Sunday devotions - Samson the strong man and the Jerk

My boys and I have a bedtime routine of reading the Bible not unlike any other parents I'm sure. I especially enjoy our Bible, the Action Bible, the boys received from their grandparents. It's written in a graphic novel style like a comic book complete with Bible characters drawn with superhero characteristics. 


We've already read it all the way through together and we are on our way through a second time. When we started it for the second time I wondered whether the boys would be bored the second time through or if they'd even be able to get anything new out of a second reading right away. 


Nothing to worry about. My boys are always picking up the Bible on their own to thumb through it. Last night we were reading, again, the story of Samson the strong man in the Bible found in the book of Judges.


 In the Action Bible Samson is of course depicted as almost superhuman, well he kinda was, with huge muscles and a pretty attractive personality to two little boys who are obsessed with Xmen and Avenger superheros. Samson is an easy guy to idolize! He had superhuman strength, slaughtered 1000 men with the jawbone of a donkey, wrestled a lion barehanded and destroyed a pagan temple. Wow! Pretty cool guy! 


But really when you read the whole story of Samson he was kind of a jerk! He defied the wishes of his parents by marrying a Philistine woman, gambled at his wedding and killed a dozen men, out of anger, to pay his debt and set a field of grain on fire during a temper tantrum. Samson may have been strong but he sure wasn't perfect! 


I think Samson is a perfect character to teach kids about role models and serving God. First, just because someone looks perfect doesn't mean they are.  The same can be said for people in our society; teachers, celebrities, friends and parents. It's important to get to know the real person before you attach a  heroic persona to them. Second, just because God has given you a job to do doesn't mean you won't make mistakes carrying out His wishes. Do the best you can anyway and ask for forgiveness along the way. 


Nobody's perfect and it's nice to be reminded that God even uses the imperfect, like you and me, to do His will! 


Dear God, Thanks for making me. Thanks for overlooking my imperfections. Thanks for giving me a purpose for You despite my mistakes. Amen! 

Marker Monday - Plushie Wolverine (Ode to Hugh Jackman)

Yip.

God bless that boy.

He drives me crazy some days with his requests.

"Mom, can you make me a lion mask?"

"Mom, can we build a catapult?"

Mom, can we make_____(fill in the blank)?"

Kid, I only have so much patience, time and resources!

But, he did ask the other day if I could make a Wolverine doll. Wolverine is his hero.

"Nope, I can't!", I answered triumphantly, "But YOU CAN!"

First we duct taped down a piece of white cotton fabric from my stash to a board. Then Yip drew out his Wolverine.  He painted it with slightly watered down acrylic craft paint. 

 

Then he added details with a Sharpie marker after the paint was dry.

I placed another piece of cotton fabric on top of the painting and ironed it to set the paint. This won't be exactly wash proof but it the paint will last for a long time if it isn't constantly being washed.

Then I pinned it and sewed along the outline of Wolverine.

 I cut out Wolverine and turned him right side out.

It took some extra trimming here and there.

\

Flat Wolverine waiting to gain some muscle!

I did all the hard work and the slave driver that I am, I made Yip stuff Wolverine.

Okay, I did help with the tight spots.

Voila!

The finished product!

Okay, maybe that's just a little wishful thinking on my part.

Betcha didn't know I've watched Wolverine Origins more often than Yip has!

Hugh Jackman is dreamy.

Well if I can't have Hugh Jackman to make googly eyes at, then I'm pretty happy to have these two around instead!

I think Yip did a pretty awesome job.

Marvel Who?

I have some awesome in-laws but one brother in law of mine in particular is a super uncle in the eyes of my boys. Why? Because their uncle is a Marvel comic junkie. Not so much a junkie though that he couldn't separate himself from all these Marvel superhero toys he sent to us last week.


I'm pretty sure all these toys were my BIL's when he was a kid. Wow, pretty cool he's sharing his old toys with my kids isn't it? I bet his report card read "plays well with others" when he was younger.

Yip and Yap love these toys, so do I. The only problem is we don't know who they all are. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? I didn't grow up watching or reading Marvel comics and since my boys don't watch tv (gasp!) we are a bit befuddled over some of the alliances of our Marvel pile.

Of course I know Hulk. I thought he was green? I do remember that show from my childhood.
And thanks to Yip's obsession with this one (and one hunkie Mr. Hugh Jackman) I know Wolverine too.

But who's this one? I'm tempted to say he must be a good guy. I think it's the bright colors of his underwear, I mean, supersuit that sways me towards his valor.

Wow, this guy has to be a good guy. Only a good guy would be brave enough to head out to a fight in purple and pink. Or maybe he's just a really badass bad dude and doesn't care what anyone thinks.

Then there are the few women action heroes. Are they virtuous or vile? I'm betting the chick in the red number isn't to be trusted. Would you trust any woman in a tight red hoochie outfit like that? And the one in the green shirt and shoes.....does she really have super powers or is the bad 80's fashion statement enough to drive away evil doers....or good doers?

Okay, I know Storm. (Thanks Halle Berry.) See she's one of those good guys but dressed in black like a bad guy. She's kind of like Johnny Cash that way.

Red, white and blue jammies. See, this guy has to be a good guy...like Uncle Sam. Of course, Storm up there had that dark outfit...but....she's a good guy...so....maybe this guy has the whole patriotic outfit ...but...maybe he's really a bad guy!

See, this is just too confusing to figure out on my own!!

Now this guy, I'm pretty sure he's a bad guy...maybe it's the hair. He has hair like James Dean. It just screams "REBEL" doesn't it? But I like him anyway. Any dude who can keep his threads that nice, straight and clean while kicking that high has to be admired.

Thanks my BIL Marvel Comics Fan.

Good or Bad, we are sure enjoying our new toys.