Animal Stories Used for Teaching

Surprisingly one of India’s most influential contributions to world literature, is the Panchatantra which is contains five animal fables that were written between the third and fifth centuries. Although the original compiler or author is unknown, an Arabic translation from about 750 AD gives the credit to a Hindu man named Bidpai. The three stories that will be looked at are “The Foolish Friend”, “the Gold-Giving Snake,” and “The Brahman’s Wife and the Mongoose.”

The first story, “The Foolish Friend” is about a king and a monkey. Finding a monkey, the king keeps him for a pet, feeds him, and always keeps him by his side. Pleasantly strolling through his garden, the king tells the monkey to let nothing disturb him, and then the king takes a nap. While he is sleeping, a bee tries to sting him and the monkey strikes it with a sword, but accidently kills the king! The moral of the story is to not choose a fool for a friend, for it is better to have a clever enemy than a foolish friend.

“The Gold-Giving Snake” is about a farmer who feeds a snake every day and every day the snake gives him a gold coin. Telling his son to feed the snake while he travels into town, the farmer leaves, and his son tries to kill the snake, so he can steal the gold, but the snake bites him and he dies. Quickly burying his son, the farmer exclaims that justice has been done and goes out to feed the snake, but the snake says that she will no longer give him gold because he is greedy. In this fable the main moral is greed leads to loss because the farmer was so greedy he didn’t even grieve for his son, and his son was greedy because he struck the snake and lost his life, trying to find more gold.

The last story is “The Brahman’s Wife and the Mongoose.” Giving birth to a son, the wife also gave birth to a mongoose. One morning the wife told her husband that she was going fetch water, and that she needed him to watch their sons because she did not trust the mongoose. After she left, the husband ignored her and left to collect alms leaving the house empty. Inside the house a snake crawled out of a hole and was sneaking up on the baby when the mongoose killed it. Quickly running to find his mother and tell her how he saved his brother, the mongoose went outside. The mother, seeing the blood splattered mongoose, feared he had killed her child, and she hit him with her bucket, killing him. Rushing into the house the wife realized their baby was safe and the mongoose had saved him. While the wife was crying over the mongoose, the husband returned and the wife said, “See here you greedy one, because you let greed rule you instead of doing what I told you to, you now must taste the fruit of your own son’s death.” The themes in this fable include greed and trust.

Interestingly these fables were used to educate sons of royalty. Some of the main points stressed in these stories are do not be greedy, along with do not be foolish, which are very good instructions for princes learning to be wise rulers. In all the fables animals are characters, which is an entertaining way to present morals and stories used for teaching.

Linked to Its Religion

When reading Indian literature, it’s found that Indian religious beliefs and morals are constantly knitted into the stories. Written between the third and fifth centuries A.D., the Panchatra is a book containing five fables. The Panchatantra is like an ancient Indian version of Aesop’s fables. Mostly, the fables are beast tales ending with a moral. These three in particular follow that idea: “The Foolish Friend”, “The Gold-Giving Snake”, and “The Brahman’s Wife and the Mongoose.”

In “The Foolish Friend” there was a king, whose constant and favorite companion was his pet monkey, which he fed the finest food, honored above all, and even unwisely gave a sword to carry around. Snoozing peacefully in his garden one day, the king trusted that his monkey would not let harm come to him, while he was asleep. Seeing a bee, the faithful, but foolish monkey vowed that no creature should bother his master. Drawing his sword, the monkey struck the bee, but not without also splitting the king’s head with the same blow. And so it is said, “Do not choose a fool for a friend, for the king was killed by a monkey.”

Another tale called “The Gold-Giving Snake” explains how a Brahman, struggling to make ends meet, discovered a great snake in his field, living in a huge ant hill. Knowing she was the goddess of the field, he quickly brought her an offering of milk, and in return, he was surprised to find the gift of one gold dinar. Every day the Brahman offered the milk and received a precious coin. One day he asked his son to go for him, but his son plotted to destroy the snake, and pillage the small anthill, where the snake lived, as he supposed there must be a fortune hidden inside the anthill. He tried to crush the snake’s head with his club, but the snake was too crafty, and it bit him. The bite was fatal. When the Brahman discovered what had happened, the snake presented him with one pearl and commanded him never to return. This is a story to teach that greed brings destruction.

“The Brahman’s Wife and the Mongoose” is about a Brahman and his wife who had two children, a young human child, adored by his parents, and a mongoose, whom the mother secretly distrusted. Telling her husband to watch over the boy and protect him from the mongoose, the mother went to fetch some water from the pond. Ignoring his wife’s command, the Brahman went off to collect alms. While the parents were busy, a horrible malicious snake crept into the boy and the mongoose’s bedroom, but the mongoose woke up and quickly tore the snake to shreds before the fiend could hurt his brother. When the mother returned, she saw the mongoose covered in blood. She assumed the worst. She struck the hero. She killed him. When she saw her son sleeping peacefully in his own bed, with the snake’s mangled remains on the floor, the mother realized the truth. The Brahman was blamed for the misfortune and the moral of the tale is do not let greed rule you, but do what you are told, although it might also be—Do not act rashly before the facts are known.

In each of these three stories: “The Foolish Friend,” “The Gold-Giving Snake,” and “The Brahman’s Wife and the Mongoose,” the end holds a moral for the reader. Reappearing themes of the stories are don’t be greedy and don’t be foolish. In eastern countries like India, culture, namely literature, is distinctly linked to religious and moral beliefs.

A Reappearing Flood Tale

History offers us two catastrophic flood narratives, which are exceptionally similar: the Biblical story of Noah’s flood and the Sumerian poem, The Gilgamesh Epic. In Genesis 6-8, the Bible tells of Noah, whom God, the God of Israel, commanded to build an ark. God directed Noah to load the ark with every kind of living animal so that when he sent a flood to destroy all of the evil people in the world, Noah and his family would be saved. Recorded in around 1200 B.C., The Gilgamesh Epic is a tale surrounding Utnapishtim, who, following the orders of the Sumerian Gods, built a massive boat, which rescued him and his family from a greatly destructive flood.
In comparison, these two stories have much in common, although they both originate form extremely different civilizations. Both basic stories are mostly the same; A man builds an ark on the belief that God is going to send a catastrophic flood to eradicate the world of evil. Another parallel is that when the storm finally ended, both Noah and Utnapishtim release a dove and a raven to find land. In likeness, both tales say that the men offer a sacrifice to their God, or gods, and that the aroma was deliciously pleasing. The biblical story of the flood and The Gilgamesh Epic are essentially the same tale, with many different twists and turns.

While the two narratives have many similarities, they also have some significant differences. Definitely, the most important difference is the representation of the gods. In the Bible there is, of course, only One God, who is all-powerful and omniscient, but who loves his creation, but the Sumerians, who wrote The Gilgamesh Epic, believed in many pernicious pagan Gods, who where not omnipotent or usually loving. When the storm raged in The Gilgamesh Epic, the gods even cowered in fear at what one of the gods had caused. All-powerful? Omnipotent? Surely not. Although there are many other details which vary, the most enormous difference between Genesis 6-8 and The Gilgamesh Epic is the temperament of the One God and gods.
Interestingly, the two narratives, written at different times and by people from different civilizations, seem to be telling the same story. These two stories are truly similar, but the greatest difference is in the God and Gods personalities, and obviously numbers. The most important thing about comparing and contrasting these two stories is to see that this story of the flood has popped up several different times in history, giving much authenticity to the tale.

A Fairy-Tale For All

“King Grisly” is a fairy tale written by the Grimm brothers, European patriots who desired to and succeeded in keep the Germanian folk tales alive, for as of today their stories are read in over one-hundred and sixty languages. Written in the early 1800’s, the Grimm brothers' stories became so popular that Children’s and Household Tales were published in 1812. Tirelessly searching, studying, and scribbling them down for readers, the Grimm brothers spent a considerably tedious amount of time on their project. Especially popular stories by the Grimm Brothers include “Cinderella,” “Hansel and Gretel," and “Rumpelstiltskin.” Although it is obscure, “King Grisly” is an exceptional story, which should be read alongside “Rumpelstiltskin” or any of their other stories.

The main characters of the tale are a beautiful, but haughty and priggish princess, her father the king, an honorable long-bearded king wishing to marry the princess, and a poor fiddler. Desiring to find a husband for his daughter, the king invites many suitors to visit and dine at the palace, but the princess rudely treats them with disdain. She snickers. She snoots. She snides. Mockingly, she remarks that one king’s long gray beard is like a mop, and dubs him King Grisly-Beard. Upon hearing this, the King, her father, vows that the next man to walk through the castle door is the man she will marry, if she wishes it or not. When a poor dirty fiddler walks through the door a few days later, the princess is distraught, but the king holds to his promise, and they are married.

On the way to the fiddler’s small dwelling, they pass huge forests, they pass vast green fields, and they pass magnificent cities. Inquiring to whom these all belong, the princess truly regrets her conceitedness when she discovers that the forests, the fields, and the cities all belong to King-Grisly Beard. When they arrive at the fiddler’s hut, a humble dirty shack, she fails at every kind of work she tries: weaving baskets, spinning wool, and even selling clay pots. She is as helpful as a nest of hornets. The fiddler, frustrated with the girl, still patiently finds her another job as a kitchen maid in a nearby castle, where she will have to work hard, but can bring home some left-over meat to eat each day.

As the princess is working one day, she sees that the King’s eldest son is going to be married and that a feast was being prepared, while all the courts arrived. Suddenly, the King’s son—who she is horrified to see—King Grisly-Beard, takes her by the hand and asks her to dance. Turning red with embarrassment, thinking he is only trying to torment her, and pulling her hand out of his, the princess runs quickly towards the door. But King Grisly-Beard cries out, “Fear me not! I am the fiddler, who has lived with you in the hut. I brought you here because I truly love you. I have done all this only to cure you of your silly pride. You have learned wisdom, and we shall hold our marriage feast.” The princess is then garbed in rich beautiful robes, and the whole court dances and sings.

As fairy tales usually go, “King Grisly-Beard” is a story with a predictable, happy ending, but a great and meaningful story, none-the-less. Is anyone ever too old to read fairy tales? Usually thought of as silly children’s tales by adults, fairy tales are often disregarded as great literature which needs to be read by all ages. “King Grisly-Beard” is about pride, the great sin which all ages struggle with. Loving the princess, King Grisly-Beard humbly dressed as a peasant so that he could cure the princess of her obnoxious pride. Before a joyful wedding celebration could occur, King Grisly-Beard had to take the role of a servant so that the princess could be redeemed. There is nothing simple about pride or love, and servant-hood, and that is why this fairy-tale is for all ages.

The Hope, Rescue, and Forgiveness of Cinderella

“Cinderella,” which was published in Grimm’s Fairy Tales in 1812, is a wonderful short story. Although it was published long ago, this fairy tale is known by almost every child in the United States today. Preserving Germanic folk tales, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm quickly realized that the stories they collected and edited intrigued young readers. In their collection they also include some of the world’s most famous stories such as “Hansel and Gretel”, as well as “Rapunzel” and “Rumpelstiltskin.”

In the story “Cinderella,” the characters are the kind and beautiful Cinderella, the evil stepmother and vile stepsisters, and the charming prince. Living with her stepmother, Cinderella is cruelly forced to do all the house work, while at night she sleeps among the cinders, which is where her name comes from. While it ends “happily ever after,” the beginning of the story is sad.

When the prince sends an invitation to all the ladies in the kingdom inviting them to a huge, exciting ball, Cinderella wants to go. Giving her so much work that she can’t go, her stepsisters also show their horribleness by laughing at Cinderella when Cinderella says she wants to go. Finally breaking down and weeping after her stepsisters leave for the ball, Cinderella, who is left behind, cries on the hearth.

Weeping uncontrollably, Cinderella looks up to find her fairy godmother, who turns her rags into a stunningly beautiful gown; this is the most exciting part of the story. Arriving at the ball Cinderella is the most stunning girl there, and every one, including the prince, admires her. Sitting with the prince and dancing every dance with him Cinderella realizes that she is supposed to leave before midnight, and runs off just as the clock strikes twelve. Quickly yelling and rushing after her, the prince can only find a glass slipper which he says he will try on every girl in the kingdom, marrying the one it fits.

At the end of the book, the slipper fits Cinderella perfectly, and she marries and lives with the prince. Ending in a happily ever after, “Cinderella,” which is a fantastically great book, should be read aloud to all children. Although the characters lack excess personality, the story makes up for it with its symbolism of rescue because everyone understands the concept of rescue. Throughout the story it is natural to hope that it will turn out good for Cinderella and that someone will help her. Even though Cinderella’s thoughts are not revealed, it is obvious that Cinderella is kind and caring because in the end of the story she forgives her stepsisters and stepmom for treating her so poorly. The hope of Cinderella during the most discouraging times, the rescue of Cinderella by the prince, and the forgiveness of Cinderella towards her enemies makes the story beautiful.

Union Giveth Strength (King James Style)

Now there was a man far advanced in years, who, at the point of death called his sons to his bedside to giveth them wisdom. He ordered a servant to bringeth a faggot of sticks to his room, wherefore he might use it to teacheth his sons, and he said to his eldest, “Thine strength is great: breakest the faggot of sticks,” and his eldest son straineth at it, but he could not breakest the faggot of sticks, and to the others he said Thine strength is great: breakest the faggot of sticks.

And although the others strained, they were unable to breaketh the faggot of sticks. The father told them, “Untieth the faggot of sticks and taketh one each for yourselves and breakest it,” and they obeyed their father and tooketh out one each and broke it. “See my sons: union gives strength.”

A Little Tragedy

The tale of "The Little Mermaid" is a tragedy unraveling into a descriptive fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. The central character is the quiet and thoughtful little mermaid who lives with her father, the sea king, and her wise old grandmother and many sisters. Living at the bottom of the ocean, the mermaids are allowed to rise to the surface of the water at age fifteen.

Patiently waiting for years to rise to the surface, the little mermaid finally swims up to the surface and sees a boat full of people and a prince, whom she falls in live with. While she watches, a storm comes and destroys the ship, and she saves the prince from drowning. Wanting more than anything to be with him, she tries to find a way to become human. Although she searches for a way to become human, she finally resorts to the sea witch, who gives her legs, but takes her voice and says she must marry the prince or she will die.

Swimming to the surface of the ocean, the little mermaid receives her legs. On land, whenever she walks it feels like hot coals under her feet. The prince decides to marry a princess. On their wedding night the only way the little mermaid can live is if she stabs the prince with a knife, but as she stands over him as he sleeps, she throws the knife into the sea and jumps in after it. Dissolving into sea foam she is met by angelic creatures who say she can work three hundred years for a soul because she sacrificed herself, and every time she sees a child being good a year will be taken away, but every time she sees a child being bad, a day will be added. The theme of this story is sacrifice.

This tragedy is made for children and is trying to motivate them to be obedient. Describing places with much detail, Hans Christian Andersen’s book is beautifully written for children. Apart from the descriptive style, Andersen’s story is designed with the themes of love and sacrifice. One of the poorly written apects is that the characters, who have no names, never give the readers much understanding of their personalities.

Not So Happily Ever After

“The Little Mermaid” is a descriptive tragedy fairy tale, although it is more commonly known by the Disney movie, which varies dramatically from the original version. Written by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Little Mermaid” was published in the mid-19th century, although the exact dates are unknown. Suddenly “knocking on his head” as Hans Christian Andersen said, “The Little Mermaid” was one of his one-hundred and sixty-eight numerous imaginative stories for children.

The central characters of the story are the quiet, thoughtful little mermaid, who desires more than anything to live above the water, and the handsome young prince, whom she falls in love with. Underneath the water also dwells her father, the sea king, her proud grandmother, and her five lovely sisters. When she turns fifteen, she is allowed to swim to the surface of the water. She stares in wonder at the prince dancing and laughing on the ship. Crashing waves and pelting rain soon end the ship’s party and send the prince flailing into the sea, where the little mermaid rescues him and brings him ashore.

Returning to her underwater home, the little mermaid hopelessly dreams of the prince, wishing there was a way for them to be together. Eventually resorting to the horrendously wicked sea witch, she travels to the whirlpool, which is filled with human skeletons and slimy creatures, and through a series of terrible enchantments she sells her tongue to the witch in exchange for a pair of human legs. The malicious sea witch tells the little mermaid that if she cannot woo the prince to love her with all his soul and to marry her, she will turn into sea foam. While she is on land she meets her prince, who takes a fancy to her, for she is exquisitely and enchantingly beautiful, and he brings her into his palace to live, where she enjoys many hours spent dancing, horseback riding, and sailing with him.

Disastrously, the prince favors another girl and marries her, although he cares deeply about the little mermaid. When the prince and his new wife are sleeping, the little mermaid’s sisters bring her a knife, telling her that if she kills the prince with it she will be saved from death. She takes the knife. She enters his bedroom. She raises it to strike. The little mermaid cannot force herself to kill him, for she loves him more than her own life. Into the water she perishes, rather than betray her beloved. Expecting to find herself turned into sea foam, she awakes under the water filled with transparent floating bodies, and is told that because of her good deed she will be shown mercy as she enters into a purgatorial-like land. This tragic ending shows the importance of not trying to be what you’re not and the power of self-sacrificing love.

This is a not so happily ever after fairy tale tragedy about the strength of self-sacrificial love. Sacrificing yourself and your hopes for another is one of the most important themes because it leads back to the ultimate story, the story of creation and redemption through Jesus, who sacrificed everything for humanity. Disappointingly, the story concentrates essentially on earning eternity by performing good deeds. Filled with vivid images and brilliant descriptions, the story is told captivatingly, although the many twists and turns of the story tend to be tiring. Overall this story is unique, just as are all of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories, is enjoyable to read, and challenges readers to think about the meaning of love and eternity.

The Founding of America

The history of America’s founding dates back hundreds of years to England, where revolutions occurred over freedom of religion. Because of lack of freedom the Puritans sailed to America, where they set up colonies.

One of the great contributors to the Reformation’s role in advancing political and religious liberties was Martin Luther who said that the church and the people should have more freedom in religious matters and that the government should no longer legislate about God. Saying that the government could not force people to believe in a certain religion, Luther believed that the role of the state was limited to secular things, and people’s minds and opinions could not be controlled, which was also believed by John Calvin, who came after Luther, and said that people’s minds and opinions are exempt from government control. During his life, Calvin also said that if a king went against God or ordered a individuals to go against God, then they should and must disobey the king. Although it was a long time after either of these men lived, America was built on their basis of freedom of beliefs and religion.

The Puritan Revolution broke out in England, when Charles 1st tried to force his Scottish subjects to worship in ways they found offensive. During this time, Samuel Rutherford wrote a book called Lex Rex that said the king should not have authority in religious matters, and if the government broke its own law the people could break laws. In 1688 the glorious revolution broke out when King James 2nd tried to enforce The Divine Right theory, but parliament forced him off the throne.

On August 5, 1620 the Puritans, who are called pilgrims, sailed for the New World to have religious freedom. When they arrived in America they drew up a document called the Mayflower Compact, which pledged their mutual submission to each other and promoted fair laws. Believing that God was the perfect king and the Bible a perfect expression of His will, the Puritans advocated a government in which written words, not people, were sovereign.

As people, dating hundreds of years back, fought for there freedom of conscience, they set up the basis of America. In his lifetime, Martin Luther said that freedom of religion was right. Fighting against Divine Right of Kings, the Puritans turned against the king in the revolutions. Finally, sailing to America, the Puritans escaped from the king to found America.

America's Roots

America, as people know it today, could not be as it is except for numerous courageous people who took risks and for events which took place. Without the ideas that support Christianity and many events which took place prior to it, the American Revolution most likely would not have occurred. Advancing political and religious freedom happened during the Reformation, which was one of the most essential steps to freedom in America. Although the colonies were not even founded yet, two revolutions in England were already setting the stage for America’s birth. Bravely sailing to America, the first colonists began to shape the way that America would be governed.

The Reformation’s role in advancing political and religious liberty was enormous because it was the first time when certain daring people took the chance of speaking out and proclaiming their thoughts and ideas which may have opposed the governments. Probably the most outspoken of all people during the reformation was Martin Luther who posted his ninety-five theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, boldly naming all of his objections to the way the Catholic Church operated. As no one had ever even hinted that there might be something wrong with the Catholic Church, Martin Luther’s objections were a big step towards religious freedom and separation of church and state.

Writing “Institutes to the Christian Religion,” John Calvin had an exceptionally significant part to play in the Reformation through his writing, which later influenced the founders of the U.S. and shaped their political ideas. These men’s writings were similar. Before religious freedom could be grasped, the first risky, but vital steps had to be taken during the Reformation by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others like them.

Setting the stage for America’s birth were two revolutions: the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution. In 1641 a long and terrible civil war broke out, which lasted years. Sometimes called the Protestant Revolution, this war was between those loyal to the king, Cavaliers, and English Puritans, who wanted to purify the Church of England, hence the name Puritans. When King James II was on the throne, he refused to recognize the colonies of New England and believed in the Divine Right of Kings theory, which says that a king has been divinely appointed by God, and therefore has the right to do whatever he wishes. This led to the Glorious Revolution when Parliament peacefully took James II off the throne without using violence.

Essentially, these two Revolutions, the Puritan Revolution and the Glorious Revolution, prepared the way for America’s beginning, because it showed the government that the Puritans were serious about their beliefs, were even willing to stand up and fight for them, and were tired of the government’s unrelenting control over their beliefs.

Pursuing their dreams of religious liberty, many Puritans decided to make the journey across the ocean to America and settle there. The colonies were founded. When the colonists came together to draw up their laws, they realized that without a king they were powerless to restrain lawlessness, but they knew that they couldn’t possibly survive unless they founded their laws on biblical moral standards, while still having a separation of Church and State. Wisely, they drew up a document called the Mayflower Compact, which pledged their mutual submission to each other. Concerning the separation of Church and State in years to come, some were not as effective at keeping them separate, which led to unjust events and eventually the Salem witch trials. The Salem witch trials were a time when many women were unfairly and brutally executed for being accused witches.

Thankfully, after this terrible epoch followed a revival and the Great Awakening, and American colonists began to sort out how their government should function correctly. The Puritans flight to America was vital to the way America is set up presently because they learned by trial and error the most effective way to run a government.

Significantly, because of the events which led to the American Revolution, America was founded with biblical morals. When the Restoration took place it advanced political and religious freedom. Because of two Revolutions which took place in England, the beginning of America was indirectly prepared. Fleeing and settling in America, the Puritan colonists set into place laws that we still follow today.

Union Gives Strength (Hans Christian Andersen Style)

Once upon a time, in a distant and beautiful county where rolling green hills and an ocean of golden poppies stretched as far as the eye could see was a small humble cottage were an elderly man and his two sons dwelled. The wise old man loved his sons and had taught them everything he knew so that they were strong, smart young men. Every day the father, whose hair was silver as the full moon, sat on his three-legged stool and played splendidly on his mandolin while his two sons worked in the fields. His mandolin was his favorite possession and pastime, and when he played, it instilled joy in all who heard it, and birds of all shapes and sizes would divert their flights to perch and listen to the great artisan.

But one day in late autumn, when the last of the golden leaves were beginning to drift toward the ground, and a dusty darkness lay over everything, the mandolin ceased to sing, but was replace by the sound of hollow wind. The father lay languishing in his large oak bed; his health was failing. Each day one of his sons sat by his side while the other labored in the fields alone. But he wanted to teach his sons an important lesson while he still had time.

Calling his sons to his bedside, he asked them to bring a large, tightly-bound bundle of sticks into the room. When they brought it in, carrying it together for it was very heavy; their father commanded them to break the bundle of sticks apart. The eldest son, who was intelligent and knew how to use leverage cleverly, set the sticks on his knees, and pushed. But his trick, which had always worked before, resulted in only an aching leg. Like his older brother, the younger son was a practical son, due to his father’s impeccable teaching, so he grabbed his best saw and tried to saw the bundle of sticks apart. Although it was sharper then an alligator’s teeth and sturdier than a brick wall, the saw broke in half.

They both turned to their father in consternation and he told them, “You see my meaning; union gives strength.”

Small Friends are Good Friends (Hans Christian Andersen Style)

Once upon a time not so long ago in a land far away where the water was as blue as the sky, an ant as small as a speck of dust, woke up as happy as a child on Christmas because the sun was shining as brightly as a diamond, and she went running as fast as a cheetah down to the beautiful stream, which had as many currents as gorillas have fleas and long rocks protruding from the water like knives, while the water leaped and bubbled around it like it was laughing. As she was drinking like a camel which had not had water for many weeks, a wave jumped up like a huge roaring monster and dragged her under.

A dove, who was as white as newly fallen snow in December when children go sledding for the first time and as soft as a fresh pillow, was gliding over the trees that stood as tall as towers with there many branches reaching out like many arms and fingers, when she spotted the ant, who was yelling for help as loud as a trumpet, and dropped the bough she was carrying to build her nest with into the rushing river. The ant climbed aboard the bough and laid there like a shipwrecked sailor who had been brutally thrown around like a potato in the ocean. When the bough floated to shore the ant flopped onto the ground, water-logged as a sponge, and then got up and thanked the white dove.

A couple of weeks later when the leaves, which were turning brown and yellow and falling to the ground, a hunter, who was as mean as a grizzly bear with a toothache, took such a perfect aim at the same beautiful dove that saved the ant, that Robin Hood’s jaw would have dropped like a rock off a cliff, but the ant, who was as angry as a wild boar, stung him so hard that he ran like he was being chased by the Roman army, and he never—as long as he lived—never took a step out of his house. However, the brave little ant and the kind dove learned that the smallest of friends are the best of friends.

The Dove and the Ant King James Style

In 2000 AD an ant woketh up and went down to the stream to sippeth, and she fell in and was carried down the stream. A dove that passed by dropped the bough she was carrying and the ant climbed upon the bough and floated to shore. I am forever in thy debt because thy saved mine life and if thine ever has an enemies I shall smite him and send him where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth: said the ant.

In 2001 AD the dove was flying when a foul man beast approached and tooketh aim with his gun, but the ant was passing by and smote him on the foot and the hunter fell and died and his body was eaten by worms. The dove and the ant learned the lesson: The littlest of warriors is the best of friends.

Original Aesop Fable: An ant, going to the river to drink, fell in, and was carried along in the stream. A Dove pitied her condition, and threw into the river a small bough, by the means of which the Ant gained the shore. The Ant afterward, seeing a man with a fowling piece aiming at the Dove, stung him in the foot sharply, and made him miss his aim, and so saved the Dove's life.

"LITTLE FRIENDS MAY PROVE GREAT FRIENDS."

Phil Doesn't Need a Degree

Phil Lindskog was born in Rochester, Minnesota on March 31, 1989 and grew up in a Christian household with his parents. He is now nineteen years old and in college so he can go into youth ministry because he has a great talent for working with teenagers. Phil loves Mountain Dew and will drink it whenever he has the option. His favorite things to do are listen to music, which he does constantly, and watch anything with Will Ferrell in it. Phil loves to laugh, and people get a welcomed feeling when they meet him. Phil loves talking to God and spending time with Him more than anything else in the world.

Attending Christ Community Church since he was nine years old, Phil goes every week and volunteers joyfully with the youth. Occasionally, he works as a janitor at church and sometimes works with the preschool, Kingdom Kids, in the summer. While Phil is busy with school, he takes a lot of time to help out with the seventh grade boys at youth group. Phil also has a great love for music and is in charge of a youth worship band at church, which, as an act of service Sunday mornings, helps elementary children worship God through singing.

Going to a Christian college, Crossroads, in Rochester, Minnesota, Phil is continually busy with homework. While someday he hopes to go into ministry because of his love for Jesus and his gifts with middle schoolers, Phil is currently in his fifth semester at school and is working hard on a degree of ministry with youth and family. Obviously it does not require a college degree to love people and volunteer time, which Phil has been doing for years!

The Dove and the Ant Uncle Remus Style

One day en ant woke herself up en thawt ter herself, “Wat a butifo mawnin.” En she went a skippin en a hoppin en a hoppin en a skipin happy down ter da rushin riva where all her antish frens be.

“Fine mawnin weed havin. Wud yoodegree?”

To which her frens sez, “Not nothin fine bout it.”

En dey went ter argin bout da wedder til quite sudden, the ant wen slippety on da rocks, en wen a splashin inter da riva. Meanwi, a dove was passin by en spot the ant in da riva, so she went en dropped da bough she was caryn in the stream. Da ant wen en stick herself to dat der bough mighty quik en floated to shure wer she exlaim ter da bird, “I bet my life on it, if it wasn’t for dat der bough that you gone throne inter da stream, I’d ben a goner.”

Days laita der was a killa loosed in the same forst wid ‘is gun, en he took a mighty fine aim at da same dove dat had gone en save da ant, but da ant was passin by en give dat killa a bite on da foot dat it nevuh foget. Dat killa run off like a hut chile, en fo da resuff der lives da dove en ant dey live demselzes a peaceful life en were never bothered agen.

Littlest frens often be the mightiest frens.

Original Aesop Fable:

An ant, going to the river to drink, fell in, and was carried along in the stream. A Dove pitied her condition, and threw into the river a small bough, by the means of which the Ant gained the shore. The Ant afterward, seeing a man with a fowling piece aiming at the Dove, stung him in the foot sharply, and made him miss his aim, and so saved the Dove's life.

"LITTLE FRIENDS MAY PROVE GREAT FRIENDS."

Letter to Grandma and Grandpa

Tuesday, March 25, 2009

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

Since my birthday I have been deciding how to spend the money you gave me. I decided to spend a little and save a little. Buying a black acoustic guitar is one of the things your money helped me do. Not too long ago, some of my friends and I also started a rock band and have been occasionally meeting and practicing when we get the chance, which has been a lot of fun.

Immediately putting some of the money towards my beautiful acoustic guitar, which I am very excited about, I have been practicing every day. It is called an EJ-Acoustic Electric guitar. Having a black body, it is accented by gold tuners and a dandelion print on the front. When I look at it, one unique thing I always notice is that at the bottom of the guitar it has a design which is called a mustache! I love playing it. During the last month and a half, I have slowly been teaching myself how to play by learning and practicing new chords every day, while I hope to take lessons soon.

Joining choir, I have been working hard to learn my songs, which is quite challenging. Finally, I have joined the tenors instead of the altos or sopranos! During the last couple of months I have continued playing piano and singing in a youth worship band, “The Uprising,” at church. Since last fall our church has had a middle school band play for the elementary kids, practicing and then playing on Sunday mornings; I am one of the singers!

Starting a band called “So Much for Sleep” with my friends, we played at our church’s American Idol talent show, which we had a great time doing. Determinedly practicing, we have guitars and drums, and I am the lead singer! In April, we hope to play at a Rochester middle school talent show. We auditioned last week, and hopefully we’ll be selected to perform. If you go to my blog on the computer you will see the video of us.

Most importantly, I will keep practicing and pursuing music. Obviously I have gotten my great musical love from both sides of the family. When you come next time, I will show you what I’ve learned on the guitar. Thank you so much for the money, the I-tunes gift card, which I’ve used to download six songs already, and the gift card to Barnes and Noble. I’m going to use it to get the graphic novels of Black, Red, and White by Ted Dekker.

Yours truly,
Isaak

Bundle of Sticks Uncle Remus Style

Once der were a old man wit mar dan a lil wrinkle on his der face dat he look like a prune of sawts. Now he was so old dat he wadint gonna last so mawch time longer, so he calls his grandsons to hiz bed an he sayz shakonly, “Maw gud boys,” he says, “Go you ut to the field and bringer en a gud size bundel o’ sticks."

When dey cawm back, an dey do quick cuz dey big strong muzzles dey got, dey say, “Granpappy we did done like ya says.”
And granpappy says shakonly to da biggst of da two, he say, “Break it apar.”

The firs grandson go tarin and rippin and ripping and tarin but he ain’t no getting dat bundel apar. An with a stridle of sweat runnin’ dun iz face he say, “Granpappy, I ain’t able to.”

So iz brother come fluxxin iz muzzles proud, and he pulled and tugged and tugged and pulled, bud he ain’t able neither. En fac, he does fall un da flawr fum zaustion.

Den grandpappy say shakonly, “Boys, ya untaw dat bundel o’ sticks and tek ut one each.” So dey did es dey were teld. “Now brik et apar’,” says grandpappy shakonly.

And like it were a stick o’ straw dey brek it apar’, an ol granpappy say wise, “Seez—togeder yooz is strong!”

Original Aesop Fable:

An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son: “Break it.” The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the Bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. “Untie the faggots,” said the father, “and each of you take a stick.” When they had done so, he called out to them: “Now, break,” and each stick was easily broken. “You see my meaning,” said their father.

“UNION GIVES STRENGTH.”

Letter to Grandma and Grandpa

Friday, March 6, 2009

Dear Granma and Good G,

Although I am writing this letter because I have to for school, I love you both dearly and hope you don’t take it personally. During this last week, I’ve been busy with my numerous but enjoyable activities and still have more coming up in the next week. Looking at my program, singing the songs, and telling my friends about it, the excitement from going to “Fiddler on the Roof” still hasn’t worn off! It was absolutely amazing! Thank you for taking me to the show G and Granma. I’m looking forward to seeing you next weekend when we go to Nikki and Randy’s house!

Incredibly well done, “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Orpheum is the best show I’ve ever seen, although I immensely enjoyed the Christmas Carol at the Guthrie as well. What’s your favorite play that you have ever seen? Watching Chaim Topol, an ancient but amazing actor, is an experience I’ll never forget! During the musical I was having the time of my life! Although I loved the whole show, one of my favorite things was the brilliant dancing, especially during the wedding and during “To Life.” Fruma Sarah, who I thought was frightening, surprised but impressed me in the dream scene when she was dancing, twirling, and singing, while on someone’s shoulders (at least that’s how I think they did it). It was a hilarious scene! “Fiddler on the Roof” is my favorite musical I’ve ever seen, especially because you were with me!

I can’t imagine anyone I‘d rather have gone to “Fiddler on the Roof” with than you, G! Thanks for going with me! Going to the show with you is a fun memory to have because you were the person I saw the movie with first! Within the next year, our copy of the movie, which you gave us, is going to be scratched and broken from being watched so much! Probably, “Fiddler on the Roof” is one of my two ultimate favorite musicals, along with Hello Dolly. Although I didn’t expect you to agree or even to consider attending the play, I’m incredibly happy you did!

Since you and Granma left I’ve been staying busy as usual. On Thursday I went to choir, which is so much fun, and we started learning two new songs: a hymn and a gospel song which sounds like it should be sung in a black southern church! It’s awesome! I was also planning to audition yesterday for the one act plays Words players is going to perform, but unfortunately I got distracted and it completely slipped my mind. At times I feel like Dory from “Finding Nemo”—“There’s nothin’ in my noggin.’” Hopefully I can still try out in the next week. Previously playing Imogene Herdman in BCPE, a girl named Brianna Hicken is going to be starring Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun” tonight, and I’m going to go see it! Performing the same piece (the one with the three bowel movements) I played at my recital when you guys were here, I am going to play in the Evening of Music and Recitation on Tuesday night. It’s a home school event. I’m looking forward to seeing you two after my jam packed week is over!

Looking forward to the play tonight, performing my piano piece next week, and hopefully trying out for the one act plays, I will be busy, but will tell you guys about it when I see you next weekend! As you have probably discerned by now, I completely adored “Fiddler on the Roof,” which, in my opinion, is one of the better musicals ever made! Most important, of course, I would like to thank you, Grandpa, for going with me to “Fiddler” and you, Granma, for driving us up to the cities. “To Life!”

Love,
Z

Nate Stenholtz: Everyday Hero

Avid reader, consumer of French-pressed coffee, and follower of Jesus, Nate Stenholtz is a great friend whose normal life displays the supernatural work of Someone bigger. Nate was born in 1976 in North Dakota, although his family lived across the border in Wyoming. For most of his life, Nate has lived in Minnesota. Nate’s family is immensely important to him. Inside the church or outside, he lives as a missional Christian in obedience to God. Sharing his life and talents with teenagers and learning from them, Nate is a middle school youth pastor.
Nate is a family man. Marrying Kristin Cave in 1998, Nate firmly says that this event was one of the most important in his entire life. Excitingly, Elise Anastasia Stenholtz entered the world in 2003 with Aubrey Joy Stenholtz following in 2005. Nate adores his two daughters and loves to spend time with them every night by reading stories to them. While Nate’s family spends time together, they especially enjoy experiencing new things together and traveling to new places. In about five years, when the girls are older, Nate and Kristin plan to go on a family mission trip together because they love to travel and also want to further God‘s kingdom. Nate Stenholtz, who is a wonderful father and husband, loves his family and spending time with them.
Nate Stenholtz is no stranger to missions. In Nate’s early teenage years he treated baseball like his god and played constantly. When Nate met Jesus Christ, who changed his life, he was asked to do some difficult things. Asking Nate to quit baseball and go to Russia for a month, Jesus clearly had a different plan for Nate’s life than Nate did. Nate obeyed God. Significantly effecting Nate’s life, the trip to Russia was very important to Nate, and his experiences helped the way he now views the world. Since the mission trip to Russia, Nate has also been to parts of the U.S. and throughout parts of Europe, such as Finland. Nate hopes to return to Russia someday.
Although Nate has traveled to many far places, his mission field is not limited to across the ocean. Loving and serving many in his community, Nate has a heart for helping others and learning from others, especially teenagers.
Because Nate, who is exceedingly friendly and extremely inviting, enjoys interacting with people, he does a fabulous job as middle school youth pastor. Nate’s first youth pastor job was when he was twenty-two and newly married at a small church in Marshall, Minnesota. Throughout the years, Nate has worked at different churches, but now he is the youth pastor at Christ Community Church in Rochester Minnesota. Journeying with students in their relationships with God is Nate’s favorite part of being a youth pastor.
Nate loves his beautiful wife, Kristin, and his two girls, Elise and Aubrey.  Although Nate may seem like a normal man with a regular job as a middle school youth pastor, he is a hero because he unselfishly loves others.

Hydeful Nature

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson, which was published in 1886. After becoming a famous book, over 123 film versions were made about it, not to mention other adaptations, including stage performances and radio dramas. Certainly, the main theme in this book is about the fight between good and evil in all of us. This reflects the Bible verse Romans 7:19-20, which says, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is the sin living in me that does it.”

Living an ordinary life as a doctor and a good man, supposedly, Dr. Jekyll wants to give into sinful temptations. “He began to go wrong, wrong in the mind,” says Mr. Lanyon one of Dr. Jekyll’s old friends. Secretly creating a potion that will transform him into Mr. Hyde, who is actually the completely evil side of himself, Dr. Jekyll can do whatever he likes without people knowing it’s him. By drinking the potion, Dr. Jekyll can turn back into his regular and better self and continue with life like normal. While concealing his evil life, Dr. Jekyll is strong and healthy, but when he is his Mr. Hyde, he is small and weak.

Viciously evil, Mr. Hyde displays Dr Jekyll’s worst nature. “Mr. Hyde was pale and dwarfish; he gave the impression of deformity without any nameable malformation.” Changing from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde, this man is a murderer and has no mercy; he is cruel, and some people say he’s barely human, and they get chills when they’re around him. By killing a defenseless man and also trampling a small child, Mr. Hyde shows how evil he is.

Robert Louis Stevenson, who is the author of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, seems to have a view close to the Christian world view. Choosing to become Hyde, Jekyll decides to become evil and do what he wants. While he becomes more controlled by Hyde, Jekyll finally gets trapped forever by his pride in the body of Mr. Hyde. In this way Stevenson shows how Dr. Jekyll becomes a slave to his sin. Man has choice. The Bible says that we need to take responsibility for our actions, which is similar to Dr. Jekyll choosing to become Mr. Hyde. In the Bible it also says that man has a sinful nature, and man is totally depraved, and Dr. Jekyll gives into sin because he chooses to.

Closely following the Bible’s view of man, Stevenson shows how man has choice and a sinful nature, while also showing that man is totally depraved and needs a savior. Creating the illustration of man as a sinful creature, Stevenson’s book is consistent with the Christian world view of man as seen in Romans 7:19-20, which says that people want to do good, but they often don’t.

The Doubleness of Man

Dr. Jekyll is a large, middle-aged, well-to-do man who possesses enumerable titles to his name and is high up in society. Although Dr Jekyll is a gentleman, who is kind and polite, some of his old friends disapprove of what they call his “scientific heresies.” “Too fanciful; he began to go wrong, wrong in the mind,” reflects an old comrade, Mr. Lanyon. Ambitiously Dr. Jekyll works on his scientific concoction until he finally finishes it and decides to try it. He drinks it. Transformed into another being, whom he calls Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll can do whatever he likes when he’s in the other form, which he can change into at any time he likes. During his excursions as Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll gives into all his sinful desires and enjoys doing evil without having to worry about his reputation. After awhile of this routine, though, Dr Jekyll begins to become a slave to his sin and can no longer control when he changes into Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll, who was of the best stature in society, eventually can no longer overcome his sin and is a slave to worse self, Mr. Hyde.

Mr. Hyde is Dr. Jekyll’s double worse self. He is pure evil. Detestably pale and dwarfish, deformed somewhere, hardly human, and an extraordinary man is how he’s described him and fear him. “Particularly small, and particularly wicked looking,” says one onlooker. Murdering a well-known man and treacherously trampling a girl who was walking on the street, Mr. Hyde displays ruthless violent behavior. Inside and outside Mr. Hyde is a disagreeable and horrible person. Mr. Hyde is very powerful, and he overpowers and destroys Dr. Jekyll’s good nature.

Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde who actually rejected the God of the Bible, had a similar view to the biblical world view. Although it is not clearly stated that man is made in the image to God, the book does say that Dr. Jekyll lost hold of his better original self. Concerning the view that man is fallen it is clear that he believed man has a sinful nature and must battle against it or he will become a slave to sin. Interestingly, the view that we cannot be our own representative is portrayed, although Robert Louis Stevenson didn’t believe in God. Comparing himself pridefully to all of his neighbors and justifying himself on a standard lower than God is when Dr. Jekyll’s final mistake happens, and he turns into Mr. Hyde permanently. Robert Louis Stevenson did not believe in God or the Bible, but the world view displayed in his writing is very close to the biblical world view.

Creating us in his image, God purposefully made us significant and this is the biblical world view. Within each person there is a spirit which is which allows us to live after death according to the Bible. God made man he gave man free will to choose make choices. Man has a sinful nature. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:3). Because of our choice to sin, men are now slaves to their sinful natures without God. Thankfully, we have Christ as our perfect representative so that we can be saved and fight against our sinful natures. Although Robert Louis Stevenson is not a Christian, he displays a world view undeniably close to the biblical world view. This book is a fantastic intriguing story about the true doubleness of human nature.

The Message of Frankenstein

A monster, formed from bodies of the deceased, with black thick hair, pure white teeth, and yellow waxy skin, is alive, alone, and friendless in the world. Written by Mary Shelly, who was only seventeen at the time, Frankenstein is set in the seventeen hundreds, which was a period of intense discovery, and the main characters are an ambitious young scientist, the monster he creates, and his family living in a country called Geneva. Secretly devising his plans and obsessively working to create the monster, Dr. Frankenstein represents Mary Shelly’s view of God. In the story, the monster represents man. If we look carefully we will be able to determine Mary Shelly’s view of nature.

The biblical world view of God is that he is loving and immanent. In Frankenstein, the character that represents God is Dr. Frankenstein who created the monster. Although Dr. Frankenstein is the creator of the monster, just as God is the creator of humans, there are significant differences. Immediately after Dr. Frankenstein creates the monster he is so distraught at the hideous appearance of the monster that he runs away from it. In the Bible God says, “Never will I leave you never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. Dr. Frankenstein is far from immanent. Loathing his creation, Dr. Frankenstein passionately desires to destroy it. Whereas our God calls us his beloved children, Dr. Frankenstein calls his creation “miserable wretch” and “demonical corpse.” Completely void of any love for his creation, Dr. Frankenstein doesn’t even compare to our God, who loves us more that we can imagine. This unloving, insensitive, man who runs away from his creation does not follow the biblical view of God.

The biblical world view is that man is made in the image of God and man has free choice. The monster represents man. Hideous and unnatural looking, the monster isn’t human. “A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as the wretch,” says Dr. Frankenstein. When Dr. Frankenstein made the monster, he didn’t make it in his image. In the story, the monster has free will, but sin is not pictured to be the result of his choice. Eventually the monster, who is pictured to be relatively innocent and good- natured in the beginning, felt so rejected and alone that he turned into a violent and horrible being. Therefore, it was others that made him into the villain that he became and it wasn’t his choice. If we examine the view of man pictured in Frankenstein, we will see that is doesn’t follow that biblical word view.

Subtly scattered throughout the book, Mary Shelley’s view of nature (the physical world) is a different one than the biblical world view. In the Bible it clearly says that we humans are God’s most prized creation, his very best. Elevated to a place which is higher than humans, nature is like its own being, affecting the characters and causing them to feel certain emotions. Phrases such as “Nature gives sublimity of thought and peace” are used. Nature takes on a dominant role of comforting the characters and being the thing that gives peace and tranquility.

In Frankenstein, Dr. Victor Frankenstein incorrectly represents God. The monster dysfunctionally represents man. Nature takes on an important role in the book since nature is elevated to at throne higher than humans and sometimes as high as God. When reading Frankenstein the most important thing to remember is that although Frankenstein has been passed down as a “great American story” and has been made into horror movies that are fun to watch, the original book Frankenstein has messages that are being displayed by the author that do not follow the biblical world view such as God portrayed as unloving and insensitive and that man is only a product of his environment.

The Nature of Frankenstein

Mary Shelly, the author of Frankenstein, reveals a lot about her world view in this book. Her world view is very different than the biblical world view. Examining this closely, readers find differences between the God of the Bible and the God of this book, the nature of man, and the view of the natural world.

Representing God in the book Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein has a secret: the secret of creating life. As he uses that secret to make a monster, he does not seem to care about what will happen when it comes to life, which is foolish. Completely obsessed, Dr. Frankenstein gives life to the monster and is so terrified he runs away from his own creation. Differing from the God of the Christian world view, Frankenstein, the God of the monster, runs away from his creation and hates it, seeking to destroy it; whereas the Bible says God is loving and kind to his creation and wants to have a relationship with them. In the book Frankenstein, Mary Shelly, the author, portrays God to be weak and hopeless, which does not match the world view of the Bible.

When he was first created, the monster, who represents man, was innocent and wanted to learn and to be loved. The monster realizes later that he will never be loved, and he becomes malicious and starts killing Frankenstein’s friends and family, while proclaiming that it wasn’t his fault, but that it was his surroundings that made him who he is. Showing in this book what she thinks of the nature of man, Mary Shelly indicates that she believes it’s not people’s fault that they are evil, but rather, their environment is the cause of their evil actions. But the Bible says that man is responsible for his actions.

Calling nature the “all powerful,” Frankenstein reveals his view that nature is like a god. In grief, Frankenstein goes to nature for comfort, whereas the Bible says that humans should take care of nature, but it is God who made nature. Apparently, Mary Shelly believes that nature is nature with a capital N, like a god.

Weak and wretched is how God is pictured by Mary Shelly, and it does not follow the Christian world view at all. Also not following the Bible is that man does not have choice. The view of nature in this book says that there is nothing more powerful, which is not true to the Bible.

Extraordinarily Ordinary

Although the beloved Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” was filmed years ago, it is still a favorite of young and old. This movie was released in 1946 and is set in the time of the Depression when most families were poor. Generously, George Bailey, who is the hero, finds ways to help others. Listening to and answering prayers, the God of Bedford Falls is loving and infinite and fits with the biblical world view. Throughout the movie, man is show as made in the image of God and having free choice. In the movie, good and evil both have consequences.

As “It’s a Wonderful Life” starts, God is shown in heaven receiving prayers for a man named George Bailey, who is loved and cherished, but who has something terribly wrong with him. How does this God respond? What kind of a God is he? God calls an angel named Joseph to help him and tells him about George’s situation and that He is planning to send the angel Clarence to help. Immediately, the audience perceives that He is a compassionate God, one who hears and answers prayers. He knows everything about George. Choosing the quirky angel, Clarence, although he is a second-class angel and innocently naïve, God shapes his plans through others even if they are imperfect. Upon hearing the prayers, God does not fix the problem in a bolt of lightning, but he teaches George that He knows best. God, in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” is loving and infinite and correctly portrays the real God of the universe.

Compared to the biblical world view, which is that man is made in the image of God, man is fallen, and man has free choice, “It’s a Wonderful Life” shows an accurate view of man. George Bailey, hero of the story, is fallen—a good man—yet fallen. Mr. Potter, enemy of George Bailey, is an evil man and is also fallen. Although the characters of the story are imperfect, they are significant, which is one of the main themes of the movie, and this portrays the biblical world view that they are made in the image of God. “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many others. When he’s not around, it leaves an awful hole, doesn’t it?” Clarence asks George. Living in a small town, working at the Building and Loan, and leading a simple life, George Bailey is an ordinary man, but his choices affect so many others in a positive way. Constantly throughout the movie, the characters’ actions and choices, namely George’s, affect the story, their lives, and others lives in both small and huge ways. Without George’s choice to rescue Harry from drowning when they were kids, Harry would have died and would never have gone to war and saved every man on his transport. They all would have died. If George hadn’t chosen to marry Mary instead of traveling the world, which was his dream, she would have become an old maid, living a dismal life. Repeatedly, George’s choices affect his and others lives more than he could ever imagine.

In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” there is good and there is evil and good and evil both have consequences. Good and evil in the story are paralleled by George Bailey and what kind of place Bedford Falls is and Mr. Potter and what sort of place it would have been if George had had not been born. Generously giving to others, sometimes from his own pocket, George Bailey is a good man and is dearly loved by many. While George is good, Mr. Potter is an evil, rich, cowardly man who cheats people, cruelly steals from George, and only cares about doing “good” business. He is sorely hated. Named after George Bailey, Bailey Park is a nice neighborhood with pretty homes owned by poor, hard-working people who are decent, friendly, and have a sense of community. If George had not been born, Bailey Park would have existed in Pottersville as a neighborhood that looked like a dumpster with houses plopped in the middle of it. Paralleled by George Bailey and Mr. Potter and each of their own towns, there is a distinct difference between good and evil. For each action that is taken in Bedford Falls, there is a consequence. Completely lacking morality, Mr. Potter’s choices led to many peoples’ sadness as they lived in his slums, while George’s choices of kindness and love led to the story’s happy ending. There is good and evil in Bedford Falls, and there are consequences for actions, which follows the biblical world view.

Absolutely loving and entirely infinite, the God in “It’s a Wonderful Life” follows the biblical world view. Possessing free will, the people in “It’s a Wonderful Life” make choices that are significant and affect the circumstances, which follow the biblical world view. In the film, man is fallen. In the movie, good and evil exist and are paralleled by George Bailey, who is the hero, and by Mr. Potter, who is the villain. A person may not be winning glory in a war, sitting in an important meeting in a skyscraper, or exploring the world, but each human life is significant. “It’s a Wonderful Life” has a wonderful message that just as George’s extraordinarily ordinary life touched many others, every person can affect others with either love or hatred.

A Truly Wonderful Life

The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is best known as a Christmas movie starring James Stewart. How can a movie that is about a man who doesn’t get to follow his dreams, who is stolen from, who is ordinary, and who considers killing himself a happy movie? Surprisingly, George’s story is one of love and the importance of any person and their effect on the world.

The God of the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is all-knowing, personal, and loving, which seems similar to the God of the Bible. “Dear Father, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope. Show me the way, oh God.” Praying to God, whom he calls “Father,” George Bailey receives an answer, which makes God personal. The answer to his prayer comes in the form of an angel named Clarence who shows George what the world would be like without him. In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” God knows George’s full-life story and everything that ever happened to him and how much George’s choices have affected people in a good way.

In “It’s a Wonderful Life” man has free choice. George Bailey, who has many bad things happen to him still makes good choices. Even though George dreams of going to college and traveling the world, he unselfishly makes the choice to stay in Bedford Falls and help people after his father dies. When Clarence comes he shows George what would have happened if George had never been born and made the choices he did. Harry would have died, his old boss would have gone to prison, Mary would have become an old maid, and Potter would have taken over the town.

Evil, in Bedford Falls, is portrayed by Mr. Potter’s choices, especially, just as evil is a choice for every man, which follows the biblical world view. Absolutely evil, Mr. Potter seeks to take control of Bedford Falls. Stealing eight thousand dollars from the Building and Loan, he hopes to put them out of business and see George go to jail. Mr. Potter is a great example of what sin does to people—it corrupts. Mr. Potter was a lonely, bitter old man.

Fully loving and all knowing, the God of “It’s a Wonderful Life” fits into the Christian world view. In this movie, man has free will to choose right or wrong, which is how human nature works. The most significant message of this movie is how people’s choices affect others, either for good or for bad, which shows George has a truly wonderful life.