November 3, 2014 Podcast

Show open and tonight's rundown

Produced intro voiceover followed by the live show start from the Pathway Studios in Johnston Proper. The hosts preview the episode: a 'what's trending' segment (Brittany Maynard, Alex from Target, 'Merry Christmas from Jesus'), an unscreened article surveying first-time church visitors on their top 10 reasons for not returning, time.com's 'what I gained when I lost my religion' item #9 ('friends who are more fun'), and a new game concept from a host addressed on-air as Ben — he gives the solution, the others must guess the problem.

What is an evangelical?

• What does the label 'evangelical' actually mean?

Before tackling the time.com article, one host interrupts to ask what 'evangelical' even means, and the hosts hash out a working definition: not Catholic, generally Bible-teaching, more conservative Bible churches (Baptist, E-Free, Christian churches) rather than mainline denominations like Lutheran or Presbyterian. One host laments the fragmentation of churches — wishing a traveler could just ask 'where's church?' in town and get one answer — while another notes not every church is actually interested in reading the Bible together.

time.com #9: friends who are more fun

The hosts read and respond to item #9 from a former evangelical's time.com list, 'what I gained when I lost my religion': 'friends who are more fun and the parties are way better.' They push back on the false dichotomy — a Christian dominated by a list of things you can't say, think, or feel isn't introducing anyone to Jesus — and admit the uncomfortable truth that people do live vicariously through others' wild stories ('the mark of an interesting guy'). They argue Christ actually widens your circle: Jesus' own twelve included a government worker and an anti-government zealot, and the narrow door is open to absolutely everybody.

What's Trending: 'Merry Christmas from Jesus'

• What would Jesus say to the marketing team that decides to take Christ out of Christmas?

The multiple-choice trending question: what would Jesus say to the marketing team that decides to take Christ out of Christmas? (A) call it what you want, it has nothing to do with my kingdom; (B) who do you think you are taking my name out of my holiday; (C) forget my name and I'll forget yours. The hosts land firmly on A — saying 'happy holidays' is like saying 'happy day' on someone's birthday, and nobody can take Christ out of your Christmas; fighting over the calendar teaches people nothing about Jesus and just makes Christians look like jerks.

What's Trending: Brittany Maynard and end-of-life questions

• When is it okay for a Christ follower to take their own life?

The serious trending item: Brittany Maynard, who ended her own life on November 1 after a terminal brain cancer diagnosis. The question — when is it okay for a Christ follower to take their own life? (A) never, life is a gift; (B) to spare yourself and family the dreadful painful part; (C) glad I'm not God so I don't have to decide — gets a firm A from the host addressed as Boova ('it's not yours to take') and a leaning-A from the host addressed as Mike, who wrestles with Saul falling on his sword, the apostles' martyrdoms, and lifestyle choices as precedents. The hosts add that modern medications can distort thinking, that suicide is not the unforgivable sin, and that they're thankful God, not they, is the judge.

What's Trending: Alex from Target's newfound fame

• If Alex from Target came to you for help with his newfound fame, how would you encourage him to respond?

The hosts cover the two-day-old viral story of Alex from Target, a teenager whose photo blew up on Twitter. The advice question (A) cash in and become Target's spokesman, (B) ask out the hottest girl in school, (C) fame is fleeting, seek God in your youth — gets 'all of the above' plus a comic beat where one host roleplays Alex asking 'Mister Foust' for advice. The discussion turns into a broader point: don't change who you are when circumstances scale up — one host tells of challenging a manager five steps above him to arm wrestling, treating the CEO and the floor-sweeper exactly the same, because character shouldn't depend on the audience.

Game: 'jump in the hole' — digging deeper into Bible study

• What problem does the solution 'if you want to dig in deeper, sometimes you have to jump in the hole' solve?

The host addressed on-air as Ben launches the new game: he gives the solution — 'if you want to dig in deeper, sometimes you have to jump in the hole' — and the others guess the problem (stagnant faith, helping people, shallow relationships). He reveals the real target: shallow Bible study habits, where people read Romans 1-9 and retreat to the bullet point they already knew ('we were bought with a price') instead of staying in the passage. The hosts extend the point: read Scripture with the same curiosity you'd bring to any other book, asking why everyone is mad at that guy or why the woman is at the well alone. Mid-segment the Truth Network radio audience is dismissed and sponsor reads air for the Eisenlauer team (Bob Eisenlauer, ASR 'Eisenhower') and Westfield Veterinary Hospital.

Top 10 reasons first-time church guests don't come back

A host (addressed on-air as Mike when the segment opens) walks through an unscreened article's survey of first-time church visitors and their top 10 reasons for not returning: stand-up-and-greet time (#1), unfriendly or phony members, unsafe/unclean children's areas, no place to get information, bad websites, poor signage, insider church language, boring services, members telling guests they're in their seat ('no wonder Jesus weeps'), and dirty facilities. The hosts agree most ring true, roast mandatory greet time as a 'commercial break' and 'prison yard time,' and close on the deeper point: hospitality is about changing people's 'want-tos,' not holding them hostage to create community.

Dear LFTP: the husband, the TV remote, and 45 years of marriage

• My husband of 45 years is unbearable unless he controls the TV — do you have any suggestions?

The Dear LFTP letter: a woman married 45 years writes that her husband is unbearable unless he controls the TV — he'll wake from sleep just to change the channel back. The hosts' advice: after 45 years he's not changing, so get a second TV (move one to the bedroom); long marriages have their own snarky equilibrium. The 'Secular' answer is read: trying to reason with him won't work because he's asserting himself as top dog — get a second television. Then the hosts confess their own 'Archie Bunker' moments: one gets irritated when his wife is on her phone, another when dinner isn't in process when he gets home — 'change your way.'

Outro

Brief sign-off: the hosts thank listeners, promise to catch them next week, and close with 'go to bed, do something.'