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SURFER
BOB: Whoa, whoa Billy-boy! Now that was
a pretty good shot … but go easy! That there
ball is a little heavy!
ACCOUNTANT
BILL: Um … yes … well ... um
… OK. Get ready … um … Welll
… GAME ON!
PENNY:
Surfer Bob, what are you and Accountant Bill playing?
I thought that you were doing research for Mr.
Christopher and me on sports ministry in Cancún,
Mexico.
SURFER
BOB: Yeah, well I guess ole’ AB and
I got a little sidetracked. I was shootin’
a tube on a big ole’ net-wave. I had done
an info cut back on some cyber-surf that had all
sorts of good stuff on the ancient people of Mexico
and a religious sports game they played. So, Billy
and I have decided to give this HISTORIC game
a whirl to see how hard it is!
ACCOUNTANT
BILL: Yes … we are … um …
well … giving it a whirl. I am … um
… well … in fact … I am …
well … winning … with a score of …
um … I think … um …10 to noth
…
SURFER
BOB: OK… OK … OK, Billy-boy
… Penny and Christopher aren’t interested
in some silly score from some silly game. No need
ta start braggin’!
PENNY:
Yes, because goodness knows you wouldn’t
be bragging if the tables were turned.
SURFER
BOB: Yeah, well this here is a pretty tough
game ta get the hang of, and I’m havin’
a run for my money with ole’ Accountant
Bill. He may not look the part … but he
is one tough hombre. I am playin’ on the
side of the Aztec Annihilators and Bill here is
on the side of the Mayan Mamby-Pambis. I made
those names up myself!
PENNY:
Oh, I was sure of that, Bob.
SURFER
BOB: Here during our halftime why don’t
you take a look-see at this Factoid. It will explain
about this here intense game.
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Ah … yes, I’ve
read about this game. The game itself was packed
with religious symbolism. And, the unfortunate
losers of the game were often offered to false
gods as a sacrifice.
PENNY:
Did you hear that, Bob. You better hope that you
win or Accountant Bill will have to sacrifice
you!
ACCOUNTANT
BILL: “Yes … um … Bob
… I would … um … well …
have to … um … make you a …
um … a human sacrifice! Ha … um …
ha!
SURFER
BOB: Billy-boy, you don’t scare me!
And besides, what makes you think yer gonna win.
Now get ready, because here I come. Hut one …
hut two!
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: You know, Penny, all joking
and fun aside … Surfer Bob and Accountant
Bill have really sparked all kinds of thoughts
that relate to our topic.
PENNY:
How so, Mr. C?
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Well, Penny, today we are
looking up information on volunteer work done
by the 2001 Superbowl Champions, the Baltimore
Ravens, and how some of the team brought the good
news of Jesus Christ to the lost of Cancún,
Mexico.
PENNY:
Oh yeah, they play a ‘ball game’ that,
in this particular case, also has great religious
implications.
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, you see gang, the sport
of football has nothing to do with the gospel.
But in the case of the Baltimore Raven team members
who went down on a Southern Baptist mission trip
to Cancún … football was used as
an entry point to talk about Jesus Christ and
how He wants to save us from sin.
PENNY:
Yeah, people that might not otherwise be
interested in what volunteer missionaries have
to say were really drawn in because of the sports
and football angle.
SURFER
BOB: He shoots, he scores!!!!!! Heh, heh
… that’s one for the Annihilators,
amigos! Go team … YEE DOGGIES!
ACCOUNTANT
BILL: Yes … well … it is …
um … now … 15 to…
SURFER
BOB: BILL, BILL, BILL … don’t
you think that keeping such an accurate score
is kind of immature and, well, down right prideful.
ACCOUNTANT
BILL: Well … I think that …
SURFER
BOB: Anyway, Pennarino, I found ya that
segment you were looking for on the Baltimore
Ravens. Go ahead and sneak a peek while I’m
on a roll! Yee doggies!
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: You know, Penny, like the
ancient Mexican game the Ravens made a sacrifice.
(Mr. C chuckles) No, they didn’t offer anybody
up to false gods, but they did make sacrifices
of their time and money to share Christ with the
people of Cancún.
PENNY:
Yeah, they did all of this because they love and
obey the One who made the ultimate sacrifice …
Jesus Christ!
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Exactly! Unlike the indigenous
peoples of Mexico … the Aztecs, the Mayans,
the Olmecs … Christ was a human sacrifice
for US, not for some false god. He died that we
might all be saved from sin and have life, eternal.
PENNY:
And that was no game.
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: It sure wasn’t. His
resurrection was the MOST IMPORTANT event in our
lives. Is His death and resurrection the focus
of your life? If it is, then you know that it
doesn’t end there. Jesus Christ commanded
us to ‘go make disciples of all nations,’
telling others about salvation from death.
PENNY:
Be a part of that first priority task so
that others can be winners. Write to us here at
Kids On Mission, and tell us how you are getting
into the game. Write to: Kids On Mission, International
Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA, 23230.
Your questions are important to us…questions
like this!
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Hey gang! We want to leave
you today by telling you about all kinds of cool
resources that your missions leaders or your parents
can order … resources that are useful for
you as Kids On Mission.
PENNY:
Yeah! We have a new tool that you can use in your
mission’s group or at home. It is a world
map, which will help you plot the work of our
Southern Baptist missionaries across the globe.
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: And don’t forget to
order the Kids On Mission newsletter, called the
KOMission … KOMission with a K. It is packed
with fun stuff … puzzles, articles, letters.
PENNY:
You can also order stickers and T-shirts. Just
have an adult call the International Mission Board’s
Resource Center at: 1-800-866-3621.
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Join the Kids On Mission team!
Be a part of international missions! Get in the
game!
PENNY:
An, speaking of games. Hey Surfer Bob!
Who won the game, and what was the final score?
Bob … Bob … (The monitor displays
a message that reads: “Due to Technical
Difficulties the Aztec vs. Mayan Game Has Been
Cancelled.) Oh brother, I think that I know what
the technical difficulties were.
MR.
CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, me too. Surfer Bob was
LOSING!
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