July 7, 2014 Podcast

Show open

The produced intro plays: 'Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper... you're listening to Live From The Path.' A host then opens the live show, introducing himself on-air (the transcript's ASR renders his name as 'Ben Lewis'), and a second host greets him.

Tonight's lineup and sponsors

A host runs through the night's plan: three 'what's happening' news rounds, a new segment 'This Happened To Me' starring John Buva the third, a marriage tip of the month, and Dear LFTP advice letters. He thanks sponsors Westfield Veterinary Hospital and Bob Eisenlauer (ASR: 'Bob Eisen Eisenlower') of the Eisenlower team, urging listeners to thank them for supporting the show.

What's happening: the Coppertone Facebook ban

• Is there any nudity — art, photography, statues, etc. — that can be considered nonsexual?

Dan poses the first news question: a mother was banned from Facebook for posting a photo of her toddler recreating the 1953 Coppertone-girl pose. He asks whether any nudity — art, photography, statues — can be considered nonsexual, with options A (nothing sexual about children or art), B (can't be too careful), C (you said buttocks). Two hosts land on B, arguing private parts should stay off social media and you should control what you can; a third resists restricting everything for the sake of the worst pervert, settling on a 'Holy Spirit distinction': believers have a responsibility not to promote impropriety, without chasing every possible misuse.

What's happening: confronting beach thieves

• How would you confront someone who's stealing your stuff on a beach?

Dan's second question covers a viral video of a man filming two women stealing his beach gear, who then attack him on camera. The hosts agree on option C — start with a conversation giving them a chance to leave — escalating to the police (option A) only if the thieves escalate. Boova shares a story of finding a stranger asleep on his couch one Thanksgiving; he and his brother woke the man, drove him to a gas station, and lent him a phone rather than calling police.

What's happening: Jesus and the N-word

• How would Jesus handle the N-word if he were here today?

Dan's third question: a small newspaper used the N-word in a headline about President Obama. He asks how Jesus would handle the word today — A (never use it, too loving), B (use it when the offended aren't around), C (use it in a rap-style Sermon on the Mount). The hosts land on A, but for a different reason than the option states: not fear of offending — Jesus called the Pharisees a 'brood of vipers' — but because the word doesn't further what Jesus is trying to communicate. They add that using it is simply bad business for the paper.

This Happened To Me: Boova's outward turn

In the new segment 'This Happened To Me,' Boova (introduced on-air as 'John Buva the third') describes a shift in his faith from self-serving belief to outward works: talking about Christ with a skeptic on Court Avenue in Des Moines — he turned back after hearing the name Jesus ('I heard the name Jesus, and I like that') — answering a friend's questions, and sensing the Holy Spirit more, or finally listening. The hosts riff on the theme: a disciple makes disciples rather than just believing; American church culture has become consumerist ('show up and pay money'); obedience is the tree's job while God provides soil, water, and fruit — 'it's not you, it's God.'

Hobby Lobby follow-up: comply, fight, or close

• If you were a business owner required by law to provide abortifacient coverage, would you comply, fight to the end, or close the business?

Ben returns to last week's question: as a business owner required to cover abortifacients, would you comply, fight to the end, or close the business? He leans toward closing (option C), citing Revelation's letters to the churches — believers rebuked for joining trade guilds tied to idol worship and temple prostitution — while admitting the 'take your ball and go home' rebuttal has force: you remain party to the system through taxes and employment, and Jesus still taught rendering to Caesar. He lands in acknowledged ambiguity: he has no settled answer and will keep praying through it.

Marriage tip of the month: say 'great job' to your man

• Is 'say great job to your man' helpful marriage advice for women?

The hosts discuss a marriage tip advising women to tell their men 'thank you, great job, I'm so proud of you' instead of defaulting to 'I love you.' Survey research is cited that men's top needs are sexual, fellowship ('just hang out with me'), and admiration. They mostly agree with the advice but insist affirmation must be genuine — don't lie about the 20% of the drywall project that looks bad — and frame it as feedback that a husband's provision is received, not pride-stroking. Boova admits he needs to develop practical husband skills (yard work, handyman work, cars); a tangent on love languages and Vanilla Ice's 'if you got a problem, yo, I'll solve it' closes the segment before the break. The segment also carries a brief promo for a July 15 show at Zeke's in Ames with four bands.

Dear LFTP: Sofia wants a second birthday gift bought

• How should I tell my friend Sofia I'd rather not buy a birthday gift for her friend Stacy?

A listener plans to attend her friend Sofia's 50th birthday; Sofia asked her to also buy a gift for Sofia's friend Stacy, whom the listener barely knows. The hosts' advice: just say no — 'you're a grown woman' — and don't let the gift budget get split in half. The 'secular answer' (smile, in all caps, while refusing so it doesn't seem confrontational) is mocked as coaching her to lie with her facial expressions.

Dear LFTP: the toilet-paper trail

• Did I miss a moral imperative by not telling a stranger about the toilet paper trailing from her slacks?

A listener watched a woman return from a restaurant restroom with toilet paper trailing from her slacks and joined 'the silent legion' rather than tell her. The hosts split: ignore it and spare her the mortification of a stranger's notice, or tell her directly (one suggests having his wife do it discreetly). They agree the ambiguity is the problem — either let it go or tell her. The secular answer (have the server pass her an anonymous note) is judged worse, since she'd spend the meal wondering who saw.

Show close

The hosts wrap the advice segment, plug the July 15 Zeke's show in Ames (four bands, $5 at the door), and point listeners to the website, Facebook page, podcast feed, and the info@livefromthepath.org contact before signing off.