September 22, 2011
The Funnies – A Series
A Look At The Sunday Comics
And How They Might Be Applied To Our Spiritual Lives
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
1 Corinthians 1:27
“People only see what they are prepared to see.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Comic Four “Beetle Bailey” by Mort, Greg & Brian Walker
Today’s Application: There is a Need for Discipline and Training
“Nothing is more harmful to the service, than the neglect of discipline.” – George Washington
Today’s Thought:
“I want to be remembered as a kindly, caring and thoughtful leader,” declared General Halftrack. “I’m sure you will be sir,” responded Miss. Buxley “Just to be sure put that in the form of an order, stated the General. – Gen. Halftrack and Miss. Buxley (from ‘Beetle Bailey’ by Mort, Greg and Brian Walker)
Today’s Quote:
(Sgt. Snorkel is hanging by a branch on the side of a cliff)
Beetle Bailey says, “I’ll throw you a rope if you promise not to beat me up again; or put me on K.P.; or yell at me; or put me on latrine duty; or ….” . Sgt. Snorkel ponders, “I wonder if I could survive the fall.” – Sgt. Snorkel and Beetle Bailey (from ‘Beetle Bailey’ by Mort, Greg and Brian Walker)
Today’s Question:
Do we learn from discipline if it, in and of itself. is not somewhat painful and inconvenient?
Today’s Bible Verses: Proverbs 1:2-9 & Hebrews 12:6-11
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Today’s Spiritual Thought:
“No man or woman has achieved an effective personality who is not self-disciplined. Such discipline must not be an end in itself, but must be directed to the development of resolute Christian character.” - John Sutherland Bodell
“Beatle Bailey” is set in a U. S. Army post and includes a variety of characters with significant personality flaws and a vast array of human foibles. Among them are of course Private Beetle Bailey and Sergeant 1st Class Orville P. Snorkel, who are, for the most part, the central characters in this comic strip. There is also Brigadier General Amos T. Halftrack, Chaplain Staineglass, Lieutenant Sonny Fuzz, Lieutenant Jackson Flat, Private Plato, Private Zero, Sergeant Cookie Jowls, the mess sergeant, Miss. Sheila Buxley, the General’s secretary and of course Otto the Sergeant’s dog. This cast of characters along with a few others, make up the military instillation and interact in the day to day goings on of this post. Of course, the main focus of this strip is the relationship between Beetle and Sgt. Snorkel and the over-exaggerated discipline meted out and the often ineffectiveness it has on altering Beetles ways. As illustrated in one strip in which the sergeant has stomped Beetle and he just gets up and saunters off as if nothing has happened. Sgt. Snorkel asks, “How do you bounce back like that?” To which Beetle replies, “That’s how I roll.”
While this particular strip is exaggerated for comic effect: it does serve to remind us that just like in the military forces, discipline and order is needed – the same principles hold true for those of us who have accepted Christ as our personal Savior and have become active members in the Lord’s Army.
We don’t like to learn new ways to behave and different methods of dealing with people and problems as humans but spiritually speaking: often our human approaches don’t measure up to God’s expectations and orders.
As Christians we require discipline from our loving Heavenly Father, and He is not remiss in giving it when it is required: especially if we fail to respond to His initial warning and corrections. And in order to know what He expects we must apply ourselves to studying his rulebook and His directions for our conduct and life styles.
Even though it may not be pleasurable when we are experiencing it, if we did not have God’s Word to direct us; and His hand to discipline us – can you imagine how bad we could potentially be? I shutter to think!
Today’s Prayer:
Father, may I be diligent to learn, quick to apply what is learned and even quicker to respond when discipline is deemed necessary.
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