October 17 2011

Show open

The produced intro plays and the host introduces himself as Ben Foose (transcript rendering). Studio banter includes a bit about a Bob Ross image on the monitors and whether Bob Ross was a godly man. The host announces a special show with the band Syndrome of Fire back in the studio.

Tonight's lineup and the Good Advice / Think Twice game

The hosts welcome Syndrome of Fire back, note that Spankenhauser is absent with the flu, and preview the show: band talk, unheard recorded music, and the Elisha story from 2 Kings 6. They explain the Good Advice / Think Twice game: secular (worldly) wisdom is read, and the hosts judge whether it is genuinely good advice or advice to think twice about against a biblical standard. They note recent weeks have seen them disagreeing with the Secular persona, who has been upset and mean-spirited about it.

Band interview: Evanescence show and summer tour stories

Syndrome of Fire announces they are playing a show with Evanescence in Milwaukee this Friday at an arena-sized venue. The band recounts summer tour life: a member was pickpocketed outside Heaven Fest in Denver at 2 a.m. and talked the thieves into returning his wallet, plus comedy bits about Denny's, eggs ordered over medium, and sleeping on floors and in the van. Band members Cassie, Ryan, and Sonny are addressed by name on air.

Band interview: label, EP, studio producing, and provision

The band discusses their label relationship through Breezefire.com, where their EP is available, and working with producers in the studio. They share how God provided financially through a tough summer, including an unexpected gift from a man they met at a Denny's, and riff on audiences, merch, and the music business. The hosts set up an acoustic in-studio performance of the EP's title track.

Acoustic performance: I'm Alive

Syndrome of Fire performs an acoustic version of their song 'I'm Alive,' the title track of their EP, in the studio. The ASR renders the sung lyrics as a single long segment; the studio audience reacts with rocking and laughter.

Post-song banter: ukuleles and retail rants

After the song the conversation drifts into comedy: the hosts' awkwardness at not rocking out, a ukulele in a host's office, kids learning instruments, and extended rants about Best Buy and Walmart checkout practices. A host describes his most irritating retail experiences, including cashiers holding the debit card until the receipt prints.

Songwriting: what 'I'm Alive' is about, and the music industry

• What was behind the band's song 'I'm Alive'?

Asked what was behind the 'I'm Alive' tune, the band explains the song was written with producers over a good day of work, aimed at people going through drugs, cancer, or hard times, with a 'will rise forever' theme. The discussion broadens into the music industry: single-song culture, fans skipping albums, and bands making little money from recorded music anymore, with music acting as an advertisement for the live show.

Merch, band thanks, and recorded track: Not Letting Go

The band shows off merchandise including hot pink shirts and dog tags, and the hosts cue up the producer-polished recorded version of 'Not Letting Go,' which no one has heard before. After the track, the band and hosts talk about live performance quality matching the recording, and the band thanks supporters, venues, and listeners.

2 Kings 6 reading: Elisha, the army of angels, and spiritual sight

Dan reads 2 Kings 6:14-18 aloud: the king of Syria's army surrounds Dothan, Elisha's servant panics, and Elisha prays for the servant's eyes to be opened to the horses and chariots of fire. The hosts reflect on spiritual blindness, the 'Elisha glasses' needed to see God's unseen help, and the lonely person who feels God is absent. They discuss people who claim to follow Jesus but keep God in a distant arena.

Prayer: answered prayer, perspective, and Hezekiah

The conversation turns to prayer: a host shares how God has been answering his prayers with a perspective change over recent weeks rather than changed circumstances. They discuss relating to God like a father you actually ask for help, retell Hezekiah's prayer for 15 more years of life (2 Kings 20), and compare kings including Josiah and Jotham. Practical counsel follows: pray through an ordinary day at Walmart, live for Christ today, and seek God persistently.

Dear LFTP: Bo, Patsy, and Lucy — marriage as covenant

• Am I out of step with society for finding my son's unmarried living arrangement unfair to his mistress and insulting to me as his mother?

A grandmother's letter asks whether she is out of step with society: her son Bo married Patsy four years ago, Patsy left after two years with no legal separation, and Bo now lives with a mistress named Lucy, whom her grandson calls 'mommy.' The hosts' advice centers on introducing Bo to Jesus, the child's need for stability, and loving the son and grandchild while leaving the adult's choices to him. They contrast marriage as a covenant officiated by God with marriage as a mere contract that can be broken and amended, and the Secular persona answers the letter with worldly wisdom.

Dear LFTP: the self-talking, complaining coworker

• How can I get my constantly complaining friend to enjoy our daily walk instead of moaning about her job?

A listener walks daily with a friend who complains about her job nonstop and asks how to get her to enjoy the break instead of moaning for 20 minutes. The hosts riff on self-talkers, stress relief, and whether the behavior signals something else going on, advising patience, directness, and — from one host — giving it a year and then 'handing him the Jesus card.' The Secular persona's answer: say it with a smile and change the subject.

Outro: band plugs and sign-off

The show closes with plugs for Syndrome of Fire's website and the Friday Milwaukee show with Evanescence. The hosts thank the band and the listeners, then sign off promising next week's show.