Garbage In, Garbage Out WEEK 4 - PART 2

FAC tells this story:
Many, many years ago, when personal computers first became a common item, I was taking classes that taught me how to program them and write or "code" instructions for computers. These instructions are called software. 
I wasn't very good at writing code, but I did learn something very important about programming. 
If you write good code, that is, if you are careful to consider the timing and sequence, and if you design the best possible functions without excessive or unnecessary commands, then you will get a good software program that runs smoothly.
Otherwise, if you just string commands together, and fail to create a logical flow of action, then you won't get a smooth-running program, you will get a mess! A mess that might even damage the computer's components.
As a result, software programmers say, "Garbage in, garbage out!"  It means that if the programmed code is bad the computer will not function well. And the opposite can be understood as well, if the programmed code is good then the computer functions well. 

James 4:1-2 is our Bible memory verse for this week:
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it.

So where does conflict come from? 

The Apostle James says conflict comes from your desires that battle within you! Conflict comes from your heart. Read page 2-4 in your booklet and study the illustrations provided there. 

On the left we can see that a selfish heart 
produces selfish and sometimes sinful 
words and behavior. It is similar to the 
saying, "Garbage in, garbage out!"
On the right we can see that God-centered
 heart produces words and actions that
 are much more pleasing to God.

Listen to the short story below about good and bad trees and fruit.

A Tree Known by Its Fruit from cgweckerly@gmail.com on GodTube.

Jesus used this story to illustrate how the attitudes of our hearts can affect our thoughts, words, and actions. "Plants get their nourishment though their roots. If those roots are good, a plant will produce good fruit. Likewise, bad roots will produce bad fruit." (C. Sande, p. 37) Like in the story we just read. 
"Like plants, we have a root system in our hearts that produces different kinds of fruit. This root system is made up of the desires that are in our hearts. The fruit that grows from these roots is all the choices we make to say and do things. If our hearts are filled with selfish desires, the fruit will usually be sinful words and actions that result in conflict and broken relationships. 
"On the other hand, if our hearts are filled with love for God and a desire to please him, then the fruit will be words and actions that promote peace and strengthen relationships.
"Some of the desires in our hearts are clearly wrong, like greed or selfishness, and will produce bad fruit. Other desires may seem to be good, like wanting to get good grades, but even a good desire can produce bad fruit if you desire something too much. The desire can become a sinful demand. When you demand your own way, you are likely to offend others. This is how conflict begins." (C. Sande, p. 37)

1. Copy your memory verse into your spiral on the next clean page. Don't forget to put your NAME and DATE on the page.
2. Get a copy of Identifying Good and Bad Choices from Appendix C. Complete the page by following the directions at the top. Then put it into your spiral with tape or glue.
3. Look at pages 2-5 and 2-6 in your booklet. Color all eight bad root/bad fruit illustrations. As you color think about how you might allow some of these bad attitudes or tendencies to take over your heart at times.
4. When you are done coloring all eight, circle three with which you really seem to struggle. Glue or tape all these pages into your spiral.
5. Find the prayer on page 2-8 in the dark speech bubble. Pray this prayer out loud.

Sande, Corlette. The Young Peace Maker Teaching Students to Respond to Conflict God’s Way, Illustrated by Russ Flint, Wapwallopen, PA 18660, Shepherd Press, 1997.

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