More rain today, but that's okay. The weather is cool, but not so chilly - unless you're working in the office like we do. Our building is big, and the air conditioning starts right where our part of the building is. The cold air collects there, and it is amazingly cold there at times. We wear layered clothing in the summer.
Today Madison missed gym. She missed it because she had to take a math test, the one that determines if she'll be in the accelerated class next year or not. She was actually happy about missing gym - can you believe that? Our little girl would rather take a long math test than go to gym! This was a hilarious little moment of realization for us, the evidence before us that we may be raising a small geek. The other side of it is that in gym, they do a lot of running.
And while I agree about the discipline of running and cardiovascular exercise, something I sorely need to have, it also doesn't sound like gym is terribly fun. "We do a lot of running," Madison says. She didn't mind the running with Fund Run, but apparently this is more just about collectively running in circles for a set time. I immediately hear Mr. Sir's character from "Holes," barking at the kids when they ask why they are doing this. "Because it builds character!"
Speaking of running, we're getting a ton of calls - recorded ones - from people who are running for office. The sample ballot is printed out and on our table, and there's a list of candidates to choose from, and it's a bit bigger this year, so we've been doing research for each candidate, even the outside chance ones. In fact, Daddy likes a few of the outsiders, even though they don't have much of a chance when it comes to money and so forth. The signs around here are evidence of all the money pouring in for these various candidates. The signs are everywhere - vote for this person, or vote for that person. It's America, so it's a reminder that we can actually vote for someone, unlike other countries. So the signs are so much of a nuisance, as a reminder of what our freedoms actually are. Just so long as the signs go away after the election. The primary is coming up next month, so a good number of those signs should be going away soon enough.
Anyway, we were working today. Daddy has been working on all kinds of things, from Summer Xtreme to the upcoming weekend in our series, "Legends." But another thing he's been doing is beefing up the archives of what we've done thus far at KidPak. It's a vast collection of series, now at 64 total different ones. Each includes an average of eight messages or so, and when put together, it represents probably eight years of messages if we were to start at the beginning and just do one after the other. And there's more - Daddy once thought we've pretty much used all the ideas up as far as themes and genres go. But God has been good enough to give more ideas to this little mind. Even though there are no concrete plans to do these upcoming series any time soon, Daddy is still doing new series ideas. In fact, here below is one idea for a series - four new messages we haven't done yet. It's based on a "blues" feel, basically because Daddy wanted to focus one message on the book of Lamentations. That book is the blues. But there are plenty of Psalms that start out sounding like the blues. And when we look at some themes from "The Blues Brothers," which of course we won't really acknowledge to the kids so much, there are themes there too: Mission from God, anyone? Anyway, the whole "House of Blues" idea has always been a fun genre to me, and perhaps some day we'll do this series. But even if not at KidPak, it's good to have around. Here it is, hopefully for future use. I probably have to come up with a different title than the already-used "House of Blues" one. But for now we'll stick with that to capture the general feeling and vibe of this series idea. Here goes:
HOUSE OF BLUES
PAGE ONE:
TITLE PAGE
PAGE TWO:
THE ZIKLAG BLUES
Here’s a story of David. He was walking the line.
Living in Judah, yet near the Philistines.
One day he came back, and to his surprise
Found his stuff and his family, stolen before his eyes!
He’s got the Ziklag Blues
And his heart was going to break.
His men were wanting to stone him
Yeah, it’s just to hard to take.
Now that sort of thing, can give you the blues
But you have to do right. There ain’t no time to lose!
So David got up. And he sought the Lord.
He got his men to grab their shields and their swords!
PAGE THREE:
Cause they had the Ziklag Blues
They make you wish you were dead
But David went off to battle
Yes that’s right, it’s what I said!
So they won the fight. And got it all back.
And shared all the loot from their counter-attack!
Because even though some didn’t fight that day
It was still important, the part that they played
Now who has the Ziklag Blues?
It isn’t David, he’s doing fine.
He’s got no Ziklag Blues.
He’s got the Lord on his mind
He’s got no Ziklag Blues
He’s no longer walking the line.
PAGE FOUR:
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag. The Amalekites had attacked the people of the Negev Desert. They had also attacked Ziklag and burned it. 2 They had captured the women and everyone else in Ziklag. They had taken as prisoners young people and old people alike. But they didn’t kill any of them. Instead, they carried them off as they went on their way.
3 David and his men reached Ziklag. They saw that it had been destroyed by fire. They found out that their wives and sons and daughters had been captured. 4 So David and his men began to weep out loud. They wept until they couldn’t weep anymore. 5 David’s two wives had been captured. Their names were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel. Abigail was Nabal’s widow. 6 David was greatly troubled. His men were even talking about killing him by throwing stones at him. All of them were very bitter because their sons and daughters had been taken away. But David was made strong by the Lord his God.
7 Then David spoke to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek. He said, “Bring me the linen apron.” Abiathar brought it to him. 8 David asked the Lord for advice. He said, “Should I chase after the men who attacked Ziklag? If I do, will I catch up with them?”
“Chase after them,” the Lord answered. “You will certainly catch up with them. You will succeed in saving those who were captured.”
9 David and his 600 men came to the Besor Valley. Some of them stayed behind there. 10 That’s because 200 of them were too tired to go across the valley. But David and the other 400 continued the chase.
11 David’s men found an Egyptian in a field. They brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat. 12 They gave him part of a cake of pressed figs. They also gave him two raisin cakes. After he ate them, he felt as good as new. That’s because he hadn’t eaten any food for three days and three nights. He hadn’t drunk any water during that time either.
13 David asked him, “Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?”
The man said, “I’m from Egypt. I’m the slave of an Amalekite. My master deserted me when I became ill three days ago. 14 We attacked the people in the Negev Desert of the Kerethites. We attacked the territory that belongs to Judah. We attacked the people in the Negev Desert of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag.”
15 David asked him, “Can you lead me down to the men who attacked Ziklag?”
He answered, “Make a promise to me in the name of God. Promise that you won’t kill me. Promise that you won’t hand me over to my master. Then I’ll take you down to them.”
PAGE FIVE:
16 He led David down to where the men were. They were scattered all over the countryside. They were eating and drinking and dancing wildly. That’s because they had taken a large amount of goods from those they had attacked. They had taken it from the land of the Philistines and from the people of Judah. 17 David fought against them from sunset until the evening of the next day. None of them escaped except 400 young men. They rode off on camels and got away. 18 David got everything back that the Amalekites had taken. That included his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing. Not one young person or old person or boy or girl was missing. None of the goods or anything else the Amalekites had taken was missing. David brought everything back. 20 He brought back all the flocks and herds. His men drove them on ahead of the other livestock. They said, “Here’s what David has captured.”
21 Then David came to the 200 men who had been too tired to follow him. They had been left behind in the Besor Valley. They came out to welcome David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. 22 But some of the men who had gone out with David were evil. They wanted to stir up trouble. They said, “The 200 men didn’t go out into battle with us. So we won’t share with them the goods we brought back. But each man can take his wife and children and go home.”
23 David replied, “No, my friends. You must not hold back their share of what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe. He has handed over to us the men who attacked us. 24 So no one will pay any attention to what you are saying. Each man who stayed with the supplies will receive the same share as each man who went down to the battle. Everyone’s share will be the same.” 25 David made that a law and a rule for Israel. It has been followed from that day until now.
26 David reached Ziklag. He sent some of the goods to the elders of Judah. They were his friends. He said, “Here’s a gift for you. It’s part of the things we took from the Lord’s enemies.”
27 David sent some goods to the elders in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir. 28 He sent some to the elders in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa 29 and Rakal. He sent some to the elders in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites. 30 He sent some to the elders in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athak 31 and Hebron. He also sent some to the elders in all the other places where he and his men had wandered around.
1 Samuel 30 NIRV
“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” - B.B. King
PAGE SIX
A. You Better Think! David led his men to a place that was on the line. It was just close enough to where God wanted them, but also close enough to the rest of the world too. Don’t flip, flop and fly! There shouldn’t be any compromise with the world at all. If you’re going with God, you’ve got to go all in!
“But suppose you don’t want to serve Him. Then choose for yourselves right now whom you will serve. …But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NIRV
B. Get Back Up Again. David had the Ziklag Blues. He lost his family, his possessions, and all his friends, and his followers wanted to rock his world (and not in the good way!). What’s a fella to do when you have those kinds of blues? He sought the Lord, and got the band back together!
“ David asked the Lord for advice.” 1 Samuel 30:8 NIRV
C. He’ll Take Care of the Rest. David bounced back like a rubber biscuit! He led his followers to a battle that reclaimed everything that was lost. And even for those who stayed back and guarded the supplies, David still spread the rewards evenly. Everyone plays a part. And more importantly, it’s God that brings the victory, not just a small group of people.
”David replied, ‘No, my friends. You must not hold back their share of what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe. He has handed over to us the men who attacked us.’ “ 1 Samuel 30:23 NIRV
PAGE SEVEN
NOTES/STAMP
MEMORY VERSE
“But suppose you don’t want to serve Him. Then choose for yourselves right now whom you will serve. …But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NIRV
PAGE EIGHT
WAILING LAMENTATIONS
There is a Western Wall in Jerusalem, and it’s an old one. It’s special, because it’s all that’s left of a temple destroyed by the Romans some time ago. Now it must not have been much of anything, otherwise it would have been knocked down too. Yet for hundreds of years, the Jewish people from all over the world came back to this pathetic little wall, and there they prayed and cried out to our Heavenly Father. You see, that stone wall was all that was left of what used to be a pretty tight relationship with God.
It’s a tragedy of epic proportions, and the birthplace of the blues for the people of Israel. If you want to know what happened, check out the book of Lamentations in the Bible. The word “lamentation” means “weeping,” “crying,” or “wailing.” Some time ago, the prophet Jeremiah was doing a lot of this. He wrote this book, and it is indeed a sad tale.
You see, it all started in chapter one, verse one, with the city of Jerusalem like a queen among nations. Yeah, things were going good. The people of Israel thought they were doing very well for themselves. They had everything they needed - almost. But they didn’t have God, and He’s the thing you need the most. Sadly, Jerusalem had left Him a long time ago, the people there going off and living sinful lives, disobeying and acting in wicked ways. Why don’t you do right?
The people had to learn the hard way that we can’t leave God. No, we need our Heavenly Father desperately. And by the time they realized the truth, all they had left was a Wailing Wall to cry on. In the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah tells us the truth about Jerusalem, straight up: “She didn’t think about how things might turn out.”
It’s sad that something bad like that has to happen in order for some folks to straighten up and fly right. But the truth is, if you’re still breathing, there’s hope. In fact, Jeremiah had just the right idea when he told us all: “Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living. Let’s return to the Lord. Let’s lift up our hands to God in heaven. Let’s pray to Him with all our hearts.”
Well that’s one way to shake these walking blues! Don’t come back to a wall - come back to Him. The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish. And if you want proof of that, look no further than Jeremiah’s most famous words from Lamentations 3:23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
PAGE NINE
“Jerusalem says, ‘The Lord always does what is right.’ But I refused to obey his commands. Listen, all you nations. Pay attention to how much I’m suffering.’” Lamentations 1:18 NIRV
“When people don’t treat someone fairly, the Lord knows it.” Lamentations 3:36 NIRV
“She didn’t think about how things might turn out.” Lamentations 1:9 NIRV
”The Lord deserted his altar. He left his temple. He gave the walls of Jerusalem’s palaces into the hands of her enemies. They shouted loudly in the house of the Lord. You would have thought it was the day of an appointed feast.” Lamentations 2:7 NIRV
“He made even her towers and walls sing songs of sadness. All of them fell down.” Lamentations 2:8 NIRV
“I remember how I suffered and wandered. I remember how bitter my life was. I remember it very well. My spirit is very sad deep down inside me. But here is something else I remember. And it gives me hope. The Lord loves us very much. So we haven’t been completely destroyed. His loving concern never fails. His great love is new every morning. Lord, how faithful you are! I say to myself, “The Lord is everything I will ever need. So I will put my hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who put their hope in him. He is good to those who look to Him.”
Lamentations 3:19-25 NIRV
“Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living. Let’s return to the Lord. Let’s lift up our hands to God in heaven. Let’s pray to him with all our hearts.” Lamentations 30:41 NIRV
“Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues.” - Albert Collins
PAGE TEN
- You have everything you need - almost. If you don’t have God, He’s the thing you need the most. Jerusalem had left Him a long time ago, and the city learned the hard way that we need our Heavenly Father desperately. By the time they realized the truth, all they had left was a Wailing Wall to cry on. The book of Lamentations is a book of sadness - Jeremiah’s blues. In these five short chapters, he’s telling us the simple truth about Jerusalem:
“She didn’t think about how things might turn out.” Lamentations 1:9 NIRV
- Lord knows! Don’t think He doesn’t know if you’re suffering. Nothing surprises Him, and He sees it when we’re feeling the blues. But He also sees when you’re not doing right too. Know that He has a plan for you, and He will do what it takes to save your soul.
“When people don’t treat someone fairly, the Lord knows it.” Lamentations 3:36 NIRV
- Come back baby! If you’re still breathing, there’s hope. Want to shake those lamentation blues? Return to the Lord, lift up you hands to God in heaven, and pray to Him with all your hearts. His mercies is new every morning, and great is His faithfulness!
“Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living. Let’s return to the Lord. Let’s lift up our hands to God in heaven. Let’s pray to Him with all our hearts.” Lamentations 30:41 NIRV
PAGE ELEVEN
NOTES/STAMP
MEMORY VERSE
“Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living. Let’s return to the Lord. Let’s lift up our hands to God in heaven. Let’s pray to Him with all our hearts.” Lamentations 30:41 NIRV
PAGE TWELVE
Coming to you on a dusty road, with the Good News - he’s got a truck load! It must have been something to see Paul heading your way. He was the worst sinner of them all, a prisoner, and a singer of hymns. But most importantly, he and his friend Silas were on a mission from God, and ready to go on tour.
It doesn’t matter what your background is. What matters is the mission. Do you see the light? On the Road to Damascus, a sinner named Saul did. Saul was in charge of hunting down those who followed Jesus - the use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of Christians had been approved!
But despite all his background, God chose Saul to do something great. And if you’ve ever read over half the New Testament, you know he did a pretty good job. He changed his name to Paul, and now he was on a Mission from God: he wanted to share the gospel with the whole world.
You see, God wants everybody to join Him in heaven, not just a certain chosen few. Remember people, that no matter who you are and what you do to live, thrive and survive, there’s still some things that make us all the same. You. Me. Them. Everybody. Everybody. God loves each of us dearly, so much that He sent His only Son. That’s why just like Paul, you should be a Soul Man. Reach out to those who need that rest for their souls, the kind that only Jesus can give.
Now along their journey, Paul and Silas saw their share of challenges. Yet even when thrown into prison for preaching the gospel, these two threw a party in the county jail! Talk about a jailhouse rock! The truth is that adversity will come at all of us, especially if we’re doing the right thing. The secret is to be like Paul and Silas, who praised God and shook the earth with His amazing Good News.
Don’t think you can’t do the same. Get wise, and get to church. You and the Lord, you have an understanding. You’re on a Mission from God.
PAGE THIRTEEN
22 The crowd joined the attack against Paul and Silas. The judges ordered that Paul and Silas be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 They were whipped without mercy. Then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put Paul and Silas deep inside the prison. He fastened their feet so they couldn’t get away.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying. They were also singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a powerful earthquake. It shook the prison from top to bottom. All at once the prison doors flew open. Everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up. He saw that the prison doors were open. He pulled out his sword and was going to kill himself. He thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 “Don’t harm yourself!” Paul shouted. “We are all here!”
29 The jailer called out for some lights. He rushed in, shaking with fear. He fell down in front of Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out. He asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus. Then you and everyone living in your house will be saved.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him. They also spoke to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night, the jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. Right away he and everyone who lived with him were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house. He set a meal in front of them. He and everyone who lived with him were filled with joy. They had become believers in God.
35 Early in the morning the judges sent their officers to the jailer. They ordered him, “Let those men go.” 36 The jailer told Paul, “The judges have ordered me to set you and Silas free. You can leave now. Go in peace.”
Acts 16:22-36 NIRV
PAGE FOURTEEN
- You’re on a Mission from God. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in prison, or like Saul, who out persecuting Christians. The Lord can use anyone for His Great Commission.
”So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 26:19 NIRV
- Be a Soul Man. Paul and Silas were brothers on a mission from God: they were soul men! It was all about bringing the Good News to all the world.
“Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 NIRV
- Do the Jailhouse Rock. Even when thrown into prison for preaching the gospel, these two threw a party in the county jail! The truth is that adversity will come at all of us, especially if we’re doing the right thing. The secret is to be like Paul and Silas, who praised God and shook the earth with His amazing good news.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying. They were also singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25
PAGE FIFTEEN
NOTES/STAMP
MEMORY VERSE
”So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 26:19 NIRV
PAGE SIXTEEN
Was there a blues song in the Bible? Sure enough! David wrote a tune in Psalm 42, asking this simple question: “Why are you crying the blues?” It’s an amazing song about feeling down in the dumps - just read these lyrics here: “I’m on a diet of tears - tears for breakfast, tears for supper.”
Wow, that guy had a serious case of the blues! The good news is that he also has the cure for us all: Fix your eyes on God. The blues are just singing about your troubles, and David does plenty of that. But he also knew how to get up and start dancing again! His advice? Focus on God. Remember all He’s done for you, and know that nothing can separate you from God’s love.
It doesn’t matter what others may say. If you start thirsting for God, you won’t be drinking tears for breakfast and supper anymore. He’s a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him, and soon enough you’ll be praising again.
So shake those blues, and get ready to turn your feet to dancing. He’s got a plan for you, one with a future so bright, you’ll have to wear shades.
Yes, He’ll put a smile on your face. You know why? Because He’s your God.
PAGE SEVENTEEN
A white-tailed deer drinks
from the creek;
I want to drink God,
deep draughts of God.
I’m thirsty for God-alive.
I wonder, “Will I ever make it—
arrive and drink in God’s presence?”
I’m on a diet of tears—
tears for breakfast, tears for supper.
All day long
people knock at my door,
Pestering,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4
These are the things I go over and over,
emptying out the pockets of my life.
I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd,
right out in front,
Leading them all,
eager to arrive and worship,
Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving—
celebrating, all of us, God’s feast!
5
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He’s my God.
Psalm 42:1-5 Message Bible
PAGE EIGHTEEN
- Why are you crying the blues? Don’t live off a diet of tears. Ignore the people who pester you, asking “Where is this God of yours?” The answer is He’s never left you! Our Bibles tell us that He’ll never leave or forsake you!
“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues?” Psalm 42:11a MSG
- Fix your eyes on God. He’s bigger than this big blue world. When we stop focusing on our problems, and start focusing on our God, we’ll soon be praising again. If you want to lose the blues, start thirsting for God-alive, and start drinking in His presence!
“Fix my eyes on God - soon I’ll be praising again.” Psalm 42:11b MSG
- He’ll put a smile on your face. He’s your God. Don’t think for a moment that nobody loves you. Jesus gave his life for you, and there’s nothing that can separate us from the love of God. When your should is in the dumps, rehearse everything you know about Him. He’ll put that smile on your face.
“He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” Psalm 42:11c MSG
PAGE NINETEEN
NOTES/STAMP
MEMORY VERSE
“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God - soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” Psalm 42:11 MSG
PAGE TWENTY
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God’s prayer.
9-10
Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God,
“Why did you let me down?
Why am I walking around in tears,
harassed by enemies?”
They’re out for the kill, these
tormentors with their obscenities,
Taunting day after day,
“Where is this God of yours?”
11
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He’s my God.
Psalm 42:6-11 Message Bible
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