Tim, Wesley and Ray talk with Fred on top news headlines of the day including a discussion on how President Trump is continuing his crackdown on crime in D.C. Also, T. Ray Grandstaff joins the program to discuss the movie "Light Of The World".
Hannah's Heart does Bibles for Babies week in memory of son
>> Tim Wildmon: Its Bibles for Babies week on afr.
>> Fred Jackson: Here's Anne Cockrell, co host of Hannah's Heart.
>> Tim Wildmon: My son, John Micah went to be with Jesus just 27 minutes after his birth. I never want his memory to die. Even in our grief, we can bless.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Others and that's why we do Bibles for babies.
>> Tim Wildmon: A gift of $10 provides a new.
>> Fred Jackson: Beginner'S Bible for an expectant mother and her baby. Call 877-616-2396 to donate.
Tim Wildman hosts Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network
Welcome to Today's Issues, offering a Christian.
>> Tim Wildmon: Response to the issues of the day.
>> Fred Jackson: Here's your host, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, good morning, everybody, and welcome to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Today's Tuesday, August 26, 2020, 2025. As always, thank you for listening to AFR. Joining me in studio today is Wesley Wildmon. Good morning, Wesley.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Good morning.
>> Tim Wildmon: And good morning, Fred Jackson.
>> Fred Jackson: Hey there, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Ray Pritchard. How you doing, brother Ray?
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, just doing great, Tim. How are you today?
>> Tim Wildmon: Doing well. weather report for Kansas City, Kansas.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is, let me tell you, it's just a little bit of paradise. 72 degrees, blue skies, not much wind going all the way up to 77, Tim. So as always, I can get you a tee time. About 150.
>> Tim Wildmon: Man, that sounds. How could you play bad golf on a great day like that? Right? If you were able to. 72 degrees. 72 degrees is almost perfect for anything.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It is at a hot 77. That's Max.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is that what you got there? It's a. Must be a cold, front sweeping the country because, on behalf of Canada, you're welcome.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That what it is?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, it's not sweeping all the country out west. It's really, really, I think. But, a lot of us, we, we even here in the Deep south experiencing,
>> Fred Jackson: We're going down the 50s tonight.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, here in Mississippi.
>> Fred Jackson: In Mississippi in August.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. I think that's in the book of Revelation.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: The end draw nigh.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It was just a year ago that. I don't know if it was this week. Year ago last week.
>> Tim Wildmon: And a year ago last week.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah. A year ago last week we had a. Do I need to explain that to you?
>> Tim Wildmon: No, go ahead.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: We'll just move on. Go ahead.
>> Wesley Wildmon: the temperature in Mississippi. Mississippi, at our headquarters, it seated 110 degrees. Index. Heat index.
>> Tim Wildmon: Wow.
>> Wesley Wildmon: And so. And then this time last year.
>> Tim Wildmon: You talking about.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: We haven't really had. In Mississippi, that is. Or at least where we live, true August in the sense that we've exceeded multiple days over 100 degrees, which is typical for August for north Mississippi. So be thankful for.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Nice weather for a lot of the country. Absolutely. And Ray's going on a bike ride this afternoon, aren't you, Ray?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, sir.
College football season kicks off this weekend with Texas at Ohio State
And Tim, college football is in the air. It's in the air.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's the season.
>> Tim Wildmon: Here we come.
>> Tim Wildmon: In the air. Yeah. College football season starts this. Well, it's already started.
>> Tim Wildmon: Already started.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Last week was what they call Week Zero. And this is Mrs. The True Week One coming up here with almost all the schools across the country having their first games of the season. Biggest game will the national high profile game is Texas, at Ohio State. I don't know what Ohio State's ranked. They were the defending national champions and of course Texas is number one occasionally one in three.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: A one versus three. Yeah. On the field of number three. And of course it's the debut of Arch, Manning as the his first time to be the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. So all eyes will be on another Manning behind center this time for Texas. All right, as we say, a lot to talk about on the program today. I wanted to mention before we get into the topics that we have our 2026, tours to the Holy Land and to Greece. We call that Greece trip the Footsteps of Paul tour. And so if you want to go on one of those or both of them, you want to look into that, you can go to the website, www. Wildmon group.com www. W I l d m o n group.com and all the wildmangroup.com website. And that's got all the information you want to know about the trip to Israel in March and the trip to Greece again. The Greece trip is the Footsteps of Paul tour.
>> Wesley Wildmon: But they're gonna get some young bucks with the Greece, the Grease trip. The footsteps for Paul Walker and I are doing it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, you and Walker are leading the tour to Greece and the Footsteps of Paul. And so I'll be. My wife and I also will be going to to Israel again and look forward to taking some pilgrims, from around the country to the Holy Land. So again, check that out. That's in March of 2026 and we're 2/3 full on both of those trips. Two thirds full. Already full. All right, what is your first story, Fred?
Week three of President Trump's crackdown on crime in the District of Columbia
>> Fred Jackson: Well, this is week three of President Trump's crackdown on crime in the District of Columbia. We, ah, reported yesterday, I think it was over a thousand arrests so far. Well, last night, there were another hundred arrests last night. But last night a Fox reporter was embedded with the soldiers as they went about doing their duty arresting bad people. And one of the people that they picked up, he actually did an interview with the Fox reporter. And I want you to have a listen to what he had to say. He kind of basically laid it out this way, huh? This is no big deal. I'll be out before you know it. Cut 15.
>> Tim Wildmon: The judge is literally gonna say we're gonna put him on a three day hole. Then once the three day hold is up, Anne Arundu never shows up. I done been over DC Jail six times for the same warrant. They never show up. DC jail has to release me. They release me. It's the same thing every time. Who is that?
>> Fred Jackson: This was one of the guys arrested last night.
>> Wesley Wildmon: I can't tell if he's upset that he's being let out.
>> Fred Jackson: No, I, I think his attitude, this is no big deal. I'll be out in a few days. This has happened to me before.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Six times before.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, that.
>> Wesley Wildmon: You need to play that again.
>> Tim Wildmon: We need to play that again. Also, I was trying to interpret what he was saying because he wasn't.
>> Wesley Wildmon: His English help you with the interpretation.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, but so this is a guy in Washington D.C. arrested last night. He was arrested last night by the police.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: And these are his talking about how he doesn't get in trouble for his actions. Right?
>> Fred Jackson: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's kind of like he sounded to me like he's frustrated. Like I tried, I watch it. What's the point of arresting me again? Nothing ever happens to me.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is that what we're hearing? Go ahead and play that again. The judge is literally gonna say we're gonna put him on a three day hole. Then once the three day hold is up, Anna running never shows up. I'd have been over DC jail six times for the same one. They never show up. DC jail has to release me. They release me. It's the same thing every time. Now that sound like he says something about six times for this warrant?
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And somebody never shows up.
>> Fred Jackson: I don't know.
>> Tim Wildmon: Anyway, well, listen, he said the.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Judge tells the, officers to put him in a three day hold.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Once he's in a three day hold, by the way, he's being arrested by for a warrant. Well then the warranty, they're saying that six times that they've come to arrest him for the warrant, or to provide a consequence for the warrant. They never show up. So then they have to let him go because of three days expires.
>> Tim Wildmon: I got you.
>> Wesley Wildmon: And he said, I've done this six times. Basically you're wasting your time. Just let me go now.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right, right. Well, the reason that violent crime is out of control in America's big cities is because the judges let the criminals go time and time and time again. in fact, tragically every day you read about these kinds of stories. But last night I was reading a story, it was the lead story on Daily Mail website. Ray and Fred Wesley, we talked about this. This morning at the meeting there was a young lady who was in America from the Ukraine. She escaped the Ukraine because of the war and she was living in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and she, I don't know if she was by herself or whatever, but she was on the platform waiting for a train. Have I got the story right, Fred? And again this is only to highlight what happened to her and who did this to her. Go ahead.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, this 23 year old, beautiful young Ukrainian refugee standing on the, waiting for the train to come in. And I'm reading from the, the New York Post story here. She was knifed to death by a homeless career criminal.
>> Wesley Wildmon: And that's fair to. Yeah, I appreciate the user language. They did a career criminal. When you've been arrested as many times as he has.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: How many did decide how many times they caught the guy? How many times he. Multiple number.
>> Wesley Wildmon: This morning I pulled up, it was.
>> Tim Wildmon: It was, he's been in and out just.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, many, many times.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
Wesley Clark questions why American justice system is lax on violent criminals
If you have any thoughts on maybe why the American justice system is so lax on even violent criminals.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It's mostly in big cities. Is that not fair to say?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, it isn't part of the problem. What, you know that, that fella up in, up in Washington. This kind of interesting. We're used to hearing from the police these, you know, interviews, but to hear somebody who's just been arrested, I don't know how they got that interview, but it's actually, he's speaking the truth. He's saying, okay, they're going to hold me for three days and when the time comes up for my hearing, the cop, the arresting cop is not going to show up for whatever reason. And so the judge is going to say cut him loose. Right. Because we can't keep him. So it's not enough just to say, well, we've got judges who were Soft on crime. When you've got police forces that are overwhelmed with these kind of situations, you just don't have, you don't have enough officers. You can't put enough, boots on the ground, so to speak. This is going to happen. You're going to have bad guys who are going to get away with it five, six, seven, eight times, a dozen times in a row.
>> Tim Wildmon: But would this be more, it seems like to me what he's talking about may be more or less, excuse me, less a police staffing, problem. Then judges just don't care about the public, so they let these guys. And if it were the judge's daughter who was, knifed.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'll bet the guy wouldn't get out. Yeah, I bet the guy wouldn't be turned out again and again and again. if, if, if, if the judges, daughter were a victim of a crime of one of these career, criminals. I just can't use a head scratcher. To me, why these big cities in particular are, don't care. they, and they keep electing the same people who are soft on crime. I just don't, I don't, I don't, I don't really get it. Do you, Fred, do you have any thoughts?
>> Fred Jackson: I think the philosophy that has come to play over the last almost couple of decades in certain jurisdictions is if we let them go with a slap in the hands, they'll appreciate it and not commit other crimes. But just the opposite has happened because I just got a slap on the hands for this. This time around, I'll go out and do it again because now my buddies have been doing the same thing and they just get a slap on the hand and they go steal this and you know, they hijack cars and all of this sort of thing. So it comes back to a justice system. And I think that started to operate under, if just nice to the criminals. They will, they will turn out to be really good people. That's the philosophy that's been in place in the justice.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't understand that.
>> Fred Jackson: No. And the reason you don't. It's not working.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: But they keep doing it.
>> Tim Wildmon: They keep doing it. What are you going to say?
>> Wesley Wildmon: the Clark Declaros Brown. How do you pronounce his name? The Carlos, Carlos Brown. 14 times he's been, to court, for arrest, and that's 35. This is the North Carolina, North Carolina guy.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. This, this young lady stabbing, she was, she was a Ukrainian refugee and she was taking the train in Charlotte, North Carolina, and this homeless guy knifed her to death. I don't know why he did it. I mean, there wouldn't be any good reason to do it. I'm not. But I don't know what happened with their. I guess the police are investigating it, but they arrested him. And you're saying his rap sheet is what Wesley.
>> Wesley Wildmon: He has had 14 previous court cases just in that, Mecklenburg county that he was in. And in addition to that, he served five years in prison for armed robbery with a dangerous weapon.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. So I don't know if the justice system, as it were, would say we don't have enough space to house these people. if that would be one of the excuses. If, if that's the case, I would say you need to build more prisons. How.
>> Wesley Wildmon: For a. Has to go.
>> Tim Wildmon: You can't let these people roam around the streets.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Right. How far someone has to go to get to the point where they use a weapon to threaten someone to take something from them that they could get out and have 14 other different arrests? I mean, that's just.
>> Tim Wildmon: I, All I can say is that I don't think these, these, these judges, these district attorneys, that's act. I mean, like, they value life.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's right. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: They just don't value human life, very much because they just wonder what.
>> Wesley Wildmon: They decided they would get though.
>> Tim Wildmon: Career criminals. Rome.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah, but maybe y', all, while I was reading for this, maybe y' all discuss this, but, what. What incentive would a judge get to continue to let them out?
>> Fred Jackson: Well, I think that's another problem. judges, many times they get, they get elected and they're, you know, they.
>> Tim Wildmon: Live in gated communities. Yeah, sure.
>> Fred Jackson: You're right.
>> Tim Wildmon: The judges, they're not affected by, this.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, that is, that's one of the big concerns being raised, is that the communities that are threatened by these individuals, these individuals come from these communities. And that's. And that's why a lot of people.
Tim Goodman: I think President Trump is trolling Illinois governor on Chicago crime
We're going to talk about Chicago. Chicago.
>> Tim Wildmon: The.
>> Fred Jackson: The large number of victims are people who are fairly poor, they live in difficult areas, and yet the rich politicians like the governor of Illinois. I'm going to play you a clip. You know, Trump has talked about, and I don't know legally whether he could do this. Trump says, I want to go to Chicago and apply the DC Solution to Chicago. But the governor of Illinois, listen to what he has to say about this. Cut number three.
>> Jeff Shreve: Earlier today in the Oval Office, Donald Trump looked at the assembled cameras and asked for Me personally, to say, Mr. President, can you do us the honor of protecting our city? Instead I say, Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.
>> Fred Jackson: And you hear this from the Democrat. He's Democrat Governor. You hear this over and over again. We don't need any help. But the people who live there say we're scared to go out after 4 o' clock in the afternoon because we'll be hurt or our kids will be hurt. So they don't apparently care about their own constituents. That's the only conclusion you can come to.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Well, okay, two separate issues here. One is, I don't think president, I think President Trump is trolling, so to speak. these Democrat mayors and governors, it would. He does. The United States federal government has no business, in my opinion. Unless, unless you got mass chaos talking about in the streets where you have to restore order. Then, maybe the feds come in.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Jazz.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Then maybe the president could call in the National Guard. But that would only be for a momentary situation, but just for regular everyday policing. Trolling.
>> Wesley Wildmon: You can't do that.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, President Trump should not do that. National Guardsmen from Arkansas and Montana don't want to go to Chicago and roam the streets, I'm going to tell you that. And that's not the purpose. So I, I do think he's trolling, so to speak. He's trying to get a, he's provoking, he's poking this guy, this, ah, Governor of Illinois. But, for him, for the governor of Illinois to suggest that some. Chicago's Ray is under control. When we read about it all the time, every weekend there's a new, you know, there's a murder.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, you asked Tim earlier about the judges. Okay. In a place like Chicago, the machine picks them out, the machine puts them in. And I really mean the Democrat machine that way for generations now.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know when the last time Chicago, had a true, truly contested Republican, Democrat, mayoral.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's been a long, long time. Right. So the Democrat machine picks out those people, puts them up, protects them, sends the message, you play ball with us and we'll play ball with you. So it's a whole system, Tim, that encourages the judge to look the other way instead of putting people behind bars the way they ought to.
>> Fred Jackson: To raise point this, this is a philosophy, it seems, of the Democratic Party. The DNC is holding a meeting in Minneapolis right now. Maybe you've seen some of the speakers and the wild speeches, but at their Meeting in Minneapolis. They heard yesterday from Democratic strategist Insha Roman, weighing in when it comes to fighting crime. And. And this is how she recommends Democrats handle it. Cut number 11. We are at a moment of incredible.
>> Tim Wildmon: Opportunity for Democrats to take the upper.
>> Fred Jackson: Hand on this issue.
>> Tim Wildmon: Don't be afraid of the crime debate. Lean all the way in, call out.
>> Fred Jackson: What Trump is doing and say the.
>> Tim Wildmon: Reason crime is going down, our communities.
>> Jeff Shreve: Are becoming safer is because of us. don't take the bait in talking about migrant crime.
>> Fred Jackson: Crime or carjackings or the things that actually don't matter to that many Americans. Migrant crime and carjackings really don't matter to Americans. She's a Democratic Party strategist.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's bad advice. You're better off not saying anything at all than saying the opposite of what's true.
>> Fred Jackson: But she felt comfortable saying that to that crowd.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, that was bizarre to hear that nobody cares about so much.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Like a, like a skit.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, what is she. Yeah, like a Saturday Night Live. What is she saying exactly? There? She said, you know, said, lean into something. What was.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, she said, they're talking about the reports from these Democrat leaders who say crime is going down. Look how, remember, remember the mayor of D.C. right off the bat, when Trump said, we're going to go in there with soldiers.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: And deal with it, first thing she said, I don't know why you're here, because crime is going down in this city even after people had been murdered 48 hours earlier. That's what she was saying. By the way, there hasn't been a person murdered in D.C. now in 12 or 13 days. Not one.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right, Right. You're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio.
Fred Starnes: Cracker Barrel is changing its branding
Next story. Fred?
>> Fred Jackson: Well, it's a story we continue to follow, and that is Cracker Barrel. Well, Cracker Barrel has, the CEO has come out and admits we could have done a better job in this transition with Turnip Greens or what we could have done a better job with more. The disaster that we have created is basically what they're saying. I was reading something this morning. Cracker Barrel, I think the home base is Lebanon, Tennessee. they started this project of transition that we've been talking about back 10 months ago. Apparently, one of their business gurus, one of their advisors said, this is crazy, what you're considering, what you're considering doing. Redoing the whole inside and change the whole image, the whole thing. You know, it was very interesting. Charles Payne, who was one of the Business, gurus there at Fox. He talks about companies who keep doing this kind of thing. Cut number 14.
>> Jeff Shreve: Honestly, they're so disconnected and they're so.
>> Tim Wildmon: They live in an echo chamber where.
>> Fred Jackson: This is the right thing to do. She's out there saying, there's a small minority of folks who are upset about.
>> Jeff Shreve: This and it really, to your point, is amazing that they keep doing this over and over. We've seen the collateral damage long lasting for Target, Nike, Starbucks.
>> Fred Jackson: It exists to this day. These companies have not been able to turn around.
>> Tim Wildmon: Even tractors apply, which somehow decided to.
>> Jeff Shreve: Ask a consultant from some from Boston.
>> Tim Wildmon: How to deal with m. The Midwest customers.
>> Fred Jackson: And they remember for a moment they went dei, completely.
>> Tim Wildmon: But they woke up, you know, one bad day, the stock and they hold up.
>> Jeff Shreve: We're going to invest in 4H.
>> Tim Wildmon: And you know, they became a real.
>> Fred Jackson: Midwestern company real quick. Yeah. He says, you know, he's throwing up his hands saying, why are these companies, especially in Cracker Barrels case, where they're a highly successful company and yet you have a CEO comes in and. Carson, we kind of addressed this yesterday, Tim. they have been in the pocket of the LGBTQ crowd now for several years. We just didn't know about it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Ray, what do you think about that? Now, just in essence, Fred, for those who don't know, what's the, what is the essence of what Cracker Barrel is announcing that they're doing here?
>> Fred Jackson: Well, they're, they're changing their, their branding. people have heard about the signs. The sign is going away. Uncle Herschel has been thrown out of the sign.
>> Tim Wildmon: So that was his Uncle Herschel.
>> Wesley Wildmon: This is not a fresh paint job. This is an intentional effort to remove anything that they believe to resemble whiteness.
>> Tim Wildmon: Why? Because they asked, as a white man, I asked why.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, because they have people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Wait a minute. Hold on, just a minute, hold on.
>> Fred Jackson: That was rhetorical.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, that was rhetorical. So, Wesley, you said somebody said, get rid of whiteness.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: That isn't what they said. That Cracker Barrel doesn't say that.
>> Wesley Wildmon: No, no.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Wesley Wildmon: They just do it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right. You. But is that what is. What is going on here?
>> Tim Wildmon: Right, Tim? It's marketing insanity. The people at the top Cracker Barrel, once greatly, greatly beloved by millions and tens of millions of people. They hate their own customers. That's the only plausible explanation. They hate the people who made them rich and famous.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yep. Well, one of these. I don't understand it. No, I don't understand.
>> Wesley Wildmon: personally, no, but. But ideologically, yes. It's the. It's the wokeness is what it is.
>> Tim Wildmon: But poor Uncle Herschel, he's been booted from the sign.
>> Wesley Wildmon: He didn't even get to vote.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: His breakfast is staying on the.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, his breakfast will still be on the menu.
>> Tim Wildmon: Uncle Herschel.
>> Fred Jackson: They put him in this place but.
>> Tim Wildmon: He and his Cracker Barrel are going off logo. That's that, right?
>> Fred Jackson: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: So sad. We'll be back momentarily.
>> Jeff Shreve: Hello Americans, I'm Todd Stearn. Stand by for news and commentary.
Nearly 3 million kids attended Vacation Bible School at Southern Baptist churches last summer
Next Vacation Bible school may be old school, but it's still very popular among kids across the fruited plain. CBN News reports nearly 3 million kids attended VBS at Southern Baptist churches over the summer. Some 70,000 making a personal decision to follow Christ. Vacation Bible School, a week long affair hosted by churches featuring fun adventure themes for kids along with arts and crafts, singing and lots of recreation. Many churches turn snack time into an art form. You know, when I was a kid I got to double dip. I went to my family's Baptist church, vbs. Then I attended my grandparents VBS at the Methodist church. Now the Methodist had a lot better snacks. Almost switched denominations as a second grader. Because of that, the surge in VBS attendance could be a sign that more young families are now returning to the traditions of our faith. And the best part, kids actually want to get up early to go to VBS public school. And not so much. I'm Todd Stearns.
>> Tim Wildmon: This is today's Issues.
>> Fred Jackson: Email your comments to commentsfr.net Past broadcasts of today's Issues are available for listening and viewing in the archive@afr.net now back.
Ray Fischer talks about new marketing moves made by Cracker Barrel company
>> Tim Wildmon: To more of today's issues. Welcome back to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. We were talking about the new marketing moves made by the Cracker Barrel company. Now when Fred, when will Uncle Herschel. I know I passed by our local Cracker Barrel here last night and Uncle Herschel's still up there on the by, you know, on the sign.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, I passed a billboard the other day for Cracker Barrel and he was gone.
>> Tim Wildmon: He's gone.
>> Wesley Wildmon: They've already done it here in Jupiter on a.
>> Fred Jackson: On a billboard?
>> Tim Wildmon: No, on a billboard.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Billboard. Okay, got you.
>> Tim Wildmon: But not.
>> Wesley Wildmon: I'm holding out. I'm holding out that the local one will rebel.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't think you. When you're a corporation, I don't think your affiliates can rebel unless you're franchise downed. And even then there's contracts here. But anyway.
>> Fred Jackson: But the change has gone all the way down to the table. Peg game. Have you guys heard that?
>> Tim Wildmon: No. No, no, no.
>> Tim Wildmon: You hadn't heard about this, Ray?
>> Tim Wildmon: No, I've not.
>> Tim Wildmon: I heard something about this. I stopped.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Cheers, Ray.
>> Tim Wildmon: We all know if you're going Cracker Barrel, you. You know, you kill time till the biscuits get there. That's right, by playing the peg game. Am I right?
>> Fred Jackson: That's great.
>> Tim Wildmon: And they got great biscuits, by the way, if they're. If they're right out of the oven. but go ahead. What do you got? The peg.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, the peg game is. And. And they poke fun at people. Leave only one, you're a genius. Leave two, and you're pretty smart. P, U, R, T. Yeah. Leave three, and you're just playing dumb. Leave four, and goes on. ignoramus.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're ignoramus. Okay to play. Obviously. Play on word. Okay. So that's what it's always said, you're saying. Yes. And so we're making a change.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, we're making a change. Now Peg games say if you leave three or more. Don't be embarrassed. Try again.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, we got the everybody gets a trophy mentality. Entered the peg game at the Crack Barrel. Go broke.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, brother.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's how we're gonna get softer and softer with this stuff.
>> Tim Wildmon: Just wrong. This is wrong, people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. All right, well, we'll see what happens with. With Cracker Barrel company during the break.
>> Wesley Wildmon: You also mentioned that in some locations we're going to get rainbow rocking chairs.
>> Fred Jackson: That's already happened during Pride Month at some locations.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, no. Where you're not.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Somebody call Uncle Herschel doesn't even know about this.
>> Fred Jackson: Rainbow Rockers.
>> Wesley Wildmon: No, that's what I want.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, remember, it was about a few years ago, they, Phil Robertson from the Duck Dynasty made a comment that was critical of. Of the homosexual, agenda.
>> Fred Jackson: Uh-huh.
>> Tim Wildmon: Or something. What the Bible said about sexuality. And Cracker, Barrel threatened to take all the Duck Dynasty stuff that they had at the time out of their. His book or whatever that he. By his. I mean, Phil Robertson's book out. And within 24 hours, the backlash they received was they. They reverse course. 24 hours. Yeah. So anyway, you're listening to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, that's all I can take of that. We got to move on.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, we got to move on past the biscuits.
T. Ray Grandstaff of Northwest Arkansas talks about upcoming animated film
Let's move on here. so we've got a, movie coming out that you, want to take your family to see, and it's called Light of the World. And it's a movie about the life of, an animated movie about the, about Jesus and the Bible. And joining us to talk about it is one of the film's producers, T. Ray Grandstaff of Northwest Arkansas. And, T. Ray has become a new friend of mine. Good morning, T. Ray.
>> Jeff Shreve: Hey, good morning, Tim. How are you today? Great to be on your show.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm doing well, Nate. You, tell folks where you live and what you do.
>> Jeff Shreve: Yeah, I live in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and I work for an organization called Salvation Poem as a studio executive and I work with donors. We're taking a unique approach to this film that I think your audience would be really excited to hear about. it's a non profit film that opens in theaters September 5th.
>> Tim Wildmon: Now, you was, you were with the, you was with. I'm gonna get fired. I can't do better than that.
>> Fred Jackson: Huh?
>> Wesley Wildmon: You were with.
>> Tim Wildmon: You were. Thank you. You're not one to ask.
>> Wesley Wildmon: No.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's why you may be my son.
>> Wesley Wildmon: But that is exactly why I took the opportunity. Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: I want to watch a forte. Okay. You have a good heart. Good heart.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It's way worse than what you just described. Appreciate.
Tim: Ray is working on a new film about Jesus called Light of the World
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so you were with, you, T. Ray, you were with Fellowship of Christian Athletes for a long time, weren't you?
>> Jeff Shreve: Yes, and I still help out with FCA in the River Valley, Arkansas. But, the majority of my focus is on this upcoming film called Light of the World. It's a unique film, Tim. You've seen it, and it shows what faith looks like lived out, through the eyes of Jesus youngest disciple, John. So it's a unique approach to telling the timeless story and principles of Jesus, but seeing through the eyes of his youngest disciple, John. It's 2D animated, which is hand drawn. So I know you guys are like me. When you think back to Lion King and Prince of Egypt, you think that was really the top of the pinnacle when it came to filmmaking, especially animation. And so some of the same filmmakers that made some of, Disney greats have a heart for the Lord and have partnered with us on this film called Light of the World.
>> Tim Wildmon: When will it be in theaters?
>> Jeff Shreve: It's coming up. We're really close. September 5th. It opens in theaters nationwide, over 2,000 theaters. And so you can actually go and purchase tickets ahead of time at light of the world.com and we have some special offers that, people will be really excited to be able to participate in. Plus, you know, so many people want to curse the darkness, but here's an opportunity to hold up the light, the light of the world, which we know is Jesus. And so as you experience this film, this is going to be something you're going to want to take your grandkids to, your kids, your neighbors, because it clearly presents the teachings of Jesus. His life, his death, his burial, his resurrection, and then the encouragement to go share Jesus with the world. What's exciting is he called himself light of the World, but then he also said, you are light of the world. So what a great tool in the next couple of weeks to be able to engage, be reminded of the teachings of Jesus, but also use this as a tool to share with your neighbors and your friends.
Tim Hunt: Light of the World about Jesus coming out September 5th
>> Tim Wildmon: We're talking to T. Ray Grandstaff. He's film producer of an animated movie about the life of Jesus called Light of the World. I've seen it, I saw it about a, month or six weeks ago. And it's excellent. Highly, recommend it. And, what T. Ray is saying is that, it's going nationwide on September 5th and you can pre purchase your tickets to, it. I know that with movies, the first weekend is big. Ah, T. Ray. Because you want to, you know, fill up the theaters so that the theaters hold the movie again for a second week and a third week and that kind of thing. So, you're saying September 5th. September 5th is a big. And that week. Is that a week? Is that summer 5th? Is that a Friday? When is that?
>> Jeff Shreve: Yes, It's. It's Friday, September 5th. But that opening weekend, you know, we love sports. I know you do, Tim, having been involved in the industry as a writer. but what's interesting about, you know, we're coming up on football season. You can lose the first game of the year, but still win the national championship.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
>> Jeff Shreve: And even in basketball, you don't even have to win the conference, get into the tournament, start playing your best. But in the film industry, opening weekend is everything. That's why I want to encourage the people of faith that love Jesus. This is your chance. This is your chance to make a statement to others that faith is important. And I think they'll be really, really pleased with what we've been able to put together. We've got a talented team with Brandon McPherson, we've got Matt, McPherson and the Bancroft brothers, and John Schaefer directing the film. And these guys, you know, one was the senior producer for Superbook. Another was a director of Mulan and Mary Poppins Returns, Space Jam, A New Legacy. And one was a Key factor in beauty and the Beast and Lion. So this is top rated, top shelf. Faith into action and love into motion. And I want to encourage people to get out opening weekend, buy your tickets now. You'll be glad that you did. And it helps us to be able to share that Jesus is not only the only way, but he's the light of the world.
>> Tim Wildmon: The light. The movie title is Light of the World and it's out September 5th. Again, how can people, what website do people need to go to to find out about, coming to their town?
>> Jeff Shreve: Lightoftheworld.com It'll be in 2,000 theaters nationwide. So it'll be close to you. But I want to encourage you, you know, share your faith. It's time to stand up and be counted for Jesus. And it's good not to be ashamed of the gospel. And it's good to put that faith into motion. And here's an opportunity. Now what's unique is we're doing this as a nonprofit. So all of the revenue that comes in from streaming and from theatrical, we're going to roll into translating it into 140 languages over a five year period, giving it away to churches and ministries free of charge with the hopes of 1 billion people hearing the Gospel of Jesus. And we're saying, hey, we need your help. Would you help us? Would you go now to lightoftheworld.com, purchase your tickets, and let's make a statement that Jesus is Lord and share him with the world.
>> Tim Wildmon: You wanted to kind of have the impact of the Jesus film. Wasn't, that the name of it? The Campus Crusade for Christ? Go ahead.
>> Jeff Shreve: It really is. And I was thinking about that this morning. Tim, I don't know if you have cameras in my house and you're watching me, but that's what I was thinking about and reading about the Jesus film. 45 years ago, Bill Bright and some others got together and they decided to make a film about Jesus. And it cost approximately 5 to 6 million. And bunker Hunt, a great philanthropist, underwrote the film. And now, 45 years later, over 5 billion people have seen portions of the Jesus film. Isn't that beautiful?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Jeff Shreve: Now I have a friend, a, ah, wise friend. He said, I just want a fraction of the action, what God is doing. Well, here is our chance for our generation to stand up and say, this is the teachings of Jesus, this is what I believe. And come join me as we celebrate Light of the World.
>> Tim Wildmon: So go to lightoftheworld.com. you said 20002500 theaters on,
>> Jeff Shreve: September 5th, 2000 theaters. That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's amazing.
>> Jeff Shreve: Sure.
>> Tim Wildmon: Everybody can find a theater near them with 2,000, across the country. September 5th, the movie comes out, Light of the World. Thank you, T. Ray. And, I'll be, getting back with you in the next day or so about being on some other programs here on American Family Radio. Get the word out.
>> Jeff Shreve: Honored. Thank you so much for what you guys do. We love you and appreciate you.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.
Tim: T. Ray Grandstaff recommends Light of the World movie
That's T. Ray Grandstaff joining us from Fort Smith, Arkansas. You're listening. Had you, had you heard about this movie yet, Ray?
>> Tim Wildmon: I had not. But while T. Ray was talking, I just, brought up Light of the World website on my cell phone. Wanted to see what they've got in. Tremendous website. I even watched the trailer while he was talking. So get a real good view of the animation and. Well, I'm here in Kansas City and one of the theaters is about, I don't know, maybe a four or five minute drive from where Marlene and I live. And I can tell you we're going to go watch this. Covering the Kansas City area. So let me just say, Tim, I had no idea, didn't know anything about it, but the trailer is excellent. And, it's going to, it's going to grab hearts if we can get people in to see this movie, that people are going to meet Jesus in a brand new way.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen. It's animated. it's, But his, he was saying the people behind the animation were like top, animators in Hollywood, I mean, who are believers, so, you know, but they're giving their talents for this particular, particular movie, Light of the World.
American Family News reports on Christian student rights in public schools
All right, you're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. Fred, what's the next story?
>> Fred Jackson: Well, across the country, you know, a new school year is in some places already started and, and right after Labor Day and some other locations, a new school will be underway. And you know, throughout the year, American Family News, we do a lot of stories about Christians, in the school system being challenged about their beliefs and what they can do and what they can say and can't say and all that sort of thing. A story we've covered just in recent days involves a New York State, high school student. You know, at some high schools they allow the senior students to decorate their parking spots.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: now this was a student, a Christian young lady who decided Hearst parking spot, she wanted a Christian verse, a biblical verse in Hearst School said, no, you can't do it, but it does have a happy ending. Here's the young lady, Sabrina Steffens. Cut number six. so the first design that I.
>> Tim Wildmon: Created was, a picture of this place called Salvation Mountain, which was very religious. It had a, Bible verse. It had crosses. It's the one that's, on the picture. And they denied that completely. And there was a second design that just had a Bible verse on it with the Bible verse reference that they turned down as well.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. And what.
>> Wesley Wildmon: There's a lot of damage that can happen to people, you know, if there's a Bible verse in a parking spot, you know, a lot of harm.
>> Fred Jackson: Like the Ten Commandments.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: But anyway, they got a lawyer. And this is so important, folks. When you face these things in school and you believe that your rights are being impacted by it and that other people can do things and say things, but because you're a Christian, you can't. you may want to talk to lawyers with great organizations out there, like First Liberty Institute. Keisha Russell, was interviewed about this, about Christians. Christian student rights you have in public schools. Cut number eight.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, it fails because the Constitution doubly.
>> Fred Jackson: Protects religious speech under the free speech clause and the free exercise clause. The Supreme Court reiterated that truth back in the Kennedy vs. Bremerton case a.
>> Tim Wildmon: Couple of years ago. That was a football coach who was fired for praying on the football field. but we have a lot of work to do in our public schools right now.
>> Fred Jackson: We're so grateful for this win for Sabrina, but there's a lot of work to be done. We have public schools right now that are very hostile to religion.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, if they don't know the law, they're supposed to. Right. We are not supposed to be educating the educators. They're supposed to be educating us.
>> Fred Jackson: But unfortunately, they don't know the law.
>> Tim Wildmon: And what the Constitution requires, for students and teachers.
>> Fred Jackson: So First Liberty is here to make.
>> Tim Wildmon: Sure that that happens. First Liberty, those are our friends and, based out of the, DFW area. But, Kelly Shackelford and his team there, they do a great job in defending religious liberty, especially for Christians around the country. What hat. Where was this? Where did this take place?
>> Fred Jackson: This was in New York State.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so this young lady, this is fairly new, this painting your own parking spot, isn't it?
>> Wesley Wildmon: I mean, I've never heard it's decorating.
>> Tim Wildmon: Maybe the last couple few years, I.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Would imagine, because, I did. We didn't have anything like that we decorated the art. We had a shirt or a sweater.
>> Tim Wildmon: Senior shirt. Senior sweater. Yeah. But,
>> Wesley Wildmon: But, everybody's free to do it though, right?
>> Tim Wildmon: so. So the school announced that, all the seniors at this school in the state of New York, all the seniors would be allowed to, paint their parking spot.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: They pay a fee, I don't know, $50 or whatever like that. And it's a senior privilege, so you could put anything you want there on there, I guess, as long as it's not vulgar. And. And so she decided to put a Bible verse with Salvation Mountain. And the school said, that's an. Absolutely. We can't. Can't have that. I think a lot of these schools, are under the false impression, Ray, that you can't have any kind of religious, acknowledgment, at all, or it violates the First Amendment. I don't. I don't know where they get. I don't know exactly where they get that idea. It's kind of an acou type idea. But you can't discriminate against this, against Christians or Jews or anybody else from decorating their, there,
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, would they have dared to do it for a Muslim student who wanted to make some statement about, Islam? They would not have dared to do that.
>> Tim Wildmon: No. They. It's. You could put anything you wanted to on there, I would suspect. But they thought, well, you can't put a religious message. No, you can't put a distinctively Christian Christian message.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: The Bible. But the good news is, as Fred said, this young lady went to court and she won.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, absolutely. They backed down right away because they knew they would lose.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: Because there are precedent cases out there.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: And many times, all it takes is a conversation with the leaders at the school to say, hey, are you aware of the Supreme Court decision?
California is fighting to allow males to dress up like girls on sports teams
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: Like this young lady referenced in Bremerton, Washington? The coach out there?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. What was the coach's name?
>> Fred Jackson: Kennedy.
>> Tim Wildmon: Kennedy, yes.
>> Fred Jackson: We.
>> Tim Wildmon: We followed his case, had him on our radio.
>> Fred Jackson: That went on two or three years.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. All he was doing was praying after a game bomb by himself and at the. At the field.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: After the game was over and after the kids had been released from the locker room. I mean, nobody was compelled or forced to go. And the. Was they still use somebody. The Freedom from Religion group. Somebody went after him and the school fired him. Remember that? He won. He won his court case.
>> Fred Jackson: That's right, he did.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, you're listening to today's issue. So you can win.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, you can.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. And we're glad that we have Christian legal groups that help people and don't. Don't charge them, money to do so, but do it for the cause. Go ahead.
>> Fred Jackson: And I think we need to be praying this school year as it starts, and it's already started in California, praying for our young ladies, our daughters and our sisters out there who play on sports. And they're continuing to face this problem of the other team having a guy on there.
>> Tim Wildmon: In the blue states.
>> Fred Jackson: In the blue states, California already, girls volleyball teams. Several cases now where the girls teams have forfeited their games.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: Because they don't want to play against a dude who's on the other side of that net. And they're afraid. And this has happened. We're not exaggerating here. Where the dude, spikes the ball. Remember the young lady?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: She was seriously.
>> Tim Wildmon: Head injury.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Had a head and wasn't able to finish the season.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. So this is happening out there. And this is another one of those battlefronts that the fight has to continue for these kids.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. And this is in California. I've seen this there. There's these, They do. In California, they do allow males to dress up like girls, play on sports teams. Yes. And, And call them, pretend like they're girls.
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's. But. But that's. Anyway, that. That is in California. That is going on in California.
>> Fred Jackson: And Governor, Governor Youngton in Virginia is fighting some school districts there again, guess what county. Loudoun County. Because they're. They're trying to fight the standards, as he's putting out there, that there cannot be guys and girls changing rooms.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: This is. This is going on also.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's part of being on a sports team is you have the chain. You have locker rooms and showers and things that.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: That. That the whole team utilizes.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. And sometimes it happens the other way. Some. Three guys, I think was a Loudoun county high school, they got upset because a girl came in who claimed to be a guy.
>> Jeff Shreve: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: so this is very. This is very simple.
>> Fred Jackson: It should be.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It should be. It should be a conversation, a few words.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, it's very simple. do you know if you're a. If you're a male, you. You can call yourself a girl, knock yourself out, you call yourself a girl all day, every day, but you're not going to be treated like something that you're.
>> Fred Jackson: That you're not biologically not.
>> Tim Wildmon: In our school, we have to have separation. We got men's restrooms.
David Frum: It's unfair to young ladies. And also, it's discriminatory
We got women's restrooms. We got men's showers. We got girl showers, men's locker rooms. We got boys sports teams. We got girl sports teams. You have to go with what you were born with.
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: So it's. That's an easy call. I don't understand why these schools make it hard. And also, it, is unfair to the young ladies. Yes, completely unfair to the young ladies. And the. This is often done by people who say they champion ladies.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: They're feminist.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: They're. Well, no, you're not. Not if you're making girls play against boys. You're not. You. You're creating an unequal, competition. And so you're harming the girls.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: So, anyway, you know, it's one.
>> Fred Jackson: Of those incidents in the last election last year that, the Republicans won on.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: they got a lot of people. They got a lot of people who.
>> Tim Wildmon: Normally vote to loser for Democrats, but some of the Democrats are. Are a few of them are speaking out with common sense here.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. but the party as a whole is still holding to this.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: This idea that guys should be allowed to play on girls teams or they're.
>> Tim Wildmon: All in for the. The transgendered.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, the contrast there of damages. Damages of the lady or the young lady high school student that wants to put a Bible verse in her parking spot, but yet they. I know there's two different locations, two different school districts, but just the world view contrast between the Bible verse and the right parking area versus a girl, going in a women's. A men's locker room.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. All right. I just. I feel sorry for our brothers and sisters who have to live in blue states. Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah, the word have to.
>> Tim Wildmon: Who have to. To live in blue states, and suffer this kind of insanity. From soft on crime to letting boys play girl sports. It's. It's the goofy left that's in control of many of these blue states, unfortunately. We'll be back momentarily with more of today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.