Lighten Up, Doc!

As a boy growing up in the 1970s, I preferred watching older cartoons on TV because they were funnier and had better animation. Most of the newer cartoons then were lifeless by comparison. During the late 1980s, animators seemed to run low on ideas. Miniaturized versions of established characters came out like “Muppet Babies”, “The Flintstone Kids”, and “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo.” By the 2000s, all the major networks ceased airing cartoons on Saturday morning. A few were still seen during prime time such as “The Simpsons.”

Occasionally, reboots of classic cartoons have been released. Earlier this week, the streaming service HBO Max announced it will show new “Looney Tunes" cartoons except the characters won’t have guns. A sample posted on YouTube shows Elmer Fudd chasing after Bugs Bunny with a scythe. One man tweeted: “Elmer Fudd without his gun, is like Yosemite Sam without a mustache.” This appears to be an attempt by left-leaning producers to undermine support for the Second Amendment. The politically correct crowd sure has a way of ruining everything.

It reminded me of something involving my favorite cartoon character. The canine superhero Underdog wore a ring that contained a super energy pill. Sometimes I noticed scenes of him eating the pill edited out. This was due to fears of it influencing children to take drugs. Yet in some episodes, Underdog referred to it as an “energy vitamin pill.” Most parents wouldn’t object to their children taking vitamins.

Over the years, some have argued cartoons promote violence. While I never cared for violent TV programs, kids are smart enough to know cartoons aren’t meant to be taken seriously. Even when you see characters trying to shoot or blow each other up, the good guys usually win. The Road Runner never gets caught by Wile E. Coyote. The same is true with Sylvester’s failed attempts to eat Tweety.

Of course, I now endorse animations used to promote Biblical values. I remember watching my share of “Davey and Goliath” episodes on TV but would prefer the more entertaining “VeggieTales.” Christians wanting to reach children with the gospel need to come up with Biblically accurate materials that aren't corny and boring.

As Bugs Bunny stated in one cartoon: “Don’t take life too seriously. You’ll never get out of it alive.”

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.” - Job 8:21

Practice What You Preach

This past Tuesday morning I had a dream in which I was witnessing to actress Alison Arngrim who played Nellie Oleson in the TV series “Little House on the Prairie.” In the dream I started quoting a Scripture to Alison. She then requested I read it directly from my Bible. Later I asked Alison if she knew where she will spend eternity when her life ends. Alison was reluctant to answer my question. Hours after I woke up from my dream, I found out actor Richard Bull (who played Nellie’s father Nels Oleson) had died the day before.

I was in third grade when I first heard about the original “Little House on the Prairie” book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My teacher read a few pages from it during class after we went through one of Laura’s previous books “Little House in the Big Woods.” The “Little House on the Prairie” television program debuted on national television just over a year later in September 1974.  

During its run on NBC, I often watched “Little House on the Prairie” along with my family. Later after moving to Minneapolis, I watched reruns when coming home from classes at the University of Minnesota. Although I preferred living in a bigger city, seeing “Little House” episodes reminded me of how people in smaller towns are usually friendlier.  

To this day I appreciate the Judeo-Christian values emphasized on the show. One episode that stood out to me was “Second Spring.” Nels Oleson briefly escaped his henpecked family life by selling mercantile wares on the road. In another town, he meets a beautiful Irish woman named Molly. The two began a friendship and their feelings deepen for each other. Eventually Nels admitted to Molly that he’s a married man and soon went home to make amends with his wife Harriet. 

Sadly, some of the “Little House on the Prairie” cast members didn’t live godly lives away from the camera. The late Michael Landon who wrote and produced many of the show’s episodes plus played family patriarch Charles Ingalls had an affair with a make-up artist on the set and soon divorced his wife. Steve Tracy who played Nellie’s husband Percival Dalton was a homosexual who died from AIDS complications in 1986. Since then, Alison Arngrim has been active with LGBT-related causes. In an interview four years ago with the Chicago Pride, Alison stated “I’m religious” but “hopefully, they will legalize gay marriage.”

In real life, there are people who act pious in front of others but don’t practice what they preach. The Pharisees were notorious for doing this. Jesus came against these hypocrites in Matthew 15:8, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” He also said in Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

While good works don’t save us, everyone who names the name of Christ are expected to follow His commandments and depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). All of us will ultimately stand before God’s throne to give account for the things we have done this in life...good or bad.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” - Matthew 7:21

Holy Addiction

Years ago a friend of mine wore a T-shirt that read “Addicted to Space Invaders.” For a while I was addicted to video games. One of my favorites was “Dr. Mario.” I would spend up to $10/day on that game. This was when most video games still cost only a quarter to play.

One dictionary defines addiction as “relinquishing ourselves to the control of something or someone else.” Addictions usually don’t happen immediately. Alcoholics often start with just one drink. If they don’t know how to “hold their liquor”, they gradually drink more and more until they cannot control themselves. 

Everybody gets addicted to something. Some may choose drugs, pornography, gambling, food, sports, TV, or playing computer games for hours. I’ve heard people declare they have a caffeine addiction. While I often drink coffee, I will occasionally go without it for days to prove to myself that I’m not addicted to the stuff.

Another kind of addiction can be the latest ride at the amusement park. Many people look for an activity to give them an adrenaline rush. Proverbs 21:17 in the Message Bible reads, “You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.” 

Once I heard a pastor point out how people can make themselves hungry for anything. Before he went into the ministry, this man developed an addiction to cribbage while serving in the U. S. Air Force. Initially he didn’t have an interest in the card game but soon was playing it regularly with his military buddies.

On the other hand, people can become addicted to spiritual things. 1 Corinthians 16:15 (KJV) says, “Ye know the house of Stephanas...and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” Carman wrote and recorded a song about being “Addicted to Jesus.”  Another minister I know stated on his web site, “We admit that we have an uncontrollable, holy addiction...the garbage dumps and the slums of the third world!” Getting high on God results in godly behavior. 

1 Timothy 3:3 in the Darby Translation warns against being “addicted to contention.” 2 Timothy 3:4 in the Message Bible says that in the last days people will be “addicted to lust, and allergic to God.” People can also get addicted to gossip and bitterness. 

What are you addicted to?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21

Praying for TBN

This year the Trinity Broadcasting Networkcelebrates its 40^th anniversary. I used to watch TBN often especially during the early 1990s. Their programming (as well as teachings from other ministries) helped me grow as a young Christian. For awhile, my then-pastor had his TV program broadcast on TBN. 

In 2003, I got to tour TBN’s headquarters in Santa Ana, California. During which I met an evangelist named Edward who usually visited TBN once a month but hadn’t been there in three months. That morning the Lord specifically told Edward, “Go to TBN!” After buying one of my Evangelism 101 books, Edward said he would teach from it that night in a prison he ministers at. That would explain why I went through a lot of spiritual warfare that day.

Then in 2006, an incident occurred that didn’t set well with me. While watching one of TBN’s Praise-A-Thons, I called to make a donation but asked them not to send me that month’s love gift, which was a poster of a young King David. A few days later, the post office contacted me about wanting to deliver a package “postage due.” Realizing it was the poster from TBN, I refused delivery of that. I want to believe this was a mistake on TBN’s part.

TBN is often criticized for preaching a “prosperity gospel.” Critics need to remember it takes money to preach God’s word throughout the world especially through the printed page and electronic media. I also believe ministers should be allowed a decent salary (see 1 Timothy 5:17). Still I’m turned off when I hear televangelists repeatedly beg viewers to “pick up the phone” and make a donation. I know of ministries that have prospered without making any financial appeals.

In recent years, many claims of impropriety have come against TBN cofounders Paul and Jan Crouch. If any of these accusations are true, I pray that Paul and Jan take corrective action so they fulfill God’s plans and purposes for TBN. God wants to use every tool available to get the gospel out in these last days.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33