Theme: The importance of failure.
Episode Number: 001
Writer: Phil Lollar
Scripture: Romans 8:28
Album: Gold Audio #01: The Adventure Begins
Last Air Date: 07/25/2005
Original Air Date: 11/21/87

Summary:
Davey Holcomb is a walking disaster. It seems everything he touches or attempts ends up in failure. At a Little League baseball game, Davey strikes out three times, knocks over the portable backstop, runs into his own second baseman, and causes the entire team to trip over him when he bends down to tie his shoe. After the game, the team goes to Whit's End to commiserate about their loss. There, Davey meets Whit, who shows him around. As they talk, Whit learns that Davey is interested in inventing things. Whit suggests Davey try out the Inventor's Corner, but Davey is afraid he'll fail again. So Whit asks Davey to help him bring out a new display called "Whit's Flop." It's an invention Whit couldn't get to work. Davey tries to fix it and nearly succeeds, but then he accidentally breaks off a lever on the machine.
Davey runs out, dejected. Whit follows to lure him back inside, telling Davey that he must fix what he has broken. So Davey returns, and he and Whit work on the flop together, creating a new invention. They unveil it later that afternoon. But when Davey proudly turns it on, it shorts out and nearly blows up. He leaves again, feeling sorry for himself.
A short time later, Whit finds Davey and offers him a piece of freshly-made pizza. They talk, and Davey learns that the machine fizzled out because of a short in the wiring at Whit's End, not because of anything Davey did. The machine, a convection oven, works wonderfully and is a big hit with the kids. Davey has succeeded-without even knowing it! Whit explains that this is an example of how "God works all things together for good."
Discussion Questions:
Why did Whit say failing is important?
How long should you keep trying to do something at which you've failed?
List some ways God has worked things out for good in your life.

Whit's Flop was full of firsts. It was the first Odyssey USA episode we aired. We got our first good look around Whit's End, the Train Station, the Inventor's Corner, Whit's workshop, and the displays.