Sermon Illustrations

THE NEW STUDENT

Wendy has the typical dreams owned by the typical High School students. She wants to make friends, she wants to join some clubs, she wants to become a cheerleader, and ultimately wants to graduate and make a living for herself and her future family. There’s only one problem however. Wendy is 33 years old and stole her daughter’s identity to re-enroll in school.

That’s right. 33 year old Wendy enrolled in Ashwaubenon High School not far from Green Bay under the guise that she is a 15 year old transfer student from Pahrump, Nevada. She attended cheerleading practice even before school started, and acted in a demeanor that was consistent for a high school girl according to sources. Teachers say that she was not very good in math, and acted very emotionally when questioned about the “tragedy” of having to move away from home. Brown has had a history of identity theft, and is currently under arrest for this felony and could face up to six years in prison if and when she is convicted.

How can this happen? More importantly, why would this happen? Why would a troubled adult wish to re-visit her youth and attempt to pull off a gaffe like this one in Northern Wisconsin? Brown says that she “had no childhood and was trying to regain a part of her life she missed.” But in all reality, Brown was wishing to circumvent her adulthood maturity and live life on the basis of what makes her happy rather than what makes a person responsible. In other words, she was refusing to grow up.

From a sermon by Tom Papez, The New Student, 5/7/2012

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