Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper. You are live from the path. Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm a let the I'm let the song play for a while because it might be the best thing about the show tonight. It's just just something to think about.

You're listening live from the Path. We're coming to you from the Pathway Studios here in Johnston Proper. If I could see it, it'd be good. Day eight. Okay. That's smooth. I keep I keep forgetting that there's a hard stop on that opening. Like, if it hits a minute, there's nothing left to talk about. Thank you for listening to Life the Path. It's good to have you. Life and Path is brought to you by our two great sponsors, the Eisenhower team and Westfield Veterinary Hospital. And I wanna thank them for letting us be on the air. I feel like Eisenhower coming in next week. Did you call him the Big Easy earlier? I may have called him the Big Easy. Here's what here's here's the funny part. It's like he sent me a text message and said, hey, we're gonna try to make it in next Monday. I'm like, great. That you know, it'd be great to see you. And then I send it to him, and I get an auto text back that says, I may be unreachable by text message. Please call this number. I'm like, whatever. You just sent me a text message. I don't even know how to set up that auto reply. Do you guys know how to do that? I'm gonna find out. Yeah. And I'm gonna do it from now on. Like Kinda makes you sound important, important, doesn't doesn't it? It? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm gonna have mine say encouraging things like, thanks a million, brother. You know, you're one of the best.

I can't say you're the I'm on it. The best. I do say I'm on it. That's my standard reply. Here's where we got going on the show this week. So big question is the devastation that was in The Philippines with the hurricane is is where was God?

Where was God in The Philippines when 10,000 people were getting hit by a massive hurricane? What what do we what do we miss under what do we or do we misunderstand God by asking that question?

Someone who is in that position, what what's the what's the answer to to somebody in that position? And because I and I think that shows up a lot when you're talking about any type of what we'd otherwise call natural disaster. Is the question is is, obviously, if you serve a sovereign God who could do something about it, why doesn't he? And so we're we're gonna try to tackle that.

We also got advice on dear life and the path. Rick Gray's in studio. He's got some pope style coming at you. He's going to as if someone has mistaken mister Rick Gray for the pope, he's gonna give some advice out on the podium. We were talking about the pope. There's been a a pretty widely shared picture of him, kissing a man with some, with some physical deformity. And, that actually really did, that hit me this week because we were talking about, with some of the guys in the church, just about how we,

how you open up your life to some of the people that are around you. And and I I I'm generally hesitant, to be honest with you, because I just assume people don't want me, like that that my any insertion of myself into their life would be kinda like a button in. You know, like shoving myself in is like, hey, tell me about your problem. Tell me about your woes. I wanna help you. I wanna hug you.

And and I I don't know. I think I have that wrong to a certain extent. And the there are some of that is about what people are willing to accept. But some of that is about, how willing are you,

to be involved in somebody else's life. Like, close are you willing to get? Are you willing to push a little bit beyond, the the shallow, formalities and actually be in community with people?

And that's not just people's willingness for you to do that. You you have to be willing to wanna do that. And so, anyway, that that kinda brought me to that just a little bit, kinda seeing that picture. Because my my question is is, like, if that guy, if that same dude were to come up to me, there's nothing about his physical appearance that I think would would, you know, push me away or anything. I'm not bothered by that. Really? Yeah. Yeah. I don't think so. I don't think so. I mean, I'd like to put on some kind of airs that I wouldn't be slightly creeped out, but I think I'd be slightly creeped out. I yeah. See, I I don't think so. I don't think I have an issue with that. I I mean, whatever. I mean, don't you feel the same way when you find, like, a lady with a mustache or something? All you can think about is the mustache. I'm not saying I wouldn't think about it. I'm not saying I wouldn't notice it. Alright. I'm a human. If there's a guy who's got, like, a a cone growing out of his head, I'm gonna that's gonna come to my attention. You know? But but but I think the thing is is, like, let's say a guy came up like that. I would feel very my barrier is is is how much how much does that guy want me to engage with him? You know? The pope kissed him on the head. Of course, now he's the pope. I he can get away with that kind of stuff like this. But, like, if someone came up if someone came up That's true. You can't just go randomly kissing people on the head without that hat on. Yeah. Yeah. It would be way different if he was, like, wearing street leg jeans and a and a baseball cap, and he just went kissing dudes on the head. What up? Licentiousness. No. That guy's gonna be defensive about people. I mean That that's what I'm saying. A

negative reaction. Yeah. So I mean, the the like, the pope has a little bit of leeway, and I'm just thinking your average guy, I would like to to to think that I that I could comfort someone like that or show them love or show them acceptance, but I'm not sure how much they want. I think, like, that's my barriers. It's like, if that guy came up and I gave him a hug, would he be like, what are you doing? Like, leave me alone, creep. I don't don't need your creep hug. Here's the thing. Like, I feel like that sometimes. Like, who do you think you are loving on me? You know what I'm saying? Like, people kinda bounce back at you, like, like, I need your love. You know what I'm saying? Like, I need attention from you. Thanks for coming down to my level, king who you are. The pope? Yeah. I mean, is it a bigger deal be because it's from the pope, or is it or is it big enough deal that it's that it's the like, love is being showed? You know what I'm saying? Like, is it enough to be loved by anybody, or does it have to be somebody with fancy clothes? And and so I I think the deal is is is I think I, I default to being way too far past that. Like, is it is it really like, I've got the worst scenario in my mind where I I give a I give a hug to this man, and he, like, is disgusting by me. Did they penguin arm you? You know, like, stick both their arms way back behind them? And I'm the awkward guy trying to hug another man while he's fighting. There's nothing you wanna do in public like that. No. No. This is important. I need to do this. It's for you. The way you get around that is just be completely accepting of awkward hugs. That's all you need to do is

if you're mid hug and someone starts penguin arms, just go with it, man. Just continue that I would, like, move lower and try to catch up on the waist? Make as awkward as possible and have a story to Yeah. Exactly. Dude, you go penguin arm too. It's just, like, kinda or is this how we're gonna I feel like if you chest bump a guy that penguin armed you, you're gonna knock him over. Well, you had it coming. Chest bump a guy anywhere, I think it would knock him over. They never cover this at Sunday school. How to love an awkward man. You know what I'm saying? Don't reject my love. They make it sound as soon as you accept the love of Jesus Christ and wanna spend it around that everyone's gonna lovingly take it. And instead, there's a bunch of awkward doofuses out there that don't know how to react or anything. I need to hug somebody, but they don't like my hugs. What do I do in that case? Actually, you know what? I've been on the other side of that, though. Like Yeah. Like, if people always, especially when something big happens or something real sad or, you know, they're like, how you do it? You you here's the thing. Some people are they're, they lead into hugs. Right? Like, let's say you're feeling kinda down in the mouth, and you're like, I don't I don't feel I'm not feeling right. They're like, hey. What's going on? I'm like, if I tell you, you're gonna wanna hug me. And that's not what I want. You know? But then you tell them anyway, just try to be honest, and here they come. Blah. You know, they're looking for the hug. I'm like, no. It's not what I wanted. You know? And the and everyone thinks, no. You really do secretly want one. I secretly do not want one. I secretly and publicly do not want a hug from you. Just right now. Just not now's not the time. You know? But that they're just they're they're any excuse to dump a hug out, that's them. It's like they're Yeah. The first thing they have in their pocket is never a buck or or a nickel or a piece of gum. It's always a hug. What can I do for you? It's hug time. See, I feel bad because I'm I'm that guy. I'm more than happy to give hugs out to complete and total strangers. I've done it before and I continue No. You you don't just hug them. You squeeze them. You're trying to hurt them. I'm not trying to, like, bear hug everyone on the streets. It that's not how I roll. Okay. I I might have done that at one point in time or another, but I I don't see the problem with it. I guess that's just kinda how I accept physical love, I guess. I don't know. I I'm totally cool perpetrate physical love. That's not an acceptance. That's an assault, brother. Yeah. Well, I accept you know what? Too. I've gotten some okay. I've gotten some seriously awkward hugs in my life, and I'm not gonna go into them. But there there have been some seriously,

like, what are you doing hugging me hugs that I've gotten in my life. Like, from a kangaroo? Because that'd be out of sight, man. A a rhinoceros got up on its hind legs and tried to hug me. It was awkward. True. I penguin armed, and it just came in for a chest bump, and it knocked me over. But, no. I You thought you were asking for it. I've gotten some I've gotten some awkward hugs in my life, but I'm completely cool with still giving them. Well, so so, like, a similar example is

is, you know, I've done some stuff working with, like, homeless folk and stuff. And and and I'll see other people in there, and they're they're they're giving hugs and saying hi and stuff. And and it just makes me feel really awkward, because I feel like I mean, I don't really know you, and you don't know me. Is it does it feel placating if I'm like, hi. How you doing? I care about your plight. Yeah. You know where I did this at? It's at a wedding. I was one of my wife's friends that was getting married, and and it was a it was a dude, and he was marrying the lady. And, you know, like and so we were, like, third row from the back. I'm like, I hopefully, they'll just leave, and then, you know, the usher excuses. No. No. Here they come. Right? Hand shaking and hugging. Like, I'm oh, no. And everybody's all hugging and screaming. Woman, like, one time. What am I supposed to do? Go in for the handshake or or do the hug or, like, just kinda keep my hands on myself and silently walk by? I'm like, this is the most awkward social situation ever. I didn't know how to react. Was freaking out. My wife's like, you've got to calm down. It's you're looking obvious. I'm like, I seriously don't know your brow. Like, I've never been so anxiety ridden in my life. I'm like, what if I offer a hug? And she's like, no. No. We've just met. I'm like, that's awkward too. I just I didn't know how to react. And so I went with the I kind of I'd go for the fist bump. No. I passed by. I I kinda did that. I don't know you. In fact, I cowardly hid behind my wife and let her do the affection, and I'm like, yeah. I'm just with her. Alright, baby. Lead me in this one. It was I I'm not a huggy guy, but I'm a I'm a touchy guy. Like, I I'll I'll I'll, like, shake a hand and, like, touch him on the elbow or something at the same It's kinda man, it's probably kinda creepy in itself. Oh, like an old deacon. May maybe that's it. I probably watched it on TV and thought, no. That's the way to love people. You're leaving them their distance, giving them their bubble, but you're still like, yeah. I care. Yeah. See, because Is there extra hand? Like Richard Dawson showed us. If you're gonna kiss them, you gotta kiss all of them. Well, that yeah. That's

you know? That's true. If you're gonna hug people, you gotta give hugs all the way around. It's kind of a shoulder hug, more of a, hey. You yay. Yeah. Here. Don't rub the shoulder. That's weirder. Oh, rub it. You were just doing well. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Here's the deal. If you're gonna if you're gonna greet another person in anything that's not a handshake or a hug, you need to land that hand and keep it there. Exactly. How you doing? Little back back rub. And a two handed back rub

hug is not acceptable in any social situation. This the racetrack. That's what that's what I call it. Get away from me, Jesus man. Alright. The pope seems to be able to pull this off. We need to call him. Gonna say we need to call him, hey. How do we give He still looks manly doing that stuff. I I think it's the robes, which is the surprising part. Everyone is completely accepting of him doing whatever. He's a conundrum. I don't think us wearing robes hugging people would go away though. That's what I'm saying. It's I don't think anyone can pull it off. I was a downfall of the Jizzlers. I think it's that. I think it's that. I'm here for the hug. I'm here for the hug. Alright. I Well, tell you, if you got any advice on the guys from Life and the Path on how to, properly handle hugging in a situation, maybe you've been maybe you've been on the other side of that. Like, you've been in some kind of down circumstances, and you have large groups of folks that know about it and are coming to talk to you. Like, is it awkward if someone comes and hugs you? Or or or, like, I mean, is that a proper way to show affection? Or do you feel placated by them kinda doing that, like, they just feel like they need to and they got their hug in? It just it just feels a little disingenuous to me. And maybe that's a maybe it's a heart conflict that says, I'm here to help, but I know that I haven't, like, given everything I could to make this thing happen. You know, like, we we went to the homeless benefit.

I know he made chili or whatever, they bring them all in, and they, you know, they eat the chili. It was great. And I I talked to a bunch of different dudes. One of them gave my kids, like, a light up candle they gave away. It was a cool night. You know. But I felt like anything that I was trying to do was just like a show for the night, because it's not like I spend a bunch of days during my year helping out homeless guys. I it just it I don't know. It felt half committal to me, and then my my discussion with them kinda felt fake. And I don't think that's true. I think it's that it was a time of appreciation, and they set up the event for that type of thing. But I think there's just something in the back of my mind that says, like, know, what are you cutting in, cutting out of here? And you just kinda buzz out of that guy. I did try to follow-up with one of them, though, and I couldn't find him. Like, I wrote down his name. Was gonna pop back into the shelter. That's the problem. There's there's it's really trying to get a hold of him, you know. You know, it's a it's actually kinda funny, though. You touched on a subject that that that I don't know. Like, it really brings an irritation to me sometimes. It's like, we just usually, events in general, like charity events in general, they they just they irk me the wrong way because, like, they're always like, hey, let's set up an event, and we'll collect a bunch of canned goods, and we'll do this. And, like, you know what you know what I don't set up an event for? Going to work every day. You know why? Because that's just what I do, you know? And so, like, if you truly had a heart for helping homeless people, you would just be doing it without the event, with no t shirt. You would just be down there. Right? And we'd be like, where's so and so? They're helping the homeless people. We can't barely drag them out. Yeah. You know? And then and it would it's just like the gospel works just like that too. Right? Like it's like it it's it's not a it doesn't not every single one has to be a revival. It's a guy that is day in, day out, showing example of Christ's love and preaching the gospel. And eventually, people just be like, where can we find that guy? Why is that guy different? And then they just start catching on. You know what I'm saying? It just seems more genuine and authentic that way. And maybe that's just my personality, but like, anytime you start to you start to make t shirts banners, like, if it costs you money to help somebody because you were promoting what you were doing, I just I feel like you're you're kinda missed it. Not all that stuff's wrong, but like, I told the youth group, I said, we're gonna do I I called it secret ninja service projects. Right? Because every time, like, the youth group or the kids ministry goes out, there's 85 pictures on Facebook the next day, like, you're so and so was helping do this. And this was you know, I said, no pictures. You can't tell anybody this is what you were doing. Just go out and help somebody. Don't even wear a church shirt like you represent Jesus. Just you go out and help somebody, and then leave. No pictures. No telling anybody about it. That was it. That's just what you did. And and, like, I was really excited about it because it just takes all the fanfare out and and gets rid of the phoniness of, like, this is what life really should be. It should just be you helping a guy Right. And not calling 10 guys and tell them you did it. You just did it. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. You're the right hand. Let the left hand sit over in darkness. I I feel like you got this wrong, Mike. Back in starting in the nineties, they they changed the phrase to be they will know we were Christians by our branding.

That's why we do the shirts. And our sweet web design. Nice. That was the downfall of the judges. You know, actually so, like, event oriented stuff, it does it just seems like it's getting out of hand. Right? Like, every every weekend, there's a conference. There's, like, 50,000,000 even even, like, church planners or pastors and stuff. Like, there's conferences everywhere. And, like, you know, Dan and I were even talking about there's a there's a conference that we've gone to a couple times. We were talking about it this year, we're like, you know, they you always feel good coming out of those things. There's always, like, good ideas and stuff. But, like, some of those guys go to conferences. I mean, you know, they're they're they're at 10 or 15 a year. And, like, when do you ever go home and say, implement the things that you learned? Or, like, are you a professional conference man whose job is to soak stuff in and then, like, move to the next conference as the as the tide slowly change and slowly adapt in your thinking? It's this cognitive process. And I think it's a it's a Christianese barrier too, where, like, people assert the things in their head and say, here's the thing I learned. Here's the thing I know. And it just it never makes the streets. It always sits in big rooms somewhere. It sits in big ideas. It sits in groups of guys where we get all fired up and, like, here's the things we were thinking about doing. That's true. If you read the 10 commandments and implement none of them, right, fail. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? If you're like, do not steal. We should really stop stealing, but we haven't quite got around to stop stealing yet. How shall we do that? Right. I don't know. Let's we should make t shirts about stealing. Don't steal. It's you know, and it's one of the things that I've been kind of afraid of from a or seen as seen as a a continuing trend. We become a more sophisticated church base. There's a there's a big surge in in,

in going back to to theology. Like, people really taking their theology seriously. But but part of the risk in that is that we get, we start doing mental checklists and checkbox. You know, you know, does Jesus say to take up your cross and follow me? Yes. I agree. And our action was that we check the box, not that we actually, you know, bore the burden that Jesus is asking us to bear and follow him as a revolutionary. Like, it is just a will I mentally agree with this? And I would fight tooth and nail to for the truth of that biblical passage, but my life doesn't really reflect that. And We never actually deny ourselves Exactly. Anything. Exactly. But I can't help it.

We would agree that you should. And in our mind Yeah. Because we've agreed to that to the statement, well, we that's just the same thing. And, like, we we have a very we have, like, a cognitive sphere where we have people living a, quote unquote Christian life very much in their head, you know. And they would agree and they would fight for the biblical truth, but it does not reflect anywhere in their lives. And they don't see the disconnect, and that's very dangerous. Because, I mean, Jesus was not a he was an idea man,

leading to action man. He was not just an idea man. He wasn't not a philosopher. A philosopher throws stuff in the air, has people bat it around, and try to color their lives with it. K? He he did that and then did it and followed through with the action for it. He's way deeper than that. Yeah. And and it's just a risk that we have in in in even a positive thing like reading the bible. We read it and we're like, yes. I agree. God is good. God is sovereign. I agree. And then, like, it doesn't reflect, could I look at could I turn the volume down in your life and watch you and say, yes. He lives as if God is sovereign. Not he just said God is sovereign. And the the barrier there is that person doesn't see themselves as duplicitous because they do believe that. They very much agree. It's just it just doesn't happen to cascade down to the rest of their being. Yeah. I Oh, go ahead. I really been been thinking about that a lot lately. The whole that the verse you mentioned, you know, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. And, you know, like, the last year or so, I just kind of been pondering the whole idea. I don't deny myself

much. And it's not the point to just make yourself suffer. The point is, are you are you denying yourself for the sake of Jesus? Are are you growing forward in your faith because you said no to yourself? I thought, don't say no to much. You know? I feel like a cookie. I think I'll have I think I will have one. Yeah. Boy, I sure could use a new car. I'll go shopping for one. Yeah. You know? Oh, that shirt looks kinda nice. I'll buy you know? As opposed to, that maybe that homeless family that could use some some food or some assistance or someone who's who's struggling in an area. Or, boy, someone sure needs some help, but I I gotta go watch Thor. You know? Yeah. And so I need a vlog. You know, I can't say no. Maybe I buy them a ticket. Then they can come watch it with me. Well, no. I really can't do that because I need money for popcorn. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. You know? It's like and and not no. None of that stuff's bad, but I don't know how much do we really deny ourselves legitimately. And and not like I say, not just to deny yourself, you feel pious about it. Yeah. Yeah. I'm fasting, you know, popcorn now, you know. But I mean, legitimately, I said no for the cause of Christ. And and I don't know. But I think you kind of have to set that up ahead of time. I mean, you can't just randomly go through a day and say, this is, you know Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like a partial fast or,

I mean, you pick a reason why you're giving it up, and you choose to pray in lieu of doing that thing. I mean, then you're accomplishing the goal of getting closer to God instead of just making yourself miserable. You know, I I think how I think of it kind of as, Dan, is where the you guys seen the Steve Martin movie, the jerk? Yeah. Where he's, like, grabbing all the stuff on the way, and I was like, that's all I need. All I need. Like, oh, you need to share. That's what we're doing is we we're taking the we're we're taking the cross, and then we're just grabbing other stuff along the way. We need this cross and the store movie, and that's all I need. You know, I tell you. Like, I you didn't really deny yourself. You just took the one thing that you agreed to and then just, like, kept grabbing things kind of on the way. And, like, lord, these burdens are terrible. I have to carry all this stuff that I wanna do.

Tonight, I came home, and we had chili for supper. So I had some chili. My my tummy's all full. I'm like, I'm really tired. It's just been a long day. It started really early. It's been a good all day. And I'm thinking, okay. At 09:00, we have a prayer group that meets. And I'm looking at the clock, and I'm thinking, man, I I really could lay down on the couch and if I could just snooze a little bit and make me happy. And I'm thinking if I snooze, I will probably miss part of the prayer time. And I consciously thought to myself, I think I really wanna nap. And I will have Because I want one. And I will have it. And I took a nap. And then I came a little bit late, and then I consciously kept talking. We never prayed. That's pretty rare because we we pray every week, and and and and we we have a pretty good prayer time. This week, we didn't pray.

And because we all kinda had that same we even kinda all admitted it. We're like, yeah. It's kind of a Monday, isn't it? It's like, yeah. We do this every Monday. Yeah. It's always kind of a It's like that was a total that was total that's and it what I was talking about. I you know, deny yourself. Yeah. Pick up your cross. So just just just pray. Yeah. I mean, it's a scheduled thing. You know? It's like, there was no surprise about it. It's been on the calendar for a year now. You know, I found myself doing that with listening to sermons.

Yeah. Like, I I I should be I should be having a a good conversation with God, and I will I will hide in my Bible, or I will hide listening to a podcast of a sermon. And I will I and and and actually, my wife and I were just talking about it last night, like, I we we we'd started talking about something or whatever, and I and and and she said, how is your prayer life going? I'm like, it's terrible.

Crap. It's really, really bad. And and and, like, I I was trying to figure out what had happened, you know. And, like, I'd recall continuing to read my bible over the last couple weeks, and I'm, like, I don't remember I know what what I've been reading, but I can't tell you anything that has changed or anything that I thought, man, I gotta gotta implement something, you know. And, like, it was funny. As soon as I had that conversation with my wife, I still listen to a couple sermons today because that's just kinda how I roll. But, like, instead of instead of just listening to them and letting them go, like, I I I took parts of it. I'm like, I gotta focus on this. Right? Like, usually, when my prayer life is suffering, it's because there's a sin separating me from from God. Right? There's just something in the way that I'm not willing to get rid of, you know. And I'm like, where is the stuff that I'm holding on to that I've it convicted me the first time I read it. And the more read the Bible, the more that conviction got farther and farther away. And I thought, we'll be fine. We'll come back to it. Right? And then I'm still rolling, still rolling. I'm like, yeah. I got this covered. Yeah. We're doing okay here. I could use a little help here. Lord, you will do this. But like, God's still back on sin one going, hey, now. I I I convinced you to do that for a reason, you know. Like, there's a reason I wanted you to think about that. And like, it was it was a tough kind of revelation to realize that my prayer life was so crappy

that the Bible meant less to me. And I didn't think that was there was a much connection is there, there as there is. But like, when they say that you know, they always talk about you reading the Lord's word to understand the character of God, so you could be in a relationship with God, by your with with your prayer and your interaction with him, you know. And like, I I totally read every biography I could on Jesus and then didn't really I'm not interested in talking to him or knowing what he's what he's doing, what he's about, or what he thinks particularly on my life. Because he seems pretty scathing on sin and on certain people in the Bible. And I thought, well, that kind of lens seems a little harsh to me. You know, maybe I would just watch as he judges others and leave me alone.

But, like, I I mean, that's all subconscious. But, like, I don't know. It it was kinda heavy that that that you're kinda saying that stuff because it just it just kinda came fruition, the stuff that I've been reading lately, and and I applied it zero to my life, put no thought into it. I read I mean, I read Philippians, for heaven's sakes. Philippians, right through. No effect on me at all. Galatians. I mean, these are these are books that you read and go, dang. I'm not doing things right. I feel like I'm I'm I'm burying things, you know. I've been listening to sermons on the 10 commandments. I'm like, do I steal? Yes. Absolutely. I steal. And like today, I'm like, you do steal. Like, you you categorize it as part of your job or, you know, that's that it's you know, everybody probably does it like this or this is an excellent tax credit for all people in my situation. You don't understand. And so but the truth of the matter is, like, it's straight up theft. If they pay me to be at work for eight hours, and I talk to another guy for one of those hours, that's I owe my company an hour's worth of money. Right? And, like, it may not be that glaring, but I do do that. I take fifteen minutes and talk to a guy. And whether they frown on that or say it's okay, I I legitimately stole it. Like, there's no way they're paying me to do nothing. If I was the business owner, I'd be pretty upset at me, you know. And so, like, if you if you take the to some of the practices that you read through and and and and really put it to God, and he'll he'll certainly show you. And it's the stuff that you think that, passes.

You know, it's not categorically theft. It's not categorically cheating. It's not it's not categorically not loving somebody, you know. It's not stealing. And it it's all those things. Right? And, like, I was burdened by it because I thought, dang, I I have so much to do that I that I'm just not measuring up to. And I and and and it just came out it came back that, like, Jesus says, look, if you just if you just start talking to me some more, I'll I'll help you get rid of these things. And instead of going, hey, I need to work on my my theft and my stealing and my prayer life and this and this and this and my my caring for people, if I just work on my relationship with Christ,

that's it. Right? Love God first. Let, you know, love love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. So if I do that first, the other stuff will it will kinda take care of itself, you know. Like, God will bring it into focus as it comes and you can instead of going, I need to pick out when I'm stealing that day, you can just smell stealing coming and go, that looks like stealing. Jesus, stealing's coming. Can you help me? And he'll say, yes, I can. I'll take care of the stealing. So I don't know. I I I don't know how I got on this rant, but, like, anyway, big heavy stuff. Gotta pray too. You can't just read your Bible. I hide in my Bible. That's cowardly. Prepare the relationship part, you know, really. I mean, you can't really have a relationship with a book. You can learn a lot. You can learn the character of God, but but then it's just it's just book hit. It's book of book knowledge. Of it's a big heavy one with lots of study notes in it? You know? New relationships. Ask your wife how that works. Who did I have a I've been reading your diary.

Who did I have a conversation with where I said, I was trying to figure out how easily I would part with my bible. Were we talking about that? Uh-uh. So, like, you know, like, I I have a I bought a a nice bible because I thought I this thing will be with me forever. So I I wanted to not to fall fall apart. Right? So and I keep all my notes in there. That's the one I I generally try to read from, so I can keep my notes and stuff together. And I thought, if I saw a guy if I was walking down the street and I saw a guy and that really needed a Bible, would I be willing to give him mine? Or would I like, you know, wait. Hold on a second. Let me go find you a cheap one. Let me go pick up one. You know? And, I mean, he may he's not gonna get the most out of my notes. I get that. But from a practical purpose, the question is is, like, to a certain extent, am I kinda overly attached to my own Bible because it's got my notes in it? That seems a little bit idolistic, doesn't it not? Kind of. Look at my pretty hand, Rudy. I mean, I totally have a hard time giving my notes. Like, I would you're saying. You open it up, and you're like, oh, I had some real classic insight on the scripture right there, Ben. Good job. That's the best underline I've seen. You double underline that one. Good go. And so,

I feel like that I would struggle with that. And is it wrong for me to, to enjoy the Lord's word and to take a bunch of notes and, like, really really get into that relationship style? No. But, like, would I have trouble parting with that if there was a man that needed a bible for me? Yeah. And I feel like that's wrong. I should be willing to hand that over or buy a cheaper copy. Well, that's what I did. I I have multiple extra Bibles at work now. I had I had a situation

a couple months back where I was talking to this girl. I said something about, you know, well, they cover that in one of Paul's letters, and her response to me was, Paul McCartney?

And I thought you really need a bible. And I didn't have one to give her. Yeah. So the next time that I was at the Christian bookstore, I bought a couple extra bibles, and I have them stuck in a drawer. Yeah. I'm ready. I'm when it the next time that there's a Paul McCartney come in. Yes. When she when she comes in about every three months. So she should be in shortly, and I have one earmarked for her. Awesome. And then I have extra one. So whatever Just in case. I can't help stealing the thunder from the three month wait. It just seemed like a good idea to have. I'm like, you know, I they're they're nice. They're they're the message, so it's easy to understand. Yep. That and that was one of the things she said was, I've tried to read it. It doesn't make any sense. Yep.

You know, like, I've been reading the message to my wife, and she gets it. Yeah. So Yeah. I'm like, did it makes sense to have it. Yeah. So it's a good thing to have on hand. Yeah. And then I feel but it doesn't make me feel a little guilty. I'm like, I got a real nice one. Here's this low rent one I picked up for you for minimal dollars. It's a starter, buddy. I hope you find the Lord Jesus in it. Actually, I've read some of the cheap ones that we keep around here, and, like, they're flat out hard to read. The print's real small. They're paperback. Oh, yeah. The ones, like, you buy a whole bunch of in a box. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I kinda did that. Sorry. I'm the pastor around here. Yeah. I buy a lot of boxes.

But it makes me feel good about myself. Look how many Bibles I've bought. Here, though. Let's get down to the brass text. Can you put it in a box or can't you? I have a Bible. The Bible's just your church. Can't read it. But Alright. You're listening to live from the Path. Thanks for listening so far. Big question of the week is, lot lots of lots of terrible weather in The Philippines. I mean, estimating up to ten thousand dead, maybe more. Lots of folks they haven't been able to hear from. Broad question shows up every time there's a big disaster is where was

God? And I think the the root of that question can come from a couple different places. One is, you know, when when things like this happen, if God is sovereign and has the ability to stop them, why doesn't he? Why does he permit these types of things to happen? And maybe on the other side of it, if you're the the recipient of the natural disasters to say, why did not God protect me? Why why was was me and my family and my village and my, you know, city able to be hit and, and some were not? And so that's a that's the question on the table. Where was God in The Philippines? So I have to say, this is an

interesting question to me because I have not necessarily asked myself where was God in The Philippines, but in my life, in my hardships, I've asked myself, you know, where was God? Where was God when this happened? Where was the God of the universe when this happened? And, you know, the woe is me kind of deal. I kind of now looking back, I kind of felt like Job for a while, but in a bad way, I should say that. But I think I I've really been thinking about this because the fact that I think this is coming from the mindset that that society has that we

serve and are are watched over by a weak god. By a weak god that chooses whether or not to save people, that chooses whether or not to to destroy people, and all the different stuff. And I think it's just coming from the wrong point of, you know, God is cruel because he did this. God is cruel because this happened, or God is cruel because this didn't happen. Yeah. I didn't get $500,000

in a briefcase yesterday, and now I'm gonna lose my house. Where's God? Where's this cruelty coming from? And I think one of the, not easiest ways to answer that question is, but, a a good way to start is

God never promises happiness. God never promises that you are going to have an easy life. God never promises that you will never go through hardships. You will never find that in the Bible where God says, you're gonna have a lot of money, a lot of food, a great house, a great family. You're never gonna have troubles, and I'm gonna watch over you, I mean, to make sure that you're happy.

And I think as a society and as a world, we need to get over ourselves. And I know that that sounds harsh, and I'm sorry. Trust me. It's taken me quite a while to be able to say that, but we need to get over ourselves. Isn't there a distinction, though, between, like, what you're what you're talking about is is, seems to reflect an ideology that says, I want I'm trying to to make sure my needs are more than met as a I mean, these people are dead. Right. They're no longer living. So so that where I'm that's the extreme is the examples that I've been given. But at the same time, we're

not even promised tomorrow. We're We're not promised life. That's a gift from God that that he has every right to take away. We don't deserve that. And I think that's another thing that we need to get across is the fact that we're not promised tomorrow

at all. So death should not be a surprising thing. And it's it's it feels weird and rude to even think about it, but the people who passed away and the people who died,

God was there. 100%, God was there. And he may have been watching over it, and he was watching over the entire thing. And, yes, he didn't save every single person's life. And and, yes, people died and are hurt, but that doesn't mean he wasn't there. He's not not fulfilling a promise by letting people die.

That's expected. I think we can see God being there through what's gonna happen afterwards. You know, how Christians and Christ followers throughout the world can can band together and take care of the the poor and the needy and how God can can

amass, I mean, thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people and millions upon millions of dollars out of nowhere to help these people. And I'm I don't know the plan of God. I don't know where God was when, you know, if it was a thought process of, hey, this is what I'm gonna do now. I'm gonna cause a typhoon to hit here or an earthquake to hit here. But I think that we just need to get over the fact that that it's not an absence of God, the death is not an absence of God. Hardship is not an absence of God.

Hardship is a promise from God. We are told that we are going to go through hardships. And think that a lot of people that ask that question are under the influence of, you know, God is absent where death is. And I think that's completely wrong. So understanding the reality that you're proposing, is that what you'd say to a who's just been whose family just been wiped out by a hurricane? Obviously, I'm not gonna go up to him and be like, God was there, and you need to deal with it.

So what would you say? I mean, where he he wants to know where was God. So, I mean, this is where you've gotta start with with building relationship with God between that person and God. And I don't think you start with you weren't promised tomorrow. I think you start with, hey, you know, no matter what's gonna happen, God has got you. God has got all of this under control. And as much as you feel like he doesn't right now, he still does love you.

And he loves the people that you lost. And he's going to be with you through these hardships. He hasn't abandoned you. He hasn't left you because of this happening. Guess what? You ask for it. You have a relationship with him. He'll hold your hand through this whole thing. He'll keep his arms around you the entire time. You just have to make sure that you don't lose faith because that's when the disconnect happens between you and God. Hudson, you're a you're a man that's bound to have been hit with this many times in your pastoral life. Why do what where was God? Why did God let this happen to me? Well, that's why was just thinking if if if I were there, you're having the conversation and and hey, where was God in all of this? I I think that, you know, life just happens. That there there are certain things in in life that just happens. It's not necessarily that God sent a typhoon, or that he couldn't have stopped it or he sent it one direction or another. It it happened. It's just it's going to happen. That's just part of of life. Where is God? Well, he's here right now. He sent me to you. How can I help you? You know? And you then that's where you, as a believer, get engaged in their life and and and you maybe you deny yourself. You know, maybe that's providing some shelter. Maybe that's doing some some help, doing something.

But, you know, that that's one of the toughest questions because it it is it's highly emotional. Know, we we look at God as the great protector and and God didn't protect me. My house, is gone. Maybe a family member is gone.

My job is gone. Everything's gone. Where is he? Well, he's still there. He's he's still the the creator of life. He's still the the savior. He he he and he looks at

longer term issues than than the the momentary pain you're going through. His biggest concern is,

are you a follower of him? Have you accepted him for salvation? That that's that's ultimately the highest, most important issue in life. And and I realized that might be the least of someone's thoughts at that point. You know, I'm mad at God right now. I'd say, well, let's help you get through that. We need to connect you with God because because a

thousand years from today, as hard as this sounds, what you're looking at is gonna just not be that big of a deal. What will be a big deal is your relationship with God, and,

I wanna help you connect there. But but I I I don't have a good answer. Well, that I think that's a true answer. Right? Like Yeah. Like the answer is who can know the mind of God? Right? That's a rhetorical question. Exactly. It better not be you. You know? Like, I can't. I think of Job. I mean, Job had everything bad happened to him. Family died. Business failed. Everything went bad. And finally, showed up and hey. Stand there like a man and take this. Yeah. Who are you to ask me? You know, I I'm God. You're not. Well, that's the thing. It's and and it's it seems so harsh in a in a reality like that, but like,

it I mean, it's it it is a certain amount of pride. Right? Like, I it's I I didn't see you argue when he blessed you with a continued life after your sin. Right? Like, I didn't see you raising your hand going, you know, where is God when I deserve punishment? You know, where is God when I deserve the things that have that I have coming to me? Right. You know, and then and then this happens and and

whether or not it's at God's direct hand or not. Right? Like, you don't you don't question the sovereignty of God as long as it leaves you alone. And then, when it comes into your life, now you have questions and now you have accusations. Mhmm. And God's like, you know, if you if you've read that bible of mine that that all fallen short of the glory of God and and the punishment for sin is death. And you're still kicking, grace man. Like, I've provided grace for you. I've provided your ability, to be in relationship with me. And I didn't hear any kickback from you when that happened, you know Yeah. Yeah. Or whining, you know. And and now this happens and now you have something to say. Now, agreed, in that situation,

that reality is harsh. Right? That's a harsh thing to say and I wouldn't imagine ever saying that to somebody, you know, after that. But like, it doesn't it doesn't bevy the truth away. Right? That is Yeah. That is kind of the truth and like, forced with that or faced with that question, you know, the answer is, who can know the mind of God? I know that I'm here to love on you. Alright. That's what I know. And I didn't come here on my own volition because I'm that guy that ignored the grace. I'm the guy that still needed the grace. Right? There's nothing good in me that brought me to you, to love on you. I wasn't built like that, you know. And so like, I'm only here, for the glory of God and and and and to be with you and show love to you. Right? And that's that's all I know. Right? Like Right. No grand scheme. No, you don't know. No no trumped up bookmark. You know, if there's one thing that that Christians do the injustice of the love of Jesus Christ is they try to explain God where God didn't explain himself. Right. You know, he does the talk. He's his best PR man. He wrote a Bible, which is about everything he wanted to say. And individually, if he's got something to say to you, that's where the prayer comes in real handy. And sometimes life stinks. It just it just does.

It's in his word. Yeah. Christ follower or not. You know? My dad was diagnosed with cancer. I prayed for for God to heal him and to help him. He died six weeks later. Where was God in that? Well, he was there. I mean, you know He said, I'm sorry. This is gonna hurt, Dan. Yeah. He said You know? Guess what? He was gonna die sooner or later. Yeah. And so are you, by the way. Yeah. And and You know, I mean And see, you don't wanna take you don't wanna take the the reality so far that you missed God's heart on that. Because right in that situation,

you know, God's like, I know this is gonna hurt, Dan. Yeah. Know this gonna hurt. Yeah. And and I'm gonna be with you through and this. That's it. You know, I this this is the deal. This is how it's gonna work out. Like, how do you think he felt watching his son get crucified? Right? Like Yeah. I know this is gonna hurt, but you gotta do this. You know? I think at this point in time, you know, if someone obviously, this is probably isn't going to happen because I'm in Iowa. But if someone were to come up to me today and say, you know, on Thursday, my whole family was killed, or I I lost everything and I lost everyone I've ever known, you know, where was God? I think answering that question right now would be incredibly difficult. Maybe in a year or two, we can both look back and say, well, he was here the whole entire time. Mhmm. You know, I I dealing with with my dad as well. Right. I remember I got the phone call that that, hey. Your dad's on the way to the hospital. And I remember jumping into my 15 passenger van and just hauling down East 14th in in the area and praying, you know, wholeheartedly,

god, just just save my dad. Save my dad. Be with my dad right now. You know, I he's strong. I need him here. He's not done. And here I am just, hey, God. I know that you're wise and all, but I'm more wise. So let's go ahead and go with what I want. But Yeah. He's not done here. You can't call him, and all this different stuff. And it's been over four years now since my dad passed away, and I look back at that as as one of the most influential and biggest blessings that I've ever received. My

faith was completely shattered, but that's because it was it was a fake I hate to have been in and out, but it was a fake faith. And I had built my faith on on the sand. You know, I thought, hey, you know, I'm a Christian, and I love God and all these different stuff, but never put any of it in the acts. And and God just crushing out my foundation that I have, which was my dad,

caused me to run to him. Periodically, I ran away, to be a 100% honest. I didn't I didn't do too great at first, but, you know, and I'm still not doing too great, but but it caused me to to run away, but then realize what I was doing, and then and then just run as fast as I could back to him. And looking back on that now, it was the worst day of my life when I found out that my dad died. But

it's also the best day of my life and the best thing that ever could happen to me. And God had that in control the whole time. God was sitting there, you know, Troy, this is gonna hurt. This is gonna rip you apart. You are never going to be the same again. But, son, I'm here. I've got you. Trust me. And you can't see that in the midst of the storm. No. There's no way you could see it. As a person of faith, you can you can hold on to it and say, okay. I know God's doing something. Mhmm. I know I'm gonna come out of the end of this.

But but it it is just pure faith getting you through it. Right. Oh, absolutely. Sometimes failure. Is your failure. I think, to to kinda bring it back is is where is the perspective that even Jesus has. Right? When he's praying in the Garden Of Gethsemane, he's saying, you know, my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass for me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. Right? So, I mean, e even that perspective is to say, if God is a real God, and he's a loving God and a sovereign God, I have to trust in two things. One is that,

he's got it under control. Whether I feel like it's in control or not, that's what makes him God and not me. And second of all, is that although a loss of life in this world, it feels like everything we have from a God's perspective,

it's it's a mist. Right? It's a vapor. It's a drop in the bucket. And so you haven't lost everything. It feels like that because that tangibly, that's all that you have that you've been around. Right? But your everything is always much bigger than you can imagine. Even the everything even the if I can think about, you know, my my life does not stop here and it moves on afterward. My concept of the everything that is my existence is still much shallower, much shorter than what obviously God could comprehend. And and you're right. That's that's probably not a lot of consolation to someone who's kinda gone through some of that stuff, except to think about the fact if they if they were folks of faith, where was God waiting eagerly

on the continuation of their life, of their existence, past whatever that incident was, that somehow moved the needle and moved the time along under the control of a sovereign God. Yeah. He's got Zacchaeus who are putting in the last gold bar on the streets of gold heading to his place. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Zacchaeus gotta work. My my wife and I, we we we lost two two babies. And each time, you know, there was just devastation. And I can remember us just just, like, laying in bed the next day, just kinda staring at the ceiling when the light's off just going, man, this is I mean, there's no not no deeper pain than that. I mean, it's just there just isn't.

And, at the same time thinking, as horrible as this is, we know God's in this. God's God's doing exactly what he wants, what he needs, and you put your faith in that. And what what often hurts is the Christian then that comes up that that that they're trying to be nice. You know? The Job style Christian. Yeah. Oh, don't don't worry. You can have another one, you know, or whatever. Like, well, god didn't want that one anyway or, you know, they they always say you know? And they're trying to be helpful. Wow. But but they're just like, you know Isn't it those times that you just really don't want that hug? You know what saying? Like, just Let me give you a hug right now. Wanna just wanna be me and my wife and Jesus, and I just want you to go away just even for a day. I just want you to go here's the thing. But sometimes it is a the the that's actually a little twist, and you have to love them too. Yeah. You know? And it's it's all part of the thing. It's just like, where's God in that? You would know. I am not good at that. What was that? I was listening I was listening to something today where a guy was talking about,

like, his family's plan of attack when they if someone comes into his house. If someone breaks into his house. And he's basically committed to say, look, the plan is is that I will I will intercede to this robber, this armed man. My wife and my kids are to leave. And they need to know ahead of time that I'm willing to give my life to try to talk to this man about Jesus. And the likelihood is that he will kill me.

And my and and the agreement that we have beforehand is that it is is I expect that that my wife will be visiting him in prison. And and he goes he goes, if that is the opportunity that man gets to hear about Jesus. And, like, it's it's just a perspective that we have a hard time grabbing on because we choose what our priorities are. And if you think of the flip, think of when Jesus prayed in the Garden Of Gethsemane. Right? He's willing to flip everything on his head and say, you know, I know I know what what a what a revolution looks like. I know what a kingdom looks like. And I'm willing to see that thing totally flipped upside down because I this is the way I win. Right? This is how Jesus wins. This is how the kingdom moves on is is we don't we're not gonna do that. And, and that perspective, it it sees it sees his role as protecting his family correctly. Right? But, like, the thought that I'm willing to say that I'm gonna take that shot to, you know and and potentially, I mean, literally take the shot to, to witness that man for Christ. Like, it's just something that's not I don't know that's in our part of the same conversation we had when we were talking about arming the deacons, you know, who are running the Yeah. The church plate, you know. Like a guy comes in and goes ape crazy and and starts shooting up people, like, you know,

is it really to gain? Like, if in a church full of people that already love Jesus, they're gonna go meet Jesus. You shoot that guy before he knows Jesus. What it I mean, there's there's a guy that's lost. Yeah. He didn't make it. I think it's okay to tackle him. I wouldn't be shooting him in the head, though. No. Do your best not to kill the man before you get to talk to him about Jesus. Because what are they gonna do? Take out take out me? Right? My wife will be fine. I'm surrounded by Jesus people. I'm gonna go meet Jesus. I feel like Yeah. There's I mean Here here here's my deal. See, I I figure I'm a big enough guy. It'll take a few shots to get me down. I've I've told my wife this in multiple occasions. Just to be prepared for this, if we're in a mall, the church, whatever, I will run at him. Okay? Yeah. I will also be pulling out my my three fifty seven with the hollow point. You know? He will go down too. I will save you. I will save other people, but I will go too. So I maybe I have a a less spiritual view of this. I'm taking him out. Can I be the official church tackler?

Yes. I I Or you could love the guy. Or you can tackle Dan before he shoots the man that doesn't look like house. I'm kinda feeling bad all of sudden, but I'm I'm thinking, you know, if you can save some lives, I understand that the higher spiritual thing, they're going to heaven anyway. Choosing to go for the lower road. I I may may hurt somebody. I don't think I'm gonna kill him by tackling him. Hey. Look. I mean, is is is this the whole thing? Take up your cross and follow me. Is this the whole thing? What did Jesus do? He didn't sit on the on the cross throwing Chinese stars out. Right? He he just he he says that too. Would have been interesting. If you remember Matthew, like, when they come to arrest him, he's like, I could have called legions of angels to my assistance. Like, I could it's not like you with your your clubs and spears and stuff could have if we wanted to fight a fair fight, I could do this. I'm just not to die. That was the point. But but do you not think that he died that way for a reason?

He I mean, he could have died anyway. He could have God could have done that in any way that he wanted to. Right. Right. I'm just saying I don't think we could equate it to to I don't have to die. But but my child doesn't have to die. But I don't know if you're, if you're thinking about that right. Like, is there not something to be learned from how God orchestrated that? I mean, he could have had Jesus die in a revolution, die in a in a physical means. He he specifically had him die in that way. Is there not something to be gained about the heart of God in that? I don't know. Well, I think there's plenty, but I don't know if it relates to what we're talking about. Die to yourself, Dan. Die to yourself. I'm willing to die for this. I'm going down in this thing. I understand. Wanna kill another man with me. Lord, I only wanna save the people that I wanna save. The last thing I wanna do is shoot another man before I go, what do you mean? A guy that doesn't know you, I will not die for that man. Says no Jesus ever. I just wanna make sure he shoots nobody else.

I will shoot him in the hub in in the hubcaps. In the kneecaps. In the hubcaps. I wonder if that's our call. I don't know. I don't know about that. That's a good question. Alright. I'm just excited. Maybe we'll hit It's only a good question because nobody wants to do it. That's why it's a good question. That's pretty that's pretty wild. Yeah. Because I don't know. Something about because I've told my kids the same thing. Hey. If someone comes in, I have a loaded weapon. I will protect you. I've never said I'll go down. I've I've said that dude will leave in a body bag. Just so you know.

Because because Dan's here. Because I I I'm the Dan. Do you know Jesus? I don't care. Hollow point. You're about to meet him. I I better rethink this. I don't know. Just put someone to put the thing on. I I here's the deal. On this this type of issue, I I I go I go back and forth. I will go to extremes on that where I'm like the guy in the house. I'm like, everything I got, love Jesus. And I think, am I really supposed to let this doofus crazy man run wild on people? I feel like I'm not. And, like, I feel like those are extremes, and I will oscillate between those very, very rapidly. I I say How do you

initiate that conversation? Well, you make sure he's good in your five minutes to live. And your family running out the door. What are you gonna I mean, what are you gonna say? Hold on. Can we start the basis of this conversation? It helps if you're not in your undies. This is why you wear sleek pants or jeans. Oh, I gotta change that too. Yeah. Here's the deal. You are not menacing in your in your boxers. Put a pair of pants on. Feel like I may not be menacing in a pair of boxers, but I think I may be more Distracting. Startling. I didn't think this was gonna turn into a discussion. It should have just been a given. Okay. Here's the deal. I'm gonna move this to next week. We're we I I think this is gonna take some development. So The Big Easy is gonna be in. We'll talk about it. Yeah. The Big Easy is gonna be here. We're gonna move that to next week. Speaking of the Big Easy, big thank you to the Eisenhower team for sponsoring life and the path. Big Bob Eisenhower is gonna be here. He's not a big he's not really big Bob. Yeah. He's he's the name Big Easy doesn't really fit him. I just haven't called anybody Big Easy, and I thought it was a pretty sweet name. Anyway, you go to eisenhowerteam.com. And for all your your real estate needs, you're trying to sell your house, you wanna buy another place, you want a a vacation home, now is the time to snag one up. Bob I feel like we don't have a whole lot of people that are seeking vacation homes. Whatever. Bob can help in any means necessary.

And so get a hold of him. He's a great sponsor of the show, and he'll be on next week. Also, Westfield Veterinary Hospital. Go to westfieldvethospital.com. That's here in Johnston, Iowa. And those guys are awesome. Take all of your take care of all of your pet care needs. Dogs, cats, birds. I don't know if they do kangaroos. I suppose if you got one legally, they might bargain with you. Donkeys. I got a hug from one list. They'll do a donkey. A mule. Anyway, to go westfieldvethospital.com.

You can there's there's a phone number there. There there are hours of operation. Lots of good information about them. You can also set up an appointment right there online, and it's really cool. They're they're real great friends of the show, and they do an awesome job taking care of the animals. So make sure you get in on that with westfieldvethospital.com. Alright. Rick Gray, Pope style. You can wait. Can you do Pope style in, two minutes or less, or do we need to push push it for the break? Yeah. Alright. Pope style advice, Rick Gray, go.

God does not grade on a curve. It's it's a pass fail test. Like,

nonbelievers tend to think that salvation depends on them being better than the people around them. Right. And that's not That's incorrect. Right. It's

Is that your cell phone, Rick Ray? Hopefully, he's saying you passed. Yes. Just letting you know, buddy.

That's a pass. But it it's not really

a simple test, but it's a basic test. And god and Jesus is the great divider. Right. So it's not a relative distinction as far as I may think more about Jesus than the other guy. It is

Jesus Realizing that Jesus Lord Zeta. You're just yeah. Yeah. You're as as pitiful as the next guy. Yeah. And instead of looking at it like, well, this is what I do better. You're judging you're judging apples to oranges anyway. You're looking at someone else's worst attributes Yeah. And comparing it to your best. Right. So Everybody does that. Right. Well, I'm better than that guy. It's human nature. I'm not like that guy at work. Yeah. I'm like, throw human nature out the window and just follow the laws. That's the it's it's already set up. It's very basic. No need to

interpret it the way that you want. Yeah. Right. Right. They're always tugging around god like, like, there's a relative distinction or the there's a back hair contest that they might be able to sneak in. Well, you know what? Actually, I I I think that the like, the church folks tend to take it a different way. Like, I saw this is the truth, actually. Sometimes I get very jealous of people who are very good at loving people. I'm not good at that at all. Right? Like, I'm just I feel like God didn't design me that way. There's certain things that I that I am am in tune to, to do in the kingdom of God, but, like, hospital visits and and and time of need stuff.

I'm terrible at it. And, like, I I seriously I I envy people that are good at that. Sometimes in an unhealthy way. Like, I just I feel bad in my relationship with Christ because I'm not good at that. And the truth of the matter is, I just feel like I wasn't designed to do that. But I forget that sometimes, and I put on an air of jealousy for folks, and it's it's it's it's not needed. New lives of Life in the Path coming to you from Pathway Studios here in Johnston every Monday night at lifeinthepath.org or Saturdays on ninety nine point three KTA at 07:00. It's good to see you this week. We're gonna take a quick break. If you're on the podcast, there's a lot more show coming up. If you're on KTA, I gotta let you go. Enjoy whatever comes after us. I'm sure it'll be great. Have a good week.

You know what Buva dances? He looks like that bird that comes in for the drink of water and then comes back up, and then comes back down for the drink of water. Sorry. I need to move it to dance a little longer so I have some more material for my opening. I think my head is just I I'll be honest. I love the deadpan thing, but it's a nice counterpoint.

Give it another couple seconds. Don't oversell it. Alright. Here you go. If you're on the podcast, you made some mistakes in life, but this is not one of them. Thanks for hanging out with us.

Hey. We're we're gonna talk about violence next week. I'm kind of excited for this violence conversation. Yeah. This is gonna be good. I feel like that boxer thing should have been a nonstarter. I don't know how it how it was up for debate. I've I got a pair of is it weird? So my wife's grandpa died, and his grandma was getting rid of some sweatpants, and I kinda got them. Is it weird to wear a dead man sweatpants around? No. Here's the thing. Because you'd have bought them from the Goodwill. It'd just been a man you didn't know. I feel like I I feel like sweatpants is not him. I have to buy brand new. I don't know why. Was he wearing them when he died? I'm not sure on that. I didn't ask any questions. Assume no, then it's less creepy. But Actually, I'd get to the bottom of that. I feel like this is making

any assumptions there. Okay. Dear, live from the path. Tell me what you would have done in this situation. While dining out at an expensive restaurant on a rare night out, we were seated directly across from a nice looking family. Mhmm. As I was eating my meal, I had a nauseating view of their child's butt crease.

I didn't see that coming at all. I gotta screen these. The boy was about 12 or 14, and I didn't I didn't wanna embarrass him in a public place, but it put a damper on my enjoyment of the meal. Would it have been appropriate to approach his mother and quietly tell her? Obviously, the kid didn't know or care that he was exposed. The restaurant was full, so I couldn't request another table. Wow. I'm also offended by a butt crease,

I I guess. Wow. Okay. I I I find myself wondering. It could be, like You know, plumbers pants

or the saggy gangster britches. Gangster britches usually They usually have the undies. The undies. The undies don't move. Here's the deal. Maybe you shouldn't leave the house if this is what kinda nauseates you. I feel like you should also cut off any access to the outside world, including TV and magazines. There's no possible way you don't you aren't walking around sick to your stomach at all times in life. You know what I'm saying? Never you ever made the fake butt crease with your arm? I've done that. Because I feel like I feel like that's just as offensive if that's your problem. Like, if you can't take two flaps of skin pushed together because there's a crease in it. I mean, who's offended? The weirdest way to do this. But it's a I I don't understand who's offended by this caboose. You know I'm saying? Like, everybody's got one. I mean, it's not it's just not offensive. I know. But it still throws you off when you're in public and Stop see looking at it. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. Just look a different direction and Yeah. Maybe your husband could do a better job of not staring at the crease. Maybe you say, hey. Can you switch me seats, John? There's a crease. Yeah. I mean, here's the deal. If I if if if the natural inclination of man is to look at certain things that ladies have on display, and I have to not look at that because that's the better part of valor, I feel like you could not look at the butt crack of a 14 year old kid that's sitting somewhere near you in the in the restaurant. Yeah. Really. Or you could just say Pull it together. You could do it random. I do this when I think I see a celebrity at a restaurant. Like, let's say I I think that, say, Tom Hanks is in the restaurant, I'll just sit around and I'll just go, Tom Hanks.

And wait to see if the guy looks around. If he does not, then I assume it is not Tom. What are you your butt cracking? I would have done the exact same thing in this situation. Your butt is hanging out. And then ducked, and then see if the kid fixed it. Who calls it a butt crease? Is that normal parlance? The kind of lady that's offended by a by a butt by a butt crease. Abby doesn't even accurately describe the situation. It's not even a a crease is where a fold happens. It's these are where two things are converging. Yeah. They're two legs have buttered up against each other. Yeah. It's not like a fulcrum. It's more yeah. A butt fulcrum. A valley can it's not no. A fulcrum is things that like, a fulcrum's like a teeter totter. That's what I'm saying it's not. It's not that. Yeah. That's what I said. Canyon Valley. I'd accept either of It's what, it's what secular says. The first thing would have done was resist urge to walk over and plant a stalk of celery in the great divide. Wow. And then because moving to another table was impossible Comedy

by Secular. Good. I would have moved my chair so that the view of the young man's cleavage wouldn't have been head on. What? But bum cleavage. Bleavage.

Okay. Bleavage is kinda funny. Okay. Here we go. Hey. Did I ever tell you what's, the man's cleavage is? Like, the thing that that ladies can't help but look at when men walk by? No. Food. Food. If you're a man carrying food I noticed this at work because, like, if you go up to the cafeteria

Exactly. There's nothing physically appealing about Benadryl. No. No. But what they have in their hands is every food. Every this is it made me feel dirty, like a piece of I got that guy's I would walk by, and I bought, like, a sandwich at the thing. And, like, I would pass the ladies on my way to the elevator, and I'd say hi. And they would not they would say hi, but they wouldn't be looking me in the eye. They're looking at what's on my plate. And I thought, that is the man cleavage. Suppose they find, like, a salad more attractive or something. French fries are like Oh, you're I don't wanna try to buy these guys at one World of World of Warcraft later. Hey. It felt very awkward to think it's like there was one lady that walked by, and I thought, my eyes are up here, lady.

Wow. Stop looking my hammer on rod. Dear life from the path, I am a single woman who has made a string of unsuccessful relationships. When a man is into me, I'm not into him and vice versa. I know the problem is mostly mine. I'm very independent.

I don't want a man to consume my life. Just be a part of it. Seems like the men I date want to smother me. My friends tell me the most that most women enjoy this. I hate it. I need a certain amount of time alone. I'm attracted to manly men, but the ones who are attracted to me are either emotionally needy or they take longer to get ready to go anywhere than I do. It's frustrating. Neither of those sound like manly men. Manly men. Okay. Sorry. Go ahead. I have met some men who would have been wonderful catches, but I felt nothing. I know friendship is the basis of all relationships, but physical attraction is important to me. A relationship won't work if I can't bring myself to be intimate with the person. I I find you repulsive, but very friendly.

In all in all my years of dating, I have been in love only twice. Any help would be appreciated. Dear, are shallow.

You are a shallow person and likely difficult to deal with, and any man worth his salt, except for the pretty boy, seem to be running away from you for a good reason. If you are the problem if your friends have had the go guts to say, you are the problem, you are definitely the problem. And I feel like it's time to change your ways and stop acting like like you are. Yeah. The I think the kind of guy she's looking for is probably cutting down trees or changing oil somewhere. Like, they just haven't bumped into each other. You know what? Like, he'd I I I don't know what she means by I mean, don't get me wrong. There's some there's some Nancy fellows out there that will tend to take over your life with their emotional woundedness. But and and you you don't really wanna feed that because that emotional woundedness behavior will continue on till the end of their days. Yeah. You know, but but, like, on a certain amount, you're looking for a and she's obviously not looking for the biblical man. You know what I'm saying? But she's she's just looking for a guy to, like, make her feel less lonely. And really, that's a that's a take that's a take relationship, not a mutual give.

Like, I don't find him attractive. I don't feel like I we we're spending too much time together. You know, I feel like he should give this to me, me, me, me, me, me, not I have a lot to offer a man. I just haven't found the right one. That was none of it. It was all, here's how they're letting me down. Here's how I'm not happy with them. Well It's pretty self centered in this whole thing. You're like a steak knife. Who wants to date a steak knife? When she says something like, you know, the ones I do like, you know, wanna consume all my time. It makes it sound like, I want to be with him as much as it does benefit me. And then when, you know, his needs to be met or, you know, he he wants to, he needs actually a reciprocation for me as far as time and attention. I feel like I'm being consumed. Well, what's need to what know? Guys that she's dating. Right? Only a weak liver puffball would agree to that that situation. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? A guy that has the woundedness and really just you know, he'll take any kind of attention, good, bad, or indifferent. You know, at first, I was gonna suggest she maybe get a puppy. But a puppy actually needs attention and someone who cares about it. Yeah. Gold goldfish. Is a goldfish. Yeah. Yeah. A goldfish, she can put it out whenever she wants it. Guana, maybe Put it away. Cactus. Cactus.

Be good. Yeah. Yeah. No. I I've always thought it's funny when when

emotionally wounded people are looking for someone. They're it's like they're looking for that codependent other half. They're not looking for a fulfilling relationship. Right. They're looking for that somebody who's gonna be the Band Aid

that covers that accommodates their insecurities. Right. It's like my

advice is always spend a year or five years by yourself. Don't try to date anybody. Don't look for anybody. Work on yourself. Right. Focus on yourself and figure out be okay all by yourself. Once you can do that, then you have something really worthwhile

to bring into a relationship. You find another whole person Right. The two of you together can be one whole unit. Two half people don't ever make one whole unit. Right. It's two broken half people. And I think that is true. I think a lot of times they look for not for someone to help them become a better person, but someone who makes them feel better about not being a better person. Like, you bring in Right. Yeah. Yeah. An enabler. Yeah. An emotional wounded enabler. Wanna hear what Secular's advice is? Yeah. Let's have it. Secular says, I wish I had a magic lamp that would give you what you're looking for in a puff of smoke, but I do not. What I can offer you is that you need to continue looking for someone who is as independent as you are.

Goldfish. So you can find an attractive man whose needs are similar to yours. Absolutely. This is the basis of a strong future together. Some couples find the process of dating a smooth and easy one. For others, it's complicated, but not impossible. I submit to you, if you're dating a man that you find to be complicated to get along with,

that might not be the guy. This might be the time to come. It might be time to to to go ahead and check on out. It's not gonna work out for you. I'm sorry. Am I getting the gist of this advice as being, hey, I'm having trouble meeting the right man. And her advice is, keep trying to meet the right man. Yeah. Excellent. Yeah. You you know what? Here's the thing. It's like, it's it's a it's a a backpack. You know? Like, there's no one that that she's she's not saying, you might wanna just I mean, just just hang with me for a second and and entertain the idea. It's possibly you. You could be very hard to get along with and and and really a pain in the crease. And people are just having a

a hard time, you know, being able to connect with you because you're an icebox. And so but, like, that is not what happened. It's like, it's gotta be other people. Other people are definitely to blame here. There's most certainly an attractive When you have a series of failed relationships, you have to look at it like, what is the common denominator? Right. It is you. Yeah. You're the only thing that's the same in all of these. Right? And and let's say it's let's say you keep dating jerks. Right? Like, that doesn't take away the fact that they're jerky, but you still indeed keep picking them. Right? You're still the blame. It doesn't matter how you slice it. And it's still a broken picker. Right. Sorry. I'm sorry. It's just not working out for you. Get some counsel. Get some legitimate counsel from somebody like, say, a local pastor or or, you know, a good Jesus man.

Which it Mike, let me ask you this. Let's say that that this person has come up to you and and and this lady's talked to you. Would you send a good Jesus man her way? No. I feel like she's It's not a good thing to do with Jesus man. No. I would send her towards a good Jesus lady and see what happens there. I mean because here's the thing. I don't need I don't need any of the the the bright young Jesus fellows we got getting sucked in by this piranha. It's like, I could very well tear them away from their faith in this kind of behavior. And so, like, we gotta get them strong before they can put up with this kind of stuff. I've only loved two people, and I really do love them with all my heart. But I was never attracted to them. Yeah. Because they were horribly ugly. They looked like the elephant. There's the goiter on the side of k. Ready? We got one more. Yep. How does dear, live from the path. How does how does one stop family and old friends from going on and on about their aches, pains, symptoms, conditions, doctor visits, and medications in excruciating detail? Aside from my mother, who's 85,

I don't care to hear about this from others. It has taught me a lesson I wish people other people would follow, because they are obviously not as good as me. While I do have back issues, I speak to them only to my doctor. We're gonna talk about the irony of of of letting the back issue thing out. I try to be patient, but some folks seem to need someone to vent to, like, say, a national newspaper. I don't want to be the one they tell all to. I try to tune it out, but I wish there was an easy way to let them know enough is enough. Any ideas on the best way to handle these people, or am I stuck being a good listener forever? Wow. You are not you are not a good listener and an awful person. You're a terrible listener and an awful person. You try and

And a hypocrite. I like the hypocrite part. That's That's that's the best. I hate hearing about everyone's medical conditions. I have my back problems. Obviously, I don't like to pretty tell you about those. I don't care to hear my lumbar is so sore. Well, first of all, you need to enter a conversation with a different beginning rather than saying, how are you feeling? Which is probably what she's doing Yeah. Because they're telling her. Say, how are things going? I I actually learned that from a hospital chaplain when I was in college.

Don't don't say how are you feeling. It's because if you're going to the hospital, they're there for a reason. And if you ask how they're feeling, they're gonna get distracted by how they're feeling rather than what's really going on. Ask them how things are going, and you can help them spiritually. It was actually a pretty good point. Nice. I got I I've actually always deflected this with bringing up some minor medical issue that I have. Like, you know, they'll be like, oh, my glaucoma's acting up, and I've had two gallstones to blur. I'm like, you know, I've had an earache, and sometimes, it's just it's a beast, man. I'm with you. These health problems I feel like my toenails grew up pretty fast. Yeah. I have this ingrown toenail that you would not believe. So I went to have my vision checked, and they're like, it's like twenty, thirty. You're gonna have to wear glasses. I'm like, glasses? I don't think so. I'll

take a monitor. I'd rather be lying. So I would say right.

In addition to not putting yourself, say, in that situation by being careful with what you say, I don't know. Maybe reorient the thought that you're not really a virtuous person. It is no credit to you to listen to someone only to complain about it later. That's not a good standard. Like, all you did was get away with being a bad person. Oh, true. Because you're I mean, she's judging them the whole time that they're having the conversation. Yeah. I mean, that has to come off on their face at some point. If somebody's giving you a litany of medical woes

and you really don't wanna hear about it Yeah. I mean, at some point, your face is gonna give away that you don't really Well, and let let's look at it in an honest perspective. Right? Like, if someone they feel like they're defined by their medical condition, that's all they're gonna talk about. Right? And so, like, you do have a good opportunity here. You know, if all they wanna talk about is their physical ailments, or here's what's like, they're like, here's what you'll find interesting about me. You know, like, if you really were interested in them, I think you could probably weasel past that, you know, like so in between these five doctor visits you've been to today, what do you how do you keep the time, you know? You read a couple magazines or, you know, whatever. You know? Kinda get the conversation away from the medical stuff instead of rolling your eyes and being like, yep. Hernia. That seems rough. Well, obviously, it's important to these people. They wouldn't they wouldn't be talking about it. You know? I mean Or all have. Or it's all they have. I mean, my mother Yeah. My mother-in-law, she

every time that we see her, it's it's that medical litany. It's the you know what? And they're probably thinking all they ever talk about is their children. This is the yeah. This is I don't care about your children. Don't you know I have hemorrhoids? I mean, you know, it's it's people being selfish. They want to hear about what they their their world rather than, hey. It's a give and take. I'll tell you about my hemorrhoids. You tell me about your children. Yeah.

Everybody's Hopefully, by noon, we'll get to tennis elbow. Exactly. And we'll play some, you know, Piggly Wiggly. I don't know. If you go into if you if you really are are bad at small talk and you don't know really how to get a conversation going and you're talking to like, you're at the the old folks home, the nursing home, you just talk about bowel movements. They'll that'll give them go on for half an hour. They'll just talk about No. See, that's Until I take my pill, that's what gets me going for half an hour. There are really specific areas where you're gonna get multiple people that are talking about medical ailments. Yeah. I mean, in a general in the general populace,

that's not somebody's go to. Yeah. Yeah. Where is she going to have multiple conversations with sick people? Yeah. Right. You know? I mean, it seems like you're going to a hospital or you're going to some She's probably a nurse. Northland or right. They keep telling me this stuff. I don't understand. I think I'm gonna start telling people my medical ailments more often in serious, serious detail just to test if you're good listeners. Hey. How's it going, buddy? I'm feeling a little under the weather. Wanna kiss my head. Let me raise your finger. Weird thing on the back of my head. I have this seeping mole.

And I I I don't know how to explain it. It looks more like jello. But, if you leave it alone, it crystallizes. Like, I put it in I tried to lick it, see what tastes funny, and, like, I don't know. Don't It has no taste. Yeah. And when I dance, it kinda whistles. I

feel like it's some kind of sweat of some underworld lord. I just don't know what to make of it. Grossest thing I've ever heard. You're listening to live in the past. Thanks for checking us out. What was it? Was there a secular advice?

Yeah. Hold on. Let's see. Hang on. I I lost it. No. Here it is. Try this. Here's what you say. Say, really? I'm sorry to hear that. Then change the subject to something you read in the newspaper or saw on television or something that's going on in the community. Wow. You want to immediately picked out is, I am trying to change the subject. I don't care. Wow. So, yeah, I've been having these heart issues lately. Wow. That sounds awful. Hey. Did you hear about the thing that's going on in that other state? The price of peaches are going down. Cubs win. You know?

Storms are coming. It's the worst advice ever. I hate it when people I mean, this happens at the gas station too. You walk in there like, hey. How's it going? Pretty good. Weather out there is a changing. Yep. It sure is. Sure is. I'll have this soda.

I just I just wanna take a penny and leave. Alright? Let me buy my jerky and go. Why would you hold me hostage with your pants? You're talking

because I'm obviously hungry, and you're stalling me with your weather talk, sir. You're turning me into a phony. Yeah. A big fat phony. I just wanna eat my jerky.

Get in my car by myself. You know I'm in the streets. I bothered to stop here and purchase food. Name is Get N Go. Not yet. Channel. Appreciate it. Let's go.

Quick trip. You know what I'm saying? All your names imply that I'm in and out. Oh, yeah. How are the kids? Better than me. Leave me alone. It's the same with the the gas station employees that, like wanna I be trapped. I would've gone to the circle today. They put them through the the training where they, gotta say hi to you. As soon you walk in the door, it's like you know, you get halfway down the doughnut, and they're like, hey, sir. Hey.

Still after the doughnut. We'll meet in about thirty seconds once I pick it out. Yeah. Can we do this just once? It's like they're trying to convert you to, like, the gas station norm from Cheers. You know? Like, you're hey. Chuck's here for the Danish. It's a right? He's always here for the Danish. I know him very shallowly. Hey, Chuck. That is your name. Right? Actually, they do too much of that. By the end of the conversation, I'm done. They're like, would you like your receipt? What do you care? Yeah.

Whole conversation was a sham. It's not your freaking affair. You're you have to do this according to corporate. Give me my card back. I'm going home. And then they always they always end it with something that you can't reply with a you too. They're like, stop back. And you're like, you too. What they're doing? He's gonna be suckered into it. He already works here. He can't come back. You know what? I actually get kind of offended when they try and tell me about the specials. Like, I'll buy one Mountain Dew, and they're like, you can get two Mountain Dews for $3. I'm like, I don't care. I only want one. And then they act offended that I don't want their special. You sure you should get two? Look, buddy. I run the money in my house. I get one soda. That's it.

Stay out of my affairs. Just just sell me the goods. Actually, yeah, anytime they try to upsell you, it's always an impression that perhaps you didn't have a very good idea. Like, you don't know how to run your own show. Maybe you can't read or something, but they're on sale. Did you not see I saw the big sign, but I'm pretty sure I don't need two giant cans of Monster Coffee. So you Like one is gonna have me You look like a person that can't read. The nutrages are on sale. King-size. I mean, seriously, does anybody need It's a nutrages sale. Two forty four ounces? You know, like, your Genghis Khan walking out of there? I'm set for a whole day. I need somewhere to dock my jet ski. Hold

on. Let's table this. We'll do this next week. We're getting out of here. Thanks for listening to life in the path. Have a good week.