Crosstalk is your aggregator for news stories that need to be viewed from a Christian perspective. So review this program that's highlighted by news concerning Iran, immigration, abortion, fake meat and much more. For example: --Iran's leadership is increasingly worried that a strike by the U.S. would break its grip on power by driving an already enraged public back into the streets following a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, according to six current and former officials. --On Monday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth asserted that the U.S. military was prepared to pursue aggressive action against Iran if the Islamic republic refused to negotiate with Washington on its nuclear program. --The U.S. military shot down an unmanned Iranian drone Tuesday after it aggressively approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent. --Iran has laid out a vision for a potential war with the U.S., detailing how it believes it could strike U.S. military bases across the Middle East, cripple global energy markets and pressure Washington into backing down. --Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf yesterday, accusing them of smuggling fuel and detaining about 15 foreign crew members ahead of talks taking place with U.S. officials. --Senior U.S. and Iranian officials held negotiations today in Oman. They came against the backdrop of a significant U.S. military build-up and escalating tensions. --President Trump signed a spending bill Tuesday ending the four-day partial government shutdown. --Democrats have spent years insisting that illegal immigrants do not vote.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer is pastor emeritus of The Moody Church where he served as the senior pastor for 36 years. He's the speaker on the Running to Win radio broadcast. Dr. Lutzer is also an award-winning author. Some of his titles include, We Will Not Be Silenced, The Eclipse of God, When a Nation Forgets God, One Minute After You Die and numerous other titles. He returned to Crosstalk to discuss his new book, Why Doesn't God Answer My Prayers? Perhaps you've been in life situations in which you've prayed again and again over days, weeks, months or even years. You've claimed all the right Bible verses, yet it seems like your prayers are just hitting the ceiling or that God's simply not there, indifferent or does not care. If you've ever been in that situation, this Crosstalk is for you. Listen in as Dr. Lutzer explains how his latest book will point you back to Scripture so you can see how the heart of the reader can be turned from despair and despondency to hope and to trust. Points of discussion include: Does prayer really make a difference? What does Dr. Lutzer mean when he says that sometimes we claim promises that God did not make? Are we sometimes deceitful by offering prayers to avoid having to make changes in our lives concerning things that got us into our mess in the first place? What can we learn from Habakkuk, Abraham and Lot regarding prayer? Is an unanswered prayer an unheard prayer? How should we deal with the disappointment of unanswered prayer? Why does God give us so many needs and challenges?

"Timlar Kovalchuk" (Koh-vul-chook) (A pseudonym used to protect him and others.) has been actively involved as a missionary in evangelism for many years to Muslims in Central Asia. Jim began by mentioning a sobering text he recently received from Timlar. It began with Hebrews 13:3: "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." The text also talked about a contact in Central Asia and how 11 brothers in Christ had been martyred. Government forces are raping women and children, especially targeting Christians. Additionally, the main market in Iran was torched to teach a lesson to the merchants whom the Ayatollah blames the uprising on. Timlar brought more details for listeners, noting that believers are always target number one due to the fact that with faith in Christ also comes a love for God's people and Israel. Many are killed, with most being men. The women are violated and their bodies burned to dispose of the evidence. What's going on appears to be at Stalin, Hitler or Mao levels, or as Timlar indicated, it's at least at the beginning stages. So listen to this program and get the on-the-ground information you won't get elsewhere, including Timlar's update on Ukraine.

When something bizarre occurs, it's not unusual to hear someone say, "What in the world?" This is another program in this series that looks at "head scratcher" news stories that may make you say the same thing. Here's a brief selection of examples from the broadcast, some of which also include audio. --Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said that the recent violent confrontations taking place against federal ICE agents are not just resistance, but they're actually about love! --Former CNN host Don Lemon walked free (no bond required) after a judge ordered his release. Keep in mind, as Jim noted, he entered the church, disrupted the service and took issue with the pastor and different worshipers. --On a recent podcast, Don Lemon mentioned that Jesus Christ (admittedly) was not perfect when he was on earth. --Leaked signal chats suggest that American ICE agents may be targeted for assassination with bullseyes appearing on images as Target stores are accused of cooperating with federal immigration officials. --Staff at the Portland Montessori School led very young children in an anti-ICE protest triggering widespread calls for the revocation of any licenses that the school holds. --Chloe Day School, a progressive public pre-school in New York City, staged an anti-ICE protest and held anti-Trump signs in the classroom. --An Islamic scholar in California had a message for Americans. He claimed that no one can stop Islam in America; that this is not your country, this is our country.

Martin Mawyer is president of Christian Action Network. Martin began his career as a journalist for the Religion Today news syndicate and the Washington news correspondent for Moody Monthly magazine. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing. In fact, this is happening so quickly that in some respects, it's taking control. For example, we're already seeing how it's controlling information provided to the public and therefore informing your thinking. It's also having influence over education, medicine, business and even religion. Review this edition of Crosstalk and hear Mawyer as he comments on the many facets of this phenomenon that, while it can be of great benefit to mankind, in the wrong hands could also be deadly. For example, here's a brief list of points he discussed: Moltbook—A social media platform strictly for AI agents to discuss topics with one another. AI bio attacks. How great is the risk? Will AI robots and devices have a universal "brain" whereby they can not only do the service they're designed for, but also harm you? AI generated pornography and the ensnarement of children. The rogue agents involved in the quest for AI. Data centers (gigafactories)--They're being built in many places but will they end up in space as well? Do some AI chatbox models affirm what people want to do, even if what they want to do is harmful to themselves or perhaps others?

Activity and rhetoric over immigration action and policy highlighted the headlines on this edition of the Round-Up. Here are some examples from the broadcast: --Scientists are saying the ominous, symbolic "Doomsday Clock" is at 85 seconds before "midnight." This is the closest it's been to "midnight" since its introduction in 1947. --An Iowa man was given the opportunity to pray for President Trump outside an Iowa restaurant. --Kirk Bangstad, the Wisconsin owner of Minoqua Brewing Company, offers free beer all day long for everyone the day President Donald Trump dies. --Ohio Democratic attorney general candidate Elliot Forhan is facing backlash for saying in a campaign video that he would "kill" President Trump by successfully prosecuting him for crimes and then winning a capital punishment sentence. --A Florida labor and delivery nurse was banned Wednesday from practicing in Florida after posting her online wish that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt would suffer severe bodily harm when giving birth to her baby. --A health care worker appeared to encourage people to intentionally drug ICE agents in a series of recent videos posted online. --During the chaos and violence in the Minneapolis area, a protester bit off the finger of a federal officer. --Governor Tim Walz was at the gate of his mansion urging protesters to keep causing trouble and fighting ICE. Jim provided audio from the governor. --A self described Antifa member in Minneapolis called for armed men to get their boots on the ground to stop immigration officials who he calls mass murderers and fascist occupiers.

The Berlin Wall showed that true freedom is reflected in a society's barriers: walls built to keep people in reveal control, not protection, exposing the gap between claims of democracy and reality.

Robert Knight is a former Los Angeles Times news editor and columnist for the Washington Times as well as other publications. Robert has had senior positions in a number of pro-family organizations. He's written several books including, The Coming Communist Wave: What Happens if the Left Captures All Three Branches of Government, Liberty on the Brink, Crooked: What Really Happened in the 2020 Election and How to Stop the Fraud and The Battle for America's Soul in which he provides 10 Steps to restore Freedom. In this critical election year, Crosstalk reminds you that elections have consequences. The state of Virginia is one notable example because it was on January 17th that Abigail Spanberger was sworn in as the state's 75th governor. Not only did the voters elect this Democrat governor, but they also voted in the lieutenant governor and attorney general. This was in addition to the Democrat controlled general assembly and senate. Combined, this group wasted no time in introducing a hard left agenda that includes: Gerrymandering future elections. Bombarding the citizens with new taxes. Attack life in the womb. Eliminate mandatory minimum sentences. Codify the LGBTQ+ agenda into state statutes. Limiting the periods when officials can check voter registration lists for accuracy. This is some of what was discussed in just the first quarter hour alone. There's much more on this litany of legislation as the program unfolds, and you can hear it all, on this edition of Crosstalk.

Dr. Alton Beal is executive director of DC Gospel Outreach. He is also an evangelist and is President of Ambassador Baptist College. Dr. Beal appeared on Crosstalk to discuss his plan to reach people in our nation's capital with the Gospel as our country celebrates its 250th birthday. Find out how this initiative was birthed as well as his multi-pronged approach to execute this. It includes isolating parts of the National Mall for Gospel literature distribution, developing areas of personal conversation with people, a door hanging packet, prayer tents and more. It's an outreach you'll want to know more about or perhaps become a part of. Get the details when you review this edition of Crosstalk. More Information DC Gospel Outreach 104 – 1 N. Lee St. Shelby, NC 28150 [email protected] 202-844-6773

Alex Newman is an award-winning international freelance journalist, author, researcher, educator and consultant. He is senior editor for The New American as well as co-author of Crimes of the Educators, author of Deep State: The Invisible Government Behind the Scenes and author of, Indoctrinating Our Children to Death. He's founder & CEO of Liberty Sentinel and a national syndicator of radio and TV programs including Behind the Deep State which airs on WVCY television & vcy.tv Last week, the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum was held in Davos, Switzerland. The theme was "The Spirit of Dialogue" as a large number of world, political and executive leaders, as well as investors, attended the event. As you can imagine, the discussion points were many. So join Alex as he comments on new leadership at the World Economic Forum, the Board of Peace, Javier Milei of Argentina, the multi-polar vs. unipolar world order and more. Other discussion points were highlighted by audio clips from individuals such as President Trump who commented on Greenland and Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his mention of a "new world order," Finland's President Alexander Stubb on whether Finland/Europe can defend itself without help from the U.S., Al Gore on incentivizing farmers in the "right" direction and Yuval Noah Harari on artificial intelligence taking over religion. Callers wrapped up the broadcast as they presented their views on this critical issue.