August 10, 2015 Podcast

Show open and produced intro voiceover

The episode opens with the live show start from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper, followed by the produced opening-music voiceover ('Get things done. Work for the Holy Ghost...'). The hosts then introduce themselves to listeners.

Marriage advice listicles and Jesus' grounded illustrations

A host shares an article listing 'top seven ways to have a great marriage' and calls the advice stupid and unhelpful caricature ('love her unconditionally' is not advice). The hosts pivot to appreciating that Jesus' illustrations are grounded in real life — farmers and real struggles — rather than caricature evil and holier-than-Jesus good guys, with a joke comparing the kingdom of heaven to Rainbow Bright and Power Rangers.

Sponsor plug: the Eisenlauer Team

The hosts thank last week's guests Bob Eisenlauer and John Eisenlauer of the Eisenlauer Team and plug their real-estate services (buying, selling, market questions) at eisenlauerteam.com, with a personal testimonial about a smooth home purchase and patient help with lowball house hunting.

Billboard evangelism follow-up: an apology for last week's tone

Returning to last week's show on billboard evangelism, the hosts argue that biblical truth stated outside the context of who God is, the heart it was said with, and what God is pointing to functions as a lie. They confess they may have crossed from building up into tearing down when critiquing billboard purveyors who aren't present to talk, and apologize on-air. They land on fighting for Jesus rather than fighting for righteousness — leading someone to righteousness without Jesus is a fail.

Church signs, and finding God through a Christian rather than a church

• What do you think about church signs (kitschy slogans)?

Asked about church signs, a host says he wouldn't use slogans at all ('See you on Sunday — God'), doubting that sermon-topic signs (a Lutheran church advertising 'James two') draw anyone but insiders. A co-host tells the story of a preacher fired for preaching only the death, burial, and resurrection for six months. The hosts conclude people looking for God know where churches are; the better response would be 'I need to know God — let me find a Christian,' the way you'd ask around for a doctor or carpenter. A host notes Jesus' parables show two ways people meet the kingdom: seeking it, or it finding them (Saul).

Do support groups help? Victims, perpetrators, and Jesus the oncologist

• Do problems really get solved by getting a bunch of people with the same problem in a room together?

A host wonders whether gathering people with the same struggle in a room actually solves problems, using a hypothetical marital-lust class and the risk that pornography strugglers might swap tips or relativize their sin. A co-host compares the dynamic to AA — a book once argued AA is more what the church should be than the church is — and notes the church's groups lack AA's pseudo-anonymity. The hosts distinguish victims of sin (helped by groups) from perpetrators (better one-on-one), and one host argues any group needs 'an oncologist' — Jesus at the center — or it just legitimizes the sin together.

'Dave Herrick is the pope': the first-fruits fundraising story

Dave Herrick (speaker-1), the subject of a joking rumor that he is the pope, is asked to give 'pope-style advice' and tells a fundraising story: a farmer donated his literal first fruits — truckloads of wheat, not money — and when it was sold, the grain market happened to be at a high that exactly covered the need plus a 10% administrative rounding gap. Dave's advice: the way you live out your faith communicates more than pamphlets or the Four Spiritual Laws — actions should lead the discussion, with words explaining what the actions mean.

Gifts not requirements: the Sabbath, parenting fences, and re-reading scripture

Continuing Dave's advice, the hosts reframe obedience as receiving God's gifts rather than meeting requirements: the Sabbath is a gift, not a rule — like being handed an ice cream cone you don't 'have to' take. A co-host recalls a men's-conference speaker's 'square on a piece of paper' boundary analogy for parenting (increase your children's boundaries as they grow), which they connect to David eating the bread of the presence and the priest working on the Sabbath — the fence isn't the same size for everyone. They urge re-reading scripture with a fresh lens instead of through old assumptions, like refocusing a camera after stepping back.

Individual faith vs community-as-cushion; church as organism, not corporation

Reflecting on the faithful farmer who needed no community to obey, the hosts argue the church is a body of individuals: like a red blood cell that does its job whether or not the arm is attached, each believer needs a direct relationship with God that community amplifies rather than replaces. A co-host cites the movie Stigmata's line that 'the church is in you' against church-as-institution. They critique the corporate church model — hiring pastors to cover for the community's lack of relationships — and the cookie-cutter franchise expectation that every church have a pastor, dynamic worship leader, children's minister, and energetic youth minister.

Truth Network radio sign-off

The hosts sign off the radio portion of the show for Truth Network 99.3 FM listeners, thank the Eisenlauer Team sponsors again, and close the radio hour with the show's sign-off line: 'Be faithful in the means. God will take care of the ends.' The podcast portion continues after the break.

Should churches fake ministries they aren't gifted for? VBS, Paul and Peter, and no formulas

• Is it okay for a church not to offer a ministry (like kids programming) that it isn't gifted to do?

Back from the break, the hosts ask whether churches should drop programs they lack the people for — e.g., kids programming and VBS — and let other churches that do them well serve those needs instead of competing. Paul sent to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews models doing only what you're designed to do. A host cites Ephesians 4:11 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers) as roles, not program-director positions, and notes Acts shows the message that worked in Jerusalem didn't work in Antioch, Corinth, or Laodicea: 'God doesn't use a stamp. He uses a paintbrush.' Copying the big church across town is 'holy spirit tailgating' — watching through binoculars instead of asking the Spirit what to do.

Communion: the biblical meal vs the cracker-and-juice ritual

• Is communion meant to be a formal cracker-and-juice ritual, or is it any meal believers share in Christ's name?

The hosts wrestle with communion in the American church: one confesses he hates the individualistic communion moment and ends up manufacturing a heaviness that isn't there, blaming fear of taking it 'in an unworthy manner.' Dave argues the biblical Lord's Supper was a real feast with hours of discussion where Jesus upset social norms and turned Passover into a new-covenant wedding allegory — 'communion is literally anytime people who believe in Jesus get together, share a meal, and glorify Christ.' They discuss Paul's indictment of the Corinthians (eating before others arrive — 'that's why people are sick'), grape juice vs wine, a Missouri church member's pie-crust communion bread, and David's showbread — concluding 'we formalize an informal meal.'

Dear LFTP: a widow's 60-year-old son is a terrible driver

• How do I tell my 60-year-old son I no longer want him to drive me, and make him understand how serious his bad driving habits are?

Mike (addressed by name in the audio) reads the Dear LFTP letter: a widow writes that her 60-year-old son Martin, an accomplished litigation attorney, is a reckless driver — speeding, texting, looking at passengers — who gets defensive at criticism, and asks how to tell him she no longer wants him to drive her. The hosts advise giving him real consequences (drive separately, every time) rather than half measures, since people react to actual consequences. The 'secular' answer is read: stop making excuses, tell him the truth in love, and from now on arrange her own transportation. They joke that third parties in these letters are always caricatures — 'my son is Gargamel.'

Closing: contact info and thanks to guest Jared Roy

The hosts close the show: thanks to the Eisenlauer Team sponsors, website livefromthepath.org, info@ email for positive feedback, complaints to the station ('call KTA, they like that stuff'), and thanks to Jared Roy for stopping by. The final sign-off: 'Be faithful in the means. God will take care of the ends. Thanks for listening.'