Paws & Tales

Ned: Welcome to another episode of my personal podcast, Ned Knows. Today I'm talking to the creator of Paws & Tales, Dave Carl. Well, thanks for being with me today, Dave.

Dave Carl: It's a pleasure to be here, Ned.

Ned: So, because I'm me, I happen to know that you have written the first-ever Paws & Tales book. Tell me more about that.

Dave Carl: I'd love to. It's called The Overcomers, and reading this book will be like reading maybe five regular episodes. The club is in the middle of a big new adventure, and there are new characters we introduced.

Ned: That's fascinating, Dave. I have it, though, by good authority that this book centers around Ned and how he saves the day for everyone.

Dave Carl: Well, no, that's not what the book is about. It is significantly about the struggle against evil that lurks high up in Wild Mountain. If anything, I'd have to say it centers around Stacy.

Ned: What? I gave you really good notes when you were writing this. What happened to all my great ideas?

Dave Carl: Well, mostly I didn't read them. There was a lot of notes, Ned. In the book I did write, we meet Smidge, a badger who really wants to become someone who will make a difference. And he meets up with Crockett, a genuine overcomer, who begins to teach him how to survive in the woods and how to take care of the miners digging for gold in the tunnels of Wild Mountain.

Ned: Ned knows what this book was supposed to be about. In those notes you did not read, Ned inherits a million dollars, but he does not let anyone know about it, and he sneaks around and secretly helps those in need and uses all kinds of really neat gadgets to fight crime.

Dave Carl: I did read that part of the notes, but in this first Paws & Tales book, The Overcomers, we follow the club as they begin a new adventure and we see how Crockett battles bandits and the evil Minion in only the way an overcomer can.

Ned: Well, I did not know that you changed the whole book, Dave. This is a bitter disappointment. Well, this ends this episode of Ned Knows. Thanks for joining me, Dave Carl, who ignored all my notes. I'll see you all next time for another episode of Ned Knows. Joe, stop tape.

Guest (Male): Previously on Paws & Tales.

Samuel: What does it mean when Samuel tells King Saul that God has chosen someone else to be king?

Odeta: But our king won't seek the Lord.

Saul: He is against me. There's nothing to do. Do not let anyone eat anything. The king has put us under an oath.

Jonathan: Look at that. Honey is dripping out of that hive. I never knew honey could be so good.

Saul: Enquire of the Lord for us. Cast the lots and let God direct our actions.

Samuel: There is no answer here. The Lord has not spoken.

Saul: Curse. It is the curse. Who has sinned to cause this?

Samuel: It is not about food. The worst enemy we have is the foolish pride of our king.

Guest (Male): Welcome to the world of Paws & Tales.

Crockett: Wild Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place. If you stay on the trails and stick with me, there's adventures to be had there too.

Stacy: Come on, C.J., jump.

C.J.: It's too far.

Stacy: It wasn't too far for me.

Insight for Living: Insight for Living is proud to present Paws & Tales.

Guest (Male): Now King Saul had extended his rule over Israel and beyond. He fought against his enemies on every side. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.

Odeta: My king, the Amalekites are in full retreat. You have defeated them.

Guest (Male): As King Saul continually experienced success, his devotion to God continually weakened. He became increasingly devoted only to himself.

Saul: Danael, come with me. Danael, you were right.

Danael: I am but your humble servant, my king. It was not an original thought with me. It is an axiom. A king who wins in battle wins in all other things. The people love you. I have a few thoughts on your monument.

Saul: What do you have?

Danael: They're just ideas really.

Saul: Show them to me.

Danael: The first one is large.

Jonathan: Not a bad shot for the pampered son of the king. Sometimes, Odeta, I long for the simple days before all this.

Odeta: At times a great blessing can be harder to bear than suffering. Jonathan, I constantly pray that your father would bear it as well as you have.

Jonathan: It is ten, a hundred times harder for him than for me. Almost no one tells him the truth. They just say what pleases him.

Odeta: None is worse than Danael. He is leading the king to dark places, into selfishness and self-worship. It's your shot.

Jonathan: I'm afraid that Danael is only taking the king to places the king already wanted to go. He is only the hands and feet of my father's worst instincts. Not bad, Odeta. That was a great shot.

Odeta: I'm as surprised as you are. I've never made a shot like that. I think I'll quit right now. I want to savor the moment. Micah, go get the arrows.

Micah: Watch how fast I run.

Jonathan: More and more my father confides in me, and he listens to me. I think he'll come around.

Odeta: Did you see him basking in the praise of the people today? He drinks it in.

Jonathan: I saw. I know. But it was a great victory, and he—

Odeta: He took the credit for himself. God has done everything to turn his heart. Saul has been chosen, gifted, even punished. But despite it all, I don't think the king will ever give his heart entirely to God. And I'm afraid the kingdom will suffer because of it.

Odeta: My king.

Saul: Yes, what is it?

Odeta: Samuel has come to speak with you.

Saul: Show him in. Would you leave us, please?

Odeta: Sire.

Samuel: Shalom, King Saul.

Saul: Shalom, Samuel. What brings you?

Samuel: God sent me to anoint you king over his people.

Guest (Male): After Samuel left, King Saul called in all of his captains and his advisors.

Saul: Samuel has told me the commands from the Lord. We are to punish Amalek. When Israel came here from Egypt, Amalek attacked. They were beaten back and defeated by the Lord. Afterwards, he told Moses, "I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." And today is that day.

Jonathan: Father, we are to blot them out?

Saul: Samuel said to strike Amalek and destroy everything that he has, and not spare anything.

Jonathan: Nothing?

Saul: Nothing. We are to kill the men and women, children and infants, and all of their livestock. We are to destroy every living thing.

Guest (Male): Then Saul gathered the people. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and another 10,000 men of Judah. Now this was not going to be a war as much as an execution of a wicked people who had been condemned by God.

It was neither going to be a great challenge nor a great victory. It was merely a task that needed to be done. Saul and his army set out for the city of Amalek, and they set an ambush.

Joseph: Hi, I'm Joseph Levins from Heartland. Don't go away because there's more of Paws & Tales coming up.

Ned: We have some parents with me today that would love to tell you what they think about the fun, the biblical teaching, and the music of Paws & Tales. Go right ahead, please.

Guest (Female): Well, I love—

Ned: Closer to the microphone, please.

Guest (Female): Sorry. I love that Paws & Tales is fun for kids and parents. I kind of expect my kids learn from the episodes, but so do we.

Ned: I love that. Now don't miss an episode of Paws & Tales right here on this amazing station.

Saul: Attack!

Guest (Male): That day Saul defeated the Amalekites.

Danael: My king, another great victory to be remembered for generations.

Saul: Thank you, Danael.

Danael: You, help me with my armor.

Saul: Yes, my lord. Danael, you never have just one suggestion. What is it?

Danael: If you remember, I served in the court of King Agag.

Saul: Yes, I remember.

Danael: Yes, he is now the only Amalekite we did not kill.

Saul: Well, perhaps I should spare him and keep him as a trophy of this victory.

Danael: That is exactly what I was going to suggest. He can be of great service to you. He is shrewd. And I have just spoken with him. He is now a king without a kingdom, and he has eagerly agreed that in return for his life, he will serve you all of his days.

Saul: A wise course of action. Bring him in.

Danael: He can guide you in negotiations, with strategy.

Agag: King Saul, I am your most humble servant.

Saul: Agag, you agree to give your loyalty and devotion to me?

Agag: Without reservation, my king. I humbly submit that I can serve you in ways that no other can.

Saul: So Danael has suggested. Prepare living quarters for Agag, with whatever else he requires.

Danael: Excellent.

Agag: Oh, my gratitude will be never-ending, my king.

Captain Shemesh: My king.

Saul: Captain Shemesh, what is it?

Captain Shemesh: The men are grumbling.

Saul: After this great victory? What could they possibly be grumbling about?

Captain Shemesh: The men, many of them, do not want to destroy the Amalekites' perfectly good livestock. They've left their own flocks and not plowed their own fields to come and fight for their king. This would bind their hearts to you.

Danael: Well, the task has been completed. Amalek is gone, wiped from the land. What could it hurt?

Captain Shemesh: The men have fought long and hard.

Saul: Have the men destroy all but the best of the livestock. Let the rest be divided among the men. Take out the king's portion first.

Captain Shemesh: Of course, my king. The women will sing of your name forever.

Saul: Perhaps now is the time, Danael.

Danael: Indeed now, my lord. You have just turned a grumbling and potentially dangerous army into happy and devoted followers.

Saul: Prepare the troops to move to Carmel. We'll set up the monument.

Danael: The list of your victories will barely fit on the stone, but this is just the first of many monuments to come.

Saul: Once it's started, we'll head back to Gilgal for a proper celebration.

Jonathan: Father.

Saul: My son, it is a great day for the kingdom. I want you to remember it well.

Jonathan: Captain Shemesh just gave orders for the men to divide the livestock among themselves.

Saul: It was necessary. And it was my desire.

Jonathan: That is not what the Lord commanded.

Agag: No longer King Agag. Just Agag. I am now a humble servant of the mighty King Saul.

Jonathan: He should not be here. He should not be alive.

Agag: I am but a harmless advisor, a trophy really, to bring glory to the king.

Jonathan: If you speak again, I'll kill you myself.

Saul: Don't be impudent. He'll be useful. And it too was my desire.

Jonathan: Father, can I speak to you alone?

Saul: We are moving camp to Carmel. We don't have time for this discussion now.

Jonathan: Why Carmel?

Danael: That is where we will place the first monument of King Saul.

Jonathan: Father, please listen to me. We were to destroy everything. Don't you see this as a sin against God?

Saul: I cannot just reverse my order now. And I will not. These men would revolt. When we get back to Gilgal, I will make a great sacrifice to the Lord.

Jonathan: That will—

Saul: Enough. I have spoken. Prepare the troops for Carmel.

Guest (Male): Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel.

Insight for Living: I regret that I have made Saul king. His heart has turned from me, and he only obeys his selfish desires.

Guest (Male): Samuel poured out his anger and disappointment in prayer all through the night. Then he rose early in the morning to find Saul.

Saul: Samuel comes. Shalom, Samuel. God's blessings on you. Things could not have gone better, and I have done all the Lord commanded.

Samuel: What then is this bleating of sheep I hear, and the lowing of cattle? Where did they all come from?

Saul: The soldiers saved back a few of the best cattle and sheep to offer up in sacrifice to God. But everything else was destroyed. We even sacrifice—

Samuel: Enough. Let me tell you what God said to me last night.

Saul: Tell me.

Samuel: When you started out, you were nothing, and you knew it. Then God put you at the head of Israel. He made you a king over his people.

Saul: Yes.

Samuel: And then God sent you off to do a job, ordering you, "Go and put the sinners, the Amalekites, under holy ban. Go to war against them until you have totally wiped them out." So why, why did you not obey God? Why did you grab all this forbidden livestock?

Saul: I did obey God. I did just what he told me to. I even captured King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites just as I was told. I admit some of the soldiers saved back a few of the best sheep and cattle, but that was so we could sacrifice them to God at Gilgal.

Samuel: Do you think the Lord wants burnt offerings as much as obedience? To obey the Lord is better than sacrificing to him, and obeying him is more important than an elaborate religious ceremony.

Saul: You have misunderstood.

Samuel: Rebellion is like the sin of black magic, and to disobey God by grabbing things that are forbidden is worse than praying to stone idols. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you from being king.

Saul: No, please. Don't leave me. I beg you. Please. No, no, not until you have forgiven me.

Samuel: You have torn my robe, and the Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you, and he has given it to one who is better than you. Understand this: the Lord, the glory of Israel, will not change his mind.

Saul: I have sinned. Please, honor me. Honor me before the elders of my people, before Israel. Go back with me so that I can worship the Lord your God.

Samuel: Even now your thoughts are to protect your pride. I will come with you.

Guest (Male): So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord.

Saul: Samuel, thank you for this. I promise before you and God—bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.

Agag: I am here, great prophet. We have fought valiantly in the past, you and I, but that is all in the past. Now how may I serve you?

Samuel: Your vicious and hungry sword has made many women childless, and now your mother will be childless also.

Agag: Oh, great one, I do not understand. Soldier, give me your sword.

Captain Shemesh: Of course.

Guest (Male): And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.

Saul: Samuel, stop. Samuel, what are you doing? Samuel, stop it.

Jonathan: Father, father, leave him alone. He's doing what you should have done yesterday.

Guest (Male): Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death. The Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. From the way that Scripture reads, it appears that Samuel never really stopped grieving for Saul.

It is my opinion that in spite of all Saul's faults and failures, Samuel had come to love him. I think Samuel had been filled with a great hope that this gifted and blessed man would lead the hearts of the people back to God. Instead, this man who was chosen by God gave into despair and distraction and refused to obey God. Samuel's heart was broken.

Insight for Living: Samuel, how long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him as king. Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. I have chosen the next king from among his sons.

Guest (Male): Samuel did what the Lord said, even though he was putting his life in danger by this act of obedience. And when a prophet comes to you, he rarely comes with good news. Usually he comes with a dire warning from the Lord to turn from your evil ways.

The people revered Samuel, but they were also deeply afraid of him. When Samuel got to Bethlehem, the elders of the city were terrified. And they came out to meet him, trembling.

Guest (Male): Shalom, Samuel. Shalom. What brings you to our humble city? Samuel, do you come in peace?

Samuel: I come in peace.

Guest (Male): God be praised. How can we serve you?

Samuel: I've come to sacrifice this heifer and lead you in the worship of God. Prepare yourselves, be consecrated, and join me in worship. Tell Jesse and his sons that they are invited as well.

Guest (Male): Jesse, really? You know Jesse?

Samuel: I'll be waiting for them.

Guest (Male): Certainly, Samuel. Of course, I will bring them myself. Jesse and his sons.

Jesse: Samuel, blessed are you of the Lord.

Samuel: Shalom, Jesse.

Jesse: Shalom, Samuel. It is a great honor to be here with you.

Samuel: Shalom, Jesse.

Jesse: This is my eldest son, Eliab.

Guest (Male): When they entered, Samuel looked at Eliab. He was tall, handsome, and rugged. He looked very much like a king should look.

Samuel: Here he is. This is the one the Lord has chosen.

Insight for Living: Samuel, do not be impressed by his appearance or how tall he is. I have rejected him. For God sees not as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Samuel: Shalom, Eliab.

Jesse: This is my son, Abinadab.

Samuel: Shalom. This is not the one either.

Jesse: And this is my next son, Shammah.

Samuel: Shalom, Shammah. Nor is he the one.

Guest (Male): In this way, Jesse made all of his sons pass before Samuel.

Samuel: The Lord has not chosen any of these, Jesse.

Jesse: Chosen? For what?

Samuel: Are these all your sons?

Jesse: Yes. No, there is the youngest. He's out watching the sheep.

Samuel: Well, find him and bring him here. We will not sit down until he comes. Eliab, go and bring David back here.

Eliab: Chosen for what, Father?

Jesse: Do I look like a prophet? Go and bring him back. Quickly.

Liam: Hi, I'm Liam from Colorado. My favorite Paws & Tales character is Ned because he is so smart. Wait till you hear what happens next on today's episode.

Ned: Welcome, everyone. Ned the beaver here. I have a very sweet mom here with me today that would love to tell you what she thinks about Paws & Tales. Go ahead, ma'am, that I have never met before.

Guest (Female): I love that the kids in the club are so fun and take care of each other while they are learning about God.

Eliab: Father, I have him.

Samuel: Shalom, David.

Guest (Male): Now David was the very picture of health, bright-eyed and good-looking.

Insight for Living: Samuel, arise and anoint him. He is the one.

Samuel: David, son of Jesse, kneel before the Lord God. I anoint you as the chosen one of God to be king of Israel. May the Lord—

Guest (Male): Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.

There was now new hope in the heart of Samuel. There was a man, a boy really, who had no qualification to be king other than he had a heart that was utterly devoted to God. Because of this one characteristic, God would bless him, protect him, and bless the entire nation through him.

Dave Carl: This is Mr. Collins signing off from somewhere near the ancient city of Gibeon.

Stacy: Whoa.

C.J.: Yeah, whoa.

Stacy: I feel kind of sad.

Ned: How could you feel sad? They have David now. Then. You know what I mean.

Stacy: I'm angry. Saul could have done it. He could have been a great king, and Jonathan would have been a great king after him. But why wouldn't he just obey? He ruined everything.

Ned: He did pretty much mess up everything. He started out a good king and then he got kicked out. How embarrassing is that?

Stacy: Well, count me in on the angry thing. What a waste. What was he thinking?

Ned: You know, guys, he wasn't anything unusual. We're pretty blessed and gifted too.

C.J.: So?

Ned: So how often do we decide not to obey God and do what we want instead?

C.J.: Well, maybe sometimes.

Ned: A lot. Over and over again. Can we change the subject? Would you stop with the paddleball? A bunch of donkeys. All of us.

Stacy: Yep.

Ned: Now that's just negative. You're a pessimist.

Stacy: What does that mean?

Ned: It means you're negative.

Stacy: But you already said that.

Ned: Sometimes I reiterate for emphasis.

Stacy: What does reiterate mean?

Ned: It means I sometimes say the same thing twice to make a point.

Stacy: Oh. It didn't really—

Ned: I know it didn't work this time. Pretty much we're like Saul.

C.J.: I don't want to be like Saul.

Stacy: Me neither.

Ned: It's our hearts, isn't it? We have to love God more than anything.

Stacy: That's it. That's the most important thing.

Ned: Okay. How do we do that?

C.J.: No idea.

Stacy: That's what I was thinking.

Ned: Good question. King Saul is what we don't want to be. King David—

Stacy: Yeah, we need to know about King David. Do you think Mr. Collins recorded the story of King David?

Ned: Sure, but those tubes could be in any one of a hundred rooms that we've never been in before. Yippee skippy, let's find them.

Stacy: I know, Ned. It'll be all right. Let's just walk it off. Come on, you slowpokes. King David awaits.

Ned: What's the matter with Ned? He said, "Yippee skippy." Really? That bothered you? It's more like frustration. Well, well, well. Come on, guys. We have adventures ahead. Did you hear that? I'm so alone in the world.

Guest (Male): Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you. I know that's easier to say than do. I pray that I would have a heart that's true. Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you.

It seems the people every day turn from you and walk away. So much sorrow, so much pain, for those they leave behind. But think somehow it's all okay. But I don't want to live that way. So may I have the strength to stay forever by your side.

Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you. I know that's easier to say than do. I pray that I would have a heart that's true. Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you.

Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you. I know that's easier to say than do. I pray that I would have a heart that's true. Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you.

Give my life to you. Yes, that's what I'll do. Live my life for you, oh my Lord. So may I always do your will, see your plans for me fulfill. Don't want to hide or just stand still, but follow you today.

Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you. I know that's easier to say than do. I pray that I would have a heart that's true. Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you.

Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you. I know that's easier to say than do. I pray that I would have a heart that's true. Oh Lord, I want to live my life for you.

To order a copy of today's program, The Story of Saul, the First King of Israel, visit us at pawsandtales.org.

Guest (Male): The Story of Saul, Part 4 was written and directed by Dave Carl. The song, "Live My Life for You," was written by Sandy Howell and Bob Sobel. Music was by Tim Hosman, and our sound designer was Jerry Swafford. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production and a proud member of the hiskids.net alliance. To hear this and other great programs for kids, visit hiskids.net.