Have you lost a loved one? What about the seeming tension between being sad, and resting in the sovereignty of God? Are they mutually exclusive? Today our guest explains that joy is the settled conviction that God is able, and that God is for us. What about responding to others who have lost a loved one? Are you not sure of what to say? Are you uncomfortable? How are we to respond? Finally, how can Word and Sacrament become a healing balm for the people of God in the midst of their profound loss? Join us for a heart-felt discussion on this important topic. Participants: Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr., Dan Elmendorf

Does it strike you as a little odd, that our Lord Jesus was baptized by John? In the gospel of Mark, the narrative begins with this baptism as he describes the gospel. Certainly there must be something very important about this event. Join us for a revealing discussion about the gospel as it is tied to this baptism. Learn about the Trinity, the sacramental gospel, the historical gospel and even the eschatological gospel. Learn how there is an aspect to Jesus such that he is the new Adam, the new Noah, the new Moses, and the new Israel. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf

What is Common Core? The Common Core State Standards Initiative touts it as �a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA).� That definition sounds very attractive. But is there more? What lies beneath the surface? Join us for a discussion of Common Core and an alternative educational model. We learn about a powerful new online home school curriculum. For a link to the website, please copy and paste this URL: http://www.ronpaulcurriculum.com/ . Dr. Gary North serves as the Director of Curriculum Development for this project. Participants: Dr. Gary North, Dan Elmendorf

Have you ever felt a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of studying the book of Revelation? Question: Is it a book predominantly tied to the latest newspaper stories, or is it much more? What are one the keys to understanding the book? In this episode of A Plain Answer, we learn about an upcoming study series for those who cannot afford to attend college (time and money), but who want something more challenging than a Sunday School class. The Dwaarkill Study center is headquartered in Pine Bush, NY and is run by a number of godly men who are trained in teaching Bible, theology, philosophy, apologetics and culture. An upcoming course is offered to the public and is being held at Good Will church in Montgomery. For more information and to sign up for the course, please visit: http://www.dwaarkill.org/

Participants: Rev. Bill Spanjer, Dan Elmendorf

As we look at the prospect of a new year, perhaps you have fears. You may have physical ailments, or have suffered the loss of a loved one. In this episode of A Plain Answer, we talk with a pastor who ministers in Queens, NY. His church is a smaller and more recent church plant. People come to the church from all walks of life and from varied racial backgrounds. There is unity for these brothers and sisters because of what Christ has done in their lives. The New Year 2015 is just about here. We can be hopeful if our trust is in the God who is over all of history, including this New Year. Participants: Pastor Jonathan Shishko, Dan Elmendorf

We have brothers and sisters around the world who are in dire circumstances. In one town in northern Iraq, there are about 1 Million people in refugee camps. In 2014, the persecution of Christians around the world was more brutal and intense than at any other time in the history of the church. The actions of the ISIS terror rebels have been absolutely torturous. Kurdistan, very nearly the last sanctuary for Christians in the Muslim Middle East, is now under siege by the Ji'hadi terrorist forces of ISIS. More than a million refugees from the rest of Iraq and Syria are now threatened--along with the dynamic Kurdish Christian communities. The Nuun Fund has been established to speed urgently needed resources to our friends at the Classical School of the Medes in the cities of Erbil, Dohuk, and Sulaymaniyah. To help in this particular effort, the link is here: https://www.crowdrise.com/NuunFund

Share this podcast with others. Participants: Dr. George Grant, Dan Elmendorf

When we think about Christmas, we often think about the baby Jesus in the manger. But as wonderful as that is, there is much more involved in the birth of Christ. There were many events that providentially came together that made this just the right time - or as the Apostle Paul would write: "...In the fullness of time." We look at the scope of Divine Sovereignty, and the genealogies involved. We also talk about the difference between a bogus sovereignty and real sovereignty as it is found in God. Also, what about politics? How does that tie into the sovereignty of God in Christmas? For further study here is the link to the Colson Center and this Viewpoint series: http://www.colsoncenter.org/the-center/columns/viewpoint

Participants: T.M. Moore, Dan Elmendorf

The beginning of Advent was this past Sunday (11/30). One question is, why do we celebrate this at this time of the year? Also why do we celebrate in a cyclical manner each year? Is there a rationale for the church year? Is there an inevitability regarding some kind of ordering the church year? Join us as we explore these questions and others. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf

Dr. Tedd Tripp wrote a book on parent's raising their children some years ago and it was entitled: Shepherding a Child's Heart. Today we have the opportunity to talk with Dr. Tripp. How important is the gospel to parenting? What are some of the biggest threats to the Christian home? Join us for an insightful discussion. Participants: Dr. Tedd Tripp, Dan Elmendorf

What were some of the events leading to the establishment of a day of Thanksgiving here in America? What do the original source documents have to say about the Pilgrim's belief in God and His providence? Are there other records which tell of the God-focused emphasis that are part of America's history? Join us for an interesting discussion of this more important American celebration. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Pastor Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf