The STAND Podcast

PEACE.
Peace, I give unto you. My peace. Not as the world gives. Mine is perfect peace. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid!
The words of the BABE OF BETHLEHEM. The most reassuring words, the words, the promises, which this world needs now so desperately. All humankind craves peace now more than ever, and that peace is more elusive than ever.
In the end times, so say scriptures, there will be wars, rumors of wars, and physical brutality. Hatred among mankind will replace love. Jealousy, suspicion, lawlessness, and evil conduct will be how the world is. The peace of God in the person of Jesus Christ, THAT PERFECT PEACE, will be nowhere to be found, NOWHERE!
Israel battles Hamas, the proxy of the brutal land and its rulers, Iran. There is enmity between the seeds, Arab and Jew, so says the scripture. That enmity is nowhere more evident than what now happens in The Holy Land, The Promised Land. The very land where the Babe of Bethlehem was born, the Christmas ambassador of peace has really never known that peace now more than ever. We are admonished as Christians to:
PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.
We pray, and pray more, and earnestly so, but that peace eludes in every way. It should be obvious to all that only the Messiah, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ himself the Messiah, can bring that peace. That will come only WHEN HE COMES.
War goes on. Hatred increases between Arabs and Jews, between Israel and Hamas. War goes on between Russia and Ukraine, war fostered by the evil dictator Vladimir Putin and civilians die, thousands upon thousands of innocent men and women, the elderly and children. They die without cause, craving peace, begging for it, praying for it, but it eludes them as the war-like hatred, the Christ-less hatred of mankind prevails. More of this will come. China will become a serious war monger and so will North Korea, and Iran, governed by men who dictate war, hatred, and killing, with no concern for human loss but only human destruction and more of it. The conduct of this world indicates clearly signs of:
THE END TIMES.
There would be nothing left of this world if those days were not shortened and the only one who can do that, THE PRINCE OF PEACE returns to take charge.
When He does, swords will be ground into plowshares. The prince of Peace will make certain there will be no more wars, NO MORE! But, only the Babe of Bethlehem, whose birthday we celebrate soon, can bring that peace, can change whole nations and bring them to the Holy City of Jerusalem, to learn how to cooperate, work together, and foster peace under His rule of love. Only HE can make that happen, no one else.
So, we who believe, believe in Him, His salvation message of love, healing, and PEACE. You should not worry or be afraid. Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, has admonished us:
LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED
NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID
BELIEVE IN ME! Believe in my promises. Believe that I come again and I, He says, will bring the peace, the eternal peace which all humankind craves. I PROMISE I WILL DO THAT. So again, don’t be troubled. Don’t let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe in Me and that promise. BELIEVE! I will bring the PEACE OF JERUSALEM and I will bring (Shalom) peace to the whole world.
So, don’t worry. If God be for us, who can be against us? No one or nothing can. PEACE-SHALOM I give unto you, so let not your heart be troubled. Rather, praise God for His unspeakable gift, the gift of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth:
THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM.
So, like the Angels of old, as they made that unbelievable announcement to the Shepherds about this divine birth, let us say with those Angels:
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
AND ON EARTH
PEACE AND GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKIND
And let us praise our God for that gift.
And let us worship Him as the angels do, those of us especially who believe in that Salvation message which came from Bethlehem of old.
And let us be thankful unto our God for his unspeakable gift. We cannot describe in human words the wonder, the magnitude, the depth of the love of that gift but we can now and evermore give thanks, and praise, and worship, and GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST! All the while we pray for that promise of peace on earth and goodwill toward all mankind, and for the soon return, THE SOON RETURN of the MESSIAH:
THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
So, we thank you, Father God, I thank you for our Savior, your precious son:
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
THE PRECIOUS BABE OF BETHLEHEM!

quit, we learned from our mistakes, and we always did our best, always with his unique and abiding strength and most importantly:
LOVE.
We, the Crawford Broadcasting Company, for 65 years, prayed for His blessing, even as we praised Him, and God our Father. The battles we faced were difficult and many still are, but praise and thank God, we never compromised, and stood steadfast every day of our broadcast life devoted to Him and the precious country in which He ordained we live.
We made mistakes but we always corrected them. We always did our best and found those to partner with us who always did their best. Anything we accomplished past, present, and future, was as a result of:

PRAYER
PRAISE
PEOPLE PARTNERS

Those three are the anchors of our company and always will be.
Faithful, prayerful people, God’s people, made this company what it is for 65 years, every success for God and Country is because of them and their calling. So many men and women devoted so many years, some virtually all of their professional lives in the service of our Lord and in Christian radio, Crawford Broadcasting style. There were and are men like Frank Franciosi (48 years), Nev Larson (57 years), Don Crawford Jr. (34 years), Mike Triem (30 years), Cris Alexander (39 years), Mike Cary (33 years), anchors, rocks like the Rock Of Ages, CALLED AND COMMITTED.
Then there were men like Mark Bostic, James Kilkenny, Bob Dutko, Terry Patilla, Neil Boron, and so many more for whom CBC Christian radio was more than a calling. It was LIFE itself.
So many women gave their all to our Lord in service through CBC. There were those like Paulette Peterson, Debbie Robey, Heather Hanger, Kim McMonagle, and many more who served with all their hearts, called and committed in so many ways.
So many served our Lord for years unknown to those who listen. A man such as Todd Stickler served our Lord through the ministry of KBRT for years and years. In all, my fellow Americans and CBC listeners, there are some 210 individuals, servants, called-ones who serve our company and give their all every day to bring you the very best Christian and Country programming possible. There seems no adequate way to thank them for all that they have done for this company, and for their Lord and the blessed country in which they are privileged to live.
We try every day with all our might to do what is:
RIGHT.
That is what is behind the operating philosophy of our company and its approach to money we call:
THE TAILORED PLAN.
We seek at all times to create economic and spiritual benefit for our listeners and no matter our mistakes, our human failures, our Lord has sustained us now for some:
65 GLORIOUS YEARS.
To the extent we have brought honor and glory to our Lord, we are blessed, satisfied, and fulfilled. To the extent we have done everything to protect the privilege God has given us to live in and be citizens of the greatest country in the history of the world, we are further blessed. This company began its mission in 1958 when, with the help of our Lord, WMUZ-FM Detroit was:
BORN AGAIN.
Even though there was no model to follow for Christian radio, we made our own with the wisdom and blessing of our Lord. We made mistakes, but we never quit. We were threatened but were never afraid. We were offered considerable sums of money to sell, but the gospel could never be purchased, it never had a price. We sought at all times to build trust with our listeners, to honor our Lord with integrity, and to the best of our human ability:
NEVER COMPROMISE,
NEVER!
We thought of our programming as:
REAL CHRISTIANITY.
We modeled our programming, our approach to our Lord, and our understanding of Christianity on:
THE BIBLE.
The precious, inspired, unique, infallible:
WORD OF THE LIVING GOD.
We were never WOKE, we never tried to interpret scripture to our advantage, and we required those who shared programming with us to believe and present the same.
All the while, we never shied from COMPETITION. We fought to be professional at every turn, we hired and trained men and women who wanted to be nothing but the best as they served their Lord, true professionals.
We offered employment opportunity to those who would present the most compelling programming for God and Country:
FOR YOUR BLESSING.
They are workmen and workwomen who are worthy of their hire, but the main reason, the main motivation in their lives is to love and serve the Lord God Almighty with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, and:
THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR FRIENDS – YOU
faithfully every day and with all their might.
So, as we continue to do our best to serve GOD AND COUNTRY, beloved listener, please know how much we love and respect you, we thank you for your support, and your belief in our company and its purposes. Knowing there are still some few who knew us when we began our mission and made it possible for so many to listen today. In a world of rapid change, short-term in thinking and demand, inpatient and searching for immediate gratification, the Crawford Broadcasting Company stays long-term, committed to and redefining our purposes (never changing) and believing more than ever in the power, the unique communication abilities, and the special position in the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals of:
RADIO – AM & FM.
Thank you for listening, and with the help and blessing of our Lord, it is our prayer and hopefully yours that this company, the Crawford Broadcasting Company, will have many more years of service for you as we continue to serve with one purpose:
GOD AND COUNTRY.

There is no greater privilege for any man or woman than that of being a:
PARENT.
To be the father or mother of a son or daughter is indeed life’s greatest privilege. But with that privilege comes great responsibility. Parenting, true parenting, and biblical-Christian parenting demands commitment, real commitment. When unto those parents a child is born, life’s priorities change, irrevocably change. No matter career, education, hobby or any other thing of interest, parenting becomes:
PRIORITY #1
So says the scripture. So says the Apostle Paul. And so says God the Father who, as the supreme example of father, sent his son to this world, to us, that we might know what the ultimate and eternal father-son relationship really is. That eternal father and son provides the perfect example of what parenting should be, heavenly and earthly.
TRAIN UP A CHILD. Train him or her in the ways of the Lord, believer father and believer mother. The God-given birth of that son or daughter becomes priority #1 for BOTH father and mother. So says our heavenly father. Building a Christian home with a Christian father and mother, structuring and controlling that home, is then, at birth priority #1 and always will be.
HOME, that sacred environment where there is Christian learning, loving, and listening is the very finest thing for any Christian parent.
That home must be guided by REAL CHRISTIANITY. Christian principles must apply. The morality of old and new testaments must be the Lonestar, the code of ethics and honor of that home. That is why it is critical, indispensable, uncompromisingly so that both mother and father be:
CHRISITAN - BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN – REAL CHRISTIANS.
For only real Christian mothers and fathers, true believing parents can:
TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE OR SHE SHOULD GO.
For, done right, when children are raised in a real Christian home by real Christian
parents (both father and mother) and where the love of the Lord prevails, only then can
both principles, that Christian code of ethics, last a lifetime. Only then can the child
become the Christian the parent is, like the Christian parent, and believe like them for
a lifetime. Children will never depart from the belief of real Christian parents no matter
what.
Children are remarkably sensitive. They sense hypocrisy perhaps even better than
adults. If any parent is ‘do what I say and not necessarily what I do,’ the child rebels,
acts out, disavows, and comes to believe that not only is the purported faith of the
parents hypocritical, but that all of Christianity itself is hypocrisy. So, when they are
old and ready to depart the home, leave their parents, and become adults on their
own, they want nothing to do with what they believe is hypocritical Christianity. The
parents, mother and father, have failed the child in the most negative way.
Our Lord and the Apostle Paul have told us so very clearly that there are three great
things in this world:
FAITH – HOPE – LOVE
And the greatest of these is LOVE. The greatest lesson any child can learn is Christian
love and that Christian love displayed between husband and wife, father and mother,
that real love that exists between father and son, mother and daughter, and each
parent for each and every child, equally, sincerely, and without compromise. The
ultimate expression of that love was the love between God the Father and our Lord
Jesus Christ. Real love, parent for child is like that and when it is, or when parents do
their very best guided by the Holy Spirit to saturate the home with Christian love, the
child learns the greatest lesson in all of life. Nothing can equal a home filled with
Christian love, Christian parents loving young Christian children with that very same
Christian love. It is the greatest teacher, and the most important lesson to learn in all
of life.
But that takes TIME. There must be quality time between parent and child. Nothing
expresses love more, teaches better than the love between father and son, and father
and daughter, and mother and son, and mother and daughter. NOTHING! That TIME
must be qualitative, one on one, open and transparent, and consistent. To be a real
Christian parent and train up that child in the way in which he or she should go
requires quality time as first priority and always. Nothing expresses better than time
spent together one-on-one. NOTHING!
The roles of father and mother are different, but they must be guided, as scripture
clearly states, by Christian principles, morals, ethics, and commandments. The
Christian home must be full of faith, hope, and above all LOVE. Real love. REAL
CHRISTIAN LOVE! That home environment is far more powerful than any church. Or
any pastor. Or any Sunday School. Evil human beings know that as well or perhaps
even better than the good, the Christian men and women. Evil men like Hitler and
Stalin knew the power of the home and the education provided by the parents or
parent SURROGATES. The training of that young mind, heart, and soul from the first
ability to comprehend, perhaps as early as age 3 or 4, is the most formative, lasting,
training and experience any child could ever have.
Home is where the heart is, so it is said. The real home is where the real Christian
heart of love exists, where both mother and father LIVE THE LIFE OF REAL
CHRISTIAN LOVE. When a child is raised in that environment, that child will be raised
right, and have every opportunity to live the very best possible life, the very life which
God the creator intended for that child, HIS CHILD.
A real believer should marry another believer. A real mother will want a real Christian
husband-father, and a real husband-father will want a real Christian wife-mother. And
every child will want a real Christian mother and a real Christian father and when he
or she is old, mature, an adult, and living as the Lord intended, that child will not
depart from the ways of the Lord, lovingly lived out by loving Christian parents:
PARENTS WHO REALLY AND TRULY LOVE THE LORD!

Are you a Christian, a real Christian?
You are indeed if, in fact, you are a Biblical Christian, Bible-believing, following the pathway to salvation, and eternal life which the Bible clearly indicates.
You are a real Christian if you are an EPHESIANS 2:8-9 Christian:
FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH, THAT NOT OF
YOURSELF, FOR IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY
MAN OR WOMAN SHOULD BOAST.
You are indeed a real Christian if you are conscious of your need, conscious of SIN, confess that sin, seek the forgiveness and repentance of Jesus Christ, and accept and believe in Him as the Messiah, the Savior, the One and Only Way to God the Father. That is indeed the salvation pathway of a real Christian. Are you one?
If in fact, you are a real, Bible-believing Christian, saved by the saving blood of Jesus Christ, no further description of self or belief is necessary. We need not call ourselves EVANGELICAL, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, or for that matter anything other than BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN SAVED BY GRACE. NOTHING else is necessary, nothing. In fact, it would then be the responsibility of every Christian, real Christian, to study the scriptures, study them well, and every day:
STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, WORKMEN
AND WOMEN WHO NEED NOT BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY UNDERSTANDING
(DIVIDING) THE WORD OF TRUTH (THE BIBLE).
Study that book and learn, learn more every day about what it means to be a Christian, A REAL CHRISTIAN SAVED BY GRACE.
And, the real Christian believes fully and engages in a life of:
PRAYER.
Pray, says the scripture, without ceasing. The Holy Spirit of God indwells, accompanies, and becomes a lifelong partner of the real Christian. That very same member of the Trinity enables, strengthens, enlightens, verbalizes, and communicates the deepest thoughts, feelings, emotions, and needs of every real Christian to God the Father. The heart of a real Christian has its reasons for thought and prayer which far transcends reason itself, and THE HOLY SPIRIT makes that known as a prayer partner
to God the Father as we pray. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!
The real Christian knows that God is HOLY and therefore, takes time every day no
matter where he or she is, to WORSHIP God the Father:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
The real Christian luxuriates in the daily worship of our holy God no matter where he
or she is. No special place is necessary.
The real Christian engages in communion anytime the Holy Spirit leads. The flesh and
blood, the bread and wine of Jesus Christ, can be constantly experienced anytime,
anywhere.
The real Christian engages in confession of sin, and transgressions, and seeks a holy
life, more so every day, knowing that salvation is permanent and secure, but desiring a
better walk with the Lord each and every day.
The real Christian engages in praise:
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW
PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW
PRAISE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST
The real Christian gives THANKS at all times, thanking God for everything,
EVERYTHING! And especially:
THANKS, BE UNTO GOD
FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
In everything give thanks.
The real Christian engages in daily meditation, the so-called quiet time. The mind of a
real Christian daily meditates upon God the creator of all things, omnipotent,
omniscient, and omnipresent. Wisdom and understanding flow freely in those quiet,
contemplative moments. No matter how many or how long, meditation moments are a
vital, spiritually energizing part of the life of every real Christian.
The real Christian asks and seeks at all times. Pride and ego go away. The wisdom,
guidance, and direction of the Lord God Almighty are critical to every Christian.
The real Christian is ready at all times to give an answer, a reason for the hope that is
in him or her through Jesus Christ. When the opportunity is right, discussion of that
faith without pretense no matter how eloquent the words, comes easily and it is those
discussions of those faithful reasons a joy to share a real and personal testimony.
The real Christian is a person of the Word, living the glorious life of those 66 books. No
words are necessary to describe faith when any real Christian lives what he or she
believes. The Christian life really lived is a far higher and better testimony than any
words could convey.
The real Christian seldom self-interprets scripture but seeks the guidance, wisdom,
and interpretation of the Holy Spirit. There is no higher wisdom, none at all.
So, my friend, I ask:
ARE YOU A REAL CHRISTIAN?
A BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN?
SAVED IN FAITH BY GRACE?
I do hope and pray you are. May you today and all of life seek first the Kingdom of God
and all the righteous things HE has to offer will be given to you!

Do you consider yourself an evangelical Christian, do you? If so, then you should understand the definition of an evangelical and you should define in full, clearly, and factually, what it is you believe, the real biblical definition of an evangelical Christian. That is critical; for as our beloved Bible states so clearly, we should always be ready to give a reason for the faith, a full explanation, clear and understandable as to exactly:
WHAT WE BELIEVE
IN WHOM WE BELIEVE
WHY
George Barna, the respected pollster, himself a biblical evangelical, has defined what he considers to be the definition, THE PILLARS of evangelical faith and consequently a strong and solid definition of a real biblical evangelical. These seven cornerstones of an evangelical and one who holds a biblical worldview are as follows.
1.
GOD IS THE ETERNAL, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT AND JUST CREATOR. God therefore is eternal, always was, is, and always will be. The God we love and serve is without beginning or ending. Our God the Father is the great I AM. God knows all (omniscient). God is all powerful (omnipotent). God is just, a God of justice with clear rules and standards. Do you believe that? Do you believe those four things about our GOD THE FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do you?
2.
HUMAN BEINGS (ALL OF US) ARE SINFUL BY NATURE. From the beginning, the Garden of Eden, man and woman were of a sinful nature. We as human beings can not help but sin because of our sinful nature. Do you believe that? Do you think that is an essential component (pillar) of true biblical evangelical faith, do you?
3.
JESUS CHRIST GRANTS FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND ETERNAL LIFE WHEN SINNERS REPENT AND PROFESS THEIR FAITH IN HIM ALONE (ALONE). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the answer to sin, the ultimate forgiver of sin, and the granter of eternal life through belief in Him. All such happens when sinners repent (have you?) and profess their faith:
IN HIM ALONE.
Not of works, lest any man should boast, or a church, or a religion, or a denomination, but:
IN HIM ALONE.
Do you believe that? Have you sincerely repented and fully been granted the forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus Christ THE LORD, have you?
4.
THE BIBLE IS TRUE, RELIABLE, AND ALWAYS RELEVANT. The Bible, our Bible, all 66 books, 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament, are inspired, infallible, true in every way, and the only ultimate guide in life in the pursuit of that life and truth. Do you believe that? Do you believe it is reliable, a guide, a source, and always relevant, meaningful, current to the day, not subject to interpretation but stand-alone, do you believe that, do you?
5.
ABSOLUTE MORAL TRUTH EXISTS. And, that truth is defined by the Bible, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that essential part of the triune God, the Trinity. Do you believe that there is such a thing as absolute moral truth, do you? And, do you believe that such an absolute moral truth is in fact clearly defined by our beloved Bible, the gift of God the Father to us, do you? Do you believe that our Bible is the absolute and ultimate standard for:
RIGHT AND WRONG.
Do you? True evangelicals, says George Barna, do just that. Again, do you?
6.
SUCCESS IS DEFINED AS CONSISTENT OBEDIENCE TO GOD. Obeying God through scripture, commandments, standards, and a clear definition of right and wrong is essential for every true Bible-believing evangelical. Do you believe that obedience to God in every aspect of your life is necessary, a matter of ultimate truth and the hallmark, the cornerstone of every true Bible-believing evangelical, do you?
7.
LIFE’S PURPOSE IS TO KNOW, LOVE, AND SERVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH. Do you know all you should know about the eternal God, God the Father, in order to have the fullest faith possible? Do you love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, do you as every true Bible-believing evangelical should, do you? And, to the best of your ability, do you serve our God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with all of your heart, mind, strength, and soul, to the very best of your ability and with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, do you as every true Bible-believing evangelical would, do you?
Of course, there is more to the definition of a true Bible-believing Christian, and even more to a true modern-day evangelical, much more in those 66 God-given books, MUCH, MUCH MORE! But these seven points, says pollster George Barna, are the cornerstones of a real Bible-believing evangelical and a true Christian who sees the world and the life we live through the lens of scripture (Franklin Graham) and possesses at all times a biblical worldview. Do you believe that, do you?
So then, the task of every Christian is to grow in faith, the knowledge and wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The life’s task of every real true evangelical Bible-believing born-again forgiven Christian is to constantly define and redefine the faith, to learn more about it, to be able to give different and better reasons for that faith, to be proud and unashamed of that faith, and when opportunities arise, present that faith in the very best way possible. And, to live out that faith, to serve the Lord God Almighty, our whole life long. Do you believe that, and do you live that way, do you? That, says George Barna, Franklin Graham, and all true evangelical Christians and scholars is the definition of a real evangelical who knows that Jesus Christ and HIM ALONE is:
THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.
I pray that is what you believe and who you are.

Thirty percent of so-called evangelical pastors do not believe that salvation is based exclusively on confession of sins, repentance, and accepting and belief in Jesus Christ as sole and exclusive savior.
In short, 30% of today’s evangelical pastors do not believe in a biblical worldview.
Those were two findings by George Barna in a recent survey of 1,000 so-called evangelical pastors. Three out of ten so-called evangelical pastors today believe in:
WORKS-BASED SALVATION!
So, the question becomes:
WHAT IS AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN?
WHAT DOES THE SO-CALLED NEW EVANGELICAL BELIEVE?
Especially evangelical pastors.
How, I wonder, can any evangelical, pastor or layperson, believe that salvation, truly born again, occurs with both faith and works? Where in the entire 27 books of the New Testament is there any biblical justification for such a position.
Belief in works-based salvation directly contradicts and goes against so many passages of New Testament scripture including and especially the following:
FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED BY FAITH.
It is a gift (salvation) from God, and it is:
NOT OF WORKS
LEST ANY MAN OR WOMAN SHOULD BOAST!
EPHESIANS 2:8-9
Scripture makes it clear that salvation occurs as follows:
1.
Recognition and confession of sin
2.
Repentance of sin
3.
Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
4.
Believing totally and fully in faith in HIM!

There are two fundamental and essential pillars of salvation:
1.
GRACE
2.
FAITH
Grace, God’s unearned mercy provides us, all of us humans, with the gift of salvation. There is nothing we can do to earn that forgiveness, that acceptance, that new status of being BORN AGAIN, NOTHING! None of us can ever measure up to the standards of Almighty God, to His commandments, no matter what we do or how hard we try. We cannot earn forgiveness, much less complete salvation, except by faith in the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. THAT AND HE IS THE GIFT OF GOD AND THE HEART AND SOUL OF SALVATION.
Works indeed are essential but not FOR salvation. Works, after salvation, not in the salvation process. They are fruits of the Spirit; they show and prove our belief in our Lord and they are evidence of our deep love and gratitude for HIM. We are saved, the scripture says so very clearly, by grace and faith as a gift from God:
NOT FROM WORKS.
The works we do will show the world what kind of Christian we are.
In biblical terms, we all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God, the standards of God, miserable human failures in any attempt for righteousness. We need help, HIM! We need CALVARY at work, in us, forgiving, cleansing, redeeming. We need HIM not WORKS! So says the scripture, our inspired Bible, over and again.
No matter how hard we try, no matter how good we are, no matter how many good works we do, we cannot measure up. ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT! It is the full recognition of the fact that not only have we sinned, and with our nature as it is, and without Him, we will continue to do so, there is nothing more we can do to earn salvation. Salvation comes from Jesus Christ, for it is, says our Bible:
THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST WHICH CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN!
Not of works lest we would boast of what we have done to earn that salvation.
If 30% of evangelical pastors believe in works-based salvation, 3 out of 10, and almost 40% do not believe in a biblical worldview, 4 out of 10, that answers the oft-asked question:
WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA’S PULPITS?
The real, the true, the biblical definition of salvation is missing, not only in the preaching but in the life of the so-called new evangelical pastors. Far too many have been watered down, become woke, and willing to capitulate to the progressive thinking of today’s ever-growing anti-Christian cancel-culture society in which we live. These modern-day, woke, pastors are the new OURSELVES and they preach a blasphemous gospel that includes works in the salvation process.
The pulpit must return to the real salvation process, the biblical process, as Franklin Graham has so well stated:
“PEOPLE NEED THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD THAT HAS THE POWER OF GOD TO CHANGE HEARTS AND LIVES FOR ETERNITY.”
What about your church, your pastor? Do they preach the real gospel, with the saving message of Jesus Christ and faith in Him alone, without works, do they? If not, the power of the gospel is missing, and the pulpit and the pastor are weakened. It is time for you, all of us, to stand up and demand that pulpits and pastors proudly proclaim:
EPHESIANS 2:8-9
For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man or woman should boast!
Any pastor who believes in work-based salvation is just simply not an EVANGELICAL! So says scripture.

What a man!
He was the New Testament version of Old Testament David in so many ways. Paul was a Jew, a Pharisee of the highest order, completely devoted to Judaism. In his early life, no one hated Christianity or Christians more than Paul. In fact, his life’s mission was to destroy Christianity and to kill Christians, KILL THEM! He hated Christ, even though he had never met him.
But then, miraculously, Paul met Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World in a way which perhaps no other man had before him. Paul was on his way to Syria from Jerusalem, traveling the Damascus Road on his mission to hunt and kill Christians, when a searing light confronted and blinded him, and a voice like one he had never heard before confronted him saying:
SAUL, SAUL (PAUL), WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME? WHY?
Paul, totally traumatized, managed to mumble:
WHO ARE YOU LORD, WHO ARE YOU?
I am, the answer came, the one you seek to persecute said Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory. Paul, the killer, the hater, the destroyer instantly became not just a follower of Jesus Christ, but perhaps one of the most devoted followers CHOSEN, CALLED, COMMISSIONED for a Christian calling and commission like no other. From that point forward, the Christian killer let the whole world know that:
FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST!
You and I have never had a DAMASCUS ROAD CONVERSION but our very own conversion, confrontation with the Christ of Glory can be every bit as meaningful and life-changing. I pray your life has been changed by Him and that you serve him as:
YOU ARE CALLED!
Paul served his Lord every day of his new life from that day forward. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul authored almost one-half of the New Testament. His writings explain, give meaning to, challenge, and inspire like no other writings before or since. His life’s motto, theme, and purpose was:
FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.
At the last, he went to Rome, spent his last days in a dark, dank, freezing, Roman prison, where he announced to his adopted son Timothy:
THE TIME HAS COME FOR MY DEPARTURE.
Then came five words which perhaps were the epitaph for his life and that of which he was most proud:
I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH!
I have, he told us:
FOUGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.
I have run the Christian race and I have won with the help of my Lord. I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE.
Paul sat deserted in that brutal Roman prison, with no one to befriend or defend him and he told his adopted son Timothy:
EVERYONE DESERTED ME.
But then, overwhelmed by Christian love, he wrote the following:
BUT THE LORD (THE LORD) STOOD AT MY SIDE AND GAVE ME STRENGTH.
The more we give of our lives, the more persecution, the more rejection, criticism, ridicule, and abandonment by others. Nothing but nothing, and no one would ever get Paul to forsake his faith for he proudly stated over and again:
I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.
At his first defense in a Roman court, Paul told Timothy that:
NO ONE CAME TO MY SUPPORT. EVERYONE DESSERTED ME.
And perhaps the same with you and me. The firmer we stand for the Lord, perhaps the less likely others would come to our support. It is then, especially then, when we should remember, count on, and know for sure that, like Paul:
THE LORD WILL STAND BY OUR SIDE AND GIVE US STRENGTH!
Paul knew that to die was gain and he longed to see and be with his Lord. And that time came. For the second time, this man would hear the voice of his Lord, just like he heard that voice years ago on the Damascus Road. Paul was brutalized, slaughtered, and:
BEHEADED
because he was a believer from head to toe. Paul was a man of total faith, never doubting, living a life with sure hope, knowing himself and writing to us that as great as faith and hope were, there was nothing like nor could anything equal:
THE ULTIMATE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.
He went then, and he lives now with Him in that eternal, ultimate, never-ending LOVE of Jesus Christ.
What a man, what a mission, what a marvelous ending, what a loving ministry. You and I have our own, and that love experienced by Paul is available to us. That calling, that constant companionship of our Lord is available to us every bit as much as it was to Paul. I pray you know Him, that you know His forgiveness, and then perhaps most importantly, like Paul, because of your faith and hope, you know the ultimate:
LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST!

God ordained that you and I live in America. Why, only He knows. You and I are privileged to live in the greatest land, the greatest nation in the history of mankind. We are blessed beyond belief, far more than we can know. No matter what may be wrong, the problems and difficulties WE THE PEOPLE face, America is the greatest. There is no nation like her, none in human history. NONE.
It is ironic, sad really, that we the citizens, the partakers of these American privileges and liberties cannot fully appreciate them, teach them, live by them, and, as our constitution says, protect, preserve, and defend these freedoms and liberties for our posterity and to teach them how unique, how special, America, its Constitution, rule of law, its way of life, all of this and so much more, so special.
With these blessings and privileges are obligations, and duties. We owe, we are required to give back, to invest back in this great country, to do our part to preserve, protect, and defend this way of life. Today, how casually we seem to neglect those duties. More than ever, Americans take their freedoms, especially their political freedoms for granted. We assume they go on, that we will live out the life given us without doing our share of the work required to maintain them. As that practice continues, the freedoms we enjoy will be lost indeed in one generation. Sad and tragic, don’t you think? Where are we? Where are you and where am I when the revolutionary call of THE BRITISH ARE COMING echoes through America. Where are we? Why do we not grab our muskets of faith and head to the battlefield, wherever that is, whatever that is to protect our beloved America, why?
Our political system is the finest ever designed, ever. It provides for the full exercise of Federal power. But it also provides for incredible CHECKS AND BALANCES. Run right, implemented in Constitutional terms, the American form of government is the very finest ever designed by mankind. The vast majority of our children never know that. They are not trained up in the ways in which they should go, especially politically, and when they are old, and become decision-makers, they know not the way of their parents, the way of America, the way of the Constitution! How sad and the beginning of the end of freedom, of America itself!
There are so many ways to learn who we are, what we are, how we should function, and why it is necessary for every citizen, EVERY CITIZEN, to do his or her part, CRITICAL! Millions are uninformed. Perhaps even worse, those same millions really don’t care, really don’t feel a sense of urgency, REALLY DON’T REALIZE what is happening in America today. They remain indifferent and like Nero of the Rome of old, fiddled while America burns. Someone else to the rescue, but I am too busy, say the millions. And freedom, our very constitutional liberties teeter on the brink.
Every American citizen should know one issue and know it well. So often, when an American knows one, and can think it through and discuss reason, and come to constitutional conclusions, that American wants more, more issues, more involvement, and becomes possessed daily with a greater concern for all things American. ONE ISSUE, a catalyst for more, but just one.
Then comes a desire to really know the candidates, and what those candidates for political office think and believe about the ONE ISSUE. The priority of this American voter. And, one leads to more. Candidates are understood in terms of their past, their true actions and deeds, their real beliefs without hypocrisy and voting alliances are formed. Support, real support can be given. Money or money consideration, time, effort, and endorsement can be rendered confidently.
That informed, enlightened voter will attend rallies. That supporter will support special appearances and attend. That voter, one issue expert and exploring all others, can influence so many readily and confidently. ONE ISSUE, and that inevitably leads to the want more, more knowledge of all issues.
Political discussions then become natural. They move from mere duty to opportunity. It becomes natural and normal to discuss with family, to educate and be educated. It stimulates thinking and when watered with prayer, political matters become all the more clear.
Then, action becomes easy. Action becomes natural, even desirable. It is not forced but is there, right there, waiting, waiting for the right passionate and loving American to SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY and stand up for our beloved America.
Then, the First Amendment, the absolute guarantee, the five guarantees of freedom, critically necessary for mankind become a way of life, for without them, any of them, there would be no America. That American, that real American citizen, studies to show himself approved unto God, and to America, and fellow citizens, true political workmen and workwomen, constantly in the task of learning and loving the constitution, and all things American political, so that he or she will become a far better American, a far better citizen, rightly dividing, understanding and communicating political truths in an America which now lives in so many ways in the era of:
POST TRUTH.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHRISTIAN AND CONSERVATIVE ACTION! NOW! Are you willing to do your part, do you love, care for, and are you willing to protect and defend this the greatest land in the history of mankind in which you are privileged to live, are you? Now or never. The loss of freedom is only one generation away. You and I have the duty as citizens to make certain that THIS IS NOT THAT GENERATION!

IT IS TIME! It is time for all of us who love our Lord Jesus Christ, who are real Christians, to stand up.
It is time for all of us soldiers of the cross, to:
FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH!
Time to take action. Time to wrap ourselves in the armor of truth.
It is time to embrace the shield of righteousness. It is time to be both energized and protected by the Holy Spirit.
IT IS THE RIGHT TIME, to wield the sword of faith. IT IS TIME TO FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH IN AMERICA AND WORLDWIDE.
NOT WITH WEAPONS. NOT WITH BULLETS. NOT WITH FORCE OR VIOLENCE. But with all of our might with the spiritual weapons of:
FAITH
HOPE
LOVE,
Especially love.
It is time to show the enemy the power of love, the real power of love which Christians have in Jesus Christ. We are told that God is love. And, God IS love. And that love is available as the greatest force in all of this world, ALL OF IT! And, with regard to our Lord, we are told that there is no greater love than that a man or woman lay down his or her life for a friend, for a belief, for Jesus Christ. NO GREATER LOVE! Are you willing to lay down your life as you fight the fight of faith, are you? Am I?
Tenderness and compassion are also weapons of the fight of faith. It is an enormously difficult task to love a sinner but hate the sin. Our God does it well, naturally, but we, human and weak, tend to judge both sin and sinner. Judging is not our business but testing the spirits is. Confronting sin, evil, the WRONG, is our business and we may to some extent be conspirators if we do not stand up against that sin, like abortion, like the unnatural, like euthanasia for there is no such thing as mercy killing. Jesus gave his all. He laid down his life for his friends, all of us, all humanity. He showed us the way, the truth, and the life…in death. There is nothing in this world like knowing Him, REALLY KNOWING HIM! Nothing but nothing is more empowering, energizing, enabling, and edifying, NOTHING!
With those, the weapons of faith, it is only natural, only right that we, the Army of the Cross, speak up and speak out. There is no way, with that power, that we can be anything but bold, aggressive in our faith, sharing that faith in word and deed, especially deed. There is no way we can be afraid or ashamed. Each of us who believe is possessed with unique talents, all different, but all effective. Your talents are unique in the kingdom of God, needed on the spiritual battlefield. If you truly love your Lord, and you truly believe, you must bring your talents, God-given, to the fore. And now. The night is coming when no man or woman can work, can bring their talents to the fray. Today is the day. You have the opportunity to serve today, this very day. Be on the watch, watchmen and women, and when the opportunity arises, seize it for your Lord. FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH!
Those with the gift of speech must speak out. Those who cook the food which God has given must do it as unto the Lord, FEED THE SAINTS! And the needy, and the hungry.
Those who tend to children must do it with fresh vision, energy, and conviction. Those artistic should paint as unto the Lord. Those with strong intellect should teach in love. Those who preach and teach the Word should do so with fresh vision and love. ALL IN THE FIGHT OF FAITH.
That battle wages, where two or three are gathered together. Franklin Graham, good man, man of God as he is, draws hundreds of thousands. One, or two, or three may well be more than enough for you and me.
YOU ARE CALLED, whoever you are. You are possessed with unique faith weapons. And talents. And the Army of the Lord needs you today. TODAY!
So, action, Christian and conservative action, is called for. Absolutely necessary TODAY. This is the day which the Lord hath made. Be glad, rejoice therein, and thank God for your salvation and for the privilege you have of living in your, my, our beloved America, EXAMINE YOUR WEAPONS, YOUR TALENTS, and this very day:
FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH.
Not with the weapons of the world, not with violence, killing, not with hate, vengeance, or any of the ways of the world, but only with the potent, never-failing, eternal weapons of our Lord:
FAITH – HOPE – LOVE.
And, my fellow Christian:
YOU WILL WIN THE BATTLE BEFORE YOU!
For Him. God has promised you and me the spiritual victory!

The Apostle Paul in an epistle (letter) to his very own son in the faith, Timothy, tells him with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that any man or woman who builds a HOME, a Christian Home, must take as a first priority the ruling of that home, before anything else, before any other service, even to God himself, which includes says Paul having the children in that home in subjection.
At the time of that writing, marriage was different than marriage today. For the most part, wives were subservient to their husbands, who were head of the household in virtually every way. The roles of fathers and mothers were different but each in the home was responsible for making sure that the home was fully Christian, and the children abided by those Christian rules and regulations in that home. Today, so it seems, there is far greater equality between husband and wife, mutual decision-making for the most part, shared responsibilities, and very much equal obligations with regard to the training up of children in the ways (Christian) they should go. But, there is no change in that absolute unconditional priority that if a man and a woman make a home with children, THAT is their first priority without exception.
The making and maintaining of that home require TIME, quality time, caring and loving time. That quality time should be one-on-one, each parent with each child, and quality time for family ALL TOGETHER. That quality time is really the only way that father and mother can train up that child in the way he or she should go so that when he or she is old, mature, an adult, making adult decisions, he or she will not depart therefrom.
That time includes careful, sincere, and devoted listening to the mind and heart of the child. It includes dialogue, question and answer, dealing with doubts, and of course, full transparency, anything, and everything thought and felt. That dialogue-parent-child relationship must be fully truthful, never corrupted by the lie. The gospel message, the forgiving love of Jesus Christ must be fully discussed, understood, and embraced. Then and only then can the child, and for that matter, the parent as well, be bold, strong, encouraged, and not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only then can every member of the family, especially the children, deal with the ridicule sure to come, the criticism, the ostracizing, and the negative reactions of peers. Only then can the child stand firm, in love, and refuse to compromise in any way the love and faith in Jesus Christ. ONLY THEN!
The family should have regular time to discuss together, pray together, study the scriptures together, grow the faith together, learn to testify about that faith together, and perhaps above all, discuss doubts about the faith, pose questions and seek
answers, full understanding from the family, or others, and of course, seek the
intercession and influence of THE HOLY SPIRIT.
That powerful family group, seeking and learning in the ways of the Lord, should learn
a new sense of gratitude and thankfulness. They should learn together to praise God,
to look for better growth and association with the Holy Spirit that very day. That family
group should learn to experience a new sense of joy. Life should take on greater
meaning and life should therefore become more abundant and enjoyed to the fullest. A
real Christian family is a happy family, having fun and good times together. That
family should learn to pray without ceasing, ever learning the joy of constant
fellowship with the Lord in a private, often non-verbal way, with a heart always open to
the Lord, never shut off, and always ready to receive the Love of God in Christ Jesus.
Fundamentals of the Christian faith should be discussed. Perhaps the most important
is that of what it means to be a BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN. Believing, that giving one’s
life to Christ, may occur in different ways for each individual of the household and that
individuality should be fully expressed even as the commonality, the basics remain the
same.
Discussion is so important with regard to what is regarded by scripture as SIN. And
then, the forgiveness of sin. And more. That is, any questions or enlightenments which
any of the household members have and can share with others.
Children should be encouraged to express their thinking as to how God is leading
them in their lives, what careers they may wish to pursue, and how as adults they
would wish to live their lives as God intended. That may be like the father or mother,
or something entirely different as God intends.
The family should understand the concept of Christian witness. Be ready says the
scripture to give a reason for the hope, the faith, the belief that is within you. The
testimony of that faith is critically important. That can be verbal, words. That can be
actions and acts, the deeds of a true Christian. A powerful Christian message can be
sent by works showing the world that faith, by those works, is very much alive. Or,
perhaps sometimes by silence, refusing to be tempted, refusing to respond to ridicule,
learning not to test the pearls of true faith before those (swine) who would trample
upon them. The challenge of witnessing is more difficult than ever and it should be a
subject of discussion at all times with the true Christian family.
Most importantly, the Christian home must be characterized at all times by:
LOVE – CHRISTIAN LOVE.
Early on, we learn that God is love. And, that love is greater than faith, hope, or
anything else in this world or the world to come. That love of Christ should be the love
between each family member for the other. A true Christian is known by the world as
one filled with, expressing, and living LOVE. There was no greater love expressed to all
humankind than the love of Jesus Christ who laid down his life for all. That love unto
death is the ultimate love and as much of that as possible should be shared by the
family unit.
It is a tremendous responsibility to build a home, to have children. But it is an
enormous privilege, a fabulous faith-filled adventure with nothing else in this world as
fulfilling, NOTHING. Home is where the heart is, where Jesus Christ reigns supreme,
and where love abounds. Small wonder it is far and away the number one priority of
any Christian parent!