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!

Puppets - Vrooom, Vroom!

VROOM VROOM

Mooster: Good evening everyone! Getting closer and closer to Christmas!!! Are you getting excited? Me too! Hey – what’s that weird noise I’m hearing?

Moe: Vroooooom Vroooooom vroom vroom vroom VAROOOOOOM!

Mooster: Uh…Moe? Is that you?

Moe: Vroooooom Vroooooom vroom vroom vroom VAROOOOOOM! Errrrrrrrrrrrck Vroooooom Vroooooom vroom vroom vroom VAROOOOOOM!

Mooster: MOE! 

Moe: [Moe pops head out of window]: YES!?!?! (pant pant pant)

Mooster: What in the WORLD are you doing?

Moe:  Uh…nothing. Hey, I like all the decorations on our puppet stage! OH – and look – they decorated the whole auditorium!! [Sings} It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, all around the jungle…..”

Mooster: Yes, the auditorium looks really nice. We all need to remember to look with our eyeballs and not our fingers. But I was asking what you were doing?

Moe: When?

Mooster: Just a minute ago.

Moe: Talking about the Christmas decorations. Weren’t you listening? I just said, “Oh look, they decorated the whole auditorium” and then you said --

Mooster: No, no, no, before that. When you were vroom vrooming.

Moe: When I was what?

Mooster: Vroom vrooming.

Moe: Is that a noun or a verb?

Mooster: MOE – you know what I’m talking about!

Moe: Oh all right .. if you must know … I was pretending, Mooster! Haven’t you ever pretended? Have you NO imagination? You know you really ought to loosen up a little. Get in the groove….hang loose…..imagine….dream….pretend you are riding down the open jungle path, the sauna-like heat blasting gracefully through your fur…ahhh….

Mooster: You have really lost it this time. I have NO idea what you are talking about. And yes, thank you, I do have an imagination. I just cannot imagine what you are talking about.

Moe: I’m talking about only the most dazzling, most awesomest, most wonderfullest contraption on two wheels ever invented by a jungle bike man EVER!

Mooster: A bike? That’s what we’re talking about? A bike???

Moe: “A bike” he says. “A bike.”  NO, Mooster. Not “Just a bike.” [sighs] (Says dreamily) a brand new, 10 speed, high velocity low density top viscosity banana Bradley bicycle, complete with banana seat, chrome wheel rims and authentic plastic streamers attached to EVERY spoke! Ahhhhh….AND it goes like 400 miles per hour!!! OH year – that’s what I’m talking about!

Mooster: Ohhhhhhh. I get it. A bike.

Moe: It really doesn’t sound very exciting the way you say it.

Mooster: So is that what you are wanting for Christmas?

Moe: Oh – I am NO WAY waiting until Christmas. Well, not unless I have to. I’m going to see if I can buy it on credit.

Mooster: Do you have a job?

Moe: No.

Mooster: Do you have any kind of income?

Moe: No.

Mooster: So why would the store sell it to you on credit?

Moe: Because I am sooooooooo incredibly cute!

Mooster: Uh yeah…it doesn’t work that way.

Moe: Oh well. Then my folks can buy it.

Mooster: Moe, isn’t that bike like $600?

Moe: Yeah, so?

Mooster: Your dad doesn’t make that kind of money.

Moe: That’s why there’s credit cards! You buy it now on the plastic and you pay for it all year long.

Mooster: Moe, it’s a terrible way to do things. It’s better to save up your money and buy things, not put them on credit cards. Don’t you know people get in trouble all the time with putting too much on their cards and then they have a hard time paying them off.

Moe: Well…I have heard my dad say that before too….

Mooster: Because it’s TRUE! Doesn’t that company make a really nice bike for about $50?

Moe: Yesssss……

Mooster: Well couldn’t you be happy with that?

Moe: Welllllllll

Mooster: Moe, you could always save your allowance money for a while and buy one yourself.

Moe: I’d be saving for about a hundred years.

Mooster: Oh you would not. And it would teach you the value of money. It would make you appreciate it more if you had to pay for it.

Moe:  SIghhhh……You are probably right, Mooster.

Mooster: You know the Bible teaches us to be good stewards of all that God gives us. We are to take care of things and to be thankful for what we have.

Moe: Well, I will be thankful this Christmas for whatever I get. I don’t really neeeed a new bike. Plus…if I don’t put that expensive bike on my Christmas list, Mom and Dad might be able to buy me a couple games I’ve been wanting instead!

Mooster: Now you are thinking wisely!

Moe: Thanks, Moe. I know I probably don’t tell you this often enough, but…I do appreciate your advice. You are good friend! You help me keep my head on straight.

Mooster: The Bible talks about that, too, Moe! Here’s our Bible verse for next time: Proverbs 27:17  “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” That means that if we have the right kind of friends, they will help us make good decisions about all kinds of things!

Moe: Doesn’t that verse also mean that we can be an encouragement to each other?

Mooster: It sure does!

Moe: Oh boy – that’s a verse I need to memorize. I want to be a good friend – one that helps to sharpen another friend, so we can both be sharp and strong like iron!

Mooster: Me too, Moe!  Boys and girls – this week, let’s all try to be like iron. Iron is a very heavy metal, used for a lot of things. When you rub two pieces of iron on each other, they can be used to sharpen each other. In friendships – that means that we can help each other to be better. Of course, the Friend that sticks closer than a brother – Jesus – is the Best Friend of all!!! He is always there to help us make good decisions. Before you make any decisions, remember to pray and ask God to help you. Jesus is your Best Friend Forever!

Moe: That’s right, Mooster! Well – I gotta go fix my Christmas list. Thanks again, Mooster!

Mooster and Moe: Bye boys and girls!

Puppets: He Cares for You

He Cares For You

Mooster: Good evening everyone! Wow it’s really getting colllld outside, isn’t it? Do you think we’ll have snow this year? I’m guessing we will!

Moe: Hi Mooster!

Mooster: Oh hi, Moe! Are you staying warm?

Moe: Yep. I have all kinds of stuff to keep me warm when it’s cold outside. I have my scarf and when it gets colder I have my nice warm coat and I have my gloves and my banana boots – they’re bright yellow, just like a banana! – and I have battery–operated socks and I have –

Mooster: Wait wait wait – you have battery-operated socks?? What on earth for? How do they work?

Moe:  Mooster, you have seriously got to get yourself a pair of these socks. They are so awesome! You put in a couple of little batteries and there are little wires that run around the sock and they heat up and keep your toes warm!

Mooster: No kidding…what’ll they think of next?!

Moe: Yeah, just make sure you don’t step in a puddle with them…the result might be kind of shocking!

Mooster: So why do you need all that stuff to stay warm? Isn’t your treehouse kept warm by your furnace?

Moe: Yeah, but Mom’s a huge cheapskate and you know the furnace runs by burning up banana peels. Mom doesn’t want to run out of peels and she doesn’t want to have to buy more, so she keeps the thermostat set at like 68 degrees. It’s a regular ice box in there! Why I woke up yesterday and my eyeballs had frozen shut! I had to blow into my paws and cover my face just to thaw them out.

Mooster: Really, Moe. I think you are exaggerating just a little bit.

Moe: Not really – have you been in my house?

Mooster: Well not recently, but if I remember right, you folks keep your thermostat set at 70 in the summer time to keep cool.

Moe: Yeah, that’s right.

Mooster: Well Moe 68 is only two degrees different from 70.

Moe: Exactly! You can freeze water at 32 degrees but not at 34 … two degrees is a lot!

Mooster: Oh for Pete’s sake. Anyway, do you know any older people or families with children that aren’t staying warm?

Moe: Um, no I don’t think so…why?

Mooster: Well, during the winter, a lot of churches and other organizations open up their buildings at night for homeless people or people whose heat isn’t working so they have somewhere dry and warm to sleep.

Moe: That’s really nice, Mooster! It’s a way of the community helping to take care of one another, huh?

Mooster: That’s right. If you meet someone who isn’t able to stay warm this winter, make sure and find them some help. You can tell your mom about them and she’ll probably be able to help them get in contact with an organization where they can go to stay warm. Sometimes missions will even have soup kitchens opened to give people something warm to eat before giving them a place to sleep.

Moe: What’s a mission? I thought missions were all in Africa or Honduras or Vietnam or places like that. Are there missions here in Greenville?

Mooster: Well missionaries go and start missions in other countries, where they build a church and tell people about Jesus. But here in Greenville and other cities in the United States, we have mission houses, too, and they also tell people about Jesus. BUT they also do lots of neat things to help people who can’t take care of themselves or their families.

Moe: You mean if maybe someone got sick or lost their job and their home and they need help for a while?

Mooster: Yep. A mission is a large building where folks can go. They are usually run by Christians who want to help people get back to being able to care for themselves and their families, and while they are helping them, they tell them about Jesus. Missions will provide the homeless or elderly people with a hot meal and a safe place to sleep. Some of them help train people in a new job and help them find jobs.

Moe: That’s really awesome! But what about squirrels?

Mooster: What? What do you mean squirrels?

Moe: And bears? And fish? And birds? And coyotes? Who makes sure all the animals have a warm, dry place to sleep? Who gives them blankets and battery-operated socks? How do they stay warm in the winter?

Mooster: OH! Moe – you are so funny! God takes care of the animals, Mooster – you don’t have to worry about them. God made animals to be able to make their own little homes. Some bury deep in the ground, some find caves to sleep in, some make big nests in trees. The Bible says that God sees each sparrow – even if it falls to the ground. God sees it. The Bible also says that God loves us and cares for us, too. Even more than the animals!And the Bible says that God makes provisions for us.

Moe: What’s a provision? Is that another term for seeing things positively? I know I sometimes have a negative attitude about things, so would that be called antivision?

Mooster: What? Moe you are confusing me! No – provision means that God is providing for us. God provides food for the animals in the wild and He helps them make shelters for their families.

Moe:  Well why doesn’t God do that for people too?

Mooster: What do you mean? He does do that for us!

Moe: Well if someone is homeless and has to go live in a mission then God isn’t providing for them, is He?

Mooster: Moe, Who do you think spoke to the hearts of the people who started the mission or the soup kitchen or the place where people can get food and clothing? The Holy Spirit speaks to people and encourages them to reach out and help other people. When we help people who are in need, we are being the hands of Jesus – we are serving people in His place. We are showing that God cares for all of us!

Moe: You mean, it’s like we are doing what Jesus would be doing if He were right here with us?  

Mooster: That’s right!

Moe:  Oh that’s cool!

Mooster: The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that whatever our hand finds to do, we should do it with all our might! So if we are going to serve God – we better do it right!

Moe: Does Jesus ever talk about helping people in need?

Mooster: He sure did! In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus is telling His disciples that when they provide clothing to the poor or visit the people in prison or help nurse the sick, that it’s just like if we were doing that for Jesus himself!

Moe: Oh wow – is that where our memory verse is?

Mooster: You guessed it! Matthew 25 verse 40: “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Moe: Hey kids – this week, why don’t we all try to come up with ways we can help other people around us. Did you know that someone always has it worse than us? There may be someone you know who doesn’t have enough food to eat or a warm place to sleep. Be the hands of Jesus – serve Him by helping meet the needs of others. If you know someone in need, tell your parents or a teacher about it so they can get them the help they need.

Mooster: Excellent suggestion, Moe. Okay – bye kids! See you in a couple weeks!!!

Moe: Bye! 

Puppets: Oh Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say

Oh Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say

Mooster:  Hey everybody! How are you today? You doing good?  Great!  Hey Moe!

Moe: Hi Mooster!  Wow - there sure are a lot of kids at the park today – can you see them all from here?

Mooster: Yep, there sure are a lot of kids!  And yes, I can see them all. We have a good view of the playground from up here in this treehouse.

Moe:  Hey, look at that little kid with the big black-rimmed glasses. I just heard a great joke at school today! It’s about this four-eyed kid, see, and –

Mooster:  Monkey Moe! You don’t call people 4-eyes! Just because someone wears glasses doesn’t mean you make fun of them.

Moe: Oh. Sorry, Mooster. ….So…uh.. you don’t want to hear the joke?

Mooster: NO!

Moe: Okay, okay. {pause} Oh – look at that kid over there! He’s only got one leg! Hey – I wonder if his friends nicknamed him peg-leg!

Mooster: Moe! What is wrong with you? Do you think that name sounds nice?

Moe: I don’t know…I guess I didn’t think about it.

Mooster: Well think about it: Would you want someone calling you “peg-leg” if you only had one leg? What if he was in a bad car accident and that’s how he lost it? Or what if he had a terrible illness?

Moe: Oh…I wasn’t thinking about WHY he had only one leg, I guess.

Mooster:  Would you like it if I called you Banana Brain?

Moe: No, I wouldn’t. Let’s change the subject. I was at the mall yesterday, and there was this older man in a wheelchair and I was watching him as his wife was pushing him around the mall and –

Mooster: You were staring at the man??

Moe: Well…yeah…I was waiting to see if he was going to drop his dentures when he bit into his sandwich!

Mooster: MOE! That’s terrible. Don’t you know it’s rude to stare at people! Don’t you have any manners at all?

Moe: (In a pouty voice) That’s what my mom said, too. Nevermind about the guy at the mall. (Gets excited again) Hey - Did you hear what Jungle Johnny said about Teacher Smith? He was busy comparing Mr. Smith’s teeth to bananas, you know, because they are long and yellow and then he said …

Mooster: Wait just a minute! Now you’re gossiping.

Moe: What’s “gossiping” mean?

Mooster: Talking about other people behind their back.

Moe: Well he’s not even here – how can I know where his back is?

Mooster: Location is not the point, Moe! You are about to say something unkind about someone else. Aren’t you?

Moe: Well….I don’t know. I was just going to say what Johnny said. But…I guess it probably wasn’t very nice.

Mooster: So why are you repeating it?

Moe: I don’t know – it gives me something to talk about?

Mooster: You can come up with better topics. Mr. Smith is a very fine teacher and the dental condition of his bicuspids is unimportant to your education.

Moe: Oh…yeah…. I guess you’re right.  And his teeth have nothing to do with my schoolwork, either. So…what’s our Bible verse for today?

Mooster: Apparently, it’s very appropriate. Proverbs 17:20 says, “He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.” Do you realize that what you say is very important? You can be as the hands of Jesus, lifting someone up by your words of kindness, or you can be the tool of the devil, tearing someone down and destroying them!

Moe: Oh! I never thought about that! I don’t want to be a tool of Satan.

Mooster: I know you don’t, Moe. Being kind is something that adults and children often have a hard time doing because they simply don’t think about their actions. They don’t even realize when they are not being kind. But being kind is something we should practice doing all the time.

Moe: Hey kids, Mooster is right. I need to be more careful about what I say. Can any of you children give me an example of saying kind words to someone?

(Wait for responses)

Mooster:  Those are great answers, kids! There are lots of ways to show kindness to people through what we say. Plus, there are many things we should NOT do. For instance, we should not call people names, like 4-eyes or Peg-leg or Banana Brain.  And, we can do things for people to help them. Jesus always spoke kindly to those He loved and cared for.  Did you know that Jesus even washed the feet of His disciples? That was an act of kindness and humility.

Moe: ewwww! I wouldn’t want to wash anyone’s feet. Yuck. What if they had banana mush between their toes? Ga-rossssss!

Mooster: Well, Moe, Jesus did a lot of things for us that we probably wouldn’t want to do. But I doubt the disciples had banana mush between their toes.

Moe: But Jesus HAD to do nice things, didn’t he? I mean, God the Father made Him come to earth for us, right?

Mooster:  No, Moe, God didn’t MAKE Jesus come to earth. That was an act of kindness and love and mercy on the part of God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. God was kind in making a way for us to be saved and Jesus was kind in being willing to come to earth and be our way to heaven. God separated a part of Himself to sacrifice as payment for our sins. He loves us that much!

Moe: Ohhhhhh. So Jesus volunteered to come to earth and die for us.

Mooster: That’s right, Moe. Jesus is kind and loving to us. So we should be kind and loving in return.  Mr. Songleader, can we sing John 3:16?

Songleader leads everyone in singing John 3:16

Moe: Mooster….making fun of people that are different from us or calling someone names isn’t kind and loving, is it?

Mooster: It certainly isn’t.

Moe: I’m sorry I said all that other stuff before. I wouldn’t want someone calling me 4 eyes or fatso or peg-leg or banana brain or anything else.

Mooster: So what could you do instead?

Moe: I know! I could go talk to those kids and be their friend! That would be kind, wouldn’t it?

Mooster: Yes, that would be kind.

Moe: And, maybe we could help each other! Maybe the little boy with only one leg is really good in math and he could help me. I stink at math. But I’m really good at history! Maybe we could study together and help each other!

Mooster:  I think that’s a great idea!

Moe: OH Oh Oh! Annnnnd – I could invite him to come to listen to our Bible story next week!

Mooster: Moe, that’s a great idea, too. Then he could also hear about Jesus and how to be saved! That would be the greatest kindness of all.

Moe: Annnnnddd… I suppose I need to learn to not listen when other people are saying mean or unkind things about others. What did you call that again?

Mooster: It’s called gossip. When you talk badly about someone else, you are gossiping.

Moe: Yeah. I hadn’t thought about it before, but gossiping is mean, too. I’ll try not to do that anymore, either!  Hey – those are all things we can all do this week, boys and girls! We can all invite our friends to come with us next week to listen to the Bible story. You know, anyone is welcome to come. We can all practice not being mean and not repeating mean things.

Mooster: That’s exactly right, Monkey Moe. Everyone is welcome. How about it kids? Can you show someone kindness this week? See if you can help someone. Be nice. Play fair. Don’t call anyone names. And invite someone to come to church with you. Then they can hear about Jesus and how He loved us so much that He came to earth and paid for our sins so we can go to heaven. That’s the greatest act of kindness and love that this world has ever known.

Moe: I’m going to the playground to go make some new friends – bye!

Mooster: Bye Moe! Bye kids!!!

Puppets: Why Worry?

Mooster:  Hey everybody! How are you today? (Wait for replies) Hey…what’s that noise? Do you hear that? Sounds like moaning! I wonder if Moe is hurt? Hey Moe, Moe! Moe, buddy – are you hurt??

Monkey Moe: (Sad moans while Mooster has been speaking..slowly moaning louder and louder: Oh me, oh my, oh worry, worry, worry, oh me oh my, what will happen now??) Yes Mooster, it’s me…I’m not hurt…but I sure am worried…oh, oh…

Mooster: Well, Moe, what in bananas is wrong with you?

Moe: (pokes head through) I’m Sooooooo worried!!!!!!! How can you be here tonight all calm and everything? You’re going to give a Bible story and you are not worried?  

Mooster: Moe, what should I be worried about?

Moe: What? Are you KIDDING me? Don’t you know what’s going on in our country? Our economy is bad, people are losing their jobs and their homes! Our government is trillions of dollars in debt and there’s no end in sight! Food costs are rising. People are going broke just paying for gas to get from one place to another. Families are having to live two and three to a home. There’s violence in the schools and bullying and it isn’t even safe to cross the street! It’s awful! It’s terrible! ……….. (Yells in an exasperated manner:) Don’t you read the newspaper??????

Mooster: Yes, I read the paper. I watch the news, too. You are right about all of those things. Times ARE pretty bad for a lot of people.  I am concerned about the direction this country is heading. We’ve even talked about the possibility of moving if we ever needed to, but I don’t think --

Moe: Moving! Yes! That’s it! I’ll get started packing right now. Let’s see, I need my banana pajamas and my stress ball and my jungle jumprope and my yellow hat and Oh – should I bring a couple hundred pounds of bananas? They might come in handy if we get hungry. Think I can get them all in your backpack?

Mooster: MY backpack?  

Moe: Well you don’t think little old me can carry a couple hundred pounds of bananas, do you? It makes more sense if you carry all the bananas. You’re a moose. You can carry a LOT.

Mooster: Are you saying I’m fat?

Moe: No, no, no – just….um…well suited for burdensome labor.

Mooster: I’ll try to ignore that comment. Anyway, as I was saying….

Moe: What if we can’t find a place to move to? What it there’s no jobs there? What if we can’t get clean water? What if there’s no….oh what a terrifying thought…….what if there’s no….no….no…. B A N A N A S ???     Oh, I’ll just die without them!

Mooster:  Moe – you are worrying!

Moe: Well of COURSE I’m worrying!!!  What else would I be doing? Why aren’t you worrying?

Mooster: Because I know Who holds tomorrow, Moe.

Moe: You mean the president?

Mooster:  No, Moe, the president doesn’t hold tomorrow.

Moe: You mean the Senate? I know they make all kinds of laws and rules and give themselves big fat pay raises and --

Mooster: No, Moe. I don’t mean the Senate. The Senate doesn’t hold tomorrow.

Moe: The House of Representatives?

Mooster: No.

Moe: Oh, I know, I know – the Supreme Court!! They have all kinds of important decisions to make and they make the final ruling over lots of things and they get appointed by the president and voted on by the Congress, so they must control tomorrow.

Mooster: Wrong again, Moe.

Moe: Santa Claus?

Mooster: MOE! Don’t be ridiculous!

Moe: Well, there isn’t anyone left, Mooster!

Mooster: Oh, you are forgetting the most important person of all, Moe. God is the One Who holds tomorrow. Jeremiah 10:12 says, “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” Who made the world, Moe? Did the president make the world?

Moe: No. God made the world.

Mooster: Who is the One Who had the wisdom to design everything on the earth? Was it the Supreme Court?

Moe: No. It’s God who is smart enough to design everything.

Mooster: Who stretched out the skies and the stars? Did a man do that?

Moe: No. It was God. The Bible says in Genesis 1:16  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Mooster: Now we are getting somewhere! What does worrying profit you, Moe? What are you getting from all your worrying over tomorrow?

Moe: Well, so far, I’ve gotten a bruised knee from walking into the coffeetable while I was texting my mom about who won the election, and I dropped my piggy bank on my big toe when I was trying to break it open in case I needed the money and I have a terrible pain in my stomach which my dad says is probably ulcers and I keep getting these terrible headaches every time I read the newspaper and I even felt like throwing up today!

Mooster: Because you were worried about the country?

Moe: Well, no, the throwing up part was because I had a monkey world history test today at school and I didn’t study for it so I was afraid I was going to fail it….

Mooster: Oh brother! Moe – all your worrying about stuff is just making you sick and miserable!

Moe: Oh – it sure is!

Mooster: I have a good song for us to learn. It’s called, “Why Worry When You Can Pray?” I think we can get the preacher up here to help us!

(Sing song a couple times.)

Why worry when you can pray

Trust Jesus He’ll be your stay

Don’t be a doubting Thomas

Rest wholly on His promise

Why worry, worry, worry, worry

When you can pray!

Moe: Oh…that was a great song! So…what you’re saying is, that I should be leaving my future to God and just trust Him and pray?

Mooster: That’s right, Moe. Our memory verse today is Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”   When we get worried about tomorrow and what might happen, we need to pray and tell Jesus about it. He already knows what’s going to happen. It isn’t going to surprise Him. He knows and He will take care of you.

Moe: Is there a chorus for that too? Songs help me remember stuff about God.

Mooster: Songs help all of us! Here’s a chorus to help you. 

God will take care of you

Through every day

O’er all the way

He will take care of you

God will take care of you!

Mooster:  Do you feel better now, Moe?

Moe: Yeah, I do feel better. Thanks, Mooster!

Mooster: Kids, you can hear all the grown ups around you talking and worrying about the future and about what may happen in our country. It’s a good thing to talk about that stuff and vote and all that, but you need to remember that God is ALWAYS in control. Even when we don’t understand or can’t see what’s going to happen next, God knows, and we can always trust Him!

Moe: Thanks, Mooster. I’ll try to stop all my silly worrying. Maybe I’ll even be able to study for my next history test! Bye-Bye boys and girls!

Mooster: Bye, everyone!