History 101: The 90's

When you first look back to the 1990's you kind of get the sense of it being the decade where everything in our country was going fine. In tv land we followed the lives of Friends: Monica and Chandler, Rachel and Ross, and Joey and Phoebe.
We followed a show about nothing (Seinfeld) and we were first introduced to the Simpsons.

In music we were encouraged to get our groove on with Everybody Dance Now, Ice Ice Baby, My Ache Breaky Heart, and MMM Bop, while kids in gym class were exercising to The Macarena.

We assume everything was fine in the 1990's, but that wasn't the case. When you begin to research the history of that decade you find out that it was one of violence in the U.S.:

1. The Columbine High School Massacre
Which led to stronger safety measures in schools for protecting our kids.

2. The Oklahoma City Bombing
Which led to tougher enforcement surrounding Government buildings.

3. The L.A. riots in 1992, a result of police brutality to a black man named Rodney King.
Which only made us more aware that racism still exists.

4. The O.J. Simpson Trial, which some dubbed The Trial of the Century
On trial for the murder of his ex- wife and her friend, O.J. was found not guilty despite all the evidence. This led to the passing of the Violence Against Women Act.

Amidst all this violence, the late 1990's still saw a huge increase in sex and violence on television and profanity in music. And this pattern of moral decay in our society has only gotten worse.


In the television show The Simpsons, Marge plays the stronghold of the family. Marge teaches her kids to: do well in school, be responsible, go to church, and ignore the foolishness your father may exhibit at times and just know that he loves you. So Marge not only has the task of raising her kids right, but raising her husband Homer right as well. She puts up with:

Homer's foolish antics: "Operator, give me the number for 911!"

His baffoon excuses, such as not going to church,"If God is everywhere, why do we need to go to church?" Of course Marge has the final say, so Homer obliges to go.

Homer's impulsive decisions in trying something inventive, such as a donut juicer, only to change his mind when things go wrong.

And his stupidity."Oh, so they have internet on the computer now!"

But what best describes everything Marge has to put up with comes from her husband Homer himself,
"Maybe, just once, someone will call me Sir without adding 'You're making a scene'."

Despite Homer's childish behavior at times, he loves his family, will do anything for his kids, and takes the family on some great adventures. And Marge knows this, which is why she not only loves him, but sticks with him despite his faults.


All kidding aside, I like what Marge Simpson represents of a household, standing her ground on the foundation she wants set for her family, as she once exclaimed,

"Most women will tell you that you're a fool to think you can change a man.
But those women are quitters."

For either gender, I think we all could take a household lesson from Marge Simpson on setting a foundation for our family.

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine (God), and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (Mth.7:24,25)

That rock we are to build our house upon is the foundation of Jesus Christ. And it is a foundation that can resist all the enemy may throw at it. Your household may not look pretty at times but don't give up or give in.

When we look back at the 1990's we see the results of household foundations not built on solid rock, but sinking sand. If the 90's taught us one thing it's: "Build your house on the foundation of Jesus Christ the Solid Rock."