I have shared before that one great thing about being semi-retired is getting to do things you always wanted to do but never quite had the time before. This includes all sorts of little things. And I will confess that, for me, one of them is watching some of the old television programs form my childhood.
I always marveled that certain of my friends got to go home and enjoy a little leisure time. Growing up on a farm, I always had chores to do whenever I got home from school. Often, these tasks kept me busy right up to supper time. Afterward, I had to get a bath and do my homework. This typically meant foregoing the pleasure of watching television.
One particular show I always wanted to watch was Perry Mason. As a child, I remember that we would work in the garden on summer mornings before going inside for lunch. My mother would watch Perry Mason during the lunch hour. I was always intrigued by this program. I knew it was about right and wrong, good and bad, and solving mysteries. Still, I also knew much of its subject matter was above my level of comprehension.
That is why I love watching it today. My goal is eventually to view every single episode. Admittedly, this is a lofty goal. A little research shows that there were 271 episodes spread over nine seasons. And this is just the original black and white show starring Raymond Burr. Thereafter, a revival version had another 15 episodes. And this was followed by 26 made for television films also starring Raymond Burr.
But with the marvels of digital media, I have now acquired DVD versions of many of these, allowing me to view them at my leisure. These also come with the added benefit of reduced running time per episode, as no commercial breaks are involved.
Of course, I have also now discovered the availability of 82 Perry Mason novels and four short stories from the character’s creator, Erle Stanley Gardner. Then there are also six films from the 1930s, as well as a long running old time radio Perry Mason show of over 3000 episodes. All of his is not tom mention the brand new 2020 series on HBO.
As you can see, of I am so minded, I now have enough Perry Mason material to keep me engrossed for some time to come! Fortunately, I am only committed to the original black and white series for now.
There is one thing about watching Perry Mason that ne can always count on. In the end, he is always going to win the case on behalf of his client. In 271, episodes, he only lost once. And in that instance, it was only a temporary setback. He continued probing until he found the truth and righted wrong that was done to his client for having been wrongly convicted.
One of my favorite episodes is one that comes toward the end of the final season titled “The Case of the Twice-told Twist”. In it, after years of imagining while viewing in black and white, we viewers get to see what all the lead characters actually looked like in vivid, eye-popping color. We also get to see the amazing scenes in and around Los Angeles back in the day, as well as Perry’s office, and, of course, the beautiful automobiles.
At this point, many of my readers may have already suffered through more information about Perry Mason than they ever cared to. With that being said, if I ever do find myself in need of a lawyer, I still hope to find one as gifted as he was.
One always knew he would win out on behalf of his client. The only real mystery was just how he would do so. Of course, that is what made the whole program so rewarding to watch in the first place.
The good news is that I am not aware of my need for a lawyer, at least not at this time. But being human, I do suffer many other needs. And the good news is that I do have much needed help, for Heaven has sent me an Advocate!
In first John, chapter 2, verses 1-2, we read: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
The word advocate is the Greek word “parakletos”. According to HELPS Word studies:
paráklētos (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 2564 /kaléō, "make a call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation. 3875 /paráklētos ("advocate, advisor-helper") is the regular term in NT times of an attorney (lawyer) – i.e. someone giving evidence that stands up in court.
When we stand before the judgment seat of God, our eternal Advocate will be there to plead our case before the Righteous Judge! And He will not lose that case!
In the meantime, the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verses 1-3, Jesus tells us we have another advocate to guide us through the ups and downs of daily living in this present world. On the night before He was crucified as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, Jesus Christ affirms that He was going to Heaven to prepare us a dwelling place there.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
But in His absence, He further tells us (in verses 15-17): “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.”
Wow! I have not just one Divine Advocate, but two. Talk about a legal dream team – God the Son and God the Holy Spirit together at work on my behalf! One to care for me and my concerns in this world, and Another to do so for all eternity! How’s that for Heavenly help?! I simply cannot lose!
Oh, and one last thought. One day, out there, somewhere in the future, I will have that ultimate and final blessing. I will finally get to see my Chief Advocate face to face, in beautiful, vivid, living color! What a day, glorious day, that will be!
PERRY MASON RESOURCES:
If you care to know more, start with this website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Mason. The article’s numerous links will take you on what amounts to an “all things Perry Mason” journey.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/niv/1_john/2.htm;
https://biblehub.com/greek/3875.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/john/14.htm.
I always marveled that certain of my friends got to go home and enjoy a little leisure time. Growing up on a farm, I always had chores to do whenever I got home from school. Often, these tasks kept me busy right up to supper time. Afterward, I had to get a bath and do my homework. This typically meant foregoing the pleasure of watching television.
One particular show I always wanted to watch was Perry Mason. As a child, I remember that we would work in the garden on summer mornings before going inside for lunch. My mother would watch Perry Mason during the lunch hour. I was always intrigued by this program. I knew it was about right and wrong, good and bad, and solving mysteries. Still, I also knew much of its subject matter was above my level of comprehension.
That is why I love watching it today. My goal is eventually to view every single episode. Admittedly, this is a lofty goal. A little research shows that there were 271 episodes spread over nine seasons. And this is just the original black and white show starring Raymond Burr. Thereafter, a revival version had another 15 episodes. And this was followed by 26 made for television films also starring Raymond Burr.
But with the marvels of digital media, I have now acquired DVD versions of many of these, allowing me to view them at my leisure. These also come with the added benefit of reduced running time per episode, as no commercial breaks are involved.
Of course, I have also now discovered the availability of 82 Perry Mason novels and four short stories from the character’s creator, Erle Stanley Gardner. Then there are also six films from the 1930s, as well as a long running old time radio Perry Mason show of over 3000 episodes. All of his is not tom mention the brand new 2020 series on HBO.
As you can see, of I am so minded, I now have enough Perry Mason material to keep me engrossed for some time to come! Fortunately, I am only committed to the original black and white series for now.
There is one thing about watching Perry Mason that ne can always count on. In the end, he is always going to win the case on behalf of his client. In 271, episodes, he only lost once. And in that instance, it was only a temporary setback. He continued probing until he found the truth and righted wrong that was done to his client for having been wrongly convicted.
One of my favorite episodes is one that comes toward the end of the final season titled “The Case of the Twice-told Twist”. In it, after years of imagining while viewing in black and white, we viewers get to see what all the lead characters actually looked like in vivid, eye-popping color. We also get to see the amazing scenes in and around Los Angeles back in the day, as well as Perry’s office, and, of course, the beautiful automobiles.
At this point, many of my readers may have already suffered through more information about Perry Mason than they ever cared to. With that being said, if I ever do find myself in need of a lawyer, I still hope to find one as gifted as he was.
One always knew he would win out on behalf of his client. The only real mystery was just how he would do so. Of course, that is what made the whole program so rewarding to watch in the first place.
The good news is that I am not aware of my need for a lawyer, at least not at this time. But being human, I do suffer many other needs. And the good news is that I do have much needed help, for Heaven has sent me an Advocate!
In first John, chapter 2, verses 1-2, we read: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
The word advocate is the Greek word “parakletos”. According to HELPS Word studies:
paráklētos (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 2564 /kaléō, "make a call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation. 3875 /paráklētos ("advocate, advisor-helper") is the regular term in NT times of an attorney (lawyer) – i.e. someone giving evidence that stands up in court.
When we stand before the judgment seat of God, our eternal Advocate will be there to plead our case before the Righteous Judge! And He will not lose that case!
In the meantime, the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verses 1-3, Jesus tells us we have another advocate to guide us through the ups and downs of daily living in this present world. On the night before He was crucified as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, Jesus Christ affirms that He was going to Heaven to prepare us a dwelling place there.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
But in His absence, He further tells us (in verses 15-17): “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.”
Wow! I have not just one Divine Advocate, but two. Talk about a legal dream team – God the Son and God the Holy Spirit together at work on my behalf! One to care for me and my concerns in this world, and Another to do so for all eternity! How’s that for Heavenly help?! I simply cannot lose!
Oh, and one last thought. One day, out there, somewhere in the future, I will have that ultimate and final blessing. I will finally get to see my Chief Advocate face to face, in beautiful, vivid, living color! What a day, glorious day, that will be!
PERRY MASON RESOURCES:
If you care to know more, start with this website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Mason. The article’s numerous links will take you on what amounts to an “all things Perry Mason” journey.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/niv/1_john/2.htm;
https://biblehub.com/greek/3875.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/john/14.htm.