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

Listening live for the bath. We're talking about jammers. Space jammers. Brew. That was too to someone who's not a Hey.

Here's what got going on the show this week. What's up? Anyway, we're about honest faith, fierce grace, donkeys. I'm Ben. My name is Ben Foose. It's good to be with you. I am. They call me Mike z. Who does that? Some people. Nobody has done it before. I've gave myself two nicknames today. Okay. Okay. Which the first one is is is T Rex. T Rex, which I was pretty excited about. Wait. Is there, like, a last name? No. Just T Rex. That's not cool. You could be a blues man if you were like T Rex Higgins. Yeah. T Rex Dinger? No. Higgins Higgins. That's why I'm saying Dinger. Like, that's part of my last name. Here's like an aging bouncer under the name T Rex if you don't have Higgins at the end. Alright. Fine. Anyway, next nickname. Little Ice. Hey, man. That's cool. Everybody else thought it was cool. You guys don't. So here's the deal. So I went to a local coffee shop this morning, and I asked for an iced coffee with with light ice.

And the lady actually wrote little ice on it, like it was my name, not like Light Ice like what I was expecting. Uh-huh. So someone saw the the coffee cup on my on my desk and said, hey, man. Do you go by the name Little Ice? I'm like I do now. I'm good. I like it. I'm Little Ice. So I can go by Troy. I can go by John Buba. T Rex, which is which is pending patent pending. Not pending. And I'd shut that down. Yeah. T Rex, we're we're still thinking on it. The the vote is not in yet. And and Little Ice.

No? Really no to little ice too? Well, here's the deal. If I was your friend, I would say, man, I don't think you wanna do that. Alright. But as we're just right now, I'm like, little ice. Heck yeah. Yeah. Alright. Fair enough. So discernment is, thrown out, and I'm little ice. Alright. Speaking of making mistakes in life, here's what we got going on in Life in the Path tonight. We got some advice on Dear Life in the Path. Mike's got some Pope style. We got some, what's happening with Dan, see what's going on in the world, and see if we can identify the right reaction to it. Also, a couple things that we may or might have get we'll see if we get to these or not. There was a there there's an interesting interview with one of the guys from Duck Dynasty about, not being afraid to share your faith. And, I thought I'd share I I don't know. I I think there was some, there's some, I don't know, gleaming of, wisdom in there. So I thought I'd share that. We talked through that. And I ran across the an article someone posted on Facebook, and the basic question on the table is that, is God the author of sickness and disease?

Because the the the statement the the statement in this particular article is, I can assure you that God is not the author of sickness and disease. So, anyway, we'll we'll, we'll get to talk to you a little bit about that. That's what's going on. Plus your chat. And, I don't know. I suppose if you send us an email during the show, we might react to that. It's not likely. That's what we got got, going on the show tonight. Let's see. So I I should let's let's kick that off with that one. So I I was, I was I was scrolling through Facebook, and the the main title of this thing shows up, and it's like, I can assure you that God is not the author of sickness and disease. And I thought, well, that's interesting. I feel like he's the author of everything. That's funny. So,

and I thought, maybe I've over I've simplified this. I I've overdone it. So I went to check it out, and the basic nature here's the, here's the description. He's reading from John nine and said, as Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. Rabbi, his disciples, asked him, why is this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins? It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins, Jesus answered. This happens so the power of God be could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I'm here in the world, I am the light of the world. Here's the commentary. It always brings such sadness to my heart to hear people say things like the disciples were saying this day. They thought that God was punishing this young man with blindness. It was a common thought of the day that people who were blind and such were under a curse from God for some sin in their life. This caused some people to look down on those who had these type of disabilities. It also caused the people who were affected by them to feel like there was something wrong with him. This is so far from the case. The enemy wants to convince you that God is out to harm you. He wants to convince you that God is the one who is doing bad things in your life, and we see this tactic of his from the dawn of creation. One, he tried to convince Adam and Eve that God was holding out on them. Once they accepted this suggestion, they fell into sin. It left them feeling ashamed and isolated. Two, he tried to convince Job that God was the one bringing destruction into his life. He even suggested that Job cursed God so it would end. Isn't that wasn't his wife? Did you just call him Job's wife Satan? Yeah. That's rough.

Those are just to name a few. I can assure you that God is not the author of sickness and disease. Has this guy nailed it? Is Satan the author of sickness and disease? If so, what, what role does God play in all that? Is God the author of sickness and disease? And if he is, how are we supposed to look at that? Here's the deal. Now I I know I'm wrong on a lot of things. Okay? I'm just I'm not a I'm not a scholar of any kind. But what you're suggesting is that when God was making things, that sickness of disease was like a a squinny. And it snuck by him, and he said, what? Hey. Hey.

Dang it. You know what I'm saying? And then and then then and then permeated itself throughout the world. Now now here's the deal. Like, the Bible goes to great lengths to explain how sickness and disease became pervasive.

Like, as a result of a fallen world, it was not God's intent that sickness and disease were to run rampant. But as a result, it's not as if he's like, hey. I didn't know this was gonna go down or sickness and disease. What? You know, I I just it's you're you're basically suggesting that god had had no hand in this and the created being of Satan pulled the fast one over on him, which I find, like like I said, I'm not a scholar of any type, but I find that theologically outrageous. The lord was not undone by a squinny. Is that what you're saying? Yeah. A a sickness squinny.

Dan? I I I would agree with that. I think that it's it's a result of of a fallen world. Pain in our life, sickness, disease is often a blessing that we're refined

through that process spiritually. We're to count it all joy when we face trials or difficult times. Yeah. I think he's off base personally. So so what, how can we understand a God who has permitted,

sickness and disease? Wait. Okay. Ask that question again. I'm sorry. What were you I I would just Were you doing crickets. Were you doing, church steeple people? Was that what you were there doing? That's what that's what your hands look like. Like, you were doing church steeple people. Okay. So It's my favorite game. So I what he's representing, basically, I think in his argument is saying, we we you have it wrong. God is not the author of sickness and disease. You're not thinking of this right. But if if what Mike's saying is true, that God is,

is the author of sickness and disease or at least has permitted it, how are we to understand god's character in the light of that? To the person that says, I I have sickness and disease. How could god permit this? Well, who says it has to be a created thing? It is a consequence of of sin. It's not like someone created that there be disease. It the the whole world became corrupt through sin, and then we made a lot of poor choice choices, which has led to a lot of downfall. I mean, death happened at sin at the, at, the eating of the fruit.

Yeah. But I mean, he but here's the thing. Like, if if we're once again, we're just looking at it from a logical aspect. God knew the fall was gonna happen. He knew that that that sin was gonna take over the world, and it would need rescued. And and that rescue would come in the form of Jesus Christ. And so, by almost de facto, you have to say, like, you know, if if god created the world and there's sin in it, it's not like he was not knowledgeable of it, knew it was gonna happen, and knew it wouldn't be part of his creation. And so, I mean, I I I know that probably sounds bad, but but, I mean, is isn't that the truth of the matter? Like, if there's sickness in the world, it's because god permitted it to be there.

Right? There's there's not really any other type of explanation, is there? He permits everything. He he rises the sun. He he puts the stars where they go. He if it's here, he's permitted it. Now the the the question that you don't get to ask is why. I mean, you can. You can certainly ask it, I guess, but but certainly the god of the universe does not owe you an answer. He may provide one to you. He may not. A lot of a lot of those things, I think, you will you will find will, you know,

I don't say I don't wanna say that. I don't know. I I don't it's a touchy subject for me. I don't know that I'm silver tongued enough to explain it correctly. Yeah. I mean, and, basically, it's the is the thought to be that, if if God is who he says he is and there the existence of sickness and disease, I if we have irritation, it's because we don't think God is doing his job the way I would do it. Right? Like, if I were God, I would not permit sickness and disease, but I'm not God for a reason. Right? I mean, there's a reason that I I'm not making decisions and otherwise ruling the universe. I'm not capable of it. In fact, I stink at it. I wouldn't be set off very well if that were to have been a situation. That's what I'm saying. And so, I mean, you have to accept to a certain extent that that, if if otherwise god is who he says he is, we have to accept that there is, there is an overarching reason to have permitted it this long or in this fashion.

I was telling my daughters tonight we had a little outdoor fire thing going, little fire pit, and we were just talking God and stuff. As you know, one of these days I'm going to die, and it's just gonna happen. Hey, Dan, you're just really In ruined a family the context, it made sense. You know, we were talking about heaven and how cool it would be and And bonfires. And bonfires. And I could fall in it at any moment. No. I mean you know about cremation? As much as we might try to put off death or or pray for healing or do things, we're I'm going to die someday. I mean, so whether it's sickness and disease or an ice cream truck that hits me or whatever happens, I'm I'm going to die. And and our emphasis should be on the spiritual thing. I I'm already living in my eternity. That's what we were talking about is I'm I'm already there. I'm just not in heaven yet. There'll be a transition at some point. So to be so caught up with the physical body that I have, I need to take care of it and all that, but but but not to be like, oh, no. I have a hangnail. God must hate me. That that that's silly. It's it's a distraction

from the reality that this is just a tent that I happen to be wearing at the moment. My eternity, I'm already in. I'm in relationship with God. Who I am is gonna last forever, just not in this body because sickness and disease will take it someday. And, I I think I think that maybe that guy's just more caught up on the physical and on this earth and this life, which is so temporary. So what is the place then for, prayer of healing

in a in a in a Christian in a Christian's mind, relative to the fact that, otherwise, God can be glorified through sickness? We are we are souls. Even above like our concerns should be the souls over the physical body. So in what places it for us to pray for healing in those ways? How how should we approach that? Well, I think that's part of the relationship. I mean, don't want someone to die. I know they're going to. So I will pray for God to keep them here longer. I want them to.

My wife had cancer. I was praying for that cancer to be gone. You know, it wasn't like, oh, awesome. You get to see Jesus. You know, I you know, we didn't do that. Although we also had that conversation, you know, we don't know which way is this going. But we we prayed for for for God to to heal her. I had a situation myself. We I thought, you know, I didn't know I honestly didn't know how to pray for myself, in that situation. It was more like, well, God, just help me bring the Lord to you. Whatever happens. I don't care. I'm gonna go in sooner or later. You know? So I think we need to make sure that we we are causing ourselves to be subject subject to his will with our prayers and and making sure that that the things that we pray for when it comes to praying for health and praying for for sickness to go away and disease to go away and things like that. I think that we're praying,

I think our prayer should be first and foremost that that we are subject and understanding of God's will. Our prayer is not going to change God's will, in in my mind, and I I I think that's correct. Okay. Mike has made a sound. He did indeed. And I think that that we can pray for for the kind of things that we want, whether it be, you know, cancer to be gone or or a heart to be healed or or someone to, to be over depression or something like that. But when it comes down to it, we need to make sure that in our prayers, we're subject to what what God's plan is. And that also we are understanding what God's plan is and and the fact that that is not our plan to control, That is not our thing to affect. It is God's will. It is God's plan ultimately, but we do have requests. We do have you know, maybe I don't want this person to die or maybe I don't want this person to go through anguish. But if God wants it to be there and if it's glorifying to God, we need to make sure that we are under understanding and subject to that. Mike, did you have an example you wanted to run by, Troy? Well, I just I feel like, that the the there's there's biblical evidence for petitioning the lord to do something and,

him doing so, against what he had just said he was going to do. Well, I I was right after the I was with Moses right after the 10 commandments. He was gonna wipe some folks out. And Moses said, hey. You know, what is it? What what is it? Don't do that. You know, can can we can we hold off a little bit? Can we tone this down? And he did. He did. And so he petitioned, and God said, okay. Okay. Done. And so I I'm not saying that it's a a prevalent thought that you you're gonna bully God around, but, I mean, that there is biblical evidence for I mean, Jesus even says, tells the parable of the persistent widow, like, keep at it. I might change my you know, I might do that thing. Keep at it. Just keep asking. I'm paying attention. Terrible. What's your wisdom on this deal? Well,

it seems like at the moment, we're all in agreement with the author, at least in the in the sense that, the origin of these evils are not God. They're God did not sit down and and just create these things. That I I guess from my perspective, it's more just the absence of health. I mean, I know that God created bacteria along with all the other animals and and creatures that he created, so, that's a good portion of disease right there. It's just bacteria.

I look at it being just more an imbalance, an absence of health, and just kind of a perversion based on how the devil likes to use these awkward tools. But if we sit down and we say, you know, God had caused someone to become unhealthy and therefore pray to God to remove that unhealthiness, I'm

really uncomfortable with that scenario of God caused this and and seek God for help. Because then it just kind of reduces God down to a protection racket. Mhmm. And that just that does not sound like his character. He's not a racket. He's not a racketeer. No. Yeah. You know, I I I think, in fact, we had a discussion

recently, and it was off air. It was about, how you should view prayer in in light of someone, who is sick. There was there was a thought that, you know, if if if you're not praying and that person's still sick because you're not praying enough.

And and which was kind of a hard thing for some people who are, I mean, who were who desperately, you know, they were spending a lot of time and love with the family who was dealing with some sickness, and, they felt, you know, accused that, you know, your your faith is not strong or, like, you're not praying enough or whatever. And that's why this person is not being healed. Mhmm. And and and we kinda had a long discussion on on, you know, what does that what does that demonstrate to someone as to the character of God? Like, how is what is God's character like that that would be the case? Where, like, he's demanding that there be enough as it when when the story of salvation is the complete opposite of that. Mhmm. So I I know it it was interesting how destructive some of that stuff can be well in tension, I I believe.

Just like I I think this article is, I think it's well intentioned to make people feel like, you know, God's in control. Whatever it is, God's in control. He's not out there. He's not intentionally trying to punish you. Which I also think is true, but we gotta change we gotta change our viewpoint a little bit. Sometimes you gotta stand on the mountain. Right? You can't just stand in the hole and stare up and and and look from one angle. Mhmm. Sometimes you gotta you gotta change your viewpoint a little bit. And the cool thing about this situation is, like, if someone is sick, either God can use,

their life through that sickness to bring people to him, or he can heal them to bring people to him. It's a it's a double win, man. It's there's opportunity, and God will use that. And and I kinda when you were talking about, I like, the the nature of disease, that's a good point. Like, sometimes you think of, like, diseases like a cloak and dagger supervillain. Yeah. You know, it's, bacteria is is healthy. I mean, there's there's healthy bacteria, and and you're you're right. On an imbalance, it's it's the devil has taken something that was created for good and attempted to use it for evil, and God has taken what Satan has attempted to use for evil and can turn it into his good. Mhmm. And and that's the right way to look at it, I think, because we're praying is this, Lord, you know, have this, whatever this this thing is that's going on that wasn't in your design, may it be turned for your good. Whether it is an earthly impact of my death or an earthly impact of my,

perseverance through it or persistence with it, it will be it'll be worked for your good, and and we can have faith in that. And I think ultimately, like, that's kind of what the author is trying to point it to. I think they just kinda used some some skewed some skewed things to to represent it. Because one of the arguments was had

to do with a kingdom divided against itself, is that Jesus cannot be healing the sick. He he would represent a divided kingdom if he otherwise was responsible for the sick. And I suppose when we're talking response like, ultimately, god is ultimately responsible. He created everything. That's a fact. But the the perversion of that creation, the twisting of the scripture, the twisting of of that creation to do other things that he otherwise were not in his design, you know, that that's a consequence of the fallen man. Alright. So when I read this article, I I think I looked a little bit further than than just the whole sickness and disease kind of thing. It kinda gave me this, this feeling of, you know,

God is is 100% good, which I agree with, but from the standpoint of nothing bad can happen to me because of that. And everything bad that happens to me is through Satan and through sin, and I and I kinda got that feeling. And I think it it it it paints an interesting picture in my mind when it comes to a god that doesn't have punishment and a god that there's there's no unhappy feelings and a god that there's no turmoil in relationship and things like that. And and maybe that's that's me reading more into it than the the author intended, but,

you know, I've actually I've dealt with that that when when talking to people about God. I've dealt with that whole situation where where people think that, that either God is supposed to be 100% good from the standpoint of all happiness rather than just God at being good. And then I've dealt with the the flip side of, you know, God is completely unjust and and and sick because of disease and because of of sickness and world hunger and things like that. And I think that that

by by the community, of believers not painting the correct picture in counter to that, of God being a good God with justification in there, you know, hell is a real situation. Punishment is there for sin. You know, the the the situation is you you have a choice, to believe in him, to follow him as as your lord and savior. There's punishment. I think that that we need to make sure as believers and as people who talk to others about the relationship that you can have with Christ that that we don't paint that that 100% God is all about happiness, and God is about you being, hunky dory and having a smile on your face at all times.

And there is, a downturn to to, rebellion. There there there is a downturn to lack of obedience of, from God. Should we should we understand the part of Hebrews, it's in Hebrews 12, says, my son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord nor be weary when reproved by him. So, from from Bubba's comments, the question is is is

are we to expect that discipline to occur in this earthly life? I think sometimes. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Mhmm. And so in what in what ways? In what way should we expect that type of thing? How can we tell that the difference between God's discipline and,

reaction to us or just being in a fallen world, circumstance that's in a fallen world? I don't know. There's thousand millions of ways. I mean, as many as there are, ways in which a parent can teach their children how to how to live correctly. I mean, God does the same sort of things with us. Is it of a if it's a do we believe it would be God's purvey to cause sickness as discipline? In this context? So so discipline in in order to to teach? Yeah. That's what I'm asking. I think that's always a good question to go through your mind. You you have to be careful of not always blaming everything. Well, god's got me. He's mad at me. You know, I did something wrong. Because that's kinda going too far. But I think it's always a healthy question to say, wow. Is god getting my attention for something?

And then kind of move on. You know? And I was gonna say, I don't think we need to turn turn to God and say that it's God's fault every time a car gets stolen or anything like that. Right. Oh, obviously, I was attached to material things. God's mad at me. Yeah. God's mad at me and disciplining me for my love of material things. Because there was, there was an article recently about the singer Toni Braxton who she's got a book coming out, and, she expresses regret for an abortion that she had. She had a, a child about six years later after her abortion, and and and the child, I think, had autism, and she was afraid. Is this is this discipline from God? And so the I guess what the reason I asked that is because in the context of people looking at sickness that goes on around them, if we say it's a it's a condition of the, of the fall of humanity, if it could also be discipline from God, like, do you react to those two things differently?

Generally, God God will discipline for corrective behavior, not for punitive behavior. In other words, he he's not gonna he he's not likely to just, you know, throw punishment at you simply because you did something wrong, but the goal the end goal is towards restoring a relationship with you. So if there's something that's really getting in your way, then he'll remove that something. But that's not pure. I mean, look at the language that's that's used throughout the New Testament, especially in in, Revelation when he talks about refining, you know, refining with fire. He doesn't just say burn with fire. It's refined. Singing. That's right. It's to turn it's it's to it's to it's to melt it down and turn it into something. And so like, and so, like, the the language of the gospels and language of of of Christ in general is is never pointed to to a punitive response. It's it's always to to to, you know, it's always the shaft. It's always getting rid of the extra. It's getting rid of what isn't needed and and break it down to what it needs to be. And and here's the deal. Like, he loves you enough to do that however it needs to be done. And sometimes it might seem a bit brutal on your end. Right. But if he didn't love you, he'd leave you in your ways. And so sometimes, I don't the thing is, like, I don't know how comfortable I feel guessing the way that God does things. I just you know, I don't know. I I I trust that he's a just a just to God, and that's enough for me. And so, like, whether he does, you know, uses I don't know. Sickness? I don't care. I I don't. I I I mean, maybe he does. Maybe he doesn't. I don't care. I I just know that he's just and he's doing the right thing, and that's enough. And so and and and the and the long sweeping,

you know, story of the gospel, if in fact that is what he's doing, it is solely for your joy and his glory because that's that those are his ways, and the bible paints that picture. Right. Absolutely. I I don't think you need to look through and chalk one up to the fall, chalk the next one up to God, chalk the next one up to the fall. You know, this How can you learn from the Lord's discipline if you're not trying see it that way? What what I'm saying, though, is is we we may not chalk it up for blame, but I think you can look at each situation and look at how can be glorifying to God and how can be used for conviction and refinement to make you a more pure being. And I would also say based on those facts alone, you're taking the holy spirit out of the equation. I feel like if you ask, he'll tell you. And if you're if you're really seeking god's direction, you will receive it. I I feel like if you're if you're just like putting, you know, negative effects on your life as I feel like the lord is against me in this area,

It's probably for this because that's the top 10 on my list. It's something I know I shouldn't have done. And I think a lot of yeah. And I think a lot of times that comes from where you're already kinda squaring off with God, and it just makes you feel better to say he's squaring off with me. Right? It's easier to say he's against me, and then, you know, it it alleviates some of the feelings, some of the pressure I think that's that's god is trying to put in your life to say, no. Come back. And it's easier to if you wanna run from him, it's easier to say, no. No. He's he's chasing after me with his fist in here as opposed to admitting that you kinda spit in his face and ran away. And so that's that tends to be the kind of the explanation. And I think I think the the distinction between, god seeking restoration with his, with humanity as opposed to to punitive damages, is reinforced kind of if you continue that Hebrews verses, which is where the context is important. My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord nor be weary when reproved by him for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son

whom he he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? So yeah. Yeah. I think I think otherwise scripture would bear that out. Alright, Tim. Okay. Cool. Thank you both. Alright. Which which I I kinda allows you to deal with sickness in a much more Healthy way. I don't think there's an appropriate, like, hey yo after a statement like that. Yeah. A man. I

think that's appropriate. Alright. Here's the deal. That's what was going on, on a link I saw on the Facebook today. Now let's see what's going on in the world with what's happening with Dan Hudson. It's sticking. Alright. There's some big stuff happening right now. Everybody's talking about it. Did you guys happen to see interview see the Michael Jackson

hologram? I saw a clip. I I saw a picture of it, but I didn't get to watch it. You know, I actually watched it probably three times. What? Okay. Here's the deal. Michael Jackson was was it the 2014 Billboard Musical Billboard Musical Yep. It was a hologram of Michael Jackson singing a song along with live dancers. They're performing slave to the rhythm from his new album, Escape.

It was a very emotional. You can see put out a new album? Yeah. He passed away, like, five years ago, and they have that there's a lot of songs in reserve, and that and they're they're gonna they're gonna do well with this. Anyway, it it was just it was just kinda pretty powerful. Of course, it was it was kinda Michael Jackson. He just does things well. Whoever took care of him. Yeah. He's he had nothing to do with this. Yeah. You know what I'm saying here. But anyway, it was a hologram. It was pretty crazy. It was pretty emotional. You could see people like who probably knew the guy, know, crying like, why? He's there. He's he's doing his thing. I've heard of mega churches that are are doing hologram

preachers or I don't know what what they do in there they're saving the files whatever they're making it so that when their mega pastor passes away they'll use I've read an article about this a couple years what happened Dan What happened with the Michael Jackson holography? I'm pretty excited about this. I feel like it's set up. Whatever.

This is a big news. This is big. So, anyway, here's the question. What do you think a hologram is being used in place of live performances for people who have died? K. Three choices. A, they're creepy. The person's gone. Let them rest in peace. B, it is awesome technology that we should embrace as much as possible. Or c, I want to record my own funeral as a hologram and tell everybody how awesome I was. Can I go first on this one?

Okay. Yeah. John Buba. C. Yep. Funeral? Yep. I feel like you have to also comment on as to whether you feel like it's freaky. Oh, no. Absolutely. That's freaky. The the second one is or the first one's a bit ridiculous. If we're gonna let them rest, destroy all videos, destroy all pictures, everything like that, no. All writing as well? Yeah. Exactly. We can't remember you except for our memories. It's it's it's just that's ridiculous. The second one,

I think it's actually pretty sweet technology, but when it comes down to it, see, because I definitely want a hologram of me talking about how awesome I am. I may have already written the front cover of my funeral folder. I've already planned out the games at my funeral. Yes. We're gonna have a pinata of me. People are gonna be crying the whole time hitting me, and then candy's gonna burst out, and everyone's gonna be happy. And it's gonna be a weird roller coaster of emotions. Okay? No. Think hologram Michael Jackson up right now. I'm totally in. It was pretty powerful. I mean, it was it was well done.

People creep me out with their talent. Here's the deal. I know. Yeah. Thanks, Dan. I feel I don't know. I'm gonna say something so I can come out right. I feel like people are trying to take away the sting of death. You know I'm saying? Like, you say, like, the bible said death had you know, death has no sting. Yeah. That's what they're trying to do. You know what saying? Take out the sting. He's not really gone. Here he is on sting. It's probably fine. That's it's gonna that sounds stupid. I'm just saying, like, I I don't know. Feel like you're because he doesn't have any choice in the matter. What if he didn't wanna do his signature, you know, grab and then hoot? You know what I'm saying? What if he wasn't down with that? You're taking the man's freedom away. That means you could take a a likeness of me and tell everybody I love the Dodgers. I don't like the Dodgers. You know what saying? But you could make me look like I do. That seems really unfair. Who has control over what he gets to say and what he doesn't? Yeah. I I'm in the creepy category. I think that's I it's cool looking. I'm not saying it's not cool looking and frankly impressive to watch, but ultimately in the creepy category. And it, it doesn't allow I don't know. Like, realistically, it doesn't ever allow you to, like, book in some guy's career. Like, Nat King Cole, they did that didn't they did they do that with Nat King Cole? Mhmm. And the Beatles. Yeah. Like, they just like, you know, bring up a dude from the death Mhmm. Every every few years. I mean, let I don't know. Let us let it let it fall. Let other people come up. What if we don't wanna sing White Christmas again? You didn't even ask him. Yeah. Yeah. I'm yeah. Creepy. I'm in creepy category. How long before this gets taken over where you're taking a lot of live people and using holograms and then making them do stuff? You know what I'm saying? Like, they don't wanna do, like, you know, using them for promotions or, you know, that's it. I don't like it. That's b creep creepster. How about David? It is creepy, but it's awesome technology.

Yeah. B. It's yeah. It's a I I mean, like, I don't know that I want any holograms me around. I want my when I'm gone, let my let my kids, you know, celebrate You and get to see dad all the time. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I'm definitely against the holographic pastor. Yeah. That that is that's that's extra creepy. Yeah. Yeah. Especially if the it's like the weekly speaker type thing. It's like, really?

He died, like, four years ago. Is it used for a a megachurch so that they can broadcast to satellite church Yes. People don't know? Well, the article I read, they were saving it for when they died. That's terrible. I've heard of people testing that out for for, like, campuses and stuff. That's all definitely clear. Here's the deal. Anytime your pet you can hock a loogie through your pastor and have it go straight through them, like, that's not appropriate. You know what you know what's funny? You wait until they take the closest renderings they can find of the apostle Paul, which is like a Renaissance looking painting. They got him up there. That's Like, two d and around. That's what I thought. It's Vlad Stanley. No. It's Paul. That's where I thought you were going with that when you started saying megachurches are using holograms. I was thinking they were doing, a holographic Jesus or something. I'm just like, oh, buddy. Yeah. You wait till someone takes that liberty. You know what I'm saying? Today, it's king of pop. Tomorrow, it's king of the world. Exactly. That's the scene. Come on down to Blank Church. We're gonna go ahead and reenact the sermon on the mount with a holographic Jesus. Hold on a minute. What's the difference between that and the son of god movie or a live nativity? That's the same. All you're doing is using technology to do it. I just I feel I don't know. I mean, I yeah. I guess I'm I'm I feel speechless. Was a line drama. Right? Or I was gonna say maybe I'm drawing a line where a line shouldn't be drawn. Now here's now to Holographic Jesus just weirds me No. I I think that's just because the technology is unfamiliar. Now I did see a guy. We had an Easter egg hunt this year, and there was a guy that did a rendering of Jesus.

Did I tell you this story? No. It was weird. So so they were gonna try to tell the crucifixion story. At the Easter egg hunt? Yeah. To all these little kids do an Easter egg hunt. Right on. And and but it was like a one man one man show. Like, it was a narrator woman who didn't dress for the job or anything. Like, she just kinda showed up. And then Foot pants. A Jesus man who had a totally legit beard. I mean, legit beard. Yes. But he he he his action was to, like, just walk this cross kind of in a half circle and disappear behind a cardboard box that's been cut out and kinda and then he comes out and he was wearing like a like a red thing. And then when he comes back out, he's wearing a white thing. And he kinda walks around with his arms in the air like this. And I I don't know any kid that got the gospel story from this this rendering. And that guy was creepy.

Creepy looking. And and, you know, just a guy kinda Jesus Christ superstar and, like, around the Easter egg hunt. It was weird. It was weird. And so even think I could throw down on that, whatever you're saying. Yeah. Churches, don't put your your children's ministry and your homeless ministry together. It's not a good thing. They're like, what is he supposed to do? Like, this went to the magic box with cheer with with color guard and came out all fixed up. You don't see that. In the script too. Like, he didn't even memorize his lines. He was trying to get around with him. And then Litter, though. Thomas. And then I died. Fall to the ground. Whoops. Sorry. I'm not supposed to read what's in parentheses. Oh, man. Alright. Sorry, Dan. What's the right answer? I don't have one. See. I I it's somewhere in all of that. It's just I don't know. Holographic. I I think I think it's actually kinda cool for, like, a a Michael Jackson celebrity

national guy. I think it's a little creepy for the church, especially. I think it elevates a human to a little too much. You you know? Even if there are live ones doing campuses, like, you know, come on. It's just it's just a dude. It's the same word of god. Yep. Yeah. Hi. My hologram will be held to a higher standard and accountable for the people in this room. Yeah. I have literally not sinned today. I was just booted up twenty minutes ago. My hologram is better than any human around here. They can't nearly do what I do. Yeah. That's just kinda I feel like I'm the only one in this room that's making up situations in my head that I could use a hologram. Well, I'm sure we could yeah. We could there could be some Like, I would love to just hang out with a me for the day and just not tell anyone about it so that they, like, come into my house and then see me sitting next to me. You're extremely narcissistic.

You know who I'd like to be with all day? Me. You don't realize. I I I can't go into most restrooms because there's too many mirrors. I see me, and I'm like, hey, man. There's an attractive person trapped in your mirror. Like, I don't know what's going on, but This must be the handsome man bathroom. Exactly. Hey, fellas. I'm sorry. Is this the pretty man club? Because that guy definitely belongs. I I don't know if everybody would think you're pregnant because you have this glow going on if you're a hologram. I mean, you know, it's just like, oh. I feel like that was part fat joke. I think it was I think it was almost all the way fat joke. No. I was thinking in general, said that about Mike? I was trying to I'll bring it up.

Go ahead, thinking more about women, but Call today me right. No. Hope it's Troy, glowing, definitely pregnant. So anyhoo Call me mister mom. Nice to meet you. Yeah. That's the new nickname. He's glowing in the bathroom. Little ice and mister mom. Is that Moses, or is it a pregnant woman? So charity what's happening? What's happening with that? Charity workers steal $1,000,000.

According to a government audit, federal employees diverted more than $1,000,000 worth of charitable contributions to personal in office massages, meals, other luxuries at two training conferences. They called themselves volunteers said and they needed to be motivated to help the less fortunate even though the 41 federal workers were being paid full time salaries to administer the charity drive. So what are your thoughts on corporate or government charity

funds? If you work in a corporation, they do the the annual, you know, United Way thing every year. K? A, Jesus said to feed the poor and clothe the naked so I give what I can. B, I don't trust large charities. I'd rather see someone face to face when help them when I help them. Or c, I only give it work because my boss will get mad if I don't. Shoot.

If you amend c for they gave free PTO time, then I would say c. Because because of b, I don't trust large charities. That's true. That most corporations will buy your graciousness by giving you time off work to donate to The United Way. Yeah. That's absolutely mine is c because of b. I'm up I I this stuff I'm a blending of a and b. Like, I I there are some they're not large organizations, but they're I mean, they're they're beyond me. They're beyond here. Like, there's some missionaries and stuff that we support. But otherwise, generally, b, I would I would say that I would prefer to to deal with someone, in person. Because I feel like God has play has placed that opportunity close with me,

as opposed to just to dump and cash at something else. I'm gonna agree with Ben. I think there's there's portions of a that I agree with, but but more along the lines of b, because I do like to get to I I think the personal relationship that you can build by small time stuff, is absolutely vital. The relationship that you can build with that and and and this time you can spend with them actually talking about your faith, building their faith, things like that, is crucial when it comes to to being able to feed the poor and and and clothe clothe the naked and that kind of stuff in a much smaller setting affecting one or two people at a time rather than giving to a corporation or giving to a fund that that goes out and

partially and and to to the extent that I really don't understand affects thousands of people. I mean, there's gotta be administration cost, Poohla. You know I'm saying? I mean, people someone's gotta run the charity. It's not like they're being outrageous. I I agree, but but I think that that could be taken quickly advantage of. Did you know here's a win win for everybody. We have two people in our church that give to Pathway through United Way.

So they're making their companies happy. They're doing the United Way pledge, but Pathway Church is the beneficiary. It's pretty sweet. That's a good idea. Yeah. There you go. Herrick, where do you land on this? That's what's happening. Oh. I I I like to give, individually, but I also know that there's a lot more power in actually uniting together and and working collectively as a team. The booba doesn't feel that way. So I I'm gonna go both a and b, depending on situation. I'm sorry. I think I agree with both a and b also. I'm sorry. You don't like to give to where other people give.

I mean, why don't you just start your own charity? Well, I was talking about the subject of me and and how great I am. I think we should probably talk about the fact that I like everyone to know that I'm giving. Right. Attention? If I if I give to a big corporation or something, you know, my name may be dropped into a jar. But if I hand building everything. I hand a 20 to somebody that's got a a small little profile brochure about me that says, here's a little bit about the man that just gave money to you. It's got a picture of me.

A couple. Let's be honest. A couple pictures of me. You got a quick bio. They say is that Engeldinger aka John Buba. Is that guy pregnant? Or Like, I'm Danny's got a weird holographic glow to him and a bit of a bulbous stomach. Do you think those two kinda make a pregnant man? Like, I'm not sure. Well, that's the man that just gave money to you. What's the, what's the answer, Dan? Correct answer. The correct answer, give to Pathway Church Oh. Through United Way. Give solely for Pathway Church.

Because we'll help people personally. That's a calling everybody wins. There. Give to our hands you meet. Alright. You've heard this has been all over the place. Beyonce's sister takes on Jay z. It's a lot. Recently, a video leaked that showed Beyonce's sister attacking Jay z in an elevator. She's obviously aggravated about something. She's, very aggressive in the video, and Beyonce is just kinda standing there watching y'all seeing the video. Why don't I have time to watch these gossip rags like you? What would you guys do? I've heard I heard about it, but I don't watch it. Nothing about this. Ugh. I'm telling you. It's it's big time. So here's the question, though. What would you do if a family member started beating on your spouse? Mhmm. Okay. Okay. I'm ready. Put yourself in Beyonce's spot. A, assume they deserve it. Sit back and enjoy the show. Wait. Am I am I the woman? I I kept it generic. Okay. You know? Would you like to be the woman? You were thinking you're Beyonce's situation. You said put myself in Beyonce's shoes. I don't wear nine inch stilettos, but I'm willing to give it a shot for the scenario.

Man, they're great. So a, assume they deserve it, sit back and enjoy the show. B, use all necessary force to stop them to find out then find out why they attacked. Or c, jump in and help out in the attack. They made you mad too. Oh. Well, it's tough roast. No. It's not. The answer is b. Yeah. What? It's b. You you stopped by. What?

What if they've wronged me? Yeah. I don't care. The answer What is a good other other good time to throw some violence in? No. This is one of those those those what's happening with Dan's that that there's kinda just one answer that's correct. Wait. This is where I struggle with, though, because Dan Dan's represented a situation. Let's say Mike was beating me in the face. Yeah. Is the expectation that my wife jump in? I I guess I I don't know the answer to that, but I'm only taking it from my point of view, which in my point of view, any situation that I'm involved in, I'm gonna get step in. Yeah. Your wife will likely step in on your behalf. She's gonna get punched in the face. I didn't say violently step in. I'm just saying she'll step in and say Like, clawing from the outside? Yeah. Who who wants a it. Who wants a Clark bar? Tone it down, boys. I have Clark bars. Yeah. Hey. Let's settle this over a Klondike bar. Come on. Yeah. I mean, I I don't know that you wanna participate in the violence. But

you don't necessarily wanna stop it? I mean, it depends on what happened. So listen. Everybody always says that a good punch in the face is not the right thing. I'm just saying sometimes it solves problems. Have you seen Roadhouse? Not. What? You say have you seen Roadhouse? Are we I'm only allowed to see the TBS version, but I from what I can see, violence fixes the problem. We are basing Mike, what about Baltimore and to go fix it. We are basing our reaction to a situation based off of Roadhouse. I feel like I don't know if they're saying when a guy shows up with a knife already attached to his boot, you're gonna have to do something. Here's

here's the deal. There's not many things that I'm I'm wise on, and I I completely understand that. There's not many things that I have the correct answer on. But when it comes to, hey, man, should I really base my decision in this situation based off of Roadhouse the movie? First Roadhouse versus 12 through 16. I think the answer to that question is an is absolutely a no. You live the way you live your life the way you want to. I'm just saying I live Jesus. And you live it by Swayze. Roadhouse. That's all I'm saying. I you live it by a long haired Swayze bouncing. Boov, it's hard to take your moral high ground. You're a pregnant man. Absolutely. And I've got my baby mistakes. I've got my baby in mind at all times. You guys should trust my moral high ground. I'm going with BB is my answer. You better you better step in and tell you could sort out what's going on here. You're a great musician. How the Hatfield McCoy start is people stepping in like that. I'm just saying. I'm for it. I'm saying that's how it starts.

K. Eric, where you at? B? Oh, yeah. Definitely. B. Definitely. Everybody's b, dad. Yeah. Yeah. B b b's right. You gotta stop it and then have an adult conversation and then kinda go on Unless they have a knife on their boot, then you'd be just Well, you still gotta stop it. You gotta go straight to elbows. Go ahead. That's that's to use whatever force necessary. Yeah. That left it a Right. Exactly. Like Yeah. Doesn't mean I can't, like, physically stop the altercation. I mean, like, I'm gonna step in. I'm gonna push the people You could just away from each other, though. Like, somebody might get hurt from me stopping it, but it's gonna be a lot less hurt than somebody just getting

knife booted in the face or something. I don't know what change your ways. I I got an extra freebie here. Okay. Usually, I only do three. Here's a fourth one. Just because it's so awesome. Woman calls in a bomb threat to stop graduation ceremony. She's a 22 year old woman told her family she was going to college. Her mom has been paying thousands of dollars to the school. The daughter purchased a cap and gown for graduation. The only problem is she wasn't actually attending college, and she wasn't graduating. So she has her cap and gown. She's at the at the ceremony. She calls the school, threatens twice in twenty ninth period, says, you know, hey. There got we got some bombs here. I can't believe you're keeping the ceremony going. Although she used her own cell phone, the police traced her to herself,

arrested her in her cap and gown. So here's the question. What should happen to this woman? Should the college give her a degree because she showed she's really smart? Should she just be thrown in jail and arrested, or should she go to be sent to a work camp and pay back her parents. I'm sorry. A work camp? Work camp? Where did that come? I made I forgot to put questions. I made these up as we were talking.

Should she be sent to a work camp? She's gotta pay back her pants to that house. Unauthorize the American work camp. Just answer the question. Should she be made part of a chain gang digging ditches know outside of a road? What? I'm going to a c, work camp. Yeah. This is the best I've ever heard. Here's the deal. I'm totally cool with work camp. Like, I was I was questioning if I'm gonna that. Favorite one. Yeah. Work camp and pay back your parents. Let's see. Work camp. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wait. So did I get the start of the story right that the parents have been paying for school? Yeah. Yeah. Everybody thought she was in school. She just soaked it up. One of the relatives noticed her name wasn't in the program. They're like, what's going on here? She's like, oh, I gotta make a call.

Bomb threat. Bomb threat. Can't believe she called with her own cell phone. What a doofus. Exactly. So she obviously did not get educated. I would have taken the money and left the state. Know what I'm saying? Before I had called in a bomb threat and and and if if the whole goal is to save yourself the embarrassment of knowing you've been fleecing your mom and dad, I would have saved up the last three payments, bought a Volvo, and hit the Yeah. Yeah. This gown chafes. I'm out. At what point do you think no one will ever know? Yeah. I mean Four years. Yeah. But five years? That kind of forward thinking would have actually got her through college. I was gonna say. She might have graduated. Give her a second at that. She wasn't spending that four years thinking ahead of, alright. So I'm I'm schmoozing a lot of money from my parents. I should probably figure out a plan to kind of cover up this whole deal. Let me ask you this. Do you know realistically, do you think if you were to approach a, the person, dean or whatever and say, look, $4,

you say my name, you hand me a blank folder. You don't have to falsify documents. You don't have to imply that I graduated. You just say my name and let me walk by and pick up a blank folder, $5. How many college deans would do it by percentage?

60. None. Nobody would do it? I'd say 15%. There's not a corrupt, greedy college bubble. They're pretty proud of their education. I don't know, though. I think there'd be 15%. Five? I think I can safely say 15%. 5,000

would would would suffice. Maybe an area college. They're not paid as high as, like, a Harvard professor. I think you could blackmail them. I don't think paying them off Maybe a dean on their way out or something. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Why not? I've been doing this for thirty years. Like, let's have some fun. I'll hand you a blank folder for $5. Grease the pig. I'm out. Okay. I just thought was curious. I'm a pregnant single mother. Like, I I would take $5, and I would falsify records. This is a good Jesus talk. Alright. Yeah. I'm with work camp. See? I'm cool with work camp. Like, Mike and I agree on this. I'm totally cool with work camp to pay your parents back. Okay. Chain gang. Alright. 20 points for everybody who said work camp. Cool. Oh,

man. Cute. What's it like to be moral? And that was what's happening with Dan. Mike, what's your pope style? Preface of the pope style is is that,

you know, people have they they want whispers. They want advice from the pope. And they started asking around town, and and the guy that I made mad at the gas station last week decided to tell everybody that I was the pope and that he was staying at my place. And so they're they're all gathered on my lawn, and they want advice, something to to to keep their day to day going, and and they're not leaving until they get it. K. And so I'm stuck. I have to come out and and provide some pope style advice, and and here's what I'm coming up with. This week, I've been thinking an awful lot about what it really means to be part of the kingdom of God. And I think you can live a very easy

existence without thinking that. You know what I'm saying? Like, I think here here's here's the here's the evolution of what I think I've come up with is is, you know, most people when they first get introduced to Christ, they're like they look at it like this, man, there's gonna have to be some radical changes to my ways. I'm I'm gonna have to do some stuff. And then you, like, you you guiltlessly, which is kind of the intent. You you pray. You pray for everything. You know, the, you know, the financial stuff and people around you and sickness, and you're like, no problem. You know what? This is great that that that there's a god to handle this. This is really working out.

And then, I I don't know, some time passes, and then you you you kinda start to realize when you start to read that read the Bible, and and and it starts to look a lot more not as easy anymore because god has asked you to actually make some changes to be in this kingdom. This is the the the life the way that he had designed it to be and this is the kingdom the way that he wants to run it being the all knowing and just god And, like, the easy part of living however you wanted, accepting God's grace, and then praying for the rest is just boy, it's just so simple. And then you start to look at it and go, you know, when when first Corinthians says,

here's what love is. And and you and you go through the list and you're like, you know, maybe instead of just just praying for when I failed at this, maybe I should really actually make this a staple of being in the kingdom that I love this way, that I love without boasting, you know, that I lose this arrogance, you know, that that I that I love without envy. And and and it's it's way easier to do them and accept god's grace for your failings than actually say, you know what? I'm gonna I I want I want a stake in this kingdom of god. And I I wanna love like that. And I don't wanna be, you know, every day saying, you know, I failed this, but you love me and and hit me with the grace and and I'm just so glad to be to know you. You know, and and and instead of I I I just I don't know. I think there comes a point when you when you realize with your in your in your relationship with with God that you're like, you know what? I wanna be part of the kingdom that you're talking about, not just an outsider that realizes, yeah, it sounds like it's probably great.

And and and I think when when when that moment shows up, I think that's when the rubber really meets the road because you're I mean, you are you are legitimately handing your life over to the holy spirit. And that is a very scary place for a lot of, evangelicals, for a lot of modern day for me. You know what I'm saying? Like, if you have not had a lot of, interaction of with God in your life, it's basically just been Bible and people around you and not a whole lot of I prayed on it and here's what God had me doing or here's what God hit me with. If that's not where you're used to living, it's a very scary place to be. But, that's kinda how the kingdom of God works. And it's not like you can look at that situation and go, that's for some people and not for others.

It's for everybody. The kingdom of god works like that where the holy spirit guides you in the way and and the actions that god has laid out for you And it's very much as I I mean, I I swear this just keeps coming up over and over and over again in in the means everywhere, not just the ways. And I've I've been listening I talked to a couple fellows this week, and I heard some stories, and I thought, you know, God is all about those means because if you try to guess his ways, you could be right. The Bible is very clear on I mean, take just about any issue. He's pretty clear on on on adoption or on on on feeding feeding the hungry. You know? But, like, if you just say, okay. God needs to feed the hungry. I'll I'll volunteer at the soup kitchen on Tuesdays. You've missed it. You didn't ask him. You didn't ask him what he wanted you to do. You just said, I see your endgame. I'll just beat you to the punch. That is a mistake. That is not the way the kingdom of God works. Ask

him where he wants you to be and ask him how he wants you to feed because he he nine out of 10, he's got he's got 10 other things cooking, and he's gonna use you to do them if you make yourself available. And so I guess my my pope style advice is is this. If you if you find yourself living a fairly easy existence in the kingdom of God, I'm not saying that there's not joy in the kingdom of God because I think basically that's all there is. But if you find that that joy comes extremely easy, I I I feel like you just need to reevaluate how much you're trusting the Holy Spirit for your direction on what you're doing. I'm not saying he's gonna put you through the ringer and drag you to Bosnia and then imprison you, you know, but he might. He might do that. I'm not saying he's gonna. I'm just saying he might. And, basically, you're saying,

you know, I I wanna spread the gospel. I'm not gonna do it there. That is not your option. That's not the way the kingdom of god works. Mhmm. So that's my pope's advice. I I think there's a veil. I think there's a there's a there's a point in which, actually, it should should always be occurring. But, like, God will will help you be dissatisfied with what you accepted, with the with the normal, with with looking around and saying this is how this is how even within the church is how everybody's acting. And you look around, you're like, I'm not satisfied with this. And and you're basically brought to a decision where it's like,

either this thing is not true and I'm bailing or I'm all in, which I think I mean, God's pushing you to that. He's saying it is it is one of those things. This this this fence sitting, I didn't create a kingdom of fence sitting. There is not my kingdom and then, like, half my kingdom while you peer over the wall. Like, you're in. And and, I I think where where sometimes we struggle with this is is is it feels selfish

to desperately want that which God has promised. Mhmm. Because because with our religion, sometimes we've been felt made to feel guilty about wanting certain things. And so, like, what the that's a fence sitting position. I feel guilty about wanting certain things in my life, for for personal reasons. But on the other hand, I very much desire what it is God has promising me.

And so, and and I I've been to that point where, like, where I felt guilty about saying God says I can have this this peace and it's joy, and I think all I want is peace and joy. Lord, I want that. And I think, you selfish punk. Like, what if God has something else going on? Like, God doesn't he he told you what he has going on, but it's the but it's the means. It's accepting the whole picture that those things are done through living in the kingdom the way he's asked you to, by being obedient, by following the holy spirit. And, and and he's breeding discontentment within you to say, yeah. It's okay. It's okay to look at what he said. This is what my kingdom is like, and say, want that more than anything else, and I'm willing to give up everything it takes to get there.

And he said everything that I a lot of times we get we get upset because we're like, well, I God God said he's gonna do these things. And we in evangelical circles, modern church, we have to explain try to find reasons to explain why those things aren't happening in your life. Maybe it's an aberration to God's character. Maybe it's only for this person. Maybe it's this. Maybe it's that. Some of that's true, but some of it is. It's because we only wanted the fruit. We wanted the fruit of living in the kingdom without actually living in there. And then we get upset when it doesn't happen as if God's character is the one that's not consistent. So so far in in my faith, which, in my words is still pretty young. I've I've really only honestly been seeking faith in my opinion in about two for about two years now.

There's been three big things that have happened. The first of which was my initial choice, of the faith that I have. So acceptance of Jesus Christ as my lord and savior and my baptism. And that kinda brought out this this this honeymoon phase period of, hey, man. Now now I'm really kingdom living. I'm excited to to really be here. You know, I've accepted Jesus Christ as my lord and savior. It's it's smooth sailing. I'm excited about this. And then I quickly

became depressed because I didn't see a lot of stuff happening, and I didn't see a lot of big things happening. But what I did see was the holy spirit convicting me like crazy on everything. I saw okay. So you're doing really good at this, and and and I know that this is what God's heart is on this. And I'm doing my best to glorify this for God, but this is here. And then, you know, I'm working on that, and I'm really working on that. And the holy spirit's just like, alright. Now this, you got this. And that caused me to go into another turning point where it was my initial honeymoon phase, my phase of, is this what kingdom living is because I'm having to deal with this? And then I flipped it onto, no. I should be getting joy from this because I'm having the holy spirit completely con working

in my life and convicting me for things for God's glory. And I get to look at these things from a standpoint of this is how I get closer to God. So I look at that from joy. Yes. It's a problem in my life, but I need to be moving forward for that. And I really need to be choosing that for my my relationship with Christ, not to run away from that, but to run to that because that's what God wants me to do. And you're listening to live from the path. If you're on nine point three, we've got to let you go. We'll go we'll continue this discussion after the break. Also, we got some advice on dear life from the path. We might get to some, words of wisdom from the Duck Dynasty guys. Thanks for listening to live for the map. Sorry, but we were on a heartbreak. But that but that that journey is interesting. Is it interesting? Yeah. It's was a it's been wild. I mean, I'm still I'm still working on that third portion of it's it's been difficult to see all of the things that that I'm being convicted to work on and then truly have a heart of joy for that. Have the thought process of that's not being pointed out for my detriment. That's being pointed out so that I can identify and fix that for God's glory. Yeah. And it's really it's it's a thought process on it because you could take that for, well, this is just more crud my life. Yeah. This is more muck and mire that I keep crawling back into. Or you could take from the standpoint of this is the holy spirit working in my life. This is the holy spirit pulling me closer to Jesus and bringing things out that I can work on so that I can be closer to God and glorify him through my actions.

I I had a I had a story. I was listening to a guy talk this week, and, he was talking about, a a trip they were going on. They're they're missionaries. And, they were set up to go to a to a certain location, and, they they they didn't have money. They just didn't have it. You know, and they're like, I, you know, I don't what we're going to do but god says, we're going. So, we're going and and so, they got up to it and they had enough money to take the initial plane ride and then and and and god had been faithful in the past that like if they just kind of did what he said, he showed up and and then, you know, the the money was there when they got there and like, I had a I had a I don't know the story that that I was listening to is just it was it pushed me to a point to realize where my my barrier for obedience is but like, as the story went, they got on a plane

and, you know, they they reached their destination, and, the the money didn't show up. And so, you know, they prayed on it, and and and what they got back from God was you're you're gonna go home now. And that was it. Like, you you were obedient. You know, that like, they they they thought they were going somewhere to, you know, to start,

to start some things as God has directed them. And, you know, they got there. The money wasn't there, and they they prayed. And and he said, you're you're gonna go home now. And I thought I would I would be absolutely devastated. And I would think I I heard the holy spirit wrong, and that, you know, this is there's something not right here. And, like and they did. They got back on the plane, and and, you know, God worked it out. Like, he was doing something else at the time that they were clued into later after they got back. But, like, I just thought I don't know that I could be obedient with joy in that situation. You know what I'm saying? Like, to to trust God when he says he's gonna do something or that he has other things going and just do my

my 10 feet in front of me part instead of my my endgame. You know, God, tell me what the endgame is. I'll figure out how to get there. You just tell me what you want, and I and I'll do that. You know? Like, I'm a hired consultant for him. You know? Like, he needs my wisdom in how to get something done. And I feel like I'm not like, I'm I I I just I don't know. I've been praying on that this week that, like, I've I'm I'm not in a position to follow you like that. I'm not in that position to listen to you on a need to know basis. Kinda like Moses. You know what I'm saying? Like, he gave Moses very little very little information. You know what I'm saying? Just just go do this. I'm gonna send when he sent him to Pharaoh, like, I mean, hey. Go tell him this. Knowing full well wasn't it was gonna fail. You know what saying? But only gave him one step at a time. Hit him with his plague. Yeah. I knew that was gonna happen. Here's what you can do. Hit him with his plague. You know I'm saying? And and it's not Moses is never like, hey. Just tell me the endgame here. Can we just start killing people? Or what's the deal? You know, he's like, no. No. No. Hit him with his plague. Knowing, like, every time it was gonna be a no. Do you think Moses would do it if he knew the endgame? Here's you're gonna do this, this, this, this, then you're gonna wander for forty years, and you're gonna die and not go to the promised land. That's what I'm saying. I'm out. But but see here's Yeah. Don't know how I'd walk into that is that is that that Moses was still obedient even with the small. I think I got to the point and what why this pope style advices excuse me, important to me is because I'd have bailed after plague number three. I feel like we're not accomplishing what god would want accomplished.

I'm not hearing you correctly. That's right. I must be not understanding because these plagues that I keep coming up with, I think, you know, and I keep throwing at him. He's like, boo I'm not afraid of you. Obviously, I'm not listening. I'm not hearing the Holy Spirit right. I'm gonna bail. Let you know, I'll I'll I'll help I'll help the orphans. You're always on board with that. You know what I'm saying? Like and so and I think we do that way too often. Yeah. Like we take God's master plan and we go, he's always on board with this. Let's do that. And don't ask him who, what, when, where, or why. We just go, we know he's cool with this, so that's what we're gonna do. Well, put that in the context of the article we read earlier. Some it's you know, and and it's it's your perspective. If you're looking at the little one plague, I just failed. If you're looking at God's big plan, oh, you're headed to success, to to God's success. You know, his plan is gonna be fulfilled here. And and well, yeah, we we did get discouraged too easily. We think we're failures, and and and that's part of the plan. God needed that. I I think a strong part of that is is that

people tend to not trust the holy spirit. I mean, if I'm being honest. You know what I'm saying? Like like they get some harebrained scheme in their head and they're like, there's not a possibility this is the deal. This I mean, because they always expect the holy spirit will act how they want them to. I don't know if you've read the Bible. The holy spirit is not a predictable being nor is it more likely to come in line with your thinking because you're a fallen, sinful man. You know what I'm saying? It doesn't the holy spirit does not think like you. Neither does to look good, be happy. Doesn't He's a winner. He doesn't see it that way. And, like and I think everybody believes, and and and I'm lumping myself in here too, that the Holy Spirit's brand of thinking will always be to my detriment. Mhmm. Like, they're gonna take something from me or you're gonna cost me something. And the truth of the matter is, generally, yes, it will. If if if if even to the very least, it's my ability to know what's going on.

It's my ability to say, okay. Yeah. And not ask, well, how's this gonna end up? What if I don't have a job? What if I get there and then there's no money? I'll I'll tell you when you get there. Just go like I asked you So to I mean, it's complete giving up on on how we function in the world where in any idea that that comes about in normal culture day, the reasonable thing to do is, hey, you gotta think through that. Think through the end of that thing. How's that gonna work out? You you you can't just take a step without seeing where that's gonna go. You'd be a fool.

And then but but the complete opposite exists in the in the realm of the kingdom, which is, yeah, you take a you take a footstep because I told you to take a footstep. You don't get to know anything else of that. No. No. Don't think through it. Just do you know, just follow through in obedience and be still and know that I am God. And things that things are going to be how I want them to be. I can't even say things are gonna work out the way that you think will work out. All I can say is

it's it's what I want. And that's good. And that's good enough. And and again, that's the perspective when we're back to our our discussion on sickness. You do all things for the for glory, for his good, for the good of the people. And so, like, it's just what? For the good of the people? I was hoping I was hoping to let that go. My mouth kinda just people. My mouth went in a very populous direction, and I thought, leave it. Yeah. Leave it. Stream forward. Look look what's going on in the in the news right now. It's finally starting to get actually some some national news. You have all of these young girls being kidnapped overseas and and,

you know, because they're Christian and sold into slavery and all all these things that are happening over there. There there's there's nothing really positive about that. I mean, these kind of articles are are written to to American population Mhmm. That wanna hear about how cool we are and how blessed we are and how God wants us to prosper and and drive nice cars and live in big homes. And and the rest of the world just kinda it's like of the Christian world, it's kinda like, what where do you get you know, what? And, you know, it's it's Yeah. Live in a whole different place. Here's here's this is gonna sound bad, but, like, this is the level of delusion that we live in. It's like I was it's it's it's been a long time ago, but I was talking to somebody about adoption. They were talking about international adoption, adopting, you know, from somewhere else to here. And, like, they're like, you know what I think is going on here? God is just calling all of his children home and from the civilizations.

This is the promise. Let me just say that. And I thought you you I think we should go to China then. Well, here's the thing. The the gospel is exploding in China. You know what I'm saying? There's there's I mean, there's literally more Christians there than here. I maybe someone needs to come adopt me

and take me back to the motherland where I can worship Jesus. I like ZZ Top sets of theology. Jesus is from Chicago. Jeez. But but, like, here's the thing. It's like, you know, the source of where that came from, they're I mean, they love Jesus. They're just Yeah. They're blind. They're there's blinders on. You know I'm saying? And I'm not saying that, like, to a certain extent, I have I have it. Yeah. I have a world blinder on. I don't I I, you know, I don't know what there is to know, and and and I will I will yell till I'm blue in the face about how I don't believe, you know, the the, what would you know, the how can I say that? The greatness of America at all costs. But to a certain extent, that's my base level thinking. Right? I know that I I don't wanna think that way, but I you know, if push comes to shove, you'll catch me, I'll just say, of course, it's a given that America's great. You know what I'm saying? And so, you know, I I don't know. It's it's that's a that's a huge thing to to unlearn

through through a k a your public school system, everything you've ever seen. You know I'm saying? America's got it figured out. Everyone else is behind the the curve. And and really as a kingdom thing, you know, that we're that's not what we're talking about here. We're not talking about the greatness of The United States Of America. I'm pretty sure Rome thought they were fantastic for a while. We may or may not be heading in the same direction. Except for the Visigoths don't know how to use a boat, and that's where we have them.

Alright. You're listening to Life From The Path. Hey. You can catch us during the week at lifefromthepath. The freshly redesigned lifefromthepath.org should make the videos pretty easily and accessible to you. Also, it's a little more friendly on the mobile format. So if you're gonna pick it up on a tablet or your cell phone, it's easily scrolled through. You can enjoy the new website at lifeinthepath.org. You can sign up for the pod actually, you can't sign up for the podcast. I hid that. That'll be back. Don't worry about it, friends. Actually, if you're listening to this right now, you are signed up for the podcast.

Anyways, for the good of the people. Tell other people about the podcast, though. Tell them. Also, a big thanks to our sponsors, Bob Eisenhower with the Eisenhower team. I saw there was a guy selling a house right across the street from me, it went for weeks unsold. And I thought, should have called Bob Eisenhower. And then I thought, I should find him and tell him to call Bob Eisenhower. Yep. And then I also have a friend that sold a that put a house up on the market. And I, we hadn't discussed it or anything, and then I noticed they used a different leader, realtor. And I I felt actually kind of disappointed, and it knocked him down a notch in my my book. I thought, aren't you a thinking person? Actually, that has come up more than more than once. The people I know go to sell a house, and they do not choose Bob Eisenhower. And I'm like, what is the matter with you? I feel like we've talked about this. Now here's the thing. That's not Bob's posturing. This this arrogance is completely on my end. No. But I do think that about people. I'm a little judgmental on people that don't use Bob Eisenhower because I think he's awesome. I agree. And I think they should. So, anyway, you can, you can find more about Bob. Again, the arrogance is on our end. Bob is a humble, awesome man, and he wouldn't think that about other people. But, you go to eisenhowerteam.com, and Bob can help you out with whether you're buying or selling a home anywhere in the Des Moines Metro Area and beyond. He's your man.

And I think they'll let you use a truck if you sell if you sell your plates with them. They got a sweet truck. He has a big face on it. You ready? Oh, also Westfield Veterinary Hospital. Mike, you can't cut off the Westfield Veterinary Hospital. You ready? Anyway Go ahead. You go to westfieldvethospital.com. You can set up an appointment online and get your dogs cat checked dogs, cats, birds, horses. Squinnies. Yeah. Get past the lord. We got past the virus. Past the lord. Catch them. Take them in. And here's the deal. Tick it's tick season. You gotta make sure you got that the goo on your dogs and stuff. Otherwise, they get in the ticks. I've gotten some ticks myself this year. That's nice. Yeah. You can sign up for the Westfield Veterinary Hospital.

Anyway, go to westfieldvethospital.com. Those guys are awesome, and they can set you up with the right stuff. They're gonna do the right thing for you at the right price. And they love your pets, and they we'd love if you could go by and check them out. Okay. So I literally think this sometimes. I had a couple well, there's a couple of biblical references flying around my house right now that I'm I'm having a hard time grasping. But, like, in my own head, like, I have to pull ticks off the dog every once in a while. And some of them have just been there for a while. You can tell because they're just sloughingly happy. You know I'm saying? Like, they're big and fat. They can barely walk. You know what I'm and I'll pull them off the dog, and I'll put them on the table. I'm like, you and then for some reason, all I do is see King Herod. I don't know why. But, like, I just see this big fat King Herod tick, and I'm like, you've got what you deserve, dick man. I mean, he's on his back. He can't move. He's extremely fat. Anyway and number two, my daughter is named one chicken, the minor prophets. And like, I I I keep forgetting to to refer to it in the in the plural. I call it the minor prophet. And and like it it it's I've done it like five times and my daughter is just insisting that it is that that one chicken is the name, the minor prophets, and I will refer to it as the plural.

I I keep forgetting to do it. And I've I've incurred the wrath of of my six year old daughter multiple times this week due to that. That's an oversight, definitely. Yeah. I I feel like I I told her I'm gonna need a name tag or something on this chicken because, I mean, I just keep calling it. I said, can we just narrow it down to one of the minor prophets? She goes, dad, the chicken's name is the minor prophets, and that's the end of it. And one of the other chicken's name is fashion, fashion, fashion, fashion chicken. That one I remember. There we go, dear.

Dear that was named by the other one. Dear life in the path. I've been working hard to advance in my health care career so I can give my family a decent life. I've worked my way up from poverty, paying my own way, earning my degree through the military, and sheer determination. I've reached a point where I would like to enjoy life a little more, but my husband thinks I'm being materialistic. We fight often over my wardrobe spending. I believe the clothes I wear, mostly nice skirts, suits, and heels, are part of my job and image. I believe it has helped me to get ahead. I don't buy overly expensive items, but they aren't cheap. I wear the things I buy for years and have a $200 a month budget for whatever I may need, even though I don't always spend it. I think I've earned the right to shop a little, which will ultimately lead to bigger and better things for my family. So why does my husband make me feel so guilty? From clothes make the woman. That's 200 a month for everything extra or just for clothes? Clothes. Clothes budget. That's a pretty that's a pretty good size. That's the size of Clothes budget. Yeah. Yeah. That's How many how many how many fresh outfit outfits are you having to do? That might be two outfits. Those ladies clothes are expensive. Yeah. They are. I can't remember last time I bought a skirt suit, but I'm pretty sure it's in the upwards of $1.50,

$1.30. Yeah. Well, here's Harry. My my advice to to her is, she she just needs to work this out with her husband. I mean, we can't tell them how much they should spend on clothes or what's appropriate. It's a communication issue within their own marriage. They need to have a good just keep having the conversation. They gotta somebody's gotta give a little bit. Actually, both of them probably need to give a little bit and figure out how this will work.

It's not always easy to figure out budget problems, but but you gotta keep talking. You can't you know, don't talk to them about us. We're not the we're not the answer. You gotta talk to your husband. Keep talking. Keep talking till you get this thing worked out. Actually, I disagree. You're spending too much on clothes. Yeah. That's just flat out too much money. Yeah. I actually think so too. I'm not sure blood on them every week. I was trying to think I don't think she's wearing skirt suits and getting blood on them. She she's in the medical She sounds like she's an administrator of some sort. Oh, there's blood. I was trying to think why the husband would care. Like, let's assume that that she makes enough money. Alright? Maybe the dollar amount isn't the concern. I mean, maybe he's concerned for his wife because she if she's spending that much on clothes on a monthly basis, maybe especially

the tag, but clothes make the woman. Maybe she's too tied up in an in an unhealthy image of herself. It's too much tied to those clothes, and he's concerned about that. Because all of a sudden, she's make if she's making, enough money, you know, what what is he I don't know what he cares unless he, you know, he doesn't get to buy something else. But That that came out in the conversation, though. Yeah. She then you get to the heart of it, not just argue over dollar figures. Yeah. I think she's representing it as a simple money issue. I'm gonna doubt that that's the case. Yeah. I I think it's the it's the it's the the the there's two arguments going on here. Right? Like, the first argument that she makes is it's for my work. I have an image to keep up. This is the style of dress that is acceptable in my position. Yeah. That I you know, that I feel I'm feeling you. I I don't really I don't like that. But I feel I I feel like that's decent. But, like, the last paragraph, she says, I think I've earned the right to shop a little, which will ultimately lead to bigger and better things for my family. So she said two different things there. Like, bigger and better things for my family is I'm succeeding in my job. I've earned the right to shop a little. That makes it sound frivolous. Like, you just like to buy clothes, which is totally okay. But now you're arguing two different things. And and and so usually when people do that, you know, they're that means they didn't have a strong argument either way. Mhmm. And so there's holes somewhere in it. Mhmm. Dave Herrick, your thoughts. I'm guessing she just wants to buy things for herself and she's trying to cloak it in in this whole idea of of

buy more bigger, better items in a professional for professional reasons. But while there's some validity to that, I think she's just using that as an excuse to indulge. Yeah. I'm agree with that because I I was, thinking about that wording.

If you say bigger and better things for my family, she's already claiming that she has money in excess to be able to buy $200 worth, a month worth of clothes. Mhmm. So, I mean, how much bigger and better does your family desire? It's not if the husband really cared about the money and he saw and the opportunity was legit, he would otherwise support the buying. But my guess is he doesn't really care about the money. This is not really an opportunity for the family. I think Herrick's spot on. I think he's caught the the lizard in the weeds. That's how he put it. Exactly. Lizard in the weeds. Here's what the secular says. Not knowing your husband, it's difficult to say, but I'll throw out a few ideas. Could he be insecure or intimidated by a professional image? Could he be jealous on some level? He would also like to wear skirt suits, and no one will indulge. In what kind of environment was he raised? Was his mother's uniform a house dress? Wow. This is presumptuous. If you if you are earning good money and your family is being provided for, then you are certainly entitled to spend some of it on yourself, and you shouldn't have to apologize for it. Bam. That would return to selfish. Upon the assumption that your husband is a sexist selfish pig, here's my advice. That's destructive advice, I'd say. Sheesh.

Yeah. That's rough, man. Let us know how the divorce goes. Yeah. Hi. I know you you have no culpability in your wild spending. And, yes, think more of yourself. By all means. Okay. Here we go. Dear life from the path. My daughter's third birthday is coming soon, and since the new thing is sending out website generated invitations, I've noticed that it is becoming common to include the child's interests, clothes slash shoe size, etcetera, in the invitation.

I'm uncomfortable about including this information because I feel a child should be grateful for anything he or she receives as a gift. Am I too old fashioned, or is this tacky? If it is acceptable these days, what's a good way to provide a child's wish list without sounding expectant of anything? Okay. I kinda get that. I kinda get that because it is a little rude to send out a wish list. Like, here's here's all the things that if it feels like an expectation. As a it's different if, like, the mom whispers, Johnny would really like to have this toy truck as opposed to, here's my list. Please fulfill it. Well, they do that at weddings, though. That's kind of way the wedding registry works. Are you offended by that? No. No. Although there's there's generally practical reasons for that.

I don't know. You're asking a larger crowd to come to a wedding of people who are a little further away from you relationally. You know I got kicked back out for on my wedding? I asked for a garage door better. You know why? Because we didn't have one. And it'd be nice to have one. And I don't need a bunch of you silly crap from you. I need a garage door Uh-huh. I want you to have this crystal. Why'd you get kickback? Because they said you're you it's it's wrong to use your wedding gift registry to stock your garage. I said, look, man. We don't have a garage door opener. What do you want me to ask for? China, we're never gonna use? I don't want that stuff. I asked for a pack of Sharpies. Ben picked that up, took himself right off the list. So Well done, brother. We we got that gift registry out, like and and, like, I it wasn't one day later. We're on target.com, and Ben's picked up the pack of Sharpie.

Done. I was trying to give an out to maybe somebody that was didn't wanna feel obligated to buy a decent gift. You did. Yeah. I did. There's Ben Foost right there. $3 pack of Sharpie clickable, he says. I scanned a soda at the baby's r s. You're preparing for children. I thought, I'm gonna eat one of these. I gotta stay awake.

Okay. So that that was the question. Is it is it tacky to put the gift what what the kid wants on the birthday? I don't know. You don't wanna waste your money. Now here's the deal. It it's not certainly not wrong to put a shoe size. Like, you're supposed to say, hey. The kid's gotta learn to deal with what he gets. If he's a size six and, like, someone buys him a size ten, he's like, you'll learn to deal with it, Johnny. I mean, let's just let's not act like we're living in, like, right after the depression. It's not necessary. How many children get excited about getting a pair of shoes from their friends from a for a birthday present? If they're Spider Man shoes. I mean, they can't be lame. That's true. Although, I probably wouldn't publish a shoe size on the off chance that grandma would buy an ugly pair of shoes Yeah. That's with that size. Like, you give grandma too much information, that's the rope to hang you with. Yeah. She's like, I got you British knights. These are popular. Alright, grandma. Thanks a lot.

Some orthopedic shoes. Little Swiss with some some isotoners in there. Swiss. Alright. Where are we at? What's the what's the skinny? Just just go generic. Be comfortable with that. That's okay. Or don't put clothes, put toys. Bet the child likes toys, gift certificates to say, you know,

food. Yeah. So maybe we're haggling over the medium again. Maybe it's a hologram question. Like, if you would if it's okay for people to ask, call on the phone and ask, is it any different just to supply it? Yeah. Yeah. It is or, yeah, I've asked the right question. Yeah. I feel like it's presumptuous. Yeah. If you care enough to ask, I'll tell you. Do you only get the good information if you bother enough to call? Yeah. Because you care enough to call. I don't remember any of my children ever getting clothes from their friends.

I think it's a scarf. This isn't a friend. This isn't limited to friends. Gonna have friend thing. Yeah. I guess so. It could be anybody. Yeah. It could be family. I guess when they're young, they have, like, family come up. But when they get, like, past four, they don't they don't want family. They wanna have their friends. They wanna go skating. Maybe past five. I don't know. My I have a seven year old. She likes her family. I wish I had a birthday for my Maybe. Six year old. There was no friends. Maybe if you didn't lead every conversation with, I'm gonna die someday. You better make some friends quick. Yeah. I I I don't know. We I I don't do that. I don't include we know what the kid wants. No. I don't care if you don't buy the kid anything. You know I'm saying? Now some people, here's the roast of the birthday party. Some people think that every kid gets a gift. That's not the way it happens in my house. Know what I'm saying? Like, it's a birthday party for a singular person and like, we should make gift bags for people. I'm not wanna be Yeah. We had that talk. Yeah. That's not gonna happen. That's not gonna Yeah. That is not gonna happen. Now sometimes I'll set out stuff, like, you wanna take it, like, it's extra. Like, if I go through my closet and there's stuff I don't want, I'll set them out. I'm selling cookies for a 0.25. You want some of these shorts or something? You can have it. But other than that, I don't make gift bags for people coming to my kids' birthday party. That's ridiculous. No. That's not right. Alright. What's what's the secular advice?

Secular's advice is, I appreciate that you want to teach your child good manners and good values. How else are your children to learn if their parents don't take the time to explain what they are? I understand some parents try to save time by including the information you have described along with their party invitations, but frankly, it is tacky. The parents of prospective guests should reply to the invitation by asking what gifts the child would enjoy or can use. The invitation was issued online. The questions should be asked via texting or email. However, a phone call is more personal and frankly more refined. More refined? Yeah. You don't know nothing about that, do you, Senka? Tell me more about this refund. Fact. You're the Maxwell House of people. You're still right. I was accidentally shaved my right leg. Is that refined?

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