It's time for another fireside chat! Today we talk about Christmas. Do you remember what it was like, years ago when you were a child growing up? Especially if you were blessed to grow up in a Christian home - you likely experienced Christmas in a pleasant way. Christian homes provide a rich and lasting legacy for children. If you happen to check Google and ask the question what is the meaning of Jesus coming as a baby, you'll find something like this: "The meaning of Christ coming as a baby is revealed in verses like Isaiah 9:6, foretelling a child-king (Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace) to bring lasting rule, and Luke 2:11, where the baby Jesus is the sign of the Savior's arrival, fulfilling promises for humanity's redemption and God's kingdom. John 1:14 emphasizes God becoming flesh, while Galatians 4:4 speaks of God sending His Son in the "fullness of time" to redeem us, showing His humanity and fulfilling divine purpose." That's a pretty good definition. Today we talk with a seasoned pastor who is now in his retirement years. He was my own pastor, years ago. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

Today we talk with the man who runs Frontline Fellowship. His experience goes back to Rhodesia in his early youth, to later in Cape Town where is grew into an adult. God saved him, and he was called to missions. That conversion was 48 years ago. He has worked in 8 war zones. He's often worked beyond enemy lines. He recounts the life of Nicolae Moldoveanu - a Romanian hymn writer. Moldoveanu finally would write over 6,000 hymns. Hundreds of these were written while he was imprisoned, He was tortured for his Christian faith under the communist regime. Often called "The Bach of Romania," he wrote the hymns from memory without instruments, pen, or paper, a testament to his extraordinary faith and discipline. The Communists smashed his hands - breaking the bones in his hands with the goal of taking away his ability to play the keyboard. While in prison, he made friends with Richard Wurmbrand. We cover this today because these men of God, despite their persecution, learned to praise God while being tortured for their faith. Our guest also recounts a young lady who died for her faith at the hands of Muslims in Saudi Arabia. He also mentions that in the last 25 years, 100,000 Christians have been killed by Boko Haram. Our guest confirms that Christians are the most persecuted faith in the world. In northern Nigeria Christians are being murdered. Our guest gives us his thoughts about an Islamist-Communist being elected as Mayor of NYC. We close on a note of hope. We are to "rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God�s will for you in Christ Jesus." We hear about an evangelist who had no feet. The Arabs had cut his feet off. Despite this brother having no feet, he still worked at evangelism. We have so much to be thankful for.

Participants: Dr. Peter Hammond, Dan Elmendorf

Have you thought about where you came from? What about where the world came from? Those of us who were in the public high school, were taught that our origins were completely due to evolution. God was never in view and we were not encouraged at all, to seek Him or find deep meaning in Him. It was all a godless existence. Yet, fortunately for some of us, God reached into our hearts and performed a work of grace as He used his Word by his Spirit, to cause us to be born again of the Spirit of God. The whole system was stacked against such a thing, but a number of students came to faith similarly. Anyway, today's discussion is with a pastor and evangelist. He talks with us about creation out of nothing. Or as the Latin phrase puts it "Creatio ex nihilo." Our guest explains the biblical view of creation. He also touches upon other views, such as a Steady State view of the universe. Also the Framework hypothesis or Gap theory. Our guest writes: "The grand declaration, that God created all things out of nothing (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3, Acts 17:24, Romans 1:20, Hebrews 11:3) is the most profound and far reaching statement in all of Scripture. It says volumes about God. It tells us that He is self-existent (Isaiah 45:5ff), incomprehensible (Romans 11:33), and sovereign (Psalm 115:3)." As for God, the fact is: "He does not need us. He was not lonely before creation. This speaks of His aseity. He was perfectly content and fulfilled in His Triune fellowship. He does not enhance His being or attributes by condescending to our helplessness." And yet, he loves us! This is truly amazing. Our guest wrote: "we ought to deny atheism, agnosticism, pantheism, polytheism, and naturalism. If you take the Genesis 1 account seriously, then this leaves no room for any of these isms�including naturalism in the form of evolution or theistic evolution." Participants: Pastor Al Baker, Dan Elmendorf

Have you thought about getting ready to meet the Lord as you pass? This is not a morbid subject, as we all will pass sooner or later. For the believer in Christ, we have the firm hope that "to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." (2 Cor. 5:8). The Apostle goes on to say that "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10). The time between when we pass and when the last day arrives, is sometimes referred to as the intermediate state. During this time, our spirit is with the Lord, but we don't yet have our glorified body. We are gifted that, at the resurrection. Today, we have a pastoral discussion with a seasoned pastor about that phase of our lives that we all have to face, sooner or later. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

Would you like to raise a godly family? Most of us would! When is the last time you heard a sermon series on the Christian family? The answer may tell you how important this subject is to your church. Our guest today posted an article titled: The Significance of Church Attendance in Raising Godly Sons.

Our children are baptized. The sign and seal signifies the renouncing of the devil and all his works, per the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Our guest encourages us to always ask if we are being faithful to a trajectory of righteousness.

What does it mean when the Bible says we are of another kingdom? Our guest explains. Wherever we are placed on earth, our citizenship needs to mimic the heavenly kingdom. We are obligated to place the imprint of the kingdom of heaven.

Here is the link to the article our friend wrote: https://www.uribrito.com/p/the-significance-of-church-attendance

Participants: Dr. Uri Brito, Dan Elmendorf

Today we discuss information about The Bahnsen Institute. The name of the institute is a man's last name. The work of Dr. Bahnsen continues to this day. Bahnsen was not afraid to take on opponents to the Christian faith and debate them. One debate was: Dr. Greg Bahnsen and Mr. Edward Tabash debating the existence of God, with Dr. Bahnsen arguing for theism and Mr. Tabash arguing for atheism. Another debate was Does God Exist? Greg L. Bahnsen vs. Gordon Stein: "The Great Debate"

Today we discuss the work of Dr. Bahnsen.

The Bahnsen institute has seen over 612,000 downloads from 174 countries in the world. Significantly, all the material is available for FREE.

Unbelief suppresses the truth in unrighteousness.

A public meeting will be held on November 4, at 8:00 PM Eastern time. Please see this link: https://www.bahnseninstitute.com/events/

the Bahnsen Institute will host a Zoom meeting for all those interested in this work. "We will give an update on what the Bahnsen Institute has been doing and some of our plans for the future. We began five years ago, first as the Bahnsen Project and then as the Bahnsen Institute, and we praise God for what has been accomplished thus far.

You will be able to hear at the meeting from members of the team concerning key achievements and challenges, finances, the remastering project, online outreach, and publications. We will also share goals for the upcoming year and give opportunity for questions, comments, and suggestions."

Participants: Pastor Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf

Have you noticed the increased violence in society lately? This is accompanied by a crudeness, and incivility. Aggression is seen in many of our city streets. Today we have another fireside chat with our friend and board member, Pastor John Vance. As a pastor for many years, he brings much experience and observation to the discussion.

He cites part of this passage as we begin our discussion:

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man�and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things." Romans 1:20-23. He observes that when people turn from God, they then believe anything. He also notes a kind of atheism among our elites. We end our discussion on a hopeful note, pointing to the Lord Who gives us meaning to our life. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

Today we talk with Pastor Bill Shishko about an important book that is written by Stephen O. Presley. The title is

Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church. Amazon says this about the book:

"How to keep faith in a culture hostile to Christianity

In an increasingly secular world, Christians are often pulled in two directions. Some urge us to retreat and build insular communities. Others call upon us to wage a culture war, harnessing the government to shore up Christian cultural power.

But there is another way�and it's as old as the church itself. Stephen O. Presley takes us back to the first few centuries AD to show us how the first Christians approached cultural engagement. Amid a pagan culture that regarded their faith with suspicion, early Christians founded a religious movement that transformed the ancient world. Looking to great theologians like Augustine, Origen, and Tertullian, Presley shows how the early church approached politics, family, public life, and more. From these examples, he draws lessons for practicing authentic, pious discernment in how we engage with the wider culture.

The Christians who came before us endured persecution to share a vision of human flourishing that changed the world. Following in their footsteps, we can sanctify our society through social witness. Readers anxious about shifting cultural tides will be left with hope in the already-present kingdom of God and the promised resurrection."

We talk with our pastor friend as he discusses the first 400 years of the world after the ascension of Christ. This is the time of the Roman Empire.

How is it that so much headway was made in these early years? We discuss that. The Christians were accused of turning the world upside down. In fact they turned it right side up! The early church showed a radical commitment to the kingship of Christ. The book points out five elements of the life of Christians. These are: Identity, Citizenship, Intellectual Life, Public Life, and Hope. Participants: Pastor Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf

Have you noticed the awakening that seems to be taking place in our world? Since the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, we have seen churches more filled. Even at his service that celebrated his life, we saw political leaders giving testimony to their love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Our guest today has been doing lots of thinking since the assassination. He concluded that he is of the opinion, in light, for example, of Ezekiel 34, that if tens of thousands of pastors all over America for the last 50 years had been teaching, from pulpits and in Sunday school and in Bible studies, the whole counsel of God from the whole Word of God to the whole people of God for the whole of life, the kinds of things Charlie said that so angered the Left would have been commonplace understanding all over America, and while not everyone would have embraced them, no one would have been shocked by them�and no one would have wanted to murder Kirk because of them. Our pastors would do well to do wider reading, and not only what's needed for exegeting the immediate text for their sermons. Also needed is looking for answers to all kinds of applications in daily life. Our guest points out some much needed reform as regards to the novel "Neo-Two Kingdom" present emphasis that has not be shared by any of the reformers of the past. Our churches need to be more focused on the one King who reigns over all and find out what He requires for every area of life. Participants: Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, Dan Elmendorf

In the book "Victorious Christians Who Changed the World," writer Dr. Peter Hammond writes of Martin Luther, that he "removed the necessity of monasticism by stressing that the essence of Christian living lies in serving God in our calling, whether secular or ecclesiastical. In promoting this Protestant Work Ethic, Luther laid the foundation for free enterprise and the tremendous productivity it has inspired." This got us to thinking afresh about the whole topic of calling and vocation. Our friend and board member, Pastor John Vance has mentioned the importance of vocation previously in other settings, so it seemed good to talk with him about this today. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf