Runt Higgins has a long to-do list. He needs to find out who cursed him, and why; he needs to make up with his best friend, Syke; and he needs to pass the Junior Henchman Training Program. That last one? Not likely. Professor Murphy hates Runt and is actively trying to fail him.
The only way for Runt to pass the class and stay at Dr. Critchlore¿s School is to locate a rare mineral that Dr. Critchlore needs to make an Undefeatable Minion. To find it, Runt must travel to icy Upper Worb and battle gyrfalcons, yetis . . . and the loathsome team from Dr. Pravus¿s school. Their newest member? Runt¿s former best friend, Syke.
Runt Higgins has a long to-do list. He needs to find out who cursed him, and why; he needs to make up with his best friend, Syke; and he needs to pass the Junior Henchman Training Program. That last one? Not likely. Professor Murphy hates Runt and is actively trying to fail him.
The only way for Runt to pass the class and stay at Dr. Critchlore¿s School is to locate a rare mineral that Dr. Critchlore needs to make an Undefeatable Minion. To find it, Runt must travel to icy Upper Worb and battle gyrfalcons, yetis . . . and the loathsome team from Dr. Pravus¿s school. Their newest member? Runt¿s former best friend, Syke.
Polar Distress: Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions
Polar Distress: Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions
Related collections and offers
Overview
Runt Higgins has a long to-do list. He needs to find out who cursed him, and why; he needs to make up with his best friend, Syke; and he needs to pass the Junior Henchman Training Program. That last one? Not likely. Professor Murphy hates Runt and is actively trying to fail him.
The only way for Runt to pass the class and stay at Dr. Critchlore¿s School is to locate a rare mineral that Dr. Critchlore needs to make an Undefeatable Minion. To find it, Runt must travel to icy Upper Worb and battle gyrfalcons, yetis . . . and the loathsome team from Dr. Pravus¿s school. Their newest member? Runt¿s former best friend, Syke.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940169764376 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Abrams Books |
| Publication date: | 09/18/2018 |
| Series: | Hopeless , #3 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Age Range: | 8 - 11 Years |
Related Subjects
Read an Excerpt
The Sanctuary for Lent 2015
By Sue Mink
Abingdon Press
Copyright © 2014 Abingdon PressAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4267-9534-3
CHAPTER 1
ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
Read John 1:1-3.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. —John 1:1
Jesus is the Word.
This statement sounds simple, but it has a deep and complex meaning. Word is translated from the Greek word logos, which is the root of the English word logical. The Stoics of Jesus' time used logos to describe the rational, ordered working of the cosmos. Jewish philosophers took it one step further. For them, logos meant God's interactive and creative plan for guiding the world.
So when we say that Jesus is the Word, we say that Jesus is God's plan for the world. The Word encompasses not only the man Jesus who lived on earth but also his plan of salvation offered to us from the very beginning of time. Just as we use words to communicate, God uses the Word to communicate with us. From the dawn of creation, the Word has interacted with God's people through Scripture, events, and revelation. When we understand the full breadth of what logos means, this verse becomes life changing. It means that Jesus, who was one with God from the moment of creation, was born as a human being in a humble stable, taught us, and died for us in order to guide us to salvation and relationship with God. Jesus is God's plan for saving humanity, made into flesh.
Prayer: O Word of God, guide me into a fuller and deeper relationship with you. Amen.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015
Read John 1:3-5.
What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. —John 1:3b-4
Jesus is the light for all people.
The purpose of our creation is to be in relationship with God, but we're not always very good at it. We forget God in our day-to-day lives. We pay more attention to our own wishes than to God's plan for us. We wander away from the path of righteous living.
That's why God made our way to him more visible, by sending the Word made flesh—Jesus Christ. Jesus is the light that we can follow. There can't be total darkness in a place that has even a little bit of light. Light always chases away the darkness. Because the light of Jesus came into the world, the world has changed forever. The darkness can't consume us anymore. The pathway to God is now visible for all of humanity.
This pathway isn't just to God though, but to our true selves. God designed the world to work a certain way, and for us to live within it a certain way too. A light that points to God also leads to our lives as they were meant to be lived. The Word is a pathway to full and complete life, not only in the present but also in eternity.
Prayer: O Light for all people, draw me to you so that my life is all that you envision for me. Amen.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015
Read John 1:14-18.
No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made God known. —John 1:18
Jesus is God the only Son.
This verse brings us deep into the mysteries of the Trinity. How can we read this verse without struggling with the image of two Gods? For centuries interpreters have wrestled with this question. But the Greek actually reads that Jesus is "within the bosom of God" rather than standing by God's side as a separate deity. The three parts of the Trinity blend together in harmony. Like separate notes in musical chords, the elements of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost have unique characteristics but join together into one being.
Therefore, as a part of the Trinity, Jesus has a unique relationship with God as God. Jesus is not just some human being who was able to reach a higher level of spirituality or righteousness. John even describes Jesus as God the only Son! This verse tells us that Jesus is the aspect of God that is visible to humanity. Jesus is the way that we know about God. Jesus exists as a part of God because of the unbelievable and incredible fact that the designer and creator of the universe wants a relationship with us. God the Son has made God accessible to us all.
Prayer: O, God the Son, through you may I come to know about all aspects of you. Amen.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015
Read Matthew 1:18-23.
Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call him, Emmanuel. (Emmanuel means "God with us.")— Matthew 1:23
Jesus is Emmanuel.
When Matthew called the Christ child Emmanuel ("God with us") he was making an incredible statement about Jesus. This baby was actually God's presence among the people of the world! This child was the Lord God on earth, interacting with human beings, experiencing human laughter and pain, knowing friendship and hostility, and ultimately suffering and dying by human hands. God himself took on human form to live among his own creations. Matthew is clear that Jesus is none other than the Son of God incarnate on earth.
We are often impressed when celebrities act like "regular people" and interact with their fans. People often display photographs of themselves with famous people and tell others about meeting them. Yet the Lord of all left his throne in heaven to be with us, not just for a casual meeting, but to be our most trusted confidant and friend. He gave up his life in order to be part of our lives. "God with Us" still calls to each one of us today, asking us to let him into our lives, to tell him our deepest hopes and fears, and to trust in his love and guidance.
Prayer: Emmanuel, help me grasp the incredible grace of your presence in humanity. Amen.
1st SUNDAY IN LENT, FEBRUARY 22, 2015
Read Matthew 1:20-21.
"She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." —Matthew 1:21
The Son of God was named Jesus.
The name Jesus was a common Jewish name when Jesus Christ was born. Everyone in his time probably knew a few men named Jesus. The Greek version of the name that Matthew uses in his Gospel is Yeshua, which is a shortened form of Yehosua; the English name Joshua is a variation.
Yahweh is the ancient Hebrew name for God, so the name Yehosua means "Yahweh helps" or "Yahweh saves." For an oppressed people waiting for a messiah, this was very exciting news. They had been waiting for someone to save them from Roman exploitation. But Matthew explains further. This Jesus would not save his people from kings and conquerors, but from themselves. Jesus would save his people from their sins.
Jesus didn't have a royal name so that he would be immediately recognized as a king. He didn't come as a messiah to deal with the problems of princes, which would shift and change with each generation. Jesus came with a common name to be a savior to common people, to save us from something far more insidious and pervasive. Instead of shifting some political alignments in an ancient desert country, Jesus shifted the powers of sin and death throughout the entire world.
Prayer: O Jesus, save me from the self-destruction of sin! Amen.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
Read Luke 1:76-79.
"Because of our God's deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those sitting in darkness." —Luke 1:78-79
Jesus is the dawn from heaven.
Imagine a cluster of people sitting alone in the deep dark of a desert night. Suddenly, one of them points to a line of crimson on the horizon—the beginning of a new day of hope. Everything was about to change! Today's verses come from a passage known as the Benedictus, a prophecy spoken by Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Zechariah realized that his son would be a great and godly man, but that he was sent to be a herald for someone even greater. John's father prophesied that his son would be the one who would point the people in the direction of God's new dawn.
Careful reading of the verses tells us that the change from darkness to light is a change from ignorance to understanding. Through Jesus, John would teach the people "how to be saved through the forgiveness of their sins." They would learn to walk on the path of peace. This is not a light that passively bathes people in a warm glow, but a revelation that demands a change in heart and attitude. The dawn from heaven is God's wake-up call to a new life.
Prayer: O Dawn of Heaven, wake my heart and soul with your light. Amen.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015
Read Luke 2:10-14.
"Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord." —Luke 2:11
Jesus is our Savior.
This is one of Jesus' most familiar names, so much so that perhaps we don't really examine its meaning. A savior rescues someone from a hurtful or threatening situation and restores his or her well-being and wholeness. In other words, Jesus enables us to live the lives we were born to live. John 10:10 says "I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest."
Probably those who first heard these words thought that Jesus would save them from Roman domination. Political saviors are easy to understand. But Jesus was not sent to be a political figure. Instead, he is our Savior from ourselves.
How many people can accept that they need that kind of a savior? It takes self-awareness and humility to know that we need to be saved from ourselves. Perhaps that's why the angels first announced Jesus' arrival to shepherds. Shepherds were society's rejects in Jesus' time, seen as dishonest drifters who grazed flocks on other people's land. Perhaps they could understand their need for a personal savior better than people who thought they were doing well in the world.
And where does that leave us? Do we understand our need for Jesus? Can we rejoice in the gift of salvation from one who will save us from ourselves?
Prayer: O Savior, help me to see my need for you. Amen.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015
Read Luke 2:25-32.
"It's a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel." —Luke 2:32
Jesus is revelation to the Gentiles.
It seems strange that Simeon would bless Jesus this way in the setting and time that he did. The infant Jesus had just been circumcised according to Jewish law, Mary had just gone through her ritual purification after giving birth, and Mary and Joseph were giving the sacrifice of the firstborn in the temple. Nothing could be more Jewish. But this Jewish child would be the means for bringing the rest of the world to God.
The Jewish people recognized Yahweh as their God, but God always looked beyond Jews for believers. From Rahab to Ruth, and even to the soldiers of invading armies, God called out to invite foreigners and pagans into relationship. This had been the purpose of the Jews from the time of Abraham: to bless all the nations of the earth through Abraham's descendants (Gen. 22:18). Abraham's descendants worshiped God and kept God's law, demonstrating to the Gentiles the blessings of living in relationship with God. Jesus was God's most personal and intimate invitation and blessing to the world—God made flesh, come to earth to call anyone to salvation who would listen. Through Jesus, the Lord God would be the God not just of the Jews, but of the entire world.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your light of revelation to me. Amen.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015
Read Luke 2:25-32.
"It's a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel." —Luke 2:32
Jesus is glory for the people of Israel.
How many people walk the streets of Jerusalem or stand on the shores of Lake Galilee, imagining that they are standing where Jesus once stood? The tiny nation of Israel, long battered and dominated by invaders, is a holy site of pilgrimage for millions throughout the world today. From the time of Abraham, the Hebrew people's calling was to bring the world to Yahweh, the Creator God. Through Jesus, God accomplished the goal of Israel: to be the one who brings the light of God to the entire world.
Simeon was echoing the words of Isaiah in his prophecy, who said over and over that there would be a savior who would rescue the Gentiles and bring glory to Israel. Isaiah 46:13 reads: "I will establish salvation in Zion and grant my splendor to Israel." From the time of Abraham, God had been in relationship with the Hebrew people and blessed them with the Torah, God's holy law. But the greatest gift of all would come when God chose to be incarnated as a Jew in Israel, forever changing Israel's relationship with the rest of the world. The tiny nation of Israel would forever be known as the homeland of the Savior of creation.
Prayer: Glory of Israel, thank you for the salvation that you brought to the entire world. Amen.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015
Read John 1:26-31.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" —John 1:29
Jesus is the Lamb of God.
When the Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt, God sent a series of plagues to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go free. The last plague killed all the firstborn in the land, from animals to people, even affecting Pharaoh's own son. The Hebrews were able to escape this horror by following God's directions. They were to kill a lamb and smear the blood over their door frames. The angel of death would see this sacrifice of blood and pass over the house. Every year Jews still celebrate this event, called Passover, with a ritual meal that includes lamb.
The blood of the lamb saved the lives of the firstborn of Israel. John's prophecy that Jesus was the Lamb of God meant that Jesus was stepping into the role of the Passover lamb. Thus the angel of sin and death would pass over anyone who claimed the blood of Jesus.
Knowing Jesus is the difference between life and death. Jesus protects us from the devastating consequences of living a life of sin and points us to the life that we were created to live—a life eternal with him.
Prayer: O Lamb of God, save me from sin and death and lead me to a full and enriching life with you. Amen.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015
Read Mark 6:2-3.
Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't he Mary's son? —Mark 6:3
Jesus was a carpenter and son of Mary.
As we study the names of Jesus, we get caught up in the depth of God's grace and the wonder of the Incarnation. Jesus was God come to earth! Yet Jesus also was a man who grew up in a small town with a family and had a trade. On the surface, he was indistinguishable from any other Jewish peasant. If anything, the people from his hometown must have thought he was a bit strange. Instead of getting married, settling down, and raising a family, he left his mother and siblings and wandered the countryside, upsetting traditional Jewish religious leaders with his unorthodox teachings. When he came back to his hometown, it was nearly impossible for them to recognize this man as the Messiah. Instead of seeing their Savior, they saw irresponsibility and maybe even arrogance.
Jesus was a common and familiar figure in his time and place. But doesn't Jesus most often speak to us through the common, familiar things in our lives? Sometimes we miss the touch of Jesus in such things as a change of heart, a healed relationship, or an act of mercy. They seem too usual. But the Son of God walked the earth as a common man. Grace is approachable. God's love and mercy are everyday occurrences, if we have eyes to see.
Prayer: Holy Carpenter, open my eyes to see your grace in my everyday life. Amen.
2nd SUNDAY IN LENT, MARCH 1, 2015
Read John 1:35-39.
They said, "Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?" He replied, "Come and see."—John 1:38-39
Jesus is Teacher.
Jesus was a remarkable teacher—engaging, stimulating, and never boring. Even in this simple exchange, Jesus demonstrated his teaching skills. The Greek word for "staying," meno, is also used by John to describe the act of dwelling with God. So the disciples' question could also be translated as "With whom do you align?" Jesus used this ambiguity to draw in his listeners, engaging his new disciples for the rest of the day. I can imagine his smile as he beckoned them toward him. "Come with me and see!"
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Sanctuary for Lent 2015 by Sue Mink. Copyright © 2014 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Videos
