April 28, 2014 Podcast

Show open and lineup

The host introduces the show from the Pathway Studios in Johnston and runs down the night's lineup: Boova's 3AM evangelism encounter at Perkins, a round of Secular versus Solomon, pope-style advice on honoring your wife, and Dear LFTP letters. He also introduces the hard question caught on Facebook: whether it is okay for Christians to have hobbies.

Hard question: is it okay for Christians to have hobbies?

• Is it okay for Christians to have hobbies?

The hosts discuss a Facebook question about whether Christians may have hobbies, prompted by a board-game enthusiast. Dave Herrick lays out three priority filters that must come first: a relationship with God, loving and leading family, and active community care; hobbies are a fourth priority. The hosts push back with the hypothetical whittler 'Jim John', arguing God gives talents to enjoy and that prayer, not a rulebook, balances the priorities.

Sponsor reads

Read for Bob Eisenhower's real estate team (eisenhowerteam.com) and Westfield Veterinary Hospital in Johnston, Iowa (westfieldvethospital.com), including a story about the host's dog's vet visit.

Secular versus Solomon game

Ben hosts a round of Secular versus Solomon with players Mike, Dave Herrick, and John Boova. He reads nine proverbs; players guess biblical (Solomon) or worldly (Secular), giving a country of origin for worldly ones. Revealed answers: the Yiddish honesty proverb and the rumor proverb (China) are secular; the mousetrap proverb is secular Greece; Proverbs 26:27, 28:9, and 30:33 are Solomon; 'give a man a fish' is secular China. Final tally: Mike 13, Herrick 7, Boova negative 4.

Pope-style advice: honoring your wife

In the pope-style advice bit, Ben reads 1 Peter 3:7 and reflects on whether his prayers are hindered because he does not honor his wife as he should. He describes leading his wife without listening to her, since he introduced her to Christ, and urges husbands to treat their wives and children as fellow heirs of grace rather than responsibilities to drag along.

Discussion: 1 Peter 3:7 and hindered prayers

• How does dishonoring or misordering my marriage and family hinder my prayers?

The hosts discuss Dave Herrick's question about how dishonoring a wife could hinder prayers. They connect it to Matthew 6 on forgiveness, covenant-keeping, and the idea that marriage mirrors the believer's relationship with God: a husband who will not listen to his wife pictures someone who will not listen to God. Moses and Abraham are cited as men who negotiated with God. Boova, the single man, reflects on learning to honor a future wife.

Boova's 3AM Perkins evangelism story

• How can I be more bold in sharing my faith?
• How can I be bold without creeping people out?

Boova recounts going to Perkins around 2-3AM after a bonfire, where a woman at the next table told a 'bomb' joke, then asked his whole group whether they would go to heaven or hell if the bomb went off. He answered that he trusts Jesus as Lord, but was unsettled when she pressed a friend who declined prayer, suggesting they pray together in the bathroom. He closes with two questions: how can he be bolder, and how can he be bold without creeping people out.

Break music: Jess Anderson's 'Hold'

The host signs off the 99.3 radio broadcast and plays 'Hold' by Jess Anderson from her new album, to be played again at sign-off.

Discussion: bold truth versus creepy evangelism

The hosts answer Boova's two questions about boldness. They argue truth on its own is not love: tracts, pamphlets, and pressured sinner's prayers are 'hostage situation' evangelism that drives people away. They contrast this with Paul's approach on Mars Hill, where he joined an ongoing conversation rather than soapboxing, and with 2 Corinthians 4:7: the treasure is Christ, the messengers are just clay jars.

Dear LFTP: funeral flowers and plants

• What is the proper procedure for distributing funeral flowers and plants?

A listener asks for the proper procedure for distributing funeral flowers and plants after his father died and his sisters-in-law each took home the plant their employer had sent. The hosts find the dispute petty, say the widow should decide but nobody really cares, and read the secular answer: the plants should be shared and thank-you notes sent by the sisters-in-law.

Dear LFTP: is asking students about grades rude?

• Is asking a student about grades as rude as asking a worker about salary?

A listener asks whether asking a student about grades is as rude as asking a worker about salary. The hosts say people ask out of small talk, not malice; answer honestly or deflect with humor, and do well enough that it stops mattering. The secular answer suggests: 'I'll forgive you for asking if you'll forgive me for not answering.'

Dear LFTP: boundaries with a troubled family

• Should I cut off my troubled family or keep rescuing them?

A listener from a troubled family asks whether to cut off relatives who constantly call with crises or keep rescuing them. The hosts advise firm boundaries without enabling: turn the phone off, let them face consequences, stay in loving contact, and use prayer and Scripture to discern when to help. 1 Timothy 5:8 on providing for relatives is discussed. The secular answer says stop rescuing, set limits, and protect study time.

Sign-off

The host closes the Monday-night show, gives the schedule (Mondays 10 to about 11:20 central at lifefromthepath.org, Saturdays 7PM on 99.3 KTIA), the contact email info@lifefromthepath.org, and sends listeners out with Jess Anderson's new album.