The Man Show

Show open and manly-nickname bit

Host Ben opens the show from Lowe Street Studios in Des Moines on Des Moines Amplified. After the intro and the call-in number, the hosts launch the night's running comedy bit: each adopts an exaggerated macho alias (Boss Dawson, Blade, Steel McDangerous, Magnum) and they mock-debate which is manliest.

Theme setup: The Man Show

• What does biblical manhood look like, and what marks a godly man?

The hosts frame the episode's theme: what biblical manhood actually is, against the modern cultural picture of the man as spineless and pushed around. They set up a night of examples, discussion, and bits on being a godly man.

Absent fathers and unmanly culture

The hosts discuss cultural trends: fathers-to-be coming from divorced families, parents bailing kids out of discipline and consequences, and office work replacing physical labor as the source of the 'emasculated' modern man. Mid-segment, caller Ryan from the band Syndrome of Fire (last week's in-studio guests) checks in about the band's tour.

Comedy interludes and an article on men and change

A stretch of banter: the pen, the pinata, a man jailed for not paying rent ('not a manly crime'), addiction to foreign imports, machines doing the 'manly jobs', and the Aunt Jemima bandana. The hosts also read from an article characterizing how men deal with change and note David's life has examples 'completely counter to how we're to behave'.

The low bar of fatherhood and when to act

The hosts quote an article: 'the handy thing about being a father is that the historical standard is so pitifully low' — just showing up with your kids draws praise. One host mentions preaching a 'Modern Day Miracles' sermon series, then a knife bit leads into the question of when a man should step in and act versus let things go.

Biblical examples of manliness

The hosts test biblical figures as examples of manhood: Simeon and Levi avenging their sister Dinah (and whether that violence was the right way to be), the victorious Revelation Jesus with the tattoo on his thigh, Jesus cursing the fig tree, Jesus driving the money changers from the temple, David facing Goliath, and David playing the lyre to calm Saul's nerves. Comedy interludes (air lyre, the lunch delivery, 'Pathway cash' and 'Dan Bucks') run through the discussion.

David Bush upcoming guest and David, a man after God's own heart

A caller leads into an announcement that musician David Bush (Spirit Midwest Music Festival) will be on the show in a couple of weeks. The hosts then discuss the biblical David as 'a man after God's own heart': a repentant man who owned his mistakes, in contrast to the low bar of modern fatherhood.

Comedy interludes: naked dance, white suits, Dan Bucks

A run of bits: a 'real man dance naked in the streets,' the Pathway Men's Choir cancellation, returning 'Dan Bucks' at the golf course, the ultra-tight choir t-shirt, white suits and heart-shaped jacuzzis, and the underwear discussion.

A man's role: provide, protect, lead spiritually

• What does it mean for a man to provide, protect, and lead his family spiritually?

The hosts lay out three basic responsibilities of a man toward his family: provide, protect, and be a model of godliness who leads spiritually. Discussion covers what loving your wife looks like (being present, not just working), being a visible Christ follower at work, and one host's testimony of coming to Christ after running from God — drawn in by men whose love for Jesus gave their lives purpose.

Authentic faith, oaths, and the strip-club invitation

The hosts argue that authentic faith sticks out — coworkers should just know you follow Christ, which takes you out of situations like the strip-club invitation. They discuss oath-keeping ('don't swear by your name... just say yes or no'), and the witness value of tipping well and inviting coworkers along with Christian friends.

Las Vegas tangent

A comedy detour into gambling: free soda at the tables, tipping the server, and a prank suggestion to hand out a best friend's email address and phone number for casino offers.

David and Goliath revisited, sovereignty, and caller questions

• How do I step out in faith on what I believe God is calling me to, and how do I discern whether it is God speaking?
• Do you pray and wait for God to act, or go and ask him to be with you?

The hosts return to David and Goliath — a shepherd facing trained soldiers — framing it as God's strength made perfect in weakness, not human bravado. Callers join in: Ryan with the 'did God really say' band-week question about Eve, a caller blessed by a big green van, and a caller whose dad is dying who found Francis Chan's 'Crazy Love' challenging. Topics: God's faithfulness, Samson as a warning about entitlement, and whether you pray and wait for God to act or go and ask him to be with you.

24 rules for dating like a gentleman

Pants joins via Skype and reads a list of '24 rules for dating like a gentleman' while the hosts rate each one: no intentionally rude behavior, tight pants, one cocktail before dinner, ordering like a woman, not talking golf with a lady present, shoes under the table, table-hopping, loud restaurants, beer from a bottle, sweeteners, cell phones on the table, tipping (Christians should be the best tippers), and taking your mother out to eat. Listeners in the chat add rules of their own.

Next-week preview and purity

• What should a man's attitude toward dating and purity be?

The hosts preview next week's list ('10 rules for Christian men') and then turn to purity: a man is pure, the world disciples children on their sexuality while the church has been quiet, and one host describes praying for his daughters' future boyfriends. Pants is signed off with a farewell.

Sign-off and church plugs

The hosts close the show with thanks, point listeners to livefromthepath.org and the podcast, and plug their churches: Pathway Church in Johnston (meeting at Wallace Elementary) and Pillar Church in West Des Moines, plus thepathonline.org.

Prayer-room invitation and weeping testimony

An invitation for listeners who want to pray with someone: email info@livefromthepath.org and a host will meet them at the prayer room. A host testifies that he walked into the prayer room the night before and unexpectedly wept for three minutes, describing it as life-changing brokenness. The segment closes with the on-air prayer-calendar signup link from the chat.