The 10 Suggestions

The Ten Suggestions

Mooster: Hey everyone! School is ALMOST over for most of you! Are you excited? Do you have awesome summer plans! I know I sure do! I’m looking forward to hanging out in the woods, eating water lily leaves, taking long baths in the river, napping in the shade. AHhhhhhhhh…..it’s relaxing just to think about it!

Moe: Hi Mooster! Hi kids! What are you talking about? Summer vacation? Oh me too! I’m looking forward to that myself.

Mooster: What do you have planned Monkey Moe?

Moe: Well, first I’m planning on sleeping in EVERY day and not getting up until NOON! OH yeah! Maybe get up, watch some tv, eat some banana o’s, take another nap…

Mooster: Except Sunday, right?

Moe: Except Sunday what?

Mooster: You’ll be getting up on time for Sunday school, right?

Moe: Well, actually, Mooster, it IS summer vacation, so….I’m planning on vacating. You know, kicking back, chilling…

Mooster: Yeah but Moe, you should still be in church.

Moe:  Well, I’ll probably go in the evenings. But Mooster, I’m sleeping in on Sundays! It’s my day of rest!

Mooster: You just said every day would be your day of rest. Beside, the Bible says we are supposed to honor the Sabbath day to keep it holy. I don’t think sleeping through it is what God had in mind.

Moe: Annnd then I’m planning on going to the mall every afternoon and hanging with my friends, maybe take in some movies.

Mooster: Um, I thought your parents didn’t like you just hanging out at the mall? And are you going to tell them which movies you are seeing?

Moe: Wellll, since they both have to work a lot this summer, they won’t know if I’m at the mall or not and if I don’t tell them what movies I’m watching, they won’t know.

Mooster: Moe! You can’t do that. The Bible says to honor your father and mother – that means we are supposed to obey them, even if they aren’t home. And where are you planning on getting the money for all this?

Moe: Oh, I’ve got lots of money saved up. I do the laundry and whenever I find money in the dryer, I keep it! I figure that’s my payment for doing that chore.

Mooster: Uh huh. Did your mom tell you that you could keep it?

Moe: I didn’t ask.  

Mooster: Was it yours in the first place?

Moe: Nope. I keep my money in my super secret safe so it’s never in the dryer!

Mooster: Then that money is probably your mom and dad’s.

Moe:  Was. What difference does it make? 50 cents here, a buck there – who’s counting?

Mooster: I imagine you are.

Moe: Twenty-nine dollars and sixty-three cents to be exact. What’s your point?

Mooster:  It’s stealing, Moe! The Bible says, Thou shalt not steal!

Moe: Mooster, you sure have a lot of rules tonight. Where are you getting all these?

Mooster: From Exodus chapter 20. God gave us the 10 commandments. They are laws of His that we should live by.

Moe: Laws? I thought all those “thou shalt nots” were just suggestions.

Mooster: Uh, no Moe. God gave them to Moses for the children of Israel so that they could live in peace with God and with their fellow man. If we follow the 10 commandments, we avoid a LOT of trouble in this life.

Moe: Welllll, I don’t know…..I don’t think I have too many of them to worry about.

Mooster: Didn’t you tell me the other day you were really, really badly wanting that new banana yellow zyke, like your cousin has?

Moe:  Oh yeah – Man, I would give anything to have one of those! It’s not fair that my uncle makes so much more money than my dad. My dad’s a great guy! He should make the same and then he could buy me a zyke, too.

Mooster: Moe, that’s coveting. We are not supposed to covet. And your dad IS a really nice guy. But he’s a school teacher. He’s a great school teacher – but you uncle is a biochemist. There’s a bit of a difference in education and skill levels there. It’s not Unfair that your uncle is better paid – he has a much more complicated job that required a lot more education than your dad.

Moe: I suppose you are right, Mooster. So just what exactly ARE all the 10 commandments? I think I’ve forgotten most of them.

Mooster: We can tell you! Everyone can help me. Mr. Curt can you pass out the papers? Thank you!! Okay – I’ll start off with number one: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Okay, now whoever has number two, please stand up and read it!

Great! Now number three?

Awesome! Number four!

That’s right! Number five.

Super! Number six.

Absolutely! Number 7.

Excellent! Number 8.

Good job! Number 9

Thank you! Number 10

Awesome job, kids! Thanks for reading those. Moe – were  you paying attention?

Moe:  Wow. I’m really sorry, Mooster. You are right. If I followed all those commandments, I would have a more peaceful life-with God and man. I’ve really blown some of those.  

Mooster: We all break God’s law from time to time, Moe. But what’s important is that we recognize when we have disobeyed, and we ask God to forgive us, and we get back on track living for Him!

Moe:  I think I need to memorize the 10 commandments.

Mooster: You don’t think they are the 10 suggestions anymore?

Moe: No, that was silly of me. I know God’s word is there for my best. I just needed reminding. I think I might be replanning my summer vacation. I’ll make sure I’m up for Sunday school!

Mooster: I’m glad to hear that! We need to take advantage of all the opportunities God gives us to learn about His Word. The more we know it and memorize it and study it, the stronger we will be as Christians, and the harder it will be for Satan to attack us.

Moe: Thanks Moe! Hey boys and girls – this summer, why don’t we all work on memorizing the 10 commandments, if you don’t already have them memorized.  I think that would be a great summer project!

Mooster: That’s a great idea, Moe! Every week this summer, if you can stand and tell us some of the commandments, we will give you something – maybe a penny for each commandment or a piece of gum or something. Once you have alllll 10 memorized, in order, you will get one of those giant candy bars we used to give out. Sound good?

Moe: Can I have a banana instead?

Mooster: You sure can, Moe.

Bye!!!