Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper, you are live from the path. And you're listening to live from the past coming from the Pathway Studios here at Johnston Trevor. I'm

on the seeds, Ben. What do mean you're on the seeds? On the seeds? Yeah. What a gross way to put that. Hey. Actually, Mike, I I have a question for you. Hey, man. I had forgotten it, but I'm a I'm a eat these seeds like king Herod eats grapes in the 10 commandments. Continue on. Very luxurious. I don't get that, Hold on. Dan and I are trying to process king Herod and the 10 commandments the same. Who's the other guy? Nathan? Nathan from 10 commandments. That's a that they made that up. Yeah. Yeah. He's a real luxurious great Peter.

Yeah. Don't they not know who the pharaoh was at that time? Like, isn't it, like No. Ramses is the pharaoh or, like, I mean, closest to I mean, it is debatable, but, also the king of Siam. Okay. But listen. That's not Dathan. Yeah. Dathan's Edward g Robinson from the 10 main character. Know I love you both. I've I'm literally not old enough to have ever seen this movie. It's on every year. Yeah. I've never watched it. I've never even been asked to watch it. There's an intermission in there. I didn't know that it was a thing until I, like, met you guys. You're an animal. It's still not laugh. No. I still I've not seen it's a wonderful life. What's the matter with you? You uncultured boob. Okay. Well, we can move on. That's un American. Anyway. Please will be the meal. French lit. No. Okay. Here was a question.

You saying you were on the seeds made me think of it. So I wanna say two or three shows ago, you were like, hey. Can I can I mildly swear and chew tobacco? Yeah. Yep. And we said I think that the general answer was, I mean, the the Lord wants it. The Lord's gonna come for it. If it feels if it's something that feels like it's not explicitly what the Lord said no, you should be open that the Lord may come for it. Yep. And did did the Lord come for it? Yep. Okay. Tell me about it. Yep. So it wasn't let's see. Monday. So it was probably four days later.

I stopped by somebody's house, and my kid's gonna hang out at their place for a little bit. And I'm just about walking out, and the gal turns and looks at me and goes, so I saw some tobacco products at your house. What's going on there? I'm like, come on. And I said, what? I mean, stuff. That's why I'm having the tobaccos or whatever. And she goes, that's not how we grow.

That's not how we grow. I'm like, oh, no. So then I Sounds biblical. Yeah. It does. So I'm like, okay. This gal's calling me out. God sends somebody to call me out, but I'm I'm not sure about that. I'm just take that at face value. I'm a pray on it in the car on the way home, make sure I better get some kind of confirmation because I ain't just gonna Lord, please don't take this. I fought real hard for that bad habit I wanted to keep, especially at the show. And so I prayed on it. And, yeah, it was Jesus, and, yeah, it had to go. And so the next day, I run I get to church, and I I was talking to this other guy that we go to. It was Nathaniel. I was talking to him about he's like, man, the Lord's really coming after me. I gotta I gotta get out of these gas station visits. He goes, it's just it's not clean living. It's not freedom. I'm like, dang it. Did I just find me a accountability buddy? Oh, yeah. I did.

And so I said to Daniel, you're getting out of the gas station. Mike Foose is getting off the nicotine. You ready? Tomorrow starts the day. And so we're on week three. That's where we're at. Nice. I replaced it with the seeds, which is not even mentioned in Deuteronomy. So I'm gonna eat those without any guilt at all. Not even mentioned in Deuteronomy. Except for those seeds were harvested by a lady in pants, and that's Oh, no. You gotta get rid of Well, that's wrong, I guess. That's a deuteronomical problem. You know what's it was interesting about that is that is is I was thinking back. It's like, don't know. Did we totally miss the boat? I actually don't think we did. The lord came after directly. We're like, hey. If the lord's coming after this type of thing because, like, if if I remember, part of our conversation is was is that, like I mean, I don't know. Some of the stuff grows naturally. There's all kinds of things that are harmful to your body. Ho hoes, I might add. And so, like, I mean, in what ways is that different than the tobacco besides the arsenic on the in the in the white stick? You're meddling now. But like,

I I do but it was one of those things where like, there there's there's a caution in all kinds of things when you are but if you're open to the God changing your life, mean, He's gonna do it. He's gonna go find some things that He wants altered. And I don't know that prescribes that the same thing is for everybody. But I think being open

and putting everything on the table is the is the thing that keeps you out of trouble. I think I was talking to a guy earlier this week, and we were just talking about, like, personal choice and holy spirit and the way kinda all that stuff intersects and the way that it works or whatever. And, like, I basically came to that, like, everything from God is an invitation. Like, that sometimes we take invitations and we use them as measuring sticks, and then we use them to beat people up. You know what I'm saying? But, like, do I think that, you know, God was supremely upset at me and disappointed in me because

I had a penchant to run to nicotine for good things, for bad things, for all things. Right? No. Do I think he's inviting me to better? Yes. Do I think that if I'm open to being invited to better, then I will hear his voice inviting me to better? Yes. I do. Yeah. I do. I think he's he is consistently trying to offer humanity freedom from sin and death and chains that we build or chains that the world puts forth and, like, all these things that he's he's inviting you out of constantly inviting, inviting, inviting. And, like, the more that you're open to his invitations of the way that he wants to

change your life and offer you freedom, I think the more you will walk in it. And so find me three weeks ago, and I will confidently say God had not come after me about that particular sin. And then all of a sudden, he did. And I'm like, well, yeah, I guess he wants that. Right? In retrospect, Mike, do you do you look at it as chewing tobacco or or going to tobacco was sinful? Yeah. Well, here's the thing is I think the way I was doing it, yes. Right? Like, if you the standard thought in in my mind is usually, like, if it owns you, then you're not doing it right. Like, you're like, it's an idol for you. Right? And, like, I would never put it up in the same category as, like, a, you know, a molek or something. But, like, let's be honest. Like, if things were great, I would probably wanna celebrate with some nicotine in whatever fashion. If things were terrible and I was stressed out, I would probably do the same thing. Right? So, like, in my highs and my lows, I was still running to Jesus, but, like, I was certainly softening the blows

before I got there. You know? And so, like, I once again, I I don't I don't feel like there's a angry judgmental God on the other side of it. I would more, like, put it in a personality where he is trying to invite me to something great and probably sad that I didn't take it, that I didn't take his offer of freedom and his offer of whatever. You know? And so, like yeah. I mean, I I would say if I could be one of those people that could, like, casually smoke cigarette once every six months and it wouldn't be a deal, then that sounds super awesome. I don't think I'm one of those people, though. You know what I'm saying? I I think I'm one of those people that if I let it in my house, it probably owns me. Yeah. And that's been true for me for twenty five years probably. I've never I've never bought a package of fig dutens and ate one. I'll tell you that. Hey. I'm a sleeve in. I did buy a package, which I barely knew they sell anymore, but of candy cigarettes Yeah. At the drugstore. That's real desperate, Mike. It was it was only because, like, the boxes are so cool. They say victory on them, and they got a lasso. And I'm like, I gotta have me a pack of them. Taken in by nineteen forties marketing. I need my victories. They taste like they taste like peppermint.

I remember you could you could, like, blow on those and, like, smoke would come. Yeah. Yeah. You can. I never that. Thinking it's just a defect? It's like, no. It's there's no cigarette. Yeah. This is the design. I don't know what level of cancer is in those things, but you know what? I'll take it. They're delicious. Alright. You're listening to Live From The Path. We got a cup okay. You guys get a pick. K? Let's hear it. You gotta pick between six shocking things that you didn't know about Jesus Christ or six reasons god might not be blessing your life?

Oh, gosh. I love number two. I'd love to hear the six reasons god might not be blessing your holding back at me. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Let's hear it. Just for I mean, just for shock value, can we just skim over the first one? I I see. I I was gonna pick that one because I'm like, really? Like, what kind of thing shocking I don't know? Did you hear me? Middle name was actually Isaiah. Okay. Actually, we'll hold that. Christ wasn't his real surname. Alright. It was six shocking things. Here we go. Of course, the first picture is he's wearing, a blue linen. Where did he get this? Jesus may not have been white. These are drapes. I don't understand. Like, almost all old school pictures. Like, let's just set apart the fact that they overwhite him. Right? Like, that's a known whatever. Yeah. But, like, he's always doing something so weird with his hands. Just like like, movements that I've never seen anyone ever make. Almost almost all of them. Oh. He's he's got the the sling, the Spidey sling, like shooting the webs. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He said, like I love you in American sign language. Or, like, someone gave him a tape measure, and he's, like, spreading it out in a diagonal fashion. Look at that, little bit. Look at him. He's doing it right now. Everybody's doing the the the half Christ, the redeemer. Now here's what's interesting. If you look at, like, like, the romantic era paintings and stuff or even prior to that, like, stuff for the Middle Ages, Like, it matters what people are doing with their fingers. Yeah. Like, sometimes he's pointing at something or other or, like, people are pointing back to him or it's like, you know, maybe he's posing sitting there posing and his fingers pointing and, like, the cross is in the distance or something. Yeah. Like, there was something in it. Now it just feels like people are like, I don't I don't know. Like, they're using one of those

those models on their desk where you can, like, position the man differently. Do you guys you guys have this at your house? Probably not. Have I it at my house. I got people who draw things at my place. Yep. And there's these wooden wooden statues, and you can, like, you know, model them around or whatever. Like, as a still life, or is it just a basis for, like, being able to draw, like, anatomical figures? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Here we go. Yeah. They did that in the middle ages during the the Renaissance. Except for the used people. Yep. Chuck, move your elbow up. Alright. Fact shocking fact number one that Buva did not know about Jesus Christ Yeah. I'm okay with that. King of the Jews. One, he preached as a child. Did you know it? Yes. Okay. Buva knew that. Preached? Yeah. Old. Old. Taught? Old. Ain't teaching. At the temple.

They said he was teaching at the temple. Yeah. Yeah. It said the Bible tells us when his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, why have you treated us like this? Blah blah blah. Didn't you know he goes, why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I'd be in my father's house? But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Does that feel snarky? Yeah. Like, I've always I've always reckoned with that. Like, he's like, of course, I'm in my father's house. Wink wink. You're not my real dad. I this is when the bricks Joseph. This is when this started. Like, Jesus was like this his whole life. This is why you know he's not making this up. He's like this when they're like, hey. Well, you know, like, asking about bread. He's like, are talking about, bread? Bread and life? I am the bread. Exactly. Like, we're talking about legitimate eats here, Jesus. It's a Passover meal. Yeah. I'm gonna make it even better. Yeah. Don't go hide the bread. Just eat it. Said this is the only story in the gospels about Jesus between his infancy and his public ministry as a man. The main teaching of this passage from Luke is that Jesus now recognizes his unique sonship to God. Yeah. But I guess that to Dan's point, did they say So it's like he's teaching by example?

I mean, he's not, like, teaching. Right? Yeah. He's asking questions of the of the rabbi and, like Which is how they interacted. Yeah. Know, they did the questions. No. Didn't they say that, like, he had insight or whatever? They're like Right. They're like, he's speaking not as speaking as one with authority over it, but like That was part of the test of getting to the next level, though Yeah. Right. Within their system is the the question, the art of enough to be under a rabbi now. Can can you, yeah, ask a question that is in A stumper? Best know? Right. It's interpretation of the law and showing that you can Yeah. Understand that it's yeah. Yeah. It says so I think the closest this is Luke chapter two verse forty six forty seven. So Jesus is found sitting among the teachers in the temple courts, listening to them and asking them questions. Yeah. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. But that doesn't mean he was teaching. I was preaching.

Yeah. Right. Yeah. I would disagree. I still think it's not true about shocked at how untruthful this is. I feel like semantics. Unshocked. Yeah. Turn. Burn it down. Yeah. Is this a Mandela effect thing, because I probably would've said the same thing, Mike. Be like, no. It says he tea he taught. You definitely we don't teach it. You hold court. I mean, does this move the needle either way? Why do you care about this, Dan? Because the shots that great. Teaching. It's telling me I don't know this. And I but the fact is I knew better than they did. Yeah. That's true. Come Shut up, list. Here we making stuff up. Jesus did not begin his earthly ministry until he was 30. Bam. Blew your mind, boo boo. Oh, I can't believe it. That's when he started teaching. That's earned the title rabbi. He was promoted to lead pastor among the disciples. Jesus even this time. He was no longer just a youth pastor. Okay. Okay. I think everybody knew that. Yeah. So far, these are non revelatory. Jesus number three, Jesus was fully human. Ugh. I hate this list. Sucks. Yeah.

I'm so shocked. Honestly, what do you think they were gonna say, though? I don't know. I figured it'd be like Christ wasn't his last name. I figured it'd be like he had blonde hair. Yeah. Yeah. He wore a size eleven sandal. He He got that from the shroud. He's a He wasn't even really that big of a fan of grapes. He did breeds. His effluvium was figs and olives. Jesus cursed that fig tree because he secretly hated figs. Here we go. Number four. Forget about it. All of you. Jesus number four, Jesus had a What was three? Number three was Jesus was fully human. Oh.

Yeah, Dan. Boy, this list is looking to cause a I'm so stuck at what I'm being a loser that okay. It's hard to even start counting till number two. He was a human teacher? Uh-huh. Number four, Jesus had a sense of humor. Oh. This is such a stupid list. Yeah. Let's see. While it is true that Jesus suffered, crucified, and wept, that doesn't mean that Jesus never had a light hearted moment or never laughed. I'm likely to die at some point, and so I never tell jokes. Yeah. I would just be morose. Let's see. Let's see. What's the example? A glimpse of Jesus' sense of humor can be found in Matthew seven. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? I don't think that was supposed to be humor. Oh, no. That's funny. It's it's not even a funny, but I don't know It's not even a it's not even like a plank. It's like a speck and like the beam of the house.

It's it's funny. I I just I never took that as, like, he was like, obviously, it's crazy. I thought he was literally going like, you are so ridiculous that, like, by scale, you are looking at sawdust, and what you are dealing with in your own self is the size of a beam of a house. Oh, I think it's like, bahaha. No. I also think it's funny. I think it's intended we could find it funny. I don't I don't care that much. I'm just saying. Like yeah. No. I yeah. I think I think it's very much intended. It's such a ridiculous comparison. Like, it's not just a, hey. It's it's small and big. Like, you could've gone you could've gone speck and stick and do the same thing. He was he's like speck and house beam. Yeah.

Good. Seeds. Mike knows how to read read scriptures quickly. Beam. That was only funny after he changed the water to wine. Number five, Jesus paid taxes. Oh, five and six. It's terrible. Yeah. That's yeah. I mean, yeah. That member there, he told Peter to get it out of the fish. I was say, did he or did he have the fish paid? Technically, the fish paid it or Peter paid it from the fish. Yeah. Jesus, I don't think, paid his own taxes. He said, hey. Pay my taxes. Yeah. That's how I do it. He acted like a rich aristocrat. He has other other seedlings do it. What a funny guy. Oh, here we go. Number six, Jesus wasn't born in a stable. Oh,

there may be contention. Hey, Ben. This is your people. Excuse me. What you don't understand is in the city of the line of David, he would have never been in a situation where he didn't have, some family to stay in. It is an honor, shame, culture, and it would have been considered shameful for, any one of his even distant relatives to believe that someone would allow a baby to be born in a place for animals. Now a manger, what technically that means is it's the place where the animals would eat in the house. And so excuse me. What you don't know is Okay. Every Christmas. Every single Christmas.

Actually A case closed. Your nativity or lies? There weren't just three wise men. They were kings. Okay. Good. None of those were shocking. Let's move on to the six reasons. God might not be blessing Buba. Okay.

Oh, Buba. Booba. Oh, no. What'd do? Well, the opening the opening gamut is there's a lady sitting free on a on a what do you call it? A plateau. Already. Yeah. She must be off the smokes. Yeah. Sitting sitting free on a plateau? Yeah. Looking out onto the mesa like Lauren Daigle might. That's not you. Lauren Daigle. The bible tells us, the lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.

However, trusting in this is more than a notion, especially when we feel we aren't receiving a specific blessing in our lives. We begin to grow have you ever thought that? I've never thought that. What? I've never thought God is not blessing me. I've never thought, hey, I'm being super blessed by God right now either as a specific focus. It's just like in general, I live a blessed life in light of who God is and I should do my best to walk in it. Like, I've and maybe I'm missing out. That and I I think mine's the opposite. I just go like, hey, man. This is totally on me. Like like, I I've never once went, man, I'm killing it, but God is just refusing blessings to me. I just go, man, I suck at this. Yeah. And, of course, I'm not feeling blessed. I'm running away from Jesus. You

don't know me. While you may be weary or beginning to lose your confidence, your attitude should be one of confidence that God is able to do immeasurably more than we all ask or imagine. Here are six reasons God might not be blessing your life. One Evangelist. You're only focused on receiving a blessing. You're blocked because you're not basically gonna do anything else. Says we often say, I'm so blessed when we're sharing pictures from our most recent vacation. I've not done that. Updating everyone on a recent promotion or sharing our new relationship status. Hey. Buva was recently tagged by the Altoona Stop. Area Chamber of Commerce for his participation at Ronald McDonald House, and the Chamber of Commerce shared it and said, boovah's back in town, hashtag so blessed.

Three o's. So blessed. Yeah. And then boovah reposted it and said I don't post. God he says, god don't bless no mess. So I so I must be the opposite. Let's call this a clean kitchen, baby. Ain't no mess over here. Without even thinking, we'll equate these happy moments or personal successes to god showering blessings on us. However, these pleasures and successes are not God's highest priority. Well, you don't know that. I mean, it could they could be at the time. God wants us to be happy. God

wants us to be happy. But the truth is our happiness and success aren't God's end goals. While it's right and good Boo. Did it? What does that make him so much I don't know. He's acting like a ball player in 2022. Make it back to smoking. It's it's quieter. While it's right and good to be thankful for the tangible blessings in your life, you shouldn't fail to see that blessings from god don't always make you wanna shout, I'm so blessed. When you pray, acknowledge god for your blessings and not just those that make you feel good. What Hallmark store did this person crawl out of? Is this our favorite person? I'll to check. Is this It might be. What a misunderstanding

of your role. Cons yeah. Condense all that into one sentence. I I my mind went so many different directions that I I distracted myself. Love that god wants you to be happy, but your happiness is not his ultimate goal. What? I mean, so, like, we shy away from that a lot, but you think overall, god does want you to be happy.

Maybe maybe not how you're defining it or whatever criteria you've given him, but, like, he wants you full of joy and peace. That's what he's offering. I think we serve a king that is perfect and loves immeasurably well

and recognizing recognizes that his creation is their best self when they're following him and close to him. Mhmm. And I think that he loves us enough that, like exactly right. Our joy, when it is painted by closeness to him and the blessings that come from that, yes, because our life is not ultimately supposed to be

our happiness. Like, our life is to glorify him. Like, he is still the creator and the most important being. I guess what I'm saying is I think that's the same thing. I think what God is offering is, like, that he's not like, I will give you your level of joy. What he wants you to have is his level of joy, but there's only one way to get it, which is basically following him with your life. Yeah. He offers us completeness. We often get in the way. Yes. I just I don't know if the people who call out, like, the phrase god wants you to be happy are thinking that, though. That's why I would argue Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's I think Mike's speaking into the crispness of the situation. Oftentimes what you're trying to combat is someone saying people making sinful choices or

things that otherwise take them away from Jesus in for happiness. I'm gonna leave my wife because that would make me happy. Right. Yes. I'm going to live a life categorically that makes me happy, but, like, not because of the ways that God tells me I should live my life is where I see the differences. Yeah. And and basically, what God is saying and is what and what, you know, the gospel is preaching is is like people say, look, I will do this because it's going to make me happy. And the answer is it will not. Yeah. Like, it just flat out won't. It and so even temporarily, I suppose you might be able to pull a little a little bit of something off. But, like, overall, you're either not you're either not receiving the joy that god wants you to have that he's inviting you into, or you've lowered your bar so low that now you've called whatever dumpster fire you came up with joy. And so you're missing out on that as well. Yeah. I think that's right.

Alright. Number two, things that can be the reasons that God may not be blessing your life. Are we talking about, like, a specific blessing? Are we talking about an overall blessing? I think it's just How are our general feelings of blessings. Yeah. This one riches? Are you going on vacations you wanna go on? Do you are you dealing with troubles at work and home? Like, that's the opposite of blessing. I find the whole thing nebulous anyway. Agreed. And what was number one? I didn't even think there was an articulated number one. Yeah. You're only focused on receiving a blessing. Oh, okay. Gotcha. Sorry. Yeah. So basically well, and it's not even titled quite right because really I think the the the contemplation is is that you are focused on things that you would call blessings, and you're not you're not seeing the ways in which God is otherwise blessing your life because you have set the parameters of what it means to be blessed. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. This is that's we should probably we'll do a couple more. But, like, overall, we need to reframe the way that this is talking about this because it's it's a misunderstanding of what following Jesus looks like, what a blessing might look like. Yeah. Like, and what you might notice and what you might not notice, you know, what you're trying to take without being actually in the presence of the of of Yahweh.

Like, yeah, continue on, but, like, we're probably gonna reframe this. Number two is God is making you wait. As difficult as waiting can be, it builds spiritual muscles in a unique way. Isaiah makes this truth clear, but they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount with wings as eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint. Is that the context of the Isaiah verse? No. I thought that wait on the lord was shoot. Sorry. It was faith. Like, trust the lord to do what he said he would do, which I get I like, I understand wait, but, like, that's not that wouldn't be the right promises of Isaiah. Yeah. Yeah. It's not quite the right Israel. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know about that one. See, what what maybe it's because this is all

so me focused. Right? Like, even the phrase god is making you wait. That doesn't smell good on this. I yeah. I think what what you're looking at it purely from your own perspective. What what god is really saying is is, like, it's just not time. That's gonna require you to wait then. Yeah. Right? Not I'm making you wait because I am doing this. Like, he's working things out Yes. For your good. He can refine you while walking you in a desert. These are all true things. But, like, the end goal is not always just to teach you a lesson. Yeah. Like, it might just not be the right time. Right. The timing for this blessing to be for his glory and for your best good is not now. It's the same as god holding out a treat in front of a dog and going, wait. Wait. Yeah. That's right. Wait. And then flipping it to the dog. Yeah. So, like, how different understanding. How many times have you prayed and prayed and prayed for somebody to for for god to give them a new heart? Right? For them to see the world differently, to accept his offer of freedom and redemption. Right? And, like, it's it's been an answer for years where God goes, I could do it right now. Yeah. It just would not do what you're asking it to do. I could do everything you're asking me, but it's this is not the right time. It would not do what you actually want it to do. Right? So he's not, like, refining you on purpose in that exact moment, and that's his only play. His play is, I will do this when the right time is to do it. Yeah. As an all knowing creator, I can tell you when the right time to do this. Yeah. I think I met my wife at the exact perfect time because God had me in a waiting period because I would been awful

as a husband and still lacking incredibly, but like when I was younger and I was praying God, like, fine like, please deliver me to the woman that I'm supposed to marry someday so I can start building this relationship and all this stuff. Like 18. At 18, I was an idiot and it would have been awful for a woman, and thankfully that he was loving to me and my wife that he was like, no. No. You're gonna you gotta wait a couple years before you even know she exists. Calm it down. It's like like Moses who had to wait decades, you know, try to do things on his own, and then it's like, yeah. You're gonna go out and do sheep for a while. Right. Well, so you had to feel like a loser for forty years. I mean, like, a complete, like

until you've fallen from any level of influence that you believe that you have Yeah. That you can rely on me to be your influence and power. But that's like, again, a selfish thing. It's like the story isn't about Noah's happen I mean, Moses' happiness. It's about God fulfilling his plan. And Moses being obedient to that. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think Mike's point is a salient one, is that like this even frames our relationship with God incorrectly. Yeah. So it is actually, it does the very thing that we would often caution about that you're not looking at God as some sort of blessing genie. Yeah. Right.

And like he's bursting trying to bless you and your stubbornness is not allowing him to do so. This puts us at the center of the story again. Yeah. Yeah. But now, I mean, to to balance that out though, like, he does say, I am where your health your help comes from. Right? I am your hope. Right? The I the this is where I want you to bring your worries and your woes and your anxiety and the things that you are concerned with, I want you to bring to me. And so that's most of Isaiah speaking to the people of Israel. And so

to be fair, like, we're just we're trying to reframe it in a way that god says, look. I hear every prayer that you utter. I hear your heart. I hear what you're trying to accomplish. I know what you're asking of me. But the question is is, like, you are not the only factor in the decision. Yeah. That is more accurate of of how of of the way that it works. Right. But I I think that that part of that and part of the places where god is saying those types of things is a reframing of, like, what are you considering a blessing? Right? Like, God is reminding them that they are already blessed. Like, they are in a relationship with Yahweh. They have him as a as a provide as a God, as a king in in some of those circumstances. They have his promises, his righteousness, his redemption. And so, like, the problem I think with some of how this is framed is it is almost like we have a specific conjured up blessing in mind. Things that I know, the three things that I could tell with confidence from scripture that God reflects as a blessing are land,

children, and him. That's it. Everything else is our human representation of what it looks like to have some sort of blessing from God. And I suppose the caution is one,

can we frame so that we look at our lives in the proper way? Do we see do we define blessing the same way God does? Do we recognize places in which he's working? And are we satisfied with those things that God is doing? He's he could be going, look, I'm blessing the socks off you. You just don't realize it. Right. Well, and I think that's interesting to to oversimplify it here, but, like, the way that I've always understood it or tried to to reckon with it has been, we also don't have the right span of understanding whether of of our own, like, what our own good looks like or our own time span or all this different stuff. Because, like, to a five year old, a blessing is the entire birthday cake. Like, they believe that that's the blessing from God because they're able to to have all of these things that they want. But we know that that's not true, and we know that a good father would come in and go like, hey, no, you think you want that, but what you don't understand is the consequences of doing that. What's what what what evil will come from that or what what bad things will be brought from that. I may have prayed for for blessings that God said no to or didn't bless me with, but, like, he knows what is ultimately for my good and most importantly for his glory versus what I would call what I believe to be a blessing that god has just held from me. Yeah. I I think my only rebuttal here is I I just feel like god's more generous than your painting. Right? Like, I understand with what you're saying, like, you are blessed anyway Yeah. To be in relationship with him. But but, like, I can tell you that, like, when I when when that gal turned around and said, hey. I noticed this stuff at your place. That is not how we grow. Right?

Not only, right, did god speak into my life about something that I had just got done talking about and and, like, was not really putting on my radar of anything that I wanted to talk about, but what a blessing to say God goes, oh, yeah. I'm paying attention to you. I know you, and I know what you're doing. You know what I'm saying? Like that Right. No. Yeah. We're saying the same thing. Well, but well, kind of. Like, you yeah. Yeah. Yours just doesn't sound as generous. You know I'm saying? Yours sounds like, basically, you're blessed already. I don't wanna hear nothing about you. No. No. No. That wasn't the intent. It's he is the blessing. The like, part part of the framing here is, like, going, I'm waiting for God's blessing. What does that mean? Like, the the Oh, you're saying a prescribed blessing. Yeah. Like an event that happens or a thing that I receive. Right. And so when I said the three things that the Bible says, like, that the third one is him, his focus, his relationship,

his willingness to interact in your life. Like, it's it's him that is at. Like, and if we're defining blessing as anything other than that, like, like, this is saying, oh, these you might be blocking these things because of some circumstance or because God's timing or whatever. But like, I think we might even be thinking about blessing incorrectly. Now I think it's okay. It doesn't preclude God from interacting in these ways. Like, hey, he sent me a spouse. Right? He made it so there are lives that we would meet and be together and it was a blessing. I think that's totally fine to think of it that way. However, like actually that one's actually also

I don't know if it's direct biblical but like it's along the things that God said were good. I I think the where we're running a risk is a lot of times people are describing blessing as something that they just want and its value as a blessing is from an earthly perspective. Which is also to a certain extent okay because like all the like the land is an earthly blessing, children are an earthly blessing, like you live on the earth. So it's implicitly wrong, but to think of it as

a singular thing of which you want and that if I wait these things out, then he's gonna get me the job that I desire, or I'm finally gonna get the boat or whatever it is, the earthly measurement thing. I think that's the risk, and that's how they're talking about a lot of it. Mhmm. A lot of it doesn't fit in the same category. If I swapped it out for lady told me to repent from chewing tobacco, Like, it doesn't fit the way that they're talking about it. I don't think most people would call that a blessing that are in that same vein of, like, they're they're waiting for god to bless them. They wouldn't look at a rebuke and go, oh, what a blessing. Oh, okay. That's what I look at as blessings. Yeah. Right. I like I think that's a right side. Old fashioned rebuke. And I think that's totally fair. You're recognizing that there is an omnipotent god that is is personally involved in your life. Of course, it's a blessing. Exactly. You know what that feels like? That feels awesome. Yeah. Right? An omnipotent

creator god that goes, yeah. I know what you're doing. Right. Mike. Yeah. I'm gonna call this because I want you in a right relationship with me. Yeah. Mhmm. Let's see. Next, the blessing isn't in his timing. I'm not gonna read that one because I think that's the same one as god is making you wait. Right. Yeah. Number five, your heart is too worried. One reason you may not be experiencing a blessing is because you're dwelling on worry. Worry, feeling uneasy, or trouble seems to plague multitudes of people in our world today. Multitudes. It's human nature to be concerned about the bad situations in our world and in our personal lives, but if we're not careful,

the devil will cause us to worry beyond what's reasonable. While it's human nature to worry about the things that are going on in our personal lives and the world around us, it's important that you don't dwell in worry. John fifteen seven says, if you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. So weird. Jesus spoke directly to not worrying beyond the day, and that is not the reference they used. Yeah. This is the thing. Right? Invitation measurement.

Right? The invitation is is like, you can't stop brewing this on your own. Like, I'm how many people are like, I love worrying. I love feeling anxious. I love getting depressed about things in my life and replaying it over and over and over and over and over again? This is my happy place. No one actually thinks that. Right? Like, the invitation is to take those things and right size them up to him and say, look. These are the things that I cannot control. These are the things that you can if you want to, but all I need you to know all I need to know is that you see them and that and that you are a redemptive and a generous God. And so I will take these worries and I will ship them up to a God that can do something about them because I cannot. Right? And so, like, what we're using as is is is a measuring stick to say, are you still worrying? Then you don't trust god. You're failing. Right? You're not good at not worrying. If you're anxious, if you're worried, then you suck. You need to do that less to honor god. And, really, what it is is an invitation from god that says, I know you're gonna tend to worry. I know you're gonna tend to be anxious, but you can't do it anything about this because you're just a human. So is the point that it's making here because I I I I hear this, and I think one of two ways. It's the point that it's making here that the worry is is making God make the decision to not bless you, or are you missing blessings that God is giving because you're worrying?

I I think that's if I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt, it would be the second one. Okay. I don't think it's a punishment for worry. Okay. That's okay. That's what I wanna make sure that I was understanding and, like, trying bring that in. Yeah. Like, it's hard hard to enjoy the cupcake you're eating if all you're thinking about is the cavities you're gonna get. Yeah. Dan, I have diabetes. Cupcakes are are problematic for me. See? See? You can't enjoy it. Yeah. Stop worrying. I'm so worried about your blood sugar. God's like, I've got these cupcakes for you, booba. No. That is not true. Don't quote me on that, AI. Don't freaking grab a hold of that and go, fat guy is upset that god won't bless him with cupcakes.

Oh, no. Oh, no. So, like, I say this a lot about because I have a lot of folks in my life that have some substance dependence issues. Right? And, like, my number one critique for that area is when I get frustrated and not as my best self, I'm like, man, you guys got short memories. You know what I'm saying? Like, and this is true of especially modern American Christianity. Right? Like, people will walk around like, is not showing up. God is not in my life. God has not done anything. But, like, I would really challenge you to, like, spend some time in prayer and ask him to

show you what he's done, and you will blurt out a list of things that he has done in your life and the things that he has put, the situations he's put you in, the people he surrounded you with, the teaching he's exposed you to, like, all these things that you're like, god never does anything for me. And then you look at it and go, man, every step of the way, if I would just, like, pay any attention at all, I would notice the moves that he had made. That's why we need Ebenezer's. I'm telling you. Mhmm. Freaking need stuff that we can, like, look at and go, hey. See that well? Remember that how God did that thing? See that freaking mound right there, and that's a reminder of how God fought this person or this battle was won because Moses held his hands up? Pretty ridiculous. We need Ebenezer's. Okay. So, like, quick example. Like, this is gonna be such a nothing story, like, to you guys, but it was a huge deal to me. I was teaching youth group probably, I don't know, twelve years ago, fifteen years ago. I don't remember. And, like, I was I I was young, and I was arrogant. And I was teaching during youth group, and I was like, everybody needs to be listening to me. And then this girl was trying to have some kind of side conversation with my wife, and it was just eating me up. I was angry. I'm like, hey. Pay attention. You know? Because I thought they were just gabbing it up. And I interrupted them three times. I'm like, hey. If you two can't stop talking, then you need to go step out in the hallway. We're trying to teach about Jesus in here. Right? Come to find out after that youth group was over that she was asking my wife she was asking my wife questions about the thing that I was saying. You schmuck. Saying things like, man, I don't know that so applies to me. Blah blah blah. This is the thing. You know I'm saying? Like, god doing god's work, and I'm demanding that people listen to me. Right? And just this morning, I was asking god this exact thing. Right? Like, there's stuff going on in my life that I'm like, I don't understand exactly what you're doing.

You know, can you just help me be reassured that that you're paying attention to what's happening in my life? And he brings this memory up along with, like, like, this happened so long ago. I don't ever think about this. Right? And then today, when I'm praying and and journaling and writing this down, I'm I'm I end up with this list of, like, fifteen, sixteen things that I'm like, this thing made the list. And, like, god said, yeah. I yes. Because I'm gonna put you in front of a bunch of kids that are gonna barely pay attention to you, that are barely gonna stop talking even when you're talking your loudest, and I need you to be prepared for something like that. And, like, I'm sitting there going like, what what kind of god? Right? Like, just reminding of all the things that he has that he has done, that he's put in motion, the people he's put around me, the town I live in, all these things. You know? And so, like, I guess, like, what I'm saying to try to speak to that is if you would just ask him. You know what I'm saying? And if you would you would take you know you're a fallible short memory type operation. Right? So So either get yourself some rocks, get yourself some paper, learn how to journal, do something to remind yourself that, like, when you get on a day and a time period in your life where you're like, god has abandoned me. He is not listening to me. In fact, I can't remember anything he's ever done. Nah. Now come on. Like, that's a lie. You're upset and you're worried and he's good with this. Right? He's generous to you in these areas. But like all the things you're saying, those are lies, man. Like like, he's he's been involved and you know it if you would if you would pray about it or have some Ebenezer's to look at or something to remind yourself all the things that he has done. I feel like God understands this part of us, and that's why he's given us so many ways to, like, remember it. Like, there's so many situations where they're like, do this in remembrance of me. Like, the the the Passover, all of the breakdown of, like, you will remember this through this. You will remember this about this. You will eat the bitter herbs and remember this part of it and, like, this stuff. Like, God's like, I know you have a short memory, and you gotta remember that I'm still the exact same God, and I have not changed.

Like, this is all still true, and I am still your father and your creator. Yeah. You know what's interesting? This is probably the way we should look at a lot of the stuff in the Old Testament where we're like, isn't all this overdone? Like, what's with all this circumstance and pomp and this and, like, the the thing guys gotta wear the specific thing. Mhmm. But think of it. The rituals are telling stories that point us back to things we need to remember about god. Right. Things that you couldn't just have everybody had the book or whatever, like and so when you saw the Aaron or Aaron's sons walking around dressed as they were, it it brought you back to a reminder of who they Yeah. Who they're working on behalf of and like, why are they wearing the white and like, the sacrifice reminded you of something and like, the types of things that you could wear

and whatever. The animals, like, the distinctions God is making among these things. We look at them when we're like laughing and we're trying to figure out like why do they make why do these rubes make such weird dumb distinctions in things that we wouldn't have to do today? Like a lot of it is storytelling. It's narrative and reminding you of things that we so easily forget, but you don't forget when you participate in it. Yeah, right. You don't like, it's the same reason we do communion. It's wise to continue to do communion. It's like, it doesn't have to be what the Catholics think it is to still have a ton of value to the things that we're doing because how distant

are we from Jesus' sacrifice, from the necessity of that being true? It pulls me back in not only to the thing that was done, but then the life that it is bought and what it means to go live in that life. And like what we need reminded because how easily to become complacent. And so I this is where, like, it's always gonna be cautious about throwing out. You don't necessarily wanna get involved in like consistent rote patterns that don't mean anything. Don't just show up to your church and wave the smoke around and say the thing and go, okay, it's not a checklist, but it doesn't mean that it's not a reminder.

It doesn't mean that it can't serve you very well. And so like an absence of all the ways of which we could otherwise read and study on our own now, what does it look like to not forget in two thousand five hundred BC? Well, looks like that. Right. And so we're obviously prone to it. Obviously prone to forgetting.

And the more that we can have things in our lives that remind us of things, not only of things that God says is true, but like being a holy contentment with the life experience that we have, the better off we are. The last one was, let's see, the blessing isn't God's will for your life or what you're asking for isn't to the glory of God. I do okay. Let's let's let's focus on that one for just a second. I I do think and Mike, think maybe this gets to your point a little bit,

is that the same God who knows the hairs on my head, it knows that we're an earthly experience. He created the earth. He created the earthly experience. I think it is overcooking the fish to say that the only places at which you will be blessed or recognize a blessing from God is something

that otherwise glorifies him beyond the fact that he was involved. Because like technically anything you could go, Hey, I got a pizza. I got a pack of gum on sale. Glory be to God. Like you could, as long as you pointed back to him, technically everything would fit the bill. Sometimes if you think about if you wanna be a good father, you sometimes just do something just because it will delight one of the kids. They're just gonna enjoy it and you like to see them delighted.

And so I think it is unnecessary to make it sound like God only does things that seem like super religious. Right. Like his interaction in your life in small ways and in earth only focused ways. I think it's wrong to act like God does not do those things.

I think it's too I think it's unnecessary limiting. Let me put it that way. Well, I think it actually suffers from the same shortsightedness that our side of the blessing does at the beginning of the list. Right? Like, it can bring him glory twenty years from now when you figure it out. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't know that he is necessarily withholding a blessing if you can't immediately turn around and recognize that it was him that did it. You know? Like, how many people can, you know, come to know Jesus and then realize all the steps that god had made throughout their last ten years of their life and they're like, oh, glory to god because he was setting me up from

the beginning, you know? But god didn't withhold it because at age 22, Sarah wasn't able to go, glory be. You know what I'm saying? Like, I it all ends up being in his glory anyway. You know what I'm saying? Like, the fact that it even happened. If you right. If you if you are in right relationship with God, I like like one of the examples it gave or the it continued. It said one of the most important questions we face in prayer is whether our petition is for our own selfish interest. Now I know what it's protecting. Right? Like, you're saying I wanna be Scrooge McDuck, Lord, will you deliver the coins so that I can be Scrooge McDuck? Okay, I understand how this is a problem, but like, is self

a lot of the things that we do in the service of the kingdom have a self interest to it. It makes me feel when I use my money wisely in kingdom service, it is also self serving. I feel good about that. I'm made to feel good about that. You're made to feel good doing the things that God has called you in service to. And so the lines should start to blur. Your marriage is generally like this too. Your line should start to blur like, oh yes, I'm going to sacrifice and serve my wife as if it's gonna cost you something. But the reality is you're getting like 99% or even 110% of it back for having been able to serve your life in some way or another. And so like,

I just I want to be maybe the caution here is and maybe maybe I'm overreacting, but like the caution is that we back away from talking to God about things that are relevant and personal to our lives, lest we think that we have to be totally detached from the thing that we're asking God to do. Like for us to say, God, my whole life is open.

Do whatever you want with it. And I've prayed similar things, but like to the extent that he has you acting in specific type of circumstances, I actually I don't think it's wrong at all to pray into those things. I don't think it's wrong at all to ask God to say, Look, what I believe is following you faithfully. Here's the intent. I often do this with my work is I'll start the day and say, Lord, like, you know the things I'm planning to do today. Bless the intent of my heart. Let it be in your service and for your glory. I also have open permission to open, keep my eyes wide open that if any of it needs to blow up, help me to totally be willing to follow the the Holy Spirit bombs throughout the day. But if there's nothing like that, will make the most of my effort today? May it be for you and for your kingdom.

Don't know. I'm cautious that we don't feel like there is a To have a personal relationship with God, it means you personally, your personal circumstance. You can only live the life that you have, and so it's like everything's on the table, but if he didn't take it off, then deal with the hands that you have and ask God to interact with it. So maybe I'm just cautious that people would feel like they that you are stuck stuck's not the word I want, but like praying very bland faceless prayers.

Like as if your life is not unique and important and God might not be doing something with it. Like it's okay to do both. Would in fact, I dared to do both all the time. Bless what's here and blow it up if you gotta. Moova? Mike. You look like you're pondering a thing. I'm pondering a lot of things. Stanley. Okay. You okay. What do you think people's most common misconception is when approaching God

for blessings? I I I think maybe it's some of what we got to already, which is around a very specific, tangible thing that you desire

and treating it like a transaction type of thing. It has to normalize out. Like one, oftentimes, I mean, when Jesus says the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, rain in and of itself is a blessing. So like there's a certain amount of basicness of which like our existence is a blessing that we're just simply blind to. We got satisfied with the over the air channels for a few years and now we want cable

without forgetting that like you could totally be living without any of this stuff. And so think it's one of those things where we say it in a very holy way, but we're back to treating God like a genie again or a vending machine. And I think that's the biggest misconception. We used holy words to get to the same problem that we would have set out if I said, should you treat God like a vending machine? We would say no. But should I, will I petition for him to bless me in this specific way and it hasn't happened yet? Like you're doing the same thing already. Yeah. I I think there's a there's a a distinction between, like, asking

approaching god as if there's when you approach him and realize already with the mindset and with the heart that goes, I there's nowhere else for me to go with these petitions. You're the only being that could do anything about any of the things I'm asking. Right? Like, if that's your approach to him, I I'm less concerned on what's coming out of your mouth. You know what I'm saying? Like, if you're walking up and going, god, I I pray for ridiculous stuff. Like, on the daily, I'm asking him to revitalize

and to and to revive an entire town. Every day, pray the exact same I have no idea if he's gonna do it. Every day, I'm hopeful that today's the day that some kind of wild holy spirit wind come flying through and tearing the place up. And every day, I'm like, you're probably not gonna do this. I'm pretty sure he's not gonna do it, but, like, who who else am I gonna ask for such a crazy thing? Who else who where else am I gonna go? You know? And so, like, I think when you are approaching God rightly, that you are in a relationship in a way that says, God, you know what's going on in my life. You know why I'm asking. Either change the circumstance or change my heart. I don't care which one. Help me to help me to walk in peace with you being king today. Right? And and, like, I think when you're when you're approaching God asking for blessings, if you're if you're not so much trying to try to design how the ends are gonna happen, and you're like, the means are, it can't be accomplished without you. So whatever that looks like, my reliance on you needs to increase today. And so that's what you're actually praying for. I think you're good. I solid. Think If you can keep that mindset and that level of surrender available to you,

then I think you'll actually notice way more blessings merely because you're looking for them, and you'll watch him move. And frankly, I don't know he waste them. I don't think he waste blessings. Right? And so, like, if there's if if the impact is is in such a way that you would notice and the people around you would more notice because it happened, he will use all those things in great and glorious ways. I'm I'm just kinda curious. I was trying to think back of scripture that refers to blessing in the New Testament. So, like, how many times are we talking about blessings like it's a tangible, like it's an item, not just he blessed something? And

can can you think any, Dan? Like Ephesians, was that latter part of one or is it in two or Yeah. In Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, right? Or Hebrews six. Okay. So so to clarify, okay, Hebrews is kinda Old Testamenty though. It is. So none of the gospels talk about it this way. Like, Jesus doesn't talk about blessings in this fashion. Which mean, it doesn't mean that, like, the rest of script you don't have to deal with rest rest of scripture, but so far, the gospels do not. Romans,

is this blessing then only for the circumcised or also for the uncircumcised? Okay. Roman four Romans four nine is talking about that. The cup of blessing that we bless is not a pretty blah blah blah. It's not really the same thing. Second yeah. Okay. Yeah. So Ephesians one, blessed be the God and father of our Yes. Lord Jesus

Yeah. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. So what's actually, do you have it up, Dan? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That'd be special. He chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless and loved before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace. He lavished on us in the beloved one. In him we have redemption through the blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. He richly poured out on us with all wisdom, understanding he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ. Mean, it's just one thing after another, bam, bam, bam. We receive inheritance because we're predestined according to the plan. I mean,

sealed in the Holy Spirit. Right. The definite but the blessing right. So as examples of blessings- Just him so far. Yeah. This is him. Mhmm. Yeah. It's not like new car. Yeah. Shiny clothes. Know? More rain. It's it's a spiritual eternal life and and and

Right. Forgiveness and grace, you know? And so first Peter has something kind of like this. So this is in first Peter three, it says, finally all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless for this you were called that you may obtain a blessing. And so then the description comes, for whoever desires to love life and see good days. That seems like that's the blessing. You're gonna keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. I think that's probably to continue with the blessing, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. And so again, from that's about it. Like there's a few other references there. Most of them are like they blessed, like said a blessing, something like that. Yeah, and even in the like if you look into Genesis, like the first parts of it really being used is God

blessing the fish, saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters the seas, and then next it's, God blessed them, and God said to them, fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it to Adam and Eve. You don't get anything, and like even, And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.' Like, this is

less a a a physical gift that's being given to them. Like, he's he's he's pronouncing a blessing on them so that they can go forth and continue his plan. Yeah. Yeah. And, actually, when we bless other people, it's it's almost it's not exactly like an anointing, but like really what we're saying, we're asking for God's special focus and attention on someone and meant they and I I think to Mike's really good example, may they realize God is with them or working on their behalf or has done and made a life of which they get to live in

a right relationship with him or his presence or people around them through forgiveness, through basically the bridges that he's built, you get to walk on and that could be your ability to forgive or someone else's ability to forgive you. Your ability to be to actually even petition God in some way or another that you didn't have access to be able to do. You just you get to walk his lands. Right? Yeah. Think of how many situations that, like, if you were trying to critique the bible on how often god got somebody out of a mess, a lot of times he leaves them right there. Right? But, like, you look at Stephen, he doesn't keep him from getting stoned to death, but that guy goes out peaceful,

smiling Face of anger. Asking for forgiveness for the people that are doing it. Right? Yeah. He didn't change the fact that he was getting stoned. He changed the way that he was taking it in. Oh, and rarely does he save someone from death. Almost almost never. Right? Like, he he does well, I mean, there's this one big time right in the middle. Just definitely Old Testament. I mean, there's plenty of situations where he saves someone from physical danger. I'm just saying like Like, it and I don't know if this is a cultural thing, like, with us or, you know, whether it's just a modern society thing, but, like, I'm constantly asking God to change, to get people out of a scrape, to get people out of a mess, to get people out of the thing. And, like, that is not what happened with the four dudes or with the three dudes in the furnace. They went in the furnace Right. Still. Right? And then they sent Jesus in with them. Right? We sent a god figure in there with them and to hang out with them. They didn't keep them out of the fire completely. They still walked the desert for forty years. Right? They still got taken over by the Babylonians. Like, all these circumstances, like, God didn't never he doesn't just step in all the time and change the earthly circumstance. He goes, walk with me. Right. Let invite me to come with you. Let me be there with you, and I will show up in my mighty right hand. Right? I will not let this sustain forever, but, like, I'm not I'm not gonna get you out of every single

consequence or situation that comes up, but I will walk through that thing with you. Mhmm. And I will be and I and, like, all your hope can still be pointed to me. So even while you're getting stoned to death Right. For some reason, you're beaming ear to ear, glowing, and and pronouncing blessings on the people that are stoning you. That's wildness. I met a guy on Saturday. He, in August, had a massive heart attack. He also had an aneurysm, and I'm like, dude, wow. And you met him? I met him. That's insane.

Said it was the widowmaker, you know, deal. It was like a big yeah. And he said, man, you should be dead. He goes, yeah, that's what they told me. And it was down by the river where we pulled out the grill. We started cooking burgers and hot dogs and stuff and and provided him a meal, and he just started he was just weeping. He said, I I woke up this morning. I had no idea what I was gonna eat today, and you guys, what a blessing. Here's a guy who's had a pretty rough life because it sounds like he was in a home prior to all the medical stuff and now he's homeless. But he came at that, but the approach of God is blessing me, like what a blessing.

And it's like, well, we're here to bless you. So yes, you go through the pain, you go through the stuff, but it's a perspective thing rather than saying, live on this crappy river and it's cold out tonight. It's like, wow, he brought a meal. God provided today something

that I needed. And it was just kind of cool. It was very humbling moment there as he's just weeping, very appreciative to God of what God provided to him. Yeah, yeah, and it's going in some ways, Mike, I think this gets at your earlier critique, and so maybe I'm gonna stand by about half of it, which is I think there is a realization that as opposed to thinking,

hey, when am I gonna get my blessing? When are you gonna realize that you are living a blessed life already? That you're just blind to it. Like, there there's you're by God's movement and action and you're simply not walking in it. So you're not recognizing any of the realities. There's an obedience portion to that. There is a just recognizing and and a contentment that's in all those things without otherwise cutting off the fact that it's perfectly okay for that guy to go to pray in the morning and go, God, I I yes, I totally with all the things that you've done, I am thankful.

Would you send someone with some food? Totally. Like it's also completely fine. And it is a blessing to do. It is God continuing to reveal himself through people about his care for others. And that's also, it is a both, but like but but maybe we're we're often getting caught where I've most I'm hearing people go, I'm just waiting on my blessing. Like, it's it's that. It's some, like, tangible human thing that completely lacks perspective around things that God has already done or the realities of which you can walk in. You just have to walk in it. Yeah. I think I would

prescribe like, I think the running theme is is, like, especially when it comes to blessing is, like invitation and measurement. Right? Like, if you suck at this, like, you're like, I'm not seeing this blessing, or I don't know how to ask for a blessing, or I don't even know if I'm being blessed. Right? Like, I don't think I have the the right sight to see what's happening in my life correctly. I can't even change my perspective. I want my perspective to change, and I can't do it. I'm seeing not what you're asking me to see. Like, these are all amazing things to ask your good father for in prayer. Right? Like,

we're just talking about humbly walking with your God and saying, God, I know you want my heart to be different on this thing, but I can't do it. I'm not pulling it off. I'm still grumpy. I still feel like I'm getting screwed. I still feel like everybody's got this, and I don't have this, and I want this. And the thing is is, like, I don't want my heart to be doing any of that. I want my heart to to see the things the way that you're seeing them, but, like, I can't pull it off. Like, I love that guy that's, increase my faith. Whatever you're asking me, you're like, I need more faith. He's like, I don't have it, but you seem to can give it to me. Help me increase my faith. Right? Like, these these are all just, like, humble approaches to god and the things that, like, it's okay to suck at this stuff. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. It's okay to walk up to him and go, look. I I don't need the boat. I need my heart to not want the boat. Mhmm. That's what I want. That's what I actually want. I don't want I kinda want the boat, to be honest with you. But, like, what I want more is for you to change my heart so the boat doesn't take up so much of my thought and my time and my worry and my status. And, like, I don't want a heart that has to worry about all those things, but I can't shake it. Lord Jesus, can you help me see this life different? Yeah. Right. Alright. You're listening to life from the path. I don't know if you have any feedback on that that discussion or anything else that might be on your mind. Hit us up on the Life in the Path complaint line sponsored by Bob Eisenhower of the Eisenhower team. Go to eisenhowerteam.com. They're easy to work with and hard to beat. The Life in the Path complaint line, (515) 517-0085. Call or text. We'd love to hear from you. Okay. I'm not gonna read this whole article, but I'm gonna give you just a real quick shot to see whether you guys can pick it out. The, beliefnet.com

proposes that there are seven signs that the angels are guiding you. Oh. Do you have any idea on what one of those signs may be? Everybody gets one guess. Dan, you're up first. A glowing light in the corner. K. Glowing light in the corner. Moving. You've become a pastor recently. You've recently become a pastor. Yep. So the angels may be guiding you. K. Mike, smells like lavender. You smell like lavender? Spreads to angels. There's glitter falling from the sky. Okay. Secret ingredients for the for the tabernacle. Think I you guys are gonna be disappointed that you didn't get any of these. Dang it. The number one is white feather.

Oh. Why do I get the broken angel with its wings all falling off? At least it's a white one. White while feathers of all colors and sizes can be a sign, white feathers are especially considered to be a sign of angelic guidance. Hey. There was a lot of angels at my house when that tractor ran over my ducks. That's all I'm saying. You you hit a duck with a tractor? No. The ducks tried to hide in the tall grass, and then the county mowing guy came through Oh. And wiped them out in one go. It was a massacre.

Well, lord must have been behind it. Okay? Yeah. Okay. Number two, goosebumps. Oh, no. Goosebumps or chills can be a confirmation that what you are thinking or feeling is accurate and true. Am I most likely to get goosebumps when I'm about to lie? I don't think that's right. I don't think that's right at all. Such a weird human Yeah. Your lie indicators are up. Oh, no. This is the angel's way of saying, this is important. Focus. So dumb. Creating goosebumps. So dumb. We're all for two on any biblical basis. Yeah. Number three, numbers. Numbers, when seen repeatedly over a period of time, whether it be a singular number or number series, often are conveying a significant angelic message. You know, to be honest with you, I think this may be true. I wasn't a fan of polygamy, but I swear every day I look up at that clock and it's got like two, three, four,

and I presume it's to mean the number of ladies I have to be married to. Happens every day, twice a day, Buva. The angels are speaking with me. Two. Three. Polygamy. Four. Hey. That joke ain't gonna go over well at anybody's house, but Ben sure told it. Two. Great. Three.

I was a Packers fan for a long time. I feel like the number four has just always meant something to me. It'll take you far. Dan laughed a little. Sorry. It squeaked out. I'm encouraged. I'm gonna say more. Alright. Next, butterflies and dragons. Dragonflies. Okay.

Dragons, I get on board. You see yeah. If you you see dragons, the angels might be nearby. Yeah. Let the dragons here again. Butterflies. See, in Victorian times What are you doing here? Butterflies were believed to be signs of good fortune and blessings. Yeah. They were wrong about that, though. Is this like a Disney website or something? Right. Beliefnet.com. If you try hard and believe in yourself, that means that the rainbows are coming. Oh. Oh, here we go. Dragonflies

you know, Buba said the same thing to me last week. Dragonflies are often a message to become an active cocreator of your destiny. Oh, for heaven's sake, what happened? Is there, like, a dark web of the beliefnet.com? I thought you made that up, Buba. No. I read it from an article recently. I was on crystals at the time. Thought you were doing that. On crystals. Next. I'm on the scene. Oh, man. Trance. Coins.

Coins. Finding a coin in your path can be a message of reassurance from your angels that you are loved and valued. Yeah. I found $60. Angels. What? And, like, a shirt from last fall. Your own shirt, though. Dan, the angels were telling you to wear the were singing. Dan, the shirt said, I am my own angel. Love that. Was an angel being messenger? Here I am. Wouldn't this implicitly mean that you were more likely to find an angel at a casino or a showbiz pizza? Dan finds angels all the time. He's a gumball mogul. Or just to the left of a wishing well

or under a Look at all these angels. People, pay attention. They're congregating here. Look at this place must be holy. Look at that one's riding a bike. They also also love the appears to be just dumping water out. I don't know why. It's because he let all his feathers out to tell people he was here. The angels love the swan cage. Does anybody have goosebumps right now? Alright. Coins, most commonly pennies and dimes are considered to be angelic signs. Oh, the US mint is really doing a good work for the domination. It's like some some atheist wrote this and said, watch this. I'm gonna put this Right. Oh, yeah. I'm gonna make them look even dumb. I I told you frunks were not lucky. Once again, like because you can create all of your own angelic presence. I can literally go to the bank and get rid of $20 and say, give me rolls of pennies. Right. And then throw them out in front of me like a conquering hero go, come to me, angels. Every time I drop my Aldi quarter on accident, I just leave it and go, someone's gonna find an angel today.

That's right. It's it's like bell ringing from It's a Wonderful Life. You're just giving out He had to see that. Oh, Oh, yeah. Sorry. You should watch that tonight. Yeah. I'm gonna circle my house in coins, though. I'm gonna go home and go to bed. Yeah. Like, say, Michael would. If you find an unusual coin in your path, notice any unique markings or messages written on it. Its denomination in the metal it is molded from in order to translate any specific message for you. Matching a coin that says, hey. I'm your angel. Pay attention. Oh, man. This is very helpful. Thank you. Actually, I found 5 pennies five days in a row and immediately came to the conclusion I was a distant relative of Abraham Lincoln based upon its contents.

Alright. Rainbows. No. Why did you didn't guess rainbows? God sends the bow. God sends the bow. I put my bow in the clouds. Yeah. I don't want no second rate representation. If god set the bow, you would send me the second string? Right. Rainbows can be a message oh, sorry. It is an angelic message to hang in there.

No. Like You made that up. No. It's not what that says. The cat picture. It's an hang in there, baby. It said rainbows can also be a message from your angels to believe in yourself that you are stronger and more powerful than you think you are. I can't just got done talking about how that ain't true at all. I can't freaking imagine the life of someone that reads this article. The next time it rains, they look up into the clouds, and they go, god already told me what that actually means, but I believe that means my angels are telling me that I need to hang in there. Hang in there. He will never flood your studio. I got in a fight with Mildred at the bridge club, and, god sent me an angel through a rainbow. And now I feel better about myself. What if your sworn enemy also saw that and goes, we should both hang in there? Now who's right? It's a battle. I will defeat my enemies. Both of you think There's a chance if you've just left the same place, you're looking at the same rainbow. Yeah. God said I can't And McCoy looks to Hatfield and goes, I guess we're both supposed to hang in there. Let's fight to the death.

In conclusion, angels are always near you and want to help you through life. However, you have the free will to accept or reject their assistance. Angels will not intervene without your permission, except in instances of preventing physical harm. Ask your angels for a sign or message to help guide you along your path or as guidance in making a specific decision. When you receive a sign, notice it. Listen and express gratitude for the message. The more you are aware of and express thanks for the divine communication, the more frequent you will receive messages and guidance from your angels. This is trash. The more you connect with your angels and apply divine guidance in your life, the smoother and more joyful your life will become. Listen to me. This

is someone's legitimate thoughts Yep. That they put into a publication I think it's a joke. That they post on the I I I I'm terrified that it's not, and I feel like it might not be. Wait someone who's there's not a single bible verse on that. No. Right? Okay. Here's the author. Dawn Demers is a strategic coach, change master, and speaker. Dawn's training includes pranic healing. What the heck is that? Prana, bhindu healing. Pranic? Yeah. P a p r a n I c? Yes. Okay. Pranic healing, Reiki.

Yep. Yep. And other healing modalities in addition to traditional bachelor's, master's, doctoral degrees in business and psychology. That's why she's ended up submitting articles to beliefnet.com. I've got a master's in business and prana healing and reiki. Me let me let me fold the energies around you. Jesus, you are a tyrant. Anyway, what happened was the ladies went to go see if Jesus was at the tomb, and they looked in, and they didn't see him in there. And they said, what's this? It's a feather.

And then two angels were sitting there going, throw the feather down. Yeah. Hey. Hey. Can I have that back? Throw it down. Where where I actually need that back. I got a bunch of messages to drop down. We're out of rainbows. I got a finite That's right. I only have Caesar coins. Caesar coins. Yeah. Yeah. Can I give you one what's the exchange rate for feathers to coins? Can I get 12 coins for one feather? Oh, man. Is a is a pound a feather worth a pound of coins? I'm out of Tyria. You all weighs a pound, Mike. I hate this. This I hate this so much. This is a terrible article. I here's the thing. Why'd you read that? Can you read? That's now not only is that on the Internet, you've put it secondarily through a podcast. There was I found a six sided coin

with an angel on it on the way here, and I said, if only this meant something. If only this meant something. I found an article. Okay. You're listening to life in the path. Mike, are you doing cleanup? What happened over there? There's no chance that he's ready for whatever you need from him. Or you're spittoon. Did you have I can't remember. Did we end up with an ask the pastor or no? We can. We're I mean, that do we have time for it plus a Nah. Let's give advice. Mike, what do you got? You're alive from the path. He said through seeds.

Hold on. I'll change I'll get the visual. Okay. Go ahead, Mike. You're alive from the path. Take your shoes off in here. This is holy ground. We just had the floors waxed. Any suggestions on how to motivate a husband?

We've been happily married for thirty five years. Now he does nothing but read, eat, and sleep. Oh. I'm not exaggerating. He started reading about fifteen years ago when our boys were teenagers. He was an active parent, boy scout leader, baseball coach, umpire, volunteered at church, got his masters, and took a high energy exercise program, etcetera. But then he discovered fantasy fan fiction, free stories on the Internet written by unpublished authors. Now he reads sixteen to eighteen hours a day on weekends, plus ten hours each day during the week. He does nothing else. No exercise,

no house maintenance, nothing. When I asked if he's depressed, he said no. He's just tired and wants to relax. He has regular medical checkups, nothing abnormal there. His career is not high stress. It's office work. I cannot get him to socialize, and he no longer keeps up with his friends. There's no stress in the office. In the office. Mhmm. I got an emotional job. All he looks forward to is to is retiring in about a year, but I don't want him to retire just to see him read more. This is making for a very lonely marriage. I am unable to motivate him to do anything. Okay. I don't know how to say this to you. Are Say it, Ben. You are the problem. Yep. He's I'm not I don't wanna say he's fallen out of love with you, but he is avoiding you. He does not wanna spend time with you at all.

I'm gonna be mean. I'm gonna be mean, fellas. There's a chance that if you're the kind of person that this is the way that you've discolored your husband to us, you are a jerk to him. Ouch. Yeah. I I am I'm almost a 100% certain that you are probably just mean to him. And this is his way of going, okay. I'm not leaving you, but I'm certainly not hanging out with you, I'm not gonna put any effort into this thing. I'm gonna work my job that you think couldn't possibly

be stressful because I work an office job. Oh, boy. You guys gotta take a step back and maybe figure out some some common ground here because thirty five years in, and you're just like, he's lazy. He doesn't do anything. He used to do stuff. I wonder if something happened that changed that that you could figure out. But, like, I can't imagine you come at him with a lot of grace and a lot of love and a lot of of of trying to figure out how to help both of you, not just yell at him about how bad he is. All he does is read fan fiction all day. Yep. Yep. Because every time he's with his wife, he gets this. Wow. What a turn of events.

Dan, are you also reading this woman terrible? I mean, all I was gonna say was my first impression was, you know what? Maybe walk in the room once in a while and take off your shirt. This will this is what I'm saying. A man, here's what to do. I almost just spit water across this area. It's coconut. I'm not Flash them out, baby. I'm not gonna lie. Like, if you as a wife can't figure out how to get this man's attention I mean Fellas. Yeah. Yeah. I hate to tell you. It's 11:00.

Tell us the truth, bro. Here's the deal. Not every dude is that. Like You think There's plenty of guys that can just go, I'm so disinterested in this that I could care less. It's it's totally possible to get that. Met that man. No. I know you guys have on how she takes off the shirt. If I mean, just okay. I'm out. Not me personally. I'm just saying, like, I that exists. Fanfiction.

That is The kind of person in that fiction stuff. Yeah. That's disinterested that they're eighteen hours a day reading fan fiction Saturday to Sunday. Like, that's a lot of just I think that's the point. You don't get disinterested because you're disinterested in what's going on with the shirt. You're dis like, you don't want it because of other things that are contributing to that situation. You don't think you have any shot at it because she's given up. Or or you just dislike this woman so much that you don't care. It matters that yeah. It's possible to just not be interested anymore. And she's not working he's not working full time at the office and reading sixteen hours a day. There's think that doesn't add up. Said he's doing it on Saturdays and Sundays. Oh, so it's just the weekend. Yeah. Ten hours ten hours a day during the week. Yeah. During the week, ten hours a day, it at his at his fan fiction, and the rest of his day is at his non stressful office job. Have you asked him about his fan fiction? What what are the stories about? A wife he enjoys. Maybe.

I'm tell yeah. This I mean, yeah. He he just doesn't like his wife. There yeah. Right. Yeah. Whatever anomaly Boob is on on about is irrelevant. I think there's, like, plenty of things of which a man can be driven in to guide his attention. He he can learn quickly again to like her. I this see, it's simply possible. Whatever. Bring him a steak or something. I mean, maybe he don't like coconuts no more. Or bring a clown over. There's plenty there's all kinds of things that which could go on. I love the three examples we've given so far is take your top off, bring him a steak, or get him a clown. Those are the three things that motivate fans. Sometimes all three are really fun. Okay. You're misunderstanding. Like, the point is is that, like, it doesn't take much to get someone to engage in various things of life unless he's completely infatuated with fan fiction, it's it like, there's all kinds of things in which he might enjoy. He doesn't want it from this woman. He he's he's pissed his wife. His his his relationship with his wife sucks. So it it does not matter what she does Right. To be honest with you, unless they repair whatever it is the problem is. Because frankly, if you even mildly repair the situation, there's all kinds of things that can rouse the fella from stubborn behavior because, like, there's something he enjoys, like his favorite program is on or he's

he his wife's gonna take him to the Applebee's or we're gonna go buy him a lawnmower, all kinds of stuff that he might enjoy. And so, like, it's just not believable except for that he hates his wife. Everybody's against this woman? I don't know. I thought the dude sounded like a turd. That's because you don't like reading. Yeah. I don't understand this dude at all, especially if they're I'm being I'm so sorry. That sounded really rude, Mike. No. I didn't mean to page you into that corner. But What kind of ape chooses to read when the TV is available? Think of how much he has to hate his wife to read. Yeah. All that much. So he's a jerk. He's not even sharing television with her. You're why are you assuming that she's the problem? Because of how she talks about him.

He but what if he does all this stuff? Well, there's a difference between what what he does and how she describes it. Right? Like, she's presumed she's she's to the point of describing his job, right, like, as if there's nothing to it. Like, he's hopping on a pogo stick all day. He's got a master's degree. What is that? What? So? So she's basically making it sound like he took the back office clerk job with the Kinkos. Yeah. It's not taxing him mentally. That's how you took that? Okay. I mean, that's I think that's just an interpretation on your end because I did not take it that way. Okay. So alright. So, Mike, well, what's the scenario in which the wife is fine and and the the dude's an idiot? He's doing all the things she's saying.

So he's reading a bunch. And she exercising. Ignoring his wife completely. No no maintenance projects. I hate this guy. He's sitting around reading, doing nothing, letting his house fall apart around him. Even if you're mad at your wife, you can at least go fix a gutter. I mean, either that or he has plenty of money, and he's paying a guy to come do it. That's not the story she's telling. Right. Or he's doing these things, and she's picked out the most the things that embarrass like, are supposed to make him look the worst. She said the house is in disarray? Yeah. No maintenance projects. That's not the same thing. Yeah. Upgrades is you wanna take that off the table because you're just tired. I get that. He probably doesn't wanna do anything in service of his wife because she's a bitty Holy cow. I don't agree with any of this. Yeah. No maintenance projects is not the same as our house is breaking broken apart. No. That is exactly what it is. A maintenance item is something that has to be continually repair. The word maintenance means. I'm saying that he can probably pay somebody to come do it. That's not but No. But they're not getting done. Hold on. To clarify, I I he's handling this immaturely. He's dropping every bit of responsibility he should be doing. Regardless of whether it hates his wife or not, like, he should actually be like, they should be conversing about she should know. That's the that's the key thing. Like, if for whatever reason that their relationship is of some sort of crossroads, she should be very clear that that's the case because they've talked about it. He didn't just, hide away and read his book and ignore his wife. Like, that's obviously not acceptable. I'm just saying it feels like for whatever reason, whoever's responsible, I think the man hates his wife.

No exercise. No housemaintenance. Nothing. Not depressed. Yeah. Because he's he's trustworthy to give an answer to that. Well, here's the thing. It's like, I I know you you like to defend this clown, but I'm telling you right now. Let's say that he has a poor relationship with his wife. If she's even actually

the things that she's saying are at all true, he has advocated his responsibility in every area to sitting in front of a computer and reading fan fiction. Right? So, like, that leaves zero time to spend with his kids, with any of his neighbors, with any responsibility he had at church, with keeping his house up, with with having any type of friendship or relationships or anything. He's hermitting himself in his house. That is not a direct response

to hating your wife. That's giving up completely on your entire life because he hates his wife. He's not getting anything out of in return for any of those things. Yeah. That's a horrible reason. Even if you hate your wife. Right? Like, that that that's a horrible No. I Horrible reason. Acting appropriately. I'm just saying that's I I think that's the reason. Yeah. You're blackhatting the gal, and I'm telling you, that dude, he's he's slimy. He's wrong, but that's the reason. You don't do things like if you do not wanna be around this woman, you don't do things that you're are trying to like, in her service, and you try not to engage in things of which she's participating. I mean, he's home. Most people hate their wives don't even go there. They just hang out at the bar drinking or find 10 other things to do. Yeah. It's interesting. I mean, I I don't know. Sitting at home reading fan I I like, how do these conversations go? Ted, you're reading the fan fiction again? Yeah.

Okay. That's why your version of the story don't make no sense. Okay. You tell me how it goes. Ted? Go ahead. She says Ted, and then she take take it over. What's up? Reading the fan fiction. Don't bother me. Yep. Yeah. Good one. You're right. Your yours was way better and different. Yeah. You're trying to set me up to make me look a fool, and I won't I'm not getting on the diving board. I'm asking for you to represent. I don't understand what the point is. Why? How do you think things are going? I think they're going terrible. I just don't think the wife is the source of the problem. You think she hates him? No. I think she wants him to hang out with her more. You hold on. Read back to me what he said. She said he he started reading it when his kids were, like, 15. Okay. I'm not exaggerating. He started reading about fifteen years ago when our boys were teenagers. Okay. Yeah. He was an active parent, boy scout leader, baseball coach, umpire, volunteer at the church, got his masters, took a high energy exercise program, whatever.

But then he discovered fantasy fan fiction. That's the turning point. Free stories on the Internet written by unpublished author authors. You think this guy just found fan fiction one day and went, screw this. Gave him his whole life. Yes. Given up everything. Yep. I love this fan fiction. Mistress, basically. Yes. That's what I think. Yes. Interesting. I think he sold his entire life down the road to live in some kind of fantasy marriage. She was fantastic, and he found fan fiction, and then just everything went to hell. Yes.

Been great the whole time. Yeah. Tell me this ain't the story of half the dudes I know addicted to porn. They got perfectly good wives who love them and would love to interact with them, and they're looking for fantasy all over the Internet, and that's all they do. No. I don't know anybody like that. Yeah. This is the dude. That seems like a real cartoon of a dude. Yeah. Yeah. I know I mean, I know people who've got pornography problems, but not who've, like, given up on the rest of their life for it. Oh, no. Yeah. That exists. Mike talks to those people. Yeah. I do. And I'm not saying Dan, back me up. Dan. That just seems pretty extreme. I don't know. I think we're both arguing extremes on both sides. Yeah. I think the reality is there's no situation in which both of them are not at fault. Like, they're they're they're both to

they have things that they need to do better in this situation. Dude sucks. Here we go. Second Wait. Wait. Hold on. Hold on. What so what was the advice to the wife? Who's got the shirt? Then sticking with take off the shirt. Actually, so I I think my my

actual advice would be the first thing I would do is is look at look at control what you can control and you can control you. Yep. The question is is that, like, are you doing anything to engage with this man? Like, even if you don't like the habits he's taken up and I mean and not criticizing him like, oh, hey. Were you gonna go for a run today? Because I think you should. Like, that's not you supporting. Do remember when you were active? Yeah. Yeah. You met what was everything better? Remember when you were a good father and you went to the church and did all the stuff? Like, if if thirties now. If he ran into online fan fiction and gave up his whole life, something is broken in that man's mind. And so I that that's the first thing I would approach is, like, is there anything you can do to try to regain his attention, his interactions with you, even if it's on his terms? And then you make your way into starting to influence and ask questions and maybe have healthy conversations about how he's spending his time. But if I assume that he's completely to blame, you need to reorient and start having some conversations with him that he's willing to listen to. And your critiques and criticisms and judgment about how his he's his life sucks now isn't gonna get anywhere. And so I'd snuggle up to that. Yeah. Agreed. Okay. Ready? Say good advice.

It is time for a frank conversation with your husband. Ask him what he's using the fan fiction binging to escape from. Point out that the lifestyle he has adopted isn't healthy for him or for your marriage. Proceed from there to find out if a compromise would be workable. Yeah. I think that's alright. That seems like, yeah, actually good advice. Yeah. Wow. Okay. You wanna do one more? Yep. Okay. Last one. Your life from the path?

The first Christmas my future husband and I were dating, he gave me an angel ring. I don't know what that is. A feather fell on the ground. I asked him to take me to a bar where my best friend works so I could show it to her. When I showed it to her, she told me her cancer had come back. I gave her the ring and told her to hang on to it, hoping it would give her the strength to fight another round. Twenty years later, she became angry with me and wanted to end the friendship. I told her that it was okay, and I asked if I could have my ring back. Life in the Path, my entire family saw my husband give it to me, but now she has made up this story about how she had put her on layaway for a year, and it was never belonged to me in the first place. Even worse is that she played me. She never had cancer.

What? Oh, yeah. This is Tour de la viz. While we were at school, her parents emptied their house except for the contents of her room and disappeared. My mom offered her a home, but she declined. She was into drugs. Yes. She had some tough breaks, but so have a lot of other people, and they haven't stolen or lied to their friends. Yeah. But they have. We had each other's back for forty years, and now this has happened. I'm heartbroken. She doesn't seem to care. The layaway lie is her story, and she's sticking to it. What do I do? Walk away. Walk away. Yeah. Nothing. Sucks. Like, don't get me wrong. That sucks. Sucks that you've been played. Sucks that you're losing the ring that means a lot to you, apparently. Sucks that you're me losing a friend, most importantly. That sucks. It's time for you to walk away. Yeah. Angel ring gone. Now did didn't didn't OJ break into a place once to get an old ring of his? May may

It's a bold move, Dan. I mean, she can Bringing up OJ story here. Yeah. Bringing in the juice. Stealth and go ninja. Okay. I'm just gonna act like Dan didn't say anything because everything that's happened in the last thirty seconds has been unhelpful. Where Dan goes, remember that time, OJ?

Did you just wait to retrieve a ring that used to belong to him? Are you bringing it up because you think she should deploy that method? Well, yeah. That's what I'm saying. I mean, if you want the ring back, there's no what else are gonna do? Become a former NFL star ninja. I like to turn to OJ in times like these and go, what would the juice do? Hey. They want our advice.

Dan's specific advice is to break into the house and ninja your way around. She's she's on drugs. She won't even know. I don't think that's how drugs work. Okay. We're gonna we're gonna go to Secular's advice before we pop in OJs. Let's hear it. Secular says, accept that the ring is gone. Yeah. Your drug addicted friend stole it and may have sold it. You may not realize it, but you are fortunate that she's now out of your life. You may have thought she had your back, but you were mistaken.

She is dishonest and vengeful. If you're looking for friendship, you need to look in another direction. You couldn't do worse than this. Wow. Wow. That's tough. Oh, boy. Okay. Yeah. She ain't kidding around. So it's the worst. I like that time OJ broke in and stole a ring. Took back what was rightfully his. Ready for that. Great advice. I did not expect an OJ drop there. Okay. As teased in last week's show, I've submitted this question of advice to the AI as if they were Foghorn Legohorn. Oh gosh. Yep. The AI says the following. You better hit it with a southern accent. Now say I say. There you go.

That their friend of yours sounds about as reliable as a woodpecker with a bad case of the hiccups. Cancer, Then a cockamamie story about layaway that rings yours plainer than the waddle on a Rhode Island red's neck. Don't you fret not about that shiny bobble, sweetheart. A real friend wouldn't try to steal a ring, let alone lie about a terrible disease. Sounds like you deserve a whole flock better. This whole situation needs a good crow and to clear the air, I say. Tell that friend to scram faster than a fox in a henhouse. We don't need that kind of negativity around here. Here's what you gotta do. Bullet one. First, a face to feathered show a face to feathered showdown. Look. A heart to heart might be a waste of good chicken feed, but you gotta say your peace. Tell her you see right through her and that her story smells worse than a skunk at a state fair pie contest. Bullet two, rally the roost. Lean on your family and real friends. See? True friends are like a healthy helping of corn. They keep you strong and pecking heavy. This is terrifyingly good. Talk it out. Vet your frustration and let them show you some support.

Third bullet, move on like a majestic rooster. Don't waste any more grain on this sorry excuse for a friend. Hold your head high. Find comfort in your real relationships. And remember, a good friend is worth more than a coot full of fakes. This whole mess is a real downer, I say, but don't you let it ruffle your feathers. You've got years of loyalty and a strong family by your side. Now go forth and find some genuine friends who deserve your awesomeness. They'll be crowing about your friendship for years to come. It's a little scary that AI even knows Right. This character. Yeah. Oh, gosh. Next week, could do, like, Pepe Le Pew or something. Yeah. Wow. Okay. Alright. You've been listening live from The Path. Thanks for hanging out with us this week on the show. We we really do appreciate it. You got feedback for us? Give us a call on the live from the Path complaint line. (515) 517-0085. Call or text, and we'd love to be able to hear from you. In the meantime, be faithful in the means. God will handle the ends. You've been listening to Live From The Path.