'Noah: Out With The Old' - Ian Stone

Following the story that we heard about Adam and Eve, the number of humans on the earth grew rapidly. Not only did rebellion spread to the next generation, it continued to spread from generation to generation. Humans were completely out of control, acting out in selfishness and violence all the time.

When God saw that the people’s hearts and minds were filled with evil day and night, his heart was broken. So He decided to start over, saying, “I will completely wipe out the human race that I’ve created. I am sorry that I ever made them.”

But there was one man, named Noah, who still had a close relationship with God. Noah was the only blameless man living on earth at that time. Not perfect – just blameless. So God said to Noah, “I have decided to cover the earth with a flood, destroying everything alive! But, I will give you a plan to keep you safe.”

God told Noah to build a large boat called an ark, giving him specific instructions about how big to make it and what it should look like. God said to him, “Make a boat from wood and seal it with tar, inside and out. Then build many decks and stalls for animals inside of it. I promise to keep you safe in this ark! A pair of every kind of animal–a male and female–will come to you to be kept alive. You will also bring seven pairs of animals that I approved for you to eat and sacrifice. And remember, take enough food for your family and for all the animals.”

So Noah did everything exactly as he was told. Just as God had said, the floods came – water burst from the earth and rain poured from the sky. When the waters came, Noah and his family and all of the animals boarded the ark. As the waters rose, the boat floated safely on the surface. The flood covered even the tallest mountains, and all living creatures on the earth were destroyed, except for those on the ark.

After 40 days, the rains stopped. Many months passed as the waters slowly began to dry up. For weeks, Noah sent out a dove to see if it could find dry land. Finally, the dove returned with an olive leaf in its mouth. Noah sent the dove out again, and when it didn’t come back, he knew it was safe to return to land. As soon as Noah came off of the ark, he built an altar, selected pure animals from every approved species, and sacrificed them to God as a symbol of thankfulness and worship.

God was pleased with Noah’s sacrifice and said, “Even though people’s thoughts and actions are bent toward evil from the time they’re children, I promise to never again destroy all living things with a flood. As a symbol of my promise, I will hang a rainbow in the clouds. Whenever you see a rainbow, this will remind you of my promise to you.”

Then God told Noah and his sons, “I have put all animals under your control. You can use them for food, but you must never eat animals that still have their lifeblood in them. Life is in the blood, and all life belongs to me! Those who murder must be punished by death.”

God blessed Noah and his sons, telling them to have many children and once again fill the earth with people.

'The Beginning of Brokenness' - Vince Larson

In the Beginning, God created everything. He even created mankind. God called those first two humans Adam and Eve. God placed them in a beautiful garden, where he provided everything they needed.

In this garden, God planted all kinds of trees that produced delicious fruit so Adam and Eve would always have plenty to eat. God gave them the responsibility to take care of this garden and all of the creatures that lived there.

In the middle of the garden were two special trees – a Tree of Life, and a tree that could give Knowledge of Good and Evil. God told Adam and Eve to enjoy fruit from any tree in the garden – except for one; God warned them, “If you eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, you will definitely die.”

One day, a clever serpent came to Eve and asked her, “Did God really say you can’t eat ANY of the fruit in the garden?”

Eve told him, “No, we can eat from any tree in the garden. It’s only the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that we are not allowed to eat from–or even touch, or we will die.”

Trying to trick Eve, the serpent said, “You won’t die! God knows that as soon as you eat that fruit your eyes will be opened, and you will become just like him! You will know everything, both good and evil.”

Eve, believing the serpent, looked at the delicious fruit, and thought, “Humm... we will know every­thing...” Then she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to Adam, who was with her, and he ate it. Instantly, their eyes were opened, and they became filled with shame and fear. They tied fig leaves together to cover up their nakedness.

Later that day, Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden, so they hid in some bushes.

God called to them, “Where are you?”

Adam answered, “I heard you coming, and I was afraid... because I was naked, so I hid.”

God answered, “Why are you ashamed of being naked? Did you eat the fruit I told you not to eat?”

Adam said, “It was the woman you gave me... she handed me the fruit.”

Then God said to Eve, “How could you do this?”

Eve replied, “The serpent tricked me into eating the fruit.”

So God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you and your kind will crawl on your bellies and eat dust the rest of your lives. You will be the enemy of women and their sons. As you bite at his heels, he will step on your head.”

God’s heart was broken because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. God always does what is right and true; he could not ignore what they had done. So God punished Adam and Eve by throwing them out of the garden – outside of his care and protection and far from the Tree of Life.

No longer following God’s ways, Adam and Eve were now subject to sickness, pain, and even death. God told them, “The way you have chosen to live will now bring you great struggles...

...women will have sharp pains while giving birth.

...men will have to work hard and sweat just to produce a little food from the ground.

...and you’ll both fight to control your relationship.

...then, you’ll return to the ground from which I created you.”

Even though God punished Adam and Eve, he did not stop loving them. He even created clothing for them out of animal skins. But mankind’s actions literally upset the balance of nature. Humanity’s relationship with God was broken and full of distrust. Mankind’s relationships with one another were broken and full of self-love. The brokenness even destroyed Man’s relationship with the rest of creation, as mankind sought to please himself and abuse nature.

All of this was the beginning of brokenness...

Dialogue

• What do we learn about humans in this story?

• When have you had to face the consequences for doing something wrong or a bad decision?

• In what ways are we similar/different from Adam and Eve?

• How did the story challenge or encourage you?

• How do you chose between right and wrong?

• What do we learn about God in this story?

"Not tha 1st, Not tha Last" - Chad McKinney

I got Questions left unanswered
When my relatives pass from cancer
Death is a part of life
Life is a part of life
I could say it ninety times but every time I close My eyes
Mike Hinde swings by the garage light
Carnage plight
Heartless crimes
If this is a script the play Write should title it
Hardened Minds
Successful vets are
hard to find
Divine please define Columbine One more time
Planes collide
Worlds collide
This red carpets Lined with the Lies that helped take yours an Mine
What is thores (theirs) once was mine
Coal mines They don't mind Who dies
as long as that diamond shines
While Africans subsidize the price
(with their life)
West side Stifled cries
guised as Murderous rights
Burdens of life
Omega’s Smite
Turpentine couldn't dissolve the sloth of this Serpent’s slime Left behind

(History chimes misery) x 2
When We View this as You and Me

What’s it mean To be free
Have you ever truly seen
Equality in a society
A man makin’ Six fifteen
Able to feed his Family
Look out now Teen pregnancy’s on the rise
Violent crimes Soar sky high
Or so channel Five Chimes at nine
The price of Safety but for Who
How much does it cost to buy a f*in’ clue
Let’s just turn the other cheek Now an consume
While tha Diluted truth
Has our youth
Hangin from a noose
Can you ever truly View
The other foot different shoe
Childrens’ mouths
lackin food
Hindered minds
Laggin schools
G.N.P.’s for the G.O.P.,
G.E., N.B.C.,
C.B.S, U.T.C.
Do you see what I see
A star Afar
Shining bright in through the night
Faces of anger an Fright
Races craving a light
Now look deep within and answer this
How’s sh*t looking for our kids?
Doctor Martin’s Diagnosis?
Man I feel honest atrocious
Explosions of loneliness
When I think of tha prognosis
Are hopes ‘n wishes psychosis
‘super cali fragi listic expi ali docious’
It’s important to note this
I’ve been totin’ this
Bag of hopefulness
Even before expulsions
I’m repulsed at what Rosa Felt
Anyone who Holes a Belt
Let’s hop tha pot
Cuz this sh*t’s bout ta Melt

(History chimes misery) x 2
When We View this as You and Me
This isn’t how it has ta be

“Contingent Except the Mental Punishment” - Chad McKinney

Four thirty Seven’s Consequence Is Relevant in its Decadence
To this former Atheist
Sittin Pissed
in this
Monotonous Existence
Of an Office space
DisGraced
Feeling like Human Waste
Of potential
Now all of a sudden
I’m dispensable, Inconsequential?
F* loyalty
Conformity’s Boring you see We need Creativity
Now I’m Bleeding Green from the Greed
While this Corporate Leash
Shankles an strangles My Ankle
It’s Strain’n twistin my knee Now
I’ll Cry Foul Aloud While I’m a Slaughter House cow
Stabbed In the head Wow Ow How
When profits Plummet
Can I not go Wonderin
When the kids are Eatin
Out the Garden of Eden
Much less Greetin
A Full stomache
Timmy’s Hungry
Susie’s Bulimic
just to feed the Rest of us
Sh*t no Bluff
this Government’s f*d Up
It’s A Melvin from
Uncle Sam’s Son
Ruckis
But We’re the Punk kids
Puttin up with this
Now there’s Bloody finger Prints on my common sense

It’s a deficit with
my membership In
civilization
Someone Explain again
The Horatio Alger myth
Doesn’t it go something like this When
Equalities a common theme
Humanities free to be
a Society
Free from Greed
Not bent on feeding off People’s needs
Prosperity’s a reality
in this Thing We deem as Livin
My Confidence is driven
From ambition
and the Right family conditions
Like Vince
Given the kids a position with a situation I see Fit
It’s called Parental Endorsements of Hardship
Not an ignorant Decadent Assumption at Tantamount
Your Brains clouded like Salmon Swimmin up stream
Demeaned Daily
this Ain’t the place to be Straining
Sweatshop Labor wages
Cagin Jane’s Addiction
To physical Health
Mental Stress perpetuates these Chemical Imbalances
Challenges to survivin
Now I’m Strivin to stay alive again
Without the rights of a Natural born citizen
I’m talking about a Livin wage
Universal Health care
But I Decent ‘n Despair
When Congress says
“Who f*ing cares”
I see
Broken ness
Working poor
Hopeless Homeless
Scared Sharin an wearin Weary dreary Tears
Now I’m Ragged like Lincoln’s Beard
Drowning Fears in Beers
Hopin to make it through Til next year
Alcoholism Begins Where?

'Beginnings' - Performed by Kenny Liles

This story is about a being called God, who has always existed. This story, from the Bible, describes God as the creator of all things, including the earth and everything living.

God is also described as the only one who always does what is good and right and perfect–the Bible uses the word “holy” to describe God.

Do you know what God created first?

In the Bible, God asked a man named Job, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Who decided its size and dimensions? Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”

The story begins like this...

When God set the foundations of the earth, the angels were already there watching–they were his first creation. When the angels saw God’s power and creativity, they sang together and shouted for joy, giving glory to God!

The most beautiful of all the angels was named Lucifer, which means “bright morning star”. When Lucifer saw the other angels praising God, he became jealous and said in his heart, “I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars... and I will be like God.”

Then Lucifer went and convinced a third of the angels to worship him.
Although Lucifer had seen God’s power in creation, he continued to lead the fallen angels, also known as demons, in a rebellion against God. All rebellion against God and his ways is called sin.

But God knew what Lucifer was thinking and doing.
Because of God’s perfect goodness, evil is never allowed to remain in his presence.

So God showed his disapproval of Lucifer and his followers by casting them into darkness.
Like a flash of lighting they fell down to the earth.

Lucifer’s name also changed–instead of being known as the bright morning star, he was
now known as Satan, which means “adversary”.

This is the story that we call “Beginnings”.


Dialogue Questions:

• What was God’s relationship with his creation?
• How did Lucifer challenge God? What did he say?
• What do we learn about God in this story?

What is BONFIRE?

BONFIRE In The Gaslamp

Come and share or just listen in to the stories, poems, songs, works of art, and other artistic expressions that will be inspired by a new theme weekly...

The best way to describe it would be the newest style of open-mic, but in a much more intimate and artistic setting (...and with no mic). Where everyone is invited to engage with the art and the artist/storyteller in an authentic and meaningful way. So write a story or share one you've already experienced... or just come and enjoy.

- EVERYONE IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE -

The First 2 Weekly Themes Are:
(10/07) - BEGINNINGS
(10/14) - BROKENNESS

*Please Submit Stories / Songs / Poems by 10am on the day of each weekly event. (Submissions are not a requirement, but will ensure priority).

Submissions are simply emailed to: Bonfire.Gaslamp@Gmail.Com

All Stories / Songs / Poems and Artistic Expressions will be published (unless otherwise noted) on the BONFIRE Blog (http://bonfiresd.blogspot.com/).