May 16 2011

Show open and 'Intern or Burn' game setup

The show opens live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston. The hosts introduce the night's game, 'Intern or Burn': summer intern Daniel Hudson will be quizzed on the Women of the Bible. A host introduces himself on-air as Mike, and the game-show parody intro names Dan Hudson as the game's host. A 'Secular vs. Solomon' round is teased but not played.

'Intern or Burn': Women of the Bible quiz

The full quiz runs: rapid-fire clues about women of the Bible (Rahab, Bathsheba, Dinah, Abigail, Rebecca, Mary, the Witch of Endor, Jael, Delilah, Naomi, Esther, Eve, Tamar, Jezebel and others). The intern answers most; chat participants including Danielle play along. On-air scripture citations include 1 Samuel 25:25 and Genesis 2-3 during the Abigail and Eve questions. The intern reports missing four.

Game wrap and upcoming music guests

The hosts wrap 'Intern or Burn' and read promos: the show broadcasts Monday nights 10 to midnight; Kevin Lindgren will be in the studio next week playing live, followed by Ashton Powers sharing his tunes. An Austin Powers impersonation bit follows.

Graduation season: careers, calling, and God's will

• What advice would you give someone graduating and entering a new season of life?

A long host discussion opening on graduation season: what advice to give graduates entering a new phase. Topics range over choosing a career, passion versus money, whether college is required, doing life 'on purpose' versus flying by the seat of one's pants, and how to discern God's will in practical decisions like becoming a veterinarian. Parenting and marriage come up as the hosts reflect on life-altering decisions made young.

Comedy bit: parody station, fake ads, end-times letter

• What should I do about the hosts making fun of my shirt every single week?

A comedy stretch: fake ads ('You can buy this mouse for $19.95', 'Donkey rib cage, 30 bucks'), the parody station 'Silk Sheets and Rainbows,' and a roll call where a host introduces himself on-air as Ben ('As always, Mike Boos and Dan Hudson. And special guest, the intern.'). A mock Dear-Abby-style letter about hosts mocking a listener's shirt gets no real answer before the bit derails. The hosts riff on a listener's end-times letter predicting earthquakes starting in New Zealand.

The gospel, hesitancy, and 'shaking the dust off'

The hosts turn serious on evangelism: people are hesitant about the gospel, and the hosts debate when to 'shake the dust off your feet' and move on. They discuss Jesus sending out the 72, the difference between inviting someone to church and personally witnessing, and mock drive-by tract evangelism — a radio caller handing out tracts at work despite a ban, and a church laying tracts at an atheist convention.

'The Earth Speaks' pamphlet anecdote

A host tells a story from an atheist convention: a church slipped 'The Earth Speaks' creation pamphlets under hotel doors; he confronted the man distributing them, who assumed the host was an atheist and ducked into a room. The hosts use it to needle timid, anonymous evangelism.

Dear LFTP: the bridal-portrait letter

• Why do today's brides still take formal bridal portraits — shouldn't a wedding portrait be of the two people together?

A Dear Live From The Path letter asks why brides still take formal bridal portraits, arguing the 'WE' in wedding means equal sharing of earning, child-raising, and housework — posted by Shirley in Houston. The hosts roast the premise ('It's not we, it's wet'), debate whether a groom belongs in the bridal portrait, and conclude the letter was likely written by a feminist stirring things up rather than a groom.

Dear LFTP: the Lynn reunion letter

• How should I handle the upcoming high school reunion given my bitter falling-out with my former business partner Lynn?

A Dear Live From The Path letter: the writer and Lynn were friends since their teens and ran a successful business together; the writer left to pursue dreams, the friendship died, a reconciliation attempt failed, and both are bitter over the business settlement. With a high school reunion coming, the writer asks how to handle it. The hosts roleplay the confrontation (inventing 'Eric' and 'Tammy' as stand-ins), then advise: don't let someone else's irrationality hold your life hostage — go, keep any contact civil, brief, and move away.

Dear LFTP: the wealthy brother-in-law letter

• Should we say something about wealthy relatives who attend our kids' milestones but never give gifts?

A Dear Live From The Path letter: the writer's wealthy brother-in-law and family gave no graduation gift to her daughter and no wedding gift to her son, though the writer's family has been generous at the in-laws' kids' milestones. She knows she should say nothing but struggles. The hosts answer: say nothing — gifts are not owed, and giving in order to get gifts back is giving for the wrong reason.

Debate: are you obligated to show up?

• Do you feel obligated to show up when someone invites you to their event?

Spinning out of the gifts letter, the hosts debate social obligation: do you owe attendance at someone's event because they came to yours? They spar over birthdays, funerals (packed versus empty), gift ledgers, and whether 'it would mean a lot to me' is really about the relationship or about looking important. Landing: celebrate the people who are there rather than worry about who isn't.

Outro and announcements

Sign-off and promos: Kevin Lindgren in the studio next week, Ashton Powers the week after, the Spirit Midwest Music Festival the first week of August (spiritmidwest.com), prayer for the band Syndrome of Fire heading out on a two-month tour, and Jess Anderson's BEC recordings out tomorrow.