Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Comic Relationships
* Scripture: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18,19, NKJV

Ah, Memories! there is nothing quite like dipping down deep into the memory bin, stirring them up a bit, watching them swirl around, and grabbing onto one or two for a trip down memory lane. I did a little stirring recently when I ran across an internet web site about comic strips - Don Markstein's Toonopedia™ Home Page. Talk about traveling back in time!
Many of the strips from the days of my youth were represented. I especially enjoyed “Out Our Way,” by J. R. Williams. It opened a new world for me, because he drew upon his experiences working in a factory, with cowboys on the range, and typical family situations. There was “Our Boarding House, “ with the ever pompous Major Hoople and his long-suffering but efficient wife, Martha. Some, like “Smokey Stover,” were pure foolishness, but the made-up words fascinated me, like “Foo’ and Notary Sojack.”
I have had a deep interest in the comic strip technique that goes beyond the quick bit of life or humor. All the essential elements of art, writing, film and video presentation all represented, and distilled to a potent essence. I used comic panels to illustrate the techniques of picture composition, movement of the story line, and compression of time in teaching television production.
I still use selected strips in teaching Bible studies. My maternal grandfather had no use for the comics, considering them to be a bunch of rubbish. Never-the-less, I find that they can be used effectively in making a point, or fleshing out an illustration.
Keep in mind that they do not have to be Biblical (although sometimes they may be, the occasional “B.C.,” or “Peanuts,” for example.) An illustration presenting what ‘IS NOT’ can be just as effective as what ‘IS’ if used properly.
Take relationships; that is what the Bible is all about, after all. Our relationships to God, and to each other - God’s creation.
I got to thinking about the characters in the “Bringing Up Father” strip, created by George McManus, about a poor Irish laborer named Jiggs, who doesn't understand why his ascension to wealth means he can't hang out with his friends, and his nagging, social-climbing wife, Maggie. Nouvea riche! Off with the old life, forward to the new, upward mobility into society. At least as far as Maggie is concerned. Art, voice lessons, fashion. Putting on airs.
Jiggs? He prefers his old friends, and corned beef and cabbage at Dinty Moore’s. The artist drew Maggie with a most critical expression on her face where Jigg’s indiscretions were concerned.
Relationships! Between husband and wife, within the family, to friends, both former and future. A place in the social order. Values, laying up treasures. Pride and humility. The higher and lower seats.
Got any ideas yet?
August 7, 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Paul wrote, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phi. 3:20, NIV
They called her Little Miss Sure-shot. Annie Oakley was renowned all over the world for her marksmanship. Although she was famous for her remarkable performances in Wild West shows, she learned to shoot accurately to help support her family. She provided food for the table, and sold some of the birds she shot to hotels and restaurants.
She had the unique ability to not only hit a target every time, but also to hit a moving target - even if she was moving on horseback.
Some pioneer marksman were also noted for their skill at hitting a moving target. They called it “Kentucky Windage.” The technique requires the shooter to aim at where the target will be when the bullet gets there.
Not everyone has that ability, nor even the accuracy to hit a stationary target. The story is told of a boy who spent a lot of time shooting. Fence posts, barns, trees - all over the community there were targets drawn with a bullet hole in the dead center of them. One day a man complemented the “marksman” on his accuracy. “Aw, shucks, taint nuthin’,” replied the boy. “I just shoot first and draw the circles after.”
Some people are like that with their spiritual life. They “Just Do It,” and then claim that there is nothing wrong with what they have done. In truth, they have “missed the mark.”
Paul wrote to the Philippians concerning those whose “God is their stomach, and their glory is their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” (3:19, NIV).
Their ‘target’, their goal is pleasure now! They give no thought as to where they will be in the future.
We need to aim for heaven, just as Paul did, and just as he advised the church at Philippi. Earlier in this letter, he said, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (1:27)
The Greeks had a word for it - hubris.
It literally means, “missing the mark.” Someone guilty of hubris would show “wanton insolence or arrogance resulting from excessive pride or from passion.” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 2nd ed.)
Pride in living an ‘earthly’ lifestyle certainly misses the mark as affirmed in the Bible by the prophets, the apostles, and by Jesus the Christ.
Keep your eyes upon Jesus, who even now is in heaven.
July 8, 2001

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.” Mark 7:21-22 NIV
Oh wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion.
--Robert Burns

It is said that Scotch poet, Robert Burns, wrote about “seeing ourselves as others see us,” after watching a louse crawl up the back of a lady sitting in front of him in church. She was decked out in the latest fashion, including a large hat with a feather plume in it. Quite proud of her appearance, no doubt!
Puffed-up pride has been around as long as there have been people. Cain’s pride got him in trouble, and so on through history. Proverbs 16:18 notes that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
We need to have a certain amount of pride in ourselves, but of a humble sort, rather than haughty pride. A Greek axiom was “Know Thyself.” We need to be knowledgeable of our capabilities, but also our limitations. One of the most destructive traps is the pride that prevents us from admitting that we are wrong, or that we don’t know the answer.
As “Bobbie” Burns observed, “It would from many a blunder free us, and foolish notion.”
One comedy routine went something like this:
1st: “Only fools are positive!”
2nd: “Are you sure of that?”
1st: “Positive!”
Daniel observed that King Nebuchadnezzar was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory because his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride. (Daniel 5:20)
Jesus included pride (arrogance) as one of the things that makes a man unclean. From within, out of men’s hearts, come evils that make a person ‘unclean’. (Mark 7:21-22)
January 7, 2001

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18,19, NKJV

Ah, Memories! there is nothing quite like dipping down deep into the memory bin, stirring them up a bit, watching them swirl around, and grabbing onto one or two for a trip down memory lane. I did a little stirring recently when I ran across an internet web site about comic strips - Don Markstein's Toonopedia™ Home Page. Talk about traveling back in time!
Many of the strips from the days of my youth were represented. I especially enjoyed “Out Our Way,” by J. R. Williams. It opened a new world for me, because he drew upon his experiences working in a factory, with cowboys on the range, and typical family situations. There was “Our Boarding House,“ with the ever pompous Major Hoople and his long-suffering but efficient wife, Martha. Some, like “Smokey Stover,” were pure foolishness, but the made-up words fascinated me, like 'Foo’ and 'Notary Sojack.'
I have had a deep interest in the comic strip technique that goes beyond the quick bit of life or humor. All the essential elements of art, writing, film and video presentation are represented, and distilled to a potent essence. I used comic panels to illustrate the techniques of picture composition, movement of the story line, and compression of time in teaching television production.
I still use selected strips in teaching Bible studies. My maternal grandfather had no use for the comics, considering them to be a bunch of rubbish. Never-the-less, I find that they can be used effectively in making a point, or fleshing out an illustration.
Keep in mind that they do not have to be Biblical (although sometimes they may be so - the occasional “B.C.,” or “Peanuts,” for example.) An illustration presenting what ‘IS NOT’ can be just as effective as what ‘IS’ if used properly.
Take relationships; that is what the Bible is all about, after all. Our relationships to God, and to each other - God’s creation.
I got to thinking about the characters in the “Bringing Up Father” strip, created by George McManus, about a poor Irish laborer named Jiggs, and his nagging, social-climbing wife, Maggie. Nouveau riche! Off with the old life, forward to the new, upward mobility into society. At least as far as Maggie is concerned. Art, voice lessons, fashion. Putting on airs. Jiggs? He doesn't understand why his ascension to wealth means he can't hang out with his old friends, and and enjoy corned beef and cabbage at Dinty Moore’s. The artist drew Maggie with a most critical expression on her face where Jigg’s indiscretions were concerned.
Relationships! Between husband and wife, within the family, to friends, both former and future. A place in the social order. Values, laying up treasures. Pride and humility. The higher and lower seats.
Got any ideas yet?
August 7, 2005