{"id":301075,"date":"2006-03-20T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-03-20T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/growing-spiritually-with-boz-the-bear\/"},"modified":"2024-10-07T22:42:17","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T02:42:17","slug":"growing-spiritually-with-boz-the-bear","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/growing-spiritually-with-boz-the-bear\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Spiritually with BOZ the Bear"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hear how BOZ can help parents teach their children about the world around them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2006-03-20.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"11.39M","filesize_raw":"11946008","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2806],"tags":[4299,2209],"podcast_series":[7441],"cwp_profile":[8999,9000],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-301075","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spiritual-development","tag-faith","tag-parenting","podcast_series-boz-the-bear-discovering-gods-world-together-tm","cwp_profile-dennis-deshazer","cwp_profile-jon-green","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/301075\/growing-spiritually-with-boz-the-bear","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/301075\/growing-spiritually-with-boz-the-bear","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"TIvQmyW3hr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/growing-spiritually-with-boz-the-bear\/\">Growing Spiritually with BOZ the Bear<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/growing-spiritually-with-boz-the-bear\/embed\/#?secret=TIvQmyW3hr\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Growing Spiritually with BOZ the Bear&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"TIvQmyW3hr\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var 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them.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2006-03-20.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0What if you, as a parent, were going to come up with your own animated character to help your children learn about life and about God?\u00a0 What would you come up with?\u00a0 Well, chances are, you'd come up with a big green bear; you'd have him live right next door; and you'd name him BOZ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0If we're going to build something, we'll need some tools.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0According to Jon Green and Dennis DeShazer and the others who created BOZ, it was because of parents like you that the big green bear came to life.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0But the most important tool of all is \u2013 our imagination.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0We took time early on and talked with moms, and we wanted to find out what they would be interested for us to produce.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0Real parents giving real suggestions about these topics.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0Much of what we're doing is born out of what we call \"kitchen table research.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0And you have to really think about \u2013 how are they thinking about God and how are they thinking about the relationships \u2013 not what you want them to learn but what helps them learn?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0This is FamilyLife Today for Monday, March 20th.\u00a0 Our host is the president of FamilyLife, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine, and we're going to have some fun today introducing you to the big green bear who lives next door.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And welcome to FamilyLife Today, thanks for joining us on the Monday edition.\u00a0 I want to do a little test with you here, okay?\u00a0 I want to see if this brings anything to mind for you, okay?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Okay.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Ding ding ding ding, didi-ding ding ding ding ding ding, ding ding \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0All the way back to Captain Kangaroo.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0You remember the Captain and Mr. Greenjeans and the whole thing?\u00a0 Okay, try this \u2013 let's see how you do.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Unfortunately, not many in our audience do, though, Bob.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0That's true \u2013 try this \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0If you're born after Greenjeans became blue jeans.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0See on this one how you do \u2013 dah, dah, dah dah dadah, dah dah dah dah dadah, do you remember that?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Wasn't that Howdy Doody?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0That's Howdy Doody!\u00a0 You're doing all right.\u00a0 You're pulling this out.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0You're in my era now.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Okay, now, let me try one more, okay?\u00a0 \"I see Lois, I see Jenny, I see Davy\" \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Well, it sounds like a poor imitation of \"Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0No, no, no.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0It wasn't that?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0It's whats-her-name \u2013 Miss Carol from \"Romper Room.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0I watched Romper Room.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0She'd look through the magic mirror at the end of the show, and she'd see the kids \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0I remember that, too.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0She'd see the kids, and there's a reason why I'm asking you all this, because we're going to be talking about preschoolers today.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Yeah, and always here at FamilyLife and FamilyLife Today are very committed to helping moms win in what I believe is one of the most important assignments any human being is ever given, and that's raising the next generation.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0You know, when Barbara and I started out, I'll never forget reading some research about how much of a child's capacity to learn, to morally reason, and how much of their character development occurs before the age of six.\u00a0 And, frankly, it caused us to really buckle down as parents and think about not only what we were exposing our kids to in terms of being defensive and not allowing bad things there, but also thinking about the songs, the tapes, it was cassette tapes back then, videos, and today DVDs.\u00a0 And so we're excited to announce a partnership that really came about because a couple of executives from Exclaim Entertainment really sought us out and said you guys are kindred spirit, and we want to link arms with you to help your audience \u2013 that's our listeners and those that go to our conferences \u2013 do a better job in raising the next generation of young people.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And those two executives are with us today \u2013 Jon Green and Dennis DeShazer join us on FamilyLife Today, and it's going to tough to have two Dennises on the broadcast.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0We'll muddle through.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Dennis, forgive me for this, but I'm going to have Bob, when he refers to me, refer to me as Dr. Rainey.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0He's never done that, he's never done that on FamilyLife Today, and so I do have a doctorate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and so Bob, just so our listeners \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Can I just call you Doctor?\u00a0 Would that be okay?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0That will be okay, just call me Doctor.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Just call you Doctor.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0And we'll just have some fun with that.\u00a0 But, anyway, welcome to the broadcast, and we're excited about what your new company is all about, and this goes back to your days when both of you helped give birth and then promote a purple dinosaur.\u00a0 Is that correct?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0A purple dinosaur, and the rest is history.\u00a0 Jon and I became friends when we worked at Lyric Studios, which is the company behind Barney the Dinosaur, and we met there, and so I was involved \u2013 I was one of the co-creators of Barney, and Jon was the operational executive, so handled all the business side of what made Barney Barney.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0You know, I remember \u2013 of course, all of us were aware of Barney, because he seemed to be everywhere.\u00a0 I remember hearing kind of through the grapevine that there were Christians involved with Barney, there are Christians behind Barney, and there was this little undercurrent of buzz, like, are they trying to work in some Christian themes on Barney?\u00a0 Was that a part of the Barney idea or the Barney mission at all?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0It wasn't part of the Barney mission.\u00a0 It certainly \u2013 I think, as you discussed, young families, as parents, have such an awesome job in front of us, and you're looking around at what your children take in not only through media but on the playground with their peer groups, and it's so important that we realize that we are a large community \u2013 the community of parents.\u00a0 And part of Barney's mission was not Christian but you know what?\u00a0 We have a lot of the same values as they come down from the aspects such as manners and how we treat each other and, you know, certainly every parent wants their child to learn at an early age the importance of learning, to love learning.\u00a0 And so we all share that, and I think that speaks to Christians and others alike.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0There were common character elements and character development.\u00a0 There were educational goals that you had with Barney, but there was never any mention of any spiritual component.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0And I think that's one of the things that Jon and I saw as being something that was needed.\u00a0 I mean, we needed some programming that focuses on preschoolers and not only has great entertainment value, because without that the child is up and gone, and you have no hope of reaching them.\u00a0 But you also want educational material \u2013 you want to teach them about colors and numbers and shapes and manners, et cetera. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0For us, for Jon and me, it's so important that the faith aspect, you know, it's an important element in our lives, and it's something you want to pass on to your children.\u00a0 How do you do that?\u00a0 That's the big question that Jon and I tackled.\u00a0 How do young children come to faith?\u00a0 And we look at this program, BOZ, and the character of BOZ, as being a tool for parents to use, for those moms and dads at home who are already teaching their children great values.\u00a0 This is a way that they get a little support through media, and that's something that's very important to us.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Now, Dennis, a few things have changed in your life since you created the purple dinosaur.\u00a0 You now are \u2013 you're a parent.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0I'm a parent.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0You have some preschoolers that are going to be watching BOZ, right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0That's right.\u00a0 I went through most of my years at Barney not having children, and so I have a six-year-old \u2013 excuse me, wooo \u2013 she had a birthday last week, so she'll get me for that.\u00a0 I have a seven-year-old and an eight-year-old, a boy and a girl, and they're a little bit out of this age group that we're talking to with BOZ, but they really taught me the lesson of looking at things through children's eyes.\u00a0 I always knew that was important when I worked on Barney but having children of your own and day-in, day-out, seeing how they see the world, it was definitely illuminating for me.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Jon, as you look at the target age group, it's ages one to \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0Six.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0To six.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0What's the heart behind this?\u00a0 I know you're a co-creator of this green bear that's on the table here \u2013 by the way, this is a nice plush toy.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0This is no second-rate plush toy.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0And what has happened with that plush toy, Doctor, after the program is over?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Thanks for recognizing my need to be referred to as Doctor.\u00a0 I received two of these before Christmas, so it was some time back.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Oh, good.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Did you not get any of those?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0So you're \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0It could be because you don't have any grandkids.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0You're going to share the plush toy?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0No, I did not share.\u00a0 I had already given it to my grandchildren.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0But there's an extra one right here that you can share with me, right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Bob, I want you to have BOZ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Oh, thank you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Don't worry that one of my grandchildren is going to cry himself or herself to sleep.\u00a0 We have eight of them, so, anyway \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0There's a lesson in sharing right there.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0There really is.\u00a0 Could we look at one of these episodes right now?\u00a0 What's the heart behind BOZ, Jon, because you are a co-creator.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0Yes, well, I was thinking back to something you said at the beginning of the broadcast, and you made mention of how so much of a child's being is formed by the time \u2013 you had referenced six years old.\u00a0 And Dennis and I, when we set out on the journey to create BOZ, we had taken note of a book that George Barna had written, \"Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions,\" and he says the same thing that you mentioned earlier \u2013 that, really, a child's spiritual and moral core is being formed by the time they're nine years old, he claims in his book.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And so we had taken note of that and felt that we could do something with BOZ and do something that was important to help the faith journey of the child.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0So you're creating a series of DVDs that are capturing moral lessons that are all anchored in Scripture with the reality of God, backing them up.\u00a0 You're not ashamed to present that in the process?\u00a0 And it's all around this character, this green bear.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0You know, Bob, I wish we could have had the opportunity to have interviewed a green bear.\u00a0 We've never had that opportunity in all these years.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0When you told me that we were going to have a couple of executives from this company come on, I said, \"Well, what about the bear?\u00a0 I mean, why talk to the executives who\" \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Well, we've got the plush toy, but he doesn't talk.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0I dug around, and I got BOZ's phone number.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Where does he live, Bob?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0He lives in a big treehouse right next door.\u00a0 Not next door here, but that's where he lives in the show, right, the big treehouse?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0The byline is \"the green bear next door.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Who lives next door, right, and so I've got the phone number here, and we just punch it in, and let me see if he's home, and if we can get him on the line, maybe we can talk to him, okay?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[phone ringing]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Yeeeeeeeelllllllow?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0BOZ?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Speaking.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0BOZ, hi, it's Bob Lepine from FamilyLife Today along with Dennis Rainey.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Hey, BOZ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Bob \u2013 you mean Dr. Dennis Rainey?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Thank you, BOZ, you can just refer to me as Doctor, would you do that?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Oh, wow, sure.\u00a0 You can call me, uh, BOZ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Tell me about this tree you live in.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Oh, golly, I wish you could see it.\u00a0 It's a really wonderful treehouse.\u00a0 It's multilevel, of course, it's painted very brightly, and it's got its own little elevator, and it's got a great big slide chute that I like to jump down whenever I go to see my friends, Drew and Gracie.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0You live right next door to Drew and Gracie, is that right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0I do.\u00a0 I live right next door to the entire Baxter family.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Yeah, and Drew and Gracie \u2013 how old are they?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Drew and Gracie are four-year-old twins, and they're my best friends.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0You go out and play with them?\u00a0 What kind of things do you do?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Oh, golly, we spend a lot of time playing outside if the weather is good.\u00a0 We sing songs, we play games, we love to read books together, at nighttime we look at the stars \u2013 never a boring moment.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0This is Dennis \u2013 I understand that you're in kind of a mentoring role as a bear with these two children, is that right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Well, you know, Dr. Rainey, historically, bears make great mentors.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0I didn't realize that.\u00a0 Bears make great mentors?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0If you're looking for a mentor for your four-year-old, find a bear, that's what I would \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0A green bear.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0It's got to be a green bear, yeah.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0It's got to be the green bear next door.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0You're kind of like a big brother or a big sister to Drew and Gracie, aren't you?\u00a0 Well, I guess you'd be a big brother, wouldn't you?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0I think that's right \u2013 let's call it big brother, yes, that's a wonderful way to put it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0BOZ, let me ask you a serious question \u2013 as you spend time with Drew and Gracie, these four-year-old twins who live next door \u2013 what are some of the most important things that you want to impress on their hearts?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Golly, what a good question.\u00a0 You know, I think the most important thing for me is remind Drew and Gracie and all of our friends in the neighborhood that God is everywhere, and He's love, and He wants us to be nice and help one another and, golly, I can't think of a better lesson than that, can you?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0No, I really can't, BOZ.\u00a0 I know that you're trying to influence Drew and Gracie as well as the other children who you relate to.\u00a0 What are you hoping that will occur in their lives as a result of your friendship with them?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Wow, that's another good question.\u00a0 I just think if we could all be the same toward each other, and if we could all treat each other the way that we would want to be treated, I think that's a lesson that comes right from God, and it lives in all of our hearts.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0So you're going to be talking about sibling rivalry, then, aren't you?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Mm-hm!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0That occurs in the neighborhood, I'll bet.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0It does, it absolutely does, and sometimes the green bear has to step in between, you know?\u00a0 But that's just a part of it, too.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Well, BOZ, we appreciate you taking a few minutes to talk with us, and I know you probably want to get back out and play.\u00a0 It's kind of a nice day out today, isn't it?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0It is a beautiful day outside.\u00a0 I wish you'd all come by the treehouse.\u00a0 I'm having such a good time.\u00a0 The birds are singing, and [sniffs] \u2013 uh-oh, you know, I am going to have to go because I think Grammy Bee is making some pie.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Heading out for the pies.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Well, if Dr. Rainey ever comes by the treehouse, and the two of you had a chance to hang out, what would you guys do?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Well, I'd probably give him some more plush dolls for his grandkids.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0BOZ, thanks for taking time to talk to us.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Oh, thank you, Bob and Dr. Rainey, for calling and take good care of my friends, Dennis and Jon.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0BOZ, thanks.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Bye, BOZ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBOZ:\u00a0Bye-bye.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0That's a lot of fun to talk to \u2013 obviously, that's \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0That's never happened to you before, has it?\u00a0 Talking to a green bear in a treehouse?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0I never called a green bear in a treehouse and, obviously, that's a \u2013 you've got a great voice actor who is stepping in and doing that, right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0BOZ is BOZ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Oh, it's a real bear, okay.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0You're getting ready to release two DVDs in Christian bookstores, secular bookstores as well?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0Not right now, no.\u00a0 It's exclusive into Christian retail at this point.\u00a0 We really felt it was important to go straight to the audience we knew would have a heart for this kind of programming, and we're really excited.\u00a0 The first two DVDS, one is Colors and Shapes, and the other one is Friends and Helpers, and so on each DVD there are three 13-minute episodes, and then we have also on there some music video content that I think children will really love.\u00a0 But the shows are packed with music, they have little stories \u2013 the approach we took to this is how do young children talk with one another?\u00a0 You know, how do they view God?\u00a0 How do they talk about God?\u00a0 And so instead of telling them how they do that, we really tried to adapt our programming to be on their level, you know, give them something that they can understand, concrete examples of what it means to show God that we love Him and what are concrete ways that God shows that He loves us?\u00a0 And so you find that running throughout the videos.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0And, Jon, at the same time, you're helping them learn, I mean, colors and shapes and friends and helpers, you're trying to help them learn some basic things that preschoolers need to learn, right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0Absolutely.\u00a0 One of the things we know with great certainty is that mothers and fathers place a high value on education.\u00a0 Every parent wants their child to have the greatest opportunity possible to them.\u00a0 So it was natural for the educational element to be a part of it.\u00a0 What we added that was unique was the faith element, the spiritual element.\u00a0 No one was doing that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Dennis, talk with us about the graphics.\u00a0 I've seen part of an episode, and they're not cheesy graphics.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0Oh, thanks.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Well, they're not, they're not.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0We're glad, yeah.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Sometimes we, in the Christian community, can create some stuff that's just not top drawer, but this is excellent.\u00a0 To give our listeners some idea of what \u2013 kind of where you'd place it, it really is the same kind of animation that you'd find in some of Disney's movies, right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0That's exactly right.\u00a0 It's the same technology that's behind \"Toy Story,\" behind \"Finding Nemo.\"\u00a0 A lot of the feature films that you see, this is state-of-the-art, CG 3-D animation, and we thought \u2013 Jon and I thought that was really important that we deliver something of first-class quality.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Hold it, hold it, you said CG and what was the other one?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0It's computer generated, it's 3-D.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0Three-D?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0That's three-dimensional \u2013 I thought I'd share that with you, too.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0We have that third dimension, it's very special.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0But it is first-class, and I think that is important because we're competing with what's on TV and other computer-generated movies and entertainment.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis DeShazer:\u00a0That's the real world.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0And I want to ask you about that, because I'm thinking of a three-year-old.\u00a0 Does a three-year-old really know the difference between high-quality, computer-generated animation and something that somebody slapped together on a computer?\u00a0 I mean, they're three, come on.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0Absolutely, they know the difference, and they absolutely can't articulate it to you \u2013 what it is that makes a program special to them, but they know it.\u00a0 It registers with them.\u00a0 The pacing of the show, the colors that are used, the simplicity of the story lines, the quality of the music, all of those things matter, and you can watch what your own child watches and see what their reaction is.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0They're very demonstrative.\u00a0 They just get up and walk away if they don't like the programming.\u00a0 So we spent a lot of time watching children watch television and watch video.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0I wanted to ask you about that, because you've undoubtedly brought in a roomful of three- to five-year-olds, and sat them down and popped in the latest episode of BOZ and said, \"We want you to watch this,\" and watch them watch it, and then talk to them afterwards.\u00a0 What have you found out and how has it shaped what you do as you produce these?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0It's just an amazing thing to be able to be at the point, after years of development, of being able to show children BOZ, and we've gotten great response.\u00a0 They really seem to take to the music really quickly.\u00a0 BOZ himself, he is just the kind of character you feel like you can reach out give a hug to.\u00a0 He looks furry, and he feels furry, you know, you just know it.\u00a0 And so they really connect with him and I think, also, they connect with Drew and Gracie, those four-year-old redheaded twins who are in the show.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0How can you tell that, though?\u00a0 Can you tell it by they're on the edge of their seat or when you talk to them afterwards \u2013 what kind of information are you looking for from them to say \"We're on target here.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJon:\u00a0They'll sing a song back to you or a piece of a song.\u00a0 They'll tell you what happened in that show \u2013 what did BOZ do?\u00a0 What did Drew or Gracie do?\u00a0 They can tell you the little snippets, and then I think the biggest thing of all is they say \"More,\" and you know.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis Rainey:\u00a0You know, I think what I want our listeners to know is that this is not only quality, but these gentlemen have forged some partnerships with not only FamilyLife but also MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers, and you're known by the company you keep and, hopefully, we're good company.\u00a0 I'm very impressed with what you guys have done.\u00a0 Frankly, that's what we want to do with families is bring them the very finest tools and resources to help them win in what we believe is one of life's most important assignments.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Well, again, the cool thing about these DVDs is that you've got the combination of educational content, strong character and values messages, and then the spiritual component that is absent from so much of the other kinds of materials.\u00a0 You can get a lot of videos that will talk to kids about being kind to your neighbor or, you know, some positive moral message, but God is absent from that conversation.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Now, our listeners may want to know just exactly what this green bear looks like.\u00a0 On our website at FamilyLife.com, there is a picture of BOZ.\u00a0 In fact, on the home page there's a link you can click that will take you right to the BOZ area where you can get more information about BOZ and Drew and Gracie and the rest of the Baxter family and the neighborhood they live in.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0There is also information about how you can order the DVDs.\u00a0 We've got the first two BOZ DVDs.\u00a0 One is called \"Thank you, God, for Friends and Helpers,\" and the other is \"Thank you, God, for Colors and Shapes.\"\u00a0 Each DVD has three episodes on it.\u00a0 And along with that, we'll send you a FamilyLife exclusive.\u00a0 It's a sing-along CD that has the songs from the BOZ DVDs so that you can listen to those while you're in the car.\u00a0 The kids can learn the songs, memorize them, and sing along with them.\u00a0 And we're going to send you a coupon that's good for a free BOZ plush toy.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Again, go to our website, FamilyLife.com, click on the picture of BOZ that you see there on the home page.\u00a0 You'll get more information about BOZ there, and you can order the two DVDs and receive the sing-along CD and the coupon for the BOZ plush toy as well.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0If you'd prefer, you can call us at 1-800-F-as-in-family, L-as-in-life, and then the word TODAY, and someone on our team can let you know how you can have these resources sent out to you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Now, as many of you know, FamilyLife Today is listener-supported.\u00a0 During the month of March, we wanted to find a special way to say thank you to any of you who could help with the costs associated with syndicating our program all across the country.\u00a0 So if you make a donation of any amount during March, you can request a set of Resurrection Eggs.\u00a0 Now, you may not be familiar with these.\u00a0 It's a carton that includes a dozen plastic eggs, and each one has some kind of a symbol or a representation of an event that took place in Jesus' life during His final week of life on earth.\u00a0 It helps children learn the Easter story, and we would love to send you a set of these Resurrection Eggs as a thank you gift when you support the ministry of FamilyLife Today with a donation of any amount this month.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0You can go to our website to donate, if you'd like \u2013 FamilyLife.com.\u00a0 As you fill out the donation form, when you get to the keycode box, type in the word \"eggs,\" and we'll know that you'd like to receive that thank you gift of Resurrection Eggs.\u00a0 Or call 1-800-FLTODAY \u2013 you can make a donation over the phone and, again, ask for the Resurrection Eggs when you call us to make a donation.\u00a0 We'd love to send them out to you.\u00a0 Again, it's our way of saying thank you for your support of this ministry, and we really do appreciate your partnership with us.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Well, tomorrow we're going to continue to find out more about BOZ, the big green bear, and we're also going to talk about what children can learn when they are preschool aged and what they need to be learning when they're preschool aged.\u00a0 I hope you can be with us for that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0I want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team.\u00a0 On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We'll see you back tomorrow for another edition of FamilyLife Today. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you.\u00a0 However, there is a cost to transcribe, create, and produce them for our website.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/site\/c.dnJHKLNnFoG\/b.3782043\/k.384D\/Support_Us.htm\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright \u00a9 FamilyLife.\u00a0 All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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