AFA action takes attacks on the family seriously. The enemies of the family constantly employ new tactics
>> Jeff Chamblee: AFA action takes attacks on the family seriously. The enemies of the family constantly employ new tactics to try to sneak past our radar. They know if we stand together, their evil plans will fail. Your gift to afa, action allows us to stay vigilant against their onslaught. And if you give this month, you'll receive access to the Cultural Institute video, when youn Faith is Illegal by Frank harbor on AFA stream. As our thanks, you can make your gift today@acaaction.net.
Tim Wildman hosts Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network
>> Tim Wildmon: Welcome to today's issues, offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. Here's your host, Tim Wildmon M President of the American Family Association. Hey, good morning, everybody, and welcome to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. And, this is Monday, November 17, 2025. We hope you had a nice weekend and looking forward to a great week. A lot to talk about. that's a good thing because this is a talk show. We've got an hour and a half. So if we didn't have a lot to talk about, I guess we could play smooth jazz, Christian jazz.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Or something of that nature, who knows? But, joining me in studio is Fred Jackson, our news director. Good morning, brother Fred.
>> Fred Jackson: Good morning. Glad to be here and not in New York City.
>> Tim Wildmon: What's going on in New York City? Well, let me introduce Chris Woodrun. Then you can tell me why you're knocking New York City. Chris Woodruff, good morning to you, brother. Good morning.
>> Fred Jackson: And it's not because of Mom, Donnie. They are expecting snowflakes there in New York City today while we enjoy 75, 80 degree temperatures.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: So another reason to leave New York City.
>> Tim Wildmon: Are you serious snowfall today.
>> Fred Jackson: They've got up there in the, the northeast corner. They've got a trough of cold air and moisture. So they're expecting, I bet you up, Mount Washington. Those, those places they're going to get a snow dump.
>> Tim Wildmon: The ski resorts.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, Mandami did promise free snow for everybody and he delivered. Got to give him credit for that, I guess.
>> Fred Jackson: There you go.
>> Tim Wildmon: Zoran Mandami, is the, mayor elect. Right. He doesn't take office till it's, it's.
>> Fred Jackson: A little while yet, but he is, he selected his team.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: he's supposed to meet with the new, York City police, police chief, I believe it is because there's some tension between those.
>> Tim Wildmon: Let me tell you where they're going to have, some, some big time problems, in my opinion, in New York City. It's not necessarily going to be because of his policies, free stuff for everybody. you know, free buses, free subways, free food, grocery store. And I don't know if he means free, but government run price control, rent, rent, you know, put a stop on rent increases. All these things that he wants to take control over in the name of helping the little guy or the people, that voted for him. Socialistic, communistic, government programs. That's what he's got in mind. Anyway, I think the greater danger is the conflict, between three different groups because Zoran Mandami claims to be a Muslim. Right.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. he, and by the people he's surrounding himself with, they, they don't like Jews at all. That's, that's saying that mildly. Yeah. Okay. And there are a lot of Jews in New York. Yes. I don't know what, but I would guess 10% of the population of the city of New York would be Jew.
>> Fred Jackson: I think they have the largest Jewish population of any city in the United States.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, they do. There are more Jews. the only place in the world that has more Jews than New York City is Israel.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. And you got a lot in South Florida too. But anyway, so there's going to be some conflicts rise up. Because he has a Muslim, anti Israel, anti Jew worldview. Mandami does. And the people he surrounds himself with basically of that ilk.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. And also secondly, there's potential problems between Mandami and the lgbtq. And there's a lot of those folks in New York City too.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because Islamic is very strict against homosexuality. yeah. Right.
>> Fred Jackson: Oh yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And so I've already seen some comments on this, so I don't know what he's going to do. Mandami, because he claims to be a progressive, but you really can't be a, quote, progressive and be, adhere to the Muslim faith. now you can be a secular, you be a cultural Muslim, which he might turn out to be, which means basically just, you know, he pays lip service to the holidays and the Muslim calendar and things like that, but he doesn't, subscribe to the morality, part of no homosexuality. See what I'm saying?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. No, he's going to have. And the other area he could run into problems with is, an immigrant population, believe it or not, because you've got immigrants who have, have moved legally, to the country who start businesses like bodegas in New York. but he's going to undersell their product in his government run stores.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: So what's he going to say to them?
>> Tim Wildmon: I know, I know, I don't know. He's got a. Listen, you get what you vote for. And New York's about to find out whether all this stuff works.
>> Chris Woodward: You're going to find different numbers. If you were to Google it, but I googled it. and there's around about a million, Jewish people in New York City.
Chris: Democrats worried as they head into the midterms next year
Going back to our initial, million question here.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, then, if there are, you can distinguish here between New, York City proper, which is the five boroughs. Right. And then the greater New York area, which is Connecticut and you know, New Jersey. So. But in the five boroughs, I, I want to say there's 8 million people. So if you got 1 million Jews, what is that? Is that it's like 25%, right? Yes. Yeah, something like that.
>> Tim Wildmon: Proximately of the population is Jewish. And here they've elected a Muslim, you know, a Muslim mayor.
>> Fred Jackson: I don't know.
>> Tim Wildmon: There's potential for a lot, a lot of clash and conflicts and problems for him beyond just, you know, governing the largest city in the United States of America.
>> Fred Jackson: And you know, Democrats have to be worried because as we head into the midterms next year, has Mamdani, puts his policies in place and there's going to be a lot of pressure for him to do that pretty quickly.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: Then the country is going to see this conflict with communism. And so the Democratic Party, they're going to be trying, you know, there's going to be radicals that are going to try to win primaries against the so called moderate Democrats. Yeah, A mess for the Democratic Party. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: get your popcorn out. Oh, it's which I already have mine right here.
>> Fred Jackson: There you go.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because it's going to be fun to watch if you're not one of them.
>> Fred Jackson: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Now on the other side, the Republicans have their own infighting going on.
>> Fred Jackson: No kidding.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: So each side has their own, they're warring against each other. Republicans, Democrats. And that's been going on since, you know, after Adam and Eve, I think, then came along this war between Republicans and Democrats. But, but inside those camps are civil wars in themselves. We've talked about. Democrats are gonna, they're gonna have real problems between the quote, establishment of the Democrat Party or the old liberals and these new radicals that we've talked about Mondami being, you know, one of them. they have no use for Chuck Schumers of the world or you know, the the old the Democrat liberal ideology is not far left enough for these people. Now in the Republican Party. What do we got going on, Chris? Well, in the room in this corner is who?
President Trump withdraws his endorsement of Georgia representative who he called a lunatic
>> Chris Woodward: Yes, well, depending on the, the battle we're talking about here, one, that has a lot of people talking, has been a back, and forth between President Donald Trump himself and Representative Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia, a representative that Trump called a lunatic.
>> Tim Wildmon: When did he do that?
>> Chris Woodward: In a Truth Social media post on Friday. I can read it for you if you want.
>> Tim Wildmon: Please read it for me.
>> Chris Woodward: All right. In a new post to Truth, Truth Social, I'll, post this on our Today's Issues Facebook page. But President Trump says, quote, I am withdrawing my support and endorsement of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green of the great state of Georgia over the past few weeks, despite my creating record achievements for our country, including a total and complete victory on the shutdown, closed borders, low taxes, no men and women, sports or transgender for everyone, ending dei, stopping Biden's record, setting inflation, biggest regulation cuts in history, stopping eight wars, rebuilding our military, being respected by every country in the world, parentheses. As opposed to being the laughingstock that we were just 12 months ago, having trillions of dollars, record setting, invested in the US and having created the hottest country anywhere in the world from being a dead country to just 12 months ago and so much more. All I see wacky Marjorie do is complain, complain, complain. He goes on. It seemed to all began when I sent her a poll stating that she could not run for senator or governor. She was at 12% and didn't have a chance. Unless, of course, she had my endorsement, which he wasn't about to get. Exclamation point. she has told many people that she is upset that I.
>> Tim Wildmon: When are you going to be through?
>> Chris Woodward: I'm coming near the end.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Chris Woodward: She has told many people that she's upset that I don't return her phone calls anymore. But with 219 congressmen, women, 53 US senators, 24 cabinet members, almost 200 countries, and an otherwise normal life to lead, I can't take a ranting lunatics call every day. I'll stop there.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is that it, though?
>> Chris Woodward: No. He went on to say a few more.
>> Tim Wildmon: This is ironic that he's talking about a ranting lunatic. And we're going, we're going on how many?
>> Chris Woodward: A couple of paragraphs.
>> Tim Wildmon: This is really rich.
>> Chris Woodward: the difference between Truth Social and Twitter, folks, is that you get to say as many characters as you want.
>> Tim Wildmon: So he wasn't Through.
>> Chris Woodward: No.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, go.
>> Chris Woodward: He goes on to say, I understand that wonderful conservative people are thinking about primary Marjorie and her district of Georgia, that they are too fed up with her and her antics and if the right person runs, they will have my complete and unyielding support. She has gone far left even doing the View with their low iq, Republican hating anchors. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Make America great again. I'm now done. I, yield the floor.
>> Tim Wildmon: That was a quote from Trump.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: That whole thing.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: he wrote all that himself, didn't he? Well, what. True. So, yeah, he had to. Nobody else writes like that.
>> Chris Woodward: So he does have his own style.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, first of all, what I'd like to do is offer a hundred dollar reward for anyone who will dissect that sentence, that run on that, that run on sentence there that you gave to start out with for about two minutes. Listen, in all seriousness, you know, we've said this before. I wish Trump somebody would take the phone away from him at ten o' clock at night and. Because he doesn't drink.
>> Fred Jackson: No.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so this isn't a man who's had three cocktails. Right. This is a, this is a guy who can't, do anything in a measured way. And, you don't. I, listen, I voted for President Trump twice and I support his agenda, but his personal behavior is just like a third grader, oftentimes, and it's inexcusable. you don't. If Marjorie Greene Taylor, who's been, by the way, his most loyal supporter up until the Epstein file release, became an issue. Seems that's been the big sticking point. Right. That she was big, his big supporter. She was like MAGA queen. Yep. Right. Am I right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, that's true, I think.
>> Tim Wildmon: But they call her a lunatic.
>> Fred Jackson: I know.
>> Tim Wildmon: and whatever else. What did he say again? His, the personal insults are just not presidential at all. Go ahead, Fred.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, and I think, the flip side of this, probably what irked him a little bit too, she went, went on the View, because she has openly attacked, Trump on a couple of fronts. Now he got upset with her because she went on the View. She's been on CNN now, a number of times. So the left media likes her. All of a sudden she's being used by them. So I'm not defending what he had to say about her, but he, and I agree with you, no one can stop him, it seems when he gets something in his mind, when he's really irked by somebody. He just spe.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's scorched earth spews. Yeah. It's like he can't control himself, which.
>> Fred Jackson: Some people would get concerned because he is in such a powerful position. I mean, the most powerful political position in the world. And he cannot, it seems, control his tongue sometimes.
President Trump mocked Representative Thomas Massie about getting married again
>> Chris Woodward: I take no joy in mentioning this, but I think we should mention that the comments. By the way, he did call, Marjorie Taylor Green wacky as well. but he. This is not the only Republican he's taken issue with in recent days. He also went after Representative Thomas Massie.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: And his New Kentucky. Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: And that was bad. That was really bad.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't even want to read it. But what he did there was, Thomas Massie, who's. He said, Thomas Massey's a representative House member from Kentucky, very conservative member. And, he, He's lost his wife. Anyway, he and Trump, he's voted against some of the things that Trump wanted done and made Trump mad. This has been going on for about two years, right? Yes. And so Trump decided to talk about Thomas Massie getting married again. was that Friday?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Thursday?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. Just recent days.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Thomas Massie, he lost his wife 30 years to cancer a couple of years ago, or 18. I don't know when it was one or two years ago. And, sadly.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And, so then Trump. Do you have the.
>> Chris Woodward: Oh, yeah. You want me to read this?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, I don't like talking about this stuff, but at the same time, if this were Biden, we'd be talking about it.
>> Chris Woodward: I can. I can read it here.
>> Tim Wildmon: Go ahead.
>> Chris Woodward: All right, so I'm sharing this as a news guy.
>> Tim Wildmon: this is Trump talking.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. President Trump again, in a truth social post. And this is much shorter. did Thomas Massie sometimes referred to as Rand Paul Jr. Because, because of the fact that he always votes against the Republican guarding party. Get married already. Boy, that was quick. No wonder the polls have him at least 8% chance of winning the election. Anyway, have a great life, Thomas. And question mark. His wife will soon find out that she's stuck with a loser. And as far as I know, this has not been labeled.
>> Tim Wildmon: He talking about his newlywed bride?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. And he put question mark because he doesn't know her name. Nor do I.
>> Tim Wildmon: Anyway, I hope we don't have three more years of this.
>> Chris Woodward: Well, it's not the thing you want to do coming out of a shutdown in which you did. Clearly.
>> Tim Wildmon: Here's why this matters, I think. yeah, people know Trump just shoots off his mouth left and right. But it also puts the people who are stable people around him in a predicament.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: And an unfair position. For example, I guarantee you, if you were to ask JD Vance, do you agree with Trump that Marjorie Gain Taylor is a lunatic? He, he may say, well, they know that's. He would say no. I think he was probably saying, no, she's not a lunatic. Now do we have issues with her, but she's not a lunatic. And then with Thomas Massey, that's indefensible. Making fun of a man, you know, who just lost his wife, cancer, in a mocking way about getting married again. This from a man who's been married three times, huh? yeah. Yeah. So I don't know. We're talking about the wars within the parties themselves. That's the context of our discussion here.
>> Chris Woodward: That's the difference. I'm sorry, go ahead.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, go ahead.
>> Chris Woodward: That's the difference, I think, between Republicans and Democrats. It's not the first time I've said this. Republic or, Democrats hate each other's guts too, but they fight behind closed doors. Republicans duke it out in public and punch each other in face on camera.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, you can blame the president for that because he controls his microphone. He's the one who wrote all those words on his own trolls to social. And he's supposed to be the grown up in the room.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so if you got a problem with Marjorie Greene Taylor, then I would say call her to your office and talk to her as best you can. And then even if you have to criticize her, just say, listen, she's been a good loyal supporter of mine. but we're at odds here and we're just going to disagree. That's all you say. you know, it's just like he runs through people like Elon Musk out. Kaylee, what was her name?
>> Chris Woodward: Kaylee McEnany.
>> Tim Wildmon: She's a, she's a, globalist. it's like these are people who were in his camp at the highest levels. You go against him at all, then he's just gonna, where's the bus? Because you're going under.
President Trump says he has no problem with Tucker Carlson interviewing
It. it's just like. And that, that's not going to bode well for the next three years if that's going to, if that kind of, an attitude is going to continue. Because there's going to come a point where people within the Republican Party, all of them are going to say, listen, he's not going to be president forever. He's Got leverage for about another year or two before, before he becomes a lame duck. And, now again, his political instincts in terms of policy, I commend, I mean, they're 95% really good.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: But this, these things that he does to ostracize people by going scorched earth on them is so unbecoming that it creates divides.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, and two, he's falling into a trap because he should know that when he does something like this, the mainstream media takes it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: like I said, Marjorie Taylor Green has been on the View, she's on cnn. They make a darling of his enemies.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right, but he's Trump here. Here's the. His. He talks out of both sides of your mouth. A lot of times he's kind of criticized Marjorie Greene Taylor for going on the View. Right. Which, by the way, I don't necessarily have a problem with. If she's willing to take on those four liberals or three liberals in a moderate, and she can hold her own to get her message out. Trump did that. Trump would go on CNN and other places, to his credit, to get his message out to a different audience. So I don't think there's anything to criticize necessarily about her going on the View, per se. But then he, says Tucker Carlsen, he has no problem with him interviewing.
>> Chris Woodward: have that audio if you wanted.
>> Tim Wildmon: To, Nick, what went as Fuentes, who I don't follow him, but I've heard so many quotes that he said that sound like they're just right.
>> Chris Woodward: Anti Semitic, for sure.
>> Tim Wildmon: Anti Semitic and racist. Right? Yes, yes. So anyway, so you would say, why is Tucker Carlsen interviewed? What quote do you have?
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, so this is audio of President Trump. Steve, cut this for us and put it in the, list today. But it's President Trump saying he doesn't have a problem with Tucker Carlsen entering Fuentes. And the reason is because Tucker has been ridiculed, criticized, blasted, slammed, whatever we want to say here for having given this guy a microphone in the first place. But here's what Trump has to say about the Tucker interview. Clip 6 Tucker Carlsen.
>> Tim Wildmon: What role do you think Tucker Carlsen.
>> Chris Woodward: Should play in the Republican Party, the conservative movement, going forward?
>> Donald Trump: Well, I found him to be good. I mean, he said good things about me over the years. I think he's good. We've had some good interviews, but you can't tell him who to interview. I mean, if he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don't know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out, let Him. You know, people have to decide. Ultimately, people have to decide.
>> Chris Woodward: You yourself had dinner with Nick Fuentes at Mar A Lago a few years ago. What role should he play in the conservative movement?
>> Donald Trump: Well, I didn't know he was coming. And he was with as, you know, somebody, Kanye. And Kanye asked if he could have dinner and he brought Nick. I didn't know Nick at the time. And, he did. He came along with a few other people. He brought a few people with him. meeting people, talking to people, like, for somebody like Tucker. That's what they do. You know, people are controversial. Some are, some aren't. I'm not controversial, so I like it that way.
>> Tim Wildmon: the other was Kanye West. Yeah, yeah, that.
>> Chris Woodward: Who we've also criticized.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, on the show, he's, he's. He, he's off his rocker, too. That's putting it mildly.
>> Chris Woodward: Put that in a true social.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's not. That's not a couple of guys you want to have dinner with to get advice on polit there. all right, so let's go ahead and take our break right here. Everybody, agree with that? Yeah, sure. And we'll be back. Alex McFarland will be joining us in a couple of minutes. We'll look forward to talking with brother Alex.
Did I say anything right there that you think I'm getting in trouble for our listeners friend
Did I say anything right there that you think I'm getting in trouble for our listeners friend?
>> Fred Jackson: No, not at all. I think Mr. Mr. Trump, President Trump makes his own trouble. He does, yeah. And we're just telling you, that's all.
>> Tim Wildmon: And if it's a small potatoes, I don't think it's worth talking about. We all get mad, we all get angry. We all say things we regret. That's just part of being human, sadly. But you can't be the leader and say these kinds of things and hope to. Hope to maintain respect. That's what I'm saying. We'll be back momentarily.
Preborn network clinics help women choose life through a free ultrasound
>> Ed Vitagliano: We're living in a time when truth is under attack. Lies are easy to tell, easy to spread, and easy to believe. But truth, truth is costly. And nowhere is the cost greater than for mothers in crisis. When a woman is told abortion is her only option, silence and lies surround her. But when she walks into a preborn network clinic, she's met with compassion, support, and the truth about the life growing inside her. That moment of truth happens through a free ultrasound, and it's a game changer. When a mother sees her baby and hears that heartbeat, it literally doubles the chance she'll choose life. Preborn network clinics are on the front lines. Meeting women in their darkest hour, loving them and helping them choose life and sharing truth. Friend, this is not a time to be silent. It's a time for courage, for truth, for life. Just $28 provides one ultrasound and the opportunity for a mother to see her baby to help her choose truth and life. Donate today. Call pound 250 and say baby, that's pound 250, baby. Or give online@preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afr.
>> Tim Wildmon: This is today's issues. 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 to more of today's issues.
Today's Issues features Fred Jackson and Chris Woodward on college football
Hey, welcome back, everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. I'm, Tim Wildmon with Fred Jackson and Chris Woodward. So I know a lot of our listeners follow college football, right? College football. And so the, we live in Mississippi. That's where our headquarters is. Is headquarters is or are. Fred, you're the English guy, even though you're from Canada.
>> Fred Jackson: I think there are arguments both ways on that one because headquarters is a singular.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: And you could, But it has an S on the end, so people get confused.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm gonna say R. That's where our headquarters are keeping with football.
>> Fred Jackson: I'll punt.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, you. Good metaphor right there. Anyway, so, Chris and, I am Brent Creeley, our producer. We're Mississippi State people. We were born this way. We have no choice in the matter. And our parents raised us this way. I don't know what happened M. Where in my family tree. but anyway, I think it's humility that, we're being taught here after year.
>> Tim Wildmon: After year.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: After year I'm like, I got the humility down. Okay. But we live amongst Ole Miss fans. Many of them are in this building too, and they are number five in America right now. Now, I wouldn't say they're throwing it in our face, but, there's a little air of superiority floating around that I get a sense of this morning, didn't you, Brent?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Chris, have you noticed this? A little bit.
>> Chris Woodward: I keep, I keep falling on. We'll get him in baseball.
>> Tim Wildmon: Maybe it's just because we're a little, you know, sensitive parent paranoid about our situation in life as far as football goes. But anyway, congratulations to the Ole Miss, fans and, and Rebels. They're number five in America. Alabama lost Oklahoma, which made a row, made the slip up for I mean, made Ole Miss be able to bump up there, but, college football season winding to a close, the regular season, and then, then they'll have the playoffs. Playoffs in college football. Whoever thought we'd have them? But we're going to have them. All right. So, I wanted to have our brother, Alex McFarland on the show. good morning, Alex.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Good morning. How are we doing today?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, you in your car. You drive it somewhere?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: No, I'm in the church library at Southside Baptist in Greensboro, North Carolina.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh. I don't mean to get too personal, but what are you doing in the library? We have an Internet.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Well, this is where we have our studio for exploring the word. Southside Baptist lets me use the former choir room, and we have our studio set up in there. And then I avail myself to their wonderful church library in doing some study. Bert and I right now are in the book of Isaiah. And let, me just put in a plug for church libraries everywhere. There are some great libraries out there, and I just don't feel they get used enough.
>> Tim Wildmon: M. So you don't sound like you're on the Comrex, though. You sound like you're on your cell phone.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Yeah, I don't have the Comrex set up just yet. I apologize.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, well, I didn't ask you to be on, but 45 minutes ago, but you would think 45 minutes be enough time to turn on the machine. But anyway, that's all right.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Right.
Fred Kaplan: A lot of Americans view God and the afterlife seriously
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. I want to talk to you about something extremely serious, and I. And I'm being serious about this. Okay?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: and there. We could spend hours and hours and days and days on this subject breaking it down. But there is a stream of thought among many people in the world, and particularly Americans, Alex, that somehow we as human beings. This is for those who believe in God, in heaven and hell. Okay. I'm assuming that part of it right now we're not dealing with atheism or agnosticism or different religions or anything like that, but I'm thinking about in the minds of, people who've raised in cultural Christianity in America and Canada, too, Fred. there is this idea that somehow you go through life, and then when you get to the pearly gates, there's a scoreboard, and it tallies up your good versus the bad in your life. And if the. If you got enough points on the good board, you get into heaven, and if you don't, you go to the. The other place. that sounds. I Don't mean to sound flippant, folks. I'm talking about, we all know that's how many people in, our country and our view, the afterlife. Okay, maybe, maybe in President Trump's Express this, maybe I'll get in, maybe I won't, I don't think I will. Something like that that he expressed and, he's expressing his view of theology, so to speak, such as it were. Well, that's not uncommon. That's probably how I. It's a. I don't know if it's a majority, but I would say a lot of Americans view God and the afterlife. God looks at your life and gives you a thumbs up or thumbs down based on how you've lived. Now, what I wanted you to do, Alex, was separate, if you can, for a minute, because it does matter how we do live. And we are supposed to be, involved in good works and charity and caring for others. And we do want to, we do want that on the scoreboard, so to speak. that's, you know, at the end of our life. But that's not how you're saved from hell. The Bible says you're saved from your sin and the consequences of it because of one reason and one reason only. So that's,
We are saved by God's grace without works, Tim Harper says
Alex, talk about what I've just said, if you would.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: God bless you. Thank you. And, you know, more and more as I travel, literally every city I'm in, we talk about this. And this is the subject of salvation or soteriology. And we are saved by God's grace without works. And like you say, once we've become a follower of Jesus, of course we should live right and we should do good works and grow in the Lord. But I want to say emphatically, it is not human effort, it is not human work. It's nothing meritorious that we can do that justifies us with God, you know, One verse, Tim, and this is so vitally important. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast or brag. So grace means God loves us. God is offering us complete forgiveness that we didn't really deserve. It is just pure grace. We respond by trusting Jesus. we might say faith or belief, but we trust God. And so we say, lord, I admit that I'm a sinner. I believe Jesus is the son of God, and on that cross he died for me and rose again. Dear Jesus, please save me. I trust you. And so it's nothing that we should do.
>> Tim Wildmon: And I think, I mean, what you just described. Excuse me for interrupting. What you just described is a moment in time where we make a public. Where we come to God and we make, our confession of our sins and we ask him for forgiveness and, and salvation. yeah, that's not salvation then. Salvation itself is not a process. right. Anyway, I didn't mean to interrupt you, but I wanted people to understand. Go ahead. It's a moment. It's a specific and moment in time where you can go back and say, this is the time in my life, the day, the year that whatever that I gave my life, submitted my life to. What the gospel calls for. Surrender to Jesus Christ. Fred, go ahead.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. Alex, you just quoted Ephesians 2, 8, 9, which makes it so clear that it is a gift not of works, lest any man should boast. I guess my question to you would be why would people turn down a gift? Why do they choose to believe that I can work my way?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Yeah, I think it's almost like the default position of the human mind to assume that God deals with us based on works. And, and he doesn't. And I want to say to everybody listening, you know, we, we have to trust what the word of God says. And the word of God says that salvation is not something we earn. What, we don't buy it. We don't earn it. We don't have to, you know, persuade God to love us. We accept the gift he's offering, the gift of grace. And it is just, it seems that the human mind just is intent to adding works onto it. And, that's not what gets us right with God. It's the work Christ did, not the work that we could try to do.
>> Tim Wildmon: But I think one of the main reasons that a lot of people view getting to heaven, if you were in. In that it's something that you, you, you work your life to achieve and hope, as I say, when you get to the pearly gates that you made, it is because.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Outweighs the bad.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. Is because. I think the reason for that is not necessarily sinister in any, in any way. That is the way Americans are brought up to go through life. We work hard, we plan, we do good, and we achieve. And, and, and so that's the reason you, you, And then you're rewarded. Right. Either financially or with, with good health or with a stable family or many ways that we can be rewarded.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Transactional.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, but that's just, that's the way. That's The American way. Right on. Almost any endeavor this offers. Go ahead.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Jesus, his love is unconditional.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's a good point.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: So much of life is very conditional, right? But yet here's. And I want to say to everybody listening right now, and folks, maybe this is just, the most significant moment of your life to this point, folks, that God is offering you unconditional love. And that's why every afternoon, Bert Harper and I will say this. Jesus is as close by as a prayer. And Tim, you know what's interesting is on exploring the Word here, in the last couple of years, we have gotten more and more than we, than we've ever had of people who've said, I've accepted Christ. And Tim, as you said, it's a moment. There's a moment and just like a baby is born, they'll say, you know, it, you know, 12pm today, the baby was delivered. The moment, folks, that you trust Christ, you put your faith in Jesus. The Bible says, this is John 3, you're born again, spiritually made alive. If you'll call out to Jesus, even right now. But then the rest of life, you know, just like a, child is delivered and then the pediatrician helps the baby grow up, well then, you know, the rest of life we're to grow and mature in the Lord. But it starts with that moment when you just say, Jesus saved me.
Alex: Is there a contradiction between James saying faith without works is dead
>> Tim Wildmon: Chris, you have a question?
>> Chris Woodward: I do. this is something I actually heard a young person tell me in a conversation I was having with him back in August. this young man was of the opinion that, faith without works is dead. And he fell on that age old argument we've heard from some people that you actually need to have works as a part of your faith here. Whereas Paul would tell you in Ephesians 2 that we're saved by grace through faith. It's not of works, lest any man should boast because God knows we brag about things. I know the answer to this, Alex, but I'm going to ask you. It's a basic question to benefit people that might be fuzzy on this issue. Is there a contradiction between James saying faith without works is dead and Paul saying, you're saved by grace through faith, it's not of your works. Is that a contradiction between those two?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: No, it's not a contradiction. they're complementary but not contradictory. By the way, here's the thing. in the Bible, two things that might appear on first blush as, irreconcilable. The word is an antinomy, James and works and Ephesians with grace. They're not contradictory. It does maybe take a little bit of examination and explanation. But, you know, I want to give you a verse first, John 5:1. And this is, God is so merciful to us. But First John 5:1 says, Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Now, that's pretty broad, isn't it? And I, believe me, I teach that we should, you know, walk straight and live right and all that. But really believing that Jesus is the son of God, and on that cross he died for all of our sins.
>> Tim Wildmon: And.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: And we put our faith in Jesus. That is what says. I mean, you know, you think about the thief. They call it the penitent thief. He simply said, lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, you know, amen. And one other thought on this. you know, once you are. And this is what Jesus called being born again, right? You're born. Once you experience that moment where you surrender your life to Christ, submit your life to Christ, you're saved. About Jesus called it being born again. Then subsequent to that, your life changes because you want to demonstrate to God your love and appreciation for what he has done for you. Well, how do you do that? By obeying, by obedience. So your good works. There starts your good works. Now, the Bible goes into the idea of rewards in heaven. we don't have time to go into that right now. To me, I'm going heaven. Enough. That's enough of a reward. I don't need anything else. But the Bible does talk about rewards, for your life's actions. So there is that. we can talk about that, but that's not salvation. Salvation is because otherwise, basically, you'd be saying that Jesus dying on the cross was not enough for salvation. When God says no, that is the very reason Jesus came was to die on the cross. And of course, he rose again from the dead to show his victory over death. But the penalty for the sins of the world was Jesus crucifixion 2000 years ago, right?
>> Fred Jackson: That's right.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Amen.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.
Alex McFarland: Great motivator to live righteously is gratitude
one other comment, Alex, and then we'll let you go so you can get out of the library. Go ahead. Did you want to say anything else?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Well, yeah. Ah, the great motivator to live righteously is gratitude. We're not earning salvation. But in Romans 12, one Paul said, I beseech you, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God. And I, love this wording. He says, which is your reasonable service. And literally, what that means is it's the least we can do. I mean, all Jesus did for us. We're not earning our salvation, but we're living right out of gratitude.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Thank you, Jesus, for saving me.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, Alex, so where would you. If somebody's listening to us right now and they're about to have to leave the radio show, and they want to know. I need to know what I need to do. is there a book in the Bible that they can read in half an hour or an hour that will explain all this?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: well, yeah, I would say read, Romans, chapter three and four. Really? Because it Romans three and four, you could read it in five minutes. But, folks, I would just say, Jesus Christ gave his life. He paid the debt. You can't earn it. But what you can do is just ask him and say, dear Jesus, please save me.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: And he will.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen. I would also say you can, if you want, synopsis of everything we've talked about here, too. You can go to read John, the book of John, as an introductory. As an introductory to Christianity, you can read John. And by that I mean Matthew, Mark, Luke, and then John. There's other books in the New Testament called John 1, 2, and 3, but. Right, okay, but John, the Gospel of John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Just read that. Just read that for yourself. And that. That'll explain everything to you there about, the life of Christ.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: And on my website, on Alex McFarland calm, there's a tab. What does God say about my relationship with him? And,
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, where to go?
>> Donald Trump: Where.
>> Tim Wildmon: Where to go? Where can I go to read that? Where?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: On Alex McFarland.com and look for this tab. What does God say? And it's, it explains the gospel. And as far as we know, in 27 years, we've had a quarter million people indicate they prayed the sinner's prayer and accepted Christ.
>> Tim Wildmon: But Alex McFarland. M. Alex McFarland, farland.com. all right. Thanks, Alex. Appreciate it, brother. And, are you. Are you going to check Is. Is there a librarian there to keep you quiet or.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: No, I'm unsupervised.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, well, all right. You're talking m in the library, but nobody can hear. It's kind of like a tree falling in the forest.
>> Chris Woodward: Your. Your copy of the Case for Christ is overdue, man. Yeah, return it.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: All right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you, Alexis.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: God bless.
Dr. Alex McFarland: Blood bought Redemption starts in Genesis
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. That's Dr. Alex McFarland. He's heard each weekday afternoon right here. With, on this station, Alex will be on this afternoon with brother Bird Harper. And they will go there, go through the Bible every day, live Bible study, three to four o' clock central time.
>> Fred Jackson: You know, for folks who are advocates of working your way to heaven, the question to be asked is also okay, if you can work your way to heaven, why did God put himself in the body of a human being and die on the cross?
>> Tim Wildmon: Right. No, I know it would be unnecessary.
>> Fred Jackson: It would be unnecessary. But blood bought Redemption is the story all through the Old Testament. It actually starts back in Genesis. Remember, God took the life of some animals so he could clothe and cover Adam and Eve because they realized and they had shame for what they had done. So God provided through a, ah, sacrifice, an element of forgiveness.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: So it started there and it goes through. I'm going back through, going through the Bible again, going through the Old Testament. It's very bloody because animal sacrifices over and over again for redemption, for atonement.
>> Tim Wildmon: But Jesus Christ ended all that.
>> Fred Jackson: He ended all that.
>> Tim Wildmon: It was a once and for all sacrifice.
>> Fred Jackson: What did Jesus say on the cross? It is finished. The plan is finished. You just have to accept it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right? That's right. All right, you're listening to today's issues on afr. Tim, Fred. And what's our next story, Chris?
On this day in 1973, President Richard Nixon resigned over Watergate scandal
>> Chris Woodward: Well, this was not on our list of topics, but I just, discovered this, on this day in history on Britannica's website. And I was not alive when this happened, but you guys were. And I would love to hear.
>> Fred Jackson: Be careful now.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Chris Woodward: You remember, it wasn't that long ago. it was on this day in 1973, during the Watergate scandal, US President Richard Nixon held a press conference in which he declared, quote, I'm not a crook.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, do we remember that?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. What do you remember?
>> Tim Wildmon: Right, so, by the way, you're listening to today's issues. I don't know if I've told folks, and on American Family Radio, and I'm Tim with Fred and Chris. so, I am the famous line from M, President Nixon, I am not a crook. Right?
>> Chris Woodward: Correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: I would have been 10 years old in 73. I do remember that, though. I do remember, being over at my friend's house, my best buddy's house, when President, Nixon resigned. And I remember her crying because she was, she was just, you know, it was, I don't know why she was crying, except it was to see the President of the United States have to resign over something like this was, the Watergate, the whole Watergate thing.
>> Fred Jackson: The image that has stuck in my mind through all those years is Nixon. He's boarding Marine One.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: And he gives the victory sign. He turns and gives that victory sign. It was very sad. Sad for his family, too.
>> Tim Wildmon: And that, if, I remember right, that was like a third rate burglary. And there's one of those cover ups. Worse than the crime.
>> Fred Jackson: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because he said he didn't know anything about it or something. And then those tapes proved that he did.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, the Watergate tapes. And, all the President's Men. Remember that movie and all that?
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: So he, he did have to step down.
>> Chris Woodward: Speaking of movies, let's not, let's not forget that if it wasn't for Forrest Gump, seeing the break in happen, calling the, hotel lobby desk saying, you know, they've had some powers out, some men with some flashlights.
>> Tim Wildmon: Good point, Chris. You. Hey, you could. You added a lot to that, to be a millennial. Yeah, right there.
>> Chris Woodward: I'm one of the older millennials.
>> Tim Wildmon: but I don't know. President, Nixon was twice elected. Yeah, I mean, he was, he was, I, I don't know if you call him popular, but I mean, popular enough to be twice elected. Yes, but I remember his, his signature, move was to raise the. Was it the peace sign of the victory sign? And with both hands, Fred?
>> Fred Jackson: I think it was. Victory.
>> Tim Wildmon: Victory. Yeah, okay. Yeah, both hands. Of, course, that was also served as the peace sign back then.
>> Chris Woodward: That was actually keeping it with Nixon here for a second. I saw this on like a Things in History thing. I think it was on the History Channel. but that was a April Fool's Day radio prank back in the early 90s in which they had done this, fake news report claiming that Nixon was going to run for president again because he had not technically finished out his second term, which they said made him still eligible to run for, the president. That was in the early 90s. Nixon, of course, passed not long after that.
>> Tim Wildmon: yeah, Nixon was, you know, he was the governor of California. Right. And Reagan was. I think both.
>> Fred Jackson: I think Reagan was for sure.
>> Tim Wildmon: Look, look and see if, Richard Nixon was not the governor of.
>> Chris Woodward: He was a senator. I think, he was involved in those so called kitchen debates back in the day. all right, he was in the House of Representatives. He served in the Senate. He was elected to the U.S. senate in 1950 and began, to serve in 51, then nominated Vice president.
>> Tim Wildmon: So he was not the governor. Reagan was.
>> Fred Jackson: Reagan was.
>> Tim Wildmon: He was. He was a two time governor of the state of, Did you see that movie with Dennis Quaid, Reagan?
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, I did.
>> Tim Wildmon: That was excellent. Don't you think so?
>> Fred Jackson: That was.
>> Tim Wildmon: I recommend. We recommend that movie. I don't know where you can get it now. It's probably on one of the streaming services. But yeah, I went started at the theater, but Dennis Quaid did a great job, playing the role of Ronald Reagan.
Chris: You could go to the Nixon library and Reagan ranch in California
What were you gonna say?
>> Chris Woodward: Nixon did run for governor of California, but he did not win.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Chris Woodward: I found that from Dr. Google.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, well, yeah, I've been to his library.
>> Chris Woodward: Oh, that's nice.
>> Tim Wildmon: I think it's in what they call Yorba Linda.
>> Chris Woodward: The Reagan Ranch out there.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, I'm talking about Nixon.
>> Chris Woodward: Oh, okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: look it up. See where the, see where President, Nixon's, library is.
>> Chris Woodward: It is in Yorba Linda, California. It's situated on the grounds of the Richard Nixon birthplace and is part of the National Archives and Records Administration.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, been about 20 years, but I went to that, it was pretty fascinating. You know, if you did go out to California, if you wanted to risk your life and go out there to, Los. I mean, you know, it's, it's a, it's a trade off. You risk your life or you get to see some beautiful countryside.
>> Chris Woodward: Anaheim area.
>> Tim Wildmon: no, but in the, greater Los Angeles area, you're going to have the, if you, if you presidential, you could go to the Nixon library and birthplace, I guess. And then you could also go to the Reagan Library and ranch. Yeah, right. And, you could do two for one there. As far as, presidential history.
>> Fred Jackson: A lot of great history.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. All right, we're out of time. And we will be back with five minutes with more of today's issues on American Family Radio. Tim, Fred and Chris, thank you.
>> Chris Woodward: Chris, thank you.
>> Tim Wildmon: Steve Paisley Jordah will enter the room. He'll enter the ring here in a few minutes. Stay with us. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
