Black and White TV and Days Gone By
Growing up in the 50s, I remember watching a television show titled Highway Patrol (1955-1959) starring Broderick Crawford. I recently discovered there is a network airing old episodes in the mornings, so I
usually watch it while eating my breakfast. It makes me realize how things have changed over the decades-not just in law enforcement but in the quality of television. Take script writing for example. In a recent episode, the chief of the Highway Patrol, Dan Mathews, played by Crawford, was hot on the trail of two killers, a man and his wife, who were hiding out in a nearby farmhouse. In a get-away attempt, the perps ran out to their brand new 1956 Plymouth station wagon but when the wife turned the key, the car wouldn’t start. The guy jumped out to check under the hood.
“What’s wrong?” asked the wife sitting behind the steering wheel.
“Someone’s pulled all the wires loose!” came the response.
About that time, Chief Mathews came running from behind a tree with his revolver pulled. “It’s no use!” he shouted. “I’ve pulled all the wires loose and I did a good job!”
In another episode, Chief Mathews is holding one of the bad guys at gunpoint when one of his officers comes running up with his revolver pulled. The chief told him to cuff the bad guy. Instead of returning his revolver to his empty holster, the officer stuffs it in the front of his pants a la Barney Fife. Really? Is this a crime drama or a sitcom? This show has more cheese than a truckload of nacho dip.
Getting to Know Jesus
We can look at these old programs and laugh at the farcical scripts, the weak acting and the antiquated laws which have changed over time. Life was so different in the 50s it may lead young people today to question the veracity if not the actual truth of the stories shared by us former cave-dwellers. And like a John Wayne western or a movie about the life of Jesus, it is hard to feel any connection to something that happened so long ago. Even with the knowledge He did it for us, it can be hard to feel an attachment to Jesus since He was not a physical part of our lives as He was the apostles and others of His day. It can be hard to have genuine feelings for His situation even when we know His story is true. Jesus really did stand before Pilate. He really was beaten to within an inch of His life. He really was nailed to a cross and left to die. And His lifeless body actually was placed in a tomb only to rise to life three days later.
To get beyond simply believing the stories and actually having feelings for Jesus can be a challenge. To reach that point, we need to get to know Him intimately. Knowing Jesus on an intimate level can bring freedom. What kind of freedom?
Having a strong bond with Jesus can free us of the worry about the future. About wars. About health. About pandemics. About work. About finances and all the other problems that accompany life, because we know He is in control of our lives and is taking care of us. It can make us less concerned with what’s happening in the Middle East and on our college campuses and more excited about a future life in heaven with Jesus. It can help us develop a love for Jesus that is strong enough to enable us stand strong in the face of temptations for fear of disappointing Him.
How do we reach intimacy with Jesus? Well, I like the way Dr. David Jeramiah put it in a recent radio program. His encouragement to listeners was to cultivate a relationship with Jesus. You cannot cultivate that relationship just by attending church on Sundays. You don’t cultivate a relationship by being baptized or accepting Christ (being saved). That is only the first step. Like any other relationship-it takes effort and time together. If a sibling or close friend moves away and you lose contact, the close relationship you once shared will wither. It takes active involvement to build and maintain a strong and loving bond.
We must spend time with Jesus just as we do a good friend or family members. When someone comes to Jesus, God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, lives in their heart. They should take time each day to be in His presence. The best way is to establish a daily quiet time during which we can spend a few minutes each day studying Scripture and praying.
Additionally, God has given each of us talents. Your talents could be in music, arts, speaking, teaching, writing and so on. It could be comforting others, listening or hosting. There are unlimited ways God has provided for us to get involved in spreading the gospel and helping others. Using these talents as God intended, helps us develop that loving bond with Jesus.
In what ways are you spending time with God? How are you getting involved? How are you using your talents? Whatever your gifts are, get off the bench and into the game. You may be surprised at the changes you experience and the freedom you enjoy.
Writings and Musings by Bill Taylor 
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