Don't Get Hooked!

Don't Get Hooked!

By Mike

Finney swam slowly past the enticing morsel dangling just inches away; he could almost taste the scrumptious delicacy. The young fish wanted to gobble up the worm, but all the warnings that were drilled into his head, by the older fish in the school kept him from doing so. 

Finney had his doubts about the advice the older fish continued to give him; he did not see how something so delicious could be dangerous. The older fish probably told the younger fish those horror stories so there would not be as much competition for the food.

Were the stories true, Finney decided that he would have to find out for himself? 

He turned and swam back to the worm. He did not see any steel or sharp barbed hooks; all he saw was the worm. He opened his mouth wide and then felt a dull thud in his side. 

Finney's Uncle had rammed into him and pushed him away from the worm. "What in the deep blue waters is wrong with you!" demanded Uncle Corky. "Do you think we warn you about the hook just for the fun of it?" 

Finney stammered, "I don't know, sometimes I wonder if the stories are true."

Uncle Corky closed his eyes and said with a broken voice "Follow me; it is time you see what the hook can do." Finney followed his uncle to the shallows, which were close to the shoreline. Before them were countless fish, many of which were swimming on their sides, barely alive. Others had gaping rips in their jaws and were unable to eat. It was a brutal site, one that Finney would not soon forget. Just then, a bird swooped down and scooped up one of the fish that had been swimming on its side. 

Uncle Corky explained that the hook had caused all this carnage. You see the stories are true, I wish you would have believed without being brought to the shallows.

Even as they swam away, Finney recalled the stories that some clever fish were able to take the worm without being hooked. A prideful thought entered his mind; maybe these broken fish had not been as smart or as fast as he was.

Day after day Finney continued to see enticing morsels floating in the water, they came in all kinds of shapes and colors. Finney would swim closer and closer to the bait, slowing down with each pass he took. One fateful day the temptation got the better of Finney and he swallowed the bait. Why it wasn’t tasty at all, but tasted like plastic!
Before Finney could spit out the bait, he felt a sharp pain in his jaw and was being pulled through the water. The young fish put up a good fight but his strength was gone, he knew that he had lost the fight for another day.

Dear boys and girls, Satan tries to tempt us to sin each day. The devil wants to drag us away from God. Satan never grows weary of putting new types of bait or temptation before us. Satan doesn’t care what he uses or abuses for bait, he is the father of lies and wants to destroy those whom God loves. Put on the full armor of God so that you can resist the devil and all his schemes. 

Bible:

 He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.

                                                                 Proverbs 19:16

Prayer:

Dear Lord,
I ask for your strength to stand up under the temptation whenever I encounter it.Lord, please give me the wisdom to walk away when I am tempted, and the clarity to see the way out that you will provide. Thank you, God, that you are a faithful deliverer and that I can count on your help in my time of need.
Amen

The Owners Manual

The Owners Manual
by Mike

Once upon a time there was a man named Michael. One particular day Michael was very
excited, this was the day his brand new car was being delivered. Michael had never owned
a car before but he knew that owning a car would help him in many ways. Michael had
worked hard to get this car. He saved his money for several years so that he could buy the car.

The moment finally arrived. The delivery man from the car dealership pulled into the
driveway with Michael's brand new shiny car. Michael was so excited!

The delivery man asked, "Would you like me to go over some of the car's features with you?"

Michael replied, "No that's okay I'm sure I can figure it out by myself, thanks anyway."

The delivery man said, "Okay, if you do find you need help, the owners manual is in the
glove department." The delivery man handed Michael the keys, wished him luck and left.

Michael excitedly ran to the car and pulled on the door, but it wouldn't open. Michael
thought, that's odd, the car at the dealership doors would open. Michael walked around
the car looking into the windows thinking how soft the seats looked. At that time Michael's
friend Scott came over.

Scott said, "Nice car Michael, but why are you walking around the outside looking in?"

Michael said, "I just got this car and the doors are stuck."

Scott laughed and said, "Stuck? Did you try unlocking the doors?"

Michael sheepishly replied, "Well no, not yet, I was just getting ready to."

Michael put one of the keys into the door lock, but it wouldn't open the door no matter
how hard Michael tried to turn it.

Scott said, "Better be careful or you'll break that key off in the lock. That key is to the car's
trunk. Try the other key."

Michael quickly replied, "I was just getting ready to try that."

Michael finally unlocked the car doors and sat behind the wheel. Michael breathed in
deeply and said, "Don't you just love that new car smell?"

Scott said, "Yes, its a great smell. Let's see how the radio sounds."

After several attempts and some guidance from Scott, Michael finally got the radio turned
on. Michael said, "Oh great, I got a radio that plays the wrong radio station and the sound
is much too low!"

Scott groaned and said, "Michael, you push these buttons to change the radio station and
turn that knob to adjust the volume level. Haven't you read the owners manual yet? That's
the first thing I did when I bought my new car."

Michael replied, "No not yet, I've been too busy, but I'll get around to it sometime soon.
Right now I want to take this beauty out for a little drive!"

Scott cautioned, "Be careful Michael and please wear your seat belt."

Michael asked, "Hey Scott, think you could give me a hand with the seat belt?"

Scott walked over and helped Michael get the seat belt adjusted and warned, "I hope
you know what your doing."

With that Michael backed out of the driveway.

Much to Michael's surprise the car kept going backwards, Michael turned the wheel and
pushed buttons but the car kept going backwards. With great horror Scott watched as
Michael backed the brand new car right into a tree. The car was ruined.

Scott ran over to Michael and asked, "Why didn't you stop?"

Michael stammered, "I didn't know how..."

Many people go through life without referring to the owners manual God gave us.
This owner manual, the Bible, can help us have a richer, more fulfilled life in so many
ways. It is wise to read the Bible often and follow the guidelines God has laid out for us.
So many people are on the outside trying to find a way in, just like Michael when he was
trying to unlock the car doors. People may try different keys or methods to get to Heaven,
but Jesus told us that He is the only way. We must trust Jesus and ask Him to forgive us
for the bad things we have done. After that we should read the Bible and pray to God, if
we do we will have a much happier life!