September 24 2012

Cold open banter and show intro

A host jokes that nobody takes him up on an offer; another says listeners think it is empty talk and addresses him as Mike. The hosts riff about 'diversity' on the show and the show intro runs.

Tonight's agenda

The hosts lay out the show: proof 19 from goddessmagic.com, three things the audience needs to know this week, a chat segment, advice on Dear LFTP, and a recap of the Real Marriage Conference in Indianapolis.

Real Marriage Conference recap

Mike attended the Real Marriage Conference in Indianapolis featuring pastor Mark Driscoll. He describes Driscoll as hard on men about marriage and kids, says the Holy Spirit convicts him through the sermons, and that the weekend was mostly a needed reset with his wife without the children.

YouTube plug and Double J's music

The hosts plug the YouTube channel and the full show. One host recounts a motel with bed bugs and a spraying truck out front while traveling, and says Double J is maturing as a songwriter with an EP expected in January.

Dear LFTP critique and Christian apparel banter

One host ribs Dan's stock Dear LFTP advice ('get a relationship with Jesus') as not practical, Dan counters that it means getting right with Jesus first. Then the hosts riff on embarrassing Christian T-shirts, cheesy screen prints, a giant pig shirt at the Indianola Balloon-a-Fest, and dated Christian apparel.

Proof 19 read: 'Notice that you ignore Jesus'

• Should Christians sell all their possessions and give to the poor?

The hosts read proof 19 from goddessmagic.com, which cites Matthew 6:19, Luke 14:33, Matthew 19, Luke 9:23, Matthew 13:22, Hebrews 13:5, and Acts 2 to argue Jesus commands selling all possessions; it concludes that because readers have not done so, Jesus and God are imaginary.

Response: money must glorify God, deny yourself

The hosts push back: the Bible does not say everyone must sell everything; money must glorify God. They cite the parable of the talents, the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 (Jesus named the one thing blocking that man's submission), and the principle of denying whatever sits on the throne instead of Christ.

American freedom built a money society

The hosts argue the free society proves Jesus's point about money: given freedom, Americans made money the highest good, and schools and business reward people who deny family and church obligations to work more.

The 'ax guys' and give-up-everything communities

• What about believers who give up everything and live in communal 'ax' lifestyles?

Asked about modern believers who give up everything and live in hippie-style communities, the hosts say they miss the point: the problem is bad followers, not God's existence. One host likes Francis Chan's Crazy Love but doubts he could trust a church community with his life insurance or savings.

Judas the treasurer: God's patience and the temple whip

The hosts riff on Judas as the disciples' thieving treasurer, marvel at Jesus's patience in letting the theft play out and washing Judas's feet knowing what he would do, and comically imagine Jesus patiently making a whip to cleanse the temple and Judas complaining about the cost of the whip material.

Giving generously without becoming a burden

The hosts correct the proof's reading: Christians should take helping the poor and widows more seriously, but giving away everything until you become a burden on others misses the point; Jesus was supported without being a burden, and the disciples were told to rely on provision, not go out with nothing.

Seeker-sensitive churches made people comfortable, not mature

Recalling 1980s seeker-sensitive church trends (donuts, better music, comfort), the hosts argue churches made people comfortable but never moved them forward; people hear convicting sermons and change nothing, just like crowds who left when Jesus told them the cost of following.

Willingness to be convicted; tithing and sex sermons

• Does the delivery of a message matter if the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts?

One host says Driscoll's sermons convict him because he puts himself before God asking to be convicted; the hosts joke that churches keep preaching on tithing and sex because people keep ignoring the message, and debate whether sermon delivery matters or conviction is all the Holy Spirit's work.

Proof 19 conclusion: it disproved believers, not God

• What is the proof author's moral standard if he himself does not help the poor?

Wrapping proof 19, the hosts agree people often do ignore Jesus, but say the author proved only that Christians are poor examples, not that God is imaginary. They answer his implicit challenge by holding up Christ's moral standard: love those who hate you, pray for those who hate you, wash the feet of betrayers.

Conference facility felt weird: $2 church coffee

Recapping the conference venue, one host describes a multimillion-dollar facility where he felt awkward as a guest with nothing to do, and gripes about a $2 price for a cup of church coffee, contrasting with his own church's free coffee and donuts and an Iowa sales-tax anecdote.

Promos and upcoming guests

The hosts plug the YouTube channels and clips, and announce upcoming guests: Kevin Lindgren on October 15 with a new EP, Kelly Johnson on October 8 doing mission work, and local realtor Bob Eisenlauer (spoken 'Eisenhower') next week.

Three things you need to know: the Pope-style premise

Introducing a recurring bit, the host asks each of the three hosts for one thing they would tell 10,000 people gathered weekly on a Pope-style balcony: not a stunt, not 'love Jesus' in the abstract, but something specific going on in their lives this week.

Ben's thing: listen to people's stories

Identified in the audio as Ben, one host's advice is to listen to people's stories. Watching the movie The Gray, he imagined its survivor coming home with no one to tell his story to, and urged shutting up and letting people, especially lonely or poor storytellers, share so real relationships can form.

Mike's thing: keep asking, don't give up on prayer

Identified in the audio as Mike, one host's advice is to stop giving up on things asked of God. He cites Jesus's parables of the persistent friend at midnight and the persistent widow before the judge, noting persistence deepens the relationship rather than being groveling. A host also tells a story about his daughter Danielle praying nightly for a sibling, being told God said no, then conceiving months later.

YouTube and podcast listening options

The hosts run through how to watch the show on YouTube and the podcast, including a planned link for mobile users whose YouTube app cannot play the live broadcast, so iPad and Android users can watch the live show in a browser.

Dan's thing: wake up

Identified in the audio as Dan, one host's challenge is two words: wake up. He warns against letting the crowd decide your music, clothing, and beliefs, and another host connects it to Ephesians 5 ('wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you') from a past prayer room theme.

Dear LFTP: the meddling mom in Connecticut

• How do I tactfully get my daughter-in-law to do her share before the baby comes?

A listener ('despairing mom in Connecticut') worries about her overworked son, his messy pregnant daughter-in-law, and how to tactfully get the daughter-in-law to do her share. The hosts side with butting out: it is not her business, the son's job and commute are his choices, and then they read the secular advice suggesting she volunteer to help instead of criticize.

Sign-off: Bob Eisenlauer next week, proof 20

The hosts sign off, promising Bob Eisenlauer as a guest next week, three more things to know, and proof 20 ('Notice Your Church') from goddessmagic.com.