June 10, 2013 Podcast

Cold open: show start and house banter

The show opens from the Pathway Studios with the hosts joking that the show takes no preparation and is a 'house of lies.' A host introduces himself as 'Benfus' and notes, offhand, that they were not on the air the previous week.

Week's lineup: missed week, guests, and proof 50

The hosts lay out the episode: guest Nathan Groves in studio to talk about the Promised Land Music Festival, proof number 50 from godisimaginary.com, Dear LFTP advice letters, and a possible Secular versus Solomon round. They joke about the prior week's absence.

Interview: Nathan Groves on the Promised Land Music Festival's origin

Nathan Groves, introduced on-air as in studio for the Promised Land Music Festival, tells how the festival started: eight months into his new Christian faith, with no job, car, license, finances, or Christian-music background, a family member proposed the idea at a campground. After prayer and confirmation at a men's conference, the first year drew two stages, 18 bands, and around 1,500 people.

Festival details: lineup, free admission, and banter

The hosts and guest cover the festival's second-year details: July 12-13 at Greater Ottumwa Park, free admission, 26 bands with Thousand Foot Crutch headlining, camping, and the website promisedlandfest.com. Bands with show ties are named (Chris Day, Covington, Double J). Banter covers can-of-beans food drives, a joke $10 cover for attendees over 90, pumpkin launchers, and arm wrestling.

Proof 50 read-through: 'Ask Jesus to appear'

• If Jesus appeared to Paul and to hundreds of others, why does he not appear to everyone today?

A host reads godisimaginary.com's proof number 50 in full: since Jesus appeared after the resurrection to hundreds (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6), he should appear to everyone today; praying 'Dear Jesus, please appear to us' produces nothing, so the author concludes Jesus and God are imaginary. The proof leans on Matthew 7:7.

Rebutting proof 50: seeing, believing, and answered prayer

The hosts rebut the proof: Israel saw miracles and still rebelled; Jesus said blessed are those who do not see and yet believe; appearances did not make everyone believe; and Matthew 7:7 is not a blank check, since prayers must align with God's heart and will. They joke about what asking Jesus to 'reveal yourself' in Paul's fashion would actually cost, riff on which biblical figures they would be, and land the series score at '50 to zip.'

Dear LFTP segment intro

The hosts transition into the Dear LFTP advice segment, plug the show archives at livefromthepath.org for the other 49 proofs, and caution that they are 'four guys' who can get it wrong, urging listeners to read the Bible themselves. They welcome Nathan Groves back into the conversation.

Dear LFTP: the dad who eats all the casserole toppings

• How should we handle Dad eating the toppings off everyone's casserole at family gatherings?

A listener asks how to handle a dad who eats the toppings off everyone's casserole at family gatherings. The hosts offer a mix of comic escalation (disinvite him, set off his car alarm, X-Lax in the toppings) and the sincere fix: make him his own casserole. The 'secular answer' calls a guest who grabs all the goodies a hog and suggests a separate casserole with his name on it. A co-host addressed as Dan in the audio suggests serving strategy and Ephesians-style honesty.

Dear LFTP: girlfriend lost to social media

• How can I help my girlfriend of five years understand my concerns about her constant social media use straining our relationship?

A listener with a five-year girlfriend says she spends every evening on Facebook games and status updates, rarely talks to him, and argues when he raises it. A co-host identified in the audio as Dan opens with 'get married if you're living together.' The hosts discuss confusing social-media frequency with intimacy, suggest a 15-minute screen-off conversation window, and note the virtual world is real but relationships wither without nurture. The secular answer agrees: compromise or find someone who gives undivided attention.

Dear LFTP: must I confess my henna red hair?

• If someone compliments my henna-red hair, am I obliged to reveal it is not my natural color?

A listener asks whether she must disclose her hair is henna-dyed when complimented, given a natural-redhead friend who outs her. The hosts side with the dyed: no obligation unless asked directly, and pulling off a fake color that looks natural is an achievement. Jokes follow about asking dangerous questions ('is that your natural color?'), compliments, and prosthetic limbs.

Dear LFTP: is a gift card to the aunt's own shop tacky?

• Is it tacky for an aunt to give a graduation gift card for the shop she owns?

A listener thinks it's tacky that a graduating daughter got a gift card for the shop her aunt owns. The hosts disagree: a gift is a gift; a story about a grandfather's gift harmonicas that tasted of decades-old chewing tobacco follows. Nathan Groves weighs in: take it as a gift. The secular answer flips it: criticizing the gift is the ungracious, tacky move.

Dear LFTP: the 19-year-old, the boyfriend 'Ned,' and the coming proposal

• What should a 19-year-old living with her boyfriend say if he proposes when she is not ready?

A 19-year-old who has lived with her boyfriend 'Ned' for two years dreads his imminent proposal and fears saying no will make him angry. A co-host addressed as Dan in the audio says bluntly to get out of the relationship. The hosts trade Skeletor jokes about 'Ned,' question her motives, and caution that fear of hurting someone is a poor reason to marry. The secular answer: honesty is the best policy; say plainly you are not ready.

Outro: festival plug and sign-off

The hosts thank Nathan Groves and Monica, recap the Promised Land Music Festival (July 12-13, free, 26 bands, Thousand Foot Crutch headlining, promisedlandfest.com, Facebook), tease 15 pastors giving testimonial messages, and sign off inviting listeners to catch past shows and interviews at livefromthepath.org.