Paws & Tales

Dave Carl: Donation spot for Paws & Tales. You ready, Ned? In three, two, one. Hi, this is Dave Carl, creator of Paws & Tales. We are working hard to let the whole world know about just how much God loves His children. We do that through music, storytelling, and a whole lot of fun.

Ned: Yeah, there are a lot of kids, families who don't know about us yet, so we need your help. Just visit pawsandtales.org and you'll see a donate button there. Click on it and type in two cabillion dollars.

Dave Carl: Ned, stop. Any donation amount would be helpful and we'll use it carefully and wisely the same way Insight for Living has done for more than 40 years. Join us and become part of the Paws & Tales team so we can invite the world to imagine God's love.

Ned: Even one cabillion dollars would be really helpful.

Dave Carl: Oh, Ned.

Narrator: Welcome to the world of Paws & Tales. Wild Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place if you stay on the trails and stick with me. There's adventure to be had there, too.

CJ: Come on, CJ, jump.

Ned: It's too far.

CJ: It wasn't too far for me.

Narrator: Insight for Living is proud to present Paws & Tales. Howdy and welcome to Wildwood. After the club learned that their clubhouse, the fort, was going to be torn down, they headed straight to CJ's dad, Theo Brown.

You see, Theo works for Mr. Rockler and they figured that he would know just what to do. Well, old Theo went in to discuss it with Mr. Yusef.

Mr. Yusef: I understand perfectly, Theo. I will take this up with Mr. Rockler and he will take care of it. I assure you, consider this matter closed.

Narrator: So that's the reason that no one, not any of the club, not Theo, no one had given a second thought to the fort being torn down until today. So as CJ and Ned play spaceship in the fort, they have no idea that a battle, a battle against evil is about to begin.

CJ: First officer Ned, lower the landing gear.

Ned: Landing gear lowered.

CJ: First officer CJ, prepare for landing. What if we just sink into the surface of the planet and disappear?

Ned: Well, it's a chance we'll have to take.

CJ: What do you think the aliens will be like?

Ned: They may be hostile.

CJ: What do you think they'll look like?

Ned: They could have two heads. They could be invisible.

CJ: They could be invisible. How do you fight something you can't even see?

Ned: Well, you can't shoot at them if you can't see them.

CJ: You can't run from them if you don't know where they are. Invisible aliens are the worst sort of aliens.

Ned: First officer CJ, they never said it would be easy.

CJ: Who's they?

Ned: You know, them, they, them at spaceship school.

Marsha: What are you guys doing in there? Open up.

CJ: Aliens! Ned, arm yourself! They may be hostile.

Marsha: Come on, you guys, I'm off the door.

Ned: Shields up!

Marsha: I'm counting to three and this door better be open.

CJ: They are hostile! All right, all right, hold on.

Marsha: What is all this?

Ned: It's our spaceship. We are space explorers.

Marsha: What do you have on? That's a waste of good construction paper.

Ned: Paper space suits. I like it.

CJ: That's not paper, it's super thin space metal. It's raygun proof.

Marsha: What a mess. Oh, it's going to take forever to clean this up.

Ned: Look out, invisible aliens!

Gooze: Ah! Where?

CJ: That's the problem. They're invisible. You can't see them.

Gooze: Well, that's going to be the worst sort of alien.

CJ: That's what I said. I've got to go anyway. I'm helping Papa Chuck again this afternoon. How are you supposed to get out of this? No, don't rip your space suit. The radiation will kill you. Oh no.

Stacey: What radiation? This silver paint, it came off. It's all over my clothes.

Gooze: What? Oh, nuts. Look at me. I'm ruined. Look at my pants.

CJ: Guess we got sweaty. You think this'll come out?

Gooze: What's that guy doing out there? Hey, come look at this guy. He looks like he's... he's pounding stakes in the ground. Let me see. Sir, what are you doing?

Surveyor: Oh, hi, kids. Surveying.

CJ: Surveying what?

Surveyor: Well, I'm starting to lay out a path.

CJ: A path for what?

Surveyor: For the railroad track.

Ned: What? Where is it going to go?

Surveyor: Right here. Right through... well, right through...

Marsha: Right through our fort!

Surveyor: Well, yeah. Didn't you know? They're supposed to be leveling it on Monday. It's supposed to be fenced off by now, this whole area.

Ned: But Mr. Rockler said this wouldn't happen.

Surveyor: Oh, well, I don't know anything about that, but they got orders here to grade it on Monday.

Gooze: Gooze, get me my raygun.

Narrator: Well, the club marched over to the hotel where Mr. Rockler had set up his offices. They intended to talk with Theo, to ask him for advice on how to save their fort from Mr. Rockler. But before they got to Theo, they found themselves standing in the hotel lobby talking to none other than Mr. Rockler.

Mr. Rockler: Well, hello there. Good afternoon, CJ. Been painting something silver?

CJ: Good afternoon, sir. Sort of. How embarrassing.

Mr. Rockler: What can I do for you all?

CJ: Marsha, you go.

Marsha: I'm not going, you go.

CJ: I can't.

Marsha: Why not?

CJ: I'm painted silver. I look like a robot beaver.

Marsha: You're going to tear down our clubhouse, and we want to stop you.

Ned: Yeah.

Mr. Rockler: Very impressive, Ned. Oh, yes, let's talk about that. Please, have a seat. You all know what I'm attempting to accomplish here in Wildwood, don't you?

CJ: You are going to dig a tunnel through the mountain.

Mr. Rockler: That's exactly right. And as we dig into that mountain, we need timbers, lumber to shore up the tunnel so it doesn't cave in. We are getting the lumber from the mountain itself, but I need a train track going to the tunnel so that I can get the lumber there.

The land that you have your playhouse on is simply the shortest route for the train. I'm behind schedule now, but by laying the tracks there, it'll speed things back up. I bought that land for that very reason.

Ned: You bought the land?

Mr. Rockler: In fact, I'll be giving this speech to the whole town tomorrow after church at the progress meeting. Getting this project done on time means a lot to everyone in town. This is going to help a lot.

Marsha: But we built the fort ourselves.

Gooze: It's where we play and stuff.

Mr. Rockler: I can see that this is important to you. Here's a thought. What if I build you a new fort, a better one?

Ned: Really? Better how?

Mr. Rockler: Well, we could build it on the lake.

Ned: Wow. Yeah, wow.

Mr. Rockler: And maybe a little dock for the canoe. I bet we could even put a diving board on the dock if it's deep enough.

Gooze: Did you hear that? A diving board.

Marsha: But we built the fort with our own hands.

Mr. Rockler: I have a meeting I need to get to. Why don't you all think this over and let me know what you want?

Marsha: So you're still going to tear down our fort?

Mr. Rockler: I have to, sweetie. But we could have a new one, a better one. Well, let me know. We'll get started right away. Goodbye now.

Ned: Wow, a new fort.

Gooze: I don't like it. Something's wrong here.

Ned: How can anything be wrong? Mr. Rockler's a good guy. He's doing us a favor.

Gooze: There's something here that we can't see.

CJ: Invisible aliens.

Gooze: Something.

Ned: Well, I can't wait. I love to dive.

Marsha: We need to talk it over.

Ned: What's to talk about? New place, better place, a place by the lake.

CJ: I've got to go. Papa Chuck is waiting on me. See you.

Marsha: How do you vote, CJ? Old fort or new fort?

CJ: I don't know. New fort, I guess. I'm not sure. I'm late.

Marsha: Okay, see you. Let's go. This calls for chocolate.

Gooze: Oh, I love chocolate ice cream.

CJ: Hey, Papa Chuck.

Papa Chuck: Hey there, CJ.

CJ: Sorry I'm late. We just had a meeting with Mr. Rockler.

Papa Chuck: You're kidding.

CJ: No. He's going to build a train track right over the fort. He's going to knock it down on Monday, fence the whole thing off, and build us a new one somewhere else.

Papa Chuck: He can't do that.

CJ: Why? Why not?

Papa Chuck: CJ, Fortress Rock is the key to Shadow Valley. This is a disaster.

Guest (Peter): Hi, I'm Peter.

Guest (Eric): And I'm his brother Eric. We're from Calgary, Canada. You know what I like to listen to the most?

Guest (Peter): Paws & Tales, of course. There's more Paws & Tales coming right up after this.

Ned: Do you know what the biggest problem in the whole gigantic world is?

Dave Carl: I guess I do not. What is it?

Ned: What to wear to school. I get so excited about going to school that I don't plan stuff out very well. I wore my shirt on backwards last week, don't you know?

Dave Carl: Well, I think I've got a suggestion for you. Here is one of our newly minted Paws & Tales t-shirts. It has the Paws & Tales logo on the front so you'll never be confused and wear it backwards.

Ned: Oh, that is so clever. Did you think of that? Nice job there, Dave.

Dave Carl: Well, no, it's just kind of normal.

Ned: It would be so great if people could just go onto pawsandtales.org and order them in various sizes and all, and get the shirt that will make going to school easy and not all backwards. It's a real problem, you know.

Dave Carl: Gooze, I think you are a genius.

Narrator: Well, Stacey, Marsha, Gooze, and Ned all rambled toward the pharmacy for some ice cream. On their way, though, they saw Miss Harbor still in the schoolroom.

Gooze: Miss Harbor's still there. Let's go tell her about the fort. She'll know what to do.

Ned: What do you mean she'll know what to do? There's nothing to do. There's no decision to be made here. Old fort is gone, new fort coming soon. Miss Harbor, we have a problem.

Miss Harbor: Hello, Gooze. Hello, all of you.

Gooze: Mr. Rockler is going to knock down our fort and lay railroad tracks there.

Miss Harbor: What?

Ned: He bought the land. He can do anything he wants to with it. But he's going to build us a new, better fort on the lake.

Miss Harbor: I can't believe he would do something like this.

Gooze: That's what I said.

Marsha: What can we do?

Ned: I don't think there is anything to do. I think we should get our swimming trunks on.

Miss Harbor: Well, we have to fight this.

Marsha: Isn't there a way to make him give it back to us?

Miss Harbor: He is very powerful. It would take an act from the governor to...

Gooze: That's it!

Ned: Don't ask.

Marsha: What's it?

Gooze: I will run for governor and I will make him give it back.

Ned: Marsha, you had to ask. I tried to stop you.

Miss Harbor: Perhaps you could circulate a petition.

Gooze: A what? What's a petition?

Miss Harbor: I'll write up a letter stating that everyone who signs the petition is against Mr. Rockler destroying the fort. If the whole town is against him, maybe he will change his mind.

Marsha: So we have to go out and get this petition signed by everyone?

Gooze: Yeah, everyone in the town.

Ned: Do you think it'll work?

Gooze: Everyone in the county.

Ned: You're going to make him angry. Don't make Mr. Rockler angry.

Gooze: Everyone in the whole country.

Ned: We've got to try.

Miss Harbor: Yeah. Good for you.

Ned: I think I'll make a petition against other petitions that will ruin the chance for my diving board. I, the undersigned, protest against the wanton destruction of the lake fort.

CJ: How is the fort the key to Shadow Valley?

Papa Chuck: Sit down, CJ. Shadow Valley is a place...

CJ: Yeah, you pointed it out when we were camping.

Papa Chuck: Right. Well, a lot of folks don't think it really exists.

CJ: But I saw it.

Papa Chuck: I know, but it's not a normal place. You can't just go there. It's filled with evil, and that evil wants out.

CJ: Wild animals?

Papa Chuck: Yes, wild animals and worse. There is evil in the world, some you can see and some you can't. There really is a devil.

CJ: I know.

Papa Chuck: And there are demons. They whisper and tempt. They lie to folks and try to get them to do things that they shouldn't.

CJ: Where are they?

Papa Chuck: You can't see them, but they're there.

CJ: It's like invisible aliens.

Papa Chuck: I suppose. The Bible calls them powers and principalities. They can be most anywhere and they never stop their lying and tempting. Shadow Valley is filled with animals who believe their lies. Oh, they're angry and they want out. They want to swarm over Wild Mountain like locusts.

When I go to Fortress Rock at sunset, it's hard to explain, but I can tell how close they are to getting out.

CJ: Wow. How close are they?

Papa Chuck: Right now, probably years away, but that could change. We need to know when so we can be ready for it. Someone doesn't want me to be there anymore. Something is about to change. I'm afraid there's a battle about to start.

CJ: How do you fight something you can't see?

Papa Chuck: With weapons you can't see. God is infinitely more powerful than Satan and all of his demons. They cannot stand against Him. This is a spiritual battle. For that, we need to put on the armor of God. Then we fight. Then they run.

CJ: Wow.

Papa Chuck: Let's get the club together. They need to know we're in a spiritual battle.

CJ: Powers and principalities.

Narrator: At just about the same time, there was another discussion going on about the same thing. But in this discussion, Timothy Owl was talking to a voice, an evil voice that came out of a hole in a cave up in the darkest part of Wild Mountain.

Timothy Owl: So it seems like everything is going right along just like you said they would, sir.

The Voice: Good, very good.

Timothy Owl: If I may ask, sir, when will I get my pay? You promised that if I did what you asked...

The Voice: When your job is complete. Now go back and tell him that it will begin soon. He had better have the town behind him. Make sure he knows that.

Timothy Owl: Yes, sir. You know, this seems a little dreary in this cave. Can I bring you back a potted plant or something? Oh, I know some potpourri that will make it seem a little more homey in here. Owl! Yes, sir. Leave me! Of course, I'm going now.

Narrator: Well, it took a while to gather the club together. They were scattered all over town working on that petition drive. When they did all get the word and got themselves to the fort, they were one raggedy bunch.

CJ: Hey guys.

Gooze: Hey, Papa Chuck. I just still can't believe it.

CJ: You think some folks would be willing? What's the matter?

Ned: They were trying to collect signatures on a petition to save the fort.

CJ: Didn't go well?

Gooze: Terrible, just terrible.

CJ: Hey guys, how'd it go?

Marsha: No one would sign.

CJ: No one?

Stacey: My mom signed mine.

Gooze: Well, so did mine.

Ned: My mom signed mine too.

CJ: What happened?

Marsha: Mostly no one was willing to go against Mr. Rockler. Most every family in town has someone in it that works for him. They don't want to make him mad.

Ned: That's what I tried to tell you. He's got all the money and all the power and there is nothing we can do. There's nothing we should do.

CJ: There's more to it, guys. It's not just Mr. Rockler we need to deal with here. There's more to it.

Gooze: That's what I've thought all along. Something's about to start here, isn't it?

CJ: Gooze, you're absolutely right.

Narrator: Papa Chuck told them all about Shadow Valley and the powers and principalities.

Ned: You've got to be kidding. That's like invisible aliens. It's make-believe.

Papa Chuck: No, it's not, Ned. It's not make-believe, but that's what the devil would like you to think. That way you won't be ready when the lies and the temptations come.

Marsha: We can't let Mr. Rockler tear down our fort, but we've tried everything we can think of.

Papa Chuck: I think this is a spiritual battle. We need to fight it spiritually.

Gooze: All we've got is three signatures on a petition. There's nothing left we can do.

Stacey: Yes, there is. Of course there is, Stacy.

Ned: What? Pray.

Papa Chuck: That's exactly right. Let's fight with power. Let's fight with God's power. Prayer is a very powerful spiritual weapon. Let's pray.

Victory: Hi, I'm Victory from Georgia. Don't go away. There's more Paws & Tales coming right up.

Dave Carl: Hello, Dave Carl here. Where does your kid listen to Paws & Tales? We'd love to know. You can upload a photo of your kids listening to Paws & Tales in the car, half-buried in pillows while coloring or doing a puzzle. So many ways to listen. We will be posting a bunch of these photos on pawsandtales.org. Just think, your kid's photo could be on the wall of the clubhouse in Wildwood.

Narrator: Well, it's Sunday afternoon, the day before the fort is going to be torn down, and the whole town is gathering for the progress meeting that Mr. Rockler called. The band's playing, there's free popcorn for everyone. Why, you'd think it was opening day at the fair, not just some old town meeting.

Ned: Look at this. The whole town has come out.

Gooze: Gooze, watch where you're going.

Ned: Sorry. Why would everyone come out for a meeting?

Marsha: Because they all work for Mr. Rockler and no one wants to disappoint him. Hey, hi Mr. Rockler.

Gooze: What is the matter with you? Look where you're going.

Ned: I'm praying about the fort.

Marsha: Oh, brother. Gooze, pray with your eyes open.

Ned: Oh, yeah. You can do that, huh?

Gooze: Yes, you can do that. You are so Gooze.

Ned: If you ask me, it's too late to pray. Look at this place. Everyone is here because they're either afraid of Mr. Rockler or they want something from him. He has all the power.

Gooze: He does not, Ned Clever, and you know it. God has all the power, I know, but you know what I mean.

Mr. Yusef: Mr. Rockler.

Mr. Rockler: Yes, Yusef.

Mr. Yusef: I just received word that there is a petition being circulated.

Mr. Rockler: A petition for what?

Mr. Yusef: To save the children's fort.

Mr. Rockler: Are you serious?

Mr. Yusef: Here is a copy.

Mr. Rockler: Has this gone out?

Mr. Yusef: All over town.

Mr. Rockler: How many signatures have they collected?

Mr. Yusef: I don't know, sir, but we are about to tear down the playhouse of a bunch of third graders. Wouldn't you sign it?

Mr. Rockler: We can't have the whole town taking a stand against me now. I need them to follow me, to trust me before things get too rough. Oh, this could become a disaster.

Mr. Yusef: I agree, sir. What do you want to do?

Mr. Rockler: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to our first town progress meeting. Before we begin with all the good news I want to share with you, it has come to my attention that there is a petition going around, a petition about the imminent destruction of the playhouse some of the kids call the fort.

Ned: That's us. He's talking about us.

Gooze: Pray, guys. Keep praying.

Mr. Rockler: The years of carefree youth are all too short and the memories of them all too sweet. After some consideration, I have decided to sign the petition myself along with all of you.

Ned: Along with all of who? No one signed.

Mr. Rockler: I stand before you now and promise that the fort will receive my personal protection. It will not be torn down, not next week, not next year, never!

Marsha: Did he just save the fort?

Gooze: No, Marsha. God just saved the fort.

Marsha: Yes, He did!

Ned: Oh nuts, no new place, no diving board, nothing.

CJ: What just happened here, guys?

Papa Chuck: God just won a battle for us that we couldn't win ourselves.

CJ: He did, didn't He?

Papa Chuck: Well, you guys shouldn't be so surprised. That's the way it's supposed to work.

CJ: Hey guys, did you hear?

Gooze: We sure did. Isn't it great?

CJ: A battle was won here, a spiritual battle.

Ned: It's not the last one, is it?

CJ: No, it's not. There'll be others, plenty of others.

Gooze: Hey guys, let's thank God. He won a battle here.

CJ: Let's go thank Him at the fort.

Ned: Let's go!

Song Lyrics: Onward Christian soldiers,

Marching as to war.

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before.

Are you ready, soldiers?

Sir, yes sir!

We have got a fortress that cannot be destroyed.

Our Lord He will protect us, for that we're overjoyed.

He's given us a strong suit of armor, don't you know,

So we can stand up in His might wherever we may go.

Get your armor, get your armor, grab your shield, grab your shield.

We're gonna march, we're gonna march to the battlefield.

Though we can't see the enemy, he cannot win or hide

'Cause we have got our strong suit and God is on our side.

Looking good, soldiers!

Thank you, sir!

And so this mighty strong suit, the one of which we speak,

Is stronger than mere metal, and no it doesn't squeak.

The Lord above decided to help us shine His light

Against the powers of darkness we are sure to win the fight.

Get your armor, get your armor, grab your shield, grab your shield.

We're gonna march, we're gonna march to the battlefield.

Though we can't see the enemy, he cannot win or hide

'Cause we have got our strong suit and God is on our side.

Soldiers, let's step it up!

Yes sir!

The belt upon my strong suit is truth around my waist.

The breastplate is God's righteousness that cannot be replaced.

These boots were made for marching to spread His peace and love.

A helmet of salvation that fits me like a glove.

Get your armor, get your armor, grab your shield, grab your shield.

We're gonna march, we're gonna march to the battlefield.

Though we can't see the enemy, he cannot win or hide

'Cause we have got our strong suit and God is on our side.

Our strong suit has a weapon, we wield it be assured,

The swift sword of the Spirit, which is God's holy word.

And we'll hold up our shield of faith, it protects our hearts,

The wicked one can't win for it will quench his fiery darts.

So we'll put on God's armor, we need it every day.

We're praying in the Spirit as Jesus leads the way.

We'll stand up in God's kingdom, though the evil one attacks.

You are ready, soldiers! Let's stop him in his tracks!

Get your armor, get your armor, grab your shield, grab your shield.

We're gonna march, we're gonna march to the battlefield.

Though we can't see the enemy, he cannot win or hide

'Cause we have got our strong suit...

Yes, we have got our strong suit...

And God is on our side!

Yes sir!

Narrator: To order a copy of today's program, Powers and Principalities, just log on to pawsandtales.org. Powers and Principalities was written and directed by David Carl. The song, Strong Suit, was written by Sandy Howell and Mark Edward Lewis. Music was by Tim Hosman, and our sound designer was Eric Basil. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production.