When in Doubt, Make It a Song

Randall good game but admits that as a young father. He was intimidated by the idea of leaving his family in family devotions, leaving them spiritually. The Lord revealed that I was afraid of the hypocrisy that I was feeling and what he helped me to see was not to be afraid of it but to acknowledge so I can walk to my kids and not say you need Jesus. And here's why.

But to say I need Jesus. You need Jesus.

Let's lock arms and need him together because working to prove how much we need him to each other for the rest of our lives. This is family life to our hosts are David and Wilson about the pain. You can find us online@familylifeto.com will hear today how Randall good game ultimately started putting scripture to music as a way to communicate spiritual truth to his children and the rest as they say, is history. Stay with us and welcome to family life the day.

Thanks for joining us a quiz to start off with you and we never know what is going to do with okay so I just want to see how far back you go I will give you a give you a Q and and the subject is kids TV okay archives video talk to my wife right so do you recognize this, I see Bobby I see Nancy I see Susan I see Lucy. Does that ring a bell for you lots the readers that we didn't like first grade email, no bikini, romper room, Miss Nancy Morrow were not at all. You sigh this wraparound magic Miller and she would see the kid yeah and she would call them out by name writing to see if you guy but you'll get this one. Dave thinks into the needles, thinking, thinking, fidgeting Ching Ching Ching Ching Ching Ching Ching Ching Ching Ching thinking thing to do. Thinking changing that Brenna Bill doesn't know you. I recognize that to let me ask our guests to his joining us how Randall good game is here with us.

Randall, do you recognize that I do not okay but I wish I did. That would just be me, that's Capt. kangaroo that was my favorite will come in. That's the music that was playing he'd have his keys and the music would keep playing until he hung his keys on the rack as soon as he hung up the music would stop like that and the reason I remembered is because there was one show when they must've gotten a little punchy because he decided to ring toss his keys and that music just kept playing, not hidden the ring at all, just over and over the map and they left it in for the final show. Okay, let's go. Let's jump to our new category right now. Bob, do you remember Colby, the singing pewter no build on your member salty act. Remember Colby the computer.

Yes, do you remember you know what your you remember Colby your member salty yellow there for my kids. Okay, do you remember and Sylvania yes K. Please if you think these were part of first my childhood and then with our kids. There is something remarkable about music and the imagination that captures a kids mind and their creativity and the reason we talk about that is because of the guest to we got with us today Randall good game who I just didn't introduce but we said how do you welcome to family life to day. Thank you so much fun.

I first heard about what you're doing. This was more than a decade ago I was at Andrew Peterson concert and I think you must've been were you in the band.

Back then, did you play with him on some shows, you know, I toured with him for a couple years.

This is an opening artist I might've played piano with them at the show. You went to.

I think you and Ben Scheib and Andrew.

I think the three of you were performing together. But he had your real just say yes you are. Yes I do copy of the slugs and bugs lullaby CD again is at more than a decade old Utica Mountain 2007 okay so I bought that because I needed help. Going to sleep at night and I want it know it's because I had and I thought that would that would be something that they would enjoy and they did and that was the first time I was aware of the slugs and the bugs and what God has put on your heart is a burden for music and kids for many years. Since that time our listeners to know there are feels like there are scores of slugs and bugs CDs that have come out. There are books that have now come out and I watched this year. Some of the first episodes of the new slugs and bugs video series 13 episodes that you've done in season one right is right and it's fun and amazing stuff and and we want our listeners to know about what you're doing you brought. Is this a slug or a bug you brought with no I'm just calling my daughter is living again, living welcome to family life today thinking and you have been a part of the entourage with your dad really since it was first time on stage were like 14 first time on stage. I was snoring at an official concert and what to do when were none.

I played the fiddle as I first started learning how to play when I was around seven or eight and it was a show I remember the venue was a small church in Georgia and I remembered the song I played was golden slippers really simple kind of country fiddle tune weighing Iris. Oh yes oh yes I was so nervous you got the biggest thousand nine and dad ahead of the fund to take your daughter. It's just best to get your kids come with you and see what you do but also watch them to flourish in and shine and use God's gifts.

Every time I've seen you anywhere you have a bowtie on so we just got asked about the bow tie to start off like a light will honestly does he wear bowtie like around the house or when you go swimming know this is actually a newer thing. I'm sure he can tell you more but back when funds and bugs wasn't as big is coming go to show outfit was target superhero T-shirt and when kids started showing up to the concerts wearing like the target Capt. America T-shirt.

He was like me should find something else so marble doesn't come out. And that's right it actually did a TV show one time and I had my Capt. America walked in. They said all you can have to turn it inside out or something. I learned quick in this email something friendly and fun about bowtie, so you can show that you show without bowties on how totally you yeah for sure you get a pink one today every color in the book I guess so yeah I'm always looking for more coupons.

People have often made the comparison between you and Fred Rogers. You've heard that over and over and over again.

I have which of course I got always stop and say there is only one Fred Rogers. He just an enormous fan appreciator of him.

I'm sure by now lots� Seen you him on YouTube doing things and in speaking up for children's television programming. We watch the movies. Both the documentary and just me and everyone else in the theater, not a dry eye in the place, but certainly an amazing mentor and someone to look to admire and learn from for this opportunity.

Horse given me was he a subtle influence or like did you look at him and go. I want to pattern what I'm doing after what I see him doing certain things.

His unflinching commitment to the thing he was called to for sure he wanted help kids understand their feelings in there certain things that I feel like the Lord is specifically called me to, and his unflinching commitment to his call has influenced me in some towns or something I want to do or want to say that sometimes my team is incredible and supportive as they are but they're thinking about different things and I am still sorting try to guide me when were the other and having Fred Rogers sometimes us all use them as an example to say look if Fred Rogers was called to this aspect of the believer in talk about Jesus, but if he was called this we use his commitment to his calling as a litmus test for us to Randall take us back to your call. Talking about Fred Rogers, did you always think this is what he'd been doing. Oh goodness know I am in no way, in fact, even a year before I started doing slugs and bugs. If you told me I will be doing children's concerts.

I just laughed and thought your crazy Andrew and I had made the slugs and bugs and lullaby CD just as a side project and why slugs and bugs that just came from a song lyric song called God made me that starts off God made slugs and bugs and rats and bats and that the be the don't say please listing your elbows and your knees if you chase them and so just like you do. Looking for a title for your record. We titled it after a song lyric that seemed fun. Slugs and bugs and then fast forward three years I had been a worship pastor or church for couple years and thought for a while and like a seminarian. The Lords can let me out of that.

I realized I didn't need to be doing that anymore was really on the hunt for what the Lord was calling me to and I did a concert at Second Baptist Church in Houston Texas nobody Brian Long was drive me back to the airport and said that when you interviewed another one of those kids CDs with the slugs and the bugs and my kids love it and I told him then you know I actually really enjoyed parts of that and maybe could do another one, but I just know I couldn't see myself as a clown and I think if I was going to children's music, I would just have to be a clown and I just don't think I could do it and he said it wouldn't have to be a clown you could just get my buddy Scott to make you some fun videos. You could just be the phone for the host of the rim of the game show with some kids songs and literally I got his buddy Scott's number was like getting hit by a bat in the face but like a gentle bath and nice back in the car on the way to the airport began that this vision because I thought I could do that and think the joke is on is on me because 10 years later through the process of becoming full-time children's musician and artist I wear the red shoes, and I am a clown for Jesus. So the Lord, I can look back and see all the different ways he was preparing me but it started right then and it also does have my own kids. Realizing that there are aspects of parenting that were just a particular struggle for me specifically. One thing I talk about a lot is so often parenting my kids never want to talk to them about the gospel talk about Jesus, I would just feel this uncut discomfort in my spirit about it and I would pray seek the Lord, not to my wife like I'll feel comfortable talking to them about the gospel.

What is the problem because it made you feel what I didn't know, and eventually the Lord I feel it revealed that I was afraid of the hypocrisy that I was feeling and what he helped me to see was not to be afraid of it but to acknowledge it so I can walk to my kids and not say you need Jesus. And here's why. But to say I have lived so long and I know how bad I need Jesus and part of my job is to help you to get to know him because you need him to. So that instead of it being go learn about Jesus because you need to know this stuff from you children's director and church. It's I need Jesus. You need Jesus.

Let's lock arms and meet him together because working to prove how much we need him to each other for the rest of our lives when we were working on the art of parenting video series. One of the people we interviewed for that series was a mom in California who said kind of on repeat at our house is parents send their kids I'm a sinner just like you in the correction process and the disciplining process just to remind look, I'm in the same boat your rim rather then I'm the parent you're the kid I do it right you do it wrong.

I think there's something powerful about moms and dads all of us saying to one another look. I mess up like you mess up.

I need Jesus just like you right yeah there's something that's it resonates with me all the passages of Scripture about freedom to start to jump out where that discomfort that I was feeling is bondage.

It's it is for freedom that Christ set us free. I can be fully myself in front of anyone because whatever I sin I reveal. The Lord has taken care of and whatever light that I shine. He gets the credit for, so I am free then to just be his in front of you guys were from my kids and with my wife things we have one your kids here yeah that's right so we can ask where he is and I just finished our parenting book and our three sons are commenting at the end of each chapter so still in Prague next year next year so we don't know what they're going right yet but there and read it and comment so we can live here. Yeah. So, did you see that your mom and dad and we obviously got your dad here in terms of like he actually talked about being little awkward journey gospel did you fill any of that or did you see him be in a sinner just dish out all the dirt now well when I was in sixth grade and my brother Jonah was in fourth grade we homeschooled for a year because dad went he would always be out of town on the weekends and then we'd always be at school during the weeks we didn't get to spend much time with them.

So then we decided to homeschool for a year and mom Kenneth took over the reading and history part of it. We did the math part online on program and then dad did like little music lessons, and Bible teachings and stuff like that and he would get us to memorize verses and that was kind of his way to talk about the Bible with us or you know to get us into verse memorization. The way he would get us memorize them was to create little melodies for the songs and some of the melodies for the verses that he created are now sons among socks, which is cool. You remember when the songs with me. Could you sing one right now. Trusting God with all your heart and lean not on your understanding. You always say no and he said you said that was the first that was the first one you wrote really.

And as I get home. Right.

It wasn't until about three or four weeks of completely unsuccessful Scripture memorization, except for Lily would remember, but three or four weeks later it was gone that when I started writing melodies and then stuck there is something I've heard you talk about this. There's something about music that there's a relational component to music being shared their something that happens in relationships we gather around music.

Can you explain what that is all about. I doubt it.

But you know I mean if you think about just being called to worship. For sure this time of quarantining you know my family gets together and and watches our service online every Sunday and I want to turn up the TV so I can hear the congregation that's there, you know, socially distanced, singing along with us because there is something that's super valuable about that. In affirming the truth that we believe together. I mean, that's Scripture singing but of course there is something that is out of reach to completely define about what is so valuable about just singing songs together while we go to music concerts and sing along to the songs we love there is something wondrous and the little bit that we know about heaven. There's a lot of singing, some people are singing and that's all they ever do and what I member talk with our old friend Indra Peterson about this when they get boring to just sing the same song over and over, and what we know is that we are human, they're not. We can only presume that it's not so how incredible must it be to be able to never stop singing to the Lord and I don't know that we understand it, but there's something about the gift of music and the fact that there is a mystical something to music and what it does to connect head and heart. What it does to connect people as we sing together. It's like were joining together in a common activity that unites us. We can share a meal and there's great social interaction there but there's something when both of our voices are aligned and were singing together. I don't know that I understand the mystery of it, but what a gift of God to give us music right yet. It's a beautiful mystery. I think because in some ways even as a preacher and teacher.

You know that if you can get your audience engaged in what you're teaching the memory and the actions can go off if I just preach and they sit and listen good. But if I have them participate. Q&A have them stand up even and do something everybody knows you know I put stuff on the screen. Same thing for music. The more senses involved the better memory which you've obviously tapped into. If you say it. One thing you sing it and get a hold nosing on brains engage. Maybe there's a stand up and clap all those extra senses right as I was going. I can sure talk right and then if you compounded with children learning these things with what I'm doing and how so many things that I experience as a kid songs will say I still remember it for its exams old so the opportunity to the Lord is presented to me coming back to what we talked about the beginning to be called to something that just feels. I just but is nothing more important I could be doing with my time when it's contributing to children engaging with scripture engage with stories from the Bible that in a way that will help them remember it so that when the Holy Spirit is in times when it's the right timeframe to bring it to mind. It's there in the last year you have transition from writing songs and doing CDs you've added to your repertoire of 13 episode video series and storybooks for kids. So you're bringing video and visual into the whole mix talk about what that's been like for you in the creative process and how you had to think differently about what it is you're trying to communicate to hear you say it sounds exhausting and also just what I just I'm delighted because I never could've even to couple years ago were seen over the Lord has brought about. But it was amazing getting to start to write books. Some of my favorite books just. Our children's books. I just read one a few minutes ago I just read Jesus in a very big surprise and it's amazing like every parent should buy this book is just one of her assets right thank you and yeah that book. For example, is a paraphrase of the parable where Jesus says to his disciples, it will be good for the servants who are waiting for the master when he returns from his bank. His banquet it'll be good for them who are were found waiting returns because when he returns, master opens the door he will tell them to go recline at his table, he will dress himself to serve, and he will come and wait on them always love that because it paints this amazing picture of Jesus saying this is what God is like he is like the last person you'd ever think would ever put on a robe, and come like serve you. That's the person that is going to come service so getting into writing books was such a joy because I just love having fun.

I started that that book doesn't rhyme, but the four other books are Doug and Sparky books Doug the slug and Sparky lightning bug are the current stars of the slugs and bugs universe their best friends and their rhyming books like Dr. Seuss time once upon a sunny day, Doug. The slug came out to play and what I tried to do this and it's the same thing that I've been trying to do with the music and the TV show. Frankly, is paint a picture of a situation for children to where they can see a situation in life that they could maybe see themselves in and what difference does it make that Jesus is real what is Jesus is existence and truth in our life. How does it really matter why Dwight why would I do anything differently than somebody else because Jesus is real and S.just a kid. Question know every single adult is the same question could go that's right is good.

That's why it's easy to stay engaged and excited about all the time because as I am studying in wrestling these questions is hit me right in the heart you all the time so writing the books and then getting into the TV show. It just felt like more different sources. Different kinds of media to get to ask that question and present that question for all of us to wrestle with. We got on our website@familylifetoday.com a link to the slugs and bugs website where people can hear and see and find out more about the books in the videos, CDs that you put together. In fact, Randall's team is making a special offer for family like today listers this week. You can go to their website and whatever you'd like to purchase.

If you enter the code family life 25. All is one word you'll save 25% on anything you order from their site so you can go to family life today.com and the link is located there and we are making available this week three episodes from the slugs and bugs video series were sending this out to family life to day listers who can join us as new legacy partners. Those of you who are longtime listeners to family like today you may know that it's our monthly legacy partners who provide the financial underpinning so that this program can reach hundreds of thousands of people every day on radio on the web even on your Alexa device. Lots of people who are connecting with us you make that possible when you become a monthly legacy partner make a monthly donation to family life to date we've had some friends of the ministry will come to us recently and they have agreed that here in the last week in August.

Any new legacy partner who joins with us. These friends are to match your donation for the next 12 months, dollar for dollar up to a total of $25,000 so were excited about that.

Were hoping that you will consider becoming a new legacy partner. In addition to your donations being doubled will send you the three episodes of slugs and bugs video series will send you a copy of my new book which is called love like you mean it all about marriage and how to strengthen your marriage relationship and will send you a gift card so that you and your spouse or another couple you know can attend as our guests a weekend. Remember marriage get away as soon as we get the all clear to start those getaways again.

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I want to join the team. Again the number is one 803 586-329-1800 F as in family L as in life, and then the word today that tomorrow. Working to hear more about the power of music to connect with the child's heart around spiritual issues and maybe we'll even get Randall good game and his daughter to sing a song for us tomorrow. I hope you can tune in for all of that. I want to thank our engineer today. Keith Lynch along with our entire broadcast production team on behalf of our hosts Dave and Ann Wilson and Bob Lapine will see you back next time for another edition of family life today. Family life to day is a production of family life of Little Rock, Arkansas. Accrue ministry help for today hope for tomorrow