CostumeVersettes

E1. Alien
Eph 6:12 [SEE FINISHED PAGE]
[ Satan is at war with us. He does not want people to believe God's word. Satan is "the father of lies" (John 8:44). The Bible tells us that during later times there will be deceiving spirits (lying and/or misleading demons; Satan’s evil helpers) and false miracles. Spirits are polymorphs (something that can take on any shape) and could easily appear to look like aliens. Therefore, we should not be surprised that Satan and his demons have led some people to believe that there are aliens in the universe.
Furthermore, some people have even been tricked into believing that God didn’t create mankind, but that mankind was "planted" on earth thousands of years ago by aliens. Stories have been circling that these people may someday even try to explain the Rapture (the future time when millions of true Christians will instantly be taken to heaven) as being a result of aliens coming to "harvest" their crop of humans! Pretty silly, huh?
While it is possible that there is natural life on other planets, it is not logical to believe that there is intelligent natural life on other planets. That is, we would not expect any non-supernatural beings on other planets that are capable of making choices between doing what is right and what is wrong/sinful. Why?
With just a few simple Bible verses, you can figure it out for yourself. God made the earth to be lived on (Is 45:18) and created mankind to live on it (Ps 115:16). "God so loved the world" (not the worlds) that he sent His only Son to die for us and cleanse us of our sins so that we would be made worthy to live with the Lord in heaven (John 3:16). Jesus will not suffer and die over and over again on different planets for the sins of different alien civilizations (Heb 9:25-26, Rom 6:9). Jesus died as a one-time sacrifice for us--His beloved earthly believers (1 Pet 3:18-20).1 ]
1 Tim 4:1
2 Thes 2:9-10
Ps 81:9

1 Henry M. Morris and Martin E. Clark, The Bible Has The Answer (El Cajon, CA, Creation-Life Publishers, Inc., 1992) 76-78.

E2. Bad Guys [4 convicts in orange prison garb, make 2 look like obviously bad guys, 2 look like clean-cut, friendly good guys]
Mal 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words . . . By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" . . .
[ Some people say that everybody is basically good. However, that is not logical. Why? There are many, many quite obviously bad people in the world: murderers and other violent people, drug pushers, witches, thieves, idolaters and too many others to even mention (Rom 1:29-31).
Moreover, many of these wicked people are unrepentant. That means that they are neither sorry for their sins, nor are they willing to stop sinning. Sadly, many have no interest in changing their ways, even though God pleads with them to do so (Ezek 18:30-32, 33:14-16). These wicked people cannot live in God’s presence and will not inherit heaven (see Gal 5:19-21, 1 Cor 6:9-10).*
As we get closer to the time of the Lord’s return, there will be more and more of these bad people running around loose (2 Tim 3:1-5, Mat 24:12-13). Further, they will continue to get more and more evil (2 Tim 3:13).
We need to always be on our guard against these sinful people. One of the many important things we should remember to help protect ourselves is this: a lot of bad people look and act very nice and very normal. Some of these deceivers even claim to be or pretend to be Christians (Titus 1:16)! So, no matter what, no matter how nice somebody looks or seems, never trust strangers unless your parents know them and say they are okay. In fact, even when you have been introduced to someone your own age, go slowly--take your time getting to know them. Learn to choose new friends based on their actions, not just their words (1 John 2:4-6). Don’t buy the lie that all people are basically good!
[*Note: On the other hand, many people in prison have found the Lord with the help of Christian ministries for prisoners. People who sincerely repent and accept Christ as their Savior have the promise of God’s pardon (Is 55:7).]]
Ps 5:4-5
1 John 3:8

E3. Blockhead Boys [block heads and maybe block bodies, too; show one getting ready to push a child backwards over the other blockhead who is on all fours behind child]
Rom 14:13 . . . make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
[ A blockhead is a person who is not very smart. People who are a bad influence on others are blockheads! People young and old can have a big effect on how others think, act and feel. That is one reason why it is so important to try to be a good influence on others (1 Cor 8:9), not a bad one.
Instead of using their brains to accomplish good, blockheads use their brains to do evil. They are like stumbling blocks to others. In other words, their worldly actions often encourage people to "stumble" or do something wrong.
You can be better than that! Try to be a "building block" rather than a stumbling block. The Bible says "We all stumble in many ways . . . " (James 3:2). So use your head to think of smart things that help others avoid stumbling, not dumb things that can actually cause people to stumble.
And what if someone is trying to get you to stumble? Pray to God for strength and rely on the good guidance for living that God gives us in the Bible. If we are willing, God will help us climb over the stumbling blocks people put in our paths (Ps 116:8).]
Ps 56:13
Ps 119:165

E4. Book [average looking book, title The Book of Guess Who or maybe just a question mark for the title]
John 7:24 "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
[ "You can’t judge a book by it’s cover." Heard that one before? What that means is, you can’t always tell if a book is any good just by looking at the cover. Often you can tell that a book is bad, but you can’t always tell if it’s good.
The same goes for people. You may instantly recognize some people are bad and that you need to avoid them. Others that look or sound okay on the surface, may actually be very sinful and dangerous. as many are especially good at hiding their true nature. They may make a point of dressing like nice people, but try to hide their involvement in some major sin or sins. Then there are those who look pretty average and you don’t have a clue what they are like.
On a more public scale, people may like a certain beautiful rock star, but not stop to think that what she is like on the inside can negatively influence others. For instance, she may use her status to try to convince others that "everybody" does some wrong thing, when in actuality most people don’t. Or a famous, good-looking actor may insist that some false religion is wonderful. Don’t be swayed by their winning smiles--God hates sin and He hates false religions!
On the other hand, people that may not look very interesting on the surface may actually be quite fun or even fascinating. You have to look beyond words and appearances. Actions speak louder than both, so you can learn more about what people are like "inside" by watching what they do. For example, is there a person at your school whose family doesn’t have enough money for nice clothes? Don’t judge their worth just by their clothes! Is he or she a Christian? Are they friendly? Do they do good things, not bad things? In other words, are they producing "good fruits," not "bad fruits" (Luke 6:44-45)? That person may just turn out to be the wisest, funniest, most caring, best companion you ever had!
So, don’t judge by "mere appearances." Good, bad or in between, looks can be deceiving! Consider the other facts and "make a right judgment."]
[Note: Speaking of books, do you like to read? Christian Book Distributors (www.christianbook.com) sells books at discount prices. They have a huge inventory of books, DVDs, music CDs and gifts for all ages. Many of the reference books used here are available through their website as well. If you have not yet discovered the joy of reading Christian books, you are really missing out!]
Gal 2:6
Ps 119:63

E5. Bully [add large boomerangs labeled "BAD DEEDS"-- coming in behind him not yet seen by him, or better yet, several with individual mean things like: pushing, name-calling, stealing, hitting, vandalism, manipulation, etc.]
Obad 1:15 . . . "As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head."
[ Bullies are people who are mean to others. Typically they are mean to people smaller or weaker than themselves (Ps 10:2). What they don’t realize is, sooner or later, they will be paid back for their meanness and arrogance (self-importance). In other words, bad deeds boomerang. Maybe someone bigger than they are will be mean to them. Or maybe they will get caught doing bad things and get in trouble. Maybe they will become unpopular. Whatever. Somehow, somewhere, sometime, something bad will happen that will pay them back. And the payback is often worse than what they did in the first place!
Keep in mind, too, that not all bullies hit. Some bullies wound others with such things as mean words, blackmailing, stealing, smooth talking manipulation (using others for personal gain, unfair control of others, etc.) or some other kind of harmful action.
Don’t be a bully. If you ever find yourself tempted to be one, get help. Often bullies hurt or insult other people because they don’t like themselves and they think hurting others might make them feel superior. If you talk to your parents, a counselor or your pastor, they may be able to help you understand and deal with any bad feelings you might be bothering you. Do your best to treat other people kindly. "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Gal 5:13-14).
[Note: If someone is bullying you or hurting you in any way, tell your parents, your teacher, a minister or someone else who can help. That way they can stop the bully from hurting you. Remember too, that since bullies typically don’t confine themselves to hurting one person, bringing the bullying to the attention of a helpful adult may also prevent the bully from hurting someone else.]]
Gal 6:7-8
Luke 6:25
Col 3:25

E6. Chatterbox [very large, box-shaped set of upper an lower teeth covering entire head]
2 Tim 2:16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
[ Chatter is quick, foolish talk and chatterbox is a name for someone who talks a lot. Talking is good (and fun!) when a person’s speech is wholesome, pleasant and considerate of others. But there are those whose talking is anything but godly. Those are the ones to stay away from.
We should stay away from those who chatter about false religions or other false beliefs that try to steal us away from Jesus. We should avoid people who use the Lord’s name in a careless or disrespectful way (Ex 20:7, Rom 14:16). We should steer clear of people who tell dirty jokes or use swear words. We should keep away from people who gossip (say bad things about others). Gossips tell people’s secrets and can even cause friends to get angry with each other (Prov 11:13, 16:28). Finally, we should stay away from people who lie, say mean things, boast or gloat about others’ misfortune (James 4:16, Prov 17:5). We don’t want to pick up any of those bad habits!]
1 Tim 6:20-21
Prov 10:8

E7. Cheerleader [use light blue and white for school colors: letters on shirt, diagonally stacked: IHS, draw spirit banners in background (one "Go-o-o-o-o Team!" one "You Can Do It, You Can Do It, You Can Do It, You Can!"); blue and white pom-poms]
Prov 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
[ Even without a cheerleader’s uniform or pom-poms you can still be a kind of cheerleader. You can cheer others up with kind or encouraging words! You can compliment others and point out good things about them. You can teach others about the Lord and encourage them to grow in a wholesome direction (Heb 10:24). You can encourage people to accomplish their godly goals (1 Thes 5:14). You can tell those who are discouraged that the Lord can give them strength (Ps 29:11, Is 40:29). If someone has failed, you can urge them to try again (Job 4:4). You can comfort your friends when they are sad, especially if you’ve been through something similar. You can rejoice with them when they are happy (Rom 12:15). You can learn from Jesus’ example by following "I.n H.is S.teps" and inspiring others to do the same (John 13:15, 1 John 2:6).
Pray and ask the Lord to give you wisdom, the right ideas of things to do and the right words to help others (Is 50:4). No matter who or where you are, you can be a cheerleader, too--"you can do it, you can do it, you can do it, you can"!
[Note: Did you notice the letters "IHS" on the cheerleader’s uniform? It is a shortened representation of Jesus' name in Greek.1 You might also let it remind you of In His Steps, the wonderful book by Charles Sheldon that the "What Would Jesus Do?" (WWJD) theme is based on. The book tells how numerous people were blessed by living their daily lives making choices based on how they thought Jesus might do something.2]]
1 Thes 5:11
2 Cor 1:3-4

1 John C. McCollister, The Christian Book of Why, (Middle Village, NY: Jonathan David Publishers, Inc., 1983) 262.
2 Charles Sheldon, In His Steps (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing, Inc., 2002)

E8. Devil [typical red devil costume with horns, goatee, mustache, tail, pitchfork]
Prov 14:9 (KJV) Fools make a mock at sin . . .
[ Satan is at war against us. Part of the devil’s battle plan is to get people to believe that he is just a funny little make-believe guy in a red suit, horns and a pitchfork. In reality, Satan is a very real and completely evil supernatural being. He was originally a beautiful angel, but he gave up his wonderful life in heaven because he got prideful and rebelled against God. Satan hates God and people. Satan tries to hurt God and people any way he can (John 10:10). Satan also likes to cause bad things to happen, then convince people that it was God’s fault.
Satan knows that God is very sad when people do wrong, get hurt or don’t choose Jesus and thus end up in hell. Here’s where the "funny" little red suit comes in. You see, if Satan can convince people he’s not real, they probably won’t believe that hell is real either or that unforgiven sinners go there. So, those people won’t feel the need to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And that’s just what Satan wants. Satan will have to spend eternity in hell. He wants to take as many people as he can with him so that they--and God--will suffer, too!
Hell is a dark, lonely, painful, terrifying place with fire, extreme thirst and people in agony. In fact, some tell of frightening near-death-experiences. For instance, some sinners say they have died, briefly gone to hell, been resuscitated by doctors and come back so terrified that they quickly accepted Jesus--they did not ever want to go back again! They speak of being viciously attacked by demons and also hearing people wailing in regret over their sins or pleading with them to warn their relatives not to come there.
So, don’t help Satan make people think he’s fake. Avoid buying devil costumes, products with a devil as part of the brand name, devil cartoons, demonic-looking fantasy heroes, devil toys or anything that has to do with devils (3 John 1:11, 1 Thes 5:22).
And remember, unforgiven sin disqualifies people from heaven and condemns them to hell. Jesus loves us so much that he laid down his life for us on the cross to cleanse us from our sins. It is so easy to accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation, be forgiven of our sins and reserve a spot in heaven! If you or any of your loved ones have not yet accepted Jesus, you can say the prayer below:

Prayer to Accept Jesus
Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins
and that God raised you from the dead. I am sorry for my sins--please forgive me. I accept
you as my Savior and Lord. I ask you now to come into my heart and to help me lead a life
pleasing to you. Thank you. Amen.

[Note: It is important to note that playing with occult games, using Ouija boards, having séances, playing certain fantasy role-playing games or using any occult thing for any purpose is also dangerous for another reason: it can open a person up to demonic attack and demonic possession. Stay far away from anything associated with the devil and the occult!]
Is 5:20
Hos 4:6
1 Cor 10:21

E9. Dominoes [draw domino number perfect 10 (domino as skinny box over body with head and limbs sticking out), leaning against or standing on a rock, have 3-4 low numbers fallen on ground looking dazed]
Is 7:9 . . . "‘If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’"
[ It is often said, "stand for something or you will fall for anything." That saying can remind us of the fragile balance of a domino design. Have you ever put a bunch of dominoes close together and knocked one down to watch it tip over the next one and the next one and so on? When we follow the wrong crowd, believing and doing whatever they believe and do, we are like an unsteady domino. It takes very little effort for one of the crowd who has fallen, to influence us, knock us over and get us into trouble, too (Ex 23:2)! Unfortunately, others often even purposely try to get us into trouble, to hurt us or to bring us down to their (sinful) level (Ps 62:3-4).
Clearly, whatever crowd you choose to hang around with can be a very big influence on your thoughts, actions and reputation, too. Therefore, it’s best to choose godly friends, so you can all stand firm and strong together.
But exactly how can you and your friends stand firm? Let’s use another illustration. If you leaned firmly into a groove in a huge, two-ton rock that just fit your body, could someone--even someone twice as big as you--knock you over? No! However, if a 6-foot-tall football player is not standing firmly, even a 3-foot-tall child could knock them over.*
Obviously, if you want to stand firm, leaning against a rock is very helpful. Well, guess what? The Bible tells us that God is our rock! Therefore, He and His word are our rock-solid foundation to lean on. Among other things, the Bible: (1) helps us learn right from wrong, (2) builds up our faith, (3) shows us what to do in many challenging situations, and (4) helps us learn how to avoid being continually knocked down by the bad influences of the world around us (2 Tim 2:19).
So, don’t be a defenseless domino, with no support. Read your Bible every day. Lean on the rock, build up your faith and stand firm!]
[*Note: Ask Dad or Mom to help you demonstrate this. May sure they know what you want to do first and that it is okay with them. Stand with your back in a corner wall (this represents God, your rock). Have your parent push gently against your shoulders to show they can’t knock you over with the wall behind you. Now have your parent stand in front of a strong, but soft couch so they won’t get hurt as they fall. Have them relax, put their feet together and put their arms at their sides. Stand in front of them and gently push on their tummy. You will see how easy it is to knock them over.]
2 Thes 2:15
Ps 62:2
2 Sam 22:2-3

E10. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [good-guy doctor morphing into evil Mr. Hyde, middle version clearly looking alarmed, Mr. Hyde looking happy to be evil with menacing grin and one eyebrow arched in sinister fashion]
Job 30:26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.
[ Robert Louis Stevenson penned his famous horror story The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1886. It is about a good doctor named Jekyll who was trying to find a chemical solution to do away with evil in mankind. Instead, the formula he invented turned him into Mr. Hyde, an evil alter-ego of himself.
Though he knew it was wrong and dangerous, he took the drug repeatedly, giving in to many temptations and cruelties while under the influence of the drug. He even committed murder. Over time, Hyde grew in strength. Jekyll lost control and found himself turning into Hyde even when he hadn’t taken the drug. In desperation, he committed suicide.
This chilling story brings to mind the horrible effects of substance abuse. People often get hooked on alcohol or drugs very quickly. Many addicts will do any illegal thing necessary to get money to buy more (continued use makes a body crave more frequent and stronger doses.) It is very common for people to wake up from a substance abuse episode (even if it is their first time) and be appalled at the evil things they have done--things they often regret for the rest of their lives. They may wake up and find that they have done (or let someone do) something bad to their bodies that changed them forever; caused a wreck that maimed themselves or someone else; or even somehow brought about the death of a friend or loved one.
Many lose their will to live. Substance abuse is another one of Satan’s many ways of hurting mankind--he comes only to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10, 1 Pet 5:8). Don’t let him do that to you! Just say "NO"! Instead, drink in the Lord (John 15:10-11)--He is the only real formula for doing away with the evil in mankind!
[Note: Suicide is never an answer. Although we don’t know for sure, many people believe that when people commit suicide they go to hell. Hell is much worse than our worst problems on earth. Choosing suicide is kind of like jumping into the middle of a huge, fiery furnace to get away from the flame of a tiny candle. If you or someone you know has problems they or their family can’t handle, ask a trusted minister for help or contact Teen Challenge at www.teenchallengeusa.com.] ]
Rom 7:19
Titus 2:11-12

E11. Executioner [typical black, medieval, hooded (head fully covered, with eyeholes) with grim reaper type axe]
John 8:44 . . . the devil . . . was a murderer from the beginning . . . there is no truth in him . . . he is a liar and the father of lies.
[ Some people mistakenly get mad at God if someone they love dies. Don’t blame God when a loved one dies. This world does not operate in the way God originally intended. It was because of Satan, the ultimate executioner, that death came into the world. Although Satan wants to "steal and kill and destroy," Jesus came that we might live a full life (John 10:10). God takes no pleasure in death (Ezek 18:32, 33:11). In fact, Jesus cried when one of His friends died (John 11:35). God wants us to live forever with Him in heaven in complete happiness!
However, God will not force us to love Him or to choose life with Him. God designed us all with free will (the ability to make our own decisions). Adam and Eve used their free will, gave in to Satan’s temptation and sinned. That brought suffering and death into the world (Rom 5:12).
Now, consider this. Satan hates mankind, wants to hurt us, kill us and drag us down to hell with him. The Lord loves mankind, wants to help us, save us and bring us to His wonderful heaven with Him.
Rather than taking away life, God gave us Jesus as a bridge back to Him (2 Sam 14:14, John 3:16-17). Believing in Jesus is the only way to conquer death. If a person has truly accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord, he or she is a Christian. Their soul will never die, but will go to heaven as soon as their body dies (2 Cor 5:8). For Christians, death is only a "door" to a better place! Jesus will give us beautiful, new, perfect, touchable bodies (Zec 9:16-17, Job 33:23-26, 1 Cor 6:14, Phlp 3:20-21). We will still be able to walk, talk and eat (Luke 24:36-43).
Accept the Lord! If you do, someday you, too, will move on to eternal life in heaven with all your believing friends and loved ones*!]
[*Note: Many Bible experts believe this generation of true Christians will not die, but will be raptured--taken to heaven with Jesus without ever having to die!] ]
Heb 2:14-15
Mat 10:28

E12. Fisherman [traditional fisherman outfit with flies in hat, pocketed vest, plaid shirt, jeans, wet boots; tackle box, fishing pole and large net; or maybe better yet, do old-fashioned, commercial, lake fisherman in boat with large net full of different kinds of fish; or on a beach with net full of fish putting only the good fish into baskets Mat 13:47-50]
Mark 1:17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
[ Jesus said He would make His followers "fishers of men." Does that sound kind of odd to you? It is easier to understand when you learn about one of the ways Jesus described people getting into heaven. He said that the kingdom of heaven was like fishermen on a lake pulling up a net full of all kinds of fish They kept the good ones and threw the bad ones away.
Jesus said that was how it would be at the end of the age. The angels will be like the fisherman. They will separate the wicked people from the righteous and throw the wicked into the fiery furnace (Mat 13:49-50).
You might also keep in mind that Satan is like a fisherman, too, only an evil one. He baits people, tries to hook them or catch them in his own nets, hurt them and get them to do bad things (Hab 1:15). Satan especially doesn’t want us to accept the forgiveness of sins and salvation that Jesus freely offers us. Satan threw away his chance for eternity in heaven and now he wants to rob as many people as he can of their chance to go there, too. Satan does this by either getting people to deny Jesus or to just not bother to ever choose Jesus. Either decision keeps them out of heaven (John 3:18). You see, Jesus’ free gift of salvation is available to everyone, but they must actually choose that free gift in order to qualify for heaven.
As a follower of Jesus, you can be a good fisherman. You can tell others about how to get to heaven by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. You can help your friends be among the good "fish" that the angels keep and take to heaven!]

Prayer to Accept Jesus
Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins
and that God raised you from the dead. I am sorry for my sins--please forgive me. I accept
you as my Savior and Lord. I ask you now to come into my heart and to help me lead a life
pleasing to you. Thank you. Amen.

Mat 13:47-50

E13. Fortune Teller [gypsy-type with crystal ball on table, palmistry poster, labeled tea canister and cup on shelf, box of tarot cards, Ouija board partially showing]
Deu 18:14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.
[ Divination is either fortune telling or attempting to get knowledge through occult practices and demonic influence. Don’t go to a fortune teller or get involved in astrology and horoscopes. Don’t talk to psychics or palm readers. Don’t use Ouija boards, tarot cards or any other form of fortune telling.
First of all, God forbids our involvement with things like this. Furthermore, these things can also be very dangerous, as occult practices like these can open us up to demonic attack or possession. As if the spiritual reasons weren’t enough, some people make very bad decisions based on these occult practices (Lam 2:14); you cannot expect to get reliably good information out of a bad source (Job 14:4). Finally, when fortune tellers, psychics and such do seem to have some accurate information, the source of their information may be from a demon. Because the main goal of Satan and his demons is always to hurt us, following advice from a demonic source is equal to setting yourself up to ultimately be hurt.
Remember what the old saying, "You can’t walk with God and hold hands with the devil at the same time." God has plans for your future (Jer 29:11). Trust in God and let Him guide you into the way that is best for you!]
[Note: It is important to note that playing with occult games, using Ouija boards, having séances or using any occult thing for any purpose is also dangerous for another reason: it can open a person up to demonic attack and demonic possession. Stay far away from anything associated with the devil and the occult!]
James 3:15
Zec 10:2
Eph 5:11

E14. Fruit Trees
Mat 7:20 [SEE FINISHED PAGE]
[ If a tree has normal apples on it, you know the fruit is good. However, if a tree looks like an apple tree, but is producing black fruit, there is probably something sseriously wrong with the tree, right? In the same way, if a person’s heart is good, they will do good things. That is, they will practice "good fruits," such as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) working in their lives and helping them to "walk in the light" (1 John 1:6-7) and to do good deeds (produce good fruits--Prov 11:30). On the other hand, if a person’s heart is evil, they will do bad things (produce "bad fruits").
Sometimes we can learn a lot about someone from what they say. Sometimes we can’t. So if Person X takes the Lord’s name in vain, swears, tells dirty jokes or gossips, he is obviously not producing good fruits. Stay away from him! Now consider Persons Y and Z, both of whom always speak well in front of you. Person Z is actually very nice and a good Christian. What you don’t know is person Y is mean, dishonest, a skillful liar, hides his normal language from you and is adept at manipulating others with charming words! Yikes!
Can you see that it can be especially hard to judge a person’s true character by words alone? So, a useful tool is to also look beyond what people SAY and watch what they actually DO (what kind of fruits they are producing)! The Bible tells us we can recognize people by these fruits. That’s because actions are the real truth-teller�..they speak louder than words (Titus 1:16, 1 John 3:7-8, 10).
If you ignore someone’s actions and trust them based only on what they say, it can cause you real problems! For instance, they may lie and claim they are a Bible-believing Christian, but later not act like one and treat you badly (1 John 2:4-6). Or they may break an important promise, causing you harm or loss. Or they may claim they only want what’s best for you, but then later try to lead you into sin, to hurt you or to hurt your loved ones in some way.
Want to stay safer, happier and healthier? Think of people like fruit trees. Find others whose good fruits clearly show they, like you, also love and are "rooted" in Jesus (John 14:15, Col 2:6-7). Keep the true apple trees. Avoid the pretenders!]
Luke 6:44-45
Mat 7:18
Eph 5:8-11

E15. Gambler [wild west type costume, with just a few chips, hand of cards, one or more hidden cards sticking out of his sleeve, boot; maybe show pockets inside out, sad look on face]
Prov 28:19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
[ A gambler is someone who spends money hoping, betting or guessing on the chance that something will turn out the way he wants it to. Gambling is very risky. It can be very wasteful, as well as addictive (hard to stop once you start--2 Pet 2:19). People get lured into gambling with the hope of getting rich quick or making even just a small amount of money quickly. Instead, they often lose more than they make and get into financial trouble. Sometimes they try to get out of their financial trouble by gambling some more. Then, typically, they end up even worse off than they were before.
Some people get so addicted to gambling that it can ruin lives (Prov 1:19). For instance, this can happen when their greed and their debts get so high that they can’t provide enough money to take care of their families (Prov 15:27, 1 Tim 5:8).
Some people gamble on horses (which is not good, Ps 20:7, 33:17); with cards (which is risky in the first place, even without considering how many people cheat at cards (2 Tim 3:13, Ps 118:8); on machines (which are designed to make more money for the casino owner, not the gambler); and on all sorts of other unsafe things.
The safest personal policy you can have about gambling is don’t do it! It is much, much safer to take the time to earn your money by working diligently (hard) at a good job (Prov 13:11).]
1 Tim 6:9
Prov 21:5
Heb 13:5

E16. Gang Members [4-5 each with same gang identifier]
Is 3:12 Youths oppress my people . . . your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
[ Are there gangs at your school? Are they trying to get you join? Don’t do it! Avoid violent people! Their behavior can infect other people and influence even good people to do bad things. For instance, they might ask new members to "just" be lookouts while the other members commit a crime. Did you know that even if someone is "only" acting as a lookout for a crime, they are considered guilty of the crime, too? Gangs are typically involved with vandalizing property, selling drugs, stealing, fighting, carrying weapons and even killing people.
Once people join gangs and see how unpleasant it is to be a gang member, it is not uncommon for them to want to get out of the gang--but are afraid to get out of the gang for fear they will be hurt for doing so. Gang members also get hurt when they don’t do what the rest of the gang wants them to do. Gang members often end up addicted to drugs, beat up, scarred for life, with a criminal record, in prison or dead at an early age (Prov 13:20).
People who join gangs often do so because they want to have a feeling of belonging, protection or something to do. There are many ways to get those things without jeopardizing one’s life: sports, clubs, youth groups, Christian fellowship groups for youths, dance, music, outdoor adventures and much more.
God doesn’t want us to be involved with crime, violence or evil of any kind (1 Thes 5:22). Do you want to have a happier, more successful life and future? Don’t ruin your chances for it by spending time with bad people! Be smart--stay away from gangs (Prov 2:12-15, 4:14-17)! Get close to God (Ps 118:8)! Get involved in worthwhile activities that make you a better person, not activities that will hurt you or damage your future.]
1 Cor 15:33
Prov 24:1
Prov 3:31

E17. Ghouls [Frankenstein’s monster, vampire, werewolf, ghost, grim reaper, skeleton, devil]
1 Thes 5:22 (KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil.
[ Whether you are going to a costume party, your church’s alternative Halloween party or just playing make-believe at home, remember.....God wants us to imitate good things, not evil things! So, don’t dress in an evil costume! Instead, consider dressing up as a famous person you admire, a storybook character, a person who has an interesting job or a Bible person. Maybe you will want to be a knight in shining armor, a lovely princess, a pretty butterfly or a silly clown.
Speaking of Halloween, it has some very evil themes and practices connected with it. It is much better to spend Halloween at a good Christian church’s alternative function than trick-or-treating or attending a typical Halloween party. A church may call their function "Harvest Fest," "Autumn Fair" or something like that. They often have lots of candy, costume contests, games, cake walks and other activities. If you are not regular church goers, you can ask your folks to call local churches to see if they are planning any similar events. On the other hand, if you will be at home, you might hand out trick-or-treat candy along with small Bible cards that tell other children the good news of the gospel--how to accept Jesus!
So regardless of the occasion, whenever you dress up, whatever you choose to pretend to be, always remember to only imitate "what is good" and avoid "all appearance of evil."]
3 John 1:11
Ps 12:8
Job 24:17

E18. Heirs of Heaven [picture: several excited children in fancy clothes and crowns on a road facing toward a bright, shining castle]
Rom 8:16-17 . . . we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ . . .
[ Best-selling Christian author Harold Hill wrote a great book called How to Live Like a King’s Kid. 1 Isn’t "king’s kid" a great name?! What does that tell us? If we are king’s kids, then we are like royalty--we are princes and princesses who will someday take our rightful places in heaven! In heaven there will be no tears, pain, hunger, thirst, loneliness, sickness, handicap or boredom. There will just be total happiness!
We will be reunited with our believing loved ones. We will have perfect bodies, there will be beauty all around us, sweet smells, lovely music, lots of friends and all kinds of things to do. Some people believe that our greatest joys on earth will be magnified 1,000 times in heaven!
The Lord tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." That means heaven will be so wonderful that we can’t even imagine how wonderful it will be! Plus, all the good things we do on earth increase our rewards in heaven!
However, we are all sinners and we must be purified in order to qualify for heaven. The Lord, through His mercy, washes all repentant sinners clean when they become believers in Him and accept Him as their Savior (Rom 3:23-4). Then they become heirs of heaven (Titus 3:3-7)!
Do you want to be a child of God (a Christian) and know that someday you will get to go to heaven? Then accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord! Jesus gave all those who accepted Him and believed in his name the right to become children of God (John 1:12, Mat 19:14, Luke 18:17)! Be a "king’s kid" and inherit the kingdom of the Lord!]
1 John 3:1
Mat 25:34 (KJV) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

1 Harold Hill, How to Live Like a King's Kid (Gainesville, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1974)

E19. Hippocrits [male and female clothes, folded hands, wearing halos, maybe try sloppily painting them with white and have an open can of paint labeled "Whitewash" with a wet brush next to it]
Titus 1:16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
[ Our costumed hippos can remind us of hypocrites--people who claim or pretend to be good, but aren’t. People who claim or pretend to be Christians, but act sinfully, are hypocrites. Instead of behaving in a truly godly fashion, by their actions they deny God.
These pretenders sort of whitewash a coat of fake Christianity onto their lives for the public to see (Mat 23:27). For instance, they may make sure people notice them attending church; saying long, fancy prayers; making a big display of donations or quoting Bible verses as if they follow them themselves (Mat Chap. 6). However, privately, they may lie, cheat, steal, take advantage of others and commit many other sins. The whitewash act may make them feel better about themselves, and it may fool the public, but God knows better. And He doesn’t approve.
Moreover, what if their sinful actions are discovered? Disgusted with such hypocrisy, nonbelievers may choose to never accept Jesus after seeing the wickedness of one of His "pretend" followers (2 Pet 2:2). True Christians want to help bring people into the kingdom of God, not drive them away!
Jesus strongly and repeatedly criticized hypocrites (Mat Chap. 23). He also explained that when a servant turns wicked, he is assigned "a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Mat 24:50-51). Not a comforting thought!
To paraphrase a popular Christian saying, a coat of whitewash wouldn’t make you a Christian any more than a coat of shoe polish would make you a shoe. Get real! Stay real! Sincerely accept Jesus and sincerely walk in His ways (1 John 2:4-6)!]
Is 29:13
Ps 50:16-17
1 Pet 2:1

E20. Hitchhiker [scraggy looking, long hair, field jacket, back pack, jeans w/ holes, mustache, thumb out, cardboard sign "need ride to East Calamity"]
Eccl 10:3 Even as he walks along the road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how stupid he is.
[ Complacency is being happy or content especially when you are not aware of any danger. Hitchhikers take very big chances when they hop into a stranger’s car and foolishly expect everything to go well. Hitchhiking is well-known to be stupid and dangerous. If you ever get in a jam and need a ride or can’t take a bus or taxi, call your parents, a friend or a neighbor for help. In fact, it’s a good idea to carry a list of names and phone numbers of trusted people you can call for help in an emergency. Your parents may want to make this list for you. They might also want to include your name, age, address, parents' names/contact information, blood type, list of medications and medical conditions in case you ever get in an accident.
By the way, if the only ride available is with somebody who has been drinking, don’t ride with them, even if you know them and even if you are desperate. You can try to encourage drunk drivers not to drive or (if you can do so safely) even hide their keys, but if they insist on driving, don’t go with them.* You cannot protect them by riding with them. You only endanger yourself, too.
It is much safer to wait for a ride with a safe and sober driver that you know, than to take chances at being hurt by a stranger or being hurt in a drunk driving accident. Always remember this: people who love you would rather drive --even a very long way and even in the middle of the night--to come get you than have you hitchhike or ride with strangers or drunks!]
[*Note: If you are aware that someone is driving drunk, especially if they are also transporting children, call 911 and report them so that the police can stop them. This will help protect the passengers, the driver and anyone on the road that they might otherwise have endangered by driving near them.]
Prov 1:32
Prov 12:15
Prov 14:12

E21. Homewreckers [guy in tuxedo with beckoning finger, one raised eyebrow; girl in slinky, red dress, puckered lips with "come hither" look; guy and girl in average non-occupational clothes; picture all four with a sledgehammer and hardhats; broken remains of a divided toy house in their midst]
Ex 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."
[ Adultery is when a person acts like they are married to someone who isn’t their husband or wife. Adultery is a very bad thing. It wrecks people, families and homes. There is no acceptable excuse for adultery.
God designed marriage to be kept pure and to form the basis of a healthy, happy family (Heb 13:4). God hates adultery and he hates divorce--something adultery often causes (Mal 2:16, 3:5; 1 Cor 6:9). Sometimes people simply don’t care about or don’t feel it’s wrong to heartlessly break up a family, causing deep, lasting sadness and pain (Prov 30:20). Many of those people don’t realize the same type of sins they hurt others with will eventually come back and hurt themselves (Obad 1:15).
There are also those who rationalize away the sin. That means they tell themselves that something about their situation makes it not such a bad sin (Prov 14:12). Rationalizing is one of Satan’s most successful tricks with any kind of sin. He says, "sin all you want if you’ve got a good excuse." Instead, God wants us to think clearly, think carefully, think wisely and make godly choices (Hag 1:7; James 4:8).
Although some adulterers do look like bad people, most look like normal people. You can’t necessarily tell by looking at someone if they are dangerous to be around. When you get older, try to avoid spending time alone with any married person of the opposite gender other than your spouse. Many married people start out thinking they can just be friends with a person and that there won’t be a problem. Unfortunately, they all too often end up falling into sin (Mark 3:25, 14:38).
Flee from evil (1 Cor 10:13)! Don’t be a homewrecker!]
Ps 36:1-2
Titus 2:11-12

E22. Ice Cream Parlor Man
Jer 31:25 "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."
[ If Jesus had an ice cream shop, the sign on the door would always say "OPEN." His ice cream parlor would be clean and run by good people who sincerely enjoyed serving others. All refreshments would be free to members. To become a member, you would merely need to come in, meet the owner, acknowledge that he is the owner and that he already paid the price for your membership. After he entered your name in his membership book, you could walk in for more free refreshments whenever you desired. After your first visit, you could just drop by occasionally and use the drive-by window. However, you wouldn’t find that quite as refreshing as frequent visits inside the parlor mixing with the owner, his employees and his regular customers.
Can you see the parallels? There are many ways the Lord can refresh us, but they usually require our cooperation. First we must become a "member" (a Christian) by accepting Jesus as our Savior who died on the cross for us and gave us His free gift of salvation. Our names will then be entered into the "membership book" (Book of Life--proof we belong in Heaven). The Lord wants to refresh his "members" continually. Just a few of the ways He offers refreshment to us are through: studying His word (Ps 19:7), daily prayer time (Ps 5:3), church led by His "employees" (Heb 10:25), communion (John 6:51), our repentance and His forgiveness (Acts 3:19), meeting our needs (Phlp 4:19), fellowship with the "regular customers" (other true believers) and the Sabbath day rest (Lev 23:3).
Come into the Lord’s parlor often. Drink in the atmosphere. Be refreshed!]
Philemon 1:7 Ps 68:9

E23. The Irish [red-headed, freckled boy and girl in traditional costumes]
Ps 115:15 May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
[ The Irish are known for wishing good blessings on others. It is a very good, positive thing to bless your family, your friends and new people you meet, too. The Bible even tells us to bless our enemies (Luke 6:27-28). People like to have others wish them well. People also like to hear good things about themselves, not bad. Therefore, another way you can bless people is to compliment them on their strong points. If it can safely be avoided, don’t criticize them on their weak points (Eph 4:29), unless it is to warn against/help somebody turn away from sin (Ezek 33:8-9). Practically everyone is also more likely to succeed at worthy goals if those around them encourage them.
We can also quote directly from the Bible to bless others. The verses shown here are good examples: Ps 115:15, Rom 15:13, 2 Cor 13:14, 3 John 1:2, 2 Th 3:16. So, be a blessing--bless others with good words!]
Rom 15:13
1 Th 3:12

E24. Lazybones [boy laying down on beach in skeleton costume (put costume over body only), yawning, one arm under head, other hand fanning self with fan, sunglasses, visor, fruity umbrella drink next to him]
2 Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
[ There will always be poor people in the land. We should help those who are truly poor and who cannot help themselves (Deu 15:11). We can do this by donating our time and money to church-run soup kitchens, shelters, ministries who help the poor and organizations like that. These places provide food for adults and their families under certain circumstances, such as: when the parents are physically unable to work, they cannot find an honest job, they have lost their house to disaster, etc.
However, if an adult is healthy, can work, needs money, isn’t already a homemaker and there are honest jobs available that they can do, they should try very hard to get a paying job. To not do so is to be lazy and to invite poverty (Prov 6:10-11; 10:4). America was founded by hard workers not freeloaders (people who let others pay their expenses, while refusing to work). We should all work hard, carry our own load, provide for our families (1 Tim 5:8) and earn the food we eat!]
Gal 6:5
2 Thes 3:12
Titus 3:14

E25. Litterbug-[ugly, ugly bug costume, fangs, horns, dripping saliva, pot belly, long feet with big claws, dark brown color all over, leaning nonchalantly against side of building, trash can 2 feet away, chomping on candy bar in one hand, tossing its wrapper on ground with the other, surrounded by trash and cigarettes] [don’t use Keep "U.S" Beautiful poster -trademarked]
Eccl 3:6 . . . a time to keep and a time to throw away
[ There is a time to throw things away--and a place! Don’t you just hate to see people throw trash on the ground? It makes everything look so sloppy. Unfortunately, some people just don’t seem to care. Littering is against the law. It’s not a good "fruit" (deed or action) to break the law (Luke 6:44). Nor is it a good fruit to be so inconsiderate as to make a mess and expect someone else to clean it up. On top of that, it wastes money to have to pay someone to clean up the mess!
By the way, if a person litters, it shows they don’t care much about doing what is right. Which means they probably do a lot of other bad things, too. That small act might just be like the tip of an iceberg--the worst part of which is hiding under the surface. It’s another one of those telltale signs of "bad fruits" to watch out for. In other words, if people do bad things, it is an obvious sign that they are probably not a good person. A smart person will pay attention when others do bad things and avoid those people.
And as for you, be a good example to others. Do everything "in a fitting and orderly way." The Lord gave us a magnificent country. Let’s keep it beautiful!]
1 Cor 14:40
Titus 3:1
Col 2:5

E26. Loan Shark [lemonade-stand-type booth labeled Sharky’s Loans; boy inside of shark costume with head showing through mouth]
Prov 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
[ Some people unwisely get themselves into financial trouble (such as by gambling) and then make things worse by borrowing money from a loan shark to pay the debt. A loan shark is a person who loans money, but charges the borrower a great deal of interest (a fee) for borrowing it. Not only do loan sharks waste a borrower’s money terribly, they can also be very violent if the borrower is unable to pay them back on time.
Other than a car loan and a home loan, it is really best to try to avoid borrowing money at all--and it’s best to even try to pay those off as soon as possible. Credit cards are another dangerous trap that waste a lot of money in finance charges--they are also a quick way to get into trouble by running up more bills than you can afford to pay.
Whenever possible, it is best to pay cash or write a check for what you buy. If you can’t afford to pay cash for the things you want (example: furniture), try to find similar used items that cost less. If you want, you can begin replacing the used items with new items one by one as you earn enough to pay cash for them.
If you must borrow money, whether you make verbal agreements, sign loan papers*, or make credit charges, etc., you should always repay what you owe (Rom 13:7-8). Further, you should plan in advance how you will repay your loan even if you get injured, lose your job, etc.
Unfortunately, many people purposely try to slither out of paying their debts if they think they can get away with it. Some conveniently "forget" to pay them or refuse to pay them unless they are forced to.** This sort of thing is very wrong. The Bible says only the "wicked borrow and do not repay" (Ps 37:21).
Stay out of trouble in the first place--don’t borrow money unless you absolutely have to!
[Notes for when you get older:
(1) *Always get agreements signed and in writing (some people and businesses agree to do something, but then later refuse to do what they said, so protect yourself and get everything in writing before you agree). Make sure you read everything COMPLETELY before you sign your agreement to any arrangement. Some businesses even use "loan shark"-type practices and end up charging people very high interest rates for their loans, so make sure there aren’t any tricky parts in the small print.
(2) *By the way, don’t ever cosign for anybody else’s loan either--not even for family members ("cosign" means you agree to pay someone else’s debt if they fail to pay it). Not only does the Bible discourage cosigning, you could end up losing all you have just to pay for the other person’s debt--especially since so many people fail to fully repay their loans (Prov 22:26-27)!]
Ezek 22:12
Jer 22:17

E27. The Nobleman and the Weasel [duke in formal attire with sashes, possibly weasel dressed as a noble, too, emphasizing his pretension; possibly with fancy chair and backdrop setting as posing for portrait; possibly make as a 2-part picture with side-by-side stand-up portraits]
Is 32:8 But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.
[ A man with a title that passes to his children (duke, earl, baron, etc.) is called a nobleman. However, there is another kind of "noble" man. It is something you can call a regular man who has high moral qualities. He, too, can pass this other kind of "nobility" to his children--by training them (especially from the Bible) and by being a godly example for them.
A truly noble person is honest, fair, gentle, kind, patient and self-controlled (Gal 5:22-23). A man of integrity (Prov 11:3), he follows the Ten Commandments (Ex Chap. 20), takes good care of his family (1Tim 5:8), keeps his promises (Ps 15:4-5), pays his bills (Rom 13:7-8), repays his debts (Ps 37:21), gives to godly causes (1 Tim 6:18-19) and thinks noble thoughts (Phlp 4:8). He obeys the law, respects others’ property, avoids all evil (1 Thes 5:22), sets a good example (1 Pet 2:11-12) and does not take advantage of others (Lev 25:17). He uses his time and talents to accomplish good things. He works for righteous causes, such as protecting the innocent, maintaining religious freedom and upholding family values.
A weasel is a term for a sly person who typically wriggles his way out of doing what is right. While he may pretend to be noble, in reality he "weasels" out of promises*, responsibilities, commitments and repaying debts. He lies, cheats, steals and takes advantage of others. Clearly, he is quite the opposite of a noble man!
Which one do you want to act like? No-brainer! Do you want to be a person God can use for good? Do you have a noble heart? Develop noble plans! Go out and accomplish noble deeds for the Lord! Be a noble man, not a weasel!]
[*Note: Give a lot of thought to promises before you make them and try to only make wise promises. Especially, don’t ever promise another person that you will do something wrong. But what if you do slip up and do make such a promise and later change your mind? That is one of the few times when it is perfectly okay to break a promise--don’t ever let anybody pressure you into doing something wrong or hiding something that shouldn’t be hidden, even if you originally agreed you would. You have the right to change your mind and do the right thing! Be strong, speak up, protect yourself and stay safe!]
Luke 8:15
2 Tim 2:21

E28. Nostalgia Girl [girl in a 50’s diner, dressed in a black poodle skirt, single ponytail, pink top and neck scarf, saddle shoes]
1 Tim 2:9 . . . dress modestly, with decency and propriety . . .
[ What does it mean to dress "modestly, with decency and propriety"? Answer:

1. Being clean, neatly groomed and not dressing in a bizarre or extreme way (1 Cor 14:40, Eccl 7:18).
2. Not wearing clothes that are too tight or too short or that don’t cover up everything that’s supposed to be covered up (Titus 2:11-12).
3. Not wearing anything that has bad words, bad sayings, bad themes or bad pictures on them (1 Thes 5:22, 3 John 1:11).
4. Not dressing in clothes or jewelry that support false religions, occult themes or occult practices such as pentagrams, yin-yang symbols, astrology signs, peace signs (which are broken crosses that mock Jesus) or Egyptian ankhs (occult symbols of life) (Ex 20:3).
5. Not wearing things that picture psychic-powered cartoon characters, cartoon characters that celebrate being bad, evil-looking creatures (especially evil-looking creatures that are supposed to be good guys), nor any other evil or anti-God themes (1 Thes 5:22 ).
6. Not overdoing it on makeup, polishes, perfume, dyes, colognes or jewelry (1 Pet 3:3-4).
7. Not getting tattoos or unusual body piercings (Lev 19:28).
8. Girls not wearing their hair overly short and boys not wearing their hair overly long (1 Cor 11:14-15).
9. Boys dressing like boys and girls dressing like girls (Deu 22:5).

Overall, it means dressing in a way that shows others that you have good character. It also means dressing in such a way that you are a good example to others around you. And guess what? There is a fringe benefit. Whether you are male or female, the end result of following these guidelines is that you look way more attractive!]
1 Cor 14:40

E29. Ordinary People? [boy in light blue sweat suit labeled Not An Ordinary Guy, girl in light pink sweat suit labeled Not An Ordinary Girl; both looking pleasantly confident, with big smiles, standing firmly with arms akimbo, feet a little spread]
1 John 4:4 (KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
[ Do you ever feel just kind of ordinary? Well, guess what? You are NOT ordinary to God! And don’t ever let the devil persuade you otherwise! Satan neutralizes a lot of God’s "almost" soldiers by convincing them they are not good enough to serve God. Don’t let him do that to you!
With God at your side, you don’t have to be a superhero. God is stronger than the bad guys. When we are working within God’s will, just a handful of ordinary people can be stronger than a whole army of nonbelievers. Yes, even children can and do make a difference!
On the other hand, that doesn’t mean that we should casually march into danger, but when obedient believers are fighting within God’s rules for a godly cause, we can ask God to help us. Sometimes He might even send angels to help (2 Kings 6:15-17)!
Pray. Ask God what jobs He wants you to do. It is often said you don’t have to be an expert to serve God, you just have to be available. And when you make yourself available to God, He will give you the strength to do the jobs He wants you to do (Is 43:1, Eph 6:10).
So remember: you are far from "ordinary" to God. No! You are "extraordinary" (1 Pet 2:9)!]
2 Cor 12:9
Rom 8:37
Ps 37:23

E30. Pandas [three pandas, one regular black and white, one black and white but with the colors reversed, and one colored only in varying shades of gray]
Is 5:20 [SEE FINISHED PAGE]
[ One cannot mistake a normal panda’s main colors: white in some places, black in others. The Bible is like that. God makes it very clear that certain things are good and right, while other things are bad and wrong.
Unfortunately, Many people these days will try to tell you there is no such thing as absolute truth. They may say that issues are not black and white, but only shades of gray (which is what you get when you mix black and white). In other words, they are saying that there is no such thing as right or wrong, only things somewhere between right and wrong. They may even say wrong is right and right is wrong if that’s what they want to believe at the moment.
Their way of thinking is just plain wrong. The Bible contains absolute truth. We can test everything against the Bible (Rom 12:2). The Bible is our firm foundation. We can learn from it and use its wisdom to help protect us.
The devil has always--since the Garden of Eden--tried to get people to question or ignore what God said (Gen 3:1). He knows if he can get people to ignore God’s word they will walk away from God and get hurt--and the devil scores! So the devil continually gets people to rationalize (excuse) their sinful behavior by telling themselves or others that they have a good reason to do it.

Examples of Rationalizing (Excusing) Bad Choices
1. "These are modern times. Besides, I have a good excuse."
2. "I deserve this."
3. "This is what I want. Surely God wants me to have what I want."
4. "They’ll never know."
5. "They won’t miss it."
6. "Why not? They don’t care anyway."
7. "We can’t afford this right now."
8. "The timing is not convenient."
9. "I’ll do it later."
10. "It’s no big deal. Everybody does it."

Unfortunately, sinful behavior hurts ourselves and others, no matter how good we think our reasons are. Rationalizing is one of the devil’s most successful tricks. Don’t let yourself fall for it! Learn to distinguish good from evil (2 Tim 2:15). You’ll find it in the ultimate book of absolute truth--The Holy Bible.]
Ps 33:4
1 Thes 5:21-22

E31. Party Animals [make sure draw looking evil, not funny; have one evil guy offering drink, one dazed drunk, one passed out]
Hab 2:15 "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk" . . .
[ A "party animal" is someone who likes to go to parties and get drunk with his friends. That is not a very bright thing to do. Drinking alcohol can cause a wide variety of problems. Drinking even only a little bit can cause you to use poor judgment and to not care about rules that God gave you to protect you or goals that you have chosen for yourself.
There are people who purposely get others drunk (Luke 17:1-2, Rom 14:12, Eccl 12:14). Many people have done bad things when they were drunk that they ended up regretting for the rest of their lives. They may have hurt themselves or someone else or done things they never would have done if they were sober (not drunk).
It is not uncommon to be very sick the next day after drinking too much. Some people black out from drinking too much and don’t remember what happened while they were drunk. Others drink so much at one time that they actually die from alcohol poisoning.
Many people get addicted to drinking and become alcoholics. Alcoholism can ruin a person’s health, his family life, his career, his finances and his reputation. Some Christian organizations will not employ a person who drinks even just a little bit.
When you turn 21, if you decide you are going to drink in spite of the many negative factors against drinking, at least keep it down to a very small amount and only on rare occasions (Eccl 7:18). Don’t let your friends overdo it, either. Never drink and drive, and never ride with a driver who has had even just a tiny bit to drink.
Drinking is another one of the many ways Satan tries to destroy God’s people. Don’t let Satan win!]
Eph 5:18 Is 5:22
Titus 2:6 (KJV) Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

E32. Philosophers [Grecian orator, pipe-smoking college professor in leather-elbowed-cardigan on a box labeled soap, eastern religious types with turban, yin-yang symbol, et al]
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
[ There are a lot of false philosophies (outlooks on life) and false religious practices in this world that can lead us away from God. Some people teach humanism, a view of man making up all his own changeable rules and only being responsible to himself, not God (Col 2:4, 1 John 4:5-6). Some teach atheism (the belief that there is no God) or agnosticism (that you can’t know if God exists) or polytheism (that there are many gods) or pantheism (that everything is God).
Some people practice yoga, not realizing how dangerous it is (many yoga positions and chants are forms of worship of demons). Some people practice martial arts with eastern religious aspects related to false gods. Some people practice idolatry, which is worship of false gods, people, nature, manmade things or anything other than the Lord (Deu 29:18).
Instead, we need to remember that: (1) man is responsible to God for his actions (Ps 14:1, 2 Pet 2:1), (2) Jesus is the only path to heaven (John 14:6) and (3) God hates false religions (Ex 20:3). We can stretch and relax without getting involved in yoga. We can meditate on God’s word (Josh 1:8) without using any eastern meditation practices (Is 2:6). We can learn self-defense through martial arts from a Christian martial arts trainer who doesn’t teach eastern religious beliefs along with the lessons. We can be good stewards of the earth, recycle and conserve the resources God gave us, but we must not worship nature, any earth "goddess" or the earth itself. We should worship God, the Creator of all things, not His creation (Rom 1:25) and not idols. Our worship and our religious beliefs should be based on the Lord and only the Lord.]
Mark 7:8
Eph 5:6
1 Cor 1:20

E33. Pigs [evil-looking boy pig stepping on string of pearls next to cute girl pig with ring in her snout]
Prov 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
[ A young woman may be very beautiful, but if she makes bad choices, she is wasting and misusing her beauty. Discretion is having good judgment and self-restraint. So, "showing no discretion" means making bad choices.
Everyone should practice discretion. Whether you are a boy or a girl, making bad choices can bring you and others deep sorrow, heartache, disappointment, shame and regret (Jer 4:18-19, 31:19). God gave us rules to protect us all and to help us all be more happy, not less happy.
Boy or girl, don’t throw the gift of yourself away on undeserving people. There is a time and place for everything (Eccl 3:1). Value yourself and value your future. Treat others as you would have them treat you--respect them�..and protect them (Luke 6:31). Make choices and help others make choices that will still allow you and them to like the person in the mirror (1 John 2:28, Ps 119:9). Do not take advantage of anyone (1 Th 4:3-6). Make choices you can all be proud to tell your children you made (and that you can recommend they make, too)! Staying pure for marriage and helping others stay pure for marriage is the happiest, healthiest, most honorable, most godly approach to take. If it is too late, determine to start fresh, making the right choices and protecting yourself from any more harm. These decisions will bring you and others the happiest future, the clearest conscience and the best memories!]
Mat 7:6
Rom 6:21

E34. Puppeteers [1-2 kids holding strings over a puppet child in a rag doll costume who has scissors and is in the process of cutting the strings]
1 John 3:7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray . . .
[ Sometimes people try to manipulate others (control someone for evil reasons and/or for their own personal gain). They are like puppeteers. They treat you like you are a ragdoll puppet with no backbone. They often use peer pressure to try to "pull your strings" and make you do bad things. For example, they may make fun of you, put you down, call you names, lie to you, threaten you or otherwise try to bully you into doing wrong. The Lord strongly disapproves of people leading others into sin (Luke 17:1-2). These people are not your friends. Think about it--would these people pressure you into doing something wrong if they truly were your friends (1 Pet 4:4-5)? No! People like that don’t have your best interests in mind and they cannot be trusted (Jer 7:8)!
Don’t be a puppet! Be strong! Show some backbone! Don’t let others pressure you into making worldly choices you don’t believe in. Have courage (Ps 119:51)! Cut your ties to them. Walk away (1 Tim 6:11) or send them away (Ps 119:115). Refuse to get involved. Role-play with your folks some good responses to say if somebody asks you to do something bad.*
Ask the Lord to help you find a way to escape other tough situations (1 Cor 10:13). Study the Bible so you can learn about which choices are best. Carefully choose true friends who: love Jesus, care about you, care about themselves and care about living a good life with a good future (1 John 3:9-10). Then stick together as a group and hang on to your goals for yourselves. Protect your health, happiness, reputation and future! Be strong! Let God help you cut "free from the cords of the wicked"!]
[*Activity: Below are some ideas to have your folks help you role-play to help you be prepared in uncomfortable situations. Try to come up with more questions and answers that you can practice for other situations as well. Also keep in mind that you don’t have to have any reason, any excuse or even any explanation for not doing a bad thing that you don’t want to do. If you can’t think of an excuse or don’t want to explain, a simple, but firm, "no" is all you really need to say!

1. Q: False Friend: Will you let me cheat off your test?
1. A: You: No. That’s dishonest.
2. Q: False Friend: Do you want to try this drug (or alcohol or cigarette)?
2. A: You: No. I value my health and my future and don’t want to mess them up.
3. Q: False Friend: Hey, let’s take this! Nobody will know.
3. A: You: No. That’s stealing and I would know and God would know.
4. Q: False Friend: Hey, let’s watch this movie while my dad’s gone.
4. A: You: No. That type of movie has a lot of sinful stuff in it. I don’t want anything to do with it and God wouldn’t want me to either.
5. Q: False Friend: Hey, let’s [do something that would make you uncomfortable].
5. A: You: No. I would not be comfortable doing that.
6. Q: False Friend: Hey, let’s [do something unsafe].
6. A: You: No. That is clearly not a safe thing to do.

By the way, give a lot of thought to promises before you make them and try to only make wise promises. Especially, don’t ever promise another person that you will do something wrong. But what if you do slip up and do make such a promise and later change your mind? That is one of the few times when it is perfectly okay to break a promise--don’t ever let anybody pressure you into doing something wrong or hiding something that shouldn’t be hidden, even if you originally agreed you would. You have the right to change your mind and do the right thing! Be strong, speak up, protect yourself and stay safe!]
Ps 129:4
Prov 1:10

E35. Quack [old west type snake-oil salesman, villain-type costume with top hat, handlebar mustache he is playing with, holding elixir bottle in front of traveling snake oil wagon with cure-all advertising painted on side of wagon]
Prov 26:24-25 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him . . .
[ In the olden days, the typical quack was a slick talker who sold fake medicines. They falsely claimed their elixirs and snake oils would cure a number of health problems. They knew with enough customers, they could make a lot of money (especially if the elixirs contained addictive drugs or alcohol so that people would come back for more ).
Today, drug pushers also use slick talk. They try to get you to believe that you will enjoy drugs--without mentioning all the harm they do! Sometimes they even offer free samples just to get people hooked. Like quacks, they also know with enough customers (especially addicted ones) they can make a lot of money (Jer 5:26-28).
Anyone who tries to talk you into taking drugs is a bad person. They do not care about you. He or she is not your friend, no matter how nice they try to sound (2 Pet 2:19). Drugs are very dangerous. Sooner or later they always make things worse, not better. Drugs can destroy brain cells. They can destroy your judgment and self-control while you are under their influence. This can cause you to do stupid, dangerous things. Even if you only take them once, you may hurt yourself or someone else and wake up with terrible memories, injuries or other problems that you will regret forever.
Addicts get very sick if they don’t keep getting more frequent and stronger doses. Many become so desperate that they commit crimes to get more drugs and end up in jail for drug-related offenses.
Drugs can cost a great deal more than money. Drug users are losers in many ways. Drugs can cost happiness, health, intelligence, self-respect, future careers, future marriages, freedom and even lives. Drugs are another one of the many traps Satan uses to destroy God’s people. Don’t let Satan win! Tell pushers you like your brain "just the way it is, thank you very much!"
Years ago a televised public service announcement solemnly claimed, "Nobody wants to grow up to be a drug addict." This is an excellent point. You want to stay healthy and make something of your life, not be a loser on drugs who throws their future away. Protect yourself--avoid drugs! Stay clear-headed, healthy and self-controlled (1 Pet 4:7)!
[Note: Youths who need help, especially with a drug problem, may want to contact one of the over 170 centers of the international Christian ministries of Teen Challenge. They help young people get clean and get a fresh start. See www.teenchallengeusa.com.]]
Ps 5:9
Luke 17:1-2

E36. Quartet [traditional barbershop quartet with hats, vests, white shirts with bands on upper arms, bowties]
1 Pet 3:8 . . . live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
[ Barbershop quartets are known for singing together in wonderful harmony. We can learn from their example. The members of a good quartet have different types of singing voices and different melodies to sing. The variations in their voices and assigned tunes make the combined music interesting and pleasing. Properly done, the result is beautiful!
Likewise, people have different jobs, talents, personalities, strengths and weaknesses. If we were all as alike as slices of white loaf bread, this world would be a pretty dull place indeed. Not to mention the fact that if everybody had the same job, there would be utter chaos! For instance, if everybody was a doctor, who would be the firefighters? If everybody was a farmer, who would be the truck drivers that took the goods to the markets? If everybody was a mechanic, who would build the houses? And so on.
We should develop our own talents and not be jealous of others. We should look for the strengths that others have and remember that it takes a lot of different kinds of people to make the world operate smoothly. When we make an effort to get along well with others, it helps to produce a wonderful harmony in our lives and the lives of those around us.]
Rom 12:16
Ps 133:1

E37. Queen Bee [girl in bee costume, wearing crown, holding tiered honey ladle as scepter dripping honey; honeycomb beehive in background]
Prov 16:24 [SEE FINISHED PAGE]
[ Doesn’t it make you feel good when someone says nice things to you or compliments you in a sincere way? We can help others feel these same kinds of good feelings by speaking "pleasant words" to them. Not only that, but when we say kind things to others, it tends to make us feel good, too (Prov 15:23). We do want to be careful, though, that we don’t speak false and worthless flattery (Prov 26:28). Instead, we want to speak thoughtfully from the heart and truly mean what we say (Eph 4:15-16).
By the way, did you know that sometimes people use raw, unprocessed honey to help heal wounds? Similarly, kind words are like putting healing honey on "heart wounds," too. Those nice words can be especially helpful when somebody is having a tough day or when they don’t feel very good about themselves.
Look for the good in others. A lot of people can’t see their good qualities. Point them out to them! If you notice something noteworthy about someone, compliment them about it (Prov 3:27)! If there are any traits that you admire about them, tell them so (Rom 13:7)! If you are proud of them or have confidence in them, let them know it (2 Cor 7:4, 16)! If you are grateful for something about them, speak up (Phlp 1:3, Eph 1:16). If you appreciate something they do for you, say thank you! Spread some honey around!
Giving someone an honest, well-deserved compliment may seem like a small, unnecessary thing. Nevertheless, the simple, thoughtful act of speaking up is typically a very welcome blessing��one that is truly "sweet to the soul."]
Prov 15:4
Prov 10:21

An Extra Lesson: 50 Good Character-Trait Categories to Take Note Of
How would you like to make somebody’s day? Give them a sincere compliment! Thank them! If you want to make the good feelings last even longer, write those compliments and thank you’s down. Let others know what you admire, appreciate, are proud of, or grateful for about them.
Although not all of these will apply to everyone, the below list can give you tons of ideas on some good traits to look for in others (parents, siblings, relatives, friends, acquaintances, teachers, coaches, etc.). After the very important first five questions, the rest are in no particular order. Keep in mind what Proverbs 16:24 says: "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
By the way, the positive character traits are good ones for you to strive for, too. In fact, if you show this list to your parents, maybe it will also help them think of some of the things they are proud of you for! Furthermore, you can also pay attention to many of these same traits to help you decide who you want to make friends with. In fact, in the future, this list may even help you decide who you might want to date and possibly marry.
[Note: Most of the subjects are addressed in one way or another in Costume Versettes. If you want more information, see the Subject Index.]

1. Is he or she a Christian? Do they live a godly life? Do they try to be a good example and a godly influence on others? Do they show by their "fruits" that they truly are a Christian?
2. Have they read the whole Bible? Do they put Bible verses into practice? Do they make good, godly decisions based on the Bible?
3. Do they pray? Do they regularly attend church and/or Bible study? Do they study the Bible at home, too?
4. Is he or she a genuine, sincere, faithful Christian who "practices what they preach" and avoids being hypocritical (saying one thing, but doing another)?
5. Do they try to please God and serve the Lord in some way?
6. Do they do a good job teaching you about the Lord, the Bible and other important subjects or skills?
7. Do they have wholesome beliefs, desires, interests, hobbies and favorite pastimes?
8. Are they conservative? Do they support family values? Do they believe in biblical, moral absolutes rather than a liberal tendency to re-name, ignore or rationalize away sin?
9. Are they honest? honorable? able to be trusted? Do they tell the cashier if they are undercharged or given too much change? Do they make a point of not cheating people in any way?
10. Do they obey the law even on seemingly small matters, without trying to "get away with" wrongdoing?
11. Do they exercise good self-control? Do they avoid sin and temptation? Do they avoid even the appearance of evil?
12. Do they avoid profanity, blasphemy, swearing, lying, deception, dirty jokes and gossip? Do they avoid name-calling and saying unkind things about others, even their enemies?
13. Do they avoid substance abuse, smoking and other sinful or objectionable behaviors?
14. Do they show by their actions that they love and appreciate you? Do they thank you for the things you do? Do they still love you even on your worst days?
15. Do they enjoy, value and appreciate family, friends, pets and simple pleasures? Do they take the time to spend time with you? Do they make you feel wanted and welcome? Are they loyal? Are they easy to please?
16. Do they thankfully and contentedly count their blessings, rather than enviously complain about what others have that they don’t have?
17. Are they dependable?
18. Do they keep their promises?
19. Are they friendly? Are they a good listener and easy to talk with? Do they stick by your side in both good times and bad? Do they make sure you know they care about you, what you do, your well-being and what happens to you? Do they make sure you know you can talk with them about anything? Do they give good advice?
20. Are they polite? Do they let you finish without interrupting? Do they have good manners?
21. Are they strong, yet reasonably agreeable, cooperative and flexible? Do they listen to reason? Are they able to work things out peaceably without fighting?
22. Are they patient, pleasant, peaceful and sweet-natured? Are they even-tempered, rather than easily angered or vengeful? Do they avoid shouting, insulting you, using sarcasm, hurting you or frightening you in any way? Do they take the time to explain difficult things to you without making you feel silly for asking?
23. Are they big enough to admit when they are wrong, apologize and ask for forgiveness? Do they learn from their mistakes and other negative experiences?
24. Do they respect your godly opinions and choices, without trying to lead or pressure you into ungodly ones?
25. Do they have a right opinion of themselves? Do they treat others with respect without being self-important, prideful and arrogant? Do they avoid judging people by mere appearances, and make right judgments instead?
26. Do they follow the Golden Rule, treating others as they wish to be treated?
27. Are they kind to people and animals, not cruel? Are they gentle, not violent or abusive to anyone or anything? Are they helpful, caring and thoughtful? Are they considerate of others? Do they try to avoid embarrassing you and others?
28. Are they compassionate toward others? merciful? generous to those in need?
29. Are they courageous? Do they stand up for what they believe in? Is he or she a good leader? Are they more concerned about being godly and making right choices than being popular with the world?
30. Do they have a good sense of humor for wholesome subjects and avoid off-color or mean humor? Are they fun to be with?
31. Are they happy for you (rather than envious) when things go well for you?
32. Do they avoid gloating over an enemy’s misfortune?
33 Are they generous and willing to share? Do they take turns letting you choose what to do?
34. Do they dress neatly, conservatively and modestly?
35. Have they earned a good reputation?
36. Do they do a good job protecting you from and not putting you in danger? Do they pay good attention to safety factors? Do you feel safe with them?
37. Are they responsible? hard-working? skillful? Do they make good use of opportunities?
38. Do they use money responsibly and not squander it on trivial things? Do they take good financial care of the family? Do they tithe? Do they pay their bills on time? Do they repay all their debts?
39. Do they do a good job cleaning house, cooking, shopping, doing laundry and taking care of you in other ways? Do they do their chores well? Do they do a good job on the yard? Do they keep the cars maintained well? Do they take good care of their belongings?
40. Do they take good care of the family’s health? Do they take good care of their own health?
41. Do they properly balance God, family, work, education, exercise, rest and recreation?
42. Are they well-behaved? Do they do what needs to be done without being told?
43. Do they stick with a job until it’s done? If they fail at a worthy cause, do they keep trying?
44. Are they firm, but fair? Are they forgiving? Do they avoid playing favorites? If punishment is called for, is it fair and reasonable? If something can be fixed, do they give you a chance to fix it?
45. Are they encouraging and supportive of you and your efforts when they can genuinely do so?
46. If they disagree with you, is their feedback truthful, yet tactful? If you are doing something in a less than spectacular way, do they offer advice tactfully instead of thoughtlessly criticizing you without regard to your feelings? Are they strong enough and wise enough to steer you in the right direction if you are doing something ungodly?
47. Do they respect your godly opinions and choices, without trying to pressure you into ungodly ones?
48. Are they down-to-earth and logical in their thinking? Are they knowledgeable, well-educated and/or well-read? Are they a quick learner? Are they smart or even wise? Are they eager to learn and grow? Do they work hard for good grades? Are they observant? Do they pay attention well?
49. Do they have good ideas? Are they interesting or original? Are they creative or talented in any way? Is there something they are particularly good at, that most others aren’t? Are they good at making, building or fixing things? Is there anything unique about them?
50. Do they have worthy goals for their future? Are they actively working toward those goals?

E38. Quick-to-Quarreler [boxer in ring with evil sneer]
Prov 20:3 It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
[ Arguing and fighting isn’t any fun, is it? Everybody involved gets in a bad mood. Even people who aren’t involved can get upset when they can see or hear what is going on. Moreover, even if a quarrelsome person "wins" an argument or a fight, they can lose a friend and/or make enemies in the process.
Don’t be a foolish, quarrelsome person. Try to avoid starting arguments. It is better to be patient with others and to even ignore what offenses you can, even if (perhaps especially if) someone is trying to make you mad (Prov 19:11). When problems arise, try to solve them in a reasonable, friendly way (2 Tim 2:14).
Are there children at school who simply will not be reasonable? Are they prideful and quarrelsome (Prov 13:10)? Are they always trying to stir up trouble (Prov 15:18)? God hates it when people try to stir up dissension (trouble--Prov 6:16-19). It is better to just stay away from people like that if you can (2 Tim 2:23, Titus 3:10). You don’t want to learn their bad habits or get "roped into" fights with them.
Always try to work things out calmly and peacefully with others. Do your best to get along well with everyone and make it easy for them to get along with you.]
Prov 14:17
Prov 22:24

E39. Rock Star
James 1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
[ A very large amount of rock music is focused on harmful subjects. The devil likes it that way. The devil is the "ruler of the air," so it also makes sense that he would make full use of radio airwaves to pollute people’s minds (Eph 2:1-2).
Common themes in secular rock music are impurity, substance abuse, violence to oneself or to others, murder, suicide, theft, the occult, unnatural behavior, rebellion, hatred of parents, hatred of anybody in charge and even outright blasphemy against God (Jude 1:14-15).
Rock music very often encourages young people to do whatever they feel like doing, without any warning of the pain and regret that can result from sinful actions (Jer 4:18-19). It often encourages listeners to reject any form of rules and any form of absolute truth with regard to what is right and wrong. It frequently makes good things sound bad and bad things sound good (Is 5:20). Involvement with the occult is even often largely a result of a young person’s listening to bad rock music.
So, what can you do? Don’t listen to worldly rock music. Filling your mind with evil makes you more likely to think and do evil things--garbage in, garbage out. Instead, if you like rock music, listen to Christian rock music. It has subjects that are enjoyable, uplifting and God-honoring--and it sounds great, too!]
Prov 10:11
Eccl 7:5
Mat 12:34-35

E40. Sewer Rat [standing in a dark, dirty sewer reservoir with dirty water that is "overflowing" from a sewer pipe; if it doesn’t require too much space, draw as if he is a comedian on stage with the sewer wall in place of the typical brick; have a stand-up microphone, show the backs of rat heads in the foreground for the audience]
Eph 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
[ Sewer rats are dirty, filthy, disease-ridden creatures. Nobody wants to be a sewer rat, but a lot of people sure act like one! Many people who swear, use profanity and tell perverse (dirty) jokes seem clueless as to how disgusting their gutter talk sounds (Prov 4:24). Would a well-bred gentleman or an elegant lady do that (Prov 10:32)? No! Those who talk like that make well-mannered people uncomfortable.
These people are also revealing a lot about themselves. They are showing you that their heart is not right with the Lord and that you should avoid them (Luke 6:44-45).
Some people who don’t ordinarily say dirty words, seem to think profanity is okay. Profanity is misusing God’s name [Example: "Oh my G_ _!"]. This offends the Lord (Ex 20:7). When people say the Lord’s name, they should use it respectfully, not carelessly and not as if His holy name was a swear word (Rom 14:16, Mat 12:36). Additionally, there are people who praise and curse out of the same mouth (James 3:9-10). Also not good.
How about you? When you talk, if you want people to treat you with respect, act like a gentleman or a proper young lady. Do you need a strong word or phrase to say when you are frustrated or angry? Choose something silly--it can actually even make you feel a little better ["bananas and broccoli!"]. You might even make up your own word--something you can get a lot of feeling into, but that doesn’t sound anything at all like a swear word ["ratsafratzaroonios!"]. Maybe even try dinosaur names ["Quetzalcoatlus!"].
If you are not sure whether you should say something, use these two tests: (1) Will it be a good influence or a bad influence on others? (2) Would you say it if Jesus were standing there? Remember, the Lord really does see and hear everything we do. Ask the Lord to guard your mouth and help you say only good things (Ps 141:3). Don’t be a sewer rat!
[Note: If you like to tell jokes, buy a book of clean jokes. You might try Good Clean Jokes to Drive Your Parents Crazy! by Bob Phillips.]
Luke 6:45
Mat 15:18
Col 3:8

E41. Snowmen [one puffy snowman, looking slightly up, smiling, be-gloved arms/hands in praise position (shortened by having elbows inside costume); remains of other snowman (hat, scarf, carrot, pieces of coal, gloves, boots) in small pile of drifted snow on ground next to him leading off page]
Heb 2:1 We must pay more careful attention . . . to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
[ We need to pay attention to the Bible like a light shining through the darkness (2 Pet 1:19). Paying attention to the Bible helps us avoid many of life’s "storms." That’s because God designed His laws to help keep us happy and out of unnecessary trouble.
However, sometimes storms and troubles come that we can’t avoid. God’s word helps then, too. It helps us "weather" those storms more successfully (Rom 15:4, Prov 4:13). Without God’s word, we are like a defenseless pile of snow that withers down and drifts away on a windy day.
So, do you want to avoid as many of life’s storms as possible? Do you want to keep from drifting away during unavoidable storms? Pay careful attention to the Lord--stand firm forever!]
Prov 10:25
Prov 3:1-2

E42. Spirit Guides [old man long hair yogi-type, devil head showing behind shining angel and angel mask, fox or badger or other animal]
2 Cor 11:14-15 . . . Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness . . .
[ Recently, many people have begun contacting "spirit guides" or people controlled by spirit guides. This is another sign that we are near the Second Coming of Christ.
Spirit guides are demons in disguise. A spirit guide may be called many things, for example: ascended master, wise person, inner counselor or higher self. Many activities that may not sound dangerous to some people can actually put one in contact with a demonic spirit guide. These include, but are not limited to: visualization, guided imagery, centering or relaxation exercises; meditation; hypnosis; and getting involved in occult activities, such as using tarot cards or Ouija boards.
Demons are polymorphs (shape-shifters) and are excellent actors. They can imitate any person or any thing, for example: good angels, beings of light, dead relatives, animals and even aliens. Demons are very good at lying, deception, trickery, persuasion, pretending to be good and gaining a person’s trust (John 8:44, Acts 13:10). They may offer wisdom, peace, love, success or whatever else they think a person wants.
Demons try to get people to believe false teachings. In fact, it is often said, "Satan and his followers are willing to tell a thousand truths to sell just one lie." That means, they or their servants will often teach many things that sound good or reasonable on the surface, but at least some part of which will not agree with the Bible.
Demons also often physically attack people, get them to hurt themselves or get them to hurt others. Demons always ultimately want to destroy people, turn them away from God and rob them of heaven. Demons want people to spend eternity in hell.
The Lord gave us a way to protect ourselves by testing the spirits. A spirit that cannot acknowledge "that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" is not from God, but is a "deceiver and the antichrist" (1 John 4:1-3, 2 John 1:7). God tells us not to have anything to do with these deceiving spirits.]
Lev 19:31
Deu 18:10-12
1 Tim 4:1

E43. Superheroes [3-4 in made-up superhero costumes (don’t use known, trademarked ones)]
Ps 82:4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
[ Isn’t it fun to pretend to be a superhero and to pretend to rescue people? In real life (and with your parents help or permission), you can even start helping to rescue people now! You can do that through such things as praying for others, by doing church ministry work, by donating money to Christian ministries (that lead people to Christ and/or that help the needy) or even by just being a good example.
When you grow up, you might even want to get a job that allows you to help rescue others in trouble. There are many jobs you could train for to do that: firefighter, police officer, the medical field, lifeguard, the military, minister, social worker, Christian legal activist, mechanic and more.
Grownups can also be a big help to their families by being strong, protective, dedicated Christian parents who help teach their children about the Bible, the right way to live and salvation through Jesus. That way they can help protect their families from some of the pain of sin and some of the other dangers of this world�..AND help them reserve their spot in heaven!
It can be a wonderful blessing when people help others by using their strength, their knowledge, their skills or their prayers. And guess what? Helping others is a "win-win" situation--it also blesses those who do the helping! So be a superhero and help others in need!
[Note: Remember, never help an adult stranger that asks for your help, because some bad adults pretend to need help so they can hurt others. If you see a stranger who needs help, leave quickly! Then call "911" or find an adult to help them!] ]
2 Thes 3:13
Ps 37:5-6

E44. Swiss Cheese [box around body cut and painted to look like has Swiss cheese holes, cream-colored long-sleeved turtleneck, tights and tennies]
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
[ Swiss cheese has a lot of holes in it, so we could say it is "holey." Thinking of Swiss cheese may help you remember that nobody is perfect--that we have all sinned--so, it’s kind of like everybody’s past is flawed and "full of holes."
Now let’s look at the word "holy." When it is spelled this way it has a spiritual meaning. For example, some people act like they think they are more holy (more pure or saintly) than other people. That is called acting "holier than thou." For instance, sometimes sins that we have not committed look very bad to us when others do them--even if our own sins are just as bad (James 2:10, 1 Cor 6:11)! If we think like that, we may start feeling prideful (snobbish, conceited, better than others).
God wants us to have a realistic opinion of ourselves, not a prideful one. He tells us to not think more highly of ourselves than we should (Rom 12:3). The Bible even says we are to consider others better than ourselves (Phlp 2:3). Everybody has sinned (Rom 3:10)--yes, all of us! But when we repent (tell Jesus we are sorry and turn from our sins), Jesus offers forgiveness--yes, to all of us (Titus 3:3-7)!
Acting holier than thou gets old extremely fast. Know what happens to old cheese? It gets moldy and starts to smell. Get the picture? Don’t act holier than thou!]
Rom 14:10
John 8:7
1 John 1:8
Is 65:5 (KJV) "Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day."

E45. Thief [be careful that the costume and character don’t look cute; maybe show being handcuffed by policeman, loot bag on ground]
Ex 20:15 "You shall not steal."
[ The Lord tells us in the 8th Commandment that we are not to steal. It is wrong to take what does not belong to us. Not only is it a sin against God, it is a crime against mankind.
Victims of crimes such as theft are often very sad. Imagine how it would feel if someone stole a favorite thing of yours. When we work hard at a job and earn the money to buy what we want, it gives us a good feeling. Thieves can’t have a good, lasting feeling about something they have stolen--they didn’t earn it, it’s not theirs and they committed a crime to get it (Ps 62:10).
Stealing and other crimes always makes a person worry about getting caught, getting in trouble and going to prison. Because of that, criminals have to lie, hide things and often even keep themselves in hiding. That is no way to live. Furthermore, perhaps they don’t realize that even if they don’t get caught by other people, God sees everything they do. Thieves need to stop stealing, stop taking things by any dishonest means and return what is owed to the owner (Lev 6:2-5). If they end up in prison, they will be very sorry (Prov 1:19). After all, what good is money if one is condemned (Mark 8:36)?
Don’t have anything to do with people who steal. To be truly happy, we want to avoid sin. We want to earn our money in a good way. We want to feel good about the things we buy. We want have a clear conscience before God and man (Acts 24:16)�..and�.we want our friends to be the same way!]
Hos 7:1-2
Eph 4:28
Is 61:8

E46. The Thinker [in dark body suit, posed like Rodin’s statue]
Phlp 4:8 . . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
[ Looking at Rodin’s famous sculpture, The Thinker, can remind us to think about good things. Thinking about good things is a good influence on us. It helps us to be happier, to be better people, to make better choices and to accomplish better things. On the other hand, thinking about bad things is a bad influence on us. It can make us unhappy, unhealthy and can even make it easier for us to be tempted into sin (James 1:15).
God knows what we are thinking and the thoughts "of the pure are pleasing to him" (Prov 15:26). We should try to have some devotional time (prayer time/Bible study) with God every day. This refreshes us and makes it easier for us to pay attention when God is guiding us. For instance, sometimes God puts a Bible verse, a song or an idea into our minds to help us know what to do. Sometimes He even talks to us in words that we can almost, but not quite hear--kind of like really strong thoughts. That’s what is called the "still small voice" or "gentle whisper" of God (1 Kings 19:12).
So fill your mind with good thoughts and spend some quiet time with God every day (2 Pet 3:1)!]
Ps 46:10
2 Cor 10:5
Col 3:2
Prov 23:7 (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he . . .

E47. Unequal Yoke Folk [sheep on right side of yoke, goat on left]
2 Cor 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
[ Do you want to be happier in life? Don’t be yoked (connected) with nonbelievers. Make friends with other believers instead! You will have more in common: similar beliefs, goals, and values about what’s important to us (2 Cor 6:15). These things help us to be more well-matched and increase the chances that we will get along well with each other. Spending time with other sincere believers helps us to grow spiritually, encourages us and increases our joy on our journey through life. It is also easier to serve and obey God when we are surrounded by fellow Christians. They are more likely to work right along with us!
Nonbelievers are more likely to lead us into sin. In fact, even King Solomon was led into sin by nonbelievers (Neh 13:26)! A nonbeliever might also object to our growing devotion to God or they might even stubbornly try to hold us back. They may also rebel against the godly decisions we make and try to tempt us or our families into weakening our resolve to please God.
Now think about these things. As you can imagine, when you start dating, it will be even more important to choose your spouse from among true believers, too. There’s another really great reason for doing that. When the people we love are true believers, we know we will never have to tell them goodbye for the last time--because all true believers will meet again in heaven!
[Notes:
(1) A good rule of thumb is to never, under any circumstances, date someone that you would not eventually consider marrying.
(2) Also, what if you like Person A, but Person B asks you out and you don’t know how to turn B down? Thank B, but tell him you have your eyes on or have feelings for someone else (and it’s probably best not to say who that "someone" is). That kind of "no" is much easier for B to handle. You see, it shows B that there is not necessarily anything wrong with him, but that your heart is already occupied with someone else.]
Mat 25:32-34

E48. Upperclassman [clean-cut boy wearing letter jacket, nice shirt and jeans, carrying books]
Titus 2:6-8 . . . encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech . . .
[ Older children who know their Bible can be a good influence on younger ones (2 Tim 3:16-17, Col 3:16). They can be a good example by teaching the younger children good habits of godliness (1 Pet 5:5), such as: honesty, self-control, respectfulness, faithfulness, love and perseverance. They can also teach younger children to live pure lives and to avoid such things as substance abuse (Ps 119:9).
Keep in mind, too, the old saying, "actions speak louder than words." That means people will pay more attention to the things you do, than the things you say (1 Tim 4:16). So always remember to be a good leader and "practice what you preach" (Mat 23:3, James 1:22). Being older gives you a certain amount of power and responsibility that you can use for the good of others. Use it well!]
Titus 2:2
1 John 2:14
Mat 5:19

[Note: The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities at http://www.cccu.org/ maintains a list of the top 100 or so Christian colleges and universities that are most truly committed to a Christ-centered life and high-quality academics combined with biblical faith. However, if you choose a secular college instead, you can look for Christian friends there at organizations like Campus Crusade for Christ (see http://www.ccci.org/ ), or at nearby churches and Bible studies. For students and schools desiring legal information supporting religious freedom at schools, see http://www.aclj.org/Issues/Resources/Document.aspx?ID=419 . For the See You at the Pole(TM) site, see http://www.syatp.com/ ]

E49. Vandal [evil-looking boy (punk-type spiked orange rooster hair, chain from nose-to ear, skull tattoo on hand, holding aerosol can in front of vandalized concrete block wall]
Prov 10:23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct . . .
[ People who aren’t thinking right sometimes damage public or personal property by breaking it, spraying paint on it or otherwise damaging it somehow. This kind of damage is called vandalism. It is pointless, wasteful and often even cruel. Doing bad things may feel good to vandals at the moment, but their "fun" does not last long. Neither is what they are doing something to be proud of.
Typically, vandalism is at someone else’s expense. Victims of vandalism usually have to pay money to fix or replace what was damaged. Additionally, victims often experience emotional pain, distress, loss, disappointment or even physical harm. Further, sometimes whatever was damaged cannot be fixed or replaced for any amount of money, such as when the item has sentimental value or is no longer manufactured.
Most likely, these vandals don’t know Jesus or the Bible. People who know Jesus and the Bible are much more likely to find things to do that truly are fun and entertaining without hurting others or damaging anything. Doing good things not only helps keep you out of trouble, it can bring you pleasure and sometimes even a lasting sense of accomplishment.
Do you want to feel good about yourself? Don’t destroy something. Create something! Color it, write it, paint it, glue it, sew it, string it, plant it, decorate it, assemble it, mold it, whatever! It doesn’t have to big, fancy or expensive. The item or theme can be anything good and pleasant. Items might be a: picture, poem, story, song, greeting card, birdhouse, garden, pencil holder, Bible memory verse holder, tiled hot pad, plaster handprint, jewelry, toy top, toolbox, puppet, doll clothes, embroidered dishtowel, model airplane, kite, etc. Themes might be: animals, princess, trucks, trains, flowers, sports, hearts, farms, clowns, boats, the mountains, etc.
Have some ideas, but can’t decide what project to work on? Close your eyes and imagine this: if the Lord walked into the room or yard where you were working on your project�...and He looked at you.�..and He smiled�...you’re probably heading in the right direction!]
Job 20:5
Ps 25:3
Prov 15:3

E50. Very Important Persons [boys and girls, all races; medals around neck, ambassadorial sashes and medals, tails & formals, etc.; have them standing in cordoned-off section labeled "VIPS" (red carpet in that section only), posters or plaques on wall behind them saying things like: A-OK, Super-Duper, Winners, A+++, Grade A, Special Kids; Fantastic; Wonderful; Magnificent; Awesome; trophies on shelves on wall behind them]
Is 43:4 . . . you are precious and honored in my sight . . .
[ When organizers make preparations for big events, they make special arrangements for "very important people" or "VIP’s" for short. Those VIP’s may be royalty, government leaders, generals, big business owners, etc. The arrangements may include: military escorts, red carpets to enter on, welcoming music, specially-prepared foods, awards, expensive gifts and more.
Are you a Christian? Yes? Did you know that to God you are a VIP? That’s right! God puts special thought into creating each one of us and knows each of us by name (John 10:3). He has given us very complex bodies that are "fearfully and wonderfully made." He takes great care to design each of us individually with our own unique features, too. That means there is no one else exactly like you. You are one of a kind. We can be uniquely identified by our faces, eyes, voice, DNA and fingerprints. In fact, the next time you are painting, try to get a good set of fingerprints and look at them under a magnifying glass. God designed those fingerprints just for you! No one else has fingerprints like you. Not even identical twins have matching fingerprints. God made you special!
And He’s far from done. You know that whole red-carpet-VIP-treatment thing? God has special plans for His VIP’s, too! Firstly, all true believers receive the gift of salvation purchased by the priceless blood of Jesus--the best and most expensive gift ever! Then heavenly VIP arrangements will include: angel escorts, golden streets to enter on, a rich welcome, a seat at the table of the wedding supper of the Lamb, special personalized rewards, other gifts and more! (Mat 16:27, Rev 21:21, 2 Pet 1:11, Rev 19:9, Rev 22:12, Mat 7:11)
Yes, little VIP’s, you are truly "precious and honored" in His sight!]
Ps 139:13-14

E51. Witch and Wizards [standard male and female witches, plus cone-hatted wizard in star and moon robe with wand; be careful that they are not cute]
Deu 18:10-12 Let no one be found among you . . . who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD . . .
[ Some people call themselves "white witches" and say that they only do "good" magic. They say only "black witches" do bad magic. Don’t believe it (Is 5:20). A witch is a witch, period! And God hates witches! He doesn’t think they are good, cute, honorable, courageous, or any other positive thing. So, we don’t even want to pretend to have anything to do with witchcraft and spells. Don’t play with, read or watch any books, movies, games, toys, costumes or anything else that glorifies witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery or spells. Don’t even bring these things or any other occult materials into your house (Deu 7:26).
Is there any real power in sorcery and spells? In some cases, yes. For instance, sorcerers may even make a pact (agreement, bargain) with Satan or his demons. The demons will serve the sorcerer while he is on earth, but then the sorcerer must serve those demons in hell. Is it worth it? Well, let’s see. First of all, being an unrepentant witch condemns one to hell. Secondly, even one’s worst days or worst bosses on earth can in no way compare to the misery of hell and its demon bosses. Thirdly, life in hell lasts forever-- a whole, whole, whole lot longer than life on earth. "Bargains" don’t come any worse than this!
As the main verse shows, God also wants us to stay away from mediums, spiritists and fortune tellers. Mediums or channelers are people who let demons talk through or work through them. Spiritists try to communicate with the spirits of dead people, but they are really talking with demons that pretend to be the spirits of dead people. Fortune tellers practice divination (attempts to gain hidden knowledge such as of the future) or try to "interpret omens" (try to attach special or future meaning to something). Many people have been hurt emotionally and/or physically; have made very bad decisions; and/or have hurt others after getting involved with evil people such as these.
Protect yourself and protect your soul. Stay far away from anyone like this and "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness" (2 Tim 2:19, Eph 5:11)!]
Lev 19:31 (KJV) Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them . . .
Rev 21:8

E52. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing [wolf costume with sheep head/sheepskin draped over wolf costume]
Mat 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."
[ False prophets are ministers or other people who often act like or claim that God said something He didn’t say. They may also purposely distort (change, lie about, add in or leave something out of) the Bible. They may do these things to gain more money, power, fame, followers or for other ungodly reasons (2 Pet 2:1-3).
Like many bad people, it can be hard to tell if they are bad just by looking at them. Appearances can be deceiving. They often pretend to be nice like sheep to fit in with the rest of God’s flock, but underneath they really are dangerous like wolves (Is 29:13). They teach wrong things and lead many astray (Gal 1:6-8, 2 Pet 3:16-17). We need to stay far away from people like this. In fact, we are not even to let them into our house (2 John 1:10-11).
Sometimes people lose faith in God if they see such a minister or other false Christian who is bad. However, Jesus warned there would be many false and fallen messengers, especially as we get closer to His Second Coming (Mat 24:11, 24:23-24). Here is an important point to remember: just because a messenger is bad, doesn’t mean God’s message is bad! Using false prophets to try to make God look bad is just one of the many, many tricks Satan uses to try to lead people away from God.
So how can you tell the good ministers from the bad? Study your Bible so you become familiar with God’s word. Make sure that your minister believes the Bible and that everything he is preaching agrees with the Bible. Many good ministers will also encourage you to verify their sermons yourself. They may say things like, "Don’t take my word for it. Look it up in your Bible." Pay attention to whether your minister also practices what he preaches, lives a godly life (1 John 2:4-6, 3:7-8, 3:10, Titus 1:16), produces good fruit, does not hurt others and does not ask people to do anything wrong. If your minister does not do the will of God, find another minister (Mat 7:21-23). Good ministers OBEY God, they do NOT claim He said something He didn’t say, they teach responsibly, they lead responsibly and they do NOT distort His word (James 3:1)!]
Acts 20:29-30
2 Cor 11:13-15

An Extra Lesson: The Good CEO and the Bad Employee
A lot of people are turned off to Christianity because of some bad thing a fake Christian did or said. This is very sad. The message in the Bible is good. The problem is, there are a lot of bad messengers out there doing harm to the Lord’s name and making His plan for salvation look bad. Below is a thinking exercise that helps show why people should try to look past that type of unhappy, negative experience and investigate the true God of the true Bible�..especially when their eternal soul is what is at stake!
Ready? Okay, pretend you know a great father who is the chief executive officer of a large, successful company whose main product is something that helps save lives. The dad worked tirelessly preparing for the presentation of the product, building up the company, developing a good reputation and setting up a good distribution system for the product. The product, by the way, is free--it has already been paid for at a huge cost by the father’s only son, who is also deeply involved in the family business. The father and son have set up some excellent rules for operation of the company and for their several thousand trusted employees to follow. This company policy helps ensure the employees do a good job, are completely honest, represent the company well and ultimately help save lives.
Now, let’s say a bad person manages to trick people into thinking he is trustworthy and gets hired at the company to work with potential new customers. He somehow figures out a way to hurt or cheat the customers. The customers are understandably angry and disappointed.
What should the customers do? Should they assume the father and son are bad people, too? Should they also assume the company and the product are bad? Should they be mad at the company and its leaders, refusing to have anything more to do with the product that could have saved their life? Or should they go directly to the company, ask for a copy of their company policy, see what the company is really about and find a better representative of the company to work with? You decide.

What This Modern Parable Represents
The Father, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company - God, our Heavenly Father.
The Product That Can Save Lives - Eternal salvation through Jesus.
The Son Who Paid the High Price for the Product - Jesus, who paid with His life.
Trusted Employees - Ministers, Sunday school teachers, Christian writers and anybody who teaches the Bible or demonstrates Christianity by word, deed or example; someone who somehow brings others closer to the Lord and/or helps save people’s eternal souls by leading them to a saving faith in Jesus.
Bad Employee - "Wolf in sheep’s clothing," bad minister, false teacher, false prophet, fake Christians, people who claim to be Christians but who have fallen into sin; someone whose bad teaching, bad actions or bad example, hurts others, leads others into sin, leads them away from the Lord, or somehow discourages them from accepting the Lord.
New Customers - People who have not yet accepted Jesus.
Company Policy - The Bible.
Better Representative - A better minister or Sunday school teacher at a better church, etc.; a true, Bible-believing, Bible-acting Christian like one of the "Trusted Employees" above, who brings others closer to the Lord and to salvation in Jesus.