Emperor Palpatine in Wonder

"Ouch."

Isn't it great that Emperor Palpatine makes a cameo appearance in the movie "Wonder"?  We were watching that movie again this morning, and it was all for research this time, as we were putting together our message for Sunday based on the movie "Wonder."  It's a powerful movie, one that really tugs at the heart strings, whatever heart strings are.  It's an emotional movie, one we can't wait to talk about on Sunday.  In fact, below we'll share  rough outline of the message, something I put together earlier today.

In the meantime, Madison was doing art camp again at the Quinlan.  We drop her off at 9:00 am, and she says,"Love you!" and jumps out of the car to embark on another adventure.  Today she was covered with paint when she got out of camp.  She was in the bathtub right away, and we had to clean the tub somewhat afterwards, there was so much paint.  She says she's liking this week's artistic creations better than last week's, and can't wait to show us - that's tomorrow, actually.

When taking a break from art, the kids play games, and today's game was again something called "Exploding Kittens."  We'll have to look into that one, because Madison really likes it.

Tonight we did our usual routine of reading before bed, both from the devotional and from "The Hostile Hospital."  The devotional was talking about the movie "Soul Surfer," which features a shark, and the movie we watched tonight had a shark as well - so I think we got "Shark Week" covered a little.  The devotional, of course, was an inspirational story - we may watch "Soul Surfer" tomorrow night.  As for the movie we watched tonight, we concluded our Lara Croft-athon with "Lara Croft:  Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life."

Here's the Shark Week reference.  You can see the most effective way to reach the surface of the water quickly if you're way down deep.

1.  First, cut your arm so it bleeds into the water, but cover that wound until you're out in an open area underwater.  
2.  This should automatically draw a large shark.  
3.  When it circles around you, confidently wait vertically in place.  
4.  When it comes in to attack with it's mouth open (seen above), simply pound it on the snout.
5.  Grab the shark by the dorsal fin.  At this point, the shark should automatically swim rapidly towards the surface of the water above.
6.  Let go of the shark, and let it swim away from you, leaving you alone.
7.  Swim to the surface of the water, which should be closer to you now.

Obviously, this movie stretched the "believability" factor considerably.  The scene with the helicopter was equally an eye-roller, but on the whole, it wasn't a bad movie.  Okay, modification:  it wasn't a terrible movie.

Of course, the first movie was over-the-top cheesy, but seemed to have more "tomb raider" material.  For example, it had "tombs" and "raiders."  This movie had a tomb at the beginning, the one belonging to Alexander the Great.  And after that, it was more about fighting sequences in exotic locations.  We were glad to see China here, including the Great Wall.  But on the whole, the three of us agreed it was our least favorite of the movies.  At the same time, we're glad we finished the trilogy.  The first two we watched weren't bad at all, and after this weekend, we might find ourselves purchasing another Tomb Raider game - they're only $3.99 right now on sale online.

Okay, I digress.  We're done with Lara, and we're moving on:  Madison did her piano practice, and I'm not saying anything to her out loud here, but one week from today she'll be in middle school.  It's too fast, too soon.  She's ready, like Auggie Pullman, ready to take on the day.  And speaking of which, here below is the rough draft of the "Wonder" message we're planning to do this weekend at KidPak:

“Wonder”

CUE SLIDE:  “Superflix”

HOST:  “Okay, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings here… but here goes.  Sometimes someone has to be the person who shares bad news. And this is awful.  Everyone take a deep breath, because here goes.”

Let audience take a deep breath.

HOST:  “School starts really soon.”

Let audience react.

HOST:  “I know, I know!  It’s horrific!  Summer was going along so wonderfully, and here we are already, ready to go back to… oh, I can’t say it…”

CUE SLIDE:  “SCHOOL!”

HOST: “Okay, fine! School!  But you know something?  As fun as summer is, the school year can be an amazing time too. And today we’re going to be looking at a student through the school year who shows us how to be.  He shows us how to win, how to make friends, and how to do well.  Has anyone here heard of the name Auggie Pullman?  He’s the main character in an incredible book that was made into a movie called ‘Wonder.’”

CUE SLIDE:  “WONDER”

HOST:  “Some of you may not have met Auggie Pullman yet.  So why don’t we take a moment now, and look to the screens to meet this amazing young student.”

CLIP ONE:  Meet Auggie Pullman (0:45 – 2:02.5 [spliced together with] 2:48- 4:29)

CUE SLIDE:  “AUGGIE

HOST:  (carrying around a space helmet) “Auggie Pullman was born with a disorder.  He’s different.  And I’m sure you know someone just like him.  Or… perhaps that someone is you.  That’s what makes this movie so amazing – we learnsomuchfrom Auggie Pullman.”

HOST:  “After meeting a few other students and even the principal, he makes the most courageous decision.  He is going to step out in faith.  He’s ready for take-off, ready to step out into a whole new world:  he’s going …to middle school.

CLIP TWO:  You’re Not Alone (12:12 – 14:14)

CUE SLIDE:  “GOING TO SCHOOL”

HOST:  “I want you to see two things in this clip, the first one I can tell you as a parent is absolutely true.  Did you hear her prayer at the end of that clip?  ‘Dear God, please make them be nice to him.’  The truth is, each one of you have parents that are just as nervous as you are.  We want you to succeed, want you to have friends, want you to do well with your grades, and want you to be all those things that you’re dreaming of being.”

HOST:  “We’re with you every step of the way.  But there’s someone even greater who is with you as you step out.  The dad said it:  he said you’re not alone.  And you aren’t ever alone.  God is with you each moment.  Listen to this scripture here.”

CUE SLIDE:  “JOSHUA 1:9 NIRV”

HOST:  “Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.”

CUE SLIDE:  “WONDER TITLE SLIDE”

HOST:  “You’re never alone.  God is with you everywhere you go, and you can have that same courage that Auggie had, stepping out into a whole new world.  Because you’re not alone.  Say it with me, ‘I’m not alone.’”

Let audience respond.

HOST:  “Now filled with courage, Auggie was ready for school. And there was a lot to learn there, of course.  But this lesson we see here in this next clip …is the most important of all.”

CLIP THREE: Choose Kind (Auggie first day in the classroom)

CUE SLIDE:  “CLASSROOM”

HOST:  “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.  That precept is so good, we made that our first point.”

CUE SLIDE:  “POINT ONE: CHOOSE KIND”

HOST:  “Choose kind. Each of us is given a choice each day in all we do.  No matter what we’re going through, or no matter who is looking, we have a decision to make.  When given a choice, we need to choose to be kind.  The Bible puts it this way.”

CUE SLIDE:  “MATTHEW 7:12”

HOST:  “In everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you.  It’s the golden rule, isn’t it?”

CUE SLIDE:  “JULIAN”

HOST:  “Unfortunately, you saw someone in that scenenot being kind.  His name is Julian, and in that scene he was actually poking fun of Auggie.  He was saying that Auggie looked just like the Emperor from Star Wars.”

CUE SLIDE:  “EMPEROR PALPATINE”

HOST:  (showing a handful of notes in his hands)  “And Julian did worse in this story, of course.  Each day, he would leave disgusting notes on Auggie’s desk or locker, and bully him about his looks.  Between Julian and Auggie, which one do you think is acting more like the Emperor?”

CUE SLIDE:  “JULIAN”

HOST:  “Julian is, of course.  Because he’s missing out on something completely, and that’s point two.”

CUE SLIDE:  “POINT TWO: YOU ARE A WONDER”

HOST:  “You are a wonder.  I say let them stare.  You’re notugly.  Say it with me, ‘I’m not ugly!’”

Let audience respond.

HOST:  “You were made in God’s image, and He loves your face!  You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out, because you are a child of the Living God.  Let me share with you this scripture David wrote in the Bible.” 

CUE SLIDE:  “PSALM 139:14”

HOST:  “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

CUE SLIDE:  “WONDER TITLE SCREEN”

HOST:  “You are a wonder.  That’s how you are made, plain and simple.  Be filled with confidence, because you are simply amazing!  Let’s say it again, repeat after me, ‘I am a wonder!’"

Let audience respond.

HOST:  “It’s true.  And as you get ready to go to school, you have to decide what kind of person you’re going to be.  Are you going to be a Julian?  Or are you going to be something else?  Auggie’s teacher, Mr. Brown started the school year asking this question I’m about to share here, and it’s one you should ask as well.”

CUE SLIDE:  “WHAT KIND OF PERSON DO YOU ASPIRE TO BE?”

HOST:  “What kind of person do you aspire to be?  Here in this next clip, we’ll meet Jack.  He chooses kindness, and you know something?  He’s a character that we should all aspire to be more like.”

CLIP FOUR:  Jack and Auggie at lunch table, through montage

CUE SLIDE:  JACK

HOST:  “Kids like Auggie are looking for kindness.  In other words, they need someone who isn’t just friendly, but isa friend.   To begin with, Jack was being kind just because it was the right thing to do. But soon he discovered that he had made a new best friend.  And thought it took a little time, we found by the end of the school year, Auggie had made a whole lot of new friends, because he really is …a wonder.”

CLIP FIVE:  Auggie’s AwardCUE SLIDE:  AUGGIE

HOST:  “Auggie was given that award because of all the hearts he lifted along the way, all the lives he touched in a positive way.  It all added up to something amazing, a year of wonder.”

CUE SLIDE:  MR. BROWN

HOST:  “We’re going to close with one of Mr. Brown’s other precepts – his lessons for the day. It’s also our third point.  Let’s take a look at it.”

CUE SLIDE:  “POINT THREE: YOUR DEEDS ARE YOUR MONUMENTS

HOST:  “Your deeds are your monuments.  Each thing you do each day adds up to something.  (gesturing to Julian’s notes)  For Julian, it added up to a great big pile of trouble.  Each day, he poured out insults, and you can see how it all added up.  And if you watch the movie, you can see how it brought him a whole lot of trouble.”

CUE SLIDE:  WONDER TITLE SCREEN

HOST:  “But for Auggie and Jack and Summer and even Amos, they chose something different for each day.  Jack chose to stand up for Auggie.  Summer chose to leave the others behind to sit with him at lunch.  Amos chose to defend Auggie when there was trouble at camp. Each one had a choice, and even with everyone looking, they chose kindness.”

HOST:  “As the school year begins, it’s a choice you should remind yourself to make each year. Choose kindness, and remember that each thing you do is the thing that matters the most.  Go into the school year with courage and kindness, because you know something? You are.. a wonder.”

HOST:  “Let us pray.”