Adventures in Odyssey Home Page

Gotcha!

Album:

Episode: 24

Lesson/Theme: The occult.

Bible Verse: 1 John 4:1-6

Characters: Connie, Whit, Tom

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: April 30, 1988

Last Air Date: January 1, 1987

Description:
There's been a rash of practical jokes around Whit's End, and Philo Sanderson is the culprit. After he pulls three successive jokes on Whit, Tom, and Officer Harley, Tom warns Philo that the problem with pulling practical jokes is that someone will usually retaliate. Philo says he doesn't have to worry about that because he has a lucky rabbit's foot. Whit immediately dismisses this notion, but Philo says Connie told him he needed the rabbit's foot after she read him his horoscope that morning. Concerned, Whit borrows the foot and marches off to find Connie. Whit asks for an explanation and finds that Connie didn't know there was anything wrong with horoscopes and good-luck charms. When Whit tells her that they're all a part of the occult, Connie is horrified. She apologizes and reminds Whit that horoscopes are cheap and are everywhere-after all, they're in the paper every day. This starts Whit thinking, and he expresses his concern to Tom the next day. Tom suggests that they simply need to make the message of the Bible more exciting to kids than the occult or horoscopes. Whit agrees, then excuses himself and gets to work. Later that week, he unveils Whit's End's newest and grandest attraction: the Bible Room, designed to bring the Scriptures literally to life. In it are displays such as the full armor of God and the city of Jericho-complete with collapsible walls and a talking mirror that speaks Bible verses. Other displays are in the works. The room has also been inspired by Connie, Tom, and especially Philo, whose practical jokes helped Whit see that horoscopes and the occult are Satan's practical jokes on us. Speaking of practical jokes, Philo enters the Bible Room, covered with blue paint. He was setting up another practical joke that backfired on him. Everyone has a good laugh-and silently wonders what kinds of adventures this new room will bring.

Questions:
Is it wrong to pull practical jokes? Why or why not? Did Curt take his joking too far with Lucy? Did he learn a lesson? Explain. What are some "practical jokes" Satan likes to pull on us? How can we avoid them?