STEP FOUR THANKFULLY ACCEPT YOUR GOD-DESIGNED INABILITIES AND WEAKNESSES, FOR THEY KEEP YOU FROM THE WRONG PERSONAL MINISTRY, ASSURE YOU OF GOD’S DAILY PRESENCE AND KEEP YOU INTERDEPENDENT IN THE CHURCH. See 2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Timothy 6:6; Romans 9:20-21; 1 Corinthians 12:7.

STEP FIVE CONSTANTLY COOPERATE WITH THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH PROCESS. See Romans 5:2-4; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 13:20- 21;

Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 4:17,19; 2 Peter 3:18.

STEP SIX PUT UP A GOOD, STRONG BATTLE AGAINST YOUR OWN PERSONAL SINS.

See Romans 6:11-13; 1 John 1:8-10; Ephesians 6:10-18; John 14:21;

Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 4:4; Ephesians 4:22-24; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:16; James 5:16; Romans 12:1-2; James 4:7.

STEP SEVEN USING THE INFORMATION OF STEPS ONE THROUGH SIX, GOD’S SPECIFIC MINISTRIES FOR YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE EASILY IDENTIFIED. THE COMPLETION OF ESTABLISHING YOUR GODLY SELF-RESPECT COMES WITH ACTIVELY PURSUING THE WORK GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.

See 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 3:5; Hebrews 13:12-14; Matthew 24: Matthew 21:28-32; 24:45-46; 25:14-30; James 1:22; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 12:10-11.

INSTRUCTIONS

THIS DEVOTIONAL SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! IT WORKS WELL EVEN IF YOU DO NOT DO A PERFECT JOB.

THINGS WILL GO SMOOTHER IF YOU TAKE TEN MINUTES THE NIGHT BEFORE TO READ OVER THE NEXT DAY’S MATERIAL.

MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILY SEES THE PICTURES AT THE FRONT OF EACH DAY’S PLAYING SECTION. IT WILL HELP THEM IMAGINE THE ADVENTURE. INCIDENTALLY, THE PICTURES ARE OF FULL-SIZED POSTERS AVAILABLE FOR HANGING ON ROOM WALLS TO BUILD STRONG CHRISTIAN IDENTITIES.

THIS DEVOTIONAL USES AN EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE CALLED “ADVENTURE LEARNING.” MANY DECISIONS ARE NECESSARY, EVEN SOME OBVIOUS ONES. BUT THE ACTIVITY OF DECIDING IS CRITICAL TO THE FORMATION OF CHRISTIAN IDENTITY AND VALUES. BE SURE NOT TO OMIT ANY DECISIONS.

WHENEVER GIVEN SCRIPTURE, PLAYERS SHOULD MEMORIZE IT. THESE ARE CALLED “WORDRUNES”, OR POWERFUL SAYINGS FROM THE WORD OF GOD. ALMOST ALWAYS IN TIME OF NEED, WORDRUNES SAID PERFECTLY EXACTLY HAVE POWER TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP WITHIN THE ADVENTURE.

FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT AWAY ON THE FIRST DAY, PLAYERS ALL RECEIVE A SCRIPTURE WORDRUNE. IF THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SHOULD MEMORIZE THAT SCRIPTURE, TELL THEM. IT IS EVEN WISE TO MEMORIZE EACH OTHER’S WORDRUNE, JUST IN CASE.

IN YOUR MIND YOU NEED TO ASSIGN EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY A NUMBER. (DO NOT TELL THEM!) YOU ARE NUMBER 1. THE NEXT OLDEST IS NUMBER 2, INCLUDE EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY AT LEAST 4 YEARS OLD. KEEP ON ASSIGNING NUMBERS UP TO 6 FROM OLDEST TO YOUNGEST. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE 6 FAMILY MEMBERS OLD ENOUGH TO PLAY, GIVE CHILDREN THIRD GRADE AND ABOVE EXTRA NUMBERS. THESE NUMBERS JUST TELL YOU WHO TO ADDRESS IN THE ADVENTURE. YOU DO NOT NEED TO TELL FAMILY MEMBERS THEIR NUMBERS—THEY ARE ONLY FOR YOUR OWN USE.

PLAYER #1: ____________(P1)

PLAYER #2: ____________(P2)

PLAYER #3: ____________(P3)

PLAYER #4: ____________(P4)

PLAYER #5: ____________(P5)

PLAYER #6: ____________(P6)

IT IS EASIEST TO GO THROUGH THIS BOOK AND WRITE IN NAMES. THEN THE ADVENTURE WILL FLOW SMOOTHLY. (EXAMPLE: “LIGHTRAIDER _______ (P3) [SEE WHO IS PLAYER #3 ABOVE- THAT IS WHO YOU WOULD WRITE IN ] IS TOLD BY THE TALKING LEOPARD TO CLIMB ON HIS BACK FOR A QUICK ESCAPE THROUGH TREES AND JUNGLE. “)

THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THIS ADVENTURE, THE BEGINNING OF MATERIAL TO BE READ OUT LOUD ON EACH DAY IS PRECEDED BY A BOXED “READ TO FAMILY” MARKER. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ADVENTURE MASTER ARE PRINTED IN UPPERCASE LETTERS. AND ENTRY POINTS (I.E., PLACES WHERE THE ADVENTURE MASTER MUST WAIT FOR PLAYERS TO COMPLETE AN ACTION, OR WHERE PLAYERS MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN SEVERAL COURSES OF ACTION) ARE MARKED WITH ARROWS.

FINALLY, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BIBLE HANDY!

DEVOTIONAL—FIRST DAY

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #7, LIGHTRAIDERS WITH LION.

| READ TO FAMILY |

We are driving down a narrow country road, all of us, on a bright, sunny day. The area around us is flat, and fields line both sides of the road. A small but thick cluster of trees lay straight ahead, and the road takes us right into those trees. It is then that a marvelous change happens.

The trees become thicker and thicker, and all at once we are in a dense forest. Then the car disappears from around us, and we are each marching on a narrow path. We carry shields and medieval weapons. Traveling with us is a lion and a wolf. We are surprised but not shaken. Somehow we know that we are on a dragon raid for Jesus Christ. But instead of being on Earth, we are on the planet of EdenAgain where He is called the OverLord of many names. And the lion and the wolf talk!

They tell us that we are traveling to the Lonely Meadows to rescue some who is very unhappy. We know nothing more.

Right now we are but two miles from the evil meadows. The thickness of the forest is breaking up. Here and there are open spaces—forest glades you might call them.

Suddenly out of the deeper forest comes a magnificent white stag, his antlers crowning his head with majesty. He comes right up to us humbly and “Peace be to you, O LightRaiders of the Most High One. The OverLord is very pleased that you are here. The mission you are on is very risky. But it must be done!”

The deer appears to hold no fear for the presence of the wolf and lion. In fact, they greet each other in the name of the OverLord. Then the stag says to me, “You are the leader of this raid party of the TwiceBorn. You know the power of the words from the Sacred Scrolls, especially when memorized perfectly. For the success of your small band of warriors, I suggest you all memorize 2 Corinthians 9:8. Before you leave the terrible meadows ahead, you will need its truth and its power often.”

The great deer shakes his head in an upward motion and five other deer, three does and two fawns, come into the clearing. We are startled because they were so near, but we did not see them. Each of them hands to each of you a leaf from their mouth. On each leaf is written a WordRune. We know that these are powerful sayings from the Sacred Scrolls that in moments of need release a mysterious but very good power if said perfectly from memory.

To ____________ (P2) (Person #2) is given Romans 12:9,10.

To ____________ (P3) (Person #3) is given Philippians 1:6.

To ____________ (P4) (Person #4) is given the WordRune Romans 15:7.

To ____________ (P5) (Person #5) is given Hebrews 10:24.

Lastly to ____________ (P2) (Person #6) is given Ephesians 2:10.

(EACH PERSON WILL NEED TO LOOK UP THEIR VERSE IN THE BIBLE AND WRITE IT DOWN IN A CONVENIENT PLACE BEFORE PROCEEDING.)

The OverLord’s stag explains that he is the only one of the deer who can speak our tongue. He encourages us to study our portions well and memorize them soon, for they are quotations from the Sacred Scrolls, the very words of the All-Knowing One Himself. Then, bowing to us all on one front knee, he leaves, and the deer disappear silently into the forest.

As we stand there dumbfounded, the wolf Farin speaks to all of us and asks each of us in turn, beginning with me. “How does it feel to be going on a dragon raid where you will face directly the evil of the Lonely Meadows? How does it feel to give yourself in service to the OverLord of Many Names, known elsewhere as Jesus?”

(EVERYONE MUST RESPOND TO THE WOLF. YOU, AS THE FAMILY HEAD, BEGIN.

AFTER THAT, TELL EVERYONE THAT YOU ARE NOW ACTING THE PART OF THE WOLF. IN SO DOING, DRAW OUT RESPONSES FROM EACH MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY, REPHRASING FARIN’S QUESTIONS AS NECESSARY FOR YOUNGER FAMILY MEMBERS.)

· > WHEN EVERYONE HAS RESPONDED TO THE WOLF.

When we all finish answering the wolf’s questions, the lion named Andros speaks to us in a low, growling sort of voice that does not scare us but lets us know that what he is saying is extremely important. “Fellow servants of the Great Lion of the Tribe of Judah,” he begins, “what faces us is dangerous. There are dragons and dark creatures ahead of us. They each have their own special way of trying to get us off the OverLord’s path. In the words of our OverLord, we must be as “wary as serpents and innocent as doves!”

“I smell forest trolls ahead, no doubt about it. Soon we will have to deal with them. They transmit the Power Hungry Enchantment designed to make us want to be better than each other. Instead, the OverLord tells us to build others up. If the trolls ahead try to make us feel bad about ourselves or at odds with each other, we must desperately battle their ideas.”

Even as the lion finishes his statement, ten ugly, smelly trolls come out of the forest and surround us.

(TO BE CONTINUED NEXT TIME)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR AVAILABLE TIME

1. How ready are each of you to do something dangerous for Jesus Christ?

2. What would be a few risky things that could be done for Jesus?

Example: Talk to a friend about her salvation.

3. Instead of the Sacred Scrolls, where could you find powerful words?

(Answer: the Bible.)

4. Instead of a wolf and lion companions, who or what might God make available to help you?

5. Do you think you can avoid confronting trolls (power-hungry ideas) all your life? Why or why not?

PRAYER

1. Ask someone to thank God for your family.

2. Ask someone to request God to help your family be a good team of Christians who watch out for each other’s good.

3. Someone ask the Lord to help everybody memorize their WordRune and maybe even someone else’s also.

4. Someone request power to deal firmly with the nasty trolls during tomorrow’s family quiet time.

DEVOTIONAL—SECOND DAY

OUR FIRST GLORIOUS BATTLE

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #5, BEARKNIGHT.

| READ TO FAMILY |

Surrounded by ten ugly, smelly trolls, we decide how we will position ourselves.

(LEAD THE FAMILY IN A DISCUSSION OF HOW YOU WILL ALL STAND TO FACE THE TROLLS. BE SURE TO ENCOURAGE AND COMPLIMENT ANY REASONABLE SUGGESTIONS. DO NOT—REPEAT: DO NOT DISCOURAGE CONTRIBUTIONS. IF SOMEONE’S IDEA SEEMS IRRELEVANT OR SILLY, MERELY THANK THEM FOR THE SUGGESTION AND ASK FOR OTHER IDEAS. MORE REALISTIC SUGGESTIONS SHOULD EVENTUALLY SURFACE AS THE BEST IDEAS. IF THEY DO NOT, THE BEST WAY IS NOT TO PUT SOMEONE’S IDEA DOWN OR MAKE THEM FEEL STUPID OR UNAPPRECIATED; THE BEST METHOD IS TO POINT OUT WHY SOMETHING WON’T WORK, BUT TO DO IT WITH A NEUTRAL TONE OF VOICE RATHER THAN A CRITICAL OR JOKING TONE.)

Then one particularly more-ugly-than-ugly troll says, “You guys look like mistakes from the people factory. Either that or your creator has a poor sense of humor!” All the trolls laugh hysterically. They are only six steps from us. When their laughter dies down, some of us respond. But first I remind us that, if anyone has a WordRune that speaks against what the troll has said, it might wield power against these terrible creatures.

(YOU NEED TO KEEP TRACK OF THE TROLLS’ MOVEMENT; YOU CAN USE PENNIES AND NICKELS AS MARKERS. THE TROLLS START OUT SIX STEPS AWAY FROM YOU. IF THEIR MARKERS ARE BACKED OFF THE EDGE OF THE TABLE< THEN THE TROLLS HAVE FALLEN OVER THE CLIFF AND ARE KILLED. BUT IF THEIR MARKERS END UP ON TOP OF YOU, YOU ARE IN A FIGHT! SEE THE BOXED INSTRUCTIONS BELOW FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO CONDUCT THE COMBAT.)

· > IF ANYONE QUOTES EPHESIANS 2:10, READ THE FOLLOWING:

Upon hearing the words from the Sacred Scrolls, spoken by (SAY PERSON’S NAME), the troll spoken to steps back 3 paces and another dies of a heart attack.

(READ AGAIN IF A DIFFERENT PERSON RECITES EPHESIANS 2:10. ANOTHER TROLL DIES. MAY BE READ AS OFTEN AS A DIFFERENT PERSON RECITES PERFECTLY EPHESIANS 2:10. ONLY ONE TRY PER PERSON.)

· > IF ANYONE IS SARCASTIC OR RUDE IN RETURN, READ THE FOLLOWING:

Your comments (NOD AT THE PERSON WHO SPOKE) anger the trolls because they are power-hungry and looking for a fight. Insults returned for insults ignite further fire. The trolls move on step closer to us, their heavy quarterstaffs raised.

(NOTE: Increase number of steps accordingly if more than one player is rude.)

· > IF ANYONE FIRMLY OR POLITELY REFUTES THE TROLL’S INSULT WITH SOME REASONABLE STATEMENT, READ THE FOLLOWING:

The trolls flinch as we rebuff their false statement about our worth, They take one step away from us.

AFTER THERE HAS BEEN AMPLE TIME FOR EVERYONE WHO WISHES TO RESPOND, CONTINUE WITH THE FOLLOWING. AFTER WORKING THROUGH THIS SECTION WITH PERSON #3, YOU MAY WISH TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN WITH ONE OR TWO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS BEFORE PROCEEDING.)

Another troll tells ____________ (P3) that (he or she) is so much better than the rest of us at (MENTION SOMETHING #3 IS REALLY BETTER AT). The other trolls agree and taunt the rest of us while praising ____________ (P3). They say that we are inferior and that ____________ (P3) is really something.

(STOP AND LET OTHERS RESPOND TO TROLLS.)

________________________________________________________________________

· > IF ANYONE NON-DEFENSIVELY ADMITS ____________ #3’S) o SUPERIORITY WITHOUT PUTTING HIMSELF OR HERSELF DOWN, READ THE FOLLOWING:

An ugly troll with fourteen zits on his nose screeches, “Did you see that! What revolting behavior! What a wimp, not standing up for himself!” Yet the humble, valiant behavior of (NAME OF PERSON WHO ADMITTED INFERIORITY) o strikes at the very foundation of the trolls’ way of thinking. All the trolls step back four paces.

· > IF PERSON #3 SPEAKS UP AND DENIES HIS OR HER OWN GREATER SKILL LEVEL, READ THE FOLLOWING:

Hearing (NOD AT PERSON #3 AND SAY NAME) o deny the strength placed in him/her by the OverLord’s decision, the trolls all together say, “Ah! Ah!” (EMPHASIZE) and move two steps toward us.

· > IF ____________ #3) SPEAKS UP, WITHOUT DENYING OR HER OWN GREAT- ER SKILL LEVEL IN THE AREA MENTIONED AND DECLARES THAT NO ONE OF YOU IS BETTER THAN THE OTHERS EVEN THOUGH YOU ALL HAVE DIFFERENT SKILLS, READ THE FOLLOWING:

The trolls cannot believe their ears. They take them off, examine them and find the ears to be healthy. So, stamping their warty feet, dust flying around, they move five steps further away from us.

· > AFTER EVERYONE WHO WISHES TO RESPOND TO THE TROLLS HAS DONE SO, READ THE FOLLOWING.

Still another troll, who appears meaner and nastier than the others, speaks about us. He says that we are too ugly to let live, and that, if they eat us, they will do the world a favor since we do very little correctly. Quickly I wonder if I know my 2 Corinthians 9:8 WordRune. The situation is getting serious. But I have great trust in my OverLord and the promises of the Sacred Scrolls. I try to say the WordRune.

(GO AHEAD AND TRY! IF YOU, THE LEADER OF THE FAMILY, DO NOT SAY CORRECTLY THE 2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 WORDRUNE, NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HAPPENS. CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT SECTION. IF YOU SAID IT CORRECTLY, GO THREE SECTIONS AHEAD.)

The trolls rush upon us. We must fight!

________________________________________________________________________

RULES FOR FIGHTING DARK CREATURES

________________________________________________________________________

l. THE HEAD OF FAMILY PLAYS THE DARK CREATURES.

2. ONE FAMILY MEMBER PLAYS FOR BOTH HIMSELF AND THE FAMILY HEAD.

ANOTHER PLAYS ALSO FOR FARIN THE WOLF, AND ANOTHER FOR ANDROS THE LION.

3. IT IS FIRST DECIDED HOW MANY DARK CREATURES, IF ANY ARE INJURED AND

FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES. THEN IT IS DECIDED WHICH OF OUR FAMILY ARE INJURED IN THE FIGHT.

4. FIRST, ALL FAMILY MEMBERS PRIVATELY CHOOSE A NUMBER BETWEEN 1 AND

5. THIS CAN BE DONE BY HIDING FROM ONE TO FIVE FINGERS, BY WRITING A

NUMBER ON A PIECE OF PAPER OR BY HIDING A NUMBER OF PENNIES. THEN EVERYONE EXPOSES THEIR NUMBERS ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THE FAMILY HEAD’S NUMBER REPRESENTS THE DARK CREATURES FOR THIS ROUND OF BATTLE. FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS THE SAME NUMBER AS THE DARK CREATURES’ NUMBER, A TROLL IS WOUNDED AND FLEES. (REMEMBER THAT THREE PERSONS WILL HAVE TWO NUMBERS. SEE #2 ABOVE.)

5. SECOND, AGAIN HAVE EACH FAMILY MEMBER PRIVATELY CHOOSE A NUMBER

BETWEEN 1 AND 5, AS ABOVE. THEN FAMILY MEMBERS EXPOSE THEIR NUMBERS ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THIS TIME, EACH FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS THE SAME NUMBER AS THE DARK CREATURES IS WOUNDED BY A DARK CREATURE AND CAN NO LONGER FIGHT.

6 UNWOUNDED LIGHTRAIDERS MAY SAY SOMETHING COMPASSIONATE TO A WOUNDED

LIGHTRAIDER AT WHICH TIME THE WOUNDED LIGHTRAIDER IS HEALED AND CAN

REJOIN THE BATTLE.

7. IF THERE ARE BOTH UNWOUNDED DARK CREATURES AND LIGHTRAIDERS, ANOTHER

ROUND OF BATTLE OCCURS. IF ALL DARK CREATURES HAVE BEEN WOUNDED, THEY WILL ALL FLEE. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, ALL THE LIGHTRAIDERS ARE WOUNDED AT ANY MOMENT OF TIME, THEY ALL FLEE TO SAFETY.

8. WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER, GO TO THE SECOND SECTION FOLLOWING.

________________________________________________________________________

· > IF YOU DO SAY 2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 CORRECTLY IF YOU SAY CORRECTLY THE 2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 WORDRUNE, READ THE FOLLOWING:

The power of the 2 Corinthians 9:8 WordRune brings great bears from the forest to help us fight the trolls. There is one to fight by each of us. We rush into battle!

(USE THE BATTLE PROCEDURE DESCRIBED IN THE SECTION ABOVE. EACH FAMILY MEMBER EXCEPT YOU WILL HAVE AT LEAST TWO NUMBERS TO PICK. THREE WILL HAVE THREE NUMBERS. MAKE SURE ALL HAVE SEEN THE PICTURE OF TODAY’S LESSON. THIS WILL ADD TO THE EXCITEMENT.)

WHEN BATTLE IS FINISHED:

Leaving the stinky trolls behind, move on toward the Lonely Meadows. We come to larger and larger meadows. Many beautiful flowers and trickling streams create marvelous scenes that remind us of the OverLord’s glory.

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #6, LIGHTRAIDER WITH UNICORN.

| READ TO FAMILY |

All at once we see a most beautiful creature, a pure white unicorn! His single horn reminds us that our OverLord of Many Names is also called the Horn of Salvation.

Unicorn Poster

Then the unicorn approaches us and greets us. “Hello, Brave Ones. I came from the OverLord to remind you of your faith in the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End of all, the OverLord of Many Names. For many, many centuries I have reminded the TwiceBorn of their special relationship with the High One.

“You did a good job of resisting the trolls’ efforts to break up your family. I would like to compliment you all on your faithfulness to each other. In so doing, you were really being faithful to your OverLord who designed the family to be a main source of help to you. Family members are to help one another.”

Then the dazzling unicorn turns to me and says, “You are the father (or mother) of this family. It is your job to tell each family member what they did well when confronted by the trolls. I must be going, but I want to make sure you will do this.” I said that I would.

(DO THIS NOW. REMEMBER TO SAY ONLY WHAT IS POSITIVE. SOME PARENTS THINK THAT THEY TEACH MORE WHEN THEY POINT OUT WHAT IS WRONG. BUT THAT IS NOT REALLY EFFECTIVE. BY POINTING OUT WHAT WAS GOOD AND RIGHT FIRST, YOU TELL WHAT BEHAVIOR YOU WANT. THAT IS WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. NO ONE NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED RIGHT NOW DURING THIS POSITIVE, SPIRITUAL-LEARNING TIME. AND CERTAINLY NO ONE WANTS TO BE CORRECTED IN FRONT OF OTHERS. SO BE POSITIVE AND TRY TO COMPLIMENT EVERYONE!)

Heading off in the direction the unicorn took, we near a stream. Something’s chattering. The non-human words come from the bushes that line the small river.

(TO BE CONTINUED NEXT TIME)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR AVAILABLE TIME

l. How did you feel when the trolls said something negative about other people in your family?

2. How did you feel when someone in the family stuck up for you?”

3. Read Ephesians 4:29. What do you think is God’s concern in asking us to say only those things that build others up?

4. What do you think Jesus feels and thinks when members in your family insult one another?

5. What do you think Jesus thinks and feels when you want to be more special or better than other members of the family? (It’s okay to be important, just not to want to be more important than others. See Galatians 6:45.)

PRAYER

THESE MUST BE PLACED ON CUE CARDS FOR EASY USE. LATER CAN BE PUT IN A DECK AND DRAWN FOR FAMILY PRAYER.

l. Ask someone to ask God to help the family not insult one another between now and when you are going to play again.

2. Ask someone to ask the Lord to help the family see when they hurt someone’s feelings and to be able to patch things up.

3. Someone ask in prayer that God help everyone in the family feel important and really good at a couple of things.

4. Ask someone to ask the Lord to help people in your family not want to be better than the other members in the family, and yet to feel good about what they are good at.

5. Remind everyone to thank God for your family, even if it has some improving to do.

________________________________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL—THIRD DAY

THE GIANT PROBLEM

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #8, GIANT.

| READ TO FAMILY |

The mumbling we heard at the river ford turns out to be the worrying of muks. These little dark creatures are made of mud and are sometimes called worry-warts. We know from our training in the Liberated Land that these little creatures carry the Worry-Wart Enchantment. No sooner do we come upon them than they begin to attack us with their worry. They ask ____________ (P2) if she/he isn’t very worried about her/his appearance. We have been traveling some time and ____________ (P2) is a mess. ____________ (P2) falls under muk attack and must respond.

(AS THE ADVENTURE MASTER FOR THIS EXPERIENCE, YOU ROLE-PLAY THE MUKS. BARRAGE PERSON #2 WITH ALL KINDS OF WORRISOME QUESTIONS. OTHER THINGS YOU CAN SAY ARE)

1. WHY AREN’T YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE? PEOPLE WILL THINK YOU ARE A SLOB.

2. EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW NEAT THEY ARE ALL THE TIME.

3. CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS.

When the muks finish with ____________ (P2), they immediately begin on ____________ (P4). Addressing ____________ (P2\4), they say, “Oh, things are going to be terrible pretty soon if you’re going to the Lonely Meadows. You might be hurt and then you won’t be able to do all the things you hoped to do.”

(STATEMENTS YOU CAN USE TO FURTHER HARASS PERSONA #4)

____________ (P4):

1. IT WOULD BE REALLY TERRIBLE TO BE INJURED FOR LIFE.

2. WHY SHOULD YOU RISK YOUR LIFE ON THIS DANGEROUS MISSION WHEN YOU CAN STAY HOME IN THE LIBERATED LAND WHERE YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR SAFETY?)

Once ____________ (P4) has finished off the questioning muks, we tire of their unfaithful game and move on out of the valley. The trail leads up a mountainous ridge which eventually becomes quite narrow and precipitous. Rounding a bend, we come face to face with the most terrible giant you can imagine. At first we see his ugly feet, toenails badly needing clipping. He carries a flask and has a stupid spoon hanging around his neck for who-knows-what reason. He wants to talk to us and there is no way around him, unless we want to jump off a 2,000 foot cliff and smash our brains on the valley floor.

When he sees us, he breaks out into roars of laughter. It is clear that he is making fun of us, and we must use all of our patience to wait until his laughter dies down and not foolishly attack him for trying to make us feel small and insignificant. Eventually he speaks to us, though tears of hilarious laughter still roll down his ugly cheeks. “You are the most different- looking group I have ever laid my eyes on. Look at you! You’re all so different. How can you even stand one another? Why, you don’t look that much alike and you probably don’t act that much alike either!”

(HERE IS A MORE DIFFICULT JOB FOR YOU AS FAMILY HEAD. ROLE-PLAYING THE GIANT, POINT OUT DIFFERENCES IN HEIGHT, HAIR COLORING, ETC., AND THEN GO ON TO THROWING DIFFERENCES ABOUT STYLES OF LIVING. YOU KNOW YOUR FAMILY WELL ENOUGH TO POINT OUT EACH OF THEIR AREAS OF UNIQUENESS. DO SO IN A DEMEANING WAY, BECAUSE YOU ARE ROLE-PLAYING THE GIANT. WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO IN THIS ROLE-PLAYING IS GET YOUR FAMILY TO STATE STRONGLY THAT IT IS OKAY FOR EVERYONE TO BE HIS OR HER OWN UNIQUE SELF.)

(MAKE A MENTAL NOTE OF WHO STANDS UP FOR THE FAMILY AND COMMUNICATES THAT IT IS OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT. YOUR JOB IN THESE FEW MINUTES OF ADVENTURE TODAY IS TO HELP THE FAMILY UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFERENCES ARE NOT DANGEROUS BUT ARE ACTUALLY PLANNED BY GOD TO BE THERE. SO OFTEN IN CHRISTIAN FAMILIES, MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND CHILDREN FEEL THAT THEIR WAY IS THE ONLY RIGHT WAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE SINCE GOD HAS MADE THEM DIFFERENTLY.)

(WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN UNIQUE WAY OF SEEING LIFE AND DEALING WITH IT. TRUE, THERE IS SIN. THEREFORE, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG. BUT YOU CAN CARRY THAT TOO FAR, AND MOST FAMILIES DO.)

(FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE MANY RIGHT WAYS TO EXPRESS WHAT YOU NEED IN THE FAMILY: THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO ASK FOR A CERTAIN FLAVOR OF ICE CREAM, TO COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER, TO CLOSE AND LOCK THE BACK DOOR, TO MAKE TOAST, ETC. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SOME PEOPLE WATCH THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR FIVE SENSES BUT THAT OTHERS PERCEIVE THROUGH THEIR INTUITION OR “GUT.” RESEARCH HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT SOME PEOPLE PREFER TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS BASED ON PERSONAL VALUES AND EMOTIONS, WHILE OTHERS PREFER TO USE PURE LOGIC. THESE DIFFERENCES ARE NOT BAD BUT ONLY SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.)

(THE GIANT IS A DARK CREATURE TRYING TO DESTROY THE SELF-RESPECT OF YOUR FAMILY. HE USES THE CONDEMNATIONS THAT EXIST BETWEEN US IN THE FAMILY. AS HEAD OF THE FAMILY, YOU WANT TO REWARD WITH VERBAL COMPLIMENT ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO TELL THIS GIANT THAT HE IS WRONG. TRY TO BRING OUT SOME OF THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS FROM THE FAMILY, IF THEY DO NOT NATURALLY OCCUR.)

l. OUR DIFFERENCES COME FROM GOD AND THAT MAKES THEM OKAY.

2. WE LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT—IT’S MORE INTERESTING AND WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER BETTER THAT WAY.

3. IT IS NOT OKAY TO DO WRONG, SO WE HAVE TO LEARN TO USE OUR DIFFERENCES IN RIGHT WAYS.

4. WE DON’T LIVE TO PLEASE GIANTS, WE LIVE TO PLEASE JESUS CHRIST (THE OVERLORD OF MANY NAMES). IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, GIANT.

5. WE ARE HAPPY WITH OUR DIFFERENCES, WE LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT SO THAT WE CAN EACH BE OUR OWN PERSON AND HAVE OUR OWN SPECIAL THINGS THAT BELONG TO US OR THAT WE ENJOY.

6. WE ARE THE SAME IN A LOT OF AREAS, AND WE ARE DIFFERENT IN STILL OTHERS. AND THAT IS OKAY! AS A FAMILY, WE ARE THE SAME IN MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE VALUE AND ENJOY.

(USE YOUR ROLE AS THE GIANT TO BRING THESE THINGS OUT BY CHALLENGING THE LIGHTRAIDERS IN VARIOUS WAYS.)

(ON THE OTHER HAND, IF ANYONE GOES ALONG WITH THE GIANT’S NEGATIVE COMMENTS, THE GIANT COMES UP TO THEM AND SLAPS THEM ON THE BACK AS A SIGN OF FRIENDSHIP AND CAMARADERIE. TELL THE PERSON THAT THE GIANT DOES THIS AND HE/SHE IS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND AND FEELS SICK. MAKE SURE THAT THE PLAYER KNOWS THE GIANT IS PLEASED WITH HIM/HER SO THAT THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE IS CONNECTED TO THE ACT OF GOING ALONG WITH EVIL.)

The giant doesn’t like our rebuke. He begins to get a little angry, and we see his big foot nervously fidget. We don’t know what to do, and the situation is getting pretty scary. The giant heaves his club over his shoulder, ready to use it on our fragile heads. We don’t like this giant.

We are wondering what to do when a small bird perches in a cleft of a rock near ____________ (P4)’s ear. The bird whispers, “The Romans 15:7 WordRune will finish off this foolish monster.

(WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO PERFECTLY RECITE ROMANS 15:7. EVEN IF IT TAKES TIME FOR SOMEONE TO LEARN IT, GO AHEAD AND ALLOW THAT TIME. ROMANS 15:7 MUST BE SAID PERFECTLY BY SOMEBODY, HOPEFULLY THE PLAYER WHO RECEIVED IT. BE ENCOURAGING, EVEN IF IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME. YOUR JOB IS TO HELP THE PERSON FEEL GOOD ABOUT MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE, NOT GUILTY ABOUT NOT ALREADY HAVING MEMORIZED THE VERSE. )

· > ONCE ROMANS 15:7 HAS BEEN CORRECTLY QUOTED, READ THE FOLLOWING:

The words from the Sacred Scrolls really shakes up the giant! He becomes fidgety and begins to lose his balance. Just as he is about to regain it, an eagle flies down and perches on his huge club. Not smart enough to let go of the club, the giant hangs onto it and falls off the cliff to his death. The OverLord has taken care of us!

As we carefully peer over the edge of the cliff at the giant, we realize that we are no longer alone. Turning, we see standing before us a very stately bighorn sheep, his golden horns curved in most beautiful circles on each side of his head.

(To Be Continued Next Time)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR AVAILABLE TIME

1. What things should guide how we keep our appearance?

2. Should we live as safely as possible? Why in daily living responsibilities? Why not in doing things for God?

3. Discuss the implications of the biblical command in Romans 15:7.

How are we to accept one another? How did Christ accept us? Did we earn His acceptance? What does acceptance include? How does acceptance of others bring praise to God?

4. Why did God crate us all so differently:? What is the value of variations among family members?

PRAYER

1. Ask someone to pray to the Lord and ask him to help all the family understand God’s view of other members of the family and value the differences He has placed in them for the various requirements of His work in our needy world.

2. Someone pray for safety enough to be prepared for risky service for God.

3. Accepting other people’s differences is hard. Someone ask the Lord to help all family members become more accepting of others.

________________________________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL—FOURTH DAY

REALLY STRONG TOGETHER

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #8, LIGHTRAIDERS WITH DRAGON.

| READ TO FAMILY |

We have just discovered that we are no longer alone on the cliff from which the giant fell. Behind us we meet a beautiful bighorn sheep with beautiful, golden curved horns. Before we even have time to wonder if this is another one of the OverLord’s talking animals, he speaks to us. “I like the way you handled that giant. You did not allow him to make you feel bad about your differentness. The OverLord has made each of you different, you know, because you each have something different to do for Him. Your life will be a series of opportunities to help. Each of you will help in your own way and be useful for the particular situations to which the OverLord will call you.”

“Once you get around this mountain and travel down its other side, you will come to a long valley where there is a special task that requires each of you to know your strongest qualities.”

“The creator and re-creator of your souls has given each of you a few things that you do really well. They are given to you for His use. Knowing what these abilities are is critical for you to be of use to Him. As you travel down this narrow path, it is necessary for you to help each other identify three things that you do well. They must be things that you are not ashamed to say you are good at, even under the fear of not being believed and even ridiculed.”

“You’ll find in the valley below that there is a construction project,

a large bridge being built across a great river. It is the project of

greedos. Greedos are dark creatures that value money above all things.

the bridge is the only way across , and your mission lies on the other

side. The greedos will require you to pay more money than you have, but

they are always on the lookout for talent which they can steal for low

wages. They will let you across the bridge if you can mention three

things that you are good at. These do not have to have anything to do

with the construction project, as greedos are always dreaming up new

schemes to put talent to work for their own ends. They want to make

money rather than serve the OverLord of Many Names for Whom all talents

have been created.”

With that and appropriate good-byes, the bighorn ram ascends the cliff behind our path, a cliff we would have thought

was unclimbable. After thinking abut what the ram told us, we begin to help one another identify three superior abilities placed in us by the great OverLord of Many Names.

(STOP READING HERE WHILE THE FAMILY HELPS ONE ANOTHER IDENTIFY THREE THINGS IN WHICH EACH PERSON HAS BETTER THAN AVERAGE ABILITY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE EXERCISE FOR THE BUILDING OF SELF-RESPECT IN EACH FAMILY MEMBER. GOD HAS EQUIPPED EACH ONE OF THEM WITH CERTAIN GOOD QUALITIES IN WHICH THEY ARE SUPERIOR. KNOWING THOSE ABILITIES GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO FEEL WORTHWHILE ABOUT. TRUE, THEIR WORTH AND VALUE IS BASED ON THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BECAUSE OF JESUS’ SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH TO TAKE THE PENALTY OF THEIR SINS. BUT, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, THEY ALSO NEED TO BE CONTINUALLY AWARE OF THE GOOD THAT GOD HAS PLACED IN THEM. )

(ONE WAY TO DO THIS TASK IS TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY BRAINSTORM ALOUD ABOUT ONE PERSON AT A TIME. WHEN THAT PERSON PICKS THE THREE THAT HE LIKES THE BEST, THEN GO ON TO ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER. IT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO GO FIRST AND MODEL FOR YOUR FAMILY THE ACCEPTANCE OF COMPLIMENTS. TRY TO NOT BE EMBARRASSED ABOUT BEING GOOD AT THINGS. YOU ARE IDENTIFYING PERSONAL ABILITIES FOR SERVICE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. YOU ARE NOT BUILDING PRIDE, BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU NOT SAYING THAT YOU ARE BETTER THAN SOMEONE ELSE AS A PERSON (SEE GALATIANS 6:4,5). YOU ARE ALSO NOT BUILDING FALSE PRIDE WHICH IS THE DENIAL OF ANYTHING USEFUL IN THE WAY OF ABILITIES. WHEN ALL FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE THREE THINGS THAT THEY WILL NEED TO MENTION TO THE GREEDOS, CONTINUE READING.)

By the time we have each identified the three abilities we wish to mention to the greedos and secure their permission to cross the river on their partly finished bridge, we have reached the bottom of the mountain. We see the bridge not far off.

We approach the greedos confidently, because we know that this is no “I’m okay, you’re okay,” sham. These good qualities of ours have really been placed in us by the OverLord of Many Names. His power flows through us in these strengths. We are not ashamed to say that we can do these things.

The greedo at the toll crossing asks us for more money than we have. We say we have no money, and he asks what value are we anyway. After stating that our value doesn’t lie in how much money we have, each of us mentions three things that we can do. As each of us does this, the greedo lets us cross the river, one at a time.

(EACH PERSON MUST MENTION ON HIS OWN THREE OF HIS OWN GOOD ABILITIES. TELL THEM THIS. ROLE-PLAY THE GREEDOE, IF NECESSARY. AFTER EVERYONE IS ACROSS THE BRIDGE BY ADMITTING THREE ABILITIES, READ THE FOLLOWING.)

We are thankful that the greedo didn’t ask us to do something for him. But when we reach the other side and begin to walk off, the greedo on that side yells to us, Wait! where are you guys going? Don’t you have to do something for us?”

(USE THE BATTLE PROCEDURE FROM THE SECOND DAY WHERE TROLLS WERE ENCOUNTERED. ONCE THE THREE GREEDOS ARE FINISHED OFF, READ THE FOLLOWING.)

A couple of greedos from the other side of the river begin crossing the bridge to pursue us. Of course, we would be willing to fight for the OverLord and continue to risk our lives in battle. But just as we turn to meet them, we are greeted by a talking rabbit who tells us that there is no time to waste and that we must get to the Lonely Meadows. So we take off at a run, leaving the greedos far behind.

As we enter a particularly dark forest, we hear off in the distance toward which we travel, a bellowing roar that curdles our blood. None of us have ever heard a dragon’s roar before, but we suspect that’s what it is.

We stop to listen more carefully to the terrifying roar, and I ask you all, “It seems clear that our mission for the OverLord lies in that direction. But do you still want to go?”

(PAUSE AND WAIT FOR ALL FAMILY MEMBERS TO SAY THAT THEY DO WANT TO FACE THE DANGER OF THAT HORRIBLE SOUND. SOME MAY NEED THE FAMILY’S ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.)

(THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACTIVITY IS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DEVELOP A BRAVE SELF-CONCEPT. FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO DRAGONS TO FACE ON EARTH, BUT THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRAVE CHRISTIANS. AFTER EVERYONE HAS COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO FACE THE DANGER AHEAD, READ ON.)

Soon we can see the top of a castle above the trees. It is from there that the dragon bellows. Our nerve is about to fail. Even Andros the lion walks a bit slower toward the fortress. But then we remember that the OverLord warned us to fear nothing and no one other than the High One Himself.

“So, do you still want to deal with the dangerous dragon we hear?”

(WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO SAY BRAVELY THAT THEY WANT TO FACE THE DANGER. DRAW OUT YOUR FAMILY’S COURAGE. AFTER ALL HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO FACE DANGER, READ ON.)

So, we hold in our fears as best we can. Trusting that the OverLord knows what e is doing by sending us to the dragon, we walk to the evil castle.

When we enter the castle, there are two ways to go. Going left would take us toward the dragon’s roar. Going right—who knows? We need to decide which way we want to go.

(HELP YOUR FAMILY DECIDE WHICH WAY TO GO—TO THE LEFT TOWARD THE DRAGON OR TO THE RIGHT TOWARD SOMETHING UNKNOWN. AFTER THEY CHOOSE, GO TO THE APPROPRIATE SECTION BELOW.)

IF FAMILY CHOOSES TO GO TO THE RIGHT

Unfortunately, we go to the right where we meet four goblins, their short, very sharp swords drawn for battle. We have to fight for our lives.

(USE THE SAME BATTLE PROCEDURE THAT YOU DID TO FIGHT THE TROLLS ON THE SECOND DAY. REMEMBER THAT FARIN AND ANDROS FIGHT ALSO. AFTER THE FIGHT, HELP YOUR FAMILY TO GO BACK TO THE LEFT.)

IF FAMILY CHOOSES TO GO TO THE LEFT

We see the glow of the dragon’s fiery breath from around the corner. Then we hear his diabolical voice say to us, “Well, well! What have we hear? Servants of the OverLord of Many Names? Yes, well, why don’t you serve me instead? I can give you many terrible dark powers. You will be able to tell the future with a crystal ball or reading people’s palms. Or you can put evil spells on other people. What do you say to my offer?”

(DRAW OUT YOUR FAMILY’S DISGUST OF EVIL IN THIS ENCOUNTER WITH THE DRAGON. ON THE PLANET EDENAGAIN, DEMONS TAKE THE FORM OF DRAGONS BECAUSE SATAN IS CALLED “THE GREAT RED DRAG- ON” IN REVELATION 12:3. THE REASON WE INCLUDE THIS SEGMENT OF THE ADVENTURE TO HELP YOU TEACH YOUR FAMILY TO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH SATAN OR OCCULT PRACTICES. SO BE SURE TO ACT OUT THE ROLE OF THE DRAGON SO AS TO MAKE EVIL LOOK AS UGLY AS IT REALLY IS. GO AHEAD AND TURN YOUR FAMILY AGAINST SATAN’S GREATEST TEMPTATIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY TODAY IN OUR NATION WHO BELONG TO SATAN AND PRACTICE HIS EVIL METHODS.)

· > AFTER THEY STRONGLY REFUSE THE DRAGON:

Our rebuff injures the dragon’s awful pride. We can see his body deflate quite a bit. Then he challenges us, “How can you be so confident that you will become more powerful than what I offered you? Oh, I know that your OverLord promised that you would be strong enough to resist the power of the Great Red Dragon, but what makes you so sure that he will keep His promise?”

· > IF PLAYERS DO NOT URGE PLAYER #3 TO SAY THE PHILIPPIANS 1:6 WORDRUNE, READ THE FOLLOWING:

Then the lion Andros suggest that ____________ (P3) say the Philippians 1:6 WordRune.

IF PHILIPPIANS 1:6 WORDRUNE IS SAID CORRECTLY:

When the Philippians 1:6 WordRune is repeated without error, the evil dragon in front of us shrinks in size and disappears!

Just as we are feeling quite good about sending the dragon away, we hear many goblin voices rushing to the room where we are.

IF PHILIPPIANS 1:6 WORDRUNE IS NOT WORD PERFECT

When the Philippians 1:6 WordRune is not said correctly, the evil dragon begins to laugh. While it is laughing, we escape to the left. As we do, we hear many goblin voices rushing after us.

(To Be Continued Next Time)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR AVAILABLE TIME

l. Read 1 Timothy 6:10. Why is the love of money the root of all evil

2. Jesus warned us that we cannot serve God and money (see Matthew 6:24). Why do you suppose He used money as the arch rival for our heart, rather than Satan?

3. Read Luke 12:4-7. Fear is an act of worship reserved for God alone! Teach this to the family. Then ask, “Does God want us to be afraid that he won’t take care of us?” The answer is “NO;” God wants us to fear His power and what it can do in reaction to evil.

4. Read Deuteronomy 18:14. What do you think about God forbid- ding us to have anything to do with the devil and witchcraft?

PRAYER

l. Ask someone to ask God to keep your family from the love of money.

2. Ask another person to pray to the Lord that He will keep each family member from valuing themselves because of their possessions or how much money they have.

3. Someone ask the Lord to help everybody remember the things that they are good at and use them for God’s glory.

4. Someone ask the Lord to help the family members continue to encourage one another in their areas of strength.

5. Someone ask God to help everybody in the family to not fear Satan.

6. Someone ask the Lord to keep every member of the family for all of their life from any kind of witchcraft or occult practices.

________________________________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL—FIFTH DAY

STAYING TOUGH TO THE LAST

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #4, EAGLE.

| READ TO FAMILY |

Hearing the goblin voices coming from the direction we came, we head out to the left as fast as our feet can carry us. We have to get out of this castle and get to the Lonely Meadows.

“There’s a small hallway off to the right. Shall we take it? Sure!

Let’s hide in there.”

You all dash in behind me. We hold our breath as the goblins run on by, thinking that we continued on down the main tunnel. Just as soon as they pass, a rumbling sound begins nearby. It is a stone door closing off the secret entrance we just came through. The goblins are no longer a threat. But where are we now?

Then one of us spots a pinpoint of light very far down the narrow corridor. We’re not trapped after all! Cautiously, we head down the tunnel toward the spot of light. When we reach it, we see that the light comes from way up above and merely illuminates a junction of two paths. One goes to the right and the other to the left, but we are glad for the light which seems to be more available through skylights way above throughout the upcoming tunnels.

The tunnel to the right is as narrow as the one we have been traveling, quite narrow. The path to the left is wide and level and will-lit. We have to choose.

Then one of you sees a writing on the wall. All that is there is “Romans 12:9,10,” nothing more.

(GIVE YOUR FAMILY TIME TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE. YOU HAVE PROBABLY ALREADY GUESSED THAT IT IS A CLUE TO PERSON #2 TO SAY THE ROMANS 12:9,10 WORDRUNE. BUT DO NOT COACH AT THIS TIME. JUST LEAVE SOME TIME. IF THEY DO NOTHING, THEN SUGGEST THAT THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MESSAGE ON THE WALL MEANS. ONLY IF YOUR HINTS DO NOT WORK, SHOULD YOU TELL #2 THAT YOU THINK MAYBE THE MESSAGE MEANS THAT HE OR SHE SHOULD SAY THE ROMANS 12:9,10 WORDRUNE.)

(IF NO ONE CAN REPEAT THE ROMANS 12:9,10 WORDRUNE PERFECTLY FROM MEMORY, THEN YOUR FAMILY WILL HAVE TO MAKE ITS CHOICE OF DIRECTION WITHOUT HELP.)

(IF NO ONE CAN SAY THE WORDRUNE, READ THE NEXT SECTION. IF SOMEONE DOES SAY IT CORRECTLY, SKIP THE NEXT SECTION AND READ THE ONE FOLLOWING.)

· > IF NO ONE CAN SAY THE ROMANS 12:9,10 WORDRUNE:

Even though none of us can say the needed WordRune, we still must decide which way to travel. Do we want to travel to the left down the wide, well-lit tunnel or to the right down the narrow tunnel which is only dimly lit?

IF SOMEONE CORRECTLY SAYS THE ROMANS 12:9,10 WORDRUNE

When the WordRune is said, we see words taking shape in the dust at our feet. In no time, the writing is completed and reads:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

(Matthew 7:13,14)

Well, we now have to choose which way we will travel. Do we want to travel to the left down the wide, well-lit tunnel or do we go right, traveling the narrow tunnel which is only dimly lit?

IF FAMILY CHOOSES THE WIDE TUNNEL TO THE LEFT:

We travel on the left path. It is quite easy to walk on the broad path. Soon the way begins to go down and it gets darker. Then we are at the edge of an underground lake that comes right into the tunnel. It is filled with hundreds of alligators. What do we do now?

(THEY MUST TURN BACK. IF THEY ENTER THE LAKE, THEY WILL BE EATEN ALIVE. ONCE THEY HAVE DECIDED TO TURN BACK, READ THE NEXT SECTION.)

IF FAMILY CHOOSES THE NARROW TUNNEL TO THE RIGHT:

We travel a short distance down the narrow tunnel to the right. The path curves and ends at a door. In the dim light we see written on the door these words:

“Love must be .”

On the ground a bright arrow appears, and it is pointing at (SAY PERSON #3’S NAME).

(PERSON #3 MUST SAY THE WORD “SINCERE” FROM THE ROMANS 12:9,10 WORDRUNE. IF HE OR SHE DOES NOT, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. YOU MAY HAVE TO TEL THE OTHERS THAT THEY CAN HELP, BUT IT MUST BE PERSON #3 WHO SAYS THE WORD THAT OPENS THE DOOR.)

WHEN PERSON #3 SAYS THE WORD “SINCERE,”

The door opens and we immediately face another door on which are the following words:

“Hate what is .”

This time the arrow of light points to ____________ (P4).

· > WHEN PERSON #4 SAYS THE WORD “EVIL,”:

The door opens and we immediately face yet another door on which are the following words:

“Cling to what is .”

This time the arrow of light points to ____________ (P5).

· > WHEN PERSON #5 SAYS THE WORD “GOOD,”:

This time when the door opens, we see through it to the outside world. We are out of the castle, and before us the land slopes steeply downhill.

A giant eagle flies and lands near us. He says that he will take us one-by-one on his back to the edge of the Lonely Meadows. He says that a large platoon of orcs is traveling to the castle and will spot us before he is able to get us all away.

We quickly decide who will go first. (DO THIS.) Then the eagle tells us that his power will be increased if those of us who are left at the castle wall discuss together what the Romans 12:9,10 WordRune means when it says:

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.”

Then off he flies.

(HAVE THOSE LEFT BEHIND DISCUSS THE FIRST PART OF ROMANS 12:10. AFTER A SHORT WHILE, HAVE THE EAGLE COME BACK AND TAKE ANOTHER LIGHTRAIDER ON HIS BACK. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT THE LAST ONE LEFT. WHEN THE SECOND TO LAST IS TAKEN AND ONLY ONE REMAINS, READ THE NEXT SECTION.)

· > WHEN ONLY ONE IS LEFT AT THE CASTLE WALL:

Just as the eagle leaves, (NAME OF PERSON LEFT AT CASTLE WALL) sees a whole bunch of orcs coming up the hill. They see him/her and, screaming at the top of their lungs, come charging up the hill.

Just as they get dangerously near, the eagle returns and the awful orcs are robbed of a kill.

When we are all together again, the eagle asks us if we need each other or not. We go ahead and answer all his questions.

(CARRY ON A DISCUSSION WITH YOUR FAMILY. YOU ARE THE GREAT GIANT EAGLE. THEREFORE, YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. THE EAGLE WILL ASK ANY RELEVANT QUESTION THAT YOU THINK OF, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:)

1. How have you needed each other so far on this adventure?

2. What do you think would happen if you did not have each other?

AT THE VERY END YOU CAN BRING OUT ANY ADDITIONAL POINTS BY SAYING, “THEN I SAID TO THE EAGLE...”

· > AFTER DISCUSSION

The eagle thanks us for understanding that the High One created us to need each other and not to just go off and do our own thing. We thank the eagle for rescuing us for the OverLord of Many Names. Then off he flies.

Before us lies the Lonely Meadows. We wonder why they are so named and what type of rescue we will have to complete tomorrow. (To Be Continued Next Time)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR AVAILABLE TIME

l. What does the Lord mean when He says in the Bible, “Love must be sincere?”

2. What does it mean to “Hate what is evil?”

3. What does it mean to “Cling to what is good?”

4. What does it mean to “Honor one another above yourselves?”

5. What does Scripture mean when it says that only the narrow gate leads to life? (Matthew 7:13,14)

PRAYER

l. Ask someone to ask God to help every one in the family really love one another, not just say they do.

2. Ask someone to ask the Lord to help you all hate evil in all of its forms.

3. Someone ask God to help everyone to desperately hold onto doing and liking only what is good.

4. Someone ask the Lord to help everyone in the family to be devoted to one another and honor one another above themselves.

5. You pray that no one in your family will try to get to heaven by the wide way, but that each person will take the narrow way of belief in Jesus Christ.

OR

You thank God that no one in your family is trying to get to heaven by the wide way, but that each person has taken the narrow way through belief in Jesus Christ and His substitutionary death on the cross.

________________________________________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL—SIXTH DAY

RESCUE AT THE LONELY MEADOWS

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #1, MAIDEN WITH HORSE.

| READ TO FAMILY |

As we descend into the Lonely Meadows, we are filled anticipation. This is the day that we will be called upon to actually rescue someone from extreme unhappiness!

Ahead of us lies a vast open meadowland. Directly below us and barely visible in the distance is a cluster of trees with a small house at the cluster’s edge.

We are traveling toward the small cottage by the strange group of trees when we hear someone crying, the sobs tearing at our hearts with sadness. Do we want to follow the sound of unhappiness to its source? Do we want to help?

(WAIT FOR THE FAMILY TO SAY THAT IT DOES WANT TO SEEK OUT THE PERSON WHO IS SO UNHAPPY. THEN READ ON.)

Just a short way downhill we see a beautiful horse grazing. Then we spot her—the source of the crying. She is sitting on a rock behind but near the horse.

We become unsure of ourselves. Will we know how to be of help? What if she doesn’t like us or want us around? We stand there feeling pretty unconfident when suddenly (SAY NAME OF PERSON #5) says the Hebrews 10:24 WordRune.

(WAIT FOR PERSON #5 TO SAY THE HEBREWS 10:24 WORD- RUNE PERFECTLY FROM MEMORY. ONCE THIS IS DONE, READ ON.)

With this help from the Sacred Scrolls and for the sake of the OverLord, we are able to approach the maiden and see if we can help. She is quite surprised to see us, but we set her at ease by asking why she is so unhappy.

The maiden tells us her name is Maralda. Her family does not appreciate her talents and either criticize or compete with her rather than encourage her to be all that she can be. They point out every fault she has and make fun of all the things that she cannot do. She wants so much to be happy in her family but cannot when things are so negative. She asks us if all families are like that and if we can help.

(ROLE-PLAY MARALDA, REMEMBERING THAT SHE IS UNHAPPY AND DOES NOT KNOW WHAT A HEALTHY, HAPPY FAMILY LOOKS LIKE. AS THEY ANSWER MARALDA’S QUESTIONS, YOUR FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR OWN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A HEALTHY, HAPPY FAMILY IS.

(WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU DO IS TEACH YOUR FAMILY SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT FAMILY LIFE, ESPECIALLY THAT THE FAMILY IS GOD’S INSTRUMENT TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN EACH PERSON. RIGHT NOW WE ARE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN HELPING YOU TEST YOUR FAMILY TO SEE IF THEY HAVE LEARNED AND TO HELP THEM COMMIT THEMSELVES TO HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING.)

(IF YOU ARE CAREFUL WITH THIS ROLE-PLAY, YOU CAN TEACH THE TEST OF THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT THINGS.)

l. IN A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN FAMILY, EVERYONE RESPECTS EACH OTHER’S DESIGN BY GOD. (YOU CAN ASK: “In your family. . .” or “In a happy family, do you allow people to be their own kind of per- son?)

2. IN A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN FAMILY, PEOPLE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER’S

STRENGTHS RATHER THAN BEING BOTHERED BY THEM. (YOU CAN ASK: “Do people discourage and put down what other people are good at?” ALSO ASK: “Do people encourage you to get better and better at what you are good at?”)

3. IN A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN FAMILY, PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE STRENGTHS OF

OTHERS AND ACTUALLY REQUEST HELP FROM THE STRENGTHS OF OTHERS. (ASK:

“Do people ever ask for help from one another’s strengths?”)

4. IN A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN FAMILY, MEMBERS WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER’S

WEAK AREAS, OFFERING HELP OR AUTOMATICALLY HELPING AS NEEDED. (ASK:

“Do you help each other in areas where you are not any good or do you ridicule one another for things you cannot do?”)

5. IN A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN FAMILY, MEMBERS ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO

FIGHT AGAINST THE SIN INSIDE OF THEMSELVES. (ASK: “Do people encourage and help one another fight the sin inside of them, or do they make one another feel guilty?”)

6. IN A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN FAMILY, MEMBERS SEE THAT EACH PERSON HAS

SOME SIGNIFICANT JOBS IN THE FAMILY SO THAT THEIR CONFIDENCE GROWS AND THE FAMILY BENEFITS FROM THEIR STRENGTHS. (ASK: “Does everyone have some special things they do in your family to help all the others?”)

| READ TO FAMILY |

After we talk to Maralda for a while, she begins to have hope that things can get better in her own family. She tells us about her family enough for us to see what the main problem is. The family lives with grims, little dark creatures that live in the curious clump of trees near their family cottage.

The grims have burdened down the family with a lot of false guilt. From their treehouses they hurl their evil lodestones at the family members, making them feel really bad about them- selves. And people who do not like themselves treat themselves and other people rotten. They compete with others and so they tear down the strengths of others. They point out other people’s weaknesses to make them feel bad or make themselves look better in their own eyes. They also add to the heaven-sent guilt from the High One to make them feel more terrible.

We easily conclude that we must destroy the grims. There are six of them in the clump of trees. So we march against them and the evil they represent. Once in the grove of trees, battle rages furiously!

(USE THE BATTLE PROCEDURE AS BEFORE.)

· > ONCE ALL GRIMS ARE DEAD

Maralda’s family rushes out to yell at us for killing their pet grims. We gently tell them what the grim’s False Guilt Enchantment was doing to the family. They don’t believe us when we tell them what their family could become with a little work. They do not believe that a family can be happy. But Maralda tells them what she knows about our family. Then they understand.

Maralda’s father must test us to see if we are really a healthy family. He asks us to tell each other the weaknesses we see in each other. He wants to see if we can do it kindly, understanding that the OverLord of Many Names has said it is okay not to be able to do everything well.

(NOW YOUR FAMILY MUST DO WHAT MARALDA’S FATHER ASKED. THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ROLE-PLAY THE FATHER, SO YOU ARE FREE TO WORK WITH YOUR FAMILY ON THIS WITNESS OF GOD’S TRUTH ABOUT THE HEALTHY FAMILY.)

· > WHEN YOUR FAMILY HAS ACCEPTINGLY TALKED OF EACH OTHER’S WEAKNESSES.

Maralda’s father is impressed! But he says that he wants to think over our behavior. he says he will return tomorrow with a harder test. And then he will decide.

(To Be Continued Next Time)

DISCUSSION

l. Each person tell the others what he or she likes best about the family.

2. Read Hebrews 10:24. How can you help somebody else in the family do good things for others?

3. Each person tell how he or she likes to be encouraged.

4. Each person tell each of the other family members how they could be helped to do good by each other person addressed.

PRAYER

l. Someone ask God to give everyone a chance to help someone who is lonely in the next two weeks.

2. Someone ask the Lord to help everyone want to be helpful to others this week.

3. Someone ask God to help the family never to give up on anyone in the family.

4. Someone ask God to help the family be a witness to some non-christian family through your acceptance of one another’s strengths, weaknesses, sins and other differences.

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DEVOTIONAL - SEVENTH DAY

FACING THE DRAGON WITHIN

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #3, LIGHTRAIDER WITH DRAGON.

| READ TO FAMILY |

Yesterday we passed the test of Maralda’s father regarding how well we accept each other’s weaknesses. After that,, he showed us our quarters down by the stream. We discussed how Maralda’s family was harmed by the grims we had eliminated. We hoped that on the morrow we would be able to answer Maralda’s father’s final test, whatever it is.

Then, just as if knowing our conversation, a small river animal, a brosk, approached us with some information to help us. The brosk was pinkish tan, longish ears and short hair. He told us that Maralda’s family will not be able to resist the confession of sins. He told us that if we could each admit one of our wrongs in front of the others without being criticized by each other, Maralda’s father would be astonished. But to do that, he said, we would have to deal with the dragon within. Now it is morning and we have just had a remarkable rest. No dragon roars kept us awake, and in our dreams we all heard the Liberated land calling us home.

When Maralda and her parents come to meet with us, Maralda’s father gives us his final challenge. He asks us to show them proof that we have more power than the Once Born of the Dragon Lands. We want to show the power of the Twice Born. And so we remember the words of the brosk and each tells one mistake, or sin, that we do that we would like to overcome.

(STOP TALKING AND SEE IF YOUR FAMILY RESPONDS. IF THEY DO NOT, THEN YOU BEGIN BY TELLING ONE THING YOU DO WRONG AND WHY YOU WANT TO STOP.

THEN ENCOURAGE ALL OF THE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. )

AFTER ALL HAVE ADMITTED A SIN

Maralda’s father looks quite surprised after he has heard us do what the Once Born cannot—for after we are finished, we ask the High One to forgive us for doing the things we have admitted. When I remind our family that it is promised in the Sacred Scrolls that the High One will not hold us guilty for the specific wrongs we confessed, Maralda’s father takes his wife aside and they whisper together for a long time.

When Maralda’s father and mother return, they tell us how, until now, they did not appreciate themselves or their daughter. It seems that ever since the grims had moved into the trees behind their house, they believed they all were not good enough and that they must be better than all others.

Of course, we recognize that the grims had placed this family under sin enchantment. The horrible dark creatures who labor for the dragon had placed the family under the False Guilt Enchantment. Our acceptance of ourselves as we are and our brave battle against our sinfulness has broken the evil spell of the grims. Living the OverLord’s way of family life has destroyed the enchantments!

Maralda’s father breaks the silence. he tells us that he is ready to learn of the OverLord of Many Names. he asks us to tell him and his family about our leaders.

(LET YOUR FAMILY RESPOND SPONTANEOUSLY TO THIS QUESTION ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. ONLY IF THEY HAVE TROUBLE BEGINNING AFTER MINUTE OF SILENCE SHOULD YOU RESCUE THEM BY SAYING, “Our OverLord of Many Names is known as Jesus in other places of the universe. He is the Son of God.” THIS SHOULD HELP THE OTHERS OF YOUR FAMILY TO GET STARTED.)

(AS MARALDA’S FATHER, BE SURE AND ASK HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE OVER- LORD’S SIDE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE DRAGONS. SEE APPENDIX A AT THE BACK OF THIS BOOKLET FOR HELP IN BRINGING OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTS OF SALVATION. IF YOU CANNOT BRING THEM ALL OUT BY ROLE-PLAYING THE FATHER, JOIN YOUR FAMILY AS YOURSELF IN THE ROLE-PLAY. BEGIN BY SAYING, “I turn to Maralda’s father and say, “. . .”)

How we rejoice when Maralda and her parents put their trust in the OverLord’s death and return to life. They become Twice Born right before our eyes! What a thrill!!

After a celebration meal, the family begins to pack just a few of their belongings for their journey with us to the Liberated Land. This will be their new home. Things soon will really be different with them. They will learn to live for others in the Twice Born community. They will experience the Loving Fellowship.

Tomorrow we will all leave to find the Hollow Tree that will lead us home, for when we step into the tree, we will find ourselves standing ankle-deep in a Passage Lake in the Liberated Land.

(To Be Continued Next Time)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR AVAILABLE TIME

l. Read 1 John 1:8-10 aloud.

2. What is the truth of 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10? How can this truth be used to prevent a self-righteous attitude? How can this truth help us not to be too down on ourselves? (No use tearing down the person who has to put up a good fight against the sin.)

3. What is the cost of receiving God’s forgiveness? (Refer to 1 John

1:19)

4. Read John 14:21. After guilt is removed through confession and forgiveness, what can motivate repentance (obedience)?

PRAYER

l. Ask someone to request God to help your family be able to admit their faults to each other.

2. Someone ask the Lord to help family members remember to feel sorry for their sins and confess them to God so that they receive forgiveness.

3. Someone ask God to help family members to not treat badly those who admit their faults.

4. Someone else ask the Lord to help family members to change from sin to good behavior out of thankful love for Jesus Christ who died for them.

5. Someone else ask God to help family members hate their sins but not themselves. (See Amos 5:15 and Romans 12:9)

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DEVOTIONAL - EIGHTH DAY

BRIGHTNESS IN THE NIGHT

| SHOW TO FAMILY |

POSTER #2, MOONBRIDGE.

| READ TO FAMILY |

We and Maralda’s family set off early in the morning, journeying to our homes in the Liberated Land. Maralda and her parents are really excited about actually knowing the OverLord of Many Names and not just knowing about him.

Since we have a long way to go in one day, we are traveling light. We will be traveling through dangerous lands and can take along only a few small bread cakes and a small flask of water each. Our flasks were made from the underskin of the dream dragon, Eklin, that was slain by the LightRaider Charity for impersonating the call of the OverLord. Charity killed Eklin with mind speech battle and a long bow arrow. This stopped the am- bushing of unsuspecting LightRaiders who were pulled off their course by the false messages of the dream dragon.

Maralda’s family’s flasks were made of brosk skin, creating in us a deep sadness. We sure liked the little fellow who told us how to convince Maralda’s dragon slave family that the Twice Born have more power.

Not far along in our journey, we are spotted by distant goblins who immediately begin to chase us. We go off to the right of our destination in order to lead them away from our critical path. When we finally lose them, we are exhausted and very thirsty. Even though we are aware that we must conserve water, each of us drinks half of our flasks.

We cut back to the left to regain our original course of travel, the goblins having been led successfully off our trail. This takes us into a vast desert-like savanna. It is not long before our own thirst is all that is on our minds. And then we spot something lying on the dry turf.

As we draw closer, we discover a human, a dragon slave who is dying of thirst and all but unconscious. It is a male dragon slave, a person under the dragon enchantments of sin.

I turn to all of you and ask what you think we should do; what you want to do.

(TALK WITH YOUR FAMILY UNTIL SOMEONE DECIDES TO GIVE THE DYING PERSON THE WATER FROM THEIR OWN FLASK. IT WILL TAKE ALL THE REMAINING LIQUID FROM ONE FLASK TO REVIVE THE DRAGON SLAVE.)

(DO NOT SUGGEST ANY COURSE OF ACTION. YOU WANT TO TEST YOUR FAMILY ON THE TRUTH OF MATTHEW 25:31-46. TALK WITH THEM, BUT DO NOT GIVE THEM THE SOLUTION. BY HINTING, YOU CAN EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE TO GIVE UP THEIR WATER. )

· > ONCE SOMEONE GIVES THEIR WATER TO THE ONE DYING OF THIRST

No sooner does the dragon slave revive than he exclaims that their are three others nearby who must also have fainted from thirst. He explains that they fled a troll attack on their homestead which lies at the edge of the Scraggy Desert, as this area is called.

As soon as we look around, we find three more semi-conscious people, one woman and two little boys. Again I ask you what you want to do.

(REPEAT THE LAST INSTRUCTIONS UNTIL THE THREE THIRSTY PEOPLE ARE REVIVED.)

The requirements to revive all four people exhausts our water supply. We are hot and thirsty, but happy to see life return to the four dragon slaves. We tell them that we are LightRaiders and belong to the OverLord of Many Names. They are not interested in knowing about the OverLord, but they are thankful to Him that He sent us to their rescue.

They leave to return to their home, and we are reminded of the saying in the Sacred Scrolls that says:

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Shouldering our packs again, we take off in the direction of our trail to the Hollow Tree. Our thirst builds with no possible relief. Our throats dry out and crack. They hurt as we try to swallow non-existent saliva.

A large dead tree provides some shade, and we sink down to rest. I ask if anyone is thinking we should not have given our water away. Maralda and her parents say they think we were foolish. What about you? What do you say?

(ALLOW TIME FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER TO EXPRESS HIS OR HER THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS. DO NOT SET THEM UP TO COMPLAIN. HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL NOT. BUT DO NOT GUIDE THEIR BEHAVIOR. WE WANT YOU TO TEST THEIR LOYALTY TO MATTHEW 25.)

· > AFTER ALL HAVE EXPRESSED THEMSELVES:

After we have cooled off a bit, we resume our journey across the hot expanse of the Scraggy Desert. Evening approaches, giving some relief from the heat—but not from the raging thirst.

Night falls pitch black around us. Only the dimmer moon of EdenAgain illumines, and it is still low on the horizon behind us. We can see our way only by peripheral vision.

Then all of a sudden we see a faint light ahead. As we draw closer, we see a small tent and one itchyfinger, sometimes called a greedo. Holding up his razor-sharp claws in friendly greeting, the Dragon Lands tradesman tells us about some small lanterns he is selling. We tell him that we would like to purchase some water to quench our great thirst.

But the itchyfinger says he has no water. Then he quickly adds, “There is some water nearby, but you will not be able to find it without the use of one of my lanterns.” Then he quotes us an outrageous price for a lantern.

We protest that he is charging us ten times the worth of the lantern, but he merely replies that we are in desperate need of light, raising considerably the value of the lanterns.

We remember that these Dragon Lands businessmen are quite greedy and cheat whenever they can benefit monetarily.

You all begin to bargain with the greedo, trying to get the price down.

You are ready to buy a lantern, for you know that we need the light.

(YOU ROLE-PLAY THE GREEDO (ITCHYFINGER: SEE PAGE 35 OF The LightRaider HandBook). HE WILL NOT BUDGE AN INCH ON THE PRICE, WHICH IS ONE MEZID OR ABOUT $100.)

(END THE ROLE-PLAY WITH THE PARTY EITHER BUYING THE LANTERN OR YOU (NOT ROLE-PLAYING THE GREEDO) BUYING IT IF THEY REFUSE. YOUR THIRST DEMANDS THAT YOU ALL FIND WATER SOON.)

· > AFTER THE LANTERN IS PURCHASED

We head off with our lantern in the direction given by the greedo. He has promised water in that direction.

After considerable time, it becomes clear that there is no water in the direction we are traveling. Tired and thirsty, we head back to our Hollow Tree trail.

Minutes seem like hours, and hours like days as we travel across the Dragon Lands, miserable from thirst. Then, all of a sudden, we see another glowing light in the distance. It looks more and more like a reflection as we travel ever closer. Then we recognize it—the lake just this side of the Hollow Tree! Water at last!

The small moon has risen higher in the sky and the brighter moon is just breaking the horizon. As we near the lake, we make out a band of light spanning the lake. It is a MoonBridge! What a sight! Approaching the lake edge, ____________ (P3) puts a foot on the band of light and finds it to be solid. It is a real bridge!

After drinking our fill of the wonderfully cold water, we all test the MoonBridge and finally cross over it to the other side of the lake. Refreshed, we run to the Hollow Tree about one mile distant. As we approach it, there is a glow near the tree and a Man standing in the midst of the brightness.

The man yells out at us kindly, “Peace be with you!” We recognize the characteristic greeting of the Alpha and Omega, our OverLord of Many Names. And we run to Him. His arms enfold each of us as he tells us how happy He is that we are safe.

As Maralda and her parents approach, we introduce them. But they already know Who it is that greets us at the Hollow Tree. The Bright Morning Star, as He is also called, hugs each of them and tells them He is so glad that they belong to Him now.

Then turning to us all, the OverLord explains what has been happening to us. “I am so pleased with you,” He begins. “Thank you for saving Maralda and her parents from such unhappiness. And thank you for being a family that I can be proud of. Oh, the goblins that chased you did so at my command. Actually, they saw you because I chased them to where they would see you. In fact, I used my wolves to do that. I needed them to chase you so that you would see my need of you in the Scraggy Desert. When you gave those thirsty people water, you really gave it to me. Because I wanted you to do it, you actually did it to me and for me. Thank you for saving their lives. They are not interested in me, but I am in them!”

We ask some questions, and then the OverLord leaves us standing in the dark in front of the Hollow Tree, our dim little lantern hardly effective at all once the OverLord’s marvelous light is gone.

Anxious to tell others of our meeting with the OverLord and feeling quite good that he liked what we did for Him, we all dash through the Hollow Tree. In the blink of an eye, we are all standing knee-deep in a moon-lit Passage Lake in the Liberated Land.

We are home.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR AVAILABLE TIME

l. Read Matthew 25:31-46. Discuss whether you acted like the sheep or the goats when you met the dying people on the Scraggy Desert.

2. How is it that you do the things mentioned in Matthew 25 and you do them for Jesus Christ?

3. There is a disagreement about Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25. Some feel that it means that you must do good only to fellow believers to do it to Jesus. This is because Jesus used the word “brothers” in verse 40. Others believe that you do good to Jesus (for Him) whenever you do good for anyone in need. They feel this because Jesus was a human and, therefore, a brother. They also point to the teaching about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25- 37).

What do you think? To do good to Jesus, who are we to be kind to?

Believers or both believers and non-Christians?

4. Read Matthew 5:16.

Is it wasted energy when we do good to others who do not thank us

PRAYER

l. Ask someone to pray and ask God to help the family do good to others, even if there is nothing the family will get in return.

2. Ask someone to ask God to help family members see Jesus asking us for help whenever we see someone truly in need.

3. Someone ask God to keep us from being selfish like the greedos, who charge as much as they can get away with so they can make a lot of money.

4. Someone ask God to help us all give to the point of it hurting, like we did in the Scraggy Desert. We want to learn how to hurt for the good causes of God.

________________________________________________________________________

APPENDIX A

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT SALVATION

I. Part One: God wants friendship with you.

l. God loves all mankind.

2. There is nothing better in life than friendship with God.

3. God made this personal relationship possible by loving the world so much that He gave up His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us.

Scripture: God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

II. Part Two: Your sin separates you from the holy God, and you can do nothing about this except to realize it and seek the Saviour.

l. Your sin places a moral barrier between you and God, who protects His holiness and purity from contamination by separating Himself from evil.

2. You cannot save yourself from eternal death and separation from God.

3. You can admit your sinfulness and seek the Saviour.

Scripture: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

III. Part Three: Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins by dying and then coming back to life to destroy death for those who accept His invitation.

1. Jesus died on the cross for you.

2. In taking the penalty for your sins upon Himself, Jesus completely closed the gap of separation between you and God.

3. Jesus is the only path to peace with God.

Scripture God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

IV. Part Four: If you believe in Jesus and trust in His power, you may confess your sinfulness, repent and accept God’s invitation to His kingdom.

l. You must confess your rebelliousness to God and repent of it.

2. You must trust in Jesus to forgive your sins by His death.

3. You must accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and be willing to belong to Him.

4. You must tell others that you belong to God and that Jesus is your Lord.

Scripture: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and

believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be

saved. (Romans 10:9

V. Part Five: You can be sure that you are born anew, if you have received Jesus into your life.

l. Jesus has promised to be your Saviour if you will permit Him to do so by trusting only in His goodness, not in your own. 2. Jesus Christ has promised not to desert you. He will always be your Saviour.

Scripture: To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

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APPENDIX A

1-1

Thank God for your family.

1-2

Request God to help your family be a good team of Christians who watch out for each other’s good.

1-3

Ask the Lord to help everybody memorize their WordRune and maybe even someone else’s also.

1-4

Request power to deal firmly with the nasty trolls during the family’s next devotional adventure time.

________________________________________________________________________

2-1

Ask God to help the family not insult one another between now and when you are going to play again.

2-2

Ask the Lord to help the family see when they hurt someone’s feelings and to be able to patch things up.

2-3

Ask in prayer that God help everyone in the family feel important and really good at a couple of things.

2-4

Ask the Lord to help people in your family not want to be better than the other members in the family, and yet to feel good about what they are good at.

2-5

Thank God for your family, even if it has some improving to do.

________________________________________________________________________

3-1

Pray and ask the Lord to help all the family to understand God’s view of each family member.

3-2

Pray for enough courage to be prepared for risky service for God.

3-3

Accepting other people’s differences is hard. Ask the Lord to help all family members become more accepting of others.

________________________________________________________________________

4-1

Ask God to keep your family from the love of money.

4-2

Pray to the Lord that He will keep each family member from valuing themselves because of their possessions or how much money they have.

4-3

Ask the Lord to help everybody remember the things they are good at and use them for God’s glory.

4-4

Ask the Lord to help the family members continue to encourage one another in their areas of strength.

4-5

Ask God to help everybody in the family not to fear Satan.

4-6

Ask the Lord to keep every member of the family for all of their life from any kind of witchcraft or occult practices.

________________________________________________________________________

5-1

Ask God to help everyone in the family really love one another, and not just say that they do.

5-2

Ask the Lord to help you all hate evil in all of its forms.

5-3

Ask God to help everyone to desperately hold or to doing and liking only what is good.

5-4

Ask the Lord to help everyone in the family to be devoted to one another and to honor one another above themselves.

5-5

Pray that no one in your family will try to get to heaven by the wide way that doesn’t work, but that each person will take the narrow way of belief in Jesus Christ.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6-1

Ask God to give everyone a chance to help someone who is lonely in the next two weeks.

6-2

Ask the Lord to help everyone want to be helpful to others this week.

6-3

Ask God to help the family never to give up on anyone in the family.

6-4

Ask God to help the family be a witness to some non-Christian family through your acceptance of one another’s strengths, weaknesses, sins and other differences.

________________________________________________________________________

7-1

Request God to help your family be able to admit their faults to each other.

7-2

Ask the Lord to help family members remember to feel sorry for their sins and confess them to God so that they receive forgiveness.

7-3

Ask God to help family members not to treat badly those who admit their faults.

7-4

Ask the Lord to help family members to change from sin to good behavior Out of thankful love for Jesus Christ who died for them.

7-5

Ask God to help family members hate their sins but not themselves. (See Amos 5:15 and Romans 12:9)

________________________________________________________________________

8-1

Ask God to help the family do good to others, even if there is nothing the family will get in return.

8-2

Ask God to help family members see Jesus asking us for help whenever we see someone truly in need.

8-3

Ask God to keep us from being selfish like the greedoes, who charge as much as they can get away with so they can make a lot of money.

8-4

Ask God to help us all give to the point of it hurting, like we did in the Scraggy Desert. We want to learn how to hurt for the good causes of God.

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