Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper. You are live from the Pathway And you're listening to live for the Path coming from the Pathway Studios

here in Johnston proper. It's great to be with you. I know you've missed me. I've missed you, dear friends. I haven't missed you. Me or the peoples? You. Oh, I think I miss the people all the time. I think that's fair. You know, how do you feel about have you ever tried alternative mayonnaises? What? Like like may Like olive oil mayonnaise? Yeah. Yeah. Mayonnaise.

Alternative mayonnaise is is the weirdest way to put that. Is it not? It's it's probably just an apostrophe. Well Mayonnaise. I don't even know if I'd call it that because the word mayonnaise just it's just a it's a it's a emulsification of eggs in a in an oil. That's how I feel about it too. How do you feel have you tried them? Yes. Of course, I have. How do you feel about them? They're never the they're never the real thing. But, like Yeah. In a pinch, they're fine. Yeah. Like, if you if you offered me a turkey sandwich and you said to me, hey, man. I don't have Hellmann's or Duke's, but but I've got this olive oil mayo,

and I had to choose between the olive oil mayo and, like, no sauce, I'm going that olive oil mayo for sure. Yeah. Not gonna eat a dry turkey sandwich like a psychopath. No. Yeah. We're not animals for sure. That's what that's what I know about the buffalo and wildebeest is they don't have mayonnaise. That's that's reality. Thing that separates us from the beasts Yeah. Yeah. Is a is a mayonnaise. Because think think of it. Like, the way the bible tells me things is that every every knee will bow. The wildebeest will eventually praise Jesus, so we we're the same there. What they lack is sophistication.

What they lack is sophistication and sauces. That's right. Like That is fantastic. A wildebeest that can't emulsify. I can't can't stand you because the fact that, like, I kinda understand that argument. I've apparently known you too long that I'm just like, well, I could see your point there. Like, every knee will bow at some point in time, so I get well, alright. The only thing that changes us for them is is sauce. Is the mayonnaise. That's right. The Willby says this is where the we're encouraged. Darwin is our hope. We will be able to emulsify at some point in our existence. Now your question to me was how you've how do you feel about alternative mayonnaise? I have a question for you. Okay. Do you believe that the clothes you wear are a statement about you enough that, like, people have the right to talk to you about it or comment on it?

Those two things don't seem naturally connected. No. I do not believe my clothes are a statement about me, but I find it perverse that anyone would bring up my clothing to me at all. I, I so I have a Hulk tattoo, Incredible Hulk. Yeah. K? Yeah. And I I recently came into a couple of Hulk shirts because people know that he's my my favorite comic book character. K. All that stuff. More often than I ever thought possible, people comment on it. Like, I was getting coffee the other day and someone came up to me and goes, yeah. Hulk never stops working. Just gotta get more coffee. And then walked away like that was a perfectly understandable thing to say. Yeah. Yeah. Like, he was like, yeah. I see you. I see you getting another extra large coffee. Hulk's always gotta work. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. And then another person went, yeah. Hulk smash. And I was like, is this the new way to call me fat, or is this just like, am I? Don't know what to do with this. You think it's the tattoo or the shirt? I think it's maybe I mean, it's definitely a bold statement if I have a Hulk tattoo on my calf and then a Hulk shirt on my body. No. Yeah. Oh Like, I understand that maybe I'm doubling up, but, like, I don't have, like, a Hulk face mask on or anything. Like, obviously, I just like a character. Well, okay. Here's what I would say, though. One, full full shirt,

like, entire area of the shirt characters It's a lot. And and tattoos both show a level of commitment of which people feel like they're walking into a safe space. I suppose that's fair. Yeah. Like, if like, if I just had a a a T shirt or a polo with a small Hulk in it, they would not presume that I'm super committed and so it wouldn't be so bold. But I I think your your body is telling a story that your life can't cash. I suppose that's true. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't really know how to respond to the fellow that's like, Hulk's always working. Yeah. That's not really part of the canon. Like, that that's not really what Hulk is known for is his work ethic. Yeah. Yeah. People are like, yeah. Hulk gets his taxes done on time. That's right. Hulk smash sometimes. Hulk smash that report. Good job, buddy. Okay. Here's what I got going on the show. This you're gonna like this because Boob and I are on our on our own here.

Boov. It's lonely and a bit drafty in here. I'm not sure how whether the one or two are related. But here's so here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna try a couple things. One, what I almost and Boov will test this. I almost hesitated to talk about this he gets us ad at the Super Bowl, but I'm gonna say this. I find myself you've you you you people are causing me trouble. It's a good way to put it. I'm aligning

with the I find myself having a lot of sympathy for situations of which I generally don't wanna spend my time having a bunch of sympathy for Right. Because of how you were behaving. Right. And I just I just I wanna talk through a few things and, like, I bless you. I know I know what you're trying to do here. I it just seems like a real like, you're not thinking through things. You're thinking too fast. We're we're patting our religious selves on the back over some things, and I just I just want you to stop for a minute and and just listen to I'm gonna give you five things if I remember what my count was. There were five things where I'm like, they were critiques of the ad. Okay? And I'm not I'm not even saying I love the ad. We did a show the when they did a he gets us ad, was it don't was it just the last Super Bowl, or we see we there was a campaign. Yeah. I think it was the campaign, not a Super Totally. We landed on it and said, look, this is not actually paying off for what it needs to do. It's

self glorifying. It's human glorifying. It doesn't connect people back to Jesus. And so and that was one of the risks. And I still believe that, actually. And there's probably a million things I could think of of which Super Bowl money could go better towards. Right. But the types of ways we're reacting to some of this thing is it's bad theology. It's bad exegesis. And I and frankly, I I think you you're you're running the risk of landing yourself on the other side of Jesus's finger Yep.

Especially from a gospel perspective. And so I I just I wanna talk about it. You can critique it and send me the nasty grams in the life and path complete land. I just I want you to be a little bit more cautious and careful than I feel like we're being, especially when you're complaining into a safe space, which is a bunch of other especially on the conservative Christian side, we're like, yeah. Right. We're holding them to it. Mhmm. Okay. I just I are you? And are you holding the right thing? Right. Exactly. Yes. That's what I wanna talk about. Yep. So we're gonna do that. Also, we're gonna we're gonna try AI bible theater.

AI bible theater. AI bible theater. So I I've I've set up a plot for the intelligence, the artificial intelligence to to write a two man play based upon a biblical story of which Moov and I will be playing one of the other characters. Right. I will double as the narrator. From history of the bible, we now have AI theater. Yes. Okay. That's exactly it. So we're gonna perform a Buva wasn't allowed to look at it ahead of time. Nope. I only I generated it, and then, I mean, I scanned it just to make sure it followed my guidelines, but I I didn't. We're breeding it blind. Yeah. So it may follow the story for the most part, but, like, it's not gonna be word for word. We're not just gonna be reading a story from the bible. This is legitimately what AI has to say about a prompt specifically about a bible story, and then we're gonna act it out, and, and and give it some some color. Yeah. Yeah. And so and I'll look to get your, feedback, like, thumbs up, thumbs down on AI bible theater.

How do you how do you see the AI? How did, how did Boova do? Yeah. Okay. I'm interested. I'm excited about it. And then we'll do some advice on Dear Life and the Path, and then I think we're gonna we'll we'll cut out of here because Yeah. The two of us in a room, I think we can there's a lot of hot wind that could be going on in here. Yeah. It's a bad deal. If we get two hours into this podcast, we'll realize, oh, no. We talked way too much. Yeah. That was a mistake. Okay. So that that's that's what we're gonna do for tonight. So let let me let's let's frame up this he he gets us Super Bowl ad. Alright. Tell me. So it comes on if it I think it was the first quarter. Happens pretty soon, pretty early in the game. And it comes on. It doesn't say what it's about, but you get a series of images

of supposed you could say enemies or at least people who have there's a narrative of which they are against each other on opposite sides of something who are washing each other's feet. Right. Okay. Yep. Ultimately it ends in a

He gets us Basically, Jesus relates to the pain in the world, to the animosity between groups of people. He's here to heal said things. Yep. General vibe at the end. I mean, it wasn't like poorly done or anything. Like, I mean, I think it drew your attention and why we're talking about it and why a lot of people were talking about it. I saw a number of reactions

from multiple camps, but like, I'm most intrigued by, I think, the groups of people who I would go like, love Jesus, faithful bible like, bible believing folk. Folks that I like, these are my peoples. Right.

And I saw a number of critiques of the ad, and so I wanna walk through a few of them and just see if you relate to them and then maybe some ways we could continue to think about it. Okay. So critique number one is I heard is that some of the and I'm gonna forget all the I did not rewatch it. I just saw The Night Of.

Is you saw a what is a was a priest or a pastor washing the feet of a guy who, like, I think is clearly a homosexual. And then

a a woman washing the feet of a young mother who was outside of planned parent or, like, that type of thing. And so one of the critiques I saw was that, well, Jesus didn't wash the feet of of sinners. He washed the feet of the disciple. Right. Buva, just what strikes you as problematic of this particular critique? Well, that's a weird distinction to call upon, a, because we would call every one of the disciples a sinner. Of course. Of course. So, like, not a single one of them was like, hey. These are the exalted people. They were just the people that that Jesus was was using to launch his ministry. Right? Yes. It it wasn't because they were perfect and great. Very obviously, in in many ways, it was the exact opposite Yes. Of that situation. So, like, to call that as a as a as a as a line in the sand of, like, Jesus didn't wash the feet of sinners is completely incorrect. It's goofy. Right? Secondly, let's just stick with this particular group of folks. Even if you can make the case, and I think this is largely where they're coming from is to go, well, he he he didn't go and find active sinners, people who are against him and his kingdom Uh-huh. And go wash their feet. These are people who are fallibly aligned with him. Mhmm. What is the let's stick with the the actual last supper. What is the problem with that particular statement? Judas. Judas was there. Judas was there. Judas was there. And Jesus knew full well what was going on. Of course, he did. In fact, he brings it up, and he goes, hey. Know you I know you gotta go. Not I. Certainly, Lord. You're running you're running late. You have said so. So,

okay, he's aware of this too. This is this is an enemy of the progress of the kingdom and much more willful Yes. Than most of the other buckets of sinners you want that are around Jesus. Purely adversarial. Yeah. Like, they like, Judas is aware of what Jesus is trying to do. He's aware of how he wants to go do it, and he's explicitly going against that Right. And turning Jesus over. And so this is as close to an enemy as I can think of. And so, again, I'm missing the validity of the critique here. Right.

Okay. Let's stay on this train for just a minute though. Let's just accept that he did not wash the feet of the rebel, I guess. Uh-huh. K? I'm not willing to give the disciples a pass, but let's let's say I agree with your train of thought. Yep. What else did he do with the known sinners if you wanna look at it from that direction?

Like, reclined with them. Hung out with them. Exactly. Ate meals with them. Reclined and ate. Very specifically with them. Yeah. He did. He very well did do that. And and remember, like, eating is an intimate thing. Mhmm. People gonna see you chewing. These are these are things of which, like that's why it's a big deal when you can get someone to go out to dinner with you. There's a level of intimacy It's a closeness. To gnaw, gnaw dough in front of them. Yep. And so I I guess I I I'm I'm not I'm still not I'm not sold. I'm not sold on the critique, related to that. Jesus does certainly have a closeness to sinners. Now I get like, I know in the back of your mind, you're like, oh, he he called them he called them to repentance. Okay. I I wanna get to the repentance thing here. Just a minute. But But yes,

but maybe this goes to the second to the second question, which is one of the key things that I heard somebody say is that, like, they did not mention repentance in this ad. They didn't mention repentance. Oh, wait. Actually, before I leave this one, I guess one of the things I'd be I'd be interested to have someone answer for me is is your belief, regardless of the much is given to us in scripture, are you telling me that your belief is Jesus wouldn't wash the feet Right. Of someone who is making an earthly decision that is counter to their own good, which is I think the bucket like, if you wanna think of people, buckets of sin going on here,

these are people that are choosing not choosing peace, but choosing animosity. Right. Choose the world. That's right. Not looking not otherwise making peace and connections between people despite some of these circumstances or whatever. Are are you is that is that your belief that, like, the only time this picture of Jesus, this humble come to serve, which he says multiple times, the demonstration is washing of the feet. Right. But, like, first shall be last. Come to serve. Like, that's that's a persistent narrative throughout the gospels.

Are you really telling me that it's a perverse image of Jesus that he would wash the feet of a sinner? Now we're gonna get to your other critiques in a minute. You're gonna I know what I know what they are, but, like, I I don't I'm not buying it. I'm not buying it. I'm not I don't know where that's coming from. Yeah. It seems to be like taking in half of what what is true and and then coloring it towards your own narrative. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Or or and if I and my most gracious again, I I I know what you're trying to protect here, and, like but let's get we'll we'll get to them. I mean, the same could be said of of the religious leaders in Jesus' time. Yes. Like, I understand what you're trying to protect, but you're missing it. Yes. But you're missing exactly right. Exactly right. And so I again, it's the thing that should sit in the back of your head, especially as if you are a a faithful lover of Jesus. You you're in for his kingdom work. You believe the bible is completely true. Like, you're willing to just give up your life and all your stuff to go do it. Like, the thing the most common critique against the religious leaders throughout scripture is missing it. Yep. Right. Is, like, is ignoring the poor, is, like, lording things over them, like human power, human like, basically losing a compassion for the world that God has. Yeah. And again, it doesn't mean that we don't call people to repentance. It doesn't mean that they there aren't ways of which their their lives need to change to live in God's gracious and goodness to serve him as Lord. Totally.

But but I I I guess the thing that should always be in the back of your mind is is, like, am I at risk of being the very thing Right. That Yahweh and Jesus specifically and John the Baptist and Paul, like, came with critics. Keep going. Yeah. Yeah. You're missing the Christ for adherence to the law. Yes. Okay. So secondly, the the ad did not mention repentance. Right. I I will say and, like, I've seen some people of, like, hey. Here's the here's the commercial that they should have done, and these are awesome. I'm sure they're great. Yes. Some of these things that people have have put together are fantastic. Excellent. But I I wanna be cautious of, like, well, they didn't mention the the word repentance.

I mean, okay. How how how often is the word repentance in in your bible? Right. Yeah. God used 66 books to tell a story, and you're you're expecting this whole thing to come on a thirty second ad. Yeah. I mean, it's there. I get it. For sure. I get it. Key element of the gospel. Of course. Totally with you. Yeah. If you're if you got a top five, it's up there. Right? Like, yes. Totally with you. I just so but it it's not on every page. It's not in every conversation. Right. I would also submit like, I would ask you the same thing and maybe you're just a real jackwagon and this is how you live your life, that every conversation that comes up, you're mentioning repentance. Have you repented today? I I I get I you actually might be overcooking the books the other direction. There's a context to repentance. Mhmm.

And so but but, like, it's every conversation isn't

the full gospel. Right. Just can't be. It it isn't. And and none of you are doing this, again, unless you actually don't even care about people, unless you're you're basically a propagandist. Right. You're you're shoving information at folks and going, I don't care who you are. I don't care anything about your life. Jesus, blah blah blah, cares about the details, but not me. My job is to push information. Yep. You've got your chalkboard that you're ticking off for when you stand at the gates of heaven. Yeah. And I like, I I'd be interested, Chuck. Is this working for you? Like, not like, well, yes, I told all the towns and all the people, but, like, are you seeing people's lives changed by your treating of them that way? It isn't my experience. It isn't the thing that I've seen actually impact most of the people that have come to Jesus. And, frankly, the people that have those people are at significant risk of bailing because you move them around with with basically a threat. You scared them into the kingdom, and no one wants to spend forever with a guy who only is there because he's afraid. Yeah. Right? And so super important. Key part of the gospel. Totally with you.

I I this isn't where I reach for the critique. Right. There's there's plenty of people who are trying to communicate a gospel message. Mhmm. The the none of the beatitudes are carry a notion of repentance. Humility, for sure. Absolutely. So, anyway, I I just I would be cautious. I'd frankly, I'd also be cautious on how stuck you are on the word repent.

You know I'm saying? Like, it carries with it a load. It's a translation problem, man. Like, the word itself isn't particularly holy. And just be and, like, you can totally call people to recognize that they they're turning from the thing that they've chosen for something that's so much better, something that they were designed for. Yep. That's repentance for sure, and there's ways to do it. I just I I'm I I don't know why I think you're over indexing. I'll put it that way. We're over indexing on, can you can you communicate the good news of the kingdom

without using the word repent if all you had was thirty seconds? Yeah. I think you could. I think it's here's the actually, here's the question that you have to answer. Is it okay to start a conversation? Because because I know what you're thinking. Yeah. Ben, I could totally communicate the gospel using the word repentance or something like it in thirty seconds. I'm sure that you can. I would submit to you like, if I went pastor, if I went and listened to every every everything you ever said, first fifteen minutes, like, you were you were talking about repentance,

like, the scriptures weren't. Right. And so I I just I'd be cautious. Like, this is this is, I think, a sense of if you don't follow this playbook, it can't work. There are plenty of people who are planting planting seeds, intentional seeds of gospel building over long periods of time to otherwise help people recognize things, and they aren't dropping every sweet bible word they had in their back pocket to go do it at every moment, lest Jesus go, yes, but I gave you a stack of words. Why aren't you using? Right. I just it's too it just feels way too shallow to me. There's an understanding of there's the there's a correct master to serve, and, like, there's a there's a there's a right way to do things, and there's a path to follow. And, like,

understanding that every single conversation you have is not going to be just the first part of of doing the one eighty, if you wanna call it. Like, there's relationship building in in bringing people to Christ. Yes. And it doesn't happen just in in a Turner Byrne conversation. Yeah. And and, actually, I I this is the one thing that's interesting is is the the one of the fallibilities of the turn to burn situation is you're not telling me what I'm turning to. Right. Right. Like, repentance isn't you have in your mind, lovely Christian people, that repentance is is turning back to Jesus. Uh-huh. But if you do not know Jesus never turn you it's not turning back to him. Right. You didn't give me the object of which I'm turning to. And the and one of key questions is is that, like, why would I turn to this person? Right. Why would I give up the things that I feel like are righteous and good Yep. And turn to someone else's view of the world? Well, if I once I get to know who this is, if I believe there is a god, if I recognize who Jesus is, I the the level of like, he has communicated to to me in the way that he communicated to everyone else as to what he was doing here in service, in love, to otherwise rescue. Right. Like, if that isn't your message, like, why is yours so much more powerful than Jesus' way of going about something? Right. And I'll put it to you this way also is that, like, I I there's an urgency here, and I know why there's an urgency here. But, like, people just don't tend to soak in the thing that you wanna communicate the first time.

Inter disciples again. Right. Yes. How many times? Even if you're a master communicator of all the way. Like, the Like Jesus. Yes. Exactly. It just doesn't happen that way. These people, three years in a row, I don't know how so we're in the middle of Matthew right now. And, like, seriously, we've been dealing with this problem of them, like, who's who's the greatest? Right. They didn't just ask it once. They heard Jesus' answer about the kids, and they're like, yeah. Yeah. But us us, though? Right. Aren't won't we be honest? Misunderstandings of the kingdom that Jesus is here to set. That's right. And they're not gonna get it until he dies and raises from the dead. And and then Their eyes are opened. Only then do they kinda get it. Yep. The holy spirit paves the rest of the way. Yep. And so, like, I don't know what kind of magic you're doing in your life of which you got a thirty second shot and you think you're gonna just gonna wow the world with it. I'm what I'm telling you is that people don't generally behave that way. They connect words.

They hear them. They'll act like they understand them, but, like, it's gonna take a while for it to click. Where it mostly clicks is where they see the tangible nature of it. Yeah. That's why Jesus dying on the cross and raised from the dead. They go, okay. Alright. I'm I'm starting to put things together here. Mhmm. I'm starting to understand it. And so I I just I I know what we're trying to protect here. I just you've way overloaded. Yep. I think you've way overloaded. Also, I and I didn't check it. I meant to check it. But when I'm with I think you can confidently say it. I'm feeling pretty comfortable that, like, as I was cycling through the gospel scriptural references,

the place where repentance is called most often is in reaction to religious leaders. Yeah. It's it's a key message of the gospel. I'm again, we're not arguing here, but what I'm telling you is is, like, the harshest words are for the religious Right. People patting themselves on the back who who stepped into a situation of which of which the the way that the kingdom works, Jesus' kingdom works is gonna function one way, and the protection against that, protecting the current status quo is the thing they are most likely have to repent. Right. These are the things where John the Baptist is strongest at and what Jesus is coming strongest against. The hardened hearts of of God's people. Yes. And so

the amount the amount of people who are, like, so quick to look at this ad and be, like, very self righteous, self satisfied with critiques against it. Even even where I under like I said, even where I understand where you're coming from, even where I think, like, there's there's some validity to it. Right.

Gosh. I would just be Shaky ground. So I I would just be so cautious. That is that is a shaky thing to stand on. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Third third critique. I heard some some real entrepreneurs of the year wouldn't go digging around in the He Gets Us campaign, And they said basically, they find out that people associated with this aren't just people who who love Jesus. I mean, they smell like progressive Christians for sure. Yeah.

But then there's a description that says the it's the the campaign is created by people who, you know, serve Jesus or who are like, I don't know, something like very intrigued by his story or his character or something like that, and we're like, There's possibly a non Jesus follower

behind this nefarious campaign. I'm gonna submit to you two things that I want you to consider. First, that is a logical fallacy. It's a logical fallacy to have an argument from authority to say

that keep first of all, the work of the kingdom can only be done through people who love and serve Yahweh. Nebuchadnezzar. There there's literally scripture that says the exact opposite. I'm just saying god will do as he pleases. Yes. So calm down. God uses pharaoh. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly right. Secondly, like and and this this comes up all the time. You you'll see this in the abortion debate. Well, only women can speak to that. It's a logical fallow. There's no reason a lady should when you're talking about life of a child or whatever, the the presence of ovaries is not otherwise make you more qualified.

Right. You might be more in tune to the implications of it. Understandably. Fellas, you should be super wise about that. Understandably. But it is a logical fallacy to say that someone because Martin Luther King said it, it's it's, you know, holy or only a lady can talk about this type of thing, it doesn't follow. Right? Secondly, and this is just a this is a this is not more of a logical problem, but I I want you to just check your guts here. You guys enjoy The Chosen? You dig on that, do you?

I mean, there was a hubbub not like a year ago because there was a lovely homosexual fellow running the camera filming one of the he had, like, a gay pride flag or something sitting on there and people getting all jazzed up about it. Also, I mean, if you would consider Mormonism a cult, you've got some things to deal with with the innards of that show. Here's the thing. Neither those two things are causing me any concern. Yeah. I don't it's it's not because there's not a theological things to talk about within those things. It's because if I look at the output, I go Right. I care more about the weird depiction of Matthew than I do of those two things. Yep. Just yeah.

Okay. So, again, I just be cautious that you're being consistent. One, don't commit logical fallacies. That's a mistake. That's like, that's not a firm argument, so you should get away from that. By definition, it's not. And second of all, like, I get that you're hosed off at the he gets us as he gets us campaign because of the progressive nature of it. Fine. But, like, if you're otherwise enjoying The Chosen, you you need to deal you need to act consistently. And so it's dishonest. I guess that's the question. It's like, don't don't sacrifice your integrity. You're being dishonest. So just let this one go. Just heads up. You're being pastored by a sinner. Yeah. I mean, you should know that, like like, just yeah. Human beings involved in things means imperfection. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Totally.

Okay. I saw let's see. What what was, did I get I didn't get them all yet, did No. I think we're miss oh gosh. I'm I'm trying to remember all your points because you had a couple of them, but I think you hit the big three. Okay. There was a big three. Oh, I I swear there was a there were there were another couple that were interesting to me that were, like, they were again, they were just just logical shortcomings. You didn't have you don't have to say repent all the time. I mean, you can, but you don't have to. It's not a big deal. We talked about the concept of the money being spent on

Oh, yeah. Okay. That's the commercial. Yeah. That this was interesting to me. This this actually would where I think there's a lot of very interesting conversation that could go on because, like, they spent a lot of money Oh, insane amount. To put this thing on. Yeah. Because they think there were two. Oh oh, wait a minute. Hold on. Before we get back to there, because I think there's something more substantive there. I what the the image I took away when I watched the thing, I didn't even know who had put it on or whatever. Yeah. It looked like peacemaking to me. Mhmm. Yeah.

Feet washing, servanting. Yep. There are adversarial relationships happening. This is making peace between them. Yes. So, yeah, the play things like blessed are the peacemakers. Things like peace that passes understanding or peace Generally, I would reword to, like, peace being in places where it should not be. Mhmm. Okay. I that's what we're yeah. Yeah. Like, what 100%. Here here's what I want you to to think of yourself. If if you were a person who had had written off a religion because whatever your background was, I don't it disagrees with your lifestyle. What I don't care what it was.

One of the core tenants of of Jesus what Jesus brings to the world is is shalom. He he's bringing a peace. And, yes, it will it will require repentance for sure. Humility is is actually the big thing because when you're humble, though, you repent a lot easier. Absolutely. And so to show images

of places where peace is making its way through, where light is breaking through darkness, your animosity towards that certainly isn't a good look. Yeah. It's not a good look, man. It's not a good look. And I one of the things that, again, I wanna be cautious about is is

how do I not believe do I not believe that Jesus changes people? Right? Not, like, not it's gospel transformation, not behavior modification. Right. And so

where someone sees a possibility, a way forward for peace that they didn't see before, that they believe could happen, that there's, like, a just a marked giving up of status and power and authority to go, I will serve and show and demonstrate

in the most unlikely of situations, prodigal son returning as an example, Jesus elevating children. And again, he doesn't elevate children because children are innocent. Although you guys have met children. Children are brutes. Like, they don't make great decisions. But the thing about children and the example that Jesus is making is they had no control over their own existence. Right. They simply were at the like, they had to submit

to the wills of the people who were leading them. Mhmm. And Jesus goes like that. Right. Not innocent like children, not playful like children, not like twinkly eyes, I really love Jesus like children. Their minds are a sponge. People who do not control their own destiny, but take that which is directed to them. That's what he's talking about. And so I I just I'm I'm I'm cautious here that

where there's something totally to be hands, feet, eyebrows, and elbows of the work of the lord to be part of making peace that the revulsion that I saw in Christian circles against those images from people who probably wouldn't take it the same way you took it. Right? Person lover of Jesus, you looked at it and said it's missing repentance. What someone who's not you, who's not in the scriptures all the time, who's not praying all the time,

might actually look at it and go, boy, wouldn't that be nice? Right. There's a chance for acceptance. Possible. Of me as a human being, not my fall not my fallabilities and not my sin, but me as a as a person. I'm just I'm just saying, did you are you willing to snatch victory from the hands of defeat or defeat from the hands of Right. Potential victory because it's a conversation starter? Like, if you looked at it as only a conversation starter, tell me all the different shortcomings. Not it intended to be an entire picture of the gospel. Right. Not like, it's as theologically accurate as every other random dude you might run into. Yes. I guess this this happens or maybe you guys will connect with this if you're in some sort of corporate environment. People are always concerned. There's almost every major corp not almost. Every major corporation and all the small ones got some sort of compliance department. Mhmm. They're always like, hey. What are you gonna put in the letter? We're worried about it. Show me the size of the font. Show me the words that you're using. Y'all kinda concern. Times New Roman. And the thing that we don't talk about openly, but I I bring up almost every time is, like, I see the high level of scrutiny you're giving this letter. You realize

there are 200 people taking phone calls, saying whatever they want Right. All the time Yep. And have access to every bit of customer information that you're spending your diligence trying to protect. Like, the riskiest thing you have going on Is not this letter. Is right. Right. Which is whatever. Protect the letter. Right? But, like,

I just is it perfect? Is the and is the person shagging the phone call gonna be perfect? They're not. There's just a level of risk that you accept. My theology is not perfect. I know this. I still am running a podcast because on balance, the Lord will fix the things that I in good intention of getting wrong. And it's better we talk about in our fallibilities than hide away in our insecurities. And so I just if you looked at it as a conversation starter, is it missing things? Of course. But, like, just maybe it started a conversation. Right. And do you look just do you look real awful being the person that took a dump on the peacemaking images that came out of there? You might.

You might. Yeah. The repulsion that you are expressing, it just it it it's colors very poorly. Like, it just it does not it's not a good look. Yeah. And and here's the thing. I'm not saying pander to whatever progression progressive part of society that you think this is targeting. I'm not saying pander to that. Call out truth? Yeah. I'm saying, like, the

you are fighting like, you you can if it's a start of a conversation for a full picture, great. Let's help develop the full picture. Right? But if if you if the only thing you you talk about, for example, is Turner Byrne or repentance, if this is the thing where, like, someone's weak because they led with the beatitudes Mhmm. And not repentance. Mhmm. One, take it up with Jesus to start.

But but, two It's like this is what my kingdom looks like, and this is what its people look like. Yeah. But I I guess but that's the thing is that, like, are you are you certain that you're not over indexing the message on the other side? Right. Are you sure about that? Because that is that would be the caution. That would be the thing I'd be cautious about. Like, there's a whole gospel message in there and, like, sometimes y'all beating the drum for the thing, like, that you feel very self righteous about. Mhmm. And I I just don't I don't understand it. I don't I don't understand it. There there was also there was a critique there was a critique around the types of

sins, shortcomings that like, I I I think the concern was is that the particular things are hitting, again, like, woke culture. Yeah. Like, they're specifically pandering back to the previous conversation for people who got out of religion because religion didn't affirm them. Mhmm. And so there's a concern that, oh, well, if you show the priest washing the feet

of the gay fellow Mhmm. That it's an affirmation of his behavior. Right. So but I but here's what I want I want you to help me with. Show me in scripture where I'm to get the understanding that in service to people, it means that I'm affirming

every sin that's in their life. Right. Help me understand. And and I get here's the thing. This has been a struggle. Like, we the we've been cautious and righteously cautious, I think, of how do we love people well

while helping them realize that they are falling short of the goodness of God. Right. And not only in their actions, but in their experience of it. You can't walk in his goodness if you don't recognize where it's short. Like, sin is a totally righteous thing to point out. Yeah. I'm falling short. I don't get to live in the fullest experience of following Jesus to enjoy his lordship in my life. Righteous. Okay? But,

like, I I I just I I don't we've been this has been a caution, and but you'd have to take it up with Jesus. You'd have to take him up with him dying when he dined with sinners. And, yes, okay, I I let the the the lady. I know. Go and sin no more. I got it. Okay? That's right. And just just like you're pulling, like, a happened after. You're, like, pulling a story and and painting it everywhere, but you're not telling the other story that didn't bring that up at all. Right. And just like we know well enough to go

this comes together with to a gospel message for sure. For sure. But did you go did you go slap Jesus on the hand because he didn't cover every element every time? Well, that and the go and sin no more was after Jesus served her. Oh, yes. Yes. Rescued, served her. Literally, like, why would you why would why would the go and sin no more conversation have any merit or meaning if the god that you're supposed to be serving still means nothing to you because you have not seen any of that love Right. And you've not received any of that service. Right. Jesus literally protects her from being killed in this situation,

recognizes all that sin Yep. And specifically says, yeah, that sin, that separation from you and your creator. Yes. Go and sin no more. But that wasn't the first thing he led with. It wasn't, hey. You're sinning. Stop it right now. Yes. And then once you do that, I will serve you. It's the exact opposite. Right. Right. And, like, just in case you're you're missing the message here, repentance is good news. Calling people out of sin is great news. Absolutely. Wonderful gift of the community. I just like, you're I again, I think you're overcooking the fish here. And the other thing I would say is, like, look around your your community, your family, your church community, whoever. Do you serve any of those people? They're all been sinning. Yes. Have you been a firm still are most likely. Yeah. Yeah. And and here's the thing. This is a blindness. This is a blindness for us because you're gonna be like, oh, yeah. But it's not the same. It's not those sins. Right. Exactly. They're not doing that type of thing. They didn't go to that clinic over there and blah blah blah. I again They're doing the things that I don't struggle with and therefore can say that it's much worse. Exactly. So I want but I just want you to take a tour. Take a quick tour through the minor prophets, and you tell me the most significant critique against the people of Jesus is their misuse of wealth Mhmm. And disregard of the poor and needy. That's

the that is, like, the pervasive And every one of them. Critique on the minor prophets, and it doesn't go away in Jesus' time either. Like, the New Testament's about it too. And so in our situation, in the Western church, if you are in The United States, you are most likely wealthier than 70% of the world around you, maybe even higher. Okay? And so

you need if serving your community around you, your family, your church community means an affirmation of whatever shortcomings they have, then you, sir, have been affirming the key thing of which every major prophet has a significant problem Called out you. As a contributor to the shortcomings of the people of Yahweh. And so but but here's the thing. You don't really believe that. Right. Just like I don't. Now as it's I get I get that it's sensitive. I get I get that the optics of it concern you. I understand. You don't you wanna be cautious that in your intent to serve people well, you don't give the wrong idea of the things that Jesus is talking about. Mhmm. That when that there's a call to goodness. Yep.

I I would submit to you, and I maybe Here is my sense of it. Okay? You pray through this. That is a burden I cannot bear. I cannot bear the

burden of having to sort out the implication if a 100 people saw me serve someone who is living a lifestyle or doing a thing that was counter to what God called for goodness. A 100 people are gonna come away with a 100 different interpretations as to how they take the thing that I just did.

I I just can't. I don't think I don't think I can reasonably keep up with it. And Jesus didn't. Yeah. He didn't seem to have this particular problem. And it doesn't align in scripture that you're supposed to take that burden on. Yeah. I just I think it's not think the holy spirit's gonna have to help you make distinctions about it, and you pray beforehand. And you know what? If you go, look, I can't this is gonna be taken the wrong way because the the the spirit says, look, you gotta back off this one. Then back it off. Totally. But I I don't think you should you shouldn't walk in gun shy to service Right. Because of how the world can interpret it. In fact, the Christianity has always grown off the backs of serving Christians who've gone to extreme ends to serve and sometimes sacrifice and die on other people's behalf, and then they understood the message of Jesus when they saw the hands and feet of Jesus go do it. And so

I would say you've got to pray through and ask the spirit to embolden you to get over that particular hesitation. I'm not worried about it. I'm just not worried about it. And very obviously, like, in many situations, Jesus did something or said something that he knew was going to look bad to to people that were were well versed in in his father's words. Yep. Like, he knew that it was going to be subversive to to to the Jewish,

leadership or the the the church or the the leadership of of of the time. Right? Like, he knew that they were gonna see that and go, oh, that's you know, he's he's, he's not taking the Sabbath correctly, he's not doing this correctly, and he's not doing that correctly, and went, yep. You have that in your heart, and it's wrong, and it's on you to figure that piece out. I'm gonna do what I know is right. I'm going to understand and be able to interpret the law as one who has authority over it, and it's gonna hit you wrong, but you are incorrect. Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. Okay. I think we can get off this. I but to to sum it up, I I just, let let me reaffirm. I I don't disagree. Even I I it wasn't the commercial I would've put out. Yeah. Same. You know, I frankly Plenty of stuff I would've done to I find the rest of the gospel story also awesome. And like I said, some people have created some really awesome things. Yeah. I'm for that.

Regardless, this is the lay of the land we had. This is the ad that came out. There's a shortcoming in the he gets this thing in general. It it, it points people back to themselves and not to Jesus holistically. The tagline, I don't I'm against it. I don't think it's helping. However, reaction is a bellwether and I would want you like to look at it and go, one, is this even theologically accurate how

I'm responding? Or am I doing the same? I'm cherry picking. Right. I'm finding scripture that fit my outrage. Are you being a stumbling block? Yeah. Right. You could be. You could be. And, like, something that that Nebuchadnezzar ran an ad for might actually do something positive in the world. Right. And there you are taking a whiz off your balcony because it wasn't what what you would have done. Here's the thing. What we should be doing is going, Lord, that was a real that was a real fallible situation right there. Frankly, I'd ask you to pray for the show in the same manner. Yeah. Hey, this is a real fallible situation here. May you make good out a meager offering

whether regardless of the intent of which it came. Are there are there some true things in there? Right. Yes. Does it tell the complete story of the gospel, the complete story of Jesus? No. It doesn't. Is it likely aimed at progressive minded folks? Yes. I mean, these are the people, frankly, who've got the biggest quarrel with Christianity

and primarily on social terms. Exactly. Right? Like, we're not we should be dealing with was Jesus who he says he was? Was the how does the history bear out? Like, deal with the the reality of it. There's a lot of dismissiveness to going, well, he doesn't agree with me, and so I don't I don't care about him. Okay. And so to say he gets us does run the risk of going, oh, well, he agrees with me then. Mhmm. I get the risks. Right. Right? I I get it. We totally see your argument. But there's a risk on the other side of it too that goes, yeah. I mean, yeah, he doesn't agree with this person, but he he still sacrificed and died that they may find

glory, that they may live in freedom and rescue. They just don't know it yet or they're missing the story. And, like, are are you pro getting them involved in the whole story or basically super excited about making sure that something that may connect with them in some way or another and start a conversation got got crucified as well. Right. I just I I just the posturing of it bothers me. I just it I I didn't see

I didn't see people, granted these are social media primarily comments, but I saw them on like Op Eds and all kinds of crap, but like I didn't see people desperately wanting to reach a world and would use any means necessary to go do it. I saw what felt like a lot of pat ourselves on the back because we're so conservative about this thing. Right. And we're not with this progressive propaganda. Like, I just I anyway, I made the whole like, that reaction made me uncomfortable, not because I didn't understand or sympathize with a lot of it. It's it's just because the whole posturing, the way that we were talking about the world, who that may have hit, didn't feel like love to me. And if you if you read the gospels and you start, like, seeing the pharisees and the way that they're treating a lot of those situations, and you go, wow. That kinda looks similar. It's a scary place to be. Saying. The repentance came it came for the religious folks. Sure did. Okay. I know you're upset. It's (515) 517-0085.

Let me know. Bob Eisenhower, life from the path complaint line. In humility, I'm okay being wrong here, but but you gotta help me. Like, if if if if you wouldn't mind, like, if I've said something that you think is biblically inaccurate or didn't doesn't match the character of Jesus, the holistic story of how I should think about the gospel, but by all means, I want to hear about it. I'd like to change if that's necessary. If not, and you were the people I was talking to,

submit maybe you could repent. Yeah. Jesus loves you. He makes peace. Give us a call or a text. And remember, you call us, you could leave voice mail. You're not most likely, you're not gonna have, like, me answer you. No one's gonna answer you. It's not it's it doesn't have to be a weird social situation where you're like, I don't wanna call and talk to Ben. You're just gonna call and leave us a voicemail, and then we're gonna be able to listen to it and take it in and be thankful that you interacted with us Yep. And then move on. I'll pray about like, we've done that, like, many, many times. Something comes in and, like, we'll look at it. We'll pray about it. Yeah. Like I said, I I'd I'd I'd rather be humble and wrong. Yeah. We're in for the dialogue. Yeah. Let's do it. Okay. I unless you well, again, productive, though. Like, not just your wild opinion or your woke concerns. Like, I I wanna Right. Yes. Yeah. Take it in through talk to me through the lens of Jesus Yeah. And we'll go from there. Yep. Okay. Alright. Alright. Ready? Bubba, are you are you ready for

what did did I say biblical AI theater or AI AI Bible Theater? AI Bible Theater. Okay. You set it up. I gotta pull I gotta pull this up again. Alright. Once again, we are here for bible AI theater, biblical AI theater. What we've done is we put in a prompt to AI to give us a little bit of a play, no more than five minutes. And and this one, we've got, we've got two two, characters in this story. Essentially, we're taking in an AI, generated play of a biblical story. So recognize that it probably won't be word for word. It's not gonna be scripture that we're reading out of. It's just it's it's we're trying to get some color to a story that we we may all know. Okay. So here's here's the story. I we asked for a five minute play based on the biblical story of Balaam's donkey. Balaam's donkey. Okay.

This in this program, playing the part of Balaam, a prophet, will be me. Yes. So if you hear my voice, I'm I'm speaking on behalf of Balaam. In his traditional role as a donkey, talking donkey

is John Bover the third. That's me. That's him. Also, there is a there are some what what do you call it? What do you call the bracketed items that set the scene? I just this narration to me. Okay. I I will treat it like the nailer narrator. K? Ready? Scene one. Balaam is packing his bags preparing for a journey. Where are we off to today, master? A long journey, my friend. King Balak has summoned me to curse his enemies. Curse their enemies? But, master, you're a prophet, not a cursor. I know, but the king is offering a hefty reward. Besides, God has told me to go.

God or the clinking of gold coins in your ear? Be careful, master. This path smells of trouble. Nonsense. Now come along. We must make haste. It's great so far. So far, so good. Okay. Ready? Okay. Go ahead. Scene two. Scene two. Balaam and the donkey are on the road when they encounter an angel with a drawn sword. Woah. Master,

see that? Shiny sword, pointy end, not good. Squinting. I see nothing. Must be the desert heat getting to you. But, master, it's right there. It's blocking our way. Oh, they added a third character. Okay. I'll do this. Okay. The angel. Balaam,

turn back. You shall not curse the people for they are blessed. Balaam to the donkey. Did you hear that? God's changing his mind? Excellent. Now let's move on.

Master, are you blind or just stubborn? That angel means business. Okay. Okay. Took a turn there. Took a turn. Scene three. Balaam continues on his way, ignoring the angel and the donkey's warnings. The donkey suddenly stops, refusing to move. What now, you stubborn beast? Why are you stopping?

Because I see what you don't, master. The angel is back, and this time, he's not playing around. Balan finally sees the angel. I I see him now, but I can't turn back, not with the king's reward waiting. Master, your greed is blinding you. This is not the path god wants you on. Be quiet, beast. I am the prophet, and I will do as I see fit. Very well, master.

But remember, even a donkey can see the truth sometimes. It's great. It it it it gets me. Scene scene four. Balaam reaches king Balak and prepares to curse his enemies, but as he opens his mouth, the words come out differently.

In I instead of cursing, Balaam says, I see no evil in this land, king Balak. Only blessings and prosperity. Alright. I'll do this part. K. King Balak. What is this? I paid you to curse my enemies, not praise them. It seems God has other plans, your majesty, and even a donkey can be wiser than a prophet sometimes. Here's the epilogue. Balaam returns home humbled and changed by his experience. He learns to listen not just to God's voice, but also to the wisdom of his faithful donkey. And the donkey, it becomes a local legend,

a a symbol of courage and speaking truth to power even when you have four hooves and a bray. That that this concludes AI biblical theater. AI biblical theater.

Speaking truth is ridiculous. There you go. Go protest the AI. And the donkey became a local legend. Ridiculous situation. Oh, boy. Oh, that was great. I I really had to try try and become furious for that king Balak part. Yeah. No. I I felt it. Oh gosh. I felt it hit it hit me deep. Actually, I did I've obviously, I didn't scan this well enough. There were four characters in this thing. We said two characters, then I had to come up with some other voices. Oh, man. Alright, AI. Next time, two characters. Okay. Hey. If you have any ideas

Yes. What story would you like us to run through biblical AI theater? Use the old Life From The Path, Popeyes Larkin Plate Line (515) 517-0085. Call or text. Let us know, and it it it'll depend on how many people in the room. If we got four guys, I'll ask for a four man's play. Now I will I will tell you that I did seed I did seed it a little bit. Okay. Like, when I when I asked for hold on. Let me pull

it up. I'll tell you the the instructions I gave you. The prompts are very important. Yes. Actually, I don't know. Let's see. Where where'd it go? Where's my history? Show me. Show me, friends. This is a great this is great setup. Oh, yeah. No. Sorry. Here we go. It went away. I said so what I asked for is I said write me a five minute play based on the biblical story of Balaam's donkey. The play should only have two characters, Balaam and the donkey. The main points of the story should be accurate, but it's okay to create dialogue that wasn't in the biblical narrative. The donkey can talk. Also, the donkey should have a bit of a biting wit in its dialogue. I mean, in AI's defense, though, like, the angel was a part of it and so is king Balak. Yeah. That's that's true. I I here's what I'm saying. That's not bad. No. It took about thirty seconds to generate this five minute play. Yep. I'm I'm impressed.

Same. Yeah. Okay. Oh. Anyway, let's lot of stories we could have a lot of fun with. Yeah. I did. I'd I've tried Job before. Which part? Just the whole story or Job? The whole thing. Oh gosh. Yeah. I asked for the whole have to color, like, round one of Job versus buddies and then round two and then god versus Job. Yeah. And I think God and Satan having a conversation at the beginning. Actually, you know what's funny is is is as a side note, I read the message version of Job recently. Yeah. Because you I could not stop laughing when in the very beginning,

like, God talks to Satan. Yeah. He's like, hey. What are you up to? What are you up to, pal? Yeah. What's been going on? Mhmm. I'm like, this is a definitely different kind of story from the one that I've been thinking of. Like, Satan just kinda shows up, god's like, what's up, buddy? Uh-huh. How you been? It's striking. Alright. Let's do some advice, then we'll let we'll do what the lord did for the Israelites and said, let my people go. I hated that more than I should have. It was it didn't come out quite how I expecting. Like, it sounded good as a concept, and then I I fumbled. It just really kinda failed execution. Alright. Take two. Dear, for nearly three years, I have been seeing a man who later asked me to move in with him. Okay. He abruptly stopped emailing me four months ago.

That's really tough time. So, apparently, this is a long distance situation. I waited several weeks and then emailed him, telling him how upset and hurt I was and asking what was going on. I found out, not from him, that he's been in a relationship with another woman for the last five years. I'm furious. I'm at a loss about what I should do. Dear Loud and the Path, help me. What do you mean? What what do you mean what you should do? I

don't I don't understand. Like, what are the options you think are on the table? Okay. Tell me, Bubba. You are you are hurt. Yes. Totally. You are hurt. I can understand that. This is an email based relationship, it appears Mhmm. Because your contact with one another is email based. Mhmm. You found out from another person, which I don't know how that happened. Are you emailing their friend or, like, someone in their state? Is this long there's a lot of there's a lot of what, of ifs here.

Your options are very clear. I don't think you see them clearly because you think you've been in a relationship for years. Mhmm. You need to realize that this just invalidated that entire relationship. You have not been in a relationship for years. Nope. You have not. You have been with someone who is cheating on them, and they are cheating on you, and everyone is being cheated on, and there is no respect for you at all. Or at best, this person doesn't understand the concept of your relationship like you do. Yep. And so you're mourning you're mourning something that is is more in your mind than in reality, and I recognize that that is harsh Yep. But truthful. Mhmm. And I think the sooner that you can take that in and recognize that, like, it's not even mourning a real thing,

like which is which is eventually, you will see as freeing, hopefully. Yep. And I I I pray that that that freeing sense comes sooner rather than later. Yeah. That's I would say. Yeah. I would agree. Like, there's no protocol here, because this is a real dumpster fire. Yes. And so just walk away. Right. The for so yeah. So for one, like, if you are practically speaking, do you talk to this man? No. No. For weeks. Yeah. Like, you just let it go. Like, you you don't follow-up with him.

I would even I think I think some maybe folks would disagree with me here. There it may feel like you try to get ahold of the man or send him another email to get all this stuff off your chest. Mhmm. You will not receive any validation Right. In it. It it it actually won't because it'll feel good to have all written out Mhmm. And then you're gonna sit and wait to see whether you respond to it. And this man will have his hooks back into your attention

that he does not deserve and never did. Write that letter and burn it. Yeah. That's right. Like, yeah, you don't send it to him. If you feel like you gotta you obviously get your feelings out. Go have have your friends take you out for eight hours and just, I mean, spill it. Be angry. Throw chips. Do whatever you gotta do. Which you have every right to do. Yes. Totally fine. But don't do it to him because you will not your pain and hurt in that situation will not be honored with that man. Right. And so do not not waste your effort in doing so. Like, get yourself working through it. Lose his email. I mean, block the man. You you don't like, you don't wanna hear from him. You don't wanna care about his explanations.

Just let it get cut it all off. Start to work through it. And then I I would recognize that you're probably gonna bring this into your next relationship. Absolutely. And it's so and you need to know that. Yep. That you're gonna take people in through a little bit of a shaded view. And so just be cautious.

I mean, obviously, you're gonna be watchful that you don't end up in a situation like this again. I don't know what got you to this far, but, like, I think there was some blindness on your part. You know what I'm saying? Like, I Mhmm. I don't know. It's always it's always interesting to me in situations like this because where I think, how could this person possibly get away with this? Like, there's no way they could but it's it's because

there's there you've lowered the bar somewhere about intimacy. Right. How much information you have, how much people are sharing, like, that kind of thing. And, like, I it's it's it's a modern it's more of a modern problem because with the sense that there's a real high virtue of independence. Mhmm. But it'll, frankly, allow space that people use incorrectly. And so Right. Agreed.

Anyway, I would just say just be prepared. Cut them off completely. It's it's okay to work it out. It's okay that it takes time. You were legitimately hurt, but may maybe don't jump into a relationship quick. I mean, like, six months at least. Right. And then just know that you're probably bringing that into the thing, and so you need to be cautious about how you react to situations going forward. Yep. Agreed. Alright. Secular says, the man may have abruptly stopped communicating with you because the woman he has been involved with found out about the romance he was having with you. Have you heard from him since? If not, she may have rendered him speechless. Dumb.

It's important you find a way to dis it's important you find a way to discharge some of your righteous anger. Believe it or not, physical exercise can help. Talking to friends or a therapist may also lessen the urge to explode. Learn whatever lesson there is to learn from this and move on. Do not let it be let it rule your life. Everyone makes mistakes, and he was one of them. Yep. I yeah. I mostly agree with that. Yeah. Pretty good. Okay. Another one. Dear live from the path. Without consulting me, my husband gave my father's US army uniform to my brother, complete with honor patches. My

sister-in-law now wears it as a fashion statement Oh. Saying that she is a, in quotations, Sullivan. This is not sitting well with me. She is only a Sullivan by marriage. I feel it is disgraceful to prance around in something you haven't earned, and it's insulting not just to my late father but to all who have served. Her father also served, but she isn't wearing his uniform. That's it? That's it. No question. Just I feel bad. What should I do is is implied.

Should I feel bad? Am I validated feeling bad? What do I do? I'm gonna start and say I can understand where you're coming from. Yeah. I can totally see it. I empathize with that. I I it it sounds like, you had a lot of respect for your father, and his service meant a lot to you, and it probably meant a lot to him. And you probably heard those stories growing up, and you heard a lot about it. And so you are attributing, those patches and that jack that uniform, all those different things to those memories and to that respect and that and that that place that he held in his heart for his service and for the the things that honor that. Right? Can totally understand that. Yep.

I think that, your brother giving it away without any conversation with you was was unthoughtful. It sounds like there wasn't really a conversation about that in any way that, like, he talked to you about, hey. Is this a possession that you would want to keep? Is there any grounds or boundaries with this possession? Like, can I give it to my wife? Is this a problem to sell? We Can give it to him and donate? All that different stuff. There's there's a lack of communication that happened that led to,

injured feelings and then all of this happening. So I totally understand where you're coming from. I think it's a conversation to have with your brother. I I don't believe that I would immediately,

paint your sister-in-law in in a in a poor light just because she's wearing it. I think you may be looking into it a bit much, thinking that she only thinks of it as a fashion statement. You don't know for sure that she's not trying to honor her late father in law's memory by wearing it. There's a lot to it. There's a lot of there's a lot of, of conversation and communication that didn't happen that you're now feeling the weight of because it it didn't happen. And so I understand you're hurt.

Maybe don't backlash the entire situation and then, like, attack your sister-in-law. Yep. But, like, you know, I I get it. I totally understand where you're coming from, and I can understand why this is hurtful. I think that there's just some conversations that need to be had and then some healing from it because things didn't happen beforehand. Yeah. I I do think I I don't get the sense that she's done a good job of talking about this. Agreed. Like, my guess is the narrative I made up in my mind Right. Is that this woman like like, you you remember her the example she gave about the sister-in-law, which is like, I could wear it. I'm a Sullivan. Right. Yes. In quotations. And the word prancing

Yep. Right. All all give me like, it makes it sound like she goes didn't actually talk about this in, like, a healthy way, but you just came out with an accusation. It goes, hey. You shouldn't be wearing that. It was my father's. Right. She goes, but I like, it's oh, like, it doesn't it's not yours. And she's like, well, I I'm a Sullivan. Right. Exactly. It's not wrong. I am I matched the name or whatever. Exactly. It it it's it does seem a bit like

if you wanted to wear it as a fashion thing, like, buy one from the DAV. Exactly. Right? Like They're everywhere. Don't use a memento. Right. That seems Yep. Like, are you being conscious about it? Mhmm. And maybe the lady doesn't even know. And the the the but the brother should have been able to anticipate this. Yeah. Right. He seems like a real jackpot. He knows both. Yeah. And and maybe maybe his sister's wound too tight. Maybe. But Well, in it matters to her. It might have recently been a loss of her father, and, like, there's a lot of charged emotion to that. Yep. And, like, when you're in that kind of storm, like, everything is colored that way. Yeah. And it's different. And so, you know, I I I I think you're absolutely right. I would say that that there's a very high potential that the person who feels disrespected

has not communicated in all parties or to all parties, in a constructive manner or in a way that that is actually trying to move towards resolution. Yeah. You're probably in a place and right, understandably so that you're you're reacting in hurt,

and I can totally get that. Yeah. It may that that does make sense to me. And I I do wonder we're like, well, why is the why is the brother Jack Wagon didn't discuss this with the sister? Maybe he doesn't get along with the sister Yeah. Right. For multiple reasons. Oh, yeah. And so and this is her butt hurt about it or whatever. And siblings and, like, siblings very often take the death of a parent incredibly differently. Yeah. Like, they just the relationship with the parent may have been different. The person is different, and therefore, they're gonna take things differently. Like, there's all kinds of factors and variables here. Yeah. There's a chance that, like, the husband looked at the service and went, you know, I lost my dad, and this doesn't mean anything to me. And it was it was stories that I grew up on, but, like, it it's not that important to me. Yeah. Whereas the sister may have been like, that is that is the defining, characteristic

of my relationship with my father is is based off of what what I I idolized about their service. Like, that totally happens in families. You know, you got one person that resents the military because their dad was in it, and you've got one person that respects the military because their dad was in it. It's just you're different people, and and communications need to or, need to happen, and expectations need to be communicated. And so, yeah, there's a lot to it. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. So but but the the advice I would say is I I would start the conversation fresh. Absolutely. And and and just say, look. This this means a lot to me,

and, like, can I I don't know? Let's go together. We'll go to the army surplus. Yeah. Right. We'll find you something that you really like. Solutions. It doesn't have to be this one. Can I I I would just I would feel better about I know maybe I'm being oversensitive about it, but, like, it it means a lot to me? Right. You want some army fatigues? I'll buy them. We'll figure it out. Yeah. Yeah. I think that's a good idea. Okay. Secular says, your husband should not have given your brother the uniform. Wait. What? Without first con your husband should not have given your brother uniform. Oh,

my husband gave my brother. We didn't even take into consideration that it's her husband that gave away the the jacket. Oh, I guess I didn't That's definitely a different story. Okay. Well, your husband's a jackwagon then too. He should've known that you were gonna be like this. Absolutely true. Even more so than the brother. Yeah. Anyway, your husband should not have given your brother uniform without first consulting you because it wasn't his property to give. What your son-in-law sister-in-law, excuse me, is doing with it seems less like a fashion statement and more like an example of stolen valor. Oh gosh.

Which may be offensive to many people, particularly those who have served. It's not a crime by virtue of the fact that she isn't impersonating a soldier, but it would be in better taste for her to wear her own father's uniform rather than your dad's. Okay. I feel like the stolen valor might be a bit of a a a hot topic to jump on just to grab it. I don't know if that's what, what you can really imply here. Acting like she served. If it's a fashion statement, it's not me saying, hey. I served, and these are all of my decorative patches. That doesn't seem like what she's doing. No. I don't think so either. But taking into consideration that I didn't I I forgot about the husband part yet. Your husband is ridiculous. Your husband should have never given that to your brother without your knowing at all. Yeah. He should have known this was gonna be a problem. Bad husband. Yep. Okay. Time for one more? Yeah. One more. Dear, live from the. What's the best way to deal with an overgifter?

My friend of ten years is one, often giving gifts beyond holidays and birthdays. Every time we hang out, she gives me something, either food or small trinkets. I asked her three years ago to tone it down. Two years ago, I sent her a letter saying I value our friendship, and for me, the best gift is quality time. She stopped for a while, but six months ago, she started up again. Life of the Path, I throw away all of her gifts. They are usually stale or expired foodstuffs or trinkets I don't have the space to store. I'm trying to find a way to make my boundaries clear, but I don't wanna hurt her feelings in the process. Oh my. Your friend gives you expired food?

Yeah. Okay. I Like, hey, Rhonda. Here's this box of Twinkies. It was out in 2020, but, like, you know, I wanted you to have it. So weird. Okay. Well, here's what I would do. A couple couple things to make you laugh at I'm just so happy that it's expired food. So so you've you've already talked to her once about this. Right? You sent her a letter. Yeah. Well, sounds like you may have said it out loud and then sent the letter. Or or do you think it's one? So but I I when she tries to give you something, go, hey.

We talked about this. You know what I'm saying? You don't have to be like, I'm disappointed in you. You know we discussed this. When they try to hand it over, I would say, June, we talked about this. What are you trying to hand me? I don't want your expired food. You keep that. You give it to the birds or whatever. I don't want it. I didn't know caramels could be expired, but you've found some. Yeah. I would say and if she she'd say, look. No. I'm I'm I'm not taking it. We're gonna leave it on the table here at the restaurant. You should you should stop giving it to me. But, like, you don't have to be harsh about it. I would say that to someone who, like, continued like, maybe it's just a problem they have. They think they're being nice. They need reminded that I don't care for it. I don't value it. Like, if it was on and off, I'd just take it and throw it away. Obviously, she doesn't care. You know what saying? She doesn't even care that you don't want it. So the fact that you're throwing away doesn't make any difference to her. There's something she gets out of bringing you a gift, and bless it. Maybe you just take them anyway just because she likes it. That's what I was just about to say. Like, maybe I'm being a softy in this situation, but if you're gonna throw it away anyway and and Rhonda feels good about it, just let her give you the gift. Yeah. I I would But you don't have to keep it in a box and look at it and get angry every time you see it. Yeah. Like, it's fine to just toss it or regift it or sell it. Whatever. Or yeah. I'm I'm not even say that, but say, hey. Look. I'm a I'm gonna throw this out. You know? Well, why why do you why do do that? I love you, and I bought you that gold necklace. I told you to stop doing that. I don't I really don't want it, and, I'm gonna get rid of it. And so you should you should donate money in my name to the ASPCA or something like I don't I don't know. Whatever. I don't think if this is a good friend of yours, then you shouldn't have any problem going, hey. You you know I told you to stop doing this, and I love that it tickles you. And so I need you to know two things. Either I'm gonna do you want me to accept these gifts and then throw them away later, or do you wanna stop bringing them? Because those are the two options that are on the table. Which do you prefer? I'm gonna bring a radical thought into this conversation. K.

Is there a chance that you can look at your friend as a human being that doesn't exist to serve you? And then can you look at that relationship and go, it's something small and relatively inconsequential to me like it doesn't truthfully burden me, and it brings them joy? And I'm just gonna take that in. And then I'll throw away the stuff. I'm never gonna tell her that I need to throw it away. Just she'd she gets joy. It makes her feel better. It makes her feel like she's she's gifting things to you because she loves you. That may be her love language, and that's her way. Have you ever given her a gift? I bet it would make her freaking life if you bought her a trinket. Oh, maybe. You'd if you showed up and went, Rhonda, you're always giving me gifts every time. Even though I've said before, stop giving me gifts. You do it every time. So guess what? I baked you a tray of cinnamon rolls, and I love you so much. And I got you this I saw this trinket at the DAV the other day or the d yeah. It just it just looked good, and I bought it for you. She will probably go, oh my gosh. I have never felt so cared for in a friendship in my life, and you just changed her whole frigging year because every time she has a bad day, she gets to go, I remember when June made me those those cinnamon rolls. Even though gifts aren't her thing, she just went a little further and was willing to love me the way that I get love.

I know it's radical to say that your friendships aren't just meant to be you centric, but, like, there's a chance that you can go, okay. I'm just gonna take these gifts. I'll toss them. I don't care. I just thank you. Thank you so much for it. Yeah. I the only question I would have is, like, I I suppose you'd have to be certain that she really isn't offended if you're throw if she if she were to find out that you throw them away Yeah. That's fair. Would that harm her? Because it's not if if not, then I think it's fine to keep them or to keep keep getting them. But, like, there's something fundamentally off about taking it, not telling her, and then she finds out later that you didn't say anything and you should've.

Yeah. Fair. But, I mean, she already has said something. Like, she even wrote a letter. Yeah. That's true. And it stopped for a bit. So, like, there was a recognition that the letter happened. There was a recognition that the behavior was not wanted, but then she went back to it. Did something happen six months ago that she started doing this again? Yeah. I don't know. It's a good question. So, anyway, I I and I and I'm not saying that that your point isn't correct. Like, I understand entirely where you're coming from. I'm just saying, like,

in these kind of ones and a lot of the times when I when I see, you know, or read these dear life from the paths, I just wonder if there's a chance that you can look at your relationship, and I'm and I'm painting you out to be a bad person, and I'm not intending to. I'm I'm painting you in trying to paint you as a human being. Sometimes we need to be reminded that, like, friendships go both ways and, like, sometimes taking on a little bit of inconvenience so that somebody could feel love, it's okay. You could do that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That that's true. That's true. So, like, yeah, if it's just something that they keep going back to and it's just a quirk of theirs and it I mean, you can throw it away on the way home if you want. It's not really a big deal as long as if they were to find out that you got rid of all that stuff and it's not gonna be a situation where they go, why didn't you just Right. Remind me or tell me? Like, I didn't I I knew you told me to to not give them to you, but I thought it was just because you just prefer me. You prefer my company. You're being humble, but really and you thought it was a burden to me, but it's not a burden to me at all. Like, because you didn't say a very clear thing. Right. But as if you've articulated that clearly once and they're like, I just like it, then then then you then I think it's totally free to go, well, then I like to receive it. Yep. I think that's fair. Okay. Secular says, because your friend may have forgotten, remind her that you do not want her giving these gifts and that the most treasured gift she can give you is the time with her. Explain that her continue to do it is making you uncomfortable.

Then cross your fingers and hope that this time she gets the message. If she doesn't, you will have to remind her yet again. I'm really glad that didn't end with you should stop being friends with this person immediately. Yeah. And then call the law. The law. Johnny Law, I'm sick of this person. They keep giving me gifts. Okay. Alright. You've been listening to Live From The Path. Thanks for hanging out with us tonight. We really do appreciate it. Go ahead. Hit us up on the Live From The Path, Bob Eisenhower complaint line. (515) 517-0085. Call or text. We'd love to hear from you. Remember, you're on the hook for tell me if if you got a problem with our he gets us ad rendering. I'd love to hear that. Secondly, if you got any ideas, what biblical story would you like to hear through the AI machine performed by Life From The Path? We'd love to do that.

And wasn't there was there something in that advice? I forget. It doesn't matter. Maybe you just got general commentary Yeah. Sure. Or whatever. There was some spicy that, like, made you angry. Let us know. Yeah. Let us know. Alright. We hopefully, we'll we'll be have a full crew back in the saddle for the next show. In the meantime, be faithful in the means. God will handle the ends. You've been listening to Live From The Path.