The Business of Busyness

#577: “The Business of Busyness”

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Paired with

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Airdate

October 29, 2005

Last aired

April 15, 2024 ↓

• April 15, 2024
  
• February 12, 2021
  
• March 22, 2018
  
• May 21, 2015
  
• September 6, 2012
  
• April 7, 2010
  
• August 1, 2009
  
• October 18, 2007
  
• October 29, 2005
  

Original Release Date

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Date Recorded

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Recorded at

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Album

45: Lost and Found

Album

45: Lost and Found ↓

• 45: Lost and Found
• 45a: The Mystery of the Lost Village

Cassette No.

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Intro

Prologue

Intros

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• Prologue
• Character (Whit)

Wraps

Narration

Wraps

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• Narration
• Normal

Theme

Busyness

Genre

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Scripture

Luke 10:1-42

¹After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

²He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. ⁵"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' ⁶If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. ⁷Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. ⁸"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. ⁹Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' ¹⁰But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' ¹²I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. ¹³"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. ¹⁶"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." ¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." ¹⁸He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." ²¹At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. ²²"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." ²³Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." ²⁵On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" ²⁶"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" ²⁷He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" ²⁸"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." ²⁹But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" ³⁰In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³²So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' ³⁶"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" ³⁷The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." ³⁸As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" ⁴¹"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,

⁴²but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Songs Included

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Inventions Used

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Featured Charity

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Short Used

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Spanish Name

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Previous title

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Host

Chris Anthony

Written by

John Fornof
Kathy Buchanan

Directed by

Marshal Younger

Produced by

Marshal Younger
Glenn Montjoy
Bob Hoose

Executive Producer

Dave Arnold

Post-Production by

Glenn Montjoy

Production Assistant

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Engineered by

Glenn Montjoy

Music by

John Campbell

Songs by

Unknown

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Other websites

Official Site
AIOHQ
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Promo

Sample

Prisoners of Fear, Part 3

The Business of Busyness

All-Star Witness

“The Business of Busyness” is episode #577 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written by John Fornof and Kathy Buchanan, and originally aired on October 29, 2005.

Summary

The Washingtons can’t find time for family devotions, and Eugene’s new service organization has him running in circles!

Plot

Eugene’s new philanthropic organization PLEASE is a whopping success around Odyssey. His phone rings off the hook with requests for kitchen painting, lawn mowing, raking, and even a pedicure. However, Eugene is quickly getting burned out! Whit suggests that Eugene use his energy to train people to help others. That way, Eugene can use his specific talents to invent and instruct.

Meanwhile, Ed Washington attempts to lead his family in family devotions, but the family never seems to be in the same place at the same time.

When Ed and Elaine forget to pick Tamika up from Whit's End, Tamika explains the family busyness to Eugene. He agrees to create a family schedule for the Washingtons'. His conclusion is that, with their current schedule, they do not have time for family devotions.

After some prayer, each family member gives up one activity in order to make time for family devotions. Tamika gives up dance and Marvin gives up Dinosaur Club. While discussing their plan for family devotions, Tamika suggests that they do a family activity together. The doorbell rings and Eugene hurries in to pick up his scheduling supplies and the family has an idea...they should help out Eugene! Together they clean Mrs. Randolph's yard with the help of Eugene's new invention: the Super Power Raker. And together they discover that spending time with God is more important than dance lessons or Dinosaur Club.

This plot section is too short and should be expanded. »

Discussion Questions

1. How did some of Odyssey's residents take unfair advantage of Eugene's willingness to serve? Would that be a good excuse to stop serving? Why or why not?

2. God wants us to meet needs according to the gifts He has given us (1 Peter 4:10). What are some of the gifts He has given you? How can you use them to be a blessing?

3. The Washingtons had a great time working with P.L.E.A.S.E. Is there a ministry or charity in your community that could use a little help? Talk to your parents about devoting a few hours to serving together.

Cast

Heard in episode

Role	Voice Actor
Connie Kendall	Katie Leigh
Eugene Meltsner	Will Ryan
Marvin Washington	Kendre Berry
Tamika Washington	Courtney Brown
Ed Washington	Mark Christopher Lawrence
Elaine Washington	J Karen Thomas
John Whittaker	Paul Herlinger
Mrs. Thatcher	Unknown

Mentioned in episode

Character	Mentioned By
Armitage Shanks	Eugene Meltsner
Trent DeWhite	Elaine Washington
Mrs. Randolph	Connie Kendall
Guy Feldstein	Connie Kendall
Harlow Doyle	Connie Kendall
Doris Rathbone	Connie Kendall

Notes

Trivia

• Ironically, the usually-articulate Eugene verbally stumbles over "manus sursum" every time he says it in this episode.

Allusions

• Eugene's apology in this episode to the Washington family about the crudity of his schedule outline may have been inspired by a similar line given by Doc Brown to Marty twice in the Back to the Future trilogy.

Reviews

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Quotes

Connie Kendall: ...Oh, and Doris Rathbone wants a pedicure.
Eugene Meltsner: Ew!

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Connie Kendall: Hey, Eugene, are you any good with meat slicers?

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Eugene Meltsner: If I were a father, I'd have to equip my children with homing devices!