WeChat ESL Class August 5, 2017

A. High-lights of the Week

B. Short Story:

8 year-old's explanation of god

-- By Danny Dutton
Written by an 8 year old from Chula Vista, CA, for his third grade homework assignment. The assignment was to explain God. I just wonder if any of us could do as well?

One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.

He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.

God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime.  God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this .

Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.

God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.

Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.

Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.

His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.

You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.

You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God.

Don't skip church or do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.

If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can.

It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.

But... you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases. And this is what I know about God.

 C. American Idioms

1. eyes like a hawk

Which of these people would need eyes like a hawk?

 a. a pilot who searches for lost people

 b. a sound engineer who records music

 c. a chef who makes cakes and desserts

2. kill two birds with one stone

Sandra killed two birds with one stone by going to Paris. She practiced her French before her exam and she

 a. got better at speaking French

 b. read a book on French history

 c. went to her friend's wedding

3. let the cat out of the bag

After Julie let the cat out of the bag,

 a. everybody laughed

 b. we all knew

 c. they ran after it

4. like a fish out of water

Pablo went to the party, but he felt like a fish out of water because

 a. he was tired of eating meat and chicken

 b. he'd forgotten to take his swimming shorts

 c. he was the only Mexican guy there

5. quiet as a mouse

Francine is being as quiet as a mouse. Are you sure

 a. mice are really that quiet?

 b. she's making some noise?

 c. she's in her room?

6. sick as a dog

Gerry is as sick as a dog, so he should

 a. go to see a vet

 b. go to a hospital

 c. get a new dog

7. take the bull by the horns

The team wasn't playing well, so the coach took the bull by the horns and

 a. sacked several senior players

 b. told everyone he was doing his best

 c. asked the players to try a bit harder

8. talk turkey

Before we could talk turkey about the deal, we had to

 a. see the samples

 b. pay the money

 c. go to Turkey

9. the lion's share

The lion's share of the zoo's budget was spent on

 a. the lions

 b. the salaries

 c. the tea and biscuits

10. the rat race

Harry wants to get out of the rat race because

 a. he hates rats

 b. he doesn't really like racing

 c. he doesn't like the person he's becoming

D. Bible Lesson: Luke 11:37-44

Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers

37 While Jesus[e] was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 16:7

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Discussion Questions:

1. How can you tell when someone is putting on an act?
2. What were the Pharisees like? Why did they put on an act?
3. What rule did the Pharisee think that Jesus broke?
4. How did Jesus feel about the Pharisee obeying all the rules?
5. How did Jesus want the Pharisee to change?
6. Do you think God cares why we do something, as long as we're doing good things?
7. Does God know the hidden reasons we do things deep down in our hearts?
8. In the memory verse, what's a person's "outward appearance"?

WeChat ESL Class on July 22, 2017

A. High-lights of the Week

B. Short Story: a glass of milk
One day, a poor boy, who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you? "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was stronger also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Many years later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words.....
"Paid in full with one glass of milk." -- Signed -- Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank you, God , that Your love has spread through human hearts and hands."
There's a saying which goes something like this: "Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place." And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

C. American Idioms
1 (A) lady-killer:
     "He thinks of himself as quite the ladykiller. Unfortunately for him, women don't see him that way."

2. Last but not least:
  "Last but not least, I'd like to thank my parents."

3. Last ditch (adj.):
. "They made a last-ditch effort to win the game, but came up short."

4. (To) lay a finger on someone:
 "If you so much as lay a finger on him, you will be in trouble."

5. (To) lay low:
SEE "KEEP A LOW PROFILE"

6. (To) leave a bad taste in someone's mouth:
 "The experience left a bad taste in my mouth."

7. (To) leave someone high and dry:
*somewhat antiquated* To leave someone helpless.

8. (To) leave someone alone:
 "Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to anyone."

9. (To) let off steam:
 That's OK, he's just letting off a little steam."

10. (To) let someone off the hook:
"Natalie said she didn't want to wash the dishes, but her mom didn't let her off the hook." 

D. Bible Lesson - Luke 15:11-24

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who did Jesus tell this story to? Why?
2. What did the son in the story do wrong?
3. What happened to the son and how did he feel?
4. How did the son expect the father to treat him?
5. How did the father treat his son?
6. How is God like the father in Jesus' story?
7. According to the memory verse, what will happen if we admit our sins to God?

Memory Verse: 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.

WeChat ESL Class: July 15, 2017

A. High-Lights of the Week

B. Inspiring Short Story: Don't Forget to Smile.
A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.
Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child’s school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.
When the mother’s car drove up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her.
“What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?”
The child answered, “I am trying to look pretty, God keeps taking my picture.”
May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.

C. American Idioms

1. cat bird seat
2. shortchange
3. cold turkey
4. close, but no cigar
5. clear as a bell
6. clear bill of health
7. crocodile tears
8. dead as a door nail

D. Bible Lesson: Luke 15:1-7 The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

³ So he told them this parable: ⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

John 10:10-18 I am the Good Shepherd
¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

1. How are we like a sheep that gets lost?
2. What does the shepherd do when a sheep gets lost?
3. How is Jesus like a shepherd?
4. Why did Jesus tell this story to the Pharisees?
5. What does it mean to be "lost" from Jesus?
6. What does it mean to be "found" by Jesus?

I have been reading Jerry Bridges' book, Trusting God. He says, "God has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory and our good are inextricably bound together." I believe this is in part what Paul is describing, in addition to the gospel itself, when he refers to the mystery eleven different times in his letters. Ephesians 6:19 says, "and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,".Our good was certainly accomplished at the cross, when Christ defeated sin and death. His glory was also accomplished at the cross, when Christ defeated sin and death. This is the essence of the gospel: Christ's death for our sins, and his resurrection for our life.

Dear Lord,

You are my God and Savior. Great is Your faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Be glorified in my life today and every day! I am blessed to know that You not only care about Your glory, but equally greatly about my good, and doing what is best for me.

Prayer List:

My own growth and holiness.
My wife and that I would be a gently, loving, unselfish husband.
My children:
- Matt: Your continued mercy toward him, and that he would come to trust in You.
- Mark: Your continued mercy toward him, and that he would obey You and put You where you are: first!
- Luke: Your guidance for him, and Your continued protection of him and April. That they would as individuals and a couple desire to know You better.

Community Group:
- Ron: health
- Lilah: job at Kirkwood Music Store
- Betre: job at MJ
- Yemmi: job and certification exam
- Andy: job - wisdom for education decision for Grace
- Sandy: homemaker - wisdom for interactions with Grace
- Nanette: helping Leif, esp. during and after surgery

Job:
- Paul: testimony, health, rest, peace
- Grace Chapel: health, spiritual growth, new pastor

Wechat ESL Class on July 8th, 2017

A. High-Lights of the Week:

B. Short Story: An Inspiring Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.
C. American Idioms:

1. Back to square one
2. Backhanded compliment
3. Back-seat driver  
4. (a) ball-park figure
5. (To) bank on something
6. (To) be up to no good
7. (To be) beside oneself
8. Believe it or not
9. Big-shot 
10. (To) bite off more than (you) can chew       

 D.  Bible Lesson : Isaiah 6:1-9

Isaiah 6Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

God Calls Isaiah to Be a Prophet

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a very high and wonderful throne. His long robe filled the Temple. ² Seraph angels stood around him. Each angel had six wings. They used two wings to cover their faces, two wings to cover their bodies, and two wings to fly. ³ The angels were calling to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord All-Powerful. His Glory fills the whole earth.” ⁴ The sound was so loud that it caused the frame around the door to shake, and the Temple was filled with smoke.

⁵ I was frightened and said, “Oh, no! I will be destroyed. I am not pure enough to speak to God, and I live among people who are not pure enough to speak to him. But I have seen the King, the Lord All-Powerful.”
⁶ There was a fire on the altar. One of the Seraph angels used a pair of tongs to take a hot coal from the fire. Then the angel flew to me with it in his hand. ⁷ Then he touched my mouth with the hot coal and said, “When this hot coal touched your lips, your guilt was taken away, and your sins were erased”
⁸ Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Who can I send? Who will go for us?”
So I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
⁹ Then the Lord said, “Go and tell the people, ‘Listen closely, but don’t understand. Look closely, but don’t learn.’

Discussion Questions:

1. What was the amazing thing that Isaiah saw?
2. What else was there? What did they do?
3. How did Isaiah feel about God's holiness? 
4. Why is it important for us to understand that God is holy?
5. In the memory verse, how is the earth full of God's glory?

Memory Verse: Isaiah 6:3 
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."