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>> Tim Wildmon: 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. Hey, good morning everyone. And, welcome to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Today's Monday, June 22, 2026. In studio with me is Ed Battagliano. Good morning, Brother Ed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Good morning, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: Christopher. Good morning, Christopher.
>> Chris Woodward: Hello.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. You got a last name, don't you? You got a name? Chris. Christopher Woodward.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Quis.
>> Tim Wildmon: Christopher.
>> Chris Woodward: Like this?
>> Tim Wildmon: You like this?
>> Chris Woodward: I'm going to sign off a story today with that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm Quis Woodward.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm, Quiz Woodward. You said we rabbit. All right. anyway, good morning, Krish.
>> Chris Woodward: Good morning.
>> Tim Wildmon: And good morning to everybody listening across, the country on the American Family Radio Network.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Across the fruited plains.
>> Tim Wildmon: Fruited plains out there. Some mountains too.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: thanks for joining us.
The summer solstice passed us yesterday, Tim says
Lot to talk about, but, just for those who enjoy summertime, like yours truly, the summer solstice has now passed us.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Was that yesterday?
>> Tim Wildmon: Did you not notice it?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Did I notice it? No. Well, here, here's. I used to think it was always the 21st, but apparently it can be the 21st or the 22nd. And now, Tim, let me just bring you down, Bruce.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay? Bring me down, Bruce.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay. the days are now going to start getting shorter from here on out.
>> Tim Wildmon: I know that's, that's the part I don't.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Is that true?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, I got that wrong. I'm going to put my fingers in my ears and I'm going to go charismatic. So I'm not care. I'm not going to receive that. Okay. I'm not going to receive that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: All right?
>> Tim Wildmon: And yet, no, you're right. whether I receive it or not, it's not going to change the fact, Right. That the don't have.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I have that, right?
>> Tim Wildmon: No, you're right, you're right. Today, yesterday was the longest day of the year.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right?
>> Tim Wildmon: and so for us here in what, the Northern Hemisphere?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so, June 21st. So, yeah. in fact, if you were. If you were to go, north from where we were, where we live in north Mississippi, you get the last glimpse of daylight, tonight, about 8:30 maybe something like that. 8:40. I'm talking about the last. I'm not talking about getting out and being able to see well. I'm talking about, you know, the last
>> Ed Vitagliano: eight, ten is sunset tonight.
>> Tim Wildmon: Sunset. And even past sunset, you can still see the horizon. M. For another, what, 30 minutes or something like that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: But if you go, and I know our friends who live, in the northern states know this, you can, you can have, you can see, you can go fishing or go golfing or whatever it. Till 9 o'. Clock.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Or further right times further. So it does. But anyway, it's warm and daylight.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Like it.
>> Tim Wildmon: And I like it a lot. I like it a lot.
>> Chris Woodward: For people in Mississippi, I mean, summer begins like April 25th. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And I'm glad for it. You know, I'm glad for it. Here's the thing is, that, there's nothing more depressing than in the wintertime when you get up and it's dark and then you're driving home from work.
>> Chris Woodward: That.
>> Tim Wildmon: And it's dark.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's absolutely true.
>> Tim Wildmon: Isn't it, awful. Does something to your soul. I don't know what. It's like a solstice. You know what I'm saying? So anyway, how they.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Why they named it that.
>> Chris Woodward: So let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves was actually written during winter and a depressing time of year where, you know, the writer of Hebrews was like, hey, we should get together during a depressing time of year where it's dark in the morning and dark at night.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And it's dark in between. Everywhere in between.
Chris Johnson has worked at American Families for 40 years
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. Well, we hope everybody celebrated summer solstice yesterday.
>> Chris Woodward: And we get you a card.
>> Tim Wildmon: We are m. We are moving on. we are moving on Father's Day yesterday. Yes, Father's Day.
>> Ed Vitagliano: By the way, I want to mention the fact that this morning, in our devotion.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Tim. Tim didn't know I was going to do this. That, our staff gets a small token of appreciation for just about every, five or ten years that someone is here at afa and you got a nice token. Just a little kind of one of those plate things you put on a, display. Yeah. For being, at AFA for 40 years. So congratulations to you.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you. That's your clap? For myself.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. 40 years here at American Families.
>> Chris Woodward: Please clap.
>> Tim Wildmon: 40 years. Yeah, 40 years. Yeah. Started in 1986.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: So, finally I went through the five year college program.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: And then my dad offered me a position here. And so I've been here ever since.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: So.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So congratulations for that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt it.
>> Tim Wildmon: We just didn't know.
>> Ed Vitagliano: 40 years. But I wanted to mention that before I forgot.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's hard to believe when you look back and you go, wait, wait a minute. Four decades of my life.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Four decades. Yeah.
>> Chris Woodward: I was three when you started here.
>> Tim Wildmon: Were you really Chris? Okay. But anyway, it's been my honor and a, pleasure. And,
>> Chris Woodward: You alive? No, you were.
>> Tim Wildmon: And a blessing to carry on one. But to work well with my dad.
>> : Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: For 30 plus years. 30 years. And then, also carry on.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And your, daughter and two sons have been able to work with you? Yeah, my son is able to. To work with me. And he, My dad, my, son told me one time, he said, I just can't tell you what an honor it is, what a thrill it is, to be able to work with my dad.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, we're, what is that called? We're. We're. We don't have a problem with nepotism around here. You know, we.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I don't consider it. I think it's probably technically nepotism, but I don't consider it actual nepotism. Nepotism is when someone is not qualified for a position. This is my opinion.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And they get the job solely on the basis, of, fam. Familial relationship.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: These young people we got working here.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: My son's going to wind up being smarter than me.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And wind up, huh?
>> Tim Wildmon: Wind up. I don't know, there's some debate around the office. How long. I don't think he's going to have to wind up better. Very much. No, I'm just kidding.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, these are, these are, these are God loving young, people who believe in the mission. Believe in the mission.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So.
Chris: I thought when I went on PTO that Iran story was over
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, Krish, what's our first story of the day?
>> Chris Woodward: Well, I thought when I went on PTO about two weeks ago that the story in Iran might be over by the time I return.
>> Tim Wildmon: PTO means that's an organized, that's an organization. Right.
>> Chris Woodward: Paid time off. Yeah, Personal.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Personal time.
>> Tim Wildmon: Personal time off. Not paid time. I think we all did.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You think you got paid for that?
>> Chris Woodward: Honey, if you're listening But I.
>> Tim Wildmon: Boom.
>> Chris Woodward: Anyway, so I went on whatever. PTO station vac. Thank you.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Chris Woodward: And, I thought, you know, this. It's probably going to be over by the time I come back. And, who knows what the first
>> Ed Vitagliano: story will be whenever there's an episode of the Twilight?
>> Chris Woodward: It sure is. Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: There we go.
>> Chris Woodward: I'm gonna pay for your vacation.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Let me just say they're like episodes of the Twilight Zone where someone's trying to get out of a house, and they go out of one room and. And then they're right back in the room. They left and they go, I can't get out of here. And this is the way I feel about the Iran.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: it's like, Okay, so,
Depending on where you get your news, what may have come out of talks
All right, so anyway, you went on vacation, and a lot of things changed, and nothing changed, right?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. And depending on where you get your news, it's anyone's guess as to what may have actually come out of the talks.
>> Tim Wildmon: and, well, they're going on right now. Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: 60 days.
>> Chris Woodward: And I say it depends on where you get your news, because as we sat down to begin this show, FOX and CNN are running, like, positive, paraphrased, statements from Vance on things looking like they're developing in a positive direction. And msnow still wants us to cower in fear. Trey Yingst, at one point appeared on top of a rooftop. It looks like, according to a couple of news outlets, Fox and cnn, we're gonna allow some inspectors in Iran to look for nuclear facilities. That would be a good thing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Who is on top of a building?
>> Chris Woodward: Grey Yingstadt. the guy.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's Fox News guy.
>> Chris Woodward: The Fox News guy on top of, the building in Tel Aviv there. But MsNow, formerly MSNBC, they're still talking about how, the US and Iran are, agreeing to a roadmap for a deal in 60 days. it's very confusing as to what has developed out of this, because one hour we'll get a seemingly positive headline, and then another hour goes by, and Trump is quoted as using an expletive, saying, I'm gonna make sure these people don't have a country to go back to.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, okay, so, Vice President, here's the latest. Okay. That we know for certain. Vice President J.D. vance is in Switzerland.
>> Chris Woodward: That is a fact.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is a fact. And I'm. And I think, the other envoys, Jared Kushner, I think they're with him.
>> Chris Woodward: Rubio has been there, too.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. But Vance is leading our delegation. They're trying to negotiate with the Iranians. Where do we go from here to comply with this memorandum of understanding that was signed last week by President Trump? So, it appears. This is why you say it appears, because this afternoon we'll be saying, well, it disappeared.
>> Chris Woodward: Right?
>> Tim Wildmon: I swear it was here, but now it's gone. Pieces at hand. Right. It appears that according, to Vice President Vance, they are making real progress. what I saw that, I thought, well, that's substantial progress if this can be achieved. Okay. And that is if Vice President Vance can get the Iranians to agree to have open access, by the U.N. inspectors to make sure they're not building a nuclear weapon. Okay. That, that would be a big deal. Now, that's not to say Iran couldn't try to build a nuclear weapon and hide it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: But if you were. But what else can you do really, beside now. Now our country and Israel and others, they have satellite imagery of, and we have spies and we have, you know, we have our ways of knowing what the Iranians are doing and where they're doing it. So. But still, to have, a U.N. i'm not a big fan of the U.N. but in this case, they would be serviceable to go in, have their, have their nuclear scientists go in and let's say, have unfettered access to anywhere in Iran anytime they wanted to, to inspect and see if, in fact, the Iranians were again rebuilding a nuclear weapon. If President, Vice President Mance can negotiate that, that's a game changer. That's a big deal. It's a big part of what we initially went to war with them for. Would that be true?
>> Ed Vitagliano: yeah, it would absolutely be a big deal. having the Strait of Hormuz open and oil flowing would be great news for the world economy, for our economy. but what you're saying in terms of the nuclear weapons, that would be a huge win for the Trump administration. Now, let me just say that long term, it's anybody's guess whether Iran is going to hold to that agreement, should it be made. I know, but short term, I am starting to think Iran has just as much incentive as we do to make this deal.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Just because of their own economic issues, because of what's happened over the last three months, plus with the blockade, with the blockade, oil not flowing freely, they. It is in their best interest that they get that economy going. And if they can take five years off of their nuclear program, and, and hold to this agreement, I think that's a boon to Them because they've got to rebuild their military that was degraded. there's different estimates as to what percentage of their military was, destroyed, but we certainly hurt them. It, it just. I'm. I'm just saying, for their own self interest, I think it is, good for Iran to agree to a deal, but long term, who knows? But if President Trump is able to pull this off with all the, all the problems that have resulted from this three months, the twilight zone effect, it would be. It would be a big win for the Trump administration finally, if they could get that kind of guarantee.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, anyway, we'll see what happens with this. Is the, ever changing. The ever changing. Hurry up and wait.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah. Tune in tomorrow to find out what changed from today.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
Ed: How intertwined should we be with Israel in terms of Middle East
All right, so we will see what happens, with all this because, you know, nobody wants nuclear war and B, nobody really wants war at all, nuclear or otherwise. But also there are principles and there are interests, that have to be maintained, in the world order and in our interest here in the United States, and then in the interest of Israel, which are, The interest of Israel and the interest of the United States aren't always the same necessarily, but they are intertwined greatly and always have been. All right, you're listening to the radio program Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Let me ask you this, what I just said, though, Ed. And we can talk to Alex McFarland about this a little bit later, too. He'll be joining us. There are people who say, well, we shouldn't care about Israel. You know, we should do our own thing. President, Trump takes a view that we control Israel, basically. I mean, that's his view. So we tell him what to do. He said, I'm the boss of, you know, I call the shots is what he said. How do you think. What do you think about our, relationship with Israel in that regard?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Or. Well, you mean how what I think it should be, or what President Trump thinks?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, how intertwined should we be with Israel in terms of the, Middle East?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, I'm not a. I'm not a full isolationist. So you have different perspectives on foreign policy decisions that you have to make. So an isolationist would say, America needs to mind its own business. We need to bring our troops home, let, other people fight their own, just defend Virginia beach, just defend our own particular interests in terms of the. The United States, Continental United States, and then Alaska and Hawaii and so on and so forth. then you you'd have a just a hemisphere foreign policy that says, well, we're not going to be involved in Europe or Southeast Asia. We are in interest. We have interests here on our own hemisphere. So you've got North America, Central America, South America. That's all we're going to do, our own backyard. Then you have foreign policy interests that say, well, that would be fine if it was the 1800s or the 1900s, but we have a world economy. We want to make sure that our economy and everyone else's economy can function because that is means prosperity for everyone. So we will be involved in keeping this straight open or that straight open, and we will have military bases overseas in order to make that happen. And then you have, I, I think what George Washington, our first president, said about entangling alliances where you say we are like NATO, for example, that's an entangling alliance. I'm not sure it's necessarily what George Washington had in mind, but we guarantee we'll fight beside members of NATO. We have seato, the south, Southeast, Asia.
>> Tim Wildmon: I didn't even know that we got seto.
>> Ed Vitagliano: SEATO also. I think that's still functioning.
>> Tim Wildmon: NATO, we got ceto. Yeah, we have also got veggies. We've got salmon, whatever. I'm sorry, Go ahead.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So I think, I think that, we need to keep certain alliances, like with Japan. I like the alliance with Israel. I like the alliance for theological purposes, for theological reasons. But in terms of foreign policy, I think it is in America's best interest to keep a democratic nation in the Middle east as a counterweight to radical Islam. So I. Now, I'm not saying we guarantee in treaty form that we will go to war with Israel, but I think the unspoken message to all those countries around it, including bigger countries like Turkey and Russia and China, we, we are willing to defend Israel if we want to. That keeps the enemy guessing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Krish?
National average for a gallon of regular is now below $4
>> Chris Woodward: Well, the, the one positive thing that comes out of this so far is the fact that gas prices continue to come down. the national average for a gallon of regular is now below $4, and it looks like it's going to continue to fall based on the reported optimism that a actual in place, set in stone for the time being dealt with, is going to be reached between the US And Iran. So right now, the national average for a gallon of regular, $3.92. A month ago it was $4.55 even diesel now. And this is not a bargain by any stretch, but even diesel now, the average for that is five bucks. That's down like 70 cents just in the last month.
>> Tim Wildmon: I have a rule I operate under. I don't know, other people might find it helpful. When I am pumping gas and I see it's approaching $50 and it doesn't stop, I turn my head away. I think that is the best way to deal with gas prices. why get frustrated when there's nothing you can do about it, Ed? Is that called gasoline, fatalism?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, that's a good, that's a good term for it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm not personally. First of all, I don't think we should get, anxious about anything biblically. Okay, so. But I'm not trying to over spiritualize this. I, think if there's something that absolutely nothing can be done about it, like a storm blowing through. no, you're just wasting time, effort, energy on worrying about it. However, with things like gas prices we have, if we have people in political office that are doing things that affect the price to our own detriment, then I think that frustration can be turned towards them. And you say, listen, you've made decisions that have affected gas prices. I don't like it. We want you to change your decision.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know what? I think you can evidence, for what you just said, is bipartisan. I think Biden was blamed, yeah, for his economic, and environmental policies, which, you know, shutting off the key Keystone pipeline and all the attacks on, fossil fuels. Because that, his, his party, Democrat Party, they believe we're all going to burn because of, you know, coal or whatever. The planet's going to burn up, basically, is what they're. They've been saying for how long because of man. I've been alive because a man made, you know, decisions on energy and things of that nature.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Hey, by the way, I do want to correct myself. I was way off, way off. Seato, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That was a Cold War alliance that has been replaced a long time ago with.
>> Tim Wildmon: What was it replaced with?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm pretty embarrassed that I got. Has been replaced by the association of Southeast Asian Nations. CEDO was a military alliance. I just, I pulled that out of my, my back of my brain closet. A closet in the back of my brain from college, when I was at Boston College. That was a military alliance. the A. I don't know how you pronounce it. Aseon. Asian.
>> Tim Wildmon: Give me the acronym and I'll tell you.
>> Ed Vitagliano: A, S, E, A N. The association of Southeast Asian Nations. That's more of an economic.
>> Chris Woodward: So alliance replaced it with something that, if you were to just eyeball it, it looks like it would be pronounced Asian.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Asian. So I apologize for that, that, that
>> Tim Wildmon: I was mid thought there on, my topic. But, but I understand, believe me, I understand. When you got to interrupt, you got to interrupt, huh? right. To set the record straight.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
The general American public sometimes holds party or the president responsible for gas prices
>> Tim Wildmon: Now back to my bipartisan criticism, not necessarily criticism, our explanation of what you said, and that is the general American public sometimes hold, a party or the president, responsible for gas prices. Now, whether, whether he's responsible or not. But in the case of Biden, you remember the stickers that people put on the gas pumps when the gas prices started going up? So I did that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I did that. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: That was. Now that I wouldn't, I don't believe in putting stickers on private businesses property.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: But it was funny. It was when you saw, when it was funny. now in the case of President Trump, he's going to be blamed now for gas prices going up. Now if they come back down, hopefully, you know, that'll be a, for the Republicans, it'll be, a non factor in the, in the November elections. But if you were to hold the elections today. Now, a lot of people who don't necessarily think about geopolitical issues or what the greater good is in terms of what President Trump is trying to do, in the world, whether you agree with him or not, his, his aim to keep Iran from having a nuclear weapon, and that means the gas prices must go up some temporarily. That's what he said then. But if people who don't, they don't. They just say, okay, gas prices up. Who's in White House? Trump. And I blame him. Who am I going to. So I'm voting against his party. That's the line of thinking that a lot of people subscribe to. And so this is why I think for the Republicans, they're hoping that the end of this war will cause the gas prices to go down.
>> Ed Vitagliano: and, and, and then consequentially, maybe have some food prices go down because of it.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm telling you, if you want to call it inflation, whatever it's called, the price of things in the last three to five years has just gone, it's
>> Ed Vitagliano: insane, through the roof.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's unbelievable how much things cost today. We'll be back momentarily.
American Family Radio is celebrating America's 250th birthday with special tours
>> Ed Vitagliano: We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsor, preborn. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, it's a divine connection and the majority of the time she will choose life. But they can't do it without our help. Preborn needs us, the pro life community, to come alongside them. One ultrasound is just $28. To donate, dial 250 and say the keyword baby or visit preborn.com afr America's
>> : 250th birthday it's a great excuse to have some extra cake and ice cream, but we can help your celebration go well beyond that. Show your patriotism with America 250 apparel that will become a memento of this special year. We also have special episodes on AFA Stream to help underscore that America is a Christian nation and help you find God in the Constitution. Find all of this and more in one place. Afa.net topics250 hello everyone, Tim Wildmon, President
>> Tim Wildmon: of American Family association and American Family Radio. We are going to Italy in March of 2027. We're also going to Greece in March of 2027. And we're doing those tours back to back. If you want to do both of them in Italy, we'll be going to Venice by the gondola, and see all the sights there. And we'll go to Pisa and walk on the Leaning tower of if you fall off, we're not responsible. Also, we're going to Rome and see the Sistine Chapel and the Coliseum and all the catacombs, or see all the sites of Rome. And in Greece, it's the footsteps of Paul trip. So the places where Paul went in the Bible mentioned in Greece. If you want information on any of these tours, go to tours.afa.net tours.afa.net M tours.afa.net those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5, 2425American Family Radio this is today's issues. Email your comments to commentsafr.net Past broadcasts of today's issues are available for listening
>> : and viewing in the [email protected] now back
>> Tim Wildmon: to more of Today's Issues. Hey, welcome back everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Ed, and Krish, and we thank you for joining us here on afr. so, hey, joining us now, I'm going to introduce our colleague who's going to join us now for the next few minutes. Alex McFarland. Good morning brother Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Good, morning, everybody.
Tim M. White is in Georgia at summer youth camp
>> Tim Wildmon: How's everything in, North Carolina today?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, we are in Georgia at our third of eight summer youth camps. I am on 20 west, about 19 miles from the Alabama state line at Woodland Christian Camp.
>> Tim Wildmon: So you have no idea what's happening in North Carolina?
>> Alex McFarland: Not too much. Not too much.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's, the reason I say that. For those who are new, North Carolina is your home. So where. I'm looking at the map now of the Alabama Georgia line, where are you?
>> Alex McFarland: pretty close to Temple, Georgia. And, this is our 13th year at Woodland Christian Camp. It's just beautiful. And, I had the privilege this morning of speaking to a lot of teenagers and we had. I'd say I'm not going to put a number on it, but maybe about a couple of dozen that raised their hand to pray and accept Christ this morning.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tim M. Amen. Praise the Lord.
Alex McFarland runs American Family Radio summer camps for kids
So I'm looking. Are you, like, near Rome? Where are you? do you know. Do you know?
>> Alex McFarland: To be honest, I don't.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know why I obsessed with this, but I'm not familiar with this community. And I. Temple m Georgia, I pride myself on my geographical knowledge of the usa. And I don't know where Temple is. Carrollton, Noonan, Douglasville, Lagrange, any of these towns. Do you. Do you even know where you are, Alex? You really know?
>> Alex McFarland: No, sir.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay, here it is.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, where is it?
>> Alex McFarland: Very near. I, 20.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I do know that it's right off 20.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, okay. Well, okay. I've passed it 100 times going to Atlanta. Okay.
>> Alex McFarland: Yep. I think I'm about 40 miles from the airport, actually.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. All right. Anyway, well, praise. Praise the Lord on your good report about those kids receiving Christ.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Amen. That's what it's all about.
>> Alex McFarland: We did Montana, Iowa. We've got two camps in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida. And here's the thing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Are they full?
>> Alex McFarland: Oh, yeah. All of them. The waiting list. I praise God, but afr. And we've been doing this a long time. I don't know, over a thousand kids every summer. And 85% of all of them, they hear about the camp. They come youth groups because of American Family Radio.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: And over the last, 20 something years, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds not only have come to Christ and been saved, but. But been trained in biblical worldview. And Tim, we, talk about God and country and we say the Pledge of Allegiance and we talk about why America was founded on biblical principles and how it must be restored. So I just want to say, because of this radio network, lots and lots of young people are getting equipped.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, what you're doing here, Alex, is much like Turning Point, with maybe even more of a Christian emphasis, you know, than. I'm not disparaging Turning Point in any way. I'm talking about Charlie Kirk's organization. I'm just saying what we're doing here is ah. and what Dr. David Noble used to do too with, with the Summit, which is a worldview training ministry that many people familiar with in Colorado. what was the. Our friend's name who carried on that after David noble left?
>> Alex McFarland: Dr. Jeff Myers.
>> Tim Wildmon: Jeff Myers. Jeff. Yeah. Jeff.
>> Alex McFarland: Good man. Good man.
>> Tim Wildmon: I haven't talked to him in a while. But anyway, I'm just saying what Alex is doing with these summer camps and he's. You're going to do them next year too.
>> Chris Woodward: Good.
>> Alex McFarland: Lord willing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: And you, you held 12 this summer?
>> Alex McFarland: Eight.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Eight.
>> Tim Wildmon: So eight. About all you can do in the summertime. Right? It's every week. So if folks, if you want to look at sending your. First of all, Alex, tell us what ages qualify and then if people want to get on the list to receive the information when the summer camps for 2020. and there he's got them all over the country. Well, most.
>> Alex McFarland: Sure.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know if you go out west or not, but you know, he goes.
>> Alex McFarland: We do.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, go ahead people, find out.
>> Alex McFarland: Email me and it'll come right to me and my staff will. Alex McFarland.com [email protected] and we'll. And you know what, I got to tell you, we have more invitations literally than we can do. But we're trying, we're grow. And this will be encouraging to everybody. We had a big end of year rally last November in North Carolina. The North Carolina Baptist have a wonderful retreat called Fort Caswell. And we had a big event there with more than 2,000 teens. And you know, we do all the fun camp stuff and play volleyball and hiking and all that stuff. But on a Saturday night there was free time from 9 to 11. And anyway, I said I'm gonna do an open mic Q and A if any of you want to stay a couple of dozen. Well, we had 600 kids stay.
Tim Ferriss: I've never seen such a spiritual move among youth
We had had hours and hours and hours of discipleship and study. But 600 kids stayed for two hours just to do Q and A with me. I give God the glory. And finally at 1105pm on a Saturday night, the custodians were saying, look, y' all gotta get out of here. My point is, folks, being there is a hunger for Jesus, for God's word.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: defending the faith. And I have found. Tim, I've been in youth ministry 35 years. I've never seen such a spiritual move of God among America's youth.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's encouraging.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen, brother man. We like hearing that. And American Family Radio is a big part of that, you know, amen. Partnering with Dr. Alex McFarland and what Alex is doing, organizing these camps and so forth.
Tim McFarland: All of our camps start on Sunday. We go to Friday
Again, if you want to find out about the 2027 summer camps, again, what ages did you say qualified to attend and how long did they last?
>> Alex McFarland: Middle school and high school.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Alex McFarland: All of our camps, we start on Sunday. We go to Friday. And, how much do they cost? Generally 395.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Alex McFarland: And that. That's us, subsidized.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is that. Does that include, every bunk and, food and everything?
>> Alex McFarland: Insurance, T shirt. But, But I'll say this. In 27 years of doing camps, we have never, ever, never turned a child away.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Alex McFarland: So if you have zero money, you're invited.
>> Tim Wildmon: Scholarships are available. $395 for a week. Good night. You can't. You know, that's going to cost them more gas money to get to the camp than.
>> Alex McFarland: Can I tell you something funny? And I know we got. Okay, February. A couple, three months ago, I was at a church speaking, and a young lady and her husband and two kids came up. Tim, you're going to love this. She said, Mr. McFarland, you don't know me, but you had Josh McDowell in Greensboro. And I was 13. And I came to the Lord. And, I'm married now. These are our kids. We're in church. But I just want you to know, when I was 13 years old, I accepted Christ at a meeting you and Josh McDowell did. I said, Praise God. She goes, I'm 43 now.
>> Chris Woodward: Wow.
>> Ed Vitagliano: To your earlier point, Tim, allowing for some travel time in that Sunday through Friday schedule.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's basically 80 bucks a day.
>> Tim Wildmon: I know. I mean, food and bunk and all the training. They get all the training and the summer fun at camp, that's a great deal.
Tim Ferriss: Anti Semitism is bias against Jewish people
All right, Alex, now here's what I wanted to talk to you about for just a few minutes here, okay? There is expression that we're hearing all the time now in the news called anti Semitism. Anti Semitism. I think most people understand that that means a bias against Jewish people. Okay, That's. That's what? Anti Semitism means the word Semite, which we derive anti Semitism for. Doesn't that mean Mediterranean people?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Semite in a general sense.
>> Alex McFarland: The descendants of Shem.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, well, never mind. not, Mediterranean people in general, but the descendants of Shem.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Shem.
>> Alex McFarland: Shem, one of the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's what. Anti Semitism. That's the origins of that.
>> Alex McFarland: yes. And really, as I understand it, the term anti Semitism was really coined by the, the propaganda ministers of Hitler because Jew hatred sounded so harsh. So anti Semitism and an animus against the Jewish people. Okay, that term is a little softer, but. And I'm not, I'm not trying to be flippant or anything, but, anti Semitism is Jew hatred and it seems to be the one form of racism that gets a pass in our culture.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so I want to ask you this. it seems to me there's anti Semitism, on the left if we want to talk about the political spectrum, and then there's anti, Semitism, seemingly also on the far right in, at least in the United States and maybe Europe. And you know, those ideologies are worlds apart otherwise. but they. Why do you think anti Semitism or Jew hatred is a deal? It's a big deal, in today's world. What is going on out there for the Jewish. What had the Jews done to deserve this hatred?
>> Alex McFarland: nothing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay?
>> Alex McFarland: Nothing. I wrote an article a couple of months ago on how I, I believe every year, may, 14th, should annually be Global Jewish Appreciation Day. And, in fact, and this article ran on townhall.com in several places. I'm going to send it. And, maybe, Tim, if you read my article, I talk about all that the Jewish people have done for the human race, not the least of which it's through the, the line of Abraham and the Jewish people that the Lord Jesus came. But honestly, and this is a multi layered conversation on the right, there are some that they believe, and I categorically disagree with this, but, somehow Trump is Netanyahu's puppet, or, support for Israel. We can't financially afford to do this. I reject that presupposition. But, for some people, especially American liberal academics, and I've talked to many of them, they can't explain it, but it just rankles them that Jews exist. And I'm going to tell you why, Tim. it's like Mark Twain said. Mark Twain was an agnostic, sadly, but Mark Twain said, if there is anything that makes me believe in God and the supernatural, it's the Jewish people. And this was even before the, you know, the reinstatement of the nation of Israel. Here's my point. This is why the left and some people that, I think are not adequately informed, they don't like the Jews. If the nation of Israel is really what we've always known, the, the, the people of the. The Old Testament, the, land of Israel is their ancestral homeland. The Jews are empirical proof of the reality of the Bible.
>> Tim Wildmon: that's a very good. Yeah, absolutely. That's a great point. If the Jews are still around today and they're the same people mentioned way back in the Old Testament, then how do you explain that maybe the Egyptians are still around, but there are
>> Ed Vitagliano: very few people, but they weren't scattered. Yeah, the Egyptians weren't scattered around the world.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's true.
>> Alex McFarland: 19 centuries.
>> Tim Wildmon: That is true. That is true. But, that is a whole other fascinating topic which we've covered here, some here on this program on the network that is Jews in Bible prophecy, I guess you could say.
Why is Israel fighting Iran? Because Iran is funding Hezbollah and Hamas
But I want to ask you, you mentioned nothing that the Jews have done deserved the hatred, that they are getting from, many peoples in the world, especially m. With the Muslims. now that's kind of subsiding with these peace deals, at least subsiding to the point that they're not at war with one another. The Jews in the Arab world there, except for Hezbollah and Hamas. But I want to ask you this. Which are terrorist groups funded by Iran, which if you want to know, why is Israel fighting Iran? Because Iran is funding Hezbollah and Hamas, which are sending rockets into Israel from their border. This is not. Excuse me, excuse me, the pun. Rocket science here. In understanding why Israel is behaving in the way they are in terms of fighting on their northern border against the Hezbollah terrorist organizations and why they care about Iran. Because Iran gives them money to do their job, to do their evil deeds.
Some conservatives blame Israel for continually drawing us into wars in Middle East
But I want to ask you this, this idea, that somehow just came out of nowhere to me on the right. And by right, I define that as Tucker Carlsen, Candace Owen, who else? I don't know where Megyn Kelly falls in all this. She's an influencer on the right. But, there are. I don't want to throw her in with. But, there are some others. This emergence of, what I would see as anti Semitism, they would say, no, it's not anti Semitism, it's Anti Israel controlling the policies of the US that's what they're going to say.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know where this came from, because America, the American conservative side, has always supported Israel and our relationship with Israel in an overwhelming way. And that seems to be divided. maybe it's, maybe I'm over exact, maybe I'm exaggerating the division, but that seems to be, I'm hearing what, you know, you read things like what you're saying, Ah, from people who are otherwise conservative, they say, yeah, Israel's drawn us into this war and, Netanyahu has turned Trump into his puppet and we don't need to support Israel. we need to, because they're only troublemakers. You see what I'm saying?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think it comes from the, this is my sense of it. It comes from the isolationist wings of the MAGA movement and the conservative movement. They, they got tired. 20 years of war, Afghanistan, Iraq.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: They don't, we need to spend money in this country. And I think they unfairly blame Israel for continually drawing us into these wars in the Middle East. And, and the, the accusation is that these countries threaten Israel's existence. And because we are allies of Israel, they draw us in as a protector into these endless wars. And so I, my sense is, I don't think it's necessarily anything nefarious or sinister, in terms of being actual anti Semitism, although it could, I don't know what's in their hearts. Candace Owens seemed, and Tucker Carlsen seemed to be kind of going into wacky world. you know, so maybe, maybe it is anti Semitism. Classic, classically understood. I think they don't like us being involved in the Middle east wars. They think Israel is dragging us into them because we have vowed to protect them. That's my sense of it.
>> Tim Wildmon: I agree with that analysis.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Alex, you agree to agree we can't
>> Alex McFarland: afford to be friends with Israel because we'll forever be embroiled in conflicts. But let me just say this. the world is a safer place when there is a strong US Israeli alliance.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen. Furthermore, let me just say this, and Krish, I know you're on this show for a reason.
>> Chris Woodward: I do have a question.
>> Tim Wildmon: You have a question, and you have a purpose in life that you want to express here on this show. And we're going to get to that in a minute.
Alex: I would like to read what Mark Twain said about Jews
>> Ed Vitagliano: Before we let Alex go, I would like to read, what Mark Twain said about the Jews.
>> Tim Wildmon: Read it now.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: This is Mark Twain.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. This is, an essay that Mark Twain wrote. It's titled concerning the Jews. Folks, you can find this just about anywhere. This is part of what he said he's talking about. The Jew has made a marvelous fight in this world in all the ages, and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream stuff and passed away. The Greek and the Roman followed and made a vast noise and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out. And they sit in twilight now or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?
>> Chris Woodward: That's.
>> Tim Wildmon: Where can I work? If people are listening to us, where can they.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's right off Wikipedia. I downloaded years ago. Downloaded on, my computer.
>> Tim Wildmon: wow.
>> Ed Vitagliano: PDF of the entire essay. It's pretty extraordinary.
>> Tim Wildmon: He traveled. He. Mark Twain lived in the 1800s, right?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. I think this was published in 1898.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Somewhere in the 1899.
>> Tim Wildmon: But he traveled Israel. Did you know this? He. He journaled it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay. Yeah, I did not know that.
>> Tim Wildmon: Mark Twain, otherwise known as Samuel.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Samuel Clement.
>> Tim Wildmon: yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's a pretty stunning assessment.
>> Tim Wildmon: If people want to read that again, do it. What did you. What did you. I just.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I just typed in concerning the Jews.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You can probably. You can probably find a PDF of that to keep permanently. This is a summary, an explanation of how it came from. Just from Wikipedia.
Chris and Alex discuss today's issues on American Family Radio Network
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. you're listening to the radio program Today's Issues here on the American Family Radio Network. I'm Tim with Ed. Krish and Alex. Alex, you got five more minutes with us.
>> Alex McFarland: Yes, sir.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Go, Chris.
Some Christians believe that Jews are the sole reason Jesus died on the cross
>> Chris Woodward: Alright, so I think one of the reasons why some Americans and even some Christians sadly, have a negative view of Israel is because some Christians, Alex, believe that the Jews are the sole reason why Jesus died on the cross. I say that based on, like, last year when I was planning a trip to Israel and I told some people that I was going to Israel. I'm not making this up. I'm not embellishing it at all. Some people that I had conversations with said to me things like. And I'm quoting, I don't understand why we have to pay so much attention to or support Israel. They're the ones that killed Jesus. Those are things that I've heard from people that profess to be Christians. And so my question, Alex, is that
>> Tim Wildmon: deserves a big yes.
>> Chris Woodward: So is that something that is there? Is that something, Alex, that pastors and Sunday school teachers need to hit head on? Because these people are a part of the church. And I know we're all siblings in the faith, and we don't necessarily see eye to eye on things, but is that something we need to get under control?
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, we absolutely need to, remind the church of what the Abrahamic Covenant is and that the Abrahamic Covenant is an unconditional set of promises from God. And yes, the Lord Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross. Jews and Gentiles both were complicit in the death of Jesus. But first of all, not all of Israel rejected Jesus. The first disciples were Jesus. And many, many, many Jews believed in Jesus. But the Abrahamic covenant is still in effect. And you can read about this in, like, Genesis 12 and Genesis 15, Genesis 17. But, pastors, and I am a pastor, and I've spoken in 2,000 churches, I. I call on my fellow clergy to, from the pulpit, condemn anti Semitism and let people know that the Jews are still God's chosen people. That is still their land. And one day the Jews will occupy their land in a state of belief. But the crucifixion of Christ in no way did not nullify the Abrahamic covenant.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, furthermore, if Jesus Christ wouldn't have died on the cross, there would be no hope for our salvation.
>> Alex McFarland: exactly.
>> Tim Wildmon: Exactly. So I don't know what these people, Krish, you're talking about when they say, well, the Jews were the ones who killed Jesus. Now, if you believe what the Bible says, Jesus laid down his life voluntarily.
>> Chris Woodward: Oh, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: He could have called 10,000 angels or more to, wipe out everybody on the face of the earth. So this idea that he was helpless, Jesus Christ was to do anything is wrong.
>> Alex McFarland: Go ahead, Tim. I'll say this very quickly. Reformed theology or replacement theology, sometimes it's called supersessionism. It came about in the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation, before Israel was reborn. And I've said this. if a lot of the reformers, if they had lived till May 15, 1948, replacement theology would have never existed. You see what I mean?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 48 being the birth of the modern state of Israel.
>> Alex McFarland: Correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: After thousands of years of wrong. As Ed said, being the Jewish people being dispersed all over the country. All over the world.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: And then in 48, they have their own homeland, which was miraculous. And their ancient, Homeland.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Jerusalem. Right. All right. You're listening to today's issue. All right, Alex, we'll let you go. Thank you so much, my friend, for being on. And we, wish you the best with your camp, which is located in, Temple, Georgia.
>> Alex McFarland: This week.
>> Tim Wildmon: You can probably hear Interstate 20 from where you are, can't you?
>> Alex McFarland: Just about.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yep.
>> Alex McFarland: But God bless you.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. Have a great day. All right, everybody. We will be best. Krish, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for your silence.
>> Chris Woodward: Thank you.
>> Tim Wildmon: During this hour.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Thank you.
>> Tim Wildmon: You've done very well. We'll be back. Moment. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
