Meanwhile...On a cold February day, Jane, Debra, and Alan had saved seats for JoJo and Samantha at their usual spot in the cafeteria. Samantha arrived two minutes before JoJo.
Alan practically yelled, "Samantha, over here!"
"Oh. Hey y'all."
Debra siad, "I like your blouse. Blue is a good color for you!"
Samantha was so grateful for Mrs. Smith at that moment.
"Thanks, Debra. Jane, I like your outfit."
Jane had a killer 70s outfit! She had matching jean jacket and pants. It radiated COOL.
"Thanks, Samantha! Where's JoJo?"
"He should be here..."
Just then JoJo was aimlessly wandering around the lunchroom.
Once again, Alan practically yelled, "JoJo, join us!"
"Oh, hey guys!"
The four in unison said, "Hey JoJo."
Jane turned to JoJo and said, "What's up?"
"Nothing much. I have learned so much today!!"
Silence....
JoJo said, "Uh, Sarcasm y'all."
Everyone laughed and the conversation continued.
Strangely, JoJo couldn't keep his eyes off of Samantha.
She could see him out of the corner of her eye. Her lack of confidence led her to believe something was wrong with her appearance, the words she was using, or maybe she smelled. But none of that was true. JoJo found her really cute. He had not seen her cuteness before. He didn't stop to wonder why.
After lunch, the sophomores went their way, and JoJo expected to walk with Samantha to class. However, she split. She practically ran from JoJo. He started to call out for her to stop. But he was speechless. His mouth would not move.
That night JoJo called Samantha 3 times, before she finally answered.
"Bout time."
Silence...
"Samantha??"
"I am here."
"Why did you leave so fast after lunch today?"
"What was wrong with me during lunch? And, why didn't you let me know? I felt embarrassed in front of the sophomores!"
JoJo was clueless. "What the heck are you talking about, Girl?"
"You stared at me the entire lunch!!"
OH CRAP! JoJo thought to himself. "Uhhh. I was?"
"You know darn well you were! Why!!" Samantha was tearing up.
JoJo had to think fast. He couldn't tell her the truth.
"Samantha, there was NOTHING wrong with you at lunch today."
"Really"--as she choked back tears.
"NO!"
"Then why the heck were you staring?"
"I dunno."
Then it hit Samantha...He thought I was cute. Hmmmm
"I'm sorry. Sometimes, I get paranoid."
Neither one of them would let on what really happened, so they went back to normal conversation.
"Wow, did you see Mr. Ruler bust his head on the cabinet today?"
"I think everyone did, JoJo."
"I guess so. But, it was great!"
"Do you hate teachers?"
"No, I don't hate them. I just feel we are at war."
"Really?"
"Yes! They tell us one thing and do another."
"Like what? When?"
"Like last week. Old Lady Right told us to study Chapters 1 & 2 for our test."
"And..."
"I studied them for three days. On the test, there was material from the first 4 chapters. I made a 70!'
"That is raunchy. What else?'
"Well...Early this semester, Mr. Quiz told me I had a big mouth."
"Uh Huh...you do."
JoJo laughed. "True. But, then he said he was going to close it for me. And the entire class laughed at me.'"
"That is pretty rotten."
"Anyway. They are not as perfect as they want us to be."
Friday, October 27, 2017
Thursday, October 26, 2017
JoJo 14.1; What's Up With Tommy?
Something was different about Tommy. He was kinda mean. However, he was the leader of a small group of boys who thought Tommy was cool.
About a year back, Tommy quit the Youth Band. A month later, he quit going to church.
His dad, Fire asked him, “Why did you drop out of the Youth Band, Son?”
Tommy told the truth. “Dad, some of the boys are calling me a Choir Boy! That does not sound like a man.”
Fire responded, “Using your musical gift for the Lord is being a man in God’s eyes.”
“I see what you mean.”
However, Tommy told his dad that just to satisfy him. After all, he had a reputation to keep!
Tommy had always listened to a combination of Pop/Rock and Contemporary Christian. Since, he quit going to church, he was simply rock & roll. His dad couln't help but overhear the music coming from his room. One day, Fire asked Tommy about it.
“Son, are you strictly rock & roll now?”
“Yessir.”
“What happen to your Christian music?”
“I am giving it a rest.”
“I see.”
“Dad, is there anything wrong with rock & roll?”
“With the exception of a few weird bands, I don’t think so. However..”
Here we go, thought Tommy.
“The rock music of this world is just that.”
“Huh? I mean, sir?”
“Tommy, things of the world tend to keep us worldly.”
“Uhhhh. Sir.”
“Do you remember the verse Romans 12:2?”
“Uhhh. I do not…”
“It states, ‘Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’”
“I remember.”
“God uses many avenues to transform us. He uses His Word, prayer, worship, preaching, teaching, serving, obedience, MUSIC, and more.”
“So you are saying Rock Music is bad for me?”
“No. I am saying if all the music you put in your ear and soul is rock, then you are copying the world and not allowing God to transform your mind. I wish you would play or at least listen to some Christian music.”
“Do I have to?”
“No.”
“Cool.”
“Cool. What does that mean?”
“I am Straight Out Rock & Roll, Daddy!”
“Hmmm. OK."
Fire knew that forcing Tommy to listen to Christian music was stupid. He needed to WANT to listen to it. So, Fire decided to pray. God can change all hearts. Plus, he knows boys (and girls) go through phases.
Tommy called his knew buddy Slick.
“Hey Slick!”
“What’s up. Tommy Boy Boy?!”
“Man, by dad just gave me a lecture about music.”
“Bummer, Dude.”
“Nah Man. He said I could listen to whatever kind of music I wanted.”
Somehow the rest of Fire and Tommy's conversation fell on deaf ears. Or did it??
Fire’s words exposed Tommy to the truth. What’s more, God’s words had been heard and were in his heart.
Isaiah 55:11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
About a year back, Tommy quit the Youth Band. A month later, he quit going to church.
His dad, Fire asked him, “Why did you drop out of the Youth Band, Son?”
Tommy told the truth. “Dad, some of the boys are calling me a Choir Boy! That does not sound like a man.”
Fire responded, “Using your musical gift for the Lord is being a man in God’s eyes.”
“I see what you mean.”
However, Tommy told his dad that just to satisfy him. After all, he had a reputation to keep!
Tommy had always listened to a combination of Pop/Rock and Contemporary Christian. Since, he quit going to church, he was simply rock & roll. His dad couln't help but overhear the music coming from his room. One day, Fire asked Tommy about it.
“Son, are you strictly rock & roll now?”
“Yessir.”
“What happen to your Christian music?”
“I am giving it a rest.”
“I see.”
“Dad, is there anything wrong with rock & roll?”
“With the exception of a few weird bands, I don’t think so. However..”
Here we go, thought Tommy.
“The rock music of this world is just that.”
“Huh? I mean, sir?”
“Tommy, things of the world tend to keep us worldly.”
“Uhhhh. Sir.”
“Do you remember the verse Romans 12:2?”
“Uhhh. I do not…”
“It states, ‘Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’”
“I remember.”
“God uses many avenues to transform us. He uses His Word, prayer, worship, preaching, teaching, serving, obedience, MUSIC, and more.”
“So you are saying Rock Music is bad for me?”
“No. I am saying if all the music you put in your ear and soul is rock, then you are copying the world and not allowing God to transform your mind. I wish you would play or at least listen to some Christian music.”
“Do I have to?”
“No.”
“Cool.”
“Cool. What does that mean?”
“I am Straight Out Rock & Roll, Daddy!”
“Hmmm. OK."
Fire knew that forcing Tommy to listen to Christian music was stupid. He needed to WANT to listen to it. So, Fire decided to pray. God can change all hearts. Plus, he knows boys (and girls) go through phases.
Tommy called his knew buddy Slick.
“Hey Slick!”
“What’s up. Tommy Boy Boy?!”
“Man, by dad just gave me a lecture about music.”
“Bummer, Dude.”
“Nah Man. He said I could listen to whatever kind of music I wanted.”
Somehow the rest of Fire and Tommy's conversation fell on deaf ears. Or did it??
Fire’s words exposed Tommy to the truth. What’s more, God’s words had been heard and were in his heart.
Isaiah 55:11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Live in the Knowledge of My Life in Christ or Live in the Court of Public Opinion?
Live in the Knowledge of My LIfe in Christ or Live in the Court of Public Opinion?
THE MARY PRINCIPLE
This morning, I could feel a sub-conscious concern about “what others were thinking about me.” If we allow this to happen to ourselves, we are condemned in “The Court of Public Opinion” for allowing ourselves to be affected—sub-consciously or consciously. It boils down to answering the following question.
Do I want to live a life that pleases people or a life that pleases God?
Psalm 37:1-4 (NLT)
1. Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
2. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
3. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4. Take delight in the Lord, and we will give you your hearts's desire.
God used the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus to help me realize the proper answer to the question posed in the title. Let’s consider Mary. Hebrew tradition tells us Mary was a young to middle teen when the angel visited her with the news about Jesus.
Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)
26. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,
27. to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
28. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29. Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
30. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
31. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end.”
34. Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35. The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
36. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.
37. For the word of God will never fail.”
38. Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
The first lesson learned is Mary had pleased God and he chose her to be Jesus’ momma. We need to please God and be ready for His Devine assignments.
Second, Mary believed the angel. She did not dismiss this as some weird state of mind or illusion or her mind playing tricks on her. Why? She knew God and she knew this news was from him.
Third, the angel testified to the miracle of Elizabeth. (We can learn from the miracle of Elizabeth as well. Especially when we are told something is impossible.)
Fourth, the angels words, “For the word of God will never fail,” should be a key to our faith. A key to our life.
Fifth, Mary’s response was a commitment to the Lord and a yielding to his plan for her life.
Let’s pretend we have never seen a Bible. We are not 2000 years-post Christ’s time on this earth. We are in the time of history written in the verses from Luke 1:26-38. We watch Mary’s life unfold.
First, when she told people she was pregnant via God, she was called a liar by EVERYONE…even her own family.
Second, God convinced her fiancé Joseph that what Mary said was true. (See: Matthew 1:18-21.)
Third, Mary was an easy target of ridicule for the rest of her life. Only believers would not ridicule her, and this was only after Jesus’ Resurrection.
Fourth, Mary never wavered.
Fifth, Mary pleased God by believing, receiving, and carrying out his plan.
Sixth, due to Herod’s desire to kill the King of the Jews, she and Joseph had to live on the run until Herod died.
Seventh, the couple took Jesus back to their home town of Nazareth. They were probably met with love from some and jeers from others.
As I look at my life, I need to do the following:
First, please God over pleasing people.
Second, continue to seek God and know him more and more.
Third, don’t allow any voices other than the Voice of Truth have an affect on me.
Fourth, when God gives a Word for my life, I must believe, receive, and carry it out.
Fifth, trust God no matter what.
Sixth, when I mess up, fess up. Talk to God in a real way. Seek and receive His forgiveness.
Seventh, be open to people changing. Don’t be afraid to “go home.”
The following verse is the answer to myself. It is the final lesson of The Mary Principle.
Matthew 7:7 are Jesus’ words…
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
THE MARY PRINCIPLE
This morning, I could feel a sub-conscious concern about “what others were thinking about me.” If we allow this to happen to ourselves, we are condemned in “The Court of Public Opinion” for allowing ourselves to be affected—sub-consciously or consciously. It boils down to answering the following question.
Do I want to live a life that pleases people or a life that pleases God?
Psalm 37:1-4 (NLT)
1. Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
2. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
3. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4. Take delight in the Lord, and we will give you your hearts's desire.
God used the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus to help me realize the proper answer to the question posed in the title. Let’s consider Mary. Hebrew tradition tells us Mary was a young to middle teen when the angel visited her with the news about Jesus.
Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)
26. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,
27. to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
28. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29. Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
30. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
31. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end.”
34. Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35. The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
36. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.
37. For the word of God will never fail.”
38. Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
The first lesson learned is Mary had pleased God and he chose her to be Jesus’ momma. We need to please God and be ready for His Devine assignments.
Second, Mary believed the angel. She did not dismiss this as some weird state of mind or illusion or her mind playing tricks on her. Why? She knew God and she knew this news was from him.
Third, the angel testified to the miracle of Elizabeth. (We can learn from the miracle of Elizabeth as well. Especially when we are told something is impossible.)
Fourth, the angels words, “For the word of God will never fail,” should be a key to our faith. A key to our life.
Fifth, Mary’s response was a commitment to the Lord and a yielding to his plan for her life.
Let’s pretend we have never seen a Bible. We are not 2000 years-post Christ’s time on this earth. We are in the time of history written in the verses from Luke 1:26-38. We watch Mary’s life unfold.
First, when she told people she was pregnant via God, she was called a liar by EVERYONE…even her own family.
Second, God convinced her fiancé Joseph that what Mary said was true. (See: Matthew 1:18-21.)
Third, Mary was an easy target of ridicule for the rest of her life. Only believers would not ridicule her, and this was only after Jesus’ Resurrection.
Fourth, Mary never wavered.
Fifth, Mary pleased God by believing, receiving, and carrying out his plan.
Sixth, due to Herod’s desire to kill the King of the Jews, she and Joseph had to live on the run until Herod died.
Seventh, the couple took Jesus back to their home town of Nazareth. They were probably met with love from some and jeers from others.
As I look at my life, I need to do the following:
First, please God over pleasing people.
Second, continue to seek God and know him more and more.
Third, don’t allow any voices other than the Voice of Truth have an affect on me.
Fourth, when God gives a Word for my life, I must believe, receive, and carry it out.
Fifth, trust God no matter what.
Sixth, when I mess up, fess up. Talk to God in a real way. Seek and receive His forgiveness.
Seventh, be open to people changing. Don’t be afraid to “go home.”
The following verse is the answer to myself. It is the final lesson of The Mary Principle.
Matthew 7:7 are Jesus’ words…
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
JoJo 13.4; Big Time
February 28, 1976
As JoJo entered the lunchroom that morning, he was met with laughs.
He quickly figured out the laughs were directed towards him.
He could only imagine...This must be about Samantha and yesterday...
"What's up, guys?"
Tommy stepped up, "You tell us, Romeo."
"Huh?"
Tommy continued, "Don't play coy with the boys. We heard about you and your girlfriend going to church together yesterday."
"oh."
Tommy bit in deeper, "So, you admit it, huh?"
JoJo kept his cool. "Samantha went to church with us, but she is NOT my girlfriend."
Stacy jumped in. "Word has it...she also went to your house."
Oh Brother! "This is true."
Stacy patted JoJo on the back. "Glad you FINALLY got a girlfriend. Ha Ha!!"
Now JoJo prayed: Lord, help me.
Suddenly the bell rang. JoJo quickly left the guys.
JoJo continued to pray: Lord, I know it was the right thing to invite Samantha to church and help feed her. But, God, it's High School. I don't want to be the laughing stock.
Immediately JoJo remembered the text for the sermon from yesterday:
Matthew 5:11 "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things about you because you are my followers."
Ok, God, that was cool the way You brought that to my memory. Your will be done over mine.
Finally, lunch time. He had already decided he was going to ask Samantha to sit with him at lunch.
As he scanned the lunchroom, his mouth fell open when he saw Samantha waving for him to join her. The surprise was who she was sitting with. 2 Sophomore girls and 1 Sophomore boy. All three of them were in the Youth Sunday school class yesterday. They recognized Samantha, and asked her to join them. Wow!!
JoJo wasn't even sure if they knew his name. He knew them: Debra, Jane, and Alan.
To his dismay, Alan said, "Join us JoJo!"
"Sure, Alan. Thanks."
He looked at the 2 sophomore girls in a bewildering way.
They laughed. Debra said, "JoJo, it's funny that we have never really talked."
All Jo could mange was, "yea."
Again the girls laughed. This time Jane said, "Relax, JoJo. We don't bite."
"OK. Good."
At that, everybody laughed, even Samantha.
Alan said, "We were enjoying talking to Samantha." The girls smiled and nodded.
What do I say??
"Oh good." "Hey, Samantha."
"Hey JoJo."
Debra asked, "So are y'all like girlfriend & boyfriend?"
Samantha answered before JoJo. "No, we are just really good friends."
Alan said, "Cool." The girls nodded in approval.
The Sophomores talked about their classes some. Then, they talked about church. Their discussion amongst themselves was really interesting. JoJo and Samantha just listened.
The bell rang indicating lunch was over.
Debra said, "Would y'all consider having lunch with us tomorrow?"
JoJo and Samantha looked at each other for a moment, then they replied in unison, "Yea."
Two tables over, Tommy was stewing. He really wanted to bring JoJo down--for some reason--but he knew JoJo had hit the Big Time: Eating lunch with Sophomores. And 2 of them are girls!!
Tommy would think up a new plan to hurt JoJo....
As JoJo entered the lunchroom that morning, he was met with laughs.
He quickly figured out the laughs were directed towards him.
He could only imagine...This must be about Samantha and yesterday...
"What's up, guys?"
Tommy stepped up, "You tell us, Romeo."
"Huh?"
Tommy continued, "Don't play coy with the boys. We heard about you and your girlfriend going to church together yesterday."
"oh."
Tommy bit in deeper, "So, you admit it, huh?"
JoJo kept his cool. "Samantha went to church with us, but she is NOT my girlfriend."
Stacy jumped in. "Word has it...she also went to your house."
Oh Brother! "This is true."
Stacy patted JoJo on the back. "Glad you FINALLY got a girlfriend. Ha Ha!!"
Now JoJo prayed: Lord, help me.
Suddenly the bell rang. JoJo quickly left the guys.
JoJo continued to pray: Lord, I know it was the right thing to invite Samantha to church and help feed her. But, God, it's High School. I don't want to be the laughing stock.
Immediately JoJo remembered the text for the sermon from yesterday:
Matthew 5:11 "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things about you because you are my followers."
Ok, God, that was cool the way You brought that to my memory. Your will be done over mine.
Finally, lunch time. He had already decided he was going to ask Samantha to sit with him at lunch.
As he scanned the lunchroom, his mouth fell open when he saw Samantha waving for him to join her. The surprise was who she was sitting with. 2 Sophomore girls and 1 Sophomore boy. All three of them were in the Youth Sunday school class yesterday. They recognized Samantha, and asked her to join them. Wow!!
JoJo wasn't even sure if they knew his name. He knew them: Debra, Jane, and Alan.
To his dismay, Alan said, "Join us JoJo!"
"Sure, Alan. Thanks."
He looked at the 2 sophomore girls in a bewildering way.
They laughed. Debra said, "JoJo, it's funny that we have never really talked."
All Jo could mange was, "yea."
Again the girls laughed. This time Jane said, "Relax, JoJo. We don't bite."
"OK. Good."
At that, everybody laughed, even Samantha.
Alan said, "We were enjoying talking to Samantha." The girls smiled and nodded.
What do I say??
"Oh good." "Hey, Samantha."
"Hey JoJo."
Debra asked, "So are y'all like girlfriend & boyfriend?"
Samantha answered before JoJo. "No, we are just really good friends."
Alan said, "Cool." The girls nodded in approval.
The Sophomores talked about their classes some. Then, they talked about church. Their discussion amongst themselves was really interesting. JoJo and Samantha just listened.
The bell rang indicating lunch was over.
Debra said, "Would y'all consider having lunch with us tomorrow?"
JoJo and Samantha looked at each other for a moment, then they replied in unison, "Yea."
Two tables over, Tommy was stewing. He really wanted to bring JoJo down--for some reason--but he knew JoJo had hit the Big Time: Eating lunch with Sophomores. And 2 of them are girls!!
Tommy would think up a new plan to hurt JoJo....
JoJo 13.1; Samantha Has Lunch With The Smiths
"More carrots, Samantha?" Alice asked
"Yes mam. Thank you!"
"You are welcome."
Dan chimed in. "Did you like church, Samantha?"
"Oh, yes sir. Especially the music!"
"Good."
JoJo interrupted, "I feel like we are grilling Samantha. Can't we just eat?"
Samantha quickly said, "It's alright, JoJo. I am enjoying myself immensely."
"Oh, cool." JoJo quickly replied.
After lunch, JoJo and Remi invited Samantha to play Monopoly.
"I have never played before."
JoJo reassured her. "If Remi can play, I think you can pick it up."
Remi, oblivious to the insult added, "Yea, if me can do it, you can do it."
Samantha laughed and agreed to play.
After 2 hours and 15 minutes, the three Monopoly players decided to call it quits. The game seemed like it was never going to end.
Samantha asked Alice for a ride home.
JoJo was surprised Samantha would feel comfortable enough to ask his mom anything.
"Sure, let me get my keys."
"I had a wonderful day! Thank you, Mr. Smith and Remi."
"What about me?" JoJo frustratedly asked.
"Of course, you big lug. Aren't you going to ride with your mom and me?"
"Oh. Sure."
Samantha insisted on being dropped off at the Grubb & Gas. She thanked Mrs. Smith and JoJo.
"I'll see ya tomorrow at school, Samantha."
"See ya."
The next day at school would have a few surprises for both JoJo and Samantha.
"Yes mam. Thank you!"
"You are welcome."
Dan chimed in. "Did you like church, Samantha?"
"Oh, yes sir. Especially the music!"
"Good."
JoJo interrupted, "I feel like we are grilling Samantha. Can't we just eat?"
Samantha quickly said, "It's alright, JoJo. I am enjoying myself immensely."
"Oh, cool." JoJo quickly replied.
After lunch, JoJo and Remi invited Samantha to play Monopoly.
"I have never played before."
JoJo reassured her. "If Remi can play, I think you can pick it up."
Remi, oblivious to the insult added, "Yea, if me can do it, you can do it."
Samantha laughed and agreed to play.
After 2 hours and 15 minutes, the three Monopoly players decided to call it quits. The game seemed like it was never going to end.
Samantha asked Alice for a ride home.
JoJo was surprised Samantha would feel comfortable enough to ask his mom anything.
"Sure, let me get my keys."
"I had a wonderful day! Thank you, Mr. Smith and Remi."
"What about me?" JoJo frustratedly asked.
"Of course, you big lug. Aren't you going to ride with your mom and me?"
"Oh. Sure."
Samantha insisted on being dropped off at the Grubb & Gas. She thanked Mrs. Smith and JoJo.
"I'll see ya tomorrow at school, Samantha."
"See ya."
The next day at school would have a few surprises for both JoJo and Samantha.
JoJo 12.5; Samantha and Church??
JoJo was tired of wondering if Samantha would listen! He found her mom's name in the phone book, and dialed the number. (That is what you literally did in 1976.)
"Hello."
"Hey Samantha!"
"Who is this?"
"It's JoJo!!"
"I know, Silly."
"oh...what ya doin?"
"Nothing."
"You?"
"Nothing."
***NOTE: This is typical teenage phone talk if you are too old to remember or never had lived during this time period.***
After a few seconds of silence, JoJo cleared his throat. "Samantha, would you like to go to church tomorrow?"
CHURCH, Samantha thought..."CHURCH?!"
"Well, yea. My family goes each Sunday, and I was wondering if you could eat lunch with my family afterwards."
FOOD!!!!!!!! Samantha thought. "I don't know, JoJo."
"Why not?"
"I don't exactly have 'church clothes.'"
"We just wears jeans and a T-Shirt at my church." Of course it really wasn't JoJo's church---it was God's church, but people get in the habit of claiming their church. Often times, it is because they love their church. But sometimes, it can be an Ownership Thing. Thankfully, JoJo's claim was the former.
"Oh..."
After 7 seconds of silence, JoJo asked again, "Do you want to come...please?"
WOW...Please "Will I have to stand up or anything?"
"No Way!"
"Have you asked your mom about lunch?"
"No. Hold on. MOM, CAN ONE OF MY FRIENDS COME OVER FOR LUNCH TOMORROW?"
After JoJo's mom answered in the affirmative, JoJo told Samantha it was fine.
"Well, what time?"
"About 9:45 to pick you up. Where do you live?"
"You can pick me up across from the Grubb & Gas that is near our school." There was no way Samantha was going to let anybody see where she lived.
Samantha was thankful that JoJo's parents didn't ask too many questions. As a matter of fact, they seemed kind of cool. Samantha had done her best to make herself presentable, but she was still extremely vulnerable to any off comments about her appearance. As the Smiths and Samantha arrived at Church, she immediately scanned the crowd for anyone who knew her.
Great! No familiar faces! Samantha thought. Surprisingly, none of the kids at school were there. Even Tommy had stopped coming a few months back.
As the service began, Samantha could not believe her ears. They were playing rock music--right there in the church. The people of Smallville called the church, Rock and Roll Worship. It was often scored at. But, Samantha loved it--to her tremendous surprise. When worship was over, the Youth met in their own room. It was a nice room, but the prettiest thing there were chocolate-covered doughnuts! Samantha quickly found out they were free. She slickly ate 3 of them. After all, she hadn't eaten in 20 hours.
At 11:23, Ms. Prissy made a few announcements. Five minutes later, the high school students went to their own room. They talked about their week and the sermon. Neither JoJo or Samantha contributed to the conversation, but both listened intently. What seemed like a fast 20 minutes, the class ended.
JoJo asked, "Are you ready for lunch, Samantha?"
"Not at all."
"Really?!"
"No, NOT REALLY. I am really hungry!"
"Good, Mom made a big lunch in the Crock Pot."
Samantha just smiled.
"Hello."
"Hey Samantha!"
"Who is this?"
"It's JoJo!!"
"I know, Silly."
"oh...what ya doin?"
"Nothing."
"You?"
"Nothing."
***NOTE: This is typical teenage phone talk if you are too old to remember or never had lived during this time period.***
After a few seconds of silence, JoJo cleared his throat. "Samantha, would you like to go to church tomorrow?"
CHURCH, Samantha thought..."CHURCH?!"
"Well, yea. My family goes each Sunday, and I was wondering if you could eat lunch with my family afterwards."
FOOD!!!!!!!! Samantha thought. "I don't know, JoJo."
"Why not?"
"I don't exactly have 'church clothes.'"
"We just wears jeans and a T-Shirt at my church." Of course it really wasn't JoJo's church---it was God's church, but people get in the habit of claiming their church. Often times, it is because they love their church. But sometimes, it can be an Ownership Thing. Thankfully, JoJo's claim was the former.
"Oh..."
After 7 seconds of silence, JoJo asked again, "Do you want to come...please?"
WOW...Please "Will I have to stand up or anything?"
"No Way!"
"Have you asked your mom about lunch?"
"No. Hold on. MOM, CAN ONE OF MY FRIENDS COME OVER FOR LUNCH TOMORROW?"
After JoJo's mom answered in the affirmative, JoJo told Samantha it was fine.
"Well, what time?"
"About 9:45 to pick you up. Where do you live?"
"You can pick me up across from the Grubb & Gas that is near our school." There was no way Samantha was going to let anybody see where she lived.
Samantha was thankful that JoJo's parents didn't ask too many questions. As a matter of fact, they seemed kind of cool. Samantha had done her best to make herself presentable, but she was still extremely vulnerable to any off comments about her appearance. As the Smiths and Samantha arrived at Church, she immediately scanned the crowd for anyone who knew her.
Great! No familiar faces! Samantha thought. Surprisingly, none of the kids at school were there. Even Tommy had stopped coming a few months back.
As the service began, Samantha could not believe her ears. They were playing rock music--right there in the church. The people of Smallville called the church, Rock and Roll Worship. It was often scored at. But, Samantha loved it--to her tremendous surprise. When worship was over, the Youth met in their own room. It was a nice room, but the prettiest thing there were chocolate-covered doughnuts! Samantha quickly found out they were free. She slickly ate 3 of them. After all, she hadn't eaten in 20 hours.
At 11:23, Ms. Prissy made a few announcements. Five minutes later, the high school students went to their own room. They talked about their week and the sermon. Neither JoJo or Samantha contributed to the conversation, but both listened intently. What seemed like a fast 20 minutes, the class ended.
JoJo asked, "Are you ready for lunch, Samantha?"
"Not at all."
"Really?!"
"No, NOT REALLY. I am really hungry!"
"Good, Mom made a big lunch in the Crock Pot."
Samantha just smiled.
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