We have a divide in America. A terrible tension. Our interview today is based on an article in The American Spectator. The article talks about: how that part of our nation believes in God and sees our nation as a force for good in the world. This part wants to protect the "innocent," and believes in the rule of law. This part believes that all men are created equal, yet we are not guaranteed equal outcomes. A large number of our folks are united against communism and socialism. By contrast, there is another vision, a more recent vision, that is pretty much a European-Leninist utopian hybrid. This part of America can be described as the Oligarchy and is guided by New Age spirituality. They see God as mutable, and so is truth. This ruling class is the one that bullies us, is beating us, and burning things down - just so long as they can get their way and retain power. (I might add, this second segment of people controls almost all of the media!) Our guest today is Publisher of The American Spectator. Participants: Melissa Mackenzie, Dan Elmendorf

Want were some of the highlights of Luther's life and influence at the time of the Reformation, October 31, 1517? This obscure, cloistered monk nailed a manuscript of 95 statements (called "theses") to the door of Wittenberg Castle in Germany. He was responding to the claims of Johann Tetzel, another monk, who was raising money on behalf of Pope Lorenzo de'Medici. Today we learn about Luther and the lightning storm. What about the indulgences? What about approaching God directly based on Christ's merits? What about the printing press. How did that affect things? Today we look back at the Reformation and yet don't appreciate it nearly enough. Did you know that there would be no America if it were not for the Reformation and the Second Great Awakening that had its roots in the Reformation? Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

Our guest today has specialized in health care and entitlement programs with a special focus on Medicare. At one point, he was a senior official of the US Department of Health and Human Services. He talks with us about why the left's "cure" for health care woes is far worse than the malady. He has studied, in depth, the House and Senate bills they sponsor and co-sponsor. He has seen a massive gap between rhetoric and reality with trade-offs initially hidden from plain sight. The downsides of any system becomes painfully evident upon closer examination. Often however, its too late to do anything about it, when we get stuck with a very bad healthcare system that does not really care for us, and which has costs that threaten to sink our nation. He urges us to pay attention to the details of the various proposals. To this end, he refers us to a book "No Choice, No Exit," available here: https://www.heritage.org/no-choice-no-exit

The current Healthcare Sector in America is complex and is about a $3.6 Trillion sector. That's huge. 1 of every 5 dollars goes into this system. The left wants to expand this into a "single payer" system. If they were to fool us into supporting this, then the cost would be so high as to take 21.1 % of all our earnings. And that is just for the healthcare system alone! That would be on top of what we currently pay in taxes, which is about 31% total. How would we ultimately pay for such a system? Its clear that the government would have to print more money. This obviously, to any thinking American, is a plan for economic disaster for our country. But worse, we would lose control of our healthcare. Totally. We would be told by big government how we are to be cared for, with no control of our own healthcare, and with astronomical costs. Participants: Dr. Robert E. Moffit, Dan Elmendorf

There was a recent article in The American Spectator with the title: "Amy v. the Anti-Birthers -- Well-prepped to hate her so." Today we talk with the author of this article. He reminds us of a quotation from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg (RGB) from July 7, 2009 printed in New York Times Magazine that was discussing the place of women on the Supreme Court, it said: "Frankly, I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don�t want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion.� We just came through the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. A vote on Amy Barrett's nomination is currently scheduled for October 22. After that, Senator McConnell will decide how quickly to move the nomination to the Senate floor. He's expected to act quickly and schedule a vote by Oct. 29. This nominee like the two previous, is a person who holds to the original meaning of the Constitution and is committed to upholding it. So far, Amy Barrett has calmly answered the Senators, and has come through a grueling week of questioning. All that aside, what do we make of this quotation of RGB? What does it show regarding respect for all persons, regardless their status in life or their ethnicity? Do all human beings have equal worth? Are there populations that we don�t want to have too many of? (to quote RBG). What about Down's Syndrome babies? Suppose a person has trisomy 21, that is, three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two copies, in all cells? Does this justify ending their life? By using a real case in history, it helps focus our attention on a very real and timely question: Is it biblically moral to allow abortion? How does God see it? What about black lives? We could even ask: "Does the Constitution stipulate abortion as a right?" How would the original intent of the Constitution weigh in on the matter? Participants: Dr. Paul Kengor, Dan Elmendorf

We hear of being "woke." What does that mean? What about so called social justice? What is Critical Theory, Victim intersectionality and what is its origins? "The �woke� movement with its critical legal, race, and gender theory and its victim-intersectionality theory is one of the most dangerous enemies of America�s Constitutional order, and it is playing a major role in the upcoming election. At its heart is a notion of �social justice,� coupled with �positive rights� (rights to benefits rather than against harm) theory, both of which contradict the historically Judeo-Christian understanding of justice. In our guest�s booklet Social Justice vs. Biblical Justice, He critiques �social justice� and �positive rights,� showing them to be anti-Biblical, inherently self-contradictory, and sure to generate division and strife rather than unity and concord. He also demonstrates that the Biblical understanding of justice is rendering impartially and proportionally to everyone his due in conformity with the righteous standard of divinely revealed moral law." Here is the link to the booklet: https://cornwallalliance.org/product/social-justice-how-good-intentions-undermine-justice-and-gospel/

Participants: Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, Dan Elmendorf

Have you considered the use of words associated with the killing of children as a result of an abortion of a pregnancy? Today we talk with a pastor who has followed this debate for many years. He encourages us as Christians, not to cede ground on this issue, even in the area of the use of terms. Our guest reviews the original text of the Roe -vs- Wade ruling. More recently with NY and VA laws, it seems they are saying essentially that they want everything that Roe gives them. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf

How do you "get it all done?" Today we talk with a young mom who has seven children and is active in her church life and is an author. Dan and Deb are in the studio together as we have a down-to-earth discussion with the author of the book "You Who?: Why You Matter and How to Deal with It." As we are talking, our guest is working on cleaning her house for a large number of guests coming later that evening. How do you remain calm under such circumstances? Participants: Rachel Jankovic, Deb Elmendorf, Dan Elmendorf

Have you ever trusted the Lord for Him to save you? Have you cried out to Him for eternal salvation? If you have, you know what it's like to have your load of sin lifted and placed on Jesus. The scriptures describe what it's like without God, when you die. We delve into that a bit in this discussion. When a person dies and they are in an unforgiven state, then they immediately go to hell. It is there, they await the White Throne Judgement and, in the end, death and hell itself are both cast into the Lake of Fire. The finality of this state is terrible. There is no going back. We talk about what the Bible has to say about this. If Christ has not made you one of His own, then you are at war with God and the most you have is your sinful nature, with no real power to do good. Fortunately, there is a much better future for you if you are saved by grace, through faith. The righteousness of Jesus Christ can be given to you. Think of it as similar to funds being journaled into your spiritual "account." This is infinitely better than being lost in your sins, headed for judgment. This is the future that you were created for. We also discuss this vital aspect of your future on this program. Our guest is an evangelist with the Reformed Evangelical Fellowship. He visits churches, does open air preaching and helps people come to faith in Christ. To learn more about the group that Pastor Al is part of, visit: https://www.refglobal.org/

Participants: Rev. Dr. Al Baker, Dan Elmendorf

There is a trend among the Millennial (and younger) generation to embrace Socialism. By contrast, America was founded on principles which are antithetical to Socialism. Our country embraces a free market. A recent Gallop poll from last year reported that among those ages 18 to 29, that 51% prefer Socialism. We talk about this trend and also contrast Socialism with biblical moral law from the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. We are commanded as Christians to not covet the property of others. Further, this principle of private property is protected by God's law when it forbids us to steal from others. A particularly grievous form of theft is when a government takes (i.e., robs) from one person and gives the money or goods to another. Legalized thievery is not godly and undermines a free culture. We explore if there are any cases in history where a country with Communism (or Socialism) resulted in human flourishing. The answer may shock you. What of the so-called "womb-to-tomb, nanny-state" government? What does God offer for people? He offers a bottoms up voluntary charity. This works so very well. But it also depends on people not being "taxed to death." God cares about this issue of Socialism. What is covetousness? It is an inward desire and lust for that which another person has. This covetousness comes to fruition when the act of stealing is carried out. But first the sin of covetousness occurs in the human heart. Our guest also talks about what Jesus had to say about the Good Samaritan. Participants: Dr. Paul Kengor, Dan Elmendorf

In the description of the book "Prayer Changes Things: Curing Timid Piety," we read this: "One striking difference between our Christian forebears and us is their repeated emphasis on prayer and our comparative de-emphasis of it. They prayed frequently and fervently. We pray infrequently and languidly. They called prayer meetings. We call staff meetings. They had revival and reformation. We have apathy and apostasy. A leading reason for these distinctions is that they were inclined to believe what God said about prayer. We are often less confident in God�s word when it comes to his promises about prayer. A blunter way to say this is: we commit the sin of unbelief. Prayer changes things. When we pray, we are asking God to change things. And when he answers our prayer, he does change things. This brings us to a most telling fact that we don�t often consider: if we are perfectly willing to accept the way things are as God's unchangeable will, we will never be people of prayer." Today we talk with this book's author and our discussion has to do with an online article he wrote on the same subject. That online article is here: https://docsandlin.com/2014/07/30/prayer-changes-things/

Participants: Dr. P. Andrew Sandlin, Dan Elmendorf