Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper, you are live from the path. Are you gonna fade me out? Nope. It doesn't it doesn't do that. Okay, man. Okay. Hey. You're listen to me. You're listening to the live from the path. My name is Ben Foose. Thanks for joining us on the program tonight. This is gonna look a little funny. It's gonna sound a little funny. You don't care, but we had various bits of disaster in here. Yeah. And so we've completely swapped the audio infrastructure, and so it's just gonna sound a little bit different. Don't don't be picky. But we do gotta get going because it took up the whole night, and then everyone's gotta go to bed and Yeah. We should've turned the cameras on an hour ago because Leaf got in a thirty minute fight with his chair. Yeah. First, he claimed the chair wouldn't go up, then he traded it out for another chair, then he claimed that one wouldn't go down. Yeah. And then it turns out it was Leaf error the whole time. So we traded it back and got a new chair. We So went back to the original chair, and then he goes, I got it. It

works. And then all was calm again. Tonight, we have a lot of special guests. We're running short on regulars. Booba's still out doing booba kind of things, and pastor Dan's out doing Alaska kind of things. And so we got some guests in the studio. We're we're being honored with the presence of Leila Foust. Leila? Mhmm. Okay. We don't do visual signals. You have to say hello. Hi. Good. Bryce Calkins? Hello. Wow.

You said say hello. Yeah. I just didn't see that coming. That's all. And then Leaf Blower, Leaf Clark. How you doing, buddy? Good. Okay. Ben's gonna do some tinkering with the numbers. He's not kidding. We've really swapped out 45 chords and an entire soundboard. And so but we do have a good show planned for tonight. One, we have a couple articles we're gonna go through. We have some Pope style advice, which is basically if if the Pope were to come to town and everybody were gonna get on your lawn and they're like, hey Pope, you got to give us some advice otherwise we're not leaving. What would you tell the people that would be both edifying to them, that would bring glory to God and joy to you and tell the people so they could go ahead and disperse and get on with their happy day? So I got some Pope style advice we're gonna go through there. We got some Dear Life From The Paths, and we also have an exciting, bit of technological development in the up and comings. Like, I think Life From The Path is possibly going to offer

a new way to take in media. And so I just want you to think about that. I want you to pray about that and and and be thankful ahead of time before it shows up. But you're gonna be very excited because I know I am. Yeah. Yeah. Think that's probably true. Okay. So here's where we're going. Mike already said it was going on the show, and so we're gonna jump right on in on it. Yeah. I got it. So here's here's one of the there was an article hanging out there. And hey. First of all, do you guys see I saw a post from a church this week that's like, hey. We're taking a break for the summer. You should feel free to go somewhere else. Does this seem weird? Does that sound a weird thing to do? It's like school. That's weird. Like, if your school just bailed on it and said, hey. We're gonna we're gonna break. Here's the thing. Is that, like, I get that people are busy, but, like,

I'd be kinda mad if I went there. Because, like, I I like to go to church. I like to meet with my people. Like, I'm supposed to do that. Like, the Bible points me to it and to go, hey, we're not gonna we're not gonna do that, like, for the rest of the summer. I don't know. Yeah. We're gonna fail to meet. Yeah. Like and we're intentionally not meeting and, like and I think, like, part of the justification was, like, hey. We know you're all busy with, like, activities and things. I'm like, boy, this just seems like the opposite way of thinking about it. Now here's the thing. It might be their reality, and I think that is like, it's a hard reality. Is it, like, people get involved in other things, but I just

I don't I don't know. How would you guys take that in if your church decided, hey. We're just gonna break for the summer. No Sunday services. No nothing. Would you be like, alright. No. I would Free time. I would hate that. I would probably try to figure out, like I mean, if you have a financial problem and you literally can't get people in your church, I would a little bit understand that, but, like I mean, Jesus talked to people for free. He found the closest hill and said, hey. Gather around. That's true. Let's do this thing. I probably wouldn't go back to that church, though, if they were willing to be like, hey. Don't come here. Well, is this, like, a decision that the pastor made or a decision that, like, the whole church made? They didn't air their entire dirty laundry out on Yeah. It it didn't say, but, like, I just like so so if this was our situation, even if everyone in the community said, hey.

We're just we're going to ball or, like, we wanna do picnics in the morning and have family time. Like, we shouldn't meet. I'd go, look. I'll meet. I'll be there. All my doors are open. I still encourage you to show up. Like, you probably couldn't convince me that it was a good that it was a good idea. Like, it's just a wrong pattern of life. Like, I kinda get that there's a season in which you you whatever. You're just gone more and stuff like that. It's not like Jesus is up, like, getting getting the flyswatter out because you did not attend every Sunday. Like, that's not the situation. But, like, by pattern saying, here's the thing that the church, like

not not it's not even, like, just Jesus. It's like weekly gatherings of god's people has been true for thousands and thousands and thousands of years and to go, no. I think we're kind of over that, and we'll get to it when we get to it. Like, it's just it it'd be more than, like, it's a it's not just a week to week thing. It's just like a mind space thing. Like, are you sure? Are you sure, like, this is you going, I'm prioritizing the things that God said were important? Like, that it doesn't feel like that at all. Plus, I mean, don't you still have to pay for the building and the people on staff? It's not like the the the worship pastor's like, yeah. You don't have to pay me this summer. I'm just I'm cool. You know? Yeah. It's a weird move. Yeah. I don't know. I just felt it was weird. It was weird. Alright.

So, anyway, there was an article that said, what you're get oh, no. Not what you're getting wrong about thrash. I'll let you know Ten ten baseless practices in the church. What's that mean? Like, things that don't mean or do anything. Oh, and that the church is doing?

Yes. Okay. Okay. So I I'm we we don't have again, we're trying to move, so we're not gonna spend a ton of time on these, but I'm just gonna see how they hit you. Okay? Alright. First one, seeing the church through the lens of NAR. I don't even know what that is. That's out. We don't care about that one. Alright. Prosecuting fellow believers through online platforms.

What? Like social media? Like Yeah. Maybe. Yeah. Yeah. Like finding another dude who says he believes Jesus and going after on the net. Okay. So this this is a little bit of a problem. Like, are you guys on the socials? Not really. Not really. No. I watch shorts. About it. Okay. On the YouTube? YouTube. Yeah. Right. So so Bryce, would you say your feed has a little bit of Jesus content coming through it? Yeah. Would you say all of it's good? Yeah. If he maybe? Most of it. I mean, he okay. So here's the thing. It's like, if you

if you only come to know who Jesus is through, like, YouTube shorts or Instagram, there tends to be a really shallowness to your faith. Right? Because they will try to grab you with like a snippet of a bible verse or an overall like a motivational slogan. Right? And like those things are really helpful for like a day or maybe two days. Right? But what like, when when stuff starts to hit a wall or you start to have the like having conversations with people who, like, believe the exact opposite of you and they're not kidding around. They don't wanna be your friend. They don't wanna talk nice about it. They hate everything that you're saying. Then the slogan that you got from Instagram that day doesn't quite hold up like the entire word of God. Right? Like the whole Bible or good solid teaching. Right? And so like, I I think that maybe that some of the problem is is like, since everybody has access to posting on social media, like anybody can just say, hey, this is what God says. This is what the Bible says. Right. And then you listen to it and go, I don't know about that. I don't think that sounds right. Right? And so so then we start attacking each other. Right? Like, hey, man. You're a heretic. You know what a heretic is, Layla? Yeah. What is it? Well, I mean, I don't really know how to describe it, but I know what it is. Like, if you're heretics with no face. I've never heard that word in my life. Why I could be saying this? No. No. Isn't it like someone who no. Wait. It's basically someone I feel like I'm thinking of something else. Okay. Now I'm super interested in what you were thinking. But, like, it's basically someone that represents

the that they're that they're teaching people the word of god, but they're not teaching it correctly or they're saying the wrong thing or they're saying something to mislead you in a way. They're not being a 100% transparent on what God says. And people will do this sometimes because they're afraid of people being mad at them. Right? So like Some of the teaching comes from people who know if they say this and this is a sin and there's people doing it, they don't want to say that because they don't want those people to be mad at them. So they're like, well, I guess it's okay. God really says this is fine. Right? Which is not true. That's what we would call a heretic. Right? So I was thinking of a hypocrite. Yeah. Okay. That's what we you should have I was thinking of a hairy tick. I don't know that. What?

I don't trust those guys either for multiple reasons. Yeah. That sounds creepy. I mean, if you're gonna leave the house tick, you just as well get a razor going and try to make yourself presentable. You know? So so at the end of the day, like, this is this a problem? Yes. I think this is a problem. Right? I have a lot of Jesus content that comes across my Instagram for sure. Because that's kind of where my interests are and they know it. But it varies in stuff that's any good.

People will just post a thing and say this thing changed my life and it's a half of first Corinthians verse. And you're like, yeah, that's great. But it's certainly not it's not gonna hold you. Right? Yeah. So like Right. So people start fighting over over the Internet and stuff and then we fight amongst ourselves, which is really no good. God says don't be doing that. Right? You go right to a person when you have a problem with them. You don't like make it for everybody to see. Right. And so, yes, I yeah. So, yeah, we do do this as Christians. It's not great. It's not a good look for sure. Yeah. Yeah. I and and, like, it just doesn't it doesn't tend to change anybody. I I don't think you you are not held accountable to how people are reacting to you. Like, don't I know if you've ever said a true thing to someone and it, like, hit them pretty hard and you could see it in their eyes that it was harming them or, like, they were taking it in harsh. And so, like, you didn't quite keep approaching it in the same way. Like, you just don't have the benefit of that and you're and without the ability to kinda see how people are reacting to things. Yeah. I think it's an unnecessary risk just to be able to say the thing that you wanna say. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Some of these are dumb. Three, presumptuously calling presumptuously calling for a court of heaven. I've never heard of this in my last Oh, what does the first word mean? Yeah. Presumptuous. Well, I yeah. So, like, you're presuming

you're getting ahead of the game by calling for a court of heaven, but, like, I'm not even I don't one, I'm not quite sure what that means. And two, it's not even presumptuous. It's like, just stop. The the the description is for over a decade, the courts of heaven teaching has gained traction in certain circles. The idea is that one can summon a heavenly court to break generational curses and demonic strongholds. There are kernels of truth, God is a righteous judge. No one in scripture do we see mortals initiating heavenly court sessions. In Isaiah six, first Kings 22, and Revelation five, it is always God who opens the courts, not man. To presume otherwise is to cross the line into spiritual presumption. We do not command heaven, we respond to it. The phrase heavenly court sessions just sounds so wrong. I've never heard anyone say something like that. No. That's me either. Seems pretty bold, doesn't it? I've I've heard, like, in the Bible them say heavenly courts, but, like,

I don't know if like, it doesn't sound like we're supposed to use I don't know if they work for you, Bryce. You know what saying? I don't think you can just be like, hey, boys. I'm calling up a court. Yeah. Organize. It's not like I don't know. It's not like normal court where you just be like, hey. I got a problem. Let's go to court. Yeah. Right. I'm dragging you to heavenly court. Yeah. It's weird. Four, scheduling heavenly visitations. I don't know. What the heck? No. I don't It's a weird article. Who's this guy's hanging with the wrong people? Five, claiming titles with no fruit. Okay. Talk to me. We live in an era where many claim the titles of bishop, apostle, or even doctor without the corresponding fruit, character, or qualifications. Titles without transformation are empty. If one has not been tested, mentored, or affirmed by a credible spiritual authority, then claiming these roles is nothing short of self deception.

Worse, many now flaunt degrees from unaccredited diploma mills, which undermines the credibility of true scholarship and ministry. The kingdom is not advanced by titles but by substance. Okay. So maybe I'm looking at this differently, but, like, first of all, I don't know what a is is the word bishop in the Bible? Are these is this a hierarchy within regular churches or whatever? Is it it's a it's a translation question, but you I mean Okay. Yes and no. So I I guess here's what I would say is overall, like, pastor, apostle,

deacon, whatever, all these things. Right? Like, all the titles that we find that's in church culture, we look at them as jobs, and I think the Bible describes them as responsibilities. Right? So, like, you can be a pastor and it's not your job. Right? Like, you don't work at a church and the church doesn't pay you, but you could you you have a responsibility if you're if God has called you to be a pastor. You're a pastor whether you get paid for it or not Yeah. As long as you're doing the work. Yeah. Right? And same thing is true with an elder or a deacon. Right? It's not a job.

It's a responsibility. And so, like, all every single one of those titles that they just said, like, that only matters if you consider it your job or your employment or your title. When God says, this is the responsibility of an elder. This is the responsibility of a teacher. This is the responsibility of a preacher or a pastor or whatever. And so, like, it's it's very western culture like America stuff that says, this is a job. People will pay me to do this. Where I've as far as the bible is concerned, like, it could pay you nothing. Like, you could be out making tents like Paul and still be a preacher. And so, like, whether it's your full time job or you're paid by an organization is completely moot on how the bible talks about it as a responsibility, not necessarily a job. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I would agree. And, well, and to your point, like, these are words that they're they're just even descriptions. Like, somebody eventually capitalized them. But, like, if you were to look at the if you were to look at the Greek New Testament, it's not like apostle has a capital a on it. So when Paul when Paul says I'm an apostle, it's not like he goes, I'm a titled

apo he's like, I'm one sent. I'm a sent one. I'm one who of whom Jesus sent. Right? So these are this titling that people are latching on to are things where, like, they're just like, I am a I'm a disciple. I'm a student of Jesus. I'm an apostle. I'm someone sent by Jesus. Like, okay. And so these are descriptions of movements and relationships. They're not titles. They're not jobs. And so, like, yeah, we and to claim I I get actually, I'm the only thing I I would maybe I hesitate on is there, like, someone providing credentials by a spiritual authority. Well, like, what does that mean?

Like, who's who is that? Somebody who went to, like, a human institution of learning? Because, like, I don't I'm not sure that's what I should consider to be the the reason you can credential other people. Oh, Peter was school of hard knocks. You know what I'm saying? So I I guess my suggestion was, like, let's just lose the credentials altogether. Like, do you even care? Actually, I was just thinking about getting business cards with apostle Mike on it. You think that would be weird if I introduce myself as apostle Mike Yes. To everybody? Probably. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Two votes no. Okay. That means one vote yes. Leila? No. That's weird. Alright. I thought Leila voted yes. Mike's out. Okay. Six, communing with departed saints. Oh. Let's just skip that one. Necromancy was condemned in the Old Testament. Yet today,

some leaders openly claim to receive counsel from dead saints. See first Samuel 28. I mean, is that the example? Is that the example? Because, like, yes, Saul did it, but, like, that's not today at all. Yeah. That's so you know? They're like current people. I mean, probably just someone in the other room, and they're like, hello. I am Peter. Sham. I am Peter. It's weird. Like, I mean, if if if Jesus wanted you to retain the ability to hear the words from someone of the past, he would have made sure it made the scriptures. And so you got plenty to work with. Yeah. You can knock that off. Number seven, using the Hebrew calendar to guide the church. Okay. This is interesting. In recent years, prophetic voices have been this guy's hanging out with weird people. Have increasingly drawn guidance from the church from the Jewish calendar declaring divine mandates for each year based on its numerical or mystical significance. Doesn't that sound like like the Chinese junior Yeah. New Year's situation?

While the Old Testament calendar has deep historical and redemptive meaning, to use it as a primary tool for church direction is to conflate covenants and lapse into a form of Christianized Kabbalah. What does that even mean? Yeah. Listen. I'm a be honest with you, Ben. Everything this guy has said or brought up is, like, a 100 IQ points better than I own. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like he just keeps using a bunch of words, and I'm like, just get to the point. I don't even know what we're talking about. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So I so maybe here's a different question. Is to what extent is it valuable to incorporate

into your current Christian life things that otherwise match the way God's people behave before Jesus? So like Should we still be doing the feast of booze? Yeah. Do you yeah. Yeah. Is there a value in it? Some of the celebrations, some of the the modes. I mean,

maybe. I'd bring back the year of Jubilee. That's insightful, Lila. That seems cool. Feel like it's probably not like, it probably won't harm you, but I don't know if it, like, really adds anything. Yeah. I mean, our current our current Western culture will not tolerate the amount of festivals that the Hebrew calendar has in it. Yeah. Right? If you're like, hey, I'm out for the next ten days. I'm doing feast of booze. And then you're like, hey, Passover's coming. I'm be gone. Hey, man. Hey, man. I got the You never had a good job. Yeah. I can't be there for that either. It's a it's a new moon. Yeah. So, like, so I I think one of the risks is, like, can it be value valuable? Yes. Is it holy? No. Like, I'd be cautious about taking something. They're like, well, God commanded Israel to do it. Well, yes, he did. But but, again, those were slightly different situations. This is pre Jesus. This is them as a demonstration of form, a way of living of which communicates that they are distinct from the world around them. And some of these feasts and celebrations and stuff did that kind of thing. And so

it's not you get this with a lot of messianic Judaism, like Jews who otherwise like, they believe Jesus is the messiah, but otherwise keep to all the other things. Yeah. And they'll hold on to this. They they those they're the guys who gets real fired up about Christmas and Easter and stuff. Hey. Got a question. Yeah. You know how in the Bible, there was be like, hey. They killed the fattened calf. Right? Yeah. What were they doing to this one? Right? Did they feed it a bunch of figurines of lard? Like, do they have just one calf that they're dumping a bunch of bacon down or something? Probably just like it's like they need to have a fattened calf at all times in case Saul just shows up at your house and he's she's like, hey. I need to feed you. Yeah. Here's a fattened calf. I tell you this. I know They just need to keep one at all times. I'm not gonna give it. They're not giving it bacon. Okay. Yeah. That'd be wrong. Okay. The bacon's out. It's pretty No. Yeah. But how do you think they're fattening them up? You know I'm saying? And did they only just have the one? Other like, hey, don't give that extra corn to all the cows. Give it to that fat one because we're gonna eat them pretty soon. They probably just be like a select few. What do you think that you would have a lot of, like, tiny cows that you can't really use because you're fattening one up? Yeah. Yeah. Are the rest of them just, like, super skinny? Yeah. Like, slim fast? And then there's just one, like, huge Republican cow? Certain ones

I feel like I feel like they would have multiple because, like like, I mean, if you had a priest show up at your house and then Jesus was in town, and then, like, for some reason he came to your house, it's like, I feel like you would have more than one. Oh. Like, you would have a, like, a small fat herd

and maybe you would and maybe you would have, like, a we don't really care about them herds. You know what would be terrible if a guy came to visit and you're like, but Jesus is in town. I don't wanna burn a fatted calf on this You're not important. Jesus is everything. Go away, Greg. Go away. We can't have you over tonight. Well, I feel like it's a hospitality thing, isn't it? Like, you need to have it ready. Can you buy back a calf from the market already to go? Probably. So

meat was not super like, they sacrificed a lot of the bulls. So, like, it it's not like they did not eat meat how we eat meat. Like, you would not have had it of it, like, even once a week or something like that. Do you think they ate horse meat? Why are you so stuck on horse meat? I don't know that they had horses. I don't understand why some people

won't eat horse meat. Yeah. It's gross. I don't wanna get on a tangent, but some people are real picky about eating horse meat, Leaf, and Layla. For some reason, they refuse even in a pinch. If horse meat was available, they're like, I would never. Yeah. It's just because we You could ride the horse to go find something else to What if you find a better horse? No. It's like, I just have, like, PTSD when you're, like, on Minecraft, you know, and somebody's killing a horse and it just sounds so horrible. So you're like, wow. I can never eat horse meat. It's like Yeah. It's just sad. So Minecraft is what's the root of this problem? Yes. Okay. Got it. I I feel bad because I totally blow up. Like, if I'm done with a Minecraft world, I just blow every animal up. Wow. This is so often. That turned dark. Yeah. We should probably get back out of forest. Anyway, we think that there's a possibly there's definitely one fattened calf. Bryce says there's probably a herd of fatties, of which you get them already. And then if Greg comes over and there happens to be a Pharisee in town, you're like, sorry, Greg. You will not be eating with us tonight because we're not killing the fat calf. What do you feed them, though? Because, like, back then, there weren't, like, a lot of, like, sources of, like, fatten them up. I think it's olive oil. But

you still have to have food to feed your family. Yeah. That's why I think it's oil. Olive oil would have been, like, readily available. What's, like I think it's just, like, straight liquid, like, fat. Yeah. So I think it's a lot of olive oil. Like a bottle of olive oil. Like a baby bottle. Put it on it. Yeah. Wow. That's what I think. Okay. Okay. Bottle feed our calf's olive oil. That's perfectly normal. Yeah. Give it just okay. If you're on the it's a listen. If you're listening here on a Life Path, you got yourself a cow. Or I wouldn't give it a you can do it on a sheep or whatever, but, like, just give it a shot for, like, two weeks straight olive oil.

It's kinda ugly. Tell me how it happened. Yeah. On top of their normal hay eating Yeah. Just go out there with a bottle. I'll do it. Yeah. I got a I got a sheep right now I got in mind that I'll fatten little bit. Gonna be $1,500 worth of olive oil. Oh. It doesn't it's a lot cheaper there, Mike. That's probably true. You gotta do a non nonsaturated corn solids or something. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Listen. We're not gonna read the rest of that article. It's stupid. I you know you know, sometimes you don't pick a winner. I didn't pick a winner. Sorry about that. You're listening live from the Hey. You got feedback for us on the show, maybe, on that fat and calf thing, or maybe you got some other opinions that you wanna share that no one else listened to. One, be kind to a brother, but use a live from the path complaint line. (515) 517-0085.

Call or text (515) 517-0085. We'd love to, to hear from you, here at Life in the Path. Mhmm. Okay. There was another article about, what you're getting wrong about the rapture. We're also not gonna do that one. Just at high level,

not everyone believes that, and, it's probably not in the bible in the way that you think it is. Go forth and be merry. You can you can talk about that with your closest friends over at Boston. What do you know about that rapture? Not much. Fellas, where you at? I have no clue what rapture means, sir. Have you you've not heard the word rapture? I still I still don't know if you said rapture or rapture. I know what I know what a rapture is. I think context clues puts it at rapture. I don't know. You. There's a Leviathan. That could be Okay. Let's go. Raptors. See, mean Bryce, what do you think about a raptor?

The chickens. They're What? That is not true. That's a T Rex. And also, that's not true. But I don't know. Raptors are cool. Okay. Now that we got that out of the way, Bryce, what do you what do you know about the rapture? Not Nothing. Not a lot. It's not a promise. Thought it would have. Totally heard it. And I know it has does it have something to with destruction? No. No. Wait. Like, in general, you haven't heard, like No. I totally have. I just, like, I've heard it, but I don't know what it means. Like like, the thought that Jesus shows up and then takes, like, raptures, takes all the Christians out. People will have bumper stickers that, like, say, like, in case of rapture, this car will be un unoccupied

because the people of Jesus were just gone? No. Okay. I knew it had something to do with Jesus coming back, but I didn't know it. They took all the Christians away. I don't know. That's good. That means we're not over indexing on it. I think that's fine. Yeah. You guys stay right where you're at. You're doing a good job. Go ahead, Lee. Leave that beat. That's good. You ain't gonna be whatever it is, whatever the reality is, you ain't gonna be able to do anything about it. So, you know, sit back and relax. Yeah. Enjoy the program. Okay. I'm a tell you a quick story. I was in

I was in Atlanta for work this was it this past week? Holy cats. The days are the days are going. Anyway, I I got to the airport, like,

I got to the airport, like, eight hours early. Mhmm. Okay? And I start walking around because I feel I'm on the company dime. So I say, how do I long how long do I have to space out between eating? Can I buy another meal on this company credit card? Because it feels they they get they, like they're gonna approve it, but they they look at it because they get to see your habits. They're like, oh, Ben often eats at the Taco John's, and it comes up. And I'm like, I don't like you peeping. But they're gonna look at so, anyway, I'm trying to be discerning. I'm trying to play the game so I can buy get this other thing. And so, anyway, I end up with this. There's, like, there's this thing called, like, somebody's southern home kitchen or something like that. And so I go in there, and, like, when it's the company money, I tend to try things I wouldn't otherwise try. Like, I'd been to this I think of it this place before, and I ordered some sort of, like, cold grit situation. Okay? And so, anyway, I'm perusing the menu. Right? And so this stuff caught it's outrageous. It's airport food. It's like a sit down restaurant. It's like $40 to get anything. K? It's not my money. I don't care. And so I'm I'm try I couldn't figure out what to do. And then I get this, like, nudge

from, like, an elbow. Like, someone's next to me nudges. Like, hey. What are you gonna get? I'm like, I don't know. And this is weird because, like, I don't look inviting when I'm in an airport. I look like a guy who doesn't wanna talk to you. And so he nudged me and says, what do you get? I said, I don't I don't know. He goes, get get the grits and you'll be blessed. What? Has anybody done that? You know, like, try to insert themselves into your life and propose that there's some sort of blessing associated with it? Not No. Not happening anybody. Never happened. He says, get the grits, and you'll be blessed. I said, thank you. But then I because I whatever whatever he was trying to do, I didn't wanna talk about it. I thought, okay. But then he kinda waited to see if I was gonna order the grits, and it felt real awkward or whatever. I did not order the grits. I got some kind of shrimp dish or whatever. So anyway, long story short, I ate all this stuff. This guy eats at some other separate table, and I start to leave, and he ends up following me back. And it's funny because he's just walking, like, close enough to to me that's weird me out, and he ends up sitting down at my gate to take to take the flight to Des Moines, which is, like, three hours from then. Like, I was still way early. And so finally, I said, hey, man. You go into Des Moines? He's like, yeah.

I said, oh, like, I need to provide you no additional information. And so I said, I I'm trying to ask him more questions. And I said, really? Like, what brings you to Des Moines? Blah blah blah. And he goes, the pope's gonna be there. And I'm like, what? What pope? The pope? Like, the new pope is coming to Des Moines? I said, that's wild. And then but here's the thing. It found very it was, like, halfway believable to me because, like, he's from Chicago. And I said, I don't know. Maybe he goes maybe he's going to Chicago, and then for someone that he's hitting up to the the Des Moines. And so he I said, well, where is he gonna be? You know? And I said, well, I think he's gonna he goes, he's gonna be in

he gave a ZIP code. What's your ZIP code, Mike? 50225. Yeah. I think he gave it, like, a 6, but it was, like, real close to that or whatever. Anyway, he starts describing the place, that it's not it's like he said it's outside of Pleasantville. Like, that's crazy. I know my brother lives in Pleasantville. And he starts describing this thing this house or whatever. And I'll be doggone it. If he doesn't think that the pope is going to Mike's house, That was his impression. Is that the the pope was gonna visit Mike's house. And so so, anyway, I get home before this guy he didn't end up getting on the plane. I'm not sure what happened. And so, like, I, like, I called Mike, I said, dude, I guy thinks the pope is gonna beat your place. And, like what he was describing was Mike's house? Yeah. Yeah. Totally Mike's house. And so, anyway, it's all these people end up showing up at Mike's house, like, the next day because this guy's, like, told other people that the pope was gonna be there. And if a bunch of people show up to your house and think that that you're the pope, you gotta do something. You gotta give them some sort of advice so that they can, like, know what to do. Like, so that they leave. You gotta walk out on the balcony and then give them some pope style advice. What what did you tell them, Mike? Oh my gosh. That was a setup.

I was so I I wanted to go, like, is this fiction? No. Yeah. I was like, there's no freaking way I didn't know that. Like, what Oh the my gosh. That was I watched all three of them, and they're they're like, what? That was awesome. Mike's, like, staring at me the whole time. Why is so? At me like that. I tried even a crack and a smile to let you know it's a setup, and Lennon's just eyes are moving in one of And they're like, I was so confused. I was like And I was like, do you guys get in the weird like, I swear, the Foose stories are weird. I know. Like, the fact that I actually believed you shows how weird some stories you guys tell are. Yeah. Yeah. Alright. I do have a shirt that says eat the grits and be blessed. It's on the way. You do, actually? No. I don't think I ever I just I made up that story right now. I didn't even know what the story was gonna be when I started. Plan that? I I thought I was That's impressive. I was in Atlanta recently. Press. And then, like, I thought, well, I hope it goes from there. I tell you what. Sounds really good. The fourth wall is gone completely when you're in the studio. Anyway,

Mike, the people are at your house at looking for Pope style advice. What did you tell them? Okay. So I'd say good afternoon, everybody. Listen. We need to stay connected to God. We need to stay connected on the things that we're doing and the actions that we're taking. Because some of the things that we've done in the past

don't work every time. And just because something worked in the past doesn't mean you need to continue doing it. I And was I was reminded of this today because I was talking to somebody about Moses smacking the rock with his staff. You guys remember that story? Yeah. Where the first time God said, hey, the people need some water. You're gonna get them some water. Go ahead and tap that rock with the staff. And then water's gonna come out. And everybody's like, wow. This is amazing. And then God says, ask them to do it again. Moses says, hey. The people are complaining again, and they want more water. And God says, walk up to that water and walk up to that rock and speak to the rock and water will come out. Anybody remember what Moses did? He tapped that rock with that staff again. He whooped it. Yeah. Yeah. God said, go up to that rock and speak to it and water will come out. And that's not what Moses did. Moses walked up confidently because he had been he'd done this before and he knew what God was gonna say. And and he didn't actually need God in the middle of this. He knew if he smacked that rock with the staff, the water would come out. Now God was gracious to Moses in a way because he went up and did it and water came out. But there's a big consequence to Moses. Like, walked away from that water and God says, you did not honor me and you did not treat me as holy and you will not be going into the promised land because of that. Yeah. And you read that and you think, what a small inconsequential

detail. Yeah. Right? Like, he went up and hit the rock and the water came out. The same exact situation comes up and he goes, I've been here before. I'll hit it with the with the staff and the water will come out. But just before that, God says, I want you to walk up to that rock and I want you to speak to the rock. Rock, point out to water and then the water will come out. And and Moses like, we would call it Moses disobeyed. Mhmm. Right? But the thing is, like, in Moses I don't I'm not Moses. I don't know what happens in his mind, but I but I know that and, like, when I read through that, I think, come on, man. Like, what a small

Right. Miss. And, like, the and and and the punishment, it's not a punishment. We'll call it a consequence of what Moses did is he's no longer allowed to go into the promised land with the rest of the people. Right? And so I was thinking about that today and I thought, this is why it is so important in the things that God has us doing, the people that he has us talking to about who he is and what he's doing, and the and the work that he has you doing. Even if you don't feel like you have an official title or an official responsibility,

right, at the moment, I can tell you right now you do. You already have that responsibility because you know a thing and it's good and true. And it's changed your life in a way. And it's brought you up in a family of changed lives. Right? So you already have a responsibility there. K? But, like, it really does matter that you are staying connected with God in prayer and reading his word because he will change his mind. Mhmm. Like, from what if, like, if because you guys know that we do a youth group in at the library every Wednesday. Right? And I have kind of a form formulaic way of which I go about it. We kinda do the same thing every week. And then I thought to my the first thing I thought of after I was talking about that with someone today, I'm like, I don't ask God every week what we should be doing. I pray that he shows up, but I don't ask him whether I should be changing something. I just assume we've always done it. Let's keep doing it. We always do right? We always walk into church on Sundays and we always do worship first and then we do what? Offering or then we do the message and then we go out and then we go all stand inside the outside of the the place and talk for a while. And like, I'm not saying that any of those things is wrong. I'm just saying, did we ask him? Right? Did we ask him what maybe we should quit. Maybe I should stop doing youth group. I didn't ask him that. Maybe I should start doing it out on the lawn or maybe we should do it in Knoxville or maybe maybe we should do it on Tuesdays. I don't know. I haven't asked him. Right? I just kind of picked a thing and then keep doing it. And I thought, like, I don't think God is mad about that. I don't think like he's he's like, I can't believe you didn't ask me. But I don't know that my heart is open to him changing his mind and him changing the way that I think that I am serving him or I am talking to other people about him. Maybe I should stop inviting people for coffee. Maybe I should start inviting people for fishing.

Maybe I should start inviting people for volleyball. I have no idea. Maybe I should join a running club so I can tell people about Jesus. That sounds terrible and not in my personality at all, but I didn't ask him. Right? And he would know way more than I would know on where, like, my time, talent, effort, money, and abilities are best served to him. So my pope style advice is stay connected. Like, don't just read the thing that your pastor told you to read. Don't just pray because your parents made you. Don't just do it because you think you should. Do it because God is going to interchange

information to you that really does change your life and probably the people around you. Mhmm. So stay connected to what God is doing. How do you how do you think about then

it feels like you could get stagnant simply because there's so many things that God could tell you to do. Yeah. Like, how did I I didn't pray before I just responded. Correct. I'm not gonna pray like, I don't generally pray, like, how like, what route am I gonna drive home? I'm gonna take the straightest route, generally speaking.

And so how do you how do you think about kind of is there a distinction between stay connected? Because, like, if you're connected, you could be con I could be connected with my wife where, like, I might be going about my everyday business,

but I am listening. Like, she might say something, and so I have my ears out. But I'm not necessarily standing in the living room. Like, if she doesn't tell me to do a thing, I'm not gonna do a thing. How do you I guess, how do you think about that? Because there was a lot of things where, like, it's a everyday thing that, like, do you risk doing the wrong thing because you didn't ask specifically versus did you hear him speaking? Yeah. So you yeah. You're right. So, like, I don't wanna overclock and say that, like because then it sounds like god works on a technicality. Right? So, like, if you didn't ask him, he's not gonna answer And that's not that's not what I think God's posture is towards us. Right? Mhmm. But, like, we talk about David a lot in here after being a man after God's own heart. Right? And it's not because his decisions are are all solid a 100% of the time. That guy did some way messed up stuff. Right? Mhmm. But his heart posture is always to God. Like, you and even if you take like the the wife example. Right? Like, I am always open to my wife interrupting my day and changing what I had going. Right? If she's like, I know you wanted to do this, but we really need to get the trees solid because they all fell over in the wind. You need to put some stakes in the ground and get them tied up. And I'd be like, alright. Yeah. That's fine. Right? I am open to my wife interrupting my day and changing my plans for whatever. Now that seems harder to do with God. Right? But to a certain extent, it's it's not. It like, you basically get in a way where you start looking for him to interrupt your day and looking for him to interact in your life and you won't hear it unless you actually wanna hear his voice. He's not fooled by like the the bible plan that that your youth group set up for you. Right? Like, what he's looking for is a heart posture towards him that says, God, I'm open. And you'll know that because you spend time in his word and you spend time praying to him and just sitting and being with him. Right? Like spending quality time makes it so you recognize his voice. That's what that looks like. Right? And you can recognize his voice when it comes from other people. Right? I've had people speak into my life and they're saying, told me this. Right? Or God says we should act this way. And I'm like, he did he did not say that. I know he didn't say that because his bible agrees does not agree with what you're saying. Right. So and God doesn't change. Right? So like, I know you're lying to me. I would not know that if I hadn't spent time with him. And so, like, all that being said, like, if your relationship with God feels like it's flat or like it comes from the people around you or your community and you're like, they all claim that God does all these great things and I don't know anything about this. I believe this because I was taught to believe it, but I don't feel this myself. I don't see God interacting in my life. I don't see him ever speaking to me or trying to move a thing or have me involved in anything.

I'm telling you that, like, you have to stay connected to them. Right? Just like and like like the Bible will do this as biblical picture for like, being rooted or right getting nutrients from the soil. Right? Like you can't get nutrients from the soil if you're not in the soil. Right. And so like, you can get nutrients from other people that sprinkle it on you, but you're not growing on your own. You're growing because other people are pouring into you. But if you want to, like, know the things that God is going to do and not just presume on all the things that everybody's told you, you have to be in relationship with him. Yeah. Now you can politely get off my lawn. Get off my lawn. I got mistaken bringing all these people here. Imagine saying all that. Imagine saying all that and being like,

alright. You can leave my house now. The Pope's not coming. Yeah. Time for you guys to go. It's $5 for parking. Yeah. That's how you clear them out. It's gotta clear them Catholics out of there. And then I could sell $2 horse meat on your way out. Ew. Leaf and then Leaf's at his house crying. But why? My horse.

Is the Pope selling horse meat at Michael's house? The fake pope. I would love to see Mike dressed like the pope. Yeah. Me too. I would find that very uncomfortable. I dress for comfort. I think the pope dresses for comfort. Yeah. He's from Chicago. Those robes Pope dresses for show. Those robes are leisure wear. Are they, though? How many layers do you think he got on? Oh, like Lots. A lot. Yeah.

He woah. It's like a moo moo. One. So, like, if he get so if he gets water poured on him, it's just Yeah. Game over? Yeah. A stiff a stiff breeze is a modesty problem. It's a papal moo moo. A pa moo moo. Alright. You're you're listening live from the path. Thanks for hanging out with us, so far today. Mike, I think cover no. He got that advice from soup to nuts. I think he covered it all. And so What? I think that was great. Have you ever heard that phrase soup to nuts? No. Once. It sounds terrible, but I don't know what it means. Okay. I asked around today, and the

the consensus is is that no one says this. No. Yeah. I've never heard that. Wait. What does it mean? Here's the thing. I I'm aware. I'm aware that every once in a while, will say a phrase that either is just made up or that, like, is obscure. I'm not sure where they come from. They're just in there. I don't think to myself, what's an obscure phrase? Like, just the stuff that comes out. However, I will tell you, I had a strong belief that, like, from soup to nuts was a common phrase. Wait. What does it mean? I was so it it it means, like, all the things. It's kinda like saying from a to z, except for it's it's a reference to, like, I don't know, a formal dinner. You start with soup, and by the end of the meal, you've gone through all the courses and you end up in the nuts. What?

I apparently, I think it's a generation problem. You can't say nuts. It causes the the things in your mind. Yeah. It's yeah. I don't I feel like if you said that at, like, a fancy restaurant, they'd be like, can you please leave? So you get out of here. What phrase would you use? To say all the things. All the things? Like, if someone would say, like, we we got it from head to toe. I would just say all the things. Yeah. We covered all the things. We got everything. Well, it's not a merism if you just say all the things. Yeah. Leaf is under the impression you don't need your fancy words in here. We're just gonna say all the things. I do know. I mean, straight to the point. Yeah. My friend's dad,

I was I was found this funny. He would say from seeds to sun as in I don't know. It's like that was his a to z. It was weird. Seeds to sun. Yeah. Like I don't I I didn't really understand what it meant till, like I kinda understand that it's like the

sun the seeds need sun, but that was always weird to me. I always had sun to seeds or seeds to sun. Yeah. I don't know about that one. Okay. We'll try it out tomorrow. I guess if I had to choose, I'd say a to z, probably. Stem to stern? Well, yeah, well, just do well, just make one up. Like, think of something of which has a start and an end. What? A movie. Oh. Yeah. Yeah. From a From from the intro to the end credits. From action to cut. You could do from action to cut. That would be that would But I feel like when you say that, it kinda, like, holds people up for a second. They're like, wait. What? Like, what does that mean? Yeah. Like, I just And then you really have to explain it. Yeah. Yeah. And then it just, like, ruins the effect of what you just said. From bean to gas. Ew.

Okay. That's too far. That's that's a good, like, if you're working in pre k, which I do a lot at our church, that that's a good thing. Yeah. You gotta get to pre k. Kids love wind. That's for sure. Kids love wind. Okay, Mike. Let's get some advice. The wind. Alright. Here we go.

Dear life from the path, the grocery store a mile from our house has recently gone through a major expansion and upgrade. Mhmm. I have shopped there my entire life. The store has two points of ingress and egress. That's entrance and exits. I have always entered through the door most convenient for me. If what I what I need is on the east side of the store, I enter and exit via the closest east side door.

Since the expansion and upgrade, they now allow shoppers to enter only through one door and exit through the other. They will soon install gates to prevent shoppers from using the quotes wrong door. I have an injury and I will be having surgery soon. Walking through the entire store to pick up a couple of items located near the exit only door can be very difficult. I am sure elderly patrons feel the same way. I know the store is counting on spontaneous purchases by doing this, but it's

noncustomer friendly. The quality of the customer service can make or break a business. Without customers, a business will fail. Please send a message to grocery stores to change their minds. Okay. This guy is say well, okay. When you said, like, question, I thought it was like, hey. I'm having kind of problems. Like, can you, like, tell me what, like, how to fix it or something like I'd like prayer or something like that. I would not expect how should I get to the other side of the grocery store. Right. The whole entire pop up story. This guy's straight up lazy. Like, this is He's an injury. No. I don't like this. Use a wheelchair or get over it. He's lazy. Vroom vroom cards. That's all they can use for. Yes. My grandma had one of those at our old store.

And I when I was little, I used to ride around everywhere. Yes. Yes. It was awesome. They were furniture everywhere. You guys are not addressing their problem. Yeah. You're offering alternative solutions. If you have an injury, I mean, you're gonna have to, like, stretch it somehow. I don't know. Like, you gotta What kind injury? Sit around yeah. That was not described. Have all facts on arm. He's complaining about walking through the store. That's just shit. Just just, like, be so here here's the being your kindest you can about the injury. Oh, man. K? Let's presume it's something that makes it difficult to walk. Okay? It's hard to get around. Maybe they're on crutches or something like that. He's missing a leg. Fine. He's missing a leg. Okay. Okay. Is it a dude? Oh, no. Okay. Sounds like a dude. Let's say it's a dude. So the dude's missing a leg. Okay. But he can make it into the he made it to the store.

He either drove there or walked there. They won't let him drive in the grocery store, Ben. No. I understand. Okay. But, like so it's not like it's not like he's not capable of moving at all. He he's not saying he can't even get in the store. He goes in one of the things. He picks up a few items. And so we're just it's it'd be different if, like, hey. I can't do this at all. I need them to deliver the food or something to me. But if we're talking about he can get he can get there. He can get to the different aisles. He just has to go a few extra aisles over or something like that. Or, yeah, he can use the produce vroom vroom cart and put the stuff in there. Like, I I just he said what what did he say? The the grocery stores rely on customers.

You're one, they don't care. Like, everyone else is shopping just fine, and Oh, so your anger is not gonna make a difference. If you have that bad of an injury, you should probably one, if you can't get, like, a handicap spot, it's probably not that terrible of an injury. But two, if you're missing a leg, you have alternatives

to fix that. Like, stretches a wooden leg. I understand. You guys are an unsympathetic crowd. Well, I understand. It's probably impossible to put your car. About a leg, sir. Yeah. To Okay, mister. Missing a leg.

Hop around and get that turkey. But, also, I think every store, no matter how big or small like, if you're, like, if you're, like, I don't know, like, Dollar General size, you don't need those things. But, like, I feel like every, like, Walmart or grocery store should have those, like,

vehicles. The carts anyway. What's it? Here's the thing. Is that here's the rich. Just not that you have to sympathize with the grocer. But, like, once they started the accommodating for you, like, then they have to you gotta figure out how do you sort out all the various accommodations that other people are asking for. And to be honest with you, I've been in a number of stores where the Voom Groom carts seem to be occupied by people who are fully capable of walking around the store. Yep. They just appeared not to want to. And with all the, like, technology that we have, you can just order it and have it delivered to your house. If you have, like, something, like, absolutely, like Yeah. Major. Uber groceries, man. No. But, dad, what you just said were, like, feel like some people don't actually need it. Yeah. I thought the same thing the other day. We were at Costco. There's a lady in the cart, and I, like, whispered to mama. I was like, why she looks perfectly fine. Why is she using that? And then mom's like, Lila, shut up. And I'm like, oh, I'm sorry. And then this lady heard me apparently, and she's like, it's perfectly fine that you said something, but I actually had back surgery a while ago. I was like, wow. I feel horrible. Yes. Like and I felt like such a jerk. And I was like, shoot. Yeah. That was jerky. She was actually she was so nice, and I felt so bad. But then also this guy, it was a bonus to have a door where you wanna get your stuff. Right? But, like, if there's only one door Yeah. Like, you're serious. It's a it's waste. Point here. That you're right. The the situation you had was a bonus, and it was pretty sweet. And now it's come to an end. Right. And you're like, you're gonna have to figure something else out. Exactly. The painters are gone. Going to the grocery store, like, every day. Exactly. It's maybe once a week. Some people do that. Once a month. People that don't live out in the country like y'all, like, they stop for food on the way home, and they just buy what they're gonna cook for dinner that night. Well, also, can't you just choose a different grocery store? Faced something against this one because they don't have yet to his whole life, Layla. Well, yeah. Now they took away his bonus door, now he's mad about it. Go somewhere else. Okay. I'll tell you this. The the Walmart used to make this is apples to apples comparison. You're gonna look. Walmart made these

chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies. Oh, yeah. They're delicious. I used to before my I was married and my wife said I couldn't do it no more, I probably ate 60 of those in a week. Okay. That's horrible. They were excuse me. They were delicious. They were so good. Okay. Now what's happened is the Walmart has slowly, like, inched the price up of these things, and the cookies have gotten smaller and smaller. They used to be the size of, like, one of Mike's eyeglasses over there. Yeah. And now they're the size of, like, a quarter. They're super tiny. No. They're not. They're pretty small. A quarter? Listen. I for no. I'm I'm not exaggerating. It's it's a it's it's a world problem. So, anyway Inflation. I'll you this. I'm disappointed in that. I wish the Walmart would, would make the same ones. But, like, I mean, it's their their store. They get to they get to go, look. This is what we sell for this price. Do you wanna buy these or what? Yeah. I'm like, I don't I got the choice. I can I can say and I could tell them, hey? This has become more inconvenient, and they're gonna go, look, man. We're we're we're closing that door because people they're like, there's theft over there. And so the question is is that, like, be so that it's easier on you, do I lose $2,000

a month on theft coming out the door? Right. Or do I gotta or I pay a guy $2,000 a month to watch the door so that he can say you're allowed in, but not you. And then what are you gonna do when the guy, he says he can't come in because, like, you look able-bodied. You're gonna end up in a Layla situation where you just, like, harass the dude who just got his back all zapped out. Yeah. And so, like, it's a real mess. And so, bring a friend, maybe even, like, find the assistant manager and go, look, man. So I just have a hard time getting to this back stuff. When I come in, do you think one of your folks could go grab this for me? I bet they do it. No problem. Perfectly reasonable. I bet they do like a huge store like Costco, you know, where you actually get your miles in walking on that store. Like, totally ask somebody to help you. They totally would. I bet they I I bet they would do. Just don't make it like if you wanna get my food and get Also, wanna say that 90%

of stores have the online ordering. You literally pull up. Did you make up that number? Yeah. Mean You just said it so confidently as if you researched this, and I think you completely made it up. Yes. I did. Anyway I think that's accurate, though. Yeah. My parents say I'm too confident. But I see. You're you're half a liar, Bryce. You did it's not a true fact. Well, I mean, about. Sorry about It's a bold faced lie. About it's my opinion. About 90%. It's bald Mike, is that better? Fair enough. It's bald faced. What? It's not bald faced. It's bald faced lie. No. It's bald. It is definitely not bald. He's bald faced lie. Yeah. It's bald faced lie.

I don't think any of you guys know that. I'll do it later. No. You gotta Continue on, Bryce. Defend your lies. Jack. Oh. I heard it from Bryce. Yeah. So it's like, so many stores are like that, and there's, like I know Pleasant Valley is, like, a Dollar General, but, like, there's a lot of other stores, like, in other towns unless you're, like, just in the middle of nowhere, like Wyoming.

Just in the middle of nowhere, there's no towns anywhere, like, in head town. Well Take that Wyoming. You husk of a nation. I like that. Think Wyoming's amazing. I

think Wyoming's amazing. Like, if you're in the Southern County in British Ontario, they don't know anything about this. Okay. We're gonna wrap this up. I here's the thing. At the end of the day, capitalism will sort this out. You guys remember when Walmart went out a big push to do self serve checkouts. Right? Yeah. Yeah. To try to prevent theft? They're starting to yank them out because most people don't like them. I freaking love those things. And a lot of people like them. You're overly invested in them, Layla. You gotta get your miles in. No. The cashiers are so At the end of the day, like, supply and demand will straighten this stuff out. If everybody hates this new entrance, they'll put it back up. Right? And so right now, it seems like everybody else is fine with it, but you you might just have to suck it up. Yeah. I think if you I I think I think it's actually kind of a good good recommendation. It's like sometimes you we solve problems institutionally that you could just as easily solve personally. Don't ask that they move their entrance and exit. Just you're gonna have to ask if you need help, you're gonna have to ask for it. Yeah. Okay. So the question was, please send a message to the grocery stores to change their methods. Absolutely not.

No. Secular says, I will try, but I'm pessimistic that the message will be heated. I know many shoppers experience the same aggravation that you are feeling. The supermarket in my city has branches in different neighborhoods. At my branch, the management got the bright idea that completely rearranging the store would generate more sales, forcing customers to weave through aisles looking for items that were once easy to find. I don't know how it has worked out for them because I now shop at a different store. Oh my gosh. If you have that option, take it. Okay. This whole thing is so dramatic. It makes me just It it is. Like small town drama. Yes. It does. Like small town, like, Pleasantville drama. Exactly. I want to like, sometimes you just gotta give some stuff some time. You know I'm saying? Like, they're gonna say, hey. We think this will be better. They don't know whether it's gonna be better. They're gonna give it two months. And then once everyone complains about it or they're not their sales aren't up, they'll put it back. Or you just don't like things to change and you're mad, and it actually was better for other people who aren't you, you selfish duck. I just feel like this guy's, like, mildly inconvenienced, and then he's like, wow. My life sucks. Well and you'll get used to it eventually. It's not like it's horrible. Yeah. Right. Worst thing that could ever happen negative. I feel bad for this guy. Yeah. Like, the fact that he had that negative thought instantly because he

had something taken away from him. I think to be fair, I feel this way every time I go into Menards that is not set up like my home Menards. Yeah. Okay. I know how that feels, but then also, it's not that much of an inconvenience. I mean, I'm not like, this is your fault, but I'm like, why would they do this to me? I know where all of the electrical wire is at my home Menards. Right. I mean, I think that's why they have all the signs that say electrical and, like, flat. Yes. Alright. Dog. Yeah. Alright. I think you just need to pay a little bit more attention. Wow. Yeah. Wow. Sleeve's coming off strong. Like, need able to something. Group of people. Yeah. Do you even know how to read, dummy?

I would like to say that. I tell you this, though. Like, some sometimes I feel like the these recent generations get a lot of bad rap, but, like, these these folks in this room are saying, look. We don't put up with your business. You learn how to navigate the world. Yeah. I like it. Hey. Can you help me find the plumbing? Why don't you learn to read, punk? Yeah. I'll turn the world over to these fellas. No problem. Yeah. You think we make signs for our own health? Put your spectacles on. Those four those four people that had to hang those signs up. Those signs signs are so high up. Didn't I understand how you do that. That's the secondary I didn't think about how high them signs are.

He put himself in peril just so you know where the electrical wire is. I tell you this, Cawkins, you're a wildcard. Some of the things would crush your mind. It would be awkward to see someone in the middle eye, like, like, looking up at the looking up at the signs, like like, that that that would be weird trying to find the, like It's weird watching you do it. Yeah. Yeah. I know. It it would be weird, but, like Yeah. I was confused. What was that? Okay. Let's move on to the next question. K. Here we go. Next one. Dear liar from the path, I need help. Okay. I'm a 50 year old married, well educated woman. I'm also a kleptomaniac,

and I'm not proud of it. You guys know what that means? No. No. Who can't help but steal? Yeah. She's a she's a thief. Yeah. A kleptomaniac feels like they gotta steal stuff all the time. Oh. So it's a prideful stealer. I need help. I'm a 50 year old married, well educated woman. I'm also a kleptomaniac, and I'm not proud of it. It started a few years ago, used back when I accidentally left an item in my shopping cart. Since then, I have found it easy to take things. Shoes, makeup, jewelry, clothing. What? I am out of control.

I know it's wrong. I tell myself, that's it. I will not steal. Then I go and I do it again. I want to stop this madness within myself, but I can't tell anyone. Please help me. Woah. This is just You just told the world. Yeah. I just wanna know this. Yeah. They wrote in anonymously. Yeah. First off, find a new hobby.

Yeah. If you can't do? I mean, okay. Listen. I've accidentally done this. I've totally, like, put something in my pocket at the store, walked out, and then I was like, shoot. And then I just went back and gave it to them, and they had nothing against me. So, like, you should have just corrected it at the beginning. You wouldn't have this problem. Yeah. Okay. I'm a I'm a here's the thing. The thing that you're avoiding doing is the thing that you have to do, which is you have to tell them. Like, you have to you have to go in. This is true of anything. Right? This is true of anything that God says is no good that you're doing, and you think this will go away on its own, it will not. You have to you have to turn yourself in. Mhmm. Right? And so so, like, you have to go back to the store Face the customer. And you have to say, hi. My name is this. I've been stealing from you. I can estimate it. I think it's probably around x amount of dollars. I would like to pay you back restitution,

but what you do going forward is up to you. If you feel like you need to call the police, then I will stay here and wait till they show up. But I want to basically own up to all the things that I've done and have this put behind me. Until you do that, it will continue. Right. That is just flat true. That is true with all of the sin in our life. That is true with stealing crap. That is true with the person that you lied to. That is true with the thing that you're sneaking around doing that you think nobody knows that you're doing. You're gonna have to tell somebody if you want it to stop, and that's the only way it gets done. And that's just flat true. And so she's like, I can't stop, but I can't tell anyone. If you wanna stop, you will tell somebody. That's how it stops. Right. And it really sucks. It's a very humbling, horrible experience, but that is the only way it it ends. Mhmm. You guys ever you guys ever had to turn yourself in because you've done something? You don't have to give me a To lock my parents? Yes. Wait. I don't know. I stole I stole $2 from my grandma, and my mom made me return it. And I felt

like I was going to prison. Like, I thought I was gonna be locked up for the rest of my life. Yeah. Grandmas are scary. You. How how good you leave us disgusting. Just It's your grandmama. I did see a video of The Rock how he was talking about how he stole a Snickers bar from a seven Eleven every single day for energy when he's in high school.

And one day, he literally just went back to that seven Eleven and paid them. He bought a Snickers bar, put down $500 on the table. He said, you keep this, and he walked out. Mhmm. And it's like and I mean That's a way to be. Yeah. Like, I feel like it's cool how he did that. But I understand that's like that's like tipping $5 for him. Like, he gets so much money, but, like, I understand that's yeah. But I think that was cool how he just Yeah. Yeah. There's there's no way

there's absolutely it's not the it doesn't stop without you turning yourself in and then accepting your punishment. Right. Like, you can't soft sell it. You can't undersell it. You can't pull the consequences out. You can't say, here, I'm just gonna give you a thousand list. Forget about this. You have to say, here's what I would like to do, but you decide. What's gonna happen to me, I'm willing to sit for it. It's a it's a justice thing and your heart will not change until you do it. And so, like, unfortunately, like, that's not the advice you're gonna wanna hear, but that's that's what you have to do. Yeah. I agree. It really sucks. I did tell you I stole a I stole a conduit bender from my old work one time. Like, I borrowed, like, for bending Oh, electrical okay. Yeah. Was for bending an electrical pipe. And then I I I quit working there. I went to and took another job and I sat down on my shed for a while. And then I I I passed it like every couple weeks. I'm like, man, I stole that. Like, I intended to give it back, I just never did. And so then, like, it it took like a year and finally, like, God was coming after me about it. He's like, Mike, you stole this. I'm like, I did. So then I went and looked at it and now it's rusty and really screwed up. And I'm like, dang it. So I went and bought him a new one.

And then I went back to my old employer who I hadn't seen in a year and I said, hey, I need to talk to Paul. Paul was my boss. And he's like, mister Foust, how are you doing? He goes, you coming to get your job back? I said, no, Paul. Here's the thing, man. I, I stole a conduit bender from you a year ago, and, I brought you a replacement one. And I said, I'm I'm sorry. I should have had this back a long time ago, but it got ruined while I had it. And this is super embarrassing, but, like, I brought you one to replace it. And he looked me dead in the eye and he goes, who gives a crap? Because I was hoping you were trying to get your job back. And I go, no, man. I'm just trying to clear my conscience. I did something I shouldn't have done. And he goes, we literally have 600 conduit benders. I'm like, you got 601 because that's how many you shoulda had before I stole the other one. He goes, get out of my office. And then I left, and then that was it. But, like, the thing was is, like, it sounds so stupid because I knew they had a ton. I probably coulda just figured they won't even notice. But the truth is I stole it, and it needed to be rectified, and God wasn't gonna have that kind of mess in my life. And he made me buy him a new one and haul it back in there and have that whole conversation.

And so, like, one like, it think of all the all the work this does though. Right? Like, one, set I the world back to rights. I that wasn't mine. And I put the thing back to where it should have been, and that's fine. Two, it speaks to integrity. They know I follow Jesus there. Right? And so, like, it is it it speaks to the integrity that God expects out of his people and that doing that simple thing speaks all kinds of volumes into the people around you where you're not doing the things the way everybody else would do them. Right? Because God doesn't tolerate that mess. And and it is mess. So anyway, yeah, you need to tell them. You got you gotta turn yourself in. For sure. Okay. Secular says, stopping this quotes madness within yourself on your own obviously isn't working. Embarrassing as it may be, the time has come to admit to someone who is qualified to help you that you need it. Your doctor or medical insurance company may be able to refer you to a licensed psychotherapist

while keeping the matter confidential. Please don't wait to reach out. Yeah. I I would I would actually before I presume it's actually like a psychological thing, I would I would do the reckoning part. Yeah. People are always like, oh, I can't really stop. I don't know. Just wait till you face the consequences one time, and then you tell me that you can't stop.

I've been motivated by facing consequences. I'm like, I can't give this up or whatever, and then, like, it comes to reckon. And then suddenly, I can't I don't have a problem with this thing for a year. And so, like, I just

you know, sometimes my wife finds me I I got peanut butter and jelly in the shed, and she finds out about it. Yeah. And you're like, oh, crap. Got caught. And then I'm just saying, like, facing facing the music there, especially if you volunteer for it, I I I wouldn't presume that it's actually some sort of, like, long standing, you need a bunch of psychological help. I'd I'd try the reckoning first. Yeah. And, like and and don't forget the thought that, like, sin is communal. Right? Even the sins that you commit personally, it affects your community. And so it does matter. And so, like, the psychotherapist route, we're not saying that you don't need some help,

but you're but if you think that you're gonna get help without taking responsibility for what you did, that's not help. Yeah. Actually and that's the reason I brought it up is because, like, in some ways, it's almost a deferral of responsibility. Like like, sometimes you just straight up sinful. You wanted to do a thing. It felt fun. It looked fun. It thought fun, whatever it was, and you just wanted to do it. And to go, oh, I think I got something that's maybe, like, slightly miswired in my brain. Like, totally happens to people, and, like, some folks really need help in this area. But, like, sometimes,

you're just selfish. You're self centered, and you wanted to do a thing, and you chose to do a thing. You didn't care if it hurt other people or took from someone else, and you enjoyed it. It just wasn't enough for you to stop. And so, like, I I I I'm cautious. This is the thing. This is that, like, it's I if I had this last episode for the same problem, is that, like, you can totally hear me wrong. I'm not saying people don't need,

help with some, some of these types of things or that your brain can't be working against you at times. But what I'm telling you is is that, like, it it isn't facing the consequences and the reality of your of your sinful behavior for you to act like it's some sort of something miswired in there or an imbalance of chemicals when really you're just selfish and sinful, and that's what you chose. Yes. And so just, like, reckon with that first and then see what the playing field looks like. Okay. Ready. Last one. Okay. Dear live, from the path,

I am one of three sisters. Our family is pretty close knit for birthdays and celebrations. However, it has become increasingly problematic in terms of finances. My siblings and I do pretty well, and it's often assumed that I'm doing very well. I know I am blessed to have my job, but with this income comes sizable expenses such as private school, sports clubs, and my own children's birthdays.

My problem is my middle sister contacted me about hosting a celebration for our younger sisters approaching birthday. Over the years, it has frequently fallen on our shoulders to finance her birthday celebrations. Her husband never lifts a finger or offers to pay for them. I'm tired of having to foot a bill of between 500 to a thousand dollars, but I don't want to be a Grinch either. I have my own family expenses. Am I being unreasonable?

No. I feel like no. Because, I mean, like, I understand family is family and, like, you should but, like, if if

no one else is, like, ever willing to pay and they just expect you to pay because you have a lot of money, I just I don't know. I feel like, like,

I feel like no one will I feel like no one will, like, take that offensively. It'd be like Yeah. To say, hold up. Like, we can do this, but, let's talk about how we're gonna split up some of this cash hold up. Yeah. A thousand bucks seems a lot for a birthday. Like, if they're expecting you to pay for everything, like, the whole thing every time, I just feel like that's kind of obnoxious. Not only that, but a thousand dollars to, like, $500 for, like, birthday, I feel like that's kind of

quite a bit. It seems but now I suppose, like, take them and put them out of our normal income range. Right? 500 to a thousand dollars to a rich guy, very much like Dwayne The Rock Johnson with his Snickers purchase. This is a big nothing burger. Right? It sounds like she's more standing on principle. Like, they can afford it. It's not like it's gonna hurt them to afford it. It seems odd that you're like, well, I made all this money, and now I have big expensive things to pay for, like private school and tennis courts and Yeah. Golf club. That income doesn't come with those expenses. You all get into them. If you're gonna pay for this birthday party, which, yes, other people probably should be helping. But if if you're gonna do it, like, set yourself a limit. I mean, this birthday party doesn't have to be so extravagant. You know? Yeah. Well, or you can say, look. I I mean, I can throw $300 at it. Right. Right? Like like, figure out what you feel comfortable with and be like, hey. It's Andy's birthday. Can you hold her at your house? Like, yeah. I'd love to do it here. I bet our family can probably chip in for, like, $300. What what are you what are you guys thinking? Right. Like, I I can host it. I can help plan it, this how much money I'm gonna give. Like Yeah. I can probably cover the food. Can you get, like, the whatever, the wine or whatever they order at fancy parties? But but yeah. Like, it feels like you first of all, you can be upset about this, but you can't be upset about it if you haven't brought it up. Like, you haven't said, hey, man. This is getting out this is getting expensive.

My family can't really take this kind of burden, so let's do, like, I can do x amount of dollars. If you have said none of those things, you got no ledge to stand on. Yeah. Right. Like, are you asking them for help at all? Yeah. And, like, I mean, it's not really a big secret here, but, like, Ben and I grew up pretty poor. Right? Like, I always know what it feels like to go to somebody else's house that wasn't poor. And so, yeah, I assumed they were buying soda that day, you know, and, like, that wasn't because I was a jerk. It was just because if the soda was on us, we weren't gonna bring it. There wouldn't be any. There was not gonna be soda. And so, like, some of this is just kind of social norm figuring things out kind of stuff, and some of it is, like, didn't say anything. So, like, if you've already mentioned it and it's still a problem, then, yeah, I'd get the talents out and go, that's it. $300 is the most I'm doing. But if you've said nothing about this, this problem's on you. Right. I feel like a thousand dollars is kind of a for a birthday. No. Yeah. That's crazy. Like, I feel like most like, okay. I'm an only child, so

my parents are I'm very grateful for my parents. Yep. But, like, I mean, just have a good old backyard birthday party. Invite a couple friends. And a band?

No. A band's expensive. Gotta have waiters, Bryce. Come on. Buy a cost a Costco sheet cake. Those things are the best, and everybody loves that. Yeah. Costco sheet cake and some horse meat. Yeah. Invite the neighbors over. Yeah. No. Like, I bet that cost you a good, I don't know, 300, $400. Like, not probably not even. 300 for a sheet cake? No. For a horse. No. For the whole thing. For the horse meat. Yeah. The horse I mean, the horse meat is the don't buy horses. But, like, also, like, could be, like, if you're just getting a sheet cake and inviting people over, I mean, like, you're getting gifts for your kid because it's your kid, like Yeah. You love them a lot. So it's like

but it's just a thousand dollars is I mean, be transparent, like, stuff does cost a lot of money. And so, like, even like like we house church. Right? And so, like, when we feed breakfast to people and feed, like, you know, thirty thirty five people or whatever a morning, it's hundreds of dollars. It's not cheap. Right? And so you're like, that sounds like a lot. But really, like, when soon as soon as you start getting thirty, forty, 50 people invited, $500 is not outrageous, right, by the time that you feed all these folks, you know. And so, like, I don't know. Like, in our head, we're like, there's a bunch of cocktail waiters

and, a fountain and a harpist. And, like, I don't think it's probably that. Yeah. But but still, once again, if if if the money is the issue, then see, she brought up like the husband isn't helping for some reason. Who gives a crap about this guy? Like, this is completely unnecessary. If the money's the problem, let the money be the problem. Yeah. If the husband not helping is the problem, the husband not helping should be the problem. But you can't just take, like, a bunch of negative things and pile them together and then deliver it in one big ball and be like, I hate all this stuff. Right? You're not thinking about it right. I wonder if it's not even just a financial thing. If she's also, like, this is totally my responsibility because no one else is taking charge. Yeah. So then she feels like she has to do it. Right. You know? Yeah. So did you ask the husband to pay? Like, have you asked him to pay? Like, I understand if you asked him,

but have you asked him yet? Like, maybe he's like, I don't have to pay for it. All of them are taking care of it. Why like Yeah. It could be an honest mistake. Maybe he thinks you wanna pay for it. Like, so here's so if the money, like Could be your I guess there's multiple ways to handle this. Right? Like, if the if the money is the problem, either set your limit. I think that makes a lot of sense. Or don't make like, stop making money the problem. Be glad to give it. People people can't steal from you what you're willing to give them. People can't take advantage of you what you're willing to offer. And so, like, if that money actually isn't a big deal, it's just like you feel like your middle sister should be thinking about this. You don't have to be the the world's teacher. It's not required. And so if, like, otherwise, relationships are good, then, like Just pay for it. Pay for it. What do you I mean, like, it like, do you the question is just, why do you care? Hey. It's causing my sister to be, like I feel like they're taking advantage of me. Well, either tell them they're taking advantage of you so you can stop being taken advantage of or be willing to just pay it, and then they're not taking advantage of you. They're just accepting a gift. And so, like, you can there's I think it's fine to set the limit. But, like, you need to check your I'd check your ego because a lot of times we're like, I gotta teach them a lesson. I I'll be honest. We have this problem at my house. I got, like but my family often talks to each other as if it's their job to, like, teach everybody around you them a lesson. You always talk like this. You always say this thing this way. Blah blah blah. Like, it's very hard to take the gracious stance that goes, oh, boy. They said something kinda odd or offensive there. I'm just gonna ignore it and otherwise treat it as if they were treating me kind and just go about my business. Like, you do have the option just to not to get hosed off about it. And so,

if the money's crunching you or whatever, then that's fine. But, like, really, if you're just trying to teach someone a lesson, just skip it. Just go ahead and just pay for it and let it go. It's not your job. I think that's the better route, actually. Okay. Here we go. Secular says, you are not being unreasonable. You are stating facts. Have a frank talk with your middle sister about your feelings. Tell her you think it's time for the two of you to approach this brother-in-law and suggest he pitch in for his wife's milestone birthday. And in the future, if you plan to host any more birthday parties for her, make them more modest. Wait. So this was only one birthday? Yeah. This was oh, I thought this was like an every It's like an every year thing. This was an annual thing. Yeah. Me too. Well, I mean, it sounds like they keep asking her every year. She's just particularly upset about this one. Oh, okay. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I I feel like I'd be upset if my if I had siblings and I were older and they were like, hey. My kid's going I wanna go to a eventually and for my kid's birthday. Can you pay for it? Because I don't have any money. Like People do this at weddings all the time. Hey. You wanna be a bridesmaid? It's gonna cost you $700. You're like, no.

No. Okay. Alright. Good. Well, you're listening live from the Thanks for hanging out with us tonight. We really do appreciate it. I thank you guys for being gracious with us. I know we, we started off a little bit, tricky there, but I think we got her dialed in. And so, big thanks to that. Fellas, thanks for joining us, here on live from the path. Yeah. Yeah. If you guys got some feedback for, for Bryce and Leaf, just, hit up the old live from the Path complaint line. (515) 517-0085. Call or text (515) 517-0085. Now I it is, I warned you a few weeks ago, the summer does look a little bit dicey. I think I'm out next and I think we got some hit and miss going on. I do I do think there's maybe a good chance we might be able to hear from Buva here in a few weeks, and that'll be fun. He's got a really cool, Jesus,

story of Jesus to tell, and so we're excited to hear that. But in the meantime, be faithful in the means. God will handle the ends. You've been listening to live from the path. Sorry. We ruined it, everybody.