Allen Jackson: January 6, 2025 | Allen Jackson Now

January 6, 2025 | S25:E106

Allen Jackson NOW is a lifeline for a struggling and anxious nation. A guiding hand for those who are not ready to give up, and for those who want to find a way past the negativity before things get worse. Americans still have hope, they are searching for the wisdom embedded in a Christian World View.

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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: January 6, 2025 | Allen Jackson Now | January 6, 2025
  • Well.
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  • Good evening, i'm alan jackson, and welcome to nashville.
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  • Donald trump
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  • Is inheriting a troubled world with a rather undefined u.s.
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  • Role these days.
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  • There are ongoing wars involving ukraine, israel, syria.
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  • There are additional threats
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  • From china, russia, north korea and iran.
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  • You know, it seems that ever since vietnam, americans
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  • Have been hesitant to engage in wars around the world.
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  • We've done it, but there's been a reluctance here at home.
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  • We have displayed some strength to accomplish some good things.
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  • We found bin laden. we rescued kuwait.
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  • We still stand behind nato,
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  • And there have been some glaring failures and weaknesses.
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  • Our withdrawal from afghanistan,
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  • No border in our own nation, an enemy now within our nation,
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  • A new axis of evil with china, north korea and russia.
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  • And then we woke up to the
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  • New orleans massacre inspired by isis.
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  • Terrorism is once again on our own borders, in our own state.
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  • Well, i've been saying this for a long
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  • Time, but it's important to remember
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  • We tend to point at people,
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  • Politicians and governments and think that all
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  • These problems are because of them
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  • The terrorist attacks, the wars, the division, the unrest.
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  • But the root of all these is spiritual.
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  • There is a spiritual battle taking place in the earth,
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  • And we're not only in the middle of it, we're a part of it.
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  • This is nothing new.
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  • It's biblical.
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  • From the garden of eden to cain and abel to saul
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  • And david, jesus in the sanhedrin,
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  • All the way to the book of revelation.
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  • It's throughout the entire narrative of scripture.
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  • We're simply the 21st century edition.
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  • Well, our assignment is not just to go to church
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  • And pretend that we don't notice,
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  • But to uphold the truth of god, to use our voice
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  • And our influence to lead with our faith.
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  • This is our season.
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  • We have to make a difference.
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  • Well, in a moment, we'll be
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  • Joined by the senior counselor on international engagement
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  • At the heritage foundation, james carafano.
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  • At the heritage foundation, james carafano.
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  • We're joined now by james carafano, the senior
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  • Counsel to the president of the heritage foundation.
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  • Welcome back, sir.
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  • Hey, it's great to be with you.
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  • Well, we may not be directly involved
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  • In any of the wars around the world right now,
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  • But we certainly have a stake in many of them.
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  • And the president elect,
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  • Donald trump will have his hands full on day one.
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  • Do you think there's going to be changes?
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  • Well, let me tell you, as somebody
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  • Who was on the president's transition team in 2016,
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  • And who knows how you how you bake the cake,
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  • I am enormously impressed with the incoming team.
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  • I think they're going to do great.
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  • I think they're perfect for the world we're in,
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  • Because a lot of the problems
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  • Were created really by our own administration,
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  • Whether it's the embarrassing evacuation from afghanistan,
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  • Which kind of gave a green light to america, is weak
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  • To really feckless policies
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  • In the middle east, to the open borders.
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  • These are all things that we created.
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  • And not only do we create them.
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  • They're exactly the kind of challenges, whether it's isis
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  • Or securing the border,
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  • That trump dealt with in his first term.
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  • He knows how to deal with these things,
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  • And if anything, he is way better prepared this time
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  • To deal with the issues he was confronted last time.
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  • Well, you mentioned it, but it seemed to me
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  • That a major turning point in america's role in the world
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  • Seemed to be the botched u.s.
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  • Withdrawal from afghanistan.
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  • Not only did we lose lives, but we left a mess on the ground.
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  • We left top u.s. weapons there.
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  • We abandoned a lot of the afghan people who had helped us go
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  • After global terrorist groups and even the massive drug trade,
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  • And we lost our place as a trusted partner
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  • In keeping the world safe.
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  • Well, you know, you nailed it in your opening monologue
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  • When you said that
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  • Really the root of much of this is spiritual.
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  • God put us on earth for humans to flourish
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  • And and to flourish by doing the right thing.
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  • And we we have two visions in this country, and i'm afraid.
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  • One vision.
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  • The vision of the left simply departs from that.
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  • It doesn't place an emphasis on human flourishing.
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  • It doesn't recognize the responsibility
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  • Of good governance.
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  • And it's it's roped into
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  • All these ideas
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  • And ideologies
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  • That, you know, somebody thinks is good for somebody.
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  • But none of it is rooted in real faith or christian belief,
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  • Or even fundamental truths about how you manage works. and
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  • The one thing i think we can really count on from donald
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  • Trump is a return to the kind of governance
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  • That was created by the founding fathers,
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  • That they try to create a system
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  • To implement god's will here on earth.
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  • And it's simply the notion of good governance, governance
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  • For the people to allow the people to do good things.
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  • And i think getting back to
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  • That would solve a lot of our problems.
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  • Well, the biden white house seemed to be less than fully
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  • Supportive of israel's war against hamas and hezbollah.
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  • Yet the israelis have managed
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  • To decimate those terrorist groups and almost single
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  • Handedly do some great damage to iran in the process.
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  • How important is what they accomplish despite the signals
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  • From the biden team to hold back?
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  • Well, i think it's it's actually,
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  • There are actually a number of things which have
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  • Put president
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  • Trump in a really good place to implement the vision
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  • Of a prosperous america in a peaceful and safe world.
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  • The israelis, hezbollah, hamas.
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  • That was impossible without the sponsorship of iran,
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  • Which was impossible
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  • Without all the money they got from the biden administration.
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  • They burned through all that money.
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  • It's gone. iran is not poor.
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  • Their surrogates have been destroyed.
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  • All we need is the united states to step back and
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  • Put the kind of pressure that iran that on iran
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  • That trump did in his first term,
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  • That put is in a stronger place that will come at least down.
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  • That's good for our interests.
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  • Similarly, in in ukraine, i think both the ukrainians
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  • And russians have really reached
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  • The point of strategic exhaustion.
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  • It's time for somebody like a donald trump to come in
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  • And put his foot down and say, it's game over.
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  • The chinese economy is not in good shape.
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  • The chinese are actually overstretched.
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  • It's time for america to come back on the stage
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  • And tell china it's it's time to cut it out.
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  • And so donald trump is uniquely
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  • Well positioned to take advantag
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  • But but all the mistakes
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  • That our enemies have made in the last few years.
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  • So and in many ways, i think god blessed us.
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  • We've got the right leader
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  • At exactly the right time when we need them.
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  • Wow. with the inaugural coming up, i'm reminded of
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  • The american hostages were held by iran
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  • And only released when president reagan took over.
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  • They'd been held for 444 days.
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  • Well, sadly, the israeli and american hostages being held
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  • By hamas have now been held for more than 444 days.
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  • We keep hearing that there's
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  • An effective negotiation to get them released.
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  • Listen to the comments
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  • From the national security adviser, jake sullivan.
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  • There are any number of reasons for why contexts
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  • Change in negotiations,
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  • Especially in a situation as fluid as this.
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  • But i would point out that hamas's posture
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  • At the negotiating table did adapt.
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  • Follow ing the announcement of the cease fire between,
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  • Israel and lebanon.
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  • Do you think they have a chance
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  • Of being released sometime soon?
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  • And is trump coming into office?
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  • Part of that pressure?
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  • Well, certainly.
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  • I mean, i
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  • Think they feel an enormous amount of pressure
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  • That they know
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  • That there's going to be no luck
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  • When donald trump gets in office.
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  • I think putin feels the same way.
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  • I think the chinese feel the same way.
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  • It doesn't mean they're automatically going
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  • To do what donald trump says. but here's the deal.
  • 00:07:50.466 --> 00:07:53.369
  • And this is what makes donald trump an effective leader.
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  • When donald trump says it's got to stop,
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  • He just doesn't ask people to stop and wait a singer
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  • Like biden did.
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  • He says there are consequences for not stopping.
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  • And he tells you those upfront.
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  • And then what makes him credible is if if they don't
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  • Make a deal,
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  • Then he's
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  • Going to deliver those consequences
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  • And they're going to be very severe.
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  • So i don't know what the, hamas is going to do.
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  • I don't know if putin is going to take a deal.
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  • I don't know if china is going to back down,
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  • But but i do know, it's very unlike biden.
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  • I think they will take him very seriously when he says,
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  • You know, the consequences
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  • And that he will follow through on those.
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  • Well, i'd like to get just
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  • Your sense of what you think china is up to militarily.
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  • Certainly they're spending billions of dollars.
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  • I remember in japan,
  • 00:08:42.885 --> 00:08:44.454
  • Building up their resources prior to the pearl harbor event.
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  • The chinese have done this pretty boldly, launching
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  • Their aircraft carriers on video so we can all see it.
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  • Are they threatening us,
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  • Or do you think there's real
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  • Substance behind what they're doing?
  • 00:08:56.899 --> 00:08:59.335
  • Well, they certainly are building up
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  • Very powerful capabilities, and they certainly are using it
  • 00:09:01.170 --> 00:09:04.674
  • In a very provocative and threatening manner.
  • 00:09:04.674 --> 00:09:06.843
  • But the one thing you have to recognize
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  • About the chinese military is it's untested in combat.
  • 00:09:08.945 --> 00:09:12.715
  • It hasn't been in a major war since
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  • It fought a war that it lost with vietnam in the 1970s.
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  • It's only had border skirmishes with the chinese.
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  • They've never utilized these forces on a large scale.
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  • So they're rolling the dice and look
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  • What happened to the russians
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  • When they rolled the dice in ukraine. so
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  • We don't want the chinese to
  • 00:09:31.434 --> 00:09:32.969
  • Actually roll the dice and say, let's just see what happens.
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  • And that's why it's really important
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  • When donald trump comes back in that we re-embrace
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  • This idea of peace through strength.
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  • We're not looking for wars.
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  • We're not looking for regime change.
  • 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:45.314
  • You know, we're not looking to, rebuild countries.
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  • But what we are looking to
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  • Is that we will have the capacity and the capability
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  • And demonstrate the will to defend our interests.
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  • It's the one thing the chinese would.
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  • It's probably the one thing they would hate
  • 00:09:58.094 --> 00:10:00.029
  • Most if we would do.
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  • And that's exactly why we need to do that.
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  • You know, we know from natural law
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  • That a presentation of weakness makes you vulnerable
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  • To your enemies, your adversaries.
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  • If it's true in the wild, i'm
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  • Sure it's true amongst nation states.
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  • Which really brings me let's go back to china.
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  • Their economy is weakened.
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  • Is there really any benefit to them
  • 00:10:20.383 --> 00:10:21.984
  • Trying to threaten the rest of us?
  • 00:10:21.984 --> 00:10:24.620
  • Well, let's not
  • 00:10:24.987 --> 00:10:26.155
  • Forget russia did not have a strong economy that ukraine.
  • 00:10:26.155 --> 00:10:29.192
  • Iran had a big, heavy cash flow and it unleashed
  • 00:10:29.192 --> 00:10:32.795
  • Lots on hezbollah.
  • 00:10:32.795 --> 00:10:34.664
  • But that was just because in the united states,
  • 00:10:34.664 --> 00:10:36.299
  • They don't have a strong economy.
  • 00:10:36.299 --> 00:10:37.600
  • Donald trump's going to come in.
  • 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:39.168
  • He is going to push energy exports.
  • 00:10:39.168 --> 00:10:41.671
  • That's going to be at a record low.
  • 00:10:41.671 --> 00:10:43.106
  • That is going to
  • 00:10:43.106 --> 00:10:44.207
  • Really jeopardize the iranian and russian economies.
  • 00:10:44.207 --> 00:10:47.176
  • And, you know,
  • 00:10:47.510 --> 00:10:48.711
  • China has a big economy, but it has a huge population.
  • 00:10:48.711 --> 00:10:52.448
  • It has a massive amount of debt.
  • 00:10:52.448 --> 00:10:54.117
  • If the united states is is not an economic partner,
  • 00:10:54.117 --> 00:10:57.987
  • And if china is being shut out in other places,
  • 00:10:57.987 --> 00:11:00.623
  • They were very, very fragile economy.
  • 00:11:00.623 --> 00:11:02.692
  • Now, that doesn't mean they won't start wars
  • 00:11:02.692 --> 00:11:04.794
  • Or do bad things.
  • 00:11:04.794 --> 00:11:06.229
  • But if you, on the one hand, have a weak economy
  • 00:11:06.229 --> 00:11:09.332
  • And on the other hand you show you're presented with strength,
  • 00:11:09.332 --> 00:11:13.102
  • Your tendencies do nothing.
  • 00:11:13.703 --> 00:11:14.904
  • This.
  • 00:11:14.904 --> 00:11:15.838
  • Remember, putin attacked ukraine in 2014.
  • 00:11:15.838 --> 00:11:18.708
  • Donald trump was in for office for four years.
  • 00:11:18.708 --> 00:11:21.778
  • But, putin did nothing.
  • 00:11:21.778 --> 00:11:23.379
  • Why did he do nothing?
  • 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:24.814
  • The american economy was strong
  • 00:11:24.814 --> 00:11:26.816
  • And the american military was a threat.
  • 00:11:26.816 --> 00:11:29.385
  • He leaves, biden comes in, and then putin sees an opportunity.
  • 00:11:29.385 --> 00:11:32.421
  • So peace through strength,
  • 00:11:32.421 --> 00:11:35.124
  • Coupled with an empower you going thornaby.
  • 00:11:35.124 --> 00:11:38.694
  • That's that is the kind of deterrence
  • 00:11:38.694 --> 00:11:41.364
  • That that makes your enemies
  • 00:11:41.364 --> 00:11:42.732
  • Think twice before they start something.
  • 00:11:42.732 --> 00:11:44.600
  • Well, we're very familiar with iran using their proxies
  • 00:11:45.735 --> 00:11:48.538
  • To wreak havoc in the middle east, hamas and hezbollah.
  • 00:11:48.538 --> 00:11:52.074
  • China is now using their proxies to help russia
  • 00:11:52.074 --> 00:11:54.811
  • In their war with ukraine.
  • 00:11:54.811 --> 00:11:56.946
  • Is that one of the ways
  • 00:11:56.946 --> 00:11:57.914
  • They're trying to make their mark in our world
  • 00:11:57.914 --> 00:11:59.749
  • Without having their direct fingerprints on it?
  • 00:11:59.749 --> 00:12:02.385
  • Well, we're getting more of that,
  • 00:12:02.385 --> 00:12:03.853
  • And we're likely to see more of that as particularly as china
  • 00:12:03.853 --> 00:12:06.856
  • And russia and iran lose hard power,
  • 00:12:06.856 --> 00:12:09.992
  • The ability to really directly get in your face.
  • 00:12:09.992 --> 00:12:13.062
  • They'll increasingly try to look for these other
  • 00:12:13.062 --> 00:12:15.765
  • Forms of malicious activities to poke at the united states,
  • 00:12:15.765 --> 00:12:19.135
  • Whether it is, hybrid, you know, hybrid warfare,
  • 00:12:19.135 --> 00:12:22.972
  • Surrogates, terrorist attacks, cyber warfare, espionage.
  • 00:12:22.972 --> 00:12:26.709
  • So we're likely to see more of that poking.
  • 00:12:26.709 --> 00:12:29.078
  • But it's
  • 00:12:29.078 --> 00:12:29.779
  • That's actually out of russia
  • 00:12:29.779 --> 00:12:31.414
  • And china, chinese and iranian weakness.
  • 00:12:31.414 --> 00:12:33.616
  • But we have to be prepared to deal with that as well.
  • 00:12:33.616 --> 00:12:35.585
  • Well, before we're done, can you give us your thoughts
  • 00:12:36.686 --> 00:12:39.155
  • On the trump vision of peace through strength?
  • 00:12:39.155 --> 00:12:42.225
  • Can we really expect a safer world?
  • 00:12:42.225 --> 00:12:44.594
  • Yeah.
  • 00:12:44.594 --> 00:12:45.528
  • Look, trump is laser focused on one thing
  • 00:12:45.528 --> 00:12:47.663
  • For the american people prosperity.
  • 00:12:47.663 --> 00:12:50.333
  • Prosperity comes from two things.
  • 00:12:50.333 --> 00:12:52.435
  • On the one hand, it's unleashing your economy,
  • 00:12:52.435 --> 00:12:54.837
  • Whether it's low energy prices or less regulatory,
  • 00:12:54.837 --> 00:12:57.840
  • A lighter regulatory environment,
  • 00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:59.609
  • But growing the economy, letting the economy grow.
  • 00:12:59.609 --> 00:13:02.945
  • And on the other hand,
  • 00:13:02.945 --> 00:13:04.046
  • Providing the stability that allows economies to grow.
  • 00:13:04.046 --> 00:13:06.749
  • And that's from peace through strength
  • 00:13:06.749 --> 00:13:08.117
  • By demonstrating your enemies both the capacity
  • 00:13:08.117 --> 00:13:10.720
  • And the capability to defend your interests,
  • 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.421
  • You do those two things together,
  • 00:13:12.421 --> 00:13:14.323
  • And you get a brighter world for the united states
  • 00:13:14.323 --> 00:13:16.826
  • And for for its friends and allies as well, i think.
  • 00:13:16.826 --> 00:13:20.062
  • Well, i pray you are a prophet,
  • 00:13:20.062 --> 00:13:22.365
  • And we see that security come to our world.
  • 00:13:22.365 --> 00:13:25.268
  • It'd be better for all of us.
  • 00:13:25.268 --> 00:13:28.070
  • Thanks.
  • 00:13:28.304 --> 00:13:29.305
  • Thanks for having. me. well, thank you james.
  • 00:13:29.305 --> 00:13:31.574
  • We look forward to staying in touch during the year ahead.
  • 00:13:31.574 --> 00:13:34.877
  • Yeah. we love you guys.
  • 00:13:34.877 --> 00:13:36.078
  • We love nashville. best place on earth.
  • 00:13:36.078 --> 00:13:38.481
  • We'll have to get you here in nashville on set soon.
  • 00:13:38.481 --> 00:13:41.050
  • We'll be back in just a moment with a few thoughts of my own.
  • 00:13:41.050 --> 00:13:43.819
  • Stay tuned.
  • 00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:50.004
  • Stay tuned.
  • 00:13:50.004 --> 00:13:52.262
  • You know,
  • 00:13:52.562 --> 00:13:53.797
  • The horrific, violent attack in new orleans on new year's day
  • 00:13:53.797 --> 00:13:56.800
  • Is a painful reminder that we live in
  • 00:13:56.800 --> 00:13:59.303
  • An evil world in need of a breakthrough.
  • 00:13:59.303 --> 00:14:02.606
  • Now, almost the immediate message
  • 00:14:02.606 --> 00:14:04.041
  • When you see the horror
  • 00:14:04.041 --> 00:14:05.075
  • Or something like that is i feel so powerless.
  • 00:14:05.075 --> 00:14:07.778
  • You know, i don't have the ability to stop that.
  • 00:14:07.778 --> 00:14:09.846
  • I don't have the ability to change that.
  • 00:14:09.846 --> 00:14:11.815
  • That message echoes inside my head.
  • 00:14:11.815 --> 00:14:15.085
  • Well, i have a better response
  • 00:14:15.085 --> 00:14:16.853
  • Because i believe
  • 00:14:16.853 --> 00:14:17.521
  • There is something
  • 00:14:17.521 --> 00:14:18.722
  • That you and i can do that will actually make a difference.
  • 00:14:18.722 --> 00:14:21.892
  • Bear with me for just a moment.
  • 00:14:21.892 --> 00:14:23.560
  • For a number of years,
  • 00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:24.528
  • I've been inviting the congregation i serve
  • 00:14:24.528 --> 00:14:26.897
  • To read through their bible on an annual basis.
  • 00:14:26.897 --> 00:14:29.700
  • It's about a 10 or 15 minute commitment of time.
  • 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:32.302
  • Each day, depending on the speed with which you read.
  • 00:14:32.302 --> 00:14:34.705
  • You can read the whole bible from the table of contents
  • 00:14:34.705 --> 00:14:36.974
  • To the maps in the course of a year.
  • 00:14:36.974 --> 00:14:39.376
  • I have watched it bring changed to multiplied
  • 00:14:39.376 --> 00:14:42.346
  • Thousands of lives, including my own.
  • 00:14:42.346 --> 00:14:46.116
  • Well, i want to give you an invitation
  • 00:14:46.116 --> 00:14:47.384
  • At the beginning of this year.
  • 00:14:47.384 --> 00:14:49.052
  • Let's not start with the whole bible.
  • 00:14:49.052 --> 00:14:50.454
  • That's a pretty intimidating task.
  • 00:14:50.454 --> 00:14:52.622
  • But if you'd be willing to make
  • 00:14:52.622 --> 00:14:53.657
  • That commitment of 10 or 15 minutes a day
  • 00:14:53.657 --> 00:14:56.960
  • For about the first two months of the year,
  • 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.029
  • We can read through the four gospels together
  • 00:14:59.029 --> 00:15:00.964
  • Matthew, mark, luke, and john.
  • 00:15:00.964 --> 00:15:02.366
  • If you want to take on a little bigger chunk
  • 00:15:03.266 --> 00:15:05.202
  • By easter time, we could read through
  • 00:15:05.202 --> 00:15:07.104
  • With the same commitment of time.
  • 00:15:07.104 --> 00:15:08.905
  • We could read through the whole new testament.
  • 00:15:08.905 --> 00:15:10.907
  • That means we could arrive at easter
  • 00:15:10.907 --> 00:15:12.876
  • Having taken a few minutes every day
  • 00:15:12.876 --> 00:15:14.544
  • To read our bibles and completed the new testament.
  • 00:15:14.544 --> 00:15:17.681
  • Now, why does that matter?
  • 00:15:17.681 --> 00:15:19.049
  • Because i believe if people will take the time
  • 00:15:19.049 --> 00:15:21.218
  • To focus their attention on scripture
  • 00:15:21.218 --> 00:15:23.453
  • And indirectly on god, that it will bring
  • 00:15:23.453 --> 00:15:25.856
  • The blessing of god to our nation, folks.
  • 00:15:25.856 --> 00:15:29.726
  • They're not sending me to washington.
  • 00:15:29.726 --> 00:15:31.294
  • Nobody's elected me for anything.
  • 00:15:31.294 --> 00:15:33.230
  • My assignment is to make choices that will allow god
  • 00:15:33.230 --> 00:15:36.533
  • To bring his best outcomes into my life, into our homes,
  • 00:15:36.533 --> 00:15:40.537
  • Into our communities, and ultimately into our nation.
  • 00:15:40.537 --> 00:15:43.673
  • I believe the willingness to read your bible will do that.
  • 00:15:43.673 --> 00:15:46.943
  • So don't just decide to read it for yourself.
  • 00:15:46.943 --> 00:15:49.212
  • Recruit a friend.
  • 00:15:49.212 --> 00:15:50.747
  • Invite your small group, your sunday school
  • 00:15:50.747 --> 00:15:52.616
  • Class, a coworker or a neighbor, whomever that may be.
  • 00:15:52.616 --> 00:15:56.253
  • There's a bible reading plan available to you.
  • 00:15:56.253 --> 00:15:58.388
  • We've got an app you can go to, allen jackson ministries.
  • 00:15:58.388 --> 00:16:00.590
  • It's right there. it'll read it to you.
  • 00:16:00.590 --> 00:16:02.692
  • You can go to allen jackson.com, our website.
  • 00:16:02.692 --> 00:16:05.128
  • There's a bible reading plan there. it's not the only one.
  • 00:16:05.128 --> 00:16:07.564
  • I'm not even saying it's the best one.
  • 00:16:07.564 --> 00:16:09.332
  • But if you'll pick that plan up before we get to easter,
  • 00:16:09.332 --> 00:16:12.335
  • We'll finish the new testament and we'll be a catalyst
  • 00:16:12.335 --> 00:16:15.472
  • For bringing the blessings of god into our nation.
  • 00:16:15.472 --> 00:16:18.575
  • Now that's worthwhile,
  • 00:16:18.575 --> 00:16:20.143
  • And that is a greater reason for hope than despair.
  • 00:16:20.143 --> 00:16:23.780
  • I promise.
  • 00:16:23.780 --> 00:16:25.115
  • Well, that's my message for tonight.
  • 00:16:25.115 --> 00:16:26.683
  • And after a short break,
  • 00:16:26.683 --> 00:16:27.984
  • We're going to start looking at some of your messages.
  • 00:16:27.984 --> 00:16:35.009
  • We're going to start looking at some of your messages.
  • 00:16:35.009 --> 00:16:37.828
  • Thank
  • 00:16:38.061 --> 00:16:39.196
  • You for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
  • 00:16:39.196 --> 00:16:41.631
  • Your emails and perspectives are a highlight
  • 00:16:41.631 --> 00:16:44.201
  • And we get to read them.
  • 00:16:44.201 --> 00:16:45.936
  • Tracy c from clarkston, michigan said i truly enjoy
  • 00:16:45.936 --> 00:16:49.172
  • Watching you on now
  • 00:16:49.172 --> 00:16:50.707
  • With so many interesting guests on your show.
  • 00:16:50.707 --> 00:16:53.110
  • God has raised you up for such a time as this to reach
  • 00:16:53.110 --> 00:16:55.745
  • The people
  • 00:16:55.745 --> 00:16:56.713
  • You've helped to restore my faith
  • 00:16:56.713 --> 00:16:58.014
  • When things weren't looking so good.
  • 00:16:58.014 --> 00:16:59.950
  • Now i know
  • 00:16:59.950 --> 00:17:01.184
  • God is listening to this nation crying out for mercy and help.
  • 00:17:01.184 --> 00:17:03.820
  • May the lord surround our new president with wisdom
  • 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:06.456
  • And others to hear his words of peace.
  • 00:17:06.456 --> 00:17:08.925
  • God bless.
  • 00:17:08.925 --> 00:17:10.660
  • Well, tracy, i join you in that prayer
  • 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:13.997
  • That god will continue to show us mercy as a people.
  • 00:17:13.997 --> 00:17:18.568
  • I believe the election was more
  • 00:17:18.568 --> 00:17:19.803
  • Than about political parties and candidates.
  • 00:17:19.803 --> 00:17:22.172
  • I believe we deserved god's judgment
  • 00:17:22.172 --> 00:17:23.740
  • And he showed us mercy, as you so rightly observed.
  • 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:26.710
  • Now it's our turn to respond to him with faithfulness.
  • 00:17:26.710 --> 00:17:30.547
  • Cynthia, i ask.
  • 00:17:30.914 --> 00:17:32.315
  • I found myself in a spot i couldn't respond to.
  • 00:17:32.315 --> 00:17:35.619
  • I was at a table of nonbelievers this weekend and i felt dumb.
  • 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:38.989
  • I need help with an answer.
  • 00:17:39.589 --> 00:17:40.724
  • When someone challenges me.
  • 00:17:40.724 --> 00:17:42.659
  • The question was your god lets little children get cancer.
  • 00:17:42.659 --> 00:17:45.262
  • They are innocent.
  • 00:17:45.262 --> 00:17:46.496
  • If your god was a good god, as you say,
  • 00:17:46.496 --> 00:17:49.499
  • Why does he let little children get cancer?
  • 00:17:49.499 --> 00:17:52.536
  • I froze because i know my lord and savior,
  • 00:17:52.536 --> 00:17:55.272
  • But apparently not enough knowledge
  • 00:17:55.272 --> 00:17:56.806
  • To proceed with an answer that will satisfy.
  • 00:17:56.806 --> 00:17:59.442
  • Any help appreciated?
  • 00:17:59.442 --> 00:18:02.612
  • I can give you a response.
  • 00:18:02.612 --> 00:18:03.947
  • I can't solve the problem of suffering in our world.
  • 00:18:03.947 --> 00:18:06.950
  • I think what's often overlooked
  • 00:18:06.950 --> 00:18:08.552
  • When people express their anger at god
  • 00:18:08.552 --> 00:18:11.888
  • Is we ignore the existence of evil,
  • 00:18:11.888 --> 00:18:14.324
  • And the reality is both are present in our world.
  • 00:18:14.324 --> 00:18:18.028
  • You know, in physics, i learned that for every action
  • 00:18:18.028 --> 00:18:20.397
  • There's an equal and an opposite reaction.
  • 00:18:20.397 --> 00:18:23.466
  • So it's illogical.
  • 00:18:23.466 --> 00:18:24.568
  • It's irrational to believe in a good god
  • 00:18:24.568 --> 00:18:27.070
  • And then reject the existence of evil or satan.
  • 00:18:27.070 --> 00:18:30.941
  • And we want to imagine we're a little too
  • 00:18:30.941 --> 00:18:32.509
  • Sophisticated, a little too educated,
  • 00:18:32.509 --> 00:18:35.178
  • Perhaps a little too something in order to believe
  • 00:18:35.178 --> 00:18:38.315
  • In the devil, folks, just as certainly as god exist.
  • 00:18:38.315 --> 00:18:41.484
  • And he's a good god.
  • 00:18:41.484 --> 00:18:42.686
  • The devil exist, and he's a bad devil.
  • 00:18:42.686 --> 00:18:45.989
  • I know that's a simplification, but we see expressions of good
  • 00:18:45.989 --> 00:18:49.359
  • And evil in our world every day.
  • 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:51.328
  • We see children with diseases.
  • 00:18:51.328 --> 00:18:53.296
  • We see children suffering in ukraine, in gaza, in syria.
  • 00:18:53.296 --> 00:18:58.301
  • We see suffering in our own nation.
  • 00:18:58.301 --> 00:19:00.870
  • We see children being trafficked on our border
  • 00:19:00.870 --> 00:19:04.174
  • And politicians acting like they don't notice,
  • 00:19:04.174 --> 00:19:06.977
  • And a general public who looks the other way.
  • 00:19:06.977 --> 00:19:09.579
  • That's evil.
  • 00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:11.081
  • The best thing i believe we can do is choose to honor god.
  • 00:19:11.081 --> 00:19:14.351
  • That gives him permission to have another voice
  • 00:19:14.351 --> 00:19:16.419
  • And other expression of his goodness in our world.
  • 00:19:16.419 --> 00:19:19.389
  • We're not powerless.
  • 00:19:19.389 --> 00:19:20.590
  • There is a god, and he is good and finally, laura ann wrote.
  • 00:19:20.590 --> 00:19:25.262
  • Thank you for having mrs. king.
  • 00:19:25.262 --> 00:19:27.464
  • I've been following her for years.
  • 00:19:27.464 --> 00:19:28.965
  • She's a precious lady.
  • 00:19:28.965 --> 00:19:30.634
  • Thank you for standing on the word.
  • 00:19:30.634 --> 00:19:32.936
  • Well, laura and i agree alveda king is a gift in our nation.
  • 00:19:32.936 --> 00:19:37.607
  • She has a courage and a boldness to tell the truth,
  • 00:19:37.607 --> 00:19:40.243
  • But she does it in a way that makes you feel like
  • 00:19:40.243 --> 00:19:42.178
  • You've been embraced, not slapped.
  • 00:19:42.178 --> 00:19:44.447
  • It's a gift to all of us.
  • 00:19:44.447 --> 00:19:46.049
  • Well, make sure you send your emails to comments at alan
  • 00:19:47.150 --> 00:19:50.153
  • Jackson now.com from all of us here in nashville.
  • 00:19:50.153 --> 00:19:54.090
  • Thank you for joining us tonight,
  • 00:19:54.090 --> 00:19:55.792
  • And we pray you have a wonderful evening.
  • 00:19:55.792 --> 00:19:55.792