Psalm 23 gave me,one who is constantly failing and doubting, much encouragement this morning. Jehovah is my Shepherd. The self-existing God, who needs no one to exist or be fulfilled, who was and is and is to come, is my Shepherd. This Shepherd or Caretaker provides for my every need, feeds me sweet morsels, guides me to places of rest, and continually brings my wandering soul back to Himself. He sets me in carriage tracks, great ruts made by the Lord Jesus while walking this earth, that I may know the righteous path.
Even when those carriage tracks lead me into valleys of pain and suffering and even death, I need not fear because He is right there with me. Psalm 22 is a picture of such a valley that the Lord Jesus must needs go through on our behalf. Yet three times we are told that God was not with Him. "Why art Thou so far from helping Me? Be not far from Me, But be not Thou far from me, O Lord." He was alone and forsaken. Yet God does not deal with us in that way. He is with us and comforting us in the valleys.
We all worry about the future at times. Especially when things are less stable than we would like. But the word of God describes our future and it is there for us to believe or not. "Sureley goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." I thank God that His mercy follows me like a shadow. The weak and the failures need mercy and we shall not want. "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him."
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Hero of Crete, retold by Kevin
Once upon a time in a land far, far away in the Mediterranean Sea, where ferocious creatures of the unknown roamed sea and land, lay a little island named Crete. In the center of this tiny island was a massive labyrinth with stonewalls ten yards tall and twenty yards wide. It slowly wound down like a serpent until all light and connection to the outside world was lost forever. In the shadows lay the skeletons of valiant heroes, who had tried to kill the most dreaded thing in the heart of the maze: THE MINOTAUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was half man and half bull. Its skull was five feet thick, and it could smash through walls two feet deep. Its horns were as sharp as the sharpest sword in all the known world. Its hooves were six inches thick and could trample anything that got in its way. Every year seven maidens and seven youths from Athens were sacrificed to the Minotaur because evil King Minos forced Greece to pay tribute. This time one of those youths was Theseus, Prince of Athens.
Theseus was a strong, muscular, dashingly handsome young man. Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, gave Theseus the sharpest sword on the island made of steel and iron because she had fallen in love with him. Its golden handle was wrapped with red velvet cloth, and on its bottom rested a blue topaz inlaid in gold. On either side of the golden hand-protector lay a ruby and a sapphire. She also gave him a ball of silken thread like no other in the world. Ariadne whispered to Theseus, “Tie this ball of string to the doorpost and hold on to the other end of it. When you have slain the Minotaur, follow the string back to the entrance.” Theseus, with sword and string in hand, led the prisoners down into the labyrinth. Soon they heard a loud bellowing roar and Theseus cried “Now for the sword fight!!!!!!!!!”
The Minotaur, which stamped the ground with its gigantic hoof, charged, shaking the earth as it came. Eyes burning and red with fury, he lowered his head and aimed his horns. While the Minotaur rushed towards Theseus, the prisoners watched in horror and yelled, “Run! Jump out of the way!!!” The Minotaur drew closer, 50 feet….40 feet…20 feet….10 feet…5 feet… Just as it passed, Theseus leaped out of the way, drew his sword, and cut off the Minotaur’s leg just above the knee. With a loud, howling cry, he tried to get up, but Theseus quickly plunged his sword deep into the beast’s heart. As the blood gushed out, the prisoners gave thanks to Theseus with joy. The Minotaur was DEAD!!!! They happily followed the thread outside where a crowd of onlookers hailed Theseus as a hero because no more people would have to die. With his beloved Ariadne, Theseus, Prince of Athens and Hero of Crete, sailed back to Greece.
Theseus was a strong, muscular, dashingly handsome young man. Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, gave Theseus the sharpest sword on the island made of steel and iron because she had fallen in love with him. Its golden handle was wrapped with red velvet cloth, and on its bottom rested a blue topaz inlaid in gold. On either side of the golden hand-protector lay a ruby and a sapphire. She also gave him a ball of silken thread like no other in the world. Ariadne whispered to Theseus, “Tie this ball of string to the doorpost and hold on to the other end of it. When you have slain the Minotaur, follow the string back to the entrance.” Theseus, with sword and string in hand, led the prisoners down into the labyrinth. Soon they heard a loud bellowing roar and Theseus cried “Now for the sword fight!!!!!!!!!”
The Minotaur, which stamped the ground with its gigantic hoof, charged, shaking the earth as it came. Eyes burning and red with fury, he lowered his head and aimed his horns. While the Minotaur rushed towards Theseus, the prisoners watched in horror and yelled, “Run! Jump out of the way!!!” The Minotaur drew closer, 50 feet….40 feet…20 feet….10 feet…5 feet… Just as it passed, Theseus leaped out of the way, drew his sword, and cut off the Minotaur’s leg just above the knee. With a loud, howling cry, he tried to get up, but Theseus quickly plunged his sword deep into the beast’s heart. As the blood gushed out, the prisoners gave thanks to Theseus with joy. The Minotaur was DEAD!!!! They happily followed the thread outside where a crowd of onlookers hailed Theseus as a hero because no more people would have to die. With his beloved Ariadne, Theseus, Prince of Athens and Hero of Crete, sailed back to Greece.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Trojan War, Retold by Haley
Long ago in the land of Greece, King Menelaus awoke to find that his wife, the beautiful queen Helen, was gone. It was not long until a servant rushed into his chamber with news of the princess Helen. This news rapidly depleted any calmness that the king might have had minutes ago. Secretly, the princess had boarded a ship with the Prince of Troy at midnight, and had been seen by one of the king’s servants. Some time before, the young prince, had come to the palace saying he was passing through and had heard of Menelaus’ hospitality. Now Menelaus knew the real reason he had come -- to view the renowned beauty of his wife Helen. Seeing that he was young and handsome, Helen had become enchanted with the Trojan and together they fled for Troy. Menelaus quickly jumped into action. He summoned his brother, the High King, and all the great men of Greece and sailed to Troy. They surrounded the city. They plotted its destruction. They waited for victory.
For ten long years, the Greeks waited. There were countless attempts to get through Troy’s walls. Each time they failed. Finally, Odysseus, one of the Greek leaders, had an ingenious idea. If his plan worked, they would have Helen back within a few days and the ten years of waiting would not have been in vain. He suggested that they cut 50 tall trees to build a wall to hide their work. Then he ordered a colossal, hollow, wooden horse made on wheels. A couple nights later Odysseus took 30 men and silently crept inside the wooden horse. The rest of the Greek soldiers sailed to a nearby Island and prepared for the battle. Hiding in the shadows, a Greek warrior awaited the time to give the signal to the ships.
When the Trojans arose the next morning, there was a grand celebration. The Greeks had surrendered! It was all very baffling. For ten years, the Greeks had persevered. Then, miraculously and mysteriously, they just packed their bags and sailed away! They left a great wooden horse with a message that said, “For their return home the Greeks offer this to the goddess Athena.” With great shouts of joy, the Trojans wheeled the horse into the city and feasted. From her terrace in the palace, Helen looked out of her window and cried softly, “Oh, Menelaus.” For now she regretted the scandal which she had caused and longed to be with her true husband. “What have I done!” she murmured. That night the Greeks sailed back to Troy, and Odysseus and his men crept out of the horse to open the gates. The Trojans were still celebrating and oblivious to the Greek warriors sneaking around in the shadows – not until they attacked anyway. There was a horrible battle and little by little the Trojans were driven back and the city destroyed. Helen and Menelaus happily sailed back to Greece as if nothing was between them.
For ten long years, the Greeks waited. There were countless attempts to get through Troy’s walls. Each time they failed. Finally, Odysseus, one of the Greek leaders, had an ingenious idea. If his plan worked, they would have Helen back within a few days and the ten years of waiting would not have been in vain. He suggested that they cut 50 tall trees to build a wall to hide their work. Then he ordered a colossal, hollow, wooden horse made on wheels. A couple nights later Odysseus took 30 men and silently crept inside the wooden horse. The rest of the Greek soldiers sailed to a nearby Island and prepared for the battle. Hiding in the shadows, a Greek warrior awaited the time to give the signal to the ships.
When the Trojans arose the next morning, there was a grand celebration. The Greeks had surrendered! It was all very baffling. For ten years, the Greeks had persevered. Then, miraculously and mysteriously, they just packed their bags and sailed away! They left a great wooden horse with a message that said, “For their return home the Greeks offer this to the goddess Athena.” With great shouts of joy, the Trojans wheeled the horse into the city and feasted. From her terrace in the palace, Helen looked out of her window and cried softly, “Oh, Menelaus.” For now she regretted the scandal which she had caused and longed to be with her true husband. “What have I done!” she murmured. That night the Greeks sailed back to Troy, and Odysseus and his men crept out of the horse to open the gates. The Trojans were still celebrating and oblivious to the Greek warriors sneaking around in the shadows – not until they attacked anyway. There was a horrible battle and little by little the Trojans were driven back and the city destroyed. Helen and Menelaus happily sailed back to Greece as if nothing was between them.
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