Thanksgiving Skit - Axe and You Shall Receive

I couldn't find a good Thanksgiving skit, so I decided to make one up. Feel free to use this skit and if you do, let me know how it went. Just please remember to give credit where credit is do. God bless. 

A good verse to read at the beginning is:

 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ~ I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Axe and You Shall Receive

Written by Anna R. Tobey

Characters:

             Pilgrim

             Turkey 1

             Turkey 2

             Turkey 3

             As many other turkeys as you like. They are all background turkeys and don't have speaking parts,   they just make turkey noises.

Props:

             Axes

             Handkerchief  for Pilgrim to blow his nose

             Some leaves for turkeys to forage

Stage Set Up:  This skit takes place in the woods where a Pilgrim is hunting turkeys with an axe to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner. 

SKIT BEGINS: 

Left side of Stage: Turkeys gathered together in group. All are foraging and making silly turkey noises. The extra axes are hidden behind the group of turkeys.

Right side of Stage: Pilgrim walks slowly towards the turkeys. He is holding his axe high ready to strike. Make this part suspenseful taking one step at a time very slowly.

Pilgrim: (accidentally sneezes) Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Chooooooooo!

Turkeys immediately stop making noise and look towards pilgrim

Pilgrim: (sheepishly) ohhhh ummm hello!?!

Turkeys are all staring silently, just blinking

Pilgrim: Uhh . . . . What a beautiful fall day! Don’t ya think?

Turkeys continue to stare. One of them finally answers.

Turkey 1: What are doing here?

Pilgrim: Nothing. What are YOU doing here?

Turkey 1: (sarcastically) Foraging

Pilgrim: Great! I hope you guys have been eating a lot!

Turkey 2: Why?

Pilgrim: Oh no, um, no reason. It’s just good to be fat!

Turkey 2: Why?

Pilgrim: Umm, gee, I don’t know. Just cuz. You know, just in case you need to feed someone.

Turkey 3: That doesn’t make any sense

Pilgrim: (yells in excitement) It does for me!

Turkey 3: What?!

Pilgrim: Nothing, nothing. Can you guys turn around?

Turkey 2: Why?

Pilgrim: Because you’re just so cute and I can’t do this if you’re looking at me!

Turkey 2: Do what?

Pilgrim: (Yelling) KILL YOU!!

All Turkeys: GASP!! (one faints)

Turkey 1: (surprised)You want to kill . . . .us?

Pilgrim: YES!

Turkey 2: But . . . but, why? (fainted turkey gets up)

Pilgrim: Because I want to eat you!

ALL Turkeys: GASP!! (same turkey faints again)

Turkey 2: But . . . but why?

Pilgrim: Because it’s Thanksgiving and that is what we do!

Turkey 1: What is Thanksgiving?

Pilgrim: (sighs) It’s a time when we remember to tell God what we are thankful for.

Turkey 1: What does that have to do with us?

Pilgrim: I don’t know. It’s only once a year. Come on! Turn around!

Turkey 3: (disbelievingly and shaking his head) So you are only thankful . . . ONCE . . . a . . . year?

Pilgrim: Well, um. No. I mean, yes. I mean, I don’t know.

Turkeys: (all turkeys begin making disapproving noise) tsk tsk tsk

Turkey 1: (scorning) And you kill a turkey as a sacrifice to your once-a-year-thankfulness. I would figure that God (pointing to Heaven) doesn’t like to be thanked only once a year.

Turkeys: (turkeys begin making disapproving noises again) one yells out “AMEN!!”

Turkey 2: Maybe you need to think about this more. Look at us, we are thankful EVERYDAY to God. (Pilgrim looks down in shame)

Turkey 3: He provides for our food (Pilgrims slumps more)

Turkey 2: Our shelter (Pilgrim slumps more)

Turkey 1: Our baby chicks (Pilgrim slumps to his knees)

Turkey 3: (righteously) Thankfulness is what we do everyday, not just once a year.

Turkey 1: And we certainly don’t KILL anything to celebrate our thankfulness.

Pilgrim: (still on his knees, covers his face and begins crying and loudly speaking) You’re right! All of you!! I’m sorry little fat turkeys! Only once a year do I celebrate with thanksgiving. (determined, blows his nose, and stands up) I will go home today and count my blessings. God blesses me EVERYDAY and I’ve never even thanked Him.

Turkey 2: Don’t worry little Pilgrim. God is a forgiving God. Go home and love Him

Pilgrim: (sniffing) Can . . .can I get a hug?

Turkey 1: Of course! (smiling and opens arms wide) (then seriously) Just put the axe down first

(Pilgrim puts axe down and then goes over to hug Turkey 1)

Pilgrim: (begins to cry hysterically)

Turkey 1: (petting the pilgrim’s head) There, there. Don’t worry about it.

Pilgrim: I am so ungrateful

Turkey 1: Yes, yes you are, now go and make things right with God

Pilgim: I will little fat turkey. (looking to the sky) I will.

(Pilgrim runs jubilantly towards the exit)

(short pause, Turkey 1 goes over to pick up axe)

Turkey 1: (turns around and faces the turkeys) Works every time! (Turkeys separate to reveal a stack of axes.Turkey 1 goes over and places the extra axe on the stack)

Turkeys: (start making their turkey noises again)

The Case for the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel - Book Review

I have now read all of Lee Strobel's "case" books. Like the others, "The Case for the Real Jesus" is set up as a dialogue between the interviewer (Strobel) and the interviewee.

This one was by far a lot easier to read than "The Case for a Creator" or "The Case for Christ". "The Case for Creator" was a really tough book to read because of the amount of scientific and biological information. Strobel interviews super intelligent men that are bordering geniuses in their fields and some of the jargon is hard to grasp. So it was a breath of fresh air that "The Case for the Real Jesus" wasn't so tough to read.

This book combats a lot of new questions that have lately arisen within the past couple of years regarding Jesus. It also helps in rebutting against post-modernist and universalists.






Here is a list of the 6 challenges Lee Strobel stresses in his book:
 1. "Scholars are uncovering a radically different Jesus in ancient documents as credible as the four Gospels"
2. "The Bible's Portrait of Jesus Can't Be Trusted Because the Church Tampered with the Text"
3. Part 1: "New Explanations Have Refuted Jesus' Resurrection"
    Part 2: "The Cross Examination"
4. "Christianity's Beliefs about Jesus Were Copied from Pagan Religions"
5. "Jesus Was an Imposter Who Failed to Fulfill the Messianic Prophecies"
6. "People Should Be Free to Pick and Choose What to Believe about Jesus"

If you have asked your self any questions regarding the statements listed above, then this book is going to help tremendously.

I do recommend that this book be read by Christians that are firmly founded in their faith and love the Bible. I will be blunt regarding the 2nd challenge about the Church tampering with the text. Reading this chapter, I found out that Mark 16:9-20 was most likely added on later and not by Mark. Although, these particular verses are most likely true, they were still not written by the original author. The person who added these verses most likely thought that Mark finished his Gospel to abruptly and decided to elaborate on what else had taken place after the women saw Jesus. Granted, there is a footnote in everyone's Bible pointing out this truth, but it never registered completely as it did when I read "The Case for the Real Jesus". I also found out John 7:53 - 8:11 was also most likely added on later and not added by John. The story probably happened, but by the time it was written down it was probably already aggrandized, as most history is if written to many years after the actual event happened.

This information does not in any way prove that the Bible is fallible. On the contrary, the verses cited that are in question, do not change any doctrine or theological core. The essence of the Bible is never lost or compromised, it just adds to our knowledge of all our Bible has gone through, and how it is still an alive and authoritarian teacher.

Warnings: It can shake your faith briefly. But we must remember that all Biblical knowledge brings glory to the Father.
Pages: 277
Rating: 7.5 out of 10 stars - The book can get a little boring towards the end. The dialogue and the physical details can also get a bit frustrating.

If you would like to order this book, click here.

The Rise of Mommy Porn

Few passages in the Bible are as graphic and sexually explicit as Ezekiel chapter 23. This chapter is full of the details of the depravity of two women - sisters, which represent the nations of Samaria and Jerusalem. I want to comment on this chapter because there is much we can learn from it given the current female movement of "mommy porn".

Chapter 23 of Ezekiel is an allegory of two sisters named Ohola and Oholibah. I found it very interesting that the names of these women derive from the word "tent" or "my tent" and it insinuates a place of worship. Both these women prostitute themselves and revel in their lust. They are used, abused, and defiled and they seem callous to what these men do to them. Ohola is spoken of first. Her children are taken from her, she is then shamed and then killed with a sword. Seeing how her sister is shamed and murdered, you would figure that Oholibah would learn, but on the contrary, she follows in her sister's footsteps and becomes even more depraved than her sister and took her degeneracy even further. Through the middle of the chapter God speaks to her and tells her what the consequences are because of her lewdness. Her children are impacted, her body is impacted, her mind is impacted, and ultimately her relationship with God is impacted. This is a chapter full of disgust, sadness, sorrow and death.


I want to focus on Oholibah now and what happens to her. I want to talk about what she does and how she ends up because I believe this allegory of this idolatrous nation, can help us understand what sexual immorality can lead to.

The story of Oholibah begins in verse 11. She sees her sister murdered and doesn't learn from Ohola's experience. She sees her children taken from Ohola. She sees the men strip her naked and then sees them run her through with a sword. As women, we have also seen it. We have seen the woman who is abused and returns to her abuser. The woman who committed adultery and shattered her family. The woman pursuing love in all the wrong places while neglecting her children. The woman addicted to sex and one-night stands, longing for a true relationship. We have seen it, but what do we do with what we see? Oholibah doesn't learn and maybe even thinks that what happened to her sister, won't happen to her. The problem is that she ends up fornicating with the same men that killed her sister! But look at verses 14 through 16. She sees men portrayed on a wall and lusts after them. Women, she is looking at pornography! She sees that they are handsome and virile and she craves them, she wants them, she yearns for them. Ladies! What are our eyes looking at? With books out like "50 Shades of Grey" and movies like "Magic Mike", the story of Oholibah rings clear. God abhors ANYTHING that causes us to lust, because what is lust but another form of idolatry. So Oholibah sees her pornography and lusts after these men. She goes after them and they in turn release their lusts on her. At first, she seems disgusted in herself. That is what one usually feels at the beginning of any sexual sin. At first it makes us feel dirty, but practice makes perfect and sooner than later, the conviction of the Holy Spirit is gone. Oholibah continues with her mess. She forgets that what she does impacts her children. She even gives up her children to false idols. Her entitlement is more important to her. She feels she deserves to feel free and liberated and it costs her her children. Then after all her fornicating, after all her sin, after she does all her filth, she goes to church - or in this case synagogue. She goes to worship God and doesn't find Him. She turns to booze and soon becomes depressed. What she thought was her liberation, ended up being her enslavement. The Lord let her destroy herself. He gave her what she wanted and released her to her sin. What is so sad about Oholibah is that she was His. She belonged to our Lord and acted like an unwanted orphan.  She is ruined and becomes desolate. She ends up being murdered also. Ladies, this is serious. What we allow ourselves to let in, impacts us.

I know many might think what harm can a movie or a book make. I have heard plenty of times that Satan's greatest weapon is to tell people he isn't real or that sin is no big deal. This is precisely what Satan wants you to think, after all a fictional book is no big deal because it's not real. Well, pornography isn’t real, but it affects our marriages. TV drama is not real, but affects our youth. Violent video games are not real, but it affects our children. Magazine pictures are not real, but they affect our self-esteem.The list goes on and on. What we view, what we see, what we read affects our heart and mind. Jesus mentions it several times when He speaks on the inner self. If you hate in your heart, it is murder. If you lust in your heart, it is adultery. If anything replaces your love for Him, it is idolatry.  If you want something that is not yours, it is coveting. What goes on in our heart and mind is excruciatingly important. So much so that it nailed Jesus to the cross.

Ladies, anyone who reads or views this kind of mess unrepentantly and calls herself a Christian is just like Oholibah. She is prostituting her mind and heart. Remember Oholibah means "my tent". What is our body and mind? It is a dwelling place of the most High.  I Corinthians 6:19 says that we are not our own and our body is His temple. 

"50 Shades of Grey" is a depraved romance novel that uses pain and torture as a means for arousal. Is this the equality that women have fought for? To be used and abused for the arousal of a man? Is this supposed to be romantic? Is this how Jesus loved His bride? Just because a woman wrote this book does not mean it is okay to read. And just like Oholibah, this filth impacts your mind, your children and above all your relationship with God.

Ezekiel 23 ends with this warning: "So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you.You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord. ”

Let us learn from Oholibah and not imitate her and remember that her despair spiraled out of control when she saw the images on the wall; when she had feasted her eyes on those lewd things. Let us make a covenant with our eyes (Job 31:1) and think of pure things (Philippians 4:8). The risks and the consequences are not worth it. 

Brave - Movie Review

Pixar did it again! Another great movie and this time the protagonist is a human and female. Yes, Merida is the defiant daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. With a mop of wild red hair and a burning free spirit to match, Merida sets herself to run her own fate. Angered by her sudden betrothal and parent's search for a suitor, she embarks in making her own destiny. She defies tradition and female protocol by becoming an agile archer and ignoring proper feminine etiquette. But it is this stubborn spree that turns her kingdom upside down.

Full of laughs and Scottish wit this movie is a laugh-out-loud success. The scenery is just beautiful and the animation is fantastic! There are several times when it is a little difficult to understand the characters due to their Scottish brogue, but I think that might be the point. True to their feisty nature, there are several brawls and fights.  The movie also really takes us into their culture, including some cliches and cuisine.

The only thing that a Christian family might have issue with this movie is that there are two scenes where several rear ends are exposed. Because all the men wear kilts, maybe it was bound to happen. So yes, there are several men walking around at night and their butts are in plain sight. The other scene is of the King's red-headed, trouble-making triplet boys as they run around naked in a field, but again, it is only their rear ends that are shown and briefly. Towards the end of the movie the Queen mentions that she is "naked" under a tapestry and the King tells the on-lookers to look away. There is an older very heavy set woman that also has very low cleavage. It is not sexual in any way, she is just a rotund gal. There is a key that she hides in her bosom that the triplet boys end up getting from her and a brief close up shot of one of them diving in to get the key is shown. Also, for smaller children there is a very ugly black bear that is shown several times and one scene that includes a brutal bear fight that might be a bit frightening. There is no gore or blood though, but the bear does get hit several times with multiple arrows. True to most fairy tales, there is magic, spell casting and a witch, but nothing scary.

Overall the movie was fantastic! My daughter (4) never took her eyes of the screen. The movie has a great moral ending that we can all learn from.

Some subjects you can talk about with your children: Pride, Female and Male roles, Forgiveness, What haggis is made up of, Scottish heritage, Stubbornness, What is marriage

Rating: 8 stars out of 10
Length: 100 minutes
Rated: PG for for some scary action and rude humor

Book Review - The Murder of Jesus

I am always amazed at the impact the Cross still has on me. To the Christian, the Gospel should never cease to astonish us. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners and that just shakes me to the core. The torture and shame that He endured for someone as worthless as me momentarily brings me to a sense of unworthiness (and rightly so); but then elates me and makes me forever thankful for His salvation. It brings the quote: "God doesn't love me because I am special. I am special because God loves me" to a heightened understanding.

The Murder of Jesus magnifies the last hours of Jesus' life and provides a lot of information of all the surrounding factors that lead to the death of our Savior. The whole book is an exegesis of arguably the most crucial point in Christian history. John MacArthur uses all four Gospels wonderfully as he unravels the story of, as MacArthur states, "the worst crime ever committed". He also provides information about the world of the Pharisees and other religious leaders. He goes into the Greek of many important words several times throughout the book in order for us to get a better grasp of what the author was trying to emphasize. Several times he does give just his personal opinion on things, but he is always clear to say that it is just that, an educated opinion.

Jesus says in John 10:17-18: "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life —only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” This statement resounds throughout the book. The evil that was done to Jesus confounds us, but it is still easy to forget that Jesus was in control of what was done to Him. Not for one second, did He lose control of the situation.  He allowed this to happen. Jesus even told Pilate in John 19:11 who truly was in control! 


This book was a great read and I recommend it to anyone that is wanting to learn more about the surrounding factors of the trial and execution of Jesus. Because of it, I love my Savior even more for what He did for me and it opened my eyes even more to the sovereignty of God. 

Warnings: The book is not nearly as violent as it could have been. So this book is appropriate for younger readers.
Pages: 243
Rating: 8 stars out of 10
Click here to order the book through Amazon


John MacArthur included a webpage for this book. Click here to view more commentary and information about the murder of Jesus.

The Children of Henry VIII - Book Review

I just can't get enough of this part of history! These stories are better than any soap opera just because they were true! This book covers the stories of Henry VIII's 3 children: Mary, Elizabeth and Edward; and his great-niece Jane Grey - she is also known as the "9 days queen". 
The unbelievable drama of Henry VIII did not end with his death and this book tells of the incredible events that shaped religious methodology and eventually affected every American Christian. If you own a Bible written in English, you can thank this era and the many who died to give the people the Word of God. After the death of Henry VIII, beliefs on polar opposite sides battled for the "true" religion to reign in England. Power swayed between the Church of England and Catholicism and back again. All this lead to was torture, betrayal, intrigue and martyrdom and both sides suffered. You feel sorry for every single one of Henry VIII's children as they all struggle to survive as rulers - most don't.

If you are a lover of Tudor history this is a great read. Alison Weir is an excellent writer and doesn't leave you too long bored with tons of trivial information.

One thing that I didn't like too much was that it didn't speak any on Elizabeth's reign. The book ends with Elizabeth accepting the honor of becoming Queen of England. 

You can order the book here.

I give this book 7 out of 10 stars
It is 366 pages.

God - The Evidence Book Review

The back of this book says: Is Science Uncovering the Face of God?

I picked up this book because it sounded interesting. As a Christian, my faith is not based on science, at all. That is why it is faith. God does not need to prove Himself to me, it is innate in all of us to "know" that there is a God up there. Some just refuse to believe, and point to science as a reason for their unbelief. On the contrary, science is pointing more and more to a Designer and many scientists - because of their refusal to be lowered from their god-status - are forced to take different approaches or make things up to twist their results to their beliefs. Science to me, just brings a new dimension to my faith. I adds to my faith. It compliments it. Faith comes from hearing, not from a science book. Now can revelations in new scientific discoveries open the eyes of a non-believer, of course, but true faith is not based on science, but on who the Holy Spirit points you to - Jesus.

Saying that, this book should be read by the mature Christian. Every chapter contains information to compliment a Believer's faith. Some of the stuff in it is great! It basically proves God exists. The only problem I had with the book is that the author quotes Gandhi quiet a bit towards the last chapter, and the last chapter leaves room for a different way to get to Heaven. So please beware, Christian reader of the last chapter in the book which speaks exponentially on near-death-experiences.

Other than that, the book was great and really got me excited about the new discoveries that are pointing towards God. Other books I would recommend if this topic interests you is Lee Strobel's "Case For" books. You can start your search for these books here.

If you would like to purchase God - The Evidence click here.

I give this book 7 out of 10 stars
It is 169 pages long