E2H Apr. Issue

FROM PRANKS TO PERSEVERANCE

On April 1st, “April Fool’s Day,” I came across a list of the top pranks of all time performed on the first of April. Here are just some that made the list:

Planetary Alignment Decreases Gravity: In April 1976 the British astronomer Patrick Moore announced on BBC Radio 2 that at 9:47 am, a once in a lifetime astronomical event would occur that listeners could experience in their very own homes. The planet Pluto would pass behind Jupiter, temporarily causing a gravitational alignment that would counteract and reduce the Earth’s gravity. When 9:47 am arrived, BBC2 received hundreds of phone calls from listeners claiming to have felt the sensation. One woman even reported that she and her 11 friends had risen from their chairs and floated around the room.

The Left-Handed Whopper: In April 1998, Burger King published a full-page advertisement in USA Today that introduced a new menu item: the left-handed whopper. The new whopper had the same ingredients as the original, but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of the left-handed customers. Thousands of customers had gone into restaurants requesting the new sandwich. At the same time, many others requested their own “right-handed” version.

The Taco Liberty Bell: In April 1996 the Taco Bell Corp. announced it had bought the Liberty Bell and had renamed it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called Philadelphia’s National Historic Park to express their anger.

The Bible includes a few pranks that were played among its characters. One of the most famous would be the one played by Rebekah and Jacob, on Isaac and Esau. In Genesis 27, we learn just how much Rebekah loved Jacob over Esau. Esau was the firstborn, and therefore had the right to his blessing. Yet, Rebekah thought of this scheme that would turn the tables in Jacob’s favor. Isaac had become blind in his old age and it wouldn’t take much to trick him into believing that Jacob (a man of the tent) was his older brother, Esau (a man of the field). Rebekah took Esau’s coat and put it over Jacob, and then she took the skins of a goat and applied it to his arms. Isaac was skeptical, but when he smelled the field on Esau’s coat and felt the hair on Jacob’s arms he was deceived. He unknowingly granted Jacob the blessing and the prank was complete.

But we would see pranks once again surface in the life of Jacob, and this time it would be on him. In Genesis 29 Jacob was forced to work seven years for a wife he didn’t even desire. Her father had tricked Jacob into working an additional seven years (14 total) for the sister whom Jacob loved, Rachel. However, Jacob exhibited perseverance through it all. He worked steadily without giving up. There will always be pranks and tricks, but the good life belongs to the one who perseveres. “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9).

A SUCCESSFUL PLANNING SESSION!

We enjoyed a successful planning session following our afternoon worship last Sunday. For this month, the girls will take a trip down to Montgomery for Dalraida’s “Purity Day” and—believe it or not—another “Mystery Night” has been planned. In the two following months we’ll have an outdoor canoe trip, a spring cleaning project, and of course the usual: VBS, BCC camp, etc. Also, if you’re planning to go on the campaign see me ASAP (8/12-18)! -BK