Adventures in Odyssey

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Odyssey, a place of discovery, imagination, and excitement. But don't take my word for it. Find out for yourself on today's Adventures in Odyssey.

Lawrence Hodges: Jimmy, come here. I changed the letters in your dad's name on the sign out front of the church. Now it says, "Preaching this Sunday: Large Rat Boy." I had a couple of letters left over.

Jimmy Barclay: I don't think you should be playing with the sign, Lawrence.

Lawrence Hodges: Sorry, Jimmy. I'm just bored. When's your dad going to be done?

Jimmy Barclay: I don't know. It's been like this every Sunday since he's been filling in for the pastor. After the service, he has to talk to everyone about everything. We just have to wait.

Miss Jeffreys: Hello there, Jimmy. Your father preached quite a good sermon today.

Jimmy Barclay: It was pretty good.

Miss Jeffreys: When are you going to get up there?

Jimmy Barclay: Get up where?

Miss Jeffreys: In the pulpit to preach for us. As a matter of fact, I heard somebody say just the other day that they thought you'd be a good preacher.

Jimmy Barclay: Me? Jimmy?

Miss Jeffreys: Sure. The best preachers always run in the family. Everybody thinks so. Generation after generation dedicated to serving the Lord. What a testimony. You have a good day now.

Jimmy Barclay: Sure, Miss Jeffreys, you too.

Lawrence Hodges: Did you hear that, Lawrence? You've got a fan club. Do you think I look like a preacher?

Lawrence Hodges: Yeah, sure, I guess.

Jimmy Barclay: Of course, you also think my mom looks like Natasha, the diabolical secretary for Destructo. A preacher...

George Barclay: I was going to ask you, I thought maybe you could help me out. No, I couldn't hear you. They've got planes flying over us now. They're being rerouted while they do construction on a runway. I said they're doing construction on the runway. Never mind.

So you're going to be out of town? No, that's fine. Have a good trip. I'll talk to you later. How am I going to get to teach this Sunday school class?

Mary Barclay: George, if those planes come any closer, this baby's going to come out and teach it. Feel this, George. Feel how hard the baby's kicking.

George Barclay: I'm sorry, what?

Mary Barclay: The baby's talking to you. Wants you to stop those planes.

George Barclay: Let me talk to the baby. Hello, are you listening? This is your father speaking. Don't worry about the planes. They should be gone by the time you're born.

Jimmy Barclay: Dad's talking to mom's stomach again.

George Barclay: Also, now that I've got your attention, if you're born by that time, would you be willing to teach Mr. Grant's Sunday school class next week? Just think about it. You don't have to give me an answer right now.

Donna Barclay: I'm sure the pastor feels very secure knowing that his substitute is trying to hand over a Sunday school class to an unborn child.

George Barclay: Look, I'm desperate. I've called everyone I can think of. Can you think of anyone else, Mary?

Mary Barclay: Not really. What class is it?

George Barclay: Mr. Grant's class.

Donna Barclay: Lawrence is in that class.

George Barclay: I know. That's part of the problem. There's about 10 Lawrences in that class. Nobody wants to deal with them. Wait a minute. Jimmy, how about you?

Jimmy Barclay: How about me what?

George Barclay: Why don't you teach the class?

Jimmy Barclay: Me?

George Barclay: Sure, you'll be great. You know the Bible, you're good at speaking in front of people, you're good with kids, and you're great with Lawrence.

Jimmy Barclay: But I've never taught a Sunday school class before.

George Barclay: You're a natural.

Jimmy Barclay: Do you really think I'd be a good teacher?

George Barclay: I have no doubt about it at all. You'll be great.

Jimmy Barclay: Thanks, Dad. I'll do it.

Lawrence Hodges: Jimmy, what you doing? What are all these books for?

Jimmy Barclay: I'm teaching your Sunday school class this week.

Lawrence Hodges: But it's only Monday. You're working on something that's not due for another six days?

Jimmy Barclay: It's called preparation.

Lawrence Hodges: These are really thick books. What's this? A concordance?

Jimmy Barclay: Concordance of the Bible. I'm just using it...

Lawrence Hodges: Cool, a codebook.

Jimmy Barclay: It's a Greek New Testament, Lawrence.

Lawrence Hodges: Greek? You know how to read this?

Jimmy Barclay: No, but there's some English stuff in the front.

Donna Barclay: Jimmy, did you borrow my headphones? I can't find them.

Jimmy Barclay: No, I haven't seen them.

Donna Barclay: Hey, that was a great story your dad told about you in church.

Jimmy Barclay: Don't remind me.

Donna Barclay: Did you really try to glue your hair back on your head when you didn't like your haircut?

Jimmy Barclay: I was five years old.

Donna Barclay: Mom took a picture of it. It's downstairs. Do you want to see it?

Lawrence Hodges: All right!

Donna Barclay: Don't you dare, Jimmy. I can't believe Dad told that story in a sermon.

Jimmy Barclay: The crowd loved it. That's all they were talking about after church.

Donna Barclay: I've got to talk to Dad about that. I don't want him telling stories about me in his sermons anymore.

Jimmy Barclay: All the great preachers use their kids in sermon illustrations.

Donna Barclay: How do you know?

Jimmy Barclay: I was reading this book about it, "The Secrets of Great Preachers." They do it when they first start out, then eventually use other kinds of stories. You've just got to be patient.

Donna Barclay: I hope you're right, but I wish he'd cut it out soon. I won't be able to show my face in school. If you see my headphones, let me know.

Jimmy Barclay: That was neat. What? Why you just told Donna. It was good. You sounded almost like your dad.

Jimmy Barclay: I did? So, do you have to do this now? I'm bored. What do you want to do? I think I want to be a preacher.

Guest (Male): Now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, it's another Knox-on: "The Tale of the Coin."

Guest (Female): Hey, look what I got.

Guest (Male): That's a beautiful coin. Is it a stater?

Guest (Female): It is. I found it at the temple. I'm not one to get carried away by emotion.

Guest (Male): We're being called on to take a leap of faith here. We all rush in together, each one takes something, and then rush out together. Any questions? Just one. Why are we doing this? Listen now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Jack: Hey, Donna, can I sit here?

Donna Barclay: Sure, Jack.

Jack: Thanks. Your presentation in English today was great.

Donna Barclay: Thanks. Yours was good too.

Jack: I haven't done mine yet.

Donna Barclay: That's right.

Jack: So, what's up with Jimmy? Why, what's he doing? Look at him over there. He's wearing a tie. Is he running for student council or something?

Donna Barclay: I don't know. He's been acting so weird lately. You know what he did at breakfast this morning? He blessed me. I handed him the milk and he said, "Bless you, Donna."

Jack: Did you sneeze?

Donna Barclay: No.

Jack: You guys crack me up. What a weird family.

Donna Barclay: It's because of Jimmy. He's always been weird. I'm normal.

Jack: Maybe now, but you didn't sound all that normal Sunday night when your dad told that story about you in church.

Donna Barclay: Don't bring that up.

Jack: Asking your parents for a private phone line is not a normal thing for a six-year-old to do.

Donna Barclay: I don't want to talk about it.

Jack: It was a great story. Everybody in the whole church turned around and looked at you. Don't worry about it. You were six years old.

Donna Barclay: That's what Jimmy said. But at this rate, everybody's going to think I was a juvenile delinquent.

Jack: For a juvenile delinquent, you turned out fine. At least you're not in jail or anything.

Donna Barclay: Maybe I should be. That'll give Dad some sermon illustrations.

Jimmy Barclay: Donna!

Donna Barclay: What?

Jimmy Barclay: Don't get so testy. I just want to ask you a question.

Donna Barclay: I'm sorry. It's just these planes. They're so loud I can't concentrate. I've been working on the same problem for a half hour.

Jimmy Barclay: Can I still ask my question? I'm doing this lesson tomorrow and I can't find something. Where's that verse in the Bible that talks about the guy who wouldn't forgive the other guy and the first guy wouldn't forgive the third guy?

Donna Barclay: I don't know. Why are you asking me? Go ask Dad.

Jimmy Barclay: Because I want to do this Sunday school lesson on my own without Dad's help. Can I borrow your markers?

Donna Barclay: For what?

Jimmy Barclay: My transparencies. I'm going to write out a timeline of Roman history to give them some background.

Donna Barclay: What's your lesson about?

Jimmy Barclay: The Good Samaritan. You're getting really weird.

Jimmy Barclay: Thank you. By the way, as an illustration, I'm going to tell that story about when you were eight and you made brownies and the whole family had to get their stomachs pumped.

Donna Barclay: Oh no, you're not! Come back here!

Jimmy Barclay: Then the Romans set up an independent republic. Throughout the period of the republic, warfare was almost continuous. Rome became the master of Central Italy. Then it took over Greece, Asia Minor, and several others. If you look at page 14 of the workbook that I prepared for you, go ahead and turn there. You don't have to.

If you were looking at page 14, you'd see a topographical map showing the early stages of the Roman Empire. Let me quote from this book, "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire," pages 18 to 22. I'm being signaled that we're out of time. So, that was the lesson of the Good Samaritan. Sorry we didn't get to the actual story. Are there any questions?

Lawrence Hodges: Will Mr. Grant be back next week?

Jimmy Barclay: Yes, he will. Any more questions?

Lawrence Hodges: So you're not going to teach anymore?

Jimmy Barclay: No.

Lawrence Hodges: Ever?

Jimmy Barclay: I don't know about ever.

Lawrence Hodges: But if you do teach again, will we know a week ahead of time?

Jimmy Barclay: Yeah, probably.

Lawrence Hodges: Okay, that's all.

Jimmy Barclay: All right, you guys are dismissed.

Lawrence Hodges: Jimmy? Remember when you said you wanted to be a preacher? Never mind.

George Barclay: It's difficult to find time to be with God. This is true because it's so natural for us as humans to leave Him out of things. We get busy with our work and our God becomes a second thought. This reminds me of something my daughter Donna did a few weeks ago.

Donna Barclay: Please don't talk about me.

George Barclay: It was one of those moments when I wasn't sure if I really knew my child anymore. We were getting ready to go to my son Jimmy's awards banquet. He was getting a certificate for being a member of the yearbook committee. We all packed up, and I started to go upstairs to say goodbye to Donna when she came downstairs all dressed up.

She wanted to go to the banquet. I told her she didn't have to go. I knew she had already planned to go to a party thrown by one of her friends, but she told me that she wanted to support her brother. When we got there, I quickly figured out that supporting her brother wasn't her only motivation. It was, of course, a boy.

And she proceeded to stare at this boy throughout the entire program. What are we willing to give up in order to be with our Lord?

Donna Barclay: I can't look. He's not here. Tell me he's not here.

Mary Barclay: Donna, don't worry about it. Your dad didn't use any names. He could have been talking about anyone.

Donna Barclay: It would just make me feel a lot better if Jack didn't hear it at all.

Jack: Donna! Jack! Hi, good to see you.

Mary Barclay: Excuse me, I need to go talk to George.

Donna Barclay: That was my mom.

Jack: I know your mom. Good sermon. It was. Your dad's pretty funny.

Donna Barclay: Sometimes he is.

Jack: I noticed he told another story about you.

Donna Barclay: He did.

Jack: It's funny. I was at that banquet, the one your dad was talking about.

Donna Barclay: Were you?

Jack: I talked to you, remember? That was quite a story.

Donna Barclay: Look, I need to go.

Jack: I guess I'll see you tomorrow.

Donna Barclay: Or tonight, right? I'll be here tonight. Oh good, I'll be looking at you. I mean, I'll be looking for you. Right. I'll see you.

Donna Barclay: Dad!

Guest (Male): Missing gold? A haunted mansion? Bank robbers? Young Whit is on the case.

Guest (Male): This is Jonathan Avery Whittaker, age 10. My stepmom says that I have a great imagination. John Avery, come down from that roof! Paper-mache wings will not make you fly! That's right, Mr. Whittaker had some wild adventures back in the day. My dad says I'm clever and resourceful. Does anyone know why our chickens are bald?

Ten-year-old Whit solved a lot of mysteries, and you can read all about them in the Young Whit book series. I'll tell you all about the Confederate gold escapade later. It's a long story. Maybe I'll write a book about it one day. These five books are perfect for kids ages 10 and up, especially if they're Adventures in Odyssey fans. Your kids will dive into exciting mysteries while learning important lessons about God. Learn more at YoungWhit.com. That's YoungWhit.com.

Bob: Can't get enough Adventures in Odyssey? Then go behind the scenes with the official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast. I'm Bob, producer of the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Jesse: And I'm Jesse, editor of Focus on the Family Clubhouse Magazine. We're the podcast hosts, and we're excited to show you all the fun behind your favorite episodes. When you tune in, you'll learn more about the actors behind your favorite characters.

Katie Leigh: Hi, this is Katie Leigh, the voice of Connie. Welcome to the official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast.

Bob: You'll hear how the writers come up with their ideas and how the sound designers create all those amazing effects. Just watch out for spoilers.

Jesse: You'll also get the opportunity to ask questions of your own. The team answers questions from fans like you.

Guest (Male): How often are the writers' meetings, and how many albums do you plan ahead?

Bob: There's a bunch more stuff we haven't even mentioned. So what are you waiting for? Peek behind the curtain by listening to the official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast. Find it wherever you get your podcasts, or better yet, visit AdventuresinOdyssey.com/podcast. See you soon.

Guest (Male): Hey, you over there. I have a special invitation just for you. It's an invitation to this super cool secret club. Well, it's not really a secret. Actually, I'm trying to tell everybody about it because it's so amazing. What is it? The Adventures in Odyssey Club, of course.

When you join, you'll get access to over a thousand episodes. Some of them are even club exclusives. You'll get behind-the-scenes content and devotionals and games and a free subscription to Focus on the Family's Clubhouse Magazine. Sorry, I'll slow down now. I just get so excited talking about Adventures in Odyssey Club. Well, if you want to see what it's all about, head over to AdventuresinOdyssey.com. Don't be shy. That's AdventuresinOdyssey.com.

Chris: Want to contact us about the episodes you're hearing? Visit our website at AdventuresinOdyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1-800-A-FAMILY with a parent's permission, of course. We always love hearing from you.

Mary Barclay: I've got to get lunch ready. Why don't you guys get out of your church clothes and help me get the table ready?

Donna Barclay: I want to eat in my room.

Mary Barclay: What?

Donna Barclay: I don't feel like eating at all.

George Barclay: Boy, what a day. Great service, beautiful sunny day. Hey, call me crazy, call me irresponsible, but why don't we have a barbecue? It'll be fun.

Donna Barclay: I'd be too afraid I would get sauce on my face and the whole world would find out about it tonight. I don't feel like having fun. I'm going to my room.

Jimmy Barclay: Me too.

George Barclay: Wait a minute. What was that all about?

Mary Barclay: I don't think they had the day that you did.

George Barclay: I guess not. I think I know what's eating Donna. Well, I guess I'll find out what's eating Jimmy. Why don't we split up, meet back here later? Good idea.

Mary Barclay: Donna? Can I come in?

Donna Barclay: Sure.

Mary Barclay: So, what happened with Jack?

Donna Barclay: He knows.

Mary Barclay: Sorry. Donna, your dad never meant to hurt you.

Donna Barclay: Then why does he keep doing it?

Mary Barclay: Family stories are fun. People like them.

Donna Barclay: I don't.

Mary Barclay: I'm sure if you talk to him, he'll understand. Just tell him that you don't feel comfortable with him telling so many stories about you.

Donna Barclay: He should already know that.

Mary Barclay: Well, he's been a little sidetracked with things lately. He may not have picked up on it. But he'll stop if you want him to. You need to be understanding as well. Your father's going through a lot of changes. He's still very nervous at the pulpit. I caught him going out the door this morning wearing his tie around an undershirt.

Donna Barclay: He should tell that story.

Mary Barclay: He probably will. Donna, he wants to do well at this. And you know why I think he tells so many stories about you? Because he adores you. He's comfortable telling stories about his family. It's what he knows best. Being your dad is his favorite part of being a preacher, of life.

George Barclay: Are you sick? You don't have a fever, do you?

Jimmy Barclay: No, I'm all right. Just kind of tired. You go ahead and have the barbecue.

George Barclay: I didn't have a chance to ask you, but how did Sunday school go?

Jimmy Barclay: Awful. I was boring.

George Barclay: So that's why you're upset.

Jimmy Barclay: Sort of. I'm just confused, that's all.

George Barclay: Confused about what?

Jimmy Barclay: I'm not sure what God wants anymore. I think he may have changed his mind.

George Barclay: Changed his mind about what?

Jimmy Barclay: I was sure that he wanted me to be a preacher. All the signs led to it. Miss Jeffreys said something about it, then you asked me to do Sunday school, then Lawrence... remember when you told us about you becoming a pastor? You said that you felt called to do it. Well, I thought I felt that too.

George Barclay: Listen, Jimmy, just because things didn't work out for you today doesn't mean that you're not called to do it. You're still very young. God may have plans for you that you wouldn't even dream about now. But I want to ask you something. Do you really want to be a preacher?

Jimmy Barclay: No.

George Barclay: Then why did you think you should be a preacher?

Jimmy Barclay: I never really thought about it until Miss Jeffreys said she thought I should be one. Everybody in the church wants me to follow in your footsteps.

George Barclay: Where did you get that idea?

Jimmy Barclay: That's what she said. But it's true, isn't it? There's a lot of people who expect me to do that.

George Barclay: Nobody's said anything to me about it. But that's not the point, Jimmy. If you're called by God, then he's the one you should respond to, not Miss Jeffreys or anyone else. By all means, get counsel and advice, but don't confuse God's call with people's expectations. Understand?

Jimmy Barclay: Yeah, I guess you're right.

George Barclay: Listen, come out back in about five minutes. I need to talk to your mother, then I want the whole family together. I'm going to try out tonight's sermon on everybody while I get the barbecue ready.

I think we often underestimate God's desire for our honesty. He wants to see us as we really are, in our weaknesses, in our failures, even in our anger toward him. Which makes me think of my kids.

Donna Barclay: Oh boy, here we go.

Jimmy Barclay: Kids? You mean I'm in this one too?

George Barclay: Yes, my kids. When I first told them that I was going into the ministry, they weren't too fond of the idea. Donna and Jimmy had visions of being missionaries to Africa and handing out tracts to penguins in Antarctica. No, they let me know how they felt, and I was very grateful. I always am grateful when they open up and let me see what they're really feeling.

Donna, I'm not going to say this in my sermon, but I did want to tell you that I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you. From now on, I promise that if I'm going to use you in a story, I'll ask your permission first. But I do want you to feel free to tell me if I say anything that hurts you, okay?

Donna Barclay: Okay, Dad.

George Barclay: On with the sermon. I always want my kids to feel comfortable to be completely honest with me because that's one way I can get closer to them, to know them personally and intimately. And I think that's exactly what God wants from His children. Well, that's it. What do you think?

Jimmy Barclay: Great sermon, Dad.

Donna Barclay: Yeah, I think that was your best yet.

Mary Barclay: I agree.

George Barclay: Thank you.

Donna Barclay: And you can use that story about us tonight in your sermon.

George Barclay: Okay, I will. Well, that's the end of the service.

Jimmy Barclay: Do you want me to take up an offering?

George Barclay: No, I don't think that'll be necessary, Jimmy. Anybody else want to say anything?

Mary Barclay: I guess I have something to say. I was looking for the right time to mention this, and since we're all together, I guess I'll say it now. I went for an ultrasound yesterday, and I couldn't resist when the doctor asked me.

George Barclay: Asked you what?

Mary Barclay: If our baby is a boy or a girl.

George Barclay: You're kidding! Tell us!

Mary Barclay: You want to know what it is?

Jimmy Barclay: Of course!

Mary Barclay: Okay, if you insist. George, Jimmy, Donna, we're having...

Chris: What? What was that? I missed it. I guess we'll have to wait to hear what the Barclays are having.

In Isaiah chapter 30, verse 21, Isaiah the prophet tells the people of Israel: If you go the wrong way, to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you. It will say, "This is the right way, you should go this way." Sometimes we make it hard on ourselves when we're trying to find out what God wants us to do.

For Jimmy, it was hard because he was doing what he thought other people wanted and not necessarily what God wanted. When we try to learn God's will for our lives, we need to read our Bibles, pray, and talk to people we trust. But we shouldn't let other people's expectations steer us away from what God wants us to do.

Well, that's all for today. If you ever want to write to us here at Odyssey, we'd love to hear from you. Our address is: Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. In Canada, write to: Box 9800, Vancouver, B.C., V6B 4G3. And don't forget to ask how you can get a copy of today's episode. It's called "A Call for Reverend Jimmy." That address again is: Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995.

Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. "A Call for Reverend Jimmy" was written by Marshall Younger and directed by Paul McCusker. Our production engineer was Mark Drury, and our executive producer, Chuck Bolte. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.