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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 42

Topic: Who Praises Who?

Series: Darkwing Duck

Episode: Beauty And The Beet

Lesson PDF link: 42.pdf

Introduction

I am using a Darkwing Duck episode called Beauty And The Beet to have a type of 'care of creation' lesson. I want to show that we as humans a lot of times abuse our authority and power given by God's decree for purposes that are not God's design. We need to remember that God is the boss of us, not the other way around.

Scriptures Include: Genesis 1: 11-13; 24-31; 2: 7; 15, Psalms 148

Today, we are discussing praise and service to God, using nature as an example. If nature were yours, how would you use it? What are some ways that nature and all other creation praise God? In contrast, what are some ways that creation doesn't praise God or doesn't do it properly?

We are going to see a series of clips from the Darkwing Duck episode "Beauty And The Beet."

Cartoon Clip #1 "Beauty And The Beet":

Darkwing Duck: "Beauty And The Beet": Direct link for video/webm

What did you see in this clip that deals with nature and its use?

This is what I see: I see a couple of scientists that care more about money than taking care of where they live ' earth. I also see another scientist that claims to want to make the world a better place, but has a really strange way of showing it and isn't. His idea to 'snack on sunlight' might sound noble, but that isn't what God has in mind because that isn't how we are created. As we will see, plants are actually one of our foods. First, I will point out that God made the plants and tools to make other foods in this cartoon (if they were real foods instead of drawings). Because Bushroot rules the vegetation portion of nature in this cartoon series, we are going to use that part of the creation story and about our own creation. Bushroot represents us humans for this lesson.

The Bible States In Genesis 1: 11-13; 24-31; 2: 7; 15 (a piece of the creation story dealing with specific days of creation)

Ge 1:11 Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so.

Ge 1:12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Ge 1:13 And there was evening, and there was morning'the third day

Ge 1:24 And God said, 'Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so.

Ge 1:25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Ge 1:26 Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'

Ge 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Ge 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'

Ge 1:29 Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Ge 1:30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground' everything that has the breath of life in it'I give every green plant for food.' And it was so.

Ge 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning'the sixth day.

Ge 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Ge 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Since God made all these and more, we must take care of God's creations instead of mutating them just for profit or fun and games.

Next, we are dealing with service and praise from nature. We will see what happens in our cartoon clips.

Cartoon Clip # 2 "Beauty And The Beet":

Darkwing Duck: "Beauty And The Beet": Direct link for video/webm

What do you notice in this clip?

Interestingly enough, his experiment worked. Unfortunately, this experiment has bad consequences. The first thing is that everyone is now actually afraid of Dr. Bushroot and the power that he is about to discover goes right to his head.

Cartoon Clip # 3 "Beauty And The Beet":

Darkwing Duck: "Beauty And The Beet": Direct link for video/webm

What do you notice in this clip?

As you can see, Bushroot is thinking evil thoughts already - a problem he will have all series long, unless compelled by means other than selfishness.

Why is Bushroot wanting revenge?

Evidently, he is being made fun of so badly that he wants to get even. No one gives his ideas any respect when some of the other experiments that get respect are just as bad. And now, we have more consequences.

Cartoon Clip # 4 "Beauty And The Beet":

Darkwing Duck: "Beauty And The Beet": Direct link for video/webm

What do you notice in this clip?

Not only is Dr. Bushroot thinking bad thoughts he is now starting to act on them. He is now commanding nature to help him commit crimes.

Cartoon Clip # 5 "Beauty And The Beet":

Darkwing Duck: "Beauty And The Beet": Direct link for video/webm

What do you notice in this clip?

It actually appears that Dr. Bushroot if he would have been patient might have received a girlfriend and possibly wife if he didn't do what he did. Unfortunately, it's not to be as he's made a commitment to being a mutant plant.

Cartoon Clip # 6 "Beauty And The Beet":

Darkwing Duck: "Beauty And The Beet": Direct link for video/webm

What do you notice in this clip?

Dr. Bushroot is doing more mean things with his power. He's kidnapped his co-worker who could have been more and he is going to force himself on her with his wishes of love and weird science.

Cartoon Clip # 7 "Beauty And The Beet":

Darkwing Duck: "Beauty And The Beet": Direct link for video/webm

What do you notice in this clip?

Obviously, Dr. Bushroot lost the girl he loves. Forcing our way over God's way always ends in disaster eventually. We are not to actually abuse our power or authority. We are supposed to use our power and authority to bring glory to our Maker like nature does by design. However, we have a choice. Creation is not to glorify us. Creation is made to serve and praise God. Nature and all other creation does serve us in some ways by God's decree. Nature gives us humans and animals water, food, and shelter. We drink from the rivers we eat off the land's crops and we use timber, stone and other created materials for housing. God provides our needs and when there isn't enough, God sends us help in our recovery. God provides our needs. We are to work the land and take care of it. We are not to abuse God's resources like Dr. Bushroot.

Our final passage lies in Psalms 148.

The Bible States:

Ps 148:1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.

Ps 148:2 Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Ps 148:3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.

Ps 148:4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

Ps 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.

Ps 148:6 He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.

Ps 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

Ps 148:8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,

Ps 148:9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,

Ps 148:10 wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,

Ps 148:11 kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,

Ps 148:12 young men and maidens, old men and children.

Ps 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Ps 148:14 He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.

As you can see, all creation belongs to God and all of us with it. God created us and we are to praise Him. We should want to serve and praise God for his creation and not want to take control outside of His decrees and play god.

Linking the clips to the scriptures, what have you personally learned and how will you apply it to your lives?