Tim, Fred and Ray talk with Chris on top news headlines of the day including a discussion on Gov. Huckabee-Sanders response to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
The God who speaks hits the doubt head on with evidence that God is real
>> Jeff Chamblee: As we watch world events unfold and fulfill Scripture, it's hard to believe anyone could doubt God and his word are real. And yet there are so many who either question or completely refuse to believe it. The God who speaks is a 90 minute documentary that hits the doubt head on with evidence that proves God is real and his word is the ultimate authority. Watch it anytime and invite others to watch with you. Just visit stream.afa.net that's stream.aca.net welcome to today's Issues, offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. 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. Thanks for listening to AFR. Its Tuesday, December 23, 2025. And, again, we appreciate you joining us today. I'm Tim with, Fred Jackson. Good morning, brother Fred.
>> Fred Jackson: Good morning to you, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: Chris Woodward.
>> Chris Woodward: Good morning.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Ray Pritchard. Ray Pritchard's joining us. used to join us from Kansas City, Kansas. Now he's joining us from sunny Florida. How you doing, Ray?
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, I'm doing great, Tim. It's, 75, 76 degrees down here. All is well.
>> Tim Wildmon: We're going to quit asking you about January, although I will say right now, you know, I don't know how much of the country's experiencing this, but we're, we're 70 today.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: In Tupelo.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. And we're going to enjoy the next three or four days at that temp.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. And then, then it goes and it all falls apart.
>> Tim Wildmon: So no white Christmas for Tupelo this year?
>> Tim Wildmon: No, no, I only remember one in my lifetime. That was like 10 years ago. Something like that.
>> Chris Woodward: That was a good snowfall, too.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Yeah. Whopping inch or two.
>> Chris Woodward: No, it was, it was, it was like a, it was legit snow.
>> Tim Wildmon: yeah, that's legit snow for us though, isn't it?
>> Chris Woodward: like the quality of it and the. We got a lot where I lived.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. I just know that, if we hit 3 inches, we get to call out the National Guard.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, me. Okay. Well, we hope you have nice weather wherever you live. And I know that, you know, you got to go through the winter to appreciate the summers, what they say. I don't know who said that, but how wrong they were. But.
Freedom from Religion Foundation wants Arkansas governor to rescind Christmas proclamation
All right, so a lot to talk about today on the program. Ray is with us. Fred and Chris. We don't have any guests today, so it's just going to be us Four. and then we got Steve Paisley. Jordan will come over and, talk to us coming up in about an hour. I read a very impressive email. well, it was a press release from the governor of the state of Arkansas.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: And read it last night. And Ray, sent it to Ray. You sent it to us. You got it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. And someone from Arkansas, member of our family, lives in Little Rock, said, hey, you need to read this. And I gotta say, I already loved Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Already did, Tim, but. But I loved her 10 times more when I read the letter she wrote back. To what, the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
>> Tim Wildmon: Correct. Let me set this up for folks so they understand the context here. There is a. You remember the aclu, they used to be very prominent. they're not as prominent as they once were, but they were always attacking Christians and they were always know. Claiming that we were trying to, violate separation of church and state, so forth and so on. Well, there's another organization called the Freedom from Religion. Isn't that what they call Freedom from Religion Foundation? they're a relatively small outfit, but they're. I think they're out of Wisconsin. Is that true?
>> Chris Woodward: They are.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Yep. But they're, they're separation, church estate left wingers and they're always looking to try to, you know, any kind of expression, especially of Christianity, in the public square. They tried to, if they can, they try to squelch. I remember, they were the ones who went after high schools for having prayer before football games. You remember this when this was on the news 15, 20 years ago. All right, so they're called the Freedom from Religion Foundation. They are, Baham buggers at Christmas time. They're Bahambuggers. And so Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the governor of Arkansas, got a letter from this organization the other day and they were upset with her for, Chris, you take over the story now?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. So she, she. They were, they were upset with her. They took issue with her for closing state offices to celebrate Christmas. And they sent a letter demanding that Sarah Sanders rescind the proclamation. Sarah Sanders responded saying, Christmas isn't just a holiday, it's the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. Meaning matters. We won't pretend otherwise. And she went on to write them a letter back, sharing her two thoughts and matter of fact, read some of it. Okay. Earlier this week, I issued a proclamation closing state offices on Friday, December 26, to celebrate Christmas and offer state employees more time with their families. I am in receipt of a letter from your organization calling on me to rescind that proclamation because it gives a detailed theological narrative presenting one Christian narrative, including the divinity of Jesus Christ, his crucifixion for the sins of mankind, his resurrection and his anticipated return in glory. Please know that I will do no such thing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. It's hard to understand in a letter like that. Exactly. But what she say, they're, they're saying, okay, she signed a proclamation celebrating Christmas and letting state employees offer for,
>> Fred Jackson: The Friday, the day after Friday, the.
>> Tim Wildmon: Day after Christmas, December 26th. They got mad is Freedom from Religion Foundation, Ray. They pitched a little hissy fit and they wrote her and said, you got to stop this. You're violating church and state, so forth. So, and she wrote them back and said, I'm not stopping it. and furthermore, she went on to say she wished him a merry Christmas. And that she. Anyway, she's not backing down on this one iota, Ray.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, for too long, Christians, including Christians in places of power and authority like the governorship, have backed down under pressure from groups like Freedom from Religion. She basically said in two words, she said, pound sand, boys.
>> Tim Wildmon: that was three words, but go ahead.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right, pound sand. And then I added boys. Essentially, she did what Christians ought to do. She reaffirmed her faith. She said what she believed and why she believed it. And she said, sorry, but we're not going to change anything. God bless her for taking that kind of standard.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so, yeah, congratulations and we are, proud of Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She's all our governor today. She's governor of Arkansas. where can people read this letter?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes, I posted it just now on our Today's Issues Facebook page. so go to the Today's Issues Facebook page.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. and it is making national news. It is, good.
>> Fred Jackson: But here's how God works. He took, the testimony that Sarah Huckabee Sanders put out there and people now are talking about it thanks to the Freedom from Religion Foundation. And now it's gone public and more and more people are going to read the real reason for Christmas.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, I know even the atheists who work for the state of Arkansas and there are five of them, appreciate having off on Friday.
>> Fred Jackson: Exactly.
>> Chris Woodward: Sure. Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: Exactly Right.
A lot of schools have gone back to having traditional prayer before football games
>> Chris Woodward: That's a good one. That's a good one. I will tell you, this gives them.
>> Tim Wildmon: A four day holiday. Yeah, go ahead.
>> Chris Woodward: For people that have listened to afn, or follow us aligned through our print service, we have Done an FFRF story pretty much once every other week.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's Freedom from Religion.
>> Chris Woodward: Freedom From Religion Foundation. They always send these little hissy fit letters. And groups like First Liberty Institute will tell you, much like Ray said, go pound sand. There's nothing you can complain about here.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, I just remember they. I don't know if they still do or not, but they went on this, search and destroy mission for high schools all across the country, ten years ago. And what would happen? They would find out whether or not a high school had a prayer before a football game. Yeah. And if they did, they brought them a letter and they said, we're going to sue you if you do this anymore. Well, a lot of the schools, had administrators that got all worried if they got a letter like this, and they had maybe a lawyer, and they said, hey, you got to cut it out. It's a violation of separation, church and state. and so they would. They stopped. They stopped doing it. But a secret is Fred, a lot of them gone back.
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Don't tell the Freedom From Religion Foundation. But a lot of schools have gone back to having the traditional, prayer before the, high school football games on Friday night.
>> Chris Woodward: I graduated high school in this century. and,
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, no, yeah, you did.
>> Fred Jackson: I did.
>> Chris Woodward: I did. And, we had the. We said the Lord's Prayer in the band hall before we went out there on Friday nights. And I went to a public school.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is that because y' all didn't want to blow. Blow it, or is that because you really mean it?
>> Chris Woodward: I'm just saying we did. We did have a prayer before we went out there.
>> Tim Wildmon: Lord, help us. Don't embarrass our families with our sound.
>> Chris Woodward: You hit the snare drum just right.
>> Fred Jackson: Lord, help us not to lose too badly.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, you don't think that was the.
>> Chris Woodward: Prayer I ever heard?
>> Tim Wildmon: Prayer, Granted. Listen, public. Most public prayers are just acknowledgments of. Of. Of God. Okay?
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: And, and, and that's been our tradition in America since our founding. We have, we have publicly acknowledged God Almighty and oftentimes specifically the Christian, Jesus Christ. So, anyway, good for Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Ray: I don't know if Sarah Huckabee Sanders would be interested
All right, Ray, what about this? How does this sound? Advance Huckabee. I mean, Sanders ticket.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh. Oh, come on, now. I mean, all right, the evangelicals.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Would we. Would. I mean, if we voted 80%, we'd vote 90% for that ticket. Yeah, that's a winner.
>> Fred Jackson: What a good idea.
>> Tim Wildmon: J.D. remember to hurt here. First. Okay. Yeah, I don't know if that'll happen or not. I don't even know if Sarah Huckabee Sanders would be interested. I don't know what the relationship is between J.D. vance, the current VP, and,
>> Tim Wildmon: How old is she?
>> Tim Wildmon: you don't ask woman that. Right.
>> Chris Woodward: I'll look it up.
>> Tim Wildmon: I bet you look it up on the Internet.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't want to ask her that. I just want to find out.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm guessing. I'm a guess. She's 50, 49.
>> Chris Woodward: We're the same age.
>> Tim Wildmon: What?
>> Chris Woodward: 43.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Chris Woodward: J.D. vance, by the way, is 40. 41. Somewhere around him.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's 43 older than J.D. right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Chris Woodward: Not that there's anything.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, first of all.
>> Tim Wildmon: There is.
>> Tim Wildmon: First of all, I retract my 49 or 50 statement where that came from joke, Sarah. Yes. I did not mean to suggest you. She appears to be that age. I'm just. I was just guessing.
>> Tim Wildmon: She is a strong leader, Right? She predicts.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah, yeah. she. She's the first time, Is she.
>> Chris Woodward: She's the first. She's in her first term.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Of course. Her daddy's Mike Huckabee.
>> Fred Jackson: She bought the old block, as you say.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. So let me ask you this. So, she's 43. J.D. vance. He's 43. Right.
>> Chris Woodward: He's not 40.
>> Tim Wildmon: Quite funny.
>> Chris Woodward: He's actually a little bit younger than me. he's 41. This is the first time in my lifetime that somebody in the executive branch like that high.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Chris Woodward: And the executive branch is younger than me.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is he the youngest vice president ever?
>> Chris Woodward: I don't think so.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, you know, probably back in the. In the 1800s, you know, where people didn't live very long. Right.
>> Chris Woodward: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're probably going to have some guys in their 30s now.
>> Chris Woodward: According to the Internet, the youngest vice president in US History is a guy named John Cable Breckenridge.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
>> Chris Woodward: Who took office back in 1857 at the age of 36. But by the way, he served under President, James Buchanan. But here's where you don't always believe what you see on the Internet, because in this Google search under John Campbell Breckenridge is a picture of Richard M. Nixon.
>> Fred Jackson: I was going to say, boy, he looks a lot like Richard Nixon.
>> Chris Woodward: They had killer photos in 1857.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's a little bit of a mistake, I guess.
John: Nixon was fairly young when he was VP back in the 50s
>> Tim Wildmon: So Breckenridge was whose BP, John?
>> Chris Woodward: James Buchanan.
>> Tim Wildmon: And he was, 30.
>> Chris Woodward: What, 36.
>> Tim Wildmon: Just a kid.
>> Chris Woodward: Was barely old Enough to be president if it came to me.
>> Tim Wildmon: When was that, in 1800s?
>> Chris Woodward: 1857.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, so there you go. A modern day, I would say, I'm gonna say Dan Quayle. Yeah. Was probably in his early 40s, I'm just guessing.
>> Chris Woodward: We see Nixon. Nixon was fairly young when he was VP back in the 50s.
>> Tim Wildmon: Who was he VP for?
>> Chris Woodward: Free Eisenhower. Oh, I'm sorry.
>> Tim Wildmon: Eisenhower winner Richard Nixon. Was he vp? Who's EVP for
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right. Dwight Eisenhower.
>> Chris Woodward: Stick with me, I'll teach you something, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, I knew he was the Governor of California, Richard Nixon, but I had forgotten he was, Eisenhower's vp. All right, you're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio.
A straw poll was taken to determine who the next Republican presidential nominee will be
Speaking of who the next, presidential candidates will be, on the Republican side, there was a poll taken at turning, point USA's national convention. What do they call that?
>> Chris Woodward: Straw poll? Oh, America Fest.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, America, that's what they call. It's Charlie Kirk's organization. And Erica Kirk is hosting, obviously, because Charlie was killed, this year. So she's hosting this in Phoenix. There's what, 4,000 people, something like that?
>> Fred Jackson: No, 30,000 people came out for this.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, it was a record.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. For this event last weekend.
>> Tim Wildmon: Are you guys sure about that?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, that's what was reported.
>> Tim Wildmon: 30,000 people. Where are they hosting this? In the Coliseum?
>> Chris Woodward: It was at the, I think it's in the event. The same arena where the Phoenix Suns play.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, well, anyway, thousands of people there and a straw pole was taken among. And these are, these are conservatives. these are most probably mostly Christians, probably people like us.
>> Fred Jackson: And a lot of young people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. And so they took a poll, a straw poll, as you say, Chris, to decide to. Among those attendees to see who they favored to be the Republican nominee. For President in three years, two years, whenever all that starts. And what were the findings?
>> Chris Woodward: J.D. vance won by a lot. Vice President J.D. vance won by a lot. Matter of fact, if you were to combine the two people closest to him, those being Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Both of them together still wouldn't come close to Vance. Vance led the pack with by far, he had 84.2% of the vote. Rubio came in second with 4.8% and DeSantis scored 2.9%.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so JD Vance, Fred, far and away the, choice among. Of course you would think that he's the, he's the Vice President, right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. He has a high Profile.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: he spoke at the event. He was the big speaker of the event. He is liked by the young people. Yesterday on this program, we played a little montage of some of the young people that were attending there. They believe that, he is a Donald Trump next generation, and they like what Donald Trump is doing, his policies, and they see him as carrying on that agenda.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. By the way, you're listening to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Fred, Chris and Ray. Ray, what do you think about, J.D. j.D. Vance appears to be, you know, smart enough.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, he's got the youth factor on his. Young people are just attracted to him. Number two, he's very well spoken.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: we've talked about his life story.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And what's the name of the book?
>> Tim Wildmon: Hillbilly, Elegy. I've got it on my desk. I hadn't read it yet. I'm going to read it.
>> Tim Wildmon: I have read it. It is a tremendous story. So from. From a very difficult beginning, you know, rising up through that, through the Marines to the Senate, to the. To becoming vice president. It's. It's a true American story. And, the other thing, I watched him when he, he and Erica and the others, they were at that TPUSA event at Ole Miss back, you know, a few weeks ago. He was bold. He was clear.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: He took questions from the audience, which, not many candidates would. Would dare to do. He's really comfortable in his own skin.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: A very interesting family background. So, I see his age is an issue.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: And that will be, to some degree, they'll throw that up at him. But, I think he's a very attractive candidate. And you know what, Tim? I don't see anybody on the Republican side today that. That could beat him.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't either. In fact, I'm just looking ahead. He might go unchallenged. I know that sounds crazy because usually there's 7, 8, 9 challengers on, on Democrat or the Republican side. You know, could be. I could be wrong about that.
Marco Rubio says he won't run against J.D. Vance in the Republican primary
We'll wait and see. I don't think, Marco Rubio, the secretary, of state, he said publicly that if J.D. vance runs, he won't run against him in the Republican primary. they're pretty close friends. Governor, Ron DeSantis of Florida. I don't. He will. He's. He's not going to overtake Vance. Okay? So I don't think he'll run. He knows that. You know, he. He tried to go against, Trump last time, and that didn't work out. So I think Governor DeSantis. I think he has a future. He's. Listen, Governor DeSantis is a conservative rock star, okay? He's done as much in fart as you can possibly do to advance limited government and conservative causes. He's a stalwart, but he's going to. But, he. He's probably. He'll probably end up in, J.D. vance's administration on a high level, like a, cabinet position, you know, secretary to Secretary of War, what they call it now, or something of that. To that nature. I'm just. Again, I'm just. We're just speculating here. but, there was some mention of Ted Cruz, the senator from Texas, maybe throwing his hat in the ring. I don't think he could beat Vance. I think that would be a mistake. I love Ted Cruz, but I don't think he could beat Vance. And you know what? The Republicans could save a lot of time, energy, and money if they just rallied behind Vance and didn't make him go through a primary season that, wasted a lot of money and time and energy. That's my thought.
>> Chris Woodward: The media would feed off that in.
>> Fred Jackson: The way of contrast. I was just looking at a poll this morning on the Democrat side.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: And right now, Governor Newsom of California is again way out in front of the nearest competition. Kamala Harris, aoc They're gonna have to.
>> Tim Wildmon: Come up with somebody better.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: But he's leading the pack right now of what they think Newsom is. Now, can you imagine the contrast? It's gonna be so clear for the American people. Gavin Newsom or J.D.
>> Tim Wildmon: Vance. All right, let me again speculate into my crystal ball. Okay. Okay. I don't think we're Christians supposed to do that, are we, Ray? No. Okay. Well, anyway, we say read the.
>> Chris Woodward: All the time.
>> Tim Wildmon: I can look into a metaphoric crystal ball, can I?
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: Exactly right.
Tim Ferriss: Three governors would provide best chance for Democrats in 2028
>> Tim Wildmon: So look at, I'm seeing, Here. Here are your three people that I think right now could win would provide the best shot for Democrats. The governor of Pennsylvania.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: what is his name?
>> Chris Woodward: Josh Shapiro.
>> Tim Wildmon: Josh Shapiro. He would be very formidable.
>> Chris Woodward: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: Ah. And then you've got the governor of, Maryland. What's his name? I know these people, but I can't know their faces, but I can't necessarily remember their name.
>> Chris Woodward: Governor of Maryland is Wes Moore.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. West Moore, the governor of Maryland. And then you've got, governor of Michigan. I don't. I don't think she's. I don't think she's dead in the water.
>> Fred Jackson: Gretchen Whitmer.
>> Chris Woodward: I can see her, actually. Pretty. Having a pretty successful primary.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. So those three governors, I think, would be the best chance for the Democrats.
>> Chris Woodward: We might very well have a President Kamala Harris today. Had she picked Josh Shapiro to be her.
>> Tim Wildmon: I agree.
>> Chris Woodward: Not.
>> Tim Wildmon: She probably would have won Pennsylvania that had been gone.
>> Chris Woodward: Which she needed to. Speaking. Governor Shapiro. I'm not making this up.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is it Shapiro, or are you putting the Southern, ship.
>> Chris Woodward: Shapiro. Shapiro.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Shapiro.
>> Chris Woodward: All right. He's actually one of the people that Axios thinks may try to run in 2028, to the point that he is supposedly changing his appearance to try to appeal to a broader base of voters. I have posted this story on our page.
>> Tim Wildmon: What do you do?
>> Chris Woodward: All right, according, according to Axios, Governor Shapiro's suits are more tailored now and modern, but not too flashy, because that was one of the reasons why Harris did not pick him. She was afraid he would overshadow her.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because of his suits?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: because of his suits.
>> Fred Jackson: She's so deep.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah. Meanwhile, so Illinois Governor Josh. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker has lost weight, fueling speculation that he's going to run in 2028. And I'm not making this up, Tim. Pete Buddha Judge, who did run for president a couple of elections ago, grew a beard to try to appeal to a broader base of people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because you got a beard.
>> Chris Woodward: No, I would not.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Just because he has a beard doesn't mean he gets the beard vote.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.
>> Chris Woodward: Amen.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. I would say, listen, I think it's going to be a donnybrook. and the Democrats on the Democrat side. Yeah, I think all those names you just mentioned.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Alexandria Akash, Cortez. I think she's going to probably throw her hat in the ring.
>> Chris Woodward: Don't rule out Mamdani. The people that think he raised the sun. That's his first name, Zoran Mamdani. I mean, he hasn't even served yet. People are going to get another office.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, of course. Bernie Sanders. He'll be 106. but I think he might run again.
>> Chris Woodward: I have a message. I have a plan.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm still alive.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's the plan.
>> Tim Wildmon: Vote for me. I'm still alive.
>> Chris Woodward: Oligon.
Every normal person has periods when he's ready to throw in the towel
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, we're going to take a break right here for, a couple minutes, and we will be back with more of today's issues on the American Family Radio Network.
>> Don Wildmon: It's my turn.
>> Tim Wildmon: Here is your host for my turn. Don Wileman.
>> Don Wildmon: Let me ask you a question. Did you ever want to quit? Did you ever want to hang them up and call it a game? If you haven't, then you aren't normal. Every normal person has periods when he's ready to throw in the towel. Several years ago, I charted a course for my life. I chose what I believed to be the highest and truest way of living. I gave myself to it, and I have pursued it. But there have been times when I have wanted to quitto call it a game and hang up the togs. Quitting is tempting because it's easier, you know, when you get knocked down time and again. It's hard to get up and go. Another time when it seems as though you're behind and can never catch up. It's awful hard to keep trying. Life is tremendously demanding. If a person pledges himself to the best he knows. It becomes so difficult sometimes that the temptation to give up is very strong. The benefits of giving up seem appealing and attractive. I can understand why some people have given up. They grew tired of following their highest dream. And then they started demanding less and less of themselves. Finally, the dream was no more. A person needs a solid foundation if he attempts to follow the highest and best. He knows. Because when the storms of doubt and despair blast against our structure, it will crumble like dust if there isn't something solid underneath. As I write this, I am tempted to give up. To quit on the direction I, chose some years back. All the advantages of giving up are looming out before me like water to a person dying of thirst. How strong the desire to quit. But I will not quit. I can't. Because I know that nothing worth while can be accomplished by quitting. I will never accomplish all I would like to. But I will accomplish nothing if I give up. And back there, when I made my decision, I wasn't promised peaches and cream. The one I follow was crucified. Why do I think following him should be easy? No. I made my vow to be faithful. And that's all he desires of me. Not to be successful, not to be popular. One thing he desires of me to be faithful. And you know I can do that. I can be faithful. I can hang in there and give the best I have. I will be a better person by doing that, and stronger. And by doing so, I can help another who is struggling to stay above water.
>> Tim Wildmon: Quit.
>> Don Wildmon: Sure, I want to quit. How easy life would be if I just called it a game. And run away. But I will not do that, no matter how great the temptation. He is depending on me to be faithful. And that's the one thing I can and will do. I will not disappoint him. I will be faithful. So give me a drink of the living water. Ready to get back into the game of life.
This has been my Turn with Don Wildmon on Today's Issues
>> Tim Wildmon: This has been my Turn with Don Wildmon, a production of the American Family Association.
>> Jeff Chamblee: We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in.
>> Tim Wildmon: Our prayers, remembering before our God and.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Father your work of faith and labor.
>> Tim Wildmon: Of love and steadfastness of hope in.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3American Family Radio. 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 [email protected] now back to more of, Today's Issues.
American Family Radio will be playing Christmas music starting Wednesday through Saturday
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, welcome back, everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening to afr. I'm Tim with Fred and Chris and Ray. We hope you're getting ready for a big Christmas, which is, two days from now, by the way. we are going to start Christmas. Brent, if you don't mind, pull the microphone up. Brent Creely, our producer, man of high intelligence and great character, but rarely speaks here on the program. what do we got coming up on AFR? starting Wednesday at 12:00am, we will have Christmas music. Wall to wall Christmas music until Saturday morning at 12am so midnight. Midnight, yes, sir. So midnight tomorrow, Christmas Eve, true? Yes, sir. Right? Yes, sir. Midnight tomorrow through midnight Saturday, Saturday. So three days. Yes, that's correct. So three days. So when you tune in the radio to listen to American Family Radio, you're going to hear Christmas music. That's true, yes. Okay, for three days because we're going to pause ourselves, our studios and offices closed. Our, staff is with their families like you're with yours. So there's nobody here, there's nobody here to do any radio. So we'll be playing music for three days, so enjoy that. And, who doesn't like Christmas music, Right? That's right, Fred. That's right.
>> Fred Jackson: It's a special time of the year and it really kind of sets the environment that we can enjoy. And it's, as you were saying yesterday, Tim, it is really solid, good Christmas music.
>> Tim Wildmon: Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Let me ask you this, Ray. you get, you guys, you got a big family all spread out all over the country. I guess y' all try to get together Maybe once a year. You can't probably always get together at Christmas, can you? We.
>> Tim Wildmon: It has been a while since we've been able to get everybody together at Christmas because we've got a son who pastors in Missoula, Montana, and they always want the pastor around at Christmas time. Right?
>> Tim Wildmon: That's true.
>> Tim Wildmon: And then we've got, another branch of the family. Our youngest son is up in Chicago, and our oldest son is there in, the Kansas City area. We sort of look at it now as if we can get two out of the three branches together.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's a pretty good batting average, huh?
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right. That's a pretty good average for us.
>> Fred Jackson: Hey, Ray, I'm going to make a prediction now that you and your wife are living in Florida. the urge to get together with you during the winter month is just going to.
>> Tim Wildmon: They're going to become. It's freezing cold up in Missoula, son. If you're listening up there in Missoula, come on down to Florida. It's sunny and warm down here.
>> Fred Jackson: They're measuring snow in Missoula right now in feet, not inches.
>> Tim Wildmon: We got, one of our staff here I talked to.
>> Fred Jackson: He's flying up there to Montana.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's what I said.
>> Tim Wildmon: Best of luck.
>> Fred Jackson: Why?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, they've got. I don't know if it's, I think there's a. They want to enjoy the. I know.
>> Tim Wildmon: You laugh, you go.
>> Tim Wildmon: They want to enjoy. They want to enjoy 3ft of snowflake. Who doesn't? Anyway, I don't know. They got. There's a lodge or something. They're going to. And maybe do a little snow skiing or something.
>> Fred Jackson: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: But I'll tell you one thing. Parts of Montana and Idaho and, in that area there, Pacific, about to get bombarded.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Are there, it's happening now.
>> Fred Jackson: Wyoming. Yes, it has been happening. And south of that is rain.
>> Tim Wildmon: That atmospheric river is moving from west to east.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. If they had. If we had. If you had a foot of snow here, and of course you wouldn't. You wouldn't have it far. But if you had it here, where.
>> Tim Wildmon: We live, end of the world.
>> Tim Wildmon: We do. We will get a snow, Probably In January, get 1, maybe 2, you know, 2, 4, 6, maybe 6 inches. You get a foot, they'd be reading about us in history books like 100 Years from Now.
There once was a place called Tupelo
We have.
>> Tim Wildmon: There once was a place called Tupelo.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Be like Vesuvius.
>> Tim Wildmon: And they were here. We have covered. Real people live there. But there came a snowstorm of 10 inches and they disappeared.
College student in Oklahoma gets zero grade for essay on gender and sexuality
all right, so, you're listening to today's issues. Hey, there's also a good news story out of Oklahoma, right?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Chris Woodward: This is a story that we've been tracking for a while on AFN Net. it involves a college student in Oklahoma that got a zero grade because she was asked to share her opinion on an essay that involved gender and sexuality. She got a zero for that. And the teaching assistant that was behind this whole project, is now gone. as a result of the uproar that started over this. we've done these stories here.
>> Tim Wildmon: What does she, what does she do wrong? Supposedly. This is a student at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Right. He's going to class. The professor asked her to ask her to write something about what subject matter?
>> Chris Woodward: It was an essay about like gender and sexuality.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so she wrote an essay on gendered sexuality and she basically gave him the read. Read the traditional or Christian worldview.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. She referenced the Bible.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. So he gave her an elf, right? Yep. Or zero.
>> Fred Jackson: Zero.
>> Tim Wildmon: Professor gave her a zero. right, because she didn't give him, the left wing version, of what he wanted to see. Well, he was, she spoke out about it. This student did, huh?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. Yep. Fred, is that what.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tell us.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, her name is Samantha Fulnacki. And she has, she went public with this, what happened, and the university, to its credit, reacted very quickly. I think they suspended him first, Chris, and now they have fired him. So it's, it's freedom.
>> Tim Wildmon: Imagine if she wouldn't have stood up though, and, you know, voiced a complaint. This would have gone tolerated.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, this is, you know, we're seeing stories like this and it is encouraging. We see young people, young people being willing to take a stand. You can, you know, factor in the Charlie Kirk effect on young people out there. Go out there, speak up, don't be ashamed. You're a Christian. Speak out because God can use your testimony. It's exactly what Samantha did. Congratulations, Samantha, for what you did and continue to use your testimony.
>> Tim Wildmon: Where do we have this story, Chris?
>> Chris Woodward: I posted it on our Today's Issues Facebook page. and we'll follow it up with, afn.net I found the title of the project and it again involves gender issues. The title of the, project was Relations Among Gender Typicality, Peer Relations and Mintle Health during Early Adolescence.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, that ought to be banned just because. Too many words.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so, that was the paper that the students were supposed to write on this guy. The student's name is Samantha Fulnacky, F U L N E C K Y Jr. At the University of Oklahoma in Norman. And good for her, she spoke up and because this was unfair what was done to her and she basically was persecuted because of her Christian beliefs. And at least the university, of Oklahoma did the right thing here. And they said, you can't do that to this. is it a professor or assistant professor?
>> Chris Woodward: It's a teaching assistant is how it's been used.
>> Tim Wildmon: And they fired him.
>> Fred Jackson: she went to the book of Genesis in her paper in which God created men and women equally but with separate purposes. Here's what she wrote. Part of what she wrote. Gender roles and tendencies should not be considered stereotypes. Volnecki wrote in her essay. Women naturally want to do womanly things because God created us with those womenly desires in our hearts. The same goes for men. God created men in the image of his courage and strength and he created women in the image of his beauty. He intentionally created women differently than men. And we should live our lives with that in mind. She's a junior.
>> Tim Wildmon: Gave her a zero for that. Huh? Huh?
>> Fred Jackson: Gave her a zero for that.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, what you just said. Which is the way the world has believed since time began. Yes. God's design, this modern day, you know, this modern day movement of gender confusion, is just, it's new.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
You just ask a Democrat in a race can a man have a baby
>> Tim Wildmon: And nobody in the world, any world religions accepted this idea that men and women are different.
>> Fred Jackson: Even back 20 or 30 years ago, if you had said, well, men can become women and women can become men, you'd be mocked even by the liberals back then. They would say, oh, yeah, you know, you're a flat earther. You don't believe in biological science.
>> Tim Wildmon: You want to see it? you'll see something funny. And this will probably happen with the Democrats in the next presidential race. Ask a Democrat, can a man have a baby? Yes. Right. You just ask a Democrat in a race can a man. That's all you got to ask them, can a man have a baby?
>> Tim Wildmon: And then put the microphone and watch him stutter.
>> Fred Jackson: Watch them stutter or say nothing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Sure. Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: Remember, the justice, Jackson.
>> Fred Jackson: When Jackson. Tanya Brown, when she was asked for justice?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: She just, she stood there and she smiled.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, she said she wasn't a, What did she say?
>> Chris Woodward: Biologist.
>> Tim Wildmon: She said, she said, I don't know, I'm not a biologist.
>> Tim Wildmon: You don't have to be a biologist to know the answer to that.
>> Tim Wildmon: I know she knew the answer to that. She didn't want to.
>> Fred Jackson: Of course she did.
>> Tim Wildmon: but that was her answer is when they said, can a man have a baby? She said, I think that was the question. When she said, I don't know. I'm not a biologist. Yes, that's how far the left wing mind will go to try to deny reality.
>> Chris Woodward: And they are the same ones that say we should believe science or trust science when it makes their narrative.
>> Tim Wildmon: I know.
Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel, going to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve
All right, you're listening to today's issues. So good, news out of Arkansas with Sarah Huckabee Sanders. what she said. We put that, the governor of Arkansas, Good news out of Oklahoma there. Where else can we go for good news? Chris, where do you. What else you got?
>> Chris Woodward: Well, I've got. I tell you what, let's do. this is a nice, warm sound bite from Sarah Sanders dad, Mike Huckabee, who of course is the current US Ambassador to Israel. He was on Washington Watch yesterday and I'll share that podcast here in a second. but Ambassador, he's been on with us. Oh, yeah, yeah, he's been on with us. he's been on with Washington.
>> Tim Wildmon: he doesn't just like Tony Perkins. He also likes us.
>> Chris Woodward: He was on with, he was on Washington Watch yesterday and they spent about 20 minutes talking about all kinds of things. and it got to the point where, Tony did ask, Ambassador Huckabee, I always want to call him Governor Huckabee, but Ambassador Huckabee, what are you going to do, at Christmas this year? Clip 8.
>> Don Wildmon: He's going to go to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. We'll be there for the midnight Christmas service at Church of the Nativity. enjoy Manger Square. It'll be a special time. And, you know, I hope around the world people will be praying that this will be a peaceful Christmas and that it will lead to a peaceful 20, 26.
>> Chris Woodward: I did not go to Bethlehem when I was in Israel back in August. Have you been there?
>> Tim Wildmon: yeah, 27 times, I think, or something like that. I've been there. I've been there a lot. Yeah. you can, that's Arab, basically, controlled area, Palestinian Authority. So they have a different kind of police than they have like in Jerusalem. But, Bethlehem is only about, what, right, 10 miles from Jerusalem. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Maybe even less than that. Seven miles. Right. Because you could walk on those roads, the dirt roads in Jesus Day. You could walk in two or three hours. Coming down from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Bethlehem would be. You wouldn't exactly call it a suburb, would you? But it was on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
>> Chris Woodward: It's like seven miles, outside of town.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, yeah, from the edge of Jerusalem, you know, Jerusalem's, you know, that's a nice sized town. I mean, you're talking about 500,000 people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Sure.
>> Tim Wildmon: That live in the greater, greater Jerusalem area. but Bethlehem. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. We leave our hotel, go to Bethlehem, you know, it's probably 30, 45 minutes, drive down there.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, you've got checkpoints you got to get through and stuff like that. So it's not as easy to get there today in many ways as it was 2000 years ago. But, people say when you go to Israel, how close are you to the, to the spot where things actually happen? You know, if you go to the Church of the Nativity, which is one of the oldest churches in Christendom, it's what, 1800, 1900 years old, I mean, been built and rebuilt and it's massive and it's old, ancient and all of that. And there's that grotto, Tim, you know, where all the tour groups go down and they say, this is where Jesus was born. Well, I always say to our groups, look, this might be the exact spot, but if not, don't worry, we're in the neighborhood. We're in the neighborhood where Jesus was born. Could have been right here, couldn't have been very far away.
>> Tim Wildmon: Absolutely. That is correct. You're listening to Today's Issues. What's the next story, Chris?
>> Chris Woodward: Well, in another soundbite here from Huckabee, he is among the people out there that's encouraging Christians and other people in general to speak up and say something about the rise in anti Semitism not only here in the US but worldwide.
>> Don Wildmon: Clip 9 It's, a disgusting thing when you see the anti Semitic activities that somewhat are an outgrowth of the attitudes and the silence. My speech teacher in high school used to tell us silence is agreement. And when people see this Jew hatred across the world and they don't say anything and they don't do anything, you end up creating the atmosphere in which something happens, like what happened in Australia. And we as Christians need to say, we're not going to be silent. We will speak up.
>> Chris Woodward: I brought that up because we talked about anti Semitism with Alex yesterday, in issues involving Israel there. According to the media, there is a divide now in the Republican Party over the issues of Israel. And some people are saying it's because of anti Semitism creeping into the gop.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, I read what Tucker Carlsen said about this, and on the surface, it seems to make sense. Sounds logical. but I want you to read what he said, if you guys have it, and then read what he. This is Tucker Carlsen, and read what he said then. Then I want to tell you where he. Where he's missing the mark. Go ahead.
>> Fred Jackson: Okay, this is from a Newsweek article, Tim, that you sent out last evening. this is what Carlsen said. Is it America first to take money from a foreign lobby so you'll send taxpayer dollars to that country? Even the question kind of answers itself. Obviously it isn't. That's not an attack on Israel. It's certainly not anti Semitism, despite the efforts of many to claim that it is. It's just an obvious statement. Carlsen said.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so if you take the approach that Tucker Carlsen, takes, and many in MAGA do, make America great, movement there, they, which I, want to make America great, too. So, I mean, I agree with most of what President Trump. Most all of what President Trump stands for. I agree with him. and Tucker Carlsen, I would probably share 80. 80%, 90% of ideas on things. However, what he's saying right there, I don't think it applies to Israel. Okay, do we, the United States federal government, we give foreign aid all over the world and have forever.
Carl Bernstein: Tucker Carlson says we should not give foreign aid anymore
And people have argued, well, we shouldn't give foreign aid at all. okay, I'm gonna differ on that one. I think we should give foreign aid and there needs to be strings attached. All right, now you would. Some people say we don't have the money to give foreign aid anymore. Well, that's. That's another discussion. Okay, but I'm talking about the idea of the United States bribing people in the world to do what we want them to do. We've always done that. And that's just the way the world works. And it works to our benefit if we do it right. Let me just. So, to send money, to Israel. That's what he's talking about. First of all, he's talking about. Tucker Carlsen is saying, okay, the Israeli lobby, as it. As it were politically, and all foreign countries have lobbyists in Washington, D.C. all right, trying to influence our government officials and our elected politicians. All of, any. Any government of any, you know, stature at all is going to have foreign lobbies. So does. Does the Israeli lobby in Washington influence politicians and have forever. Yes. Do they give them money? Yes. Not give them money in their pocket, but give them money to their campaigns. Okay, so that happens. That and it's always happened. So what Tucker Carlsen is saying, because, these Israeli lobbyists give money to politicians, they then go to the House or the Senate and they vote for money to go to Israel. You see how, you see what I'm saying here? And he's saying that's wrong. That's not America first. okay, I would say we need to financially. Reg, you jump in here if you want to. We need to financially support Israel. I think they do get more money than any other country in the world in terms of our financial foreign aid, because they're our strongest ally in the region. They are the closest thing we have to Western style democracy in the Middle East. There is no such thing. so it's good to have a good. And also, the Jewish people have been persecuted, over the history and we need to support them and help them have their own country. And it's a stable, make it a stabilized region. Doesn't have to, we don't have to mistreat the Arabs, or the Muslims. But I mean, we need to stand with Israel. Also. They protect the holy sites. Okay, I'm just going to say it. They protect the Christian holy sites and the Jewish holy sites. And by the way, there's a Muslim holy site that's, over the Temple Mount right now. So, there, there's no other place in the world like Israel when it comes to, the religious history, of people, of the amount of peoples that, look to that part of the world for their, heritage. Okay, so I disagree with Tucker, Carl. I agree. I agree what he's saying is true. I agree that that's, that is the way it works. He's right about that. But I don't agree that it's immoral or wrong. Listen, we pay Egypt, we give Egypt a lot of money. You know why we give Egypt a lot of money? You would say, well, what are we doing giving Egypt money? We give Egypt money so they, keep the peace with Israel and in the region and they're our friend. So that when we go to call on them for a favor or to do something to, in the best interest of the United States to keep the Suez Canal open, for example, we don't want Egypt to fall to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is basically like isis. you'd rather have a good friendly relationship with a, with people that are rational as they control Egypt. So do we, do we have foreign aid all over the world that we use to buy people off.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, yes, yes, we do.
>> Tim Wildmon: And we always have. And it works out, right? It works out. Typically it works out to. Supposed to work out to the benefit of the United States. Go ahead.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's exactly right. Okay, you used Egypt. Take the example of Saudi Arabia. look, culturally they are very different. The culture, the worldview, the predominant Islamic religion over there, very different from what we do here in the US and we know there is not much, if any real religious freedom in Saudi Arabia. But we buy oil from them, we sell them planes. Why? Because generally they're friendly to us. Generally they have a much more open attitude toward Israel than the radical Muslims do. So, really, both Democrats and Republicans, this is not like a right wing, left wing issue. we've said it's in our interest to do business with Saudi Arabia. They help us keep peace in the Middle east and they're not trying to bomb Tel Aviv, so nobody objects to that.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. For short of seeing the religion of Islam, go away. Right. And that's the best approach to take, is to try to deal with those who are rational, reasonable Muslims for the sake of, national peace, on earth and the, and, commerce. We need that Suez Canal open in Egypt. Okay. The United States of America. Does Canada, does the west, does we need, the Straits of Hormuz? What do you call that over there? Anyway, that part of the world is critical to world commerce and we don't need it all taken over by the radical Muslims.
>> Fred Jackson: And I think the political establishment in this country is still very much aware that, in America, the people of the Bible, whether it's Baptist or Catholic or others, they believe in supporting Israel because they believe in supporting God's chosen people. so there is that very strong spiritual element there. I mean, Tim, you go to Israel almost every year. Ray, you've taken groups there too. There's a reason those groups want to go there.
Chris Jordan: God has blessed this country because of how it supports Israel
They believe in the Bible, they believe in the account of scripture. And, the Jews have a special place in God's heart. So, I always go back to Genesis 12, God's promise to Abraham. I'll bless those that bless you, and I'll curse those that curse you. And I think the blessings that, God has bestowed upon this country, a lot of it has to do, I believe, with how this country has supported Israel. And God forbid the day that we have a government that stops supporting Israel.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, 2023, the four countries that got the most money from us, in terms of foreign aid were Ukraine, Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Yeah, and Jordan and Egypt would be those governments we work with to keep the peace in the Middle East. And Jordan has always been a friend of ours. Yeah, right. in that. Right, King? That's right, Hussein.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Anyway, so, and Jordan is.
>> Tim Wildmon: Living peacefully side they are with Israel.
>> Tim Wildmon: They are absolutely so. And we've given a lot of money down through the decades to the Palestinians.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, sir.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, we.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, I mean a lot of money. In fact, one time I was talking to a gentleman in Israel who was an Arab or Palestinian, and he was one of our tour guides. He was, he was a Christian man, but he was an Arab. and he said, listen, he was talking about his own, the Palestinian people over there, PLO at the time, Yasser Arafat. Remember after Yasser Arafat died. Now he was the leader of the political of the Palestinian people there for a long time.
>> Fred Jackson: Mm
>> Tim Wildmon: What do you die 15 years ago or so? Something like that. Right? Do you remember? Something like that. Anyway, after he died, they found all those millions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: But anyway, this gentleman, who was our tour guide at the time, he said to me, listen, had Yasser Arafat spent the money that he was given by, countries all over the world to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people, we would have had roads built, we would have had hospitals and businesses and university. In other words, he was saying all the money that came in here to support the people, basically it went in the pockets of the politicians, who, and Yasser Arafat was chief among them, and did not go to, improve the living conditions of the very people that the money was given to support. So that's the history of that. All right, Chris, thank you. Thank you. And Fred and I will return with. And Ray will be with us. And we will be back in a couple minutes with Steve Paisley. Jordal, 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.
