Lately Theresa has been rolling her eyes at me more than usual. Being hobbled by my accident, I go from chair to sofa to chair-unfortunately watching too much TV. And most of the time despite 150 channels nothing is on. But I found a great channel, Boomerang, which is all the old Hanna Barbera cartoons. Commercial free, too. Top Cat, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, and Quick Draw McGraw. Good stuff. And despite my best attempts to assure her I'm not losing my mind-it's been gone for years, no one noticed, I tell her how they are for kids, but are sophisticated enough for adults. For instance, George Jetson called someone a sadist. How many 10 year olds in 1962 knew what that was? Or the world's longest word-antidisestablishmentarianism-George did.
So I live in a 45 year old world of fantasy sometimes, and it is not all that bad. And they are adult oriented. Top Cat for instance. A take off from Sgt. Bilko, all the way down to Benny the Ball as Doberman. Fancy who talks like Cary Grant. The Flintstones, a take off on the Honeymooners-yubba dubba doo! And I find comfort in the world of blue dogs who can play guitar and sing like Huckleberry Hound-"oh my darlin, oh my darlin", Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, bears stealing pic-a-nic baskets, while wearing hats, Quick Draw and Babba-a horse that talk to a baby bull-"I'll do the thinnin' around here-and don't you forget it!" and a gang of cats-TC, Benny the Ball, Fancy, the Brain, Choo Choo. The gang, not a gang. We had gangs then, not like today-these were all the guys we hung out with-not organized crime. From sun up to sunset, pals all day. But there was always some yuk, usually a fat girl with glasses, bad teeth, BO, and a high IQ who would spoil the gang's fun by saying "it's all made up, there are no blue dogs, or cats who can talk." Whaddaya mean the Jetsons aren't real? What, no daughter Judy? No his boy Elroy? Jane wasn't his wife? You mean those stories aren't real? The ones we have tried to copy for years? But deep inside we knew it, but somehow hearing it, especially from her, put holes in our belief system. And the fact she always found joy in making us as miserable as she was, just added to it. Where was Ranger Rick or Officer Dibble after she had stolen our pic-a-nic basketful of joy?
And as a Christian, I still have people asking me, "do you believe that made up stuff about the Bible?" I was reminded yesterday by Kerry Lyn, about misconceptions about God. Earlier she had become a member of an Aryan hate group, someone had told her that they were the superior race, and God hated all others. And since the person telling her this had authority, she believed it. It was only years later when opening her Bible and becoming a Christian did she realize the lie she had been told, and believed. And turned her life over to the truth of the Bible-Jesus Christ. And I see many others like this also, who have been lied to abut the things of God, and become hateful because of it-and end up hating themselves. From the lies of many ways to heaven, to denying that Jesus truly is deity, they prowl on those weaker than they, showing them a false love, and leading them astray. Only in the spirit, when told the truth, do they wake up to Jesus, and are set free by THE truth. Sorry, nice people don't go to heaven, saved ones do. And only in Christ Jesus is their salvation. God made it easy so you don't have to study, or learn religious dogma, or follow a set of instructions/laws that are doomed to make you fail. It is based on grace, a gift from God, and cannot be purchased.
So next time someone questions your faith, compliment them on theirs. With all the things God shows us everyday, with the Bible being proved over and over as accurate-just ask Josh McDowell or Lee Strobel-two atheists who when setting out to disprove God-were overwhelmed by the evidence of Him, and gave over their lives to Him. It takes faith to believe a lie like they did, as there is no evidence. In fact, it is easier to believe in a blue dog that can sing. Or a horse who can play guitar-KABONG!!
Jesus Christ-like Top Cat, he is the indisputable leader of the gang-He's the boss, he's the pip, He's the championship, He's the most tip top! And some good advice from Quick Draw-"and don't you forget it!" From
Astro-"rall right Reorge!" You see, even the cartoons declare His glory!
Astro-"rall right Reorge!" You see, even the cartoons declare His glory!
Gotta go-Jonny Quest is coming on.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com