Paws & Tales

Gooz: Hey everyone, Gooz here for Paws & Tales. I think it's time for you to become famous and I have just the plan to get all rolling. Pop over to PawsandTales.org and download one of the radio scripts we have there. Record yourself on your parents' phone reading it like you're a real actor.

We have several scripts for you to choose from. Then just have your parents go to PawsandTales.org and head on into the clubhouse and upload it there. We'll use some of them inside an actual episode. Record it serious or record it silly. We're going to love it either way. Get your radio script at PawsandTales.org and let's start your new career as a radio announcer to the world.

Insight for Living: Welcome to the world of Paws & Tales. Wild Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place. Stay on the trails and stick with me. There's adventure to be had there too. Inside for Living is proud to present Paws & Tales.

Narrator: Sunday school ended a few minutes ago but CJ and Papa Chuck are praying together. It seems CJ did something a while back that he shouldn't have and that he's ashamed of. Just what he did isn't important, but the fact that he's asking the Lord to forgive him is.

CJ: And I know what I did was wrong, Lord. I'm really, really sorry. Please forgive me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Papa Chuck: Father, thanks for CJ and his confession. I pray that You'll be with him and give him strength to do Your will in his life. In Your Son's name, Amen.

CJ: Amen. Thanks for praying with me, Papa Chuck.

Papa Chuck: Something wrong?

CJ: Well, I just feel so bad about what I did.

Papa Chuck: Well, that's one of the worst consequences of sin. Even though you know God forgives us, it doesn't always erase the guilt.

CJ: Then how do we know we're forgiven?

Papa Chuck: What do you mean?

CJ: Well, if I still feel as bad as I did before, how do I know God's really forgiven me?

Papa Chuck: Don't worry, CJ. I assure you he has.

CJ: How?

Papa Chuck: Well, because you asked him to. The Bible tells us that when we ask God's forgiveness, he forgives us.

CJ: Even if we don't feel it?

Papa Chuck: Even if we don't feel it.

CJ: It can't be that easy. There's got to be something more.

Papa Chuck: There's not.

CJ: Come on, Papa Chuck. I hate feeling like this. Isn't there anything more I can do?

Papa Chuck: Well...

CJ: I knew it. What? What?

Papa Chuck: There's the trek.

CJ: What's the trek?

Papa Chuck: A way to feel forgiven. Of course, there are no guarantees.

CJ: That's fine. At this point, I'll try anything. Come on, Papa Chuck. Please.

Papa Chuck: All right, CJ. I'll make all the arrangements. Meet me at the workshop tomorrow morning. Bring a backpack with enough food and water to get through the entire day.

CJ: I will, Papa Chuck. Thanks.

Papa Chuck: And CJ, get a good night's sleep. You're going to need it.

Narrator: A little later that afternoon, while CJ was packing up his backpack, Staci was on an errand downtown. Her mom was away visiting relatives and she had to pick up dinner for her and her dad. She was just about to enter the general store when she got quite a surprise, and not a particularly pleasant one.

Staci: What in the world was that?

Narrator: She found out soon enough. Right then the front door burst open and a coyote rushed out and barreled right into Staci, knocking both of them over.

Coyote: Watch it! Watch it! Watch it!

Staci: What are you talking about? You ran into me.

Coyote: Hey, you be quiet. You understand me? Keep your trap shut, kid. Don't you say nothing to nobody if you know what's good for you. You got it? You remember what I said.

Staci: What was that all about? Help! Please! Help!

Mr. Crawford: Staci, are you all right?

Staci: I've been robbed.

Narrator: Staci helped Mr. Crawford inside the store, then ran and got Officer Hunt, who questioned both of them about the incident.

Officer Hunt: So you didn't see anybody, Mr. Crawford?

Mr. Crawford: No, I thought I was alone. I was stocking shelves behind the counter when I felt this sharp pain in the back of my head. I hit the floor and I couldn't see straight for a few seconds.

But I heard the cash drawer open and footsteps running off. When my head cleared, I stumbled out. I saw Staci. Oh, there was a lot of money in the register. Are you going to be able to catch that thief?

Officer Hunt: I'll try my best. Now you better have a seat. The doc will be here shortly to take care of your head.

Mr. Crawford: Okay. I don't know why people have to steal from each other. What's this world coming to?

Staci: Is he going to be all right?

Officer Hunt: I think so, Staci. That cut looks worse than it is. He'll probably have a headache for a few days, though. The best way you can help him is by telling me what you saw.

Staci: What I saw?

Officer Hunt: That's right. You were the only other person around and you were right in front of the store. Are you sure you didn't see anything else?

Narrator: Staci started to answer, then hesitated. An image of the coyote's snarling face popped into her brain as she remembered his threat.

Coyote: You better keep your trap shut, kid. Understand? Don't say nothing to nobody if you know what's good for you.

Officer Hunt: Staci? Are you sure you didn't see anything else?

Staci: No, sir. I didn't see anything else.

Araya Sunshine: Hi, I'm Araya Sunshine from North Carolina. You know what I like to listen to the most? Paws & Tales, of course. There is more Paws & Tales coming right up.

Gooz: So, Dave, notice anything really new and really, really nice?

Dave: Is that the new Paws & Tales swag bag?

Gooz: Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. A fashionable drawstring backpack filled with a Paws & Tales T-shirt, a ball cap, a very special pen made from a tree branch, and one of our activity coloring books. All of that can be under your tree for Christmas. Just jump over to PawsandTales.org and get one for your Christmas Paws & Tales fan.

Staci: Boy, what a day. Home never looked so good. All I want is to eat dinner and go to bed. Mom, Dad? Hey, where is everybody? Staci, get away!

Mr. Clemmer: Dad! Dad!

Coyote: You! Coyote! I warned you. I told you not to say nothing to nobody, didn't I?

Staci: But I haven't said anything to anybody. Honest.

Coyote: Likely story. You couldn't keep quiet and now you'll suffer the consequences. Say goodbye to your dad.

Staci: No! No! Staci!

Mr. Clemmer: Stace, Staci. It's all right, babe. You just had a bad dream, that's all. It's okay now.

Staci: Dream. It was awful.

Mr. Clemmer: You okay now?

Staci: Yeah, I think so.

Mr. Clemmer: What was it all about, hon?

Staci: I just want to forget about it and try to go back to sleep.

Mr. Clemmer: Sure. Okay. Goodnight, hon.

Staci: Dad?

Mr. Clemmer: Yeah?

Staci: Jesus wants us to always do what's right, doesn't he?

Mr. Clemmer: Well, yes, he does.

Staci: Even if it means someone could get hurt?

Mr. Clemmer: Well, yes. He never put conditions on doing the right thing. He didn't when he died on the cross for us, did he?

Staci: No.

Mr. Clemmer: Doing what's right isn't always easy, hon, but it is what Jesus wants us to do.

Staci: Thanks, Dad.

Mr. Clemmer: You sure you don't want to tell me about that dream?

Staci: I'm just tired.

Mr. Clemmer: Okay. Goodnight, hon.

Staci: What Jesus wants us to do. I was afraid of that.

Narrator: Both Staci and CJ had a fitful night's sleep. Staci because she wrestled with her conscience and CJ because he was just plain too excited about his forgiveness trek to close his eyes.

Even though he was tired, the next morning CJ showed up at Papa Chuck's fix-it shop right on time, with his backpack filled and his determination just about to overflow. Papa Chuck handed him a map.

Papa Chuck: Follow the trail I marked to the OBD.

CJ: OBD?

Papa Chuck: It stands for the Old Badger's Den. There you'll be told what to do.

CJ: Right.

Papa Chuck: Are you sure you really want to do this?

CJ: Yep.

Papa Chuck: Better get started then.

CJ: Yes, sir.

Narrator: Meanwhile, after a bit of soul searching, Staci told her dad over breakfast the events of the previous afternoon.

Mr. Clemmer: I can't believe it.

Staci: I'm fine, and so is Mr. Crawford.

Mr. Clemmer: Thank the Lord. I've been thinking about what you said last night, how Jesus wants us to always do what's right.

Staci: And?

Mr. Clemmer: I need to turn that coyote guy in.

Staci: That's going to take a lot of courage.

Mr. Clemmer: I'm not feeling courageous. In fact, I'm scared to death. Will you go with me to see Officer Hunt?

Staci: We'll go right after breakfast. Okay. And you're doing the right thing. I'm very proud of you.

Narrator: While Staci spent the morning telling Hunt her story and a description of the coyote, CJ spent the morning inching through thick underbrush and traversing wooded glades to reach the mysterious OBD, the Old Badger's Den.

The going was hot and tiring, but when CJ sat down to take a rest, he heard something.

CJ: Hello? Is anybody there? Who is that?

Narrator: Any thoughts of needing a rest just flew from his head and CJ sped down the trail as fast as his furry little legs could carry him. Then just when he thought he couldn't take another step, he came to a clearing and saw a valley.

In the middle of the valley was what looked like a pile of mud and sticks, and stepping out of an opening in the stick pile was a large animal covered with gray fur. CJ knew him in an instant.

CJ: This is it. The OBD, Old Badger's Den. And that has to be the Old Badger.

Narrator: By the time CJ was making his way down into the OBD, Staci and her dad had been home for a couple hours and she was finishing up the ice cream sundae her dad had bought her as a reward for her bravery.

Staci: Thanks, Dad.

Mr. Clemmer: You're welcome, babe. I've learned that there aren't too many fears or bad feelings that can stand up to a double hot fudge sundae with nuts.

Staci: Dad, I'm still a little scared, but at least I'm full and scared.

Mr. Clemmer: Well, I promised your mom I'd get the weeds in the flower bed before she got back. I better get at it. Hold down the fort, okay?

Staci: Okay. I'll get it. Coyote! I warned you. I told you not to say nothing, didn't I? But you couldn't keep your trap shut, could you? Well, now you're going to suffer the consequences. Dad, help!

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

Gooz: Do you know what's the biggest problem?

Dave: I guess I don't.

Gooz: What to wear. 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: Well, here is one of our newly made Paws & Tales T-shirts. It has the Paws & Tales logo on the front so you'll never be confused and wear it backwards.

Gooz: It would be so great if people could just go on to PawsandTales.org and order one.

Dave: Gooz, I think you're a genius.

Coyote: No you don't. You're not going to shut me out. Do you know what you've done to me, kid? Do you?

Mr. Clemmer: Staci, get away from my daughter. And get out of my house unless you want to eat baseball bat.

Officer Hunt: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on, Mr. Clemmer. Take it easy.

Mr. Clemmer: Hunt? What's going on here?

Officer Hunt: Put down the bat and I'll tell you.

Mr. Clemmer: It's down.

Officer Hunt: I told him not to go in ahead of me, but he wouldn't listen.

Mr. Clemmer: Never mind that. What do you mean bringing this thief into my house?

Coyote: Hey, I'm not a thief.

Staci: I saw you.

Officer Hunt: It's true, Staci. He's not.

Staci: But he's the one who ran into me. He has to be guilty.

Officer Hunt: Oh, he's guilty all right, but only of running away. This raggedy old coyote...

Coyote: Hey!

Officer Hunt: ...didn't commit the crime. When I examined the store, I found muddy footprints from the cash drawer to the back door. He ran into you outside the front door, remember? And his footprints don't match.

Staci: Why was he running? Why were you running?

Coyote: Because I didn't want to get involved, obviously.

Staci: Involved?

Officer Hunt: He's the only one to see who actually did commit the crime. Your description helped me track him down.

Staci: So now you can get the real thief.

Coyote: Weren't you listening? I'm not getting involved.

Staci: What? But you have to.

Coyote: No, I don't.

Officer Hunt: That's why I brought him here, Staci.

Staci: Why?

Coyote: He's trying to shame me into cooperating. I thought he should see what a courageous person looks like. Thought maybe it would help.

Staci: Well, will you?

Coyote: No! Look, for the dyed-in-final time, I don't want to get involved. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. Now, if you'll excuse me.

Officer Hunt: I'm sorry about this.

Staci: Good grief.

Narrator: They watched as the coyote and Officer Hunt walked away. Meanwhile, CJ had made it down into the valley to the OBD and had made the acquaintance of the Old Badger.

CJ: Are you the Old Badger?

Old Badger: The Old Badger. That's what they call me. Are you the one who's coming was foretold to me?

CJ: Foretold? Yeah, I'm CJ.

Old Badger: Yes, very good. Let's begin. First, put on this robe.

CJ: Kind of ratty, isn't it?

Old Badger: You complaining?

CJ: No. Sorry. What's next?

Old Badger: Go to the stream yonder. There you will find several bundles of sticks, a bucket. Fill the bucket with mud, then haul it and a bundle of sticks back here. Empty the bucket and drop the bundle. Then return to the stream for another load. Do this until all the bundles have been brought here. Understand?

CJ: I understand.

Narrator: CJ worked diligently for the next couple of hours until he had all of the sticks and a small mountain of mud next to the OBD.

Old Badger: Very good. Now, I want you to take the stick bundles and stack them out this way from the side of my den.

CJ: Like this?

Old Badger: No, no, no. At a right angle, like this. That's it. Now put mud between each bundle and fill all the cracks with mud. Make sure you seal it up good. Go out that way about 25 feet, then make a left and go about 15 feet, then another left and attach it back to my den. Got it?

CJ: Out 25, over 15, then back again. Yes, sir.

Narrator: CJ got right to it, and again worked hard. But before long, he noticed something a bit odd.

CJ: Looks like I'm building walls here.

Narrator: He asked the Old Badger about it.

CJ: Sir, I don't mean to complain, but is this the way to attain true forgiveness?

Old Badger: No, this is the way you build a new room onto my house.

CJ: A new room? But I came here to learn how to attain true forgiveness.

Old Badger: I see. Okay then. Come on over here. Get down on your knees.

CJ: Yes, sir.

Old Badger: Bow your head.

CJ: Yes, sir.

Old Badger: Now ask God to forgive you.

CJ: What?

Old Badger: I said ask God to forgive you. Say, "God, I'm a sinner. I did wrong. Now I ask You to forgive me in Jesus' name, Amen."

CJ: But I already did that.

Old Badger: You did? When?

CJ: Yesterday with Papa Chuck after Sunday school.

Old Badger: Then you've been forgiven. Now let's get back to my house.

CJ: Wait a minute. I don't get it. I thought you were the Old Badger who was supposed to tell me how to get true forgiveness.

Papa Chuck: He just did, CJ.

CJ: Papa Chuck? What are you doing here?

Papa Chuck: Actually, I've been with you the whole time. Those growls and twig snaps you heard were me.

CJ: But why?

Papa Chuck: To make sure you were safe, and that you kept on the right path, and that you got here.

CJ: No, I meant why did you do this, set all this up?

Papa Chuck: You wouldn't believe me when I told you about forgiveness. You seemed like you wanted to do things the hard way, so I figured we could do it the hard way.

CJ: But the end result is exactly the same.

Papa Chuck: I tried telling you that yesterday. There's no magic formula or physical test you have to go through to get forgiveness, CJ. Remember First John 1:9? "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Problem is, like you, most folks think that there must be something more, that they somehow have to earn God's forgiveness. But there's no way we can. CJ, you're a Christian. We trust God, rely on His grace, and accept His free gift. Get it?

CJ: It's not all that hard to understand. It's just a little too easy.

Papa Chuck: Yes, it's too easy. And you know what else?

CJ: What?

Papa Chuck: I think I finally feel forgiven.

CJ: Good for you. Now let's get back to the OBD.

Narrator: I don't think CJ will forget his forgiveness trek anytime soon. As for Staci, she was pretty disappointed that Mr. Coyote didn't have the courage to stand up to evil. Because of that, evil seemed to win.

Then about a week later, she read in the newspaper that Officer Hunt had caught the thief that had robbed the general store.

Staci: The robber confessed after being caught in the act robbing a house belonging to one Mr. JP Coyote. Well, what do you know about that?

Insight for Living: So you've got a tough choice and there's nowhere to run

And you feel your heart pounding like a big bass drum

Well, before you're wound tighter than a guitar string

You just say a little prayer and then you do the right thing

Do the right thing, yeah you know you should

Do the right thing, it'll make you feel good

It'll make you boogie-woogie, it'll make you sing

When you say a little prayer and then you do the right thing

Remember David and Goliath or Moses in a sea

You didn't hear them saying woe, woe, woe is me

No they were brave because they had faith in their Almighty King

So don't you get the blues, just do the right thing

Do the right thing when you're put to the test

Do the right thing, you've gotta do the rest

If you want to see the blessings that the Lord will bring

You just say a little prayer and then you do the right thing

So you might be afraid and you're feeling stuck

Chills are running down your spine, yeah you're almost shook up

But if you trust in the Lord who's watching out for you

Then when the going gets tough, you'll know what you should do

What is it? Do the right thing

Yeah, you know you should do the right thing

It'll make you feel good, it'll make you boogie-woogie

It'll make you sing when you say a little prayer

And then you do the right thing

Do the right thing when you're put to the test

Do the right thing, you've gotta do the rest

If you want to see the blessings that the Lord will bring

When you say a little prayer and then you do the right thing

It'll make you boogie-woogie, it'll make you sing

When you stop and say a little prayer

Then do the right, do the right, do the right thing

Goodnight, Wildwood!

To order a copy of today's program, Staci's Dilemma, just log on to PawsandTales.org. Staci's Dilemma was written by Phil Lollar and directed by David Carl. The song, "Do the Right Thing," was written by Sandy Howell and Nick Brown. Music was by John Campbell and our sound designer was Jerry Swafford. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production.