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DEDICATED TO
Gabe and Brandan. In a world of choices, may you make the right ones.
And to Madelyn and Megan. This may have been written for boys, but there's a whole lot here for you too.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks to Andy, Mark, and Luke Shoemaker along with Kevin, Karl, and Kristy Sorensen for their ideas that helped make this book even more fun.
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR
Computers are great, but they aren't perfect. Sometimes they run into a 'glitch.' When that happens to my computer, I reboot. The computer restarts and usually runs fine because it got rid of the bad stuff.
You and I can be a little like a computer. There are times when we're not operating or living the way God designed us to live. Sometimes we don't even notice that a glitch has developed in our life.
This book will help you get rid of the bad stuff---'reboot' your brain. It will remind you that God designed you to live so you can grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man.
Each chapter includes a new episode of 'Code 2:52'---a comic about four guys who often make wrong choices and get themselves into real messes---and a great Bible story to guide you in knowing what is right. These comics and the stories from God's Word can help you get a better handle on how God wants you to live.
When your life runs into a glitch, just 'reboot' your brain!
---Tim Shoemaker
AND JESUS GREW IN WISDOM AND STATURE, AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MEN. ---LUKE 2:52
This verse tells us that as Jesus grew bigger, he was getting smarter too. God and people loved him. Doesn't it make you wonder what Jesus did that made others like him so much? It wasn't just that he was so wise and smart. He was wise about how he lived and treated people.
LET LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS NEVER LEAVE YOU; BIND THEM AROUND YOUR NECK, WRITE THEM ON THE TABLET OF YOUR HEART. THEN YOU WILL WIN FAVOR AND A GOOD NAME IN THE SIGHT OF GOD AND MAN. ---PROVERBS 3:3--4
There they are . . . those same words about 'favor' with 'God and man.' Love and faithfulness are the keys. Jesus was faithful to God and others. Jesus loved God and others. That means Jesus lived according to the love described in 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient. Love is kind and honest. Love does not envy. It doesn't boast. And it's not proud. Love isn't easily angered. It's not selfish or rude. Love doesn't get a kick out of evil. Love forgives.
Jesus put all of these principles into practice. People couldn't help but love him. He really was smart, wasn't he?
We can be smarter too by showing more love to others. In this book we'll take a look at some ways we can do that. When you put these principles into practice, you'll find that most people will appreciate you more, even brothers and sisters! Hey, you don't always need a teacher to help you get smarter. Since you've read this far, you're already getting smarter.
THEY DON'T GO LOOKING FOR TROUBLE, BUT SOMEHOW IT SEEMS TO FIND THEM Meet the regulars of the 'Code 2:52' comic series.
David Callahan
* Responsible and even tempered, the unofficial leader of the group.
* Quiet (when compared to the others), cares for others.
* Thirteen years old, in eighth grade at Hudson J. Ford Junior High, has two younger sisters.
* Rededicated his life to Christ in seventh grade while on a church youth group retreat. The youth pastor's challenge to be more like Christ, as described in Luke 2:52, impacted him deeply.
* Encourages Troy and Howie to be more like Jesus with something he calls 'Code 2:52,' referring to the principles he learned in Luke 2:52.
* Has been reaching out to Eddie and his sister, Mallory, and hopes they will become Christians.
Troy McBride, 'Trigger'
* Very competitive and hates to lose.
* Loves almost all sports, but basketball is his passion.
* Strong-willed and tends to act and speak before he thinks.
* Thirteen years old, in eighth grade, has two brothers, one older, one younger.
* Rededicated his life to Christ when David did.
* Got the nickname 'Trigger' because of his quick temper, although he has gotten much better at controlling it. Most kids who didn't know him before junior high think his nickname came from his ability to sink 'em in basketball.
Zachary Howard Piccolino, 'Howie'
* Hyperactive and slightly unpredictable.
* Will try anything. Loves demolition-type work, like gutting an apartment with his dad.
* Independent, doesn't seem to care what people think of him.
* Weird is normal for him. He likes to wear crazy T-shirts he buys at thrift stores. Has broken more bones than the rest of the group collectively.
* Comes off as a clown, but doesn't try to be funny. That's just the way he is.
* Loves pulling off a good prank.
* Thirteen years old, in eighth grade, has two older sisters who don't understand him at all.
* Struggles in school.
* Growing as a Christian, but not as serious about his faith as David and Troy.
* Nicknamed 'Howie' by his older sister Shirley, and the name stuck.
Eddie Thatcher
* Funny, 'life of the party,' but often doesn't have the sense to know when to stop.
* Doesn't consider himself to be lazy, but is skilled at avoiding work.
* He could be athletic, but doesn't make an effort to sharpen his skills.
* Thirteen years old, in eighth grade, lives with his mom, older brother, and younger sister, Mallory.
* Doesn't see his dad as much as he'd like since the divorce, but acts like it doesn't bother him.
* His mom and brother work a lot, so he is forced to let Mallory tag along, which he usually doesn't mind.
* Not a Christian.
* Considers David, Troy, and Howie his best friends. The fact is, they are his only friends.
Mallory Thatcher, the 'Kid'
* Doesn't feel comfortable with other girls her age.
* Prefers hanging out with her brother, Eddie, and the other guys, and isn't intimidated by them.
* Not afraid to speak her mind.
* Fiercely loyal to Eddie and the other guys in the group, but rarely shows it.
* Ten years old, but has grown up faster than most girls her age.
* Not a Christian, but her respect for David has made her more open to it.
* The guys refer to her as the 'Kid,' and she doesn't mind a bit.
Two others stay very close to the group, but nobody has ever seen them.
Gabe (not the Gabriel we read about in the Bible)
* An angel of the Lord assigned to be an extra guardian over David, Howie, and Troy.
* Quiet, yet very powerful. Has a sword strapped in a sheath at his side.
* He can't be seen by any human, but can speak to a person's conscience.
Slick
* A demon from Satan's legions of darkness. * Has direct orders to discourage and destroy David, Troy, and Howie in any way he can.
* Has further orders to keep Eddie and Mallory from becoming true believers in Jesus.
* Comes across as a wise-cracking prankster. That is just a cover. Inside he is seething with a demonic lust to destroy Christians and see Eddie and Mallory ushered into hell.
* He can't be seen by any human, but he can plant thoughts in a person's head.