This afternoon, we are headed back to the church for the Children's Christmas play. And it ought to be ... interesting.
We have a simple script and a few favorite carols to sing together with the families of our shepherds and wise men (correction: wise guy and two wise gals). The whole shebang won't last longer than twenty minutes. But I'm still curious to see it all come together.
In the course of our rehearsals each week during Children's Church, it has been a bit like herding cats. Once we get one little shepherd up on his feet and together with the rest of the throng, we look over and another shepherd has crawled under the table in an effort to hide. The soldiers who march in with Caesar Augustus are more of the wiggling and waltzing type. We might have to velcro them to the throne to keep them standing still. We are hoping our angel finds his voice (his brothers assure me he has one) because I don't remember the angel from Luke whispering his glorious announcement. And as for the narrators, I have my fingers crossed that they will be able to follow along with the action of the play and keep our momentum up. Or at least know what page we're on.
On that First Noel, God had an equally eclectic cast to work with.
A young and meek girl to fill the role of mother of Jesus.
An older but still uncertain carpenter to play the husband and father.
A newborn baby to be the King of Israel.
A host of angels to make the announcement.
A rag-tag bundle of shepherds to be the first worshippers.
A band of mysterious wise men with gifts.
And us.
The song, "The First Noel", is the like the script that each player followed. Can you find your role?
The First Noel
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
See. I made it easy for you. It's those bold lines.
I acknowledge feeling a little anxiety about this afternoon's play. I don't think we'll have anything as exciting as when the Herdmen's took over "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", but there's always the possibility for something unexpected.
God, on the other hand, directed that first Christmas knowing exactly how each role would be played. There were no surprises.
He knew Mary would embrace this life-changing event. He knew Joseph would waver, but be strong in the end. He knew that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. In a stable. With the livestock. He knew that the shepherds, the folks on the fringe of society, would be quick to follow the angel's directions and find the Messiah first. And He also knew they would be exuberant in sharing the news with everyone they met. God knew that the wise men would follow that new star all the way to Bethlehem. He also knew the gifts they would bring and that they would each point to Jesus' divinity.
And He knows you. He knows your heart ... your hopes and your dreams. And your worries and your fears. But you still have a role. Are you ready to do your part?
Let us all together sing praises to our heavenly Lord!
_________________________________
On a different note, a mom friend here in GJ is participating in the Kohl's Love to Give, Happy to Save Contest. Pop over to the Facebook page here, and vote for Jenn and Iron Will. Another wonderful gift this Christmas ... for hundreds of kids and their families! And Oh, So Easy!!
Showing posts with label Surprise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surprise. Show all posts
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Full of Surprises!
Brett had a terrific surprise for the kids this Saturday! Our old theater downtown, the Avalon, was showing Kung Fu Panda 2 and Daddy, being the amazing Daddy that he is, took the brood for a matinee showing. That was the first surprise.
The second surprise was sprung upon them at their arrival. The movie was stuck in a snow storm in southern Colorado. Bummer.
This was followed quickly by a third surprise ... free admission, free popcorn and front row balcony seats to watch the first Kung Fu Panda. What do we say to that? Boo-yeah!
It was okay that this was their fifth or sixth viewing of the movie ... it's one of our favorites!
... Legend tells of a legendary warrior whose kung fu skills were the stuff of legend. ... He was so deadly, in fact, that his enemies would go blind from over-exposure to pure awesomeness! ... Hey, what you got? You got nothing because I got it right here. You picking on my friends? Get ready to feel the thunder. Come out with the crazy feet. What you goin' to do about the crazy feet. I'm a blur! I'm a blur! You never seen *Bear* style! ...
Yeah ... you gotta love Po!
Our fourth surprise came the next day over lunch. As we slurped our shakes and munched on popcorn (our traditional meal after church), Brett sprung a question on the kids:
What parts of Kung Fu Panda remind you of something from the Bible?
Here's a little bit about what we talked about ...
Oogway is kinda like God. He is wise and seems to be ageless. At least until he flies away with the blossoms! He is the one who chooses the Dragon Warrior to be the savior of the people. Chosen to save them from horrifying Tai Lung. Even in the face of his odd choice for the Dragon Warrior, he is confident that there are no accidents.
Tai Lung is kinda like satan. He had been trained by Master Shifu and began his training with great promise, but because of his hunger for power, he fell away from the good he could have done and turned on his Master. Sound familiar?
Po could be compared (rather loosely perhaps) with Jesus. He is chosen as the Dragon Warrior but the reception by those in the village and those in the Jade Palace is less than luke-warm. They are incredulous that this simple, noodle-slurping, dumpling-munching, poochy-bellied panda is The One they have been waiting for the past thousand years!
They expected someone more warrior-ish ... and a little less Po-ish. Much like the comments that followed Jesus around - more king-ish and less carpenter-ish.
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. (John 1:45-46)
“What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. (Mark 6:2-3)
Not necessarily shining commendations for the Savior of the world! I'm sure glad they were wrong!
Our final insight into the movie had to do with the Dragon Scroll - the scroll that was supposed to have great power for the owner, the Dragon Warrior. To Po's great surprise, the scroll was blank! The true secret to the scroll was not magical words, but the need for Po to believe in himself. To believe that he was, indeed, the Dragon Warrior and that he had within himself the power to save his village from the evil Tai Lung.
Similarly, our salvation is not evoked with magical words and it is not based on anything we own or any special abilities have. Our salvation is simply found in the need to believe and then declare what we believe:
8 ... “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:8-10, emphasis mine)
The second surprise was sprung upon them at their arrival. The movie was stuck in a snow storm in southern Colorado. Bummer.
This was followed quickly by a third surprise ... free admission, free popcorn and front row balcony seats to watch the first Kung Fu Panda. What do we say to that? Boo-yeah!
It was okay that this was their fifth or sixth viewing of the movie ... it's one of our favorites!
... Legend tells of a legendary warrior whose kung fu skills were the stuff of legend. ... He was so deadly, in fact, that his enemies would go blind from over-exposure to pure awesomeness! ... Hey, what you got? You got nothing because I got it right here. You picking on my friends? Get ready to feel the thunder. Come out with the crazy feet. What you goin' to do about the crazy feet. I'm a blur! I'm a blur! You never seen *Bear* style! ...
Yeah ... you gotta love Po!
Our fourth surprise came the next day over lunch. As we slurped our shakes and munched on popcorn (our traditional meal after church), Brett sprung a question on the kids:
What parts of Kung Fu Panda remind you of something from the Bible?
Here's a little bit about what we talked about ...
Oogway is kinda like God. He is wise and seems to be ageless. At least until he flies away with the blossoms! He is the one who chooses the Dragon Warrior to be the savior of the people. Chosen to save them from horrifying Tai Lung. Even in the face of his odd choice for the Dragon Warrior, he is confident that there are no accidents.
Tai Lung is kinda like satan. He had been trained by Master Shifu and began his training with great promise, but because of his hunger for power, he fell away from the good he could have done and turned on his Master. Sound familiar?
Po could be compared (rather loosely perhaps) with Jesus. He is chosen as the Dragon Warrior but the reception by those in the village and those in the Jade Palace is less than luke-warm. They are incredulous that this simple, noodle-slurping, dumpling-munching, poochy-bellied panda is The One they have been waiting for the past thousand years!
They expected someone more warrior-ish ... and a little less Po-ish. Much like the comments that followed Jesus around - more king-ish and less carpenter-ish.
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. (John 1:45-46)
“What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. (Mark 6:2-3)
Not necessarily shining commendations for the Savior of the world! I'm sure glad they were wrong!
Our final insight into the movie had to do with the Dragon Scroll - the scroll that was supposed to have great power for the owner, the Dragon Warrior. To Po's great surprise, the scroll was blank! The true secret to the scroll was not magical words, but the need for Po to believe in himself. To believe that he was, indeed, the Dragon Warrior and that he had within himself the power to save his village from the evil Tai Lung.
Similarly, our salvation is not evoked with magical words and it is not based on anything we own or any special abilities have. Our salvation is simply found in the need to believe and then declare what we believe:
8 ... “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:8-10, emphasis mine)
As Po acted out his faith, he became the Dragon Warrior ... much to everyone's surprise! His final victory came as he surprised (and conquered) Tai Lung with the Wuxi finger hold. Skadoosh!
Where else does God astound you with spiritual truths? If we open our eyes, we will find them in the most astonishing of places!
Surprise!
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