Puppets: Weeds

WEEDS

Mooster:  (pokes head out and begins hoeing) Dum de dum de dum…I whack the weeds, I whack the weeds, Hi ho the dairy-o, I whack the weeds!

Monkey Moe: (pokes his head out) Hiya Mooster! Whatcha doin?

Mooster:  Hi, Moe! I’m busy weeding my garden!

Monkey Moe: Yuck. That looks like a lot of work.

Mooster: Well it is, but I have to weed the garden in order to get my vegetables to grow.

Moe: Why did you plant so many weeds if you didn’t want them to grow there?

Mooster: I didn’t plant the weeds, Moe! Sheesh. You think I would do that to myself on purpose? You ever try and hoe out spider grass? This stuff is tough as nails and grows faster than kudzu.

Moe: Well where did all the weeds come from if you didn’t plant them?

Mooster: They just grow all by themselves. Birds and other animals drop weed seeds, the wind blows weed seeds, and lots of weeds send out long roots called runners, which make new plants pop up all over everywhere.

Moe: Looks like the weeds are tough, too.

Mooster:  Weeds are stronger than regular plants and they can just take root and grow in almost any kind of dirt! Spider grass is so strong it can grow through asphalt and destroy a road surface. Kudzu can grow so fast it can completely cover an old barn in just a couple years.

Moe: Well why doesn’t that happen with the good stuff that you DO want to grow?  Why don’t your fruit and veggie plants grow fast and strong and choke out the weeds?

Mooster: Well, Moe, do you remember the story of Adam and Eve? How they sinned and disobeyed God about eating from the tree of knowledge, which God had told them not to eat?

Moe: Yeah. That’s how sin entered into the earth and we all became sinners.

Mooster: That’s right. Well, when God sent Adam and Eve from the garden, God also told them that because of their sin, the ground was also cursed. Genesis chapter 3, verses 17 to 19 says, “…Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground…”  So you see, Moe, God told Adam that from then on, weeds would cause him to work hard in the growing of food. He would have to sweat and fight off thorns and thistles. And that curse is still on the earth – that’s why we have nasty weeds.  

Monkey Moe: Wow. I didn’t know that’s where weeds came from. Thanks for explaining that!  So, what have you got growing in your garden? Anything good?

Mooster:  Oh I have all kinds of great stuff! I have tomatoes and peppers and lettuce and cabbage. I have squash and potatoes and onions and melons…..

Monkey Moe: Melons? Like honeydews and watermelons and cantaloupes? Yum Yum!!!!

Mooster: Yep, I have all of them!

Monkey Moe: Can I eat one now? Can I Can I Can I – oh please!!!

Mooster: They’re not ready yet, Moe! You have to be patient. Growing a fruit or a vegetable takes a lot of time and patience. Just like growing as a Christian.

Moe: Huh? What does that mean? “Growing as a Christian.”

Mooster: It means that just like plants take time to grow from a seed to a seedling to a little plant to a bigger plant to making flowers and then fruits, so a Christian has to grow. When we first get saved, that great! Now we’re on our way to heaven. But our walk with Jesus doesn’t stop there.

Monkey Moe: It doesn’t – I know that, we’re supposed to keep growing and getting more mature in the knowledge of the things of God. 

Mooster: Right, Moe, but that takes time. You don’t get saved on Monday and become a mature Christian by Friday. There’s things we need to do in order to grow.

Hey Mr. Songleader! 

Songleader: Yes?

Mooster: Can you help the kids think of some things that would help us grow as Christians?    

Songleader: Sure – okay kids – what do you think would help us grow as Christians?

(Allow kids to answer. If they don’t say anything, you can help them along with concepts: Read your Bible, go to church often, pray, ask God to help you learn, do Bible studies, hang out with other Christians, avoid doing things that displease God.)

Songleader: Okay Mooster- looks like we came up with some good things to think about! Hey – I know a song that might help us all remember today’s story!

Moe: Well go ahead and teach it to us, Mr. Songleader.

Songleader: Lead kids in    Read your Bible

                                                Pray every day

                                                Pray every day

                                                Pray every day

                                                Read your Bible

                                                Pray every day

                                                And you’ll grow, grow, grow

                                                And you’ll grow, grow, grow

                                                And you’ll grow, grow, grow

                                                Read your Bible

                                                Pray every day

                                                And you’ll grow, grow, grow

(Repeat it)                                       

                                               

Mooster:  Thanks Mr. Songleader! That’s a great song for today’s lesson.

Moe: I liked that song! It makes me think about growing stronger as a Christian. It also makes me think about your watermelons growing faster so I can eat one!!!

Mooster: Moe, you’re drooling. Knock it off. You will just have to be patient. I promise you can have some watermelon as soon as it’s ripe.

Moe: Okay thanks! I’m looking forward to it.

Mooster: And I’m looking forward to us both growing as Christians this summer. We need to read our Bibles and memorize verses. Pastor, do you have a memory verse for the kids to learn?

Pastor: I sure do! 2 Peter 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Mooster: Thanks, Pastor. Kids, this summer we want to have an extra special reward time. Each week that we have puppets, you will be asked if you have memorized any of the Bible verses. If you do, you will earn a reward! Pastor has extra sheets of paper with the Bible verse from today on it so you can take it home and learn it before the next time we have puppets.

Moe: A prize? AWESOME!!! Is it a banana shake? Banana bread? Banana smoothies? Banana and marshmallow sandwiches? Bananas and peanut butter? Oh give me a hint, please, please, pleeeeeeeeease!

Mooster: Nope. No hints. Just memorize your verse and come next time and see what you will get. I promise you will like it!

Moe: Oh, okay. Well, I’m gonna leave you to finish hoeing your weedy garden and I’m gonna go memorize that verse so I win a prize. How about you kids? You gonna memorize it with me? (let kids respond) Okay, Great! See you next time!

Mooster: Bye everyone!!!

Puppets: Thanksgiving Day

THANKSGIVING DAY

Mooster: Hello boys and girls! Happy Thanksgiving! Do you have some great plans to get together with friends and family? I know I do – all the forest animals are getting together to celebrate and thank God for all His blessings to us.

Moe: (pops head through curtain) Hello everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Mooster: Hey, Moe! Are you coming to the big dinner tomorrow in the forest?

Moe: I sure am. I’m ready to celebrate Turkey Day and eat all I can! First we have banana soup, followed by a huge turkey stuffed with coconut stuffing, fried banana casserole with those little onions on top, and pistachio gravy. Then we have and papaya pudding for dessert!

Mooster: Um. That sounds really….great, Moe, but you do know there is more to Thanksgiving Day than just eating, right? And why did you call it Turkey day?

Moe: Well that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Celebrating that great American symbol of freedom: The Turkey! Plus eating all the bananas you can hold.

Mooster: No, Moe. The American Eagle is the great symbol of freedom, not the turkey.

Moe: Eeww. We don’t eat eagles, Mooster. That’s illegal. They are on the protected species list.

Mooster: I know that, Moe! I’m not talking about eating eagles. I said the eagle is the symbol of our country’s freedom, not the turkey. Although that was one of the suggestions before they decided on the eagle.

Moe: So if the turkey isn’t the symbol of America, why is it called Turkey Day?

Mooster: First of all, it isn’t called Turkey Day. It’s called Thanksgiving. And that’s because we are supposed to be giving thanks for all the blessings God has given us.

Moe: Oh. Well I guess I don’t know the history of the holiday. I just know it’s not a very big commercial holiday and it’s kind of squished in between Halloween and Christmas.

Mooster: Of course it’s not a commercialized holiday! How can you make money off of giving thanks to God?

Moe: Mooster, can you tell me the story of the first Thanksgiving?

Mooster: Sure, Moe. It’s important that everyone knows Thanksgiving is NOT about just eating turkey and watching football and getting up at 2 in the morning to go shopping.

Moe: Oh yeah – I’m planning on doing that, too. Banana blades are supposed to be half-price at Bananas-R-Us on Black Friday!

Mooster: Annnnnyway. About 400 years ago, there were Christians in England who were being oppressed because they couldn’t pray to God as they wanted. Their king made laws to control their worship. If they disobeyed, they could be thrown in prison or driven from their homes. So they decided to move to a country called Holland. They called themselves “Pilgrims,” because they were wanderers, looking for a new country where they could worship God in complete freedom.

Moe: Wow. We have freedom here in America to worship as we want.

Mooster: That’s right – but the Pilgrims didn’t.  After a little while in Holland, the Pilgrims heard of the new country, called America, and they purchased two sailing ships to carry them here. One was called the Mayflower and the other the Speedwell, but the Speedwell had problems and had to turn back.

Moe: How many Pilgrims were on the Mayflower?

Mooster: Well, they took on some of the passengers from the Speedwell. So all total they had 100 folks of all ages, including little children.

Moe: I would love to take a cruise sometime. It’d be so great – people to wait on me and bring me food and play ping pong on deck…

Mooster: Moe – it was nothing like a modern cruise ship! It was a very long, difficult time sailing across the ocean back then. It was cold and cramped and it took 2 months to make the voyage. It was most hard on the children, cooped up on a ship that constantly rocked back and forth. Some people got seasick. They didn’t have any of our modern conveniences. It was a very uncomfortable journey.

Moe: Oh. That doesn’t sound so fun.

Mooster: The Pilgrims originally hoped to land further south than they did. When they landed, it was November and very cold up north. Captain Myles Standish led some men ashore on several trips, until they found a place to start a camp. It was at a place now called Plymouth Rock. The first house was started on Christmas Day.

Moe: What did they do for shelter and food?

Mooster: That was the hard part. There wasn’t enough food, so people were often hungry. And it was cold, hard work to try and cut up the trees and build homes. Many of the Pilgrims became very sick. At one point, half the Pilgrims were in bed because they were so ill. By springtime, half of the Pilgrims had died.

Moe: That’s terrible!

Mooster: Yes, it was. But God had not forgotten them. In the spring, He sent some friendly Indians that the Pilgrims had met during the winter. One of the Indians, called Squanto, came to live with the Pilgrims and showed them how to plant corn, peas, wheat, and barley.

Moe: Did it grow well?

Mooster: Sure did! So well in fact that when the harvest came in the fall, the Pilgrim fathers wanted to celebrate. They said, “We need to thank God for all the food we will have this winter.” So all the Pilgrims decided to have a big harvest party and they invited their Indian friends. The celebration lasted 3 whole days!  

Moe: Oh wow – now that would have been fun!

Mooster: You bet! There were almost as many Indians as Pilgrims. They played games and had bow and arrow and shooting contests, and races, and all sorts of fun. And they always thanked God before eating a meal because they knew it all came from Him. Ever since that time, a form of Thanksgiving has been kept in our country. In 1863, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday to be held in November.

Moe: WOW! Thanksgiving is an important time. Now I see why so many people say we should remember to be thankful for things during this season.

Mooster: That’s right. Did you know that unthankfulness is a sin? In 2 Timothy it’s listed as one of the many wicked things people are often guilty of.

Moe: Oh. No, I didn’t know that. Well, I’m thankful for a lot of things! God has blessed me with a mom and a dad and a beautiful tree house in a banana tree and He gives me friends and helps protect me. God is so good to me!

Mooster: Yep – God is always good. We need to remember that and thank Him everyday for all the good things He does for us.

Moe: Hey – I know a Bible verse for Thanksgiving: Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.”

Mooster: That’s a great one for our memory verse! Work on memorizing that verse for our next Children’s Night, kids! Remember – every child who says their verse gets a prize!

Moe: Thanks for teaching me so much about Thanksgiving, Mooster. It’s good to know the real story behind Turkey Day..oops…I mean, THANKSgiving Day! I will remember to give thanks to God for all His blessings.

Mooster: Kids – we all need to remember that. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year with our families, make sure you set aside some time to tell everyone about the blessings God has given you. It will remind others be thankful too!

Moe: Ok, Mooster - guess I’ll see you later! Bye boys and girls!

Mooster: Bye everyone!

Puppets: Manners

Manners

Mooster:  Hi Kids! How are you?  (Kids reply) Great!! I have a special surprise tonight!

Monkey Moe: (from behind the curtains)oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy (pokes head thru curtain) I just LOVE surprises! What is it? What is it? Did you buy me something? Is it a new Xbox with those cool new banana-shaped controls? Oh I’m so excited! I’ve been wanting one forever!!

Mooster: Moe I did not buy you a new computer game system. Besides, the MonkeyMan 2010 you just got for Christmas works just fine.

Monkey Moe:  But I win all the games already. I’m ready for a new challenge. Wait…you said you didn’t buy that for me? Well what did you buy me?

Mooster: Moe, I didn’t say I bought you anything. Don’t you know it’s rude to ask someone to buy you things? It’s not even your birthday or Christmas!

Monkey Moe: Well I always ask for things. Sometimes I’m lucky and I get what I’m asking for.

Mooster: It’s still rude. Didn’t your mom ever tell -

Monkey Moe: And, when I get what I want, then I’m very happy!

Mooster. You just did it again, Moe! You interrupted me while I was speaking. That’s rude, too! You need a lesson in manners.

Monkey Moe: Huh? Manners? I have manners. I open the door for ladies…if they’re pretty. And I say excuse me when I burp…if the pastor is around.  Oh, and I don’t cuss when I stub my toe! See, I have manners. Uh oh…gotta sneeze….ah ah ah ahchooooo!

Mooster: Cover your mouth when you sneeze! And there’s a lot more to having manners that what you said. I think my surprise will help you. I have a cousin visiting me today. Her name is Belle and she’s from a little tiny town called Owl Holler, which is located just south of Possum Kingdom.

Monkey Moe: Is she pretty? I’ll open the door for her. Say, what kind of name is Belle? Is she French?

Mooster: No.

Monkey Moe: Is it short for Isabella? That’s a pretty name.  

Mooster: No. Portabella.

Monkey Moe: As in…. mushrooms?

Mooster: Yes. I told you it was a small town! Anyway, let’s call her! Belle!

Monkey Moe: Belle!

Belle:  (I’m coming!) (bang some pots and pans around) (Ooopsie! It’s okay – nothing broke).

Mooster: Are you okay back there, Belle?

Belle: (Yes, I’m just having trouble finding my way to the window.) (pokes head out window) Here I am! Good as gold!

Monkey Moe: Oh wow – I can see the family resemblance. But I’ll still open the door. Hi Belle! I’m Monkey Moe.

Belle: How do you do, Moe.

Monkey Moe: How do I do what?

Mooster: It’s a polite way of greeting you, Moe. You should respond, “I’m very good, thank you, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Monkey Moe: But I’m not always good and I don’t know if it’s a pleasure or not yet.

Mooster: The point is that it’s polite! Belle, I was hoping you would help Moe with his manners while you are here. They’re deplorable!

Belle: I would be most delighted.

Monkey Moe: Well first I want to know why it is so important to have good manners anyway. Seems like a lot of waste of time and talk.

Belle: Moe, good manners are never a waste of time! Do you know the Bible tells us many things and some of them can be applied to our manners. The word “conversation” in the Bible can mean more than just talking – it’s the way we do things and the way we conduct our lives. This is very important to God. He said in Philippians 1:27 to let our conversation be as it becomes the Gospel of Christ.

Mooster: Yep, and in First Timothy 4:12 it says we who are saved are to be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

Belle: And in Hebrews 13:5 it says “Let your conversation be without covetousness.” And in First Peter 1:15 and 2 Peter 3:11 God says we are to be holy in our conversation.

Monkey Moe: Wow. There are a lot of verses about that.  

Mooster: That’s just some of them. Belle here is really good at teaching, so she can help you learn more verses and how to be polite and have good manners.

Monkey Moe: Ah…ah….ah….CHHOOOOOO! Oh… yucky.

Mooster and Belle: Bless you!

Moe: Why?

Belle: That’s what folks say when someone sneezes. It’s just a polite response.

Moe: Oh. I always just say, “Awesome sneeze, Dude!”

Mooster: By the way, when you sneeze, you should cover your mouth. It protects the rest of us from germs.

Monkey Moe: Are you saying I have germs!?

Belle: Everyone has germs. You should cough into your elbow, too. It keeps germs from getting to the other children at school.

Mooster: That’s right, Moe. And by showing that you care enough to not spread your germs to others, you are behaving in a polite and godly manner, one that is  becoming of a Christian.

Monkey Moe: Really? Well, I guess I can cover my mouth and cough into my elbow. Hey kids, want to practice that with me? Everyone cover your mouth and say “ACHOO!”…..good job! Now hold your arm up to your face and bend your arm so you can cough into your elbow. Let’s try it: ……. Great! You guys did good! Either cover your mouth with your hand or your elbow when you cough or sneeze. The elbow is best, since you don’t shake hands or open doors with  your elbow.  You’ll spread the least amount of germs that way.

Belle: See? Using manners is easy! And, more importantly, it’s pleasing to the Lord. By using good manners, you are being an example of Christ.

Moe: Do you think Jesus used good manners?

Mooster: I’m sure He did! The Bible says He was without sin, so I’m sure He was polite whenever He needed to be.

Monkey Moe: Okay. I will try to have better manners. Belle, I look forward to having you help me. Thank you!

Belle: You are most welcome, Moe.  Boys and girls, this week let’s see if you can all find ways to be polite and use good manners. Open the door for someone…whether or not they are pretty, Moe! Say, “Excuse me” when you need to get past someone. Always say, “Please” and “Thank you.” And during the next couple months, when lots of cold germs will be flying around, make sure you cough or sneeze into your elbow.

Monkey Moe: Hey Mooster…is there a song Pastor Stafford can teach us that will help me remember to be polite?

Mooster: Yes sir! Pastor Stafford? …  Can you teach us First Timothy 4:12?

All sing. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Belle: Well, I must be running along. We’re having a special family dinner so I can see all my cousins tonight!  It was a pleasure to meet you, Moe!

Moe: It was really a pleasure to meet you, too, Belle.

Mooster: Thanks for your help, Belle. Dinner will be great – and they’re serving the best dessert -- Moose Tracks ice cream!

All say “GOODBYE!”

Puppets: Nuthin' Much

Nuthin’ Much

Mooster: Good evening everyone! Are you enjoying your summer break? Us too! We love to have you come visit us. Have you seen Moe? Can you help me call for him? Moe! Moe!!

Moe: Here I am. {long sigh…} Not that it matters, though.

Mooster: Uh-oh. Now what?

Moe: Oh, I don’t know. Do you ever just feel like you aren’t very important? Like what you do doesn’t matter?

Mooster: I’m guessing everyone feels that way from time to time, Moe. I’ve felt like that in the past. Why do you ask?

Moe: Well, I was just thinking. I want to serve God, but I’m not famous. There are lots of famous preachers like Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, and D.L. Moody. They held meetings and thousands and thousands of people came to hear them. But I’m not a famous preacher…

Mooster: Well, Moe, not everyone –

Moe: AND I’m not a famous athlete. Some athletes are really good and they make a big name for themselves and if they are a Christian, people want to listen to them and hear what they have to say. All I ever did athletically was to win a few rounds of bananaball in the Jungle Olympics last year. I’m not a famous athlete…..

Mooster: But that’s not –

Moe: And I’m not a famous doctor or anything. We learned about Clara Barton in school. She founded the American Red Cross and helped so many soldiers during the Civil War. I can’t stand the sight of blood. If I get a splinter I’m about to pass out. I can’t be famous in medicine.

Mooster: Well, I don’t like blood either, but -

Moe: AND I’m not a famous t.v. star. Have you seen some of the end times movies? Have you seen movies like Fireproof and Courageous? Those are great movies with good Gospel messages. People can find Christ watching some of those movies. But I’m not a movie producer and I’m not a famous actor. Even though I am incredibly adorable.

Mooster: MOE! Stop talking for a minute, will you? Who cares what you are not? You should be thankful for what you ARE, and for how God made you! He made you to fulfill specific goals in life, just like He made all those other people you are talking about to fulfill goals.

Moe: Yeah right. Name me some ordinary folks who did great things for God.

Mooster: Okay – How about Jonah, the prophet? The Bible isn’t filled with stories of his life, like it is with David or Solomon. We only get one story about him. He’s just a simple prophet who was called to go preach to Ninevah. He didn’t want to go, and he tried running away, but eventually God got him in Ninevah. He preached and the whole city was saved!

Moe: That was a long time ago.

Mooster: Okay, how about Susanna Wesley? She was the last of her parent’s children – number 25 out of 25!

Moe: Wow – they had more than the Duggars!

Mooster: So far, anyway. But Susanna married Samuel Wesley and they had 19 children, many of whom never lived to adulthood. She had a really hard life in many ways. Her husband was gone often, two of their homes burned down, and so many other hardships. However, she had such a godly influence on her kids that two of her sons grew up to be famous preachers: John and Charles Wesley. Many, many people were saved under their preaching.

Moe: Hmmmm. Anybody else?

Mooster: There’s lots of folks, Moe! How about Fanny Crosby? She was blinded as a baby, yet she grew up to write over 8,000 hymns, many of which we still sing in our hymnals! George Washington wasn’t born famous, but he trusted God and prayed and served Him and God made him the first president of the United States of America! Moe – most of the famous people in history were not born to fabulously wealthy parents or famous athletes or movie stars. They worked hard and trusted God. God blesses those who follow Him.

Moe: Who else?

Mooster: Okay – here’s one: Have you heard of Hudson Taylor?

Moe: Hmmmm. I think so.

Mooster: Well, Hudson Taylor came to know Jesus Christ as Savior when he was 17 and he felt called to go to China as a missionary.

Moe: Hey – I love Chinese food. Is Hudson Taylor the man who brought Chinese restaurants to America?

Mooster: No, Moe! Now stop being silly and listen. Hudson Taylor labored in China for years and years, serving under difficult circumstances. Several of his children died, either at birth or later in childhood. His first wife died there. So much heartache – yet he continued to serve Christ. The end result was that over the years since then, many hundreds of thousands of people came to know Christ.

Moe: Oh wow--that’s amazing! So then, if God doesn’t need be to be famous or rich, what’s the key to being used by God?

Mooster: We have to be willing. We have to want to let God use us!

Moe: Oh. That’s all? Well how do I do that?

Mooster: Do you ever feel like someone is nudging you to talk about your faith in Christ to someone? 

Moe: Oh sure. Just the other day I was standing in line to buy some bananagum when a little kid asked me if he could have a piece. After I paid for it, I kind of thought maybe I should share a piece of gum with him and talk to him….but I was scared, so I didn’t.

Mooster: Well, sometimes it is scary to talk to people we don’t know. But, that was an opportunity God was giving you to talk to that child about Jesus.

Moe: It was? Oh man…I blew it.

Mooster: So now you will know for the next time, though!

Moe: Yeah, if that ever happens again, I’ll give him a piece of gum and talk to him.

Mooster: There are other things, too. Sometimes if we are visiting someone who is sick, we can sing for them.

Moe: Oh yeah – we could sing Bible songs for them. That gives them Bible verses and helps cheer them up at the same time, right?

Mooster: That’s right! Sometimes we can sing for people in nursing homes and hospitals. Other people around us can hear us singing, and that opens the door for them to hear the Bible and the Gospel, too.  Just showing people that you love them and care about them can open the door to tell them about Jesus.  

Moe: Hey – what about writing letters to our family and friends who don’t live close by? Oh wait….Can I use email instead? I don’t write too many letters. And I hate licking the envelopes…the gum sticks to my fur.  

Mooster: Yes, you can write emails to people. You can even text about your faith when you are texting to your friends at school.

Moe: Oh, that’s a great idea! I didn’t think of that. You know I can text 100 words per minute? I can use my fingers AND my toes!

  

Mooster: How talented of you.

Moe: So, what you are saying then, is that God can use us, no matter what our position in life?

Mooster: That’s right.

Moe: Well what about children? Can God use children too?

Mooster: He sure can! There was a little girl in the OT who was a slave to a soldier’s wife. The soldier was a very high ranking commander and he contracted a bad disease. It was going to kill him. But the little slave girl told her mistress about the prophet of God in Israel and how God could heal the master. To make a long story short, her master found the prophet and the prophet told the man how he could get rid of the disease, and after he obeyed, God healed him! Then he proclaimed everywhere that there was a true and living God in Israel!

Moe: Oh wow – and it all started because of a little slave girl? That’s amazing!

Mooster: Yep – boys and girls, God can use each one of us. It doesn’t matter if we are famous or rich or beautiful or talented --- or none of those things. God doesn’t look at the outward appearance. He looks way down deep inside of us and looks at our hearts! If our hearts are right with Him, He can use us for His purposes. Would you like God to use you? Yep – me too.

Moe: This week, let’s all try and see if we can listen for God to call us and use us to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mooster: Great idea, Moe – bye everyone!!!

Moe: Bye!!

Puppets: Bein' Coooool

 Bein’ Cooooool

Mooster: Good evening everyone! Did you enjoy your Christmas break? Me too! It was fun to have off of school for a while. Now it’s back to the books, huh? Oh well…it’s a good thing to get an education and be learning. Hey have you seen Moe? I think he’s late tonight. Can you help me call for him?

Moe! Moe!!

Moe: Yo dog. Chill. I’m in the crib.  

Mooster: Uh…what? I’m a moose, not a dog. What crib? What are you talking about? And where did you get those sunglasses? Why are you wearing them inside?

Moe: Mooster, Mooster, Mooster. Oh man, brother, you got a lot to learn, boy.

Mooster: I’m pretty sure you’re the one needing the learning. Your grammar is getting pretty bad.

Moe: It’s all good. These “sunglasses” as you called them are my shades, man. Cost me $175 dolla! They’re way cool.  Just like me! You need to get with the program, Moosie-baby, and get on the cooool side of the jungle.

Mooster: Moe, what is up with you? Why are you all of a sudden trying to be “cool”?

Moe: Cool is where it’s at, Mooster! Everyone at school who’s cool is wearing shades like these. I’m planning on going shopping and buying some of those pants that are way too big, too. They’re cool, too!

Mooster: Oh yeah…losing your britches as you walk down the hall sounds really “cool” Moe.

  

Moe: You just don’t get it. I want to be cool. I want to fit in. All the cool kids in my neighborhood wear shades like this.  And way big britches.

Mooster: What else do the cool kids do, Moe?

Moe: Well…some of it you probably wouldn’t agree with.

Mooster: Like what?

Moe: Well, some of the kids hang out at the mall a lot. Unsupervised. I’m going to ask my mom if I can go out with some of the cool kids next week and just hang at the mall for 5 or 6 hours.

Mooster: That sounds boring. You don’t have any money to buy anything, so you’re just gonna wander around from store to store?

Moe: Well I think it will be fun. Sometimes they even skip classes to go!

Mooster: Oh this gets better all the time. So you think it’s cool to skip school?

Moe: Only if the cool kids do it.

Mooster: So something is only fun if they do it? I see. Hey, didn’t one of the kids in that group get caught shoplifting last week?

Moe: Well, yeah, but I’m not going to do that.

Mooster: And didn’t another one get caught smoking?

Moe: Yeah, but I don’t want to smoke, Mooster. That’s a yucky habit!

Mooster: And didn’t a couple of them get kicked out of school for being a discipline problem?

Moe: Well….yeah….but everyone thinks that was cool!

Mooster: So getting expelled is cool? Getting lung cancer from smoking is cool? Skipping classes and failing is cool? Moe….can you please stop and think about what you are saying? If the cool kids suddenly said drinking mustard was cool, would you do it?

Moe: Um…well….I don’t really like mustard, but….

Mooster: And what if the cool thing to do was to stop eating bananas?

Moe: Stop eating bananas? NO WAY! I would NEVER give up eating bananas!!

Mooster: Even if the cool kids said to stop doing it?

Moe: Well I couldn’t stop eating bananas. I’m a monkey! Hello? That’s my main food source. It’s not like I’m going to be replacing my bananas with tofu or something!

Mooster: And if the cool kids suddenly said you should only wear orange?

Moe: Orange really isn’t my color. I don’t think I could do that….

Mooster: So there are things that you wouldn’t do. Why?

Moe: Because they just aren’t “me” Mooster. I don’t want to change who I am.

Mooster: But that’s exactly what you are talking about doing. You never skip classes…but you seemed to think that was okay. You never owned “shades” before. For sure you never spent $175 on anything before – everyone knows you are a huge cheapskate!

Moe: Yeah, I guess I have been doing things that aren’t really me.

Mooster: And the whole oversized pants thing…you really think that’s cool too, Moe?

Moe: Well…the cool kids say it is, but….I do have to confess, I wouldn’t like having to walk around all day long with one hand holding up my pants.

Mooster: I would think that would be very inconvenient.

Moe: But Mooster, I want to be accepted by everyone.

Mooster: Moe, did you know that you won’t ever be able to please everyone? If you please the cool kids, you won’t be pleasing your parents or your uncool friends or your teachers. But, more importantly, if you are overconcerned with being cool, you probably aren’t thinking about whether or not you are bringing honor to the Lord.

Moe: Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Does God care what I wear and what I do everyday?

Mooster: Sure He does! The Bible says we are to bring our praises to Him. To live for Him. To walk with Him. To be a godly example for others to see Christ. If you are busy trying to be cool, how will you have time for honoring Christ?

Moe: I guess I won’t….

Mooster: Who should you be most concerned about – what the other kids at school think or what God thinks?

Moe: What God thinks. But I have to go to school everyday and I see the kids every day.

Mooster: Moe, you have a lot of really nice friends. I’ve met some of them! Lucy Lioness is really nice. And she is never mean to you. Fanny Pheasant is a funny foul! She tells awesome jokes! And what about Ollie Owl? He’s always a hoot! And he gets really good grades. Bernie Bat is a true friend. He’s a great one to hang around with. He never gets into trouble, either. See – you already have a lot of really cool friends, Moe – but they’re the right kind of cool!

Moe: Wow, Mooster. You are right!!! I never realized how many really good friends I have. They study hard, play fair, obey their parents .. well, most of the time anyway. And they never lie to me or try to deceive me. And most of them know Jesus as their Savior. I don’t think any of the other “cooooool” kids even go to church. It’s probably not cool.

Mooster: You know what, Moe? There’s an old saying that says if you sleep with dogs in your bed you are going to wake up with fleas!

Moe: Yuck! That makes me itch all over!!!

Mooster:  The type of people you hang around with will influence you  - either to do good or to do evil. We need to be careful that we choose friends who will help us to be all that we can be. To do our very best in everything – walking with God, studying in school, playing sports – whatever it is.

Moe: Well, Mooster…I’ve been thinking while you were talking. Maybe concentrating on being cool isn’t the best thing I could be doing. I think I can be thankful for the good friends I have. And maybe WE could be an influence to OTHERS to be OUR kind of cool!

Mooster: That’s a great idea, Moe! Doe that mean you won’t be skipping classes to buy oversized pants?

Moe: Hahahaha, yeah, probably. But Mooster…seriously…about your clothing. I have noticed that you frequently wear mismatched socks. Do you think you could at least try to be a little bit more color-coordinated?

Mooster: I’m a moose, Moe, I don’t care if my socks match! Oh brother.  Bye boys and girls!!

Moe: Bye!

Puppets: New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions

Monkey Moe: Happy New Year Boys& Girls!!! In just 5 days we will be in a brand new year! I can’t wait – I’m so excited, I’m so excited! Hey Mooster!!! Mooster where are you? Moooooooster!

Mooster:  (From behind stage: I’m coming, I’m coming! Pant, pant, pant) Whew! I’m here! How in the world did you get here so early, Moe? You’re usually almost always later than I am! And today you are here early. What’s up?

Monkey Moe: Late no more, Mooster. I’m a new Monkey. It’s a new year soon. I’m making some New Year’s Resolutions. One of them is to no longer be tardy. I’m going to be on time from now on!

Mooster: Oh, I see. Lots of people make New Year’s resolutions. Kids, if yo hear people talking about making resolutions, that means they are resolving, or making a decision, to change something in their lives. Sometimes they resolve to exercise more or read their Bible more or eat healthier or save money, or something like that.

Monkey Moe:  Yep!  My teacher at school told us about resolutions. She said she is resolving to eat fewer bananas this year. She wants to lose 15 pounds. Hey Mooster, are you going to cut back on the old roots and berries this year?

Mooster: Are you suggesting I need to lose weight?

Monkey Moe: Welllllll…..you do seem a little…….fluffier…..recently.

Mooster: That’s my winter coat, Moe. Of course I’m … fluffier.

Monkey Moe: Oh. Okay. If you say so.

Mooster: Anyway, you aren’t supposed to be suggesting resolutions for ME to do. You only many resolutions for yourself.

Monkey Moe: Oh really? I didn’t know that. I’ve been helping lots of people make New Year’s resolutions today.

Mooster: Oh brother. I can only imagine. And just who have you been “helping” today?

Moe: Well, I suggested that granny use a scentless pain ointment instead of BenGay so she won’t smell so mediciny anymore. And I told Uncle Bob to resolve to use efferdent on his dentures so they won’t be so yellow. And that he put them in his mouth instead of leaving them in the glass on his nightstand.

Mooster: Oh Moe! You didn’t!

Monkey Moe: I sure did! Plus I told Mrs. Harris that she should resolve to quit smoking and I told Mom she ought to resolve to take some new cooking classes this year! And I told Dad to resolve to run 10 miles a week to help him be able to play monkeyball better with me.

Mooster: Moe!

Moe: What? All my suggestions will help people to be healthier, smell better, cook better, or look better. They are all good resolutions. I think I was quite helpful.

Mooster: Moe, it might be that your resolutions are good ones to suggest, but your suggesting those things to all those people is rude! Did any of them ask you for help in making up their New Year’s resolutions?

Moe: Uh, no. I just told them. I said I was making New Year’ s resolutions and that they should too! I even told Preacher Hemmingstein that he should resolved to keep his messages down to just 20 minutes. That way we’ll all be home in time for our Sunday dinner.

Mooster: Oh Moe. You don’t tell a preacher how long to preach! That’s God’s business, not yours. You need to add a resolution to your own list. Resolve not to be rude!

Moe: I can do that. I have a lot on there anyway. Want to hear them?  

Mooster: Sure. This should be entertaining. Go ahead.

Moe: Okay. First, I am resolved to be on time, to brush my fur every day, to take out the trash without being asked, to do my homework right after school each day, to not put my gum under the table anymore ~

Mooster: Ewwwwww!

Moe: To not throw my banana peels in my laundry basket anymore ~

Mooster: I’m sure your mom appreciates that one!

Moe: That’s exactly what she said! She appreciated that! Want me to keep going? I Have two dozen more.

Mooster: No, no, no…thanks, Moe. I’m sure you have a great list. And I think making changes for the better is a good idea. But, I think you should consider only changing a few things at a time. Then you can always add more later. If you try and change too many things at one time, you might get discouraged and give up on all of them. That’s what usually happens…people make great decisions at the beginning of a new year, but by the middle of January, they get discouraged because they didn’t succeed and give up the whole idea.

Moe: Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe you are right. I should just pick a couple.

Mooster: Probably the gum, the banana peels, and the being late could be the first ones to practice on.

Moe: Well I also had one on here about cleaning the dirt out from under my fingernails more often…should I put that one near the top, too?

Mooster: Ummmm, yes, that might be nice. By the way, I noticed you didn’t say anything about reading your Bible or praying or going to church or talking to others about Jesus, or memorizing verses. Do you think you should add a spiritual resolution to your list?

Moe: Oh, I didn’t even think about that. Does God care about things that I want to change in my life?

Mooster: Sure He does! He wants us to always be conforming more and more into His image. So making changes is a natural part of that. Is there an area you would like to be doing better in this same time next year?

Moe: Actually, there is. I would like to memorize more Bible verses.

Mooster: That’s an excellent idea, Moe. I want to learn more, too. This is one resolution we could make together and work on together, to encourage each other! The Bible says in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Memorizing verses is a great way to keep God’s word in our hearts so that we are not so tempted to sin.

Moe: That’s true, Mooster. Isn’t there a song that goes with that verse?

Mooster: There sure is! But our songleader isn’t able to sing yet…he’s been sick. But I think I can sing it. Can you sing it with me? Thyyyy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee… that I might not sin…. that I might not sin … thy word have I hid in mine heart.

Moe: Oh Oh oh I know one that’s good too. This could be our memory verse for next time:  Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Mooster: Yep, that’s a great verse. It always helps me think of God lighting my path before me. Like if I was in a dark forest and couldn’t find my way out, and then Jesus comes along with a lantern and helps me find my way.

Moe: Yep, that’s how I picture it too!

Mooster: So, getting back to your New Year’s resolutions for other people….

Moe: Oh, don’t worry, Mooster. I won’t do that anymore. I will let people make their own resolutions. I won’t offer anymore suggestions.

Mooster: Good! I’m glad to hear it.

Moe: Except…..

Mooster: What?

Moe: What do I do with all my good ideas for how people can improve themselves?

Mooster: Pray for them! Pray specifically and maybe God will bring your ideas to their minds. Then they will work on their changes just between them and God – you won’t be involved.

Moe: Ohhhh….yeah, that does sound like a better idea.

Mooster: I think so, too. Okay kids- if you want to make some New Year’s resolutions, go ahead! But remember to keep your ideas simple. And don’t get discouraged if you forget once in a while. The important thing is to keep working at it. Sometimes it takes a long time for a new behavior to become a habit. Bad habits don’t happen overnight, so remember that good habits don’t either.

Moe: Oh – that’s another one I want to work on at some point. I bite my toenails and I know that’s a yucky habit. I need to stop doing it. But it might take me a long time to work on that one.

Mooster: Ewww….yeah that sounds like a good one to work on. Kids, if you have a habit that’s especially hard for you to break, make sure and pray about it. God will help you. Just don’t get discouraged when it takes a little time. Remember the Bible tells us in Phillipians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ because He strengthens us. He will give you the strength to break bad habits. Like biting your toenails. Yuck!

Moe: Thanks, Moe! If I stop biting my toenails, maybe my socks will last longer.

Bye boys and girls!

Mooster: Oh brother! Bye everyone!