Mary and Martha

KFW  July 21, 2013

Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42; pages 366-371 in the Spark Bible)

Narrator: One day, Jesus and his disciples were traveling.  Along the way, Jesus decided they would stay and visit with their friends, Mary and Martha.  Mary and Martha were sisters.  They lived together in a house and got along well, most of the time.

While Jesus visited with them, Mary sat on the floor and listened to Jesus teach.

Martha, on the other hand was very busy.

Martha: I don’t have time to sit down!  I need to bake bread!  I need to cook fish and serve Olives!  I need to clean these floor mats (shakes one out)  Jesus’ visit with us should be very special.

(Looks over at Mary) PSST!  Help me with the cleaning?

Mary: (briefly looks at Martha and then turns back to look at Jesus)

Martha: AHEM!

Mary: (looks again and looks back)

Martha: she could at least help me get the bread and fish ready!  All of these people to feed and she isn’t helping one little bit!  She knows how to use a broom!  She could stir this pot!  GRRR!  All of this company and I am doing all the work!

Narrator:  Finally, when she was still working and Mary sit sat, Martha couldn’t take it anymore.  She came into the room where Jesus was teaching, interrupted what he was saying, put her hands on her hips and said angrily:

Martha:  Mary!  PLEASE get UP and HELP me!  (looks at Jesus) Jesus—tell Mary to get up and help me!

Jesus: (quiet for a moment)  Martha, Martha.  You are worried about every little thing.  You are busy, busy, busy, and never stop moving.  Thank you for your work to make my visit comfortable, but you do not need to worry about all of those things!  Mary has decided to sit and listen to me.  That is a good decision.

Martha:  Maybe I SHOULD sit down and listen to what you have to say, at least for a minute.

Narrator: so she sat and listened and that was a good decision.

What did we learn?  Sometimes the best way to care for others and to hear God in our lives is to Be still and listen.

Notes for parents and further thoughts

I would argue that this is one of those easier stories in the gospel to address--but it's easy to be fooled by its simple lesson.  Even as I sit here typing, the irony hits me.  I had a very hard time sitting down and finding time to script out the lesson this week, as we were in the throws of potty training and I was grading papers for the last college class I'm teaching and preparing for Splash.  Mary and her ability to sit and listen to Jesus is enviable, so many of us think.  Lucky lady that she was able to do that!  That's when we have to remind ourselves--hers was an active CHOICE.  She chose to sit and listen, though surrounded by things to do.  Cooking, cleaning, and even work may seem like necessities, but when I remember to ask myself, "Will 15 minutes of scrubbing my bathroom impact my kids as much as 15 minutes of praying together or reading the bible together?  Is grading this paper having the same kind of positive influence on that student as spending the same amount of time sitting and listening to my husband talk about his day or my kids babble?"

As a good friend said in her blog today as she was talking about kids and their priorities as occasional distractions, "Maybe God's mercies are actually IN the distractions -- the butterflies and stars.  Maybe God is trying to show us that He is doing something NEW all around us, but we're just not walking around with an attitude of wonder...and expectation...and hope."

My goal this week is to put down the computer a bit more, allow myself to grow spiritually through potty training (more on that later!) and to remember to listen to what Jesus has to tell me--through butterflies and stars, baby screeches and those few silent moments in my life.  It's time for ME to remember to "Be still and know that he is God" and to model this behavior for my children, before they start thinking that God calls us to be more like Martha than Mary!

The Good Samaritan

KFW July 14, 2013

The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37 (Spark bible p. 360-365)

Clever man:  I’m a smart man and know ALLL the rules.  I think I know them better than this Jesus person—I think I can trick him into giving a wrong answer.  Oh TEACHER!  What must I do to live forever with God?

Jesus:  What do the commandments say?

Clever man: The commandments say you should love God with everything you have.  And you should love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.

Jesus: that’s the right answer!  Live like this and you’ll live with God forever.

Clever man:  so, Jesus, who is my neighborhood.

Jesus:  Let me tell you a story.  A man was traveling down a scary and rocky road by himself.  All of a sudden, a group of men jumped out.  They stole his money and hurt him, and left him by the side of the road.  He moaned and groaned in pain.  He couldn’t get up. 

Priest: [walks by, humming.  Sees the man.]  OH! [moves to the other side of him and keeps walking]

Man/Woman: [walks by, humming.  Sees the man]  Oh umm I’m late.  I must get going [ runs/moves quickly by the man].

Samaritan:  [Walks by, sees the man].  OH!  [stops]I am so sorry you are hurt.  Here are some bandaids.  Let me wash your owies. Here, have something to eat.  Let’s go over to that hotel so you can get some rest and relax. 

Jesus: The man had to leave for a few days, and so he paid the hotel owner to help take care of the hurt man while he was gone.  He wanted the hurt man to get better.  So which of these three people was a neighbor to the man who was hurt?

Clever man:  The one who stopped to help him.

Jesus:  God wants us to help everyone.  People of every size, shape, and color and from every country are important to God.  Happy people, sad people, scary people, people who are easy to love and people who are not easy to love.  Now, go and be like the Samaritan and help everyone who needs help.

What are some ways you can help your neighbors this week?  Let’s start making our “love your neighbor jars” together!  [I have small mason jars for each family—I hope I have enough!]

The Story of Namaan (Draft 1)

In preparing for this week's KFW, I started looking for new ways to approach the text (2 Kings 5:1-14, pages 150-151 in the spark bible).  While I haven't found new ways to introduce it or share it yet, I was in for a bit of a shock.

I had no idea that Leprosy was still a disease that took so many lives, especially in Asia and Africa yet today.  The worst part?  While it is easily transmitted, it is easily CURED.  Yes, cured.  With the right treatments, even the skin discoloration that indicates the beginning of the disease can disappear over time--and loss of limbs and sight are entirely preventable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtIgXbi4m1c

Once upon a time there was a rich and powerful soldier by the name of Namaan.  People respected him and he had everything he could ever want--money, power, servants of his own--except he had Leprosy.  Leprosy is a disease that slowly turns your skin different colors and then makes toes, fingers, hands, legs fall off and eyes go blind.  Namaan was afraid.  One day, Namaan's servant said, "it's too bad you cannot go see the prophet nearby in Israel.  He could cure you--I KNOW he could!" Namaan told his boss, the King of Aram, and the King told him "Go!  I will send a letter with you to the King of Israel explaining the situation, and money to make sure that you are healed by this prophet!"

When Namaan met with the king of Israel and gave him the letter, he tore his robes, yelling "why did the King of Aram send you here?  I'm not God.  I can't heal you.  Does he think that by paying me I can do miracles?"  Then he remembered the prophet, Elisha, was nearby.  "Go see Elisha, the prophet.  He may be able to help you."

Namaan arrived at Elisha's door, with other soldiers and horses waiting, but Elisha only sent out a messenger to talk with Namaan. “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

Namaan was angry.  He had come alllllll this way to see a prophet, and brought him money to have him wave his hands over the spots and watch them disappear.  Namaan wasn't even seen by the prophet!  Not only this, but he was also told to go wash in the stinky, dirty river there--the Jordan--and SEVEN TIMES??  What difference does the number of times make?  Weren't the rivers nearer his home cleaner?  Better for healing?

His servants spoke to him, and said "If Elisha had asked to do something difficult, wouldn't you have done it?  Wouldn't you have walked up mountains, swam across oceans, eaten bugs or even played the quiet game for HOURS? Go and wash--it's simple--and you will be healed! 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the prophet and his servant had told him to, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

What did Namaan learn?  Sometimes God asks us to do something that seems easy, but requires faith.  Sometimes God asks us to trust and to listen to people who usually have to listen to us.


...so what else do you think is important to share with children from this story? Do we try it with puppets?  Talk with them about how leprosy is still a disease around today and we, as caring christians, could have something to do with bringing healing to others in Christ's name?  I'm up for all new ideas you can throw at me!