September 23, 2013 Podcast

Pre-show banter and show open

Pre-open chatter between the hosts, including a joking callback to last week's bullying advice. The show opens from the Pathway Studios in Johnston Proper with the site plug (livefromthepath.org) and a greeting to listeners.

Tonight's rundown; retraction announced

• Was the 'smack him in the head' bullying advice the Jesus answer, and should it be retracted?

A host lays out the night's plan: the new pope's interviews, a Luke 1 study, listener chat, and Dear LFTP letters. He also announces that Dan Hudson, named by name, wants to retract advice he gave last week to a bullied kid.

Retraction: the "smack him in the head" bullying advice

Dan Hudson, addressed by name in the prior segment, retracts his 'smack him in the head' answer to last week's bullied kid: reading Matthew the next day convicted him — Jesus taught turning the other cheek and going the second mile, even with a Roman-soldier 'bully.' The hosts agree none of them gave the Jesus answer and work through how hard that teaching is to hand to a child.

Pope Francis plane interview: read-through

• Is Pope Francis actually changing the Catholic church, or just rephrasing what it already taught?

A host reads highlights from a CNN piece on Pope Francis's wide-ranging papal-plane press conference: 'who am I to judge' on gay priests (distinguishing the person from the lobby), the door closed on ordaining women, little said on abortion in Brazil, a 'time of mercy' on divorced-and-remarried communion via the group of eight cardinals, and his professed ignorance of the Vatican Bank.

Pope discussion: tone vs teaching, tradition vs Scripture

The hosts react: one argues Francis is rephrasing rather than changing doctrine — loving sinners while calling them to repent. They debate women priests (Paul's 'I did not permit a woman to teach,' no priesthood in the New Testament), the catechism versus biblical authority, Francis's ban on church leaders doing politics, priestly celibacy as a time-bound rule, and why going back to the Bible instead of tradition is making the pope such a splash. Tangent: relationship with God vets bad interpretation through prayer; Scripture strikes differently as you grow.

KTIA business, CityView magazine, and "does the pope read the Bible?"

• Does the pope read the Bible?

Station plugs (99.3 KTIA Saturday 7pm, livefromthepath.org) and a funny bit about a kid thinking dad is a celebrity after a CityView listing. A chat question — does the pope read the Bible? — gets a bold answer from Rick Gray, addressed by name: he guarantees some popes in two thousand years have not.

Rick Gray's "pope-style advice": evangelism and authority

Rick Gray, introduced as the episode's special guest, offers his 'pope-style advice': evangelizing is not tricking people into believing Jesus — not evangelizing is the enemy tricking you into thinking you lack the authority. The hosts riff on inviting people to Jesus versus a comedy gym-invitation role-play ('Chubby'), and one host compares sharing Jesus to setting someone up on a life-changing blind date. Gray closes convicted: the advice was aimed at himself.

Biblical basis for a personal relationship with Jesus

• What is the biblical foundation for a personal relationship with Jesus?

A chat listener asks for the biblical foundation of a personal relationship with Jesus. The hosts answer: Jesus in relationship with his disciples, the Abba Father picture, the indwelling Holy Spirit, 'I am the vine, you are the branches' (John 15:5), and push back on 'community instead of personal' — the church is hands and feet, so someone has to be the hand.

KTIA promo and sponsor reads

Plugs for KTIA 99.3's Saturday Jesus-talk lineup and the station manager, then sponsor reads: Bob Eisenlauer (Eisenlein real estate team, eisenhowerteam.com) — expected on the show with his brother soon — and Westfield Veterinary Hospital in Johnston, Iowa (westfieldvet.com), with a joking bit about overdue pet immunizations and a five-dollar bribe.

Dear LFTP: divorced 13 years — check "single"?

• Divorced for 13 years: should questionnaires list 'single' or 'divorced'?

A letter-writer divorced 13 years asks whether to check 'single' now that she no longer defines herself by the divorce. The hosts say it's a non-issue — not married means de facto single — but read the Secular answer, which disagrees and calls checking 'single' dishonest. A skipped letter about murder is noted and set aside.

Dear LFTP: the long-winded son-in-law

• How do you get a long-winded son-in-law to get to the point?

A listener hates asking her son-in-law questions because his answers never end, and asks how to get him to the point. Advice ranges from 'don't ask questions, talk weather' to an honest conversation about brevity, with a running stopwatch joke and the observation that detail-givers can see eyes glaze over. Secular's answer is read and mostly agreed with.

Dear LFTP: husband Bob who can't sit still

• How should a stay-at-home mom handle a husband who can't sit still and judges her productivity?

A stay-at-home mom writes about her husband Bob, who can't sit still, judges her productivity, and turns passive-aggressive; she dreads his days home and asks for advice beyond counseling. The hosts prescribe an honest two-way conversation resetting early-marriage expectations, note Bob seems to do everything except spend time with the kids, and read Secular's answer — which says a licensed mental health professional should talk to him and maybe medicate him — prompting strong pushback from the hosts. A KTIA break for Saturday listeners and a $25 crock-pot rib story interrupt mid-letter.

Dear LFTP: reconnecting with dad; stepmom Kathy's move

• How do I talk to my dad about my stepmom moving us apart without damaging the relationship?

A listener reconnected with her dad after ten years, but his wife Kathy took a job across the country and moved them away; the listener suspects it was to create distance. The hosts advise against assuming the worst, recommend maintaining the relationship by phone, email, and video, and treating Kathy with respect — while the Secular answer agrees: keep in touch, don't badmouth her, and remember he agreed to the move.

Luke 1: Zechariah, Gabriel, and why Mary wasn't silenced

• Why was Zechariah silenced for doubting when Mary asked basically the same question?

A host reads Luke 1:5-20 aloud — Zechariah chosen by lot to burn incense, Gabriel's announcement of John's birth, and Zechariah struck mute for doubting. Discussion: was Zechariah's doubt a faith lapse or a reasonable reaction? Why was Mary, who asked basically the same question, not silenced? Takes include God's sovereignty across forty years of temple lots, Herod rebuilding the temple Malachi pointed to, John being set up as a big deal precisely so he can point to Someone bigger, and the humor of a mute 75-year-old convincing his wife she's pregnant.

Close: read your Bible

Sign-off with the recurring charge to read the Bible — 'there's stuff that applies to you' — plus website and back-catalog plugs.

Outro music

A sung outro plays ('In the middle of the night when worry finds me...'), cut off mid-line at the end of the recording. No title is given on-air.