January 2 2012

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• From a biblical perspective, how should a Christian evaluate political candidates?

A host introduces himself as Ben and welcomes listeners to Live from the Path, airing Monday nights. He previews the night's topics: 2012 predictions, whether Jesus cares if you speed or jaywalk, a biblical look at the Iowa caucuses, and a reminder to get off a judgmental 'godly high horse'. He notes Christians can hold differing political views on matters the Bible does not define.

What happened to the handkerchief?

• What happened to the handkerchief?

A comedy bit in which a host wonders why the handkerchief went out of style, complaining about tearing off toilet paper and hunting through rooms for expensive Kleenex during a cold. The hosts joke about the price of handkerchiefs and blowing their noses in them. It ends as a station bumper plays.

Does Jesus care if you speed or jaywalk?

• Does Jesus care whether you are a speeder or a jaywalker?

The hosts take up the big question of the night: whether Jesus cares about speeding and jaywalking. One host reads Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 on submitting to governing authorities, and the group debates whether breaking traffic laws is sin, pride, or a 'worldly mulligan'. They discuss integrity at work, a Christian police officer's duty, drunk driving penalties, and whether God lets believers break laws he does not forbid. A parody bumper closes the segment with the running gag 'I must decrease my speed'.

Smuggling Bibles into China

• When, if ever, is it right to break a country's law for a higher authority?

A host tells the story of a trip to China years earlier when several in his group smuggled in Bibles against the law of the land, describing armed guards checking bags. The hosts conclude that breaking a country's law for a higher authority takes mature, Holy Spirit-led discernment about whether the act advances the gospel. They distinguish smuggling the Word of God from using crime to infiltrate criminals.

Upcoming Christian music shows

The hosts announce upcoming concerts: Saved on Sunday debuting their acoustic double album Power Outage with Syndrome of Fire and Double J at Eagle Vision Church on Saturday, January 7th; Syndrome of Fire playing with Cutlass at the Seven Flags Event Center on February 24th; and Jess Anderson's shows at Willow Creek Baptist Church, Grace Fellowship, and First Federated. They note all three January 7th acts have previously been on the show.

Iowa caucuses: evaluating candidates as Christians

The hosts have a godly rather than partisan discussion of the Iowa caucuses. They joke that Mike invited Rick Santorum on with no response, recall a tense past interview with a politician, and recount declining to interview Michelle Bachmann at a music festival. Their stated top criterion is a candidate's stance on life, followed by leadership ability and moral foundation, with a willingness to trade on smaller-government preferences. They wrestle with war and collateral damage, cite Psalms on protecting the weak, discuss Christians writing off unbelievers via a 'next Billy Graham' blog post, and close with caucus mechanics and a Ron Paul bacon joke.

Fifteen faith predictions for 2012

A host reads through a published list of 15 faith predictions for 2012, starting from number 15, and the group reacts to each. Predictions discussed include a widening gap between younger and older evangelicals, Tim Tebow's continued prominence, a religious leader brought down by scandal, the growth of the religiously unaffiliated 'nones', blurring lines between sacred and profane, megachurch and super-megachurch growth, and a renewed emphasis on prayer for peace. The church-style and megachurch predictions spark extended debate about contemporary versus traditional services, cultural relevance, and shepherding in large churches, with Billy Graham held up as a counterexample to judging big churches.

New-year check-ins with Martin and Troy

• What can be expected in the life of Martin Spankenhauser this year?

After a station bumper, the hosts check in with in-studio participant Martin Spankenhauser about his new year and hopes for change. A storyteller then shares a childhood paleontology obsession, including correcting a curator at the Denver National History Museum at age ten, and the story of Trey mistaking a cosmetology class for paleontology at a Polk City school job fair. The hosts tease Troy in the chatroom about the mix-up.

College degrees, business degrees, and dehydrated water

The hosts debate whether college and business degrees are worth the money, with one host joking that his year of DECA equals a business degree and another arguing degrees only open doors while entrepreneurship needs no degree. A caller asks about Bible college, and the hosts recommend studying the Bible and point him to John Acuff's Stuff Christians Like blog. The segment includes a joke infomercial pitch for selling 'dehydrated water' at 3 a.m.

Who killed Jesus? The Wiesenthal Center poll story

• Who killed Jesus?

The hosts discuss a news story in which the Wiesenthal Center got the National Geographic Channel in Latin America to remove an online 'who killed Jesus?' poll offering Pontius Pilate, the Jewish people, and the high priests as options. They call the poll ridiculous, answer that every sinner is responsible and that Christ's death was God's plan, and connect it to modern antisemitism, including anti-Jewish chanting among Occupy protesters. They conclude hatred of Jewish people has nothing to do with Jesus.

eBay banter, closing announcements, sign-off

The hosts banter about selling and buying phones on eBay, then run closing announcements: Jeff Arendelle's new CD release at the end of January, local artists Todd Stevens and Wayne, Chris Day coming in March, and a recap of the January 7th Eagle Vision Church show with Syndrome of Fire, Saved on Sunday, and Double J plus Jess Anderson's in-town shows. The show signs off with thanks to listeners at livefromthepath.org.