2016 Episode 27

Show open and Canadian-accent comedy

The show opens from the Pathway Studios in Johnston with banter about Canadian accents — the hosts try to imitate Canadians saying 'about' and 'boat' — and a misheard opening lyric that sounds like 'I'm a working mang.'

Preview: relating to God when prayer feels empty; Nick Harris's corner announced

• How do you relate to God when prayer feels like talking to the ceiling?

The hosts preview tonight's theme: how to relate to God in good things and bad things, especially when prayer feels like talking to the ceiling and nothing comes back. They also announce the debut of 'Nick Harris's corner,' a new recurring segment.

Reading the Bible well: the book of Job

A discussion of the book of Job as a model for reading Scripture properly. A host describes Job's friends' best contribution as showing up and sitting in silence for days, and recounts standing on his bed cheering God on when God finally answers with 'gird your loins and answer as a man.'

Pope-style advice bit setup; Nick Harris's corner topic previewed

The hosts set up the recurring 'Pope's advice' bit — named on-air as 'Pope Ben the first' after people in local pubs were mistakenly told Ben is the pope. Nick Harris previews his corner's topic: God's unfailing love and loving people the way God loves us.

Pope's advice: run a tight ship

Ben — named on-air as 'Pope Ben the first' — delivers the bit's advice: run a tight ship, because letting one thing slide avalanches into the rest. He applies it to his own exercise, eating, Bible reading, supplementary reading, and temptation fences, describing how discipline in the peripheral areas lifts everything else. The other hosts agree and extend the driving metaphor: either you're driving the boat or you aren't.

How to ask God: opportunities, not outcomes; against black-hat-white-hat readings

The hosts discuss how to ask God for things — asking for an opportunity to act rather than demanding a specific outcome — and push back on their Sunday-school upbringing that painted biblical figures as black-hat or white-hat: the Israelites showed real faith, the Pharisees' rule-making started from a desire to honor God, and Peter ran his mouth but still got on the water. The naked young man in Mark who ran away (Luke-vs-Mark debate, settled as Mark) becomes a running joke.

Testimony: a deaf girl denied school admission; praising God when He says no

• How do you praise God when He doesn't give you what you prayed for?

One of the hosts shares a testimony about a deaf girl abroad whom a group has prayed for months to get into a school for the deaf and blind. The final meeting went well but the answer was no — not for lack of preparation or resources, simply no room. He describes his three-part process: stepping back from 'my plan was best,' recognizing God is not a genie who owes us what we want, and working to praise God anyway. The hosts add that God's perspective is bigger than ours.

Music plug: Light 45's 'Steeped' video

A music plug for the band Light 45: their new video for 'Steeped' is out on Facebook — they get trapped in a pallet box then jam in a barn — plus news the band is in the top five on the Christian Rock Billboard charts. The hosts point listeners to the acoustic performances on the show's website, singling out 'The Maze.'

Dear LFTP: Dave Hood asks about recontacting a former mistress

• Should I contact my former mistress now that both our spouses have passed away?

A listener letter from Dave Hood: forty-five years ago he had a mistress his wife knew about; both their spouses have since passed, and he found the woman's address online and is debating contacting her. The hosts advise caution — the woman once caused him to throw away what he said was important to him — then read the 'secular' answer, which takes the permissive view that both are now unencumbered with shared history.

Dear LFTP: Greg's letter on parents posting kids' photos on social media

• Should parents stop posting photos of their kids' mishaps on social media?

A letter signed by Greg, a self-described watchdog of others' social media, argues parents should be thoughtful about posting photos of their kids' mishaps. The hosts push back on the meddling framing but keep the core suggestion, and the secular answer replies that protecting children is the parents' job — if the photos bother the writer, scroll past.

Dear LFTP: six siblings and an aging mother showing early dementia signs

• What should we do about our aging mother who cuts us down and may have dementia?

A family of six adult children writes about their elderly mother, who rotates between their homes, cuts them down, accuses people of taking her money, and refuses to let the one homemaker sibling house her permanently. The hosts suggest a family meeting and note that the personality change may signal dementia — the secular answer recommends a geriatric psychiatric evaluation and a workable permanent living situation.

Dear LFTP: a retired widow keeping her retirement secret; the 'taser' advice

• Am I wrong or selfish for keeping my retirement secret to protect my privacy?

A 66-year-old retired widow writes that she hasn't told anyone she retired, receives widow's benefits, values her privacy, and asks whether she's wrong or selfish. The hosts argue her actions speak louder than her words — if she truly wants privacy, she should say so plainly and enforce it — and the joke escalates to buying a taser or cattle prod to keep visitors off her lawn. The secular answer is blunt: people must give in order to get.

Close: website, Nick's Corner page, next week's bands

The sign-off: past clips and the Light 45 videos are on the show's website, which has a new section for Nick's Corner; next week's guests are expected to include Michael Reban and Brett Reisley with a band; the episode closes with 'be faithful to the means. God will handle the end.'