Are you struggling with sharing your faith? Sharing the good news of Christ is hard to do and you may even experience fear as you want to help your friend. Today we talk with a pastor who has the gift of evangelism, and he helps us to negotiate this important area. He also covers the situation of suicide and what helps on that front as well. Participants: Pastor Al Baker, Dan Elmendorf

We see high crime in some key cities such as Chicago, and even more locally, Newburgh, NY. The common narrative blames this high rate of crime on poverty and racial discrimination. Last year there were close to 800 homicides in Chicago alone. Yet in the 1950's this was not the case, and people were far poorer and there was more discrimination. Our guest points to the family as key to reducing crime, and not welfare. The welfare state and the coddling of criminals is hurting the cities, not helping them. Yet we see small cities, even Kingston, NY pushing to make themselves a "sanctuary city!" This is insanity. It will raise the crime rate and call for more welfare. No thinking leader would do that to its people if they really wanted to serve the law-abiding citizens. Setting up sanctuary cities is a violation of federal law. We also talk about economics - what does a free market system look like by way of a simple illustration? Participants: Dr. Walter E. Williams, Dan Elmendorf

How would you describe Fidel Castro's Cuba? What did he do to his country? What happened to religious freedom? Was he a leader that we should try and emulate? Are there intersections of his philosophy with that of the Progressives of today? Why did Fidel Castro not allow the average person to even go fishing in his country? What about the family which decided to harvest two mangos from their own mango tree? What did they have to do in order to protect themselves? Participants: Dr. Paul Kengor, Dan Elmendorf

Have you ever read the Old Testament book of Song of Solomon? Well, if not, you are in for a real treat... but what does it mean? Is this only a book on love between a husband and wife? Is there something more? What does it mean in the Bible that Christians are the "Bride of Christ?" Join us for an interesting discussion with a writer who has studied this area of Biblical literature, including having lectured on it. Participants: Gerry Wisz, Dan Elmendorf

What is the significance of Christmas? Today we talk with a seasoned pastor who labored in the Hudson Valley for many years and is now retired and yet remains very active in ministry. The season of Advent talks about both comings of Christ - the first and second Advent. Jesus was fully man and fully God from His conception in his mother's womb. On the human side, the ancestors of Jesus are traced in the books of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament. His lineage is traced back to David and even to Adam. Jesus lived a sinless life - He is the only one who ever achieved that. What does Christmas mean to us today? We are celebrating "a new creation" in Jesus Christ. This new beginning in Jesus Christ is very significant, and it gives us real hope. Immanuel is a Hebrew name which appears in chapters 7 and 8 of the Book of Isaiah. Christians believe that "God is with us" is a profound truth that finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Not only is it "God with us," but it's God is for us! Underneath us are the everlasting arms of a loving God. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

Christmas is more than a celebration that is limited to one nation. It is a worldwide celebration for all nations that embrace the Savior. Today we talk about this aspect of the incarnation, and also include a brief glimpse into how Brazilians celebrate the birth of our Savior. Also, what about the notion which some of the Reformation believers held: that of not celebrating Christmas? What did one of their main influencers teach? Our guest looks at a source document from a key Reformer that helps us to make a determination. Also what about the Puritans - what was the social/religious concerns which they had at the time, which caused then to not celebrate. Another insight our guest brings is noting the celebration of God the Father at the birth of Christ. For the Christian today, it is good to celebrate Christmas, consistent with the celebration of our Heavenly Father as shown in the gospels. Participants: Dr. Elias Medeiros, Dan Elmendorf

What is Advent all about? Is there a history to it? What of the so-called church calendar? Is it helpful? Today we talk with a pastor who is located in the Hudson Valley of NY, about the season and its significance. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf

What is "free will?" Do we possess it? What characterizes our free will, if left to ourselves without the sovereign interaction of God? What does it mean that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world? These difficult concepts and others are tackled today on A Plain Answer. Our guest teaches core courses on systematic theology, apologetics, ethics and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Participants: Dr. John Frame, Dan Elmendorf

Today we talk with Peter Burfeind, campus pastor at the University of Toledo and author of "Gnostic America: A Reading of Contemporary American Culture Religion according to Christianity's Oldest Heresy." We talk about the plight of Millennials and the recent election results having a profound effect upon them. Peter explains how many Millennials essentially have a faith in politics. He ties the current reaction back to the earlier Middle Ages idea of millenarian movement in Munster, Germany. The book referenced for further study is: "The Pursuit of the Millennium: Revolutionary Millenarians and Mystical Anarchists of the Middle Ages, Revised and Expanded Edition," by Norman Cohn. Participants: Peter Burfeind, Dan Elmendorf

Next week is Thanksgiving in these United States. Today we take a look at the roots of Thanksgiving. What did the first celebration look like? What was the roll of the Wampanoag Indian tribe? What was the real story behind Squanto? What tribe was he from? What theology did the Puritans of that day hold? Was it biblical? How did the Pilgrims return the favor of Wampanoag assistance? Why is it important to have a belief that embraces God's sovereignty? All this and more is discussed in this Thanksgiving edition of A Plain Answer! Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf