Objective: To identify some of the ways that individual family members spend their days and discover its impact on your family life.

Approximate Time: 10-15 minutes

Preparation and Supplies:
Scissors and writing utensils
Crayons or markers
"Life at Spaghetti Junction" Activity Sheet
Transportation Pattern Sheet

Leader’s Notes: Download the "Life at Spaghetti Junction" activity sheet and several copies of the transportation sheet. "Life at Spaghetti Junction" is designed to be a visual aid to guide your conversation and record your comments as you respond to the phrase, "If I were a car..." and compare your lives to a vehicle in a variety of different ways. Note the space designed for each response and the suggestions for recording them.

Introduce this activity with a reference to the fact that many people use images to convey a thought and feeling, e.g. "Run quick-like a bunny" or "She is moving as slow as molasses" or "I feel like I’m just "spinning my wheels" Then, give everyone the opportunity to choose a vehicle on the transportation pattern sheet that characterizes their perception of themselves. Invite them to cut it out and use it as a marker as you guide them through the following exercise.

After each participant has had an opportunity to respond to each phrase, consider ways these answers characterize your family life. Does "Life at Spaghetti Junction" seem like an image or phrase that might describe your home or family life? What other words or images come to mind?

Point out the number of locations your family may be "parked" on any given day and comment on the fact that the families of your great-grandparents or great-great grandparents a century ago, you would have all been primarily "parked" at home. (The majority of families at that time lived in rural areas and their homes were the center of their work and activity.) Today, the majority of people live in towns and cities and they spend more and more time doing things outside their home. In fact, some people describe their homes as "revolving doors" they "run" through for meals and a quick break as they come and go. How fast are you all going? Is everyone moving in the same direction? Are any of your family members running on the same track? How "together" or "scattered" do you feel? Does all this have anything to do with how your levels of energy or exhaustion?

Take a moment to thank God for each family member and the many ways they choose to spend their days. Then, ask God to guide you through these activities as you recognize and appreciate the role of faith and family in coloring your world with meaning and significance.

It is divided into three interactive exercises and activities to attend to three key insights from the Bible story that have the potential to nurture your perception and management of time.

• M&Ms and "Multicolored" Moments
• Marking the Moments
• M&M Stories: It's What's On the Inside that Counts!

Objectives: To consider the ordinary life of Moses and assess the variety of activities that characterize our lives today.

Approximate Time: 10-20 Minutes

Preparations and Supplies:
A Bible
The "Tick Tock Rock Around the Clock" Time Sheets
The "Tick Tock Rock" Clock
The 46:10 Pattern Sheet
Pens or pencils
A large bag of M&M’s
A glue stick or tape
Scissors

The "Tick Tock Rock" clock is designed to be your game board for this activity. Remove the arrow from the 46:10 pattern sheet and attach it to a pencil to create the hands of the clock. Then, place it in the center of the clock to use as a game board spinner.

Download the "Tick Tock Around the Clock" time sheets. These sheets are designed to mark the moments of your days as you record tasks and activities that take place throughout your days. Make copies for each family member to record their own activities and events. Families with young children may want to use one game board to highlight individual and family activities throughout the day. Glue or tape the two time sheets together for easy reference.

Note: To extend or further specify the play of your game, you may wish to use the Days of the Week cards. Each player may draw a card before spinning the clock hands to identify the activity or event they would most likely be engaged in at a particular time on that particular day.

Leader’s Notes:

Locate Exodus 3:1-5 in the Bible. Check the table of content s if you are searching for a page number. Read the first verse and introduce Moses to be a man of God who was a pretty ordinary guy. Talk about what his life as a shepherd in the wilderness might have been like as you transition to the first key insight.

Invite your family members to think of the many routine or ordinary ways they spend their day as you introduce the "Tick Tock Rock Around the Clock" activity.

Note: (You might consider sharing the following thoughts with older children and youth.)
God’s people are not just special people that God sets apart from other people to stand ready to do special jobs, e.g., Bible or church things. Point out that even the families of pastors and church leaders lead very ordinary, busy lives. In fact, it is important to realize that

God created time and life and the sun and the moon and all the days that "begin and end" with them. And, on the sixth day of creation God created people to personify God’s image and care for the rest of God’s creation.

It’s part of God’s plan to have people find ways to manage or steward the time and life that God has provided.

God wants us to make the most of our lives and the gifts, interests and abilities God has given us.

Moses was a very ordinary guy who did many great things for God as he lived a very ordinary life.

Directions for playing Tick Tock Around the Clock:

Take turns spinning the clock hands and identifying the activities or events in which you would most likely be engaged. The clock hands are designed to designate the hours of any given day, i.e., ten and four. Each player may identify and record the things they might be doing around 10:00 and 4:00 a.m. and p.m. encourage them to record their thoughts on the "Tick Tock Rock A-Round the Clock" time sheet.

When each person has had the opportunity to "rock" around the clock, take a moment to assess your overall family involvement. Use the bag of M&Ms and the following chart to categorize the various activities and events you have recorded.

Take a moment to scan the time sheets once you have color-coded them. What types of activity does each person spend the most time doing? What types of activity does each family spend the most time doing? How many of those things do you do with at least one other family member? How many do you do as a whole family?

Refer to the Bible verse highlighted on the game sheet as you read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 as you bring closure to this activity. If you have older children and youth in your family, you might even take a moment to consider your own version or interpretation of these verses, based on your own family experiences.

Objectives: To create a concrete point-of-reference for managing and discerning our days in proactive and intentional ways.  To recognize the importance of organizing tasks, routines and activities to reflect our values and priorities.

Display the jar with the cups of sand in it. Point out the other rocks, pebbles and gravel you’d like still like to find a way to fit into the jar. Ask family members to help you figure out a way to fit it all in. Share that sometimes this challenge is similar to task of trying to accomplish or schedule in all the things you all would like to do on any given day.

Relocate Exodus 3:1-5 in the Bible. Check the Table of Contents if you are searching for a page number. Read verses 2-4 and create a mental picture of Moses herding his flock of sheep. Consider what some of the tasks and routines that may have been a part of his life as a shepherd in the wilderness. Point out that Moses stopped what he was doing to honor God’s presence and activity.

Invite family members to think of some extraordinary things that they saw or witnessed as they walked through their day, e.g., random acts of courtesy or kindness, spectacular scenes in nature, gracious generosity, gestures of love and care, expressions of faith or faith community, e.g. weddings, funerals, services of worship or prayer. How did they react to them? Did they stop what they were doing and honor the moment as God-given? That’s what Moses did. Moses deeply regarded his relationship with God and took responded accordingly, even though he was busy taking care of many wondering sheep.

Then, introduce the following play-by-play process to help your family manage and discern the many programs, products, promotions and service organizations that strive to intrigue and engage you. Work together to complete the craft that will help you organize and prioritize your individual and family time.

Step #1: Transfer the cups of sand to the extra empty container and have someone write the name of your family on the side of the quart jar. Then, take turns drawing and labeling portraits of your family members on the jar. Point out that God gifted your family with the individual interests, abilities and personalities of the people God placed within it. Take a moment to consider some of the outstanding characteristics of each family member.

Step # 2: Suggest that there are many things that people can easily discern about your family identity, such as the location of your home, the car you drive, the church and schools your family attends, your social and academic involvements. Then, point out that there are other things that very few people know, such as your dreams, challenges, rituals and priorities. Invite your family to identify five things that are the most important to your family. (For example - family time, eating one or more meals together each day, honesty, conflict resolution, honoring and nurturing the gifts of each person, living for Jesus, nurturing faith practices, such as worship, prayer and Bible reading)

Have them use permanent markers to write one core value on each of the 2" rocks. As you conclude this activity, refer to the following text as you affirm your belief that there is someone who does know your family inside and out.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and you are acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139: 1-3

Place the five rocks in the quart jar.

Step #3: Encourage your family members to think of four or five programs, tasks or activities that are most important to them, as individuals. (For example: musical instruments, athletic involvements, work, church activities, TV or computer time, family outings or special events with friends.) Give four or five ½" pebbles to each person and invite them to take turns identifying their preferred involvements, adding one pebble into the jar for each one. Then, take a moment to recognize some of the ways you encourage and enable one another to nurture your individual interests and abilities. Mention, if necessary or appropriate, the specific involvements of members, that periodically affect or take priority over others.

Step #4: Comment that your family life is shaped by the major activities and involvements you all choose to do. Point out that it is also shaped by the patterns you establish, such as your daily routines and daily or seasonal rituals. Ask family members to share some of the routines and rituals that create the sense of routine or rhythm in your lives before you add the cup of aquarium gravel. Comment on how colorful the jars are becoming as they are filled with the variety of activities and events in your lives.

Step #5: Make note of all the items you have been able to place in your jar as you have organized their placement and addition. Use the sand to represent the dozens of chores and specific tasks or activities that fill your days. Encourage family members to reflect on the many things that they do together and individually as they reside within and go to or from your home.

Now, as you sit back and view the jar you’ve used to illustrate the days of your lives, think of the five core values you placed in your jar and the many activities you identified. Does your lifestyle nurture, support and uphold the things you said were the most important to your family? Are any of the programs or activities you have scheduled challenging or overwhelming the values and priorities you cherish? Are the choices you are making accurately reflecting your personal and/or family commitment to nurture a lifestyle that’s Christ’s Style? Is there anything missing? Are their some things you’d like to change, add or subtract?

You may wish to use the following comments to guide your discussion.

Many families fail to make good ideas work simply because they have not set a time to get together. Chores, learning, fun and communication are left to chance, and family members stumble out of touch and not sure who is doing what." How to get Your Kids to Help at Home, by Eva Anson

It is not enough that you are busy. The question is what are you so busy about. Henry David Thoreau

My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for the length of your days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you…. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your feet. Proverbs 3:1-2, 5-6.

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16