Father Marty's Muppet Ministry- The Bear Facts

[MartyMuppets]

Here is the second of my Father Marty fan fics. I think they way I will write is so that apart from the pilot they will be basically stand alone stories that will not really matter at all what order they are read in. But I will always specify what number they are for the record.

CHAPTER 1

Father Marty sat at his desk in his office at apartment number 77 Sesame Street reading the Gospel of Luke. When his telephone rang he put the Bible down, reached out and picked up the receiver. "Hello. Father Marty speaking. God bless you."
"Hi Father," said a sad-sounding voice in reply. "This is Fozzie Bear calling."
"Fozzie! What's the matter my son?"
"I saw your special support number in the newspaper adverts from Sesame Street and I feel down in the dumps."
"Tell me what's wrong my friend."
"Lately I've been very depressed. Ever since Muppets Tonight was cancelled I haven't been able to get a decent comedian's job anywhere. It seems like nobody appreciates me."
"Oh dear. That's a shame. But Fozzie. I admire your monologues when you were on the original Muppet Show. I have the Season 1 DVD and I'm looking forward to when I can get a copy of Season 2. Really. You're the greatest."
"Aw. Thanks Father. But I'm still sad that I'm not appreciated like I used to be." Fozzie sighed.
"Cheer up Fozzie. Tell you what. How would you like me to take a trip to where you are currently living and spend a week with you? I would be so pleased to share my counselling with you all that time."
Fozzie was ecstatic. "Would you really do that Father? Oh thank you! Thank you!"
Father Marty checked his appointment diary and told Fozzie that he could get away in three days' time and he could stay not quite a full week, but he could stay for 5 and a half days since he really needed to get back for something important the following morning after.
But Fozzie was eagerly anticipating the special visit so he gave him his address in Hensonville. Father Marty promised to make arrangements for his train travel straight away and after he hung up he dialled the depot to make a booking. He prayed that he could bring the peace of the Lord to poor old Fozzie.

 

[JEANYLASER]

Wow! Marty you're the best fan fiction writer.

 

[MartyMuppets]

I'm going to add to this little story soon.
For now I'll bump it back up but I will write something else soon. I do have a few good ideas.

 

[MartyMuppets]

chapter 2

Father Marty sat back in his seat on the train holding his Bible up in his hands staring through the pages. He had been praying for the right passage of Scripture to share with Fozzie when he finally arrived at his home in Hensonville. When he had opened his Bible he had been flipping the pages while saying his silent prayers. When he finished and opened his eyes, he saw that he was open to the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. He felt his eyes irresistebly drawn to certain passages in Jeremiah's narrative.
"Yes Lord. I can use this to begin speaking to Fozzie. Please guide me in the way I present your written Word to him. May his poor heart find the comfort he so badly needs. Amen."
After silently praying that last prayer Father Marty got out his notebook and pencil and began taking some careful notes. Fozzie was in for a spiritual blessing indeed.

It was only very short I know. But the next part is going to be great.

 

[MartyMuppets]

chapter 3

Father Marty arrived in Hensonville on schedule at the train depot and walked the relatively short distance to Fozzie's address, stopping only for a refreshing iced coffee malted milk shake and a hot dog with cheese, onion and tomato sauce at a cafe.
When he knocked on Fozzie's door he was greeted with a hearty bear hug. "Thank you for coming once again Father. You've no idea how much this means to me."
"The pleasure is all mine Fozzie." Father Marty wiped his shoes on the mat as he entered carrying his suitcase in one hand.
Fozzie led him to the guestroom he would be staying in and left Father Marty to make himself settled in.

Later that day Father Marty and Fozzie sat down together in his comfy lounge to talk. Father Marty said, "Let me say a word of prayer Fozzie."
Fozzie bowed his head reverently as Father Marty prayed. "Dear Father God. Thank you for bringing me safely all the way from Sesame Street to stay with Fozzie for the next few days. Please bless the time we share together. You know how depressed he has been feeling lately Lord. But may he understand that you are deeply concerned for his well-being and that you love him as he is. May the words of my mouth as I share what you would have me say to him be blessed by your Holy Spirit and give him peace within himself. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
When he finished Fozzie said quietly, "All right Father. I'm ready to hear what you have to tell me."
Father Marty smiled as he opened his notepad to begin the lesson.

TO BE CONTINUED

 

[JEANYLASER]

I love it! And I can't wait to read some more!

 

[MartyMuppets]

I shall come up with more of this later today. I't'll be well worth the wait.

 

[MartyMuppets]

chapter 4

"Fozzie. Let me tell you a little bit about a man named Jeremiah who lived many many centuries ago. He was called by God to be what we call a prophet."
"Prophet? Isn't that somebody who foretells the future Father?"
"Well that can be part of a prophet's job Fozzie. But strictly speaking prophecy doesn't always necessarily have to involve telling future events at all. Prophecy basically means to declare messages that God has for others to hear. In one sense whenever I or any other minister of God preach a sermon to a congregation we are prophesying to people in God's Name."
Fozzie was amazed. "Wow. I never knew that. So what did you want to actually tell me about this Jeremiah Father?"
Father Marty continued, "God gave Jeremiah an important task. He was to cry out to the Israelites and warn them of the wicked things they were doing in forsaking Him, their loving God, to worship the false idols of the heathen nations and all the evil practices associated with their worship."
"Did he do his job faithfully?"
"Yes. But he suffered badly for doing it. In Chapter 20 of his book we read how a priest named Pashhur had him imprisoned in the stocks for a period of time for warning Israel that God would bring them to disaster for all the sin they were guilty of."
"Really Father? That must have felt so humiliating for him. Did he give up?"
"At times he must have felt tempted to do so Fozzie. He wasn't persecuted just this one time. He was often imprisoned and mistreated along with his faithful friend and secretary, Baruch. But he said he just couldn't keep silent to spare himself from trouble. God had commanded him to prophesy and his conscience wouldn't allow him to disobey God."
"That's incredible Father. But what does this really have to do with my personal problems?"
"I'm coming to this right now Fozzie. Think about this. Jeremiah's enemies considered him a traitor to Israel because of his prophesies against them, but in reality he was a true patriot who loved his fellow countrymen and wished only the very best for them. He was a good man who tried to warn them but was unappreciated and mistreated. I know you haven't had to suffer the same way as Jeremiah, but can't you see yourself sort of in his shoes since you are heckled and put down instead of being properly recognized for the funny talent you are, like Jeremiah wasn't recognized for what he was?"

Fozzie's response to come next chapter.

 

[MartyMuppets]

chapter 5

Fozzie thought about what Father Marty had said for a moment. Then he cried out, "Yeah Father. You are right. Jeremiah tried to warn his fellow Israelites and was put down and heckled badly. Just like I try to make people happy with my jokes, and they heckle me."
Suddenly he added, "So whatever did happen with Jeremiah's enemies in the end?"
"A good question Fozzie." Father Marty paused to clasp his fingers together. "The Bible tells us that eventually Jeremiah's prophecies came true. Because God's people had rejected Him, and refused to listen to the voice of His servant sent to warn them, they were conquered and taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonians. Jeremiah had the last laugh though of course he did not literally laugh about his countrymen's exile. In fact he even wrote a short book placed in the Bible next to his own self-titled manuscript called Lamentations. In it he expresses his sorrow over what happened to Isreal in 5 chapters of poetic literature."
Fozzie found this all very interesting but he still couldn't quite see what comfort this had for him.
"Jeremiah may have been vindicated for his sorrow, but I sure haven't".
Father Marty assured him that this was only the beginning. "When I share my second lesson with you tomorrow afternoon Fozzie you'll see where I'm finally going with this. Please trust me."
Fozzie agreed and after allowing Father Marty to close with prayer he cooked a fine dinner to share with his guest. He was pleased to hear Father Marty say it was delicious. That night they watched "Follow that Bird" on television and Fozzie seemed honestly cheered already. He enjoyed the show as much as Father Marty. Then they said good night and went to bed. Father Marty said a special prayer for Fozzie that he would be touched by their talk tomorrow as he lay under his blanket. Then he went to sleep smiling from ear to ear.

 

[abiraniriba]

okay I see where you're going with this

I liked your Cookie Monster story Bill, this one is coming along very well too. As a strong Christian believer I kind of like the idea of seing the muppets in a religious context. I wonder, next Christmas maybe the Muppets can do the story of the birth of Jesus or maybe a passion play for Easter. It could be interesting. I know the SS gang did it recently in an Elmo's World special about Christmas, Hannukah (sp please) and Kwanzaa (sp please again).