Category Archives: Crosstalk

Standing with Israel

Date: July 11, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider ​Guest: Pastor Jim Scudder Jr. MP3 | Order

This past Sunday was the 9 month mark since Israel was attacked by Hamas.  This is obviously much longer than the 6 day war of 1967 and even more tragic than America’s 9-11 attack.  Nonetheless, Israel continues in its efforts to defeat Hamas while attempts to establish a cease-fire have failed.  

With more on this issue as well as his call to stand with Israel, Crosstalk welcomed Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr.  Pastor Scudder is pastor of Quentin Road Baptist Church in Lake Zurich, Illinois.  He’s an author and is speaker on the program In Grace which airs on WVCY Television, VCY.tv, on the VCY America Radio Network and other facilities across the country.  Pastor Scudder has a passion for souls and a desire to teach others about our Savior’s love.

Discussion began with Pastor Scudder talking about the length of the battle with Hamas, the 120 individuals who remain as hostages and the world’s reaction at this point in time.  While it’s true that immediately after the Hamas attack there was great sympathy toward Israel, now it’s turned in the other direction as antisemitism, both in America and abroad, continues to increase.  

While we should fight the evil of antisemitism, is God using it to call Jews back to their homeland for the wrap-up of history?  This program answers that question while pointing out what all of us need to remember: Salvation is available to everyone and the Gospel is the answer.  Let’s share that Gospel, while standing as individuals and churches, with the people through whom our scriptures were written and our Savior was born.

More Information

ingraceradio.com

1-800-78-GRACE

Home Schooling Attacked

Date: July 10, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider ​Guest: Will Estrada MP3 | Order

Will Estrada is Senior Counsel with Home School Legal Defense Association.  Will began working for HSLDA as a legal assistant in 2004.  In 2006 he graduated from the Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy and then directed HSLDA’s Federal Relations Department.  He then gained experience at the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services from 2018-2021 and resigned to become the first full-time President of Parental Rights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation.  In June 2023 he returned to HSLDA serving as a senior counsel and contact attorney serving homeschool clients in multiple states.  He’s a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar First Circuit Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, California and District of Columbia.  Will himself is a homeschool graduate.

Homeschooling is seeing great success throughout the U.S. as parents serve as the primary educators for their children.  There’s been a mass exodus from public education, not only since the Covid pandemic, but as more and more indoctrination has been implanted via diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.  In addition, more school districts are keeping parents from knowing what’s going on when passing policies about how their children are identifying in the schools, what restrooms they use, the curriculum being taught or certain programs their children might be attending.  

While this environment in public schools plays out, some parents choose to opt out, therefore homeschooling is under attack.  This attack simply isn’t working.  As Will noted early in the broadcast, pre-Covid (just before 2020), the U.S. Department of Education indicated there were about 2.1 to 3 million homeschooling students in the U.S.  Now it’s said to be between 6 and 8 million with some studies showing the number of homeschool students at the same level as the number of students in private schools. 

Overall, Will described homeschooling this way: “…homeschooling is mainstream now…it’s not just a weird thing.  It has come into its own as a respected and established and successful way for loving parents to educate their children.”

Should parents have to pass a background check to determine their suitability for homeschooling?  Should they be required to submit documents proving that their children are, in fact, learning?  Yes, there are rare exceptions to the success stories but Will agrees that while you punish those who do wrong, you don’t make every parent that wants to homeschool their children get permission from the government.  He even cites a Supreme Court case from 1979 to solidify his point.

There’s more to hear, including the thoughts and concerns of Crosstalk listeners.

More Information

hslda.org

Marijuana’s Devastating Impact

Date: July 9, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider ​Guest: Dr. Eric Hussar MP3 | Order

Marijuana use has been surging across America as more states have ushered in legalization.  The result?  There are now more than 12,000 dispensaries across the nation with only 11 states showing none.

On May 22nd of this year, U.S. News and World Report carried a story indicating that more Americans today use marijuana each day than alcohol.  In spite of this, the Biden administration’s Department of Justice has submitted their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the office of the Federal Register to reclassify marijuana as a less serious drug.

Appearing on Crosstalk to address this issue was Dr. Eric Hussar.  Dr. Hussar is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing in Marietta, Pennsylvania.  He graduated from Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in 2002 and completed a residency at Lancaster General Hospital.  He has enjoyed caring for patients ranging from pre-birth to 100 years for more than two decades.  He is the Pennsylvania State Director of the American Academy of Medical Ethics.

This program is literally packed with important information.  Beginning with explaining the differences between marijuana, hemp, cannabis, etc., Dr. Hussar also looks at marijuana’s addictive nature, its effect on depression, the marijuana/pain argument, gummies and kids, the use by expectant mothers, CBD oils, the social costs and more.  Pro/con input from listeners wrapped up the broadcast.   

You deserve to know the truth on this issue and you’ll find it on this edition of Crosstalk.

More Information

cmda.org

The End of the World According to Jesus

Date: July 8, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider ​Guest: Jeff Kinley MP3 | Order

Jeff Kinley is a former pastor and best-selling author of over 40 books.  He’s a recognized expert in the field of Bible prophecy with over a dozen books on the subject.  He has a passion for sharing biblical truth and speaks across the country equipping churches and Christians to discern the times and to live with confidence.  Some of his books include, Wake the Bride, Aftershocks, As It Was in the Days of Noah, God’s Grand Finale: Wrath, Grace, and Glory in Earth’s Last Days, and his latest release, The End of the World According to Jesus of Nazareth.

It was on January 24th of 2023, when due to what they saw as ominous trends, the hands of the doomsday clock were advanced by the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to 90 seconds before midnight.  In contrast, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus presented a clear understanding of what would take place in the end.  He addressed the signs and how God desires for us to be prepared.

This Crosstalk looked at those signs as Jeff answered the following questions: 

Why is knowing Jesus a foundational issue when attempting to understand the end of the World?

Will global climate change destroy the earth or does God have another plan?

What do we know about the deluge of deception that Christ talked about?

What did Jesus have to say about war?  

Will people come to faith during the period of tribulation?

This is just some of what was covered during the first quarter-hour of the broadcast.  Hear the rest, including what listeners had to say, when you review this vital Crosstalk broadcast.

More InformationThe book, The End of the World According to Jesus of Nazareth is being featured as a book of the month at our VCY Bookstore.  This is newly released and packs more than 260 pages with information.  This book retails from the publisher at $17.99.  However, through July 31, 2024, the VCY Bookstore is offering this book at 50% off, just $8.99 plus any applicable tax and/or shipping.  It’s available online at vcy.com or by calling the bookstore at 1-888-722-4829.  They’re open weekdays from 10am-6pm Central and Saturdays from 10-4.

News Roundup & Comment

Date: July 5, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider MP3 | Order

Get caught up on the news from this busy holiday week by reviewing this edition of Crosstalk.  Here’s a sample from the stories that were presented:

–Democratic governors from across the nation descended on the White House Wednesday evening to speak with President Biden over his debate performance last week.

–President Biden told more than 20 Democratic governors that he’s in good health, with the exception of his brain function, while discussing the fate of his presidential campaign.    

–Embattled president Biden has had a rough life, much like Jesus Christ, according to a House Democratic ally of the president. 

–Now a third Democrat has called for Biden to drop out.  The latest is Congressman Seth Moulton.     

–Four editorial boards at major publications have called for Biden to drop out of the presidential race.

–Damon Lindelof, creator of the hit ABC series “Lost”, is urging Democrats to stop giving money to the Biden campaign and to party candidates overall.

–Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Roy Disney, one of the two original co-founders  of the Walt Disney Company, plans to stop all future donations to the Democratic Party as long as Biden is still the nominee.

–Biden told Democratic governors that he will no longer be scheduling events after 8pm so that he can get more sleep.

–The White House admitted that Hunter Biden was in the room as his father was preparing to deliver a prime-time address.

–Federal prosecutors Monday have requested stays on pending January 6th court cases in order to evaluate a recent Supreme Court ruling that limited their prosecutions of the rioters.

–Merrick Garland has already been found in contempt of Congress for refusing to provide audio tapes of Biden’s interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

–Lebanon’s militant group, Hezbollah, said Thursday that it had launched over 200 rockets at multiple military bases in Israel in retaliation for Israel killing one of its senior commanders.

–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected any Palestinian involvement in the leadership and administration of Gaza following the end of Israel’s war on the enclave.

–The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Donald Trump, holding in a 6-3 decision that presidents are covered by limited immunity from criminal prosecutions for actions taken while in office.

–Democratic New York Representative Joe Morelle announced Monday that he will file a constitutional amendment that will virtually invalidate the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity.

The Price of Freedom:  The 56 Signers

Date: July 4, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider ​Guest: William J. Federer MP3 | Order

William Federer is a nationally known speaker, historian, author, and president of Amerisearch, Inc. He is the speaker on The American Minute daily broadcast. He has authored numerous books including, America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, Who is the King in America?, and Socialism: The Real History From Plato to the Present which has the subtitle How the Deep State Capitalizes on Crises to Consolidate Control.

Despite all the difficulties our nation has and is enduring, we are blessed with many freedoms and liberties that the majority of the world is denied. Sadly, we take these liberties and freedoms for granted and forget the bravery and courage that our founders had. The Declaration of Independence begins with the words:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The grievances against the crown were many, and those in this new land had had enough. Yes, the chains that shackled the colonies to Great Britain were being broken. To gain this freedom there was a price to be paid and our founders knew that. As a matter of fact, the Declaration closes with these words:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

How many of us listening right now would take that same pledge – our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor? These 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were concerned by their posterity. In contrast, today it seems we are more concerned by our prosperity.

More information:

AmericanMinute.com

America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations is available through Crosstalk in softcover and hardcover. To order, click the links below, call 1-800-729-9829 or send a check, cash or money order to 3434 W Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee WI 53208.

Softcover for a donation of $30

Hardcover for a donation of $40

Government Overreach

Date: July 3, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider ​Guest: Brad Dacus MP3 | Order

Brad Dacus is president and founder of the Pacific Justice Institute.  Their mission is to defend, without charge, the religious freedoms, parental rights, and other civil liberties of individuals who cannot defend themselves.  Brad previously served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Phil Gramm and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas, School of Law. 

America is running off the rails as it continues to advance an agenda that places transgenderism above true biology.  Biological men are decimating women in sports.  Those same men are using women’s locker rooms, and when females complain, they are the ones that are sanctioned.  Schools are taking action to prevent parents from knowing if their minor son or daughter is identifying differently at school than they are at home.  Even more tragic is when a family has their child taken away from them by Child Protective Services because the family refuses to allow permanent, bodily mutilating surgery to be done for so-called, “gender transition.”

These issues were represented during the program, along with others from the Supreme Court.  Here’s a sample of what was discussed:

Presidents having immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts but not for unofficial acts.

Did a Supreme Court Justice actually claim Joe Biden has legal permission to assassinate Donald Trump?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to draw articles of impeachment against the Supreme Court Justices.

The expansion of emergency room abortions.

A Billings, Montana, case regarding a young girl with gender dysphoria.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s ties to the LGBTQ agenda and a kidnapping protection bill.

More Information

pji.org

Eco-Craziness

Date: July 2, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider ​Guest: Tom DeWeese  MP3 | Order

The eco-craziness continues as we’re seeing an attack on our food supply, gasoline powered vehicles and on gas appliances.  In fact, the craziness has become so bad that even EV owners are starting to turn their backs on electric cars.

Returning to Crosstalk to discuss the craziness was Tom DeWeese.  Tom is the grassroots coordinator for CFACT.  He’s also president of American Policy Center.  Tom is one of the nation’s leading advocates of individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, personal privacy, back-to-basics education and American sovereignty and independence and protecting our constitutionally-guaranteed rights.

When Tom appears on Crosstalk, he covers a lot of ground and this broadcast did not disappoint as Jim had him comment on the following:

The World Economic Forum and their desire to “reinvent” our food supply.

Eminent domain part of a plan to build the world’s largest carbon capture pipeline.

Wind tower farms out in the ocean?

Some apparently believe bugs are a marginalized group.  If so, how can they eat them?

Is the gas appliance ban misinformation?

Is there enough energy being produced to keep up with the demand for EV chargers?

Fires caused by lithium batteries.

Get the details on these points and more, and hear comments from listeners, on this edition of Crosstalk.

More Information

americanpolicy.org

Enneagram Warning!

Date: July 1, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider ​Guests: Don Veinot and Marcia Montenegro MP3 | Order

This edition of Crosstalk highlights the importance of Bible verses such as Colossians 2:8 that says: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”  As such, this broadcast is a warning about a system called, the Enneagram.

Don Veinot is co-founder and president of Midwest Christian Outreach, a national apologetics ministry and mission to new religious movements.  He’s been involved in apologetics ministry for over 3 decades and is a charter member of the International Society of Christian Apologetics.  He is also a staff researcher and writer for the Midwest Outreach Journal.

Before becoming a Christian, Marcia Montenegro was involved for many years in Eastern spiritual beliefs (Hindu and Buddhist,) New Age, and Occult practices. She was a certified, professional astrologer who taught astrology for several years.  She served as chairperson of the Astrology Board of Examiners and president of the Astrological Society in Atlanta.  She came to Christ and is now engaged in her full-time ministry, Christian Answers for the New Age.  She is author of Spellbound: The Paranormal Seduction of Today’s Kids.

Together they have co-authored, Richard Rohr and the Enneagram Secret.

The Enneagram is a geometric design/model of the psyche consisting of a circle with three shapes inside of it that touch the outer circle at 9 different points.  Each of the points represents a different personality type with an emphasis on self.  While this symbol has no inherent evil in it, according to Don, the grand masters say it’s actually not about what type of person you are, instead it deals with which path you need to be on to get back to God.  This concept has been infiltrating segments of the evangelical church.

On this edition of Crosstalk, Don and Marcia detail the remaining history/evolution of this symbol, it’s connection to a Roman Catholic Franciscan monk named Richard Rohr, and how it went on to become embraced by elements of the evangelical publishing world.

This topic is very extensive so as the program continued, Don and Marcia looked at much more including the following:

Who are the Enneagram masters?

What’s the connection between mysticism and the Enneagram?

What’s the draw for both the publishing world and especially for churches to get involved in this?

The unbiblical theology of Richard Rohr.

Why some people see the Enneagram as equal to or superior to the Bible.

More Information

MidwestOutreach.org

ChristianAnswersForTheNewAge.org

EnneagramSecret.com/Enneagram

Presidential Debate:  Where Do We Go From Here?

Date: June 28, 2024 Host: Jim Schneider MP3 | Order

This program featured various audio clips dealing with last evening’s presidential debate between Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.  The first round of clips dealt with the subjects of abortion, our nation’s borders, Medicare, Charlottesville and the troops.  Jim then provided a clip from Jill Biden who congratulated her husband for answering all the questions as though he was a small child.  Another round of clips looked at some post debate analysis showing great concern, even panic, over the fact that the president struggled.  The final clip featured Vice President Kamala Harris and her take on the debate.  The clips were followed by comments from listeners around the nation.