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A Change of Hart

Album: Gold Audio 01: The Adventure Begins

Episode: 27

Lesson/Theme: Salvation; living a changed life.

Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:16-17

Characters: Whit

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: May 21, 1988

Last Air Date: February 21, 2008

Description:
Freddie Hart would love to be someone else-anybody except himself. He's so unpopular, he's the poster child for Geek World. All the kids love to make fun of him and pick on him. Freddie is so miserable, he asks his dad if the family could move to a new city. Dad doesn't think that's practical, so Freddie suggests that he move instead to a different school-Odyssey Academy. No one knows him there, so he could be a different person. Dad doesn't think running away from problems is a good answer for Freddie, though, so Dad tells Freddie to stick it out. But the next day, Freddie gets beat up. Mr. Hart tries talking to the school principal, but he's not at all helpful. So Freddie gets his wish-a transfer to Odyssey Academy. He's elated. At last, it's a chance to start fresh! Only, almost immediately, the familiar pattern starts: the teasing, the cruel jokes, the snickering. Freddie thinks he's found a friend in Gordie, but after Gordie offers some blunt advice to Freddie about changing his clothes, his hair, and his hobbies, Gordie avoids him like the plague. Soon Freddie is right back where he started. That night, Freddie tearfully (again) asks his dad if he wouldn't mind moving the family to another city. Dad comforts him, and Freddie says he's tried everything he knows to make friends. He's changed his appearance, his manners, and even his school just to be liked, but nothing works. Dad says that the only way Freddie can really change is on the inside, in his heart. Everyone wants to be loved and accepted, but the important question is, To whom do we want to be acceptable? The answer, of course, is God. Dad tells Freddy that, fortunately, we don't have to change for God-we just have to let God work His changes in and through us. The way we do that is by asking Jesus Christ to come into our hearts. Dad asks if Freddie wants to do that. Freddie says he does. The two of them kneel, and Freddie finally gets his wish-he becomes a new creation.

Questions:
Why did Freddie try to change himself? Have you ever changed something about yourself just to please someone else? What was it? When is it good to change something about yourself?