[00:00] Speaker 1: (Instrumental music plays) Everyone faces questions and decisions that require insight and answers as we move forward personally, professionally, and corporately in all areas of this thing we call life in America today. Hello, this is Joe Schofield and I invite you to tune in every Monday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 PM as we talk together and hear from key leaders of all ages and backgrounds about your questions. Interesting, informative, intuitive, but always encouraging. Tune us in on BBS Radio Network.

[00:51] Speaker 2: Join Pastor Joe and co-hosts Ron Greer, Dr. Paul Hall, Stephanie Thayer, and Dr. Craig Thayer in Raising Expectations.

[01:06] Speaker 1: (Instrumental music plays) Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this week's edition of Raising Expectations. Hey, we're really glad you're with us this Monday night. We've got a great show for you and, uh, we can't wait to, to get into it right off. Again, I'm Pastor Joe. This is my wife, Melva. It's gonna be a good one, isn't it?

[01:43] Speaker 3: It's gonna be a great show. We're excited about what Elizabeth has to share, about her insights about what's going on in our, in our state.

[01:50] Speaker 1: Amen. It's gonna be a good one. It's gonna really be good. So, as you know, we're all believers. We're all conservative believers. We believe Jesus is the son of God, he's who he says he is, and, uh, he died on the cross for our sins, which means they're covered, we know where we're going when we die, and in the meantime we know that he's walking with us every step of the way. That's what raises our expectations when we trust in him and watch what he can do, not what we try sometimes. Tonight is gonna be a really good show, but just before we get going, very quickly, we're gonna introduce the team again for you. We do this each week so that you'll know who, uh, our, our team guys are and, uh, it's very, very special. And our team lady. Two team ladies. You met my wife, Melva. There's number one for us. And so, I'm gonna start on the West Coast there in Lompoc, California, and that's Dr. Paul Hall. You all know Dr. Paul, he's a retired pastor, he's a teacher, a preacher, he's a writer.

[02:40] Speaker 1: He's, he's a blessing to countless men and women all across this nation and, uh, been a friend for many, many, many years. Paul's there in Lompoc next to Santa Barbara. And if we go together, Paul, you and, uh, and, and me and Melva, we head to the East Coast, all the way to the South, actually, part of the East Coast, and we're in Dalton, Georgia, and there we're with two of our favorite people in the world, Dr. Craig and Stephanie Thayer. And, uh, we invite you while we're doing this to turn, uh, and check on the, on your website, our website there, it's bbsradio.com/raisingexpectations. That's bbsradio.com/raisingexpectations. We introduce the team for you, but you can also, while I share, look up, uh, each of them and get a little more information. We're gonna update some of these things. God's been doing great things. We'll share a little of this with you later on in the program. But, uh, you'll wanna check in and get to know the folks.

[03:35] Speaker 1: They're a blessing to everybody, just like they are to me each week. So there in Dalton, Georgia, we have Craig and Stephanie Thayer. Uh, Craig is, uh, Stephanie on the left (laughs) , at least my left, and Craig's on the right. And, uh, Stephanie is a, a businesswoman, a health specialist. She's a great mom, a godly woman that, uh, everybody enjoys knowing and being blessed by. She's very, very special that way. And her husband, to her left, that's Dr. Craig Thayer. And Craig is, uh, a great finished product because she worked very hard on him, so she did a really good job. And (laughs) we're really glad that he's there. He's our brother in the Lord. He's one of those men you really wanna know and pray with and just watch the power of God work. He's a, um, a surgeon, a trauma surgeon, and, uh, they have done mission work together, uh, in Africa and in the Caribbean and other places. So, they're really neat.

[04:27] Speaker 1: They're a tremendous team and we're blessed to have them on our team, but especially to know them as our personal friends and ministers. So, you'll find them here. He's got a great book on the website there and it's called Saved. Saved is a great book. It's right there in the middle of our website. You want a copy of that. It's your story of his life and how he watched God work in his life, and the everyday things that God did to teach him and grow him. It's an incredible time. You'll see it right there. It's, uh, One Trauma Surgeon's True Account of the Miracles of His Life. And I love the slogan he has, Finding God in the Ordinary. We all have ordinary things in our life, and this is how God works in the ordinary things of our life. So, you'll wanna see Dr. Thayer's book there. And, uh, right above it is my book, Legitimate Faith: Producing Authentic Hope. Forsaking all, I trust him. Boy, that's the theory to use, and that's the, uh, given answer to what you need.

[05:19] Speaker 1: He's always there to accept it by faith. So, uh, you'll find those books on our website. And if you look there on our website, we continue going together, we make our way down to, uh, Texas. Actually, to the great metropolis of Dallas area there in McKinney, Texas. And in McKinney you find Pastor Ron Greer, one of our favorite pastors anywhere, and especially there in Texas also. He's, um, he should be the leader of Texas. We voted him in. Right, Paul? (laughs) But anyway.

[05:50] Speaker 4: (laughs)

[05:50] Speaker 1: He's- he's in there waiting. He's got it right there. So in any event-

[05:54] Speaker 4: (laughs)

[05:54] Speaker 1: ... he's our guy for the job. And so as we think about him, and, uh, we put the guys together on this team, he's with Man in the Mirror down in Florida. He's a counselor, he's a pastor, he's done so many things. Read about Ron there on our website and see the different things that he's done. Read about Stephanie and Craig and read about their lives, and Paul also what he's done. And I know they'll bless you. Thanks for praying for us and for praying for them also. So as we get, uh, going tonight, we just want you to know that, uh, we're excited about who we have with us tonight. And we'll be having, uh, them with us and that is, uh, Elizabeth Wong Ahlers who's running for the California State Assembly in District 40, which is the Santa Clarita area of California. She's an incredible lady. She, uh... We're gonna tell you a lot about her here. She and her husband, Ron, are people that will be leading the state in the direction we need to go in. In fact, just, uh, as we...

[06:51] Speaker 1: before we introduce her, we wanna play a clip. And this is Elizabeth Wong Ahlers. This is the story. You're gonna love re- hearing this for a minute. And, uh, TJ, thanks so much, our engineer, he'll pop this on for you in a second and, uh, you'll see the story of who she is.

[07:05] Speaker 5: Hi, I'm Elizabeth, a fifth generation Californian. Born here, married here, raised and home-schooled my six kids right here. I'm your classic California mama bear. After earning my doctorate, I chose family over career because I saw our educational system failing our children. We all feel it daily. Schools skipping the basics, sky-high gas prices, exploding homelessness amid rising taxes, unsafe streets, and businesses fleeing. That's no accident. It's one-party rule gone too far. During my time as councilwoman, I've seen the possibilities of what we can do if we fought back together. My roots are deep. I'm staying to reclaim our state of innovation, opportunity, beauty, and freedom. Don't just hope, let's make it happen. Stand with me. I'm Elizabeth Wong Ahlers running for State Assembly. Join me. Let's make California a place where we can all prosper.

[08:13] Speaker 1: Oh, we're excited about that. That tells part of her story right there. We want you to welcome, as we give the round of applause to Elizabeth, Elizabeth good to have you with us. Welcome to Raising Expectations. And, uh, just tell us a little word there about your family with us. We just are gonna be following you and doing all we can do through prayer and through support and letting everybody that we know know about you. We have people praying for you h- in Africa, and Pakistan, and other places, as well as across America. So we got you covered, as Paul often says and Dr. Hall will say, that we got you covered.

[08:52] Speaker 6: (laughs)

[08:52] Speaker 1: Welcome to Raising Expectations.

[08:54] Speaker 5: Mm-hmm.

[08:54] Speaker 1: Tell us how you doing?

[08:56] Speaker 5: Ah, thank you, Pastor Joe. Thank you, Paul, St- Mo- Melva, Stephanie, and Craig and Ron. I think I missed you last time, Ron. So, um, good to see you all again. And I so much appreciate the encouragement. Um, you know, we've got a real spiritual battle that is, um, manifesting in the natural even tonight. (laughs)

[09:24] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[09:24] Speaker 5: Yeah. Here in, um, LA County, Los Angeles County, the Republican Party is meeting while I speak, uh, to vote on endorsement for candidates. So, um, I had, uh, Pastor Joe and Melba praying about this all day. Um, it's- it's very, um... I don't know, I guess it's the real thing. It's the real thing. (laughs) Um, we know that there's, um, we know that there's principalities and rulers and spiritual places, and they're battling over actual geographical areas on the earth. Um, and the Book of Daniel talks about how the pr- the Prince of Persia is a spiritual entity that was preventing the angel, I don't remember if it was Gabriel or Michael, maybe, I don't know which one it was, or both of them, from, uh, answering Daniel's prayers. And- and the- the angels eventually got through and told Daniel, "We were prevented from coming because of this battle in the heavenly places." And so that- so that's going on all the time, even as we see, uh, international wars.

[10:47] Speaker 5: Um, but even here, right here in LA County where I am, I'm... It's a- it's a spiritual battle manifesting in- in meetings with human beings that, um, there's lies, there's, um, outright, um, smear campaigns and things that are going on, political maneuvering. Um, and I was thinking this- today of James 1 that says, "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials for the testing of your faith." And, um, does that same verse say, and like the perfection of your character or something? (laughs) And so, um, there's- there's people that... (laughs) I don't know, you know, you get both sides of it.

[11:41] Speaker 5: Somebody says, "How can she be fighting against so-and-so?" And, but then the- the whole last six months, everybody was saying, "Oh, she's too nice." (laughs)

[11:52] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[11:52] Speaker 5: (laughs) Um, and there, they say, you know, there, so there's criticisms on both ways and saying, "Ah, she doesn't fight for herself." But then, but then, you know, insinuations that I'm so nasty. Um, and, but, so I find that as... You know, my whole motivation is not about myself, as you guys know. And I find that, um, I need to, I need to maintain (sigh) love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and gentleness, um, a- and self-control, um, as a person to ha- to continue to be the light. If that, uh, light and truth... 'Cause if, if, if anger and bitterness, um, become the way that I fight, um, it's just undermining, um, who I, who I am and what I represent. But it's f- but it's very... I'm learning a lot.

[13:00] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[13:01] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[13:01] Speaker 5: It's, it's very hard. I'm learning a lot. So the prayers all over the world a- are, um, helping me to, helping me to continue to represent the Lord and, and grow in, in wisdom and knowledge and competence and skill, and even debate skills.

[13:22] Speaker 1: Amen. (laughs) That's it. Well, hey, Ron, give her a shout of encouragement. (laughs) He's been down the road. At it with you, brother. (laughs)

[13:35] Speaker 3: Oh, you're on mute, Ron.

[13:38] Speaker 1: Oh.

[13:38] Speaker 7: Sorry.

[13:39] Speaker 1: It's okay. (laughs)

[13:39] Speaker 7: Old m- old man. (laughs) I said I was gonna try to avoid telling those stories because I didn't want you to be encouraged.

[13:46] Speaker 1: Yeah. (laughs)

[13:47] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[13:48] Speaker 7: But, (laughs) again, I, uh, 'cause part of my brain when I'm, when I'm listening to your, your story and the things going on, I'm, um, get memories coming back and the anger kind of grows in back of my head. (laughs)

[13:59] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[13:59] Speaker 7: So, but, but again, I, I, I, I, I can only, uh, echo what the scripture says, right? That God-

[14:05] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[14:05] Speaker 7: ... is your refuge. He's the one fighting. He's sovereign. He's deciding what's gonna happen, what's not gonna happen. And no-

[14:11] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[14:11] Speaker 7: ... even though you have all these folk who are in these, playing these silly games around, uh, God is still sovereign. Uh, I didn't... And I would say keep trusting him. Uh, keep stepping and keep walking to where he's lead- lead you, and keep trusting him. He'll, he'll decide the outcome. Uh-

[14:25] Speaker 1: Yeah.

[14:26] Speaker 7: ... it's, it's in his hands and he decides left or right. I, I was, uh-

[14:31] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[14:31] Speaker 7: ... we- the, the, the prayer I think about is, uh, Psalm 59. (laughs) Uh, probably, I probably shouldn't, but it just comes and becomes in mind whenever this thing, this kind of things comes up, 'cause it seems so wicked and, and, and evil in the first place, and dark and, as you say, this demonic attacks. Uh, so been there a number of times, but, uh, Psalm 59, it said, "Deliver me from my, uh, enemies." Um, uh, "Oh, G- oh my God, deliver me, uh, for those who rise up against me-"

[14:59] Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

[14:59] Speaker 7: "... uh, those who wanna deliver me." Uh, I said, no, it said, "Deliver me from the work of their, of their evil hands, and deliver me from the..." What are the, um? Ow, what is it? Ugh. "Save me from the bloodthirsty men."

[15:12] Speaker 3: Mm.

[15:12] Speaker 7: So in other words, it goes on. The entire thing is about folks who are constantly, uh, after him, constantly fighting against him, constantly attacking him. For what purpose?

[15:22] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[15:22] Speaker 7: The purpose is to keep with him from being in a position where he can represent the God of, God of, of heaven. Uh, so I, I say, I, and be encouraged and I'll, we'll keep praying and trust God in the process.

[15:34] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[15:34] Speaker 7: He has already decided. And no one can form any weapon, any lie, any process, any, any trick, uh, against you that God doesn't allow to take place.

[15:44] Speaker 1: Amen. That's right.

[15:46] Speaker 3: Amen.

[15:47] Speaker 1: That's right. I know-

[15:48] Speaker 3: Thank you.

[15:48] Speaker 1: ... I know, I know in your message here, you had mentioned some things that you're battling with. And so I'm sure... I was talking to Ron earlier. You've probably turned some rocks over they don't appreciate. But you talked about, uh, the educational system. Uh, you talked about homelessness, taxes raising up so fast. You even mentioned something I remember seeing, unpaved streets, where your potholed streets should be renamed, and then the education and school skipping bases. We've all kind of thought about some of those things. Anybody have something to, to share maybe in that line to, to encourage what, what she said?

[16:24] Speaker 5: Sure. I mean, you know, we left California almost five years ago. And just watching your promotional, I'm like, "Yes, yes, yes, yes." Because all of those things resonated with us and our choices, you know?

[16:37] Speaker 1: Mm-hmm.

[16:37] Speaker 5: And I love that you said that you are staying there. There's so much good about California, and it's, it's really sad to see. And we need to have people that are willing to stand up, that are willing to do the hard... Like this evening, you know? There's a battle over you actually being represented as you should be and things being aligned. And so I'm really grateful for you and people like you that are willing to do that. Because if we stay quiet, what is the result? Right?

[17:07] Speaker 5: And we can be vocal without being disrespectful-

[17:10] Speaker 1: Yes.

[17:10] Speaker 5: ... but being quiet is a mistake.

[17:13] Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

[17:14] Speaker 5: Yeah. Right. So-

[17:14] Speaker 7: You, you guys gotta go, come back. Go back, right? Help- fi- you guys going back? Wh- wh- did I hear that?

[17:19] Speaker 5: I don't think so. (laughs)

[17:19] Speaker 3: (laughs) Yeah.

[17:20] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[17:20] Speaker 3: No, I think they're coming back.

[17:21] Speaker 5: This is our grandchildren.

[17:23] Speaker 1: Refugees coming back home. (laughs)

[17:25] Speaker 5: (laughs) All the way back, come on. (laughs (laughs)

[17:27] Speaker 5: (clears throat) Yeah, I think that-

[17:30] Speaker 1: Oh, that's-

[17:30] Speaker 5: ... um, there's... Well, you know, our Lord Jesus is multifaceted. He-

[17:36] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[17:37] Speaker 5: ... he came as the sacrificial lamb, uh, the first time, and people didn't understand what, what he was doing to have victory over, over sin and death and the devil. Um, they want- were expecting a political king at that time. And the second time Jesus is coming, he is coming back as a political king. (laughs)

[18:02] Speaker 7: Yeah. (laughs)

[18:02] Speaker 5: And, um, in the, in the meantime, between his first and second coming, we are his hands and feet on the earth, and we are his voice, uh, of truth and proclaiming, um, and... Like John the Baptist came to Herod and said, "Hey, you're not supposed to have your s- your brother's wife," and he got his head lost for it. But, um-If we, if we are the light, sometimes we have to shine it right in somebody's face.

[18:35] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[18:35] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[18:35] Speaker 5: And, um, and if, if we don't, the darkness will, uh, just... They won't s- the darkness won't stop. But I think the devil knows that his e- hi- his time is limited, um, and so he has... He doesn't play by any, any nice rules. But we, we as representatives of, of King Jesus... And so, you know, we have these No Kings protests, right?

[19:04] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[19:05] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[19:05] Speaker 5: Um, America has no king. But, but we, as, as Jesus' hands and feet on the Earth, we do have a king.

[19:16] Speaker 7: Amen.

[19:16] Speaker 5: And he's a good king, and he's a righteous king. And when there is, when there is injustice to the, to children, when there's, when there's human trafficking, these kinda things that are horrible, um, and hidden, and he want, Jesus wants the light shined on the evil. And then even, you know, even fiscal fraud, um, $100 billion of fiscal fraud in California, our tax money, God wants the light shined on that.

[19:50] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[19:50] Speaker 5: Um, all of these things that are hidden and evil, he, in his way and in his time, he, he does, he does want light to shine and evil to be exposed. Um, but it is, it has gotta be hi- his way and his time, and that's what I pray every day. (laughs) Lord, d- this, help me to step like one step, one of those stepping stones, um, at, at a time.

[20:23] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[20:23] Speaker 2: That's right. That's right

[20:25] Speaker 7: I, I think-

[20:26] Speaker 2: And I think... Oh, sorry. Go, go ahead, Craig. Go ahead. No, I, I just think I've heard that currently tonight, actually. You have people who are wolves putting on sheep's clothing Mm-hmm

[20:37] Speaker 5: Mm-hmm.

[20:38] Speaker 2: They've gone from another party, the wolf, and put on the clothes of another party that may affect you. Can you explain that?

[20:49] Speaker 5: Yeah, there's... I, I don't, um, I don't know all of the, um, intention, you know, whose intention it is and who's pulling strings. But there are two, um, two men that have jumped in the race, um, as Republican candidates who have recently been Democrats. So, um, they should not be endorsed by the Republican Party (laughs) because they, they have not held to the platform values of the party, um, as I have.

[21:30] Speaker 5: So, people that, um, applaud the football players, that take a knee at a football game instead of stand for the national anthem-

[21:43] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm

[21:44] Speaker 5: ... that should not be endorsed by the Republican Party.

[21:48] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[21:49] Speaker 5: Um, and, um, guys that lie during a debate on, when they're asked, "How did you vote the thi- last three elections?"

[22:00] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[22:00] Speaker 5: ... they completely flat-out lie, um, to the, to the record, their voting record.

[22:07] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[22:07] Speaker 5: So, even Prop 50 that was la- voted on last year, this, this guy that changed his registration status did not vote on that. So, um-

[22:20] Speaker 2: Hm.

[22:22] Speaker 7: Hm.

[22:22] Speaker 5: ... the incumbent in this seat, um, she's, she's had a lot of criticism for not voting as an elected official, where, uh, she... In 2024, there was an article written that she had 2,000 opportunities to vote no against, uh, legislation in California's legislature, and she chose to not vote at all, so that she-

[22:49] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[22:49] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[22:49] Speaker 5: ... wouldn't be on the record. But she could have voted no 2,000 times.

[22:54] Speaker 7: Right.

[22:54] Speaker 2: Wow. Jesus

[22:56] Speaker 5: And so, so these... So this-

[22:59] Speaker 2: (coughs)

[23:00] Speaker 5: ... I call him fake candidate, fake Republicans that... He, he didn't even vote in the last three elections, so... I m- he voted 2024, but not in the others. Not in the recent one for, against Prop 50 and the redistricting that Gavin Newsom engineered.

[23:18] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[23:18] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[23:18] Speaker 5: So, so these are-

[23:21] Speaker 2: It seems like the future should be tied to whether you vote or not.

[23:24] Speaker 5: It's the whole point. Mm-hmm.

[23:25] Speaker 2: What's your purpose?

[23:26] Speaker 5: Right.

[23:27] Speaker 2: Just to occupy a seat.

[23:28] Speaker 5: Right, right. So, um, so there's a lot that she did vote yes on, al- lo- right in line with her Democrat Party. But when she could have stood for her district and voting no against harmful legislation, she didn't vote at all.

[23:48] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm. Wow.

[23:49] Speaker 5: So...

[23:51] Speaker 2: Wow.

[23:52] Speaker 7: Y- I, I, I think that, um, uh, you may have touched on something before, um, but going back to my experience in my campaigns, um, I, I, I will say that someone finally did, uh, come and say it out loud, though. (laughs) Uh, but the reason the party, uh, uh, abandoned me and then worked against me, my own party, was the fact that they had determined that I was too conservative.

[24:19] Speaker 5: Yes.

[24:20] Speaker 7: And I, I was a, a right-wing, Christian conservative, and that I, I wasn't controllable and wasn't reliable to the, to go on, to go along with the party line.Uh, any chance-

[24:32] Speaker 5: Well-

[24:32] Speaker 7: ... that you were coming up against that?

[24:34] Speaker 5: Yes. That's exactly what it is, and, and the exact words. So, um, in 2024, there was a count- LA County endorsement meeting of the Republican Party, and I was running for state senate in, um, San Gabriel Valley area, and, um, the woman that was running in, uh, the Santa Clarita area, she was up for endorsement. I got the party's unanimous endorsement that year, um, and she did not, um, because she, because she had voted as an assemblywoman in the seat that I'm running for now, for Proposition 1 to be put, uh, put up to vote, which basically, um, w- let the door wide open for abortion to be put into our California constitution.

[25:40] Speaker 7: Hmm.

[25:41] Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

[25:41] Speaker 5: Um, and so there weren't enough Christians that night in the endorsement meeting, so she did not receive an endorsement, and I was one of those Christians. And, um, I, I... She approached me and asked me if I would endorse her, and, um, I said, "By my conscience, I cannot." Um, but she said, "Will you abstain?" So I did abstain from, um, the vote that night. But, um, she, she won her election, so, so she's a sitting senator, and she has, she has told people that I'm too conservative for her to support, um, as an assembly member. So, um, she, she may be instrumental in bringing in these other candidates to run against me.

[26:41] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[26:41] Speaker 5: Mm-hmm. So it's exactly that, yep.

[26:45] Speaker 7: And I think I, I think I asked, uh, the conversation last time, but, uh, again, tell us, tell, tell the audience why it's important for, uh, Bible-believing Christians to be engaged politically, why we should be running for office, and out actively supporting candidates.

[27:03] Speaker 5: Yes. Well, if our leadership in our government here in the United States is led by people who lie and cheat, and their most important goal is their personal ambition, rather than doing what is healthiest for our nation, our state, our neighbors, our children, then-

[27:34] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[27:35] Speaker 5: ... you know, like, that's just obvious. It's, it's, um, our people are going to suffer, as we're, as we're seeing in California, and the next generation-

[27:46] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[27:46] Speaker 5: ... if they're able to, if they're able to wake up in time to turn things around for their generation, it's gonna be so much harder than if we just do it now for them.

[27:59] Speaker 7: Yes.

[27:59] Speaker 5: So, um, our f- our America is so unique that, that we can participate in our process-

[28:08] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[28:08] Speaker 5: ... because we have no king. (laughs)

[28:11] Speaker 3: (laughs)

[28:11] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[28:11] Speaker 5: Right? We, the people, are the-

[28:14] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[28:14] Speaker 5: ... are the king. We can...

[28:17] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[28:17] Speaker 5: We are the ones that should be leading.

[28:19] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[28:19] Speaker 5: And we should be voting for leaders that re- that represent what is good and what is righteous, so that... Like Proverbs says that-

[28:29] Speaker 7: Yes.

[28:29] Speaker 5: ... if the righteous are leading, then the people rejoice.

[28:33] Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

[28:34] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[28:34] Speaker 5: Um, and when the, um, when the unrighteous lead, the people groan. And-

[28:40] Speaker 7: Yep.

[28:40] Speaker 5: ... we've been hearing so much groaning lately, right?

[28:42] Speaker 3: Amen. Amen.

[28:43] Speaker 5: But, um, but this is a interesting little anecdote, that yesterday, uh, my brother was, was saying that he went to the tax guy, and he saved, he saved thousands and thousands of dollars on his taxes because of the big, beautiful bill that Trump pushed through.

[29:04] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[29:04] Speaker 5: And so, he told his, he told his, he told his wife, um, who sometimes complains about the president, "Hey, you can't complain about the president unless you want-"

[29:14] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[29:14] Speaker 5: ... "unless you are complaining about all this money we're saving."

[29:18] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[29:18] Speaker 5: So, you know, so there's an example that, that they're, they might not be, you know, as conservative as I am, but they're rejoicing.

[29:26] Speaker 7: Right.

[29:26] Speaker 5: Because something, something good is happening for their family when there's a good leader in.

[29:32] Speaker 3: Amen. Yes. Amen.

[29:33] Speaker 5: It's true.

[29:34] Speaker 3: That's right. Mm-hmm.

[29:35] Speaker 7: And I'll, I'll add that, uh, the most egregious thing is, is aborting babies is, uh-

[29:41] Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

[29:41] Speaker 7: ... directly tied to when the church disengaged from politics.

[29:47] Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

[29:47] Speaker 7: I, I'll, I'll lay that claim, that, that-

[29:49] Speaker 5: Yeah.

[29:50] Speaker 7: ... uh, that, that accusation. I, I, I-

[29:52] Speaker 5: Yeah.

[29:52] Speaker 7: ... will say, uh, the thing that is interest- interesting to me, and gives me a glimpse of hope as well, uh, I was following the cancellation of the Democrat, uh, debate (laughs) on the 24th.

[30:06] Speaker 3: (laughs)

[30:06] Speaker 7: You know, the, the racist debate. (laughs)

[30:09] Speaker 3: Yeah, right. (laughs)

[30:10] Speaker 7: (laughs) But, but as, as, as I'm reading through the criteria, I'm still looking at Hilton and, um, uh, um, um, Blanco? What's his name? The other one.

[30:22] Speaker 5: Bianco.

[30:23] Speaker 7: Bianco.

[30:24] Speaker 3: Oh, yeah, yeah.

[30:24] Speaker 7: Uh, they're still lea- uh, I guess, the last I saw, all, all they averaged... All the polls averaged out to about 16% for each one of them. And then, every other Democrat I looked out, uh, looked at, out, other than Swalwell-They were all, uh, polling somewhere around, well, Swalwell and Steyer and Whatchacallit, about 10%, and then everybody else is 1% or less. So, I, I'm looking at that and going, if the Rep- if Republicans are polling that high, your chances of, of, uh, of, of, of that down, down la- down ballot impact may be indeed a miracle in, in, in play here.

[31:06] Speaker 5: Yes.

[31:08] Speaker 2: Amen.

[31:09] Speaker 5: Yes. Amen. Yeah. We, we, you know, I, I was, this morning I was singing with a friend on the phone to build up my spirit, and we were singing-

[31:17] Speaker 7: There you go.

[31:18] Speaker 5: ... Way Maker, Miracle Worker-

[31:20] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[31:20] Speaker 5: ... Promise Keeper.

[31:22] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[31:22] Speaker 5: And that it's, and the chorus is, "He's working even when we don't see it. He's working even when we don't feel it, and He never stops." And so-

[31:32] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[31:33] Speaker 5: ... amen, Ron. Amen.

[31:35] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[31:35] Speaker 5: We don't, yeah, and we just keep praying, "More Lord, more Lord, even what we don't see, He's working."

[31:43] Speaker 7: Praise God. Praise God.

[31:44] Speaker 5: Yes.

[31:44] Speaker 3: God is faithful. God is faithful to us-

[31:46] Speaker 7: Right.

[31:46] Speaker 3: ... as we are faithful to Him.

[31:48] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[31:48] Speaker 3: And so I feel like, um, this is gonna turn around. It's got to. Uh, this, this state cannot continue with this type of, um, of governing because it's hurting, it's hurting the communities in this state.

[32:05] Speaker 5: Mm-hmm.

[32:06] Speaker 3: And fortunately, we're, we're blessed. You know, we have everything we need, but one day, it's gonna hit us. And when it hits it, it's gonna be hard. But I know that God is faithful, and that He will continue to use you. That's what impresses me, that you have stayed-

[32:24] Speaker 7: Amen.

[32:24] Speaker 3: ... in this area, in this political arena, as a Christian politician.

[32:30] Speaker 5: Yes. Yes.

[32:30] Speaker 3: And that's what our prayer is, that God will strengthen you. He knows He stands behind you-

[32:36] Speaker 7: Yes.

[32:36] Speaker 3: ... He fights the battles before you, and He stands beside you.

[32:40] Speaker 7: Yes.

[32:40] Speaker 5: Mm-hmm.

[32:40] Speaker 3: So that's your protection, and your-

[32:42] Speaker 7: Yes.

[32:42] Speaker 3: ... your way of getting through all of this, so.

[32:45] Speaker 7: Amen.

[32:45] Speaker 5: Thank you, Melba. I was telling my dad yesterday, 'cause my mom's been having health problems, so I've been with-

[32:52] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[32:52] Speaker 5: ... my family a lot in the midst of all this other political stuff.

[32:57] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

[32:57] Speaker 5: And I was telling my dad, um, that I, I think God made me in a way that I prefer to, like, face these political battles in the real political realm rather than, like, I think I learned some of it from church politics. (laughs) Which my, my dad

[33:22] Speaker 7: Oh.

[33:22] Speaker 5: ... has been in church politics all his life. And I, so I was telling him, "You know, Dad, I'd rather, like, do the real thing..." (laughs "... than, than play the politics in the church world." (laughs Yeah, there's plenty. (laughs)

[33:38] Speaker 7: I've, I've, I've heard of no such thing before. Wh- what do you mean? (laughs)

[33:42] Speaker 3: Yeah, right. I've been in 14 different churches, so I've been there, done that. (laughs)

[33:47] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[33:48] Speaker 5: Yeah. Yeah. And so, you know, it's, it's on every level, it's on every level, the wheat and the tares, I think. But-

[33:57] Speaker 7: Yes.

[33:57] Speaker 5: ... um, you, you know, we're suppo- we expect it, you know, when it's-

[34:01] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[34:02] Speaker 5: ... Democrats, Republicans and, um, and if I get, if I get beat up, persecuted as a Christian in the, the political realm, you know, then, you know, that's my crown of glory. (laughs)

[34:18] Speaker 7: That's right. (laughs)

[34:18] Speaker 3: That's right. They're gonna remember you. They're gonna remember you if you, but you're gonna win.

[34:23] Speaker 2: That's right.

[34:23] Speaker 3: You're gonna win this time.

[34:25] Speaker 2: That's right.

[34:25] Speaker 5: That's what our prayer is.

[34:26] Speaker 7: And keep in mind, Jesus says that, uh, the, the servant isn't any... (laughs)

[34:32] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[34:32] Speaker 2: (laughs)

[34:32] Speaker 7: The servant is not greater than the master, so...

[34:34] Speaker 3: That's right.

[34:35] Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, there you go. (laughs)

[34:37] Speaker 5: That's right. Yeah. Yeah. You know, a lot of times-

[34:40] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[34:40] Speaker 5: ... I've thought about, you know, "Why do they hate me?" I, you know, they-

[34:44] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[34:44] Speaker 5: ... they complain that I'm too nice, so why do they hate me?

[34:48] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[34:48] Speaker 5: And then I remember, they, they hated Jesus without cause.

[34:53] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[34:53] Speaker 3: That's right.

[34:53] Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly.

[34:54] Speaker 7: Absolutely.

[34:54] Speaker 3: Not really about you.

[34:56] Speaker 5: Yeah.

[34:56] Speaker 2: We, we will... (laughs)

[34:56] Speaker 5: Yeah. (laughs)

[34:57] Speaker 7: Exactly. Not about you at all. (laughs) Well, the one thing, one thing that I, I, uh, we, the ul- in Marine Corps, we had this saying, right? (laughs) Uh, well, anyway, something, it was kind of weird. But, we changed it where it says, if, uh, if people are attacking you, then you're over the right target.

[35:15] Speaker 5: Right.

[35:15] Speaker 3: Right.

[35:15] Speaker 2: Yeah.

[35:16] Speaker 7: You're over the, you're over the target. Otherwise, they wouldn't be shooting at you. (laughs)

[35:19] Speaker 2: Amen.

[35:20] Speaker 3: So true.

[35:20] Speaker 2: So that's good. The SEALs say...

[35:21] Speaker 7: You know you're on the right track if they're fighting for you.

[35:24] Speaker 5: Yes.

[35:24] Speaker 2: Did the Navy SEALs say, "Embrace the suck"?

[35:27] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[35:27] Speaker 7: That's right. Embrace it, yes. (laughs)

[35:30] Speaker 3: (laughs)

[35:30] Speaker 7: There you go.

[35:30] Speaker 2: They say the same thing in seminary.

[35:32] Speaker 3: "Embrace the suck," is what he said.

[35:34] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[35:34] Speaker 2: (laughs) That's really true.

[35:36] Speaker 3: And in, in some ways, I mean, it is a big com- compliment, Elizabeth.

[35:40] Speaker 7: Oh, yes.

[35:40] Speaker 3: That there's other people that have thrown their hat in the race, and I mean, not that it's enjoyable or something that we want, but you're a threat, and-

[35:49] Speaker 7: Yes.

[35:50] Speaker 3: ... there's a reason that you're a threat. You-

[35:52] Speaker 7: Absolutely.

[35:53] Speaker 3: ... you ooze sincerity and, and purity, and they know that.

[35:59] Speaker 7: Yes.

[36:00] Speaker 2: Right.

[36:01] Speaker 5: They're not used to it.

[36:02] Speaker 2: You're so likable. (laughs)

[36:03] Speaker 5: Yeah. Right.

[36:04] Speaker 7: Good job.

[36:04] Speaker 3: Right.

[36:04] Speaker 5: Right.

[36:05] Speaker 2: And you can argue the word of Christ. I mean, actually, look at Brown State, Texas. They have a guy running that's on the other party that's claiming Christianity, and he's a progressive seminary student.

[36:18] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[36:19] Speaker 5: Yeah.

[36:19] Speaker 2: Like, completely away, like Satan counterfeits everything.

[36:24] Speaker 3: Yes.

[36:24] Speaker 7: Yeah.

[36:24] Speaker 2: Completely away from that.

[36:25] Speaker 5: Yeah.

[36:25] Speaker 2: So he's another wolf in sheep's clothing.

[36:28] Speaker 5: Yeah.

[36:28] Speaker 2: That's right. Yeah.

[36:31] Speaker 7: Absolutely.

[36:31] Speaker 3: I'm a sheep-

[36:33] Speaker 2: Take Joy from Brown.

[36:34] Speaker 3: I'm a sheep in sheep's clothing. (laughs)

[36:36] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[36:37] Speaker 3: (laughs)

[36:37] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[36:38] Speaker 2: Well, you know, in California they may have, you know, Gucci-

[36:42] Speaker 8: (laughs) Sheep. (laughs) Goosey. Hey, Elizabeth, I see a, crazy bright... I see, I see a, a little shine, a little grin over on Paul's face. See that, Ronald?

[36:52] Speaker 9: (laughs)

[36:52] Speaker 8: I know there's something cooking between those eyes. (laughs)

[36:55] Speaker 9: That's right. Paul was like, "There's no politics in church." Come on, Paul. Let's tell 'em. (laughs Well, first, first of all, shame on y'all for thinking- Yeah. (laughs)

[37:03] Speaker 10: ... politics has any part of church life. Are you kidding me?

[37:06] Speaker 9: Exactly. (laughs)

[37:06] Speaker 10: I've never seen it happen. You guys, you should repent. You should repent.

[37:11] Speaker 9: Yeah. (laughs)

[37:12] Speaker 10: Um, you know what's really dangerous about making statements like that, is they can be altered and, uh-

[37:17] Speaker 9: (laughs)

[37:18] Speaker 10: ... used against you. And Elizabeth, you're a troublemaker.

[37:23] Speaker 9: Yeah, amen. (laughs)

[37:24] Speaker 10: And, and that's just the deal. And I was thinking about... And I mean that in a, in a, you know, real positive way. In Acts chapter 17, uh, there was a statement, uh, uh, about the church in Thessalonica. It said, you know, "Don't let those people come in here, because everywhere they go they cause trouble and they're turning the world upside down."

[37:44] Speaker 11: Mm-hmm.

[37:44] Speaker 10: So you're-

[37:45] Speaker 11: Mm-hmm.

[37:45] Speaker 10: ... you're in, you're in it from a good lineage, you know, to do that. And I, I admire people who are willing to be the point of the spear. Because it's just not a-

[37:54] Speaker 9: Yes.

[37:54] Speaker 10: It's not a nice place to be. Um, I, I've always been curious about how much our, um, our faith... And I, I wanna be careful how I say this. Being Christians and followers of Jesus, we are engaged in warfare. We really are.

[38:12] Speaker 9: Amen. Amen.

[38:13] Speaker 10: And we can't afford to lay down and say, "Oh, well, you know, the Lord's in control, you know, and da-da-da-da." I mean, he intends us to be engaged and, and to lock into it. And I think one of... Uh, my, uh, the man I was named after was my uncle, and he was killed on Saipan in World War II. Um, and after the war was over, my, my, uh, grandmother received a book, uh, from the 2nd Marine Division. And I can remember as a little kid when I opened that, opened that book, because I was fascinated. Um, and the first page, the first page, there was a picture of a Japanese, um, soldier.

[38:53] Speaker 10: And underneath that, all it said is, "This is the enemy." And, uh-

[38:59] Speaker 9: Yeah.

[38:59] Speaker 10: ... when you, when you stop to consider, "This is the enemy," it's wise for us Christians to realize how subtle the enemy truly is.

[39:08] Speaker 9: Mm-hmm.

[39:08] Speaker 10: You know? He's an ancient, he's an ancient foe who knows all the tricks. And if I know the Scripture, and y'all straighten me out, he seems to take delight in para-parading before the throne of God, trying to accuse the saints.

[39:22] Speaker 9: Exactly. Oh, no

[39:23] Speaker 10: And, and we, we need to be aware of that, because, um... And, and, uh, and I'll quit with this. I was, I was reading today in Ephesians chapter 6 how important it is to realize the nature of the warfare, and how we put on all of the, uh-

[39:40] Speaker 9: Armor.

[39:41] Speaker 11: Armor.

[39:41] Speaker 10: ... the armor of God. And it, it seems like to me that if we leave one piece off, we're in trouble, you know?

[39:47] Speaker 9: Mm-hmm.

[39:47] Speaker 10: We just... We are. And so we put on the whole armor of God. But I was reading, uh, early on, I... There's a translation that I, I, I really like to read. It's called The Voice. And it, uh, talks about how we don't fight against flesh and blood, but we fight against, what this translation said, tyrants and authorities and supernatural powers. And then it says, "We fight against demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world."

[40:16] Speaker 11: Mm-hmm.

[40:17] Speaker 10: Slither. That's just a powerful word, slither. You know, slithering in the dark.

[40:20] Speaker 11: Yeah.

[40:21] Speaker 10: And then it says, "We fight against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places." And, you know-

[40:29] Speaker 11: Yeah.

[40:29] Speaker 10: ... stop to think about that, um, that pretty well covers a big gamut. So we need to be alert, you know, to, to stand our ground, to be ready to give an answer for those who ask the questions. And I think you are, you know, and, and certainly we'll be praying for you. And then I would just want to close in, uh, in Ephesians 6:19, um, Paul says, "Pray that the truth will be with me before I even open my mouth."

[40:57] Speaker 9: Yep, that's right.

[40:59] Speaker 11: Yes.

[41:00] Speaker 10: Powerful verse of Scripture.

[41:01] Speaker 9: Yes.

[41:01] Speaker 10: "Pray that the truth will be with me, even before I open my mouth." You know?

[41:07] Speaker 9: Mm-hmm.

[41:08] Speaker 10: So, uh, I, I just, I just want to encourage you. And, um, it's re- I think it just a really tough thing to talk about and to think about the nature of spiritual warfare. I mean, it, it's real. Um, if I could use one-

[41:23] Speaker 11: Paul, w- Paul, what was that reference again, please?

[41:26] Speaker 10: Uh, Ephesians 6:19.

[41:28] Speaker 11: Okay.

[41:28] Speaker 10: Reference. Uh, just to close with an- uh, another thing. I was watching Gut Feel the other night. Kind of a fun thing to watch now and then. They talked... Interesting enough, they talked about, um, demons. And, uh, I thought, "Well, this is going to go in a funny way, you know. What are, what are they gonna say about it?" Tom Selous was on, on there. He's the one that did the impersonation of, uh, President Biden. He did it so well. But he says, "I believe this is real." And he says, "I believe that only those who are spiritually-minded and aw- and alert to it, they're the only ones who can see it." You know? Those who are ignorant of it, they can't even see it, you know. They're just kind of pawns, you know, moving through. So here we are in love with Jesus and followers of Jesus. And I, I can agree. I think we're the only ones who can see it, you know, the, the true nature of it, what it, what it's really about.

[42:26] Speaker 10: So I say go get 'em and be on the point, and, uh, and truth is gonna precede you wherever you go, you know. (laughs)

[42:34] Speaker 9: I, I gotta say this one thing, Paul.

[42:36] Speaker 11: Yes, amen. Amen.

[42:37] Speaker 9: Where Elizabeth, you said, "The armor of God." I just love the way you said that, Paul. And you probably remember, Paul... I don't know where we picked it up, but...

[42:45] Speaker 10: ... interesting, you have to be going into the battle with the armor of God, just like you are, because the armor of God doesn't pretend, protect your backside.

[42:53] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[42:54] Speaker 10: It only protects the front when you're marching forward by faith, like Paul said.

[42:59] Speaker 7: (laughs) Yeah.

[42:59] Speaker 10: So you're, you're doing it all right.

[43:02] Speaker 7: Yeah. Hey, I, I, and on that same, uh, uh, I have a thought, right? So I was, I was in the Marine Corps also. Once a Marine, always a Marine, I think, Paul.

[43:11] Speaker 10: Yeah. (laughs)

[43:11] Speaker 5: That's right. Amen. Yeah.

[43:16] Speaker 7: Uh, but I, I recall, um, uh, one of the stern lessons that you learn when you learn the military code of, of, uh, of justice. Uh, and, and Marines have, Marine, uh, sergeants and instructors have a very unique way of, uh, phrasing things.

[43:31] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[43:31] Speaker 10: (laughs)

[43:31] Speaker 7: So I can't use their language. (laughs)

[43:35] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[43:35] Speaker 7: Uh, but there was, there was, there was, there was a, um, an understanding that, uh, there are certain violations of the im- uh, Military Code of Justice by which you could be executed.

[43:47] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm.

[43:47] Speaker 7: And one was, uh, desertion in the battle.

[43:51] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm.

[43:52] Speaker 5: Oh.

[43:52] Speaker 7: And at one time, even executed on, on the field.

[43:57] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm.

[43:57] Speaker 5: Mm-hmm.

[43:57] Speaker 7: Uh, and you, and when you're a 19-year-old and, or a 17-year-old, when someone says it to you, your eyes kinda (laughs) light up.

[44:05] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[44:05] Speaker 10: (laughs)

[44:05] Speaker 7: But they go on to ex- they go on to explain it, though.

[44:07] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm.

[44:07] Speaker 7: Uh, one of the, one of the most crucial, uh, things within a, a, a fighting unit is this, this camaraderie and commitment to one another. We die for one another, we stand together, right? Uh, the idea is that if, and the one guy who runs off impacts the attitude and the courage of the men left behind.

[44:28] Speaker 10: That's right.

[44:29] Speaker 7: But vice versa, when-

[44:32] Speaker 10: Right.

[44:32] Speaker 7: ... uh, the guy who stands firm in the midst of when the battle gets crazy, it inspires those around him.

[44:38] Speaker 10: Yes.

[44:38] Speaker 7: And the proof of that is that you look at, read the number of stories, the number of heroes, Audie Murphy, uh, go on, all down the line.

[44:46] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

[44:46] Speaker 7: And the end will talk about how inspired their units were and how they marched forward because that one guy in the face of, of, of enemy and the faith of death, uh, pressed on, right?

[44:58] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm.

[44:58] Speaker 5: Amen.

[44:59] Speaker 7: I, I see the same thing with, with, with you and people-

[45:02] Speaker 10: Yes.

[45:02] Speaker 7: ... and other Christians involved who do not compromise their faith, do not compromise their worldview and principles, but who s- continue to push forward and stand firm in the midst of what is anybody, by anybody's measure, a wicked and dark area of, of our, of our, our, our culture and nation.

[45:21] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[45:21] Speaker 7: So I, I'd say you're doing, uh, a- amazing work, (laughs) amazing thing, and it, it's not go- doesn't go unnoticed. I, I, I, I want to see more people like you, and I think what you do is inspire others to do the same thing.

[45:35] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm.

[45:35] Speaker 7: Because I, there's someone s- looking back going, "Well, wait a minute. If she can take the hits, I can do it."

[45:40] Speaker 10: That's right. Ma- may I throw in just one, one more illustration that comes my mind? I, I appreciate what you said, Ron. Um-

[45:48] Speaker 5: Yes, thank you, Ron. Thank you.

[45:50] Speaker 10: ... there's an illustration, uh, in the movie Black Hawk Down, if you s- if you saw that. And there was one particular officer that said, w- they, I'm gonna paraphrase, "We can't come to help you because we are combat ineffective."

[46:05] Speaker 5: Mm-hmm.

[46:05] Speaker 7: Mm-hmm.

[46:05] Speaker 10: That was the phrase, combat ineffective. And I do believe that part of the agenda of the evil one is to hinder us and obstruct us-

[46:14] Speaker 7: Yes.

[46:14] Speaker 10: ... and to knock the soldiers out of combat.

[46:17] Speaker 7: Yes.

[46:17] Speaker 10: You know, if he can, if he can neutralize the message, just neutralize the message, uh, then he, he really makes us combat ineffective. He really does.

[46:27] Speaker 7: Yes. Yes.

[46:27] Speaker 10: And, uh, he can only do that if we allow him to do that.

[46:30] Speaker 7: Yes. Yeah, amen.

[46:32] Speaker 10: Yeah.

[46:32] Speaker 7: Amen.

[46:33] Speaker 5: Can I, can I give one more military analogy?

[46:36] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[46:36] Speaker 5: Ron is your medic. Your husband is your medic.

[46:40] Speaker 10: Hmm.

[46:41] Speaker 5: That's what medics do. They're not Marines. They're Navy, and they get trained, and in the t- middle of gunfire, they're running out to save someone that's just barely moving. They know he's still alive, but to drag him in and save their life, and that gives the Marines the hope.

[46:57] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm.

[46:57] Speaker 5: Even though they've been shot so much up, that they have a chance of survival.

[47:02] Speaker 10: Yeah.

[47:03] Speaker 5: ... He's there to rescue you when you need it. So go fight.

[47:08] Speaker 10: Mm-hmm.

[47:08] Speaker 5: (laughs) Yes, yes, yes. Wow. I, and I don't know if I've told you guys this before, that this political venture we're on, adventure we're on is the... (laughs) It's like the culmination of our, our marriage. (laughs) We

[47:29] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[47:30] Speaker 5: ... uh, we just had our anniversary last Tuesday. We actually had the celebration with the family, um, yesterday, 36 years, and we've-

[47:41] Speaker 7: Congratulations.

[47:42] Speaker 5: Yeah, thank you. We've been, um, doing, you know, like I did the kids, and he did the bring home the bacon part, and then, you know, and then we'd juggle everything for 30 years, and, um, and then the last f- m- how many years now? The last four years, we've been really doing this, um, campaigning together. And, and it's like the first time I've seen our giftedness come out, um, so complementary, and then, and I'm like, no wonder God put us together because, you know-

[48:23] Speaker 7: (laughs)

[48:23] Speaker 5: ... for many years I was like, why are we, you know, why did God put us together because, you know, um, it's, you know, the what... However, the giftedness and the, the family raising time, it was, uh, you know, I was sometimes scratching my head. But in this political realm where, uh, it's like, whoa, you know. Yeah, he, Ron's just exactly the-... the- the strength, uh, the common sense, the stability-

[48:57] Speaker 12: (laughs)

[48:57] Speaker 5: ... um, the medic, every- you know, that- that I ca- I- that I can do this with. And, um-

[49:05] Speaker 12: Wow.

[49:05] Speaker 5: ... so sometimes my- sometimes my campaign team doesn't always get it, that I have to- I have to go through Ron first, before- before we make a decision on which direction we're gonna take on messaging or finances or, uh, events. And even tonight, like, I'm doing this and he's doing- he's representing me there. Um, and because if our- 'cause if our marriage is- is undermined by the politics, then what are we doing it for?

[49:49] Speaker 12: (laughs)

[49:49] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[49:49] Speaker 12: Yes. Yes.

[49:49] Speaker 1: Because what we're representing, we're representing those things that will strengthen the family.

[49:56] Speaker 12: Yes. Yes.

[49:56] Speaker 5: And marriage is foundational. And so- so if- if our c- if me, as the candidate, does anything that is undermining the marriage, and I'm not- I'm not saying... You know, if I don't feel Ron is with me on this, then, you know, I've gotta tell the team, uh, "No, we can't do that." (laughs)

[50:22] Speaker 12: (laughs) Praise God, I love that.

[50:24] Speaker 1: Amen.

[50:25] Speaker 12: Everybody sees it.

[50:26] Speaker 5: I would like to say, the- 'cause this is the female version of the war.

[50:30] Speaker 12: (laughs)

[50:32] Speaker 5: Uh, one of my girlfriends says we have to be studying war in Scripture. It's our blueprint. We need to look at it. And so I was trying to find it on my phone. I couldn't find it. But when David assembles his army-

[50:43] Speaker 12: Mm-hmm.

[50:44] Speaker 5: ... the very front of the army is actually the worshipers. So I love that-

[50:48] Speaker 12: Mm-hmm.

[50:48] Speaker 5: ... you said you were on the phone with your friend. The worshipers and the prophetic.

[50:52] Speaker 12: Mm-hmm.

[50:52] Speaker 5: They're actually in front of the flags. They're in front of everything. What a position. 'Cause that's not what we think of. We think, you know, "I'm gonna put my Goliath in the front." And- and the Lord's like, "No, no. You- you come to me. You humble yourself.

[51:06] Speaker 12: Right.

[51:06] Speaker 5: "You- you glorify me."

[51:08] Speaker 12: Right.

[51:08] Speaker 5: "You listen to my word." You- you repeat that back to the army, and that's how we go into battle, right? Which is so counter to what society teaches us.

[51:19] Speaker 12: Mm-hmm. Yes.

[51:20] Speaker 1: Good point.

[51:20] Speaker 5: Yes.

[51:21] Speaker 12: Good point.

[51:21] Speaker 5: Yes.

[51:22] Speaker 12: The battle is the Lord's, yes.

[51:23] Speaker 5: (laughs)

[51:23] Speaker 1: Amen. Thanks.

[51:25] Speaker 12: (laughs)

[51:25] Speaker 5: Yes. Yes. Well, thank you all for that confirmation.

[51:30] Speaker 12: All right.

[51:30] Speaker 5: Keeping my- keeping my- my perspective, um-

[51:35] Speaker 12: Yes. (laughs)

[51:37] Speaker 5: Thank you.

[51:38] Speaker 12: Praise God.

[51:39] Speaker 1: Well, folks, we've got, uh, we've got three minutes left. Ron, um, how about, uh, praying for... How can we pray for you? Quickly, Elizabeth, with our time. How can we pray for you? We know what you tell us.

[51:54] Speaker 5: Yeah. Well, all of this spiritual stuff, 'cause the- it's the- we know that it's- the battle is first fought in the spiritual realm before it manifests in the natural. Um, and- and then, um, yeah, so praying for family, marriage, uh, then- and then finances. Um, you know, there's- there's s- I have a wonderful team, and I wanna be able to compensate them for all their- all that they're putting out there in their heart. And so, that's my main thing. I'm- the- the Republicans always want, you know, millions of dollars.

[52:28] Speaker 12: Mm-hmm.

[52:29] Speaker 5: But I just wanna be able to pay my team.

[52:32] Speaker 12: (laughs)

[52:32] Speaker 1: Yeah. Well-

[52:34] Speaker 12: Yes.

[52:34] Speaker 1: Well, you can see the- on the website right now, you can see how you can restore California's golden state with Elizabeth's help there. She can use that. And as you pray, God will lead your heart in that direction. And, uh, we'll see a great California comeback, and she'll lead the way for us 'cause Christ is her Lord and Savior, and everybody's watching. And it's always gonna be good.

[52:56] Speaker 12: Absolutely.

[52:56] Speaker 1: Ron, we only have a couple minutes. Could you- could you just pray for all of us and join, and lead us for pro- protection and leadership for her?

[53:03] Speaker 12: Let- let's do that. Uh, God, we again thank you for our- our sister and brother who have obeyed your call, Lord, to be soldiers on the frontline, uh, in this battle for our nation and for our families and for marriage. Uh, Lord, we, um, pray, uh, as- understanding that the evil one is attacking, and he attacks from every single side. So we pray, first of all, for their marriage, that as you have bound them together, Lord, in covenant, and Lord, made them a team, I pray, Lord, that you would protect them from the evil one's lies and whispers and tricks and trains to get in between the two of them. Uh, Lord, also, uh, there- those of us who have been involved, understanding, you know, how difficult and how hard elective office can be on a marriage. So we pray, Lord, that you would give them your strong presence.

[53:54] Speaker 1: Yes. Amen.

[53:54] Speaker 12: And Lord, in that presence, Lord, they would sense afresh, anew every day. And in that presence, they would be comforted, Lord, they'd be strengthened, that their- their- their eyes would be, uh, kingly open and focused where you'd have them to be. We pray also, Lord, that in the midst of your presence, Lord, they'd be assured again that you are a sovereign, loving God who has sovereignty over all things, even this minor everything- things in our campaign. So we pray, Lord, that you would, uh, show yourself faithful.

[54:25] Speaker 12: Give her a great favor-

[54:26] Speaker 1: Amen.

[54:27] Speaker 12: ... in finances and her team. And Lord, as she goes forward, continue to make her a light shining bright to encourage others.

[54:33] Speaker 1: Amen.

[54:33] Speaker 12: In Jesus' name.

[54:34] Speaker 5: Amen.

[54:35] Speaker 1: Amen, Ron.

[54:38] Speaker 5: Amen.

[54:38] Speaker 1: Amen. Well, all right, folks.

[54:39] Speaker 12: The Lord bless you, my sister.

[54:40] Speaker 1: Thanks so much, Ron. And, uh, thanks- thanks, everybody. Love you guys, every one of you. We're running outta time, but, uh, it's been great. Elizabeth, this group will be praying for you. You're gonna feel their- their power, their- their power, their prayer every day.

[54:54] Speaker 12: Amen.

[54:54] Speaker 1: And, uh, we'll be talking with you. Ladies and gentlemen, thanks. Remember who to vote for here. Pray for her if you're not voting there. Look it up. Check our site. And we'll go from there. See you next week.

[55:04] Speaker 5: Okay.

[55:04] Speaker 1: She'll be back with us on the 13th, and you'll be praying and hearing more from Ron and Elizabeth on the 13th of April. Okay.

[55:11] Speaker 12: Thank you.

[55:11] Speaker 1: See you soon.

[55:12] Speaker 5: Thanks, everyone.

[55:13] Speaker 12: Thank you.

[55:13] Speaker 1: Thanks, Elizabeth.

[55:14] Speaker 12: Thank you.

[55:14] Speaker 5: Thank you.

[55:14] Speaker 12: Bless you.

[55:15] Speaker 1: (laughs)

[55:16] Speaker 5: Thank you all.

[55:17] Speaker 12: Friends, thanks for joining us on this week's program of Raising Expectations. We profoundly hope you found it engaging and, at times, humorous, but most of all uplifting, so that we may with you, one topic at a time each week, become more encouraged to move forward to an exciting future in, as we always say, this thing called life in America today. So let not your hearts be troubled. Your family, finances, faith, freedom. It can be a great future as we talk, listen, respect, and pull together. Please let me hear from you. You can reach me at 972-922-8556. That's 972-922-8556, or Joe Scofield on Facebook or LinkedIn. It'd be a pleasure to know you. And we hope you'll listen in again next week on the BBS Radio Network.