Outdoor Object Lesson 77: Fear Not Bats

Key Text

“He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭12:22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

Lesson

Some animals instantly give people the creeps. There is one that is especially scary. It only comes out at night, maneuvers unseen and unheard in the shadows, it is a swift and fearsome hunter. It has claws on its featherless wings and fangs in its jaw. It dwells deep underground where few other creatures can go. By now you may have figured out the animal is a bat!

These creatures are popular at Halloween and usually associated with scary movies and stories. Many people mistakenly fear them because of this. In fact, bats are impressive creatures and there is little reason to be afraid of them. Bats are unusual which may make them seem scary. They live in dark caves and hang upside down. Bats are really interesting creatures. They live on every continent except Antarctica. They grow up to almost 7 oz (190 g) and can have a wingspan of 40 inches (1 m) which is over three feet. The smallest bat is known as the bumblebee bat (Craseonycteridae thonglongyai) and only measures about 1 1/4 inches (3 cm) long and is basically a flying fur-ball. Seen in the daylight bats are not really scary at all. Their fuzzy faces can look quite cute.

Not all bats live in caves, some roost in trees similar to birds. They are able to “see” in the dark by making a high pitch noise and listening to how the sound waves are changed when bouncing off objects around them. This is called echolocation. Bats of course eat insects but this is not all they eat. Many species eat fruits, flower nectar and leaves.1 You may have heard of the vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) which sucks blood. While there is a real vampire bat, our fear makes them seem more threatening than they are. Vampire bats primarily target large animals such as horses and cows and rarely target humans. Bats are small animals and it would be impossible for them to kill a large animal or even a human by sucking its blood as they only take a small amount. While these bats sound scary we don’t need to fear them any more than other wild animals.2

There are over 1,300 bat species in the world, many of which are helpful to humans. The brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), which is common in the USA, can eat 1000 small insects per hour. That’s a lot of mosquitoes one bat can eat in its 40 plus year life.1 Bats help keep mosquitoes at bay which means there are less to bother you and I. Bats may seem mysterious or scary, but when you learn about them, and get to seen them in the light they are not so scary after all. It is similar with many things in life. We often feel scared and afraid of things we don’t understand. It is ok to feel fear. But we don’t need to let it control us. Jesus already knows everything. We don’t even need to fear evil forces. As it says in the key text, God uncovers that which is covered in darkness and everything that seems scary no longer is. We do not need to fear anything because God is greater than all our fears. When we see things in the light of God’s peace, things are no longer so scary, and may even turn out to be cute and fuzzy, just like the bat. (See John 14:27)

Questions

What animals do you find scary?

Is it a sin to feel fear?

Jesus repeatedly encouraged his followers not to fear anything. What can we do when we feel fear?

What does it mean to fear God?


Sources

1. Alina Bradford. “Bats: Fuzzy Flying Mammals.” October 24, 2018. Live Science. Accessed November 9, 2018 from https://www.livescience.com/28272-bats.html.
2. “Common Vampire Bat.” 2015. National Geographic online. Accessed on November 9, 2018 from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/c/common-vampire-bat/.


Written by David F. Garner
Photo credit: ntrief via www.pixabay.com

Outdoor Object Lesson 76: Joy Not Fear

Key Text

“For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (WEB)

Lesson

Pumpkins are almost synonymous with fall and especially Halloween. Have you ever wondered why we carve pumpkins for Halloween? Some can be pretty scary. Halloween is an old holiday that was originally celebrated by pagan people in the British islands. Those people believed that on Halloween or Samhain (pronounced ‘sow wan’) as it was called in Irish, spirits of the dead and evil spirits came to wander the earth. 

Out of fear, some people carved scary, ugly faces into gords, turnips, and other pumpkin like food. They put hot coals or candles inside to make them glow to be seen at night. They believed these ugly carvings could scare away evil spirits and protect them on Halloween.1 This is where we get the term jack-o’-lantern.2

In modern times people still carve pumpkins at Halloween. Most people don’t do it to scare away evil spirits. They may carve ugly faces in pumpkins to scare other people. As children of God we no longer need to fear evil spirits. Not at Halloween or any other time of year. Jesus came and defeated Satan and his evil spirits long ago. When we pray and ask for him to protect us he will. We also don’t need to be scared of what other people do (Romans 8:38-39). They may try to scare us with carved pumpkins or other decorations at Halloween. They may try to do other things to scare us too. But Paul said in the Key Text that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love. No matter what we face we can trust God instead and give him our fear. 

God’s love comes from the light of joy that Jesus places inside us when we accept him into our hearts. It can turn our fear into joy. This Halloween, let other people see what it looks like when you have God’s light inside. Carve a pumpkin with a happy, smiling face or perhaps a cross or message of joy on it. Put a candle inside and set it outside to let everyone know that you have joy instead of fear on Halloween and every other night.

Questions

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

Is Halloween a holiday Christians should celebrate? Does how we celebrate it matter?

What do we do if we ask Jesus to take our fear but still feel scared?

Did Jesus ever feel scared? Why or why not?

Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

Sources:

1. “HISTORY OF PUMPKIN CARVING AND HALLOWEEN (SAMHAIN).” (10/28/2017). Stair na hÉireann/History of Ireland online. Accessed October 19, 2018 from https://stairnaheireann.net/2017/10/28/history-of-pumpkin-carving-and-halloween-samhain-2/.

2. “The History of 'Jack-O'-Lantern'.” (2018). Merriam-Webster.com. Accessed October 19, 2018 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-history-of-jack-o-lantern.

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 67: Wind Unseen

Key Verse

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,” Galatians 5:22 WEB

Lesson

Can you see the wind? Of course not. Can you hear it? Nope. That might surprise you. We often talk of hearing the wind. In actuality, we are only hearing the affects of the wind. When the wind blows by, the air itself makes no noise. The sound comes from the air interacting with objects it meets. You only hear the affects of wind.

Air can cause sounds in many ways through its interactions with different objects. It can cause a kite to flap making a distinct noise. It can rattle the windows in your house. When the wind blows past your ear or through a whistle it creates yet another sound. All these interactions cause the air to separate rapidly creating pressure waves. These pressure waves are what make the sound of the wind. On its own, wind cannot be seen or heard, but when it affects an object it is quite obvious.

It is similar with the Holy Spirit. It cannot be seen or heard. Its movements are unknown to us until it affects a person. When the Holy Spirit interacts with a person, and that person is receptive, the affects are often quite obvious. Galatians 5:22 tells us what to look for – the fruit of the Spirit. When a person is changed by accepting Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes into their heart and begins to make them more kind, patient, loving, joyful, and good. Watch for the affects of the Holy Spirit in your life and those around you.

Questions

In what other ways does the Holy Spirit change people?

How has the Holy Spirit affected you?

Can we affect what the Holy Spirit does? If so, how?



Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: @mostafawagdi via www.twenty20.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 60: The Rest of Birds

Key Verse

“In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.” Psalm 4:8 WEB

Lesson

How does a bird sleep in a tree? One may think they sleep in their nest. Most birds only live in a nest while they are raising young. They rest of the time they sleep perched on a branch. The mechanism God has given birds to stay in a tree during sleep is quite marvelous. As a bird begins to drift off to sleep its muscles relax just like you and I. As this happens the grip of the bird on the branch tightens increasingly. Birds have a special arrangement of tendons in their feet and legs that tighten as they lower into a resting position.

The large flexor tendons in the toes squeeze gradually so that the bird’s toes are automatically pulled in like a clamp creating an ever-tightening grasp. This enables the bird to stay supported upright in the tree without muscular effort. At the same time the bird lays its head on its back (as many birds do) for a nice feather pillow and drifts to sleep knowing it is perfectly safe even if a high wind rattles and shakes the tree. Most all birds have this unique clamp-like foot, even those that do not roost in trees, such as chickens.1

This amazing fact about birds holds a significant lesson for our spiritual life. Throughout the Bible God invites us to find rest in Him. He asks us to trust that he is in control of everything. He promises to give us rest, peace, and restoration. Resting in God’s promises can be very hard to do, especially when life seems to be going out of control. When life gets windy and tosses us about, we want to take more control of our life rather than resting more in Jesus and trusting Him. We must grow in our rest with God.

Learning to rest in God through the storms of life does not happen instantly, but it will happen if we continue to give our worry to God. King David, the author of Psalms, knew how to rest in God because he learned to through many difficult times. He knew he could sleep peacefully because Yahweh, or God, promised to make him live in safety. Birds know they can sleep peacefully in a tree even through a storm because God protects them. The very same promise is offered to each of us.

Questions

What is your favorite kind of bird?

Can you think of other ways God provides for the birds? (see Matthew 6:26-27)

How do we grow in our ability to rest in God?

Why do we experience hardship and trials if God promises us peaceful rest? (see James 1:2-4, Romans 8:28)

Sources

1 Allan and Helen Cruickshank, 1001 Questions Answered About Birds. (1958): 124-125. Grosset & Dunlap Publishers. New York. Print.



Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: Paolo De Marchi via www.flickr.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 51: Sweet Living

Key Verse

“If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12:18 WEB


Lesson

What is an animal that looks like a chipmunk, glides like a flying squirrel, and has a pouch like a kangaroo? Any guesses? A Sugar Glider of course. If you have seen one before then you would agree they are quite cute. They also make very good pets. Sugar Gliders are amazing creatures.

They get the name “Sugar” from their love of sweet food and “Glider” from their ability to glide from tree to tree. They have a membrane of skin between their front and back legs that allow them to glide on the air. They can glide up to 150 feet (45m).

The Sugar Gliders diet includes lots of fruit as well as nectar, sap, and small insects. They live in Gum Trees and also eat the gum they produce. Sugar Gliders are very social creatures and live in groups of 20 to 40. Interestingly, they rarely fight among themselves. They are peaceful creatures and only fight when attacked.1

As humans we have a tendency to argue and even fight. But as Christians, Jesus calls us to live differently. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:18 to live as peacefully as we possible can. We are to be quick to forgive and slow to anger just as Jesus is. Sometimes this can be hard. But it will help our lives be more peaceful and sweet. Jesus left us an example of how to live peacefully in the Sugar Glider. 

Questions

Is it easy to live peacefully with others? Why or why not?

What are some practical ways we can live peacefully even when its difficult?

What can we do when we are angry at someone else?

Can you think of another lesson we can learn from the Sugar Glider?

Sources

1. Active Wild, “Sugar Glider Facts,” Active Wild, October 15, 2015, retrieved April 21, 2017 from http://www.activewild.com/sugar-glider-facts/.


Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: andyround62 via www.pixabay.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 26: Why So Blue?

Photo Credit: Brennon Garner

Key Verse

“Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Psalms‬ ‭62:8‬ ‭WEB‬‬

Lesson

There is blue everywhere you look. How you ever wondered ever why? The sky is blue and so is the ocean. Almost every body of water you look at appears blue. It is perhaps the most common color in nature, maybe second only to green. This could be why blue is such a common favorite color. Or maybe that is due to the way it causes a feeling of calm and peace.

What is it that makes the sky blue? Why does water look blue in an ocean or stream. This is a question scientists have studied closely. They have found that the sky is blue because water droplets scatter mostly blue light. When light travels through a water droplet, the main color it reflects is blue; other colors are absorbed. Bodies of water such as the ocean appear blue for the same reason.

Blue also appears on flags, in symbols, and in other significant places. For centuries blue has been an important color. This is because it is used to represent loyalty and trust.1 Many things in life are not certain. But the sky is. We can be sure that even though grey storm clouds come for a time. The blue sky will emerge after they pass. Sometimes the ocean may crash with great waves; rivers and lakes may flood dangerously white and foaming. But this too will pass. Before long, they will loyally return to a calm blue.

When Jesus created the sky, he made it a calming blue so that every time we look up towards heaven, we would be reminded that we have a loyal and trust-worthy God. He is our refuge and we can trust in him at all times just as Psalms 62:8 says. Even though storms cover the blue sky for a time, it will emerge again to calm and reassure us, just like our loyal God.

Questions

What is your favorite color? Do you know what is represents?

Do you think God is trust-worthy enough to pour your heart out to as the text in Psalms says?

Why do you think the Christian flag has blue on it?

Sources

1https://resources.oncourse.iu.edu/access/content/user/rreagan/Filemanager_Public_Files/meaningofcolors.htm