Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston Proper. You are live from the Path. Hey. You're listening to live from the past. We're coming to you from the past. Week students here in Johnston Proper. Yes. Hi. Hey. Are you talking to me? Everyone. And the world. Stop speaking what I'm speaking. What how do you know I wasn't going first? I'm the designated color man today. I will make all the color commentary and the fancy stuff. High is okay. Got it. Alright. Here's deal. You're listening live from the path. We we got a hey. We got a lot of sweet stuff going on here. Ben has written on the back of a of a steno pad with no more paper in it. It's written completely on the cardboard part of it. Here's the thing. I I almost I stopped at the at the gas station on the way here, I thought I gotta pick up a a steno pad because I feel like I have no way to keep notes, and there's a lot of cool stuff happening. I should write it down. And I I walked out of there with a large coffee,

a two pack of coffee cakes, and some chocolate milk. And I I didn't I I went in there for the steno pad, and I came out with, the 700 calories. Wait. You went into a gas station for a steno pad? Yeah. Well, yeah. I didn't even know a gas station sold a steno pad. Here's the thing. I decided that I had I was spending too much money at the gas station. Right? And so, like, I I I said, this is the week that I'm gonna change this. And so I went to the gas station. I bought a loaf of bread, a jar of jelly, a jar of peanut butter, and package of plastic knives. It cost me $19. Yeah. Wouldn't that have been cheaper at an actual grocery store? Yeah. You're paying for the convenience part of the convenience store? I only know how to shop at the gas station. And so it felt awkward yet. He knows where everything is? I'm yeah. We're gonna do a Buva Educates Mike bit where I take you to a grocery store and we learn how to shop. No. That place the whole thing weirds me out. I can't stand to go to the grocery store. Now see, you mocked me because I went to the gas station for a steno pad, but I've recently purchased a steno pad at a gas station. I was on my way to Minneapolis for work, and I needed some gum. Okay? So I stopped I mean, and this is this like a mom and pop gas station off, off 35. Absolutely. Yeah. Okay. Right? So I go in there, and this is a place where there's, a restaurant on one side and there's a gas station on the other. The best. People frequent the restaurant. They do not go to the gas station. I mean, this thing has not been touched since 1973. There there was a spider wearing a t shirt that said Woodstock or bust in there. That's what was that's what was happening. Go in So

I go in there and, like, I was gonna get the gum, but there's a there's a $6 minimum on debit purchases. $6. That's that's That is You're leaving with a lot of gum. Because if you go in there, they have to have you pay $6, or they can't afford the lights that they just turned off. Gotten me by the man nipples is what it is. They've got As soon as I've been there, and I want some gum, and it is a $6 mandatory debit. So I'm hunting, pecking, trying to figure out what's gonna justify $6 at the gas station. So, I mean, I've got some gum. I got a I already had, like, soda with me, so I'm just picking out random I bought some Band Aids. You never know. Yeah. Definitely. Here's the deal. The reason I picked up the Band Aids because I thought to myself, this is gonna be the the link in a chain of events of which the the holy spirit is vindicated. Is I would have randomly had to spend a $6 minimum at a gas station. I bought Band Aids, and somehow it's gonna pay off in the lord's glory. Ben, I'm not sure what life threatening

situation you said occurs where a Band Aid is gonna be the bridge. The lord shows up for the Band Aid. Whereas the lord would provide a situation like that, a Band Aid will suffice. That's probably true, I think. Alright. Anyway, so I bought a I bought a dollar 79 worth of paper worth of a steno pad there thinking that I'm gonna go to the hotel and create some sort of manifesto. Right. And Oh, man. Here's what I did. I wrapped things in it like it was wrapping paper to to pass the time in the hotel. You practice it? You practice your gift wrapping with a steno pad in the hotel? Do not. Like, the manifesto would have been less creepy. Do not be alarmed if you get a stack of Band Aids wrapped in steno pads for Christmas. I'm so excited for this.

Now to to also to the glory of the lord, this is not the best part of the show. Here's what's actually going on today. We have Dominic Cox with Driven Eleven is back in the studio. Dominic, thanks for swinging out. Hello. Hey, man. So we had a lot of fun the last time he was here, and he he he he agreed to come when it made a lot more sense with his tours to be in here. And and now he's driven a long way to subject himself to my steno pad stories. And he's, to the benefit though, he's brought, two two lovely ladies with him. Egypt Ali is here. Hi. Hello? Hi. How you So so I'm excited. She has she has a new album coming out, and so she's gonna tell us a little bit about that. And and she's gonna do some spoken word stuff I'm really excited about. If you've if you've creeped the net in fact, that's what you should have done. You should have creeped the net during the opening stuff and and soaked in some of Egypt's work.

And then then you could enjoy that kind of thing live, and then you wouldn't have to put up with that gas station business. Yeah. That's a life regret, and that's you need an accountability, man. That's your fault. That's not my problem. K? And then also, Andrea's in the studio. She's going to be lending, sweet, sweet vocals, to a couple cuts from, Dominic's new, new album and, new EP, and, it's gonna be a great show. It's gonna be fantastic. They've got some cool stories about what God's been up to as they've been out on their tour, and I can't wait to to share all that stuff with you. We also have some secular versus Solomon. There's some good ones tonight, boys. You guys are going down. Yes. Going down. Yeah. So I I oh, you guys are all going down. Uh-oh. Yep. Yeah. Boo boo boo boo. I just buy a chair. Well, you keep the score. So, I mean Oh. I'm just you. I know a vast majority of people who disagree with that statement. Well, okay. Bribery's in order. Bribery's what what can we do here? Okay. Right. So we're gonna do some secular versus Solomon. If you've not been a part of the game before, I'm gonna give a proverb,

and you were going to have to guess, is that a biblical bit of wisdom or is it from some secular source and then a a country of origin? The point here is is that where are we getting our wisdom from? Right? Like, if someone says something wise, you're like, oh, that's from the Bible. And then, no, you're that's not some some guy in Paris that came up with that stuff. Like, you need to know the difference as to where you get your wisdom from. And so a secular psalm should vet that out much to your honor and shame. Mostly shame. Yeah. Probably probably shame. Yeah. Okay. So we'll do that. And then Buva Buva had a run-in with the with the street preacher? I I kinda did. Give me the 50¢ tour on this thing. Okay. The 50¢ tour is I was at school this past week with a couple of my friends that I have lunch with every day, and a guy walks up out of nowhere. I didn't even see him walk towards us, but he kinda pops up and he says, hey. Do you guys want to to answer some trivia? But before that, he asked if I knew Jesus. And I said, well, absolutely. I do. I'm I'm very excited that you asked me that because I'm excited to share about them. And he goes, do you wanna answer some trivia questions? And I go, okay. Well, that was an odd succession of questions. But, yeah, sure. I'll answer some trivia questions. And he goes, I'll give you a dollar for every time you answer a question right. And long story short, that that ended itself up with him asking a couple of non Jesus questions like who just got in the hall of fame for baseball and who wrote thriller back in the eighties.

I I won that dollar. Thank you very much. Did Michael Jackson write it? Yes. He did. What the get a dollar. Yeah. Good job. But that ended in him talking to my friends instead of me about Jesus because he decided that, well, he's alright. He knows he knows Michael Jackson. Yeah. Exactly. Which is an interesting thing. This guy knows knows Jesus and Michael Jackson. I think he's well set off. He even called upon me to help him out in his story, and I'm just like, hey, man. I'm not in this deal. Like, don't bring me into your evangelism. Like like, I'm happy to be a part of it. I've been doing it for a while, but, like, you showed up prepared for me not to be here. Right. What are you doing? So I wanna hear what you got without me. When a sidecar's not available. Right. Exactly. Like, I'm not gonna be your accountability buddy. And that ended up into the the placement of an awesome bible track. And we have been eventually against bible track bible tracks in the show. And it was an interesting usage of this bible track, so I'm excited to to to talk about it for you. Yeah. Alright. We'll pick up more on what Booba's got going on with Streetman. Streetman at school? Yeah. Alright. Sweet. Well, let's get caught up with, Dominic. Let's get let's start with you. So since since you have last been here, you you released a new EP. You injured your eye in some sort of No. Some sort of man man balls. Man battles. It was heroic indeed. A face to face business with another fella. And it sounds like God's put up some really cool things while you guys have been out on tour. Oh, absolutely. So couple of things that are going on. We Driven Eleven developed a 30,

which was designed to give people an ignited way to put prayer back into their life in every day and to seek him in everything we do. So that's been really awesome because we had the posters. We had the poster of me going, hey, look at me. I'm in a t shirt. Yay. But then, I was like, I really don't want those on anyone's wall. I'd rather have something that they could use in on a daily basis. That's where the faith in action challenge came up. But on this tour with Egypt and with Andrew, it's been it's been a roller coaster. There's times we have no sleep. There's times we get plenty of sleep. I think that happened once. The plenty of sleep? Oh, yeah. The plenty of sleep one. But right from the first event at Camp Joy down in New York, it was for inner city kids. There was a little over a 100 plus people there, and we didn't know what to expect. These were like heavy hitting hard kids, and they were just a joy to be around at the same time. And

right off the bat, half of them came to Christ. Like right after the concert, we're like, really? And we don't normally do altar calls and that's the crazy thing. YouTube rarely does that. We're like, you know what? Wait. Yeah. Let's do this. Let's alright. Let's make this thing happen. And the Lord showed up in a powerful way, and it was really awesome to to just kinda kick off the tour. And then as we moved on and we moved on, one of the things that Driven eleven's brought on was Food for the Hungry as a partnership. Uh-huh. And we've seen a bunch of kids get sponsored down in Nicaragua. So since since then, I've been to Nicaragua twice to visit some of the villages there. Awesome. But the tour has just been going every day. And another neat piece has been the fellowship that we've had. You know, when you're on tour, things happen. It gets a little weird sometimes you're in a car for a long time. Oh, just a little. Just a little. But but the we've been able to dig into scripture a whole lot and like learn more a lot about each other, have a lot greater fellowship and better understanding of each other, and to help each other out in different struggles that we have. And it's not always easy, but it's well been worth it. And we still have another week and a half left of the tour. Yes. We do. She does not sound excited about that. Yeah. You're right. That that that sounded a little bit ominous there. So so you're you're heading, from here. We're in Des Moines. You're heading back.

Ohio, you told so you were you were saying this. Like, originally, like, the the intent was that you're gonna kinda hang around the area, but it sounds like you had a cool opportunity at a at a school tomorrow. Actually, Egypt is one that, got connected with this one. Do you wanna tell about it? Yeah. Sure. So, my whole idea for this this tour was to go California or bust, and we went bust. We actually so, I mean, we had kind of the routing all planned out, and I'm talking, like, back in October or something like that was when we started booking the run. And slowly, like, it started getting turned around. We got about as far as us here with you guys, and we get a call from Wisconsin,

which is not California. Definitely not. No. Like, hey. You know, we've got we've got two churches that that would really love to have you. Oh, yeah. Sure. So we'll we'll take the quick detour up there and oh, by the way, Michigan and Indiana. And now we've kind of got the loop of all of the cold places in in The US. Right. Right. But tomorrow, we're actually headed back to Ohio, which I can kinda brag on as as my home state, which I'm really excited about. But we have the opportunity to go into a a charter school, which is just a little different. Like, we spoke at a Christian academy last week, and this this is just gonna be a little different. So the opportunity, while it has to be censored in some way just because of the environment Sure. The mission's still the same. That's just to love on the kids that are there in whatever way that we can. We aren't Christian artists because we we have God in our lyrics. We are Christian artists by the way that we exemplify his his glory and his love. Right. And if that's through getting your butt kicked in basketball with a couple of sixth graders,

let's do it. Or a rap battle. Now I won that rap battle. Thank you. I'm just putting that out there. You gotta find the video. You gotta creep. It was it was a good video. So we were at at Camp Joy, and one of the things you know, I've never I've never said it and had anybody take me up on it. I'll put it like that. That I say during my set is I will stand here with you all night if only to tell you that you're loved. And I mean it. Like, I've just never had to do it. Right. This was an overnighter. So it's an all nighter for the kids, and they just wanted to play. So we finish our concert at what, like, ten or so, would you say? Yeah. About 10:00,

and one of them says, yeah. Do you wanna you wanna come down and play some basketball? Sure. What time does basketball start? One in the morning? Okay. Yeah. Sure. So what what are we gonna do between now and and one in the morning? Well, there's food, and you can do this. And, oh, I have a friend that would love to talk to you, and we've got so much that that we wanna say. And I'm like, I value sleep. Right. I I am I am one of the I think might be one of the only people on this tour that actually sleeps at decent hours. And so I said, you know what? Like, I guess I mean, I promised I would. So she was she was sure.

And the next thing I know, it's six in the morning, and I haven't gone to bed yet. And it was just one of those those moments where, you know, I hear my mother saying, you know, only say what you mean, you'll do. Right. But at the same time, I did mean it. And I don't regret it at all. Yeah. I got to learn a lot more about them and what they're going through. Like, New York and especially the Brooklyn area is a whole different ballgame than than the middle of nowhere where they live or Cleveland or Iowa. Like, there are unique struggles between, like, just gangs and and violence, but also just brokenness that's there that you would never get to know about. And so I believe that that through hanging out with them, I was able to gain a better understanding about kind of their human experience and also a better appreciation of mine, but also the way that God sees us as as his children. He when he says that he's never gonna leave you and he's never gonna forsake you, he means it. And when you at least when I said, I never imagined that that is how he feels about us. So I get in the car the next morning, and they're all rested and ready to go. And I'm like, you know what, guys? I love you,

but I see you in, like, six hours. I'm a time travel and go to sleep. And when I wake up, hopefully, we'll be there, and then we'll talk about it. But I think, like, that so far I know it kinda stinks. That was the first thing that happened on this tour. It has definitely been probably the most impactful for me. So I am, needless to say, very excited about the school tomorrow. I'm excited to to hang out. We're doing spoken words. Some of the kids are are poets, which is great because poet, but bad because I like my job. Yeah. What if they're terrible, though? No. They're not terrible. No. I I mean, I'd have a real hard time where, like, a kid just pours his heart out and you're like, man, that's just awful. I mean, that's just really, really bad. They try to rhyme something with orange or something like that. I mean, you have to tell them because you love them. Right? That's what I tell my kids. I tell you to do it all. And redirect. We don't squash Yeah. I encourage you to stop babying this as a career. It's just not gonna work out for Hey, Mike. I don't think they're gonna invite you to that school now. Yeah. Bye, Mike. I minister in different ways.

But yeah. I guess There's that people out there doing what you do. Yeah. So long story short, I'm excited to go to Ohio. I will be five hours from home, something like that, but we're still we're still back at least in in my state with my corn. Right on. So that's all we've got. We've got 21 pilots, Cedar Point, the calves, don't mention the browns, and corn. Like, that's it. Right on. I don't even know Ohio was known for corn. Go the wrong way. Take, like, 90 the wrong way. Yeah. Don't get lost. Oh, yeah. Fair enough. Yep. I've been in Ohio a couple of times. Never saw it. Alright. Cool. You know, there's a the guy that that farms the field around my house, Like, he he he rotates corn and soybeans every other year, you know, except for like, he's been on a soybean kick the last three years. And it makes me so angry because the corn hides the highway. Right? Like, you feel like you're in your own special tropical island when the corn's running. But when the soybeans, it just looks like there's annoying weeds everywhere and that you just don't keep the place up. You know? So I hope I'm sorry. I I I shouldn't have said any of that stuff out loud. It just occurred to me Country living problems. It just occurred to me that I was hoping it was a corn year. I'm sorry. You're start talking about fertilizer. Yes. This is gonna be Yeah. Exactly. Have Have you driven your combine recently, man? It's actually done on you guys. I'm I'm I shouldn't even have brought her down. Oh, man. Representing Iowa. Well, the other thing with corn too is it does a great job at blocking the wind, which we found out driving here today. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The corn was all shut down, and I wake up. First of all, I woke up and nothing was outside, and that's how I knew I was in Iowa.

And then I realized that we were kinda getting buffeted around everywhere. There's I've been buffeted before. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Hey, man. It was it was it was nasty out today, and it was starting to hail. And I turned around, and one of my kids has gone outside and collected into a bowl Oh my god. And was planning to eat it like a cereal. No. You the hail? Yeah. Like, she scooped it all up and put it into a boat. Honey, honey, I love your kids. Your kids crapping up something fierce. This kid is double digits still making this type of decision tonight. Say I say here's here's what I said. I said, babe babe, when when when you fly in an airplane and you and you use the bathroom, they just flush that into the air and the hail picks that stuff up. You're gonna eat a you're gonna need an airplane airplane dozer. Wow. Hey. That's that's actually, by that description, I'll have one. That sounds alright. We discovered the hail too. Take my windshield is now cracked from the hail. Oh, no. Oh, no. Sorry. I'm sure it's covered. Oh, good. Okay. But it's just like Oh, Oh, yeah. Well, alright. Fair enough. That was a quick quick turn of events for me. I'm like, oh. Alright. That sounds good. I was trying to show that I care, guys.

Alright. Alright. I tell you what. Let's let's let's dig in a little bit on the on the EP. So first of all, tell me a little bit about like, when you're when you're getting ready to release an EP, like, do you just like, you barely get five and you're like, what's time to cut this thing around? I mean, or is there is there, like, a method to this madness where you're like, these are these are the I got 15. Because some peep some people just write all the time and then whittle, and some guys are like, hey. These are the ones that I do and that we're gonna put this out. I don't know if you noticed, but I'm a Christian artist. Uh-huh. So five songs is a lot. So it's the right one where the words are holy holy holy. You're like, well, that's taken. I can't really do that again. You

gotta say it a fourth time to be original. Candice, I came up with the song. It's like, god's an awesome god. Oh, I guess that's I don't know. What other adjectives are there? Here's the deal. Water references. And what? Water. God you are like blank. When you're when you're looking for, like, biblical repetition to words, like, it starts to really amp up. Right? You can do three and you're okay. Like, That seems to be biblical. And then you what? You're up to four completion, seven completion Yeah. 12 holies. Thousand. Yeah. A thousand hills. Mhmm. It's it's a problem. Alright. So alright. So so you gotta you your your new EP, you've got a couple of tunes that you're gonna share with us tonight. Let's tell me a little bit about Open Wide. Open Wide. Okay. So Open Wide, you know what? I don't wanna talk about that one. No, I don't either. No. I'm kidding. I mean, yeah, do. I can't Stop pulling a meme. Alright. That hurts me. Open Wide was one of the songs that was written for Driven 11 by by the producing team of Lift Productions.

And we go through different songs. We kinda bring some to the table. They bring some to the table. We try to see what's gonna fit the the purpose of the CD. And this one was just a good fit because it's just it talks about our current sufferings and that we all have them but he's there to to return or to take and return. You know what? Words are sometimes hard when you've been driving all day. I understand. That we can always return to him. His arms are open wide regardless of how we feel about ourselves or him or anything. He's still there waiting. And that's the whole point of the song. It just seemed like the best fit for the left field album. Sweet. Sweet. Alright. Well, let's dig up on it. Let's Andrew, you're in on this one. Right? Yes. Awesome. Okay. So so let's do this is open wide with Dominic and Andrea with Driven Eleven. You're listening to Live From The Path.

You tell yourself it's gonna be okay, but you're broken inside. So ashamed. So what are you running from? And what are you scared you'll find? Love is calling, just come back home.

His arms are open wide. His arms are open wide. Did you think that he couldn't see? The burden you are folding underneath. He's not and never was your enemy.

All of this time he's waited patiently so once are you the one So what are you running from? And what are you scared you'll find?

Because love is calling. Just come back home. So arms open wide. His arms are open wide. That was open wide. And Dominic and Andrew, you very much. That was great. Where can they where can they pick this thing up, brother? Where can where can they get that the EP at? Where can you get the EP at? Oh, man. You know, you could just go right to driven11.com. I'm on the Facebook, the Twitters, Instagram, and all that other stuff. Just go to driven a lot driven11.com,

and you get everything you need. Awesome. You can pick that up. Actually, I I I I I knew the answer to that. Now I feel silly. Man, hey, man. I feel like you like it. ITunes. I gotta try to play it off like you didn't know. It's a sin of omission, isn't it? That's what I've done. I'm like, hey. I don't I don't know where to get it. Dang. I I got it from Amazon. That's where I I I download it to sign it up on Amazon. Sweet. And you can, yeah, pick it up right there. It's good good to go. Here's there's a picture of him. It looked like somebody chucked him into the water. I mean, it could be a baptism thing. It could be a I'm just sick of you type of thing. A face first cover? Yeah. Yeah. Cover. So yeah. Here. It is not a Nirvana cover. Deal. Yeah. Let me So, like, if you his face is in there, like, and that's what I thought of. I thought of the baby on the Nirvana thing, but he looks clothed in that one, so I think this is gonna be fine. Those get heavy in the water, by the way.

Yeah. Hey. Yeah. That's what they do. Yeah. I didn't Dude, it was it was crazy. We were in the water. I thought was real power. New to you, should it? You know I'm saying? Yeah. I was in the water for an hour doing this photoshoot. Oh, yeah. That was that was intense holding your breath, and I figured out halfway through that I was doing this. Cheeks blown out. I was like, oh, I I better stop doing that because that doesn't look good for a picture. Right. That doesn't look like joy and salvation and peace and stuff. It looks like a man about to kick the bucket. Good luck, you Alvin. Blowfish. The lord's always waiting for you on death's door. Yeah. You're right. That's the wrong vibe, dude. Deprivation. Driven 11. My burden is light unless you're dying. Like it. Boo also likes that shirt, so take that into account. Hey, man. Stop talking on my shirt. So here's

the thing is what I really liked the the lines I really liked from that song is is the what are you running from and scared of what you'll find. And and and, like, when you bring it home with the with the arms open wide and thick, I know there's I got, like, 10 people that I pray about just about every night. Right? And I'm, this is what I'm praying for them to get. Right? This is what I'm praying for them to understand. Not not any any theological point, not anything crazy and complicated, but, like, when God said that separation between, you know, them and him was done, he meant it. It was done. And, like, the only reason you're not into that is because you are scared of what you're gonna have to give up to get there. Right? And the things that he asked and the things that he set you free from on your on your journey there. But, like, I really appreciate that song for for that idea right there. It was very cool. You're you're listening live from the past. We're hanging out with that's me. We're hanging out with Dhruva Levin and Egypt Ali. Mike? Yeah. And Mike and Buva. Yeah. We're here. We're very excited to be here. Thanks, Mike. Alright. Anyway, that's what we're doing. We're hanging out with

the affirmation folks. So, Egypt, I wanna talk a little bit with you. Yes, sir. So you have an album coming out. Yes? I do. March 21. Awesome. So so tell me a little bit about is there is there a broad theme to the album? Absolutely. So the album itself is called Letters and and Scars. When I was younger, my mother used to try to help me figure out stuff and just little kid anger by writing letters. And so I can remember probably about as young as, like, six or seven sitting down and writing these essays that I thought were really well planned out and penned Right. About, you know, I don't wanna do my chores because it's boring and and just trud like that. Well argued. Right. Right. I came up with all these great reasons and I would address them, but sometimes I didn't send them. And so I realized, like, as I got older, I had so many of these letters, that can now probably fill a landfill

all on their own. The issue was when I got older, I started struggling with things that didn't have a mailing address. So I I could be mad at my chores, which I can address to to my mother, but soon I began dealing with doubt and depression and anxiety and and and questions themselves, just wrestling with what those things could be. Right. And a lot of that struggle resulted in a lot of scars, both literal and and emotional or mental or what have you. And so letters and scars is literally every poem is a letter to one of the things that I wish I could talk to. And it's providing kind of that that healing and that closure that I never really got because I couldn't talk to it

that I that I wish that I had, if that makes any sense at all. That does. That's a cool, that's a cool thought. Right? Like like, places where we want, where I want an answer or where I want to understand Yep. And, without a place to pin on it, without someone like, without a specific, or tangible, maybe, circumstance to say, look. You owe me. Right. You owe me an explanation. Right. And what's what's weird about this particular album, like, usually, I tried to to to write them kinda spread out throughout the year and so that way they're they're, one, spell checked, which is a huge issue.

There's a reason everything that you'll hear me do is spoken and not written. But, also, because it gives me time to kinda filter what I wanna say. Letters and Scars, all 16 tracks were written in less than twelve hours. Wow. On Wow. From, like, midnight till, I guess, like, 04:00 p 4PM the next day. Wait a minute. So you always up that late then. That basketball story was a ruse. Oh, you know what? I never said it was a good thing that I was up.

Notice how the spell checking gets harder the more that you write and, like, the later it gets. Yeah. Right. So I I wanted it to be honest and raw, and that's what I I wanted a lot of my poetry to be. But even this will be my fourth album, first official release, and all of them have been filtered to some extent. Like, I wanted it to to look good. Like, alright. You know, you might be a mess or you might have been a mess, but you got it all together now. The truth is none of us really do. And I think, at least on on my end of things, I I tore almost exclusively. Now I have to say almost because I'm with him on on the metal scene. And and what metal does is it it creates this message that's so blunt and just loud. Yeah. And I love that because I could scream at you and you'd be fine.

The reason though that I appreciate it is because there's no sugarcoating those lyrics. Like, you listen to to Fit for a King or Righteous Vendetta, the protest, or or ABR. And everything that they wanna say, they just say it. Now you might not be able to understand it, but they say it. Right. They might be in a gorilla costume, but that's just how you're gonna take it in. You know, I swear, those guys make a living sounding like a mix between Darth Vader and the Cookie Monster. You just try to roll with it. You know? So with poetry, like, I started off as this really little kid that would appear with these really big guys that could probably eat me if they wanted to. And I just wanted to create a space where I could be honest with myself. I I find it odd that in in speaking for a living, you could say, I'm doing nothing but talking to myself and trying to to rationalize my existence

and the things that have happened and the things that I wish could happen with where I'm at. And that's what my poetry is. And and the more that I find my walk with god moves, the more god is integrated into those those stories. So another fun fact is each of my poems are stories. That's been my theme since forever and a day. The trick with stories, though, is that there are so many more people involved in them. If if you say you were feeling a different way, somebody is gonna notice. So you have to be honest with yourself, which means then being honest with with anybody who sees it. So the purpose of letters and scars is to say, like,

you know, for the last couple of years, like, I've been kinda moving around a little more, and I I try to look like I've got everything together. I am I am so lost. And it's it's the first time that I was comfortable, not able to, but comfortable with being honest with where I was at as a as both a poet and a writer and a child god with anybody else but my guinea pig who unfortunately has to hear me ranting at two in the morning. So Do you keep a guinea pig with you? I I you know what? I wanted to I feel like it wouldn't have fit in the suitcase this time. I love guinea pig. They're cute, except you I've got mine's name is Tux, and he's perfectly white on one side and black on the other down to different colored eyes. But he also hates me with a passion. So, like, you go and you picture them all. Those are two very interesting descriptions. Right. Right. Here's here's what his color is, and he hates everything about me. Well, that's just it. Like, I can't get to know him past that. I go to pick him up, and he, like, scurries up my arm and bites the mess out of me. Yeah. So I don't mess with him. He stays in his cage, and he's good. He loves my sister, but Tux yeah. No. Hey, man. I love this antagonistic

guinea pig. Yeah. See, I usually feel bad because my daughter has two guinea pigs, and I'm I'm not nice to them. Like, I don't like, I'm I'm verbally abusive. Apparently, Tuck's got the memo. I walk upstairs and they say something and I say, shut up, Barry. Like, we're not friends. Because I know what he does. He looks at me and then he poops in his food bowl and then goes, I own you. Clean this up. But I don't like the way he lives. They'll do that them and cats. Yeah. Cats do the same thing. Same cats are just generally on. Yeah. I have a cat that poops in the in the guinea pigs food bowls and then says, clean that up.

It's tough to deal with. They got your number, Mike. Yeah. Alright. So so do you wanna would you mind sharing one from your from your upcoming album? Yeah. Absolutely. That's gonna require me scooting back a little bit. Okay. Do what you gotta do. Oh, sweet. So one of the one of my favorite tracks off of this whole kind of project thing is called Dear God. And it is I think that was written at, like, three in the morning when the caffeine was just starting to leave my system. And suddenly, I was I was left with just me in my room with my t shirt and shorts and

and we I'm pretty sure the power was out at that point because we had a huge storm come through. Hey. Just for context, was the guinea pig in there? Yes. The guinea pig was there. Okay. And he was not happy about the the fact that there was no light. And it was just me and God. And I I had just finished this whole, like, emotional roller coaster of of writing and and sitting there. The worst thing you can do with me is let me is let me kinda sit alone because then you start thinking, and that is always a bad idea. And I found out that among the people I had written letters to, one of them was God. Like,

alright. I've got questions, and and sometimes I don't get answers. Can we just talk about the things that we used to do? Because I know that sometimes I can be a bit of a pain, and I just wanna go back to the way things were when you were my prince. So this one is called Dear God. I actually do this on this tour with with Dominic, so it's gonna come out a little different. But, yes, here it goes. Don't get a cool musical intro, unfortunately. That wasn't it. Yep. That was not it. I feel like you're gonna be able to feel, like, feel that glare to the screen here.

Dear god. Dear god, I know the excuses to see you well, they're not really far or few between, but look, I've got a question for you. Like, do you remember when I was little and I used to put as many socks as I possibly could on both of my feet so that way my mother wouldn't notice that you were up with me and we would dance together. You know, like it was just me and you. It was me and your baby girl. It was us against the world and there was nothing, nothing that could ever separate you from my arms and we kinda danced across my floor. God, I know that you remember the time when I made you this big old pot of Blue's Clues mac and cheese.

Because for some reason, I took my Sunday school teacher literally when she told me that you were gonna come and wanna eat with me. And I knew at that point, I wanted nothing more than to eat with you. You should know that I threw a temper tantrum the time that my mother threw it all away. I bet you weren't proud of that, but just know that the fact is I was waiting for you. God, do you remember that time that I slept in my threshold because the same Sunday school teacher told me that you were gonna show up at my door knock, and I stayed there for two days waiting for you, and you never showed up. And you know what? Three year old me was mad. But that's okay. You know, I grew,

and I realized that maybe that day, I had opened my heart to something more than what I had bargained for because even though you didn't come walking through that door, you had a home in my heart. Dear God. God, I I remember that time, the first ever time I looked inside of my mirror and I didn't like what I saw. I saw that my reflection had pimples, and one of them grew just to the left of my nose and made me look like a bit of a lopsided unicorn, and I could have sworn that you did that I'm perfect, but maybe maybe you still thought I was worth it to you. Like, never occurred to me that that I might have that freckle beneath my lower left eye because right when the sun hits it at just the right place and at just the right time, it reflects off of my pupils and you can see through them to the windows of my soul and you see something that's beautiful.

God, you see something that's worth saving. You see something that you have bought with a price except the problem was I started doing something that adults call maturing. And I'd like to think that I was growing up, but the problem was I started steering towards all of my adventures and my dreams, and I realized very quickly I thought that in my rearview, you were waving away from me. But, God, what if you were just asking me to come home? Lord, you were asking me to come back and beckoning me back to the only peace that I have ever known. Look, God, you should know that I miss dancing with you. I miss the times when it was just me and you. I miss the times when we would listen to, like, Taylor Swift and Nickelback and Justin Bieber, and I swear I've got my musical taste back on track. Look, god.

I'm now listening to the orchestra of your majesty and of your grace, and and I want this walk to turn into a race with you, but, god, I wanna make more memories with you. God, look. I completely understand if I have done too much to come home, but just know that I finally have realized you were the only peace that I have ever known. So I wanna come right back to the start. You're talking to a little girl who made their feet and their socks a work of art and their mind. And, yeah, sure. I might have painted that moment on a couple of walls and call myself Picasso. You were kinda thinking Rembrandt, but that's okay. Just know that I am looking forward to defeating more villains with you and saving more heroes. God, I swear I'll be your princess, and you will always be my king. Lord, I just would really take a liking to the fact if if we could make more memories. There you go.

Whoo. Whoo. I love that. That's that's powerful. I mean, it's it's it's it's powerful. It calls you it it's it it certainly calls you back to to that I don't know. That that's that simpler time. Right? Like, when I,

when when the the cloudiness between that sometimes exists between God and I and the complication that came from every other place except from God. Mhmm. And and it just it it pulls you right back into the reminder, those those core things about God that make him good. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. That's that was beautiful. Thank you. Thanks.

So so you said releases in, what'd you say, the twenty first? Yeah. March 21. So, I I got to partner with this awesome guy, named Chris Townsend who, I met him. He was the photographer for Switchfoot on their last tour. And Chris and I had to come up with this way to, I guess, get visual representation for poetry because it's really, really hard to advertise something that you can't necessarily make a music video for. Right. And he he actually came up with the idea to add pictures. Like, purposeful photography is what I kinda nicknamed it for each of the tracks. So we've started the sixteen day countdown for every single one of the poems that has one of his original pictures and then the story behind the track. And so we posted the first one today, which is dear reader, which is the first track on the album. And we'll be going in order up until album release day, which will be on the twenty first. So yeah. I mean, if you wanna check out the Egypt Speaks Facebook page,

he's a he's an awesome guy and great photographer, and I really love the work that he's doing with Awesome. Yeah. Yeah. You can so you can follow along with that countdown. We'll just go to go to Facebook and do a search for Egypt Speaks or look at the stuff that we like because Life in the Path likes Egypt Speaks. You can go check that out. You bet. Yeah. Yeah. Boy, that's that's cool, and we'll hear we're gonna hear more from both of our guests here in just a little bit. But now you've inadvertently wandered into America's fastest growing Internet game show.

And now for America's fastest growing game show. Secular or Solid? I will never get over that dude's face. Here's the deal. You've won it in America's fastest growing Internet game show, Asterisk Unproven, Secular versus Solomon. Here's here's the crux of the game. I'm going to give you the a proverb, a bit of wisdom, and your job is to identify whether that is a biblical biz bit of wisdom we're gonna call Solomon or whether it's a secular bit of wisdom. And if it is secular, I want country of origin.

Try not to say the most offensive thing that pops into your mind based upon the bit of wisdom. Alright. So my question then. You know, is Egypt at all a hope for an answer here? Nice. Dang. You know, if I That would be really awesome. If I had to put any thought into anything, yes, it would be. But no. No. So that that gives me, you know, a chance. And do we get to work in teams? No. No. It's in because I call Dominic if we do. We turned air hockey into a contact sport type competitive. So she turned it. I had really good a. That was not us.

Okay. Alright. Noted. This is gonna be a wild one. Bova, be on your guard. Alright. Alright. Here we go. Let's see. We're gonna start with Mike. Mike, you're gonna kick us off. I'm gonna be speaking through this man. Okay. Got it. You're you're Mike's Mike's thrift store priest. Alright. Let's go. Alright. Here go. We Secular versus secular or Solomon. Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. Secular or Solomon,

thrift store priest. Secular. What? Why does it what? Doesn't have to say the same voice as me. Yeah. Okay. Secular. Do you do you have a country of origin? Oh,

Ireland. Ireland. What? I feel like his voice is gonna change throughout. Alright. I feel like I might have a chance. Mike's in right? Yeah. Exactly. Now that the thrift store priest is here. Make it harder. Mike's in for secular I'm sorry. Thrift store priest is I'm gonna call you TSP. TSP. TSP. He's in for secular Ireland booba. I go secular Italy. Secular hey. The Italians like it like it hefty. Dominic. I'm gonna say secular

Madagascar. Secular I got some coffee. Hey. Yeah. Alright. Andrea. Oh, no. Hey, man. You knew it was coming. I you priest.

America. Solid. Okay. Did I say that? That's a country of origin. There we go. It's not right. Guaranteed. Alright. Egypt. We drink a lot of coffee. So I'm gonna go secular, but she just said America, and they're like, you know, South America and North America. So I'm gonna say US Of A. Oh. Had to be more Child of a lawyer. Yes. She's covered more of her basis, so she's actually got a better chance now. Oh, okay. Alright. That's what I was going for. We'll see where distinctions matter. Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love, secular turkey. Was close as well. That was not close. I was on the Mediterranean. Secular turkey.

Say No. I you know, no. Hey, man. Same body of water. I call it. You know, here's the deal. You tell the Turks that's the same country and see what happens. Yeah. Same country, said same body of water. Both of the Mediterranean. Mike. Malarkey. No. Come on, TSP. Alright. Alright. Here we go. Secular or Solomon, Buva, a man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. Secular or Solomon? Solomon, Proverbs 14. Buva's in with Proverbs 14. It's not necessary to guess the chapter, but Buva's

self righteous behavior causes him to do that. Dominic? I'm real glad he went first because no. Me too. No. Solomon. He's in for Solomon. Andrea? Yeah. Solomon. Solomon? Egypt. Feel like a copycat. Solomon? Solomon, bandwagon. Mike, secular. TSP

cares nothing about points. Oh, I'm sorry. Country? Country of origin again? Botswana. Botswana. That's making me sick. Alright. Secular Solomon, a man who's kind benefits himself but a cruel man hurts himself. It is indeed Solomon Proverbs 11. Pride. So close. Pride cometh before the fall. I know. I know.

Seems to be the amount of confidence he used for that too. Here we go. Secular or Solomon. Dominic, let a man meet a she bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. Let a man meet a she bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly, secular or Solomon. Dominic. I'm gonna go with Solomon. He's in with Solomon. Andrea. Oh my gosh. Secular? Yeah. I mean, there aren't even bears in biblical times. Ridiculous.

Don't let him talk to you. What's your what's your country of origin? I I like how nervous this seems to make you look. I I don't know. Scotland? Did you get that from Brave? No. Because there were she bears? If

you could change your feet, would you? Pretty spot on. We already know. Alright. Okay. Secular Disney cartoon Scotland, Egypt. I'm gonna go with Solomon. Solomon. Mike. Sorry. TSB. Solomon.

I'm sorry. So when you have confidence, you use your own voice? I don't wanna make you sick no more. Hey. I love people. Alright. Bubba. Solomon, Proverbs 17. Oh, I know I'm wrong now. I know. No. He wasn't right before. Remember? Yeah. Yeah. No. He gave us a couple of first Solomon does not say the word she bear. Yes. He does. Let a let a man meet a she bear robbed for cubs rather than a fool in his folly. It is indeed Solomon Proverbs 17. Yes. Game over. Move a left. Hi. Quick. Ask him this question, boss. Let's go. This is actually the first anniversary of the time he was right last year. So One time. Here we go. Second Hey. Wait a minute. What is isn't isn't there a proper name for a she bear? She bear. She bear. What does a she bear look like? A she bear. A bear. A bear that's a she? I don't know if there's any gender difference. I know that this is air net radio, but I feel like I wanna stay away from the technical distinctions here. You're just gonna go with the the verbiage that Solomon decided to do. Rightful scientists can tell the difference. It's obvious in a number of ways.

Hear it's a mammal thing. Yeah. You're it's I'm talking about organs. This way, is it called like a mare and a colt colt bear? What I mean Of course. Yeah. But that's what I'm saying. Isn't there isn't there bear type distinctions? I'm pretty sure you are reading too much into this. I'll take this. I think she bear's right. I think Solomon got a lot of wisdom from God. It's called an Eliza. That's what they call a she bear. Yeah. Okay. An Eliza. If it's not, it has to be that now. Alright. Here we go. Secular or type in? What is a she bear? I don't even know what to write. Say I don't want you to type that in any kind of Google or search engine. Say what is an Eliza? Don't do that either. Just just Alright. Secular or Solomon. Andrea, you're up. Bald people can always find a comb. Oh my god. Bald people can always find a comb. Bald can always find a comb.

Ironic. Okay. I'm gonna say that is secular. Okay. Secular? And I don't know where that's from. So can I pass on the plate? You cannot. I have to say a place. To come up with a country. I have to come up with There's many of them. Norway? There you go. There you go. Great work. Couldn't possibly be more offensive to the bald people in Norway. I'm so sorry, Norway. Way to go, Andrea. Egypt. Bald people can always find a comb. Secular Solomon. You see, the only thing that's running through my head right now is where is my hairbrush from Vigtails? Yes. Where is my hairbrush? I just it it confuses me that the cucumber who doesn't have arms is more concerned that he doesn't have a hairbrush. But on the subject of bald people needing combs, I'm gonna say that's secular, and I'm also gonna say that's from Canada.

No apologies for the bold in Canada. No. No. No. Mike. TSP. Secular. Country. Iran.

Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Makes a lot of sense, Mike. They wear head coverings. You wouldn't even know the difference. That's what I'm saying. That's why it's such a to do. You try to sell a Coleman a ran, you go to trouble. Hey. Hang on a minute. Just a second while I got the why I got the platform here. A female bear is called a sow, and a male bear is a boar. Really? Yeah. A boar? A group of bears together is called a sloth. A sloth. Yeah. That blows my mind. Yeah. Group of pugs is called a grumble. Sorry. My answer for this is secular, and I'm gonna go Egypt's gonna put you in the face to say that again. She hates that. A grumble of puck? I'm sorry. Secular and I say Nepal. Secular Nepal. Dominic.

My mom's side is all Italian, and they're all bald. So it seems like a proper location. So I'm gonna go with Italy, secular. Hey, man. He's brought wisdom to this conversation. Yeah. Yeah. Here's what Italians like stark black coffee, and they don't they don't need no comb. Yeah. They don't need no comb. Bald people can always find a comb. It is secular Thailand. Thailand. Thailand. What?

Wait. What did you say? Nepal is near Thailand. I don't think that counts. No. I agree that. I'm I'm gonna claw at every point I can get. Wait. Well, I've I've got to be pretty in the cosmos. It's pretty close. Call me a boar. Close, but no Internet to go. I'm sorry. I I kinda screwed this up. How many points do have? Thousand points. Oh, well, I got this only Solomon won. Like, no one's got a secular one yet. Okay. That's one. Andrea, how many points do you have? Well, I lost one point, you guys all had one. So what do we got? Like, two? K. No points for you. Oh, no points for you. I'm absolutely I like the scoring system. All of them. I've got all the points. No. You don't. Negative a thousand. All. K. Buba? Negative a thousand. Yeah. Right? He's that confident. He's gonna come out of the hole. K. Okay. We're good. I'm sorry. Are you splitting his scoring system with TSP or you on your Yeah. TSP is I'll just draw like a king symbol

and a and a thumbs up. Okay. I got it. He's eternally doing great. That's optimism. Yeah. TSP. Alright. Secular versus Solomon. Let's see here. The earth does not shake when the flea coughs. The earth does not shake when the flea coughs. Secular or Solomon, Egypt? Well then,

I'm gonna go Solomon. Solomon, Mike and or TSP. The earth does not shake when the flea coughs. Well, we're we're gonna confer. Yeah. Secular and the England.

Secular and the England? Yeah. Proper. No. Not just regular England. I'm gonna go secular Lithuania. Oh, boy. Boom. I'm Man, you want secular, I'm doomed. Secular. And Well, based on our visit that we that we saw on the way here, I'm gonna go with secular India. Secular India? The earth does not shake when the flea coughs. Andrea?

Secular Japan? Secular Japan. You seem more confident in this one. I yeah. Well, I guess she went last is what happened. I know. Yeah. I'm just gonna give you a point right now. Everyone. For the confidence booster. Yeah. Yeah. That's good. That's good, Mike. The earth that does not shake when the flea coughs, it is indeed secular Austria. Oh, wow. Austria. Yeah. Yeah. I can see that. Yeah. I I couldn't see it at all. Me and TSP were lost. I was close to death. It's tough to hear it when the flea coughs because the hills are alive with the sound Or of they have eyes. Have eyes. Okay. Alright. Here we go. Secular versus Solomon. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Stop him. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but the drunk excuse me. But he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Secular or Solomon. Mike, t s p.

Solomon. Bubba. Solomon Proverbs 12. Proverbs 12. Dominic. Solomon. He's in for Solomon and Andrea. Solomon. Solomon, Egypt. Solomon. Solomon across the board, whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked

will be found out. It is indeed Solomon. Proverbs 10. Proverbs 10. Close again. Yeah. I feel like everybody did good there. Only Buva lost points on that. Yeah. Buva didn't get the chapter right. It's pretty good. Yeah. You're right. Negative negative 60. Yeah. Go ahead, Ben. So I'm at negative 1,060 right now? I had a 50 just for general. Negative negative 50 just because you were here. Hey. He also rudely got up. You remember that? Yeah. Remember? It was a that was another negative 100 right there. Yeah. Yeah. That's both full. Like, what was the king king Jared Lawler from the WWF action you did? Yeah. What did you say? And that's two that's for Is that a reference that the majority of people wouldn't have gotten? I don't know. I caught I I grew up on killer Jared Hallmark? Whatever. My parents were very rarely involved. That's an offense for each guest in the room that Booboo was against you. Were you making fun of me in Egypt? That's 200 points in the hole. Oh, got it. Okay. I like the way the system works. Yeah. I'm good. Yes. I normally end up at least a negative thousand. A group a group of Bouvahs is kinda wrong. Hey, man. You see that wrong of Bouvahs running over there? Hey, man. I'm totally okay with that. That's awesome. Let's

see. Here we go. Secular Solomon, whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. Secular or Solomon? Dominic. I'm going with Solomon. Solomon. I'm locking it in. He's a he he hears beasties And that's final answer. That's gotta be Solomon. Andrea. Say it again. Okay. Whoever whoever is righteous has regard you know what I like? Is Dominic's confidence is not enough for energy to get up on it. I'm gonna have to hear this myself. That deep voice Dominic, I've heard that before. I can wait to pee for another two hours. Oh my gosh. That is true. I don't think so. Twenty minutes His eyes are yellow. His eyes are yellow. Honey, quick stuff on a steno pad twenty minutes away. Alright. Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Solomon? Solomon with a wink. That was the coolest thing that's ever happened to me. Solomon. That's the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. The Internet is not ready. Egypt. Yeah. You know, I'm gonna take Solomon for 500 there, Alex. Solomon, she's putting she's putting cash money on the table.

Secular. Yeah. Turkey again. Hey. The Turks man a camel. Bubba. Hey. Is that sorry. Is that stereotypical? Do the Turks not use camels anymore? Is that the wrong thing to say? No. That's still it's the worst thing to say. Here's the we're worldwide. I don't want trouble. Yeah. No. Absolutely. The Internet goes everywhere. Yeah. I've seen a camel in Turkey. You've been to Turkey? No. I've just I've seen them on, like, shows. That's total disrespectful. Boo has told lies in every continent. Absolutely. Every continent. All set. I went to Antarctica and talked to nobody. That's true. If BBC America is to be trusted. I have really small feet on America. Fine. I'm gonna go Solomon and Proverbs

19. Proverbs 19. Whoever was that again everybody? Proverbs yeah. Okay. The the the low voice wing 500. Got it. Okay. Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. It is indeed Solomon Proverbs 12. So I'm just saying because I laid 500 on that, I think that my return should be tripled. Well, mean, triple might be a bit aggressive. 500. What about double that? You know, the point of this game isn't so much to win overall. It's just to beat him, and I'd be happy with that. Okay. I'll just write, beats Dominic. Yes. Bug in. There. It's locked in. That's marked in. Legit can't give you three times the points just because you said so well. I feel like that's not fair. Hey. Can can can you spot her 20 for boldness? Because, I mean, that's wild. Okay. Beats Dominic plus two. And she could have winked. I just can't see it because there's a monitor here. Yeah. I might have winked. I don't know. Infinity plus two. You know?

For good measure. There, little Little bitty. Alright. Here we go. Secular or Solomon. Where am I at here? Who did I leave out? Andrea, you next? Alright. Here we go. If there were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal. If there were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal. Secular or Solomon? That is secular. And Who prefers the buffalo? What what people? Would would say, if if if only we could do away with that elephant, we could elevate the buffalo that I wish. Yeah. Name a people. I

don't know. Brazil? That's so not right. That's so not right. Brazil people. It's, like, a 100% not right. Caught that from the summer games, actually. Yeah. Every once in a while, there was a guy that that was streaking at the soccer, and he had a buffalo on his chest. We sure just And then a cancel sign over an elephant. Or he was a very that's true. He could be very confident and hairy Brazilian. That wax thing they tell about his undersold. He didn't that's not what that's not what he does. I never read anything like that, Bill. Yes, sir. What magazines are you trying to be doing? I don't answer that. I don't get those channels. Egypt if there were no elephant there were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal. I'm gonna say secular in India. Secular India. That's a way better answer than mine. I was gonna answer to you. I have BDS regrets. I already regretted it when I said it. So Mike. Secular and,

Borneo. Oh, secular Borneo. That's that's a cartoon country. That only exists in the x men universe. Why I so dumb? I've always been dumb. That only exists in the x men universe. Was there an x men, like, vacation retreat to Borneo? I've read a lot of them. I don't remember that one. I'm not sure. Go ahead, boo boo. Alright. I'm gonna go secular Pakistan. Secular Pakistan. Also good answer. Sar Sarfraz never never brings up a bison. No. No. My man's I was gonna go India, so I'm just going the top of India. You couldn't even join you can join in. Alright. Fine. I'm doubling up on secular India. Okay. Alright. You've pamphleted this answer when you could have had a community. That's not how the gospel spreads. Oh,

my apologies. Dominic. I'd like to buy a vowel. Tea. Alright. Good. So then I'm gonna go with Hey. Always sell a vowel to a man that doesn't know the difference. So give me a cotton cotton I want one of them. I can't even say it. I left my trench coat and Rolexes in the basement. Who loves a bison? So so I'm gonna go with secular and Nigeria. But fun fact, if you go to Buffalo, New York, there are no buffalo. They actually just have statues there. You have to go to Nashville, Tennessee to see real buffalo. Makes no sense at all. Really? Yeah. Really. We have some like 10 miles that way. Okay. So anywhere but buffalo has buffalo. What is wrong with the country? That's so sad. They're on the helmet.

Where? The bills. Yeah. Okay. So they're on a helmet, but there's no actual No. No. No. I mean Although, actually, do we have Hawkeyes here? I know we have talked to Hawkeyes. I saw one today. I don't know about that. Be fair Yeah.

To be fair, my layover in Buffalo on the way to get to this tour, they were talking about they had seen a buffalo or a herd thereof. I don't know what the plural. No. There's a bun. A herd. Got it. There you go. Yes. They had seen buffalo, like, before I got there, out in front of the train station. So there are indeed buffalo in New York. I just don't know where. Well, actually, if they took the train from Jersey. Yeah. I mean, based on what I know about Buffalo, New York, I would just assume they have a ton of them, and that's where they have engrafted them into their society. And you're saying that's not the No. I have never seen a buffalo. Honestly never looked. The entire city's alive. No. Never wanna go. That statue's a buffalo. Was the only reason I wanted to go. Yeah. I had that on my list of things to see was the buffalo in Buffalo, and now it's completely gone. Go to Nashville. Here's the deal. It became too commercial. They they split. They said we're being monopolized here. Yeah. Or, you know, all the buffalo went to Canada. On our species. Yeah. Larry promised everybody a water buffalo, so that might be what happened to all of them. I don't know how much strength VeggieTales holds over anything. Anything, but guess you that. Did you check the water number? He just makes a solid point, did you? He he's in your tub. It's broken. Alright.

You're not gonna get this. If there were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would would be a great animal, secular gonna. Gonna. See what I did there? You're not Oh, really? Gonna get this. Yep. Everybody's on the internet. Is Borneo really a a false country? I'm not sure it is. Place. Yeah. Think it's real. Alright. I'm Alright. Somebody Google it. Was it in the Animaniac zone? Yes. The Animaniac Animaniac. Something to Borneo. What is that? The Animaniacs was like an older cartoon with the Warner Brothers and their sister doc. Did you see him do the countries of the world? India, Pakistan, Burma, Afghanistan, Taliban, Pombuchi, Malaysia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Asia, China. Korea, Japan. Alright. It's enough. Borneo. Yes. It's in there. Okay. Yeah. It's a real country. Wow. Alright. Well, I okay. Cool. That was awesome. Did I that was the best moment ever? Yeah. Yeah. No parents. I'm telling you. Yeah. Watch TV all the time. Learn about geography. I was trying to do it with kids and all of sudden it's illegal. We were raised on the

Animaniacs and Rue McClanahan, and that's it. That's that's that's the extent of my anyway, they weren't really golden. Secular Solomon, where am I at here? Egypt. Egypt. Alright. Egypt. You're up. Whatever it is, I didn't do it. Okay. The greatest love is a mother's, then a dog's, then a sweetheart's. Oh, that's that's secular. The greatest love is a mother's, then a dog's, then a sweetheart's. Secular. Secular. Okay. Country? America. Like The USA, like specifically The United States Of America. This seems like our priorities. Mike.

Secular. France. Oh. What what why did you make that noise? I was Is that a Frenchman? Yeah. Why does he sound like that? In general, I'm not good with people. Just in general. No. He's he's telling a very interesting story. Alright. Wrong Abouvis. Greatest love is a mother's, then a dog's, then a sweethearts. I'm gonna I'm gonna go for community. Secular France. Secular France, Dublin, and Donaghan. No. I'm going with secular Australia. Secular. Now that's a cruel thing. Tell me they got the dingoes. That is a I guess They would have said dingoes don't like what they meant. I understand, but they lose their baby. They didn't say anything about an Outback. They didn't say anything. If you get this wrong, you have to turn your chair around. Hey, man. You're messed up if you think the Australians can't go ascends without saying the Outback. They didn't say it like here's the deal. You know they can say other things too. Didgeridoo.

I didn't hear shrimp on the Barbie. This is that is I come from a land down under where You've got no effort in the tree at all. That's what I'm saying. Unbelievable. You think a man could pick up a stereotype. Alright. Andrea, if there were sorry. The greatest love is a mother's, then a dog's, then a sweetheart's. I'm gonna say secular Germany. Secular Germany.

Is that now hold on. Wait. Wait. Wait. What are we getting at here? The greatest love, the mom loves you, and then the dog loves you, but the sweetheart does not love you. We don't believe in that world view, Ben. This is America. I'm just imagining Solomon sitting there with a dog just like, I love you more than I love my sweetheart. So do you write back at me? The the greatest love is a bison who will not be commercialized. Alright. Here. Sorry. The greatest love is a mother's, then a dog's, then a sweethearts. It is secular Poland. Poland. Secular did you just try to say that, like, directly after to make it sound like this, what you had? No. It was like Secular Poland. Nailed it. Like, really? Nailed it.

I was really hoping for Germany, but I looked at your face and I was like, nah. You're wrong. No. That's not the face of Germany at all. No. No. It's not. I didn't hear schnitzel. And I didn't hear, that was it. That was it. That was that was America's fastest growing Internet game show simply because I'm unaware of any other Internet game programs. And, Mike, what's the final tally? Okay. Egypt had, beats Dominic plus 20. Andrea had two. I'm not sure how she got two points. Hey. That's that's a positive. Yeah. You ended up in the in the black. Dominic had all the points. Buma was a negative thirteen twenty. Yep. And, the thrift store priest won with a, a crown and a thumbs up. There we go. Dang. He's tough. Yeah. Man, TSP brings it in again. This is sixth time in a row. He's this. Seriously. Oh my god. He's world a champ.

Actually, this is the first week I've seen him in probably three months without a tortina's pizza roll sitting on his bible. I speak to somebody who ate that pizza roll. Hey, man. Don't look at me. It was not me. I you looked me directly in the face when you said someone ate that tortilla pizza. I've been saying not to you. Noticed that it was gone. That's because I thought it was gross the whole Where did this go into my mouth? Oh, TSP. You ain't gonna eat that, dude. What'd say? You just wait. This pizza at me when telling me I'm eating food I shouldn't eat. This pizza roll's gone the way of the buffalo. It's

Newly named Water Buffalo, New York. Yeah. It moved to Albany where no one thinks there's a capital. Exactly. Alright. Anyway, hey. You wanna catch out catch Pat you can get copies of this. You wanna relive these moments, you can certainly do so at lifeinthepath.org. Otherwise, you can catch past episodes of secular versus Solomon with the the various amount of guests that have been on. Yeah. Hey. We need to grab Timmons. Let's see if we can get Timmons on a secular Solomon. Yeah. Okay. Alright. Let's see we can do. Alright. So, anyway, you can go just search for secular settlement at lifeofthepath.org. You can watch past clips of that. There's a couple other games out there. The end of the world as we know it games. Yeah. Deuteronomy, Dan. Deuteronomy, Dan, could you could you recognize the everybody that's ever falsely predicted the return of Jesus once you just give that up and, you know, hug a man? Maybe we could be more productive with ourselves, things of this nature. So, go ahead and check that out at liveforthepath.org. You can also catch past clips of, musical performances as such from the show, including,

from Dominic, the last time he was in studio. And, we'll get to what Egypt and Dominic and we are doing tonight. We'll get that up for your listening enjoyment. If you go there and there's a way to donate money, that is not, that's not our place. No. If this is a low rent affair, we don't need your money messing the place up. Right? As soon as it becomes high rent, then we're accountable to somebody. Yeah. Exactly. Buy some bologna, give it to a homeless man. You got better stuff to do than sending that stuff far away. Alright. Let's okay. Speaking of quality items, let's let's pick back up on stuff from the the new Driven 11 EP. Tell me a little bit about the song Left Field. Alright. So Left Field is the title track. Hooray. Yeah. So I when I moved down to Nashville, everyone said I was crazy. And when I moved back to New York, people still said I was crazy. So nothing's really changed there. Right on. But when we went down there, my boys really wanted to play baseball. And we love sports in our house, but we don't really watch sports or know much about them. We just go out and play them however we decide we're going to play them. So when my boys said they wanted to play baseball, said, yeah. Sure. We we could do that. We got him a mid, got batten. We got him on a team, and away we go. So the coach and I were like, hey. Go get in outfield. And with all kinds of enthusiasm, they run out there, and they're excited. And then sure enough, they they start walking back. And I'm like, what's wrong, buddy? They look back at me, they go, where is Outfield? All I could do is just take a knee and go, I have failed you as a father.

So we finally get them out there, and they have no idea what they're doing. They're just kinda playing in the grass and doing spins out there. The same stuff that I did when I played baseball. Right. I knew where Outfield was, and I still did it. I still do it playing in church league. So I think that's how they figured out what they're supposed to do. But, eventually, they started making some plays in the game that made a difference, and then they started being even more excited about that. They were a part of it. They were part of the team, and now they were ready, they knew where they were supposed to be in that field. And when I was watching, I was like, man, that's that's a lot like my walk my walk when I started driven 11 and started moving down there. A lot of people said I was, you know, kinda out there with what I was doing, changing for what I was doing. But I was still diligent. Was excited but had absolutely no idea what was doing. Yes. My wife, she'll still say, I have no idea what I'm doing. But as I kept on pursuing it, it made more sense. God kept on saying, no. I want you there.

I I have you for a mission to inspire faith and action, to help people shepherd those everyday moments, and to show people it's where they're at that matters. So I ended up writing this song because I feel as Christians, we become new believers. We have no idea what we're doing. We're just excited to be on his team. Sometimes we get a little burned out because we don't know what to do. But if we just be diligent, be patient, eventually, he opens up those doors and it makes sense. Yeah. Alright. So you're listening to Live From The Path. This is left field,

and take it away. Now here's the thing. Last time you guys participated, someone give you your part. Yeah. You ready? We're ready. Oh, man. We're gonna try. It's gonna be alright. Yeah. Is. That was really good. Do I do I just get to do whatever I want or do I want? Whatever you want, but there is a spot for it. Okay. And then are you gonna wink or like how are we gonna know when She's gonna help you out. Okay. Got it. Okay. Ready. Way out in the field favoring the left side.

This is where I'm supposed to be. It's what he said it. I'm if I'm sure going

hits me in the hand. I feel it only inside. This is where I'm supposed to be. Live in the path tonight. Live from the path. And yeah.

Way out in the field. Hero sits nice. Wait. You didn't like the little maroon five in there? I was gonna do it too. Who would like to be like, don't do it. Raise our hands. Raise them high. Don't wanna catch us for me. What did I what did I miss over there? Something

something wonderful happened over here. Right? And then Mike went, hey, man. I can get out on that train. That sounds good. I'm the right guy for this. I'm totally cool with parroting back, which shouldn't be parroting back. I thought our part was over, and then he did something funky. I'm like, I'm in. And then and then Boob, his eyes got real scared for the room. Like, don't do that. That's a huge mistake. But I had already started. We are good as long as we are accompanied by other people. But on our own, we do not pull that off well. I mean, yeah. That was left field. Can you can pick that up. Hey. Here's actually, here's what I was thinking is we've been we're doing we're doing going through market church and one of the things that that

keeps showing up over and over again is that people wrongly describe parables as as simple stories. Like, they they peel like an onion and they get deeper every time you go back in And, like, that's exactly what I thought of when you were talking about kind of, the the gist of this song. Right? Is, the the the way the way the scripture does parables for you is, the for the people that wanna hear, they get it and they get it more. For the people who don't want it, they're not gonna get it. But, like, wherever God meets you exactly where you're at and and and every time that you're willing to come back and say, hey, can you help me understand? Hey, can I get a little bit more? And just and stay the course. That wisdom from from Jesus continues to deepen and and fit different circumstances and and fit different situations. And it's and it's amazing how people can approach scripture and get so many different and deeper and more things out of those simply because you were willing to go back to God and say, hey. Can I have it? Can Can I have a little bit more? It's what a good teacher does. It's what a good lesson does. And, like, I, that's what was in my mind when you were talking about that because, like, it's it's that same experience. It says, you're you're excited,

to be on what be on God's team, whatever's he's going on. And then, like, really the the way to keep from getting burned out and the way to to actually continue to grow deeper in what those things are doing and to be, you know, cradled by it is is just to keep falling back to Jesus and be like, hey. Can I can I have a little bit more? And the answer is always yes. Of course, can have more. Because, like, he didn't give up on those duller group of disciples that was following around. Yeah. They they always needed more. And he's like, yeah. Okay. I can do that. And, anyway, I love that. I love that. That's that was what was going on my mind during that tune. You can pick that up. Like, it's it's it's available where all legit music is is sold. You can also get it on, on the website. And, make sure you make sure you hook up with, whatever's going on with Driven Eleven on the social media. Right? Absolutely. The Twitters and the Facebooks and that stuff that that way, you know, where where the folks are gonna be at. You can get part of, the other stuff that's going on, like the thirty day I'm gonna get it wrong. The the thirty day faith in action challenge. So, like, when when you're out and about, is that something you still encourage people to kinda jump jump in on? Oh, yeah. It's actually it's part of each event is, once again, inspiring faith in action. And the first piece of that is going to God first, that we have to pray and seek his will. So if we get in scripture and we pray and pray properly, things start to change. And what's been really neat is a lot of the notes that I've gotten back about this because it has absolutely nothing to do with me. It has to do with their relationship. Right. So one of the things that's on that is praying for those that you feel have offended you. But do it for fifteen minutes, not the alright. I I hope I hope they're okay and that they're healthy. But then when you pray for a little bit longer, you start to realize, wait, they just lost their mom. You start thinking about them more. You start thinking about their situation,

and then you start praying deeper for that person. So it's one of those ways to just be purposeful in your prayer so that when you're done with that, you can actually say, I can make a difference in their life. I understand why they might be cranky. I understand why they might be upset and how can I help them? Right. But when we just do those blase prayers of yay, yay, yabba dub dub, thanks for grub and moving on, it doesn't really hit home and there's no movement. So if we get back into our prayer life, first and foremost, seeking him and everything, he moves and he'll open your eyes to those different things he wants you to move in. Right on. Right on. Yeah. Yeah. So make sure you hook up with all that with all the social media stuff so you can catch what's going on and and be able to share in in the stuff that God is doing through other people. Here's the thing, guys. It's like, uses what he's doing in other people to otherwise provide encouragement to you. So, like, the the the more that you can be involved with with the various communities of people that God has around you, be it people that you're around all the time, be it people like, we are extremely blessed on this show that people can God just has people doing cool stuff all over the place for the growth of his kingdom, for his glory and joy, and for peace and hope in the world. And and we get all kinds of folks to get to come in here and get share what God has been up to and we get to celebrate that with them. And that's a real blessing to us. And so, like, social media has, for all it's it's it's got some risks to it, guys. We've talked about some of that stuff on the show. But, like, one of the things it can do is it makes communities where you feel like there might not have been one. And you get the ability to take part in conversations and to see the things that God is doing and to celebrate,

what what your brothers and sisters are about in the kingdom to be able to share what you're doing. And so, like, that that's why we encourage you to when folks come into the show like Driven 11 or like, like Egypt, is is you get to follow and see what cool things God is up to and celebrate in that, because that's going on in your family and your family's getting bigger. And so, make sure you do that, and support them any way you can and, and make sure you hook up with the, again, the the social media credentials to be part of that. And, I it's it's it's a blessing to you. And, you know, you know, I'm always hesitant to be like, will be a blessing to you because the general Christian thing to do is say whatever you're selling and say I wrote a book. It'll be a blessing. It will bless you. I got a CD. It'll be a blessing to a blessing to you. Okay. Great. Great. Excellent. So one of things that we were talking about before the show started, and I I think I think we did ask you this, Dominic, the last time you were here about, like, why do you do what you do? And so I think I can't okay. Now I'm not remembering right. So so I'm gonna put you on the spot to answer that question, and then Egypt is on deck. So if you stink, she's gonna clean it up because I feel like she's got a stellar answer. I got this. Oh, yeah. Her answer is much better. You really should have started with her. But, course, I don't wanna follow either, so which is good. Really, the whole mission of Driven eleven is to inspire faith in action. It it doesn't matter what president is in place, who's in congress, none of that. Real change and real impact in the kingdom happens in our our daily lives. And I'm not talking I mean, yes, hanging on someone a sandwich is good, but I'm talking about investing in the relationships that are within your realm of influence.

Many people just don't feel like they can make an impact. They just think they're just a their small piece makes no difference when the reality is it's those little moments every day that God has given us. And he tells us that when you're a shepherd of small things, he'll he'll grow them to bigger things. And I've seen that when we focus on those small things, other opportunities open up that we didn't even think were possible. The doors start to open up. Right. And you have more opportunities to shepherd the people, but it starts with the everyday. And that's my heart is to see people putting their faith in action in their everyday lives. That's story. Brother. Baking my language. We we actually we were just talking about this the what was it? Was it Mark six? We're talking about the the Garrison or the Gadarene demoniac. And like this guy I mean, this guy's, I mean, messed up. Right? He's he lives with the dead. He's bare naked, Ben. He's bees buck wild naked. They can't chain him up. That's right. He can't be contained. He's he's he's harming himself. I mean, like, he's the most destructive dude you ever come across. He he find he finds himself at the feet of Jesus. Alright? The the the he's demon possessed. Right? Jesus casts out the demons. Guys in his right mind wants to go with Jesus. Jesus goes, nah. Nah. You're stay. You're gonna stay here. Jesus comes back in in in Marcus, a chapter and a half later. He comes back to the Decapolis, these 10 cities, and Jesus told this guy to stay and say, hey. I need you to tell your friends. Tell your friends what happened. K? Jesus comes back to Decapolis, and immediately, you have this crowd of people who's saying, hey, will you heal? Now here's how they know Jesus healed. Because that guy told his friends. Yeah. Right? And ten ten cities that otherwise didn't have Jesus have Jesus. Yep. Because a man stayed 10 Gentile cities. 10 Gentile cities. Right? Right? The nations are out and and, like and this guy has changed the fate. Jesus

has has used this man to change the fate of these 10 cities simply because he was willing to follow Jesus and to take people along with him. And it wasn't he didn't say, hey, get a crowd. He didn't say print a book. He didn't say, grab a banner. And he's not that all not that any of those things can't be effective. Right? But, like, Jesus' instruction to this guy was, your life has been changed. Go show your friends. Your life has been changed. Go show your friends. And now you got 10 cities that are turning around saying, who's this who's this Jesus guy? He heals folks. I want him. I wanna know. And so, like, it's where we feel like we can't we say we're we're still here to change the world because Jesus' message still does that. Jesus just simply took to work and said, I'm gonna show you how it's done. Now you go do. And so, you know, for us to look at, we we should be able to wake up every morning and say, like, the world still changes with the good news of Jesus Christ. People still need good news. We have it, and we should be relentless and great in in in our pursuit to pass it out to people. And, like, that doesn't require

that I completely alter my circumstance. We are faithful in the means, and our means are whoever I ran into that day, whoever my relationships are. And I don't mean and I agree. It's it's not a passive thing. Right? Like, it is not just we're not chucking seeds indiscriminately. Like, there are there are people in my life that I that I run into all the time where I I'm there. That's what I'm there for. And everybody has that. And frankly, if we everybody tighten up on their job, homie, I I feel like we got this thing. I know that. Like, he he we we're always the the Western church especially is very plotting. Like, how do we figure out the best way to reach people the way the world reaches people? But here's the deal. Jesus reaches people however he darn well pleases. And the way that he pleases generally seems to be, you just interact with people that you do. And you go about your business and make your business my business, and then my business gets done. And I love that. And I love that. And I think that that puts that puts us in the right realm of recognizing that the world still changes and we're still part of that.

And it and you don't have to be like, whatever you think the barrier is from you being part of changing the world with the good news of Jesus Christ, just know that he has empowered you with the ability to do that because he has presented you the good news and the holy spirit to discern when it goes out. And as long as you live that faithfully, good news will spread. Things that stuff stuff will happen. The the early church grew not because they were successful marketers. It's because they were faithful. And that that that was it. That was it. So I love it. I love it. So excellent. Thank you. Egypt. Okay. So now that turned out pretty good though. That turned out pretty good. You know what saying now because you spoke for the latter half of it. I know. I know. Shameless plug right there. Don't mind Change your ways, Ben. Don't mind if I do. Egypt,

why do you do what you do? Yeah. So I I you know what? There there are moments when I open my mouth to say something, and I make it sound like I'm super old and I'm not. So when I say I was younger when I was younger or a kid, I mean, like, probably, like, two weeks ago. Sure. When I was little, I remember, like, having a whole bunch of issues that I didn't realize were issues until until I was old enough where they started

leaving marks, if that makes any sense. Yep. I got bullied a lot for everything from the way that I looked to the way that I talked to the way that addressed to what my mother does for a living to to to anything from faith to whatever they felt like that day. And I remember that and a couple other things just led to a feeling worthlessness

from, like, as far back as I can remember to as early as as maybe, like, a year or so ago. And I remember, like, beating myself up and and trying to to become worth it to somebody. So for example, I I play 23 instruments. I say that hi. I say that to do exactly what he just did. When I I am impressed. So when I started learning them, like, that was the idea. Like, I wanted a fact about me that people would like or would find cool, simply because there were a lot of people that I felt like I had disappointed by just not being good enough. So the fact, like, I can I I play 23 instruments? I can say that to you, and you're like, oh my goodness. Like, that's awesome. Like, I feel like I'm accepted and have done something, like, finally done something right. And it took a very long time to realize, like, okay. That's cool, but you're not necessarily what you do, and there are some people that like you for you, which surprise is an astonishing fact. Like, it took me a very long time

to find out that I might be a likable person. And moreover, that apart from likable, like, other people may love you just like a parent would or a brother or a sister. And, oh, by the way, they're not trying to hurt you. That took forever. Like, there wasn't anybody to explain it, and there wasn't any any real feeling that that you could compare to it. It was just it was odd. So I the the turning point for me is I met this band, and these guys are hilarious. Like, I've always described them as the, the uncles that show up to the family reunion, crash the whole thing, probably blow up a watermelon, and then, like, tell you they're proud of you and then leave for a year. So I met this band for the first time, and that's what they acted like. But this was to everybody, and I don't know if they could tell something was up or what. But they loved on me. Like, nobody has has ever done, and I didn't get it. And I remember I went home, and I had the CD and the T shirt and just, you know, went completely crazy over this group

and got confused about why. Like, what about me is likable? Like, what did I do? Because I need to continue doing it if I want someone to to at least value my existence. And that's what I was looking for. Just, hey. It's okay that you're breathing. Like, I'm fine with that. He's fine with that. She's fine with that. We're okay, and you're okay. And so poetry, a a lot of it, if I'm being honest, poetry was just a way to have a captive audience. Because if, you know, someone

if someone says, hey. You know, we're gonna have someone come and speak for church or youth group or whatever. Generally, that's implied that you stay to hear it. Right. And you have to listen to you have to listen to me. But then as I grew up, I found out that, like, hey. That that's true, but there are some people that'll listen to you anyway. And so through the healing process that kinda went through through that, through meeting this band and then through getting to to to to play and and perform or what have you, I finally gained back some of that security and some of that, like, you're not a waste of space type type moment, which for a lot of people is like, oh, yeah. You know, that's I mean, that's good. It took, like, two weeks. It took years.

And it it it's still an ongoing process, but at the same time, it's not as hard as it used to be. So the reason I do what I do is now knowing what I do about where I've come from and and the stuff that I thought or the things that I wanted to do and thankfully didn't, I know that there are other kids out there like me, kids or adults for that matter. And so the only thing that I wanna be is the person that I needed when I was younger to someone else. I wanna be that person that's, you know, there to play basketball with you at one in the morning. I wanna be that person that's there to to to shake your hand and say, hey. Like, I love your painting, or I'll come to your play, or or, hey. Like, let's sit down and just play guitar together. Like, let me love on you because I know that's what I needed. And moreover, I know that's what God was offering to me the entire time. But because I didn't understand love, I never understood God. And until you can understand love, you will never understand who God is or his purpose for your life because you can't wrap your mind around the fact that someone likes you. Right. And so I wanna be that person who's like, hey. Like, you're cool. I think you're awesome. Like, you're loved. You're worth it. You're royalty. You're prized. And I think that you're cool. And so as a poet, like, I get to shout at you for about half an hour. And then after that, like, I will be in that mosh pit with you depending on who's playing or or I'll be jumping up and down or stage diving, whatever you want as long as you know that you are not alone and that I am here not only because I know what that's like, but because I know of a god who's not leading you either. Right on. Right on. So so that actually segues real nice. We were talking a little bit before the show about your

about your piece when I was younger. And I actually, I've noticed now that I've written that down, you've you've used that phrase probably 10 times Yep. Since you've been in here. Well well, see, the issue is, like, I'm not much older. Like, I'm 18. Right. Right. So there's not a lot of stuff that's happened when I was older. Right. Right. So, I mean, it's just it's just one of the things. A lot of the stories and a lot of the things that I learned did happen when I was I I would say when I was a kid, but for being honest, I really am a kid. And so it's just it it sounds like super adult and proper, and you could write it on an essay and your professor won't get mad at you type deal. So when I was younger is actually a it's a it started as a poem to begin with. I had to write it for school and for morning meeting. And what it really was was me trying to explain what happens when you become a high schooler. You come out of middle school, and whoever invented the idea for middle school and high school, we need to have a serious chat. Like, you have thrown together children with all sorts of hormones and backgrounds and acne

and boys who haven't learned how to use deodorant yet into one gigantic building, and you don't expect anything bad to happen. It never works like that. Right. But the other thing that coming of age, at least for me, meant was the idea that even though I may have, like, ideas to end world hunger or or come up with peace, I'm just 16. Like, no one's gonna listen to me. I don't understand it yet. But when I was younger, I used to be able to dream. So for example, my mother, appears in a lot of these stories, is a horrible, horrible cook, and I swear this is going somewhere. She can burn water if she really tried. So when she announced that she was making lasagna,

I knew that it was going to be an all day affair. So, you know, like, with lasagna, you've gotta make the pasta and get the noodles right and get sauce and get everything else. And then only if you're my mother, you've gotta do it twice because you burn the first batch. Right. So this is the same time that I'm going through my my superhero phase. Now you guys you guys know what the superhero phase is? Booba's in it still. Yeah. Yep. There we I'm just missing the cape. It's all I need for you. Right. Yeah. Exactly. Right. My superhero phase, manifested in me wanting to be superwoman. So my mom buys me the costume or lack thereof and hands me essentially underpants and a cape and says, you know Yeah. Go ahead. Yeah. There you go. But on the same day that she gives me these things, she's also completing my bunk bed, which is like, we have platform to get the ladder to get up, the platform, and everything's all nice and built except for the fact that there's no guardrail on the side. We haven't put it in yet. And the mattress is on the floor. My stuffed animals are all around it.

This is gonna go wrong really fast. So she announces she's making the lasagna, I get all excited about the idea that my food might survive the inferno that is her cooking. And I get dressed into all of my superhero garb, and I realized something. Like, my stuffed animals are in need of saving from the dust bunnies in my corner. Mhmm. So I send my tower, aka my half built bunk bed, and I do what any good superhero would do to get to their their person in distress, which is fly. I thought I did it gracefully.

Apparently, I didn't. Right. My mother comes running upstairs when she hears, like, the thud, and she opens the door. I swear, like, you're you're a dad, right, or in some capacity related in You're old. Very well, vintage. We use vintage. Yes. I'm well seasoned. Alright. There you go. So so you'll know, probably better than parents both parents in the room will know better that you guys have the superpower.

Like, you are FBI, CSI, like the CIA, DC, DC talk, DVD, DVR, ACD, ADD, and ADHD all at the same time. So you'll come and open the door, and you will know exactly what's happened simply by virtue of the fact that your kid is in a heap on the floor with the cape. The stuffed animals are all looked like they're being wrangled in, and the curtain is on fire as well as the bunk bed is still broken. So you know what happened. But at the same time, you're gonna ask the same question. You're gonna look at me dead in my face and go, what you doing? Right. Yeah. I mentioned before, I am a child of a lawyer. Therefore, I will argue you into a back wall if I can, and I will look at all of this evidence and look at you and go, nothing. My mother was not amused.

On top of that, she still burnt the lasagna that night, which is a whole different story. But the idea is that no matter what it was or what stupid thing I wanted to do, she told me to reach for the sky if that was as high as I could see. And then for the sun, the moon, the stars, and everything in between as long as it was easily seen that these three things came first. Now those three things were my family, my education, and the thirst to know God. But when I was younger okay. So you've guessed it. I'm just a little odd. Look. The only thing that I wanted to be was a chemist so that in the midst of the scientific community, it would be me who could be trusted to blow stuff up, but that was when I was younger. My hunger for success would then progress to wanting to be a member of congress, which I assume is before my mother taught me it was wrong to lie, I guess. But, hey, never mind. I digress. This was all when I was younger. Back when my want for success rivaled my want for recess and back when I thought if I did well in school meant that I was cool. And those who didn't dream were all fools set up as tools in a work shop called humanity, and this is the thought process of, like, seven year old me. But then I turned eight, and I discovered it was not that easy.

Like, in the same day, I got bullied for both being too fat and then for being too skinny and then for being just just the right size. I guess there are days short and summarized where you just can't win. Like, catch 22 boohoo for you and guess what? You're doing it over again. And then I feel like the light behind the eyes of the hopeful have been doused because every time I leave the house to chat with my friends, I hear the same sentiments of success expressed above repeated back to me, and then I am the one that sees the results of the insults and of the pain, and it's reflected on the scars membrane that lays plain on their skin except when that's been experienced. I'm gonna guarantee you there is some form of hopelessness, depression, anxiety. It is all set in, and it's only because we can't see our own potential. And, well, while I am forced to believe that I'm playing pickup games with ghosts and the skeletons that host the dead hopes and dreams of my generation who's just now too scared to dare to believe, guys, we used to think that we could dream.

That we could be whatever we wanted to be, but now we have deemed it an impossibility to see the plans laid out for you or for me. Well, can I tell you what I see? I see past the years of weariness to a little girl. Used to see things that others just couldn't believe. You were a little girl that was a whole lot like me, and now you feel defeated by the situation and the circumstances the life has placed you in. I see past the years of rejection to a young man. He's put his action figures in witness protection the same way I would regardless of whether my sister gets my go fish cards, but, hey, never mind. I look at a time when every single one of us was younger, back when our need for success melded our rest and our waking hours together and back before a feather landed on the scales of life and it tipped us aside. But if it is just a feather, I mean, if it is light and paperweight, then isn't the gate to dreaming again in our hands today? Like, guys, if it is just a feather,

what's the problem with blowing it away? So I ask you to wait and and not tune me out. Look. The amount of weight you're under isn't forever certain like it's just a curtain high to you from the light of day or in Iowa for Pete's sake. You guys know that when a thunderstorm rolls in, it never takes away the hope for seeing the sun again. So look. You're right. I don't know what you're going through. But here's what I do know. You are just like me, and I'm just like you. We are human in creation, purposeful in ordination, intent I'll see in our salvation from these chains. I just wanna tell you, things change. It gets better, and sure you might get a little wetter waiting for that rain to pass. But when it does, at last, I can deem these the days that I used to have when I was younger. Alright.

Alright, man. Here's the thing. When she gets done doing that, I I can't I don't even know to say. You know I'm saying? Like, the last time the last one you did, me and Boova stared at each other for, a minute while Ben was talking. Like, I hope he doesn't ask us to say nothing. Yep. I know. Because here's the thing. And here's what I realized having you guys in here is that there's certain things I'm just not capable of. Right? Like, there's certain there's certain modes of of prayer that I I just I I can't I just I don't do it on my own. I don't do it on my own. There's certain ways of worshiping. I don't do it on my own. I just can't. I it's just not how god built me. Right? And you help me do that. Right? There are certain ways that I feel that I can't describe and I can't put a finger on it. I can't say what it is or what it ain't. And you help me to do that too. And so, like, there's things that you guys do, that I can never do

on my own. And I don't realize how important it is to me, until it's in front of me. And so, you know, maybe just for a heads up, there are completely cardboard cutouts of emotional people. That's me. You know what I'm saying? Like, there's things I just don't I just don't take the world in in a in a in a deep and, three d way. It's pretty two d for me most of the time. Right? But when you do what you do,

I start to see it deeper than I did. And when you explain it the way you explain it, I start to understand parts that I would just have gone, I don't feel right. You know what I'm saying? It there's deeper than I'm just not right. Right? Like spiritual LSD. That's what I'm saying. It's exactly right. You expand my emotional and spiritual mind. It's the truth. And here's and here's the thing. It's like the the the parts of me that that, like, I know are not capable of that, I my daughters will come up and ask me questions, and I'll be like, I'm a two d man. You know? She's got she's having a hard time at school or she doesn't feel like like she's getting along and doesn't fit in, and she looks at me and I go, I don't know. Those kids don't seem like they got it right. What else do you want me to say? They're wrong. You're awesome. That's all I know. I can't I I don't I I don't grasp I don't grasp deeper than that. Right? I never have. And so thank you guys for coming in. Yeah. Pleasure, man. Thank you. Yeah. Thanks for having us. Mike, you got dude, we got one? Yeah. We got for one. Got time for one. Boo boo. Street preacher's gonna have to wait till next week. Oh, that's just fine. No. I I don't even wanna talk right now. Okay. What is a female bear called? Oh, an Eliza. Sal. Sal. That's correct. Dear life from the path. I'm sorry. Can

we accept Eliza as an option? Yes. Okay. Good. Yeah. I think so. Moving on. Dear life from the path. My ex boyfriend and I broke up two years ago. We were together for nearly three years. A year into our relationship, we rescued a puppy. We broke up when she was two. Since then, we have shared her on and off. This arrangement worked fine because we have both been single. I'm now in a new relationship and feel that my ex and I should cut ties. Oh. We recently had a falling out, but he still wants to share the dog until she is no longer in the picture. Life from the path what? Sorry. No. No. I'll wait. Life from the path. I don't feel like it's feasible for us to continue sharing our dog for the next twelve to fifteen years. My ex has post traumatic stress disorder, and I know she helps him. However, I feel like I can provide a better home for her and give her more attention. How do we decide who gets to keep the dog? I I would suggest that she, cuts the dog in half.

What? Solomon and the baby. Yep. Dog. That'll decide real quick who gets the dog. Secular gonna. Hey. Can I chime in on this? Yeah. Alright. Cool. So just understand that you are talking to the terminally single one of the group. Coming from someone who's not yet been in a relationship, I just feel like like the dog is almost symbolic of what you guys had. And because of that and just the simple passing back and forth, that's the one tie that still reminds you of the times that you had in the two years that that dog was in your home and that that they were part of your relationship.

So the trick here isn't just deciding where the dog's gonna go. It's deciding on the closure that you're gonna get from those feelings and where you're at. So I think the first thing that your readers or your listeners gonna have to do is decide where where she wants to go with it. The dog by giving yes. By giving the dog to him, you understand that the dog might be able to help him through some of his PTSD symptoms, and that's great. But also understand that with this kind of relationship, especially one where intimacy and, like, romantic is involved. Right on. Where that where that kind same response. Right. Where that's involved, like, there's been emotions and things that that you won't be able to to share with anybody else with him. Sometimes that's all within this dog that is still symbolizing that relationship.

Yeah. So I think what you have to do is, one, be okay that that the relationship is gonna move on where with with or without you, probably without, just by the way that things are sounding. And then be able to separate your emotions from the life of of the puppy. Once you can do that and once you can come to terms and maybe have a conversation with him, I think that's where it starts first. It's just like, hey. You know, I know that we're thinking about this, and I I know that the dog needs a home. Just kind of lay it out. And you might be surprised with what he says. But from what I heard, there wasn't really a conversation about what are we gonna do with the dog. Yeah. The thing is the only person the only thing that knows how to love people in this soul story is the dog. Is the dog. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, I mean, it The man, if he has legit PTSD, right? Like, and this dog is helping, you giving him the dog. Yeah. You know what saying? Yeah. Yeah. Like, is that dog coming to your house where a better home like, well, you buy him an extra pillow or like, you know, you give I I mean, I've seen these dogs that eat out to garbage. Right? They slobber over everything. I have, like, I have a million dogs at my house all the time. Right? And I like dogs. But the truth of the matter is, like, your version of a better home, a better environment, if it ain't giving the dog a chance to run, it's none of those things. Right? Like, the pillow or the the dress or like a fancy bowl. There there most people's version of I can give the dog a better home is a this dog brings me a lot of comfort. Yes. Right? Like, makes me comfortable, the dog obviously enjoys. That's right. It likes to sit on the bed. Well, I mean, it might like the bed, but there's probably 15 other things it likes more. But since you can't offer them that, you're consoled with the fact that it digs on your bed. That's right. That dog likes to lick its own butt too. You know what I'm saying? And, like, you you provide in that environment? Environment? It's because the Lord gave him that. You didn't do nothing. So, yeah, here's the deal. Like, it's a it's a solid point. You owe this thing a conversation, but the truth of the matter is the fact that you're having this conversation,

you you're you're just not quite you're not quite getting love right. You're not getting it correctly. Yep. Give the man the dog. Right? Just give him the dog. I mean, unless he's legitimately, like, hitting the dog. Just give the man the dog. Give the man a dog. Boo Boo was trying to think if he can give advice under starting with knick knack petty gloves. Give the give the man dog. Give the man a dog. Okay. Here we go. What was that? I could do I I figured. No. It's gone now. Dear, do you do covers on your on your tour? Yeah. We do some covers. Did you pick up a Neil Diamond tune like we just Oh my. See? There it is together twice. I look okay. So ongoing argument is he's a country singer masquerading in a CCM singer's body. You're gonna do I Am I Said? No. There you go.

I'm more of a song song blue kinda guy. Oh, I understand completely. I don't. I'll do I am I said later. Okay. Secular's advice is, you have a new boyfriend. Your ex has PTSD and needs her more than you do. Unless the animal was somehow mistreated when she was with him, let him have her. Yeah. Solid. Yeah. Good. Done. Great job, secular. That was it? That was the end of the thing? Yeah. I feel really bad about my answer now. What what what? Cut the dog in half. Cut dog in half. No. That's I was going with the Solomon thing. Whoever wants the dog more. Yeah. Exactly. No. You brought on biblical words. Give them the top part. Hey, man. I don't mean to be insensitive, but if his PTSD is Yeah. Guaranteed. Someone might have been cooking gas. Yeah. Dominic Cook. That's that's cruel what you're doing. Alright. Hey. You're listening to Live From The Path. Big thanks to our guests, Dominic, Andrea, Egypt, you guys. Thank you so much for coming in. We really appreciate it. Yeah. What's happening? You bet. Hopefully, we can have you, whatever, to the the thrift store. You're not a guest, thrift store priest.

I am, I said. Anyway, we will we'll get the clips up, on the website. Make sure you go out to, dig on Life in the Path. If you love the show, I'd like to to know about it. Shoot us an email @infolifefromthepath.org. If the show is terrible, I need you to email Chris Roloff at, The Truth Network, and he'll handle all complaints. Always has. Yeah. I think it's I think it's [email protected]. We haven't been on his radio station in about a year now. Yeah. And you can still send off our complaint mail. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like that's his fault for having us on. That's a long term problem that he's gonna have to deal with. So, anyway, you hate the show. I totally hear you. But here's the deal. You're up late at night listening to Internet radio. So what does that say about your life? You know what I'm saying? Exactly. Before you start pouring figures around,

why don't you go to bed? Yeah. Yeah. Although, hopefully, maybe maybe Egypt and River Levin to turn you around. You you figure out something better to do. That's why that's why here's the deal. The lord is gracious and kind. That's why the listenership doesn't go up. They end up here in a hole, and the lord rescues them. I've been in the Internet. You. Thank you, lord. Alright. Well, thank you guys for hanging out with us on the show. I really do appreciate it. Hey. Until we see you next week, be faithful in the means. God will handle the ends. You've been listening to Live From The Path.