Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper. You are live from the path.

And you are listening to Live From The Path, coming from the Pathway Studios here in Johnston proper. It's lovely to be with you this, this this fine evening. Hoover's wearing pants. I am wearing. Kind of a big thing. Mean And then I feel like we should say

differences I normally wear shorts, not just don't wear pants. You think that comes off wrong when I just say Booba's wearing pants? Yeah. That's weird. Okay. No. I think that's fair. Anyway I was thinking skirt. That's that's rough time, but you gotta change your ways, bubba. Alright. So here's what's going on the show tonight. So we're gonna finish well, we may not finish. We'll see how many of these we get through. Last week, we started nine unbiblical statements that Bible loving Christians believe, and we got through a few. We got through God helps those who help themselves, and God wants me to be happy. And so we'll we'll we'll hit the next few and see how many we can we can get through in a reasonable amount of time. And basically, with the point of trying to understand,

you know, how do we how do we know where our wisdom's coming from? Like, are the things that we say actually true? And, you know, if they're not, we should probably stop saying them or or understand why they're not true and see what people are buying into. Also, I came across the my wife and I were were talking about a Facebook discussion this week, and I I'm gonna say upfront that I I don't really care to to speak at at any length about the nature of the discussion itself,

and you'll understand that, after I kind of explain it. But I but I wanna talk about some of the some of the reaction to folks and how what type of of person that is interested in Jesus that that I kinda saw in the in these comments, and, and what is the right reaction to them? So so we'll we'll get into that a little bit. Also, we got advice on Dear Life from the Path. Yeah. There's a, divorced, a couple that, you know, has a a very long marriage, and, the wife has seemed to be very friendly with a divorced lady, and the husband's starting to get a little irritated.

You don't like that stuff? Well, per according to him, there's also a young man who likes to run his yap at the gym, which we'll have a heyday with. Oh, okay. That's annoying. Okay. Brilliant. I think we can handle that. Before we, ruin the show, I wanna give a big shout out to our sponsors, Bob Eisenhower with the Eisenhower team. Go to eisenhower team dot com for all your your buying and selling of of homes and trailers and land and such. Whatever business transaction you feel like is a realtor based item. Trailers like like home trailers. Yeah. Like a mobile home. Yeah. Like a big like a double whack. A mobile home. Okay. I gotcha. Does does Bobby do double whacks? I don't know. I thought maybe he was selling, you know, cargo or horse trailers, and I thought, man, that Eisenhower does everything. No. He does do everything. Alright. So anyway, can go to eisenhowerteam.com. He can help you with all that stuff. You can hey. Maybe you don't even know if you're in the market for a house. Go check out the, the eisenhowerteam.com website and just search around and see what's out there. Yeah. How will you know if your stuff stinks if you don't look at other people's stuff and go, hey. Theirs is better. Yeah. Yeah. Buying homes is like is like finding another girlfriend. Sometimes you gotta shop around.

The eyes are now hurting. Feel like he wouldn't approve. I was gonna say, I feel like we shouldn't represent him as in shopping for another girlfriend. That's my hey. So you gotta know where your wisdom comes from. Also Not from Ben. Westfield Veterinary Hospital. Go to he's not gonna like that jam I posted either. Nope. Alright. Westfieldvethospital.com. Titties the season for your pets to be out wandering the great outdoors either under your watchful eye or because you don't care. But in either case, they're subject to vermin and and all all kinds of bugs and such. And so now is the time to to get the stuff to put on and make sure they are protected. Yeah. So so hook up hook up with Westville Veterinary Hospital. You can go in and you can buy that stuff from them. They also do you know, they can do a checkup, make sure everything's looking tight and tidy, for the upcoming running season. Yeah. Where the dog goes out and runs like a fool, and then, you know, limps back in like mine do because they're too old to be doing that stuff. So we were watching this, thing on TV, a dog agility

competition. And it's because one of my daughters was making a dog agility course on her Minecraft, and we wanted she wanted some ideas on what kind of courses there was. You know? And I said, okay. Let's have a look at this thing. And so I don't know. About, twenty twenty minutes into this thing, first of all, I never thought I'd be watching no dog agility covers. But second of all, I looked down at my dogs, I think, what the heck? You guys

guys are worthless. Like, I mean, they're both sprawled out all four like someone shot them. You know? One of them had vomited up an apple not like a a minute before. I'm like, you know, these dogs are out there working their tails off, you know, trying to trying to do something with themselves, and you two welfare bums are hanging out on the floor demanding for time on the couch because you live here too. I was like, unbelievable. Hey, man. I I got a, somebody in my household got a text from your wife this week because, like, one of your dogs had gone out after a coyote. It was like like chasing like he was gonna dominate the coyote. Yeah. Yeah. We have this invisible fence that's supposed to keep men, you know, but once a coyote shows up, she's done. So she hauls out. She I mean, she got about a quarter mile away. I mean, had this coyote on the ropes too. I I so sorry I missed it. But, you know, jumped the fence, crossed the creek, and whatever, and then, had them had them pinned down. And then, the woman talked like this. Coyote was the size of a dog, man. Like, it was a big old, you know, clean clean shaven coyote. Uh-huh. But anyway, eventually, you she lost track of it and, you know, we had to holler back home. That's a rough time. Wow. Alright. Alright. So here's the deal. Hey, man. Maybe hey, you've got cool pet stories. Hey, hit us up on the Twitter. Go to twitter.com. Search for life in the path, and just hit us up with the cool pet stories. Yeah. You can go hashtag pets on the path. Yeah. Pets on the path. Let's see see what's going on with your pups. I'll I'll I'll think of one. I'm sure my dog can cause him some kind of trouble. Yeah. As the older they get, the the more they're digging into the garbage, I'm like, was reckless abandon. They do not care. You could be standing right there and they look you in the face, and they stick their face in the garbage. They pull something out, and I say, what am I gonna do? Look. I feel like, I mean, they I feel like they're they're past their prime for me to be doing any type of firm discipline. Right? Like, one of them is 12 years old. One of my it's like yelling at your grandma. Yeah. Stay out to garbage, grandma. Like, we we gonna, like, give them a tap on the butt and shoo them away. Like, they they don't care. Yeah. Like, whatever. So anyway My my my grand puppy brought a, like, a partial rabbit leg to me the other day. Of course. From the backyard. I'm like, what what are you it's like a a a seven pound little puppy we have. Right. I was like, are doing with a a rabbit leg? I think a cat had got it. Got it. And and

He's passed around as if he did it. Yeah. Yeah. I like his stuff. Do you refer to it as the grand puppy? I do. It was my daughter's puppy. It's creepy. It's not my puppy. Yes. Yeah. It is. It's creep stuff. That's all I've got. I have no grandbabies. Okay. That means you don't have anything, so you just don't have to refer to it. Nothing. It's a it's a it's a cute I have pictures. That's like me calling, like, a sweater, a grand sweater or something. Like, I don't legitimately have a grandkid, and so Yep. You don't just get to insert the phrase wherever you want. When your daughter grows up and she's on her own and and and she has a sweater, you might call it the grand sweater. How do you feel about people taking defined words and then redefining them to their own personal use, Dan? Righteousness. Alright. Here we go. Nine unbiblical statements that bible loving Christians believe. We're kinda working our way through these. Last week, we talked about God helps those who help themselves. That is anti gospel. Leaning on Jesus is is not only just a a catchy phrase on the everlasting arms. It's also, frankly, biblical truth. So so that that's a that's a Ben Franklin kind of a pull yourself up by your bootstraps American wisdom, but it ain't Jesus' gospel. Two, God wants me to be happy. I we interesting conversation around this. The truth is that God wants you to be holy, but but because I don't we don't flat out agree with God wants me to be happy, it doesn't mean that God wants you to be unhappy.

It's that he asking you to seek joy in him, where we tend to be be trying to to seek happiness through whatever means possible, even if it's outside of God's direction because we think God wants us to be happy above all things, and that's where that the big mistake comes in. There's greater joy. In fact, there is there's pure joy that God provides, and then there's your happiness which you're pursuing potentially outside of that, and that's where things get get get dangerous. So so number three. Number three. We're all God's children. We're all God's children. Although God had created everyone, not everyone relationally belongs to him. Only those who have repented of sin placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior and possess the holy spirit of God inside of them can claim him as their father. Romans eight fifteen says, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, Abba father. The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. However, those who don't have Jesus as their savior nor have the holy spirit of God inside them actually belong to Satan. This is from Ephesians two. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

And then first John three, by this evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God nor is the one who does not love his brother. Debate amongst yourselves. That's a common one. It's been actually it's been said on the show within the last six weeks. I feel like I still agree with it. That we're all God's children? Yeah. Until we're children of the devil. That's just the way I feel about it. Like, I'll be I I bring in the, the prodigal son,

as as an example. Right? You are still that man's you like, as as as god in in the parable, you are still his son, and still have the opportunity to come and know who he is. He didn't abandon you. Right? Like it like, the way that the article speaks, it almost sounds like god writes you off, and that is just the case. You could choose to be, I suppose, the son of the devil. But, like, you know, I just I I feel like that is not how I generally interpret that. And those verses are not compelling to you for that level of distinction? I didn't I didn't notice that those verses led to that distinction.

So so first John is saying, it is evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. Like, the way that you're describing, it means that that everyone, it would be the children of God, and John is making a false distinction. No. No. But but, I mean, at the same token, like, I mean, if you were to take my own kid as as an example, you know, let's say you have 10 kids and three of them are kinda unruly,

but I have a generally rudely meaner. Are you know, what what what people say, those aren't acting as children of Mike? What about when, Jesus was going toe to toe with the pharisees and and it starts getting into insults? And so they questioned Jesus' lineage because apparently no one in the area knew who his father was, and so they they said, well, at least we know who our father was, and Jesus responds back to them saying, yeah. Your children are the devil. And when you lie, you speak his native language. That's a that's a fierce item. He does indeed say that.

The way I look at it is that you are or at least you start off as children of God. It's just we sell off our birthright the moment we choose sin, the moment we choose to follow a way of life that's different than his. If we reject his holiness and reject his counsel and say, no, God, I I think I got this. And we basically take ownership of our own life in in that sort of way, but, we just hand it over to whatever power it was that seduced us. And so we no longer have,

at least in a spiritual legal sense, a right to sonship unless God comes back and says, here, I I can redeem you. I I can reclaim you. And it's only through that process that we can get brought back in. I mean, to some extent, this follows a path of adoption. Children who are adopted, the the birth parents in some countries don't have a legal claim, back to go back and and snatch those kids out of the house that's now loving them,

and and rightly so. And so likewise, now that we're in a new family, albeit a a very, vile family, this is the new family that that you're in, unless there's some kind of mechanism that can bring us back into our original family, which would be God's family. So we start off in God's family, but then we reject it. We get adopted out. And he's saying, no. No. No. You should come back. Come back. But in the meantime,

you turn out that, yeah, you're children of the world. You're children of the devil. I I can dig on that explanation. That sounds about right. So so what's the what's the risk here? Like, why do we even care whether people say this or not? The risk is that it it makes it seem like Jesus has nothing to do with it. If we are God's children and we we fail to recognize the fact that we've rejected that status and and we're children of the devil, if we don't recognize that, you know, there's some kind of a problem, something broken in that relationship that needs to get fixed and and put back together, we're gonna go around, life looking at ourselves as inheritors of God's kingdom and and all the rights and promises that go with it, and we're gonna expect to live in in God's kingdom, which is heaven.

And unless we're God's children, that's not gonna be the case. So while we stand in this land where we were once his children and then we've sold off our birthright, we need to recognize that, and we need to recognize that Jesus is the only way to reclaim that birthright. So it ends up minimizing Jesus if we go around saying, yeah, everyone's God's children. Right. Right. It removes Jesus as the distinction, and he's always he's always a distinction. He's the narrow gate. And and and sometimes, I I suppose you you have to it's probably not the way most people use it when they're talking about

we we are all God's children, but, like, it it does it doesn't make it sound like there's no gate. Right. Like, it's just a it's just a broad distinction in which everyone is god's children. I guess maybe maybe it's the opposite of what you're saying that that I I find hard to swallow because when people say not everybody is god's children, it makes it sound like god has gotten rid of you. Not that he's offering the adoption and not not that you you're the one responsible for your your trading of your birthright, but god said, I'm I'm I'm done with you now. And, like, so maybe it's the opposite that comes out as a hard word. That's a hard reformed word to swallow. Yeah. Yeah. Alright. Alright. Here was number four. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

The people around you may appreciate you staying clean, but this is not scripture. Parents may use this unbiblical statement to motivate their kids to clean the rooms. However, I'd suggest using an actual biblical statement, honor your father and your mother that your days may be long in the land that your lord god has given you. I find it when I say things like that, my kids hop too and immediately do what I've asked them. Absolutely good advice. I do desire days to be long in the land. Brilliant.

It's funny. There's I think there's an element of truth in that or or at least I I've been researching this past week on on ceremonial washing, and I'm I'm seeing a lot of Me too. Yeah. References. Excuse me. Wait. You guys too? Yeah. Yeah. What were the odds? Alright. I'm done.

Someone else's turn. Hey, man. I I I actually kinda wanna hear that, Eric. Continue. Yeah. I I forgot it. Oh, it's gone. Okay. Yeah. Alright. Anyway, actually, you know you know what's interesting is that that does bring up as as your child rearing, one of things to be careful of, which is not to use god as your bully

to get things done around your place. And and it's just one of the things I I don't think I've I don't think I've ever done this intentionally, but I think it it has come up in something where I didn't intend to say, okay, God is the heavy in this situation, but I realized something that I'd prayed about or something that we're otherwise talking about. Put God as the as the as the heavy in a particular situation of on some moral item one way or the other. And I thought I thought they're gonna get a corrupt view of of Jesus if if I use him as the bat. If he's the way to otherwise make things happen around your place. And like, they should be doing those for the right motivation and it's right to have them understand

like what pursuing righteousness looks like but it's a completely different thing to be like, you know you best clean up your room because Jesus sees everything and he knows that roommate clean and he's he's upset. Jesus and Santa. Yeah. So They're watching. It's I I suppose just just be careful that you don't farm out your responsibilities as a parent and try to sack it on Jesus. Yeah. Because that because god gave you a parent to be for a reason to to interact with and have those discussion with. So just just be careful. They don't get a a corrupt view of of who god is because the only thing that you showed like, when you wanna give hugs, you're like, oh, daddy gives hugs and then when there's trouble, you're like, Jesus gives spankets. Yeah. That's kind cowardly parenting. Yeah. He's like, I don't wanna be the bad guy. It's Jesus. Yeah. So. He says you gotta do the following. That's quite some audacity to treat god like he's a tool that you can use. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. And and here's the deal. I I don't know that people actually doing that intentionally with that thought process but like there probably is something to say, like, you're trying to parent and and and what you're doing isn't working. Mhmm. Like, what else do I reach to? I reach to, like, the reason I do things I don't wanna do or I don't wanna handle things the right way when I don't want to is because ultimately God calls me to. Right? And so you just gotta be careful when you translate some of that thought process down to a child who doesn't necessarily have that same relationship or understanding with God. And really what it sounds like is is the paddle. Yeah. Is the Jesus paddle. So like, I I don't think people are doing it because they're, like, they're trying to use God as a tool, but I think they're doing it try to interact with have their kids interact with God in the same way that they do, and it just it doesn't always translate

in that exact same way. So this is something that I kinda learned about when I was substitute teaching for a year. It was an extended substitute teaching time. Is whenever I was in in charge of the classroom and and taking care of discipline myself, the kids would respond to me. But the moment I started appealing to,

well, you'll go see the principal or something like that, all of a sudden, I've lost authority of the room. Yeah. Because I I've I've basically made myself nothing and said, nope, to someone else you're you're gonna go. And so then the kids just wouldn't respond to me anymore because I I've basically minimized my own authority. But as a parent, it's like, no. No. You you need to be have authority over these kids. Do so. Yeah. Yeah. Don't don't defer to God. Otherwise, you've minimized yourself as a parent. Right. Right. And and the attempt to do that generally is is is a symptom of of like, you need to address the symptom that's causing you not to feel adequate Mhmm. To handle that situation as opposed to trying to like, this why I I threatened to call the police on your kids when they do something really outrageous or like whatever. Or say or even even yeah. Just referencing, you know, when when parent a or b comes home, like, that that there may be that there may be consequences to to parent a or b showing up, but like, you don't have to give away your authority in the process of saying, you do realize like someone else is also coming home. Yeah. And there's an impact to that. So I suppose, yeah, just be careful not to

undermine your responsibility and your ability to enact that responsibility by by by giving it away in in posture to something else. That's a good thought. Alright. Number five. God won't give you more than you can handle. Actually, all of life is more than we can handle. The point of living in a fallen world is not for us to try really hard to carry our heavy burden, but rather give up, quit, and surrender to God. That's what faith is all about. Everything is more than I can handle, but not more than Jesus can handle. Second Corinthians one eight says, for we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experience in Asia, for we so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. And Matthew 11 says, come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. God won't give you more than you can handle. Dan?

I I agree with the author here. I think he he does so that you will rely on him. Otherwise, we we pretty much carry our own load and we we we kind of tell god we can handle this. No, thank you and sometimes we we need that more than we can handle to say, you know what? I really don't got this. So. That's good grammar, isn't it? I really don't got this. You cannot handle that. This. So so to think about it this way, guess. Look at the society that that we are surrounded with what in western culture in general, and this is true even beyond that, but

we do handle a lot of stuff on our own. Mhmm. Like, we are our I am born into a circumstance of which I am capable of handling a lot of things on my own. And so is it is it true that in our in our society, we have to be extra cautious to to recognize

that we are actually relying on God for things because we're so used to providing things on our own? Yeah. I I continually do things on my own even though I know better. I I just I would think something comes up and I think I better fix this before you know, maybe God wants it to kinda sit there for a while. You know, maybe God wants us to something to stew. Yeah. I'm just like, no. I gotta fix this now before it causes problems. And and then I'll fix it, and then, the real solution comes later, and I'm like, oh, that's Oh, right. That seems better. You did better.

I I think it's I think it's tough. I think it's tough in our in an American culture to think that what our country provides puts you at odds with Jesus. But scripture pretty much bears that out. Right? Like, the the the more the more freedom that you are given and that you indulge in in in our current society, in our in our current culture, the less that you've given over to Jesus. Like, that's just the truth. What was that in Revelation, was that was that Laodicea that

had everything they needed? Yeah. And Jesus is like, no, you're naked, blind. Exactly. You know, you're you're a mess. And They're like, no, but we we make this stuff. We're good. You know? So it was it was interesting. If you if look at Laodicea, there was like a big earthquake in 8060 that took out like Laodicea, Colossae, and Hierapolis. It was kind of all in the same area. And the the Roman government offered funds to these cities to rebuild. And like Colossian Hierapolis took the money, and Laodice is like, no. We're good. We don't need your money. Like, we've got this we've got this under control. And right and Jesus, like, makes reference to them being blind about the the salve and stuff they created. It's just it's just interesting like how sometimes we miss how personal those letters are. Like, these aren't just blind throws out to like, oh, random figurehead churches are having problems like, no, no. These are exact things that Laodicea is struggling with. And and they have said very much depend upon themselves. And and right, Jesus calls them out and says, no. No. You're you're pitiful. Make it pitiful, blind. Yeah. You you do not have everything under control. And like, if you were to look at their society, it very much looked like a set success from our definition. And like, we have much more to give up than some than than people in some other countries. And like but that doesn't change the nature of what we're called to give up. And and and and we think that, no, it can't be this way. We can't God could not have provided us with a country with this much freedom and and,

I don't know, produce and and and and money and wealth and and things and opportunity, like, he can't have asked us to give up all of this. And like, that's just a straight out mistake. That's a straight out mistake. It's a it's a dis it's a reorienting of what God is actually calling us for. He may or may not take that stuff. But but the question is, what are you willing to let go of? And to the extent that, you know, we don't have that in mind, and we think, well, we started, you know, x wealth level above other places. So, like, we give real we have to relinquish relatively as opposed to fully. Like, that is a very hard thing for us to swallow because you become much more of an outcast in society we live in. And

but I I mean, I don't see the scripture gives you the opt to not be that way. Like, that's not Jesus isn't saying, well, depending on your economic circumstances, I may or may not want everything. Like, that just simply isn't his proposition. And we have a harder time wrapping our heads around that because nothing else in our the freedom and opportunity in our country asks for that and asks for so much. And and we talk we we approach scripture, we talk a lot about balance, and we talk a lot about, you know, how should we really understand this money business. No, no, it pretty much means what it says. We have to react to that even if our culture relatively is much stronger than the places that he might have been speaking to at the Go ahead. So this statement shows up in

the whole God never gives me more than I can handle thing as this awkward and incorrect comfortments or comforting statement that I've seen. You know, you see when someone says, you know, God doesn't give you anything more than you can handle. It's normally in response to someone dealing with something. So I think something is happening in their life, whether it's a tragedy, whether it be, you know, financial or emotional or mental or physical. You see this this we'll use Facebook, for example. You see this in the comments of, you know, remember, God doesn't give you anything more than you can handle. And and it's funny because

our our culture is built around this, this weird independence that we have immortalized. It's this great trait for everyone to have, this independence to have, and, you know, relying on yourself and making sure that you can take care of the situations. And remember, God is there and has given you the tools to handle yourself rather than God is there and has put you in a situation so that you can depend on him. I don't see how the God gives you the God won't give you more than you can handle is more comforting than,

yes, he will, but remember, he's there. He's the one that's standing over the situation, and he will give you more than he can handle. But guess what? There's nothing that he can't. I feel that is much more comforting in any situation than, well, God won't give you more than you can handle. Yes, he will, but he will be there to help you through it. Well, especially if you're in a situation that is more than you can handle, then you feel even more like a loser. Exactly. I don't I really can't handle this. No. You can't. No. I can't. Right. No. I can't. We cling to this comforting statement of of God doesn't give you more than you can handle, but what happens when he when he does? You know? And then you see these people that that look at this at this as this fake comment that doesn't mean anything. It's a a really skin deep comment when you feel like you're in that straight where it's like, wait a minute. I'm currently not handling this. Yeah. Yeah. But God someone said to me the other day that God doesn't give me more than I can handle, then what am I doing wrong? Because I can't. Yeah. Why doesn't God know me very well? Apparently, God doesn't understand my handling. He thinks I'm stronger than I can handle this. God, can you back this off a little bit? You know, can I have this tragedy not hitting me so hard because apparently, I can't handle it? And you you know what's interesting is, like, a lot of times that that's discussed in

in times where it you're falsely thinking that god has even done this. Like, people people, like, dig their own hole, and they're sitting down in this hole that they've dug by their own actions. They're like, no. I don't nothing to worry about. God won't give me more than I can handle. He's probably trying to take the shovel away from you, you stubborn ophus. Yes. Yeah. There's there's a reverse of this. We we often think of it in terms of trouble. Like like, God won't give me more trouble than I can handle. Yeah. The truth is he he very well might because quite frankly, most of the time, we're living our lives just in this physical reality and ignoring entirely the spiritual life that he's given us. And sometimes he he is interceding to try and move us from one to the other and saying, hey. Look. One of these is eternal. The other one's gonna die.

You are going to physically die at some point. But you know what? There's a spiritual reality. That's the life that you need to be investing in. So let's move. Let's let's get from one and dislodge out of that comfortable physical life that you're in and start thinking about the spiritual life, setting our our eyes on on what's eternal. Now here's the reverse of this. He will also give you more blessing than you can handle. He will. He he absolutely does. He he pours more in than than we can than we can deal with, and somehow we we just increase the store holds of what we can, and and we hoard things to ourselves instead of just out of the design of it is he gives us more so that out of the overflow,

we pour into others. We give to others. Just as God gives and supplies to us, we should be passing the blessing on. And somehow we figured the same level of independence when when we're trying to deal with the troubles, we're also trying to deal with the blessings and and store it all to ourselves and and keep it all. No. He he's giving you he has given you more than you should be able to enjoy in just your life. You should be passing it on. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's what I I agree with the statement I just made. Should that be written? Yeah. Alright. Alright. Here and here's the thing is is I think one thing to be mindful of, if you look at some of these phrases, is recognize, like, what what what people are actually trying to get out of them. Like, I I I I'm not saying that that people use phrases like this always nefariously. Right? Like, they're looking for some level of comfort comfort, some understanding of God, this character in a situation they're struggling with. We just gotta be careful of what level of pith you're willing to accept on God's behalf, and that it actually represents his character. Because the truth is is that like, I mean, it's it's pretty cool it's pretty cool if someone gives you an umbrella unless it's not raining.

Right? And then then you're like, hey hey, I really could have used, you know, so whatever else you need at the time, fire hose. Like, it's not helpful. And so, like, the information that some of these things communicate don't do much good if they don't address your actual the reality of your situation. Yeah. And that's that's really where they're they're they're dangerous is they they misrepresent often God's character, and they they don't even do what it is that you're looking for to accomplish because you misunderstand God's character. It doesn't have the impact you're looking for, and it doesn't reinvigorate you based upon actual truth. It's just a saying that it is enough. It's it's like instead of instead of eating the banana, you go for the donut. Like, that's that's kinda what this thing does. I think we could at least re rephrase that as god will never give you more than he can handle. Yeah.

Pithy. That's what I'm here for. Mike wants to use the word pith. I heard Ben used earlier, and I thought I'd try it out on context. There's a couple words that I really like, and pith is one of them. I just don't have a I don't really have an opportunity to use it all that often, but I really like it. I also like apropos.

Two of Ben's favorite ones. Alright. Number six, we all worship the same God. Yes. There is only one true and living God. Know therefore today and lay it to your heart that the Lord is God in heaven above, and on the earth beneath there is no other. Dutes, four thirty nine. However, he only accepts worship that comes through Jesus Christ, not Muhammad, Buddha, Joseph Smith, etcetera. And there's salvation in no one else for there's no other name in heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

We all worship the same God, boys. Seems like the same guy high up in the everywhere. People kinda do the same basic posturing to him. How is it not the same dude? It's a common thought. I I agree with this guy, though. I think they kind of misunderstand some of the other religions. Neither Joseph Smith nor Muhammad really position themselves as mediators. Prophets on behalf of, sure, but

they're not saying, hey. In my name, you might be able to appeal to God. No. It's true. Okay. Would you straight up agree with that one then? Good. Good conversation, boss. Just wanna keep it fired up. I don't know about that. It's a lively bunch. Okay. Here's the thing. I like the view for dudes. Yeah. There there are there are fundamental differences, especially when you start making the distinction between polytheism and and monotheism. But the truth is everyone everywhere has some wrong ideas about God. That's true.

So it's not like there's any one particular person or one particular group that says, hey, we've got the monopoly. We we've got the thing, and you need to come through us and to us other than Jesus is the only one who had an actual honest to goodness, perfect reflection of what God is like, and that's because he was in fact God. Everyone else is just kinda guessing. We're we're putting together our theories. So no one has has the monopoly. No one has that right answer.

Even the descriptions that God gives of himself, those are still imperfect because they're they're based on language. So he'll describe himself as a lion. Well, he's not every attribute of a lion, but there are certain attributes that he shares. And likewise, describes himself like a fire. So that doesn't mean that just because you understand fire means you understand God. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm every attribute of fire. Go. Alright. Alright. What's the last one for tonight? Let's see. We're looking through that. Nine unbiblical statements that bible loving Christians believe. I don't know. Mubua kinda pointed about this last week. I'm not sure that this is titled appropriately.

And maybe the distinction is it's it's people say, hey. I love the Bible. But they've picked so far a bunch of phrases that aren't biblical. So, like, that would seem to, you know, counter the actual title of the article. Yeah. This seems to be what I've referred to as the checkbox Christian. The the people that say, yes, I believe in God, check, and then identify as a Christian because that's the closest thing to whatever they think they believe in. But if you if you get yourself to a point where you're actually in the Bible and and Bible believing isn't like I spend time in the word,

A lot of these will jump out as, oh, wait a minute. What? You know, that that doesn't sound right. So so saying that these are statements that Bible believing people, will find themselves in, some of them maybe, All of them, not necessarily. Right. Wilville kinda has the appearance of a back alley fight promoter. What is it? What? I don't know why. Something about him. He just looks like he promotes,

like, low rent fights. Well, I do, but I I mean, I'm I don't know where that. Like like street brawls, not, you know, gloved and and taped kind of action, but, Is it just my appearance tonight or just in general? I think it's just tonight. You just appear like you're you'd be trying to get me incensed to put some money down on some kind of street brawl. Alright. Well, thanks for that comment, Mike. Yeah. It's alright. Alright. Number seven. We'll leave the last two for next week. Number seven, bad things happen to good people. Often, place ourselves in the judgment seat of what is good and bad or who is good bad. The most popular way to make that judgment is by comparison. For example, Bob is a good guy because he's not as bad as Sam. However, according to the Bible, we're all on equal ground because none of us is inherently good. As it is written, none is righteous as snow, not one. Romans three ten.

Bad things happen to good people. Who said that's not a is this that's not a source of comfort, is it? Why who's why are people saying? Well, yeah. They'll often ask, why do bad things happen to good people? I don't know that it's necessary to go all reformation on them and be like, every everyone is bad. Don't you understand? For like All have sinned. Like, because like you're saying that people aren't generally saying that in the context of, hey, I should be elevated in the presence of a holy god. They're saying, hey, man, something rough has happened. That guy's a good guy. He's a nice character. Like, they're not they're not making a theological statement. Just I mean, take it easy with that one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's usually being said by someone who's going through tragedy. Why why did something bad happen to me? But instead of trying to be entirely egotistical, they're just saying, hey. I'm a good person. Why do bad things happen to good people?

I I think that sometimes. I I mean, I could I could I could see why how people use it incorrectly. Mhmm. But I I just I mean, what I've heard people say it, it's generally not some guy like, why, god, who's posturing and saying, I'm a good man. How could you let this happen to me? Like, I don't know that I've run into that. Just like, hey, those are nice people. It's too bad that that that a bad thing happened to them. Like, that's true. I mean, yeah, we're we're full of flaws, and we and we make all kinds of poor choices. And and, like, so so dude has a heart attack, and everybody's like, man, that was too bad. He's such a such a good guy. He's like, well, he ate 14 pounds of bacon every day. You know, he he kinda earned it. You know? It's it's it sounds terrible, but it's but he did. You know? And So sometimes that's true. And sometimes the, like, the nicest guy you ever met gets hit by a bus. Yeah. And but but then if you go, well, yeah, bad things happen to good people. What what is it? You know, doctor Proctor in the back, you're gonna come rolling in and be like, that's theologically inaccurate. We've all born sinful.

I would want to reject the living god. I mean, I I get it. We're not that good. Yeah. I mean, that this is it. I mean, we're really not aren't that good. I mean, the the nicest, greatest person I know is, you know, had is flawed. I mean, we're gonna we're gonna cause problems upon ourselves. We do not make relative distinctions our entire life compared to God. Like like your son's out on the baseball field. It's like, good catch, son. I mean, good relative to not as good as Jesus. If Jesus were doing, would've been better. Yeah. But, you know, good. We need to change the stickers we hand out in Sunday school that say good job to the kids. It's like, good job. Jesus would've done better. I provide no affirmation because relative to Christ, you suck. Good job, bad person. I

I I get star because Jesus is the only one who really deserves the gold star, but they still did an okay job. I mean, I I right. See yourself rightly. I get it. But just I mean, just be careful with that that you're not overdoing it and like You're right. People aren't making that level of a statement. Or did I do very well? Did I do a good job, dad? No. No. Jesus did good. Know what's good? You did terrible. You're a constant disappointment to me. Go read Romans three twenty three and then come back to me and tell me if you think you did good. Alright. So I I agree with you about the theological reality behind it Okay. And what's going on. And the person who's who's asking the question, they're not looking for a big theological

academic answer either. What would be a more practical answer to address someone who who's going through something like that, who's asking that question honestly? That's yeah. That that's a reasonable question because Yeah. If you can't say if you can't float it up to karma and just say, hey. Bad stuff happens. Mhmm. Someone wants they want an answer, doggone it. Yeah. What do you say to that? Solid question. I always go back to the to the fallen man. I mean, with there is sin and decay in our our world because of sin. It started with Adam and Eve. You know, my wife's a good person. She had cancer a few years ago. Well, that that kind of stunk. You know, she didn't do anything that deserved it. I mean, she didn't do there's nothing that she did that would lead to that. You know, it just happened. You know, well, we run a decaying world. Yeah. You know, that's just what it is. I mean, it doesn't make me feel any better. This is what it is. Right. It's just it's just the reality. Yeah. Yeah. We're all going to die. So they're looking for a sense of comfort As Christians, we the only what do we have to offer here? Not much, to be honest. Yeah. Like, if we're if we're You're in the trailer.

Know, going through tragedy and stuff like that, there's there's no real buzz statement you can make that makes somebody feel better. If somebody's going through something bad and they feel like, you know, why is why is this bad stuff happening to good people or why did this person pass away or why why am I going through this pain and stuff like that. It it's difficult to bring up scripture of any kind, just because some of the stuff we can comment on is, you know, yeah, it it kinda does that. Like, we we can expect through the fall of man that sin, we live in a we live in a kind of messed up world that we have messed up,

and you kinda gotta expect that. That's not gonna make anyone feel bad. But at the same point in time, you shouldn't respond with, oh, you know, everything is gonna work out just great. Don't worry about it because that's not gonna be true. Mhmm. And then when you say, well, God's got everything under control and realize that that God does give you more than you can handle so you cling to him. Someone in the in the midst of grief normally won't take that very well and go, oh, sweet. Thanks for telling me that that this is screwed up, and God's just got me. I sure don't feel like it. When it's when it comes to this kind of stuff, I struggle, to be completely honest. I struggle with what to say. But I kinda try and just comment on the fact that, know, honestly, I get where you're coming from. I know that it feels like this is the worst thing in the world. You know, this is gonna this is gonna get through it. You may not get through it in a way that you want to, but I promise you that if you cling to him, God will have control of this situation. He is stronger. He is better than anything you have going on. He is strong enough to handle this, and he has big enough hands to hold on to you. And he knows every emotion you're going through because he created it, and he understands it. Cling to him. Alright.

Solve solving problems. Mhmm. Not I mean, we didn't do a good job. Jesus certainly would have done better. Yeah. Yeah. I definitely wouldn't say that that was a great statement for me. Jesus would have been a better one, but Pretty poor, bubba. Kind of a yellow star. I mean, we'll go with it. We'll go with a bronze star. Yeah. Alright. We're going to the nine unbiblical statements that I'll, you know, dreadlocked dude, forlorn ladies in the forest, bible loving Christians believe. We'll have two more next week. We're gonna hit when you die, god gains another angel, and we're all going to the same place when we die. How can no one reads the Bible and believes that? Dog on it. Well, maybe Rob Dale. I don't what do I know? Alright. So it well, if we hit those up next week, we'll see what goes on with that. You should read your Bible closely. And here's the deal. Just because someone comes out something comes out of someone's mouth, and just because they read a devotion and pass it on, be the Facebook and they say crap like that, like, it does not necessarily mean it's true. Alright? Run the right filter. Be a good Berean. It comes to the show. It comes to stuff you see on Facebook. Even stuff come out of your pastor's mouth. Run that substitute scripture. Make sure it sounds right, sniffs right before you go putting it on a bumper sticker and write it home. Alright? Alright. Let's see. Hey. Okay. Quick. So I I saw this. There was a conversation

on on Facebook. Somebody posted something. I'm trying to avoid the details because I don't necessarily wanna dive into this conversation. We've had similar ones in the past. But it it was basically about someone who was saying, you know, look how how the church traditionally had misunderstood Paul and said, know, we said all these all these things about how women are to behave in church and and that kind of thing. And then people will come back and say, well, you have to understand that in its context and where it sits. But that in context,

like, we're ignoring the context when we look at how the Bible speaks about homosexuality and that we're yanking stuff out of context with saying that this cannot be condoned. She's just wrong with that. All right? So we're in agreement with that. There's no reason to debate that particular item. So but the the commentary

on this, it was interesting where the numbers fell. My wife and I were kinda talking through this. And and it was like a ninety ten, where 10% are like, actually, no, you're what the Bible says out of context to try to support something that it does not. And it doesn't matter how nice you said it, like, got it brought the brimstone from the other 90. But there was a good bunch of the 90 who were like, yes, Jesus loves everybody. Love, love, love, love, He would officiate my wedding with my other same sex spouse because he would do those types of things. And then there was a good chunk of people who were like,

you know, based upon what was written here, the original post saying that, you know, this is what Jesus would do that I would agree with, makes me interested in exploring my faith. I got out of the church and seeing Jesus the way that you see Jesus, it makes me want to reconnect and causes me to reconsider where I left my faith, how I left the church. I'm interested in exploring my faith again.

And so I was thinking about that, about that particular thought thought and the right reaction to that. If if I'm coming from a position that says truth matters to me,

and I and and I think they are pulling some stuff out of context to believe what they believe, but but this this this conversation has actually spurred some level of interest to pursue back into their faith. The question is is like, that leaves a bunch of of of varied unknowns. And here are some of the questions rolling around my mind, and maybe you guys can help me kind of articulate if I'm thinking through the right types of questions and, like, does it does it do you do you treat someone differently if you know that they're coming from that perspective? And differently in, like, how how do you approach helping them to connect with who Jesus actually is? Because because part of what I was thinking was is, like, they're connected with the Jesus that isn't the real Jesus. Like, that's what they found something that they could agree with. They felt like they them and Jesus at prior times didn't agree. They felt someone has said something about Jesus, whether true or otherwise, and they're like, okay. Okay. This is I I actually think that. So Jesus agrees with me, and so may maybe I'm willing to explore this some more.

And and there's some other things where someone actually speaks passionately in defense of a people that they believe are marginalized. And the church has not always done a great job with that. Well, I I take that back. The church has actually done a pretty good job with that. Like, most of the like, that's why hospitals are established by churches. That's why, like like, a lot of the aid work, it just doesn't get the public fanfare. I I don't know that the American church has been all that great about committing to it.

Like, we kind of pop in and pop out. And forgive me if I've overstated, but, like, just general impression. And so they they feel like there's a Jesus that actually cares about marginalized folk more than or at least on par with a fire and brimstone type of deal. And so like that that's where I feel this person is this type of person is coming from. What what's the right reaction to someone who sees that type of post and says, you know what, this makes me want to reconnect with my faith? And maybe I'll preface this with or I'll include the fact that if you look at the reaction that those same people had to the 10% that are like, actually, you're pulling that out of context. This is not true. They got absolutely nowhere.

Absolutely nowhere. So I I see different reactions from Jesus depending on who approaches them. Sometimes, you've got religious teachers who come in, and and they'll approach Jesus like they've got it all figured out, and he he just throws it back in their face and and challenges them just and confounds them. They they have no idea what's going on. And, basically, they're getting a dose of truth from from the author of truth, and there's

nothing that they can do to to respond to that. But that's not the kind of reaction that I see going on here. What what I see more is the other type of people who come to Jesus who are honestly interested in him and honestly seeking and and thinking, hey. There's something really, about what you're doing that that I'd like, that I'm interested in it. And and here's where you get a little bit different reaction, and maybe it's something that Jesus is just so insightful about the heart of the person that he's able to. But for some people, he's just very compassionate, just very open about who he is. Once again, he's still presenting himself in a very true way Yeah. But he's not doing it in such a confrontational way that he is with the Pharisees. Then there's others that will come. They're interested in him, and Jesus challenges them. And he says, hey. Look. I've got no creature comforts for you. If you want to follow me, it's a hard road.

And he'll challenge them as well. So I see this mix of compassion and comfort coming from him depending on perhaps depending on the hardness of the heart Yeah. Of his audience. And so that's kind of what I would need in order to really understand who's coming in is, are they coming in really interested in Jesus? Are they coming in

because they they like how Jesus reflects them? Or are they coming in pretending like they know everything about Jesus? Because those are, like, three very different hearts Right. That are coming to Jesus, and they all three really require a different response. No. That's a good point. That's a good point. And and and there probably are is some elements of that to say

if if if what you thought Jesus represented before, you feel like now affirms things that you believe. Like, it's always good to have an ally, and Jesus seems like a strong one. Mhmm. Right? If I have any opportunity to feel like Jesus agrees with me, then I yeah, I want on board. That seems great. Because a lot of people agree with Jesus. And so so I mean, there probably are elements to that. There are elements to which people have a have a strong desire for Jesus to love them, but no real desire to love Jesus. Right? Like, you look at what Jesus says, this is how I know you love me, and you have no interest in that. That's a pretty one way relationship with Jesus. And and and, you know, basically, it's an you know, Jesus would do all these things. He would be he would be inclusive. And Jesus is is at both the most inclusive and exclusive of characters. Right? He'd take absolutely anybody from from any nation, language, background. You're not tied to to to a familial anything. Like, he will take absolutely anybody. So he's the most inclusive

of all available items, but the most exclusive of which he is the only way. Mhmm. And like, if that is not the door, the narrow door which you are agreeing to, you know, but but but the conversation that you're basically having is is that like, we're including the the inclusive part of Jesus and completely rejecting the exclusive, which basically you're you're you're you've pulled Jesus out of context. And so but the thing is, like, I could you could point that out to somebody, but that's that's not where their heart's at. Right? Their heart says, hey, like, I'm interested to know more about the true Jesus. The the door is open because they found something where they feel like Jesus agrees with them, and that seems interesting. But the truth is here here's what I act what what I really believe is that someone who actually has a mind to pursue Jesus will find him. Mhmm. They will find him. And so I think we need to be careful to to to make sure that we aren't doing something to to

quashes a cure people who are curious and say, I wanna know Jesus more. Even if even if they got there misunderstanding him. Because that's how that's what knowing Jesus does, is it filters out those things. Like, we have a recent conversations with people who, like, started off with a a particular set of beliefs and, like, I'm not I'm not moving. And, like, Jesus refines that. Like, it's it it let him do the work that he that the Holy Spirit is doing. The Holy Spirit will take care of those things. And so we have to be careful that we don't become the gate. Jesus is the gate. We're not the gate. Right? So if I become the gate and say, well, no truth. You can't you know, you don't know Jesus. This is him. That's true. And I would never deny truth in a conversation like that. We gotta be careful that we don't become the final say in the matter of which we say, you know, you shall not pass. You move no further. Anybody that is curious to find Jesus, open arms. Yeah. Come right in. And so so just like my my initial reaction to that conversation was like, we we we deal in truth. That's what we deal in. And I and and to be honest, I we will always do that. I will never not deal in in biblical truth. We're called to do that. But we gotta be careful that we are not overstepping

what God has called us to do to the extent that someone is is saying, I I wanna know Jesus, even if they misunderstood how we got there. Like, that's what most of the people that were following him. And they they eventually turned around. Right? Like, when they were kicking the tires for Jesus, and he says, you know, he has these conversations, and and they all leave. Mhmm. They all leave and the only the disciples are smarter to be like, we don't really have anywhere else to go. Everyone else left, like thousands of people. And so, like, they'll figure it out. They'll figure it out. Just make sure you're you're not the unnecessary gate. And, like, hold that very loosely because they there's just there's opportunities there. But just be careful. Be careful you're not being you're not being the gate if Jesus is the gate. Alright. Alright. You're listening live from the path. Hey. I I don't have any idea what time it is here. What what how much we got going? Yeah. Okay. We got a little bit of time. Mike, what do got over there? Oh, wait. I sorry. Did someone else have something else?

Well, did you have Pope Stout from last week? Is that Gandhi? That's Gandhi. Okay. Brilliant. Brilliant. Alright, Mike. Fire it up. Dear life from the path. My wife, Connie, and I have been together for thirty years and have a wonderful marriage. She's a school teacher, and I travel on business often. I think the time away from each other is good. Gives us a chance to enjoy some me time.

Connie is a genuinely nice person, makes friends easily, which I admire. However, over the last five years, she has become very close with the divorced woman who teaches at her school. They text each other seemingly nonstop, and when I travel, they always get together for a movie or dinner. I like Connie's friend, and I used to be included or at least invited to anything they did. Now if I suggest we all go out, Connie says her friend has other plans or she's sick. I'm not really concerned that there's any kind of physical relationship between them, but I feel their friendship has become like an emotional affair. When I brought this up with my wife, she said, you don't want me to have any friends? What bothers me is that I used to be Connie's best friend, but I feel I've been replaced. She tries to reassure me I'm still number one then goes off into her bathroom to text with her friend. I think it's obvious she gets something from this relationship that she doesn't get from me. You think friendships between women can evolve into emotional affairs? Bam.

Yeah. Bam. Yeah. I suppose I suppose they can. I'm naive enough to to think, well, what's the problem? Just just let her have a friend. But it it could be one of them is having a an emotional affair. One one of the two women, you know, it just might be getting more out of it than the other. Or or they both be. But but I don't I don't yeah. That's we live in a different world now. I don't don't I don't know. I'm struggling with whether this guy's overreacting. Yeah. That that's my initial thought. And and and then I think, yeah.

Well, I'm I'm out of town on business frequently. I wanna enjoy my me time. Then I come home, and I want her to enjoy me time as well with me about me. And then when it doesn't happen, I get upset. Yeah. I mean, he does he does kinda when you have the opportunity to explain something, you generally wanna cast yourself in the best light. He does kind of is willing to posture himself as the jacking apes and doesn't seem to know the difference. Yeah. I mean, I'm I'm not saying that maybe something don't sniff right with them two ladies. But I mean, it sounds like they sniff right. You know what I'm saying? That's what a woman's best friend looks like. They text a lot. They talk all the time. They like to spend time together chatting about stuff that you don't care about because you acted like it was a big hassle last time she brought it up. Yeah. And now you have sir, you have made yourself a big large roost and you are a roost. I'm sorry.

I feel like there's nothing funky going on here. Yeah. Take her out on a date. Have her leave her phone behind. Yeah. Stop trying to invite yourself as the third wheel at the Connie party. You know what I'm saying? Why don't you and your wife go out? Just know, while you leave Connie in. Yeah. Right. Engage with your wife. I mean, you don't have to just latch on to the first parts of family bus that come flying by. Okay. Listen. What are there any circumstances, like, if that you would say

like, what would have to be going on for you to know this is a problem? To say that this is a problem, Mike? I'm I I just don't Like, she's staying over at her house? Well, yeah, that's weird. Yeah. That's probably weird. She got pictures of her up in the dining room? Like I mean, that's not totally off the wall, but, you know, kinda weird. Hey. Welcome to my home. This is my best friend, Connie. This is a photo from her Olin Mills 1997. Yeah. I I don't know. You know, like, if, like, if we had made plans and then she said, well, you know, Connie and I went instead. Or, if I started the

things that I've established in our thirty year marriage, if I started being slowly replaced out of them without hiding her hair, I think they'd probably be pretty fishy. But I mean, I It kinda sounds like that's partially going on. He used to be her best friend and now he's really not. Well, these I mean, those are those are perceptions. Right. You know what saying? Like, I perceive I'm not your best friend anymore. But I mean, listen, you leave a lady alone by herself

because as you travel for business, I'm not saying that that there's there's a that's a sinful act to travel for business, but realize your marriage does not look like everyone else's marriage. You know what I'm saying? Like, there's there's there's some things that you have to set up in place and and there's some give and take going on there. And and, you know, you can't expect it to be leave it to Beaver when you're in town and then be gone all the time and then leave it to Beaver when you get back. Like, I mean, there's relationships and conversation and emotional ties that need to be met there, you know, for her to to belong in a community, and it can't be centered completely around you. And so, like, I understand that that feeling where, you know, you feel like you're disconnected from the situation, but you didn't have to do that. You know, you could have had a different house and you could have been the paper delivery man. And and, you know, maybe things would look different. So I mean, I'm just saying look at it with a with a healthy amount of perspective. Yeah. No. That's too fair. Secular says, women communicate with each other, with other women on different level than they do with men. You and your wife and her woman friend may have felt like three musketeers years ago when the three of you would all get together. But it's possible that after a while, her friend began to feel like a third wheel. Who can say why she doesn't wanna socialize with you? Perhaps you don't have enough in common or perhaps she has sensed that you are jealous of her friendship with your wife. But I wouldn't call

close friendships among women emotional affairs because I don't think it's true. Since this bothers you enough to write to me and Connie seems to be communicating in secret, please discuss this in-depth with her. Wait. With Connie or with the wife? With Connie. Connie is the wife. Connie's the wife. Oh, what was the friend's name? It didn't give us Didn't Oh, shoot. I thought Connie was the friend. No. Connie is the wife. Oh, shit. Actually, the segment made a major error. Been that last paragraph there. Yeah. Exactly. It sounds like there's a line of communication that's not happening. So he feels

like something has changed. No matter if that's true or not, he he feels that's going on. And she's tried to reassure him to no avail that nothing's happening. It sounds like he needs to communicate specifically. Well, this is what it's looking like. This is how I feel like this used to be our relationship, and now your friend has taken on that role. And I don't feel like your best friend anymore. There may be some catering that she has to do to his feelings. There may be some catering that he has to do to hers. Of course, it's a relationship. And it sounds like an open line of communication is what's gonna be best rather than just, hey. I don't feel like we're as close, and it feels like you're having emotional affair. No, sweetheart. We're just fine, and then it's done. It sounds like you Yeah. I wouldn't more specifically what's going on. I wouldn't open up, hey. I feel like you're having an emotional affair on me. Right. I Yeah. Yeah. Generally, an overreaction. Alright. What's next? Throw stuff. Dear life from the path. My boyfriend,

parentheses Luke, and I go to the gym together four to five times a week. Yesterday, there was a man on a treadmill who was sweating profusely. Uh-huh. I kid you not, it was coating the the treadmill. Mhmm. Luke tends to speak loudly and he is, occasionally forgets to turn on his filter. When he saw what was happening, he exclaimed loudly, that's disgusting. I nudged him and told him he was being rude, but unfortunately, we think the man hurt him. Luke was actually a kind and sensitive person, so he instantly felt awful. This man is a frequent gym goer and is often there when we are. Luke wants to apologize, but he's worried that if the man didn't hear him, you have to explain what he said. What are your thoughts? Okay. Yeah. No. This is a pickle. It it's over.

I let it go. You just gonna let it pass like I mean, it is disgusting. I I've been the sweaty guy on the on the on the treadmill. I have fully been that dude. Then you go spray it down after a review the situation. I realize I look gross, people. Like, I get it. I'm working out. I'm not confused about how nasty I look running on the elliptical. I'm not confused. I get your stares when I have to wipe down something. Like, those towels are for dudes like me. They're not for you that sweat for maybe three seconds then go, that was a great workout. No. I that's that's me. If I didn't bring it up to you, and I'm not fuming about it and seeming about it, don't bring it up to me because there's a good chance the guy didn't hear it. This is awkward. Even if he did, it's like If he was like hear it three days ago. To you. It's not like he said that, like, that man is disgusting. You know, like, I mean, it's okay for Wait. What what did he say exactly? That's disgusting. Disgusting. He could have seen something on the ground. Yeah. It could have been anything. Yeah. I I play that off. I might be extra nice to that character. Maybe get to know him to assuage some guilt. Yeah. And then slide in the rest of all. Man, the other day, was on the treadmill, and there was, gum.

That was gross. Well, you don't have to lie, Dan. Yeah. I don't think that They do much as the guy. Badger I saw the other week. Hey, man. Phrase play it off and lie are kind of the same thing, dude. Did you hear me, say that's disgusting earlier, sir? Oh, I was talking about the fact that they had not taken out the trash, not you. No. If this guy didn't bring it up, he didn't want to. My wife over here, she passed gas. Yeah. It's gonna be awkward if kinda do That's actually true. It's awkward. Don't bring it up. Just deal with your own Don't do it. Deal with your own self and don't do it again. Yeah. Okay. Life of the past advice is just just sleeping dogs lie. Act like it didn't happen. Yeah. I would say, though, like, you're likely to still feel guilty about it because you said the wrong thing. I would befriend the man. Because frankly, you should have done it anyway. You might as well just use this as a catalyst to do it. Man. I'm proud of you for working out. You seem like you're working pretty hard. Yeah. Yeah. I could tell by the filament of sweat. All over the treadmill. What kind of deodorant you use? I noticed that the treadmill was slippery after I got it once you had done so. Hey. Thanks. I pat you on the back, but my hand does not wanna go a swim. Yeah. Has anyone ever told you that that, you're disgusting on the treadmill? Well, that hair makes it like a swamp. Okay. It happens. It it happens. So Secular says, Luke was out of line, but at this point, he should let it go or he may further embarrass the man. Sweating during aerobic exercise is normal and healthy and not something that a person can control. I don't know if you guys do that or not. Secular is here to bring some homespun advice about why people sweat in general. People have what are called pores. Keep this seven months. It's

win. The man was finished with the machine. He wiped it down. He was acting appropriately. Unfortunately, not all gym members do. Alright. You've been listening to live for the past. Thanks for hanging out with us. We very much appreciate it. If you're listening on the Truth Network ninety nine point three FM, we have got to let you go. We only pay for so much airtime, and there ain't no fools to that station. So if you wanna continue in your inerrant ways, gotta hook up with a podcast. Go to lifefromthepath.org.

Sign up for that podcast. We'll give an extra fifteen, twenty minutes of free free content free on the net. And again, big thanks to our sponsors, Bob Eisenhower with the Eisenhower team and Westfield Veterinary Hospital, westfieldhospital.com. Thanks for hanging out with us. Have a wonderful week. Alright. Mike, I'll do one more, and then we're gonna then we're gonna do a quiz, and then we're gonna call us a night. Hey, man. Real quick. Yeah. I really wanna come over the line of stickers like, hey, man. You did a great job, but Jesus would have done better. Jesus would have done better.

Good job, but not compared to Jesus. That's that's a good word to play. Second place trophy. That's a smiley face behind Jesus. Good job for a sinner. Alright, Mike. What do you got? Deadline from the path. We have two granddaughters who will be going to college soon,

positioned to help them with expenses, but we're asking you if we should. Yeah. Yep. Yes. We're done. Sounds great. Wait. What's the okay. Have them explain themselves. How about a grand puppy? We we put our daughter through college, and she has a career in the medical field. Her husband has a part time, low paying job, and has shown no ambition to find other employment to assist with college expenses for the girls. He's into electronics. And when he wants a new item, he has our daughter work overtime to buy it for him, and she does. Oh. He has told our granddaughters they must pay for their own education because that's what he had to do, although he never graduated.

His father told us, that's not true, that they would have helped him. That that's still not the daughter's the granddaughter's fault. Yeah. We have helped them out financially over the years, which, of course, enables our son-in-law to not improve himself. We realize that they quite often play us and think we are too ignorant to realize we're being taken advantage of. I believe that further education for the girls is a no brainer because we want to be able to support themselves. But where should we draw the line? Not with the granddaughters. Draw the line with the with the son-in-law. Here's what the letter should have said. Dear secular, I don't like my son-in-law.

Love. He said Lazy. Yeah. He's lazy. I don't like him. So Yeah. I'm I'm upset, and I'd like an opportunity to slander him without feeling like I'm slandering him. Yeah. Can I stab him in in the back a little harder if I don't give money to his kids? Who I love, apparently, but, like, I really wanna show him how lazy I think he is. Yeah. That's a that's a good way to do it. Absolutely.

I think I I think I would give the parents the opportunity to do all the help first and then slide in afterwards, kind of make a private agreement with with the the granddaughter. It's a gift to them. Not has nothing to do with the parents. Yeah. I mean, and and I'd kind of maybe do that on the sly even almost and and let the parents really think that through. What's their role in this thing? Well, you think it's gonna I'm like, think of the guy they're describing. Let's say it's even half true. Like, what's he gonna be like, oh, I will not be shamed by these people. I'll I'll put my wife to buy my electronics, but I won't be shamed by her parents to pay for my kids' education. It ain't gonna change anything. Yeah. It doesn't it doesn't matter. The impact of what you can't you only have so much leverage to impact that man's life. That's not what you're concerned about. Well, that's what I'm saying is don't even let him know. That that way, there's no leverage. Just it's just just let him do what he's gonna do, and then you come in and and help how you wanna help. I don't think you have to do it on the slide. Just help. Just say, hey. I'm gonna give him some money. Well, I guess Oh, you don't give it to him to let him know about it. Why not? I would do it without him knowing about it. Why? Because I I don't think it's none of his business. It's his daughters.

Yeah. It's here's a gift I'm giving to a daughter. I don't have to go through him. You don't have to go She's through the adult do it under his nose. Just don't know what it matters either way. Like, what what he knows he doesn't know. What's he gonna do? Well, I guess I would like him to have a chance at some point to say, well, you know, wow, maybe I really should help out here. Well, that's very optimistic. Seems unlikely. But is I know. I know. But but, you know, he's definitely not going to if you're if you're, you know, footing the bill. He has a lifetime of loving electronics, Dan. That is true. There's no way to redeem. There's there's nothing new coming out. This dude has a man cave with a gamer's chair. Look. He's good. It rumbles when he jumps over a block. Alright. Yeah. Yeah. That's out. Hey, baby. I need a new iPad. Can you work extra overtime? Hey, sweetheart. I noticed I got an email the other day from your boss that said, yes. You can do overtime. Papa needs a brand new iPad. Pick up a deuce. We we need more electronics around here. My Xbox three sixty controller broke. Can you work on Saturday?

Here we go. Secular says, stand put before writing any checks. Look at your granddaughter's grades and ask yourselves if they take after your daughter or her husband. Oh. If they take sorry. Someone thinks like me. Excellent. Well, no. That was an extra element there. That a lot of sense. Performance based love. That's how I do it.

I love you with my Performance based reward. If they take after him, they may be more interested in trade school instead. Okay. Thank you very much. I feel like I should be offended. You should I love the trade school. By the way, if they're stupid and lazy,

then they can go to trade school like Mike did. Love Don't pay for it. From a very comfortable chair. Continuing on, depending upon their ambition and aptitude,

they may qualify for scholarships or student aid. Once again, we had no idea how college interest work. Seculars come to the rescue on regular life matters. They could also get a part time job, to help pay for books or tuition also out of left field, which would help them grow into independent young women. By now, it should be apparent that it's time to draw the line. If you decide to pay for your granddaughter's education, be sure that any money they'll be getting goes to school. Yeah. Let's go ahead and push forward the debt of America and kids that can't get themselves out of debt for the rest of their lives because you have the money to help them, but you may not be able to do it without being stingy to their son or to their father, your son-in-law. It's ridiculous. Give them the money. Let them help them out. Yes. Let them be responsible in the situation, but that doesn't mean you have to be a stickler. Secular wrong.

And trade school's okay. Classic. Classic. Alright. Here we go. Here's what I did. I searched on my favorite bible quiz website. We'll see how well we do. And I chose famous stories is the is the header. Samson Delilah is a specific quiz, and I chose this one specifically because it has the lowest average score of all quizzes. Really? It's a difficult one.

Here we go. Samson Delilah. Number one, who is Samson's father? Manoah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon.

Manoah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon. Elon. Manoah. I actually, I thought Manoah, but I don't know why. I don't know. I feel like I'm going with Manoah. I'll agree. I thought Abdon, and I don't know why. C.

Elon? Elon. Do you feel pretty strongly? Yeah. I'm going there. Okay. There's a good start. Yeah. There's a reason I Okay. Waited till the Two, what kind of animal did Samson kill with his bare hands? Lion. Behemoth bull lion tiger? Lion. Yeah. Everybody agree? Lion? Yeah. Lion. Yeah. It was a lion. K. Three, how much silver was Delilah offered to portray Samson?

30 pieces of silver, 5,500, 7,510,000. It's shekels? 10,000. It doesn't give it in shekels. Pieces of silver. Pieces of silver. I don't remember. $305,500,

7,500, 10,000. What's the answer to that? Was it the same as Judas? It it was 30. That's what I was I was thinking it was. The others are pretty outrageous. That's an outrageous amount of money?

Well, I A piece of silver? You're you're getting close to a king's ransom. Yeah. One piece of silver is a day's wage. Alright. Yeah. With what did Delilah first attempt to bind Samson? Rope, seven green widths,

bronze feathers, seven reeds. Rope? That was rope. She started with rope, didn't she? Let's go with rope. Five. How many Seven reeds. You like seven reeds? I do. I kinda do. Yeah. I also agree with seven reeds. You boobs. Fine. Definitely. Me and Herrick agree. What's it? I thought it was rope, but I'd go with reeds. I don't know. He seems confident. I thought rope. And I'm gonna give you a suckered in on it. Rope was the second one. Yeah. Yeah. You'd ask him about the first. Right? Yeah. I thought the first was what she did on her own. The second was on his advice with the reeds. No. They were both times, it was it was her

advice. Okay. Okay. I'll see what happens. Five. How many Philistines did Samson kill with the donkey's jawbone? 300, 600, 1,000, 1,400. Thousand, I thought. Of course, that's in the NIV.

Nineteen eighty four group. Anybody check take a guess here? Philistines? I'm gonna say 300. 300, 600, A 1,400. I thought 600. I thought it was six hundred as well. Dan and Dan was at a Thousand. I'm gonna tiebreak instead of that, 6 hundred. Yes. When Samson was finally captured by the Philistines, how was he held? By seven green cords bound with fetters of brass, held with a net, bound with vines.

Fetters of brass. What fetters are, Mike? Yeah. They're the the Like, he was Shackles. Yeah. Shackles. Medicals. Yeah. That's what I said. You said the locks. Like like his long flowing locks. They have locks on them. I'll admit it. Cords cords, fetters, net vines. Fetters. Gotta be fetters. What do you want from me? Want to a twist. So would that have been what he was tied to, like, against the pillars? No. That was No. Was tied. He was originally bound. Yeah. Oh, okay. Gotcha. Alright. Fair enough.

Cords? I don't know. Come on, boys. You suggest it's the hardest quiz ever and you want instant answers. Fetters. No. I'm sticking with fetters. Write it down. Mark it. Alright. Alright. Fetters. What work was he made to do? He was made to pull a plow like an ox. He was made to break rock for the temple. He was made to grind meal in the prison house. He was made to cut wood for the furnace.

Pull a plow like an ox. Gotta be gotta be ox pulling. Some of those were the the the barbarian. What was that? The movie. Conan. Yeah. That's what mixes you up. Yeah. That is what mixes you up. Totally. I hate being confused, Conan's barbarian. Samson Conan. Original movie. Same thing. In 1984. Which building did Samson destroy by displacing the support pillars? Displacing. The prison house, the Temple Of Dagon,

the prison officer's House, the Royal Palace. Temple Of Dagon. Of Dagon. Yeah. Dagon. Dagon. Yeah. Yeah. Dagon. Number nine. How long was Samson the judge in Israel? Ten, twenty, thirty, forty years. Thirty years. Forty.

I'm in with forty. Forty just seems like a good clean biblical bible number, doesn't it? Forty. Fine. Well, you can do 30 pieces of silver. You better do forty years. There's only 30 shows up twice. I mean, you got 20. Eric's over 20. We're gonna do 40 and see what happens. Alright. Here we go. He died before he was 40. Oh, mercy. Holy cats. Go ahead. Alright.

Who was Samson's father? Your answer, Elon. That is incorrect. Correct answer is Manoah. Oh, I was incorrect for sure. Hey. Eric Eric's confidence. Can I be just That kinda guided me through that entire question? Number two. What kind of animal did Samson kill with his bare hands? Answer, lion. That is correct. Yes. We got one. How much silver was Delilah offered to portray Samson? You we said 30 of silver. That is incorrect. Correct answer is 5,500.

What? Wow. That's a handsome sum. There were I did not offer that up. There were five lords of the Philistines, and each offered Delilah 1,100 pieces of silver making a total of 5,500. Wow. That is an outrageous amount. Alright. She got paid. Question four. What did Delilah first attempt to bind Sampson? We said seven reads. The answer is as incorrect. The correct answer is seven green widths. What does that even know what that is? The heck is a width. Hold on. Like w I t h or width? Judge is 16 using the, KJV. Then the lord the the Philistines brought up to her seven green widths. Hold on. Let's have it in the ASV. From a whipping willow? Seven widths in the ASV. What's the derby?

Seven fresh cords which have not been dried. Okay. Now that that sounds different. Yeah. It does. Told you. I don't know about no widths. Question five. How many Philistines did Samson kill with the donkey's jawbone? We said 600. That is incorrect. The answer is 1,000.

Go to Dan. I I said that. Dan's like, yes. I knew that. Number six, when Sampson was finally captured by the Philistines, how was he held the debatable fetters of brass was indeed correct? Alright. Excellent work. I wish there was otherwise. I think that was my first right answer on that. Wouldn't you wouldn't you be scared

when he has killed 999 other men and you are left? This doesn't look as good. In a field, brother's bodies. It's like, it looks like I'm over a thousand. It's it. Like, he's surrounded by the characters that, like, they're in all the movies where there's five guys attacking the one kung fu man. And the one dude still goes in after his four dudes Like, have been taken he's still gonna make progress? That's the last 100 on Samson taking these guys out. He's obviously tired enough for me to win. You got three wits? I think that'll take him.

We need four more. Let's see. What what was, what work was he made to do? We said definitely made to plow like an ox. We were incorrect. That was cool then. Correct answer was he was made to grind meal in the prison house. Grind meal in the prison house. Which building did Samson destroy by displacing the support pillars? We said Temple Of Dagon. That is indeed correct. Yeah. Classic. Number nine, how long was Samson the judge in Israel? We said forty years. That is incorrect. The answer is indeed twenty years. Twenty. Eric. We answered a total of three of nine questions correctly for a score of 34%.

The average score for this quiz is 45%. Oh, man. We've never been under. Life life for the pack has come under the average on We seriously need to do a study of judges. Sampson and Delilah Quiz. That's, that's rough times. Those are pretty specific. We need one to redeem ourselves. Hold on. Okay. Let me let's do one. Well, maybe we did good on clouds. Don't remember that. More. Let's stick with famous stories, and let's do let's see the next Jesus. The next lowest performer.

Elijah and the prophets of Baal. No. No. This is not good, Ben. Here we go. 10 questions. Redemption. 10 questions. Number one, Elijah told Ahab that he had troubled Israel because he had forsaken the commandments of the Lord and one, followed Balaam. Two, employed false prophets. Three, allowed children to be sacrificed. Four, erected Asherah poles. Asherah poles. I think Asherah poles. Asherah Asherah poles is everywhere. Yeah. Everyone is always guilty of putting up Asherah poles. Dude that sold and made Asherah poles made so much money.

They were taken down and put back up every forty years. Hey. I hear you lost that temple for Dagon. Can I interest you in some Asherah poles? Two, on what mountain did Elijah ask Ahab to assemble the people of Israel, the prophets of Baal, and the prophets of Asherah? Sinai, Horeb, Carmel, the Mount Of Olives. Mount Carmel. Carmel. Yeah. Carmel. Our coffin is Kadoshius. Could be betraying. Number three, what did the people say when Elijah challenged them about choosing between the Lord God and Baal?

A, nothing. B, well spoken. Please tell me this. I'm sure. Well spoken, sir. Three, crucify him. Or four, they began discussing what Elijah had said. So really nothing or they began discussing. Yeah. I was gonna say And then discussing That's the same answer.

Four. Yeah. Discussing. Discussing? Yeah. Okay. Let's see what happens. Them saying that, they just go, okay. Well said. Yeah. Well spoken, sir.

An interesting argument. And articulation on this man are fantastic. Number four, what animals did Elijah suggest to be sacrificed? Bull. Bulls. Bulls. Okay. We're just gonna say bulls. Let's see right there. Number five, how did the people respond to Elijah's suggestion that the sacrifices be prepared, but no fire be put to them, and the god who answered by fire is indeed god? Number one, nothing. Two, well spoken. Three, crucify him. Four, they began discussing what Elijah had said. Seriously? We're putting it real pickle here, boys. Four. That same thing they began discussing? I'm gonna say nothing. You don't see a trick coming?

You think they said nothing? Maybe that's where I'll spoken. I bet I bet your well spoken's in there. We'll be made fools of Well spoken. What do you wanna do? What do you wanna do? Discuss nothing well spoken crucify him. Just in case the trick says, do nothing. Nothing? I don't see what happens. Number six, What did Elijah suggest to the prophets of Baal at noon when there still had been no answer to their prayers? Baal moon. God's on the toilet. Let's see. Perhaps your god is meditating. Perhaps your god is wandering around a journey. Perhaps your god is asleep and must be wakened. All of the above. Si.

Asleep. Well, all of them. He said all of Si. Yeah. I think it's all of them. And she just didn't even Wandering around? I was gonna say, he said wandering around? Yeah. I don't think so. Busy doing stuff. I think it was just sleeping. He was just mocking him. He yeah. He was mocking him. Did he say meditating? He did at least two of them. Had if it's two, it's gotta be all of the above. Sleeping. I'm pretty sure he said meditating, though. Mike Tyrekker.

That's d, all of the above. Mike says all the above. We'll see what happens. How many stones did Elijah use to build the altar for his sacrifice? 12. Derek says 12. Was six, seven, 12, or we are not told? Yeah. You got 12. Yeah. 12. Alright. Alright. 12 it is. What time was it when Elijah prayed, answer me, oh lord, answer me so that this people may know that you, oh lord, our god Two four. And that you have turned their hearts back? One, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. Two, noon, or at the third hour of the day, at the time of the rising of the sun. I think it was third hour of the day. That would make sense if he if he mocked the their their god at noon. It wasn't at the time of the rising sun. Yeah. So either evening sacrificed the third hour of the day. Third service. K. Third hour. Ten, when the fire of the Lord fell, what was consumed? Wait. Wait. Wait. The question was third hour of the day?

Yeah. Oh, shoot. So third hour Yeah. That'd be 9AM. Be 9AM. No. So it's gotta be evening sacrifice. Okay. Yep. Alright. Good. Ten, when the fire of the Lord fell, what was consumed? Everything. Everything. Let's see. The the water, the the bowls, the wood. Yes. So they hey. I'll give you the last two answers because these are the relevant distinctions. The offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. Or four, the offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, the water, the trench, and the prophets of Baal. They killed them Yeah. Yeah. They killed those separately. So it's got to be three. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Alright. Here we go. See what happens here, boys.

Oh, I've missed a question. What did I miss? How many jars of water did you did Elisha have poured over the wood? One seven twelve, we are not told. I think it was seven. I wanna say seven. Okay. That's a conclusion. I like it. Alright. Here we go. Oh, mercy. Elijah told Ahab that he had troubled Israel because he had forsaken the commandments of the Lord. And we said erected Asherah poles. That is incorrect. Correct answer is followed

not Balaam. It's B A L I M. Balim? Oh, is that right? Balim. Balim. Obviously, that really would be the right question the right answer. I mean Yeah. That's the whole story. It's all about Yeah. It's a derivative of the name Bal. Okay. Yeah. Alright. Okay. Yeah. Alright.

That that's a whole different context then because Balaam is actually a prophet, but from several generations before. Oh, shoot. Balaam. Baham is just the formal way of saying Baal. Dang it. I would have gotten that right. My bad. Yeah. That was totally the distinction I made too. Baham. Yeah. Obviously, it's not Asherah poles. Me as well. Bahim. Alright. Number two, on what mountain did that's amazing. What what mountain did Elijah ask Ahab to assemble the people of Israel? Said Mount Carmel. That is correct. Question three, what did the people say when Elijah challenged them about choosing between the lord god and Baal? We said they began discussing what Elijah had said. That is incorrect. The answer is nothing. Question four. What animals did Elijah suggest to be sacrificed? We said bowls that was darn tootin'. Number five. How did the people respond to Elijah's suggestion that sacrifice be prepared, no but fire be put to them and the god who answered by fire is indeed god? We said they said nothing. That is incorrect. He said, well spoken. Well spoken, sir. The mockery answer. We know nothing about the old testament. Number six. What did Elijah suggest to the prophets of Baal at noon where they still had no answer to their prayers? We said all of the above. That is correct.

All the above was correct. Question seven. How many stones did Elijah use to build the altar for a sacrifice? We said 12. That is correct. How many jars of water did Elijah have poured over the wood? We said seven. That is incorrect. We should have stood with 12. Biblical 12. Number nine. What time was it when Elijah prayed? Answer me, oh lord. Answer me. We said at the time of the of the evening sacrifice, come let us reason together. We've done it correctly.

First Kings eighteen thirty six. And question 10, when the fire of the lord fell, what was consumed? We said everything except for the prophets. They were killed afterwards. That is indeed correct. First Kings eighteen thirty eight. We answered a total of six of 10 questions correctly for a score of 60%, narrowly edging out the average score of 54% for the average taker. I wouldn't necessarily call that redemption, but it's not a blanket failure either. Good job, boys. I can sleep on that. Yeah. That will that will work. Alright. Jesus would have done a better job. Yeah. He's in that the deal. You've been listening to live for the path. Thanks for hanging out.

Hey. If you go I never told you guys the quiz. Go to quiz.christiansunite.com, and you can take the quizzes alone if you want to, or you can just wait till we get to them. There's, a million of them, and we'll get to them every once in a while. So hey. Thanks for listening to us. If you got any suggestions for the show, complaints, whatever, send us an email. [email protected]. Be faithful to me. It's gotta take care of the ends. Thanks for listening too. Life from the Path.