Father Marty's Muppet Ministry- You're My Best Friendly Enemy

[MartyMuppets]

Here is the start of my third Father Marty fan fic and I like the funny idea I came up with for the title. Enjoy.

CHAPTER 1

"Come in my friend." Father Marty called cheerfully as he sorted through his papers on his desk. "The door's unlocked."
The person who had just knocked on the door opened it and came inside Father Marty's office.
"Why Bert. What can I do for you?"
Bert sat down at the desk and sighed. "I'm nearly at my wit's end Father. Ernie is getting worse and worse."
"Oh. His silly little pranks are making life rather difficult for you are they?"
"You can say that again Father. He's my best friend but I don't know how much longer I can live with him. He'd be devastated no doubt if I moved out. I'm getting very tempted to though."
Bert lay his pointy, yellow head on Father Marty's desk and gently sobbed. "I decided you were the best person to talk to. Please help if you can."
"All right Bert." Father Marty thought for a moment. "Can I come to visit the two of you at your own apartment in the building at 2:30 this afternoon? That'll give me an hour's time to think about and prepare what I should say to you both. Is that okay?"
Bert said he was willing to try anything and he would let Ernie know they were going to have a visitor. After Bert was gone Father Marty bowed his head and prayed:
"Dear God. This is going to be a tough assignment. I know from watching Sesame Street how much Ernie loves teasing and tormenting poor old Bert. Please give me the wisdom to handle their situation and may your Holy Spirit speak to both of them through me to give them peace with each other and with you. In the Name of your Son Jesus. Amen."

 

[BeakerSqueedom]

*Gasps*
I love Ernie's mischeivious self!
Father Marty, I beg of you...
DON'T MAKE HIM SERIOUUSSS!
*Sobs, clings wildly to Marty*

Can't wait for more!
The image was funny--the way I saw it in my head.
Bert....He's so cute.

posteth.

 

[JEANYLASER]

Marty you're the best writer! Awesome work!

 

[MartyMuppets]

CHAPTER 2

At half past 2 on the dot Father Marty knocked on the door of Bert and Ernie's apartment.
Ernie answered the door and said "You must be the visitor Bert said we were having."
"That's correct Ernie. May I come in please?"
"Yes you may Father." Bert called out from behind Ernie as he approached the door and shook Father Marty's hands vigorously. He led Father Marty to the kitchen table to sit down while Ernie closed the door and followed with an unsure expression on his face.
When they all sat around the table Father Marty said "Bert asked me to come and see you both and I have good news for you. I am here to share with you how much God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your lives."
At this point Ernie suddenly stood up and cried "Wait a minute. Bert I'm not interested in what this Father fellow has to say. You can listen and talk to him if you want but I'm going out to the park."
With that he left them alone closing the door behind him. Bert sighed and moaned but Father Marty patted his shoulders comfortingly.
"There.There Bert. We cannot force Ernie to join us. He must be willing of his own free will. I'll talk with you and pray for you in this hard time, I promise. Don't give up hope."
Bert looked into his eyes and smiled. "All right Father. Anything you say"

More to come.

 

[MartyMuppets]

CHAPTER 3

So Father Marty sat down with Bert and taught him all about how the world was created in Eden by God and how sin entered through Adam and Eve when they disobeyed their Creator's command and sin spread to all their future descendants. Bert was fascinated as he learned about some of the historical accounts afterwards in the Books of Genesis and Exodus.
Father Marty said, "You know Bert, I think old Moses could really identify himself with you".
"How do you mean Father"?
"Well Moses was the man called by God in the Book of Exodus to lead the Isrealites out of their cruel captivity to slavery in the land of Egypt. You remember how I told you that Moses and his brother Aaron warned the King of Egypt Pharoah time and time again to let the people of the Lord go, but Pharoah stubbornly refused while the Lord sent plague after plague upon the Egyptians until finally he gave in when a death plague killed his first-born son and the first-born sons of all the other Egyptian families"?
"I sure do Father. He became the leader of all those liberated people when they left Egypt to travel to the land God promised to give them. And I love how you told me God saved them when Pharoah changed his mind again even after that. When he and his army of chariots tried to overtake them and Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea with his staff so the Isrealites could escape. But Pharoah and all his army were drowned when they attempted to follow."
Father Marty grinned. "Yes Moses was God's faithful warrior and a hero to the Isrealites. But he didn't have an easy time you know. Let me show you some examples of how he was treated by the very people he had rescued for God while on their journeys in the desert."
And he flipped through the pages of his Bible.

 

[JEANYLASER]

cool

 

[redBoobergurl]

Typical Ernie! Off to a good start Marty.

 

[MartyMuppets]

Sorry it's been awhile my friends. But here is the next installment.

CHAPTER 4

"Moses had to put up with complaints and criticism from the Israelite people all throughout their wanderings to get to the land of Caneen that God had promised to give them as an inheritance." Father Marty gave a few Scripture references to Bert. "In Exodus chapter 16 they grumbled because were hungry. God miraculously provided food for them to eat, even though they were grumbling against Him as well as His servants Moses and Aaron. Then in chapter 17 they all whined that they were thirsty. Moses said to them, "Why do you whinge at me and at the Lord?"
But in their mad thirst they were almost at the point of threatening to stone Moses to death, so he prayed and God instructed him to perform a miracle, to strike a rock with his staff and water flowed out of it for the people to drink."
Bert was fascinated. "But Father. The Lord would have gladly given them food, water and anything else they needed if they only trusted in Him. Right?"
"Correct Bert. They essentially displayed a lack of loyal faith and devotion. By accusing Moses and his brother Aaron of bringing them out of Egypt, only to kill them with thirst and hunger they were also technically accusing God. He had brought them out of slavery in Egypt, using His servants to display His mighty power before the people."
Bert said, "Even though my situation with Ernie is rather different, I think I'm beginning to see the comparison you were mentioning earlier Father. Is there any more to show me?"
"Yes Bert," Father Marty turned more pages of the Bible. "There are other times they complained to Moses."

Hopefully I won't take as long to update in future.

 

[MartyMuppets]

CHAPTER 5

Father Marty turned to the Book of Numbers. "Numbers Chapters 13 and 14 tell what happened when the people were about to enter the Promised Land Bert. Moses sent twelve men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, to spy out the land of Canaan and report on what it was like and what the enemies who lived there were like."
Bert asked, "And what did they do Father?"
"They brought back a cluster of grapes as an example of the land's blessings. They all testified that it was a good land, flowing with milk and honey, and these grapes are some of its fruit. But the inhabitants of the land are very strong and huge in stature. And their towns are well-fortified. Two of the twelve men named Joshus and Caleb tried to urge the people to go in and conquer those wicked nations for God would be with them and with His help they would triumph and take the land. The other ten however discouraged Israel saying they would be annihilated and their children would be taken captive. God was bringing them into this land only to fall by the sword. They spoke of choosing a new leader and returning to Egypt, the land from which God had delivered them from cruel, inhuman slavery. Joshua and Caleb were very upset. So was Moses. Needless to say, God was as well."
Bert raised his eyebrows. "So after all that God had done for them in Egypr and throughout their journeyings, they were so untrusting of him. What happened next Father?"
"God was so angry with the people He was ready to wipe them out then and there and start all over with Moses and his descendants as His chosen people. Moses interceded for Israel that God would remember His great mercy and also His reputable honour in the sight of the Egyptians and the Canaanites. If He had annihilated Israel He would have been seen as a God who delighted in freeing His people from slavery only to kill them all in the desert. God listened to Moses and forgave the Israelites again. Moses and God must have felt very heartbroken for they both cared for the Isrealite nation despite the way they were treated in return for their kindness and concern. Do you find yourself understanding why I said earlier that Moses could identify with you Bert? Albeit on a much grander scale than you and your hard times with your buddy Ernie of course."
"I am beginning to understand what you meant Father." Bert nodded his head. "So Father. Did they obey God in the end and enter the land He told them to claim?"

TO BE CONTINUED

 

[MartyMuppets]

At last here is CHAPTER 6

"None of those people ever lived to enter the Promised Land Bert. You see," explained Father Marty, "even though God did forgive His people and vowed not to destroy them along with His mercy He also gave a punishment. Israel had to turn back from the land they had been promised and wander back and forth throughout the desert for 40 years until all the adults who had rebelled against God had died. Only Joshua and Caleb were to live and they would lead the children of that faithless generation when they were grown in to claim the land their parents and elders had despised."
Bert taised his eyebrows. "What a penalty to have to pay Father."
"Yes Bert. And they were not happy about it. The final part of Numbers Chapter 14 says that they abhorred the thought of God's decree so much that they decided to rebel against Him once again and presume to take possession of Canaan by their own strength."
"They were so fickle Father. First they were afraid they'd be destroyed then they thought they could be victorious. One extreme to the other."
"You can say that again Bert. And in both cases they were disobeying God. Moses warned them they would be defeated. But they wouldn't listen and so they went out to fight the wicked inhabitants army up in the hills. And the Amelekites and Canaanites who lived there struck them down and pursued them in retreat as far back as Hormah. Those who survived returned to Moses at their camp and so were humbled before God."

Bert was fascinated by all this history. "So did Moses eventually lead the next generation into Canaan along with Caleb and Joshua Father?"
"Actually no Bert. God told him he would have to die too."
"What?" cried Bert. "But why was that Father?"
"A good question Bert." Father Marty thunbed through the pages of his Bible. "Here is the answer...."