My sons laugh when I tell them we had only the three major networks for TV
growing up, along with three independents, and PBS. And this was in the New
York Metro area, where TV ruled the airwaves. And it seems there was always
something on to watch, we knew Friday nights at 730 pm was Wild, Wild, West, who
didn’t love all the James Bond type gadgets? And it was only after it went off
the air we knew it was in color, we didn’t have a color TV yet. Thursday nights
at 830 pm we talked our parents into going where no man has gone before on Star
Trek, opposite Bewitched. Which had those cool Chevies used in the background,
but Star Trek would win out as the all time favorite. ABC nailed us on both
Wednesday and Thursday nights with Batman, all the talk at Terrill Jr. High the
next morning. Entertaining, we were still too young to understand how campy it
was. Monday nights was more than the eternal question of Ginger or Mary Ann, it
was between Gilligan’s Island or The Monkees. And just to be reminded how
popular they were, in 1967, the year of Sgt. Pepper, they outsold The Beatles.
Sunday nights was dominated by The Ed Sullivan Show, especially when a rock
group was scheduled, but what to watch before 8 o’clock? Lassie was the choice
for years, with predictable outcomes each week. It seems so much was on, the
decisions were tougher, and they made a difference back then. But for my
parents each weeknight from 830 to 1000 pm was The Merv Griffin Show, live from
New York. On channel 5, WNEW, many of us started to watch it, and his guests.
An early alternative, time wise that is to The Tonight Show, we were introduced
to Moms Mabley, Rodney Dangerfield, Jack Douglas and his Oriental wife Reiko,
and others who have become icons in comedy. And with no VCRs yet, the decisions
were tough, no remotes meant you watched the commercials, which were
entertaining them also, and by 10 you were ready for bed, after their famous
tagline “it’s 10 pm, do you know where your children are?” No wonder we watch
the old shows...
But today with 200+ channels to choose from, after surfing via remote, it
is hard to find something on. I have watched more Star Treks now than when it
was first on. Monkees reruns, four at a time, an evening of Batman, and even
Johnny Carson is now on every night at 8 via reruns. Miss Adam-12, Dragnet,
Rockford Files, or Twilight Zone, they are all on every night, and in just one
month you can watch an entire season. Even if they conflict with today’s
reality TV,which is really scripted, or too late at night and you can set you
DVR. And I started watching shows I didn’t watch when first on, and sadly am
reminded why I didn’t in the first time around. Kojak, come on Theo. Cagney
and Lacey, Barney Miller, Car 54, Where Are You? and others. Set in New York
City, how crime shows have changed in 30 years, only crime hasn’t. So if not
for the old shows, it is possible that there is nothing on. Fortunately CHiPs
is on every night when we sit down to dinner.
These old shows allow us to look back and see how life was when we were
kids, at least through the eyes of TV. To us it was all new then, today too for
a new generation. We talk often of the first century church, the one of the
book of Acts, and how it was different, how we wish we could be like it. We
like Acts 2:42, where the church devoted itself to teaching and prayer, and
giving among themselves as needed. A church I would like to attend. They met
in homes, small groups we would call them today, and scripture was shared via
testimony, and what the apostles had taught. No New Testament yet, they were
living the New Testament, and I marvel at how they were able to function. No
Bibles to speak of, no internet for gathering information, no myriads of books
for study, and no overheads with the words of the songs printed. They were led
by the spirit, who gave them everything they needed, and all they desired. I
have attended churches that take 20 years to go through the Bible, but yet have
the same folk not walking in that spirit. Too much info overload, not enough
application of the love of Christ. A word search on Blue Letter Bible can set
up a pastor for weeks, we gain education experience, but maybe lack the spirit.
Too much of a good thing, and when younger we church hopped, based on what
church was teaching what. Just like our TV watching, we went for a certain
entertainment value, and if we didn’t like it, went elsewhere. It seems today
too many are motivated by desires other than holy spirit based, rather
satisfying the lust of a Biblical flesh rather than a spiritual based one.
But a few years ago when touring Brother Andrew’s Open Doors, I was told
about a church where the Bible is forbidden, Christians cannot meet, and they
move underground. How they protect their pastor, because they don’t have any
written word, they depend on him for knowledge, and guidance by the spirit. But
one part intrigued me, for this pastor has no Bible, but only one page from it,
two sides to read and teach from. He guards it well, for it is the only Bible
he has, no discussion whether King James or NIV is better? No concordance or
index, he has 2 pages on one sheet of paper as his only Bible. And yet after 20
years, he has only taught from one side of it! No John 3:16, no Hebrews or
Revelation to interest them, only the book of Acts. He is relying on the spirit
just like they did for input and what to teach. Maybe a true first century
church, in the 21st century! No words in red of Jesus, only the apostles
teaching of how they were with him, their testimonies. Two sides of a page, and
something is always on....
For them reading through the only Bible they have can take a few minutes,
and they are blessed, whereas we brag how we read through in one year, and don’t
live what we read. Maybe we need to see how humbling, yet rewarding it is to
walk in the spirit, instead of walking in the church. Where Jesus is alive, and
being caught can mean jail time or death. No pretty pictures, no retreats, only
lookouts for the police, to protect the pastor, as he has the page of the Bible
they learn from. A true form of less being more we all can learn from. Maybe
we need to ask ourselves, “it is 2016, do we know where our God is?” Who he
is? And are we guided by his spirit? Are there too many channels on with
nothing worth watching? If it works in a third world country, can it work in a
country who sings “God shed his grace on thee?” Who is Jesus in your life? Are
you taught to be guided by the spirit, or by a denomination? By a popular
pastor? How would you describe your church? Maybe in the words of Jamie
Buckingham, years ago when healed by Jesus of cancer, when he was interviewed,
the interviewer trying to find something to hype. Jamie’s answer to all
questions was the same, “all I know is Jesus.” And in one statement, he said it
all. Don’t let it take cancer, open heart surgery, a financial ruin, or divorce
to let you say “all I know is Jesus.” Seek him today, and by his spirit you
will be guided and see life anew. One church has one page, yet there are never
any reruns in the spirit. Do you study the things of God as much as you do the
TV Guide?
Jesus never left you, never forsakes you, and is always new and exciting.
To some just another rerun of religion, to those alive in the spirit life and
joy. It’s 2016, Jesus know where you are, do you know him? Before DVR’s you
had to make a choice of what to watch, is he on your watch list now?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com