Guppies and Pumpkins

Show open and tonight's lineup

A host opens the show from the Pathway studios in Johnston, notes the show is no longer broadcast live (recorded for better quality), and lays out the lineup: a round of Secular versus Solomon, Dear LFTP advice letters, and a discussion of a Relevant Magazine article about a congressman's climate change comments.

Climate change, cheap grace, and micro stewardship

• Is it 'cheap grace' for a Christian to say God will take care of climate change?

A host reads a Relevant Magazine piece quoting congressman Tim Wahlberg's fuller town-hall remarks on climate change: he believes climate change is real and humans have some impact, but trusts God can take care of it if it is a real problem. The hosts push back on the magazine's 'cheap grace' framing, argue the quote is more nuanced than the headline, and land on micro-level stewardship: stop poisoning air and water because it harms people, and you get any global benefit for free.

Talking to kids about sex: the guppy aquarium lesson

After mentioning an article on talking to kids about sexuality, Dan tells the story of buying a guppy aquarium on purpose so his kids could watch the dating scene play out ('the guys are chasing the girls, and they never stop'), then pivoting to the hermit crab as the better model: introspective, self-contained, out of trouble. The bit detours when the guppies eat their babies.

Proverb-a-day goal and Secular versus Solomon rules

• Which of these proverbs are Solomon (biblical wisdom) and which are secular (world wisdom), and from what country?

A host notes his stalled goal of reading a proverb a day and tees up the recurring game: he reads a proverb, and the others guess whether it is biblical wisdom (Solomon) or world wisdom (Secular), and if secular, name the country of origin. Mike is absent, so Boova awards the points. The show's website has past clips of the game.

Secular versus Solomon: the full round

The game runs ten proverbs. Answers given on air: 'Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench' is Solomon (Ecclesiastes 10:1); 'Peace with a club in hand is war' is secular Portugal; 'If you fear God, you won't fear humans' is secular Albania; 'To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good' is Solomon (Proverbs 17:26); 'Do not take to heart all the things that people say' is Solomon (Ecclesiastes 7:21); 'No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back' is secular Romania; 'Better is the end of a thing than its beginning' is Solomon (Ecclesiastes 7:8); 'Good sense is a fountain of life' is Solomon (Proverbs 16:22); the mystery proverb from the open, 'The pumpkin gives birth and the fence has the trouble,' is secular Morocco; 'A truth spoken before its time is dangerous' is secular Greece. Points land everyone negative, with canned beans pledged to charity. The host closes with the point of the game: can listeners discern biblical wisdom from plaque-worthy sayings.

Chapter-a-day Bible reading with personal commentary

A host describes his method for sticking with Bible reading: a chapter a day plus his own written commentary, sent to a few recipients for accountability, running four to five days a week. Writing it down forces real attention instead of skimming, makes cross-references like Old Testament quotes in Hebrews stick, and builds a note set for future teaching.

Dear LFTP: ex-partner wants to be 'second mommy'

• Should a transgender ex-partner be presented to our three-year-old daughter as a 'second mommy' rather than her daddy?

A listener writes that her ex, who came out as transgender after their daughter was born, wants the three-year-old to think of her as a second mommy and deny being the biological father. The hosts advise dealing in true things: the child was fathered by this person, and denying it is a falsehood the child is not prepared for, while still showing love. The Secular answer advises not lying, telling the truth in age-appropriate stages.

Dear LFTP: relative demands all potluck dishes be dairy-free

• Is it selfish for a relative to require all 30 guests at her potluck to cook only dairy-free, cheese-free, butter-free, soy-free dishes?

A listener's relative hosts parties and requires all 30 guests to cook only dairy-free, cheese-free, butter-free, soy-free dishes though she is the only one on the diet. The hosts call it selfish and controlling: cook a dish or two for her needs, but do not dictate the whole spread; gracious people serve others' needs voluntarily, they are not told to. The Secular answer agrees her behavior is excessively controlling.

Dear LFTP: law-firm runner stuck tipping 10%

• How can I signal to the cashier that I would tip more than the instructed 10% if it were my own money?

A listener who runs errands for a law firm is instructed to tip only 10% on takeout lunch orders with the firm's money and wants a way to signal she would tip more. The hosts suggest adding her own money or lobbying the lawyers, note the runner earns an hourly wage, and then the Secular answer flips the whole question: bosses tip 10% because it is takeout, not table service, so no one should feel embarrassed or apologize. The hosts reverse themselves and agree: tipping takeout is not expected.

Close: thanks, email plug, and the baldness question

The host wraps up, thanks in-studio participant Nick Harris, invites article suggestions at info@livefromthepath.org, asks listeners for the medical term for baldness (not alopecia), points to lifeinthepath.org for past clips, and signs off with 'be faithful means God will handle the ends.'