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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 50

Topic: Toon Physics God

Series: Looney Tunes

Episode: Along Flirtation Walk

Lesson PDF link: 50.pdf

Introduction

Have you in your opinion had a miracle or seemingly the impossible happen to you?

For example, this might mean a disease cured unexplainably when there was no cure, a seemingly impossible play in a sport that you have witnessed or experienced, or even unexplained immunity to something unpleasant when odds are that shouldn't have happened. There are definitely more examples.

Personally speaking, I should have probably had many broken bones before because I fall or nearly fall many times a week. I might should have easily died at least one time (by falling off of a cliff — a horizontally growing tree broke my fall and one of my brothers saved me. We will now show an old Looney Tunes short called "Along Flirtation Walk."

Cartoon Show: Looney Tunes: "Along Flirtation Walk":

Looney Tunes: "Along Flirtation Walk": Direct link for video/webmUsing IE? Video not working? Download Windows HTML 5(WebM) video support: WebMProject.org

What did you see in this cartoon that might help in this Bible Study before we get to scriptures?

The first thing we need to look at is there was a big party the night before the game. This could mean that everyone may be half-drunk or tired (remember that this is in a college setting). I am sure that laying eggs in a hen's language possibly could be very taxing on energy (not to mention doing it on cue) and in real life, this only happens when ovulation happens. For some of these chickens timing might also be off a bit. We are going to look more at energy and fatigue however.

The Bible States In I Corinthians 9: 24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The race, in this case, is the egg laying contest. There might be a lack of timely conditioning for this particular game and of course, there was a party prior to the contest which may have taken some of the energy away from the hens. Also, if you looked at the scoreboard closely, you will see that this is an away game for Plymouth Rock College against the home team Rhode Island Red University. So you have other energy spent traveling probably as well. It didn't look good early as Plymouth Rock College was down 35-75 at the half. Plymouth Rock didn't appear to have the discipline, “want to” or as the expression goes fire to pull this off. Then we have Plymouth Rock's coach who won't sub his only reserve in for an unproductive teammate through most of this game. Why?

The second thing is that Rhode Island Red University tried to ensure victory by cheating. They wouldn't follow the rules of the game.

The Bible States In Leviticus 19: 35, 36

35 “‘Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.

36 Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

The Rhode Island Red team was dishonest by using billiard balls to weight the score their way. In real life, God frowns on this. In today's media coverage if we use the art of personification to this University, there would be a lot of humiliating times for the dishonest team and rightfully so. Think of the scandal.

The third thing we are going to look at is the coach for Plymouth Rock College. He delays getting his substitute in the game even after Plymouth Rock takes a 15 egg penalty for illegal hatching when it turns out that she is an ace layer.

This sub gets in when the game is almost over (about when it would be too late you would think) with about 5 minutes to play. This is presumably the beginning of the 4th quarter. Evidently they have 5 minute long quarters in this particular contest and Rhode Island Red University is evidently out of billiard balls and eggs about then surprisingly. This reserve outscores Rhode Island Red University all by herself 61-2, although this hen was tired and needed help from her teammates for the last two eggs by her friends bringing out the toon mallets (much like we need help in a lot of cases). Nonetheless, this is Toon Physics at its greatest, but not unlike what Jesus does countless times in his earthly ministry and beyond.

The Bible States In John 6: 1-15

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),

2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick.

3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.

4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”

6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,

9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).

11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

What do you see in this passage that helps with this cartoon study?

What I want to show is two things. First, we see the trust this boy had. This child obviously believed in what Jesus was doing because he gave up his lunch and risked going hungry. This isn't just noble, it is an act of faith. Leave it to a child. This is unlike our coach in the cartoon who wouldn't trust his reserve who should be a starter until it was nearly too late. The boy in the scripture trusted without delay which is the most effective way of trust and faith for a life to have a long history of bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God. Second, I want to show the very nature of this cartoon's end is Toon Physics 101. This means look out for the impossible to happen in just about any cartoon. With our Lord Jesus, this is a staple for His ministry on earth and beyond. He saves the seemingly unsavable and heals the supposedly incurable even today and he uses his people as well to do His work.

The Bible States In John 14: 5-14

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

The way that I am seeing this, Jesus's disciples were actually trying too hard or thinking too much. Faith in the Lord is the key to understanding everything. The one thing that stands out is that Jesus talked about greater things that would be done by his followers than what He even did. This is an amazing statement considering all the seemingly impossible miracles dealt by His hand; this was only a small taste of what God can and will do.

This means that Toon Physics is normal in God's economy and Kingdom and should be expected but never taken for granted (in other words, not to be thought about with no appreciation and awe). Faith of the believers will open the door for God's work to be accomplished here on earth. True faith in Jesus is anyone's ticket to serving Toon Physics to the world around us, the kind that will truly show who Jesus is. It is not magic, but faith. So, have faith enough for Jesus to work your life how He needs it and let Him be your miracle for your life and in turn let the world see Him shine in you so He can be their miracle too. Faith in Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross and the resurrection by the Father leads to salvation and then watch the miracles happen in and from that life that is saved. It will spread to those who will believe and create still more Toon Physics like things in their lives too.

So what have we learned?

I have learned that amazement in the Spirit is normal, but discipline and faith in Him who gives this is the key to using it properly and needs to be used as discernment In Christ dictates and is amazingly powerful. We need to be wise always and never waste such a gift. We need to pray for the lost to believe and have faith so they too will experience the richness of life and spirit that Jesus gives and represents, of course this means also the opportunity to bless others when it is given and timing is right. Faith of a child is what we need, like the boy and his lunch. He didn't seem to have much, but was allowed to help greatly. Give your heart and what little else you have to the Lord Jesus Christ and much will be done with it.