Why Bad Things Happen to Good People? (Pudding Parfait/Sunday)

Why do bad things happen to good people? In the story of Joseph in Genesis 37, 39-50, 50:19-20, Joseph may have been a little proud, but he certainly didn't do anything to deserve to be thrown in a well, sold into slavery or put in jail. BUT in the end, thanks to all those unfortunate events, Joseph was in the right place at the right time to help save the people from a famine and to help his family. How does this relate to us today? Here is a little experiment to demonstrate.

Supplies: instant chocolate pudding mix, cold milk, mixing bowl, spoon, tall glass vase or dessert glass, whipped cream, sprinkles, cherries and other things to make a fun dessert

Presentation

1. Each and every one of us is like Joseph. Every one of us is like this chocolate pudding powder. By ourselves, we are good people (taste pudding powder). Not bad but God has a greater plan for you, a greater plan for this pudding.
2. To make you better and ready to fulfill God’s plan, the Bible says in John 16:33 “We will have troubles.” There will be times when you feel like you are drowning (pour the milk). Sometimes you may feel like you are drowning in homework and chores.
3. To make you better, you may not understand why you are getting beaten up (start whipping the milk and pudding). Why are your friends not your friends anymore? Why is the school bully picking on you? Once you have survived school, you look pretty good and you think, “o.k., now I can fulfill God’s plan for me. I have persevered.”
4. But wait, your parents tell you are moving. Moving away from your friends, your school and everything you love (use spoon to slap some pudding into the tall clear glass).
5. You survived the move and start making new friends (add some whipped cream) but then your parents tell you have to join a sports team that has games on Saturdays and you are no longer going to be able to watch Saturday morning cartoons (slap some more chocolate on top of the whipped cream)
6. You survived sports and decided you liked it (add some whipped cream) but then the season is over (if you have more chocolate, add it. Continue to alternate pudding and whipped cream until done.) Life goes on pretty good and you get accustomed to times with sports and no cartoons and times with cartoons and no sports.
7. You think things are pretty good but then your parents tell you that times are tough and they can no longer afford to pay for sports and worse yet, they are turning off the cable so no more Cartoon Network, no more Disney Channel. You feel like you are being crushed (smash some graham crackers and pour on top)
8. Well, time goes by and you think you are doing pretty good. You have friends, you are doing well in school. You have collected quarters representing every State and are expanding your coin collection (add whipped cream)
9. Then a hurricane comes. (start pelting with sprinkles) It rains. The wind is fierce.
   Things get worse. (starting adding cherries) You feel like someone punched you in the stomach when you realized the water from the hurricane ruined your clothes, ruined your toys, ruined your video games and then the worst of all, in all the confusion of trying to clean up, you lost your coin collection.
10. You survive. Your parents rebuild. You rebuild and once again you have a nice home and new toys and your friends are so nice that they all collect some coins and give them to you to replace your lost coins. (finish decorating the dessert)
11. You are a better person for all your trouble. Now you are ready to be a light for God. When a new kid starts in school, you know just how they feel and are a friend to them. One of your friends no longer gets Cartoon Network and you know just what to do to have fun without watching t.v. The next hurricane you know just what to do to help others rebuild and feel better. You are an example of God’s love.
12. John 16:33 says you will have troubles but these troubles only make you stronger, make you smarter, makes you better. Just like this dessert. The powder was good but it sure is better with milk. Pudding was good but it sure is better with whipped cream. The pudding and whipped cream are good but they sure are better with toppings. Trouble will come your way but you will survive and you will be a better person for it.

Mismanage a Meanie (Fizzing Liquid)

Everybody has been challenged by a "Meanie" at some time in their life. How should we respond to a Meanie? Should we be mean right back at them or should we turn the other cheek and be nice to that Meanie? Here is a little experiment to demonstrate what happens when you throw mean words or when you throw nice words.

Supplies: 1 tablespoon of citric acid, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, a small/snack size baggie, granulated white sugar, 1 packet of kool-aide, a mixing spoon, ¼ cup measuring cup, a bottle with 1 quart of water, 2 large clear pitchers/jar/vases, two jars with lids (lids good for transport), one sticker with a smiley face, one sticker with a mean face, one 1 inch deep pie pan (disposable is fine), Towels (back-up for clean-up)

BEFORE CLASS:

1. In both jars put in an equal amount of sugar. On one jar place the sticker of a happy face. On the other jar place the sticker of the mean face.
2. In a small/snack baggie put 1 tablespoon of citric acid and 1 tablespoon baking soda. Seal and shake well until thoroughly mixed.
3. Pour at least half, if not all, the citric acid mixture on top of the sugar with the meanie face. Do not mix. Amount depends on how much water you are using and how big your containers are.

Presentation:

1. (Pull out pan and place two clear Vases in it) So today you are having a good day. (pour half the water in one vase and half in the other vase). The sun is shining and you think you can do just about anything. You are super.
2. But then comes along a Meanie. (open the kool-aid mix. Pour half in one vase and half in the other while talking.) A meanie cuts in front of you in line, a meanie pushes you off the swings at recess, a meanie keeps kicking your seat on the bus….
3. What are you going to do? You have two choices. (Pick up jar with smiley face) You can be kind to the Meanie and forgive them, try to be their friend or just walk away. (Pick up the jar with the meanie face) You could be mean back and push them, call them names, etc. But what happens when you are nice? What happens when you are mean?
4. (Open the jar with the smiley face and pour into the ¼ measuring cup. Pour into one vase and stir.) If you try to be nice to the meanie, if you try to be their friend, find a game you can play together, ask them to sit with you at lunch, give them a special pencil, you might just create a new friend. (take a sip of the kool-aid) Good stuff.
5. (Open the jar with the meanie face and pour into the ¼ measuring cup. Be sure to get the citric acid mixture (maybe use a spoon). Pour into the other vase and stir. The mixture should start to fizz and fizz over the top of the vase, spilling into the pan.) BUT if you are mean back, if you push them, call them names, tell others how mean he/she is, someone who could have become your friend is going to grow more angry and more mean and you may never be friends. (DO NOT DRINK!)
6. There is a saying, “You catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.” Honey is sweet. Vinegar is not. People/bees are attracted to sweet, not sour.

Bible Story, Genesis 26:12-22

Isaac had planted crops in Gerar where Abimelech was King of the Philistines. Isaac was very successful with many crops and many herds and this angered Abimelech. He decided to have his men fill up Isaac's water wells with dirt and Abimelech told Isaac to move. Three times Isaac dug wells and was told to move. Isaac did not react with angry or mean words. He just moved to another spot. God blessed Isaac for his good choices.

Resources
Adapted Experiment by Danika LaBrant. Original experiment called “Foaming Sugar” from the “Make Your Own Disgusting Gags and Pranks” kit from the Scientific Explorer Line, Educational Make-It-Yourself Kit by Elmer’s Products, Inc. Company ©2007 Seattle, WA (Item No. A220)

NOTE Regarding Citrict Acid
Citric Acid came in a kit from the toy store called “Make Your Own Disgusting Gags and Pranks”, to buy Citric Acid by itself is much harder. Citric Acid is said to be a natural food preservative and is used in making soda drinks, cheese and candy. A search on the web found a couple of spots; suggestions included a wholesale foods supply, wholesale candy supply, the local grocery co-op, a restaurant or caterer, a health/natural foods store, or ask for a “reagent citric acid” from a science supply store. Another use is in making bath fizzies and bath bombs. Online, I found it at the San Francisco Bath Salt Company website: http://www.sfbsc.com/ and at Soap Suppliers: http://www.soapsuppliers.com/. Their description of citric acid is, “Citric Acid is a white, odorless, fine granular crystalline powder. Aside from using it in many foods, soft drinks, and seltzers it is commonly used in making bath fizzies and bath bombs.”

What is in your heart? (Balloon in a Bottle)

Like boiling lava in a volcano, what goes in your heart will come out if put under enough pressure. What is in your heart? What is going to spew out of you when the pressure is on? Here is a little experiment to help demonstrate.

Supplies: 2 empty/clean 2 liter bottles with a tiny hole in the bottom (make hole bigger until you can feel air coming out when you blow in the top), 2 water balloons (preferably different colors), approx. 1 tablespoon of confetti, approx 1 tablespoon of runny green slime and a small funnel.

BEFORE CLASS
Clean out two, 2-liter soda bottles. In the very bottom, puncture a small hole. You will need to cover this hole with one of your fingers, so make sure you cut it in an accessible and comfortable spot. Place a balloon with the mouth stretched over the opening of the bottle and the mass of the balloon hanging inside the bottle. Using a small funnel, pour confetti into one balloon. Using the small funnel, pour the green slime inside the other balloon.

TIP
Use water balloons. They are smaller and work really well when you push the inside, outside.
Blow up the balloon a couple of times to stretch it out before putting it in the bottle. This will really make it easier when it is time to blow the balloon up in the bottle.

Presentation
Like boiling lava in a volcano, what goes in your heart will come out if put under enough pressure. What is in your heart? What is going to spew out of you when the pressure is on?

So here I have a bottle with a balloon in it. (pick up bottle with the confetti). We are using our imaginations here. This bottle represents you and the balloon is your heart. What is inside your heart? If you are reading the Bible (take finger off hole in the bottom, careful not to inhale confetti, and blow up the balloon. Put finger over hole to keep balloon filled), if you are praying, if you are studying your AWANAs, then your heart is probably filled with some pretty good stuff. Let’s see. (take your finger off the hole. The bottle will reshape and the balloon will empty of air.) We are not done yet. A time will come when your heart controls your actions. What will your actions be? (cover the hole of the bottle and squeeze the bottle. The balloon will turn inside out and shoot the confetti.) Good thing you had Jesus in your heart!

What if you are filling your heart with scarey movies and violent video games and mean talk about other people. (pick up bottle with slime in it. Blow up the balloon. Careful not to inhale. Place finger over the hole to keep the balloon inflated.) If you don’t take care of your heart and fill it with good things, bad things will get into your heart. If you don’t control sin, sin is crouching at your door, ready to control you (Genesis 4:7). (move your finger and let the air out of the balloon then put your finger over the hole, squeeze the bottle until the balloon flips inside out and watch the slime run down the bottle). EEWWWWWW

Bible Story, Genesis 4:1-12
Cain and Abel are a good example of what is inside comes out. Abel's heart was filled with love and thanksgiving. When the pressure of picking the right sacrifice for God was upon him, he chose to give his very best. Cain's heart was not filled with love or thanksgiving and he did not give his best. God scolded him. Cain then filled his heart with anger and jealousy. When pressure was placed on Cain, he killed his brother. God didn't just scold Cain this time. This time God punished Cain saying never would the ground bare him fruit again and that he would forever be a restless wanderer.

Resources
- “Balloon in a Bottle” Steve Spangler Science, on-line, http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/content/experiment/00000166 , Sept. 2009

Where is God when I am scared? (Ball Drop)

Everybody gets scared some time. Some are afraid of the dark, some are afraid of the bills, some are afraid of spiders, everybody has a time in their life when they wonder, "I am scared and alone. Where is GOD?" God is always with you. Throughout the Bible there is story after story giving examples of how God was there protecting and making everything work for good such as Joseph, Moses, Esther, and many more. The following is a fun object lesson to demonstrate how God is always there.

Things you will need: an egg or small ball (needs to fit in a cup), tube from a toilet tissue roll, tin/aluminum pie plate, and clear cup of water (about 1/2 to 3/4 full).

PRESENTATION
Sometimes we feel all alone when we are scared, but we are never alone even when we are scared. Sometimes we climb up to the top of the slide and realize how high we are and we are scared. (stack ball, tube, plate and glass of water) Who is always with us? God. (hit the plate, see below for better instructions) Sometimes Mommy asks us to stand up in front of Grandma and friends and family and sing or dance. (stack ball, tube, plate and glass of water) Who is always with us? God. (hit the plate) Sometimes when we are laying in our beds at night. We hear noises. (stack ball, tube, plate and glass of water) Who is always with us? God. (hit the plate)

When we are scared, God is with us. When we feel all alone, God is with us. (stack ball, tube, plate and glass of water) Even when bad things happen, God is with us. When we feel like we are falling, God is with us. God takes care of us. (Hit plate, see better description below). God catches us.

TIPS ON HITTING THE PLATE
With your writing hand, smack the edge of the dinner plate horizontally. Make sure you follow-through. (Tennis, anyone?) It’s important that you use a pretty solid hit so plan on chasing the plate and tube.

Resource
Egg Drop Science Experiment, Steve Spangler, on-line, http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000084 , Sept. 2009

Does God's Word Change? (Red Cabbage Chemistry)

A question children have is why are there so many different types of Bibles? The AWANA's Leader Guide, "What" attempts to answer this question. Below is an object lesson with talking points that mixes ideas found in the AWANA book, the Steve Spangler Science website and my original thoughts. Kitchen Science is one of my favorite ways to bring the Bible to life. Enjoy.

BEFORE CLASS
Make Your Own Cabbage Juice. NOTE: Red Cabbage has a very strong and distasteful odor. Things you will need: Red cabbage, a Blender, a Strainer, Water and a pitcher
1. Peel off six big cabbage leaves and put them in a blender filled half full with water. Liquefy it!
2. Pour the purplish cabbage liquid through a strainer to filter out all of the big chunks of cabbage. Doesn't cabbage juice smell great?
3. Save the liquid in a jar with a lid for the experiments to follow.
4. Optional: Label pitcher "The BIBLE" or "God's Word"

You will also need to make a solution of Bleach and Water. Things you will need: Oxy Clean (bleach), Water and a pitcher.
1. Fill pitcher with water and add at least two scoops of bleach
2. Stir until bleach is dissolved
3. let sit still to help settle the mixture, eliminate bubbles and clear the water some.
4. Optional: Label pitcher "GOD" or "Jesus"

IN CLASS...
Things you will need Red Cabbage Juice (instructions above), Bleach Solution, four (4) clear drinking glasses, a table cloth, apron, paper towels (for spills) and Test chemicals: Vinegar, Baking Powder, Syrup, Laundry Detergent.


STAGE
Before students arrive, set-up a row with Cabbage Juice Pitcher first, four clear cups and the Bleach Pitcher last. Cover the bottom of each empty, clear glass with one of the test chemicals, but keep the levels low so students cannot tell there is something in the glass. One glass with vinegar, one glass with baking powder, etc. You will need a white sheet, table cloth or paper underneath the glasses to hide the testing chemicals and to protect the table from spills.


PRESENTATION
Does God's word change? No. There are a lot of different types of Bibles just like there are a lot of different type of people. (Have about four (4) students stand up). What's different? Brown Hair, Blue eyes, short, etc. What's the same? legs, arms, head. On the inside are they same? Bones, stomach, heart, etc. Even though they are a different, they are all human beings. They are all the same.

Now, let's look at what I have here on the table. (point to Cabbage Juice) All these glasses appear to be the same. Just like our kids all had arms and legs and heads, these jars look the same but something is different. The juice in this pitcher is all the same kind of juice. Just like the Bible, God's word, the juice never changes. But these glasses, these people are each unique individuals. When they heard God’s word, do they react the same? (pour some cabbage juice into one of the glasses. Pour only about a 1/4 of a cup. The juice should change color) This person reacted happy, turned yellow (vinegar). How about this one? (pour some juice into the glass. The juice should change into another color). This person is ready to grow. They turned green (laundry detergent). This person seems to be a little challenged, maybe a little sad. They turned blue (baking powder). This person seems richer, happier, royal. They turned purple (syrup).

I put the same thing in (God’s Word), but I got a different result. God’s word never changes, but each of us is a little different. When we hear God’s word or read God’s word, we may react differently. Why? Because of how old we are, if we had a good day on the playground, if we got a bad grade at school. There are a lot of things that affect what we hear and how we react to it, BUT God’s word never changes. So there are several versions of the Bible to help all people, no matter how different they are understand God’s word.

Regardless of which version of the Bible you read, God’s word says to receive salvation, to be forgiven, to go to heaven, you have to BELIEVE in Jesus Christ. So if we may react differently, reading God’s word. When we receive God’s word, when we put it in our hearts and believe God’s word, are we different? (pour bleach mixture into each glass. Pour until you reach the top of the glass. Each glass should turn a shade of yellow.) Nope. No matter how different we are, when Christ comes into our lives, we are the same. We all shine, that yellow sunshine, with Jesus Christ in our hearts.

Resources
- "WHAT is your Biggest Question About God and the Bible?" AWANAs Clubs International, Streamwood, IL 2006.
- Red Cabbage Chemistry was taken from “Chemistry Magic” Steve Spangler Science, http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/content/experiment/00000124 , Sept. 2009