Paws & Tales

Ned: Hey, Stacy. Up here. Read this really quick for me.

Stacy: Where's Dave?

Ned: He's busy. Read this really quick. Roll, Joel.

Stacy: Hey everyone, Stacy here from Paws & Tales. I'm here to tell you about how fun it is to work with Ned while recording Paws & Tales. What is this?

Ned: It's a commercial spot, a new one. Keep going. Quick.

Stacy: It is such an honor to work with a pro like Ned because... This seems less about Paws & Tales and more about you.

Ned: It's a new direction we're trying.

Stacy: I love to be a part of Paws & Tales because we tell families about how much God loves them and who does not need to be reminded about that?

Ned: What? That's not on the script.

Dave: Hey guys. Sorry I'm late. Here are the scripts.

Stacy: Ned's been writing some copies of his own. Pretty interesting.

Dave: Ned, really?

Ned: The moment is passed. It won't work now. Never mind, Dave. Never mind. Joel, stop tape.

Joel: Never started, Ned.

Ned: I can't work like that.

Insight for Living: Welcome to the world of Paws & Tales. Wildwood Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place. If you stay on the trails and stick with me, there's adventures to be had there too.

CJ: Come on, CJ. Jump.

Goos: It's too far.

Stacy: It wasn't too far for me.

Insight for Living: Insight for Living Ministries is proud to present Paws & Tales.

Howdy and welcome to Wildwood. Mayor Boggs has called a town meeting to announce the worst-kept secret in the town's history. Even though everyone knows what he's about to say, the whole town is just vibrating with excitement anyway.

Mayor Boggs: Good afternoon to all of you. Thank you all for coming out today for this auspicious event. Thanks to the decorating committee for all the hard work you did to spruce up our town square for this historic gathering that... Sorry. Sorry to interrupt.

Spruce up our town. Already said that. This historic gathering that will change all of our lives going forward. Recently, while tunneling into a new and unvisited region of the mountain... Joe, stop that. Put that tuba down.

Guest (Male): So sorry. I was just trying something. So sorry.

Mayor Boggs: As I was saying, they found a small and interesting clump of something. It was gold. Then they found more and more, and then they discovered that it was an entire vein that seemed to go further into the mountain. Gold has been discovered in Wildwood Mountain.

Mr. Rockler, will you please tell us what will be happening next? Ladies and gentlemen, help me to welcome our own captain of industry, Mr. Rockler.

Mr. Rockler: Thank you. Thank you all. The vein seems large and the gold is, so far, of extraordinary purity. I've ordered new equipment and we're increasing the number of workers on our staff. We'll need housing, food, and supplies for all the workers that will be coming.

I have no doubt that everyone in Wildwood will benefit from this discovery in ways that will bring you prosperity for generations to come. So, who wants to prosper in Wildwood? This town will never be the same again. Let's all get to work.

Goos: This is so exciting and kind of sad.

CJ: What could possibly be sad about finding gold?

Goos: I don't want everything in town to change. I like it just the way it is.

Stacy: She's right. When things change, you can't just get the good change. You get the bad changes too. I wonder what they'll be.

Goos: I don't want bad changes.

Ned: Let's focus on the matter at hand here. Gold comes out of the mountain and we all get to benefit. My glass is half full. All you half emptiers need to perk up a little.

Goos: What if I get rich and get mean?

Stacy: I don't think you could get mean, Goos. If you got 10 times meaner than you are now, you would still be the sweetest person in town.

Ned: If Goos got meaner than she is now, she would only share half of her cupcake at school.

CJ: Stop it, Ned. You're scaring me.

Insight for Living: What do we have here? Four smart kids and CJ. Nice one, Hugh. Well played. What do we have here? Three knuckleheads and just three knuckleheads.

Goos: Knuckleheads.

CJ: Deftly played. I didn't know you had that in you, Goos.

Ned: I've got to give credit where credit is due. Goos, that was a zinger. I'd give her a solid 8.7 on that one.

Hugh: I beg to differ. She just called us knuckleheads. I'm calling that a 5.0. It's like calling the sky blue. You don't get extra points for stating the obvious.

Ned: Fair point. Fair point.

Goos: It's already started. I'm getting meaner and I'm not even rich yet. This is bad. I've got to get home. I don't want to be mean.

Insight for Living: The next morning was Sunday and Pastor Flint was just starting his sermon for his church in a tent since the old church building was condemned.

Pastor Flint: You all heard from Mayor Boggs that the times, they are changing. Well, this is a reason to celebrate. There is also opportunity here. Opportunity to end up in a heap of ashes or an opportunity to take this gold business as an invitation from God.

There have always been those in need around Wildwood. This might be an invitation to care for them better. We're all going to be challenged in the changing days ahead. Remember, as children of God, we're supposed to be known primarily by our love, not our prosperity or even by the good things we do. We're supposed to be known by our love.

Insight for Living: Well, church is over. Big lunches have been eaten and many an adult has begun taking their Sunday nap. The club, however, gets to do what they like best now, and that is just being together in the clubhouse.

CJ: Some sermon today, huh?

Ned: Yeah, I guess. What do you mean?

CJ: They will know us by our love.

Ned: I heard that.

Stacy: What exactly are you talking about, CJ?

CJ: I just thought that it was really good that Pastor Flint was telling us to pull together. Circle in tight and show love to the folks in your tight circle before all the strangers get here. We don't want to be pulled down by folks we don't know.

Goos: That is not what I heard. Pastor Flint told us to get ready to love everyone and anyone who comes here. We're supposed to love them.

CJ: You made that all up just now. I heard him clearly. They will know us by our love. By our love for each other is what he meant, not strangers. That's just kooky.

Ned: That's what I heard too. I agree with CJ. New folks are so new and icky.

Goos: Ned, you are barely nice to your own friends. No surprise you want to ignore new folks. We are supposed to be loving to total strangers. That's what the verse means, guys.

Ned: Agree to disagree, Goos. You're not yourself these days. I'm sticking with CJ on this one. I think he's right.

CJ: Double pinky agree?

Ned: Double pinky. I just love being right.

Stacy: Oh, brother.

Insight for Living: Those who think they heard Mr. Rockler say he's going to give them all gold, well, they misunderstood him greatly and they're in for a whole mess of disappointment. As bad as that is, if you misunderstand what God has said in the Bible and then get all stubborn about it, that can rise to the level of the disastrous.

Ned: Look at this. On page 157 in my catalog, there's some really handsome tie bars. I think I'll buy a few tie bars.

Insight for Living: School is out for the day, so the club has wandered into Crawford's General Store to do some of their favorite things: eat some penny candy while they lay on their bellies on the floor and look through one of the dozens of catalogs Mr. Crawford keeps on hand.

Mr. Crawford: Hey there, kids. What are you all catalog hunting for today?

Goos: Fancy shoes.

Mr. Crawford: Try the back of the red catalog.

CJ: Mr. Crawford, were you at church yesterday?

Mr. Crawford: I was indeed, CJ.

Ned: Stop, CJ.

CJ: Pastor Flint told us to pull together so we will be ready when the strangers move in, right?

Mr. Crawford: That's not what I heard. I heard they will know us by our love.

Goos: Exactly, everyone.

Mr. Crawford: Everybody everywhere, especially those in real need. I heard we need to come together, love those we know so we will be ready to defend against all the newcomers who are not like us.

Hugh: Yes, exactly.

Stacy: Good grief. That's not...

Beth: Hi, I'm Beth from Frisco, Texas. My favorite Paws & Tales character is Goos because she is so silly. Wait till you hear what happens next on today's episode.

Ned: Welcome everyone, Ned the Beaver here, beloved star of Paws & Tales. We have some parents with me today that would love to tell you what they think about the fun, the biblical teaching, and the music of Paws & Tales. Go right ahead, sir.

Guest (Male): I love that some of the episodes are telling the biblical story. My kids totally know the story of Esther now because of Paws & Tales.

Ned: I love that. Now, don't miss an episode of Paws & Tales right here on this amazing station.

Insight for Living: The whole town is in one magnificent tizzy. Folks are arguing about what they heard and many are just getting mean as they grumble about what they think they heard from Rockler and Pastor Flint. But no one anywhere has thought to go and find out what either of them meant.

Now, Miss Harbor, the town schoolteacher, is known far and wide for being highly creative. When she heard all the fuss and confusion, she saw it as a learning opportunity and had to step in too.

Miss Harbor: Good morning, class.

Class: Good morning, Miss Harbor.

Goos: She's doing something here. This is going to be good.

Stacy: I love it when she does this kind of thing.

Miss Harbor: You are, as of today, all my reporters, and I am the editor-in-chief of this newspaper. You can call me Chief. We have the Wednesday edition running in 48 hours, and I need some hard-hitting stories to print.

We have a disaster building in town. There are rumors that Mr. Rockler will be giving gold to everyone in town.

Hugh: I've heard people say that.

CJ: Everyone's saying it, so it's true.

Miss Harbor: No, CJ. That is very poor thinking for a newspaper reporter. A thing is not true just because people say it repeatedly. Here at the Wildwood Gazette, we only print the truth.

Ned: Don't feel bad, CJ. You're just starting out in the newspaper business. You'll get there. Was that mean? I'm so sorry. It's getting worse, guys.

Miss Harbor: Some sources say that Mr. Rockler plans on giving out gold and others are certain he will not. We need to get to the bottom of this and now.

Ned: I'm on it, Chief.

Goos: You should go with CJ and show him the ropes. He's just starting out in the news game.

Miss Harbor: We also have rumors that Pastor Flint has preached a sermon telling folks to circle up and be ready to defend against all newcomers.

Hugh: Lots of people. I'm just going to sit here and listen for a bit.

Miss Harbor: Some say the Bible says to only love those you already love. Is it true? Did Pastor Flint say that, or is there a conspiracy to bend his words to some nefarious purpose?

Ned: Nefarious? I'm using that this week for sure.

Goos: Me. I'll take that one. I will find the truth, Chief. I won't sleep or eat until I get to the bottom of it all.

Ned: What about lunch?

Goos: I'll have lunch first.

Ned: And dinner?

Goos: Marsha, a girl has to eat. I'll definitely do dinner.

Ned: So come bedtime, you...

Miss Harbor: Okay, people. It was just big talk, don't you know? Who's with me on this?

Stacy: I'll go with you.

Hugh: Me too. I'll bring snacks. Snacks are always a good idea.

Miss Harbor: Hugh, Mange, and Multi. I'm putting you three on the Rockler investigation.

CJ: I want that story.

Miss Harbor: Assignment. That's your assignment. It'll be your story when it is written and printed.

Stacy: CJ, don't be worried. You'll catch on eventually.

Miss Harbor: I have assignments for all of you. Your deadline is end of class tomorrow.

Stacy: CJ, deadline is newspaper talk for when it's due.

Insight for Living: Every reporter of the Wildwood Gazette ran home after school to get some kind of reporter-style hat to wear and stuck a card in the hatband that read 'press.' They then scrambled all over town to investigate their respective stories. CJ and Ned are at Ned's house for their news story strategy session.

Ned: Mr. Rockler is an important and very busy man. He will not just take a meeting with a couple of kid reporters.

CJ: Right. We need to be smart here. We need to get to him and pepper him with questions before he has a chance to call for security.

Ned: Right. Wait. Security? There'll be security?

CJ: Of course there will. Maybe we can pose as lowly window washers and get into his office from the outside window.

Ned: His office is on the third floor.

CJ: Yeah, it is. We need a new plan. Disguises. Disguises would be so great.

Insight for Living: The girls all got their reporter notepads and headed over to Pastor Flint's house to get the truth for their story.

Goos: Pastor Flint, we are very important reporters, and we have very investigative questions to ask you.

Pastor Flint: I'm glad you're here. Let's get all this cleared up. It's frustrated me to no end, people saying I said things I never did.

Goos: Exactly. Did you or did you not say strangers are scary and bad?

Stacy: Marsha.

Goos: Too much? I thought so too. Pastor Flint, what do you want to talk about? Sorry about before.

Pastor Flint: Let's go with your first question, Miss Marsha Moffitt. Not only did I not say that strangers are scary and bad, I have never said anything of the kind.

Goos: Marsha Moffitt. Not only... Wait. What was after that?

Pastor Flint: In the Old Testament, God did tell Israel not to marry into other groups, but the nation of Israel was supposed to be a blessing to the whole world and tell other nations about the love of God. Write this down.

Goos: Old Testament. Wait. What was after that?

Pastor Flint: Jesus loved everyone he met up with: Romans, tax collectors, the worst kind of sinners. He offered love to them all. Some wanted more and some walked away, but Jesus was known by his love of everyone, and we are called to do the same. Be nice. Be nice to everyone.

Goos: We knew that.

Pastor Flint: Of course you did. It's all over the Bible. So go out and print your paper and set the record straight. I'm tired of all these shenanigans. I told the congregation to go out and love everyone: new, old, tall, short, rich and poor. Go out and show God's love. You got it?

Stacy: Got it. Hold the presses. We have the front page story. Let's go.

Goos: I don't know how to spell shenanigans. S, H, A, N, I, G, A... Oh my. Wait for me.

Liam: Hi, I'm Liam from Colorado. One of the many reasons I love Paws & Tales is Ned the Beaver. He just cracks me up.

Stacy: Hey everyone, Stacy here from Paws & Tales. We've had kids from all over the country send in their announcer recordings and they are heard every day on the program. But we haven't heard one from you. Just head over to pawsandtales.org and pop into the clubhouse to get one of the announcer scripts. Record yourself on your parent's phone and send it in to us so we can get your voice heard around the world. That's pawsandtales.org. This is so exciting.

Insight for Living: With workman disguises in place, CJ and Ned headed right over to the headquarters of Rockler Enterprises Incorporated. They looked up at the three-story building and started to lose a good bit of the fire from their belly for investigative reporting.

CJ: Wow, this is a skyscraper.

Ned: Bigger up close than I remember. I'll stay here and you can go empty the trash can and all. It'll look more convincing if there's only one of us. You.

CJ: No, we have to do this together. No one will recognize us in these disguises, so we're good to go. Go on in and I'll be right behind you.

Ned: Hugh, Mange, and Multi are coming out of the Rockler building. More than a bit disappointed, I'm guessing.

CJ: Not one disguise between them.

Ned: I'll bet they got kicked out by security. Here they come. They won't recognize us, so just act normal.

Hugh: I've got a sneeze coming on. Handkerchief. I've got a sneeze coming. Handkerchief. Gone. It's gone. I hate losing a good sneeze.

Guest (Male): Where do you think they go?

Guest (Male): Where does what go?

Guest (Male): Why would you ask? Now he's going to...

Guest (Male): The lost sneezes. I told you. We can't keep encouraging this kind of thing. If you don't smack him now, I will.

Hugh: Hey, Ned. What?

Ned: Ned? Who's this Ned?

Hugh: Handkerchief. I need a handkerchief.

Guest (Male): CJ has one in his back pocket.

CJ: Hey, that's not a... Ah.

Hugh: [Sneezes] That was dynormous. I think I just saw a puff of dust come out of his ears. That had to hurt. You okay?

Hugh: No. That was the biggest sneeze I ever snouzed. I think I momentarily lost all sensation in my feet.

Guest (Male): That was so amazing. Do it again.

Guest (Male): We should name it. Like a hurricane. Yes, Sneeze William.

Hugh: No, no, no. Sneeze Malcolm.

Guest (Male): Not bad.

Hugh: A Sneeze Bernard.

Guest (Male): Sneeze Bernard. That has some gravitas. Good one, Ned.

Ned: What? Ned? Who's this Ned?

Hugh: CJ. What's with the mustache?

CJ: We're going in to interview Mr. Rockler and get the truth.

Hugh: You're disguised. Nice. We just got done interviewing him about an hour ago.

Ned: You did not.

Hugh: We got a tour of the warehouse by Mr. Yusuf. Nice. Weird, but nice.

CJ: You just walked in and Mr. Rockler gave you an interview?

Hugh: Sure. Miss Harbor set it all up. He's left for the day, though. He was going to wait for you two to come in and interview him, but I guess you took all afternoon to make bad mustaches.

Ned: What have we done? We have no story.

CJ: No scoop for the front page.

Hugh: Thanks for the hanky.

CJ: Do not take that. That is disgusting.

Hugh: What did you expect? That was Sneeze Bernard.

Stacy: Pastor Flint told us, and I quote, "Jesus loved everyone he met up with: Romans, tax collectors, and the worst kind of sinners. He offered love to them all."

Goos: Then he told us, "Some wanted more and some walked away, but Jesus was known by his love of everyone, and we are called to do the same."

Stacy: In summary, to end all the confusion, we are to love everyone because Jesus first loved us. It's how people will know that we are believers. By our love. The end.

Miss Harbor: Nicely done, girls. Nicely done. An A for your work.

Class: Good job, guys. Thank you, Miss Harbor.

Miss Harbor: Hugh, Mange, and Multi, will you read your article to the class?

Hugh: Yes, I will. Mr. Rockler...

Miss Harbor: Please stand to read your article.

Hugh: Sure. Mr. Rockler said he will not be giving any gold to anyone just because. The end.

Stacy: Wait, what? That's it?

Ned: We've just been scooped by a guy who says 'just because'? This is so humiliating.

Miss Harbor: I hope we have learned just because many people say something does not make it true. Get your facts straight from the source and you will do the world a great service. When it comes to the Bible, never just take one verse and run with it. What do other similar verses tell you?

It takes some work, but you are all more than capable of this. Study to show yourselves approved of God.

Goos: That's 2nd Timothy 2:15.

Miss Harbor: Good, Goos. Because you all worked so hard on this assignment, you can leave 10 minutes early today.

Class: Yay!

Miss Harbor: Except for you, Ned and CJ. You get to start writing an article on how to interview someone while not in disguise.

Ned: Yes, ma'am.

CJ: Yes, ma'am.

Ned: Boy, sometimes you hear one thing and then you hear something completely different. How will I ever know which way is right?