Kirk Cameron Gets Fired Up -- Episode 32

I went to the Colorado State Fair! I go every year. As we open this week's show, I rhapsodize about why state fairs are so fantastic. When I'm at the fair, I live on the edge: I get an airbrushed tattoo. I have my handwriting analyzed. I ride the Freak Out. I stick my hand into the "What Am I?" boxes at the Natural Resources building. I pet a goat, then eat a funnel cake without applying hand sanitizer.

That's dangerous stuff, folks. But there's something incredibly satisfying about being a suburban girl indulging in a bit of ghetto craziness. It's a concession prize for never being in 4H. It's a reprieve from dressing up every day, doing sensible work and eating protein and salads as if I actually enjoy them. At the State Fair, I can be a different Lisa. And no one judges me. Or if they do, I don't care; I just stomp off to the small animal barn and pet the bunnies.

Tommy Boy's Getting Married -- 6:16
I'm not sure if he copes by petting bunnies, but Tommy McBride knows what it's like to be judged, too. An actor in the upcoming film Fireproof, Tommy is 20 years old and engaged. He's had people tell him (many times) that he's too young to get married. Is he? He shares his story in this week's roundtable as we unpack the pros and cons of marrying young. Do the naysayers have a point, or are they just naysayers? Steve Watters shares some principles for deciding if and when it's time to tie the knot.

Fireproof Countdown -- 18:19
Kirk Cameron almost didn't make it. Scheduled to fly to Colorado Springs for interviews with The Boundless Show plus a little radio program called Focus on the Family, Kirk's plane had to make a crash landing shortly after takeoff. He escaped unscathed, and was gracious enough to join us by phone to talk about Fireproof. Also in studio for this segment is the film's creator, Alex Kendrick (remember him from Facing the Giants?), and Tommy McBride. We talk about the important themes behind Fireproof, and anticipate the impact it will have on marriages and families worldwide.

Walking in Memphis -- 40:07
When you stand in front of Graceland, many things can happen. You may start humming "Fools Rush In." You may get a craving for a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Or you may realize that all the money and fame in the world can't buy happiness, satisfaction or true significance. In this week's installment of "The Hungry Years," Steve shares more about his dad while reflecting on this theme.

Get Smart! -- 45:20
She loves him, but isn't sure he's smart enough for her. He doesn't like to read, isn't up on current events, and isn't a card-carrying member of the "I Have A Degree and Am Not Afraid to Use It" club. Is this a bona fide red flag, or is this listener shallower than the lyrics of an *NSYNC song? Maybe there's a deeper problem here? Candice does her best to get at the root of this "Brains vs. Brawn" dilemma.

Whew. All this typing has made me hungry for a foot long corn dog, cheese curds and strawberry lemonade. But I'm back in the real world, so I'll go home and grill a chicken breast and toss a salad. Bleh.

Comments

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1. Scott said the following at 9:14 AM on Aug 29:

"What Happens At The State Fair Stays At The State Fair" :-)

2. Lisa A said the following at 11:48 AM on Aug 29:

Except in my case, apparently. :)

3. Mike said the following at 3:15 PM on Aug 29:

The "Get Smart!" segment struck a chord with me. See, my ex-wife and I were mismatched along several axes. She was athletic, I wasn't; I was an intellectual, she wasn't; we had different family backgrounds - basically, we just didn't have a lot in common as far as interests. It really became a problem later.

So, I think the listener really needs to look hard at her discomfort with the intellectual mismatch. It sounded to me like she's very happy with her beau as far as the emotional connection. That oftentimes is the hardest thing for a woman to get from a man. However, like you folks said, it's been three years - and he hasn't made a shift in her direction on the intellectual axis. If it hasn't happened yet, it's probably not going to. It could be that he's just not wired that way; after all, not everyone has the same gifts. (In my case, my ex expecting me to be athletic just wasn't in the cards.)

She might be holding on, though, thinking that "nobody's perfect" and she's not wanting to give up on someone with whom she has a good emotional connection and who's such a great match in so many other ways. (This is where you get into the whole "list of stuff I have to have" argument, which can really muddy the water.)

It basically leaves the young lady with two choices: Either she learns to live with him as he is, valuing his differences, or she decides that this is a gamebreaker and cuts bait. If it really bothers her that his intellectual pursuits are limited, then it's not likely to get any better after 10 years of marriage, unless she can just accept that this is one area of her life that he won't be able to share. Maybe she has a brainy girlfriend with whom she can discuss weighty matters.

Anyway, just some rambling thoughts from someone who married a person with differing interests.

4. cn said the following at 4:18 AM on Aug 30:

I'm I the only one who can't find episode 32 on itunes??

5. Evan said the following at 9:19 AM on Aug 30:

I just went to a county fair for the first time this week. It was fun!

6. Ranae Norris said the following at 1:39 PM on Aug 30:

Lisa: the four 4 H's are head, heart, hands and health—don't want you to be left out.

7. Rachael said the following at 5:42 PM on Sep 1:

re: roundtable

I like the idea of marriage getting you to a greater place of maturity. Good point that the "passing of birthdays doesn't make you mature overnight." Marriage is part of the maturing process. The growth is something to look forward to. If both people are growing their faith, I'd think the character and depth of love would deepen as well. Beautiful!

8. Lisa A said the following at 9:11 PM on Sep 1:

Ranae (#6):

Thank you! See, growing up in the CA Bay Area did me a disservice on this front. Brenda, one of my best friends from college, was the Nebraska 4H sewing champion in her day. She made most of her own clothes, including fully-lined suits, and could sew a zipper onto a pair of jeans in no time flat. I made an apron in 7th grade, and it was a challenge. Sad.

9. John said the following at 9:23 AM on Sep 2:

"But there's something incredibly satisfying about being a suburban girl indulging in a bit of ghetto craziness."

I don't follow.

10. BDB said the following at 12:57 PM on Sep 3:

I do need to put in a plug for the Puyallup Fair - the 7th largest fair in the U.S. It's not a "state" fair, it's private. It also tends to dwarf state fairs. And let me tell you, it's quite an experience to live in a town of 50,000 and have 1.6 Million people come to the fair. You can find a fan site on Facebook.

My grandfather ran the education building for 10 years. He had every school district in the county with their own "day" when all the students got tickets for a half day. The building was always packed - everything from elementary art (from the relevant district - it was changed every couple of days) to cheerleading performances to various colleges and vocational opportunities - including the welding demonstration, which was really cool.

And yes, my dad and uncles were all in 4-H. Showing award-winning cows and chickens.

The concept of an "intellectual match" in marriage is an important one. The most successful couples I know are intellectual matches. The share a passion for something larger than themselves, and they can function in the world of ideas, and use those ideas as part of their calling. If you think of marriage as a 60-year conversation, being able to continue to learn and grow makes the conversation more interesting. It is also critical to being able to handle life's challenges - you will need to learn new things to cope with the things life throws your way.

That said, it's a red flag if after 3 years he refuses to read a book. George Mueller cautioned against marriage where one is educated and the other is not - saying that even among Christians, even if their love was enough for them, it would not go well with the children.

That said, being able to function in he world of ideas is a learned skill. I didn't really get it until graduate school. I'm sure that I could teach someone how to do it if they were willing to read a few books. International travel is the same way: until people do it the first time, they don't know if they love it or hate it.

But if someone has not acquired the habit of reading, and refuses to try...it's been my observation that their stubborness will continue throughout life. My grandparents are avid readers and are still quite capable of discussing everything from politics to gardening in their 90's. Other, younger people I know only watch T.V. and their conversation...leaves a lot to be desired.

If anything, the robust nature of comments on the Boundless Line illustrates how rich conversation can be among a group of educated people who are interested in ideas.

11. MMG said the following at 3:47 PM on Sep 3:

Woohoo! Three cheers for the Puyallup Fair in WA state! It really is one of the best fairs ever! It's huge! Clean! And the entertainment is great! Not to mention the yummy hot Scone stations everywhere!

12. Rebekah said the following at 5:05 PM on Oct 20:

I was in 4-H also. It reminded me of our pledge: "I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world". No God part, but all the members in my club were Christians.