Tim Wildman has some great tours lined up for 2026

>> Tim Wildmon: Hello, everyone. Tim Wildmon here. We've got some great tours lined up. 2026, Washington, D.C. george Washington's Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, historic Jamestown, Boston, Massachusetts, and that Greater area. So, so much to see and do in 2026. If you want information on any of these trips, go to wildmangroup.com wildmon m group.com and we'll see you on, one of our tours in 2026.

Today's Issues is the last show of the year for American Family Radio

Welcome to today's Issues, offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. Here's your host, Tim Wildmon, president of.

>> Chris Woodward: The American Family Association.

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, good morning, everybody. Welcome to Today's Issues here on the American Family Radio Network for this Wednesday, December 31, 2025. In other words, it's the last show of the year, ladies and gentlemen, for this particular program or any of the shows on American Family Radio, because we're flipping the calendar and it'll be 2026. 2026 coming up, in about, what, how many hours, fellas?

>> Fred Jackson: 14 hours.

>> Tim Wildmon: I can't figure any more.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah, that's right. 13 hours and, 50, 54 minutes.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Wesley Wildmon. Good morning, Wesley.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Hey, good morning.

>> Tim Wildmon: Your math whiz there.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes, sir.

>> Tim Wildmon: Fred Jackson. Good morning, Fred.

>> Fred Jackson: Good morning to you.

>> Tim Wildmon: Chris Woodward. Good morning.

>> Chris Woodward: Thank you. Math is why I have a BA in Communication. One math.

>> Wesley Wildmon: That was, that was my one good subject.

>> Tim Wildmon: What? Math. You're one good one.

>> Wesley Wildmon: No, one good one subject.

>> Tim Wildmon: You'll hang your hat on that. Math.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Right.

>> Tim Wildmon: you didn't get it from me, my friend, my son, I did not pass a legacy of math excellence on down.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, here's the problem.

>> Tim Wildmon: Well, now, wait a minute. Let me just say this, and you can tell us what the problem was. I did. I excelled at, something called M, adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing. I was right there at the top of the class. Yeah. Then somewhere along sixth or seventh grade, they introduced something called Al J. Breath. Fred. Al J. Bruh. Really disrupted my. Well, it affected my personality.

>> Fred Jackson: It was a curse.

>> Tim Wildmon: I said to the teacher, with all due respect, I don't think I said it like that. Maybe when I was sixth grade, I was going, this is. Sorry, this is not math.

>> Fred Jackson: No. And what am I going to use this for?

>> Tim Wildmon: Well, one day, you may want to build a bridge, son.

>> Fred Jackson: Okay, okay.

>> Tim Wildmon: No, I. I've teased about that from time to time. And we do. We do not need emails, calls and letters from, electrical engineers or mathematicians. We understand fully the. And appreciate, the what? Algebra and advanced math. What I Call geometry, trigonometry, and, calculus. Calculus. What those things add to. Fred, you're shaking your head like you still don't understand.

>> Fred Jackson: I had to take calculus, for my science degree. Biology and chemistry. And calculus. Calculus every day. Where is this possibly going to be used?

>> Tim Wildmon: What about you, Chris? Where did you use calculus, along your life's journey?

>> Chris Woodward: Never, in the classroom when I was being told I would use this in the future. As a matter of fact, do you guys remember, ever using a slide rule?

>> Fred Jackson: Oh, yeah.

>> Chris Woodward: Okay.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Chris Woodward: The reason I asked that is because I've. Growing up, I had always heard about a slide rule. I'd never used one, had never held one in my hands. The first time I ever actually saw a slide rule being used was when I was watching Apollo 13 or whatever it was with my dad. There was a scene in there where somebody in NASA was using this thing. And I remember going, what's that? And my dad was like, it's a sled rule, you idiot. And, yeah. And right then I knew, like, you know, math was not for me.

Wesley says he put all his eggs in the math basket early on

>> Tim Wildmon: All right, what were you gonna say, Wesley? Two minutes ago?

>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes. What I was gonna say is I had to make a decision early on. Was I gonna be right, you know, a C plus and everything would be great in one. I just threw my. Early on, I threw all my eggs in the math basket and was like, this will be.

>> Fred Jackson: This will be it.

>> Wesley Wildmon: I'll be good in math.

>> Tim Wildmon: And it worked out.

>> Wesley Wildmon: It worked out.

>> Tim Wildmon: That's right. And now you use it to, figure up batting averages for.

>> Wesley Wildmon: That's for all the 10 year olds. Numbers. Yep. That's right.

>> Fred Jackson: Yep.

>> Tim Wildmon: In your youth, baseball.

>> Wesley Wildmon: And I'm the only one that cares about it.

>> Tim Wildmon: But you care a lot.

>> Wesley Wildmon: I care a lot. Yeah.

All right, thanks for joining us on the last AFR program of the year

>> Tim Wildmon: All right, thanks for joining us, everybody, on the last program of the year. As I said here on, Today's issues, December 31, 2025.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Any more or less pressure?

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, well, I don't know. I look at.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Not feeling it.

>> Tim Wildmon: Fred and I. Now you. You guys still in your. You got kids at home, Chris. Right?

>> Fred Jackson: I do.

>> Tim Wildmon: And Wesley still got kids. He got three young children.

>> Wesley Wildmon: 10, 10, 7 and 4.

>> Tim Wildmon: 10, 7 and 4. See, math worked right there for you.

>> Wesley Wildmon: That's right.

>> Tim Wildmon: You remembered your kids. Ages. Didn't even have to think about it. But Fred and I are moving on down the highway here and.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: And we're looking at the calendar. Start flipping faster and faster. It's 2026, Fred. And we. I still got food in my pantry from. From Y2K.

>> Fred Jackson: And then what's Y2K?

>> Tim Wildmon: When people don't know what Y2K is? Then you. Then, you know, you. You've gone. You flew past it. Anyway, so to put this in perspective, we're a quarter of a century.

>> Fred Jackson: Ah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Past, Y2K.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Anyway, true. I told somebody the other day, I was with. They were 78.

>> Fred Jackson: Yep.

>> Tim Wildmon: And, this was my uncle. I just dated my uncle. We were golfing. I, got with my uncle, a dear fella. And, and he. I said, how old are you now? He said, 78. Be 79 this year, you know, I said. I said, we know each other close enough to where this isn't offensive. I said, so you're in the fourth quarter. I said, I'm kicked. I'm about. I'm about to be in the fourth quarter myself. Anyway, life, enjoy life as much as you possibly can each and every day because, you know, it passes so fast. Go ahead.

>> Fred Jackson: But, you know, we mentioned Y2K.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: You remember the panic when that was coming? Oh, yeah. My YouTube people were buying. Buying food to store.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: And they. They took a lot of money out of their bank accounts because they weren't sure the bank were going to. It. It was like. It was.

>> Tim Wildmon: It was a computer pandemic scare is what it was. They told us, you know, everything's going to be messed up. And. And there were very few glitches. so. But, yeah, I know a lot of other people who are, I was kind of skeptical. And with my skepticism, a couple of my friends said, are you. Are you crazy? Yeah, this is gonna. This is it. This is the end, you know. All right, Alex McFarland will be with us coming, up at the bottom of the hour. So we will talk to brother Alex and, Wesley, tell folks if they want to watch on what Ed calls out their Internet, how can they join us today?

>> Wesley Wildmon: Stream.afa.net stream.afa.net There you can watch us live for free. All you need to do is log in. There's no charge or fee or anything like that. Now, there's obviously more content there. if those are. If you get across there that you may have to pay for. but otherwise, just watch our radio program. And the rest of radio program is free. Also. Go to afr.net or download the AFR app on any smart device, and there you can listen to us anywhere you are.

Wesley mentioned Ed. Is Ed coming back next year

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Fred Jackson: Wesley mentioned Ed. Is. Is Ed coming back next year?

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, Ed's going to be back on the show next year. He wants to renegotiate his contract.

>> Fred Jackson: Okay.

>> Tim Wildmon: So we're going nil.

>> Chris Woodward: Demands.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, we're going through that now. You know, our lawyers, our lawyers are talking, and maybe they'll hash something out. You know, Ed, he always wants more.

>> Chris Woodward: Ed's demands would include a Diet Coke and cough drops laid out.

>> Tim Wildmon: Well, he wants more, though. He wants more Diet Coke, more cough. More cough drops.

>> Wesley Wildmon: He's asking for more sports so he can put more cough drops.

>> Tim Wildmon: We'll see. He said, he's going to hold out until we meet his demands. We'll see how that works out. all right. What's your first story, Chris?

Well, it appears that we are farther along from any peace deal between Ukraine and Russia

>> Chris Woodward: Well, it appears that, we are farther along, far away from any sort of peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. and I say that because in recent days, of course, President Trump hosted, Vladimir Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, at Mar A Lago in Florida. And it sounded like that maybe we were near some sort of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Because February, for those not aware, February, will mark four years since Russia invaded Ukraine and tried to take that country back into part of Russia. overnight, Ukrainian, drone strikes hit energy sites and homes across Russia to the point that even Moscow is in the dark today based on successful drone strikes by Ukraine. So as we're heading into 2026, I think it would be good, if we, the body of Christ, really prayed for peace and wisdom for our leaders, because there is a big situation going on that really requires a lot of our attention.

>> Tim Wildmon: Fred, what about this? This is a. We're kidding around here, joking around, but this is a very serious matter on the other side of the world, right?

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, exactly. And as President Trump has pointed out many times, thousands, thousands of people have been killed in this. And yes, we have these negotiations going on, but every time, whether Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader, or Putin talks about, we're moving closer and Trump has these meetings, has phone calls with Putin. And then within 24 hours, we get stories like we have this morning, where Ukrainian drones hit Moscow. Just yesterday, we had, Russian, drones hitting apartment buildings in Kiev. And on and on it goes. I mean, Odessa, it really is.

>> Tim Wildmon: A tinderbox right now.

>> Fred Jackson: Oh, it is. We just don't see it. I'm sorry. As we approach midnight tonight and go into 2026, I see no end in sight anytime soon in this horrible conflict.

>> Tim Wildmon: It seems like there's going to be a, an absolute winner and an absolute loser and okay.

>> Fred Jackson: Russia,

>> Tim Wildmon: You know, we're all people who observe that part of the world were really stunned that the war against Ukraine lasted more than a few months. Quite frankly. The mighty Russian army was supposed to invade, conquer and take over and absorb Ukraine into the, to Russia, be a part of Russia. It didn't happen. No, it didn't happen. And the Ukrainian fighters have just fought valiantly and, and used their resources to the max to hold off a complete takeover of, of Ukraine. but yeah, now Ukraine is using drones and they're taking out, you know, they're going back at Moscow just like Moscow has been attacking Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Now, you know, the Ukrainian fighters and the drones and the military are going into the heart of Russia and causing, dark, you know, black blackouts, in Moscow. So it's, it's really ramping up over there and I don't know what the next few days or weeks hold, but it could, it could explode even further.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: So anyway, we'll,

>> Wesley Wildmon: well, I was gonna add it, it is kind of surprising after two years that Ukraine is, they're shifted early on from being defensive because they were surprised, now they're being more offensive.

>> Tim Wildmon: well, I do think that computers, cyber warfare and drones have changed the landscape of Ukraine. Modern day warfare. It's so you can, you can do guerrilla warfare, with the, you know, and cause your enemy a lot of pain even though you're outnumbered and you're out and you're outgunned if you're strategized. Well, so they, what were you going to say?

>> Chris Woodward: I was going to say we carried out a drone strike on that Venezuelan dock. Yeah, yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: The drones have been a game changer. But because you see these pictures, these videos of the Ukraine, Ukrainians using drones to take out, you know, I don't know, $10 million tanks that are out in the field. Well, with one drone. So anyway, we will see what happens, but, it's a very tense situation. I don't know, with all due respect to President Trump, I don't, I don't know, I don't think he can do anything about this. he's probably about to, you know, he wants to put a positive spin on his conversations with Putin, but I think Putin's played him and Trump's hard to play, you know, because he's a, he's been around the block and Trump knows, you know, how people act and behave and he's dealt with, you know, folks his whole life. Where he's had to do negotiations in the NewSong York business world and so forth and so on. But I do think that, Putin is, to me, is just going to keep on doing what he's doing for as long as he has to before he takes Ukraine or. And I don't think anything he says to President Trump is. I don't think truth is a factor.

>> Fred Jackson: No, I remember that Alaska, summit between Trump and Putin, and, I mean, shaking hands and smiling and all of that sort of thing. And then within 48 hours, Putin was at it again. Again.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Also with respect to, Zelensky and the Ukrainians, they don't.

>> Fred Jackson: They.

>> Tim Wildmon: They fought gallantly, whatever you may think. I know some people say, well, Ukraine is as corrupt as Russia or whatever. You hear that, and I understand that. Put it, put all your political leanings aside or what you may think of the Ukrainians, the government and so forth. They fought like nobody ever thought that they could. I mean, you talk about David and Goliath. It's David. And David's still standing out there. Little David, if I could use a biblical metaphor here, and I see Zelensky, and he just gets up day after day after day and keeps on and carries on. And you would think somebody would just fold after a while, mentally and psychologically with his, you know, leading his countrymen there.

North Koreans are sending troops over to fight in the Ukraine war

All right, so we will. We do ask seriously, people to pray about the situation between Russia and Ukraine, because it could. Absolutely. It could get NATO involved, which means the US Would be involved, and not, to mention all the innocent people that are dying over there. And I read these stories about Putin sending these. Basically these soldiers out into the field, just hundreds and thousands of them, and they just have. They just get obliterated sometimes. And it's just like they're. They're toy soldiers in his mind. You know what I'm saying? They're just numbers, so. Yeah, I read the story.

>> Wesley Wildmon: It is. That's why they purchased. Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: The mercenaries. I don't know. I don't know. there's stories about the North Koreans.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: So the North Koreans, which are allies with Russia. North Koreans are sending troops over to fight in the Ukraine war.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: And they don't know what they're doing. they don't know. And those poor. I mean, I feel bad for them. The North Korean soldiers, they don't have a choice. They're just shipped over there and told.

>> Fred Jackson: Go out and fight North Korean kids.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Huh?

>> Fred Jackson: That's what they are.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. They're kids.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, they're just kids.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. You're listening to today's issues on afr. Tim, Fred, Wesley and Chris, Next story. Chris.

Bibi Netanyahu says he and President Trump get along well

>> Chris Woodward: All right, from Eastern Europe to Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to speak out, and speak against any kind of reports or speculation that he and President Trump don't really get along behind the scenes. this was something that's been going around for a couple of days. Lara Trump, yesterday, the daughter in law of President Donald Trump told Fox News it was fake news that Bibi and Trump do not get along. somebody that said as much last night to Bret Barer was Benjamin Netanyahu himself. he did a pretty lengthy interview that I've posted the entire link to on our Today's Issues Facebook page. One of the things that Fox is running hard and heavy with today is Bibi telling Bret Baier. And this has music underneath it, but it's Bibi telling Bret Baier that he and Trump do get along. They have a strong alliance. Clip 1 the strength of the alliance.

>> Tim Wildmon: Between Israel and America. Israel emerged from the seven Front war that was foisted on us as the most powerful country in the Middle East. But part of that is this tremendous alliance that we have with the United States under President Trump.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, no question about it. When I saw the news conference yesterday after Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Trump at Mar, a Lago, one of the announcements coming from Prime Minister Netanyahu was that they were going to name Trump Israeli Citizen of the Year, which is almost unheard of, for them to go beyond the usual people, Jewish people that they name. No, I think the relationship is very close. I think there have been some spats, with regards to the Gaza peace plan, and you will remember that Israel went in and took out some Hamas leaders in Qatar and both Vice, President Vance and Trump were very upset about that. So there have been some tense moments, but for the most part Israel is extremely appreciative of what President Trump has done. So their relationship overall is very strong. But even strong relationships have their tense moments.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, our relationship with Israel is much, much better than it was under the Biden. Oh my, yes, Administration. And you know, traditionally the United States, whether it be a Democrat or Republican in the White House, has always had a strong relationship with Israel and has been our best ally in the world quite frankly and certainly in the Middle East. I'm trying to Think who would be as good an ally to us in the world? Canada over the years, Great Britain, certainly. But, in terms of the Middle East, Israel is right there and has been. So it's good to see our relationship back on strong footing with Israel for many, many reasons. you're listening to today's issue. So did Benjamin Netanyahu, he went back to Israel, right?

>> Chris Woodward: I believe so, but he's probably going to come back at some point because even Trump, and his team said that Zelensky and Trump were going to meet again in the coming days.

>> Tim Wildmon: What does that have to do with.

>> Chris Woodward: I would, I would imagine he's going to have his same situation with, Netanyahu is what I meant.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Chris Woodward: They'll probably meet again.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Because they both want to meet equal times.

>> Chris Woodward: Well, Trump's still pushing for this second phase. You know, Trump's dead set on Hamas laying down its arms and giving up control of, Gaza. And so they're going to continue to talk for that.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Would you please read the 18 point plan for.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Point number 14 out loud, if you would, Chris? We're going to review that.

>> Wesley Wildmon: We did read them all out one day.

>> Tim Wildmon: That's, a lot of points to the peace plan in the Israel. But the biggest one is the next one, which is demilitari. Got them having Hamas, paywall. Yeah. Weapons. What?

>> Wesley Wildmon: Seriously, where is that? On the, on the.

>> Tim Wildmon: I think it's number two, return the hostages, number one, which, that's been accomplished. But number two was, for Hamas to lay down their weapons. And I don't know that that that's been confirmed or that's been done yet.

>> Fred Jackson: No.

>> Tim Wildmon: So. No. you know, and I doubt they will, if any, if history teaches us anything.

>> Fred Jackson: That's right.

>> Tim Wildmon: and I doubt that Hamas will do that, but hopefully they will. But I doubt that they will do that. But they, they have been neutralized. And, to say the least, the Israeli idf, the Israeli Defense idf. what's the F stand for? forces. Israeli Defense Forces. They've. So they're basically. Gaza is squalor, okay? It's a, bubble. It's been bombed to oblivion. And sadly a lot of people have lost their lives. Women and children who have no combatant role against Israel, but they just happen to live in a place that's controlled by wicked people.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Terrorists.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, terrorists who don't want any peace with Israel. They want to keep fighting against Israel till the end of time, I guess. so those people you have to use force. Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: In fact, Netanyahu is just being quoted here. If disarmament can't be done the easy way, then we will find another way. And President Trump basically said the same thing the other day in the joint news conference with the prime minister. He said, we want Hamas to give up its arms.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: If they don't, something very bad is going to happen to them.

>> Tim Wildmon: Well, also, in order for any hope of, the living conditions of the Palestinian, people living in Gaza to improve, would, you stop? They've got to, stop, you know, Hamas has got to stop threatening Israel.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: In order for them. And then, I don't know, it would take years and years and years to rebuild.

>> Wesley Wildmon: That's if you started today. But it's not going to happen anytime soon.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. And, you know, one of the things that President Trump has mentioned and others, that's a beautiful piece of land.

It is on the Mediterranean Sea. It'd be a beautiful vacation place for people

It is on the Mediterranean Sea. I mean, it could really be turned into something special. you know, as far as President. I know President Trump's been mocked for, you know, having the, plans for maybe resorts and things of that nature there. But as I say, it'd be. It'd be a beautiful vacation place for people from around the world if it were. If it were ever to be a, land of peace, you know, and security. because it's, as I say, it's a beautiful piece of land.

Don Wileman: Chris' Point Plan is pretty lengthy. It involves things like wastewater and sewage

All right. Did you want to say anything else, Chris, before we went to a break?

>> Fred Jackson: No.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Wesley Wildmon: He's just glad he doesn't have to read all 18.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, the peace Point Plan.

>> Chris Woodward: Yes. It's pretty lengthy.

>> Alex McFarland: There are.

>> Chris Woodward: I mean, some of it's, like, deep in the weeds. And I'm not making this up. It involves things like wastewater and sewage.

>> Tim Wildmon: So, I mean, what point is that?

>> Chris Woodward: Near 20.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, you have to get down to 20?

>> Chris Woodward: Yeah. I mean, some of this stuff's behind a paywall.

>> Tim Wildmon: We've reached point number two, right?

>> Chris Woodward: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: All right, we'll be back momentarily. Dr. Alex McFarland will be joining us. And you just never know what we're going to talk about with brother Alex. He's coming up next.

>> Don Wildmon: It's my Turn. Here is your host for My Turn, Don Wileman.

Life is full of frustrations; we must learn how to handle them

Life can be awful frustrating at times. There are frustrations at home such as never enough time. Hard to fix a meal, which each member of the family likes. Any of you, housewives ever do that? You know, you fix a meal and three out of four like it, but that fourth one doesn't another frustrating thing is that parents don't understand teenagers, and teenagers are inconsiderate to parents. 2. There are financial frustrations. Too often it seems like there's too much month left at the end of the money and job frustrations. The employees are lazy, the boss is too demanding, or the job is too confining. Life is full of frustrations. It doesn't take much to get you to agree to that. But if we are to remain sane in this world, we must learn how to handle frustrations. We must be able to face frustrations without becoming frustrated. Let us say that we cannot handle frustrations by becoming like those people in situations which cause frustrations. If we do, we will add to the problem rather than help in the solution. It helps tremendously if we can learn to accept frustration as a normal part of living. Once we do this, then we are in a position to learn from our frustrations, get something from them, and make them pay us their dividends. Sometimes there are simple solutions to our frustrations. If we are short on time, perhaps we are trying to do too much. If there isn't enough money for all our wants, perhaps we need to trim our wants a little and get them in line with our money. If we are habitually late, maybe we need to begin a little earlier. God has some simple answers for us if we will but pay attention to them. When frustrations come, cool down and think things over. A period where you can just be alone for a few moments and talk it over with God helps. Remember also that not everything is wrong. Most things are still right. Think on the things which are still right. Remember that God is still the same God, still present, willing and wanting to help. We should not merely accept frustrations. No, we should attack them and put them on the defensive. We must not let them control us. We must always be in control of them. By doing this, we keep from letting our frustrations frustrate us. Frustrations can be frustrated. We are told that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Take him up on that and he will help you frustrate even the most frustrating frustrations. In the Old Testament book Hosea, we I will make the dale of trouble the door of hope. Can you imagine that? Turning trouble into hope? God is saying that he can actually frustrate frustrations. Let us not give up, when faced with frustrations, let us do with them what it was intended that we do with them. Make them constructive, useful situations. Keep in mind that we can, with the help of God, turn Trouble into hope and frustrations into fruit.

This has been My Turn with Don Wildmon on Today's Issues

>> Alex McFarland: This has been My Turn with Don.

>> Tim Wildmon: Wildmon, a production of the American Family Association.

>> Alex McFarland: For he has rescued us from the.

>> Tim Wildmon: Dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son. He loves. Loves Colossians 1 13. American Family Radio. This is Today's Issues. Email your comments to commentsfr.net Past broadcasts.

>> Chris Woodward: Of today's Issues are available for listening.

>> Tim Wildmon: And viewing in the [email protected] now back to more of Today's Issues.

Today's Issues is the last show of the year, December 31, 2025

Hey, welcome back, everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening to afr. It is, as I said earlier, our last show of the year, December 31st, 2025. I'm Tim with Wesley, Fred and Chris. And joining us now from the, Tar Heel state of North Carolina is our peanut farmer, Alex McFarland. good morning, brother Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Good morning, everybody.

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, I don't want to start down this for 30 minutes or anything, but I did have one left timer.

>> Wesley Wildmon: On you go.

Tim: When is peanut season, growing season? Alex: Summertime

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. I did have one leftover question from last time when we discussed peanut farming with, with Alex, because in all seriousness, he does, have a farm and he makes peanut butter. But I want to ask you, when is peanut season, growing season?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, for us, it's in the summertime, in hot weather.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: So it's summer. It's a summertime. Okay. Yes, summertime. what do you call it? Plant. It's not a fruit?

>> Wesley Wildmon: No, it's not a fruit.

>> Tim Wildmon: Not a fruit.

>> Chris Woodward: It's a legume.

>> Tim Wildmon: Is it a vegetable?

>> Alex McFarland: It's a legume.

>> Tim Wildmon: It's a legume. Okay, so we have fruits, vegetables and legumes.

>> Chris Woodward: We.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, yeah. I just don't ever see that, you know, on a. When you go to the outback, they don't, they don't offer salad and lagoons. Okay, so, Alex, tell us about the Exploring the Word that you host with brother Burt, each weekday afternoon here on American family radio from 3 to 4 o', clock, which is a live radio Bible study.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: who's been helping you when Bert's been out here?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, we've been very blessed over the years. Jim Stanley has helped us some and Jeff Chamblee some here over Christmas, a dear friend of mine of 20 years, Dylan Burroughs. Dylan is a Christian author. He, for years he worked for John Ankerberg. I don't know, Tim, have you ever heard of John Ankerberg?

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah, I used to watch his show on CBN on Sunday nights.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, a great apologetics guy. And, he's a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and adjunct professor at Liberty. And Okay, you know we needed some fill ins over the Christmas holiday and he's been with us now.

>> Tim Wildmon: John Ankerberg, Is he still with us?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, I think I did. I think he retired from his show because we were at nrb. We always would see him at nrb and I think it was last year I saw his.

>> Tim Wildmon: I shouldn't ask that live on the radio. That's tacky. That somebody. Somebody died or not.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Well she can admit that because I was thinking it.

>> Tim Wildmon: You were thinking that was tacky?

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: Apologize for that. In all seriousness, I shouldn't ask a question like that. I can look it up with a Google search.

>> Alex McFarland: He's had some health issues actually.

>> Tim Wildmon: All right, well I was

>> Wesley Wildmon: Called yourself. Good for you.

>> Tim Wildmon: John Ackerberg was a. He was a television host and he always had great subject matter and yeah, it was usually. I would usually see it on This would have been in the 80s. I would see it on. I would see him on Sunday nights on CBN, like 9 or 10 o' clock. His show would come on the. On there. Were you looking up Fred to see if.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, he was born in 1945. as far as I can see he's written 150 books and study guides.

>> Tim Wildmon: he was born with white hair and he still has white hair.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly.

>> Tim Wildmon: But anyway so he's still. He's still Alive and kicking as they say.

>> Tim Wildmon: He was based out of Chattanooga. There was some He was based out of Chattanooga. Kay Arthur was based out of Chattanooga, if you remember her, with precepts.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. She passed away this year.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. K. Arthur. And And then you had. Ben Hayden was a very. We air his show on the weekends. still. Ben Hayden, he was a Presbyterian preacher. he had a radio and television broadcast. Those three Ankerberg, Ben, Hayden and Kay Arthur were all based out of Chattanooga. I just remember that.

Will Durant says the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back one day

All right, Alex, I wanted to ask you. And these three gentlemen here have questions too. I'm sure. I wanted to ask you. You. And We're about to flip the calendar to 2026. And you and Bert wrote a book that we gave out at our share a thon about. What's the title of it?

>> Alex McFarland: 100 Questions Questions on Bible Prophecy and the End Times.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so how are you looking at Have you even given it much thought? 2026. I mean we're. I Was telling Fred earlier, you know, and these guys, I was saying we're a quarter century removed from Y2K. You remember that, that worldwide scare. But I mean, on God's timetable, as you look at the scriptures, any way to tell. I know the Bible says, you know, you don't need to mention a day or a time, in terms of when you think the Lord might come back. We've seen that tried down through time and that, I always cringe when I see yet another, you know, prophet or pastor or evangelist saying, okay, you know, get ready because, next, February 17th, the Lord is coming. The Lord Jesus is coming back. And we know the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back to earth one day. Right, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Literally, Christ will return.

>> Tim Wildmon: Now what gives you confidence of that?

>> Alex McFarland: it is a good question. Well, Acts 1:11, the angels told, the disciples said this same Jesus will return in like manner. And God has a 100% track record in keeping his promises. Praise the Lord.

>> Tim Wildmon: But Jesus left earth Jesus physically. Jesus Christ we read about in the Bible after he rose from the dead, and appeared. How many people did he appear to?

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, over 500 people.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, 500 people. And he also fellowship after his resurrection. After his resurrection, he also fellowshipped with the disciples. So many people saw him. The Bible says many people saw him after his resurrection. And then he, Now for people who don't believe the Bible, you know, I would just say read it and open your heart mind. But you can't convince people who say the Bible's just fables. Okay, well, Jesus Christ is a historical figure, absolutely. That you can prove outside the Bible. So he isn't, you know, like Santa Claus or you know, Bigfoot or anything like that. Jesus Christ, whether you believe he's the son of God or not is another matter. But the fact that he lived and what was a historical figure is. Is fact that you can base, that is based outside the Bible. Now the question becomes, is the Bible true? So when the Bible says that Jesus Christ, it tells the story of him on the Mount of Olives, right?

>> Alex McFarland: Yep.

>> Tim Wildmon: So he's on the Mount of Olives, which we go to every time we go on our tour of Israel. We go to that very spot, where we go to the top of the Mount of Olives. And the Bible says that he ascended, Jesus Christ physically ascended into the clouds on that day 2,000 years ago. Is that right?

>> Alex McFarland: That's right. This is Acts, chapter one, really verses four and following.

>> Tim Wildmon: So the Bible Says he will come back in like manner back to the Mount of Olives, or is that just meaning, he'll come back to Earth?

>> Alex McFarland: he will touch down on the Mount of Olives again.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Alex McFarland: And, and he will walk through the eastern gate, which, you know, interestingly, Muslims sealed up the eastern gate and put a cemetery in front of it as if that would prevent Jesus from one day coming through the eastern gate. He, he will come back. By the way, I gotta, I gotta say this. I'm a big fan of the historian Will Durant. And Will Durant, is one of the greatest historians that America ever produced. And he worked 50 years on one project and it was a 12 volume set that is called the Story of Civilization. And you'll see where I'm going with this. But, my mentor in grad school, Norm Geisler, knew Will Durant. And Will Durant's History of Civilization has been called one of the most important works of history in history. And Durant became a born again Christian very late in his life. And Norm Geisler knew him. And Frank Turek and I both were exceptionally close friends with Dr. Geisler. And Geisler used to tell us about Will Durant. But here's the thing. To any skeptic who says, oh, maybe Jesus never existed, Will Durant, one of the greatest historians ever said, if you discount Jesus or say, well, Jesus didn't exist, he said, then you have to throw out the top 100 names of antiquity for whom we have far less evidence. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. Durant became convinced because he said Jesus was the most well authenticated life of the ancient world. And this historian of historians ultimately became a believer because he was convinced that he also said the NewSong Testament is probably the most accurate, trustworthy historical source of the ancient world.

>> Tim Wildmon: Brad?

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, Alex?

May 14, 1948 is the official start date of the renewed nation of Israel

you know, when we study eschatology and we look forward to the Lord's return, I heard it described this way the other day of the super prophecy that has already taken place that points to, we are rushing towards the return of the Lord and that is the recreation of Israel as a nation in 1948. would you agree that had to happen, preceding when the Lord will return?

>> Alex McFarland: Absolutely. You know, I was, a few moments ago I was going to say that, that really, you know, the, the rebirth of the Nation of Israel, May 14, 1948. Although there were a number of things leading up to this, but that's the official start date of the renewed nation of Israel, Bert and I, in our book we say that is a super sign of the end times. And also, I mean, my goodness, there's never been anything comparable in all of history. For 1900 years plus, there was no Israel because In March of 70 A.D. jerusalem was laid waste and the Jews were dispersed around the world. And oh my goodness now by.

>> Tim Wildmon: The romans in the 70s, in AD 70.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, March of 70 AD and now Israel is a superpower, our longest friend and ally in the Middle East. The only democracy, only really stable democracy in the Middle East.

>> Tim Wildmon: But the Jews were scattered all over the world for millennia.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, two millennia. Isn't that amazing? And Hebrew was essentially a dead language. And now it is really one of the world's most, predominant languages. And everybody that's ever gotten on the Internet, the first Internet browser in the world was that code was written in Jerusalem. it really is a miracle. And by the way, in the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation 500 years ago, you know, one of the great themes of the Reformation was Sola Scriptura. The Bible is God's inerrant word. And we read God's word, which we do. But the conundrum was what about, the book of Revelation and Israel. And really. And I know we have friends listening that are perhaps reformed or Calvinistic, and we all agree, all true Christians agree that Jesus is going to come back. I do believe in a literal seven year tribulation. I believe in the Rapture. I believe in the battle of Armageddon. there is a belief called amillennialism that doesn't believe in some of the literalness of Revelation 4. 22. and really, I'll say this with complete respect for non, premillennial dispensationalists. Reformed theology really was crafted because the Reformers didn't know what to do because of the non existence of Israel. Do you see what I mean? I guarantee, Tim, if the Protestant reformation had happened May 15, 1948, Reformed theology wouldn't exist.

Do you think seminaries are doing a good job training future pastors on prophecy

>> Chris Woodward: I have a question. this is Chris here. How important is it that. Well, let me back up and phrase the question this way. Do you know whether or not seminaries, are doing a good job of actually getting into and training up the pastors of tomorrow when it comes to prophecy, and end time Scripture? I'm asking that because, in my experience in a number of churches and denominations and whatnot that I've been a part of in terms of services and whatnot, you know, People do preach on Daniel, but it's not about prophecy. Revelation doesn't always get mentioned. And I would imagine there's probably a growing number of future pastors that don't know it as well as they should.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh yeah, I completely agree. And listen, I love the church. I'm in a pulpit somewhere every weekend. Literally, 2200 churches that the Lord has allowed me to speak in in the last 27 years. I give God the glory, but I, I really don't think the majority of pastors are able or willing to preach about biblical eschatology because, they've not been taught that. And, and I know Dallas Seminary is really good and they're very much associated with, biblical eschatology. when I was at Liberty, Liberty was we had, I mean, semester long courses on eschatology and we looked at all the different views. But I will say this. It is virtually impossible to find a pastor under 50 that believes in the Rapture. And, and I'm not beating up on pastors. But, 30 years ago, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins wrote the Left behind series, which at one time Tyndale was publishing three Shifts. I mean the Left behind series introduced millions of readers to, premillennial eschatology. And I knew Tim lahaye, I do know Jerry Jenkins. It's great. I believe in that model Rapture, Tribulation, Armageddon, Return, Millennium, NewSong Heavens and NewSong Earth. But there really was a backlash. And I'm not going to name their names. I, I knew two pretty famous authors that tried to write a series against the Left behind books. It failed. They didn't sell.

>> Tim Wildmon: What was that called? Stay Here. Yeah, the Stay Here series.

>> Alex McFarland: It was really a reaction. And I, I was at NRB back in 2004, Tim, and these, these two authors I bumped into and they were trying to pedal this series of books that was like the Anti Left behind series. And their rationale, they said, it's just not fair. Those books are selling so much. There needs to be an opposite. And I said, well, no, our writing needs to reflect good hermeneutics. And here's my point. The anti rapture sentiment is really kind of, a reaction against the popularity of premillennial eschatology. But I believe it's true. Bert and I, on exploring the Word, we're very respectful. We have a lot of different people that listen, a lot of different people that call in. But Bert and I really believe, that all of the scriptures taken at face value for what the language means and really what the early church understood it to mean as well, that there's going to be this catching away, meeting the Lord in the clouds. Seven years of tribulation, literally hell on earth. I'm not being scatological. I mean it's going to be that way. And there'll be a global dictator, the Antichrist and Christ will return. The battle of Armageddon. Satan and his minions will gather at the plains of Megiddo to try to not only destroy the church and the Jews, but to kill off God and Christ literally with the breath of his nostrils, just with a sigh. Satan and his armies are vanquished and there'll be a literal thousand year millennium. honestly I, and in our prophecy book we respectfully talk about the different views, but I really think the most consistent, helpful and faithful to the text way to handle it is to take it literally.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, Alex McFarland and Bert Harper co authored a book. We co authored a book, that we gave out, for those who made a donation during our fall share a thon here on American Family Radio. And the book is, if you didn't give a donation during shareathon, I want to know why not. I would just like you to answer that question for me. no, I'm just kidding. If you didn't make a donation, you can still make a year end donation, get a tax deduction here. That's right. To American Family Radio.

>> Wesley Wildmon: but you can purchase it online.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. All kidding aside, resource if you, if you want to, if you, if you didn't get the book as a result of giving to afr, you can buy the book. How can they do that?

>> Wesley Wildmon: Wesley Resources with an S. Resources.aca.net what's.

>> Tim Wildmon: The name of it?

>> Wesley Wildmon: A Hundred Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy in the End times by Alex McFarland and Bert Harper.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so 100 Bible questions and answers on Prophecy and the end time. Yes. Wesley.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Changing, subjects a little bit, Alex.

Tim Ferriss: I commend you for having this idea

What do y' all what's the plans for NewSong Year's when you when y' all start back after NewSong Year's as far as spoiling the word.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, yesterday we were in Isaiah, chapter 32. So we're halfway through the book of Isaiah and you know, we take questions and we take prayer requests on Tuesdays and it's just become so special. And Tim, I m just commend you for having this idea. Now over 15 years ago, 3,000 shows. so Bert and I are almost having taught through every verse of the Bible 3. 3 times. Completely. 1 other thing. I got to tell you this really quickly. last year, Bert and I started doing something. We give out a certificate to any listener that reads the Bible through in a year. And last year we gave out. It was about 75 certificates. And it's the. Exploring the word, read the Bible in a year.

>> Tim Wildmon: Acknowledgment.

>> Alex McFarland: and so, if folks, if you. If you did that, if you read the Bible completely in calendar year 2025, email us wordfr.net and Bert and I will send you a signed certificate.

>> Tim Wildmon: Awesome. That is great. One other question. Here we have a. Where we live here in Mississippi. We have a lot of Ole Miss fans. Alex, I don't know if you call. You follow college football at all.

>> Alex McFarland: well, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, Duke, wake Forrest.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, that's basketball, though.

>> Chris Woodward: The Demon Deacons are playing on Friday.

>> Tim Wildmon: Demon Deacons?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Satan's team.

>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: You're saying. Yeah, the Demon Deacons of Wake Forrest. Yeah.

>> Chris Woodward: An odd name for a seminary, but, yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: So anyway, that.

>> Alex McFarland: I've always wondered about that. But then I went to a few deacons meetings and I sort of get it.

>> Tim Wildmon: It's awesome. Demons.

>> Fred Jackson: I knew it.

>> Tim Wildmon: I just wondered because we have a lot of, Ole Miss fans, under our roof here because we live in Mississippi, and they want to know, what does the Bible say about them winning the national championship? Is that even mentioned in the Book of Revelation?

>> Alex McFarland: You know, that's just one of those topics we did not come across.

>> Tim Wildmon: So that you didn't. Maybe in your next book you can discuss.

>> Chris Woodward: Second Hezekiah 2:14.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. All right, people, don't email me, write me. I'm just kidding. Just having a little fun here, with, this. With. But this topic is very serious. It's called Bible prophecy. And, so we strongly encourage you to read yourself and to study and get a copy of this book. Alex McFarland, Bert Harper wrote. But most importantly, if you've never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, now's the time to do it. Because you're hearing me speak on this means you're responsible for the information I've just shared.

Fred Whitaker talks about the difference between committed and surrendered Christianity

Okay, Fred, you talked about this this morning. The difference between the word committed and surrendered. Yeah, talk about that.

>> Fred Jackson: It's a story that Adrian Rogers told, many years ago. He was talking to somebody on the mission field, overseas. And, Adrian Rogers asked this gentleman, he said, describe American Christianity to me. And he said, well, Americans talk a lot about being a, committed Christian. He says, where we live, we talk about being a surrendered Christian. And he said, the difference is a committed Christian is one who controls how far they're going to go in their Christianity. A surrendered Christian surrenders themselves to God and allows God to work out God's plan for your life.

>> Tim Wildmon: You know, I pray this prayer. Not every day, but I should probably. But I do pray this prayer often. Lord, help me to yield myself. Yeah. To your will.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: That you. You have to. You have to. You have to do that by your will.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: Huh? you have to surrender. That's a great word. So surrender your life to Christ and change your eternal destiny.

>> Fred Jackson: Amen.

>> Tim Wildmon: What I'm saying.

>> Fred Jackson: Amen.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Amen.

>> Tim Wildmon: That's what the. Basically, if you want to say. Well, it's the first time I've heard this. Well, go pick up the Bible and read, the Gospel of John.

>> Wesley Wildmon: Start there.

>> Tim Wildmon: Start there. Matthew, Mark, Luke. I got it right, didn't I?

>> Fred Jackson: Yes, I am.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. After all these years, I didn't want to mess that one up. go read the Book of John. The Gospel of John. It'll take you about, I don't know, a couple hours maybe, and you'll have a pretty good understanding of what we're talking about here on the program. Thank you, Alex. Have a great day, my friend. Talk to you later.

>> Alex McFarland: Blessings, brothers.

>> Tim Wildmon: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.

Tim, Wesley and Fred talk with Chris on top news headlines of the day including how Ukraine has made drone strikes on Moscow. Also, Dr. Alex McFarland joins the program to discuss his and Bert Harper's new book.