February 20 2012

Show open, guest intro, YouTube countdown setup

• What are the five most-viewed clips on the Life From The Path YouTube channel?

The hosts open from the Pathway studios in Johnston on a Monday night, introducing in-studio guest Shane Van Harden of the Serve Our Youth organization. They set up the episode's running thread: the channel has passed 100,000 views across 155 videos, and they will count down the top five most-viewed clips.

Interview: Serve Our Youth and youth mentoring

Shane Van Harden describes his organization's mentoring work, including one-on-one prevention-through-mentoring and the Amachi program for children of incarcerated parents. He discusses the generational cycle of incarceration, mentors' 'fixer' mindset, and the goal of helping kids make different choices.

Coming up, Facebook blessings, and the hot-dog anecdote

The hosts preview the Reason Rally and Dear Life from the Path letters, then riff on people promising blessings from Jesus for liking Facebook posts. A story about offering uncooked hot dogs to door-knocking missionaries rounds out the comedy block.

Secular blog post on motives; guarding the mind; idolatry

A host reads a paragraph from a secular blog post about not peering into others' motives, which sparks a discussion of how media poisons the mind. They cite Romans 12:2 on being transformed by the renewing of the mind and quote Philippians 4:8 on dwelling on what is true and pure. The conversation turns to modern forms of idolatry, with a joke about Baal worship.

Shane's detention-center story, goodbye, and clip #4

Shane tells how he felt unqualified visiting a locked detention center, having grown up trouble-free in Bondurant, Iowa, and how God used him there anyway. The hosts thank him and take a break, playing the number-four most-viewed YouTube clip: 'Not Myself Anymore' by Jess Anderson.

Top-ten YouTube clips guessing game and the Steve Brooks interview

The hosts play a guessing game about which clips land in the channel's top ten, with guesses including an end-times clip. They mention their interview with Steve Brooks, associated with Harold Camping, which ranks in the top ten.

Big Ron Carson joins as special guest

With Shane gone, Big Ron Carson joins as the special guest, doing a bit about being a 'radio coach' and introducing himself. The hosts rib him with the joke nickname 'Nathaniel' as he brings gifts into the studio.

Dear Scared: the boyfriend who smokes in bed

• Should 'Dear Scared' leave her boyfriend Dwayne, who falls asleep smoking in bed around her six-year-old son?

The first Dear Life from the Path letter is read: 'Dear Scared' lives with boyfriend Dwayne and their six-year-old son; Dwayne falls asleep smoking, leaving burn holes in the blanket, mattress, and carpet. The hosts give their own advice, urging her to leave for her and her child's safety, and debate whether a man can smoke indoors with kids and still follow Jesus.

The secular advice column answers Dear Scared

The hosts read the secular advice column's published answer to the Dear Scared letter, which jokes about taking up a pipe and focuses on smoke detectors and the EPA's classification of secondhand smoke as a carcinogen, citing the American Cancer Society.

Reason Rally ad and the Jessica Alquist letter

• Should Jessica Alquist have sued to remove the school prayer banner, and is the secular movement using her for publicity?

The hosts read an ad for the Reason Rally, a secular-movement gathering set for March 24, 2012 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. A listener letter then raises Jessica Alquist, the high-school plaintiff who sued to remove a school prayer banner in Cranston and was set to speak at the rally. The hosts discuss whether the atheist organization is using a minor for publicity.

Coupon-clipper letter and the littering debate

• Is leaving an unusable coupon on a store shelf paying it forward or littering?

A letter from a coupon clipper who saves $30 to $40 a week asks whether leaving unusable coupons on store shelves is paying it forward or littering, since her husband accuses her of creating trash. The hosts argue it out, with detours into parking-meter coin feeding and whether the coupons actually get used.

The secular advice column answers the coupon letter

The secular advice column's answer to the coupon-clipper letter is read: it calls her generous, not a litterbug, and mocks her critical husband. The hosts riff on the columnist's over-the-top response.

YouTube clip #3: Syndrome Of Fire and the Seven Flags concert

The countdown resumes with the number-three most-viewed clip: Syndrome Of Fire performing 'Best Of Me.' The hosts promote the band's upcoming Friday show at the Seven Flags Event Center, where they open for Cutlass, and note the band's friendly rivalry with the channel's number-one video.

Coworker faking a pregnancy letter

• Should the pregnant letter writer confront her coworker Amber, who is faking a pregnancy with downloaded ultrasound photos?

A pregnant letter writer asks what to do about coworker 'Amber,' who began claiming she is pregnant with twins after hearing the news, brought in ultrasound photos downloaded from Google Images, and keeps the ruse going though everyone knows she is lying. The hosts debate confronting her versus watching it play out, then read the secular column's answer.

Widow dating her brother-in-law's nephew

• Is it wrong for a 27-year-old widow to date Jared, her brother-in-law's nephew, and how should she introduce him to family?

A letter writer who was widowed at 22 and is now 27 asks whether it is wrong to date Jared, the nephew of her brother-in-law, and how to introduce him to family. The secular column's answer says she is doing nothing wrong and to stop feeling guilty; the hosts add their own counsel about broken promises and boundaries.

The 'miracle baby' after a promised vasectomy reversal

• Is the post-vasectomy pregnancy a miracle baby or evidence of infidelity?

The last letter: married a year to Andy, who has three children from a prior marriage, had a vasectomy eight years ago, and promised to have it reversed but never did. The writer got pregnant anyway and first called it their miracle baby, but at fifteen weeks Andy is convinced the baby is not his. The hosts unpack the situation.

Secular and hosts' advice on the miracle-baby letter

The secular column's answer suggests the vasectomy may have reversed itself naturally and advises a urologist's sperm check plus therapy. The hosts give their own take: it is not a miracle but a poorly done vasectomy, and the marriage is already entered so the couple must work through it.

YouTube clip #2: Jessa and Jordan Anderson

The number-two most-viewed clip plays: Jessa and Jordan Anderson performing 'Not What I Thought,' a prime cut from their CD of the same name. The hosts recap the duo's recent studio visit, where they played unreleased songs, and note their next radio single 'Worship The Lamb' and an Easter appearance at Pathway.

Upcoming guests and banter

The hosts look ahead: local artist Wayne Stewart visits next week to share music, and Chris Day follows the week after. Banter about pancakes, panteros, and the Easter timing of the Pathway show fills out the segment before the number-one reveal.

YouTube clip #1: 'Caps For Sale' rendition and close

The most-viewed video on the channel is revealed: the Life From The Path rendition of 'Caps For Sale.' The hosts send listeners off to the YouTube channel and close the show.