Lessons that can be learned from Joan of Arcadia

[macspetra]

I enjoy watching the show Joan of Arcadia - it may not be entirely theologically correct but I still believe that there are some important truths that can be taught through the show. What I am thinking of is the season premiere - Joan is avoiding talking to God - he is able to catch up with her at the end of the show and after a couple questions he asks her if she misses him. Joan says she doesn't miss him, she enjoys being "normal". He then asks her if she misses herself - because he does.
I think that there are two important truths here:
#1 - we try and talk ourselves into believing that we are better off on our own - or being "normal". we don't even understand what normal really is - society is not normal so how can they dictate what normal is.

#2 - God misses out on the relationship that we avoid with him. He desires for us to know Him and to get to know more about Him. Two parties are involved in any relationship and they both get affected when one side backs out or decides to no longer be involved. Have we ever really thought about how we hurt God by ignoring HIm or not even spending much time with Him?

these are just some ideas to get started - I have beenthinking about this since I saw the show and I'm hoping that it might generate some deep thought either on these ideas I have already given or even on how we can receive lessons from such a variety of ways. God doesn't work in a box and can speak to people in so many different ways


I had more thoughts on these but I can't remember what they are off hand

 

[CaliGirl341]

i very much agree with what you've said. so many people say they just want to live a "normal" life. But what is "normal" in todays society? Maybe it's going to school, going to college, getting a ...masters degree in some subject, getting a job, getting married, having kids, and after awhile you pass away. Wow...how boring! You only live once!! Why not live out! and most importantly live it out for God, because he has a purpose for each one of us something significant and it would be unfortunate for someone to die without fulfilling God's purpose for their life. But to many people that's living and to them that's life. Only it's so much more than that. We have the opportunity to serve the Creator of the universe to serve the One who created us and we have no right to keep the Good News to ourselves, and lastly about God wanting to have a relationship with everyone..and thinking of how He must feel when we're ignoring Him...think about it this way...what if God spent as much time on you as you spent on Him...?? Really think about that...I don't know about you but i wouldn't make it on my first day...build and grow in your relationship with God because He's is everything you need.

 

[macspetra]

lastly about God wanting to have a relationship with everyone..and thinking of how He must feel when we're ignoring Him...think about it this way...what if God spent as much time on you as you spent on Him...?? Really think about that...I don't know about you but i wouldn't make it on my first day...build and grow in your relationship with God because He's is everything you need.

That is such a good way to think about it. It is such a good thing that GOd puts so much more into us then we ever do in our relationship with HIm. We need to ask ourselves why is that? Why do choose to neglect the most important relationship in our lives?

I have low self-esteem so I have a tendency to think that GOd doesn't want to spend time with me or He doesn't care about me anyways - which is so wrong! We need to not let our own emotions govern how we think God feels about us - otherwise it would be pretty sad for us.

Thankfully God loves us no matter what we do and He will do wahtever it takes to bring us back to Him.

 

[macspetra]

I know that some people may htink of this as a no-brainer - but last week on Joan of Aracdia - they made a fatal error in their theology
Joan's friend Judith was killed at a drug buy gone bad. At the end of the show, Joan confronts God about letting Judith die - God's response was that we need to juggle our way through life. I thought about that for awhile and realized that the biggest flaw that the show has is that they don't have Jesus. Never once is Joan confrotned by the fact that she and her friends need to accept Jesus.
If they included this vital part within the show - then they would realize that it is not about juggling things through life, but giving themover to Jesus and letting Him take care of it all. Jesus will give us His yoke which is lighter.
That just really hit me last week. I don't know if anyone has any comments on that or not.



PS
I know some may think I shouldn't support the show but usually they have some relly good truths they share and it is very popular

 

[Serenity Now!]

I know that some people may htink of this as a no-brainer - but last week on Joan of Aracdia - they made a fatal error in their theology
Joan's friend Judith was killed at a drug buy gone bad. At the end of the show, Joan confronts God about letting Judith die - God's response was that we need to juggle our way through life. I thought about that for awhile and realized that the biggest flaw that the show has is that they don't have Jesus. Never once is Joan confrotned by the fact that she and her friends need to accept Jesus.
If they included this vital part within the show - then they would realize that it is not about juggling things through life, but giving themover to Jesus and letting Him take care of it all. Jesus will give us His yoke which is lighter.
That just really hit me last week.

It didn't hit me then, but it sure does now that you mention it. The whole juggling thing did not make sense to me, and I thought it just didn't fit well. I couldn't understand the point or theme of that episode-- well, you nailed it right there. That's why it made no sense... there was no Jesus! Thank you!

 

[macspetra]

It didn't hit me then, but it sure does now that you mention it. The whole juggling thing did not make sense to me, and I thought it just didn't fit well. I couldn't understand the point or theme of that episode-- well, you nailed it right there. That's why it made no sense... there was no Jesus! Thank you!

Yeah it took me some thinking because I couldn't figure it out either. Some times thinking too much is a good thing!

 

[SnowDove]

Actually, the whole juggling thing made perfect sense to me and my family. Life is filled with all sorts of different occurances. Some good, some bad, maybe some wonderful or even horrible. When God says to cast your cares on Him, I don't believe He's saying that we should pretend that our problems don't exist and not try to work them out...and sometimes, especially with a death, it's impossible. You have to balance...life is a balancing act. Yes, Jesus is there...and yes! Jesus takes our burdens...but that doesn't automatically take them away. The only thing is that now we trust God and He walks next to us carrying the load for us. They're still there...on His back. Just because I cast my cares about college on Christ doesn't mean that I suddenly have a solution...or that I suddenly have a final plan.

I completely agree with the juggling analogy...you have to balance...that's life. It's just so much easier when God's got your back!

 

[Serenity Now!]

Okay, macspetra. I watched last night's episode a little bit ago. Now, we have the kite analogy to ponder!

I have to say, I really enjoy this show. I think the thing is, CBS doesn't want to be as obvious as Touched by An Angel was. That was a great show, and it pretty much summed up Salvation very clearly in every episode. I must admit though, I grew tired of Touched by An Angel because it was the same formula of a plot line every episode (It still was a good show.)

Now, Joan of Arcadia is definetly uses symbols and objects more. We all may get the point, but perhaps unbelievers watching the show may not. I remember thinking last year that Joan of Arcadia was going to have to change it's plot formula soon because it was going to get to predictable and boring. Well, it's not predictable any more, and god--in the TV show--- is defenitly more mysterious and doesn't spell the lessons out as clearly as he did this year. I really like that the episodes they have aren't "stand alone" episodes. I like that there is a story arc that the writers seem to be using. I just wonder how it will all end up? Will Joan's Mom find God? Will her father?

I really wonder what is going on with Joan's father and his boss. What is that relationship about? It makes me uneasy. I like his boss, but afraid where they are taking that.

Well, this is going past talking about Fellowship. I wonder if they will pull this and post it in the small screen board.

 

[SnowDove]

I certainly hope they don't! You make valid points and questions...at least I think so. I can't really answer any of those wonderful questions...lol...but I thought I'd at least tell you I read your post and thought about it! I'm SUCH a dork!

 

[macspetra]

There are some really good points within the show.
I do agree with you SnowDove about Christians catching some of the things that non-Christians wouldn't. It does make you stop and think though about what they do in the show and why.

Serenity - I saw that episode, but honestly havn't put much thought into it about the kite. maybe sometimes we need to think about the present instead of focusing on the past - could that be it? I feel bad for Joan's younger brother at times (can't remember his name) - I kind of know what it is like to be forgotten about.

I still think that the producers are still missing Jesus but different people relate to the stories at different times and in different ways. This is important for us to remember that when we minister not everybody is reache dthe same way by the same words. I do give them props for putting on another "Christian show" after that lady was trying to get them to take Touched by an Angel off the air.