And you're listening to Live From The Path. We're coming from the Pathway Studios here in Johnston proper. It is good to have you with us tonight. It's it's bound to be a barn burner here in the studio, so you're gonna be jazzed that you stop by. And so we're gonna kick off the show directly with a good friend of ours, Ted Yoder. Ted, are you still there? I am here. Awesome. Well, so we're keeping Ted up. So here's what we're gonna do. Wait. The so the reason you you've you've heard Ted on the show before,

he he was in the studio a few months back and did a fantastic job and and was a lot of fun and I I Mike, I don't know when you saw this, but I I was it's maybe towards the beginning of the week, I was just hunting on Facebook and all of a sudden, like, somebody shares Sweet Ted on their hammered dulcimer and doing the hammered dulcimer stuff. And so I was really excited for it and I saw it and it was a massive number of views at the time. It was like, I don't know, 800,000 or something like that. And so I thought, hey, man, that's really cool, know, that's gonna be awesome. I bet Ted's pretty excited about that. And so I kind of reached out and said, you know, hey, congrats, Ted. And then Mike gets a hold of me maybe a day later and said, hey, Ben, did you you see Ted's blowing up on the net. He's blowing up everywhere. Yeah. I actually had the I had the exact same reaction. I'm like, man, way to go, Ted. That's pretty cool. And then I looked at number today and I'm like, this is getting outrageous. It's getting it's getting out of hand is what happened. Like, who where are these people coming from? So so Ted I don't know. So yeah. Yeah. So so tell me a little bit about this. Like, how does it feel to be the 54 or 58,000,000 hit man? You know, surprisingly,

kinda just like a father of seven. You know? Yeah. You know, I mean, CBS hasn't called or Good Morning America hasn't called yet or anything like that. So I'm just kinda like, well, hey, business as usual, I guess, you know. We have a we have a bunch of CD orders to fill, which is fantastic. Awesome. But, yeah, I don't know. Who knows? Maybe maybe my iTunes bill not bill. My iTunes check might be a little bit louder this time around.

But No, that's true. I don't know. It's it's pretty incredible. What Yeah. Well, here's here's the thing. This is the thing that just amazes me. It's like, it was first of all, the recording, it was it was really good and and and like, it just it just seems that people are just loving it. They're absolutely loving it. I see. Like like, they haven't heard anything like it before and I'm like, I the the weird part is when you were in here, we we talked about this a little bit, but I'm like, people people look at the at the Dolce Burn, they're kinda like, I I don't know what to do with this thing. We talked about it being a background for loon music most of the time, you know. Right. Yes. And then like like it it it gets some exposure and like it did exactly what I thought it would do. It's like if people could just hear it, like they would get it. And like that is exactly what happened and it's it's it's really blowing up and it's awesome.

I think I think the most amazing thing is, yes, the amount of people that are just, like you said, in love with it, but there's also a tremendous lack of angst toward it. Right. So like, I mean, I I know I I think I I I happened upon some Reddit, you know, comments that were rather scathing and whatever. But, you know, they they were probably like 16,

22 two year old kids living in their basement still or whatever. And so, you know, it just but but other than that, I mean, people have just yeah. I, you know, man, it it it's just I don't know. I'm all mushy and gooey because of it. I don't know how else to put it. I I I that's understandable, Ted. Like, if there's and I get, like, at a certain point, you know, like, million people doesn't feel all that different than, like, 50,000,000 people from from your end, but like it's just Right. It's it's it's a crazy thing because like you know that the the medium that you're dealing in has the potential to do that, but still like there's still aghast surprise that it actually happened. I know. I know. I

I think the longer that I go, the longer that time kinda moves on, you know, I I don't know. Like I said, you know, I haven't had people people call it a big break and and yet all I did was I I just I just went to work as usual, know. I just did what I've been doing for six years. I went in my backyard with my family and played my dulcimer for whoever wanted to show up. Well, this time, like, you know, 54,000,000 people showed up.

It was like, oh, hey, how you doing? Hey, Ted. Can I pet the raccoon? Yeah. That's right. Yeah. It does. Absolutely, you can. She doesn't hang around all the time, but, she comes and goes. I had a I I don't know if you guys caught it, but there was like this whole thing on Twitter where, Kurt Smith, you know, the lead singer for, Tears for Fears, he he tweeted the the video and then and then at the end of it, he said, all I would all I'd wanna do is pet the coon.

Yeah. So Hey, man. I told him to come over anytime. Yeah. I was gonna say, you know, he watched the whole thing. That's awesome. Yeah. He did. He did. And and and and actually the I think Thursday night after after I had put it up, I put it up on Wednesday, know, and and then Thursday night, I think I got a a email from the drummer, Jamie Woolman

of Tears for Fears. Woolham. I said that wrong. Woolham. Yes. That is crazy. That is Yeah. Absolutely crazy. Here's the thing is I that's why I love that story is because it is just Ted Yoder being Ted Yoder and more people happen to catch it. Right? Yeah. Like, there's no better way to have your stuff be seen interpreted and discovered when it's just like I listen, I I didn't go out of my way to, do anything crazy. This is just kind of what I do and I'm glad you appreciate it. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's

just it's just amazing. I don't, I'm surprised I'm not crying, but maybe I'm all out of tears right now. It's just, yeah. I'm pretty speechless. Well,

we just wanted to make sure that, I'm I'm I'm really glad that you took some time to talk to us and really congratulations, man. You deserve it. It was And we'll let you go and get back to your Yoder style family, Jazz, but congratulations. It was very cool. Thanks, guys. Have a great night. See Ted. Bye. Hey. So that's that's

that's Ted Yoder. And if you have not checked this out yet, it's you you you could do a quick search on Facebook for Ted Yoder spelled exactly as it sounds. No no d d, y y, nothing crazy. Just Ted Yoder. And, and you'll check it out, and it's it's a it's a cover of of, the Tears for Fears tune. And it was just it's just really, really good. Did you watch Abouva? Absolutely. I saw it. What it's so I didn't get a chance to see him in studio when he first came in. Like, I wasn't I wasn't here for that. I don't know where I was, but I was somewhere, often doing something probably foolish. But, so you guys have always talked about the Dulcimer. I've never had a chance to actually look at it. And so when I saw the video, I immediately hopped on there, and I showed I showed probably 15 people within the first, like, three minutes of watching it. Yeah. Because

it it's something that that like, those those instruments that are something that's not a mainstream instrument that's played, obviously. You know, you've got the usuals as completely far off from that. And so having such a weird contraption being played, and then especially my generation, not barely knowing anything about music, like, it's so cool. My friends all looked at it. We're all astonished by it, and they loved it. Absolutely loved it. So I love the I love the click part. You know, like, doom Yeah. Doom, the click. And I'm like, what he had with the click? Do do all dolcemers have this sweet click it

had that little thing on the end. He was able to just tap it real quick and make it happen. It was perfect. I loved it. The whole dude. I thought it was amazing. Yeah. Anyway I kinda wanted him to sing, to be blatantly honest with you. Like, I was kinda waiting for him to kinda just, like, jam in, but, like, it was still an amazing video. Yeah. So you can check out all of Ted's stuff at his website. He's got stuff on iTunes. It's it is it is well worth, downloading, giving a checkout. And and on top of that, he's just a he's just a straight up cool dude. Yeah. And so, go ahead and and and, you know, put the Google on Ted Yoder and and take it all you can. You get there's still some time left in the night. Don't don't bail on it too early. Yeah, man. There's something about a dude that's, like, living in a house and taking care of his kids and loving on his kids and stuff like that, walking out to his backyard playing a sweet thing and then 54,000,000 people going, well, yeah. Yeah. I mean, if someone showed up and and took a 58,000,000. Took a video of me mowing the lawn and stuff, I'm like, hey, man. I can't be appreciated for the Raiders stuff. I've seen you mow your lawn. It's unimpressive. It's okay, man. Like, it's just it's not that cool. It's not 58,000,000 views worth. No. Definitely not. It's it's e knocking. He's e knocking it. He's totally e knocking it. Yeah. Walking with the lower, playing the hammered dulcimer. That's right. Because I do what I do. That's what it's how it's coming You guys would've come to my backyard and be e knocking? I like it. Alright. You're listening live from the path. Here's what got on the show tonight. So we we've talked to Ted Ted Yoder. Make sure you check that clip out. You could go to Facebook. He's also got it on YouTube. Here's the thing. I think he's done it before. Like like, he's got plenty of these tunes out there. It just it takes the right moment to kinda catch it and and let it fly. So we also Buva had some potential double barrel Pope style, at least one Pope style, maybe two barrels. Yep. Still thinking it through though. I think I think we're gonna hit both barrels. Okay. Okay. Potentially double barrel Pope style. Mike, what do you have on the docket tonight? There's some deer life from the path coming up.

There's a a lady is concerned that she has anxiety about filtering out bad news for people. And so we'll talk about that a little bit. There's some actual substance probably there and maybe a little bit of ridiculousness Right. That we can go through. Right. And also, I I don't really have pope style, but I had a I've had a pretty sweet experience with God this week, and we'll touch on that. Okay. Cool. I also I saw this article and it was kind of funny. There so there is the Lutheran Church in Norway wanting to organize their records. Right? So they're like, they wanna kind of digitize them, get everything in order. And so they, in Lutheran Church, these is the official religion of of Norway, and they put up a web page, Last Monday, that allows people to verify their status to say, hey, we're in the church or we're not in the church. Okay? So as of last Friday, they the thing was open only open for, like, five days. 15,000

people got online and left the church. Wow. Wow. 15,000 people. Massive movement. And and, like, what's interesting is, that's obviously not everyone who's left the church. Right? These are the people who are concerned enough to go check out the web page and deregister. That's true. Usually, if they put up some kind of warning like that, you know, most people look at it and go, you know, is it even worth my two minutes to get on there and say that I'm out? I would just left it be. Right. They were passionate enough to go and actually make the action happen. So here's what I loved about this. I mean, I I I'm not sure I understand the process, and I think maybe we've we've kind of reduced our understanding of of church membership

when we're publicizing the rules so that people can say in and out, like, I'm I'm not sure that's exactly what what we're trying to get at with the church membership. But I thought I thought actually the church's answer was funny. They said, we will continue to have a broad and open national church, no one should be a member of a religious community against their will. And therefore, I am glad that this self solution is in place. Those who mistakenly listed as a member of the Norwegian church or who do not wish to be members can now easily change their status and will give us a a more accurate registry. Mean, that's pretty honest, though, isn't it? Yeah. It is. But I'm totally imagining Jesus up on on the mount and and talking to these people, giving a sweet sermon, and then all the disciples walking around with clipboards that say yes or no, and then everybody has to go, oh, yeah, I'm in. No. No. I'm good. I I don't know why I'm thinking

Yeah. I'm I'll take it. I'm still on the fence about this thing. Put me down to the maybe. You guys have a maybe? Can you can you email me later and we could talk about How about your cousin Bob? I hear he deregistered online. Right. Is this is the next part of this, like, they're gonna go out and do a giant loser movement throughout Norway and walk out to people's houses? So we noticed that you left the church on the the Evite there, so we're gonna we're gonna need to talk to you about Jesus and see if we can get you back. You know, it it it's actually it's it's a way more honest way of living though. Right? Like, wouldn't you rather know I see, you know, companies do this all the time. They're like, hey, we lost money here. We'll shift it a little bit over here, it doesn't look as bad. This account looks alright. Now, it's both $50.50. And like, what a dishonest way of doing things. And the church it sounds like the church was kinda in that same condition, you know. They're like, man, we got like 30,000 people going here. Truth of the matter is, you have like 2,000, and you just wrote it's just like the the who's the people that write you down just when they talk to you? That go door to door? Oh, the Mormons do that. Yeah. The Mormons. Right? As soon as they talk to you, they're like, Mormon. That guy's Mormon. He's a Mormon. We talked to him about Mormonism. There's no way he's not gonna eventually decide to be Mormon. So He's on the path. We we plant seeds, and those produce plants automatically, so we might just tell it as a seed. Yeah. Send them send them to lighthouse. No. No. It's not the lighthouse. Watchtower. Watchtower. Send them to watchtower. Yeah. Yeah. Lighthouse is a bit better. I mean, you know what I'm saying? Like, there's some secondary Mormon church that's talking about, the the lighthouse instead of the watchtower?

They're bringing just a different building? So is I mean, is there is there a tie to the watchtower that I don't understand? Because it seems to me like, I would rather say lighthouse than be like, you know, this is where you come to safety. This is the thing that guides you through your life. That makes more sense for a relevant metaphor to Jesus opposed to the watchtower. Yeah. Hey. There's danger coming. It sounds like he's gonna snipe you from the third balcony. Yeah. I'd I'd go with the lighthouse. Perhaps he is. Okay. Anyway, I like mean, I mean, I kinda like that. I just I mean, something there's something sad about that too. Like, you might here's the dude. If you're if you're not part of the church, you might as well not be on the roles. I get that part. But, like, our understanding as part of a community of Jesus followers as well, I deregistered today. I'm no longer on the list.

I thought I mean, like, we we just might be need to rethink our the the understanding of someone who thought on the list was a a qualification to begin with. No. That's true. Do you think that was a big, like, sigh of relief, whoo, good. I'm glad I'm out of there. Like, I mean, it's not like they come after you or I mean, what's the worst they're gonna do? Send you emails and stuff or or, like, catch you up on the Facebook? I mean, what's the worst thing that they're doing? You know, it had been a public database though. So like, bet people were trying to flee from it so that other people couldn't check them out. It's like that like the treasure hunts that the the assessors do, right, where the people leave property behind and like you go to search. Like you search everybody you know to see if they got money outstanding. You guys not done that? No. I've done that. No. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. So now let's say, hey, there's a public database available of which you can find out who's in the church. Like, I just start randomly typing folks in just to check out, see who's there. Hey, man. That guy's still Lutheran? Yep. Yep. Hey, we still got Denzel. We still got him. He's still in.

He's a Lutheran in Norway. That's the deal. That's why we can't get a grasp on it. Is Denzel still a norwegian lutheran.com? That would be the hardest thing though. It's like if you're the guy on the other end of the computer and be like, no. We lost Denzel. Oh, man. You had one job, man. It was keeping Denzel. Crap.

Probably probably the name is Denzel Oslo there. That's not right. Denzel Oslo? So what's the what's the capital of Norway? No. Oslo's Norway. Yes. That joke was not good, but I got it right. Yeah. It was it was factually correct. It just wasn't funny. When you're talking about a pompous man that named himself after the capital of Norway Hi. I'm Denzel Norway. That's why I'd be like, hey, I'm Bob Washington DC. Yeah. No, you're not.

Alright. So anyway, if you if you haven't done this and maybe you were on the roles when you were a kid before you migrated here, go hook. I I don't know what the website is. They didn't post it. Maybe they don't want people creeping on it. But you may need to consider deregistering yourself with the Norwegian Lutheran, whatever. Just Google it. I'm sure it's available. I kinda wanna go register for it. Yeah. I might wanna go hop into the Norwegian Lutheran category just so they go, hey, man. We lost 15,000, but there's one dude in Iowa, that like, in in America? Apparently, he's in? Pick one up. Lost 15,000. Got one Randall. We lost Denzel. God, let's up. Move him. Yep. Then you see Randall celebrating, like, my PR campaign is really rocking. Way to go, Randall. We lost Denzel, but we got another.

Everyone said this site was gonna be disaster. Who's laughing now? That's right. We shouldn't spend $35 on flyers. Boova from Iowa has joined. You think they validate Boova? You think they'll send you They'll send me a letter? Yeah. Are you really a Norwegian Dear mister Buva, did you mean to click yes and register the Norwegian church?

Yes, I did. Because we we've had a real mass of people leave, and we suspect you did this in error. We're we're we're really kinda hanging on by every one person we can keep, so this will really validate us as a denomination if you'll say yes. What are those things that they put over the robes that, like, they're, like they have the crosses on them, they kinda hang down. It's like a scarf or a sash. Is a sash have to go, like, 45 degrees across your chest? Or can I you know what I'm saying? Like, it's this thing that goes over your neck and, like, it's like a double tie. The draperies. Yeah. Is that what it's called? The drapery? No. I no. I don't think so. Man, I still don't know the difference between different types of jackets. The shoulder curtains. Shoulder curtains? Like, yeah, well If that's not what it's called, that's what it needs to be called. Yeah. Yeah. I know it. So what's the question though, Mike? What what are called? A, what are those called? I don't know. Shoulder curtains. And b, they should give them to you when you join the church I get the I get the official colors of the Lutheran Church of Norway's shoulder curtains. Yeah. I think you have to I heard that. Rock that every day. Oh. Hey. Actually, I saw a friend of mine on Facebook Some hot dogs. Who's a pastor, something in the Lutheran Church. Yeah. And he was wearing those. He has a shoulder curtain? And they were I mean, they were, I mean, sparkled and white in this picture, and I thought, I could I could never be a guy, like a Lutheran guy, who has to wear that stuff, because like, I mean, certainly, think of think of all the opportunities over a ten year pastor career, where you don't have those in the wash or something or you spilled soda on it. Yeah. That's the truth. Something. One church potluck, you've got meatball on it. Yeah. Like, I I just couldn't I mean, I I'd always be putting it somewhere. It'd be wrinkled. We'd have tied it to the dog for some reason. We'd have mopped up something with it. And, like, you know that, like, you you think that you would never do this, but certainly, one Sunday, I would show up and have a big old, you know, mustard on it or something. Do think the elders of the church would come and talk to you specifically? It's like, pastor Ben, we've been needing to talk to you about your shoulder curtains. Yeah. We did notice that there was some imperfections on them. If there's mustard on your front. There's there's been six trips to the dry cleaner on that thing. It's not a sheet, man. You know what I'm saying? Just treat it appropriately. You don't need to wash it on the daily. Just keep it clean. Get get a bib and some OxiClean.

This is why I always put on the Lord's work here. I always appreciated the guys that wore the same outfit as the choir people. You know I'm saying? Like, he knows the deal, because if you get that one messed up, you just go pick up an extra one. You know somebody's sick in the choir. You just grab the other robe out. You're so sickies robe? Yeah. Yeah. That's why there's always one kid sick on the on the choir. They pass around the robes. Alright. Here's a slide from the path. Here's what you've done in life. You've made a mistake and likely with a group of people because you mistake Buva as if he is the Pope. Oh, buddy. And I I would hope that the start of the program would dissuade you from this, but your stubbornness has continued to permeate life. And so along with everyone else, your expectation is that Pope Buba is going to give you some sort of worldly advice or wisdom that will otherwise improve your life. Otherwise,

you won't leave his lawn, which is where you and your friends have congregated in anticipation of said advice, like in at the Vatican. So anyway, Pope Buba, that you have to give them something to get them to leave your lawn. What what sayeth you? Oh, man. I can't agree more with the fact they made bad choices here. But I'm gonna preface this by saying that,

now I don't believe this is God directly, but, like, life and God working through that and allowing things to go down has kinda crushed me in the last couple weeks. And I can't I'm I'm not trying to be dramatic by saying that. I'm just being honest. Like, there's a certain level of booness that I like to be at, but God kinda just called me out and said, yeah, that ain't happening anymore. And so, yeah, let's let's start off with that. So here's my broad advice to you. You are not impressive Mhmm. By any means. And and I mean that from the perspective of you equals everyone. By no means at all. By no means at all are you impressive. There is Are you impressive? By no means. There is there's legitimately nothing that you can tell me after I ask, hey, man. What have you been up to? That you can literally tell me, and I will go, man, that is crazy impressive, and you are you are much better than God because of it. Right?

So I say that because there's a certain level of pride destruction that's happened within the last, last couple of weeks. It's just been it's been rough.

So going from, having a job and, having income to be able to kinda take care of myself and then help out with like, not a whole lot, but, like, other people as much as I can. Right?

To legitimately not having any money to pay for anything and kinda having to tail up and and walk up to to God's people and go, hey, I can't afford anything. And, like, I haven't eaten in a day. So if you got food, like, I'll take it. Or if you wanna, like, invite me to your house and pretend like I'm not really hungry right now, and then, like, I'll eat there like it's just a normal meal, not like the first one I've had in a day and a half. We could do that. But God kind of allows

that to happen right now. And so, man, I I walked into this whole ordeal because I'm I'm I'm a full time student now, and walked into college thinking that, a, you know, I'm I'm really sweet for doing this. And, like, man, people should look up to me because I'm an adult going back to school, and I'm gonna kick butt at this, and I'm gonna be the smartest kid in all my classes and stuff like that. I could not have been more wrong about that, first off.

Second off, thinking that, that I wasn't gonna have to swallow every bit of my pride, and realize that, legitimately, the only reason that I'm alive right now sincerely is is because God has has completely orchestrated that to happen, through his people, through random stuff happening to where I literally literally had a dollar at one point in time, 37¢ in my account and no food, and then money kinda showed up through God's people and through God. And it was it was literally lifesaving, and I had no idea what I was gonna do. And so it's kinda all leads back to,

you don't have to go through something that drastic. And there's much more drastic ways to go through that, by the way. Like, there's there are people that have gone through much harder stuff than I have. I just kinda was able to flip it on a little bit faster than than I've heard of before. But, like, you gotta realize, you are not impressive in any way. Like, you legitimately exist because of God entirely, regardless of if you call him your father or whatever. You you really do. Like, he breathed life into you. And if you believe in him or not, that's the truth. He has orchestrated it all to happen.

You have a job because of him. You have money because of him and food because of him and all this different stuff. Regardless of what you wanna say, it has nothing to do with how impressive you are. As a man, as a woman, as anything, you are you are not the reason you are living. You aren't. If you have pride in what you do, great to an extent. If you're excited about how well you do in life, great to an extent. But you have to realize that is not because of what you've done and because of how great you are. It took

a small amount of nudging from God for me to really step back and shut my mouth. And I can't say that more disrespectfully towards myself. And I mean it. You know, I I I've had pride, and I had all this stuff where I thought that I was gonna be the one that fixed all this, and I didn't run to God for it. But he kinda shut me up quick

and made me realize that it it has nothing to do with how well I was able to take care of myself or what skills I had or what scenario I could put myself in. It literally came down to him completely taking care of me and is still doing so. Like, I'm not out of that. Like, that's still going on to where the only reason I have food right now is God. And the only reason I have anything going on right now is because God's got it taken care of. And it's it's really hit me hard because I am a prideful beast that considers myself impressive. And within the last couple weeks, month, two,

God has reminded me, and not not from an unloving perspective, but from a very loving perspective, that I am not in any way impressive. I'm not special in that way. I am one of his children and his son that he loves that he's gonna take care of. That hurt to handle. It felt great because, like, it's a really cool deal to be able to, you know,

start to comprehend that you're one of his kids and, like, he loves you entirely and, and is gonna take care of you. But, like, there's a certain level of man, am I in any way a capable or competent man to be able to handle my own business, if I can't even handle my own bills, if I can't even figure out how to eat today? And

it's been this weird deal back and forth where prideful boova that that serves himself goes, you know, this is this is all because some cool stuff's happened that you did, and, and, you know, you shouldn't feel bad. You're a man. You got this taken care of. And then that gets beat down and and deadened by the fact that I know it was God entirely. That's taken care of that, and it's still taking care of that. And I'm so thankful for that, but it's just man. Like, have to take a step back when when, like, legitimately, have to drive out of your way to go get some cash from somebody, and you have to look them in the face, and they just kinda take care of you and know it's okay and

try and have pride. It's impossible. Right. No. And and I think that's a that's, it's something that perhaps, like, if we haven't run into, it probably begs the question as to whether this is something that we are blindly struggling with. Right? Because to the extent that if you've not been if you've not been humbled by having to reassess your identity back in Jesus as opposed to

I'm able to provide for myself or somebody else, I am able to care for myself or somebody else, I am I am contributing to society in this way or that way or whatever. Like, someone couldn't look at me and say the following, you know, like degrading things about how my life contributes to the betterment of the world and have it not be true. Right? Like but but the things that you're talking about, if you if you've ever had to be like, hey, I I'm not sure I can I I can't provide for myself right now? In this moment, I'm not capable of changing my own situation and providing for myself. At at this moment,

I I'm not able to positively influence somebody else's life for in the same way that I can't contribute positive to myself. Right? And so what it does is it forces an identity shift. It forces us to say, okay. So if if if then who who actually am I if I'm not this? If I can't provide for myself in this way at this time? If I can't provide for somebody else? These are things that unintentionally, we we lock our identity up into and say, this is who I am. I'm the guy who helps people. I'm the guy who is always is always in a great mood and is kind of the life of the party. I'm the guy, you know, who who is always there. And like, you know what? Right now, I I I can't put gas in my vehicle to come over and help you. I I'm I'm hungry myself,

and I have to ask someone to help me out. Right. And like, these are there's two two great things to learn from that. What the first one is what you were talking about. Right? Is this, like, it forces you to kind of to be humbled in a way that says, like, where I thought I was leaning on God, no, I'm not, But now I am. Right. Right? And the second part is to recognize the where other people are at in that same regard. Right? Like, how often have we you know, like, when we say, hey, man, I'm feeling low or I'm kinda feeling to the dumps, like, we've not been in the place where we have to kinda reassess who who we actually are, because we have a lot more tied up in, like, like, if someone says, hey, man, what do you do? They're generally asking you, where do you work? Yeah. Right? And so you don't have a job. Look look look at this, you can't adequately answer the what do you do in a way that isn't gonna be like embarrassing to somebody. What do you do?

Scratch knees? You know, make Totina's pizza rolls? Like, what whatever it is. I make sure my phone is charged. I do a great job with it. And like right. So like there's an identity that people expect about your job. And so if you're not working and here's the thing, there's there's reasons to not work. Some are some are, you know, you're not capable of working. Sometimes you're doing things that are alternative to working that that are positive.

Sometimes you're not. Sometimes you're just dodging work. But in either case, no answer that's I don't have a job right now comes across as good. And there's an identity kind of tied up in what you do. There's identity tied up in how you provide for yourself or how you provide for others. And so, like, when when we start stripping away the way that the world kind of identify provides identity and value, we have to reassess, like, no, really, when when God says, here's what I value, here's what your identity is, it forces you back to that. And if if without that, I don't know how you find joy because the world's identity is crushing. Can can I use to your use your phrase, boob. It's like it's, it will it will crush you if you don't meet the standard that we otherwise expect people to to have. And that's why it's so easy to dismiss people who are in a lifestyle or who in a a time of life where you're like, hey, man. I you know, that guy's just that guy's not working. Like, no one takes that in in a positive way. No one's like, hey, he doesn't have a job right now. Like, they're leading they have to say right now because they're leading to, like, maybe he's looking for a job, or maybe he just left a job, or maybe he's got three applications out, like, because you are not meeting our societal expectation right at this moment, and, like, you better get up there, and it will crush someone who's on the other side of that. And like a lot of times when we're dealing with people, like we just we kind of ignore that part. So I think there's there's there's two lessons. The humility thing that is good. It causes you to redefine your identity but it should also kind of change how you look at the world and people that are in it who have been in those circumstances and through whatever societal barriers may exist. Like, maybe we have institutional things that make it difficult for a guy who doesn't have a home to get a job because he doesn't have an address and he can't get a shower and he doesn't have the right shoes and, like, whatever the circumstance is, is that, like, we've got some barriers to those things that otherwise,

you know, kind of perpetuate this, boy, is he is he three apps applications out, or is he just lose his job? What's the deal? Why doesn't he have work? And why is he not satisfying my expectation for his life? Yeah. Fair enough. Alright. So what so wait. So what's the advice though, boo boo? Well, so so the advice is a, recognize, yeah, you're not impressive, seriously. B, the the thing you can do from that is

if you're in a place where that is a crushing statement like we've been talking about, you need to redefine your identity, and seriously find who you are in in God's eyes. If you are basing your identity off how you are worldly and how impressive you are, and we've just defined that you are not, you need to find that you are a loved,

child of God that was created in his image and is loved beyond measure and has been sacrificed for and is taken care of, in such a way that you will never even be able to either pay back or imagine the the bounds of of what God has done for you. Realize that,

you can feel okay, knowing that identity. It's it's tough to not be impressive societally, but it's better when you realize that that doesn't matter. And what does matter is God's view of you, not humans, not not societies. It's it's what God looks at you and sees, and that's his child.

Being a coward. Oh. Being like your father, Adam. Who do you think you are? Oh, buddy. You're not God. You're just a man. Oh, buddy. You're not an impressive man. You're not a responsible man. You're not a noble man. You're not a respectable man. Oh, just You're not a responsible man.

Alright. There's there's nothing like getting screamed at by Mark Driscoll. Sorry. I couldn't ginormous trap veins are popping out of his head. I couldn't think of anything else when you said you're not an impressive man. That's interesting. I know. Yes. I watch that con well, not constantly. I used to watch that constantly where I'm like, hey, man. I need to redefine myself as I need to be screamed at by Mark Driscoll. Here's the thing is people always I mean, sometimes it's just flat out helpful. Yes. You know what I'm saying? Like, when you not a guy that's just angry at you, but, like, he's angry for the right reasons, you're like Right. Man, I'm I'm wrong, and this guy is right. He sees entirely through everything you're trying to put out into the world and just looks you in the face and goes, you suck. Yeah. You flat out suck.

You know what? And that's Here's the deal. Sometimes you just need to get used to that. Yeah. Right? Sometimes the truth of the matter is you do suck. Right? Instead of time that's the matter. You're sitting there swinging your fists like, how dare you say I suck. Instead of going, you know what? I think he's right. Yeah. I think I might actually suck. I got some real things that I could change, you know. I could really make a difference in a 10 of different places, one in my own life, in in people surrounding me, but I'm too busy being mad because someone said I suck instead of going, I should change those things Yeah. And then start not sucking, and then things will be good. Man. I told Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Here's the thing. He's like, okay. He's taking a lot of heat on that particular thing, and, like, the winds have kinda shifted where it's like, yeah. He's that was awesome. And then, like, three years later, they're like, he's a bully. Whatever. And and but he here's the thing. It's like, that's not the entire context on on how to be a man. Alright? But it's a piece of it. Yeah. It's definitely a piece of I'm okay with that being a piece of it. I think it needs to sit in some in some realm or another. It says, look, fellas, pull yourselves together. You you you're kinda getting away with this jackassery and like someone needs to say something about it and this is you're not listening to anybody else. So you know what? I you know, it's a piece. Yeah. I'm alright with it. Alright. Okay. It's funny Booba was talking about that stuff and that's kind of the it's it's a little bit of the encounter that I had had

I don't know, that that I had with God this week. Was I just had one of those weeks where I felt like I was screwing everything up. You know, like everything that I had to do with, I was not doing it right. I was not I was not living my kids right. I was not living my wife right. I was acting like a fool at work and like I just everything I was doing and it was just it was just beating the snot out of me. I knew it. Right? I knew it. I was driving up from I was driving back from a place that I had to work and I'm like and I was praying. I'm like, God, I just don't I don't know what is going on, but my perspective has got to change. Like, whatever is going on with me, I I've just I'm screwing everything up and I do not know why. And so I I I I prayed most of the drive home. It was a fairly long drive, you know. And I kinda got home, and there was nobody at my house, and I sat down to watch a movie. You guys ever seen that movie? What is it? Family Man with Nicolas Cage? Yes. Oh, man. Yeah. Like that movie. Yeah. So I I I'm sitting here watching this thing, you know, and and all of a sudden, like, they're like, this weird this weird feeling keeps hitting me in the face, you know, it's like, hey, man, you need pay attention to this. I'm like, well, I am. You know, I'm watching a movie. You know, I feel like I'm I'm I'm paying attention, you know. And, like, I it it wasn't the half hour into it, I'm crying. Like, I'm just sitting by myself crying and I'm like, why am I even crying? I'm not some kind of sweet stockbroker to make big money, you know what I'm saying? Like and I'm just sitting here watching it and like, I I'm watching this dude with his priorities completely focused on something a

thousand miles away that has no actual long term meaning, that has actual no ability to give back to him, you know. Like it's like it's it's a it's a straw man of what you're pointing your life to, you know. And I and and I'm like, it's just a movie, you know. But I'm sitting there, I'm like, I this is exactly what's going on with me. Right? This is exactly what I'm doing. I'm I'm focusing on weird things. I'm getting upset at little things and like, I I I probably cried for fifteen minutes, you know, not not like full out sobbing, but like, you know, I sit there for a minute and all of a sudden I couldn't see very well again. I'm like, what the what is going on? And then I I figured it out. Right? Like and so I closed my eyes and I said, you know, sometimes you could just ease me into you know, I I you know, I but this is exactly what I wanted. And and and I I fought

to get back to the to the ugly perspective I had before I started watching this stupid movie and I couldn't get it. Like, it was just gone. It was just gone. And like, I could not have been any happier to see my wife and my kids and that stupid dog that puts hair everywhere. You know I'm saying? And the mess that they all make and like and work called like three times and I'm like, I don't care. I don't care. I really don't. Like, I just truly it's it's it's not important to me right now. I have other stuff to do. And like, it was the most freeing experience that I had and I just I had to stop the movie and I'm like, Lord, I I you know, I this movie ain't that good. You know, it's a good movie, but I I don't know that it's a bring a guy to tears kind of deal, you know. Strikes again. You know, and I'm I'm I'm and I'm like, I've been asking for this for the last two days, and like, I'm just I couldn't take anymore. And like, he just he waited until the right time

and and he just man, it was just so weird. He took it all away and I I couldn't imagine going back to it. And I'm like, I don't know I don't know exactly what I had to learn through this, but like I'm thankful for the relief and I know it came from you and that's enough. And that's enough for me right now, you know. And so like it was it was just really weird. I haven't had one of those experiences in a while where, I had just been fervently paying for something like I just cannot handle this. And and I I think it had a lot to do with just exactly what you're talking about, like putting stuff on my shoulders and saying, will handle this under my own steam and everything will be fine and I've got this and I'm driving this truck and this is the deal. And and really after a while, it's just like, you know, you're screwing it up because you're not letting me do any of it. You know what I'm saying? Like I've designed this thing and and I call you my son and you come in here like you own the joint and try to move furniture around and say, here's how it's gonna be, you know. I

I had to I I just feel like he had to let that weight sit on me for a while until I got it. And when I did, he took it off me and let me see what it could be like if I let him do some stuff. And so it was just it was just a very cool experience. I don't even know that I have any advice or to say, hey, you should do the same thing because I I mean, I don't know what God's doing with you. But I just know it was it was a very clear evidence of something that I had prayed for and God answering. And like, I I've I've seen that Family Man movie like five times. You know what I'm saying? I don't weep during Family You know I'm saying? I appreciate it for being a pretty decent movie, but like on the whole, I don't break down to tears. And so I I don't know. It was it was it was a pretty good deal. And to be honest with you, like, I I I haven't been able to shake that

since then. Like, we're rolling on four days since that happened and I'm like, yeah. I just see things way differently than I was last week, and, like, I have nothing but, God to thank for that. Right on. Yeah. Don't Bubba, did you have a did you get that other barrel loaded, or what do think? Yeah. I have the other barrel loaded. Okay. Let's have it. Oh, so, the easy way to put it is,

things you think of and things you do, are are not more powerful to show God's love than just straight up God's love. So I I say that because I've run into a couple situations last week where, I was able to kinda help a couple of people in in different ways, whatever. Like, there whether it be a a random conversation where someone just weirdly opens up and then needs to talk about, like, a lot of heavy stuff that they've been dealing with.

Like, I had no previous relationship with this person. They just kinda wanted to go, hey. You're a human, and I'd like to tell you about everything right now. Or running into, to a situation where he was able to spend, you know, like, twelve hours with a with a random dude. And and I say this because the funny thing was I didn't sit there and try and figure out, well, how can I sneak Jesus into this conversation? You know? Like, how can I how can I bring God into this to where I can bring these people to God? And and it wasn't some weird deal where I'm just thinking through scripture and, like, you know, hey. If I if I drop that on them, like, hey, man. Let's talk about John three sixteen, and then they will definitely be Christians going forward. Right? It was more along the lines of, hey. This person is dealing with realistic stuff and, like, real world problems that was was just hurting them and seriously, like, bringing them down. And so

I I guess my advice is, you know, a lot of the times we we prepare for conversations, and we we spend a lot of time learning about discipleship from the perspective of if somebody says this, tell them this. Or, you know, if someone's dealing with this, here's a great scripture that you can drop on them, and make sure that they know what this is. And then always be certain to mention Jesus in this light, and make sure that they know that, you know, he's their savior and all this different stuff. And I'm not saying there's not worth to that because there definitely is in certain scenarios. But sometimes, we complicate that deal way too much, and we make discipleship into something that it's not.

It doesn't have to be this weird corporate transaction between you and another human being to where you've said the buzzwords, and therefore, you've planted the seeds and God's gonna run with that. God definitely does work through that, but there's a certain amount of, of power to just being a human being and just allowing God's love to do something rather than just,

you know, words that mean something to you that may mean absolutely nothing to somebody else. And so there's nothing wrong with preparing, and there's nothing wrong with with reading your bible. Do it always. And you know what? Memorize verses. It's a great deal. Learn better ways to talk about Jesus. Whatever. That's that's awesome. But realize that there's a certain human aspect to doing it that is super powerful when you just walk up to someone and go, hey. It sounds like you're in a really sucky situation right now,

and I'm just gonna listen. And then, you know, if you wanna talk afterwards, we can talk afterwards. Or if that's all you needed, that's all you needed. You know? You don't have to give somebody a bible every time you buy them a lunch. It doesn't necessarily have to roll that way. If you do, great, but it doesn't have to roll that way. So my advice for you is realize that God may just call you to kinda just love on somebody. It doesn't necessarily have to be a a conversation about, you know, the gospel of Luke. It doesn't necessarily have to be, hey. Do you know about Jesus' crucifixion?

That's a great deal. But, like, sometimes it's just, hey, man. Do you need a sandwich? Yeah. Yeah. Like, sometimes I think you you're right. It does feel like a transaction. And and although it's not implicitly wrong, I I think we have some assumptions on people will meet Jesus as an academic. Right? Right.

Like, when we say when we say true things, like, hey, we want people to know the truth about Jesus. Sometimes our our understanding of communicating truth is is something to the extent of we want to communicate facts about Jesus. Right. Right? As opposed to if if even a tenth of the people that claim to follow Jesus Christ actually did what Jesus did, very change in the world would be so substantial that you wouldn't be able to handle it well. Right? Like, you wouldn't have to we wouldn't be reaching for

brochures and facts all the time because they simply would see things going on and, like, the actions themselves would be a testament to to the validity of what scripture is. So, like, here's here's what's pretty easy. It's like, you're what did they like like, see people following Jesus. Right? You you witness change in their life. You witness things going on. It's like impossible grace and impossible peace and impossible joy, and you're like, I know that is true. What is the source of it? And then when you someone tells you this is the source of it, you believe the source automatically

because you've seen that that that is a true thing. Right. And so, like, we front load, like, as like, scripture should be revered. It is it is truth. Alright? But, like, our understanding that the that is the sole means through, like, academic transmission of facts of which God communicates truth to a fallen world is falling. Because otherwise, he could have just dropped the Bible from the heavens. Yes? Like, why does Jesus have to walk the earth? Why does Jesus actually interact with people for thirty years? Why why does Jesus actually demonstrate things to people and teach on mountains and do the things that he says he's gonna do? You know, it's interesting. If you look at the Sermon on the Mount, you can tie

you can tie Jesus' ministry to the very things that he tells his people to do. Like when he says, like, all those, micuria, parts, like blessed are, blessed are, blessed are, blessed are those who do this. You can tie those to actions of Jesus' life further on in the Gospel of Matthew as an example. K? So, like, we get this impression that, that that we just need to transact information with someone when the primary means of which true things are demonstrated, thus communicated, are through the actions of Jesus Christ to the people that interact with, and then a call for his people to do the same thing. And so so I

think what you're what what you're running into or what you're talking about, boo, is is is an accurate reflection of, we we need to to not think that we are failing the communication of good news simply because we're not transacting facts about Jesus Christ. Because the truth is is if you are following Jesus and you are taking people with you or doing the things that he otherwise would have done, it will naturally come up. That's the thing. That's the thing. What are you doing here? Why are you such a good listener? Why are why are you hanging out with me? Well, here's the deal. You know, like, stuff like that actually comes up, but, like, it is if there's a transaction, it is living out the faith that is true. It kinda makes you think of, of Yoder. Right? You go about your Jesus business. Do You the things that you do in your life and you and you just take that to wherever God has you going, and that will positively influence the world and communicate good news simply by your actions. And I'm not saying that, your actions should move without foundation in Scripture. What I'm telling you is is that what we know about Jesus Christ that that scripture communicates is to be taken out to the world as a light as a light and as a city on a hill. Right? And if those things are true,

then, then then your actions will otherwise get into cause you to drive you to the types of conversations that we're always saying, like, we don't know how to have without being awkward. Well, they're awkward because they're being communicated outside of a reality. Like, as opposed to saying, hey. Hey. This is these are the true things about the gospel. These are things that change your life. These are these are the things that I know about Jesus Christ, and they can look, it's completely out of context of the life that you live or the interactions that you've had with someone, and you've you've you've written someone off and not actually treated them like a human being, but as a repository for facts that you want to communicate, yeah, it's good. They're gonna feel disassociated from the Gospel message. That's the thing. So I I think that's entirely true, and I think, like, if if if we just kind of reoriented our focus and said, look, I'm I'm just I'm I am going to live good news. That's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna live in reaction to the fact that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I can repent of them, and then I find myself in in his good graces and under his mercy as I otherwise continue to live my life out with joy and peace and ability to bring people with me. And like if we do that, you will end up buying sandwiches and hearing people's stories and otherwise talking to people who really could use Jesus because Jesus will make sure that kind of thing goes down.

And when we rely on, formulaic transactions of information, think I we miss fundamentally misunderstand the gospel because again, as an example, Jesus could have done things completely different than having to show up and walk the earth. Right? But there has to be some sort of substance that says, it was important that he do so and then sends us out to do likewise. Yeah. I agree. Get off boob is long. There's been too much too much of that. Mike, did you just stop listening? What? Is that what happened? You just kinda stopped listening to the conversation? No. I was I was thinking about I I I kept thinking about the woman at the well, and I'm like,

when when Jesus deals with, Pharisees, he he does. He busts the scripture out. He says, here's the deal blankety blank blank blank Old Testament jazz. Now when he's talking with the lady at the well, like, he alludes to the to the the the second coming. He says, I am he, you know, but, like, he's he's he's not quoting verses. You know what saying? And and because they were different conversations. They were different people. And there are different ways to communicate the heart of God, right, what and what was going on. And, like, all he did was start up by having a conversation. Well, yeah. But that conversation included, hey, you got five husbands? No.

Oh oh, well Yeah. He called her out. It's still personal. But agreed. Right? Because that's what she needed to hear, you And like you if I was that's the other thing I was thinking about when Bubba says, you just have a random dude come and, he decided to drop life on you with his big heavy questions. And, like, I've had that happen a couple of times to me over the last couple of weeks. I'm like, sweet Moses, man. You know, don't you have anybody that is qualified to talk to you about this stuff? I mean, that is ridiculously heavy things, you know, and they're like, what do you think? I'm like, I don't know. I can only and this is where this is where the Jesus counseling comes through. I'm like, do they know Jesus? Because, every terrible situation I've ever run into, that is always the answer. I wish I had some great counseling for you, but, like, here's here's here's the the two biggest things of talking to people about terrible stuff in their life. One, the person that you're mad at, do you do you understand why they are the way they are? Yes. Well, then I'm not sure why you're not loving them correctly. That's it. So they're like, well, they're they're this way and they're this way. I'm like, why? And they said, because they do these things. Well, so you know why they are the way that they are. You gotta love them through that stuff. That's it. There's nothing complicated there. Right. Right. Your surprise is completely unfounded. Yeah. They're like, I don't understand why they gotta be such a terrible person to be around. Like, you know exactly why they're a terrible person to be around. Stop acting crazy like you had no idea where this was coming from. It has to double suck to be them. Yeah. You know where it's coming from. And obviously, they're having a terrible time and that's why they're acting this way. So stop it. And then two, they're like, well, what what what should my advice be to them? Well, if I were you do you know Jesus? Well, well,

Well, go talk to them about Jesus then because they're putting all their hope in the wrong stuff and that's it. And you don't have to do it in a cheesy way and you don't have to do it with a pamphlet. But be like, listen, if you want if you wanna hear anything from me, realize that I can only talk from one bucket, and that's my hope is in God, and that's it. That's all I got. I don't have any whiz bang, got this life figured out, jiffy pop type stuff. You know, I just I know Jesus. I follow Jesus. Things are going okay. I have joy, and I have happiness that comes and goes, but I have joy that stays. And that's it. That's all I got. Yeah. Yeah. Right on. Okay. I think we got this thing straight now. Dear, lie from the path. Oh, boy. I forgot about this one already.

Oh, buddy. Clearly, America is in a state of turmoil. Uh-oh. I am horrified and ashamed of the senseless death occurring daily. Mhmm. I deal with anxiety, particularly regarding fear of death. As a result, the only thing I found that I can do to cope with current events is to scan headlines and ask my understanding husband for a synopsis of events that doesn't include major triggers. However, I feel serious guilt that I may not be fully educating myself on recent events. Am I wrong to prioritize my mental well-being over the gravity of our country's current situation? I can just tell right by the by your question that you're heavy and hard to deal with. Know I'm saying? You've put a lot of thought into this thing. Yeah. Right. Most people were like, I can't take that kind of stuff and then just don't read it. Or I'm really interested in the headlines and then do read it. I I very rarely run into the guy that struggles with, I feel like I should be more informed of the current events, but it's just too much for me. But I can't take it. Help me. What do I do? Yeah. Here's the thing. It's like I don't I'm not sure that you have to be

in the know. I mean, you there's there's there's 300 plus million people in the country. Let's say 300 and let's say you got a million of them who just aren't in the they I mean, they just don't know. They don't know what's going on around. Take most of your Amish, for example. Yep. They seem to be doing alright. Hey. Just as a side note, I ran into some Amish folks today at the gas station, and I said hello in a friendly manner, and they didn't reciprocate. And I thought, you people are supposed to be better than this. Wait. They said hello meanly, or they just didn't say anything? They didn't say anything. Like, I I mean, I dead looked him right in the eye. I'm like, moron. Hey. That's because are you do you carry that e smoker? No. I didn't have the e smoker. They probably know you e smoke. You had electricity on You're mocking with they they said the least you can do is have an analog or two.

You're rubbing it in their face. I I I had a commercialized soda on me, you know, like I'd bought from the machine. But, mean, they were at the gas station. So, I mean, the judgment's gotta come down Wait. Were they getting gas? No. They were pulled up to the front like they were just gonna go in and buy convenience items. Oh, I was gonna say, maybe they're not Amish, maybe they're just hillbillies. No. It could be just a dude that wears a suspenders, a blue shirt and hat and and a beard and no mustache. Okay. I I should have Not Amish. He's preparing early for Halloween. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, I here's the deal. I don't know. You know? I mean, if you're a politician or, like, you you're working on the UN on behalf of the country or something, I feel like you should keep up with the times. But, you know, pass that. You do a crossword and stay out to newspaper. I don't think you I don't think everybody has to know what's going on. Yeah. I I I mean, if we're being honest with each other and we're looking I mean, real honest,

Facebook provides maybe four to 5% benefit to your life and 9095% hassle. Yep. You know what I'm saying? Like, you don't need to be in the know about that many things about that many things going on and that many people. But the 5% of the time when you're like, oh, she had a baby. That's cool. But the same is true with the news. Most of that stuff is like, it's it's just really there's nothing you're gonna do about it. And unless you really need something to talk about at the water cooler, you could pretty much give up on it and be just as happy. Yeah. I mean, I think it's okay to stay abreast of it, but, like, I mean, if you can't handle it, you can't handle it. It's okay to it. Go move get you move out into the country somewhere. Secular says You should be Amish. Oh, yeah. You could be mean to people at the gas station. Secular says, is that wrong? Absolutely not. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, thirteen percent of Americans now use antidepressants to combat depression and anxiety.

You should use an antianxiety medicine instead of just using one for both. Hey, man. 13% of our country is fighting medication within each other? Yeah. Hey, man. Wouldn't that be something that would freak someone out who doesn't like hearing about bad news? Yeah. Like, holy cats. 13% of our country's in this deal? Yeah. That's not helpful. Great job, secular. Our news media feeds so many salacious details into our homes in the interest of high ratings that it's a miracle the majority of Americans aren't in need of them. You run a gossip house, giving out salacious advice to people with legit problems that you profit off of in front of the masses. Shut your hole. Sorry.

Her continued rebuttal is, if you are getting the news you need to know, do not feel guilty for using your husband as a filter. You are only protecting yourself, and that's not wrong. It's healthy. I don't know about that, but I I would just do so. I I wouldn't make hubby read the headlines anyway. I don't hold on. I don't like that phrase search a hole. I wish I hadn't used I agree. I like mouth better. Sorry. Dear life from the past. It's broody. I need advice. I'm 23 and have been living with my boyfriend of almost two years. Where's Dan? Bad idea. I have never been in a relationship before this one, so I have little experience. I love him dearly, but every time there's an issue between us, it always becomes my fault and I'm always the one to apologize. What should I do?

Stop being wrong. Yeah. You brought this on yourself. If you'd if you'd be right some of the time, this wouldn't keep happening. You live with a child. Move out. Yeah. Yeah. This isn't a great foundation for relationship. Yeah. Hey. We moved in together, boyfriend and girlfriend, and he always thinks I'm wrong and never apologizes. I don't know. Maybe you love the idea of loving this dude because it sounds like you said this is your first boyfriend. So there's there's a good chance you don't actually love this guy. You just think you do because he's the first one.

And it sounds like he's a real vagabond and a, like, schmuck. Leave him. Yeah. I mean, there's plenty of opportunity in this life for people to say that you're wrong all the time. Usually, most people get paid money to go there forty hours a week. Yeah. You show up, people say, no. That's dumb, you're dumb. Just do what I tell you. And then you take the money, then you go home and do whatever you want. But you have set up a situation where that happens to you at your job and now at your house. I'm not understanding what's keeping you here. There's I mean, really, there there's you every time there's a disagreement, it's always because something that you've done and you were wrong about it. That's not reality. I've never like, I mean, I've met some people that are just dead wrong in life, but they're not wrong all the time. No. Like, 90% still. And a loving person wouldn't go back and constantly just call them wrong. Yeah. Like, they would they would go, hey, sweetheart. It seems like we're having some issues right now. Let's try and work through them. First off, you need to move out because we're not married.

Yeah. Yeah. This is across the board. It's you need to move out. Secular says, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. You should not be forced into the role of perpetual peacekeeper by accepting the blame for everything, and it won't improve your relationship. Because your boyfriend's preferred method of solving disagreements is laying the blame on you, suggest the two of you get couples counseling. Oh, man. However no. However, if he refuses and he may, you will then have to decide whether it's the way you want to spend the foreseeable future because things aren't likely to change. And that counseling is for people that are willing to give it a shot. And so you I mean, you can ask him. You can just but, I mean, you can have a straight up conversation with him and say, this is what you're doing. And if he goes, crap. You know, I didn't realize I was doing that. I I'm wrong. I let's work through this. I I know I tend to do this. I've done this my whole life. I need help with it. Yeah. Okay. That's a fair assessment. Right? That happens to people. But if he's just like, yeah, no, then counseling ain't gonna help you. He's just who he is, and you gotta go. That's not worth fighting with. Right. Yeah. I would agree. Counseling only helps when, like, you both agree to stay in the sack and scratch it out until the thing's resolved.

Right? Like, if you're there if you're there looking for an out, you you don't need you don't need to go to counseling. You you could just be honest and say you're looking for an out. Agreed. Here we go. Dear life from the path, my sister-in-law, Danny, and my brother have been married almost three years.

I recently discovered that Danny has created a fake social media page. Holy cats. She posted some nude photos on her and acts like she's single. Woah. I suspect she is getting paid to do live nude video chatting. Oh, man. I took a weird turn right there. Man, I I didn't see this coming up. Sorry. Yeah, man. This is this is Life Path, I am shocked over this. I am sure my brother would explode with rage and disappointment if he knew. Sure. They have two small daughters, which leads me to wonder if she has considered their embarrassment if they ever find out. She's a good person, so I don't know why she would do this. I really need your advice. Wow. Hey. You know what? Ask her. Yeah. Are you doing nude Facebook shoots? Here's the thing. It's like of pay you to get niggled? They'll think of the perspective that she's coming from. She's a good she's a good person. She's got two young kids. My brother would be furious.

Why? Then why did someone do something like that? Something going on. Like like, have, like maybe it's maybe it's something with her. Maybe it's just she had an emotional issue. Maybe it's coming from something in her past. Maybe things aren't great in their marriage, and maybe they might have money problems. Right? Like, either way, like, regardless, if if everything else she says is true or at least perceived to be true, something's up. Something's up. So let's let's let's note

that you should not open separate lying social media accounts and post nude photos of yourself. Okay? Think we got that as a ground rule. Yep. It's not a good idea. Do you Wait. How do you suspect she is getting paid to do live nude video chatting? Either she's doing live nude video chatting or she is not. That's a really big, a big jump to make if you're not certain that that person's doing exactly that. Like, oh, yeah. She has a separate Facebook account. That automatically means someone is doing live nude chat. So here's the deal. Is that that actually it changes a lot for me whether you're just kind of, like, posting nudies of yourself somewhere, for Joyce or, like, you're making money on it. Like You've turned this into a profession. But but but, like, like, why? Why would someone wanna do that? So that's what I'm saying is, let let's take let's I think we're all agreed that's not a good idea to post the news. Right? So now, we'll get to the brass tacks of it. Somebody you know and care for is for some reason posting duties of themselves and doing webcam videos. Why should you check it out? Yeah. That seems like the perfect place to be like, hey, man. Why are you doing that stuff? Yeah. What's going on here? This seems this there's trouble afoot. Yeah. Some like, something that it's just not a normal response to life. Like, I don't I don't run out of gas in my car one week, and then, the next day, decide to put nudies in myself on the net.

Something's up. Something's going on. So, yeah, the perfect opportunity to follow-up with somebody. Secular says, it's time to talk to Danny. Yeah. Tell her what you've learned and ask her why she's doing it. Okay, Asus. When you do, ask how she thinks your brother will act when he finds out. Okay. Now you're bringing the guilt train. Why don't you just figure out what's going on first? Yeah. Start with, hey, what's going on? Ask her how she thinks your brother will react when he finds out, if he doesn't already know, and how this could affect their daughters. This may be a fling, a way to prove to herself she's still attractive or a way to earn needed money, but you will never know until you initiate a conversation with her. Yeah. I agree. I agree with you. Hey, man. If you're a husband and, like, you and your family need money and you don't have, like, three jobs,

but you've made your lady go out and start selling like that deal, oh, buddy. You need you need to start looking back at yourself and then saying you're a fool and, go out and get a third job and get some more money or take down your lifestyle and go move into somebody's basement. Oh, yeah. That's too much. Booba.

Alright. Let's do one more, and then you can do a quiz. Mean, we can do a quiz. Yeah. Alright. Cool, buddy. Dear life from the past. During my wedding reception a month ago, one of the guests, a friend of my mom's, poured a glass of water on the DJ's laptop because he felt the music too loud and he wanted it shut down. My husband was furious and asked the guest to leave. The incident was blamed on too much alcohol and it ruined the rest of the evening. Many guests were upset and left. Now hold on. I I I don't wanna stop the whole train here, but, like, if I saw a man pour water on a laptop, I wouldn't say, that's it. This party's gotten out of hand, and then go home. No more music. Looks like I don't feel to be here anymore. Yeah. Is ridiculous. I mean, like, Leon has gotten out of hand. The man ended up paying the DJ to replace the laptop and sent us a note of apology for his behavior. My question is, must we send a thank you note to him and his wife for the wedding gift they gave us? Oh, I love so much. Man did was unforgivable.

In many ways, he spoiled our day. Mom thinks I should, quote, do the right thing and thank him for the gift. It wasn't his wife's fault, so I'm thinking of addressing the note to her only. Yes. I was waiting for that. Yes. Vindictive. Is that okay? Hey, man. First of all, it didn't ruin your wedding. No. It didn't. You you the fun of you go like, here's it's a story. Your your reception was lame. No one will ever remember your reception except for the fact that Leon poured water on the DJ's Hey, You remember when Leon poured the water on the DJ's laptop? Yeah. Hey, congratulations on your twenty years. Yeah. Look, here's the thing, it's like, don't maybe this has changed in people's lives, but like, no one ever throws a party like like a wedding reception where like, that was killer. It's the it's the reception at all receptions. Most people have five to six friends at least that have gone to a wedding over the last ten years, and like I can't tell you the bits and pieces of any one of them. No. Right? They just aren't fantastic. They do the thing that they're supposed to do, and then they go away. But like, you've got a story that you remember forever about that guy, the Jack with the laptop, and that's funny. And so you need I would send him a thank you card, because he's he he made it right with the DJ.

And I would I would thank him for the gift and said, PS, man. Thanks for the story. Yeah. Thanks for the worries. We'll remember that always. Love you, Leon. Yeah. Hey, Leon. Maybe you shouldn't drink the whole bottle next time, but we really do appreciate the memory. Yeah. Yeah. And the toaster. He made it right, and he apologized. Like, what else you wanna If he would've just been like, oh, this was his fault, and then never went back and paid for it, I'd been like, hey. This guy's just a regular curmudgeon. I'm like, he seems to have realized his folly and went back and paid the DJ and apologized and then got you a toaster. So thank him. Thank him. Yeah. It it it's weird to see people try to dole out karma justice, you know, on their own. Well, like, you know, you made a big mistake at my wedding, and I'm not gonna thank you for that gift.

Yeah. Okay. What are you, seven? You know what I'm saying? Just the man brought you a gift. Ten years later, Leon's still seething. Oh. Yeah. Sent me that thank you note. Like, I get it. I dumped that water on the DJ's computer, but still You you have invested way too much, effect in your thank you note. Right. Like, he's just sitting at his house pining, and when it doesn't show up, he's crushed, and he's like, oh, I'm gonna and then he gets a bigger glass of water this time and then finds more laptops. It's gonna be a desktop this time. He only knows one way to lash back and he just pours water on stuff and that's him. The music's too loud. I didn't get a thank you note. People man, they just do this all the time. You can only control what you can control. Yeah. Someone gave you a gift, just say thank you. What if that what I mean, how many people do you know they're just straight up jerks. Right? But they did something nice for you once. You know, your aunt is terrible to your mom, and you know it. They get they they they fight, and they don't get along, and she says mean things every Christmas, but she got you a birthday gift. She got you a gift. Say thank you. That's it. You know, you have I mean, you don't have to deal out your own third party justice everywhere that you go. Right. Right. Your your your your job isn't to find any opportunity you can to squeeze the needle a little bit. Like, hey, hey, this guy mistreated your friend one time, and they said this thing, and you're gonna pay them back by, I don't know, moving their mail into the neighbor's mailbox or something. So there's, like, something that you control, and you're like, you know, it's it's not your job. Right? Handle handle your life is simplified, Jesus follower. Just handle things the right way. Like, you're you're right. Your your job isn't to dispense karma or individual justice. Your job is just to handle things the way that you're supposed to handle things and let God kinda handle it. Yeah. So he gave you a gift. You send the note and say thanks for the gift. Right? And don't bring up the laptop thing. It's good. It's done. It was between him and the DJ, and you're like, it ruined my day. Well, we've been through that. It did not. Your reception was probably lame anyway.

Let's see. Segular says, I know of no rule of etiquette that forbids addressing the note only to her. However, when you write the note, word it this way. We want to thank you and John, for the gift, and we'll thank, and we'll think of you when we use it. That way, you will have thanked them for both for it, and your manners will be above reproach. And if you prefer to avoid them in the future, you'll get no argument from me. Hey. That's just Do you really go back and think about each person as you use their gift? I feel like that's just lying. Like

every time I use this blender oh, Gene. I really appreciate this smoothie and you. That's so terrible. I can't remember anything anybody got me from my wedding. Yeah. That's normal. None of it. Hey, man. A friend of ours gave I I I remember this. Actually, I thought of this two days ago. Somebody got some crock pot, And we've been married, I don't know, eleven years, twelve, something like that. And I thought, hey, man, this crock pot's been pretty handy. Bless whoever got us his crock pot. Right. But you don't remember the individual person? No. I'm pretty sure I know who it is. Really? Yeah. Yeah. You're you're weird, though. Because I thought it was I thought it was an interesting gift from that particular group of people as to why they got me a crock pot. Were they Amish?

Yeah. Because that'd be really weird. Hey. We can't use this, but you sure can. Enjoy your beef stew. That's a cool way to live. It was just like but they they were the parents of a friend. Like, it was a real peripheral group of people, and I thought, hey, man. A crock pot's a pretty hefty gift. Like, it wasn't expensive, but it's like, I mean, it changes your life. It's useful forever. Yeah. We crock and we pot with it, and we've doing it for years. It's been fantastic. Alright. Alright. You guys wanna do a quick quiz? Yeah. Quick quiz. Sure. So I I can't remember. Did we do the Job quiz? I feel like we did. The Job quiz? No. I don't think so. Okay. Alright. So here we go. Man. Let's try out Job. Okay.

Alright. So this is see if you can best lie from the path on this quiz about Job. Here we go. In what land did Job live? Oz, Id, Uz, Or Er? No. Oz. We're in with Oz. Okay. Two. How many children did Job lose in a storm? 12. Six, eight, 10, or 12? 12. Yeah. Okay. I agree with that. What kind of disease struck Job? Leprosy, blindness, madness, boils. Boils. Boils? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Boils. Yeah. Who told Job and his troubles to curse God and die? His wife. His wife. His wife does that. Yeah.

Yeah. There we go. The shady lady. Who attempted to comfort Job in his distress? His wife, his friends, God, or no one? His friends. His friends did. Which of these was not one of Job's friends? Zophar, Bildad, Elihu, or Eliphaz? The first one. No. It's it's It's It's Ilihu. No.

No. Zofar, Bildad and Eliphaz. I'm pretty I think it's Eliphaz that's not one of the friends. I agree. I know Zofar and Bildad are. And I know Eliphaz is, so it's Okay. Alright. I thought Zofar was the the younger guy. I think Zophar is that thing in the movie Big that hands out the stuff. That's that's Zoltar or something like that. Hey. So you don't know specifically. It could be Zophar. Seven. Fair enough. Job's friends kept vigil with him in silence for how long? Three days. Twenty four hours, three days, seven days, forty days. Three days. He meant life from the past and knows Job. Yeah. Potentially.

Eight, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day. Then what did he wish? That he could die, that he could sleep, that he had never been born, that Never been born. He could be healed. Yeah. Never been born. Nine. How many sons and daughters were born to Job after his suffering? Five sons and three daughters, seven sons and three daughters, three sons and five daughters, 10 sons and 10 daughters. I think seven sons and three daughters. 10 or 10?

Yeah. Because it's more I think it was more than what he had before. Uh-huh. And that's the only one that's more Yep. Yeah. Okay. That makes sense. 10. How much longer did Job lived after his sufferings? Eighty five years, hundred years, hundred and twenty years, hundred and forty I wanna say a hundred and twenty. Man, we're gonna I'm going between a hundred and hundred and twenty, so I'll go 120. Okay. I I can get on board with a 120. I feel like you remember a 100. Yeah. I agree. So I I think it's either 85 or one twenty. We'll see. Alright. Here we go. Let's see what happens, boys. Number one, in what land did Job live? We said, Uz, that is correct.

Number two, how many children did Job lose in the storm? We said 12. That is incorrect. The correct answer is 10. Dang it. Uh-oh. What was not done well? Oh, no. What kind of He seemed confident. What kind of disease struck Job? We said, Boyle's. That is correct. Yep. Who told Job and his troubles to curse God and die? We said, that's his wife. That is correct. Who attempted to comfort Job in his distress? We said his friends. That is correct. Six, which of these was not one of Job's friends? We said Elihu

and that is correct. Okay. Seven, Job's friends kept vigil with him in silence for how long? We said three days. That is incorrect. It was seven days. Dang it. Question eight, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day, then what did he wish? We said that he had never been born. That answer is correct. Number nine, how many sons and daughters were born to Job after his suffering? We said 10 sons and 10 daughters. That is incorrect. Correct answer is seven sons and three daughters. Nicely Buvah.

And question 10, how much longer did Job live after his sufferings? We said a hundred and twenty years and we cut God short. The answer is incorrect. That is one hundred and forty years. Woah. Wow. Alright. I guess we'd be reading Job this week. Answered a total of six questions. We got 60%. The quiz has been taken 115,000 times. The average score for that quiz is 64%. What? We have been We are below the bar on Job? Outdone on Job, boys. This can't stand. That's a shame. This cannot stand. It is a shame. I would come up with a more difficult one on Job and then get it all right. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Alright. You wanna do one more? And not just the three last three chapters, Mike. No. I'll do the whole thing so far.

Oh, yeah. Let's do one more. Then we gotta go. Okay. Okay. Okay. Hold on. Let's do oh, if we've done donkeys, haven't we? Yeah. We've done donkeys. We've done clouds. We've done ships. Let's do James and John. Oh, wait. No. Here, what's one where people do terrible? Let's see if we can do better than terrible.

Let's see. How about how about Titus? Oh, Here we go. A quiz on Titus? What nationality was Titus? Greek, Roman, Hebrew, Syrian. So Titus is the guy where they had to cut the skin. Right? They had to he circumcised him. He chose to be. Yeah. So he's not Hebrew. Was gonna say that he's Greek. Yep. When Paul went to Troas to preach and Titus was not there, he had no rest in his spirit and went from there to

Galatia, Macedonia, Thessalonica or Ithaca. Thessalonica. Troas, Titus.

Man. What do we think? I don't know. I'm leaning towards Macedonia. Me too. Alright. Yes. We'll go Macedonia. You guys are pitiful. Four three. Paul was comforted by the coming of this is about Paul. Paul was comforted by the coming of Titus to Macedonia. Yes. Hey. Hey. And also because the Corinthians

longed for Paul, were deeply sorrowful for Paul, had ardent concern for Paul, all of the above. Probably all of the above. Long form sorrowful concern. Yeah. Okay. It was all of the above. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul told them that his desire for Titus was that he returned to Troas with him and finished the work that Paul had started there. That he returned to Corinth and finished the work that he had started there. That he journeyed to Macedonia with Paul, feeling confident on this Macedonia answer. It seems right. Four, that he should be put out of the church until he repented. Oh, four is a is a definite no. Yikes. I mean, the man lost part of his penis for this thing. I feel like he's he's he's still in. Get out of the church. So I

So it's either so I say Corinth. Return to Troas, return to Corinth. Like, he writes to the Corinthians. So if the only reason I you would say that to the Corinthians is because Titus was in Corinth. Right?

Returned to Troas with him and finished the word of post. I don't know. I don't know the right answer. Let's go with Macedonia. It hasn't let us down yet. We don't know that it hasn't let us down yet. Shut up, boo. Number five. We'll see. Who were the two other men that traveled to Corinth with Titus? Hey, man. Should we say that he returned to Corinth then for for the previous one? I think He's already in Corinth. That's why Paul's writing him a letter.

No. Maybe he say he's gonna send to Corinth him to Corinth. Yeah. We're moving it. Alright. Five. Who are the two other men that traveled to Corinth with Titus? They are not named Barnabas and Silas, Mark and Luke, Apollos and Cephas. I say Apollos and Cephas. No. No. It's not. That's odd. It's Barnabas and Silas. Yep. Barnabas and Silas. K. Number six. How did Paul describe Titus to the Corinthians, the messenger of the churches and the glory of Christ? Our dear fellow servant who is for you a faithful minister of Christ. He is my partner and fellow helper concerning you. A faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. All stuff he would say. I would say he's my partner and fellow helper concerning you. Yeah. Okay. He would say all that stuff. Yeah. That does sound like an opening for Paul. Shoot. Paul Hey, man. This is totally a Paul quiz. We're in some trouble. Paul told that we're getting whooped on Titus. Paul told the Corinthians that both he and Titus had done all things for a reason. Why?

For the establishment of the kingdom on earth, so that you will know the love of money is the root of all evil, for your edifying to make known to you the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory. It's either c or d. Yeah. I would agree. It's either c or d. This is for your I say d. For your edification? Yeah. You think okay. Bu but I'm gonna hold a tentative Buva says hope of glory. Yeah. Possible. I say d. See, wait on his vindication. Eight, in his letter to the Galatians, Paul told him that he went to Jerusalem with Titus and John Mark, Silas, Luke, Barnabas. Went to Jerusalem? Yeah. He went Barnabas. Right? Barnabas was Jerusalem. Is that the original did he did Titus went with him the first time he went to Jerusalem? Were they, like, accepted him? Wait.

No. Yeah. Was Barnabas. Let's let's keep it. Yeah. He returned back. We're already on the on the downward trajectory here. In his letter to the Galatians, what was the issue that Paul used Titus to illustrate? The miraculous provision of God for the believer, the necessity to tie to tithe, freedom from the need to be circumcised, the judgment of God on the unfaithful. Circumcision. Yeah. Yeah. In Paul's second letter to Timothy, what did he say had happened to Titus? Titus had forsaken Paul because he loved the present world. Titus had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel. Titus had gone back to his hometown as John Mark had. Titus had gone to Dalmatia. It's either a or d. Not I don't think he's forsaken Paul. No. Sorry. I mean,

what was it? B? B? Imprisoned or gone to Dalmatia? Yeah. Let's do Dalmatia. Alright. Yeah. Oh, man. Boys, I think this is gonna be rough. How about you? Wait a minute. What nationality was Titus? We said Greek. That is correct. Yes. Question two. Paul went to Troas to preach and Titus was not there, he had no rest in his spirit and went from there to, we said, Macedonia.

That is correct. Okay. Paul was comforted by the coming of Titus to Macedonia and also because the Corinthians, blah blah blah, all of the above, we had said, and that is correct. Yes. Question four. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul told him that his desire for Titus was, we said that he returned to Corinth and finished the work that he had started there. That is correct. Yep. Number five, who were the two other men that traveled to Corinth with Titus? We said Barnabas and Silas. That is incorrect. They are not named. Well, so it could have been Barnabas and Silas. Yeah. Half a point. Yep. Number six, how did Paul describe Titus to the Corinthians? We said he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you. That is correct. Question seven, Paul told the Corinthians that both he and Titus had done all things for a reason. We said for your edification.

That is correct. Alright. Question eight. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul told him that he went to Jerusalem with Titus and we said Barnabas. That is correct. Yep. Question nine. In his letter to the Galatians, what was the issue that Paul used Titus to illustrate? We said losing skin on the wing doodle and that is correct. Losing skin. Question 10. In Paul's second letter to Timothy, what did he say had happened to Titus? We said Titus had dawned to Dalmatia. That is correct. Answered a total boys? Nine out of 10 questions correctly Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For a score of 90%. That quiz had been taken 6,623 times since December 2004 for an average score of 41.

Man, man. That was a quiz about Paul and hey, Titus was there too. Yeah. Hey. But we hey. Who would have guessed that? We rocked the Titus quiz and got our our bones handed to us on the Job quiz. You know the world ain't right, Robert. We know New Testament. Something's not. Yeah. Yeah. Something's not good. Alright. Anyway, that's you and what are doing on here? Hold on a second. Mike, say something positive for people. You're listening to Life From The Path on lifefromthepath.org. Listen. If you'd like to give money to us, that's cool. We have a PayPal account set up. Right, Ben? Yeah. Hey. We actually do. Yeah. We do? Life From The Path. Yeah. No doubt. [email protected]. You can pay palace money. Hey, man. The Lord's calling you to give us money. Send us over. I'm almost certain he's not. He's not. No. Yeah. I would agree with that. He's probably not calling you to do so, but, like, if you're certain and, like, you've gidding this, yeah. Yeah. Okay. That sounds good. Hey. You've listening to Life from the Path. Thanks for hanging out with us. Make sure you check out the website, livefromthepath.org.

Hey. Do it go out there and do a search for Ted Yoder. There's some Ted Yoder clips out there rocking the web, and, you can enjoy that. And, search Facebook. Go go ahead and like him on Facebook. Follow him on, on all the social medias and, dig on what Ted is doing. Thanks for hanging out with us. We will see you next week. And in the meantime, be faithful in the means. God will handle the ends. You've been listening to Live From The Path.