Paws & Tales

Dave Carl: Hi there, I'm Dave Carl, creator of Paws & Tales. All of us here working on Paws & Tales want so much for more people, more families around the world, to hear about the fun and the solid teaching built into every single episode.

So, we're looking for folks who would like to join the Paws & Tales team. We are a supporter-funded ministry, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to join the club and become a new supporter. Just log on to pawsandtales.org and click the donate button, and help us out with a donation for any amount. It really will make a world of difference.

Insight for Living: 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. Come on, CJ, jump. It's too far. It wasn't too far for me. Insight for Living is proud to present Paws & Tales.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Wildwood. We have had some interesting visitors in Wildwood in the past, but none like this. Ezra has come down out of the mountain. Being a friend of Papa Chuck's from the early days, that makes him a pretty interesting character in and of himself.

What makes him a truly one-of-a-kind interesting visitor is that he has brought down with him nearly 200 sheep. Old Ezra is a sheepdog who needs a little help.

Gooz: So, where are all these sheep?

CJ: Just east of town always. Papa Chuck says we'll get paid.

Gooz: I like the sound of that.

Ned: I think it'll be fun playing with a sheep for a day.

CJ: Ezra, that's the shepherd's name. Ezra is sort of sick, I guess. Doc Lowe is sending him to Frontera for some kind of treatment. It'll only take one day, and he needs some help with his sheep.

Staci: We'll be shepherds, just like David from the Bible.

Ned: We could make slings, like David used on Goliath.

Gooz: Yeah, slings. I'm going to make a big sticky thing with a hook on the end, like in the Christmas pageant.

Marsha: How much is he going to pay? What does a shepherd do? Sit and watch sheep? Sounds like any goofball could do that.

Gooz: Hey, we could name them and teach them tricks. It'll be so fun to be a shepherd. Do you think that there will be some of those little black sheep? That would be so cute.

Ned: No, I think that pretty much their fleece will be white as snow.

Staci: Yeah? Will they be cute anyway?

Ned: I'm not sure, but they may very well follow you everywhere you go.

Gooz: You think?

Ned: Well, they just might follow you to school one day.

Gooz: That would be so fun.

Staci: That would be totally against the rules.

Gooz: Oh, yeah. I guess it was.

CJ: You guys, leave her alone. Well, Papa Chuck told them we were good helpers. We're supposed to meet up with Ezra after school for some shepherd training. And then tomorrow, he'll go to Frontera and we'll be the shepherds.

Guest (Male): So it was Friday afternoon and the club was on their way to becoming shepherds. Gooz had indeed made a sticky thing with a hook on the end. Ned and CJ had made slings out of yarn and cloth. And Staci had musical plans for the sheep.

CJ: That's not going to help.

Staci: It is too. Music calms the sheep.

CJ: I didn't find that very calming.

Gooz: It didn't calm me.

Staci: I'm learning, okay?

CJ: Gooz, you almost hit me with that stick.

Gooz: Sorry.

Ned: I'm not sure how this sling thing works. How do you aim?

CJ: I was thinking the same thing. I bet Ezra will know. He's been a shepherd for years.

Ned: Hey, guys. Gooz, watch it.

Gooz: Sorry.

Ned: Hey, watch it. Gooz, hold it up straight.

Gooz: Sorry. Watch your head. Sorry. Done with the stick thing.

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

Net the Beaver: Good day, everyone. It's Net the Beaver here. Now, it's not been scientifically proven, but I have a theory that it is 37% more fun to listen to Paws & Tales with friends or family.

How could that not be true? Well, we would love to see a photo of you and your group listening to Paws & Tales wherever you listen. And I'll tag them up on the clubhouse wall for all to see. Just go to pawsandtales.org.

Guest (Male): Stop!

CJ: What? What'd we do?

Ezra: Come quietly.

CJ: That was pretty rude.

Ezra: Are you the kids that Papa Chuck told me about?

CJ: We sure are.

Ezra: Good. The first thing you need to learn about sheep is that they're very, very timid.

Ned: Oh, I didn't know that.

Ezra: Any sudden loud noise could send them running in a panic. They might even trample the young lambs or even run off a cliff.

CJ: Yikes. No sudden noises. Hello, sir. My name's Staci. Whoa, what is that smell?

Ezra: Well, that would be the smell of about 200 sheep. Caring for sheep is not for everyone. You've got to have it in your blood.

Gooz: I had no idea sheep smell. Oh, that is bad.

Ezra: Papa Chuck described all of you to me. You would be Gooz.

Gooz: Yep.

Ezra: You must be Ned and CJ. You get used to the smell.

Marsha: Hi, I'm Marsha. They don't have fleeces as white as snow, do they?

Ezra: They do, Marsha, but only after their wool is sheared and washed. While it's on them, it's pretty oily. Dust and dirt stick to them pretty good. Makes them look, well, not quite snowy. You can't hold your noses all day, you know.

Staci: I know. You know, I don't think that I'm shepherd material. I want to play my flute and calm the sheep.

Marsha: Staci, don't. If you play, I'm pretty sure the whole flock will run off a cliff.

Staci: Very funny. I'd consider it myself. I'm sorry, Mr. Ezra, but I just can't do this.

Marsha: Me too, sir. I sort of feel…

Ezra: Feel free to go, girls.

Marsha: Okay, goodbye.

CJ: I'll stay.

Ezra: Glad to have you, CJ. Ned?

Ned: Well, how much do you pay?

Ezra: Five dollars a day.

Ned: Oh. Well, I believe shepherding is in my blood after all. Can you tell us how to use a sling?

Ezra: I've only tried it a couple of times myself. All I know about it is to use small stones and keep your arm straight.

Ned: Why?

Ezra: Because… Oh, no.

CJ: Where's she going? Beats me, let's go. Whoa, he just knocked that sheep over. That doesn't seem very shepherd-like.

Ezra: What are you doing? She's choking on burr weeds.

CJ: What do we do?

Ezra: I've got to get it out.

CJ: How are you going to get it out without sticking your hand down her throat? Come on, girl. Open up, open up. You're not really going to… Oh, okay. That is really sick.

Ezra: There you go, girl. You're fine now.

CJ: Shepherds do stuff like that?

Ezra: On occasion.

Ned: Hey, it's starting to rain. We'd better get inside somewhere.

Ezra: Well, in my wagon, you'll find a couple of ponchos you can put on.

CJ: You mean we're staying out in the rain?

Ezra: A shepherd never leaves his sheep alone, CJ.

CJ: No, of course not. Five dollars a day. Five dollars a day. Five dollars a day.

Guest (Male): Well, the prospect of shepherding was getting worse by the minute. CJ and Ned were discovering just how much work these sheep take and how much of himself the shepherd gives to care for them. After sitting in the rain for about an hour under a poncho, CJ was just about to quit his short career as a shepherd.

Ezra: Well, it looks like the rain's let out.

CJ: Yeah, Mr. Ezra. I don't think that… Hey there, little guy. What are you doing here?

Ezra: Looks like you've made a friend.

CJ: Ned, look at this little lamb. He's rubbing up against me like a cat.

Ned: Yeah, dandy. Hey, if this poncho is waterproof, how come I'm soaked?

CJ: You're something else, little fellow. He's so cute.

Ezra: Nothing better than a new lamb.

CJ: What's your name, fellow? You got a name yet?

Ezra: No, I really don't name my sheep.

CJ: Well then, I'll call you… what'll I call you? Oscar.

Ned: Oscar? Oscar? You can't name a lamb Oscar. You name a lamb Snowflake or Cottonball. You don't name a lamb Oscar.

CJ: Hello, Oscar. Hey, come back. What happened to Oscar?

Ned: I think he hates his name.

Ezra: No, no. He heard his mother call.

CJ: There's 100 sheep making noise. How can he tell the difference?

Ezra: Well, they can. If Oscar was scared or hurt and called out for his mother, she could pick out his voice from a thousand other lambs, and she'd come running. Why don't you boys stroll through the pasture and keep an eye out for more burr weeds? Pull them up and throw them somewhere where the sheep can't get to them.

CJ: Okay. Let's go, Ned.

Ned: Okay. I can't take another minute of this.

CJ: Me neither.

Guest (Male): While the boys were complaining and planning on how to tell Ezra they were quitting, there were three unwelcome visitors eyeing the sheep. Bandit wolves were watching them from the cover of the nearby forest.

Guest (Male): This is going to be too easy.

Guest (Male): How can it ever be too easy? It will be if Ezra leaves these knuckleheads in charge tomorrow. It'll be like taking candy from a baby. Yeah, we're going to have sheep for breakfast. That's good stuff.

Ezra: Let's stroll around the flock and get them in a little closer. They need to know they're safe or they won't get any rest.

Ned: Okay. Sheep are really, really dumb. They eat bad things, they'll run off a cliff if scared, and they are completely helpless. How can you have any respect for them?

Ezra: They don't need any respect. They just need love and tender care. It's just like the Lord gives to us. You ever know something is wrong, Ned, and you do it anyway?

Ned: Well, I… you know, because…

Ezra: God, the good shepherd, loves you still. There's a lot to learn here about us and God from sheep. Now keep your eyes open. So, I'm going to see you both here in the morning?

CJ: What time?

Ezra: 5:30.

Ned: In the morning? It's still dark then. That's technically still nighttime.

Ezra: Well, I've got to catch the first train in the morning. The trip to Frontera is three hours one way. I'll need you at 5:30.

Ned: I suppose I could do eight.

CJ: Ned.

Ned: Yeah, 5:30.

Ezra: Good enough then.

Guest (Male): Well, he didn't want to do it, but CJ got up with the alarm at 4:45 in the morning. He trudged out to the pasture in the dark and met Ezra by his campfire.

CJ: Morning.

Ezra: Hey, good morning, CJ. I've got some hot tea here for you.

CJ: Thanks.

Ezra: Well, look who's come to say hello.

CJ: Hey there, Oscar. How are you? No, no, not my ear. Stop it, Oscar. Now, this should be pretty easy. Just need to go over a few things.

CJ: Okay.

Ezra: Now you don't have to move them today, but keep a lookout for cast sheep.

CJ: Cast sheep?

Ezra: Cast sheep. Sheep that's rolled over on their backs. They can't get up by themselves, and if they stay like that too long, they'll die.

CJ: Cast sheep.

Ezra: Now the best place to watch the herd is up on that rock there on the side of the hill. Keep an eye out for sheep that's run off and for those burr weeds, and keep them from fighting. Don't worry, you'll do fine. Have a great day.

CJ: Yeah, I'm sure it'll be just great. What do you think, Oscar? Sit on a cold rock on the side of the hill or stay by the fire and sip tea? Warm and happy or cold and sad? Let's see a show of hands. The warm and happies have it.

Guest (Male): Well, CJ snuggled in. Then he closed his eyes, then fell off to sleep.

CJ: What? Oh no, what's going on?

Guest (Male): As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, CJ saw just the ghosts of three wolves running into the forest. Each one of them was dragging a dead sheep with him.

CJ: No, no, stop! Calm down, you guys. It's all over now. Nothing's going to happen. Ezra didn't say anything about wolves. Sorry, I'm sorry. Calm down now. Oh no, I fell asleep. Oscar? Oscar! No! Oscar! Are you all right? Oh no, you broke your leg. This is my fault. How does a shepherd mend a broken lamb's leg? Where's your mama, Oscar? She should hear you by now. Oh no, Oscar. The wolves got your mama.

Guest (Male): All that was good. I am so full. This is too easy. Yeah, we could have taken the whole flock. Who wants to have a flock of sheep? I mean, we just let the bear cub take care of it for us.

Do you know how hard it is to take care of a flock of sheep? No. Now but I bet that bear cub does. Hey, hey, what do you want for dinner? Maybe more sheep! And such a coincidence. I love sheep. Hey, let's do it just like we did this morning. Just too easy.

Guest (Male): Well, CJ put a splint on Oscar's leg as best he could. He calmed down the flock and himself for that matter. He started carrying little Oscar over both shoulders, just like he'd seen shepherds do in the pictures at Sunday school. He pulled up some burr weeds and helped a couple of sheep that were stuck on their backs. He'd even done some practicing with his sling.

Ned: Hey, CJ. Top of the morning to you.

CJ: Ned, quiet. The sheep.

Ned: Oh yeah, sorry. So much for 8:00.

CJ: I know I'm late, but… never mind.

Ned: Wow, that's some knot on your forehead. What happened?

CJ: Just an accident.

Ned: Yeah, I'd say it was. What's wrong with the lamb?

CJ: Oscar.

Ned: Yeah, what's wrong with Oscar?

CJ: Oh, I think the three wolves that came in and killed Oscar's mom and two other sheep might have stepped on him.

Ned: No. Wolves? Really?

CJ: Oscar's leg is broken.

Ned: Oh man. What did you do?

CJ: Stood there dazed and helpless and watched them run off with the sheep. I was not a good shepherd, and the sheep suffered because of it.

Ned: Sure you were, CJ.

CJ: Ned, I'd fallen asleep.

Ned: Oh. I see. Sorry I wasn't here to help. I'm going to practice with my sling in case they come back.

CJ: Don't use that big of a stone.

Ned: No, this is a good stone.

CJ: Keep your arm straight.

Ned: Yeah, yeah.

CJ: I'll say it one more time. Keep your arm…

Ned: Ow! My head! I hit myself with my own sling! Ow, ow, ow!

CJ: Should have listened to me. How do you think I got my bump?

Ned: Oh no. Get away from that. She's choking. Come here, girl. No, you're not going to… she's going to choke to death! Don't stick your hand down its throat! There you go, girl. It's okay now. Go on. Oh okay, that was sick. The smell of them is sick. Oh, look what I just stepped in. I hate sheep!

CJ: Ned, quiet. You're upsetting my flock.

Ned: My flock? CJ, you are taking this a little too seriously, don't you think?

CJ: I am now. We've got to make a plan for tonight.

Ned: What tonight?

CJ: Those wolves are going to come back. I know it.

Ned: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there, partner. What do you mean make a plan? If they want a sheep or two, I guess they can have them.

CJ: No, they can't. I messed up once, and it won't happen again. These sheep are in danger, and I'm their shepherd.

Judah: Hi, I'm Judah from Texas. My favorite Paws & Tales character is Staci because she looks cute. Wait till you hear what happens next on today's episode.

Ned Knows: Welcome everyone to my podcast, Ned Knows. My guest today is my good friend Staci. So tell me, Stace, why do you think Paws & Tales is so amazing?

Staci: Well, I love it because it's funny and every episode has an original song which is super duper fun. I go around singing them all the time.

Ned Knows: They really are fun. I know that because…

Staci: Yes, I know. Ned Knows.

Ned Knows: Yes, exactly.

Staci: But did you know that every episode is read over by theologians? You know, folks with really big brains. They read it over to make sure that everything is good and true, as well as being fun and full of adventure.

Ned Knows: Wow. I did… well, I'm not entirely sure I bet…

Staci: Ned, just say you didn't know that.

Ned Knows: Well, that's all the time we have here for Ned Knows. Tune in next time to hear, well, some other neat stuff I already know.

Staci: Really, Ned? I can't believe I just said "neat stuff." I need a latte.

Guest (Male): The sun was beginning to set, and Ezra was not back. So CJ and Ned prepared as best they could for another attack from the wolf bandits.

Ned: Okay. See that little bush over there?

CJ: Yeah.

Ned: Watch it. Not quite.

CJ: Hey, it's better than before. At least the stone is going in front of me now. I'm not doing any better. I think we might be ready for another wolf attack, say middle of spring. I'm telling you, the smell of these sheep is unbelievable.

Ned: No, it's not so bad. Is it, Oscar? It's not so bad. Hey, what happened to you? When did you get all shepherdized?

CJ: I've been thinking since the attack this morning. This shepherd thing is really hard. A shepherd could only be a shepherd if he really, really loved his sheep.

Ned: Okay.

CJ: God is the good shepherd, the best shepherd ever. He loves us even when we do stuff that's bad for us and we know it. He protects us from stuff we don't even know is dangerous, just like when I keep the flock away from a cliff. I even think that when things are going really, really wrong and it feels like God has grabbed me by the throat and I get all angry with him, maybe at those times he's really saving me from something as bad as poison weeds.

Ned: You got all that today?

CJ: Hey, being a shepherd gives a fellow lots of time to think.

Ned: I guess. Hey, did you hear that?

CJ: Yeah, here they come. Get ready. Small stones, keep your arm straight. Stop! Don't make another move!

Guest (Male): Hey, what's this?

CJ: This is our flock. You better just turn around and slink off into the woods or you will taste the steel of my sword! Taste of what? Steel of your sword? It's from a comic book I just read. I'm a little nervous, okay? Why don't you take a crack at it?

Ned: You, you will feel the smack from our sling stones. Oh, that was embarrassing.

Guest (Male): What's a sling stone? Get out of here or you'll be sorry. Uh-huh, I bet. Short and to the point. I am hungry, and you two are not going to stop me from… what? What's that?

CJ: It's my sling! And you're going to have a stone right in the side of your head!

Guest (Male): I doubt it. Hey, I think I'll get the big fat sheep over there. Come here. Ow! Ouch! Ow, ow! What? Hey, he hit me in the head with a stone. That really smart.

CJ: It wasn't him. He's still over there swinging that thing. It's a rapid-fire sling. Did you do that?

Ned: I did not.

Guest (Male): That's enough. Let's get some… ouch! Ouch, ouch, ow! Hold on there. What's that mean? You, you really did it! You got him!

Guest (Male): Hey, you said this would be easy. Look at the knot on my head.

Ned: We don't want that knot to get lonely, do we?

CJ: That was too much, wasn't it?

Ned: I thought it was fine. Take this! Uh-oh. Hey, way to go! Run, bunch of knuckleheads. Let's get some sheep. Ow! Hey, where'd that come from? It's Hugh! Major Murphy! Attack!

Guest (Male): Hey, quit! Ow, ouch, ouch! Help me! Help! Hey, you said this would be easy. Hey, I'm out of here! Ouch, ouch!

Gooz: I've never been happier to see you guys.

Ned: I've never been happier to see you guys.

Gooz: Hey, that was fun. That was more fun than chasing sheep. Oops.

Ned: Do you ever think before you talk? You came to chase off my flock.

Gooz: Hey, relax, Cyclops. Thumping on wolves is much more fun anyway. Did you see him run? Oh, I think I threw out my arm.

Ned: And what did I tell you? Before you throw hard, you always need to warm up.

CJ: Well, thanks anyway. We couldn't have stopped them without you.

Ned: Oh yeah, remember, gifts are always appropriate. And flowers are the best way to express your feelings.

Gooz: Really? You want flowers? No, you goofball, it was a joke. Hey, let's go.

Ned: Are people supposed to laugh at a joke? I think they are. One of these days, I am going to knock you so hard…

CJ: Ned, we stood up to the wolves. We kept our arms straight and we stood. Wow. Today, we were good shepherds.

Ned: Yeah, we were. I want tomorrow off. I'm pooped.

CJ: Me too. This is really hard.

Guest (Male): CJ and Ned learned a lot that day. Most importantly, though, CJ learned a little more about God. He learned that when the Bible says "the Lord is my shepherd," it means that God never gets tired of caring for us, of protecting us. CJ also learned that just like it was for Oscar, there is no better, safer place for a sheep to be than as close as he can get to the good shepherd.

Guest (Male): (Singing) When I was the shepherd, all I thought at first was this is not for me. Taking care of sheep as dumb as rocks that smell like burned up herbal tea. And with their choking on the grass and their fear of every noise, I wanted to go home because there at least I had some toys.

They're always wandering off and they are always into trouble every day. Crawling in the thickets and in ditches, if it weren't for me, they'd never find their way. But when I looked at their sweet faces, I saw familiar traces, and that's when I was suddenly aware that though I am a cub, I really am a sheep and Jesus cares.

I'm wandering, roaming, believing I know my own way. But Jesus, my shepherd, he keeps me from going astray, guiding me day after day. He knows me by name, yes he knows every little hair that's on my head. He is wide awake when I'm asleep and dreaming tightly tucked in bed.

And when I'm feeling lost and lonely, as if I'm on my only, I call to him and he is always there. So though I am a cub, I'm glad that I'm a sheep and Jesus cares. He's watching, guarding, protecting me in every way. Jesus, my shepherd, he keeps me from going astray, guiding me day after day.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.

Leading me, blessing me, he tenderly shows me the way. Jesus, my shepherd, he keeps me from going astray. Watching, guarding, protecting me in every way. Jesus, my shepherd, he keeps me from going astray, loving me day after day.

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