So you thought only Roman Catholics would talk about St. Patrick? Well, that's normal. When we were kids, we all went to school on "St. Patty's Day" and our Roman Catholic buddies would see if we were wearing green! Remember those days? I guess that dates us. But have you ever looked into the life of this godly man? Join us for an engaging discussion of St. Patrick and sit back and enjoy the discussion of this amazing man of God. Oh, and don't worry, your host and guests are not turning into "Romanists," but we are embracing the history as God has providentially worked in this world of ours! Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

Are you discouraged by the seemingly overwhelming influence of secularism? There is a sort of moral free-fall that our society is experiencing. We need to remember the message of the prophet: "Behold your God!" Our guest references the story of Chicken Little. An acorn hits chicken on the head and he runs around proclaiming that the "sky is falling." By contrast, history gives us perspective. Our guest tells the true story of Jerome and his misinterpretation of the events around him and how he died in a cave. We are reminded that God's kingdom is unshakable. Learn about Polycarp and how he stood up for the Christian faith and was martyred. The historical record mentions the leaders at the time, and mentions the reign of Christ. We can have confidence in God because He alone is sovereign. We are called to contend for the faith. Participants: Dr. Stephen Nichols, Dan Elmendorf

Did our founders have a Christian faith? Some of them indeed did. Did this faith influence the founding of America? Today we talk with the President of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He has written a number of books, including a book that is helpful for training young children. He is also the President of Providence Forum. Our guest touches upon the "Separation of Church and State," and what it properly means. We also discuss what Westminster Theological Seminary has to offer, including a newer, remote counseling program which is highly rated. Participants: Dr. Peter Lillback, Dan Elmendorf

What is Just War Theory? Is there a Just cause for going to war? What did the fathers of the church have to say about it? Today we deal with the question of what constitutes a just war. While we despise war and hope it never happens again, most likely, statistically speaking, it unfortunately will. Jesus talked of wars and rumors of wars that would exist to the very last day. Is it ever right to preemptively go to war? We also discuss Christian persecution in the world. Is it right to defend oneself and one's family? What country presents the largest threat to the United States? What should the Christian's response be to all these threats? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

This weekend we have President's Day on our minds. Many people have Monday off as a national holiday. Originally this would have been called Washington's birthday. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called �Washington�s Birthday� by the federal government. We celebrate his birthday on the third Monday of February. Washington was the first President of the United States, and was born on February 22, 1732. Now we call the holiday "Presidents� Day" after it was moved as part of 1971�s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, in an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation�s workers. Well, that's the quick background.

Today we talk about one of our presidents, namely Abraham Lincoln. We talk with Dr. Harry Reeder. He is pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham Alabama. He has studied Lincoln's life in detail, and this time frame of American history. We take a look at Lincoln's life and his conversion to the Christian faith. Lincoln's writings sort of "morph" over time with respect to their content that shows his conversion. Dr. Reeder shares information with us about the pastor who influenced Lincoln, as well as a Christian woman who would care for Lincoln's dying son. God did a work in Lincoln's heart actually, once he got in office. It's an amazing account.

"Why do so many people want to immigrate to the United States? To many political, social, and theological liberals, the U.S. is a racist, bigoted, misogynistic culture. Why would anyone want to come here? But they do, by the millions, each year. Why?" (from: FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS volume 17, number 5). Today we talk with Pastor Al Baker about immigration and why the culture of a society based upon a Judea-Christian ethic is so very desirable. Our guest looks at the Bill of Rights. "Our Bill of Rights provides and guards the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. We have the right to protect ourselves and our property by bearing arms. We forbid illegal search and seizure of our property. We demand due process under the law. Our people are guaranteed the right to a speedy and public trial by a jury of their peers, and are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Excessive bail nor cruel or unusual punishments are permissible. No one is ever to be denied his own rights. Individual states have rights and are to exercise them as long as they are not contrary to the United States." Participants: Pastor Al Baker, Dan Elmendorf

What difference does your faith in Christ make in the basic outworking of life? The day to day stuff that you live through is profoundly affected by the faith. We are to seek the Kingdom of God as we live out the faith, and walk in the light of God's word. What about our work? Are all lines of work serving Christ? Good works flow out of a true and living faith. During part of our discussion we take a look at a time of history when atrocities were bring committed in Germany. What should have been the role of the church during this time? Participants: Dr. Cornelis Venema, Dan Elmendorf

Church history and Christian thought is our focus in today's edition of A Plain Answer. Behind this is the concern that we are Bible believing Christians, and we are not to add or take away from the Scriptures. All that we need for life and godliness is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament. So, why then have an interest in the history of the Church? That is what we explore today. Indeed there are very good reasons for such an interest. Some of the not-so-obvious yet crucial conclusions of the Christian church, come over time as the church grapples with things like the Trinity. There are a whole list of important fundamental items that the Church has dealt with and documented over the past 2000+ years. Our guest today is a seasoned minister of the gospel as well as college instructor. He was once the Sr. Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rock Tavern, NY. He is now semi-retired and living in West Virginia. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

The largest killing of people has happened under Communism. Yes, Hitler was very bad and should never happen again. But the death and destruction under Communism is anywhere from 16 to 23 times as bad as the death toll under Hitler. Our guest today is an expert on Communism and the Cold War. Did you know that there is a modern university which is "celebrating 'Marx at 200' in 2018?" It is shocking that a free market-funded university is falling prey to this nonsense. What did Carl Marx believe? Our guest as a professor of political science at Grove City College, requires that his students read in full, the Communist Manifesto - not just talk about those who have a Marxist agenda, but actually read and interact with the source document. When students come across Marx's Ten Point Plan listed in the Manifesto, it is downright shocking. The stories in this interview are interesting and worth listening to. The university students today need to really understand Marx and the cultural dangers of his teaching and how this emphasis has destroyed so many lives. Christian life by contrast is based on loving God and loving neighbor. We love to obey God's law. If you want real freedom, then you want Christ. Christianity and Communism are antithetical at core. Participants: Dr. Paul Kengor, Dan Elmendorf

What does a classical education look like? Is it just the idea of adding Latin to the subjects? What are the basic ideas of a classical education and why does its structure help round out a young student? What is the role of the Christian faith in such and endeavor? How important is community? What are the areas of Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric all about? Find out in this interview with the Founder of Classical Conversations. Participants: Leigh Bortins, Dan and Deb Elmendorf