I was back. I was just getting home. What's up? I didn't retract my answer for your life in that house. The bully? Yeah. Gotcha. I was reading scripture the next day. I'm like I liked your answer. I like Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston Proper. You are

live from the path. And you're listening live from the path on livefromthepath.org. How you how you how you doing? How's everybody doing? Everybody doing pretty smooth? Yeah. Absolutely. Wonderful. Oh, sweet Moses Troy. Here's the deal. We have a a a whiz bang of a show for you tonight. It's, there's fantastic things going on. It turns out that the new pope is causing a stir. I mean, he's he says things and people are like, wow, this is what I've always wondered out of the pope. And they're very excited and we're we're gonna we're gonna talk about it. Here's the deal. I don't like getting too involved in the pope's business or or generally Catholic generalities. It's not my area of expertise. I don't have a whole lot of gushy feelings in that area, so I'm a little jaded. And so we're we're gonna we're gonna tread a real fine line

because it's just it's just not a topic that I have a lot of strong knowledge on. But it's enough that it's making, it's making a stir. All the a lot of the the major papers are picking up on it. There's a couple stories on the CNN belief blog about it. It's just tending to be kind of a big deal. And, so we're gonna go through that. We have a little bit of, stuff on Luke one. It's been kind of a heavy reading rotation around here lately and so there's a couple things we're gonna run through there. We also have your chat. Hopefully, it's lively and kicking and we also have some dear life from the past which are always show off the best of humanity and the life from the past in general. And actually, we're gonna give we don't do this very often because we're prideful beasts. But there there's a there's an excellent chance to make a a bit of retraction. Dan Hudson had given some advice last week with concern to a little kid that was being bullied and

and we had given advice about it and actually Dan had sent me a message later in the week with a different take on it and I was convicted just because he was convicted and I felt like you know, Dan said he'd like to give a retraction. So, we're gonna we're gonna let it go down, Dan. Well, here's the deal. We're talking about bullies and and my answer is basically, well, smack him in the head. You know, someone's coming after you. Just punch him in the face. You know, grow up, suck it up, be a man. You got you got that's that's just life. That was basically my take. And and partly, it is is maybe because I get a little irritated with the sissification

of of the male, you know, species Right. In in recent generations. And I don't know. So then I the next day, I'm I'm reading through Matthew and and I'm reminded of of the sermon that that Jesus preached on the mountain and just things he taught about that exact idea, that exact topic. He didn't use the word bullies,

but, you know, he said when someone, what, smacks you in the face, you you and and hit you on one side, you turn the turn the other cheek. You know? That's pretty commonly known scripture. And he and he said, hey. If someone asks you to to go one mile, you go the second mile. The context of that is a Roman soldier who you could probably call a bully, you know, especially with a Jewish person. They're bullying him around. They're like, hey, dude. I want you to carry my gear. Well, you're the enemy. So what? I'm the Roman soldier. And so Jesus said, yeah. When they do that, the big bully Roman soldier, don't don't just to go one, you go a second mile. And I'm reading that and I'm just it just really hit me. I thought, man, we gave some bad advice to this poor poor kid. We didn't well, I put it this way. We might have given some quote manly advice. We did not give Jesus. I did not give Jesus advice. And that's a pretty hard I don't I don't know how to tell your eight year old kid, hey, the bully's smacking you. You turn the other cheek. I I don't know what that looks like. I'm still thinking about that. Yeah. Well, I I mean, I I mean, we have to go I go through this with my kids every once in a while, and, I it's it's convicting and hard. It's very convicting. It's very hard because sometimes I see, you know, I I know that Jesus answer and I give it and it's hard because you look in their eyes, it's not what they wanted. You know, they they wanted something different. They wanted they wanted the guy that's picking on him to be their friend. You know, and and they. I want to beat him up. That's right. And and that goes against the flesh. Yeah. Yeah. Jesus always went against the flesh. It's the spirit. And especially and I and I have girls. I don't have boys but like, man, that's gotta be hard with a little boy. It's gotta be hard with a little boy. You know, when you're you're trying you're trying to teach him to to be you're you're trying to grow him in Christ to be a leader and to and to to shepherd people, but at the same time, you know, to stand up and and and and make sure that they're heading the right direction. But at the same time, you know, be willing to to walk that extra mile and give that extra coat. Yeah. And and it's a it's a real delicate balance and and I don't pull it off well most of the time, to be honest. Yeah. I I I couldn't get my myself to

to talk myself out of what Jesus said. You know? I mean, I couldn't I could couldn't get myself to say, yeah, he what he really meant was smack him in the face but do it nicely. I mean Yeah. You know. See, that's where we're all hoping that maybe if we just took if our if our ideals here's what Jesus probably meant. He probably meant what I'm saying, you know. Break his arms. Say, no offense. I mean, you know.

I'm sure God None taken. Me where I am because going where he is, that seems like a lot of work. Absolutely. Yeah. So so, you know, dig on it. It's a it's a life from the path retraction. We gave we give out a lot of advice on a lot of dear life from the past and and some of them are goofy. Some of them are are pretty serious and and sometimes we're we don't give out the best and and I think Dan's right. I think we didn't take a Jesus tact on that and none of us did, not Dan only but none of us did really. And so Troy closer than anyone else. Yeah. Well, Troy Troy I don't know about that. No. Didn't give her Jesus Christ. Than we were. But anyway, Life on the Path is riding humble train this afternoon. So just be just be prepared.

Alright. We're gonna take a look at there's the new pope. Like I said, ahead of time, just just kinda be prepared. It's not my expertise but but I think there's a couple talking points to be had on it and a couple things that I've been hearing in the news, that I think is worth talking about. So, the big article, I'm kind of reading the I'll get you little bit of the intro and then I'm going to get you the five things that, he basically gave an interview on a plane. He gave, three separate interviews that turned out to be a big giant interview. And, you know, he put it together, and it's just got a lot of people talking that, like, he doesn't,

Pope Francis doesn't have appear to have kind of the, I don't know, the air about him that maybe some of the other popes did. Actually, some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth, I'm like, okay. Yeah. Okay. Seems almost like a common Yeah. Just a regular dude. He he moved out of the out of the regular quarters. He's like, it's too creepy in here and he moved to a smaller apartment. Like, he he calls people on the phone. Yeah. You know, he he refuses to write in the Pope bubble. He's just I there's just things about him that I he's kind of bold. He's kind of tear tear a hole in the roof bold. There's there's a it's like someone offering you a a a giant comfortable chair at the top of the at the top of the banquet and you sit in the back waiting for someone to just like that that Jesus talks about that. Don't don't seat yourself at a place of honor, unless someone else more important than you shows up and you are embarrassed to have to walk Oops. To the cheap seats. Right? And and and the pope tends to be in almost everything that he does. He tends to almost take that tact. He's like, you're gonna have to force me up there. Otherwise, I'm living with the common man. And I don't you know, right off the bat, without having I don't know a whole lot about Catholic dogma or or or doctrine on on that side,

or that kind of stuff. But I don't know. I'm I'm kinda okay with him so far. But there's a we'll we'll go through some of the things he said and see why he's making such a big splash. So aboard the papal plane, Pope Francis said money that he will not judge gays and lesbians, including gay priests, signaling a shift from his predecessor and offering another sign that the new pope is committed to changing the church's approach to historically marginalized groups. If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge? Francis said in a wide ranging news conference aboard the pay you say papal or papal? I'll say papal. Papal. I'll say papal. I like papal. The papal plane. Though he was answering a question about the so called gay lobby at the Vatican, pope indicated a change in tone, if not teaching, in the church's stance toward gays and lesbians more generally. The pope was flying back to Rome, taking questions from reporters aboard the plane. The pope addressed nearly every hot button issue facing the Roman Catholic church, its alleged gay lobby, Vatican bankruptcy, the role of women, abortion, homosexuality, and his own personal security. And here's the rundown. Here are highlights from his press conference. On the gay lobby and homosexuality. The Pope addressed the issue of an alleged gay lobby within the church, hence that the Holy See contained The Holy See is capitalized. I'm not sure what that means. The Holy See contained a network of gay clergy surfaced last year in reports about a series of embarrassing leaks to Italian journalists. The Vata leak scandal factored in Benedict's shocking decision to resign this year, according to some church experts, as it impressed upon the 86 year old pontiff that the modern papacy requires a vigorous and watchful presence.

That's a lot of talk about the gay lobby, but I've never seen it on the Vatican ID card, Francis says. When I meet a gay person, I have to distinguish between their being gay and being part of a lobby. If they accept the Lord and have goodwill, who am I to judge them? They shouldn't be marginalized. The tendency to is not the problem. They're our brothers. The problem, he said, was the lobbies that work against the interests of the church. In 2005, the papacy Pope Benedict, the Vatican, issued directives barring from the priesthood men who are actively homosexual have deep seated homosexual tendencies or support the so called gay culture. Francis' brief remarks seem to signal a sharp shift from that policy. On women, the Pope also spoke out about the role of women in the church, saying it needs to be deeper and not end. But he brushed aside the possibility of ordaining women as priests, saying the church had spoken on the matter. The church says no. That door is closed. He did say that more work needed to be done theologically on the role of women in the church. Actually, I I read a thing about that. He says the the the women genius,

need to be around in every decision that is being made. Just not in the role that that the the more liberal sect of the Catholic church is pushing for as in in the priesthood. And I heard him comment about this. Maybe it was the maybe it was the pope before him, but he actually made a a a fairly decent argument because it tends to be a an odd subject between folks and and really what, what what he said about about women becoming priests the Catholic church, he says, God didn't give me that authority. He gave me the authority to make man priests. That's the authority that I have. I just it's not even up for discussion. The church doesn't have the authority to make that call. I thought that was a fairly good answer and fairly biblically based. So on divorce or on abortion, the pope watches. The pope watches have noted that Francis said little to nothing about abortion on his trip to Brazil. Abortion is illegal in Brazil except for the cases in which the health of the mother is at risk. The pope said he had nothing to say on the trip about abortion because the church teaches against it the the church teachings against it were clear, and this trip was time for positive news. On abortion, let's on women, the we already talked about that. On divorce, he said, I believe this is time of mercy, a change of epoch, the pope said when asked about divorce. He said the group of eight cardinals tasked with reform will explore the issue of whether divorcees can receive communion, which they are currently barred from doing. The pope conceded he was unaware anything to do with the Vatican Bank. He says, I got people working on it. I don't know what else you want me to do. So

the Pope, he he handled quite quite a few of the of of the rougher subjects that that have caused trouble with the Roman Catholic Church. Some of them, obviously, you know, from from our take, I, you know, I I kinda theologically disagree with them right off the bat on a couple of things anyway. The communion thing, I I I don't I I just don't it doesn't ring my bell at all. But what do you guys think? Do you do you think that the new pope is making strides for not only for the Catholic church, but maybe people's perception of, Christianity in general since, Catholicism has been quite a a a a long reaching arm? You know, I I don't think he's changed anything. He's just maybe rephrasing it. You know, he's not saying that

God is endorsing the homosexual lifestyle. He's saying that God loves homosexuals, And and so do and so should we. I would agree with that. I would I would go with that. I mean, of course, we're to live up everyone. That doesn't mean we accept the lifestyle. We say, we call them to repent. We call them to to, you know, change and and, have their sins forgiven just as any any sin. You know, I wouldn't point him that one out, but that's that's when they asked him about. Well, right. I I I think he makes kind of a strong point on some of the hot button issues. He, like I mean, and and I'm generalizing. I'm paraphrasing what he says, but he's basically has said, look, you know, you this is all you guys wanna talk about. It's no longer we can't make any any strides towards any relationship with God or or getting any real work done because you wanna fight over things that the Bible has already spoke on. Yeah. I can't change yeah. Even if you want to. Right? But I can't change what God said about it. If he's an invaluable God, which I believe, there's not much I can do for you. You're fighting the wind. You know? And like, it's an unpopular stance but Jesus was he was not a popular man when they killed him. Right? Like some of the teaching is of dying to self and and sacrificing for others, even bully style to make that it's gonna make you look weak in the world's eyes, not popular. People don't like to do that. You know? Rick Gray. Well, I think

I think to make any change in the Vatican, you do have to go against dogmatic tradition. I mean, that's the the now the men are the only ones that can be priests. Is that biblical? Yeah.

But now can they be ministers? Denominations have female They do. Leader? I I mean, I Here's here's the deal on that subject. There's Paul is fairly clear that he will only task men with that job. Most of the the building of the church and the way that churches are run are based off Paul's New Testament writings. Does it specifically say that women will not hold this office? It is not I here's here's where I stand on it. This could be just public inter this is just my interpretation. Right? But, like, God was not specifically clear on it, so I feel like it would be better safe than sorry just to stay out of that pool.

You know what I'm saying? Like Okay. It doesn't say specifically, you will not ever make a woman a priest. They can hold eldership. That's a definite okay. There's there's certain rules within the church. They can certainly teach kids. They can teach women. They can't I think the phrasing in the Bible was lead men. Is is that correct, Dan? When you get into so many layers of culture and and and history that, you know, I did not permit a woman to teach in second Timothy or first Timothy or have authority over a man. Yeah. You know? See, where I'm having trouble with is

priest. There is no priest in the New Testament. Right. You know, eldership is a specific man thing in the scripture. So I don't know what what the Did I say elders? I should have said deacons. Is it deacons that they can Okay. They can hold the deacon. I just I just think that that standing is probably

more strongly clarified in some sort of Catholic separate Yeah. I don't know where they get the authority for a priest. Because they have they have a whole bunch of different, you know, it's like the like the pharisees making the extra rules. Yeah. I think it's called the catechism if I'm Yeah. So Okay. You know, I just and, you know, he would treat that the same, I guess, but that's where I run into trouble. Yeah. And, you know, and and dogmatically, the branches that have split from Catholicism,

it's always it's not the bible part, it's the other part. You know? Yeah. So Yeah. He's like, I gotta stick with the other part because that's how we've always done it. You're in the same boat as everyone else. What? It's just how how staunchly you wanna follow that dogma. Well, it it was funny because I because there was a there was a, I listen to a news program generally, but just about every day. And it's a it's a national news program, and it's not a a religious affiliation. And they were talking about the Pope. Right? And they and they talked for now and they had a couple religious study guys on there and one was a Catholic and one was a a regular Christian dude or whatever and they and they were talking about the the Pope's impact and things he was saying. And I was blown away because every time they said the Pope said this, the religious dudes would come in and they'd say, he's following the same tactic as the Pope before him or he's following the Catechism of this and he's blah blah blah. And this went on for an hour and not through the entire hour was there one reference to he's doing what the Bible says to do or he's just remarking of what the Bible says to do. He's always like he's following Catholic tradition. He's following the Now old

in in the Catholic church, my understanding is, see, in our church, the Bible has the authority. If I say one thing or church history says one thing, we disregard that and say, does the Bible say? That's the word of God. My understanding in the Catholic church that the the history the the history of the Catholic church has authority even over the word of God. If some pope seven hundred years ago said x, then we'll go with what that pope said

even if we're thinking, oh, I'm not sure if that really measures with the word of God. Because we've decided he's the human conduit of God. Exactly. And that's where it gets That's where we have trouble Right. With with some of the doctrinal things. That's usually where things have gotten Well, this this is why I think that he's making such a splash. Right? Because, like, to us, it's not that big of a deal, the things that he's saying. Right? Because it's basically goes back to the Yeah. But he's I mean, he's he's slowly putting a thumb in the eye of the of the Catholic church that has made these things a huge issue. Right? Like, you're gonna take a staunch, like, you're gonna spend all your time talking about abortion and homosexuality because that's where the church is gonna rail on contraception, and it's that big of an you know what I'm saying? And he's like, look. Can we talk about loving people? Can we talk about Jesus for a while? You know, can we can we can we talk about helping the poor? You know? Right. And, like, I'm not saying that I I I don't know enough about the man to know whether I agree with every holding of doctrine in the past. I don't I don't know that. But I guess what I'm saying is is like like he's causing a splash in that pool because he's basically taking tradition and he's he's putting a little thumb in the eye. And he's like Mhmm. You guys are you're you're missing the forest for the trees. I

we're not gonna rehash what the Bible says no on. Right? If the Bible says no on it, I don't know how many times you want me to get on a balcony and say the Bible says no on that. Right? Like, after a while, you're just beating a man with a brick. You know? Now the the there there is a tremendous amount of pressure within every church denomination. The Catholic church as well of of liberals going in there and trying to discredit

sound biblical teaching and and become more liberal, you know, more modern, more progressive, whatever. Some churches have fallen. Okay? And I'm not gonna name them. But but there are churches out there that have nothing in common with the Bible anymore. But they still have the word Jesus and the word church in it. But they have so much fallen because it become a political thing rather than a representation of Jesus Christ and his word. And actually, I heard, the pope spoke on that. He says, I don't want that anymore. He goes There you go. He goes, the people of the church There's pressure. Definitely pressure for them to go that way. Well, that's what he said. He he goes, look, and and he said the what he said, arch the bishops, the archbishops, anybody holding position of leadership in the church, you need to have nothing to do with politics. He goes, if you are a tender at that church, a parishioner, I I believe they're called, you need to be in politics. That's your job. You know, get in there and and get some things done for the people. But if you have anything associated in leadership of the Catholic church, I want you out and I want you out now. I'm a I he seems pretty bold. You know? So he's saying don't have anything to do with the politics of your home chapel? Well, don't basically, because they've they've had some I mean, because that's a political isn't an archbishop is a political No. No. They've they've they've been having scandals in the past because because the archbishops and and the cardinals have been pressuring political movements. Right? Like like they've been part of, associated with political parties and they've been pushing agendas and, like, they've been trying to pick pick, certain runners and said the Catholic church endorses blah blah blah. And the pope says, we don't do that. The people decide these things. Your job is to teach Jesus shut up. Yeah. You know, paraphrase.

But, like, I don't know. Like, I kinda grew with them. I always kinda had an edgy, you know, an edgy mistrust of the of of the stuff that's coming out of the Pope's mouth. And and I think the whole system's a sham. But, like, I like this guy. I think I kinda like this guy. You know? Yeah. He's he seems Well, you know, I my knowledge of popes has been two. Yeah. And it's been Benedictine, John Paul the second. I mean and that guy was, like, my whole life. It's like watching a religious aristocrat. He just always seemed really old. He never said anything. He just kinda,

you you know, waved. And people like, oh, you wave to me. It's like, he was like, he's like the holy beetle. You know? He just showed up and women are screaming and like, wow, this is exciting. But you never heard about I never heard about John Paul the second doing anything, like saying, you know, this is my stance on and maybe he was making a stance at the Vatican. Maybe he was doing stuff, he was never he was never making news. The news that he made was he visited New York. Right. He left the Vatican City or whatever.

The news that this other guy made was he's never leaving the Vatican City. And you know? So, I mean, this guy coming in and saying, yeah. This isn't the way it should be. We need to put we need to throw it on his ear. Yeah. Bravo. I mean, I think I kinda like him. And I don't like I said, I don't I I'm not endorsing or not endorsing any parts of Catholicism. I know very little about it. I'm just saying, like, the guy's making a splash, I feel like it's, for mostly positive reasons. Right? Even even the system that he's that he's in, I'm not exactly for, but I feel like he's using it to talk about Jesus. But if he and he's going back to the Bible. He's not saying that this is what the catechism says. He's saying this is what the bible says. Yeah. And I'm You know, I think Gotta respect that. Yeah. It's like it it yeah. It's a rarity for them to use that. I I lived in a strongly Catholic town for many years.

And for all the religious type people that lived there, you never heard anybody quoting the Bible. People didn't know Bible verses. They didn't read their Bible. They got

fed religion from the priest at one of the two Catholic churches in town. Well, I think that just go and the chat says that the pope also said when asked about the ability for priests to get married that that dogma was just based on on the age of that time, on the age of time. Like it was just you know, it was a thing. Frankly, it was a bit far reaching as far as I can see. I mean, Paul said, if, you know I'm saying, if you've I don't know. That always seemed like they took Paul's words and and ran the wrong Here's direction with the deal. That's almost every problem we ever had. People taking Paul's what Paul said and running the wrong direction with You know what I'm saying? But like, you know,

I here this is why this is why religion is dangerous and relationship is awesome. Right? Because relationships help vet some of this garbage out. You know what I'm saying? Like, even if I read the Bible, I get on a kick and I think that I'm gonna do this thing and I've got this grand scheme and I sit down and pray about it, there's not a chance my father's gonna let me dump like that. You know I'm saying? That I'm gonna take something and screw it up so badly, you know, that I'm honestly seeking his advice and said, here's what I read in your word. Here's what I got out of it. And this has happened to me where I've read about it and I've prayed and he's like, no. No. It's not what I intended at all. But I made you intend that so we can have this conversation. Okay. Great. You know, thank you. Right. I appreciate for the time, you know. And I I I think that that it it it really I don't know. It's our intention to to fall back to, okay, God, I got this one. Like, let's play God. I I feel like God in my own universe inside my head.

So then you skip the step of praying over it or praying over the answer. Like, well, I read it, and this is what I'm getting, and and then run with it. And you're you're skipping the vital step of, okay, god. Did I get this right? Am I you know? I mean, you're if if you skip the vetting of the answer,

then then then you start running the wrong direction. You know, sometimes I actually think I actually, now I think about it, I might it's a pretty bold move to make a catechism. It's a pretty bold move to say this is the interpretation of the Bible and this is what I'm going with the rest of my life. Right? Because I've read scripture and then been convinced five years later, had no idea what I was talking Yeah. Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't know that I could ever put pen to paper and say, this is Mike's interpretation of the Lord's word. I'd be scared to death. The word is changing. The word means different things to different people. I mean, the same thing, you can read the same verse throughout your life depending on where you're at. It's gonna strike you differently. It's gonna mean something different.

You know? Your interpretation changes with your interpretation of

life, of what's going on. I mean, you you as you grow, you understand more. I have learned memory verses as a kid. I did not understand what they meant at all. As you mature, then your understanding grows and your comprehension of a verse. The same words can mean something different to you. Yeah. The meaning themselves doesn't change, but your understanding changes. Your perception. Yeah. Yeah.

You're listening to life from the pathonlifefromthepath.org broadcasting ten to eleven on Monday night. Sometimes it's excellent decision. Sometimes it's a mistake. Depending on what side of the fence you fall on tonight, could be either one. But thanks for joining us. We're also broadcasting on ninety nine point three KTIA. In fact, recently featured in the the business directory, the Christian business directory, the local Christian business directory. And here's the deal. My kids believe that I'm a celebrity. Yeah. My wife cut it out and put it in a frame.

Nice. And my kids just think it's fantastic. And so, here's the deal. It's really not that big of a deal. The the my my five year old asked me because my picture was in a magazine if we were now making more money. Because I believe she had ideas of ways to spend it. And I said, unfortunately, this time is donated to the work of Jesus and is in no way financial benefit to us. I I made it on the sit on the cover of CityView one time many years ago and Moe had that same question.

And I'm like, this is a free paper and it comes out every week. Yeah. Really, the only person that cares about it is me. I feel pretty special about this that nobody else cares. The chat asked, do you think that the pope reads the Bible? I would certainly hope so. Yeah. I sure would hope so.

I I But that's a good question. It depends on the pope. That's a great question. Yeah. I I guarantee that some popes haven't. I I that's a strong that's a strong word, Rick Gray. You could guarantee that some popes don't read the bible? That's bold. In the two in the two thousand years there have been popes, yes. I promise you there's been popes that have not read the Bible. That that don't regularly read the Bible. That don't use the Bible for their papal decisions. Well, I regularly read the Bible and I don't always use the Bible for my decisions either. I don't know that that really paints them with any type of brush. The

the the chat submits that the general issue is the same as one of the Pharisees, where they allow another realm of authority, oral law, tradition, or whatever to basically supersede, or or in addition to. Not even replace, but even as in addition to. That's still a problem. So Yeah. And we're not talking about Catholics. I didn't mean to get on this road. We're out. We're dumping on the Catholics. I'm sorry. I'm out. It's not my intention. I'm not good at that. Here we go. We're moving on. It turns out that Rick Gray, our special guest today, has some Pope style advice, which is probably pompastic and based on his own writings. But

Not based on scripture. But we're gonna turn it over to Rick Gray for a little bit for a little pope style advice. So, yeah, the this week, it kind of occurred to me that if if you fear to

how do word this? I thought I was more ready for that. That's fair enough. The pope has gotta be more eloquent than he is today. Right. He's a man of the common men. We're we're okay. Evangelizing isn't tricking people into

believing Jesus. Not evangelizing is the enemy tricking you into thinking that you can't or don't have the authority. It

there are so many times where you feel like you have something to say, if something is valid, but you argue it with yourself in your head. Like, I can't quote the scripture that this is gonna come from. I can't say with authority this is why I have the right to say it. There are so many things that we filter through our heads that we convince ourselves to not anything. It's not polite. We don't wanna make an awkward conversation, or I don't wanna offend them or hurt their feelings, or I don't know where they're at. All these reasons that we stop ourselves from evangelizing is

we justify it by saying, you know, well, I don't really I don't wanna interfere with their life. I don't wanna trick them into, you know, hey. Come to the Jesus party and la la la. You know? Yeah. But really, all you're doing is giving in. You're saying, yeah. No. I'm being tricked into thinking I can't do this. I'm being tricked into saying I don't have the right to

Speaking of somebody else's soul. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We we we, convince ourselves to to some terrific sales job and well, I'm not really a salesman. I'm not trained to sell this. Right. It's like, no, you're just inviting someone to come along on a journey with you. What are you already on? And by the way, you get eternal life. It's cool. Yeah. You know, and and that's not so scary when you look at it that way. You know, has it been years of tradition that make the that make the conversation awkward? Because like I've said this to a guy before and I felt awkward about it after I said it. But like,

we were talking about Jesus I said, here's the deal. Like, the the only reason I'm interested in sharing Jesus with you is because it made a huge change in my life, and I want to offer you that same change. I said, it's an amazing transformation. And, I I tell you, it's just there's just it's a different life than you think is able to be lived. Right? And then I'm like, that sounded really cheesy. But it was all true. Yeah. Right? But here's the deal. It's it doesn't sound it doesn't if I were to say it to you guys, it's not cheesy because you're Jesus people and it's not that big of a deal. But Right. You take it out of the church setting and you sound like a you sound like a a a a bright white sneaker Kool Aid drinking crazy man. Yeah. You don't say that about going to the gym. Hey. Hey. I've got this thing. You wanna come with me? Yeah. I'd like to invite you to the gym because A journey of health together. It's life changing. It's like it'll make you yeah. Let's go get there and pump iron, dude. You know what I'm saying? Like So what how how do you invite someone to the gym? I don't I oh man. How would I do it? Okay. Let's let's let's do a practice run. Okay. Rick Gray, you're gonna be regular dude number one. I'm a chubby guy that needs to go to the gym. I'll be the invitee.

And then It's gonna be a stretch, man. You're gonna introduce me to your chubby friend. Hey. Hey, Mike. This this is my friend, Chubby. And as you can see, he needs some help. Woah, dude. You know, have you ever thought about hitting the gym? No. Right. Me neither. You wanna go to meet Jesus? Please. You want some french fries?

Please for the sake of yourselves, never invite anyone to the gym. Why? That was absolutely terrible. Why? Pointing out their flaws and saying, hey, Chubby. You obviously need to go to the gym. You know what's a great way to do it? Say, hey. You know, honestly, I need a friend. I need somebody to go to the gym with me. I need the motivation, and I'm terrible at doing it myself. You know, I really wanna get to the gym. Do you wanna go to the gym? Because I could really use a partner. Now convert that to Jesus talk. Okay. That's what that's what this is all about. Well, no. I understand that. I I think, to be a 100% honest, the conversation you have with someone about, hey, I wanna go to the gym, and the conversation with someone is, hey, I don't want you to go to hell, are gonna be two very different things. I don't think you should be able to plug in Jesus or heaven into your, hey, let's go to the gym speech. Think You can't say, hey, my life's a mess. I need someone to help me keep me accountable spiritually.

I think you could, but I don't Come learn with me. I think you could. And I just don't think that's gonna be your best ploy It's kinda dorky. On getting people to go to go to Jesus. Well, know, it Hey, I need the accountability. Do you wanna give up your life and sacrifice yourself to Christ? Because he did it for you, and he actually split spilled his blood on a mountainside for your sins. Did you know that? I could really use the accountability. Do you wanna come with me? I don't think it's gonna work that well. You know, to be He calls you to die to yourself. Are you ready now, brother? Exactly. Could really use accountability. Are you willing to completely give up everything that you want?

Completely die to yourself and raise up your your cross daily to to take on on a savior for for yourself, for me? Here's the deal. Have you ever have you ever, like, set anybody up on a blind date? No. Never done it? I've been on one, but I haven't set them up. Yeah. Here's here's the here's the awkward part. Is that you're basically when you invite somebody into getting a relationship with Jesus Christ, you are offering them a life changing relationship. You understand the weight of that introduction. They do not.

That's the difference. Right? If you could go to the gym or not go to the gym, your quality of life may be slightly detrimental if you do go to the gym. You might be happier if you don't. But, like, you know the weight if they choose not to be in this relationship. Right? And so it it almost has it almost has that that feel to it. And that's why it's awkward because if you if you think if they initially say no, you throw the you throw the old cast out there and you start clicking it and then you're like, hey. You start reeling in and they're like, they're not interested. And you're like, oh, man. My one shot is gone. I could never bring this up again. And because they're gonna think that I'm that Jesus man and this is all I'm not interested in being their friend and I just wanna talk to them about Jesus and get them in their secret cult. And like like and these are the these are the the not true statements that gets put in your head. Right? Like, they're not interested anymore and, like, they don't even want me to talk about. They're just happy with me living my life and they living their life. And it's none of my business to tell them how to live. And, like, to a certain point,

I, you know, I kinda get that I kinda get that, mindset, unless that you're just waiting out for the right time. But, like, most of the time, I mean, what are you gonna lose? What are you gonna lose by telling them? You know? They're gonna think you're crazy, Jesus man? Score. You know? Yeah. Exactly. Score one for you. You know? Count it as blessings in heaven. Jesus will go, well, at least I know I'm well represented on the East Side. And, you know, I got Rick Gray home down the fort. So I I I agree with that. Rick Gray, any final thoughts on that? It

it occurred to me because I'm totally horrible at this. So, that is it. Got a lot of conviction. Right? That pope style advice is me telling myself that I need to work on this. The the chat, I feel like is, in some kind of scuttle against me. But the question is, what's the biblical foundation for a personal relationship with Jesus? This is probably aimed at you, mister Hudson. At at me. Is the is this like a, ready for a home run or something? A little pitch pitch to me. What's the biblical basis for for

personal relationship? I don't know if there's like a particular verse that says, this is the relationship verse. But you see throughout the the scripture, Jesus was in relationship with his disciples. He called them to make disciples which is all kind of a relationship thing. We're calling them people into a relationship with God. You you look at the pictures, the the way that that the relationship with God is described, you know, Abba Father type of thing. It's it's that's that's relationship. You know, it's not he is sovereign. He is God. He is mighty. He is powerful powerful,

but he also is is is loving and wants to connect with us. I I know this isn't really maybe doesn't answer his his question with the biblical foundation. It's just Isn't that the Holy Spirit lives within you? Isn't that relationship? I mean, that's that's the relationship when this Holy Spirit enters you, then you are in a relationship with

God's father. I mean, that's that's the part that's active within you. He's in you and through you. Is is the first that says, I am the I am the vine, you are the branches? We talked about that on Saturday Yeah. A discipleship group that we're a part of. Here I here's the deal. I don't know how it could not be personal. I I don't know what kind of stoic professional relationship you could have with Jesus. Yeah. It's not personal as in I define who God is. But it's personal as in God has invited me into relationship with him and I I am purse I am deciding to submit to him and to die to myself for him and to follow him.

And and you're following God, but at a person. So it's in in that that you Well, it's almost inherently personal because you're doing it. Yeah. You know, like, I can't do it. You can't have an impersonal relationship. I can't do things that are not personal. And I said, the chat says, doesn't that extrapolate into come into community more than personal? And while I agree, it does it does end up being a community, but, like, you're you're basically trying to say the community is a amorphous blob made of no particular individual. Yeah. There's two two relationships going on. I have a relationship with

the community I'm part of, but that common bond is our relationship individually with God that we all have and we all share. I'd say it's de facto, man. Like like I get what you're saying, but like if you you if you live in community as as as the the the church of Jesus Christ, the community made up of hands and feet. Right? And so, like, someone's gotta be the hand. You can't all be the whole, you know, sum total of being. It has to be a personal relationship. Otherwise, it's borrowed and on and almost not true. Mhmm. Anyway, you're listening to Life From The Path on lifefromthepath.org. Here's the deal. We broadcast at 07:00 on, ninety nine point three KTIA on Saturday nights. Listen. If you don't get a chance to listen to KTIA, it's a it's a there's it's a talk. It's Jesus talk. There's there's Jesus stuff going on there twenty four hours a day. Thanks to thanks to get involved with. Sermons, if you don't get a chance to to podcast or have a listen in your car to some stuff, it's an excellent place to get those things. Go check out their Facebook page. Give them a like. And, if not, make sure you at least check out the programming. It's, the station manager over there is good friend of ours and, he's a good quality Jesus man. So, make sure you check that out. There there are people on there smarter than us. Yeah. They're not near as handsome.

I've seen the bookmark. Yeah. We're hand we're we're we're we're the eye candy, but other people are like they they understand more. They're the brain candy. Yeah. We're kind of the broccoli. Wow. Never in my life did I expect Dan Hudson to call himself eye candy. I think it's evident. K. Yeah. So anyway, check out the the people keeping us on the air over there are are Bob Eisenlein with the Eisenlein real estate team. I still have have a

an ongoing promise that he's gonna be on the show either next week or the week after with his brother. And so he's gonna in and talk some real estate stuff. Probably not. We're probably gonna talk about Jesus things, but he is a real estate man. Can can we call in with questions about houses? Absolutely. Yeah. Why? I don't wanna know. Forget it. I don't really have any questions. Call Bob Eisenhower. That's I'll come up with something. It's Bob Eisenhower with the eisenhowerteam.com. Also, check out westfieldvet, .com. It's for the Westfield Veterinary, Hospital here in Johnston, Iowa. It's where I go for all my pet needs. Sometimes we take boob in there when he's not feeling right. It it they they they got some, they they really care for your pet. They really care about you and and, I know them personally. They're good folks. So go check that out. Do think they'd get mad if if maybe I had a pet that was, quite a bit behind in,

their immunizations and, wanted to get caught up? No. They'd love that. Disappointed. Yes. Maybe. Not mad. They scold me? You could call them and ask them. No. They won't scold you. No. Especially if you put a a Lincoln down as you walk in. Really? Put down a five spot and say, hey. Just get interrupted. I was like, which one is Link? Get get her up the park. Link and Link. I know you're not used to dealing at five, Chris Grady. What's the deal? I don't go that large over George.

Alright. Here we go. Dear, lie from the path. Oh, sweet Moses. We're not read that one. Hold on a minute. That one has to do with murder. Oh. We'll discuss you later. Okay. We're gonna go with the bible covered that. Here we go. I think that's it. Is it somewhere? Seems

spatially familiar. Familiar. Here we go. Dear Life Yes. Here we go. Dear Life from the Path. I have been divorced for thirteen years and I often wonder how to fill out questionnaires that ask my marital status. I've recently started checking single because enough time seems to have passed and I don't define myself by my divorce. Sweet post. However, now I'm wondering if there's a certain etiquette recommended. I don't define myself by my divorce

on a questionnaire. To the to the peanut gallery, fellas, what do you check? Thirteen years divorced, single or not? Why does it matter? Seriously, why does this is this an issue where you need to contact someone

above and beyond to get their their thought process on this. This is a questionnaire for you to fill out. No one is going to say, oh, you put divorced. How long have you been put divorced? And then you say thirteen years, and they say, oh, you probably should have put single. I think they're just gonna say, okay. Or if you or the other way around. If you put single, are they gonna be like, you weren't divorced before. Right? Like,

how long have you been single? You've been single your whole life? Like Have you ever been married? And then just, like, judging You must have been oh, was it annulled? I'm sorry. Like, annulled wasn't a choice. Yeah. Feel like Yeah. Partially, it depends on what you're filling it out for. I mean, there there might be some things that you would need to be specific, but k. You you boys have taken the bait. This is a nonissue

and It's divorced? We should've just said divorced. Are you married? We just said nonissue. Single. You're single. Next. If you are not married, you are de facto single. It's not really a I can't believe someone has put the time in to ask questions of this.

Someone has someone has she has lived under the rule of somebody that is just a bit too controlling, and she's afraid to make a move, like, check the check the box. She's embarrassed. We're gonna make a move for her. I'm gonna say, ma'am, you put down single. Yeah. This is the same woman you get behind at the McDonald's. You're like, what could possibly be taking that long? There is one person in that that car. You've been here a million times. Was thinking of The menu's always the same. Yeah. Do I get barbecue or ranch? And when you ask the 15 year old running the microphone of what they prefer on the menu, that is a mistake. You know they make a what they call a seven layer Big Mac after hours. Exactly. I just make a triple Whopper. Of course, you would. Do you have the thick and A little bit of iceberg. Ceramic rib back there? Will say that there's such thing called a TE burger at a fast food joint, I and won't comment on what fast food joint it is. Secular says, honesty is recommended as much as you might like to present yourself that way. You are no longer single. Calling yourself single is dishonest.

As someone who has been married and divorced, you are divorcee, and you will be until you remarry. Saying you are single is a misrepresentation of the facts. But she's single. There's not a divorced option on the checklist. Will you pay attention, secular?

Have you ever seen it that's lame. Okay. Secular disagrees with us. We say you punch single. If you're not married if you're not if you're not married, you're single. Those are the two options. Yeah. Yeah. Dear life from the path. I have a son-in-law whom I hate to ask questions. He goes into so much detail that I'm always sorry I asked. Is there any way to make him get to the point?

From likes it brief Likes it brief. Let me tell you. Let let me do let me tell you something. I've got seven points. I've got I've got a 12 excel document on what you should do going, no. If you don't like the long drawn out answers, you need to tell that. Chances are that People do not take that well. No. Believe it or not, I I will Mike Foose just stared me down No. As he was reading this because I'm one of those people that do like to give a really detailed answer to things. We all know that. You guys have heard me for a long time. That's a very politically correct way of phrasing it. Yep. There you go. Just tell him. Just tell him, hey, you know, I appreciate the fact that you really wanna get me every bit of the information that that you have,

but I just want just a basic answer. I have to do the whole, do you really want the answer to that question? Or do you just want me to give you the just just brief? I I have no faith in humanity. Here's the deal. He is what he is, and you're not gonna change it. Yeah. You're it's gonna annoy you, so just don't ask questions.

Talk generic. Hey, good weather. Like the apple pie. Don't ask questions. Don't you don't don't even ask about the apple pie because he'll tell you what kind of apples they are and how they were displaced. Hold on. Based That's on his personality. Well Based on what you just said, though, wouldn't that have a hard time interjecting Jesus into somebody who doesn't know Jesus because that's just the way they are? You're basically saying here's an inherent flaw that is not only affecting you but other people. I'm not saying it's a flaw. It's just different personality. No. It's a flaw. No one likes that.

No no one likes I disagree with the fact that you're talking about. And talk details. No one likes the pompous windbag. Nobody. When people get into the details to me, my eyes gloss over about three minutes in. I have no I I I'm off doing the Wizard of Oz singing and I'm skipping down a little yellow lane and then I come back toward the end when I can tell their voice inflection changes and I I smile and nod and say, yeah. And I have no idea what they say. And and that's that's what this person is. As someone who does the whole really long detailed answer Yeah. We can tell when you guys just don't care. Absolutely. So stop. I I've gotten better throughout the years and I my Really? My Foosh is astonished by hearing this. I've gotten better throughout the years of giving the really long detailed answer and things to be able to determine when someone just does not care. When they're just like, okay,

really didn't want all that. You can just see it. You can see the gloss over in their eyes Yeah. And you can see just the dead look on their face. Sometimes my answers are so lame because I'm I just keep trying to cut them down and I'm actually cutting out key information. Then And I have to backtrack, and then it just makes my answer even worse. You and I need to find a happy medium for an answer given. Somewhere in the middle. Now see okay. I think that these two people, it's hard for them to see eye to eye because somebody's feelings feelings are gonna get hurt one way or the other. Yeah. If she says, I don't want any more long answers, then he's like, it's really hard for me to talk to you. And then if she's like, alright. These long answers drive me crazy, but, you know, go ahead. Then she's like, I can't stand listening to him.

I think stopwatch, you know, pull out your pull out your cell phone. Oh, wow. It's like That might You got thirty seconds. That might hurt my feelings if someone is just like alright. So here's my question for I'm clocking out in thirty seconds. Go. And I'm just like, oh, okay. Would you would you feel better about one of those chest clocks where I get two minutes Yes. Then you get two minutes? We get to teeter totter it. We can switch back and forth. Sounds good. Alright. Is is this real advice? Are you are you really recommending a stopwatch? Is this your solution? I'm just saying that I think it I think something

concrete would make it and that would be a joke, but it would be a, you know, something physical to show him that it really does. You know? Like, sometimes you kinda gotta help them land the plane. Yeah. You know? Yeah. They're they're they're ramble along. So you're you're talk you like the zoo. Right? Oh, yeah. Okay. You know? My honest advice would be to have a conversation.

Have an honest conversation. It would take forever. Yeah. It would take forever. Just make sure you're being assertive and not asking questions. No. My honest advice would be to have she's his mother-in-law. Right? Is that is that what it was? Yeah. I I think that they could have a civilized conversation with each other. You'd hope so. I I would hope so, and that's what I'm going off of. Yeah. That they could possibly sit down and have a serious conversation with each other. Here's the deal. I I'm actually gonna side with Boob on this thing. I have a lot of long winded buddies. I have a brother who's fairly long winded. You usually what you just say is, hey. Ask the question. Then you say, I need you to keep it tight. We're we're on schedule. Even

if you're not on a schedule, it just say works. Yeah. Just say, look, I need you to give give me down to the brass tacks. Because because then people are motivated. They're like, why? What's next? They wanna find out what's next so they'll keep their answers short. So you're sitting on the front porch with an iced tea watching the traffic go by and you're saying, no, really. Look, we need to speed this up? Yeah. You'll say they'll say, how's how's how's how's things going at your work? Keep it kinda tight. We got some other stuff going. Okay. Don't tell them what's going on because then they'll make a decision whether it's important enough to truncate the story or not. You just say, I got some other stuff burning. I'd say, just be honest. You're talking too much. Tone it down. Secular says, yes. Explain that when he goes into so much detail, you can remember only 10% of what he says. So please get to the point. And when he forgets, remind him. I feel like that's kind of abrupt. Yeah. I'm saying to have a conversation to find a a mutual ground, not, hey,

shut it. Yeah. You're not being fair to me. I'm not comfortable with the way you talk to me, so you need to change. You're wasting a lot breath. You know, there's no compromise there. Right. You know? I'm gonna tell you what you're wrong about. Yeah. I mean, because it, you know, it does she doesn't say which kind of long talker he is. You know? I mean, it sounds like he's giving detailed information. And so that's

you know, at least he's generating valid stuff. He's not going off on random tangents. He's not, like It doesn't say anything. Spinning into gibberish. He could very well be doing all that. Well He sells an anecdote every time she's or he's You're kinda painting him with this brush and and her with a stodgy old woman brush. And, really, he probably is a tangent man. You know, now you're assuming that. Like How'd your day go? I put on my socks, then I put on my shoes, and then a dog came by, I pet I him for a had a hole of it. Left hole of my socks. Yeah. To answer that question, I'm gonna ask you another question.

Here we go. We got time for one more. Dear life from the path. I am fortunate to be a stay at home mom. My days are spent doing chores and taking care of the kids. I also volunteer extensively at their schools, but I do find time for other pursuits such as reading and writing. My problem is my husband, Bob, is the kind of guy who can't sit still. When he's home on weekends or taking a day off, he constantly needs to be doing something. This involves projects around the house. Other than spending time online, his hobbies are active ones. Because he's always on the go, he insists I should be equally productive. He constantly wants to know what I'm doing, and if it's not something he thinks is useful, he becomes passive aggressive. I don't like passive aggressive. Bob initiates big projects, then complains that he gets no help and has no time for himself. Oh, boy. He says my volunteerism takes away from time. I should be doing things around the house. In addition, Bob is incredibly neat and often insists that our immaculate house needs to be cleaned. I dread the days he's home because I have to constantly justify my activities or feel guilty if I'm not busy the entire time. Don't misunderstand. Bob is a great guy, a good dad, and my best friend. But I'm afraid I will soon resent him to the point of dislike if I must live my life according to his unrealistic

expectations. Any advice other than to seek counseling? Stop writing us and go ahead and sit down and talk with your spouse. He's not interested in talking. He needs to get interested. That that's not helpful, Dan. They they they need to have a conversation and say, hey, we we need to have let's let's revisit our early years and decide who does what

chores, what who does what tasks, and come to an agreement. And then you can have some stuff on your own that's your life. I'll do some things on my own that's my life, and we'll find a place that meets in the middle. But they they they just need to communicate. It's probably not as big of a deal. Right now, it's it seems painful, but they they they can get together on this. I'd agree with that. I think that they do need to sit down and have a conversation with each other. I think that at one point in time, she did have, you know, like Dan said in the early years of their marriage, they had a relationship where where this is just now starting to come out, and now it's it's come to the point of she's doesn't wanna start resenting the guy. And if that's gonna happen, they need to have a conversation.

And just with all good relationships in general, they need they need to have a conversation. There needs to be have a a two way street of communication where he's communicating this stuff to her and he's communicating this and this and this and this, and then she's kinda just taking it right now and isn't communicating back with how she's dealing with it. So so I would agree with Dan on on the fact that they do need to sit down and have some two way conversation

on expectations around the house and expectations of what busy really looks like. And he does need to relax a little bit. Yeah. Absolutely. He needs to take some time. You know, I'm sure he's a great dad, but is he a great dad because he provides for them? Or is he a great dad because he actually spends time with his kids? So far in that long list of things that he does, I didn't hear one thing about him spending time with the kids. It was he's at work, and then he's fixing stuff around the house, and then he's doing projects, and cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning. I didn't hear he's sitting down with my kids and and teaching them things. Yeah. Or reading stories with them. Or spending his days off, you know, teaching them about Jesus, which is one of our biggest duties as a father. Actually, I see a lot of myself in this gang. It's kinda embarrassing, really. But, I've

been that fella who takes on x number of things. And then I look at other people and I'm like, why aren't you doing that? It takes a pretty pompous, self righteous dude, to have a look at other people and judge them by the same stick of, of, of yours. And so it's it's not I he needs to tone it down. Like, seriously, like, you know, I I don't really know what she's doing. Stay at home moms, that's a that's a, like, a ninety five hour a week job, really. It never goes away, and I don't think you could pay me enough to be a stay at home mom. So Yeah. Really, I mean, if that's all she did and then sat around did nothing the rest the week, yeah, that's a bargain. You know? I think it's good that she's doing volunteer stuff that gets her out and and doing things in the community, whatever it is she's doing at church, wherever she is. I mean, she's written a letter to kinda side on her side, obviously. Right. Right. Right. But, I mean, if he's half at what he is, you know,

you're basically you've you've you've set up a life for yourself. You've taken on things. And, you you know, you can't turn around and start pointing pictures at people and and pointing fingers at people and saying, why aren't you doing this? You see this a lot in ministry just as well. People will will take on a certain amount of ministry and then when other people don't want to participate, they're really upset. They're like, why aren't you involved in the youth? I'm involved in the youth. What are you even doing with your life? Yeah. You know, it's like, why don't you tone it down? You know, maybe Jesus got them doing other stuff. Mind your own business. Do what you're told and get to work. You know? Yeah. And there's probably some things they can do together, which will make them both happy. Yeah. That my thought on the thing is finding that compromise. It's always a balancing act, and it's always, you know, you're the

the give and take is always moving. So, you know, finding that spot where you meet in the middle, you know, like, whatever they had going in the beginning of their relationship is before they had kids. She's got kids, the responsibilities are different, she does want to relax and you know, it's like it seems like she's sitting there watching Rachel Ray, but she's also learning how to make ribs. So you know, it's like We like ribs. Right. You know, it's like I love when my wife watches Rachel Ray. I listen to live from the path on livefromthepath.org. Broadcasting every Monday night, ten to 11PM. Also broadcasting on Saturday nights, KTIA at 07:00. If you're listening on KTIA, the train is stopping at the station, and you are leaving. Please shut down your long winded conversations and get off the train. We will see you next week. Have a good week. Alright.

We're back. Did did I tell you my rib story the other day? No. It's a terrible story. I'm sure it's riveting. I'm a fairly cheap guy, but I bought, like, $25 worth of ribs. And I put them in a crock pot, and I was so excited. And I you know, this thing, it's cooked all nice and slow all day. I came home later that night, and I was ready for the house just to smell fantastic. I forgot to turn it on. Oh, buddy. We had to throw the roofing away. All day. Oh. I would cry. I've been crying ever since. Was his Facebook post the two days later because he's like, I threw him in the garbage. Now it's a 120 degrees. Yeah. It was really hot out. Fucking now. Yeah. I could go ahead and eat him. That is awesome. By the way, what was secular's,

advice on that one? Secular's advice was, hang on. No. Any advice other than seek counseling? She says secular says, no. It appears that you're a great guy. Good dad and best friend is so controlling. He makes you miserable when he's home. I agree that if this continues, it will a negative effect on your marriage. The person who just should explain it to him is a licensed mental health professional who could provide the counseling and or medication he may need. Woah.

What? That is ridiculous. That's over the top. Yes. The person who needs to talk to your husband is someone that does not know him and is not in a covenant with him and god with you. Oh my gosh. That is ridiculous. Give him a pill. He'll be better. Brother Zach will make him feel better. Yeah. Exactly. Give him some medication. That'll slow him down. He won't be able to even find the hammer. So upsetting. Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you. No. No. It's fine. Only have Strong reaction to get secular that type. Paragraph to go. Yeah. Go ahead with the rest of your life. Usually, I agree with them, but

Here we go. This time, strangely, not so much. Let's get one more here. Dear life from the path. I reconnected with my dad two years ago. I hadn't spoken with him for almost ten years following my parents' divorce. I'm thankful he's back in my life again. The problem is his wife, Kathy. Ever since we reunited, I felt she resented me. It's like she doesn't like sharing dad with me. She had him all to herself for ten years, so I guess I kinda understand. Kathy recently found a job across the country, so she and dad sold their house and moved away moved moved away a few weeks ago. Her family lives here. She had job offers closer to home, but she chose the one farthest away. I can't help but feel that she did it to put distance between dad and me, and it hurts me deeply. How do I talk to my dad about it without damaging relationship? Fellas, there's there's a there's a there's a there's a dad,

and his daughter reconnected him with him after ten years. They got close. Kathy, the dad's wife found another job and said, well, it's a good job. We're gonna go. The daughter says she did this on purpose. Put the boots to me. I would say I would say uproot yourself and go move next door to your dad and just give Kathy the what for? Vengeance is Rick Graves. He will repay. That's terrible advice. No. I would say maintain a relationship as best you can. Like, keep calling him. You know? You have

a chance to, you know, have a relationship with your dad that you wanted. Keep keep in touch with him. Email, Skype, phone calls. You know? I mean, people maintain

a parental relationship across country all the time. All the time. And, you know, plan on vacations and send Kathy a birthday card. Acknowledge her as an important part of your dad's life and, you know, maybe

six months or a year down the line, she won't feel as threatened. Yeah. I agree. Today's day and age, distance is not an issue like it used to be. We're not in an age where going from one side of the country to another was in a covered wagon and took four months, and you might get six diseases. We're in a day and age where you can con contact someone anywhere in the world for the most part within seconds. Yeah. You can still definitely maintain. Maybe not as as as substantial

and physical of a relationship as you could be able to go and and and walk five blocks and see dad. But at the same time, it's a lot more than you've had in the last ten years. And I also agree that you should definitely acknowledge Kathy as a part of your father's happiness and make her feel like she is family, because when it comes down to it, she is. And it doesn't sound like the daughter has resentment for Kathy, if I'm saying the name right.

But it sounds like she feels the like it is the other way around. So And maybe it's not. Maybe she's just feeling insecure. I mean Right. And You know, if if she's done nothing overt, doesn't mean that she doesn't feel that way, but, you know, she could just be feeling insecure. And maybe these good jobs closer to home, she doesn't know what those are compared to the one across the country. You know? Making a move like that, sheerly for spite of his bio dollar. That's Yeah. That's that's odd. Yeah. Harsh. Because she's leaving her whole family, her whole support system too.

So it just seems like it would have you know? Yeah. I think that the daughter's If if if it was that, it she would have evinced more. It Yeah. It wouldn't be like, I have a feeling she might not like me. It would be like, she's lunatic crazy person. She hates me. Yeah. It's obvious that the yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. Yeah. I think that the daughter is drawing quite a bit of conclusions thinking that well, I she's not She's solidly saying that that's what happened. And she's got ten years of insecurities. She hadn't hadn't seen her dad, so she's on pins and needles already. Yeah. It's an awkward situation. Have anything happened, it feels like the rug's pulled out from under her. The chat says And Kathy is the bad girl. The chat says, that's lame. There's a difference. That being said, you can't always get what you want. And you're also an adult. Learn to deal with it. There is so many situations that are drawn,

as adults who act like children. I do this more often than I'd like to admit, but, like, I will assume someone thinks something that they do not, project that onto them for days only to come to find out it wasn't even a deal. Right. You know, like, I do that all the time, and it's really embarrassing. You basically and and here's the deal. Some people are just wired that way. They're a little neurotic. They they just they overthink, especially if they tend to be a little bit socially awkward. They don't quite understand how how it works, and so they just assume things about people. They turn them a molehill into a mountain, and then it it turns out not to be that big of a deal. And so, like, I feel like some of that is going on here.

I I agree with the chat. Here's the let's say it is true. Let's start at the worst case scenario. What are gonna do about it? You're gonna sit in your house and stew? You're gonna cause a rift between the the your dad and his wife? Yeah. If I can break him up, he'll come back to me. You know that's not the deal. Set like, here's the approach is you're gonna leave it alone. Right? You're gonna love your dad. You're gonna have a relationship with him. You're gonna love Kathy. There's parts of her that you're not you might not be her friend, but you're gonna love her. You're gonna treat her with respect, and that's gonna be the deal. And so, like, at the worst case scenario, if everything that you think is true, you're just gonna be an adult about it, and you're gonna love your dad, you're gonna call him, and you're gonna say, I miss you, and we'll stop by by vacations, and that's the deal. Yep. And so, like, in the best situation where it just made sense for him and his new wife to move, then, you know, congratulate them because they still made a move and and and, you know, you're basically, she's saying no one considered me

in this operation. And and my dad was probably pulling for me, and this mean Kathy was like, I don't care what she wants. We're gonna do this anyway. And, like, if that's the case, your dad's a pansy, it's his fault anyway. You know, he should've said no. We're not going anywhere, you know? And so in the and I think you start at the worst case scenario and work your way backwards. Just act like it's the worst and and and come out on the best. Just do it. Just you know, you're gonna have to hold up your end of the bargain and there's nothing you're gonna be able to do about it whether it was done that way or not. Secular says, what do you think what do you think talking about it with your father will accomplish? You don't know for certain that she accepted the job to separate you and your dad. Remember, he agreed to the move.

The problem with family estrangements is you can never get back the time you lost. Keep in touch with your father via cards and letters, texts and emails, video chats, or other social media, whatever you and your father are most comfortable with, but I do not advise saying anything negative about Cathy. That's probably pretty strong advice. Right? Like, what is is there a good We're way gonna hit this real quick, fellas. We're about running out of time here. But I'm gonna read a little bit out of Luke one. And I'm just gonna get your take on something. So this is Luke one verse five. It says, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah

of the division of Abijah. And we had a wife from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. That means Zechariah and Elizabeth are both, from the the tribe of Aaron. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statues of the Lord. But they had no they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, do not be afraid, Zechariah,

for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink and he'll be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God and he will go before them in the spirit and power of Elijah. Skip. Skip. Skip. And Zechariah said to the angel, how shall I know this is true? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years. She's old too. And the angel answered him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their time.

This story is at the beginning of Luke one. It is the story of John who later become known as John the Baptizer and how his birth came about. He was a cousin of Jesus. Elizabeth and Mary were related. And so basically,

what happened is Zechariah and and Elizabeth had had no children for years. They're old and and even by biblical definition, I think they're old. They're like, I would say, I think it was somewhere between 60 and 75 is kind of the guess of where they're at and to have no had to have no children back in day was not only sad, for the couple, but it was financially dangerous. They didn't have anybody take care of them after they were no longer to work. It was kind of an issue. And so the reason I brought all that up is because I'm looking at Zechariah here, And everyone gets this. It's just just like with doubting Thomas. Everyone looks at the situation and goes, oh, I can't believe Thomas doubted. And I and I tend to read that part of the scripture. I'm like Like I feel like Thomas would be kinda reasonable,

you know, like I see where he was coming from. This seems outrageous. That's an honest question. Yeah. And so and so Zechariah is kinda doing the same thing here. He's he's a priest, which means he's lived his whole life in submission to God. The the the first part of, verses five to seven. He's righteous. He's righteous and blameless. There's he's not being withheld children. You know, and and so,

he finally gets up. The priesthood worked like this when they went to go to burn incense. They did it in lots of about a thousand priests each. Twice a year, they'd go up and serve and basically, they they rolled the dice and when was your turn, you went in and got to do the big job. And so he'd probably been doing this and once you do it, you're done. You don't get to do it again anymore. And so Zechariah's been doing this for maybe forty, fifty years, been traveling to the temple and and following the same routine, never gets the dice, never gets picked, never gets to go in. And now he shows up, he's an old man and it's his big day. He gets it. The dice rolls in his favor. And he rolls in there, and he sees a vision of an angel.

And he believes none of this. Like, he's like, how will I know this? This doesn't seem like it's possible because I'm old. Now given those circumstances and and the punishment now I I shouldn't say punishment, but the consequences of what happened after this, Zechariah is he's silenced for the next nine months until John is born. What what do you what do you think about Zachariah's faith here? Is he having a lapse of it? Is it is a genuine reaction that you probably would have had as well? Why why when Mary asked this pretty much the same question, how is this possible because I'm a virgin, she wasn't silenced.

What's what's the difference? Because well, I my thought on it is, like,

everything about the John the Baptist part kinda leads leads the somebody who's not paying real close attention

to think that he's the Messiah. I mean, it would make more sense for it to be John the Baptist than Jesus because Zechariah is a big deal. Zechariah got chosen. He comes out mute. He saw an angel. He's been, you know now

he's he's they've been barren this whole time, and now his wife is pregnant at 80. You know? This is like lottery, baby. This is this is big news in the Jewish community. And and the

reason that the whole thing is set up that way is so that when John comes out and he's like, look, you guys think it's me. It's not. Like, you think I'm a big deal? I'm not. I'm here to proclaim the one that's a million times greater than me. The whole thing makes John the Baptist a big deal so that he can proclaim Jesus as a bigger deal. You know? I mean,

the Mary's nobody. Mary's a a 17 year old girl. She's she's a a cousin of his wife, you know, but she doesn't have status. She's separated from her support group. You know? He knows all these people. All these people know him. When he comes out of there, he's like the talk of the water cooler. You know? He's everybody's talking about Zachariah,

and and it follows through. I mean, like, everything is all set up to make John the Baptist a big deal from the get go. And the fact that he's six months older than Jesus, and he's like, you think it's me, but it's not. So so, I mean, what about that what about that explanation lends to Zachariah's

treatment, I guess, of his of his, of his not being allowed to speak? Was was the doubt that Mary shows the same as Zachariah's doubt? Was Mary's a question, and Zachariah's was, I don't know if this is gonna work. What's the why the difference? Yeah. Is it an extra confirmation, you know, from Gabriel

saying no. I'm I'm being serious. I mean, I'm trying to picture what this looks like. And I I mean, you know, you got the holy of holies and and you got the incense. And the incense was a continual offering of it would go up over the curtain into the holy of holy place. And it represented the prayers of the saints. And and how fitting for the angel to show up right there and say, hey, your prayers have been answered. You know, like, we've been hearing God has heard your prayers. And and that's that's what he was doing. He was bringing up the prayers of the people, you know, that through that time at at at table. And and so you hear this thing that you've been praying for

your entire life. For decades, decades, you wanted a child. And you probably quit praying about thirty years ago. I mean, honestly. And suddenly he's getting an answer. Maybe it was like a little bit of a lack of faith, a little bit of shock, a little bit of there had to be a fantastic sight. This guy Gabriel pops up, you know, and and there must have been he must have known he was an angel because he what did say? He was terrified. He was afraid. I can't remember how he said it. Fear fell upon him. Fear fell upon him. Wasn't because, oh, you scared me, you know. I didn't know you were there. There had to be some something more to that. And this I had so many options. I mean, mean, if God just suddenly, if an angel showed up to you and told you some fantastic thing that even there's something you've been praying for, wouldn't there be a little bit of how do I how do I know? Is this really of God or is am I imagining things? I mean, what it's kind of a confirmation. This is gonna go beyond this moment that we just had in the temple. For the next x number of months, you're not gonna be able speak and it's gonna be a continual reminder every time you try to speak

about this conversation. This is a big deal. That's that's what I think is going on. You know, I I here's the thing is is is actually what jumped out of me was was a a couple couple things. Things. One, One, he actually had the balls to say something. Uh-huh. I would have just been secretly doubting in my head and be like, okay. You know? But like, Zachar I I mean, Zachariah in in the brand in in in the long sweep of things, he's kind of a nobody.

Right? Like, he's he's a priest in in in a town like I think it's what did they say? It's like 60 miles west of of of Nazareth. And it's like a nothing town. There's like 50 people there. And so he is he is one of 24,000 priests. He finally shows up after forty years of making this trek,

twice a year to go do this. And and and and Rick's right. It it it is a big deal because he got chosen. Right? But, like, he's been here. Every time he goes, he goes back home. Loser. Every time he goes, he goes back home. Loser. I I I'm gonna go. I'm gonna be my loser. Nothing. He twenty I mean, forty years of this. He finally shows up. He's an old man. He's still walking blamelessly, and then all of a sudden, it's his day, and he made it, and he's going in. And then, like, I don't know. It was a huge it was a huge tip to God's sovereignty for me is what it was. Right? Like, because all this is set up for first of all, that that that temple doesn't even exist unless Herod rebuilds it. Right? Jesus, Messiah,

who who has been, prophesied to come back in Malachi I think it was Malachi three one. It said that John the Baptizer will be born and that the the the Messiah will come back to his temple. That temple didn't even exist. It was been destroyed. Right? King Herod, the guy who's eventually gonna try to kill Jesus as soon as he finds out he's born, is the guy that rebuilt the temple. So now the temple's only standing there because King Herod rebuilt it. And then Zechariah has been held off of his a man walking blamelessly, by the way, before God for the last forty, fifty years has been withheld from children and not been allowed to go in the temple because it's a one time shot and God needed him to wait. Right? And, like, the sovereignty of God in this whole thing, it just blows me away. And the fact that Zachariah goes in there and he meets a guy and he meets an angel and, like, for a man that walks blamelessly, I don't walk blamelessly. This man walks blamelessly. He leads and shepherds people. He sees an angel and he's still not buying it. And not only that, I my my favorite part of all these verses is is the way Gabriel ask answers him. Is he says, how shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years. Gabriel does not answer his question. He says, I am Gabriel. You know? Like I stand in the presence of God, you I'm I'm referenced in Daniel. You know what I'm saying? Like, you should know me.

I'm I'm one of, like, the there's only two angels that are that are named in the Bible. You got one of them. That's a big hairy deal, you know. This is like the day of Michael busy today. Michael was he had some other stuff going on. And so, I don't know. The the I guess I I read through that and I'm like, I read between Zechariah and I read Mary and I'm like, I I don't know why Zachariah is getting the boot here. I felt like he was I I mean, I think he probably I mean, we all deserve the boot. But generally, grace it's gracefully withheld. You know what? Zachariah got he got a thumping. And and and I think all But I think it was less of a punishment than and then A gift to his wife? Well, it was a it was a a measure of God moving in their lives. You know? I mean, okay. Because think about it. He had to go home and convince his 75 year old wife that she was gonna have a baby without talking. Like, he couldn't tell her what happened. Actually You know? Yeah. I mean, is that is that even good news? When you're that old? Hold on. Thought, is that a lot of pressure on an old man? Yeah. You know I'm saying? This is not immaculate conception style like Mary. Right. The deed has to go down. You're like 75.

You can't talk. I mean Yeah. I mean what kind of I mean, are you gonna do? This seems like it's gonna be a really weird walk home for Zachariah. Like, I'm I don't know. I'm gonna pull this off. You know? It's like, I'm gonna need my little whack board. Yeah. I gotta forget gotta communicate something here. Anyway, that you're listening to Life in the Path. Read your Bible. There's good stuff in there. There's stuff that applies to you. Love it. So, you're listening to Life From The Path on lifefromthepath.org.

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