Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper. You are live from the path. And you are listening to Live From The Path.

We're coming to you from the Pathway Studios here in Johnston proper. It is indeed good to be with you. Hey, man. I did not get any complaints that we were not on fresh on the air last week. Nobody it was gonna surprise me. Nobody like, hey, man. Where's the show? I was kinda happy we weren't here, to be honest with you. The weather was unrighteous.

Yeah. It was bad. It was it was it couldn't follow the law, so it had to follow Jesus. Anyway, thanks for, joining us on Life in the Path. We're here, well, I was gonna say every week, but apparently, that's not true. We weren't here last week. But we're about Honest Faith, Fierce Grace, and Donkeys. We are just some guys that love Jesus and are following him, and we invite you guys along for the ride. So I hope that you enjoy the show. You can catch us during the week at livefromthepath.org. Here's what we got on on tap for tonight. First of all, so I was on vacation last week, kind of here's the deal. When when you

when you homeschool, like, it's not really a vacation. It's it's like teaching, which is a very good excuse to go on vacation. Right. So that's kinda what I did. So anyway, I was I was visiting Hannibal, Missouri, which is the the where Mark Twain lived. And for some reason, I was using the bathroom in Hannibal, Missouri, and I thought to myself, this is something I could do without. And I was looking at something in particular, and I told you, I'm a share that with you.

Just a Right. Just a a something that I can do without in the world. And and and I'll share that with you. Also, have some advice on dear life and the path. We're hoping to be able to to spread some cheer in the world for people who are so desperate that they're they're willing to succumb to late night pseudo Christian Internet radio, and and and we can help with that. Mike, what what do we got on tap for tonight? Anything? Yeah. It sounds like people are in some real straight spin. Okay. So that's very good. So it's gonna be it's gonna be a rough time. It's rough time today. Anybody got any pope style? Yeah. I got pope style. Okay. Moob has got some pope style advice. I think Herrick's got some what did Jesus mean? Yeah. Well, I've got what's Jesus talking about. He Yeah. Apparently, is advocating

some kind of failure, suicide, and temporal paradox. So what's Jesus talking about? Oh, man. I hope he doesn't use a big language. I don't know what Herrick's talking about. Okay. Anyway, that's what we got on. That's terrible. So I was looking at the

I've given away too much. I was looking at the Facebook at in Hannibal, Missouri. And I decided, here's what I can live without. I could I could really live without people telling me that I will be blessed.

Like, people saying, like, blah blah blah blah blah blah, you will be blessed. Because, like, you don't Are you talking about, like, those things that say share and you will be blessed or, like, just general people? No. As an not someone that's saying, hey, I hope you're blessed or bless you or I pray that God blesses you. Like, I'll let that thumbs up on that stuff. I'm talking about a guy here's an example. Someone did a story, had posted on Facebook about what happens to kids when they die. Okay? And so there's, you know, 1,800 comments in this thing. People talking about all their they're they're pretty interesting, sometimes sad stories of about all these people talking about how their how their child had died young, two months old, three months old, two days old, two hours old, stuff like that. And some guy goes writes in there and he says, you know, my wife and I went through this.

Our our our daughter was alive for, you know, four hours. I wrote a book about this particular subject. Go to lulu dot com backslash my book's name and and and pick it up. You will be blessed. I thought, you you don't know that I will be blessed. Like, how awesome do you think your book is? That you're handing out blessings with your narrative. Well, it's fairly pompastic, I'd say. And but but here's the deal is

I I hate to I hate to say this, but I I was listening on the we're we're friends or Twitter friends. What is it? What's the what's the nomenclature for Twitter? We're followers. Followers. Followers. Yeah. Shoot, man. Well, that's that's actually that's a poor that's a poor kingdom item. You're following that guy. So who are you following? Yikes. Anyway,

we follow the Truth Network. And it was and and something that they posted within the last two weeks was like, hey, you should check out such and such radio program. You will be blessed. And I'm like, you you don't know that. You do not know that I will be blessed. And so I I can Are you upset because it's false advertising? Or just the the nature of which you you can decide where where they're taking what the Lord claims to be blessings and saying, I I know it's like a Lihoo. He's like, I will tell you what the Lord says. This is this will be a blessing. Yeah. Yeah. It's very pompous. Yeah. It's very pompous to be like, I as a man, I've created something. Listen to it, and it will bless you. Like, I I I just don't think we're thinking about blessing correctly. It's like a low level prosperity gospel.

Like, because I say this item, you will indeed be blessed. Because, like, what reaction are you begging? It's the guy that goes, hey, I wish to be blessed. I will buy this book. I've been blessed by it. Like, anyway, I could do without it. And and maybe it's just a phrasing. Maybe the intent behind that maybe just a phrasing that is bothering me. But, like, just how people word that and say, do this thing that is man centered and has probably has a little Jesus tinge to it, and you will be blessed. Hey, I tell you what you could you could explain to me is is I don't even know what that means, be honest with you. Like, when people say

a a blessing you know what I'm saying? What does that what does that really mean? Like, if someone bestows a blessing upon you, what what does that mean? What are they saying? They judge that they're thinking positive thoughts. Same guy who says, I send positive thoughts your way. Thoughts in the air coming at your place because you ain't feeling right. Thought power. Yeah.

Thoughts and prayers. I'll take the prayers. Yeah. Keep your thoughts. I don't yeah. Not interested. Don't think my way. I got my own thoughts, and they're about you right now. So so, I mean, that's something I I I said that I can do without. Am I overreacting? Feel like I could do without it. I'm not outraged about it, but I I feel like I could do without it. I think there's there's something in that. It's almost like we're we're cheapening a blessing from God. We're using it, for our sales techniques. It's like, hey, here, buy my book because you'll be blessed. Yeah. Here, I'll give you a blessing if you buy my book. What is that, though? Can someone tell me? Is it through God all blessings flow? Not through that guy's book? Right. Or the truth network? I mean, is it does it just mean something good?

Or You'll get warm fuzzies? You'll like it? Because that's not the same as a blessing. I mean, like, I don't eat I don't drink a chocolate milk and be like, this is a blessing to me. The lord does all kinds of things to me that is really it's really a blessing, but I do not see it that way. I see it as a curse to me. But really, it's the lord saying, hey. Look. You need you need to stop this, or I would like you to do this for your betterment and my glory. It's kind of a complicated word picture. Yeah. It's it's towards your betterment and and his glory. It has to do with, helping out the relationship between the two of you. It's not exclusive to God. So for example, God says, hey, to Abraham, I'll bless those who bless you, and I'll curse those who curse you. So it's something that human beings can can throw back and forth between each other.

Well, crap. Is that book man trying to bless me? I'm being a little It it could be. Ridiculous about it? Yeah. It it could be just his token of goodwill. It could be just a personal connection as well. It's usually more significant than that, but it's an indication that, hey, our relationship is going well, doing better or moving to another level. Would it be better if he says, hope you are blessed? I hope it blesses you. I'd be more blessed if he gave me the book. Yeah, really. He's trying to get me to purchase it.

I mean, he could say that. I think that's just a a semantic argument that I feel like the I feel like the word I'm sorry to stick on this. Right? But I feel like the word blessed is when I just skip over and assume in a gray haze that I think I know what's going on, and then I never really I never really care about. Is it is it not that big of a deal? But like, is literally one of those words that I see and I'm like, it means good things. And that's kinda where I leave it. Well, so there's a difference in biblically between like like the blessed in your beatitudes and a blessing from God. Like, those aren't the same thing. The father handing down the blessing to the children. Yeah. That's a different Yeah.

So what do they mean? Well, so the the the beatitude blessings are like sure. Happy, basically. And that's different. God's not saying, I'm giving you happy. He's actually, like, influencing your life in one way or Producing something, granting something, whatever. Whereas, when Jesus says blessed are those, he's saying happy are those or joyful are those or or those who are in a happy circumstance or to to be considered

happy for being in those positions. Those are two different things. And sometimes, we we do mix those as if God is bestowing something on as opposed to just an indication of how people are to be looked at or looked upon. I don't know. Maybe it's maybe it's an overreaction. But maybe the root of it is is someone telling me even if you were to rephrase it and say, hey, you should listen to this program or you should read this book, it will definitely impact your life. I'm like, well, you don't I don't know. You don't know that. Yeah. It will impact your life for the better. It will change your life. Are you Especially if he wrote it. Are you bristling at the certainty that they're giving about their knowledge of the future? Yeah. Oh, okay. Maybe that's what it is. I can get that. Maybe maybe it's just an overconfidence that says, like and that's loaded with the spiritual word. Like, it's just saying, not only do I I think I think you should do this because I'm I'm saying it will it will change something about your life. It is that powerful. But, like, it's also got, like, a spiritual connotation to imply it will impact you spiritually.

And I feel like that's a pretty hefty phrase for a man to wheel around as if he has the power to do something like that. Like, if I were to say, hey, listen to life in the path, you will be blessed. Like, I I don't know. I I highly doubt that. You may get bored and just turn the channel. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Heck, man. I don't feel blessed being I'm in a room. Woah. Okay. Anyway, I I could do without it. That's what I do with Here's I I think that's it's probably the uncertainty of what they're saying. And actually, the it it's kitschy. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's kitschy gospel

Christianese language. Yeah. Like, when you when you don't wanna say something that all can understand, you throw a word in there that people will just tie right to a good feeling and go, okay. This is it. Like, it just feels cheap. That's probably what I think. I think it feels cheap. That because I think the Lord's blessings are bountiful and your human blessings on a man who doesn't know me, know my circumstance, or know anything about me. I feel like you're conning me through the lens of the gospel, which I really don't appreciate. Yeah. That's probably the truth. I'll follow it up with okay. Show me. Yeah. Someone says, hey, I wanna bless you. Alright. Show me. I'm interested in your blessing, sir. There's a way. Yeah. Let's see it. Isn't that he trying to get me to buy his book though? You'll be blessed by my book. What if I'm not blessed? Yeah. That's the problem. It's a contingent blessing. Right? You will only be blessed if you purchase the book. Without it, you're no blessing will be bestowed on you. Is there a money back guarantee? Maybe the Lord checks with him. Lord says, wanna bless this man. He said, Lord, did did that guy buy my book? Because

I kinda put a contingency out there. We had a deal. He best he best do it. That I well, yeah. Right? That's that's the same tactic. Like, give $42 a month to our growth campaign, and you will be blessed. It implies that if you do not do it, you will not be blessed. Yeah. Or my book through which all blessings flow. That don't sound right. That don't sound right. Hey, man. I'm getting more upset the more we talk about it. Alright. I'm against I could do without it. I think we could do without it. Yeah. Okay. Alright. There was a story on on the Christian post this this week. Said stained glass windows for churches may make comeback with younger generations. You guys ever looked at a building and said, I really could go for some more stained glass around here? Mhmm. How come? Hey, Dave Herrick. It just has a it has a neat culture to it. It it's it's unique. It's not something that it's not something that really I look at it and I feel like it's part of a manufactured culture.

It's something that I look at and it's like, this reminds me of, I don't know, maybe it's just the hipster in me coming out or something. I don't know. But yeah. No. I appreciate it. Herrick liked stained glass windows before they were cool. Well, everyone knows just catching up with you, Herrick. It could be. Yeah. Okay. I think I think there is something to be said though that that, like, I I don't know that that that the generations that are that are coming up that are kinda rebelling against certain things within the church are are are are folks that that

dislike tradition. I think they they are going through a filtering process of saying, what is a what is a an opinion and what is actually a tradition rooted in in something Mhmm. That we feel like we are also part of or or can can get behind. Mhmm. You know, like, if it's tradition to have, you know, so and so's name said before the service starts, like, that's not a tradition to get involved with. Right? But like a stained glass window or something that seems like it is tied to to believers and and something that's bigger than your micro community and an opinion within it. Like, I I I think it's not just a a complete issuing of of tradition. I think it's that's too simple. It's kinda kind of a touch of the ancient.

Mhmm. You know you know, I mean, stained glass, that goes back a while. Mhmm. Yeah. I mean. I I I think it's the fourth wall thing that we've talked about when in in, you know, with the way that that that especially today's generations realize when they're being advertised to. Mhmm. And like and they almost rebel against any hint of it. Even if it's not an advertisement, if it was tied to something, they'll look at it as you're trying to make me feel a certain way. You're trying to make, you know, engage me in this certain way, and I don't appreciate that your backdoor approach. You know what I'm saying? And so, like, it some some folks look at a stained glass window and go, that stained glass window is tied to every idea that every stained glass window has ever been tied to, and I don't wanna be a part of it. Yeah. And so they're like, I'd rather not see it. I'd rather not have anything to do with it. Let's just start fresh. I want white walls and white everything. I don't wanna talk about it. Just tell me the gospel. I want the straight unfiltered truth. And any any any attempt for you to dress it up makes me think that you're trying to sell me something. Feels like a manipulation. Yes. But but I like I suppose there's there's probably a very thin line between what is a manipulation and what is an accurate revelation of your character. Right? Like, some people okay. This is a real kind of a lame example. Right? But, like, some people eat gluten free because it actually helps their like, how they digest helps their stomach. Yeah. K? They eat they feel better when they take gluten out of their diet. Some people eat gluten free because it's a fad to be gluten free. And, like, I've it it runs at the I have that in my family where, like, my the the girls in my family

just feel better when they've when they cut a lot of that stuff out of their diet. And I've read a lot of stuff where, like, there's sort of, like, a rebellion against, like, people eating gluten free. Primarily, because there's a lot of people that are eating it and they have no no idea why. That, like, they just pick it up. It's not more healthy for you. Like, there's nothing in in implicitly unhealthy. It's just, like, how your body reacts to it. And so then then it then it gets then it's a manipulation that says, oh, you should eat gluten free. It's better for you. What? Yeah. Maybe it is. Maybe it is. Maybe it It just depends on who you are. Like and and and and the church is actually is is promoting Jesus, which is truthfully better for everybody.

Yeah. Well yeah. And and so, like, it's, you know, you can you can walk into a guy's apartment who's a complete show. And then you can you can walk into a guy's apartment who has, like, the exact same decorations, dresses the same way, that's his character. That's who the guy is. And, like, one feels really great, and one feels like a show. Yeah. And so, you know, it depends if you have to put on if you're putting up stained glass windows as a facade, that sucks. But, like, if that's if that's who you are, if that's your culture and and you rock that, then do that. Like, just like, live genuinely in your faith. That is actually the that that's that that's actually the truth across the board. Right? Like, you want people to understand the faith that you have in in Christ and the reason that you're a part of what you're a part of, like, if you do it genuinely and and and and get rid of the show part, shows way stronger. Like and I saw an example, at at church this Sunday. Like, I was watching some people worship and, like, they legit close their eyes and hands up and that that's what they do. And they genuinely worship that way. Right? I don't. I've I've tried it. I don't mean it. I it's awkward for me. Like, I just it doesn't flow out of me that way. So me attempting to do that looks extremely awkward and is not genuine at all. Right? It is the the sign of someone who's worshiping to most. Right? But, like, I don't worship that way. But, like, I can see a person with their eyes closed and hands up worshiping God, and I can really appreciate that they genuinely mean that. And, like, and, like, it just makes me smile in my heart that someone can worship in that way and genuinely do it. And then, like, it strengthen it strengthens my faith knowing that they're worshiping that way. But, like, for me to do it and just phony it up because other folks are doing it, like, it it's it's a lie. It's a falsehood. That's just not how maybe the Lord designed me or maybe maybe I got changes to make, but, like, I just it just doesn't flow out of me like like they do. And, like, some of that's true with with the stained glass and and the way that you do a processional for communion or the way you do offering in a certain prescribed. What you know what I'm saying? Like, some of that is just tied to a tradition that, like, no one's buying into anymore,

and it really is nothing but the show. And I think that's where people start to edge back and go, I you know, listen, can we just can I can I get the straight honesty? Right? Some people are are are very charismatic in the way that they talk about the gospel. Some people are are nothing but but law and prophets and and and study and theology, and, like, that's just how they're built. And as long as both of those guys are doing that honestly as the holy spirit has has filled them with, then both of those are very effective. But as soon as they try to cross over and act like somebody they ain't to try to be, you know, something different, like, just it gets really obvious. Yeah. I, you know, I I listen I was listening to one time to a Catholic radio station. And they had a guy on there who wrote a book about, like, all the architecture in the buildings and stuff. Like, things that if you were to walk in, you would just you would miss. Mhmm. It was extremely interesting. It was extremely interesting to hear this guy talk about, like, why they have certain shapes, certain places, and why they set things up a certain way.

You know, and things that I would probably what were my inclination is kinda rebel against some of what I would consider to be excess in the infrastructure. You know, talking about how, you know, in some of these places where people are so poor and they've got this nice church building and how proud those workers are of having been a part of constructing something for God in that way. And and there might still be some theological things that I would disagree with, like, why you do some of those things. But, like, you know, it's it's pretty easy to write off something like that because I wouldn't do it. But to hear people talk about it that are close to it,

that understand it, and that's that's kinda where their tradition is at. Like, it's never as silly as you think it is. It's never as as easy. It's never as, like, as foolish as as maybe you might react to where you're like, that's old. That's wrong. That's too whatever. And I think we have that reaction because it's not what we would do and, like, at at its core is the gospel about a a sweet cathedral? No.

No. But nobody really believes that. Like, not even the guy in the cathedral doesn't believe that. But, like, there are elements of of the gospel story that got them to where they are, whether I agree with him or not. And so it it was just interesting, I guess, to kinda pull that to what we're talking about is is there is something very powerful about some of those about some of those traditions. They're not they're not 15 spaces away from Jesus. I just I don't necessarily see the connection and don't value it. But it doesn't mean that there isn't any value in things like that. I think it's just it's just living honestly through some of those things. For a moment, you almost sounded like the disciples when the woman wanted to anoint Jesus'

feet with with really expensive perfume and they're scoffing at just how much of a waste it was. Which I I I think is kind of the deal. Like and and if if I'm being honest, like, my reaction tends to be to limit things, to to, like, strip them down Yeah. And and to get to where the essence is. And the truth is is that, like, what that's not a new invention. People do that stuff all the time. And they strip it down and, like, the things that get built up, can generally assume they got built up in excess. But that's not necessarily true. Like, if you if you hear people talk about the roots of things, you start to understand where they're coming from. And they may be coming from the exact same essence. They just came at at a different angle than you would have. I think it's healthy. I think it's healthy to do that, to continue to to strip things back down and try to understand,

like, did we get too caught up in our cathedral, and are we missing Jesus? Yes. That's a worthwhile conversation. But does it mean that because you have a cathedral that you're missing Jesus? No. That's a foolish outcome or belief. And so there's just some honest honest ways to look at that. And I and I think sometimes my generation and the one and the one that comes after us kinda gets pegged as the you know, we we we don't care for tradition,

you you know, like, we're we're trying to flee from from all these things that the church has done over the last fifty years. And I think it's just a mode of of asking the questions and say, is what is actually tied? What is valuable? What is tied to the gospel? What has roots in the gospel? And what are some things where we've where we've lost the way? And it's a reasonable question for generation to ask. And I think that story about, you know, stained glass, like, am I offended by stained glass? No. Like, in fact, it can be pretty cool. Some of the some of the coolest pictures of the of the gospel happen in art. Like, the way that people can Mhmm. Can can use like, show God's story through gifts that he's given, like, it's very very cool. And you can rebel against stuff that God has created like a fool. And so anyway, it was it was just I thought it was an interesting thing to to think about and maybe puts a little nuance to how we approach some people.

Whereas there are people in that come from the root is always the gospel, but the the way that that they've kind of developed out from there doesn't necessarily make it wrong just because it's not what you would do. It's just an interesting way to think about it. And that people might be drawn to that shouldn't be a surprise if they see value in the tradition. And they see what that's actually tied to the gospel, which is the right question anyway. Yeah. So

alright. Alright. Buva, what's your pope style? So just to set this up, Buva's had a crazy week. Somebody came up and started a rumor that said, John Buva the third was the pope. Right. Alright. Bunch of guys came to his apartment, started banging on the door. Buva's got one of those balcony apartments. So he kinda wanders out in his robe, and they're not gonna leave hanging around his apartment balcony until he gives some sort of advice like the pope does when he stands out on the balcony. So Bubba's gotta tell him something that is real to him, true in his life, but that can also impact theirs. And then he can send them on the way outside of Milan. Bubba, what's your pope's style advice for this? Here's the deal. I look great in my robe. I'm just gonna throw that one out there first off.

So I look great and you will be blessed. I look great and you will be blessed by this robe. I had a run-in recently that that I did not have any idea how to handle and that I I had to seek out the guidance from from a couple dudes I know

how to handle. And it boils down to the fact that your anger, your revenge, your idea of getting even, all that good stuff is nothing in comparison to what God has planned. There there's nothing you have planned through your anger or through your hatred of something or someone or anything like that that is more

fulfilling and more impactful than what God has in store. Try not to give out too many details here, but I had a run with a person in my life who wronged me a lot. And

and it sucked. I mean, just plain and simple, it was awful. I I felt angry. I was just mad to the extent that I haven't been in a very long time. And I wanted to get even. I I wanted to just scream at this dude. I wanted to just get completely even and take out all my anger because there was a lot of it. And I I thought I was completely right in doing that. I thought I was complete right in doing so. I thought I was okay to to scream and all this different stuff.

What ended up happening was was I confronted the guy in a way that I never thought I'd be able to do, And and it was totally on God because what happened was I told the guy that I forgave him for everything. I forgave him for for what I felt was wrong. I forgave him for all the stuff that was against me on every level that I thought.

Rather than screaming, rather than than cursing, and all this sort of stuff at the dude, just told him that. Told him I loved him and and called him out. You know, he knew exactly what was going on. He knew exactly what was wrong, but did in a way that I thought was gonna be more reflective of what Jesus expects of me and what Jesus has done in my heart than the old booba that would've would've gotten physical and would've would've been a serious altercation.

And on the other side of this, I I look at it from two perspectives because what could have happened was nothing. And it would have been an altercation. Honestly, they're they're legitimately could have been fist thrown, and it would have solved absolutely nothing. This guy and I would still be in the straights. I I probably still wouldn't be talking to him. I'd be mad. I wouldn't have gotten anything out. I wouldn't have gotten anything from it. He wouldn't have gotten anything from it.

It it would have been incredibly juvenile from all levels to to handle it that way. But what did happen was God completely stepped in more than I ever could have expected. The dude completely came clean on everything.

I didn't have to push. I didn't have to scream. I didn't have to yell. I came clean on the whole situation and has literally spent the last two weeks trying to build the relationship back, which was not something I expected at all.

Has reached out to me, apologized to the situation, tried to write it, whether that be financially or just from a relationship standby. And I I've turned it down entirely because it was never about the money or never about anything financial. It was just it was it was trust, and and he has done nothing but try and build that back in a sincere and genuine way. And my way would have led to nothing, and God's way led to rebuilding relationship.

And that was honestly not in any way what I expected. I expected to to either do my way or do God's way and then nothing fruit fruitful come from it. I expected it to be, you know, that I felt like I didn't write and, you know, truly represented God's heart in it. And then I would I would be okay with that, and I would move on, and then it would be done, and it wouldn't be reciprocated in any way. But the fact that it's been

starting to rebuild trust, starting to rebuild the relationship, and and it's turned out in a way that I didn't lose this guy out of my life because, I mean, it's it I love him. He's he's a brother to me. But it's just crazy how from a worldly perspective, I had an idea of what revenge was, and I had an idea of what was going to happen from my anger and what was gonna happen for me being the tough guy and the bigger one and being able to hit him harder than he'd hit me and scream louder than he could scream at me. And I'm in the right, which means it's okay to do those kind of things. And that would have come up with nothing,

but a torn up relationship further damaged in a way that probably couldn't have been saved. But God just kinda grabbed a hold of it and decided to completely flip it around, use what his ideas are, and his process of what healing is, and his process of what getting even is in a way that that's that's completely glorifying to him, and it is is amazing to me.

So if you're ever in that situation where you feel like you have a righteous anger or anything you feel like you have a revenge that you need to get or you have something where you need to get even on someone and you've got this great plan to do so, you're wrong unless you're aligned with what God wants. If it's not on God and if it's not on God's terms, you are not gonna get what you think.

And even if you do get what you think, I guarantee you on all levels and in every situation what God has in store and what God has planned and God's ideas on what retribution is and what revenge should consist of, which is nothing honestly, and what getting even should be and how to handle the situation. His ways are always going to be better and more fruitful and more glorifying to him. You do not have the right idea if it's not on God's terms. You know, I was talking to a guy earlier today about, just belief in God and why. And,

I said, you know, some of the some of the obvious reasons and it's funny how often I fall back to this, but it's kinda true on what Buva said is that if the whole deal was a sham, the bible lays out a way of life that is pretty difficult, not glorifying to you, and,

frankly, just terrible advertising for life. Do know what I'm saying? Like, people that would just randomly submit to rules they don't believe in, for for apparently no no benefit. Right? And, I I I think it it kinda comes up is is when you look at the at the kingdom of God as a whole, Jesus is not explaining, ways to live

to just glorify his kingdom. They do do that. Right? But, like, he created you with the with the known process that he loves you. Right? And he wants you to experience the creation that he had and the joy of living that he gave you in, I would say, in line with the way that his kingdom works. Right? And so, like, he way lays out a life, a life and and and ways to live that will both bring him honor and glory and and produce joy in you. And so when he says blessed are the peacemakers, the active peace seekers,

knowing full well that that is what you're gonna have to do, he gave you that He gave you that so you would know that that that's where joy is gonna be found in your life, not in the other stuff that you had planned. And, like, if if you could just buy into the fact that the god of the universe knows how how he designed life and where where the joy can be found, you can really save yourself a lot of hassle even if it doesn't make any sense to you. Right? Like, if you start at the base knowledge that god is who he says he is, then that means the stuff that is coming forth out of Jesus' mouth is gonna produce joy like he says it's going to and produce glory to the kingdom like he says it's going to, you really have a hard time kicking back. Right? Even if it doesn't make any sense to you, like you're gonna get you're gonna get screwed in the transaction, Jesus says you're not. Jesus says that's where the joy is. And so I I feel like that was a pretty good case study on exactly why that's true. No. And that's, you you know, something that I think it's it's good to be reminded of is is sometimes you get in the mind frame and saying, I just I need to submit to what God wants because it's right. Forgetting the fact that, like, that's where God that's where God is. Like, he he is in those situations. He does show up in those circumstances. You're not just saying, I know this is the right answer, so I'm going to do the right thing for the sole purpose of having done the right thing. That is good.

But, like, God continues to work through that. It's a God plus answer. It's not just an answer. It's a God plus. And it brings the full the full force of God with it. And that's that's cool. Is is is you're not just you're not just picking a non impactful answer on how to deal with something. You are furthering a movement of the kingdom. You are righting wrongs by handling things the way that God has asked you to handle them. And that's a powerful thing,

and it's and it's a way to live kingdom life on a daily basis. And and sometimes we're just we more evaluate whether we've done the right thing as if it's a good or bad answer on a test As opposed to an an inertia through which God moves and kingdom living proceeds. And like, that's a much more powerful way to think about it. And I I think you the way that you talked about it, I I think paints that very well. Is it's not just I handled it this way because I knew deep down morally that was the right way to handle it. Like, it was. But, like like, God just moved through that. Like, it's what he does because it's the right way to handle it. So I don't I I think I need to be reminded that sometimes. I think I I I don't wanna be the guy that checks the box,

but, like, I'd like to take a like, if you're gonna take a bullet to the head, may it be because you will understand that God is actually moving to that, not just because God has called me to take a bullet. You know what I'm saying? Like, understand it correctly. It is a bigger picture than just doing the morally right thing. Mhmm. And let's do it with a smile too. Yeah. Yeah. Pull it, buddy. God moves. Alright. Now get off my lawn. Hey. Yeah. You guys heard the story about where right before Peter Peter and his wife were killed, that Peter looks to his wife and he says, remember the Lord? Like, before both of them were crucified? No?

I thought Peter was crucified upside down. He was. Okay. He was. But they they took his wife too. Okay. And and and and it said it's recorded that the last thing he said to his wife was remember the Lord. And so I keep I have trouble shaking this because you're talking about smiling. Right? Mhmm. So, like, I may wrongly always put it in his mouth that it sounds he sounds very like, not Charlton Heston, but like that type of guy that says, remember the Lord. And and now I'm thinking about, like, maybe he didn't say it like that way at all. Maybe he smiled at his wife and said, remember the Lord.

And then they both died. It kinda changes the story, doesn't it? It don't remember the Lord. And I thought that's a that's a weird I wouldn't do that to my wife, like Accusatory. Would she but I don't think my wife be positively she would not be blessed if I said that to her right before she was crucified, and I said it in that way. But that's I guess, that's always had it in my mind, because if you just give me the phrase remember the Lord before you're gonna be crucified, that's how a guy says it. It seems like one's kind of out of obligation and other one's from joy. You've got to remember the Lord thing. And that's, like, this is something we have to do kind of situation.

Whereas saying it from a smile a smile and joyous heart is, guess what? This is almost over. And remember the fact that the Lord's got us in every single situation that we we can be involved in and this is glorifying to him. Yeah. I don't wanna put a smile on his face if it wasn't there, but just like I I I don't know. I think that, that'd be like the best words you could say. I mean, like, we all believe in in in the resurrection out of faith. Peter saw him. Yeah. You know, he had conversations post resurrection Mhmm. With Jesus. He was like, hey, remember the Lord. He went through this too. Don't worry. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Got this. Yeah. That's that's way different than the Move me back. Yeah. You know? I think that's more likely. Mubi, you've changed my way of thinking on life.

No. That's god. Don't don't put that on me. I'll come back to your lawn for more Don't put that on me. Put that on god, please. Where's the pope rule? His show his shoulder's a lot better than mine is. I was blessed. Let me back on the lawn. Alright. Harrogate, Jesus has been talking. Yes. He's been saying stuff and potentially things that causes trouble Yes. Or confusion. What does he what does he said this week? Absolutely. Alright. Well, this week, he says to his disciples, if anyone would want would come after me, let him deny himself,

take up his cross daily, and follow me. Alright. So what's he talking about? Let me let me give some context to this one because the context is actually pretty important in this. Peter just gave

a huge statement about how Jesus is in fact the Messiah. He he's the king sent from heaven by God to to rule this land and and this nation, be the new leader. And here were these guys in basically the 12 highest positions in the kingdom now. And right after that statement, Jesus goes in with, oh, and by the way, I'm gonna be handed over to the, authorities, and I'm gonna be executed, and I'm gonna raise to life after three days. And if you guys

wanna come and follow after me, go grab your cross, take it up daily. This is a failed revolution. What is Jesus talking about?

And how do we live it out today? Do they get that do do they grab that metaphor? I was worried that myself. Right? Because he hadn't died on the cross yet. Although, it was a common way of crucifying people. They knew what a cross meant. They got it. Yeah. It's the this attempt at overthrowing the government is going to fail. That's what Jesus is saying. They're hoping it's metaphorical. Yeah. So it's not a I suppose the right way to think of it, it's not a salvation context.

Right? Like, we tie across to salvation. Yeah. That perspective isn't necessarily in play. Failed revolution, definitely. Like, whatever is I'm doing, it will end up in my death. I will buck up. I will cause trouble to the extent that they will kill me, and I'm asking you to come with me. Those those are the biggest circumstances ever. Now, for them, the Jesus admitting, yeah, I am in fact the Messiah, it was huge for them because they're the guys the 12 closest guys, which means when it comes to picking seats, they get first dibs With their position gets all kinds of privilege.

So what kind of privilege do they get? Jesus points to some crosses and says, go pick it out. Those are the chairs you guys get. Yeah. So it'd be like it so it'd much be like, hey, you could have the 12 best seats on the Titanic just for heads up, but it's not gonna make it. Yeah. So what's the whole verse again?

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. That's another question that I've got is how can you pick up your cross daily? A cross is something you die on. That's the end. Right? How do you do that every day? Well, so the cross

so if it represented something besides just the death portion, if it honestly meant the rebellion in of itself, the fact that there was a revolution starting, maybe he's not pointing to the fact that that they need to die every day in this certain way. Maybe it's the fact that they need to continually rebel. He's saying that that they need to deny themselves. So, obviously, they're not the most important thing. Completely throwing themselves out. So that's one priority that's taken away. Mhmm. Then you've got the whole pick up your cross daily. That's another self sacrificing thing where it's this is not about you. This is about something bigger, but it's not about the fact that we're going to win. It's about the fact that the work still needs to be done. Yeah. Yeah. I think he's saying, like, what what you're ultimately giving up is is well, I mean, it follows whoever would save his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Mhmm. So, you know, basically saying, I'm asking you to give up yourself on a on a on a daily basis

for for for the work of the kingdom for following me. Like, that is your sacrifice. And and just know that it it cannot be done without your death. Like, you are dying either physically and

what it was most often is you you're dying to a to your identity outside of the kingdom to a worker of, and that will often lead to your physical death. And that that that is how it is to be done daily. Is when you wake up in the mirror and you see you, that man has to die today. There's other stuff to be done. Yeah. That is not the priorities that you would make. That is not the work of your

kingdom. It's not the things that you would otherwise want to accomplish. I'm asking you die to yourself. You hang on that cross for the revolution on a daily basis, and know that from a worldly perspective, it will fail. But that's you losing your life so that you may save it. Mhmm. It's like a task list that he's clearing every single day. He's basically saying all the things that you thought you had to do, all the things that mean something to you, if you're to follow me, mean nothing. Which which if you think about it, like, that should very much penetrate some of the thought processes that

that that look at our following of Christ as single decision points or ways in which I can say this is where I reoriented my life to say, yeah, I I agree with Jesus. But, like, that word daily is a very powerful insertion into how we live. Mhmm. Like, he's he's saying that this is this completely changes your life. And if you if you're introduced to Jesus and your life doesn't completely change, either you don't know him or you misunderstood the process.

Like, it is it is not something in which you continue to get to live the same way, and that is a radical change. Like, we're not just talking about, you know, you change your curtains, you get a new bumper sticker. Right? This is a death to yourself. This is a this is a change of what you follow, a change in where your allegiances lie, and a complete forfeit of the life that you live. And if I can't there's growth there to to look at from maturity standpoint. But, like, if I'm ten years from now and my life doesn't look completely different than it did ten years before it, because I'm not I'm not dying more and more each day of myself in the in following Christ,

then then I'm not maturing. And I feel like I misunderstood the transaction for those. I guess that's a good point. I never thought of it from that perspective. It it's not I made this choice to follow Jesus six years ago, and I'm really excited that I did that. It's I made this choice every single day since that day that I'm going to die to myself. I'm going to follow him. This isn't just a thing that's changed one time. This is a thing that's changed me every single day, every single hour of my life since then and going forward. Yeah. I followed you in 1984. We went a few blocks, fed a couple homeless guys. Thumbs up, Jesus. See you on the flip side. Yeah. Like I made this decision back in o six, and I'm really excited that I did it. It's no. You made this decision every single day since that day. You died then, you've died every single day since then. I feel like I'm gonna write that on my bathroom mirror. Like, today, you need to cut off allegiance to this man and then just draw an arrow pointing to you. Like Mike. Nice job. That would be cool. This man is a false king. I mean, seriously, you need a little truth in your life. You're having a hard time. Cross out. I mean, who who doesn't get up in the morning, hurries through breakfast, gets the kids up, off to work, driving, listening to the radio on the way in. Right? All the while forgetting that today, you should cut off allegiance with the man you just saw in the mirror. That's awesome. Because he's untrustworthy. Hey, Mike. What'd you do this morning? Well, I died to myself. I was pretty excited about that. Off allegiance. Turns out that I was building the wrong kingdom this morning.

Five minutes in, I realized it had to change it up. Woke up, died, had my Wheaties. That's awesome. I think I'm gonna do that. Here's the thing. It's it's odd that the the the the phrases that seem to seem to catch you and kinda point you back to the truth of the gospel. Right? Like, it's not the gospel itself, but it's a thought and a process that makes you realize what the gospel means. And like and really, if it takes you look in the mirror and going and going, you need to cut off allegiance to this man. And then you look at yourself going,

yeah. Yeah. I've come up with some foolhardy ideas over the night. This man is untrustworthy. He he's very selfish. Look at him. He's using earth paste instead of real toothpaste. He's building a kingdom, and it's not impressive. Exactly.

Like like the if the because because most of the time, you like to say, you know, you like to look at the John the Baptist, you know, and and he says, you know, I must decrease and he must increase. And you think, yeah. That should definitely happen. Don't really what's that mean to you? What does that mean to you? Nothing. You're like, that sounds great, and I should definitely do that. I'm not sure what ways I'm gonna get that done until you realize that the exact thing that you're talking about is the man brushing your teeth in front of you, you go, you know what? You're part of the problem. Yeah. You, sir, are causing me trouble. Today is the day that I that I I look at your ways and all the plans you've come up with this morning and say, Jesus, what do you think about the ideas this man's come up with? I'm a start thinking myself in the third person as an untrustworthy king. That's definitely the way I it. Sucks. I need to get out of there. Look at this. Not even toilet paper in this kingdom. Seriously.

Brushing your teeth. What a facade. You know? They're gonna fall out when you're 80. You're a wind king. Tie to yourself. I wonder if my wife will let me write that on a mirror. I feel like it, you know, it could forget could play wrong. You know what saying? I think if it brings you closer to Jesus, she'll be all fine all for it. I feel like I'm gonna do it. Whatever. It's a done deal. I have an idea for a series of mirrors. I'm gonna print up posters that say, don't trust this man. Post them around the house. Yeah. We're gonna do live from the bath mirrors. We're gonna sell them. We're gonna have that Actually, I was that's brilliant. I was just thinking about this. Is is I was gonna work on our hey, if anybody's listening and does mobile app development, I I decided I was gonna learn to do mobile apps. But, like, if you could do it if you could just do it for us, that would really save me a lot of time, because I'm probably gonna do it poorly. But one of the features I wanted was is a camera to take selfies. And, like, we and and something like that, where you could kinda frame your face in it. We would we would be able to change change the the thing that goes around the face. And that would be the perfect one. Yeah. Do not trust this man. Awful king. Can't just sign through face. King of an untrustworthy kingdom. Follow Jesus.

And then you could post it on our Facebook. That would be awesome. If pictures just randomly showed up Pretty sweet. People doing that stuff throughout the day. That would be awesome. And then disappointing when I realized no one uses their mobile app. Anyway because everyone here's the thing. Everyone tries to do both. Right? They try to follow king Jesus while dragging their kingdom with him. Well, you, sir, only own one camel, and your kingdom is not gonna make it. Yeah. It's like the it's like the dog that kills the rabbit then tries to drag it in the house to show show you how impressed you should be about it. And really, you're like, hey, man. Take that crap out. Or the six foot stick that he can't fit through the door. This is good. This is gonna be great. Oh, man. And all the while, Pete, Pete, Jesus is standing at the door going, you're not bringing that stick in here. I told you it's not coming in the house.

Yeah. Our metaphors are unlimited. I was gonna say, I think we're doing pretty good until we start throwing metaphors in there. We just keep throwing the sticks in and dragging in rats. Mine was good. Yours was poor. Yeah. Continue on, man. Alright. So there's another aspect to this I wanna ask you guys about. But we nailed it. There's nothing else to talk We've already developed a mobile apparatus. We got selfies. People who are put on a cross are failures. They tried something and they failed. And that's what Jesus is calling us to do is to follow him even to the point of failure. I mean, it's easier to sacrifice

if we know that there's some kind of big payoff for it. But what if there isn't? What if it's just because he asked you to and nothing more? There'll be nothing else gained other than he simply asked you and you're gonna be put into a position of failure. Would you spend your life doing that? Yeah. I do all kinds of stuff because I don't know what the Lord's outcome is, and I decided that it's probably not a good idea. Eric has convicted me. Well, I mean, man, were going solid. Legit truth though, right? Like, how many times have I felt like the holy spirit's leading me to do something, and I think about it for a while, and I think I need to use discernment. I gotta figure out if it's the right thing to do. Mhmm. I see no positive gain here. Nope. Not gonna happen.

No. That's true. Actually, that that goes back to Buva's Pope style. This is like, there this is not if the things that we desire Mhmm. Some sort of revenge, some sort of retribution, something like that. Mhmm. And the way Buva approached it was, saying the one thing that didn't promise any of that. Mhmm. Right? If you punch a guy, it's least a momentary feeling of accomplishment. Feels real He understood how angry you were. He got what was coming to him. There's some sense of justice. Like, fulfilled a lot of what are otherwise biblical themes. Mhmm. Except for you've instituted your kingdom style as opposed to Jesus' kingdom style. Mhmm.

But and so with going into it with no expectations of being fulfilled in the way that you really wanted, but being obedient to God, he actually took care of those things in a way that was glorifying to him and actually furthered your situation better than you could even imagine. And, like, that's the problem with our discernment. Yeah. Is I wanna think through it, and I want and I think even even we using

a biblical type checklist as rationale. Does it further the kingdom? Mhmm. If I'd if I'd if a man breaks into my house or whatever, and it says, like, if I get shot in the head, I can't further the kingdom anymore. That guy's not gonna love Jesus. And he's certainly not gonna listen to me if I try to witness it to him. There's not a positive. I should not do it, and I should shoot him first. Mhmm. Okay. Maybe. Like, that's a reasonable way of thinking about it. I get the logic. Mhmm. Like, you'd have to be pretty clear that that's what was up. But, like, I I there there are probably there are times, right, where, like, it is not it's not a logical decision. Dying daily is not a logical decision. Mhmm. Because, like, the third day, you'd be like, heck, man. I died yesterday and the day before. And how much abuse should I have to take? This seems to not be doing much of anything. It's not even bringing you glory as far as I can tell. It's just me getting whooped on. And think of the experience of the of the Christians forty years, even even eighty hundred years after Christ died. Mhmm. Like, the temple's going down,

every one of the disciples is dead. And they're be looking around like, yeah, this is this ain't working out. Yeah. We're having a hard time convincing the new generation to get on board here. Yeah. We need to come up with a new program, put up some stained glass or something. No one no one's getting jazzed about this thing. Like, they're simply rolling on truth, and that's it. Mhmm. The very nature of what truth was. That's difficult. That's a difficult deal. Yeah. Now,

flip it around just a moment. K. Imagine you imagine you go ahead and go along with it. You don't see any upside. Yeah. You don't see what the advantage is. You can't even see a payoff in terms of advancing the kingdom. Yep. But you know that it's something that God wants you to do. Yeah. So you do it even though it ends up costing you all the years of your life. Yeah. How's God gonna respond to that? He knows that you did it for no other reason than you did it for him. How's he gonna take it? How's he gonna look at that act, that that sacrifice? How's he gonna receive that

as God? I feel like awesomely. I was gonna say hopefully with a glad heart. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Feel like it would be very jazzed. Yeah. I feel like he'd smile at me, which would make me very Holy cats. You know what saying? The Lord gives you a big big big grin on his face. You know what I mean? Else, wouldn't it? What if God face you? Hell, it's something that you it it's very clear that there is no other motive for this other than you love and adore God. No other motive. There there was no upside. There was no publicity. There's nothing coming to you because of this. You engaged in utter failure, but it's because your Lord asked you to. Like Jeremiah? Yeah. And you and you awake in heaven, only see God looking at you smiling going,

Mike. Oh, man. That'd be pretty sweet. Go on. Yeah. Mike. Yeah. Next one.

Getting to God high five. I feel like it'll all be worth it in one second. You know I'm saying? Mhmm. One second. That's hard to see though from here. Right. I mean, I don't wanna paint this to some kind of rosy picture. It's hard to see Yeah. It's hard to see from this perspective. No. I I mean, and and and the thing is, is the word discernment in the Bible? It just occurs to me, like, use that phrase quite a bit. Sure. I don't know the con I mean, concept says yeah. Why not? Yeah. Spiritual discernment. Yeah. It's one of those it's one of those Okay. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay. I was gonna say that can't go come from nowhere. Right? Free will and stuff around all the time. But like,

there there is I think that is what's difficult. Right? It's like there was enough there was enough instruction from guys like Paul and James where you're there seems to be some sort of evaluative way of thinking about how things are going. Right? Do I is God in this? Yeah. It is a gift of the spirit to help you see some of these things. But there also is kinda looming this tangent that, like, things that don't make any sense at all Mhmm. God may call you to do because it is not necessary that it makes sense to you. Mhmm.

They they are they are for God's purposes for whatever. Even if it's for you personally, if it's for his kingdom as a whole, if it's for your who knows? Mhmm. And and I suppose, like, again, this this kinda reels back in a that's that's really not our issue to discern. That's a Holy Spirit responsibility. Like, the Holy Spirit does that. He's the one that says, yeah, buddy. This is the one. No. I have no idea. Yes. You have unnatural peace here. Go ahead and do that. Yeah. This is gonna be this is going to be what what I can't even say it's gonna be fine. I'm just gonna say this is gonna be what's gonna be. Yeah. Good luck jumping in that pit. We're we're we're just called to obedience.

You know, you you look through the the Hebrews 11, the faith chapter, and you see all these names of people you recognize in scripture. And then it gets to the last part of of the chapter 11 there and it's like, oh, and all those guys who were cut in half and they're not even named, you know, and I think that that's like me. That's I'm gonna be the no name guy. I'm be the unnamed cut in half man. Yeah. It's like that had to be kind of a bummer at the time, you know, but, whatever it was they were doing, they were being obedient, you know, unto death. Yeah. And, well done, you know, I mean, whatever their circumstance was, they, they followed through, they were obedient And that's all we want. That's all I want out of life is I just wanna be able to end it and say, I was obedient,

whether I saw, you know, success, whatever, you know, in quotes, whatever that is, worldly success, I saw what I thought I was hoping to accomplish. Yeah. As long as I did what God told me to do, then whatever happens, happens, you know? I think that's right.

Final thoughts, Dave? Yeah. That's all I got. I I love Jesus. I like that. I like that, Dave. I like that I like that summation you've removed. Ends with a Sunday school answer. You're bad out there.

Hey, man. Hey. Come and listen to life from the past. What? I wanna take a pause. That was way more than a pause, man. Dramatic effect. Way too long for dramatic effect. Trust this man.

You've been listening live from the past. Thank you. Big thanks to our gracious sponsors. Bob Eisenhower with the Eisenhower team. Go to eisenhowerteam.com. And interest rates are low in the mortgage in the mortgage industry, man. If you're looking to to to buy or sell a home, buy. Now is the time, man. Rates are low. Boova, it's time to get in. No. It's time to get in.

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You can set up an appointment online or give them a call. That's Westfield Veterinary Hospital. Thanks for hanging out with us on Life in the Path. If you're on the podcast, we'll be right back with you. If you're not, thank thank you for hanging out with us on the Truth Network, and we'll see you next week. You've been listening to Life From The Path. You might play the saxophone in here. No. I mean, I I played with it like a Barbie when I was younger.

I didn't make any tunes, but I put a mustache on Call it Steve. Hey. You think we could get, like, a local I don't know, like, a high school jazz band to cover this deal? They'd have to be pretty uptown. Dolomite by Scott Henderson.

You guys are a lively bunch. Well, my daughter's in one of the best jazz bands in the state. I don't know. I could talk to her. Yeah. See what influence you have. Just saying. Just saying. This man could be trusted.

I got a crown Working on a king. From the Burger King, and he said I was it's good to go. I knew I was the king. Alright. Mike, what do you got? Dear life from the path. I am 40, married, and busy. I work a full time job and go to school part time. My schedule is filled with just is filled with just my normal activities. I have a busy social life and many family members, so every weekend, my husband and I are invited to do something. I enjoy these gatherings, but sometimes I just want a weekend to myself to do what I wanna do. Mhmm. Go to the beach, a park, take care of something that needs to be done around the house, or just sit and watch TV or go to a movie. I find it hard to say no to the invitations. How can I politely decline some of them without offending or hurting friends or other family members? No. Just say no. No. Thank you. Yeah. No. I've got plans. Kevin's busy. No. I don't have plans. Can't make it. Let's hook up some other time.

Love person. Yeah. How about the following week? Or I'm pretty tied up. It's a rough season of life. Maybe I'll see you in six months.

Can we do this over text? Would you like a copy of my schedule? And then you tell me if I have time for you? No. Well, that's awesome. I'll be Netflixing. I'll be washing my hair. Whatever. Yeah. I'll be super busy doing anything else.

Yeah. Here I mean, what you're saying is true. But like, I feel like five other no's probably need to happen before that one no is even a problem. You know I find is a lot of things that I have to say no to, or because I didn't say no to five other things that I probably should have said no to. That sounds right. So, yeah, the the way to politely do it is, first of all, look at your own schedule and see what you filled your time with. If it's a bunch of if it's a bunch of just busy junk, you get you you need to cut some you here's the deal. You need to leave time for other people. That that's true. You your schedule should be should not be Tupperware tight that if something comes up, 15 things have to be canceled, and now you're mad at them for even calling you. You know, like, hey, I could use some help blah blah blah. I'm moving Saturday, and you're like, you know you can't call me. You know that I'm busy. How dare you try to interrupt my life. Right? I've been guilty of that before. Where I look at a person, I'm angry that they've even asked me to do something because they know that I'm up to something. How dare you, sir? Right? That's a prideful beast of a stance that I've taken it, and it's embarrassing to me. So so your first reaction is to look at your normal activities. If you haven't left an hour in a day free, you've made a mistake, friend. You filled it up with too much stuff that consistently needs to be done, and you're never gonna it's never gonna happen. Yeah. Secondly, yeah, you lean you need to say no to some people. No. You're right. And and and you don't there's no polite way to do it. The most polite way to do it is the honest way to do it, which is no. If you wanna tack on you jerk at the end, you've gone too far. You just stop at the no Yeah. And they'll say why, and you say, I just can't make it. That's it. I'm tucked at me. That's it. I got other stuff going. I'm I apologize.

No problem. Yeah. That's it. Yeah. I think that's good. Mhmm. Alright. Here is the, secular answer. So you're a people pleaser. It is not rude or hurtful just to, refuse invitations by saying, thank you for wanting us, but we already have a commitment for that day. Or you could have your butler do it, I guess, if you're gonna speak it that way.

It's also not rude to tell your person your schedule has been so full that you've been buzzing around like a being a fit, and you need to just plain rest and catch up on chores. That's what I recommend you start doing without feeling guilty about it, because everyone needs a certain amount of downtime so they don't they don't make themselves sick. There's no reason to introduce your personal problems to somebody else. Like, that's an excuse. Number two is an excuse. Just say no. Yeah. You can't make it. Yeah. It it yeah. Why not? There is something there is something that there's lost on on this culture about brevity. You know what I'm saying? Like, not everybody has to know every bit of your business at all to all the points in time. And even if it's a close friend of yours, I mean, I I agree sharing some stuff with people, but it's borderline gossip all the time. Know I'm saying? You're not really gossiping about other people. You're gossiping about yourself. You could just say no, and then that's it. That's all. Here we go. No. That looks lame. Hold on a minute.

Oh, dear life from the path. I'm a 14 year old girl, and I have had a great relationship with my parents since I was a baby. I've always felt I have the perfect family. I can talk to them about anything and love spending time with them. Lately, though, I've begun fighting with my dad almost every day. They're never big or scary fights, just arguments that leave us both angry and disgruntled. He says I have a newly developed attitude. I say he has a bit of a temper. Neither of us is willing to back down. We have talked about our constant arguing, but we honestly don't know how to fix it. He recently suggested family counseling, but I'm not sure if it has gone that far yet. Any advice?

You're a teenager. This is par for the course. Yeah. You need to get yourself a marker and write on your bathroom mirror. This person cannot be trusted. Get yourself the new live from the path mobile app. Yeah. Take a selfie. I'm not saying your dad's fired on all cylinders all times. A humble man will admit when he's done something wrong, apologize for it. And and, I and I'm I'm sure if he if he's, the kind of dad that you explained, like, before he goes to bed, he evaluates on the way that he dealt with his kids and his wife that day. And and if an apology is due, he'll he should show up with one, and and and hopefully, he's that kind of man.

But when push comes to shove, 14 years old has a very different perspective on the world than, say, a 40 year old. And, and and maybe his vision's a little bit wider than yours. And so it's it's hard to swallow when you're 14, but, you know, that he he loves you. And if he's fighting with you, it's because he cares enough to intercede in your life, to let you fall down a hill. Yeah. Yeah.

All right then. Thank you for listening to life from the path. Here's the deal. It's been rough. Here's secular says some of what is happening between you and your dad may be that you are now a teenager. And with all the hormonal changes that go with it, definitely, it's a physical problem. That said, you are old enough to understand that because there could be consequences for saying the first thing that pops into our heads, it's prudent to exercise tact. I consider your father's idea of family counseling now to be a good one. Think of it as preventative medicine to avoid a more serious breakdown in communication later. I think that jacks it up too far. I think you're that that is that is taking the proverbial molehill and crafting it into a mountain. Yeah. Like yeah. Based on her description, I feel like they're handling it. They talk about it on how they've been arguing. They're not quite sure how to resolve it. Like, that's an open line of communication.

It seems like something that they're working on. What the council's gonna make you do. Yeah. I'm not against it, like, as a whole, but, like, it just seems unnecessary. I feel like like it sometimes sometimes the normal process isn't a quick solution. It just isn't. Like, people will have that. One one of the I was talking with a guy who's

who's about to get married. And, you know, one of the things to consider is that, like, you need to have a rough idea of what's normal. You're gonna you're gonna sometimes first six months, you're probably gonna have some sort of Oh, yeah. And and and it's gonna occur to you, it'd be like, wow, maybe we move too fast. Maybe maybe not like, maybe I have the wrong girl, but like, you know, maybe we didn't think things through quick enough. And like, just know that's normal. You're gonna be fine. Go talk to your wife. Mhmm. You know I'm saying? Like, that's a normal thing. It's pretty normal for a a dad and a 14 year old daughter to start running into some tiffs. Yeah. It's completely normal. And, like, it sounds like you're handling it in a healthy way. Just look at the situation and say, yep. This is pretty much how it goes. Mhmm. I still love you, dad. I'll see you tomorrow when we battle it out again.

Like, I feel like that's very indicative of sometimes my relationship with the Lord as well. Like, I know that he loves me in the end. I feel like he's trying to push me into doing stuff that I don't I'll rebel for a little while till I go look at the bathroom mirror and go, yeah. I feel like he had this right the first time. I'm sorry. Here we go. Dear life from the path, is it okay to put a paper towel holder in the bathroom? Yeah. Well, that's Yes. Next one. Done. Moving on. It's lengthy. No. No. Go ahead. I wanna hear the whole verbose discussion. Okay. Hold on. I don't want to buy the kind that you can pull out from a box. I want to put a holder on the wall so I don't have to hide my roll under the sink. That way, anyone could pull a sheet off the roll to clean them up mess or wipe their hands if they don't want to use a hand towel. I've never seen one in anyone's bathroom, but I don't know why.

It'll get soggy from the shower. What what if it's enclosed? Like an industrial one? Get a dehumidifier in there or something. I don't think this woman understands the purpose of an advice column. Is that really the end of it? Yeah. That's the question. Yes. She wants to install a paper towel holder inside the bathroom for cleaning up big messes.

It's your bathroom. For the kind of people that don't wanna use a hand towel. Who are you inviting over to your house? Do you have anything but hand towels? Did someone complain about this? And that's why it's on your mind? I've made a mess. I've made a mess. And I refuse to clean it up in the way that you're providing. I know some people say there are no such things as stupid questions, but, yeah,

we're pretty close. We we may have got one there. I'd like to put on my left sock before my right. What's your thoughts on it? Do you see a problem either way? Is it okay to have hand soap in the bathroom and the kitchen? Hold on. Let's dig on Sekuler's advice. Secular says, even though you haven't seen one, I'm sure you're not the only one to think of it. If you would like a roll of paper towels in your bathroom, you'll get no argument for me. Go for it. Hey, man. You think this is a veiled attempt because her husband's really gets it? You're not putting paper towels in there. I don't want them in there. Looks trashy.

Oh, no. What will people think? People will go into our bathroom and think, what goes on in here with paper towels? What kind of mess is happening here that they need to have a paper towel dispenser? That's that's some weird stuff, man. Okay. Here we go. This is the last one. Dear life from the path, I'm a 23 year old woman in grad school, and I have noticed something about my male friends. Mhmm. Whenever they meet a new girl, they first comment out of their mouth is about their looks. Yep. Then they will expound at length on her physical assets or lack thereof. Life or the Pathist makes me furious. Not only does it make me feel self conscious about my own body, it also makes me angry that these talented, charming, and outgoing girls are judged first by their cup size. Is there anything I can say to my friends to make them amend their behavior or am I being overly sensitive and need you to accept that this is a guy thing? Thanks for your input. Start hanging out with guys that love Jesus. Those dudes are little boys and jokes. Get away from them.

How are you 23 and just now finding this out? Yeah. It's a solid point. Are you talking about their breasts? Is that what you're saying? What? You even notice those? Physical asses. Yeah. What high school did you go to? Seriously. I spent all my time thinking about paper towel holders. I'm Pay no attention to something like I recently invented a tape paper towel. They're doing it with you around. So I like, I there's nothing you're gonna be able to shame these men. Like, that's simply not gonna change. Yeah.

Yeah. You're talking about Jesus. They need Jesus. Jesus fixes that. In fact, I I know nothing else in the world that fixes that as a matter of fact. That's irrelevant. That is the only cure to that ill right there. Castration. But I think that doesn't stop it. That just presents a yearning in the man that he will never Right. A very The mind is still there. The eyes are still there. The hands are still there. Even eunuchs are nervous for a particular reason. It's rough times.

Yeah. I I I think the correct answer Sometimes a guy without a hand still wants to play softball. You understand what I'm saying, Pooh? Think I think that's the answer. You just need to change. If you need to change your company or present such a a glorious life that people say, hey. Maybe this isn't right. But I don't know that outright say it. What was the say did I miss the secular answer on the paper towel holder? She just said it's fine and then she left? Okay. Sorry. Go ahead. Here's a secular answer for for this question. It is a guy thing. That they talk this way in front of you may indicate that they consider you one of the guys. Since it bothers you, speak up and suggest they knock it off. If you do, it may jar them back to reality. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. You've met men. Yeah. That that'll definitely work. You could literally hit a man over the head with a bat and say, stop it. Did I just get hit with a breast? Yeah. Like, that's Oh, seriously. They can't. Jesus.

That's what we can see. Fixes that problem right there. Alright. Give me a list of life in the past. I would say it went downhill. It was started downhill and kinda stayed there. So you're just plateaued. That's good. It's poor life choices. If your New Year's resolution was to stop wasting your time and make the poor life choices, I'm afraid you've failed already. But God bless you. Thanks for hanging out with Life in the Path. We will see you next week. Unless you hey. Unless unless

you develop mobile apps. And then if you could just give me a buzz and say how much, know, you'd be willing to do for free, that's what I want. Thanks for listening a lot, guys. When I say free, I mean, like, free, like nothing. Yeah. Like like, no no no, like, hey, $10 or, like, give me some chocolates or sign my girlfriend's arm or something. Like, of that stuff. I mean, free. Listen to that path.

No Doleros. Remember what I said about wasting time? You're doing it right now. Right now. That's you right now still listening to this. Go do something else with your life. A life and death.