TODAY'S CHURCH

Here is a fun way to play UNO or other games you may have lying around the house. As you are playing UNO whoever is changing the suit/color will also determine the persona of all the other players. For example, as you change the color from yellow to green, you can challenge all the other players in interact in “cowboy style”. (other style suggestions listed below) As you play, all players will speak with a southern drawl (if you live in Texas like I do, this might sound the way it always does) and use appropriate vernacular whenever possible. “That’s rite boys, fetch me them ther cards, its time to
throw up the sponge, we aint playin no Namby Pamby game. I got me a daisy of a hand!” If you need a good reference for more western slang, well here ya go pardoner! (click here) (warning! I have not read this entire slang dictionary, though I would presume that some of the words may not be appropriate for kids; this is true of all dictionaries by the way! BEWARE!) If someone fails to use the appropriate style they’re ‘buzzard food’, er, I mean they will consequently have to draw an additional card from the deck.

You could also select a TV show and interact as characters from that show. (My kids and I love to do Phineas and Ferb. There’s Dr. Drakenshmirtz and Par-ker the Plat-y-pus ) “Aren’t you boys a little too young to be playing UNO -with a twist? “Why yes, yes we are!” Busted!

You could put this dramatic spin on all sorts of games. For instance if you are going to play Sorry, put the list of styles in a hat before the game and have each player draw one. Each player has to use the persona they select the entire game or face a penalty (your choice). Here is a list of suggestions:

• Football player style
• cheerleader style
• valley girl style
• whisper style
• underwater style
• cowboy style
• opera (that’s opera not Oprah)
• computer voice style
• bad guy style
• sports announcer
• mafia style
• Australian style
• English tea style
• baby talk style
• nerd style

Please feel free to post other suggestions.

Here is an interesting thought to pose to your kids at the conclusion of this fun time. Read I Cor 9:19-23 – What does Paul mean “I have become all things to all men” and why does he say this? In this game you may have attempted to put yourself in another persons shoes so you could interact like they would.  How is this similar or different than what Paul is talking about? How can you do what Paul is talking about tomorrow?