Green Ones First

Which Apple Jacks taste better - the orange or the green? Apparently Madison thinks the green ones taste better, because she eats all of those first! Seriously: she picks out all of one color, eating all those first. THEN, she starts eating the others. Now I've been eating these for years, and have never thought one tasted differently from another. But maybe they do. Or maybe it's just the color. Whatever it is, it's funny.

This morning, we were listening to Pogo on the way in to school. You may not know about Pogo, but this is an artist who takes movies like "Hook," "Toy Story," and "Up," and creates a mix of music that is absolutely amazing. Madison enjoyed the one for "Snow White," calling it out from the back seat: "That's Snow White!"

This she said while picking her Apple Jacks from a zip lock bag. Green ones first.

Meet our mascot for September's series. He's a superhero, so that ought to give you a general idea of the theme we're going for. We're heading into a season of superhero movies, which of course means with Madison that it is time to watch more LarryBoy. Oh yeah! We've got a great series of messages, and a fantastic devotional as well. This mascot here was a product of a couple days' thought: what hero do we mimic? We started out with a cape, but remembered Edna Mode's words: "No capes!"

So we went with a Captain America look, without the shield. No, that didn't work either. How about Green Lantern? Sure enough, we started working with that general feel - and by changing the colors a bit and doing some "research" watching Justice League, I think we came up with a pretty decent looking mascot. Of course, I say all of this as if I myself drew him up. I didn't! That was our friend Josh, who is a very talented artist.

My part of this involves the writing. Here below is an introductory message that kicks things off a bit:

Heroes are everywhere. They’re in comics and they’re in summer movie blockbusters. They’re also in our everyday life: firemen, police officers, soldiers, doctors and others save the day time and again. Our newspapers show heroes, but our Bibles are filled with stories of heroes like David, Moses, and oh yes: Jesus.

There are three things that define a hero, three things that every hero has. The first of these things is vision. It isn’t x-ray vision or an optic blast that shoots out from the eyes – no, this is the sort of vision that sees what is right and what is not, and sees what needs to be done.

Another thing every hero has is a selfless attitude that recognizes the needs in others before the needs of himself. A hero answers to the call of a moral code of duty to serve others – just as Jesus did when he came to earth.

The third thing every hero must have is an overwhelming need to go to action. Many people see where there is need – but only true heroes are the ones that step up to do something about it.

Of all the people, only those with these three defining characteristics can truly call themselves a hero. Are you a hero? Are you going to save the day?

*******

"Yes, words are useless! Gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble! Too much of it, darling, too much! That is why I show you my work! That is why you are here!" -Edna Mode