Today is your lucky day because you will get TWO stories instead of only ONE!  THIS side of the table is where Story Number ONE happens. 

Once upon a time there were sheep and their shepherd.  The sheep were enjoying a nice outing in the meadow, eating yummy grass.  Grass for breakfast, grass for lunch and grass for supper!    However THIS little sheep said to another “I’m tired of this grass stuff.  Let’s go find something better.  I think I saw a Dairy Queen over the next hill.” 

The OTHER sheep said “Not me!  It’s dangerous to go that far.  I’ll stay right here, thank you very much.” 

And so it happened that THIS little sheep wandered off alone for the Dairy Queen to get an ice cream cone.  When he reached to top of the next hill, there was no Dairy Queen, but he was pretty sure it must be over the NEXT hill. So he continued . . . until he was lost.

“Baaaaaa!” cried the little sheep.  And that was BEFORE he saw the yellow eyes of the big bad wolf lurking behind a tree!  (Now, this is really Max that I borrowed from Pastor Brock.  Max is a really NICE wolf.  He would never be mean or bad.  He is just pretending for me this morning.)

Now Story Number Two starts:

This is the Potato family at Toy’s R Us.  They are shopping for a gift for a party this week.  We will just pretend that this measuring cup is a shopping cart for Polly to sit in!

This is a nice outing for the Potato family.  Except that THIS little potato, Haman,  who said “I’m tired of this shopping for a gift for someone else!  I would like a gift for ME!  Wanna come along Polly?”

Polly said “Not me!  It’s dangerous to go off alone in the store.  I’ll stay right here in the shopping cart, thank you very much.”

And so, it happened that THIS little potato wandered off alone to look at video games.  When Haman reached the next aisle, there were no video games, but he was pretty sure they must be in the NEXT aisle.  So he continued . . . until he was lost.

“Daddy!” cried this little potato.  And that was BEFORE he saw the electric cord dangling by the beaters of a big electric mixer at the end of the aisle!

“Baaaa” cried the sheep.  “I know that voice.” said the shepherd.  The shepherd went and rescued the little sheep.

“Daddy!” cried the little potato.  “I know that voice.” said Mr. Potato Head.  Daddy went to the rescue of his son.

Both the shepherd and Mr. Potato Head went to the rescue, at some personal risk to themselves.  Wolves can eat shepherds you know, and potato mashers can attack even grown up potatoes.

And so it is with you and me . . . and Jesus. 

Because you see, Jesus is OUR Shepherd.  Jesus knows OUR voice.  Jesus can help us when we cry out.  He can help us to be strong and brave, even if front of The Big Bad Wolf  (raise up Max again and growl)  and The Big Bad Potato Mashers in the world. (raise up the mixer and turn it on!)    THE END

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