VCY America

Paul Popov is the CEO of Door of Hope International. They are a voice and a helping hand to persecuted Christians worldwide. Paul was born in Bulgaria. When he was five years old, his father, Haralan Popov, a prominent Protestant Minister, was brutally taken from his family by the KGB in 1948 and arrested on false charges of being a "spy for America". Paul's family was branded as "enemies of the state". There are targeted attacks taking place around the world. We saw one unfold just this morning. But targeted attacks have been going on for many, many years and it is often Christians who are in the crosshairs. As a matter of fact, right now there are many Christians who are being persecuted for their faith. Today we will speak with one who has not only experienced persecution, but has also founded an organization that is ministering to the persecuted church. More information: A complimentary copy of "Ruth" can be obtained from Door of Hope International. To receive call 1-877-440-3644 or send your name and address to [email protected]. (Just mention you heard this on Crosstalk.)

Lieutenant Colonel Phill Cochran spent more than two decades flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon. He flew operational missions from Misawa Air Base, Japan in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. Later he trained the next generation of fighter pilots between 1990 and 2013 at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona and Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. His career took him around the world, including Singapore, Africa, Germany, and Korea. Lt. Col. Cochran is the father of seven, and is also a grandfather. He spent 23 years as a pastor. Now retired from military service, he has authored the book, Lessons Learned at the Speed of Sound: A Fighter Pilot's Lessons on Faith, Discipline and Trust. As we read through the Scriptures, we see the Lord Jesus using many illustrations as He taught. He used agriculture by taking examples from a mustard seed, an olive tree, different types of soil and fields that were white unto harvest. He also used illustrations of shepherding, fishing and everyday life - things with which people were familiar. In similar fashion, the apostle Paul used various vocations to drive home spiritual truth in his letters. He compared a minister of the Word to a teacher who passes on Biblical truth to others, a farmer that labors and partakes in the first of his fruits, an athlete that runs the race faithfully and finishes his course with joy and a good soldier that endures hardness. Indeed, we relate to illustrations such as these. Our guest today has written from a vantage point that is unique to him. He was a fighter pilot and has written a devotional book that draws from his everyday experiences with application that presents Biblical truth.

The sermon explores the narrative of Moses in Exodus 24, highlighting the tension between delayed obedience and the necessity of being fully present before God. It argues that physical proximity to the divine, such as climbing the mountain, is insufficient if the mind remains distracted by worldly concerns or the approval of others. The text emphasizes God's patience in re-inviting Moses to intimacy, illustrating that true worship requires setting aside human distractions to focus solely on Christ. By referencing the cloud that covered the mountain, the message urges believers to look away from the worship of men and toward the glory of God. The central call is for Christians to cultivate a deep, undivided devotion that mirrors Moses' forty days of solitude with the Lord.

Worldwide news from a Christian perspective. That's what you'll get each week when you review Crosstalk's Friday News Round-Up & Comment. Here's a sample of what Jim presented this week: --President Trump used the United Nations gathering and the run-up to a White House summit to work through the largest foreign policy files on his desk in one stretch--Iran, Russia, China, artificial intelligence, Greenland, and a contracting global peace organization. Jim provided audio from the president's comments. --Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U.S. and China have extended their trade agreement by 2 months, pushing the new end date to January 10th. --President Trump launched a pointed attack on the International Criminal Court, calling it a "rogue institution." --Jim provided a portion of the remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. --A bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators have called on President Trump to press visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping to end China's persecution of religious minorities. --Chinese President Xi Jinping made history this week as the first Chinese leader to make two formal state visits to the U.S. He arrived with a bold proposal. Send 100,000 U.S. students to study in his communist nation. --Democratic New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell resigned after an independent investigation substantiated sexual harassment and ethics violations against him. --China's President Xi Jinping told President Trump that the world's two largest economies must avoid military confrontation, arguing that they can compete without allowing their rivalry to spiral into war.

We have seen the effects of political correctness run amok in our nation. Even though there is a strong pulling back on the reins at this time, all it takes is for a new administration to open the floodgates wide open. Despite the pulling back on the reins we still see school systems that are indoctrinating children in the doctrines of LGBT. Young children are being influenced through graphic books under the guise of education. In North Carolina a school district has hired a so-called "transgender" male to teach a mandatory class at an elementary school. In Massachusetts a couple is fighting for custody of their daughter from the state, a system that groomed their daughter into believing she is a boy. They are in the heat of the battle as we speak. Many institutions are forcing politically correct pronouns even though they defy biological truth. On this edition of Crosstalk you'll be introduced to a man who was found guilty of "hate" against homosexual men by a Canadian court over flyers he distributed during a Toronto Canada Pride event a decade ago. That man is William Whatcott, a pro-family activist who is now a Canadian refugee in the United States. He's a client of the Pacific Justice Institute who is motivated by his Christian faith to evangelize those who face eternal peril if they refuse to repent. More Information: billwhatcott.wordpress.com

This Crosstalk is another in our "What in the World?" series. These broadcasts include stories of the bizarre or that which is out of the ordinary, where the initial reaction is, "What in the world?" Here are some highlights from the first half of the program: --A drag queen welcomes students back to Portland public schools. --The long-time pastor of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico was recently caught on camera promoting an inclusive translation of the Bible that strips the text of gendered language. --Reverend Jim Rigby, longtime senior pastor at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, was heard saying he doesn't believe in a literal resurrection and that it's symbolic. Jim provided audio of the pastor's remarks. --Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico says adding police and guns to schools will make students less safe. --Texas Democrats have come up with a scheme to pay voters to cast ballots for their candidates. --Jim commented on a pastor who teaches that the Ethiopian eunuch was either transgender, queer or gay. Jim provided audio from the pastor. --A Republican House hopeful got the boot from a Delaware candidate forum after twice refusing to use female pronouns for his transgender Democratic rival. --The U.S. Department of Education is getting involved in the fight over a Massachusetts teen taken away from her parents and potentially being transitioned by the state while in custody. This broadcast wrapped up with comments from listeners nationwide.

Dr. David Brown, Pastor Emeritus of the First Baptist Church in Oak Creek, has a Masters in Theology and a Ph.D in History, specializing in the history of the English Bible. In addition to his study of the English Bible, he's also president of Logos Communications Consortium. For years he has conducted research on witchcraft, the occult, fantasy role playing games and The Dark Side of Halloween. Note this from I Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Satan is subtle. Scripture refers to him as the "god of this world", as "the prince of the power of the air" as "the father of lies" as a "destroyer", as one who is "the deceiver of the whole world," and yet as one who transforms himself "as an angel of light." With this in mind, this edition of Crosstalk comes as a warning concerning a new series coming out first on Freeform then on Disney+, Hulu, and Freeform On Demand. It's called Coven Academy which reportedly "follows three teenage witches and their dangerously charming warlock peers an at elite magic school where power is currency, secrets are lethal, and attraction is a liability." So become informed and hear the background of the characters behind Coven Academy, excerpts from the trailer, why the concepts of good witches/bad witches and white magic/black magic are false, and finally how Scripture clearly shows that this program is promoting the occult. More Information: Offer: Principles for Determining What is Acceptable is available for a donation of $2.00. Send your donation to: First Baptist Church, P.O Box 151, Oak Creek, WI 53154.

Debbie Wuthnow is President of iVoterGuide, a division of American Family Association Action. Debbie joined iVoterGuide in 2011 and was named President in 2018. They provide information on many thousands of candidates in thousands of races nationwide. Once again our nation is at a crossroads, and in just 6 weeks on Election Day, Tuesday November 3rd, those who show up to vote will significantly impact the direction we head. Notice that said, "those who show up to vote?" Because there is a huge segment in our country that does not vote, and tragically, Christians are among them. It doesn't take long to recognize there is a clash of values between the candidates with two completely different paths and two different worldviews. Will we reaffirm commitment to our Constitutional Republic, or will we advance the cause of Socialism? Will we protect the life of the pre-born or will we advance abortion to the moment of birth? Will we follow the pathway of biological boys competing against girls or will we recognize that God created male and female? Will we take steps to stack the United States Supreme Court or will we just stay the course with 9 justices? There are different values, different beliefs and different goals. The issues are too significant to sit this one out. And by the way, did you know early voting in some states has begun? More information: ivoterguide.com [email protected] 662-821-2024

This sermon examines the sequence of events in Exodus 24 to illustrate the danger of allowing good activities to displace the primary command of God. The central message is that while preaching, building, youth ministry, and consecration are valuable, they become detours when they replace the time God specifically invites believers to spend in His presence. The text contrasts Moses' busy schedule with the simple, direct invitation to ascend the mountain for intimate fellowship, highlighting that spiritual busyness is not a substitute for spiritual intimacy. The tone is pastoral and instructive, urging listeners to evaluate their own priorities and ensure that their relationship with God remains the foundation of their ministry and daily life.