Choices

#68: “Choices”

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Paired with

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Airdate

April 1, 1989

Last aired

May 9, 2022 ↓

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Original Release Date

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Date Recorded

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Recorded at

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Album

04: FUN-damentals

Album

04: FUN-damentals ↓

• 04: FUN-damentals
• 04: Puns, Parables, and Perilous Predicaments
• Silver Celebration
• Aventuras en Odisea: Volumen 3

Cassette No.

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Intro

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Intros

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Wraps

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Wraps

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Theme

Evolution
Faith
Authority

Genre

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Scripture

Romans 14:23

²³But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

2 Timothy 1:7

⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

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

Opciones

Spanish Airdate

May 3, 2014

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Previous title

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Host

Chris Anthony

Written by

Phil Lollar

Directed by

Phil Lollar

Produced by

Dave Arnold

Executive Producer

Chuck Bolte

Post-Production by

Dave Arnold

Production Assistant

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Engineered by

Dave Arnold

Music by

John Campbell

Songs by

Unknown

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Spanish Version

Other websites

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Promo

Sample

The Imagination Station, Part 2

Choices

Go Ye Therefore

“Choices” is episode #68 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Phil Lollar, and originally aired on April 1, 1989.

Summary

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz is assigned to write a school report on evolution.

Plot

Lucy receives the best and worst news of her academic career on the same afternoon. First, her teacher, Mr. Winthrop, informs her that she's been chosen to write a report that will be published in the Educator, a newspaper that goes to all of the teachers in the district. Lucy is excited - until she learns that the subject of her report is evolution.

Lucy's Christian beliefs are at odds with this prevailing scientific theory. She asks if she can write about something else, but the report is also part of a class assignment, and thus a part of her grade. If she doesn't do the report, she fails the assignment. Lucy is cornered.

That night at home, she relates the dilemma to her father, who leaves the decision up to Lucy. Dad says she's responsible enough to figure this one out for herself. He and her mother will support Lucy, whatever she decides to do. Lucy mulls the situation over and over in her mind. She even has a nightmare about it. Finally, on Sunday, she receives some spiritual guidance from Whit. He says the Bible teaches that if you believe in your heart that something is wrong, you shouldn't do it, because "everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

Lucy makes up her mind. Monday at school, she gives Mr. Winthrop her decision: She's not writing the report. Mr. Winthrop is naturally disappointed and asks why. Lucy explains that her Christian beliefs conflict with the theory of evolution. She can't in good conscience write the report, even if that means she'll get a failing grade. Mr. Winthrop is impressed with her convictions and the courage she shows in living by them, so much so that he comes up with a solution: Write about evolution from a Christian perspective. Lucy agrees, and life returns to normal.

Discussion Questions

1. Why was Lucy so opposed to writing the report?
2. Did Lucy’s dad do the right thing in letting Lucy make the decision about writing the report?
3. Has anybody ever asked you to do something you didn’t believe was right?
   • How did you handle the situation?
   • Did you pray about it?
4. Is it possible to be a Christian and still believe the validity of evolutionary theory?
   • Could evolution be the means by which God created the world?

Cast

Heard in episode

Relative Importance / Chronological

Role	Actor
Waiter	Phil Lollar
Film Narrator	Bob Luttrell
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz	Genni Long
Bobby	David Minnery
Mr. Winthrop	Rick Najera
Marsha	Jennifer Minnery
Hal Cunningham	Nathan Carlson
John Whittaker	Hal Smith
Connie Kendall	Katie Leigh

Relative Importance / Chronological

Role	Actor
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz	Genni Long
Mr. Winthrop	Rick Najera
John Whittaker	Hal Smith
Hal Cunningham	Nathan Carlson
Marsha	Jennifer Minnery
Bobby	David Minnery
Connie Kendall	Katie Leigh
Film Narrator	Bob Luttrell
Waiter	Phil Lollar

Mentioned in episode

Character	Mentioned By
Mrs. Cunningham-Schultz	Hal Cunningham

Notes

Trivia

• This episode marks the likely start of Lucy's foray into journalistic writing.
• Ironic (and perhaps a little creepy) is the fact that Nathan Carlson, who plays Lucy's father in this episode, would go on to portray Lucy's love interest Richard Maxwell in #73: “A Bite of Applesauce” and the rest of the Blackgaard saga.
  • Phil Lollar points this out in the Complete Guide.
• The infamous Lucy's Last Name goof is exhibited in this episode.
• The Summer Morn dishwashing liquid that Hal Cunningham uses in this episode is likely based on Dawn dishwashing liquid.
• According to Dave Arnold, the sound effects of the film reel were created by layering the sound tracks for the film on a reel-to-reel deck and thumbing the reel so it would drag, making everything sound warbled.

Reviews

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Quotes

Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: I just can't. I'm a Christian, Mr. Winthrop, and I believe that God created man, not that he evolved from an amoeba...

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Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: Another dumb movie.

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Narrator: Yes, evolution affects our lives in ways we're just beginning to understand.
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz: You can say that again, buster.