{"id":303209,"date":"2014-09-24T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/identifying-your-idols\/"},"modified":"2014-09-24T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-24T15:00:00","slug":"identifying-your-idols","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/identifying-your-idols\/","title":{"rendered":"Identifying Your Idols"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are idols a thing of the past? Not according to Pastor Kyle Idleman, who&#8217;s faced down his share.  Kyle helps us identify our idols by asking us to answer some key questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2014-09-24.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"25.46M","filesize_raw":"26698875","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2827],"tags":[5443,4423,5446,4111,5444,5445],"podcast_series":[8038],"cwp_profile":[9359],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-303209","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-repentance","tag-idolatry","tag-knowing-god","tag-personal-purity","tag-repentance","tag-respectable-sins","tag-spritual-growth","podcast_series-gods-at-war","cwp_profile-kyle-idleman","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/303209\/identifying-your-idols","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/303209\/identifying-your-idols","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Yh7Fmnwu2I\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/identifying-your-idols\/\">Identifying Your Idols<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/identifying-your-idols\/embed\/#?secret=Yh7Fmnwu2I\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Identifying Your Idols&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"Yh7Fmnwu2I\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Are idols a thing of the past? Not according to Pastor Kyle Idleman, who's faced down his share. Kyle helps us identify our idols by asking us to answer some key questions.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylifetoday.com\/fl2014-09-24.pdf","transcript_content":"<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Most of us are aware that our lives are lived in the midst of an ongoing spiritual battle. But pastor and author, Kyle Idleman, wants us to know sometimes the battle is with our own desires.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>You know, what do I complain about? Because if you\u2019re really wanting to identify an idol in your life, look at what you\u2019re complaining about. If you need help answering that question, ask the people around you. Ask your family members, \u201cOkay, what am I complaining about?\u201d Pay attention to your kids. What are your kids complaining about? Because it\u2019s <em>revealing<\/em> something that they\u2019ve put their hope in.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> for Wednesday, September 24<sup>th<\/sup>. Our host is the President of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. Are you aware of idolatry in your own life or in your family? We\u2019re going to tackle that subject today. Stay tuned.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today. <\/em>Thanks for joining us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>1:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou know\u2014you\u2019re going to pick up a book to read about idols\u2014you want the one written by Idleman; don\u2019t you? [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>He is the author of a book about idolatry.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>I bet I\u2019m not the first guy to make that joke, am I.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>No, I\u2019m sure you\u2019re not.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tKyle, welcome to the broadcast.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>Thank you. It\u2019s great to be here.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Kyle Idleman\u2014it\u2019s not spelled that way, folks\u2014is the pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. You and your wife Desiree are raising four children. You\u2019re in the battle for their hearts, wanting to train them to go the distance. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYour book, <em>Gods At War<\/em>, is\u2014not only a book for parents\u2019 hearts and making sure their heart is ready to go the distance\u2014but it\u2019s also one that\u2019s going to help a lot of parents, I think, in challenging their children, as they grow up, to deal with idols. You had a discussion with your daughter, one night as you were putting her to bed, that really illustrates how we have a misconception about idols today.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>2:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>I was putting my daughter to bed. She had memorized the Ten Commandments for a school assignment, I believe; and so she was excited to recite those for me. She made her way through the Ten Commandments. When she got done I, as a preacher, saw a teachable moment here\u2014and never pass up an opportunity to deliver a little sermon\u2014I began to kind of talk to my daughter about the Ten Commandments and \u201cHad she broken any of those?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI said to her, \u201cMorgan, have you ever told a lie?\u201d She nodded her head, \u201cYes.\u201d I said, \u201cMorgan, have you ever <em>not<\/em> honored your mother and father?\u201d It was more of a rhetorical question\u2014we both knew the answer to that one. I\u2019m going through the list. She finally kind of sees where it\u2019s going. She interrupts me; and she says: \u201cDad, I know one commandment I\u2019ve never broken. I\u2019ve never made for myself an idol in the form of anything.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tShe <em>saw<\/em> idolatry as something that was for \u201cback then.\u201d It doesn\u2019t seem relevant to her today. So, she kind of breathes a sigh of relief as she\u2019s looking at the list of Ten Commandments. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>3:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut the truth is\u2014for her generation and for, really, all of us today\u2014I think it\u2019s safe to say that God\u2019s never had more competition. There are all kinds of idols pulling for our attention\u2014trying to get onto the throne of our hearts. They may not be golden images \/ they may not be statues that have been carved, but they\u2019re just as real. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI decided to wait and talk to my daughter about it a little bit later; but I just realized that, for many people today, they think idolatry is irrelevant and antiquated. In reality, we need to be aware of all the demands\u2014that there are many options for us to align our lives, our time, our money around\u2014many things that can steal our allegiance and our attention away from Jesus.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>John Calvin said, \u201cThe human heart is an idol factory.\u201d It\u2019s interesting\u2014we are born, fully-equipped \/ fully-trained, in being experts at manufacturing idols out of our hearts.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>4:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Well, and it\u2019s interesting, too, because there\u2019s a movie coming out this weekend\u2014that you\u2019ve been involved with\u2014it\u2019s the movie, <em>The Song<\/em>. It\u2019s a modern retelling of the story of Solomon. Here\u2019s a guy who\u2014the book of Ecclesiastes is all about his pursuit for joy and life apart from God; right?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>Right. The reason we have that in our hearts is because all of us have a desire for God\u2014to know God. We will settle for cheap substitutes, oftentimes. You see Solomon trying to discover what the purpose and what the meaning of life is\u2014but what\u2019s he really doing? He\u2019s trying to substitute something in place of God. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHe goes down the path of love\u2014which <em>The Song<\/em> really explores\u2014where that leads him when he tries to put romantic love in place of love for God. He tries money, material possessions\u2014he tries entertainment. We try to fill our heart with some kind of a God substitute, but it\u2019s a cheap substitute. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>5:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn the end, it can kind of quench the thirst, temporarily; but it\u2019s like drinking salt water. It just, ultimately, makes us realize how much more thirsty we really are.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Give folks, who are raising children today, a working definition of idolatry. What does it look like? We\u2019ve talked all around it. Bob talked about the affection of our hearts and something that takes God\u2019s place in our hearts. How would you define it?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>I think a simple definition of idolatry is anything or anyone that takes the place of God in your life. If you think in terms of what God wants to do in your life\u2014He wants to be your hope. Is there something or is there someone I\u2019m putting my hope in other than God? God wants to be our identity. Is there something or is there someone that I\u2019m finding my identity in rather than Christ?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, we see what God wants to do for us; but instead of looking to God to do those things for us, we look to someone or to something else.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So, for you, what\u2019s one of your idols that you\u2019re tempted by?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>6:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>In the book, I talk about all kinds of different idols. I don\u2019t think I\u2019m exempt from any of them! I talk, in the book, about sports\u2014is one. I talk about entertainment. I tell a story about taking my daughter to see the Indianapolis Colts play. We went to church Sunday morning, before going to the Colts game in the afternoon. I realized, on the drive home, that I\u2019d been to two separate worship services that day\u2014one was in church, but one was at the stadium.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Oh, yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>That might sound like not that big of a deal\u2014but listen\u2014my family would probably tell you that the most upset they\u2019ve ever seen me is over a game or a sporting event.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>Some of that goes to pride because my team is losing or I\u2019m losing. In the book, I have a chapter about money and possessions and how <em>easy<\/em> it is to define our success and our significance by the house we live in, or the car that we drive, or the title that we have at work. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>7:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere\u2019s a chapter in the book about sex\u2014that sex can become something that we turn to instead of God for comfort or for ultimate pleasure. Food is another example. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>I was thinking of the same question for myself: \u201cWhat\u2019s something that is a temptation for me?\u201d I\u2019m reminded of a quote I\u2019ve shared, here on <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, on numerous occasions, by an old Southern Baptist preacher by the name of Ron Dunn. He said, \u201cOn my way to the Savior, I met service.\u201d There are a lot of people who, on their way to following Christ, begin to serve Him. Service for the King can become an idol and take the place of the Person.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>And as a pastor, you know, I have to really watch that. It\u2019s easy to allow my identity, as a pastor, to become more important than my identity, as a child of God. I think you see this with religion in general. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>8:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI mean, certainly, this was true of the Pharisees and the religious leaders\u2014where they had found their identity \/ they put their hope in their rule-keeping and the religious rituals that they kept. Those things became a substitute for a Savior. So, when Jesus comes on the scene, they don\u2019t really see the need for Him because their hearts\u2019 already occupied\u2014the throne of their hearts are already taken by religion.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>It\u2019s interesting that this issue of idolatry is a big deal in the Bible. John ends First John\u2014in his letter\u2014the last line, \u201cLittle children, keep yourselves from idols.\u201d We tend to read that and think, \u201cWell, they must have done a lot of that back in that day.\u201d [Laughter] But the point is\u2014we do a lot of it in our day; don\u2019t we?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>Yes; it is the <em>dominant<\/em> problem in Scripture. Part of that is that it, in many ways, is the tree that so many other sins come off. It\u2019s the root behind so many other sins. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>9:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo, I might look at something I\u2019m struggling with and say, \u201cOh, well, I have a problem with greed,\u201d or \u201cI have a problem with lust.\u201d Really, what I have a problem with is idolatry. I\u2019m making something more important than God, or I\u2019m looking to something other than God to satisfy me.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>We mentioned that you and your church, Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, are connected to this movie that\u2019s coming out in theaters, this weekend, called <em>The Song<\/em>\u2014that tells the story of the life of Solomon in a modern setting. Solomon is a contemporary country singer, who writes a hit love song\u2014just as King Solomon did, back in the day\u2014and then who stumbles and who wanders. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks about his economic wealth. He talks about how his prosperity was a source of comfort for him. In fact, in Chapter 2, he talks about, \u201cI built gardens for myself, I had slaves for myself, I did all of this for myself.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>10:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut all through the book of Ecclesiastes, it comes back to one theme\u2014and that is\u2014everything Solomon pursued, he came up empty. It was vanity. When we go after idols, there is some temporary, immediate something we get\u2014but it dissipates; doesn\u2019t it?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Yes. You refer to the god who offers us these idols as the \u201cgod of the bait and switch.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Explain what you mean by that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>Well, it <em>promises<\/em> pleasure that, oftentimes, delivers great pain. It promises, but it cannot deliver. Think in terms of our culture and advertisements that we\u2019re exposed to every day. We\u2019re inundated, as a consumer culture, with consumerism. Every product out there says: \u201cYou\u2019re empty. If you would <em>just<\/em> buy this\u2026\u201d or \u201cIf you would <em>just<\/em> experience this\u2026\u201d or \u201cIf you would just drive this\u2026\u201d or \u201c\u2026go on vacation here,\u201d or \u201c\u2026live in this house\u2026then you would be fulfilled.\u201d We go down that path because that\u2019s what it promises, but it\u2019s a bait and switch. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>11:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt doesn\u2019t, ultimately, deliver. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAs parents, we can help our children recognize this truth\u2014instead of having to go down the path that Solomon went down \/ instead of having to experience it the way some of us have experienced it\u2014if we can help them see that real life is found in Jesus Christ and not in some of these other things, think about all the heartache we could have been saved from if it could have been impressed upon us, early, that this path is a dead-end road. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>I think that\u2019s, in large part, why we have the book of Ecclesiastes\u2014is you have Solomon\u2019s journal, where he said: \u201cHey, let me save you some trouble here. Instead of pursuing all these other gods \/ all these other false idols, there\u2019s only one God. The purpose of life,\u201d he concludes, \u201cis to fear God and keep His commands.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>So you\u2019re really summarizing what the Bible teaches. If you want to find life, you find it the way God designed it. You live it within the sphere of loving Him with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>12:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou illustrate this in your book with a goldfish. I love this illustration because it wasn\u2019t a goldfish that I illustrated this in my family\u2014it was with a parakeet. But go ahead\u2014our listeners have heard my parakeet story.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>[Laughter] Well, I tell the story of not one of my brighter moments; but my daughter really wanted to get a pet. We went with a goldfish, of course. They\u2019re great pets\u2014even when they die, it is fun to flush them down the\u2014anyway, so we go to Walmart<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. They have goldfish for sale there\u2014at the time they were selling goldfish. There was a sign\u2014someone had taken a marker and written, on a piece of paper, that there was a three-day guarantee\u2014no questions asked on goldfish. I\u2019m like, \u201cWell, now, it\u2019s poor stewardship not to buy it.\u201d So, we buy this goldfish. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Three days! That\u2019s quite a guarantee.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>It really is.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>We kill them pretty quickly at our place!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>It really is. So, we take this goldfish home. My daughter wants to play with it, but how do you play with a pet goldfish?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>13:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWell, you go swimming with it. I knew we couldn\u2019t put the fish in the pool, so we got a little glass. I put the goldfish in the glass and set it next to the pool. We swam in the pool \/ the goldfish was swimming in the glass\u2014everything was fine. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd then, at some point, I look over. I realize the glass is empty. The fish, that she had named Nemo, had flip-flopped out of the glass and into the swimming pool. I know I\u2019m living on borrowed time here\u2014this fish is not going to last long. In case you ever find yourself in this position, catching a goldfish in a swimming pool is harder than you might think. So, this fish is having\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>No, no, no; this is simple. You just wait till the goldfish is floating on the top of the pool. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>Yes; at some point, it becomes very easy. It just floats right up to the top for you. [Laughter] But the point of it is\u2014the point of it is\u2014you have Nemo, swimming around in this little glass, looking at this big pool, thinking: \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m missing out on. If I was <em>just<\/em> in there, it would be good.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>14:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s having the time of its life, but in\u2014really, the whole time, it\u2019s slowly being poisoned. To me, it\u2019s an example of what many of us do\u2014that we think we\u2019re having a great time \/ that we\u2019re experiencing life. If we were still in the glass, we\u2019d be looking at other people, swimming. We\u2019d be feeling like, \u201cBoy, I\u2019m missing out\u201d; but in reality, there\u2019s this slow poisoning that takes place.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>You think that\u2019s happening to followers of Christ\u2014we\u2019re looking at the culture around us and saying, \u201cIf we could just be having fun like the pagans are having\u2026\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>I think it\u2019s disingenuous for Christians to talk about sin as if it\u2019s not pleasurable for a season. You know\u2014the Bible talks about this in James\u2014that we\u2019re tempted by our own desires. I think it\u2019s not helping our children when we talk about sin as if it\u2019s just not any fun and there\u2019s no pleasure in it. The <em>truth<\/em> is\u2014it\u2019s like the fruit in the garden; right?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>15:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat it is appealing to the eye and tastes good with the first bite, but be careful because it\u2019s not what it appears to be.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>As you were talking, I couldn\u2019t help but think back to your movie, <em>The Song<\/em>, that\u2019s opening this weekend, and what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes\u2014the phrase is\u2014that is used in there that I think really describes us, as Americans, in this consumer culture we\u2019re in. He writes, \u201cAnd everything that my eyes beheld, I did not withhold from me.\u201d In other words, if he saw it, he went and got. \u201cIf I liked it, it was good.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat got Samson in trouble. He saw a woman that he liked and told his parents, \u201cGo get her, for she looks good to me.\u201d The eyes can betray us. It\u2019s really the gate through which a lot of idols gain access to our soul.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>Yes, in fact, I\u2019ve heard this generation called \u201cthe entitlement generation\u201d \u2014so that it\u2019s not just \u201cWe <em>want<\/em> what we see,\u201d\u2014but \u201cWe <em>deserve<\/em> it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>16:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf we\u2019re not getting something good that someone else is experiencing, then it\u2019s not fair.\u201d We don\u2019t just have a <em>desire<\/em> for these things\u2014we feel like we have a <em>right<\/em> to them. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe have this <em>pursuit<\/em> of happiness, and we think that the way we pursue happiness is by chasing after it; but in reality, the more we chase after these things, for an end in and of itself, the more elusive it becomes. I\u2019ve gone down that path plenty of times\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Sure.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>\u2014where I\u2019ve thought, \u201cOkay, if I had this\u2026\u201d or \u201cIf I experience this, then I think I would be good.\u201d Inevitably, that\u2019s not what happens.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>One of the things I talk about in the book is just to try to ask yourself some questions because idolatry is one of the those issues that we don\u2019t think we struggle with. You know, it just doesn\u2019t necessarily ring true. Again, it just doesn\u2019t feel that relevant. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI would challenge your listeners to kind of ask questions like, \u201cWhat do I complain about?\u201d Because, if you\u2019re really wanting to identify an idol in your life, look at what you\u2019re complaining about. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>17:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf you need help answering that question, ask the people around you. Ask your family members, \u201cOkay, what am I complaining about?\u201d Pay attention to your kids. What are your kids complaining about? Because it\u2019s really <em>revealing<\/em> something that they\u2019ve put their hope in. If we\u2019re disproportionately disappointed with something in life, oftentimes, it\u2019s because we\u2019ve put our hope in that instead of Jesus. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnother question to ask yourself is: \u201cWhere do you turn to for comfort? One of the things that I think we see in Scripture is that Christ should be who we turn to for comfort first. It\u2019s not just to show you some of the community \/ some of the relationships we have in life are invalid, but \u201cWho do we turn to first?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI remember\u2014when my son was in kindergarten, he had this teacher that he loved\u2014Mrs. May. She was the quintessential kindergarten teacher\u2014he loved her. He\u2019d come home from school, and he\u2019d talk about her. My wife would never say it, but I could just tell she was a little bit jealous of how much her little boy loved this kindergarten teacher. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>18:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOne day, my wife was at the school, volunteering and helping out. She was on the playground. She was standing next to Mrs. May while my son was playing on the playground and having a good time. He fell\u2014got hurt on the playground. In that moment, he started crying. He turned and he started running towards where my wife \/ where his mom was standing next to the teacher. The question is\u2014as he\u2019s running, full speed, towards this teacher and his mom\u2014who\u2019s he going to run to?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>Right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Kyle: <\/strong>It\u2019s going to be an honest moment. Whatever happens, it\u2019s going to tell you something about his heart. Of course, he runs right into his mom\u2019s arms. She scoops him up and comforts him. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut that is a test for us. When we have a rough day, when things don\u2019t go our way, when we feel rejected\u2014maybe by our spouse\u2014when we\u2019re hurting\u2014where do we turn to for help first? Maybe we turn to food\u2014that\u2019s why we call it comfort food. Or maybe we turn to another person. Again, that\u2019s not necessarily bad; but where do we turn to <em>first<\/em>? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>19:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat has a way of demonstrating who or what we\u2019ve really put our hope in.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis: <\/strong>Kyle, I really like what you\u2019re talking about here. Our mission, here at FamilyLife, is to really encourage individuals, marriages, and families to stay in the goldfish bowl\u2014to live life according to how the Maker designed us to live. Your book exhorts us to do that. Your movie\u2014that\u2019s coming out this weekend\u2014I think illustrates, really, a great temptation that\u2019s before a lot of people right now\u2014calling people to stay in the goldfish bowl and don\u2019t jump and go pursuing other things. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tShare with our listeners why they ought to go\u2014why they ought to take maybe some of their kids, ages 13 and up, to go see this movie and, then\u2014have maybe a cup of coffee, or an ice cream cone after it\u2019s over, or eat the rest of your popcorn after it\u2019s over\u2014and discuss the lessons of the movie, <em>The Song<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>20:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think the greatest threat to marriages today is idolatry\u2014not adultery but idolatry\u2014that\u2019s where we put romantic love or we put our spouse in place of God. Think about the pressure that it puts on a relationship \/ what it puts on marriage when you say to your spouse, \u201cI want you to do for me what only God can do for me.\u201d When we look to <em>them<\/em> to be our ultimate source of pleasure, and satisfaction, and joy\u2014and that they\u2019re our purpose\u2014that puts a lot of pressure on the relationship. Before long, it starts to create some cracks. It\u2019s going to be inevitable. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou see this with Solomon\u2014that he is in love\u2014but it doesn\u2019t take long for some of those new feelings to wear off. Then, we know from his life that he starts to pursue a lot of other romantic relationships, thinking that, \u201cWell, if she doesn\u2019t satisfy me, there must be someone else who <em>does<\/em> satisfy me.\u201d But in reality and in his conclusion\u2014it\u2019s that God is the One who truly satisfies us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>21:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn this movie, we have a real story played out for us of what happens in life\u2014when we try to put someone or, for Solomon\u2019s case, as portrayed in the movie, his career, or his fame, or his money\u2014when we try to put those things in place of God, it shows us where that road ends and how destructive it becomes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob: <\/strong>We have been showing the trailer, the preview of this movie, at our <em>I Still Do<\/em><sup>\u2122<\/sup> one-day events for couples in Chicago and Portland, back in August. We\u2019re going to show it, again, in Washington, DC, next weekend. The audience\u2014you can tell\u2014they watch this story and they can relate to Solomon\u2019s story in this updated format. Of course, the movie starts this weekend in theaters, all across the country. We\u2019d encourage listeners to make plans to go out, this weekend, and see the movie, <em>The Song<\/em>, when it opens in a theater near you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI also do want to mention, Kyle, that we have copies of your book, <em>Gods at War<\/em>, in our <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> Resource Center. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>22:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThis is really a good book for couples to go through \/ for families to go through to talk about the subject of idols and to identify: \u201cWhat are the idols that distract us?\u201d \u201c\u2026that lure us away?\u201d \u201c\u2026that compete with God for our affection?\u201d Again, go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link at the top of the page that says, \u201cGO DEEPER.\u201d You\u2019ll find information about the book, <em>Gods at War<\/em>. You can order from us, online; or if you prefer, you can order by calling1-800-\u201cF\u201d as in family, \u201cL\u201d as in life, and then the word, \u201cTODAY.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, we\u2019ve been spending a little time this month just highlighting some anniversaries of friends of FamilyLife\u2014folks who help make this program possible by being Legacy Partners or by donating to support the work that FamilyLife is doing. We want to say a special happy anniversary to John and Cheryl Morgan from Virginia. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>23:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThey are celebrating 26 years together today: \u201cCongratulations to you guys; and thank you for your partnership with us, here at FamilyLife.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOne of the things we know about folks, like John and Cheryl, is that they have the same heartbeat we have to see every home be a godly home. That\u2019s one of the reasons why they help support the work of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> financially. We\u2019re grateful for your partnership. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, this month, we are saying, \u201cThank you,\u201d to those of you who can pitch in and help us advance the work of this ministry. We\u2019re saying, \u201cThank you,\u201d by sending you a 2015 calendar that actually gets started with October of 2014. It\u2019s one of those 15-month calendars. The calendar focuses on the fruit of the Spirit and how you can have a fruitful marriage and a fruitful family. It\u2019s our thank-you gift when you make a donation. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tYou can go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the button in the upper right-hand corner that says, \u201cI Care,\u201d and make an online donation. We\u2019ll send the calendar out to you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>24:00<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOr call 1-800-FL-TODAY. When you make a donation over the phone, mention that you\u2019d like the calendar; and we\u2019ll get it to you. Or you can support us by writing a note and mailing your check to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> at P O Box 7111, Little Rock, AR; and our zip code is 72223.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tNow, tomorrow, we\u2019re going to continue our conversation with Kyle Idleman as we talk about how we identify and how we deal with the idols in our lives, and our marriage, and our family. We\u2019ll talk more about that tomorrow. Hope you can tune in.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We will see you tomorrow for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelp for today. Hope for tomorrow.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2014 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a> \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/303209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303209"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=303209"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=303209"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=303209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}