Up Late

Show open, docket, and guest intro

• In Genesis 32, who is Jacob actually wrestling with — and what is Peniel?
• Do I truly understand Daniel 7 — and how do I understand God's perfect emotions?

Produced-voiceover open and the live start from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper; the docket is set: guest Jared Horace of Sheep Gate, an Ask the Pastor question on Genesis 32 and Peniel, a co-host's eschatology confusion (Daniel 7, God's 'perfect emotions'), the complaint line, helping vs enabling, and Dear LFTP letters. Boova's mic was off for the first 25 minutes of last week's show ('the lord loves me' — though 'Buva's voice carries to every other microphone').

What Sheep Gate is and how it differs from other recovery programs

Guest Jared Horace explains Sheep Gate (Sheepgate, a division of Adult & Teen Challenge of the Midlands, in Colfax) as an addiction recovery ministry and church: a six-month commitment, family and church involvement, and graduates in leadership — versus court-acknowledged 28-day programs that 'cost a thousand dollars a day.' He stresses these are addiction and 'life controlling issues,' not just substance abuse.

Jared's story: adopted, gang-involved in Chicago, prison, three program stints

Jared Horace tells his story: adopted at birth into a large, loud, loving family; teen rebellion; Southside Chicago gang life — guns, drugs, meth, a $40k drug debt; 24 years of drinking; '42 days of crack and 2.5 grams of meth.' Three program stints: New Horizon Youth Ministries in Marion, Indiana (interrupted by a medical flight to Canada after an appendicitis episode); the Dominican Republic — where the documentary Kidnapped for Christ was filmed — where he became a Christian; then an Iowa DUI that sent him to Teen Challenge Chicago.

The turning point: 'now or never, Jared'

Jared describes his second year at Sheep Gate: staff confronted him — 'you need to ask God why you're here' — and he hid in his room and prayed his first whole prayer. God's answer was personal: 'it's now or never, Jared. Yeah. You know, your life is a wreck.' He began to notice the small providences and 'the faithfulness of God' in daily life.

Restoration: Christmas pass, his wife's conversion, baptism, and the move to Colfax

Michael Foreman told Jared to go home for Christmas with no expectations: 'go home and serve your family.' Jared served — and his wife called to say she wanted to become a Christian. Converted weeks apart, they were baptized together ('down with the old... Up with the new'). After relapse temptation (a boss counter-offer) and an ultimatum year, they moved to Colfax in January 2020 so Jared could intern at Sheep Gate; the kids are settled and one daughter did YWAM.

Program-director life and why God uses broken stories

As program director (18 guys, 12 staff, chapel, classes, mentoring), Jared describes the work — and warns the guys who aren't trying to change: 'you don't wanna go to Jared's office. The Chicago comes out.' The room reflects on addiction as universal and often hidden: men who 'look the part' but compartmentalize pornography and other struggles ('temple of the Holy Spirit' issue), 'Jesus size holes' no substance fills, and the wounded-healer principle — 'when you see the glory of God revealed in it, you realize it wasn't ugly, it was beautiful.'

Complaint line and Mike's teased surprise

The listener complaint line ((515) 517-0085): a caller says the show has gone 'too soft.' Mike teases a 'big surprise in Live From The Pathland' and announces his own mystery project that he keeps dangling without delivering — earning a Proverbs 23/24 quip about excuses ('stop dangling secrets in front of people').

Helping vs enabling: three things that must be in place

• How do I know whether I'm helping or enabling someone making destructive decisions?

Asked how to tell helping from enabling, Jared gives three keys: (1) a real personal relationship — not a drive-by; (2) 'be prayerful... and be in step with the holy spirit,' not just the person; (3) know whether it's a heart issue or a wisdom issue. The hosts apply it to a listener who 'rescued a lot of people' and wonders why it never stuck.

Dear LFTP: 'Am I a fool for staying?' after Andy's affair

• Am I a fool for trying to work out my marriage after my husband Andy's affair?

A Dear LFTP letter: the writer's husband Andy began a government job five years ago, took a mistress, and is now ambivalent about the marriage; three kids (14, 11, 9); joint counseling. The room's blunt verdict — she is not a fool for fighting for it, Andy 'should have quit six months ago,' a husband shouldn't make his wife beg him to travel less — then the Secular answer is read ('You are not a fool. You feel your marriage is something worth fighting for'), which the room mostly endorses with caveats.

Dear LFTP: thirty-five years of pining and the 'Dan Hudson' reveal

• Is thirty-five years of yearning for a man love or lust?

A Dear LFTP letter: for 35 years the writer has carried feelings for a church minister who lied about his personal life and married someone else. The room reads it as obsession with a fantasy — 'you're in love with the negative space that a human is existing in' — not love. The letter's last sentence — 'Oh, by the way, his name is Dan Hudson' — triggers jokes at their co-host Dan's expense ('Dan, she's been pining after you for thirty five years'). Secular's answer is read: she is in love with an idealized projection and is wasting her time.

Outro and 'be faithful in the means'

Quick outro around a Batmobile ride callback and the sign-off: 'be faithful in means. God will handle the ends.'