Join hosts Mike Gallagher and Mark Davis as they delve into the chaotic aftermath of the recent Central Texas floods. They explore the political narratives emerging around Trump's policies, discuss decisions about evacuations, and highlight the inevitable blame game that follows such disasters. With insights into how authorities respond to repeated weather warnings, they challenge listeners to consider the complexities of risk management and crisis response. In addition, the episode touches upon the pressing issue of identity theft, illustrated by a personal story of a compromised gift card. Throughout the conversation, Mike and Mark provide practical advice on avoiding scams and stress the importance of donating to verified charities. As they pivot to a discussion on Elon Musk's unsettling political movements, they unpack its implications for the Republican Party and the upcoming midterm elections. In a candid and engaging dialogue, Mike and Mark tackle how political shifts can sway perceptions and outcomes, while urging listeners to stay vigilant against online fraud. Don’t miss their in-depth analysis of the social climate as it relates to both expected political changes and unforeseen natural disasters.
SPEAKER 01 :
Mike Gallagher. Every day, Mike visits with Mark Davis, morning host on 660 AM, The Answer in Dallas. Here's today's Eminem experience.
SPEAKER 03 :
There will be an immediate declaration, a narrative emerging that Trump's cuts with Doge and trying to improve efficiency and cut government fraud, waste, and abuse led to this. And the usual suspects lined up, Rosie O'Donnell, all the rest of them. By the way, poor Rosie. She left the country to get away from it all, and she can't get away from it because she's got her nose buried in social media and cutting videos denouncing Trump and Republicans and the country. Why don't you go live your life, lady? You're in another country now. But anyway, there was Rosie and everybody lining up. Millions will die. Millions will die. Here we go again. And the narrative out of Kerrville is just not true. They were overstaffed. There were notifications. The National Weather Service gave plenty of notice. But do you know how many times they get flood watches and warnings in Central Texas? Happens all the time. Happens all the time. And this was, unfortunately, a worst-case scenario.
SPEAKER 02 :
That's what took me to the 2020 hindsight that I was talking about just before you and I spoke, is if there were a time machine possible to go back. I mean, during the... Leading into the evening hours, it was overnight, of course, July 3rd and 4th, where all this happened is in the wee hours of July 4th. Do you evacuate a camp with 800 kids in it? Because, hey, here comes another strong storm. And the short answer is no. Probably not. They didn't know. Or if they had, people said, well, it would have seemed like an overreaction.
SPEAKER 03 :
But the finger pointing is inevitable and I get that and there's going to be a lot of blame game stuff going on. Right now we need to try to help this community get through this devastation, this trauma, this terrible grief, and it's just heartbreaking. So stay tuned. We're going to reach out to Prison Fellowship later this morning, this afternoon, try to figure out what we can do maybe to help this community try to heal and recover.
SPEAKER 02 :
And look out for the scammers, because especially on places like Wild West environments like Facebook, They'll be like, hey, if you want to help Central Texas, go find me. No, no, no. Every major newspaper, major TV stations, major radio stations have a number of valid places where you can go. In fact, some prison legislators, Jared Patterson and a couple of other folks, have set up specific, very valid places to send your charitable dollars.
SPEAKER 03 :
Prison fellowship is not a scammer. Prison fellowship is very legitimate. Prison fellowship is extremely credible, and that's why I'm hoping that maybe we can, Put something together. Incidentally, a quick note about identity theft. And be aware of this kind of stuff. We got a wonderful guy here, just a sidebar here in Tampa Bay, Robert Haley, who's our chief engineer here. And he did a big effort to build out a TV studio for us. We have new monitors and lighting and all kinds of cool stuff in our studio. And the company wanted to reward him. And they had me go out to a grocery store and get some gift cards to give him as a show of thanks. How nice. One of the cards was $500. He activates it. You know how gift cards are like sealed in a piece of cardboard? Right. He opens it up, peels it open, activates it, says $500. He and his wife go from their house to the vet to do some vet services and pay with the card. The card's been completely wiped clean. There's a bunch of Chinese... transactions. These are like from China for PayPal.
SPEAKER 02 :
And this is like a gift card and not like a Chili's gift card or a Home Depot gift card. It's a Visa gift card. A credit card looking type gift card.
SPEAKER 03 :
Sealed in an envelope, sealed in cardboard. And from the time he activated it to the time he went to the vet, which was a half hour, they had hacked into that card and wiped it out. And now we got a nightmare because, you know, try to deal with the Visa gift card company. It's like a third party. partying. So just be aware, always have your eyes wide open, head on a swivel when it comes to identity theft. All right, let's dive in. Let's take two minutes to talk about Elon. Let's do it. because we got and you and i are coming off of what a weekend i hope you i know you guys had a wonderful vacation i went back to charleston and just loved charleston and what a great american city and it's hot as blazes but it was fun we had a great just had a nice relaxing relaxing and i got to watch a lot of tv i watched the big beautiful bill i was you know biting my nails down to the wire. What a long story that is. We get into the Thomas Massey's of the world and it's pushing back. But the big beautiful bill is now reality. It has evidently set Elon off into the stratosphere like one of his rockets. He has gone ballistic. And did you see Trump's post about how sad he is that Elon has gone off the rails.
SPEAKER 02 :
He didn't come out and flame at him or make up a nickname for him or savage him or dash him against the rocks. He's just like, it's kind of like a wayward child. Like, this is just sad that this has happened.
SPEAKER 03 :
He's just disappointed. And I don't know what's going on with this guy. MAGA has embraced Elon. We celebrated him joining the Trump train. We defended him when the left tried to cancel him. And in a sense, you know where I'm going with this. When he goes after Trump, and he is brutally going after Trump. There's no way around this. He's coming after us. He's coming after MAGA.
SPEAKER 02 :
But the child metaphor still works. Because he's brilliant, but he's a big, giant baby. And this is no more significant than when your 8-year-old is thrown a tantrum because he won't eat his peas. I know it's a bigger deal, and you are concerned about the third party.
SPEAKER 03 :
He is not an insignificant person, Mark. He's a very significant guy with a lot of clout and a lot of power, and I think you minimize the ability for him to do damage at your own peril.
SPEAKER 02 :
I don't want anything to throw shade at Republican and conservative unity. Here's why the Elon third party will fail as much as almost. In 1992, there was huge dissatisfaction with both nominees, questions and dissatisfaction. People are mad at George Bush 41, and they didn't quite know what to think about Clinton, so that's how Perot gets 19%. None of that's happening here. Democrats don't know what to do, but Republicans are thrilled. We've rarely been happier. An Elon America Party candidate will be way too conservative for the left, and as far as conservatives go, we ain't sure.
SPEAKER 03 :
shopping we're not looking the number of conservatives who are are disheartened is extremely small there is nowhere to go at the starting gate for this stupid third party that's earth logic you're using earth logic and you're not appreciating the fact that this would definitely hurt the republican party there's no way around it it's not a good thing but i don't think it will And I and I and I look, I want you to be right. You don't make don't make it. But I know a lot of people said the same thing about Ross Perot and Ross Perot delivered Bill Clinton to this country. Correct. Period. And Elon Musk and Elon Musk could deliver a liberal Democrat for eight years in an extremely close election.
SPEAKER 02 :
Even every little bit of mischief. You're right. I feel that's right.
SPEAKER 03 :
And I'm not I'm not sure that a slam dunk is in the cards for the midterms. This could impact the midterms in a big way. And that's apparently what he wants to do. He's got some bizarre. He doesn't really want to target the White House, but he wants to target two or three congressional seats.
SPEAKER 02 :
You've got to have candidates. You've got to have real people. You can't beat something with nothing. This is a real person. You don't fall in with Elon's party.
SPEAKER 03 :
all right this is the same guy who told me biden isn't going to step aside so it's true i pray for them to come back together again and i saw one report over the weekend that they were going to meet at mar-a-lago i thought please lord let that be true Because this is not good, Mark. It's not good on any level.
SPEAKER 02 :
And Elon has to understand that with the rockets and the Teslas and the AI, he's a genius and has all that proper regard. But politically, Elon's a big deal politically for one reason, and that reason is Donald Trump. And if he burns that bridge, his political clock burns with it, too.
SPEAKER 01 :
Download the podcast and hear all of Mike and Mark's conversations at MikeOnline.com for the Eminem Experience.
SPEAKER 03 :
The Eminem Experience. Subscribe to the Mike Gallagher Show podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for joining us. Have a great day. Be safe. Keep fighting the good fight. I'm Mike Gallagher. God bless America.
Journey through history with Don Crawford, as we revisit the Declaration of Independence and its powerful proclamation that all men are created equal. This episode illuminates the complexities and contradictions of freedom in its earliest conception and questions the integrity of those foundational ideals in today's society. Join us as we reflect on the enduring legacy and relevance of these principles, urging us to reconnect with the true meaning of liberty and patriotism.
SPEAKER 01 :
The Crawford Stand. Last week we celebrated what some call the birthday of the divided states of America. This week the president of Crawford Broadcasting Company, Don Crawford, talks about what the founding 56 declared to the King of England, which birthed the greatest nation the world has ever seen.
SPEAKER 02 :
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. Again, we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. What a great way to address the King of England, don't you think, who obviously disagreed. Unfortunately, this strong assertion of a natural right left out two things. First, it should have been all men and all women are created equal. Secondly, the founding fathers, brilliant as they were, conveniently seemed to forget the fact that slavery, the enslavement of black men and women, existed in the colonies, and these men and women were surely not equal. But the target, the enemy, was the king, and these men, 56 of them, from 13 different colonies, were determined to live free and sever all ties with Great Britain. At the beginning of the Declaration of Independence, indeed a masterful political document which was constructed by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776, the 56 Founding Fathers made this statement, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Great words, are they not? If only America today meant them. These 56 men were determined to confront the King of England with the fact that there were inalienable rights, or they called them unalienable rights, for all mankind, and they were ignored by Great Britain and by the King himself. But those rights were the natural rights which were given by God. The founders called him the Creator, And those unalienable rights could not be changed or reduced, much less eliminated in any way. That the King of England intended to do. Those rights were part of the birthing process of all men and all women. If you were born, you were born with them. They are not derived from or given from government, but, one could say, they were part of the DNA of every human being. They were determined, these 56 men, that the 13 colonies and all who came thereafter would enjoy these rights and these privileges, including, and especially among others, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They are yours and they are mine. All. All should be able to live life as they choose, accumulate their fortunes, and enjoy the fruits of their labors and earnings without oppressive taxation or forfeiture of property or monies. All, all should be entitled to everything which liberty entails, including all the rights and freedoms which were later, in 1787, embodied in the Constitution of the United States, that great document of 1789. All are entitled to the pursuit of happiness, however that individual defines happiness, and all such rights and privileges are unconditional, unconditional, with one exception, just one. That is, that those rights cannot turn from freedoms to mere licenses, with respect to behavior, and cannot diminish or conflict the rights of others. No one has rights superior to those of anyone else. All great stuff. Great, great, great stuff. Without the freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, there can be no freedom of religion. You are aware of that, are you not? And that's what the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees. Those freedoms are essential to the expression and the practice and the belief of true religion. And, of course, they are essential. They are foundational to the great First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of petition, and freedom of assembly. More basic rights. More birthing rights. More DNA rights. And never conveyed or instituted by government itself. Never. 11 years later in 1787, that is 11 years after the Declaration of Independence, these 56 founders and their successors, the authors of the Declaration, met once again in Philadelphia. And in 1787 began the drafting of the Constitution of the United States, which was issued as a formal document in 1789. The broad and incredible language of the Constitution is illuminated, is governed, is directed by the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence. Oh, you should read that. It's short, but it's so well worthwhile. The seminal passage in the Declaration is so very important. We hold these truths to be self-evident. Again, we hold these truths to be self-evident. Self-evident. Apparently to a whole lot of people, but not to the King of England. The declaration of these truths and these rights came from the long tradition of natural law. which holds, says the 56 Founding Fathers, that there is a higher law of right and wrong from which human law should be derived. Therefore, government, any government, would be instituted with the primary purpose to secure those rights, those natural rights, those unalienable rights, those self-evident rights, chief of which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Oh, thank God for them. How unfortunate today that so many of those rights and privileges and truths are taken for granted, assumed, unappreciated. Perhaps they never will be fully understood or appreciated until such time as they may be taken away. Then we would really appreciate them, would we not? Those 56 men who were the authors of the Declaration of Independence told the 13 colonies and the world at large at the end of this great document that this very sacred oath existed. And for the support, they said, of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. Isn't that great? Oh, today if Americans, if we the people, would only pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor in the defense of the greatest nation in the history of mankind, what a different America it would be. Those 56 men were so determined to effectuate the freedom of the colonies, the freedoms in which they believed for them and all mankind, the freedom from Great Britain, and the freedom among many others to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They were willing to give their lives for all of that. They pledged those lives for that purpose. They were willing to die if necessary to achieve these goals. I doubt that too many Americans are willing to die today to keep those freedoms alive. But they were willing to give up everything. Everything. And most importantly, perhaps, they would never deviate in any way from this freedom mission. Never. And that was real patriotism. Oh, how wonderful it would be if that were once again to be the pledge, the oath, the statement of the sacred honor of close to 400 million Americans. Oh, I pray for that. We, the privileged people who live in and enjoy the fruits and blessings of this great country, what are we willing to give in return for those wonderful freedoms and those wonderful rights? What? Unfortunately, the day may come, the day may be near, in fact, when we who love freedom will need indeed to give our lives, our lives and our fortunes, and all we have for the freedoms we so richly enjoy. Are you willing to do that? Are you? Oh, thank you, America, for everything we enjoy, for the blessings of this life, which are absolutely incredible. And may I say with all my heart, and I hope you the same, God bless America. God bless America.
SPEAKER 01 :
That address again is stand at Crawford Media Group dot net. I hope you'll write to Mr. Crawford this week. When you want to review what you hear, go to our website, CrawfordMediaGroup.net. The Crawford Stand is a public affairs presentation of Crawford Broadcasting Company and this station, serving God and country. I'm Bill McCormick.
In this episode, explore the evolving role of AI technology in finance and its influence on the future of automotive industries with groundbreaking developments from companies like X-Ping. From Tesla’s political entanglements to the energy demands of AI advancements, discover the multifaceted dynamics at play in today’s investment scene.
SPEAKER 01 :
He's been seen on CNBC, the Fox News Channel, and the Fox Business Channel. His articles can be found on MarketWatch, Seeking Alpha, TheStreet.com, and many other places. He's the author of the weekly Best Stocks Now newsletter and the inventor of the Best Stocks Now app. He's president of Gundersen Capital Management. Here is professional money manager Bill Gundersen.
SPEAKER 03 :
And welcome to the Monday morning. Welcome back from a three-day weekend. This is Bill Gunderson. This is the Best Stocks Now show. And, well, we're back to work here today on this Monday. And we had a little tariff rhetoric over the weekend. And it has roiled the markets here so far. We've got the Dow down minus 134 points. Actually, 118 now. The NASDAQ is at 20,482. But let's not forget, it hit a new high, all-time high on Friday. We've got the S&P 500 down 25. It also hit a new all-time high on Friday. It's at 6,254. Some pretty lofty levels. The Dow, which hasn't quite hit its all-time high, but it's not too far from it. It's down 134 today.
SPEAKER 1 :
44,693.
SPEAKER 03 :
The small caps down about 70 basis points today. The bond market, you're up a little bit. A couple basis points on the 10-year. Three basis points now to 4.37%. Gold is soft again today. Gold is down three-quarters of a percent. It's down to 33.19. I thought maybe with the tariff rhetoric it would be heating up a little, but no, it's not. Crude oil is up a half a percent to 67.37. It's showing some signs of life, but... None of these rallies lately have been sustainable. And last but not least, Bitcoin is down $607,000 to $108,080. So welcome to today's Best Stocks Now show with professional money manager Bill Gunderson. And I'm here with Jeff Webster. Our vice president, Barry Kite, has I think the whole week off. I think he's on a cruise. I hope he's not going to the Bermuda Triangle, Jeff. You don't want to avoid that. You want to avoid that cruise for sure. But anyways, we're glad to have Jeff with us. We did hit new highs in the market on Friday. New all-time highs. And then guess what? The markets just can't seem to not be roiled in one way or another. And all of the tariff rhetoric heated up. Now, I don't watch the Sunday political shows, Jeff, but apparently there was a lot of tariff talk and tariff threats. And right now it's aimed at the BRICS. Yeah, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Those are the BRICS. And Trump is threatening an extra 10% if they want to be anti-American and try to change the world currency to their currency and this and that. And there's also several countries. Japan, for one, is still hung up on some things. The Eurozone is still hung up on some things. Canada came around last week, gave up on that digital tax. But a deal is not solved there yet. Mexico is still out there. Thailand is still out there. This has become that area of Southeast Asia. Remember when everybody was going to China in the tech world to open up factories and plants and whatnot? Now that hub seems to be Vietnam, Thailand, Southeast Asia. Those are the emerging markets now. and those are still kind of hung up on the trade deal, which July 9th is Wednesday, but I think we heard from Besson over the weekend that now we're talking August 1st, and a letter is going out today to all the unsettled countries with their new tariff rate. Okay, guys, if you don't solve this, if we don't resolve this by August the 1st, this is where your tariff rate will be. So I would expect to see some deals made this weekend or this week. I would expect that now that everybody's back to work, I would expect to see some finalization on some of these deals because, you know, look, I mean, it's unpalatable, 25%. tariff on the cars. Think of how many cars. Toyota is the number one car seller in the world. I don't think they can live with 25% tariff, so they're going to have to give somewhere. Our big chip seems to be wheat. We want them buying our wheat and other farm supplies. I read this morning, Jeff, guess who the second biggest importer of wheat is in the world? It happens to be Indonesia. I guess they don't grow a lot of wheat. I guess their land is not really made for wheat farming down there. But, boy, I remember we used to go to Montana every summer and spend some time with Uncle Neil up there in Ennis, Montana. All of our relatives up there were wheat farmers there. That Montana red winter wheat is some beautiful stuff. And Idaho and, of course, the Midwest. And Indonesia is offering to buy more wheat if they can get a lower tariff rate. And, you know, that's become another major hub in the world is Indonesia. In fact, it's become a tech hub down there. So, you know, this interconnected world and all of these supply chains and everything, they've really shifted over the years. And that's why all of these deals are kind of, it kind of needs to have a reset because things have changed so much recently. So anyways, Trump going after the countries that are aligning with anti-American policies. That was on Sunday evening. And before I retired to bed last night, Jeff, I checked two things. The Padres score, and they were on national TV playing the Texas Rangers. Our old manager, Bruce Bochy, who we gave up on, you know, and then he goes to San Francisco to win several World Series. But the Padres did win, and then I check on those futures. They looked pretty nasty last night. I said, you know, I better get a good night's sleep here. It could be a little bit of a dicey day, and apparently it's because of Trump with the rhetoric talk.
SPEAKER 08 :
uh versus the brick comp the bricks well i was thinking bill you know so first of all the deadline was going to be july 9th it looks like they're pushing out to august 1st um you know there's this continual kind of pushing out the the penalty date if you will uh at some point you wonder when the line is going to become official in the sand uh again where i think we're all hoping for uh positive uh resolution with with all of our trading partners yeah but then i look at i look at the bricks you know and so of course the big guys in there are russia and uh and china yeah then you you have india and then you have brazil and south africa and i'm like okay The Brazilians, are they more interested in aligning with the Chinese and Russians or with the United States? I'm not exactly certain. You know, we get a lot of crude products, soy products, some sugar. Beef and poultry comes from Brazil. And then, of course, you know, one of our favorite stocks, Embraer, You know, airline, aircraft manufacturing company is there. And then, of course, from India, you know, we've got our pharmaceuticals, our diamonds and things like that, textiles. You know, South Africa is going to be primarily, you know, mining items. Gold, platinum diamonds, ore, coal, those types of things. But I would think those... Countries, you know, want to stay aligned with us as opposed to becoming misaligned. Well, you can say.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, well, and I mean, there's political alignment and then there's economic alignment. And Brazil has definitely become, I mean, the people voted in a socialist in Lula. So they're more in line with Russia and China as far as politics go. But as far as I doubt that Russia is buying much of Brazil's products, China probably is. So you've got that, too. And, you know, you've also had recently in the BRICS, you've had Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates that have joined the BRIC nation. So they're pretty big. It's like everybody except the U.S. is now a member of the BRICS. So we'll just see where it lands. What's more important to them, the political alignment or the economic alignment? I would think the economic alignment carries a big weight. But I'm starting to think that August 1st is a pretty hard deadline. There may be exceptions, yes, but I think that the tariffs are going to reset on August 1st. Lutnick said that this is it. He confirmed, but he says we'll have most countries done by July 9th. Well, Jeff, that's Wednesday, so keep your fingers crossed. We'll be right back. And welcome back here to the second quarter of today's Best Docs Now show. Well, the letters went out, okay? The letters went out. Trump signed, how many letters did he sign last night? I think I read 12 here. Trump said that any country aligning itself, okay, 10% extra tariff, and he sent the letters out last night, so they're going to get them today, and hopefully that we, Trump said, I'm pleased to announce that the United States tariff letters and our deals with various countries from around the world will be delivered starting 12 p.m. on Monday. He had signed roughly a dozen letters, okay, and they will start to pay on August 1st, the tariff. The money will start coming into the United States in pretty much all cases on August 1st, he told reporters on Friday. Okay, and of course, Morgan Stanley. They're warning that if tariffs do rise aggressively, it could reinforce Morgan Stanley's softer economic outlook. They're forecasting 1% GDP growth year-over-year by Q4 2025. That's if. if the tariffs aggressively. The market's starting the week in a new quarter and the second half of the year with a couple of problems. It always has problems, but overvalued is, you know, nothing to take for granted. You're at 22.43 forward P.E. ratio today. when the long-time average is more around 19.9%. So you've got a significant premium built into the market right now, mostly on momentum, which has taken over the market. The valuation is pretty full right now. You know, most people, the most aggressive S&P target prices for the next 12 months are up around 6,500. Well, we're at 6,200 right now. I mean, what are we going to do for 12 months? Are we going to go up 300 points? Or is momentum going to carry us beyond the mark? We'll just have to see. Momentum is a tough one to really calculate and predict. I mean, it shows up mostly in the technical charts. And we finished the week last week with some pretty strong momentum still in place with a lot of the leadership stocks still leading. But they are expensive. There's no question about it. And if anything comes along, like this tariff talk, you can see how quickly the momentum, the wind can be taken out of the sales of the market. And valuation starts to come to the forefront a little more. And that is a problem. And I would also say that the market is overbought. You know, one of my indicators is my own Best Stocks Now app and how many stocks are ranked B-plus or better, which most of those stocks are B-plus or better based on momentum. You've got 1,300 out of 5,300. That's a high, I think, for the year. 1,300 B-plus or better. A healthy market has more like 400, 500 that are kind of leading the way. But right now, the demand for stocks... Outstripping supply, creating momentum, and that's a bit of a problem that you have to be worried about, especially as it relates to the high flyers. Thailand offers more trade concessions. Okay, imagine Thailand is now a big hub. to avert a 36% U.S. tariff. Obviously, they can't live with that, and they are aggressively negotiating with the U.S. Hopefully, that will be won. that we can solve by july the 9th we'll see the asia stocks are sliding as uh as the tariffs are getting ready to take place let's just check in on china here today which that now that deal is done That one's been put to bed and signed, but it's some of the other Southeast Asia. China's actually up a half a percent today, so that's not too bad. Let's check on Vietnam, which actually has an ETF now. They have several companies over there, including the... It's up 1.4%, so things are kind of looking up here. Indonesia also has an ETF that I keep track on. So that's kind of the hot spot in the world right now as the Middle East kind of steps back a little bit. Iran steps back a little bit. And now the focus is on that Southeast Asia. Tesla is not having a good day. Do you think that Elon has backed himself in a corner here? He's kind of made both sides mad now.
SPEAKER 08 :
now that he's formed his his new party the american party seems like he he's the the left man and the right what what do you do if you're elon musk jeff i don't know it's like i look at i look at his and the investors and i think they're a little frustrated with the fact that that he wants to do that it's like dude focus on your company focus on uh you know getting getting things uh squared away with your responsibility and stewardship of running that organization and looking after us as shareholders. So I think they're a little frustrated with that. Conversely, his perspective is like, hey, I'm so rich that I can do and say pretty much anything I wanted. Yeah, what are you going to do about it? I think that put Will in a sideways position with him as well.
SPEAKER 03 :
Where his shareholders aren't so rich that he can say anything. Exactly. Because look at the stock today. It's down 6.4%. I've just avoided Tesla. I just avoid the stock because of that added element of controversy that you have that makes it very volatile and very much news-driven, headline-driven. Tesla stocks slide 6.4%. as Elon Musk launches the America Party amid a feud with Trump. And if you're going to choose somebody to feud with, you know, you probably picked the wrong guy. I mean, he does have a lot of say over, you know, whether or not you're going to get a $7,500, which isn't part of the bill. There's not going to be no more incentive for buying Trump. An electric car. So, you know what? I mean, I don't see the third party being a big risk. I see it being a bigger problem for the shareholders. And I do see that there's some action today by the board of directors. maybe wanting to get involved to try to cool him down. He spent $300 million to help Trump get into office, but then that backfired when the bill, the big beautiful bill, went against his role at Doge, number one, and also erased his hefty EV tax credits, which that's been a major driver of profits for the carmaker. You know, those credits, they kind of rely on that. If you're looking at a bunch of cars on a car lot and you get a $7,500 credit on this one versus that one, that does make a difference. Okay, when we come back, it's going to be a big week. Competing retailers, Amazon and Walmart, are going to both have a huge sales event towards the end of this week. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER 04 :
This is Bill Gunderson.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thank you for tuning in to today's Best Stocks Now, Best Inverse Funds Now show. I put several hours of research in during the wee hours of the morning each day to bring you the very best cutting-edge stories that I can. To get two free weeks of my newsletter, go to GundersonCapital.com. To talk to us about our fee-based only money management services, call us at 855-611-BEST. Now, back to the second half of the show. Call out the instigator Because there's something in the air
SPEAKER 05 :
We've got to get together sooner or later.
SPEAKER 03 :
And welcome back here to the second half of today's Best Stocks Now show. Well, the markets haven't moved much since we started the show. They're still down. You're down 50 basis points, a half a percent on the Dow, half a percent on the S&P 500, and 66 basis points on the NASDAQ. So I would say it's... Remember the tariff talks that we had that sent the market down to S&P down to 4,800 back on, I think it was March the 8th of this year or April the 8th. Maybe it was April the 8th. And here we are back into tariff talk. But in the meantime, we had good jobs reports last week. I'm not seeing any weakness at all as it relates to the jobless claims. As it relates to the new jobs created, the jobs market remains strong. There seems to be no hint of a recession. I saw one thing out there that's a little troubling. The freight, the freight, trucking, the trucking. They're saying that things have fallen off and they're not moving as much freight and sales of new trucks anymore. Class 8 truck orders slide in June amid freight demand softness and elevated cancellations. So, you know, I've got to believe that that's a little bit involved with the tariff war that's taken place. where some of that freight is being held up, or it was held up, and it may just be a little bit of a follow-through to the issues we had, where freight was actually parked there at the dock for quite some time before it was unloaded. But I think that's going to right itself pretty soon here. We'll see. Hopefully this will be a big week in the trade deals. The euro area is doing okay. Retail sales rise better than expected. But I've got to say this. Look, the first half of the year was all about European stocks. They were up 21%. And I've never, ever seen the leading sector, 66 sectors that I have the market broken down into. I've never seen European banks, European financials leading the way. Even a lot of the tech stocks in Europe, like SAP and others, Rolls-Royce had a big first half. I don't see that continuing into the second half. I think a lot of money went that direction. Because of the fear of the tariffs, it wanted to just kind of get on the sidelines but still be in the market. And a lot of money went into China the first half of the year. It outperformed our market. It was up about 20%. And a lot of money obviously went into gold in the first half of the year. As it had a big run to new all-time highs, I don't see that continuing in the second half of this year. I think everything's going to even out a little bit more. In fact, I would expect to see the U.S. markets outperform the European markets today. They just have such slow growth. Dow Chemical is shutting down three plants in Europe as the region struggles. So we're talking Germany. We're talking the center of productivity there. They're a big chunk of that economy over there. It's not really doing very well. It's just barely, barely growing. Well, on the other side of the aisle of Elon Musk, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, he's a billionaire. He's a multi-billionaire. Maybe we could call him the father of AI. I don't know. He certainly had a lot to do with it. He is politically homeless in a post criticizing the Democrats. He expressed disappointment with the Democratic Party on Friday, saying he finds himself politically homeless. He believes in techno-capitalism. He says we should encourage people to make tons of money and then also find ways to widely distribute wealth. I'm all for that. I think that the stronger the economy is, I do think it benefits most people. And he wants to share the magic of compounding. He says you can't keep raising the floor without raising the ceiling for very long. And he's especially going after the guy in New York City. Zoran Mamdami, who says we shouldn't have any billionaires out there. Mamdami said we should not have billionaires. Frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately what we need is more equality across our city and across our state and across our country. So, anyways, Altman is 40 years old. Maybe he'll start his own party, the techno-capitalist party, right?
SPEAKER 08 :
The AI party.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, the AI party. Hey, I was talking to a software program. Yeah, go ahead.
SPEAKER 08 :
No, I was going to say, over the weekend, I listened to a podcast that included a fellow by the name of Roman Yoplansky, a very, very smart computer scientist. He is an AI safety researcher. And he was talking about the dangers of AI and how AI could literally, you know, take over our lives. And, you know, the host was challenging him on that. He goes, well, think about it. He says, from an AI perspective, how many of us can get from... point X to our house without utilizing our Google or Apple Maps application. He said it's taken over our life, but it was quite interesting. As a scientist who's in favor of the technology but also feels like he has the stewardship to make certain that as a people we're protected against how AI could really morph into something Quite dangerous. I'm trying to remember the name of the movie that came out where Powell was this product that kind of took over everything. Powell? Powell?
SPEAKER 05 :
Yes, it was basically... Jerome Powell?
SPEAKER 08 :
He's going to... Powell, Powell. H-A-L-L-R.
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, Powell.
SPEAKER 08 :
Okay, H-A-L-L-R. And it was a mock on IBM at the time, and this was a movie from 30 or 40 years ago about how it was taking over things, so... He is a little bit like, hey, we need to harness this technology. Or it could get out of control. I'm not exactly certain if that would ever happen.
SPEAKER 03 :
It scares me a little, I've got to be honest. There's some scary parts about it. I talked to a programmer yesterday for one of the airlines, Southwest Airlines. I said, are you worried about AI taking over your job? He said, oh, I don't know if AI is going to be flying airplanes anytime soon. I said, I hope not. I hope you're right. And speaking of movies, I did not know that this big hit movie, I want to go see it, F1, which is about Formula One racing. My brother down in Texas is a big, big fan of Formula One racing. Those cars are just so awesome, those Formula One cars.
SPEAKER 08 :
You'll love it, Bill. Lisa and I saw it on Thursday night.
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, really?
SPEAKER 08 :
It's very, very good. But it's been a while since there's been a good movie out there on the big screen, you know, from my perspective. And this is one that's long. It's two and a half hours long.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay, well, you know who's behind the movie, right? Apple. This is an Apple product. So they have their first blockbuster. And let's check. Apple stock has been trying to make some headway. Maybe this will be their iron in the fire here is getting some hit movies going. But Apple is down three quarters of a percent. But yes, it's got to be a loud movie. Should I wear earplugs to the movie? Well, you need to be able to hear some of the dialogue, but I think you'll enjoy it. Brad Pitt, too. I like Brad Pitt. He's one of my favorite actors. I've got to go see it. Okay, Tesla is downgraded by William Blair due to changes in the EV tax credits and incentives. I'm all... I'm just not a fan of Tesla stock. I really am not. And, you know, I keep hearing that there's going to be a game changer with RoboTaxi and a game changer with the cheap EV car. But, you know, there's just a lot of other issues involving Tesla right now. Xping over in China. And that's one of the issues that makes me a little bit hesitant on Tesla is he didn't have much competition for a long time. I remember, well, maybe 15 years ago or so, GoPro... made this giant splash with those little cameras, those little movie cameras. And that thing went to the moon for a while. It was the hot stock. And I kept saying to myself, you know, it's just a matter of time before competition comes into the market. And now GoPro, you know, that stock has been crushed, obviously. I kind of see that same dynamic a little bit with Tesla. They had it all to themselves, basically, for so long. And now he's got headaches with all these Chinese entries. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER 04 :
White bird in a golden cage On a winter's day You've got to go where you want to go, do what you want to do, and live whoever you want.
SPEAKER 03 :
And welcome back here to the final segment of today's Best Docs Now show. Two more stories in AI involving individual companies here. X-Ping, which is one of the Chinese EV manufacturers, they jolt the electric vehicle sector with its new SUV powered by a Turing AI chip. The reason that is such big news, number one, it puts them light years ahead of Tesla as far as computing power for the autonomous vehicle. Number two, it goes around NVIDIA. NVIDIA was the leader in the chips for autonomous driving. They had their own chip that they're developing and have out there on the market. But X-Ping came up with their own chip. Listen to this story. Now, okay, we were just debating about, you know, the AI. This chip, it's a little faster than our brains, Jeff. It can do 700 trillion operations per second per chip. $700 trillion in a second.
SPEAKER 08 :
What was the latest reading on your brain? Mine was just about $6 trillion, so you're right, it is a little bit faster.
SPEAKER 03 :
I couldn't remember my grandson's name on the 4th of July. I had to think about it for a minute. I finally... Yeah, you know what?
SPEAKER 1 :
$700,000.
SPEAKER 03 :
That's just unbelievable. This SUV is going to cost $27,325. That's another headache for Tesla. He doesn't have anything down in that range, especially an SUV. With this new Turing chip, which is a game changer, it's set to represent a major leap in automotive AI offering unprecedented computing power and efficiency tailored for autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit systems. I mean, you're talking about a map to get to a restaurant in Somerville on our car, but imagine how much further... That's like baby talk, you know, talking us there when we've got this kind of capability. Okay, a couple others here that I want to mention. I want to mention another AI stock here in a minute. But over the weekend, I read an article in Seeking Alpha. What's the most attractive nuclear energy stock right now? Well, I happened to see an interview with the CEO of Constellation Energy on one of the news channels last week, late last week. Very interesting discussion. How much energy do you think it takes to do 700 trillion decisions and computations in a second? That is the problem. And this guy at Constellation was talking about people underestimate the massive increase. This is where I see a problem with AI. How are we going to allocate? It's one thing to redistribute the wealth. How about redistributing the electricity? Is AI going to get it all? Is that fair? In Duluth, they need to worry about heating their house, let alone the AI. But that's a major problem. But at the same time, I would say Constellation, you know, in my book, with the diversified portfolio that they have, Three Mile Island coming back online ahead of schedule, and two major customers now in Meta and I think the other one was Microsoft. And, of course, Amazon is also starting to deal with another one. And with Talon, and Talon to me is also a good one. And I think Vistra Energy, VST. I think those are the three major players right now with a lot of secondary players out there. And then as Seeking Alpha had an article, what's the most attractive player? AI stock right now. And I like the one that Yiannis Zirmpanos came up with. He's a writer there. Nibius Group. Nibius Group sits at the intersection. We own that in our emerging growth portfolio, MBIS. They sit at the intersection of the AI super cycle and the undervalued infrastructure. While CoreWeave has become the poster child for the GPU cloud, Nebius is the stealth operator, zero legacy debt, $1.5 billion in cash, $1 billion in fresh convertibles, a clean balance sheet that gives it pricing power over CoreWeave that CoreWeave can't match. There's also a big difference in the valuations here. CoreWeave, in my book... is nosebleed valuation. It went on a tear thereafter. It went public, became the new kid in town for about a month or two. It's now settled down somewhat. Did you see, Bill, that they went shopping today, Corweave? Corweave did? Really?
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, they got plenty of money. They bought Core Scientific for $9 billion. Oh, yeah, Core Scientific. 11% to 12% of their overall... Market capitalization, you know, originally it came across as they're buying Bit or a crypto mining company, CoreWeave, or Core Scientific. Yeah, that's what they were kind of. Yeah, they're really a data center, high-density data center company. You know, I looked at it initially and said, wow, but it's going to help them eliminate $10 billion in leasing costs. And I think they're acquiring like $1.9 billion in assets on revenue of like $410 million with Core Scientific right now.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, they've been around for a while. Yeah, they've been around Core Scientific for a while. But a big run-up in your stock certainly gives you a lot of money to go out and buy.
SPEAKER 08 :
Yeah, Coral Weave is down like almost 5% and Core Scientific is down about 18% today. So the market is not too keen on this news.
SPEAKER 03 :
No. You know, we sold all of our Coral Weave. We were handed a gift on a silver platter where it tripled like in a month or two. And first I cut it in half and then I sold the second half. It's just, you know, look, I mean, you have to have some kind of idea of where your stocks are at on a valuation basis. And when they start getting up there in the stratosphere like Corweave did, you know, what's wrong with taking a triple in a couple of months? And that's what we did. And we're not back in it either. But we do own this Nibius NBIS in the emerging growth. portfolio okay well we're out of time we've had a lot of fun here today we've talked a lot about a lot of companies out there on the cutting edge ai and tariff talk that seems to be the talk of the town and a little bit in that nuclear sector still hanging around because that that is a sustainable story uh in my book it's going to last for quite some time and be investable To get the four-week trial to the newsletter, the live trades, the app, GundersenCapital.com, to set up an appointment with us. If you're tired of Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble, you should be. Give us a call at 855-611-BEST. Set up an appointment. Talk with us at 855-611-BEST. Have a great day, everybody.
SPEAKER 02 :
This show is not a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Bill Gunderson or clients of Gunderson Capital Management may have long or short positions in stocks mentioned during the show. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Gunderson Capital Management is a fee-based registered investment advisory firm. All accounts are held at Charles Schwab. Schwab is a member of SIPC and FINRA.
Join Angie Austin as she converses with Grace Fox about understanding and utilizing one's gifts. With anecdotes and insights, they explore how knowing and honing our talents can bring us closer to our life purpose and, in turn, closer to joy. Particularly helpful for believers, this discussion sheds light on how spiritual gifts can play a significant role in how we experience and contribute to the world.
SPEAKER 02 :
welcome to the good news with angie austin now with the good news here's angie
SPEAKER 03 :
Hey there, Angie Austin and Jim Stovall here with the good news. We're talking about Jim's winner's wisdom column. This week is windshields and rearview mirrors. Winner's wisdom, windshields and rearview mirrors. I got it, Jim. Welcome.
SPEAKER 05 :
Hey, I just thought I would do that to kind of trip you up and see what I could get a tongue twister in there. But no, this week, you know, I use my automobile analogy because I don't get to use it as a blind guy. I... motorists will be happy to know that I don't drive a car, except in the movies. I've done it in five movies now. No one's been seriously injured in any of that. No, wait.
SPEAKER 03 :
As a blind person, in your movies, you're a chauffeur, but you don't actually drive?
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I'm a limo driver in the movies, but I don't drive other than that. That's hilarious. And no one's been personally injured in any of those. It was interesting, though, in getting ready for those parts. You know, I asked people, I said, okay, you drive every day. Take me through the process, and what do you do? And they said, well, you get in the car, and you back out, and then you put it in drive and drive. And I said, no, I mean, you've got to get in, and you put the key in, and then you do the seat. I mean, give me the whole deal, you know. And it's so automatic for people. They don't even realize what all they do, which I think is amazing. But I think what we learned is that, you know – The windshield is big. It's out there in front of us, and we should be looking ahead. And the rearview mirror is a little tiny thing. It's good to check periodically, but if you drive looking at your rearview mirror, you're going to get in trouble. And the windshield allows you to look way in front. And if you look too far ahead, just as in life, you're going to miss the moment. You're going to miss where we are right now. And I think one of the things we... miss in Western culture is we miss the moment. We're not in the moment. We don't take advantage of that very special thing that's going on right here and now. And we can get all guilty about what happened in the past. And the past is only good for learning a lesson. If you learn a lesson from it, great. Otherwise, leave it in the past. The future is great for setting goals and where do you want to be and projecting. But what really matters is what are we doing right now today. And, you know, we should be enjoying every minute of that and spending it wisely and, you know, avoid the past and the future as much as you can and focus on today. Because in the final analysis, that's all that matters. And I've written well over 1,000 of these columns for 25 years. And no matter what the message is or the lesson we're learning today, The end is always the same. It ends with the phrase, today's the day. Because it doesn't matter what you learn or know or thought about or anything else. If you don't do something with it today, it's pretty useless.
SPEAKER 03 :
Now, when we talk about looking back, you said, look back if we can learn a lesson from it. And I also like looking back just for the good feelings of the memories like that I created with my family. And they pop up. like almost daily, you know, trips we've taken, things we've done together. And, you know, it's like pictures where you used to flip through a picture book, but now they just pop up on my phone. And so every day I can kind of reminisce a little. And those kind of make me happy, you know, because usually when you take pictures on a trip or whatever, they're happy moments. So those kind of make me happy and grateful for, you know, all the experiences they've had. Now, I find people dwell on the past for too long. big reasons. One is kind of to brag, you know, like, well, back when I was in high school and I was the quarterback, I never would have done something like that, you know, where we won state, you know, two years in a row or whatever. And, you know, he's in a lazy boy and he weighs 320 pounds. And he hasn't hit the gym since he left high school the since he left the football team so there's that you know looking back um and i had a friend that did that about he didn't have work anymore but he used to work for disney and was very successful so he talked a lot about that i think because he was so insecure about really not living in an rv now and not really being able to find steady work and then the other reason i find people um look back and i know i talk about my mom a fair amount but i brought up something to her the other day that mark and i had helped her with that was kind of a big chore for mark and like a big favor to her and um she didn't remember it and i said that's so odd that you can't remember that like it was a big deal mark and i remember it very well because it took a whole weekend to do this task for her and she didn't remember it at all. But she can remember things from when she was six that are horrible. All kinds of horrible things from her childhood, from her marriage, from living with her sister, to the way her mom treated her. All of these are vivid memories like they happened yesterday. But not... Not the good stuff per se. It's just weird to me to look back and then just be able to dwell on the bad things. I've really tried to analyze it over the years because it's such a habit of hers. And I've asked her why she does it. Because she's not like a bad person or a mean person. She'll do anything for you. And she giggles a lot, you know, but then you get in a conversation and boy, it wraps right around to some horrible story. uh, you know, about my dad or whatever. And it's just like, Oh, I don't, I don't like complaining and I don't like negativity. And I'll just say, okay, I'll listen to your complaints for like a minute or two, but you know, that that's it. Then let's move on. And she doesn't know why she does it, but I think it's become her identity that she's become like a professional victim and And I'm not trying to be mean because I do love my mom. And to be honest with you, she's been back with us for six months and she's been so much better. And I've even said like, wow, you're so much better than you used to be. You don't complain as much. I mean, you hardly complain at all. It's so great. You know what I mean? That's how blunt we are with each other. But yeah, I think it just kind of became her identity, like who she was. And same thing with the football player looking back on and bragging about the past, that they're trying to look back for some identity that they don't feel now or that they're not satisfied with themselves like right now. I don't know. I'm not a psychologist, but it's perplexing to me.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I think, you know, Angie, my late great father for many, many years ran a retirement community. And I ask him, what kind of people live longest? And he said, well, the people with the best attitudes live the longest. But, you know, one of the things he said that I thought was amazing, the people that are healthiest, the people that do the best, still assume there are good things ahead of them. They still are looking forward to something. Even if they're 97 years old, they're looking forward to something. And do you have something in the future? And the other people, the people that are unhappy mentally, they're not healthy. You know, everything was in their past. Everything good is already over and nothing. You know, and I think that's why we have to keep. the best things ahead of us. We have to assume there's something in the future, you know, because you and I have talked about it, Angie. To be happy, you've got to have something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. And if you've got those things, you can be happy. But, you know, you've got to have something you look forward to. but you can't just have, you know, someday I'll do this and someday I'll do that, and everything will be great when I get in that super relationship or I get that great job or whatever. Now, you've still got to enjoy today. Today's all we have. And so I think it's important, you know, and as you pointed out, you know, if you're going to dredge stuff up from the past, it needs to either be a lesson attached to it or what I call my scrapbook, where, you know, when I've had success in the past, I revisit it sometimes because, you know, sometimes I think, okay, a guy that can do that can do other things. My coach left me with that. The last time we competed as an Olympic weightlifter, he said, wow, he said, I don't know what you're going to do the rest of your life, but remember, a guy that can do that can do anything. And I stole his line and put it in the ultimate gift when this young boy builds a fence, has to do manual labor, and then Brian Denny, the old ranchers dropping him off at the airport. And he said, don't ever forget, a guy that can build a good fence can do anything. And it's just nice to know and, you know, to remind your kids and your family around you, yeah, I know you're feeling a little insecure now or you're having doubts now, but remember when you did that thing. And, wow, you can go back and revisit that and say, yeah, you know, I can do stuff. I am good. I can do these things.
SPEAKER 03 :
I was going to ask you about that. Will you repeat again about the things that you need to be happy?
SPEAKER 05 :
You have to have something to do. You have to have someone to love. And you have to have something to look forward to. People that have nothing to do is a tragedy. I mean, unless you're on vacation. But vacations and weekends, those are to recreate, to rebuild, to get ready for the next week. But you've got to have something to do. You've got to have someone to love in your life. And you've got to have something to look forward to. If you've got those three things, you can be happy.
SPEAKER 03 :
I like that. I like that a lot. All right, so let's talk a little bit about your dad. You mentioned him, and we were talking a little bit about kids and sports and quitting, and we're pretty tough on our kids, I think, in this day and age, per se. I don't know that we'd be tough on our kids for a 50s and 60s era, but comparatively speaking to the rules other kids have. But we were talking about quitting, and what did your dad say about anything that you wanted to try?
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, we had a rule. I mean, if you want to try a sport or a musical instrument or join a club or scouts or whatever, you can join, but you have to stay the whole year. You have to be there throughout the process. You don't get to quit early. You don't get to leave. And it was just part of the thing because, you know, things we do become habits. And, boy, the last habit you want to form is when things get tougher, I'm not happy about it, I quit. And I think that's one of the ways I think they're ruining sports right now, college sports, is that kids can just get mad one day, jump in the portal, and switch schools. And I don't mind them having a choice, but they ought to have to wait until the end of the season and then go somewhere else. Because when you get in that habit of quitting... When things get tough or uncomfortable, wow, it just gets so much easier the next time and the next time and the next time. People that have been through multiple divorces are much more likely to have multiple divorces in the future because it's just a habit. It's just, oh, when it gets to this point, you just get out.
SPEAKER 03 :
Mm-hmm. yeah i um i i can't even tell you i think let's see one two three four four girls quit the team and i always wonder at the beginning of the season why a volleyball team has 12 players because really they only need 10 and you know it's a lot of sitting on the sideline and so parents are irritated at the beginning of the season but i think we ended up with seven was it six eight By the time we were, you know, leaving, one was injured. So, and they replaced my daughter with a replacement. They moved her up from a lower, a younger age group and moved her up to the ones team on the 17 age group. So, yeah. Yeah, I couldn't believe how many kids quit early in the season. I can see later in the season. I think it's a I mean, you know, like if you just like, you know, I took on too much. But even then, you know, like our kids have never quit a sport during the midst of a sport. My son was a really good swimmer and he might have quit swimming. eventually, but he never quit like a team or missed like a big game. That's another thing, missing practices or missing games. I remember one mom, she would let her son get out of practice and get out of the pool if it was too cold.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, you know, Angie, I think if you're a teacher, you're a coach, you're a manager, if you lead people, there are going to be days where your people don't like you and want to quit. I think part of the generation where everybody gets a participation ribbon is a lot of leaders who are afraid to deal with it. They're afraid that, well, somebody may not like me or whatever. You know, the reality is that people are going to go through those feelings. It's natural, it's normal, and you've just got to persevere and push on. And, you know, that's not a bad feeling. It's a feeling that you have to deal with. And discomfort, you know, anguish, you know, those kind of things are things we all have to deal with. And life's not about do you get in that place. Life's about what do you do when you get there.
SPEAKER 03 :
And I think the phones are the things that help them deal with their anxiety and discomfort that's an escape and feels exciting like gambling. So it's so fun to see all the likes pop up and comments and, oh, you look so great there or whatever. That helps them deal with the discomfort and avoid the things they don't want to do. All right, jimstovall.com. Always a pleasure, my friend. Thank you. Thank you, Andrea.
SPEAKER 01 :
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SPEAKER 04 :
Burlington is listening to the mighty 670 KLT Denver.
SPEAKER 03 :
Hello there, friend. Angie Austin and Grace Fox here on The Good News with Angie Austin talking about her book, Fresh Hope for Today, Devotions for Joy on the Journey. I like how that rolls off your tongue. So welcome to you, Grace Fox.
SPEAKER 04 :
Thanks for having me again, Angie.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right, I picked this week's because it just stood out to me. And there really isn't a bad page in this book, but it is use your gifts because I think so many of us wait for our calling and want God to text us or knock on the door, come down the chimney with our calling as we sit in our lazy boy of life and just like, well, I've been waiting for God to give me my calling. But I think we all kind of know we have gifts and there are easy tests, aptitude tests you can take or you know, to find out what your gifts are, like as a Christian, you know, you can take these things, you can find them online. I think many of us kind of know, you know, that we have certain gifts, right? I mean, did you know what your gifts were when you were raising your kids or when you were growing up?
SPEAKER 04 :
I remember taking a test like you're talking about. When I was a mom already, I had three small kids. And I took a test like that in an adult Sunday school class that we had at our church, and that was quite enlightening because I wasn't sure what those gifts really were. So it was good. It was good to find out from Scripture what the spiritual gifts are and what they look like, you know, the pros and the negatives that come with these gifts.
SPEAKER 03 :
And what were some of your gifts, and did it surprise you, any of them?
SPEAKER 04 :
Didn't really surprise me. One of them is a gift of exhortation. And that means the gift of encouraging other people. You want them to flourish, you want them to do well. And so that's worked its way out in my writing and in my teaching. So I see that very clearly that God has given me that gift. Another one is a gift of prophecy, and I always thought that was, oh, you know, tell in the future, like the prophets in the Old Testament did, and that kind of sounded a little wonky to me, but I... But I discovered that that's not what that means in the spiritual sense, the biblical sense. What it means, if you have the gift of prophecy, is that you declare the truth. You're not afraid to back down, right? So it's either... Here's the thing. If you have the gift of prophecy, you see things in black and white. There's no gray. And so that can be positive, but that can be negative, because... You know, life's not always like that. Not that you want to compromise, but what I'm saying is you can be so stubborn in your thinking that there's no give. That would be a negative side of having that gift of prophecy. And so I have to temper that with compassion as well.
SPEAKER 03 :
I think about one of our managers at the station, Rachel, and she definitely has the gift of prophecy. I always admired her when we were in the TV news business. And she just very plainly, not blunt, not harsh, she'll just state the truth about something that a lot of people don't have the courage to say. And she just says it like, well, it's the truth. Like, what's the big deal, you know? And so... I love that about her. And I think I might have exhortation as well. I've always really liked encouraging people and hearing their stories. And I saw administration and I knew that wasn't mine. And I love hospitality, my friends that have that. One of my best friends is my neighbor, and any get-together we have is at her house. I mean, she does have a pool and the big living room with the giant TV and the big L couch that you can all flop on with. I bring my dog. She's got her three dogs. We've got six dogs, and everybody's on top of each other, and we're watching a Nuggets game or whatever, but it's never at our house, and I think to myself, I, my husband and I were not entertainers. Like we, we, it's funny too, cause I'll bring all the food to her house, but we are not comfortable like in our own skin, having people over. And we have never really made our house like conducive to entertaining per se. Like, There's no TV in the living room if we did want to watch a game, you know. And, you know, we don't have the couches that you would all plop on. You know, they're like velvet or something, you know. I don't know. I just, we've never been good at entertaining family. That's different when you have like grandma and grandpa come and stuff like that. But it is interesting. And people can look up the list of spiritual gifts. I just Googled it to see what some of them are. I'm hoping service will be one that I can do a little more of as I get past the raising of the kids. I think I told you I have five trips this month. I already did Orlando, but I'm traveling all over doing college visits. And so I think I'll be in, oh gosh, maybe six states or seven states in this month. And summer flights, one's a long drive to see five schools and Portland, Orlando, Cincinnati, you know, it's all over the place. So when I'm done with all that, I would love to be a lot more involved. Maybe what we do right now is service, Grace, because you help with your kids, your grandkids, and I help with my kids.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, it is exactly. And so, you know, a lot of people will have not just one gift, but they'll have maybe one that's very strong or even two that are strong. And then they lean towards others as well. And I think that when we are raising our children, definitely we are exercising that gift of service because getting up in the middle of the night to tend to a crying baby, that's service, you know, like fixing meals, packing lunches, doing all this stuff is serving. And some people might just do it joyfully. Other people might not do it as joyfully, but you know, it's still a gift and we can ask the Lord to help us develop that well. And You know, you mentioned hospitality. I think that probably falls under the gift of service because your friend is opening your home, that service. But you're bringing food, that service. And so you're all practicing that. I've heard studies done that say that the most common spiritual gift among believers is compassion. And they say that, yeah, I thought that was interesting. And they say the reason perhaps that's the case is because we live in a very hurting world. There are so many hurting people, and God knows that, and so he reaches out to people through his children, and so he gifts them with compassion to reach out and help those who are hurting. Isn't that interesting?
SPEAKER 03 :
That is interesting. So we're talking to Grace Fox about her book, Fresh Hope, for today, and right now we're talking about the devotion, Use Your Gifts. So tell us about this as we've discussed gifts here. It's interesting.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, the devotion in regards to that would be... how God has created every one of us with a gift. And we can tend to compare ourselves to other people and say, oh, I wish I had her gift. I wish I could be as organized as she is and do an administration as well as she does. And then we can get ourselves right into a little bit of a pit in that type of thinking. But to be able to appreciate the way God has woven each of us together in a unique way, to identify those gifts through, like you mentioned, taking some of these tests we can take online about developing our spiritual gifts. So discover them and develop them. The more we explore by being involved in life around us, that helps us figure out our gifts as well and hone them too. And so we don't want to, you know, isolate ourselves and not use our gifts because that means something's missing. God has made each of us, it's like a, think of a 2,000-piece puzzle. And if one of us doesn't use our gifts, one of those pieces is missing. The picture isn't complete. It's important for us to use those gifts.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, and as I've said before on the show, I think it was Michael Jr., a comedian, talking about doing comedy at homeless shelters and other places where comedians wouldn't normally go, and just the amazing experiences he had doing that. And he said, it's not a gift unless you give it away. Like, what's the use of the gift of comedy if you're home, you know, cracking yourself up or making posts, you know, on social media, but you're not out there really like making the crowds laugh or using your gift for some great, you know, good cause. And so I think so many of us have these gifts and either don't know about them or like you mentioned, don't develop them. And it takes effort to use our gifts. But I think that there's an obligation for us to use them if God's blessed us with them.
SPEAKER 04 :
I think so, too. There's a quote that I put in here by David Jeremiah, and it said, You have inside you the capacity to invest your mental, emotional, and spiritual gifts in a way that glorifies God, impacts the world, and satisfies your own soul. I believe that, and I want you to believe it, too. Because when we're using our gifts, there is joy, right? There is joy that we experience as well when we get out there and we start serving in the way that God designed us to operate.
SPEAKER 03 :
I love that. Yeah, I think that there's also fear, though, that so many of us come across that some of these gifts, you know, ask us to step out of our comfort zone or maybe using them makes us uncomfortable. If it's a gift where, you know, maybe we're good at giving advice or wisdom or encouragement, but we're called maybe to speak in front of others or whatever it may be, but that we're uncomfortable using the gift, even though we know that we have it.
SPEAKER 04 :
I think you're right. Fear is a big deal. And it would be that fear of appearing inadequate or the fear of failure, the fear of, oh, no, if I just sort of maintain myself, be that little wallflower, nobody's going to know if I have flaws because those flaws aren't going to show. But the minute I put myself out there, I'm going to make a mistake and I'm going to appear imperfect. And what will people think of me? And so fear is a big deal. But to trust. that God is the one who's woven us together, and every part of his body, the body of Christ, is important, just like every part of our physical body makes a difference in our overall health. So the body of Christ is, if we're going to be functioning in a healthy way, every part needs to do its part.
SPEAKER 03 :
And I think too, at least I see this with young people, with teenagers, you know, not wanting people to think they're full of themselves or like diminishing like their looks or their talents or their abilities or making jokes about how bad they are at school or that they're a bad driver or that my kids went line dancing last night and they're, you know, they have two left feet or whatever. Like, I feel like they feel like they have to diminish themselves to not seem like they're bragging about themselves. And I think that sometimes using your gifts, you think that you might seem kind of arrogant, like, well, you know, I have the gift of administration and I really need to take on more responsibility at the church. Or I have the gift of exhortation and I really need to be given more opportunities to get up and lead and speak at church and teach or, you know, whatever. And so I think sometimes that there is that fear by some of us and maybe more so women. And as I'm seeing teenagers fearing that we're going to look like, well, we think we're so great.
SPEAKER 04 :
You know, I hear what you're saying. And there is that sense of or that there could be that sense of pride or arrogance or. you know, a little bit of haughtiness of, yeah, I've got this gift and I developed it and I'm just a notch higher than you. But that's not what humility is all about, right?
SPEAKER 03 :
Right, right.
SPEAKER 04 :
And so sometimes as we use our gifts, we're to practice humility. It's like looking at the Bible as the whole big picture, not just one little piece at a time, but the whole picture. So use the gifts, but be humble about it and encourage. Here's one way to be humble about it is to cheer other people on when they use their gifts. And maybe they've got the same gift as you and they have an opportunity that you wish you had, but it came their way instead. And that's where we like to just, you know, we fall into the comparison trap or maybe we just don't want to give them the pat on the back because it doesn't make us feel good. So, you know, it's like get over yourself and encourage other people to use their gifts and commend them, bless them. You know, if they need help, come alongside and give them that help. All of those things will help us with practicing humility when we use our gifts.
SPEAKER 03 :
And I think that humility doesn't have to mean diminishing yourself or cutting yourself down. Humility. I see Caitlin Clark, the WNBA player that's getting so much attention. She just got the first, she was the first rookie, like earliest to get a triple-double. And she just put it all on her team, you know, very humble. She never, she doesn't try to make it of herself. She's almost embarrassed that she's getting, you know, so much attention. And so humility doesn't mean diminishing yourself. It can mean building up others as well. Like you've mentioned, gracefox.com. The book is Fresh Hope for today. Thank you, Grace. You bet. Have a great day.
SPEAKER 02 :
You too. Thank you for listening to The Good News with Angie Austin on AM670 KLTT.
In this impactful episode of the Kim Monson Show, Kim delves into the vital topics of reasoning versus violence in the pursuit of truth and freedom. Joined by co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters, Brad Beck, and guest Jody Henze of Mint Financial Strategies, the conversation navigates through the pressing challenges and opportunities in public policy and economic freedom. As they dissect the implications of foundational American principles and contemporary economic strategies, Kim, Brad, and Jody bring forward enlightening perspectives on the power of persuasion and reason in today's fast-paced world. This episode is a crucial listen for those dedicated to understanding the pulse of American values and the importance of financial wherewithal in achieving personal liberty.
SPEAKER 06 :
It's the Kim Monson Show, analyzing the most important stories.
SPEAKER 15 :
The socialization of transportation, education, energy, housing, and water, what it means is that government controls it through rules and regulations.
SPEAKER 06 :
The latest in politics and world affairs.
SPEAKER 15 :
Under this guise of bipartisanship and nonpartisanship, it's actually tapping down the truth.
SPEAKER 06 :
Today's current opinions and ideas.
SPEAKER 15 :
On an equal field in the battle of ideas, mistruths and misconceptions is getting us into a world of hurt.
SPEAKER 06 :
Is it freedom or is it force? Let's have a conversation.
SPEAKER 15 :
Indeed. Let's have a conversation and welcome to the Kim Monson Show. Thank you so much for joining us. You're each treasured, you're valued, you have purpose today. Strive for excellence. Take care of your heart, your soul, your mind and your body. My friends, we were made for this moment. And thank you to the team. That's producer Joe, Luke, Rachel, Zach, Echo, Charlie, Mike, Teresa, Amanda. and all the people here at Crawford Broadcasting. We had pre-records, and let's see, we had some encores last week, and we had the week off. That meant that we did not have to be in at O Dark 30. And so it's great work that we did on that. And in studio with me is my friend Brad Beck. He is the co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters. Great to have you here.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, it's always great to be here and be alive and be in Colorado. It's a gorgeous day.
SPEAKER 15 :
It is a gorgeous day. And being in Colorado, yes. However, our little, our Denver is in a tough spot right now.
SPEAKER 08 :
It is. Yet, you know, all diamonds need a little bit of shining. And I think we've got the individuals and the folks that are really at the forefront of changing and sparkling and shining that diamond. I think people like you and Producer Joe and folks that you have on your team are part of that effort.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, there's those in public policy that's trying to make this diamond into a lump of coal.
SPEAKER 08 :
Always. There's always going to be experts, right? Yes. Those elites that think they know better than us. But we're the real leaders, and we just need to keep pushing on it.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and that is what we do on an everyday basis. We talk about these important issues. And let's get right over here. Our word of the day, I chose this because we will be talking with Jody Henze in just a little bit with Mint Financial Strategies. And the word is wherewithal. And it is spelled W-H-E-R-E-W-I-T-H-A-L. It's a noun. It could be the necessary means, especially financial means, or the ability and means required to accomplish some task. So the wherewithal. You mentioned so many here in Colorado. We need to have the wherewithal to continue to fight for liberty, which as our friend Ben Martin has said is the responsible exercise of freedom.
SPEAKER 08 :
It truly is. And, you know, even if you don't have the financial background or the financial – ability to support an organization or to get involved in something. We all have our time and we can invest our time in something that's going to move the ball forward. So I think it's important that we have the wherewithal to take the time and invest in things that are going to move the ball. Well done, Brad Beck. Yeah, try. Always try.
SPEAKER 15 :
Now, we'll be talking about your most recent essay, and that is the Stargazer in this hour here. So I chose our quote of the day from Galileo. And he was born in 1564. He died in 1642. And he was Italian and was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath. And he was born in the city of Pisa, then part of Florence. And he's been called the father of observational astronomy. And since your piece is the stargazer, this is our quote. He said this. He said, I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use.
SPEAKER 08 :
We should always be using our faculties that allow us to see the world as it is and look for the opportunities that are right in front of us.
SPEAKER 15 :
And there are so many. And Brad, you really are good at this, and you've helped many people, particularly being a co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters. And that is in this battle of ideas, we need to reason and we need to persuade. And I was going through headlines, and I saw this headline. It says, there needs to be blood. Democrat voters tell them, To get shot in Trump resistance push. And I thought here they're resorting to calling for violence where we need to be reasoning and persuading. I was doing some Bible reading over the break and in Acts. It talks about Paul going into different cities and reasoning. And I thought that is exactly what we need to be doing is reasoning on these things.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, think of some of the greats that were nonviolent. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. They did things through reasoning. passive resistance and violence never solves anything all it does is create just chaos and there's enough chaos in the world just day-to-day I think if you talk to people if you listen to people if you have the ability to agree to disagree and still go out and have a meal with somebody I think we're far better off than screaming and yelling and talking past each other so violence never solves anything sometimes we feel like we need to be violent we're so angry That's when you step back and then come back when you're a little bit calmer.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and Brad, America was – we just celebrated our 249th birthday. And America was founded on this idea. And I had a friend that challenged me and said, well, Kim, there was violence as the colonists were – fighting for independence and certainly there was but what they put in place with this vision of the declaration that all men are created equal with these rights from god of life liberty and pursuit of happiness and then put in place the constitution the constitution was put in place so that we the people could govern ourselves we have to be active participants but that we could settle our differences without violence and and that was historical and
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, the founders did not resort to violence until they were unable to convince the parliament and the king to change their mind that the colonies had representation. If they were going to pay taxes, they wanted to be represented in the parliament. And the king said no. And so, you know, at the last resort, they said, hey, you have somebody coming in, quartering in our homes, taxing us for every bit of our lives. We're not going to stand for it. That's the very last thing that you would do if you did not have the ability to or the wherewithal. to protect your liberty. And without liberty, everything else doesn't matter. You don't have property rights. You don't have intellectual property protection. You don't have equal protection under the law. So we need to remember that was a last resort. And violence never solves anything. The people that were up in Boulder, the gentleman, or I won't say gentleman, the monster that through gasoline on people who were peacefully protesting proved the point that violence doesn't do anything. It just galvanizes the opposition to say, see what they're about? They're about violence.
SPEAKER 15 :
Interesting point, and... You make a very important point, and that is I read the Declaration. I did, too.
SPEAKER 08 :
Always do.
SPEAKER 15 :
And go through all the usurpations that are there. And to your point, it was a long progression. It was many, many years until they got to the point where we got to the Revolutionary War. And so let's bring Jody Henze with Mint Financial Strategies in on this conversation. Jody Henze, welcome. Thank you. Good morning, Kim, and always glad to be here, especially with Brad.
SPEAKER 08 :
Good morning, Jodi.
SPEAKER 15 :
Good to hear your voice. And I chose the word of the day for you, wherewithal, because you are helping people have the wherewithal to get to their own economic freedom.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, yeah, and it's kind of fun because my family's in town this weekend. And as I shared with you last time we had a chance to talk, my family's always asking what the word of the day is. And so when you sent me the word of the day ahead of time, everybody was like, what is it? What is it? What is it? So that was kind of fun to be able to share that with them this weekend.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and you always do such a great job in using the word of the day. And how was your Independence Day? We prerecorded for last week. Did you have a great week?
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, I got to be honest, it's been kind of a mixed week. So my husband's birthday is the 4th of July. So we always have a good weekend. Unfortunately, I had a mixed weekend. My mom passed away on Saturday.
SPEAKER 15 :
Oh, Jodi. I am so sorry. Yeah, well. So, yeah, I am so sorry. So I know that all of our listeners send you their sympathy and condolences. That is really tough to lose a loved one. Just I'm really, really sorry about that, Jodi.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah. Well, maybe you and I can talk about some topics around some estate planning and stuff for future weeks.
SPEAKER 15 :
I think that that's really important. And we're going to be talking about the Big Beautiful Bill. And Trump on the WhiteHouse.gov says there's 50 wins in one Big Beautiful Bill. It looks like he is trying to address something on estate taxes, yes? Yes.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, I believe so. I mean, I haven't had the time or the wherewithal to come through, what, all 900 plus pages of the big, beautiful bill. But what I've seen is, you know, there are a few promising elements, but I do have some concerns about what's in there. But there are a few things about estate planning that are in there, such as expanding housing. You know, the estate tax extensions and part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was passed by his previous administration. So, you know, anything that, you know, you know, again, one of the most important aspects of our liberty is the ability for individuals and families to build and keep their wealth. And of course, anything in that bill. whether it's keeping our taxes now or keeping our income later, that helps that, I'm all for.
SPEAKER 15 :
I am as well. And number one from WhiteHouse.gov, it says the Big Beautiful Bill delivers the largest tax cut in American history. This means an extra $5,000 in Americans' pockets with a double-digit percent decrease to their tax bills. And that's for Americans earning between $30,000 and $80,000 will pay around 15% less in taxes. And I love that. I've thought a lot about – I had a number of conversations last week, and one of my friends lives in Denver. and uh and denver mike michael johnston is floating the idea of another huge tax increase she was and my friend was talking about what's called these general improvement districts where people would have in their areas tax themselves for basic services that i think denver should be already providing and i've thought about it jody i think i'm getting on the No new debt, no new taxes bandwagoned. What do you think about that?
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, I completely agree. And, you know, one of the things about the big, beautiful bill that does concern me is, you know, the massive spending. And, you know, that obviously could weaken the economy, burden future generations. And if the big, beautiful bill adds significantly to the debt, then that's obviously not freedom. I believe that's deferred servitude. And, you know, as a mom, I am concerned with that.
SPEAKER 15 :
Now, I've not heard that term, Jodi, deferred servitude. That is a good one. So on Wednesday, I'm going to have Samara Brown on with the Center for Renewing America, because it was founded by Russ Vogt, who is, I think Russ is, he was last term, and I think he is again this term with Trump's Office of Budget and Management. Because I, like you, have heard that there's this increased spending, which I'm really concerned about. When we had Wade Miller on last month with the Center for Renewing America, he said that he was pushing back on that. So I think it's a stay tuned on that, Jodi, because I'm with you on that. But I think there may be some conversations to have on that. But I'm totally with you. And Brad, what do you think about that deferred servitude?
SPEAKER 08 :
You know, I love that term, Jody. That's a great, great one to remember. You know, part of me wants to say that our taxes should be like they're trying to push us rank choice voting to where, you know, you vote the first, second and third. Why don't we do that with our taxes? We put the tax that we want to pay into the services or the opportunities that are out there and that will be ranked. And those are the ones that are going to get the money because those are the ones that are providing the services. And a lot of these programs are pet projects for people like a bridge that our governor wants to put in front of the Capitol. Do we really need a bridge in front of the Capitol? I don't think so. I think it's millions of dollars.
SPEAKER 15 :
Right. I like that, too, Jody. Instead of ranked choice voting, which is terrible, ranked choice taxes. I kind of like that, Jody.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, I do too. And, you know, I'm optimistic. I know that there's different ways of looking at, you know, the projections of the bill and whether it is going to add to the debt or if the growth will offset that. So I'm going to lean in and hope that, you know, the provisions in the bill will have the economy growing faster than the debt. And I think that's the take that the administration is going with. So I hope that that's the case. So we'll see.
SPEAKER 15 :
I mean, obviously, stay tuned. Right. Absolutely. So, Jody, we were talking about the macro economic level, but you help people with the micro, their own personal economic freedom. How can people reach you to have a complimentary conversation?
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, best way is to call or text the office, which is 303-285-3080. Again, that's 303-285-3080. Or you can check us out on the web, which is MintFS.com.
SPEAKER 15 :
Again, that's MintFS.com. Well, Jody Henze with Mint Financial Strategies. We will talk to you next week, and thank you. Sounds good. Thanks, Kim. Thanks, Brad. Bye-bye. Take care. And Brad, as you know, you guest host on a regular basis. We have amazing people that sponsor this show. You do.
SPEAKER 08 :
And you actually support them and use their services.
SPEAKER 15 :
Absolutely. And so we highly recommend them. And another great sponsor is the Roger Megan State Farm Insurance Team. and they can create personalized insurance plans to cover all your needs from protection for your cars to your home, condo, boat, motorcycle business. Don't forget renter's coverage. And contact the Roger Mangan team now at 303-795-8855 for a complimentary appointment. Like a good neighbor, Roger Mangan's team is there.
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SPEAKER 14 :
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SPEAKER 12 :
Focused and wise marketing is essential for your success, especially during tough economic times. If you love The Kim Monson Show, strive for excellence and understand the importance of engaging in the battle of ideas that is raging in America. Then talk with Kim about partnership, sponsorship opportunities. Email Kim at kimmonson.com. Kim focuses on creating relationships with individuals and businesses that are tops in their fields. So they are the trusted experts listeners turn to when looking for products or services. Kim personally endorses each of her sponsors. Again, reach out to Kim at kimmonson.com.
SPEAKER 19 :
There's so much noise coming at us. Sometimes it is difficult to make sense of it all. How can you sift through the clamor for your attention and get to the truth? The Kim Monson Show is here to help. Kim searches for truth and clarity by examining issues through the lens of freedom versus force, force versus freedom. Tune in to The Kim Monson Show each weekday, 6 to 8 a.m., with encores 1 to 2 p.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. on KLZ 560 AM, KLZ 100.7 FM. The KLZ website, the KLZ app, and Alexa. Play KLZ. Shows can also be found at kimmonson.com, Spotify, and iTunes.
SPEAKER 15 :
And welcome back to the Kim Monson Show. Be sure and check out our website. That's Kim Monson, M-O-N-S-O-N dot com. In studio with me is Brad Beck. He is the co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters. Great to have you here. Always good to be here. And we've got a lot to talk about. A couple of things. I wanted to say thank you to the Harris family for their goal sponsorship of the show. And Brad, Hooters Restaurants in Lone Tree is closing. After 10 years, that is how I got to a real lesson when I was on city council about PBIs, politicians, bureaucrats, and interested parties that really bump up against freedom and free markets and capitalism. And there's a variety of things. It's a very competitive restaurant market out there right now, as well as there's just a lot of different factors. They will continue with their locations on Parker Road in Westminster and Loveland and continue as sponsors of the show. I've gotten to really know the owners of the franchises and really appreciate them. I'm very sad about that, though. But it's tough out there. And it's tough in Colorado, too. As expensive as it is to hire people and employees with like the family leave initiative, all that, it's difficult. But we're going to continue on. As they said, it's a bump in the road. But I'm sad about that.
SPEAKER 08 :
You know, they have so many challenges as a small business by hiring a minimum wage, HR laws. It's becoming prohibitive to be innovative in this country.
SPEAKER 15 :
In the state, too.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, in the state in particular, yes, especially in Denver. And I really wish that these PBIs, as you call them, would open a business and see what it's like and then come back and say, you know what, it's not that easy with all these regulations. And I think that would go a long way. Most of these politicians have never opened, run a business. And that's huge. And so I miss the one that the Hooters used to be on Colorado Boulevard. right not too far from here. And, you know, it's unfortunate. I'm glad they're still staying in Colorado. Kind of reminds me of Del Taco, the same thing. They closed most of the stores, and now they're starting to open up. So maybe there's an opportunity for them at some point.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, public policy is making it very difficult. It's a competitive market. Public policy created this government-induced inflation, and so this does happen. But I'm so excited that they're going to continue on as sponsors of the show and really just wish them all kinds of success. And they got great food. And they do have great food as well. Let's see. Let's talk a little bit about the 50 wins in the one big, beautiful bill. This is from WhiteHouse.gov. And before we get into that, Brad. In fact, I think it was Holly, one of our listeners, sent something over. I watched it regarding Thomas Jefferson. But I guess, Prager, you and the White House are partnering up, yes?
SPEAKER 08 :
They are with the Department of Education. In fact, I just downloaded a book that they have. You can buy it as well. But it's a wonderful opportunity for people to get involved this next year and the years after. to do a program within a group of young people, whether it's a school or private group, and kind of do what happens at the Jewish Passover, the Seder. They've taken that same idea, and Dennis Prager and his team put together this incredible little program in this guide, this book, and then they highlight all 56 of the signers of the Declaration and a little bit of history, a page on each one. and then the founding mothers there's five that they feature and then his key battles of the american revolution and it's just brilliant about 130 pages somebody anybody can go to the prageru website and watch all the videos and so what they did at the department of education is they put these pictures along the corridors of these founders these 56 signers and Then there's a QR code they can snap, and the pictures come to life with a story created through AI, which is fascinating. And each one's about a minute, minute and a half. Well, you can go online at PragerU and watch them one right after the other, and they're just excellent. And it gives you a sense of what that particular founder was about. I highly encourage all the listeners to go to PragerU and watch them.
SPEAKER 15 :
Okay, so I'm at PragerU.com, and it looks like they have Benjamin Franklin here. Okay, it says, America 250, PragerU, celebrate America with us. And that looks like that is, I think, how you get to it.
SPEAKER 08 :
Yeah, there's a tab there, and you can watch a little introduction by the Secretary of Education and what their plans are. And as we go through this next 200 and... or 300 and what, a little more days until the 250th anniversary. I think people should start thinking about what are they going to do and how are they going to do it and who are they going to do it with and really celebrate the idea of the American founding. Warts and all. Because it's important to know the good, the bad, the ugly. But America is the greatest land ever created by the mind of man because we have freedom.
SPEAKER 15 :
And so I found this. It's The Road to Liberty. It's pretty darn easy at PragerU.com. And would highly recommend that. It's great. And like I say, Holly, one of our listeners, sent that over. And so that was great. So check that out. So let's go through. We mentioned in the WhiteHouse.gov, it says that there are 50 wins in the one big, beautiful bill. We mentioned it delivers the largest tax cut in history. I love that. And again, it looks like maybe this is something you and I talked about during the break, peeling out different entities and taxing them differently. It looks like those earning $30,000 to $80,000, they may be picking that out differently. I really, as we go through this, I really would like them to just lower taxes across the board.
SPEAKER 08 :
Be consistent. Don't make special deals for special groups. We get into problems that way. And there's a lot of stuff in here I don't care for. We have to make things certain because business will only really flourish if there's certainty in the marketplace. And being a small businessman myself, I find that people are we're uncertain and they will tell you that. And to be a entrepreneur means you need to take a risk. And a lot of people were sitting on those sidelines waiting for something like this. Was it going to pass? How am I going to plan for the future? How am I going to either hire more employees or let some people go? And this makes it certain they're permanent. Now, there are others like the no tax on tips or overtime, I understand, will sunset at some point. And so Congress will have to revisit those if they want to make them permanent. But on the income tax issue, That is huge. That and the border wall to me are the two biggest, and Medicare. Nobody's going to lose their Medicare. Those that abuse Medicare will be kicked off. But there's still, and I don't like it, but there's the Obama exchanges that people can find health care at. There's many different opportunities, but those that have been abusing the Medicare opportunity that they take advantage of, If they say they're going to lose it, either one, they're illegal, or two, they're here, they're abusing the system.
SPEAKER 15 :
And that's also on Medicaid, I think, as well. So I want to mention five of them each day here until we get through all 50. So the first is, he says it delivers the largest tax cut in history, that those earning between $30,000 and $80,000 will pay around 15% less. The problem is, though, is when you get to a point where there's a cliff, if you will, people make adjustments then so that they may not get that next promotion. And so that's why I like to keep everything even. But the next thing it says, it makes the Trump tax cuts permanent, preventing the largest tax increase ever. and it said if the bill doesn't pass americans will see the largest tax increase in history so this must have been printed as as he was promoting this number three it raises americans take home pay by as much as thirteen thousand three hundred dollars and wages by as much as eleven thousand six hundred dollars well that's real money to people real money number four it says it reverses the current spending curse plaguing washington dc that seems to be where there's a lot of different conversation And when I had Wade Miller on with the Center for Renewing America, the CBO, the Congressional Budget Office, uses a, let's see, a static model, I think he said, instead of a dynamic model. And so that is you plug in this number, this happens. But as taxes go up, people make adjustments. So that's why I am just a little, I think that's why there's different conversations on that, Brad.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, I think we have a spending problem, not an earning, a production problem. We need people to produce. I mean, that's where the taxes come from. Production precedes consumption. And our elected representatives have to understand that. They don't. They think, oh, we need to have a social safety net. Well, I agree. Let the churches, the synagogues, the mosques do that. I totally agree. I mean, why is government, especially when you have this candidate in New York, Mondavi, talking about free groceries and free transportation and free education? Well, where the heck is he going to make and get that money? You can't print it. That's the federal government's job. There will be a sucking sound out of New York City. And I think people are already starting to look at something happens in New York, especially the financial sector. We'll say, you know, there's other cities we can go to. We can go to Charlotte. We can go to Miami. We can go to Houston. There are places where freedom abounds, and New York City will find that out really quickly. So if he gets in as the candidate, the mayor there, they're going to find out that New York is not going to be the Big Apple anymore.
SPEAKER 15 :
And then like Gavin Newsom in California that's running California into the ground, they then are going to look to the federal government to bail them out. And under federalism, each state, each city needs to have their – face the consequences for their decisions. Right.
SPEAKER 08 :
Exactly. And I think let them face those consequences.
SPEAKER 15 :
Without everybody else bailing them out. And then lastly, it says it delivers no tax on tips and no tax on overtime. And again, these are people that are working hard. I love that they're going to pay less in taxes, but still, I would like to lower taxes across the board.
SPEAKER 08 :
Why not a flat tax? I mean, I've been... advocating that for years, come up with a number, and everybody pays it. The rich, the poor, everybody pays the same amount, and they have to pay it. It isn't deducted from their employer. They write a check out. Imagine if you had to write a check to the government and go, why am I spending so much money?
SPEAKER 15 :
people would make different decisions. Absolutely. That is for sure. So let's continue the conversation here in just a moment. I'm seeing more homes on the market out there. We're going to talk with Karen Levine on Thursday about that. But if you're buying or selling a home, you want to make sure you have Karen Levine on your side of the table.
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SPEAKER 04 :
All of Kim's sponsors are an inclusive partnership with Kim and are not affiliated with or in partnership with KLZ or Crawford Broadcasting. If you would like to support the work of The Kim Monson Show and grow your business, contact Kim at her website, kimmonson.com. That's Kim Monson, M-O-N-S-O-N dot com.
SPEAKER 15 :
And welcome back to the Kim Monson Show. Check out our website. That's KimMonson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter. You can email me at Kim at KimMonson.com as well. And check out the Center for American Values. It is located in Pueblo on the beautiful Riverwalk. And Drew Dix, Medal of Honor recipient, one of the co-founders, has started a new podcast series. And his most recent one is, and it's Words from the Silo. I love that. is Homeland Security and the Inside Threat, and Drew has a lot of experience in these important issues, so I would recommend that you check that out. That was posted on July 2nd. In studio with me is Brad Beck, co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters, and Liberty Toastmasters is just a great organization to help people find their voices, to be able to communicate, to listen, and I highly recommend that people check it out.
SPEAKER 08 :
And we have fun. It's a good group of people, a wide variety of opinions and backgrounds and understanding of the American founding. And we theme our meetings around that idea of individual rights, the proper role of a limited government, and how to be an active, engaged citizen, all based on the American founding. So we just went through the Independence Day holiday. We actually have read the Declaration of Independence, the Apple of Gold, and the Frame of Silver, the Constitution. We talk about those things without fear, and I love doing that. And so there's two Liberty Toastmasters, yes? One in Longmont and one in Denver. The one in Denver meets the first and third Saturday of the month from 10 to 12. And that's at the Independence Institute downstairs. And then the one in Longmont meets the second and fourth Saturday of the month from 10 to 12. And I'm just not enough to go to both when I'm in town. So I love it. It's like going to the gym.
SPEAKER 15 :
I love that. It's the mental gym, right?
SPEAKER 08 :
Exactly.
SPEAKER 15 :
So Brad Beck, let's talk about, you write these amazing pieces that are so thoughtful. The one that we'll roll out this weekend is The Stargazer. So what should people know about this?
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, it's interesting, Kim. I was reading a variety of things this weekend, and I came across an Aesop fable, and it was actually called The Astronomer. And I changed it a little bit to adapt to something I was thinking about. But there was a gentleman, a man who every day would walk out because he was just fascinated with the stars. So he'd go outside of the town limits and gaze up in the heavens, and he was just fascinated about the amount of stars. And If you drive away from Denver, I mean, it's just almost magical to see that much starlight in the heavens. Well, he wasn't paying attention. He fell into a pit. And he was unharmed, but he was screaming. You know, he couldn't get out of the pit. And this guy walks by, a bystander. He says, man, why are you – what happened? And he said, well, I fell down in this pit. I wasn't paying attention. I was looking up at the stars. And he said, my good fellow – while you were trying to seek the mysteries of the heavens, you overlooked the common things right under your feet. And it reminded me of Russell H. Conwell's Acre of Diamonds. I don't know if you ever read that from a century ago. And it's a brilliant book that there was this farmer, Ali Hoffhead, who had this piece of land and He got interested in diamonds. Somebody was talking about the value of diamonds. And so he said, well, I'm going to go around the world searching for these mystical things, almost like stars. You know, they're just brilliant. And long story short, he went around the world and never found any diamonds. And yet, destitute, he sold his farm. Somebody else bought that farm. And wouldn't you know it, there were diamonds right under where his feet were.
SPEAKER 15 :
Oh, my gosh.
SPEAKER 08 :
And the idea being we have so many diamonds in front of us, opportunities, and we miss them because we're looking up. We're not looking forward. We're not looking at those opportunities that are right in front of us and right in our hometown. And it kind of reminds me of Joseph Campbell. The power of myth and those who go out on these journeys and come back and what they were searching for is where they started. And we all have that place. We all think it's better over the hill or the next valley or a different job. But, you know, if you really put your your your effort, your mind, your reason to something, you can find diamonds right in front of you. Those opportunities are right under your feet. Now, you know, I know that there's a lot of people having tough times. They deal with weather addictions or something that life, you know, throws in front of them. But if you have habits that you do daily, if you, as I try to do every day, is get up early, I try to exercise, I breathe, deep breathing, I'll go to the gym. I'll say something positive and read something positive, a page or two, and then I'll write something about what I read. I mean, these are habits that I've done and have developed over the years. Now, I'll fall off when I'm traveling. for business I can't do it every day but I try to be consistent on them that's the other part is being consistent but there's so many opportunities for us for working with non-for-profits or working for a cause I think people have a void in their lives there they're not as religious as they once were whether they go to church or synagogue or wherever they go they don't have that fulfillment of their life. So whatever they end up doing through their habits, through their volunteering in some activity that makes their life more fulfilling, I think we'd have less of the problems we have in this world. And the only way you do that is through being consistent, being persistent, and taking the time to invest in yourself first. And when you can do that, you can help other people. And so these little habits, these little illuminating things that happen in your life every day that makes it easier to walk down that dark path because we all have things that happen to us. But if we have the strength of those habits, we can persevere.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, you mentioned something purpose. And I think that the left has figured out that people want purpose. So many of these young activists... think that they have a purpose. They think that they're standing up against the man. And I think that from a human nature standpoint, I think the left has an understanding of human nature more But I think that they come in and they manipulate that human nature for this purpose over here, which I think is Marxist communism instead of a higher purpose. When we talk about purpose, we want to have a higher ideal, which is what the founders did.
SPEAKER 08 :
Exactly. And a lot of it starts when you're young, understanding those things that brought you to the dance, if you will. Too many of us, if you think back of when you were a young person and all the things you were exposed to in school or friends, and if you read Saul Alinsky, you know, it was radical and you wanted to be part of that. Well, you know what's radical now? It's freedom. I know. And we're the cool kids now. Why are we cool? Because we're not demanding things of other people. We're going out and producing things. We're thinking of things. We're creating things. That's what's radical. And if you do it well, you can keep your fruits of your labor. The only thing getting in your way is those PBIs, government regulation, that puts up roadblocks in front of each and every one of us. So we can be active and say, hey, stay in your lane. Let me pursue my happiness. And the way you pursue your happiness is you're self-restrained. You have habits that you create that will make you the best you can be. And every day you're in competition with yourself, not somebody else. And if you can keep moving the bar forward and striving for that excellence, as you say with all your sponsors, I mean, it's something that you have to get in your head. It's a mindset thing.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, I was thinking about your piece, The Stargazer. And my father, who passed on a couple of years ago, and again, condolences to Jody Henze, the mother just passed on. That's tough. But my dad was a very faithful Christian. And one of the things that he would say almost every day is, this is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad. And I kind of had that in the recesses of my brain until just last week. I was reflecting on that. And to your point, saying something positive every morning, getting up in the morning and thanking the good Lord for the past protection, the past, just thanking him for that. And then saying this right in front of me today. This is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad.
SPEAKER 08 :
Freeing for me, Brad. Well, having a heart and a head for gratitude, thanking yourself, thanking your country, thanking your family, thanking for all the things we have that in most places in the world people don't have. And we want them to have those, but they need freedom. You know, the average, I think, individual in the world, if you have over, I read, somewhere $4,500 in possessions or money in the bank or just, you know, a car, that's more than over half the people in the world have. So we are so fortunate. I mean, you flip on a switch, you have light. You flush your toilet, waste goes away. I mean, there are so many things we take for granted. And when you have your health, you realize that when you don't have it, things really become reflective. And again, condolences out to Jodi and her family. But when you don't have it, boy, it's tough. And so mindset, thinking that you're going to be better than you were yesterday, Setting goals that are personal that you can achieve. We're not talking about a big, hairy, audacious goal. We're talking just get up 30 minutes earlier and go to the gym for 15 minutes or work out, walk around the neighborhood, read something positive. Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People or Norman Vincent Peale or something along that line and reflect on it. And then how can you implement those ideas into your life? And then when you align yourself with organizations that you believe in a cause or an idea, and this is where we have a higher ideal, exactly. I mean, service, as long as you are okay and you've done everything for yourself, I think first. And being rationally self-interested is a good thing because just like when you fly on an airplane and they tell you to put your mask on first and then put it on your screaming kids and screaming husband, you know, you've got to be wise about those things. So the same thing, you've got to take care of yourself and provide for yourself. And then you can take care of those that you love that are surrounding you. And I think it's important to do those things, but you've got to do them consistently over time. And we fall off the wagon. We have, you know, I love sweets. So, you know, I'm going to have a cookie or, you know, a cake or what have you. But the big thing is I get back to the gym the next day.
SPEAKER 15 :
And two things. It's okay to have these little indulgences here and there. And also I think you have to be gentle with yourself as well. We as human beings, we miss our ideals. So we're going to continue this discussion with Brad Beck. And we have all these important discussions because of our sponsors. And for anything mortgages. Lauren Levy can help you in all of the states except New York. And that's looking like that's smarter and smarter day by day.
SPEAKER 17 :
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SPEAKER 15 :
And welcome back to the Kim Monson Show. Be sure and check out our website. That's Kim Monson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. You can text me at 720-605-0647. No call-ins today because we've got guests all the way through here. But check out the U.S. MC Memorial Foundation. They're going to have their anniversary at the end of August. Should be a great celebration. And be sure and buy a brick for your loved one or to honor your military service that will be on one of their pathways of service. as they are going through the remodel that website is usmcmemorialfoundation.org usmcmemorialfoundation.org the studio with me is brad beck he is the co-founder of liberty toastmasters how can people get information about liberty toastmasters they can go to the toastmasters.org website and put in either longmont yeah longmont or denver and or they can go right to the website at uh
SPEAKER 08 :
liberty toastmasters they're both different i can never remember which one's which but go to toastmasters.org and put in one of those cities or liberty toastmasters and it will pop up and we'd love to have you we love guests people come in and they really enjoy it we just had a bunch of new members in liberty north and we're really a lot of fun to hang out with and just listen to the people there and their ideas
SPEAKER 15 :
And you learn a lot. Absolutely. You learn how to be better. You learn how to listen. And you also just learn from the content as well. So I would highly recommend that. We're going to roll out your latest essay, The Stargazer, this weekend. A couple of things I wanted to come back to. We were talking about Prager University partnering with the White House regarding these different videos about our founders, the 56 people that signed the Declaration of Independence. You said some of the founding mothers and some of these critical battles. And you said it's like a Seder. You're Jewish. Right. And so what's the correlation?
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, so they've designed a brief ceremony, and the Passover Seder is an opportunity to remember the history of the Jewish people during the Exodus. And so they put together a commemoration, a memory of the Exodus of that event over 3,000 years ago. So you think, okay, here's a ceremony that's been successful probably longer than any other ceremony by any other group of people that's Very significant. And if you're going to pass on the ideas of liberty and freedom, what better way than to have a tradition with young people and get them in the habit of celebrating our American founding 249 years next year, 250 years. and really try to understand it so there's a script a ceremony with instructions and it you know just depends on how long you want to do it but it could start off with a pledge and singing god bless america asking questions because in the Passover Seder, you ask questions to the youngest person and you remind them of why you're here at this event. And of course, this is all in English. The Passover Seder is in Hebrew, so there's a difference. But the idea is it's an opportunity to talk to young people and read with young people the importance of why we live here and why we're so fortunate we have gratitude for what brought us here and how they can keep it going. And if we don't repeat it, year after year after year and understand it, we're going to lose it. And so, as Reagan said, it's not in the bloodstream. We have to constantly remind ourselves and our posterity of this important event. I mean, you think about it, this, I think today, is the halfway point. We're closer to 2050 than we are the 2000s. I mean, that's mind-boggling. And when you start thinking about the length of this country, 250 years, in the pantheon of history, we are such an anomaly of having this incredible idea of man's right. We own ourselves by right. Our creator, as it says in the Declaration of Independence, gave us these natural rights to pursue our happiness, our life, our liberty and our pursuit of happiness. And our founders. gave everything. I mean, five of them died. Their families were destitute. Many of them had their houses burned, their libraries burned. Many of them ended up being poor. And yet they would not have changed one thing about pursuing that opportunity for freedom, especially when you think about where they came from.
SPEAKER 15 :
It's remarkable. And the fact that the White House is partnering with prayeru.com, and again, Holly, thank you for alerting this to me as well. This is a great opportunity for us to really talk about our history. This is how we reclaim our state and our country. And I know we're getting short on time here, but you mentioned that we in America are so fortunate regarding we can flip a switch and turn a light on regarding having indoor plumbing. When we talked with Ben Williams with Ben's plumbing, heating and cooling under this guise of climate change. What has happened is the PBIs, and it started with light bulbs, and Republicans were part of it as well, wanted to determine which light bulbs that we can use. Now with these smart meters, charging people more for energy to run their lives, to be creative. I was talking with someone the other day that works from home. Air conditioning is important to him. He uses a lot of energy. He's got a lot of different computers. And here we've got public policy that's trying to shut down the things that help us to be creative and innovative. And instead of shutting this stuff down, because it's all about control. We should want to try to lift the rest of the world up where they have lights and energy and plumbing and all these things. But instead, these PBIs want to push us down to becoming a third world country instead of all that we can be, Brad.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, I want to remind all the listeners that the ideas of the American founding are not Republican. They're not Democrat. They're not libertarian or independent. They're American. And we should all celebrate that. And that's one area where we can all come together. And we need to come together and listen to each other in the sense that if we don't, We'll balkanize ourselves. You'll have the elites on the West Coast and the East Coast. And you know what? There's some great places in California. There's some great people. Same with New York and Boston. But guess what? The American people are one. And we should be one. And we should think about that as opposed to all the things I hear people call names on both sides. And all that does is divide us. And the only time I remember... that most Americans in my lifetime were proud to be an American and it didn't matter what you were is when we got attacked on 9-11. I mean, flags were on cars. People were kind to each other. That kind of feeling needs to be in our lives daily, of being proud to be an American, warts and all. Even though we have problems, we can fix them. You know, one thing you said that was interesting to me, I think the last time I was on and we were talking after the show, you said, Brad, we need better leaders. And I... I think I said to you, Kim, we are those leaders. I think you did say that. And every one of us who's listening and thinking about, well, don't abdicate. Do it. Be the leader.
SPEAKER 15 :
Absolutely. Brad Beck, you're going to stay in studio for the second hour? If you'll let me. Absolutely. So thanks for being here. Our quote for the end of the show is from Galileo. He said, the sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do. I loved that. That's great. So today, be grateful, read great books, think good thoughts, listen to beautiful music, communicate and listen well, live honestly and authentically, strive for high ideals, and like Superman, stand for truth, justice, and the American way. My friends, you are not alone. God bless you. God bless America. Stay tuned for our number two.
SPEAKER 11 :
To the great enlightenment, wandering out into this great unknown. And I don't want no one to cry But tell them if I don't
SPEAKER 16 :
The views and opinions expressed on KLZ 560 are those of the speaker, commentators, hosts, their guests, and callers. They are not necessarily the views and opinions of Crawford Broadcasting or KLZ management, employees, associates, or advertisers. KLZ 560 is a Crawford Broadcasting God and country station.
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Is it freedom or is it force? Let's have a conversation.
SPEAKER 15 :
Indeed, let's have a conversation, and welcome to our number two of the Kim Monson Show. Thank you so much for joining us. You each are treasured, you're valued, you have purpose. Today, strive for excellence, take care of your heart, your soul, your mind, and your body, my friends. We were made for this moment in history. Thank you to the team. That's Producer Joe, Luke, Rachel, Zach, Echo, Charlie, Mike, Teresa, Amanda, and all the people here at Crawford Broadcasting. Happy Monday, Producer Joe. Happy Monday, Kim. And check out our website. That's kimmonson.com. Make sure you're signed up for our weekly email newsletter. You can email me at kim at kimmonson.com. Thank you to all of you who support us. We are an independent voice on an independent station searching for truth and clarity by looking at these issues through the lens of freedom versus force, force versus freedom. If something's a good idea, you shouldn't have to force people to do it. The text line is 720-605-0647. And the show comes to you. 6 to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. First hour is rebroadcast 1 to 2 in the afternoon. Second hour rebroadcast 10 to 11 at night. That's on all the KLC platforms. which is KLZ 560 AM, 100.7 FM, the website and the KLZ app. And I want to say thank you to the Harris family for their goal sponsorship of the show. It is because of all of this support that our independent voice is out there and we're working with great guests to reason conversations on these issues so that you can get your brain around these issues and then you can have reasonable and persuasive conversations with your colleagues about why liberty is the best idea in studio with me is co-founder of liberty toastmasters brad beck having an unbelievable day with you kim thanks for the opportunity it's always fun and we're going to be rolling out your most recent essay the stargazer you've talked about writing a book i think with all of these essays you've got vignettes of enough for a book now
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, you found me out. That was the goal originally. When I started to be a guest on your show, I thought, I can never write a book sitting down and just writing from A to Z. And then I said, you know, I can write a book. I can do it essay by essay by essay. So now I have to go to my editor, Mrs. Beck, shout out to her this morning, and say, hey, put all this together and let's do it. You don't get rich writing a book, but you get your ideas out there, and I think that's part of the fun. And you need to write a book, too. Well, I think if we talk about higher ideas, if you talk about things that people can use and experiences that you've had, and people can read into that and say, well, I've done that, and this is how it's helped me, so maybe it'll help somebody else. And there's so many things that we could be doing if we put our mind and our heart into it. Hard work, perseverance, having virtue, making sure that you're doing the things that move the ball forward rather than mire in all the things that we can get mired in. And, you know, sometimes they say, don't let the you know what's get you down. And sometimes they do. You have to pick yourself up and keep moving forward.
SPEAKER 15 :
You absolutely do. You have to have the wherewithal to do that.
SPEAKER 08 :
You do have to. And that's the word of the day.
SPEAKER 15 :
That is the word of the day. W-H-E-R-E-W-I-T-H-A-L. And it could be the necessary means, especially financial means, or the ability and means required to accomplish some task. And I chose it because Jody Henzey, she gives us a weekly update on Mondays. She is with Mint Financial Strategies, and they do just amazing work. She says, do you have big dreams for your future, and you're not sure how to get there? Well, call Jody Henzey and our friends at Mint Financial Strategies today. They know your financial life's unique, and as an independent firm and an accredited investment fiduciary, they build personalized strategies that put your freedom and goals first. No sales pressure, no one-size-fits-all approach, just thoughtful guidance built around you. So take that first step toward your future. Call Mint Financial Strategies at 303-285-3080. And in honor of your essay, our quote of the day is from Galileo, astronomer. He was born in 1564, died in 1642. He said this, I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use.
SPEAKER 08 :
All men are created equal. We all have a mind. We just have to put it in motion and use it. think you know that used to be the ibm plaque on everybody's desk if you worked for ibm and i have my dad's my dad didn't work for ibm but he always had that ibm think little placard there and it's on my desk and i i look at it all the time and we have to think
SPEAKER 15 :
My parents used to say to me, Kim, put your thinking cap on. And I said that something about a thinking cap at one of our Liberty Toastmasters meetings. And there was a young guest there and he came up after me. He said, I've never heard of a thinking cap, but we have to put our thinking caps on.
SPEAKER 08 :
Some of the time when I'm with family and younger members and I'll say a joke and they don't get it because they don't know who the people are I'm referencing. So we're becoming our parents and we're using those idioms that they use. And yet, you know, unless you grew up at that time, nobody knows what the heck you're talking about.
SPEAKER 15 :
I know. I know. But we have these conversations, Brad, because we are blessed. And you know many of them because you guest host on a regular basis as my sponsors. We have great sponsors here at the Kim Monson Show. One of those is the Roger Mangan State Farm Insurance Team. Roger Mangan, I've got some questions for you. Freedom of mobility, having a vehicle to be able to go where you want to when you want to is very important. But to insure that vehicle, there are some things that people need to know.
SPEAKER 07 :
Yes, and... What we see happening is not good news in Colorado. Now, when I say we, State Farm is generally the big girl in the room in that they have a large part of the market share of insurance in Colorado. What's happening today, for every dollar State Farm is collecting, they're losing $1.35. So you can't run your business losing $35 on every $100 you collect. So that means they increased the rate to cover that $1. So if they go increase your rate by 35%, you're not going to be happy, and normally they don't. They try to figure out how to restrict losses, and so they re-underwrite a lot of people who have a propensity for claims. And you may be the victim of that in the sense that if you keep having claims, you're probably going to lose your coverage and have to go other places. And the reality is most insurance companies are running a business. And if you're as an individual, and I've had that very painful experience of calling some of my insurers and saying, you're not going to be renewed. We've had three claims in the last five years and of the three two of them are your fault and you know you're you're paying us a thousand dollars every six months and you're you're actually costing us two thousand dollars every six months the reality is it's not what people want to hear on the radio but i just want to be blunt and let you know that you have to be very careful in terms of how you drive and um how you organize your coverage. I think you should go to higher deductibles. So if you have a 500 deductible and a $400 loss, you're actually absorbing that loss and not having a 250 deductible and going to your carrier and having them pay the balance. It's a balancing game for sure today.
SPEAKER 15 :
There are people, Roger, that think about insurance. You mentioned people that have multiple claims, but they think, well, I have insurance.
SPEAKER 07 :
I want to use it. Yes, yes, there is that attitude. You know, it's interesting, I think. When I read about what's going on in the marketplace, over the last 10 years, insurance rates have increased over 53%. That's ungodly. So you're paying a lot more for your insurance, and why is that? Well, there are a lot of things. Obviously, inflation, body shop costs today are out of sight, and they... They need to charge you accordingly because they have to run their business at a profit. I had a little fender bender recently. And it was, you know, my back bumper is made of plastic like everybody's just made of plastic. And I took it in the shop. It was two cars backing up in a parking lot. And we struck each other. So it was a 50-50 claim. In other words, I pay my share. The other party pays their share. I got an estimate. You can't even see the damage. I mean, you can see it if you bend down and look hard. Three little cracks. $3,100 to repair this fender, this bumper. So, yeah, costs are out of control. And what can you do? You really need to be astute. I would say go to higher deductibles to avoid having your future rates go up. And I know that's a conundrum because you'd like not to have money out of your pocket and have the insurance company pay for it. But as we pay for things, $1.35 we're losing on every dollar we collect. You obviously know that that can't continue.
SPEAKER 15 :
Right, and so there will be that hidden increase on that as well. So that's really important to understand that. How can people reach you to make a complimentary appointment to go over their insurance coverage?
SPEAKER 07 :
You can call us at 303-795-8855. I think we could have probably designed a very specific program on your car insurance for you, but it's just not a quote. We would want to know. more about you you know you have a student debt i mean tell us a lot about you because you've got a lot of money going you know out and you don't want to pay us any more than you have to and we can certainly understand your situation and design something specifically for you and again that number is 303-795-8855 like a good neighbor the roger mangan's team is there
SPEAKER 01 :
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SPEAKER 02 :
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SPEAKER 19 :
Do you strive for excellence as you work with your clients and customers? Does it make sense for you to add a unique and focused branding opportunity to your marketing portfolio? Would you like to access a broad customer base that loves our country and wants to make life better for ourselves, our neighbors, our colleagues, our children, and our grandchildren? Then you may be a perfect fit as a sponsor or partner of The Kim Monson Show. To learn more, reach out to Kim at kim at kimmonson.com. Kim would love to talk with you. Again, that's kim at kimmonson.com.
SPEAKER 15 :
And welcome back to The Kim Monson Show. Check out our website. That is KimMonson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter. You can email me at Kim at KimMonson.com as well. Brad Beck is in studio with me, co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters. Always great to have you in studio. It's always unbelievable. And we heard from one of our listeners. Lucy said this wonderful, inspiring show. Just appreciate Brad Beck.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, I appreciate you, Lucy. I said to Kim when she told me that, I said, well, my mom called in or what?
SPEAKER 15 :
I love that. On the line with me is one of my favorite guests, and that is Scott Powell. He is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, and he is the author of the book. I've got it right here. I haven't memorized Scott Powell, but then I want to make sure. Rediscovering America, how our national holidays tell an amazing story about who we are. I had that memorized, Scott Powell.
SPEAKER 10 :
Oh, Kim, you're great. Appreciate it.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, it's great to have you here. And, Brad, you have Scott's book.
SPEAKER 08 :
I did. Just a couple weeks ago, Scott, I finished reading it. My wife was kind enough to get me it, and I read it in a sitting. And I put it on my Facebook, as I always do with my social media, with a bourbon and a cigar and your book there. So hopefully you got somebody else to buy it for you.
SPEAKER 10 :
Oh, you're very kind.
SPEAKER 08 :
You're very kind. It's a great book. I really enjoyed reading it.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, I purposely wrote it relatively short because people just don't have time to read these thick history books, you know, all of the Ron Chernov books. If he has a book that's less than 900 pages, you consider that short. I don't have time for 900-page books. I'm sorry. But also, you know, historians tend to be, you know, history is not a preferred genre for so many readers because it's, You know, who, what, when, and where is chronological. And what I try to do in Rediscovering America is explain why. Why did things happen the way they did? And so I think that's a more relevant part of history than just the facts, the chronological facts, which all tend to blend together after you've finished reading it.
SPEAKER 08 :
Right. Well, it's a wonderful narrative. Lots of good stories. And each one stands on its own. So you don't have to read it all the way through. You can pick and choose. And I really appreciate the fact that they were pithy.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and you can sit down with children, grandchildren on each of those holidays. Or you can read the chapter and then share those stories with younger people, which I think is so important, Scott Powell.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, I think it's a great resource for families. Unfortunately, as we all know, because the culture has really become so materialistic, so secular, most people think of holidays as associated with sales at stores. Yes. And they don't understand what the real meaning of the holiday is.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and so, again, that book is Rediscovering America, How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story About Who We Are. And Scott Powell, Brad Beck, I was going through my books. And, Brad, you've said that you don't have a book problem. You have a shelf problem.
SPEAKER 08 :
I do.
SPEAKER 15 :
I have the same thing. And, of course, I have Rediscovering America on my bookshelf as well. But I came across this, and I think I purchased this, Scott Powell, when I was back in Washington, D.C. And it's a book called George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.
SPEAKER 10 :
Yeah, I have the same book. Do you have it? It's amazing. It's an amazing little book.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and I thought I'm going to share one of these each day. And so we're on number one right here. And this is what Washington said. He said, every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present. Oh, my gosh. If we just did that, Scott Powell, just think how that would change our days around here.
SPEAKER 10 :
It's so true. It's so true. Yep.
SPEAKER 15 :
So let's jump into our subject. You and I, when we chatted yesterday, you are so concerned, as I am, regarding justice. We have partial justice, it seems like, in our country instead of impartial justice. And with this vision of our declaration that all men are created equal, well, Calvin Coolidge said if all men are created equal, then that is final. But that means that we all need to be equal under the law. And that's not occurring in America right now.
SPEAKER 10 :
No, it hasn't been occurring for quite a long time. I could say it's been decades of unequal justice. And, you know, inscribed over the entry to the Supreme Court, I believe, are the words equal justice under the law. So that is... That is what we have said and celebrated as what we believe. Well, where's the delivery? We haven't had it for decades. The political elite in America have rarely been held to account for corruption. And really, the highest crime against Americans, obviously, would be treason. And we have actions that really border on treasonous activity. And every American should understand, even if it can't be rigorously, even if people choose not to proceed with a prosecution for treason because it's too hard to prove, everyone should understand that treason is usually best carried out by the political elite. And why? Because they have top security clearance and they also have access to, relationships with our enemies. And so we really have to be on guard as citizens to hold our elites accountable. And I would welcome a more rigorous prosecution. And you don't have to just think in terms of treason. It's a very high prosecution bar. But there are related crimes with lower thresholds that are often as effective as treason in damaging American interests. Consider, for instance, seditious conspiracy, which involve domestic threats or forceful opposition to government authority, but do not require a foreign enemy or wartime context. Isn't that really what we were experiencing with these rogue judges across the country, blocking Donald Trump's, you know, rigorous efforts to remove illegal immigrants, particularly those involved in gang activity? And, you know, the criminal element of the illegals has been a big focal point of ICE. And it should be, because these are people that threaten American people. So let's focus on the threats and remove them. And Donald Trump was elected to do just that. He did not hide his agenda. He was very clear about what his priorities were. And the removal of illegal immigrants was... The highest priority in his campaign, I would say. And people voted for that agenda. And the support for that agenda has only increased since he took public office.
SPEAKER 15 :
Right. I've seen that his approval numbers are very good, particularly on this particular issue, Brad.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, I think one of the things he's done is he's said things in the campaign and he followed through and he's actually accomplished those things. And this big, beautiful bill, whether you agree or not, there's so many things in there that will help us as a country and our sovereignty. And especially with this migration issue that we've had with illegal aliens coming across, with birthright citizenship, I'm hopeful that... Finally, the Supreme Court won't answer it. They started to, narrowly. And I hope that case comes to fruition.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and yeah, the Supreme Court has been very busy with the recent decisions that they have ruled on. And there's some things that I find I'm excited about that. But let's go back to... Well, you know what? Let's go to break because I want to let Scott actually complete thoughts. And I don't think we have enough time to put that out there and have that happen. So it's so important that we understand our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and the Second Amendment was put in place, the right to keep and bear firearms so that we could protect ourselves against bad actors. And I really appreciate the great work that the Second Syndicate is doing.
SPEAKER 14 :
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SPEAKER 17 :
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SPEAKER 12 :
is essential for your success, especially during tough economic times. If you love The Kim Monson Show, strive for excellence and understand the importance of engaging in the battle of ideas that is raging in America. Then talk with Kim about partnership, sponsorship opportunities. Email Kim at kimmonson.com. Kim focuses on creating relationships with individuals and businesses that are tops in their fields. So they are the trusted experts listeners turn to when looking for products or services. Kim personally endorses each of her sponsors. Again, reach out to Kim at Kim Monson dot com.
SPEAKER 19 :
There's so much noise coming at us. Sometimes it is difficult to make sense of it all. How can you sift through the clamor for your attention and get to the truth? The Kim Monson Show is here to help. Kim searches for truth and clarity by examining issues through the lens of freedom versus force, force versus freedom. Tune in to the Kim Monson Show each weekday, 6 to 8 a.m. with encores 1 to 2 p.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. The KLZ website, the KLZ app, and Alexa. Play KLZ. Shows can also be found at KimMonson.com, Spotify, and iTunes.
SPEAKER 15 :
And welcome back to the Kim Monson Show. Be sure and check out our website. That's KimMonson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter. You can email me at Kim at KimMonson.com as well. Check out the website for USMC Memorial Foundation and the great work that they are doing to raise the money for the remodel of the Marine Memorial. It's the official Marine Memorial. It was dedicated in 1977. So time for a facelift. More information, go to USMCMemorialFoundation.com. In studio with me is Brad Beck. He is the co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters and people can get more information.
SPEAKER 08 :
I go to toastmasters.org and looking up Liberty Toastmasters or Liberty Toastmasters North.
SPEAKER 15 :
And pleased to have on the line with us. Scott Powell, he is the author of Rediscovering America, How Our National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story About Who We Are. He writes extensively, has been published many different places, and it's just really great to have him on the line to talk about justice. And, Scott, what would you say is your definition of justice?
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, justice is... Equal enforcement, enforcement of the laws equally irrespective of a social class, of race or gender, and that would apply to citizens, of course. Non-citizens are not necessarily entitled to all of the privileges, if you will, under our justice system. If you're not a citizen of America and you've come into America, you really don't have the rights that the American citizens have. That doesn't mean that we treat non-citizens inhumanely or really differently, but that they but that if you have come into the country, for instance, illegally, you've crossed the border, you haven't gone through the proper process of entering the United States, then you really, you know, you can't complain that you're being removed by kind of the same way that you came in. You're being removed rather quickly, directly, and you don't necessarily, are not necessarily entitled to a a long legal process or hearing about why you came into the country. So equal justice is part of the greatness of America. And I think what Americans are concerned with more now in the post-July 4th period, I think Americans are really kind of anxious about, as we go into the the next, I'll call it the countdown to America's 250th anniversary. That'll be July 4th of 2026, a year away, a little less than a year away. Their concern is that America's liberty is now at extreme risk because the country's foundation of justice has been so eroded. You know, a solid foundation of true justice ensures that freedom does not enable the powerful to oppress the vastly larger numbers who are in a weaker position. And equal justice under the law means not only that the court should adjudicate the law without prejudice, as I just said, as to race, gender, or social status, but that the laws must be enforced and adjudicated with particular attention that justice for the poor and the weak is best protected by holding the powerful to account. And that's precisely what we've not been doing. And what do we see across America is the explosion of lawlessness.
SPEAKER 15 :
Wow. Several things there. I find this is an interesting nugget, Scott Powell, that you said that people that have come here illegally, quickly, really shouldn't – that they could be removed just as quickly as well. That seems to make sense to me, Scott Powell.
SPEAKER 10 :
I think it makes sense to most Americans, and that's why that was probably the most important – campaign issue for many voters in the Trump campaign. And so they applaud what he's doing. They applaud the rigorousness of ICE, that ICE is standing up to sanctuary cities. You know, sanctuary cities, it's amazing how all this has happened to America. I wrote a book back in the 1980s called Covert Cadre that documented the encroachment of the You know, that they build bridges to Congress and the media. And I documented a number of things that were new, that were happening, and one of them was the creation of sanctuary cities. This happened, I think it happened as early as the late 70s, that some leftists came up with the idea that, wow, you know, if we're really going to take down America, we're going to do it through cities, and we're going to create Sanctuary cities where illegal immigrants and terrorists and revolutionaries, Marxist revolutionaries, can be protected against the law because they're in a sanctuary city. And look at what's happened to the sanctuary cities across America. They're chaos.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, and they're in decline. Denver, Scott Powell, is in decline.
SPEAKER 10 :
Oh, it's so sad. I mean, Denver, I used to live in North Glen. and used to go into Denver all the time. it's heartbreaking to see what's happened to Denver and what's happening in Colorado.
SPEAKER 08 :
It is really heartbreaking, Brad. It is. And, you know, I'm curious of your thoughts going back. We kind of touched on it, the 14th Amendment, birthright citizenship. And there's a line in there that took me forever to really comprehend. But it talks about in Section 1, all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and this is the line, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. And most people read right past that, but that to me is the pivotal line because if you are an illegal alien, you're still subject to wherever you came from, whatever country. So just coming here and having a child and saying that child is American, to me and to many legal scholars, that's incorrect. It's subject to the jurisdiction where the parents are from.
SPEAKER 10 :
That's true, and we have to understand the context in which the 14th Amendment was written. Why did it come into being? Amending the Constitution is a big deal. It's not undertaken lightly. Well, it was in the post-Civil War environment in which there was still residual prejudice, discrimination, segregation. We had black laws, and later we had the Jim Crow laws. But the 14th Amendment was basically to protect and give rights to the freed former black slaves and ensure that their children would be recognized as American citizens. So this did not apply to the modern illegal immigrants. It simply is an improper context to apply the 14th Amendment. to what we see with illegal immigration in America. It was really designed for black Americans who had lived in America and now were entitled to the privileges of citizenship to protect that and protect the citizenship of their offspring.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, the 14th Amendment was ratified July 9, 1868. So that was shortly after the end of the Civil War. And Brad got out his Constitution, so I did as well. We're nerds. Yeah. It says, all persons born are naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. Again, that jurisdiction thing. It says, no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. Nor shall any state deprive any person, and I want to say where he's using person, or where they use person, they use persons above, which was born or naturalized in the state. It says, nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor deny any person within its jurisdiction property. the equal protection under the laws. Those that are standing for sanctuary cities, the radicals, extremists, that want to continue to have illegal aliens here, I think they're trying to take the second half of the 14th Amendment and try to... say that people that have come here illegally are persons, where I would submit to you that persons is defined in the very first part of this, that they would get due process under the law, and I don't think that that's what the 14th Amendment intended whatsoever, Scott.
SPEAKER 10 :
No, you're absolutely right. And, you know, if you go on to Section 2 of the 14th Amendment, it talks about how the newly... enfranchised black citizens should be properly accounted for. You know, before the Civil War, I believe there was a, what exactly was the number? The three-fifths clause. Three-fifths, yeah. So this was a step in the right direction, but it was a recognition that the populations, that the representation in courts and legislators should reflect the you know the the uh... than the new citizens uh... so that if there was a large black population they would be entitled to more representation uh... and this is and and believe me the american hating left today recognize the same thing and that's why they wanna they want to bring any illegals to you know to change the political uh... uh... you know, the political makeup of various states. If they can get the census to count all the illegals, well, by golly, you know, you can create more, you know, more Democrat representation in Congress.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and that is the other point.
SPEAKER 10 :
And that's what they want to do. I mean, it's so obvious that it is an agenda, really.
SPEAKER 15 :
And that is why Trump has said that he does not want to include illegals in the census. He understands what this whole game is. And we've only got a little bit of time left, Scott Powell, but you referenced the three-fifths compromise. And it was in the Constitution, 1787, it was an agreement that was reached over the inclusion of counting slaves in a state's total population. There have been those on the left that have said the Constitution says a black person is three-fifths as valuable as a white person. That is not the case whatsoever. It was a compromise because the South... as they we were determining the number of congressional representatives in each state the south said well wait we've got all this population over here and so we want to have them count for our calculations for our congressional representatives and the north said well wait a minute though they're they're slaves they're they're they're not free And basically, until they're free, we need to come up with this compromise. Am I getting close on this, Brad? You're looking at me.
SPEAKER 08 :
Yeah, well, they recognized that they were men. So they made the case for the North for abolition, for freedom. Because if you're going to be a man and you want a whole vote, if you're a whole person... you should be counted as a whole person but the south didn't want that so the north came up with this compromise it said okay three-fifths of a person and that's how they had the proportional representation right as i recall yeah but scott it was never about saying that a black person was not as valuable as a white person no it wasn't now that you know we we have to be honest about prejudice and residual prejudice that that did exist for many many years
SPEAKER 10 :
But I think when we really get into history and we talk about it in this deep way, we recognize that the providence, if you will, of reformation, the providence of making progress to the ideals that were encapsulated in the Declaration of Independence and then codified in the Constitution, that this has been a long process. I mean, you know, it was Jefferson's vision that really wasn't realized until Martin Luther King, you know, nearly 200 years later. It's incredible that only in America do we see this amazing process towards God's ideal. And really, of course, the left... in America is driven by an antithetical ideology. It really has its roots in Marxism, which has no belief in God. It denies God. And this is why we have this problem in our countries, that we don't appreciate the power of our founding documents, and we somehow think that it's a big tent and we can welcome in just any other people. And I think that that's going to be the undoing of America. And I think that Donald Trump is the one president that we've had that really understands this. He doesn't want to see America go the way of Europe. Europe is losing its great heritage because of illegal immigrants that have come into France, into Italy, into Holland, into Great Britain. That the whole future of those countries is now in jeopardy.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and we are at a – Scott, I think we are at the third founding of our country. Scott Powell, author of Rediscovering America, How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story About Who We Are. What's your final thought you'd like to leave with our listeners?
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, it's a hopeful thought because, you know, we are – we're an amazing country. We have these amazing founding documents, and we get reminded throughout the years, if we really take our holidays seriously – we recognize that we have constant reminders of who we are and what our destiny is and that we should never forget. It's like, you know, why do Christians, why do most pastors always encourage their parishioners to read, you know, to read Scripture? Because we need to be reminded of the truths by which we want to live. And it's similar for America. We need to be reminded of why we are the greatest nation on the earth. And now we need to fight for these values, and that means that the citizens have a big role to play. It's not just voting. It's getting involved in your school boards, in your local politics. And things local, I think, the left understood this early on. You know, that's what sanctuary cities were, is that we can take over the local cities and bring down the whole country.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, we are at the third founding of our country. It's an exciting thing. And Scott Pout, it is always great to have you on the show. I so appreciate you.
SPEAKER 10 :
Absolutely, Kim. Thank you. And thank you for all that you do. You're just a, you know, you're a national treasure, Kim. Yeah.
SPEAKER 15 :
Oh, thank you, Scott.
SPEAKER 10 :
Agreed.
SPEAKER 15 :
Thank you. We'll talk again very, very soon. And did want to mention the Center for American Values. Drew Dix, co-founder, Medal of Honor recipient. It has this new podcast series. His most recent one is Homeland Security and the Inside Threat. These are important discussions. And another great sponsor of the show is John Bozen and Bozen Law.
SPEAKER 18 :
You don't have to suffer the consequences of someone else's negligence on your own. The attorneys at Bose & Law have extensive experience handling all types of personal injury and wrongful death claims involving motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, catastrophic injuries, and more. Bozen Law also assists clients with matters related to workers' compensation and Social Security Disability, SSD. Bozen Law takes pride in truly getting to know their clients and genuinely cares about helping you seek the justice you deserve. Call Bozen Law at 303-9000. All of Kim's sponsors are an inclusive partnership with Kim and are not affiliated with or in partnership with KLZ or Crawford Broadcasting.
SPEAKER 04 :
If you would like to support the work of the Kim Monson Show and grow your business, contact Kim at her website, kimmonson.com. That's Kim Monson, M-O-N-S-O-N dot com.
SPEAKER 13 :
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SPEAKER 15 :
And welcome back to The Kim Monson Show. Be sure and check out our website. That is Kim Monson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. In studio with me is Brad Beck, and he is the co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters. It's always fun to have you here.
SPEAKER 08 :
It's unbelievable how fast the time goes.
SPEAKER 15 :
It does. And on the line with us is Jeff Winsett. He lives up in Crestone, Colorado. Jeff, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER 09 :
Thank you so much for having me today.
SPEAKER 15 :
And where is Crestone, Colorado?
SPEAKER 09 :
It's down here in the San Luis Valley, right next door to the big, beautiful sand dunes.
SPEAKER 15 :
And you had a, there was a Independence Day parade. And tell us a little bit about your involvement in that.
SPEAKER 09 :
Yes, ma'am. So I'm a social media content curator on multiple channels. I've had a lot of death threats and deaths. I took the incidents really real and I notified the Swatch County Sheriff's Department. They notified what they needed to notify. I had some Secret Service people, Patriots, true American Patriots out there helping me keep the peace because we can live harmoniously together. We thought there was a bunch of stuff that was happening. That was going to go down on 4th of July here in Crestone, Colorado because of the effigy that I made of Donald J. Trump. It was above and beyond big and beautiful. And I'm going to tell you, we are united, peace through strength. Everything went off without a hitch because we have peace through strength. And our patriots rock.
SPEAKER 15 :
So you created this, you said effigy. I don't know why I think effigy. I always think that could be threatening, but it wasn't at all. You are a real supporter of Donald Trump. So you made this, what, out of papier-mâché, and you had that in the parade there in Creston, correct? Correct.
SPEAKER 09 :
Yes, ma'am, Kim. It's a hybrid paper mache. If you have not seen any of my artwork or any of my podcasts, you need to tune in to God's Green Earth. It's a hybrid paper mache. No one sees anything like this. People are like, that's not paper. And I'm like, that's paper.
SPEAKER 15 :
And how can people find this again, Jeff Winsett?
SPEAKER 09 :
On God's Green Earth. On Facebook, Rumble, everything besides Facebook. um tick tock okay and so you decided that you were going to have this in the parade how how tall was it um well he's pretty tall um his hand that that raises up with a big giant fist it it i have to get a ladder to stand up on on shoot runs to be able to you know to be there but i got some unpatriotic um Trump haters that want and are actually welding a bracket so his legs will be on it. So now he'll be a full two-piece set. And then afterwards, I'm going to make him stand on a globe, a giant, big, beautiful globe, because my mom and MAGA, it's just one part, because we're here to make the world great again.
SPEAKER 15 :
Okay, so Jeff Winsett, you were concerned that there might be those that might try to damage or throw stuff at you at the parade. Did that happen?
SPEAKER 09 :
Well, ma'am, there was a lot of people that were anti-Trump, and they said, don't throw tomatoes, don't throw eggs, don't do this, don't do that. And they really helped, like absolutely. fend off all the threats. There was some times that were going to go off, but it did not happen because we can live harmoniously together. We all have our own ideas and our own beliefs, but at the same time, we have to stand together, unite, do our research, do our, do jealousy to be able to make just not America great, but the world great again.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and the way that we do that, Brad Beck, is through individual liberty.
SPEAKER 08 :
It is. And I've been in some parades before with the Boulder County Republicans in certain cities in Boulder County. And I can tell you that we've had life-size cutouts with President Trump and even prior when he ran the first time. And It's amazing how many people with children would boo and give you the one finger salute. So I can understand kind of the apprehension and the fear that being in a parade sometimes brings. But, you know, you have to show up and you have to be persistent on it.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, and we've got about a minute left, Jeff Winston. And that was one of the things when you and I were talking is you said you can't back down. We need to engage in these events and these conversations. And so really pleased that it worked out so well for you at the Crestone Colorado Independence Day Parade. Your final thought.
SPEAKER 09 :
Well, yes, ma'am. Thank you. And thank you to the gentleman on the other end, too. He's completely right. My final thoughts is if you're not on KLZ 560 radio or on God's green earth, you are going to be OK because Elon Musk is building rocket ships and we're going to buy us. Taxpayers are going to buy you a one way ticket to Mars. just like the Democrats wanted to put us into re-educational camps. I have clips of that, and you can watch it right here on God's Green Earth to be able to prove my words that they're trying to put us in re-educational camps. We're just going to send you to Mars with Elon.
SPEAKER 15 :
Okay. Okay, Jeff Winsett, thank you so much, and thank you for sharing your experiences regarding your float with Donald Trump in the Crestone, Colorado parade. Thank you.
SPEAKER 09 :
God bless you all. God bless the world.
SPEAKER 15 :
Thank you, Jeff Winsett. And Brad Beck, it's always great to have you here.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, thanks, Kim. It's always an unbelievable experience. And I enjoy listening to your audience and as well sharing some ideas on the American freedom and our liberty.
SPEAKER 15 :
And your essay, The Stargazer, we will roll that out this weekend.
SPEAKER 08 :
You know, be careful where you step if you're looking up. Make sure you're looking forward.
SPEAKER 15 :
But do look forward and do look up, but just watch where you're going.
SPEAKER 08 :
Exactly.
SPEAKER 15 :
How's that? And our quote for the end of the show, I chose Galileo because of your essay, The Stargazer. He said this, I love this. The sun with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do. So today, be grateful, read great books, think good thoughts, listen to beautiful music, communicate and listen well, live honestly and authentically, strive for high ideals, and like Superman, stand for truth, justice, and the American way. My friends, you are not alone. God bless you, and God bless America.
SPEAKER 11 :
Like a new moon rising fierce Through the rain and lightning Wandering out into this great heart And I don't want no one to cry But tell them if I don't serve
SPEAKER 16 :
The views and opinions expressed on KLZ 560 are those of the speaker, commentators, hosts, their guests, and callers. They are not necessarily the views and opinions of Crawford Broadcasting or KLZ management, employees, associates, or advertisers. KLZ 560 is a Crawford Broadcasting God and country station.
Welcome to the America's Veterans Stories podcast. Kim Monson is your host. Retired Major General John Raaen was a young Army Captain on Omaha Beach, D-Day 1944. As part of the elite 5th Ranger Battalion, their job was to knock out the guns located at the top of the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc and secure the roads around the Pointe to prevent the German’s movement. We are re-broadcasting an interview with General Raaen. You’ll hear stories of D-Day from a soldier who lived it. _________________________________________________ Copyright 2023: America's Veteran's Stories Visit us at www.americasveteransstories.com America's Veteran's Stories airs on KLZ Radio every Sunday You can listen to the live stream by going to www.klzradio.com
SPEAKER 1 :
Thank you.
SPEAKER 04 :
world war two korea vietnam the gulf war afghanistan and her other wars and conflicts america's fighting men and women strapped on their boots and picked up their guns to fight tyranny and stand for liberty we must never forget them welcome to america's veteran stories with kim munson these stories will touch your heart inspire you and give you courage we stand on the shoulders of giants here's kim munson
SPEAKER 10 :
And welcome to America's Veterans Stories. Be sure and check out our website. That is AmericasVeteranStories.com. And this show began because of a trip that I took to Normandy, France in 2016 with a group that accompanied four D-Day veterans to Normandy for the 73rd anniversary of the D-Day landings. and returned back stateside realizing that we need to record these stories, broadcast them, archive them, and hence America's Veterans Stories. I am so excited to have on the line with me retired Army Major General John Raaen. General Raaen, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, thank you very much. It's nice to be here.
SPEAKER 10 :
And I've had the great honor of interviewing you before, but I was with one of our sponsors. We were talking about America's Veterans Stories, and he said, I just saw something on Facebook about a D-Day veteran who is going to be turning 100. And I said, I bet that's General Ron. We checked it out, and it is. But General Ron, let's talk about D-Day, your experience there. Tell us, first of all, how did you get, why did you decide the Army? How did you get into the Army?
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, first, my father was an Army officer, and I was born at Fort Benning, so what is there left? I mean, the only thing that's left is to get into the Army. And I made my decision at the tender age of around five or six that I would go to West Point. The reason for that is my father was stationed at West Point, so I got a daily dose of cadets marching, of cadets playing football, cadets wrestling. I did the whole schmear around five or six, and I decided at that time I would try to be a cadet and the rest of them. My young life was devoted to becoming more and more qualified and finally making it into West Point for the class of 1943.
SPEAKER 10 :
And so when you graduated, did you graduate from West Point before D-Day? How did that work out? What was the timing on all that?
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, what we had, when the Japanese attacked us, we ended up at war. No ifs, ands, or buts. And they took my class, which was supposed to graduate in June of 1943, and moved it up about five months to January 19th. So we had our June week. We called it June and January, which was a very popular song at that particular point in time. and our graduation ceremonies, at least the graduation parade, was held in about a foot of snow. True, it had been shoveled, but it was that cold, and they didn't get all the snow up, of course. But it was different. We graduated early and went about our stations. I think our graduation leave was something like two weeks, which meant you had two weeks to get your effects in order to go ahead and be an army officer and uh that was it i was on my way and where where did you go once uh once you were back from the the two weeks leave um i went to fort benning i graduated as an engineer in the corps of engineers and uh That was where they sent us. I've forgotten how long it was. I think the first part was six weeks of what they call refresher training. And that's really what it was for us because we had everything that they tried to teach us at Fort Belvoir we'd already had as cadets. So it was like a six-week vacation. The next thing they did was send us across Route 1, a distance of no more than a mile, and we were made platoon leaders in the Engineer Replacement Training Center. And there I had my own little platoon, and I was one of the lucky ones because half of my platoon, they were raw recruits. Half of my platoon were the... football team of St. Louis University. So I had a bunch of bright, young, eager recruits, smart as whips, anywhere from seniors down to freshmen in college. And the other half were just like ordinary recruits. Their age could be anywhere from about maybe 18 up to even into the 30s. But with the help of those young, bright, eager young men, I had the easiest platoon to teach, and they were the quickest ones to learn. It was a great job. I had that for about six weeks when they sent me to the 10th Armored Division at Fort Benning, completing the cycle of my birth, if you want to call it that. And I had a bridge platoon in the— armored engineer battalion didn't keep that long i got moved around to various staff jobs and went on tennessee maneuvers and when we came out of tennessee maneuvers i was what they called the reconnaissance platoon leader which was the cream job for an engineer lieutenant in an armored engineer battalion And from there, I saw a sign on the bulletin board during Tennessee maneuvers asking for volunteers for the Rangers, and I volunteered, and that made me a Ranger.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, and let's talk just a little bit about the Tennessee maneuvers. I've heard a bit about them, but that was really in preparation for, I mean, battle preparation, correct, General Raaen?
SPEAKER 06 :
I think it was more than that. The Tennessee maneuvers were... I suppose they were unique. They were seeking to develop doctrine more than to train troops. Sure, it trained troops, and it was very important to the individual man, but the big thing was that the commanders got to handle large bodies of troops to move them around, see that... When you have a plan to use this road, you suddenly can't use it because there's somebody else's convoy going by. It may be commercial food for the local residents. So the maneuvers were for the development of doctrine on the high level, and it was for the development of infantry and soldier skills at the lower level. It had two purposes.
SPEAKER 10 :
So when you came out of the Tennessee maneuvers, you became a ranger. There was additional training for that, correct?
SPEAKER 06 :
Oh, absolutely. We started from scratch as rangers. What we had was just a bunch of draftees who'd been through basic training. And that applied to the officers as well, for the most part. And so we went into another training session. At Camp Forest, Tennessee, which is right outside of or perhaps within the boundaries of Tullahoma, we did a great deal more training, scouting, patrolling, night attack, day attack by platoons, rifle marksmanship, pistol marksmanship, machine gun marksmanship, everything to make an advanced infantry soldier. We did their training. at Camp Forest. After about, let's see, September, October, I believe we moved into Fort Pierce, Florida after approximately three months training at Camp Forest. And Fort Pierce was actually a Navy station, and it was the home of the Navy and Marine Corps, what do they call them? Scouts and Rangers. Now, beg your pardon, Scouts and something else for the Marines. Raiders, Scouts and Raiders School. So we went to Navy, Scout, and Raiders School where we were trained in small boat handling and a lot more of the usual things of developing an advanced infantry soldier. New tactics, new techniques, new weapons. That was another thing they brought in, new weapons and things like that. So we were becoming more and more elite in that our training was considerably more than the ordinary infantryman would get. And we became right good at it. So good that for Thanksgiving, I think it was, they stole a turkey out of the commanding officer's oven. So we were pretty sneaky about everything, and we became pretty good. As usual, we found ourselves to be at odds with the local military police, but in this case, the shore patrol. And we had a lot of fun, but we didn't do any real damage. I mean, the loss of a single turkey didn't matter to us.
SPEAKER 10 :
That's pretty impressive, General Ron, that you guys did that. So all of this sounds to me like preparation for D-Day. So Hitler has basically taken over Western Europe, and there is a plan for the Allies, for the Americans, to get a toehold and to start to fight back. It looks to me like this is all preparation for that. Is that correct?
SPEAKER 06 :
That is correct. The Rangers... the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions, both of whom trained at Camp Forrest, Fort Pierce, and so on. We were training specifically for the invasion. We didn't know our part, and I just ran across an author who went back and showed that The time we're talking about, they didn't know how they were going to invade. They had four or five totally different plans for the use of Rangers in the invasion. So they hadn't settled on how they would invade or anything like that. They just knew that they were going to use us as assault troops. And as things developed, it was discovered that the place they had chosen to invade was becoming very heavily fortified. So it was going to be the job of the Rangers to crack that heavy fortification in the American zone. The British and the Canadians had their own problems with their own beaches, and they used commandos as well as regular troops like we did. I don't want to give anybody the impression that the entire invasion was two little bitty battalions of Rangers. Quite the contrary. We dropped three airborne divisions. The Americans had three assault divisions of the beaches. The British had... one airborne division and several regular infantry divisions, and the Canadians had a couple of infantry divisions. So all in all, this was a major, major force that went in to land in Normandy, and we had that specific little cutting mission of eliminating the fortress that the Germans built at Pointe du Hoc. This was just a tiny little promontory on Omaha Beach consisting of six 155-millimeter guns, not howitzers, and they could reach both Utah and Omaha Beach and devastate the invasion fleet. So our two little battalions were ordered in to get rid of those guns, and we did it, though it was... more or less an accident than we did it.
SPEAKER 10 :
Okay, General Ron, we're going to go to break. I'm talking with retired Army Major General John Ron, and he was at Normandy, Omaha Beach on D-Day. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER 09 :
RE-MAX REALTOR® Karen Levine helps bring to life the individual stories of our servicemen and women. With her sponsorship of America's Veterans Stories with Kim Munson, Karen honors the sacrifices of our military and is grateful for our freedom. As a member of the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors, Karen works to protect private property rights for all of us. Karen has a heart for our active duty military and veterans and is honored to help you buy or sell your home. Call Karen Levine at 303-877-7516 to help you navigate buying or selling your home. That's 303-877-7516.
SPEAKER 05 :
All of Kim's sponsors are an inclusive partnership with Kim and are not affiliated with or in partnership with KLZ or Crawford Broadcasting. If you would like to support the work of the Kim Munson Show and grow your business, contact Kim at her website, kimmunson.com. That's Kim Munson, M-O-N-S-O-N dot com.
SPEAKER 10 :
And welcome back to America's Veteran Stories with Kim Munson. Be sure and check out the website, AmericasVeteranStories.com. I am so honored to have on the line with me a retired Army Major General John Raaen. He will turn 100 on April 22nd of 2022. And he was at Omaha Beach the first day of D-Day. And we're talking about what all happened, his personal experiences there. So, General Ron, you've done all of this training, and there's different plans on how, and it's interesting, you refer to it as the invasion, which is historically correct. However, I've had people challenge me and say it was not an invasion, it was a liberation. What's your thoughts on that?
SPEAKER 06 :
What they're talking about is a trivial argument merely to promote conversation. It was a liberation. It was a lot of things, and I can't think of them all. But that's just nonsense to waste time.
SPEAKER 10 :
Okay, okay. Let's continue on. We finished, you were still stateside, and you mentioned that there were several different plans on what to do, that the Germans were fortifying up and down that coast there at Normandy and in France. And so how did you... I mean, you then have to end up over in Britain. What did that look like?
SPEAKER 06 :
Well... Actually, Britain is so much like America, but the only thing that's different is they speak a different form of English, and they have a ghastly monetary system that goes from farthings through halfpennies and all the way on up, and they get their denominations mixed up. A guinea is 21 shillings, but a pound is only 20 shillings, and it's murder to buy anything at a store. But... The countryside was much as our countryside. The people were lovely and very, very kind to us, even though they were living on half rations, really. And we had the largest of the United States of America giving us food every day. So it was very pleasant. The training was hard. The training was dangerous. And all the time that we were there, and we got there on January 19th, which was the day, the anniversary of the day I graduated from West Point. Anyway, from January 19th on, we were training for specific missions that they were developing. And even at that late date, they had a plan for the use of the Rangers that was, 180 degrees away from the plan that we actually ended up with. So we were rehearsing for the wrong plans, but it was the right job. It was always the same job, knock out those six guns at Point Auk, and a secondary plan of blocking the highways in a certain area that lay between the German reserves and Omaha Beach. So by doing that, we prevented counterattacks, major counterattacks, on the beachhead called Omaha Beach.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, tell us what it was like as we're moving towards D-Day. My understanding, the weather was terrible, that General Eisenhower had made a decision not to go on the original day, and then you'd have to look at tides, all kinds of things. So tell us about that, General Ron.
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, it's very easy. We had not yet completed our doctrine. of how to land on a beach. And there were still diverse opinions and diverse plans. Of course, somebody had to make a decision, and it would be Eisenhower. But it was based on the thoughts of people far junior to him. Do you want to go... At night, in the black of night, no. The troops would lose their way, and you'd probably end up with a pile of bodies on the beach and that type thing. Do you go at night with a moon, using that for your illumination? Well, it was decided that that was not a good idea. It would be difficult to navigate because the Germans had turned off all the lighthouses and all the lighted buoys and things like that. Plus, they had blackout conditions on the shore, so there would be no way to know whether you were right or wrong. So they decided against that. And it was finally decided to go at the crack of dawn, And then they had to decide what phase of the tide they wanted to start the initial landings. Would it be at low tide, mid tide, or high tide? They finally picked mid-low tide. And that was a terrible decision from many, many viewpoints, but so were all the other terrible decisions. You cannot assault a hostile shore without having very dangerous conditions, period. But in any event, they finally decided to start the landings at mid-low tide, and that meant that the troops had to assault over a wet, sandy bottom. It was at least two... in some cases up to 400 yards of ocean bottom that was now empty of tide, and get up on the beach to where we expected the beaches to have all sorts of bomb craters and things like that. None of that worked. Troops were slaughtered. It was daylight, and here they are walking across a beach for 400 yards and didn't take the Germans long to... make it a very costly landing. When we got to the beaches, we found out that the Air Force had dropped their bombs a mile inland, and there was not a bomb dropped within a mile of the beach that we landed on. Utah Beach was a different story. But for Omaha Beach, The beaches were pristine. You could have gone out with your family for a Sunday sunning or something like that or a picnic. So that made it rather tough. The bluffs at Omaha Beach were about 100 to 135 feet, and they were really quite steep. You had yourself whatever amount of beach you had, and then there was a seawall usually, a road, perhaps buildings starting, and then you'd hit the bluffs. And they were too steep to climb facing upwards. You had to go up sideways like skiers do in cross-country skiing. They just raise one ski, bring the other ski up to it, and then they raise the first ski again and bring the other ski up to it. That was the way you had to go up those hills. There were some paths, and after the assault troops had gone up, you could use the paths, and it made it much, much easier to climb those bluffs. When we got to the top of the bluffs, we hit the famous hedgerow country. The French call it Le Bocage, and it consists of huge farm fields, I mean, it's not uncommon to see a farm field 400 by 200 yards. I mean, these were big babies. And to cross them was very difficult because the Germans took these hedgerows, and they were not like hedges. A hedgerow is a place where the farmers hundreds of years ago began piling rocks to say, this part is my property, and you're on the other side of these rocks. And those rocks gradually became fences. Dirt, spoil from plowing, got into them. Birds dropped seeds. The next thing you knew, you had an eight-foot pile of rocks with all kinds of trees and bushes on top of those rocks. And the Germans just dug holes in the back of them and little bitty holes out in front of them and stuck their machine guns there. So when you started crossing these 300, 400-yard fields, you didn't know where their machine guns were, and you were caught out in the open, and you didn't know what to do. We, being rangers, figured it out very quickly. Harvest time had not occurred yet. So as a result, there were a lot of high grasses that grew in those fields, some of them four feet, six feet tall. And if you were caught by machine gun fire, you just dropped to the ground, and the German machine gunners had no idea where you were. They had no idea of range. They did know the asthma they had been shooting at. But they didn't know the range, and all you had to do was to drop down in the crop, take three or four spins to the left, and the Germans had no idea where you were, and neither did you. From there you could crawl to the edge where the hedgerows were, move down the hedgerows, cross over them, come in behind the machine guns. We got very good at that within the first engagement. I don't know who the smart officer or sergeant or corporal was, but somebody just dropped down and all the bullets went overhead. So they passed the word very rapidly, and that was a tactic that we used, and it spread throughout the invading armies that if you got caught among the crops, just drop down and roll. So we thought quickly, and the enemy did not think as quickly. The German soldier was a fine soldier. He was well-trained. He was obedient. He was well-equipped. But he had no initiative. Without a word from his non-coms, he didn't know what to do, so he just sat there. Without a word from the officers, the non-coms didn't know what to tell the enlisted men, so they just sat there. So any time the Germans ran into an unexpected situation, they had to think it through. Whereas we had the attitude that you improvise. I think the Marines still use the term improvise. And you can solve these problems. The tanks couldn't get through the hedgerows. They were too heavy. They were like seven feet, six feet tall. And at the base, probably 12 feet. Mostly rocks. Tanks trying to go over them, expose their bellies, and were dead ducks. Some engineer sergeant said, hey, we got a lot of this iron and steel down here on the beaches from the obstacles. Let's just cut them up and make sawtooth hedge cutters. And so they did that. These sawtooth were attached to the front of tanks. They'd get back and perhaps go in 30 miles an hour, hit the hedgerows with those awful teeth. turn right and left and cut their way through, and within a minute or so, a tank could go through one of those hedgerows, whereas before, they never could get through. Go ahead.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, what you're mentioning, as I've learned this, is the creativity, the innovation of the American soldier, and it really goes back all the way to the Revolutionary War. It's just something that has been, in a way, almost unique to the American soldier, is thinking on their feet like that, General Ron.
SPEAKER 06 :
Yes, that's absolutely true. The American soldier was mostly a farmer. they'd grown up shooting all their life. They'd been shooting varmints. They'd been shooting rabbits to eat, deer to eat, things like that. So the American soldier was familiar with many situations that come up on the battlefield, and the Germans simply were not. Particularly, the Germans were not accustomed to being on the defense side. Now, defensive infantry warfare is totally different from offensive infantry warfare. And they were using tactics that were great when they were the invader, but they weren't so hot when they became the defender.
SPEAKER 10 :
Okay, General Ron, let's go to break. I'm talking with retired Army Major General John Ron, who was on Omaha Beach the first day of D-Day. Before we go to break, another one of my great sponsors is Hooters Restaurants. They have five locations, Lone Tree, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Westminster, and Loveland. And their wings are really the best out there. They have all kinds of specials. Check out my website, KimMunson.com, and you'll find all those specials. We're going to go to break. We'll be right back. with Gerald Rohn.
SPEAKER 08 :
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SPEAKER 07 :
God bless America that I love
SPEAKER 10 :
And welcome back to America's Veteran Stories with Kim Munson. Be sure and check out our website. That is AmericasVeteranStories.com. It's a great honor to get to do this interview with retired Army Major General John Raaen. He was just a young guy on D-Day, 1944. But he was at Omaha Beach, and we're talking about that experience. General Raaen, before we went to break, we had just... talked a little bit about the ingenuity and creativity of the American soldier. And I've got to say that it's probably Army Rangers taking Pointe du Hoc. The stories that I've heard, it's almost like Army lore to talk about the Rangers that took Pointe du Hoc. So tell us a little bit about that. The respect for them is amazing.
SPEAKER 06 :
Okay. Pointe du Hoc. As I said earlier, it was a very small area considering the overall war we were fighting. It consisted of cliffs. that were about 115 to 135 feet high. Of course, a lot of that depended upon the sea level and things like that. But you can think of it as 135-foot cliffs, which is over 10 stories, and they were sheer. Many of them were crumbling. The Allies had bombed the Pointe d'Aucre. As much as they dared, they were afraid they would give away the plan if they bombed it too much. So they had to bomb it less than they bombed other far less important roles. So you have this cliff, and in that cliff or on top of that cliff, the Germans had dug mines. six gun emplacements. These are just gun pits where they stick the gun down in there. It and the crew are pretty well protected except from a direct hit. So they dug these gun pits and then they put in six 155mm guns. Now, guns have a long range and a low, flat trajectory, typically. They also had, of course, wire and mines protecting the area. They had machine guns. They had infantry troops there. And it was a real hard nut to crack. They also had air obstacles. They called them Rommel's asparagus. He'd stick vertical telephone poles and then string wire from the telephone pole to telephone pole so the parachute is coming down. with a 20, 25-foot canopy, was almost certain to hit one of these wires and find himself suspended from the ground about 12 feet while the infantryman was casually shooting him. So they couldn't use air assault for the plant to hawk. And they knew good naval gunfire. They didn't have enough ammunition aboard a battleship to handle it. And they thought of a number of other things, and finally they ended up with the fact that Darby's Rangers in Africa, Sicily, and even Italy had done such a wonderful job that maybe some more Rangers would be able to take the point. So they formed two Ranger battalions, one of which was to take the point, and the other was to come in over. and hit the point from the rear, and that was it. We were the one that was going to hit the point from the rear after a five-mile mile. And the second battalion, half of it, was to assault the cliffs. So that was the story. And I'll tell you the story of the actual landing. The landing forces had— catapults that fired a thing that looked like a multi-pronged fish hook, a grapple. and they would fire these grapnels up the cliffs the cliffs would go beyond that is the grapnels would go beyond the cliffs uh grab into a barbed wire grab into a bush a tree a building even and a hook there and then the troops could climb up the ropes that were attached to the grapnels the only trouble was that as they came in And fired the grapnels. They all fell short because they were using manila ropes on the grapnels. And it had been so stormy for over a week that the ropes were heavy. And the propellant just didn't throw the grapnels far enough. Now, there was one lieutenant who was a little bit derelict. He was daydreaming when the order to fire the grapnels came, so he wasn't even ready. But as he looked in his horror, watching the other grapnels go and hit short, he said, hold up, hold up. And he would not fire his grapnels until his boat touched down. Then he fired his grapnels, and all six of his grapnels got up there and gave us six ropes in his particular area. Made it much easier to climb. Another man, I believe he was a lieutenant. and was reputed to be the best athlete in the battalion, was on top of those 115, 35-foot cliffs. He was on top of them in 55 seconds. Oh, my gosh. How do you do a thing like that? Well, first, he was a great athlete. Second, he was a well-trained cliff climber. But the third thing was a German bomb. I beg your pardon, an American bomb, had hit the edge of the cliff and dug a half crater in the edge of the cliff where his boat landed. Then through the months that followed, the spoil came down from that crater and landed on the beach and made a mound of about 20 to 30 feet. All he did was get off the boat, run across 10 feet of beach, up the top of that mound, and he only had about... 30 or 40 feet of cliffs to climb and it was shattered lots of handholds lots of foothold and he just went up it like a monkey got there and suddenly he was in the bottom of the bomb crater he carried a rope with him so other rangers were joining him by the second and Events like that led to a gradual buildup of force. Whenever a force got large enough, it would go off on its mission of destroying the guns. Of course, when they got to the guns, they found the guns were nothing but fakes. They were telephone poles. They'd been moved on the 25th of April when one of their guns was severely damaged in an air attack. The force gradually built up, found the guns weren't there, immediately went into their next mission, which was to set up blocking positions on the main road to prevent the Germans from counterattacking the main force. And that was it. That was essentially the story. Now, over the next few days, the Germans actually thought, and a lot of the papers that we have obtained after the war showed it to be the case. The Germans thought the Planta Hawk effort was the main effort, and that the Omaha Beach effort was nothing but a blind, a dummy attack. So they attacked the Planta Hawk viciously. with their reserve forces for three days. And the 225 people that went up the cliffs, and don't mistaken it, it wasn't just infantry soldiers that went up the cliffs. Signal Corps photographers went up. Artillery spotters went up the cliffs as well. So there were 225 of them, and by the time they were relieved, there were, I think the number was 91 of them left. The rest no longer could contribute to the battle.
SPEAKER 10 :
Boy, that is astounding. Yeah, go ahead.
SPEAKER 06 :
Even at half strength, they were able to set up blocking positions, and the blocking positions held enough that the Germans never did counterattack from that direction. It was a very successful operation at the expense of a lot of men's lives.
SPEAKER 10 :
A lot of men's lives, and also going up those cliffs. The Germans were looking down, shooting at them as the Rangers were going up those cliffs. General Ron, let's go to break. When we come back, I want to hear what you did on D-Day, because it's a fascinating story as well. Before we do that, though, another great sponsor of the show is Kirsch Insurance Group. They are specialists in the Medicare arena, and they can help you with any of your questions regarding Medicare insurance. Be sure and check them out. Their website is ikirsch.com. They work with most all of the carriers here in Colorado, so they can help you set yourself up for success there. So we're going to go to break. When we return, we'll continue the conversation with General Ron. Before we go to break, there are two organizations that I dearly love and I wanted to highlight. And the first is the Center for American Values, which is located on the Riverwalk in Pueblo, Colorado. And I dearly love Pueblo, and it is the home of heroes because there are four Medal of Honor recipients that call Pueblo their hometown. And one of those recipients is Drew Dix. He is a co-founder of the Center for American Values. He received the Medal of Honor for actions he took during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War. The other co-founder is Brad Padula, and he is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker. And both Brad and Drew realized that we need to preserve, conserve these great American values of our American founding, our American idea. And those values are honor, integrity, and patriotism. And there is a beautiful walls of portraits of valor, which are portraits of 160 of our Medal of Honor recipients with quotes by each of them. And it is a place that is so inspirational. I would highly recommend that you take the family down to the Center for American Values this summer. They're open seven days a week, 10 to 4 p.m. You can get more information at AmericanValueCenter.org. The other organization that I dearly love, and there's many, but the other is the USMC Memorial Foundation. And these memorials and statues that we remember our history, remember those people that have given their lives, have been willing to give their lives for our freedom, is so important. And so we need to preserve, conserve, and in this case, help with the remodel of the Marine Memorial out at Sixth and Colfax. And you can do that by going to the USMCMemorialFoundation.org to make a contribution. And again, that is the USMCMemorialFoundation.org. And again, I so love the USMC Memorial Foundation and the Center for American Values.
SPEAKER 01 :
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SPEAKER 02 :
Do you strive for excellence as you work with your clients and customers? Does it make sense for you to add a unique and focused branding opportunity to your marketing portfolio? Would you like to access a broad customer base that loves our country and wants to make life better for ourselves, our neighbors, our colleagues, our children and our grandchildren? Then you may be a perfect fit as a sponsor or partner of The Kim Munson Show. To learn more, reach out to Kim at kim at kimmunson.com. Kim would love to talk with you.
SPEAKER 10 :
And welcome back to America's Veteran Stories with Kim Munson. Be sure and check out our website. That is AmericasVeteranStories.com. And just this fascinating interview with retired Army Major General John Raaen. He was at Omaha Beach on D-Day. And you talked about the 1 Ranger Battalion at Pointe du Hoc. Let's talk about what you did that day, General Raaen.
SPEAKER 06 :
Okay, I'm going to stop for a moment and lay a background. The plan that we were following, our favorite plan, was that we would follow the 2nd Ranger Battalion up the cliffs. If they were unsuccessful, we would then divert to what they call the Deerville exit at Omaha Dog Green Beach. Well, we got to the plant. And we made circles and we circled and we circled, and the 2nd Battalion never showed up on the cliffs. They were led to the wrong place by a guide boat. So finally, at the appointed time, we moved toward Vierville. We got waved off at Vierville by the landing control people, said land on Dog White Beach. So we went over to Dog White Beach and started to land our first of three flotillas. We had about, well, there were five boats in the first flotilla, and... 11 in the second and third. The casualties of our first flotilla were so high that the colonel, Max Schneider, said we won't land on that beach. His words were much more colorful than that. And he moved us 800 yards down the beach, half a mile, and we found a very, very quiet beach. Most of the troops landing were running 50% casually. Now, that's not all killed. Only about 20% of them would be killed. But all of the units landing were running around 50% casualties. We got by with 1% casualty.
SPEAKER 07 :
Wow.
SPEAKER 06 :
And it was that quiet a beach. Well, we were sitting there. We got the orders from the colonel what we would do next, and I had to wait. So I was sitting there with my men, and a couple of them said, Hey, Captain, look down the beach there at that funny guy. And down the beach, about 100 yards away from us, was a rotund gentleman waving a cigar and shouting at the troops, saying, And we sat there, and being curious, we began to develop scenarios as to what that man might be, and he came over towards us and came towards us, and finally he got to my beach, and I was the only officer there, so I jumped up, ran over to him. to save his life if he was a newspaper reporter, or to say, yes, sir. And I looked at him, and he had a nice little silver star on his collar. So I said, plan B, and reported to him, sir, Captain Ron, 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion. The battalion has landed here intact and has received orders to proceed off the beach by platoon infiltration. And he said, Ron, Ron, are you Jack Ron, son? And I said, yes, sir, I am. He said, well, next time you see him, say hello. But then he got down to military stuff. And the two of us were just standing there and talking. We talked a little bit and he said, where's the colonel? And I pointed the colonel out and I said, I'll take you to him. And he said, you will not. You'll stay with your troops where you belong. And he was so right and I was so wrong. But then again, it was my first day in combat. But in any event, he then made his way up to the colonel. And every time he saw a ranger and there were rangers scattered all over the beach, he would say something to me and to the men in my little area. He said, you men are rangers. I know you won't let me down. At others, he made references to rangers and success and what he should do. But the big message was get off the beach or die. and uh... you've got his way over to colonel schneider and uh... we had just started blowing holes in the enemy water barbed wire and uh... when he got the schneider he said the same thing but as the holes were blown and the troops started going across a hundred foot flat area before they got to the boss he said uh... rangers you've got to lead the way off this beach and from that rangers lead the way became our model not just for the fifth but for all six ranger battalions and who was this this guy oh the it was i'm sorry i completely skipped it um he was general coda who was the commanding general on the beach where we were. I had known the family when I was in high school. And his son, Dan, was a classmate of mine at West Point, but he went in the Air Corps. So I had known Coda. Coda knew my father. And that was the way the story went.
SPEAKER 10 :
Well, and I remember on one of the other interviews that we had done, you had said that you were going to try to determine whether or not this rotund man was a crazy newspaper person or he was an officer. And that when you got to him and realized you saw the star, you saluted him. And again, in combat, that's probably not the best idea because that shows the enemy that he is somebody in charge, correct? Correct.
SPEAKER 06 :
You are correct, but the circumstances were a little bit different. The people on our left could not shoot at us because there was a nose to the bluffs, and they couldn't even see us. The people who should have been shooting down on us were blinded by brush fires, and most of the Germans on the hills above us had already fled those flames. You don't want to have hand grenades and things like that around when there's a fire. So they were gone. The people to our right were approximately a mile away, a half mile at the very, very closest, and all shooting from that particular direction. So it would be very hard for them in the smoke from the flames, from the equipment burning on the beach and things like that, they couldn't see a salute like that. General Cohen returned my salute and one of my sergeants who was with the colonel said that when Koda came up to him. He was sitting on the wall, seawall. He got up, saluted. Koda very carefully returned the salute and attention. So we got away with two salutes in that case.
SPEAKER 10 :
Wow, that is such a fascinating story. We've got about seven minutes left. What do you want to cover on this interview, General Ron?
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, I would like to have all your listeners... call their congressman to encourage the congress to award the six ranger battalions actually there were seven uh the seven ranger battalions offer them the congressional gold medal this is an award that was first given to george washington and it has continued all these years It is not a military medal. It is really a civilian medal. It originally was given to individuals, statesmen, soldiers, and they expanded that to include artists, singers, all kinds of people who... whose contribution in the art world would last beyond their lives. And finally, they began giving this gold medal to organizations. So far, there have been five, and they all are military organizations of Chinese Americans who fought in World War II for us, the famed Nisei, of the Hawaiian Islands who fought with us. And we treat it as the equivalent of a distinguished service cross. And if anybody out there knows a congressman, tell him to get off his duff and sign up so that we can get that thing for our people. By the way, there are only 17 former Rangers left from World War II. We lost two more a couple of weeks ago. So we're disappearing fast. We had 7,000 to 8,000 of us throughout the whole war, and we're down to 17. And we would greatly appreciate any help we can get in getting that gold medal awarded us. It would mean a lot to the families. It doesn't mean much to the Rangers. There are not enough of us left.
SPEAKER 10 :
So when we call, we would ask that the Congressional Gold Medal be awarded to the seven Ranger battalions that were at D-Day. Is that what we would say to them?
SPEAKER 06 :
Not at D-Day, from Darby's Rangers landing in Africa up until V-E Day.
SPEAKER 10 :
Okay. Okay. So all of them. Okay. Great. Listeners, that is on your to-do list then. We've got about three minutes left. General Ron, what's the final things that you would like to leave with our listeners today?
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, unfortunately, most civilians don't understand it. But the effectiveness of troops in war is how well trained they are. And most people think when there's a budgetary crunch, the Army should just stop firing on the range. They're just shooting up a lot of dollars for absolutely no purpose. Not so. It is the accuracy of a man with a rifle on the battlefield that tells the tale of who will occupy that territory when the battle is over. Training is the most important thing you can do for your troops. One perfect example, if I have a couple of seconds more, is the fact that some of our allies have formed infantry battalions and gone down to the nearest prince or the nearest chief or whatever it is, and made him a lieutenant colonel and wondered why his troops aren't effective in combat. The reason is when we have a battalion commander, it's taken 15 to 17 years to develop him. And somebody else from these other nations, they think they can develop a battalion that is just as good as ours and do it in two months? No way. You've got to understand that throwing money... to form battalion doesn't do it for 17 years. That's the one thing. And the other thing, which is the same thing, is training is the thing that allows you to act without thinking. You already have been through it 15 times in training, so you don't have to think it out, come to a decision, and give the order. What you do when you reach the situation is... You give the order, and that is so much more effective than untrained, inexperienced troops.
SPEAKER 10 :
And I think that's something for life as well, for sure. General Ron, it is such an honor to do this interview. I thank you. I thank you so much.
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, you're most welcome, Kim, any time. Would you know?
SPEAKER 10 :
Okay. And, my friends, we indeed stand on the shoulders of giants. So God bless you, and God bless America.
SPEAKER 04 :
Thank you for listening to America's Veteran Stories with Kim Munson. Be sure to tune in again next Sunday, 3 to 4 p.m., here on KLZ 560 and KLZ 100.7.
SPEAKER 03 :
The views and opinions expressed on KLZ 560 are those of the speaker, commentators, hosts, their guests, and callers. They are not necessarily the views and opinions of Crawford Broadcasting or KLZ management, employees, associates, or advertisers. KLZ 560 is a Crawford Broadcasting God and country station.
In this enlightening episode, Rick Hughes explores the remarkable story of the Samaritan woman and her transformative interaction with Jesus Christ. Through her story, we gain insight into how God can use anyone, regardless of past mistakes, to effect profound change. Rick further expounds on the pivotal role of John the Baptist as a foremost preacher of repentance, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of the essence of spiritual leadership and influence that extends beyond personal capabilities to divine calling.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to the Flatline with your host, Rick Hughes. For the next 30 minutes, you'll be inspired, motivated, educated, but never manipulated. Now, your host, Rick Hughes.
SPEAKER 01 :
Good morning and welcome to the Flatline. I'm your host, Rick Hughes, and I invite you to stick around for the next few minutes. 30 minutes of motivation, a little inspiration, a whole lot of education. Absolutely no manipulation, no solicitations, not asking for money. Just trying to give you some accurate information that will help you verify and identify God's plan for your life if you're interested. And if you are, you can orient and adjust to the plan. That's up to you. You have your own volition, your own life, your own privacy. You're responsible for your own decisions, and remember, bad decisions limit future options. That's why we talk about having a flat line in your soul, a main line of resistance, an F-L-O-T, forward line of troops, which is a main line of resistance. If you have that in your soul, it's called wisdom, biblical wisdom. Wisdom comes from the Word of God, and when you have it, that wisdom gives you insight and discernment. Thus, you save yourself a lot of trouble, a lot of worry, a lot of mistakes, a lot of heartache, because you make consistently good decisions based on what the Word of God says, not what the cosmic viewpoint is. The cosmic system is always offering the devil's plan, the devil's viewpoint. Money will make you happy, sex will give you fulfillment, those sort of things, and that's just not true. The real happiness that we're looking for, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior said it, happiness belongs to those people who hear my Father's word and keep it. That's where the true joy comes in. To live a life free of guilt, to live a life free of worry, to live a life free of bitterness, that is the Christian life. And that's what having a flatline is all about. If you can live that sort of life, if you can grow spiritually and be the man or the woman God intended for you to be, then you can have an influence on those in your periphery, those around you, your family, your friends, your work ethics, whatever. Your influence is important. And we started a study last week on being a spiritual influencer. I talked to you about cosmic influencers and social media influencers, and I told you how all of that is a big thing today and how much money they make by being social media influencers. People on Facebook, people on Instagram, things like that, make a big fortune doing these sort of things. And so I want to ask you today to listen in very carefully and as we talk about being a spiritual influencer. And if you're ready, we're gonna jump into it here. Spiritual influencer not being a role model. It's not interested in you being a role model. The Bible talks about the role model is the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's who we are to model our life after. In 1 Peter 2, 21, for this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. And he committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. So leaving us an example, our spiritual role model. He was our influencer. And hopefully we've learned what it means to be a member of the pivot. I talked about that last week, that core group of mature believers who are able to sustain a nation, deliver the nation. But the greatest group of influencers that you and I know about are a bunch of people that went from being commoners to criminals. That's those disciples, and the influence they had is unbelievable. They never knew they were going to write the New Testament. They had no clue about that. But our Lord Jesus Christ warned them, if you're going to follow me, there will be conflict coming with it. And I'd like to warn you too, if you're going to grow spiritually, if you want to follow the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be conflict. Let me remind you what Matthew 10, 34 said, do not think I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother and mother A daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law and a man's enemy shall be those of his own household. So your children might reject your wisdom as they get sucked into the lies of the cosmic system if, in fact, they have no biblical wisdom. then they can have no insight, no discernment, no ability to determine the lie from the truth. As a matter of fact, the older you get, the dumber they think you are. And so you must understand God left you here for a reason. And I believe this thoroughly. You can be an influencer in our generation. The influencer. And I want to go to the Bible to John chapter four to show you an influencer. Actually, it's a woman. And here's some principles. Principle number one from John chapter four, verses five through verses 30. The influencer of the Sumerian woman. One amazing woman was an influence to a whole city. Here's the principle. God can use, number one, anybody. God can use anybody. I don't know you personally. Some of you I do. I've talked to you on the phone. I've written letters to you. We've corresponded. But God can use you, even a loose lady like the woman in John chapter four. Number two, this is very critical that you understand this. Your past does not define your future. Your past does not define your future. Whatever happened to this woman in the past was not an issue. What was going to happen in the future was the issue. And the Lord used her to bring a whole city to him. Number three, effective witnessing has an appeal, and people take note and people listen. And they listened to this lady. She was not trashy. She might have had a bad judge of character when it came to men, but she was not a liar. She was not a thief. She was not a prostitute. She just couldn't stay married. And when she went to tell what had happened, they listened. And so finally, get this down, remember this, if you're a female, God used a woman to turn around the history of an entire town. One amazing woman brought a city to the Lord Jesus Christ. In my life and ministry, I could not do what I do without some amazing women behind me. Women that helped me do phenomenal things like editing and answering letters and sending out mail and secretarial work and praying for me consistently across the country. Hundreds of women that I know pray for me. That's obvious that I can't do what I do without those women. And so let's look at this woman here. In John 4, verse 5, Jesus came to the city of Samaria and stopped at Jacob's well to quench his thirst. And a woman of Samaria came to draw water from the well, and Jesus asked her for a drink. Now, the disciples hadn't gone ahead. They were going in to secure lodging and food. And so the Lord Jesus Christ is sitting at Jacob's well, and this woman comes up. he asked her to give him a drink verse 7 a woman of samaria came to draw water from the well and jesus asked her for a drink here's what it says jesus said to her give me to drink verse 9 the woman questioned him in john chapter 4 about his motives She was taken back a bit, and she said, how is it that you, being a Jew, would ask a Samaritan for a drink? You must understand that the Jews hated the Samaritan. They would go out of their way to avoid a Samaritan. They were racially prejudiced against these Samaritans. And here it is, the Lord Jesus Christ asking the Samaritan woman for a drink, and she's stunned by this. And Jesus offered a proposition to this woman in verse 10 after she said in verse nine, how is it that you being a Jew would ask a Samaritan for a drink? In verse 10, the Lord Jesus Christ said, if you knew who I am, You would ask me for some living water. She missed the hint. She said in verse 11 and 12, are you greater than our father Jacob? And again, he spoke about the water he had to offer. He said, listen, if you drink of the water I give you, you will never thirst again. This is a metaphor for eternal life. But she's still missing the message. She still thinks it's physical water. And so in verse 15 of John chapter four, she said, well, if that's true and I would never need another drink, then give me some of that water so I won't have to keep coming back to this goofy well. And then the Lord Jesus Christ changed tactics with her and got very personal. This is something you need to remember if you're going to influence anyone's life. Look for an opportunity to talk about personal issues, not condemning them, not slandering them, not judging them, but appealing to their heart where the issues are the lord jesus christ changed his tactics and he got personal and you know what he said to her he said to her in verses 16 through 18 go fetch your husband well now he's gone to meddling to get her attention and he has her attention in verse 19 she said sir you must be a prophet and she changed the narrative now to religion And she said, our fathers worshiped in this mountain, but you claim we have to go worship in Jerusalem. And then the Lord educated her and told her this. He explained that true worship of the Father must be done in spirit and in truth. Chapter four, verses 21 through 24. Very misunderstood doctrine, the doctrine of worship. Very misunderstood in my opinion. People don't understand what it means to worship. here's our woman she's been nailed by the lord jesus christ for having many husbands the one she lives with now is not even her husband and he nails her about that and then we get into religion and now she's trying to get out of this thing and now he goes on to educate her and explaining if you want to worship god you must do it in spirit and in truth and this is true for you too If you are not filled with the Holy Spirit, you cannot worship God. If you don't go through the Bible, which is the truth, you cannot worship God. If you don't believe in Jesus Christ, who said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, you cannot worship God. Truth must be understood. And the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to truth. That's what Jesus Christ said. I'm going to leave you a mentor, a comforter. He will guide you into truth. He will lead you into truth. It may be why you're listening to this radio show today. Maybe the Holy Spirit led you to listen to me. Maybe you're learning and growing for the first time in your life spiritually. I hope so. But in regards to worship, In 1 Corinthians 14, 26, Paul wrote, when you assemble, let all things be done for edification, to build up for spiritual growth. Edification. Edification is a word in the Greek New Testament pronounced akotome, akotome, O-I-K-O-D-O-M-E, akotome, long E on the end of it. And what this means is there are numerous ways in which we worship God, but they must all relate to our spiritual growth. means to build up for spiritual growth. That's what it means, to build up, to build a house in your soul for spiritual growth. And when you accept Christ as your Savior, you go from being a baby Christian to a mature Christian. So metaphorically, you're building a house within your soul, and you're putting furniture in that house with the biblical doctrines that you learned. And so this is one of the ways that we grow. Everything in assembly worship, when you come together, should be done with a view towards or an objective towards edification, spiritual growth. It's the objective of worship. It's to communicate Bible doctrine. to communicate the Word of God so that you can grow spiritually and be edified and thus represent Jesus Christ to those in your periphery as a spiritual influencer. I heard recently of a church service that someone went to where it was about 30 minutes of praise and worship, about five minutes of worship, a sermon from the preacher and another 30 minutes of asking for money two or three times. That's not worship. Ritual is one of the easiest ways of adding works to your salvation because it usually provides in some sort of beautiful setting like an auditorium or a church Well, you don't have to think. You don't have to do anything. You just sit there and enjoy the show. That's ritual without reality. It's non-thinking, and that's not worshiping. That's not what worshiping is at all. Ritual without reality is non-thinking person's worship. It is not true worship at all. When you take communion, do you know Jesus said, this do in remembrance of me. That's worship, remembering me. That's thinking. Communion requires you to think. Think about the doctrines that what the bread represents and what the cup represents. And so if we go back to that, he explained to this woman, if you're going to worship the Father, you must do it in spirit and in truth. And now she wants to try to educate the Lord Jesus Christ with her knowledge of what she knows about prophecy. So in chapter 4, verse 25, she said, I know the Messiah is coming. In verse 26, the Lord Jesus Christ looked at her right dead in the eye and said these words, I that speak to you am he. Wow, he identified who he was to that woman. He looked her in the eye and said, I am the Messiah lady. And now she's really freaking out. But about this time, the disciples come back and try to run her away. They try to dismiss the woman. This woman went back in verse 28 of chapter four and became an influencer and led many people in her town to the Savior. Would you like to hear it? So the woman left her water pot, the one that Jesus had asked her for a drink. She was in a hurry and she went back to the town to tell them what she'd learned. And the Bible says from that city, many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified and told me all the things that I had done. He, Jesus, stayed there two more days, and many believed in his word. And you know what they told that woman? Here's what they said to her. It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we heard it for ourselves, and we know that this one is indeed the savior of the world. Now, she had an influence. They didn't disregard her. They knew she wasn't a cheat, a thief, a loose woman. She just had bad luck in marriage. But they took notice when she came back and said, I have found the Messiah. He's at Jacob's well, and they all went out to meet him. You know, she was stunned when the Lord revealed her private personal life because he knew it. He knew everything about her, and she had never met him before. How could he know she'd been married that many times? And then so she left her water pot in a hurry to run tell who? Who is she going to tell? Her friends, those with whom she associated with. She didn't run to the religious leaders, I promise you that. That was not her field of influence. They wanted nothing to do with her. They probably wouldn't even let her join the church because of all of her many marriages. And so she took off to go back and talk to her friends. All right. It was through the influence of this woman who did not have a lot of virtue, that hundreds were saved. And her social platform was her word of mouth. So look to her eyes, look at the urgency in her voice. She proclaimed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. And they could see she was telling the truth. What a lady, what a woman, what an influencer. And you can influence with the same impact in your own periphery. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, people can tell. They can tell from the sincerity of your voice, from the sincerity of your look, that you have found the Messiah and he has set you free. There's also another influencer in that book of John called John the Baptist. Apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, John the Baptist was probably the most theological significant person in those four books of the gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And as was the case with Jesus, his birth was meticulously recorded in the Bible. In Luke 1, 5 through 25, Gabriel appears to Zacharias in the temple and told him, that Elizabeth, his wife, was going to have a child, but old Zach questioned Gabriel, and thus for questioning Gabriel, he was struck dumb, unable to speak, until John was actually born. And then when he was born, his entrance into the world was marked by an angelic proclamation and divine intervention in Luke 1, 57 through 80. But John is clearly a pivotal figure in the salvation history of God. What an influencer John was. a simple Jewish itinerant preacher traveling from place to place with a message of this, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the announcer of the Messiah. Did you know he was beheaded by Herod Antipasus? And when Jesus came around, Herod Antipasus thought John had been raised from the dead, Matthew 14, 1 through 12. But through his formative years, He lived in obscurity in the desert, Luke 1.80. And his public ministry nearly ended, his public ministry ended nearly 400 years of prophetic silence. So for 400 years, nothing much had been said about the Messiah. Nothing much had come forth. And now all of a sudden, God is speaking to his people again through John the Baptist. John was the voice crying in the wilderness. preparing the way for the coming Messiah. Isaiah 40, verse 3 tells us that. Matthew 3, 3, Mark 1, 2, and 3, Luke 3, 3, and 6. God needed a voice, and God needs your voice. Not your voice commenting on politics, not your voice commenting on anything but on spreading the gospel. The central theme of John's ministry was this, repent for the kingdom of heaven is near. There are several words for repent in the Bible, metanoia, metanoeo, and metamelomai. These are three different Greek words, metanoia, metanoeo, and metamelomai. And the all three mean something different. To repent does not mean to feel sorry. It means to change your mind, to change the way you think. That's why the Bible says you've been an unbeliever, you become a believer. Now you think like he is the Lord Jesus Christ. In the past, you did not think that way. You were an unbeliever. Now you're a believer. Getting saved is thinking. It's thinking that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and believing that and accepting the forgiveness that he offers to you. That's what you have to ask yourself. Do I believe that Jesus is the anointed Son of God? Because if he is, then you must put your faith and trust in him if you hope to have eternal life. So that's John's message. He was a person who talked about repenting changing your mind he was called the Baptist because his practice was to baptize anybody who responded to the message and proclaimed that he proclaimed and sincerely repented of their sins now they had not met Jesus Christ yet but they believed in who he was and that he was coming and they were ready they wanted to be saved they wanted to accept the Messiah and finally even though John was merely a witness serving a transitional figure The impact of his life and the impact of his ministry should never be underestimated. And it's the same with you. As you get older and as you approach the time of departure from this planet, you must have an impact. You must leave an impact. You must have a spiritual impact, a spiritual heritage. You might be an invisible hero, but you must have an impact. and you cannot have that impact apart from the wisdom of god in your soul being filled with the holy spirit and being an effective witness for the lord jesus christ that's what god is counting on in your life during john's lifetime he had following of disciples who shared common practices with him like fasting and and prayer matthew 9 14 john 1 35 John's disciples even survived his death and spread throughout the Mediterranean world. One of them might have been Apollos. He was from Alexandria in North Africa, and at one point, he only knew about the baptism of John, Acts 18.24. But upon arrival in Ephesus, Paul encountered dozens of John's disciples. They too had experienced John's baptism, but they didn't know very much about the resurrection. John didn't have a social platform. He wasn't out to socially change the world. He was only out to give the truth of God's promise. The Messiah is coming. The Redeemer can forgive you for your sin. And he inaugurated a spiritual movement that had influence long after his death and extended throughout the mediterranean world and even extends to the united states of america today he prepared the people for the coming of the messiah you and i have been prepared for days just like this since the day that god saved you he's been preparing you giving you the truth giving you his word so that you can have an influence And God will use your voice as a witness as long as you know and understand the truth. You don't tell people in order to be saved, you have to quit smoking, quit drinking, quit cussing, quit going to R-rated movies. That's not it. The Bible says, for by grace are you saved through faith. It's a gift of God, not of works. If you will simply lift up the person and the work of Christ and what he did on the cross and how he redeemed us out of the slave market of sin, how he reconciled our relationship with God. That's the influence. And you can be that sort of influencer in your life. Your influence in society is mandated in the scripture. And you must be prepared to do it because an encounter with a savior leaves a burning desire to tell somebody about it. I remember in my life when I got saved, I couldn't wait to tell other people about it. That's exactly what happened in the New Testament when Philip found Nathanael and said, we found Jesus. We found the one Moses spoke about, the prophets wrote about, Jesus, the son of Joseph. An encounter with a savior leaves a burning desire to tell somebody. Usually you tell your best friend first and try to influence them. How many of you told your friends about the influence of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life or the influence of learning the word like you're doing now? Never learned this much before, you say. I've never understood it like that. Have you told somebody? The influencer must be prepared to face rejection because it'll happen. You must be aware and use your platform to keep informed. Keep in mind this, that all believers are not on the same page. They're not on the same team. They may have the same Bible, the same playbook, But they may have a different coach, a different pastor that teaches something that's not necessarily what you believe. So you'll have to figure that out. You'll have to come to grips with that in your own soul. But your influence in society is mandated in the Bible. It's mandated. You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me. That's your job, to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ. The filling of the Holy Spirit and the gospel message combine to give you life-changing benefits for yourself and for others. What do we do with our assets? What do we do with them? Well, in 2 Corinthians 5, now all of these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. namely that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed to us the word of reconciliation. That's your ministry. Therefore, the Bible says we are ambassadors for Christ as though God was making an appeal through us We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. That's your ministry. That's your spear of influence. That's what God expects out of you. And that's what I'm challenging you with this morning, to be an influencer in God's plan in your life. You are God's personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ during your time on this earth. He entrusted you with his plan, his plan for all mankind, which was redemption, Your mission is not political, but it's personal. You are to lead people to the Savior. Give them the word. Step back. Let the Holy Spirit do the job. Boy, I hope you're listening. I hope you're learning. I hope you'll apply it into your life. On Tech Next Week, this is your host, Rick Hughes, saying thank you for listening to The Floodline.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to The Floodline with your host, Rick Hughes. If you'd like to contact Rick, please write to him at P.O. Box 100, Cropwell, Alabama, 35054, or online at www.rickhughesministries.org.
In this episode, embark on a spiritual journey exploring the power of faith and advocacy. Father Frank Pavone joins us to lead a thoughtful discussion on the importance of religious freedom, pro-life advancements, and the recent passing of significant legislation. Discover how these pivotal moments are reshaping the conversation around life and faith in the United States and abroad, as we seek to inspire hope and action within our communities.
SPEAKER 01 :
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
SPEAKER 02 :
At age 10, Father Andre escaped Christian massacres by living in caves in Mount Lebanon with his family. Today, Father Andre works tirelessly to encourage American leaders to keep God in the public square, defending religious freedom at home and abroad, so that all might live in peace for the glory of God. Founder and President of the Mission of Hope and Mercy, Father Andre has learned the secret to safety, joy, and peace. Love God and one another. Now, let us spend 33 minutes on the Lord's Day, retuning ourselves to the truth of love in the hands of God.
SPEAKER 01 :
Praise be the most holy name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever and ever. Amen. I'm not sure about what I should be more excited about this beautiful day of Sunday after before which we just celebrated our Independence Day in the United States of America. this holy, beautiful day, the day of the resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who every week on the beginning of the week reminds us that he defeated death, he conquered all evil, and he gives us a new hope for with Christ, everything, everything begins again in you. And we know this for a fact that according to St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 17, to be in Christ means being a completely new creature. Everything of the old is gone. Now everything is made anew. can you believe it my brothers and sisters we have such a beautiful opportunity that every time every sunday when the lord we celebrate his resurrection from the death we are starting anew but not from point zero we are heading closer on the way with jesus towards the truth of jesus to have more life in jesus christ and that's something so beautiful so life is the goal of this beautiful day of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today we also celebrate in the West the feast day of one of the young saints, Santa Maria Goretti, an Italian saint whose tomb I have visited many times. We have a little center for the mission of hope and mercy less than a mile away from her tomb and shrine in Anzio, Netuno, Anzio, near Rome, about 70 kilometers. This is a saint who on the day of her first communion Unfortunately, a terrible accident happened. Her neighbor who lived above them, one floor above them, he was an older gentleman. He was older than her. She was 12 years old. He was about 18 or 19 years old. Unfortunately, he tried to rape her and she wouldn't let him. She kept saying, Jesus would not like that. Jesus would not like that. And unfortunately, in a time, in a moment of anger, he gripped his knife and he stabbed her over 27 times. And then she spent a big agony for overnight in the hospital of Santa Barbara in Anzio. But she forgave him. And he noticed that she forgave him. He actually is a man whose mother of Santa Maria Goretti forgave. And in 1948, when Pope Pius beatified Santa Maria Goretti, the murderer of Santa Maria was actually present. And he was sitting with the family of Santa Maria Goretti. A lily of Italy, as Pope John Paul II calls her, the lily of purity. This wonderful symbol also reminds us of our duty to protect the life of the innocents. And this brings me actually to the biggest joy of our podcast with Irrevocable Today that we have with us live in our studio from his beautiful center for the pro-life, for the priest, for life, Father Frank Pavone. Today, my friends, I'm not going to take too much force. I'm not going to be the one to pray. I'm going to and have Father Frank pray. I'm gonna remind you that Colorado, we miss Father Frank a lot and we have been accustomed, we have been used for years and years and years to listen to his voice. He is a symbol for us. He's a symbol for our fight for life. He is a symbol for our fight for the right of the innocence to be alive as well as all of us to be given this opportunity and this chance through which god wants to accomplish beautiful things in this creation father frank is a national director of priests for life and you know he is a chairman and pastoral director of rachel's vineyard the president of the national and pro-life religious council and a pastoral director of the silent no more campaign he did many advocacies and many outreach he received many awards he was recognized in many places and he himself as well was also put on the cross which is probably the badge of honor for us priests every time when we try to do something for the lord the lord calls us closer to him not through a worldly award or worldly recognition but he recognizes our little pain and he tries to make us faithful and bigger pain when he puts us on the cross for a way and for a reason that is only known to him But the fruits of our work remains as the sign and a symbol of the continuous presence of Christ, the Redeemer, Christ, the forgiver, Christ, the priest. And once a priest, the Lord has sworn and he shall never regret. You are a priest forever, according to the rite of Melchizedek. Father Frank, good Sunday morning to you. Good to be with you, Father Andre. Thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much. You know, as I said, and I promise, I want you to lead us in prayer. And as I said earlier, after the prayer, I'll ask you a few questions. But today, Colorado wants to listen to you. So would you lead us in prayer?
SPEAKER 03 :
Absolutely. Let's turn to the Lord. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let's pray Psalm 104. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Lord God, how great you are, clothed in majesty and glory, wrapped in light as in a robe. You stretch out the heavens like a tent. Above the rains you build your dwelling. You make the clouds your chariot and walk on the wings of the wind. You make the winds your messengers and flashing fire your servants. You founded the earth on its base to stand firm from age to age. You wrapped it with the ocean like a cloak. The waters stood higher than the mountains. At your threat they took to flight. At the voice of your thunder they fled. They rose over the mountains and flowed down to the place which you had appointed. You set limits that they might not pass, lest they return to cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys. They flow in between the hills. They give drink to all the beasts of the field. The wild asses quench their thirst. On their banks dwell the birds of heaven. From the branches they sing their song. From your dwelling you water the hills. Earth drinks its fill of your gift. You make the grass grow for the cattle and the plants to serve man's needs, that he may bring forth bread from the earth and wine to cheer man's heart, oil to make him glad, and bread to strengthen man's heart. Lord, we thank you for the gift of life, life that you have poured out in abundance on the earth, and that you have crowned with your creation of human beings in your own image. We thank you today for the joy that comes not only from receiving life, but the joy that comes from defending it, celebrating it, serving it. We recall today, Lord, that your Spirit, who has been poured out upon us, as this psalm also declares, is the advocate. He advocates for us in the heights of heaven. As we receive that spirit once again, may we become advocates for the least of all our brothers and sisters here on earth, the children yet in the womb. Bless us as we follow you. Bless us as we proclaim your kingdom. Bless us as we advance toward eternal salvation. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
SPEAKER 01 :
Amen. Amen, amen, amen. Father Frank, let's get to work. I was so happy I saw you meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin. I believe you went to Rome less than a month ago after the election of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. How was the meeting, just in general?
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, Cardinal Parolin is great. We've been privileged to intersect with him for many years because, as you mentioned at the outset in my work of heading up Peace for Life, which does work internationally as well as domestically, we've done a lot of work for the rights of the unborn in the arena of the United Nations. And there is a Holy See mission to the United Nations, and we have collaborated very closely with them. They, in turn, collaborate very closely with the office of the Secretary of State, who is at Cardinal Parolin. So over the years, because of our international pro-life work, we've been able to intersect with him. to meet with him, to assist in various ways, because the church, and together with other nations, and when there's a pro-life administration in the United States, together with the United States as well, are strong voices at the United Nations that say there should not be any, we should never consider abortion part of healthcare. So seeing Cardinal Parolin again was a great joy. And of course, I was there with my director of international activities. And we wanted to talk to him in particular, now that there's a new pope, of assisting us and assisting me in having all my priestly ministry restored. My pro-life ministry has continued without interruption. But as many of our listeners know, I was told by Pope Francis that I could not function as a Catholic priest. But under Pope Francis, Cardinal Parolin was a friend to us. And we said to him, we need your help again, Your Eminence, now under Pope Leo, so that we can get back to normal in terms of the exercise of my priesthood. So it was a very positive encounter and I'm very grateful to him.
SPEAKER 01 :
It seems, Father Frank, that, you know, because your suffering is symbolic, your suffering is symbolic, but it's amazing. You are fighting on our behalf for the right of the Genesis, because this is a Bereshit. This is the beginning. The beginning of life at conception is being attacked. You understood this, but did you understand the gravity of the attack you will suffer from?
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, I've always told people if you defend the unborn, you will be treated like the unborn. People will pretend you don't exist, like we pretend the unborn don't exist. They'll exclude you from consideration and protection. They'll say we don't have time for you, we don't have room for you. You stand with the unborn, you get treated the same way. And yet you get blessed the same way because the Lord said in the Beatitudes that those that are rejected, hated for his sake are blessed. The poor, those who have no help but God himself are blessed. And so we rejoice in that blessing. jesus said that slave is not greater than his master if they hated me they'll hate you we take that as part of the promises of christ i think father that in the training that we and and many pro-life groups give to younger activists when someone wants to come into the movement you know there are a lot of training programs and then these are done also in the churches for okay here's how you do the work of pro-life well there are many valuable lessons that are taught One of the lessons we have to make sure we don't forget to teach is to prepare people for that kind of rejection and persecution that will come. Some people underestimate the intensity of the hatred that is launched against us. If they underestimate it, if it takes them by surprise and blindsides them, then, you know, that's going to lead, if someone's not prepared, that's going to lead them to think, oh, maybe I made a mistake by getting into this. This is not what I bargained for. And then they leave. And this is why there's a lot of drop off, you know, from pro-life activism. But the more we can prepare people, have them expect the intensity of the backlash, the more we will persevere.
SPEAKER 01 :
And not every battle is won, obviously, but you have done a lot of beautiful achievements. But it seems that this week and this month, in particular, with the administration of President Trump and with this new bill, the big, beautiful bill, it seems there's a lot of benefits for pro-life. And it seems that there are more cuts of funding from Planned Parenthood. I have a lot of questions to ask you, but all of them lead in the same way. You know, you help in the fight against Amendment 79, which basically gave constitutional constitutional right to abortion, I believe. Right. Amendment 79 in Colorado. Yes. In Colorado. And then somehow. This fight was lost. Why? And what is Amendment 17? What is the significance? And is there another chance? Is there a second chance to stand against this amendment and to protect the life of the people?
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, there's certainly... To deal with that part of the question first, there certainly is, and there are efforts underway. And then that's the answer to the first part of the question. Well, why would they need a policy to allow more abortion if all the abortions are already allowed? Because if you put it in the Constitution... You're not just talking about the policy today. You're talking about preventing different policies tomorrow. In other words, the pro-abortion side is really rightfully afraid of we the people. We, the people in America, are becoming more pro-life. And now the Supreme Court has said in the Dobbs case from three years ago, if you pass a law protecting the unborn, we're not going to strike it down. There's no constitutional reason to get in your way if you want to protect the unborn. So the pro-abortion people are thinking in Colorado, and they did the same thing, by the way, in New York. where already abortion is practically without limits, but they put an amendment in the Constitution to say it should always be allowed. And they had admitted why. They said, hey, the political winds can change. What if Republicans, what if pro-life people get elected? What if we get a different governor, a different legislature? Right now, Colorado is very blue, as we know. But what if it changes? We don't want them coming in and starting to pass all kinds of pro-life laws. So if you put an amendment in the Constitution that says you can't limit abortion, well, then the lawmakers can't. start the process of making a law like that. So now what pro-life people have to do is work on changing this constitutional amendment and put it back again to a more reasonable place. And that has been done in certain other states. In Nebraska, they passed the pro-life amendment to the constitution instead of the pro-abortion amendment that the other side was proposing. So the work continues. We always have to have determination to undo any evil that's been done.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, as we are talking, as we are recording this radio show, irrevocable for our podcast for the Sunday on July 6th. We want to wish everybody, first of all, happy Independence Day. I want to tell you that the big, beautiful bill has officially passed the House. And now it is being taken to President Trump's desk. Father Frank, what does this mean for the pro-life? Because I know in the big, beautiful bill, there are certain advantages for the pro-life. It is considered victory. Can you explain a little bit?
SPEAKER 03 :
A very big, very big victory, Father. It's great to be with you at this moment that this has happened because, as I said today in various commentary, this is the biggest victory, first of all, for America since the November elections. The November elections were a great victory for our country. This is the greatest victory since then, because this actually implements so many of the policies that the voters voted for. We'll mention, as you just asked me, the pro-life dimensions of this. But taking a big step back and looking at it overall, it's the biggest tax cuts in American history, the biggest spending cuts in American history. It prevents a $4 trillion tax increase that would have happened if if President Trump's original tax cuts hadn't been extended. It secures the border even more. It strengthens the military even more. And it brings about beautiful policies. One of them is the no taxes on tips. So many of our listeners, I'm sure, receive tips for the work that they do. No more taxes on those tips. No more taxes on overtime. No more taxes on Social Security. This is going to be a big win for everybody. When it comes to pro-life, just like the bill itself, with its many, many provisions, is the biggest victory for America since the November elections. In pro-life, this is the greatest victory for us since the Dobbs decision. Why do I say that? Because for decades, the pro-life movement has been trying to stop the federal funding of Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses. Money has been pouring in. half a billion dollars a year and more from our tax money going to these organizations who kill babies. And we've been trying to figure out for many, many years, how do we stop that? So many different bills have been introduced in the past, but they've never passed the hurdle of the Senate where you need 60 votes. So even if you're in the majority, it's still not enough. You got to get 60 votes to break the filibuster. and all kinds of efforts have been made sometimes the congress has passed the legislation and we didn't have a pro-life president or sometimes there's been a pro-life president but we didn't have both houses of congress this year all the planets aligned in the sense that you had a pro-life president a pro-life house a pro-life senate And a reconciliation bill, which means it didn't need 60 votes. It only needed 51 votes in the Senate. That just happened. That just happened. And so we finally got it done. We came close to getting it done in the past. We finally got it done today. What a tremendous victory. There's also a provision in this bill for opening up. for every newborn child a private investment account and uh seeding it with a thousand dollars so that if properly used by the family and also um the legislators senator ted cruz was behind this this bill by the way and um uh this part of the bill i should say uh and with the he got even the agreement of many employers that they would pay into this account for the children of their employees. And I think more companies will get on board with that as it becomes more widely known. But what does this do? It is an incentive for parents. It is an encouragement for parents. who want to have children. It's one of the many things that can push them away from abortion and make them feel like, hey, I have some help here. I have some help even coming from the government. Father, as you may know, Victor Orban, in Hungary, was able to, through public policy over there, bring down the abortion rate tremendously by things just like this. In other words, keeping more and more incentives, financial incentives coming to families that want to have children, that want to do what our faith teaches, to say yes generously to the gift of life. So this is just scratching the surface, but these are some of the pro-life highlights in this big, beautiful bill.
SPEAKER 01 :
I was seeing them, according, while you were talking, if you notice, I was seeing what AI would say, what is considered to be victory due to provisions for pro-life in the one big, beautiful bill. And in fact, as you were saying, the potential pro-life benefits according to AI, one, restrictions on abortion funding, which you spoke about. Yeah. ACA plan restrictions, shifting healthcare landscape. Potential concerns, however, for pro-choice advocates impact on women's health. And that's what I wanted to ask you. Does really this rumor about women's health being the main argument to encourage women to stand against the life of the baby? How much of it is a lie? How much of it is really? Father Frank, comment on this. Is it really practical to say that women's health goes against the protection of the life of the baby or they go together as a matter of fact?
SPEAKER 03 :
The life and health of the woman and the life and health of the baby go together perfectly, and one of the things the other side does not pay attention to is how much abortion harms women. Now, we say that. It's not just a slogan. It's backed up by many studies. I want to give a father a website where people can take all the time they they want to take to actually look at those studies we have a obviously a short time here to discuss it but if people go to the website lifeafterabortion.com that's one of our websites at priests for life we have many different ones but this one educates people about the harm abortion does now people might say oh yeah but that's a pro-life website No, no, we have the links to the research. And what I'm asking people to do is take a look at the scientific research, take a look at the research. It's not just coming out now. It's been coming out for decades. And what does this show? This shows that abortion actually harms the health of women. By what? Well, first of all, the procedure itself is unnatural. So there can be hemorrhage and infection. There can be infertility and sepsis. There can be uterine perforation and all kinds of problems with subsequent pregnancies. Preterm delivery, for example, is one of the well-documented after effects of abortion. increased risk of breast cancer, et cetera. Many physiological problems, psychological too, and familial. Many studies about the connections between abortion and child abuse or problems in relationships, breakdown of marriages, and on and on it goes. So then when the other side claims to stand for the health of women, I ask them a simple question. Have you looked at the effects abortion has on the health of women? Now, notice how I phrased that question. Have you looked at? Because before we even say I agree or disagree, we have to look at what the research says. And this is something the other side is often guilty of, that they just they'll just make an assertion. Oh, you're going to you're going to ban abortion and it's going to have a negative impact on women's health. OK, well, I don't know why you say that. Show me your show me your studies. But then again, the question back to them, which studies have you read? What have you looked at showing the opposite, that having the abortion actually is a negative effect on women's health? more closely.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thank you. Father Frank, I want to continue with you what we started to conclude the podcast to bring it back to our own world as consecrated ministers, as ordained ministers. You know, you heard Felicia was saying that there is a leak from the Vatican that probably what we have thought to be that the bishops endorsed the abolishing of the Old Mass or passing limitations on the Old Mass. We're talking about the Tridentine Mass versus the Novus Ordo or the Mass that came after Vatican II. And it seems like in these unofficial leaks from the Vatican, It seems that the bishops did not endorse basically abolishing this old mass. And then you said yourself, you went to the Vatican, you met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who I cherish a lot. I met with him many times myself personally. He knows about the mission of hope and mercy. We presented to him. Actually, I think I have a picture behind me somewhere with me and Pope Francis when I met with him and with Cardinal Parolin. And I showed them the work of the mission of hope and mercy. And he blessed us. what do you think the conspiracy in the Vatican is, and why there has been so much internal damages between our unity as a clergy, and why was the canon law used against us? I know it's a big question, but we have little time.
SPEAKER 03 :
You know, I worked over there for a while at the Vatican, as you mentioned in my introduction, and It's a bureaucracy. It's a lot of people involved. There's a lot of people who have influence behind the scenes. And Father, I think it just boils down to personnel is policy. What's true in politics is also true in the church. You get some people in there who, frankly, I think some of them just don't believe. They don't believe the gospel. They don't believe the faith. Their motives are different. We see the same thing in government. You know, you elected an administration. The voters speak. They want certain policies. And you've got some bad actors in there that who don't believe in those policies. And they're trying to short circuit.
SPEAKER 01 :
And they work in the Vatican.
SPEAKER 03 :
They were in the Vatican. There's so many. There's so many people. Nobody knows their names. Nobody knows their faces. And that they're in there. They're in the system. You get a bad apple in there, so to speak, and you get bad policies. And there's whisper campaigns and there's gossip and there's people who try to manipulate and others that try to pay people off to do different things. Wherever there's human nature, there's going to be these kinds of behaviors, wherever there's human nature. We just have to continue to keep strong and continue to support the voices of those who are true shepherds and giving us the solid faith.
SPEAKER 01 :
I want us to conclude a little bit with an opening to a new challenge. And I know I spoke about it with Bishop Strickland, who I love to have him on our podcast, to continue commenting on those steps of victory towards pro-life and to ask him more about what does total abolishing of abortion looks like, without exception, without compromise. I would love for you to be with us, if you can, to have like an open dialogue between the three of us. if your time allows it. Absolutely. Let's do that. Let's do that. That's so important. That would be great. But do you think our priests in our parishes are tuning down a little bit the pro-life message in order not to be challenged not to be sacrificed, not to be marginalized, like what happened to you. In my experience, for the defense of the persecuted, I did not know. We say in our mission of hope and mercy, we would like to apply the gospel of Matthew chapter 25. I was hungry, you fed me. I was thirsty, you gave me to drink. I was naked, you covered me. I was a stranger, you hosted me. I was in prison, you visited me. I was sick and you visited me. That's Jesus Christ basically judging the nations of the earth. And then I did not know until the persecution happened to me, I told my mom, was the very first human being I said this to, I said, mom, I did not know that between the bread of the poor, the bread of the poor and the poor, all the gates of hell are standing. I did not know that every time I'm gonna try to bring bread to the poor, it's the entire hell that's gonna break loose to try to take away their bread. And what you said in the beginning of our podcast, Irrevocable, that, but you prepared your people. How did you know, and what courage, what gift, how did you know that the level of attack is not gonna take you down, even though it takes you down, you're gonna rise again? Were you really sure that this was God's plan for you and for us?
SPEAKER 03 :
yes and i all i can say is that i don't know if it was just through prayer or through i always feel like an attention an attention to history teaches us these lessons whether it's the the martyrs or even in civic history you know reformers are always punished reformers are always put down and canceled you know i mean of course the cancel culture is most obvious right there on the cross you know that jesus says the cancel culture was you know shown on display on good friday so but it didn't work it didn't work right and i think that's the ongoing lesson is that you try to silence truth and truth always ends up coming out in the end and that's what we got to focus on not the effort to silence us right now but the assurance of the of the eventual victory
SPEAKER 01 :
So what's your message finally to our brothers, the priests, to our fathers, the bishops, who wash their hands or when we walk on the street, they turn their faces away to avoid probably us because we look like if we were stamped and somehow with the shame of the wood of the cross. What is your message on this wonderful Sunday?
SPEAKER 03 :
My message would simply be this, that the biggest temptation for us as priests is to take the sacred for granted. Oh, it's another homily. Oh, another mass. Okay, I have to do another baptism. And it becomes like, oh, another one. You know, we get used to it. We should never get used to it. And what we should also never get used to and never take advantage of, lose confidence in, is the power of the word that we preach, because it's not ours. Jesus, I mean, God said to the prophets all the time, I'm going to give you my words in your mouth. He says to Ezekiel, eat the scroll, right? It's God's word in our mouth. So the power doesn't come from us. It comes from him. And I think a lot of our fellow clergy, because they lose confidence in the power of that, They don't preach it as vigorously as they should, especially on these controversial matters. The power of the word to change people and to win. Remember, God said, I'm not going to send my word. It's not going to come back to me empty. I'm going to send it and it's going to accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. Why was it sent? For life. So I urge our fellow clergy, focus on that. You have a word in your heart, in your mind, on your lips that will bring life. It's nothing to do with you. So stop worrying that the persecution has anything to do with you either. Just preach that word, suffer the consequences, but you'll also receive the glory.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thank you, Father Frank. This has been a wonderful message. Father, as you made the springs and valleys to form streams between mountains. so you may live in streams of grace flow from the apostles, that their teaching may bring salvation to all the nations. In this month, we celebrated the feast days of the prince of the apostles and the apostles to the nations and the 12 apostles and the early martyrs of the Roman church. May we have a practical knowledge of their doctrine, be obedient to their commands, obtain remission of our sins through their prayers. And finally, O Divine Father, as Father Frank has spoken to us, may we all recognize not to take the sacred for granted. but to remember that in our words and the ministry to serve you as a sacred amongst us, you have life to share abundantly with the world. And you count on our courage to be able to share it with others, regardless of how much suffering we go through. Give us the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And on this day, we tell you truthfully from all of our hearts, emitte spiritum tuum et crea buntur, et renovabit facem terram. send forth your spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen. Thank you, Father Frank. We love you. And we're going to do this episode with Bishop Strickland and you and have an educational forum for our people in the United States in the post era of Dobbs and after this big victory and one big, beautiful bill as well.
SPEAKER 03 :
I look forward to it, Father. Thanks and God bless you. God bless you.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to 33 Minutes on the Lord's Day. To hear previous programs, visit the show page at missionofhopeandmercy.org. Listen to Father Andre every Sunday morning at 7.30 on KLZ as he speaks on the unity of Christians, religious freedom, and the biblical foundation of Judeo-Christian values and traditions. Join him in bringing hope and freedom to people across the globe while also strengthening your own faith, family, and community right here in Colorado. Reawaken the spiritual strength of America. Go to missionofhopeandmercy.org.
In this compelling episode of The Flatline, host Rick Hughes delves deep into the principles that define spiritual influence. He takes listeners on a journey of understanding the FLOT Line, a concept akin to a spiritual defense system, designed to guard against life's adversities. Rick passionately explains the significance of God's problem-solving devices and imparts timeless wisdom on using faith to maintain tranquility amidst life's inevitable challenges. Throughout the episode, Rick emphasizes the role of biblical wisdom and how it equips believers to stand firm in their faith despite societal upheavals.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to The Flatline with your host, Rick Hughes. For the next 30 minutes, you'll be inspired, motivated, educated, but never manipulated. Now, your host, Rick Hughes.
SPEAKER 02 :
Good morning and welcome to The Flatline. I'm your host, Rick Hughes, and for the next few minutes, you have a cordial invitation to stick around. The Flotline is designed to remind you of biblical truths and introduce you to a new way of studying and a new way of learning God's Word. I do this all with no manipulation, no solicitation, no sort of asking for money, nothing like that. It's just 30 minutes of education, motivation, and inspiration. That's my job. verify and identify God's plan for you, and hopefully, hopefully, you will orient and adjust to the plan. So the FLOT line is about changing the way you think. FLOT, F-L-O-T, stands for the Forward Line of Troops. That's a military term, and we're talking about you having a forward line of troops, invisibly speaking, it's a metaphor, but in your soul, a forward line of troops in your soul made up of God's problem-solving devices, specifically 10 unique problem-solving devices. When you learn these problem-solving devices and use them, then you will be able to stop the outside source of adversity from ever becoming the inside source of stress. You know and I know that adversity is inevitable, but you may not know that stress is optional. Because adversity is what those circumstances do to you, and stress, well, that's what you do to yourself. So by learning God's Word, using God's Word, using one of the 10 problem-solving devices, the one called a faith rest drill, then we're able to have a tremendously relaxed mental attitude in spite of whatever we may face. If we use Rebound, the problem-solving device number one, then we learn how to confess our sin when we commit sin because we know that sin quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit of God. And a Christian cannot live the Christian life with the Holy Spirit grieved or quenched in his life. I've often told people, if you want to find out what kind of friend you have or pastor you have, ask him a question. How do I live the Christian life? If he does not tell you, you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to do it. You have to have the filling of the Holy Spirit and the combination of the Word of God. Those two things together give you balance of residency in your soul. If he doesn't tell you that, if he tells you be good, be nice, be sweet, don't drink, don't smoke, don't cuss, well, that's not how you live the Christian life. Those may be things Christians do, but that's not how you live the Christian life. We teach all of that on The Flock Line, and if you've listened long enough, you've heard me go over it and over it and over it, and we'll keep going over it. So the rebound technique guarantees the filling of the Holy Spirit. Problem-solving device number two, and that deals with the sin nature, how we keep the old sin nature from controlling our lives. Using the faithless drill, that's dealing with the Word of God and how we stand firm in the promises of God. And then grace orientation, where we live by grace, die by grace, and expect surpassing grace in heaven. And biblical orientation, where we do what the Bible says, study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, but rightly dividing the Word of truth. All of this gives us a personal sense of destiny. That destiny that we know what God designed us to be, what God designed us to do. And that's motivated by our personal love for God, the greatest virtue you could ever have in your life. Virtue love, your personal love for God is the greatest virtue you could ever have. Impersonal love for all mankind is another problem-solving device because that lets you love jerks, weirdos, obnoxious people. people you're not supposed to be able to love, but you love them based on your character, not theirs. And then sharing the happiness of God, the joy that the Lord Jesus Christ passed on to those disciples. And then eventually being occupied with Christ, being occupied with Christ, tremendous problem-solving device. Those are 10 problem-solving devices. We have them on a bookmark. If you'd like one, contact us. We'll send it to you. and we have them in a book, Christian Problem Solving. We can send that to you as well, free of charge. Everything on this show, free of charge. We do not raise money. We don't solicit funds. We don't sell anything. It's free, free, free. God gave it to you free, and you give it away free. So today, if you will let me, I want to move into a different area. I want to talk about being an influencer. An influencer. Some of you are seated today in your home in various cities across this country. You've written to me. You've contacted me through the internet, emails, personal letters. And I want you to understand what it means to be an influencer. you know these times in our country are very historical medical emergencies civil unrest as well as meltdown of divine institutions and do you remember what the divine institutions are freedom marriage family and nationalism those four things freedom marriage family and nationalism so when we begin to break down those divine institutions we begin to break down the rule of law when when protesters can assault people and not be arrested. Well, these are times that are historical. The attitude in America is shifting. The whole concept of what America is and freedom is is being challenged today. Can you actually do anything about it? You're one person. You may be one person sitting alone in a home in Colorado. You may be one person alone in Maryland. You may be one person alone in California or Texas or Mississippi. Can you do anything about it? Yes. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9, 14, and 15, there was a little city and a few men within it, and there came a great king against it, and he besieged it and built great bulwarks against it. And there was found in that city a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the entire city. And yet no man remembered that same poor man. One man delivered a city with wisdom. Wisdom is the most amazing thing that you could have because it gives you insight and discernment. The only way you can acquire any wisdom is to get some understanding. And when you get understanding from the Word of God and convert gnosis into epinosis, let me use those big words, gnosis is the Greek word knowledge and epinosis is the Greek word full knowledge. What we have to learn in the Bible is not just hear it, but apply it. Hear it is gnosis. Apply it is epinosis. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, happiness belongs to the people who hear my Father's word and keep it. Hear it and apply it. So if you want wisdom, it's found in the Bible. I suggest you read Proverbs. My own pastor has been teaching a phenomenal study in Proverbs. Absolutely unbelievable practical knowledge. divine wisdom in your life every day. So this man had practical divine wisdom, and he delivered the city. This verse can apply to you in this day, the day of doubt about the future, the day of confusion about what's going on in the election year. Ecclesiastes 9.17, again, the word of the wise men are heard in the in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Now you and I both know that negative volition, put a minus V, negative volition, rejects wisdom. Negative volition wants nothing to do with biblical wisdom. Proverbs 1.7 says, fools despise wisdom and instruction. What is a fool? It's an arrogant, self-righteous individual. Artificially intelligent, AI, artificial intelligence is the fool. He thinks he's smart as God or smarter than God, and he rejects God's word. He's not interested in the wisdom of the word of God, and as a result, he destroys his life. So negative volition is not interested in learning any wisdom, You're not gonna be able to reach everybody. You're not gonna be able to influence everybody in your field of influence, but you will influence. Just because no one listens, it does not mean you should never speak. I mean, go back and ask Noah. According to Genesis 6-3, God gave a warning about the length of days that man would live. He said, My spirit will not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh, and his days shall be 120 years. Now, we know it took many years to build the ark, and we know that no one entered it but he and his family. That's Noah and his family, but he warned them every day. There's a flood coming. There's a flood coming. I'm building a boat. You can get on the boat. You can get in the ark. No one got on. They all laughed at him. They all made fun of him until the flood started. And then when everybody tried to rush the boat to get in, God slammed the door shut. your assignment wherever you may be this morning is a modern day noah and you are to warn of god's coming judgment how do you do that by lifting up the lord jesus christ since the cross is a magnet for sinners the cross is a magnet for sinners he said in john 12 32 if i be lifted up from the earth i will draw all men unto me Yes, and you lift up the work of Christ and the redemptive work that he did on the cross, it's attractive. Magnets attract and we know magnets can repel. You remember having two magnets and trying to put them together and they would repel each other and push each other away sometimes. But positive volition, a positive V, a plus plus a V, positive volition is attracted to the magnet and negative volition is repelled from the magnet. Either way, positive or negative, when you influence your periphery, your field of influence, someone you know, at least the justice of God will be vindicated since the love of God provided redemption for that individual. You know, influencer today is a big word, and you may not be aware of what we call social media influencers. I call them cosmic influencers. Social media influencers is a user on a social media platform who's established credibility in a specific industry. The social media influence has access to large audiences, and can actually persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and their outreach. The average social media influencer can take home anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 per year, that's the average person, by promoting products like clothing or food or hotels, even vitamin supplements, if they do it on their social media webpages. Users that have more than 1 million followers can make up to 100,000, or even $250,000 per sponsored post, according to a recent survey of Vox VOX. And you might not know what Vox is. It's an American news and opinion website owned by Vox Media. Let me give you some examples of a social media influencer. Kylie Jenner, 22 years old, Kylie Jenner can make more than $1 million per sponsored Instagram post when she does that. Cristiano Ronaldo, 35-year-old Portuguese soccer star, makes $975,000 for each sponsored Instagram post. Kim Kardashian, who married Kanye West, makes $910,000 for every sponsored Instagram post. Kanye West, her husband, is a media star himself, winning 21 Grammy Awards, and he's a professed Christian who hosts a YouTube channel and has over a million subscribers himself. There's a young man who's eight years old, Ryan Kaji, K-A-J-I, K-A-J-I, eight years old. And he remains YouTube's highest earner. And in 2019, as a social media influencer, an eight-year-old boy made $26 million. His influence is in the toy industry. and he has his own Ryan's World channel on YouTube, and there are over 25 million people subscribed to those videos, and they have been viewed over 30 billion times. These insane numbers show you the reach of these influencers, and most of it's on the cell phone. I mean, look at the mass crowds on television during a protest. And you'll see almost all of them have cell phones, and they're trying to record events as they unfold, sending texts back and forth, where to meet, what to do, and so forth, coordinating the next rally point. all by cell phone. And by the way, all hoping to capture something spectacular so they can sell it to some TMZ or some other media giant and make a fortune. These social media influence are nothing but cosmic recruiters, cosmic recruiters. They try to influence the youth of their countries in matters of fashion, style, health, and of course, politics. Listen, when there's no wisdom inculcated, the youth of a nation will fall for anything. And this describes the youth of the United States of America during the last four generations. There was a time when I started speaking in schools that I could speak in any school, anywhere, anytime if they invited me. No longer today because my message represents the Lord Jesus Christ. I still speak in many, many schools, but they are private academies. They're not necessarily Christian schools, but they're sure not public schools because soon as a public school finds out you're going to mention Jesus, nope, out the door you go. So we have four generations of young people that have no wisdom. There's no counter to the cosmic system lies and the cosmic system deceptions. What's the cosmic system? That's human viewpoint thinking that Satan spawns. So today we see a generation of radicals, a generation of anarchists spawn from previous generations. And you know what else you get? You get what we call cosmic robocalls. I bet you get a cell phone robocall. You probably, like me, get four or five a day. They come daily trying to influence and divert attention from the real issue of the decaying nation. And a lot of people are manipulated by these venues. Next time you get a robocall, just answer it and say, Sheriff's Department, Fraud Division, and most of the time they'll hang up. These cosmic robocalls, every day you'll get them trying to sell you a warranty or trying to do this, trying to do that. And on the Internet, you have something called clickbait. You say, what is that? It's a social media influencer. The content of the post is designed to attract attention and encourage you to click on that particular website. It's a form of false advertisement. The best bait that you can give, the best bait I have, and I'm a good fisherman. I have a lot of baits. But the best bait that I have is the good news. My sins have been paid for. Jesus Christ forgave me. I'm going to heaven. Forgiveness is available through faith in Christ. He is the anointed Son of God. That is the best bait anyone could ever hear. Your job as a spiritual influencer, not a social media influencer, a spiritual influencer, your job, number one, is not to be a role model. You're not designed to be a role model. I mean, there are a lot of people who establish dependency as a role model, and they often get worshiped by impressionable and misguided children. But the role model has to be, without a doubt, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 2, 21 and 22, for to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. There's your role model. He committed no sin, neither was there deceit found in his mouth. That's the role model we need. Hopefully we've all learned what it means to be a member of the pivot. I've talked about it a lot on this show. That's the group of mature believers that deliver a nation in time of trouble. The pivot, the core group of mature believers that deliver a nation in time of trouble. Remember Gideon had only 300 soldiers that God could use, but they delivered him from 65,000 frenzied Midianites. God doesn't need a lot. He just needs one man with wisdom. I read you that verse. And hopefully you're the man, you're the lady. Those who use civil unrest and social media as a means to promote their agenda all have one thing in common, social justice and reform. That's the hidden objective of Satan. And it's always been to eliminate the claims of Jesus Christ And I can assure you the devil, aka Satan, will stop at nothing to complete his desired will. And he will use diversion and deception to advance his plan. The hidden objective of Satan through all of this social media influence is to shut down the message of Jesus Christ. The only thing that's true, the only thing that's lasting, The only thing that is real reform is redemption and reconciliation. We are redeemed out of the slave market of sin, and we are reconciled to our relationship with God through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. But you know, an anarchist is not interested in the claims of the Bible, rather just the claims of humanism or progressivism, even communism. That's what they want to achieve their desired state since they have this cosmic influence in their life. Since you're here now, growing in grace, you and I, we must understand our calling, which is to have an impact in our very own field of influence. our very own field of influence, and we have an impact for Christ. Let me say it again. You and I are here, we're growing in grace, and we must understand our calling, which is to have an impact in our field of influence for the Lord Jesus Christ. You say, I don't have a field of influence. I don't buy that. Take a look around you and decide for yourself, what is your field of influence? Maybe you're influencing a lot of people. Maybe you're influencing a few people, maybe one or two. But when the young man led me to Christ, he had no idea what he was doing. When a young man from South Africa took me into the bedroom of a friend's house and got on his knees and prayed with me, and I asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save me, he had no idea what my life would turn out to be. And you have no idea, the people you talk to, what could happen in their lives. So the only true and lasting reform is redemption and reconciliation. So you have to understand this. What is your field of influence? You know, the greatest influencers of all time went from being commoners to criminals. As a matter of fact, in the end, most of them were murdered and suffered a martyr's death. And it could be your future as well, I hate to tell you, but it could be. Who am I talking about these great influencers? Well, I'm talking about the disciples who went from being blue-collar fishermen to royalty as New Testament apostles. They had no idea that they were going to write a Bible. They had no idea what God was going to do with their life. They just answered the call when Jesus said, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. There was something so dynamic, something so intriguing, something so alluring about the Lord Jesus Christ. When they looked upon him, they could not help but follow him. And their mission was found in Matthew 28, 19 and 20. It was called the Great Commission. Go into all the world. So here's the principle for you. The spiritual influencer, that's you, you, wherever you may be, in your city, in your family, in your home, the spiritual influencer must be prepared for conflict. Conflict is going to come. Conflict. Could be family conflict, could be religious conflict, it could be social conflict. But listen to what the Bible says about this in Matthew 10, 21 and 22. And brother shall deliver up brother to death. And the father, the child, and the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. And you shall be hated by all men because of my namesake. But he that endureth to the end shall be delivered. People of conviction, like you, like me, are not tolerated. And you are pressured to give in and capitulate. You're pressured not to say anything. You're pressured just to let it slide. You're pressured just to go your own way. You're being manipulated. You don't even know it. In Matthew 10, 34, Jesus said, don't think I came to bring peace on earth. I didn't come to bring peace. I came to bring a sword. For I came to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's enemy shall be the members of his own household. Here's a sad principle. Your children may reject your wisdom as they get sucked into the lie of the cosmic system. If they have no biblical wisdom, then they will have no insight, no discernment to deter them from the truth. They won't be able to determine the truth is what I'm trying to say. You know, it's sad, but the older you get, the dumber they think you are. You know, they used to love you. They used to listen to you. Now they're 40 and you're 70 and they think you're stupid and you don't know what you're talking about. Well, our Lord gave instructions to these 12 apostles that they were to evangelize the lost sheep of the house of Israel, saying the kingdom was at hand. And in Matthew, the Bible goes on to say in Matthew 10, these 12 Jesus sent out after instructing them, where he said, don't go in the way of the Gentiles and don't enter into any city of the Samaritans, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And he told them who to go speak to and what to say. They were instructed not to raise money for their mission trip, but to depend on God's people to supply their needs. That's what we do here. We never ask for money. No missionary should ever ask anybody for money. And two, he warned them about opposition and instructed them to be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove. Wise in avoiding danger and harmless in not openly opposing the enemy. In Matthew 10, 16, I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as a snake and as innocent as a dove. That means the missionary must stay out of politics. That's not your field of influence. Stay out of politics. Your field of influence is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he warned them about the canine clergy. Look out, they're wolves in sheep's clothing. And the missionary, you and I, we must understand the biggest threat to the gospel message is organized religions. The Lord Jesus Christ alerted them to the vicious name calling and slander they were going to face in their lives. That's the cosmic system tactics of taunting them. This is what he said in Matthew 10, 25. If they call the master of the house Beelzebub, How much more will they malign the members of the household? So he instructed them to eliminate all fear. Get rid of your fear, he said. Matthew 10, 26, don't be afraid of them. Don't fear them who can kill your body but are unable to kill the soul. All this is necessary for you to understand. if you to apply if you have any hope of being a spiritual influencer in a dying nation such as the united states of america today and first peter three who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good but even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness you will be blessed so do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled in matthew 5 happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of me, rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven will be great. I want you to be a media influencer, not a social media influencer, but an influencer in your own field of influence, in your family, in your nation. You can be an invisible hero. You can have a historical impact. You can have an invisible impact. So many things you can do by being an influencer for the Lord Jesus Christ. We're going to talk about this a lot more in the future. I hope you'll come back next week, same time, same place, and we can provide this for you in transcript or on CD. Okay, until next week, this is your host, Rick Hughes, saying thank you for listening to The Flatline.
SPEAKER 01 :
Thank you for listening to The Floodline with your host, Rick Hughes. If you'd like to contact Rick, please write to him at P.O. Box 100, Cropwell, Alabama, 35054, or online at www.rickhughesministries.org.
The discussion transitions into an examination of relationships, focusing on the challenges and obstacles that arise within them. The hosts candidly explore how introspection and communication can serve as tools for fostering healthier and more sustainable connections with partners. Whether touching on the dynamics between partners or the influences of gender norms, the conversation emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and mutual respect. By sharing personal experiences and inviting listeners to reflect on their own paths, the episode offers valuable insights into achieving meaningful growth together.
SPEAKER 09 :
I can't hide myself I don't expect you to understand I just hope I can explain What it's like to be a man It's a lonely road And they don't care about what you know It's not about how you feel But what you provide inside that home
SPEAKER 10 :
Being a man is what you make it. You can't always live up to expectations. You try to please everybody while you struggle so you fake it and end up out of balance compromising situations as a good man.
SPEAKER 07 :
Welcome to A Guy's Perspective, where they discuss real-life topics that men today are dealing with, whether married, single parent, or just single. We invite you to call in to this live program with your comments and questions. And here they are.
SPEAKER 05 :
Leave me alone.
SPEAKER 14 :
How's everybody doing today? We're at KLZ 560 AM. You can reach the guys at 303-477-5600. Again, that's 303-477-5600. Hope everybody had an excellent 4th of July. Happy birthday, America. And let's get into our topic. You know what I'm saying? I know there's some people that are... I can't complain about my 4th.
SPEAKER 13 :
No, mine was good, too.
SPEAKER 03 :
I had war, you know... War wounds.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, it was popping off, man. You caught fire.
SPEAKER 14 :
Getting into our topic. Andre kind of gave us this topic for everybody who's wondering about the song at the start. I know it's kind of different, but we're kind of taking it from... We don't normally give a Bible verse at the start, but we're taking our topic from Genesis 39, 12, and it says, "...she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me, and he left his garment in her hand and fled and got himself out." That's coming from Genesis 39, 12. And if anybody doesn't understand that scripture, Joseph got sold by his brothers. I'm a firm believer that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, like Joseph came from such a dysfunctional family. Like their whole generation was dysfunctional. But anyway, to speed this up, there are dysfunctional homes out there in America. I mean, dude, anybody who thinks their home's got it right, that's a dysfunctional statement right there.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, it's delusional.
SPEAKER 14 :
So anyway, he gets sold into slavery. Fast forwarding, Potiphar's wife wanted him. He leaves his coat with her. He's like, no, I'm out on this situation. He ends up in jail. She throws him in jail. What is up with today's society? And with women like hitting guys with like restraining orders, domestic violence orders, like good guys. I'm not talking some douchebag guy who's sitting there, you know.
SPEAKER 13 :
I mean, I want to touch on that scripture first. I mean, that's the first time I've ever heard it called a garment that she grabbed him by.
SPEAKER 14 :
Because isn't it a coat of many colors or something like that?
SPEAKER 13 :
No, no, no. I think actually in Scripture she grabbed him by his manhood.
SPEAKER 03 :
I don't think he grabbed a coat of many colors.
SPEAKER 14 :
No, because a coat of many colors is what his dad made him, right?
SPEAKER 03 :
That doesn't mean he was wearing it.
SPEAKER 14 :
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. He wasn't wearing it, but he was wearing something, wasn't he?
SPEAKER 13 :
I know for sure. I know for sure because in Scripture it says that they took home the coat of many colors. When they said... Oh, that's right. They took it off. That's right.
SPEAKER 14 :
That's right. Because they had to kill an animal and make it seem like a beast tore Joseph up or something.
SPEAKER 03 :
And then they brought the code home and showed it to the father.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, he's right. He's 100% right. But so he leaves his garment, he leaves, and then he gets thrown in jail. I'm talking about going from bad to worse, right?
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, yeah. Just because somebody had it out for him or had it oxford. No, because he wouldn't sleep with her. Right. He'd turn her down. Yeah. She was sleeping with all the slaves. That's a good point he's making.
SPEAKER 03 :
She might have.
SPEAKER 13 :
That's a very good point she made. Hey, it was her practice.
SPEAKER 14 :
So I guess what we're saying is you can call us at 303-477-5600 for a guy's perspective. And if you have a situation of where you went through a divorce and it turned bad, maybe you had a restraining order against you. Maybe you had a DV charge. Call in and tell us guys about it. We would really like to know.
SPEAKER 03 :
But how many people in those type of relationships, you know, can blame? the significant other when, you know, they should take on responsibility of themselves. You can say, oh, she's a bad woman and this and that. Yeah. Well, where's your part in all this?
SPEAKER 13 :
No, you're right. You're right, B. The thing is, everybody blames everybody else until they sit by themselves and they become introspective. No, you're telling the truth. But, yeah, at the beginning, it's the other person's fault.
SPEAKER 03 :
But, you know, to bring it up about Joseph Potiphar's wife, right?
SPEAKER 14 :
I don't think it says her name, though. I think it just says Potiphar's wife.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, Potiphar's wife. When you think about, you know, all of the evil people in the Bible, I mean, I think the women stand out the most because – The woman that tried to kill all the prophets. The lady, Jezebel. Oh, Jezebel or whatever her name is. When you think about all the people that have done so much wicked in the Bible, that's top three for me. Oh, really? Oh, yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER 14 :
What just happened? You're with Joseph?
SPEAKER 03 :
No, with Jezebel.
SPEAKER 14 :
Oh, gotcha.
SPEAKER 03 :
Out of the women and men, you could say, oh, women are worse than men, men are worse than women. But in that aspect, I would say the girls stand out more than the men.
SPEAKER 13 :
well i'll say in the instant who's out who knows about to kill every well but here's here's what happens though is uh people take pieces of scripture and then they use it to demonize or cut at people right oh and so and so then we say spirit of jezebel is like the immediate go-to for a woman that we think is uh um not a good person not a good person or something like that you know And that's not fair. So I think there's been a lot of evil and wicked exposed in the Bible, but it's not just predominantly women.
SPEAKER 14 :
For sure. Definitely not. I think the Bible encompasses everything, right? It talks about all the guys that were bad, all the women that were bad.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 14 :
I just think in society, right, like... Maybe we're being a little biased right here because we're a bunch of men on the radio. I mean, because I think guys do some crazy crap. You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER 13 :
We admit it, ladies. We admit it.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, yeah. I'm admitting it right now.
SPEAKER 13 :
I don't admit it.
SPEAKER 14 :
You don't admit doing anything bad, B?
SPEAKER 13 :
No. Hey, no. Oh. You can't bury your head in the sand and not get a girl. If you don't have a woman, then, yeah, you're not going to cause any trouble.
SPEAKER 14 :
Guys, guys, I'm telling you right now, when I take myself and I put a mirror up in front of me, I've done some really bad crap. You know what I'm saying? No, no, no, I have, dude. I have fallen on my face more times than I can count. Been through a divorce. Well, and the success is getting backed up. I've cheated. I've lied. You name it, and I've done it at one time. So I'm guilty.
SPEAKER 13 :
Same here.
SPEAKER 14 :
And I think everybody is. So for you to turn around and be like, ah, no, I'm perfect. I don't know how that – I don't know.
SPEAKER 03 :
I didn't say I didn't sin. I just said I was perfect in relationships.
SPEAKER 14 :
Perfect in relationships.
SPEAKER 03 :
Elaborate on that. Perfect in relationships.
SPEAKER 14 :
Can anybody be perfect in a relationship? By not being in one.
SPEAKER 1 :
No.
SPEAKER 14 :
There you go. That's the only way you can be perfect in a relationship is by not being in one. It's impossible to be perfect.
SPEAKER 13 :
The default is to have been like you're your own litmus test.
SPEAKER 14 :
Oh, man. You know what I'm saying? No, no, no.
SPEAKER 03 :
You're your own testament. I would say I'm perfect now because I took a step back. I looked at all my mistakes from prior relationships and said, I'm not going to make that mistake. I'm not going to make the same mistakes that I've. done in the past that have ruined my relationships and brought it into my new one which i would say is growth in a perfect relationship for myself and the growth that i've provided
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, let me ask you this, okay? Because have you guys ever heard of the book, something like guys are from Mars, women are from Venus or something like that?
SPEAKER 13 :
Men are from Mars, women from Venus, yeah.
SPEAKER 14 :
So it talks about, if I remember right, it talks about setting up a list of like all the negative things you've done. Have you ever done that before? Just like take out a piece of notebook paper?
SPEAKER 13 :
Pros and cons on self?
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, and write about all the stupid stuff you do in a relationship and – That causes you to have like all like the anxiety and distrust for people that you care about. Have you ever done that before?
SPEAKER 13 :
I haven't done that like in practice, but I've certainly racked my brain a lot, you know, laying there at night and stuff. So not writing it down though. But it is said, if you want to learn about somebody, read. If you want to learn about yourself, write.
SPEAKER 14 :
Right. So here's another thing that, and we'll go right to you, Brian, but in a relationship, have you ever just listened to the person you care about talking? You just shut up and let them talk for 15 minutes without interjecting? Tell me that ain't the hardest thing to do.
SPEAKER 13 :
We all got stuff to say.
SPEAKER 14 :
i just i avoided that one stuff you know what i'm saying i think in a relationship the hardest thing is the communication barrier but why why because because like he said you always have something more to say you always want to defend your actions you always that's a good point he's bringing up like one of my best friends just got married well he's not my best friend any longer but
SPEAKER 03 :
Sorry for your breakup. Yeah, sorry for my breakup. We're still friends. We just, you know. No, best friend. But, you know, he just got married, right? And two years into the marriage, he needed marriage counseling. So he goes before a pastor. And it was just a simple fix. These guys were fighting at each other so bad. And just to come to find out, it was one simple communication. And it's changed their marriage. And they've been married for 20 years. One small thing.
SPEAKER 13 :
And communication is key. That's the most important thing. And it's not bad for people to get premarital counseling.
SPEAKER 14 :
I heard a man say one time that if you found a rose, that crap comes with thorns, buddy. That was a song.
SPEAKER 13 :
Every rose has a thorn.
SPEAKER 14 :
No, no, no. I heard this dude say that. And it makes sense that if you find somebody that you appreciate, you care about, you love, and if that's your actual rose, there's going to be thorns on it.
SPEAKER 03 :
You know what I'm saying? This is right up my alley, this topic, because I've always wanted to be a marriage counselor.
SPEAKER 14 :
plumb plunger of love or plumber of love are we taking the plunge of love too right now are we like the plunge of love too like no but but i mean you see what i'm saying guys are so quick to turn around and point out the faults of women but yet we don't see our own faults like but why do you think that is well i think it's human nature it's not necessarily just men Oh, you just think it's human nature in general?
SPEAKER 13 :
Human nature to accuse and point and think that everybody else is the problem. But hey, man, if we've been in broken relationship after broken relationship, we have to understand that we are the common denominator.
SPEAKER 14 :
That is the truth.
SPEAKER 13 :
But that ain't just for divorce.
SPEAKER 14 :
We got to work on self.
SPEAKER 03 :
That's just in relationship in general. Yes. But guys, we can sit here and give people advice all day long. But most of the time, people, it's just in one ear and out the other. No, it's not. Oh, it is. I don't believe that at all. I don't believe that at all. I believe that full heartedly.
SPEAKER 14 :
You don't believe if you... Because we're talking to a bunch of men right now.
SPEAKER 03 :
If I give you a five... Oh, just like I was going to bring. Have you ever... What was that? The money, the seven steps to... Oh, baby steps. Oh, Ramsey. Dave Ramsey's baby steps. Dave Ramsey, okay. You could hear that all day long, right? But if you don't follow the steps, it ain't going to work for you. True. So I could come on this radio and give you three steps to changing your marriage, to changing your relationships... But if you ain't going to do it, it ain't going to matter.
SPEAKER 14 :
But if you don't first tell a person, they ain't never going to think of doing it. So that's where you're wrong. You first have to speak it to guys. Hold on, hold on. You first got to speak it to guys. They hear it, then they react. Guys are reactionary. I don't care how anybody says. We're visual and we're reactionary. You talk crap to me, I talk crap back.
SPEAKER 03 :
No, no, no. The reason I say that is I gave the last time we did the show, I gave some simple advice and a guy called on the radio and told me how stupid I was. I was like, dude, you're the one in the bad relationship, not me. But hold on.
SPEAKER 14 :
What do you consider a bad relationship? Not everybody.
SPEAKER 03 :
Almost getting divorced.
SPEAKER 14 :
Just because people almost hold on. Just because people almost get divorced or break up. Oh, the problem is it's an almost relationship.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah. It could be fixed.
SPEAKER 14 :
Right. So one person's relationship we might think is crappy. But they may very well think it's good and that's all they know.
SPEAKER 13 :
I'd like to use like a scripture and it's that though one plants and the other waters, it's God who gives the increase. And so I agree with Brock in the sense that when you can give and share wisdom, the person might not be ready to hear it now, but somebody else will come along and they'll piggyback on what you said and then it makes sense. Right. Oh, wow. Because they're ready. You've planted a seed. The power of life and death are in the tongue.
SPEAKER 14 :
Guys, I'm going to say this, okay? And there's not too much I share about my personal life because I don't really open up like that. But when I went through a divorce, I was a douchebag. Let's just be real about it.
SPEAKER 13 :
Me too.
SPEAKER 14 :
And any guy who says that when they went through a divorce, they weren't being a douchebag to the person they were married to is a liar. Yeah.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, it's because people do stupid things when they're hurt. Right. Vindictive, want to get back, want to build their ego back. For me, it was to build my ego back up.
SPEAKER 14 :
you were a douche to build up your ego that didn't work out too good probably so what would you say is the number one reason for a good woman turning bad towards a guy is it lack of communication is it infidelity is it I think it's put-downs. I'm telling you right now, you can have a good woman. If you break her down daily with your put-downs, she's no longer going to be a good woman to you.
SPEAKER 13 :
Well, that was something you said at an earlier show was about respect.
SPEAKER 14 :
Oh, for sure.
SPEAKER 13 :
So you feel that respect is the most precious thing that shouldn't be broken. For sure, yeah. But I think with many people, respect is loyalty, not infidelity.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay.
SPEAKER 13 :
So that's the breaking point for them.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay. Some of it could be financial. I think guys fail to realize how separate they are from women. That's true. So, I mean, women are boisterous. Because I've lived with my mom. For so long, you find out what women are like. Okay. They talk. Tell us what they're like. They want this done. They want clean house, this, that, the other. And guys are just, you know.
SPEAKER 14 :
So basically that guy comes in with his work boots and kicks his socks off and tries to make his woman his slave. Their relationship's toast is what you're saying?
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, so if guys really wanted, you know, take yourself away from being in Mars and go to Venus. then you would probably have a better relationship.
SPEAKER 13 :
But you know, you know what? It's important though. And maybe this touches a little bit too much on like maybe God's plan of a man should leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife. But she is to be a help meet, not a help mate. And to help me is somebody who sees something from a different perspective so that you guys can be a complete whole.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, that's really good. uh guys it's funny how the bible do you think the bible talks directly more to men than it does women or more to women than men because to me it seems like the bible is more directed towards like a man and how a man should run his house or present himself on a daily base right you guys don't think so
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, it depends because I would separate it from Old Testament to New Testament. I would say that and Old Testament for sure, but then the New Testament is directed towards salvation and being saved.
SPEAKER 14 :
Okay, more than about how a man should run his home. Okay, then let me ask you this question. At the end of the day, let's say you're going to make a financial decision. Let's say it's buying a new car. We'll say a Tesla, right?
SPEAKER 03 :
That's where... Hold on, hold on.
SPEAKER 14 :
But let me ask the question. Do you think at the end of the day, you and your significant other, your wife, your girlfriend, come together, sit down... Need to make the decision together? Make the decision together? Yes. Or does the guy make the final decision?
SPEAKER 13 :
For a successful relationship, I believe that especially things like that, everything from household, finances, dinner... how to raise the kids, all of that stuff should be discussed openly and decided upon by both.
SPEAKER 03 :
Wow, that's where he's wrong. Because I'm in a good marriage. Like I gave advice last time, it says, You know, a man should love his wife like Jesus loved the church. So if men were out there loving their wives, right, like they should be, they would never be putting them down. Right. They'd always be taking them out on a date. And if they don't like the hobbies they like, they're still going to go anyway because their wife likes it. But what if that's easy? Hold on. OK, but the women are what be submissive to their husband. So you can just you can talk about it all you want. But at the end of the day, he has to make the final decision. on that relationship you could talk about some women mad you could talk i'm gonna make this guy no i would go before my wife but it's the man the man should make the final decision when it comes to family situations buying a house buying a car because at the end of the day it's all on him if anybody knows more or would like to chime in and talk to us guys i mean this is a good topic at 303-477-5600
SPEAKER 14 :
Do you agree with Heath or do you agree with Truth? Does the guy make the final decision or are you guys co-equal or co-decided?
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay, if we have to have a question about this, when is she supposed to be submissive to you? If that's biblical... Hold on, guys.
SPEAKER 14 :
Let me grab a pen. I'm going to take score who wins this debate. So if Brian's saying that the woman... Listen, people. Brian's saying that the woman is submissive to the man. The man makes a final decision. Heath says it's a joint decision. The first person who calls in to go with Brian or Heath, what can we give them? We'll give them a steak dinner.
SPEAKER 13 :
Steak dinner?
SPEAKER 14 :
To where? Where should we send our first caller?
SPEAKER 13 :
Oh, we like Columbine over there on Federal. We're sending them to Columbine? Columbine Steak is a pretty good one.
SPEAKER 14 :
Okay, so the first caller who calls in at 303-477-5600, that can prove whether Brian is right or Heath is right, gets a steak dinner. We said Columbine?
SPEAKER 06 :
Yeah, sure.
SPEAKER 03 :
Columbine Steak. But I have a question for Heath. So if the Bible tells a woman that she should be submissive to her husband, When is that supposed to occur?
SPEAKER 13 :
If she has to be submissive to her husband, when does that occur? Tell me what's more submissive, and this will be a mic drop. The one who is in the position to have to sacrifice.
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh. So if a man... Thank you, Brock.
SPEAKER 13 :
Brock sees it. So if you're the man and you're supposed to treat your wife as Christ does the church, then he is the submissive one. The one that will submit...
SPEAKER 03 :
Because he's making a good point. Oh, yeah. So if you're submissive, then you're relieving yourself from the order that God has ordained it. It's how God ordained it. First it said God, man, then woman. If she's your helpmate and she's there to help you, at the end of the day, you're making the decision. She's there only to help you. She's not here to make the decisions for you.
SPEAKER 13 :
But again, Bri, and I'm going to include this to everybody instead of just a man and a wife. If we are a follower of Christ, we are to, what is it, take off our garment and kneel down and wash people's feet. We are supposed to submit.
SPEAKER 14 :
Okay, which guy has turned around and washed his woman's feet?
SPEAKER 13 :
I used to massage her feet because it led to sex, but it doesn't anymore.
SPEAKER 14 :
Guys, you two went back and forth really good. Can I interject now, and I'll let you guys go back at it? I personally feel like, and this is me, is that if a man is treating his woman the way she wants to be treated... She ain't got no problem following anything he says.
SPEAKER 03 :
There you go.
SPEAKER 14 :
But that's me.
SPEAKER 13 :
But then tell me. But also, hold on. I didn't finish.
SPEAKER 14 :
I didn't finish. Hold on. But I also do not believe that just because she's submissive and you're the man of the house and you say, oh, this is the house that I want to buy. That you make that final decision, that's bull crap. You guys turn around, you look at your finances and say, this is what's best for us both.
SPEAKER 03 :
That's what I'm saying, though.
SPEAKER 14 :
No, that is not what you were saying.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, I'm saying he needs to make the better decision for the family. He shouldn't do that. It should be her and him. Yes, yes. So when does she be submissive to you?
SPEAKER 14 :
When you're good to her, submissive doesn't mean... Submissive does not mean that because you turn around and buy the house, you're the man, you make that final decision, she just tags along like a puppy. I don't believe that. And I'll go on to say this. Eve was absolutely at the wrong in the garden. Adam didn't fail. She fell.
SPEAKER 13 :
Oh, no. See, now I'm going to take it all the way back there to the garden. Oh, we got to go all the way back to the beginning, buddy. Because God gave the – who did he give the command to that he should not eat from the tree? No, he sure did. Who did he give the command to? He gave it to him. No. Yeah, exactly. He gave it to him.
SPEAKER 14 :
Oh, he got it right. No, no, no. He did. He gave it to him. gave it to Adam. She was the one talking to the snake the whole time.
SPEAKER 13 :
She was the one cheating.
SPEAKER 14 :
She was the one talking to the snake.
SPEAKER 13 :
He was so close to her, right next to her when she did that, that she said, want a bite? Want a bite?
SPEAKER 14 :
I disagree with that.
SPEAKER 13 :
You want a bite? I disagree with that.
SPEAKER 14 :
He was right next to her. There's no time. The Bible says that they were likened to angels, so there was no time. You don't know how long since she took that fruit did she find Adam wandering around and say, hey, try this. She was in communion with the snake, not Adam.
SPEAKER 13 :
No. See?
SPEAKER 14 :
All three of us got different opinions on this.
SPEAKER 13 :
Hey, riddle me this, Batman. If you were in a garden and you had one woman, who'd you be next to?
SPEAKER 08 :
You'd be right next to her all the time.
SPEAKER 13 :
Seeing the snails and the squirrels. You'd be hanging. You wouldn't be anywhere else. She's cooler than all the other animals.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, that's true.
SPEAKER 13 :
I didn't mean to call a woman an animal.
SPEAKER 14 :
No, no, no, no. But I see what you're saying. Her and Adam were alike. But that's my opinion, though. I believe that if you treat your woman right, she's submissive.
SPEAKER 03 :
And I'm not saying be submissive to your every command and your every controlling her with submission. You don't control the woman, right? But when I say being submissive, you're being submissive to... To his choices that he's making to better your relationship.
SPEAKER 01 :
I'm not saying be submissive. But what if she feels like that's wrong?
SPEAKER 03 :
If a woman is submissive, I'm not saying be submissive and go pick up all my clothes, do my dishes, do this, do that, do the other. Being submissive is at the final day, he needs to make a decision. If he's walking accordingly, he makes the final decision that's going to better his family's life. Then she submits to his decision. His answer.
SPEAKER 14 :
Okay, so what if this guy don't have a job? What if this guy don't have a job and she's the breadwinner in 2025?
SPEAKER 13 :
Then she gets to make the decision.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, does he submit to hers?
SPEAKER 13 :
She gets to make the decision. You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER 14 :
Let's be real about that because money is going to dictate a lot of things in a relationship.
SPEAKER 13 :
I'm with you on that, Brock. Who makes the rules in your house? Bri. You or Mama.
SPEAKER 14 :
How are you going to call me out like that, man? But, no, I mean, seriously, think about that. If incomes are equal, cool. But if the income ain't equal, if he's jobless and she's getting not going to work.
SPEAKER 03 :
Let me ask you something. Why is the marriage rate 50? Why is divorce rate so high? Let me ask you.
SPEAKER 14 :
Lack of communication.
SPEAKER 03 :
Come on, guys.
SPEAKER 14 :
I say communication.
SPEAKER 03 :
Wait, you all been divorced? Yeah, I've been. Oh, but I have.
SPEAKER 14 :
On the other side, I'll tell you guys. Again, you can reach the guys at 303-477-5600. Give us a call, and we'll see you on the other side.
SPEAKER 09 :
I don't expect you to understand. I just hope I can explain.
SPEAKER 08 :
The views and opinions expressed on KLZ 560 are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of Crawford Broadcasting, the station, management, employees, associates, or advertisers. KLZ 560 is a Crawford Broadcasting God and country station.
SPEAKER 01 :
Hello, my name is Reno Kirkendall, owner of Blueprint Electric, where we specialize in all that's electrical, from residential service calls to ground-up commercial construction. You can reach us at 303-218-3555. Also, visit our website at bpedenver.com. Thank you for listening to A Guy's Perspective here at KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 13 :
If you have a stone break, bullseye, star, or crack up to 18 inches in your windshield, Clearview's got you covered. And if you need a full windshield replacement or calibration, Clearview got you covered too.
SPEAKER 05 :
Windshield, brand new, Clearview.
SPEAKER 13 :
Give us a call or text at 303-229-7442.
SPEAKER 11 :
Whoa! Hey there, this is Andre with Advanced Tech Electric. From electrical panel upgrades or flickering lights, we do commercial and residential work. Actually, what don't we do electrical? Give us a call at 720-581-4399, your local Denver metro and surrounding areas of Colorado, or book us online at a5280service.com. Thanks again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yes, this is Derwood Tate, pastor of the Upper Room United Pentecostal Church, here to invite you to be a part of our service this Sunday at 10 o'clock a.m. Our address is 1001 South Pearl Street in the Washington Park area. If you have any questions, you have a need for counseling or prayer, please give us a call as well, 720-532-4638. God bless everyone, and we look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 10 o'clock.
SPEAKER 09 :
I can't hide myself I don't expect you to understand I just hope I can explain What it's like to be a man It's a lonely road And they don't care about what you know It's not about how you feel But what you provide inside that home
SPEAKER 07 :
Welcome to A Guy's Perspective, where they discuss real-life topics that men today are dealing with, whether married, single parent, or just single. We invite you to call in to this live program with your comments and questions. And here they are. Evil woman.
SPEAKER 05 :
Evil woman. Evil woman.
SPEAKER 14 :
How's everybody doing this afternoon? We're KLZ 560 AM. You can reach the guys at 303-477-5600. We're talking about how Potiphar's wife nabbed the garment off of Joseph and why certain women in the Bible could be evil like that. So we were talking about, and we've got a little contest going on for everybody listening. We will... The first person who calls and either agrees with Truth and gives us a reason why or Heath and gives us a reason why at 303-477-5600. We're giving you a steak dinner. So give us a call. And so back to what we were saying. All right. If there's money situation, does the woman have to be submissive to the man if she's the breadwinner?
SPEAKER 03 :
I mean, that's a great question. It is. Because, you know, the Bible says that a man should provide for his home. Right, so he's already failed in that first. But I think if he's still trying to provide, right, he's still going to work, but she still makes a little more money than him, I think he's still in the running to be where he needs to be. Okay. Just because she makes more. She could have went to college. She could have got a better education. That doesn't. But if he's still trying to provide for his house, now if he's sitting on the couch, no, you get no respect from me.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, you get no respect from me either. I'm with truth on that.
SPEAKER 03 :
If a guy's not at home, if he's not trying to provide for his wife and kids, he's worse than an infidel.
SPEAKER 14 :
So let me ask you truth. If your woman made more money than you, let's say she made $200,000 more than you, are you going to be upset about that?
SPEAKER 03 :
No.
SPEAKER 14 :
So you're going to celebrate her accomplishments and achievements.
SPEAKER 03 :
I might help her spend a little bit of her money.
SPEAKER 13 :
Probably buying some negligees for yourself.
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, let me ask you, Heath, are you going to be upset? Are you going to celebrate with her?
SPEAKER 13 :
If my wife was making more money than me?
SPEAKER 14 :
If she was the breadwinner.
SPEAKER 13 :
Oh. Wow, man, that's a great concept. No, I'd be thrilled. Yeah. I'd be thrilled.
SPEAKER 14 :
I think I'd be thrilled too.
SPEAKER 13 :
I'd just cheer her on. Great job. And I'd be there for sure. I'd actually probably get into a bit of a support role. Oh, wow. That's impressive. A support role to sustain that. Obviously, you know, currently I'm in like a support role where she's not making money. Okay. Because there's no money to be made at the farm, right? It's a sanctuary. It's a 501c3 nonprofit organization. She makes no money, and I'm supporting that. But if she was making half a million a year, I'm still going to be a support.
SPEAKER 14 :
Amen. Again, people call in at 303-477-5600. Tell us what you think. Should guys be jealous? Should a woman be submissive? We need to get some feedback.
SPEAKER 03 :
No, jealousy is the first thing that should really – you should get rid of in your relationship with both.
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, I was going to say, should a guy ever be jealous of his woman?
SPEAKER 03 :
No, of course not, bro. Okay. I mean, jealousy has got to go first. First thing you got to get rid of.
SPEAKER 13 :
Well, cause that's, that's a insecurity in the individual and it will, it will, it's like a cancer.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah. So that's what destroyed my mom and dad's marriage. Because he was very jealous, right? And he was the one that turned out to cheat on my mom. Oh, he was projecting. Yeah, he was projecting it because he was the one with the wandering eyes.
SPEAKER 14 :
So then why do so many guys, they've got their significant other goes to the gym, she's getting fit, she's eating right, and he just wants to pop open the Coors Light and then he gets mad. No, no, seriously. It happens all the time in society. Then all of a sudden he gets mad the second she goes out with her friends.
SPEAKER 03 :
I got a good answer for that.
SPEAKER 14 :
And then gets hit on.
SPEAKER 03 :
Why is it? Listen, because people should already know these people's lifestyles. she should have already known he was an alcoholic but what if she was dating him like i know what i know i know a couple right they got married hold on they got married he was a he was an alcoholic she knew that going into the relationship and still got married well guess what they ended up getting in a divorce because he didn't give up the alcohol you knew that before you went into the relationship with that i disagree with that
SPEAKER 14 :
Because people change. Hold on, hold on. What if this guy's been on the job, he gets injured, all of a sudden he's got to have surgery and he takes pills and he gets addicted to pills?
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, yeah. Okay, that's a different scenario.
SPEAKER 14 :
But that's what I'm saying. So you're stereotyping. You're saying that they should have known the person when they got married. That's not always the case, guys.
SPEAKER 03 :
But you knew he was an alcoholic. You knew this going into the marriage first.
SPEAKER 14 :
People change over time. See, that's the reason I think divorce happens because people change so much.
SPEAKER 13 :
Well, and sometimes people change not necessarily in toxicity where they get more toxic, but they just change because their paths have kind of veered them away from one another.
SPEAKER 06 :
Oh, that's good.
SPEAKER 13 :
Instead of growing together. So my wife and I, as an example, she got the job at the farm. I'm like, sure, honey, we'll go to the farm. So now we lived at the farm for a decade. In a fifth wheel. And so that's that sacrifice of like, okay, well, this is what she wants, so I'm going to do this with her. Gotcha. But then we're also changing together to where we get into a house. But she's also changed with me for some things because I remember she didn't want to get married when I still had like a $650,000 house. bankruptcy looming and she said until you get that handled then I'm not going to marry you and she was absolutely right in saying that but ultimately she got married because I didn't finalize my bankruptcy until like a year or two into our marriage
SPEAKER 14 :
And people call in at 303-477-5600. So if a person is doing better in life than their significant other, and the significant other doesn't want to keep up with the energy of this lady, or this lady doesn't want to keep up with the energy of that guy, should they just part ways?
SPEAKER 13 :
This is where, like, communication.
SPEAKER 14 :
Because I do believe in divorce. I do. If you have no ambition or no drive and you just want to sit there and watch me do everything, that's a little jacked up.
SPEAKER 13 :
But see, that's what it comes down to in relationships. Like, how far will you go? Like, I mean, you got a brother. How long will you love your brother and care for your brother? I mean, we can do that for life, but when we sleep with someone, we can't. Forgive them what?
SPEAKER 03 :
What? 70 times 7?
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER 03 :
How many times should I forgive them?
SPEAKER 13 :
7 times?
SPEAKER 03 :
No, 70 times 7. I don't believe you can fall in love with somebody and fall out of love. I do not believe in that. At all. Oh, you don't.
SPEAKER 13 :
So then, Bri, that's the thing is, are people lying to themselves about because they're infatuated when they get into the relationship because they're in love with the idea of being in love?
SPEAKER 03 :
Yes, I think so. I think so. get desperate and then desperation turns in to you know in a relationship with somebody they know they should not be in a relationship with yeah so it blinds you yeah love oh yeah yeah love air quotes it can can blind your logic and reason so you do both of you guys believe that you cannot fall out of love because i believe you can fall out of love with somebody
SPEAKER 13 :
then you never loved him in the first.
SPEAKER 14 :
I don't believe that. I believe you can madly love somebody, but because of all the garbage. For example, I use the growing. If I'm continually growing and trying to better myself and better myself and better myself, but this person doesn't want to do anything and they're consistently bringing me down, I can fall out of love with that. I can fall out of love with my job. I can fall out of love with my car because it keeps breaking down. I can fall out of love with, you know, the state I live in.
SPEAKER 03 :
We are, well... Maybe God can fall. Do you believe God can fall out of love with somebody? Nope. Now that I do not believe. Okay, well, then you just answered your own question. Because the love is pure. What does the Bible say? The Bible says we were created in his image, and in his likeness, we were created. We were created in his image. We are not him. We are not him.
SPEAKER 14 :
We are created in his image, but we are not him. You were created to love. Call us at 303-477-5600. I'm telling you right now.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, I mean, you could. I mean, there's many aspects to this scenario because if somebody's beating you, you know, physically abusing you, you know, I mean, I can see how easily somebody could fall.
SPEAKER 13 :
I got a question. How important is it that love is reciprocated?
SPEAKER 14 :
I have that in my notes. I'm glad you guys brought that up.
SPEAKER 03 :
You can't love somebody and not be reciprocated with that same love. You can for a while, but eventually it dies. I would say... Of course that, but I would say you still love them, but you just knew you had to move on because they didn't love you back. I mean, that's not like you're falling out.
SPEAKER 14 :
Okay, so then why do relations break up when two people genuinely love each other? Like you absolutely love each other. Why does one person, this is crazy we're talking about this, why does one person just one day snap and say, you know what, I'm just not going to love this person anymore. I've grown out of love with them and I want to move on.
SPEAKER 03 :
Because they think it's better, you know, greener pastures, it's better on the other side.
SPEAKER 13 :
There's a, there's a thing too, which is what is it? Uh, some people are there in your life for a season, a reason or a lifetime. And so I've, I've known people, um, uh, uh, you know, exes and other, other, uh, friends and stuff that have, uh, exes, but they're better friends than they were as lovers. So, so they'd still be there for one another if there was anything that they could do to, to serve them. But They just were no longer compatible in that capacity of being intimate and stuff.
SPEAKER 14 :
So just to recap, everybody who wants to give a call and talk to the guys at 303-477-5600, I think a person can fall out of love. Truth and Heath don't. If a person does go through a separation, how do they rebuild themselves, though? As a guy, we can't speculate on how a woman rebuilds herself, but how does a guy rebuild himself?
SPEAKER 13 :
It's kind of funny because a lot of people, when people have gotten lazy or complacent in a relationship about their physique and their diet and everything, about the time they break up they start hitting the gym they start changing their they start changing um that's true guys do that stuff all the time educate themselves they they really work on self right and that's not a bad thing but it's just a it's a um a fallout of the fallout so why weren't they doing that to begin with right they get complacent they get complacent
SPEAKER 03 :
They think that they're going to be in love with him forever. They're so in love with that person, they can just get away with doing whatever. Instead of trying to win their love over every single day. So if you're supposed to love somebody like Jesus loved the church, then you would be loving her every single day. I'd be trying to win her heart over every day.
SPEAKER 13 :
I have a friend who said, his woman said, if you can't love me at my worst, then you don't deserve me at my best. And he said, when did I ever deserve your worst? When did I sign up for your worst?
SPEAKER 14 :
You're asking a good question, dude. But anybody can have a bad day.
SPEAKER 13 :
No, no, no.
SPEAKER 14 :
He's asking a good question. You're talking their worst. Right. You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER 13 :
Hold on.
SPEAKER 14 :
All of a sudden, you meet a young lady. She's doing everything right, looking for a suitor. You come into her life. Then all of a sudden, she changes her outfit. She changes her appearance, her look, her income. Hold on, and I'm not going to sit back for one moment and believe just because you popped out two kids, you should look like you rolled out of bed every single day, dude.
SPEAKER 03 :
I mean, these people could bring in history into the relationship from family, from crisis, from past relationships. So, I mean, they could easily bring that into your new relationship and have a bad day.
SPEAKER 13 :
Right. And that's the problem is if we have unresolved issues of our own, of ourselves, and we don't work on self, then it will inevitably come out in our relationship. So we have to. I can't change my wife for better or for worse.
SPEAKER 04 :
But guess who I can change?
SPEAKER 13 :
Guess who I can change? This guy right here, myself. All the time I can work on me. And I want to say this about me and Amber, man. We've had some upsets, not many, but I've always said that at the end of it, I am better off because of my relationship with her. So that's what I think a good relationship is, is if you are continually growing from that relationship.
SPEAKER 03 :
I mean, think about... How many bad relationships there are out there, right? Well, how many good relationships are out there? How many people are degrading the other person?
SPEAKER 14 :
No, that's what I'm saying.
SPEAKER 03 :
How many people are putting their significant other down?
SPEAKER 14 :
Put downs in my eyes is what changes. Yes, but you guys have heard me say it. I believe if you put her down, then she goes out there and she's up top of some new dude next week. You did that to yourself. I don't care how much money you got. I don't care what you look like. I don't care what your gym status is. I don't care what your car is. I don't care what your house is. If all you ever do is walk into the house and kick her like she's a dog. And just she's your slave. So then when she leaves your butt, don't be boohooing like all these guys do.
SPEAKER 13 :
There's a couple of things with like words. Obviously, they can be hurtful or they can be helpful. But there's intention behind word to tone. And I think I mean, at least from a book that I read, it was understanding the mind of a woman. And it was about tone and how you how you speak with her that that really matters.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah. I mean, think about it. How many how many men are speaking life into their wife? That's how many people are speaking, you know, truth into the booth. Yeah, how many people are speaking how beautiful they are, you know, how much I love having you in my life, how much you mean to me. I'm so excited God gave you.
SPEAKER 13 :
Okay, okay. These are invalidators.
SPEAKER 03 :
Do you want me to write a book?
SPEAKER 14 :
Do people on the radio need me to write you a book? Give us your best line that you say to your woman. Hey, give us your best line. Well, I don't know what he's doing. What are you doing, dude?
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, what did you say? He's trying to answer a call or read something.
SPEAKER 14 :
No, you're trying to read something while we're on air? No, I... Oh, my God. Anyway... What's my best line? Yeah, give us your best line you said to your wife.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, tell your best line. Like a best line? I've never said... Oh, when we first met, and it failed the line, she had some pictures of her on MySpace, of all places, people, MySpace. She had, like, blue hair and red hair, and she said, red fish, blue fish. And I was like, hey, is there a two fish? And she didn't know what I was saying. What I was asking is, do you have a man? And so that was... There you go. That was, you know.
SPEAKER 03 :
What are you asking me what my best line is? Yeah, like line like a woman.
SPEAKER 14 :
Are you using a phone for a pickup line? Are you asking AI?
SPEAKER 03 :
No, no.
SPEAKER 14 :
I was about to say that's pretty bad, bro.
SPEAKER 03 :
No, what's my best pickup line to get a woman?
SPEAKER 14 :
No, just the significant other you're with. What's the coolest thing you've told her?
SPEAKER 03 :
I would probably tell her how grateful I am that God's blessed you in my life.
SPEAKER 14 :
Oh, there you go. I'm just pretty simple and proud of you.
SPEAKER 03 :
That's what you tell your children. I'm proud of you. You got good grades today.
SPEAKER 14 :
I'm telling you right now, when somebody tells me they're proud of me, it makes me feel different. It makes me feel like I can accomplish whatever I'm set out to do.
SPEAKER 13 :
You know what's that? That's called validation. That's true. You want to validate people for the things that they've done.
SPEAKER 14 :
And if anybody knows more than this, we're running out of time. 303-477-5600. Why is it that when a breakup's so bad, at least in men, they automatically feel like the lady's a bad person? Why do they want to commit suicide and have mental problems? Why does that happen to some?
SPEAKER 13 :
Can I be honest? Okay. Be honest. Immaturity. Immaturity.
SPEAKER 03 :
Wow. I don't know. I don't know, man. People are so in love and so infatuated with that person. They feel like they're hopeless of ever finding somebody like them. Which is immature. No, no, man. Yes. No, it happens all the time. When women leave men, they're like, if I can't have you, no one can. That's not immature, bro. Yes, it is. It sounds immature to me.
SPEAKER 13 :
Those are the thoughts and things that I did. That's hopelessness. Listen to me, B. That's a good word. Those are the thoughts and things that I did when I was early in relationships. I don't do that now. Grown men are doing it. Because they're immature. They haven't dated enough. They haven't experienced enough. They haven't opened up enough to communicate. So they're not confident in themselves. And when that's stripped from them, they don't believe that they did it wrong. They want to point the finger and then boo-hoo and...
SPEAKER 14 :
If anybody knows better, call us at 303-477-5600. I agree with you. I think it's immature. But I also agree with truth. It's hopelessness. You feel like you're abandoned. You're on an island all on your own when there's half the world joining you.
SPEAKER 13 :
But here's the thing, man. So say there's a couple in a relationship for 20 years married together, and then all of a sudden it just comes crashing down. and then they're focused, they turn inward on themselves and this darkness and all that, but what they ought to do is recall all the times that they either invalidated All the times that they either denied or that they didn't step up or that they didn't lead their household. They need to recognize all of that stuff that led to it. The straw that broke the camel back isn't... It's the little things over time that lead to that.
SPEAKER 14 :
Because doesn't the Bible say that something like the little foxes spoil the vine or something like that? I think, at least for me... I think what it is, is just like you said, it's a combination of these things that a guy doesn't, and first we started talking about evil women in Bible, we ended up reflecting on guys. But I mean, if you think about it, guys do a bunch of that cause their relationships to go south, then they wonder, like, what in the world? Because you didn't take my advice. But in the same sense, hold on, but in the same sense, a guy can do everything right. You just told me we couldn't earlier. Listen, listen, listen. This is for our listeners. A guy can try his best and do his best, but if a woman wants to find fault in you, she's going to find it. Because all of us have a past, and if she wants to dig that crap up, She's going to dig it up.
SPEAKER 13 :
So then let me lay it back at the man's feet. It was his choice in that woman that led to the failure. Wow. If he would have been wise and listened to God when he chose her. No, I prayed for – when I went through divorce, directly thereafter, I was going out, dating a lot, sleeping around a lot. But then I knew – I knew what I wanted and what I needed, and I asked God for Amber, really. I asked him for the perfect person in my life, and she came. And then it came with trials. We almost got separated before we ever got married. Married by a pastor of a church that was calling me wicked.
SPEAKER 14 :
But let me ask you this. Should a woman ever look at a guy's past? If you get into a relationship, does a guy need to earn trust or is he automatically given trust?
SPEAKER 03 :
You should be automatically given it. I believe you should be giving it until you break it.
SPEAKER 13 :
Yeah, so it's kind of like tips at a restaurant. You start off at 20%, and if you start doing bad, I'm going to take it down.
SPEAKER 03 :
You know why I give the reasons behind what I'm saying is because I don't want to be that guy, right? I don't want to be that guy that falls madly in love with a woman. Right. She trusts you. You know, she loves you. And then you you don't be the man that you're supposed to be. And then she ends up leaving you at the end. And then you look back and you're like, well, I could have done it. No. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to win my woman over every time.
SPEAKER 14 :
single and i and i agree with that a hundred percent are you trying to win your woman over every day yeah but nobody's perfect nobody's perfect i don't care i don't care what anybody says any guy that can sit back and say that they're perfect is a liar you can only do your best in a relationship yeah that's what i'm saying so if a woman wants to find hold on hold on you can do your best for let's say two years But you make one mistake, does she have the right to use that mistake against you? I'm not saying go out and cheat on her. I'm not saying that.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, if you cheat on her, that's dumb. You're toast.
SPEAKER 14 :
I'm saying what if you came home from work, you had a bad day, you slammed the door, you break the mailbox. Does that give grounds to leave the person?
SPEAKER 03 :
No, man. But people do all the time. Not over that. Dude, people lead over smaller things.
SPEAKER 13 :
That's a culmination.
SPEAKER 03 :
That's right, of little things. Yeah, because you're not.
SPEAKER 13 :
To agree with Bri, that's why it does matter that every day we wake up, we give our best effort, not only toward life and friends and relationships and our significant other, but toward God. Right? We've got to give our best. With every breath, we've got to give our best.
SPEAKER 14 :
Can I be the first to admit this on air? Admit it. um the first to admit on air is number one this you need to stop looking at his phone and number two um my relationship with the lord sucks dude like what does it yeah it does because you know what i will i am better at i'm better at telling my woman how good she is than i am at even telling the lord thank you how good he is yes i i i'm i'm the first to say it like like and so i think if i'm a sucky christian and god's still there for me and he helps me out and hooks me up and i don't know why he does i can't quite figure that part out yeah um especially when it seems like i treat everybody so much better you know what i'm saying i treat everybody so much better than god yeah at least that's how i feel that's true we need to but we all feel like that we need to okay so then if you feel like that then and you said we're in god's image in the relationship no we all feel like we're not doing enough for the lord let's get that straight but do you ever feel like you're not doing enough for your woman right i mean you know what i'm saying like like it just i don't know i just feel like i do better for my woman than i do for god so that makes sense so did you give your woman a back rub the other day and massage your feet but this is this is the next thing i'm going to say i didn't give god no prayer time yeah well that's a personal choice but that's what i'm saying i feel like i communicate better with my woman than i do the lord But that's me. How do you guys feel about that?
SPEAKER 13 :
Here's the thing. I want to throw a curveball real quick before we get into the show. That was a deep discussion. But there are some people who, you know, they have God and they have their relationship, but the brokenness in their relationship, they try to take to God, but they're unwilling to do the work in the relationship. See what I mean?
SPEAKER 14 :
You know what I wish we could do a subject on? Do you ever feel like you take advantage of God? No. You know what I'm saying? Next week, people, we're going to do something. It's going to be different. We're going to talk about taking advantage of the Lord.
SPEAKER 03 :
How about loving the Lord?
SPEAKER 14 :
How about we do a show on that? Because I think I take advantage of God. I think I take advantage of His goodness all the time.
SPEAKER 13 :
Reap all the benefits. And we have...
SPEAKER 14 :
Another thing, another thing, this is weird how this is transitioning. Another thing I've done is I've lied to the Lord before. I've been in the prayer and I'm like, God, I didn't do that. No, I didn't do that.
SPEAKER 03 :
No, I have.
SPEAKER 14 :
Have you guys ever done that?
SPEAKER 03 :
I'm like, I broke up. Not a vow. What's it when you make a commitment? Covenant? No, no. What did they do? When you tell the Lord you're going to do something.
SPEAKER 14 :
A commitment, a covenant, your word. All I know is I was driving down the road, right? And I'm sitting there yelling at some fool in the other car. And then this was probably like months ago. And I'm like, God, I wasn't really yelling at that guy. And I'm thinking to myself, why am I lying about like. I think it's crazy the way we do things, dude. But we should do a segment on that. Do we ever take advantage of God?
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah. Because he's so merciful and graceful. Wow. In the back of your mind, you're like, you know God's going to forgive you.
SPEAKER 14 :
And that's a bad place to be.
SPEAKER 03 :
Or is that a good place to be? No, that's a bad place to be.
SPEAKER 14 :
Why would that be a bad place?
SPEAKER 03 :
Because it says, what did it say? I want to keep it in the back of my mind knowing God's there. God forbid that we should sin that his grace may abound more abundantly.
SPEAKER 12 :
Paul's talking about that.
SPEAKER 14 :
For everybody, it was a good show. Again, this is the guy's perspective. You can always reach out and talk to the guys at 303-477-5600. You can go to our Facebook page. You can go to our social media platforms. We'd like to hear from you guys. One more thing, Brian.
SPEAKER 03 :
I want to say one last thing to the listeners. Listen, just love your wife like Jesus loved the church.
SPEAKER 14 :
That's good.
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And speak life to your woman every single day.
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Don't be putting her down. Don't be putting her down.
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Give her a back rub every night. Don't make her give you one. Bye.
