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

And you're listening to live from the Pathway coming from the Pathway studios here in Johnston Proper. Here's the deal, boys. I've never I can't say say that I've ever looked at the world and said I feel despair. But but after that after the show last week talking about that adultery article, and then I was listening to some I I tend not to listen to talk radio. I try to stay away from it, but I got, I don't know, my family was gone, and I made bad decisions. And so,

I don't I don't remember what I was listening to, but, like, it just seemed like like such a moral degradation. Oh, I'm starting to sound like a Like a talk show radio, man. Yeah. I know. But but it was it was, it was something actually akin to what Mike was saying just before the show started. Like, you don't even know where how to connect with people,

that have certain lines of thought anymore. Yeah. Right? Because you're like, usually, it's like, oh, we we okay. I don't I don't wanna spend a bunch of time on this particular topic necessarily, but, like, it it used to be that people would have discussions about, abortion in at all versus abortion in The Cape, case of incest or rape. Sure. Right? And so, like, the grounds are this seems like a wrong thing, but there's some extreme circumstances. What do we think about those types of things? Right? And that used to be kind of the realms of your discussion. Now now you're much broader in. You know what? I I I I'm okay with this completely. In fact, it's good,

and, I think we should just do Good and just kill children. Yeah. That's right. It's a great idea. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I and and take take that issue and then insert any issue Yeah. And say, where we're like, we went from the discussion of, should we allow this in some cases where it's just really crazy stuff happened? You know? And and, like, we're trying to weigh, you know, things. Should we allow this in the slightest bit of cases to you know what? We allowed it in those cases. Maybe we should allow it all the time. And then, hey. This is just a good thing. I don't know why we haven't been doing this all the time. Yeah. Why has this ever been a problem? And so, like, it it it seems very difficult to have and this hit me. I I sometime in the last couple days, I just had, like, a fifteen second moment of like, oh, man. Yeah. I feel like we're lost. We've lost. We've lost. There's no fighting. We've lost. This this took me back to high school. When I was in high school, and it's probably, you know, the the time of my prime, like, growth spiritually Yeah. Well, college would have been really. But but I I was really Boy, Dan, that's been a long time ago. Like Well, I I know. I'm not saying I I'm not saying I stopped. I'm saying that that's, like, the initial you know, you always go back to the initial, like, you're really getting it thing. Yeah. Sure. And I I remember my heart would just ache from my friends telling the stories of what they were doing. I I just hurt for them. And and, like, the music that was on, which is no different than today, you know, the sexual overtones and everything, and and and I just would grieve for for my generation. And and somewhere along the line, I guess I've buffered myself. I've hardened myself. I'm like, yeah. Whatever. I'm focused myself on other things. But this week, since that stupid survey we talked about last week, today, I almost wept sitting in a a barbecue

place, having some chicken and a music, a song came on from the eighties, basically saying, hey. Come on. You know, what are you wasting your time for? You're looking pretty hot. Let's do this. I'm just like, oh, how many girls listen to that and and said, yeah. We We I really should give my body to you. And Right. It just yeah. It just hurt. It breaks my heart. We, what was I watching? I was at, it was last night. We were watching, some sort of, I don't know, thing about China on the National Geographic

Channel. And they were advertising in the interim, a show on it was on there or one of the other channels where

it's it's like blind date marriage. Like, you show up, and you've never met this person, but you're gonna marry them today. And so the big reveal is when they start to walk down the aisle, and you that's when you meet them for the first time. And so it's only it's only a commercial for. Right? But, like, the voice over at the end is, like, one of the ladies is participating, and she says the following. She says something to the extent of, this is a big risk, and it's a really big movement in your life, but I feel like this is totally worth it. And I'm like, what? What? Worth it? Worth what? What what about this is is like

Now is this a Chinese show? No. Or that the show you were watching was Chinese. This was an advertisement. Yeah. I just wanted cultural information on China. Because in some cultures, that's like, well, you don't meet them till the wedding day. But your parents did. Yeah. Somebody did. Yeah. Yeah. So what and and and the gist of the show is is that the people are being, tested for compatibility by, like, experts. Data and experts. Now here's the deal. As I I work in data. Like, my my my Monday to Friday job, I work in data. And, like, data will do whatever you want it to do. Yeah. It's an agnostic party. Alright? It just flows through places. You tell it where to go. You tell it what you wanna know. Oh, they both like petunias. Yeah. They should get married. And I'd say now I'm and here's the problem. It's like now I'm interested. Now I'm like, woah. How well did it do? But, like, because I they've they've got me to buy into the premise as if the premise isn't I I know it's outrageous, but, like, I got I've gotten past that, and now I wanna know how were their data models. Did it actually do people stay together based upon these things? And because it got me in some kind of stupid curiosity about something that is none of my damn business and things that I don't wanna know about and I should not perpetuate,

like, that's how it happens. Yeah. That's how it happens. That is how it happens. And so, like, I I got I got to thinking about it, and my kids were sitting there. We were watching this China thing together, and I and I see my like, my daughters are kinda taking in these commercials, and I they're not really thinking about it. But I thought to myself, like, what? Do they even need to know this is out here? Right. That, like, people are getting married with no no idea who they are, and, like, look at how God treats marriage and the images that he gives between relationships between him and his people as as a marriage. And then look at how we treat it culturally. And I think to myself, ugh. Yeah. Talk about taking the Bible in out of context. Right? You try to explain the marriage of the bride of Christ to Christ, and people have this thing of marriage where, oh, I could just throw it away, really. I just get rid of it if it doesn't work. And when, you know, when those words were written and when they what they were meant to say is like an everlasting bond that does not change, and you serve each other, and that's the way it works. And now it's just like when, you know, we have a hard time relating to when people talk about God the father. We have a generation of folks that grew up without a dad, and you try to try to explain to them who how God is a father like figure, and they're like, well, if if he has anything to do with fathers, I'm not interested. And so, like, the things that we used to be able to back out against and say, look, you know, metaphors for God to help people understand parables even, you know, they're it's like a it's like a dad or it's like a marriage. And they're like, well, you know, those are both throwaway items here in the last, you know, couple hundred years. So, I mean, that it is it doesn't cross the boundary like it used to. Yep. That's that's just oh, man.

I got lured into another into another survey. Oh, no. And it's called the skeptical state of bible reading in 2017.

It says for the most part, Americans have positive things to say about the bible. More than half call it a good source of morals, 52%. About a third say it's helpful, 37%.

True, 36, and life changing, 35%

according to New LifeWay Research survey. Even More told the American Bible Society and Barter Group that they believe it's the actual or inspired word of God. 81%. Again, what? Lest lest we reconcile our problems. 81% say it's the inspired word of God. 52%,

it's a good source of morals. Okay. So hold on. A quick quick pause on this thing. I had this exact conversation at work this week, and it had to do with someone someone break into your house. Right? And and so we were having this discussion about what happens if somebody breaks into your house or whatever. And I said, you know, basically, if they show up let's say I meet them at the front door and they're like, I'm here to rob you. And I said, well, well, look. I would just give them the stuff. And then I wasn't actually robbed. I was just being generous. And then that guy continues on whatever he does, and then whatever, we're good. And they said, well, I'd shoot him right in the face.

I said, okay. I said I said, now what what if they weren't really they they're not presenting any bodily harm to me. Right? Like, I can tell where some dude's gonna harm me. He's really guy's just trying to rob me. He's he's he's having a rough time. Either I mean, he's a criminal for one. You know? So, like, well, why give him the TV? I don't care. You know, take the TV. At least if he's not dead, he's got time left on his clock to come to know the lord Jesus as far as I'm concerned. You know? Like, I'll kill him if he gonna come after my children or my wife or something. Right? But, like, if you're just here for the TV, take the TV as far as I'm concerned. Uh-huh. And so their counterargument was, well, my home is my castle, and it's where I feel comfortable. And if a man comes in and tries to take my TV, I'm gonna shoot him. And I said, here's the deal. You're valuing

your property over the life of a man, and I think that's a problem. And they said, no. Said, you're right. You think that's a problem. I don't. And I said, I feel like you're you know, because it was a guy who goes to church, you know. And I said, I feel like you you actually have an argument with God on this one. Not as much me. Like, we talk about defending your family or whatever. I there's some there's some grayer areas on where we're probably gonna sit. But, like, if a guy shows up and all he wants to do is rob you and you know that, he does not gonna present you any bodily harm, you know, you're just gonna shoot the man because he ruined your peace. You're getting your peace from the wrong place. And I said, it's it's just a a valuation thing. And boy, did I catch crap for this? I mean, for the next three days. For the next three days, I was lambasted on being an idiot and a fool. And every time I said something, they said, you're not arguing with Foose. You're arguing with God. I'm like

I'm like, that's it's not what I was saying. Yeah. I'm I'm pretty sure if it was real I mean, the guy's talking tough, but I I'll bet you it was really happening, and just taking the TV. I mean, it's just You're not gonna just take some dude's life. Mean, that's that's that's I mean, I get it. Like, a threat to the family, I hear you. Like, I feel like we can have that argument either way. I get you taking my child. Yes. Yeah. That's right. You're come and be like, I'm I'm taking your TV. I need more drugs. I'm like, take the TV. You know what? Don't care. You need you need a little more time. You know? And then his counterargument party in my medicine. This is his counterargument was he goes, what's a homeless guy gonna do with the TV anyway? I'm like, he's gonna sell it. Do you not know anybody who is down on their luck? You think he's gonna put it in his tent and just marvel over over the TV he's acquired? He's a 42. For heaven's sakes, get around. You know? I hear his color. So it's it's funny. The reason I I brought that up is because that survey goes to the same thing. Right? Like, you say that, like, God God sets the principles. God the Bible sets my way of life or or you believe that he is the all knowing creator of the world, and then you read his bible and don't listen to anything he says, I have a hard time believing that you believe the first thing. Right? That makes it hard to understand. Point swing between those who thinks it's the word of God and those who thinks it's life changing. Yeah. I think, well, then it's not the word of God, is it? Yeah. It doesn't make any it doesn't make any sense. Well, maybe the guy is gonna say it my life didn't change because I was already rocked. It's

a very small guy. Yeah. Yeah. Actually, so that's that's interesting because I think the same group of of thinkers came out of the of that similar survey we talked about a couple weeks ago, which is this acknowledgment that there is a god and then having no no real reaction to that at all. Right? Like, even the even the thought of where people say, if, like, if there is a god, I I don't know. I'm upset with him or he's a jerk or something or other. And you're like, you know, the concept of him being a god, I feel like and you not kinda shouldn't that kind of influence, like, what you think of it? Like, does doesn't do they get to determine what's right or not? You would think. I mean I mean and I get I get coming from like, think about your, your Egyptian gods, your Greek gods, your Roman gods. Like, they weren't all upstanding characters. Right. Were not virtuous gods. These were like, hey. Some were jerks. Some were not. You just had to put up with it because you're a peon, and and they're gods. Right. But, like, that isn't the premise of the question that we're asking. We're talking is the god of the Bible, the god, the creator of the universe, the writer of the scripture, and a a real being.

And, and if your reaction to that is, oh, yeah. I think there's a god. And then, like, you have no, like, tangible, I don't know, reaction to words where he says, you know what? This isn't right. And you're like, well, you know, I could take it or leave it. Yeah. I wonder part of that, though, is they're they're they're weak. We're humans. We're weak. We all have weaknesses. Right. And they're just justifying their sin rather than trying to fight it. They've just given up. And so, like, yeah, he's God, and I'm a jerk. But Yeah. But that's not what they're saying, though. Like because because that's what you would say, and that's what I would say is Right. The God of the Bible is right. I am wrong. I strive to do more as the God of the Bible, you know, has laid out for me. Right? But they're flat out saying, the God of the Bible wrote it and he's a deity. I just don't yeah. I'm not digging on most of These are modern times. It's flat out not gonna change my life at all. Regardless of where he sits, it's just like it it's just like people that have we have authority problems all over the place in our bootstrap America. You know what I'm saying? Like, people have a hard enough time listening to their boss. They're like, I don't care who that guy is or what he makes a year. No one's gonna boss me around. Well, you know, they have the same attitude as they're sitting in the unemployment line. They're like, I showed him. Nothing changed. Right. I'm not under his thumb anymore. Yeah. That guy was just stupid. Well, who's stupid now? You you're making no money. Actually so I think I think that's the deal. It's like we are, these are these are people like, we're not putting two thoughts together. We're putting we're keeping two thoughts in separate bags in different parts of the room and and refuse to acknowledge they're in the same house. And so, like, we we just don't connect things. The guy in the unemployment line is like, screw that employer of mine. I I don't have to do the stuff he says. Like, you're at the behest of the government sitting among everybody waiting for someone to hand you out something, and you lost total control over your life. That's right. And you're like, Because

you've got two distinct thoughts that you refuse to put together. And so I think that's the problem. Like, we're just not we're not connecting anything. Yeah. We have such a, like, a dichotomized life where we can just believe things that have have to have no tangible connection to other things that we think, and we just don't have a problem with it whatsoever. How? How? I mean I mean, like, just psychologically, what what like,

I I believe in gravity, but I'll go ahead and jump off this building. We don't do that. Yeah. Mean Screws gravity. Gravity. Yeah. No. I think that's the point. Right? Like, is the thing that we believe we don't we believe we don't really believe. We think we should believe it. So we're saying, yeah. I believe. Yeah. We're trying to convince ourselves, but my actions say otherwise. That's right. I was having a discussion with someone. This had been a couple it was a class of people a couple ago, and we were talking about the, how the Bible uses believe. And I said, look, like, we're misunderstanding that as, like, a as just an acknowledgment or an agreement with Jesus. Right? Like, when I say believe something, it has tangible impact to your life, and you actually react to it one way or the other. And, and I got some pushback because they're like, you know, I think you're you're you're interpreting that wrong to,

to try to get people to act a certain way when the when the bible is just saying, you know, like, whoever believes in in Jesus will have eternal life. And he's just like, look at the look at the disciples. And I said, Jesus didn't have to make that distinction to the disciples. They already understood it. Right? They didn't have this chasm between what I believe and what I do. They were following the man. Right. Right? They gave up everything and followed him. Everyone died for him. Like and there was some ignorance in the disciples pretty consistently about understanding fully what Jesus was about. But, like, I mean, when Jesus said believe in me, they did not take that as a as just a mindful ascent. Like, they recognized at least that it meant that we have to react to the things that he's doing, and it means tangible changes in life. And so, like, it's a cultural thing that we have to connect those two things modern day. Like, they weren't having to read, believe, and go, oh, I can just say, oh, I agree with Jesus, and he came to save me, and now I feel loved. And, like, and think that it has to that it has no physical or tangible impact on how we live our lives. Like, that's that's actually something we created, not something the Bible failed to address. Yeah. I you know, I usually use the example with the with the kids is is is the stool in the room. Right? Like, you can believe there's a stool in the room, but if you never sit in it, you don't actually believe it's there because who would stand, right, when there is a stool available? But they're like, yeah. I believe it's there. I based my life on this stool. Have you ever sat in it? No, man. No. I can't. I can't be sitting in that stool. No. I'm comforted daily by it. But, no, I I don't It's it's my source of joy. Just the fact that it exists only. My legs are tired. I've been standing for fifteen years, but I can't sit in that stool. Yeah. Alright. So I was trying to see let's see. The group has remained fairly stable in recent years.

Let's see. Of the nineteen percent, up from 10% in 2011 says it's simply a book of teachings and stories written by men. Okay. So you're up to 20% of people who think that. That group has remained fairly stable in recent years. It was 17% in 2013, 19% in 2014, 21%.

Okay. It's gone up, I guess. They asked the people in that category a new question. If you think the Bible was written only by humans, do you think it was meant to be manipulative or controlling? I actually wondered this question myself, to be honest. Like, it's a, to to what end? Right? Like Exactly. If it's written by like, you you would go read the I don't know, Amos or Mark. Like, to what were they actually trying to get you to do that benefited them Yeah. In their service? So,

almost four out of five skeptics said yes so that it adds was designed to be manipulative, which adds up to thirteen percent of The US population. I just don't I just don't understand. Like, to to what besides the fact that you think that's the case. They invented the pyramid scheme where, ultimately, all the cash went back to Matthew.

Yeah. Right. He was he was just a really good tax collector. Well and so so, like, if I was sitting on the other side of that fence, I would say, yeah, it's it's designed to put money back in the churches, and the churches want to be make money and have have big cash. That's what that's exactly what they think. Right? But, like, if you look at the teachings of, say, Jesus, the one that we're gonna cornerstone this thing around, like, spent his entire life serving people and living homeless and and pretty much and and imploring people to not to not do that very thing. Right? To not worship the money that that that the society is running on. If he said, basically, just, you know, serve people. That's your job on this earth is to serve others and love me, and that's what I want you to do. Right? And so, like, any misgivings that they have on on the goals of of this manipulative book are are only evidenced when people aren't aren't following it anyway. Right? Only when when when you're putting in concept of of of sinful people. But, like, the commands coming from the god and the god man are are none of those things.

It says, that they they separated the groups into okay.

The American Bible Society and Barna labeled them antagonists antagonistics. They used the same tag in 2013 for the entire group of skeptics,

but then reconsidered. It says antagonistic may too strongly pigeonhole those who have not yet embraced the Bible. The new categorization, bible skeptics, is both more accurate and more helpful. So here's how they made the distinction said. Survey broke the group into two and found a marked difference between the resulting 32% that remained skeptics and those who those who believe the Bible was not divinely inspired but neither was it written with intent to manipulate, and the sixty eight percent that qualify as antagonistics.

Researchers summarize the two groups. Antagonistics average age is 41. He's more likely to be an unmarried male from Gen X or millennial generation. I mean, how can he be 41 and be in two generations? Yeah. Wait. Never mind. Antichristics are largely non Christian. Duh. Hey, man. He can't even get a woman to get along with him. I mean, what kind of dude are we talking about here? I'm seeing a common denominator here. It's it's the dude. He does not attend church, and a small 5% report reading the bible at least three to four times a year.

Skeptics are slightly older, on average 43 years old. More college graduates fall into this category than any other category. They are largely single and not Christian, and most are in church. What's going on in the colleges? Why are we producing people that Was there single, non Christian, and in church? No. Unchurched. Unchurched. Gotcha. Antagonistics

are more likely than skeptics to be white or Hispanic. They're less likely than skeptics to make under $60,000 a year and more likely to make over a $100,000 a year. They're notably less open to the Bible. 91% of antagonists have no desire to read the Bible more compared to 74% of skeptics. That's hey. That's interesting. So 74%

of the people that have said, they believe the Bible is written by men, have no desire to read the Bible more. That means 25% do. Yeah. I mean, of people who you would if, hey. I'm a bible skeptic, and you'd be like, well, you think, this is not an opportunity. I got one out of four who's like, yeah. I know. I I read the bible more. And even 9% of this, of the people that are antagonistic toward the thing are like, yeah. I'll read it. I mean, it's just something to think about when you approach people and you start saying, hey. Hey. We've lost the deal. No one wants to listen to me. That guy certainly doesn't wanna hear it. I mean, you got one of four or one of 10. Open. Yeah. Yeah.

It said nearly three quarters of antagonists believe the Bible has too much influence on US society compared to less than half of skeptics. Also extremely interesting. 42% of the of the skeptics said that the Bible has too much influence on US society. The others are like, well, it doesn't say whether they're for or blah about it, but, that's that's interesting that over half, aren't aren't concerned,

or they're they're seeing underlying moral benefit from having it to be part of the tapestry. I like it when people don't murder me. Yeah. Yeah. That's Oh, yeah. I'm in. Let's see. They also oh. Fewer antagonistic adults believe the Bible is important for the country's moral fabric. 9%. Is that the same nine who will read more?

Maybe it is. Maybe so. Compared to 30% of skeptics, which, nearly all 91% compared to 70 of skeptics believe the constitution is morally important. Hey, Ben. What? Here's the thing. For a guy that's sworn off these these surveys, like, you you really are really interested in them. No. I'm sorry. Shoot. You're losing me in these numbers. You know I'm saying? You just keep saying numbers and then saying that's an interesting point, and then I can't follow exactly what the point you're making. Okay. No. That's fine. Alright. Here. I'm gonna give you two more things. Okay. They don't care about being labeled immoral. Only 21% were bothered about being labeled immoral compared to 41% of skeptics and 36% of the bible engaged or bible friendly. Hey.

Shoot. Well, now I don't know. Go ahead, man. Rip it out. And that's interesting. So if skeptical people were more concerned about being labeled immoral than the people that were bible engaged are bible friendly. What what what yeah. By 5%? I don't Mike? Maybe because they're they're not concerned because they figure, well, I won't be labeled that because I'm not doing that. Because I'm holy. However, last week's survey says they are They are. They are very much his problem.

Can I date a lamp? 810810% says that's not adultery. Okay. Oh. However, being called intolerant is particularly bothersome to antagonistics.

A quarter would find that offensive compared to twenty percent twenty one percent that said immoral was a problem compared with four percent of skeptics or the bible engaged. Also interesting. Very. Okay. Alright, Michael. Alright. You got Mike right where you want him. There's a series of charts, Michael. No. No more, Ben. I got a series of charts. My brain just shuts down, and I'm like, can we just talk to him? Can I have a conversation with the guy? Because I don't know how to deal with these fa I mean, what am I gonna roll up to a man like, are you the 9% antagonistic that feels like you don't wanna be intolerant? Oh, and you're not interested in the bible but might be?

Yeah. I mean, I hear what you're saying. Okay. Okay. I mean, here's I I think it should at least cause you to rethink

and and we shouldn't have this. Well, yeah, that's the thing, though. You shouldn't do this anyway. Yeah. Just make a blank statement. Don't talk yourself out. Yeah. Don't act like you know people. Right? You're gonna share the gospel. That's what you're gonna do. Stop qualifying it. Stop saying that this is the guy. Just talk just tell the man. It's good news to you. Tell other people. Yeah. Done. Yeah. Right. If he's an antagonist, I feel like you'll figure out pretty soon. Yeah. Yeah. Hate what you're saying. You don't see James being like the Hellenistic whatever dudes that cause me to trouble, and they'd have 15% of them. Know what I'm saying? Like, he's like, you tell the gospel, do it now. See, most of us treat discipleship and evangelism like I I treated dating in high school. Like, I only asked someone out if I already knew, confirmed triple times, that they were gonna say yes. Then I'd then I'd really be daring and say, hey. Wanna go out? Yeah. And it's kinda like, hey. That guy is carrying a bible, and he's got a part on the side. And he says, first baptist on his shirt. A Bible and part on side. I mean, come on. He's Baptist right now.

I'm gonna go ahead and talk to him about Jesus. Seems pretty safe. Don't put the door knocker on that other fella's door. You know, sometimes it's actually scarier for me to talk to an if I find another Jesus man. Oh, yeah. Like, I I've made this mistake before. I was talking to some guy that I met at work or whatever, and and he was a Jesus man. And I'm like, cool. We got stuff to talk about, you know, and we got on the subject of, you know, one of the finer points between, Protestant and Catholicism, and I didn't realize he was a Catholic. And I may have said some things, you know, and I thought, well, let's do and I said, blah blah blah. That's I mean, that's just hard to swallow. He's like, yeah. Actually, I believe that, and we we practice that at my house. I'm like, crap. This is not that hard to swallow. I guess, you know, I guess it's alright. You know? I don't know.

So that's Steve's. Because what if we don't you know, what if I run into Hillsong or whatever? You know? They're like, you're playing j nobody. You know? You ain't done. You're not making a big hairy deal out of this thing, and and you're screwing it up. But I'm like, crap. Then they're judging me for my non Hillsongs. What am I gonna do? The Catholic guy's like, you got it wrong, Mike. Transubstantiated Jesus goes down smooth. Yeah. That's right. Yeah. I've been cheating on my wife. It was about 68% of the population. We think it's fine.

Alright. Alright. Well, I mean, that's it. Here, that that was that was the thing, Mike. That was the that's why I ran across the street. Now let me ask you this, Ben. So we've been go wait. This is the third week in a row you've been slogging through these things. And and and so about five times in a row, you're like, interesting. So how has that changed the way that you view anything? Oh, yeah. What do you going forward, what are you gonna do different? Learn to stop saying I won't read the service? Is that is it the right thing? Just just be me. You know? Yeah. I mean, it probably doesn't

it it doesn't make a difference on what you do. I suppose the question is whether does is it helpful to have an idea, to know where people are starting from? Actually, I had this conversation with a guy who's part of a church plant in, well, actually, Ricely. Right. So Ricely was in town. Yep. So we've had him on the show before. And so we were talking about, like, what do you actually need to know? When when you're talking about trying to bring the gospel to people, and you're doing it, he's in a Mormon context. So the question is, like, I mean, how much of a Mormon context do you need to have? Like, how much of these discussions are you actually going kinda point for point on on Mormonism? And do you need to know that to fire up a conversation with a guy? Or, like, to the extent that you can

figure out where people's barriers are to knowing or following Jesus, like, won't that just come out naturally in conversation? And I think I think it came out that the for the most part, it's not like you have to be, like, ultra prepared. Right? So, like, even even in that kind of context, the truth is is that, like, when you start talking about Jesus, people will say, yeah, but blah blah blah. Right? And so you have a chance to kinda interact with that. So to the extent that you know Jesus and love other people and they're willing to tolerate you continuing that conversation with them, true discipleship or true introducing good news to people,

with people that you're actually in relationship with and caring about, probably, generally goes okay without having to come, like, front loaded with a bunch of stuff. The the thing that is difficult to do is if you're gonna get some kind of street preacher argument with another guy who's Mormon, but, like, you're not gonna do that because it's not effective. Right. Right? It it does it doesn't actually change your case. Now the truth is if your context is you're constantly running into those people and and making friends where you have large groups of people who believe similar things, yeah, you're just get you're gonna be interested in it. You're gonna get questions on it, and you will build up that information, and it will actually help, right, to to know where people are gonna go and be able to speak to it without having to, you know, follow-up with them later. But, like, in general,

that really isn't the significant barrier is to know everything to you need to know about Mormonism or Islam to be able to talk to some guy about that because most of them, frankly, are like most Christians in which they're not really they don't really know most of it. They're not practicing the thing they believe, queen quotes, anyway. They're dating a lamp. Right? So, like, like, these are these are not people you're not running into, people that have that know everything down pat. In fact, your average atheist knows more about Christianity, Mormonism, and Islam than you do, because they're upset about it. And when they're pissed, then they go through and they figure out reasons why they should be more upset about it. But the actual person that's following it, in your average US church, you know, they're not really a strong apologetic. And so that's not the conversation you're running into.

What they what changes people, though, is seeing is seeing people's changed lives around them because that they can see. Then they see a guy. They see how they're being treated, they see how people are, interacting with him. I read an article about a guy who used to be a, like, an Islamic terrorist, and he meets Jesus through both Christians and a series of dreams. And, like, he starts leading a bunch of people to Christ, and their reactions are, like, no one told us how nice these Christians were. Like, they had no like, the the things that they had heard about Christianity, they expected Christians to be awful people. And part of what helped tell the story of good news is kind people doing good things that otherwise feels like good news in the context the stories they're telling. And so it's just one of those deals where, you know, if you are if you're loving Jesus and, and loving people and taking people along with on your journey for following Christ, like, you'll pick up information that you go. And if you care about people, you wanna know more about their context and you'll get it. But this thought that you have to be kind of front loaded with a bunch of cultural information, I think, is unnecessary.

So the whole reason I went and left that tangent though is the question is, does it help me to understand that people there's a crazy amount of people who think it's okay to commit adultery and who are and and who wouldn't call it that? Is that helpful for me in having a conversation with someone? I mean,

I don't know. Maybe? Except for I I don't know. You know, they're not the survey. Right? They have their own personal experience. They have their own definitions of what happens and what they allow and what they don't allow. And I would know that without asking them. So to the extent that I have to ask them or get that information anyway, what good does it do me to have a idea of what it might be? So I I would maybe it's not helpful. Yeah. Maybe it's not valuable to know at all. Yeah. Hey. Does the phrase throwing shade, is that a positive deal or a negative deal? That's negative. Someone says, hey. They throwing shade at Ben. Yeah. That's means he's causing the trouble. No. That means that, yeah, they're they're casting the the poll upon me, the darkness. Negative press. Yeah. Not helping a guy out by keeping him out of the sun. No. No. It's not. I've never quite understood that phrase. After you said dating a lamp, I thought lampshade, Shade. Throwing shade. I wonder what that means.

Alright. I'm gonna try to use it later in the show. See that I've I've solidified it. I'm not a 100% that I quite understand it. It still seems to me like you're getting burned by the sun, and someone's throwing you shade and trying to help you out out of the sun. No. No. No. Yeah. I I don't yeah. I'm not sure the I'd look it up on the urban dictionary, but that's I mean, that's a dangerous place to be hanging out, is that urban dictionary? Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, I'm just gonna have to I'm gonna assume that the general public usage of it is, what I think it is. Alright. That's fine. Derogatory. Alright. Mike, is it did I did I hear maybe I saw this on Facebook or whatever, but you said someone had mistaken you for the pope this week? Yeah. It was it was it was flat out crazy. It was flat out crazy. Yeah. So, I mean, would you what would how did you react to it, and how'd you ultimately get rid of these people? Well, I here's the thing is they they they mistook me from the pope when I was at the get and go. And I don't know if it's because I drive, like, in a kind of an uptown vehicle. And so I thought maybe they thought that maybe I had been in town. Wait. Were you in a minivan? No. No. No. I was in my I was in my work apparatus. I don't I don't think someone mistook you for the pope because you were some kind of giant box truck. Well, you I mean, they thought it was the the the assassinator vehicle or whatever. Keep people out. Okay. So, anyway, they I was trying to get to whatever no Henry and that sold it or whatever, and they're like, Pope tells tells some some advice or whatever. And I said, no. I don't I don't have time. I

got I got some work to do, and they insisted. And so I said, okay. Here's the deal. I'm a have to give out some advice so these people will get away from my vehicle so I can I can get back to work? And so I I pondered for a second, and I I thought about something that would apply both to me and them. And I realized something. I mean, it's it's not even it's not big. It's not even complicated. It's real simple, and Jesus said to do it. And I thought, whiz bang. This is the advice to give, you know. And I thought, attention people, you need to serve people. And that's and that's it. And I thought, here's the deal.

Here's the thing that I that I really stink at is I know for a fact that that that serving people brings me joy. Like, it's it's the thing I actually love to do. And then I I seem to put it off for a while and and then start worrying more about me for a bit. And I'm like, I I I have to be able to handle my own business here. You know, otherwise, things will get out of hand. Or, you know, if if I'm not paying attention to my own my own driving here, you know, it's gonna run off the rails and and I gotta set myself up for this. You know? And then I've done that for a while only to realize that actually any joy that I had was was serving people, say, six months ago, and I had bailed on it. You know what I'm saying? And so I I I I started trying this out and and and to minimal success. Right? It's I can do better. Right? But I I started designating days where I this is what I'm going to do all day. It's gonna be my concentration, it's it's gonna be my focus of the day. Because if I'm just like, I'm gonna do one nice thing for somebody, it'll be something stupid. You know what saying? Like, I got a glass of water for a guy, which that was great, you know. But, like, that's not the servant's heart thing I'm going for. Right? Right. Like, I wanna serve all people. I wanna I wanna I wanna have a servant attitude towards other people. I wanna look at other people in a way that they all look higher than me. You know what I'm saying? That all of them, when I look at them, I I I see people that I would like to serve. Not not not help, not charity, not I feel bad for them because they're lower than me, but, like, I want to serve them because of who they are. They they have an inherent worth that makes me,

as a person, want to want to serve them. Right? And so I tried this I tried this once last week, and I I I made it about an hour or two hours. You know what I'm saying? I I kinda did alright just right out of the gate, and then it it floundered a little bit, and I started I started running for Mike again, you know, somewhere around 10:00. And so I I kinda I wanted to start doing this every week where where I I basically pick a day, and usually, I pick Tuesday because it's right after the radio show when I got done thinking about it. We're like, this is my serve people day. And and and and where I'm praying all day, like, I just don't wanna run out of gas. I don't wanna run out I wanna wanna run out of of intent. I don't wanna run out of passion for the for this work to do this today.

And, you know, for the two hours that I pulled it off, it was awesome. It really was. It was it was awesome. Like, I was I was looking at people that I use I just don't like them. You know what I'm saying? We don't get along well. But as soon as I decide that I don't like somebody, it it it puts them in a in a place where I'm not serving them. I I can't love them. You know what saying? And I just it's a terrible place for them to be, and it's and it's an even worse place for me to be. It's not looking at God's people as I should. It's not looking at people the way that God looks at them. And I'm like, this just sucks. And it equals you know, do this for a couple months. Right? And you're you find yourself hanging out in the middle of a field going, you know, well, I got a bunch of stuff done for me, and I've been fighting for my way, so I don't look I don't wanna look stupid, and I wanna be right. And and and all these little battles you fought over the last couple months, and you're like, where'd it get It got me kinda miserable,

kinda sad and defeated, kinda out of energy. And it's not near as refreshing as doing what God asked me to, which was love him and serve people. Right. And so that's my pope style advice. It's it's it's not hard. I I know what you're thinking. You're like, how am I gonna do this? I gotta make a big to do out of it. I either gotta get a shirt or I gotta write the things down. I gotta make a list. I'm gonna a journal and a new tag. Yeah. Don't do all that stuff. You're doing this wrong. Right? Just just show up and and and and think, like, when you when you look out over a sea of people, just think, I work for these guys today. Right? I I wanna help these guys even if it's in in small ways. Even if it's it's a, hey. I'm going to supply closet. You need a piece of paper. You know, I'll get you the pad. Or, you know, I stopped I got donuts for y'all. Or or, you know, even if it's thinking about that friend you ain't seen in six months, and you're like, I should call him, but it's weird in sophomore. And I haven't talked to him in a while, and and maybe we're we're we're spreading apart a little bit. But just call the man. Text him. Say, hey. What's up? Just I'm just thinking about you. That's all. Don't make don't tell lies. You know, don't be like, I miss you so much. We're best friends. You know I'm saying? Just just tell them the truth.

You know, just be like I mean, if and if you ain't been praying for them, don't be telling them that you've been praying for them. You know, don't tell lies. But just like, hey, man. Looky. You popped into my head, and and I haven't seen you a while. How are things going? You know, when when people pop in your head to to to that you haven't talked to in a while, call them. You know, when when it comes up to, like, hey, man. I should swing by and grab a 20 ounce soda from my buddy Kevin Carson. Do that. Stop by and grab him. And I do what I just did this this morning. In fact, I was driving into work, and I worked pretty close to a friend of mine, I thought I should stop and get Kevin a soda. And I thought, he's probably already got one, or he's probably got soda at the place he works. I won't stop. You know, what would it hurt? I'd have been down a buck 50. I just saw the man, said, hey. How's it going? Hope you have a good day. Handed him an extra soda, and he's doubly blessed. Yeah. Right. What's someone gonna be like? This is ridiculous. You know I have soda here. Get out. Yeah. It's like giving endless supply. It's so stupid, the things that keep me from doing from doing something I wanna do. You know? And so, like, I thought, I just I I don't wanna live that way. You know? And and so if if it means doing something intentional and and and albeit, as far as I'm concerned, a bit stupid, you know, con you know, creating a servant day on Tuesdays. You know? But I it's it's what I have to do. That's I I want my I want my life to be a life that that that serves Jesus and serves people. And, like, I can't actually get that done unless I do that. Right? Like, I mean, Ben Ben's classic is you live your life like you live your minutes, like you live your hours, like you live your days. And so, like, it takes one minute to stop by and grab this soda and say hi to my buddy Kevin. Tell him I'm thinking about him because I was. I thought about buying him that soda. And I wanna know how he's doing. So great. I can stop by and give him this soda. Say, I hope you have a good day. You know, you wanna start do lunch later. Let me know. Whatever. I'm out. I'm going to work. And so that's my pope style advice. Just just just try it out. I promise you. God didn't ask us to do this so it would be a heavy burden of loads. Like, he wants to help you carry this. And, like, I I know it seems like an an exhaustible supply that you have to help people,

but he replenishes that. And you gotta trust him to do it. Sit on that stool in the middle of the room that you believe in. Right. And I I suppose that's the thing. Right? Like, if you look around and think of how much stuff is dragging you down and you're like, I got a lot of heavy burdens. I'm like, well, maybe that's not the Lord's burden there. You know what? Like like, maybe you're carrying around a lot of your stuff, and, the stuff that God has for you, it's not that they're not a burden. It's just that, like, they're they're a lighter load or, like, you have the energy or you have the, the perseverance to actually to to get through them because it's the right work. And I think God provides that for you. I think a lot of the times, even as as as Christians, where we get weighed down, it's like we're we're pursuing the things that aren't the they're just not the right things, and we're carrying them all on our own because it wasn't Jesus' work to begin with. And we're like, we're out of energy, and we're out of time, and we're out of focus. And, like, you know, it's just like, that stuff's difficult to maintain because it's not the right work, and you're trying to do it all on your own. But, like, if you can take on some of the burdens that Jesus is offering, just know that he helps with them. Like, that's kind of the point. I think there there's energy in that. I think there's goodness in that. And you're not gonna be not burdened. A Christian life is kind of an inherent my wife and I were talking about this the other day. It's like,

we're talking about how much, how many of our friends have had, parents have had marital issues. Right? Like, how people aren't married anymore. And so, like, grandparents aren't around to watch kids or they're fighting over stuff or, like, you know, people are dealing with just weird circumstances with their peripheral families. And, and I said, like,

in if if you're not a Christian, right, like, at least have the option to to write somebody off and just say, hey. You know, I don't care about that person anymore. They treated me poorly, they're gone. I said, the Christians just don't get to live that way. Like, we have to keep praying for people, and we have to keep hoping that they meet Jesus and trying to be part of that work and, so so that those things will change. So, like, there are things that just as a as a Christian, your burden for the world is implicitly heavier or or broader than what someone who's probably agnostic gets to do just by the the what our faith gives us. However, it is a light burden because Jesus is there to help carry it. And there's energy in being able to continue to persevere through those things because he's there and because you get the the Holy Spirit kind of involved in those types of things. And so I I think that's that's the deal. Right? It's like you look at it and say, I can't I don't have time or money or whatever to serve another person or to, like, focus on these things. And, like, if it's God's work, I feel like it'll happen. It'll like, the the stuff will show up. The energy will be there,

and that kind of thing. If it's if it's just your stuff, you're trying to manufacture things for different reasons, then, yeah, yeah, I think you're gonna feel that, and it's gonna weigh you down. Yeah. Serve people. Alright. Hey. You're listening to live from the path. Thanks for hanging with us so far tonight, Mike. We just made maybe a couple couple advice action. Okay. Hang on. I had a couple prepared. You ready? Dear live from the path, I'm dating a lamp. My wife is okay with it. My my wife Is it really adultery, though? My wife is throwing me some shade.

Best joke ever. Dear life from the path, I give my longtime friend a gift, her immediate reaction is to tell me, oh, no. Then she immediately offers to give me money for the gift. When I give someone a gift, it is because I like that person, and I'm excited to give them something I think they would like. When she tells me I shouldn't have done it and keeps asking me how much money she owes me, I feel very hurt. Now her daughter, whom I consider like my family, has learned it from her mom and does the same thing when I give her a gift. Lie from the path, why do they react that way? I was I always give from my heart.

Okay. I mean This was a girlfriend he he started with? I don't have any idea. Did I just make that up? Yeah. I have a longtime friend. Yeah. Longtime friend. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Mean, if you just wanted to say you was great, you could've just done that in a sentence or whatever. May maybe she's saying, I don't want to be your girlfriend.

Yeah. Don't don't don't make this a romantic gift. I'm gonna pay for this. I you know, it's it's weird that Wait. Wait. Hold on a minute. Like, is there an implication of romance? No. I thought it was, like, older friends. Yeah. It's two lady friends. Yeah. But you you go around buying gifts for women all the time? That's kinda weird. A woman, man? What do you know the gift giving ways of ladies? I don't I don't give gifts to women who aren't romantically involved to me. I think this is a woman. Like a 50 year old woman to another 50 year old woman. Oh, I was just making a romance. Tightening the reins, Dan.

Hey. That adultery survey really just got Dan said the whole field's open. If somebody cares, it scandals everything. I think it's old imagine gray hairs doing this thing. And they're and the the daughter of one of the gray hairs is the same way. He doesn't ref doesn't take gifts very well. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know, there's a couple of awkward pieces to this. Right? Like, obviously, this keeps happening. And so I mean, have you had the conversation to say, hey. Look. You know, it makes it awkward when you say this. I just wanna give you a gift, and you can show how much you care for me as a friend by just keeping the gift and not bringing up the dollars.

Like, have you talked about it? Here's the thing. You're the passive friend in this relationship. Right? Most friends there's two friends. They're either one, completely equal playing fields, or there's an there's an alpha, and then there's, like, a b level guy. This woman's a b level guy. Right? Because if alpha gives a gift and b level goes, no. I can't accept that. How much do I owe you? Alpha goes, you don't owe me nothing. It's none of your business. Take the gift. That's it. You know what I'm saying? Says, you're just taking it. I'm not gonna explain nothing to you. You're taking the gift. And and this woman's worried about the rebuttal. Know You about someone say, oh, no. No. No. How much do I owe you? You don't owe me anything. That's why it's called a gift. Don't bring it up again. So I I feel like she's just a she's just a meek person. You know what I'm saying? She's like it's pretty easy to rebut someone trying to pay you for stuff. I do it all the time. You know, people are like, here. I I owe you money. I'm like, no. No. You don't. And I can run faster than you. So you just will put that stuff away. Like, there's an easy way to get out of all that stuff, and she just either she's I think she's she's just a meek person in the relationship.

This is colored by, what I was taught as a very young man in in, a church, a pastorate.

In in college, they said if someone gives you something, you just say thank you and go on. Yeah. I mean, don't fight it. Don't make a big deal out of it. Don't keep bringing it up. Just say thank you. They did it because they wanted to. And why would you fight that? Right. Right. Like so either they wanted to, or let's say, you're you're real concerned about things of this nature, and you think they're trying to manipulate you. Either way, a simple thanks and not making a big deal out of it Yeah. Solves both problems. Yeah. But then we're talking about the woman on the other side. What does she do? When the the they're not saying thank you. They're saying, no. No. No. I can't accept this. No. No. No. How much is it?

Well, that's right. This is the woman giving the gift. Yeah. Well, she needs to just, again, give the gift and what whatever. I mean, if you wanted to give it, you gave it. Move on. I'd almost comedy roll it from here on out. Like, every time she says, oh, no. I can't accept this. How much do I owe you? I would run for my car and leave and, like, laugh maniacally. You know what I'm saying? I here's the thing. It sounds outrageous, but someone refusing a gift multiple times over x number of years, it's the it's it's outrageous anyway. Yeah. Yeah. Or take the social cues and say, okay. Stop buying this particular person a gift. Yeah. Or stop doing this. You know, they don't dig on your gifts. Maybe you're buying crap stuff. Tell you something. Yeah. I mean, here's listening. Actually, that's a good thought, though. It's like, you give gifts to people, and, obviously, it's making them uncomfortable in some way or another Yeah. Like, then then why would like, stop doing it. You're you're not helping. Right. This is like, you've you you think you've done a good thing, but you know that you've not. You know you've made them feel awkward, and they don't know how to handle it. So just stop doing it. Yeah. So if you're giving from the heart, give the give with the heart nothing

because that's what they really want. Yeah. And then give hugs. And then if they say, how much was that? Say $8,000. Yeah. So I Don't hug me again. You think it's because the the the the the b level friend is is you know, it doesn't make a whole lot of money? You know, like, I run into this. So, like, if you go do do some work for, a retired person or whatever, you know, and and they'll be like, you know, I owe you something for your time. You know? And you're always like, no. You look, man. No. No. It's fine. I I just like hanging out with you or whatever. You know? And they'd be trying to sleep your money left and right. You know? And they're very insistent upon it, but you're like, look. I you know, you want a fixed income. I'm I'm okay. You know? I appreciate what you're doing, but just keep your money, and they insist upon it. Right? Like, I I I get maybe the premise if it's kinda that thing going on, but still, like, in the end, I always take the money. Right? They wanna give it. You can't stop them. You know what saying? It makes them feel bad if you don't take it. Right. And so you just accept it and say, you know, thanks. Yeah. Read your situation. Figure out something sweet to say. Like, someone that tries to give it to you, say, look. My time is very valuable, and I'm glad to spend it with you. And then if they insist pass something real sweet like that, then you take the money. Yeah. Just take it. Then you take it. Secular says, I suspect your friend learned this behavior the way her daughter has from her mother. What? You might you might ask your friend to Oh, grandma in. Yeah. Grandma uncomfortable here. Yeah. Just taking on all three generations grandma under the bus. Yeah. She's grandma's probably dead. That's a really harsh thing to say. Yeah. It is. You're a dead mother. You might ask your friend to explain why she does this when you give her a gift because her reaction is peculiar. Could it be she feels unworthy?

Be for heaven's sakes. Because you know that receiving gifts makes her uncomfortable, my advice is to quit giving her things. Hey. Hey. Maybe she's a backdoor Betty. Maybe she talks gossip about this other one all the time. So maybe she does feel guilty. Yeah. That would make sense. Yeah. No. I think I think secular's on to something. Her mother's a real cheat, and she's a gossip hound. Yeah. That's the problem. Yeah. You you can usually tell that out of a couple paragraphs someone you would ever met. All of a sudden, it's a lineage of crazy Betty's that won't accept Ellen. That's terrible. Alright. Dear life from the path. I have a girlfriend. We've been dating for almost two months. We both love each other so much and think we are the perfect match. But she is go oh, man. But she's going to high school, and I'm a year younger, which puts me in eighth grade. Holy cats, dude.

We live close to each other, so we see each other on the weekends. She has been accepted to an amazingly good school, but it's in downtown. What should we do? What? Should we keep our relationship or leave it if we won't be able to see each other as often? Sign, t's in love.

Good night, man. You gotta gotta do a little grown up here. You have a mustache. Hold on. He's in eighth grade. Eighth grade, this girl got accepted to a a whiz bang high school, but she's gonna be all the way in the downtown. But she's not moving. No? She she sold they see each other on weekends. So they've been together two months, which is a total of eight weekends,

and they're madly in love. Yeah. Almost two months, Dan. Not quite two. Yeah. Almost two. So they've gone on six to eight dates. They love each other so much. We're perfect. Perfect match. And and they may be. They might be. But, get get educated.

I mean, you're gonna get better go to school. You're gonna get a car pretty soon, friend. You know what I'm saying? Like Yeah. You're in the eighth grade. I mean, I mean, downtown's not exactly the Sahara. You know? Get a part time job, put some gas in a clunker, and go visit your woman. That's what we're gonna do. Yeah. Save it for a moped. I mean, make an effort. I mean,

yeah. It doesn't say she's moving downtown, though. I mean, she she you can't see each other in school anyway. You're in different schools. Even if you're at junior high. She's in high school. We live close to each other. So Yeah. You see each other on the weekends. It doesn't matter where she goes to school. I mean, is this is this standard eighth grade mentality? You know what I'm saying? Like, I I get the puppy love thing, you know, where you're not really thinking straight or whatever, but, like, this is just common sense stuff. I mean, she go even if she goes to school downtown, she still gotta come back to her house, which you live close by.

You know, get a bus pass. Get ride a bike. Yeah. Walk over there. Make an early morning jaunt. I don't know. Skype. Yeah. Yeah. You might be you might have put your your shovel in the grave too fast, Fred. You know I'm saying? Like, I I don't think this is the big ender you're envisioning. Yeah.

Yeah. Stay connected. See how it goes. Yeah. FaceTime. Text message. But here's the deal. But, I mean, I if no one else is saying this to you, I mean, you run the risk of being a real creeper here, buddy. Yeah. So, you know, stay in contact and and and see how things kinda play out. But, Jenny, you're all the way in the downtown.

We'll see each other on the weekend, Scott. I just know I can't. No. I'll mop it over there directly. How do you pull yourself together, man? You know, here's the thing. A woman likes to feel appreciated, but she doesn't wanna feel like she's she's dragging you around. You know what saying? Like, you can't control yourself without her presence. And you've got to put a couple thoughts together and, you know, excel at band or football or whatever you do with yourself apart from this woman and and do that, you know, and then add to her life. Don't just be another burden to her by stalking her in the downtown. It's just weird move, dude. He needs he needs a dad or something. Somebody needs talk to this young man. Yes. Let's see. Secular says, if I told you to break up because in a few months, you and this girl won't be able to see each other as often, would you do it? I don't think so. What I do suggest is that the two of you let this play out. Enjoy each other for now. And in the fall, if your feelings or hers change, discuss it then. Is that what we said? I mean, we I was a little harsher on him. Sekiro did it a little tactfully. Oh, yeah. More tact more tactfully. I don't know.

I don't is is she right, though? You can't convince a man like this? True. He's in eighth grade. Doesn't matter what she says. I mean, here's the thing. It it just the fact that he sees this as a deal breaker right here, just the fact that he can't be reasoned with. No. That's true. You know what I'm saying? She's still going to another school. We still live I mean, he says close to each other. I wanna let's say this is within a mile. You know? I mean, that's a that's a good twenty minute walk if you just you're slow rolling it. You can get there in twenty minutes. Yeah. I mean, you could skateboard. You could get one of them hover hovercrafts. I mean, let's say you marry this woman and go on to live a a happily married life. You're gonna have to go to work too. You know what saying? You're gonna have to leave her presence for eight to ten hours and then come home and see how she doing. I think you can you can be away from her when she's at this amazing downtown school. You know? I mean, you just gotta calm this down a little bit. Yeah. Actually, I suppose that is, like, what is the reaction for like, his reaction is that, hey. What can I do to help,

stay connected and make this thing work? It's like, hey. Do we cut it off? Are we are we ruined forever? Yeah. Your first instinct is to break up with this woman? Yeah. Well, how about some industriousness, fellas? This is hey. Actually, that's the problem. We got a strain of dudes who again, we can't put two thoughts together and say, hey. This is the thing. I would like this outcome. What can I do to make this outcome continue? Right. As opposed to, oh, no. Worry and woe. It's not going my way. Occur here. What should I do? Should I call the whole thing off dramatically? Yeah. Come on. Alright. You're listening to live from the path. I hey. If you're a if you're a poor eighth grade boy who Yeah. I mean You're not the third way man. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. That's right. You're not the third way man. We're here to help. Shoot us an email [email protected]. We're here to I mean, we can try to say straight, buddy. I there's nothing I can do.

Maybe if you want some more tact, you go ahead and write the newspaper. Yeah. Your feelings aside, you're being a donor here. You know I'm saying? Like, that's the problem. People go, oh, Jimmy is so in love. He's just hard. No. He's being a doofus. He's gotta be able to think clearer than this on the important things of his life, and this is important. And he's gotta be able to put two thoughts together and say, look. You know, I wanna make this work. I'm gonna get a bus pass. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Right. Right. Like, if, like, if your emotions are good bellwether for how you act in any given situation, then it's okay to you to kick at every break. None of those things are true. You can't just live your life like this. Alright. You've listening to Live The Path. Thanks for hanging out with us. We I don't know what's going on next week. I'll let you know when we get there. In the meantime, be faithful in the means. God will handle the ends. You've been listening to Live From The Path.