Adventures in Odyssey

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.

Whit: Hi there, I'm John Avery Whittaker, but you can call me Whit. My friends and I are about to set off for a time of wonder and excitement. Want to come along? We'd love to have you join us for today's Adventure in Odyssey. I'm calling it "The Room of Consequence."

Mary: You have plenty of video games. Why do you want another one?

Jimmy: Because it's the one I don't have.

Mary: Your father bought you a fully portable Mach-10 Bible Action computer game.

Jimmy: What? Oh, no.

Narrator: Missing gold? A haunted mansion? Bank robbers? Young Whit is on the case. My dad says I'm clever and resourceful. Read all about his adventures in the Young Whit book series. These five books are filled with exciting tales that are perfect for kids ages 10 and up.

It's a long story. Your kids will love these exciting stories, and they'll learn important lessons about God, too. Ha, I told you we'd find treasure in here. Learn more at YoungWhit.com. That's YoungWhit.com.

Jimmy: Hold on, Mr. Whittaker, I don't get it.

Whit: Just follow me.

Jimmy: But we're going to the Imagination Station, right? Look, I said I was mad, not that I wanted an adventure.

Whit: You're mad because your mom wouldn't let you buy the new, how do you say it, fully portable Mach-10 Bible Action computer game?

Jimmy: Right. It's even better than Zapazoids.

Whit: That's not hard. Point is, you're thinking of going to the computer shop to buy one anyway.

Jimmy: I didn't say that.

Whit: But that's what you're thinking. Well, here we are.

Jimmy: Wait a minute. This isn't the Imagination Station.

Whit: You're right. Something new. I'm calling it the Room of Consequence. See, instead of sending you back, this will let you play out the future.

Jimmy: The future?

Whit: I've rigged this room to play out the options and consequences for certain decisions. You'll get the whole picture as if you're doing it for the first time. Not only you, but everyone it involves, because your decision will often affect how other people act. You'll get to see it all.

Jimmy: You're kidding, right?

Whit: Get in and find out for yourself.

Jimmy: All right.

Whit: I'll be around to help.

Jimmy: Okay, but it's dark in here.

Whit: Take one more step forward.

Jimmy: Here it goes. Why not, Mom?

Mary: Because I don't think you should, Jimmy.

Jimmy: But it's my birthday. Besides, that's the reason I saved up my money.

Mary: Well, now you can use the money for something else. You have plenty of video games. Why do you want another one?

Jimmy: Because it's the one I don't have. Mach-10 is portable. I can take it anywhere.

Mary: Which means you'll probably be playing it instead of getting your work done.

Jimmy: Mom.

Mary: Jimmy, I said I don't think you should, okay?

Jimmy: Okay.

Mary: Sorry, honey, but you'll thank me one of these days.

Jimmy: Yeah. I've got to go pick up the papers for my route.

Mary: Don't be late for your birthday dinner tonight.

Jimmy: I won't.

Donna: Oh, Mom, you played that pretty tough.

Mary: You think so? How else am I going to stop him from buying it so we can get him one?

Donna: You and Dad are getting it for him?

Mary: I hope so. Your father isn't convinced of it. You know how tight money is and he gets so worried, but I think he'll come around. Oh, look at the time, I've got to go. You'll be home for dinner, won't you?

Donna: Yeah, I have to work this afternoon, but I'm off tonight.

Mary: How are you getting to work?

Donna: Debbie's mom.

Mary: Okay. Before you go, would you tell Lawrence about Jimmy's dinner? I've tried to call him at home, but he's not around.

Donna: He's probably either at Whit's End or Wonderworld. I'll find him.

Mary: Thanks, honey. And don't say anything about the game.

Jimmy: There it is. Mach-10. The most perfect portable video game in the entire world. A person should be able to get whatever they want on their birthday. If Mom says no... but did she? I mean, she didn't say I couldn't get it. She just said that she didn't think I should.

Whit: You know that's not what she meant.

Jimmy: Mr. Whittaker?

Whit: I told you I'd be around. Just consider me your conscience in this little escapade.

Jimmy: My conscience?

Whit: Why not? Everybody has one, right? Every time you're tempted to do something bad, I'll be the one who tries to talk you out of it.

Jimmy: Oh yeah, like in the cartoons, only there's supposed to be a good guy on one shoulder and a bad guy on the other.

Whit: You don't need a bad guy. You'll do just fine all by yourself.

Jimmy: Thanks a lot.

Whit: Well, you still want to buy that game after your mom said not to?

Jimmy: That's not what she said.

Whit: That's what she meant, and you know it.

Jimmy: Look, what's wrong with buying myself a birthday present?

Whit: Nothing, so long as it isn't a present your mom told you not to buy.

Jimmy: But this is what I want. I mean, it's a Bible game.

Whit: That doesn't matter.

Clerk: Can I help you?

Jimmy: Yes, you can.

Whit: Don't, Jimmy.

Jimmy: I'd like...

Whit: Don't do it.

Jimmy: I'd like to buy the Mach-10, please.

Whit: Big mistake, Jimmy.

Clerk: There you go. It's good you came in, we don't have many left. That would be $39.70, please.

Whit: There's still time. You haven't paid for it. Leave, now.

Jimmy: Here you go.

Clerk: And there is your change and your receipt. Have fun.

Jimmy: Thanks, I will.

Whit: It's going to cause nothing but problems.

Jimmy: Relax. What kind of problems can a little game cause?

Whit: For starters, where are you going to keep it?

Jimmy: Keep it?

Whit: Yeah, you can't take it home.

Jimmy: I know. Right here in the woods.

Whit: I'm telling you, this is going to cause problems.

Jimmy: And I'm telling you, there are no problems.

Whit: Oh, really? You've been playing almost an hour. Weren't you supposed to be someplace by now?

Jimmy: Oh, yeah. The papers for my route.

Whit: Seems to me I heard someone talking earlier about you playing this game and not getting any work done. Now, who was it? Oh, yeah. Your mom.

Jimmy: I still have plenty of time. Let's see, where should it go?

Whit: How about back to the store?

Jimmy: Cute. I'll just keep it under this box.

Lawrence: Hi, Jimmy!

Jimmy: Lawrence, don't scare me like that.

Lawrence: What are you doing? Hey, is that the new Mach-10 Bible Action computer game?

Jimmy: Yeah.

Lawrence: Cool, can I play it?

Jimmy: No, you can't. I just got it and I don't want it messed up.

Lawrence: I won't mess it up. Please, please, please.

Whit: He can't play it because you're taking it back to the store.

Jimmy: Oh, all right, Lawrence. You can play it when I'm here, okay? But I have to go now, understand?

Lawrence: Oh, yeah, sure.

Jimmy: All right, I'm going to put it under this box for now. And I need you to keep this a secret.

Lawrence: Secret?

Jimmy: Yeah, don't tell anyone about it.

Lawrence: Got it, Chief.

Jimmy: Good. See ya. Bye! Okay, that's it. I can't stand it anymore. Mach-10, here I come.

Whit: Lawrence.

Lawrence: Who's there?

Whit: Who do you think? Your conscience.

Lawrence: Oh, I had a feeling you were going to show up. You always pop in when I'm going to have some fun.

Whit: Only certain kinds of fun, Lawrence. Like the kind of fun that gets you in trouble.

Lawrence: I'm not in any trouble.

Whit: No? What's in your hand?

Lawrence: Just a little game.

Whit: That isn't yours and that you were given strict instructions about.

Lawrence: Oh, Jimmy always says things like that, but he doesn't really mean it.

Whit: Sounded like he meant it to me.

Lawrence: Nah, there have been lots of times when he told me one thing, but he meant something else. See, he actually said not to play the game because he really wants me to.

Whit: You want to stick with that story?

Lawrence: Until I can come up with a better one.

Whit: Lawrence.

Lawrence: But it's Mach-10, the ultimate portable action video game experience. I have to play it. I have to.

Whit: Lawrence.

Lawrence: Sorry, I can't hear you anymore.

Whit: Lawrence.

Lawrence: Yes! Yes! A thousand more points and I'll beat my record. Yes! Almost there.

Whit: Lawrence.

Lawrence: Look what you made me do.

Whit: Let's talk.

Lawrence: I'll start singing again.

Whit: You can only do that for so long, then you'll be in big trouble.

Lawrence: Okay, so what now?

Whit: You've been playing for more than an hour. It's time you put that game away.

Lawrence: All right, I guess I've set enough records for now.

Whit: You sure have. And I'm sure Jimmy will be very interested to see all those records on his new machine, too.

Lawrence: That's right. He'll know I played the game when he wasn't here. Why the panic? I thought he didn't really mean that. How do you erase this thing? Now, Lawrence, be careful. Maybe this way. Or no, this way. How about this way? No. Oh, no. It's flashing error at me. What does that mean?

Whit: This is just a guess, but maybe it's broken.

Lawrence: No, no! What am I going to do?

Whit: The only thing you can do. Tell Jimmy.

Lawrence: I can't do that. He'll hate me forever.

Donna: Lawrence. Lawrence. It's Donna. What am I going to tell her?

Whit: The truth.

Donna: Lawrence, are you up there? Lawrence, there you are. I've been looking all over for you. Why didn't you answer me?

Lawrence: Well, I was working on something, but here I am.

Donna: Listen, we want to invite you to Jimmy's birthday dinner tonight. And your mom wants you to come home for lunch.

Lawrence: Oh, okay. Thanks.

Donna: I think she meant as soon as I found you, Lawrence. Come on, I'll walk you back.

Lawrence: Well, what's the matter? You look a little pale.

Donna: Pale? Are you hiding something?

Lawrence: Hiding? No.

Donna: Yes, you are. Behind your back. What is it? Come on, let me see. No, Donna, I don't think... let me have it. The Mach-10 Action Game?

Lawrence: Yeah.

Donna: This is exactly what Jimmy wants for his birthday.

Lawrence: Oh, really?

Donna: When did you get it?

Lawrence: Today.

Donna: You bought this?

Lawrence: Well, not exactly.

Whit: Tell her the truth, Lawrence.

Lawrence: I found it. That's it.

Whit: Lawrence.

Donna: Found it? Where?

Whit: Tell her. Tell her.

Lawrence: In the forest.

Whit: Oh, Lawrence.

Donna: Lawrence, you found this and you're playing with it? It needs to go back to its rightful owner.

Lawrence: Well, I was going to try to find the rightful owner, but there's no name on it and I mean, I don't know where to take it.

Donna: The police. The lost and found at City Hall. I'll take care of it. Hurry up. Your mom's waiting for you. This is not good. Not good at all.

Whit: You still have time to tell her the truth.

Donna: See you tonight, Lawrence.

Lawrence: Yeah, bye.

Donna: That kid. You never know what he's going to come up with next. But he's pretty amazing. He found a computer game just like the one Jimmy wants. This would be perfect for his birthday. And it wouldn't cost Mom or Dad anything, which would be great because we don't have much money now.

Chances are we'll never find the owner. In fact, it probably doesn't belong to anybody around here. We get tourists out here all the time. A kid could have left it while the family was on a picnic. They could be hundreds of miles away by now and given this game up for lost. Why should it just sit in some old lost and found box when Jimmy could have it?

Whit: Donna.

Donna: Well, it's true, isn't it?

Whit: No. You're just trying to defend what you know is wrong.

Donna: But this solves all our problems.

Whit: Really? Since when is taking someone else's property solving your problems? Your parents will never stand for it.

Donna: Well, who says they have to know where I got it?

Whit: Donna, think about what you're saying.

Donna: Look, Mom wants to buy this for Jimmy, but we can't afford it. Finding it is like an answered prayer.

Whit: You're saying your dishonesty is an act of God?

Donna: No. But...

Whit: You can't get around it, Donna. The game isn't yours. You need to take it to the lost and found.

Donna: Okay, I will. Oh, no.

Whit: Oh, what's the matter?

Donna: Jimmy's coming up the street on his paper route. I can't let him see me with this game.

Whit: Why not?

Donna: He'll think it's for him and that'll spoil Mom and Dad's surprise. I have to hide it.

Whit: Just tell him the truth.

Donna: The mailbox.

Whit: Mailbox?

Donna: Mr. Chamber's mailbox. I'll hide it in here until Jimmy leaves. Donna, your house is only next door. Just take it and go.

Jimmy: Hi, Donna. What are you doing out here?

Donna: Oh, just you know, I was waiting for my ride to work.

Jimmy: In front of Mr. Chamber's house?

Donna: Well, I was pacing while I was waiting and I lost track. Guess you'd better go, huh?

Jimmy: Yeah, sure. See you later, Donna. Back on planet Earth.

Donna: Oh, there's my ride. Sure looks like it. Well, see you around.

Jimmy: All right. See ya. Jimmy.

Donna: You'd better go.

Jimmy: Yeah, right. Oh, boy. Strange girl, my sister.

Mr. Chambers: Hi, Jimmy.

Jimmy: Hi, Mr. Chambers. Oh, here's your paper.

Mr. Chambers: Thanks. See you later. See ya. Now, what did the postman bring today? What's this? So anyway, this computer game was in my mailbox.

George: That's peculiar. And you have no idea who put it there?

Mr. Chambers: No, no name, no label. Do you think one of your kids left it?

George: No, my kids don't own this game. Although my son wants it for his birthday.

Mr. Chambers: Well, here, tell him to have a good time with it.

George: Really?

Mr. Chambers: Sure, I don't have any kids or I'd be tempted to keep it myself. Unless you want me to turn it into the police.

George: Well, let me double-check with Mary first. This seems like a pretty strange coincidence.

Mr. Chambers: Whatever. See you later.

George: Well, thanks, Ben. How bizarre. It's almost too good to be right. Hi, sweetheart.

Mary: Hi, sweetheart. Who was that?

George: Ben Chambers. He is... is Jimmy home?

Mary: No, he's still on his paper route. But I'm glad you brought him up. George, I want to talk to you about that game he wants.

George: Say no more. Look at this.

Mary: George!

George: It's a curious thing.

Mary: Oh, you are so wonderful.

George: I was just coming home.

Mary: I know. You couldn't resist. Look, we can work extra hard to make up for it. Oh, Jimmy will be so happy.

George: Actually, I...

Mary: You really are a marvelous father. And a great husband, too.

George: Well, you know me. Anything for my family. But...

Mary: Could you do one more thing for me? Could you run to the store and pick up some party hats? They're half price at Safemart. Oh, this really is wonderful.

Whit: Strange. What are you going to do, George?

George: What do you mean?

Whit: Sift through the rosy glow you're feeling because your wife considers you a hero. You let her think you bought the game for Jimmy.

George: I tried to tell her, she wouldn't let me.

Whit: You know me, anything for my family. Doesn't sound much like you were trying very hard.

George: Yeah, well, I'm sorry. I got caught up in the emotion of the moment. I'll straighten it out when I get back.

Whit: Good. Maybe. George. Time for a little Mach-10 action. So I still haven't convinced you to take it back, huh?

Jimmy: Sorry. I just don't see the problem. It's been a nice birthday all things considered. Wait a minute. Where is it? I left it under this box. Where did it go? Lawrence. He must have done something with it. Oh, I'm going to get him. You just can't trust anybody anymore.

Whit: You're telling me.

George: Well, this is the quietest birthday dinner I've ever been to. Is everyone okay?

Mary: Yeah. Jimmy, you've barely touched your food.

Jimmy: Well, I guess all this birthday excitement has chased away my appetite.

Mary: Well, maybe it'll come back for some cake and presents.

Jimmy: Maybe.

George: I'll help you with the cake, Mary.

Mary: Thanks, honey. Donna, I could use your help too.

George: Oh, we don't need Donna's help.

Mary: I need her to set out the cake plates. Donna?

Donna: Huh?

Mary: You've been staring out the window all night. I need your help.

Donna: Oh, sure, Mom. Be right back, guys. Where have you been, Lawrence?

Lawrence: Out. Why?

Jimmy: I went to Wonderworld to get my game and it was gone. Did you take it?

Lawrence: No. Sort of. Well...

Jimmy: I told you not to touch it. Where is it?

Lawrence: It's kind of hard to explain.

Mary: Jimmy, come and get the punch, will you?

Jimmy: Okay, Mom. I want that game back. Donna, help me with these plates.

Lawrence: Donna, I need to talk to you about Mach-10.

Donna: I don't want to hear about Mach-10.

Lawrence: But I've been trying to call Mr. Chambers all afternoon and he isn't home.

Donna: Mr. Chambers? Here we go. Sit down, everybody. George, I really have something I need to tell you.

George: I have something I need to tell you too, but I want to do it in front of Jimmy.

Jimmy: Me?

Mary: Yes. Okay, Jimmy, here's your present.

Jimmy: Thanks. It's kind of light. Are you guys giving me an empty box this year?

Mary: No, but you need to know the story before you open it up.

George: Mary, he really doesn't...

Mary: Yes, he does. It's a story of generosity and you have your father to thank for that.

Jimmy: Huh?

Mary: That's right. Your father bought you a fully portable Mach-10 Bible Action computer game.

Jimmy: What?

George: Wait, Mary.

Mary: But what he doesn't know is that the one they sold him was broken.

George: Broken?

Mary: Well, at least it looked broken. The screen kept flashing error over and over. So I took it back to get a replacement, but they were out. So I got a refund. It wasn't easy because I didn't have a receipt, but after I explained that this was for my son's birthday tonight and they better help me out, they finally gave me what's in this package.

Jimmy: A gift certificate? Oh, no.

Mary: George, what's the matter?

George: Mary, you didn't have a receipt because I didn't buy the game.

Mary: What?

George: Mr. Chambers from next door gave it to me.

Mary: Mr. Chambers?

George: I tried to tell you when I brought it in, but you were so happy and then my conscience started bothering me and I tried to tell you all afternoon, but I never got the chance. I'm sorry.

Mary: Wait a minute. Why would Mr. Chambers have a video game?

George: Well, I know this is going to sound funny, but he found it in his mailbox.

Donna: Right, in his mailbox. How did you know that? Because I put it there.

George: You did?

Donna: I was coming home with it and Jimmy was riding up on his paper route and I didn't want him to see me with it, so I stuck it in the mailbox.

George: So you bought the game?

Donna: No, I found it. Sort of. I was going to take it to the lost and found, but to be honest, I thought it would solve the problem of you guys buying one for Jimmy, so I was going to give it to you to give to Jimmy.

George: You found it? Donna, that game belongs to someone. They might be looking for it.

Lawrence: Yeah, Donna, that's what you told me this afternoon. Wait a minute. What she told you? Why should she tell you that? Because I was the person she found it from.

George: You mean the game was yours?

Lawrence: No, it was a friend's.

Jimmy: That's not what you told me.

Lawrence: I know. I panicked. I wasn't supposed to have it and I broke it.

Donna: So that's why it didn't work. Lawrence, you have to tell your friend what happened.

Jimmy: He just did.

Mary: Jimmy!

Jimmy: Yeah, it's mine. I bought it this morning.

Mary: After I told you not to?

Jimmy: Yeah, I'm sorry. I saw it at the store and the temptation was too much for me to stand. It's going to take a week to sort this out.

Donna: Are we in trouble?

George: I think I am. In a way, we all are, Jimmy. It sounds like each one of us was tempted to do the right thing or the wrong thing, and we all chose the wrong thing.

Lawrence: Except Mom.

Mary: Well, I was pretty brutal on that poor sales clerk.

George: Well, there you have it. All guilty and accounted for.

Jimmy: Yeah, but it all started with me. It was my fault for buying it in the first place. Hey, where did everybody go? Dad? Mom? Donna? Lawrence? Where are you guys? Ow! Hey, turn on the lights! Sorry. The lights come on when the adventure is over. I guess I better adjust them.

Whit: Yeah, or hand out sunglasses. Well, what do you think of the Room of Consequence?

Jimmy: Pretty weird. And now I feel terrible.

Whit: Terrible?

Jimmy: Yeah, what a mess.

Whit: Well, it's like I said. That was just one of the options you had. You gave in to temptation and got to see what might happen, not only to you, but your family.

Jimmy: No kidding. Wow. What about the other options?

Whit: Well, you could resist temptation and go home to a nice birthday dinner.

Jimmy: That's the one I want.

Whit: Good for you. But you don't need the Room of Consequence for that.

Jimmy: Great. But could you give me a lift home?

Whit: Sure. Why?

Jimmy: Because I think it'll be easier to resist temptation if I don't have to walk past the computer store.

Whit: Whatever it takes, Jimmy. Whatever it takes.

Chris: First Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Being tempted is not a sin, but giving into a bad temptation is. Next time you want to do something bad, remember these verses. Then ask God to show you the way out and then write to me here in Odyssey and tell me how God helped you. I'd love to hear all about it.

The address is: Odyssey

Colorado Springs, Colorado

80995

In Canada, the address is: Box 9800

Vancouver, BC

V6B 4G3

And when you write, don't forget to ask about how you can get a copy of today's broadcast called "Into Temptation." That address once again is:

Odyssey

Colorado Springs, Colorado

80995

Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. "Into Temptation" was written and directed by Phil Lollar. Our production engineer was Bob Luttrell and our executive producer, Chuck Bolte. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again for our next Adventure in Odyssey.