April 15, 2013 Podcast

Show open and tonight's lineup

A host opens the show from Pathway Studios in Johnson Proper and lays out the night: continuing the walk-through of the '50 proofs God is imaginary' list (proof #44, 'think about a Christian housewife'), a question about the potential problem with an effective and humble pope, and Dear LFTP advice letters. The hosts joke about 43 of the proofs being disproven so far.

Phil Collins death hoax and a father's talk with his daughter

The hosts check a Phil Collins death rumor and find it is a hoax, riffing on celebrity death-hoax websites (including the running joke that Abe Vigoda is still alive). A host recounts his young daughter coming off the school bus crying after a classmate threatened to 'cut her in half,' and the parenting advice he settled on: if something sounds out of whack, hold your tongue, don't respond, and come talk to mom or dad. Discussion touches on teaching kids to take people at face value while developing a filter for lying.

Rebutting proof #44: the Christian housewife's mustard-stain prayer

• Is God imaginary because He supposedly answers trivial prayers, like removing a mustard stain from a blouse, while great suffering goes unanswered?

The hosts read proof #44 from godisimaginary.com, which argues God is imaginary because believers pray trivial prayers — a Christian housewife in Pasadena who believes God removed a mustard stain from her blouse — while terrible suffering goes unanswered. The hosts counter from several angles: the author judges from a comfortable worldly perspective and does not know suffering the way the suffering do; God desires community, so there is nothing wrong with bringing anything to Him in prayer; the proof is a rehash of earlier ones and merely shows prayers are not answered the way the author expects.

Hard question: is there anything about God that embarrasses you?

• Is there anything about God that embarrasses you?

A host-framed hard question: 'is there anything about God that embarrasses you?' Examples raised include the homosexuality debate (knowing what the Bible says but feeling embarrassed to tell someone living that lifestyle 'that's not the deal') and the Canaanite conquest in pursuit of the promised land. The discussion argues people 'apologize for God' on social issues while claiming to give Him all glory; that believers should not start sentences with 'I'm sorry' when communicating God's truth; that many people are scared to death to live without their sin, not merely clinging to it; and that love for people must include truth. The book of Job and Revelation's warning against lukewarmness are invoked near the close.

Proof #45 teaser: Noah's Ark

The hosts read the opening of godisimaginary.com proof #45, which asks readers to consider Noah's Ark and claims the flood story shows God 'senselessly murdered millions of humans and billions of animals.' They decide the proof has 'legs' and defer the full rebuttal to the following week's show, with one participant dubbed the show's 'resident Noah's Ark specialist.'

Ring the Bell movie giveaway promo

A promo: the show has free copies of the inspirational Christian film 'Ring the Bell' (featuring members of Casting Crowns, Mark David Chapman, Rick Sutcliffe, and John Crook) to give away — listeners can email or message the show on Facebook to get one.

The danger of a humble and effective pope

• What is the potential problem with an effective and humble pope?

A host asks: what is the potential problem with an effective and humble pope? Noting the positive reaction to Pope Francis — humility, ground-level outreach, less hierarchy, action on abuse scandals — he argues the danger is not the pope's fault: if the strength of your faith depends on the goodness of a human being, it will always fail you, because every good man is also a sinful man who will fail. Supporting points: 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God'; faith rests on how good God is, not how good a man is; leaders are fallible and must be prayed for, and believers should filter leaders' words through Scripture rather than building faith on personalities. The block closes with comedy about inviting the pope on the show with Fritos.

Dear LFTP: the 14-year-old 'independent thinker' letter

• Why is it outrageous for a 14-year-old to come to her own conclusions, challenge accepted ideas, or find her own faith?

Opening with the recurring 'Mike's Hour' comedy bit, the hosts read a letter from a 14-year-old girl upset that adults tell her to be an independent thinker and embrace herself, then put her down for not conforming. The hosts roast the letter as vague, lofty drivel that avoids specifics, then read the 'secular answer' (praising independent thinkers, noting Jesus was an independent thinker — 'not my will but yours, Father'). On parenting: one host's rule is 'my house, my rule — you're going to church' with the door open to choose once they move out; others note the letter hints at a Christian household where she may want to stop attending church.

Dear LFTP: am I dating a family member?

• Am I dating a family member? (dating my brother-in-law's nephew, Bruce)

A listener writes that her sister and fiance Greg tried to set her up with their best man Bruce, and after the wedding she and Bruce started dating — her question: 'Am I dating a family member?' The hosts confirm Bruce, her brother-in-law's nephew, is not a blood relative at all and that dating him is fine, closing with 'great guys can make good husbands.'

Dear LFTP: the mother-in-law forging the father's name on cards

• What can a wife do about her mother-in-law constantly overstepping boundaries and forging her husband's name on cards and gifts to his adopted-out child?

A letter from Troy: her husband fathered a child in high school who was placed for adoption; the husband has chosen not to be involved, but his mother (the mother-in-law) is close with the adoptive family, visits often, and sends the child gifts and cards signed with the biological father's name. The hosts call the behavior dishonest and out of line — it sets up false expectations for the child ('someone cared for me that didn't'), the son should represent himself, and the grandmother needs to stop and make it right. They read the 'secular answer' ('accept it, don't take it personally') and unanimously reject it as terrible advice.

Dear LFTP: what to say when the doctor asks if you drink

• What is the correct response when asked at a doctor's office or hospital if you drink or smoke, when it is only occasional?

A listener who drinks about once a month asks what the correct response is when a doctor's office asks 'do you drink?' — afraid saying yes implies heavier drinking. The hosts riff: one host gets needled about being a smoker (another retorts 'I'm not like that Hoosier Mike'); a heavier participant talks about doctors prescribing based on weight and the judgmental stares at the scale; one shares having quit smoking over a year ago after losing 200+ pounds and now getting high-fives. The advice: just tell the truth — 'I had one last week; usually it's about once a month' — because doctors are trying to help your health, not trap you.

Awkward physical-exam stories

Past the radio broadcast and onto the podcast, the hosts trade stories about annual physicals: one describes an unexpectedly intimate exam ('the butt test,' a swab) and the awkwardness of being half-undressed; another recalls a sports physical as a junior-high kid with a woman doctor; another had an older doctor making knock-knock jokes through the exam; another's doctor told him to check himself in the shower once a month. Banter about colonoscopies at 50 and 'the check engine light' tape joke closes the block.

Sign-off and 449 show plug

The hosts wrap: apologize to podcast listeners ('you made a mistake for listening'), give the Monday-night live and Saturday 7pm 99.3 KTIA times, plug the upcoming 449 show on April 27 with tickets still available, and sign off with 'have a wonderful week.'