The Greatest Dream Ever Told

By Bro. Poole

The book, The Greatest Dream Ever Told, is a fictional adventure of a grandpa and his beagle dog, as they travel back into the Bible to visit some of Gods greatest people in the midst of their trials, tribulations, temptations, and of course victories. It contains adventures that will ignite the interest of Gods Word and cause a hunger for a personal adventure and relationship with Jesus Christ.
As your children take this adventure into Jim and Annies dream through the Bible, they will laugh and stand amazed as they see the Bible come alive to them. As they read the book, they will also be encouraged to read the corresponding passages in the Bible. There will also be discussion questions that will help their parents or Sunday School teachers dig deeper into the spiritual truths God has in store for them. As with one of the main characters in the book, they will have a chance to ask Jesus to come into their heart to be their Lord and Savior.
It is Jim and Annies prayer that God will use this simple book to do a great work in the heart of all that may read it, or have it read to them.


In Christ

Rev. Jim Poole

Annie the Beagle

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 20, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450083898

Bro. Poole

Jim Poole has been a pastor in the United Methodist Church for twenty-five years. He received an undergraduate degree in education at Truman University. He attended Asbury Theology Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky where he received his Masters of Divinity. He and his wife Beckie have two grown children Joshua Poole, Mary Natha Baird and three grandchildren: Lauren, Matthew and Hunter Poole.

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 by Bro. Poole.

Cover by Micah Baird

Consultation by Mary Baird

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture permission: New International Bible

Zondervan Bible Publishers

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

73882

Contents

CHAPTER

1                         The Dream

2                         The Garden of Eden

3                         Noah

4                         Tower of Babel

5                         Abraham

6                         The Burning Bush

7                         The Passover

8                         Mount Sinai

9                         Joshua

10                       Gideon

11                       Samson

12                       Ruth

13                       Samuel

14                       David

14                       Esther

15                       The Fiery Furnace

17                       Daniel in the Lions Den

18                       Jonah

19                       Birth of Jesus

20                       Jesus’ Ministry

21                       Epilogue

Dedicated to Lauren Poole

Encouragement and so much love: Beckie Poole

INTRODUCTION

(FISHERMAN) It seemed like only yesterday, or maybe it was today, no, it must have been years and years ago that the strangest thing that could have happened, happened! I was going fishing, and there by a beautiful little lake was an old bald-headed man lying down under a shade tree, with his arm under his head as if it were his pillow. He had an old ball cap pulled down over his eyes evidentially to keep the sun from keeping him awake. It had something written on it like Aged to Perfection". Maybe it was some kind of joke that someone played on him. Anyway it was doing a wonderful job of keeping out the sun, so he could have some quality dream time.

On his left side, as he was facing up into the tree, was a worn-out, tattered Bible. It was black, as it seems most Bibles seem to be. The gold letters Holy Bible had been worn off with time and I am sure many hours of use. Down in the right hand corner of that old Bible were a few letters that I could hardly make out. As I squinted my eyes, it seemed to be J-i-m. Yes, that’s what it was. This old man’s name was Jim. His last name had wore off many years ago. I guess in his mind what was important wasn’t who owned the book as much as what was in the book.

On the other side of the old man, that would be his right side, lay his old beagle dog. Later I would learn that his dog’s name was Annie, but he called her many names like Annie Girl, Big, big, big, be-ga-de-o and Big O. There are others that I will probably bring up as the story goes on. As he lay there his right hand was resting on his dog as if to make sure she didn’t wonder off as beagles often do. It was certainly easy to see that they had done this very thing many times before. Many of those times were probably under this very tree.

As I moved closer to him I stepped on a small twig and it snapped under my foot. The old man didn’t move a muscle, but simply said, Is that you Sweet Beckie? I kind of cleared my throat and told him my name. With that he pushed the bill of his cap back, and his dog stretched, yawned, lifted her head, and then laid it down again on the old man’s leg. I could tell he wasn’t too impressed nor his dog with me.

I asked him if he was all right. He smiled and asked me if I was all right and I smiled and said, sure. I told him I had seen him and was just concerned. He said that he appreciated my concern and wondered about the time. I told him it must have been around 10:30 in the morning. He told me that he was hoping it would be time for lunch. That’s why he thought I had been his wife coming to get him and his dog for a bite to eat. Then the old man pushed himself up against the old shade tree. His dog acted very irritated, yawned, stretched, and walked over where there was another spot of shade, she turned in a circle three times and plopped down. I could tell I had just ruined the best part of her day and probably that of the old man, too.

The old man told me that his name was Jim. Of course I figured as much since it was on his Bible, but I didn’t say anything. He asked me if I had caught any fish, and when I told him I hadn’t, he smiled and simply told me it, was the wrong time and too hot. I just shook my head agreeing with him.

He asked me if I would like to sit down for awhile to talk and have a glass of ice tea. He pulled out his thermos and poured some for me, his dog, and himself.

I really don’t recall seeing a dog drink ice tea, but his dog seemed to like it. As we drank our ice tea and began to talk, I could see that there was something that made me very curious about them both, and I intended to find out more.

I asked him if he and his dog came out to this lake very much. He told me that this was actually his very favorite place, and he had caught some nice bass. He smiled and laughed and said the nap time wasn’t bad either. I laughed and told him that he looked like he sure had the nap part down pat. With that we both laughed. I could see this old man might just might make this an interesting day. He told me he and his dog Old Annie Girl have had some really great dreams together. I never asked him how he and his dog could have a dream together, but it certainly made me wonder what these dreams might be like. I kind of smiled and asked if he would tell me one of his dreams. Well, this is where the really interesting part of my time with the old man took place. Old Jim smiled and took a deep breath and started in."

(Jim) Well, friend, it seemed like only yesterday, but it had to be years and years ago. Annie Girl and I had become a little tired and the fish weren’t biting, so we decided to lay down under this very old shade tree and take a nap. The next thing I knew, I heard someone calling my name, and this is how this dream begins.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN:

Have you ever gone fishing?

What was the best part?

What do you think a fish feels like?

Jesus told his disciples to be fishers of men. What do you think this means?

What kind of bait would you use to catch a person for Jesus?

Would you like to be a fisherman for Jesus?

POSSSIBLE SCRIPTURE READINGS: Matthew 4:18-20

CHAPTER 1

(The Dream)

(Annie) Jim, are you awake?

(Narrator) "Jim opened his eyes just a bit, because the sun was shining in through an opening in the leaves of the tree above him. Things must have seemed a little blurry at first, but then he saw the most remarkable thing a person might ever see.

It was his beagle dog, Annie Girl. She was standing up on her hind legs just like a person and she was talking to him just like a person. She put her paws on her waist and told him it was time to get up and get going. Well, Jim got up just like Annie asked him and put his hands on his waist and asked her when she learned to talk. Annie smiled her Be-go smile and said she had always been able to speak, he just never asked her if she could. She told him that she could do a lot of things that he didn’t know she could do. Then Annie Girl motioned for Jim to come with her."

(Annie) Jim, look at my latest invention, or what the Lord showed me how to make.

(Narrator) As they walked over to where her dog house was, there appeared to be a strange building. It looked like her dog house only it was about the size of those little buildings you see at a bus stop. Annie opened the door for Jim, and to his surprise the inside was larger than the outside. Jim looked back at the outside, and then again at the inside.

(Jim) Annie Girl, how did you do that? This is impossible!

(Narrator) "Annie smiled at Jim and told him that nothing is impossible with God.

Annie told Jim that God had taught her how to make a machine and it could go back, way back in time, so Jim and she could visit people in the Bible. Jim smiled as he noticed right away that Annie had added her feminine touch with fancy curtains and doilies around the room. It was only one room, but it had a kitchen, bedroom and living room. Jim notice right away it didn’t have a television and Annie explained they were going way back in time where there would not be a television station to send a signal for him to watch. Jim smiled and told her that they would be in store for some really great adventures. Annie Girl smiled and gave a big, big, big, Be-ga-de-o howl!

That’s just how I feel, too, Annie Girl, Jim told her. She told him that if he wanted they could take their first trip any time he wanted. She told him that Sweet Beckie would never miss them, because for her time would stand still. Jim asked her if she was sure it would work and she told him that God doesn’t make junk. He would be just find. As he stood there he started laughing and asked her what in the world she called this thing. Annie stood there with her paws on her hips again and told him that since they would be going way back in time, they could call it their Way Back Machine. Jim Put his hands on his hips and told her it sounded like a perfect name to him. Jim patted Annie on the head and told her he was ready any time she could get the Way Back Machine set to go."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN:

Have you ever had a dog?

What was its name and why did you call it that?

Since God can do everything, what would you ask him to do?

Why would you ask him that?

If you could go back in time where would you go?

What do think it means that God doesn’t make junk?

Should we consider anyone junk?

POSSIBLE SCRIPTURE READINGS: Genesis 1:26,27

                              John 3:16

                              John 1:1-4

CHAPTER 2

(The Garden of Eden)

(Narrator) Annie explained to Jim all the different thing-a-ma-bobs and the do-hinkies and of course the what-sha-ma-call-its. Jim just stood there and nodded just like he understood it all and it was perfectly clear. I think that he probably did this a lot with his dear wife, Sweet Beckie. She would tell him something and rather than show his confusion, he just nodded like everything was perfectly clear. At any rate Annie just smiled her Big-o smile and took Jim over to the chair that he would be making his trip. It was something you would see your grandfather sleeping on a Sunday afternoon as the television was playing the football game that he had waited all week to see. As Jim sat down in the chair, Annie thought he looked like a deer when the head lights of a car shines in it’s eyes. You know when they are great big and look like the deer is scared to death. Annie assured him everything would be fine, all he needed to do was to tell her where they were to go and when. Jim kind of softly told her he would like to go to the Garden of Eden. Annie Girl ran to the controls of the Way Back Machine and started setting the bells, lights and dials.

(Annie) Don’t worry Jim! Annie said. We will be there in two blinks of an eye. You better put on your seat belt it may just be a little bumpy! This is my first trip too!

(Narrator) "When Jim heard this, he started to say something and then he remembered what Annie had said about the Lord showing her how to build it. All of a sudden a peace came over his face and you could tell that he knew everything was going to be fine. Jim was ready for a great adventure in the Way Back Machine. After all they were going as far back in time as they could go. They were going back to the beginning.

In a thousand years Jim couldn’t have imagined what would be in store for him and Annie in just two blinks of an eye. Annie Girl pulled a bright red handle down and all of a sudden all sorts of lights started blinking, bells started ringing and the entire room started shaking. Jim grabbed hold of the arms of his chair and started to yell, but when he looked at Annie she was as clam as she could be. Annie had this big puppy grin on her face."

(Annie) Don’t worry Jim, we will be just fine. I prayed that Jesus would be with us. His word tells us that he will never leave us or forsake us. That means that he will be with us in the past as he is in our present and will be with us even in our future.

(Narrator) "Well, Annie Girl was right. In two blinks of an eye or less the lights stopped blinking, the bells stopped