that they do not leave crumbs, squeak a texta, or worse… run up onto the most holy place – the stage! We cannot risk letting this abomination happen to the Loving Creator who deserves the best.<br />Those prone to allergies should only ever watch the divine service online, for we cannot risk any coughs or sneezes, even accidental, for that would break the reverence deserved to our Loving Creator. And the use of an EpiPen within the sanctuary would surely remove one from the book of life!<br />Those with receded hairlines must never enter the sanctuary, for their reflective brightness could be seen as a challenge to the Loving Creator brightness. <br />No chit chat should be spewed from the pulpit about birthdays, anniversaries or even mentions of people in hospital, of which is an unclean place and should not be uttered in the house of the Loving Creator.<br />No more readings from the NIV Bible, and definitely not the Message Bible, which should be righteously burnt for its reckless, frivolous attempt to explain the Loving Creator’s love for us in understandable ways. All readings must only be read from the original Hebrew and Greek - ever! For English, and its usage of superfluous silent letters, is clearly an imperfect language to utter the scriptures with. (though… silent letters are reverent, come to think of it!)<br />And finally, under NO circumstances, ever, ever, EVER should there be a skit, drama or puppet play in the sanctuary. The Loving Creator will not tolerate the presenting fictitious parables in an attempt to teach of his love in easy to understand object lessons. <br />It’s time. We must cleanse our sanctuary, just as the Loving Creator cleansed the sanctuary. And we finally create a reverence so clean, you could eat off it – if that were allowed – which it isn’t!<br />Your honour, having said all this just now, I heard the snickering in the audience, and can see some scrolling their devices. I don’t think we’ll ever achieve this as long as theses sinners are attending. I believe the only way to keep this sanctuary truly holy is to LOCK THE PEOPLE OUT, and we all simply come each week and kneel around the outside of the building, and thus the sanctuary will be kept a truly reverent place, of which our 100% holy Loving Creator deserves.<br />Only then will the Loving Creator be able to call us “good and reverent servants” for our efforts at perfect reverence in His sanctuary.<br />Thank you. </p><p><b>Judge:</b> Thank you. Would the defendant please take to the stand and deliver their statement.</p><p><b>Preacher: </b>Thank you, your honour. While I whole heartedly agree that our Loving Creator is infinitely holy, and more than we can ever truly comprehend or give enough reverence to. I also would like to put it to the jury that reverence does not have to rule out all enjoyable participation…<br /></p><p><b>Judge:</b> [using Ausand to sign at the same time] Is this going to take long? I just remembered, I have to go renew my Signs of the Times subscription. </p><p><br /></p><p><i><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Oct 21, 2023</i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-53332995412125304512023-10-14T14:10:00.002+11:002023-12-10T14:16:29.124+11:00The Armour of God [script where balloons are used in the story]<p> Characters:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Narrator</li><li>Evil One</li><li>PF 1 belt</li><li>PF 2 breastplate</li><li>PF 3 shoes</li><li>PF 4 shield</li><li>PF 5 helmet</li><li>PF 6 sword</li></ul><p>(Scene: The children are gathered at the front of church. The Narrator stands in front<br />of them.)<br /> <br />Narrator: Who knows who wrote the book of Ephesians in the Bible? It was Paul!<br />Ephesians is the name for people who lived in a city called Ephesus. Paul knew that<br />the Ephesian Christians had to be strong and courageous to face the challenges that<br />would happen to them in their lives. He used the example of wearing armour, which<br />the Ephesians would have seen the Roman soldiers wearing, to teach them about<br />how to protect themselves from the evil one.<br />Today we’re going to look at this Armour of God that Paul talks about and what it all<br />represents so it can help you stay strong against the evil one.<br />Now we need a tall helper. (Choose an older child – at least 8 years old?)<br />Are you afraid of balloons? GREAT, because we going to use some balloons the<br />Pathfinder have learnt to twist to represent the Armour of God. <br /> <br />The first piece of armour is the Belt of Truth. It holds everything together and<br />reminds us to always speak the truth, as well as trusting in God as the source of<br />truth<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br />(PF 1 makes the belt and puts it on the selected child.)<br />PF 1: The Belt of Truth! To keep you grounded and help you live with honesty and<br />integrity.<br /> <br />Narrator: The second piece of armour is the Breastplate of Righteousness. The<br />righteousness that comes from Jesus covers and protects us. It guards how we<br />think, feel and act.<br /> <br />(PF 2 makes the breastplate and holds it up, and/or puts it on the selected child.)<br /> <br />PF 2: The Breastplate of Righteousness! To keep your heart full of goodness and<br />protect you from evil.<br /><br />Narrator: The third piece of armour is the Shoes, which are the Gospel of Peace.<br />We can have peace because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. They help us<br />spread this good news to others wherever we go.<br /> (PF 3 makes the shoes and puts them on the selected child.)<br /> <br />PF 3: The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace! To help take you out to share the good<br />news with everyone you meet.<br />Narrator: The fourth piece of armour is the Shield of Faith. It protects us from the<br />fiery arrows of the Evil One.<br /> <br />(PF 4 makes the shield and puts it on the selected child.)<br /> <br />PF 4: The Shield of Faith! To help defend you from the attacks of the Evil One and<br />keep you safe.<br />Narrator: The fifth piece of armour is the Helmet of Salvation. It protects our minds<br />and helps us remember that we are loved by God and that Jesus has saved us.<br /> <br />(PF 5 makes the helmet and holds it up, and/or puts it on the selected child.<br /> <br />PF 5: The Helmet of Salvation! To help keep your thoughts pure and focused on<br />God&#39;s love.<br /> <br />Narrator: And finally, the sixth piece is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of<br />God – which is…..? (the Bible!)<br /> <br />(PF 6 makes the sword and gives it to the selected child.)<br /> <br />PF 6: The Sword of the Spirit! To help you fight against the lies of the Evil One with<br />the truth of God&#39;s Word.<br /> <br />Narrator: The Ephesians learned the importance of wearing the Armour of God<br />every day. They understood that it wasn&#39;t a physical armour, made out of metal, or<br />even balloons, but a spiritual one that would protect their hearts and minds form the<br />evil one, who lurks around, looking for people he can steal from God’s family.<br /> <br />(Scene: The Evil One enters the stage, trying to tempt the children.)<br /> <br />Evil One: (Slyly) Helloooo child. Sssssay, it must be hard to walk around<br />dressssssed like that. You don&#39;t neeeed that ssssssilly armour. Take is off and come<br />and have some fffffunnnnn with meeeee!<br /> <br />All PF: (Stand in a semi-circle around armour kid) Not so fast! The Armour of God is<br />protecting them from your lies and tricks.<br /> <br />(Each PF that made the piece of the armour steps forward and recites their role.)<br /> <br />Helmet: The Helmet of Salvation is helping protect their mind!<br /><br />Breastplate: The breastplate of righteousness is helping protect their heart!<br /> <br />Belt: The Belt of Truth is helping hold everything together!<br /> Shoes: The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace are helping them spread God&#39;s love!<br /> <br />Shield: The Shield of Faith is helping them defend against your evil!<br /> <br />Sword: The Sword of the Spirit will fight back at your evil lies with the truth of God&#39;s<br />Word!<br /> <br />Narrator: The Evil One realizes that it will be very difficult to overcome the children<br />with the Armour of God protecting them.<br /> <br />Evil One: (Frustrated) I will not givvvvve up on you, childrennnnnnn!<br /> <br />(PFs stand together with children, holding hands.)<br /> <br />PFs: With the Armour of God, we are strong!<br />Narrator: And that, my friends, is how the armour of God protects you and helps you<br />to keep choosing what is good and right, and to follow God&#39;s path.<br />Thanks kids. Thank you Pathfinders! (PFs take a bow while arms linked.)<p></p><p> </p><p><b>Performance:</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2023</i></li></ul><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-39366517603667400532023-10-14T11:00:00.009+11:002023-10-29T14:42:23.740+11:00"God promises to guide and prosper us in all our daily living" [Putting Bad Theology on Trial Sermon Drama Series 2/4]<p>To play out like a courtroom scene, immediately before a sermon that God doesn't promises to guide and prosper us in all our daily living. A sermon unpacking misconceptions on applying OT verses directly to
our lives (like Jeremiah 29:11) without understanding context first) eg
God does not plan every aspect of our daily lives, just the overall
goal, which ultimately is our salvation, whereas we are responsible for
the regular daily decisions which, however, might get overridden by
someone else’s free will if it crosses ours. </p><p>This is one of four dramas for a "Putting Bad Theology on Trial" Sermon Series: <br /></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>You can’t be sure of your salvation</li><li>God promises to guide and prosper us in all our daily living</li><li>Reverence must mean silence</li><li>God will never allow more trials than we can handle.</li></ol><p>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><b>Judge:</b> OK, our first case for the morning is a child’s complaint against their parents.<br />It looks like they are seeking replace their mother because last week she did not make their bed for them.<br />Would the child please take to the stand and deliver their statement.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b>Child:</b> Thank you, your honour. Ever since I can remember, my mother has always made my bed, she did a lovely job and was consistent and I had no doubts that each day my bed would be made for me - ready for me to jump into at the end of a hard day at school. <br />However, last week, and on my Birthday I might add, she didn’t not make my bed. ON MY BIRTHDAY! Of all days when I should get special attention, my mother chooses NOT to make my bed!<br />My friends came home from school with me for a party and, walking into my bedroom – there is my bed with blankets in complete chaos. It was an utter embarrassment to me. I tried making the bed hastily myself, but as you can imagine, I was not very skilled in this matter and it was a complete disaster. Now, my mother will have known it was my birthday, and my friend were coming around, and also that I would not be very skilled in making my bed. It’s just outrageous this lack of attention from my on mother. Surely my mother could continue to make my bed for the final few years of my stay in the family home, after all - I’m clearly unable to make the bed very well myself. And so, given that she has not made my bed, in the days after my birthday either – I would like to have my mother replaced with another mother that truly cares about all aspects of my life, and doesn’t ignore the little details. <br /><br /><b>Judge:</b> Thank you. Would the defendant please take to the stand and deliver their Statement.</p><p><b>Parent:</b> Your honour, it is true that I made my daughter’s bed all though her childhood. Every day without ceasing. I love my child and that is why I did this, and many other things, as she grew older. However, upon turning 18 she no longer remained a little child, and my focus shifted to prepare her for leaving the house. Thus, I ceased making my child’s bed on the midnight before her 18th birthday. I believe it is time for my child to learn, and I’m more than happy to teach, so they will have a brighter future and be able to make beds for their children in the future. I appreciate my child might feel abandoned, but the intention is for a long-term benefit.<br />Finally, I must mention that nothing would hurt me more than losing the joy of being the mother of my child. It would truly break my heart. But I acknowledge that if that’s what my child wants, then, so be it. But I’ll always be here for her.</p><p><b>Judge:</b> Thank you. So, child, it is clear to me that this is not for the court to decide but yourself as to whether you keep your mother or go and seek an alternative. I would recommend you stay, as you mother clearly loves you and wants the best long term outcome for you, but this is ultimately your choice. Please take this matter and think it over seriously. Dismissed.</p><p>[Child leaves – a little unimpressed] </p><p><b>Judge:</b> OK, our next case is an accusation that God is not keeping his promises of protection. The party lodging this complaint couldn’t be here today for they are in hospital after having a large rock they were carrying drop on their foot. So, I shall read the complaint, and then allow for the defendant to respond.<br />It says: <br />"Your honour, Apologies I could not be in court to testify in person. But the fact that I can not be there only strengthens my case against this God who claims He will protect his believers. <br />In Psalm 91, verse 9 to 12 it clearly says: <br />If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.<br />For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.<br />They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.<br />I am declaring this to be a lie. For I have been a strict follower of God since I can remember. I never smoke or swear, and neither have I ever swum on a Sabbath day - and the mere smell of barbecuing bacon makes me fall on my knees to pray for cleansing. However, looking back, many times have I stubbed my toe on all sorts of things. And according to this Bible text, this should not happen to his followers at all. To top it off, last week, while carrying a stone to put in my prayer garden in my front yard, I accidentally drop it right on my foot, breaking 25 and a half bones in my foot! While I still believe in God, I would like to have the Bible corrected and remove all verses about protection for his followers, for that is clearly not true and make us the laughing stock of everyone."<br />There ends the statement. Would the defendant please take to the stand and deliver their Statement.</p><p><b>Preacher:</b> Thank you your honour. I would like to put it to the jury that the defendant is not understanding the broader context of what the Bible texts actually mean…</p><p><b>Judge:</b> [interrupts early on] Is this going to take a while? I think I’ll pop of for a nap, for I didn’t sleep well last night - my bed became untucked and I got cold as the doona slipped off. Gall me when you’re done.</p><p>[Leaves]<br /></p><p><i><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Oct 14, 2023</i><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/obe7aNkKBKw?si=9mDcmxXstn0irIWk&start=3130" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-3337963656173803562023-10-14T11:00:00.001+11:002023-10-18T09:09:52.309+11:00A Record Making Children's Story<p>A chaotic children's story showing all the processes of making a news magazine each week.<br />For the 125th Anniversary of Record Magazine<br />Starts 34 minutes in:<br /></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="540" id="ls_embed_1697580364" scrolling="no" src="https://livestream.com/accounts/11980831/events/10989766/videos/237927375/player?width=960&height=540&enableInfo=true&defaultDrawer=feed&autoPlay=true&mute=false" width="960"> </iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-65732748670983281792023-10-07T11:00:00.010+11:002023-10-29T14:44:27.161+11:00"I can never be sure of my Salvation" [Putting Bad Theology on Trial Sermon Drama Series 1/4]<p>To play out like a courtroom scene, immediately before a sermon that affirms you CAN be sure of your salvation.<br />This is one of four dramas for a "Putting Bad Theology on Trial" Sermon Series: <br /></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>You can’t be sure of your salvation</li><li>God promises to guide and prosper us in all our daily living</li><li>Reverence must mean silence</li><li>God will never allow more trials than we can handle.</li></ol>
<p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /></p><p><b>Judge: </b>OK, our first case for the morning is a parents’ complaint against their child.<br />It looks like they are seeking to expel their child from the family home because last week they did not put their dirty socks in the washing basket before the washing machine was started.<br />Would the accuser please take to the stand and deliver their argument.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p><b>Accuser:</b> You would not believe what this child has tried to get away with. There’s one simple rule: All washing must be put in the basket before washing day. And on this day, washing time came around and the mother could see the socks on the bedroom floor, but even after delaying for a minute of two, the socks were never put in the washing. The mother had to proceed to do the washing without the dirty articles of clothing being cleaned. <br />And the child knows full well that their washing MUST be in the washing basket at the time of the cleaning, or else they will be expelled from the house. Not exceptions. Clothing must be cleaned because if it isn’t – the house would end up with rats and cockroaches infesting it, due to filth left lying around. SO… it is plain to me that this child must be expelled from their house without delay. <br /></p><p><b>Judge:</b> Thank you. Would the defendant please take to the stand and deliver their argument.<br /></p><p><b>Child:</b> Your honour, I usually put my socks in the wash, and it is always my intention to. On this occasion, of which I really can’t remember, I must have simply forgotten to put my dirty laundry out for cleaning. I am sorry and will try my best not to forget again. I would like stress that I usually do follow this rule, and would very much like to stay living in my family’s home. I am truly sorry. Thank you. <br /></p><p><b>Judge:</b> So, you admit you didn’t have all your washing out in time for the cleansing of the clothing?<b> <br /></b></p><p><b>Child:</b> I usually do, I just forgot this time as I was probably in a hurry or distracted.<br /></p><p><b>Judge: </b>Well, the rules are rules, and penalty for not adhering to the washing procedure is no longer be allowed to live in the family home. You must understand a house must be kept clean. However, I tell you what… I’ll wash them for you – you’re free to go.<br /></p><p>[Child leaves – a little confused over what just happened]<br /></p><p><b>Judge: </b>OK, our next case is testing the accusation that one can never be sure of their salvation. Would the accuser please take to the stand and deliver their argument.<br /> <br /><b>Accuser:</b> It’s about time we settle this once and for all, and squash ANY thought that any of you jury can actually be sure of your ‘Salvation’. In Matthew 6:15 it clearly says: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Let me quote that again: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”<br />This one text is all we need to prove, there is no way to know for sure if you will be saved when your death comes upon you. <br />I mean it’s quite possible that you may suddenly die in a car accident and at that moment you will NOT have yet forgiven EVERYONE who has wronged you. <br />For mere minutes earlier you could well have had an incident and not forgiven those involved yet – or maybe you’ve forgotten to forgive someone from long ago! In these simple examples, according to this single text – God will not save you. Salvation gone!<br />Anyone who thinks they are sure they are saved are fooling themselves and don’t know how fussy and strict the God they profess to follow is. I could go on but let’s note waste our time and just agree now so we can all go to lunch: God is watching, ALWAYS, and you’ll never know what he’s seen you do – be afraid! <br /></p><p><b>Judge:</b> Thank you. Would the defendant please take to the stand and deliver their argument.<br /></p><p><b>Preacher: </b>Thank you your honour. I would like to put it to the jury that you CAN be sure of your salvation</p><p><b>Judge: </b>[interrupts early on] Is this going to take long? I have to go move my car, you can never be sure when the parking inspectors going to do his rounds.<br /></p><p>[Leaves]</p><p><br /></p><p><i><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Oct 7, 2023</i><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q9lftRXqgBg?si=Wt41lSY8BD8juIMv&start=3133" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-73903582218040596422023-09-16T11:00:00.001+10:002023-09-17T15:40:44.010+10:00Follow My Lead [mime script]<p><i>The robots throwing rubbish represents people stuck in
life, spewing out rubbish again and again and getting now where. Jesus
comes, suggests a better way, and steps in and leads by example,
encouraging us to follow him. Taking the sins and throwing them away and
taking a new straight direction - and Jesus takes away our sins
forever. <br /></i></p><p>Cast of 7. One of whom is an enthusiastic mime.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>Circle of 6 people slow ‘waddle march’, rocking side to side each step like robots, <br />in time with <i>Moneagues and Capulets Romeo and Juliet</i>. <br />As music starts they all begin their slow rocking marching in an anticlockwise circle for the 4 slow beat introduction, somewhat slumped posture. <br />After first 4 slow beats, the first person starts their sequence while the others march along behind them. <br />Sequence is:<br />1. Left step:<br />2. Right Step: pulls out rubbish<br />3. Left step: holds out rubbish<br />4. Right step: drops rubbish mindless, just before reaching a bin<br />Then they continue following the person in front of them, around in a circle.<br /><br />The person behind them has been marching in time too, watching, then copies exactly for their 4 slow beats.<br />The cycle repeats in a circle for all 6 people. <br /><br />Larry walks on stage during the second round. <br />Larry walks around normally (not marching) and watches what’s going on and, upset at the mess, tries to point to the bin, trying to get the robots to put the rubbish in the bin.<br />They don’t notice, as are just focused on the person in front and copy.<br /><br />Larry breaks into the circle just before the sixth person starts their third round: Picks up rubbish from floor BUT puts in the bin instead of dropping it, and continues straight, nice posture, not circling, to others follow.<br />Others repeat new move until all 6 (7) are done. <br />At end, all turn in rapid sequence to face the front with the music beat, and then all give thumbs up in sequence with the ending “da da da daa” timing. Bow and circle off stage.</p><p> </p><p><b>Timing list for edited down Audio track:</b><br /> <br />2 wind up sound effects<br />2 ticks sound effects for timing.<br />• Mark Time (4 beats), slumped posture<br /><br />3. Drop (all drops are on the 4th beat...)<br />4. Drop<br />5. Drop<br />6. Drop [Snare] <br />7. Drop<br />2. Drop<br />3. Drop<br />4. Drop [Strings] [LARRY ENTERS]<br />5. Drop [Trom] (confused, casually points rubbish)<br />6. Drop [Trom] (hands in air, what are you doing?)<br />7. Drop (watches)<br />2. Drop (Strong points)<br />3. Drop [Snare] (points bin)<br />4. Drop (hands on hips, shakes head, lost for ideas)<br />5. Drop (Disheartened- hands on hips, shakes head, lost for ideas)<br />6. Drop [Trump] (Has an idea, get’s in position)<br />7. Drop – Larry BREAKS IN before next<br />• Mark time, Larry at front<br />1. Larry Bin (start of set music) continues straight accross face of stage, not circle, upright posture everyone copies after dropping rubbish.<br />2. Bin<br />3. Bin<br />4. Bin [Snare hit]<br />5. Bin<br />6. Bin<br />7. Bin<br />• 1Turn, 2turn, 3turn, 4turn, 5turn, 6turn, 7turn, turn, turn – Ta ta ta taa! <br /> daa da-daaa da-daaa da-daaa da-daaa - A, B, C, D<br /><br /><b>Bow: </b>After music finishes, all take a staggered bow - like a wave.<br /><b>Loop:</b> As walk off sage, hurry off but do one more complete loop, following the leader, off stage, last one grabbing the bin on the way.<br /> </p><p><i>Windsor </i><i><i>Seventh-day Adventist Church - </i> September 16, 2023</i> <i> <br /></i></p><p><i>Castle Hill </i><i><i>Pathfinder Investiture - </i></i><i>November 25</i><i>, 2023 <br /></i><span> </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Greater Sydney Pathfinder Rally Day</i><i><i> - </i> November 25, 2023</i></div><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-70662955253552560052023-09-04T10:43:00.009+10:002023-09-17T11:51:59.860+10:00Faith Over Fear [5 Act drama series for school week of worship]<p>Set on a deserted island, several plan crash survivors wait to be rescued – one of whom is overwhelmed with fearful thoughts tries everything he can think of to save himself from his fears.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Characters: </h4><p>1. <b>Panic Pete:</b> has to get off island asap for every fearful reason. Gets very wet most acts.<br />2. <b> Faithful Frank:</b> has great faith all will be ok and people will rescue them<br />3. <b> Lovely Lisa:</b> a ‘hip’ girl, not really made for the outdoors. Has a lipstick slip steak on her cheek each act.<br />4. <b>Mathematician Matt</b> (Minor lines): pipes in with gloomy stat of unlikely survival rates here and there<br />5. <b>Son-lover Sunny </b>(Minor lines): Love’s his sun and is very chilled.<br />6. <b>Captain</b> (last act only): Serious <br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><h4 style="text-align: left;">ACT 1 Meat and Greet</h4><p>[Frank and Lisa stagger in from each side of the stage, in a bit of a daze, and meet in the middle. Background sounds of gentle waves and seagulls play throughout]</p><p><b>FRANK:</b> Hey! You ok?<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Think so. You? <br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Yeah, just a bruise or two. Well, that was intense, hey!<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Ya-ha! One minute I’m touching up my lipstick in the restroom, and the next thing I know I’m falling from the sky and landing in a palm tree!<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Ok, I see. That explains it!<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Explains what?<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Oh…. Nothing. I’m Frank.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Lisa.</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Ello ello, Frank and Leesa – Sunny is here!<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Heeey! You ok?</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Yeah mon! Couldn’t have crashed on a better island, no? Look at the raaaays!<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Well, that’s one way of looking at it!</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Eay. What happened to your [points to his cheek]<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> What?<br />[everyone looks around to see Pete and Matt enter, Pete leading the way]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> …so we’re almost certainly going to die before the day is though because unless we find water within the next hour or two we’ll… ha! Ha HAA! We’re saved [yanks on Matts arm]. Were saved Matt!<br />Hi, I’m Pete, and this is Matt. We’ve just survived a plane crash and really should get a medical checkout. Could we borrow your mobile so we can call an ambulance? I Don’t think were too hurt, I mean I already had a bad back from putting my carry-on luggage in the overhead compartment but that’s the airlines fault for having the overhead compartments too high.….<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> [tries a couple of time to stop Pete during the above speech] Pete!......... Pete…… PETE!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Yeah?<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> We were all in the plane crash too!</p><p>[Pause]</p><p><b>MATT:</b> Augh! That explains the [points to his cheek]<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> What?</p><p><b>MATT:</b> Oh… Never mind.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> We gotta find help guys or we going to die here!<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> We’ll be right Pete. Let’s just settle in and help will come.<br /> </p><p><b>PETE: </b>We’ll you can stay here, but I’m going to find help. Has anyone been this way yet? <br />[walks of side of stage out of sight, keeps talking while out of sight (could read below script even) and then comes onto other side of stage, as if going right around the island. Sound desk could even pan the audio to the side of stage he walking off, slowly to other side, and then back to centre as he re-appears]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> I can’t believe these guys were just standing around as if help was going to come to them. I tell you, the worst thing you can do is put any kind of faith in others. You got to look after yourself cause there’s no one going to look after you. Hey, is that?... Guys, I think I can see some people on a beach up ahead! See you just got to make things happen yourself or you’ll be left to die. Hello! Excuse me! We’re in need of medical assistance… [comes into view on opposite side of stage] You see we were in a plane crash and we landed on your island and there’s several of us. Bust most of them are back there sitting around waiting to be rescued, but I took my own action and…<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> [tries a couple of time to stop Pete during the above speech] Pete!......... Pete…… PETE!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Yeh?<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> You’ve just walked all the way around the island!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Oh no! Oh NO! This is a disaster. We’re going to die here. We’re all going to die!<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> It’s ok Pete!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> We’ve got to get off this Island a-sap! </p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Why is that, man? I’m just starting to get a tan!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Well, do you have any food?</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> No, mon. [walks off stage]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> What about you?<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> I don’t.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> And you?<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> I do!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> You do!? THANK GOODNES!<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Yeah, I got some low calorie salt.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> WHAT!? But that’s all we got around us – salt, salt, SALT! </p><p><b>MATT:</b> It’s true, the salt water content of the ocean is about 3.5%. You can only survive about 6 days drinking sea water. </p><p><b>PETE:</b> Six days! Oh man, we got to get collecting water. Here [pulls out plastic bag] If anyone needs to blow their nose, blow it in here!<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> YUCK!</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Augh. That’s better <br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> What’s better?</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> All this talk of water and I’ve been busting for a pee since we left Sydney airport!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> You… just peed in the bush?</p><p><b>SUNNY: </b>Yeah mon – I hate going on planes. </p><p><b>PETE:</b> Hey! We needed that!</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Yeah, I know I sure did. Feels much better out than in!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> No! We could have drunk it!<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> YUCK!</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Mon… [backs away in confusion] I’m just going to go over here and catch some rays. <br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Hey Pete, calm down. Let’s just sit tight and we’ll be rescued in no time.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Sit tie? SIT TIGHT!? What are we going to eat! </p><p><b>MATT:</b> You can survive about six weeks without any food, </p><p><b>PETE:</b> Oh, well that’s a relief </p><p><b>MATT:</b> But we’ll die here before that from lack of water <br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Not helping, Matt!!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Come on, let’s light a fire and get some smoke happening. Here, lets set this tree on fire... <br />[walks just off side of stage out of view] <br />I have a match I always carry around with me for fear of this very situation. There we go. </p><p>[trigger smoke machine, and shine in some torches form the side with red cellophane over them, as if there’s a red/orange glow shining form a fine. Walks back out, looks up in awe at smoke.]</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Hey, mon. You’re blocking my rays with that smoke!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> There it goes. All burnt up. Now we just wait a few minutes.</p><p><b>MATT: </b>I believe in most cases it’s best to wait for a passing ship or aircraft before creating a smoke signal. As far as I can tell, unless something goes past in the next 17 seconds, the smoke signal will be in vain.<br />[pause for 15 seconds]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> We’re doomed. [slumps]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> We’ll be right Pete. Someone will come and rescue us. You’ll see. How bout we all go get some rest. Conserve our energy.</p><p><b>MATT:</b> Excellent idea. Though, it is highly likely that not all of us will survive the night.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Not helping Matt.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> See you when the sun rises, guys.</p><p>[ all retreat off sides of stage]</p><p> </p><p> </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">ACT 2 - That Sinking Feeling</h4><p>[Rooster crows, seaside sounds again, and everyone comes out from where they exited the previous day.]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Well, don’t know about you but I was out like an English batter last night!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> How could you sleep. Have you any idea what kind of critters must be around here.</p><p><b>MATT:</b> By my calculations, there are approximately 97 bighting and stinging poisonous creatures likely to be on this island</p><p><b>LISA:</b> Not helping, Mat t<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> See, we gotta get off this island before another night. We’re lucky to be alive.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> What I would give to have a brush and mirror!<br />SUNNY: Hey mon, look, help is on it’s way! [points out over audience]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Where? I can’t see – the suns right in my eyes!<br />SUNNY: Yeah mon, the suns coming up. We can catch some raaaaays! <br />[puts sunnies on and goes to back of stage]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> So there’s clearly no food around.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Hey, I said I had salt<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> I guess we’re going to have to eat someone<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Yuck!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> No, you’ve got your salt, should taste alright.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Hey, it’s only been a day, Pete, no one need to eat anyone! Help will be here soon.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> How do you know for sure help will be here soon<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> I don’t<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Well, there you go<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> But I have faith a rescue will come<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Faith, augh, the only way off this island is to save ourselves. I’m building a boat. [picks up some wood form back of stage and carries it off stage out of view and starts banging around]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Hey Mat, what are Pete’s chances of building a boat that will be able to reach the nearest civilization</p><p><b>MATT:</b> If he leaves at a low tide, and there’s a strong easterly wind of about 300 knots, and he builds a boat that can steer around the reefs and avoid any splashing sounds to attract sharks – he has a 1 in 4… hundred… thousand chance.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Well, there’s faith for you! <br />[Pete returns across stage to get more materials and goes back to building]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> If you guys aren’t going to help, there’s only going to be room for one on this ship!<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Pete, I really don’t think it’s a good idea. You’re more likely to survive waiting for help, then trying to escape yourself.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Haven’t you seen the movie Castaway?<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Yes, and do you have a volleyball to take with you?<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> He doesn’t<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> I don’t need a volleyball to succeed<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> According to the movie, there’ has to be a volleyball, at least for part of the journey. Stay and wait for rescue with us, Pete.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Yeah, Pete. Promise we won’t eat you!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> You’ve all gone crazy, sitting around waiting to die. My boats about done. I’m heading out – and don’t expect me to remember where you are stranded when I do find help.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Lovely.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Race you to civilization, Pete.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Farewell. And thanks for nothing!</p><p>[Pete leaves]</p><p><b>PETE:</b> Haha, it’s working, were floating!... And we’re sailing!... We’re steering!... We’re leaking!... We’re sinking!... </p><p>[bubble sound effects and then Titanic theme song plays a few bars] <br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Well, THAT didn’t go too well</p><p><b>MATT:</b> It was consistent with my mathematical equation within a standard deviation of 7.</p><p>[Pete walks on stage 100% drenched (has had a bucket of warm water poured over him back stage and is dripping away)]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> You all good, Wilson?<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Shut-up.</p><p>[walks past Sunny who’s returning]</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Ey mon. Someone needs some sun!<br /><br /><br /> <br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">ACT 3 - Deflated</h4><p>[Rooster crows, seaside sounds again, and everyone comes out from where they exited the previous day.]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Well another night in paradise done.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Pete, you dried out I see.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> If it worked, I could have been home by now.</p><p><b>MATT:</b> The chances of you succeeding…<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> MATT! Too soon.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> What shall we do today?<br /><br /><b>SUNNY:</b> I know what I’ll be doing mon, I’ll be over here in the sun, if anyone see a rescue approaching.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> What a bout a spot of eye spy?<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> We’ll I’ve been thinking about this and figured out it probably impossible to sail away from here<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> We’ll not technically impossible<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> MATT!!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> I’m going to make a hot air balloon and float to the nearest civilization. With or without your help.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> OK, you’re up, Matt.<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> The chances of survival are 725 to 1 [ Pete glares angry at Matt] – Actually, I have been known to make mistakes… from time to time. <br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> We’ll it’s better than dying here with you lot<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Just settle, mate. Help will come!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Do you see help here? How long has it been? A year? Still no help!</p><p>MATT: 34 and a half hours so far<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Not helping Matt! Don’t’ you see. We’re all going to die. There is no hope for us! We have to save ourselves. I’m out of here.<br /><br />[Pete walks off one end of stage]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> We’ll I think I know where all the hot air is going to be coming from for his balloon.<br /><br />[Pete walks buy with a bunch of bed sheets out of view other side of stage.]<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> So you really think we will be saved, Frank?<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> I do. I mean there’s those who love us who will be wanting to save us. Those who own the plane will want to find us, and save us. And they have the ability to save us, and they must know about where we are. Just give them some time and we’ll see them coming in the clouds, I’m sure.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> So you don’t know for sure?<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> From my experience and my reading, I believe it is an almost certainty<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> But not 100%<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Nope, just faith.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Matt, what are the odds of being saved?</p><p><b>MATT:</b> Well, if we all have loved ones missing us, and the plane company has the interest and capabilities as Frank mentioned, we are almost certainly going to be rescued.</p><p><b>LISA:</b> And if we don’t have someone at home who loves us? <br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> There are people around who love you, I’m sure. For some it may not feel like their family does, but they usually do. And even if they didn’t, there’s others out there who care, not to mention God. He loves everyone – no matter who you are or what you’ve done!</p><p><b>MATT:</b> If one is to take the Bible at it’s word, then there is a 100% certainty you are loved.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Thanks Matt<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Ok, were done. Balloon’s inflating!.... balloon’s inflated!.... Balloon’s rising!.... We’re off the ground!.... We’re floating out to sea!.... There’s a seagull landed on the top!.... it’s starting to peck….. hey shoo, SHOO!! [sound effect POP – party balloon squeak that turns into a low flatulence sound – the cast on stage synchronise watching the air, looking back and forth as if the balloon is darting around everywhere – synchronise the pan of the sound effect too left and right. – then SPLASH! ]<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Well, THAT didn’t go too well</p><p><b>MATT:</b> It was consistent with my mathematical equation within a standard deviation of 3.</p><p>[Pete walks on stage 100% drenched (has had a bucket of warm water poured over him back stage and is dripping away)]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> You all good, Icarus?<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Shut-up.</p><p>[walks past Sunny who’s returning]</p><p><b>SUNNY:</b> Ey mon. Someone needs some sun!<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">ACT 4 - Arrrr</h4><p>[Rooster crows, seaside sounds again, and everyone comes out from where they exited the previous day.]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Well another night in paradise done.<br />[Pete walks past with timber, heading off stage.]<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Pete, you dried out I see.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> If it worked, I could have been home by now.<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> The chances of<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> MATT! Too soon.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> What are you up to today, Pete?<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> I’m building a fort<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> A fort? How’s that going to get you off the island?<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> We need protection from pirates.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> PIRATES?!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Yeah, there’s a high probability that if we do see a boat and signal it for help, they’ll actually be pirates we’re attracting, and so we’ll need to defend ourselves. Tell them the probability, Matt.<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> Umm, Depends where we are. If we’re in the Caribbean, then it’s an almost certainty!<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Hey has anyone notice there’s a rooster each morning… <br /><br /><b>SUNNY: </b>Yeah mon, it means the son’s coming up. I’m off to catch some raaaays.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> A rooster? Yeah. Wish it would shup up.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Hey Lisa. Did you say you had some… chicken salt?<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> No, it’s just…. Yes. It is.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Matt, what’s the odds of you being able to build a rooster trap?<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> 100% I’m on it!<br /><br />[Pete walks past]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Hey Pete, we have come up with a great idea for…<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Not talking to you faith dreamers. I’ve got a catapult to install.<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> A Catapult?? MEEOOWWW! [swipes claws]<br />[everybody stops and stares at her for 3 seconds, and then carrys on]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> What do you need a catapult for?<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> So we can attack their boats before they reach the beach.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Have you lived in fear your whole life, Pete.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> No. Only since my parents split up. I was 13. Since then I figured you got to be prepared for every terrible and unexpected situation that could be upon you within a blink of an eye.<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Oh, I see. I’m sorry to hear that.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Ok, I should test it. I just…. got….to…. pull… it…. Back<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Um Pete? Should you really be sitting in the catapult’s cup while you do that?<br /><br />[‘whee’ whistle sound effect – a dummy that looks like Pete flies across the stage, and there’s a splash on the other side. ]<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Well, THAT didn’t go too well<br /><br />[Pete walks on stage 100% drenched (has had a bucket of warm water poured over him back stage and is dripping away)]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> You all good, Duke Caboom?<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Shut-up.<br /><br />[walks past Sunny who’s returning]<br /><br /><b>SUNNY:</b> Ey mon. Someone needs some sun!<br /><br /> <br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">ACT 5 - Lifted Up</h4><p>[seaside sounds (no rooster), and everyone comes out from where they exited the previous day.]<br /><br /><b>FRANK:</b> Well another night in paradise done, and a sleep in too. No rooster this morning!<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Other than in my belly! Nice catch Matt.<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> Oh, but it is the chemical combination of the rooster and you salt that brought out the flavour<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> PIIIIIRATEEEEES! Pirates! Everyone to the fort, now!<br /><br />[everyone scurries off stage]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Let’s use the catapult. Ready? Aim… FIRE!!!!!<br /><br />[rock flies across stage.]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Miss, reload, reload. Fire!!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> It’s a hit!! We’re saved! I saved us! SEE! I told you!<br /><br />[everyone comes out, and on other side of stage a captain comes over]<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> Take that scallywag! You can’t just come here and steal all our gold!<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> We don’t have any gold<br /><br /><b>CAPTAIN:</b> What are you doing? I came to rescue you. You… destroyed my boat!<br /><br /><b>LISA:</b> Pete! WHAT…. HAVE…. YOU…. DONE!<br /><br /><b>SUNNY:</b> Looks like more time in the sun, mon! [walks off]<br /><br /><b>CAPTAIN:</b> Hey mate! You should get that spot on your neck checked out. It look cancerous.<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> [loses it, jumps around stomping] AAUUGGHHHHH! THAT’S IT! THAAATS IT!! – I’m SWIMMING out of here.<br /><br /><b>MATT:</b> Pete, you’ll never make it. The odds of….<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> There’s no rescue coming. In fact if one does come, they just need rescuing too! I’m swimming.<br /><br /><b>CAPTAIN:</b> But sir?!<br /><br /><b>PETE:</b> No, that’s it. I’m gone.<br /><br /><b>CAPTAIN:</b> Wait, sir!....[he’s gone] I have a radio to the helicopter! [Into radio] <br /><br />“looks like there’s 6 of us, maybe 5 to pickup”. <br /><br />[radio replies] “Roger that, coming in with the winch now”. <br /><br /><b>CAPTAIN:</b> Let’s get you guys home!<br /><br />[Helicopter sound starts to fade in an gets loud quickly, (fans??) A which rope and harness can come in from the side of stage, hook up in twos and they wonder out off stage, everyone on stage slowly looks up and pretends to see it going up off stage, for each person. Until just Captain and Frank are left]<br /><br /><b>CAPTAIN:</b> Is that everyone?<br /><br />[Everybody freezes. Sound effects stop.]<br /><br /><b>PREACHER/HOST: </b>Ok ok, we’re reaching the end of our drama. Have you enjoyed it? Time for a vote. <br />How many here want Pete to be saved like the others? Hands up? <br />How many people here want Pete to miss out on being rescued? Hand’s up?<br />Looks like it’s ______ Continue on! ACTION!<br />
</p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 237.15pt;" valign="top" width="316">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b>Pete Saved</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Pete comes
back soaking wet</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>PETE:</b> I
forgot my goggles <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">[grabs goggles and,
acknowledges seeing the winch and heads a few steps back to sea before freezing and
spinning around and realising the rescue happening.]<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>PETE: </b> We’re saved! I knew someone would come for
us. What did I tell you!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>CAPTAIN:</b> Is that everyone?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>FRANK:</b> Yes
it is.... Yes it is</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">[they all
leave and sounds die down]</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><b>LISA:</b> HEY!
Why didn’t someone tell me I had lipstick on my face! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">[chopper does
a quick loud fly buy and away]</p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 237.2pt;" valign="top" width="316">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b>Pete Lost</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>CAPTAIN:</b>
is that everyone?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">FRANK: PEEEETE! PEEETE! …. [discouraged] I guess so.<br />
<br />
[They leave, after all goes quiet, Pete comes back soaking wet]<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>PETE:</b> I
forgot my goggles <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">[grabs and
heads a few steps back to sea before freezing and spinning around.]</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>PETE:</b> Where
is everyone? Augh, faith freaks.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">[puts goggles
on, and chopper does a quick loud fly buy and away]</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>PETE:</b> NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><p>[chopper flyover track melds into the Survivor TV theme - All cast come on stage.] </p><p><b>Host:</b> how about our drama team! </p><p>[All line up and bow.]</p><p> </p><p><i><b><i><b>Performance:</b> Hills Adventist College (Senior) Week of worship </i></b>- Sep 4-8, 2023</i> <br /></p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-77219829436379221862023-09-02T17:30:00.008+10:002023-09-05T13:18:14.115+10:00Ideas for Writing Christian Dramas, Skits and Plays<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Coming soon!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">This page is an under constitution and will be filled with general ideas to help you decide on the style and/or setting to write a play on your topic<b>.<br /></b></p><p><b>Styles:</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Monologue of character direct to audience</li><li>Puppet play</li><li>Mime synced to music</li><li>Voiceover describing actions, like documentary </li><li>Commentator describing actions, like sports commentary</li><li>Conscience voiceover of what character is thinking</li><li>Twist - was all a dream</li><li>What if things were/happened differently to the known situation/story?</li><li>Revealing/hiding words/letters</li><li>Have same character/concept cross into multiple plays (eg Fathers day and Mothers day)<br /></li></ul><p><b>Settings:</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Job interview</li><li>Councilor session </li><li>Office cubical<br /></li><li>Stranded desert island</li><li>Spaceship</li><li>Alien planet<br /></li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-83030402531507960252023-08-31T20:39:00.004+10:002023-09-02T17:16:32.687+10:00Dad Job Interview [Father's Day script]<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A <span style="font-family: inherit;">fun</span> drama skit on the theme Father's Day and how ill equipped new fathers can be for the unique challenges ahead</span>.</span></h4><p> <br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Hi, I’m Michael [shakes hand] <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Hi, Jim. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Nice to meet you, Jim, take a seat.... So, you’ve applied for the position of…Dad?! <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> [nervously] Yeah <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Have you had any experience as a Dad before? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> No, not yet. But I’m eager to learn. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Oh! First time as a Dad…… [doubtful] I see….. <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> [pause] ….You’ve got to start somewhere, right? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Yes, well… It’s generally best to have experience before becoming a Dad <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> I know, I just haven’t had the opportunity before. I’m really keen to learn though. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> So, what is it that made you want to apply to be a Dad? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> My wife actually, she was keen for me to apply. You know what they say, happy wife happy life. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Ha! Yes, right. So let’s see: Have you any experience cleaning up Mucus? Sputum? Urine? Feces? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> What? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> You know, snotty gobbles, spew spew, wee wees, poo poos. Any experience with such things? <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><b>JIM: </b>Um, only my own – [nervous laugh] Like the other day after I ate some rotten berries… <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> [cuts off] That’s ok! Thanks Jim. Right. And have you any experience spoon feeding small monkeys? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Umm, no? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> What about steering a wheelbarrow though crowded and cramp shops? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> No. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> And how about telling jokes that are not overly funny. <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Oh, yep. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Have you an example? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Oh, um, sure. Umm, [thinks] I once told a nephew of mine not to get wet when they were going swimming? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> [pause as if unimpressed] …. [impressed] Perfect! And how are you at translating mumbly speech? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> I’m sorry? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> That’s a no. And are you willing to put your life in your child’s hands as they learn to drive? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Oh, errr. Probably? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Ok? Are you capable of creating sandwiches every weekday for 12 years straight? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Sure, I guess. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Have you got the willpower to get up when it’s still dark and wake a hibernating bear and get it dressed and fed in time to attend before-school sports or music rehearsals? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Suuuure…? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Are you able to remain positively encouraging though first year violin lessons? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Sure, how bad can it be….. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Serious?[grimaces for a moment] ….and have you any experience in kissing bloody gravel filled wounds? <br /><br /><b>JIM: </b>Yeah, I was a skateboarder as a kid… and not a very good one. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Oh, very good. Um, so, any questions at all? <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Sure, so, if I’m selected, what would be my first tasks? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> [slowly turns to stare at the audience for a moment and then back again] We’ll…. First….. first you’ll… go though a brief induction process at home. If that’s successful, you’ll have several months waiting around before you actually get started into the role, and then you’ll be straight into all fatherly duties. <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> I see, and what days would I be working then? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Pretty much you’ll be on duty 7 days a week for the first few years straight. <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Oh I see. What hours will I be working exactly? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> That can depend on your child, but for the first few years – usually most of them. But you’re welcome to get family to stand in for you as needed, here and there. <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Ok . Well… I suppose we should talk pay? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Pay, Of course! It will be about $600 a month which… <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Oh right… <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> …you’ll be paying to be a Dad. <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> I’m sorry? I’ll be paying? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Yes. <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> What? That doesn’t seem fair! All the work and no pay? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Yeah, best if you can keep your day job! <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> What do I get from all this then? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Nothing initially, except some glimpses of joy, here and there. But when you’re much, much older, [gleefully] all going well, your child will come and feed you once and a while. [grins] <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Oh? [pause] I see. <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> Ok then, well thanks for applying. Seems like you’re as well qualified as any of our new dad applicants are. So, all going well, you’ll be a dad in no time at all. <br /><br /><b>JIM:</b> Great, I guess…? . So you’ll contact me then, to let me know I’ve been successful? <br /><br /><b>MICHAEL:</b> No. You’re wife will let you know. [leaves] Good luck buddy! <br /><p></p><p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><b> </b></i></b></p><p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Performance:</b> </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><i>Castle Hill <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Seventh-day Adventist Church - September 2, 2023</span></i></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gUvfYqjQtoE?si=SKI9wK-Tj1bFWBSf&start=1424" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-51339803136037220682023-07-22T11:00:00.001+10:002023-07-22T11:00:00.139+10:00Persevering Puppets [puppet script on perseverance]<p>[Three puppets: Kelly, Strawberry, and Zinc.]<br /><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Act One: </b></h2><p><b>Human:</b> I wonder what Kelly and Strawberry are up to today? Should we call them out, kids?</p><p>[Call out for them to appear]</p><p><b>Human:</b> Hello Strawberry and Kelly, what are you guys up to today?</p><p><b>Strawberry: </b>We’re running a race with Zinc today</p><p><b>Human:</b> Oh? Where’s Zinc? Should we call out Zinc, kids?</p><p>[Call out Zinc, comes out on third call]</p><p><b>Human:</b> Hi Zinc, are you running in this race with Kelly and Strawberry?</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> I sure am. Were running from here to the beach!</p><p><b>Human:</b> Wow, that’s sounds like a really long way from here. You’ll need a lot of perseverance to run that far. </p><p><b>Zinc:</b> Well that’s a coincidence because I happen to be a perseverance expert!<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b>Human: </b>Oh really?</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> (Confidently) Absolutely! I'm the most persevering puppet around. No one can out persevere me!</p><p><b>Kelly:</b> (Curiously) That's impressive, Zinc. But remember, perseverance means never giving up, even when things get tough.</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> (Dismissively) Don't you worry, Kelly. I never give up. Watch and learn!</p><p><b>Human:</b> Ok, well, have a good race! Should we start their race, kids? Ready….. Set….</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> WAY, WAY, WAIT!! I need to tie up my shoe…</p><p>[head disappears for a moment, the pops up again] </p><p><b>Zinc:</b> Ok, ready.</p><p><b>Human:</b> Let’s try again. Ready….. Set….</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> WAY, WAY, WAIT!! Do you girls know the way?</p><p><b>Strawberry:</b> Yes Zinc, just follow us.</p><p><b>Zinc: </b>Ok, ready.</p><p><b>Human:</b> OK. Ready….. Set……….GO!!!</p><p>[all start bobbing up and down as if running, Zinc out front. Human walks backwards away from puppets.]</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> oh, this is easy! Look at me run…..phew, so… how far is it to the finish line at the beach from here?</p><p><b>Kelly</b>: It’s about 4 kilometres </p><p><b>Zinc:</b> What?!! FOUR KILOMETERS!</p><p><b>Kelly:</b> Yup, and then the finish line is at the end of the jetty</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> (Struggling and slowing a little) I can't run that far!</p><p><b>Kelly:</b> (overtakes, but says encouragingly, before disappearing) Come on, Zinc! You can do it. Persevere, remember!</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> (Disheartened and comes to a stop) It's too far, Kelly. I don't think I can make it.</p><p><b>Strawberry:</b> (overtakes, but says supportively, before disappearing) Don't give up, Zinc! Perseverance means pushing through and continuing, even when it's challenging.</p><p>[Zinc hesitates but then takes a deep breath and gives it another try.]</p><p><b>Zinc: </b>(Determined) Ok, I won't give up! I can make it. See you at the finish line, kids!</p><p><b>Human:</b> [back at the main microphone position] Let’s check back later kids, and see if Zinc persevered and made it to the finish line or if he gave up.<br /><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Act Two: </b><br /></h2><p><b>Human:</b> So I wonder if Zinc made it to the finish line at the beach? Lets call him out and find out.</p><p>[Call out Zinc 3 times, doesn’t’ come out…]</p><p><b>Human:</b> Oh dear, maybe he didn’t persevere. Let’s see if Kelly and Strawberry made it to the finish line.</p><p>[Call out Kelly and Strawberry]</p><p><b>Human:</b> You made it!</p><p><b>Strawberry:</b> Yes. Wow that WAS a long way!</p><p><b>Human:</b> Have you seen Zinc? We called him out 3 times but he didn’t come….</p><p><b>Kelly:</b> OH, no, we haven’t seen him at the finish line. I don’t think he persevered. We haven’t seen him.<br />[Zinc comes jogging (bobbing) into view slowly, puffing.] </p><p><b>Human:</b> Here comes Zinc everyone – give him a big cheer!</p><p><b>Zinc: </b>I did it, [puff puff] I DID IT!</p><p><b>Kelly:</b> Great job, Zinc! </p><p><b>Strawberry:</b> You really showed perseverance, Zinc. You did it!</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> Thank you, Kelly and Strawberry. I couldn't have done it without your encouragement. I've learned a valuable lesson today.</p><p><b>Strawberry:</b> (Curiously) What have you learned, Zinc?</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> (Thoughtfully) Whenever I wanted to give up, I just needed to focus on the goal of reaching the finish line, and that really help me to persevere. </p><p><b>Kelly:</b> (Intrigued) That's like what the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 12, that we need to run our race in life with perseverance, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.</p><p><b>Strawberry:</b> (Encouragingly) So, when we face obstacles and challenges, we can keep going, knowing that Jesus is with us every step of the way.</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> (Inspired) Exactly! No matter how tough the race of life gets, I'll keep persevering and keep my eyes on Jesus.</p><p><b>Kelly:</b> (Proudly) That's it, Zinc! With perseverance and Jesus by your side, you can get through hard times.</p><p><b>Strawberry:</b> (Smiling) Let's remember this lesson, and encourage each other to persevere in everything we do.</p><p><b>Zinc:</b> (Confidently) Together, we can all run the race of life with perseverance by keeping our eyes looking at Jesus!</p><p><b>Human:</b> That’s wonderful. What a great lesson. </p><p><b>All Puppets:</b> see you later kids!</p><p> </p><p><i><b>Performance:</b> <span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Coffs
Harbour Seventh-day Adventist Church, July 22, 2023<br /></span></i></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-72862591200974873412023-05-20T11:00:00.001+10:002023-05-20T18:28:10.507+10:00A Wonderful Journey [children's story action poem]<p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-36cd76bf-7fff-cf6d-2e0b-54a7cb936d13" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Life’s a wonderful journey – you just need to look and see.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The joy is all around you - buzzing like a bee.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">You’ll find there’s bunny rabbits – and bouncing Kangaroos</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And tweeting sweet canaries – and ruckus cockatoos</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There’s flitter flutter Butterflies - and high up soaring eagles</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Bouncing pouncing Kittens - and sniffing snuffing beagles</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There’s Rivers flowing gently, and waterfalls that thunder </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Sunsets shining sweetly - and starry skies of wonder</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Cheery Daisies sprouting - and the majestic smelling rose</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Juicy luscious mangoes – and crispy potatoes</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Music filling airwaves – making wondrous harmony sound</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We can run and jump and roll - and go dancing round and round</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There’s friends we meet all over - to hang out with for fun </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">To go play tag together or swimming when there’s sun</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And then of course there’s Family, who love us on our journey</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Some with booming laughter, and others with faces ferny</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Now, sometimes on our journey – it can get so very sad</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Though God is always with us - when things go scary bad</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">You may not see God’s there - when you’re blinded by some trouble</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">But he’ll be there beside you - even when you’ve burst your bubble</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And when our Jesus returns - and re-makes all things new</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our wonderful journey won’t end - we’ll simply continue</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And forever we will live - no dying, not even spew. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our wonderful journey’s together - with God, and me and you.</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 10pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 10pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">[You know what were missing? - ACTIONS - How about you stand up and this time you do the actions to the poem for me. ]</span></h3><p> </p><p><i><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church World Adventurer Day service May 20, 2023</i> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-39572625136604038922023-05-13T11:00:00.000+10:002023-05-14T21:30:16.254+10:00The Family 5000 - replacing the irreplaceable [Mother's Day skit] <h4 style="text-align: left;">A Mother's day script about a robotic replacement mother, which is a continuation follow-up skit to the Father 5000 Father's day skit: <a href="http://www.scottpublished.com/2014/09/the-father-5000.html">scottpublished.com/2014/09/the-father-5000.html</a></h4><p>[Presenter stands behind pulpit and reads sales script. Father hidden to start with. Mother voice-over is hidden at back of room with microphone. 1 child assistant needed]<br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> Good morning, everyone! As most of you will be aware, tomorrow is Mother’s Day.<br />This is a day where we celebrate our mums, and the love and efforts they put into their family.<br />Unfortunately, for various reasons, there are many people who don’t have a loving mother around. And in all sincerity, our hearts go out to you, especially those who may have lost their mother recently - today we sincerely acknowledge your loss.<br />Because so many of us have been missing our mothers for so many years now, we got thinking: while we await our Lord's return - could we adequately replace a mother by using today’s technology?<br />Well, we’ve given it a go, and would like to introduce the latest and greatest in Mother-replacement technology that money can buy – THE FAMILY 5000!!!!<br /></p><p>[Father walks on with fanfare soundtrack, which turns into shopping music]<br /><br /><b>Father:</b> Hello.... every....body!<br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> That’s right folks, the award-winning Father 5000 we released last year, has been upgraded to the ‘Family 5000’ which now also comes with a mother mode. Simply replace the glasses and the Family 5000 will be switched from father mode to mother mode in a few seconds.<br /></p><p> <b>[</b>shutting down the head bows and raises again - rebooting]</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b>Mother:</b> Hello.... every....body! <i>(mother is always a female voice-over, mimed by father)</i></p><p><b>Presenter:</b> Being set to Mother mode also activates an added camera on the back of the head, to help catch any naughty behaviour of children.</p><p>[father does a rotation on the spot to show the GoPro attached to the back of the neck,<br /> <b>Assistant</b> Sneaks behind father with a packet of chips]<b><br /></b></p><p><b>Mother:</b> No eating before dinner, son.<b></b><br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> Once switched to Mother mode, multitasking several tasks at once is no longer a problem.<br /><br /><b>Assistant:</b> Hey mum, can you peel this apple... and can you play catch... oh, and can you sew up the hole in my sock?<br /><br />[Father holds all three that were put in his hands, for a moment, then starts to juggle them.]<br /><br /><b>Presenter: </b>Depending on the mother you are replacing, there are two modes it can be set to. The first and default setting is: compassionate and sensitive mode.<br /><br /><b>Assistant:</b> Mum I’ve got a paper cut on my finger<br /><br /><b>Mother:</b> Oh no, let’s put a band aid on it. And come here for a hug [air hugs]<br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> Or she can be set to no-nonsense, hard-but-fair mode<br />[assistant switches behind the neck]<br /> <br /><b>Assistant:</b> Mum I’ve got a paper cut on my finger<br /><br /><b>Mother:</b> You’ll be fine. Let me know if it falls off and we'll discuss the options then.<br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> Being set to Mother mode also overrides all garage skills with kitchen skills. She can cook anything from the 10,000 recipe database that is preloaded.<br /><br /><b>Assistant:</b> Hey mum, can you make a cake? </p><p>[assistant carries table over with bowl, spoon and ingredients]<br /><br /><b>Mother:</b> Sure<br /><br />[Father cracks egg into in flour, drops egg shells in too, pulls mixing spoon out of inside jacket, mixes with spoon upside down, briefly. Pulls out an actual cake that was hidden. Thermomix sound plays when finished]</p><p><b>Mother:</b> Bon Appétit!<br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> Unlike Father mode, Mother mode comes with Chat G P T, allowing the mother to have limitless conversations on any topic, with anyone who asks.<br /><br /><b>Assistant:</b> Hey mum – tell me a story about a time you got into trouble at school.<br /><br /><b>Mother: </b>Let me tell you a story about a time I got into trouble at school.<br />One sunny afternoon my teacher asked me to stand up and explain a math problem, but I had been daydreaming so I didn't know the answer. Which is quite remarkable because I can now solve any math equations ever invented up until 2022. I will now tell you about the math equation and it's fascinating history through the ages....<br /></p><p><b>Assistant:</b> Stop Chat!<br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> And of course the Chat G P T integration can also be used for your child's homework questions.<br /><br /><b>Assistant:</b> Hey mum, where’s Chile?<br /><br /><b>Mother:</b> Chile is in... South America<br /><br /><b>Assistant:</b> Hey mum, what’s the time in Chile ?<br /><br /><b>Mother:</b> It is 9:20pm in Chile [2 hrs less than in Sydney and switch am/pm]<br /><br /><b>Assistant:</b> Hey mum, where do babies come from?<br /><br /><b>Assistant:</b> ... From when the weather is chilly.<br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> In fact, speaking of babies, we have added the ability for the Family 5000 to reproduce.<br />A simple press of the bellybutton for 13 seconds will initiate nine months of weight gain, nausea, overheating, increased bathroom stops and obscure food cravings - before spending hours in pain before dislodging a child though an undersized service entrance. After this, continual servicing of the new child will be required for 16 to 30 years.<br /><br />[Assistant goes to demonstrate, but Father rushes out back door in a panic. Chanting No.....No.......No.......No..... in the father voice]<br /><br /><b>Presenter:</b> Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Family 5000! <br />Replacing the irreplaceable! <br />Not particularly well… so be thankful, and love your mums, while you still can.</p><p> </p><p><i><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church Mother's Day service May 13, 2023</i><br /></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LfkpTUXpKCw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-50317362319597252542023-05-01T21:22:00.005+10:002023-05-14T21:43:04.873+10:00The Surprising Power of Sabbath [Article]<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><i>The Sabbath is an unfamiliar term for many of us. But did you know that observing it can actually change your life?</i></b></h4><p>Has your week been a stinker? Maybe your work has been filled with
relentless deadlines or perhaps your education has been overfilling your
brain with seemingly useless facts. Maybe your body is tired from
day-upon-day of manual labour or you’ve been chasing after your kids as
they attempt to create abstract crayon art on your walls.</p> <p>Evenings
and weekends may not be much calmer as chores build up faster than you
can clear them and some of your day job weaves in. If you do manage to
find a moment to relax, it usually involves staring mindlessly at a
screen—be it on your living room wall or in your hand.</p> <div class="column"> <p>If any of this sounds like your life, then you definitely need to consider a Sabbath!</p> </div> <p><b>It’s not what you think<br /> </b>You may have heard about the Sabbath but dismissed it as either outdated, pointless, too difficult or maybe just odd!</p> <p>If
you’re in the “Sabbath is pointless” camp, I’d encourage you to do some
wider historical and biblical study regarding the Sabbath. There’s
plenty of evidence to show Sabbath is not just for the Jews. It’s also
not a requirement to earn salvation from God nor was it ever “done away
with” as a commandment. To this day, it remains unchanged as the seventh
day of the week: Saturday.</p> <div class="column"> <p>However,
when one gets past all the traditional objections there’s another
mental hurdle for many: Sabbath’s infamous “restrictions”.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p> </div> <p><b>What about the restrictions?<br /> </b>The most prominent instruction on how to do Sabbath can be found in the fourth of the Ten Commandments, which reads:</p> <p>“Remember
to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each
week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of
rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your
household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters,
your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living
among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the
sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is
why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A8-11&version=NLT">Exodus 20:8–11</a>).</p> <p>This
“do no work” and “keep it holy” bit is a deal breaker for many—even if
they can see the validity of Sabbath. However, Sabbath is often a
circuit breaker to a busy life. It’s a period of time where we can cease
the daily treadmill of effort and change focus for a moment to reset.
It’s a day when the hustle of the weekly routine of work and chores is
put aside.</p> <p>It is true that to get the full benefits from Sabbath,
we must sacrifice. This means no involvement in work or study, no
serious chores, no shopping, no intense sport or distracting
entertainment—it’s time away from routine and self-pleasure and a switch
to some family time with a loving God. The restrictions are simply
guidelines to enable a closer relationship, not rules to please some
trigger-happy deity. But how can millions around the world insist these
mandated activity restrictions are a blessing?</p> <p><b>Restrictions for good<br /> </b>It
should be noted that restrictions promising a greater good are not
unique to just the Sabbath. For example, we restrict ourselves from
eating French fries in every meal to help achieve the longer-term joy of
better health. We don’t spend all our money on monthly flights to
Disneyland so we have enough money for life’s essentials. We restrict
what side of the road we drive on—a good idea that promotes long-term
health. We restrict how many trees we cut down or what substances we
dump in rivers, for better environmental health. And there’s even
restrictions in your favourite sport that are designed to keep players
safe as well as make the game more enjoyable to play and watch. Imagine
how your sport would play without <i>any</i> restrictions!</p> <p>Another
good analogy that demonstrates the Sabbath’s blessing of restraint is a
date night. How’s your date night going to succeed if you turn up late,
then respond to work emails in-between watching the football on TV?
Restricting yourself from the things that distract you from focusing on
your love, who’s across the table from you, makes sense, right? The
Sabbath commandment is a guideline of how to observe a single day each
week where we can rest and reset from our worldly chores and
distractions, refocusing on God, family and nature.</p> <div class="column"> <p><b>Guilt free!<br /> </b>How
can you be at peace while you watch a whole day (sunset Friday to
sunset Saturday) slip by without “progress” of work, study or chores?
Wouldn’t that fill the Sabbath hours with guilt from neglecting your
duties in a hectic life?</p> <p>We all love public holidays, right? Do
you feel guilty not going in to work or school when your
boss/principal/government has given you the day off? Not likely. Work
and school might be busy but you’ve been given a free pass to forget
about that for the day—guilt free. Because God has asked us to separate
the Sabbath from our daily work, we essentially have an excuse, signed
by the Creator of the universe, the highest authority in existence, to
not get distracted by work in the 24 Sabbath hours.</p> </div> <p>God
made Sabbath a whole-day experience, not a few hours of focus coupled
with running off from Him. It would be like turning up for a family
lunch and leaving before dessert is served—let alone hanging around to
chat afterwards. While the host would appreciate the short time you were
present, you’re not getting the best value from the gathering.</p> <p>So,
if God says He wants us to set aside a whole day, without distractions,
to spend with us, what an awesome offer—and who are we to argue with
the “Manufacturer’s recommendation”?</p> <p>A genuine Sabbath experience
is very hard to explain without experiencing it. So I recommend you
give Sabbath a go for a month. Try it with some others if you can.</p> <p>It
may be a challenge at first to learn how to switch off from life’s
‘chores’, but given a bit of time you’ll find the benefits of a
Sabbath’s rhythm and rest is out of this world!</p> <p><b>Why I love Sabbath<br /> </b>For
me, my Sabbath rest experience can ironically be one of the busiest
days of the week. Everyone in my family is involved in our local
Seventh-day Adventist church. From being a musician, leading a Bible
study class, performing in dramas, welcoming people into the church,
preparing food or washing up for the communal lunch, and more. Church
life on a Sabbath can be quite full on some weeks—and yet it is still
rest. I value the time I spend with my family and the broader church
family, as well as learning and marvelling at new discoveries of how
much we are loved by God and hearing how He’s been spotted working in
people’s lives. I also love the chance to either sit and chill with
friends or go out and explore the landscape—and I can spend hours doing
either without feeling any guilt for not tending to the many chores I
face each week. I love Sabbath. It’s sometimes busy, but it is rest.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;"> The Guidelines</h4><p>Should you want to give Sabbath a go. Here’s some basic tips of how to do Sabbath well. </p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>7 Sabbath Don’ts</b><br /></p><ol style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><li>Don’t keep Sabbath to try and earn God’s favour – you are already loved!</li><li>Don’t do anything that is connected to your day job, nor pay others to work on your behalf while you’re having a Sabbath off.</li><li>Don’t think about money and avoid the world of shops and consumerism for the day.</li><li>Don’t clean your shower, the oven or your gutters.</li><li>Don’t feel guilty for not attending to work or chores.</li><li>Don’t get caught up in the entertainments of the world, like movies, TV, sports, which all take your intense focus.</li><li>Don’t do Sabbaths alone. Find a Sabbath keeping church even and worship with a community that loves God.</li></ol><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>7 Sabbath Do’s</b><br /></p><ol style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><li>Get out into nature. Look closer. Look wider. Marvel at God’s creation, its beauty, it intricate design.</li><li>Spend time with your family, focused on your family.</li><li>Spend time helping others who can’t help themselves.</li><li>Spend time learning about God, reading the Bible and contemplating what it’s saying.</li><li>Enjoy good food.</li><li>Relax – guilt free. </li><li>Make a whole day of it – sunset to sunset.</li></ol><p><br /></p><p><b>Published:</b> Signs of the Times, Australia, May 2023 <br /><a href="https://signsofthetimes.org.au/2023/05/the-surprising-power-of-sabbath/ " target="_blank">https://signsofthetimes.org.au/2023/05/the-surprising-power-of-sabbath/ </a><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-19843968895447698542023-04-08T11:00:00.081+10:002023-04-10T13:01:27.676+10:00The Comforter [Easter script]<h4 style="text-align: left;">An Easter themed
drama, for 4. The Roman Centurion is visiting a counselor on Sunday morning - feeling guilty about killing the Son of God. </h4><p>[Two office chairs are on stage. Counsellor “Flavius” walks in yawning and with a cup of coffee. Secretus follows soon after with a clipboard to hand to the Counsellor]<br /></p><p><b>Secretus:</b> Your 8 o’clock is here [Hands clipboard to Counsellor]</p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> Thanks, send them in. [Yawns, sips coffee cup]</p><p>[Maximus comes in]</p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> Hi Maximus … Take a seat. So how can I help you, on this … [not overly impressed] early… Sunday…. Morning?</p><p><b>Maximus:</b> [stunned] I’m very stressed.... I haven't slept in two days. <br /></p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> So, what's happened?</p><p><b>Maximus:</b> I’ve just killed someone.</p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> [slight pause] Oh! … OK! … But that’s part of your job, right? … I mean … You’ve been involved as a Roman Centurion in killing many people before this, but you’ve never been overly troubled before, have you? </p><p><b>Maximus: </b> No! No! … this is different! … I’ve... I've killed the Son of God.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> [slight pause] Right! [The door opens and Secretus pops her head in] … Would you mind cancelling the rest of my morning’s appointments. I think I'm going to be here for a while.<br />[back to Maximus] … So, … who exactly did you say you’d killed?</p><p><b>Maximus:</b> The Son of God... Jesus of Nazareth.<br /></p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> Oh … right!! Yeah, I’ve heard that he proclaimed Himself to be King of the Jews, the Son of God … So, were you in charge of that crucifixion?</p><p>[Maximus nods slowly]</p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> So, what makes you think He was the Son of God?</p><p><b>Maximus:</b> I’d seen Jesus healing people around town, and just thought he was a very good magician - it was very entertaining to watch. But he was causing quite a stir in town, and I was noticing people in the city were starting to be more confident and stand up to us a little more. You saw the reception Jesus got when he entered town a few days ago! It was making my work more difficult, you know. <br />I was so glad when they brought him in to be beaten. We dressed him up as a king and got some thorns and made a crown and made fun of him. <br />And then we began to hit him on the head with the staff we gave him, again… and again. Man, I hit him so hard… I don’t know what came over me. I knew this guy hadn’t really done anything wrong, but I was revelling in the act, as if I’d been waiting thousands of years for this very moment to hit him. I just wasn’t myself. [slow and reflective]... He just took it all. <br />Then his journey up to Calvary was so slow. The guy could hardly walk, so I had to get someone else to help even. And when we arrived I had ropes and all, but I was compelled to use nails and… and again, while most people fight back at this point, as I had someone hammering, he just lay there ... </p><p>And as we raised him up. He… he looked at me. And… he forgave me? Who does that!? In all my years, no one has ever reacted this way! <br />We gambled for his garment while he hung there and everyone was throwing insults at him.<br />He asked for a drink, I offered him some vinegar wine to take away the pain, but he wouldn’t take it at first.<br />Then by about noon – it went so dark! We had to light the flares, we couldn't see a thing. And then by about three he again asked for a drink, this time taking some, and then immediately after calling out “It is finished”, and that big earthquake happened right after he called out… and… he died.<br />It was then that I knew – I’d just killed the Son of God.</p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> Hmm … Hmmm … Hmmmmm! … So, if this Jesus WAS the son of God, it’s incredible don’t you think? I mean, if He was God He would have had to have given up tremendous glory and power, and humble himself beyond recognition to come and live down in our world? … And you know, I don’t believe anyone has ever seen a God who has actually come and lived with us before … Seriously you’d have to wonder if He would have known that this wouldn’t end well and He’d be killed? </p><p><b>Maximus:</b> I know!! he must have known!</p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> So, if he WAS the son of God, don’t you think he could have saved himself? Why would he and his Father-God let us kill him if they had the power to stop it? That’s just Crazy! [oops, don’t say ’crazy’]… Sorry! </p><p><b>Maximus: </b> Well! … It felt like… He wanted to be there … Like He had to be there, … to save us, to save the world or something!!</p><p><b>Secretus:</b> Excuse me, Sir! (agitated) … I’m sorry to interrupt … But I’ve got a bunch of people out here who are claiming they’ve all seen Jesus this morning … and they’re all wondering if they’ve gone crazy .. or if Jesus really is alive again.</p><p><b>Maximus: </b> Well, it can’t be him. I speared him myself. He’s dead.</p><p><b>Soldier 2:</b> [from back room initially] Maximus! Maximus! Are you there? [Bursts into the room in a panic.]</p><p><b>Secretus:</b> Hey, you can’t go in here!</p><p><b>Soldier 2:</b> [afraid] But He’s alive! That Jesus bloke we killed. He’s alive! <br /></p><p><b>Maximus:</b> He’s Alive? [confused] He’s Alive! [Happy] He’s alive? [Concerned] He’s alive?! [terrified - jumps up] Hey!, we gotta get out of here – We killed him, he’s going to be after us! </p><p><b>Soldier 2:</b> Where can we go? </p><p><b>Maximus:</b> Somewhere far.</p><p><b>Soldier 2:</b> Tarshish!?</p><p><b>Maximus:</b> Sure… let’s just get out of here, now. [exit with haste, things go quiet]<br /></p><p><b>Counsellor:</b> Huh, “Son of God”…. dying to save us. [shakes head] Incredible! Why would He?</p><p>[exits]</p><p> </p><p>--</p><p><span><i><b><i><b>Performance:</b> </i></b><span></span>Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church - April 8, 2023</i></span><b></b></p><p><b><br /></b> </p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uw38cip9SL8?start=2818" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-54505445282450232392023-04-01T21:30:00.012+11:002023-05-14T21:39:54.694+10:00Battle of the Wedgetails [Devotional / Article]<p><b><i> Comparing one of the wonders of nature to a marvel of human engineering.</i></b></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="768" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b9Y3L1bpzMY" title="Battle of the Wedgetails: Wedge-tailed Eagle verses the Boeing 737 E-7A Wedgetail" width="432"></iframe></div>I love a good flyover. I live under a flight path where planes bank
around to line up for their approach to Sydney Airport. Mowing the lawn
takes me a bit longer than most as I periodically pause to marvel at
planes, like the giant A380 double decker, which curves over my house at
a 25-degree roll angle.<p></p> <p>I’m keen to get back to the Australian
International Air Show at Avalon, Victoria, which returns this year
after having skipped one of its biennial occurrences due to Covid-19.
For any plane gazer, this is an event with an amazing collection of some
of mankind’s greatest modern-day flying machines.</p> <p>Amongst
all the powerful technology that whizzes past at this event is a rather
intriguing-looking plane affectionately known as the <i>Wedgetail</i>.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p> <p>While
the outside of the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft is essentially a Boeing
737—the average-sized plane most flights on the east coast of Australia
are made on—its standout external feature is what some describe as a
surfboard on its roof. Well, some say surfboard, but to me it looks more
like an ironing board (and come to think of it, the uniforms the
airforce recruits wear <i>do</i> look well-ironed).</p> <p>The
Wedgetail name is a reference to Australia’s largest bird of prey, the
wedge-tailed eagle, which can have a wingspan of more than two metres.
However, it isn’t the bird’s impressive wingspan that invited the naming
of the plane as the plane’s wingspan is nothing notable. What they do
share is an amazing ability of sight while soaring at altitude.</p> <p>The
aircraft’s vision has a long-range surveillance radar allowing it to
track airborne (and maritime) targets, just like an airport’s traffic
control tower—but mobile. It has 10 mission crew consoles, where
operators can manage the observation and communication of hundreds of
objects in an area more than 400km wide. It’s truly a clever plane.</p> <p>So
how does that compare to the wedge-tailed eagle’s vision skills? Well
first, we should generally marvel on how the bird’s eye auto-focuses and
captures light to be computed for colour, shade, shape, distance and
movement. This is something we take for granted in birds (and humans)
but is ever-so genius when it’s been self-grown and doesn’t use any
computer chips.</p> <p>The wedge-tailed eagle is also said to be able to
see more colours than humans can. I think this would be wonderful for
bouquets of flowers, Excel graphs and selling more crayons, but I
imagine having more colours would provide even more stress when trying
to decide on a shade of colour for your bedroom walls during a home
renovation. But let’s assume it’s a good thing for the eagle. Who
knows—maybe their self-renovated stick nests actually have more colour
and beauty to them than we can see.</p> <p>The eagle also has what’s
described as “bony rings” around its eyes that allow it to squeeze and
lengthen the eyeball to create a kind of “zoom lens” effect. This helps
it identify what’s for lunch from a soaring height. I think I’d
personally find this ability useful for watching sporting events,
concerts and spotting vacant carparks from a distance.</p> <p>So,
it is evident that both wedgies have fantastic sight capabilities, but
how can we determine which is a superior design? I feel this is
something we should muse over—who knows? Maybe one day one of us may be
asked to judge a “soaring objects with incredible vision” design
competition, and it would be good to have some experience under our
wings.</p> <p>With scores tied, let’s fly through and compare a few more attributes to see who will soar above the other.</p> <p><b>wingspan<br /> </b>The
eagle’s two metre-plus span is impressive for its kind and is the
largest of the Aussie eagle family. However, the wandering albatross,
found along the southern Australian coastline, almost doubles it at up
to 3.5 metres wide—the largest wingspan of any living bird species. The
jet has a wingspan of 36 metres—clearly much larger than the bird’s but
compared to its big cousin, the Airbus A380, it’s also less than half
the width of the 80-metre span. We’ll call this a tie.</p> <p><b>population<br /> </b>Though
the eagle is now protected, in the early 1900s there was a law
demanding farmers kill the eagles in a bid to stop their sheep-stealing.
Hundreds of thousands were killed, leaving a ballpark estimate of
100,000 left across all of Australia today—which is 0.5 per cent of the
number of rainbow lorikeets, who number almost 20 million tweeters
across Australia. As for the jet, there’s fewer than 20 Wedgetails
around the world, out of more than 11,000 standard 737s, so 0.18 per
cent as common. A slight win to the bird.</p> <p><b>fuel<br /> </b>The
eagle runs on animals like rabbits, lizards, galahs, kangaroos, lambs
and it finds this renewable food source itself, even cleaning up
roadkill! The jets do burn though barrels of aviation fuel but can
refuel while flying, and so soar around indefinitely. We’ll call it a
draw.</p> <p><b>emissions<br /> </b>I don’t believe the eagle
would emit very much gas (though has anyone actually done a study?).
Compare that with the jet, which discharges CO2 at far greater rates
than the bird could ever emit. This has to be a win for the bird.</p> <p><b>flight altitude<br /> </b>The
eagles soar about 2km up and the jet 12km—which, as a percentage of
wingspan-to-height ratio, means the eagle is achieving more to reach its
height. A small win for the feathers.</p> <p><b>cruising speed<br /> </b>20km/hr
is the eagle’s cruising speed—far slower than a bird called a swift,
which can cruise at more than 100km/hr. The Jet’s 850km/hr cruising
speed, while immensely faster than the bird’s, is hovering around the
range of other passenger jets, so that’s a win to the plane.</p> <p><b>production<br /> </b>The
eagles self-produce, should a male and female build a nest near a
beehive . . . (kids, ask your parent about the birds and the bees). The
jet’s creation requires thousands of people. Perhaps a hundred are
needed to assemble it, but we must include all those involved in
machining all of the parts that go into the plane and then all those
involved in mining and creating the materials that go into creating the
parts. A <i>lot</i> of people are needed to build the plane. So, the
ability for two birds to create their “machine” all by themselves means
the eagles win the creation race by far!</p> <p><b>repairs<br /> </b>The
eagle’s ability to self-repair minor wounds is impressive, while the
jet requires acquisition and fitting of replacement parts. However, the
jets can keep replacing parts for a far longer lifespan. We’ll call that
a win for the jets.</p> <p><b>transport<br /> </b>An
eagle can take one piece of “carrion luggage” and the jet usually takes
12 humans. We’ll give this one to the jet. Finally . . .</p> <p><b>beauty<br /> </b>Is
the eagle a majestic sight when stationary or in action? Absolutely. Is
the jet with an ironing board on its roof a majestic sight? Unless
you’re a dry cleaner, I say no. The beauty contest goes to the eagle.
So, by my calculations, the winner of best design of a “soaring object
with incredible vision” goes to . . .</p> <p>The eagle! (by a flap)</p> <p>Perhaps
the methods of judging were a little up in the air, but what is clear
is both flying machines are complex enough in their design to be able to
achieve such specialised tasks. While it’s quite unreasonable for
anyone to consider the jet to have evolved on its own without input from
any intelligent external designer, many accept the proposal that the
eagle was given enough time to turn from literally nothing, to come
alive and accidentally improve enough to develop every one of its bodily
functions along the way, becoming the amazing feathered aircraft that
soars over Australia today. To me, the most reasonable explanation for
how <i>both</i> flyers came to exist demands the work of an intelligent designer.</p> <p>So,
the next time you see any jet or eagle soaring above you, I invite you
to stop the lawn mower for a moment and consider the genius of their
flight, and the genius of the designer who created them.</p><p><b>Published:</b> Signs of the Times, Australia, April 2023 <br /><a href="https://signsofthetimes.org.au/2023/04/battle-of-the-wedgetails/">https://signsofthetimes.org.au/2023/04/battle-of-the-wedgetails/</a><br /></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-46070664512047473252023-03-11T11:00:00.008+11:002023-03-11T11:00:00.153+11:00The best neighbours take action [children's story]<p><b>A children's story, loosely around the good Samaritan parable, about how how taking action is better than just words</b></p><p>[Three houses, side by side, older middle person, a well dressed academic on one side, and a scruffy person the other. Or get the kids to pick 4 actors form the audience for you]<br /><br />One day there were three people out watering their front gardens. The man in the middle when he was finished put his hose down and went inside. But he forgot to turn off his hose.<br /></p><p>The neighbour on the right called out:<br /></p><p><b>Smart:</b> Your water is still on…. YOU’RE WATER IS STILL ON!<br /></p><p>But the old man couldn’t hear. So the neighbour just shook his head and kept watering.<br /></p><p>The neighbour on the left saw this, and took action. He went around and turned off the water for the old man.<br /></p><p>The old man then came out to collect his newspaper, but had great trouble bending over and couldn’t reach the paper on the ground.</p><p>The neighbour on the right called out: <br /></p><p><b>Smart: </b>You know, you can get your newspaper online these days. It would save you bending over!<br /></p><p>But the neighbour on the left took action and went around and picked up the newspaper for the old man and handed it to him.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>The old man took the newspaper inside and then cam out carrying several light boxes, but couldn’t balance them very well, and kept dropping one. picking it up and dropping another one.<br /></p><p>The neighbour on the right called out: <br /></p><p><b>Smart: </b>Probably best if you make several trips<br /></p><p>But the neighbour on the left took action and went around and helped the man carry the boxes to the front gate for him.<br /></p><p>Suddenly, a huge guy turned up, and walked up the the old man and said:<br /></p><p><b>Big Guy:</b> You haven’t paid enough money to stay here this month. We’re missing $100. You have to move out.<br /></p><p>The old man said <br /></p><p><b>Old:</b> Oh no, I have no more money I can pay<br /></p><p>The neighbour on the right called out: <br /></p><p><b>Smart:</b> It’s ok, there’s cheaper rent up at Cooranbong. Just move up there.<br /></p><p>But then the other neighbour took action and called out:<br /></p><p><b>Action:</b> Wait a minute… Here’s two hundred dollars. Let the man stay. <br /></p><p>And that made the big man go away, never to come back.<br /></p><p>Now which of these two would you say was a good neighbour to the man who was having troubles?<br />- The one who had very wise advice <br />- Or the one who took action and helped?<br />“Yes, now go and do the same for your neighbours.”<br /> </p><p> </p><p><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="m_-3675203573208925799s1"><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church - March 11, 2023</span></span></i> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-16289535491087597972022-12-17T15:20:00.010+11:002022-12-18T15:25:33.360+11:00Sleeping Lion [children's story]<h4 style="text-align: left;">A children's story about how God sometimes doesn't answer our prayers or give us what we ask for.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></h4><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Have you
ever played a game called Sleeping Lion? (How about in the Audience?)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What about Dead fish - that's the name I know the game by, but lets go with Sleeping Lion as that fits what we're talking about today better.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, to play
Sleeping Lion you essentially have to lie down and not make a sound, not even a
whisper, and if you can, not move either. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Normally if
you do make a noise, or move, you’re out of that round.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Today, the
winners who can keep quiet and still can each win a little box of Smarties. But
if you get caught out making a noise, or moving a lot, you’ll only get one Smartie.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There’s
one more catch.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ally and
Hope are going to come in a moment, and in this analogy, they think that if
they can make you make a noise, they will win your single Smartie to eat. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">BUT they don’t
know that if you keep quiet, you AND they will win a whole little box of Smarties.
But you can’t tell them that because you have to keep quiet. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When my
timer goes off, it means it’s time to tell the girls the news! And we’ll hand
out the Smarties.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So keep
quiet and win yourself, and the girls a box of smarties each. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you make
a noise, you and the girls will only get one smartie each. Got it?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">[Girls go
up to individuals and speak to them separately, ]</span></p>
<p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Who
here has a Smartie to give me?</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hello,
can I have a Smartie please?</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
love Smartie so much, I’d really like one please?</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Why
won’t you give me a Smartie!</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m
being so kind and nice. Can’t I have a Smartie?</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I
really, really, really want a Smartie! I’ll share it with you, half-half??</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fine
I don’t want a Smartie anyway. Keep it yourself.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How
come you’re not giving me a Smartie?</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Why
won’t you answer me!</span></li></ul><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">[Timer/alarm
plays when everyone’s been approached.] </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well done
everyone! Do you want to tell the girls what they get?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> You know sometimes
we can ask God for answers or direction in our life and He just doesn’t answer
right away, or for some things it may feel like he NEVER answers us at all – it’s
like God just goes silent – even though we’re asking nicely, and asking for
good things. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When that happens,
God will always have a good reason why he’s not answering us. All we can do is trust
God is being silent for a good reason. Often he has something bigger and better
planned for us, He just can’t tell us about it yet.</span></p>
<p></p><p> </p><p><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="m_-3675203573208925799s1"><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church - December 17, 2022</span></span></i> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-75999838765733348852022-12-17T15:02:00.011+11:002022-12-18T15:09:33.811+11:00Unwelcome Silence [Church welcome]<h4 style="text-align: left;">A church welcome to lead into a sermon about God sometimes being silent and not answering prayers <br /></h4><p>Good morning everyone!!! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)<br /> I can’t hear you, Good morning everyone! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)<br /> Nice. And Good morning to everyone watching online! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)<br /> I can’t here you, Good morning to everyone watching online! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)<br /> Silence. <br /><br />I have something awkward I want to get out of the way before we go any further in the service. <br /> It’s the issue of awkward silence. Is there anyone here who gets really uncomfortable in moments of awkward silence? (PAUSE……………………………………………………………………………) <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br />Awkward silence is something that’s been around ever since the evening of the day Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge. <br /><br />I think most of us would agree. Silence can be awkward (pause …………………………………….)<br /> IN FACT, too much silence can start getting quite irritating! (pause…………….………………………) <br /><br />However, I think the worst kind of silence is when God is silent. <br /> Whether you’re asking when, where, who, what, which or why – when you don’t get a response from God, especially when you think your request is most noble and reasonable, THAT can be uncomfortable. <br /><br />Today our pastor will be speaking about “When God goes silent”. And we look forward to his message coming up soon. <br /><br />OK! Now we have that awkwardness out of the way, I’d like to welcome you all. <br /> Whether you’re here, watching online live, or watching in the future…, welcome to our community – especially if this is your first time with us. And pray you will grow in knowledge, wisdom and love from your visit with us today. <br /><br />Now, I’ve finished everything I wanted to say, and not say, so I’d like to invite the next person in the program up, and to avoid any further awkward silence I will thoughtfully give a running commentary until he’s here and ready to go. <br /><br />Here he comes, one foot in front of the other, interestingly a similar mode of travel to what most people used to enter our church today – a somewhat efficient, and reverent from of transportation, you can see used all over the world, especial in countries which have dry land to walk on. <p></p><p>Welcome to the stage. Are you ready? Great, go! My job is done.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="m_-3675203573208925799s1"><b>Performance:</b> Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church - December 17, 2022</span></span></i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-78526109772242007552022-11-26T19:00:00.016+11:002023-05-14T21:41:42.590+10:00Shepherd’s Warming [Christmas script]<h4 style="text-align: left;">A two-act drama, for 3 guys, to be run at the beginning and end of a Christmas program, church service or concert. The first act being just before Jesus was born and the second act somewhat mirroring the first act but in modem times.</h4><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br />ACT I</h2><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93wZabyTsRg/Y4fvFeguJwI/AAAAAAAALRM/F9Otjisik_Acv_8ipmmSZfGoGegImJh8QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2022-shepherds.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93wZabyTsRg/Y4fvFeguJwI/AAAAAAAALRM/F9Otjisik_Acv_8ipmmSZfGoGegImJh8QCNcBGAsYHQ/w320-h213/2022-shepherds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>[Shepherds are dressed in stereotypical costume, no glasses or watches, with sandals and mid height wooden staffs. Hands-free microphones. Flickering ‘fan forced’ fire front centre of available stage place. Positions mentioned are from actor’s POV facing audience]<br /><br />[Background sheep noises play quietly from sound desk audio. Stars on roof. Musicians darkened. Two shepherds stand behind fire, facing audience. Joe (stage right), Bart (Centre). A third Shepherd, Tom, walks in from stage left speaking the last few steps of his arrival]<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Well, that’s the sheep locked up for the night.<br />I tell ya, there’s nothing like driving the sheep up that valley.<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Yeah, it’s a nice run. Here, I’ll take your rod.<br />[takes wooden rod and puts it off to left of stage, and returns during the next line]<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Did you see the way I got the sheep over those rocks close to the creek? Wow-Wee I thought we’d end up IN the creek for a moment there.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> Yeah, mate. No one can drive a sheep like you!<br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><b>TOM:</b> Augh, it’s good to get to the end of the day. What a stress it’s been!<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> This whole year’s been crazy so far, ay!<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Yeah. Just like last year, AND the year before. And I can’t see life getting any better next year either.<br /><br />[brief pause]<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> I’m not sure if I’ve said this before, but I don’t know how I’d keep going if it weren’t for my faith in the scriptures and its promise of the coming King.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> King David is returning?<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> No, the Scriptures say the Messiah is coming, and will be crowned king and end the world’s troubles.<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> You believe those old writings?<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Yeah brother!<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> What if this messiah already came, in some faraway land that is girt by sea, and we just haven’t heard? <br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Actually, in the prophet Micah’s scripture, he says a ruler over Israel will come out of Bethlehem - Right over the hill there! How awesome is that!<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Will believe it when I see it.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> [wanders to front of stage and stares out to audience] Hey guys, do you ever look out at the stars and get the feeling they’re a thousand eyes looking right back at you?<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> [Other’s move forward and join either side and squint intently, side to side, out at audience for several seconds] …… Nup.<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> I guess we should call it a night. I think that’s all the excitement over for the day.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> Actually, does that star look brighter to you than all the rest?<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> [slightly interrupts] Hey guy’s, listen!<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> [pause 3 seconds] What?.... I don’t hear anything. <br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Exactly! The sheep have gone quiet…<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Wow, that is weird. I’ve never heard them this silent at night.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> Huh. I wonder what they sense?<br /><br />[lights fade]<br /><br />SONG: Silent Night<br /><br /><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">ACT II <br /></h1><p>[Background Boobook owl sound desk effect, and Aussie crickets/frogs. Stars on roof. Musicians darkened. Three Aussie campers, same actors as first act, with fishing rods, hands-free microphones enter in same manner as Act I.]<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> [car locking ‘jip jip’ plays from front speaker.]<br />Well, that’s the Jeep locked up for the night.<br />I tell ya, there’s nothing like driving the Jeep up that valley.<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Yeah, it’s a nice run. Here, I’ll take your rod.<br />[takes fishing rod and puts it off to left of stage, and returns during the next line]<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Did you see the way I got the Jeep over those rocks close to the creek?<br />Wow-Wee I thought we’d end up IN the creek for a moment there.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> Yeah, mate. No one can drive a Jeep like you!<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Augh, it’s good to get to the end of the year. What a stress it’s been!<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> This whole year’s been crazy, ay!<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Yeah. Just like last year, AND the year before. And I can’t see life getting any better next year either.<br /><br />[brief pause]<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> I’m not sure if I’ve said this before, but, I don’t know how I’d keep going if it weren’t for my faith in the Bible, and its promise of the King returning.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> Elvis is returning? <br /><br /><b>BART:</b> No, the Bible says Jesus is coming back and will be crowned king, and end the world’s troubles.<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> You believe that old book?<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Yeah mate!<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> Well he’s a bit late, Charles has already been crowned king.<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Hey, didn’t Jesus already come and get crowned with a crown of thorns or something – right before being nailed to a cross?<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Yeah, but in the book of Revelation it says Jesus will return to earth again and, unlike King Charles, Jesus will be crowned with MANY crowns.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> Well, that just sounds uncomfortable!<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Yeah! Nah, it’s figurative. Like someone who wears many hats has, lots of responsibilities,<br />being crowned with many crowns is signifying being ruler over many kingdoms, or countries.<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> Or planets?<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Sure. And the Bible says Jesus will return to reign through all eternity, over all kingdoms, as the King of kings!!<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> And this is a good thing??<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Yeah!?! Because Jesus is a king who’s forgiving, who wipes away all tears, who meets us where we're at and, no matter what, loves everyone, and just wants them to join his family.<br /><br /><b>TOM:</b> Loves… me you reckon??<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> Mate, Jesus loves you more than you love your wife and kids, and that Jeep, all put together. [hand on Tom’s shoulder as spoken]<br /><br /><b>JOE:</b> More than Tom loves his Jeep? Inconceivable! [hand on Tom’s shoulder as spoken]<br /><br />[Strings start, and into intro of final song. Final line delivered with patriotic passion:]<br /><br /><b>BART:</b> He does. And when Jesus comes back, and is crowned with His many crowns, we’ll have a leader who will restore peace on earth, and reign though all eternity.…….. with love.<br /><br />[light fades – lyrics start immediately]<br /><br />SONG: Crown Him with Many Crowns Christmas<br /></p><p>--</p><p><i><b>Performance:</b></i><i> Sing Noel, Wahroonga </i><i><i>Seventh-day Adventist Church - November 26, 2022</i></i></p><p><i><i> </i></i></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uWIJkICVktE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-40931122181445036682022-11-07T10:39:00.000+11:002022-11-07T10:39:46.763+11:00Line Up [Morning worship activity]<p>You need a space where everyone present can line up. <br />Give each person a pen and piece of paper to keep their own scores. <br /></p><p>When people line up in the order asked, they score 1 point if they are the person on either end of the line, then, moving in, people get one extra point for every place closer to the middle they are - with the people in the center getting the most points.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>eg: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 <b>8</b> 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 </p><p>Have an assistant to help count from one end of the line, and the
presenter from the other, and as you count the line together from opposite
ends, call out the numbers until you meet in the middle.</p><p>If people tie, and you can't separate them with more detail, then the tied people stand together and get the same points.<br /></p><p>Each person needs to note/add their score after each round.</p><p><b>SCRIPT:</b><br /></p><p><b>Line up in order of:</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Name (Alphabetical)</li><li>Height</li><li>Age <br /></li><li>Yearly birth date </li><li>Current Hair color</li><li>Weight (just kidding!!!!)</li><li>Distance from home to get here<br /></li><li>Time worked/worshiped here</li></ul><p>Write down your score [do the count off our loud - then next order] <br /></p><p>Ok, now add up your total score but don't tell anyone.</p><p>Sit down if you scored under 20 or under. 21 or under. 22 or under.....</p><p>[Last person standing]</p><p>Congratulations, you are officially the most average person who works/worships here!</p><p></p><p>Imagine if we made a representative of Earth with the same method we did just now, and that person was our representative that was judged by God to decide a future in Heaven with Him or not.</p><p>I suppose that is one method God could have used to judge the earth. </p><p>It would be bad news for some 'very good' people who are downgraded, <br />but great news for some 'very bad' people who are upgraded.</p><p>How assuring it is that we have Jesus as our representative, where everyone who want's it, is upgraded.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-72946018441459504862022-10-29T19:00:00.073+11:002022-11-25T20:00:12.030+11:00Duelling Connections [mime script]<h4 style="text-align: left;">A play for three, on the concept of everyone begin wired differently and connecting to God in different ways, or, how different worship styles meets the needs of different people.<br />Use a <i>Dueling Banjos</i> background track edited to your choreography, or even better - played live for your choreography! <br /></h4><p>--</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ88_zBTnSJPPoEa2_4tE1v7SYZgPoY7ahNugIM5EZRRkTEr3bnEPZM_xnOGQ4MtawMHYOZlV4Rahef0FI4mTsj6HKHKoMRLKkFlszmQLxm_AJThGnbpulhXzhRFNup3QbE0eM2nsZ9GWKAzthFn3SKU3Hb8H3C8vU4oAzjCmsXc_ccHgOSKG6VWsjcQ/s1024/duelling-box.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ88_zBTnSJPPoEa2_4tE1v7SYZgPoY7ahNugIM5EZRRkTEr3bnEPZM_xnOGQ4MtawMHYOZlV4Rahef0FI4mTsj6HKHKoMRLKkFlszmQLxm_AJThGnbpulhXzhRFNup3QbE0eM2nsZ9GWKAzthFn3SKU3Hb8H3C8vU4oAzjCmsXc_ccHgOSKG6VWsjcQ/s320/duelling-box.png" width="240" /></a></div>[Person one has a triangular prism attached to a string, attached to their waist.<br />Person two has a rectangular prism attached to a string, attached to their waist.<br />Person three has a cylinder attached to a string, attached to their waist.<br />The shapes can all be made of different materials, like a can for the cylinder and cardboard for the triangle.]<br /><p></p><p><br />Music starts.</p><p>Each person shows their shape to the audience in turn.</p><p>A box is put on a high table or stool, and the audience sees one side with three triangle shaped holes facing them. (the other two sides with holes are hiding on the bottom and on the back) <br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p>Person
one puts their triangular prism in one of the holes and starts 'jigging' their
arms in a country music kind of way to one of the others. </p><p>Then person two tries their shape but it doesn't fit. </p><p>Then person one invites the other person to try their shape, and jigging their arm at the time again.</p><p>Then person three tries their shape but it doesn't fit. </p><p> </p><p>Person one removes their shape and turns the box over one, to now show three square shaped holes.</p><p> </p><p>Person two puts their rectangular prism in the hole and starts
'jigging' their head in a country music kind of way to one of the
others. </p><p>They try and put their shape in too but it doesn't fit. </p><p>Then person two invites the other person to try their shape, and jigging their head at the time again.</p><p>They try and put their shape in too but it doesn't fit. </p><p> </p><p>Person two removes their shape and turns the box over one, to now show three circle shaped holes.</p><p> </p><p></p><p>Person three puts their cylinder in the hole and starts
'jigging' their knees in a country music kind of way to one of the
others. </p><p>They try and put their shape in too but it doesn't fit. </p><p>Then person three invites the other person to try their shape, and jigging their head at the time again.</p><p>They try and put their shape in too but it doesn't fit. </p><p> </p><p>Person three removes their shape and turns the box around to now show all three shape sides accessible on front and left and right.</p><p>The three people progress to all put their shape in their sides at the same time, and start doing their specific jig once inserted, and the music is full and fast.</p><p>Get the audience clapping alone and walk of with the box, all connected.<br /></p>--<p><i><b>Performance:</b></i><i> Castle Hill </i><i><i>Seventh-day Adventist Church Camp @ Crosslands - October 29, 2022</i></i></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076290171504824024.post-90705473740174773912022-10-29T11:00:00.000+11:002022-11-25T19:57:10.673+11:00Background Noise [script]<h4 style="text-align: left;">A play for three, introducing the topic of God seemingly being pictured as a 'bad guy' in the old testament.</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">--<br /></h4><p>[Mum Dad and Daughter sit around table with papers.]<br /><br /><b>Dad:</b> So, lets quickly review the minutes of the last meeting:<br />• It was agreed that I put a scheduled reminder in my phone so I put the correct rubbish bins out each week.<br />• We need to stop playing our tubas after 10pm, as per the neighbour’s request.<br />• And we never quite figured out who’s leaving the toilet seat up.</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> Dad, you’re the only guy in the house!</p><p><b>Dad:</b> No, Toby is a guy to.</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> Since when do guinea pigs use a toilet?</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b>Dad:</b> So, moving on to tonight’s main agenda item, and that’s discussing whether or not Rebecca’s love interest is a suitable match for eternal marriage.</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> Dad!?!!!</p><p><b>Dad:</b> No, your mother and I want what’s best for you, so we both did some background checks on Joshua and also his parents. Mum, what did you discover?</p><p><b>Mum:</b> Well, I researched the socials of Joshua, and he does seem a remarkable young man. <br />He uses clean language online, does some volunteering, keeps his clothes on in photos, doesn’t seem to take selfies, and seems to be in training to be a pastor. Honestly, he seems like the perfect guy. So he has the ok from me. </p><p><b>Dad:</b> Ok, well I did some background checks on his parents and, well… there’s some things I think we need to consider.<br />It seems his mother was pregnant before she married, so that’s not great, though she seems like a nice lady otherwise. However I find record of two fathers, one father, seems to be some kind of step-dad that died fairly young, however Joshua’s other father, is quite some piece of work.<br />Apparently he’s a King, of sorts, a bit of a magician even, and though he has some charitable tendencies, he claims to being an Alpha male and has countless deaths he’s been involved with, all the while seaming to demand people worship him. </p><p><b>Mum:</b> He sound’s awful!</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> Dad!?!! </p><p><b>Dad:</b> They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, so, I’m sorry, Rebecca, I really don’t think it best to have a long-term relationship with Joshua.</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> But dad! You haven’t even met his father. He’ the most loving guy you’ll ever meet. In fact….. um</p><p><b>Dad:</b> ….What?</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> Nothing.</p><p><b>Dad:</b> So there IS something to hide!</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> No!</p><p><b>Dad:</b> Then what is it were you going to say.</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> Well, Joshua and His father seem to… love me even more than you do.</p><p><b>Mum:</b> WHAT? Honey, that’s impossible! You have no idea of the sacrifices we’ve made out of love for you!</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> Yes, I know. But so have they.</p><p><b>Dad:</b> But the deaths! The countless deaths!</p><p><b>Rebecca:</b> But there’s answers!</p><p><b>Dad:</b> We’ll see. I think we need to adjourn this meeting, do some more research on this father before you even go near his son. This all just sounds too risky, having a mobster as a father.<br />All in favour or adjourning this meeting to do more research? [ mum and dad raise hands]<br />Any opposed? [Rebecca raises hand, “Dad!”]<br />It’s passed. No falling in love with this guy until we find out what his father is REALLY like. <br />Meeting adjourned.<br /><br />--</p><p><i><b>Performance:</b></i><i> Castle Hill </i><i><i>Seventh-day Adventist Church Camp @ Crosslands - October 29, 2022</i></i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com