Testing Times

TESTING

Mooster:  Hello everyone! Enjoying this lovely weather? It’s so nice outside! But you know, I haven’t seen Moe for a couple of days. I wonder where he is. Moe! Hey MOE! Are you home? Come on out here! The kids are all waiting!

Monkey Moe: Okay okay. I’m here. But I can’t stay to visit for very long. I’m chained to my desk.

Mooster:  What? Who chained you up? Where’s your parents? Should I get the police?

Monkey Moe: I don’t mean literally chained. It’s a figure of speech. I’m stuck at my desk because we have testing coming up at school and I have to be ready for it.

Mooster: Ohhhhhhhh that kind of chained. I get it. Well why do you have so much studying to do? Don’t you remember what you’ve been learning at school this year?

Moe: I do get a little distracted you know. Have you seen that cute monkey in the third row with the cool banana yellow glasses? I think she likes me…..

Mooster: Moe, you do not need a girlfriend. I bet your biggest problem is too many video games and not enough studying.

Moe: Woah, dude….how did you know that? Do you have a camera in my bedroom? Oh hey, now that’s creepy…not to mention illegal. If you are watching me and putting pictures of my snoring on facebook, I’m gonna get you!

Mooster: You snore?  

Moe: A little.  

Mooster:  That’s okay, but I don’t have a camera in your room, so relax.

Moe: Oh. Okay, well that’s good.  

Mooster: So how do you think you will do on the tests?

Moe: Lousy. I need to have another whole semester just to study.

Mooster: Why don’t you get a tutor?

Monkey Moe: A two-door what? I don’t have a driver’s license.

Mooster:  Not a two-door anything. I said, “Tutor.”

Monkey Moe: Oh. Well first of all I don’t think my teacher wants me tooting a horn in class and secondly I don’t see how that would help me remember anything….

Mooster: MOE! T-U-T-O-R. Tutor. That’s a person who helps you study and learn things.

Monkey Moe: But that’s what my teacher has been doing all semester.

Mooster: Right, but this is someone who comes to your house, or you go to theirs, and they help you learn the stuff you didn’t learn in class.

Moe: Oh. What’s a tutor look like?

Mooster: Just a regular person. Do you know Booker T?

Moe: Oh, that tall blonde kid who always has his nose stuck in a book?

Mooster: That’s right! I see him right over there. Let me call him over here. Booker! Booker T! Can you come over here?

Booker T: Hey Mooster! How are you? Who’s your little furry friend?

Mooster: Booker T, I’d like you to meet Moe. Moe, this is Booker T. He’s a tutor!

Monkey Moe: How can you be a teacher? You’re just a kid, too!

Booker T: Well, that’s true, I am, but I really like to learn and study, and I remember stuff. God has really blessed me with being able to understand things. So I help other people now!

Monkey Moe: Wow – that’s cool. Do you think you could help me?

Booker: I’m sure I can. What subject do you need help in?

Monkey Moe:  Math.

Mooster: Oh that’s the only one you are having trouble with? That should be easy for Booker to

Moe: and spelling

Booker:  Well I’m good at both so ---

Moe: And history

Booker:  Okay, well I might need two nights a week with you then --  

Moe: And English

Booker: Or three nights….three is good…

Moe: And science

Mooster: Moe, is there anything you DON’T need help in?

Moe: Oh sure, Mooster! Sheesh. You’d think I didn’t pay any attention in school A T  ALLLL. For your information, I happen to be doing reallllllly well in finger painting and recess.

Mooster: That’s a relief.

Booker: Uh…that’s great, Moe, because I’m not really very good at finger painting.

Moe: Anyway, Booker, here’s what I really want to know: Why do we have to have tests anyway? I mean, I’m glad you can help me, Booker, but can you tell us why tests are important?

Booker: Moe, tests are important because it helps us see where we need to learn more. Sometimes we might think we know alllll about a subject, but then when we take a test, we see we are wrong. That might not seem important now, but it will later.

Moe: How so?

Mooster: I think I know – let’s say that you are in nursing school and you think you know all about how to stop someone from bleeding. But then you take a test and find out you don’t. It’s a good thing you found out while you are learning on paper. Figuring that out when you are trying to save someone’s life would be too late.

Booker: Exactly! Also, we need to remember that we have testings our whole life. Just because you finish school doesn’t mean you will be done being tested.

Moe: You’re kidding! I thought once school was over, I was done with tests!

Mooster: – Nope. God has tests for us our whole life. Do you remember the story of Abraham and Isaac in the Bible?  

Moe: Oh yea….God wanted to see if Abraham would trust Him or not. So God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, on an altar.

Mooster: That’s right. And Abraham showed great faith by telling his servants, “See that mountain over there? My son and I are going up to offer a sacrifice and WE will come back to you.” Abraham trusted God that even if he killed Isaac, God would raise him from the dead.

Booker:  I’ve often thought that God was using that test more for Abraham than himself. God knows everything, so He knew in advance what Abraham would do. But Abraham didn’t know until he was in that position. Then, once God had provided the ram, Abraham knew that he was right to trust God – his faith had been tested and proven!

                                               

Moe:  So what you are saying is that testing in life can be a good thing?

Mooster: Yes, Moe. God uses tests to show us that He is faithful and that He can carry us through when no one else can.

Booker: There are stories all throughout history of people surviving incredibly horrible situations. Life and death stuff. But God proved to be sufficient for those people who trusted in Him.

Moe: Well, I guess my faith is going to be tested in a couple weeks, along with a lot of other things. Do you think God will help me pass all my tests, Mooster?

Mooster: Moe, God will help you remember what you have worked hard to study and learn. But He’s under no obligation if you aren’t trying. Booker T here is willing to help you. If you put forth the effort to learn, God will help you do your best.

Moe: Sounds fair to me. I will try really hard, Booker. When can we start?

Booker: I’m free right now – why don’t we go meet at the library? We can get a lot done there and it will be very quiet. No video games to distract you!

Mooster: Now you’re talking!

Moe: Okay, I’ll be right over there.

Mooster: I have a verse that might help you, Moe. It’s Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” 

Moe: That sounds like what I need. If God and Booker don’t help me, I’m in trouble!

Mooster: Well, Moe, just ask your friends to pray for you, too. Kids, remember, God is interested in all the parts of our lives. He’s even interested in how you are doing in school. I know there is end of the year testing coming up for lots of you. Don’t be afraid of tests. God uses them to strengthen us and show us our weaknesses. If we don’t take tests, we won’t know what we need to work on. Just remember to study and pray and ask God to be your ever-present help.

Moe: Thanks, Mooster! Thanks Booker T!

Mooster and Booker T : You’re welcome, Moe.

ALL: Bye kids!!!