Welcome to week 3 of our “Most Excellent Month!” This week Paul J. Powers, of Retro Rewind Podcast, joins us to take a look at Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure – the Animated Series! In this series Bill and Ted find themselves in a most heinous situation and feel utterly discouraged. Paul spring boards off this to talk about a few Biblical ways to deal with discouragement.
For more info about Paul visit http://pauljpowers.com/ For more info about Retro Rewind Podcast visit https://retrorewindpodcast.com/
I am PaulJPowers.com – I’m a saved fan-boy – and I’m also the co-host of the Retro Rewind Podcast.
Now, I’m not a stoner OR a metal head, but I lovehe fun-loving and generally positive attitude of the characters of Bill and Ted.
The recording this video is August 2020 – just before the release of Bill & Ted Face the Music – the 3rd Bill & Ted movie in the franchise.
But did you know there was a Bill & Ted cartoon? – and it lasted for 2 seasons! That’s twice as long as other well-known series.
On September 15, 1990, a year after the original Bill & Ted movie, season one of the animated series premiered. The main stars, Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, reprised their roles and provided the voices for Season 1. Even George Carlin who played Rufus and Bernie Casey who played Mr. Ryan, their History teacher came back to provide their voices. But after 8 episodes into the 2nd season, the series was canceled.
There is a Best of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures available on DVD. But only 16 of the 21 episodes can be found on it. And the very first animate episode can also be found in the Special Features section of certain Bill & Ted movie home video releases.
One used to be able to find a smattering of these 21 episodes all over the internet. But now a-days, only a few remain.
One of those episodes that you might still be found on-line (if you’re lucky enough to find it) and is in the Best Of Collection is from Season 1, episode 10 titled, “When the Going Gets Tough Bill & Ted are History”.
This episode begins with Bill & Ted playing their 4th gig. And they are still not good, so everyone in the concert leaves while they are playing. Being depressed, rejected, and most non-triumphant, they decide to give up music. You find this line in the episode… “We were thrashed most odiously in our last concert attempt. So we’re going to back in the band and become nuclear astrophysicists. Or burger jockeys. Which ever has the most babe potential.” So the future sends Rufus back to get them on the right path.
How do you encourage someone? You can tell them a joke and get them to laugh. Or compliment them and give them a pat on the back. But this doesn’t solve the discouragement problem. It only momentarily puts it on pause. Thus this moment when Rufus is trying to cheer the guys up…
Rufus: Guys, guys. Greatness takes time. Rufus, our newly hairy friend.
Bill and Ted: We thank you most sincerely for coming to try and cheer us up. However, there’s no use continuing to play music no one wants to hear.
So how do you truly begin to help others or yourself when feeling discouraged?
Tip #1: Distract them from their own problem by having them help other people solve theirs.
When you’re feeling discouraged about yourself or the way your life is going, take a step back and look at others. Maybe they need help?
Galatians 6:2 (Berean Literal Bible) “Bear one another’s burdens and thus you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Hebrews 6:10 (NIV) “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”
Helping others is a big step when you’re feeling discouraged. It takes the focus off of you and places it on to others.
Rufus does this by taking Bill & Ted through history to help some people with their problems.
Their first stop is with Thomas Edison. He’s tried numerous times to invent the phonograph (aka the record player). The first device to record sound.
Edison was trying (and failing) to use a cylinder object to record sound. Bill and Ted give Edison the idea of using a disc (like a record) instead. And, walla = success! In return, Edison gives a little advice, “Boys, success is truly 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.”
Tip #2: If you know what you are doing is good, don’t give up. Even if you get discouraged, don’t quit.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Their next stop is Leonardo Davinci who is having trouble with a lot of his inventions, including his flying contraption.
DaVinici: That makes 110 tries and 110 failures.
Bill: Dude. You kept trying this thingy-thing idea for 110 tries?
DaVinci: Hah, feast your eyes on my failures.
Ted: Ever think maybe it’s time to make a career change, dude? My distinguished colleague, Bill and I, are giving up our band to become nuclear astrophysicists.
DaVinici: I considered that. But the babe potential is exceedingly low…. And my uncle Gheppeto wants me to give it all up to work in his toy store. But I gotta be me!”
Bill & Ted with the help of Rufus try to help. But the flying machine crashes and breaks apart. But then Leonardo takes one of the leftover pieces and events the skateboard. Leonardo tried a lot of things. Some of those things worked. Some didn’t. Some of those that didn’t led to some of those things that did. But sometime… things just don’t work out at all.
Have you ever “tried so hard, and got so far, but in the end, it doesn’t even matter.”
Which leads to…
Tip #3: Pray for wisdom.
Do you ever feel you’re at the end of your rope? Well, maybe you shouldn’t be on that rope at all. And it would be better if you let go of that rope and grabbed on to another one. But how do you know which ropes to hold on to? And which ones to let go?
That’s where wisdom comes in. Pray. And seek the One who knows which ropes are which.
James 1:5 (NLT) “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
And if prayer isn’t helping, ask wise people you know.
Proverbs 19:20-21 ~ “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.”
Bill, Ted, and Rufus’s next stop is England, 1776, to visit Joseph Priestly, a most excellent chemist dude. He invents carbonated soda. But it tastes most heinously sour. They blunder and mix the chemicals, resulting in a great taste.
The final stop is Spain, 1942. Christopher Columbus keeps trying to get funding for his expedition to the new world. But no one believes in him enough to support him. He’s already been to the King Queen of Spain several times. But Bill and Ted convince Columbus to keep back to the King and Queen and ask again. The Queen agrees only to keep him from coming back and asking yet again.
This definitely reminds me of the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 1:-6.
Tip #4: Don’ be afraid to ask for help.
Especially from God. The point in Luke 18 is to keep asking God for help. And don’t think you’re wasting His time or that it’s too small of a request to be bothered with. He knows the number of hairs on your head and loves you very much. Seek Him!
Bill & Ted’s adventures inspired them to continue practicing their music. And the future was saved.
Bill: Ted. I am deeply inspired by the many events we have witnessed today. If dudes like Edison can put 99% of their perspiration into their futures. And if Leonardo and the soda pop dude can fail and can keep trying, we too can overcome the most heinous rejection and failure, because WYLD STALLYNS RULE!”
Sometimes, it takes perseverance and tenacity to continue to do the good work the Lord has called you to do. Sometimes it gets frustrating and discouraging.
The Bible talks about overcoming this in many of its passages. It’s a common theme. Why? Probably because so many people – not just now, but throughout history – struggle with this.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NLT) “As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.”
One of my favorite Bible verses is Joshua 1:9. In this passage, the Hebrew people are about to enter the Promised Land full of vile enemies and even giants. And God Almighty, himself say – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Question of the week: Am I prioritizing right?
If you’re discouraged, maybe you need a little JOY in your life? The word “joy” reminds you how to prioritize and focus.
J = Jesus O = Others Y = You
J. Are you putting Jesus first?
O. Are you helping others?
Y. You. Yes, you need to take care of you. Are YOU seeking help for YOU?
Again, I am PaulJPowers.com. You can go there to find all my social media links and contact info. And you can also find the Retro Rewind Podcast by searching for us online. Just make sure you include the word “Podcast” because there are several other entities that show up without the word “podcast” – even amongst other podcasts.
And remember… “Stay devoted, peace and love”