It Stands Written Podcast

In this sobering and deeply important episode, we sit down with Sarah Ralston, a 20-year veteran of the digital trust and safety space whose career spans military counterintelligence, Microsoft, and Reddit. Sarah introduces us to Proxyware, a groundbreaking organization that uses AI-generated digital personas to intercept online predators before they ever reach real victims. We explore the alarming reality of how children are being targeted through school-issued devices, how AI is being weaponized for sextortion, and why traditional cybersecurity was built to protect machines — not people. Sarah walks us through the devastating pipeline from exposure to adult content, to desensitization, to exploitation, and ultimately to trafficking and even suicide. The conversation also tackles the spiritual dimension of this battle, with a powerful call for churches to step into the gap and become proactive shields for their communities. With a 93% success rate at removing digital harm, Sarah makes a compelling case that prevention is not only possible — it's affordable. This is an episode every parent, pastor, and community leader needs to hear.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resourced Mentioned:

- ProxyWare Website

- Digital Threat with Sarah Ralston - Spotify

- Digital Threat with Sarah Ralston - YouTube

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In this episode of The It Stands Written Podcast, we sit down with Joby Walters, author of the gripping memoir Cut Free, to unpack a story that spans nearly four decades of chasing identity, brotherhood, and ultimately, redemption. From a rural boy in southeastern Ohio who read The Cross and the Switchblades at fifteen, to riding with the Hells Angels and being patched in by the legendary Sonny Barger, Joby's journey is one of relentless pursuit — not just by the law, but by God Himself. He shares the raw, unfiltered reality of life inside one of the world's most notorious outlaw motorcycle clubs: the loyalty, the sacrifice, the violence, and the crushing disappointment that came when the brotherhood he bled for turned out to be something far different from what it promised. Along the way, a grieving mother hands him a bone-handled knife with the words, "You ought to be a preacher," and that knife becomes a haunting metaphor that follows him through casino floors, prison walls, and the remote mountains of Sonora, Mexico. Joby's turning point comes in a moment of profound clarity — treed mountain lion, a loaded rifle, and the inability to pull the trigger — when he finally sees himself in the eyes of something trapped and desperate to escape. This is a conversation about seeds planted in unlikely moments, the long-suffering patience of a God who refuses to let go, and what it means to be cut free from the life that was destroying you and handed a brand-new identity in Christ. Whether you've run too far or know someone who has, Joby's message is simple and urgent: there's something better, and His name is Jesus.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

Joby Walters Website

The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson

Verses Mentioned:

• Philippians 3:7-8
• 1 Corinthians 3:6
• Psalm 90:4
• 2 Peter 3:8
• 2 Corinthians 5:21
• Isaiah 53:5

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In Episode 108 of the It Stands Written podcast, hosts Justin and Braden wrap up their series by tackling one of the most common questions believers face: what is God calling me to do? Justin walks through a five-stage progression of discipleship—learner, follower, worshiper, laborer, and proclaimer—showing how every Christian's general calling flows from Scripture itself. The conversation then shifts to a crucial distinction between calling and assignment, illustrated through the lives of Paul, John the Baptist, Joseph, Esther, Moses, and others who never scripted their own journeys but were compelled by God into roles they never anticipated. Braden and Justin discuss the danger of the comparison trap, warning against measuring your usefulness to God against the influence of figures like Billy Graham, and reminding listeners that faithfulness in private matters more than platform. They highlight biblical figures like Jeremiah and Noah, whose ministries looked like failures by modern metrics yet were perfectly faithful to what God asked of them. The episode closes with a powerful analogy of Ivy League rowers, who face backward while moving forward—able to see where God has led only in hindsight—encouraging listeners to grab their oar, trust the One calling the direction, and be faithful in whatever sphere God has placed them right now.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur

Verses Mentioned:

• Romans 2
• Genesis 50:20
• Isaiah 43
• Matthew 11, 28
• John 6:66
• Luke 9
• 1 Peter 4
• Acts 1, 9, 16, 20
• 1 Corinthians 7
• 2 Timothy 2
• 1 Timothy 3

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If you've ever asked yourself, "Why am I still sinning after I'm saved?" — this episode tackles that question head-on with unflinching honesty and deep biblical conviction. The guys wade into the spiritual paradox every believer faces: fully justified before God, yet still locked in a daily war with indwelling sin. Through a close reading of Romans 7, they unpack Paul's agonizing cry — "I do not understand" — and discover that the confusion itself is proof of spiritual life, not evidence against it. You'll hear a vivid illustration about a car with bent alignment that perfectly captures why the flesh constantly pulls you off the road, even when your hands never leave the wheel. Then they dive into one of the most gruesome images in the ancient world — the Roman practice of strapping a murderer face-to-face with the rotting corpse of his victim — to expose just how repulsive remaining sin truly is to the believer who is alive in Christ. But the episode doesn't leave you in the wretchedness. They land on the most glorious verse in the Bible: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And they close with a forgotten 1749 Charles Wesley hymn that pleads for a tender conscience and drives us back to the blood that makes the wounded whole. This is an episode for anyone who has ever wondered if their struggle with sin means their salvation isn't real — and the answer will change how you see your own fight.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Verses Mentioned:

• 1 John 1:8
• 1 John 2:16
• 1 John 4:2–3
• 1 John 4:19
• Galatians 2:20
• Galatians 5
• Romans 2
• Romans 6
• Romans 7:9–11, 14–18, 21–24
• Romans 8:1–3, 8
• 1 Corinthians 15:33
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Philippians 3:12–14
• 1 Timothy 1:15

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In this special recap episode, Justin, Braden, and Tessa share their transformative experience from a recent trip to Washington, D.C., where a group of faith leaders were invited to engage with government officials and explore what it means to be salt and light in the public square. The team walks through their visits to the U.S. Capitol, the Israeli Embassy, the Museum of the Bible, and the Spy Museum, sharing the history, the highlights, and the hard moments — including viewing raw footage of the October 7th atrocities when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel. They discuss the biblical mandate for Christians to engage in civic life, the sobering reality that only 29% of evangelicals are even registered to vote, and why leaving the public square to others is not an option for faithful believers. The conversation also tackles the tension between different theological camps on how Christians should approach legislation and government, all while keeping the focus on the local church as the true engine of cultural change. Whether you're a pastor, a student, or a parent, this episode challenges you to consider what faithfulness looks like in your own sphere — and why the next generation depends on what you do today.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Verses Mentioned:

• Matthew 5:16
• Isaiah 9:6-7
• Jeremiah 18
• Jeremiah 29
• Exodus 20:13
• Nehemiah 9
• Esther 4:14
• 2 Kings 22
• Romans 1
• Romans 10
• Galatians 5
• Matthew 16:18

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How can believers stand for life in a world that rejects it? In today's episode, Braden, Justin, Tessa, and special guest Dr. William Lile (ProLifeDoc) are back with a conversation about how to do just that. Reflecting on last week's ideas that "a patient is a person no matter how small" and that abortion is a spiritual issue, the group looks at the issue from different perspectives, including that of a mother and a pastor. After a brief personal testimony of the value of all lives--no matter how short--they touch on important practical issues, urging pastors to stand for life and teaching Christians how to approach such a tender subject graciously. They also review the abortion pill--the most pervasive method of abortion in the United States today--and its harrowing, genocidal origins. This episode gives Christians tools to advocate for the lives of the preborn and bring clarity to the conversation around abortion, all the while emphasizing the redemption that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources:

- Pro Life Doc Website

- Abortion Pill Reversal Website

- Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad by Abbie Halberstadt

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- Justin Erickson Instagram

- Desert Bible Church Instagram

- It Stands Written Instagram

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Welcome back to out very first podcast epiosde ever with a very special guest! Dr. William Lile spent 30 years as an OB/GYN, delivering over 5,000 babies—and shutting down what was once the largest abortion clinic on the Florida Panhandle the day he took it over. In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, Dr. Lile joins hosts Braden and Justin, along with special guest Tessa, to unpack the spiritual battle behind abortion in America. He shares how walking up the stairs of that former clinic set him on a path toward founding prolifedoc.org, and why he believes churches and pastors—not just politicians and physicians—must lead this fight. The conversation moves through gut-wrenching real-life stories, including a father's decades-long journey toward forgiveness after signing off on his daughter's abortion, and remarkable medical breakthroughs like in-womb surgery and abortion pill reversal. Dr. Lile also breaks down the science of fetal development, debunking myths with hard data on conception, twin gestation, and fetal personhood. Along the way, the group discusses IVF, surrogacy, and the disturbing legal trends around late-term and post-birth abortion. Ultimately, this episode is a call for the church to reclaim its voice—rooted not in politics, but in the gospel's power to heal and forgive.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Verses Mentioned:

- Judges 2-4

- Jeremiah 18

- Jeremiah 19

- Genesis 1:26

- Psalm 51:5

Resources:

- Pro Life Doc Website

- Abortion Pill Reversal Website

- Baby Olivia Video

Follow Our Socials:

- Justin Erickson Instagram

- Desert Bible Church Instagram

- It Stands Written Instagram

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How do you know if a pastor, theologian, or online teacher can actually be trusted? In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, the guys dig into one of the most pressing questions for Christians today: how to identify trustworthy teachers — and how to spot the dangerous ones. The guys walk through key passages from 1 John, 1 Timothy, 2 Peter, and Deuteronomy, unpacking the biblical "acid tests" for discerning true teachers from false ones. From examining doctrinal statements to watching how a leader handles money, sex, and accountability, the conversation gets practical fast. The episode also tackles a hard question many believers face: what do you do when a teacher whose ministry genuinely impacted your faith — like a Ravi Zacharias or Steve Lawson — is later exposed for serious moral failure? Can you separate the truth from the teacher? Finally, the guys remind listeners that discernment isn't just a skill — according to Deuteronomy 13, it's an act of love toward God. If you've ever wondered whether the pastor on your screen or in your pulpit is the real deal, this episode gives you the scriptural tools to find out

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Verses Mentioned:

• 1 John 4:1
• 1 Timothy 4
• Deuteronomy 13
• Deuteronomy 18
• Romans 12
• 1 Corinthians 9:27
• 2 Peter 2:1-3, 12-19
• Proverbs 6:12-15
• 1 Timothy 3
• Titus 1
• John 10:10-14

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Why do Christians disagree — and when does disagreement cross the line into division? In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, Justin, Braden, Ernest, and Ty continue their series So You're Saved, Now What? by diving into the world of secondary doctrines. Building on last week's discussion of primary doctrines like the atonement, resurrection, and the virgin birth, the guys explore the theological territory where genuine believers can and do differ — things like modes of baptism, spiritual gifts, church governance, divorce and remarriage, the age of the Earth, and more. Justin grounds the conversation in 1 John, showing that the basis of Christian unity is the gospel itself and the transformed life it produces — not uniformity on every theological question. The team wrestles honestly with why secondary doctrines still matter even if they're not salvation issues, and how holding them wrongly can impair your walk with God. Whether you're navigating disagreements in your own church or just trying to understand where the lines are, this episode will give you a biblical framework for unity without compromise. Don't miss it — and Lord willing, we'll see you on the next one.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Verses Mentioned:

• 1 John 1
• Psalm 19
• 1 Corinthians 8
• 1 Corinthians 9
• Colossians 4:10
• 2 Timothy 4
• Acts 14
• Acts 15
• John 17:17
• 2 Timothy 3:16

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In Episode 101 of the It Stands Written podcast, Justin, Braden and Ernest are joined by first-time guest Ty Erickson for a conversation that's both grounding and thought-provoking. The team tackles a question that trips up new and longtime believers alike: Why do Christians disagree about things? From church splits and denominational differences to competing interpretations of baptism, eschatology, and the role of Scripture, they unpack why disagreement exists — and why not all disagreements are created equal. Central to the discussion is the critical distinction between primary doctrines (those essential to salvation, like the resurrection, the Trinity, the virgin birth, and justification by faith alone) and secondary doctrines where sincere Christians can differ without dividing over the gospel. Drawing on the Nicene Creed, Jesus's high priestly prayer in John 17, and passages from Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Luke 16, the guys make a compelling case that a divided church undermines the gospel witness — but that unity must never come at the expense of truth. Whether you're navigating church hurt, confused by denominational labels, or just trying to figure out what you're actually supposed to believe, this episode gives you a clear framework for holding convictions with both confidence and humility.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at [email protected] or send us a text at the link in the description.

Verses Mentioned:

• John 3:16
• John 6:66-68
• John 8
• John 11:35
• John 17
• John 21
• Luke 16
• Matthew 28
• Acts 2:38, 41
• Romans 10
• 1 Corinthians 15:3
• 2 Corinthians 5:21
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• James
• 1 John 4
• 2 Peter 3:16
• Daniel
• Revelation
• Deuteronomy

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