Covfel ESL Class Sep. 13, 2017

A. High-light of the Week

B. Short Story:

feel good about who you are

-- Author Unknown

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them." "For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

C. American Idioms:

Idioms Quiz 1

See if you can match the idiomatic expression used here with its real meaning!

Ellie was "feeling blue." What did that mean? She touched only blue things. She was freezing cold. She was feeling very sad. She was touching her favorite dog.

When he was asked why Arthur had not fought in the army, Jed replied, "That simple. He "was yellow." What did he mean? He was a coward; afraid to fight. He was sick to his stomach. He was Chinese. He had a jaundiced look.

George applied for a building permit and was shocked to find all the "red tape" involved. What did he mean? Tape used to outline where buildings are built. Everything had to be bound with a certain colored tape. There was lots of paperwork that to be filled out. A red tape recorder recorded everything.

Melinda turned "red as a beet" when someone mentioned Bob's name. Why did she do this? She was embarrassed. She got very angry. She was holding her breath. She stood too close to the heater.

Mrs. O'Leary says her neighbor, Jim, has "a heart of gold." What does she mean? He has a very valuable pacemaker. He has tattoos on his chest. He is a very kind, honest person. He is a selfish, evil person.

Edgar was "tickled pink" when he heard from his friend. What does that mean? A bunch of people got him down, tickled him and made him laugh. Tickling nearly made him have a heart attack. His friend likes to tickle him. He was delighted to hear from his friend.

When my uncle heard his neighbor bought a new car, he was "green with envy." Why? He had lots of money. He had a serious infection. He was very jealous. He had a mossy growth on him.

Mr. Jones said his business was "in the black" now. What does that mean? He bought some oil fields. It only runs at night. It is losing money. It is making a profit.

Carole has been told that her problem is that she looks at life through "rose-colored glasses." What does that mean? She needs glasses that are not tinted. She sees things as they are, not as they should be. She keeps peeking through goblets raised over her corneas. She sees things as they should be, not as they are.

Grandma told my mom she was feeling "in the pink". How was she feeling? She was sick to her stomach. She was feeling well. She was feeling dizzy. She was feeling like a lady.

D. Bible Lesson: Acts 12:1-19

Memory Verse: James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

Acts 12: 1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

Discussion Questions:

• What was the problem Peter had?
• Who was responsible for Peter being thrown into prison?
• Why were Peter's friends afraid that Peter might be killed?
• What did Peter's friends do to solve the problem?
• How did God answer their prayers?
• How did Peter's friends react when they heard that Peter was free?
• In James 5:16, what does it mean to be "righteous"?

          "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."