January 6, 2014 Podcast

Show open and tonight's lineup

The episode opens with the produced intro voiceover and a host welcoming listeners to Live From The Path from the Pathway Studios in Johnston. He introduces himself with the self-deprecating moniker 'the recovering double minded man' and previews the night: a discussion of newly legalized recreational marijuana in Colorado, 'Pope style advice,' and Dear LFTP letters.

Tonight's lineup: marijuana, Pope style advice, Dear LFTP

A host lays out the episode's agenda: recreational marijuana has just been legalized in Colorado, prompting the question of whether recreational use is okay for Christians where it is legal. He also introduces 'Pope style advice,' a running bit of mock-papal life counsel, and notes that Dear LFTP letters will follow.

What does spiritual leadership look like when she seems spiritually stronger?

• What does spiritual leadership look like for a man when his partner seems spiritually stronger than he is?

Nathaniel, a participant addressed by name on-air, poses the episode's opening hard question: as a man who is supposed to lead spiritually, what does leadership look like when the woman he is dating seems to have a stronger relationship with God than he does? The hosts discuss Priscilla and Aquila, the angel's appearance to Samson's parents, and Mary and Joseph, concluding that responsibility for the home's spiritual direction does not mean being its top performer or dominating it.

Is recreational marijuana okay for Christians where it is legal?

• Is recreational marijuana use okay for a Christian where it can be purchased legally?

Prompted by Colorado's legalization of recreational marijuana, the hosts debate whether use is permissible for Christians where legal. One argues against, saying it clouds gospel focus; Troy (called Boova and 'boo' on-air) argues it depends on staying in control and not letting it become an idol; another leans against, citing effects on the brain and memory. They weigh Genesis 1:29's 'seed-bearing plants,' the 'all things are permissible, not all things are beneficial' principle, the Galatians 'sorcery/pharmakeia' argument, and whether legality alone settles the question.

Broadcast promo and sponsor read

A host thanks the show's sponsors: the Bob Eisenlauer real-estate team (eisenhowerteam.com) and Westfield Veterinary Hospital in Johnston, encouraging listeners to get their pets' checkups done at the start of the year.

Pope style advice: use discernment before sharing the gospel

In the 'Pope style advice' bit, a host confesses he pushed the gospel on someone at the wrong time without praying first and calls it a mistake. His advice: don't shy away from the gospel, but pray and ask whether this is the moment, citing Job's friends, who sat silently with Job after his loss before their later 'blowhardiness' ruined it. The others agree, discussing God's patience versus their own impatience with people who don't respond.

Dear LFTP: lonely at 62 while his wife works 80 miles away

• My wife works 80 miles away and stays in our condo every other week; I'm lonely at 62. What do I do about this?

A listener writes that his wife of 37 years works 80 miles away and now stays in their condo near work every other week, a schedule he suggested and now regrets; at 62 and working again, he comes home to an empty house and is lonely. The hosts joke that 80 miles is nothing and suggest he tell her honestly that he misses her rather than silently brooding; the Secular answer agrees, advising an honest conversation or filling the lonely hours with a hobby and grandchild babysitting.

Dear LFTP: the niece who never sent thank-you notes

• My niece never sent thank-you notes for her shower or wedding gifts and lied about them being lost. Should I confront her or let it go?

A listener is upset that her niece never sent thank-you notes for bridal-shower or wedding gifts, lied about them being lost in the mail, and asks whether to confront her. The hosts advise letting it go and examining motives: gifts are given because the giver wants to give, not to earn a note. The Secular answer blames the niece's upbringing and advises making note of it for future baby showers rather than confronting.

Radio sign-off for 99.3 KTIA

A host signs off the terrestrial-radio portion of the show on 99.3 KTIA, directing radio listeners who want the rest of the show to the podcast at livefromthepath.org.

The YouVersion top verses of 2014 are all about me

A host reads the top five most-shared verses of the year on the YouVersion Bible app (Philippians 4:13, Psalm 118:24, 1 Peter 5:6, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 7:7) and the group notes the theme: people share verses that are about themselves, prompting the quip 'this Bible be about me.'

Dear LFTP: he says I look like his mom

• The man I'm dating says I'm exactly what he's looking for except I look like his mom. Is there anything I can do short of plastic surgery?

A woman writes that the man she met on a dating website says she is exactly what he has been looking for except that she looks like his mom, and asks what she can do short of plastic surgery. The hosts are unanimous that this is creepy either way: if she truly resembles his mother, the relationship is doomed; if not, he sees his mom in everything. The Secular answer advises meeting the mother first to judge the resemblance herself.

Dear LFTP: teen living with her mom's abusive, alcoholic boyfriend

• My mom's boyfriend, the man she cheated with, is verbally abusive when he drinks. I want to move in with my dad but don't want to upset her. What do I do?

A teenager writes that her mother cheated on her father and now lives with the man she cheated with, who gets angry and abusive when he drinks; her mother promises change that never comes and stays for financial reasons, and the teen fears upsetting her mother by moving in with her father. The hosts are unequivocal: she should leave, since she cannot fix her mother's choices but can protect herself; the Secular answer agrees she should not tolerate abuse to avoid upsetting her mother.

Dear LFTP: boss offers to pay for weight-loss surgery

• My boss offered to pay for weight-loss surgery I can't afford. How do I handle the office gossip when the truth comes out?

A 27-year-old woman who has always been overweight writes that her boss offered to pay for weight-loss surgery she has always wanted, and asks how to handle the office gossip when the truth comes out. The hosts debate whether surgery addresses the underlying habits, warn that a boss's gift carries expectations, and joke that one should not work where Mike Foust (a host, named on-air) works because he would pry into who paid; the Secular answer says how the surgery is paid for is nobody's business.

Dear LFTP: an eight-year-old's crush on her husband

• An eight-year-old has a crush on my husband and announces 'he's mine' at church. Should I talk to her mother, and would that make things more awkward?

A woman writes that an eight-year-old neighbor girl developed a crush on her husband years ago in Sunday school, and it has become awkward as the girl runs up to him at church announcing 'he's mine.' The hosts say she is overreacting but advise the husband to reinforce the marriage visibly and, if needed, talk to the child directly like an adult rather than going around through her mother; the Secular answer advises asking the mother to tell her daughter she is too old to act that way.

The donkey quiz: ten questions on biblical donkeys

The hosts play a ten-question quiz in which every question concerns donkeys in the Bible, from the sons of Jacob's plunder of Shechem to the Shunammite woman's ride to Elisha. A participant named Chad plays along. They score 8 out of 10, doubling the reported average quiz score of 40%, missing only the Shechem plunder (they said burnt as a sacrifice; the answer was took them captive) and the Ai plunder (they said set them free; the answer was took them captive).

Outro and thanks to Chad

A host closes the show, asks listeners to sign up for the podcast, and thanks Chad for playing along in the quiz.